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.

Post Date: 08/27/2020 5:16 PM

OCALA, Fla. (Aug. 27, 2020) – City of Ocala business offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 7 in observance of Labor Day. There will be no residential collection for sanitation, yard waste or recycling routes Monday, Sept. 7.

Residential sanitation collection regularly scheduled for Monday, Sept. 7 through Thursday, Sept. 10 will experience a one-day delay and will be collected Tuesday, Sept. 8 through Friday, Sept. 11.

Waste Pro recycling collection for City of Ocala residents regularly scheduled for Monday, Sept. 7 through Thursday, Sept. 10 will take place Tuesday, Sept. 8 through Friday, Sept. 11.

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

Post Date: 08/28/2020 9:10 AM

OCALA, Fla. (Aug. 28, 2020) – The City of Ocala will conduct a special waste amnesty day Saturday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the corner of at NE 14th Street and NE Eighth Avenue.

Special waste consists of household hazardous waste and electronics. Neither of these types of waste is permitted to be picked up with regularly scheduled residential waste collection. Special waste from businesses will not be collected.

Examples of hazardous waste items accepted:

• Lawn and garden chemicals
• Paint, paint thinners, gasoline and antifreeze
• Cleaning fluids
• Fluorescent bulbs, including compact fluorescent lamps
• Used oil and filters
• Batteries (auto batteries, rechargeable batteries, etc.)
• Pool chemicals
• Aerosol cans
• Thermometers and thermostats

Examples of electronic items accepted: Continue reading →

CREATE SCIENTISTS | AGES 2-4

Tuesdays | Sept. 15 – Nov. 17 | 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Parents attend this fun hands-on science class alongside their child, where art and science combine. Enjoy science experiments, craft projects and games about kitchen chemistry, simple machines, weather, animals and more!

Non-member: $160/person

Member: $140/person

SCIENCE EXPLORERS | AGES 4-6

Tuesdays | Sept. 15-Nov. 17 | 4-5 p.m.

Spark your curiosity as we adventure into the unknown! Explore the natural world around you while learning to think like a scientist. We’ll have hands-on fun making observations, experimenting and problem solving!

Non-member:$160/person

Member: $140/person Continue reading →