Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

I started to put this in the "Re: EVERYBODY SEEMS TO LOVE THE VILLAGES, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT YOU HATE BESIDES" but that one is too long already, IMHO.

And besides I love it here!! I don't hate anything - this is paradise....
Well ok we do have lotsa bad drivers!! And a less-than-efficient "security gate system".

My suggestions for the "Suggestion Box":

1. Instead of using those cards to get through the gates, I'd like to have some small sticker on my windshield that could be "read" by an electronic reader at the gates. My driver's side window opener/closer (not sure what to call it) is starting to go bad! This can be very expensive to get repaired! (Been there!!)

2. I'd love to have a real Farmers' Market especially in the Summer months, at both squares, (or even one square on alternating days or weeks) at least once a week, EARLY in the mornings before it gets hot or starts raining!

Anyone else have ideas?

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

PJ

I also thought about a windshield sticker but then I thought about the times I'm here with a rental car. A sticker is not the answer.

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

I suggest that I get my house sold so that I can move to The Villages .... but I guess you weren't referring to that kind of suggestion. ??? :'(

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

I suggest that the United States Government allow Canadians who own houses in The Villages to stay more than 183 days a year in the US. Oh, sorry, this thread is about suggestions for the Developer. Well, he has a lot of power, some think he is Omnipotent; perhaps he can talk to someone higher up. :dontknow:

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

"I also thought about a windshield sticker but then I thought about the times I'm here with a rental car. A sticker is not the answer."

Brightspot, yes I understand the problem if we're using rental cars, or if we haven't moved in yet, and don't have a gate pass. But there must be a better way besides constantly rolling our windows up & down. Maybe they could have a sticker that is removeable? There must be a better way.

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

something like the florida toll road pass , just a card like the key but where it can be read

I'd like to have a nice WALKING path or park (I know there's an exercise path on the north end)

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

Bring a minor league baseball franchise to The Villages. Fumar can pitch, Muncle can catch, any shortstops out there?

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

No comment one way or another about any of the suggestions, but remember that the cost of anything put in will come out of your pocket. For instance, if we went the automatic reader/scanner method, you would need to buy, install, and maintain 1 or 2 of them for each of the many, many gates, plus the cost of the devices for each vehicle.

Re Barefoot's suggestion, just imagine if the 183 day rule were rescinded. We'd be overrun with Canadians in no time (notice, no pejorative nickname for Canadians!!), eh. And we'd have to install a Tim Hortons.

And Cabo, I've been catching enough :edit: lately. Though I would love to see the college football quasi-all star game return to the polo field. I wasn't here for the 2 years they had it, but on television it looked great. In the same vein, I wouldn't mind seeing them play a Nationwide, Duramed Futures, or Hooter golf tournament here.

HOW ABOUT OUR OWN POST OFFICE???
 

Here I am in southwest Michigan. I go to the Post Offices in Sawyer (population 2,661), or Three Oaks (population 1,742), or Bridgman (population 2,428), or Harbert (population 1,619), or Lakeside (population 196), or New Buffalo (population 2,085), or Union Pier (population 881). All have post offices.

We live in The Villages, population 75,000 and growing at the rate of 6,000 or so each year, and we don't have our own Post Office! We have to go to Lady Lake (population 13,854) where they have three post offices! Or Fruitland Park (population 3,186), or Oxford (population 2,904), or Belleview (population 3,478), or Wildwood (population 3,924). They all have nice post offices, open 5-1/2 days a week, fully staffed, etc.

What have we done to get crapped on so badly by the Postmaster General? Geez, The Morse family gave George Bush close to a million dollars so he could get elected for two terms. What'd they get for the community they built? Zippo!

Just another reason why we need a new administration in Washington...as if we needed more reasons.

I got so honked writing this that I'm going to post it as it's own thread. Maybe folks will get mad enough to write their Senators or Congressmen. But be careful,many of them may not be there when the 111th Congress convenes in January, 2009. I hope they actually have to get a job and try to make an honest living.

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

How about a transponder like my Sunpass or eazypass?

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

RE: the farmers market

There used to be one where Toojay's is now or maybe where Big City Grill is. Then there used to be a guy at Sumter landing until Sweetbay came and they closed him down. :(

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

I agree with Kahuna, the post office situation is deplorable. I live far south so I just go to Wildwood. But, I really shouldn't have to. I'm kind of amazed that this problem exists at all. Everything else is so well planned out. :dontknow:

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

Just a note of thanks to Dev. about the wonderful flowers and plantings around TV.
On 466A entrance by C/C the flowers just pop with color as well as other areas.
What a joy to see as we scoot and hoot around.

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

If I recall, a few months ago, there was an article in the paper about how they were going to try a device like Sunpass that you could buy for about $60 +/- that would open the gate for you. They had to upgrade the electronics at the gates first but I haven't heard anything since. Don't know if the idea was squashed or not. Maybe somebody knows more. :dontknow:

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

I am not a TV resident yet-still trying to sell the house-but I do agree with two suggestions so far. Barefoot, I think its awful that you can only stay 183 days in the States. I mean, its not like you taking jobs away from anyone..............instead you are supporting the economy. Makes little sense to me. And I agree that TV really should have its own Post Office.

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

I'm already sold on the TV Lifestyle but it would be the icing on the cake if I knew that there were community swimming pools with SHADE......... umbrellas ? trees ? canopies ? partial roof ? some place to hang out at the pool without baking & roasting my skin ::)

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

The pools do have shade under the arbors, and ceiling fans too, all that I have used anyway.

I would love to see a concession stand/snack bar, at the family pools, and a bartender at the adult pools. :) I know, that brings us back to the rat issue.. ???

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

I don't care how the gates open...as long as they don't open for my brother-in-law. But that's another story.

Seriously. The type pass now used would probably be OK with most people if the machine that reads the card could read through a closed window. However, as mentioned already, any change will come with a price. How much will it cost vs how important is the convenience?

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

Shade over some of the water in the pools. The shade is in the corners of the decks. I want to use the pools and exercise without full sun beating down on me.
Also, build some more wellness centers with indoor pools.
Or just build some indoor pools. :)

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

Maybe it's just me....but i don't get it!! We visited last Sept for 3 weeks and we found nothing wrong with the gate system. so you get your pass out and flash it if you are in a cart or roll down your window. So what!! What's the big deal. If there are not any other more serious issue's than that.....we all are in pretty good shape. don't you think?

The pools....again...we loved them...the one we went to on a regular basis...Chula Vista is clean, well kept...some shade and nice chairs. It is true that we did not visit any others except we did try to get into Orange Blossom Hills....and that looked great and even had a TIKI Bar. It seemed really nice to us!! Out guest pass would not allow us to go in but we understand how that works now.

Minor league baseball in TV? A great, great idea....and probably enough population within TV and the other town nearby to support it well. What a feather in the cap that would be!

The Post Office thing.......well sure it would be nice to have a real one, but i do not see that as a major issue. I don't think i have mailed a letter in years....everything is now electronic! So a few times a year you go over to one of the Post Offices that someone else mentioned in an earlier post if you have a package. Not a big deal!

What we found to be lacking in the time we spent in TV , was lack of dedicated walking paths. We thought we would see more folks out walking, jogging, walking dogs etc., and we did not see that. We were staying on the Spanish side so maybe there are paths over by LSL? Does anyone know? That would be a great improvement and maybe not to expensive to create some great nature walking trails...just for people...no carts. What do you all think about that?

Carlent

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

I vote for walking/jogging/biking paths south of 466 and for better fitness facilities.

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

Before we moved to TV, I asked the Village realtors about walking paths. I was told "They're not needed, everyone golfs here". :dontknow:

I believe the Springdale Walking Trail in the North/west corner is the only path that is "dedicated" to walkers. I would love to see more, as I don't golf!

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

Bare

Where is the Springdale walking path? North of 466?

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

There is a full service post office in the old part of The Villages. It is small but whenever I have used it they had just as many people working there as at some of the bigger post office. It is behind Rio Ranchero Restaraunt off of 441. It is golf cart accessible for anyone on the old side.

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

There is a newer post office behind the town hall around the corner from the police and fire stations off 27/441 and south of Home Depot. There is never a wait and the postal workers are the friendliest you will ever find! One of them even sings while he works...lol.

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

Bright, it is way, way north of 466. You can see it on the large Villages map. Have you ever been to Brusters in the Mulberry Center for ice cream? If you take Buena Vista North from 466, the Springdale walking path is located just before you get to 42 .. the most northerly edge of TV. The path runs south east .. I think mostly under the hydro wires.

Re: PO
 

I was going to write a letter to the Editor but someone stoled my thunder regarding sizes of nearby towns that have post offices. How about Weirsdale and UGGGGGH Altoona!? I have no idea what their populations are but the're both very small and yet both have a full service PO.
What I would like to see built and I'd pay some bucks to help is a Performing Arts Center
but NOT on village property. Maybe in one of those cow pastures near where the new VA Hospital is going up on 42 or someplace on 301. Close enough to TV that we could all attend yet not be under their thumb.

Jerry Jackson

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

Carlent,
Sorry I guess I wasn't clear. I certainly don't mind pushing my window button to open it. That is not the problem. After about a bazillion times going through the gates, it stops working, and the window refuses to close, and getting it repaired is expensive. The mechanics have to take your door assembly completely apart to repair it. I had to get this done on my previous car, and now it's starting to happen with my current car. Maybe this doesn't bother you, but most of us would find this an inconvenience at least.

Also the hot (unprotected) pools issue that has been discussed sounds real to me. I can't imagine how uncomfortable that must be. And dangerous for those of us who are light-skinned and sun-sensitive. I just don't go to pools because of that.

We do need our own Post Office. I've stood in line in the Lady Lake P.O. many times when there were 2 lines with 10-12 people in each line.

Re-read Kahuna's examples above, comparing the population of many small towns that have their own PO --- very disturbing, considering the population here in TV, and to quote part of his post:

"What have we done to get crapped on so badly by the Postmaster General? Geez, The Morse family gave George Bush close to a million dollars so he could get elected for two terms. What'd they get for the community they built? Zippo!"
:agree: :agree: :agree:

I like the idea about more and longer walking paths where there would be no golf carts.
PJ

Re: PO
 

You've cited a couple locations of post offices and others in this thread have named many more. If you'll notice a couple similarities about those sites, it is that they are all municipalities of some sort and they've all been there for a long time, especially relative to TV. Until recently (in gov't time), TV was mostly located in and around Lady Lake and was served by that office. As we know, the USPS is a semi-independent government agency. It reports neither to Congress nor the president. It is supposed to be revenue neutral, but it does rely somewhat on our tax dollars. The USPS retains the power to build, operate, lease and maintain buildings and facilities. It's not done by Congress or the president. And they do operate on gov't time. They don't build like the Morses. They have a long range schedule for construction and hopefully with actions like the massive petition and pressure from the local Reps, TV can get on that schedule. But keep in mind -- it's still gov't time.

And these are the folks to whom so many want to turn all heath care.

Re your Performing Arts Center, see http://www.vpaa.org/

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

Why wouldn't they let you in Orange Blossom Pool with a guest pass? I have been in there with guests many, many times.

Also, the Tiki Bar and Orange Blossom Restaurant and Bar are open to the general public.

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

Chuck

My hubs and I went to the Orange Blossom pool about a month ago and were told that yes, we could sit at the Tiki Bar and have a drink while watching the swimmers. However, we could not use the pool without purchasing some kind of membership or something or other.

I asked what would happen if I just "accidently" fell in while walking to or from the bar. He laughed and told me he would probably overlook that. lol

Anyway, we looked around and left.

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

Chuck
We could not get in Chuck because we did not have a upgraded membership card. The people we were renting from had a regular card and with a standard card you can not get into Orange Blossom CC Pool. Yes, you can use the restaurant and depending on who is on the gate, some will let you sit at the Tiki Bar. This is also true for the other CC pools. It costs $200 a year for a single to upgrade your card

Carlent

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

PJ
I feel your pain! LOL
I understand it is probably a big deal for you and the repairs etc., I once had a 1952 Frazer with about 300K miles and it had electric windows. Maybe the first one's ever made on cars. They worked just fine and never stopped. maybe you should buy a different brand of car! LOL
On the serious side though.....the shade in the pools are a much bigger issue as it involves a health hazzard and i am with you on this one. However I have a very easy and low cost solution. Just buy a chair umbrella for $10 and clip it to the back of your chair. Problem solved!

Carlent

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

My suggestion would be to remove the gates completely. It seems more like a nuisance than anything else. We all know that anyone can get into the gate, so it's not like they are there for security purposes. You can always put speed bumps in the road to slow down the auto traffic. That way if you are in a golf cart you wouldn't have to stop or slow down.

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

But the speed bumps can't take your picture as you enter! (as the cameras can)

And the speed bumps don't smile and say "Hi, have a good day!" (as the guard person does)

I'd vote to keep the gates & cameras for whatever feeling of safety they add, just wish it was truly gated.

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

Bright & Carlent:

Thanks for the info.

Forgot that my mother was paying extra so that her guests could use that Pool.

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

RE: OBH pool - Guest pass NO - Preview plan guest YES

The only pool off reach for preview program are the Sport Pools.

RE: Dedicated walking paths - Great idea but - I was there in April which admittedly has fewer people than Jan-Mar and I had no trouble taking a nice walk every day 2 miles from Largo to LSL. Most of that is on sidewalks up Canal St. with no carts since they are on the street. So in a sense there are dedicated walk/run paths south of 466. Canal street has sidewalks for its entire length from just south of LSL at Stillwater to Bonita (just shy of 2 miles in my guesstimate) and I imagine this may continue all the way down Canal to and into the new section south of 466A which would be about 5 miles.

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

Sam comments occasionally about the dangerous situation at the Bridgeport at Lake Sumter gate. This is caused primarily by the location of the cart path in relation to the gate. If gates were removed at other locations as you suggest, I would expect chaos to ensue in situations like Tall Trees, Sunset Point, Liberty Park, St. Charles Village, and others similarly laid out. Each entrance/exit would soon be replete with memorial crosses dedicated to the golf cart drivers who didn't slow down killed by motorists who weren't intimidated by speed bumps.

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

Speed bumps..... my car often scrapes the chassis or the front spoiler scrapes some speed bumps. After replacing a few Corvette parts you would rather not have speedbumps. True, most cars have more ground clearance but speed bumps are a pain in the butt (literally) if you have a motorcycle too. I vote against speed bumps. I would rather take my chances with the power window life than give up the camera security.

Re: Suggestion Box for TV Developer
 

Call me a Pollyanna, but, except for the Post Office situation, I love The Villages just the way they are -- gators and all! :#1: