It only takes a minute. You look away, you may not hear the splash and your child is nowhere in sight. Drowning – the harsh reality of losing a child in less than one minute. Drowning is swift and silent.
According to the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA), there are approximately 4000 drowning deaths a year in the United States. The Lady Lake Police Department is committed to educating parents and caregivers about taking precautions to help end these preventable tragedies.
Florida loses more children under age five to drowning than any other state. Annually in Florida, enough children to fill three to four preschool classrooms drown and do not live to see their fifth birthday (Floridahealth.gov.)
Living in Central Florida, we are surrounded by water. Although children may know how to swim, if left unsupervised, they can drown in less than two inches of water. When participating in outdoor water activities, I encourage you to follow these safety-conscious behaviors: Continue reading
My second visit with friends for dinner at El Mezcal.
A very extensive menu to please everyone’s tastebuds. They have two outdoor seating areas, in front and rear of the restaurant, dog friendly. The interior has two sections and bar for those fabulous Margaritas and mixed drinks. This restaurant is exceptionally maintained, clean environment, beautifully decorated, excellent service, generous portions and flavorful food prepared by their chefs. I’ve lived in Texas and California, El Mezcal seems to capture a unique hybrid of the Mexican cuisine. A personal favorite is Fajitas, containing shrimp, scallops and chicken breast strips, a special marinate in a pineapple shell presentation. If you want a Five Star Experience at $-$$ prices this is the spot. It will become a destination for exceptional food, service and dining after your first experience!
Frank Turner
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My wife and I visited the Oasis Cafe. It is a mom and pop friendly atmosphere. I had some great soup and a hamburger was excellent. It was moderately priced and well prepared. My wife as well said she enjoyed the meal.
I liked the meal some much went back for lunch the next week. Again I was not disappoint ted. Good food and they had some home chips that were interesting, you should go try them.
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My review has to be about the Blue Gator. Tuesday night wings 50 cents anyway you want them. Of course there was a waiting line but the wings were worth every minute. I ate the Garlic parmigaun. I can only eat eight or nine w/ranch dressing and I’m done.
This month Trump donated his quarterly $100,000 presidential salary to rebuild our Military Cemeteries. I have not seen this in the news. Maybe they think it is not a big enough salary?
There is nothing that can explain how Donald Trump is still standing after the cruelest and most unrelenting attack that any leader of the free world has ever experienced. Someone much bigger than you and I want him right where he is and at least half of the American people want their country cleaned up. We are tired of filling the pockets of a few law breaking do nothing politicians. By the way the president did not close your business the Governors did!
They are using the Black Lives Matter Campaign to disrupt the Country. Of course Black lives matter and yes we have a few bad Police Officers, but they have been allowed by the politicians to continue to do more than one illegal incident. They never tell the people protesting that the Republicans freed the Slaves. Many soldiers of color died defending the Confederate Flag! How about the first 23 People of color were Republicans. So we need a program that show the protesters that they are being used for their vote and used to disrupt our political system because the truth is coming out and many of our Democratic leaders is going down. So distract / distract / distract. Continue reading
The CEP continues to engage and work to ensure our community keeps moving forward. We are very excited about the two items I am highlighting this month.
Amazon
I am sure most have heard the news by now, but the CEP was pleased to join the Ocala City Council and Marion County Board of County Commissioners in welcoming Amazon’s announcement that they will establish a distribution facility in the Ocala Metro.
The company has leased the 617,000 sq. ft. spec building being constructed by Red Rock Developments. This new facility will create approximately 300 jobs, all making at least $15.00 per hour from day one.
The CEP is pleased to welcome Amazon to our community. What an incredible addition to the Ocala Metro! We look forward to seeing their brand welcoming residents to the area.”
The new Amazon facility is located in the Ocala/Marion County Commerce Park along I-75. The company joins existing park tenants Chewy.com, AutoZone, and FedEx Ground which all operate logistic facilities in the park. Continue reading
Dear Friends,
It is great to be a Floridian! It is truly a blessing to live in in a state that has not been completely overrun by liberal socialists. It saddens me to see that the average working American in other parts of this country have to live and raise a family in states that do not value their labor and effort. Instead, in places like Seattle, Washington, weak leaders reward law-breakers, rioters, and looters. They allow them to take over public spaces, threaten law enforcement, and burn or destroy local businesses. This lawlessness is unacceptable, unjust and cannot be allowed to continue in our America. Their rebellion is not about injustice, or they would not acting this way. Their rebellion is against the principles that this country was founded on. Does our country have some ugly history? Yes! We know that there have been many instances in world history that mankind has not been kind to each other, but that does not mean that the guiding principles that our country was founded on are evil or unjust. Liberty and justice for all with law and order secured. This is what our country needs now, more than ever.
While those in other parts of the country continue to burn and destroy, Florida remains focused on the current mission. Get people back to work, quickly, safely and efficiently. There is nothing in the world that a little prosperity cannot cure. Floridians are not interested in destroying; they are interested in building a future. Governor DeSantis and your elected leaders in the House and Senate are doing a fantastic job, and Florida is in a good shape to bounce back quickly from the economic damage of COVID-19 and get us back on track. Continue reading
July 4th – 244 years! Now and Forever!
“Questions Not Asked & Questions Not Answered”.
Readers ask a lot of questions, but, often, I don’t have (informed) answers!
Q-Was the ‘Declaration of Independence’ signed by citizens of the United States of America?
AISI-The eight ‘signers’ were all Englishmen who were born in the ‘colonies’?
Q Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
AISI-Apparently many of the most meaningful lines in the Declaration of Independence were written by George Mason from Virginia. One example is “all men are born equally free and independent.” Continue reading
Take precautions the COVID-19 is spiking in Marion County.
Photo provided by Department of Health in Marion County: Florida Department of Health in Marion County Community Health Nurse Gina Rohr speaks to a resident about the testing process before being swabbed for COVID-19 on June 16 at the department’s drive-through test site. The department tests individuals for COVID-19 both at its facility and at off-site locations. Staff tested close to 400 individuals today at Stonecrest, a local 55+ community.
OCALA, Fla.-The Department of Health in Marion County is reporting 331 cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of this afternoon. The most recent individuals confirmed to have the virus are:
- 22-year-old male from Belleview
- 22-year-old female from Ocala
- 30-year-old male from Ocala
- 33-year-old male from Ocala
- 53-year-old male from Belleview
- 60-year-old female from Ocala
Ex-Chief Chris McKinstry
By TomL
There are Rumors flying around that the Ex-Chief is suing the Town of Lady Lake for age discrimination. It was also in a online news cast. At press time the Town has not been served. So right now it is a rumor on June 25th at 12 noon.
This is a long time battle between Ex-Chief McKinstry and the Town Manager Kris Kollgaard. McKinstry stepped down in 2018 after several heated Town Meetings. Town Manager Kris Kollgaard said the Chief was not following regulations or rules of his contract and they had irreconsilable differences. The Ex-Chief answered to the Town Manager according to the Town Council. One thing led to another and the Chief was forced out. Two of the five Town Council sided with the Chief and three did not so it was over.
Recently when the Town Manager gave notice sources say the Ex-Chief was suing the Town for age discrimination. The ex-chief did file a complaint with Florida Commission on Human Relations claiming age discrimination and they came back with a ruling of no reasonable cause to believe that there was any age discrimination.The Town does not seem to know anything about the suit. There is no information at press time that the Town of Lady Lake has been served.
Inverness Florida Lady Lake Chamber holds Ribbon Cutting for HNR Gunworks. HNR Gunworks celebrated their 4th year Anniversary with a Ribbon Cutting and customer appreciation BBQ. Conveniently located at 3238 South Florida Avenue in Inverness, FL, they are a SOT Class 3 licensed dealer, the only one in the Inverness area.
Kris Kolgaard Lady Lake Town Manager
by TomL
Kris Kollgaard Town Manager of eleven years has notified the Town Council June 16th that she will not be renewing her contract as Town Manager. Kollgaard said she would stay on until they get another Town Manager, then she will step down to Town Clerk. Kollgaard has been doing both jobs and she wants to just do Town Clerk job. Kollgaard said she wanted to spend more time with her family and kind of wined down from the stress that goes with the Town Manager job.
There is a organization of retired Town Managers that will assist the council’s search for a new manager at no charge to the Town.
To Kris Kollgaard from TomL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!
