AUGUST NEWS FROM VANTAGE POINTE
Please note, this version of the newsletter
is the generic version and contains no pictures or animation.
President's View
It is with a great deal of pleasure that
I announce that the July 19, 2011 meeting with the County Commissioners was
a huge success in the eyes of many. There were over 20 people there in
support of the presentation, which doesn't seem like many in our large
community, but the Commissioners were impressed and that's what counted. I
wish to thank all those who e-mailed me their support which was also
indicated at the Commission meeting, The presentation, made by Rick Whidden
in our behalf, was well done, as expected. Comments made by myself included
our need for more space at monthly meetings because our attendance was in
violation of the fire code, monthly dinners and other functions caused us to
limit attendance because of fire codes, our bathrooms were not handicap
accessible, and our kitchen was not equipped to allow us to keep food warm
while serving large numbers of people and these were the reasons for our
proposal.
With no further comments being made,
Chairman Barbara Stewart, who incidentally has been an ally of ours on
previous issues, including the sewer issue, called for a vote and the
results were 4 in favor and 0 against for all of our variance requests.
The only down side to the issue is that
we lost two months of preparation on our project.
The next step now is to complete all drawings necessary to submit to
contractors for bids on the project. That, along with the finance
arrangements will allow us to submit to the community the final package for
approval.
I will only speak for myself, and not
for my board, that I am extremely excited that this community can have a
recreation facility that can serve the entire community. In the 22 years my
wife and I have lived here we have seen this community grow from 64 homes to
195 and unfortunately the facilities did not grow with it. Now we will
accomplish it and it will be something that will make the community proud.
Dick Vanderlaan
President, VPHA
AROUND THE POINTE
ALERT: TO ALL RESIDENTS OF
VANTAGE POINTE
In past years, many including myself,
have at one time or another cut tree or bush trimmings and dumped them in
the wooded areas around the community. In fact, there were occasions in the
past where work crews, trimming trees and/or bushes along the Trace would,
on occasion, throw the trimmings into the woods west of the Trace.
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT IN THE FUTURE
THIS WILL HAVE TO CEASE. The reason being that one of our residents in
the community filed a complaint with the County Code Enforcement Department
that they had witnessed our grass cutters from Pro Lawn throwing some palm
trimmings into the woods along the trace. As a result, I received a call
from the Code Enforcement Department indicating that since the grass
cutters were under our employ, we were responsible to see that they
corrected this infraction within the next 30 days as it was a case of
illegal dumping in a undesignated dumping area and a fine of 500 dollars
could be imposed.
I immediately contacted the owner, who
happened to be in the community at the time, and she told me it would be
corrected the next day and it was. I have not had a second contact with the
Code Enforcement Department at this time. In our conversation I did advise
them that on two occasions in the past we have chased people from the
outside away when they were attemping to dump grass and trimmings into the
woods at these locations. Also, our people are constantly policing the area
near Thunderbird Road picking up bottles, cans, litter of all kinds that is
being left there by outsiders and none of that is the fault of the Pro Lawn
people.
As a result of the complaint, we will be
checked periodically by the Code people so be vigilant with your actions.
Thank you for your help.
Dick Vanderlaan, President
The 4th of July Picnic was a great
sucess thanks to another fine hardworking committee.
OUR HIGHLANDS ART LEAGUE REPORTER JOHN
LASCO REPORTS THAT NOTHING IS GOING ON DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST AS THE ART
LEAGUE IS CLOSED. THE SECOND FRIDAY RECEPTIONS WILL RESUME IN SEPTEMBER.
Around Town.
MURPHY OIL USA, IS EXPLORING THE
POSSIBILITY OF BUILDING A MURPHY EXPRESS GAS STATION AT THE CORNER OF U.S.
27 NORTH AND GRAND PRIX DRIVE. THE COMPANY IS WAITING ON A PERMIT FROM
FDOT. ONCE THEY RECEIVE THE PERMIT THE PROCESS COULD MOVE ALONG MORE
QUICKLY. THE GAS STATION PLAN WOULD MEAN THE DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING
STORE AND INCORPORATES A WOODED LOT BEHIND THE EXISTING PROPERTY AS WELL AS
A PORTION OF WOODS FURTHER SOUTH ALONG PALM WAY FOR A RETENTION AREA. THE
PLAN WOULD ALSO RESULT IN THE REMOVAL OF MY FAVORITE FRUIT AND VEGGY STAND
WHICH NOW SITS ON
THE CORNER.
THE SEBRING COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY BOARD HAS APPROVED A $54,455 RENOVATION GRANT FOR A NEW RESTAURANT
SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN THE NEWLY RENOVATED DOWNTOWN CIRCLE. THE BAKERY AND
RESTAURANT NAMED "LOAFIN' AROUND" WILL MOVE TO WHERE THE FORMER CAT HOUSE
RESTAURANT, AND MORE RECENTLY SANDY'S CIRCLE CAFE USE TO BE LOCATED AT 213
CIRCLE PARK DRIVE.
APPARENTLY THE BELLE VISTA INN (FORMERLY
PAUL'S HARBORSIDE) IS CLOSED.
THE DEMOLITION OF THE BUILDINGS TO MAKE
WAY FOR THE SAMS CLUB IS GETTING CLOSE. THE ENTIRE PROPERTY IS NOW FENCED
OFF AND THE LIGHT FIXTURES ARE BEING REMOVED FROM THE OLD SCOTTIES
BUILDING.
FINAL TIDBITS
Just a reminder....................
The Vantage Pointe Social Club will be
staging a wine & cheese party on January 21st, 2012 from 6:00 - 9:00 P.M. at
the clubhouse.
Residents are asked to bring wine and
cheese from your home state or province to share. Also decorations for a
table such as small state or provincial flags, toothpicks with flags,
napkins, tablecloth etc.
Plastic wine glasses will be available
or bring your own.
Mark it on your list of things to bring
when you return in the fall.
During the summer, if anyone has any
changes or additions for the directory, PLEASE let Gayle Magisano know at
ayla177@yahoo.com.
When sending resident information,
please include Names, V.P. Address, Away address, Telephone numbers and
e-mail address.
Coffee hour is still on Monday mornings
from 8:30 until 9:30.
Card Bingo has been
suspended for the summer
Pool volleyball is
played on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 till 4:00 when we have
enough people to play.
Parting shot
Important names to remember for contact
purposes when away
Lighting Walt Becker (863)
386-5281
Irrigation Jim Kolp
(863) 471-0927
Please keep all of our friends and
neighbors who are experiencing trials and tribulations and health problems
of any kind in your thoughts and prayers.
Closing
thoughts..........................
Smiling is infectious, you catch it like
the flu,
When someone smiled at me today, I
started smiling too.
I passed around the corner, and someone
saw my grin,
When he smiled, I realised, I had passed
it on to him.
I thought about that smile, and realised
its worth......
A single smile, just like mine, could
travel round the earth.
So if you feel a smile begin, don't
leave it undetected,
Lets start an epidemic, and get the
world infected.........
(Author - Jackie
Eccles)
Thats all for now
.....................Lets all remember to be kind to each
other...............
DON DEWEY