Thursday, September 22, 2011

Gators, Manatees and Bears...OH MY! State Wildlife Park is Unique and Educational

The Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park is located approximately an hour's drive southwest of Ocala, FL. The drive, however, is well worth it. The park is filled with birds, wild animals and plants native to central Florida. Most of the wildlife are brought to the park for rehabilitation before they're set free in their natural habitat. Others, like Lu the 51 year old hippo, are permanent residents. But the most popular residents are the gentle manatees. These peaceful giants prefer the warm spring waters especially during the cooler weather of fall and winter. Want to see them right now? Take a look at the park's Manatee Cam for a glimpse.

For a more in-depth view of the park and what it has to offer, visit their website or call (352) 628-2311.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Master the Possibilities Education Center Announces its Fall Session


At Master the Possibilities Education Center in Ocala, FL, fall classes kick up into high gear. In fact, this quarter, the center for lifelong learning will offer more classes and presentations than ever before...close to 200! Categories include academic, health and wellness, computer training and a strong art component.

Master the Possibilities is in its sixth year of operation and offers over 800 opportunities to learn, grow and have fun every year. There are over 100 highly credentialed instructors.

Registration for the fall session is required. The online catalog will be posted to www.masterthepossibilities.com on Thursday, September 22nd for online registration. For telephone registration, pick up a printed catalog at the Freedom Library located at 5870 SW 95th St, Ocala or at Master the Possibilities beginning September 29th and call (352)854-3699 to enroll. Master the Possibilities is located at 8415 SW 80th St, Ocala in Circle Square Commons.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Resident Club Showcase: The Entertainment Group


The Entertainment Club of On Top of the World Communities’ mission is to bring professional entertainment to the community’s stage with ticket prices equal to the cost of a first run movie and a box of popcorn. General admission tickets are $8 and reserved tickets are $10. The shows are held at the Health & Recreation Building located within the community and are available to residents and their guests. The most important part of the mission statement is the annual donations given to Hospice of Marion County, Marion County Senior Services and Florida Center for the Blind all made possible by the support of On Top of the World residents and sponsors.

The Entertainment Group’s 2011-2012 show lineup:

· Friday, September 24, 2011

Sally and her Buddies – Sally Langwah presents her sock hop tribute show.

· Saturday, October 29, 2011

Diamond Then & Now – The ultimate tribute to the legendary singer/songwriter Neil Diamond as performed by Jack Berrios.

· Saturday, November 26, 2011

Christmas and a Whole Lot More – The Marlins brothers perform music from diversified artists such as Glen Miller, Willie Nelson, Elvis, TheBeach Boys, Liverace and even Tiny Tim, to name a few.

· Friday, January 27, 2012

The Van-Dells – The nation’s number one rock n’ roll review will entertain audiences of all ages with a unique blend of comedy, costume changes, choreography and tight harmonies.

· Saturday, February 25, 2012

The New Dawn Singers – College aged performers will bring a high-energy song and dance show with life, enthusiasm and spirit.


For shows open to the public, visit www.CSCulturalCenter.com for the 2011/2012 entertainment lineup.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Hurricane Watch vs. Hurricane Warning – Know the Difference


This year's hurricane season has been a volatile one to say the least. Since the start of hurricane season June 1st, there have been 14 named storms, 3 of which are currently swirling around in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. When a storm is approaching, television meteorologists often show us the little hurricane icon and a "cone" of its projected path on a large computerized map. Luckily, most of the storms each year veer away from Florida. But on few occasions, these damaging storms come ashore to threaten homes and businesses. Many times, you can "hunker down" in your house and ride out the wind and rain (tropical storms through category 2 hurricanes). But there are more severe hurricanes which really pack a punch (category 3-5 hurricanes) that might require you to leave your belongings to fend for themselves. Your personal safety is top priority.

The following are terms used when a storm is eminent. It's a good idea to learn them so you'll know what actions you need to take to be safe.

Tropical Storm Watch: An announcement that tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are possible within the specified coastal area within 48 hours.
Tropical Storm Warning:
An announcement that tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are expected within the specified coastal are within 48 hours.
Hurricane Watch:
An announcement that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are possible within the specified coastal area. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the hurricane watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.
Hurricane Warning:
An announcement that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are expected somewhere within the specific coastal area. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the hurricane warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.