Tuesday, Oct. 17, the City of Ocala Water Resources Department began work to replace a water main valve. However, due to the age of the pipe, this project was not able to be completed and will resume Friday, Oct. 20.

Post Date:10/18/2017 8:46 AM

OCALA, Fla. (Oct. 18, 2017) – Tuesday, Oct. 17, the City of Ocala Water Resources Department began work to replace a water main valve. However, due to the age of the pipe, this project was not able to be completed and will resume Friday, Oct. 20. Due to this project, NE First Avenue, between E Silver Springs Boulevard and NE First Street, will be closed Friday, Oct. 20 from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Detour routes: Continue reading →

The City of Ocala and Feel Downtown LIVE will host the annual Harvest Fest Music and Food Truck Festival Saturday, Nov. 11 from 1 to 10 p.m. at Tuscawilla Park located at 500 NE Sanchez Ave.

Post Date:10/13/2017 1:59 PM

OCALA, Fla. (Oct. 13, 2017) – The City of Ocala and Feel Downtown LIVE will host the annual Harvest Fest Music and Food Truck Festival Saturday, Nov. 11 from 1 to 10 p.m. at Tuscawilla Park located at 500 NE Sanchez Ave.

This year’s Harvest Fest event will feature two stages of live blues, rock and country music with Aaron Tippin and Georgia Satellites headlining the evening’s festivities. Other national, regional and local artists scheduled to perform include Hollis Brown, Lawrence, Savants of Soul, Jamie Davis, Bailey Callahan, Bob Green and the Whiskey Conspiracy, and the Doug Adams Band. Continue reading →

Monday, Oct. 16, the City will begin the second phase of decommissioning, which consists of cleaning out the digesters at WRF #1 and is expected to be completed in early December 2017.

Post Date:10/13/2017 10:30 AM

OCALA, Fla. (Oct. 13, 2017) – The City of Ocala’s Water Reclamation Facility #1 (WRF #1), located at 1220 NW Fourth Ave., has been offline since April 2016. The City began the first phase of the decommission process in June 2017. Monday, Oct. 16, the City will begin the second phase of decommissioning, which consists of cleaning out the digesters at WRF #1 and is expected to be completed in early December 2017.

During this time, there is a potential of a strong, organic odor, which may affect the immediate area surrounding the facility. There are no health concerns regarding this potential odor.

For more information, please contact the City of Ocala Water Resources Department at 352-351-6772.

(OCALA, Fla.) October 11, 2017 – A fire reported this morning at 2841 NE 7^th St. left a family of four displaced.

Ocala Fire Rescue arrived at 9:44 AM, to Berkley Point Apartments, where a structure fire was reported. Upon entry into the apartment complex, firefighters found a smoke and flames showing from a first level corner unit. With medics verifying the wellbeing of the occupants who self-evacuated, firefighters began attacking the flames. The fire, originating in one of the apartment’s bedrooms, was knocked down within six minutes of arrival, and completely extinguished by 9:54 AM.

Fire and smoke damage in the unit of origin and the unit directly above it rendered both apartments uninhabitable. Because the second-floor unit was vacant, only one family was displaced. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. Continue reading →

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 →