Old Homosassa – Page 36

Old Homosassa Sidewalks 60% Plan

February 9, 2015February 8, 2015 by KTgreen

This post is for my friends, neighbors and anyone else that enjoys driving through Old Homosassa’s tree canopied streets.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I received an email regarding the proposed sidewalks on Yulee Drive.

From Fritz P. Smith,

“As discussed at the Yulee Drive Sidewalk Townhall Meeting conducted on July 31, 2014, a set of 60% complete plans will be available for review at the Citrus County Homosassa Library, 4100 South Grandmarch Avenue, Homosassa, FL 34446, beginning Monday, January 26, 2015 until Friday, February 13, 2015. Please direct any questions or requests for additional information to Walt Eastmond at 352-527-5446 or Walt.Eastmond@bocc.citrus.fl.us.”

Terry and I went to the library on Friday to check out the 60% completed plans.

Sidewalk Plans It took us a little while to understand the plans but once we caught on, we were able to follow the sidewalk route from Old Homosassa all the way out to 19. It followed exactly the route that was covered in the meeting back in July.

Then Terry and I started studying the Old Homosassa area. In the section where the old sidewalk ends through the area just past the Sugarmill Ruins, seven oak trees will be removed.

Seven very large oak trees. The very oak trees that provide our beautiful canopy.

I want the sidewalk but not at the expense of these trees.

Just to make sure we had it right, we went to the park area and checked out the trees.

If I understand the plans correctly, these are the two trees across from Bressler Ct.

Bressler Ct.

Page 4. The area right across from the Sugarmill Ruins.

By counting the other trees on this page, these are the three trees being removed.

Old Mill Tavern And a closer view of those trees.

Sugarmill trees

Page 5. The sidewalk goes to the other side of Yulee Dr. No trees are marked to be removed.

I would love to have sidewalks. But not at the expense of these trees.

These photos might be difficult to understand. If you haven’t checked out the plans at the library please do this week, they will only be there until this Friday, February 13. Let Mr. Eastmond know how you feel.

**** February 9, 2015

This is an update to my post from February 8, 2015, I have sent the following email to Walt Eastmond and our Commissioner Ron Kitchen

My husband and I went into the Homosassa Library on Friday to check out the 60% plans for the sidewalks in Yulee Drive. Then we followed up with a stop at the Sugarmill Ruins on Sunday to understand where the new sidewalk would run.

We have two concerns.

First, seven large oak trees are designated on the plans to be removed in the section where the existing sidewalk ends and just past the Sugarmill Ruins. These trees provide the beautiful canopy over Yulee Drive and are irreplaceable. The sidewalk will need to go around the trees.

Second, the crossing from the existing sidewalk to the other side of Yulee Drive is on a very dangerous curve. Drivers will not be able to see the pedestrians as they make the crossing. When we stopped at the Sugarmill Ruins yesterday, traffic was non-stop. The crossing needs to be moved closer to the Sugarmill Ruins. There is plenty of room after Breville Ct. and before the ruins.

We live behind Old Homosassa in the Mason Creek area. We have been here for over eleven years and are active members of our community. I have a blog with a focus on Citrus County and have made a short post which further explains the tree issue. There are some photos of the trees that will be removed that will clarify our concern.

Looking forward to having sidewalks but these two issues must be addressed.

Sincerely,

Kathy and Michael Green

Mr. Eastmond responded within 20 minutes:

Good morning Mrs. Green – Thank you for your interest in the Yulee sidewalk project and taking the time to review the 60% plans and the site. We appreciate your comments and will forward them to our consultant preparing the plans.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional comments/concerns.

Sincerely,

Walt Eastmond

Transportation Project Manager

Engineering Division

And Commissioner Kitchen sent an email an hour later,

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Green,

Thank you for your concern for our community and for your well thought out comments. I am sure we will take what you say into consideration as the county continues with the planning process.

Thank you again,

Ron Kitchen

I feel better about the planning process but we should still stay on top of the issue!

Friday Meanderings

February 6, 2015 by KTgreen

Just want to apologize to all my northern friends before I start rambling about my garden problems. You’ve have had so much SNOW this year and you are still digging out. (But let me ask–why do you still live there?)

Here in central Florida, it’s time to start planning the spring vegetable garden.

Time to till up the soil, fertilize, decide what exactly will be planted.

But not for me. I’ve decided that my two raised vegetable beds in my back yard are done. Kaput. Set to be flattened. The damn squirrels have won. So many squash blossoms have been “squirreled away”. So many tomatoes have been bitten or chewed.

Besides the squirrels, there is the shade canopy. We have a lot of big trees that are just getting bigger and not much sun is hitting those beds anymore. (Not complaining, I love each and everyone of those trees.)

The few organic tomatoes that I actually got last year would have been a lot cheaper at the most expensive organic market.

And besides all of those reasons, it’s a lot of physical labor and my back has decided that it just wants to work on flowers. Gotta do what the back says!

I’ll continue growing herbs. Rosemary, oregano, and chives never die. I’ve probably had the original plants for over five years. I’m putting parsley and dill in pots and placing them in the few sunny places in the yard. I’m not much of a cook but parsley and dill are very rewarding to me because I love the butterflies.

Butterflies in the Garden, Eastern Black Swallowtail — Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillar, full grown larvae, on parsley.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly Eggs — Swallowtail Butterfly Eggs on dill.

In the Garden, Eastern Swallowtail — Swallowtail on parsley. So pretty. Looking forward to their return when it gets a little warmer.

And now that you have looked at these pretty pictures, I need to ask….

Have you been looking at my “project 365” photos? I’m taking a pic every day and posting them. It’s been a challenge. I’m always taking pictures–but taking a good picture that I feel is “post worthy”? Not so easy. And then there are the days that I take a lot of really GOOD photos. And can only use one.

Today is day 42! We are going out and about today so I should have a photo to post that isn’t from the back yard!

Besides taking lots of pictures, I’ve been busy in the community. Wednesday as a volunteer at the animal shelter, the first Monday night of the month at the Homosassa Civic Club plus a few monthly meetings for Old Homosassa Preservation Society.

Speaking of the Old Homosassa Preservation Society, our next meeting is Tuesday at 5:30 at the Homosassa Civic Center. This is a big one. We bought the tower. Now we have to get the money together to preserve the tower and other historical places in Homosassa. BE THERE! Or send us a bucket of money. I’m okay with that.

And then there’s the acoustic music group that I joined last year.

We meet at the Coastal Region Library in Crystal River and we finally have a regular schedule. The first and third Monday of every month from 2 to 4:30. Acoustic musicians, singers, and listeners are all invited.

And after looking at that picture you might think you need to be a senior citizen to be in this group. NOT SO! Eleven-year-old Jimmy has stopped in during our last two sessions. He is a beginning guitar player. He doesn’t stay long but he seems to enjoy hanging out with us while he’s there! (oh no, do you think he might be looking for a foster-grandparent?)

If you want to join us and have questions, give Paula Bateman a call at 260-316-4099. Otherwise, just come on over!

And now what’s going on this weekend?

Well, first there’s the Best Friend Expo at the Citrus County Auditorium on Saturday. This is your chance to meet all of those pooches and kitties that need a home.

I’m still pondering the water issues in Florida so Terry and I are attending the “Florida’s Springs and the Sustainability of the Floridan Aquifer” at 10 am on Saturday at the Ellie Schiller Education Center in Yankeetown.

There’s a car show on 44 between Inverness and Floral City.

But what we are REALLY looking forward to is the Open House at La Casa of Mason Creek. I’ve posted dozens of photos of this place over the years. We watched it being built and even took a little “self-guided” tour. It’s been on the market forever and someone finally bought it! The new owner has turned it into an event venue and vacation rental. The open house will include many local vendors that want to turn your wedding or event into something extraordinary. The open house is from 3 – 7. Oh yes, I’m taking my CAMERA!

Just another morning in Perfect — La Casa of Mason Creek from the canal side

The weather is supposed to be beautiful here in sunny Florida so we will out on the road getting lots of pictures.

Have a great weekend!

Kathy

Uptown Pickers at the Shed

December 29, 2014 by KTgreen

We had a super great sunny weekend.

It was one of those weekends that out-of-town guests decide that they are moving here permanently. One of those weekends that those guys that are fracking in ND decide that there’s got to be a better way. One of those weekends that let Florida push New York State out of the third most populous spot.

Just want to remind all of those people about reality. We have no-see-ums that will make you cry. We have banana spiders that are as big as your hand. We have mosquitos that will suck every ounce of blood out of you. And if that doesn’t convince you to stay where you are, we have HURRICANES! Rick Scott! Duke Energy!

Okay. Enough anti-propaganda.

Yesterday we went down to the Shed in Old Homosassa to listen to the “Uptown Pickers”. They play there quite often but never on a Sunday that we are actually home. So I was pretty excited when I saw them listed as the band for the weekend. With a name like Pickers, gotta be bluegrass, Right? Gotta have a banjo, Right?

Wrong. They were good but it was just your normal everyday “oldies and some goldies with a little bit of blues and a whole lot of country” band. Still fun. But no banjo.

Uptown Pickers

So the Uptown Pickers was a really good band and the place was crazy packed. We got there before they started and there were still no tables. But we just kind of hung out by the rail until a smelly man decided to stand by me. Ohhhhh, Myyyyyy.

We rode our bikes there, of course. Can you spot them?

Uptown Pickers at the Shed Yeah, ours are the ones with no motors….