Columbus
Ocala Style Magazine
A Beloved Tradition: Symphony Under the Stars
Once again, the annual Symphony Under the Stars event drew hundreds of guests to what is one of Ocala’s best-loved traditions. The annual event, hosted by Fine Arts for Ocala, or FAFO, features the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and attendees are encouraged to come early, bring chairs and blankets, kids and games, food and libations, and stay late for the fireworks extravaganza. Proceeds support FAFO’s annual Ocala Art Festival.
“Star Wars’ fundraiser for Ora Clubhouse
A tall furry creature, a man wielding a light saber, a couple of droids and many other interesting characters were out in force on May 4 for the May the 4th Be With You “Star Wars” costume contest. The event, which took place at St. Marks United Methodist...
NAACP Freedom Fund & Awards Banquet
The local branch of the NAACP bestowed numerous awards during the April 26th gala, held at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, including honoring former branch president Loretta Jenkins with the President’s Award. The guest speaker was Jerron Hawkins, described as a “White House alumni, Barack Obama mentee.”
IES high tea fundraiser nets more than $48,000
The annual Interfaith Emergency Services fundraiser on May 4 at the UF/IFAS extension auditorium, featured tables arrayed with stunning displays. Jennifer Arvanitis won the Golden Teapot award for raising more than $6,000, the highest amount of any of the hostesses. “Honorable Mention goes to the ladies of Our Savior Lutheran...
OCT’s ‘Escape to Margaritaville’ block party
Fans of the late Jimmy Buffett, took to the streets of downtown Ocala in a swarm on April 28th in the fun event hosted by the Ocala Civic Theatre in conjunction with the stage production of “Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville.” There was dancing in the streets and lots of crowd interaction.
VIP reception and movie screening
The film “Ocklawaha: Tales My Father Told,” billed as a “symphonic poem” by composer John Gottsch, with Ocala’s Mark Emery as director of photography, was screened at the Marion Theatre following a VIP reception on April 22nd at the Brick City Center for the Arts. The event was presented by the Florida Defenders of the Environment and Marion Cultural Alliance.
Florida Thoroughbred Gala
The annual Florida Thoroughbred Owners’ and Breeders’ Association event, held April 15th at the Circle Square Cultural Center, celebrated the equine industry in the Horse Capital of the World. The gala included entertainment and dinner as well as the presentation of numerous awards.
Ocala Cooks | Lisa Dorsey
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Mix the sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla together in a separate bowl, then mix those ingredients into the cream cheese and butter. Stir in the chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate for a few hours. Roll the hardened...
Ocala Cooks | Leslie Callahan
Piñón (Plantain and Meat Surprise) In a caldero or heavy kettle, brown the salt pork and reduce heat to low, add vegetable oil, ham, green peppers, chili peppers, onion and garlic and sauté for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add ground beef and stir over high heat until barely browned.
Ocala Cooks | Scott Mitchell
Preheat oven to 450°. In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients and mix well by hand. Grate the frozen butter into the bowl of dry ingredients with a cheese grater, which will yield small bits that mix easily. This process makes extra savory biscuits for your family or guests—including visiting old timey pioneers.
Ocala Cooks | Maggie Weakley
1 teaspoon grated ginger or 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger, more to taste. 2 teaspoon of Sriracha or your favorite hot sauce, more to taste. 14 ounces of noodles (such spaghetti or rice noodles; I like Thai Kitchen Stir-Fry Rice Noodles) 1/4 cup of dry roasted peanuts (or other nuts)...
Mammograms and More
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the U.S., second only to lung cancer. For men, the average lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about 1 in 726. One of every 40 women diagnosed with breast cancer dies, according to the American Cancer Society.
Transplanting for Summer
The balmy days of May sweep in this month, and it’s the last chance to get your garden and landscapes into shape for the soggy days of summer. The days are (often) cool enough in the mornings to do some hard work and we (sometimes) get afternoon showers as the winds and moisture from the Gulf and the Atlantic convene over the Florida peninsula.
From Stranger to Friend (in one conversation)
Turns out, the family’s dog walker was stealing the expensive whiskey. “Seriously?” I asked. “Yep,” answered the bass player called Hammer. “She was going through a bad breakup. I kept noticing the (whiskey) level going down.”. I laughed. Few people can make me laugh out loud;...
Individualizing Patient Care
Dr. Mark Lupo will lecture on thyroid nodules and cancer at IHMC in Ocala on May 30th. Dr. Mark Lupo was born and raised in Tampa. He admits that medicine was not his first choice in pursuing higher education and a career. While taking part in a small group seminar...
Vows | May 2024 | Bass
Venue: Private estate in the Ocala historic district. Their favorite memory: “We enjoyed reading our vows in front of everyone as it allowed them to feel the love we have shared over the last five years and will continue to share. The weekend was a big party with our closest friends and family and we all couldn’t get off the dance floor. It will be a time we will never forget and always want to relive.”
Vows | May 2024 | Griffith
Their favorite memories: “Seeing each other down the aisle and later jumping into the pool with our family and friends. It was so important to us that we celebrated our marriage with our closest family and friends, and that everyone had fun—and our hopes for this certainly came true. The night was full of love and laughter.”
Vows | May 2024 | Taylor
Her favorite memory: “Our private last dance. Everyone was outside lining up for our exit and Joel and I got to just be with one another, to soak in everything—the love we have for each other, the milestone we had achieved, the gratitude we had for the day. I am so grateful we had that time to pause and really be in the moment.”
Choosing to Change Children’s Lives
Laverne Freeman, 58, epitomizes the essence of fostering love for children. She has always loved children. Even in high school, she was the person carrying someone’s kids around on her hip. Freeman also spent countless hours helping her biological aunt, who over 30 years fostered more than 100 children....
Editor’s Picks | May 2024
A guide to our favorite monthly happenings and can’t-miss events. May 2-19 Expect changes in latitude and attitude as the Ocala Civic Theatre presentsJimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville live on stage. Showtimes vary. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for ages 18 and younger, and can be purchased online at ocalacivictheatre.com, or by calling the box office at (352) 236-2274.
Ocala Style Magazine
923+
Posts
2M+
Views
We strive to share an authentic representation of Ocala, the city we love and call home. From our thriving downtown to our famous equine farms, we celebrate our diverse community, its unique styles and all we share in common.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.