This is a fairly long petition, but PLEASE take a moment to read it. Thank you.

Fay Midgley is a retired nurse, originally from New York. She lives in Palm Beach Leisureville in Boynton Beach, where she owns the home she's lived in for the past 8 years.

Carmella is almost 2 years old. She is talkative, engaging, and loves owls. She has just started daycare, and thankfully is in great health.

LillyAnna is 6 months old. She was born 3 months prematurely, weighing 1 pound, 9 ounces. She spent literally half of her young life in a neonatal intensive care unit. Her prematurity caused many severe health issues, and although she is now out of the hospital she requires frequent medical care and therapy; her health battles are most certainly going to be life long.

Carmella and Lillyanna's mother (Fay's daughter) has both legal and health issues, and is not capable of taking care of them. Because of her condition, a judge court-ordered them into Fay's custody. Fay is 64 years old, semi-retired, and did not envision herself taking care of 2 children at this stage of her life. The alternative was foster care, and this was not an alternative that Fay would allow.

Recently, a resident of Leisureville publicly voiced his displeasure at the fact that there is a “black baby” living there (Carmella is bi-racial) ***UPDATE (9/11) We just recieved a written statement from a neighbor, detailing exactly what was said.  He said, in part, that "there is a black baby living around the corner from him, and that he will not allow niggers to live in his neighborhood.  He said he's on the board, and will force the child to leave no matter what it takes".  The person who gave Fay the statement said he will swear in front of a judge if necessary that that's what this other person said.      

A week afterwards, Fay received an anonymous letter saying “other children in the community will be allowed to stay, but you and the black baby will be forced to leave,mark my words”. Apparently they were correct, because Fay then received a letter from the association’s lawyers, stating that the children have 30 days to leave. Its "almost" as if the person who sent the letter knew in advance what the association board was planning.  Interesting coincidence, yes?

Once it became known that Fay was going to stand up for her grandchildren, anonymous letters went to her neighbors in an effort to turn people against her. One particular letter (there were a few sent) said there is a drug dealer living in the house where the children are, and that he has been overheard saying he will silence those who try to stop him. They name the "drug dealer" by name but the only problem is that the person they reference, Carlos Santiago, who was Fay's boyfriend for many years, died more than 10 years ago. Apparently, Carlos' name is still on the deed of the house, so they looked up home records and tried to use the information to scare people.  As far the other letters that people received, we were not allowed to see them.  The board has acknowledged them, but refused to show them to Fay; something about it being 'handled internally", which is pretty convenient, once the damage was already done... 

According to association rules, no one under 16 is allowed to live there permanently. Despite the fact that the Board of Directors is aware of Fay and the children's circumstances, they have decided that the rules are more important than human issues and a Judge's order. They could make an exception, but chose not to take the kind path; rules are rules. Fay is breaking the rules, and that's that. They were careful not to say that she (Fay) must leave, just the children, but she does have custody, so where would the children go without their legal guardian?

Hate to go here, but we must: Fay and her family and others who know the situation are wondering what the real issue is- children, or Black children. Remember, this all started when someone (who works with the association board, but Im kind enough not to give his name yet) complained about the black baby living there, and just like the anonymous letter told her "other children in the community will be allowed to stay, but you and the black baby will be forced to leave, mark my words”.  ***UPDATE (9/11) In light of the statement we recived, detailing what this person actually said, its clear that there is racial discrimination at work here. 

Fay is being forced out of the home she owns, and she will have to pay not only her own legal fees, but the legal fees of the attorneys who are forcing her out. Quite simply, she has nowhere to go, doesn’t have the money to move, and certainly cant afford legal fees to fight this.

If this outrages you, as it does us, please let your feelings be known. Please sign this petition, or write to, or call the Leisureville office at 561 732-7474. If you have any advice or information that would be helpful, please call David at 561 452-2138, or email at dcapuzelo@aol.com.  

Thank you for taking the time to read this.