In today's Digest:
🍎 Nov. 3 vote will decide the one-mill school tax
🩺 Humana drops HCA primary care from its Medicare network Jan. 1
🌱 Commissioners reject north Ocala compost settlement
💸 City payment scam leaves taxpayers a $27,799.81 bill
🪵 Ocali Country Days returns Nov. 7 and 8
Ivy on the Square Has New Owners and a New Menu
At 53 S Magnolia Avenue, Ivy on the Square is serving lunch and dinner under new ownership. The downtown Ocala restaurant has a new menu and is marking the change with a grand reopening on October 28. Its Baked Krispy Chicken remains on the menu, along with fried green tomatoes and barbeque shrimp and grits.
The online menu also lists a Fried Green Tomato BLT and coconut cake. Ivy takes pickup orders through its website and now opens Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Read more here.
🍎 Marion voters to decide school tax renewal Nov. 3
The Gist: Marion County voters will decide whether to renew the one-mill school property tax through June 2031. The district budgeted $44.8 million from the levy this school year for 500 positions, including kindergarten paraprofessionals, media specialists and school resource officers.
Why It Matters: The tax pays for staff and programs already in Marion schools. At the current rate, a home with $150,000 in taxable value pays $150 a year.
What's Next: The vote is November 3.
Read more here.
🩺 Humana to drop HCA primary care doctors from Medicare network
The Gist: Humana Medicare Advantage members will lose in-network access to HCA primary care providers January 1, though HCA hospitals and specialists will remain in network. UnitedHealthcare and AdventHealth are also negotiating a contract that expires December 31.
Why It Matters: Patients who want to keep their Ocala doctors may need to compare plans and provider lists before choosing 2027 coverage.
What's Next: Medicare open enrollment ends December 7.
Read more here.
🌱 County rejects north Ocala compost settlement
The Gist: Marion County commissioners voted October 20 against a settlement that would have allowed a food de-packaging and composting operation at Gaston Tree Debris Recycling's sites on NW Gainesville Road.
Why It Matters: Commissioners said the operation would affect nearby schools, churches, businesses and homes north of Ocala.
Read more here.
💸 Ocala records detail $492,056 payment scam
The Gist: A doctored bank-transfer form diverted a $492,056 city payment intended for Traffic Control Devices. Records reviewed by the Ocala Gazette show the form even misspelled Ocala, while staff failed to verify the banking change by phone.
Why It Matters: Bank recovery and insurance covered most of the loss, but taxpayers remain on the hook for $27,799.81.
Read more here.
🪵 Ocali Country Days brings pioneer history to Silver Springs
The Gist: Ocali Country Days returns to the Silver River Museum and Pioneer Village on November 7 and 8. Visitors can watch cane pressing and other old-time skills, while reenactors portray naturalist William Bartram and his guide Job Wiggens.
Why It Matters: The Marion County Public Schools museum uses the festival to show families how people lived here in the 1800s.
What's Next: The festival runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Admission is $10; children 5 and under get in free.
Read more here.
🎃 Boo Bash | E.D. Croskey Recreation Center | Ocala | Fri, Oct. 30, 5:30-7:30 p.m. | More
Free candy, crafts, games and music for costumed kids.
🚤 Lost Souls River Tour | Silver Springs State Park | Silver Springs | Fri-Sat, Oct. 30-31, tours from 11 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | More
Hear spooky Silver River stories from a glass-bottom boat; reserve ahead.
🍬 Boo-Tero Halloween Bash | Botero Carts | Ocala | Sat, Oct. 31, noon-3 p.m. | More
Golf cart trunk-or-treating, a bounce house, food trucks and a costume contest.
🐎 PoloWeen | Florida Horse Park | Ocala | Sat, Oct. 31, parade at 4:45 p.m.; polo at 5 p.m. | More
Watch costumed polo and a horse costume parade, then trick-or-treat along the sideline.
🌿 Silver Springs Ranger Program | Silver Springs State Park | Silver Springs | Sun, Nov. 1, 2-3 p.m. | More
Explore the park's nature or history with a ranger; meeting spot varies.
🎭 The Rocky Horror Picture Show Shadowcast | Marion Theatre | Ocala | Fri-Sat, Oct. 30-31, 7 and 10 p.m. | More
Actors perform alongside the film; tickets include props. Ages 18 and up.
✨ Spellbound Silver Springs | Silver Springs State Park | Silver Springs | Fri, Oct. 30, 6:30-10:30 p.m. | More
Dance at the headsprings in costume. Ages 21 and up; $10 admission.
🎸 Meet Loaf: The Ultimate Tribute | Orange Blossom Opry | Weirsdale | Sat, Oct. 31, 7 p.m. | More
Hear 'Bat Out of Hell' and Meat Loaf hits; tickets start at $42.
🎨 Horse Fever at 25: Art, Horses, and Community | Circle Square Cultural Center | Ocala | Mon, Nov. 2, 1:30-2:30 p.m. | More
Laurie Zink traces Ocala's painted horses and shows the Tribute 25 statue.
🖼️ Beach Buns & Beauty Queens | Arts at the Canopy | Ocala | Thu, Nov. 5, 5-8 p.m. | More
Jude Gonzalez's mixed-media exhibit opens with complimentary wine and bites.
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