New Years on the Squares

[billethkid]

For those of us that attended it was a shame to have such a wonderful opportunity for The Villages residents to revel and party as they have for years....but cut off at 9 PM by those in power (using the terms loosely)......

Hopefully the silent majority in The Villages will make their voices heard. And please don't waste your time by contacting the so called entertainment group.

I still maintain it was a budget issue. Penalizing the many for the sake of the few is just plain unacceptable BS!

Happy New Year.

Bill E.

[JerryM]

We were treated like children, telling us to go home at 9PM

I was embarrassed for my visitors who never will buy here now

Jerry

[REDCART]

JM, Could you have stayed in the Square after the music ended at 9:00 or did they make you clear out?

[Reggie]

Why don't they move the New Years eve celebration to the Polo Fields seems like the access would be easier to control and make it a Villager's only affair?

[billethkid]

We stayed until 11 PM before locating to a home for the final hour.

The cleanup people came around and asked if we would clean up after we left.

The issue as I understand it was not ease of accesibility, but one of "safety" to quote Barbara Vesco's office.

I was told the crowds were getting too big to assure the safety of the participants....which of course is pure bunk.

I personally believe if the silent majority bombards The Villages management (not the entertainment management).....it can be reversed.

If the word gets out that amenities are slowly being eroded that once were part of the so called lifestyle. They have volumn in their favor. I think reaching the appropriate management is the answer.

Write to the Morse's.....the lifestyle of old (in The Villages) is being compromised.

Bill E.

[The Great Fumar]

Never mind writing to the Morse's or anyone else, because nothing is going to change. This is not about the Villagers, this is about the younger crowds that come in raise cain on your amenity fees.....The villagers already have party's to go too. To support outsider party's by extending the entertainment deadline, then the developer is liable for any incident on the property , In this day and age of litigation , In my opinion, would be insane..Its a crazy world out there folks and the scary word of the day is LIAIBILITY .......
this is my opinion

[JohnN]

good point , fumar!

I also like the idea about using the polo fields and a Villagers only affair

[Frank2]

:agree:, :agree:, :agree:

[redwitch]

It seems like it wouldn't be that hard to close of the squares to Villagers only for very special events. Maybe even have a small (say $5) fee to cover the cost of rent-a-cops to keep out the riff-raff would be reasonable.

[DENNIS G]

good point , fumar!

I also like the idea about using the polo fields and a Villagers only affair


:agree: :agree: :agree:

They could probably charge an admission ($5.00-$10.00) and it still would be packed. I think it is a great idea, if they would only do it. I'm willing to pay additional admission for them to do that. Hasn't changed The Church on The Square since they started charging admission.

[chelsea24]

My husband and I were very disappointed. Moving here in Nov. I remember saying how great it will be to spend New Year's Eve at the square. We drove around to both and it I looked like it could have been fun if everyone was allowed to stay. :edit: I'm really ****ed about this, yes I agree with Red, how hard can it be to check ID's for square events for villagers only. Also, I suggested the Polo Field as an alternative and he said " how are they going to light it?" I said "let them figure it out, we paid not only for a home but a lifestyle, and we paid plenty!" This is the first bad thing that struck me at TV and I hope it's the last. With some creativity and effort this can be solved and I hope they solve it for next year. :verymad: I still be believe in intelligent protest, so let's all do something about it! Power to the people! :cus:

[Muncle]

A year ago, the "silent majority" was complaining because people in the squares kept piling in with chairs, moving the new front row of seats closer and closer to the bandstand until there was no room to dance. People who had arrived in the AM to set up tables and seats in prime positions found themselves shuffled to the back. This year, the powers that be decided to try a new tactic. They'd set up a special area for tables and allow people to reserve marked spaces (for $$$, of course). All hell broke loose!! :cus: Now I will grant you that this action was handled miserably. Idi Amin had a better sense of PR than the Rec people did on this one. Faced with criticism, they caved. Don't know for sure, but I expect the attitude was then: "To hell with it. Just treat the day like any other and if people want parties, let 'em hold their own."

Now people have known about this for weeks, especially if they read TOTV. But what do we have today? Shock and amazement that the music died at 9:00!!! Wake up, people. You knew this was the situation.

So now we have ideas, what TV should do. Close the Town Centers, only allow Villagers, and check IDs. Get serious!! Just give the logistics involved a modicum of thought and you'll realize the absurdity of the idea. And of course there are just a few legal and contractual issues involved. Move it to the Polo Field. It's got possibilities, worth looking into. However, suggesting it here isn't going to make it happen. If you think this is the solution, contact the Rec Division or whatever they are, make the suggestion, and volunteer to assist in working the details.

The overreaction to last night is almost laughable. If this is the biggest disappointment you encounter in TV, consider yourself very lucky. And if you decide to make your voice heard to the Morse family or management or whomever, make sure you have a suggestion to go along with your complaint.

(okay, so I overdid it a bit. I've had a headcold for 5 days. :barf: I'm sick, man. :bow:)

[chuckster]

A year ago, the "silent majority" was complaining because people in the squares kept piling in with chairs, moving the new front row of seats closer and closer to the bandstand until there was no room to dance. People who had arrived in the AM to set up tables and seats in prime positions found themselves shuffled to the back. This year, the powers that be decided to try a new tactic. They'd set up a special area for tables and allow people to reserve marked spaces (for $$$, of course). All hell broke loose!! :cus: Now I will grant you that this action was handled miserably. Idi Amin had a better sense of PR than the Rec people did on this one. Faced with criticism, they caved. Don't know for sure, but I expect the attitude was then: "To hell with it. Just treat the day like any other and if people want parties, let 'em hold their own."

Now people have known about this for weeks, especially if they read TOTV. But what do we have today? Shock and amazement that the music died at 9:00!!! Wake up, people. You knew this was the situation.

So now we have ideas, what TV should do. Close the Town Centers, only allow Villagers, and check IDs. Get serious!! Just give the logistics involved a modicum of thought and you'll realize the absurdity of the idea. And of course there are just a few legal and contractual issues involved. Move it to the Polo Field. It's got possibilities, worth looking into. However, suggesting it here isn't going to make it happen. If you think this is the solution, contact the Rec Division or whatever they are, make the suggestion, and volunteer to assist in working the details.

The overreaction to last night is almost laughable. If this is the biggest disappointment you encounter in TV, consider yourself very lucky. And if you write decide to make your voice heard to the Morse family or management or whomever, make sure you have a suggestion to go along with your complaint.

(okay, so I overdid it a bit. I've had a headcold for 5 days. :barf: I'm sick, man. :bow:)



Totally agree Muncle :agree: ..............The comments here are laughable considering the reasons for suspension were given weeks ago. Hang in there had the same :edit:d*** cold for 2 weeks and just now feeling less ornery according to my better half.

[Beltlady]

We need, but I know we are not going to get for 5 or more years, a TH IRD square. One can have R&R, one can have Line dancing and one can have all the rest. I do hope we can find a solution for this as it is alot of fun to do down to the square. It is kind of hard to dance on grass. Were the recreation centers being used? I know some of them were but not until after 9. I didn't make it pass 10 last night. I guess I'm getting REALLY old. We have been here 4 years and still are in awe at times that we live here.

[rekops]

I'm curious what Redwitch is referring to as Riff-Raff. I was at Sumter and saw many folks, including myself dancing and having a good time. I also saw some folks that I thought were outsiders. Some looked as though they were a lot less prosperous than most villagers. Hopefully they wouldn't be considered Riff-Raff.

I was under the assumption that the streets surrounding the town squares are public thoroughfares. How could a fee be charged to visit public property?

[redwitch]

I was actually being slightly sarcastic in using "riff-raff." It seems many Villagers consider anyone who doesn't live in TV as riff-raff. Quite honestly, I've met several in the squares who do not live here. If there's a dog around and I can pet it, I'm there. Many non-Villagers bring their dogs, so I end up talking to them. I've yet to find a person I've met in the Squares to be anything but nice.

Now, I have a question -- are all roads in TV public or are some considered owned by TV? I was under the illusion that those within the gates were technically private but patrolled by county under some strange agreement. Are the squares themselves public or private property? What about the streets right around the squares?

As to using the Polo Grounds for dancing, it surely wouldn't be that hard to put down some temporary dance floors. Might even be a good idea to protect the grass.

I don't think the complaints were about the music stopping at 9:00 p.m., everyone knew that was going to happen. I think it was the being told to leave at 9:00. Personally, I would take great offense to that had I been there. If I want to stay and just walk around or even dance to the music in my head (or iPod or boom box), why couldn't I?

Muncle, hope you feel better soon. (Yes, you were grumpy. ;)) And Chuckster, glad you're on the mend.

[golfnut]

:agree: I'm with muncle, I think you did a good job summing up the issues.

[The Great Fumar]

I think Muncie is right on the beam( head cold and all)..trying to close the town squares to the gen, public is ridiculous as they are county roads..and besides it would be illegal anyway...the buildings are all leased to public businesses , which probably then would involve restraint of trade..and it goes on and on....
There are new years party's all over the villages and all you have to do is buy a ticket , sit at your table ,wave your balloons and toot your horns and enjoy...
We did just that this year, We bought reservations at urban flats restaurant and we were not more than 100 feet from the square at Sumter Landing where at 9:00 O'Clock all the people looked in our windows and watched us having a good time....We had Live entertainment until 1;00 AM and I'm told they were very good....At least my wife said they were as she woke me up and took me home.............Happy New Year everyone ...

Still sleeping in the backseat FUMAR

[aln]

YEEAAAAH Muncie & Fumar. :clap2:
Glad to see the tide of this thread has moved to the realistic.
Admittedly, the Ent. Dept could have handled things better but,
can anyone image Times Square only open to the tax paying public of NY.
The reason the downtowns work at all is because they're open to the public.
Next thing some people will ask for is showing your Village ID at Publix !

[Peggy D]

good point , fumar!

I also like the idea about using the polo fields and a Villagers only affair


Fumar, You hit the nail on the head. Apparently there have been several incidents at LSL that have involved out-of-control people. More than likely an "outsider". It has bothered me so much to hear about them, that that is a big question as to whether we should move to TV. Security from such situations was a big factor. I think its wrong to punish those that comply with the law because of a few "wrong-doers" TV needs to deal with them. Hopefully it would stop if the word gets out that certain behavior isn't tolerated.

John, I think the polo fields is the answer. Celebrations at TV should be "residents only" and their guests. That's the impression I got. Guess I was wrong.

[Hope2b]

;D I plugged in where I moved from--Crestview, Fl. I thought it was a pretty safe place to live but TV beat it by a mile. Sure glad I live here.

[Peggy D]

Dee,

Riff-raff is a good way to discribe the drunks on the squares.

[redwitch]

Yeah, but there's no clue who will be the riff-raff ahead of time.

I don't really think NYE at TV quite compares to NYE at Times Square. There, the police are out in force. Here, from what I understand, the local constabulary basically refused or didn't have the manpower to be at the Squares. That being the case, closing the Squares makes sense. I know it is possible to close even a public street -- it's done all the time for street fairs and parades in California. So, saying it is not possible to close the Squares off to only TV residents is not quite accurate unless it is truly illegal by Florida law and that seems unlikely considering streets can be closed off for block parties and limited to residents only.

The logistics are relatively simple. There aren't that many roads that lead to the Squares. Rent-a-cops could be stationed on these roads and only allow those with ids and their guests. Additional rent-a-cops could be hired to patrol the Squares themselves and remove those who are drunk or exceedingly rowdy. Easy? No. Doable? Yes.

I do think the Polo Grounds is a good alternative. The obvious question would be whether it is large enough to let people be on the field and still have rooms for bands, etc. Having people sit in the stands wouldn't be all that much fun for an event like celebrating NYE.

Another alternative would be to open the rec centers. Have different bands in each. Make it a set price ticket that would allow you to travel from rec center to rec center or just stay put (your option). It could be done with either kiosks available for drinks or BYOB.

There are solutions. Hopefully, TV rec will find them by next year. The handling and ultimate solution for this year really was unsatisfactory.

Obviously, the other solution is to simply not put on a NYE celebration and leave it to the local bars, restaurants and homes to provide one. Works in many towns but just doesn't seem quite for the lifestyle of TV, at least not to me.

[gfmucci]

It might be in the merchants' interest to work with TV officials to pay for several off-duty officers to enable the area to stay open later.

[billethkid]

Would a drunken Villager be more acceptable than an "outsider".
Riff-raff and outsider are flagrantly interchanged by some of you. Where did you grow up/live in a locked up community???

Let's change the venue....how about any of the other events held in the squares when they are packed beyond comfort. Some how that is all managed. And please don't insult our intelligence by asserting there io drinking involved. There are no non drinking events in the squares if one takes notice.

Paredo got the linguine spined management, that said the heck with it is to blame.....nothing else. (Paredo = 80/20 effect.....as in an all Villagers only party 80% will be happy as larks and 20% will ave somethto grumble about...or less than 1% may create an altercation).

Why has the New Years celebration at Spanish Spring worked so well all these past years? Sumter, every year since opening???

The difference is the newbie management that does NOT have The Villager in mind when performing a take away.

While everybody is certainly entitled to their opinions, if you haven't been to the new years celebration on the squares you can not have the real perspective....only your opinion heavily influenced by how you would like it to be whether you go or not....and you are entitled.

When you "insiders" travel to other parts of the planet and enjoy the amenities....do you feel like an outsider. Would you be insulted to be called an outsider....riff-raff.

What's happening to America's friendliest home town????? Oh you mean it is only meant for Villager to Villager?????

One thing I do appreciate about forums lthis....it ain't the silent majority....they are still silent and the problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR.......

BTK

[beady]

Barb 1191
your comment about it being profitable for the merchants is probably the biggest stumbling block for moving celebrations out of the squares. No people , no profits.
So, maybe hiring some gendarmes for the evening might be a good solution for the "riff, raff" problem but it won't help with accomodating the crowds and safety related issues.
Such a problem, glad I don't have to make those decisions :duck: :duck: