The 2017 Legislative Session has come to an end! We have worked hard to secure good policy for our constituents and the people of Florida. During our time in Tallahassee this year, some big issues were addressed: tax cuts, increased homestead exemption, more clarity on our self-defense and religious freedom rights, and increased funding for bright futures and higher education institutions.
This year, the legislature passed $180 million in broad based tax-cuts for Floridians. This includes a three day back to school sales tax holiday, a reduction to the business rent tax, a disaster preparedness sales tax holiday, and the elimination of sales tax on feminine products.
A bill was also passed that will provide significant tax savings for homeowners across Florida. The increased homestead exemption bill will proposes an amendment to the Florida Constitution to provide an additional homestead exemption of $25,000. Homestead property owners will receive an exemption from ad valorem taxes, except levies by school districts, for the assessed valuation greater than $100,000 and up to $125,000. If approved by Florida voters in November 2018, the amendment will take effect January 1, 2019. Continue reading
(NAPS)—The 2016 hurricane season ended a decadelong landfall drought in Florida. Hurricane Hermine struck Florida’s north coast in early September, and then Hurricane Matthew tore north along the Atlantic coast in early October. The intensity of that late-season storm left more than 1 million Florida homes and businesses in the dark while 485,000 were without power in South Carolina; 300,000 in Georgia; and more than 127,000 in North Carolina.
The climatological hurricane season is long, running between June 1 and November 30, but it’s become increasingly important for vulnerable home and business owners—from the Gulf Coast to New England—to take the necessary steps ahead of the storm warnings and the inevitable rush for emergency supplies.
“It’s better to be ready for a nonevent than it is to be caught off guard by a strong storm,” said Russ Minick, chief marketing officer at Generac Power Systems. “We believe we can offer manageable ways to guide homeowners and businesses through the storm season, but staying safe starts with preparedness.” Continue reading
(NAPS)—America, it’s time to “Flip Your Fridge”! If your refrigerator is 15 years old or older, replacing it with a new Energy Star® certified model can save you more than $270 over the next five years and reduce your carbon footprint.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, if all refrigerators 15 years old or older in the United States were replaced with new Energy Star certified models, Americans would save more than $1 billion in annual energy costs and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from more than 1 million vehicles.
There are an estimated 170 million refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers currently in use in the United States. More than 60 million are over 10 years old, costing consumers $4.4 billion per year in energy. Continue reading
(NAPS)—E-mail security is not the problem—it’s how we use e-mail that is the problem. There has been no lack of press and attention regarding the insecurity of e-mail and the consequences of account hacking. Look no further than the latest elections, the Sony Pictures hack, the latest Yahoo compromise, etc. We hear about the problem all the time. What is missing from all the discussion is how to solve the problem.
E-mail in its stock form is inherently insecure but that does not mean that it must stay that way. With a little bit of effort, one can confidently send secure e-mail with virtually no risk of the contents being compromised.
An analogy is that of a car and a seat belt. Cars are useful and largely safe. But we can make them safer by buckling up. While seat belts were not used regularly for many years, today, we understand their benefit and they are widely used. We need to make e-mail safe and secure and we can do this when e-mail encryption becomes as widely used. So get ready to buckle up before sending. Continue reading
(NAPS)—According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Small Business Administration, 80 percent of the 28.8 million U.S. small businesses have no employees, placing a heavy burden on the business owner when it comes to juggling every detail of running a company. From IT issues to customer service and even facilities management, a small-business owner must be a jack-of-all-trades.
Fortunately, some banks are recognizing the need for more specialized support for small-business owners and are carving out a niche to better serve them.
Here are three ways small-business owners can get more from their banking partner:
Relationships Matter
Banks that specialize in serving small-business clients understand the financial pressures they face and will assign a relationship manager with expertise to help them endure the challenges of today’s competitive market. Relationship managers can be a small-business owner’s best resource when it comes to managing finances; they can anticipate needs, troubleshoot, and provide a wide array of products and solutions to help clients achieve their goals. Small-business owners who take the time to get to know their relationship managers can find them to be valuable and trusted partners. Continue reading
A great time was had by all. The weather was perfect, the fish were biting, The food was good, there were plenty of shade trees and friends. Trophies furnished by BJ Trophies. Trophies were awarded to the biggest fish and the oldest fisher person.
Biggest Fish – George Wright – Anna Marie Sneed
Oldest Fisherman – Louise Ramsey
Most Fish – George Wright
Click on thumbnail to see larger view.
City Employee Volunteers: Carla Chindoma, Kelsey Mears, Charles Dobson, Brandon Farmer, Darrin Williams
Parks Dept. Crew: John Spencer new director Division Head
Sponsors: BJ Trophies, Roberts Funeral Home, Clark’s Funeral Home, Greater Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, Colleen Duris PA, City of Ocala Recreation Parks and Recreation, Nelson’s Lawn service, Publix Supermarket, Silver Spring Water, TomL Publishing LLC (Seniors Voice)
Volunteers: Dustin Echols [Clay Electric – cook], Margaret Wise, Dorothy Gunsby, Helen Coleman, Vernice Franklin, Ida Scott, Delores Wise, Marvelene Murihead
Be on the lookout for the fall fishing derby October 16, 2017
MARION COUNTY, FL (May 18, 2017) – Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Major Crimes Detectives identified Emanuel Angelo Tuggerson (B/M DOB: 8/11/1997) and Isaiah Ishmael Richard (B/M DOB:1/1/1997) as suspects in the homicides of Baily Zylo (DOB: 8/21/1998) and Andy Fockler (DOB: 8/14/1978) on January 29, 2017, in Weirsdale.
Richard was located and arrested by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and Tuggerson is at the Marion County Jail on unrelated charges, and will be served with an arrest warrant for these charges while in custody.
On January 29, 2017, deputies responded to 14241 SE 151st Place Road in Weirsdale after receiving a 911 call. Deputies discovered that an apparent home invasion robbery had occurred with two fatalities inside the home. 18 year old Bailey Zylo and 38 year old Andy Fockler were pronounced dead on scene. Continue reading
(OCALA, Fla.) May 11, 2017 – A vehicular accident reported at 12:12 PM, resulted in an SUV rolling over at the intersection of NW Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. and NW 10th St.
Ocala Fire Rescue responded to a two motor-vehicle accident, with possible entrapment, this afternoon. Upon arrival, Fire Engine #3 encountered two vehicles obstructing the road; a pick-up truck with moderate damage to the impact site, and a heavily damaged SUV which had rolled-over. Inspection of the vehicles revealed that the driver and passenger of the SUV needed assistance in exiting. Applying moderate force, firefighters were able to open the passenger’s side door, however, assistance from extrication equipment was needed to remove the driver.
Both individuals in the SUV were transported to the hospital as a precautionary measure, having suffered the impacts of a vehicle that rolled-over. The driver, sole occupant, of the pick-up truck was not transported.
Ocala Police Department and Marion County Fire Rescue also responded.
Pam Bondi, State Attorney General, Weekly Briefing
This week, standing with representatives of the Federal Trade Commission, I announced three new actions in Florida to shut down tech support scams targeting consumers nationwide. We are teaming up with our federal partners to combat tech support scams and warn consumers about the dangers associated with the scams.
The scam typically begins with a pop-up ad claiming a computer is infected with a virus. The ads urge users to call a tech support specialist and provide a phone number. Once the victim calls, the scammer instructs the user through a series of commands to give them virtual control over the victim’s computer. With remote access, scammers can install malware, steal passwords or access financial accounts.
Mostly, the scammers claim to fix the nonexistent problem, charge the user a few hundred dollars and set up monthly tech support payments. Often the victim thanks the scammer for fixing the problem—not realizing they were just swindled. Continue reading
Have you ever approached an intersection and heard a siren? Perhaps you have looked in your rearview mirror and saw flashing lights behind you. Chances are that you have passed an emergency worker or a law enforcement officer who pulled off the roadway with his or her lights flashing. You should be aware that in Florida the law requires that you move over, make way and slow down when approaching all emergency and law enforcement vehicles stopped on the roadway. The law, known as the Move Over Act, is designed to protect law enforcement officers, firefighters and other emergency workers from needless, accidental tragedy.
After 40 years in law enforcement and public safety, I have learned that driving, especially when responding to calls for service, is the most hazardous duty performed by law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency service professionals. Many fatalities and injuries to emergency service workers could have been avoided had the driver simply slowed down and moved over.
The Lady Lake Police Department strictly enforces the Move Over Law to help keep you and all public safety professionals safe. While on the roadway, please be alert, pay attention and remember the following: Continue reading
