By TomL
It looks like everyone is getting in the Christmas Spirit, The Select Business Associates a non profit business referral group has pledged some help. Some of the members have donated to the Salvation Army 8 children shoes, new clothes, under things and a toys for each needy child. Select Business Associates is also to donating for Canine bullet proof vest for the Marion County Sheriff canine ’s. About $400 and we are setting goals to help another charity in February. We are not a fund raising group but it just happened that way. They are a group of business people who like to help people. If you would like to become a part of the Select Business Associates there are a few category’s left open. There is only one business per category, no competition, no exceptions, the membership has to be 100% agreed to letting a new member in, by invitation only. We have prayer and pledge to the flag at the beginning of each meeting. The business referral Associates empty the bank account at the end of the year to help others. You can see who is in the group by the Happy New Years ad that is in this newspaper. If you would like to find out more about the club, call Tom Loury 352-804-1223 Continue reading
As we celebrate with loved ones and enjoy the many blessings of the holiday season I look forward to the challenges of the upcoming new year. One of those challenges of course is the enactment of the FAIRtax.
With the inception of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), many citizens are beginning to take notice of our national debt. As I write this article, our national debt has passed the $36 trillion mark and is increasing by the minute making it the 3rd largest expenditure of the national government behind only Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security. Since the S&P downgraded our debt rating in 2011 from AAA to AA+ we are now spending $1trillion in interest alone. By the way, our national debt in 2011 was $14.8 trillion. We have more than doubled that debt since then. Let that sink in. Continue reading
If you have lived in Ocala for more than a decade, then you probably know our community’s story of bouncing back from the Great Recession in 2007-08. If you are newer to the area since then (and more than 100,000 people have moved here over the last decade), it is important history to know.
In the early 2000’s, our community was truly a boomtown. Everyone was a builder, developer, or realtor and we were building and flipping houses like nobody’s business. Unfortunately, it was nobody’s business. No one was actually living in many of the houses, and we had stopped building a real economy to support the growth. When the Great Recession happened, arguably no community in our country was more negatively impacted than Ocala. Overnight, the County and School System lost 40% of their revenue, wages stagnated, and we began a period of seven years of double-digit unemployment. SEVEN YEARS! Continue reading
The Rotary Club of IMPACT Ocala proudly welcomed four esteemed professionals into its membership during an induction ceremony held on December 5 at the Midtown Station in Downtown Ocala. Jennifer LeBrecht, of Thrive Home Therapy & Design, Mehul Patel, with HCA Healthcare, David Shults, from Northwestern Mutual, and Sam Cone, from Cone Farms LLC, took their pledges to uphold the values and mission of Rotary International. The ceremony was conducted by President-Elect Herb Silverman, with members of both the Rotary Club of IMPACT Ocala and the Rotary Club of Ocala-Sunset in attendance to celebrate this significant milestone. “This induction is a testament to the strength and commitment of our growing Rotary family. These members bring diverse talents and a shared passion for service that will undoubtedly enhance our impact,” stated
Ocala, FL – December 9, 2024 – The Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership Foundation is excited to announce that it has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Papa John’s Foundation’s Building Community Fund. This funding will directly support the CEP’s Leadership Ocala Marion Youth (LOMY) program, helping to keep participation costs affordable while also providing scholarships to ensure access for all students.
LOMY is a county-wide program that brings together a diverse group of students from both public and private high schools in Marion County. Through a series of hands-on activities, leadership workshops, and community service projects, the program helps students build critical skills that will serve them throughout their lives. It also encourages participants to develop a shared commitment to the growth and advancement of their community. Continue reading
By TomL
Well where do we start? If you are trying to keep up with criminal activity good luck. It’s going on in the streets, government federal and state. Florida seems to be clean but there are many states that are not. I will give it to you in bits and pieces.
Judicial Watch has sued for documents to prove collusion between Fani Willis, Jack Smith, Nancy Pelosi, DOJ, FBI, about the Jan 6th so call insurrection.
They were all targeting Donald Trump! Some how a lot of this comes right back to Fulton Georgia. Continue reading
LADY LAKE – The Lady Lake Library is thrilled to announce the winner of its 2nd Annual Festival of Trees contest: Sheltering Hands! With more than 250 votes cast, this year’s event was a resounding success, drawing new visitors to the library to admire the beautifully decorated trees. Congratulations to Sheltering Hands for their outstanding display, which captured the hearts of the community.
The Festival of Trees is a beloved annual tradition that invites families, schools, non-profit organizations, and businesses to showcase their holiday spirit by decorating Christmas trees, which are displayed at the Lady Lake Library throughout the holiday season. This year’s trees will remain on display through Jan. 3, 2025, giving everyone an opportunity to enjoy the festive décor. Continue reading
MIAMI, Fla.—Today, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez announced the launch of the 2025 Florida Space Art Contest. Students in grades K–5 are encouraged to create an art piece inspired by the theme: Liftoff! Florida’s Spaceship of the Future.
“I am thrilled to announce the launch of the Fourth Annual Lieutenant Governor’s Space Art Contest,” said Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez. “Over the last three years, Florida’s students have shown their overwhelming support and excitement for space through this art contest. This year’s theme gives students creative control to engineer the spaceship of tomorrow. Florida’s rich history of rocket ships and astronauts helped put the first man on the moon, and in the near future, we’ll see others travel to deep space and one day land on Mars. Florida serves as the launch capital of the world, and we are seeing rockets launch at an incredible rate. I am excited to see the innovative and futuristic designs our young artists will bring to life.” Continue reading
PANAMA CITY, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that an additional 176 Florida schools have earned the Purple Star School of Distinction designation for their extensive support of military families. There are now nearly 400 schools throughout the state that have earned a Purple Star School designation. Additionally, five school districts have earned the Florida Purple Star School District designation established this year. The five school districts awarded the Florida Purple Star School District designation are Bay, Brevard, Citrus, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa.
“We encourage every school in the state to strive to better serve military families and earn the designation,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I am proud to recognize these schools and school districts for their efforts to support our military families and earn the Purple Star designation.”
“Congratulations to the schools earning the Purple Star School of Distinction designation,” said Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. “Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ unwavering commitment to our servicemembers, these schools are going above and beyond to support our military families. This designation will go a long way toward guiding veterans and military families through the challenges they face.” Continue reading
Starting next week, we’re relocating our Ocala District Office from its current location at 3301 SW 34th Circle, Suite 402, Ocala, FL 34474 to a new location announced soon! Our office contact information will remain the same (phone number of 352-421-9052) and you can reach our team via phone and email in the district just like always!
If you’d like to visit an in-person location in the interim, our office in Gainesville located at 5550 NW 111th Boulevard, Gainesville, FL 32653 is open Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm.
We look forward to sharing the details of our new Ocala location soon!
Kat Cammack
