Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn is joining mayors across the country in asking residents to make a long-term commitment to manage water resources more wisely by taking part in the annual Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation.

OCALA, Fla. (March 26, 2018) –  Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn is joining mayors across the country in asking residents to make a long-term commitment to manage water resources more wisely by taking part in the annual Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. In return, residents can win $5,000 toward their home utility payments, water saving fixtures and hundreds of other prizes. Plus, one lucky charity will receive a 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid to serve the community.

The annual challenge, taking place Sunday, April 1 through Monday, April 30, is a non-profit national community service campaign to see which leaders can best inspire their residents to make a series of informative and easy-to-do online pledges at mywaterpledge.com to use water more efficiently, reduce pollution, and save energy. Continue reading →

The city that receives the most nominations will receive a $20,000 grant to improve a local park.

OCALA, Fl. (March 29, 2018) – For the fourth year in a row, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is collaborating with The Walt Disney Company — including Disney|ABC Television Group and ESPN — to help fund local park improvement projects across the country through the national “Meet Me at the Park” Earth Month campaign. The city that receives the most nominations will receive a $20,000 grant to improve a local park.

Local parks make Ocala a better place to live and shape so many of our lives. Parks are essential to our city’s health and wellbeing. They provide safe places to be active and enjoy nature—and they help preserve the environment and bring people together. That’s why from April 1 to April 30 Ocala residents will have the opportunity to nominate our city to receive $20,000 in grant funding to make improvements at a local park. Continue reading →

(OCALA, Fla.) April 2, 2018 – A trailer meant to haul waste from a compactor at Golden Flake potato chip factory was involved in a fire, this morning.

Ocala Fire Rescue units were dispatched to the 3000 block of West Silver Springs Boulevard, where a trailer fire threatened to become a structure fire, due to the proximity of the enclosure to the building. Three engine companies, a tower truck, rescue and battalion chief responded to the 7:00 AM fire. Separating the trailer from the building, firefighters attacked and extinguished the flames before they could spread.

No injuries were reported.

The City of Ocala is conducting an electronic survey to better understand residents’ opinions of Cultural Arts in the community.

OCALA, Fla. (April 2, 2018) – The City of Ocala is conducting an electronic survey to better understand residents’ opinions of Cultural Arts in the community. This survey is available to the public now through Sunday, April 15 at www.surveymonkey.com/r/ocalaculturalplan.

“The goal of this survey is to collect feedback from the community that will help the City of Ocala celebrate, protect and expand the cultural arts opportunities that make our community unique,” said Christian Dumay, Community Cultural Arts Plan Project Coordinator, City of Ocala. “This 28 question survey will ask participants how they relate to the arts, what kinds of cultural events they attend, types of art facilities they visit and more.” Continue reading →

OCALA, Florida (April 2, 2018) – Nearly half of the workers living in Marion County leave the county for employment, with most commuting to Orange, Lake and Alachua counties, according to a new labor shed analysis of workforce and demographic characteristics commissioned by CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion.

At the same time, the daily outflow of workers under age 55 is slowing, with slight declines both as a percentage and in total numbers, while there was little change in the number of workers 55 and older commuting for employment.

The analysis highlights Marion County commuting patterns showing where workers work and where workers live. It was prepared by the Florida Department of Economic Development’s Bureau of Labor Market Statistics using 2015 annual Census data – the latest available. The labor shed report is designed to help economic developers and existing or prospective businesses determine where a labor market draws its commuting workers. Continue reading →

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday on March 25, 2018 with our regular service times of 8:15 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.

On March 29, Maundy Thursday, at 6:45 p.m. this worship service begins the three days of Christ’s Passion.  Holy Communion will be offered in memory of the Last Supper. The altar will be stripped in honor of Christ’s death and at the end of service; the sanctuary will be left in the dark.

On Good Friday, March 30 at 6:45 p.m. there will be a Tenebrae Service. The word “Tenebrae” comes from the Latin meaning “darkness.” The Tenebrae is an ancient Christian Good Friday service that makes use of gradually diminishing light through the extinguishing of candles.  The flames of these candles are extinguished one by one as Scripture readings are shared to tell the story of Holy Week. This gradual descent into gloom is a representation of Jesus’ increasing sorrow as the events of Passion Week unfolded. After the last verse is read, the last candle is put out, and the room is plunged into darkness.  The service ends, and the participants are traditionally expected to leave in contemplative silence. Continue reading →

The fifth annual Brick City Beer and Wine Festival will be held Saturday, March 31 from 2 to 8 p.m. at Citizens’ Circle located at 151 SE Osceola Ave.

OCALA, Fla. (March 12, 2018) – The fifth annual Brick City Beer and Wine Festival will be held Saturday, March 31 from 2 to 8 p.m. at Citizens’ Circle located at 151 SE Osceola Ave.

The beer and wine tasting portion of the event will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. and will feature unlimited sampling from more than 20 local and regional craft beer and wine vendors, four food trucks, and crafts and sales vendors. New to this year’s event, “Kid’s Suds Saloon,” a soda tasting booth, will be available for guests ages 12 and under from 2 to 6 p.m.

From 2 to 6 p.m., live entertainment will be provided by local band, R-Style. From 6 to 8 p.m., event headliner, Nuthin’ Fancy, a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band, will perform. Beer will be available for purchase during this time. Continue reading →

MARION COUNTY, Florida (March 14, 2018) – Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Major Crimes detectives have announced that the suspect in this morning’s double homicide has committed suicide. Detectives’ investigation revealed that Gregory John Briseno (DOB: 06/01/1988) shot and killed Alexis Marie Waranka (DOB: 09/17/1991) and her boyfriend Ryan Anthony Young (DOB: 05/24/1987) early Wednesday morning in Waranka’s apartment located at 7417 Midway Terrace, Apartment E, in Silver Springs Shores. Briseno was Waranka’s exboyfriend.

During initial interviews with witnesses on scene and after a review of their prior history, Briseno was developed as the prime suspect in the murders. Detectives located Briseno’s Facebook page, where it appears he made a post around the time of the murders that contained incriminating statements and statements that made law enforcement concerned for his well-being. Continue reading →

MARION COUNTY, Florida (March 13, 2018)- Detectives with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Major Crimes Unit arrested Kevin Ismael Gonzalez (DOB: 01/15/1992) after he was found to be in possession of multiple files of illicit child pornography.

Gonzalez also possessed Marijuana and numerous items of drug paraphernalia, and he faces charges for those offenses as well. Detective Shannon Wiles with MCSO’s Internet Crimes against Children Division received information that Gonzalez was possessing files that contained child pornography. As a result of a thorough investigation, a search warrant was obtained and was served on Gonzalez’s place of residence on Monday, March 12, 2018. During that search warrant, detectives located his computer, which contained numerous lewd child pornography files. Continue reading →