Ocala News
Saturday, March 17, 2018
The American Association of Women (AAUW) Ocala Branch will meet at the Marion County Public Library, 2720 East Silver Springs Boulevard, Ocala, at 1:00 p.m. in Conference Room B, for their regular monthly meeting.
The speaker for this meeting will be Heidi Maier, Ed.D. Superintendent of the Marion County Public Schools. Dr. Maier received her Doctorate of Education in Child and Youth Studies from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL. She previously served as an Assistant Professor at Barry University, Miami, FL and was a program specialist in the Office of Early Learning with the Florida Department of Education. Dr. Maier’s presentation will be on “Perspectives on Women in Education.”
All are welcome to attend this meeting and learn about Women in Education and the AAUW organization. For further information please call 352-237-4889.
The First Friday Art Walk returns to downtown Ocala Friday, March 2 from 6 to 9 p.m.
OCALA, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2018) – The First Friday Art Walk returns to downtown Ocala Friday, March 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. and will include the following special performances and activities:
- 6 to 9 p.m. – Live music by Stephen Lopez on the main event stage located at the downtown square near the gazebo.
- 7 p.m. – Contemporary dance performance by West Port High School’s MCCA (Marion County Center for the Arts) Dance Program.
- 8 p.m. – Belly dancing performance by the Cairo Dancers
- Free hands-on art activities for all ages will be provided throughout the event by the Appleton Museum of Art, Hospice of Marion County, Interfaith Emergency Services, Painting with a Twist, Marion County Public Library, Karate America Ocala, Animis Foundation and the Discovery Center.
OCALA, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2018) – The City of Ocala has implemented changes to its metered parking program downtown. These recommended modifications were made in response to feedback from citizens and downtown business owners and are intended to create more available on-street parking adjacent to, or in close proximity of, downtown businesses, according to City staff.
Adjustments to the parking program include:
- All parking meters are now programmed for an additional hour of parking, for a total of three-hours.
- Passport Parking has implemented three-hour parking for the pay-by-phone app.
- Android Pay and Apple Pay have been installed on all parking meters.
- An additional 11 free parking spaces have been created by removing meters on N Magnolia Avenue (between NE Second Street and NE Third Street) and on SW First Avenue, south of Fort King Street.
- Installation of 39 free on-street parking spaces along sections of NE First Avenue and N Magnolia Avenue.
Sing
- Date:02/16/2018 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Location:Martin Luther King Recreaion Complex
1510 NW Fourth St., Ocala, Florida 34471
A koala impresario stages a gala singing competition in order to save his theater, and the contest attracts the attention of such musically inclined animals as a harried pig mom, a teenage gorilla, a shy elephant and a punk porcupine. Rated PG. Bring your own lawn chairs and blankets. No cost. This animated movie is great for the entire family.
A dedication ceremony will be held Friday, Feb. 16 at 11 a.m. for Jim Kirk Park.
OCALA, Fla. (Feb. 14, 2018) – A dedication ceremony will be held Friday, Feb. 16 at 11 a.m. for Jim Kirk Park. The ceremony will take place at the playground located at the 2900 block of NE Ninth Street.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Jim Kirk served as a City of Ocala councilman and then later as Mayor for three terms. He owned WMOP and WFUZ radio stations where he also hosted a morning show “Country Jim.” Mr. Kirk’s legacy to Ocala’s citizens also includes purchasing what is now the Marion Theater and gifting the building to the City. He was also a driving force behind the Appleton Museum of Art. Mr. Kirk, a 60-year resident of Ocala, passed away in 2015 at the age of 88. Continue reading
Oklawaha Valley Audubon Society of Lake County is hosting a beginners class on basic birding Sunday February 25th 2 -4 pm at Trout Lake Nature center 530 East Cr 44. Eustis, Florida. Birding is the fastest growing activity in the US and Central Florida is a birding hot spot. Birding is a great activity because its inexpensive, easy, it connects people to nature and it can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. Birding can be an individual hobby, a family activity, or a group event that can be done in your back yard, at a local wildlife refuge or an exotic international location Birding is often combined with hiking, kayaking, photography and traveling so there is something for everyone. Continue reading
(OCALA, Fla.) February 4, 2018 – Ocala Fire Rescue and the American Red Cross are joining forces once more, to Sound the Alarm about fire safety.
For a period of three days (January 28th-30th) Ocala Fire Rescue firefighters and Red Cross volunteers roamed the streets of The Villas at Spanish Oaks, mobile home park, as part of a door to door smoke detector installation canvass. Installing 144 smoke alarms in the three day period, the campaign was a huge success. Nonetheless, due to the size of the property, only a portion of the homes within the park were covered. Knowing the need that exists in the area, OFR and the Red Cross have scheduled another three day canvassing event. Continue reading
MARION COUNTY, Florida (February 4, 2018)- At approximately 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 4, 2018, Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies were called to a residence located at 9895 SW 151st Place in the Florida Highlands in reference to a well-being check on a possibly suicidal/homicidal individual. When deputies arrived on scene, Paul Powell (DOB: 05/07/1968) made statements that made them concerned for his well-being and for the well-being of others.
Powell also made statements about being armed. In addition to this, deputies learned that Powell had an outstanding felony warrant for Domestic Battery. Powell refused to cooperate with law enforcement and would not exit his residence. The Ocala Police Department SWAT team and the MCSO Crisis Negotiations Team responded to assist and negotiators were able to establish communication with Powell. Continue reading
The playground at Tuscawilla Park, 500 NE Sanchez Ave., will be temporarily closed for maintenance beginning Monday, Feb. 5.
OCALA, Fla. (Feb. 2, 2018) – The playground at Tuscawilla Park, 500 NE Sanchez Ave., will be temporarily closed for maintenance beginning Monday, Feb. 5 and is expected to re-open to the public Wednesday, Feb. 7. The remaining areas of Tuscawilla Park will be open to the public during the temporary playground closure.
For more information, please contact the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department at 352-368-5517.
The City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department will host the annual Cattle Drive and Cowboy Round-Up event Saturday, Feb. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tuscawilla Park, 500 NE Sanchez Ave.
OCALA, Fla. (Feb. 2, 2018) – The City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department will host the annual Cattle Drive and Cowboy Round-Up event Saturday, Feb. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tuscawilla Park, 500 NE Sanchez Ave. This annual event is presented by the Rotary Clubs of Marion County.
A cattle drive will kick off the event in downtown Ocala and will end at Tuscawilla Park where the real festivities will begin. The cattle drive will begin at 10 a.m. near Jesse’s Computers and Repair located at 300 SE Eighth St. The public is invited to walk behind the cattle drive to Tuscawilla Park. Continue reading
