Manatee Cove of Englewood Board Message

We are looking ahead to another great season at Manatee Cove!

While the summer months may be a quieter time at Manatee Cove, your Board has been busy behind the scenes! Our Board Members have remained in communication throughout the off-season, addressing concerns, making plans, and helping ensure that our Park continues to be well cared for. Whether here in the Park or away for the summer, the work continues!

Our October Board Meeting will be held virtually, and we are looking forward to being together in person again in November for both our Board Meeting and our first Membership Meeting of the season. We can’t wait to see familiar faces and welcome everyone back!

A special thank-you goes to our year-round Board Members—Bob, Ben, Marion, and Dottie—for their continued dedication and for keeping a watchful eye on Manatee Cove throughout the summer. Your commitment to our community is truly appreciated!

We also want to recognize and thank our Neighborhood Watch drivers, who patrol the Park several times each day, seven days a week. Your time, dedication, and vigilance play an important role in helping keep Manatee Cove safe, secure, and welcoming for everyone. We are grateful for all that you do!

As we look ahead to the upcoming season, there is plenty to be excited about. We’ll be welcoming back many of our favorite activities, along with some new activities currently in the planning stages. And, of course, we are excited to welcome several new owners to the Manatee Cove family! We hope everyone will take the opportunity to introduce themselves and make our newest neighbors feel right at home.

Here’s to another fun-filled season of friendship, community, activities, and making memories together at Manatee Cove!

We look forward to seeing everyone back together in the Park!

🎉 Bingo and the Bingo Kitchen return on Monday, November 16, 2026!

Doors open at 3:30 pm with a wide range of wonderful food choices.
Bingo starts at 4:30 pm. Marion and Bob promise fun, laughter, and great prizes!
Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, all are welcome.
Come hungry—the Kitchen staff is ready to serve both returning and new friends.

🤝 First Membership Meeting

Friday, November 13, 2026 | 10:00–11:00 am | Clubhouse

This is the first Membership Meeting of the season—an excellent opportunity to:

Learn about Park updates
Ask questions
Reconnect with friends and neighbors

To join or renew your membership, please contact:

📞 Dottie Quackenbush, Membership Secretary – 845-597-6543

Or sign up just before the meeting begins.

⚠️ Please note: You must be a member in good standing to attend this and all future meetings.

August Facebook Post from President Chris Baker Re: Purchase of 1432 Flamingo Drive

Hello Manatee Cove Residents:

I want to inform all Manatee Cove Park Residents that the Manatee Cove Board has finalized the purchase of the lot at 1432 Flamingo Drive.

This opportunity came about following the unfortunate circumstances of Hurricane Ian, which destroyed the owner’s home and ultimately led to his decision not to rebuild. We certainly sympathize with him, as well as with all those who have experienced similar losses. At the same time, his decision not to rebuild provided Manatee Cove with the opportunity to acquire this property for future use.

The process began with a resident survey to determine how Park Residents felt about acquiring the property for Manatee Cove. The results showed a very strong majority in favor of the purchase. This acquisition presents a valuable opportunity to further enhance our community and provide additional space for potential future amenities and improvements that are not currently possible within our existing footprint.

Please note that no decisions have been made regarding the future use of this property. A community survey will be conducted during the upcoming season to gather residents’ ideas, suggestions, and input. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and considering the possibilities together.

It has been a long time since Manatee Cove has expanded its amenities, and we believe this will be an exciting opportunity for our community to explore new ideas and consider what would best benefit our residents.

Thank you for your support and continued involvement in making Manatee Cove a wonderful place to call home.

Help Us Prepare for the Upcoming Season!

As we prepare the calendar for the upcoming season, please send the following information for any activities you would like included:

Name of activity
Day and time of activity
Start date
Any fee charged

Please email the information to Karen at karenkayekoster59@gmail.com.

or text: 715-892-0220

Or comment on this post (below)

Newsletters and calendars will be available at the Manatee Cove Clubhouse beginning in November 2026.

For your convenience, a separate stack of “Calendars Only” will also be available.

Thank you for helping us keep everyone informed and making it easy for our residents to participate in all that Manatee Cove has to offer!

🌴 Manatee Cove Ongoing/Resumed October Activities

There are plenty of opportunities to get together, stay active, and enjoy time with your Manatee Cove neighbors! Here’s what’s happening in October.

Please note: The activities listed below are accurate as of the end of September. Additional activities will be added as the season progresses.

🧘 Yoga
Ongoing every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00–9:30 a.m. at the Clubhouse.

🎨 Crafts
Ongoing every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. at the Clubhouse. Come join the fun, get creative, and enjoy some time with friends and neighbors!

🃏 Pinochle
Ongoing every Wednesday from 1:00–3:00 p.m. at 1239 Flamingo Drive. New players and returning players are all welcome and encouraged to join in!

🧘‍♀️ Tai Chi
Tai Chi resumes Wednesday, October 14, 2026, from 10:30–11:30 a.m. at the Clubhouse.

Manatee Cove Members: $5 per class
Non-Members: $7 per class
Payment is due at the beginning of each class.

Come out, participate and enjoy the activities that make Manatee Cove such a wonderful place to call home!

Consider Hosting a Monthly Potluck Dinner

Join your neighbors for a relaxed, fun, and delicious monthly potluck dinner! Our first potluck will be in November. This is typically our Thanksgiving Feast so please consider cooking and bringing a turkey! Stay tuned for further details.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to share a favorite dish, enjoy a meal together, and spend time with friends and neighbors.

Hosting is easy and requires only a minimal commitment. We would love to have a host identified for each month at the beginning of the season so everyone can look forward to these special gatherings.

Interested in hosting or want more information? There is an "instruction sheet" available to provide guidance.

📞 Contact any Board Member or reply to this Facebook post, and someone will be happy to get in touch with you. 😃

Whether you bring a dish, volunteer to host, or simply join us for dinner, your participation will help make our monthly potlucks extra special!

We hope you’ll join us!

A very special birthday Shout Out to Bernie in honor of his 100th Birthday on September 28, 2026!

What an incredible milestone and a wonderful reason to celebrate! A small gathering was held at the Clubhouse on Bernie’s birthday, giving friends and fellow Manatee Cove residents an opportunity to come together and celebrate this very special occasion with him.

For those who would like to send Bernie a birthday card:

Bernie Loquasto
1355 Ibis Drive
Englewood, FL 34224

Happy 100th Birthday, Bernie! 🎉 We hope your special day was filled with friendship, laughter, and wonderful memories. Manatee Cove is fortunate to have you as part of our community!

1. 🚶 Walking & Biking at Night
Please wear light-colored or reflective clothing and carry a flashlight so you can be easily seen. Remember to walk against traffic and ride your bicycle with traffic.

2. 🐾 Pets
Please be a considerate neighbor and pick up after your pet while walking through the Park.

There is a limit of two pets per home. Pets must be housed indoors and leashed when outside.

Questions? Contact Charlotte County Animal Control at 941-833-5690.

3. 👮 Neighborhood Watch
Our Neighborhood Watch volunteers routinely monitor the Park and help provide an added level of security for our community. Please support this valuable service—donations are graciously accepted by Bob Steneck, Harvey Emmel, or Barbara Gumble.

Interested in helping? Volunteers are always greatly appreciated!

For non-emergency concerns, contact the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office at 941-639-0013.

4. 🌞 Sunshine Club
Know a Manatee Cove resident who is ill or grieving? Please contact Georgia Eichhorn at 715-213-4518 to have a card sent on behalf of our community.

5. 🏡 Welcome Wagon
Do you know a new resident, or are you new to Manatee Cove? Contact Linda Ransom at 203-631-5854 to help give our newest neighbors a warm Manatee Cove welcome!

6. 🚤 Boat Ramp
The boat ramp is for Manatee Cove Members only. Please do not share the access code, and remember to lock the gate when you are finished using the ramp.

7. 🎶 Noise Consideration
Please be mindful of your neighbors and keep loud music and other noise at a reasonable level. A little consideration goes a long way toward keeping Manatee Cove a peaceful and enjoyable place for everyone.

8. 🥫 Food Pantry
A collection box is located at the Clubhouse. Please consider contributing as you are able. Every donation is appreciated!

9. 📰 Newsletters & Staying Connected
Printed newsletters and calendars will be available outside the Clubhouse beginning November 6th.

This newsletter is accurate as of September 30, 2026. Activities and events are subject to change.

Be sure to stay connected through Facebook and by keeping in touch with your Manatee Cove neighbors!

💙Communication Opportunities 💙

Manatee Cove is more than just a neighborhood—it’s a caring, active, and welcoming community! From social events and activities to volunteer opportunities and helpful services, there are many ways to get involved, meet your neighbors, and stay connected.

Be sure to check out our online resources and stay up to date on what’s happening around the Park:

📱 Facebook
Manatee Cove Facebook Group

🌐 Website
Manatee Cove Website

We look forward to another wonderful season of friendship, fun, and community at Manatee Cove!