HapsOnline_03.20.26

6MODELS IN THE $ 20,000S MSRP

Manager’s Corner March 20, 2026

Dear TGO Residents,

Last week, our Board of Directors underwent a leadership transition. Please join me in welcoming Lauren Clark as our Acting Chair of the Board for the Community Services Association (CSA). Lauren is a dedicated and thoughtful Board member with extensive experience, and I am confident that our community is in excellent hands under her guidance.

I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our outgoing Chairman, Tom Wheir. Tom’s contributions, dedication, and integrity as Chairman were truly exceptional. He devoted countless hours to working closely with me, the Board, and our staff to advocate for our community. During his first two terms, he guided TGO through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over his three terms, many significant improvements have been made to our resort. Tom and his wife, Sharon, have been tremendous supporters and cheerleaders for the CSA team throughout the years. They have helped make TGO a better place to live and work - and they have made me a better manager.

Today marks the official first day of spring! As the days grow warmer and longer, our wildlife becomes more active. This is peak season for alligators moving between lakes in search of mates. For helpful tips, please see our “Guide to Living with Alligators in TGO” article on page 68 of this issue. If you observe an alligator displaying aggressive behavior toward humans, please contact the CSA office immediately. We will assist by reporting it to Florida’s Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP), which authorizes trained trappers to remove nuisance alligators when necessary.

This Monday, March 23, we begin a landscaping beautification project at the entrance to the Blue Heron restaurant. The Landscape and Beautification Committee has designed a vibrant, climate-appropriate planting scheme full of colorful, heat-tolerant plants. During the project, large sections of the golf cart parking area in front of Blue Heron will be closed, so we ask for you to “pardon our mess,” and be patient with any temporary inconveniences. The work should take about two weeks, after which the entrance will have a fresh, welcoming new look, just like the restaurant menu inside. Blue Heron will unveil its new menu on Tuesday, April 7. As part of the preparations, the restaurant will be closed all day on Monday, April 6, for staff training and kitchen resetting.

The Easter holiday arrives in just two weeks on Sunday, April 5, traditionally signaling the end of our high season here at TGO. Many of our seasonal residents will soon be heading north. The CSA team and I are already planning for our low-season improvement projects. The two largest this year - the Pavilion Renovation and the Oak Cove Pool Filtration Renovation - will begin the Monday after Easter weekend (April 6). Both amenities will be closed until the work is complete. I will provide regular updates on these projects so that even if you’re away from TGO, you can see how your assessment dollars are being invested to modernize and enhance our community for the future.

A special shout-out to the owners on Twin Lakes Drive, who treated our CSA employee team to a wonderful complimentary hot dog meal complete with delicious cookies last week (see page 14). On behalf of the entire team, thank you for your warm hospitality and kindness - it meant a lot to us!

Billy Specht CSA Manager

Mark Your Calendars...

Variety Show - March 26 & 27

Take a light-hearted look at life in TGO with our emcees... Edith and Archie Bunker

Come along for a show filled with music, dance and comedy

Tickets available at the Activities Office in Hobbyland

For more information, contact Judy Grant at 819-868-0692

March 20 - 4:30pm - The Pavilion

Sky Med Happy Hour Seminar

Learn how Sky Med can save your life. All of TGO is invited.

March 21 - 8:00am - TGO Church

Men’s Breakfast Guest Speaker Cindy VanBibberDirector Cape Canaveral National Cemetery.

March 21 - 10:00am to 1:00pm - Manor Porch

TGO Photo Club Gallery Viewing

All of TGO is invited. Snacks will be served.

March 26 & 27 - 7:00pm - The Manor

TGO Variety Show - Page 24

All TGO Owners are invited to attend. Join The FUN!

March 29 - 6 to 8:30pm - The Pavilion

Travel Night Seminar - Page 34

Brought to you by Lori’s Space Coast Travel Appetizers and refreshments will be served

March 29 - 7:00pm - TGO Church

Is He Worthy Cantada - Page 27

Refreshments following in Fellowship Hall

March 30 - 11:30am - The Manor

Newcomer Orientation Meeting - Page 14

An introduction to TGO for all new residents.

April 1 - Quarterly Assessment Due - Page 16

Second Quarter Maintenance Assessment for 2026 are due April 1.

Drop off your payment at the CSA Office or mail check

April 3 - 12:00pm - TGO Church - Page 28

Good Friday Service

All Are Welcome. Gathered in Faith, United in Prayer

April 8 - 9:00am - Blue Heron Nest

Edward Jones Coffee Club

Join us for a casual discussion about the economy/investing.

Coffee and pastries will be served - Roy A. Malphurs

April 10 - 3 to 6:00pm - Tortoiseville

Gopher Tortoise Day

Learn about our Gopher Tortoises and their habitats

April 14 - 10:00am - TGO Church - Page 28

WIC - Continental Breakfast

Installation of WIC Officers - Tickets at Fellowship Hall

April 18 - 10:00am - TGO Church - Page 28

Men’s Breakfast - Speaker Garret Howell

TGO’s Golf Professional - Tickets at Fellowship Hall

April 21 - 9:30am - TGO Church - Page 28

Singulars - Tour The Orlando Wetlands

Limited to 30 people - Sign up at Fellowship Hall

18

First Responder/Military Receive 10% Off

Understand Your Pivot Point

Every golfer turns around a slightly different point in the pelvis during the backswing. Some players turn more around the lead hip, some around the trail hip, and others stay more centered.

So how do you know which pivot fits you best?

A simple test from one of my favorite instructors, E.A. Tischler, can help.

Start by hitting 5 shots with your feet together. Notice whether the swing feels smooth and natural or forced and uncomfortable.

Next, hit 5 shots with your front foot slightly forward and your back foot slightly back. Pay attention to how the swing feels and how solidly you strike the ball.

Then hit 5 shots with your back foot slightly forward and your front foot slightly back. Again, compare the feel and the results.

1) If you hit your best shots with your front foot forward, you likely need to pivot more around your lead side. At the top of the swing, your hips should move slightly toward the target.

2) If you hit your best shots with your back foot forward, you likely need to pivot more around your trail hip. At the top of the swing, your hips should move slightly away from the target.

3) If you hit your best shots with your feet together, you likely perform best with a centered pivot, keeping your hips more centered and neutral at the top of the swing.

Golf is about finding what works for your body. Try this test and discover the pivot that helps you swing naturally and play your best golf.

$10,000.00 Putt Fore Cash

Guy Drouin was the top finisher in the contest.

Jeff Smutek finished second with...

Coletta Gabele taking third.

A great crowd of putters and spectators showed up for the event.

Bill Schueller hosted another fun and successful $10,000 Put Fore Cash Contest. Lynne Anderson was one of the first putters - definitely with some pressure from her peers.

BattLite is a high-quality, safe, and reliable lithium battery designed primarily for golf carts. They utilize LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) technology, incorporating safety features such as multiple levels of protection and an intelligent Battery Management System (BMS).

They come with an Eight Year Warranty! They also include a new charger, battery meter, and receptacle.

Cost including installation is only $2,200 plus tax.

Stop by if you have any questions.

Come Join our TGO Men’s Golf Association

• Membership fee is only $30.00 for a year of fun!

• Prizes and special event luncheons and end of year dinner!

• Tournaments every Wednesday! Sign-up at the TGO Pro Shop www.tgomga.com

2026 Golf Calendar

March 25 Annual “MGA Beat the Pros Closing Tournament” + BarBQ Luncheon, Awards & MGA Annual Meeting

2026 MEMBER-MEMBER UPDATE #3 - Thurday, March 12

There was great weather for all three rounds of our 31st Annual “Member-Member” Tournament and a large crowd on hand to watch the Playoff Shootout and the “$10,000.00 Putt Fore Cash” contest. Congratulations to “Wild Card” Winners Pat Bielling and Al McGuire who captured this year’s Member-Member title in the third round of the alternate shot playoff on hole #18! Congrats also to Guy Drouin who won first place and the $120 purse in the $10,000.00 Putt Fore Cash contest. Jeff Smutek won $65 for second place and Coletta “Charlie” Gabele collected $45 for third place! Friday night was the Member-Member Formal Social and Dinner and awards presentations at the Mano r. A great time for all paticipants.

First Flight

1. Heath & Johndrow 28.5 points

2. Smith & Baines 22.5 points*

3. Fields & Snodgrass 22.5 points*

4. Kandt & Schueller 21.5 points

5. Hunter & Burns 20.5 points

6. Houtby & Wright 19.5 points

Fourth Flight

1. Huggins & Turner 28.5 points

2. Bielling & McGuire 26 points**

3. Knight & Johnson 24.5 points

4. Mattocks & Jaje 23 points

5. Anderson & Barton 18.5 points

6. Pafford & Gruff 14.5 points

Second Flight

1. Clancy & Thode 28.5 points

2. J. Gero & Brown 24 points

3. Stout & Ayala 23 points

4. Handy & Daughtery 21 points

5. Murray & Anderson 20.5 points

6. Wittstock & Preble 18 points

Fifth Flight

1. Blanchette & Hatch 27 points

2. Schwanda & Busse 23.5 points*

3. Thompson & Inch 23.5 points*

4. Pascuzzo & Bailey 22.5 points

5. Conover & Garasz 22 points

6. Marchand & Rupinski 16.5 points

Third Flight

1. Ward & H. Gero 25 points

2. Dotson & McCarty 23.5 points

3. Pratt & Murkerson 22.5 points

4. Smutek & Harris 22 points

5. Bates & Drouin 21.5 points

6. Couch & Blake 20.5 points

Closest To The Pin Winners

#4 Mike Anderson #8 Ray Dotson

#11 Joe Clancy #16 Bill Schueller

*Ties Broken by Results of “Head to Head” Flight Matches **Wildcard Winner is the Second Place Team with the Most Matches Won

CONGRATULATIONS TO PAT BIELLING & AL McGUIRE - 2026 MEMBER-MEMBER CHAMPIONS And Thanks To Everyone For Another Great MGA Member-Member Tournament!

Bill Schueller President MGA

Roy Houtby Tournament Chair Cliff Murray 2025 MGA Champion

Al McGuire and Pat Bielling are your 2026 Member-Member Champions. John Johndrow (shown putting) and Tim Heath won the First Flight and were runner-ups in the playoff.

THE G A EM

2026 LGA Golf Calendar

March 23 Modified Nassau

March 30 Low Gross/Low Net

April 6

Scramble Awards Lunch

April 13 Low Gross/Low Net

April 20 Low Gross/Low Net

April 27 Fun Day Party after play in Pavilion

LGA Scramble Results - March 2

18-Holes

Flight 1

1. Ellen Cyr, Stephanie Maltby, Lauren Clark, Denise Charpentier

2. Lydia Couch, Nita Flannigan, Liz Rapinski, Sherri Turner

Flight 2

1. Toni Thigpin, Fay Kikta, Maureen Hoffman, Cindy Clark

2. Jen Isbill, Kathy Shulby, Nancy Matroniano, Mikki Dodge 9-Holers

1. Diane Morgenweck, Ann Strauss, Ann Kendrick, Mary Losi

2. Penne Preble, Elaine Gerwe, Nancy Ralston Closest to the Pin #8 : Morgenweck

LGA Team Match Play Results - March 9

18-Holes

Weapons of Grass Destruction 5, Putter Madness 3

Winning team members: Mary Laverty, Lynne Anderson, Ellen Cyr, Jen Isbill, Nita Flannigan, Mimi Kirouac, Pat Honeywill, Kathy Shulby, Joanne Soucy, Fay Kikta, Retha Hart, Pat Hackenberg, Cathy Powell, Jennifer Brown, Pat Terry, Bev Restey

Closest to the Pin #8: Christine Soucy

9-Holes

Team Two def. Team One, 2-1

Winning team members: Betsi Harris, Diane Morgenweck, Elaine Meier, Mary Losi, Elaine Gerwe, Debbie Quein. 50-50 winner: Mimi Kirouac

Don’t forget, the Pro Shop has lots of great merchandise for your favorite golfer, including TGO branded apparel. You can find golf bags, clubs, hats, visors, golf balls and more. They all make great gifts for a friend or yourself!

Come Join our TGO Ladies Golf Association

• Membership fee is only $40.00 for a year of fun!

• Prizes and special event luncheons.

• Tournaments every Monday! Sign-up at the TGO Pro Shop

Linda Bouvet Tournament Chair

Nalley

TGO Annual Car Show - March 14, 2026

It turned out to be a perfect day for a car show, with beautiful weather and plenty of sunshine bringing residents out to line the streets and admire the vehicles on display. The event, organized by the Southern Classics Car Club, drew an impressive 41 cars, ranging from polished vintage cruisers to meticulously restored muscle cars. Many of the vehicles belonged to TGO residents themselves, adding a special hometown pride to the show. Neighbors gathered along the route enjoying the festive atmosphere. Adding some fun to the day was Jerry the Ice Cream Man, who rolled in to serve up cool treats as people strolled from car to car talking to the owners.

Ray & Ann Kite with their ‘66 Speedster Porche

Susie Jones stole Butch’s 2003 ‘Vette

Denese working on Ed Shea’s Chevy Roadster

Denese and Tom Chiocca in front of Ed Shea’s ‘57 Chevy

Mikki Dodge with Gary Kline’s 1932 Ford, 3-window Coupe

Gary Kline with his ‘56 Chevy

Patti & Red Lynch with their ‘77 Olds Cutlass Supreme

Pat Richardson with her 1946 Ford Deluxe

Bruce & Gail Reid and their ‘56 Ford Thunderbird

Happening Around TGO...

NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY POTLUCK DINNER

Plantation Manor - Saturday, March 21 - 5:00pm

Come to our ‘70s Theme Dinner on Saturday, March 21 starting at 5:00pm, in the Plantation Manor, dressed in your favorite outfit from the ‘70s including your disco shoes! We will have a photo area, ‘70s Trivia, music, dancing and a 50/50 raffle. Bring your favorite ‘70s comfort food to share, either a main dish, sides/appetizer, or dessert. Bring your own place settings and beverages. Coffee and water will be available. Call or text Pat Bronson at 315-345-5246 or email her at pbronson0822@gmail.com

Newcomer Orientation Meetings

A Newcomer Orientation Meeting will be held in the Manor at 11:30 until 12:30 on March 30, 2026. Guest speakers from CSA, ARC, Courtesy Patrol, Nature Centure, Golf Shop, Activities and Firewise Committees will share important information with you. Bring your questions. We also have door prizes! Please call Sharon Sanford at 321-268-9767 to reserve your spot so we will have enough seating and handouts for everyone.

NOTICE...

The Pavilion will be closed starting April 1, 2026 until November or possibly later.

All reservations during that time will be cancelled or moved elsewhere if space is available. Contact Meghan at The Manor at Manor@tgocsa.com if you have any questions about your current or future event.

ABOVE: Each year the good folks from Twin Lakes host a CSA lunch for the employees. It’s always a welcomed treat that both the crews and neighbors enjoy.

LEFT: If your name is Pam, you belong to an exclusive group and are invited the annual Pam Party. You might consider changing your name? This was the fourth year and here’s who showed up:

Front Row: Pam Shilling, Pam O’Neill, Pam Phillips, Pam Howland

Second row: Pam Beauleu, Pam Parsons, Pam Hix, Pam Sowers, Pam Christian

Third Row: Pam Nelson, Pam Angel, Pam Campbell

Back Row: Pam Forrest, Pam Petersen, Pam Hightower

What Your Annual CSA Assessments Pay For

The Second Quarter Maintenance Assessment for 2026 is due April 1. Please drop off your payment of $1,140 at the CSA Office or mail your check to: The Great Outdoors at 100-D Plantation Drive, Titusville, FL 32780. You can also fill out a form to have your payment drawn directly from your bank account. The payment must be received by 5:00pm on April 15, 2026 or there will be a $25 late fee.

1. 24-Hour Entrance Gate Security

2. Roving Courtesy Patrol Services

3. Cable TV and Internet Service

4. Water

5. Sewer

6. Electric for Association Buildings and Grounds

7. Roads and Road Maintenance

8. Irrigation System and Irrigation Water

9. Daily Trash Pick-up (364 days per year)

10. Weekly Yard Debris pick-up

11. Complete Lawn Maintenance

12. Lawn Equipment and Equipment Maintenance

13. Lawn Spraying (weed, feed and yard pests)

14. Two Heated Swimming Pools and Spas

15. Fitness Center with New Equipment

16. Four Tennis Courts

17. Six Pickleball Courts

18. Eight Shuffleboard Courts

19. Bocce Ball Court

20. Doggie World - Fenced Dog Run Area

21. Dog Walk Area

22. Mail Center

23. Thirty-two (32) Stocked Ponds

24. Pond Spraying and Maintenance

25. Nature Trail and Maintenance

26. Five Bathhouses with Laundry Facilities

27. New Library & Card Room, with renovated Bath House

28. Hobbyland, Craft Room, Billiard Table and Card Room - Plus Dart Board

29. Pavilion Meeting Hall

30. Plantation Manor Meeting Hall

31. CSA Administration Building

32. CSA Vehicle Maintenance Facility

33. CSA Storage Barn

34. Waste Water Treatment Plant

35. Seven Major Lift Stations (sewer system)

36. Road Signs

37. Propane for Heating Pools, Spas and Laundry Facilities

38. Fuel for Equipment and Emergency Generators

39. Pest Control of Common Property Buildings

40. Property Insurance for the Common Properties

41. Directors and Officers Liability Insurance

42. General and Umbrella Liability Insurance for Common Areas

43. Flood Insurance

44. Maintenance and Repair of all Association Buildings and Grounds

45. CSA Employee Wages

46. CSA Employee Health Insurance and 401(k) Program

47. Lab Testing for Waste Water Treatment and Monitoring Wells

48. Annual Licensing Fees

49. Beautification - trees, mulch, stone, plants, etc.

50. CSA Computers, Copy Machines, etc.

51. Happenings Magazine - print & online versions

52. Golf Course Maintenance and Repair

53. Restaurant & Café Maintenance and Repair

54. CSA Vehicles Maintenance and Repair

55. Reserve Savings to preserve our quality of life and property values for many years to come

Executive

Porch Conversions

Accessory Buildings

Custom Building & Design

Bath & Kitchen Remodeling

Door & Window Replacement

Hardwood Floors

Tile Floors

Concrete Work

Drywall

Custom Decks

Entertainment Centers

Siding

Trim Work

Crown Molding And...

Pictures are Susan Jensen Breast Cancer Tournament Chair, Dawn England, LGA President and Christy Rimsky, Jess Parrish Medical Foundation.

Around The Pickleball Courts

By Richard Chartrand

Pickleball Community Raises Over $3,000 for Local Charity

On Friday, March 6, the second annual “Dinking for a Cause” Pickleball Tournament was held at TGO as a fundraiser for Synnove’s Sunshine Scooters, a nonprofit organization located here in TGO that builds electric scooters for special-needs children who are unable to walk. The tournament raised $3,250, with additional donations still coming in through the website.

The event featured a fun “dinking only” format played over three rounds with twelve teams selected at random. Teams were redrawn for each round and points were awarded individually, creating a unique and friendly competition for all participants. Following the tournament, participants and volunteers gathered at the Pavilion for a pizza party, participation prizes and where the winners were announced: From L to R...

Tara Stackhouse

Michele Rinaldo

Beth Ramsey

Diane Hungerford

Bruce Benedict

Den Mulhern

Marilyn Adams presents Tim Emerson the $3,250 raised for his Synnove Sunshine Scooters Organization.

BUFFKIN

Quality materials and inspired design together in one place

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321-452-2282

Hours: Monday - Friday: 8am - 5pm - Saturday: 10am - 3pm - Closed Sunday 3350 N Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island, FL 32953

Our Merritt Island showroom features a curated selection of tile, luxury vinyl, carpet, wood and cabinetry www. buffkintileandcarpet.com

Text by Linda Day

BETTY SALTER TAKES THE HELM AS NATURE CENTER PRESIDENT

Nature Center Driveway Gets a Smooth New Look!

The Nature Center driveway is sporting a smooth, fresh new paving! Thanks to several generous donations the driveway is complete.

No CSA funds were used for this project. CSA does not provide any funding to the Nature Center.

The Nature Center at The Great Outdoors is pleased to announce Betty Salter as the center’s new president. Betty brings a wealth of knowledge, personal contacts and experience to the Nature Center, with an impressive background in education, wildlife knowledge, and groundbreaking work at the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Here at TGO she dedicates tireless work as a TGO Wildlife Rescue and Nature Center Trail Guide, and spent years rescuing wildlife at TGO and the surrounding area. She has also led the Nature Center Trail hikes every Monday and Wednesday during “the season” for over 10 years.

A DEDICATED VOLUNTEER

Nature Center President, Betty Salter, explained, “The driveway project was one of my top priorities. My goal was to make the driveway a safe and accessible place for all members of our community. Now, anyone can access the Nature Center. I was so pleased when I recently saw a community member confidently walking up our driveway with a walker!”

Betty’s career began in education, where she was with the school board and an exceptional education teacher assistant. In 1999 she began working for Parks and Recreation, North Area Parks Operation Office, where she initiated many innovative programs. She and her late husband Cary retired in February 2008.

The new driveway was a five-month long project led by Betty Salter, Ron Peoples and Joe Visconti. The majority of the time was spent researching paving companies and learning about paving. Betty Salter jokes, “We spent months interviewing a number of sources and paving experts to determine the best course of action for our driveway - we are now experts on paving!”

Betty has devoted over 7,000 hours of volunteer time to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. A friend at the refuge encouraged her to consider living in TGO. Betty and Cary moved to The Great Outdoors in October of 2014, and immediately became immersed with The Nature Center. Betty had known Sandy Juba for some time, as Sandy volunteered at the refuge as well. Their great friendship and desire to rescue and teach others about wildlife and nature took off from there.

Betty also worked closely with St. Johns River managers to get permission to pave the drive. The driveway easement is on St. Johns property, and Betty has received permission for the Nature Center to care for this area.

Farewell Drop-in for Sandy Juba

Betty jokes that one of the first steps to get involved with wildlife rescue, at Sandy’s insistence, was to overcome her fear of snakes. After researching snakes for many months and creating brochures about them, she overcame her fears, and has frequently rescued many of them! She also became very active with Firewise. Betty initiated the Spring Festival at the Nature Center. She previously developed large festivals for the county and wanted to develop a smaller festival here. Sandy Juba gave Betty a list of local vendors to contact, and the annual festival was launched, continues to grow and become a fund raiser for the center.

NATIVE FLORA AND FAUNA

A celebration was held with a ribbon cutting ceremony and champaign toast as members of the community cheered on Betty Salter and Ron Peoples as they took the first drive down the new paving.

tours, and to re-introduce golf cart tours of the Blue Heron Water Treatment Plant. Betty realizes many of our TGO residents work during the week, and she hopes to have Saturday morning hikes and more weekend programs.

The Nature Center is hoping to recoup the remaining $12,000 balance of $24,000 for the driveway cost as soon as possible. As mentioned, CSA does not cover any Nature Center expenses. The Nature Center relies on donations from its members and friends. Please consider a donation to the Nature Center.

A true life-learner, Betty’s passion is to share the joy of nature with others, whether it’s knowledge of plants, wildlife, wildlife rescue and preservation, or simply the general love of being outdoors.

Betty’s nature expertise includes extensive studies of native Florida plants and insects. One of her many butterfly studies led to the discovery of new species not known to our area. (The Variegated Fritillary was not known to be in Brevard County and the Eastern Pygmy Blue was not expected to be west of I-95 but we have it in the marsh here!) Betty’s goals are to develop programs to get more people involved with the nature center’s

On March 1, members of the TGO Community gathered to bid a fond farewell to TGO’s “Mother Nature,” Sandy Juba. Sandy was instrumental in helping to create the Nature Center, Tortoiseville, as well as carrying out dedicated animal rehabilitation in our community for decades. TGO would not be the haven for nature it is today without her. She has recently moved from TGO, but we know her heart will always be here.

PLANS FOR THE NATURE CENTER

We look forward to seeing Sandy in the future at various events, and we will continue to make her proud as we carry on with her work and dreams.

Ideas she plans to implement include nature golf cart tours in the community, Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival bird

Photo was taken immediately after Betty rescued this fawn from drowning. The fawn was reunited with its mother shortly after. (Note: Betty says one should never touch a fawn - she was holding this one as it was just rescued from the water.)

Betty Salter on the Betty Salter trail January 8, discussing a recently shedded snake skin. From right: Julie Gifford, Cindy Hinkle, Sandra Miraglia, Betty Salter, Kim Mosely. Photo credit Linda Day

Photo by Linda Day

Members of the Nature Center Board of Directors and the paving committee stand at the driveway entrance for the ribbon cutting ceremony. From left: Lori Krawczuk, Joe Visconti, Donna Pittman, Betty Salter, Ron Peoples, Pat Dick and Sandy Juba.

Sandy (seated) with Nancy Payne-Clark, Betty Salter and Jane Virgin.

Well-wishers attending Sandy’s farewell event. Photos by Sally Fisher.

See You on the Trail!

You’ve been reminding yourself all season, “I’ve got to catch a guided trail hike with Brian Grande.” Now that the weather is perfect, there’s no excuse! It’s time to get motivated, and what a great way to spend time with spring break company! The last guided tour is April 1, so let’s go!

CELEBRATE GOPHER TORTOISE DAY!

The Nature Center at TGO will celebrate Gopher Tortoise Day with TGO NatureScape at Tortoiseville (accessible on the Doggie Walk) on Thursday, April 10 from 3 to 6 p.m.

Brian’s guided hikes are in full swing! There are only a few more guided hike opportunities this season, so plan on joining us. If you are up for some additional exercise, the trail clearings are a great way to get fresh air.

Last year the tortoises were very active! We will have a tent with information where you can learn all about this keystone species -one of the oldest living species on the planet!

Brian has shared a number of beautiful photos he’s taken from various hikes over the past few months.

GUIDED TRAIL HIKES / LIGHT TRAIL MAINTENANCE

a broken jaw, with injured babies in its pouch. Sadly, the mother had to be euthanized and two babies are clinging to life. We are heartbroken about the outcome for this sweet family of opossums, but grateful for compassionate people among us who gave comfort and tried to help.

March 25 - Guided Hike on the Watson Trail. Meet at trail head.

Thank you Nancy, Sandy and Donna.

April 1 - Guided Hike on the Addison Trail. Meet at trail head.

To volunteer, for questions or for more information, contact Brian Grande at 407-766-7867 or SkinDvr2000@ yahoo.com.

We are very fortunate in TGO to have well-marked and maintained trails right here in our backyard. Please take advantage of this opportunity and spend a few hours with Brian.

The end of March wraps up our busy season at TGO. There will be fewer scheduled trail activities, however feel free to contact Brian and he’ll be happy to take anyone for a hike. The trails are in great shape and the dry season helps immensely with mosquitos so it’s a great time of year for hikes!

Trail Maintenance - 9:00am

May 27 is the average start to our rainy season in Florida, so the St. Johns river is very low now, opening up lots of nearby hiking and mountain biking!

Please wear long pants, long sleeves, enclosed shoes/ boots, gloves, insect repellant and sunscreen. Please remember to also bring water.

SPECIAL TORTOISEVILLE ADVENTURE

To volunteer, for questions, or for more information, contact Brian Grande at 407-766-7867 or SkinDvr2000@yahoo.com.

March 23 - Trail Maintenance on the Watson Trail. Meet at trail head.

TGO

POSSUM RESCUE EFFORT

March 30 - Trail Maintenance on the Addison Trail. Meet at trail head.

Guided Trail Hikes - 9:00am

Special thanks to Nancy Clark and Sandy Juba (Animal Rescue Committee) for their help March 19 & 20. After a concert at the Manor, Donna Pittman came upon an injured opossum who sadly was left for dead in the road. The opossum was bleeding and struggling. Donna called Nancy, who quickly came to its rescue.  Nancy gave the sweet possum

Enjoy a relaxing, interesting and informative hike! Long pants, long sleeves, enclosed shoes/boots, insect repellant and sunscreen are recommended... and water! You may also want to bring binoculars and a camera.

While little Lucy Antichos was visiting Grandma Sarah Sennett, she took several nature tours. On one tour they stopped at Tortoiseville, where a tortoise posed with her for a picture.

Nature Center Board

Nature Center Board

President Betty Salter ncpresident23@gmail.com

President Betty Salter ncpresident23@gmail.com

NATURE CENTER AT TGO

Vice President Donna Pittman ncvp23@gmail.com

Vice President Donna Pittman ncvp23@gmail.com

Treasurer Lori Krawczuk nctreasurer23@gmail.com

Treasurer Lori Krawczuk nctreasurer23@gmail.com

Secretary Pat Dick ncsecretary23@gmail.com

Secretary Pat Dick ncsecretary23@gmail.com

Other Points Of Contact

Other Points Of Contact

Injured Animals - Please contact these specialists

Injured Animals - Please contact these specialists

Betty Salter 321-223-8073 bettysalter@hotmail.com

Sandy Juba 321-543-0502 sjubatgo@gmail.com

Nancy Payne-Clark 321-301-0822 patrick.jessica159@gmail.com

400 Nature Center Trail Titusville, FL 32780

Open 8:00am to 5:00pm 365 days a year

www.NatureCenterAtTGO.org

Facebook - Nature Center at TGO

Chris Miller 407 357-8310 ccmiller24@aol.com

Betty Salter 321-223-8073 bettysalter@hotmail.com

Nancy Payne-Clark 321-301-0822 patrick.jessica159@gmail.com

Cammy Miller 407 592-4059 camminator14@gmail.com

Trail Maintenance Brian Grande 407-766-7867 / SkinDvr2000@yahoo.com

Trail Maintenance Brian Grande: 407-766-7867/SkinDvr2000@yahoo.com

NC Inspection Team Becky Gross: 561-703-9043/jgrg1440@msn.com

To schedule the use of our meeting room on M/W/F mornings or T/Th afternoons, call the Manor - 321-264-2393

NC Inspection Team Becky Gross 561-703-9043 / jgrg1440@msn.com

Membership Sally Fisher naturecentermembership@gmail.com

Membership Sally Fisher: naturecentermembership@gmail.com

Stories and Articles for The Happenings: nchappenings23@gmail.com

Internet Sales Sandra Miraglia 727-483-2493 / moon001414@hotmail.com

Stories and Articles for The Happenings: nchappenings23@gmail.com

The Nature Center at The Great Outdoors is a 501(c)(3) non-profit self-supporting organization. Donations may be tax deductible.

The Nature Center at The Great Outdoors is a 501(c)(3) non-profit self-supporting organization. Donations may be tax deductible

To schedule the meeting room at any other time OR our beautiful enclosed porch, call Loretta Annè - 321-385-9667

Addison bridge and Addison Trail head.

Tree-hugger Patty Smith hugging a beautiful, huge live oak on the Indian Mound Trail. Chris McQuate, Ann Henderson, Tom Nelson helping clear the Carlson Trail. Photos by Brian Grande.

TGO FIREWISE INFORMATION

RESIDENTS REDUCING WILDFIRE RISKS

Visit tgocsa.org to view Firewise video and brochure or TGO Firewise on Facebook

Remember, you must have written permission to remove any living shrubs or trees beyond your property line. Contact CSA if you have questions about removal and consult the Architectural Review Board before making landscape changes.

Planning for an Evacuation. Part Two...

In the last issue we talked about the possible situations that might require you to evacuate TGO or at least your property within TGO. Mentioned were a wildfire, tornado, hurricane, and an additional possibility is a hazardous materials spill or leak, possibly coming from Interstate 95, or even one of the pools at TGO. While a tornado or hurricane would most likely require a full evacuation of TGO, a spill or wildfire might only require the evacuation of a portion or portions of the resort.

Now that we have established what situations are most likely to require an evacuation we can continue with our plan.

Part of your evacuation planning will begin with what to do to your property if an evacuation is ordered.

Securing the property is the first step. This would include closing all windows and turning off the water outside. Most properties here have an accessible water shutoff located outside of your suite or house. If you have a pad it is where your RV water is located and there may be one near your suite or at the street. If the water can be shut off easily and quickly, you should do so, but remember time is important.

In most situations it is advisable to leave the power on to your house. If you have an RV, it is advisable to disconnect power or shut off the breaker at the pedestal if you have time.

Turn off any heating and air conditioning units, this helps lessen the spread of smoke throughout the residence or RV. If you have any propane tanks, turn them off, if you have time. This includes cooking grilles and RVs. If you have any tanks on the exterior of your living quarters, move them away from any structures. Again, time is important so if they can be easily moved, do so, if not leave them, just make sure the valve(s) are closed.

You may have noticed nothing has been said about getting your RV ready to move. That is because it is not advisable to try to disconnect your RV and use it in the evacuation. It takes a bit of time to completely disconnect and frankly, there is usually no time to do that and get out. The other reason is that there may be many vehicles trying to evacuate as well and the traffic congestion of RVs moving out will not be allowed. If you were in a house, you would be leaving it and the same applies to an RV.

As has been stated, getting you and your family out of the property is the most important part of this scenario. Things can be replaced, people cannot. So, anything that is taking time may not really be that important. Getting people out and to a safe location is the most important mission.

In the last part of this series of articles there will be a checklist to assist you. You may want to modify it to fit your needs but having a checklist may help when the time comes and the adrenaline is flowing.

Now that we are ready to move out, what should we take? Great question.

Next issue we will continue with the next step. Remember... THINK FIREWISE - BE SAFE

Firewise Committee - Contact Information

Butch Jones Chairman 804-514-4458

Christopher Miller Co-Chair 407-375-8310

Tim Graham 561-262-8833

Donald Payne 407-222-0583

Ed Brown

321-383-8253

Mike Lavery 585-315-5554

Albert McGuire 810-338-5646

Ron Peoples 407-509-0486

Betty Salter

Tony Swoope

321-223-8073

321-383-9765

Bob Taylor 571-294-3595

Joe Visconti 321-360-3877

TGO Activities Committee

Monthly Activities Meeting

Our next meeting is April 21, 2026 at 1:00pm in the Plantation Manor. Everyone is welcome.

Activities Committee Points of Contact

Carmella Zielinski 321-289-0150 tmcmzie@gmail.com

Please Volunteer

The TGO Tickets & Gift Shop is always looking for volunteers to help with planned activities and become a chairperson for fun events our TGO Community loves. This provides a great opportunity to get involved with your community.

Pat Foley 407-538-8035 patfoley441@gmail.com

Ruth Falusi 219-670-1111 falusirr@yahoo.com

Nancy Wyatt 321-474-7949 NA

2025-2026 Concert Series Sponsors

Mackey’s Home Renovations

Atlantic Storm Protection Eagle’s Pride RV Sales & Service

Gary L Torres DMD, PA JAD Family Pharmacy

Parrish Medical Center Starling’s Auto Group, Inc

TGO Realty, Inc

2026/2027 Concert Series - Tickets On Sale March 2026

2026-2027 SHOWCASE SERIES

Jeff Norris and Frances Dilorinzo Stand-Up Comedy At Its Best November 12, 2026

Jeff Norris is an energetic whirlwind of stand-up comedy and great impressions, Jeff is a favorite across the USA with his clean act and many voices. He has performed at various comedy clubs as well as Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

Frances Dilorinzo is the master of turning problems into punchlines. She will have you laughing as she combines funny with physical and adds spontaneous humor along the way.

2026-2027 SHOWCASE SERIES

7

November 12, 2026

Jeff Norris and Frances Dilorinzo

Two comedians - each with their own 45 minute show

January 14, 2027

7 Bridges - An Eagles Tribute

February 4, 2027

Live From Earth - A Pat Benatar Tribute

February 18, 2027

Knights of Music

March 11, 2027

Bronx Wanderers

Available NOW TGO Ticket Office In Hobbyland

SERIES

Live

From

Earth

Purchase Your Tickets at the Activites Tickets & Gift Shop in Hobbyland

BRIDGES An Eagles Tribute Band January 14, 2027

2026-2027 SHOWCASE SERIES

A Pat Benatar Tribute February 4, 2027

SHOWCASE SERIES

Purchase Your Tickets at the Activites Tickets & Gift Shop in Hobbyland

Knights Of Music Tribute To Legendary Rock Icons February 18, 2027

Purchase Your Tickets at the Activites Tickets & Gift Shop in Hobbyland

Bronx Wanderers A Journey Through Life and Music March 11, 2027

7 Bridges offers the perfect blend of sounds to capture all levels of “EAGLES” devotees. They combine incredible musicianship, vocal precision, and stage presence to master the aura of an Eagles concert.

Jill Marie Burke brings her powerhouse vocals to the stage in an uncanny resemblance to one of the most influential female rock icons of all time – PAT BENATAR. She also performs other rock classics from Heart, Queen, Linda Ronstadt, Blondie and others.

2026-2027 SHOWCASE

Knights Of Music is a tribute to legendary figures of the entertainment industry such as Elton John, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Paul McCartney, The Beatles, and Rod Stewart. They perform unforgettable songs like Rocket Man, Hey Jude, Satisfaction, Maggie May, and It’s Not Unusual.

Bronx Wanderers perform a diverse recipe of hilarious stories, a vast repertoire of songs through multiple decades and genres, and a family’s journey through life and music. They performed at TGO in 2015 and now have their own show in Las Vegas!

2026-2027

The Great Outdoors Community Church

An Interdenominational Christian Church

321-383-0303

SUNDAY

WORSHIP SERVICE

10:00am

Watch the LIVESTREAM on our Church Website: www.tgochurch.org

Dr. David Price

Lead Pastor

J.B. Kump

Minister, Small Groups, Visitation and Retreats

Dan Zahn

Minister of Prayer & Visitation

321-383-0303

Richard Harleman Director of Music

Nancy Reinish Director of Bells

Leanne Craig

Office Administrator

Georgi Zeigler

Administrative Assistant Send e-mail to: info@tgochurch.org

Watch Bible Study and Services

Pastor David’s Bible Study is LIVESTREAMING on Thursday mornings at 10:00am on the church website: tgochurch.org. In-person bible study is 11:00am in the Fellowship Hall.

If you miss the livestream of any service, you can watch it from our website: tgochurch.org by clicking on the Resources tab at the top of the homepage, then click on Archived Videos to find the service.

Pastor Dan Zahn’s Bible Study

Year-round on Thursday evenings at 6:30pm by Zoom. Contact Pastor Dan for the link at 321-446-7966.

Ray Z’s Bible Class Mondays at 11:00am in Fellowship Hall.

Men’s Weekly Bible Study - Hosted by Harold Green Mondays at 9:00am in the Choir Room.

Calling ALL Singles - Join us for fun events!

The SINGULARS of Great Outdoors Community Church are continuing their enjoyable schedule. Get on the email distribution list for all the events for this group. Send your email, with the subject line “Singulars Email” to: info@tgochurch.org or call the church office at 321-383-0303 to keep up on the latest news for the Singulars. Please contact our coordinator Pastor J.B. Kump at: 321-543-1608 or email: jb.kump@gmail.com.

Memory Garden Open to All TGO Residents

Interested in a Memory Walk Paver or Columbarium Niche? Inquire at The Great Outdoors Community Church - 321-383-0303. Monday 11:00am - 1:00pm, Tuesday - Friday 9:00am - 1:00pm.

Listen to Verse by Verse

With David Price on WPIO 89.3 FM every Monday - Friday at 4:40pm and 9:13pm

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Prayer Shawl Ministry meets on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month from November through April and meets in the Narthex. Contact Rosalind Zahn for more information at 321-446-7968.

Great Outdoors Community Church has a ministry that provides services to TGO residents. The areas of support and their points-of-contact are as follows: Home Repairs Heidi Turner 321-514-3719 hsturner44@gmail.com

Lending Closet Jeff Craig 248-880-7462 jcraig26@protonmail.com

Temporary Meals Clariece Lewis 321-693-9864 clariece13@gmail.com County Services Bev Houghton 810-919-1629 bhoughto10@hotmail.com

Respite Sitting Martha Dayson 321-268-1460 jimdayson@bellsouth.net

Transportation Charlie Wood 847-609-1222 charliewood847@gmail.com

The Mad Hatters Alice InWonderland Tea Party

Oh what a tea, so splendid and bright, where hats took flight in whimsical delight! Tables dazzled with teacups, blooms, and flair, a contest so grand none could compare. Queen Cathy, King Peter, and their noble Court, led laughter and fun of every sort. A special thanks to Princess Megan who was full of glee And the Court who made magical our Mad Hatter’s Tea!

MEET

Ed Shea

A Life Built on Family, Hard Work, and a Passion for Cars

Ed Shea has spent a lifetime doing three things he loves - working, building cars and spending time with his family. From his early days growing up in Massachusetts to decades in the concrete business and years around the racetrack, Ed has always been a hands-on kind of man. Today, Ed still talks about race cars with the same excitement he had as a kid watching “roundy-round” races on oval tracks. Humble and soft-spoken, Ed would be the first to credit the people around him, especially his wife Judi, his family, and the friends he’s met along the way. Ed’s story is one of hard work, passion, and a life well lived.

Alright Ed, where were you born? What city and state?

I was born in Portland, Maine, in 1943. Actually, Cape Elizabeth. We didn’t live there very long. We moved down to Everett, Massachusetts, because there was a lot of work there for my father. They had refineries and a lot of industry going on.

We lived there for quite a while. Then when I got to be school age, we moved to Wilmington, Massachusetts. That’s where we really grew up. We had family friends there who had a farm, and we lived in their house for years and years.

Later on my father built a house down the street and we moved there. We lived there until we got married. In fact, the house we built there is one of our offices now. We converted it into an office.

After that we moved to Tewksbury, Massachusetts, and we’ve been there ever since.

So what were you like in school? Did you have hobbies or play any sports?

I was a car guy from the beginning. I’ve always been involved with automobiles one way or another. Other than that I started working at a young age.

I figured it might be cars. What age did you first get interested in them?

Well, my father used to say he made the biggest mistake of his life when he took me to my first racetrack - an oval track. I got hooked when I was about eight or ten years old, and I’ve been going ever since. That’s what I’ve always enjoyed.

How old were you when you got your first car?

Oh, I was probably around ten years old. It was an International pickup truck. I completely redid it myself. Nothing fancy, I hand brushed the paint on and everything. That’s just how you did it back then.

There wasn’t anything special about it by today’s standards, but I kept building more and more cars after that.

Later on I got involved with a few hot rods and some race cars. It all goes back to automobiles.

What kind of work did you do?

I’ve always been in the concrete business - precast concrete. A lot of people think we have cement trucks, but we don’t. We actually manufacture products made of concrete. Our company is called Shea Concrete Products. We’ve been around since 1949. We make things like septic tanks, dry wells, modular buildings, underground vaults, and a lot of municipal products - catch basins, manholes, distribution boxes, retaining walls, things like that. If it’s made out of concrete, chances are we make it.

We have four locations now - one down on the Cape, one in Wilmington, one in Nottingham, New Hampshire, and our big facility in Amesbury, Massachusetts. We do a lot of large projects.

So you’ve been in the concrete business all your life?

That’s right. My dad started the business, then Judi and I bought it. Now our four daughters, our sons-in-law, and several grandkids work there.

Overall we have about 150 employees and probably 50-plus trucks.

Sounds like the two of you have built quite a businessand quite a family.

We’ve been married 62 years. We were high school sweethearts. We have four daughters, ten grandkids, and seven great-grandchildren.

Are you completely retired from the business?

No, I still go in every day when I’m home. I’m there at 6:30 in the morning, but I leave early - usually around two or three in the afternoon.

The kids take care of most of it now. They all work for me and they do a great job. Honestly, they probably do a better job than I could right now. Everything’s different nowadays - it’s all done on computers and things like that.

The kids helped bring us into the 21st century, I guess.

So let’s get back to the cars. I know that’s your passion, and you’re responsible for the car show we just had here at TGO. Did you race much yourself?

Well, I did a bit of racing early on, and some building too. But now I’m mainly the owner - kind of like a team manager. Back when I started they called them the “roundy -round” races. They were on oval tracks, all left turns. The cars had big-block Chevys running on alcohol. There were no transmissions - the power went straight from the engine to the drive train - and you had to push them to get them started.

The races were usually 35 to 50 laps on a quarter-mile or five-eighths-mile track. There really weren’t any pits, mainly because if you stopped, you had to push the car again to get it started. There would usually be about 15 or 20 cars out on the track at one time.

We raced mostly in the eastern part of the country, a lot in the Midwest, some up in Canada, and a few races down here in Florida.

I eventually became partners with a guy named Vic Miller. We’ve been good friends for years and years. He’s like a genius - really smart. You know, in racing you try to

hook up with the right people.

We’ve been doing this together for about 25 years now. We’re actually building a new car right now that we’ll start racing when I get back in April. Usually we have one or two cars going at a time. It’s kind of an expensive hobby. You mentioned Florida earlier, so tell us how you ended up finding TGO.

With all the races we were going to, we needed an RV. It’s definitely the best way to travel and you have all your personal stuff with you. Better than hotels.

One time we came down to Daytona and there was nowhere to park. We had a friend who had been here before and told us to come down here.

We drove in the long road and instantly loved the place from the moment we arrived. We even loved the guard shack. It felt safe to me. What’s not to love?

So we came in and stayed in what was called the reserve lot, which was right down from where our house is now. That was roughly 25 years ago.

We stayed there and just fell in love with the place. We saw this lot on Plantation that we were interested in, and we ended up talking to Tammy DeVries at the real estate company. The lot looked deserted, so she made a call to see if it was available, and we ended up buying it.

We’ve been married 62 years. We were high school sweethearts. We have four daughters, ten grandkids, and seven great-grandchildren.

So you bought a lot the first time you came down here?

Yep. We put a room on it, cleaned it up, and turned it into a beautiful lot. We kept it for about five years.

Then we got hold of Tammy again and told her we wanted to buy a house. She took us around and showed us a few places, but nothing really caught our interest.

Then she said, “I have this one over here. It’s a bit weird, but you might like it.”

She showed us the house we’re in now. It was only about 95 percent finished at the time, but the minute we walked in the front door we fell in love with it.

This house is shaped kind of like a piece of pie. You’ve got one room here and it opens up like that. I always describe it like a pie.

The only complaint I have is the garage isn’t big enough - but what garage ever is?

Ed Shea MEET

Did you ever get a chance to do much other RV travel besides going to races?

We spent some time up in New York visiting and traveling with the kids. We also went down through the southern part of the United States and then back up through California.

I still remember Judi looked at the map one day and said, “You know, we could go to Alaska. We’re almost there - it doesn’t look that far.”

I looked at the map and said, “Well, why don’t we do that?” So we got the map out and drove a big chunk of it the first day . The next day we flipped the map over and realized they had a different scale on the other side. It was still a long ways away!

We drove and drove and drove. It’s a long ride, I’ll tell you that. At one point we got caught in a snowstorm at Pink Mountain in the Yukon.

We were lucky enough to get into a rest area. They don’t have many rest areas up there. We were stuck there for a couple of days. Then all of a sudden we started seeing milk trucks going by.

I figured if the milk trucks could make it, so could weso we took off again.

It turned out to be quite a trip. We eventually drove into Valdez, which is where they had that big oil spill years ago. There were a lot of workers there at the time and space was limited, but we were lucky enough to get a place to stay. Since we were tourists, they took care of us. Alaska is definitely an adventure.

The annual car show is this weekend here in the park. That’s something you’re in charge of, tell us a bit about it. It’s basically a group of guys from the Southern Classics Car Club. We get together twice a week for breakfast.

It’s just a great bunch of guys - from Titusville, Cocoa, Mims - all around the Space Coast area. And their wives, too. Joining that club was probably the best thing I did after coming down here.

We’re hoping to have about 30 to 40 cars this Saturday. It looks like the weather is going to be perfect. Car guys don’t like taking their cars out in the rain - but we’ll be there rain or shine.

There are probably about a dozen guys here in TGO who have cars that should be in the show.

So Ed, after all the years with race cars, building a company, and traveling around the country, what keeps you getting up early every morning and still going after it?

Well, I guess I’ve just never been the kind of guy who likes sitting around. I like being busy. I like going in, seeing the people at the shop, checking on things, and making sure everything’s running the way it should.

And, of course, the cars. Racing has always been my passion. I’ve been around it since I was a kid, and I still enjoy it just as much today. It keeps me young.

But really, it’s the people. My family, the kids working in the business, the guys I race with, the friends we’ve made down here. When you’ve got good people around you, it makes getting up in the morning pretty easy.

I guess I just feel lucky to still be part of it all.

Ed with his Grandson, AJ, and Great-Grandson, Vincent.

• Tow Set-Up

• Hitch Installation

• Braking Systems

• Shock/Sumos Installation

• Motorcycle Lift

•

• Air Conditioning/Furnace

• Lithium/solar upgrades

• Refrigerator Repair and Installation

• Satellite Dishes and Electrical

• Full RV Collision Repair

•

•

•

You are invited...

LORI’S SPACE COAST TRAVEL,LLC

TRAVEL NIGHT -

Sunday, March 29 - 6 to 8:30pm - The Pavilion

Join us for an evening to learn about travel with guest speakers from Uniworld (river cruises), Collette (land tours) and Rocky Mountaineer (rail trips). Complimentary Appetizers, Wine and Beer will be served.

Space is Limited. Please RSVP by March 23 to Lori Bledsoe at LorisSpaceCoastTravel@gmail.com or Call/Text 678-231-7680

A TGO Resident

TGO’s Newest Neighbor - The Peter’s Rock Agama

Maybe you’ve seen one of these lizards scampering around your lot or darting across the driveway, we have! These little reptiles have a bright red or orange head and a bluish body. They are called Peter’s Rock Agamas , one of Florida’s invasive lizards that started showing up in the ‘70s. Native to sub-Saharan Africa and known scientifically as Agama Picticauda, these colorful reptiles have been quietly spreading across this state for decades. They likely arrived through the exotic pet trade many years ago, with some populations believed to trace back to escaped animals near reptile import facilities in South Florida. Since then, they’ve expanded north along roads, rail lines, and urban corridors, turning up more frequently in places like Orlando, Tampa, and across Central Florida neighborhoods - including here at TGO.

Males sport the bright red head and deep blue body during breeding season, while females and younger Agamas tend to be a more camouflaged brown or olive color. They love warm, sunny surfaces, rock piles, block walls, driveways, and parking lots. They’ll often sit upright like tiny dragons surveying their territory.

Unlike some Florida lizards, they vanish the moment you look at them, sprinting a short distance and then stopping abruptly as if convinced you’ve lost track of them. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the species is being monitored as part of Florida’s growing list of non-native wildlife.

Basically, these little guys are harmless to people and won’t bite unless you provoke them. They also eat insects, which is a good thing. You generally don’t need to do anything if you see one around your yard, so just consider them as your own personal little dragon. Remember... It’s Florida, they’re just another quirky addition to our ever-growing cast of crazy wildlife.

Meet the Team

Looking to buy or sell in The Great Outdoors? TGO Realty is the only full-service real estate company with offices inside the resort - serving the community for over 32 years. Our team of Licensed Sales Associates has extensive knowledge of all properties within The Great Outdoors, from well-appointed paved RV sites to custom-built resort homes. In fact, almost all our agents are residents here, with years of experience and ready to assist you with any questions. Please contact any of our agents - they’ll be happy to help you.

Stephanie and Darrin Huggins Brokers Owners stephanieh@tgoresort.com darrinh@tgoresort.com

Please feel free to contact any of our TGO Realty, Inc. Licensed Sales Associates

Nancy Merchant 321-243-5335 nancym@tgoresort.com

Paul Shimski 321-704-3111 pauls@tgoresort.com

Ann Henn 321-432-4350 tgoann@aol.com

Mike Zeigler 321-349-4123 mikerzeigler@gmail.com

Tammy DeVries 321-537-1170 tammyd@tgoresort.com

Lou Costanza 813-777-4186 LJCostanza@gmail.com

Terry MacDonald 516-383-3704 tmacdonald1255@gmail.com

Marc Lundeberg 321-423-1388 marcl@tgoresort.com

Brenda Cullen 561-281-9382 brendac@tgoresort.com

Nancy Kuzma 321-269-5004 TGO Office Manager

TGO Resort Homes and Villas

NEW LISTING

475 Plantation Drive - $425,000

Beautiful 2-bedroom, 2-bath resort home with loft and stunning golf course views of the 10th fairway. This 1,900-square-foot home features granite countertops, included appliances, and a bright enclosed room with panoramic windows. Enjoy a 14’ x 44’ RV port with 14’ clearance, garage shop area, and unique landscaping with a peaceful garden retreat.

701 Baytree Drive - $499,000

This stunning 3-bedroom, 3-bath resort home with loft features soaring 22’ ceilings, two spacious master en suites, and a bright 12’ x 50’ sunroom under air. Enjoy a massive RV garage with hookups, separate car garage, new 2023 roof, furnished interior, and a private corner lot backing to a peaceful landscaped nature preserve.

252 Harmony Lane - $699,000

Beautiful expanded Oakwood Model in Hidden Lakes with approximately 2,605 sq. ft., featuring 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, and a sun porch overlooking Camp Lake. A private en suite bedroom over the garage adds flexibility. Upgraded granite kitchen, bay windows, tray ceilings, abundant storage, and garages for cars, golf cart, and RV. New roof 2025, HVAC 2024.

NEW PRICE

331 Harmony Lane - $825,000

Modified Judith Ann model in Hidden Lakes. Built 2018 with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and approximately 2,600 sq. ft. living area. RV garage with dual hookups, golf cart garage, impact glass, whole-house generator, water filtration system, granite countertops, GE Profile appliances, ducted AC, and tray ceilings. Ultra Clean - Must See!

Brenda Cullen 561-281-9382, Mike Zeigler 321-349-4123

TGO Park Homes

TGO RV Sites w/Executive Suite

ADDRESS PRICE LOT SIZE FEATURES

453 Fawn Trail

LISTING AGENT

$145,000 .04 Acres 8 x 15 Shed, Appl, Furnished Tammy DeVries 321-537-1770

6 Sunset 165,000 .08 Acres Furnished, W/D Paul Shimski 321-704-3111

478 Oak Cove 169,500 20 x 20 Suite, 6 x 8 Shed

Nancy Merchant 321-243-5335

373 Plantation 172,500 Golf Cart Shed/Storage Shed Terry MacDonald 516-383-3704

178 Plantation CONTRACT 43 x 80 542 sq ft Suite, Furnished Tammy DeVries 321-537-1770

349 Plantation 179,000 40 x 80 616 sq ft Suite

510 Oak Cove 179,900 40 x 80 242 sq ft Suite

Brenda Cullen 561-281-9382

Terry MacDonald 516-383-3704

370 Plantation 189,900 40 x 80 336 sq ft Suite, Furnished, Shed Terry MacDonald 516-383-3704

482 Oak Cove 199,950 40 x 80 300 sq ft Suite, Shed Terry MacDonald 516-383-3704

336 Plantation 225,000 Screen Room Terry MacDonald 516-383-3704

357 Plantation 232,000 40 x 80 426 sq ft Suite Terry MacDonald 516-383-3704

317 Oak Cove 237,500 40 x 80 Furnished, Custom Suite, AC Shed Terry MacDonald 516-383-3704

489 Fawn Trail 249,000 10 x 14 Florida room, Appl Nancy Merchant 321-243-5335

455 Oak Cove 269,900 Shed, Paver Drive, Lake/Golf View Terry MacDonald 516-383-3704

140 Windsong 273,969 Furnished, 690 sq ft Suite Nancy Merchant 321-243-5335

50 Sunset 274,900 67 x 24 Furnished Nancy Merchant 321-243-5335

321 Oak Cove 274,900 40 x 60 524 sq ft Suite Brenda Cullen 561-281-9382

122 Windsong 279,000 .09 Acres 1,250 sq ft Suite, Furnished Ann Henn 321-432-4350

TGO RV Sites

ADDRESS PRICE LOT SIZE FEATURES

LISTING AGENT

151 Plantation 89,000 40 x 80 8 x 10 Shed, Close to Amenities TGO Realty

313 Oak Cove 95,000 Picnic Table Mike Zeigler 321-349-4123

315 Oak Cove 99,000 Vinyl Shed Mike Zeigler 321-349-4123

483 Fawn Trail 99,999 40 x 80 Lot Only Mike Zeigler 321-349-4123

184 Plantation CONTRACT 40 x 80 Shed w/Shower, W&D hookups Ann Henn 321-432-4350

371 Oak Cove 109,000 40 x 80 224 sq ft Florida Rm, Shed Tammy DeVries 321-537-1770

382 Oak Cove 114,000 40 x 80 Shed, Nature View Brenda Cullen 561-281-9382

406 Oak Cove 115,000 Paver Lot, Shaded, Close to Pool Paul Shimski 321-704-3111

417 Oak Cove 117,000 .011 Acres 288 sq ft Utility Rm Tammy DeVries 321-537-1770

13 Sunset CONTRACT 40 x 80 180 sq ft Florida Rm/Shed Terry MacDonald 516-383-3704

384 Oak Cove 120,000 Shed, WD hookup, Sink Terry MacDonald 516-383-3704

40 Sunset 124,900 .08 Acres Shed Paul Shimski 321-704-3111

439 Oak Cove 124,900 .08 Acres Shed Paul Shimski 321-704-3111

429 Oak Cove 125,000 40 x 80 Shed Terry MacDonald 516-383-3704

174 Plantation 127,000 10 x 12 Shed, AC, Refrig Terry MacDonald 516-383-3704

22 Sunset 127,000 40 x 80 Shed Terry MacDonald 516-383-3704

332 Plantation 129,000 164 sq ft AC FL Room, Shed Paul Shimski 321-704-3111

408 Oak Cove 129,000 .011 Acres Shed Paul Shimski 321-704-3111

312 Oak Cove 130,000 49 x 80 Extra Deep Corner Lot Tammy DeVries 321-537-1770

185 Plantation 135,000 40 x 102 Shed, A/C with Laundry Ann Henn 321-432-4350

33 Sunset 135,000 Paver Lot, 10x14 Shed w/elec Terry MacDonald 516-383-3704

418 Oak Cove 136,000 12 x 12 FL Rm Ann Henn 321-432-4350

316 Oak Cove 139,000 40 x 80 240 sq ft Florida Rm, Shed, Bath Terry MacDonald 516-383-3704

346 Oak Cove 144,900 10x20 FL Rm / 10x14 Utl Rm Tammy DeVries 321-537-1770

Plantation Drive - $179,000

Plantation Drive - $89,000

406 Oak Cove Road - $115,000

Plantation Drive - $127,000 Bold Type indicates New Listing Heavy Type indicates New Price All dimensions are approximate and must be verified by buyer.

- $135,000

Café Hours - 8:00am to 11:00am Blue Heron Hours - 11:00am to 8:00pm

BREAKFAST

BREAKFAST

Early Birdie Classics

Hole in One - One egg any style, with bacon, one slice of toast, and hashbrowns 8.99

The Birdie - Two eggs any style, with meat, two slices of toast, and hashbrowns 12.99

The Sand Trap - Biscuits smothered in sausage gravy, with one egg any style Half - 6.99 Full - 12.99

The Caddy Stack - A stack of one, two, or three homemade pancakes or french toast 1 - 3.99, 2 - 6.99, 3 - 9.99

Add blueberries or strawberries 1.99

Blue Heron Nest - Two poached eggs nested in Canadian bacon on top of hashbrowns, smothered in hollandaise sauce 14.99

Build Your Own

The 9-Iron (Sandwich or Wrap) 12.99

Bread: White, wheat, rye, English muffin, croissant, tortilla

Meat: Bacon, Canadian bacon, ham, or sausage

Cheese: American, Swiss, jack-cheddar, or provolone

Veggie: Tomatoes, onion, or green pepper

Wrapped around 2 eggs any style

McDuffer’s Cheese Omelette - Egg omelet with jack-cheddar cheese, served with toast and hashbrowns 2 Eggs - 8.99, 3 Eggs - 10.99

Omelette Add Ons - Green peppers, red onions, diced tomatoes, mushroom, spinach, black olives, cilantro, basil, Jalapenos .99 each

Omelette Add Ons - Ham, Canadian bacon, sausage, pepperoni, grilled chicken, fried chicken 1.99 each

Sides

Fruit - ala carte 4.99

Oatmeal - ala carte 4.99

Hashbrowns/Home Fries - ala carte 3.99 onions/peppers 1.00

Ala Carte

Side of toast - white, wheat, or rye 2.99 English muffin, Croissant, or Biscuit

APPETIZERS

APPETIZERS

Basket of Fries - choice of two sauces 4.99

Quesadilla - 12” flour tortilla filled with sautéed onions, peppers and shredded cheese 10.99

Add chicken - 3.00 Add shrimp - 4.00

Spicy Quesadilla - 12” flour tortilla filled with onions, peppers, jalapeños, tomatoes, and buffalo chicken 13.99

Substitute Fried Shrimp - 1.00

Pretzel - Served with nacho cheese dip 9.99

Pierogi - Served with a choice of sauerkraut and horsey sauce or sautéed onions and sour cream 9.99

Potato Skins - Loaded with shredded cheese and bacon, topped with green onions 9.99

Fried Okra - Served with ranch 8.99

Onion Rings - Beer battered, served with a choice of dipping sauces 8.99

Fried Pickles - Served with Sriracha Ranch 9.99

Potstickers - Pork potstickers, sweet Thai chili sauce 10.99

Chicken Wings 6 for 10.99 10 for 15.99

Sauce options: BBQ, mild/hot Buffalo, garlic Parmesan Popcorn Shrimp - tossed in Kaboom sauce 10.99

SALAD & SOUP

SALAD & SOUP

Add Turkey or Ham - 2.00 Fried or Grilled Chicken - 3.00

Fried Shrimp - 4.00 Salmon - 9.99

House Salad - Spring mix, cucumbers, diced tomatoes, sliced red onions, shredded cheese 9.99

Mandarin Orange Salad - Spring mix, mandarin oranges, crushed almonds, chow mein noodles 11.99

CONSUMER ADVISORY - Consuming undercooked meat, poultry, eggs, or seafood may increase your risk of foodborne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions. Please inform your server of any special dietary needs.

Caesar Salad - Romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, homemade croutons, side of Caesar dressing 9.99

Caprese Salad - Spring mix, mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, sliced onions, capers, balsamic glaze 10.99

Gazpacho - Chilled Spanish blended soup, served with croutons or crackers 8.99

Ask your server about our Gazpacho special of the day!

Spaghetti and Meatballs - Meatballs over spaghetti with marinara sauce, garlic bread Half 9.99 Full 14.99

Dinner Salmon - Choice of grilled or baked, regular or blackened, salmon, served with vegetable of the day 21.99

Chicken Alfredo - Grilled chicken over fettuccine alfredo, served with garlic bread Half 10.99 Full 15.99

BURGERS & SANDWICHES

BURGERS & SANDWICHES

Cheese options - American, Swiss, Provolone, Pepper Jack Vegetarian Burger - 3.99 Gluten Free Bun Option - 2.99

Blue Heron Burger - Angus beef with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, served with fries 12.99 Add cheese 1.00

MOAB Burger - Mother Of All Burgers. Angus beef with American cheese, onion rings, bacon and BBQ sauce, served with fries 15.99

Chicken Sandwich - Grilled or fried chicken breast with lettuce and tomato, served with fries 12.99

Chicken Parm Sub - Fried chicken, marinara and cheese, served with fries

Half 10.99 Full 14.99

Cheesesteak - Steak or chicken, sautéed peppers, onions and mushrooms, topped with provolone cheese, served with fries

Half 10.99 Full 14.99

Heron Club - Sliced turkey or ham, bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo on your choice of bread, served with fries 14.99

On The Green Burger - Angus beef with provolone cheese, spinach, avocado and house aioli, served with fries 15.99

J&B’s Patty Melt - Angus beef smothered with caramelized onions, on marbled rye bread with Swiss cheese, served with fries 13.99

Meatloaf Sandwich - House meatloaf with gravy, lettuce and tomato, served with fries

Half 8.99 Full 13.99

Eggplant Parm Sub - Fried eggplant, marinara and cheese, served with fries

Half 10.99 Full 15.99

Meatball Sub - Meatballs, marinara, provolone cheese on a toasted sub, served with fries

Half 10.99 Full 14.99

The Reuben - Thinly sliced corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, Thousand Island dressing on marbled rye, served with fries 14.99

Albatross Pasta - Creamy marinara, penne, basil, Parmesan, and garlic bread - chicken or meatballs Half 10.99 Full 15.99

SIDES

Replacement options require an up charge. Ask your server for more information.

French Fries Sweet Potato Fries Onion Rings Side Salad Side of Fruit Coleslaw

FLATBREADS

FLATBREADS

The Garbage Pail 18.99

Build Your Own - starts at 12.99, with marinara and cheese Cheese - Pizza or cheddar-jack Alfredo Sauce 1.00

Toppings 1.00 each

Jalapeno, green pepper, red onion, cilantro, basil, diced or sliced tomatoes, mushrooms, black olives, roasted garlic, pineapple

Meats 2.00 each

Pepperoni, sausage, bacon, meatballs, grilled or fried chicken, ham

Ask your server about our Dessert of the day!

Sunday & Monday! - 99¢ Chicken Wings! Thursday - $3.50 Tacos

Music at The Blue Heron

Friday March 20 Sammy

Friday March 27 Tiki Duo Band

ENTREES & PASTAS

ENTREES & PASTA

Potatoes and vegetable of the day are subject to change. Ask your server what we have today.

Chicken Tenders - Served with fries and choice of dipping sauce 11.99

Fish and Chips - Beer battered white fish, served with fries and coleslaw 14.99

Friday April 3 Xspanse

Friday April 10 Sammy

Friday April 17 Sammy

Friday April 24 Tiki Duo Band

Medicare Won’t Pay for Long-Term Care. Do You Have a Plan?

What’s often overlooked is planning for a time when some level of care or assistance may be needed.

Medicare DOES NOT pay for long-term care.

An alternative is asset-based long-term care planning. This approach offers greater flexibility and control. Care can often be provided at home for as long as possible, based on a simple certification from your physician. In many cases, benefits are available with minimal or no underwriting - even if you’ve been DECLINED in the past.

One of the greatest advantages is ownership. The funds remain yours. If care is never needed, the assets grow on a guaranteed basis and pass to your beneficiaries.

Call, text, or email for a complimentary review of your options.

Rick Sechler, CFP

Independant Broker And Fiduciary

Chrissy’s Catering Corner:

Did you know St. Patrick’s day, a cultural and religious holiday, is just around the corner. It is believed that Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, who was a 5th century missionary, used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people. Also, the food of choice for this day is not corned beef and cabbage but bacon and cabbage (a favorite of mine), potatoes, and soda bread. Potatoes, a root vegetable, are abundant in Ireland, so recipes can be numerous.

Facts: Myth: “Potatoes are bad for you” – This is only true if you believe the Atkins diet is gospel. The carbs fuel every tissue in your body –including your brain. A single medium white potato contains 40g of carbohydrates (which turn to glycogen to support liver function), 5g of protein and almost no fat.

TODAY’S RECIPE: Colcannon (Irish Mashed Potatoes)

4 russet potatoes (2 to 2 1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces - Salt, to taste

5 to 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for serving

3 lightly packed cups chopped kale, cabbage, chard, or other leafy green

3 green onions, minced (about 1/2 cup)

1 cup milk or cream

Directions: Boil the potatoes, 15-20 minutes until fork tender. Then drain. Return empty pot to the stove on medium heat and cook the greens with butter 4-6 minutes or until they are wilted and give off some of their water. Add the green onions and cook 1 minute more. Add in the milk or cream and stir, then the drained potatoes. Mix and mash using a masher until the greens are well incorporated and the potatoes are of a ‘smashed’ consistency. Add salt to taste and serve hot, with a knob of butter in the center.

Health sources: Mastering Diabetes, Funkidfacts.com Recipe source: Chrissy Elwonger

720 Plantation Drive - $379,900

One Bedroom/1.5 bath with a large RV port, generous living space, and a versatile loft area - perfect for guests or additional storage. Attached golf cart garage. Furnished, with complete cosmetic upgrades including a newer A/C unit (2020), water treatment system, and an electric car charger.

NEW LISTING

505 Fairways Drive - $435,000

Two Bedroom/two bath with loft and large RV port. Impact windows, fresh interior paint, and elegant quartz countertops. Remodeled primary suite includes a spacious walk-in closet and walk-in shower. Metal roof in 2018 - New AC in 2024. Solar PanelsToo many features to list - Must See!

•

Funny Thing Is… Murphy’s

Law, An Irish Tribute

On March 17 each year we all become Irish for one day. With that in mind I would like to dedicate my column this issue to my favorite Irishman, Murphy.

That’s right folks. Captain Ed Murphy, a developmental engineer remarked while having trouble with a transducer the now infamous words, “If anything can go wrong, it will.” He entitled it “Murphy’s Law” and it became the spark of a forest fire of corollaries, axioms, and extensions more famous than the works of St. Patrick. In case you haven’t heard of Murphy’s Law, I can assure you that you HAVE experienced it. One of the corollaries is, “If anything can go wrong, it will… and at the worst possible time,” and I would add the extension, “…and there will always be a crowd around to see it.” An axiom to the law would be, “If something falls to the floor it will roll to the most inaccessible spot under the furniture.” Have you ever lost something, searched everywhere, couldn’t find it so you went out and bought a new one. What happens as soon as you get home? You find the original. Murphy’s Law in action. An axiom to that is, “You always find a lost item in the last place you look.” Duh! Really?

Have you ever broken an appliance, waited days for the repairman to finally show up, and when he turns it on it works perfectly? Murphy. Buttered a piece of bread and dropped it? Which side hits the floor? Murphy. How come a drought always starts the day you fertilize your lawn and ends when you schedule your next round of golf? Murphy again.

I personally experience almost daily what I believe is a Murphy instigated occurrence called “The Line or Lane Phenomena.” For the Line it’s when you get in the shortest line at the grocery store or stadium which then becomes the longest wait in recorded history. For the Lane it is where you switch to the only moving lane on the highway which immediately stops while the lane you were just in moves freely, until you change back then that lane stops again.

So on March 17 when you hoist that pint of green beer above your head in tribute to the Irish, and the server accidentally bumps into you spilling it in your lap, remember the most famous Irishman is smiling somewhere and saying, “See, told ya.” -Sammy -

Hobbies and Recreations

Aquacize Manor Pool

Mon - Fri - 10:00am Weather Permitting. Call CSA Manor Office to ask about any cancellations. Aquacize, or water aerobics, is a fun and easy workout for all ages. It increases cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and muscle tone. Diana Araujo-Fernandez - 321-264-2393

ON HOLD TEMPORARILY

Bingo Plantation Manor Tues - 6:00pm Cards Go On Sale at 4:45pm. TGO Owners, Renters, and Guests Only. All present during play must be 18 years of age or older. Age verification via government ID may be required.

Bike Group Plantation Manor - Thur 9:00am TGO Bike Group does group rides every Thursday. We go on bike trails or lightly traveled urban streets, no major roads, between 10 to 20 miles at 8 to 10 miles per hour. E-bikes and recumbents are welcome. Meet in the Manor parking lot at 9:00am on a Thursday. Ed Swan - Text 321-536-0572

Bocce The Bocce Court

The Bocce ball set can be borrowed from the cabinet outside the Fitness Center, Monday through Friday from 8:00am - 3:00pm. For weekend play, pick up the Bocce set on Friday.

Bowling River Lanes (SR50) - Titusville

TGO bowling League - 2026 Season - 12-week league starts 1/7/26 - first day at Noon (for meeting), then 1:00pm for all other Wednesdays. $10 per week for 3 games with tax & free shoe rental. Teams comprised of 4 bowlers per team. Single bowlers welcome - we will find you a team. League is a handicap system, so everyone has a chance to win. To confirm your place or join, TEXT Ruby Logan at 321-749-8642 or email: Ruby@lakesagency.com

Bridge Club Manor Porch

Mon - 1:00pm, Thurs - 1:00pm

For intermediate and advanced level players. Bridge sign-up sheets are on clipboards on the Plantation Manor office door by the stage. Players must sign up by Friday noon to play Monday afternoon and must sign up by Tuesday noon to play Thursday afternoon. For more info, call: John Comeau – 321-269-5525

Bunco Library

Every other Thursday 6:00pm. March 26, April 2, 16 & 30, May 14 & 28.

$4.00 - $1 Bunco and $3 for Left, Right, Center Text Cathy Costello 321-376-2823

Bunco Manor Porch

Every other Tuesday 1:00pm. March 31, April 7. All games are at 1pm. All of the dates are two weeks apart with the exception of April which is one week. $1.00 to play. Call or text Lillian VanDuyne at 607-316-4910 for more info.

Chess The Library

If you are interested in playing chess one-on-one or would like to reactivate scheduled group play, please contact Bill Severance-207-317-1365 or bill@westnetdesigns.com. Join the TGO Chess Players Facebook group.

Cigar Club Windsong Pavilion

2nd & 4th Tuesdays – 3:30pm. Enjoy a cigar with fellow smokers, swap cigars, share cigar knowledge, join field trips. Facebook: TGO Cigar Club Bob Hazlett – 937-545-7446; or email: rlhazlett999@gmail.com

Clown Alley The Library

Meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at 3:00pm. For more information call: Pam Campbell Taylor 571-217-0444

Coloring Group Windsong Pavilion

All Year Long - First and third Tuesdays 1:00 to 3:00pm and/or Wednesdays 5:30 to 7:30pm. $10 - Colored pencil supplies provided. Start with a coloring lesson, color at your own pace. Reservations required by the Monday before class. Text or call Tracy Lewis - 425-478-6078 or email tgocolor@stuffnthingz.com

Cornhole The Cornhole Courts

Sunday 3:00pm, Wednesday 5:30 - 7:00pm Practice starts a half hour before play. Randy Sanford - 321-505-8353

Croquet Club

Front of Driving Range - Sun - 2:00pm No experience needed. Equipment provided. Bring your own chair and beverage. It’s a great way to get outside and have fun with friends and neighbors. Joe DiGuilio 321-398-1816 or Frank Valenza - 407-223-5196

Diamond Painting Library - Mon - 1:30pm

Try this new craft hobby that’s a mix between Cross Stitch and Paint by Numbers. Tiny resin “diamonds” are applied to a color-coded canvas creating a vibrant mosaic painting.

Nancy Morrison - 207-577-0161

Carol Renaudette - 610-334-2654

Euchre The Library Sat - 7:00 - 9:00pm

Euchre is for all who love the game! Cost is $1. Theresa Crosby - 740-548-0140

Friendly Hobbies Hobbyland

Wed - 9:30am - 12:00 noon, all year

Bring your knitting, cross stitch, crocheting, and other needle creations.

Theresa Sansoucie - 603-491-4515 or Mary Jane Smith - 810-853-8188

Exercise With Charlotte

Manor (M) or Pavilion (P)

Mon (M) 8:00 -9:00am Strength Training

Mon (P) 9:00 - 9:30am Low Impact

Tue (M) 8:00 - 9:00am PiYo Live

Tue (M) 9:00 - 9:30am Pilates

Wed (M) 8:00 - 9:00am Medicine Ball

Wed (P) 9:00 - 9:30am Total Body Toning

Thur (M) 8:00 - 9:00am Low Impact

Thur (M) 9:00 - 9:30am Total Body Stretch

Fri (M) 8:00 - 9:00am Strength Training

Fri (P) 9:00 - 9:30am People’s Choice

FMCA - Ambassadors Chapter Manor

4th Monday (October - April) - 4:30pm

Seasonal meetings are monthly. Come share your latest RV adventures and get updates on our rally schedule and chapter activities. After our business meeting, we provide a light meal for our members and guests. Please bring your own beverage of choice. If you will be attending, you must send an email to Bob Nebel by the Monday before the meeting so we know how much food to purchase. Bob Nebel at 321-626-1290 or Email: renebeljr@gmail.com

Visit our website at www.TGOAMB.com

FTTA - Fun Time Travel Association Manor

3rd Monday (October - April) - 4:30pm

The FTTA is a rally group open to all owners and renters in TGO. Join our monthly meeting for information about rallies and socializing. We will serve food at this meeting. Those who plan to attend, send an e-mail to Monica Fierro by the Friday before the Monday meeting so we know how many chairs to set up and how much food to purchase.

Monica Fierro - 321-604-0011

Email: tgomonica@yahoo.com

Put “FTTA” in the subject line.

Game Night The Library

Sun - 6:00pm, Tue - 6:00pm

This fun-loving group plays many types of games. Carol Hall - 321-289-7380 or Kathy Smith - 401-742-9766

Hobbies and Recreations

Hand Knee And Foot Card Game The Library

Wed and Sat - 11:30am - 4:00pm

Much more challenging and fun than original Hand and Foot, this is still similar to Canasta. Both days meet all year.

Marie Zeigler - 518-805-8569

Karaoke Plantation Manor - 6:00pm

Pinochle The Library

Weekly on Wednesday 6:30pm - 9:00pm

Glenda Strom - 321-750-4867or email glenda7.gs@gmail.com

Pickleball Pickleball Courts

Six Pickleball Courts available at 8:00am.

• Lights for Night Play • Beginners Lessons

Singles At Tgo The Café Wed - 11:30am

Join us for lunch every week. Men and women can spend an hour or two in fellowship. Meet old friends and make new ones.

Sammye Madden - 321-383-8530 or Carol Hall 321-289-7380

RETURNING IN OCTOBER

January 22 - Then off for the season Join in the fun or listen to your friends. Bring snacks and beverages. Don Wheeler - 407-401-3655

Line Dancing Plantation Manor

Tue - 10:00am - 12:00pm

Beginner class starts at 10:00am

No dance experience - basic steps taught. Improver class starts at 11:00am. Michelle Neese - Instructor

Machine Embroidery Club Hobbyland

Fri - 12:00 - 5:00pm

Join us in this fascinating hobby. Bring your embroidery machine. Bring your door key for the craft room. Diana Spahn - 207-432-2107

Mad Hatters Plantation Manor

1st Tuesday (November - April) - 11:30am

All TGO ladies are invited. Lunch is $20.00, cash or check, advance reservations are required. Contact Susan Bonneau at madhatlunch@gmail.com. For any other information contact: Cathy Costello at 321-376-2823 or cathy.costello@gmail.com

Mah Jongg The Library

Monday - 6:00 - 9:00pm Connie Heil - 321-383-8279

Tuesday -1:00 - 4:00pm Rosalind Zahn - 321-269-7957

Nickel Bingo Plantation Manor

Fridays, Apr 3 & 23 at 6:00pm. Bring snacks for your table/BYOB. Bring a roll of nickels and $1, per person, for donation to three charities. Bev Moquin - 508-317-0295

Page Turners The Library

1st Wednesday of each month - 6:30pm Wine is welcome! Please consider joining the fun! The book selection and more information can be found on FACEBOOK at TGO Page Turners.

Photo Club Check website for meeting location: tgophotoclub.com

1st and 3rd Fridays. If you enjoy taking pictures and want to learn more, join us. Use your phone or a mirrorless camera, new faces welcome. David Spahn - 207-468-6760

• Organized Tournaments • Clinics to Improve Member Skills

• Open Club Play 9:00am - 1:00pm Daily and Wednesday evening 6:00 - 8:00pm

• Private Games in the Afternoon Equipment available at the Manor CSA Office Mon- Fri 8:00am to 3:00pm. For more information: tgopickleballclubboard@gmail.com. Lessons will be offered every Wednesday from 2-4pm. No reservations necessary. Show up ready to learn. If lessons are cancelled it will be posted on the gate at the courts. Pam Howland at 678-570-7625

Quilters Hobbyland

Thur - 9:30am- 5:00pm, all year

Weekly meetings are held at 1:00pm November through April. TGO Owners, please bring your door key for the craft room.

Debbi Walling - 925-708-3599

Radio Controlled Aircraft

Experience the “high” of flying R/C aircraft. FREE training. The airfield is less than a mile from TGO. We fly all year and are usually at the airfield by about 8:00am. Bob Netherton - 321-269-3016

Rug Hooking Hobbyland

Tues (October - April) - 9:00am

The TGO Traditional Rug Hooking Group invites all “Hookers and Lookers” Terri Strack - 603-540-5921

Shuffleboard Shuffleboard Courts

Thurs - October - April - 1:00pm

Discs and Cues are on the Fitness Center front wall. Return equipment when done. After dark, there is a light switch timer by the Tennis Court fenced door nearest the shuffleboard courts. Doug Jensen - 401-885-9731

Sawdust Club The Pavilion

Members meeting - 2nd Tuesday (October-April) - 9:00am. The club building is near the CSA maintenance yard and open to members 24/7/365. Members may pursue their wood and/or metalworking hobby. Loaner tools are available for any member. Membership is open to all TGO property owners. Laura Sievers 630-408-6461 tgosawdustclub.wordpress.com

Stampin’ Up Card Making Class Hobbyland 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 6:00pm and 2nd and 4th Fridays at 9:30am. Make 3 cards for $15. All supplies provided. Reservations Required. E-mail: bdaniels2065@gmail.com by Monday before classes or call

Carol Hall - 321-289-7380

Stitching From The Heart Hobbyland

Thurs - 9:30am - 12 noon, all year. Come join in the fun of stitching your projects while you enjoy a cup of tea. Bring your key to the craft room. Teri Alexander - 321-961-1393 or Theresa Sansoucie - 603-491-4515

Swedish Weavers Hobbyland

Monday - 1:00 - 3:00pm

Relax with this fun, needlecraft fabric decorating style. The simple technique can be mastered and enjoyed by all ages.

Carmella Zielinski - 321-289-0150

Tai Chi Windsong Pavilion

Monday and Wednesday 9:30 - 10:30am

Classes start Monday, Jan 5. For more info call or text Dan Tracy at 608-658-4465

Tennis Club Tennis Courts

Tennis Club Members Match Play: Mon - Wed - Fri - 9:00am to Noon

All Tennis Players - Round-Robin - All Skill Levels: Tue - Thu - Sat - 9:00am to Noon. Open Play Mon-Sat noon-8:00pm, Sundays 8:00am-8:00pm

Join the TGO Tennis Club. Contact any Tennis Club Board Member on court.

Belle Maropis - 770-695-8266

Texas Hold’em Juke Box

Tournaments on Tuesdays and Fridays at 6:00pm in the Jukebox Recreation Room. Doyle Wilson - 502-751-4657

Texas Hold’em Mixed Groups Juke Box

Tournaments on Thursday at 6:00pm in the Jukebox Recreation Room.

Andy Martenson - 321-246-0033

Texas Hold’em Women’s Poker Club

Juke Box - Sunday evenings in the game room from 6:00 - 9:00pm. HEY GALS! Interested in playing Texas Hold ‘em? Here’s your opportunity to get in on a low-stakes limit game.

Terry Marsh at 919-368-0224

your

or

Miracle-Ear Hearing Center is looking for qualified people to test their latest product with speech isolation and background noise reduction for FREE!

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Here’s the catch: You must have difficulty hearing and understanding in background noise, and your hearing must fall in the range of the hearing aid. Those selected will evaluate Miracle-Ear’s latest advanced digital hearing solution. You will be able to walk out of our office with your hearing!

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Hobbies and Recreations

TGO Dance Group

Thurs - 6:00 - 7:00pm

Fun, safe class learning newest trending dances from social media. FREE CLASS, but tips appre ciated

Ukulele Group

Tuesdays - 1:00 - 3:00pm Join us!

All levels of players welcome.

Pam Campbell Taylor - 571-217-0444

Wood Carving Hobbyland

Monday - 8:00am - 12 noon

All skill levels welcome. Join us for whittling or relief, chip, and carving-in-the-round styles. Charlie Wing - 321-474-1952

Fun fusion of body sculpting and dance movements to lively Latin rhythms that tone your

• Loaner Lot Available While Yours is Being Coated

• Industrial Grade Concrete Sealer

• Rust, Oil, and Mildew Resistant

If you are in charge and have any changes to your Hobbies or Recreation Notice, please email them to Happenings@tgocsa.com

• Simulated Tile and Textured Coatings

NOTICE: To All Managers of Recreational Clubs, Hobbies and Events

• Many Colors and Designs

Just because items are listed in The Happenings, they still need to be approved with the Recreation Department and scheduled onto the calendar for facility use.

• Extremely Durable

• Industrial Paver Sealer Protects Pavers

Please check the TGOCSA website calendar for all scheduled activities. Many past activities have expired and have not been renewed through proper procedures. Once expired, other activities fill those dates and times quickly. Space is very limited. Our community facilities need to be shared equally.

FOR SALE: 233 HARMONY LANE $610,000

Check out some of our work at The Great Outdoors: Coach Club Drive 172 184 203

Plantation Drive 262 390 844

3 Bedroom, 2 Bath, One Story UNDER CONTRACT PRICE IMPROVEMENT!

FOR SALE: 538 TWIN LAKES DR $339,000 1Bedroom, 1 1/2 Bath with Loft

If you have any questions about scheduling your activity or event at the Manor, the Pavilion, Hobbyland, the Library, the Conference Room, Jukebox Rec Room and Recreation Courts (Shuffle, Corn, Tennis and Pickleball), please reach out to the Recreation Manager at Manor@tgocsa.com.

Greenwing Trail 101 148 168 Oak Cove Road 387 480 509

A Minute with Meghan… Understanding Nutrition Labels in Minutes

Last time in The Happenings, we talked about why nutrient-dense foods - like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins - are so important for fueling your body. But that raises a practical question: how can you tell if a food is actually nutrient-dense? One of the best tools is the Nutrition Facts label found on packaged foods. Learning how to read it can help you decide whether a product fits your personal nutrition needs. Let’s break down some of the major components: Serving Size, Calories, Fats, Carbohydrates, Protein, and Daily Values Percentages.

The first thing to check on any label is the serving size. Many packaged foods contain more than one serving, so it’s important to look at both the serving size and the number of servings in the container. As you can see by our sample label, the serving size is 2/3 cup (55g), but there are 8 servings in the whole container (Fink & Mikesky, 2021, p. 15). This means that if you eat the entire container, you would be consuming approximately 5 cups, or 8 times the serving size.

Calories are a unit of energy, so let’s look at calories per serving. According to our sample label, there are 230 calories per serving. Remember, if you consume the entire container, you will need to multiply that number by 8 servings, which means the total calories for the entire container are 1,840!

Fat is an important macronutrient, which your body needs for energy, but it should be consumed in moderation. Fat has 9 calories per gram, which helps us understand how many calories come from fat. So, in our example, if we take 9 calories x 8g, that equals 72 calories from fat; meaning 31% of each serving is fat.

Carbohydrates (aka carbs) are actually the body’s primary energy source. While carbs sometimes get a bad reputation, they play a vital role in providing quick energy. Dietary fiber also plays a role in weight management and disease prevention, and aids in maintaining blood sugar levels (Fink & Mikesky, 2021). Carbs have 4 calories per gram, which means our sample food product has 148 calories from carbs (37x4=148); meaning approximately 64% of each serving is from carbs/fiber/sugar.

Protein is the building block for muscle and tissue synthesis, and helps protect and repair these structures from injury. This macronutrient is critical to consume, as there are certain vitamins and minerals our body requires, that can only come from protein sources. Protein also has 4 calories per gram, so with our sample food product it would have 12 calories from protein, indicating that this is a low protein food at only 5% per serving.

Finally, the Daily Value Percentage (aka % Daily Value, or %DV) column helps you understand how much a nutrient in one serving contributes to your overall daily diet. These percentages don’t add up to 100% down the column; instead, each number shows how much of your daily recommended intake comes from that one serving. As a general rule, 5% or less is considered low, while 20% or more is considered high. It’s usually a good idea to choose foods that are higher in nutrients like fiber, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium, and lower in saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars (USDA, 2024).

Understanding Nutrition Facts labels can make a big difference in choosing foods that truly support your health. This overview is just a starting point, but with a little practice, reading labels can become a quick and helpful habit when grocery shopping.

For more detailed information, you can visit the USDA’s guide to Nutrition Facts labels at https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-facts-label/how-understand-and-use-nutrition-facts-label.

References: Fink, H. and Mikesky, A. (2021). Practical Applications in Sports Nutrition, 6 ed. Jones & Bartlett Learning USDA. (2024). How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Fact Label. U.S. Department of Agriculture: Food and Nutrition Service. https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-facts-label/how-understand-and-use-nutrition-facts-label USDA. (2025). Dietary Guidelines for Americans [pdf]. U.S. Department of Agriculture: Food and Nutrition Service. https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf

An Airboat Ride Through Old Florida

It begins the way many authentic Florida adventures do - pulling off State Road 50 in Christmas and arriving at what looks like a slice of Old Florida that time forgot.

The check-in building at Airboat Rides at Midway sits along the edge of the St. Johns River marsh. Inside, it’s part gift shop, part curiosity cabinet. Shelves display the usual assortment of Florida trinkets - gator-tooth necklaces, airboat caps, postcards, and small souvenirs - but what really grabs your attention are the live exhibits.

Along one wall, glass enclosures house several native snakes, their patterned scales coiled beneath warm lights. A nearby perch holds a few resident birds, giving visitors an up-close look at some of Florida’s wildlife before they ever step onto the boat. It’s a casual introduction to the ecosystem you’re about to explore.

Outside, the airboats wait at the dock - wide, flat vessels topped with towering propellers powered by V8 engines, enclosed in metal cages. These boats are a bit loud - and that’s why they hand out headsets for each participant - plus they work great for communicating with the captain.

Our group of six was assigned to Captain Alex, a veteran pilot who we discovered, clearly knows these waterways the way locals know their own backyards.

Into the Marsh

The airboat pushes off the dock with a deep roar from the propeller behind us. Within seconds we’re skimming across the wide marshes that make up the upper St. Johns River basin, one of the largest wetlands in Central Florida.

Unlike most rivers, the St. Johns flows north - a fact Captain Alex points out early in the trip. Because the river drops only about 30 feet over its entire 310-mile length, it moves slowly enough that wind and tides can occasionally make parts of it appear to flow backward.

“That’s why the early settlers used to say the river ran in reverse,” he explains over the headsets.

The landscape quickly shifts from open marsh to a maze of narrow waterways lined with tall grasses and spotted with several cattle openly grazing, that belong to local ranchers who utilize the grassy wetlands as pastures.

These waters once supported a bustling fish camp culture. The site where Midway operates today began as one of those camps decades ago - long before Orlando’s theme parks

existed. Back then anglers, hunters, and trappers came here to work the river and marshes, launching small boats into the same waterways our airboat now glides across.

The Wildlife of the St. Johns

It doesn’t take long before the first alligator appears. Then another. And another. The St. Johns River basin is home to thousands of American alligators, and we see them everywhere. Some float just beneath the surface with only their eyes and snouts visible. Many of them ducking under our boat - others bask along muddy banks, motionless except for the occasional lazy flick of their tail.

But the river isn’t just about reptiles. The birdlife alone could keep a wildlife watcher busy for hours. Within minutes we began spotting bald eagles with their unmistakable white heads shining against the skyline - we saw several of them throughout the trip. Great blue herons standing tall along the shoreline, snowy egrets stalking fish in the shallows. Great egrets gliding across the marsh. Tri-colored herons, little blue herons and white ibis probing the mud with their curved bills. Roseate spoonbills took off in front of our boat with their pink feathers glowing in the sunlight. it’s a birders paradise out on the St. Johns.

The headsets are a blessing as Captain Alex is a wealth of information about the area, the wildlife and the history. You can communicate with him at any time during the trip and he’s willing to answer any questions. He’s also pretty funny and entertaining. He eventually brings the boat to a stop upon a sand bar to point out “Paw Paw” - a mound along the riverside, which was actually an old indian dumping sight full of relics, where he jumps out of the boat shows us some old pottery pieces and takes photos of our group.

Through the Cypress Channels

Captain Alex steers the airboat into narrower passages where the water winds through thick stands of cypress and swamp vegetation. The propeller’s roar softens as he cuts off the engine and the boat slows to navigate the twisting channels. Here the river feels older, quieter.

There are hundreds of years old Cypruss Trees, draped in Spanish moss, surrounded by thick stands of sawgrass. Cypress trunks protrude from the water like natural sculptures. Sunlight filters through the canopy, reflecting off dark water that looks almost like glass. It’s so quiet, you can almost hear the banjos playing.

It’s easy to imagine what this place looked like a century ago when fish camps dotted the riverbanks and airboats hadn’t yet been invented.

Back then, these same channels were traveled by wooden skiffs and small outboards as fishermen searched for bass, bream, and crappie in the winding backwaters of the St. Johns.

Today, much of the surrounding land is protected as wildlife habitat, helping preserve the ecosystem that supports everything from migratory birds to the river’s massive alligator population.

A River That Still Feels Wild

As the boat heads back toward the dock, the marsh opens wide again. Birds lift from the reeds as we pass. Another dozen gators slide quietly back into the water.

It’s hard to believe that the busy highways and theme parks of Central Florida are just a short drive away. But that’s the magic of the St. Johns River. Despite centuries of settlement, much of it remains exactly as early explorers described it - vast wetlands, towering cypress trees, and wildlife everywhere you look. It’s a reminder that this river system - despite

being less than an hour from Orlando - is still very much what wild Florida is all about.

You’ll soon find that was one of the fastest hours of your life - and one of the most educational.

Back at the homebase, Captain Alex provides you with an oportunity to hold a real live gator - it’s safe - so don’t worryand it’s a great way to end the trip with a with a fun photo-op.

Airboat Rides At Midway 28501 E Colonial Drive Christmas, FL, 32709

Below: Captain Alex shows us an old piece of indian pottery from the Paw Paw mound.

Who doesn’t want to hold a gator?

Think bigger companies have the advantage? They don’t - they just have bigger bills to pass on to you. When you call flashy corporate outfits, you’re paying for billboards, nonstop advertising, and bloated payrolls - not better service. With Compton’s, you get us - a licensed team with 24 years of hands-on experience and personal accountability on every job. We’ve spent decades perfecting our craft, and it shows in every repair, installation, and service call. You’re our neighbor, not a number. Choosing our small business means quality work without the corporate markup.

Need a reference? Look for our truck and ask your TGO Neighbor.

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CSA Business

Board Of Directors Meeting

Plantation Manor on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 3:00pm

The CSA Board of Directors are responsible for the entire operation of The Great Outdoors Community Services Association. The following list shows the current Board of Directors:

Acting Chair Lauren Clark 607-761-0092 chairman@tgocsa.org

District 0 Ron Wagner 607-542-6376 district0@tgocsa.org

District 1 Doug Matz 516-903-3145 district1@tgocsa.org

District 2 Marie Moraites 256-740-9900 district2@tgocsa.org

District 3 Robert Fraser 407-491-2500 district3@tgocsa.org

District 4 Lauren Clark 607-761-0092 district4@tgocsa.org

District 5 Colleen Marigliano 845-656-8394 district5@tgocsa.org

District 6 Karin Coburn 619-709-4945 district6@tgocsa.org

District 7 John Comeau 321-269-5525 district7@tgocsa.org

District 8 Terry Manchik 901-603-6418 district8@tgocsa.org

District 9 Drew Proulx 207-751-9268 district9@tgocsa.org

Also part of the Board of Directors Organization are CSA Manager Billy Specht, Architectural Review Committee Chairman, Harold Witschi, and CSA Secretary Sharon Sanford. The CSA website at www.tgocsa.org has individual biographies and contact information for each director.

President’s Council Meetings

Owners are encouraged to attend all the Board of Director meetings . Green speaker cards are available if an owner wishes to address the board for three minutes about any issue. An informational packet with the meeting agenda is given to each household that attends. Prior to the meeting, the agenda is posted on official bulletin boards. The board meeting is televised LIVE on channel 732.

CSA Board of Directors meetings are held on the third Wednesday from October through May. Planning meetings to set the agenda for the Board of Directors meetings are scheduled October to May on the second Wednesday of the month in the CSA Conference Room at 3:00pm. They are open to attend for any TGO owner.

District Meetings

There are ten CSA voting districts at The Great Outdoors. The District Meetings are held monthly from October through May in the Pavilion. The districts are determined by the last digit of your property’s street address: Districts 2, 3, 5, 6, 8 are held the first Tuesday of the month. Districts 0, 1, 4, 7, 9 are held the second Thursday of the month.

President Council Meetings are at the CSA Pavilion on the third (3rd) Tuesday of each month at 10:00am. Chuck Benoit is the Chairman of the Council and Ron Young is the Vice Chairperson. Owners are invited to attend.

2024 Condominium/HOA Presidents

Condo President Phone# Email

I Dan Walters 856-982-9682 tgo.condo1@gmail.com

II Kay Dennison 505-350-4340 tgo.condoii@gmail.com

III Ron Young 540-294-4044 tgo.condo3president@gmail.com

IV Blaine Littlefield 207-798-2279 tgo.condo4pres@gmail.com

V Chuck Johnson 978-729-6248 tgo.condo5@gmail.com

VI Penny Harlow 808-561-8559 tgo.condo6@gmail.com

VII Len Perkins 757-651-0582 tgo.condo7pres@gmail.com

VIII Dot Raab 407-968-4795 tgocondo8@yahoo.com

IX Stephen Sohles 804-824-8180 tgo.condo9pres@gmail.com

X Cindy Marini 440-829-8633 tgocondo10@gmail.com

Condo President Phone# Email

XI Leonard Caton 321-567-3009 tgo.condo11board@gmail.com

XII Megan Westbrook 407-878-8854 tgo.condo12.president@gmail.com

FHOA Ken Birtwistle 401-580-5071 tgofairways@gmail.com

XIV Scott Porter 561-320-8691 tgo.condo14@gmail.com

XV David Spahn 207-468-6760 tgocondo15@gmail.com

XVI Chuck Benoit 978-314-9945 tgo.condo16@gmail.com

XVII Pete Bronson 315-263-6469 tgo.condo17pres@gmail.com

XVIII Dave Legrow 954-701-5770 tgo.condo18pres@gmail.com

XIX John Dougherty 631-790-1159 pres@tgocondo19.com

APHOA Cammy Miller 407-592-4059 tgoaddison@gmail.com

CSA Business

ARC Office Hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Closed from Noon to 1:00pm for lunch.

Architectural Review Committee (ARC) Members - Contact Information

Chairman - Harold Witschi

716-998-6393

District 0 - Lisa Berkis 267-549-3674

District 1 - VACANT

District 2 - VACANT

Architectural Review Committee

District 3 - James Alonzo

518-577-7666

District 4 - Pete Bronson 315-263-6469

District 5 - Bob Robinson

District 6 - Greg Mackey

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the next ARC Meetings will be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 10:00am on the Manor Porch.

The Architectural Review Committee meets for planning purposes on the Plantation Manor Porch at 10:00am on Monday, March 23, 2026.

Application Review Agenda: Approve field approvals, old business, non-compliance violations, new business, adjorn.

All changes to your property that are visible on the outside require advance approval from the Architectural Review Committee. Application forms and ARC Guidelines may be obtained from the Community Services Association office or printed from The Great Outdoors Community Services Association website at www.tgocsa.org. All completed ARC forms must be submitted to the CSA office by Noon on the Wednesday before the next Wednesday meeting. Results will be available to pick up after the ARC meeting or from the CSA Office.

717-994-2807

219-322-5555

District 7 - Doug Jensen

401-885-9731

District 8 - Dennis Chouinard 561-329-8031

District 9 - Lisa Babcock

903-372-8849

Be sure ALL necessary paperwork is included with your ARC application. No approval will be given without having all the required data available at the ARC Meeting for review.

The Architectural Review Committee (ARC) will provide owners with a clear understanding of what is allowed and when ARC approval is needed. Gaining ARC approval is facilitated through a responsive process that is easy to use.

The ARC Guidelines and Application Form are available for download at TGOCSA.org or you can also pick up an application in the CSA Office Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 8:00am until 5:00pm. Applications must be submitted to the CSA Office by 12:00 Noon on the Wednesday prior to the following Wednesday meeting date to be considered at that meeting.

The ARC is elected by property owners. ARC has eleven members, ten elected from representative districts and one elected by the whole membership to serve as chairman. Each ARC term is two years. Districts are determined by the last number of each address (ex: 324 Plantation would be District 4).

If you have questions regarding ARC, please call the ARC Chairman, your ARC representative, or the CSA Office at 321-268-9767.

TGO Committees - And Their Contact Information

The Great Outdoors is home to several resident-led committees that help keep our community running smoothly and looking its best. These committees occasionally seek new members, and volunteering is a great way to contribute your time and talents. If you have experience or interest in any of the areas listed below, feel free to reach out to the committee chairman to ask about current openings. Your involvement makes a difference!

ARC Committee

Harold “Tuco” Witschi arcchair@tgocsa.com

Elections Committee

Vicki Littlefield vickilynnl@prodigy.net

Finance Committee

Drew Proulx district9@tgocsa.org

Firewise Committee

Butch Jones butch_jones2001@yahoo.com

Human Resources Committee

Lauren Clark district4@tgocsa.org

Infrastructure & Natural Resources Committee

Drew Proulx district9@tgocsa.org

Landscaping and Beautification Committee

Terry Manchik district8@tgocsa.org

Planning & Building Committee

Ron Wagner district0@tgocsa.org

Rules & Regulations Committee

Lynn Jacobs jjacobs120@aol.com

Safety & Security Committee

John Comeau district7@tgocsa.org

Traffic Infractions Committee

Cindy Marini clmarini@aol.com

Black Cat Coffee

Coffee Shop and Roastery

3355 Foley Road - Behind Ron Norris Ford

Open Monday - Friday 6am to 3pm Sat - 7am to 3pm Sun - 8am to 3pm

The Freshest Coffee in Titusville

Community Information

Automated Door App & Fob

CSA now provides an App that goes on your cell phone or a Fob and allows afterhour entry into the Gym and Recreation Room outside of regular business hours. Call the CSA office to make an appointment to receive yours - 321-268-9767

Automated Visitor

Call-In 321-383-8802

To call in a visitor at the gate, you must call in No More than 24 hours prior to your visitor’s arrival. You will have two options - you may request a one day pass or a two day pass. The phone number you use must already be registered with the CSA Office for the access request to be accepted. This system can not confirm that your request was received and can not respond to any additional messages.

Contractor Restrictions

Contractors employed for repairs, construction, renovation, or installation at residences that are in The Great Outdoors are allowed to work Monday - Saturday and not allowed to work on Sunday, except in an emergency or with the advance permission of the CSA. Contrac tors must leave TGO by 6:00pm from November 1 to April 30 and by 7:00pm from May 1 to September 30. Call the CSA Office at 321-268-9767 during regular weekday office hours to request any exceptions to these contractor work restrictions.

CSA Office - 321-268-9767

100 D Plantation Drive

Open: Mon - Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm

Closed 12:00pm - 1:00pm

CSA Trouble Calls

If you have questions about lawn spraying, getting sprinklers adjusted, or any other services provided by the Community Services Association, residents should contact the CSA Office by email at service@tgocsa.org or call 321-268-9767 to mention your concerns.

Daily Dog Hours

Small 12 lbs or less 11am - 12pm

Medium 35 lbs or less 3pm - 4pm

Large 35 lbs or more 4pm-5pm

All other times are open play.

Emergency Vehicle Protocol

Florida and TGO share the same vehicle and traffic laws as the rest of the US: Everyone must yield to emergency vehicles. If there’s no shoulder on the road, simply stop to allow an emergency vehicle to pass. Please, when you see emergency vehicles coming in with lights flashing, pull over and let them pass!

Golf Cart Gas

Monday - Friday 9:00 - 11:00am

The Community Services Association offers unleaded gasoline. Fill-up times are Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 11:00am, at the CSA Maintenance Area. The Maintenance Area no longer accepts cash; please go to the CSA Office, Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm (closed for lunch 12 to 1:00pm) to purchase a fuel card. Cash and credit card payments are accepted. The price per gallon is $4, subject to change.

Guard Gate - 321-383-2004

Call to alert Courtesy Patrol about any community problem or to request assistance from CSA for on-site maintenance.

Living in TGO Reference Guide

Great information for the homeowner or renter. Pick up your FREE copy at the CSA Office.

The Manor - 321-264-2393

To schedule events at The Manor or The Pavilion, check with the manager in the Plantation Manor Office. 145 Plantation Drive - manor@tgocsa.com

Lorraine Murphy Historic Center

Located in the CSA Conference Room next to Trimmer’s Salon.

Available to tour:

Monday - Friday • 3:00 - 5:00pm

Visit the CSA Office to borrow the key. The Historic Center can be shown on weekends and holidays.

Call for an appointment:

Lorraine Murphy at 321-431-4526

Plantation Manor Pool & Spa

OPEN Every Day: 8:00am - Dusk “Dusk” is different throughout the year. Please check the chart in the pool area. Please lower umbrellas after use so they’re not damaged by wind gusts.

Oak Cove Pool & Spa

OPEN: 7:00am - 11:00pm

Daily cleaning from 6-7:00am

Wear or have in your possession a Pool Wristband. They are FREE and can be obtained from the Plantation Manor CSA Office. Residents use lime green bands. Visitors use bands that are red, white and blue.

Propane For Sale

Mon - Fri - 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30am

Appointment Only - TGO Commercial Area - West of the CSA Building. CSA offers LP Gas for your convenience and is currently $4.00/gallon, plus 7% sales tax! Cash, Credit Cards or Checks accepted.

Call the CSA Office at 321-268-9767 for an appointment or visit during office hours.

Vehicle Barcodes

If your vehicle needs a barcode installed, call the CSA Office at 321-268-9767 to schedule a REQUIRED appointment. Barcodes are $10 - new or replacement. They install them everyday, but will not do “walk-in” applications.

Community Information

CSA Trash Pick Up Rules

The CSA crew picks up household trash 364 days of the year (off for Christmas). You’ll see them in a big truck pulling one or more green hoppers behind it. The guy crouching on the hopper grabs your trash bag as they pass by. To make the process efficient, please follow these rules:

• Trash must be placed in plastic bags that are tied closed. Lightweight bags should be tied together. Trash that is not in plastic bags may not be picked up.

• Break down all boxes and put all packing material in a closed bag.

• Place trash within one foot of the road so it’s within easy reach.

• Dispose of your pet’s waste inside the closed trash bag.

• Put trash out at the curb by 10:00am - Pick-up time varies within the park.

• Do not mix household trash with organic yard debris or construction materials.

• Do not put trash out at night because by morning it will have been scattered by wild animals.

• Also, be aware that if you place your trash out on the street too early, the vultures think you have prepared them a sack lunch!

CSA Yard Debris Pick-Up Rules

The CSA crew picks up organic yard debris at least once per week. Tree trimmings should be cut down to a maximum of 4 feet long, weigh less than 50 pounds, and be stacked uniformly at the curb. Loose material such as pine needles, leaves and small twigs must be collected in untied plastic bags or open containers. The CSA will not pick up sod, dirt, tree stumps, construction material (e.g., concrete, wood, drywall, metal), chemicals (e.g., paint, oil), major appliances, or tires. DO NOT bring these items to the CSA Maintenance Yard yourself. They may be dropped off, without charge, at the Brevard County Mockingbird Mulching Facility - 321-264-5009. Most other waste items such as carpet, porcelain plumbing fixtures, etc., that are not mentioned above can be dropped off at the Brevard County Transfer Station321-264-5048.

Clearing Vegetation on CSA Property

Our Declaration of Covenants states that “No CSA land may be cleared of any vegetation without prior written permission from the Board of Directors or its designee. Unauthorized clearing of CSA property will result in a hearing, with possible fines and ordered replanting.” This only makes sense, as you would not cut vegetation on someone else’s property without permission first. In order to track this better, we will require anyone seeking permission to cut vegetation on CSA property to fill out an ARC permit. An approved permit must include the CSA manager’s signature, and a copy of the permit will be filed in your ARC file for documentation purposes.

Be A Good Human

If you have food or clothes you can donate - please do Titusville Food & Clothing Donation Locations

SPCA Thrift Store

4220 S. Washington Ave. 321-267-2210

Hours: Monday - Saturday - 9:00am - 8:00pm Sunday - 10:00am - 6:00pm North Brevard Charities 4475 S. Hopkins Ave.

321-269-6555

Hours: Monday - Friday - 9:00am - 5:00pm Saturday - 9:00am - 6:00pm Sunday - 10:00am - 5:00pm

Women’s Center Upscale Resale Store 3216 S. Hopkins Ave. 321-362-5885

Hours: Tuesday - Saturday - 10:00am - 4:00pm

Food Drop-Off - Fresh & Staples Liberty Lodge Ministries 4150 Mt. Sterling Ave. 321-264-0757

Hours: Monday - Friday - 9:00am - 3:00pm Saturday & Sunday - closed

CSA Patrol is Hiring

Patrol officers play an important roll. Here is your opportunity to become an integral part of the community and help keep TGO safe by enforcing traffic rules, and directing traffic during emergecies. If you would be interested in working for the CSA Patrol, go online to our website: www.tgocsa.org then click on CSA Documents/Forms/Application for Committee Assignment. Or stop by the CSA office to pick up an application. We Need You!

WANTED...

I’m new here to the area and looking for someone with a boat who wants an experienced fishing buddy. Will chip in for gas and bait.

Contact Kevin at 503-269-8712 0r email at kgbookie@outlook.com

Community Information

Service and Set-Up Calls - 833-697-7328

The CSA has a contract with Spectrum that includes Spectrum TV Select and Spectrum Internet services. If you are experiencing problems with their service or need to set up a new service, call the number above. Tell them your community at The Great Outdoors has a bulk agreement known as the Bronze Package.

TGO Community Channel 732

Our television channel of the Community Services Association will be active for broadcasting board meetings. Your TV must be equipped with a Spectrum TV cable box or digital adapter.

Turf Masters regularly applies spray applications to our lawns and common areas that includes an herbicide for weed control, a liquid fertilizer, a granular nitrogen fertilizer and an insecticide to kill chinch bugs, and other turf-damaging insects.

Turf Masters is also offering “service-call” visits to TGO. If you are still having problems with lawn pests or weeds, call the CSA Office at 321-268-9767, and we will put your address on the Turf Masters list.

Application dates are scheduled for May 4-6.

Service Calls - May 21

Turf Masters advises all TGO residents to stay off treated areas of your lawn, and to keep your pets off treated areas, until the application has thoroughly dried.

Guide to Living With Alligators in TGO

There are 32 lakes in The Great Outdoors and all of them are home to alligators. Please keep these points in mind to be safe when alligators could be nearby:

• It is illegal to feed, taunt or harass an alligator.

• Do not swim or wade in any of our lakes.

• Do not walk near the shorelines and do not walk your pets near the shoreline.

• Do not allow your pets to swim, exercise or drink in or near our lakes.

• While alligators can be active at any time, they are most active between dusk and dawn and move during the night to different water sources.

• Please give our alligators the respect and space they deserve.

NOTE: If you come across an aggressive alligator, please contact the CSA Office prior to SNAP and allow us to handle any situation.

AED

Basics (Automated External Defibrillator) Have Someone Call 9-1-1 While You Operate AED

The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable electronic device that diagnoses incorrect heart rhythm patterns that could potentially be life threatening. The device treats the condition with electrical shocks.

AED use requires minimal training because an electronic voice prompts the user through each step. If you are helping a person who collapsed and you’re unsure if a heart attack is the reason, don’t hesitate to use the AED. Every minute counts.

The device determines if the patient needs an electrical shock or not. Simply place the AED pads on the patient’s bare skin, one on the right upper chest and the other on their lower left side. No one else should be touching the patient because false readings could result. The AED will advise you, the device operator, what to do next.

TGO Has Eight AEDs Located at CSA buildings.

1. Blue Heron - Outside Ramp 137 Plantation Drive

2. CSA Office - Outside 100-D Plantation Drive

3. Fitness Center 145 Plantation Drive

4. Hidden Lakes Clubhouse 461 Ambleside Drive

5. Library Kitchen 385 Plantation Drive

6. Oak Cove Pool Bathhouse 434 Oak Cove Road

7. Plantation Manor 145 Plantation Way

8. Windsong Bathhouse 155 Windsong Way

THE HAPPENINGS

Open Monday - Friday • 8:00am - 5:00pm

The Great Outdoors Community Services Association (CSA) publishes The Happenings 24 issues a year (one issue only in July and August). This magazine is for the information and enjoyment of the TGO community and their guests. The CSA assumes no liability for any information, omission or inadvertent error contained herein; or injury or damage resulting from the use of this information. The ideas, opinions, suggestions, classified ads, and commercial ads are to be used at the reader’s discretion. The CSA and group or individual contributors do not signify any approval, authentication, or endorsement by inclusion in this publication.

Contributors must provide information ten days prior to publication date.

For advertising rates or editorial information, contact: Happenings@tgocsa.com

Sudoku Puzzles

SUDOKU puzzles have one solution that can be reached logically without guessing. Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row, column, and 3x3 square must contain one of each digit.

Classified Ads

FOR SALE - SeaDoo GTX 2002. - Excellent shape. Trailer with spare. Complete maintenance and overhaul by dealer. Warranty included. Only 103 hrs. Needs nothing, like new. Cover & hitch locks. Must see - 845-325-2038 (03/20)

FOR RENT - Pad with Port only - Apr-Dec 2026. 407 Plantation. Text 608-214-1475 or email jogoff99@gmail.com for details. (03/20)

FOR RENT - RV Site with Executive suite, 80 x 48 pad, storage shed w/washer/dryer. Ste includes furnished living room, full kitchen and full bath. $1500/month, available immediately, 6 month lease. 620-770-0914 or Kennedy.property@yahoo.com (03/20)

FOR SALE- Lester solid state charger - Model 30600 48 Volt Summit II - $100. 321-482-3273 or tsaltsgiver@comcast.net (03/20)

FOR RENT - 236 Plantation Drive - Furnished 2 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath, W/D, screened porch, carport. Call/text Dick Fridley 269-207-6472. (05/01)

FOR SALE or RENT : 441 Oak Cove Road Lot - Call/Text 919-414-3305 (exp 04/03)

WANTED - Ladies left-handed golf clubs - Call 585-820-3287 (03/20)

TGO MarketPlace

•

• Do-It-Yourself

• Backflow Testing & Repair

• Sewer & Drain Cleaning

• Shower Pan

• Mobile Homes

• Electronic Hidden Leak Detection

• Gas Piping

• Bath and Kitchen Remodeling

• Sewer & Water Lines Repaired or Replaced

• Domestic Water Line Re-Piping

• Epoxy & Drainage Line Re-Lining

• Drainage Issues

• High Pressure Jet Sewer Cleaning

• Drywall and Tile Repairs

• Faucet Repair & Replacing

• Camera/Video for Drainage Lines

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Don’t Let Back Pain Ruin Your Back Nine

Whether it’s back pain, stiffness, or limited range of motion, Chiropractic Care keeps you in alignment - so you can focus on your swing, not your symptoms. At Active Spine Center, we offer personalized therapies and techniques designed to make your journey to pain relief, recovery, and total-body wellness effective and rewarding. We provide an array of specialized services to help get you back on your feet and and keep you moving forward with confidence and ease.

• Chiropractic Care

• Spinal Decompression

• Near-Infrared Laser Therapy

• Dry Needling

• Body Contouring

• Neuropathy Treatment

Month of March

Word Search - The Month Of March

AQUAMARINE ARIES

LION

SPRING BREAK

AQUAMARINE ARIES BASEBALL OPENING DAY BASKETBALL

MARCH HARE

SUNSHINE

BEWARE BLOODSTONE BLOOMS CAESAR

BASEBALL OPENING DAY BASKETBALL BEWARE

MARCH MADNESS

DAFFODIL DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME FLOWERS GREEN IDES IRIS JONQUIL KITES

MARS

THIRTY ONE DAYS

TRACK AND FIELD

LAMB LENT LION MARCH HARE

TULIP

MARCH MADNESS MARS PALM SUNDAY PICSES

VERNAL EQUINOX WIND

BLOODSTONE BLOOMS CAESAR DAFFODIL

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME FLOWERS GREEN IDES IRIS JONQUIL KITES LAMB LENT

PALM SUNDAY PICSES

RAIN

RAIN SPRING SPRING BREAK ST PATRICKS DAY SUNSHINE THIRTY ONE DAYS TRACK AND FIELD TULIP

VERNAL EQUINOX WIND

ST PATRICKS DAY

SPRING

Primary Stroke Center

Stroke is a leading cause of death in Florida. Certified Primary Stroke Centers, like Parrish Medical Center, have demonstrated stroke treatment excellence. Nationally Certified Since 2004

Symptoms of Stroke

Sudden symptoms like these should never be ignored. At the first signs of a stroke, call 911.

 Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body

 Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

 Trouble seeing in one or both eyes

 Difficulty walking, dizziness or loss of balance and coordination

 Severe headache with no known cause

Visit parrishhealthcare.com/stroke