South of us on US 441 is a high growth area called The Villages catering to retires. The Villages is an aggressively growing privately owned community that is adding about 250 new home starts monthly. They are expecting at build out to have over 30,000 homes.
At the same time they are building not only residences, but a whole community. The original town center, Spanish Springs, is a hub of activity with at least 7 restaurants and cafes and a square that hosts live music in the gazebo and dancing nightly. You wouldn't believe the crowds. Watching the old folk dancing and cutting up (they don't just ballroom dance) is a hoot!
The Rialto Theatre hosts 7-8 first run movies continuously and in keeping with the architectural requirements for the business district, is in an Old Southwest Spanish motif. As you stroll the sidewalks you find plaques on the buildings telling the "history" of that particular location. The stories are colorful and interesting, but don't get too involved in it. They are purely fictional. The "story behind Katie Bell's restaurant is particularly interesting.
As the community continues it's fantastic growth the developer is planning another town center to accommodate the crowds. In addition, they are building their own exit off I-75 and have built a private charter school for the residents with kids (there aren't many) but mostly as a perk for the employees of The Villages.
This is a really interesting destination for anyone visiting the Orlando/North Central Florida area.

Nothing to comment on today; have spent the afternoon working with my sis-in-law on her computer. Seems like I've become the computer "expert"???? in the family. Kinda like the blind leading the blind.
Thank goodness for Fred Langa and his LangaList newsletter!!!

The Ocala city fathers are working on a plan to revitalize the downtown area here. Revitalization is something that cities large and small have been doing nationwide for years and it is a good thing.
Certainly no one wants a deteriorating center city area yet as business and residents flee to the "burbs", the downtown areas go to pot.
Greenville, SC is one town I'm somewhat familiar with and they have done a wonderful job with their downtown area. With lots of pedestrian walkways, sidewalk cafes, boutiques, live music and plenty of events, downtown Greenville is a destination.
Gainesville, FL too has a beautifully redone downtown area that is a joy to visit and stroll. Again cafes, boutiques, and the Hippodrome theatre make for an interesting place to visit. Check the web slide show.
I'm looking forward to see how the master plan for Ocala's downtown plays out over the next 10 years.

List of Killed in Action in Iraq War The list reached and unofficially has topped 500 this weekend. These men and women in giving service to their country to protect us from those who would bring terror and war to our land; to secure and protect the freedom of the Iraqi people, have given their lives. Theirs was an act of selflessness that none would seek, few would give and all who know them would understand even in their grief.
Even as this war, after war action if you will, continues, we know there will be more lives lost, there will be those in Iraq who will purpose to cause harm and those at home who will attempt to bring dishonor to them. Yet the great majority of Americans, Iraqis and others around the world will grieve with their families and friends and honor those who gave all that millions of unknowns can know the sweet taste of freedom.