Villages/Lady Lake
Every person who willfully obtains personal identifying information, e.g., name, address, date of birth, Social Security Number (SSN), mother’s maiden name, etc., and uses that information for any unlawful purpose is guilty of a crime. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States. Every year about 15 million people become victims. Everyone is vulnerable. Skilled identity thieves use a variety of methods to steal your personal information. These include the following:
Dumpster diving: They rummage through trash looking for bills and other paper with your personal information on it.
Skimming: They steal credit- or debit-card numbers with a special storage device when processing your card.
Phishing, spear phishing, smishing, vishing, and whaling: They send realistic-looking e-mail that asks recipients to go to a bogus website and provide personal information, use text messages instead of e-mails, and send fake e-mails to high-ranking executives to trick them into clicking on a link that takes them to a website that downloads software that secretly records keystrokes and sends data to a remote computer over the Internet. Continue reading
The Korean War and Korean Defense Service Veterans of Lake County Chapter 169 Inc. meets every 3rd Saturday at the Silver Oaks Room Saddlebrook Recreation Center 3010 Saddlebrook Lane, The Villages, FL. First meeting is on September 16th This is to replace other 3rd Saturday meetings. All Veterans who ever served in Korea are urged to attend. Call (352) 748-7009 for info.
As our thoughts turn to relaxation and family fun this summer, keep in mind that thieves and burglars don’t take vacations from criminal activity. Stay vigilant about protecting yourself, your home, your belongings and your identity. Don’t let crime or weather ruin your summer fun.
The best advice is to stay alert. Be aware of what’s going on in your neighborhood. Never hesitate to report suspicious activity to law enforcement. If you notice activity at your neighbors’ house when you know they are away on vacation, call 911 immediately. Your tip might be the one that helps the Lady Lake Police Department catch a burglar. If you notice someone lurking around cars in a parking lot, phone in that tip. Teaming up and keeping the lines of communication open between law enforcement and observant residents is the best defense against criminals. Continue reading
MVP Athletic Club was honored May 10, 2017 as more than 300 local dignitaries looked on, receiving the 2017 Lake County Community Service Award for involvement and service in our The Villages – Spanish Springs Town Square, The Villages – Brownwood Paddock Square, Boys & Girls Clubs of Lake and Sumter Counties and Lake County communities
“Those who have not learned from history are doomed to repeat it.” That is especially true with hurricanes. Even though forecasting methods and tools are improving year after year, people are still at great risk if they are not prepared.
Experience has taught us that the best thing to do before a hurricane is prepare, so you can be confident during a storm that you’ve done everything you can to keep your family safe. As your Chief of Police, I want you to know that during a hurricane, you can depend on the resilience and resourcefulness of the men and women of the Lady Lake Police Department.
As a local law enforcement agency, we work year-round with our local, county, state and federal partners to improve our response, cooperation and communication during hurricanes. Just as we at the police department plan for unexpected weather emergencies, there is plenty you can do to make yourselves, your families and your homes ready for hurricane season. Don’t wait for a storm to threaten. Continue reading
Have you ever approached an intersection and heard a siren? Perhaps you have looked in your rearview mirror and saw flashing lights behind you. Chances are that you have passed an emergency worker or a law enforcement officer who pulled off the roadway with his or her lights flashing. You should be aware that in Florida the law requires that you move over, make way and slow down when approaching all emergency and law enforcement vehicles stopped on the roadway. The law, known as the Move Over Act, is designed to protect law enforcement officers, firefighters and other emergency workers from needless, accidental tragedy.
After 40 years in law enforcement and public safety, I have learned that driving, especially when responding to calls for service, is the most hazardous duty performed by law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency service professionals. Many fatalities and injuries to emergency service workers could have been avoided had the driver simply slowed down and moved over.
The Lady Lake Police Department strictly enforces the Move Over Law to help keep you and all public safety professionals safe. While on the roadway, please be alert, pay attention and remember the following: Continue reading
The Oklawaha Valley Audubon Society of Lake County, FL will host a program on Eagle Watch 2 p.m. Sunday May 7th at Trout Lake Nature Center 520 E County Rd 44 Eustis, FL.
Shanwlei Breeding Eagle Watch Coordinator of the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland, FL and volunteers will discuss this 25 yr citizen science program that monitors bald eagles in central Florida. Volunteer training for Eagle Watch will be held in late summer.
Registration and refreshments will begin at 1:30 pm. the meeting is free and open to the public. Details: www.oklawaha-audubon.com or call 407-230-5404
OCALA METRO POSTS THIRD FASTEST JOB GROWTH RATE IN FLORIDA
OCALA, Fla. (April 21, 2017) – If not yet in full bloom, the economy is certainly growing stronger in the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion region.
According to today’s employment summary by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), the unemployment rate in March for the CareerSource CLM region was 5.2 percent, down 0.7 percentage point since February and 0.6 percentage point lower than the area’s rate a year ago of 5.8 percent.
Out of an expanded labor force of 201,238, there were 10,556 unemployed, a drop of 1,281 over the month and 915 less than a year ago. Significantly, there were 190,682 people with jobs throughout the three counties, an increase of 1,893 over the month and 5,882 more than in March 2016.
Additionally, the DEO reports that the Ocala metropolitan statistical area (MSA) posted 103,700 nonfarm jobs in March, an increase of 4,000 new jobs for a 4.0 percent growth rate over the year. That’s the third fastest rate among all Florida’s metro areas.
For the third consecutive month, the Ocala MSA continued to hold the fastest annual job growth rate compared to all metros in Florida in professional and business services, at 11.0 percent. The Ocala MSA had the third fastest job growth rate in mining, logging and construction at 10.4 percent.
Kathleen Woodring, CareerSource CLM’s executive vice president, said that the region is gaining momentum when it comes to positive economic indicators.
“This is exactly what we like to see: expansion of the labor force fueled by strong job growth,” she said. Continue reading
BRADENTON, Fla. — Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that Florida businesses created 53,800 private-sector jobs in the first two months of 2017, bringing the total number of new jobs added since December 2010 to 1,346,200. Governor Scott made the announcement at Bealls, Inc. in Bradenton. The retailer, which is headquartered in Florida, has created more than 300 jobs across the state over the past two years and employs more than 8,500 Floridians.
Governor Rick Scott said, “I am proud to announce that Florida’s private-sector businesses have created nearly 54,000 new jobs in 2017. Over the past six years, we have been relentless in our efforts to make Florida the most business-friendly state in the nation because a job is the most important thing to a family. It is incredibly disheartening that politicians in the Florida House have voted to jeopardize programs that create opportunities for our families, visitors, military members and job creators. However, we will continue to fight for important economic development tools like Enterprise Florida and VISIT FLORIDA and the critical impact they have on supporting our growing economy.” Continue reading
This month I would like to again discuss a very important community/law enforcement partnership, CRIMELINE. CRIMELINE is a non-profit organization led by citizens against crime that offers cash rewards of up to $1000 to persons providing anonymous information that leads to the felony arrest of criminals and fugitives. Anonymous CRIMELINE tips are received through a secure tips line or through a secure web connection manned by a professional program coordinator. Each caller is assigned a code number for the purpose of ensuring anonymity. CRIMELINE is based on the principal that someone other than the criminal has information that can solve a crime and was created to combat the three major problems faced by law enforcement in generating that information:
- Fear of REPRISAL
- An attitude of APATHY
- Reluctance to get INVOLVED
