OCALA, Fla. (June 23, 2020) – City of Ocala business offices will be closed Friday, July 3 in observance of Independence Day. There will be no changes to the residential or commercial sanitation schedule.

For those looking to beat the heat over the holiday, the City of Ocala Aquatic Fun Centers are open Mondays through Saturdays, for two daily swim sessions, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Pools are closed Sundays due to facilitate current cleaning and sanitation measures. Admission is $2 per child and $3 per adult, each session.

The City of Ocala Splash pads, Lily’s Splash Pad, 2200 NW 17 Pl. and Citizens’ Circle Splash Pad, 160 E Fort King St., are open daily, sunrise to sunset daily.

The City’s online services, including online municipal services bill pay and payment kiosks, will be available to the public over the holiday.

Last month I ran some pictures of flowers and ask that some of readers to share. Angelina Ahrem sharing a picture of her Flowers.

I call this picture Libby’s Hawks. Libby’s husband Dave sent us the picture. This is a photo of two Red Shoulder hawks that Libby Neuharth took. They show up every day and perch on the bird bath. I think they are really lucky to be that closed to nature within the City limits.

By Christy Jergens, Florida Department of Health in Marion County

While the Florida Department of Health in Marion County is heavily focused on responding to COVID-19 in the community currently, the department provides a wide array of programs and services to benefit residents. Read below for more information on what’s offered outside of COVID-19 testing.

The Florida Department of Health in Marion County provides community, environmental and personal health services for Marion County residents. Community health work include epidemiology (contagious disease investigation, reporting and prevention), tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment, health education, and public health preparedness. Preparedness efforts include actions to protect the health of Florida’s residents and visitors from the effects of man-made and natural disasters. As part of these preparedness efforts, the department staffs and operates the county’s special needs shelters in the event of a local state of emergency (such as a hurricane). Community health work also includes the registering and issuing of Florida birth and death certificates. Continue reading →

The Sweet Tomatoes restaurant is one of 97 have shut down!  The Sweet Tomatoes had buffet style eatery and could not do the curbside service. The reason they gave was the COVID-19 shut down.

Another victim of the COVID-19 Virus is the legendary Katie Belle in the Villages. Management says it will not reopen.

Both were quality restaurants that will be missed.

(OCALA, Fla.) May 14, 2020 – Ocala Fire Rescue (OFR) and Meadowbrook Church partnered with the City of Ocala’s Social Services Coordinator, Dennis Yonce, to offer COVID-19 testing to the homeless. The collaboration resulted in a pop-up testing site at NW 1st Avenue and NW 3rd Street, on Wednesday, May 13.

“It was an honor that the community participated and made use of these beneficial services,” said OFR Fire Chief Shane Alexander. “Offering testing at an open setting allowed us to address this underserved population with dignity and kindness.”

Besides COVID-19 testing, participants were able to obtain Hepatitis A inoculations and a meal, compliments of Meadowbrook Church. The testing site was open from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

A total of 52 individuals were tested for COVID-19. Furthermore, 18 participants opted to get vaccinated.

OCALA, Fla. – The City of Ocala’s Aquatic Fun Centers are scheduled to re-open to the public for the summer beginning Monday, June 8.  The Jervey Gantt Aquatic Fun Center, 2390 SW 36th Ave., and the Hampton Aquatic Fun Center, 255 NW Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., will be open Mondays through Saturdays with two sessions, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 4:30 p.m. Both facilities will be closed on Sundays to allow for weekly deep sanitizing.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, additional restrictions and guidelines will be in effect for operations at both facilities:

• Temperature and health screenings at entry
• Plexiglass shields installed at customer service counters, as well as six-foot separation markers for entry
• Reduced bathing loads to 50% normal capacity that will be monitored and adjusted to ensure proper social distancing
• No swim lessons
• Waterslides will be closed
• Facility or table rentals will not be permitted
• Groups, camps, or field trips will be prohibited
• Reduced number of chairs available with distancing guidelines in place.No family groups larger than 10 people.
• Concessions will be pre-packaged foods only
• Staff will be assigned to frequently sanitize with a daily deep sanitizing from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
• Staff will be trained on CDC recommended protocols for aquatics operations

Admission for each swim session is $2 for ages 17 and under and $3 for those ages 18 and up. Admission is free for ages one and under. Facility operations are subject to change and staff will continue to monitor conditions based on recommended guidelines. A detailed list of restrictions and guidelines for both aquatic centers may be found at www.ocalafl.org/recpark. Splash pads will remain closed until further notice.

For more information, please call the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department at 352-368-5517.

OCALA, Fla. (May 22, 2020) –The City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department is lifting restrictions of parks within the city limits.  Florida’s Governor announced on Friday, May 22 that all state-issued restrictions on youth activities, including individual and non-organized sports, will be lifted effective immediately.

Activities such as walking, jogging and bicycling in parks will continue to be allowed, and outdoor activities including basketball courts, volleyball courts, tennis courts, and the Ocala Skate Park will have restrictions lifted under the new governor advisory. The six-feet physical distancing rule and face coverings are recommended in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) directions.

The following City of Ocala splash pads are now open with no restrictions, Lily’s Splash Pad, 2200 NW 17 Pl. and Citizens’ Circle Splash Pad, 160 E Fort King St. Hours of operation are sunrise to sunset daily.  Continue reading →

OCALA, Fla. (May 22, 2020) – The City of Ocala will allow the use of golf carts, low-speed vehicles and mini trucks on designated city streets beginning Monday, June 1.

Persons operating a golf cart or low speed vehicle within the downtown area are required to register for a one-time permit, at a cost of $30.00.  This registration fee will be used to provide information to law enforcement with ownership information in the event of an accident or theft. A decal will be assigned to the vehicle and must be displayed on the left side of your vehicle.

To start the registration process, download the application form at www.ocalafl.org/GolfCart.  Once completed, the signed and notarized form must be returned to the City of Ocala using one of the following options:

By mail: Mail the form and enclosed check to the following address. All checks must be made payable to the City of Ocala.  Once processed the City will mail you a decal for the golf cart.  Continue reading →

OCALA, Fla. (May 21, 2020) – The 2020 Hurricane season is June 1 through November 30. Ocala Electric Utility (OEU) reminds customers to stay safe, be prepared and have a plan.  To download the free storm preparation guide, view/report a power outage, or receive power outage notifications visit severeweather.ocalafl.org. If a storm does affect this area, stay away from downed power lines – do not come in contact with them. Electric crews will work diligently to restore power as quickly as possible.

OEU has developed 10 safety tips that electric customers should follow to protect themselves and their homes. These safety tips point out information customers may not know or may have forgotten from past hurricanes, tropical storms and weather-related events. Continue reading →