Oelrich said. “It seems like The Villages is trying to promote a ‘them versus us’ mentality.”

That's right. Them don't pay, us does. I have no problem offering an access card to anyone in Stonecrest who wants to pay the standard amenity fee to get it. I have heard more than one smug Stonecrester say, "We get so much more home for the money than in The Villages." Fine, stay there and enjoy it, or help us pay for our lifestyle if you want to use it. In The Villages we bought a lifestyle along with our home. Apparently you didn't.

I also attempted to visit Stonecrest one day (in a car) to see what was there, and was turned away at the gate. The Villages doesn't do that.

Thumbs Up Mr Lester
 

To repeat what others have said before, it's very simple. if Stonecresters want to enjoy the Villagers lifestyle buy a home in the Villages and pay the amenity fees . STOP looking for a free ride. As for The VA and other medical offices in or out of the Villages they are all accessible by car.

I don't know the feelings of other veterans here in the villages but as a veteran I'm appalled at the ploy of using veterans for political purposes like this. This whole gate business has nothing to do with vets not getting to a VA facility. Last time I checked the facility was right off 42. What? 5 minutes from stonecrest by car, if that. It would take 25 minutes or more by golf cart in good weather. Funny how long it's been since this gate business arose again. If I lived in stonecrest I would be grasping for straws too, or sell my house and move to the villages.

My thoughts exactly. The veterans are being used by some very greedy people. A red herring, as Carl said earlier.

It sure is a red herring! And the proof of that is in this paragraph from the article, "The sheriff sent Lt. Louis Pulford to act as his observer at the meeting. Stonecresters said that in addition to medical appointments, they want to access restaurants and shopping opportunities in The Villages. Those opportunities are accessible by automobile, but not by golf cart."

If the people in Stonecrest were truly concerned abut Veterans getting to Doctors and and the VA Clinic then why not start a shuttle service from Stonecrest to these places for a small fee to their residents who may need to benefit such a service? Just a thought.

Because that won't get them what they REALLY want!

It is shameful to use our Veterans name for this purpose. We need to focus on getting them an appointment first! Shame on those using the Veterans for their own agenda!

To get to the VA clinic from Stonecrest by golf cart would take at least 45 minutes. 15 minutes in a car seems like a better choice, especially when it's cold out or very hot out. Shame on Stonecrest for "using" the veterans.

Your travel times are more accurate than mine according to my phone map app. Thanks for the correction. I don't know about you but when I have to see my doctor I go the quickest direct way.

Stoners aren't giving up on their fight to gain access to The Villages golf-cart paths.
It's just sad and disingenuous that they would use sympathy for Veterans as a political ploy to gain access.

NO PAY, NO PLAY! --- Proximity does not provide open access to your neighbor's "stuff". Keep them off our pathways, pools, courses, and please don't fall for the "Veteran's" smokescreen. Is there no shame in even attempting that cheap ploy? We shopped around and decided the amenities offered by The Villages are worth the extra price. People wanting full access are welcome to purchase here also as we continue expanding.

Do the residents of Bison Valley have golf cart access to The Villages? Just wondering because they do not pay an amenity fee. Residents of Oak Meadow have golf cart access with their own gate just behind Target.

You certainly have a point. When my Mom lived in Oak Meadows for 10 yrs before she passed, she never paid an ammenity fee. Grant it, she had no Village ID card but was able to take a golf cart down the road and go to Spanish Springs, etc...from there---the possibilities were endless--and she never paid a dime.

In all honesty, how can a Stone Crester justify using our amenities without paying for them? This politician who is involved, don't the residents/Veterans in Stone Crest realize he is using them for his own political gain? Also, IMHO, I think that if anyone was permitted to use amenities that we as Villagers pay for, there would be a huge revolt on the part of Villagers. I also think think there would be multiple lawyers involved "protecting" what Villagers pay for or perhaps a huge refund of amenities fees. :)