The Hilton of Ocala and Beautiful Moments Party Rental & Supplies, Inc.offered a remarkable idea to the soon to become Husband and Wife!

On Sunday afternoon, April 28th a unique bridal discovery event, Wedding Planning 101 was offered to all interested couples.

As you began your journey down the lovely hallways of the Ocala Hilton, you were greeted at the registration table where you received your booklet full of everything you will need in planning your special day! Along with your booklet, you received your ticket that sent you to the beginning of the local vendors waiting to greet you and answer any and all of your questions and concerns you may have. each vendor also supplied you with brochures, samplings of what they have to offer and so much more… there was even a Casino lounge set up for the gentlemen to relax and catch up on their sports!

During the afternoon, Beautiful Moments set up mini-seminars, allowing the vendors to share what they each have to offer as a business. This was very helpful, for it allowed couples to ask questions and receive answers all in one location. As a bonus to those attending the event, Beautiful Moments along with the Ocala Hilton gave away prizes throughout the mini-seminars, which filled the room with a lot of excitement. At the end of the day, two lucky couples walked away with an incredible prize from the Ocala Hilton and Beautiful Moments, all due to the Groom attending this wonderful event with his soon to be Bride!

This event was a huge success, very well orchestrated and so beneficial for the upcoming Bride and Groom to be!  There the will be another upcoming wedding event planned for September with high expectations that it will be even more successful!

The Ocala Business Leaders of Marion County hosted their Home & Business Expo this past Saturday. The event this year took place at the Marion County Extension Auditorium (next to the Livestock Pavilion). The event was from 10 am until 3 pm.

 With many different businesses participating as a vendor, it offered a variety for the local community. Many people in attendance came to seek specific companies, while others mingled throughout and educated themselves.  Being able to have that one on one conversation that we are so many times limited to was a positive outcome to the business expo.

 Being involved within the community you live in, as a business, is crucial. Hosting events such as this one, Ocala Business Leaders (OBL) showed their involvement and their dedication to help our local business owners remain successful here in Marion County!

 As a vendor, we were able to meet with our fellow business owners, which allowed for relationship growth amongst us here in Marion County. Being able to share our thoughts, ideas, and concerns is a way of bringing everyone within the area closer. Company referrals are very important and it helps us all in the long run. That goes hand in hand with keeping “ business” within the Marion County area!

 Overall, the event was a success. Hopefully, each year the local attendance will continue to increase in support so that we as a community working together can grow to the potential that awaits us here in Marion County!

 

The Lady Colts won the Class 5A District 6 title last week, defeating Eastside and Palatka by a combined 17-0. Now the Lady Colts have followed it up with a win in the Regional quarterfinals, defeating Bartram Trail 3-2 to advance to the Regional semifinals against Creekside (Jacksonville) next Tuesday.

North Marion (21-5) showed their versatile style of play in the win over Bartram Trail by playing “small ball”, in other words manufacturing runs. Senior Erin Klein stole two bases while Savannah James and Danielle Miller each swiped a base piece for the Lady Colts who have stolen 106 bases this season.

The Colts broke the ice, scoring two runs in the second inning when Brooke Sapp singled to get it started. Hailey Cone dropped a bunt single-one of six bunts by North Marion, allowing Sapp to touch home on a squeeze bunt single by Amber Capps with a groundout sandwiched in between. Cone would make it 2-0, scoring on a wild pitch later in the inning. Klein scored on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning for a 3-0 Colts lead.

North Marion would surrender a run in the sixth and seventh innings, however held on for the win when Kayley Chisholm of Bartram Trial (21-6) flied out, stranding a runner at third in the seventh, ending the ballgame.

Holly McKinnon was the winning pitcher yielding and is 3-0 in the postseason. McKinnon allowed five hits, hurling seven strikeouts in the win over Bartram Trail, improving to 21-4 with a .40ERA, 254 strikeouts and 25 complete games pitched this season.

If North Marion wins in the regional semifinals, they will face the winner of the Hernando-Gulf (New Port Richey) winner in the regional finals. Hernando defeated North Marion 6-5 during the regular season in the Doc 4 Life Tournament.

Words by Joel Hillsman