On November 20, 2019, in News Releases, by Staff
Nearly $3 million in funding dedicated to career and technical education remains available
Tallahassee, Fla.– Today, Governor Ron DeSantis and Department of Education (DOE) Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran announced the school districts, universities, colleges and private institutions who have been awarded with the Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant.
During the 2019 Legislative Session, Governor DeSantis worked with the Florida Legislature to secure historic funding for Florida’s students and families, including $10 million dedicated to career and technical education for the newly created Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant Program. The program provides competitive grants to eligible institutions to create or expand apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. Of the $10 million in state funding, nearly $3 million still remains. Continue reading
Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced and applauded the efforts of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to remove more than 3,600 invasive Burmese pythons from South Florida’s Everglades System.
This month, FWC’s Python Action Team reached a major milestone of removing 1,000 Burmese pythons from the wild in Florida. The removal of these 1,000 snakes compliments the more than 2,600 pythons removed by the SFWMD’s Python Elimination Program.
“I’m proud that our recent efforts to expedite the removal of invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades are yielding results,” said Governor DeSantis. “The removal of more than 3,600 pythons by FWC and the South Florida Water Management District is an important milestone in this fight and demonstrates that our policies are working. Together, we will continue to build on this success and do all we can to preserve and restore our environment.”
On August 7, Governor DeSantis joined FWC and the SFWMD to announce new efforts to remove pythons from the greater Everglades. The Governor directed FWC and the District to increase collaboration on a number of initiatives, including training programs, research, education campaigns and incentives for veterans to remove pythons.
The SFWMD’s Python Elimination Program and FWC’s Python Action Team were created in March and April of 2017, respectively. Both programs were designed to further engage qualified individuals with python control efforts. In recent months, FWC has doubled their number of Action Team contractors, significantly increasing the number of pythons that have been removed.
The FWC Python Action Team’s 1000th python was captured by Tom Rahill and the Swamp Apes Team in the Chekika region of Everglades National Park. It measured in at 9 feet, 5 inches long and weighed 23 pounds. The Swamp Apes Team is a group dedicated to serving U.S. veterans through serving the wilderness.
Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, in honor of Veteran’s Day, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the launch of a new military-friendly travel section on VISIT FLORIDA’s website, www.visitflorida.com/military.
The section is a consolidated source of Florida travel information for service members, veterans, and their families. The site includes information about discounts and experiences available to military members and their families, monuments and memorials, military-related events, museums and more.
“More than 1.5 million veterans call Florida home and the defense industry is one of the state’s top economic drivers,” said Governor DeSantis. “On Veteran’s Day, we recognize and observe the sacrifices of our men and women in the armed services who have dedicated their lives to preserving the principles upon which our great country was founded. Since taking office, I have made it a priority to enhance Florida’s reputation as the most veteran-friendly state in the nation. VISIT FLORIDA’s new military travel hub expands this initiative and further strengthens the bond between Florida and our nation’s heroes.”
“Florida is one of the world’s leading destinations and VISIT FLORIDA is dedicated to providing all our visitors with inspiring travel ideas,” said VISIT FLORIDA President and CEO Dana Young. “Through this new addition to our website, VISIT FLORIDA is showcasing the many military-friendly experiences available throughout the state. We are honored to provide our country’s servicemen and women with tailored visitor information, and will remain committed to ensuring military members, veterans, and their families feel welcome when creating lifelong memories in the Sunshine State.”
Florida is a diverse destination that last year attracted 127 million travelers from around the world. Tourism remains the state’s leading industry and, based on the latest economic impact study, visitors to Florida contributed $85.9 billion to the state’s economy and supported 1.5 million Florida jobs in 2017.
As the holiday season approaches, residents in our community will be gathering with family and friends to celebrate. Whether you are traveling out of town or hosting holiday festivities at home, the Lady Lake Police Department wants you to be safe. Here is a security checklist to help protect your home and family.
Before you leave town it is important to make sure your home appears occupied. Place timers on your lights and set them to turn on and off at different times. Lock your garage door and disconnect the automatic opener. Most importantly, tell a trusted neighbor that you are going to be away and ask them to dial 911 immediately if they see anyone on your property.
Here are some additional home security tips to keep in mind: Continue reading
Roma’s Italian Restaurant review…There are usually 10 to 12 of us that dine out together every week and we dine at Roma’s quite often. The food is always good and the wait staff is very friendly. Whether you are ordering a calzone, chicken cacciatore or eggplant parmigiana, you can expect a wonderful meal. Vickie is our frequent waitress and she is amazing – always getting the order & billing correct with a pleasant and friendly smile. I would recommend Roma’s to anyone in the Ocala area that wants a good Italian meal. (Off US 27 next to Publix). Ron & Elaine
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Front Porch home style cooking, very well prepared, appetizing to look at and the service was good Buuuuut they have home pies fresh made daily.
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Breakfast Go For Donuts fresh baked in house every night. Dunlop Florida.
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Terry Restaurant on Friday. Great fish sandwich or Shrimp Poor Boy.
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Mojo’s many great salads in an eatable crunchy shell with your choice of meat and dressing.
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A New Hardee’s and Taco Bell has opened in Dunnellon. They are moving and shaking in Dunnellon. I like Hardees roast beef.
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Villages area Texas Road House had a coupon in the Village Spectator in the October issue for a free Cactus Blossom. Good till 12-31-19
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A restaurant I frequent is Northgate Diner at the corner of NW 35th St and Old 301/200A/J’ville Rd. The food is good ol’ home cooking style. The service is as great as the food and very moderately priced. The owner Tammy Lolley, and has been in business for over 17 years. PS-Tammy is also a great bowler.
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Lunch at Applebee’s. I had to travel to Tampa for newspaper and order newspaper bags for the Villages papers. It went well. I pulled into the loading dock area, told the guy at the desk my name and in about three minutes I hear a forklift. I drop the tail gate on my truck and the guy slides the pallet into the truck and we left…Fast!
On the way back my wife and I stopped at Applebee’s in the newly formed Wesley Chapel area. The hostess and the waitress were very friendly and accommodating. I order a Whiskey Burger medium (no alcohol ). It was a handmade burger with cheese, lettuce, tomato and battered thin sliced onion fried crisp on top before putting the top bun half on. It was served with fries. I ordered coffee if they could assure me it would be hot…It was. My wife had a bowl of potato soup with cheese on top. It was good and thick and a house salad. Both were well prepared and were delicious. It was a good experience!
There is a new drink being served in Washington. It is called Supenacolada!
Another interesting thing I saw when I was in George Marshals Flags and Flag Poles place downtown Lady Lake the other day, he had Trump Water. It’s in a blue bottle, with red cap and a red, white and blue label. The label says Trump President 2020 with American Flags on it. I think it’s a collectible.
What in the Trump world is going on??? The following is what is going on… A kangaroo court is a court that ignores recognized standards of law or justice, and often carries little or no official standing in the territory within which it resides. The term may also apply to a court held by a legitimate judicial authority who intentionally disregards the court’s legal or ethical obligations. More…What is the meaning of the idiom kangaroo court? A self-appointed tribunal that violates established legal procedure; also, a dishonest or incompetent court of law. Continue reading
The mission of the CEP is to be the catalyst for a prosperous community and one of the primary ways we seek to deliver on this mission is by actively working to recruit new primary employers. Our current five-year goals include impacting the announced creation of 4,500 new jobs which pay an average wage which is 15% above the current County average and will result in a direct capital investment in our community of $400 million. Through the first two years (17 & 18) of this current strategic plan, we have announced 2837 new jobs paying an average wage 17% above the County average with a capital investment of $318.6 million. While this is a great start, we believe year 3 is going to end as one of the best for these measures. Continue reading
Friends,
This column comes to you from our desk in the Florida Capitol. That is right, our desk, not mine. This seat, this desk, belong to the people of Senate District 12 and it is very humbling for me to be here on your behalf today. It is never taken for granted the responsibility and trust that you have given to me to represent over 500,000 people in our great State. We get to work on some big issues, that will affect all of you, and it is very important for you to be engaged and informed in our legislative process. Continue reading
BY A.J.(Tony) Powell
Did you know that the Constitution of the United States of America limits impeachment to “Treason, Bribery, or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors”.
Unfortunately the exact meaning of the phrase “High Crimes and Misdemeanors” is not defined.
The Democrats in Washington DC are determined to “IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT!”
My understanding is that President Donald Trump is alleged to have asked the President of The Ukraine to investigate allegations of bribery and corruption in their country. Continue reading
Nothing but networking was a good event. Over 50 people attended. They had ten new people joining the networking event. It is always busy at the end of the year. A lot of discussion about businesses and what they are planning for the new year. Everyone sounded optimistic. Most were saying business is up and that is always good. As you can see by the smiles things are good. We will have more pictures next year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
