The Art of Aging opening reception Friday, August 2nd. Marion Cultural Alliance and Marion Senior Services. This is the 9th Annual event. Be sure to check it out at Brick City Center for the Arts 23 SW Broadway Street, Ocala, FL 34471

The pictures were taken by CK Johnson

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Ages 13 – 17 | $50 per person

August 5 – August 28 | Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays

Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place | 1821 NW 21st Ave. 6 – 8 PM

This is a picture of a Coral Snake that was run over by a tractor in a field in Marion County. About this time of year snakes move a little more because they like the heat. Sometimes they are looking for a new field because they have depleted they small toads, frogs and rodents. They seem to want to leave where there is no food.

Visitor from out of town Lake Tuscawilla Senior Fishing Derby this Pelican was showing the seniors how to catch fish. I don’t think they usually hang out on fresh water ponds but there he is!

National PTSD Awareness Day was Thursday, June 27, 2024. The day aims to raise awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition that can develop after someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. It also honors the memory of Army Staff Sgt. Joe Biel, who died by suicide in April 2007, and whose birthday is June 27. The pictures were taken by CK Johnson

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While the CEP hosts literally hundreds of events each year, there is one series which stands above the rest. Our exCEPtional Mornings breakfast presented by HCA Florida Ocala Hospital is designed to foster connections, inspire growth, and cultivate success for everyone involved.

The CEP started our exCEPtional Mornings breakfast more than a decade ago and the reason was to create an event that once a month would provide an opportunity to bring the business community together. It allows us to share information with them that is valuable to our community and to bring a speaker who is of significance to the local business community. Our most recent speakers have included Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, Marion County Board of Commissioners Chair Michelle Stone with the State of the County, and Robert Long, CEO of Space Florida. It is a great mix of elected officials, agency leaders, and business executives. In fact, those are often our most popular when we have one of our local business executives who talks about their business.

Many times, businesses get focused on what they are doing and what is happening inside of their business. They do not know these incredible stories of success that we are seeing in our community, which can be inspirational but also create new opportunities for businesses. They want to hear these speakers, but they also want this opportunity to network. They know that the people they want to see will be there. I know many people have told me, “Yes, I make sure I am at breakfast because I know I will see people I need to talk to there.”

The breakfast this highly sought after event. The event has grown steadily over the years. After selling out our previous home at Church of Hope for 22 straight months, we moved in January to the Reilly Arts Center where we regularly host more than 400 attendees for the event. Make sure to secure your spot for the next gathering in July. Register today at OcalaCEP.com.

For the CEP, it is a chance to share valuable information: whether that is a program, event, or initiative of the CEP; something happening within local government; or to celebrate a success. It has really been exciting to watch how this program has grown and allows us to share all that is exceptional about living, working, and playing in this community.

This is a photo by CKJ-13 Kay Johnson of the Florida National Cemetery. It is the resting place of my mother-in-Law and Father-in-Law Wilbur & Mary Standen. A great couple. Wilbur was in World Wart two and lived to be 90 yr old Mary made it to 95. They lived on our farm after retiring and saw their grand children.