Notes from Ellie

  CLICK HERE for Zoom Link and Meeting Agenda

I am writing to announce our 1^st SaveSCC Working session of 2023 – January 10^th at 6 pm Rollins Theatre.  This is an important Call to Action to all SaveSCC supporters, members, canvassers, donors, and other interested parties. 

We are gathering to reinforce our great work thus far and to fire up for the challenges and work to come. 

Please, please attend this important meeting where together we will organize for the successful defeat of any rezoning!  We need you! Be there!

We’ll be asking for members and interested parties to join the various committees based on their skills, experience and interests. Review them to see what fits you best. We need your horsepower to ensure our success. This work is too important to our community, its character, future and our property values not to put forth our best effort.  We’ve come too far.

Sign up for duty Tuesday on the sign up sheet for these vital SaveSCC committees.

See you Tuesday evening!

Ellie Anderson

312-282-7337

Notes from Ellie

Hello All,

Welcome back snowbirds!

Hope this communique reaches everyone in good spirits and enjoying your holidays to the fullest.

Here’s to a great year in 2023 for all and defeat for ClubLink’s development plans!

Due to significant and serious changes in my health, I need to eliminate stress as much as possible and focus on getting a number of out-of-control issues better managed immediately. I am stepping back and asking others to assume many of my responsibilities in Save Sun City Center.  I am working closely with the SaveSCC board and others to implement changes as we move into 2023 but remain committed to our success in defeating ClubLink or any other threat to the character of Sun City Center.

To ensure ready access to the continuum of care I will need, Ruth and I are now members of Freedom Plaza and will be moving as soon as our unit is ready.  Yes – we are dealing with a number of challenges but this too shall pass!

Our SaveSCC organization will make more use of standing committees and other resources to accomplish the necessary work as we move forward in 2023. Committee details are provided below. I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming working session on January 10, 2023 in the Rollins Theatre at 6 pm.

SaveSCC Golf Outing Update

 We are continuing with our preparations for the Save SCC Golf Scramble and Fundraiser on February 25^th.

If you are a business owner or individual who would like to support the endeavor we have opportunities available for sponsors. Please reach out to Coach Starewicz, our golf chairperson at 219-242-2364. 

We still have openings available for players as well and would love to have you join us for a great day of play and fun supporting our effort to defeat any action to rezone or modify the comprehensive plan for Sun City Center to permit development of the golf courses for additional residences.  Please see the attached flyer for details and contact information.

Save Sun City Center Petition Effort

 While many of us were out there in November trying to reach all SCC residents with our petition to Hillsborough County Commissioners to deny permitting or rezoning for residential development of the golf courses in SCC, we have not reached everyone. Due to limitations of time, volunteers and folks not being at home whether snowbirds or just out living the good life actively here in Sun City Center we have more canvassing to do.  We will be ramping up in January in an effort to reach those we’ve missed thus far.  Carol Hugill has emailed our canvasser to get a handle on where we are and we will hit the streets again in January and February to make contact with those we have yet to reach.  More volunteers would be a big help. If you have not canvassed yet, we really could use your assistance. Please reach out to Carol and she can get you on board.  More details will follow at our January 10, 2023 meeting.

Organizing and more Extensive Use of Standing SaveSCC Committees

1. Eric Nisenfeld staying on as SaveSCC Senior Technology Leader

I am pleased to announce that Eric Nisenfeld has elected to stay on as our senior systems architect, technology manager and advisor. He has done a fabulous job creating our technology environment including our web hosting, web site, Google Workspace, list server and other capabilities to provide our digital home and electronic communication hub.  Eric changed his mind of his own accord with the support of his wife because they  both believe that his efforts for Save Sun City would provide the best use of his time in support of our community here in Sun City Center and I wholehearted concur with their analysis.  Thank you Eric!

We are also welcoming a new member to our technology team in 2023 – Gary Higgin.  Gary has a wealth of information and experience creating, hosting and managing web sites.  He will be joining our existing technology team members – Eric Nisenfeld, myself, Peter Bates, Larry Bender, Lorraine Mancuso and Tami Mondi  They are invaluable contributors to our effort. Thanks to you all for your great work!  They will be meeting in the new year to map out our strategy and plans for 2023

2. Appointment of New Treasurer and Board Member John J. Newbury

The SaveSCC Board is pleased to announce the nomination and appointment of SaveSCC’s new treasurer – John J. Newbury.  John is a second-generation resident in SCC and his family have been property owners here since 1998.  He is a licensed Certified Public Account in Florida and has run accounting practices including his own since resigning as a principal from Arthur Young and Company in 1986.  Welcome aboard John. We are delighted to have you with us!

3. Current Committees in Need of Additional Support

In 2023 the SaveSCC leadership will be relying more heavily on standing committees under the leadership of committee chairpersons to accomplish much of our day-to-day work.

These committees, teams and groups are all in different stages of development and maturity. Members have come and gone and new blood and vitality is always necessary and welcome.  The chairpersons and members on some teams are still fluid at this point. Details will emerge for each committee and will become a standing part of working sessions to keep everyone in the loop.  We will have sign-up sheets for all our working groups at our meeting so that folks can get involved.

The standing committees, membership,  and responsibilities are as follows:

• • Information Technology

The Information Technology Committee is responsible for our web presence including our web site – SaveSCC.org, our Facebook page, our Google Work Space, our Zoom services, our credit card processing via the web, our email lists, our list server and all other technology tools we use in support of SaveSCC’s mission.  This group has been working together for some time but we are sorting out responsibilities, backup for each area, and plans as we move into 2023.

Members of the Information Technology Committee include:

• • • • • Peter Bates
        • Larry Bender
        • Gary Higgins
        • Lorraine Mancuso
        • Tami Mondi (Board Liaison)
• • Communications Committee

The Communications Committee is responsible for all content, communications, publishing, new releases, and collateral materials for Save Sun City Center.  This is a new committee that is just forming to relieve some of the burden primarily shouldered by Ellie Anderson. Rich Johnson came on board this fall and has been working with Ellie to develop and put out the press releases regarding the SaveSCC Petition drive.  Upcoming press releases and publicity pieces will focus on the Petition Drive and Golf Fundraising Scrambler on February 25^th.  We will also be reviewing and updating all materials as warranted on the Save SCC website.

Responsibilities and members of this committee are in the primary stage with more to follow as winter concludes. Details will follow.

• • Government Relations & Zoning Committee

The Government Relations and Zoning Committee are focused on relations with Hillsborough County Planning, Development Services, the County Commissioners and our other elected officials.  The group has been operating since early in Save SCC’s evolution and has had contact with representatives in the areas outlined above including written communications, in person meetings, Zoom meetings and submitted electronic documents. We are continuing these efforts to build more support for our opposition to ClubLink’s potential development application with the County.  Doug James has done an outstanding job utilizing his talents and experience as both a developer and Sarasota County Planner to develop our case statement in opposition to ClubLink’s plans.  This case document will be part of our submission to the County when ClubLink files their application and will become part of the official record from SaveSCC as we present to the Land Use Hearing Officer and the Hillsborough County Commissioners during the Land Use Hearing before the BOCC.

Members of this group are:

• • • • Mike Newsome ( Chairperson and SaveSCC Board Liaison)
      • Doug James
      • Ellie Anderson
      • Others
• • Application Response Team

 This is a new permanent standing committee that will be responsible for the response activation and coordination when ClubLink or a developer on their behalf files their development plans for zoning or comprehensive plan changes with the county.  This group will investigate and prepare the game plan to have it ready and on the shelf for SaveSCC members to assist and support our efforts to defeat any application for permits or approval to proceed with development.  Their comprehensive, written plan will address everything from communications ( to media, members, the community at large), mobilization ( local protests, media support in the court of public opinion, buses arrangements to convey to protesters to the site of the hearings downtown, letter writing to our officials), submission of materials for the record at the hearings, signup of SaveSCC spokesperson(s) and speakers for the hearings via Speak-up on the county website), submission of our materials in support of denial of approval – case statement, petition). These items are samples and highlights of some of the preparations that we need to have ready to activate at a moment’s notice to make our response timely, effective, compelling, comprehensive, and winning!

We are looking for volunteers ready to take on this challenge. Reach out to me if this sounds like something you’d like to be part of.  I have much of this already in my bean but need help to put it in place quickly with a minimum of demands on me.

• • The Petition and Canvassing Group

The petition and canvassing is not a standing committee but a mission driven group or team responsible for petition and canvassing effort. The goal is to secure the signatures between November and February of the majority of Sun City Center CA voting members and residents.  The petition data will be used to garner support from both the CA Board and the County Commissioners to defeat any rezoning or comprehensive plan amendments that would permit the residential development of golf courses in Sun City Center.

This group has done hard work canvassing door-to-door. Unfortunately due to limitations in volunteers and time, we have not been able to reach all streets or residents as we didn’t find them home or simply were stretched too thin to get everywhere. The game plan is to go back out in January to knock on every door where we have yet to connect with the occupant.  We have about 30 canvassers and surely need more as some are no longer capable of door-to-door canvassing for a variety of reasons including schedules and health. If you can help, please volunteer to do so. We are planning a door-to-door campaign for those where there has been no in-person contact.  Details will be finalized and shared at the January 10^th working session and with the canvassing team.

Carol and I have both been canvassing and we know how resource intensive the work is and we all send our sincere thanks to all the canvassers and other volunteers working this project. The work team did a fabulous job of putting together packets with detailed street lists for every house and owner, the grid map assignment and zone each canvasser was assigned, and the materials needed – pamphlets, golf event flyers, petition sheets, instructions, member sign-up sheets, etc.   Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

• • The Golf Scramble Committee

The Golf Scramble Committee is a mission driven, short-term team under the leadership of Coach Doug Starewicz responsible for all aspects of the Save Sun City Center Golf Scramble Fundraiser to be held February 25^th, 2023.  They have been working since the summer to put the event together, recruit sponsors and players, and handle all the background tasks necessary. Hats off to Coach and his outstanding team.

• • SaveSCC Collaterals Store

We have been making available our SaveSCc collateral materials for a nominal donation at our meetings.  This is one of our fundraising activities. We are looking for a few people to conduct this operation going forward. Duties include inventory management including keeping stock and bringing materials – banners ($10 donation), yards signs ($20 donation), tee shirts ($20 donation), vinyl clings ($5 donation) to SaveSCC meetings and events.  The team will handle transactions under the direction and financial controls of the Treasurer. Again – we’ll have a signup sheet for this operation at our working session and go from there.

If we are to prevail, it is up to us to make it happen!

Rumors

Rumors will always abound concerning ClubLink and their activities and I do not want to engage in the rumor mill. One of our politically connected members has a relationship with Mike Beltran, State Representative for our District 57, who would be in the know. He has reached out to Mike to determine if there has been any contact.  As best as Mike Beltran has been able to ascertain, there has been no contact based on his inquiries with his associates in Tallahassee.  Nor has there been any filing in Hillsborough County.  We have asked folks that we are communicating with to give us a heads-up if the situation changes.

I think this is one of those situations where no news is good news. We’ll keep our collective ears to the ground and see what develops.

SaveSCC Donations

Thank you to all of you who have been supporting us via monetary donations and donations for collateral materials like yard signs, tee shirts, banners, vinyl clings and other items and the donation of in-kind gifts like printing, a/v equipment, flip charts, banners, yard signs, etc.  All of these channels are an important part of our income and resources to support our activities.  We will be providing a financial report at our January meeting summarizing our finances for 2022.

You can still contribute via the SaveSCC Donation Page. 

Please remember donations to SaveSCC are not tax deductible.

Thanksgiving

It has been a very active year for Save Sun City Center.  It would not have been possible without us all. Each of us has made significant contributions of time, talent, and treasure and we are grateful for each and every one of you for them.

• Thank you donors!
• Thank you members!
• Thank you meeting attendees!
• Thank you board members!
• Thank you committee members!
• Thank you team members!
• Thank you canvassers!
• Thank you in-kind donors!
• Thanks you financial and visibility supporters who donate and use banners, tee shirts, vinyl clings, yard signs
• Thank you writers!
• Thank you data entry folks!
• Thank you researchers and information collators!
• Thank you all!

Thanks for your support and I look forward to seeing you January 10, 2023 in the Rollins Theatre at 6pm!

Happy New Year!

Ellie Anderson

312-282-7337

andersonellie@mac.com

Notes from Ellie

Hello All,

After many hours of hard work, it is now time to pause and enjoy the holidays. Therefore, there  will be no meetings for the remainder of November and all of December. Meetings which would have been scheduled for November 22, December 6th and December 22nd are canceled.

Wishing you All very Happy and Healthy Holidays!!

 

Your Support and Involvement

If you can donate, we’d really appreciate the financial support. Donations can be made online at SaveSCC.org or we always happy to receive a check to SaveSCC c/o Ellie Anderson, 1731 Pacific Dunes Dr., Sun City Center, FL 33573.

Thanks for your support and involvement in this critical endeavor to retain the character of our community for the future!

If it is to be, it is up to “we”. And you are part of “we”.

Ellie Anderson
312-282-7337

Notes from Ellie

Hello All,

First order of business is to acknowledge and thank the outstanding volunteers working so hard in preparation for petition canvassers to hit the streets starting on October 29th and continuing until we have knocked on every front door, of every home, on every street in Sun City Center.  There have been press releases, newspaper articles, ordering of lots of SaveSCC pamphlets, petition forms, t-shirts, vinyl clings, street analysis and data sheet preparations, canvasser management and assignment, canvasser packet assembly, canvasser recruiting, room scheduling, web site and Facebook posting and more. THANK YOU ALL!

Just so you all understand the magnitude of the task we are undertaking – there are 7,227 housing units in Sun City Center occupied by 11,499 residents.  Our goal is to visit every single one of them.

We are soliciting signatures on the SaveSCC petition from every resident to either garner their signature and support or note their opposition to the petition and their support for development.  SaveSCC representatives will present these petitions and enter them into the public record at the public hearings once ClubLink files their development application with Hillsborough County causing the scheduling and notification of the hearing specifics.

The article in The SCC Observer can be seen on pages 3 and 20 here.  Thanks to Lois Kindle for a super job!

We need more canvassers! 

There is no doubt about it. It is a numbers game and we need an army of feet on the street. We need you NOW!  We can’t do it without you!  PLEASE step forward for this big push. Your community will thank you as work to save the character and future of our community by knocking on their doors. The overwhelming majority of our community do not want to lose our golf courses to development or deal with the issues that come with more demands for all services which are already overburdened. Call Ellie Anderson at 312-282-7337 or email us at GetInvolved@SaveSCC.org NOW and we get you plugged in and assigned!

We’re taking a break from the phone lines recruiting to get this update out to you to give you some details about timing and plans for the Kickoff Rally next Saturday October 29 at 9:30 in the Florida Room on the Central SCC Campus of the Atrium.

We tried to address everything and provide you all the information you’ll need in the related documents.

Please read and familiarize yourself with them.

If you have any questions, just call or shoot us an email.

Carol Hugill            716-523-1541      cah5652@gmail.com

Ellie Anderson      312-282-7337      andersonellie@mac.com

SaveSCC Tee Shirts

The t-shirts are here! The t-shirts are here!

And they are fabulous. We can’t wait for you to see them and get yours!

Here’s a visual of our SaveSCC tee shirt on a model:

Our SaveSCC order from our custom apparel and printing vendor, FlagShip, was picked up last night to save shipping fees.  The t-shirt and vinyl clings are even better in person.

We really want to keep our efforts and cause before the community and visible by wearing these tee shirts and using our signage materials.

The great thing about these tee shirts is that they communicate the essence of our campaign succinctly without saying a word. They can be worn in the CA Clubs, HOA meetings, CA meetings, social events and in the public around the community to keep our message front and center and generate more great buzz and support.

We hope everyone will have several and wear them regularly around town. It will be my new uniform instead of tie dye. Great free advertising that can’t be ignored if we use them at every opportunity to show support and solidarity.

All canvassers for our SaveSCC Fall Petition Rally kicking off on October 29 (see information below) will be asked to wear a SaveSCC tee shirt while canvassing.  Tee shirts will be made available to canvassers and volunteers for a donation at cost of $12.  SaveSCC tee shirts will also be available to members and attendees at our Tuesday meetings starting in November for a donation of $20.

Your support and participation are helping ensure a bright future to preserve our beautiful community by protecting our golf courses and green spaces from rezoning and development.

Canvassing Kick-Off Rally

The Kick-Off Rally for the canvassers is on October 29 at 11:30 in the Florida  on the central campus off the Atrium.  All canvassers are asked to attend the kick off rally to receive instructions and materials.

All canvassers will be supplied with a packet containing a street list by house, petition forms, pamphlets and our SaveSCC tee shirt to be worn when canvassing or any other time you’d like to support the cause.  There will be media coverage and photo ops so we want to “dress for success” in our tees!  Also be sure to always wear your SCC badge when canvassing.

We also highly recommend that when canvassing or speaking with someone who is not informed, if, and they want to learn more, you suggest that they attend one of these newcomer sessions held the 4th Tuesday of every month and provide them with a SaveSCC pamphlet that contains basic information details about our meetings, website and the potential development situation on ClubLink-owned golf courses in our community.

Calling all Canvassers!!  Thank you for volunteering! Your time and efforts are greatly appreciated!!  

Now that summer is over and snowbirds are returning, we are putting our campaign into high gear.  ClubLink has announced Sandpiper will close, but will remain open at least thru the end of April 2023.  We do not know when they will apply for rezoning of the golf course so we need to be prepared.

Starting Saturday October 29^th we will kick off our canvassing campaign with a Rally for all canvasser only.  If you have not signed up but would like to attend and canvass, just show up.  It is better if we know in advance so we can properly prepare a packet for you, but anyway it happens is fine.

Our goals are as follows:

1. 1. Get thousands of signatures on our petition to let our elected officials, both CA Board and Hillsborough County Commissioners, hear our voice and know our absolute opposition to rezoning and development of the golf course.
   2. To encourage residents to go to our website SaveSCC.org– sign up and get involved.
   3. To encourage residents to attend our monthly meetings, the second (working session) and fourth (Newcomer’s session) Tuesdays of each month in the Rollins theater from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.

Our Petition Kick Off Rally will start at 9:30 in the Florida room on Saturday October 29^th.  The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

• • Welcome
  • Introduction
  • Quick Review of Instructions
  • Distribution of Canvasser Packets and pickup of your SaveSCC tee shirt for $12. donation to cover the cost.  We prefer a check but will accept cash.
  •    Dismissal to Go and Canvass

There may be press or television coverage of the event that has been promoted in an official SaveSCC Press Release and follow up with media outlets. Your presence and our numbers at the event matter. If you cannot make that date/time, please email cah5652@gmail.com  to make another arrangement to pick up your packet.

• • We will have T-shirts available for you (at cost – $12.00) for you to wear.  These T-shirts will be sold later as a fundraiser to non-canvassers for $20.00.
  • You will be given your packet with your assigned street(s).  it will contain

o   Petitions
o   Brochures/pamphlets – we are limited on the quantity we have, so if a resident has received one in the past, please do not give them another.
o   Flyers for our SaveSCC Golf Scramble Feb 25, 2023  – if they express an interest.
o   A sample of our 5” x 7” vinyl static cling they can acquire for a contribution to the cause to display their support.

• • Wear your CA badge 
  • Please bring a Clipboard – we do not have enough. 
  • Pens
  • Wear sunscreen and a hat for protection and comfy shoes.
  • You will be given a bottle of water

What to do canvassing

1. 1. Introduce yourself – point at your CA badge
   2. Use your tee shirt to briefly explain the organization and its mission and objectives.
   3. Show them the three points on the petition and how it will be used with Hillsborough County Commissioners in the public hearing on the developer’s application for approval.
   4. If they agree (and not all will) with our mission and the petition, ask them to sign the petition. Be sure to get all residents at the home, not just the person answering the door.
   5. If they are not familiar with what is happening to our community, give a very brief overview and a pamphlet.
   6. Explain the Comprehensive Plan for Sun City Center specifically states “ Maintain and protect existing golf courses and insure they are dedicated for future recreation use only.” However, rezoning can be a political decision, and if the County Commissions do not hear objections from the residents, they could vote to approve the developer’s application and allow rezoning. Remind them there is power in numbers. We must be heard as one very loud voice!

1. 7. Encourage them to go to SaveSCC.orgjoin the organization and donate to the cause.
   8. If they have questions or would like additional information, encourage them to attend the meetings, especially the 4^ndTuesday as that is the Newcomers meeting and all their questions will be answered there.
   9. Try not to linger and chat.
   10. Your mission is to get as many signatures as possible.  Again, if they want information, they should go to SaveSCC.organd attend the meetings.
   11. Encourage them to attend the Meet the Candidate’s meeting for the CA Board on Wednesday November 9^that 3 pm in the SCC Community Hall on S. Pebble Beach.
   12. If they disagree with our mission, thank them for their time and move on.
   13. When you have exited the property, update your street listing to note whether they were home, and either signed for and were against. If they are not home, try circling back later.

If they state they have signed one or more petitions in the past please explain there were several petitions initiated by individuals or small groups when we first became aware of ClubLink’s intentions and even ours from earlier this summer.  We are doing this door to door to ensure we reach all residents and it is too difficult and resource intensive to cross check them all to eliminate issues. Therefore, our best course to get all signatures now.  They should definitely sign this one.

We have now come together as one volunteer organization, and this petition is our united One Voice.   The overwhelming support of the community residents by signing this petition is terribly important to our prevailing against development and more houses and demands on our infrastructure and services. This petition will be presented to the new County Board of Commissioners and the new CA Board after the November elections. We appreciate their support in the past and would appreciate their signature and support as we try to protect the character of the SCC community.

Hope to see you canvassing!

Your Support and Involvement

If you can donate, we’d really appreciate the financial support. Donations can be made online at SaveSCC.org or we always happy to receive a check to SaveSCC c/o Ellie Anderson, 1731 Pacific Dunes Dr., Sun City Center, FL 33573.

Thanks for your support and involvement in this critical endeavor to retain the character of our community for the future!

If it is to be, it is up to “we”. And you are part of “we”.

Ellie Anderson
312-282-7337

Notes from Ellie

Hello All,

Ellie’s Notes – A Email Blast of Current Happenings & News

Hope this latest email finds you in good spirits.

Below is our SaveSCC logo you see in lots of our new materials – press releases, tees shirts, etc.:

Hope you like it.  I think it says it all.

Special Kudos to Our Awesome Volunteers

Our awesome volunteers are doing lots of fabulous work in preparation for our Fall SaveSCC Petition Canvassing Rally and the SaveSCC Golf Scramble Fundraiser. Special kudos and thanks to you all. It couldn’t happen without you! Thank you all so very much from the bottom of my heart!  You are supporting a grateful community that appreciates our worthwhile goal!

SaveSCC Newcomer Meeting next Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Click HERE for the Agenda and Zoom Link 

Our Newcomer meeting next Tuesday, October 25, 2022 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm in the Rollins Theatre on the SCC Central Campus at 901 Cherry Hill Dr., SCC.

Any petition canvasser who has not attended a SaveSCC Newcomer meeting is strongly encouraged to attend this Newcomer meeting. It will give you an excellent understanding and insight into the entire ClubLink situation and our response to it.

I would also be highly recommend that when canvassing or speaking with someone who is not informed, and if they want to learn more, you suggest that they attend one of these newcomer sessions held the 4th Tuesday of every month and provide them with a SaveSCC pamphlet that contains basic information details about our meetings, website and the potential development situation on ClubLink-owned golf courses in our community.

SaveSCC Tee Shirts

The t-shirts are coming! The t-shirts are coming!

Here’s a visual of our SaveSCC tee shirt on a model:

The tee shirt sample we have from Port & Company is 100% cotton.  The color and t-shirt quality are awesome.

Our SaveSCC order from our custom apparel and printing  vendor FlagShip is being picked up on Friday, October 28th to save shipping fees.

We cleared wearing our SaveSCC tee shirts over collared shirts at the SaveSCC Golf Scramble Fundraiser with the host club to again raise visibility of our group and mission.

We really want to keep our efforts and cause before the community and visible by wearing these tee shirts.

The great thing about these tee shirts is that they communicate the essence of our campaign succinctly without saying a word. They can be worn in the CA Clubs, HOA meetings, CA meetings, social events and in the public around the community to keep our message front and center and generate more great buzz and support.

I hope we all have several and wear them regularly around town. It will be my new uniform instead of tie dye. Great free advertising that can’t be ignored if we use them at every opportunity to show support and solidarity.

All canvassers for our SaveSCC Fall Petition Rally kicking off on October 29 will be asked to wear a SaveSCC tee shirt while canvassing.  Tee shirts will be made available to canvassers and volunteers for a donation at cost.  SaveSCC tee shirts will also be available to members and attendees at our Tuesday meetings starting in November for a donation of $20.

They will also be available at registration for the SaveSCC Charity Golf Scramble Fundraiser on February 25, 2023.

Vinyl Cling Sticker

We also are working on a vinyl static cling sticker, with no adhesive, for your car, golf cart, house window, etc.   These vinyl static clings that can be used on glass and well-sealed surfaces.  They will also be available in November for a donation of $5.00.

Here is that graphic:

The vinyl static cling is 5” X 7”.

 

Save SCC Golf Scramble Details Set and Registration is Open

Please share with your fellow golfers, fixture groups, and others as you see fit!

The golf committee members have been busy scouring golf courses and clubs in the community and surrounding areas to find the optimum venue to host our SaveSCC Fundraising Golf Scramble for a great outing while raising as much money as possible for the cause.

We have been working with a number of potential venues and have determined our best overall value and situation to have a great day.

We had to convince ourselves this was the right decision, and we are confident it is.  Most venues were very reluctant to provide a Saturday morning shotgun as this is their prime season.  Those that would, were a minimum of $20 a round more than the option we chose. They also required further travel, mostly by motor vehicle, not golf cart.  And at most, they could not accommodate our luncheon requirements.

So what is the bottom line?

When all was said and done, ClubLink offered the best combination of proximity to home, use of our carts for transportation, if desired.  Sandpiper Golf Club is the location where the Scramble will be hosted. A luncheon buffet will follow at Club Renaissance in the Bacchus Room which is a stone’s throw from Sandpiper. By using ClubLink, ClubLink golf members will receive a reduced registration fee, and they can use their own carts, if they have paid the trail fee with their golf membership.  For all these reasons and more, the SaveSCC golf committee unanimously elected to contract with ClubLink for our SaveSCC fundraiser scramble.

We know some prefer not to support ClubLink financially, but, in fact, we are supporting Sandpiper, a club we hope will remain open.

This arrangement is the best option by far to raise funds for our cause with the best value and experience for our participants.

We hope you understand and will support the event.  It is going to be fabulous fun and support our  really important cause to save the character of our community,  greenspaces and golf courses.

We are grateful that Paul Ascioti agreed to host our group, given our primary mission, and, after some persuasion and cajoling, he agreed to our morning shotgun which is the most desirable time.

The event is Saturday, February 25, 2023.

Event Schedule:

7:00 to 8:00 am             Registration at Sandpiper Golf Club

7:30 am                         Putting Contest

8:30  am                        Scramble – Shotgun Start

1:30  pm                        Luncheon Buffet at Club Renaissance in Bacchus Room

2:30  pm                        Awards Ceremony

Registration Fees

ClubLink Golf Member:                           $95.00

Non-ClubLink Member Player:              $125.00

Luncheon Buffet Only:                             $30.00

The Save Sun City Center Golf Scramble Event Flyer and Registration Form is attached.

We would be happy to accept registrations with a check at any SaveSCC meeting on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday of the month at the Rollins Theatre on the SCC Central Campus or you may provide your registration and check as outlined in the attached flyer. Whatever works best for you!

Get your registration in early as there is limited capacity and we expect the event to reach capacity quickly.  Once we do, we cannot accept additional registrations.

Thank you!

SaveSCC Golf Event Committee Members

Doug/Nancy Starewicz  219 242-2364 / 219 805-137

dstarewicz@ gmail.com nancy.starewicz@gmail.com

Bill Stinchcomb 847  624–3693

wbstinchcomb@yahoo.com

Dennis Ora.   248  207–0928

dsora47@gmail.com

Peter Hyjek  860 985-1076

peterhyjek@hyjek.com

Bill Robinette 716 864-2471

billrobinette@gmail.com

Ellie Anderson  312 282-7337

andersonellie@mac.com

Bill Fleck   770  330-0205

fleckster09@yahoo.com

John Jackson. 989 745–3693

smallbl350@gmail.com

Jack Lawhead   813 695–9529

NO EMAIL

John Plummer 915 204-4663

jsplummer@jsplummer.com

Jim Forsythe 202 359-6685

golferlake@gmail.com

Melissa and Rich Soucie 813 719-5432

wizard6120@gmail.com

Jack Hugill 716 523-1540

jchugill-1@yahoo.com

Upfront Cash Flow Issues

As you can see, we have a lot of great fundraising activities coming together well and in process.  We also have some extra printing costs for another 3,000 SaveSCC pamphlets, 1000 Golf Scramble flyers and 500 petitions available for packet assembly for the canvassers on Oct 29^th  and our golf event committee members soliciting registrants and sponsors.

There are also the upfront costs and deposits for the golf fundraiser.

Additionally, we are engaging a professional CPA that will require a retainer to produce our certified financial reports for year-end filings with government agencies.

The challenge that we are experiencing is that all this requires upfront payment to our vendors. This is not something we can accomplish without some help in the form of donations and event registrations now.

So Please Donate Now to SaveSCC!

I am putting out this plea for you to donate what you can to help us accomplish these immediate goals. We are in a good financial position and we are confident that these fundraising activities will generate significant returns in the well in excess of our costs. This is a cash flow issue. The challenge is we must make upfront payment to vendors to lock in the golf venue and produce the printed materials, tee shirts and clings.

So please, go to our website and make a donation at https://savescc.org/donate-to-savescc/  or make a donation at an upcoming meeting.

We run a tight budget and do much “work” with pro bono professionals and our volunteers to minimize expenses wherever possible and it is working well.  Sometimes, however, we have to spend money to raise funds.

So please, if you could contribute to help with the upfront costs, it would be awesome.

We are working well to achieve our mission and your support makes it possible. Thank you!

Other Recent Activities 

The Petition / Canvassing work teams and captains have been working on all the details.

•     Press Release – ‘SAVE SCC’ GROUP HITS THE STREETS TO STOP GOLF COURSE REZONING PLAN’ was released to local area media on Monday, Oct 17, 2022. The media outlets included newspapers, radio, tv, and cable provider news.  A copy of the press release is attached.

Our plan is to add a media and press release section on the web site shortly.

Rick Johnson and I will also be following up with local TV outlets with the hope of securing TV news coverage of the Canvassing Kickoff Rally on October 29^th.

• Canvassing 

We have worked out some schedule and room issues with the CA room scheduler.  We have reserved the Caper Room from 8 am to 1 pm on Friday, October 28th for canvasser packet assembly. If you’d like to help, let me know.

A number of canvassers have asked if we could start earlier October 29th.

Accordingly, the Canvassing Kickoff rally will start at 9:30 on Saturday, October 29 in the Florida Room off the Atrium on the Central SCC Campus.  A special update will be sent shortly to all canvasser with more details.

• Street Assignment

The teaming is working on this but we have many streets yet to assign before Oct 29^th.

Carol Hugill and I are recruiting additional canvassers.    If you can help, please send an email to GetInvolved @SaveSCC.org for your street or let us assign you where you’re needed.  Just let us know and include your name, phone number and email address and we’ll happily sign you up for duty!

 Your support and participation is helping ensure a bright future to preserve our beautiful community by protecting our golf courses and green spaces from rezoning and development.

ClubLink Golf Letter Concerning Renaissance Annual Dues Notice and Golf in the Coming Year

You can see from Paul Ascoiti’s letter from ClubLink SCC that he forecasts that Sandpiper will be open until at least the end of April. This is the latest solid information I have received.

ClubLink Timeline from Presentation to CA Members on March 23rd.

Unfortunately, we have no updates or additional information from ClubLink regarding the plans they announced back on March 23rd at the SCC Community Hall.

Here is ClubLink’s Timeline from that presentation:

Don’t think ClubLink has given up or gone away. We just don’t know what steps they are taking out of sight or what their schedule is.  We must remain vigilant and ready! Their playbook is clear.

See the press release below:

EWS PROVIDED BY

TWC Enterprises Limited 

May 17, 2022, 09:05 ET

KING CITY, ON, May 17, 2022 /CNW/ – TWC Enterprises Limited (TSX: TWC) (“TWC”) is announcing today a transaction involving Club de Golf Islesmere located in Laval, Quebec (“Islesmere”).

Together with its partner, TWC has reached an agreement to sell the property to a Quebec developer for proceeds of approximately $70 million. TWC is entitled to approximately 45% of these proceeds upon closing.

This transaction is subject to both a due diligence condition and a condition for a change in zoning.

Closing of this transaction is not anticipated before 2023.

Corporate Profile

TWC is engaged in golf club operations under the trademark, “ClubLink One Membership More Golf.” TWC is Canada’s largest owner, operator and manager of golf clubs with 47.5 18-hole equivalent championship and 2.5 18-hole equivalent academy courses (including two managed properties) at 36 locations in Ontario, Quebec and Florida.

SOURCE TWC Enterprises Limited

For further information: Andrew Tamlin, Chief Financial Officer, 15675 Dufferin Street, King City, Ontario L7B 1K5, Tel: 905-841-5372, Fax: 905-841-8488, atamlin@clublink.ca

ClubLink’s playbook to acquire distressed golf properties, neglect and close them, and try to develop and/or sell them for a tremendous profit has been repeated a number of times – Heron Bay, Woodlands, and Glen Abbey, just to mention a few.

Next Steps

After we have the results of SaveSCC’s community support as evidenced by the signature count in our petition effort, and the newly elected officials are in place both in the CA Board and the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners, it is our intention to step up our public campaign to secure their support showing the overwhelming community support against rezoning or development.

When you remember and acknowledge that this whole situation came to our attention less than seven months ago, we have come a long way and will continue to refine and improve our strategies and outcomes with your ideas, participation and support.

We are using our resources – human, intellectual, physical, and financial to our best advantage to be ready when they return.

I hope you agree.  Keep those ideas flowing and collaborate with us to assure the future of our community!

Your Support and Involvement

If you can donate, we’d really appreciate the financial support. Donations can be made online at SaveSCC.org or we always happy to receive a check to SaveSCC c/o Ellie Anderson, 1731 Pacific Dunes Dr., Sun City Center, FL 33573.

Thanks for your support and involvement in this critical endeavor to retain the character of our community for the future!

If it is to be, it is up to “we”. And you are part of “we”.

Ellie Anderson
312-282-7337

Notes from Ellie

Hello All,

Our deepest sadness and prayers for recovery go out to all those devastated by Ian.  It is so heart-breaking and overwhelming. With the uncertain path and the need for electricity, we evacuated to the mountains of Northern Georgia. What a beautiful area. I hope you were all safe and relatively unscathed.

Agenda and Zoom Link

Our Working Session is scheduled for Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 6:00PM in the Rollin Theatre, 901 Cherry Hill Dr., on the Central Campus.

Click HERE for the Agenda and Zoom Link 

Time for High Gear

It is time to gear up! Get re-involved and rev’d up for our fall push.  It will be all about preparation and execution of our door-to-door campaign come late October and November and there is lots to do before then. I will be discussing that with you all at our working session next Tuesday, October 11^th in the Rollins Theatre at 6 pm or via our Zoom Meeting (See link above).

For all of us associated with Save Sun City Center, it is time to move into high gear.  There is so much important, time sensitive work and demands that will require your urgent help. The most important task for everyone lies ahead of us. Our door-to-door petition drive must show overwhelming support in the community to defeat any action to rezone the golf courses for development. Those signatures will allow us to demand the action of our Hillsborough County Commissioners and Community Association Board against any zoning or community plan amendment required for development to proceed.

We need your help and boots on the street. No exceptions.  Everyone can contribute to the effort in some way.

Media Relations Step Up and Press Release Draft

We are stepping up our media communications efforts with a press release to promote our door-to-door canvassing petition drive.

Rick Johnson did a great job on the press release draft  that we will further tweak before its official release to a variety of news outlets including the Observer and the News of Sun City Center.  Lois Kindle and the editor of the Observer have been helpful and are hoping to print a shorter version in the Observer edition coming out October 27.  We want everyone to know we are coming and stepping up our efforts to defeat any development plans ClubLink may have.                                            Click HERE to view the press release draft

Canvassing Kick-Off Rally

The Kick-Off Rally for the canvassers is on October 29 at 11:30 in the Florida, Heritage and Armstrong Rooms on the central campus off the Atrium.  All canvassers are asked to attend the kick off rally to receive instructions and materials.

All canvassers will be supplied with a street list by house, petition forms, pamphlets and a special SaveSCC tee shirt to be worn when canvassing or any other time they would like to support the cause.  There will be media coverage and photo ops so we want to “dress for success” in our tees!  Also be sure to always wear your SCC badge when canvassing.

More details will follow as the meeting approaches.

Street Assignments and Canvassers

 Getting assigned canvassers for every street is a must!

The current list of street assignments is updated daily on our web site at  https://savescc.org/street-coverage/

Your Support and Involvement

If you can donate, we’d really appreciate the financial support. Donations can be made online at SaveSCC.org or we always happy to receive a check to SaveSCC c/o Ellie Anderson, 1731 Pacific Dunes Dr., Sun City Center, FL 33573.

Thanks for your support and involvement in this critical endeavor to retain the character of our community for the future!

If it is to be, it is up to “we”. And you are part of “we”.

Ellie Anderson
312-282-7337

Notes from Ellie

Hello All,

Enjoy the sun and peace while you can. The upcoming weather forecast seems quite threatening at this point.  Let’s hope that we are spared the worst of Ian.

Agenda and Zoom Link

Our Newcomer Session is scheduled for Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 6:00PM in the Rollin Theatre, 901 Cherry Hill Dr., on the Central Campus.

Click Here for the Agenda and Zoom Link 

We will make a determination on Monday and send an email to all members based on the weather forecast as to whether to cancel the Tuesday Newcomer meeting due to the approach of hurricane Ian.

SAVESCC Golf Scramble Fundraiser

We are sending this preliminary request to assess the feasibility and interest in a charity golf event sponsored and conducted for the benefit of Save Sun City Center (www.SaveSCC.org) to be held on a Saturday, most probably, in February, 2023. Click Here for details.

Call to Action – Petition Drive Game Plan

We will need volunteers in all areas to successfully reach the entire community and garner their support signified by signing the SaveSCC Petition for the Hillsborough County Commissioners and to show the CA Board beyond any shadow of doubt the vast majority of CA members do not want development of our golf courses and green spaces.  Below are the specific areas where we need resources to get the job done! 

As I say “ If it is to be, it is up to “we”, and you are an essential part of “we”!”  

So – read the details below and let me know where you can contribute to the effort! I am looking for your email to sign up and show up!

Street & HOA Assignments team – collect input and maintain assignment spreadsheet on Google Docs. Do breakdown of longer streets into subsections. Coordinates with all canvassers.

The list of street assignments is available on our web site at https://savescc.org/street-coverage/.

Look at your street, if it is not currently assigned, consider doing it. If it is assigned, consider signing up for another. If you’re flexible and willing to help, we can assign you where we need coverage. 

Send Street Assignment Requests to GetInvolved@SaveSCC.org

Team Captain: Carol Hugill, 716-523-1541, jchugill-2@yahoo.com

We will confirm back to you and put your name on the street list. If you see something incorrect, please let us know.

Street Listing team – develop street list of owners from Hillsborough County Property Assessors web site and older SCC Directory  with street listings. Get approx. # of homes in each assignment area for packet counts to provider to all canvassers.

We did something very similar when we analyzed all the properties backing up to golf courses. 

We will use this new information with the details of the prior effort to equip the canvassers with street listings, owner details and special information to provide to residents.

Team Captain: Ellie Anderson, 312-282-7337, andersonellie@mac.com

We’re looking for volunteers who have a computer and know Excel. The process is very straightforward and training will be provided.

Please email me at GetInvolved@SaveSCC.org, if you are willing to help.

Packet team – design packet content, write materials as needed, assemble for pickup. Maybe two packet types – IMBYs & non-IMBYs

Team Co-Captains:

        Linda Palamaree, 724-622-7284,  lpparmelee@gmail.com                      Maryann Bottom, 386-848-1391

Draft IMBY ( In My Back Yard ) and NIBY (Not In My Back Yard) letters for delivery when canvassing.

        Ellie Anderson, 312-282-7337 & Susan Carpenter, 267-319-9328

Rallies

Kick-Off Rally

Kick-Off Rally is for canvassers only and will be held Oct. 29, 2022. We have reserved the Florida, Armstrong, and Heritage rooms for the event from 11 am to 2 pm.  More details will follow as we get closer.

I am looking for volunteers for the Rally Team to prepare and organize the Kick-Off Rally including logistics and refreshments.  Other teams will handle all other aspects including canvasser packets and collateral materials.

Please email me at GetInvolved@SaveSCC.org if you are willing to join the Kick-Off Rally Team.

Fun Rally Fundraiser

A Fun Rally Fundraiser is under evaluation. Potential date is January 28,2023 if we use the Community Hall. Space is challenging depending on the number of attendees. I’d like to accommodate 500. Outside venues available in SCC are more limited. For a larger group, the only space is the Community Hall with a rental of $2,000 and I really don’t want to spend that kind of $’s on rent.  This one will take more thinking and investigation before anything materializes.  Program could include entertainment, food and beverage for a ticket fee.  

I would appreciate  volunteers for the Fun Rally Team to work this thru and prepare and organize including entertainment, venue, logistics, food and refreshments.

Please email me at GetInvolved@SaveSCC.org, if you are willing to help on the Fun Rally Team to plan and make this event a reality.

Publicity Team – draft articles, ads for newspaper, radio, posters

Team Co-Captains: Ellie Anderson, 312-282-7337, andersonellie@mac.com

                                     Rick Johnson, 847-648-6355, rickj2@comcast.net

Collaterals Team – design and purchase tee shirts & acrylic  stickers

Team Captain: Ruth Johnson, 312-909-7455, rajohnson130@icloud.com

If we have any graphic designers who could help with creating logos, please let us know at GetInvolved@SaveSCC.org.

Donations to Support Our Efforts

We are bless to have many great folks supporting our efforts to persevere and protect our community green spaces and golf courses but volunteers alone are not enough to pay the bills.  As you can see from the above planned activities, we are going to incur expenses for printing, tee shirts, advertising and other expenses.  We are asking for your financial support to support these activities to engage the community and generate more support and momentum.

There are also several legal avenues I’d like to explore with legal counsel but attorneys do not come cheap.

As you can see, we continue to be creative with our fund-raising activities – sales of collateral materials (yard signs and banners), passing the hat so to speak, launching our online donation page, and working to sponsor a golf tournament. 

If you can donate, we’d really appreciate the financial support. Donations can be made online at SaveSCC.org or we always happy to receive a check to SaveSCC c/o Ellie Anderson, 1731 Pacific Dunes Dr., Sun City Center, FL 33573.

Thanks for your support and involvement in this critical endeavor to retain the character of our community for the future!

If it is to be, it is up to “we”. And you are part of “we”.

Ellie Anderson
312-282-7337

Notes from Ellie

Hello All,

Hope this communique finds you well and looking forward to Fall in Sun City Center.

Kudos

Kudos go out to the entire SaveSCC membership and supporters.

The web site continues to offer more information and features. We’re raised $ 985.00 since Aug 7^th via the web donation page at SaveSCC.org.

Time to Gear Up and Get Involved for the Fall Push!

It is time to geared up, re-invigorated and revved up for our fall push.  It will be all about preparation and execution of our door-to-door campaign come November and there is lots to do before then. I will be discussing that with you all at our working session next Tuesday, September 13^th in the Rollins Theatre at 6 pm or via Zoom. The following documents will also be discussed:

Restrictive Covenant Agreement

Termination of Restrictive Covenant Agreement

One woman’s perspective of how SCC got here.

For some sixty years here in Sun City Center, the developers and the residents of Sun City Center have collaborated in the creation, development, maintenance, beatification, evolution and future of this unique and special community. These efforts have seen changes, challenges and evolutions throughout that 60-year history. But that long and sometimes bumpy road was close to reaching its endpoint in 2008 when WCI’s financial peril, Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, led to:

• 2010 WCI’S sales of the developable property to Minto as the last developer of Sun City Center as designed and platted.
• 2010 WCI’s sale to  ClubLink as the new owner of the golf properties.

Development concluded with Minto’s departure in 2020 after its final home was sold. The initial community concept, vision, plan and execution to create the essence of Sun City Center rested solely with Del Webb when he went about replicating his successful experiment from Sun City Arizona. That vision included a community solely for active retirees 55+ who would have extensive facilities indoor and outdoor to support all manner of recreating and socializing. Golf remains a cornerstone activity since the founding and opening of Sun City Center. Over time more courses were added by  developers (Sandpiper, Caloosa Greens and Club Renaissance) and community members (Caloosa).

The developers who started, expanded, maintained and supported our community are gone. This was not an unforeseen milestone. Sound actions were taken by the Community Association Boards over the years to prepare for this eventuality. Capital Fund contributions for sales of properties in Sun City were initiated and increased, and dues were raised to fund beautification of the medians on N. Pebble Beach. Professional studies and committees were commissioned to explore the costs of potentially acquiring the golf courses but the final decision on multiple occasions by those in power was not to do so.

One of Sun City Center’s most visible and potentially valuable centerpieces is its golf courses and green spaces.  Under the developer’s ownership, these assets were maintained to standards that increased the value of all properties in Sun City Center and were a significant draw for potential buyers.  These centerpiece amenities improved every property and their property values. Wide open spaces and vista with greenspaces and wildlife abounded.

With the sale of the golf courses to ClubLink in 2010, the interest of residents and property owners and those of the golf course  owner were no longer aligned.  The residents wanted well maintained golf facilities and golfers wanted good tee time availability at reasonable costs.  The golf course owner and operator wanted to maximize profits by minimizing expenditures.  That led to a decline in services and conditions and little to no capital investment to address issues with irrigation, drainage or building maintenance over the last 12 years under Clublink.  The assets’ physical condition continues to decline and deteriorate.

Who knows what their assessment and plan was in acquiring these properties then, now, or in the future?

Due to a restrictive covenant agreement between Minto and WCI, and its successor in the golf courses – Clublink, ClubLink was prohibited from developing or selling lots on their golf course properties until the agreement was terminated in 2017.  Only the parties to the release of the restrictive covenant know why the release  occurred then or whether there were any other factors involved and they are not talking. With Minto projects complete and delivered in 2020,  the opportune time to pursue development for ClubLink apparently has arrived.

Interest in golf membership and play seems to have waned, at least according to ClubLink and their CEO K. Rai Sahi. Development offers better returns.

In 2007 when WCI was in a sharp decline dramatically reducing staff and seeing its stock value plunge, a Sun City Center resident Ed Jacobs and others saw the handwriting on the wall. He established a non-profit organization called The Sun City Center Golf and Social Club, Inc. to acquire Sandpiper, Caloosa Greens and the North Lakes courses.  His assessment was spot on but his plan never came to fruition. Unfortunately WCI was in disarray and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2008 and change was on the horizon. Everyone thought the fight was about ownership of golf courses, not who would be the potential developer of the remaining land in Sun City Center.

Today the situation raises  grave concern with ClubLink’s proposal to close golf courses and develop residential homes instead.

So some key questions arise:

• What does the community seek for its future – more development or protection of our golf courses and green space for recreation in the future or somewhere in between ?
• Are we as a community willing to fund, acquire, maintain and utilize these properties so that the community is making these decisions now and in the future and is in control of what happens?

These questions and responses will forever affect the very character, services, and future economics of our community and the residential property values of our homes for better or worse. It is a critical concern that must be thoroughly explored, analyzed and rationally decided.

I remain optimistic that any application for development rezoning can be defeated based on fact that any residential or commercial development of the golf courses is inconsistent and incompatible with the Greater Sun City Community Plan as adopted by the County Board of Commissioners in 2010 and would require a major modification for rezoning and/or a comprehensive plan amendment which will very difficult to achieve.

It is the economic commitment of the community that is more uncertain and of greater necessity to secure control of the courses and green space via community ownership in some fashion.  There have been opportunities in the past to acquire the North Lakes course and the North Lakes, Caloosa Greens and Sandpiper.  Those opportunities were not seized by those in power.

Our door-to-door petition effort in November will give us a good fix on whether Sun City Center owners and residents want to stop any rezoning and that will be an important event. This will conclusively show the will of the people on this matter for our county commissioners and our CA Board.

Planning, Planning, Planning

‘Tis the season for planning both at the County level and also here with SCC. The Long Range Planning (LRP) Committee  held two meetings on Thursday. About 65 CA members attended the am session and about another 55 at the pm session.  The AM session in my estimation was more interactive and fruitful over the two hours. The PM session was less vocal and ran about an hour by design of the .  The LRP team did a good job and are to be commended.  I remain concerned that they do not plan on playing the findings back to the community before doing a survey on Survey Monkey and they spoke of whittling down the input????  In good conceptual design you want to gather every bit of user input for the design phase. Not whittle it down. Guess we will have to see what comes next.

Fruits of My Research

My research has been extensive over the summer and led to many more insights and facts. I have been spending time in the SCC library and have compiled some of the information I sought previously from the CA and Bob Sullivan regarding the prior task forces and their reports regarding the golf courses and also details from the Historical Society regarding planning efforts and results in SCC.  All in all a very satisfactory fishing mission with more to come.  I will be potentially joining the Historical Society and will attend their meeting on September 12^th to see if there is a good “fit”.

Possible Run for the CA Board

I am seriously considering running for a 1-year seat on the CA Board and picked up the paperwork this week. Previously when urged to do so, I always flatly said no because of the amount of time and energy I am investing in our SaveSCC initiative. And that is my first and foremost priority.  But I am coming around to the belief that there could be great synergy in doing both. I am in the discernment process and will keep you advised. The deadline is October 5, 2022, 3 pm.

I am interested in your thoughts on the matter. Either way, I am asking all of you to step forward and get more involved in SaveSCC and all of our SCC community endeavors.  It is critical we all put forth the best we have to offer to improve our community during this very critical time when so much is at stake.

Hope to see you in person Tuesday!

 

Please keep forwarding our information to your friends and associates. It is important to keep folks informed and onboard.

Thank you all for your continued participation and support! If you have not yet registered as a member of Save Sun City Center, please visit our website SaveSCC.org and do so. We need you! You help me keep on keeping on and inspire me!

If it is to be, it is up to “we”. And you are part of “we”.

Ellie Anderson
312-282-7337

 

Notes from Ellie

Hello All,

Hope you all are enjoying our intermittent rains and a little relief from the heat!

My Call from Bob Sullivan

Bob called Thursday to give me a briefing on his call with John Finlayson. His update to me was simply conveying what he had said at the Board meeting the day before.

Bob Sullivan spoke briefly twice during the CA Board meeting this week with respect to his conversation with John Finlayson, COO, ClubLink. One time was his update during the board meeting and the second time was during the audience comments section after the board meeting was adjourned in response to a question from a Zoom participant who was unable to hear his initial comments. The essence is as follows.

There have been rumors that ClubLink was making some $2 million a year at Sandpiper and that the course might continue to operate. John Finlayson indicated that neither rumor was true. ClubLink’s game plan is to close Sandpiper at the end of year after the course greens renovation work is complete at Club Renaissance and Scepter. John also said that speculation that ClubLink was making millions of dollars at Sandpiper was simply untrue, the course traffic and rates simply do not generate that kind of revenue.

Per Bob, John indicated that ClubLink was not open to talking about donation of land to the CA until development proceeds. Per ClubLink, due to current conditions of the market, building costs, current housing prices, etc., they are in a holding pattern. They still intend to develop and will hold the properties until they do so.

Personally, I am grateful for Bob’s continued dialogue with John. However, we will not know what they are doing or contemplating except by their actions and works in public view. I do not put too much credence in what is said.

We in SaveSCC must continue full speed ahead to make sure, when the time comes, we are fully prepared and ready for their actions with the county or others.

Our sources at the County continue to indicate that they have no word or application from ClubLink to date.

On a separate note Bob thanked us for the excellent and thorough correspondence to the County regarding Greenspace and indicated that he has spoken with Sarah Caper, Project Manager for the Greenways Master Plan Update for Unincorporated Hillsborough County, offering his assistance and input from the CA.

Donations are Online at SaveSCC.org

Donations are being successfully received and processed via the SaveSCC.org donation page. Hooray!

Thank you donors!

SaveSCC Petition Door to Door Canvassing Plan

There has been little interest in the sign up by street for our petition canvassing effort door-to-door.

After much careful thought and discussions to optimize the results, the advisory groups and board have concluded that our door-to-door canvassing effort would be best conducted in November. That would afford the best weather possible conducive to the effort with the maximum number of part-timers and snowbirds back in town whilst not delaying too much to put our efforts at risk of being too late and being surprised by ClubLink.

We will be back to everyone with details for our working session on September 27, 2022.

Greater Sun City Center Area Community Plan

I think by now you all understand my gratitude and continuing interest in all things related to the Greater Sun City Center Community Plan. I have continued to seek information on the effort and speak with those who were involved in this endeavor. My efforts are continually rewarded with more of the backstory.

Below is a brief introduction to the effort which was written by Paul Courter, one of the original participants who compiled the grass roots citizens input to create the written plan.

The Greater Sun City Center Community Plan is without question the most reliable gauge of what our residents, businesses and other stakeholders want for our future….because they wrote it.

To help each community address its own unique qualities and characteristics and guide its future, Hillsborough County established a formal planning process in 1998. Pulling together the opinions, objectives and hopes of widely diverse populations proved to be a challenge, and initial planning did not go smoothly. After two unsuccessful attempts, effective community planning still did not exist for Greater Sun City Center eight years later.

A third effort was launched in February, 2007 with a “revitalization of planning effort” meeting in community hall, led by a representative of the County Planning and Growth Management Department. That resulted in a series of 20 public meetings, each widely advertised and open to all—including residents, developers, business owners, government officials, and anyone else interested in the community’s future.
Each planning session was announced in newspaper notices and roadside placards throughout the area. Though the process was overseen and guided by County Planning Commission professionals, the procedure and content were not dictated by any government entity or official.

There was no “audience”. Everyone who attended took part in the decision-making. Afterward, a group of volunteers set about organizing the priorities and proposals established, and recording those findings in written form to be presented for approval by the County Commission. Like the previous meetings, these sessions were open to anyone who chose to participate.

The final result is our Greater Sun City Center Community Plan, dated September 2009. It is one of 21 such plans prepared by communities throughout Unincorporated Hillsborough County.

Thank you Paul. All those who contributed to this plan have the thanks of a grateful community. Their efforts lie at the heart of SaveSCC’s efforts to protect Sun City Center’s golf courses and green spaces now to retain the character and charm of our unique, premiere retirement community forever! You have given us the means and we fully intend to use them.

Zoom Meeting Info

If you want to Zoom to our next meeting, click here.

Agenda

Click here to display the agenda for our working session meeting Tuesday, August 23, 2022 on Zoom or in the Rollins Theatre at 6 pm.

Please keep forwarding our information to your friends and associates. It is important to keep folks informed and onboard.

Thank you all for your continued participation and support! If you have not yet registered as a member of Save Sun City Center, please visit our website SaveSCC.org and do so. We need you! You help me keep on keeping on and inspire me!

If it is to be, it is up to “we”. And you are part of “we”.

Ellie Anderson
312-282-7337

Notes from Ellie

Hello All,

Hope you are staying dry in this lovely rain!

Donations are Online at SaveSCC.org

The donation page is live on our web site right here.

We look forward to receiving your donations online as the spirit moves you!

Many thanks to Peter Bates and Eric Nisenfeld for their excellent work on this project.

SaveSCC Petition Coordination Plan

While there are many important activities underway to secure our victory in the fight to preserve our greenspace and golf courses, there is one area where you can make a substantial difference and contribution.

Here’s the backstory. There are a number of wildcards that can affect the course of any application that ClubLink or their developer files with Hillsborough County. One of those wildcards is the Sun City Center Community Association Board. Their stance and potential actions could have significant bearing on the outcome . In matters of this type, Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners can and does ask the CA Board for their input in writing stating their position either in support of the application or against. We must be prepared if the Board, in their representation of the community, says they support development. The method to counteract such an occurrence is to have petition signatures from an overwhelming, compelling , majority of Sun City Center members indicating that they do not support any rezoning, permitting, plan modification or other mechanism to allow development on the golf courses, especially those that need rezoning.

That’s why our SaveSCC petition effort is so critical – it represents the strength and support of our community. If in overwhelming majority numbers, it will potentially trump any  CA Board action to the contrary. This is not a fight I wish to engage and I hope that ultimately the CA Board will support our position. But we must not leave this fate or chance. Let’s have the signatures in the bag.

So what’s the plan?  We have analyzed the courses, the streets, and property records. We are looking for volunteers to sign up, for every street, street by street to cover every single street and residence in Sun City Center. We also want to make sure we include any CA members in Ashton Gardens, etc.

If our preliminary research is correct, there are 228 streets in Sun City Center. 131 streets do not have residences that abut a golf course. 86 streets have residences on 1 golf course. 11 streets have residences on two golf courses. Here is the breakdown:

 

STREET NAME
	Course	# of Properties Abutted	Course	# of Properties Abutted
Adrean Pl
Alanhurst Way
Alexander Crossing Way
Allegheny Dr.	North Lakes	40
American Eagle Way
Amesbury Cir	Sandpiper	9
Amhurst Cir
Andover Cir
Arbor Glen Ct
Ardmore Way	Sandpiper	4
Arrowhead Dr.
Aston Gardens Ct
Athens Way	Club Renaissance	4
Atrium Dr.
Augusta Dr	North Lakes	29
Aura Ct.
Austin Hill Ct	Sandpiper	3
Azalea Landings Ct
Baltursol Way
Barstow Ct
Beach Blvd
Bel Air Ave
Belle Glade Ave
Bentwood Dr.	Caloosa	5
Berry Roberts Dr.
Blackhawk Cir
Blackstone Cir
Bluewater Dr.
Bosky Ct
Brannen Cir
Brattleboro Cir
Breth Ct
Brockfield Dr.	Sandpiper	10
Brookton Green Dr.
Bryce Ct
Bryn Mawr Ave
Bunker Hill Dr.
Burbank Ct
Burlington Cir
Butterfly Pl.
Cactusflower Ln
Caloosa Blvd
Caloosa Creek Ct
Caloosa Lake Ct
Caloosa Palms Ct	Caloosa Greens	18	Caloosa	23
Caloosa Woods Ln	Caloosa Greens	24
Camellia Green Dr.	Caloosa	12
Captiva Ct	Club Renaissance	3
Carswell Cir
Castle Pines Ln.
Cherry Hills Ct	North Lakes	42
Chevy Chase Dr.
Chickory Ln	Caloosa	4
Chipper Dr	Club Renaissance	20	Sandpiper	39
Churchill Pl	North Lakes	3
Cloister Dr
Club Manor Dr	Sandpiper	18
Coco Palm Cir	Sandpiper	6
Columbine Pl
Comfy Ct
Costa St
Council Dr
Courtyard Blvd
Cranston Pl	Sandpiper	6
Crystal Downs Ct.	Club Renaissance	4	Sandpiper	4
Crystal Greens Dr	Club Renaissance	17
Cypress Pl
Danbury Dr
Dedham Dr
Deep Lake Ln
Desert Hills Dr	North Lakes	24
Desert Hills Way	North Lakes	9
Dickman Cir
Dower Way
E Brockton Pl	North Lakes	3
East Del Webb Blvd — from Rickenbaker to Bryce Ct.	Caloosa	9	Caloosa Greens 9	97
East View Dr	Caloosa	35
Eastloch Ct	Sandpiper	5
El Rancho Dr	North Lakes	40
El Rio Dr.
El Turco Ct	North Lakes	2
Elkhorn Rd.
Emerald Dunes Dr	Club Renaissance	112
Emerald Lake Dr
Faircross Cir	Sandpiper	7
Fairside Ct	Sandpiper	5
Fairway Ridge Ct	Sandpiper	22
Faxton Dr
Flamingo Ln
Fordham Dr
Fort Duquesna Dr
Fox Hills Dr	North Lakes	44
Galen Ct
Gardenia Landings Ln
Genet Ct	North Lakes	4
Grand Chateaux Way	Club Renaissance	4
Grand Cypress Ln
Granville Ln
Grayson Ct
Green Manor Dr
Hacienda Dr	North Lakes	33
Harkness Way
Harwick Dr
Haverford Ave
Heron Dr
Hickory Stick Ct
Hospital Service Rd
Huxley Pl	North Lakes	2
Imar Dr
Indian Wells Ave
Islip Way
Jacobson Cir
Jasmine Creek Ct	Club Renaissance	17
Kellwood Ct
Kenley Way
Kilby Way	Sandpiper	3
King Leon Way	Sandpiper	25
Kings Blvd
Knights Gate Ct	Club Renaissance	9
La Jolla Ave	North Lakes	46	Caloosa	4
Lakehouse Ct	Sandpiper	4
Lambdeth Ct
Lehigh Cir
Lenox Greens Dr	Club Renaissance	10
Library Walk Way
Lime Tree Ct
Linger Lane	Caloosa	3
Lively Dr
Lyndhurst Dr	Caloosa	18
Magnolia Landings Ct
Meadowlark Ln	Caloosa	18
Meadowvista Ln
Medina Way
Milford Cir
Misty Greens Dr	Club Renaissance	39
Monmouth Dr
Myrtle Vista Ct	Club Renaissance	10
N Brockfield Dr
N Lake Dr
N Pebble Beach Blvd — from Council to Cherry Hill	North Lake	28	Caloosa	3
Nashua Cir
New Bedford Dr	Club Renaissance	7	Sandpiper	85
Noble Faire Dr	Club Renaissance	34
North Course Ln
North Creek Ct
Northway Dr	Caloosa	13
Norwich Cir
Nutmeg Pl	Sandpiper	6
Oakmont Ave	North Lake	9
Ojai Ave	North Lake	40
Opal Ln
Orchid Ct
Pacific Dunes Dr.	Club Renaissance	9	Sandpiper	31
Peace Ln
Peridot Ln	Club Renaissance	8
Preservation Green Ct	Club Renaissance	15
Presentancia Ln	Caloosa	22
Pineapple Palm Ct	Sandpiper	4
Piper Glen Ct
Platinum Dr	Club Renaissance	64
Plumbrook Rd
Poplar Glen Ct
Quiet Ln
Radford Pl	North Lake	5
Ray Watson Dr
Reading Pl	North Lake	4
Regal Manor Way	Club Renaissance	16	Sandpiper	13
Rickenbacker Dr
Rimini Vista Way	Club Renaissance	6
Riviera Dr	North Lakes	3
Royal Doulton Dr
Royal Links Ct
Runningbrooke Way	Caloosa Greens	10
Rutgers Pl	North Lakes	4
S Brockfield D
S Pebble Beach Dr	Club Renaissance	12	Sandpiper	25
S US Highway 301
Sahara Dr
Sedgewick Ct
Seton Hall Dr
Shea Pl
Siena Vista Pl	Club Renaissance	16
Signature Dr	Club Renaissance	19
Silverbell Ct
Simmons Way
Smithfield Ln	Sandpiper	9
Sola Ln
Spry Ct
State Road 674
Sterling Glen Ct.	Caloosa	35
Stoneham Dr	Sandpiper	6
Stonehouse Ct
Strawpocket Pl
Stroll Ln
Strong Bow Ct
Sun City Center Blvd
Sun City Center Plaza
Sun Key Ct
Tahoe Dr
Tam O’Shanter Ave
Thorn Hill Pl
Thunderbird Ave
Torrey Pines Ave
Tremont Ct
Trinity Lakes Dr
Upper Creek Dr
Valley Forge Blvd
Via Toscana Way	Club Renaissance	9
Victoria Woods Dr
Villeroy Dr	club Renaissance	7
Vincennes Dr
W Brockton Pl	North Lakes	4
West Del Webb Blvd	Freedom Fairways	33
Ward Cir
Warwick Ct
Weatherford Dr
Wedge Ct
West View Dr	Caloosa	8
Westminster Manor Ln	Club Renaissance	8
Westmont Way	Sandpiper	6
Whitetail Ct
Wild Feather Ln
Wimbly Pl
Winterbrooke Way	Caloosa Greens	42	Caloosa	15
Wintersong Ln
Wolf Laurel Dr	Sandpiper	74
Woodmar Dr	Sandpiper	11
Yellowbird Pl

The goal over the next two weeks is to have a volunteer assigned for every single street. Long streets will need multiple people. Sign up at the meeting in person tomorrow night or email us at GetInvolved@SaveSCC.org and we’ll get you on board. The designated person will be responsible for seeing that every single residence is canvassed whether they do it themselves or have a team. We can wait for cooler weather but we should complete this petition drive as early as practical.

There will be special training for all designated canvassers to ensure a consistent practice by all. We do not want to spread any incorrect information or alienate anyone. Everyone will have the same script and materials. No deviations. If a resident wants, they may take a picture of the petition for their reference. Just fold it to cover any signatures as that is proprietary personal information for the signatories that is confidential.

For questions or additional information when canvassing, residents are to be instructed to go to our web site SaveSCC.org for more information, come to a meeting, or contact me. We want to be sure we address their questions fully and accurately.

We will distribute plenty of petition forms and SaveSCC pamphlets to all canvassers.

I’ve attached the petition and pamphlet for your review.

Greenways Master Plan Update

On Aug 8, 2022, at 2:11 PM, Ellie Anderson <andersonellie@mac.com> wrote:

Via Email to Project Manager, Sarah Caper, CaperS@hcflgov.net

Sarah Caper, Project Manager
Greenways Master Plan Update
Hillsborough County

Dear Sarah,

I am writing in response to your effort to obtain community input for the Greenways Master Plan Update for Unincorporated Hillsborough County I am a resident of the Greater Sun City Center Area of Unincorporated Hillsborough County. This area includes Cypress Creek, Valencia Lakes, Sun City Center, Kings Point and Freedom Plaza. A very unique area primarily of 55+ active seniors is Freedom Plaza, Kings Point and Sun City Center, where I live.

We are the most densely populated and extensive area with special provisions for golf cart use and part of the Greater Sun City Center Area within Hillsborough County including special golf cart crossings on 674 and 301 and golf cart lanes on Cypress Creek Blvd. We have our own “GREATER SUN CITY CENTER GOLF CART DRIVERS HANDBOOK”. Provisions for increasing golf cart accessibility to recreation areas and other parts of the community not currently accessible by golf carts is a key goal that is not addressed currently. This would include extending golf cart access to:

• • SouthShore Regional Library at 15816 Beth Shields Wy, Ruskin
  • Commercial area along 674  with Popeye’s, Denny’s, and Bob Evans across from Cypress Village Blvd and 33rd St SE, Ruskin
  • Commercial area at E College Ave and 30th St SE, Ruskin

Multi-use greenways for us could include strolling, walking, jogging, biking, triking, amigo carting, wheel-chairing, walking a dog, grandkids and with others, roller blading (?),  skate boarding, scooters, e-bikes, golf carting and every other mobility device imaginable including scooters and Segways, some human powered, some not. 

Supporting a variety accessibility options for those of us differently abled or inclined would facilitate access and  recreating in a safe manner. The thought of traveling 674 or 301 via bike corridors on the roadways is down-right life threating to seniors or young families. And the areas around us are teeming with families who would have similar desires to access recreation areas, shopping areas, restaurants, and recreation as well.

I have even heard of folks going all the way from 674 and 301 to Big Bend on golf carts and bikes via the cement pathways adjacent to the roadway. I am not clear whether these pathways were designed or authorized for such use. They simply say “NO MOTOR VEHICLES”.

Connectivity greenway goals also include direct access into Little Manatee State Park, Camp Bayou, E. G. Simmons Park and other nearby recreation areas. The whole point of living in Florida is to be outside taking in the sights and getting from place to place in the most pleasant and healthy manner possible, excluding cars.

I have looked at the county GIS maps and found existing Hillsborough County land on New Bedford Dr that could be the start of a greenway from within Sun City Center to Little Manatee State Park. There is also potential for access at the end of Pebble Beach Blvd at 301 and potentially at the end of Misty Greens Dr. These are a few to evaluate for feasibility. I am sure there are others.

Our bikers and trikers, both standard and recumbent, would love some shaded areas to ride and enjoy nature that would not require strapping our toys to motor vehicles to get them to a recreation area. That’s just too challenging for many of us.

E-bikes, E-trikes, E-scooter and other powered transport devices provide special challenges and questions that ultimately must be addressed. I am reviewing the Florida Statue 316 but the topic still leaves me somewhat baffled and proper signage and perhaps color coding of stripping and signage would help identify what uses are permitted on pathways, trails, etc.

It is very sad that when the County was doing road work and sidewalk work along 674 recently, that they did not make those sidewalks(?) wider and multimodal accessible to improve accessibility within the community. Hopefully that oversight will not be repeated. I would recommend any roadway project take such pathways into consideration in their planning and design.

I would also point out that of the Livable Communities Element of the Comprehensive Plan for Unincorporated Hillsborough County for the Greater Sun City Center Area also has specific goals as relates to greenways, paths and roadways:

RECREATION

• • WORK WITH NEIGHBORING PARKS
Take advantage of the recreational opportunities offered by neighboring parks. Establish a pathway to the park for environmentally friendly vehicles and pedestrians.
  • WALKING TRAILS
Encourage developers, community organization, and County government to create hiking trails throughout the community.

TRANPORTATION

• • BRIDGE/TUNNEL OVER 301 FOR PEDESTRIANS AND GOLFCARTS

Explore the feasibility of a bridge over, or tunnel under, US 301 for safer crossings by golf carts and pedestrians. 

1. • ENERGY EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION TO ALL FACILITIES AND BUSINESSES The Community will continue to encourage the use of energy-efficient transportation throughout the area, including electric vehicles such as golf carts, propane-fueled vehicles, trolleys and local motor coach service, and personal transportation devices such as Segways.
   • PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS MULTI-PURPOSE PATHS
Extend golf cart paths on south side of SR 674 westward to commercial areas at 33rdStreet. Any future road and utility expansion projects should include consideration of pathways for pedestrians, bicycles and golf carts.

As you can see, there is a multitude of that input comes from those who live here and indeed are priorities for the community as a whole based on over 20 community focus and planning meeting some 15 years ago during the development of our comprehensive plan. If such efforts were held today, I suspect there would be even more interest and more goals developed. Use of greenways is the future of personal transportation and recreation.

Thanks for your consideration. Should you like to speak more on this topic, I am available.

Sincerely,

Ellie Anderson

cc:        Sun City Center County Community Association Board of Directors - Sullivan, Roush, Birkett, Matelski, Clark, Porr, Parsons, Bratt, Zieg

Zoom Invitation for Tomorrow’s Meeting

If you want to Zoom to our next meeting, click here.

Hope to see you tomorrow!

Ellie Anderson

312-282-7337