Professional Golf Tournament at Candler Hills Golf Club to Benefit Two Local Charities

Candler Hills Golf Club will be host to the 6th annual Ocala Open Golf Tournament on March 14-16, 2012. Candler Hills Golf Club is the prestigious golf course at On Top of the World Communities in Ocala, Florida. The three-day tournament will be played Wednesday through Friday with a guaranteed winner’s prize of $12,000. The Pro-Am is scheduled for Tuesday, March 13^th and will feature local amateurs paired up with pros in a fun round of golf all for charity. Spectator admission to the professional tournament is free.

On Top of the World Communities has established an outstanding reputation for leadership and community service in the greater Ocala and Marion County area. The Ocala Open Golf Tournament will benefit local charities: Hospice of Marion County, Inc. and Interfaith Emergency Services. Hospice of Marion County, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide exemplary compassionate comfort care for the terminally ill and support services for the families/caregivers. Interfaith Emergency Services is a not-for-profit organization which brings together people of all faiths providing basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing and emergency financial assistance to those in need right here in our community.

The 2011 Ocala Open was a great success as the two aforementioned charities split nearly $44,000 that was raised with generous sponsorships by local businesses who embraced and supported the event.

Live, real-time updates will be posted during the tournament on www.OcalaOpen.com and www.facebook.com/candlerhillsgolfclub.

For sponsorship opportunities and more information on the 2012 Ocala Open Golf Tournament, visit our website: www.OcalaOpen.com.

Message from Interfaith Emergency Services

The Ocala Open professional golf tournament has been such a blessing to the ministry of Interfaith Emergency Services. While the need in our community grows due to the struggling economy, donations are more difficult to come by so the proceeds that go to Interfaith from this tournament made a significant difference in our ability to continue our work this past year. The $22,000 that we received last year allowed us to provide shelter for many families and individuals throughout the year including the cost of housing multiple families, laundering their clothes, and providing the basic essentials needed for their hygiene. With the support provided by the Ocala Open, we were able to operate our 32-bed homeless shelter at capacity all year and never had to turn a family away because of lack of resources. The difference that it makes for families who have lost their housing is immeasurable. The shelter gives them a safe haven where they get can their financial affairs in order, obtain needed education or employment and get back on their feet without worrying about where they and their children will sleep each night or what they will eat. This wonderful event is one of the largest gifts received by Interfaith during the year and has a huge impact on our ability to help the ever-growing number of people in need of shelter. We are so thankful to the Ocala Open and On Top of the World Communities for their support and for caring about those less fortunate in our community.

Karla Grimsley

Executive Director

Message from Hospice of Marion County

Hospice of Marion County has served our community since 1983. Once an all-volunteer agency, it is now the only not-for-profit hospice in the county with a staff of 250 professionals and 650 volunteers, whose mission is offering compassionate comfort care for those with advancing illness.

Over the past two years, the Ocala Open Pro-Am tournament at Candler Hills Golf Club provided $41,032.66 – that’s 228 days of patient care. This substantial gift supplements our ability to offer the same care to all our patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Each year, Hospice of Marion County provides nearly $1,000,000 in charity care.

Hospice is available for anyone with a prognosis of about six months. Patients often find that their quality of life improves and their caregivers receive much-needed support, enabling them to regain many enjoyable activities. Services are available in homes, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospitals or at one of four hospice houses, such as the Legacy House, just off Hwy 200W.

An interdisciplinary team cares for patients and their families with expert end-of-life medical care, counseling, chaplaincy, social services, respite for caregivers and bereavement services for up to 13 months—all covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance. How is all this possible? It is through the generous support of community partners and philanthropic individuals that help us continuously follow through on our mission.

Lisa Varner

Community Outreach Coordinator

Ocala Area Healthcare is Among the Best in the Nation

Healthcare…it’s an important aspect when considering which community to call home. The availability of superior quality healthcare in the Ocala area is one of the benefits of living in On Top of the World Communities.

Ocala has four area hospitals in addition to numerous walk-in clinics and smaller medical centers.

Munroe Regional Medical Center (MRMC) has served the Ocala community for over 110 years. A locally owned, community hospital, MRMC currently operates with 421 beds, 2,500 associates, 450 physicians and 1,700 volunteers. MRMC has been recognized repeatedly for its outstanding service in the medical field. Awards and honors include: the Consumer Choice Award (for seven consecutive years), the 100 Top Hospitals® Award for cardiovascular care (the only hospital in the nation to receive the honor ten times), the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence (the only three-time recipient in the state of Florida), the Gold Seal of Approval from Joint Commission for Diabetes Outpatient Services, recognition as an Accredited Chest Pain Center (one of only 12% of hospitals in the United States), and most recently the Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence™ (given to hospitals in the top 5% in nation for clinical performance) and the list goes on.

Timber Ridge Medical Park, located just minutes from On Top of the World, offers clinics and medical offices for a variety of services, including emergency services (in conjunction with MRMC), radiology, oncology and more.

Ocala Regional Medical Center (ORMC) has been serving the Ocala area since the 1970s. ORMC includes a Joint Care Center, a Women’s Center, a Cancer Center (approved by the Commission on Cancer and affiliated with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa), a Bariatric Center (directed by one of the country’s top laparoscopic bariatric surgeons), emergency department and more. ORMC is a 200-bed facility with 300 physicians on staff. Outpatient services are also offered.

West Marion Community Hospital (WMCH), Ocala’s newest hospital located just minutes from On Top of the World, features rehabilitative services, a Breast Health Center, a inpatient Joint Care Center as well as emergency services. WMCH surgeons utilize the state-of-the art Da Vinci Robotic Surgical System, a surgical robot used for laparoscopic surgery.

Senior Health Care Center is an outpatient department of ORMC and is located just outside the entrance to On Top of the World Communities, literally a golf cart ride from home. With physicians and nurses on staff, this center offers services to seniors that include primary and specialty care, lab work, case management, pharmacy and nutrition consults and more.

All area hospitals work in conjunction with the world-famous Shands Teaching Hospital at the University of Florida in Gainesville, just 30 minutes north of Ocala. Shands provides medical services in about 100 specialty and subspecialty areas. In addition Shands opened a brand new Cancer Hospital last fall.

Gainesville is also where you will find the region’s Veterans Hospital.

Other outstanding healthcare services that can also be found in Ocala are Hospice of Marion County, Inc. offering comprehensive palliative care, Visiting Angels, providing in-home, non-medical assistance as needed, and The Bridge, providing assisted living services.

Medical Specialists
Ocala may be considered a small town by some, but not where healthcare is concerned. With some of the best medical professionals in the field, you can rest easy knowing that Ocala has what you need in the way of medical specialists. Fields of expertise include: cardiology, oncology, palliative care, speech and hearing, dermatology, physical therapy, diabetes, neuroscience, orthopedics, urology and more.

Pharmacies
Located near the entrance to On Top of the World are several retailers with pharmacies; Publix, Wal-mart, Winn Dixie, Walgreens and CVS are literally just a quick ride from home. And with pharmacy networks in place at most retailers, filling your prescriptions while at home or traveling is fast and simple.

Health…It’s about more than just the body.
Being healthy is more than just not being sick. It is a state of being encompassing the physical, mental, social and spiritual aspects of a person. With this in mind, several local organizations have developed programs to engage the active adult population on multiple levels.

On Top of the World takes pride in offering its residents more health and wellness opportunities with facilities and programs than any other community. The Ranch Fitness Center & Spa is a stunning facility that residents enjoy for their modern fitness programming and exquisite salon and spa treatments. Residents of On Top of the World receive special fitness membership discounts at The Ranch which also include reduced salon and spa rates. There is no other community with a luxury spa and state-of-the-art fitness facility located just a short golf cart ride away from your front door.

Additionally, On Top of the World’s Master the Possibilities adult education program aims to keep the mind active. Master the Possibilities offers over 150 different classes every quarter ranging from academic topics, book clubs and fine art classes to healthcare discussions, cooking demonstrations and computer skills.

Personal Coaching = RESULTS! by David Gibas

Have you been working hard at the gym or going to fitness classes to lose weight or feel better? How's that going for you? If you answered "not too good", maybe it's time to boost your fitness routine with a new results-oriented fitness program.

Statistics from several studies on exercise adherence indicate that approximately 50% of individuals who start a self-monitored exercise program will drop out of that program within six months. The reason is that we tend to have unrealistic expectations. We drift away from our resolution when we do not experience the results we want soon enough.

A realistic goal that is specific measurable is a critical stop in your commitment to get fit. Once your goal is in place, you will need to stay motivated and accountable to keeping up with your workouts. A fitness plan is simple by design but difficult by nature. Human behavior is complex and changing that behavior is difficult.

The Ranch Fitness Center & Spa is here to help! The Ranch now offers a premium fitness membership, which includes personal coaching. Personal coaching was designed to combat the obstacles that keep most people from achieving the results they want. Your personal coach provided goal setting and program design but, most importantly, keeps you motivated and accountable to get the results you want! The personal coaching schedule is flexible with morning, evening and weekend options. Visit The Ranch for more details...it's time to get the results for which you're looking!

David Gibas is the Facility Director at The Ranch Fitness Center & Spa

Willie Nelson & Family Will Make Tour Stop at Circle Square Cultural Center in Ocala

Music icon and winner of 25 Grammy, CMA & American Music Awards Willie Nelson comes to the Circle Square Cultural Center! Willie’s popular hits such as “Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys”, “On The Road Again”, “Always On My Mind” and many more classics are ageless songs that span generations. With his brilliant 6 decade career that speaks volumes of his music’s relevance and performance power, the 75 year old Willie Nelson continues to sell out venues all over the world!

This tour is called Willie Nelson & Family for good reason...his family is in the band! His sister Bobbie will be on the piano, his daughter Amy has been known to sing backup and his very talented 23 year old son Lukas will play the guitar and sing alongside his father.

In addition to the aforementioned songs, Willie has been known to include "Good-Hearted Woman", "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground", "Move it On Over", "Healing Hands of Time" and "Georgia On My Mind" to his concert play list.

Don’t miss the legendary Willie Nelson live in concert on Saturday, February 4 at 7pm at the Circle Square Cultural Center, located at 8395 SW 80th Street. For more information on the 2012 entertainment line-up including times, dates and tickets, visit the website at www.CSCulturalCenter.com or call 352-854-3670.

Ocala Area - Dining Out

Eating out rather than cooking at home is quite a trend, and in Ocala, you will find many options for doing just that. Offering American dishes, BBQ, buffet-style, Asian cuisine, Italian fare, fine dining, coffee, dessert and so much more, from national chains to locally owned establishments, Ocala has what you’re looking for.

Some of Your National Favorites
Ocala has some of your favorite national chain restaurants where you can enjoy a meal with family and friends: Chili’s, Bob Evans, Bonefish, IHOP, Carrabba’s, Panera Bread, Five Guys Burgers & Fries, Starbucks, Golden Corral, Sonny’s BBQ, Outback Steakhouse, Quiznos, Applebee’s, Hooters, Boston Market, Ruby Tuesday, El Toreo Mexican Restaurant, Cracker Barrel, Zaxby’s, Coldstone Creamery, Olive Garden and many more. And, as Ocala continues to grow you can expect to see new establishments coming to the area...

Locally Owned Restaurants with a Lot to Offer
Ocala has many locally owned restaurants as well. It could take months to sample them all, but what a fun and “tasty” way to get to know the area.

Candler Hills Restaurant

Only one word is needed to describe this personable and beautifully located restaurant...variety. Candler Hills Restaurant is located on On Top of the World property and gives an abundance of delectable choices from cobb salad, quesadillas and deli sandwiches to paninis, pasta dishes and steak. The restaurant also has a full bar and delicious homemade desserts. Dine inside or out on the patio that overlooks the 18th green at Candler Hills Golf Club. The restaurant is open 7 days a week and is open to the public. www.candlerhillsrestaurant.com

Pi on Broadway
This quaint yet upscale establishment serves tapas and wood-burning oven-cooked pizzas. On the second level you will find an outdoor overlook of downtown Ocala where you can enjoy music on weekends and the ambiance of tiki torches. www.pionbroadway.com

Stumpknockers on the River
Located on the Withlacoochee River, this restaurant offers seafood lovers a little bit of heaven: fried catfish, stuffed flounder, frog legs, sea scallops, Florida gator, steaks and much more. www.stumpknockers.net

Ipanema
This Brazilian Steakhouse presents a unique dining experience where servers parade a variety of freshly grilled meat through the restaurant and slice a piece (or more) for you tableside in a style of service called rodizio. www.ipanemaocala.com

SKY Asian Fusion Cuisine
Located on the top floor of the Holiday Inn, SKY, and the hotel, are anything but typical. Surrounding you with Asian-inspired decor, SKY serves up exotic Pacific cuisine including vegetarian lettuce wraps, curry shrimp, steamed lobster dumplings, Mongolian beef, crispy calamari salad, pad thai, and much more. www.ocalasky.com

Little Joey’s Pizza
All the Italian you could want can be found at Little Joey’s Italian diner, just one mile from On Top of the World. Little Joey’s offers hot and cold subs, calzones, salads, pasta, soups, and of course, pizzas. The four cheese pizza with sliced tomatoes comes highly recommended. Finish your meal with some homemade zeppolis or tiramisu.

Eating Out at Home
Doing Dinner
Want restaurant quality meals without actually going out or spending hours in the kitchen? Doing Dinner has the solution. By preparing and freezing meals that you pre-order, Doing Dinner does the work for you. All you do is thaw, cook and enjoy. Regular entrees are designed to feed three average adults and single serve meals which you can mix and match to please everyone at the table. Each month new items are featured in addition to the over 20 regular items. www.doingdinner.com