Ocala News

Post Date: 09/03/2020 3:06 PM

OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 3, 2020) – The City of Ocala, in partnership with the Florida Department of Health in Marion County and Feed the Need Garden, Inc., will host a West Ocala Wellness Community Garden Day Saturday, Sept. 12, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the community garden located at 2200 W Highway 40, between SW 21st and SW 23rd Avenue.

Community members are encouraged to attend and replant their crops for the fall or start a new garden plot. Plots are available for $10 per year.

The goal of the West Ocala Wellness Community Garden is to educate and provide an opportunity for citizens to plant, cultivate and harvest vegetables for their families.

For more information, or to reserve a plot, please contact the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department at 352-368-5540 or follow the West Ocala Wellness Community Garden on Facebook.

(OCALA, Fla.) Sept. 2, 2020 – Ocala Fire Rescue units responded to a vehicle fire at the 2500 block of East Silver Springs Boulevard at 4:04 p.m. Engines 2, 3, and 5, Rescues 2 and 3, Squad 7, a Safety Officer, and Battalion Chief 11 were dispatched to the call.

Post Date: 09/02/2020

Crews arrived to find a pick-up truck, with its engine compartment engulfed in flames, parked a few yards away from a fuel pump at a gas station.

Firefighters secured the scene and began battling the flames. The fire was completely extinguished within five minutes. No injuries were reported.

Knowing what to do in case of a vehicle fire can save your life. If you suspect your vehicle is on fire, please stop the car, turn off the ignition, step away from the vehicle, and call 9-1-1.

The Ocala Police Department and Marion County Fire Rescue also responded.

Post Date: 09/02/2020 10:46 AM

OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 2, 2020) – The Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave., will reopen to the public Saturday, Oct. 3. In response to COVID-19, the Discovery Center will offer modified hours. Tuesdays through Fridays will offer two sessions, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. On Saturdays, there will be three sessions available, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 4.pm. Admission prices apply per session.

The new exhibit, Astronaut Academy, will open Saturday, Oct. 3. General admission to the Discovery Center is $8 per person, $7 for seniors or veterans, and free for children two and under. A family four pass is $28. Memberships are available which include free admission as well as discounts on many programs. Saturday programming like Sing-a-long Science, STEAM Saturday and Star Lab Planetarium will be available at limited capacities for an additional fee. Information and pricing are available at www.mydiscoverycenter.org. Continue reading

Youth Ages 2 – 17
Science Classes at the Discovery Center
Ages 2 – 15
Classes start Sept. 15
?‍? These fun, hands-on learning classes range from ages 2 to 12 with topics like LEGO Robotics, Junior Zookeepers, Create Scientists and more!
Learn More

Start Smart T-Ball
Ages 4 – 5
Oct. 21 – Nov. 18
Wednesdays | 6 – 7 P.M.
Hey batter batter! Mini-athletes will learn to bat, catch, throw and run bases in a safe and encouraging environment.
Register Now Continue reading

Mayor Kent Guinn was a guest speaker at Ocala Business Leaders August 5th breakfast meeting.

He shared information about the current state of affairs in the City of Ocala. A lot of discussion about the COVID-19 problem. Quinn speaks from the heart. He started a good conversation and supplied the business people with good information.

Kent Guinn assumed the office of Mayor in December 2011 after serving the City of Ocala for 12 years as the Councilman representing District 4.

Mayor Guinn is in the financial services business and is a representative of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America as well as owner of the firm Guinn & Company, LLC. 

Thank you for the good information Mayor Guinn.

Doctor Thomas Harter speaker at the Ocala Business Leader Breakfast was explaining how he can now help children with Sleep Apnea and Sleep Apnea in Grown ups.

About Leslie…

Hailing from Kansas City, she holds an MA from the Smithsonian in Decorative Art – 20th Century Historic Dress and BFA in Theater from California Institute of the Arts.

She worked for Christie’s Auction House in NYC for five years and then three years at Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm in Olathe, KS. She’s a YA writer and an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Leslie is looking forward to getting involved in the community and taking advantage of all the fun activities Ocala has to offer.

OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 1, 2020) – The City of Ocala, through its Cultural Arts and Sciences Division, announces the installation of two sculptural seating projects, Chatter Bugs and Whisper Tubes, at the new MLK First Responder Campus, located on the 500 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Wednesday, Sept. 30.

“The project is being completed in collaboration with the development of the MLK First Responder Campus and will continue the concept of community as incorporated in the adjacent surface mural on the basketball court,” said Laura Walker, Cultural Arts and Sciences Division Head. “This project in particular will include functional public art where community members can engage with each other while being immersed in the pieces.”

The interactive, steel-fabricated seating elements are themed around the concepts of community, partnership and communication. These playful looking sculptural forms are intended for interaction with children and adults, allowing safe opportunities for whispering through the antennae or climbing and crawling through the center.

“I believe that the sculptural seating will serve as a playful invitation for people to openly communicate in a positive setting,” said artist Adam Walls. “The reverberation of voices traveling from one speaker to another in each of these sculptural forms, the high-fives and handshakes included in these pieces, and the welcoming nature of these sculptural forms are intended to represent and hopefully facilitate cooperation and friendship.” Continue reading

Contact:
Craig Ackerman, Operations Director

Craig.Ackerman@FLHealth.gov

Mobile: 352-789-0572

OCALA, Fla.—The Department of Health in Marion County is changing its drive-through COVID-19 testing schedule at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion beginning Sept. 1.

Testing is scheduled to be available at the Livestock Pavilion on the following dates in September:

Sept. 1 and 2

Sept. 8 and 9

Sept. 14, 15 and 16

Sept. 21, 22 and 23

Sept. 28, 29 and 30

Testing is scheduled to be available at the Livestock Pavilion on the following dates in October: Continue reading

(OCALA, Fla.) August 31, 2020 – Ocala Fire Rescue (OFR) is calling on citizens to reflect on the lives lost to overdoses on this International Overdose Awareness Day. Furthermore, the fire department encourages the public to act by addressing this overwhelming crisis with those who matter most – you

Post Date: 08/31/2020

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, opioids are currently the main driver of drug overdose deaths. Between January 1 and June 30, 2020, Marion County had 657 suspected overdoses, 93 of which resulted in fatalities. Of these cases, 318 overdoses were treated with Narcan.

“Acknowledging the reality and scope of the opioid crisis through candid discussions is a critical step toward overdose prevention,” said Ashley López, OFR Public Information Officer. “Taking the steps toward rehabilitation and relapse deterrence are the actions that must follow these difficult conversations.”

If you, or someone you know, are suffering from addiction, please contact Ocala Fire Rescue to inquire about the Narcan Leave Behind (NLB) program or the Ocala Recovery Project (ORP).

For more information about the NLB program, visit www.ocalafire.org. For details about the ORP, contact Captain Jesse Blaire at 352-266-4769.

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CEP – Click to learn more

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