In recognition of National Electrical Safety Month, Ocala Electric Utility is urging residents and businesses to review important electric safety measures that can prevent electrically related fatalities, injuries and property loss before, during and after severe weather or natural disasters.

Post Date:05/13/2019 9:43 AM

OCALA, Fla. – In recognition of National Electrical Safety Month, Ocala Electric Utility (OEU) is urging residents and businesses to review important electric safety measures that can prevent electrically related fatalities, injuries and property loss before, during and after severe weather or natural disasters.

“Storms and natural disasters create many hazards, including electrical hazards that can be life-threatening. We advise all Ocala residents and business owners to treat electricity with extreme caution before, during and after these types of events,” said Mike Poucher, Director, Ocala Electric Utility. “With hurricane season just around the corner, now is the time to have a licensed electrician address any potential electrical hazards around your home or business.”

As hurricanes or major storms are approaching and passing through, OEU offers these electrical safety tips: Continue reading →

Working with state lawmakers this week, we passed important legislation that will help our office better protect Floridians. Lawmakers passed bills to bolster our opioid litigation, provide stability to Florida’s criminal justice system, ensure children suffering from rare forms of epilepsy can access life-changing medication and more.

Representative Amber Mariano and Senator Tom Lee sponsored legislation allowing our office to access limited information from Florida’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Database to be used under protective order in the state’s ongoing opioid litigation.

Senator Lee also sponsored our bill providing consistency and uniformity in state criminal cases to attorneys, defendants and judges in Florida’s 20 judicial circuits. Representative Juan Fernandez-Barquin sponsored the House companion. Continue reading →

Lillian F. Bryant Community Center | 2200 NW 17 Pl.

Mondays-Fridays | May 28-Aug. 2

*Closed on Holidays | 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Field trips, arts, crafts, games, sports, video games and more!  Weekly features: 1. Backyard Bash; 2. Camp Spirit; 3. Edible Engineering; 4. Shipwrecked; 5. Crazy Concoctions; 6. Moving’ & Grooving; 7. Ultimate Gamers; 8. Camp Spirit; 9. Sports Fanatics; 10. Funtastic Farewell. Bring water, sunscreen and wear comfortable clothes and closed toe shoes. Lunch is included beginning June 3. $25/child registration fee and $25/child/week (city resident) or $50/child/week (non-resident). Register through Aug. 2.

Child must have completed Pre-K

Mondays-Fridays | May 28-Aug. 2 | 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

An exciting camp with fun-filled various recreational activities. Each week, we will offer interactive presentations with city departments, STEM projects, local field trips (movies and city pools), recreational sports and more! Lunch and snacks provided. Dress in active wear, wear tennis shoes and bring swim wear on Mondays and Wednesdays. Closed on holidays. $25/child registration fee. $50/week/camper/resident. $75/week/camper/non-resident.

 

This is the year you learn to swim! Maybe a loved one needs some lessons? Knowing how to swim can save lives so save these dates and get registered to Learn to Swim! More information about this and other aquatics programs can be found online. Please visit: www.ocalafl.org/recpark

 

Did you know we offer FREE movies in our parks throughout the year? Yes we do! In May we’ll show Basquiat at the Art Park. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets & your friends for this intriguing movie based on a true story! A full line-up of our After Dark in the Park Movies is online. Popcorn and snacks will be available for sale. This movie is rated R. See you at the park!

It is the moment we have all been waiting for! The skatepark is finally opening to the public! Join us for this event! DJ Rocket and Papa Pineapples will be there. We will host a BEST TRICK COMPETITION for a $20 entry fee (proceeds go right back to the park!) The first 300 people through the gate get a FREE commemorative dog tag. Team Pain will be there with other freebies! See you there!

For the third year in a row, Levitt AMP returns to Webb Field and brings a diverse collection of amazing talent! There will be food and beer for sale, as well as vendors, non-profits and games for the kids! These concerts are FREE so save the dates:

  • May 31 – Sons of Mystro
  • June 7 – Dr. Nativo
  • June 14 – Remember Jones
  • June 21 – Canon
  • June 28 – Tonina
  • July 5 – The Foxies
  • July 12 – Mr. Sipp
  • July 19 – PJ Morton
  • July 26 – Empire Strikes Brass
  • Aug. 2 – Kaleta and the Super Yamba Band

 

CELEBRATING MOTHER NATURE AT MOM’S PARK! 

Memories of Missing Smiles, Inc. (M.O.M.S.) was founded by two mothers that lost sons in separate automobile accidents in 2008.

December 2009, M.O.M.S. received permission from Ocala City council to locate this Memorial Park on a portion of Ocala’s Jervey Gantt Park. On January 24, 2010, M.O.M.S. broke ground on the park. On September 24, 2011 the Memories of Missing Smiles Children’s Memorial Park and Reflection Pond was established!

Today, M.O.M.’s Park is open to the public and provides a serene, tranquil space in which everyone can go and enjoy the beauty of the park and the precious memories of the children who are honored here.

Photo Credit: Governor’s Press Office

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed CS/CS/SB 96: Police, Fire, and Search and Rescue Dogs and Police Horses. The bill increases the penalty from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony for intentionally and knowingly causing great bodily harm, permanent disability, or death to police canines or horses, fire canines, or search and rescue canines.

“Like the officers they serve with, these animals are frequently placed in harm’s way for the safety of our communities and I was proud to sign this bill today that increases the penalty for harming them,” said Governor DeSantis. “These canines and horses play critical roles in law enforcement activities, and for their service, they deserve greater protection under our laws. I thank Senator Bean and Representatives Tomkow and Byrd for their work on this good legislation.”

The Governor was joined at the bill signing ceremony by Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez, Senator Wilton Simpson, bill sponsors Senator Aaron Bean, Representative Josie Tomkow, Representative Cord Byrd and other members of the Florida Legislature. Also in attendance were law enforcement personnel, including Officer Matt Herrera, whose canine partner Fang was murdered in the line of duty, as well as Debbie Johnson, the founder of K9s United.  Continue reading →