Full moon on Wednesday night, July 17th, was the ideal time for thieves to come onto our lake and steal as much as they could carry. Boats, trolling motors, batteries, fishing gear, etc., were gone from their moorings when daylight came on Thursday. Alachua County Police have been notified, but be on the lookout for anyone trying to sell this gear. Contact police at 352.955.1818.
Cozy Mystery Writing Workshop on Thursday, July 25th at 2 pm
BOD Attending: Joe Rush, Tom Germano, Kate Ellison, Stasia Rudolph
William Chiappini
Melrose Bay Park Owners Association attendees: Pam Johnston, Herb Horne, Ron and Pat Mythaler and Rose Cole.
Kate begins w/ a brief summary of why this meeting was called and details some of the miscommunication regarding ongoing issues at Bay Park. Kate continues to explain that the situation at bay park has become intolerable for many local residents w/ loud parties, drinking, lewd language and general bad behavior on the part of beach goers. Discussion ensues regarding specific examples of same.
Kate recommends that we go around the table and allow attendees to introduce themselves because there are many people who do not know each other. Kate then acknowledges that written communication has met some ongoing roadblocks and that she has called the meeting to resolve these issues.
Discussion moves to registered letters, text etc that went unanswered on the part of MBCA. Discussion becomes heated and Kate urges everyone to stay calm and reassures all that we can solve this issue. Rose gets up to leave then Joe leaves. Rose returns. Joe remains absent from the rest of meeting.
Discussion continues with Rose detailing her experiences w/ beach goers and the negative impact on her nearby home. Other local residents cite their similar experiences. Rose reads from a social media post regarding beach. Discussion moves to who locked the beach? No one present had answers to that question.
Subject turns to liability for MBCA. Stasia reads from a May 2019 memo from Taylor Law firm in Keystone. Letter states that because MBCA does not charge the public for access then there is no liability. Stasia will provide copies of letter to anyone requesting same.
Stasia asks local residents if situation was improved over July 4th long weekend. Stasia
provides details on hiring Justin Carmichael to “patrol” beach from 12-6PM from Thursday through Sunday. All agree that Justin’s presence had a very positive impact on situation. Stasia reviews financials of keeping Justin on schedule and reminds the group of the expenses. Stasia offers to cover the $330 expense for July 4th as a one time donation to beach park fund.
Stasia reviews current balances in MBCA accounts and asks if Melrose Bay Park O A has made their yearly contribution to beach fund. Pat says yes that she wrote a check last month. Stasia will follow up.
Stasia moves discussion to address the stakeholders (adjacent property owners) to beach and asks if they would be willing to develop a proposal to take over management of the beach. Kate said if owners Asooc agrees to write such a proposal it will have to be presented to MBCA board for approval or not. Owners agreed to take this under consideration.
Signage was brought up earlier in meeting by Joe Rush and signing issue is now revisited by William and Herb. Herb has access to sign resources so he offered to research and come up with a proposal.
William brings up the “No Trespassing” memo that must be signed and delivered to Alachua Sheriff’s Dept. Pat Ward is in possession of this document. Stasia will follow up.
William brings in proceeds from donation box and Stasia counts $45 and loose change. Pat writes a check to MBCA to join as member. Stasia agrees to deposit at Ameris after meeting is adjourned.
All agree that meeting was productive and confidence is restored in group to resolve
communication issues and to find a way to control beach situ.
No further business, Meeting adjourns at 1:09PM
minutes submitted by S Rudolph
Melrose Sr Community Center is seeking young interns who may be looking for a place to volunteer for community service hours. Position would be to help out in the kitchen at the Center. Contact Peggy Jo Thran at the Center, 352.475.5347 for details.
June 6, 2019 Tracy & Jeannie Perez
While living in Tallahassee Tracy & Jeannie performed at numerous folk and Americana festivals and venues. Now they have returned to St. Johns County Jeannie’s prior home base. They play a mix of original music, show tunes, folk, and gospel on acoustic instruments; also some guitar and mandolin duets with Jeannie on vocals.
June 13 Jackson Creek – Joe and Katie Waller, Tim Martin
Duo of Joe Waller and Katie Waller give us mild bluegrass music, and many styles of fiddle tunes, with a little gospel, western music, and civil war period music. Katie was classically trained in the viola and violin but is now having wonderful time playing fiddle. She won 2nd place in the Old Time Fiddle Music Championship 1999 and 2nd in the state Twin Fiddle Contest at White Springs in 2001. Tim Martin joins Jackson Creek playing the SAW.
June 20 Shake Rag Coffee Talk Tenth Anniversary Celebration
will be held at the Melrose Senior Community Center, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Musicians are invited to bring an instrument, be a part of an “impromptu jam session.” Enjoy cake, punch, conversation, music with a gathering of lake area friends.
June 27 Michael O’Meara
Michael O’Meara was raised primarily in Brooklyn and the East Village of New York. At around thirteen he read “Bound for Glory” by Woody Guthrie and without knowing the first thing about guitars or music set his cap to playing the songs that inspired him. By the early Eighties Michael was crafting his own songs. He then left New York City after a stint as an iron worker on the Brooklyn Bridge, headed out West and ended up in Grand Junction, Colorado playing in numerous venues and opening for Dave Van Ronk, arriving in Gainesville, FL in 1993. Michael has opened or played with Keb Mo, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, John Lee Hooker, Robert Earl Keen Jr., Townes Van Zandt and the aforementioned Dave Van Ronk. He released a CD called “Chronology” in 2013 which feature songs he has written spanning 30 years.
*Thank you supporters of Shake Rag Coffee Talk, June rent is paid. We are now accepting donations for July rent.
