Ocala4sale – Page 19

4 Ways to Make Extra Money for the Holidays

Everyone feels the cash crunch at the end of the year. Just as in the lesson of the ant and the grasshopper, the winter months often need a little extra, especially for celebrating the holidays. Here are 4 ways to bring in the green. 1. Get a Job Many retailers and shipping companies are looking for extra help during Christmas. Mall stores and big box retailers often hire temporary seasonal employees. Merry gentlemen can don the Santa suit, and elves that can get kids to smile for a photo are always in demand. Sometimes these seasonal jobs can lead to permanent employment, but usually the position is eliminated after ReGiftmas has ended. 2. Start a Business If the weather cooperated, you could shovel snow. Many a seasonal business has started by doing similar work. Some seasonal business ideas include: Hanging Christmas lights Cleaning gutters and downspouts Making and selling gift baskets Sleigh rides or carriage rides Selling yule logs, mistletoe, or …

Save Money by Insulating Your Home

When you install good quality insulation for your home, you can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs. Insulation can be applied around doors and windows, ceilings and outer walls, and floors. Before starting out, conducting an insulation audit is a good idea. You can hire someone to make a thorough check or decide to do it yourself. Compare the thicknesses of insulation you find against the U.S. Department of Energy’s online fact sheet to determine the quality of the insulation you have. Insulate as Much as You Can Properly installed insulation can reduce your electric bill. There is little risk that you will insulate too much, especially in an older home. Air leaks and drafts should be eliminated with spray foam, caulk or weather stripping. If you are worried about air quality, you can hire a technician to check your combustible appliances for emissions. This means that you can have peace of mind that your appliances are not leaking harmful carbon monoxide into you…

Is Your Child’s Crib Safe?

When thinking about crib safety, the focus is to prevent accidents and SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, for your baby. Being alert to the possible dangers will help you avert problems before they arise. 6 Ways to Make a Crib Safer You can make a crib safer by being alert to potential problems. The basic requirements of crib safety are: A firm tight-fitting mattress so the baby cannot get trapped between frame and mattress. Most mattresses have adjustable heights which you will need to lower when the baby can stand. No loose screws or other pieces that the baby can swallow. The slats should be close enough that the baby cannot slip through. No corner posts for the baby’s clothing to catch on. No places that the baby’s head can get trapped in the headboard or footboard. Keep any cords from nursery mobiles or nearby blinds out of the way. Has This Crib Been Recalled? If you want to make sure the crib has been tested for safety and quality, look f…

Five Nature Parks to Visit in Ocala

One of the best points of Ocala (besides Tasty-O’s) is its natural beauty. And while there may be some trees or even forest in your neighborhood, nothing beats going out into it and taking a hike! Here are some nature parks for you to enjoy. Ocala National Forest Ocala National Forest is in Florida, north of Orlando. It's known for its large areas of sand pine scrub forest. The Juniper Springs, Alexander Springs and Salt Springs recreation areas have natural pools and canoe runs. Hundreds of lakes and ponds include Lake Kerr and the enormous Lake George. One of many trails, the Yearling Trail winds past a sinkhole and the remains of 19th-century homesteads. Sholom Park Sholom Park is a non-profit privately owned, 44-acre botanical garden in Ocala, Florida. Opened in 2004, the park features over 2 miles of paved trails and more than 250 species of plants and trees. Silver Springs State Park Silver Springs State Park, formerly known as Silver River State Par…

Classy Camping: What to Know When Buying a Used RV

You’ve decided to buy an RV. Congratulations! Now you need to decide if you want to buy new or get a used RV. Either way, you should know the pros and cons before you buy. RVs aren’t cheap. Even a modest travel trailer can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and if you want luxury, you could be looking at around $500,000. That’s when looking for a used RV becomes your best bet. You can always customize that used RV with fancy upgrades: a $14 wall plate does the same thing as the expensive USB charging port options, for example. You do, however, want to make sure you don’t get the wrong used RV. Make sure it’s not too old. Many developed campgrounds actually restrict by age of the RV they allow in their campgrounds. The best bet is to look for something that’s under 10 years old. Also, the older the RV, the more chance of wear and tear, which could become an expensive re…

Halloween Stories, Snacks, and the Spooky Origins

Halloween is coming, so now's the time to have some hauntingly good fun! This year, we present: The origins of Halloween, a nice little Florida ghost story, and a fun and easy treat to make! The Origins of Halloween Before Halloween became the holiday we know, it was an old Celtic festival called Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. This superstition was passed down from generation to generation until the eighth century, when Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as the time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain, and the evening before became known as All Hallow's Eve...and this eventually turned into Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, and of course, costumes. Oh. And candy. We mustn't forget the candy! Did you know that one quarter of all the candy sold annually in the United States is bought for…

Discovery Center: Astronaut Academy Exhibit Opens Saturday with a Special Viewing of a NASA Moon Rock

The Discovery Center's newest exhibit, Astronaut Academy will be on display Oct. 3, 2020 through Jan. 2, 2021 at the Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave. A special grand opening event will be held Saturday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature individual hands-on experiments in the STEAM Saturday program. Astronaut Academy is a hands-on exhibit with activities that introduce kids to space travel and experiments. Visitors will navigate their way through a space station module, control a remote Mars rover, build and launch their own rockets, view an authentic moon rock (courtesy of NASA) and more. Discovery Center partnered with National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE), NASA, and Lockheed Martin to showcase the ideas, engineering and even the art that goes into the study and exploration of space. The exhibit is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Updated sessions will be posted on the Discovery Center website. General admission to the Discovery…

Ocala/Marion Day of Giving with the Marion County Children’s Alliance

The Marion County Children's Alliance is excited to be a part of the first Ocala/Marion's day of giving hosted by the Community Foundation of Ocala/Marion. This special giving day is an opportunity to unite our community around causes in which we truly believe and help nonprofit organizations connect to the larger community. The Children's Alliance needs your help! Please join our campaign and help us reach our goal of $10,000! We need you to tell your friends and family members about the important work we do and ask them to join us in helping to make a difference. Get ready to give! On October 20, starting at October 20, 2020 10 AM, visit https://www.give4marion.org and make a donation to us and/or to any of the great participating nonprofit organizations in Ocala/Marion. You will have 24 hours to make your donation, and all giving will end at October 21, 2020 10 AM.

“Hinterlands” Opening Exhibit

The opening for Megan Welch's, Hinterlands, will begin Monday, Oct. 19, 9 a.m. at City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. Due to ongoing Covid-19 health and safety concerns, there will be no opening reception. This art exhibit will be on display October 19, 2020 through January 8, 2021, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This exhibit is free and open to the public. Megan Welch is a portrait painter and educator residing in Northeast Florida. Welch recently graduated from the Savannah College of Art & Design with an MFA in Painting. She is also a graduate of the University of North Florida, receiving her BFA in Fine Art with a concentration on painting and drawing. Welch has been represented in the World of Wonder Gallery in Los Angeles, CA, and Holly Blanton Art Studio & Gallery in Atlantic Beach, FL. Most recently, she exhibited her MFA Thesis: Stay Where I Can See You, at Holly Blanton Art Studio & Gallery in Atlantic Beach, FL, and was featured in the latest …

City of Ocala to Host a Tire Amnesty Day

The City of Ocala is providing residents with free tire disposal Saturday, Oct. 10, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Disposal locations will be at the corner of NE 14th Street and NE Eighth Avenue and the Hampton Aquatic Fun Center located at 255 NW Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Tires generated by businesses will not be accepted and there is a limit of 10 tires per resident. This service is for residents living within the city limits. A driver's license listing a city address may be requested.

For more information, please contact the City of Ocala Residential Sanitation Division at 352-351-6697.