Ocala News
The First Friday Art Walk returns to downtown Ocala Friday, Jan. 5 from 6 to 9 p.m.
OCALA, Fla. (Dec. 19, 2017) – The First Friday Art Walk returns to downtown Ocala Friday, Jan. 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. and will include the following special performances and activities:
- 6 to 9 p.m. – Live music by Jeff and the Jarretts on the main event stage located at the downtown square near the gazebo. Jarrett is a singer/songwriter who was recently named “Best Local Musician” by Ocala Magazine.
- 7 p.m. – Contemporary dance performance by West Port High School’s MCCA (Marion County Center for the Arts) Dance Program.
- Free hands-on art activities for all ages will be provided throughout the event by the Appleton Museum of Art, Painting with a Twist, Marion County Public Library, Karate America Ocala, Animis Foundation and the Discovery Center.
Local artists will be working throughout this event creating artwork and portraits at Ocala Homes and Farms Realty located at 108 E Fort King St. Live caricatures will be available near Gause & Son Jewelers located at 14 SE Broadway St. Continue reading
Did you know Cirque Italia has TWO traveling shows?! For the first time ever, The NEW GOLD UNIT IS COMING TO OCALA, FL with the state of the art water show you DON’T WANT TO MISS!!!
Cirque Italia has grown to the point where the next logical step can only be to expand operations and double our presence at the national level. In response to our wonderful fans all over the U.S., and with over 90% of shows being sold out, NOW is the perfect time for a substantial investment.
Beginning in 2017, Cirque Italia, the first traveling Water Circus, introduced a second unit, the Gold Unit: a luxurious experience where technology and preforming arts are mixed to create a one-of-a-kind show. Now for 2018, a brand-new performance has been created.
This new performance will feature an ultra-modern water curtain that controls every droplet of water meticulously. Audience members can expect to see words and beautiful patterns as the water falls to the ‘lagoon’ below. Cirque Italia is ready to provide a breathtaking experience. This new stage by itself is enough to amaze the most demanding audience, and synchronized with the most creative display of superhuman talent – the result is simply out of this world! Continue reading
The Racial Harmony and Cultural Awareness Task Force will host “REACH Across the Table,” a gathering of community members, Thursday, Jan. 25 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Silver Springs State Park, 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd.
OCALA, Fla. (Dec. 13, 2017) – The Racial Harmony and Cultural Awareness Task Force will host “REACH Across the Table,” a gathering of community members, Thursday, Jan. 25 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Silver Springs State Park, 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd. This event will provide information on community concerns that impact our ability to accept each other’s differences and come together as one. The theme for this inaugural community event is “trust.” Continue reading
Date:12/15/2017 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Location: Tuscawilla Park
829 NE Sanchez Avenue
Ocala, Florida 34470
Join us for Let’s Skate Ocala’s Friday night theme night, “Santa’s Workshop” with this favorite holiday movie! Ice rink admission is $5/person, n fee for movie. Popcorn and drink will be available for a small fee. Please bring your own lawn chairs and blankets. For more information, call 352-368-5517.
Effective Monday, Dec. 11, the parking lot at the SE 31st Street Start! Walking Trail located at 2025 SE 31st St. will be closed for resurfacing.
OCALA, Fla. (Dec. 8, 2017) – Effective Monday, Dec. 11, the parking lot at the SE 31st Street Start! Walking Trail located at 2025 SE 31st St. will be closed for resurfacing. This resurfacing project is expected to be completed in approximately two weeks.
During construction, the walking trail will remain open to the public, however due to space limitations, there will not be a temporary parking lot available during this time.
For more information, please contact the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department at 352-368-5517.
The City of Ocala is pleased to announce the selected sculptors and their works participating in the 2018-2019 Ocala Outdoor Sculpture Competition.
OCALA, Fla. (Dec. 7, 2017) – The City of Ocala is pleased to announce the selected sculptors and their works participating in the 2018-2019 Ocala Outdoor Sculpture Competition.
SELECTED ARTIST LOCATION NAME OF SCULPTURE
Mike Hansel Middletown, RI Navigator
Corrina Sephora Atlanta, GA Transcendence
John Gamache Ocala, FL Robustae
Claudia Lauster Naples, FL Job
Keith Bryant Charlotte, NC Leaf Boats
Richard Whitehill Earlysillve, VA Waves
Kevin Lehman Lancaster, PA Monoliths: Shine
Gus and Lina Ocamposilva Clearwater, FL Arabesque
James Futral Ft. Myers, FL Metal Elephant
Darryl Lauster Arlington, TX Untitled (Monument to John Glenn) Continue reading
The Marion Civic Chorale and Countryside Presbyterian Church Choir, both directed by Ryan Pagels and the Chancel choir from First Presbyterian Church, directed by David Bedenbaugh will perform on Sunday, December 17 at 3:00 pm. at Countryside Presbyterian Church, 7768 S.W. Hwy 200, Ocala. They will be accompanied by a chamber orchestra of local musicians.
The first half of the program will be a sing-a-long of favorite carols followed by “The Gift of Love,” an original work, written by Bedenbaugh and Pagels. This is based on the 9 Lessons & Carols.
The public is invited and there is no admission charge but a freewill offering will be taken.
For further information, please call the church office at (352) 237- 4633.
A year ago, the CEP kicked of our Equine Engagement Initiative. As the Horse Capital of the World, we knew we needed a focused and directed effort to engage our incredible equine community with both the broader business community and with fellow equine businesses. Our economic impact analysis of Marion County’s Equine Industry had found that equine contributed $2.6 Billion a year to the local economy!
Thanks to the underwriting support of New Millennium Realty, we were able to kick off this initiative late last year. Louisa Barton joined our team as our Director of Equine Engagement and has done a masterful job at reaching out and engaging equine businesses and educating the rest of us. Our monthly Equine Engagement meetings have out-grown the CEP conference room and must now be held at our Power Plant Business Incubator Training Room so we can accommodate the more the 60 participants who now attend. Continue reading
OCALA, Fla.-The Florida Department of Health in Marion County recognizes November as National Diabetes Month, a time set aside every year to raise awareness about diabetes and promote the importance of taking steps to confront diabetes as a critical health issue. The theme for National Diabetes Month this year is “You are the center of your diabetes care team,” highlighting the importance of prevention and self-management.
“Diabetes is one of the significant health challenges our community will continue to face in the years ahead,” said Florida Department of Health in Marion County Health Officer Mark Lander. “The good news is that it’s easy to identify if you are at risk for diabetes, and there are simple changes you can make in your day-to-day life that can help prevent the onset of diabetes or manage your diabetes if you already have it.” Continue reading
The photo shows off part of our Crippen & Co. “Bean Counters” chili cook-off team: From L-R, Naomi Vandergrift, Jerett Schrader, Kelsie Smith, Marie Fox. Photo taken at the 36th Annual Marion County Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, November 4th at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion to benefit The Cornerstone School. Crippen and Co. came in 1st Runner Up in the Small Business Chili division.
