Ocala Magazine September 2011 by Jim Canada

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The Visionaries at Ocala Eye Celebrate 40 Years See page 70

The Mayor’s Race Heats Up

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CONT CON NTENTS TENTS CELEBRATING 31 YEARS

September 2011

FEATURES

The M ay Heator’s Race s Up

And Then There Were 3

And then there were three. We recently spoke with all three mayoral candidates to find out about their goals, backgrounds and plans for the city.

Behind the Scenes of Chicago: The Musical We take a peek behind the curtain at rehearsals for one of Ocala Civic Theatre’s most anticipated musicals in years— and one of the most challenging to acquire and produce.

30 ON THE COVER: PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK

Art Seen Whether your taste in art runs more toward dance or theater, music or the visual arts, you can find all that and more on the local arts scene in Ocala and Marion County this fall.

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Linda Marks publisher linda@ocalamagazine.com Gene McConnell vice president gene@ocalamagazine.com

OCALAMAGAZINE Volume 32, Issue 03

A PART OF OUR LIVES

EDITORIAL/ DESIGN Rob Feeman editor

rob@ocalamagazine.com Jim Canada senior designer james@ocalamagazine.com Eric Heikkinen photo editor/photographer eric@ocalamagazine.com John Sotomayor associate editor john@ocalamagazine.com Alex Martinez production manager alex@ocalamagazine.com -------------------------

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and

On Tuesday, September 6th, members of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra appeared on stage at the Circle Square Cultural Center, along with many others, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11. The event was designed to mark a significant day in the history of our country, and in all of our lives, and for that reason it was highly appropriate that musicians from the OSO took part in this tribute. It also showed just how much the arts permeate our lives and culture—particularly at special occasions like this one. At birthdays, graduations, weddings, anniversaries and other milestones in our lives, we often turn to the arts—music, dance, theater, prose, poetry and the visual arts—to help us commemorate these occasions, and others as well. One day last spring, as I was heading to the Main Library, I drove past the Veterans Memorial Park on the corner of East Fort King Street and SE 25th Avenue. As I parked my car, I heard the sound of bagpipes coming from the park. A lone bagpipe player was walking among the monuments, benches and plaques, honoring those who have served our country in his own artistic way, with his own distinctive sound. For me, it was a memorable moment, as I’m sure it was for anyone who passed by the park that day. Similar sounds will be heard there on September 10th, at another ceremony commemorating the anniversary of 9/11. And, again, it demonstrates just how important the arts are in our lives. Here in Ocala and Marion County, the arts are all around us, making positive impacts everywhere we look. It’s impossible to drive around town and not notice the colorful and majestic painted horses from the first Horse Fever art project 10 years ago, and later this month the Marion Cultural Alliance will unveil a whole new herd. The First Friday Art Walks downtown have become increasingly popular and well-attended. The rally of support to save the iconic Marion Theatre is as much about art and culture as it is about business (or perhaps more so). Dancing events around town this spring and summer proved hugely popular. And live performances at the Ocala Civic Theatre and Insomniac Theatre keep us all entertained and, for a few precious hours, make us forget the concerns of our daily lives. Anchoring the local arts and cultural scene are the stalwarts—the Appleton Museum and the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, both of which are invaluable institutions in our community, as well as important resources for the betterment of us all. But beyond that, there are numerous arts organizations, groups and individuals making contributions, like Jackie Schindehette, who recently opened her new art gallery, the Sabal Palm Gallery and Studio, downtown on East Fort King Street, and Terry Miller, who manages the Brick City Center for the Arts. In her new gallery, Jackie displays the works of local artists Margaret Watts and Linda Harlow, as well as Jack Thursby, who will be exhibiting his work in the gallery this month. These individuals, and many others like them, including amateur and professional painters, sculptors, musicians, dancers, actors, writers, photographers and designers, are making significant contributions to the cultural fabric here in our community, and helping to ensure that Marion County remains a vibrant, diverse, livable and more colorful place.

Rob Feeman, Editor rob@ocalamagazine.com

OCALA MAGAZINE

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A conversation with FRANK HENNESSEY, FOUNDING CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MARION COUNTY

A new central portal for philanthropic giving is designed to meet the community’s diverse needs FRANK HENNESSEY

Q: Frank, philanthropy is something you and your family are passionate about. And because of that, you have been instrumental in launching the Community Foundation of Ocala Marion County. Explain the role of a community foundation. A: A community foundation, as a central portal for major giving, serves as a unified voice for local non-profit entities in building community through philanthropy. Q: What is the status of the foundation now? A: The community response has been overwhelmingly positive. Executive Director Barbara Fitos has given us a recognized community presence to begin the crucial process of outreach and education as to the Foundation’s mission and its philanthropic goals for the betterment of the Ocala/Marion County community. We have put together a dynamic and diverse Board of Directors and we are engaging like-minded civic, professional and community leaders to serve on our Professional Advisory Committee, Grants Committee, etc. The Foundation is awaiting its IRS 501(c)(3) designation to enable us to accept donor funds and endowed gifts. Q: What is your vision for the Foundation? A: Our Community Foundation will serve as a convener, a collaborator and a catalyst for community building through philanthropic funding for civic, cultural, community and economic development.

Ocala/Marion County has always been recognized as an extraordinarily giving community. As we position ourselves for economic recovery and a return to prosperity, never has the need been greater or the opportunity more timely to foster a more focused approach to meet our community’s diverse needs. We pledge to be: • the central portal for philanthropic giving • a center of excellence for investment portfolio management • the source for extraordinary grant-making opportunities • the sole source provider of administrative support to all of our existing non-profits • the key access point to targeted resources that best fulfill the needs of our community • the premier place with which to do business for donors, advisors and non-profits alike. Q: What is the difference between our not-for-profits and a community foundation? A: By definition, a community foundation is an overarching philanthropic institution organized as a permanent collection of endowed funds for the long-term benefit of the community as a whole. A community foundation advances the individual goals of the non-profits in the community it serves through awareness, targeted giving, grants opportunities and enhanced access to donors. Q: Will not-for-profits be able to apply for grants?

A: One of the key roles of any community foundation is to provide access to philanthropic giving through donor-advised and endowment funds to non-profits in our community. We provide the link between those high net worth donors (accustomed to giving through community foundations) and local non-profits, thereby directing funding where it is most needed. As our Foundation grows, we will open up collaborative grant opportunities at the local level. Q: Is there anything else you’d like the readers of Ocala Magazine to know about the Foundation? A: “Our Community. Our Commitment.” These words define who we are and what we seek to achieve in forming this Community Foundation—a key strategic initiative of the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce. Join us as we commit our wealth, our wisdom, our work to this vital community endeavor.

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OCALA MAGAZINE

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What issues do you think Ocala’s next mayor should address? We’d like to hear your comments. Visit www.ocalamagazine.com and post your thoughts.

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Hours before the filing deadline, the pool of candidates for mayor of Ocala grew from one to three. We spoke with all three candidates to find out about their goals, backgrounds and plans for the city. Just one week before the August 12th deadline to file for the mayor’s race, the people of Ocala had only one candidate running for the position. In fact, during the four months since he filed his paperwork on April 12th, candidate Kent Guinn, who gave up his seat on City Council representing District 4 when he found out Mayor Randy Ewers had decided not to seek a third term, was running unopposed. Also unopposed were the two City Council seats up for election. Incumbent Mary Sue Rich opted to file for reelection for a fifth term representing District 2, and newcomer John McLeod filed for the District 4 seat vacated by Guinn after Chris James Wynn dropped out. Without any opposition candidates for any of these positions, it seemed there would be no need for a fall election. That changed just days, and perhaps moments, before the filing deadline, when two challengers in the mayoral race stepped forward: Randall “Randy” Alvord and Russell “Rusty” Juergens. Now we have a race, and an upcoming election. Recently, Ocala Magazine sat down with all three mayoral candidates. We wanted to get to know them better and talk about their backgrounds, experiences, platforms and motivations for running for the mayor’s office. We

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HEL MY

E IS

NAM

“At the Sheriff ’s Office and Police Department we don’t tolerate that. We clean up.”

Kent Guinn

also took the opportunity to talk with outgoing Mayor Randy Ewers, who gave us his thoughts on his time in office. KENT GUINN A fifth-generation Ocalan, Kent Guinn has lived in Marion County his entire life. His great-grandparents on his father’s side were immortalized in Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ 1938 classic Americana novel, “The Yearling.” He has been married for 31 years and has two sons. Guinn has been in the insurance and investment industry for the past 30 years, and has served on City Council representing District 4 for 12 years. His vast board experience includes the Appleton Museum Advisory board and the civil and state boards of the Children’s Home Society of Florida. Earlier this year, the Children’s Home Society named Guinn its Child Advocate of the Year. As evidence of his ability to lead, Guinn points to his accomplished goals, which he set out in his initial platform for City Council. In 2003, City Council completed the Master Plan for downtown Ocala, led by Guinn, who envisioned a plan similar to the highly successful one utilized by the city of Winter Park near Orlando. He acknowledges there have been struggles along the way, and some missteps, such as when the city initially selected the wrong developer, but overall the plan is progressing. “Down-

town is looking a lot better than it did in 1999, when I was elected; it’s now a vibrant downtown.” Guinn is also proud of the city’s Enterprise Zone, an area designed to draw new businesses to Ocala using relocation tax incentives, in a goal to spark new jobs. “I was sitting in my office with Patrick Hadley [executive director of Mad Dads, a Crime Stoppers resource],” says Guinn, “and we asked, ‘What can we do for West Ocala that hasn’t been done before that would make that area a better place for people to live and work?’ While brainstorming I thought, ‘Well, what about an enterprise zone?’” They soon discovered they’d need an act of the state legislature to create such a zone. So Guinn called state Representative Charles Chestnut, who sponsored the bill in the House of Representatives, and Senator Evelyn Lynn, who sponsored it in the Senate. Eleven cities in Florida tried to get enterprise zones passed that session, but Ocala’s was the only one to be approved— unanimously—with the help of then House Speaker Larry Cretul. Guinn feels the Enterprise Zone gives Ocala a distinct advantage in luring relocating businesses to the city. When Guinn considers the future of Ocala, he is optimistic, and believes he has a good understanding of what it takes to ensure Ocala fairs well in a competitive market. The security of the city lies with economic stability and diversity, he says,

and that means attracting new business. CEOs of companies that consider moving here, he says, want a place where their employees and their families can live comfortably. “They look for a stable government, a strong school system, a strong downtown, and cultural offerings and lifestyle,” says Guinn. As for the specific duties of the mayor, Guinn refers to the charter, which defines the nature of the mayor’s role: to “oversee the police department, nominate the Police Chief, and make recommendations to council,” to which Guinn adds, “Right now, there are 20 places that we know of where people can buy drugs in the open market. That has to end.” It begins with cleaning up the streets and eliminating petty crime, Guinn says. To get some perspective and advice, he consulted with Michael Hess, New York City’s general counsel under former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Hess was responsible for the impressive transformation of Times Square, and now works for Giuliani Partners, a New York-based management and consulting firm. From Hess, Guinn learned that “once broken glass is left on the sidewalk, it becomes acceptable.” The term “broken glass” here is used both literally and metaphorically. “At the Sheriff ’s Office and Police Department,” Guinn says, “we don’t tolerate that. We clean up.” He also feels the role of the mayor is to be the face of the community, with the goal of attracting people and companies that will create more jobs for our community. In that regard, Guinn says, he has the experience to work well with others, an ability that “comes natural to me.” RANDY ALVORD Randall “Randy” Alvord feels a strong sense of duty to protect, honor and serve the community he knows and loves. He put that sense of duty on the line by serving in the Marine Corps during the Persian Gulf War (1990-91), and then worked in commercial real estate at RnB Realty in Marion County, where he specialized in commercial and timber properties for 20 years. He has been married for 10 years and has two young daughters, ages six and almost four. Alvord has lived in Ocala since he was nine years old. He currently sits on the board of directors for the Marion County Association of Realtors, serves as the association’s treasurer and is a past president. In

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addition, he serves on the board of directors for the Ocala First United Methodist Church’s preschool and has volunteered for Junior Achievement for the past 20 years. Alvord was motivated to run for mayor because he wants to challenge the “same old political stand-offs” he has witnessed too often, he says. Two items in particular motivated him to act. “First,” he says, “I find the millage rate increase to our general fund account completely unnecessary, given the profitability of our city, and second, I cannot stand the in-fighting in our local government. The City Council is suing the school board for a contract they don’t have for fire service fees, the county is in a battle royale with the city…. ” Alvord is also concerned about the priorities of City Council. During the August City Council meeting, he notes, fewer than 30 minutes were devoted to a discussion of how to spend $14 million, but two hours were spent talking about ducks. Regarding the Muscovy duck issue, he says, “My first thought—and I know several people who run the Sheriff ’s Inmate Work Farm who share the same opinion—is that Muscovy ducks are edible. Why don’t we call the Sheriff ’s Inmate Work Farm and say, ‘Send some trustees to round some ducks up,’ and take them to the inmate work farm? They would have a duck population for meat in no time.” The process, he notes, would be more cost-effective than hiring a professional to kill the animals. Another issue that bothers Alvord and many constituents he has spoken with concerns excessive amounts of money spent on outside consulting fees. “In December of last year, the city and county co-funded a study for the EDC [Economic Development Council] and paid an attorney $35,000 for a result that stated, basically, that we have a large retired population in Marion County,” says Alvord. “They could have called me and I would have told them that for free.” In cases like this, Alvord believes his military efficiency training would be beneficial. In addition to serving as the head of the Ocala Police Department, the mayor’s role, as Alvord sees it, is as a spokesperson for the city’s citizens. “I may not have the power to control the meetings or the end vote, but I can voice the concerns of the voters,” he says. Overall, Alvord takes issue with the city’s management and offers common-sense so-

lutions and a sensible approach to politics. He argues that every community across the nation offers economic incentives and most, if not all, offer tax breaks. “We are all offering incentives, so why don’t we think outside of the box a little? Let’s use the information we got out of that $35,000 study. Why don’t we turn to the older generation from other parts of the nation and offer them incentives if they bring a relative or associate from their home communities to move their entire business operation to Ocala?” It’s just one of the ideas Alvord has for getting our citizens involved in our community. RUSTY JUERGENS A resident of Ocala for 30 years and a business owner for 25 years, Russell “Rusty” Juergens considers Ocala a great place to raise a family, and wants to give back to the city and its people, who have treated him so well. A hair salon owner, Juergens offers a fresh approach to the role of mayor, since he talks to many people throughout the day, and listens to what is going on. Juergens has been an elder for nine years at the First Presbyterian Church, which is very similar to the function of a mayor, he says. “You are the eyes and ears of the people,” he explains. “You listen and see what’s going on, and you bring it to session to try to solve issues in order to make things better.” Juergens is also a volunteer for a non-

profit organization called Church Without Walls, which works with youth who have been incarcerated. That group evolved into another one he’s been involved with, called PACT, or Parents and Children Together, which worked with correctional institutions and courts to provide troubled youth with a safe program. Six years ago, Juergens ran for City Council for District 1, the at-large seat, and lost to the incumbent, Kyle Kay. However, it was a great experience, Juergens says, since he was introduced to politics and learned the system. He ran hoping to see changes in infrastructure and economic development. That opportunity led to another to join the City of Ocala Board of Adjustments, which provided his greatest insight into the workings of city government. Juergens has been looking for an opportunity to run again and waited for an opening for the City Council seat in his district, District 4 (Guinn’s seat). When Mayor Ewers decided not to run for re-election, Juergens considered the opportunity. He weighed his options and spent some time deciding whether to run against John McLeod for the District 4 seat of City Council or to run for mayor. In the end, he felt he could make a bigger impact as mayor. Although many in the community view the role of mayor as the “go-to guy” when it comes to important issues facing the city, many do not realize

“…I cannot stand the in-fighting in our local government.”

Randy Alvord

HELLO MY NAME

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O HELL ME IS

MY NA

“…as mayor I would be able to voice the people’s needs and wants, and argue on their behalf.” that he doesn’t have a voting voice. However, Juergens points out, “The mayor definitely has a voice, and as mayor I would be able to voice the people’s needs and wants, and argue on their behalf.” That’s what at-

Rusty Juergens tracts him to the position, he says, “that the mayor can participate in issues at large.” He also notes that while the mayor cannot vote, he can veto. The Police Department is the mayor’s

domain of power, Juergens says. “The police department is running well and needs to keep running well. We need a happy police department, happy officers and happy city employees—that is key, and those are things I will work on.” As a small business owner, Juergens recognizes that small businesses are an asset to the community but says they are “dropping like flies.” He points to the Save the Marion Theatre campaign as an example of what citizens can do to turn things around. “That’s been great. People came together to push that through to make it work, and it’s working. We need to have the same outlook for the mom and pop stores, to keep them in business.” He suggests incentives to keep businesses here and help keep them operating. “I will continue the campaign of Buy Local,” he notes. Juergens describes the role of mayor as a “real people person who should have lots of energy. He needs to be able to step up to the front, be the light and welcome people.” To Juergens, the mayor is the orchestrator, conducting order as a symphony, so that all the departments can create beautiful music together.

MAYOR EWERS LOOKS BACK, AND FORWARD “It was a tremendous honor,” Mayor Randy Ewers says of his service to the people of Ocala, whom he represented as mayor for three consecutive terms. “I have always been amazed at the willingness of the people to help each other, especially in times of need.” On recalling memorable highlights over the past six years, Ewers offered, “Fun moments, such as the movie premier fundraisers, working with the Travolta family, as well as working with representatives in Tallahassee on legislation that benefitted Ocala.” He also enjoyed helping businesses start up or expand in the area, he says. Looking back on what he set out to accomplish in Ocala, Ewers says he was concerned from the onset about long-term planning for the city, and is proud of the Ocala Vision 2035 initiative that was a collaboration between citizens and urban planners. One of his platform goals was

economic vitality and a diverse economy, which he feels was accomplished in part by the acquisition of the Institute of Human and Machine Cognition, the continued strong relationships with established businesses such as Signature Brands and Lockheed Martin, and most recently the activity on the new incubator site in the downtown area, as well as redevelopment deals with White Challis Redevelopment Company for creating commercial/residential space in the downtown area. On the future of Ocala, Ewers says, “I would like us stick to our Vision 2035 plan, as well as the Master Parks Plan, which will not only improve our lifestyle but attract other business and employment opportunities in a more balanced state.” Ultimately, he says, he looks forward to seeing “Ocala’s continuing allure as a great place to live, work and raise a family.”

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Behind the Scenes of Chicago: The Musical Story by John Sotomayor

We take a peek behind the curtain at rehearsals for one of Ocala Civic Theatre’s most anticipated musicals in years—and one of the most challenging to acquire and produce

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What’s your favorite musical? Log on to www.ocalamagazine. com and tell us which musical you think the Ocala Civic Theatre should perform next.

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Left page, left to right: Heather Gifford; next photo: Jessica Morin; photo on right: Daniel Link Right page: Michelle Geering , Kayla Williams, Heather Gifford, Lynda Fagan, Miranda Morris, and Megan Wise Inset: Myles Thoroughgood

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While every theatrical production has its share of behind-the-scenes drama, the upcoming premier of Chicago: the Musical at the Ocala Civic Theatre (OCT) presented a unique obstacle, even before the script was ordered.

ink Daniel L

Acquiring the rights for this particular show was more of a challenge than usual. The Broadway production of Chicago is still going strong. In fact, on August 29th, the show marked its 6,138th performance,

beating A Chorus Line as the fourth-longest-running show in Broadway history, behind The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Les Miserables. And since all three of those shows are British imports, that makes Chicago the longest-running American-created show in Broadway history. The producers of the Broadway production of Chicago have the ability to block its production at other venues in the United States. But after five straight years of applications and rejections, Mary Britt, executive director of the OCT, finally acquired the rights for a local production. Most people are familiar with the 1996 Broadway revival called Chicago: Musical the basis for the movie The Musical, version—a cut down, dark and sexy version of the 1975 original Chicago: Vaudeville made famous by A Musical Vaudeville, Chita Rivera in the role of Velma Kelly. The 1975 version, based on an original play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, with a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Ebb, is the one the OCT is licensed to produce, says Britt. As executive director, Britt has to balance what the audience expects to see and what the OCT will present. The movie version is significantly different than the 1975 stage version, which the OCT is performing. However, Britt notes, “At the core of it all— the movie, the original version and the revival—is some really great music, a Tony Awardwinning score and a great fun story.” The actors are presented with a challenge as well— interpreting their characters so they will be fresh and interesting yet still familiar to the audience. Ocala Magazine attended two rehearsals for the musical, on Friday, August 12th, at the end of the third week of rehearsals, and again on Monday, August 22nd, at the start of the fifth week, to capture some of what goes on behind the scenes of a musical. PRELUDE: SETTING THE STAGE “Auditioning was intense,” says Jessica

Morin, an acting and voice teacher for the Performing Arts Conservatory who was cast in the role of Roxie Hart, one of the female leads. The auditioning process began for hundreds of hopefuls in the third week of July. From Morin’s perspective, just about every woman who auditioned for the musical—perhaps 80, she guesses— tried out for one of the two leads, Roxie or Velma Kelly. Morin credits director Myles Thoroughgood for taking his time during auditions and getting the right cast. The actors prepared their own songs or, if they were auditioning for the ensemble, were asked to sing “All That Jazz.” Everyone also danced as part of the audition process. Afterward, Thoroughgood handed out cold readings for those he considered for major roles. “He did call backs later that week,” Morin recalls. In addition to Morin as Roxie, the OCT performances will feature Heather Gifford as Velma Kelly, Daniel Link as lawyer Billy Flynn and Joel Brahim as Roxie’s loyal, good-hearted husband, Amos. Once the cast was finalized, the company began the process of “blocking” Act I, the theatrical term used to describe the process of determining the precise movements and positions of the actors on stage. While the actors learned their blocking and worked on their characterizations, Thoroughgood planned the entire production. Thoroughgood has had an extensive career in theatre. He’s worked with the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and Discovery/TLC, and he’s currently the corporate choreographer for Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede venues. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he started out as a dancer, and moved to New York City in the early 1980s, where he worked in theatre and television. After a stint in Los Angeles, he relocated to Orlando in 1989 to work as a choreographer for The Mickey Mouse Club, which at the time included such cast members as Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling and Keri Russell. “Chicago is one of my favorite musicals,” says Thoroughgood, “because it actually acknowledges that it IS a show. It’s a musical vaudeville. The story is based on actual

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rehearsals, very talented people, most of whom have other careers outside of entertainment, worked hard to get their scenes right, while having fun at the same time. Having fun is an important part of the process. At one point, while sharing his notes, Thoroughgood told one of the actors, “You’re junior high-ing it.” Without skipping a beat, Joel Brahim, who plays Amos, Roxie’s husband, muttered, “But they are in junior high,” causing a wave of laughter. ‘That’s what it’s all about,” Thoroughgood said later. “You have to love what you’re doing and enjoy yourself.” As Amos Hart, the loyal husband who represents innocence in a world full of corruption, Brahim delivers some of the musical’s funniest lines. During rehearsals, his delivery often had his castmates laughing hysterically. Originally from Ocala, Brahim was raised in northern Maine, where he lived from ages 6 to 18, before

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Danie

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events, but the styling is almost hyper-entertainment. The theme may seem dark,” he says, pointing to a storyline that involves corruption, injustice, media hype and the concept of the “criminal celebrity,” still prevalent in today’s society, “but it is painted with a light brush, so it’s both comically absurd and visually stunning.” BEHIND THE SCENES: ACT I By the end of the first week of rehearsals, Act I was blocked and cleaned up. The process of a run-through is used to see where the actors need to devote the most time and is repeated often to perfect the performances. The cast and crew consists of experienced veterans, such as Morin and Daniel Link, a seasoned actor who has been performing for more than a decade, as well as a number of young newcomers, including Kayla Williams, 15, in the role of June, and Tyler Stentiford, 17, as one of the dancers.

Daniel

Link

On Day 5 of Week 2, Todd Vadel, lighting manager, sat down next to Thoroughgood during the blocking process to discuss the lighting. He was concerned with the sight lines of the audience, so in some cases the actors on stage were asked to reposition themselves. Meanwhile, stage manager Vinson Craft darted around the set, backstage area and auditorium. He’s responsible for running the show, which includes light and sound cues, and the action backstage. He is the final authority, after the director’s work is done and the show opens, for ensuring the production stays true to the director’s vision for the run of the show. An electrician and construction worker, Craft has been a volunteer at OCT for 23 years. Prior to Chicago, he stage-managed Cats in 2006 and two productions of Peter Pan, set 10 years apart, among other shows. “I don’t sing and dance,” he says, “so handling tech concerns is a great alternative.” Craft wants audiences to know that the problems of a live show are handled by the tech crew, and that the same problem never arises twice. “We don’t get the chance to do it over,” he says. Also, when you see one person on stage, it takes 10 others behind the scenes to allow that person to do his or her job, Craft notes. On stage, Morin as Roxie and Heather Gifford as Velma rehearsed a dance number, using fan “do-for’s”—the theatre term for props that are not the right prop, but will “do for” now. During

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returning to Ocala. “I was in Variations, a show choir, at CFCC, now CF, and got hooked,” he says. His first show in Ocala was You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (2001), which showcased his comedic talents. As Roxie Hart, Morin has the greatest number of scenes in the show, and so was frequently on stage. When she wasn’t, she was going over her lines or coaching other less-experienced actors. Morin was raised in New Hampshire and went to law school in Boston. She moved to Florida almost four years ago. Chicago is her sixth production with the OCT. According to Morin, Roxie is “the pretty girl with no talent from a small town who wants to be famous.” Roxie has big dreams, she says, and plans to play her as someone with whom the audience can identify—as someone who wants something so badly she will do anything to get it. To Morin, Roxie is simply a person who wants to be a star. She hopes to convey that to the audience with her performance. INTERMISSION: ART IMITATES LIFE Just about everyone in the cast and crew recognized the parallels between the musianda ding: Mir

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cal they were rehearsing and the six-week trial this summer of Casey Anthony, the young mother accused of murdering her daughter Caylee. Like the character of Roxie Hart, who is 23 in the musical, Casey Anthony, 22, had dreams of the good life. She even tattooed the words “Bella Vita” on her arm. Anthony denied any wrongdoing, and her attorney, Jose Baez, was a savvy manipulator like the character of Billy Flynn, who can wield the media to do his bidding by offering them sensational tales to print. Also, as in the plot of Chicago, whenever the limelight would seem to redirect elsewhere, Casey Anthony would grab it back with sensational tales, such as accounts of child abuse at the hand of her father, George Anthony. This parallels what Roxie Hart does at the end of Act I, when behind bars she makes the sensational claim that she’s pregnant, and in Act II, when she claims she murdered the character Fred Casely to protect her unborn child. The original play, written by sensation-

alist reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins, was based on two unrelated, real-life 1924 trials of accused murderesses Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner. Watkins covered the trials for the Chicago Tribune, and her articles proved so popular she turned them into a play. The character of Velma Kelly is based on Gaertner, a cabaret singer accused of murdering a man named Walter Law, while Roxie Hart represents Annan, a married woman accused of murdering a man named Harry Kalstedt, who allegedly tried to seduce her. Both women were acquitted in separate trials about a month apart— another intriguing parallel to the Casey Anthony case. BEHIND THE SCENES: ACT II With Act I in satisfactory condition, the director and actors moved onto Act II. The cast members practiced the choreography and songs, and by the beginning of Week 5 were ready for a “rough-through,” which is an early stage of a run-through. Most

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Jessica Morin

and Joel Brah

did not yet completely know their lines or stage positions, and many of the props were not ready, so the cast relied heavily on “dofor’s.” For the next week, the cast and crew experienced extensive, repetitive run-throughs of Act II, making it as polished as Act I, as they balanced their personal and professional lives during this intense but enjoyable time. Gifford, for instance, is a nurse at Munroe Regional Medical Center and the mother of two teens, ages 14 and 17. She moved to Ocala in 1979 from the Washington, D.C. area, and graduated from the University of Florida in 1992. “I’ve danced since I was little,” she says, “and continued at Forest High School, but I didn’t start to perform on stage until 2002 with Bye-Bye Birdie, which was my first show at the OCT.” Link was born in Tampa, then moved to other cities in Florida before graduating from Florida State University in 2001. “I performed from late high school through college, but since graduation until now I haven’t done anything [in theatre],” he says. He has a son and a step-daughter, and works for Accent Medical in the field of hospice care.

All of the actors hope to encourage others to get involved in theatre. “It’s really nice to be able to put on a show for people, so they can leave their daily lives for a little while and enter a different world,” says Link. Anticipating opening night, he adds, “At the end of the evening, you’ve hopefully given the audience a different perspective on their daily lives.” CURTAIN CALL Dress rehearsals took place after our interviews, during the fifth week in the rehearsal schedule. On that Sunday, the cast met with Thoroughgood, Craft and Vadel during a long 10-hour process to go over lighting cues, which involved the actors simply walking through their blocking to ensure the technical aspects of the production were in sync with the director’s vision. The final process, a full dress rehearsal, included all the lighting and sound cues. “There are a lot of elements,” says Morin. “Your head would explode if you tried to do it all at once.” To Brahim, it’s all worth it. “Working with the cast for six weeks, you become family,” he says. “You form relationships that last

forever.” As an example, Brahim says one of the young female dancers worked with him when she was six years old, and now she’s taller than he is. “To me, it’s one of the biggest draws, to be able to come back and work with these people.”

IT’S SHOWTIME! The Ocala Civic Theatre will present Chicago: The Musical, from Sept. 8 through Oct. 2, with evening performances at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays through Saturdays (except for Oct. 1) and matinee performances at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays (except for Sept. 10). Tickets are available by contacting the Ocala Civic Theatre box office at 352-236-2274. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Other upcoming OCT shows include Steel Magnolias (Nov. 3-27), Nunsense II (Feb. 2-26, 2012), A Perfect Wedding (March 15-April 8) and Fiddler on the Roof (May 17-June 10).

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Announcing the winner of the “Digitize this!” Digital App Contest

JENNIFER HARMON

of Hospice of Marion County Jennifer appears in the Ocala Magazine Digital App ad campaign in this issue AND she wins a $50 gift certificate to Sky Asian Fusion restaurant AND $50 cash for being an Ocala Magazine Facebook Friend.

Congratulations, Jennifer!

We all extend our hearty congratulations to Jennifer! Over the summer, we asked our readers to download the free Ocala Magazine app on any Apple or Android device, such as iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, HTC EVO phone, Samsung Galaxy Tablet, etc., and take a photo of themselves or their friends holding the device with our app on it. The person who submitted the most photos, or had the most submitted on their behalf, was the winner. Ocala Magazine appreciates all the submissions we received. One in particular soared above the rest. For that reason, we’ve decided to add an Editor’s Choice Honorable Mention in our digital app ad and include the photo that took our breath away.

Honorable Mention

Pilot and 40 Under 40 recipient, Jason Schappert really gave us an impressive photo. He mounted his camera on the wing of his plane and snapped it in midflight. While the actual app image is small, the viewer can tell what he has done.

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OCALA MAGAZINE; available where you are…

…anywhere in the world!… Download the App and Flip Through the Current and Back Issues of Your Favorite Magazine NOW! Available for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android Devices.

iPad

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iPhone

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COMPILED BY ASHLEY WILSON AND ROB FEEMAN

ART SEEN PRESENTING OUR 2011 FALL ARTS PREVIEW

Whether your taste in art runs more toward dance or theater, music or the visual arts, you can find all that and more on the local arts scene in Ocala and Marion County. Our annual guide, on the pages that follow, provides all the details you need to immerse yourself in the extensive body of art that thrives throughout our region, and beyond.

To see a time-lapse video on the creation of this intriguing work of body art, visit www.ocalamagazine.com.

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FIRST FRIDAY ART WALKS 352-671-7469 www.artwalkocala.com For nearly two years now, Ocala’s First Friday Art Walks have been attracting art lovers to the downtown area. After starting as an occasional event at the end of 2009, it’s now a monthly celebration of art, music, performance, food and community, and helps familiarize residents and visitors with the city’s burgeoning art scene and it’s many professional and amateur artists. The art walks kick off at 6 p.m. Maps and other details are available on the event’s website. UPCOMING ART WALKS:

September 2 October 7 November 4 December 2 January 6

APPLETON MUSEUM OF ART 4333 E Silver Springs Boulevard 352-291-4455 www.appletonmuseum.org Since its opening in 1982, the Appleton Museum of Art has exhibited works of fine art and artifacts from around the world, and has been an invaluable resource for local educational programming. The Appleton’s permanent collections boast nearly 16,000 works of art and artifacts, and several temporary traveling exhibitions are presented throughout the year.

BRICK CITY CENTER FOR THE ARTS 23 SW Broadway Street 352-369-1500 www.mcaocala.com Associated with the Marion Cultural Alliance, the nonprofit Brick City Center for the Arts serves as an art exhibition gallery and live performance space for local and regional artists and musicians, and includes an art-oriented gift shop offering such items as miniatures of the Horse Fever works of art. UPCOMING EVENTS:

September – Fine Art on Broadway/FAB 2011 Show Sept. 3 – Acoustic musician John Lawler October – “Artober Fest” exhibit/Ocala Art Group Fall Show Oct. 1 – Acoustic musician John Lawler November – Green/Eco-Friendly Art exhibit December – “Ye Old Holidays” exhibit CIRCLE SQUARE CULTURAL CENTER 8395 SW 80th Street 352-854-3670 In 2007, On Top of the World Communities unveiled its newest multi-use entertainment facility, the Circle Square Cultural Center. Now the area’s largest venue, Circle Square hosts a variety of events, including theatrical performances, concerts, dances and conventions. UPCOMING EVENTS:

Sept. 6 – “A Decade of Remembrance: Remembering 9/11 Today and Always” continued on page 34

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Sept. 11 – SoundArt Series: “Remembering 9/11” Oct. 1 – “Tradition/Innovation: American Masterpieces of Southern Crafts & Traditional Art” and “Painted Poetry: The Landscapes of Jackie Schindehette” exhibitions open Oct. 2 – SoundArt Series: “Back to Baroque” Oct. 13 – After Hours: The Alpine Express band Nov. 3 – After Hours: The Rewind Band Nov. 19 – “Katharine Hepburn: Dressed for Stage and Screen” and “A Dickens Christmas: The Holiday Collection of Paul and Joyce Urban” exhibitions open Dec. 1 – After Hours: Holiday music by the Marion Civic Chorale Dec. 2 – “Scenes from the South: American Art from the Collection of James Fuller” exhibition opens Dec. 3 – Holiday music by the Wings of Faith choir Jan. 8 – SoundArt Series: “Fabulous Flute Flare” March 11 – SoundArt Series: “Percussion!”

ART CLUB OF BELLEVIEW

www.artclubbelleview.zoomshare.com Created to promote art in the Belleview area, the Art Club of Belleview adds to the cultural value of the community by offering free art classes for children and hosting the Belleview Art Festival each fall. Members enjoy opportunities to meet and mingle with other area artists, attend demonstrations and have their works exhibited at local businesses and institutions.

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MUSIC FOR NOW

BY MATTHEW WARDELL, MUSIC DIRECTOR, OCALA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The question I’m most often asked is, “Do you have a favorite piece or composer?” I always answer with “Whatever I’m currently studying or listening to,” but truth be told there are pieces that mean something more than your average polka. They are beyond beautiful, creative and imaginative works of art. They demonstrate the infinitude of life and implant that relentless, inspired passion in the characters of those who cherish them. To tap into that passion and inspiration, check out: THE PIECE: Symphony No. 7 THE COMPOSER: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) THE TIME: 1811 THE DEVICE: Spontaneity and expression THE MUSIC: This symphony, in four very different movements, cap-

tures us from the first stately forte chords and carries us through many unexpected twists and turns to a frantic and exuberant finale. Its deepest, most emotional point and the movement you’re most likely to recognize is the second. The movement was so popular at its premier that it had to be repeated before Beethoven could go on with the rest of the piece. Is it happy? Is it sad? The answer lies somewhere in the listener. THE PIECE: Symphonie Fantastique THE COMPOSER: Hector Berlioz (1803 – 1869) THE TIME: 1830 THE DEVICE: Passion THE MUSIC: Berlioz’s fantastic symphony tells us the story of a love-

sick, hopeless romantic who will do anything to capture the heart

of his cherished. His love unrequited, he attempts to escape life altogether, knocking himself into a dream world where he imagines he has been accused of killing his beloved, is sent to the guillotine (very fresh in Berlioz’s 19th-century Parisian mind!) and finds himself in the middle of a witches’ sabbat led by none other than the object of his desire. THE IRONY: Berlioz’s personal life and romantic endeavors weren’t far off from the story he created in his music. According to his memoirs, he first fell in desperate love at the age of eight (with a woman twice his age!) And even more closely related, he was once caught crossing the border into France with women’s clothing and two pistols. On Berlioz’s own admission, after hearing his fiancée was moving on to someone else, he was planning to sneak into his rival’s house and assert his . . . love? THE PIECE: Short Ride in a Fast Machine THE COMPOSER: John Adams (b. 1947) THE TIME: 1986 THE DEVICE: Drive THE MUSIC: If you’re not familiar with minimalism, check this out.

Check this out. Check this out. Check this out. Okay, you get the point. This music is built on repetition and rhythmic persistence. The sharp wood block heard alone in the first seconds of the piece drives the rest of the orchestra through a relatively short but, as the title suggests, fast four minutes. John Adams (the 20th-century American composer, not the founding father) says, “You know how it is when someone asks you to ride in a terrific sports car, and then you wish you hadn’t?” Ride in this car. You’ll enjoy it.

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Curtis Peterson Auditorium in Lecanto Dec. 4-6 – It’s a Wonderful Life, at the college’s Citrus location on Dec. 4 and at the Ocala Campus on Dec. 5-6 Feb. 12-13 – Cooking with the Calamari Sisters, at the Citrus location on Feb. 12 and at the Ocala campus on Feb. 13 April 15-16 – Ballet Folklorico “Quetzalli de Veracruz,” at the Citrus location on April 15 and the Ocala campus on April 16

Sept. 17 – “Live Bait: Jimmy Buffett Tribute” Sept. 23 – “Lola and the Saints” Oct. 22 – 9th Annual Craft Fair Oct. 30 – The Amazing Kreskin’s Halloween Show Nov. 19 – The Crests Dec. 3 – Holiday Music Festival featuring the Ditchfield Family Singers Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve with Norman Lee COLLEGE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA PERFORMING ARTS SERIES 3001 SW College Road 352-873-5810 http://cf.universitytickets.com Through its Performing Arts Series, the College of Central Florida hosts a number of musical and theatrical events throughout the year. This season’s lineup is highlighted by Olympia Dukakis’ onewoman performance of Rose, in which s i she portrays a Jewish matriarch and ak ia Duk p m ly Holocaust survivor. Other arts and O cultural events at CF this season include performances by an inspirational choir in September and April, instrumental music and jazz performances in December and April, and theater and dance performances throughout the year, including Shakespeare’s The Tempest in March. Visit the college’s box office/ticketing site for a full lineup of events. UPCOMING EVENTS

Sept. 24-25 – Rose, starring Olympia Dukakis, at the Fine Arts Auditorium on the Ocala Campus Oct. 30 – Simply Sinatra with Steve Lippia, at the

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FINE ARTS FOR OCALA (FAFO) 416 E. Fort King St. 352-867-0355 www.fafo.org Formed in 1967, the nonprofit Fine Arts for Ocala organization promotes art appreciation and education in the community, and sponsors such local events as the Ocala Arts Festival and the Symphony Under the Stars event on Mother’s Day, featuring fireworks and a performance by the Ocala Symphony Orchestra. It also funds art scholarships through the College of Central Florida Foundation, and provides local art aficionados with the opportunity to interact with artists and purchase works of art. UPCOMING EVENTS:

Oct. 22-23 – Ocala Arts Festival, featuring entertainment and childrens’ activities May 13 – “Symphony Under the Stars,” featuring the Ocala Symphony Orchestra INSOMNIAC THEATRE COMPANY 1 E Silver Springs Boulevard 352-897-0477 www.insomniactheatre.com The Insomniac Theatre presents an eclectic array of events and performances, including two to four original works annually, a Halloween show, and well-known plays, as well as improvisational and burlesque shows, the Rocky Horror Picture Show, 24-Hour Theatre, open-mic nights and Insomniac: On the Air. UPCOMING EVENTS:

Sept. 2-3 – New Works Series Freshmen Sept. 22-25, 29-30, Oct. 1-2 – “6 Degrees:” An Insomniac Original Oct. 28-29 – “24-Hour Theater 4” Oct. 28-29, Nov. 4-5, 11-12 – “Little Shop of Horrors” Nov. 18-19 – Insomniac’s Symptoms: “Rocky Horror Picture Show” MARION BALLET THEATRE 1713 SW 17th Street 352-629-6155 www.marionperformingballet.org The Marion Ballet Theatre provides students the opportunity to explore and develop talent in professional dance and theater arts. The Marion Ballet Theatre also serves the community by offering performances to enrich area culture. Since its inception, the Marion Ballet Theatre has, most notably, brought the holiday classic, “The Nutcracker,” to the Ocala Civic Theatre every year. continued on page 36

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HORSE FEVER II: A NEW HERD GALLOPS INTO OCALA The Marion Cultural Alliance hopes lightning strikes twice with the 10thannniversary repeat of its highly successful Horse Fever public art project and fundraiser. In 2000, a group of local art enthusiasts had the idea of creating a public art project to spearhead the funding of a non-profit art council. The group researched ideas and projects implemented throughout the country, including the highly acclaimed Cow Parade, the world’s largest, most successful public art project. At the time, Cow Parade had premiered only in Chicago (1999) and New York City (2000), but since then has been staged in more than 50 cities worldwide. Take the avant-garde concept of painted porcelain cows in dramatic situations, which originated in Zurich, Switzerland, and apply it in the Horse Capital of the World, and the rest, as they say, is history. The inaugural Horse Fever project generated more than $870,000 from the auction of 53 horse statues creatively painted by local and regional artists. Twenty-eight horses remain in Ocala for public viewing. Half the proceeds went to the auction buyer’s charity of choice, and the other half went to the newly created Marion Cultural Alliance (MCA), says Laurie Zink, co-chair of Horse Fever and MCA board member. Setting a precedent, more than $327,000 from the MCA half went back to the community to be used by various member art groups, ranging from the African American Arts Festival to the Marion Ballet Theater to the Ocala Symphony Orchestra. The innovative approach of a juried art show and a statewide call for artists made for a very special auction, unique among other public arts project, says Zink, “because people were buying art, not a commercial piece with logos.” In 2011, the MCA hopes to revive the Horse Fever spirit and bring awareness of local arts programs to the community. As before, the auction will be held at Chester Weber’s Live Oak Combined Driving Event on March 23, 2012, commemorating Horse Fever’s 10th anniversary and the 20th anniversary of the Live Oak Combined Driving Event. The unveiling of four select horses will occur on the Downtown Square on Sept. 29th. The rest of the horses will pop up around town later that night. The following day, maps will be available through the Ocala Star Banner, so residents can begin searching for the new horses. In 2000, the Horse Fever event’s official mascot was Champ, painted by Sharon Crute, one of the world’s leading equine artists. In 2011, the mascot is World Champ, again painted by Crute. World Champ represents the local thoroughbred industry’s international influence over the past decade. One side depicts Marion County’s brood mare industry, with foals born and raised locally, while the other side represents what happens to foals when they’ve grown up. It depicts three recent Eclipse winners from Marion County—Awesome Feather, Big Drama and Dubai Majesty. Because of the attacks of 9/11, the original Horse Fever projects almost didn’t happen. But the MCA went on with the presentation and premiered with Old Glory, a horse with the American Flag painted majestically on its torso. Hearts melted and the MCA knew they did the right thing. The same sentiment is felt today. “Here we are, 10 years later, needing a little boost, a little something to feel good about, because things are on a bit of a slide,” says Zink. A new herd of horses in Marion County should be enough to lift everyone’s spirit. —John Sotomayor

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MARION CIVIC CHORALE 352-342-1796 The Marion Civic Chorale is regarded as Central Florida’s preeminent chorus, offering the highest quality musical entertainment from artists of varied backgrounds and musical experience. The Chorale performs at civic functions, residential gatherings, holiday and seasonal shows, as well as with church and high school choirs. UPCOMING EVENT:

Dec. 1 – Christmas Concert at the Appleton Museum MARION CULTURAL ALLIANCE 23 SW Broadway Street 352-369-1500 www.mcaocala.com The Marion Cultural Alliance MCA pledges to be the cultural advocate of Marion County, supporting local education and activities relative to fine arts, performance, history and science. The MCA oversees the operation of the Brick City Center for the Arts and Artful Gifts, the West Ocala boutique. Most notably, the MCA hosts the “Horse Fever” public art project and the “Saluting the Arts” event, benefiting more than a dozen local arts organization. UPCOMING EVENTS:

Sept. 7 – “Saluting the Arts” Luncheon & Expo (Sept. 7) Sept. 29 – Horse Fever 2011 Unveiling, 6 to 8 p.m., Downtown Ocala Square continued on page 38

LOCAL ARTISTS SHARON CRUTE www.sharoncrute.com Thirty years of experience in the horse racing industry serves as inspiration for Sharon Crute, an Ocala-based painter who specializes in horse-race scenery, painting with perspective “straight from the trenches.” LINDA HARLOW www.lindaharlow.com Inspired by art deco of the 1930s as well as the paintings of the Old Masters, Linda Harlow has created a unique body of work that draws on her love of art, architecture, color and simplicity. She has formed a group of artists, called Reflections of the Masters, who share a passion for the great masters of the past, and is a past chairman of the Marion Cultural Alliance.

NANCY MOSKOVITZ www.nancymoskovitz.com Ocala artist Nancy Moskovitz is best known for painting intimate Florida landscapes in oils, acrylics and watercolors. One of Ocala’s most recognized artists, Moskovitz has been featured in exhibitions including Horse Fever, the Appleton’s Biennial Exhibit and “The Barrier Islands” exhibit at the Florida Museum of Natural History. BILL ROBERTS www.customdesignmetalarts.com Specializing in hand-forged and cast works of decorative metal art, Bill Roberts crafts each piece with attention to detail and discriminating taste. For 25 years, Roberts has owned Custom Design Metal Arts, which offers classes and workshops in addition to the sale of one-of-a-kind metal works. JACQUELYN SCHINDEHETTE www.floridalandscapes.com With a new gallery, called Sable Palm, open in downtown Ocala on East Fort

King Street, an artistic entry in this fall’s Horse Fever II public art project and an upcoming exhibition at the Appleton Museum showcasing her Florida landscapes, Jacquelyn Schindehette has established a reputation as one of Ocala’s and Florida’s most renowned painters. JACK THURSBY www.thursbyart.com This former College of Central Florida professor’s artistic concentration lies in realistic acrylic portraits, in which the subject’s emotions are on full display. Thursby will be the featured artist at the Sabal Palm Gallery this month. MARGARET WATTS Margaret Watts cites “the Southeast, its land, its people and wildlife” as the inspiration for her paintings, popular around town. In addition to being recognized at the Appleton and through Horse Fever, Watts has several works permanently showcased at the Marion County Public Library, Blessed Trinity and Queen of Peace Catholic Church.

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Big Happenings at the Appleton The folks out at the Appleton Museum haven’t had much time lately to stand around and admire beautiful works of art—though there are plenty of works to admire, of course. Instead, the museum’s halls and offices have been abuzz about a number of new developments, which will culminate in 2012 with a year-long celebration of the Appleton’s 25th anniversary. We recently caught up with Dr. John Lofgren, the museum’s director, and Stephen Specht, the facility’s events/marketing coordinator, in Dr. Lofgren’s admittedly busy office, and asked them about current and upcoming happenings. ON ACCREDITATION

The museum is currently in the midst of a 30-month accreditation process, which, when complete, will bring a number of benefits to the museum and the community. “To some degree, I look at the accreditation as a gift back to the community,” Dr. Lofgren says, noting that only about 10 percent of the museums in the U.S. are accredited. The benefit of accreditation, he says, is that “members of the community can trust that we are as professional as we can possibly be. It’s an important step for us to share with our community—that if they leave something here in our collection or donate anything to us, it will be handled in the most professional manner possible. Accreditation also means that we will be able to get better exhibitions, better donations and more grant opportunities, so it’s really a win-win situation for the community.” ON COLLEGE CLASSES

More college classes, with students from the College of Central Florida attending, will take place at the Appleton in the coming months. “We’ve had one professor at the college who has really utilized the museum,” says Dr. Lofgren, “but we would like to see more students coming here and taking advantage of our classroom facilities. We would like to see even more interaction between us and the college—essentially all the fine arts classes being taught here. We’d also like to work with the teachers if there’s something from the collection they would like to incorporate in their curriculums, because we have the resources.”

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ON THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY

In 2012, the Appleton plans a year-long celebration of its 25th anniversary, and it promises to be series of momentous events. “The actual date of the 25th anniversary is December 13th, 2012,” says Dr. Lofgren. “We’ll start in January of next year—Saturday, January 28th, to be exact—with a gala event to commemorate the 25th anniversary year, and we’re working to come up with something very exciting for that event (and we’re looking for sponsorships!).” Adds Steve Specht, “That will be the kickoff event of a year-long series of special events that will commemorate the 25th anniversary. The exhibition schedule is pretty full for 2012, but the year’s final exhibition, which will be on display during the actual anniversary date, will be something quite spectacular.” ON ISLAMIC CERAMICS

“Recently we found a Medieval Persian (Islamic) porcelain collection in our permanent collection,” says Dr. Lofgren. “Some people on the staff were aware of it, but we didn’t know the importance of this collection. So we brought a fellow from the University of Florida in Gainesville down here to have a look at it. He researched it for us and he was blown away by what we had.” Adds Specht, “We actually have six different types of Islamic ceramics that represent a time period from the 10th to the 14th centuries.” Now on display at the museum, the collection will eventually be made into a traveling exhibition—the museum’s first, says Dr. Lofgren. The

traveling exhibition will help build exposure for the museum and bring in some revenue, says Dr. Lofgren. ON OTHER ART MUSEUMS

What other museums in the region are worth a drive and a visit? “I’ve always thought the Ringling in Sarasota is one of our great museums,” says Dr. Lofgren. “The Cummer Museum in Jacksonville is also fine, but my top pick would be the Ringling, and it’s not that far to drive down to Sarasota from here. But my absolute favorite museum is in Los Angeles. It’s called the Autry Museum of Western Heritage [now part of the Autry National Center]. It’s a museum built entirely on the American cowboy myth, and they have an incredible collection, including sheriff ’s badges, revolvers, hats of famous bandits, all kinds of things. The museum itself is so well done, because it’s lively and has very good material.” —Rob Feeman

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MARION COUNTY CENTER FOR THE ARTS 3733 SW 80th Ave. 352-291-4000 http://www.marion.k12.fl.us/schools/wph/mcca/index.cfm The Marion County Center for the Arts (MCCA), a visual and performing fine arts magnet program at West Port High School, prepares young gifted students for a post-secondary arts education. MCCA hosts performances and exhibitions from their wide variety of programs, including 2-D Art, Dance, Theatre and Musical Performance.

Ocala Plein Air Painters

in addition to hosting touring companies. The Civic Theatre also offers acting classes and workshops for interested youth. UPCOMING EVENTS:

Sept. 8-Oct. 2 – “Chicago: The Musical” Oct. 6-16 – “The Guys” (Ovation Series) Nov. 3-27 – “Steel Magnolias” Jan. 5-15 – “Neil Simon’s Rumors” (Ovation Series) Feb. 2-26 – “Nunsense II” March 15-April 8 – “A Perfect Wedding” March 29-April 6 – “Squabbles” (Ovation Series) May 17-June 10 – “Fiddler on the Roof ” OCALA STORYTELLING FESTIVAL PO Box 6329 352-821-0298 www.ocalastorytellingfestival.com The Ocala Storytelling Guild brings its annual Storytelling Festival to the community in the fall (last year’s event was held in late October). The festival brings costumed storytellers to local classrooms throughout the day and ends with a grand concert at CenterPoint Church in the evening. Along with a day of family entertainment, the festival also allows the opportunity to purchase books, audiotapes and other storytelling materials.

www.ocalapleinartpainters.org Derived from the French expression meaning “in the open air,” this group of Marion artists has a passion for painting outdoors. The Ocala Plein Air Painters meet the first Saturday of every month at 8 a.m. to work in the natural light and inspirational Central Florida landscape. Visit the organization’s website for details on “paintout” locations. OCALA ART GROUP www.ocalaartgroup.com Established in 1950, the Ocala Art Group is the oldest organization of its kind in Central Florida. The Ocala Art Group offers membership to all interested in developing and promoting fine art and provides at least four art shows a year featuring member work. The group meets monthly, on the second Wednesday of each month, at 11 a.m. at the Appleton Museum of Art. Meetings include refreshments, demonstrations and workshops. OCALA CIVIC THEATRE 4337 East Silver Springs Boulevard 352-236-2274 www.ocalacivictheatre.com Located in the Appleton Cultural Center, the Ocala Civic Theatre is one of the largest community theaters in the state. It produces more than a dozen fully staged productions each season,

OCALA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 820 SE Fort King Street (352) 351-1606 www.ocalasymphony.com Founded in 1975, the Ocala Symphony Orchestra entertains and inspires audiences of all ages with its high-caliber musical performances, under the dynamic leadership of its conductor and music director, Maestro Matthew Wardell.” In 2011-2012, the orchestra will celebrate its 35th Subscription Season with a unique and adventurous program of performances. Members of the orchestra also perform several times during the season at the Appleton Museum’s SoundArt series (see the Appleton listing for SoundArt dates). However, the OSO may be most widely recognized for its annual holiday “Symphony Under the Lights” performance in downtown Ocala, as well as its Mother’s Day spectacle, “Symphony Under the Stars.” UPCOMING EVENTS:

Oct. 29-30 – “On a Dark and Stormy Night,” featuring SaintSaens’ “Danse Macabre,” Hector Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique” and music from the film “Psycho.” Nov. 19 – Handel’s “Messiah” at the Queen of Peace Catholic Church Nov. 20 – Handel’s “Messiah” at St. Mark the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church Dec. 9 – “Symphony Under the Lights” at Ocala’s Historic Downtown Square, featuring classic holiday favorites continued on page 40

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OUT OF TOWN MUSEUMS

THE DALI MUSEUM One Dali Blvd., St. Petersburg 727-823-3767 www.thedali.org More than double the size of the original museum, the new Dali Museum in St. Petersburg opened its doors in January, and has since been visited by more than 200,000 art lovers. Housing the largest collection of Dali’s works outside of Spain, the Dali St. Petersburg has 15,000 square feet of exhibition space (compared to 7,000 for the original museum), out of a total of more than 66,000 square feet of space. In addition to permanent collection, special exhibition and children’s galleries, the museum houses a theater, library and garden. The collection includes 2,140 pieces of Dali’s works, including 96 oil paintings and eight master works over five feet in length. In addition to regularly changing exhibitions from the permanent collection, the museum displays historical and contemporary art borrowed from other museums and collections worldwide, and offers a specialized schedule of films, lectures, musical performances, tours and educational programs. THE LIGHTNER MUSEUM 75 King Street, St. Augustine, 904-824-2874 www.lightnermuseum.org Not your typical art museum, the Lightner showcases a collection of relics from America’s Gilded Age, including sculpture, furniture, lamps, costumes, glasswork and mechanical musical instruments, in addition to paintings. Chicago publisher Otto C. Lightner assembled the collection and purchased the current building, in which the collection is displayed, in 1946. The museum opened two years later. The building itself, which is the former Hotel Alcazar, built in 1887, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. THE JOHN AND MABLE RINGLING MUSEUM OF ART 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota 941-359-5700 www.ringling.org Considered by many to be one of the finest museums in Florida, if not in the Southeast, the Ringling is more than a single art museum, since its grounds also include circus museums, gardens, the Ca’ d’Zan Mansion, an education center and library, a

restaurant and cafe, fountains and the Historic Asolo Theater. The museum itself is a fantastic one, with a number of works by such Old Masters as Rubens, van Dyck, Titian, El Greco and Gainsborough. Bring the family, and plan for a full day. SOUTHEAST MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY Daytona State College 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach 386-506-4475 http://www.smponline.org/ One of just 13 museums in the U.S. dedicated solely to photography, the Southeast Museum of Photography is the largest facility of its kind in the Southeast. Current exhibits focus on photographs from 9/11, and the museum has increasingly hosted exhibits of works by Florida and regional photographers. SAMUEL P. HARN MUSEUM OF ART SW 34th St. and Hull Rd., Gainesville 352-392-9826 www.harn.ufl.edu Opened in 1990 and named for Samuel Peebles Harn (1893-1957), whose family made a founding gift for the construction of the facility, the Harn Museum at the University of Florida has a permanent collection of more than 8,000 works, with a focus on Asian, African, modern and contemporary pieces, as well as photography. Current exhibitions include “Sebastiao Salgado: World Witness,” an exhibition by photojournalist Salgado, which runs through May 2012. TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa 813-274-8130 http://www.tampamuseum.org Although currently in its 32nd year, the Tampa Museum opened its new 66,000-square-foot museum building in Curtis Hixon Park in February 2010. The facility houses the museum’s collection of Greek and Roman antiquities, 20th-century fine art and more than 2,000 photographs. ORLANDO MUSEUM OF ART 2416 North Mills Ave., Orlando 407-896-4231 www.omart.org Founded in 1924, the Orlando museum presents

10 to 12 exhibitions annually on-site, and an equal number of off-site exhibitions, as well as enrichment programs, gallery tours, art appreciation lectures, studio classes and training programs. Current exhibitions include “Common Ground: Art of the American Landscape,” featuring the works of Georgia O’Keeffe, George Inness and others; and “Currents in Contemporary Art,” featuring works by Robert Rauschenberg, John Chamberlain and others. MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS 255 Beach Dr. N.E., St. Petersburg 727-896-2667 www.fine-arts.org With a collection of works ranging from antiquity to the present, the Museum of Fine Arts offers something for just about everyone. Current exhibits focus on theater in ancient art, pewter from the early 19th century and new acquisitions from American folk artists. A 2008 addition to the museum provides space for special exhibition galleries, a library, a museum store and a cafe. MUSEUM OF FLORIDA ART 600 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand 386-734-4371 www.museumoffloridaart.org Formerly the DeLand Museum of Art, the Museum of Florida Art showcases and promotes emerging and established Florida artists, such as Jackson Walker, an Orlando-based artist whose works depicting events and individuals from the state’s history is currently on display in the exhibit titled, “Legendary Florida” (which was also exhibited at the Appleton Museum in Ocala). ORMOND MEMORIAL ART MUSEUM & GARDENS 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach 386-676-3347 www.ormondartmuseum.org Founded in 1946, the Ormond museum’s permanent collection is anchored by paintings donated by artist Malcolm Fraser, and also features the works of prominent Florida, regional and national artists. The museum and gardens include memorials to servicemen and women who served in World War I, World War II and the Korean Conflict. Tributes to those who served in the Vietnam War and other conflicts are currently being designed.

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Dec. 10-11 – “ ’Twas The Night Before Christmas,” featuring music from the films “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Home Along,” plus selections from “The Nutcracker,” popular Christmas tunes like “Sleigh Ride,” and a traditional holiday sing-along. Jan. 22 – Young Artist Competition Honors Recital Feb. 25-26 – “In The Beginning...” featuring Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5” and the winners of the orchestra’s 21st annual Young Artist Competition. Mar. 31-April 1 – “In a Galaxy Far, Far Away,” featuring Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, Paul Hindemith’s “Symphonic Metamorphosis” and selections from John Williams’ “Star Wars.” THE ORANGE BLOSSOM OPRY 13939 SE Highway 42, Weirsdale 352-821-1201 www.obopry.com Located in the original Weirsdale School Gymnasium building, the Orange Blossom Opry is a one-of-a-kind performance hall in the Central Florida area. This family-orientated country music showcase hosts a weekly Jam Night every Thursday, where all attendants are invited onstage to sing and play along with the in-house band, The Opry Cast, who also perform Friday and Saturday evenings. UPCOMING EVENTS:

Sept. 24 – Lorrie Gill and Her Cast of 1000s Oct. 1 – Ventriloquists Jimmy Nelson and Alex Houston Oct. 8 – Miles Savage and a Salute to the Platters, Coasters, Drifters and Temptations Oct. 22 – Ronnie McDowell Nov. 5 – The Legends of Doo Wop with Tommy Mara Nov. 26 – “Let’s Hang On!,” a Tribute to Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons

Performing P A rs onservaor C

819 SE 1st Terrace 352-237-5678 www.pacocala.com The Performing Arts Conservatory fosters artistic passion through quality instruction in dance, music, acting, voice, visual arts and etiquette. PAC provides training opportunities for individuals at all experience levels and annual student presentations. Past performances have included “High Flying Dreamers” and “Alice: A Modern Twist to a Familiar Tale.”

SECOND THOUGHT IMPROV 352-369-1500 www.secondthoughtimprov.org In the tradition of “Whose Line is it Anyway?,” Second Thought Improv has supplied Downtown Ocala with improvised comedy theater for the past five years. The group showcases the lighter side of the arts, with performances dependent upon audience suggestion and participation. VISUAL ARTISTS’ SOCIETY 3001 SW College Road 352-873-5800 Affiliated with the College of Central Florida, the Visual Artists’ Society hosts programs and exhibitions at the college’s Webber Gallery, and offers educational and professional development programs. Members are invited to attend lectures, workshops and field trips, and can participate in judged and/or juried exhibits at the college’s gallery. The Society also gives its members the opportunity to network with other artists. CF students can join the Society for free.

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The Multitalented Mel Tillis Legendary country music singer Mel Tillis has always loved art, but for most of his career never had much time to pursue it, because performing, particularly as a singer, was his first and life-long passion. Born in Dover, Fla., Tillis—who has been a resident of Marion County for the past eight years—has enjoyed a career that’s taken him all over the globe. He’s written more than 1,000 songs, recorded 60 albums and had 34 Top 10 singles. But it was during a prolonged stop in Branson, Mo., that he finally decided to pick up a brush and devote more time to the easel. Tillis arrived in Branson in 1990 and performed at two venues (including the Will Rogers Theater, which he built with a partner in 1992) before building his own venue, the 2,600-seat Mel Tillis Theater, in 1994. He lived in Branson for 13 years, performing once or twice a day, and because he had some time off between shows, he decided

to pursue his interest in painting. So he contacted an art teacher and took lessons. He painted frequently and became quite prolific. At one point, having too many paintings sitting around the house, he decided to display them in the lobby of his theater. “People started buying them,” he says with astonishment. “It was fun, and I enjoyed it.” He also discovered that the more he painted, the better he got. After performing more than 4,000 shows at the Branson venue, Tillis sold his theater in 2002 (it has since been renamed the Tri-Lakes Center) and relocated to Marion County, where he met a new art teacher in Ocala at a now-defunct art supply store called Red Swan. The new teacher taught him the finer details of portrait painting, and Tillis’s home soon filled with his collective body of work that now spans 15 years of painting. Hung on walls, perched on mantles and

resting on the floor, many of the paintings sit side-by-side with Tillis’s numerous country music awards. Standout works include “Bovine Sunset,” “Huckleberry Summer” and “Mosanic America.” The latter helped Tillis raise $80,000 for the Scottish Rite Foundation, which provides assistance to speech and hearing clinics. During our visit with Tillis, he picked up one of his paintings off the floor and described it with an unflattering vernacular. Telling its story, he said others asked him what to call the painting, and unable to come up with a good answer, he named it, “Damned If I Know.” Tillis’s humor, which is one of his trademarks, continues to this day. In fact, humor helped him discover his life’s calling as a performer. Since the day he could talk he had a stutter, though he didn’t know it. His father and brother also stuttered, so to him it was normal. On his first

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Mel Tillis: In His Own Words

A few years ago, Mel Tillis made the following remark about his life journey: “It seems like just yesterday I left Florida head’n for Nashville, Tennessee in my ’49 Mercury with a busted windshield, a pregnant wife and $29

day of school, the other children laughed at him. When he arrived home, his mother asked him what was wrong. When he told her what had happened, she said, “Well, if the other children are going to laugh at you, give them something to laugh about.” Tillis took the words to heart, and the next day he told jokes and acted them out, adding his stutter to the act. From that day onward, the other children accepted him and laughed with him rather than at him. It was that day, he says, that he became a performer. Why sing? “Well, I figured if I couldn’t talk right, maybe I could get the words out by singing them out,” Tillis says with a smile. That logic worked out rather well for the talented Mr. Tillis. In the early 1950s, while serving in the U.S. Air Force in Okinawa as a baker, Tillis began performing with a band called the Westerners. Since then, he has embarked on a prolific singing career that has also involved some acting. He appeared in numerous films during the 1970s, most memorably Every Which Way But Loose with Clint Eastwood, Cannonball Run I and II (partnered with Terry Bradshaw and Tony Dan-

in my pocket. 2002 marks my 46th year in the music business. If I lost it all tomorrow, I guess I could say it cost me $29, and it’s been one heck of a ride!” This year marks Mel Tillis’ 55th year in the music business.

za, respectively) and Smokey and the Bandit II, with Burt Reynolds. More recently, he appeared in Beer for My Horses with Toby Keith and Willie Nelson. Over time, Tillis has amassed numerous awards. In 1976, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters International Hall of Fame. That same year he was honored as the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year. For six years during the 1970s, he was named Comedian of the Year. In 1998, he became the spokesman and honorary chairman for the Stuttering Foundation of America. In 1999, Broadcast Music Inc. declared Tillis the Songwriter of the Decade, and in 2001 he received the Golden Voice Entertainer Award and the Golden R.O.P.E. Songwriter Award. In 2007, he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. These days, this multi-talented artist is simultaneously painting and writing a novel. So far, he’s written about 400 pages. Always the comedian, Tillis explains his writing style by quoting Mark Twain: “They asked Mr. Twain, ‘How do you do it?’ and he replied ‘Well, I get up in the morning at 4 or 5 a.m., I put on some coffee, light up a cigar

and I just start lying.’ Well hell,” Tillis says, “I can do that, so that’s what I’m doing.” —John Sotomayor

On the Road With Mel After appearing at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 8th for the Opry Birthday Show, Mel Tillis will perform two shows on Oct. 17th at the Savannah Center at The Villages. Tickets are available at The Villages Entertainment Department; for information call 352-753-2270 or 800-245-1081. The performances will be followed by an art show the next day, Oct. 18th, in the Rhett Butler Room, also at the Savannah Center in The Villages. The show takes place from 1 to 4 p.m., and is open to the public. In November, Tillis returns to his home theater in Branson, MO (now called the Tri-Lakes Center), with shows scheduled for Nov. 7-10, the 12th and 14-17. After stops in Oklahoma and Mississippi, he’ll finish up the year in Laughlin, NV, with shows on Dec. 27th to Jan. 1st. He makes his next area appearance on March 10, 2012, at the Orange Blossom Opry in Weirsdale. For more information on Mel’s schedule, visit www. meltillis.com.

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creating quality jobs for our community

Strengthening Our Community With Jobs and Services HealthSouth will begin construction on physical rehabilitation hospital this year. By Ginger Broslat

The outstanding healthcare available in Marion County will soon have another service option. HealthSouth, one of the nation‚Äôs largest providers of inpatient rehabilitative healthcare services, has announced plans to construct an inpatient rehabilitation hospital, in Ocala. The hospital will provide comprehensive physical rehabilitation to patients who have experienced stroke, trauma, brain, orthopedic injuries or other major neurological illnesses. “This state-of-the-art rehabilitation hospital will provide a new and different type of service which will further augment the already strong continuum of healthcare services available in Ocala/Marion County,”said Linda Wilder, president of HealthSouth‚Äôs Southeast region. “We look forward to working with other providers in the community to integrate this new service in Marion County.” Construction on the 49,900 square foot hospital is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2011. The proposed comprehensive physical rehabilitation hospital will include 40 all-private rooms, a spacious, on-site therapy gym and cutting-edge rehabilitation technologies. This project represents a $21 million investment in the community and, once fully operational, is expected to generate approximately 112 new, full-time jobs. With 81,000 residents over the age of 65, Marion County

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is the largest county in Florida that currently does not have access to inpatient rehabilitation‚Äîa number that is expected to grow at a rate of 18 percent, faster than any other county in Florida. “We have been privileged to serve patients in Florida for more than 25 years at our other locations throughout the state and look forward to offering high-quality services closer to home for Marion County residents,”said Wilder. “Currently, Marion County residents have very limited access to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital, requiring patients and their families to travel to Gainesville or Spring Hill. This new hospital will ensure that residents have appropriate and reasonable access to the latest rehabilitative treatment and technology in a hospital setting.” EDC President/CEO Pete Tesch is pleased to welcome HealthSouth to the community. “Ocala/Marion County is fortunate to have exceptional healthcare providers,”said Tesch. “The addition of HealthSouth‚Äôs new hospital will bring another level of access to our residents. The capital investment, immediate construction jobs and permanent healthcare jobs will be great therapy to help strengthen our economy.” Companies interested in expansion and/or job creation, should visit www.ocalaedc.org, or call 352-291-4410.

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The Refuge Foundation offers healing for the soul for those in need and a night of soulful sounds to raise funds for those in need of a little more Breathe… now breathe again. This simple but essential technique is the first step one needs to perform to overcome the challenges we all face in our daily lives. But for some, it is not so simple, especially if compounded by trauma. Trauma is commonly experienced by a wide range of people, from shellshocked soldiers returning from Afghanistan or Iraq to a survivor of a crisis—be it a car accident, long-term abuse or violent attack. Sometimes the scars are not visible, but internal. Traumatized persons live in fear, even though they do not scream. Many resort to substance abuse to anesthetize the pain as an emotional escape that leads to addiction. There is no need to suffer alone in darkness. The Refuge Foundation is here to serve as a beacon of light, providing exceptional trauma and addiction treatment and education for those in need. The Refuge Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports unique and life-saving trauma and addiction treatment for people through Judy Crane and her world-renowned facility, The Refuge, A Healing Place. Dayna Kreiter, manager of The Refuge Foundation, believes strongly in its mission. “I will go on record and say that I am an alumni of The Refuge myself,” says Kreiter.“I know it works. The Refuge saved my life, and I am passionate that everyone should be able to get that quality care regardless of their financial status or ability to pay.” The Harmony & All That Jazz Gala, to be held at the Country Club of Ocala on October 15th, and featuring the soulful sounds of jazz, was created to accomplish The Refuge Foundation’s goal of providing access to anyone who needs it. All proceeds from the event will go to the scholarship fund for The Refuge Foundation. In 2011, the Refuge Foundation began offering scholarships to the Intensive Outpatient Program, available to anyone locally or internationally so long as they fit a financial criteria. The Refuge Foundation hopes to earn enough from the gala to have scholarships available in 2012 for both residential and outpatient recipients. Offerings of The Refuge Foundation include: • partnerships with local organizations to raise awareness of resources available regarding domestic violence, sexual abuse, substance abuse, eating disorders, process addictions, PTSD and grief/loss • educate the community on trauma recovery methods and provide hope to those who are suffering • facilitate local community recovery support groups • create and support programs that promote emotional wellness as well as sponsor local events to raise awareness • advocate for trauma, substance abuse and addiction prevention • host local schools and organizations to participate in team-building, leadership skills and self-esteem programs. for information: The Refuge Foundation Phone: 352.624.0366

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TIO ION N SUP UPPORT The Value of Good Advice

David Hoffman, CPA, CVA, founding member and partner of perts at the firm is their knowledge and experience with business Berryhill, Hoffman and Getsee, P.A., has made a positive impres- valuation, as well as a deep understanding of your business. As a sion all over the state of Florida, testifying on the issue of eminent result, they can advise you on elements of your business that add to domain—the power that allows the state to appropriate property or detract from its value. “We get involved with your business, somefor its use. One can even say he is a leading expert in the field. Just times on a daily basis,” explains Hoffman, “so we can ensure that you do the math. chart the best course for your business.” This attention to detail can When he testified during an eminent domain case in Collier enhance any business’s value, and increase its marketability and apCounty, on behalf of a property owner to establish business dam- peal to potential buyers. ages to his client as a result of the exercising of eminent domain, Legal Benefits Hoffman’s damage number was $1.5 million. The condemning auLawyers whose practices require computing damages to a business thority testified there was no damage to the business, which would when it has been economically or professionally damaged by a variresult in no payment to the property owner. The ety of dispute situations will also see the benefit case went to the jury, which came back with a of working with Berryhill, Hoffman and Getsee. verdict that assessed the value of the business at The firm’s experts are uniquely qualified as ex$1.2 million—at the time the highest business pert witnesses, providing valuable reports and damage award in Florida. testimony that can withstand examination and The fact is, Hoffman, who also happens to be rebuttal. They also have expertise in a number of a founding member of the Business Valuation other legal areas, including marital dissolution/ and Litigation Support Group and a practicdivorce; business damages/lost-profit analysis; ing certified public accountant for more than commercial and contract litigation; insurance 30 years, has performed hundreds of business claims; preparation of depositions; preparation valuations and lost-profit analyses during his for cross-examination of financial experts; and career. He has provided depositions in numeranalysis of opposing experts’ reports. ous cases, served as an expert witness and is Hoffman and Villella recently met with a cliregularly called upon by business owners and ent who needed to understand the importance Florida attorneys as their “go-to guy.” of its accreditation and the relevancy of valuaWhen Money Matters tion. In this particular case, the client was asBoth Hoffman and his associate, Sarah Vilsured the value of the property was established lella, are credentialed in the valuation field as at a certain amount using a different approach. a CVA (Certified Valuation Analyst) and AVA Sarah Villella, AVA, stresses the importance of using “In the field, certain approaches are appropriate (Accredited Valuation Analyst), respectively. appropriate methods of business valuation. for certain types of businesses,” explains Villella. They are also active with NACVA, the National “Whomever the client received her information Association of Certified Valuation Analysts, using the organization’s from was using an inappropriate approach for her type of business.” resources to provide the best possible service for those in need. Even skilled accountants or lawyers with a great deal of financial Who might need the services of Berryhill, Hoffman and Getsee? information will get inaccurate information that yields insufficient There are many: The business owner who needs to put a value on a or unsatisfactory results if they do not understand the process of business that has taken many years to grow; the prospective inves- valuation, she points out. “That’s why our service is so valuable,” she tor who needs to know the right amount to pay for a prospective says, “because we do understand the process, and assure that approbusiness; or the attorney who needs to know what value to use for priate methods of valuation are followed.” In that regard, the record a business interest owned by a client in a civil lawsuit. Some other of Berryhill, Hoffman and Getsee speaks for itself. areas the firm specializes in include estate planning and estate/gift tax returns; buy/sell agreements; shareholder disputes; litigation for for information: Berryhill, Hoffman and Getsee, P.A. 107 NE 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34470 divorce, eminent domain and lost-profit analysis; family limited Phone: 352.622.4220 partnerships; and financing for SBA loans over $250,000. www.ocalascpa.com The key components one recognizes when working with the exPHOTOS: FRED LOPEZ AND ERIC HEIKKINEN

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We Can Help!

Our award-winning staff of editors and designers will provide you with everything you need to get your words in print, on bookshelves and in readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hands. What to expect: The process is simple: You write. We provide you with editing, design, distribution and marketing options that fit into your budget. Contact: Alex Martinez at 352.622.2995 ext.301 or email alex@ocalamagazine.com

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NEWS, EVENTS & MORE

50 Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s News

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening in and around the Ocala community.

55 Top Tables 61 Snapshots

Candid shots of events around town.

67 Ocala Medical Journal This month, we focus on the eye.

78 Calendar

Important dates to keep in mind.

80 VOX

The voice of the people.

Artist: Sheri Gruver Model: Lacey Alexandra Lieto Photographer: Eric Heikkinen To see a time-lapse video on the creation of this intriguing work of body art, visit www.ocalamagazine.com.

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STORIES BY: JOHN SOTOMAYOR,

PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK

ASHLEY WILSON & ROB FEEMAN

Sizzling September September Originally the seventh month of the Roman lunar calendar—hence its name, derived from the Latin word septem, meaning “seven”—September became the ninth month in 153 B.C., when the start of the calendar year was moved from March to January. Previously a 29-day month, September received an additional day in 45 B.C., when Julius Caesar reconfigured the calendar, basing it on the solar year. The autumnal equinox takes place this year on September 23rd at 9:04 a.m. September is National Cholesterol Education Month, National Honey Month, National Yoga Month, and Recovery Month, which celebrates people in recovery from substance abuse. On This Date Sept. 2, 1966 – The Miami Dolphins played their first home game at the Orange Bowl. Sept. 5, 1950 – Hurricane Easy struck Cedar Key, producing the single greatest 24-hour rainfall in Florida history (38.7 inches). Sept. 6, 1854 – Alachua county commissioners ordered a survey for the new town of Gainesville. Sept. 8, 1565 – Founding of St. Augustine by Pedro Menendez. Sept. 12, 1847 – The first post office in the city of Ocala opened (one was already open at Fort King), with William Roberts as postmaster.

Sept. 27, 1906 – Dedication ceremonies for the University of Florida’s Gainesville campus. Sept. 27, 1514 – Ponce de Leon named Military Captain and Adelantado (governor) of Florida. Sept. 30, 1822 – Joseph Marion Hernandez elected as Florida’s first territorial delegate to the U.S. Congress. Sources: Florida Historical Society, City of Ocala

Sizzling Movies, TV and DVDs MOVIES

Sept. 9 – Contagion Sept. 9 – Warrior Sept. 16 – The Lion King 3D Sept. 23 – Dolphin Tale Sept. 23 – Moneyball Sept. 30 – Dream House TV: NEW THIS FALL

Sept. 13 – Ringer (CW) Sept. 19 – The Playboy Club (NBC) Sept. 22 – Charlie’s Angels (ABC) Sept. 22 – Prime Suspect (NBC) Sept. 25 – Pam Am (ABC) Sept. 26 – Terra Nova (Fox) DVDS

Sept. 9 – X-Men: First Class Sept. 13 – Thor Sept. 13 – Citizen Kane 70th Anniversary Collector’s Edition Sept. 16 – Star Wars on Blu-ray Sept. 20 – Bridesmaids Concerts Sept. 8 – The Oak Ridge Boys, St. Augustine Amphitheatre

Sept. 9 – Brad Paisley, 1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheatre, Tampa Sept. 10 – Delbert McClinton, Florida Theatre, Jacksonville Sept 17 – Live Bate, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, Circle Square Cultural Center, Ocala Sept. 17 – Journey and Foreigner, 1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheatre, Tampa Sept. 18 – Marc Anthony, Amway Center, Orlando Sept. 19 – Elvis Costello, the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, Orlando Sept. 23 – Lola & the Saints, a doo-wop group, Circle Square Cultural Center Sept. 30 – Jeff Foxworthy, St. Pete Times Forum Out of Town Sept.9-11 – Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream, Amway Center, Orlando Sept. 10-11 – 16th Century St. Augustine Historic Encampment, Fountain of Youth Archeological Park Sept. 12-Nov. 1 – Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Sept. 15-18 – Sawgrass Wine & Spirits Festival, Ponte Vedra Beach Sept. 22-25 – Clearwater Film Festival, showcasing feature-length, short, documentary and animated films Sept. 23-24 – Marianna May Festival and Battle of Civil War Reenactment, Mariannna, Fla. Sept. 30- Nov. 13 – EPCOT International

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Food and Wine Festival, Walt Disney World Sept. 30-Oct. 2 – 33rd Annual Destin Seafood Festival Other Events Sept. 11 – 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, with events held around the community and country Sept. 11-17 – National Aerospace Week Sept. 22 – 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps, with events taking place around the country Sept. 19-25 – National Wellness Week Sept. 24-25 – 11th Annual National Book Festival, organized by the Library of Congress, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Sept. 30 – A Time for Yoga: A Global Community Yoga Practice, with free classes at 1,200 yoga studios nationwide Ashley Wilson

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PHOTOS: ERIC HEIKKINEN

Bridal Make-Over Special Thanks to Our Summer Interns

All of us here at Ocala Magazine extend a heartfelt thanks to Ashley Wilson and Joana Sosa for their exceptional contributions to the magazine as summer interns. Both have contributed to our Charity Directory and Social Datebook, which will be part of our upcoming Charity Issue this fall, and have written items for the What’s News sections of our summer issues. In addition, Joana contributed to the 2011 Summer Family Activity Guide in the June issue, and Ashley researched and wrote many of the listings for the Fall Arts Preview in this issue. Their contributions are greatly appreciated, and we wish them well as they continue their college studies—Joana at the University of South Florida in Tampa, and Ashley at Florida State University in Tallahassee. If you’re a college student interested in a Fall (September to December) or Winter/Spring (January to May) editorial internship at the magazine, or if you’d like to get your name in early for an internship next summer, please contact John Sotomayor at john@ ocalamagazine.com. Corrections

In the August 2011 issue, we inadvertently omitted proper attribution for the sidebar titled “Seven Secrets of Scientology” on page 26. The information presented in the sidebar was drawn from an article by Janet Reitman, an investigative journalist and author of the recent book “Inside Scientology.” We have contacted Ms. Reitman, and she’s aware of our error. Also in the August issue, in the “What’s New” feature article, we

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OCALA MAGAZINE

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what’snews incorrectly identified the owner of the Ocala Drive-in at 4850 S. Pine Ave. The new owners of the drive-in are John and Charles Watzke, who come from a family with a long history in theater ownership and management. Their grandfather, in fact, started the projectionist union in New Orleans in 1918. The Ocala Drive-in has been remodeled and shows double features seven nights a week. To find out what’s currently playing, you can visit the drive-in’s website at www.ocaladrivein.info. Council Unopposed, Citizens Uninvolved

Despite frequent criticism by citizens in public forums and letters to the editor on the state of affairs, two city council seats will be filled without election. Incumbent City Councilwoman Mary Sue Rich, District 2, and newcomer John McLeod, who will represent District 4, vacated by mayoral candidate Kent Guinn, will literally walk into the posts without challengers. The election for these posi-

tions is already closed. During a time when citizens are in an uproar, alleging that the government is not representing their interests appropriately, why aren’t more people stepping forward to lead? Worse, fewer citizens are involved in civic boards. There are currently vacant board seats on a number of the City of Ocala boards, such as the Recreations Commission, the Municipal Arts Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commission. If you want to see change, be the change. To find out how you can get involved, visit www.ocalafl.org or call 352-629-CITY. Saluting the Arts

It is a luncheon and expo fit for the 9 Grecian muses of the arts. In fact, 9 participating art organizations will showcase their art forms in the Saluting the Arts exhibition, MCA’s tribute to the different art organizations in Ocala/Marion County that make up

Join the Club

Shreyas Ammol Jethwani

E.A.R.S.—the Endangered Animal Rescue Sanctuary—is a nonfor-profit organization that exists specifically to provide permanent homes for unwanted and abused endangered animals. The facility is housed on thirty-five acres of land in Citra, and for over a decade has been home to more than 200 rescued tigers, lions, cougars, bears and monkeys. Among the individuals who have been touched by the plight of these animals is Shreyas Amol Jethwani, the son of Meenu Jethwani, a certified lymphedema therapist. Shreyas joined E.A.R.S. in 2008 after volunteering at the sanctuary, and soon realized that there must be a way for kids to help these animals.

“The involvement of youth is necessary, in any conservation and preservation society, as after the first generation, a second must come along to keep the work going,” Shreyas says. With this ideology in mind, he has worked closely with Jaye Perret, the founder of E.A.R.S., to create the E.A.R.S. Million Kids Club. His goal is to have one million kids donate a dollar and involve them in the care of the animals. The members of the club will decide how a portion of funding is spent to help the various animals in the sanctuary. To join the E.A.R.S. Million Kids Club, interested youth should contact Shreyas at Tigerpaws96@gmail.com. To learn more about E.A.R.S., you can visit the facility’s website at www.earsinc.net.

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their alliance on Wednesday, September 7th, 12:30 pm at the Hilton Ocala: the Marion County Center for the Arts, Ocala Civic Theater, Ocala Symphony Orchestra, Fine Arts on Broadway, Marion Ballet Theatre, Appleton Museum, and the Chamber Music Society; the Insomniac Theater as well as the College of Central Florida.

Licensed to Please

Now you can drive your car and support the local arts scene, both at the same time, by purchasing a Florida Arts License Plate. Part of the purchase price of every plate is distributed to the county in which the plate was sold, where the funds are used to support local arts organizations. In each county, a specific recipient organization receives the funds. In Marion County, the recipient organization is the City of Ocala Municipal Arts Commission, which supports all art forms and cultural groups throughout the county. The Florida Arts License Plate Program was created by the state legislature in 1994, and it’s a great way to support local arts. So the next time you’re considering a new license plate for your vehicle, make yours a work of art.

Just a quick note to let you know that the “My Designer’s Attic” ads in Ocala Magazine are working! We have seen a large increase in the number of new customers visiting the store. When we ask these new customers how they heard about us, a large percentage state that they saw the ad in Ocala Magazine! They also state how the ad caught their eye! Thanks and keep up the good work!

Jim Holstrom My Designer’s Attic

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what’snews

“It’s a very exciting time,” says Willet Boyer III, curator and director of the new Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology, located in East Hall at the MacPherson Governmental Complex on the eastern side of the city. “We have a lot of wonderful things coming up.” First on the list of upcoming events is the museum’s official ribbon cutting and grand opening, scheduled for Sept. 18th starting at 3 p.m. In preparation for the opening, Boyer, his staff and volunteers have been busy finishing up exhibits and displays, organizing a library, cataloging the museum’s artifacts, and training docents and volunteers. When the museum opens its doors to the public, it will showcase 13,000 years of Marion County’s history, in part through its impressive collection of archaeological artifacts, dating back more than 10,000 years, and all found right here in the county, literary in the ground under our feet. “Marion County has such a phenomenal history,” says Boyer. “We have an area that’s bigger than the state of Rhode Island, but from an archaeologist’s and a historian’s perspective, what’s always surprised me is the fact that there is so much here that we know so very little about. So little research

has been done on the archaeology here, and very little about the county’s history is known elsewhere.” The museum and its supporters are out to change that. Visitors to the museum will essentially be able to walk through the county’s and city’s history, in the form of displays, exhibits, antiques, artifacts and concept panels. Upon entering the building, visitors can explore the “marquee” display area, which will house special rotating exhibits focusing on a particular period of time, an important historical event or a specific archaeological site. Currently, the marquee display area showcases about 250 pieces from the Henderson Collection of artifacts found at Silver Glen Springs in the Forest during the 1930s. The artifacts, including cups, shell tools, spear points and hammers, date from the Paleo Period (11,000 to 8,000 B.C.) up to the time of European contact in the 1500s. Visitors can also view a 15-foot dugout canoe from antiquity, found at the bottom of the Oklawaha River and currently on loan to the museum from the state. “Very few wooden artifacts survive if they don’t have that type of [water] preservation,” Boyer says. “We’re fortunate here along the

East Hall, the building that houses the Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology, is itself a historical artifact, having at one time been part of the MacPherson Industrial School for Girls. Built in 1936, at a time when SE 27th Avenue and Fort King Street were still unpaved, East Hall served as a sort of isolation and detention center for students at the school. Now on the National Register of Historical Places, it’s owned by the county, and is undergoing an interior transformation in the buildup to the museum’s grand opening on Sept. 18th. Following the opening, the museum will be open regular hours seven days a week.

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Willet Boyer III, curator and director of the new Marion County Museum of History

Oklawaha, which is one of the oldest flowing rivers in this area, to have these sorts of items.” From the marquee exhibit hall, visitors can literally walk through time. “What we’ve done is designed a series of timeline exhibits that begin with the first human beings in Marion County, which were the Paleo-Indians, and go all the way through the modern era,” says Boyer. Highlights include bones of animals like mammoths and mastadons, all found in the county; items from Boyer’s own archaeological dig in west Ocala; and a collection of archaeological pieces, including arrowheads, found by Robin Corsiglia, an amateur archaeologist and currently a volunteer at the museum. Corsiglia found the artifacts in the Woodfield subdivision just south of the MacPherson Complex when he was a teenager. However, Boyer’s goal for the museum goes far beyond static displays, as informational as they are. “We want to emphasize that this is not going to be simply a display museum,” he says. “What we want here is an active research facility that teaches people about history and archeology by being directly involved with the museum itself. We will schedule digs in which people can participate for our public archaeology program. The idea is that people learn by doing. We want to awaken their awareness, that everywhere around us there’s this phenomenal past right under out feet.” And now it’s also on display for the residents of Marion County to view.

Got a favorite story or memory of Ocala’s past? Tell us about it at www.ocalamagazine.com.

9/2/11 3:35:26 PM

TOPTABLE TABLES TABL TABLE ES ES Tilted Kilt

The Tilted Kilt invites you to pull up a bar stool and get comfortable. They offer “the best-looking sports pub you’ve ever seen” with five features to make sure you always have a good time: ice cold beer and plenty of it, flavorful pub fair you’ll love, all the sports you desire yearround, a festive atmosphere with friends and, last but not least, attractive lasses and lads happy to put a smile on your face and make you feel at home in Celtic fashion. Slainte Mhath! (Cheers!)

June

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TOPTABLES BFE (Booze, Food and Entertainment) Brand new menu featuring homemade soups, salads, and wraps. All made fresh daily, including mouth-watering burgers and wings. Live entertainment on the weekends. Mondays buy two meals get appetizer free. Kids eat free on Tuesdays. Great for private parties, or have your next big event catered. 4 p.m.2 a.m. Closed Sun. 18 SW Broadway St., Ocala 352.351.BFE1(2331). Experience fine Cuvée Wine & Bistro dining in one of Ocala’s most inspiring settings. Sample over 100 new and rare wines using their innovative self-serving wine systems. Daily chef specials utilizing the finest ingredients. Mon-Thu 4-10 p.m., Fri-Sat 4-11 p.m. for dinner. 2237 SW 19th Ave/Rd., Ocala 352.351.1816. Reservations preferred. All major credit cards accepted. Honey Baked Ham A forty-year family tradition of hand-selected, 24-hour smoked ham and turkey, sliced to perfection, in a cozy sandwich cafe. Come in for a boxed lunch, shop while you wait, or pick up a dinner and sides to go. Don’t forget about our delicious desserts. Mon-Fri 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sat 11 a.m.4 p.m. We Deliver. 2709 SW 27 Avenue, Ocala 352.861.0011. “Best of Laki’s Greek Restaurant the Best” 2010, famous for their gyros! Proudly serving Ocala for 25 years. Laki’s is big on flavor, friendliness and fast service. Plus reasonable prices. Don’t fret over hot stoves—let Laki’s do the work! Mon-Thu 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun 12-9 p.m., 3405 S.W. State Road 200 #107, Ocala 352.237.3090.

Mochi Frozen Yogurt

If you haven’t tried mouthwatering Mochi Frozen Yogurt yet, you’re missing out. Not only is it unbelievably delicious but healthy too. Mochi Frozen Yogurt is made from 100-percent natural, nonfat, low-calorie ingredients that are cholesterol-free. The selection of flavors at self-serve stations include Taro, Coconilla, Lovers (Strawberry-Mango), Original, Vanilla and Chocolate, plus weekly flavors like Raz, Strawberry Kiwi, Cappuccino and Orange Burst. So drop by weekly to see the latest flavors. Top it off with a number of options, such as daily fresh fruit, cereal, nuts and candy! Enjoy comfortable indoor or outdoor seating, conveniently located by Regal Cinemas.

Mesa de Notte Ristorante Benvenuto, welcome, to Ocala’s only Italian fine dining experience in town! Chef Moreno shares his passion for Italian cuisine in a romantic setting for all to enjoy. The ambience is exquisite. The food divine. Fall in love at Mesa de Notte and with your new ristorante of choice. Buon appetito! Open daily for lunch and dinner Mon-Fri 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sat-Sun 3 – 10 p.m. 2436 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 352.732.4737. With the The Mojo Grill and Catering sweet sounds of the Blues in the air, and décor straight from a Mississippi delta eatery, Mojo’s

Grill brings soul into downtown Ocala. Satisfy just about any craving you have, particularly if you’re hankering for food with a Cuban slant. Mojo’s is also a full service catering company that can handle all of your event needs. Check out their open acoustic jam Tue 7-10 p.m., enjoy live music Fri & Sat eves, and enjoy Sunday dinner and a movie at the Marion Theatre for only $15. Mon-Thu 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-12 a.m.; Sun 12-7 p.m. 103 SE 1st Avenue, Ocala 352.369.6656. Also located at 5710 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview 352.307.6656.

Ocala Wine Experience– HOME OF HORSE’S ASS WINE, GOLF BALLS, JEANS & APPAREL. Live music Friday and Saturday nights, wine tasting, gourmet cheeses, fondue, pizzas, desserts, coffee, eclectic gifts, gourmet holiday gift baskets. Private party and meeting space. Hookas in the courtyard with fruit tobacco and cigars. Personalized wine labels available for individuals or businesses. Daily Wine Tastings! HOURS: Mon - Thurs 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., Fri 1 p.m. - Midnight., Sat 2 p.m. - Midnight. 36 S.W. 1st Ave., Ocala, FL 352.369.9858 www.ocalawineexperience.com | www.wineexperience.cc

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Voted 2010 Best of the Best

9/2/11 3:28:53 PM

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream– Bruster’s believes there’s no richer reward in life than the smooth, creamy pleasure of fresh ice cream. Bruster’s rotates over 30 of their 145 flavors every day, and because every generous scoop is made just a few steps from the counter where it’s served, it always tastes fresh. Favorite flavors include Birthday Cake, Cotton Candy, Peanut Butter Puddles, White Turtle and Key Lime Pie. Don’t forget their free doggie sundaes and baby cones for children under 40 inches. BANANA THURSDAYS: banana splits are 1/2 price if you bring your own banana 2707 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 352.622.2110 brusters.com HOURS: Sun-Thu Noon-10pm / Fri-Sat Noon-11pm

Tilted Kilt– Welcome to the Tilted Kilt! Your home for ice cold beer, mouthwatering pub fare, a festive atmosphere, friendly staff, and televised sports year round. Our menu features an array of satisfying options sure to please everyone, from sliders, wings and wraps to shepherd’s pie, pasta and more! Visit tiltedkilt.com to view our menu or better yet, just stop in. Join us for the Tilted Kilt Cruise-In, Oct. 5, 2011 from 6 pm - 9pm. You’ll be glad you did! Hours: Mon - Sat 11 a.m. - 12 a.m., Sun 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. 3155 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala, FL 352.351.5458

Tony’s Sushi & Japanese Steak House– Visit www.tonysushi.com for 40% off on gift card! Tony is a creative artist when it comes to his extensive menu, welcoming atmosphere and delicious food. He brings scrumptious sushi favorites from New York and Miami. Tony’s now offers specialty rolls in half orders, so you can enjoy all of your favorites in one sitting. Experience our HIBACHI GRILL where the chef prepares fresh entrees and entertains right before your eyes! Don’t hesitate to try our exciting daily specials. We OFFER private parties and a fantastic catering service. Hours Mon. – Thur. 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Fri. – Sat. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. – 10 p.m. HAPPY HOUR 2:30-6:00, 2 for 1, Draft Beer and Well Liquor BUY HALF SUSHI ROLL FOR HALF PRICE 3405 S.W. College Road, #103, Ocala, FL 34474 352.237.3151

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TOPTABLES Mochi Frozen Yogurt– Mochi frozen yogurt is causing a craze here in Ocala! Did you know yogurt is one of the healthiest foods in the world? Not only healthy and delicious, Mochi frozen yogurt is also 100% natural, nonfat, low-calorie, cholesterol-free and contains eight times more live and active cultures than normal yogurt. Indulge in Taro, Coconilla, Lychee and more! Top off your swirly creation with cereals, nuts, candies, and fresh fruit cut daily! CAUTION: Mochi frozen yogurt is addictive and may cause extreme cravings! Open 7 days a week, 12pm-Midnight 2611 SW 19th Ave. Road (By Regal Cinemas), Ocala, FL 352.671.1556

El Azteca EN FUEGO! Quality, traditional authentic Mexican cuisine. Homemade chile relleno. Come join us for the best fajitas in town. Daily Lunch, Dinner and Bar specials. Mariachi band on Thu 6 - 9 p.m. Karaoke on Fridays 8 - 12 a.m. Join us for gameday fun. Outdoor seating now available. Happy Hour Mon-Thurs 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday 11 a.m. - 12 a.m. Saturday 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday all day 2-4-1 Margaritas. All major credit cards accepted. Full bar available. Family atmosphere. 32-oz draft all day Saturdays/Sundays for only $2.00! 4011 East Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 352.854.5500

Kotobuki Japanese Restaurant– Kotobuki in Ocala has served its patrons the finest in Japanese cuisine since 1986. Kotobuki offers hibachi-style cooking at your table, freshly made sushi from the sushi bar and authentic Japanese cuisine from the Washoku room. MENU ITEMS INCLUDE Steak, scallops, lobster tail, filet mignon and sushi. HOURS Sun. & Mon.: 4:30 – 9 p.m.; Lunch: Tuesday – Thursday 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Dinner 4:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.; Fri.: 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Dinner 4:30 – 10:30 p.m.; Sat. 4:30 – 10:30 p.m. 2463 S.W. 27th Ave., Ocala, FL Shady Oaks Plaza next to Best Buy 352.237.3900

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Sheila Noroozi, DPM, FACFAS Diplomate, American Board of Podiatric Surgery Certified in Foot and Ankle Surgery

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SNAPSHOTS see + be scene

Laura and Don Ewoldt

Shawn Ridgely, Erica Gonzalez, Aimee Belanger, Melissa Goodson and Kayla Abernathy

Steve Hollosi and Felicia Prather

Chamber After Hours

Les Singleton and Gary R. Fischer Ryan Genty, Rosemarie Cefalo and Jimmie Childress

Ready, set, GO! Ocala Grand Prix hosted a high-octane Business After-Hours for the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce that had everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engines revving! After thrills on the raceway, thirsty patrons headed for the tent for food, drinks, networking with new and old friends and door prizes! The next Business After-Hours will be September 15th at Honda of Ocala, 5 -7 pm. PHOTOS: RON WETHERINGTON

Megan McQueen and Troy Mitchell Charlotte Axelson, Kim Bramman and Sara Postlethnaite

Franklin Gonzalez, Joe Reichel, John Abegglen and Ernie Clautier

For more SnapShots www.ocalamagazine.com.

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SNAPSHOTS Dr. Bill Ramsay, Beth Ramsay and Dan Marino

Shelia, Zoe and Haley DeLeon

Dr. Harvey Taub and Lauren Taub (Mambo) Nicole Orr and Dristy Mendoza

Stacy Westbrook and Ashton Mears escorted by YMCA children Dave Fechtman, Steven and Suzanne Wingo and Barbara Fitos Rick and Susan Allen and Marge Felix

Dancing the Night Away

The Institute of Cardiovascular Excellence presented the inaugural Dancing the Night Away with the YMCA, where 180 people danced the Cha-cha for charity raising $15,000 benefitting the Marion County Family YMCA Scholarship program. The purpose of the association is to improve the lives of all in Central Florida by connecting individuals, families and communities with opportunities based on Christian values that strengthen Spirit, Mind and Body. Ray Spencer and Cindy Godfrey (East Coast Swing)

For more SnapShots www.ocalamagazine.com.

063 I OCALAMAGAZINE.COM I 2011 June

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Elizabeth Marino, Mary Kathryn Paradice and Jim Cooke

PHOTOS: RON WETHERINGTON

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Horsepower in Horse Country OCALA PUMPKIN RUN 3-Day Classic Car Show & More October 28th, 29th & 30th Castro Farms Ocala, FL

More than a Car Show!

The inaugural Ocala Pumpkin Run Classic Car Show is three days of amazing classic car action, hosting an estimated 3,000 vehicles. Located on 400 beautiful acres at Castro Farms, the Ocala Pumpkin Run is fun for the whole family! There’ll be judging with awards and prizes, a swap meet, vendors galore, delicious food, arts & crafts, an evening VIP event at Dish in Ocala, a car corral, and family activities such as “trunk-or-treating” and a hay maze! Participants are registering from all over the southeast and beyond. Come celebrate “Horsepower in Horse Country”!

Our Sponsors Include: Cody’s Original Roadhouse National Parts Depot Classic Collectors Jenkins Auto Group Ocala Harley Davidson American Classic Motor Cars Ocala Volvo Beautiful Moments Party Big Sun Classic Car Auctions Artisinal Dish Grand Oaks Resort & Many More!

OcalaPumpkinRun.com Visit our web site for the latest news, to sign up for our mailing list, and to follow us on Twitter or Facebook. You can also call us at (352) 620-9998.

ATTENTION CAR CLUBS: Register early and as a group! We’ll keep you together with all your buddies and if enough of you register together, we’ll give you a discount! Visit our web site at www.OcalaPumpkinRun.com for registration forms.

Big Sun will be hosting their own Classic Car Auction Saturday Night see website for details.

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e at the v i l d e Film

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the Ocala Medical

journal health+medical

by the numbers

50 million

22 million

Number of individuals in the U.S. who use corrective eyewear to improve their vision

Number of Americans over age 40 affected by cataracts

$150 billion

2.3 million

Amount spent each year in the U.S. on corrective eyewear

36 million

Number of individuals in the U.S. who wear contact lenses photo: shutterstock

medstats

18,305

Number of Americans over age 40 affected by glaucoma

42,642

Number of corneal transplants performed in the U.S. in 2010

15 million

Number of LASIK vision correction procedures performed in the U.S. through 2009

96.2

Percentage of patients who achieve 20/40 or better vision after LASIK surgery (2009)

55.3

Percentage of patients who achieve 20/20 or better vision after LASIK surgery (2009)

Number of active ophthalmologists in the U.S.

0067 I ocalamagazine.com I December

MedStats & OMJ 0911.indd 67

Sources: American Academy of Ophthalmology, Food and Drug Administration, American Association of Professional Eyecare Specialists 2008

illustration/photography credit I name goes here

9/2/11 5:07:06 PM

Focus on the Eye When it comes to eye care, new procedures and options can provide better clarity and comfort for patients Walk into an optometristâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s or ophthalmologistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office these days and it could be an eye-opening experience. Eye care has come a long way from the time when doctors simply performed routine eye exams, wrote out prescriptions for eyeglasses and sent patients merrily on their way. Today, eye care has moved into brave new areas, and the skills of doctors are expanding into

new procedures and options designed to greatly improve vision, clarity and comfort for patients. Specialty hybrid contact lenses designed specifically for patients with astigmatism and new thin, light, impact-resistant sports eyeglasses with polycarbonate or Trivex lenses, designed with player safety in mind, are just the beginning. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a quick run-

down on some of the latest advancements in eye care Contact Lenses and Eyeglasses

Contact lens technology is quickly evolving, resulting in new types of lenses available to patients. In January, for instance, a company called SynergEyes released its Duette toric contact lenses for patients with astigmatism (in which irregular surfaces in eyes

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the Ocala Medical

JOURNAL

cause focus problems). The gas-permeable lenses are designed to improve vision and clarity, while a soft skirt of silicone hydrogen surrounding the gas-permeable material makes them more comfortable to wear, creating a new type of lens called a hybrid lens. Typically, patients with astigmatism have had difficulty wearing contact lenses, but new specialty lenses such as these are helping to solve the problem. Other new types of contact lenses, like PureVision 2 lenses from Bausch + Lomb, are designed to minimize spherical aberrations, which can cause blurry vision and

glare. In addition, the lenses, which incorporate “high-definition optics,” can help improve vision in low-light conditions. A number of manufacturers now offer bifocal contact lenses, called multifocals, available in different options. Aspheric lenses place prescriptions for both near and distance viewing in the center of the lens, near the pupil, and rely on your eyes to determine when to ignore near items, when you’re looking in the distance, and far-off items when you’re focusing on something close. Concentric lenses place the prescriptions in a ring pattern, with the distance

prescription in the center and the close-up one further out on the lens, or vice versa. A third type of lens, called translating, places one prescription on top of the other, allowing your eyes to move back and forth between the two. For anyone who plays sports, especially those who wear glasses, eye safety is a concern, and impact-resistant glasses can help. Lightweight polycarbonate lenses have been around since the 1970s, but newer Trivex lenses, introduced about 10 years ago by PPG Industries, can also help protect the eyes. They’re made from a urethane-based

Contact lenses, like PureVision 2 lenses from Bausch + Lomb, are designed to minimize spherical aberrations, which can cause blurry vision and glare. In addition, the lenses, which incorporate “high-definition optics,” can help improve vision in low-light conditions. monomer that can help improve clarity, according to the manufacturer. Cataracts and Corneal Implants

Among the newer, more intriguing options for eye patients, especially those having cataract surgery, are corneal implants. Referred to as intraocular lenses, meaning they’re placed inside the eye, these implants can minimize or nearly eliminate the need for wearing glasses or contact lenses by patients. With names like ReSTOR, ReZoom, Crystalens and TECNIS, these lenses are typically made from silicone or a hard plastic material called polymethylmethacrylate (abbreviated as PMMA). The benefit of the silicone lens is that the doctor can actually fold the lens, insert it into the eye following the removal of a cataract and unfold it in place, resulting in a new lens that gives the patient greatly improved vision. Intraocular lenses are typically inserted

during cataract surgery, since the doctor has already made an incision into the eye to remove the cataract. The lenses are recommended for patients over 45 years of age. However, they can be inserted in a patient who does not need cataract surgery as an elective procedure. When inserted during a cataract surgery, the procedure is often covered by health insurance. Cataract surgery itself is evolving to become a minimally invasive, or small-incision, procedure. Doctors now can make an incision in the cornea of just 3 millimeters (a little over a 10th of a inch), use an ultrasonic device to break up the cataract for easy removal and insert a new intraocular lens, all in some procedure. LASIK Surgery

Big advances are also taking place in LASIK surgery, which is becoming a popular procedure for patients who are tiring of wearing glasses or contact lenses. New

machines, such as the Wavefront Guided Technology LASIK diagnostic tool, precisely map the retina, revealing individual differences between the eyes of a patient. This enables the doctors, using computerguided lasers, to more precisely reshape the cornea to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism to free patients from glasses or contact lenses. Another option, for patients seeking an alternative to LASIK surgery, is a procedure called Conductive Keratoplasty, or CK. In this procedure, the doctor uses radio waves instead of a laser to reshape the cornea. As a result of the procedure, which takes only a few minutes to perform with topical anesthesia (eye drops), older patients no longer need reading glasses to view close-up items. It’s another new advance that’s improving clarity, comfort and quality of life for eye patients.

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Visionaries for

Years

The visionary doctors at Ocala Eye have good reason to celebrate. For 40 years, they have been on the leading edge of innovation, providing Ocalans and residents of surrounding communities with the latest diagnostic services, medical equipment and surgical techniques, as well as topquality routine eye care, all with a personal touch. Since its founding four decades ago, this medical practice has logged more than 1.5 million patient visits and has grown to include a staff of 13 physicians, comprised of 11 board certified ophthalmologists and two optometrists. Throughout its history, Ocala Eye has consistently been the first practice in the region to offer innovative services, like smallincision, no-shot, no-stitch, no-patch cataract surgery, customized LASIK vision correction and advanced lens implants. Its physicians have built strong glaucoma, retina, oculoplastics and cornea practices, and have established themselves as the leader in refractive surgery techniques used to reduce or eliminate one’s need for glasses. “Ocala Eye is the only multi-subspecialty ophthalmology practice in North Central Florida,” says Mark A. Jank, M.D., a cataract and refractive surgeon who joined the practice in 1988. He also points out that Ocala Eye has the distinction of being in the top 2 percent of ophthalmology practices in the country.

“Very few medical practices have our track record,” he notes. As the date of its 40th anniversary in early November nears, Ocala Eye shows no signs of slowing down, but continues to expand offerings for patients. Its doctors perform thousands of surgical procedures a year, and see more than a hundred thousand patient visits annually at its four offices and surgery center. Dr. Jank and Peter J. Polack, M.D., cornea specialist and cataract surgeon, recently achieved Vision Lock outcomes insurance accreditation, attesting to their refractive surgery skills and expertise. Ocala Eye is one of the first practices in the country to offer em-Power! eyeglasses featuring electronically controlled lenses which automatically adjust focus for distance or near-vision viewing. An enhanced office experience now includes Wi-Fi in its waiting rooms for the convenience of patients. These are just a few examples of how Ocala Eye continues to innovate, providing skilled services and modern amenities. A History of Innovation The roots of Ocala Eye date back to 1971, when ophthalmologist Donald L. Smith, M.D. established an eye care practice on Silver Springs Boulevard. He quickly outgrew his original office and entered into a partnership with other physicians to build the multi-office brick-clad complex known

as Ocala Medical Park, located at 1500 S.E. Magnolia Extension. In 1984, a Pennsylvania ophthalmologist by the name of Gordon C. Schwenk, M.D. relocated to Ocala in hopes of establishing a solo practice. “I was asked to cover for Dr. Smith while he was on leave, and the staff said they would try their best to keep my schedule light,” recalls Dr. Schwenk. “I saw 120 patients my first day.” Dr. Schwenk continued to work with Dr. Smith and they realized that their approaches to ophthalmology meshed quite well. “He invited me to become a partner in his practice, which I accepted. Our efforts were rewarded with a growing and loyal patient base. To this day I still see patients in my exam rooms from when I first partnered with Dr. Smith.” To keep up with patient demand, Dr. Schwenk made a call in 1988 to Dr. Jank, an ophthalmologist he had met at an earlier conference. Dr. Jank partnered with Dr. Schwenk and Dr. Smith, who retired in 1990. Ocala Eye services expanded that same year as John S. Deaton, D.O., and oculoplastics specialist Richard C. Warren, M.D., brought their skills to a practice that was blossoming into one of the premier eye care centers in Florida. By 1996, more specialty ophthalmologists joined Ocala Eye, including glaucoma specialist Michael Morris, M.D., retina specialist Chander N. Samy, M.D.,

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Promotional Feature

Ocala Eye celebrates 40 years of innovation and quality care in Ocala and Marion County and cornea specialist Dr. Polack. During this period, Ocala Eye began a steady march in delivering the latest in diagnostic equipment and surgical techniques to the area. This naturally led to a host of services that only Ocala Eye offered to area patients. “Ocala Eye has been responsible for bringing more new technology and cutting-edge procedures to Ocala than any other practice,” notes Dr. Polack. Some of those innovative procedures include: • Small incision, no-shot, no-stitch, nopatch cataract surgery • Advanced lens implants offering a full range of vision • LASIK vision correction • NearVision CK to correct reading vision for those over 40 • SLT (selective laser trabeculoplasty) treatment for glaucoma • GDx optical nerve ﬁber analyzer • Surgical astigmatism correction • Orbscan topography • Digital ﬂuorescein angiograms • YAG laser technology • Optical coherence tomography • DSAEK sutureless cornea transplants • ExPress shunt glaucoma surgery • AAAHC accredited ophthalmology surgery center In 2005, Hina N. Ahmed, M.D., joined Ocala Eye followed by Jodie A. Armstrong,

M.D. in 2006, retina specialist Robert J. Kraut, M.D. in 2007, and glaucoma specialist Mohammed K. ElMallah, M.D. in 2008. Optometrists Anne M. Menjivar and Juan A. Menjivar, O.D. joined in 2009 and 2010 respectively. Patient-Centered Practice The dramatic increase in patient volume and 40 years of community loyalty stems from the doctors’ commitment to put patients first, focusing on personal care and building relationships. Determining the right procedure at the right time for each individual leads to high levels of patient satisfaction. “Our Customized Cataract Care program exemplifies this,” explains Dr. Jank. “Through patient relationships we can tailor cataract surgery outcomes best suited for the individual, utilizing the most advanced lens implants available. Whether the goal is to address specific visual needs, hobbies, or even spectacle independence, we are one of the few practices in Florida with the breadth of resources to deliver on those expectations.” Ocala Eye’s unique approach starts with a single doctor providing complete care for the patient, from the initial comprehensive eye exam to more specialized services. For example, the same physician who performs a routine eye exam on a patient may at a later time perform tests or surgery on their

patient if needed. In certain cases, patients might be referred to another specialist within the practice, resulting in an easy intraoffice referral. But following the testing or procedure, the patient returns to the care of his or her original Ocala Eye physician. This continuity of care is not universal in ophthalmology. “At Ocala Eye, everything is encompassed in one medical practice,” states Dr. Armstrong. “This includes major subspecialties in ophthalmology, so the patient-doctor relationship stays intact from the most simple to the most complex procedures.” Dr. Morris explains further, “Because of the focus on personal care and building relationships, we can carefully match a specific procedure to a patient. When recommending any procedure, our physicians have to deem it a significant benefit for the patient. An example - for a patient with glaucoma, I would weigh the potential outcomes of a laser glaucoma procedure vs. valve or other glaucoma surgery vs. eye drops. In making a recommendation, we evaluate the best treatments for the patient, taking into account what approach will preserve or enhance vision.” Back to the Future For patients who do require more advanced procedures and high-tech vision solutions, Ocala Eye excels. Its wide range

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of available procedures includes: • CustomVue, a custom LASIK procedure designed to reduce or nearly eliminate a patient’s need for glasses or contact lenses. Using Wavefront technology to precisely map the details of each eye allows for more precise reshaping of the cornea by the laser to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. This procedure also better enhances night vision versus other types of LASIK surgery. • Customized Cataract Care utilizing advanced lens implant procedures, giving cataract patients clearer vision, not just for distance viewing but also for intermediate- and near-vision ranges. Ocala Eye was the ﬁrst practice in the region to offer a small-incision procedure, in which the physician makes an incision of

THE

OcalaEye

TEAM

Gordon C. Schwenk, M.D., F.A.C.S. Mark A. Jank, M.D. John S. Deaton, D.O. Richard C. Warren, M.D. Michael Morris, M.D., F.A.C.S. Chander N. Samy, M.D., F.A.C.S. Peter J. Polack, M.D., F.A.C.S Jodie A. Armstrong, M.D. Mohammed K. ElMallah, M.D. Hina N. Ahmed, M.D. Robert J. Kraut, M.D. Anne M. Menjivar, O.D. Juan A. Menjivar, O.D.

smaller than 3 millimeters in the cornea. The physician then uses an ultrasonic handheld device to break up the cataract for easy removal. The physician can then implant a folded lens through the incision, which, when unfolded in place, provides the patient with clearer vision. Once the procedure is complete, the incision self-seals. There’s no need for a patch or stitch. • DSAEK sutureless cornea transplant surgery is an advanced technique used to restore vision in patients with cornea damage resulting from disease or infection. Ocala Eye is still the only practice in Marion and surrounding counties to perform this revolutionary procedure which dramatically shortens visual recovery and is safer than traditional transplant methods. • emPower! electronic focusing eyewear is available exclusively at Ocala Eye. Using composite lenses with a thin transparent LCD-like layer, these glasses automatically focus distant and near objects utilizing miniature electronics housed in the frame. The LCD layer acts as an on-demand near vision component of a bifocal but without the visual side effects of progressive lenses. For all of these and other procedures and services, patients can rest assured they’ll receive the highest level of expertise and professionalism, due in large part to the practice’s highly qualiﬁed physicians. “My partners and I have trained at some of the top eye-training institutions in the coun-

try,” says Dr. ElMallah, “including Cornell, Duke, Harvard, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, New York Eye & Ear Inﬁrmary, the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, and Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, the main U.S. Air Force hospital.” Given all this, it’s no wonder Ocala Eye is still going strong as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. And there’s even more on the horizon. Within the next few months, the practice will begin offering aesthetic services, such as surgical and non-surgical procedures focusing on areas of the face around the eyes, designed to minimize wrinkles and help patients look younger. New procedures will also deal with conditions like rosacea, improving the appearance of patients as well as their eyesight. With these offerings and others to come, the physicians of Ocala Eye will certainly remain at the edge of innovation. for information: Ocala Eye www.ocalaeye.com 352.622.5183 Magnolia Office 1500 SE Magnolia Ext #106, Ocala 200 West Office 8520 S.W. State Road 200, Ocala Ocala Eye at The Villages 1950 Laurel Manor Drive, #250, The Villages Ocala Eye Retina Consultants 3130 S.W. 32nd Ave., Ocala Ocala Eye Surgery Center 3330 S.W. 33rd Rd., Ocala

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EFFICACY THODS D N A Y T E F A S GICAL ME E ELDERLY. R U S N O N T H OF CURRENTERY BLOCKAGES IN T 1. R EG A gy. June 201 lo io rd TO TREAT L a C f o College

AMAR e American Journal of th NTRIBUTED BY DR. ASAD Q ith significant morbidity and

ssociated w ckages are a lo b y er rt a g rtery tments of le ents for leg a tm ea tr t Surgical trea derly. en w who under the el 70 to 95 years mortality in ed g a ts en ti a 7,769 p wed. dural In this paper ons and stents were follo ad high proce h rs a ye o 0 ll 8 a n b a of greater th blockages by dvanced age te of complications. a h it w ts en a low ra ts • The pati ons and sten l success and f using ballo blockages in the elderly. o and technica n o ti o n e th y ings support t of leg arter • These ﬁnd surgery in the treatmen as opposed to

DECREASED PH IN PATIENTS WITH LEYSICAL ACTIVITY G ARTERY BLO LEADS TO FASTER D ECLINE IN CALF MU CKAGES SCLE MASS. Journal of th e American College of

CONTRIBUTED BY KEV

Cardiology. June 2011

IN NOON, ARNP In patients with leg ar tery blockages, the calf muscles are at great ris density causing a spira k of losing mass and ling decline in functio na l capacity. • 384 patients with m oderate to severe leg ar tery blockages were followed for a pe riod of 4 years. • Physical activity an d Calf muscle density were followed by serial • Patients with lesser CT scans. degree of physical activ ity lost calf muscle m much rapid pace com as s and density at a pared with those who maintained a regular regimen of walking.

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ane

Current Articles From Major Journals DOES VITAMIN D LEAD TO CARDIOVA DEFICIENCY SCULAR DISEASE?

Journal of the Americ

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CONTRIBUTED BY DR.

gy. July 2011.

CLARISSA ABRANTES

Vitamin D levels were measured in 554 subje cts. • In all subjects, arter ial stiffness, the capacit y of the arteries to dil and the function of th ate e inner lining of the ar teries were measured. • Low vitamin D levels were associated with in creased arterial stiffness and decreased capacit y of the arteries to dil ate.

. RT FAILURE A E H D N A S E ! Y BLOCKAG LEG ARTER A DOUBLE JEOPARDY 2011. gust

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UGARTE Y DR. JULIO B D ars. E T U IB R period of 4 ye CONT a r fo ed w o ure were foll ith Heart Fail w ts en llowed ti a p 1 233 eters were fo m ing. ra a p l a ic cise stress test nd clin er a l ex a n ry a io n ct o n u ulm •F pared iodic cardiop es were com er g p a g ck in lo d b u y cl er in cant leg art ts with signiﬁ gnosis. en ti a p e h T • ia out to be ithout this d failure turned alizations. rt ea h h with those w it w d hospit patients blockages in f early death and repeate o • Leg artery r ent predicto an independ

The A

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Diet and Lymphedema The most important goal of any diet related to lymphedema is to maintain an ideal body weight, as there is increasing evidence that obesity contributes to the onset and persistence of lymphedema. A low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet does, in fact, result in greater long-term weight loss and better maintenance of that weight loss once it is achieved. Most evidence also indicates that a proper diet must be paired with regular aerobic conditioning exercise to maintain an ideal body weight. A large area of confusion and concern for many of my patients with lymphedema is the fact that lymphatic fluid is high in proteins. There is a misperception that eating a low-protein diet will somehow improve lymphedema. In fact, this is incorrect. It is important for anyone with lymphedema, unless specifically instructed otherwise by his or her doctor, to eat approximately one gram of protein for every kilogram of body weight. This is necessary to maintain a normal level protein in the blood, which will prevent fluid from shifting into soft tissue spaces. Additionally, excessive salt intake results in fluid retention, therefore, a low-salt diet is recommended along with a multi-vitamin to ensure balanced nutrition. Specific diet recommendations include the reduction of red meat and poultry, due to the presence of arachidonic acid, which is converted into inflammatory chemicals by your body. Fish, on the other hand (especially salmon, mackerel, anchovies and tuna) is high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation and prevent heart disease. Most importantly, a lymphedema diet should be rich in vegetables and fruits, which contain micronutrients, helpful in reducing inflammation and swelling. Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower and dark leafy green vegetables, are especially high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Berries, such as blueberries, blackberries and cherries, are especially good anti-inflammatory fruits, as is pineapple, which contains bromelain. Foods with whole grains, like brown rice, bulgur wheat, beans, lentils and barley, are preferable to pasta, white rice and white potatoes. They contain B vitamins, which have been shown to reduce inflammation and may possibly reduce lymphedema. Recommendations for a healthy diet that to manage lymphedema include low calories, plenty of fluids, low sodium, high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and low in transfats and high fructose corn syrup.

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Photography: EricDeanPhoto.com

ocala magazine

9/2/11 4:49:07 PM

calendarseptember Your guide to what’s happening in Ocala this month

Sept. 1-30 Get Moving Marion County, a month-long fitness program offered by the Marion County YMCA, featuring 21 days of free facility access, wellness support, group exercise classes and more; at the YMCA, 3200 SE 17th St.; 352.368.9622. Sept. 2 First Friday Art Walk, Ocala Historic Downtown Square; 6 to 8 p.m.; 352.671.7469 or www.artwalkocala. com. Sept. 6 “A Decade of Remembrance, Honoring 9/11,” featuring the Ocala Symphony Orchestra’s brass quintet, at the Circle Square Cultural Center, 8395 SW 80th St.; 352.854.3670. Sept. 7 Saluting the Arts Luncheon & Expo, presented by the Marion Cultural Alliance, in recognition of the arts organizations in Marion County; reception begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Hilton Ocala, 3600 SW 36th Ave.; tickets available at www.mcaocala.com

Sept. 8-Oct. 2 “Chicago,” the musical, at the Ocala Civic Theatre; evening performances Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., matinees Saturdays and

Sundays at 2 p.m.; $20 for adults and $10 for students; 4337 NE Silver Springs Blvd.; 352-236-2274 for tickets.

grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony, 3 to 5 p.m., at East Hall, McPherson Complex, 307 Southeast 26th Terrace; 352.260.5762.

Sept. 10 Starry Skies, a family event with guided astronomy viewing and hands-on art activities, from 7 to 10 p.m., at the Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave.; telescopes will be provided. Sept. 10 A 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony will take place Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at the Marion County Veterans Park; veterans, first responders and citizens are invited to attend; the park is located at 2528 East Silver Springs Blvd. Sept. 11 Interfaith Alliance 9/11/11 Service of Remembrance, Hope and Light, commemorating the 9/11 attacks with music, words of wisdom and shared memories; open to members of all faiths and non-faiths; 7 p.m. at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 7171 SW State Road 200; 352.873.9970 for information. Sept 15-16 Annual Indoor Yard Sale, a fundraising event sponsored by the

Pioneer Garden Club, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days at the Appleton Museum Complex; 352-236-4888 for information.

Sept. 19 1st Annual Fashion Show and Luncheon, benefitting the Christian 12 Step Ministry of Ocala, starting at 12 p.m. at Oak Run Country Club, 10983 SW 89th Ave.; tickets are $25 and are available at Beall’s Department Store; www.christian12step.org for more information. Sept 16 “Bras for a Cause,” a fundraising event sponsored by Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Ocala Oncology, at Ocala Art in the Park, 40 SW 1st Ave., starting at 6 p.m., with a second event open to the public on Sept. 17th at the same location and time; 352-229-2044 for information.

Sept. 23 Lola & the Saints, a doo-wop group, 7 p.m. at the Circle Square Cultural Center, 8395 SW 80th St.; 352.854.3670.

Sept 17 Live Bate, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, 7 p.m. at the Circle Square Cultural Center, 8395 SW 80th St.; 352.854.3670.

Sept. 23-24 Junior League of Ocala’s 16th annual Autumn Gift Market, benefitting community service projects of the Junior League, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days; College of Central Florida gymnasium, 3001 SW College Rd.; contact Beth Meadows at memeadows@hotmail.com for information.

Sept. 17-18 Fall Home & Garden Show, presented by the Marion County Building Industry Association; featuring workshops, displays and Jim Parks, host of HGTV’s New Spaces; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, College of Central Florida, 3001 SE College Rd.; 352-694-4133

Sept. 24 10th Annual Marion County Springs Festival, celebrating the county’s freshwater springs, with exhibitors, demonstrations, speakers and vendors; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Silver River State Park, 1425 NE 58th Ave.; contact Deborah.Wilson@ dep.state.fl.us for details.

Sept. 18 Jamming in the Park, featuring an eclectic group of musicians in a “jam session,” starting at 4 p.m. at the Marion Oaks Community Center, 294 Marion Oaks Lane; 352.347.2069.

Sept. 24 Buy Local Business Expo, featuring more than 125 exhibitors, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Paddock Mall, 3100 SW College Rd.; 352.629.8051, ext. 106 for more info.

Sept. 18 Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology formal

Sept. 24-25 “Rose,” a onewoman drama starring Olympia

SEPTEMBER 2011

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Dukakis; 7 p.m. on the 24th and 3 p.m. on the 25th, at the College of Central Florida Fine Arts Auditorium, 3001 SW College Rd.; for ticket information, contact the CF Box Office at 352.873-5810 or tickets.cf.edu. Sept. 29 Official unveiling of new horses for Horse Fever 2011, on Ocala’s Historic Downtown Square; for information, contact the Marion Cultural Alliance at 352.369.1500 or www.mcaocala.com. Sept. 30-Oct. 30 Timberline Farm Corn Maze Festival, every Friday from 4 p.m. to dusk and weekends from 10 a.m. to dusk; Timberline

Farm at 3200 SE 115th Ave., Belleview; 352-454-4113 or www.timberlinefarm.net. Oct. 1 6th Annual All-GM Car Show, drawing General Motors enthusiasts from around the region; Silver Springs, Nature’s Theme Park, 5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd.; www.silversprings.com. Oct. 1 Kids Central 5th annual One Childhood, One Change Kinship Care Conference, an annual conference for all relative caregivers in the district, at College of Central Florida’s Klein Center, 3001 SW College Rd.; 352.387.3526 for details.

CONNECTING HEART, BODY, MIND & SOUL

September @ the Appleton Appletonmuseum.org Sept. 11 “Remembering 9/11,” part of the SoundArt Series, featuring pianist Michael Wittenburg; 3 p.m.

PHOTOS AND ILLUSTRATIONS: SHUTTERSTOCK

Through Sept. 18 “Healing Heart: Witness the Healing Power of Art,” featuring more than 100 words of art by individuals receiving treatment for mental disorders, trauma, autism and other illnesses. Through Sept. 25 “Recent Acquisitions,” presenting more than 20 works of art that have been added to the Appleton’s collections in the past year Oct. 1 Public opening of “Tradition/Innovation: American Masterpieces of Southern

Crafts and Traditional Art” and “Poetry: Landscapes by Jackie Schindehette”

Awareness

Oct. 1 First Saturday: “Da Da Da Vinci,” a program for children ages 4-12 Oct. 2 “Back to Baroque,” part of the SoundArt Series, featuring 17th-century compositions; 3 p.m. Educational Art Films (2 p.m.) • Sept. 4 Concrete, Steel & Paint, a Healing Heart Film • Sept. 11 I Remember Better When I Paint, a Healing Heart Film • Sept. 20 Frida • Sept. 25 Degas and the Dance

Got an important date coming up? Share your event for free at www.ocalamagazine.com.

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OCALA MAGAZINE

9/2/11 9:03:54 AM

VOX

“The final process

is a dress rehearsal run-through with the light and sound cues. There are a lot of elements. Your mind would explode if you tried to do it all at once.”

voice of the people

—Jessica Morin, who plays Roxie Hart in Ocala Civic Theatre’s upcoming production of Chicago: The Musical, describing the intense rehearsal process

“In today’s difficult economic environment, we need to do everything possible to maximize the collective efforts of the business community and to ensure we are using our resources effectively.” —Steve Purves, current chairman of the Economic Development Council, on the merger of his organization with the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce

“This is not just a history museum— it’s intended to be our history museum, we being the people of Marion County. All of the artifacts you will see here [at the museum] come from this area, whether they’re historical or archeological.” —Willet Boyer III, curator and director of the Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology, which opens to the public on Sept. 18th

“Serve the city well,

and focus on the items you feel the people want and need.”

—Mayor Randy Ewers, offering advice to his successor as mayor

“My friends and I have been coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress. It’s time for our government to get serious about shared sacrifice.” —Billionaire Warren E. Buffet, explaining why the super-rich should pay more taxes, in an op-ed piece in The New York Times

“We’re not Manhattan, but we have human lives here in Vermont, too.” 80

SEPTEMBER 2011

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—Governor Peter Shumlin of Vermont, criticizing the media’s coverage of Hurricane Irene, which concentrated on New York City

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