The Westside Association of Wilton Manors (WAWM) is a voluntary civic and social association of neighbors who want to build a sense of community and work together for the benefit of all.

The Latest

Westside Annual Membership Meeting

April 18, 2024

We held our Annual Meeting of the Association Membership on April 18th. More than 60 individuals attended the meeting, including Mayor Scott Newton and City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson.

Broward County Commissioner Robert McKinzie, whose District 8 covers the Westside, addressed the Association membership. 

He discussed economic development, County planning efforts underway for Andrews Avenue, and the importance of public art. Commissioner McKinzie emphasized his desire to represent at the County level the interests of the Westside and City of Wilton Manors. Residents asked Commissioner McKinzie for assistance on improving pedestrian safety on Andrews Avenue.

Residents also asked about County plans for bus lanes on Oakland Park Boulevard, and whether the County would reconsider its decision to cancel the planned ownership transfer of the green space along the Middle River at the Rainbow Bridge from the County to the City of Wilton Manors. The Association invited Commissioner McKinzie to come back for follow-up discussion on all these topics.

The Association Membership endorsed and congratulated a new Westside Board of Directors, who will serve two-year terms beginning in April 2024 and ending in April 2026:

Short bios for the Board members can be found below.  A seventh Board position is vacant and may be filled by decision of the Board of Directors. If you are interested in being considered, please contact the Board at wawm.org@gmail.com.

The Board thanked departing Board member Evan Smith for serving as Vice President for the last two years.

The Association then honored long-time Board member Van Gosselin for his dedicated service and contributions to the Westside Association spanning over two decades, as he too departs the Board. Van's presence on the Board will be missed, but we know where he lives if we need help!  

Finally, WMPD provided its quarterly update and the President provided the Board's Annual Report covering the Association’s finances, membership, operations and activities. A copy of the Annual Report presentation is found just below.

Final_WAWM Annual Membership Mtg Presentation 2024.pptx

Board Member Bios

Mike Allison

Since becoming a Westside homeowner in 2021 Mike has been an active member of the Association, and in 2023 became a Board member. He grew up and spent most of his life in Palm Beach County, where he was involved in similar neighborhood associations. Florida saltwater runs through his veins, and if there's water, he will be nearby.  


His experience in commercial property project management has been useful as a Board member. Mike has been an advocate for Mickel Park and safe roads. He has met numerous times with City staff and police on those components of the Westside. 


Mike vows never to live in a condo or HOA again, and strongly believes in resident involvement to preserve the quality of enjoyment of publicly accessible neighborhoods, parks, and waterways. 

José Cedeño

José and his husband Joe relocated to South Florida from NJ in 2017 and settled on the Westside of Wilton Manors soon thereafter. Born in Cuba, the move to the area and its beautiful weather was a welcome change from the cold Northeast.

José has served as Secretary of the Westside Association for the last two years. He is proud to have been part of a cohesive and collaborative Westside Board, and to have led efforts to enhance membership engagement and communications via Westside e-Newsletters.

He has found it both enjoyable and amazingly rewarding over the last two years to meet so many Westside neighbors, organize community events, and observe the Association’s phenomenal growth.

José enjoys quality time with family and friends. He and Joe are avid theater enthusiasts, love music and attending live concerts, and exploring cultures and meeting new people via traveling aboard.

Larry Farver

Larry Farver has served on the Westside Board of Directors team since last October; and has enjoyed actively participating in meaningful community volunteerism and interface with our city and county’s leadership to make a difference.

A life-long native of New Jersey just outside New York City, Larry, his husband, and dog children moved to Wilton Manors in 2019 after vacationing here for many years. Larry has an extensive background with over 20 years in Human Resources employee/stakeholder relations working with diverse groups of individuals from interns to the C-Suite and internal/external business/civic partnerships. He brings prior experience with civic and corporate volunteerism and previously served on a 350 resident condominium association board for many years in West Orange, New Jersey.

Since anchoring in our Island City, Larry has volunteered in several civic affairs including the annual Andrews Avenue and Snook Park Landing waterway cleanups; Westside Winter Wonders House Decorating Contest Committee; 2024 Spring Fling/Mickel Park; Wilton Manors tree/plant giveaways and the 2023 Stonewall Pride Festival (Social Media Interviewer/Set-up Crew). He has been very focused on promoting traffic calming throughout our city and the promotion of the Westside Neighborhood Crime Watch. Additionally, Larry has enjoyed resuming his lifelong passion supporting and participating in the city’s creative arts scene, both acting and serving as a crew member in several independent film/video productions shot locally in our beautiful city. Larry enjoys the nearly 365 days of tropical weather and exploring our amazing city with a small-town feel, surrounding county and greater South Florida!

Emily McCrater

Emily was born and raised on the Westside of Wilton Manors and has lived here for 52 years. She is a mother of two sons. She has served on the Westside Board of Directors for the last two years, and enjoys helping with everything happening on the Westside, especially revitalizing Mickel Park and making it a place for everyone to enjoy.

Emily works as the Associate Director of Advancement and Donor Relations at Saint Mark’s Episcopal School. Before that she worked in the Advancement Office at Holy Cross Hospital and was the Public Relations Manager at the NSU Art Museum. She is also on the Wilton Manors Library Advisory Board and enjoys interacting with City Staff and the WAWM Board on numerous projects and initiatives for the Westside.

In her spare time, you can find Emily spending time with family and friends, listening to music, reading a good book, or enjoying activities in our community.

Hunter Stephens

Hunter has served on the Westside Board of Directors for nearly three years, and the last two as President of the Association.

A life-long Washington, DC area resident, Hunter and his husband Mark moved to Wilton Manors in early 2020. During COVID, he explored every street in Wilton Manors and developed a deep appreciation for the unique qualities and charm of the Westside. Inspired by the potential to enhance the neighborhood's livability, Hunter became actively involved in community affairs.

Hunter loves meeting and spending time with his neighbors, and working to foster a sense of camaraderie and belonging within the community. In his free time, Hunter enjoys cycling, photography, and indulging in his passion for travel.

Shawn Walsh

Shawn has been an active member of WAWM since becoming a community resident in February 2021 and has since become a homeowner in the neighborhood. Prior to moving to Wilton Manors from New York City, he grew up in Connecticut and lived all over the Northeast.


Shawn brings an analytical mindset to his role on the WAWM board by utilizing his software engineering background and skills gained as a small business owner.


Shawn can typically be found engaging in an outdoor sport, as an avid pickleball player, golfer, member of several area running groups and consistent kickball player, he is always trying to make the most of what South Florida and Wilton Manors has to offer.

Westside Neighborhood Banners Are Up...and More Are Coming!

The Westside Association is excited to announce the installation of Westside Banners around the neighborhood. 

If you haven’t already seen a Banner, keep an eye out for them as you drive/walk/bike through the neighborhood. These initial 8 Banners can be seen at high traffic intersections where residents and visitors typically come in, out, or through the Westside. We are thrilled that additional Westside residents have offered to sponsor more banners, so a second round of installations is now being planned.

Lots of design, planning, and coordination with the City of Wilton Manors was involved in getting this accomplished. Big thanks to City Staff and to Westside members who sponsored several Banners.

Our hope is the Westside Banners will build on our sense of pride in the neighborhood and alert people coming through that they are in a residential area! We hope you like what you see!

If you are also interested in sponsoring a banner on or near your block, please send an email to wawm.org@gmail.com or reach out to any Board member who will gladly assist.

  

  

JOIN US

Your WAWM membership funds beautification projects, community social events, neighborhood cleanups, and other efforts to strengthen and promote the CommunityBenefits of joining WAWM:

 Become a member today.

WAWM, founded in July 2000, has a long history of supporting civic, cultural, economic, educational and recreational programs to enhance the quality of life of Westside residents and the City of Wilton Manors as a whole. WAWM endeavors to keep the Community informed of City plans and projects impacting Westside residents and businesses, and advocates on their behalf for the benefit of the entire Community. Learn More


  

  

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