That was nine years ago. And like the Surgeners, many others are choosing to settle in Columbia County. Lake City Reporter Pinky Moore moved to Lake City more than 30 years ago and remembers when the town was much smaller. Today, she and her husband have what draws many people to Columbia County a nice home in a quiet country setting. It's the first Wednesday of the month, and about a dozen members of the Lake City Newcomers Club are gathered around a few tables at Captain Dave's Seafood Restaurant on East Baya Avenue.
Attendance is down because most club regulars are on vacation for the summer.
But those who attended the Aug. 4 meeting fit the profile of many people who are making the move to Columbia. Most club members moved to the area from South Florida, choosing to leave a part of the state that has gained a reputation for being overgrown and overcrowded, with too many buildings and too much crime. Pat and Bob Sanders are two. The couple moved to Emerald Lakes Subdivision west of Interstate 75 about a year ago from Homestead. Like most people, the couple fell in love with the local climate, the fact that North Florida experiences all four seasons but without the severity.