In today's Digest:
🚌 Marion schools approved 22 buses for nearly $4 million
🏡 County vote advances homes on SW 80th Street horse farm
💵 Ocala approved a $190,000 contract with the Metro CEP
🏈 Forest beat Oakleaf 21-7 ahead of its district finale
🎨 The Fine Arts Festival will bring 145 artists downtown
🥃 Southern Food and Whiskey at The Blind Eye on NE 1st Avenue
Step into the Prohibition-inspired era at The Blind Eye, where Southern-inspired dishes and whiskey take center stage inside The Forge, Ocala’s new collection of restaurants and bars. Located at 343 NE 1st Avenue, the dining room features a vintage look and atmosphere, with a long bar stretching across the back and seating spread across two levels.
The Forge celebrated its grand opening on October 10, with The Blind Eye adding a late-night destination to the mix. The venue lists Friday and Saturday hours until 2 a.m.
Read more here.
🚌 Marion schools approve 22 new buses
The Gist: The Marion County School Board voted unanimously October 13 to buy 22 buses for nearly $4 million; with the money coming from the district's capital projects fund.
Why It Matters: The vote commits nearly $4 million of Marion schools' capital budget to student transportation.
What's Next: Officials say the buses could take up to a year to arrive.
Read more here.
🏡 County clears SW 80th Street farm for homes
The Gist: Marion County commissioners voted 4-0 on October 6 to certify the county's first agricultural enclave under a new state law. The decision clears the way for single-family homes on a nearly 20-acre horse farm off Southwest 80th Street that commissioners declined to rezone last December.
Why It Matters: For neighbors along Southwest 80th Street, the new law changes the path for development on land the county previously declined to rezone.
Read more here.
💵 Ocala approves $190,000 Metro CEP contract
The Gist: Ocala City Council approved a $190,000 contract with the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership on October 6. The 5-0 vote came without council discussion.
Why It Matters: Ocala's 2026-2027 budget pays the CEP for business creation, retention and attraction services through September 30, 2027.
Read more here.
🏈 Forest beats Oakleaf 21-7 in district game
The Gist: Forest High School beat Oakleaf 21-7 at Mikey Kelly Stadium on October 12. Senior Keziyrehun Rivers ran for two touchdowns, and the Wildcats improved to 7-1 overall and 2-1 in Class 5A-District 3.
Why It Matters: Forest High School has one district game left as it tries to earn a state playoff spot.
What's Next: The Wildcats play West Port on October 16 at West Port's new field.
Read more here.
🎨 Ocala Fine Arts Festival brings 145 artists downtown
The Gist: The 59th Ocala Fine Arts Festival will bring 145 artists to downtown Ocala on October 24 and 25. The show includes paintings, photography, sculpture, ceramics and other work.
Why It Matters: Artists will compete for $27,000 in prizes, and Ocala artist Justin Alsedek plans to debut six new paintings as this year's featured artist.
What's Next: The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
Read more here.
🐴 IBERICON Horse Spectacular | World Equestrian Center, Arena 5 | Ocala | Fri, Oct. 16, 7 p.m.; also Sat, Oct. 17 | More
Horses, riders, costumes and music tell stories from America's equine history.
🎃 Fort King Haunted Trail | Fort King National Historic Landmark | Ocala | Sat, Oct. 17, 5-10 p.m. | More
Free trick-or-treating ends at 8 p.m.; the trail gets scarier after that.
🐾 Ocala Pet Palooza | World Equestrian Center, Expo Center 2 | Ocala | Sat-Sun, Oct. 17-18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | More
Watch dock diving and costume contests; kids 12 and under enter free.
🎨 McIntosh 1890s Festival | Historic McIntosh | McIntosh | Sat, Oct. 17, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. | More
Browse art and handmade goods beneath McIntosh's oaks, with music and food nearby.
🩰 The Secret River: A Storybook Ballet | Reilly Arts Center | Ocala | Sun, Oct. 18, 2 and 6:30 p.m. | More
Local dancers bring Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' Florida story to the stage.
🎭 The Rocky Horror Picture Show Shadowcast | Marion Theatre | Ocala | Fri-Sat, Oct. 16-17, 7 and 10 p.m. | More
Lo-Fi performs alongside the film; prop bags included, ages 18 and up.
🎵 Blues in the Box: Jason Ricci and the Bad Kind | Midgett Black Box at Reilly Arts Center | Ocala | Fri, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m. | More
The band mixes blues, jazz and funk around Ricci's harmonica.
🎸 Jaded: An Aerosmith Tribute | Reilly Arts Center | Ocala | Sat, Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m. | More
They play Walk This Way, Back in the Saddle and other Aerosmith hits.
🎬 Psycho: Scene & Score | Marion Theatre | Ocala | Sun, Oct. 18, 3 p.m. | More
A film historian and symphony director discuss Hitchcock's visuals and Bernard Herrmann's score.
☕ Coffee with the Conductor | Marion Theatre | Ocala | Wed, Oct. 21, 10 a.m. | More
Matthew Wardell previews Pictures at an Exhibition; coffee and admission are free.
If you want to read any of our previous issues, check them out HERE on our website.
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