(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.” [Read more…]

New labor shed analysis: Nearly half of Marion County workers commute to nearby counties Good news is, fewer workers under 55 leave county for employment  

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. [Read more…]

The City of Ocala splash pads located at Citizens’ Circle, 151 SE Osceola Ave., and Lillian Bryant Park, 2200 NW 17th Pl., will reopen to the public Saturday, March 10.

OCALA, Fla. (Feb. 20, 2018) – The City of Ocala splash pads located at Citizens’ Circle, 151 SE Osceola Ave., and Lillian Bryant Park, 2200 NW 17th Pl., will reopen to the public Saturday, March 10.

Both splash pads are free for the public to use and are open daily from sunrise to sunset, unless otherwise noted. Guests visiting the splash pad at Citizens’ Circle are encouraged to park in the downtown parking garage located at the corner of Fort King Street and Osceola Avenue.

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. [Read more…]