A Juneteenth celebration sponsored by 360 Walking and Concerned Citizens of Chatmire will take place at 6 p.m. June 25 at the First Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. The church is located at 11849 N. Williams St. in Dunnellon.
The Rev. Allen Brooks, pastor, will lead the ceremony, which is an opportunity to celebrate a new federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African- Americans and key roles they contributed in our country’s history.
For more information or to participate, contact Julia or Cathy at 352-489-2677.
The next Whistle Stop Café event in Dunnellon is set for Friday, June 24.
Taking to the stage in June is the Florida-based band, Remedy Tree. The four-piece band, and sometime five-member band, has played together since 2015.
Gabriel Acevedo is the leader of the band. He is also the 2018 Florida State Fiddle Champion and a singer/songwriter. He promises an evening of music blending bluegrass, folk and old-time music with new influences to bring an American experience to listeners.
Music starts at 7 p.m. and continues until 9. There is a $5 cover to help defray the cost of the band.
Volunteers with the Dunnellon Historical Society open the doors at 5 p.m. for their Whistle Stop Café. Fried Green tomatoes, Cubans, hobo stew, veggie wraps, gourmet grilled cheese and desserts are on the menu. Food is served from 5 to 8 p.m.
The Whistle Stop Café is inside the Dunnellon train depot, located at 12061 S. Williams St.
Calling all kids, Pre-K thru middle school, to ride the Rocky Railway! Join us for Vacation Bible School at The First United Methodist Church of Dunnellon, June 20 – 24.
Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. and Bible School is 9-12:30. Learn how Jesus’ power pulls us through with games, drama, music, crafts, and snacks! Friday is water slide day, with food and fun!
Although the school year in Marion County recently ended, it’s not too soon to think about the necessary non-COVID-19 vaccinations your child will need before classes resume in August.
Accordingly, the Florida Department of Health in Marion County is offering free vaccinations for school-age children.
The drive-thru event is scheduled for 5-8 p.m. on June 17 at the department’s main office, 1801 SE 32nd Ave., Ocala. No appointment is necessary.
The department will offer the Tdap vaccine that is required for entrance into seventh grade, in either public or private schools. That includes booster shots for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, also known as whooping cough.
Parents or guardians with questions about what vaccines their children have received may contact our immunizations staff or obtain a copy of their shot records by visiting our main office.
For more information about the vaccination event or vaccination records, contact the department at 352-629-0137 or at Info.Marion @FLHealth.gov.
To help meet the ongoing need for school bus drivers, Marion County Public Schools (MCPS) is again repeating recruiting efforts by taking buses directly to the areas where drivers are. Bus Blitz 3 is set for Thursday, June 23, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. During this time, MCPS will drive and park school buses at six strategic locations to sign up residents to become bus drivers.
Locations include the Ewers Center parking lot at the College of Central Florida in Ocala; Marion Oaks Community Center in Marion Oaks; MCPS Employment Services parking lot along Southeast Fifth Street in Ocala; parking lot at the former Kmart on East State Road 40/SE 36 Ave. in Ocala; Pasta Faire Restaurant in Belleview; and Vanguard High School in Ocala.
Anyone interested in becoming a bus driver can complete an online application on the spot, ask questions and receive answers, and learn more about working for the district.
Starting pay for an MCPS school bus driver is $16.65 per hour with six hours guaranteed each day. Anyone 21 and older with a clean driving record is eligible. The district pays candidates while they train and covers training costs with the exception of the Commercial Driver License (CDL) exam. Drivers also receive paid health insurance, gain accrued time off, and are eligible for additional benefits. They can sign up for temporary positions with fewer work hours or full-time positions with opportunity for overtime.
For more information, contact the Transportation Department of Marion County Public Schools at 352.671.7050 or visit www.marionschools.net/careers.
Tiger Cubs Cheer Camp will be hosted from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, July 27 and July 28, at Dunnellon High School
The camp cost is $30 and is for ages 5-13. Contact Cheryl Hytovick at 352-804-1320 for more information.
The First Methodist Church of Dunnellon is starting a free program called “Forget-Me-Not.”
We offer three hours of respite care for caregivers of early dementia and Alzheimer’s patients.
We also offer a chance for seniors to get out of the house and socialize with other seniors. This program is free.
We meet in the friendship hall at Dunnellon Methodist Church on Tuesday afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m.
For more information, call Grace Burks at 352-361-1024.
Citrus County Utilities’ Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program is offering a free gardening workshop, “Managing Garden Pests Wisely,” on Tuesday, July 12, from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Correctly identifying the cause of plant damage is always the first step to controlling an infestation. Inspection, scouting, identification, selecting the least harmful control, and accurate application are important pest management practices.
The Program is offering the free workshop, “Right Plant, Right Place,” on Tuesday, July 26, from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Once established, the right plant is often sustainable without additional supplemental watering. Choosing appropriate plant materials, planting them correctly, and managing them wisely ensures a garden’s success.
On Thursday, July 28, from 6-7:30 p.m., the program will offer the free workshop, “Palms in Central Florida.” Palms are a prominent (and often costly) element in Florida landscapes. Selecting cold tolerant palms, providing the appropriate nutrients, recognizing deficiencies or symptoms of decline, and providing an appropriate control is essential when caring for your palm.
Classes are currently held online. Please register at https://ccufflprogram.eventbrite.com to participate in the workshops. For more information, contact Program Coordinator Steven Davis at 352-527-5708.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Citizens Academy and Partnership (CAP) program, a free seven-week educational course about the operations of the sheriff’s office, is currently accepting applications for classes beginning in September 2022.
Classes will be held at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Multi-Purpose Room, 3300 NW 10th St. Ocala, every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 to 11:30 a.m. beginning Tuesday, Sept. 20.
During the program, MCSO staff will highlight all units within the sheriff’s office, giving citizens an in-depth understanding of what the agency is doing for the community. Each week will focus on a different aspect of the agency, personnel, equipment, policies, procedures and overall function. Students will have an opportunity to view specialty unit equipment, hear from experts in the fields of law enforcement, investigations, detention and administration.
To apply for this program, please visit the Marion County Sheriff’s Office website at www.marionso.com/citizens-academy to fill out the application and release forms.
For questions or more information, please contact Wendy Holland, MCSO Volunteer Coordinator, at wholland@marionso.com or you can call her at 352-369-6761.
The Dunnellon Country Quilters meet at 12:30 p.m. every Monday at the First United Methodist Church on West State Road 40 in Dunnellon.
The group makes patriotic quilts for veterans, pillowcases for Shands Children’s Cancer Center, prayer quilts for the First United Methodist Church and quilts for the Citrus County Resource Center.
We also have classes for different projects and go on road trips and quilt shows.
Every third Monday of the month, we hold our business meeting and share what we have made.
We welcome visitors and would love to have you as members in our organization.
If you have questions, please email Dianne Takahashi at dmtget@gmail.com.
The Dunnellon Community Thrift Shop, an all-volunteer enterprise, has been operating on a four-day-a-week schedule since reopening after the initial Covid pandemic shutdown. The reduced schedule has been due to volunteers who moved away during the pandemic or had surgeries or illnesses.
We would very much like to get back to our usual six-day-a-week schedule, but lack enough volunteers to do so. We have been in business for 48 years, and as a non-profit 501c(3) organization, our goal remains focused on giving our profits back to the community. Recent donations include Food4Kids, Dunnellon Little League, local food pantries and the Boys and Girls Club, and we’ll be sponsoring a week at the Sheriffs Youth Ranch camp for eight children this summer.
We are looking for a few community-minded volunteers who would like to make a difference in our community. Do you have a little time to spare? Join us for a 4-hour shift once a week, working with congenial volunteers.
Visit our shop at 20259 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., meet some of our volunteers and pick up an application at the cashier’s counter. Help us help Dunnellon.
WIND-FM is hosting a series of tribute concerts at Reilly Arts Center, located at 500 NE 9th St, Ocala. All showtimes are 7:30 to 11:45 p.m. Visit www.reillyartscenter.com for more.
Carnival of Crue: Tribute to Motley Crue – July 16
The Wildflowers: Tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Aug. 20
REO Survivor: Tribute to REO Speedwagon and Survivor, Sept. 24
Best of the British: Def Leppard and AC/DC tribute, Oct. 1
The City of Dunnellon still has money from the Façade Rehabilitation Reimbursement Fund available for buildings located in the Historical District of Dunnellon.
This is free money – up to $5,000 for restoration, landscaping, or even structure demolition.
The deadline for applying is July 29.
Applications are available at City Hall, or contact me, Dusty Walters, for more information at dwalters@dunnellon.org.
The TOPS chapter of Dunnellon meets on Thursday afternoons at the Women’s Club of Dunnellon at 11756 Cedar St.
We have a “weigh-in” time between 3 and 3:30 p.m. Our meeting begins at 3:30, and we close our meetings promptly at 4:30.
Our goal is to help find sensible ways for each individual to achieve weight loss. On occasion we host professional speakers, we share weight loss success stories and we all listen to each other’s opinions and suggestions on healthy eating!
You are welcome to visit our meeting, free, for two weeks and then decide if you would want to become a member.
For more information, call our chapter leader Chris Weider at 352-465-7861 or 954-242-3048, or call MaryJo Smith at 585-329-2026
On the fourth Saturday of each month, food and basic home needs will be available at North Oak Church in Citrus Springs at 10 a.m., until supplies run out.
Enter the church property from N. Citrus Springs Blvd. and a supply of paper products, detergents, personal items and more will be brought to your car. Drive around, following the driveway, and food items will also be brought to the vehicle. Then, exit on to N. Elkcam Blvd.
Items vary based on availability. Anyone who has a need is welcome and there is no charge.
North Oak Church is located at the intersection of N. Citrus Springs Blvd. and N. Elkcam Blvd. in Citrus Springs. More information on the website: northoakbc.org.
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