Newtfest
Crews were dispersed last month all through the National Forest searching for evidence of the Striped Newt in ponds and prairies. They were documenting the evidence of adults, tadpoles and eggs; and their predators.
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Ghost Towns
This area is dotted with sites of old communities no longer in existence. Originally surrounding citrus plantations, turpentine camps, reailway camps or sawmills, their need has gone and the forest has reclaimed the once thriving areas.
First in our series is Norwalk, a village that boasted 150 buildings from mid 1800′s to 1900. Nine miles north of Salt Springs it was a primary logging center with rail connections from the St. Johns to the Ocklawaha Rivers. The empty log train started at Norwalk, backed down the main rail line, picked up trees and headed east with the logs to Norwalk Landing where they were dumped in the river. Here they were tied to rafts and towed the 103 miles to Jacksonville. Norwalk Landing, a mile from Norwalk was on the site of the current Welaka ferry. During the orange growers heydays there were 250 people receiving mail at the Norwalk post office. (An additional post office was opened in Syracuse in July 1883 with 41 families but was only in servicce 10 years.) With two schools, three churches, three businesses, a turpentine camp, a pineapple plantation and 15-20 citrus groves this was a busy community. There are no traces of the town today.
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Photography Show
The Second annual Southern Exposures photography show will be held April 3rd through the 30th at Brick City for the Arts in Ocala.
Holy Week Services
Forest Lutheran Church will hold Monday Thursday service April 9 at 7:00 pm. Good Friday Services April 10th at 1 pm. Easter Sunday Breakfast will be offered at 9 am. Easter Celebration Service April 12th at 10:30 am. He is risen! Forest Lutheran is located on the corner of SR 40 and 183rd. Ave Rd.
Songs for Healing
Hospice of Marion County is developing a special choral group that would offer songs of healing and comfort at the bedside of the terminally ill. This service would be provided for patients in private homes, nursing homes or hospital rooms, with a choice of music ranging from liturgical to spiritual, quiet and melodic pieces. If you have experience with singing or musical direction, have a compassionate heart and are willing to join us in thos rewarding journey, please call Kathy at eight73-seven441 for more details.
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*FREE* Business Expo *FREE*
Come meet some of your area Businesses and Organizations. Saturday April 18th 2009 at the Community Center (314A S of Rt. 40) from 9:00 – 1:00 pm.
- Promotional Giveaways
- Information
- Food
- Drawings
Local businesses and organizations will be setting up to offer information on who, where and what. Churches, stores, home businesses, services will be there along with Crime Watch, Sheriffs Dept. and the Fire Dept. Do you have a home business? Bring a card table, flyer, business card or giveaways and you’re all set. No retail sales, just free advertising.
Sponsored by Forest Advisory Council. For info call 625-6021 or 625-5326
Emotional Freedom Techniques
Learn an introduction to this powerful universal self-help healing aid on April 18th at the Community Center from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. with Paula Krause. Gary Craig, the developer of EFT says “EFT is by far the most fascinating, more rewarding, most effective tool I have ever found for personal improvement.” EFT has been clinically effective in relieving many commonly experienced psychological issues, such as anger, anxiety, physical discomfort, compulsive behavior, fears and phobias, addictive cravings, depression and physical trauma. The EFT motto is “Try it on everything.”
Join Paula, an international energy Psychology Trainer for an informative slide presentation on this exciting technique that could change your life. There is a suggested donation of $10.00 for the presentation.
Donations
Hospice of Marion County needs your donations. They gladly accept clean clothes, misc. household items and furniture. Income from the sales in the three area thruft stores go to pay for patient care; the Belleview store alone supplied 99 patients with Hospice care last year. Stores are in Belleview K-mart plaza, the Shores on Maricamp Rd. and Jasmine plaze on Rt. 200.
Gospel Concert
The River Jordan Quartet hosted by Forest Lutheran Church will appear on Saturday April 25th at 7:00 pm. There is no admission charge, but a love offering will be given. For info call 625-8700
Christian Based
Maries Diner, in the Winn-Dixie shopping center, is a Christian based business and welcomes tracts and scripture cards from area churches. They are now open 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. with breakfast, daily specials, baked dishes, soup, pizza and subs plus burgers and dessert. What more could you ask for?
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Homes Needed Urgently for Abandoned Dogs
Four dogs were left in Ocala National Forest last hunting season. One has found a home, the other three will have to be euthanized if we can’t find foster or permanent homes. They all have great personalities. There is a female hunting type dog, has had an untreated broken leg, a male beagle type hound and a young pitbull-mix male. Call Eve at 352-840-three040 or 352-362-zero260
Quest for Jewels has Arrived!!!
American Hearts Unlimited is having their Quest for Jewel Fundraiser, sponsored by East Marion Self Storage (625-7581), Open Door Ministries (685-3923) and American Heart.
One dollar donation is equal to three guesses. If you guess the exact number of jewels in the jar you win! Prize is a $150.00 gift card for WalMart. During today’s economic crisis, almost everyone can benefit from a WalMart gift card. The game runs through April. In the event of a tie, the winning names will go in a drawing and we will draw the winner form there. Good luck to all! Clues will be posted in the Clothes Closet in Waldena Plaza, through out the game.
Clue: “Jar contains some empty space.”
Fun Day at Forest Lakes Park
A great day of fun was had by all last month at the Forest Lakes Park Community Center. About 350 members of the community ate Bar-B-Q, enjoyed games and toured the newly refurbished Center. The purposed of the day was to introduce the Community to the new afterschool mentoring program which will start soon at the Center. Computers, teachers and positive role modeling will be keys to the program. This is a combined effort of the Forest Lakes Park community and the “Turning Point Mentoring Center” sponsored by David Houck, an Assembly of God minister and founder of the Forest HELP Agency. David hopes this is the first of several Centers he hopes to open here in the Forest.
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Christ Cafe is the place to meet for lunch on Fridays
From 11:30 to 1:00 many locals gather for lunch at the Forest United Methodist Church. This is the 3rd year the volunteers have been serving. Our thanks for many a delicious lunch.
Kid’s Klub
The Forest Public Library offers Kid’s Klub once a month when there are half days at school. The group meets from 2:30-4:00 p.m. They have games, crafts and fun. The dates for Kid’s Klub are April 15th and May 6th. Kid’s Klub is open to all school age children.
And the Winners Are …..
The “Save Our Water” poster contest annoucned the following winners: the One Book One Community award went to Holly LeJeune. the Forest Public Library award went to Ashley Trainor and Erika McMullen who worked on their poster together and The Friends of the Forest Public Library award was received by Ashton Loper.
The Poster contest was in conjunction with the book “Mirage” and was open to all elementary school age children. We want to thank all those that entered.
Can You Sudoku?
Learn to do the number puzzles. Sandi Norsworthy will be teaching “Beginning Sudoku” from 10:00-12:00 noon on April 22nd in the Forest Public Library’s Community Room. The class is open to all.
Do You Like Watching Movies?
The Friends of the Forest Public Library will begin showing movies at the Forest Public Library. “The Interpreter” with Nicole Kidman will be shown on Wednesday April 29th at 2:00 p.m. “National Treasure” will be show on May 20th. “Fiddler On the Roof” will be shown on Wednesday June 1st and June 17th will begin the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series with “The Curse of the Black Pearl”. All movies will start at 2:00 p.m. and are Free to All. What movies would you like to see? Just drop your suggestions off at the circulation desk and we will see what we can do.
Harry Potter Returns
With a new Harry Potter movie coming out this summer the Forest Public Library will be showing the previous 5 movies in the Community Room. One Harry Potter movie a week starting Monday June 15th.
Care and Share
Every Wednesday from 9:00 – 4:00 the Ocklawaha Bridge Baptist Church opens it’s Care and Share Ministry. Cookware, clothes, etc. are available for those who need them, open to all. If you have goods you no longer need donations are always appreciated.
Need to Get Your GED?
The Blue Bus is in the Library parking lot every Tuesday around 2:00 p.m., offering help and advice for all who need to get their G.E.D. diploma. The Forest Public Library also has standard G.E.D books available. Ask at the Circulation desk. There are also 2 G.E.D books in Spanish for those who are going for their G.E D. while learning English.
Summer Fun with the Arts
The Forest Public Library’s Summer fun begins on Tuesday June 23rd at 10:30 a.m. Games, crafts and books will happen every Tuesday. Thursday sessions start at 2:00 p.m. and will have special events. June 25th will be a Wii afternoon. Tuesday June 30th will highlight Dance and July 2nd will be a Dance Revolution Tournament. The fun happens for a full 6 weeks.