First I am not going to make any resolutions yet!!! The past year has been challenging with readers thinking that because a story or letter is in my paper, it’s my belief. Remember my job is to bring you everyone’s opinion. I am still struggling to get Automobile ads in my papers. I need one for Ocala papers and one for the Villages papers.
One of the new and exciting things that happened was we won four Statewide awards, two I will mention. One was our Graphics Designer Christine Boody, who won first place best online Digital Graphics Design. I was lucky enough to win first place “Best Editorial,” on subject “What is a Political Pac.”
We had another honor; at least I consider it an honor. The University of Florida has asked permission to put our Ocala paper in their Digital Library. I am pleased for that opportunity.
I am in the process of learning a little bit about the re-fi world and how hard it is to get a mortgage rate under 4%. When you do there is a lot of information you must supply. Continue reading
I am not sure how one could view 2019 as anything but an incredibly successful year for the Ocala Metro. The CEP is excited to review how our community continues to grow, diversify, and prosper.
Economic Growth
The local economy continues to demonstrate very strong fundamentals. As of the time of this writing, the local unemployment rate was a record seasonal low of 3.5%. But more importantly, the area recorded a Job Growth Rate of 3.1%. This number is not only strong but it is higher than the state average and nearly double the national average! The Ocala Metro is recording job growth while at the same time seeing wages report health gains.
Our newest major employer opened in February when McLane Company opened their new 400,000 sq. ft. distribution facility at Ocala International Commerce Park. The company now employs more than 500 people at this facility. Red Rock Development began construction this summer on a new 620,000 sq. ft. spec building in the Ocala/Marion County Commerce Park along the interstate. This new facility is significant in a couple of ways: 1) it will result in a $43 million investment in our community and 2) it represents a major investment in the growth of Ocala as a distribution hub. That a major developer like Red Rock was willing to make this investment on spec (or speculation meaning they do not have a tenant already lined up for the building) has further enhanced the community’s reputation as a place to do business. Continue reading
Friends,
Happy New Year! I hope that all of you had a safe and wonderful holiday season. My family enjoyed all the time we shared together and I was especially grateful for the opportunity to spend some time in our mountain home in North Carolina that we don’t get to visit nearly enough. 2020 is already shaping up to be an exciting year in the world of government and politics and the Presidential Election is sure to capture the majority of the news over the next year. More on that later.
As we say hello to 2020 and goodbye to 2019, let us take a look at a couple of highlights from this last year and for all that we have to be thankful.
During 2019, crime rates in Florida continue to decrease. We just had a chance to look at FDLE’s Uniform Crime Report (UCR), which showed crime dropped 6.1 percent compared to the first half of 2018 with almost 17,100 fewer reported incidents. This can be attributed, firstly, to those men and women in law enforcement who are doing an excellent job holding the blue line. Secondly, we can thank some fantastic leadership, chosen by you, in our county sheriff’s departments across the state. In addition, our city police chiefs and state law enforcement directors are among the very best, anywhere in the world and we should be very proud of the work they do. Thirdly, because the people of this state have chosen solid, conservative leaders to send to Tallahassee that will protect the rights of individuals to take responsibility for themselves and others. Continue reading
By Tony Powell
One of our readers says that the word ‘trump’ means “exceed, out-flank, out-match, scoop, surmount, out-perform, out-strip, scoop, best, out-do and surpass“.
As I See It, if the Democrats multi-million dollar effort to depose the President of the United States fails, then ‘The Donald’ will have achieved most, if not all, of the above.
Another reader asked, “Why has there been no discussion in the mainstream media about ‘succession’?
Apparently, if Vice President Mike Pence declined, then, Believe-It-Or-Not, the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D) would be President without a vote from anyone.
The US Constitution says that a President can be removed for “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors”. My understanding is that it started with President Donald Trumps phone call to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. Continue reading
Village Spectator / Lady Lake Magazine
Results from our newspapers Questionnaire November
Question…What will you spend money on next year?
| Rating
Entertainment Dinning Auto & Truck Arts & Crafts Veterinarian Cell ph/ Smart ph Home Improvement Medical Services Pharmacist Attorney Health Club Chiropractor Television/electronics Jewelry Furniture Home Air-conditioning Lawn care Golf Equipment Auto Maintenance Real Estate Tax adviser Travel Home Heating Appliances Financial Planner Legal Gambling Carpet/Flooring Golf Cart
|
People
55 47 28 27 22 22 22 21 21 21 18 18 18 16 14 13 13 13 12 11 10 09 07 06 05 05 03 02 |
By TomL
In The Early Days…
I have been reading accounts that Harold Swartz Dream is being changed. All these people talking about Swartz and Morris dream being changed. I met Harold Swartz in the first year he started the Orange Blossom Gardens. That was the Villages first name. In Dunnellon Florida it was Lake Tropicana and Rainbow Lakes Estates. I printed Villages first newspaper in Inverness Florida, Orange Blossom Gardens. I actually recommended an Editor-in-Chief to Harold Swartz that was more than qualified. She lasted about three months. She thought she was going to run a newspaper. Not true.
At that time I met Harold Swartz. Swartz Junior, yes I said Swartz junior and Morris. Swartz Junior was a millionaire playboy. He was not born to make the Villages grow. He wanted to play. They put him in charge of the Golf Courses before they were a big business.
Harold Swartz’ original dream was that he wanted his own city, his own bank, his own grocery stores, and all of his own retail stores. He wanted golf cart access to his whole city. He could not achieve all at once but he came pretty close at the end. The whole idea was to give people of all levels of wealth a millionaire life style. Continue reading
At the Experience Lady Lake Expo Bill Bryan Chrysler Dodge Jeep donated a large TV to raffle off. The winner of the 56 inch smart YV was Jennie Bumbu center. Top is Codie Smith, Nicole Clement on left and on right Sofia Mourgalien. The winner Jennie was really excited and jumping up and down. It was fun to watch someone win. Thanks Bill Bryan for your generosity!
By TomL & Friends / Ocala DownTown / Seniors Voice of Ocala
MOJO’s SBA referral Club met at MOJO’s next to Target on 200. We had a small celebration with three different appetizers on the table: fried pickles; fried green beans; something called a mess??? It had waffle fries, meat, chili, cheese…I don’t know, it probably changes every day, but it was good. All of our members attending had different meals and were very pleased.
Gruff’s Restaurant, Dunnellon Fl. Used to be the Dinner Bell Restaurant. It has stepped up in the world. I had dinner there the other night. Service was good, dinner was delicious, prices were moderate. A pleasant experience. Continue reading
By TomL
I’m almost happy it’s over. I don’t think justice was served. Half of the country feels that way and the other half feels the other way. Some are elated and the pro-Trumpers don’t seem to be effected. They continue to go to rallies because they like what he has done and where he is going. The United States is on one of the biggest upswings that it has ever experienced. More jobs than ever before, less unemployment, lots of people off food stamps, stock market is continuing to be driven by the middle class because Trump has created enough jobs that people are working, people are spending and manufacturing is up.
I have to hand it to Speaker Pelosi. She is using the Impeachment results as a bargaining chip. It could backfire when people start going to jail because of the real high crime by our top criminal Justice people that started this whole investigation. It will be measured by the number of people that go to jail. I’m pretty sure there will be more than a dozen. But I see the top four people are talking about seven layers of people involved. I don’t believe that.
The mainstream media is not doing the job that the reporters use to do. In fact a few reporters were manufacturing crisis or miss reporting on purpose. They have to create a headline to sell newspapers whether it is true or not. Continue reading
What I believe was the last Rainbow Springs Cowboy, Dave Springer has passed away. He is survived by his wife Vicki Edmondson Springer. They were living in St Petersburg at the time of his passing. He was known for his story telling about the history of local cowboys & cowgirls that competed in the rodeos. He will be remembered as a local historian. He remembered names, dates, events, who won, everything you would want to know about different events.
I first met Dave 30 years ago when we hired him to break a horse for us. At the time he was working at the Rainbow Springs attraction Daily Rodeo. He rode twice a day and made $10 per show. They would ride bucking horses and most of the time get thrown off because that’s what the audience came to see. He camped out in Rainbow Springs most of the time. He had a dog with him.
Dave knew everyone and everyone knew him. Some liked him and some did not. But I remember the stories he told about the cowboys and cowgirls. I also remember the stories he told about the local cowboys and their competing to win the top rider. Continue reading
