Applebee’s 441 Villages
I dined inside. Pretty good size restaurant and maybe six tables were occupied. They brought my place setting on a plate: knife, fork, spoon and napkins. I was asked to take them off of the tray. Interesting they took my drink order, it came on a tray. I had coffee. You take your own coffee off the tray. They take your order when they serve you. They never touch anything you are using to eat or your food.
I had fish. It was good and plentiful, fries, coleslaw which was tasty. The fish looked deep fried which is not my choice of how I like fish but it was good, a little cocktail sauce and I had a nice lunch.
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I have been informed that Sweet Tomato is closing for good. They will be missed. Their food was good, healthy and moderately priced. They always took part in community events. Again I say they will be missed! Continue reading
Experience has taught us that the best thing to do before a hurricane is prepare so you can be confident during a storm that you’ve done everything you can to keep your family safe. Even though forecasting methods and tools are improving year after year, people are still at great risk if they are not prepared. As your Chief of Police, I want you to know that during a hurricane, you can depend on the men and women of the Lady Lake Police Department to be there to assist. Remember, preparation is important because as the storm begins to peak, emergency vehicles will not respond once maximum sustained winds reach 45 MPH.
As a local law enforcement agency, we work with our local, county, state, and federal partners to improve our response, cooperation and communication during hurricanes. Just as we at the police department plan for unexpected weather emergencies, there is plenty you can do to make yourselves, your families and your homes ready for hurricane season. Don’t wait for a storm to threaten. Continue reading
DCF has also made workforce adjustments and instituted a series of policy initiatives to simplify the application process to provide timely benefits to Florida Families
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) announced the extension of good cause for the month of May and the submission of a federal waiver, to assist Floridians participating in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) during the current public health emergency. Following initial approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), SNAP recipients’ maximum monthly allotment (based on household size) will be increased for the month of May. Once approved, current SNAP recipients will receive this additional benefit amount automatically.
“With nearly three million Floridians participating in SNAP alone, I’m confident that these policy initiatives are in our state’s best interest – they will help us safely and gradually re-establish normalcy and ultimately allow families to thrive post-COVID-19,” said Governor DeSantis. “These timely and proactive efforts taken by DCF helps ensure the good people of Florida have access to the support and resources they need.” Continue reading
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that, beginning May 4 2020 Florida State Parks will re-open access to trails, and some day use areas, including some beach access with limited facilities. Visitors will be asked to practice proper social distancing and to limit group size to 10 or less and to stay six feet apart.
“I applaud the Re-Open Florida Task Force on their hard work to inform a safe, smart and step-by-step approach to re-opening Florida,” said Governor DeSantis. “Recreational activity provides important physical and mental health benefits, particularly during these uncertain times. This Phase One plan will allow for the thoughtful, measured re-opening of some of our state’s incredible natural resources for public recreation.”
“Florida State Parks and Resilience and Coastal Protection managed areas offer a wide variety of recreational opportunities,” said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein. “We are excited to be welcoming visitors back and appreciate the cooperation of the public as we implement measures that will allow access while protecting both our staff and the public we serve.” Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is asking Congress to modify the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act as Florida and other states seek to hold China accountable for its role in the COVID-19 pandemic. Attorney General Moody today sent a letter to leaders in Congress requesting that the FSIA be amended to increase opportunities to seek damages from China, when appropriate, for public health and economic harm.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “China must be held accountable, but our current legal framework presents challenges. Modest changes to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act would clarify and support actions against China, if necessary, to seek damages from the devastation from COVID-19.”
The letter Attorney General Moody sent to congressional leaders Thursday states, “Any proposed legislation should be measured to have a limited impact on our diplomatic relations around the world… Such limitations achieve an appropriate balance between the need to provide a forum to hold bad actors accountable and the federal government’s interest in having a coherent foreign policy. I respectfully ask that you consider such legislation to address the grievous harm inflicted on our states.” Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—This week marks two months since Attorney General Ashley Moody activated Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline in response to the COVID-19 emergency declaration. During that time, Attorney General Moody’s Office has secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in refunds, worked with online platforms to deactivate nearly 200 posts offering items for outrageous prices and ensured information important to price gouging investigations is preserved.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “My office is dedicated to protecting consumers and that is exactly what we are doing during this COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout this crisis, we have been working diligently to secure refunds, deactivate outrageous online posts and collect information crucial to our price gouging investigations.
“A key part of our success is the thousands of tips flooding into our Price Gouging Hotline from Florida and beyond. And as we slowly start to reopen, I want to remind Floridians to remain vigilant. Don’t let your guard down. We are more successful when we work together, so please keep sending us price gouging tips and we will continue to do our part to protect consumers.” Continue reading
The Sweet Tomatoes restaurant is one of 97 have shut down! The Sweet Tomatoes had buffet style eatery and could not do the curbside service. The reason they gave was the COVID-19 shut down.
Another victim of the COVID-19 Virus is the legendary Katie Belle in the Villages. Management says it will not reopen.
Both were quality restaurants that will be missed.
Public Information Officer
OCALA, Fla.-If you have cancer, diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, or a chronic or underlying health condition, you are at a higher risk for more severe illness if you contract COVID-19. This means it’s important to pay extra attention to your health needs right now.
Cancer
If you have cancer now or had cancer in the past, you may need to take special steps to protect your health. This is especially important for cancer patients who are treated with chemotherapy. They are more likely to get an infection because chemotherapy can weaken the immune system, and for the same reason, the infection may be more severe. To take care of your health:
– Before going into your appointments for cancer treatment, ask your doctor how you can help protect yourself from catching COVID-19.
– Check if any oral medications that you are taking can be sent directly to you so that you don’t have to go to the pharmacy or clinic.
– Ask your doctor if there are other things that you can do to isolate yourself from others. Continue reading
(OCALA, Fla.) May 14, 2020 – Ocala Fire Rescue (OFR) and Meadowbrook Church partnered with the City of Ocala’s Social Services Coordinator, Dennis Yonce, to offer COVID-19 testing to the homeless. The collaboration resulted in a pop-up testing site at NW 1st Avenue and NW 3rd Street, on Wednesday, May 13.
“It was an honor that the community participated and made use of these beneficial services,” said OFR Fire Chief Shane Alexander. “Offering testing at an open setting allowed us to address this underserved population with dignity and kindness.”
Besides COVID-19 testing, participants were able to obtain Hepatitis A inoculations and a meal, compliments of Meadowbrook Church. The testing site was open from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
A total of 52 individuals were tested for COVID-19. Furthermore, 18 participants opted to get vaccinated.
OCALA, Fla. – The City of Ocala’s Aquatic Fun Centers are scheduled to re-open to the public for the summer beginning Monday, June 8. The Jervey Gantt Aquatic Fun Center, 2390 SW 36th Ave., and the Hampton Aquatic Fun Center, 255 NW Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., will be open Mondays through Saturdays with two sessions, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 4:30 p.m. Both facilities will be closed on Sundays to allow for weekly deep sanitizing.
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, additional restrictions and guidelines will be in effect for operations at both facilities:
- Temperature and health screenings at entry
- Plexiglass shields installed at customer service counters, as well as six-foot separation markers for entry
- Reduced bathing loads to 50% normal capacity that will be monitored and adjusted to ensure proper social distancing
- No swim lessons
- Waterslides will be closed
- Facility or table rentals will not be permitted
- Groups, camps, or field trips will be prohibited
- Reduced number of chairs available with distancing guidelines in place.No family groups larger than 10 people.
- Concessions will be pre-packaged foods only
- Staff will be assigned to frequently sanitize with a daily deep sanitizing from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
- Staff will be trained on CDC recommended protocols for aquatics operations
Admission for each swim session is $2 for ages 17 and under and $3 for those ages 18 and up. Admission is free for ages one and under. Facility operations are subject to change and staff will continue to monitor conditions based on recommended guidelines. A detailed list of restrictions and guidelines for both aquatic centers may be found at www.ocalafl.org/recpark. Splash pads will remain closed until further notice.
For more information, please call the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department at 352-368-5517.
