Ocala News
(OCALA, Fla.) April 22, 2020 – Ocala Fire Rescue paramedics will be staffing a temporary COVID-19 testing site at the Hampton Center, 1501 W Silver Springs Blvd. Testing will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., until further notice.Testing will be for symptomatic patients, by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, please contact the Florida Department of Health in Marion County at 352-644-2590.
Cracker Days is put on by the Friends of Rainbow Springs the volunteer group for Rainbow Springs State Park. Once a year the event shows Life in Florida in the 1800s. They set up a settlement in the back of the park and shuttle people back and forth. It is a great experience for the whole family.
Let me tell you about my Habitat Ocala 2020 Strawberry Festival experience. First the support team was awesome. There were students from Marion County schools that helped with everything. There were two volunteers who saw my wife and I struggling with our pop up tent so they walk right over and pitched in. I was walking to registration a guy in a golf cart said get in. I must have looked really beat. I was!
The Vendor area was well mark and well thought out. I was pleased to see the preparation that went into this festival. My contact person was Joann Black. Thank you Joann and Habitat of Ocala for putting this on.
They were selling Strawberry short cake. I heard one lady that they served 4,000 short cakes. Actually I think they sold out of food between 3 and 4 pm. Truckloads of strawberry flats sold out.
Some 34,000 people attended. There was not a shortage of people. They would stroll by our booth, asking questions or say yes I read that paper. A couple asked my view of our up and coming race and of course I responded.
Many thanks to my wife Phyllis and Karen Nicely of “Writing Nicely” for helping me get through the day. Karen is a copy editor she will edit your book and give helpful hints if you want it. A very talented lady.
We know most of you are practicing social distancing by staying at home, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some FUN. Our Recreation & Parks staff is here to help! Throughout the week we’ll bring you a variety of live and pre-recorded videos of engaging activities, most of them you can do with us right from your own living room. Meet the critters and perform science experiments from the Discovery Center, get active with our quick fitness routines, explore the Fort King National Historic Landmark and learn about public art!
All you have to do is “LIKE” and “FOLLOW” us on Facebook at Ocala Recreation & Parks @OcalaRecPark
For more information, call our office at 352-368-5517
Post Date: 03/16/2020 5:20 PM
OCALA, Fla. (March 16, 2020) – The City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department has begun closures of community facilities in the interest of public health and safety caused by the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
As of today, Monday, March 16, the following recreation facilities will close until further notice.
- Eighth Avenue Activity Center, 830 NE Eighth Ave.
• Barbara Washington Adult Activity Center, 210 NW 12th Ave.
• Fort King National Historic Landmark Visitors Center, 3925 E Fort King St.
• Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave.
• Citizens’ Circle Splash Pad, SE Osceola Ave.
• Lillian Bryant Splash Pad, 2200 NW 17th Pl.
• Ocala Skate Park, 517 NE Ninth St.
The following closures will go into effect beginning Tuesday, March 17. Continue reading
Post Date: 03/16/2020 1:55 PM
OCALA, Fla. (March 16, 2020) – The City of Ocala recognizes the financial impact of COVID-19 on our customers and believes that no one should lose service during this critical time. We have temporarily suspended service disconnections for the next 30 days and will reevaluate the policy and timeframe as the situation develops. While billing for usage will continue during this time, we are committed to the reliability of essential services to all our residential and business customers.
Customers are encouraged to maintain their accounts. Customer service representatives will be available by phone at 352-629-2489, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions.
Payments can be made at self-service kiosks, Fidelity Express and MoneyGram locations. Additional payment options and online tools are available at www.ocalafl.org. Customers have the option to start and stop services, transfer residential services, request a payment extension, update contact information, view rate and fee information and sign up for auto-pay and electronic billing. Customers can make phone payments via the automated phone system at 844-286-1785.
For more information, please contact the City of Ocala Municipal Services at 352-629-2489 or email OEU@ocalafl.org.
OCALA, Fla. (March 10, 2020) – The City of Ocala is providing residents with free tire disposal Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Disposal locations will be at the corner of NE 14th Street and NE Eighth Avenue and the Hampton Aquatic Fun Center located at 255 NW Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Tires generated by businesses will not be accepted and there is a limit of 10 tires per resident. This service is for residents living within the city limits. A driver’s license listing a city address may be requested.
For more information, please contact the City of Ocala Residential Sanitation Division at 352-351-6697.
OCALA, Fla. (March 10, 2020) – The City of Ocala invites the public to an opening exhibit reception for the “MOMENTUM” Student and Emerging Artist Competition Thursday, March 19 at 5:30pm at City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave.
Guests will experience the work of local student and emerging artists, high school through age 30, which explores how they express themselves through art, while enjoying music by The Mudds Jazz and Blues Band. Complimentary refreshments will be provided.
All artwork will be available for purchase and will be on display Thursday, March 19 until Thursday, July 9 at City Hall during normal business hours.
A juror will select awards in each division including Best of Show. The prizes for this competition include more than $2,000 in awards, including scholarships to the College of Central Florida (high school division), a feature in Ocala Magazine (Best of Show), a professional artwork scan (first place in each division), an annual memberships to the Appleton Museum of Art, Marion Cultural Alliance, and a registration fee waiver for the 2020-21 season of First Friday Art Walk (all winners). Continue reading
OCALA, Fla. – The First Friday Art Walk will feature Retro Sounds March 6, 6 to 9 p.m. at the downtown square. Retro Sounds, a music and art event, celebrates the sounds of the 1950s with Cote Deonath, a Marion County native, headlining as Elvis. Step back in time and revel in the era with music, activities and dress that will have you “All Shook Up”.
The Retro Sounds at First Friday Art Walk will include the following special performances and activities:
- • 6 to 7 p.m. – The Forty-Fives This opening act will start the evening off with favorite songs of the 1950s.
- • 7 to 7:30 p.m. – Honey’s School of Dance and Marion County Center for the Arts Dance Team will be performing dance routines inspired by the 1950s.
- • 7:30 to 9 p.m. – Cote Deonath. This headliner will perform on the main gazebo stage and has been an Elvis Tribute Artist for 19 years. He is a World Title Memphis Ultimate Elvis Contest Winner, a TOP 3 artist for World EPE’s Ultimate Elvis Contest for 2 consecutive years and has won many other Elvis accolades at the Tupelo, Branson and Niagara Falls Festivals.
Enjoy favorite First Friday Art Walk activities with a 1950s twist such as: local arts organizations providing free, hands-on art activities; visual artists working live throughout downtown; signature drinks and dishes, like an Elvis Sandwich at The Lodge, and participating restaurants with special sales and extended business hours at local shops. In addition, a vintage car exhibit by the Ocala Street Cruisers will be displayed on the east side of the square and the Proper Tease Hair Studio will provide 1950s-inspired hair demonstrations. Continue reading
