By on July 29, 20244 Comments On Thursday August 1 at 8:30 a.m., the Tallahassee Growth Management Department will hold a Type A & Pre-Submittal meeting. The Type A & Pre-Submittal meetings allow applicants to receive detailed comments on their project proposals from all relevant departments The goal is to identify potential problems & solutions early in process Listed below are the projects on the agenda TSP240044 – Solitude ApartmentsMEETING TIME: 8:30 AMAGENT: Michael Giglio, Urban Catalyst Consultants, (850) 999-4241PROJECT LOCATION: (TAX ID# 3120200030000)ZONING DISTRICT: PUD (Southwood Planned Unit Development)ACRES: 29.58 acresPROJECT DESCRIPTION: The proposed project is for the construction of a 252-unit multi-family residential development.PROJECT COORDINATOR: Lance Jacobson, Senior Planner, Lance.Jacobson@talgov.com TPA240077 – TLH FAA Tech Ops BuildingMEETING TIME: 9:00 AM AGENT: Connor Chambliss (850) 553-3523PROJECT LOCATION: 5800 SPRINGHILL RD (TAX ID# 4107208010000)ZONING DISTRICT: GO-2 (Government Operation – 2) ACRES: 2,151.00 acresPROJECT DESCRIPTION: The proposed project is for the construction of a 2,552 square-foot Federal Aviation Administration Technical Operations support building.PROJECT COORDINATOR: Lance Jacobson TPA240078 – Miller Plumbing at Summit EastMEETING TIME: 9:15 AM AGENT: Moore Bass Consulting (850) 222-5678PROJECT LOCATION: 1845 SUMMIT LAKE DR (TAX ID# 121727 D0010 & 121727 D0020)ZONING DISTRICT: IC (Interchange Commercial) ACRES: 7.42 acresPROJECT DESCRIPTION: The proposed project is the construction of two warehouses and an office building totaling 55,000 square feet Tallahassee Growth Management Agenda Features Southwood Apartments, FAA Building added by on July 29, 2024View all posts by Staff → This is designed to get rid of conservatives Thomas The first two are way over 18 years; Alito will be right at 18 years in 2 months Pro-Hamas Progressives Pizza Boy and Jackboot Porter will try to kill this 2,151 acres for just a 2,552 sq ft office building Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInTALLAHASSEE (WCTV) - Changes are on the horizon for the Southwood neighborhood Leon County commissioners unanimously approved the developer’s request to redesignate a total of 304 acres of land in Southwood to allow more homes to be built in the area In total, it would pave the way for 1,126 new homes, according to a county staff report “These changes will just put it in a better position to develop in accordance with the market and the economy,” said Ryan Culpepper the county’s director of development services Eight acres near the intersection of Merchants Row Boulevard and Capital Circle would be redesignated to allow a new town center to be built The staff report indicates that the developer plans to build about 50 hotel rooms and 12 apartments above the commercial area of the town center At Tuesday’s meeting, county commissioners also discussed a final report on the county’s TEAM Leon grant program The program distributed $1 million to individuals and businesses in unincorporated Leon County impacted by last month’s tornadoes The county had many more applicants than they were able to fund Commissioner Bill Proctor brought up the idea of extending the micro-grant program in anticipation of an active hurricane season It’s a throwing out of the lifeline of care.” Commissioner Nick Maddox said the idea made him nervous and that there may not be enough money in the county’s budget to fund another grant program Commissioners voted unanimously to have staff prepare a report exploring the idea and possible funding sources That report will be discussed at the next commission meeting Later in the meeting, commissioners had a lengthy discussion about a status update on the Southside Action Plan which is a long-term collaboration between the city to revitalize the south end of the capital city A total of $1.13 billion has been invested in this initiative South Monroe “SoMo” Walls and the conversion of septic systems to sewer systems Commissioners discussed wanting to improve the South Side without causing property values to rise so much that people who once lived in the area could no longer afford to “We don’t want to not invest in the South Side,” Commissioner Rick Minor said we don’t want to displace those very people that we’re meant to help.” A workshop on the Southside Action Plan will be held Tuesday To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook and X (Twitter) Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Write us here Please include the article's headline in your message Keep up with all the biggest headlines on the WCTV News app. Click here to download it now 2019 at 5:39 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Tulip's Gift Shop is now open in the Raffia Plaza at 93-B Raffia Road in Enfield CT — Growing up on Clear Street off Raffia Road in the Southwood Acres section of Enfield lifelong friends Michele Latulippe and Lori Davis used to ride their bicycles to the nearby Raffia Plaza which has contained a variety of small businesses since its construction in 1958 albeit in the center of town on Misty Meadow Road the two ladies are now collaborating on a shared interest in crafts with the opening of Tulip's Gift Shop in that very plaza "Michele and I did craft shows last year; in fact we've each been crafters our whole lives," Davis said in an interview at the shop Tuesday a longtime friend whose family has owned the plaza for decades features a wide variety of unique gift items Nearly every item in the store is handcrafted with about 20 area artisans contributing a variety of goods Davis said the initial reception to the shop has been "better than we thought and everybody in this plaza has been so nice." Wreaths and holiday arrangements are very popular A new artisan specializing in embroidery began contributing to the inventory this week Among the unusual handiwork found at Tulip's are old albums (remember those?) which have been transformed into decorative wall art movies - all are currently for sale in the shop with a variety of selections including The Wizard of Oz Tulip's is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays from noon to 7 p.m.; and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Davis said extended holiday shopping hours are being planned. More information about specials and shop events is available on its Facebook page and Instagram Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. With its own elected board authorized to borrow millions of dollars and raise taxes on its 1,650 homeowners the SouthWood community development district is like a city within a city carved out of the old St Joe Paper Company timber territory on the eastern edge of Tallahassee But when the CDD flexed its fiduciary muscle Chaired by powerful state lobbyist David Ramba the board has spent the last year negotiating with city officials to take over 20 acres of public land to build a new pool and athletic fields That plan has evolved from leasing the property to buying it outright While residents have said in surveys that they want more amenities a very vocal group of homeowners has risen up in protest making for some confrontational public meetings They’ve already seen their taxes go up to cover the cost for preliminary park designs They don’t want to pay for the estimated $2.6 million the original consultant estimates said the pool and park would cost to build They’ve also collected 500 signatures on a petition to not go forward but the majority of supervisors are continuing to go forward with the plan “They should be in the business of paying off the bonds and maintaining the property,” said Luis Rojas a former state representative from Miami who lives in SouthWood “But you’re up there and realize you can spend money When it’s not your money and you get to spend it Some residents feel that this board has gotten power hungry “The CDD can do what it wants,” said Susan Burns a neighborhood representative on the homeowners association “We have got to hold this group accountable.” SouthWood is one of 600 community development districts created in Florida since the Legislature passed a law in 1980 creating these special purpose taxing districts They’re popular with developers because they can borrow tax-free bonds to build roads put in sewer and water and build other community amenities and pass the cost of paying off the bonds to the home buyers Their main job is to collect revenues and pay off the bond debt SouthWood has a $31 million debt that will cost $62 million by the time it is paid off Joe promised were not built after the 2008 recession when the company stopped actively developing the remaining vacant lands “The CDD took it into our own hands to look into the need but also the capacity to do so,” said John Ray a lobbyist and consultant who was chairman of the board when talks with the city began They took some surveys and did an analysis “which suggested that for a community of our size we had very few active recreational amenities,” Ray said Only 257 responded and most said they couldn’t afford it Some residents have criticized Ray for wanting the community to build playing fields for his own convenience after he said that didn’t want to drive his children 45 minutes across town to the Meadows for soccer I wouldn’t specifically and generally benefit from this park,” Ray said I want it to benefit me specifically and the broader community.” Supervisors decided to approach the city about taking a portion of a 62-acre parcel St Joe gave the city as part of its development agreement The development order said the land is to be used for “active recreational uses upon request of the city.” The City Commission approved a development concept last February to consider leasing the property to SouthWood for $1 a year for 50 years The Commission was scheduled to vote on it Dec but City Manager Rick Fernandez requested that it be pulled to give the city time to work with the CDD to address concerns raised by residents “I heard through the grapevine some commissioner had discomfort about the inability of some people to use the pool without having an annual pass and that needed to be resolved,” Commissioner Gil Ziffer said SouthWood and city officials were working on a sales proposal Consultants for the CDD met with city officials about wanting five acres for a pool and additional land for playing fields “The CDD approached us about buying a portion of the land,” Tedder said But Ramba told residents at a recent CDD meeting that a city commissioner proposed the idea “I don’t have to tell you that… so you can call and harass them,” Ramba snapped at Rojas during a recent CDD meeting A sale agreement was scheduled for Wednesday but Ziffer asked that it be pulled from the agenda after he spoke to a reporter about it Ziffer initially supported what the CDD wanted to do but needed clarification on what the homeowners association and St Joe were doing “before I feel comfortable voting.” The city has identified several projects over the next 20 years as part of the Blueprint sales tax extension Those projects include a new senior center and a new East/Northeast recreation center and gymnasium They don’t include a new park at SouthWood “We have been providing programs in the area utilizing school facilities and nearby parks like Jack McLean,” Edwards said there are park amenities provided by the SouthWood homeowners association.” If the city does decide to sell the land to the CDD “the land has to be publicly accessible and can’t be developed as other than active recreation,” Tedder said If SouthWood doesn’t keep the land open to the public so anything it develops must remain public Any public amenities the city doesn’t have to construct that is fully accessible is a plus for residents And therein lies the rub for the rest of Tallahassee’s 180,000 residents Some commissioners worried that the $450 annual fee proposed for using the pool would keep poorer city residents from using it But SouthWood has the authority to manage a park it builds with its own revenue without strings attached we will have operational control of these facilities,” he said “We have the right and the authority for non-SouthWood residents to use it to charge an annual fee for access And then there is the issue of raising taxes to build a park everyone can use Rojas said nobody really paid attention to the CDD until their assessments went up in September whose assessment went up $170 last year for the park planning costs said hundreds of residents filled FSU High cafeteria in September to protest the fee increase “The majority said we don’t want this park built at our costs,” Haldiya said Residents also worry they will be paying off the park for the rest of their lives not looking to add something that would go up and never go away,” Shirley said Contact Schweers at jschweers@tallahassee.com LAKE CITY - It had to be the shrine of shrines it had to be colossal - a house of worship befitting a prophet who had walked with God along the Milky Way would be too great for this monument to the preacher who had proclaimed Lake City the Promised Land in a field where cows once grazed off County Road 240 the spiritual headquarters for End Time Ministry began to rise Charles Meade had preached in garages and at campgrounds his followers had been scattered from Illinois to Texas a penniless bunch of disillusioned college students roughly 2,000 of them resided in Lake City Meade's favorites clustered about him in the Southwood Acres subdivision like drones to a queen bee they had established more than 75 new businesses Southwood Meadows and Rose Creek Plantation The most prosperous among them strode about town in designer shoes The architectural plans were filed at the courthouse the site was enclosed by a wire-mesh barrier set in the ground with reinforced concrete posts each and every link an olive green.) At the entrance along with surveillance cameras and a steel a motorist might have thought that Noah's Ark had been airlifted to Columbia County flipped upside-down and set atop a foundation of concrete block a white so dazzling that the glare it threw stung the eye on a sunny day above which ran two rows of enormous transom windows with ceilings that soared to the height of a five-story building and seating for 2,400 people mounted high on the wall behind the pulpit The ribcage of arches that supported the roof was of California cedar; the chandeliers were of European crystal; the pews and doors were of Honduran mahogany; the bathroom fixtures were plated in gold and much was needed for this splendid edifice One source was Church Loans and Investment Trust company that loaned money for church construction The Meades borrowed $3.75 million at 8 percent annual interest over 15 years - meaning the ministry had the burden of $29,000 in monthly payments Another $8 million came from the "Counting Room," a den inside the Meades' residence where stacks of notes covered a long table according to a former senior member of the sect who was close to the project And so the faithful were asked to cover the shortfall End Timers had always been expected to pony up a fifth of their after-tax earnings to help Meade spread The Word (The more fortunate were expected to give about a third according to former members.) Contributions - cash only - were collected in a tote bag left open on a table at services members also were expected to offer cash presents to Meade as much as $5,000 per family - what was called quarterly "givings," say former members As an 18-year-old working part time at a Wal-Mart for $3.50 an hour "I sold my $60 jeans for five bucks a pair just to make them happy." says the congregation gave $300,000 during one drive only to be berated during a Sunday service because it had fallen short of the half-million-dollar goal Marlene and Charles Meade "went and bought a red Cadillac convertible with some of the money we raised in that drive," he says "And she stood up during that service and said 'It's OUR money and we can do what we want with it Others fell in arrears on their property taxes and with the Internal Revenue Service and Florida's department of taxation a senior member who joined the ministry in 1975 said he knew of 10 families who lost their houses through foreclosures in the '90s Johnson and his wife and four children quit "were pushing some families over the edge." The AP examined the public financial records of 175 families who were in the sect at one time or another during the past 15 years (The names were provided by former sect members and End Time relatives.) Since 2000 foreclosure proceedings were brought against at least 26 of them although whether it would hold for the End Time community as a whole cannot be known for sure A few families were bailed out by relatives but most lost their homes at auction or had them confiscated by creditors Fallucco and his wife finally left the group most End Timers - even those in financial trouble - chose to stay in the church who operated a laundry equipment supply store but the Bulocks appeared to be in reasonably sound financial shape until 1995 the year the Meades began to raise money for the Worship Center Bulock failed to pay $13,191.60 in income tax in 1995 Nancy Bulock went for a walk with a friend after lunch When she returned an hour and a half later she "observed the wood floor to be soaked in blood," according to the sheriff's report filed by the investigating officer Her husband lay in a heap on the bathroom floor The sheriff's report makes no mention of whether a weapon was found (At least three other End Timer deaths have been ruled suicides; one victim was a woman who had been planning to leave the sect.) burgundy sedan with gold trim eased past the front gates of the residential compound in Southwood Acres and rolled to a halt dozens of clean-cut couples and their children stood waiting Two former End Timers recall the scene vividly They remember how everyone held hands and beamed bright smiles The preacher swiveled his head and seemed to ponder the preacher owns 146.62 acres in Columbia County a 3,000-square-foot climatized barn and a stable for his horses He possesses a fleet of Cadillacs and pickup trucks who frequently volunteered to polish the marble floors of Meade's house (Florida motor vehicle records show the Meades own 11 vehicles registered in this state.) County records show that the total assessed value of Meade's real estate holdings stands at $1.759 million (Real estate here tends to sell for two to three times the assessment.) Why would a man who had dedicated his life to teaching that the end of the world was imminent invest so much money in real estate Ridgefield, CT The website areavibes rated the Top 25 Places to Live in Connecticut by creating a Livability Score. According to areavibes the Livability Score is created from a unique algorithm that evaluates multiple different data points for each location the better the area (in areavibes opinion) Ridgefield made the Top 25 list coming in at #21 with a Livability Score of 78/100 Ridgefield crime rates are 77% lower than the Connecticut average Cost of living in Ridgefield is 41% higher than the Connecticut average Ridgefield real estate prices are 144% higher than the Connecticut average Rental prices in Ridgefield are 47% higher than the Connecticut average Areavibe's Top 25 Places to Live in Connecticut 1: Old Greenwich, Greenwich 2: Cos Cob 3: Cheshire Village 4: Simsbury Center 5: Middletown 6: Newington 7: West Hartford 8: Riverside 9: Greenwich 10: Kensington 11: Glastonbury Center 12: Westport 13: Southwood Acres, Enfield 14: Portland 15: Windsor Locks 16: Branford Center, Branford 17: North Haven 18: Sherwood Manor, Enfield 19: Milford 20: Wallingford Center, Wallingford 21: Ridgefield 22: Naugatuck 23: Torrington 24: Wethersfield 25: Orange View the complete list and learn more about areavibes here. 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Copyright ©2025 HamletHub™ Click here to see Canada's most comprehensive listing of projects in conceptual and planning stages The first phase of a $6 billion mixed-use development in Winnipeg will commence next year on 113 acres of land next to the University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry campus roughly seven kilometres south of downtown the 12-million-square-foot project will be home to about 20,000 people in 11,000 residences accented by 300,000 square feet of retail space It will be constructed in four phases over 20 years on a former golf course “It is probably the largest development in terms of overall units likely in the history of Winnipeg,” says Greg Rogers an arms-length company of the University of Manitoba the development known as Southwood Circle will not be like any other residential development in Winnipeg “We’re trying to develop a community that is building wellness “It’s a collection of buildings with developers working together with the university and ourselves as developers to create something truly unique as a community.” Site servicing is slated to start late this year and will include utilities and 600 metres of internal roads connecting Southwood Circle to its surroundings A 2.5-acre stormwater pond will also be constructed Late next year construction will commence on the first phase containing 3,100 multi-family rental and condominium units plus 150,000 square feet of retail A call for development proposals was advertised earlier this year locally UM plans to select a number of developers by year’s end for the first phase They will be required to conform to stringent architectural and sustainability guidelines Southwood Circle’s design team is led by Anishinaabe architect Ryan Gorrie of design firm Brook MciLroy in partnership Scatliff + Miller + Murray Architects DIALOG was the lead design on the university’s Visionary Regeneration Masterplan which emphasizes Indigenous design principles The development’s largest buildings will be likely be mid-sized towers set back on top of four to six-storey podiums The site’s “park network” will consist of “a collection of forest areas and open spaces that create wildlife corridors with bicycle and walking trails,” says Rogers adding 5,000 trees on the former golf course “We’re going to a build a connection between the residences and nature that is better than what is normally done in an urban environment,” he says diversity and community are key elements to the theme Rogers says sustainability consultant Footprint has been retained to help UM Properties meet energy and environmental targets including LEED Platinum certification The developer holds the lease on the lands and will sublet it to developers on a long-term basis Revenues from leasing the first phase will fully repay UM’s financing “I have financing in place to run the business and service the first phase,” Rogers says UM Properties’ approach to the development defies conventional development wisdom in which a project’s scale is maximized to its revenue potential while conforming to municipal urban design guidelines land is cleared and buildings are constructed before landscaping commences “Here we’re putting in the landscape first We’re building this development in reverse,” he says While the development may be unique to Winnipeg Southwood Circle is modelled along the lines of a mixed-use development on the grounds of the University of Calgary Rogers says other universities are following suit with excess lands in an effort to capitalize on those properties but also to “transform the campus life experience” by integrating new development into the fabric of surrounding neighbourhoods The University of Manitoba formed UM Properties 15 years ago to purchase the site which at the time was the Southwood Golf and Country Club VANCOUVER – Vancouver-based Renewal Development VANCOUVER — Sapphire Balconies has announced it will be providing its prefabrica.. — Woodfibre LNG says it is hoping to add a second "floatel" at it.. — B.C.’s recently tabled Infrastructure Projects Act is getting som.. A contractor will be selected by the end of this year for major rehabilitation a.. OHIO — The chief executive of Capital Power Corp engineering and consulting firm Arup celebrat.. OTTAWA — Federal leaders are making campaign stops across the country today as e.. health centres and even pickleball courts may be coming to.. The first new tower to be built in many years in Winnipeg’s historic Exchange Di.. — Facing projections of spiking energy demand 2020 at 4:39 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Tim Jensen/Patch Media Corp.)ENFIELD CT — Today's installment of this weekly Enfield history series brings back memories of one of the longest-tenured stores ever in town: Southwood Pharmacy After receiving his bachelor degree from Hampden College of Pharmacy Enfield native Edward Szewczyk opened the pharmacy and operated it for 54 years before retiring It was located in the Raffia Shopping Plaza alongside other longtime tenants like Southwood Barber Shop Southwood Acres Package Store and Portrait Beauty Salon In addition to providing customers with everything they needed to maintain their health Szewczyk was also very involved in the community Southwood Pharmacy sponsored youth teams in the Enfield Hockey Association The store closed in the early part of this decade and Szewczyk passed away in 2018 at age 89 The store location is now home to Southwood Antiques Last week's trivia answer:Last week's trivia question related to a main story involving a 1955 photo of several downtown Thompsonville businesses "Of the four businesses mentioned in the main story of this article and also its current location." The answer: Marek Jewelers which has moved a number of times since its establishment downtown more than 80 years ago The store is currently located at 284 North Maple St. This week's trivia question:Which was the first Enfield-based ice hockey team to win a state championship? Post the answer in the comments section below, or on the Enfield Patch Facebook page 2018 at 8:31 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}ENFIELD CT — Fire officials are investigating the cause of a blaze which consumed the garage of a house in the Southwood Acres section of town late Tuesday night The fire at 9 Cloud Street was reported by the homeowner at 10:22 p.m public information officer for the fire departments of Enfield Firefighters had the blaze under control at 11:08 p.m The cause of the fire is under investigation To sign up for free Enfield news alerts and more, click here. 2020 at 11:43 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A garage fire Wednesday morning on Farmstead Circle in Enfield (Mark Zarcaro/Fire Departments of Enfield)ENFIELD CT — Firefighters quickly knocked down a garage fire at a home in the Southwood Acres section of Enfield Wednesday morning The blaze at 9 Farmstead Circle was reported at 6:24 a.m. and drew mutual aid response from all five town fire departments and declared under control within 15 minutes public information officer for the fire departments There was some smoke extension into the house The family living in the house escaped unharmed 2018 at 9:58 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}ENFIELD one of the greatest candlepin bowlers in history who resided in the Southwood Acres section of Enfield for more than 30 years then lived just over the Connecticut border in Feeding Hills for many years winning numerous Western Massachusetts championships He was a regular fixture on the Candlepin Bowling television show broadcast Saturday mornings on WCVB-TV out of Boston making 57 appearances during the show's 38-season run he had numerous televised battles with other stars of the New England candlepin bowling scene bought a house in Enfield in the early 1980s during which time he continued his competitive bowling career he had a bird's eye view of sports history during a Western New England Pro Tour event setting the single-game world record at Community Lanes in Westfield Jutras reached the pinnacle of his sport upon his election to the International Candlepin Bowling Association Hall of Fame in Boston Tributes to Jutras were being posted on the Candlepin Chat Facebook page: A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Thursday, July 26 at 11:30 a.m. at Holy Family Church, 23 Simon Rd., Enfield. Calling hours are immediately prior to the service, from 9-11 a.m., at Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels July 30 at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery Photo and video credit: Alley Cat Classics via YouTube it wasn't hard to identify an End Time family in the checkout line of the local Publix or in the aisles of the Wal-Mart on Route 90 The men invariably wore suits and ties; the women appeared in drab followed their parents about in single file like a troupe of ducks townies began to notice changes in the End Timers' appearance End Time women started to appear in public with glossed bubble gum began finding its way into their little boys' mouths and nail polish began to sparkle on the fingertips of their teenage girls Nike sneakers - for years branded as sinful by the End Timers' spiritual leader theretofore considered instruments of Satan Perhaps Meade's devotees had decided to open up to the world around them to "stop acting like ETs," as one local put it many in the community longed for normalcy; folks wanted to stop looking at their neighbors and wondering So when Meade invited the public to a 10-night revival to mark the 1998 opening of the worship center county officials and business leaders sensed an opportunity "Everyone Welcome," read the full-page ads published in the Lake City Reporter it became apparent that a thaw in relations was not to be The End Timers sent no one to the National Day of Prayer an annual event in Lake City to which faithful from various Christian denominations come together to mingle and pray They continued to shun the public schools and forbid their children to play with non-End Timers the citizenry of Lake City was stung by a headline on the front page of the local newspaper: "LOCAL WOMAN DIES AFTER GIVING BIRTH AT HOME" According to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office she apparently had difficulty releasing the placenta Another three hours passed before family members summoned help they found Kathryn Kennedy in the master bedroom In adhering to their belief in faith healing the End Timers had made just one brief exception to their studied avoidance of Lake City civic life he had whipped his opponent soundly the last time out and was the hands-down favorite again Little chastised the End Timers for isolating themselves from the community The End Timers have not exercised their bloc power in local politics since as far as the gentlemen at the local Chamber of Commerce can recollect has Lake City been the hive of business activity that it is today the chamber's executive director and a local resident since 1980 remembers when the town didn't have a Cracker Barrel (It now has a Curves.) He remembers when the population of the whole county was just 36,000; it's 60,000 today He ticks off the strip malls built or rehabbed by End Timers: Westfield Square recently under construction along Route 90 Little of the new money has touched the Historic Town Center where shops with striped awnings and 1950s-era Coke machines have become boarded-up relics Some in the local citizenry view this as evidence that Meade's flock isn't much concerned with the community as a whole however: Homeowners say they fear retribution by Meade's devotees; small-business owners say they could lose their End Time customers speaks volumes about the mood in Lake City today or they're just plain afraid to open their mouths." Twenty years after first arriving in Lake City the End Timers "still haven't blended shoulder-to-shoulder with other faiths," Poole concedes The retired schoolteacher still lives in Southwood Acres one of the few natives remaining in a subdivision now populated almost entirely by End Timers it is not unusual for the stillness to be punctuated by loud cracks and then the guns start going off in their yards," she says "You can't pull a trigger as fast as they do unless you're using an automatic," he says what the heck do they need weapons like that for?" (According to Lorraine Heser End Time women train with guns to protect their homes.) when all of a sudden this noise - a gunshot - comes close to me." She grimaces "My son was in the trailer home out back at the time," she says she and Carl keep to themselves - just like their neighbors behind a red-brick wall and iron gates marked "MM," is the Meade compound nothing stirs in the self-imposed isolation except at those times when a Cadillac glides through the gates or a glow appears in one of the upstairs windows "Those End Timers are the most anti-friendly people you want to meet," Evelyn Little says "You put one foot on their property and they come flying out of their houses and run you off." are not the only ones who have been run off dozens of parents had made the trip to Lake City hoping to re-establish contact with sons and daughters who whose son had joined the End Timers in the mid-1990s He hoped to patch up the relationship with their son things were good: The Hesers had their son and his family over for Saturday dinners always careful to avoid the topic of religion very tough on my husband," says Lorraine Heser but the Hesers became the talk of Lake City after Milton Heser shared his experience in a letter published by the Lake City Reporter in part: "Meade Ministries talked to our daughter-in-law and asked why we did not join their group Then our son came over on a Sunday morning and said if we didn't join their organization we could no longer see them or the grandchildren "This is supposed to be a religious group," he added "I wonder whatever happened to honor thy father and mother?" If anyone doubts that the End Timers are here to stay in their Promised Land the new brick entrance to the Southwood subdivision ought to dispel any uncertainties A bronze plaque on its face announces that the visitor no longer is entering Southwood Acres the dusty roads of the neighborhood had girls on bicycles boys followed by their hounds on their way to a fishing hole Mothers set extra places at the supper table for a neighbor who might except for the occasional hiss of tires on asphalt Properties are fenced off or surrounded by brick walls and the custom of neighbors gathering on porches to swap scuttlebutt and share a pipe or iced tea is a memory Many of these changes are not unlike what has transpired in hundreds of other small towns in the past two decades Time passes; communities grow; small-town neighborliness is lost where neighbor shuns neighbor and suspicion reigns there was an elderly widow who owned a modest brick house in the most heavenly part of town One year she decided to put her ''home place'' on the market and along came a dapper gentleman and his adoring wife for he often could be seen strolling about his new yard in a funereal suit and necktie with a countenance of serenity and beneficence that could belong only to a servant of the Lord But there was something disquieting about this man something inexplicable that made his neighbors uneasy whenever he greeted them by politely touching the brim of his fedora the old man and his wife were model citizens burgundy Cadillac (with gilded trim and hubcaps) dismissed as a small town's old-fashioned discomfort with outsiders so cutely awkward in their Sunday clothes and shoes they set about remodeling the dwelling of the preacher To the roof were affixed cedar shingles in red until the crown of Meade's home looked like a gingerbread house At the head of the driveway rose two great stone columns and an iron gate a triple-layered privacy fence went up around the 2.44-acre lot It was topped off with three strands of razor wire the subdivision where Meade's house was located were willing to pay almost anything for a house in the subdivision The closer the lot to the old man's residence one of the first of Meade's followers to move to Lake City knocking on people's doors and offering to sell their homes for them - regardless of whether they had any intention of moving a few longtime residents approached these newcomers was so special about their little corner of the universe to merit such offers It was holy ground for the world's true Christians - meaning the lucky few whom Meade had chosen to follow the teachings of his End Time Ministry They had come to establish God's perfect community on Earth Unbelievers would be banished to eternal damnation Meade had told them he had walked with God along the Milky Way and heard the Lord's very word Lake City stands on the hill country of northern Florida where the surrounding Columbia County countryside with its drooping live oaks and meadows ablaze in redbud and phlox it seemed an unlikely location for the Promised Land was killed by his mistress (who was also the wife of his rival); college football coaches had been known to treat their players to the ''Big House,'' a parlor of sporting ladies; Ted Bundy picked up a sixth-grader near her school and never took her home wraparound porches festooned with gingerbread The little money that was made came from the exploitation of quick-growing pine and by serving drive-through visitors and truckers whose gas tanks and stomachs needed filling seemed content with the lives they'd built: to work and spend hours waiting for a twitch at the end of a fishline But since the summer of that year of Orwell little has been the same for the people of Lake City their economy - their community - would be transformed by Charles Meade's brand of Christianity and the End Time empire he willed into being neighbors would come to demonize one another Townies would characterize the newcomers as weird even dangerous; End Timers would dismiss the locals as sinful and intolerant Lake City would find itself more prosperous but badly divided - a place awash in mistrust and suspicion In the months after the Meades settled in Lake City about 50 End Timers from the Midwest joined them which had begun publishing articles on the newcomers - ''ETs,'' as the locals now called them the End Timers owned no fewer than 39 businesses in town and had a substantial chunk of the market in roofing cornered the real estate market in Southwood Though some ''ETs'' rented apartments in town half of the 60-odd homes in Southwood Acres were occupied by sect members by 1990 only End Timers wanted into the neighborhood but they wouldn't buy unless Sparks brokered the sale He was the End Time version of Donald Trump - sharp he would become one of the most powerful men in the county investor and lender whose face would stare down from billboards all over town Although the people of Lake City didn't realize it what was happening to their town had happened before and would again: a religious sect migrating to a small community and reshaping its economy and its way of life with the Word of Faith Fellowship; in Hildale with the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; in Abilene with the Life Tabernacle Church; in Grants Pass with the Foundation of Human Understanding; in Attleboro the outsiders were able to exert influence through hard work the author of two books on controversial sects - what he calls ''destructive cults.'' ''The pattern is for the leaders of these sects to move their followers all at once into areas that are sparsely populated ''Then they buy up real estate or cottage industries on the cheap making them power players in that county overnight.'' Since the Internal Revenue Service classifies them as non-profits So it doesn't take them long to accumulate millions and the leader can use his followers' money as he or she wishes End Time women wore ankle-length dresses and never used makeup (Meade cautioned them to beware of the ''lipstick spirit.'') The men didn't grow facial hair or wear digital wristwatches were of the ''homosexual spirit,'' and anything containing a digital chip was evil.) And nobody ever saw an End Timer with a pet there were quite a few objects of evil in the world of Meade: newspapers Often their movements around town could be timed to the minute State Exchange and First Federal Savings could expect to see Meade in one of his Armani suits and when his turn came he would stride to the counter with multiple bank bags each stuffed with $3,000 to $11,000 in cash according to eyewitnesses and bank employees he switched to briefcases and went straight into the vault.) Meade was the mysterious stranger; they knew little of his past Public records show that he was born in Kentucky in 1916 quit school in the seventh grade and served with honor in World War II he stabbed a man in Indiana and was given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to assault with intent to commit murder He worked for years as a shipping clerk in an Indiana glass factory but he'd been unemployed for some time when he joined a Pentecostal group in the late 1960s Meade's teachings weren't that different from other Pentecostal preachers' until he began making some unusual claims ''I've soared into the heavens in the supernatural,'' he declared during one taped sermon Meade did not respond to two requests for an interview sent by registered mail whom former members speculate is next in line to lead the ministry said no End Timer would agree to be interviewed; turns out As Meade's dwelling continued to mushroom in size and his drapes and blinds were usually drawn According to residents and former End Timers sentinels appeared behind Meade's triple fence men in khakis stood posts around the neighborhood Cars that slowed near Meade's driveway were tailed; roadblocks went up at Southwood's two entrances Men with flashlights would wave cars to a stop The sheriff ordered a halt to the roadblocks didn't share other residents' growing unease ''I don't see much difference between them and Christian Scientists.'' Some reported seeing 200 End Timers lining the roadside in front of Meade's house holding hands and waiting for their leader to return from a journey several other canines turned up in people's yards who had spoken out in the local media against the End Timers said she walked out her front door one morning to see her five kittens beheaded on the walkway Complaints were filed at the sheriff's office (Records of complaints are routinely destroyed after five years who lived a stone's throw from the Meade residence recalls how End Timers would renovate their homes through the wee hours ''We'd wake up to this loud pounding,'' she says It went on for months and months and months.'' .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Buffy Spencer | bspencer@repub.comSPRINGFIELD -- Adrian Hinds took the witness stand in his own defense Friday Hinds said he only picked up a hammer from his apartment to use in self-defense and only used it repeatedly on the heads of two neighbors -- Nathan Cherniak and Miranda Arthur-Smith -- because they were attacking him The two victims have testified Hinds carried out an unprovoked attack on them and their dog Hinds testified all his actions were in self-defense saying Cherniak was armed with a knife and Arthur-Smith was spraying him with pepper spray Hinds is accused in Hampden Superior Court of six crimes including two counts of armed assault with intent to murder at the Southwood Acres apartments in Westfield Arthur-Smith and Cherniak were roommates in one apartment there and Hinds and his mother lived in another Hinds testified he didn't call police at any point because he didn't think police would help him He said he repeatedly reported instances of his tires being slashed to Westfield police and they would not do anything Judge David Ricciardone rejected defense lawyer Dana Goldblatt's motion to dismiss all charges against Hinds Goldblatt said the prosecution presented no evidence to warrant even sending the case to the jury Goldblatt said the prosecution didn't present evidence of an intent to murder on the part of Hinds Ricciardone said the hammer being used specifically "in the area of the head repeatedly" supports sending the armed assault with intent to murder to the jury along with the other charges Hinds was partway through his direct testimony when the trial ended for the day Friday On Monday he will continue his direct testimony and then be cross-examined by Assistant District Attorney Janine Simonian Hinds testified that he sometimes heard people at the apartment complex yell out to him Ricciardone instructed jurors that there was no allegation Cherniak and Arthur-Smith yelled that out Hinds said when he first met Cherniak at the complex I'd say." He said he cut off contact when Cherniak asked him to sell drugs and said he cut off contact with Hinds when his behavior became increasingly strange Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices 2015 at 1:47 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}There are seemingly more rankings about Connecticut than there are people who actually live here which is a small career building company that recently came online to cover local job markets and possible career paths for young professionals They’ve compiled the “10 Most Expensive Places in Connecticut to Raise a Family.” like most of the list compilers they say their numbers are based on data from analyzing the price of basic living necessities like housing and insurance along with the ‘Cost of Living Index’ in order to rank the towns and cities of Connecticut in order of expense for young working professionals They ranked 70 places in Connecticut that have more than 5,000 people North Haven’s score was 46.83 and towns near the bottom had an index of 60 they were left with this set of the most expensive places to raise a family in the Nutmeg State: Other related stories: Do You Live in the Most Boring Town in Connecticut? The 10 Most ‘Redneck’ Cities In Connecticut: Report Report: Top 10 Drunkest Places to Live in Connecticut Read the full Zappia report here. Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Foley, Ala. – (OBA) – The Foley Planning Commission will meet twice in February with a work session on Feb Both meetings will be in council chambers at city hall at 4 p.m Perhaps it was simply staking out new territory or checking in on the new home construction but the presence of a coyote in Mayda Williams’ in-town Tallahassee neighborhood certainly caught her attention who lives in the Pilckem Ridge neighborhood was leaving her house with her Cairn terrier “Little Bit was barking and I saw other dogs barking,” said Williams who has lived in the neighborhood for six years but it was gray and tan and the markings of a coyote Williams said a neighbor called out to her this is a coyote or half-wolf,” she said of the animal standing near a home construction site near her home The upscale Pilckem Ridge community backs up to Randolph Circle Williams shared a photo that she took from a distance with her smartphone which her friend Melissa Jacoby posted on the Betton Hills neighborhood Facebook page This sparked a conversation among other page members who were either surprised or shared their own stories of wildlife sightings in Tallahassee’s residential neighborhoods According to the Florida Wildlife and Fish Commission They resemble a German shepherd and usually weigh 15 to 30 pounds The FWC says the animals are usually shy and afraid of humans but they can be threats to urban neighborhoods and unsuspecting residents because they like to target domestic cats and small dogs These attacks occur primarily at night or near sunset or sunrise Indian Head Acres and in rural locations throughout the county “They may be more readily seen in areas where they have potential food sources available,” said Lisa Thompson a spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.” Encountering wildlife in Tallahassee’s mid-town neighborhoods such as this week’s coyote sighting is not usual but it can be startling especially in a city where so many people claim ownership to indoor and outdoor pets a woman and her one of her two dogs were attacked by a bobcat in Betton Hills was euthanized after testing positive for rabies The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission asks that anyone coming in contact with coyotes should call the agency’s alert line at 888-404-3922 here are some tips on lessening your chances of attracting unwanted animal attacks: Most coyote attacks on pets occur either at night or at dusk or dawn be careful if you’re walking your pet in wooded areas or in heavily foliaged areas where coyotes could hide there’s an increased risk of them being attacked by coyotes Problems can be significantly reduced if residents remove attractants and secure trash •Don’t place food outdoors that will attract wild animals Secure garbage cans and compost in animal-proof containers Don’t try to pet a coyote and teach children not to approach any unfamiliar animal Frighten away coyotes by making loud noises and acting aggressively throwing sticks at it or spraying it with a hose Don’t attempt to hurt it because injured animals are more likely to attack Examples of unusual coyote behavior include coyotes approaching people chasing joggers or bikers or attacking leashed pets •Teach children to recognize and not to run from coyotes have them move slowly into a house or climb up on a swing Coyotes can be curious but are also timid and generally run away if challenged But any wild animal will protect itself or its young Never initiate a close encounter with a coyote walk pets at other times besides nighttime hours Carry something that will make noise or scare the animal These things may deter the coyote at close range Make a “coyote shaker” by putting a few washers pebbles or pennies into an empty soft drink can Continue “hazing” the coyote until the animal leaves; otherwise the coyote will learn to wait to leave until the activity stops There have been very few reported cases of Eastern coyotes biting people Williams said although the coyote kept staring in her direction “I looked disinterested and the coyote looked disinterested she says she’ll keep Little Bit on a leash while walking “I had no idea there were coyotes in Tallahassee; in the middle of town,” she said There are seemingly more rankings about Connecticut than there are people who actually live here a small career building company that covers local job markets and possible career paths for young professionals they say their numbers are based on data from analyzing the price of basic living necessities like housing The 10 Most Expensive Places to Raise a Family in Connecticut The Remaining List of Most Expensive Places to Raise a Family in Connecticut Read the full report on the most expensive places to raise a family in CT here Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2016 at 1:30 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}ENFIELD CT - A local man is facing a slew of charges related to his arrest Monday night on kidnapping second-degree threatening and interfering with an offidcer He was held overnight in lieu of $175,000 bond and was scheduled to be arragined Tuesday in Enfield Superior court Police Chief Carl Sferrazza said officers received a report around 9:45 p.m that Moran had broken into his ex-girlfriend's home on Thompson Court When she tried to get the phone to call police he grabbed her by the neck and threw her to the floor When the woman got up and tried to take hold of the 2-year-old child she has with Moran he again threw her to the floor and took the child to his vehicle he drove to his home in the Southwood Acres section of town but Moran "slammed the door in an officer's face," Sferrazza said and out of concern for the child's welfare Photo courtesy of Enfield Police Department By on February 29, 20247 Comments the Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Commission will consider a request to conduct the first and only public hearing related to an an ordinance to change the zoning classification from Single-Family Detached Residential (R-1) to the Citrus Grove Planned Unit Development (PUD) for 149.35 acres located between Apalachee Parkway and Old Saint Augustine Road at their intersections with April Road the Leon County Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed Ordinance The project proposes a PUD Concept Plan for a residential development that allows a maximum of 542 dwelling units at a density of 3.63 units per acre The PUD Concept Plan identifies general areas for development (single-family detached and community facilities) as well as conservation and open space areas which is represented by Robert Volpe & Darrin Taylor with Jorge Gonzalez listed as the company president.  Provided below are applicant and staff responses to several issues related to Planned Unit Developments Consistency with Purpose and Intent of the Planned Unit Development (PUD) district Applicant response:  “This PUD provides a wider range of housing types and development standards than currently allowed under R-1 zoning This flexibility allows the developer to provide more than single family detached housing and townhomes This better reflects the varied needs of consumers who are demanding more than single family detached housing.” The proposed PUD provides greater flexibility in its varied housing types and development standards than what is currently permitted under the R-1 zoning district The proposed standards also provide for the ability to allow more compact development that clusters the developed area away from environmentally sensitive features The proposed PUD also requires additional trail amenities and enhanced buffer standards that would not be required under the existing zoning district Encourage uses of land which reduce transportation needs and which conserve energy and natural resources to the maximum extent possible Applicant response: “The PUD is located within the urban service area and is already designated for urban development on the County’s future land use map The property is approximately 0.3 miles from the closest retail (Dollar General) with multiple properties zoned OR-2 or Commercial Parkway within that distance The general area does not yet reflect a mixed use pattern but this PUD furthers the purpose and intent of the PUD district and the adopted Future Land Use Map The PUD conserves the natural resources within the property by clustering the development to the eastern portion of the property and incorporates trails in the open space portion of the development to encourage walking and biking.” The PUD allows for clustering of development areas to better preserve the natural and cultural resources that are on (and adjacent to) the site The proposed trails will also encourage walking and biking Applicant response: “This PUD clusters the development on the eastern portion of the property and preserves over half of the property as conservation and open space Trails will be constructed in the open space areas as a public amenity.” Staff response: Staff concurs that the project meets this criterion Provide for more usable and suitably located recreational facilities than would otherwise be provided under a conventional zoning district.  Applicant response: “This PUD gives design flexibility to the developer which allows for the clustering of more trees and natural areas to be preserved in exchange for flexibility in lot sizes This could not be achieved under the standard R-1 zoning The open space areas will also serve as a passive recreational amenity.” The proposed PUD provides for recreational facilities and development standards that would not be achieved via a conventional zoning district Lower development and building costs by permitting smaller networks of utilities and streets and the use of more economical building types and shared facilities.  Applicant response: “This PUD will allow for flexibility in site design which allows for more efficient use of the property The variety in housing types will also allow for a wider range in housing costs The development is also connecting to public facilities (potable water and sanitary sewer) which are already in place along US 27.” Permit the combining and coordinating of land uses and building relationships within a planned development which otherwise would not be provided under a conventional zoning district.  this PUD gives the developer more flexibility in the design and how the various housing types and the amenities are coordinated than what is allowed under standard R-1 zoning.” Planning Commission to Consider 150 Acre Residential Development added by on February 29, 2024View all posts by Staff → Augustine road access from the Mariana Oaks subdivision at the corner of Williams Road & Old St @ SHS = Most like not a Low Income Project because the Bus stops at Connor BLVD @ Mark A Mahoney = April Road is a Dirt Road that goes to St they will most likely just widen and pave it Of course they will most likely Over Design it and Over Spend on it We will most likely see an increase of 1500 to 2000 more Cars on the Parkway & St I have lived out past there for 10 Years now and have only seen one Car Crash on St you can expect to see them often once that place starts filling in southeast is the last remaining low density part of Tallahassee Please note that this proposal (if approved) will potentially allow for an outlet onto Old St as a homeowner since 1999 who lives off old St the an increase in traffic flow has been significant Allowing for a substantial increase in traffic would be detrimental to the safety and environment of this unique canopy road Add the potential for large construction vehicles on Old St The Canopy Roads Citizens Committee’s role is a crucial one in this matter I am hopeful that they will “step-up” and realize that an outlet onto Old St will have some serious detrimental consequences Citizens need to keep watch to make sure this doesn’t look like the Boulos development Somehow the Tallahassee Leon County leaders have dropped the ball on aesthetics Their re-election campaigns and special interests have taken precedence Candidates in this election cycle should have platforms that call for a new city manager no taxpayer dollars spent on Chamber of Commerce junkets and securing a public report on the the state of the sewer systems and of water bodies The candidates who are recipients of bundled contributions should be voted out They are a detriment to the quality of life in Tallahassee Is this development going to be low income housing or a more upscale neighborhood like Southwood The Southeast side doesn’t need more housing With all these new Developments on the East-Southeast Side of Tallahassee have you given any thought to School Zone Changes as well I live 5 Miles out Apalachee Parkway by the old Land Fill and I am in the Rickards High School Zone when Lincoln is much closer Local fire companies will be giving the man in red a lift starting with Dover neighborhoods Here’s where and when children can expect to see Santa: Dover Fire Department’s Operation Santa will ride through the city’s neighborhoods on Saturday The Camden-Wyoming Fire Company’s Santa Run heads out from Sunday Estates of Wild Quail and Cardinal Hills.Magnolia the Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company will be escorting Santa through the streets children should be dressed for warmth and head outside Santa has a small gift for each child and his helpers will be handing them out Santa is on a tight schedule and has to keep moving so he doesn’t miss anyone so everyone should be waiting at the curb of their home when Santa and the fire company passes by She'd noticed some peculiar things around her neighborhood: armed sentinels watching motorists through binoculars; brown-suited men fixing up homes into the wee hours She had tried to shrug these things off as eccentricities while driving into town one fall afternoon in 1987 cornered in an Amoco lot by two angry men in khaki jumpsuits One of the men snapped back: Eric had been trespassing was take a picture of the house of Charles Meade the leader of a doomsday sect whose followers had been moving into Lake City in increasing numbers He hadn't even gotten out of his car; but the moment he'd snapped the picture which he wanted for his college architecture class Two cars had chased him and forced him off the road and now these men were demanding his camera Then they threw her an angry glare and drove off the family filed a complaint at the sheriff's office Word of the episode raced through Lake City and it didn't take long for other stories to make the rounds A homeowner on Little Road told of looking out her window one morning to see an End Time woman with a bucket on her head was pulling her around by the bucket handle Over back fences and along telephone lines even wilder tales spread like a cold through the nervous populace: End Timers were tapping people's phones burning cats and dogs alive at Sunday night sing-alongs burying crates of rifles in their backyards Tire tracks and trash had been found across the lawns of End Timers and longtime residents were complaining that Meade's followers were vandalizing their mailboxes and car windshields the people of Charles Meade had much for which to be thankful during their first seven years in their Promised Land steaming sheet of rock spread over the fields and streets of northern Florida and no fountains of the great deep had burst forth - although such an apocalypse could occur at any hour The most fortunate of Meade's followers lived near him In their backyards they had ponds with gazebos homes in the woodsy neighborhood went for $75,000; now a half million dollars wouldn't buy the time of day Mothers who followed Meade's teachings about faith healing did not give birth at hospitals David's nose began to bleed and did not stop His parents tried to staunch the bleeding with cotton announced from church pulpits and printed on the front page of the Lake City Reporter produced in the townspeople two questions: Why hadn't that little boy seen a doctor An opinion on the latter came from two physicians who testified at a medical examiner's inquest in Jacksonville: an injection of vitamin K would have clotted Michael's blood and saved his life who was to decide whether the End Time couple should be charged with murder or criminal negligence the parents had tried to resuscitate the boy They had called 911 when they saw Michael approaching death the judge ruled that the Boehmers not be convicted of anything That didn't sit well with a lot of townies Meade did not explicitly order his followers to avoid medical care he urged them not to allow members to die at home of an untreated illness who was once married to one of Meade's top disciples But this wasn't because he had doubts about faith healing ''was to protect Charles Meade and the leadership from investigation or prosecution.'' Meade had declared: ''We're earthen vessels filled up with God There really shouldn't be any affliction in this body at all who quit the sect in 1993 after more than a decade says End Timers ''felt all this pressure to be perfect all the time followed the faith-healing doctrine to her grave she refused medical treatment for breast cancer who left the ministry in 1986 after 12 years in the sect the cause of death was listed as ''probable carcinoma of the breast.'' Twenty-eight days later Cutler says she will never forget the last time she saw Marie Meade ''She was over our house for a visit,'' Cutler says ''and I noticed blood from her lesions running down her arm.'' Columbia County lies within the Bible Belt as evidenced by the number of churches - more than 200 Episcopalians and Roman Catholics predominate It was uncommon in the early '90s for anyone here to cast a judgmental eye on a neighbor's religion To do so was to invite criticism of one's own - a prospect that left many in the worshipping populace profoundly uncomfortable But when word of other episodes involving children of End Timers reached the general citizenry It was common knowledge that End Time children were forbidden to play with ''normals,'' go to school outside their homes or do things like entertain the notion of Santa Claus when former sect members began telling how End Time youths were paired off and married by their 18th birthday County marriage records show that Meade and his second wife married off clusters of 17- and 18-year-old End Timers in Lake City and at Florida beach resorts throughout the '90s the preacher selected the future marriage partners of children as young as age 12 On Sundays - ''Choosing Day'' as it became known - Meade would hold bonfire picnics in a meadow near Rose Creek wave his arms over young boys and girls and declare something else happened inside one of the stately homes in Southwood Acres A brain disorder left her nearly deaf and blind wearing her pink pajama top and white socks Sonia died of pneumonia in her mother's arms the emergency ward physicians looked gravely on what they saw: the body of the 4-year-old weighed a mere 14¶ pounds - about what a 4-month-old baby might weigh as well as a deposition by her 21-year-old sister the child had not been to a doctor in at least two years - about the length of time her parents A jury subsequently found the Hernandezes guilty of one count of felony child abuse As the case snaked its way through the Florida legal system another child abuse case involving End Timers broke into the local headlines This one involved a 16-year-old named Will Meyers he was rushed to Shands Hospital in Gainesville by his parents and was found to be suffering from a heart tumor Will's condition had gone untreated for seven months The tumor had made it difficult for the boy to hold down food and his weight had dropped from 135 pounds to 90 pounds The swollen liver had given his skin a yellowy hue and his feet were so infected he had been dangling them off the end of a couch to let the pus drip into buckets His parents pleaded guilty to felony child abuse in March 1991 With the eyes of the town fixed sternly on them the End Timers kept largely silent - except for the preacher's wife who observed in her disapproving neighbors an intolerance inconsistent with the principle of religious freedom ''If a Lutheran dies,'' she asked a reporter from the St ''does everyone come around asking his church about how he lived his life?'' located on a former golf course and country club will sit adjacent to the University of Manitoba and it will be the first urban community development of its kind in Winnipeg.UM Properties/Supplied A parcel of land brimming with potential lies along part of the 885-kilometre Red River, steps away from the University of Manitoba’s bustling campus. Once a golf and country club, this picturesque site lined with old-growth trees is set to become the new home of Southwood Circle an urban community development that’s the first of its kind in Winnipeg Southwood Circle could bring up to 65,000 people to an area that currently feels isolated from the rest of the city Despite being Winnipeg’s most-commuted-to destination – drawing around 30,000 students and 9,000 staff daily – the University of Manitoba campus has just 1,650 students living in residence The area becomes a ghost town when school is not in session exacerbated by a lack of housing and walkable amenities needed to sustain a thriving community year-round Southwood Circle could solve these issues by transforming an area spanning 112 acres into a vibrant neighbourhood complete with a new commercial strip better transit and more than 20 acres of parkland Developments on university-owned lands increase revenue through tenant leases – a model of increasing interest to institutions, says Hazel Borys, City of Winnipeg’s director of planning, property and development. Universities worldwide, especially those in North America, are seeing enrolment shrink as the larger millennial generation gets older “Then we have the extra impact of the international students being constrained because of the lack of affordable housing … so universities in North America are absolutely getting into the land development game,” Ms The University of Manitoba has also launched UM Properties as a limited partnership with its own board of directors – the majority of whom must be independent of the institution Southwood Circle will be Winnipeg’s largest and most-sustainable infill project infill refers to the redevelopment of open land for new construction within an already-developed area “We used existing infrastructure,” says Greg Rogers “The intention was that this becomes a community where you don’t need a car We’re approved for over 11,000 multi-family units and we’re only adding less than two kilometres of road.” with initiatives aimed at improving transit links to campus and the area’s walkability to reduce car usage and greenhouse gas emissions The developers are also maintaining more than 5,000 old-growth trees planting more than 700 new trees and preserving the area’s natural animal habitats born in Winnipeg but whose work has taken him all over the world relished the chance to give back to his hometown and alma mater “The uniqueness of our natural conditions in a dense urban environment creates a very unique opportunity for people to engage more with Mother Nature,” he says “We’re really emphasizing that with the health of the forest.” Rogers says UM Properties is working with Native Plant Solutions which is a non-profit dedicated to preserving wetlands and water habitats to add native plants to the site’s storm pond to help clean the water Southwood Circle will add a new commercial strip and more than 20 acres of parkland to a currently isolated area of Winnipeg.UM Properties/Supplied Rogers and UM Properties brought in Toronto-based architect DIALOG, a firm that also designed the University of Calgary’s master development. Led by partner and chair Antonio Gomez-Palacio Indigenous leaders and local community members to understand their desires for the property “We really wanted to bring sensitivity into the process when it came to Indigenous voices,” says Mr the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was looking for a location for its archive and so that also became a significant anchor [and helped] inform the design principles.” the National Centre of Truth and Reconciliation will be located within Southwood Circle While DIALOG created the master plan for Southwood Circle, the firm is no longer involved with the overall design, which is now being led by Anishinaabe architect Ryan Gorrie principal at BrookMcIlroy in Winnipeg and lead of its Indigenous Design Studio design inspirations started with the natural world what was existing and what we wanted to amplify,” Mr “Conversations with elders in particular helped to focus on it as an opportunity to weave Indigenous knowledges into spaces and infrastructure at a variety of scales paying special attention to the areas where human interface with the natural environment could signal respect responsibility and deeper understanding of those beings which support human life.” Rogers says UM Properties will be ready to welcome retail and office tenants in phase one this month “The servicing of our first phase is done – that’s 3,500 units worth of density which represents about 28 of the 112 acres in total,” he says “Our first phase is our most dense and urban phase that’s most adjacent to the university the highest density urban core of this community.” Rogers also says he’s been acting as a “matchmaker” as he curates leases and pairs businesses together “We’ve been in discussions with grocery stores banks … we’re looking for places that have a coolness to it,” he says While the return on investment for this type of urban community takes longer than for suburban developments The long-term return on investment is many times over what those faster architecture types of formats are,” she says “Southwood Circle is so vital and exciting for Winnipeg on a variety of levels.” Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly identified the entity UM Properties is working with as Ducks Unlimited The company is working with Native Plant Solutions Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. 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For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions As our vision for the development of the Fort Garry campus evolves the conversation within our community will continue Below are answers to some of the questions I have heard from students faculty and other stakeholders in recent months , , , , , , ,