Originally Posted by EdVinMass (Post 524451)

As a matter of reference, 2,391.42 acres is about 3 square miles which is roughly the size of the original Orange Blossom Gardens and Silver Lake villages on the western side of 441.

Originally Posted by EdVinMass (Post 524566)

Woops, I think my compass is broken. I meant to say on the Eastern side of 441.

Originally Posted by asianthree (Post 524555)

thanks for giving me a visual hard to see 2,391.42 in my head

Originally Posted by Skip2MySue (Post 523918)

Good Lord VS, how in the world did you become so hateful of this paradise we call home. We thank our lucky stars everyday that we have found a place like this to enjoy our golden years in. As far as I know we're all here by self choice and I can't think of $1.00 that I've been bilked out of. I'm thankful that someone had the foresight to plan a community such as The Villages to give us our reward for many many years of hard work and sacrifice. If I was as unhappy as you seem to be the last place I would want to be is on this cruise ship.
Skip 2:spoken:

Originally Posted by Pturner (Post 524189)

Hi Jimbo2012,
Thanks for the interesting information. Only time will tell what their plans are for the property. Whatever their plans, I wish them well!

Originally Posted by USSGompers (Post 524260)

I have to say that after working for 'The Villages' for over 12 yrs, I know for sure that Gary Morse's children all work their butts off. It is a known fact that they are the 1st ones in and the last to leave and everyone better keep up. They are all down to earth and a pleasure to know.

I'm retired now and able to enjoy the rewards of "The Villages" and have to say, I love it here so much. No one has bilked anything from me or my husband. If they had, there would have been Hell to pay years ago.

We love how the landscaping looks when we leave the house. We love being able to enjoy everything that is offered without worry.

I say this to the "Morse Family"! Go and get 'em! You deserve every penny- oh and 'thank you so much-I owe ya one!':bowdown:

Originally Posted by Villages PL (Post 524629)

I don't understand all the excitement over it.

Originally Posted by jimbo2012 (Post 523659)

July 16--The Villages President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Morse and his daughter Kelsea Morse Manly have purchased nearly 2,400 wooded acres just east of the Ocklawaha River in Marion County.

The father-daughter team bought the land from Rayonier Forest Resources through a newly created Florida company, Cow Hammock LLC. Both father and daughter are registered as managers of that company, according to state Division of Corporations records. The pair registered the company in April.

Neither Morse nor Manly returned a reporter's telephone calls. Their plans for the land, which is south of Fort McCoy and east of Ocala, are unclear. The property is zoned for agriculture use.

Cow Hammock bought the 2,391.42 acres for $7,041,566 from Rayonier, an international lumber, paper and real estate conglomerate based in Jacksonville.

Manly is part owner, along with her siblings, of Villages Communications Inc. The registered address of both the communications company and Cow Hammock is listed as 1020 Lake Sumter Landing, The Villages.

Morse and Manly were two of eight people in a well-publicized case involving illegal big game hunting in Montana. In 2011, Manly appeared in Yellowstone County Justice Court and pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges.

Citing court records, the Billings Gazette reported that Manly pleaded guilty to killing a turkey without a license and hunting an elk without the proper license. Her attorney, Matthew Wald, told the judge that his client had an elk license but not the license required to hunt with a bow. She was ordered to pay $2,095 in fines but was not banned from owning a fishing or hunting license.

Her father pleaded guilty in Yellowstone and Big Horn counties earlier this year to hunting elk without a license in 2007 and 2008. He was ordered to pay fines totaling $4,500 but was also not banned from owning a fishing or hunting license. The other six charged were family members, friends and business associates.

Morse owns the M Square Ranch in the Pine Ridge area of Yellowstone and Big Horn counties. He also co-owns Wolf Mountain Ranch in Big Horn and Rosebud counties, Montana.

It's unknown if the newly purchased land in Marion County will be used for hunting.

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter (Post 524666)

Or maybe it is adjacent to this new venture;
Car parts magnate and Marion County horseman Frank Stronach seeks to bring a new venture to his adopted community: a sprawling cattle ranch.
The Canadian billionaire plans to establish a state-of-the-art cattle harvesting facility near Fort McCoy that would provide 150 jobs to the economically distressed north Marion community, Stronach's representatives said.

The full article:
Billionaire to put cattle ranch on property | Ocala.com

Originally Posted by Barefoot (Post 524674)

Frank Stronach is a hero in these parts (Southern Ontario). He is a self-made billionaire and has created thousands of jobs. He treats emplyess in his car-parts manufacturing company (Magna) very well, and donates a lot of money to charities. The Magna plant is really beautiful. Frank Stronach knows how to make money and create jobs.

Originally Posted by Villageshooter (Post 523666)

maybe they are going to put an amusement park (with a shooting gallery) with free admission to all village residents,, as a thank you for all the billions they have bilked out of us.. guilt is setting in, and they are wanting to make amends for all the wealth they have created on the backs of senior citizens, with non -union illegal aliens.
this goes to show there is a God and we all must meet our maker and pay for our sins,, this just happens to be a 7 million dollar pay up,, not much for these folks!!!

Originally Posted by Barefoot (Post 524674)

Frank Stronach is a hero in these parts (Southern Ontario). He is a self-made billionaire and has created thousands of jobs. He treats emplyess in his car-parts manufacturing company (Magna) very well, and donates a lot of money to charities. The Magna plant is really beautiful. Frank Stronach knows how to make money and create jobs.

Originally Posted by quirky3 (Post 524718)

There are two sides to this story. Florida's Silver Springs has serious concerns about this man's request to divert 13 million gallons of fresh water a day from their aquafir for a cattle ranch. This article is from the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/23/us...pagewanted=all

Originally Posted by autoshow (Post 524670)

What is the big deal what does that have to with us,and who cares.