Ocala News

Leo Magiera flew 21 missions as a Waist Gunner over Italy in WWII. That means the middle of the plane. Which probably was the hot spot.

He was born September 5th, 1923 in Illinois outside of Chicago and was raised on a farm. One if 8 or 9 children. Polish descent. He never married and moved some 38 years or so ago to Florida. Loves animals. He was our pet sitter until he has to give up this car.

This is the second year hosting the Health Expo Fundraiser for breast cancer. Our VIPcare primary care physician, Dr. Stephen Seecharan, (highlighted with his staff in the pictures below) graciously agreed to campaign for a second year as the Real Men Wear Pink candidate.  Last year, we raised $4,625 dollars for the American Cancer Society and this year we have raised $5,500 so far. The attendance at the Health Expo Fundraiser for breast cancer last year was 90 people, this year we had 110 community members attend this event. ALL the proceeds went to the American Cancer Society.

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This is a celebration of pets and the people who love and care for them!

The SRFofOcala is proud to showcase this annual event which features a vast array of services and products, food trucks, music, and demonstrations. Both dogs and kids of all ages enjoyed a fun-filled day!

The event is FREE TO THE PUBLIC and proceeds will benefit the local Meals on Wheels program and Marion County Animal Services. The people loved it! The people loved it and two charity  received help.

(Ocala, Florida) – The Senior Resource Foundation of Ocala (SRFofOcala,) a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, held the 3rd Annual Bark In The Park – A Doggy Expo on Sunday, October 15 from 1 PM until 4 PM at the Ocala Downtown Market (403 SE Osceola Ave.) Pet enthusiasts and owners gathered at a joyous, free public event to celebrate the special bond between pets and people. On Friday, October 19th, the Senior Resource Foundation of Ocala presented two $3,000 checks. One check was to Jennifer Martinez, the Executive Director of Marion Senior Services, and the other to Kyle Lynch, the Animal Services Director of Marion County Animal Services. The money was donated by local companies and individuals to support these two remarkable agencies in the Ocala area. SRFofOcala has given $20,000 in the last three years. The Senior Resource Foundation of Ocala is designed to include seniors in all aspects of 21st-century life. From active participation in fundraising events to learning today’s technology, we encourage an engaged presence and a forward-looking perspective.

Photos by CKJ-13 Kay Johnson

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Health Fair

First Friday Art Walk

First Friday Art Walk will take place in Downtown Ocala Friday, November 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. First Friday Art Walk occurs on the first Friday of each month, September through May. The following activities will be included in November’s event: Continue reading

Saturday, Oct. 21 | 7 – 9 PM
All Ages | Free

Goblins and ghouls return to the Fort King for an evening of spine-tingling tales. Bring your own chair and listen to stories of the strange and eerie. The darker it gets, the spookier the stories!

Presented in partnership with Ocala Recreation and Parks, Marion County Public System, and Ocali Storytelling Guild, Inc.

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Ferrentino & Sons presenting their Business at OBL Ocala Business Leaders Breakfast meeting. They are a local builder that has a very large following. They support OBL and many other organizations. Congratulations Ferrentino and Sons!

50 YEARS! Wow! Thank you to those who celebrated 50 years with us. The outpour of love and support that was in the room that night is such a testament to the community that we are so fortunate to be a part of. The work of our mission is only made possible by the generosity and compassion of those who support us, and for that, we cannot thank you enough!

Thank you CKJphotos13 for capturing these beautiful moments! Thank you Tom James, Commissioner Craig Curry, Dr. Hank Harrell, AARP Florida’s Jeff Johnson, Florida Department of Elder Affairs Secretary Michelle Branham, United Way of Marion County’s Bob Haight, our Staff, Volunteers, and everyone who made this night so incredibly special.

We look forward to the next 50 years!

Photos by CKJ-13 Kay Johnson

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Horses 4 Warriors focus on equine therapy for veterans with PTSD in the Ocala area. Ocala, has the community spirit, all while making a meaningful difference in the lives of our beloved Veterans and Equine Residents in Central Florida. They are a non-profit group that’s purpose is helping Veterans with PTSD and to raise awareness about mental health.

The event started with the Color Guard and Judith Larrence singing the National Anthem. What a great voice singing a great song! Thank You Judith. The event was held at the Ocala Downtown Market. Rick Stevens started the nonprofit just a few months ago, to focus on equine therapy for veterans with PTSD. He said this was the organization’s first major event in Ocala. Rick dedicated the event to Billy Rowe. Rick said they may try to have the next event at Veteran park. Veteran form a bond with the horses and it’s a traumatic experience. I would say in some cases life saving connection they may not have ever felt in their life,”. Rick says the issue is close to his heart because he said he deals with it himself. Rick sats  “I’ve got PTSD and had some stuff happen in my life and a horse saved my life,” said Stevens. “I bonded with the horse, the horse bonded with me and he kept me alive.”

At the event people were split up into teams and played corn hole. The winners were given a custom set of boards, hand-painted by artist.

One team drove from Dunnellon to help the cause. “I never put an amount on it, if we make a dollar I’m okay with that, it’s about getting the awareness out and a lot of people have really stepped up,” Stevens thank all that came and showed support. Watch for the next event in this newspaper.

Photos by CKJ-13 Kay Johnson

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Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) is the professional society supporting the women and men who lead local, regional, statewide and international chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations. Our membership includes more than 1,600 business/civic organizations worldwide. We provide our members with information resources, thought leadership, education programs, original research, benchmarking, retirement security, and access to a network of peers.

The Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership (CEP) was created to be a one-stop hub for the community’s business attraction, creation and retention efforts. The CEP’s mission is to be THE catalyst for a prosperous community. The 2020 ACCE National Chamber of the Year, the CEP has directly impacted the announced creation of nearly 11,000 new jobs and more than $1.6 billion in capital investment and is seeking an additional 5,000 jobs and $1 billion in investment by 2027. For more information, visit: www.OcalaCEP.com.

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CEP – Click to learn more

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