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.

[Read more…]

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. [Read more…]

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. [Read more…]

(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 28^th-30^th) 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. [Read more…]

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. [Read more…]

For centuries talented composers have been writing music that has brought many different genres to our world. This spring the On Top of the World Concert Chorus will present a performance focusing on the wonderful American composers that have also left their mark on the world of music and brought us styles that are uniquely American.  The concert entitled “All-American Classics” will be presented on Sunday, March 11, at 3:00 p.m. at Countryside Presbyterian Church, 7768 SW Highway 200, Ocala 34476, 352-237-4633. This concert will include a collection of well-known melodies by famous American composers. [Read more…]