The Marion County Genealogical Society will meet Thursday December 20, 2018 at 2 PM at the Marion County Public Library located at 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd. in Ocala. A brief business meeting will be followed by the Holiday Party. For further information, contact Joel Swanson at (352)897-0840 or president@mcgsocala.org.
Location: Tuscawilla Park
829 NE Sanchez Avenue
Ocala, Florida 34470
Join us for Let’s Skate Ocala! from Nov. 17-Dec. 30 located in beautiful Tuscawilla Park at 825 NE Watula Ave. The “synthetic” ice rink is open to the public Thursdays, 5-9 p.m., Fridays, 5-10 p.m., Saturdays, 2-10 p.m. and Sundays, 4-8 p.m. The fee to skate is $5/person/45-minute skate session for ages 3+. Need a place for your holiday party? Rent the rink for only $150/two hours on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Enjoy festive music, a food truck, a photo booth and more! Every Friday we provide FREE hay rides and these FUN Theme Nights: Nov. 23-Family Game Night (BOGO admission); Nov. 30-Skate with the Symphony; Dec. 7-Hawaiian Limbo and Kona Ice; Dec. 14-Under the BIG Top, Games and Prizes; Dec. 21-Santa’s Workshop, Cookie Decorating and Reindeer Games and Dec. 28-All Things Disney and Let’s Go to the Movies featuring Beauty and the Beast! The Let’s Skate Ocala! Holiday Skating Rink will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas days. If you need additional information, please give us a call at 352.368.5517. Happy Holidays!
Ocala Fire Rescue (OFR) stations will serve as donation collection sites for food, toiletries and toys, all benefiting local charities. Donations will be accepted until Friday, Dec. 14.
During this time of year, the demand for aid and donations at food banks and charities increases. Below is a list of donations that will be accepted, as well as addresses to OFR stations where donations can be dropped off.
Accepted Items:
Canned items (meats, fruits, vegetables, soup)
Dry goods (pasta, rice, dried beans, cereal)
Other non-perishables (fruit cups, juice boxes, peanut butter, crackers)
Toiletries (soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes)
Baby items (baby food, diapers, wipes)
New, unwrapped toys in original packaging Continue reading
Friends,
Despite much anxiety over the recent election, we have many reasons to be thankful. First, we were given by our forefathers a system of self-government where we can select our own leaders, none of whom can appoint themselves. Secondly, I am extremely grateful to the voters of Senate District 12 for providing a clear statement of confirmation for me to continue to be their Senator. Thirdly, we are grateful that 65 of 67 counties of Florida have been able to conduct with fairness and professionalism a clear tabulation of our elections. Fourth, we have a clear set of law for resolving remaining questions in close elections. We also have a court system to resolve any remaining issues in a timely manner. Finally, I am extremely grateful that no remaining issues will delay the timely convening of the organizational session of the Florida Legislature on November 20th. This session is our opportunity to organize our government for the next two years. We will move onward and upward! Continue reading
One of the goals and primary focuses of the CEP from its inception has been to raise the wage level in our community. From our initial 5-year strategic plan (Moving Forward), one of the three BIG goals has been to not only attract new jobs but jobs which pay an average wage which is 15% higher than the county average. We evaluate every project we are working against this measure and we ask local government to only incent those businesses and jobs which will meet this standard.
The Census Bureau and various other economic entities provide a variety of ways for us to track this growth. The primary metric we use is the Average Weekly Wage as reported in the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. Today, the average wage which is required for us to incent a project is over $42,000/year. This is a 27% increase over the initial target wage just a few years ago. Continue reading
By TomL
Illegal Immigrants: If they don’t show up for the hearing then don’t release them until the hearing is over. If they are released into the United States, give them working permits. Release them to areas that fit their skills. Send factory workers to industry area, farmers to pick crops. Those that don’t have skills, teach them construction and put them to work building the wall and housing for those working on the wall. Tell them if they ever move to a sanctuary city they will be deported instantly when caught. No hearings, no court dates instantly!
Furthermore, any employer caught employing an illegal without a permit should be fined $5,000 the first offense per person. Give the employer all the work permits they need and they have to register them or pay the fine every month they must be accounted for. Then the people without work permits may apply without being arrested if they have not committed a crime (in other words make it legal for them to work in this country with a registered permit). They may not have voting right until they spend two years in our Military. Continue reading
As the holiday season approaches, many Lady Lake residents will be gathering with family and friends to celebrate. Whether you are traveling out of town or hosting 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:
- Install good locks on all doors and windows and always use them.
- Stop newspaper and mail deliveries, and never hide a spare key outside,
- Give that spare key to a trusted neighbor and provide them with an emergency telephone number where they can reach you.
- Have someone mow your lawn if you’ll be away more than a couple of weeks.
- Turn down your telephone ringer so no one outside can hear repeated rings, and never leave a message on your telephone answering machine stating you are out of town.
- Leave your window blinds as you normally would if you were home.
- Invite your neighbor to park their car in your driveway or have a friend move yours if you left it at home.
- Do not post holiday travel plans on social networking sites.
The traveling Wall came to Lady Lake / The Villages. Opened Nov 2 and closed Nov 4th. The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall was open to the public for three days at the Soccer Fields on Rolling Acres Road.
By TomL
It was the day before Thanksgiving at the Loury Farm. I had made a quick trip to the store. My wife was working in the kitchen making pies for the next day. When I came up the driveway I saw a bunch of cars and trucks. I could not imagine who was there and why they were there. It was my niece and most of her family.
They like to come and see the animals and show their children the animals. It’s interesting that a lot of children have never touch a cow, a donkey, a horse, a bull and various other animals that we have around. An occasional peacock will visit from the neighbor’s farm. They won’t let you touch them for survival reasons. Continue reading
Nothing But Networking was the last networking event of the year. It was well attended and was held at the Waterfront Inn in The Villages. I met some new business people. Several said they were expanding because business was so good. Business is good for us right now and I hope is for you also.
