COMMUNITY NEWS BRIEFS
OFR receives grant, county photo contest, VCB postcard contest, hospital expansion, Realtor awards
OFR receives grant, county photo contest, VCB postcard contest, hospital expansion, Realtor awards
OFR hosts event, receives grant
Ocala Fire Rescue recently served as the host site for the presentation of cancer prevention and firefighter assistance grants awarded by Florida’s Chief Financial Officer and Fire Marshal, Blaise Ingoglia.
Grants were made to OFR for $6,372.75, the High Springs Fire Department for $4,793.44 and $500,000 was presented to the city of Newberry Fire Department for a training facility.
The grants, aimed at strengthening firefighters’ protection against harmful chemicals encountered during fires, are part of Florida’s commitment to equipping firefighters with the tools and infrastructure that support their critical role in public safety. The funding is provided through the Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Grant and the Firefighter Assistance Grant. These programs are designed to improve the health and safety of firefighters by ensuring they have access to essential equipment and educational training, the news release stated.
“This investment directly enhances the safety and well-being of our firefighters and reinforces our ongoing mission to protect them as diligently as they protect others,” Welborn said in the release.
County photo contest
The Marion County Stormwater Program invites local photographers to participate in its 23rd annual photo contest. This year’s theme is “Our Water. Their Home.,” highlighting the beauty and diversity of local waterbodies and the life they support. Entries must feature a body of water in Marion County.
The submission deadline is June 30. Submit online at marionfl.org/stormwater or deliver in person to Bibi Larson, Office of the County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave., Ocala.
To learn more, call (352) 671-8686.
VCB postcard contest
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau invites residents and visitors of all skill levels to showcase what freedom looks like in Marion County.
The “Find Your Freedom Here” Postcard Contest calls for original designs that capture the spirit of Marion County through a uniquely American lens. The winning artwork will be featured on an official destination postcard, which will be made available for visitors and residents for free at the Ocala/Marion County Visitors Center in Downtown Ocala. The winning design will be announced during National Travel and Tourism Week from May 3-9.
Photos must capture a location in Marion County that is open to the public. The submission deadline is April 24. Submit an entry through surveymonkey.com/r/7GK3599
For full details, visit ocalamarion.com/postcard-contest/
Hospital expansion announced
HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, part of HCA Florida Healthcare, recently announced a nearly $200 million investment to construct a new multi-story patient tower and expand surgical services.
With construction scheduled to begin this year, the expansion will increase the hospital’s capacity and add more than 70 new healthcare positions along with additional support positions, the news release noted.
The project includes a new 16-bed intensive care unit, a central utility plant to serve the tower, two additional 26-bed medical/surgical/telemetry units and infrastructure to support expanded surgical services. It also will include a parking garage.
According to Bill Thompson, manager of Communications & Community Engagement, “The trauma follow-up clinic on the east side of the campus will be demolished and relocated on campus at a yet to be determined site. The location of the new parking garage is to be determined.”
Realtors earn awards
Showcase Properties has been included in the annual Ocala Marion County Association of Realtors (OMCAR) Awards for 2026, with a number of agents earning honors.
The Outstanding Achiever Award, for Realtors with 2025 sales volume of $3 million or more, was presented to Showcase Properties owner/broker Valerie Dailey, Samantha Dailey, Mary O’Neal, Laurie Whelpley-Baker, Carmen Murvin, Richard Alker, Elizabeth Gray, Claire Khuen, Dawn Mahler and Beckie Cantrell.
The Top Producer Award, recognizing Realtors with 2025 sales volume between $1 million and $2,999,999, was given to Carl Sonny Harnish, Mary Durr, Kathy Prater, Jeanean Crisante and Dawn Trigg.
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