Sariah Thompson
Sariah Thompson bio here
Steph Giera
Steph Giera Steph Giera, bringing a powerhouse combination of over 15 years in digital and print marketing with a lifelong dedication to the arts and community outreach. Former Founder of several marketing and communication agencies Steph has spent over a decade at the intersection of creative strategy and operational excellence. A fervent believer in the […]
Fiesta!
STORY + PHOTOGRAPHY BY: TITO COMAS Where in the World is Tito Take a monthly journey as we follow along with Tito Comas’ frequent travels Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián is a must if you want to celebrate Christmas, art, music, and food Puerto Rican-style, all the way. From January 15–18, 2026, Old San […]
The Evolution of Legacy
WRITTEN BY: CYNTHIA WILSON GRAHAM PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JOSHUA JACOBS The Evolution of a Legacy From Booker T. Washington’s 1913 call to action to a modern center for education,recreation and civic pride, the Martin Luther King Jr. Complex stands as a testament to Black resilience, enterprise and community in Ocala. The grounds are now celebrated as […]
Building on the Boom
WRITTEN BY: BRAD ROGERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JOSHUA JACOBS Building on the Boom New CEP chief Matt McCormick’s challenge is to help map Ocala’s economic future. For a chamber of commerce guy, getting the chance to come to work in a boomtown like Ocala/Marion County is a great opportunity. After all, our community is America’s fastest […]
10 Things To Love About Ocala
TEN THINGS BY: DAVID MOORE 10 Things to Love About Ocala A Thriving DowntownDowntown Ocala continues to grow with new restaurants, new businesses, a second and third hotel in the works and a second parking garage. There is always something new, it seems! Great OutdoorsTake advantage of our temperate weather to enjoy the great outdoors […]
Jordan Shapot
ARTIST SEEN Jordan Shapot: Bold Expression at Work ARTIST SEEN PROFILE | FEBRUARY 2026 HOW DO YOU HANDLE CREATIVE BLOCKS??Creative blocks come for us all. One thing I like to do is experiment with new mediums or techniques with an outlook based in curiosity, not perfectionism. Another way is writing about the creative block that […]
The Minds Own Reckoning
WRITTEN BY: R.J. JENKINS ILLUSTRATION BY: JOSHUA JACOBS The Minds Own Reckoning A life-long lover of books—and especially, sentences—responds to ChatGPT’s answers to his questions about books—and especially, sentences The prompt: This sentence appears in Alice Munro’s 2009 collection of short stories, Too Much Happiness: “In your life there are a few places, or maybe only […]
Romantasy in February
Romantasy in February BY: BARBARA FITOS February—the season of love and the month we honor the legacy of Black history. What better way to begin than with “romantasy”—the newest subgenre combining fantasy and romance. “Romantic fantasy,” coined in 2008, became wildly and virally popular on social media through such authors as Sarah J. Maas […]
Explosive Growth is Here to Stay
PERSONALITIES BY: BRAD ROGERS Explosive Growth is Here to Stay Marion County was the fastest growing metro area in the land last year Road capacity is not keeping up. Schools are scrambling to provide enough classrooms. A reassessment of our water supply is always on the back burner. The Census Bureau reported last month that […]
Weide Automotive
NOTABLE › SMALL BUSINESS POWER Each month Small Business Power celebrates the innovation, resilience, and impact of entrepreneurs whose work shapes the heart of our community. This month we spotlight: WRITTEN BY: CHRIS CAHILLPHOTOGRAPHY BY: JOSHUA JACOBS Weide Automotive Built on faith, empathy and high-level craftsmanship, Weide Automotive Repair is redefining what honest service looks […]
AComposition in Flavor at Kayta Vineyards
WRITTEN BY:KENDRA BRAZZEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JOSHUA JACOBS A Composition in Flavor A plate of lobster ravioli and seared scallops at Katya Vineyards tells a story through texture, balance, and intention, blurring the line between dining and artistic expression. It is immersive, satisfying and surprisingly emotional. A plate of lobster ravioli and seared scallops at Katya […]
The Writing is on the Wall
LITTLE MAN, BIG MOUTH The Writing is on the Wall WRITTEN BY DAVE SCHLENKER A sobering look at the emotional weight modern teens shoulder, revealed through sticky notes. To be sure, I had my share of bullies and broken hearts in high school. I was a twig of a kid sifting through ample peer pressure […]
Doing Good: Friends of Marion County Library
Check This Out! “Without libraries, what have we? We have no past and no future.” -RAY BRADBURY How a volunteer-led Friends group help sustain, strengthen and advocate for Marion County’s public libraries When most of us think about public libraries, we assume they’re funded entirely by tax dollars and managed solely by local government. In […]
Pod: January, 2026 – Hotrod Hangout
CULTURE >>> PODS Hotrod Hangout An all-vehicles-welcome conversation fueled by builds, stories, and pure obsession with cars CAST / MEMBERS Matt (host) and Ashley (cohost) HOW OFTEN/WHEN DO YOU DROP NEW EPISODES? Every Thursday at 8:00 p.m. EST. WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO HIT “RECORD” ON YOUR CONVERSATIONS INSTEAD OF JUST KEEPING THEM AMONG FRIENDS? […]
One Dish: January, 2026 – The Black Sheep on Broadway
WRITTEN BY: KENDRA BRAZZEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JOSHUA JACOBS One Dish: The Black Sheep on Broadway Tucked in the Shadows of Growth At The Black Sheep on Broadway they’ve intentionally created a place where people gather for live music, conversation, and connection. As I walk toward my destination, a high-rise crane towers overhead. Construction noises fill […]
Presence of Mind
BY: JESSI MILLER Presence of Mind The antidote to tech overload, overwhelm, burnout, and rampant anxiety may lie in mindfulness—which asks just one thing of us: to slow down long enough to be fully here and now. Life impolitely keeps coming at us, and sometimes it doesn’t feel okay. I once found myself sitting […]
Bookmarked: January 2026
Bookmarked: Turning the Page Together BY: BARBARA FITOS How one local book club — and many others — remind us that reading is better when shared. It’s a NEW YEAR…may the year ahead bring the promise of joy, peace, and love …and of course, BOOKS! And hoping your holiday season was filled with countless blessings […]
Jesse Warren Gillis
Jesse Warren Gillis Philosopher, adventurer, enigma. Little is known for certain about the man’s origin story. Some say he was raised by brigands in a mountainous encampment near the edge of Canada; others insist he was a foundling, cast to sea by pirates and later rescued by Portuguese fishermen. It’s conceivable that both accounts are […]
Designing Spaces: Holiday-Proofing Your Home (Without Red and Green)
BY: KIAH MANNING Designing Spaces Holiday-Proofing Your Home (Without Red or Green) When decorating for the holidays, most people immediately reach for the familiar palette of red, green, and maybe a dash of plaid if they’re feeling adventurous. But the truth is, not every home – or every person – thrives in traditional holiday colors. […]
Where in the World is Tito: Madrid, Spain
STORY + PHOTOGRAPHY BY: TITO COMAS Where in the World is Tito: Madrid Spain Take a monthly journey as we follow along with Tito Comas’ frequent travels El Prado Museum Sorolla Museum Plaza Mayor (large historic public Square known as the heart of Madrid)… Madrid is a city bursting with energy history, art and… ‘Sobrino […]
Bookmarked: December 2025
Bookmarked: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever BY: BARBARA FITOS A beloved story that shaped a family’s holidays – and inspired a community “THE HERDMAN’S WEREABSOLUTELY THE WORSTKIDS IN THE HISTORY OFTHE WORLD.” So begins the beloved Christmas novel by children’s author Barbara Robinson. Originally published in 1972, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is the story […]