OCALA, Fla. (Nov. 23, 2020) – The City of Ocala, in partnership with the Ocala Housing Authority, continues to assist residents who have experienced, or are experiencing, financial disruption and loss due to the COVID-19 crisis. Eligible city residents may be assisted with temporary rent/mortgage and utility payments for up to ten months.

Applications will be accepted beginning Monday, Nov. 30 and will end at midnight Tuesday, Dec. 15, or when all funds are expended, whichever comes first.  Applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis with priority given to special needs households. Eligible tenants or homeowners must live in the City limits of Ocala.

City residents may receive any of the following forms of assistance:

• Rent payments not to exceed ten months, from March 1, 2020 to Dec. 30, 2020. Assistance can include late payments, late fees and charges and rent payments to prevent eviction.
• Housing re-entry assistance, such as security deposits, utility deposits, and temporary storage of household furnishings.
• Mortgage payments not to exceed ten months, from March 1, 2020 to Dec. 1, 2020. Payment can include late payments, late fees, HOA, condominium fees and other related fees to prevent foreclosure.
• Utility payments that include water, electricity, gas, Internet, cable including late payments and late fees and charges to prevent a discontinuation of essential services.

Applications may be obtained from the Ocala Housing Authority, 1629 NW Fourth Street, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or via the website at www.ocalahousing.org.

For additional information, please contact the Ocala Housing Authority at 352-369-2636 or email contactus@ocalahousing.org.

OCALA, Fla. (Nov. 23, 2020) – SunTran will be offering reduced bus fares Saturdays during the month of December.  Beginning Saturday, Dec. 5 bus fares will be reduced to .25 cents per ride on all SunTran bus routes. The reduced bus rates will occur only on Saturdays throughout the month, and regular fares will resume Sunday, Dec. 27.

Reduced fares will only be valid the following dates:

• Saturday, Dec. 5
• Saturday, Dec. 12
• Saturday, Dec. 19
• Saturday, Dec. 26

Developed to help citizens utilize the public transportation system during the holiday season, the reduced rates provide a cost savings to citizens and show riders they are appreciated.

“We are proud to provide this long-standing holiday tradition of reduced bus rates,” said Steven Neal, SunTran Transportation Manager. “Residents are encouraged to use the bus system for their holiday shopping.  If we can help reduce the holiday stress by providing reliable transportation at a lower cost for residents, we are happy to provide that service.”

For more information, please contact the SunTran at 352-401-6999 or visit https://www.suntran.org/home.

Post Date: 10/23/2020 4:12 PM

OCALA, Fla. (Oct. 23, 2020) –SunTran will be offering free bus rides for citizens to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Free ridership on Election Day will only include the seven regular SunTran routes and not the paratransit service provided by Marion Transit.  Citizens should plan their trip by identifying their polling location with the Marion County Supervisor of Elections and then utilize the SunTran bus route system at www.suntran.org.

Regular bus fares will resume on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

For more information, please contact the SunTran at 352-401-6999.

Post Date: 10/23/2020 4:15 PM

OCALA, Fla. (Oct. 23, 2020) – The First Friday Art Walk will take place in downtown Ocala Friday, Nov. 6, 6 to 9 p.m. The First Friday Art Walk occurs on the first Friday of each month, September through May.  The following activities will be included in November’s event:

• Hands-on art activities and demonstrations for all ages provided by local non-profit arts and cultural organizations, local artists selling their works throughout downtown and participating businesses with extended hours.
• 20 artists throughout the downtown area, including My Uncle’s Friend playing ambient music
• Art organization booths will be located around the downtown square and Marion Theatre

Hands-on art activities, which are provided by the participating community arts organizations, will be a one-use, make and take item. Sanitation protocols will be in place at each art station, and each activity provided will be health and safety conscious. Continue reading →

OCALA, Fla. (Oct. 15. 2020) – The City of Ocala, through its Cultural Arts and Sciences and Parks Divisions, announces the installation of new sculptural seating at Tuscawilla Art Park, 223 NE Fifth St., on Friday, Oct. 16.

“The newly installed structural seating’s design contributes to the aesthetic and functionality, while communicating the purpose of the art park as a creative space for visual and performing arts,” said Jennifer Normoyle, Grants and Outreach Manager, City of Ocala.

The customized sculptural seating will provide an integrated look for the Art Park and replaces the temporary seating installed during the construction of the park three years ago. The new seating will complement the existing shade structure and complete the overall look of an artist’s palette from an aerial view.

About the Artist

Local fabricator and artist, Mike Zeak has over 30 years in custom welding, fabrication and restoration. Though his company, Zeak Technique, he has worked on both private sector and local government projects and has learned that his true passion is developing unique solutions and creating custom designs. Continue reading →

~Popular winter holiday event cancelled~

DUNNELLON, FLA. – The Friends of Rainbow Springs has announced that Santa Over the Rainbow, a popular event held in December each year, has been cancelled for 2020.

The annual event provides family-friendly activities focused on the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus at Rainbow Springs State Park. The couple typically arrives by boat.

The event is hosted by the Friends of Rainbow Springs, an organization of volunteers who support the park year-round.

“The Friends of Rainbow Springs group enjoys the Santa Over the Rainbow event more than you will ever know. We spend many months planning and working to make this event happen,” said President Connie Santoro. “This year, for the health and safety of everyone in our community, we have made the difficult decision to postpone our event until 2021.”

Due to COVID-19, the Friends of Rainbow Springs have evaluated events normally held this time of year. Santa Over the Rainbow is one of the largest. For the safety of visitors, volunteers and staff, the organization made the hard decision to cancel the event for 2020.

Hopefully this event will continue in December 2021. We thank everyone for your continued patience and support as we navigate our way through this crisis.

About Friends of Rainbow Springs: The organization raises money to purchase equipment, make repairs and improvements to the property, and to create programs that can presented at the park. The organization provides volunteers to take part in park maintenance, operations and other projects as well. The business affairs of Friends of Rainbow Springs are managed by a 13-member Board of Directors who are elected by the voting members of the organization.

Serving Since 1885

MEDIA

R E L EA S E

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 1, 2020

Contact: Ashley Lopez, Public Information Officer Telephone: (352) 629-8306

Mobile: (352) 817-5914

Ocala Fire Rescue Launches the Ocala Recovery Project

(OCALA, Fla.) Oct. 1, 2020 – Ocala Fire Rescue is launching the Ocala Recovery Project (ORP), a complimentary program for addiction rehabilitation.

Funded by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant and the Marion County Hospital District, the ORP was designed to reduce opiate overdose deaths and dependency. Through a systematic approach comprised of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment, and counseling, the ORP addresses participants’ emotional, psychological, and physiological well-being.

The program aims to help recurring overdose patients, new and expectant mothers suffering from substance dependency, Substance Exposed Newborns (SEN), and anyone ready to begin the path toward recovery.

“Addiction can affect anyone, at any time,” said OFR Captain Jesse Blaire. “With a hands-on approach, including emotional support and comprehensive medical care, we are certain that participants will achieve program success.”

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), opioids are currently the main driver of drug overdose deaths. Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2020, first responders in Marion County received 1,101 calls resulting from overdose or poisoning. Moreover, 1,022 doses of the opiate blocking drug, Narcan, were administered in Marion County during this period.

For details about the ORP, contact Captain Jesse Blaire at 352-266-4769.

We pray for him and his family. Art was well known in Ocala, he owned and operated a jewelry store for many years. He had many friends in the Ocala Business Leaders and around town, he owned and worked on antique car. He was a member of the Ocala Business Leaders, CEP Ocala Chamber, a woodworking club a car club. So you can tell he was a busy guy.

He will be missed! I will miss him!

The haunting will begin at 8 p.m. nightly on the outdoor stage.

Gather ‘round for not-too-terrifying twilight tales for ages 3-10 and their families… Our storyteller will thrill and chill with frightful delights by flickering jack-o’-lantern light, sharing stories from the silly to the spooky. The evening ends with the Halloween classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow – and a copy of the book will follow each child home…

Tickets on sale now.
$6.00 for ages 10 and under
$12.00 for ages 11 and over
Read More and Purchase Tickets Today