In speaking with my friend, he turned me on to a book in which Harold Schwartz is mentioned, titled Border Radio: Quacks, Yodelers, Pitchmen, Psychics, and Other Amazing Broadcasters of the American Airwaves by Gene Fowler and Bill Crawford (with a foreword by Wolfman Jack).

Mr. Schwartz gave my friend a signed copy of the first edition, and my friend counts it as a prized possession to this day.

From the back cover:

Before the Internet brought the world together, there was border radio. These mega-watt “border blaster” stations, set up just across the Mexican border to evade U.S. regulations, beamed programming across the United States and as far away as South America, Japan, and Western Europe.

This book traces the eventful history of border radio from its founding in the 1930s by “goat-gland doctor” J. R. Brinkley to the glory days of Wolfman Jack in the 1960s. Along the way, it shows how border broadcasters pioneered direct sales advertising, helped prove the power of electronic media as a political tool, aided in spreading the popularity of country music, rhythm and blues, and rock, and laid the foundations for today’s electronic church.

Though he is only mentioned a few times, the book gives what I think is amazing insight into the world Harold Schwartz came from before creating what was to become The Villages and how it shaped some of the choices he made surrounding how to market and promote the community.

Here’s an excerpt featuring Mr. Schwartz:

Fort Worth 11, Texas, the address of station XEG in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, was another address familiar to border radio listeners. From 1950 to 1980 Harold Schwartz controlled the advertising on station XEG and became one of the most influential mail-order merchants on the border. A Chicago-based marketer, Schwartz’s varied interests included advertising and promotion for Moose Magazine, management of a photographic company called Mansfield Industries, and ownership of the Illinois Merchandise Mart and Alamen tablets, a medicine for relief from gaseous indigestion. Schwartz eventually contracted for all the advertising time on station XERB near Tijuana as well as XEG, and he operated both stations until he gave up his border interests to acquire ownership of radio stations in the United States and run successful land-development projects in Florida and Texas. According to another border radio hand, cowboy evangelist Dallas Turner, “Harold did eventually become a millionaire, and it couldn’t have happened to a more wonderful person.

Harold the Salesman
Looking at some of the early magazine ads for Orange Blossom Gardens which would eventually become The Villages, its easy to see Harold’s experience as a direct marketer in his Border Radio days shining through.

From his overcoming objections with “IMPORTANT! You do not rent the lot – YOU OWN IT OUTRIGHT”, to the bullet point list with attractive (progressive even!) features such as all underground utilities, and my favorite line of all…”No Salesman will call.” Harold knew how to sell.

Having had a hand in showbiz, Harold also understood the importance of making your guests feel like stars. “Live like a millionaire on a retirement budget” was not just a slogan used in advertisements, Harold’s actions embodied the quote.

In the early days of The Villages, when prospective residents would come to town for their Lifestyle Preview visits, Harold would have them picked up at the airport in a limousine. Talk about making a good first impression!

From other stories I’ve heard, Harold could frequently be seen working his way around the town squares, meeting his neighbors and potential future residents. Quite a change from how things are done today.

Harold the Entertainer
You don’t have to spend much time in The Villages to put your finger on one of the most important draws: Entertainment.

While the early success stories among 55-plus communities such as Sun City in Arizona focused primarily on activities like golf and amenities like clubhouses, Mr. Schwartz made sure to put an equal amount of emphasis on entertainment.

A few examples are the nightly entertainment options available to residents and the venues in which residents have to enjoy them.

And lets not forget about WVLG 640 AM, “The Voice of The Villages”. I’m left to wonder how much influence Mr. Schwartz’s Border Radio days had on creating The Villages’ own radio station.

Over to you. Did you or someone you know ever meet Mr. Schwartz? What was your impression? Let us know in the comments. Want more articles like this about the history behind The Villages and the people involved? Let me know that too!

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Want more information about The Villages? Learn more about my book here.

Church on the Square

Luckily, residents have several options to choose from. I’ve provided a list of some of the more popular choices below, and some of the listings have comments that were offered up by some of our more than 2,100+ Facebook friends in The Villages.

Phone numbers and website addresses have been listed (when available) so that you can find out more about each one that interests you.

Church On the Square
Address: 1051 Main St, Lady Lake, FL 32159
Phone: 352-750-1000
Directions: Take Main Street to the center square of Spanish Springs.
About: Church on the Square is a beautiful authentic, Southwestern style church in the style of the 1800’s. Church on the Square is also home to several musical performances throughout the week.

Church on the Square has worship services from 12-1 each Sunday, with a minister or pastor from a different denomination each week. Maestro Pasquale Valerio is the professional director of the choir, soloists, and musicians (typically including 1-2 pianos, an organ, a violin, a bass, drums, trumpet, sand the Church on the Square Singers. Oscar Fileau oversees both the Sunday services and the special events at COTS.

New Covenant United Methodist Church
Website: http://www.newcovenantumc-fl.org/
Address: 3470 Woodridge Dr., The Villages, FL 32162
Phone: 352-750-4529
Directions: One block off Highway 466, behind Southern Trace Shopping Center.
About: Large, dynamic, multi-cultural, inter-generational congregation.

It is a large church with 5 weekend services and numerous weekly opportunities for learning more about our faith. We are so blessed to have several wonderful pastors and lots of lay talent too. Our senior pastor, Harold Hendren, is a dedicated and dynamic leader. We are so happy to be a part of this wonderful church!

They have a wonderful pastor and great music!

They have wonderful music and a Pastor that loves the Lord and preaches the gospel like I remember it being preached when I was a kid.

St. George Episcopal Church
Address: 1250 Paige Place, The Villages, FL 32159
Phone: 352-750-1010
About: Sunday Services: Rite I 8am Rite II 10am.; Bible Study Wednesday 11:00 am and Healing Service at noon Wednesday.
Directions: At intersection of Paige Place and Avenida Central. Across from Hacienda Center.

St. Timothy’s Church
Website: http://www.sttimothycc.com
Address: 1351 Paige Place, Lady Lake, FL 32159
Phone: 352-753-0989
About: The mission of Saint Timothy Parish, a vibrant community, is to be a Catholic Community of faith called together by our Baptism and bound to each other through love.

Hope Lutheran Church
Website: http://www.hopelutheraninthevillages.org
Address: 250 Avenida Los Angelos, The Villages, FL 32162
Phone: 352 750-2321
Directions: Corner of Morse Road and 466
About: Hope Lutheran places a high emphasis on spending time together and sharing lives and interests. “Know Christ and make Christ known.”

I’m a long timeline Lutheran. At Hope the ministers are great, as is the choral and other special music, including frequent appearances by Mary Jo Vitale. She is the wife of one of the ministers.

It is a very warm and compassionate family of faith with a nice selection of activities and services to meet one’s needs.

Fairway Christian Church
Website: http://www.fairwaycc.org
Address: 251 Avenida Los Angelos, Lady Lake, FL 32162
Phone: 352-259-9305
Directions: Located East of Morse Blvd. on CR466 between Oxford, FL on SR301 and Lady Lake, FL, on SR441.
About: Fairway Christian Church is an independent, Bible-believing congregation of Christ-Followers.

Traditional Service with traditional music and for those who are more convential there are services for them.

Temple Shalom
Website: http://www.newjewishcongregation.org
Address: 13563 County Road 101, Oxford, FL 34484
Phone: 352-748-1800
About: Temple Shalom is a Reform Synagogue with over 600 members.
Directions: Located adjacent to The Villages with easy access by golf cart and, by car, via several highways and the nearby Florida Turnpike or I-75.

First Baptist Church at the Villages
Website: http://fbcvillages.org
Address: 16935 SE 79th. Clearview Ave., The Villages. FL 32162
Phone: 352-205-7114
About: Buena Vista Blvd to the Calumet Gate; Calumet Ave West to Clearview Ave.; turn right; Clearview Ave. runs directly to the church entrance. Golf cart accessible.
About: First Baptist Church is a friendly gathering of Christians excited about and dedicated to the Biblical purposes for Christ’s church.

Village of Grace Baptist Church
Website: http://www.villageofgrace.org
Address: The Village of Grace meets at the Holiday Inn Express of The Villages located at 1205 Avenida Central North in The Villages
Phone: (352) 388-3446
About: The Village of Grace is a local body of Believers in Jesus with a global vision, a strong Biblical foundation, and a multitude of ministry and activity opportunities.

Open Bible Lutheran Church
Website: http://www.openbiblelutheranchurch.com
Address: 4671 Bellwether Lane, Oxford, FL 34484
Phone: 352-753-9038
About: Located 3 blocks north of The Villages Charter School on CR #103. Cr #103 is 1/2 mile east of Hwy #301 at the light.

Chapel of Christian Faith
Website: http://thechapelofchristianfaith.org
Address: 1401 Paradise Drive, The Villages, FL 32159
Phone: 352-753-4144
Directions: From Rt. 27 / 441 . . . Enter The Villages at the Boone Gate. Take a right turn onto Paradise Drive
About: Established in 1978 and located on the Historic Side of the Villages.

St. Vincent de Paul
Website: http://www.sumtercatholic.org
Address: 5323 E CR 462, Wildwood, FL 34785
Phone: 352-330-0220
Directions: Take 27/441 South to 466A. Turn right and go about 7 miles then turn right again on CR 462.
About: St. Vincent de Paul Parish serves the rapidly growing Catholic community of northern Sumter County in the Diocese of Orlando.

close..choir…Pastor Peter

What a great church. love the family feeling and warmth. right now a SMALL SNUGGLY CHURCH BUT GETTING READY TO GROW with The Villages

Great church with great people. There are 10 masses over Saturday and Sunday which allows us to be more flexible on weekend plans. One of the smaller Catholic churchs in the area. Our Family Home.

Nice Homey feeling

Gonna watch it grown in the up coming years!

St. Mark The Evangelist
Website: http://www.stmarkrcc.com
Address: 7081 SE Hwy 42, Summerfield, Florida, 34491
Phone: 352-347-9317
Directions: Located on Highway 42 in Summerfield. Take either 441 or Buena Vista Blvd. to 42 and turn left.
About: The largest parish staffed by the Pauline Fathers in the USA.

I love the beauty of the church and I enjoy Father Sebastian’s sermons.

We go to St Marks Catholic church on Hwy 42. Used to go to St. Tims which is a beautiful church, but too big. St Marks isn’t small by any means, but feels more of a family church to me- friendly.

North Lake Presbyterian
Website: http://www.northlakepc.org
Address: 975 Rolling Acres Road, Lady Lake, FL 32159
Phone: 352-753-8484
Directions: East of 441 behind Home Depot.

Friendly, welcoming and the many good and positive contributions to the community.

Contemporary, beautiful music and minister

…is a wonderful outreach to the community. Many opportunities for volunteer service. I am a charter member and recommend if you are looking for a church home, try North Lake!

You put in a lot of work choosing the right place to retire, finding the perfect home for you, packing, unpacking, and more. By the time you’re through your brain is probably fried and all you want to do is relax.

But once you’ve made it here, there are still a few things you should take care of as soon as possible to make sure you get the full amount of enjoyment out of The Villages and take full advantage of all the fine benefits you are entitled to.

File for Homestead Exemptions
Do you like saving money? I know I do. Luckily Florida gives us a couple ways to save on our property taxes in the form of homestead exemptions, provided you meet certain residency requirements. But believe it or not, people forget to apply for these exemptions and end up paying more. You will not be one of these people right?

Every person who has “legal or equitable title (you own it) to real property (your home) in the State of Florida and who resides on the property on January 1, and in good faith makes it his or her permanent home is eligible for a homestead exemption.”

You have to make application for the exemption between January 1 of the previous year and March 1 of the year you want the exemption. For example, for the 2012 tax year, you would have been able to apply for homestead exemption from January 1, 2011 to March 1, 2012.

When filing your homestead exemption for the first time, you will be asked to provide evidence that you are a legal resident, such as a voter registration card or a Florida driverʼs license.

There is no need to reapply each year as long as you are in the same home. If you move, however, you will need to reapply.

If you are a part-time resident using your home in The Villages as a vacation home or second home, you will not be eligible for this exemption.

There are a few other exemptions that might apply to Villagers as well, such as the additional homestead exemption for persons 65 and older (though income restrictions apply and may disqualify you from this), a $500 Widowʼs and Widowerʼs Exemption, a $500 Disability Exemption, a $5,000 Disability Exemption for Ex -Service Members, and a $500 Exemption for Blind Persons.

You can read more about whether you may qualify at the Lake, Sumter, and Marion County Property Appraisers Office websites:

Lake County: http://www.lakecopropappr.com/
Sumter County: http://www.sumterpa.com/
Marion County: http://www.pa.marion.fl.us/

Bottom line: Don’t forget to file for Homestead Exemption

Join BOTH the POA and VHA

The Villages Property Owner’s Association and The Villages Homeowner’s Association are two organizations that will help you get the most out of life in The Villages.

While many people choose to affiliate with one over the other, I always tell people to join both. Why?

To begin with, both organizations are good advocates for residents. Though they focus on different issues (the VHA is closely aligned with the developer, while the POA is more independent), it doesn’t hurt to support both organizations. If nothing else than to stay in the loop and keep your finger on the pulse of your new hometown.

The VHA tends to play up “what’s right” with The Villages, and the POA focuses on “what’s wrong” or “what could be improved”.

Another benefit besides staying informed, is that both the POA and VHA have partner programs which offer residents some good discounts from many of the local restaurants and businesses serving The Villages. Use just one or two of these discounts per month and you’re easily paying for the cost of your membership.

You can join the POA at http://www.poa4us.org/ and the VHA at http://thevha.net/join-or-renew-membership

Newcomer Orientation
The Villages Homeowner’s Association mentioned above offers a newcomer orientation on the 2nd Tuesday of each month (outside of holidays that happen to fall on this day) at 7 pm at Colony Cottage Recreation Center.

The VHA’s Newcomer Orientation is a great intro to The Villages and covers a lot of information about The Villages itself, as well as the VHA.

Good Golf School
For a place well known for its abundance of golf courses, its interesting to note that not everyone who moves to The Villages plays golf. For some, their move to The Villages will mark the beginning of a long obsession with the game.

The good golf school is not where you go to learn how to grip and swing a club. It’s where you go to learn the ins and outs of The Villages tee time system, with some basic golf course etiquette thrown in for good measure.

Whether you’ve been playing golf your whole life or if this is your first time, good golf school should be on your list of things to take in right after moving to The Villages.

To find out more and register, call the Tee Times Office at 352-750-4558

CDD Orientation
Each week The District hosts an information session titled “Introduction to your Special Purpose Local Government”. Here you will learn how the various services that support The Villages are run and learn what you need to know about each of them.

No need to sign up, just show up to one of the sessions which take place every Thursday at 10 A.M in the conference room of the District Office.

If you are still awake at the end and craving even more information, you could take the next step and attend the Resident Academy.

The Villages Resident Academy is a 6-week course for people who want to learn more about the local government. The course is broken down into six different modules that last about 2 hours each week.

In week 1 you get an introduction to the District operations and structure, and an overview and history of the CDD Government.

Week 2 continues with coverage of topics like Finance, Budget, HR, and Purchasing & Contracts.

Week 3 you will learn about the how the utilities, water, and wastewater departments work.

The “fun” stuff is covered in Week 4 when you’ll learn about how the Recreation and Golf departments are run.

In week 5 you’ll learn about the departments charged with keeping The Villages safe, Public Safety and Community Watch.

Week 6 you learn about property management, landscaping, community standards, and customer service.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in just contact the Customer Service Center at 352-753-4508

Meet the neighbors
Last but certainly not least, don’t be shy.

If you attend some of the events I talk about above, you’re bound to meet some other people who, just like you, are new to The Villages and are looking to meet other newcomers.

But some of the first people you’re going to want to meet after you move to The Villages are your immediate neighbors. Everyone is friendly in The Villages, so just walk up to the door of the neighbors on either side and across from you, extend your hand and introduce yourself. Who knows, you may have just met your next set of great friends.

And there you have it, 6 things you should do right away after moving to The Villages.

Over to you. I’m sure there’s plenty I missed. What else would you tell new residents they should do right after moving to The Villages? Let us know in the comments below.

Tim Tebow's future golf cart?

That video, which has been viewed more than 3.2 million times, is posted here if you’d like to revisit it.

There are some interesting points made by Tony (The Villages Golf Cart Man) in the video above on the gas vs. electric decision.

The Villages isn’t the best selling community in the country for nothing. Below I’ve listed 50 reasons to love The Villages.

I titled this article “50+ Reasons…” because I’m hoping you will find something I missed and tell me about it in the comments at the end.

Ready? Here we go…

1. It’s Disney World for Adults – When we put the question out on Facebook of why you love The Villages, the fact that it is Disney World for adults was mentioned several times. Who could dispute this?

2. Great weather – I don’t know what its like where you’re sitting but it’s February here and we’re in the 60′s and 70′s most days. There’s just something about great weather that brightens your spirits…makes your body hurt less…and just makes life all around that much more enjoyable. Sure, who doesn’t appreciate the first snowfall of winter? But after that, its nothing but a headache.

3. Great People – The Villages biggest asset is it’s people. Time and time again on our Facebook page we heard how friendly people are. One person said “break down in your golf cart and see how long it takes other residents to come to your aid and you’ll see what we mean.” The Villages has people from all walks of life, who’ve all come together to live out their retirement dream. The happiness is contagious. Some people visiting The Villages for the first time can’t quite understand why everyone is so darn happy. Its just hard not to be when you’re living the life of your dreams in The Villages.

4. Location – At only about an hour from Orlando, it doesn’t take long to get from the adult Disney World to the real Disney World. Great for when the grandkids swing into town. And don’t forget all the other theme parks, shopping, and restaurants. And several people I know make it a point to hit several Orlando Magic (NBA) games each year. Then of course there’s Ocala, Leesburg, and Gainesville close by. It’s all within reach.

5. Golf Cart Accessible – Another popular answer from our Facebook friends was that everything is golf cart accessible. Who does not love this. It’s so much easier to get in and out of places quickly in your golf cart than it is your car. Of course some people could be more careful, and cool it on the speed and booze every now and then, but all in all, the golf cart lifestyle is one of the top reasons to love The Villages.

6. Cleanliness – The Villages has to be one of the cleanest hometown’s in America. I know the management works especially hard in this department and residents do their part too. A clean environment leads to cleaner living and more enjoyment of the beauty The Villages has to offer.

7. Every day is a vacation – No matter what your ideal day is like in The Villages, it most certainly does not feel like work. If it does, you’re doing it wrong.

8. Safety – Low crime rates. Fast emergency response times. High cardiac arrest survivability rates. Home to Florida Fire Chief of the Year. Enough said.

9. The Jingle – Come on, sing it with me … “The Villages, Florida’s Friendliest Hometown”. For many residents, hearing the now famous Villages jingle during commercials on national television was their first exposure to the community that would one day become home. Yes, some other communities have their own jingles, but none are as hard to get out of your head as The Villages jingle.

10. Affordable for (almost) anyone – I think the saying goes, “Live like a millionaire on a retirement budget” and that pretty much describes it. The Villages definitely offers a the amenities and lifestyle that many residents quite simply would not be able to afford elsewhere.

11. Harold Schwartz and the Morse family – Developers tend to get a bad wrap. Its the same in most communities, not just The Villages. But truth be told, without the foresight of Harold Schwartz and the commitment to and guidance of his dream by the Morse’s, The Villages would not be the success it is today.

12. The Lighthouse – I do not care if The Villages is an hour plus from any ocean or inlet, the lighthouse takes you back to the coastal towns you may have visited as a kid. Who says time machines don’t exist? I think there’s one located in the top of that there lighthouse. Honest.

13. Legend and Lore – Speaking of which, how fun is it to seek out the plaques and signs detailing the “history” of this great place? Of course they’re all made up, but using your imagination helps you feel like a kid again, and The Villages team has done a great job of piling on the magical storytelling. I hear Brownwood is going to have some good stuff in this department.

14. MVP Athletic Center – When it’s time to get your sweat on, there might not be a better place to head than MVP Sports Club in Spanish Springs. Exercise, personal training, and spa services all in one convenient place. Of course MVP is not the only game in town as many of the rec centers have their own fitness centers and some of them are pretty good in their own right and more convenient depending on where you live.

15. Recreation Centers – Speaking of rec centers, never before has a community seen so many in one place. No matter where you live there’s one convenient to you. They serve not only as a place where you can go and play or exercise or practice your craft, but they are a place where bonds and friendships are formed. They play a more important part in the success of The Villages than I believe people give them credit for.

16. Lifelong Learning College – What a great name, as we should all strive to make a lifelong commitment to learning. What a great place to do it. With the motto “No tests, grades, pressure. Just Fun” this won’t feel like the high school or college you may remember. With regular classes on a variety of subjects, special speakers, day trips, and excursions, there’s something for everyone.

17. The Villages Regional Medical Center – The workhorse and cornerstone of healthcare in The Villages TVRMC makes sure residents get back in the game as fast as possible when injury or illness strikes.

18. Moffitt Cancer Center – It may have started off controversially, but I don’t think there’s anyone who would say they wish the Moffitt Cancer Center was not here conveniently in The Villages. Hopefully you and your loved ones will never need it, but if you do, you’ll be glad its there.

19. USF Health/The Villages Partnership – The Villages does not rest on its laurels. We already know its the “friendliest Hometown” and above I declare in the “Cleanest Hometown”. Well this partnership aims to make it the “healthiest Hometown”. Formed just last year this partnership is just getting warmed up but surveying Villagers about their health status and needs, and offering lectures to help teach about improving your health in many ways.

20. Shands – Not in The Villages but close by in Gainesville, Shands is there when you need it for more advanced medical care. It’s like an extra blanket of security that you hope you’ll never need, but glad that its close to The Villages.

21. Free Golf for Life – What a great deal and of course, a great selling point for The Villages. Free golf on all 29 of the executive courses, with more executive courses on the way. It doesn’t get any better than that.

22. The Villages Golf Academy – You’d be surprised how many people show up to The Villages having never swung a golf club in their life. Or maybe one spouse has played regularly but not the other spouse wants to join them on the course now that both are retired. In either case, newbie golfers can get top notch instruction right here in The Villages.

23. Championship Courses – The championship courses are some of the best tracks in the state. The Villages is expected to have 12 championship courses at completion but even without them, The Villages boasts more than 500 holes of golf. That’s more than any other community in the world. Unbelievable.

24. More than 1,800 (and growing) organized clubs and activities – “Something for everyone” is somewhat of a cliche but it is absolutely true in The Villages. If you can’t find a group, club, or activity that interests among the more than 1,800 available, well, I just feel sorry for you. But guess what, if that’s the case, you can create, organize, and publicize your own activity.

25. World’s Biggest Recreation Program – Villagers never lack things to do, but all of those activities are made possible by a large group of full-time, part-time, and volunteers who make it all come together. They obviously love The Villages, so we should also give them some love here in this article.

26. Camp Villages – Every summer The Villages hosts its popular program, Camp Villages. But this isn’t your typical “drop the kids off in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon” type of summer camp. Why would you expect anything that typical from The Villages? No no, this summer camp is for you AND your grandkids and features all kinds of activities that you and your grandkids can enjoy together.

27. Holidays in The Villages – Villagers know how to mark a holiday. Whether it’s St. Patrick’s Day, the 4th of July, Veteran’s Day, Christmas, or any holiday in between, you’ll likely be celebrating it with your friends throughout the community. Depending on the holiday there are parades, parties, performances, charity drives, and more. The Villages does not forget the true meaning and spirit behind each holiday, and neither will you.

28. The Villages Senior Games – Each year The Villages hosts regional senior game competitions with people competing in just about every sport imaginable. Golf, tennis, bowling, archery, track and field, and many many more. Hundreds of Villagers have gone on from this competition to compete in the Florida Senior Games, and then on to the National Senior Games. It’s great that, if you are an athlete, you don’t have to go far to put your skills to the test against other competitors.

29. Nightly Entertainment – Whether its a small local act or the occasional well know singer or group that is on stage, The Villages does a good job keeping residents entertained. Sometimes they even book presidential candidates to sing for the crowd

30. Arts & craft shows – It seems like almost every month there’s a new arts & craft show passing through town. Sure, some are better than others, but they’re always a good way to kill a couple of hours on the weekend.

31. Drinks on the square – We had at least one person throw out that their favorite thing about The Villages was being able to have drinks on the square. Well cheers to that!

32. Spanish Springs Lanes – Home to 32 lanes that host bowling leagues and tournaments, as well as allowing the kids to get out of the hot summer sun by letting them bowl for free, Spanish Springs Lanes is a great place to spend a few hours practicing your form. I’m not much of a bowler in real life, but you don’t want to mess with me when it comes to Wii Bowling.

33. and 34. The Villages Homeowner’s Association and the Property Owner’s Association – They they both have different goals and different politics, The VHA and the POA are both great organizations looking out for the greater good of The Villages and it’s residents. If you haven’t joined already, you should really consider doing so. Both organizations have very low membership dues, so its really a no brainer to support those who are working hard for Villagers day in and day out.

35. The Villages Polo Club – Hosting more than 30,000 spectators a year, The Villages Polo Club is a great place to take in “The Sport of Kings”. Offering two full seasons between March and May then October and December residents seem to get a kick out of watching the matches in style.

36. Pickleball – It wasn’t invented here, but The Villages is considered the Mecca of Pickleball and ranked as the #1 Place to Live for Pickleball. If you’re new to the game, there’s no better place to learn one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S.

37. and 38. Spanish Springs and Lake Sumter Landing – The two current town squares will soon have to share the spotlight with a third, but they will continue to serve residents of The Villages well. Entering either Spanish Springs or Lake Sumter Landing you feel like you are being transported back in time. Your attitude changes. Your spirits are lifted. Everything is at your fingertips. Dining. Shopping. Entertainment. Friends. What a great concept.

39. Brownwood – Only those intimately involved with the development and construction of Brownwood know just how great it will be. In fact, even they are not sure yet exactly how big it will be in the end. But, hey, I’m gonna go ahead and go out on a limb here and say that we love it already. Can’t wait to see if finished.

40. The Villages Shuttle Bus – Really, can they make it any easier to get from The Villages to Orlando International Airport. Forget about driving yourself, and hop on the bus. For $65 roundtrip bring all your bags, golf clubs and pets. Who doesn’t love this deal?

41. The Villages Trolley Tour – Speaking of transportation, if you’re looking to kill some time, hop on a scenic trolley tour of The Villages. Now who doesn’t love a nice trolley ride every now and then?

42. The US441/27 Golf Cart Bridge – This one-of-a-kind landmark is the only public golf cart bridge in the United States that crosses a US Highway. Like they say, “Only in The Villages!”

43. 640 AM WVLG – Not many communities can boast their own radio station. “The Voice of The Villages” broadcasts news, weather and entertainment to residents.

44. and 45. Banner Mercantile and Market Square Mercantile – If you love The Villages, and I know you do if you’ve stuck with this article this long, you want to show off the fact that you call this place home. Well there’s no better place to do that than with some logo apparel from Banner Mercantile or Market Square Mercantile. But they don’t stop at just clothes. Pretty much any household good you can think of including cookware, glassware, and dishes can be yours emblazoned with The Villages logo.

46. Church on the Square – Whether you are religious or not, you will most certainly visit Church on the Square at some point while living in The Villages. In addition to being a place of worship, Church on the Square serves as host to a variety of musical productions each month.

47. and 48. Rialto Theatre and Old Mill Playhouse – Movies are my favorite pastime, and I know a lot of Villagers feel the same way. There’s nothing like buying a ticket, grabbing some popcorn and a soda and taking in the latest Hollywood movies. Luckily The Villages has two convenient places to do just that.

49. The Political Spotlight – Whether you like their politics or not, it’s always neat to see all the politicians passing through each year. Who could pass up the opportunity to speak directly to 86,000 people who turn out to vote in astoundingly high numbers? It would be a huge mistake to ignore The Villages on your campaign route.

50. The Book Signings – If we ever go 100% kindle e-readers and ditch the paperbacks I wonder what all the authors will sign when they pass through The Villages for book signings. Granted many of these authors are political figures, but some of them aren’t. In any case, its very cool to see your favorite authors come visit your hometown on their book tours.

Over to you. What did I miss? Tell me why you LOVE The Villages in the comments below.

Round 2 of The Villages Aptitude Test is now available for your test taking pleasure.

Click here to take the quiz.

After you take the quiz be sure to rub in your perfect score by sharing the quiz with your Facebook friends.

More than 1,000 people took the quiz the first time around and we’re looking to shatter that record this time.

If you stay up to date on all the latest news coming out of The Villages you should do pretty good. We took all the questions this time around from past issues of The Villages Monthly. Not a subscriber? Well that just makes me sad

Why don’t you hop on over here and sign-up? Now THAT would make my day.

In all seriousness, enjoy the quiz!

This simply means that the asking price is less than the amount owed on the mortgage.

While this is not as common in The Villages as it is in other Florida retirement communities because many Villagers pay cash or only get small mortgages, it does happen in some cases.

On my other website, Florida for Boomers, I just published an in-depth article that you will want to read if you are in or think you may encounter this type of situation. The kicker is that what I have to tell you in this article is all from personal experience as I am in the middle of a short sale transaction myself at the time of this writing.

Continue to read Anatomy of a Short Sale: A Guide for Buyers

2012 should be just as exciting.

Let’s look at some of the major stories of the past year in The Villages.

(Note: All of these stories and more were covered in depth in The Villages Monthly this past year)

IRS Issue – This issue is now 4 years old, if you can believe it. I get tons of email every month from people who want to move to The Villages but are hesitant to do so until this is resolved.

As TVCDD and the IRS continue to spar over the accuracy of the details in the case, I still don’t see a quick end to this in 2012.

Despite that lingering piece of uncertainty, The Villages rings in 2012 with a full head of steam.

Among the good stories of 2011:

Moffitt Cancer Center – The new Moffitt Cancer Center celebrated its grand opening this month, providing cancer care closer to home for Villagers. The fundraising activities this past year were not without controversy, but overall I think Villagers are better off having more choices for care close to home.

The Villages/USF Health Partnership – This is an interesting partnership that came to fruition this year. With the aim of creating “America’s Healthiest Hometown” this partnership has kicked off in 2011 with a lecture series on various health related topics geared towards residents of The Villages, and several focus groups with residents to determine what health issues and concerns the partnership should tackle first.

I think that there are several communities like The Villages across the country watching how this partnership shapes up and evolves in 2012 and over the next few years.

The population of our country as a whole is skewing older every year, and I’m optimistic that the progress made in this partnership could potentially enhance the lives of millions of others throughout the country, not just here in The Villages.

2012 Presidential Election – Politics are always a major topic in The Villages, and 2011 was no exception. There was an extra amount of activity because of the run-up to the GOP presidential nomination.

Several state and national politicians made their way to The Villages in 2011, and we predict the politicians will visit The Villages in 2012 in record numbers as the run-up to the GOP nomination, and the eventual November election approach.

The Villages on the National Stage – The Villages got some great national publicity this year.

In May, CBS Sunday Morning had a piece on custom golf cars in The Villages. To date, the video has been watched more than 1.8 million times on YouTube.

Then in September, morning show FOX & Friends broadcast live from Lake Sumter Landing Market Square in The Villages. Guests included Florida governor Rick Scott, FOX commentator Oliver North, rock band foreigner, cheerleaders from UCF, performers from local high schools, and more.

2012 is sure to be an exciting and interesting year in The Villages. I look forward to keeping you up to date on all the major news that transpires.

I’d like to leave you with a video sent in by one of our readers who plans to move to The Villages in the next few years. He took quite a few pictures during his lifestyle preview and put them all together in this video. Enjoy!

Well I’m happy to report that today, The Villages Aptitude Test or (T.V.A.T for short) is finally here.

My goal was to create a fun little diversion that all of my readers could enjoy during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. I hope you like it

I’d be honored and delighted if you took a moment to pass the quiz along to your friends, either through email or by sharing it on Facebook.

Go here now and check it out

Keep in mind this is “version 1″. I’m not sure what the future holds for T.V.A.T. If people really take to it and it gets a lot of traction than I imagine updating it with new questions every couple of months, running new contests, etc. Time will tell. But for now, just go check it out and let me know what you think!

Update: Round 2 of The Villages Aptitude Test is now available for your test taking pleasure.