News of SCC Jan

Page 1

The News of January 2011 - ISSUE #30

...an official publication of the Community Association

January Dates to Put on Your Calendar

5th

Membership Meeting

7 p.m. Community Hall

CA Board Meeting

12th

9 a.m. Rollins Theater Watch videos of the Board meetings on your computer. Go to suncitycenter.org, click on Association, then on Meeting Videos.

17th

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

20th

Town Hall Meeting 7 p.m.

Should South Pebble Beach have open access to US 301?

CA President Ed Barnes has asked two residents to give their perspective on this issue. A Town Hall Meeting will be held on January 20 at 7 p.m. in Community Hall so that SCC residents can openly discuss this issue.

TEAR DOWN THAT WALL!

By Paul Courter O p e n i n g t h e l on g planned inters ec tion of South Pebble Beach Blvd. at US 301 is a simple matter of fairness. I live near that intersection, along with a large and growing number of south-side residents, and want the same access to and from the community enjoyed by virtually everyone else in Sun City Center. R e s i d e nt s n or t h of SR674 have at least four public roads in and out. I have one—the long drive up South Pebble Beach to the congested intersection at SR674. Even our neighbors behind the gates of Kings Point have a south entrance. Access to U.S. 301 will: • Provide a second route in and out for residents. • Provide a real emergency exit. Do you know how to get the presently locked gate opened? I don’t.

• Provide greater access for emergency responders. • Reduce traffic on South Pebble Beach Blvd. and SR674. • Reduce travel time, hassle and fuel consumption to and from our east-side shopping areas and points beyond. • Improve f re e d om of movement and quality of life for hundreds of residents. • Make our community more appealing to the you nge r, a c t ive ne w residents we must attract to keep our community alive and thriving. Opponents of an open intersection try to define it as a route from US 301 to SR674. That simply doesn’t make sense. Do you really think a driver with someplace to go will abandon the highway

See Tear Down on Page 5

Yuletide Golf Cart Parade Draws 35 Decorated Carts

Community Hall

21st

Volunteer Picnic Noon to 2 p.m. FLORIDA ROOM On the Inside CA Schedule................. 2 CARE......................... 23 Club Happenings... 12-16 Consumer Affairs........ 23 Crossword.................. 17 CryptoQuote............... 19 Deputy Chris............... 10 Entertainment Corner... 2 Expand Horizons.......... 6 Golf............................. 24 Military Affairs............. 20 Minto............................11 Movies........................ 27 Newcomers................ 27 President’s Report........ 2 Sudoku....................... 21 We Want to Know....... 22

Check out the CA website: suncitycenter.org

Chris Robinson won the Individual category with this sleigh. Even though it was a cool and foggy morning, all of the carts and dignitaries showed. Among the invited guests were Ronda Stor ms, St ate S enator ; County Commissioners Al Higginbotham, Kevin Beckner and Ken Hagan. Home Depot donated utility buckets and tools valued at $300 that was divided among the category winners. Tropical Santa, along with Parade organizer Anne Cross, presented the four category award winners.

Freedom Plaza won t h e B u s i n e s s c at e g or y for the second year in a row. Egret Pointe won the HOA category. They were represented by John Jackson, HOA VP. The other two winners are pictured here. Thanks to the following businesses who supported the 2010 Golf Cart Parade: Home Depot $300 in gifts Ser vice Certificates were provided by Rays Golf Carts, Wheelz and Wilhelm. Gift Certificates were donated by B ob Evans, C opp e r Pe n ny, D an ny Boys, Dennys, McDonalds, SunTrust Bank and Walmart. Photos by Judy Stimson.

New England Club won the Club category. They were represented by Mark Vietzke, club member.

MAINTAIN LIMITED ACCESS By Ken McLoone The South Pebble Beach Drive access onto US 301 has been part of the General D e v e l opm e nt S it e P l an approved by Hillsborough County. I favor having only limited access controlled by the Sheriff and the Fire D e p a r t m e nt a n d t o b e used only for emergencies. It is recognized that this is somewhat of a controversial issue with many residents desiring to have easy access to US 301 to allow a quicker way to get to Walmart or to get on US 301 going south towards the Manatee County area. The limited access option is better if the decision is based on the basic issues of safety and security that are of primary importance to our community. SAFETY – US 301 is no longer a remote two-lane highway with limited use that we knew just a few years ago. The road has been widened

in Hillsborough County to a four-lane, divided highway to Route 672. To the south, Manatee County has widened US 301 to a divided four-lane highway to an area just south of the Hillsborough County line. It will be only a few years before the entire stretch of US 301 is a four-lane, divided highway from Brandon south to US 41 in Manatee. There are many future developments already approved south of Route 674 on or near US 301, leading to significantly more traffic in our general area. Having open access to US 301 will be very desirable to nonSun City Center residents. It will give them an easy and quick way to get to banks, drug stores, a hospital and Interstate 75. This presents a serious safety issue within the boundaries of SCC. Currently, the four-lane South Pebble Beach Drive from Route 674 to the Renaissance area is a See Maintain on Page 5

2010—What a Year! By Phyllis Hodges Just as many of us do a bit of personal reflecting when a year ends, we as a community should do the same. What were the big events of the past year that affected our community and our lifestyle? Ed Barnes, SCC Community Association president, points to a myriad of projects that filled the CA’s plate—some small, some large; some visible, some not so obvious. On the South Campus, Community Hall got a facelift, with the most visible being new tile, new lobby furnishings and a refinished wood floor. More parking was added at the Dog Park and Softball Field, and new lights were installed on the Pickleball courts. On the Central Campus, the Atrium floor tile was replaced and restrooms were renovated, some changes were started on the Old Town Hall, and the Fitness Center roof and windows were replaced. The library got a new roof, too. “It is important that we keep our facilities refreshed and

attractive,” Barnes said. During the year, the 50th Anniversary Committee kicked into high gear to make SCC’s 50th anniversary year starting May 1, 2011, a memorable one. Our largest CA annual events—FunFest in March, “Hi, Neighbor!” in November, and Holiday Walk in December enjoyed record attendance. The Golf Cart Parade in December also attracted an impressive number of creatively decorated carts and plenty of onlookers along the one-mile route despite below-normal temperatures. Some “back room” CA accomplishments include: 1) a new process to collect severely delinquent dues, 2) a study concerning the closed North Lakes golf course to provide a foundation for conversion of the property to community use if it were to become available, 3) a new membership database for clubs, 4) an update of Board policies, 5) a study on how to get more residents involved in decision-making, 6) See 2010 on Page 5


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