Menace at Brownwood
 

I have really enjoyed Brownwood since it opened last year, as well as the other town squares, but now I'm reluctant to ever go back to Brownwood.

Last night (Saturday) at Brownwood, as I crossed the street and walked toward the dance area on the west side of the sound stage, a group of young people (in their twenties or so) was gathered around one guy but I wasn't really paying attention. Suddenly as I got closer, I saw half the body and head of a gigantic python lunge outward from the guy's shoulders, and in my direction. I thought I'd have a heart attack right then and there. Just thinking about it 24 hours later makes me sick to my stomach.

I can think of few things more horrifying than a python on display over a guy's shoulders, and lunging outward at pedestrians, on the town square. The group of admirers laughed at my horrified reaction.

I reluctantly continued to the seating area and sat down and told a woman next to me about it. She said another woman had called the police about this gigantic snake, but apparently they told her they couldn't do anything about it.

What is WRONG with people who would do something like this?? It's my understanding the town squares are private property and not public (as the streets are).

Why would anyone tolerate a giant python at the town square where people come to enjoy themselves, NOT be scared to death??

The squares are not private property.

Had to be a frightening situation. Some people do some crazy things just for attention and I guess in this case he drew attention.
For the record, the town squares as well as the streets within The Villages are not private property.

I can only think someone would bring a potentially dangerous animal to someplace like the square just to shock and get reactions from people. Sad the police could not do anything.

I always thought the actual entertainment area was private. They have no smoking rules as well as rules that state you can not bring your own coolers. They have announcments about it at every break.

I'm sure the Python wasn't happy about it either. That's a stupid thing to do to a snake. I personally don't like snakes and I do know they are just as scared of us as we are of them.

Please Villages, do something about these people. That's all I need is my parents in their 80's seeing a python while we are enjoying the squares and they have a heart attack from fear!!!!

That's exactly what I was thinking. There are rules for the squares. So who do we contact about a NO REPTILES rule?

So if the town squares are not private property who owns them?

They are owned by the developer aren't they?

"She said another woman had called the police about this gigantic snake, but apparently they told her they couldn't do anything about it".

This seems to be the answer on about everything....can't do anything about anything.

It was my understanding that the squares are public property and that the businesses around the squares pay for the entertainment. Don't know where the no-smoking rule comes from. Is smoking banned in public places in municipalities around FL?

When our son was in college, his girlfriend had a ball python. We (reluctantly) babysat it once. I'm not a fan of snakes, but they are not dangerous. They don't bite; they strangle their prey. Unless you're a mouse or a rat, you're fine.

I'm wondering... if you are that afraid of snakes, how did you know what kind of snake it was?

Stupid of those kids to have it in a public square, I do agree.

I knew what kind of snake it was because I have seen people stupid enough to have one as a pet before. The thing was about 5 inches in diameter and was unmistakeable!! And then there are the constant articles with pictures about how these things are ruining the Everglades.

There are tons of people who have snakes as pets. Never heard them labeled as stupid before.

Again, this sounds like a bunch of young people trying to scare others. Keep walking and ignore them. It's not a dangerous snake, just scary to come upon if you haven't had experience with them. Perhaps you should contact the sheriff or whoever supervises the officers who told you they could do nothing. There might be something that can be done. The officers could have been wrong. Or lazy.

Sorry that so many are afraid of snakes, needlessly. Just another person who likes to take a pet to the squares thinking people will share their love of animals? No concerns here with snake poop or the snake taking up a seat or tripping over the snake's leash or being allergic to snakes. I would have thought it was interesting to see, just don't let it go into the wild please.

I believe the Brownwood Town Square area is in the police jurisdiction of Wildwood.

Every time I read that someone reported an objectionable activity to the police and that the police said they couldn't do anything, the police showed a lack of imagination.

In this case the police should have talked to the snake owner and discussed the ramifications of Florida Statute 823.01 which says "All nuisances that tend to annoy the community, injure the health of the citizens in general, or corrupt the public morals are misdemeanors of the second degree..." It is broadly written. All that is required is that the presence of the snake in the town square area "tends" to "annoy" the community. The police officers themselves could be the complainants.

This discussion would most likely result in the immediate departure of the snake owner and the snake from the area.

Thank you. That's good information.

I wonder what would happen if said snake lunged at someone who had a legal concealed weapon causing them to be in fear of their life (George Zimmerman for example?) Could they be arrested if they shot the snake? How about if they shot the snakes owner?

Once again an isolated incident has the alarm flanger going as though it were a general condition/situation.

A ham sandwich being treated as though it were a banquet.

btk

Let's see. I'm definitely not stupid but I did used to own a snake and, yes, I did take it with me in public. Monte (I know, not very original) actually seemed to like hanging out with people. I didn't do it to scare people. I didn't do it for attention. I did it because I liked the big lug and hated that he was always in an aquarium. He never bit anyone, never even lunged at them (and I seriously this python lunged either although it might have been tasting the air). He enjoyed getting stroked by others. When he finally got too big, I gave him to the San Francisco Zoo where, so far as I know, he still happily resides. He was used in several shows about snakes and has been handled by many folks, including Gary Larson (who is terrified of snakes).

I will admit I would never have taken Monte to a town square -- just too noisy and too many vibrations which could have upset him. Was foolish of the owner of this python to have done so.

I don't want to make light of the OP's terror, but I too doubted that the snake actually "lunged" as if it intended to get at her. It's just not in a python's nature, at least of the two we babysat. The only time I saw one lunge was when my son fed it a mouse.

Again, not a good idea to take it into a heavily populated square with strangers, if only for the safety of the snake, among other reasons.

I was thinking exactly the same thing, isolated incident. I love your post! :ho:

Privately owned by a governmental unit with public access.

And what is the name of the governmental unit for each square?

Was it on a leash?

Sounds like a good case for the Stand Your Ground law.

How do you know if it was a python? And if it was, isn't there any kind of public safety law that would apply?

Be careful of what you wish for, pets may be banned from the town squares. You know how laws work!:doggie:

I just hate to bring this up, but did anyone else see this snake at Brownwood?

I mean. Welcome to the forum Livesea. First post and all.

The three town squares are private property with public access allowed. They are owned, respectively, by the Village Center Community Development District (Spanish Springs), by the Sumter Landing Community Development District (Lake Sumter Square), and by the Brownwood Community Development District (Lake Paddock Square). Access to the squares, themselves, and the streets directly bordering them, is controlled by each particular center district and can be withdrawn at any time for any reason.

For example, when there are events at the squares that are sponsored and staged by The Villages, other activities can be curtailed -- i.e., the visits by President Bush and Sarah Palin. Whenever my wife's dance groups perform on the squares, the arrangements are set up and controlled by the Villages Entertainment Department, and we are directed when and how long to perform, where to park our vehicles, and the particular theme that we are asked to portray. During our (or anyone's) approved performance time, other activities on the square are curtailed until the formal performances are concluded.

Operation of the squares is a great system, but the squares are not ours, nor do they have unrestricted public access.

Did ANYONE ELSE SEE A SNAKE AT BROWNWOOD?

Trolls sometimes relish getting us "old folks" all stirred up.

Anyone else talk to anyone who saw this snake with their own eyes??????

This has the potential to become another urban legend.

This is the OP's first post.

thanks to you and Indy for the accurate info on the ownership. Just love it when posters (those that said it is public property) are so adamant about something they know nothing about. But they sure act like they do!

If I saw a someone down at one of the Squares walking around with a snake, you would hear the sound of screeching tires accompanied by the smell of burning rubber.... that would be us in our golf cart leaving the area. Seriously, common sense should prevail and since most of us either fear or have a huge respect for these reptiles, I don't feel that they should be in public area gathering places. My personal opinion is that the owner is looking for attention. There are other places to walk around with pets.

We can only hope... Went to the craft show, too many people with dogs getting underfoot, too many leashes almost tripping people. If your dog is your best friend and too important for you to leave home...you really do have issues.

Trolls or rumors, we tend to believe everything that is posted because we believe in the integrity of our members. I tend to think Livesea is not a troll because he/she has been a member since April.

Splitting hairs. The public has access to the squares, whether Villages residents or not.

They can block my sidewalk off too if the Presidents stops to speak there.

I would second that - but then we might be the only two:)

Dangerous territory - Dogs are kings in TV!

This one has the ring of truth. There are some folks foolish enough to bring a snake to a public domain with live music and lots of people. The snake would garner attention and have a ring of people around it. The fear livesea mentioned sounded real. So, I believe it happened.

So far as I know, snakes are not illegal (but I do believe you have to have a license to own one in Florida); they're not often dangerous (but don't get near one that is shedding its skin -- they're very nasty tempered then) but they are wild animals and can and have attacked in the past; they have their own beauty.

Sorry if you're afraid of snakes. They do a lot of good things. My attitude is that anything that eats rats and keeps them away from me is a wonderful creature. (We all have our fears and dislikes.) So, if I see a snake at a square, I'll be in the circle wanting to touch it. Feel free to run the other direction but don't think you have the right to prevent it from being there just because you're afraid of them.

Please .. give it a rest! This thread is about SNAKES. We just did a "dog on patios" thread which the Mod closed after 1,273 views and 55 posts. Enough!!

Nice post Red. I too believe the poster but the teens with snakes have the right to be on the Square too. It is too bad for the snake though. One of my nieces has a pet snake and I can see her doing exactly the same thing with it on the Square.

Respectfully Bare - please quote the FIRST person who changed the subject. It WAS NOT ME! Tell him to give it a rest! Why pick on me? Thanks.


in case you missed it: And you'll notice that I did not respond once in that other thread you talked about.

But you could also consider that this thread is about bringing an animal (a snake in this instance) to a public square. If that's not OK then why do other animals get a pass? Yes the owner may look for attention but have you noticed how cute dogs in strollers tend to garner the same attention? What's the difference if they are both legal in the square? Is that keeping it on the subject?

Maybe I should have paid for lie detector tests and a sworn deposition before posting here about a hideous snake that WILL ruin many people's desire to go and try to enjoy themselves at Brownwood.

In typical fashion, the usual people here gang up and smear and shoot the messenger. I shouldn't be surprised after reading here for quite awhile.

I guess if somebody wants to bring their pet alligator, gila monster, bats, or pet skunk to the square that's okay too with the gang on here.

And yes, other people did see this snake and stupid owner, and nobody thought it was cute, only horrifying.

I'm done.