Photo by Juha Lakaniemi on Unsplash
The rest of the U.S. has a skewed image of Florida at times. It’s funny how people from Northern states tend to imagine Floridians as sunbathing on January 1st. (In truth, we sometimes can– but it isn’t often.)
Contrary to popular belief, the cold does eventually find its way to Florida. We’ve even seen a few white Christmases in our lifetime (albeit brief). And there will be many mornings in wintertime where the windows frost beyond our ability to see clearly. While a dose of morning sun is usually enough to melt this away, sometimes we need to be somewhere before the sun can get to our vehicles.
If a frosty morning has the Floridian in you utterly perplexed, we’re pleased to offer some advice on how to deal with frost quickly and safely.
Do get an ice scraper. A good scraper can get your field of vision cleared in a matter of minutes.
Don’t use a key, a rock, or a hammer. The frost already has your windshield under stress. Trying to defrost a car with a hammer is silly. Keys scratch paint and glass. Rocks… well, they’re rocks! Go get a scraper!
Do buy a de-icer spray. There’s recipes out there to make them, but be careful. The diluted run-off is going into your engine, and that’s not a great place for a flammable liquid to be loose. It’s easier and safer to buy it and use as instructed!
Don’t boil water. Glass, even autoglass, is volatile under extreme temperature change. Pouring hot water on your frozen windshield has the immediate joy of watching the frost disappear, until the hot water makes the contracted glass suddenly expand and break. Don’t be surprised if you hear a loud crack and lose your entire windshield.
Are you debating over a charity to give to this year? We’d like to recommend OneChild! They offer children in the worst circumstances aid and ministry. Click the link above to find out more about OneChild and how you can help!
EVENTS
January 1st & 2nd
25th Annual "Trains at the Holidays"
Date: 12/18/21
The Webber Gallery at the College of Central Florida presents the 25th annual “Trains at the Holidays” display Dec. 18-Jan. 2. The Webber Gallery is located at the CF Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road.
This display will feature model train layouts built and maintained by the Ocala Model Railroaders’ Historic Preservation Society. Every year, CF is honored to partner with the society to bring their beautiful model train collection to the community. As Jim DeLawter, OMRRHPS president, said, “The CF Express has been chugging along for 25 years!”
Viewing the trains is a holiday tradition for many local families, and thousands of patrons, young and old, visit each year. The display features modular train layouts and railroad memorabilia. Many of the layouts are inspired by historic Ocala landmarks, such as the Six Gun Territory theme park that operated in Marion County until 1984.
The display will open Saturday, Dec. 18, and will be on view from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. through Jan 2, with holiday hours of 12-3 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 31. The gallery will be closed Dec. 25-27 and Jan. 1. Admission is free. Visitors are highly encouraged to wear masks inside the gallery, and masks are provided at the front desk. For more information, call 352-854-2322, ext. 1664, or visit cf.edu.
January 2nd
National Science Fiction Day
January 5th
2022 AIR Show Jumping Winter Classic
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Ocala 2022 Winter Spectacular I
World Equestrian Center
The Winter Spectacular horse show series featuring the National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) sanctioned hunter/jumper competition.
Winter Spectacular I: 01/05/22 – 01/09/22
Winter Spectacular II: 01/12/22 – 01/16/22
Winter Spectacular III: 01/19/22 – 01/23/22
Winter Spectacular IV: 01/26/22 – 01/30/22
January 15th
National Pothole Day
January 18th
HITS Ocala Winter Circuit
HITS Post Time Farm
HITS Ocala Winter Circuit
Since 1982, HITS has called Central Florida its Winter Home. In 1985, HITS moved to the ‘Horse Capital of the World’ – Ocala, and later purchased Post Time Farm in 2002 cultivating one of the world’s most horse-friendly show grounds. For four decades and counting, the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit has provided one of the largest show circuits in the country. Each year HITS Ocala is host to 12-weeks of USEF-Rated Hunter/Jumper competition from December through March, culminating with the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix during the final week!
2022 DATES
Ocala January Classic - I - Regional I / 4* January 18-23
Ocala January Festival - II - National / 5* January 25-30
Boasting 500 acres, HITS Post Time Farm features on-site stabling including permanent and temporary stalls, as well as Private Barns for lease. Additionally, HITS Post Time Farm has on-site housing and offers amenities including 100 permanent turn-out paddocks, an abundance of riding and lunging areas, and restaurant options. For more information on on-site stabling and housing, email us or call our Corporate Office at 845.246.8833.
January 20th
VOICExperience
Date: 01/20/22
Location: Circle Square Cultural Center
Time: 7:00 PM
Featuring beautiful music from opera and musical theatre, performed by the talented VOICExperience singers. Join Metropolitan Opera star, Sherrill Milnes, and soprano, Maria Zouves, as they present the beautiful artists of VOICExperience in a concert that will bring back memories and make new ones.
January 20th - 31st
Around the World in 80 Days @ Ocala Civic Theatre
Date: 01/20/22
Adventures abound in this whirlwind farce! Explorer Phileas Fogg embarks upon a quest to travel around the world in 80 days to win an outrageous wager. Through stampeding elephants, raging typhoons, and runaway trains, the fearless Fogg and his faithful servant race to beat the clock and circle the globe. Five actors play 39 characters in this hysterically fast-paced comedy!
Thursday - Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
January 24th
National Compliment Day
January 25th
CF International Film Series
Appleton Museum of Art / College of Central Florida
The College of Central Florida is proud to announce the 60th anniversary celebration of its International Film Series. The festivities have already started with an official name change that honors the series founder, Ira Holmes. The College of Central Ira Holmes International Film Series will continue the celebration and by screening films from 1962, the year Professor Holmes started the series, throughout this anniversary season.
All films will be shown Tuesdays at 2 p.m. at the Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, and at 7 p.m. at the College of Central Florida, 3001 S.W. College Road, Building 8, Room 110, unless otherwise specified. Films at the Ocala Campus are free and open to the public. Films at the Appleton are free to all museum and film series members; nonmembers pay museum admission. Films may contain mature content. Screening locations may be subject to change due COVID-19 restraints.
Series Schedule:
Jan. 25 - Agnès Varda, “Cleo from 5 to 7”
Jan. 26 - Film talk by Dr. Rebecca J. DeRo
For more details, visit cf.edu/filmseries.
January 27th
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
January 28th
Friday Foodie Fest at Lake Lillian
Lake Lillian
5pm - 9 pm
Held the fourth Friday of every month at Lake Lillian, this monthly event features lots of family fun! Centered around various food trucks, families can come and enjoy music, free activities for children and shop with local business and craft vendors while enjoying yummy food.
That’s all for January events! Good luck with the frost this year. We hope you’ve enjoyed our blog, and we’ll see you in February for the next one! We hope you’ll consider donating to OneChild this month! Visit Pals Ocala Auto Repair at 2821 SW College Road, Ocala, FL, 34474, and schedule an appointment online to keep your vehicle safe on the road!