Paperless Life
Ponte Vedra Life
SPVA member Emory Torrey was installing monitored fire alarms on his new house when he learned there was no fire service to call if the alarm goes off. He wrote to County Commissioner Herbie Wiles that he never dreamed such an affluent area would lack such a basic necessity. He offered his services to help rectify the situation.
Inna Heilman wrote in her 1991 book, “Today we take for granted that we have a fire station. The fact is that South Ponte Vedra only has a fire station thanks to the SOUTH PONTE VEDRA ASSOCIATION! We addressed the need long before the County realized its obligation.”
On SPVA’s first birthday, founder Larry Picus handed the president’s baton to Bruce Bullock. Bruce inherited 141 members with dues at $25 for a homeowner and $10 for a lot-owner.
The little group of “forgotten people” had meetings at Guana dam and at members’ houses. They invited local authorities as special guests. They sent petitions and delegations to county commission hearings. Their presence at a county budget meeting allowed the sheriff to provide an ATV and deputy to patrol the road and beach. SPVA kept pestering their neighbors to join. President Larry said South Ponte Vedra residents rose in one year from “the unknown to the well-known”.
Rick and Larry were not alone. Over the next few months, twenty-three people formed the South Ponte Vedra Association. They said their first priorities were (1) law enforcement, (2) beach traffic, and (3) environmental protection. President Larry Picus said, “We do not want to be the forgotten people anymore.” The members got busy confronting the crime problem.
Early in 1972, Dick Oldenburg and Larry Picus dropped off letters in all SPV mail boxes. They wanted to discuss burglaries and other problems. [Ed Olsen read this scathing letter to the 50th Anniversary audience.]
When Steve and I [Chris Rich] first moved here in 1997, I took my dog for a walk on South Ponte Vedra Beach. Shortly afterward, a local woman warned me that was a no-no. She said this particular beach was a dangerous place for a woman by herself, even with a dog. Why would she say that?
