Mission BBQ (stylized as MISSION BBQ) is an American barbecue restaurant chain based in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Bill Kraus and Steve Newton opened the first location on September 11, 2011, as a way to support the military, police, firefighters, and first responders.
I must have been a sleep at the wheel. I have never been to Mission BBQ. When I try to tell people about my new experience at Mission BBQ they they have already been there. I thought it was a best kept secret. It was not! I had the best brisket on a bun than I have had in years. You could get it wet or lean. The wet had some marbling and was very moist and tender, I will do that again. I will go online and see what else they have to offer but the people were friendly, the service was out of sight and the food was over the wall.
Ocala, Florida (August 29, 2023) – Kevin T. Sheilley, Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership (CEP) President & CEO, and Tamara Fleischhaker, Chief Experience Officer, have been designated as a Certified Chamber Executives (CCE) by ACCE, the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.
ACCE is an association based in Alexandria, Va., that has over 1,600 chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations as members, representing more than 9,000 professionals in the industry. The CCE program assesses and tests the applicant’s knowledge of core chamber management areas —management, planning and development, membership, communications and revenue and operations. Continue reading
By TomL
Spend money with your home boys! We have a mini farm in Dunnellon Florida, thirty five years ago we had a local contractor build our house and at the time we said use local contractors later it paid off…I have been practicing “buying home town” for years. It pays off!
We had a electrical problem this month when a short in an out building caused my breaker box in the house to flip and could not be reset. In taking it out we found it fried, it was a one of a kind 150 amp Baker. Continue reading
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!
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
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
This week, I teamed up with renowned crime fighter and victims’ advocate John Walsh and the Florida Association of Crime Stoppers for a new statewide public-safety initiative. We are encouraging Floridians to be proactive in helping law enforcement solve cases by reporting crime using **TIPS.
**TIPS is our state’s anonymous tipline. Before launching this line, Floridians needed to look up the specific region’s Crime Stoppers number to report a crime—there are 27 different offices each with separate phone numbers.
But now, by simply dialing **TIPS on a cellphone, citizens are automatically rerouted to the nearest regional Crime Stoppers office. Crime Stoppers USA has also adopted the phone number for nationwide use!
Now, anyone in the United States can report crime anonymously with this easy-to-remember number and possibly collect a reward for tips that lead to an arrest. Continue reading
Each Wednesday | 5 – 6 PM
June | Fort King National Historic Landmark |3925 E. Fort King St.
July | Scott Springs Park | 2825 SW 24th Ave.
August | Heritage Nature Conservancy | 2005 NE Third St.
September | Fort King National Historic Landmark |3925 E. Fort King St.
October | Heritage Nature Conservancy | 2005 NE Third St.
November | Scott Springs Park | 2825 SW 24th Ave.
December | Wetland Recharge Park | 2105 NW 21st. St.
Join the Ocala Park Rangers every week for Wildlife Wednesdays. Each week discover different native animals and explore their unique Florida habitats.
Saturday, Sept. 30 | 6 – 9 PM | Ages 5+ | $10 per person
How does an entire command go missing on their way to Fort King? Who was really to blame for the attack in 1835? Hear from the legends who witnessed the event at Legends of the Fort.
This guided lantern tour takes you back in time at Ocala’s Seminole War historic site. Meet the legends and hear the tales of a time gone by during this unique event.
Tours last approximately one hour with groups starting every 30 minutes. Each group is limited to a maximum of 20 people per group.
Tickets MUST be purchased in advance so reserve your time slot today!
For additional information, please visit our website or call 352.368.5533.
Dear Neighbor,
The last two weeks have been trying in North Central Florida—first with the expected hurricane and then with the aftermath. After visiting all of our communities and hearing from emergency management officials, small business owners, residents, and leaders, one thing is clear: our district is strong and resilient.
In Cedar Key and Horseshoe Beach, homes and businesses were washed away in just a couple of hours. Further inland, extreme wind and water damage ripped buildings from their foundations and flooded homes. Our agricultural producers—some of the hardest-hit after Idalia—saw fields flooded, crops demolished, and equipment damaged. Despite all of these challenges, we’re so proud of how our neighbors worked to support each other. We have a long way to go, but we are stronger when we work together. Continue reading
