EDITOR'S LETTER

We The People of Foxridge

Welcome to the first issue of Foxridge Voices. This magazine was born from a simple idea: every family in our neighborhood deserves real information and a voice before decisions are made, not after.

In these pages you will find news from Foxridge and Clay County, documented facts, events, sports, schools, recipes, local makers and neighbors helping neighbors. It is free, independent and written by volunteers who live here.

This is your magazine too. Send us your stories, photos and ideas, and let's write the next chapter of Foxridge together.

Francesca De Biase Birchard, Editor

September 11, 2001:

Twenty-Five Years Later,

It Still Feels Like Yesterday

Where were you when the Twin Towers were struck?

For those of us who lived through September 11, 2001, the answer usually comes without hesitation. We remember where we were, what we were doing, who was beside us, and the moment we understood that what we were watching was real.

Twenty-five years have passed, yet they have not carried that morning very far from us. The memories remain so clear that it hardly seems possible that a quarter of a century has gone by.

My Memory of That Day

At the time, I was working as the Area Manager for the Costa Brava destination for an Italian tour operator. We had just come through a long and demanding work season, and that afternoon was the first opportunity my colleagues and I had to stop and relax together on the beach in Blanes, Spain.

Suddenly, I heard people shouting and saw everyone rushing toward a small bar near the beach. A television was on inside, broadcasting live images of what was happening—first in New York and then at the Pentagon.

My first thought was, “This cannot be real.”

The night before, some friends and I had gone to the movies and watched one of those familiar disaster films in which the world is being destroyed. In movies set in the United States, the Twin Towers always seemed to be among the first landmarks to fall. Yet, as I stood in front of that television, I was no longer watching a movie. This was happening in real life, in front of all of us.

We watched the smoke and flames. We saw people trapped inside the buildings and first responders rushing toward a danger from which everyone else was trying to escape. Then the towers collapsed.

I stood there in shock, unable to comprehend what I had just witnessed. My thoughts immediately turned to my friends—the ones serving in the military, the ones living in New York, and anyone I knew who might have been working or had contacts in that area. I began calling them, one after another, desperate to know that they were safe.

My last call was to a friend who worked in government and national security. He answered and tried to reassure me, but all he could say was, “Pray.”

As we spoke, a helicopter was arriving to take him to a secure, undisclosed operational location. After that call, I did not hear from him again for many months.

The despair, helplessness, and disbelief I felt that afternoon have never completely left me. Even after twenty-five years, I can still feel them as clearly as I did while standing on that beach, surrounded by strangers, watching the world change before our eyes.

A Tragedy Unfolding in Three Places

My memory is only one among millions. Every person who witnessed September 11 carries a different version of that day, but we all share the moment when the ordinary world we knew suddenly changed.

While millions of us watched the Twin Towers burning on live television, the attacks were still unfolding elsewhere.

At the Pentagon, military personnel and civilian employees were killed at their workplaces, along with the passengers and crew aboard American Airlines Flight 77. Families who had begun that morning expecting an ordinary day would never see their loved ones come home.

At the same time, another act of extraordinary courage was taking place aboard United Airlines Flight 93, known as UA93.

Through phone calls with their families, the passengers and crew learned what had happened in New York and at the Pentagon. They understood that their aircraft was part of the same coordinated attack and that more innocent lives were in danger.

Knowing what was at stake, they chose to confront the hijackers.

They fought back.

UA93 came down in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, before the hijackers could reach their intended target. The passengers and crew could not save themselves, but their courage and sacrifice helped save the lives of countless others.

The heroism of September 11 was not confined to the streets of New York. It was found inside the Pentagon, aboard UA93, among the first responders who ran into burning buildings, and in the actions of ordinary people who faced an unimaginable moment with extraordinary courage.

Nearly 3,000 innocent people were killed that day. Each one left behind a family, friends, colleagues, and a life that should have continued.

Some of us were touched directly. We lost someone we loved, worked with, or knew. Others experienced the tragedy from hundreds or thousands of miles away. Still, no one who witnessed that day remained entirely untouched. Something changed in all of us.

The Years That Followed

September 11 did not end when that terrible day was over.

Its consequences continued in the empty chairs at family tables, in the children who grew up without a parent, and in the first responders who later became seriously ill because of the toxic conditions at Ground Zero.

Then came the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the long military deployments, and the families waiting at home. More lives were lost. Some service members returned carrying physical wounds; others carried injuries that could not be seen. An entire generation grew up in a world shaped by September 11, even if they were too young to remember it or had not yet been born.

Air travel changed. Security changed. Politics changed. Our understanding of safety changed. Places that had once seemed distant became part of our daily conversations, and the world felt smaller, more connected, and, at the same time, more uncertain.

But September 11 also revealed something about the American people that deserves to be remembered.

In the hours and days following the attacks, strangers helped one another. People stood in line to donate blood. Neighbors checked on neighbors. Flags appeared outside homes, schools, and businesses. Communities gathered to pray, grieve, and support families who had lost everything.

For a time, the differences that so often divide us seemed less important. We were not Republicans or Democrats, people from one state or another, or strangers passing without speaking. We were Americans, mourning together and standing together.

Many young people today know September 11 only through photographs, documentaries, and lessons in school. They did not experience the silence that fell over our homes as we watched the news. They did not see the handwritten signs searching for missing loved ones or feel the uncertainty of the days that followed.

It is now our responsibility to tell them what happened—not to pass fear from one generation to the next, but to ensure that those who died are remembered and that the courage, sacrifice, and compassion shown that day are never forgotten.

Foxridge Remembers

Here in Foxridge, we pause on this 25th anniversary to remember every innocent life taken in New York, at the Pentagon, and aboard UA93.

This remembrance has special meaning for our community, where many of our neighbors are veterans or members of military families. Some served—and some gave their lives—for our country during the difficult years that followed September 11. Many spent long periods away from their loved ones, while their families at home carried sacrifices of their own.

We honor them, along with the first responders, survivors, and families whose lives were forever changed.

We also remember the lesson September 11 left with us: a community is strongest when its people care for one another, especially during the most difficult moments.

Twenty-five years have passed, but for so many of us, it still feels like yesterday.

We remember where we were. We remember those we lost. We remember those who served and sacrificed.

You are, and always will be, in our hearts.

We will never forget.

God bless America.

By Francesca De Biase Birchard

Something to Do This Weekend?

Florida State Parks Are Free from Friday to Monday

If you’re searching for an easy, family‑friendly idea for the long weekend, this is a great option. In honor of George Washington’s Birthday, Florida State Parks are offering free admission from Friday through Monday.

It’s the perfect chance to enjoy the outdoors — whether you’re planning a day with the kids, a walk with friends, or a quiet moment surrounded by nature. From beaches and springs to forests and wildlife, there’s something for everyone.

Source: Florida State Parks – Florida Department of Environmental Protection
https://www.floridastateparks.org

“The New That Is Rising in Foxridge”

There is a quiet shift happening in Foxridge, one that does not shout, does not divide, and does not belong to any specific age group. It is a shift made of people who simply want clarity, fairness, and a community that reflects the times we live in.

For years, Foxridge has been guided by the same patterns, limited information, decisions made by a few, and a culture where residents were expected to adapt rather than participate. Many accepted it because “it has always been this way,” but something has changed.

A new mindset is emerging, calm, modern, and unafraid to ask questions. It is not a rebellion, it is not a fight, it is a natural evolution. Residents are no longer satisfied with vague explanations or rushed decisions. They want transparency, they want accountability, and they want to understand how their community is being shaped.

And above all, they want something simple and deeply human: to be heard.

For too long, residents have felt that their voices were not truly considered, that they were needed only when convenient, or for purposes that did not reflect their real priorities. People come to Foxridge looking for familiarity, not rigid rules. They want a neighborhood where you can greet your neighbors, not a place where every interaction feels controlled or predetermined.

This desire for a more vibrant and connected community has become visible in the most genuine ways. Participation in small events has grown. Halloween decorations lit up streets that had been dark for years. Christmas displays appeared on houses that had never decorated before. These simple gestures showed something important: people wanted a neighborhood that felt alive again.

After years of inactivity, something beautiful is happening. People are coming back outside. You see more walkers on the sidewalks. You see kids riding their bikes again. You see families exploring streets that had grown quiet, almost frozen in time.

A neighborhood that was slowly turning into an “above 55 community” is rediscovering its balance, its energy, and its natural rhythm. New residents bring fresh perspectives. Long‑time residents are waking up from a kind of civic hibernation. And those who once stayed behind closed doors are beginning to open them again.

The old way relied on silence. The new way grows through connection.

The old way feared questions. The new way sees questions as a sign of care.

The old way protected power. The new way protects community.

This is not a conflict between “old” and “young.” It is a transition from a closed system to an open one, from passive acceptance to active participation, from a community managed by a few to a community shaped by many.

Foxridge is changing, not because someone is forcing it, but because residents are finally recognizing their own voice. And once a community finds its voice, it does not go back to silence.

This is the beginning of something healthier, more transparent, and more aligned with the values of the people who actually live here. A new chapter is rising, and it belongs to all of us!

25th January 2025

By Francesca De Biase Birchard

From the very beginning it was obvious that everything had already been decided. As has happened for the past twelve years, the group from Circle Ridge showed up and maintained full control, and the entire board now comes from that area. There is now no real check and balance, which means they can do whatever they want, and residents are left without the truth or anyone who can contradict them. This is exactly what has happened for months. Both the new president and the new vice president openly admitted they had no knowledge of what happened in recent months. Can you believe it.

My husband and I tried to explain the situation, but we were repeatedly told to stay quiet and sit down. During his one‑sided speech, the “angelic” former president, now the treasurer,  didn’t even mention that on the 22nd of November he had called the police to our home, falsely reporting a theft involving my husband. We had to disprove everything with messages,emails and our written resignation to the police, just to avoid any escalation at a moment when I was in Italy because my mother was dying.

That day marked a turning point for me. While I was thousands of miles away, trying to hold myself together during the most fragile moment of my life, someone here was fabricating a story to protect his own position. There was no compassion, no hesitation, no humanity. Only the determination to create a narrative that could damage us while I was already living through something no one should have to face alone. And because he(Sean) had scheduled an appointment with them for the following week, my husband was even forced to notify them while boarding a plane to come to Italy for my mother’s funeral the very next day.

And yet, today, he speaks as if nothing happened. He stands in front of the community with a calm voice and a rehearsed smile, carefully choosing what to say and what to hide. But the truth has a way of resurfacing, especially when people have lived it on their own skin. I share this not to seek pity, but because transparency matters. Integrity matters. Humanity matters. And when someone shows you who they are in your darkest moment, you remember it. You carry it with you. And you make sure your community knows it too, because a neighborhood deserves leaders who act with honesty, not convenience.

Some people may share videos of the meeting, although not everyone recorded, for understandable reasons. They have even not create any opportunity to share with residents this meeting. For us, what we saw was enough to understand that the association, run in this way, has no real value for the community.

Most of the attendees were from old owner from Circle Ridge, and the votes were already predetermined. Seeing the situation unfold, I thought that maybe not everyone agreed with what was happening. Maybe some people simply felt forced to accept decisions that had already been made. That is why I offered to serve as president. Another resident also stepped forward, hoping to bring a different voice to the room.

But they didn’t allow us to do anything. I was interrupted multiple times during my introduction, creating confusion on purpose, exactly as people do when they don’t want someone to be heard. They didn’t want a real choice. They didn’t want a real vote. And they certainly didn’t want anyone breaking the script they had prepared.

It is sad that they think residents are too naïve to notice.

They even handed out one voting slip per person. My husband and I each received two, which means the votes were not verified or controlled in any way. There was no check, no count, and no system to ensure that each household voted than names and only once.

And while I tried to introduce myself properly, as anyone should in an election, the president, vice president and secretary didn’t present themselves at all before the vote. They didn’t explain who they were, what they planned to change, or what they intended to bring to the community in terms of transparency and accountability. After the repeated “sit down” and “stop talking” from the old and new presidents, it became very clear what we can expect from people who behave this way. Everything except democracy, and certainly nothing resembling transparency.

If today someone tries to justify everything by talking about dues or by promising something beautiful for the future, I cannot speak for everyone, but I personally will not believe it. The new president even said he had a plan for the entrance. When someone asked why he didn’t share it, he replied that it would be discussed in another meeting. And when the question was repeated, he told us to stop talking. That is not transparency.

What happened today was very clear. The former president protected himself, and whenever there was any form of confrontation, he silenced those who disagreed. The new president behaved the same way, as if his new title gave him the authority to shut people down. It was also evident that neither of them had read the By‑Laws carefully, since they tried to silence another resident who was simply asking legitimate questions. When it became clear that they were not willing to allow any real discussion, we decided to leave. At that point, staying would have meant accepting a process that was no longer serious.

The election was essentially a closed box. Names were presented, and when I asked for their program or even a simple introduction, the new president said: “First we vote, then we get to know them.” That is not how a democratic process works. And if they only want the money and refuse to deal with people or listen, this is not the foundation of a democracy. An association that ignores its residents and silences their questions cannot claim to represent the community.

I could go on, and I am sure there will be many reactions. Some people have already told me that I am a disgrace or that I am hated, or some wispered that I have to burn to the hell (the wife of the ex vice president is always nice with me,lol) . Coming from them, it almost feels like a compliment, because these are the same people who have lost the trust of most Foxridge residents. What they still do not understand is that this is exactly the kind of behavior our community does not want. I believe in transparency and honest conduct, but from the way both presidents reacted every time there was a question they didn’t like, questions that could have exposed the narrative they were trying to sell to the room, it was clear that transparency is not in their nature.

What happens now is simple.

There is a facebook page exists, and now there is also a website www.foxridgeop.com for those who do not agree with the way this small neighborhood is being controlled. They are even considering bringing back block members. In reality, they are trying to rebuild a sort of HOA, something they can control, something where they alone decide what will happen in our neighborhood. They say they want to involve people, but only if those people are controllable. So whoever wants to be controlled can follow them. I do not want an HOA, never wanted, and this has always been the former president ’s dream and maybe for the new board because they come from the same area, but certanly not ours! And thanks to Sean, they now they are forced to use the word donations, even thoug the former president has always spoken about dues. It is not a coincidence that the new president also had a few little slips when referring to the money they want from residents, They even want to increase the amount, he said during the speach.

As for this group and what we will do next, I don’t have a fixed plan yet.

I want to involve all of you and let the community decide together.

And remember this:

According to the By‑Laws, every Foxridge resident is automatically part of the association and this cannot be cancelled. You do not have to pay anything to be considered a member. Payment is required only to vote, but not for the membership. But if the voting process continues like this, there is no point in paying at all. Whoever tells you the opposite is not telling you the truth. And if you don’t want to take my word for it, speak with an attorney or even check with Chatgtp. The bythelaws will be on this page and on the website.

So what can we do?

Your turn to tell me.

This space exists for those who want transparency, fairness and honest behavior, not for those who want control.

It is a free space that I created for everyone, a place where people can speak openly and without censorship, exactly the opposite of what we have seen from other groups that decide what you can or cannot post. Here, even those who disagree can stay and speak. But the rules are clear. Treat people with respect, and do not think that disagreement gives anyone the right to silence others. They keep writing on the website that everything is perfect, but we all know the truth.

Now it is up to us to decide what kind of community we want to be.

Change the future of Foxridge

Foxridge General Meeting – January 24, 2024
What Really Happened and What Comes Next

For those who could not attend the General Meeting, this is a clear and factual recap of what took place, and why it matters moving forward.

by Francesca De Biase Birchard