{Having owned a waterfront house in Florida, I can say this. If a conservation non profit was to come in and build a boat dock that infringed on my water rights, you best believe it would start a war.
I'm not saying it's OK to get the guns involved.
But these non profits come in and build stuff and violate neighbor's property rights.
That's just not a good neighbor.
And I worked too hard for my house to allow people to come in and act that way.}
Griff, absolutely!
here's some more facts firstly, Dickey WAS a good neighbor and in fact spoke in favor of the lovely old mansion to be turned over to the county when the eldery homeowner past.
2- these are not kids! these are the richest of the richest Sarasota spoiled high school brats and the extremely arrogant number 1 row team in the Nation, parents mover here from all over the world to send their spoiled rich little darlings to school.
3- there r written and unwritten rules when it comes to water rights AND good Sailor manners!
4- These "kids" and the coach that failed to supervise them, had been tormenting Donna & Dickey yelling and demoralizing them thru megaphones. Shame on them, good manners do not cost a penny, these "kids" have more dollars then sense.
5- the mansion is also being used for wedding and private parties, blasting crap and disco all hours of the night and day, then calling the po po when Dickey plugs in and plays, in HIS own hard earned every penny bringing the multitudes JOY back yard and garden.
6- now this is simply imho, The coach outsmarted them, egging thm into an arrest and lawsuit, he pushed their buttons and Donna was stupid enuf to take the bait, she;s a Jersey girl, poiting a empty gun at someone in Jersey is taken as what it is, nothing more than bs. Same as it would be in BKLYN. Dickey being a Southern boy, has better gun manners, simply lays his empty rifle next to his lawn chair. Most if not all Southern boy around here, carry.
7- oh, I cant repeat as this last comment came directly from one of the "kids" on the boat, a NY kid, that had the sense to duck first, not continue the assault of words on Dickey & Donna, but rather sided with them. Fact! right from the "kids' mouth. I suspect, tho this I don't know as fact, it will come out at trial, as will more about the rest of the "kids" & coach 's continuous assaults for years. NY kid will outsmart all of them.
8- Coach outsmarted Dickey & Donna, egged them into this last , foolish , and they say ,drunken, blow, then used technology/cell phone to record.
9- If Dickey & Donna failed to camera up, and cant show the continuous harassment, charges are serious and will cost them dearly, but if they r still drinking and /or using, may be a blessing in disguise, if they clean up. That has always been my prayer for them both. I love them, they were always good , kind and especially good to my little girl and me.
I have to get to work, still paying for pre-retirement to show Heddy a good time, but hash above out for a bit, a few facts to know, facts. You cant believe everything you read in the paper, but you all knew that, right? there r 2 sides to every story, Just sayin.
Carol, glad you posted that. You are down there and know. I see same but not stuff in Montana, with some non profits. They give charity a bad name.
Nobody I have seen posting here has said what happened with the gun is OK. People standing up and rallying how wrong it was and don't downplay it, well, y'all are fighting imaginary rhetorical opponents.
Cooked for and slept over at Dickey & Donna's numerous times.And i can tell ya first hand what has & is goin on next to them is a cryin shame/nightmare.It ain't right ,no matter how ya slice it.Dickey is very close to the land & spirit's.When he built his little hunt cabin up south of Macon years back,he'd go up and spend time before the sun came up,as it came up,went down,etc etc.Feelin out the lay,star pattern's,and on it goes.As well with his home now,,,well not to the degree with his cabin i guess.But him and Donna's place is a gem.A HUGE bougainvillea cascades the courtyard when your comin to the thick hand cut wooden front door,which is like a spanish castle entrance.Koi ponds ,buddah statue ,,i mean man i could go on and on.The spirit runs very deep in and all around.And to have what was and is supposed to be a conservation area next to the property,turned into a people hollering & laughing loud,horns honking etc with sometimes 150-200 kid's putting canoes in and out and goin right in front and along side your home that you paid million's for is flat out WRONG! So ya'll go on ahead and verse your takes,thoughts,judgements etc on what went down.Like ol Hank Jr once said,,,your the only one that you are screwing,,,when you put down what you don't understand.And the line of,,well with his money ,why not just sell and move.Please ,,,give it up!
Some things change while others stay the same.
The lay of the land has changed, Dickey has stayed the same.
Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Yet nothing was going to change what it had become, right or wrong.
Sometimes you have to move on down the line. Sometimes you get to do it by choice, other times by force.
Sometimes you have to surrender to the situation and quit the fight. They were never going to win this battle.
Now look at what they have done, picked up a gun and pointed it at some kids. Pushed to the point of no return.
It's time to stop fighting and move on down the line. This isn't their paradise anymore. They will surely find another.
The level of harsh opinions on Dickey amazes me on this site sometimes.
"They"? Dickey didn't point a gun at anyone.
Sure Dickey stayed the same as the lay of the land didn't change. Hundreds of kids, weddings and other events moved next door. Why should he change? Why just accept that? I guarantee if that happened to you, you would feel the same as would anyone.
People are funny how easily they say "just move on". Exactly who is going to buy a place next to that insanity? Also how much money will they stand to lose because of this? I would love to see the people commenting react to their real estate investment (home) plummeting in value. As if anyone would be fine with it. I know that I wouldn't.
People make this situation sound so easy. Just pack up and move on down the road. I'm sure that you would accept losing your huge investment and just "stop the fight and move along".
The Dickey bashing is all based on speculation and BS hype. The guy didn't do a thing.
I have met him on many occasions and Dickey is a great guy. Perfect? No. Who is? But I would take him over Gregg and Butch (RIP) in a second. Both of them screwed over fans multiple times and yet Dickey gets sh*t on. Based on what? So far the only thing in this tale that Dickey has done is to try and fight legally and crank his guitar to disrupt weddings that are clearly disrupting him.
Conservation site with hundreds of kids, weddings and social events? What exactly are they protecting?
Everyone seems quite comfortable giving the Betts money away. Would you do the same with yours?
Thanks Luke for some sanity, information and compassion.
Hadn't seen Dickey specific bashing here in this thread (Joyful did I guess). I've mostly read balanced opinions where people acknowledge pointing a gun at kids is very bad (with no one blaming Dickey for his wife's actions), but posters also feeling real bad for the Betts family situation there.
Over reaction on my part. Apologies to Joyful and anyone else. Years of Dickey bashing has taken its toll I guess. Stand by what I said but we are all allowed opinions. But he didn't point a gun at kids.
So much Dickey bashing over the years based on opinions of the other members and not actually based upon knowing/meeting the guy.
Anyone in his situation would feel screwed and the real estate angle is massive.
Thanks for bringing me to earth, Tim.
Over reaction on my part. Apologies to Joyful and anyone else. Years of Dickey bashing has taken its toll I guess. Stand by what I said but we are all allowed opinions. But he didn't point a gun at kids.
So much Dickey bashing over the years based on opinions of the other members and not actually based upon knowing/meeting the guy.
Anyone in his situation would feel screwed and the real estate angle is massive.
Thanks for bringing me to earth, Tim.
Stand Up Move 
I get, ummm, passionate, yeah, that's the word, ha on this for same I think, but on this one, it tripped buttons on the P&Z aspect and property rights. I was threatened with arrest last year over a city issue on them breaking own rules, re construction around historic trees (excavator large root cuts vs saw cut with arborist involvement) and I was downtown at city with a 6" tree root in hand; "Sir, drop that tree root" hahahahaha so I am ready to fight The Bastids at the drop of a hat
As God said, when you are persecuted flee to another place. There are many, many places along the Gulf coastline where they could find more suitable housing. They do not have to keep going thru all the drama. One poster suggested list the home as 'rock star owned' and it will sell.
Life doesn't work in the should zone. They should do this or that. What they are doing is what matters, and what the rowers have been doing has been to disruptive to the Bett's lives. I saw their website and can understand why having hundreds of them out on the water could stress someone out. Dickey needs to go Southbound and find a better place for them.
https://twitter.com/sarasotaCrew
https://twitter.com/hashtag/sculling?src ="hash"
https://twitter.com/PlantHighRowing
This is Tampa, don't move there.
[Edited on 4/7/2017 by gina]
{Having owned a waterfront house in Florida, I can say this. If a conservation non profit was to come in and build a boat dock that infringed on my water rights, you best believe it would start a war.
I'm not saying it's OK to get the guns involved.
But these non profits come in and build stuff and violate neighbor's property rights.
That's just not a good neighbor.
And I worked too hard for my house to allow people to come in and act that way.}Griff, absolutely!
here's some more facts firstly, Dickey WAS a good neighbor and in fact spoke in favor of the lovely old mansion to be turned over to the county when the eldery homeowner past.
2- these are not kids! these are the richest of the richest Sarasota spoiled high school brats and the extremely arrogant number 1 row team in the Nation, parents mover here from all over the world to send their spoiled rich little darlings to school.
3- there r written and unwritten rules when it comes to water rights AND good Sailor manners!
4- These "kids" and the coach that failed to supervise them, had been tormenting Donna & Dickey yelling and demoralizing them thru megaphones. Shame on them, good manners do not cost a penny, these "kids" have more dollars then sense.
5- the mansion is also being used for wedding and private parties, blasting crap and disco all hours of the night and day, then calling the po po when Dickey plugs in and plays, in HIS own hard earned every penny bringing the multitudes JOY back yard and garden.
6- now this is simply imho, The coach outsmarted them, egging thm into an arrest and lawsuit, he pushed their buttons and Donna was stupid enuf to take the bait, she;s a Jersey girl, poiting a empty gun at someone in Jersey is taken as what it is, nothing more than bs. Same as it would be in BKLYN. Dickey being a Southern boy, has better gun manners, simply lays his empty rifle next to his lawn chair. Most if not all Southern boy around here, carry.
7- oh, I cant repeat as this last comment came directly from one of the "kids" on the boat, a NY kid, that had the sense to duck first, not continue the assault of words on Dickey & Donna, but rather sided with them. Fact! right from the "kids' mouth. I suspect, tho this I don't know as fact, it will come out at trial, as will more about the rest of the "kids" & coach 's continuous assaults for years. NY kid will outsmart all of them.
8- Coach outsmarted Dickey & Donna, egged them into this last , foolish , and they say ,drunken, blow, then used technology/cell phone to record.
9- If Dickey & Donna failed to camera up, and cant show the continuous harassment, charges are serious and will cost them dearly, but if they r still drinking and /or using, may be a blessing in disguise, if they clean up. That has always been my prayer for them both. I love them, they were always good , kind and especially good to my little girl and me.
I have to get to work, still paying for pre-retirement to show Heddy a good time, but hash above out for a bit, a few facts to know, facts. You cant believe everything you read in the paper, but you all knew that, right? there r 2 sides to every story, Just sayin.
AMEN! Hope you & Kevin are doin well these day's.Lookin back,,,,i should have retreated instead of eggin thing's on.Was not lookin at the big picture.Not throwin tit for tat,who said this who said that.It was a dark & hurtful time.And goin thru almost losin our only child 7 yrs ago,,,i know now.Had 2 mild nervous breakdown's thru it all.Anyway,,just wishin ya'll the best.
Coastline is a limited resource and should not be exclusive to only those who can afford it and limit access. As a property owner i can empathize but one thing is true in real estate, if you dont own the view dont get used to it.
I'll say it again...you just have to bow out and market the home. This move on Mrs. Betts part was the trump card. There's no going back now. I figured these weren't "kids"...but like Carol alluded to...hyper-wealthy punk kids. Now that this has happened...these entitled sh*ts will ONLY up the ante...I'm sure they are thinking "GAME ON", and will maliciously up their game to taunt the Betts. Elite brats on not...you point a scoped hunting rifle at a group and theyre gonna take offense. I'm sure the worst of them has a plan to elicit a similar response. And if this happens again...its serious jail-time. Therefore...you have to move along. Can't risk that. Who would want to stay now anyway? I'm sure Dickey and his wife have spent years building this home into a spiritual paradise...but it seems paradise is lost. Serenity lies elsewhere. So maybe the Bettses take a loss...it happens everyday in the real world.
What Donna did was incredibly stupid; and I understand that she was heavily provoked...intented or not. A lot of "kids" today are cunning and malicious and everyone of them is outfitted with a Hi-Def video camera. And for the record...I'm a team-Dickey guy all the way. Dude provided me with my most spiritual concert experiences (wasn't old enough to see Duane). I'm simply pulling for them and don't want them to live out their Golden Years stressed and fighting a battle they can't win. What kind of serenity is that?
I'll say it again...you just have to bow out and market the home. This move on Mrs. Betts part was the trump card. There's no going back now. I figured these weren't "kids"...but like Carol alluded to...hyper-wealthy punk kids. Now that this has happened...these entitled sh*ts will ONLY up the ante...I'm sure they are thinking "GAME ON", and will maliciously up their game to taunt the Betts. Elite brats on not...you point a scoped hunting rifle at a group and theyre gonna take offense. I'm sure the worst of them has a plan to elicit a similar response. And if this happens again...its serious jail-time. Therefore...you have to move along. Can't risk that. Who would want to stay now anyway? I'm sure Dickey and his wife have spent years building this home into a spiritual paradise...but it seems paradise is lost. Serenity lies elsewhere. So maybe the Bettses take a loss...it happens everyday in the real world.
What Donna did was incredibly stupid; and I understand that she was heavily provoked...intented or not. A lot of "kids" today are cunning and malicious and everyone of them is outfitted with a Hi-Def video camera. And for the record...I'm a team-Dickey guy all the way. Dude provided me with my most spiritual concert experiences (wasn't old enough to see Duane). I'm simply pulling for them and don't want them to live out their Golden Years stressed and fighting a battle they can't win. What kind of serenity is that?
Agree 100%. However what you are saying about moving on,is like asking Clint in Gran Torino for him and the family next door to bow out and let the gang control and take over their home and neighborhood. The time,spirit,blood sweat and tears Dickey and Donna have put into their sacred ground,run's so deep most folk can't even begin to grasp. It ain't like just hire mover's to take down,pack up and move on down the road of life.One visit to their home and property,and a stroll thru the home,would put what i am saying into a whole nother cosmos. Add to that what Butch did,Gregg's health,Dickey goin on 74 i think and all the memories etc,is like asking Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams to say the hell with building the field for the spirit's. Not being sarcastic,which kinda come's naturally,,lol.But most here on this forum have never sat one on one with Betts at a fire,had supper in his home,spent the night on indian blankets his wife brought down for ya etc.Or listened to the man tell old stories of the road,band,and Peyote Priest.I ain't braggin or floatin a holier than thou gig here.Just sayin this ain't a this ones take,that ones take forum discussion on what Dickey & Donna should do.Bein a fan and listenin to the music all your life ain't like spendin time with the man one on one till 3 a.m .Modern day laws on some note's suck.Although there are many that protect us all as a whole. And winding this ramble up i'll flash on to what Josey said when he spat on the 2 tu*d roll's that were layin on the ground and the kid said ,,Josey!Don't ya think we oughta give em a proper burial? And Josey's reply was ,,The hell with them fella's! Buzzards and worms gotta eat too.
And in case some ain't noticed.I ain't a proper grammar graduate.I write,throw down some comma's,spaces etc ===& let er roll on.So if some can't getta hold on what i am tryin ta get across.Well just go grab ya a Yoo Hoo,a sacka Frito's and watch Gunsmoke.Just don't que up no hip hop,rap crap on the hi-fi.
I hear you Luke..... What about the years, and the love, and the tending and respect of the land and peoples right to an enjoyable day on their hard earned land. It is beyond wrong to ruin the place of a persons castle.....
BUT
As you said, what, almost 74? I am getting older and what weighs into my decisions is time now. "Starting Over", abode-wise, would be a big task at 74. Well, so you have to hire people.... But in a dilemma as this, you put ethics, morality, transgressions all aside. You weigh probabilities.
Can the Betts (and neighbors) win new rules of operation put in place by the municiplality? MAYBE.
Will that take time? YES
Will that take money? YES
Will personal stress be huge during that process? YES X10
Could I lose? YES
Could I win? MAYBE
Would I still have neighbors with animosity? Most Likely
I would move, all the attachment and magic in the world is not peace of mind either. I know it is like giving in, but oh well. I actually agree with Gina on this one (amazement) haha
If you want the ability of peace an no intrusion, 10 acres square is like a minimum, and 40 works better. With 10, 660x660, at least your home could be 300ish feet from your boundary line., and if adjoining tens, your neighbor will have a buffer also to the line, so houses would be maybe 5-600 feet apart. And that isn't HUGE......
Or buy in a subdivision with rules I suppose....
Luke...you make a compelling argument. I've always enjoyed your posts detailing your time with Dickey...that's cool as hell! If it were me...I'd start searching for a dream estate that provides uber-privacy and spend my remaining years in tranquility working to reestablish the magic that you were fortunate to be a part of. But that's me. I don't know Brother Dickey but I'll bet he is stubborn (I KNOW he's a tough SOB) and he'll go down swinging, lol. I just hope he enjoys the battle...also gotta keep his wife in-line unfortunately. She sounds like a fierce one, lol. Great analogy about Eastwood in Gran Torino by the way...
Question for those suggesting to move on. How do you sell multi-million dollar property when 200 kids have moved next door? Would you buy a home/property that was beside a "conservation" area that had hundreds of kids daily and weddings/social events on the weekends? Would you drop millions for that or search elsewhere? People with that kind of money won't.
Move on is easy to say and not so easy to do.
Coastline is a limited resource and should not be exclusive to only those who can afford it and limit access. As a property owner i can empathize but one thing is true in real estate, if you dont own the view dont get used to it.
Believe it or not, I agree with you completely.
Don't go getting used to it.
Heh heh.
😉
Question for those suggesting to move on. How do you sell multi-million dollar property when 200 kids have moved next door? Would you buy a home/property that was beside a "conservation" area that had hundreds of kids daily and weddings/social events on the weekends? Would you drop millions for that or search elsewhere? People with that kind of money won't.
Move on is easy to say and not so easy to do.
I would list at a fair appraised price and find out what is true. If it doesn't sell in a moving RE market, that proves any value was essentially killed, since it is not marketable. If it will sell, but for a reduced value due to activity, then that also proves a loss. Both might play into a lawsuit, as it would prove damages incurred by both permitting and activities.
If I was stuck, and couldn't sell, I would paint the effer pink and purple as a statement and I would be kinda bitter.
Seriously, if you can't sell, rent it. Someone will rent.
Question for those suggesting to move on. How do you sell multi-million dollar property when 200 kids have moved next door? Would you buy a home/property that was beside a "conservation" area that had hundreds of kids daily and weddings/social events on the weekends? Would you drop millions for that or search elsewhere? People with that kind of money won't.
Move on is easy to say and not so easy to do.
I would list at a fair appraised price and find out what is true. If it doesn't sell in a moving RE market, that proves any value was essentially killed, since it is not marketable. If it will sell, but for a reduced value due to activity, then that also proves a loss. Both might play into a lawsuit, as it would prove damages incurred by both permitting and activities.
If I was stuck, and couldn't sell, I would paint the effer pink and purple as a statement and I would be kinda bitter.
LMAO!
The air photos say it all. "Guess what, you've been F'd"
Times have changed: He has two choices:
Deal with it.
or
Deal it.
But. Puhless. Cut the crybaby waving guns crap.
Would this even be news if it was Mr and Mrs Smith?
nope.
Hard to believe this thread has over one-third of the number of posts on the Butch Trucks one.
The subject certainly seems to float some people's boats....
[Edited on 4/8/2017 by Shavian]
Good to see Luke posting here-hearing Luke always reminds me to tune into the spirit of Dickey...so I get that these kids are a bunch of brats and they successfully goaded Donna into doing something really dumb.I hope she gets a light no jail sentence and that whether the Betts move or not,they can find the peace and tranquility that they so deserve.Dickey has brought great joy and harmony to the world through his music...he deserves only good in this stage of life.
First time i commented in this thread. Sad what happened. What Donna did is wrong and lawyer wise the Betts family probably will have to focus on her defense in or out of court; but if they find time and finances (and a laywer who is an expert in that field) they should try and fight their neighbours back in court again. I have zero knowledge of US or Florida State law in this matter but "Conservation Area" and all the recreational activity going on there doesn't make any sense. Almost sounds like some tax scam or legal loopehole. Conservation Area sounds like a set up to protect nature or culture and not a lucrative way to organise weddings, water recreation with lot's of people on a relatively small spot. That sounds like Spring Break in a birds reserve. Maybe the Betts's should try piranhas to chase them away 😉 .
Hard to believe this thread has over one-third of the number of posts on the Butch Trucks one.
The subject certainly seems to float some people's boats....
I guess that is a negative (I am reading between your lines) to you. I don't judge people that DON"T post here so not sure why someone would people that do. And since you posted here, not sure where you fall.
Other than a respectful RIP, I don't post on any Butch thread. There are thing I could say that might offend, so better not said. It was an unpleasant event (to say it mildly) and maybe many don't feel comfortable posting about it.
Much of this thread is about social issues of zoning and permitting and such. I guess that belongs on some other website?
at any rate, thanks for the opinion, however sideline it may be.
[Edited on 4/8/2017 by Shavian]
I guess that is a negative (I am reading between your lines) to you. I don't judge people that DON"T post here so not sure why someone would people that do. And since you posted here, not sure where you fall.
Neither a bad thing nor a good thing - just surprising that such a subject should be so popular.
I suppose this is how it will be in the post-ABB era.
Most posters on the Butch thread managed to avoid discussing the event and it was largely made up of people expressing their shock and sadness, conveying their sympathies and paying tribute to Butch.
But no offence intended - just, as I say, an expression of surprise.
Question for those suggesting to move on. How do you sell multi-million dollar property when 200 kids have moved next door? Would you buy a home/property that was beside a "conservation" area that had hundreds of kids daily and weddings/social events on the weekends? Would you drop millions for that or search elsewhere? People with that kind of money won't.
Move on is easy to say and not so easy to do.
When, for any reason, a property is not going to sell in the normal market, there are real estate companies that will buy it for cash and sell it later, sometimes to private investors. In New York, ERA Real Estate is one of those places. I am sure there are things in Florida.
Russ Whitney is a millionaire real estate investor in Cape Coral Florida, he helps aspiring people who want to make money in real estate learn about the business, does seminars. Someone like that could probably give some good advice, since it is high end real estate.
The people who do Flip this House or International Real Estate trading places, are another possibility. It could be marketed as an international temporary home for well heeled travelers to the US.
The Bett's probably do not want to move, but IF the situation is untenable and there is nothing that can be done to deal with the noise, intrusion of hundreds of rowers, then they would have to modify their house with soundproofing so they don't hear them, and not use their backyard during the times of the rowing classes. If that is an acceptable trade-off to stay in their home, then that is their decision.
They have been dealing with this for years now. Way to long.
Sure there are plenty of companies willing to buy properties like that - at far below market value.
I don't think Dickey is all that keen to lose a lifetime investment to some info-commercial real estate scammer. I could be wrong though.
Maybe the conservation group in question will buy the property. Maybe that is what that group wanted all along.
Interesting quote from Kirk West on Dickey's home in an interview that was published today that I will just leave out there:
The chapter “Dinner at Dickey’s: Osprey, Fla. 1999” is especially compelling.....
KW: ....Dickey enjoyed having the band to his home. We shot there two or three times. It was always a nice hang. The atmosphere was always quiet, serene. It felt very rural in 1999. It’s a shame to hear what’s going on down there these days. I just feel bad for everybody.
Dickey should build a barn, perform there like Levon Helm used to, w/special guests every weekend w/ tickets available to the public.
He could also do weddings at that barn/chapel, get a few other players and be the house band. the nature center could not compete with that! Get a non denominational person to officiate the ceremonies, then have a good ole Texas/California barbecue for the attendees. Even if you just put up a tent like a pavilion, like in Field of Dreams, if you build it they will come!
