exCEPtional Mornings - November 2026

For the 20th Year, Marion County Students Will Run the County's Official Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov. 11

Community

Hundreds of students from 19 Marion County public schools will lead the county's official Veterans Day Program on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park. It is the 20th year in a row the school district has presented the ceremony, which includes a 21-gun salute, a vintage airplane flyover and a giant flag hung between two fire department ladder trucks.

Niagara Bottling Will Close Its Ocala Plant on Dec. 31, and 57 Workers Will Lose Their Jobs

Business

Niagara Bottling, LLC has notified the state and the City of Ocala that it will close its plant at 2445 NW 42nd Street and lay off 57 employees on Dec. 31, 2026. The notice lists the jobs affected, from injection operators to the plant director, and says no union or bumping rights apply.

Marion County's Magnet and Career Academy Applications Open Nov. 12, the Same Night Families Can Meet the Programs at WEC

Education

Marion County Public Schools holds its free School Choice Magnet and Community Resource Expo on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. in Expo Center 2 at World Equestrian Center. The application window for school choice, magnet and career academy programs opens the same day and closes Jan. 31, 2027.

Ocala and Marion County Are Asking Families to Put Their Phones Down on Saturday, Nov. 14

Community

The Ocala City Council and the Marion County Commission both listed proclamations on their Nov. 3 agendas for "Look Up Marion, Put Down the Phone Day," Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. The Marion County Children's Alliance campaign asks families to plan a day with less screen time, and a $25 community summit follows Dec. 10 at CF's Webber Center.

Five World Equestrian Center Chefs Head to Marion County Culinary Classrooms Friday, From Fort McCoy at 7:40 a.m. to Forest High at Noon

Education

Five chefs from World Equestrian Center Ocala, including a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist pastry chef, will visit middle and high school culinary students across Marion County on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, starting with a 7:40 a.m. stop at Fort McCoy School. The visits are part of the resort's food and wine celebration, which again benefits the Public Education Foundation of Marion County.

Marion County Staff Propose Dropping Special Permits for Manufactured Homes and Spelling Out Where Kennels Can Go

Government

Marion County planners are proposing changes that would matter to anyone who breeds or boards dogs, or who wants to place a manufactured home. Under the draft, a manufactured home would be allowed by right in every residential district, and kennels would be spelled out district by district. The Land Development Regulation Commission had a workshop scheduled for Nov. 4 and holds a public hearing Nov. 18 at 5:30 p.m. Nothing has been adopted.