It is hard to believe 2017 has come to an end and we are already in the second month of 2018. The CEP recently hosted its Annual Luncheon with a sold out crowd of more than 600. With a theme of Delivering on Success, we shared with our partners many of the successes of the past year and goals reached through the first year of our 5-year Action, Moving Forward-Phase II.
Talent
The major new initiative of this plan is actually a two-prong approach to grow and attraction talent. The CEP took several steps for this effort in 2017 with the hiring of a Director of Talent Development, Dean Blinkhorn, and the creation of two programs to focus on these efforts.
Our Talent Development Initiative is presented by Townley Manufacturing who has made a significant commitment to this effort. The CEP will be partnering with our schools systems and higher education partners to ensure that teachers have the tools they need to provide relevancy to their lessons. This does not mean that we are going to tell teachers how to teach. Instead, we are going to provide them with resourced to help them prepare students for the realities of the workforce they will be entering. Continue reading
Here we are in March and it feels like there is a full time election campaign going on. Democrats and Republicans are lying to each other, doing strategy to make a deal so they can get re-elected. Throwing everything in but the kitchen sink. After taking a shower at night and watch an hour of Fox News I feel dirty again, and the unfortunate thing is most of what I have been hearing is what I suspected to be true.
Someone needs to go back to the Judge that gave the FBI the right to spy on the other party and ask the Judge to squash the warrant based on the fact that the information furnished was not true. Continue reading
By TomL
A little history first: Villages creator & founder was Harold Swartz. Mr. Swartz had several ventures in the Marion County area. One was a development called Lake Tropicana near Dunnellon Florida. It was a large unincorporated area that Swartz subdivided into 1.25 acre plots and 2.5 acre plots, all dirt roads. You could buy land $49 down and $49 per month. Many people took advantage of that easy to purchase deal, especially since they did not have a high down payment. It helped many people fulfill their dream of owning land. Today they have built there won roads and maintain them.
The Villages: We will get to the sinkholes in a minute. The development started As Orange Blossom Garden which was a trailer park/prefab homes on the east side of US Hwy 441 some 30 years ago. Swartz bought the prefab home factory that he was buying from and kept evolving over years until it was over 50,000 modern built homes. They are a huge voting block and very powerful politically. Let’s go back some 30 years ago… The Villages had water rights for Cattle Ranching and Farming which allowed them the use of over 60 million gallons of water a year. Seems like a lot doesn’t it! That’s a drop in the bucket now. Continue reading
Tim Flynn guest speaker at Ocala Business Leaders. Tim has worked with Raymond James for over 18 years. Tim carefully analyzes their personal financial needs and goals. Tim feels It’s important to have appropriate balance in your portfolio. He has offices in Ocala and The Villages, Tim says he is ready to help with your plan.
A guest speaker from Downtown Chiropractic Dr Laurence H. Churchill spent some time explaining some of the procedures. Dr. Churchill has set hours on certain days in two different locations: Downtown Ocala and HWY 200. The office number 732-2745.
CEP/Ocala Chamber of Commerce held a Ribbon cutting at Roberts of Ocala Funerals & Cremations this last month. The event was well attended. Pictured are Terry Roberts & Family cutting the ribbon, with the mayor helping, Roberts’ staff, CEP Representatives, city dignitaries and friends.
Change is Good… The original Roberts Downtown Chapel is no longer corporately owned. Back to traditional family values, family owned & operated. “Our Family serving your family”. Food for the Ribbon Cutting catered by Ivy House. Check the ad in this paper.
All Faiths Cremation Society Ribbon cutting was held by the Lady Lake Chamber. Donald Knop II was officiating the event. Looking on and helping are Chamber Ambassadors, friends and employees. Good Luck All Faith.
Mayor Jim Richards and Councilman Paul Hannon cutting ribbon. Chamber members and girls in red are volunteers for the Lady Lake softball league
Ribbon cutting for their new concession stand.
Pictured is a group of business people networking their businesses through the Lady Lake Chamber networking lunch. The lunch was held at Demshires Restaurant.
Attorney General Pam Bondi issued the following statement regarding the tragic death of Brevard County Sheriff Deputy Kevin Stanton during a traffic accident Saturday Morning:
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of Deputy Kevin Stanton and my heart breaks for his family, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and our entire law enforcement community. Law enforcement officers wake up every day not knowing what dangers lie ahead—yet they still choose to serve. Deputy Stanton died a hero, and our state is better because of brave men and women like him.”
