66.6 F
The Villages
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Villages 101: Schwartz and Morse made their disdain for POA known to residents

Villages Founder Harold Schwartz and his son, retirement community guru H. Gary Morse, were known for many things – especially a shared desire to make their retirement community the best that it could be.

But both shared a disdain for one Villages group and they made that known to area residents many years ago.

Harold Schwartz and H. Gary Morse

Villages lore has it that somewhere around 1982-83, Schwartz – known for everything from vowing to live long enough to see a hospital built in The Villages to bringing Chi Chi Rodriguez to the community to discovering DJ Wolfman Jack – sent a letter to residents of Orange Blossom Gardens warning them about the Property Owners Association, a group that advocates for residents’ rights and still is going strong today.

The letter was written at a time when Schwartz was known for walking around his neighborhood, shaking hands with his fellow residents and listening to what they had to say so he could constantly improve his retirement community.

This statue in Spanish Springs Town Square pays tribute to Harold Schwartz.

In other words, it was a much different place – a tight-knit group of residents living in a small mobile home park – rather than the mega-retirement community that exists today.

Villages lore has it that Schwartz warned residents about paying dues to join the POA, saying it was an organization that was perceived to be something it was not. And he shared details about the relationship between his management team and the group, saying he had refused to recognize the POA as a legitimate organization and wouldn’t accept or respond to any correspondence from them, be it demands, suggestions or ideas about the community.

Almost 10 years later, with Morse running the show and The Villages growing quickly, he took a page out of his father’s playbook and apparently sent out his own sternly worded anti-POA letter to The Villages Homeowners Association.

In those days, the VHA – a group longtime POA President Joe Gorman would label as a cheerleader and rubber stamp for the Developer – was just getting off the ground. Villages lore has it that Morse told them he would meet with the group but there was a huge caveat – they had to agree to prohibit members from sharing any frustrations about the community.

Morse forbid the group from being a forum or a direct pipeline to the Developer – something it would eventually become – in an apparent effort to steer clear of the disgruntled residents that comprised the POA. And he said his team was more than qualified to handle complaints.

Sharon and H. Gary Morse, shown in 1999.

For those who aren’t aware of it, the POA was formed in November 1975 as the Orange Blossom Gardens Property Owners Association. Known as a group that stood its ground and didn’t back down from the almighty Developer, the POA quickly gained a reputation as activists for residents – an image it proudly maintains today.

The group came to life after a meeting at the home of A.J. “Jack” and “Dessie” Howard on Vermont Avenue. The objectives of the original charter and bylaws called for the group to promote goodwill, friendship and understanding among residents – and assist the Developer in establishing a community that would be beneficial to both him and property owners.

Those ideals apparently rubbed both Schwartz and Morse the wrong way, as The Villages brass continues to ignore the group’s existence. Developer Mark Morse speaks to the VHA each year but has never been spotted anywhere near a POA meeting. And employees of the organization are warned early on about the POA and sternly advised to steer clear of its members and never acknowledge its existence – just the way Schwartz wanted it more than 35 years ago.

In 1997, Villages founder Harold Schwartz appeared on billboard making a bold promise to Villagers about the future of healthcare in the community.

Neglect of golf course maintenance now costing us millions of dollars

In a Letter to the Editor, a Village of St. Charles resident argues that neglect of golf course maintenance is now costing residents millions of dollars.

Karen says her intent has been misinterpreted

A Village of Belle Aire resident who stirred quite a discussion with a previous Letter to the Editor, follows up to say that her intent was misinterpreted.

Our amenities are being used by families with kids

In a Letter to the Editor, a Village of Citrus Grove resident says she is not happy about families with kids using amenities paid for by residents.

Finally allocating funds to the golf courses!

A Village of Hadley resident said he is happy that more money is being allocated to the golf courses. Read his Letter to the Editor.

Trump is unfit for any office

A Village of Osceola Hills resident, in a Letter to the Editor, details why he thinks former President Trump is unfit to hold any office.