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.  [Read more…]

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.” [Read more…]

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. [Read more…]

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. [Read more…]

OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 14, 2017) – Due to effects from Hurricane Irma, the following City of Ocala parks and facilities will be closed until further notice:

• Tuscawilla Park, 300-899 NE Sanchez Ave.
• Scott Springs Park, 2825 SW 24th Ave.
• Heritage Nature Conservancy, 1900 block of NE Third St.
• Fort King National Historic Landmark, 3925 E Fort King St.
• Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave.

Media and the public will be notified when these are facilities are re-opened to the public.

The following City of Ocala parks and facilities are currently open to the public. Unless otherwise noted, these facilities will be open normal operating hours.

• Jervey Gantt Park, 2200 SE 36th Ave.
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Complex, 1510 NE 4th St.
• City neighborhood parks [Read more…]

Marion County, Florida (August 23, 2017)- On Monday, August 21, 2017, Marion County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes detectives arrested and charged Wayne Frazier (DOB: 01/30/1992) for an Armed Home Invasion Robbery he committed on Thursday, May 18, 2017. In the early morning hours, Frazier approached the home, located in the Stonecrest subdivision, and attempted to open the door of the house. The homeowner saw this and opened the door to find Frazier standing there with a bandana covering his face, holding a handgun in one hand and a taser in the other. Frazier robbed the victim of the money in his wallet and demanded the keys to the victim’s vehicle. The homeowner then shut and locked the door on Frazier and Frazier told the victim, “Now I’m gonna have to shoot you, now I’m gonna have to kill you.” Frazier shot one round through the door, missing the victim. The victim’s wife called 911 and Frazier fled the location. [Read more…]

The Vines Hospital recently announced the opening of a new wing in their Hospital. The new addition will be for service women and veterans. Picture are some of the staff along the CEO of Vines Hospital. The program is called the Meadows H.O.P.E. Program, Healing, Overcome, Persevere, Empower. They are providing inpatient and residential care for active-duty servicewomen and veterans. Their mission is to give women tools needed to recover from trauma and addiction.  [Read more…]

Guest Natalie McComb spoke to the group about the United Way Reading Pals Program. This is an opportunity for you or your business to partner with a local Elementary school and promote childhood literacy. Children can read to learn until they learn to read! Please call the United Way’s Literacy Manager to sign up as a ReadingPal Volunteer today! 352-732-9696 x 212 Just image the impact that you can make on the life of a child.

Senator Dennis Baxley spoke to Ocala Business Leaders. Mr Baxley has run in 15 races and lost two. He stated that he had learned most from his losses. He believes failure is a part of success.

Mr Baxley believes strong families make a strong Florida. He is committed to his own family. He and his wife, Ginette, have been married for 43 years. They are the proud parents and grandparents of five children and 7 grandchildren.

Mr Baxley believes in the power of free enterprise to grow our economy and provide opportunity for both businesses and employees. While supporting job training and other truly helpful programs, he will work to keep government out of the way as much as possible so that innovation can flourish. He stated that people need encouragement and we shouldn’t be is hard on ourselves.