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AUGUST 2023 941.312.0665 | 27TH STATE MEDIA, LLC PUT THIS ON YOUR CALENDAR
The Road Ahead: Update on Roads Project By Elida Ramberger
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DAY TRIPPING: FARMERS MARKET
At long last, the roads project is expected to begin in four to six weeks. What we know about the timeline is that the project will roughly occur in thirds and take about 150 days. Phase One: Primarily to be performed by C Squared, the concrete contractor with Gator Paving, this phase will address d r a i n a g e i s s u e s , i n c lud i n g road slopes, m a n agement of u n d e r g r o u n d s t o r m w a t e r, curbing where necessary and reconfiguring a handful of islands to improve pedestrian safety. Phase Two: Includes removal of asphalt and base layer on those sections of roadway where the analysis showed likely base layer
deterioration. This process also includes on-site analysis during the milling process. Ph a s e T h r e e: M i l l i ng a nd pav i ng of roadways. T he Treehouses and Peregrine Point named roads are not being milled and paved. Milling and paving of parking pads will occur during phase three. Among the goals for the roads committee are to communicate, m a i nt a i n t r a n s p a r e n c y a nd respond to questions and concer n s you may have. The communication plan is being developed with those objectives in mind. Please share suggestions ab out t h e pl a n a nd h ow t o improve on it.
A. Int roductor y e-mail i nclud i ng m ap of roadways, con st r uct ion expe ct at ion s, a nd com mu n ic at ion/cont ac t i n for m at ion . T h i s e -m a i l i s planned in about two weeks. B. Weekly schedule distributed via Pinnacle e-mail: including map of construction area and description of work. E-mail will include a link to The Landings We b s i t e w h e r e t h e s a m e information will be archived. C. Weekly e-mail content posted to website. T he new website will make finding information about the road project easier to locate. The Roads Committee will have pages dedicated to project and include descriptions and
drawings of the plan. Ded ic ated e -m a i l add r e s s, landingsroads@gmail.com has been created to receive inquiries a nd com me nt s. I n add it ion, plea se fe el f re e to cont act the roads committee chair at elidaramberger@gmail.com with similar inquiries and comments. The Roads Committee Chair wishes to thank all committee members for their support and expertise during the last two years; (in alphabetical order) Dick Bayle s, Rud i Bloh m, Bob Gol icher, Roger K idder, Mike Knupp, Jeff Smith, and Pau l Wei ne r w it hout who s e dedication this project would not have been possible.
Landings Volunteers Who Work for You page
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JOURNEY THROUGH JAPAN
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KID’S CORNER: LIV SABA, 7
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FISHING REPORT FROM THE GAZEBO
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This is the eleventh in a series of articles highlighting the special volunteers who help to make The Landings such a wonderful community. The Eagle interviewed Jackie Massari for this issue. A leader in education, a political activist, wife, parent, grandparent, a nd pat ron of t he a r t s. T he Landings is so fortunate to have Jackie as an active volunteer. Orig i nally from Cli nton, a small town in upstate NY, Jackie continued her education with an undergraduate degree from Marymount College and a Masters i n S c h o ol Ps yc h olog y f r om Syracuse University. This is also where she met her husband David, who is a PhD Child Psychologist and professor. In 1969, they moved to Philadelphia and they both established their careers. The combination of having small children brought out Jackie’s entrepreneurial spirit as started a nonprofit day care center. Their two children and their families all currently live in the Philadelphia area. Jackie was a School Psychologist and Director of Special Education. She was recognized by her peers and became the President of the Upper Moreland Pennsylvania Education Association. During her tenure, she oversaw an important labor strike that led to better healthcare for her members. She said that she is especially proud of being an advocate for special education and her lobbying efforts on behalf of children with disabilities. She volunteered with nonprofits that helped children and families in need and was successful in helping her school to receive the prestigious designation as a “Pennsylvania Blue Ribbon School”. Jackie and David wanted their children to live in a diverse com mu n it y a nd moved i nto the Mt. Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia with their two sons. That community was one of the
first to be successfully integrated in the Philadelphia area. Their 2 children and their families all currently live in the Philadelphia area. While in Mt. Airy she worked on a neighborhood committee to find group homes for people with handicaps. Dav id’s go d mo t h e r h ad a place on Longboat Key which motivated them to begin visiting the area. While visiting, Jackie met up with her college roommate, Meg M ag u i r e, who i n t u r n introduced her to Anne and Karl Maggard. They visited and loved The Landings, especially the landscaping. In 2004 they purchased a unit a nd for m a ny yea rs b e ca me “snowflakes” spending a few weeks at a time in The Landings. In 2020 they became “snowbirds” spending several months in The Landings while maintaining their Pennsylvania residency. Jackie has always been involved with politics. She worked on Josh Shapiro’s first Philadelphia campaign for County Commission. He i s now t he Gove r nor of Pennsylvania. In Sarasota she has worked on Lauren Kurnov’s school board campaign, is involved with the League of Women Voters, and Save Our Schools. She was asked many times to get involved on her Landings South 4 Association Board. By 2018 she felt she had the time and joined the board. She said that in a community, “everyone has to take their turn in the barrel”. By 2021, she to ok over a s president of the association. Also in 2022, she was appointed ch a i r of t he LMA Kaya k Committee. She indicated there are now 72 racks rented with an additional 15 people on a wait list. She has plans to add an additional 12 racks soon and has primarily been working on getting permits and plans for a kayak launch next
to the racks. She h a s b e en ver y impressed with all of the hard work people on her com m it tee have contributed to moving kayaking in The La ndi ngs to the next level. There are now 104 kayakers on the TeamReach app. She i s con f ident t h at having a Kayak Launch in The Landings will be a big attraction for residents a nd potent ial buyers a l i ke. She indicated it could take 8-10 mont h s before permitting and Photo of Jackie Massari installation can be completed. The cost for the and talents. One of the things that launch and new racks will be attracted her to our area is the covered by the income received cultural arts community. She is a from rental slots. member of the “Arts Advocates” Jackie noted the importance of organization and “Friends of having people working together, the Ballet”. Indeed, she not only helping each other, and how it appreciates culture but is also a impacted her own life. patron of the arts. Jackie has had challenges. She is Throughout her professional a survivor of two bouts of cancer. and volunteer activities, education Her oldest granddaughter has has been her focus. She said that currently been fighting brain “public education is the backbone cancer. Despite the challenges of our country, and we need to of cancer and treatments, her make sure it is not negatively granddaughter recently graduated impacted as a result of politics in high school. Jackie noted: “my the statehouse”. granddaughter is an example When asked what her favorite of what’s good in the world. So thing about The Landings was, she many people rallied to support her said: “it is the people, the residents. during her cancer. Yes, it takes a The most important thing is not village, just like in The Landings.” where you live but who you live When called, Jackie answers. She near”. is also on the LMA Governance The Landings is a community of Committee and is helping with the great people, like Jackie, who are review of documents. hardworking volunteers. The general community has also What else could you ask for…… benefited from her background indeed, it takes a village.