Ocala and Marion County business news for February 1, 2021

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Seek a new five-year partnership between local horse farms and Marion County Public Schools. The "Black Stallion Reading Project" aims to use horses to inspire fourth-grade students

Students will improve their reading and comprehension skills, while promoting horse and horse sports, and make people aware of the career opportunities in the horse market in Marion County. "  

Through the Farm-to-School Partnership Program, the alliance matches farms or pastures with local schools to seek horse farms to become active and supportive partners for elementary schools. Please contact OcalaHorseAlliance@aol.com for application and other information.

The gold line at Marion Oaks has a deviation. The service said in the news: “Although the Marion Oaks community has been providing services to Marion Transit, the new Gold Line route is the first time in the region to adopt a system that deviates from the route (pick-in, drop-off service),” released.

To book in advance, please call 620-3071. For same-day pick-up, please call 620-3127. The full schedule of the route can be found at the shortened URL below: 

Announced the board of directors and senior management for 2021: Chairman Bill Oppenheimer; Angie Dansby, Vice Chairman; Judge Felecia, Secretary and Treasurer; Billy Woods, Past Chairman; and Members Roy Abshier, Nichole Bloom, Bill Browder, Louis Cherubin, Juanita Cunningham, Biddie Kirk, Bekki Koppenhafer, Mike McQuaig, Robert Putzeys, Samantha Rauba, Marty Roberson and April Savarese.

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2370 NW at NW 45th Terrace in Ocala has reopened. "In addition to offering daily low prices and a wide variety of essentials, this refurbished store will now also include Dollar Tree merchandise for $1.00, additional freezers and freezers and more food, beauty and essentials, household products And seasonal products," the store said in a press release.

He has joined The Villages Insurance Partners as a financial risk consultant. 

Will take the stage on February 7 to provide local first responders, health care workers and educators with two free tickets for "I Hate Hamlet". Need to book in advance. Call the box office at 236-2274 to reserve a seat and let the other party know that you are calling "Hamlet Hero."

Welcome new board members: Jiang Cruz of Westport High School; James Hartley of Riley Center for the Arts; Rosie Miller, Ocala Municipal Theater; Scott Michel ( Scott Michell, Silver Spring Museum and Environmental Education Center; and Sandra Wilson in Ocala. 

David and Lisa Midgett of the Lisa Midgett Foundation serve as chairman. The president-elect is Sol Reyes, Central Florida College; the shopkeeper is the signature brand Lisa Seiffer; the secretary is Mary Delancey of Grace Bishop's Church; the former president is Trish Kilgore of Roberts Real Estate.

• Chief Executive Officer of SECO Energy

It was announced last week that he plans to retire after 43 years of service in the electrical cooperative and plans to retire in January 2022. He started as the Accounting and Finance Director in 1979 and became CEO in 1990. SECO’s board will hire a search company to help find replacements. The cooperative has more than 61,000 customers in Marion County.

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A call has been issued to the artist to create a mural on the south-facing awning of the Brick City Art Center at 23 Broadway Southwest. The artist or team will receive a remuneration of US$2,000. The deadline for applications is March 1. For more information, please visit www.ocalafl.org/culturalarts.

• Based on Ocala

 Introduced a new line of custom pumps that can be built immediately, with two main body construction styles. 

The company said in a press release: "Each model offers unique options, including body style, wheelbase, compartment storage, pump modules, water tanks, ladder storage and hard suction hose storage. They are available in stainless steel or extruded Aluminum body design.".