Marion recreational opportunities are getting wilder. Crawl, climb and “cave” your way through the
day with the Marion County Parks and Recreation Department’s Basic Wild Caving Experience for
families (ages 8+) at White Cliff Cave in Brick City Adventure Park (1211 SE 22 Road, Ocala). Be
prepared for strenuous activity if you decide to take a walk on the wild side. Caving requires
climbing and crawling on the stomach, hands and knees on rocky surfaces and in tight spaces.
Participants should wear long pants, sturdy footwear and bring gloves and a change of clothes. The
program costs $30/person and is limited to eight participants. Classes will be held from 9 a.m. – 2
p.m. on Saturday, March 6 and May 8. For more information or to register, call Marion County’s Parks
and Recreation Department at 352-671-8560.
Ocala Fire Rescue will be celebrating its 125th Anniversary on Saturday April 17, 2010 9am to 3pm at
Tuscawilla Park. The celebration will include an antique emergency vehicle show. Anyone who has an
antique fire truck, police car or ambulance and wishes to display it please contact Brian Stoothoff
The Hippodrome presents Defiance by John Patrick Shanley, on stage February 26 - March 21. John Patrick Shanley, the author of 2005 Pulitzer- andTony-winner Doubt has written a stunning new play intertwining ethical dilemmas about race, sexualfidelity and the high cost of doing the right thing. This provocative new work is about
responsibility to God, country and the corps, and what happens when defiance trumps all. The
Hippodrome Theatre offers a reduced price ($20) ticket for all military personnel with
identification. On stage February 26-March 21. 8 Shows a Week: Tue at 8pm, Wed at 7pm, Thur at
8pm, Fri at 8pm, Sat at 5pm & 8:30pm, Sun at 2pm & 7:30pm Tickets $12 students, $20 seniors and
military, $25-$30 adults. (352) 375-HIPP or thehipp.org
United Way of Marion County is participating in Disney’s “Give a Day. Get a Disney Day.” program
that celebrates and inspires volunteerism. Through the program, those who volunteer for a
Disney-approved volunteer project can earn a voucher good for a free ticket for one day’s admission
to a Walt Disney World theme park. The volunteer projects are posted through the nation’s largest
volunteer network, HandsOn Network and its affiliates. Through the HandsOn Network, volunteers will
be able to find and register for local opportunities in Marion County that are targeted to families
with children ages 6 and up.
Participating is easy!
1. Register for “Give a Day. Get a Disney Day.” at
http://www.uwmc.org/volunteer/give-a-day/.
2. Using the “Give a Day. Get a Disney Day.” Web site, search and register for a volunteer
opportunity of your choice.
3. Attend the volunteer opportunity.
4. Once your service is confirmed by the agency sponsoring the volunteer opportunity, you will
receive a voucher from Disney to redeem for admission to the theme park of your choice.
For those wishing to participate in Disney’s “Give a Day. Get a Disney Day.” program, please be sure
to carefully read the terms and conditions for "Give a Day. Get a Disney Day." on Disney's Web site.
Some black out dates do apply, and they do provide detailed instructions on what type of
identification (driver's license, birth certificate, etc.) you must bring with you when redeeming
your voucher at a park. United Way of Marion County’s mission is to unite local resources to help
our neighbors. For more information on volunteer opportunities, please call 352-732-9696 or visit
Children's Home Society can help you get free tickets to Disney! Disney is encouraging 1 million
people to volunteer a day of service to a participating organization in their communities and
rewarding them by giving them each a free ticket to Disney. The Children's Home Society of Florida
is participating in this exciting event and wants YOU to sign up for your free day of fun!
How to get your ticket:
1. Sign up at
www.disneyparks.com
2. Contact Samantha Knuth at
volunteermidflorida@chsfl.org or 352-334-0955 to volunteer for any of
the opportunities listed in this newsletter
3. Once you commit to volunteer, Samantha will send you instructions on how to verify your
The Waste Management Division of Alachua County Public Works, invites citizens to pick up free mulch
at the Leveda Brown Environmental Park and Transfer Station (5115 NE 63rd Avenue, Gainesville, just
past the Airport Industrial Park off of Waldo Road). The Environmental Park is open from 8 a.m. to 5
p.m., Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. There are several sizes of screened mulch
available, ranging from less than 1 inch to 3 inches. Citizens are invited to bring vehicles and
shovels, but are reminded that supplies are limited. "This material is really nice and perfect for
use for mulch or a soil amendment," says Sally Palmi, Waste Alternatives Manager. For more
information call the Waste Management division at 352-374-5213.
Gainesville's local chapter of March of Dimes for teens, Chain Reaction, is putting on a show called Rock the Cradle at Gainesvilles Downtown Community Plaza. This show features bands that play anything from rock to alt to blues. The show is March 13th at 7:00 pm through 11:00 pm and admission is $10. Come out and Support March of Dimes while listening to a great rock show.
Saturday, March 14th is the date for the 12th Annual “Hoofin’ It for Hospice.” A relaxing two-mile
walk will take place at Jervey Gantt Park in Ocala—rain or shine. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.
followed by an aerobic warm-up at 7:45 a.m. The walk begins at 8:00 a.m. Walkers will enjoy a
delicious continental breakfast upon return—provided by Scrambles Cafe. Participants can also look
forward to the opportunity to win some great prizes. Donations of $ 10.00 or more will receive a
“Hoofin’ It” T-shirt. The largest donations returned to the Hospice of Marion County Volunteer
Services Department by March 9th will be awarded prizes at the event. Pledge forms may be obtained
at any of the Hospice Thrift Store Locations:
Jasmine Square at 6116 SW State Road 200, Ocala, 352.237.7707
Heather Island Plaza at 7277 SE Maricamp Road, Silver Springs Shores 352.680.9698
Belleview Regional Shopping Center at 10325 South Highway 441, Belleview 352.245.8175
Proceeds from the event go directly to patient care at Hospice of Marion County. Last year’s event
raised a net total of $ 4,186 - thanks to our sponsors and participants. Sponsorship is provided by
the Scrambles Café. For more information, call Jan Hathaway at 352.873.7441.
10TH ANNUAL COUNTRY BBQ PICNIC Fort McCoy Friday, March 19, 2010
1300 Inaugural VFW Home Golf Tournament
Location: Silver Springs Shores Golf Course
1800-2100 Awards, Dinner & Entertainment in Pavilion
Saturday, March 20, 2010
1000-1700 10TH ANNUAL COUNTRY BBQ PICNIC -Featuring Southside Blues Band & Steffanie Renae,
Horseshoe Tournament and other Games throughout the day. Country BBQ & Fix’ns, Raffles - Games and
more. Tickets $10.00. Dry RV Camping and Tent sites available. (first come first serve basis)
Call the Home for details 352-236-0823. Location: 13005 N.E. 135th Street Fort McCoy, FL
Haven Hospice launches inaugural “Run for Haven” at Tioga Town Center March 20. Registration is at
2 p.m. Twilight run begins at 4:30 p.m. Registration is recommended. The fee will be $25 until Feb.
13, $35 from Feb. 14 through Mar.19, and $45 the day of the race. Registration includes admission
to the post party, including food. You don’t have to be a runner to enjoy the party, you can attend
for just $15! To register to run, visit
www.active.com. For more information, please contact
Stephanie Brod at 352-271-4665.
Kinetix Physical Therapy presents Fitness Extravaganza at Haile Plantation is March 20 from 10:30am
to 2pm, 2783 SW 87th Drive, Suite 102 in Gainesville in the Haile Publix Market Square. Kinetix
Physical Therapy invites you to join them for the 3rd annual Fitness Extravaganza at Haile
Plantation. Events will include: FREE physical therapy screenings, Backpack safety screenings and
fun fitness games for kids, FREE massages by the staff from Haile Village Bodyworks, information on
hippotherapy from HOPE - Horses helping People, and meet Rocky, their miniature horse and FREE
refreshments including fish ‘n fixins and other nutritious recipes to jump start your healthy
lifestyle. Families Welcome!
March 20 & 21, the 2010 Spring Garden Festival at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. Saturday 9am-6pm;
Sunday 10am-5pm. Admissions to the park and festival is $7.00 for adults, $4.00 for children 6-13,
and children 5 and under are admitted free (when accompanied by parent) The Spring Garden Festival
is organized and staffed by volunteers from The Gainesville Garden Club, Inc., The Frontrunners
Chapter of the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscaper Association, and the community at large with
the support of The Kanapaha Botanical Gardens staff and volunteers.
AS WE ALL KNOW, SUMMERTIME IS FAST APPROACHING! ARE YOU WONDERING WHAT TO DO WITH THE KIDS THIS
YEAR? WHY NOT ATTEND THE WESTWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL PTA SUMMER ACTIVITIES FAIR ON SATURDAY, MARCH 20? FROM 9 A.M. TO 12 P.M., VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE ON SITE SO YOU CAN MEET CAMP REPRESENTATIVES, REVIEW SUMMER PROGRAM INFORMATION AND REGISTER RIGHT THERE THAT DAY! MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE SUMMER ACTIVITIES FAIR ON MARCH 20 FROM 9 A.M. TO 12 P.M. AT WESTWOOD, 3215 N.W. 15TH AVENUE RIGHT HERE IN GAINESVILLE. THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO PARENTS & CHILDREN OF ALL AGES! FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT LORI MCGRIFF AT 352-376-2444 OR EMAIL
LORI@EMMERGROUP.COM.
March 27- The Emergency Vehicles Past and Present Car Show starting at 9am at the Marion County
Sheriff's Office Operations Center, 692 NW 30th AVenue, Ocala. Benefits the Marion County Sheriff's
Office Foundation, Inc., a non-profit charity. Free and open to the public! Clowns, K-9, MCSO
Helicopter and more!
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's O'Leno State Park will host the celebration of
springs and a chili cook-off on Saturday, March 27, 2010, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. (Chili Cook-off
Participants arrive at 9 a.m.). The O'Leno State Park is located on US Hwy. 441 (six miles north of
High Springs). The registration fee for the cook-off is $20.00, with all proceeds benefitting to
the Friends of O'Leno, a nonprofit agency for park improvement projects. For more information or for
Chili and other refreshments will be available for purchase while enjoying the live music,
interactive water education activities and children's crafts at the Springs Celebration. To learn
event is free with regular park admission.
If you would like to add your event to our Community Calendar, email information to windfm@windfm.com or mail it to 3602 NE 20th Place, Ocala, FL 34470.Please send information at least two weeks prior to your event.
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