Last month, I outlined the successes of the CEP’s inaugural five-year plan, Moving Forward. In fact, this plan was reached a full year early. This month’s column will be focused on outlining the recently adopted Moving Forward-Phase II plan which seeks to continue to grow and diversify the local economy.
Moving Forward – Phase II
Just like its predecessor, this plan did not just happen. It is the result of months of discussion and research by the CEP staff and Board of Directors. Once again, the Board asked economist Dr. Sharon Younger to assist them in the creation of this plan. She provided an incredible layer of analysis and detail to assist the Board including a significant amount of data on how the Ocala MSA and the CEP compare to our ten benchmark communities. Continue reading
112.8 million tourists visited Florida in 2016
FLORIDA– Governor Rick Scott announced that Florida set another record in tourism by welcoming the highest amount of visitors in the state’s history with 112.8 million visitors in 2016. This is the sixth consecutive record year for visitation to Florida, exceeding the previous high of 106.6 million in 2015 by 5.9 percent. Tourism jobs also hit a record high in 2016 of 1.4 million jobs, exceeding the previous record in 2015.
Governor Scott said, “Today, I am proud to announce that Florida has once again welcomed a record number of tourists with 112.8 million visitors to the state in 2016. Visitors spent $109 billion and supported a record 1.4 million Florida jobs in 2016 – a testament to the vital importance of tourism to our growing economy. Continue reading
By A.J.(Tony) Powell
What is the answer to this question? “Who has the “right-to-exist”?
History shows that creating a “Country” is a murderous, violent, ruthless process.
It’s easy to overlook the fact that many countries in the so-called ‘Old World/Europe’ are a lot younger than the ‘good-old-USA’ in 1776.
For example-Austria in 1804; Romania in 1887; Italy in 1861; Greece in 1830; Finland in 1917 and many other across the world because, “we killed them – before they killed us!”
Usually, a new country is dominated by an ethnic, political or racial majority. But sometimes, as with Australia, New Zealand and most of the ‘new-world’ a powerful minority, invades, overpowers and exterminates the native majority.
As happened in the Americas where the local population was decimated to the extent that they were no longer ‘relevant’ to the lives or prosperity of the ‘dominators’. Continue reading
Remember – Light it UP!
Many people ask, how can I keep my house safe from potential burglars? Here are a few tips about home security lighting to help prevent break-ins to your home:
Keep the outside of your home well lit! Keeping the outside of your home well lit can help to deter any would be criminals by shedding light on all possible areas of entry into your home. This can be done with flood lights or well-placed landscape lighting.
Front porch/entry lighting: Keeping your front porch light on while you are away can give the facade of being home even if you are on a week-long vacation. This can be achieved by purchasing a timer that will turn the lights on and off at certain times of the day that can be set differently for each day to give the illusion that you are home. Continue reading
The Sabal Trail Gasline is rolling through Marion County. Two years ago the Gasline authorities held meetings about informing the public of their intentions, then last year they held townhall meetings in all then small communities and things were about to calm down, when they started digging and people realized oh this gasoline is here now they started protesting, by this time most of the gasoline deals had been made with the land owners effected. I was one of those, yes the gasoline went right through the little acre Loury farm. One year ago when there were no protest I realized it was going to happen no matter what. I instructed my attorney to get me the best deal she could and she did. Continue reading
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution clearly states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech. This freedom from the establishment of a state religion and the protection of free speech establishes the protection of religious speech and expression as well. There have been many challenges by the ACLU and others at public schools across America and in Florida to sterilize the schools of religious expressions using the establishment clause; however, this clause was intended to declare religious freedom in the US and to escape the establishment of state religion as was common in governments of the old world. Continue reading
The biggest event hosted by the CEP each year is our Annual Luncheon. Each of the last four years, this has been a Sold Out event and the 2017 edition was no different. In fact, this year’s event filled up before Christmas – a full six weeks before the event! For the 600 attendees we are grateful and hope you left excited about our community and the CEP. For the many, many more who were not able to attend, I am excited to share with you a few highlights of this event. Continue reading
Small Town America is awakening!
Mainstream America is awakening!
White House, to the State House, to Hometown America are awakening! Our best days are ahead of us for the first time in years.
The Presidency.
Majority of the House of Representatives.
Majority of the Senate.
Two-thirds of the governorships.
Control of the statehouses in two-thirds of all the states.
In the next few years Republicans will be able to seat a majority of the Supreme Court. Continue reading
Where do I start??? There is so much to talk about.
GASLINE! Well one of the local things that is going on in my life is that the
Sabal Trail Gas Line is all but finished. The 3ft diameter pipe is welded and
buried. Let’s hope this is not where the real trouble starts. I see these
people protesting carrying signs. Continue reading
