Monday, April 20, 2026

Heads up for pet parents: An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.*

Chain expansion sparks interest: Waffle House has filed permit applications for a restaurant in Dunnellon near Rainbow Springs, potentially bringing breakfast and 24-hour service to Marion County, though a timeline has not been announced -- see what's planned for Dunnellon.

Cooking skills pave futures: The Florida Department of Corrections is hosting a culinary competition in Ocala, where Lowell Correctional Institution inmates showcase skills learned in kitchen safety and teamwork, preparing for jobs after release -- read the full story.

Celebrating travel through design: Ocala artists can enter the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau Postcard Design Contest. Submissions close April 24, and finalists will be chosen by voting, with the winning design announced May 3-9 -- get all the details.

The bill everyone over 50 should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*

Retirees are making moves: After gold's best year in nearly five decades, more folks than ever are moving part of their savings into precious metals. Not all of it... just enough to hedge against inflation. AHG put together a free guide that explains how it works -- grab your copy here.*

Smoke, songs, and sides: Four Smokes BBQ is a Georgia-born, family-run spot serving slow-smoked, scratch-made comfort that tastes like someone watched the pit all day. Go for ribs and mac, then stick around for karaoke and live tunes if you’re feeling social.

Find something with a story: If your house feels a little too new, drift through Ocala Antique Mall and Estates this week and let the aisles do their thing. Expect quirky treasures, nostalgia hits, and that one piece you didn’t know you needed until you spot it across the room.

Treat-yourself dinner plans: Ready to upgrade a random weeknight, Three Six Bistro delivers chef Sean Langan’s modernist, scratch-made plates that nail the art, aroma, and taste trifecta, with global touches and intimate vibes. Think special-occasion energy without the fuss, and the kind of meal you’ll still be thinking about tomorrow.

Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old).*See what it covers →

Two sprays before bed, no more snoring? It really is that simple. No mouthpiece to wrestle with, no CPAP mask, no nose strips that peel off at 2am. This doctor-developed throat spray has been keeping sleepers quiet for 30 years, and first-time orders are 40% off right now. *See how it works →

21 million people have lost weight with this: Simple isn't a GLP-1, fad diet, or point-based system... it's a personalized app that helps you build healthy habits, checks in with you through the day, and adjusts your custom weight loss plan as things change. Over 18 million pounds lost so far, and nobody had to give up their favorite foods or or inject themselves to get there. *Take this free quiz to get started →

Hang onto your memories: I found a box of my parents' old home videos last month and realized I had no way to watch them. In case you didn’t know, you can easily convert all your memories to digital – tapes, photos, negatives. All of it. You'll just ship everything in a prepaid kit, they’ll digitize it, and you'll get your originals back plus online anytime access. *See how it works →

For women who've been feeling off for years: The fatigue, the weight creeping up, the mood swings, the sleep that won't hold. Turns out most of those "it's just aging" problems are actually caused by hormones, and proper HRT can get you back to feeling like yourself. The catch? You can't get it without a full hormone panel and a doctor who understands what those numbers mean. Most women never get either, but Hone Health gives you both. *See how it works →

🪔 Make Your Own Turkish Mosaic Lamp @ AR Workshop Ocala | Thursday (4/23) at 1:00 PM – Skip the big-box décor aisle and make your own Turkish mosaic lamp at AR Workshop Ocala, guided by people who can teach a centuries-old technique. Hands-on, colorful, and relaxing, it is BYO snacks and drinks, starts at $79, and you leave with a glowing souvenir.

🌸 Big Bloom Home & Garden Show @ World Equestrian Center - Ocala | Friday (4/24) at 12:00 PM – Think you know your azaleas from your zinnias? The Ocala Big Bloom Home & Garden Show gathers Central Florida’s best flowers, plants, and hard-to-find tools, plus pros who know soil from sand. Come swap tips, plot yard upgrades, and finally humble that stubborn patch.

♻ Hazardous and Electronic Waste Collection @ NE 8th Avenue & NE 14th Street | Saturday (4/25) at 8:00 AM – Unload your questionable garage chemistry, dead bulbs, and that flip phone you swear still works. Household hazardous and electronic waste gets a proper send-off at the southwest corner of NE Eighth Ave and NE 14th St, no business loads, and our aquifer thanks you.

🛠 Marion Maker Fest @ Midtown Station | Saturday (4/25) at 10:00 AM – Marion Maker Fest is taking over Midtown Station with Ocala’s tinkerers, inventors, and curious contraptions you actually get to try. Finally, a place where some assembly required is a selling point. Bring the kids, grandkids, or just your patient curiosity.

🍇 Blueberry Fest @ McPherson Governmental Campus | Saturday (4/25) at 10:00 AM – Ocala Blueberry Fest takes over the McPherson campus with peak-season berries, live music, and the glorious promise of tired kids later. Snack on shortcake, sip beer and wine, and marvel as axe throwing, pony rides, and a free cirque show somehow coexist, because Ocala.

💃 The Pearl Project Sock Hop @ Fort King Presbyterian Church | Saturday (4/25) at 5:00 PM – Feeling nostalgic for soda shops and simpler playlists? Ocala’s Pearl Project sock hop brings jukebox-worthy dancing, pizza, ice cream floats, a 1950s costume contest, and carnival games for all ages. Not a drop-off, so dust off your saddle shoes, wrangle the kids, and twist.

🌺 Ohana Luau + Auction @ Circle Square Cultural Center | Saturday (4/25) at 5:30 PM – Feeling like your loudest shirt deserves a night out? Circle Square Cultural Center is hosting silent and live auctions, plus an authentic Polynesian luau dinner show, so you can bid like a pro, eat well, and pretend the parking lot is a beach.

This 4-bed, 4-bath SE Ocala estate spans 1.7 agriculturally zoned acres outside city limits, with no HOA and a private gate. A circular drive and detached garage frame a grand great room with a wood-burning fireplace, a triple split plan, and a luxe primary suite. Bonus room to sunroom, sought-after schools, new roof 2023 and new HVAC 2025.