Two of us went fishing. It cost me $20 for bait, $10 for boat launch, My buddy paid for the gas for the truck, gas for the boat. We had lunch for the trip and there were small craft warning came up. We fished in the river, there was still a stiff wind but no wave. I can get two fish sandwiches for under $10 hummmm.
I was talking to the people at the Bait & Tackle store. They reported the state is changing the regulation’s every six months. Allow to take some fish certain times like two months a year. Very large measurements to make the fish a keeper (for food). The gulf is important to some people that make their living there. They are making it very hard for anglers o keep their catch (FOOD). At ten inch fish could feed a person but there are regulation to fifteen inches, and up. People who pay taxes should be shown some consideration where a tax paying family can go picnic for the day catch a few fish which they pay for by buying a license. To many rules make for control of the tax payers.
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Here at the CEP we are big believers in Manufacturing. We believe that we you make stuff, you make wealth.
Manufacturing is a key component to our local economy. We have a strong, diverse manufacturing sector locally. Companies in the metro make everything from fire engines to missile control systems, cake sprinkles to hurricane impact windows and everything in between. With more than 12,000 employees, the Ocala Metro manufacturing sector is one of the largest in Florida.
AdvisorSmith, a business consultancy, ranked the Ocala Metro as a top mid-sized metro (250,000 to 750,000) for manufacturing. The area ranked in the Top 20 of ALL metros for manufacturing output growth and for manufacturing employment growth. Additionally, the Ocala Metro has consistently been ranked near the top in the growth of our manufacturing employment throughout 2021 and 2022
The strength of our manufacturing sector was very much highlighted during the pandemic when our companies not only kept employment strong but grew it throughout 2020. Continue reading
Dear Friends,
This is Part II of our report on the 2022 Legislative Session. As of this writing, we have already worked through one Special Session addressing congressional redistricting and independent special districts (Disney, Reed Creek). Both of these have been highly publicized already, so we won’t spend much time on those, except to tell you two things:
First, the congressional maps that we passed are fair and constitutional, and we fully expect that it will be upheld by the higher court. The Fair Districts Act, while (possibly) well intended, sends the wrong message about how we should operate as a society. Drawing a district to favor a population, based on the color of their skin, is moving us further away from the dream of Dr. King where we judge men not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Second, in regards to the Disney and the Special Districts Bill, the robust authority granted to the Reedy Creek Improvement District stretches well beyond those for other cities and counties. It was time for the legislature to conduct an extensive review of the powers and authorities of special districts through the lens of today’s environment. As elected officials, it is our duty to represent the best interest of Floridians, not boardrooms in California. Continue reading
In a democracy ‘the people’ get to “deliberate on, and decide legislation”. I don’t think there is any such country anywhere in the world.
In a ‘Representative Democracy’ the people elect someone to make decisions for them.
Communist or Capitalist, it’s about the same – ‘big money’ dictates who gets elected, and the winners serve themselves.
Exactly who ‘the people’ are and how authority is shared among or delegated by the people has changed over time and at different rates in different countries,
but over time more and more of a democratic country’s inhabitants have generally been included.
Supposedly, democracy ensures freedom of assembly and association, property rights, freedom of religion and speech, inclusiveness and equality, citizenship, consent of the governed, voting rights, freedom from unwarranted governmental deprivation of the right to life and liberty, and minority rights. Continue reading
By TomL
We had a ribbon cutting and dedication of the new REC headquarters in the Teal Brooke Complex. The Republican Chair person who is also an RN nurse. First the tour of the facilities. Very nice building and area. The waiting room was furnished nicely by Brigitte Smith RN furnishing’s. There is a receiving window for staff to welcome people that are visiting. There is a lunch/kitchen area, Brigitte’s office, A board meeting room and a larger room for meetings.
There was standing room only. I think we need this new REC in Ocala we use to have big gathering luncheon’s at the Hilton with a full house and have many great guest speakers. We are on track to do that again. There were a lot of dignitary’s from local and state government. I won’t try too name them all. Personally I think Brigitte has surrounded herself with very capable people, with her being the driving force. It is a recipe for success.
The week after the ribbon cutting they showed the 2,000 mules video, what an eye opener it is a must see.
I ask Brigitte what her goals were? Short range and long range. Here is what she said.
My vision for the REC has passed it’s first goal. My first goal was to fill precincts. We have about 122 precincts. Our REC has over 50% precincts filled, but I will get the exact percentage. The ultimate goal would be to fill 100% which then truly engages the Republicans of Marion county. The second goal of the REC is to engage each of the dozen republican/conservative clubs and ensure each club has their club President as a precinct member of the REC. What that does is promotes strength of the party in addition to ensuring information is disseminating to each club. When we have call to actions or trips to lobby in Tallahassee we then have a much greater pull of conservatives to get active. The next goal is to promote GOTV activities with representation of all these Republican groups. We will ensure a Republican sweep with all these endeavors. My vision to educate our electorate is coming to fruition, as our new Victory Center also enables us to host multiple informational sessions at different times daily and several days to maximize our reach. We are able to provide Republican candidates information to the public and so much more. Our current REC is moving in forward direction in high gear and we will continue to support our Republican Party!
The 19th annual Senior Fishing Derby was a great success, with over a 125 reservations accounted for. The weather was great the bait was plentiful, the fish were plentiful. The winners of the Senior Fishing Derby were: Oldest Fisherwoman –91 years young Violet Diaglin; Biggest Fish – Was Urbert Yancy and the most fish was caught by Willie Mae Brown. They were catching a lot of bigger fish, (catch and release) The Florida Wildlife had stocked lake Tuscawilla with catfish for the Junior Fishing Day.
Thank-You to the City Senior Center, for coordinating the event. Thank you to the city crew for the set up and clean up. Thank you to Parks security and wild life officers. Thanks to BJ Trophy’s for the trophy’s and many sponsors. It is always a great day when you can get people out in the park for a picnic and a morning of fishing. A good time was had by all.
This month’s Networking Luncheon was held at Harbor Hills. Several speakers were scheduled. The event was well attended. The food was good, I would describe it as a Salad Bar Buffet. There was plenty to eat. It was a great success. Food was good, met new people, met some business people I have not seen in a while, It was a good day!
Watch for it next month and attend. Call the Chamber 352-753-6029 for reservations.
Date: 06/10/2022 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Webb Field at Martin Luther King Recreation Complex
1510 NW Fourth St., Ocala, Florida 34475
The City of Ocala in partnership with Marion Cultural Alliance present the 2022 Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series! This series returns Fridays, April 22 through July 1 (excluding May 27), 7 to 9 p.m. at Webb Field at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex (1510 NW Fourth Street).
Join us for 10 FREE concerts and 10 non-profit intermission activities, as well as food trucks, non-profit vendors, and artisan vendors. Stay tuned for the 2022 lineup release!
For more information, visit www.ocalafl.org/levittamp
HEADLINING ARTIST: Bette Smith Continue reading
Publishers note Hi Governor DeSantis
Thanks for forwarding my letter to the Environmental Turnpike Authority. Obviously you did not read my letter because you forwarded to the Problem instead of analyzing it.…The Florida Turnpike Authority, I believe that the Turnpike is done. We should not be paying an authority that needs to take free peoples land to keep them working. We have rights Governor Stick up for us. If you read my first letter you would realize people moved here with a dream. Residents are selling their homes so they don’t get into a confrontation with people they send out to talk to you. Tell them to get off your land!
They are trespassers! They had to talk to my lawyer to make an appointment to talk to me about coming on my land. Do you realize the Sabal Trail Gasoline has the same combination to the lock’s on gates they put up on every land owners property from Alabama to Orlando. I have caught several strangers on my land. I don’t expect anything different from these Turnpike people. Oh and by the way they tell story’s.
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Jennifer Stults, AICP CTP, CPM, FCCM
Planning & Environmental Management Administrator
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise Continue reading
Ocala, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health in Marion County has reissued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Orange Lake, near McIntosh.
This is a continuation of a previous Health Alert the department issued for the lake on March 4. This alert is being reissued after a water sample taken on April 21 by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection indicated that toxins were still present.
The public should exercise caution in and around Orange Lake.
Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions: Continue reading
