A Note From Your Editor, Cassandra Leonard
The New KCA Website is Finished ready for Review! Please click the URL to view the new website prior to our next General Meeting. www.keystonecivicassoc.com
I would appreciate your review of the new website as this is the official presentation to membership prior to our next General Meeting whereas your vote to approve as our official new KCA website will be appreciated. You may already be experiencing a piece of it now as the fundraiser ticket sales are running through the new Events page of this site. I consider this our Beta & Viewing testing stage.
There are going to be continued updates to this site as there are elements behind to complete and a few edits here and there. This site is a donation to the Keystone Community by Market Power Inc. As our new BOD embarked on our roles to make a positive change for the community by addressing variables of communication needs and access to documents you may request. Transparency is our continued goal, and that is what membership will always receive.
Personally, I noticed the current KCA website functionality was not user friendly nor identified the image of Keystone, thus the journey to develop / present a more interactive website. Within our rural area communication with your friends/residents is paramount to build strength as a "community", although this is a members option. We are unique, should support one another in business etc. if we choose, invite to social gatherings, communication is key. There are some elements to this site such as our own KCA Social Platform, I hope you will enjoy once this is officially launched!
PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP as a member yet on this new site as we will import current members information into the new back end member database and will send out an email when your new access is ready! Otherwise you will have to pay your dues again in order to have access to the membership portal, your member account and all the FUN stuff behind just for members like documents folders (still organizing and loading past years up to current)! It works so that is the good news, there may be a few bugs to work out along the way, so please have patience as they are found. Our intent was to have a mechanism that flows and offers continuity with accessibility to also depict the true Heart and Soul of the Keystone/Odessa area. Newcomers can appreciate what we have. There are a few more pages that will be built to capture our KCA current Historical moments- such as recipes from you maybe ? We will have photo galleries of our events like a year book. Blessings to all I hope you enjoy it, of course I already know it's almost impossible to make "everyone" happy. Yet the intent is to do so.
Remember, please share your stories, pictures in area, recipes, hot news and interview availability to: KeystoneCivicSect@gmail.com. On this new site there will be a way as a paying member to submit /upload items through the website directly.
If you have topics you would like to hear more about, please email to KeystoneCivicSect@gmail.com or fill out the suggestion cards at the Meeting(s) upon sign in, this will be passed on to our President and BOD for discussion and inclusion accordingly. As a community bound together we are a strong force; protecting our Keystone 36 !
"United we are Strong, Divided we are Weak. Together we can accomplish ANYTHING. "
Please support our amazing Business Sponsors featured in this newsletter!
LAND USE NEWS
Variance Requests
22-0898 on 18289 Gunn Hwy Property Folio #: 837.0000 & 838.0000. The Great Wall of Gunn has been denied by the Land Use Hearing Officer – the applicant has 30 days to appeal, and the clock is ticking.
22-0926 on 17000 Boy Scout Road. Property will come in for a re-zoning on 10/17 to be able to build a single-family home. 22-1135 Special Use 7720 Van Dyke Road. is requesting a beer/wine license. 22-1105 on Rustic Woods Trail. On 9/19 property on Rustic Woods will come in for a re-zoning to add an accessory structure.
22-1338 on 16601 Boy Scout Road The re-zoning of Distinctive Stables on Boy Scout was approved by the Board of County Commissioners on 8/25.
Former Borrow Pit on Lutz Lake Fern Road : is proposing for the development of a 308 unit Recreational Park (RV), with an alternative development option consisting of a borrow pit. Access to the site is planned to be provided via Barrie Acres Trail. Applicant is expecting to have water and sewer since it is adjacent to this property (to the east). (22-1330)
CLC Meeting next meeting to be announced present CLC stands with no changes.
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Patterson Road Project Updates
are available at www.ProtectKeystone.com
As of our last General Meeting updates are awaiting for Judge this Month to rule on the Emergency Stop Work Order.
SPECIAL MIDTERM ELECTION
Come out to the September 22nd General Membership Meeting and select who you want to fill the open Board of Directors seats. I came to the Board at the August Board of Directors Meeting with the request to open up the remaining 4 Director seats. We are a busy association and we can use the help on every level of the organization. We voted to undo last year's board vote that capped the Board at 9 seats. We decided to fill the 4 remaining seats that our bylaws allow us to have, for a total of 13 Board Members (4 officers and 9 directors). We announced this decision at the August General Membership Meeting to fill these seats. After some discussion, Membership voted to have an election and not treat this as midterm vacancies. So we are kicking the election into gear! You can self-nominate by sending your nomination form to info@keystonecivic.org. The deadline to have your form submitted is Friday, September 16th. We will then verify the nominees' eligibility by Sunday, September 18th. We will notify all applicants of their eligibility by Tuesday, September 20th so they can come to the meeting and speak for up to 2 minutes on why we should vote for them.
We hope you will consider joining the Board to serve your community and work to keep Keystone rural!
~ Mike Atherton, President KCA Board of Directors
FUNDRAISE
Our First major Fundraiser in 3 Years! Buy your tickets now!
Sunday, September 11, 2022 5 PM-9 PM
Rain or Shine Event it will be indoors at THE BARN in A/C!
at Old McMicky's Farm
Please come out to support Keystone as we have our First "Special" Fundraiser scheduled for Sunday, September 11, 2022 5 PM - 9 PM with two live bands at Keystones Old McMicky's Farm! The opening band "Big Picture" and our cover band "Soul Circus Cowboys" will provide great entertainment for everyone at our first Annual "Keystone Boots, Boogie and Brew". Country theme of course, get your dancing boots on! Enjoy an early eve in A/C at the BARN with food truck and vendors, brews ,wine, raffle prizes, 50/50 and best western dressed!
Enjoy a memorable event to honor the heroes we lost on 9/11 and Veterans with the American Legion Color Guard and Branch Flags for the Ceremony. We thank Keystone's Old McMicky's Farm for being a contributing sponsor as we enjoy hosting here, and to Jim Carper at the American Legion Post 147 for his coordination of ceremony. We will have a special Guest from the Tunnels to Towers Foundation to share some words about what they do for our heroes and more!
This fundraiser will raise monies for replenishment and growth of funds for the purpose of Protecting our Keystone 36. We are still seeking Sponsors to support us at this event please share!
A sponsor package and payment ability is available at : https://www.keystonecivicassoc.com/generalstore
Residents/Members we need your support, please share this event information with anyone you know. Help us sell TICKETS for this FUN event!
If interested to support or volunteer, join the fundraising committee, or be a sponsor for this event ,or have questions, please email Chair Cassandra at: Keystonecivicsect@gmail.com. Any help will be appreciated to bring this event to the success we believe it will be to reach our goals!
Keystone Business Member Story of the Month
by C. Leonard
The owners of BoldHouse Nutrition, Danny and Katia Miller have grown up in the Tampa Bay Area and driving through Keystone many times always loved the area. When the idea of BoldHouse came about they immediately thought what a great idea it would be to bring it to Keystone , and that's exactly what they did! I personally stop there when on the go or need to have a quick meeting with a friend, and the location is perfectly chill, clean, everyone is so nice and there is WiFi! Its a comfy meeting place with "healthy" options. Who needs Starbucks when you have BoldHouse in Keystone! The Millers background in health and wellness with over all living a healthy lifestyle allowed them to create a vision to help the community with healthier brunch alternatives that could be for anyone on the go. And that they have accomplished! Have saved me numerous times. This amazingly healthy spot offers varieties of refreshers that have not just caffeine but also probiotic, vitamins, and low in sugar. I personally LOVE their Mocha Protein Coffee with Coconut whip cream. To eat they have a menu with many options like protein filled shakes, bowls and the favorite of course waffles! Who would have thought...great treats that are all healthy and you would not know it. BoldHouse is located right in the corner of N Mobley and Gunn Hwy in the Foxes corner plaza next door to Annabelles. Their hours are Monday -Friday 7 am- 5 pm Saturdays 9am-2pm and Sundays 10am-2pm, the Millers say it’s been such an amazing year getting to know so many of keystone residents, and they can’t wait to continue their service of providing residents with a great meal on the go and energy to fuel your days! You can learn more about the BoldHouse Menu at this link: https://boldhouse.us/. If you haven't stopped in yet, I recommend you try it out soon! Thank you to Danny and Katia for your amazing service to the Keystone/Odessa Communities.
Keystone Gives Back
Keystone Pays it Forward with the "FIRST" First Responder Luncheon at Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Station 34
by Janise Man-Son-Hing, KCA Law Enforcement Liason Several years ago a small budget was approved by the KCA Board of Directors to give back to our First Responders serving in the Keystone Community. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office District Three and District One both serve the Keystone community along with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Station 34 which is the only fire station in our district. On Monday, August 22nd the First luncheon was served to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Station 34. A rounder of Cuban sandwiches with several styles of potato salad, cole slaw, and baked beans along with ice tea and lemonade were all delivered to HCFR Station 34 located at 6415 Van Dyke Rd by KCA volunteers. Although the odds were stacked against my efforts to get out advance notice of this event in the general membership email, I decided to go ahead and make the effort to send the email just in case a community member might be able to attend. Every effort was validated when a shy little boy with his grandmother stood waiting in the fire station parking lot as we drove up. The joy of seeing this shy two-year-old child light up after sitting on a Fire Tanker, walking through a real fire engine bay, and catching a look at the inside of a real Fire Station and "kitchen" was incredible. It was easy to see this gave everyone present a unique feeling of happiness you can not manufacture. KCA Volunteers were also looking forward to taking a few pictures of the child with the fire trucks, but he remained shy until someone asked, tell us "how old are you?" He immediately held up two fingers, began to smile, and had the most infectious laugh. Needless to say, we got some great pictures! We were not able to meet all the firefighters because they were serving our community on a 911 call, but firefighter Anthony stayed behind to greet us and give us a firehouse tour. "The fire service is rich with ceremony, custom, and tradition" The Keystone Civic Association and our Community thank our Heroes who put their lives on the line daily. The next event will be planned with plenty of notice so parents can bring their children after school. Thank you to our membership for your donation to the Community Fund, this is one of the ways we pay it forward. Thank you Beth White for making the recommendation to recognize our Firefighters at our KCA Meeting. Fireman's Prayer
When I am called to duty, God whenever flames may rage, give me strength to save some life whatever be its age. Help me embrace a little child before it is too late, or save an older person from the horror of that fate. Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout, and quickly and efficiently to put the fire out. I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me, to guard my every neighbor and protect his property And if according to my fate I am to lose my life, please bless with your protecting hand my children and my wife. Author Unknown
We have our Keystone Family Fall Festival in the works!
Keystone Fall Family Festival 2022
Saturday November 12, from 10:00- 3:00 PM
Keystone Park and Recreation Center
Your Keystone Civic Association and the Keystone Park and Recreation Center are pleased to announce that the Keystone Fall Family Festival is returning this Fall!! After two years of Covid disruptions and our park being renovated, we are excited to be coming back! Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 12, 2022, as the day we all finally get back together for this sentinel Keystone Event. If you are interested in having a booth and/or want to be on the planning committee, please reach out to me, Clara Lawhead at 813-376-074 or email to Clara@Lawhead.us This a great opportunity to showcase your business, services or programs. We anticipate 4,000 guests this year. Booths are free to vendors. All vendors must have some activity for children or families. This is a free activity for all guests. This is Veterans Day weekend and we will have a special tribute to our American Heroes.
KEYSTONE HISTORY
A walk down memory lane...
How "Keystone" Colony Arrived into Existence
by C. Leonard.
Over the years growing up in Odessa I always wondered how did the name "Keystone" develop out here and why? It seemed like I was living in two towns at the same time! Was always confusing, I knew of the lake which mine adjoins to, but what made this name so special when we have many lakes out here. But it's one of those things I never bothered to research until now, being an Odessa native adult. Why would kids bother to learn about it right?! We were too busy playing archeologist finding little treasurers of the past, building forts and riding our horses out in the groves that used to exist. So many great memories I have growing up in Odessa/Keystone area, yet the vision I see today just breaks my heart as those memories of where we once played or rode in the woods, pastures and groves, are now replaced by more concrete and increased traffic with rude drivers that have no respect for our way of life or the residents who live here.
To the point now of how Keystone Colony was originated! It is said to be originated in est.1910. Most of Keystone was subdivided into 10 acre lots known as the Keystone Park Colony (map below). The properties were advertised in the Saturday evening Post for $25.00 an Acre! Can you believe that? Times have sure changed. The first two story colony home was built on the North end of Dakota Avenue under the big oak trees and was used as a boarding house for prospective buyers.
The boarding house also contained an office and Post Office. There was an orange grove on the South side of Tarpon Springs Road, adjacent to Tyler Road that was used as a model grove to help sell the property. Prospective buyers were shown the area with a horse and surrey as the means of transportation to view lots for sale as much of the road entry ways were very sandy. Eventually, this venture folded and most of the lots went back to the State of Florida. In later years the colony house was torn down and lumber used to build a home on Michigan Avenue.
Get involved with KCA
JOIN ONE OF OUR COMMITTEES!
Below is a list of our Committees. If you are interested to be more involved with KCA, we would love to have your support by joining one of our committees below.
Simply click the link to directly Email the Committee Chair and Co Chair to SIGN UP or for your inquiries! It is our goal to make "communications" easy for our members.
AGRICULTURE COMMUNICATIONS/MARKETING COMPLIANCE EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUNDRAISING GRANT/SCHOLARSHIP LAND USE MEMBERSHIP
Thank You to Our Keystone Business Sponsors for their Continued Support!
