Just stopped by to see what’s going on in The Villages.
 

We miss our friends there. Also miss being your administrator. Looks like the new TOTV owners are doing pretty well.

I doubt that many know how I spread the word about TOTV when I launched it.

I stood on the street corner and handed out fliers

I went to every doctors office and put stacks of fliers on every magazine end table.

I went to Spanish springs and sat down at every table and personally asked people to sign on

Somebody put stickers on every outdoor waste receptacle.

Somebody put stickers on every gas pump.

i tried to buy an ad in the paper, but they refused to sell me one.

The Villages told me to stop

Wow! Well, I love TOTV. Thank you for starting it.

:wave:

That was amazing foresight. When we moved here a year and a half ago I found it invaluable for getting helpful suggestions on doctors, dentists, hairdressers, shopping and all of the other info that made the adjustment easier. It still remains a source of very useful information and entertainment. :024:

Curious as to how come you left after all that?

My wife an I decided we were more comfortable on a larger piece of property with no deed restrictions. Additionally, we built our Villages home in Chatham and the agent didn’t tell us about the freight train that passed directly behind our house, sounding the horn twice an hour 24 hours a day. It drove me crazy.

We built in Plant City near Tampa and I continued ownership of TOTV with two partners for a couple more years. About 5 years ago a major national company offered us a significant cash buyout for the forum. So we sold it.

Hey Jan. Nice to see you. Some of us old timers (not many) are still around. You should have told us you were coming. I’m sure we could have found a way to get together for at least a cup of coffee.

And how are you doing? And your lovely wife? And is Tony still up to no good?

I am not in the Villages, I am at home in Plant City.

Tony is fine.

Well, you’re not that far away. Come down once in awhile for a visit. We’d love to see you.

Thank you

Talk Host, I was not aware of the history of this site, very interesting, and I am very happy that you had the foresight to start this project. I have gained a lot of information, and do my best to provide info to others. This site was a great idea.

Interesting, Thanks. The horn must be ridiculous. Could never have a baby around.

What do you mean...T.V. developers trying to stop you...But, but TOTV is part and parcel of the developers master plan, of catering to us villagers being informed of the goings on...GENIUS!!

Please give Tony my very best.

Great memories of those early days.

FYI CSX Transportation (train operator) established new quiet zones last year including where the trains cross 42 near Chatham so they no longer sound their horn at that crossing unless there is an emergency. The train crossing at 42 is the closest to Chatham Village. I used to hear the horn at night (faintly) here in Woodbury Village but not any more.

The quiet zones are located at County Road 42, 500 feet east of U.S. 301, Southeast 135th Street, 1700 feet east of U.S. 301 and Southeast 147th Street, 4500 feet east of U.S. 301

New Quiet Zones To Help With Train Noise Pollution – WUFT News

Thanks for starting this forum!

The developer saw me as a threat to their vice grip on media in the villages. They didn't want an outlet where people would be free to say something negative. In fact, I got a call from the covenant enforcement office telling me that I was operating an unapproved business from my home.

I laughed and said, “ what are you going to do?” They said The would put a lien on my house and when I try to sell it, they could block the sale. When I told them that I live in Plant City, Florida, our server is in Canada and our chief administrator is in Tennessee, they left me alone.

We were extatic when we reached one thousand members. Then, we did handstands when we reached one million page views a month and had to move to a bigger server.

You now have 83,000 members.

Nice to hear from you again Jan, I do hope all is well and I hope you are extremely happy in Plant City !

Thanks for starting this great forum and for stopping in again - a video from 2009 that must bring back some memories for you and others -> The Villages, Florida Talk of The Villages Luncheon - YouTube

I remember the beginnings of TOTV and your woes with the train noise. I was on every day for a year before we bought in 2008. TOTV helped me feel confident of our decision to move to The Villages. And we love it here! I had ready made friends when we moved down as a result of TOTV and I still keep in touch with many of them.

TOTV is not part of what the Morses have done. And I don't think they tried to stop it either. It is a forum and not a news venue. People react and talk on Facebook and many other on line sites.

I remember that interaction about the business in your home and in my memory it was a result of someone on the Forum who didn't like you and who you were in conflict with calling anonymously and reporting you doing business in your home. I think it was the same guy who has been banned many, many times. Doing business in one's home was allowed, is allowed as long as there aren't customers coming and going. You did not have people coming and going as I remember it. He did it to be nasty was the opinion I had.

You have no idea. Bye for now.

///

!!!

Thank you! Too bad it's now owned by national, most likely media company. It explains a lot!

I remember your visit to the Villages Computer Club in July of 2007 and the raffle you set up for some trip to get people to sign up for Talk of the Villages. I joined right away but remember I did get a lot of static from Tony for my putting in too many links. You guys said that it took readers away from Talk of the Villages rather than using it.

The negative stuff from the Villagers' Developer sounds accurate too if my memory serves.

Not many of the 2007 crowd on here anymore. They use Facebook for the most part now. And many have passed on or moved from the Villages.

Well, well, please say hello for me to "Mr.Tony, Mr. Admin, Sir," your original co-owner. I sure had a lot of fun bantering with him while writing my "Dear Mr. Tony, Mr. Admin, Sir" posts. His wit was wonderful. And he sure kept the place running smoothly. He made sure it was fun and welcoming and seemed to know when something was starting to turn ugly and would make those posts gone. Also, he could spot a troll at a thousand paces. I think his background as a newspaper editor, along with computer stuff, made him well equipped to run the site so effectively.

Ya know, had I known the joint was for sale, I maybe coulda, woulda, shoulda looked into buying it. Seriously. It would be different now if I were the boss. That's for sure. (sigh)

Okay guys, play nice.

It is so nice to be able to say hi to an old friend and, to me, Jan is just that. He gave a very nice history of TOTV ‘s beginnings. I do remember the grief the developer gave him, especially by not allowing them to place an ad in The Sun, even one thanking us for our patience when TOTV was acting up. So, let’s enjoy his company while we can and hope he comes back for more visits.

I do wonder if they got that Plant City Forum running? I registered on it but forgot about it after a while? And I did not feel all that welcome on there. I had no plans of posting on there at all just had been curious about Plant City and the Strawberry Festival.

I have looked for it once in a while but have not found anything like it.

I agree.....was nice to hear from old friends and at least mentally go down memory lane.

My only comment was I was taken back that folks jumped on this person coming on here simply to say hello, and met with objection....it baffles me.

And to BOOMER, Tony could spot trolls more than a mile away. Recall how the original political forum began because he felt the ongoing discussions about the proposed horse "farm" on 301 should have its separate area, and thus began the political area.

These are nice people and do not deserve to be treated any way but welcomed.

Was that the card room on 301? Horse racing too if I remember correctly.

Jan and Tony were very fair with his handling of trouble makers on various Forums. They saw through liars quickly as he seemed to pay attention to what they wrote in various places on Talk of the Villages.

Well, Mr Jan(Founder)... as a New Englander looking to move to TV later this year, you have earned every penny for this forum(site)!!! It's too bad I did not enjoy your presence, and with some of these posts, it looks like your unique diplomatic talent is still needed! Best Regards.

Thanks for the background info...from someone who knows. :thumbup:

Not a media company and all the Mods are Village residents and the owners own property in The Villages.

Regards,

TOTV Team

Do the owners live here? Curious

They own property and have family there but they aren't retired yet still working on it...

God Bless the Villages