By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Community
Millie Francis, a homeowner in Bradenton Tropical Palm, says she isn’t going to take down a painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe (also known as the Virgin Mary) that adorns her mobile home, despite her HOA’s objections.
The property manager of the trailer park, Janet Nowakowski of Vanguard Property Management out of Tampa, says several months ago, the HOA gave Francis permission to remove a picture window from her home, and replace it with plywood.
But, according to Nowakowski, the modification wasn’t completed according to the agreed upon timeline. So the HOA is requiring Francis to resubmit her request. This time, the HOA wants to see an additional request for the display a religious painting where the homeowner’s window used to be.
Francis insists that she completed the window removal on schedule. She says the HOA’s actions are nothing more than religious discrimination against a Catholic.
Resident-owned co-op
Bradenton Palms is a resident-owned co-op, restricted as an active community for residents age 55 and older. According the community’s website, the cost to purchase a share in the cooperative is only $27,500, with a $170 per month maintenance fee.
But despite its apparent affordability, the community has its share of problems.
According to Francis, she asked to remove her picture window last spring because park security kept shining flashlights into her home at night.
Why would they do that?
Who knows? But the HOA did approve boarding up the window.
Francis said she was inspired to add the painting of the Virgin Mary while attending church.
But the HOA recently threatened to sue Francis if she refuses to remove the religious painting. Today is the HOA’s deadline for removing Lady Guadalupe and submitting a new request to the board. The HOA Attorney’s letter warns that, if the HOA prevails, the Francis could end up paying the HOA’s legal fees.
Although the homeowner is upset by the threat of legal action against her, she’s not backing down. And her story of courage is spreading across the country.
And it seem that most people think the HOA should simply allow the elderly woman to enjoy her expression of faith.
Florida woman, 85, fighting to keep painting of Virgin Mary on mobile home: ‘Have to kill me first’
Lucia I. Suarez Sang By Lucia I. Suarez Sang | Fox News
An 85-year-old Florida woman reportedly says the lawyers representing her trailer park will “have to kill me first” before she lets them remove an illustration of the Virgin Mary that’s painted on the side of her mobile home.
Millie Francis painted an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe – one of Mary’s many Catholic titles and the patroness of Mexico – on a piece of plywood on the front of her mobile home in the Bradenton Tropical Palms trailer park.
The property manager for Vanguard Property Management demanded Francis remove the painting – to which she responded, “They’ll have to kill me first,” the Bradenton Herald reported.
“You’re not going to tell this old lady what to do,” Francis told the newspaper. “This is America. As long as I have two arms and two legs, I’m going to do it.”
They’ll have to kill me first.’ Woman refuses demand to remove painting of Virgin Mary
BY MARK YOUNG
myoung@bradenton.comNovember 02, 2018 02:22 PM
Updated November 03, 2018 12:46 PMRead more here: https://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article221013820.html#storylink=cpy
