Socially Speaking

from Ocala Magazine May 2022 Digital Issue

by ocalamag

The Age of Elegance

H.O.P.S.

Historic Home & Art Tour

BY ANDREW GRUNTHER PHOTOS BY ROBIN FANNON AND JESSI MILLER

The over 500 attendees enjoyed glimpses into the beautiful and unique homes throughout two of Ocala’s Historic Districts. The Historic Ocala Preservation Society (HOPS) has a long history of conducting both Spring & Winter home tours. Visitors get to admire first hand the beauty of the architecture and appreciate the early history of Ocala.

Thanks to the generous support of the sponsors, and an unprecedented attendance, HOPS was able to raise over $20,000 dollars to benefit preservation, education, and continued engagement with our local community.

Local artists Ryan Neumann, Justin Alsedek, & Andres Garcia had their work on display at three of the homes on the tour. Local plein air artists were on location painting various aspects of the facades and gardens.

Housed within the historic Ocala Union Station, The Magnolia Art Xchange (The MAX) & The Depot on Magnolia restaurant both opened their doors for attendees to explore the gallery, meet with artists, and sample treats from the soon-to-open restaurant.

Each of the homes on tour were special in their own way. Visitors learned the history of the early property owners and other interesting facts. Victorian, Frame Vernacular, & Bungalow style homes were included as a showcase of the varying architectural styles throughout the districts.

Board members, sponsors, homeowners, and artists were treated to a post-tour VIP event hosted by Andrew & Michael Grunther at the Luman House; their home in the Tuscawilla Historic District, to celebrate the culmination of months of planning and hard work by all involved.

With more events on the horizon, make sure to follow The Historic Ocala Preservation Society on socials and become a member to stay up to date on what is happening in our city’s historic districts and receive invitations to the plethora of events, classes, and galas that are scheduled. Memberships are available online at www.DonorBox.org/HistoricOcala

G.S. Scott Home — owned by Rick Perry

McCullough Home— Leslie McCullough Peyser Home — owned by Stacy Cruz

Artist rendering the Luman Home — owned by Andrew Grunther

Rebecca Dallman, Pamela Stafford, Dr. Sol Anker, Linda Anker, Michael Grunther, Jena Butler, Andrew Grunther, Holly Yocum, Caryl Lucas

Andrew Grunther, Brian Stoothoff, Clay Walkup, Rhoda Walkup and Emily Irving. Elizabeth McMurray and Melissa Townsend Dennis and Pat Cardigan

Bonnie and Anibal Rodriquez

Gorgio Berry and Sean Gallaway

Photo by Holly Yocum

Peyser/Stacy Cruz Home with Michelle Rhodes Artist rendering Danielle Sheldon and Dr. Lela Kerley

Kiwanis Beef Sale

Honoring Croswell Branch

BY DIANA WILLIAMS

The Kiwanians had a wonderful crowd with lots of guests that joined to bid on the steer. N.C. helped market this year’s program to honor Croswell Branch—passed President of Kiwanis Club, founder of Seminole Feed, and Croswell’s 30+ years of perfect attendance setting a fabulous example for all Kiwanians. It was a great reminder for the newer Kiwanis members about the history of our club, the dedicated members of the past who set these great traditions, the almost 70 years of purchasing a steer at the Southeast Youth Fair, and ultimately supporting almost 25% of the scholarships each summer at Camp Kiwanis. This year really brought the steer auction to acknowledge the full “circle of life.” Alan Martinez Jimenez joined the auction, he was the student at Lake Weir High School’s FFA club that raised the steer and he expressed his appreciation to the Kiwanis Club. He shared that the proceeds from the steer will be the seed money to fund the Lake Weir’s FFA steer for next year.

Leena Williams recruited Judge Lori Cotton as a “runner” and Kiwanian Dennis McElhinney helped as well. Lori’s husband, Steve Tweedle, and Arman Reyes, both from Hier’s Baxley Foundation Partners, did lots of bidding and buying, and enjoyed the excitement. Our auctioneer, Tom James, did his usual great job getting the highest bid to benefit the camp, and he sold every pound by 1:00 p.m.! The Club also honors Croswell Branch, Doug Oswald, Jim Kirk, and others that have set the stage for the future of Kiwanis and the dedication to the children of our community. Hoping the next generation will carry on these great traditions. It is great to be a Kiwanian!

Tom James

Seminole Check Presentation

Tammy Hoff with Brooklyn Diana Williams and Alan Martinez Jimenez

Keith Knorr

Lori Cotton

Kevin Lopez

Leena Williams with Hiers Baxley team. Shelley Sizemore

CF Donor Appreciation Luncheon

PHOTOS COURTESY OF COLLEGE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

The College of Central Florida Foundation hosted its annual Donor Appreciation Luncheon on Wednesday, April 6, at the Webber Center. Featured student speaker Jaysander Rodriguez shared the impact a privately funded scholarship has had on his educational journey. Faculty speaker Nancy Abshier, program chair for the Bachelor of Applied Science in Business and Organizational Management degree and program manager for Office Administration, presented on CF’s growing bachelor’s degree programs. Chris Knife, vice president of Development and CEO of the CF Foundation, and Dr. James Henningsen, CF president, gave updates on the foundation and the college.

Chris Knife, Kathy Judkins and Curtis Wynn

Cheryl Fante, Nancy Abshier and Joyce Fabian

Robert Landt, Michelle Stone and Charlie Stone Tom Weaver, Cash Pealer and Dr. James Henningsen

Southern Sportsman Whitetail Foundation Fundraiser

SSWF appreciates Circle S Ranch Hunt Club for allowing us to host our event at their property and for their support.

The Southern Sportsman Whitetail Foundation mission: We have strived to build a relationship based on our common beliefs and goals that those who have a disability or a handicap from disabled veterns to handicapped people of all ages still dream of spending time outdoors hunting should have the ability to do so. We believe that with a little help from people like us they can overcome their disability or handicap, with our help and have fun hunting in the woods. We have witnessed numerous people who thought that it was not possible to go out to the woods and hunt any longer, only to contact us and through SSWF have been able to hunt and be successful in obtaining their deer, turkey or even hogs.

For information contact: President Avery Duval 239-777-1817, Email: sswf.ocala@gmail.com, and follow us on facebook www.facebook.com/SSWFOCALA

Front (L-R): Keith Winchel, Jonathan Nash, Snuggles – Phillip Starling, Robbie Waters Back (L-R): Mark Moats, Joe Preston, John Brady – Barn light electric, Avery Duval, Phillip Starlight Sr. and Jim DeSart

Sapp children Joan Pletcher and Keith Winchel

Gene Cooley - 4 Wheeler Winner Neila Friend Robbie and Myron Waters

Heather Wireman Madison Friend and Davis Carrasco Avery Duval, president of SSWF

Behind the Mask

OCT hosts fund raiser for theater youth programs

PHOTOS BY DAVE SCHLENKER

Several hundred people turned out on Monday, April 26, for a spectacular evening of music as the Ocala Civic Theatre hosted “Behind the Mask: An Enchanted Evening.” The highlight of the evening was Grant Norman, Broadway star whose credits include starring as Gaston in “Beauty and the Beast” and as the Phantom in “Phantom of the Opera.” Norman not only performed a number of songs, but also served as emcee. “Behind the Mask” was a fund raiser to raise money for OCT’s renowned youth programs. The community theater offers acting and other theater training programs for the young people of Ocala/Marion County. Norman, who has a long-running relationship with OCT, was joined on stage by Maestro Bill Doherty, a virtuoso on the piano. Doherty has played many of the world’s most prestigious venues and is internationally recognized as a composer, conductor, pianist, singer and teacher.

Max Russell and David D'Allissandris

The Ocala Civic Theatre team

Grant Norman and Victoria Sexton Champagne being served to Kelly McAtee, Dean Blinkhorn and Sullivan Hogan

Bill Doherty, Grant Norman and Victoria Sexton

Victoria Sexton, Max Russell, Carla Lord and Grant Norman Nadia and Frank Rasbury Scott and Danuda Jacobs

Ocala Civic theatre supporters with Laurie Zink

Photo by Jessi Miller Photo by Jessi Miller

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