Cover Model Winner Mia Parada

Introducing OM 2022 Cover Model Winner Mia

Parada

PHOTOGRAPHY BY RALPH DEMILIO

WARDROBE FROM DILLARD'S OCALA

About Mia

School: Dr. N.H. Jones Elementary School. Favorite color: Yellow. Favorite subject at school: Art. Extracurricular activities you love: Basketball, running, and drawing A little about your siblings: They are crazy, funny, and playful. About your pets: I have one dog. So fluffy and cute. What music/performers do you enjoy? Pop, country and a little rock What do you want to be when you grow up? Artist/ Designer Anything else you want to say? Thank you for picking me!!!!!

OM PULSE Each month, Ocala Magazine will showcase the tastes, opinions and desires of its readers through its online survey. For July, we discovered these inclinations: OF OM READERS QUIZZED SAID THEY WILL TRAVEL STATEWIDE THIS SUMMER; 56% will travel nationally and 28% will travel internationally. 78%

Another year down and still Ocala’s most award-winning OF OM RESPONDENTS SAY THEY DO NOT HAVE A FEAR OF FLYING; 22% DO. The Kitchen IS THE ROOM THAT OM RESPONDENTS DEMAND THE MOST PERFECTION IN THEIR HOUSE, ACCORDING TO 50%. The living room is next at 22%, followed by the master bedroom and bathroom at 11%. 78% 28% THE GUITAR IS THE FAVORITE INSTRUMENT AMONG OF OM RESPONDENTS. The piano and violin are favorites of 22% of respondents. magazine. 2022 Florida Magazine Association Charlie Awards OCALA MAGAZINEOM GENERAL EXCELLENCE

46 | JUL 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM Best Overall Magazine Consumer: Circulation Under 20,000 | Bronze Award | 2022 Ocala Magazine

GENERAL EXCELLENCE Best Overall Designed Magazine

Consumer: Circulation Under 20,000 | Bronze Award | 2022 Ocala Magazine

WRITING EXCELLENCE Best Writing: Public Service Coverage

Consumer: Circulation Under 20,000 | Bronze Award | The Covid Curse

DESIGN EXCELLENCE Best Photography: Cover

Consumer: Circulation Under 20,000 | Silver Award | June 2021

DESIGN EXCELLENCE Best Design: Department

Consumer: Circulation Under 20,000 | Charlie Award | OM Pulse

28 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | 2021-22 CHARITY REGISTER Charity R E G I S T E R

Superman IS THE FAVORITE COMIC SUPERHERO OF 28% OF OM RESPONDENTS. Wonder Woman is preferred by 22% while Batman and Spiderman are the favorites of 11%.

61% OF OM RESPONDENTS THINK THAT WEARING OF MASKS SHOULD BE OPTIONAL FOR STUDENTS RETURNING TO SCHOOL THIS FALL. 22% say schools should be mask-less while 17% think masks should be required.

HALF OF OM RESPONDENTS dip their French fries in ketchup while 28% prefer to dip them in a sauce other than ketchup. 22% of OM respondents like to eat their fries plain.

THE BEST PART OF THE INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY IS THE GATHERING OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS, ACCORDING TO 33% OF OM RESPONDENTS. 28% say fireworks are the best part while 17% enjoy grilling out the most.

61% OF OM RESPONDENTS THINK THAT WEARING OF MASKS SHOULD BE OPTIONAL FOR STUDENTS RETURNING TO SCHOOL THIS FALL. say schools should be mask-less think masks should be required. 61%

OF READERS POLLED SAY THEY SELDOM USE STAMPS AND ENVELOPES. 22% say they regularly use stamps and envelopes while 17% never use them.

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUL 2021 | 47

A sizzlin’ Father’s Day feast OCALA MAGAZINE JUN 2021

Outdoor fashion, recipes, food, tips, and inspiration!

STATE OF GIVING IN MARION COUNTY: The Covid profits to receive continued support from government partners, for-profit peers and the general public as they deal with the various challenges to their operations during these difficult times.”Community Foundation Executive Director Lauren DeIorio said the report confirms what those in the nonprofit sector have been warning.“The nonprofit sector is not doing well,” she said. “ It’s not.”There are more than 1,300 nonprofit organizations in Marion County – everything from food banks and domestic violence shelters to churches and child care programs. For the purposes of its report, the Community Foundation focused on 40 nonprofits representing a cross-section of social sectors, including animal care, the arts, education, faith-based initiatives, health care, human services, public/societal benefits and veterans’ causes.As the report notes, these organizations serve some of the most vulnerable populations among us.“… nonprofits have a deep impact with food distribution, outreach to the most despondent and disparate populations, support Marion nonprofits see demand for services surge while funding slumps There are more than 1,300 nonprofit organizations in Marion County – everything from food banks and domestic violence shelters to churches and child care programs. It is no surprise that during the pandemic Marion County’s nonprofit organizations have seen the demand for their services surge. A recent survey by the Community Foundation of Ocala/Marion County found that 60 percent of the nonprofits here have seen an increase in requests for assistance.At the same time, however, almost as many – 55 percent – say they have seen donations decline and they have been forced to cancel a significant portion of in-person fundraisers, a major source of private donations, due to the pandemic.The findings are part of a recent report by the Community Foundation called “A Year-End Assessment of COVID & the Nonprofit Sector in Marion County, Florida.” “Based on results, it is evident that the Ocala/Marion County nonprofit sector was negatively impacted in 2021 by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” the report states. “Many of the nonprofits experienced an increase in demand of services due to the pandemic’s impact on the local community, while at the same time losing a significant level of general donations and fund-raising revenues. Therefore, it is important for nonCurse BY BRAD ROGERS 2021-22 CHARITY REGISTER | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | 29 Hemp could be a gamechanger Buddy Martin: Ocala’s great communicator

OM PULSE Each month, Ocala Magazine will showcase the tastes, opinions and desires of its readers through its online survey. For October, we discovered these tendancies:

41.2% OF OM RESPONDENTS SAID THEY AND/OR THEIR KIDS WILL GO TRICK-OR-TREATING THIS YEAR.

74.5% OF OM RESPONDENTS SAY THEY WILL DECORATE THEIR HOUSE FOR HALLOWEEN. 20.4% OF OM RESPONDENTS SAID THEY WILL DRESS UP AS SOMETHING SCARY FOR HALLOWEEN. 12.2% will dress up as a superhero, 10.2% as someone famous, 8.2% as an inanimate object and 49% as something else. Believe in Ghosts? 72.9% OM RESPONDENTS SAY THEY DO BELIEVE IN GHOSTS.

Chocolate bars ARE THE FAVORITE HALLOWEEN TREAT AMONG 52.9% OF OM RESPONDENTS. 17.6% prefer gummies, 5.9% hard candy and 3.9% lollipops. 19.6% of OM respondents prefer something else as a Halloween treat.

OF OM RESPONDENTS SAID THEY PLAN ON CARVING A PUMPKIN FOR HALLOWEEN.66%

Pumpkin Spice? 51%