FEMA DISASTER ASSISTANCE TEAM CONDUCTING FOLLOWUP WITH CITIZENS

MARION COUNTY, Florida (October 11, 2017) – A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Team will be at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office-Emergency Operations Center (692 NW 30th Ave, Ocala, FL 34475) on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 through Friday, October 13, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The FEMA Assistance Team will be assisting with follow-up on Individual Assistance Program for residents that have applied for FEMA assistance. The team can also assist with first time registrations for residents suffered damage to their homes and property during Hurricane Irma. The Individual Assistance Program can provide financial help or direct services to those who have necessary expenses and serious needs if they are unable to meet these needs through other means. Continue reading →

OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 27, 2017) – The First Friday Art Walk returns to downtown Ocala Friday, Oct. 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. and will include the following special performances and activities:

• 6 to 6:30 p.m. – The Arts District, a performing arts studio, will present a zombie-themed dance performance.
• 6 to 9 p.m. – The Appleton Museum of Art, Painting with a Twist and the Marion County Public Library will provide free, hands-on art activities for all ages.
• 6 to 9 p.m. – Textur Hair Studio will be doing a hair and makeup demo creating a live character in the window of Ocala Homes and Farms Realty, 108 E Fort King St.
• 6:30 to 9 p.m. – Live music by Adam Rountree on the main event stage.

Continue reading →

OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 26, 2017) – Ocala Electric Utility (OEU) will host a Customer Appreciation Day Friday, Oct. 6 at Citizens’ Circle, 151 SE Osceola, Ave. from 6 to 8 p.m. This event will be held in collaboration with Public Power Week happening Sunday, Oct. 1 through Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017.

To show appreciation for its customers, OEU will be providing free hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks on a first come, first serve basis. Entertainment will be provided, along with family-friendly activities and attendees can even take a ride in one of OEU’s bucket trucks! Educational items and giveaways will also be available while supplies last.  Continue reading →

OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 21, 2017) – Following Hurricane Irma, the City of Ocala is actively working to address mosquito control and areas of concern for residents. The City has deployed staff to immediately resume larviciding areas that are currently holding water due to effects from the hurricane. Along with Clarke Mosquito, the City is also spraying areas that have been investigated and determined to have a nuisance adult mosquito population.

“Larviciding is the best line of defense in mosquito control and kills the mosquito larvae prior to them reaching the adult, or biting, stage,” said Brian Herrick, Stormwater Manager, City of Ocala Public Works Department. “City staff is currently working to larvicide drainage retention areas (DRA), ditches, swales and low-lying areas. Since April 2017, the City of Ocala has addressed and treated a total of 16.6 acres in the City limits.”  Continue reading →

OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 18, 2017) – The Discovery Center’s newest exhibit, Super Kids Save the World, will open to the public Saturday, Sept. 23 and will be on display through Saturday, Jan. 20 at the Discovery Center located at 701 NE Sanchez Ave.

Super Kids Save the World is a “green” exhibit that inspires eco-friendly superheroes in the community. This hands-on traveling exhibit, created by The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum in partnership with the Crawford Taylor Foundation and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, gives kids (and their parents) the power to go green! Designed with “green” materials and practices, this super exhibit gives kids real superhero training starting with the four R’s: reduce, reuse, repair and recycle.

Super Kids Save the World is based on the British children’s book, “George Saves the World by Lunchtime,” written by Jo Readman and illustrated by Ley Honor Roberts. Developed by the Eden Project, an educational charity dedicated to showing the importance of taking care of our world, this book features an ordinary family who, in the course of their day, save the world simply by making responsible choices. George, Flora and Grandpa demonstrate that by taking simple steps, families can become eco-friendly superheroes in their own communities. Continue reading →

OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 15, 2017) – The City of Ocala will host Ocala Zumbathon Friday, Sept. 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Ocala Downtown Market located at 310 SE Third St. All proceeds from this event will benefit the United Way of Marion County.

Ocala Zumbathon will feature some of Ocala’s favorite Zumba instructors leading consecutive sessions of dance. Instructors include Traci Rivera (Zone Health and Fitness), Natalia Leon (Too Your Health Spa), Maribel Lozada (Sahara), and Kathleen Hernandez (Zumba by Kathleen). The event will also include a variety of local vendors for participants to visit. 

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online or in person at the Ocala Growth Management Office located at 201 SE Third St. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased the day of the event for $10. Continue reading →

OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 14, 2017) – Due to effects from Hurricane Irma, the following City of Ocala parks and facilities will be closed until further notice:

• Tuscawilla Park, 300-899 NE Sanchez Ave.
• Scott Springs Park, 2825 SW 24th Ave.
• Heritage Nature Conservancy, 1900 block of NE Third St.
• Fort King National Historic Landmark, 3925 E Fort King St.
• Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave.

Media and the public will be notified when these are facilities are re-opened to the public.

The following City of Ocala parks and facilities are currently open to the public. Unless otherwise noted, these facilities will be open normal operating hours.

• Jervey Gantt Park, 2200 SE 36th Ave.
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Complex, 1510 NE 4th St.
• City neighborhood parks Continue reading →

Marion County, Florida (September 6, 2017) – Marion County Public Schools and the Marion County Division of Emergency Management have announced school closings and shelter openings in preparation for Hurricane Irma. All Marion County Public Schools will be closed Friday and Monday, September 8 and 11, 2017. Emergency Management will be opening multiple shelters hosted by our local public schools beginning at 5:00 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8.

General Population Shelters:

• North Marion Middle School (2085 W Highway 329, Citra)
• Fort McCoy School (16160 NE Highway 315, Fort McCoy)
• Lake Weir High School (10351 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala)

Continue reading →

OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 7, 2017) – Due to Hurricane Irma, the following City of Ocala locations will be closed Monday, Sept. 11. Normal hours of operation are expected to resume Tuesday, Sept. 12.

• City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave.
• City of Ocala Customer Service Office, 301 SE 3rd Ave.
(Includes Utility Billing and Building Department)
• City of Ocala Municipal Services Complex
• Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave.
• All City recreation centers and senior centers
• All City parks
Continue reading →

Marion County, Florida (August 23, 2017)- On Monday, August 21, 2017, Marion County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes detectives arrested and charged Wayne Frazier (DOB: 01/30/1992) for an Armed Home Invasion Robbery he committed on Thursday, May 18, 2017. In the early morning hours, Frazier approached the home, located in the Stonecrest subdivision, and attempted to open the door of the house. The homeowner saw this and opened the door to find Frazier standing there with a bandana covering his face, holding a handgun in one hand and a taser in the other. Frazier robbed the victim of the money in his wallet and demanded the keys to the victim’s vehicle. The homeowner then shut and locked the door on Frazier and Frazier told the victim, “Now I’m gonna have to shoot you, now I’m gonna have to kill you.” Frazier shot one round through the door, missing the victim. The victim’s wife called 911 and Frazier fled the location. Continue reading →