Ocala News
Jimmy Riffle put’s on a show was on Animal Planet. They have now moved to Anthony in north Marion County and they are still rescuing reptiles. They’ve been at Ft King Festival 2 years and should continue. We think the is a snapping turtle. Photo by C Kay Johnson / CKJphotos13
As we enter this new year, the Ocala Metro has made a few national lists which are worth highlighting:
U-Haul
Every year, U-Haul unveils their Top 25 Cities for Growth. This list ranks cities based on one-way moves using U-Haul. While not entirely scientific, it is a great barometer of where people are moving. The Ocala Metro has made this list each of the last several years but this year ranks #1 as the top city where people are moving. This is important because of who moves using U-Haul – overwhelmingly it is younger people. We know that 30-39 year olds in the Ocala Metro are growing at double the national average. This is a key demographic for workforce, home ownership, and families.
Wood & Poole
Wood & Poole is a Washington, DC, based economics firm. They recently created their Top 40 Cities for Growth through 2060. They wanted to determine what 40 cities were going to experience the most growth over the next 40 years. They ranked Ocala #30 on their list with the expectation that the population would grow to 610,000. While 40 years projections are not particularly reliable, it is a good sense of where others see the Ocala Metro growing. Continue reading
The Marion County Library System and Coping with Dementia LLC have announced a Spring series of free ABC of Dementia workshops again in 2023. Dates and locations through April, 2023 are as follows.
Belleview Library, located at 13145 SE County Hwy 484. Workshops will be offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, February 27; Friday, March 31; and Friday, April 28, 2023.
Freedom Public Library, located at 5870 SW 95th Street in Ocala. Workshops will be offered on Thursday, January 26, 2 to 4 p.m.; Friday, February 24, 2 to 4 p.m.; and Friday, March 10, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Dunnellon Public Library, located at 2-351 Robinson Road, will offer a workshop on Thursday, March 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Marion Oaks Library, located at 294 Marion Oaks Lane in Ocala, will offer a workshop on Wednesday, April 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Sankofa Public Library, located at 1821 NW 21st Street in Ocala, will offer a workshop on Thursday, April 6 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Continue reading
Ocala, Florida – Marion Therapeutic Riding Association (MTRA) has been serving Marion, Lake, Sumter, and Alachua counties for 40 years. A celebration will take place on February 4th, 2023, at CF Vintage Farm from 6 to 10 pm. Come share in the memories and love that so many have made possible. MTRA provides equine assisted services to individuals with physical, intellectual, and emotional challenges. Programs include therapeutic riding, equine assisted learning, PTSD psychotherapy for Veterans in partnership with the Ocala Vet Center and Speech and Language pathology through Hippotherapy in partnership with Advent health. “Community support is what has driven this organization to a successful 40 years of service” says Executive Director Pam Morrison.
MTRA relies heavily on the generosity of the community and it’s businesses through donations, grants and other funding. They have maintained the equine assisted therapy program in Ocala for over forty years. Continue reading
- Outdoors
- Tickets required
Plantastic | Feb. 25 – May 6
Follow our friend Bobbi the Botanist on an adventure to see all the ways that plants power our world in this exciting exhibit.
H20 Go | Dec 17 – Feb 11
Water is all around us. This exhibit invites you to go on a H2O adventure through rivers, lakes and streams and even into the atmosphere to see why this tiny molecule is so important.
OCALA, Florida – On Saturday, March 4, 2023, from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, Habitat for Humanity of Marion County will host its annual fundraising event, the “Habitat Ocala Strawberry Festival” which will be at the McPherson Complex, 601 SE 25th Avenue Ocala.
This event attracts thousands of fans from all over to enjoy a family fun day and to bring awareness about Habitat for Humanity of Marion County.
The festival will have bands, entertainment, a pie eating contest, over 200 vendors (to include arts & crafts, business, non-profit, farmers market, and food vendors throughout the event), sponsor booths, a kids’ area, a food court, a car show, a petting zoo, and lots of strawberries. Admission is FREE, parking is $5 which will benefit Habitat for Humanity and the Marion Therapeutic Riding Association.
Habitat for Humanity host this event each year so our community and guests can enjoy a day filled with joy and happiness for the entire family. All proceeds benefit the Habitat Home Ownership program to build another Habitat home which will be called the Strawberry House. This program gives low-income families the opportunity of homeownership with affordable mortgage payments.
If you would like to be a vendor or a sponsor for this event, visit our webpage at www.habitatocala.org/strawberry or contact Joanne Black at jblack@habitatocala.org
After two years of working and planning, the owners of Brick City Flowers, Julie Bennett and Brenda Carroll, have recently moved into their new location, 1820 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, FL. We are located directly across the street in the old Jim Jernigan Photography building. We can supply all your floral, designs and event needs. Check out our weekly displays in the hotel lobby of the World Equestrian Center.
Visiting Marion Cultural Alliance, pictured left is Jaye Baillie Executive Director and Nick Navetta Financial advisor from Edward Jones. Nick is on the Board of Directors of the Marion Cultural Alliance. The Marion Cultural Center A great place to visit and experience the arts.
