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Good morning, Ocala! In today’s edition: Breaking barriers on the water, an anime and cosplay festival, a true crime murder mystery dinner, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Breaking barriers on the water: Ocala’s Larry Johnson has been recognized for helping reopen opportunities at Silver Springs for a new generation of Black glass-bottom boat captains, honoring the legacy of longtime captain Oscar Collins — read the full story.
Coffee fans take note: Dutch Bros Coffee soft opened in Ocala, and the Six Gun Plaza shop officially opened Jan. 1. The Oregon-based chain listed hours as 5 a.m. to 10 p.m — get hours and location details.
Furry friends need families: Marion County, Florida highlights adoptable animals, including Tessa, Spaghetti, and Haze, available through a name-and-denied initiative to help them find loving homes, with the public encouraged to adopt — meet the adoptable pets.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Protecting animals through awareness: Florida Department of Law Enforcement has launched a statewide Molly’s Law database listing people charged with animal cruelty, expanding Marion County’s 2017 registry. It went live January 1. SPCA Ocala president Lilly Baron, who led the push after rescuing Molly, is ecstatic, saying it can help stop repeat abuse. Read the full story.
Refresh your rooms: Whether your sofa needs a sidekick or your shelves crave a spark of joy without clutter, Agapanthus blends charming accents, tableware, and home fragrance with a thoughtful local touch… small upgrades that make your place feel more you.
Find your next cider: If your fridge is running low on crisp, dry, or just-right juicy ciders, Sandy’s Shack quietly stocks a deep lineup, plus mead and craft beer. Run by Sandy and Alex, locals who geek out on bottles so you don’t have to, it’s an easy place to discover something new.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
This week
🍿 Movie Night: The Little Shop of Horrors @ Marion Theatre | Tuesday (1/6) at 6:00 PM – Downtown is serving up Little Shop of Horrors at the Marion Theatre, with Ocala Civic Theatre spilling the secrets on taking it from screen to stage. Settle into those vintage seats, sip something fizzy, and try not to cheer for the carnivorous plant.
🏥 Healthy 55: Lunch & Learn: Aging & the Medical System @ One Health Center | Thursday (1/8) at 11:30 AM – Bring your appetite and your questions for a lunch-and-learn for the 55-plus crowd that demystifies aging in the medical maze. From Medicare alphabet soup to referrals and realistic expectations, you’ll get straight talk, practical tips, and maybe a few laughs, without the waiting room purgatory.
🏷 Winter Catalog Sale @ Southeastern Livestock Pavilion | Friday (1/9) at 12:00 PM – Whether you can spot a good prospect by the trot, or you just like vendors, food trucks, and that horse-country hum, this two-day winter sale delivers. Friday brings competitions and previews, Saturday the gavel drops at 10am, with online bidding if the couch wins.
This weekend
🚶 Walk Across Marion County #1 @ Marshall Swamp Trailhead | Saturday (1/10) at 9:00 AM – Kickstarting Marion County’s walk series, we’re hoofing it from Marshall Swamp to Baseline, trading traffic for cypress knees, birds, and big sky. Friendly pace, good chatter, actual nature time. Bring water, decent shoes, and your best gossip.
🃏 Ocala Classic Sports & Pokémon Card Show @ Hilton Ocala | Saturday (1/10) at 10:00 AM – Swap the stables for cardboard glory and hit the Ocala Classic Sports & Pokémon Card Show, a big-city haul in our horse town. 50-plus tables, graded grails, Florida-only finds, and giveaways, all in a family-friendly scene to buy, sell, and trade, bragging optional.
🐉 How to Draw Your Super Dragon @ Heart of the Park | Saturday (1/10) at 10:00 AM – Whether your kid is deep in the dragon phase or you secretly doodle during meetings, this free, two-hour Heart of the Park workshop has artists guiding you to design a dragon with color, powers, and personality. Ages 7 and up, materials included, adults stick around.
🎶 35th Annual Young Artist Competition: Honors Recital @ Reilly Arts Center | Sunday (1/11) at 3:00 PM – Proof that practice beats TikTok: finalists from the 35th Young Artist Competition perform concertos with a pianist, and winners are chosen on the spot. The champs go on to solo with the Ocala Symphony, and subscribers score complimentary tickets, so use that perk.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Ocala report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 78°F – Low: 57°F – Precip: 0%
Areas of fog before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Southwest wind 0 to 6 mph. Later: Areas of fog after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.
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Tomorrow – High: 78°F – Low: 57°F – Precip: 1%
Areas of fog before 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Later: Patchy fog after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.
This house is wild
Modern sophistication in the historic Fort King District on a .48 acre fenced lot with an inground pool and fountain. Updates include a 2023 metal roof, a renovated kitchen with 2022 quartz counters and a 2025 dishwasher, and 2022 remodeled baths. Exposed beams crown a spacious living room with a wood burning fireplace. A second living area flexes as an office, and the upstairs primary adds a fireplace, pool and distant golf course views, plus a private sitting room.
French doors lead to an oversized patio, custom fire pit, and the fenced backyard. A two car garage awaits. Minutes to downtown Ocala, near golf and restaurants.
Take a peek inside →
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