Letters to the Editor

An Ocala resident hopes a Michigan-based pizza and "grinder" chain will someday expand into Marion County. Are there any restaurants from the Midwest that you'd like to see expand into the area?

"It's a sad day for older folks and some younger, who really enjoy sitting down in the morning with a cup of coffee and a newspaper" - Roger Francisco shares his thoughts in light of the Ocala StarBanner moving to postal delivery. What are your thoughts?

"In the northeast Ocala area, we have been through five episodes of boil water notices in the span of 38 days. The water system here is 45 years old. Maybe it's in need of replacement" - An Ocala resident shares her experience with her utility provider. Share your comments here or send us a letter to the editor.

A man who drives a commercial vehicle described County Road 484 between I-75 and Marion Oaks as "treacherous," saying the lanes "need to be repainted as soon as possible."

"In reference to the deputy that caused the death of a bicyclist. The only consequence of his gross infraction of the law is a speeding ticket. He had no lights or siren, was going almost double the speed limit and was not responding to an emergency call" - An Ocala resident shares his thoughts on a recent verdict.

"Although I live in The Villages, if I want a great dining experience, I usually drive to Ocala" - A resident of The Villages who wrote in to name a few of her favorite places to eat in Ocala says she loves the city and its restaurants. What are your favorite places to eat in Ocala?

"The white lines for traffic are obsolete in the 484 corridor. I travel that route at nighttime, and the cars weave in and out of westbound and eastbound lanes, becoming very erratic" - An Ocala resident shares his opinion on traffic along County Road 484. Are there places around Ocala that you feel need better markings or traffic control devices?

"The traffic is horrible. Running red lights, speeding 15 to 20 mph over the limit." - A reader shares his thoughts on traffic in Ocala, saying he won't "dare to get on 200." Share your thoughts on the topic in a comment or a letter to the editor.

In a letter to the editor, an Ocala resident alleges that he constantly experiences connectivity problems with his internet provider, Zito Media.

"Where U.S Route 40 intersects with U.S. Route 41, five miles north of Dunnellon, there is an accident almost every day. The traffic is ridiculous and impossible for residents to exit their neighborhood. The driveway of the catholic church, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, is a death trap for parishioners and the general public to access," says Dunnellon resident MaryJo Smith in a Letter to the Editor.

"My parents had the best (sour) key lime pie they ever had on a cruise ship. The second best was in Key West. It seems everywhere else they’ve tried it, they’ve experienced sweet examples that aren’t nearly as sour. I live in Gainesville, but I’m willing to travel about an hour or slightly more if someone knows of a really sour key lime pie," says Matt Norris in a Letter to the Editor.

"I understand progress in the 484 corridor. I understand all the people going to work. I understand the only way to get large amounts of dirt, rocks, and products to job sites is with trucks, be it flatbed, dump, or any other. What I do not understand is why the county has not kept up with the traffic flow and the large, deep potholes!" says Ocala resident Taryn Lang in a Letter to the Editor.

"Yes, major growth over the last decade, causing road congestion, needs addressing. Turning right on red is a major help, but so would be the yellow blinking arrows for left turns. They are implemented at a few areas, but aren't available at enough intersections. I've sat through many red lights with no oncoming traffic," says Ocala resident Joy Rumans in a Letter to the Editor.

"We need a source of outside income to create the things we want in order to make Ocala/Marion County the best place to live in Florida. One way of creating outside income is to create an ice rink. Yes, the initial expense is a lot, but it will pay that back likely within 5 years as it is eligible for state and even federal funding. The money this will create can be spent on animal shelters and will have the ability to maintain them," says Ocala resident Marianne Mylan in a Letter to the Editor.

"People that have come from different areas of the country might not know you can turn right at a light after stopping. We have many snowbirds that might have different rules of the road from where they come from. It may be helpful for the Driver's License office to hand out a book of rules (like when you first get a license) when people are moving here from different states to get a Florida license," says Ocala resident Frances Simoneaux in a Letter to the Editor.

"It's bad enough that the traffic is bumper-to-bumper as it is. Having no right turns on red would make the traffic way worse than it is. What they need to do is have these lights timed so that there is not a build up of constant traffic," says Ocala resident Keith Pesono in a Letter to the Editor.

"I am so sick and tired of hearing the whining and bellyaching about building an ice rink in Ocala when there are hundreds of homeless, starving dogs and cats in Marion County that need help. Our animal shelters are so overcrowded and cannot accept any more animals that they are now considering euthanasia to make room for incoming strays," says Ocala resident Carol Shalaew in a Letter to the Editor.

"As I am writing this, my cell signal is struggling to keep this page open (kind of like the old DSL connection of years past). What is going on in Ocala? Having cell service should be a part of basic infrastructure, especially if new housing continues and tax dollars are pouring into the local government," says Ocala resident Alex Delpercio in a Letter to the Editor.