The First Friday Art Walk returns to downtown Ocala Friday, Feb. 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. and

OCALA, Fla. (Jan. 22, 2018) – The First Friday Art Walk returns to downtown Ocala Friday, Feb. 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. and will include the following special performances and activities:

• 6 to 9 p.m. – Live music by Halfway Hippie 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. – Hip hop dance performance by Xtraordinary Rising Talent.
• Free hands-on art activities for all ages will be provided throughout the event by the Appleton Museum of Art, Painting with a Twist, Marion County Public Library, Karate America Ocala, Animis Foundation and the Discovery Center.

[Read more…]

• Date:01/26/2018 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Location:Fort King National Historic Landmark
  3925 East Fort King Street
  Ocala, Florida 34470

A frontiersman on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left or dead by members of his own hunting team.  [Read more…]

Effective Monday, Jan. 1, 2018, the City of Ocala’s One-Stop Permit Center is now offering its contractor customers the ability to apply for permits, submit plans for review and pay fees directly online.

Post Date:01/17/2018 3:48 PM

OCALA, Fla. (Jan. 17, 2018) – Effective Monday, Jan. 1, 2018, the City of Ocala’s One-Stop Permit Center is now offering its contractor customers the ability to apply for permits, submit plans for review and pay fees directly online.

“With 24/7 access to the City of Ocala Growth Management Services web portal, contractors can now apply for permits, pay fees and schedule inspections from the comfort of their home, office or car,” said Patricia Hitchcock, Planning and Zoning Manager, City of Ocala Growth Management Department. “We are excited to move toward a paperless development review and permit process. By offering online permitting, we are now adding more efficient and convenient services for our customers.” [Read more…]

Effective Monday, Feb. 5, the City of Ocala Building Department will implement new hours of operation.

Post Date:01/17/2018 10:25 AM

OCALA, Fla. (Jan. 17, 2018) – Effective Monday, Feb. 5, the City of Ocala Building Department will implement new hours of operation. The City Building Department, located at 201 SE Third St., second floor, will be open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The current hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“The change in our operating hours will allow the City’s Permitting and Licensing staff time to hold departmental trainings and meetings, allowing them to keep up with current best practices and better serve our customers,” said Matt Leibfried, Chief Code Official, City of Ocala.

For more information, please contact Matt Leibfried, Chief Code Official, at [email protected] or 352-629-8421.

As part of its series of community conversations, the Racial Harmony and Cultural Awareness Task Force will host “An Evening with Meklit: Music, Arts, and Cultural Activism” Friday, Feb. 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. at IHMC located at 15 SE Osceola Ave.

Post Date:01/12/2018 2:47 PM

OCALA, Fla. (Jan. 12, 2018) – As part of its series of community conversations, the Racial Harmony and Cultural Awareness Task Force will host “An Evening with Meklit: Music, Arts, and Cultural Activism” Friday, Feb. 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. at IHMC located at 15 SE Osceola Ave. In this impact-oriented community conversation, TED Senior Fellow lecturer, Meklit, will discuss social issues and her philosophy of cultural activism.

According to her website, music and arts has a potential to address some of the most pressing social issues of our time, and there is an ever-growing interest in creative projects that do just that. Meklit believes that cultural activism should be a recognized path in music, and has spent the last few years both formally and informally coaching many artists in this path as well as developing projects that address social issues. She highlights how this approach allowed her career dexterity, collaboration with a multitude of institutional partners, community connectedness, and expanded audiences. This workshop presents a select set of case studies in cultural activism from several continents. [Read more…]

Below is a list of additional events and activities happening at the Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave., Saturday, Jan. 20 in collaboration with the Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band concert at Tuscawilla Park.

OCALA, Fla. (Jan. 11, 2018) – Saturday, Jan. 20, Latin GRAMMY-award winning duo Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band will perform at Tuscawilla Park, 223 NE Fifth St., at 3 p.m. This special concert caps off the closing activities of the Discovery Center’s current exhibit, Super Kids Save the World. Below is a list of additional events and activities happening at the Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave., Saturday, Jan. 20 in collaboration with this event.

Additional Star Lab Planetarium Shows:

• 11 a.m. – Tour of the Solar System
• Noon – Constellation Mythology
• 1 p.m. – Tour of the Solar System
• 2 p.m. – Constellation Mythology

[Read more…]

• Date:01/15/2018 8:00 AM – 9:45 AM
• Location:Downtown Square
  100 SE 1st Ave.
  Ocala, Florida 34470

Groups and organizations from all over the county come to participate in the MLK March. Starting from Downtown Ocala, we’ll march to the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex.

. Transporation will be provided to the downtown area, beginning at 7:00 until the march begins at 9:00. Please contact Ire Bethea 352-208-0819 for more information on participating.

• Date:01/15/2018 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Location:Martin Luther King Recreaion Complex
  1510 NW Fourth St.
  Ocala, Florida 34471

The day will be filled with performing artist, dancers, speeches, multiple vendors, and lots of food. If you’d like to participate and show your talents contact Derek Ponder at 352-857-4118. And if you want to be a vendor contact Debra Richardson 352-361-5708

• Date:01/25/2018 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Members of our community with diverse ethnic, religious, and political backgrounds come together to strengthen community relationships, increase awareness of racial and cultural lifestyles, and enhance the quality of life for residents in Ocala/Marion County.

This year’s key word is “TRUST”. Engage in community conversations that impact the ability to accept each other’s differences and come together as one. This program is free and open to the public. Parking is included and a light meal will be provided.

Registration is required. Reserve your seat now at  reachacrossthetable.eventbrite.com. For more information, visit www.reachocalamarion.org or email [email protected].

Silver Springs State Park, 5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

LifeSouth Community Blood Centers still faces emergency need for all blood types, especially type O, and is asking the community to donate blood today.

The blood center remains on emergency appeal, although a decline in donations is typical during the winter and holiday months. LifeSouth needs the support of our community more than ever. Donors are urged to give blood during this critical time to ensure hospitals maintain the blood supply needed to save lives. Traumas and accidents can strike at any time, putting our community at risk.

“If you’ve never donated before, now is the time,” said LifeSouth District Director, Ed Keith,  “Please don’t wait for a trauma to occur, your donation is needed now.”              [Read more…]