Inside Poinciana Florida

Nelson Boice left his footprint on Central Florida when, in the mid-1960s, his real-estate brokerage assembled the 27,000 acres that became Walt Disney World.

As co-founder of Florida Ranch Lands, Boice acted as the middleman between landowners and Disney. With his partner, Craig Linton Sr., he also helped orchestrate some of the region’s largest residential developments, from Deltona to Isleworth.

“Their fingerprints were all over the growth and changes in Central Florida, and Nelson clearly had a very innovative mind and was very instrumental in structuring complicated transactions,” said Linton’s son, Craig Jr.

Boice died Sunday at his home in Maitland from natural causes. He was 88.

Born in Kansas City, Mo., in 1921, he moved with his parents in 1923 to the Miami area, where a passion for the outdoors began after a childhood trip through the Everglades.

Boice hunted, fished and traveled throughout his life.

In the early 1940s, he attended Yale University, where he received a degree in engineering.

And years before he began making major real-estate transactions, he impressed a young Suzanne Harbert, who attended nearby Connecticut College, with something different: his yellow Packard convertible with red-leather seats.

“He wooed her with his car,” said Boice’s granddaughter, Aubrey Phillips of Charlottesville, Va. The couple wed April 11, 1943, and went on to share 66 yearsof adventures, from South America to Alaska.

During World War II, Boice served in the U.S. Army Air Forces.He and his wife later moved to Central Florida, where they settled in Maitland. They had one daughter, Suzanne “Smokey,” who died in 2004.

Boice’s friendship with Craig Linton Sr. led to the founding of Florida Ranch Lands in 1954.

The two men helped make history with their secret Disney land deal, but the brokerage also secured an 18,000-acre deal for Deltona, the Volusia County planned development that eventually became a city.

In addition, the partners handled the 47,000 acres for the Poinciana development in Osceola and Polk counties and the land deal for Isleworth, the luxurious west Orange County community where Tiger Woods and Shaquille O’Neal own homes.

It was Boice’s attention to detail and critical thinking that served as a role model for Craig Linton Jr., who became half-owner of the company.

“He was very analytical and had the ability to take a lot of detail and complexities of a transaction or property and simplify it,” he said.

In addition to his wife and granddaughter, Boice is survived by his grandson-in-law, Bryan Phillips; and three great-grandchildren. The family held a private memorial.

Veterans to be Honored – Vietnam Moving Wall Exhibited
(Poinciana, Fl, June 23, 2009)

The Poinciana veterans, as well as those currently serving in uniform, will be recognized during the sixth annual Fourth of July celebration, announced by the Association of Poinciana Villages (APV) in collaboration of the Veterans Club of Solivita.

“Ceremonies commence at 11:00 a.m. on Friday July 3rd in front of the administration building at 401 Walnut Street off of Marigold Avenue, Poinciana, FL 34759. The agenda includes recognition of symbol veterans from Poinciana that have served in the various wars that the U.S. has participated in”, declared Jeanette Coughenour, Association Manager.

“Among the dignitaries and special guests”, she added, “are Major General Craig B. Whelden, U.S. Army (Retired) who will be present for the signing of a Community Covenant to demonstrate Poinciana’s commitment of support of our military personnel and their families”.

In addition, the Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall (Bringing Home the Wall) will be exhibited inside the community center building (395 South Marigold Avenue) starting Friday at 1:00 p.m. and running throughout the weekend (Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) The monument replica is being brought to Poinciana through the combined efforts of the Veterans Club of Solivita and the APV.

The Honor Guard of the Veterans Club of Solivita will conduct the Flag raising ceremony and join in honoring Poinciana’s Veterans. In addition, the National Anthem and “God Bless America” will be performed by Solivita’s Barbershop-style vocal quartet, “Cordially Yours”. A detachment of the Sea Cadets will also present honors to our Poinciana veterans.

Valentin Ramos, APV Assistant Manager, announced “that military equipment, uniforms, etc. will be displayed in the community indoor facility. In addition, he announced, the formation of the Poinciana Veterans Club which has already over 60+ veteran residents pre-registered.

“This year’s patriotic events have been developed to help educate the younger generations of the services and sacrifices experienced by those that came before them… in Vietnam and other battlefields in defense of our grateful nation,” concluded Coughenour.

Those interested in more information, should contact:
863-427-0900 (switchboard)
863-427-3417 (community center)

BARTOW – While waiting for a decision to be made about the possible consolidation of fire services and emergency medical services, Polk County paramedics and emergency medical technicians learned of yet another cost-saving measure under consideration for their department.

During two separate EMS staff meetings last week, employees were told that one possibility for increasing efficiencies in the department is reducing five stations from 24-hour to 12-hour operations.

“If EMS can be more efficient and deliver the same level of service, then that’s what we have to look at,” EMS Director Harvey Craven told employees during a meeting Friday at the Polk County Agricultural Center in Bartow.

Craven said statistics from each EMS zone were analyzed to calculate how many ambulances were needed in each area. Those stations experiencing less demand, under this plan, would reduce their operating hours to 12. The employees and ambulances may be assigned to other areas based on data showing need for EMS coverage.

If approved, the following would become 12-hour stations: Nalcrest, Sun Air, Solivita and one station each in Winter Haven and Lakeland. About 30 employees would be affected by the change.

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Osceola County -The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office has concluded the “Click It or Ticket” seatbelt enforcement campaign that was held May 18-31, 2009. The results are as follows:

Safety Belt Citations 162

Speeding Citations 453

Child Safety Seat Citations 19

Felony Arrests 193

DUI Arrests 18

Drug Arrests 140

Other Arrests 414

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office aggressively enforced the state’s occupant protection laws increasing seatbelt usage from 70% before the campaign to 83% after the campaign. The Click It or Ticket campaign relies on strict enforcement and public education as a means to help save lives on Osceola County’s roadways.