Good morning, Ocala.

Parents in Ocala are joining efforts to make Halloween safer by planning and setting clear routes for trick-or-treating and other festivities.

The initiative aims to protect kids while they enjoy costumes and treats—balancing fun and safety as the school year begins.

An 18-year-old Forest High School senior died after being struck at 1920 NW Blitchton Road in northwest Ocala and police received the report at 6:21 a.m.—the investigation is ongoing.

A building permit was issued on October 6th to renovate a former Save A Lot in east Ocala into Florida's largest beauty supply warehouse.

The project—led by Inception Engineering and Consulting—is being managed by Giorgio’s Beauty Supply owner George Mobassaleh and may open as early as next month, featuring over 250 beauty products.

Niagara Bottling will lay off 85 workers at its Ocala plant on Northwest 42nd Street as stated in a notice to the state — the layoffs are expected to take effect soon.

Ocala will hold its second Community Road Safety Planning meeting on November 5 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at IHMC (15 SE Osceola Avenue) to gather residents’ feedback on road safety, speed management, and traffic calming plans that will shape future travel improvements.

Dunnellon City Council unanimously approved a motion for the mayor to send a letter to the DEP opposing Track Line Rail LLC’s plan to run a creosote-treated rail tie shredding facility, which could harm public health and the local environment.

Residents at the busy meeting warned that the project might lead to soil and water contamination — echoing concerns from a similar operation in Newberry.

Dunnellon City Council held a special meeting Monday to oppose a permit for a creosote-treated railroad tie grinding facility near the Rainbow River — many residents feared it would lead to air, land, and water pollution.

Council members drafted a letter for the mayor to send to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

State inspectors said 16 Marion County restaurants got high-priority food safety citations during the week of Oct.

20–26 (violations included not washing hands properly, wrong food temperatures, and pests) and one restaurant was closed until its issues were fixed while several others must pass follow-up checks.

Marion County breast cancer survivor Margaret Surowka, who worked as an oncology nurse for over 40 years, urged women to get regular mammograms after a delayed screening in 2017 led to a serious cancer diagnosis that required chemotherapy and radiation—she warns that early detection can help prevent the cancer from spreading.

A property owner proposed a rezoning of a 446-acre site in Dunnellon to build at least 40 homes on plots over one acre and four farm lots over 20 acres with community amenities—such as sports fields, an equestrian area, and a boat ramp—presented at the county meeting on October 27 at the McPherson Governmental Complex. County staff recommended denial of the request, and the Board of County Commissioners will make the final decision later.

KennaDee Acoustic Live

11:30 AM – 2:30 PM — Midtown Station — Free entry — Experience the best of acoustic pop, rock, and soul with a mix of original songs and creative covers.

Loomis Bros. Circus

November 3-4 — Southeastern Livestock Pavilion SELP — Adults $30, Children $8 — Experience a traditional circus filled with athleticism, animals, and nostalgia for the whole family.

November USEA Horse Trials

November 8-9 — Majestic Oaks Ocala — Entry fees apply — Witness thrilling equestrian competition across three phases at this prestigious horse trials event.

2025 Ocali Country Days Festival

9 a.m. – 4 p.m. — Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center — $10 per person, children 5 and under FREE — Experience Florida’s history with live music, crafts, and delicious food.

2025 Ocala November Show Series II: National Hunter/Level 6 Jumper

12:00 AM - 11:59 PM — World Equestrian Center - Ocala — Free entry — Enjoy two weeks of exciting National Hunter and Level 6 Jumper competitions.

HSITP 2025 Championship Show

1 PM - 10 PM — Covered Arena at The Grand Oaks Resort — Entry fees apply — Compete for year-end awards in a thrilling equestrian championship event.

Paso Fino Fall Festival

8 AM – 11 PM — Florida Horse Park — Admission details not provided — Experience an exciting day of Paso Fino horse shows with food, music, and family fun.

Brown's Christmas Market 2025

10 AM – 4 PM — Brown & Brown Farms and Country Store — Free park and shop — Enjoy a festive market filled with unique gifts, crafts, and fun activities for kids.