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Good morning, Ocala! In today’s edition: Best places to retire, an anime and cosplay festival, Raising Cane’s hiring, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Local zoning shift on agenda: Marion County commissioners will consider changing Silver Springs Shores parcel from high to medium residential, cutting homes from 35 to 17 and favoring single-family, as owners and applicants support change — see what’s being proposed.
Top spots for later life: A recent WorldAtlas.com report named Daytona Beach and Palm Coast among Florida’s best places to retire, citing motorsport culture, beaches and outdoor fun. Ocala, Tampa and more also featured — see which cities made it.
Step-down request and timeline: Marion County’s Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved rezoning for the proposed 110-acre Fawn Lake Estates. Commissioners will take it up Jan. 20, and the traffic study is still pending — get project details and timeline.
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
Chicken fans take note: Raising Cane’s is hiring for its first Ocala location at 2410 SW College Road in the Ocada West shopping plaza. An opening date has not been announced. The chain is expanding in Florida, with plans for at least 26 locations across the state. Get all the details.
Serious burrito upgrade: Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant & Market builds burritos the way weeknights deserve, with quality ingredients, traditional cooking, and zero fuss. When you want warm, saucy, and satisfying that still feels like a real meal, this is the move.
Hands-on science fix: Got cabin-fever kids? Discovery Center keeps them curious with rotating exhibits, STEAM classes, a StarLab planetarium, and a few friendly reptiles… learning feels like play. A quick, low-stress outing that sparks wonder without a road trip.
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 weekend
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🏷 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.
🎨 First Friday Art Walk @ Ocala Downtown Square | Friday (1/9) at 6:00 PM – Whether you collect gallery openings like punch cards or just want an easy stroll, the First Friday Art Walk delivers. October through May, it’s a free, low-stress wander with local art, small businesses, and bumping into three people you know before block two.
🃏 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.
🐾 Meeting New Furrends @ Humane Society of Marion County | Saturday (1/10) at 2:30 PM – Meeting New Furrends is letting grades 4 to 9 test their cat whisperer skills in a quiet, private room, treats, toys, and catnip included. Think speed dating with whiskers, fewer awkward goodbyes, and 30 glorious minutes of purr therapy. Reserve a spot.
🎸 Crafts & Chords @ Hiatus Brewing Company | Saturday (1/10) at 6:00 PM – Take a break from the usual and slide into Hiatus this Saturday, where the taproom slips into full-on music mode with Nick Soliday and local performers. Sip a proper pint, catch some chords, and remember you like live music, and chairs.
🎶 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.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Ocala report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 80°F – Low: 59°F – Precip: 1%
Widespread fog before 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. East wind 0 to 6 mph. Later: Areas of fog after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. East wind 1 to 5 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 82°F – Low: 60°F – Precip: 2%
Areas of fog before 9am. Sunny, with a high near 82. Southeast wind 2 to 6 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Southeast wind around 2 mph.
This house is wild
Minutes from the World Equestrian Center, this gated 3 acre estate sits beneath live oaks within perimeter fencing. An entry and drive lead to a custom main home and an entertainment barn. Timeless architecture and quiet surroundings set the tone. Attached to the barn, a guest residence suits high end rental, Airbnb income, or multigenerational living.
The insulated barn showcases polished finishes and modern design, ideal for events, gatherings, or creative pursuits. Flexibility grows with optional additional acreage, including acreage with a 1,719 square foot home. Country calm pairs with quick access to Ocala’s equestrian scene, balancing privacy, practicality, prestige, and income potential.
Take a peek inside →
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