Good Morning! Villagers showed up in a big way this week — your Dinner Club votes were overwhelming, the history buffs get Chapter 2 of Katie Belle’s, and adventure-seekers get a day trip that blows past “Florida fun.” Plenty to explore today.

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On this day in 1973, President Richard Nixon delivered his famous “I am not a crook” line during a televised press conference in Orlando, Florida — a moment that instantly etched itself into political history.

Let’s dive in.

— Kevin Rogers, Publisher

Poll of The Week

🍽️ Dinner Club Update

You all spoke loud and clear — 184 out of 212 said yes, you’re in for a Villages Pulse Dinner Club. That’s overwhelming, and honestly, a little inspiring.

Today, I’m meeting with a potential tech partner who specializes in exactly what we need: simple matchmaking and automatic reservations. The idea is straightforward — you answer a few quick questions about your interests, get paired with compatible neighbors, and join a table of six. The platform handles the dates, the details, and the logistics. You just show up, enjoy a meal, and maybe walk away with a couple of new friends.

A recurring theme in the poll comments:

That’s the whole point — stepping outside the routine and strengthening the social ties that make this community special.

More updates soon as we get the tech sorted out. First dinners are getting closer.

Villages History

Katie Belle’s

Chapter 2: Nights to Remember

Ask anyone who lived in The Villages during the 2000s, and you’ll hear the same thing: if you weren’t at Katie Belle’s on a Friday night, you were missing out.

Live acts like Rocky and the Rollers, Johnny Wild & The Delights, and Donna Moore kept the place swinging. Couples filled the floor to slow dances, line dances, even conga lines that circled the balcony. It was elegant, but not pretentious — just good food, good friends, and the rhythm of life in motion.

Katie Belle’s captured something The Villages would later struggle to replicate — an authentic gathering place where everyone dressed up a little, drank a little, and forgot what day it was. Some compared it to a Vegas supper club dropped into small-town Florida.

The walls were covered in Spanish Springs’ “faux history” — plaques telling the tall tale of Katie Belle Van Patten, a fictional saloonkeeper who “opened the establishment in 1851.” Nobody believed it, but everyone loved it. Like so much in The Villages, the story didn’t have to be real to make you smile.

🏡 Home of The Week

Premier Living in The Enclave! 772 Shivers Loop

Here’s something special: a $799,900 Premier Extended Starling in The Enclaves of Dabney — one of the most exclusive corners of The Villages. I featured a video flyover of this area a few months ago, and if my memory is right, this is the first resale to ever hit the market in The Enclaves.

Highlights

• 💦 Private heated pool with screen enclosure, lighting & a spacious birdcage

• 🌅 East-facing lanai overlooking a peaceful natural preserve

• 🏡 Extended Starling Premier model — soaring ceilings & open layout

• 🍽️ Chef’s kitchen with quartz counters, deep blue cabinetry & stainless appliances

• 🚗 2-car garage + golf cart garage and brick-paver driveway

• 🔥 Tankless gas water heater & block/stucco construction

If you’ve been waiting for a shot at The Enclaves, this may be the one — they rarely come up.

🌿 Villages Walk of the Week

Lake Griffin State Park

It’s time to expand your horizons! Just a short drive east to Fruitland Park, Lake Griffin State Park offers one of the most peaceful escapes near The Villages — a shaded nature loop about 1.5 miles long that winds through cypress swamp and oak hammock. The trail meanders over boardwalks where you might spot wading birds or turtles along the marsh edge, and ends at a local legend — the “Mammoth Oak,” a sprawling live oak estimated to be 300–500 years old.

Benches along the way make it easy to take breaks, and the short drive means you can be back home before lunch. Parking is $5 per vehicle.

📍 Where: 3089 U.S. 27/441, Fruitland Park
🚶 Distance: 1.3–1.8 miles (loop)
🌳 Highlights: Ancient oak, boardwalks, bird watching, quiet shaded paths

Pulse Travel

Day Trip of the Week: The Canyons Zip Line & Adventure Park (Ocala)

If you’re craving something way beyond the usual stroll around the squares, this one’s for you. The Canyons Zip Line & Adventure Park in Ocala is hands-down one of Florida’s most spectacular outdoor experiences — soaring cliffs, shimmering lakes, massive canyons, and zip lines that send you flying over it all. I’ve done it, and totally recommend it!

What Makes It a Must-Do

The property itself is unlike anything else in Florida — a hidden geological pocket of cliffs, canyons, and sparkling blue water you’d swear belonged out west. The zip lines are long, smooth, and fast, but still beginner-friendly. The views are unbelievably beautiful. The guides are patient, funny, safety-focused, and just flat-out good at making nervous first-timers feel like pros.

And if zipping isn’t your thing? They’ve got horseback rides through the canyon trails and even relaxing kayak tours across crystal-clear lakes tucked into the cliffs. It’s adventure at your own pace.

As I was writing this I discovered they’re currently offering discounted 2026 promotional tickets — and these are genuinely great prices. If you’ve ever thought about doing this trip, now’s the time to grab a ticket or two. The promo period is for Jan 1 through May 31 bookings.

Bottom Line

If you want a day trip that delivers real adventure — not just “fun for Florida,” but actually thrilling — The Canyons delivers in a big way. It’s close enough for an easy drive, just wild enough to feel like a mini-vacation, and the prices right now make it a no-brainer. *This is not an ad, I just think you’ll love this place.

Virgin Cruise Deals Still Going Strong

👉 Take a peek at these 3 amazing cruises and see what kind of deal you can catch:

• Aruban Sights & Antiguan Nights (Jan 3 - 10, 2026) - sun-soaked ports and island-hopping bliss.

• Picturesque Panama Canal (Oct 29 - Nov 15) - a bucket-list passage through one of the world’s great wonders.

• French Riviera, Italy, Rome & Ibiza (July 4–11, 2026) - Mediterranean magic wrapped in a week of elegance and nightlife.

These exclusive offers come straight from Vacationeeze, bringing Pulse readers the kind of cruise savings that don’t stay afloat for long. 🚢

🩺 Screening Spotlight

Sponsored By Life Line Screening

Villages Pulse Reader Elizabeth shared this with me recently: “I did not see your poll on carotid artery screening but everyone should do it. I did and it saved my life. I had 97% blockage. Just saying it can make all difference. That was in 2013!!!”

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Ultrasound

Checking for a silent but deadly bulge

An AAA is a dangerous bulge in the main artery of the abdomen. Ultrasound can spot it early.

✅ Who should consider it: Men 65–75 who have ever smoked; people with family history.

👉 Where/Who/Prescription: Offered at hospitals, vascular labs, or mobile screenings (this is included in the Life Line Screening package above). Doctor’s referral often needed for insurance.

💡 Takeaway: A one-time test could prevent a rupture.

Upcoming Events

Want a Featured Event with a poster/image? Reach out.

Shirley’s Senior No Limit Holdem’ | Oxford Downs | Nov 17 | 11:15 am

Lady Lake Farmers Market | Rolling Acres Sports Complex | Nov 18

Small Group Lessons | Sterling Heights Rec | Nov 18 | 8 am | Details

Outdoor Concert: Sandra & Alex | La Hacienda Rec | Nov 19 | 2pm

Golf Cart Safety Clinic | Colony Cottage Rec | Nov 19 | 9 am | Details

Joaniefit Kickboxing | Sawgrass | Wed Nov 19 | 10 am | Details

Outdoor Movie: Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice | Saddlebrook Softball | Nov 20 | 6:30pm

Dance Night With Renegade | La Hacienda Rec | Nov 20 | Details

⛳️ Short Game Low Chip Clinic | Sarasota | Nov 20 | 12:30 pm | Details

🏌️ Villages Pro Shootout 2025 | Mallory Hill CC | Nov 21 | 12 pm | Details

Health & Wellness Expo | Rohan Rec | Nov 21 | 1 - 4 pm | Details

Friends of The Villages Library Book Sale | Villages Public Library | Nov 22 | Details

Have an event you want to announce to 8,000+ local Villagers? Email us the details and a link to [email protected]

Live Music Lowdown

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thanks!

Thanks for reading! If you found something useful please share it with someone who loves zip lining.

P.S. Want to get your business in front of 8,000+ local Villagers? Reach out here.