Ocala Magazine June 2021 Digital Issue by ocalamag

Ocala’s City Magazine Since 1980 Serving the Horse Capital of the World® $5.95

OCALA MAGAZINE

JUN 2021

A sizzlin’ Father’s Day feast Outdoor fashion, recipes, food, tips, and inspiration!

Hemp could be a gamechanger Buddy Martin: Ocala’s great communicator

French Country Estate

Professionally sculpted and architecturally designed residence sits on 1,968+/- private acres with shared ownership of private Lake Ledwith(1,774 +/acres). Incredible, custom designed home combines the best of elegance, style, craftsmanship and offers gorgeous, expansive views of the surrounding Granddaddy Live Oaks and grounds. 5 bedrooms and 5.5 baths, 5 fireplaces, office, exercise room, wine cellar, and abundance of storage areas spread across the 7,918+/- SF of living area. Foyer opens to a grand staircase, formal dining and large living room with carved marble stone fireplace. Chef ’s kitchen with expansive center island, butler’s area, oversized family room opening onto the large, covered porch with outdoor dining and summer kitchen serve as the gathering hub for entertaining on a large scale. For the sporting and hunting enthusiast there is an expansive game room with full bar, fireplace, plenty of space to watch your favorite game on TV, talk of largemouth bass caught in your own lake, plan your next duck, turkey and deer hunts. Residence and 640 acres are perimeter fenced with 8 feet high game fencing. In terms of privacy and security, this resort-like property is unsurpassed. Call for more information and offering price.

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Via Paradisus Lot 14 Gated Community where you can ride, walk or jog to the Florida Greenways and Trails. Lots range from 3+ acres to 100 acres. Deed restricted Community.

Tuxedo Farm – 42 +/- Acres Turn-key equine facility located close to HITS is an ideal fit for The avid horse lover. Income producing property with 5 barns 44 stalls, 28 paddocks, 150’ x 250’ arena and 9 RV hook-ups.

23.88 +/- Acres – Hwy 329 Nestled amongst the rolling green pastures and picturesque Oaks that make up the landscape of Marion County, sits this Exquisite and historic property where Rugged Lark was raised.

R E A LTO R ®

Signature Stallions – 9.82 +/- Acres Strategically located close to WEC and HITS. Show stable with 8 Large stalls and office. 4-Stall barn with hay storage above. Mature landscaping, round pen, 5-board fencing in the paddocks.

(Hwy 27) – A Developer’s Dream! Prime Location NW Ocala! Located in a highly-desired area on Hwy 27, only A short drive to the World Equestrian Center. Commercial and developmental potential.

SOLD 6.68+/- Acres in the Historic District Main residence exudes elegance from the living area to the solarium and library. Spacious kitchen, formal living room, formal dining room, 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath plus guest home.

Forest of Golden Hills This 3 bedroom/3 bath home is located close to WEC on .69 +/Acres. Home sits high on the hill. Home is perfect for entertaining. Open floor plan, in-ground pool, plus attached 2.5 car garage.

g buying or n ri e d si n o c e ’r u If yo call today! selling, give us a R E A LTO R ® For these and other properties, visit JoanPletcher.com for information, videos, and more choices. 352.347.1777 | Cell: 352.266.9100 | Cell: 352.804.8989 | joan@joanpletcher.com Due to the privacy and at the discretion of my clients, there are additional training centers, estates, and land available that are not advertised.

Classic Southern Elegance

Equestrian estate on 38+/- acres close to the Florida Horse Park and Greenways and Trials. This modern ranch style 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home was built in 2019 with stunning custom features which include: Gourmet kitchen, butler’s pantry, laundry room, mud room, office and large porches so you can enjoy the view of this farm. As you enter the home thru the foyer your eyes are drawn to the soaring high ceilings, custom wood beams and the wood-burning fireplace. Gourmet kitchen features quartz countertops and backsplashes, farm - house sink, large island, gas cooktop, pot filler, Kitchen-aid appliances and cabinet lighting. Split floor with 2 guest beds and bath being located on the West wing along with the laundry room. The entire East wing is dedicated to the owner’s suite. Owner’s wing features office, a private porch, ensuite bathroom with high ceilings, rain shower, garden tub, and dual sinks. The equestrian will enjoy the 12-stall horse barn with tack room, feed room and half bath. 150’x 250’ riding arena and 5 large paddocks with lush green pastures and beautiful oaks completes this package.

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CELEBRATING OUR 40TH YEAR!

JUNE • 2021 p. 24 — Hemp growing at CF Photo by Ralph Demilio

FEATURES 16 24 30 32

Buddy Martin: The Great Communicator High on hemp: Florida’s new crop takes off Day trippin’ to Punta Gorda OM Pulse

DEPARTMENTS 10 Letter from the Publisher 12 From the Editor’s Desk 14 From the Mayor 35 EAT 36 A sizzlin' feast for Father's Day 41 Dining Out 43 PLAY 44 Socially Speaking: Golf, garden tours and Gator eats 48 Spurrier’s new restaurant 58 Anthology: Poetry in motion 63 EQUINE 64 Everything Equine: A day at the Derby 68 Bill White: From Hall of Fame to City Hall

ON THE COVER:

Ocala’s City Magazine Since 1980 Serving the Horse Capital of the World® $5.95

Photography by Ralph Demilio Recipes styled by Robin Fannon

OCALA MAGAZINE

JUN 2021

A sizzlin’ Father’s Day feast Outdoor fashion, recipes, food, tips, and inspiration!

Hemp could be a gamechanger Buddy Martin: Ocala’s great communicator

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

73 ETC 74 Charity Spotlight: Salvation Army 76 Health Journal: Fighting incesant insomnia 78 State of the City: Code Enforcement 80 State of the County 82 Kiwanis Korner 84 Rotary Circle 85 Juneteenth Celebration 88 Looking Back: Ocala’s newspaper history

Nancy Iafrate and grandson Dylan, Gainesville

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5/7/2021 9:51:58 AM

Volume 40, Issue 12

JUNE 2021

OCALA’S #1 MOST AWARD-WINNING CITY MAGAZINE

CELEBRATING OUR 40TH YEAR! 19 IVE 20 F F O N ER MAGAZI E WINNR A DS FLO ITDION AWAR A I ASSOC

Philip Glassman, CCIM | Publisher philip@ocalamagazine.com

Penny Miller | VP/Corporate Development penny@ocalamagazine.com

EDITORIAL Brad Rogers | Editor brad@ocalamagazine.com

ART Jessi Miller | Creative Director jessi@ocalamagazine.com

Ashley Dobbs/City of Ocala | Writer Mayor Kent Guinn | Columnist

Carlton Reese | Senior Writer carlton@ocalamagazine.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Robin Fannon | Food/Lifestyle Editor

Ralph Demilio | Chief Photographer ralph@ocalamagazine.com

Leslie J. Wengler | Social Editor Sharon Raye | Copy Editor

CONTRIBUTORS Alex AuBuchon/Marion County | Writer

OPERATIONS Randy Woodruff, CPA | CFO randy@ocalamagazine.com

SALES Adam Hamersky | Advertising Executive adam@ocalamagazine.com

ADVISORY Linda Marks | Founder & Advisor

EDITORIAL OR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES 352.622.2995

www.ocalamagazine.com OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER HOPS — Historic Ocala Preservation Society MEDIA PARTNER & PRESENTING SPONSOR of the Tailgating Competition at Live Oak International OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR 2021 International Women's Day Celebration EXCLUSIVE MEDIA SPONSOR FOR George Albright Annual Golf Tournament OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR FINE ARTS FOR OCALA

THE OFFICIAL CITY MAGAZINE OF

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OFFICE 743 E. Fort King St., Ocala, FL 34471 MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 4649, Ocala, FL 34478 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR by mail or email: editor@ocalamagazine.com SUBSCRIPTION One year - $49, Two years - $95, Single Issue - $5.95. COPYRIGHT ALL contents copyrighted © 2021 by Ocala Magazine Publications. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or advertising content in any manner without written permission is strictly prohibited. Horse Capital of the World® is a registered trademark of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Owners’ Association.

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

BE PREPARED. BE SAFE. Hurricane season is June 1 - November 30 • Make sure all contact information is current on your account. Providing us with an up-to-date phone number will allow you to report your power outage easier and faster.

• If your power is restored while crews are still working in the area, please leave a porch light or externally visible light on so they can see that you have power.

• To view a real-time map of current outages, visit severeweather.ocalafl.org.

• Generators should not be plugged directly into a home’s main electrical system. This could potentially send an electrical charge back to the power grid, which could create an electrocution hazard for utility workers.

• To report a power outage in your area, visit myusage.com, use myusage mobile app or call 352-351-6666. • Please do not report an outage more than once. • For real-time updates and outage information during a storm, please follow Ocala Electric Utility on Facebook.

/OcalaElectricUtility

@OEUinfo

ocalaelectric.org | 352-629-2489

• Generators should be set up outside the home in a well-ventilated area. Individual appliances can be plugged directly into the generator. • Visit severeweather.ocalafl.org to learn more about storm preparation and download your free storm preparation guide.

LETTER

from the publisher

Salvation and dignity FATHERS’ DAY IS THIS MONTH and always strikes close to my heart. I feel compelled to mention my own father, Jerry, as well as the other father figures in my life that helped shape me into the man I am, and the father I am today. I count my blessings every day that I have such a loving father who even to this day teaches me lessons of this world. I know the job of being a father never ends, even as the child grows into adulthood. As a father of two myself, I know the difficulties of the job and its importance – I thank God for the example my dad set for me. I was lucky enough to be mentored not just by my own father, but by my uncle Dr. Paul Glassman as well as my father’s best friend, Dr. Sheldon Katanick. All had such a profound impact on my life and shaped me into who I am. Thank you, dad!

Jerry and Philip Glassman

THE SALVATION ARMY IS CHRONICLED in this month’s issue, and I think about all the different ways this organization is able to lend a helping hand to those who need it most in our community. Like most people, I always dig around for that loose change or extra bill in my pocket as I pass by the volunteer soldiers ringing their bells during the holiday season, but rarely do I ponder exactly just what those small donations accomplish. With the Salvation Army, one does not need to search far to see the direct help people receive on a local basis, and that is not always the case with an organization that operates on such an enormous, international level. The first thing I notice is the thrift store in which real items of quality can be found and put to use for minimal cost while still maintaining the dignity of the consumer. For a lot of folks, going out and buying a $30 electric can opener or spending $20 on kitchen towels is simply not an option. For these same people, taking hand-outs of such items lacks the dignity they desire, but the Salvation Army offers something in between: dignity and affordability. But that is just the beginning. The thrift store, while providing affordable goods, also helps fund the many projects the organization operates as part of its Christian mission. From feeding the hungry to providing emergency shelter to people in need, The Salvation Army has been able to fulfill its mission here in Ocala in so many different ways. I’ve always believed that for such a small town, the charity of its citizens and the volume of organizations that act as a conduit for that charity make Ocala seem a lot bigger than it really is. I don’t know the actual statistics, but I’m confident that per-capita, Ocalans are about as generous as they come and the local Salvation Army is testimony to that. ‘Til next month, Salvation Army's Major Dwayne Durham Photo by Ralph Demilio

PHILIP GLASSMAN, PUBLISHER

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

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LETTER

from the editor

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

local economy. The impact is so significant, the City of Ocala just approved a 10-year Arts Master Plan to keep the arts movement growing. Ocala is now recognized as an art-friendly community that is seeing artists from around the country move here because of the Horse Fever-inspired culture. Of course, every good idea that succeeds requires a strong guiding hand. When Horse Fever was first rolled out to the community in 2001, Paula King and Laurie Zink knocked on doors, talked to groups, generated excitement and, importantly, convinced the community to buy-in. It was a huge success, largely because of King’s and Zink’s dogged work. But while King and others have stepped back over the years, Zink has continued nurturing Horse Fever. She has led the Horse Fever 2020 event with undisputed authority and energy. Tammy Gantt, associate vice president of member services and events at the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, co-sponsor of Horse Fever 2020, says Zink is the linchpin to Horse Fever’s success over a generation. “I can’t give Laurie Zink enough credit,” Gantt said. “She’s a visionary. She’s a powerhouse. And she does it with a heart and love.” And the result of Zink’s leadership?

BY BRAD ROGERS

“It brought the community together, all of the community,” Gantt said. “The arts community, the horse community and the business community.” The community will have one more chance to come together and celebrate Horse Fever at 6 p.m. Friday, June 4, at the Brick City Center in downtown Ocala when three horses will be raffled off, with the proceeds going to the Marion Cultural Alliance. Tickets are $100 apiece and there are 300 tickets per horse. Tickets can be purchased at the event.

Sunny Daze Artist: Ronda Richley Photos by Kent Weakley

he last leg of Horse Fever 2020 is upon us, with three of this year’s herd, known as the Giving Collection, set to be raffled off Friday, June 4, at the Brick City Center for the Arts. It will be the finish line for the latest edition of a civic project that has spanned two decades, raised millions locally for the arts and, in the process, changed the face of Ocala. Part arts fund raiser and part public art project, the success and the staying power of Horse Fever is remarkable. The first Horse Fever was launched in 2001, drawing national acclaim as a public art project and creating a fund that led to the emergence of the Marion Cultural Alliance, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for cultural arts groups and individual artists. Later, when artists and their support organizations were struggling at the height of the Great Recession, it was resurrected and, frankly, was salvation for many in the arts community. Horse Fever 2020, once again, is raising money for the arts. Except this time, the horses no longer stand out as unusual on the landscape of Ocala and Marion County. “What an amazing thing that happened over time,” said Gene Hotaling, a local artist who has participated in all three Horse Fever exhibitions. “Twenty years ago, we had very little interest in the arts in our community, and now it’s a full-fledged art community. And I really have to give Horse Fever and the artists who participated in it a lot of credit. This has brought us forward as far as art recognition and the importance of art in our community.” Today, Horse Fever is known as “the art project that inspired a movement,” an art movement. Sculptures grace our parks. Murals emblazon our buildings. Galleries line the streets of our downtown. The cultural arts have become a cottage industry that pumps more than $50 million a year into the

Photo by Ralph Demilio

Horse Fever coming to the finish line

Home Sweet Home Artist: Carlynne Hershberger

Critters Artist: Bonnie Eads

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MAYOR

from the

Recognizing Hot Wheels A dog’s fortitude is inspiration for all BY MAYOR KENT GUINN

Photos by Ralph Demilio

ometimes the duty of mayor includes odd and somewhat quirky things and the latest Mayor’s Recognition certainly falls in that category. We always like to recognize bravery, courage, selflessness and overall good works in the community and this almost always shines the light on a person, group of people or business. The latest Recognition goes to an animal, a dog named Hot Wheels that currently resides at the Humane Society of Marion County. On March 30, a local good Samaritan rescued a dog from the side of the road and took it to the Humane Society. The dog had no use of its back legs and x-rays showed that vertebrae T10-T12 had been crushed, more likely from being struck on the back by an object than from being hit by a vehicle. In addition, the dog was severely infested with fleas and was positive for demodectic mange. This poor creature could not walk and was suffering immensely. The suffering included incontinence relegating it to the use of doggy diapers. At the shelter, the dog received medicated baths to cure it of the mange and is currently on a regimen to keep him as comfortable as possible. The next step in the dog’s rehabilitation was fitting him with a wheelchair of sorts. The dog would sit on what is like a mini chariot while he would propel himself with his front legs. Unsure of how the dog would respond, the staff took him out to the parking lot for a trial. Once in the parking lot, the dog took off like a race car driver drifting in and out of turns like a professional, prompting the staff to name him Hot Wheels. The last paragraph of the Mayor’s Recognition reads, “Hot Wheels is to be commended for his determination, resilience and positive attitude. On behalf of the City of Ocala residents, we wish him a healthy and happy life in a permanent and loving family that will see all the positive qualities he has to offer. Hot Wheels, congratulations on your courage and fortitude. You have taught us all a valuable life lesson!” And with this comes the next stage in life for Hot Wheels: a new permanent home with a family that shares the same fortitude. This is a dog that needs special care and attention, but is also very deserving. To have gone through what Hot Wheels has and come to life with such energy and good cheer is something we can all learn from and draw inspiration. Despite rough times and moments when it seems there is no light at the end of the tunnel, good things happen and we can make more than just the most of a bad situation but find happiness from dark times. I’m hoping that soon a family comes forward to adopt this courageous animal that is still living at the Humane Society. I encourage anyone to pay Hot Wheels a visit at the Humane Society shelter located at 701 NW 14th Road or call 352-8737387 if you have any questions about this or any of the other dogs and cats there looking for a permanent home.

Mayor Kent Guinn | JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

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t a e r G e Th nicator u m m o C rong t s g n i o is still g ism n i t r a urnal ddy M u o j B n i n r o edia ic strious caree m l a c Lo illu after an EESE LTON R MILIO BY CAR Y RALPH DE YB GRAPH PHOTO

rom his rental house in Lake Placid, Buddy Martin continued to bang out copy on his clunky Texas Instruments computer whilst play-by-play of the afternoon’s hockey game droned through the AM radio speakers in the background. Next to him sat Bill Madden, a fellow scribe working on his own literature for the next morning’s edition of the New York Daily News. Suddenly, the noise coming through the radio speakers took on a grand new relevance. “Mad Dog, we gotta go to work here!” Martin exclaimed to Madden, who was feverishly completing a feature story on ABC broadcaster Jim McKay. The date was Feb. 22, 1980, and the radio commentator had just announced Mike Eruzione’s goal that gave the Americans a 4-3 lead in the final period of its epic bat-

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

tle against the Soviet Union. The stage was set for one of the greatest upsets not just in Olympics history, but in the history of sports, and there was Buddy Martin once again in the right place at the right time. Martin, the Ocala native who had risen to sports editor of one of the country’s great newspapers by this time, shifted gears – it was a mad dash to the arena to catch the game’s final iconic moments and reveal them in the prose that he alone could deliver under such tense deadline pressure. The episode perfectly encapsulated the career and essence of Buddy Martin: knowing where to be, knowing who to bring and recognizing news value in the heat of the moment. It was a career that started like most, with humble origins hidden far from the limelight of large circulations and major league franchises, then took a circuitous route through some

of sports’ most celebrated moments and events and would include many personal peaks and valleys. Along the way the awards would pile up, from excellence in writing and reporting to a Pulitzer nomination and even an Emmy, television’s highest accolade. The most recent honor came in April when Martin’s entire body of work earned him the Wilton F. Martin Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Public Relations Association. Journalism is not just in Buddy Martin’s blood, it’s a chain of his DNA. His grandfather, William Laban Martin, started as a writer at the Ocala Evening Star (forerunner of today’s Ocala Star-Banner) and his father Wilton (yes, the namesake of the lifetime achievement award) worked for the Evening Star, was city editor of the St. Pete Independent and Tampa Times as well as managing editor of the Bradenton Herald. He was also the first public relations director for Silver Springs. The Star-Banner published the sixth-grad-

Buddy Martin

er Martin’s poem on the 1952 presidential election and his newspaper career was officially off to the races. At age 20, after a rough semester at the University of Florida, he accepted a temporary position as interim sports editor of the Star-Banner, care of Bernard Watts. The position became the first small step that would lead to similar roles down the road at Today (Cocoa), the St. Petersburg Times, New York Daily News and Denver Post among others. “Most of the time, my changes or successes came on the heels of some failure,” said Martin, who admits that for as many times he received a hero’s welcome to a publication, there were some that ignominiously showed him the door out to the street. In 1964, now as permanent sports editor of the Star-Banner, Martin won the Florida Sports Writers Association award for general excellence in writing, something that eventually became a bit of a dou-

ble-edged sword. The award signaled the arrival of Martin, recognized by his peers as a talent in the industry, and at a party held in Gainesville to recognize Martin for the honor appeared the legendary columnist for the Miami Herald, Edwin Pope. In an elevator at the hotel, Pope ran into Martin’s wife, Joni, and told her, “Your husband’s one hell of a newspaper man.” For Buddy Martin, “That was one of the great thrills of my life. That was like winning the Pulitzer Prize.” The Pulitzer nearly did come Martin’s way as managing editor of the Charlotte Sun 40 years later when Hurricane Charley devastated Punta Gorda and other parts of southwest Florida. In getting the newspaper out to residents, Martin and his team had pulled the proverbial rabbit out of the hat, a feat that the Pulitzer committee deemed worthy of consideration and placed among its finalists for the award.

Against all odds, this paper came out. That’s what you’re taught: the show must go on – you’ve got to publish.

The storm hit at 4:15 in the afternoon and later Martin found himself in downtown Punta Gorda, which looked like a war zone. The newspaper office had temporarily relocated to North Port, to where Martin eventually arrived. “They had about half of a staff, no copy desk and no proofreaders,”Martin said.“I wrote a piece on what I saw in Punta Gorda and I had snapped a few photographs.The edition came out the next day and when the paper was handed out to people for free, they were crying; they couldn’t believe they actually had some information.

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUN 2021 |

A 20-year-old Buddy Martin as Sports Editor of the Ocala Star-Banner

Buddy walking down 5th Ave. in New York with basketball legend Julius Erving in 1971

Buddy with Arnold Palmer at the Westchester Classic in 1972

Buddy with NBC Today Show co-host Joe Garagiola in 1971

Buddy with fellow editor Ron Caylor of Today in Cocoa after a good night at the track

“Against all odds, this paper came out. That’s what you’re taught: the show must go on – you’ve got to publish.” Back in 1964 after winning his writing award from the FSWA, things went south at the Star-Banner. Personalities and goals began to clash and Martin himself saw the writing on the wall. “I had won awards and was getting job offers – that’s good for your ego, but it can create some animosity among your peers,” Martin said. “I was kind of full of myself, so I was partially to blame, but I did nothing wrong.” Getting word that he may be on the way out, Martin beat his bosses to the punch and tenured his resignation in December of 1965, not long after covering the Florida-Miami football game. A day after quitting, his daughter suffered kidney problems and needed medical attention, but he was now uninsured. “Here I was, in another one of those dark places you find in your life.”

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Buddy with Paul Finebaum in 2019 at the Florida-Georgia game in Jacksonville

on the set of his Denver TV talk show in the 1980s with partner Joe Williams wearing a chicken suit after losing a football bet

Martin’s talent would not keep him on the sideline long. He would take over as sports editor of the new Today, a gig in Cocoa that lasted five years until he took over at the St. Pete Times, the first shot at the big time. In St. Petersburg, Martin’s breakthrough may have come in the famous “Chicken Wire” story that blew the lid off a scandal in the Florida State University football program in 1973. Teamed up with fellow Ocalan Van McKenzie, who followed Martin to four different publications and earned a reputation, according to Madden, as “the best layout man in the country,” Martin smelled a rat in Tallahassee. Seminole football players were quitting the program in droves, but zero reporting had taken place as to why. He directed Fred Girard, who later went on to big things as a reporter for the Detroit Free-Press, to go to Tallahassee and dig around, interview players and those close to the program.

It was discovered that head coach Larry Jones had been putting players through military-style regimens, some that involved players having to crawl under chicken wire as though in boot camp. Martin’s idea to record all the interviews in order to back up the story was key and eventually led to Jones’ firing. “We got that story; we nailed it,” Martin proudly exclaims. “We sent it to an awards committee and got honorable mention. I think the guy collecting the stories was an FSU guy – how could this story have not gotten something? Nobody was doing that stuff in those days and that’s the greatest story I’ve ever been associated with.” Martin has had a knack his whole career for associating himself not only with great stories, but great talent for which he has had an uncanny eye. Besides McKenzie and Girard, there is a long list of writers and editors who were hired by, worked with and even groomed directly by Martin that became stars

Buddy with ESPN personality Laura Rutledge, a former intern of his

Buddy was one sports editor who was given an unlimited expense account and always seemed to exceed it.

in sports journalism. Ocala’s Jim Huber, who was an award-winning broadcaster for CNN and TBS, cut his teeth at the Star-Banner under the tutelage of Buddy Martin. The names Rick Reilly and Gary Smith of Sports Illustrated fame; Mike Lupica, renowned columnist and author; Woody Paige, who worked with Martin at the Denver Post and is a regular commentator on ESPN; and Madden, the award-winning baseball writer and prolific author that became Martin’s fair-haired boy at the Daily News are just a few of the names that scratch the surface of a long list of “Who’s Who?” in sports journalism – writers and editors whose careers were all touched in some way by Buddy Martin. “You hear about coaching trees – Buddy Martin has an incredible sports writers tree,” said Paige, who counts Martin as among the great influences on sports journalism. “He recognized great, young writers wherever he

was. There must be 50 writers that worked for him that were top-class writers.” “Buddy hired the best people – he just knew talent,” Madden said. At the Daily News in 1978, Martin took over as sports editor of the publication’s afternoon edition and went to work doing what he did best: cleaning house and bringing in great talent. Madden’s memories of Martin’s tenure at the Daily News are still vivid and among his most cherished. He learned early on the Martin philosophy which has stuck with him his entire career. “He hired all these really top-flight writers from all around,” said Madden, called upon by Martin to take over the Daily News’ vaunted New York Yankees beat. “He tried to assemble what he called the greatest sports staff in history and he had a lot of big names working there.” Madden recalls the lunch he had with Martin upon his hiring. “He said, ‘Billy, I want to emphasize how important this beat is going to be that I’m hiring you to do,’” Madden said. “‘A prototypical Daily News is cops, crime and mayhem on page one; naked pop tarts on the gossip pages in the middle of the paper; and George (Steinbrenner), Reggie ( Jackson) and Billy (Martin) going at it on the back page.’ He said, ‘Steinbrenner thinks he owns the back page and between you and me, the fact of the matter is, he does.’” Madden had come to the Daily News from United Press International and Martin felt he needed some indoctrination to the newspaper business. As such, Martin put his star beat writer on the copy desk three days a week and had him cover such plebian sports as hockey and professional basketball. “Here it is my dream job to cover the New York Yankees for the Daily News and I’m starting out on the desk like a rookie!” Madden said. “Buddy wanted me to realize how everything worked there; he wanted to turn me into a utility infielder that winter, a guy he could call on to cover anything.” ‘Anything’ also meant going to Lake Placid in upstate New York to cover the Winter Olympics, a bit for which Madden felt himself ill-suited. Nonetheless, Martin saw within Madden the versatility to wring out some quality journalism and on the night of the USA hockey victory his instincts were proven correct.

Martin set off for the hockey arena and gave Madden instructions to find a related story. “You figure it out,” Madden recalls Buddy saying at the time. Madden walked the streets of Lake Placid and stumbled onto an American Legion hall full of World War II and Korean War veterans that had been watching the game. “These guys are crying, literally crying!” Madden remembers. “I got all these great interviews from these guys. One guy comes up to me and says, ‘Tonight is a night to go out on the streets and wave the flag; this is the greatest night in American history!’” Madden’s story wound up on page three, rather significant for a sports report in the Daily News. “I fought Buddy vigorously not to go (to Lake Placid). I think it was his instinct; he knew I would be able to do stuff up there beyond the pale that other people wouldn’t do.” From the New York Daily News, Martin would head to Denver and take over as assistant managing editor and sports editor of the Denver Post in 1982, lifting that sports section into a national award winner. Again, he surrounded himself with major talent on the copy desk and in the field reporting and writing columns. Martin’s new fair-haired boy became Paige, who was quickly earning a reputation for himself with his wit and insight. Paige remembers Martin’s ability to “think outside the box” in those days, and it showed during the 1983 NCAA Men’s Final Four in Albuquerque, N.M. Martin’s Denver Post team invaded Albuquerque with seven of its staff members and distributed the paper there the entire week, becoming the de facto paper-of-record beyond even the local Albuquerque Journal. “Denver became the newspaper of the week,” according to Paige. “That was Buddy Martin coming in with that idea to shake it up and take it over.” It helped that most places Martin went, he was given a near open checkbook to bring in talent and go after news stories. Said Madden: “Buddy was one sports editor who was given an unlimited expense account and always seemed to exceed it.” Pushing the expenses at one point meant giving the young upstart Rick Reilly his first crack at a big-time sports event. In St. Louis to cover the World Series in 1982,

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUN 2021 |

Paige and Martin discussed the idea of pulling Reilly away from a story he was working on in Louisville to come write the lead for Game 7. As Paige recalls, hotel room service for snacks was going to cost nearly as much as the difference in flying Reilly to St. Louis instead of back to Denver. “I turned to Buddy and said, ‘We can either bring Rick Reilly here and let him cover the game or we can get more chips and dip.’” It turned out to be a learning experience for Reilly, who was rather proud of his game story noting the Cardinals’ victory over the Brewers; that is, until he conversed with Martin. “Buddy said, ‘I hope whatever you wrote, it didn’t have in the opening lines something like it was in the deck for the cards or something like that,’” Paige recalled. “Rick then asked to stop at a payphone so he could call the desk: ‘Can we change my first paragraph?’” At his core, Buddy Martin is a newspaper man, a journalist with a “nose for news.” But he is now and always has been a communicator, no matter the medium at hand. His involvement over the years with radio and television has been just as integral to his journalism as his reporting, editing and authoring of numerous sports books. He is the godfather of sports talk radio in Central Florida, responsible for bringing the first all-sports talk radio to Ocala in 1996. In television, his work with Terry Bradshaw on “The NFL Today” show in the early 1990s earned him that coveted Emmy award. His versatility knows no bounds. Today, Martin owns and manages Gator Bait magazine, hosts “The Buddy Martin Show” on social media and the “Best Friday in Football” podcast with Urban Meyer and Terry Bradshaw. His recent appearances on the SEC Network’s “Paul Finebaum Show” demonstrate that he clearly has not lost any velocity on his fastball. “Buddy is totally immersed in being a communicator and he didn’t even know that is what he was going to do,” Paige said. “We started out as journalists and now we’re communicators because we’re using so many different forms. The form used to be newspapers then it became as much radio, television, the internet, YouTube, podcasts… so we’re no longer journalists or sports writers, we’re communicators.” According to Madden, “Buddy was a visionary. The business was slowly evolving,

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Joni and Buddy Martin

“The awards don’t really matter that much, but the experiences mean everything.”

even back then. It seemed like each year, there was a new way of sending our copy. Buddy said to me, ‘You know, Mad Dog, you better get used to this; pretty soon in the not-toodistant future people are going to be getting their news on televisions and not newspapers – newspapers are going to be obsolete.’ “I didn’t want to believe it and I didn’t think it was true, but he called it. Buddy was always one step ahead of the game.” Through it all, the moments and the relationships have meant the most. He once pitched to Ted Williams in a charity baseball game at Gerig Field; he was there for the Miracle on Ice, for Secretariat’s historic Triple Crown, for Jack Nicklaus’ Masters victory in 1986. He saw Hank Aaron beat Babe Ruth’s home run record and witnessed Jim Valvano’s N.C. State team upset Houston in the greatest Final Four. He was there for the launching of the first moon rocket, had drinks and performed a piano duet one evening with Ron Ziegler, the press secretary for President Richard Nixon. He attended Louis Armstrong’s funeral, walked down New York’s Fifth Avenue with NBA legend Julius ‘Dr. J’ Erving and conducted numerous personal interview sessions with the likes of Nicklaus and even minister/author Norman Vincent Peale. His trek through some of sports histo-

ry’s significant moments has been of Forrest Gumpian proportion. The difference being that the fictional cinematic character was dim-witted and fell by accident into his moments of grandeur, while Buddy Martin is quick with the gifted phrase and possesses the proper instincts that put him in the right place at the right time. His moments have clearly been by design. Today, with his wife Joni by his side, Martin enjoys life back in the place of his roots, but not as a retiree spinning yarns of his days in the big time between rounds of golf or frames of bocce ball – he continues to communicate as the journalist he was born to be and destined to die as. The mediums have changed and Martin has adapted, now throwing his pearls of wit and wisdom via podcasts, Facebook and even the venerable Gator Bait magazine. “You know what an incredible journey I’ve had in journalism?” Martin recently pondered. “The awards don’t really matter that much, but the experiences mean everything.” And for Buddy Martin, now 82, experiences still lie on the horizon. He will find them and he will communicate them to the world with the clarity and honesty for which he is famous, and at the same standard he’s pushed himself to achieve ever since that first day he sat down and tapped the typewriter keys at the old Ocala Star-Banner.

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High on

hemp For hemp, CBD is just the start. Bigger things lie ahead for Florida’s new field crop – and Ocala is at the forefront. BY BRAD ROGERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY RALPH DEMILIO

ention hemp these days and most people think CBD. And, for now, CBD – short for cannabidiol, a close cousin to marijuana – is the face of the hemp industry that is taking root here in Marion County and elsewhere around Florida. But industry experts say in the not-too-distant future the number of hemp-based products will not only expand but likely change entire industries. CBD will be but a small piece of the hemp pie. After just one year of allowing Florida businesses to be licensed to legally grow, process and sell hemp-based products like CBD, there is optimism about the future. Holly Bell, the state cannabis director for the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, gushed about the progress the state has seen since last April when licenses were first issued. So far, there are about 7,000 retailers offering mostly CBD products, 300 hemp processors and 18 extractors. Plus, more than 90 permits have been given to colleges and

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universities for research purposes. Yet, hemp is still a start-up business and an experimental crop whose viability and practical uses are still being discovered and developed, said Bell, a former bank executive and entrepreneur. Over the next decade, though? “Nothing is a huge crash crop when an industry is just starting up,” she said. “Five years from now, will we be having a different conversation? Oh, yes.” But for now, the emergence of hemp as an agricultural commodity is being welcomed in Ocala. OM talked with four people who are at the forefront of the hemp revolution in Florida and Marion County.

A FARMER’S DAUGHTER IS FIRST Robbie Ergle is the daughter and granddaughter of farmers who still have a farm in McIntosh. Ergle left a long career as a teacher and then a college professor to launch U.S. Hemp & Oil, a CBD processing and distri-

bution company that operates out of a warehouse on Ocala’s northside. Ergle, who got her state license as soon as the state began issuing them, was the first CBD processor in Central Florida, and it was intentional. “As a start-up, we wanted to get out front,” she said about her brand, Mother’s Original CBD. “It’s one of the few businesses where there wasn’t any competition. “And CBD is not going away. They’re doing more and more studies and they’re all positive.” These days it’s the health benefits of CBD that Ergle and others in the hemp business tout. The say CBD products can help ease anxiety, cure insomnia and, as Ergle puts it, “help your body heal itself.” The CBD market is growing exponentially, according to Bell and others, and U.S. Hemp & Oil strives to be at the forefront of a new industry. “We focused on extraction, because that was the need,” Ergle said. “The farmers

David Reese

Robbie Ergle of U.S. Hemp & Oil

The industry has already created 9,000 jobs in Florida – and that is predominantly in CBD-related commerce. were ready to grow, but there weren’t any extraction centers.” Survey the U.S. Hemp & Oil facility and you’ll see massive plastic bags of hemp “flower,” ground-up hemp plants that will be processed for the oil they contain. It takes about 20 pounds of this flaky material – it looks like marijuana – to make 1 liter of hemp oil, the main ingredient for making CBD products. The oil is then frozen to remove any fats, and what is left is a thick, sticky syrup that Ergle describes as “like a melted Jolly Rancher, very sticky.” Once processed, it is tested, tested and

tested some more, said David Reese, Ergle’s right hand who runs the processing operation. He tests for CBD and THC levels – by law the THC level can’t be more than 0.3 percent – and potency. Those test results have to be reported to the Florida Department of Agriculture. Ergle said while CBDs are growing in popularity, there remain a lot of questions among the general public about the difference between hemp and marijuana, which are part of the same plant family. The simple answer is, hemp does not contain THC, the ingredient in marijuana that gets people high.

“There’s so much confusion,” she said. “I have to assure my friends all the time that it will not get them high.” Then Ergle returns to talking about CBD’s positives and potential, both as a wellness product and an economic opportunity. CBDs can be taken topically, as a cream or oil, or they can be taken orally, either as a food or as an oil. While many already tout its healing properties for everything from anxiety and insomnia to chronic pain and headaches, Ergle is excited about what possibly lies ahead.

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She pointed to numerous studies being conducted that are examining the potential of CBDs to address childhood epilepsy, tumors and memory loss. “I love to learn,” Ergle said. “I always like a new venture. I’m always looking for something to challenge myself. So, when this came up, it was a way to help people.” Coming from a family of peanut and citrus farmers – her father has a small patch of hemp now, though – she also saw her venture as a way to boost agriculture in her hometown. “Our mission is to grow the agricultural economy here in Florida, to keep the Florida famer prosperous,” she said. Ergle the teacher is now the student, and she said that is where most people in the hemp business find themselves these days. “I think it’s a learning curve,” she said. “They call it weed, but it grows around the world. It is hearty and adaptive. It has so much potential.”

BASED IN OCALA, BUT THINKING GLOBALLY Jeff Greene agrees with Ergle and is working to establish his niche in the hemp market by not thinking just locally or even domestically. Greene, who owns Ocala-based Greene’s Reserve, is turning hemp into snuff that he believes will help longtime dippers wean themselves off tobacco, and even possibly reverse lip, mouth and throat cancer caused by long-term chewing and dipping of tobacco. Greene, an entrepreneur and former lobbyist who helped get the Florida Legislature to pass the law legalizing hemp production and processing in the state, started his company in an old meat packing plant north of Ocala nine months ago. Today, his crew is producing 2,000 cans of hemp snuff a day – in wintergreen, natural and menthol flavors – but he expects that to jump to 8,000 cans a day by this month and 14,000 cans a day by the end of July. But it’s just a start. Greene has plans to build hemp snuff plants in Dallas and Las Vegas as part of a global marketing plan as more and more customers come on board. The Ocala plant would serve markets in the eastern U.S., Europe and Africa. Dallas would serve the nation’s midsection, Canada and Latin America. The Vegas plant would serve the West Coast and Asia. Greene’s Re-

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Hemp crops at CF

“What’s interesting is there’s no record of hemp ever being grown in Florida.” serve is already on Amazon and is trying to get on Alibaba, China’s version of Amazon. He is waiting on machines to be built in India so he can go to full automation, at which point he forecasts being able to produce 90,000 cans a day. Is he surprised by the quick growth of his product? “Just the mass acceptance we’ve had has been encouraging,” he said. “About nine out of 10 people who have tried our product have liked it. I’m amazed by that.” Greene said customers report that not only does the dip relax them – not unlike other hemp-based CBD products – but they also find they can quit tobacco easier when they use it. “It’s the oral fixation that’s the addiction,” he said. The next step for Greene, beyond expanding his manufacturing capacity and going global, is the formation of Greene’s Reserve Pharmaceutical Co., which its owner says will create pouches of snuff that will be marketed as treatment to reverse lip, mouth and throat cancer caused by tobacco. He said

CF's Tavis Douglass

the National Institutes of Health have done studies that suggest hemp can reverse cancer and repair damage to the skin. Greene is rolling the dice on creating a global product and brand, but he is confident he will pull it off. “I don’t think it’s a fad,” he said, adding that more and more research is being done to find practical uses for hemp, both for wellness and for other purposes. “If cannabinoids are in their infancy, (hemp) fibers are in the womb,” he said.

A TEACHING TOOL Learning about hemp is the newest part of Tavis Douglass’ job at the College of Central Florida. Douglass, a fourth-generation Marion County farmer and CF’s agribusiness program manager, is overseeing the college’s newly launched industrial hemp program. “It’s a new and emerging crop in Florida,” Douglass said as he looked over a garden of hemp plants. “What’s interesting is there’s no record of hemp ever being grown in Florida.” CF, which received its license from the state in April, is the first among Florida’s 28

Bell predicts hemp will become a game-changer that could transform some industries from plastics to building materials to textiles. Holly Bell

community colleges to study hemp production. “We’re using it as a teaching tool,” he said. “And, frankly, people are interested in it. We’re just trying to set a baseline right now on how to grow it.” Douglass and his students have two patches of hemp growing at the college’s Vintage Farm Campus – one outdoors, the other in a greenhouse. Douglass sees a lot of opportunity for his ag students, because hemp provides both an alternative crop for Florida farmers and further diversification for the state’s farm economy, which has seen dramatic declines in production of such traditional big-money crops like citrus and tomatoes. Like Ergle’s CBD extract, Douglass must test his plants to ensure they do not exceed the state-mandated 0.3 percent THC limit placed on commercially grown and used hemp. As for hemp’s impact on agriculture, Douglass said it could provide more than a new income source for the region’s farmers. In addition to being a cash crop, he said hemp can be used as a high-protein livestock feed and, of importance in the Horse Capital of the World, as a horse bedding alternative to wood shavings. For now, though, Douglass said there are lots of questions about what type of hemp will grow best and under what circumstances. “They might die in the summer rain, or they might grow this tall,” he said, holding his hand over his head. “We really just don’t know. But we’re going to try and find out.”

OPTIMISM FROM FLORIDA’S CANNABIS CZAR When Florida legalized hemp as a commercial crop in 2019, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services was tasked with overseeing its development. So, it

surprised many when Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried tapped Holly Bell as the state’s first director of cannabis. Bell, who grew up on an Indiana farm and was once crowned that state’s Cow Queen, has a degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University. Most of her career, however, has been spent in banking, financial consulting and as an entrepreneur – not farming. Plus, she was an out-of-stater. Bell, however, embraced the new job and the new crop and today is an unabashed promoter and is equally enthusiastic about its future. “This is a quality, premium product,” Bell told OM. Yet, she acknowledges that “it’s not going to be corn or soybeans overnight.” But over the next half decade, she predicts hemp will become a game-changer that could transform some industries from plastics to building materials to textiles. She gives some examples that could cause a “paradigm shift” in three of Florida’s biggest industries: agriculture, hospitality and construction. Florida, she said, is the nation’s largest cow/calf producing state. Nonetheless, it ships a large percentage of its calves out of state for “finishing” because the state simply does not produce enough traditional feed for them. Hemp, as Douglass noted, can be used to produce a high-protein feed that Bell believes could change the Florida cattle industry and increase profits. Textiles is another area where Bell sees potential for a distinct change. Hemp fibers can be used to make fibers and, in turn, textiles. Bell said a Jacksonville woman has developed towels and sheets using hemp fibers. Because they require less water to wash and less heat to dry than traditional fabrics, Bell believes Florida’s hotel industry, which uses mountains of

towels and sheets every day, is a perfect market for such goods. Oh, and the fabric is biodegradable, as opposed to today’s fabrics, many of which are made with plastic-based polyester. The problem at this point, however, is the lack of manufacturing infrastructure. The Jacksonville entrepreneur now has to get her towels and sheets manufactured in China. When the manufacturing machinery is in place in Florida, Bell expects the hemp textile business to take off. Finally, Bell cites something called “hempcrete.” Hempcrete is a concrete-like material made using hemp fibers and, based on research, it is as durable as traditional concrete, just cheaper to make and is biodegradable once it is demolished. Asked if these products that are in their infancy can become dominant in their respective markets, Bell didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely,” she said. “It’s a wave coming across the country. People want it. It’s coming… but we have to get the fiber side going – the hempcrete and the clothing.” But, she added, “It’s going to go on for a generation. It’s going to just grow, grow, grow, I think.” Hemp products will become more and more popular as public awareness and education expand, Bell said. She said because the federal government limits THC levels in hemp to 0.3 percent and Florida-grown hemp is regulated “from cultivation to retail,” including the food safety arm of state government overseeing CBD extraction and distribution outfits, public confidence and the demand for hemp is only going to grow. The result, Bell believes, will be to boost Florida farming, businesses and employment. In its first year of issuing hemp growing and processing licenses, Bell said the industry has already created 9,000 jobs in Florida – and that is predominantly in CBD-related commerce. Bell’s boss, Agriculture Commissioner Fried, believes Florida can lead the nation in hemp production. “The stakes are really high here in our state to get this right,” Fried said last year in announcing Bell’s appointment. “Studies show that Florida can be the number one state in America for medical marijuana and to help involve and bring up this industry.” And Bell believes it is well on its way, starting right here in Central Florida.

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUN 2021 |

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A Weekend in Paradise Punta Gorda evokes the feeling of a far-away vacation destination within a few hours' drive. BY ADAM HAMERSKY

had the pleasure of celebrating my birthday on a weekend getaway to Punta Gorda, Fla. I was greeted with open arms at the Wyvern Hotel by Matt Nemec, manager, and Frank Ceresoli, general manager and was blown away by their hospitality. Nemec invited me out to dinner at his restaurant 88 Keys, the restaurant on the first floor of the hotel. The ambience of the restaurant was absolutely stunning as I was struck by the light and dark grey walls with an incredible light fixture above the bar that resembles a treble clef. The food was fine contemporary American cuisine with locally sourced ingredients. I ordered the special for the night, zuppa di pesce and it was one of the best seafood dishes I’ve had in my life and I was able to enjoy with it with a fantastic red wine with my new friends.

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The new pastry chef was from Austria and her special of the night was homemade apple strudel. Of course, we had to have cake for my birthday, so we ordered the chocolate mousse and key lime pie. If you want to enjoy a memorable meal with your significant other, 88 Keys is the place to do just that.  On top of the Wyvern Hotel is Perch 360. The rooftop bar is accompanied by a pool and an almost unobstructed 360-degree view of the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor. Both relaxing and exciting the setting is ideal for either getting some sun, planning your next stops, or just unwinding. After a great meal at Perch 360, I headed toward the town of Arcadia, where I was greeted by a motivated kayaking guide, Nick Holzerland. We kayaked 4.9 miles down the Peace River observing everything in sight.

Nick was very educational about the wildlife we saw and answered any questions I had. I felt like I was in a completely different world on the water with a few other guests in awe of what we were experiencing. There were several alligators along the riverbanks getting sun and giant ospreys that flew overhead. Nick was composed and confident in his abilities to keep everyone completely calm during the sightings of the alligators. I felt no fear whatsoever after some of the stories Nick shared with us. Following my kayaking adventure, I headed to the Alligator Bay Distillery, just four minutes from the Wyvern Hotel. There, I met with owners and brothers Alexander and Benjamin Voss who were an absolute pleasure to speak with. They hand craft some of the best local rum possible and give tours

Photo courtesy Aqua Marketing & Communications Photos courtesy Aqua Marketing & Communications Photo courtesy Adam Hamersky

Photo courtesy Adam Hamersky

from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Alexander and Benjamin are subject matter experts on the production of rum when it comes to using 100 percent Florida cane molasses sourced from local sugar mills. After my distillery tour I headed back to the rooftop bar to enjoy some drinks accompanied by a gorgeous sunset. The following morning, I was craving a friendly neighborhood restaurant to enjoy breakfast. No better place to eat a flavorful and filling breakfast than Penny’s Restaurant. Located only seven minutes on the road from the

Wyvern Hotel, I was immediately greeted by the outgoing staff and was able to speak to Penny and her husband, Gordon. I enjoyed the eggs benedict with a fruit bowl upon the recommendation of Penny, and I can say that was one of the tastiest eggs benedict I’ve had. The fruit bowl was plentiful with blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and kiwi and without filler fruits such as honeydew or cantaloupe. I thoroughly enjoyed breakfast and really appreciated their hospitality. Following breakfast, I headed to my last stop of the trip: Peace River Botanical

& Sculpture Gardens. I was utterly blown away by some of the sculptures I had observed – sculptures by Carole Fuerman scattered throughout the botanical garden. She is a world-renown hyper-realistic sculpture artist whose main focus is swimming and water features in her art. I was caught off guard when I was touring around the garden because I thought one of these sculptures was an actual human! The botanical garden is the place to stop if you love nature and artwork like myself and you just want to get away from the city for a bit. After I left the botanical garden, I headed off to Ocala. It was bittersweet leaving Punta Gorda because I had become attached to that city and it definitely left an impact on me. The people, the food, and the atmosphere were so unique – it’s definitely a gem that you need to go visit on a weekend getaway.

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUN 2021 |

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

48%

OF OM RESPONDENTS WILL SPEND THIS SUMMER VISITING A BEACH/TROPICAL LOCALE AND RELAX AT HOME.

Mint Chocolate Chip MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP IS THE FAVORITE FLAVOR OF ICE CREAM AMONG 24% OF OM RESPONDENTS. Coffee and Cookies and Cream were listed as favorites among 10% of respondents.

38% will visit friends out of town this summer while 33% will enjoy local lakes and rivers. Only 19% said they will visit an amusement park.

Ariel IS THE FAVORITE DISNEY PRINCESS AMONG

29% OF OM RESPONDENTS. Cinderella is favorite among 19% of respondents while Snow White, Belle and Anna are favorites among 10%.

38% 62% OF OM RESPONDENTS WILL WATCH EVERY TRIPLE CROWN HORSE RACE

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OF OM RESPONDENTS SAY THEY RECYCLE ON A REGULAR BASIS

The Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich is the runaway favorite

52%

among national fast food chain sandwiches.

McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Subway’s BMT and Arby’s Beef and Cheddar also received prominent mention.

OF OM RESPONDENTS

prefer hard cover AS READING MEDIUM OF CHOICE. 29% prefer paperback while 19% prefer digital copy.

38% of OM respondents say they volunteer at local charities “from time to time.” 24% say they seldom volunteer while 19% say they volunteer often. 14% of respondents say they never volunteer.

38%

OF OM RESPONDENTS NEVER LISTEN TO PODCASTS. 29% listen to podcasts several times a week, 19% seldom listen to podcasts while 14% listen to podcasts every day.

Classical and Pop ARE THE FAVORITE MUSICAL GENRES AMONG 19% OF OM RESPONDENTS. Rock was favorite among 14% while Country and R&B were favorites among 10%.

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUN 2021 |

eat

Enjoy the finest this Father’s Day Photo by Robin Fannon

Father’s Day Barbecue p36 | Dining Out p41

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUN 2021 |

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

A feast FOR FATHER’S DAY STORY AND STYLING BY ROBIN FANNON PHOTOGRAPHY BY RALPH DEMILIO MEN'S ATTIRE COURTESY OF GREINER'S FINE APPAREL FOR MEN

t’s time to shower some love and admiration on the men in our lives. This Father’s Day we are focusing on some of dad’s favorite things: juicy steaks, Cuban cigars, delicious wine and on-trend fashions. Throw some friends and family into that mix, and dad can party like a rock star. OM teamed up with some of dad’s favorite local hotspots, Mark’s Prime Steakhouse and Greiner’s Fine Apparel for Men, to create a backyard barbecue of dad’s dreams. Local chef Randal White gave a master class in grilling the perfect steak, along with the ideal seasonings, sauces and sides. He brought along a large salt rock (see sidebar) to demonstrate how amazingly it infuses the meat with incredible flavor. Check out our social media pages for an interview with White where he dishes on all things steak including his favorite go-to cut for the home barbecue and how to achieve that perfect crusty sear to lock in those juices and flavors. Dad’s day would not be complete without some sharp attire, so we called in the local experts at landmark haberdashery Greiner’s. David Desantis and Brandon Kebrdle know a thing or two about making our men not only look sharp, but comfortable. Ocala Magazine honors and salutes all the fathers and grandfathers in our lives that continue to bless our families in so many ways, everyday!

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUN 2021 |

Potatoes Au Gratin A rich, creamy and satisfying side dish for your steak. INGREDIENTS » » » » » » » »

5 tablespoons butter 2 cloves garlic Salt 6 large waxy potatoes (about 2½ pounds), such as red bliss, peeled and sliced about 1/8-inch thick 2 cups half-and-half Freshly ground black pepper Fresh nutmeg 1 cup grated Gruyère

INSTRUCTIONS

salt rock

These beautiful slabs of Himalayan pink salt have been carved specifically for use in high heat cooking by helping to distribute the heat more evenly, and they have a variety of uses such as grilling and curing. They make a beautiful presentation for your chilled dishes, such as shrimp or oysters. It also has the added benefit of imparting trace minerals to your food such as magnesium, potassium and calcium. It makes for a gorgeous and unique presentation, not to mention the sizzle! Infuse your dish with butter or olive oil with fresh herbs and just wait for the ‘wow!’ from your guests! Here is a link to great article online regarding specific uses, tempering, cleaning and storing your block: www.themanual.com. Amazon is a great resource for purchasing one.

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Rub the inside of an 8x8 inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon of the butter. Smash garlic with the side of a knife and sprinkle generously with salt. Chop and scrape the garlic into a mushy paste. • Combine garlic paste, potatoes, half-and-half, and remaining 4 tablespoons of butter (cut into ½-inch

pieces) in a pot then stir. Season with salt and pepper and taste the creamy liquid – it should be seasoned generously. Grate in a hint of nutmeg. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat while stirring the mixture with a wooden spoon. After 8-10 minutes the potatoes will be a little tender, and their starch will have thickened the liquid considerably. • Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish; smooth the top as much as possible. Cover the gratin with Gruyère and bake until deeply golden brown, about 20-30 minutes. Let gratin cool and set a little before serving.

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUN 2021 |

pro tips We asked Chef Randal White of Mark’s Prime Steakhouse for his best advice on preparing a delicious steak at home and here are some of his pro tips!

1 2 3

Let the meat come to room temperature before cooking. Don’t take it straight out of the refrigerator to the heat. This will produce a juicier, more evenly cooked product. Go for a “bone-in” cut when possible. Again, it helps the meat retain its moisture, resulting in a juicier steak.

Season your steak heavily before cooking with salt and pepper or a rub of your choice.

4 5 6

Sear the steak on high heat then move it to a cooler spot. Using a cast iron skillet will work or he highly recommends using a salt rock on the grill.

Letting your steak rest (about 10 minutes) when it comes off the heat will allow the juices to redistribute back into the meat.

Chimichurri INGREDIENTS » » » » »

½ cup olive oil 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar ½ cup finely chopped parsley 3 to 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or minced 2 small red chilies, or 1 red chili, deseeded and finely chopped (about 1 tablespoon finely chopped chili) » ¾ teaspoon dried oregano » 1 level teaspoon coarse salt » Pepper, to taste (about ½ teaspoon)

INSTRUCTIONS

• Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes to release all of the flavors into the oil before using. Ideally, let it sit for more than two hours, if time allows. • Chimichurri can be prepared earlier than needed, and refrigerated for 24 hours, if needed. • Use to baste meats (chicken or steaks) while grilling or barbecuing. We don’t use it as a marinade, but choose to baste our meats with chimichurri instead. However, you can use it as a marinade if you wish. Also, add a couple of tablespoons over your steak to serve.

As for sides, chef White said his favorite is grits! Potatoes au gratin run a close second.

Share your steak with someone you love!

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Instagram @RSVP_ROBIN

dining out

EAT

Ivy On The Square Whether gathering with friends or family for lunch or a night out, you’ll enjoy fresh salads, mouthwatering comfort food, late-night tapas and drinks. Specials include our Pecan Salmon, Southern Fried Lobster and famous baked Krispy Chicken. After dining enjoy a stroll in our boutique where we oﬀer a variety of gifts, jewelry, home decor and clothing. Looking to host a special event or dinner? Call and talk to one of our staﬀ members on the options we have available.

Gift certificates available.

53 S. Magnolia Ave., Ocala | (352) 622-5550 Closed Mon, Tues 11am-2pm, Wed 11am-9pm, Thurs 11am-9pm 106 NW Main St., Williston | (352) 528-5410 Sun-Wed 11am-2pm, Thurs-Sat 11am-8pm | ivyhousefl.com

Latinos Y Mas Our restaurant is the perfect atmosphere for business lunches, family lunches or romantic dinners. Since 1991, Latinos y Mas restaurant has been serving our valued customers in Ocala and surroundings. Try the exquisite fusion of Latin food, such as one of our entrées, including Pargo Rojo, Paella, Ceviches, homema de Tres Leches and our amazing passion fruit Mojitos. Enjoy in house or order from the takeaway menu. Our friendly staﬀ is more than happy to help plan an extraordinary dining experience. Try our keto, paleo, gluten friendly menu options

Our NEW 3’s Catering Company brought to you buy our family of restaurants Ipanema, Latinos Y Mas and Craft Cuisine. 3sCateringCompany.com We are open for to-go orders, curbside pickup and Door Dash for deliveries. Online Gift Cards

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Follow us on social media for updates. 2030 South Pine Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471 | (352) 622-4777 www.latinosymas.com Mon-Thurs 11am - 9pm | Fri-Sat 11am-10pm | Sun closed

West 82° Bar and Grill Looking for a ﬂavor party in your mouth with the best view in Citrus County to tantalize your eyes? The West 82 Bar and Grill oﬀers fun innovative dining options with niche regional and eclectic southern charm. We use the freshest ingredients to include locally caught fresh seafood, Florida beef, as well as locally harvested fruits and vegetables.

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We invite you to catch your own in season ﬁsh and scallops which we can prepare in a variety of ways, served family style. Overlooking the beautiful Kings Bay and Crystal River, the West 82 satisﬁes all of your senses in one place.

Call for reservations and weekly specials. Breakfast: Monday-Sunday 6-10:30am Lunch: 11:30am-2pm, Dinner: Daily: 5-9pm 9301 West Fort Island Trail, Crystal River, FL 34429 | (352) 795-4211 www.plantationoncrystalriver.com

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUN 2021 |

IVY ON THE SQUARE

BOUTIQUE

Come visit Ocala’s chic boutique experience, where you’ll discover oneof-a-kind posh gifts, accessories and apparel. Stop by today and get ready to answer the question,

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We appreciate our wonderful customers and the friends they bring by to see us!

42 SOUTH MAGNOLIA AVE., OCALA, FL • (352) 622-5550

play

“Egg” by Sheila Jernigan 4’ x 4’ | Acrylic | sheilahartley7@yahoo.com | ig: sheilahartley7

Socially Speaking p44 | Anthology—Poetry in Motion p58

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUN 2021 |

EVENTS

socially speaking

2021 George Albright Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament STORY+ PHOTOGRAPHY BY LESLIE WENGLER | SOCIAL EDITOR

he George Albright Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament is something many folks look forward to every year, with many teams returning year after year for the event held at Eagle Ridge Golf Club. Teams consist of fathers and sons, workmates and good friends getting together to support a great cause and honor the legacy of a man who truly loved his roots of Weirsdale.

From registration to the course, down to the corn on the cob at the end, it was all smiles for the golfers, win or lose. George Alrbright Jr. was a man who dedicated his life to service, and that echoes still to this day with the tournament that bears his name. The event supports Camp Kiwanis and Habitat for Humanity, but you can see the camaraderie everyone has for this tournament and its cause. The golf course was in great shape and although not all of the golf was “up to par” the enjoyment had by all was unmatched as it has been for years and will continue to be for a long time to come.

Bruce Fishalow

Leslie Wengler

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Aggie Albright live auctioning

Neighborhood Storage team

Steve Roberts and Justin Albright

Jimmy Cowan, Rob Beal and Dale

AdventHealth Ocala team

Jim Maguire and John Brandish

JJ Abright, Dr. David Albright, Austin Albright, Glenn and Theresa Lane, Silver Sponsor

Showcase Properties team

Father and son team

Tammy Hoff, N.C Sizemore and Joe Vogee of Kiwanis Volunteers at the registration table

Lightbody team

Keane Kash team

Ocala Electric Utility team

Penny Miller, Clay Albright, Bill Yates, Aggie Albright, Joe Voge, Marti Loria and Jeff Ruttenber

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUN 2021 |

EVENTS

socially speaking

Bourbon & Blooms HOPS Spring Tour of Gardens 2021

OPS, the Historic Ocala Preservation Society, hosted its first annual Spring Garden Tour, Bourbon & Blooms, on April 24-25. Guests were delighted along the self-guided walking tour while seeing some of Ocala’s most beautiful outdoor landscapes. Featured were several gardens, some small and charming, and others large and majestic – each with a unique story behind them. Over two days, guests proceeded at their leisure through the stunning spaces while embracing the beauty and live musical performances at various locations by Johnny Gibbs, Anne Laurie and Caly Bryan. During their journey to each garden, they enjoyed additional beauty shown by our area’s finest artists at work – such as Ryan Neumann, Andres Garcia and Aaron Thomas – bourbon tastings, pop-up bars, and other surprises. Master Gardeners were on hand at several garden stops to answer any questions. During the tour, Marion Cultural Alliance, showcased “Home Sweet Home,” one of the beautiful horses of the Horse Fever 20/20 Giving Collection. This successful event was a collective effort of passionate people, dedicated volunteers, generous businesses and caring community members, along with HOPS members and board. Private homes that were opened up and shared with Ocala: The Bryant House, The Fort House, The Sanchez Cottage, The Camp House, The Taylor House, The Tucker House, and the 1348 SE 5th Street house. A special thank you to the sponsors: Presenting Sponsor: The Yard Stop; Master Gardeners: Shirley Rudnianyn, Cathy Steppen-Snyder, Suzanne Shuffitt; Neighborhood Storage; Media Sponsor: OM/Ocala Magazine; Heirs-Baxley Funeral Services, Clean Cut Lawn Care, Foliage Design Systems, Sol and Linday Anker, RBOI, Roberts Real Estate, Trish Kilgore, Frank and Pamela Stafford, Georgio Berry, Josh DeMonte, Aleigha Shepherd, Photography Sponsor:

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Adam Volte Imagery; Shannon Roth, Marion Theatre, Sweet Baby Chesses, Sam’s Sweet Shop, Infinite Ale Works, Fish Hawk Spirits, James Two Brothers Distillers, Marion Mobile Bar and Bubbles. The HOPS Bourbon & Blooms committee is to be honored for its dedication and efforts in making the event a success: R. J. Jenkins, Stephanie Mutarelli, Rhoda Walkup and Sarah Kirk. Because of the support given, HOPS continues to realize its mission to preserve Ocala’s rich and beautiful history.

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUN 2021 |

EVENTS

socially speaking

Spurrier’s new place Famed coach's restaurant strives to be ‘the epicenter of Gator Nation’ STORY + PHOTOS BY BRAD ROGERS

he Head Ball Coach himself recently led a group of Ocalans on a tour of his new restaurant and bar in Gainesville, called “Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille.” The former Florida Heisman Trophy winner and championship-winning University of Florida football coach said he got the idea to build the restaurant when his daughter suggested he needed a place to display all his memorabilia from more than a half century as one of football’s most recognizable stars. So, while Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille, along with the rooftop bar “Visors,” will be a place to dine and drink, it will also serve as a museum to Spurrier’s career as well as some other Gator greats. “It’s not just a restaurant, it’s an experience,” said Freddie Wehbe, Spurrier’s business manager and managing partner in the restaurant. “This is going to be the epicenter of Gator Nation.” The concept, which Wehbe said was developed after $1 million in research, is to provide fine dining in a Gator-themed environment. The restaurant/bar is expected to attract UF fans from across the state – there are 6 million of them. Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille’s target market is from The Villages to Lake City, and the state’s tourism agency is so impressed with the restaurant/museum concept that it is planning promotional billboards along I-75, Wehbe said, adding that the state agency believes it could draw some 280,000 visitors a year. With seating for 525 diners, Wehbe said it will be among the 10 largest restaurants in Florida when it opens. The rooftop bar, Visors, will have a capacity of 220. The sign at the entrance of Visors, which has a retractable roof, is made from coach Spurrier’s old visors. Plans call for 375 employees, including 10 chefs. Head chef Market Heigl says the cuisine

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

The front of Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille at Celebration Pointe in Gainesville. The restaurant and bar will feature a museum dedicated to coach Steve Spurrier’s long career as a player and coach.

Wallpaper in one of the restrooms featuring plays Spurrier drew up over the years.

will be eclectic, but most of the dishes are going to feature locally grown or harvested meat, seafood and vegetables. Besides the expansive dining areas, Spurrier’s will also have four private rooms for meetings and groups, the largest being the Bull Gator Room. Wehbe said there is a misconception among some that Spurrier’s is just another sports bar. “This is not a sports bar,” he said emphatically. “This is a premier restaurant. This is a ‘polished casual’ restaurant.” Wehbe said Spurrier’s different approach has caught the attention of other coaches, among them Alabama’s Nick Saban. Spurrier’s Gridiron Grill is expected to open in July and is located in Celebration Point, just off I-75 at the Archer Road exit in Gainesville.

Spurrier, left, and business manager/partner Freddie Wehbe, talk to a group of Ocalans during a recent tour of the restaurant.

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EVENTS

socially speaking

MCCA’s Evening of Excellence STORY + PHOTOS BY LESLIE WENGLER

he Marion County Children’s Alliance had its 2nd annual Evening of Excellence at the Country Club of Ocala April 29th. Throughout the evening different organizations accepted awards for their gallant efforts in aiding the enrichment of the lives of Marion County children. As well as the inaugural Dr. Mike P. Jordan award, which was awarded to Shores First Assembly of God, Kimberly’s Center also received an award for its new playground, which Dawn Westgate accepted on their behalf. To enhance the evening, the multi-talented Caleb Lombardo sang three songs, one with a guitar and two with piano. With everyone singing along, it was clear moments like these one can truly feel the community coming together for a greater cause.

Caleb Lombardo

Beth McCall and Jaye Baille

The Lombardos

Dr. Mike P. Jordan and Nancy Castillo

Mayor Kent Guinn, Laurie Zink, Brad and Debbie Rogers

Ryan and Ashley Gerds

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Kelley Windham and Karim Martin

Scot Quintel and Kelly Welch Mcatee

Beth McCall and Pastor John Delcamp

Retirement Retirement Community Community

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EVENTS

socially speaking

Festival of Speed STORY + PHOTOS BY LESLIE WENGLER

erby day was an exciting day at the World Equestrian Center. There was the Festival of Speed event as well as two VIP events occurring within the hotel for the Kentucky Derby. Women dressed in derby attire walked among Porsches, Henleys, and other high-end cars. The Marion Cultural Alliance was there with three of the 2020 Horse Fever horses, selling tickets for a raffle to win one of them. It was nice to see the winners of the American and European classic trophies and the excitement they had, as well as the men and women walking the halls of the hotel checking out the grandeur of the lobby and the newly opened restaurants and bars. All in all, it was an exciting day, and if you haven’t had a chance to check out the World Equestrian Center, you should put that on your summer to-do list.

Kate MacDonald,David Reinke, Sue Mcdonald, David, Daniel, and Jack Mccdonald

David and Laurie Kellner

Brayden Deshaw Winner of European Classic Henly

Kami Moretti and Stacey Rollins

Jim Scott

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Vanessa, Madison, Ashley, and Kelsey Chico

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EVENTS

socially speaking

Symphony Under the Stars 2021 STORY + PHOTOS BY LESLIE WENGLER

raditions are not something to be taken lightly, especially after this past year with the pandemic. It was such a lovely thing to see families gathering on the golf course again, with their picnic blankets, displays of charcuterie, as children played in the grass to the backdrop of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra. This year, the gates opened earlier than previous years and there were two opening acts before the symphony played. “Just Joel” a local DJ who has an exceptional talent for mixing songs started at 3 p.m.; then “Left on Broadway” serenaded everyone from 4-5 p.m. Marion Bar & Bubbles, sponsored by Ocala Eye, treated all the mothers to a free mimosa to celebrate. The fireworks show was extravagant and ended a remarkable evening. Hopefully, this event will be a pathway that we are nearing the end of the pandemic and more events like this will take place, once again.

The Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Gavin Munn and Rebecca Negron

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Left on Broadway

Dawson Landmann

Sawyer and Laura Sherman

Ronnie and Lorna Santana, Captain Dustin Quentjes, Emily Mcguire, Lyndsey and Kyle Landmann, Mike and Amanda Gill

Matthew Wardell conducting the Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Katie and Robert Huff

Judah Smith

The Bradshaw and Bascom families

Erin Emanuel and Caleb Tomaszewski

HIS Compassion

FOOD BANK Over 13 million pounds of food distributed in 2020 377,000 boxes of food given in 2020 Over 7,200 families fed per week

at remote handouts in Alachua, Putnum, Marion, Lake, Citrus and Sumter Counties

86 agencies received 186 pallets of food distribution every week (9,672 pallets in 2020) Over 500 families served at our campus weekly

“For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; ...” 0 hthriss 0 0 , 5 1 Over in 2020 at y

—Matthew 25: 35

genc ered volunteolunteer run a total v

To donate, volunteer, help raise food, or hold a drive, visit

www.HISCompassionFlorida.org PICK UP FREE FOOD ON TUES & THURS MORNINGS (COME EARLY!) at 2000 NE 78th St, Ocala, FL 34479

HIS Compassion Food Bank 352-351-0732

EVENTS

socially speaking

Preakness Party 2021

ouisville native Newell Fox and his wife, Heba Fox, organized the 8th annual Preakness Party back in May where folks from Gainesville invade the Horse Capital of the World to enjoy horse racing’s second leg of the Triple Crown. Dressing up in racing day attire and betting the horses, the group travels via a 56-passenger bus complete with live DJ on board and flight attendants to serve the official drink of the Preakness Stakes, Black Eyed Susans. In the past, the group has visited the Ocala Breeders Sales and Oxford Downs and this year held its party at Sunday Table Farm — hosted by Pat and Kelly Acevedo, Nick and Danielle Bouvier — followed by a quick stop at Bank Street Patio Bar in downtown Ocala. Though a Florida-bred did not win, the libations flowed and the party never waned! Liz Smock and Carrie Cason

Marcus Furst, Kaylee Anderson, Sofia Dayi, Hasbrouck Donovan and Marcus Hamilton

Newell Fox and Nick Schmidt

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Hebah Fox, Nick Bouvier and Newell Fox

Jen Khoury, Tara Edelstein, Hebah Fox, Kirsten Stinson, Kelly Haager, Jenn Garrett, Tara Bromierski, Elizabeth Howell, Tina Waters and Tammy Kavanaugh

Dan Livingston and Newell Fox

Bryan Edelstein, Darren Jones and Nick Schmidt

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PLAY

anthology — poetry in motion

Become a winner BY JERRY GLASSMAN

The way you react today will reflect on how you react tomorrow which could bring out sorrow. But then again, you could wipe out the sorrow, and become a hero tomorrow. Thoughts matter, actions matter, think things through and you will figure out what to do. Do diligence on your thoughts Before you act Facts and truth matter Coupled with positive thinking will help you attain your goals. Don’t forget to listen, hear what they say You may learn something that way You can never be clever, unless you are. So go to work and enjoy success in whatever it is that you do. Follow these rules ... and You will be a winner!

| MAY 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

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ELITE EQUESTRIAN

Celebrating The Equestrian Lifestyle

We are America’s Favorite Equestrian Lifestyle Magazine, Published Since 2008.

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Celebrating The Equestrian Lifestyle

CURO- Diagnostics “Revealing the Unseen”

NIC ROLDAN Peek Inside His Life SPRING Fashion

AIKEN, SC Highlight

Volume 21 Issue 2 Complimentary

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is not a gentle hobby, Ridingto bea horse picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. I t is a grand passion. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

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equine

Gracious Living in the Horse Capital of the World®

Everything Equine p64 | From Hall of Fame to City Hall p68

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUN 2021 |

EQUINE

everything equine

Top 4 crossing the finish line Photo by EquusCeptional Media

Derby Dreams Do Come True! BY LOUISA BARTON,

he 2021 Kentucky Derby was very exciting for the Ocala/Marion connections. Over two-thirds of the horses in the starting gate this year had strong ties to breeders and trainers in this area. Within these connections, there

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

were two Florida-breds, Medina Spirit and Soup and Sandwich, and although we always follow the ones who graduated from our local consignors, we especially like to cheer on the ones born in the Horse Capital. Soup and Sandwich, a Live Oak Plan-

tation-bred horse, looked good going into the race for Ocala’s Mark Casse as did Ocala-bred Medina Spirit, in Bob Baffert’s barn. However, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert did not have a lot of confidence in his remaining Derby horse, with Concert Tour

Photos courtesy of Louisa Barton

Equine Initiative Director at the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership, Farm Realtor and Host of the Horse Talk Show on the Sky 97.3

Gail Rice reunited with Medina Spirit after the Derby win

and Life Is Good off the trail. Even Baffert’s son, Bodie, reminded his dad on the day before the Derby, that when his dad comes second in the Santa Anita Derby, he always wins the Kentucky Derby. For some reason, Bob didn’t think Medina Spirit could do it. Maybe it was his unknown sire, Protonico, or his humble beginnings in the back ring of Ocala Breeders Sales. As a yearling, Medina Spirit only sold for $1,000 and for only $35,000 as a two-yearold in training. Christy Whitman picked him out at the OBS sale. She liked his top line and hip and thought he would be promising for her gallop rider to work with. Whitman spent a lot of time learning at Niall Brennan Stables as an exercise rider and through a degree in equine physiology at Central Florida College before opening her own training business. Medina Spirit’s start in life was actually more challenging than his run in the Derby. Born in Citra three weeks late to breeder Gail Rice, and with no milk available from his dam at birth, Gail had to freeze milk from another mare and bottle feed him. Rice did not want to sell him as a yearling, but the situation she was in at the time caused her to decide to take him to the OBS sale. She set no reserve and watched him sell for $1,000. She walked over and thanked Christy Whitman for purchasing him and asked where he would go. At that time, Rice had no idea that he would end up in the barn of Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, or that he would be Baffert’s only hope for a 2021 Derby win this year, or that with this horse, Baffert would achieve

a record-breaking seventh Derby win. In the days right after the Derby, I had a chance to talk to Christy Whitman, the consignor, who shared how she felt on Derby day as she watched at World Equestrian Center OcaMedina Spirit as a foal at Rice's farm in Citra la with her two daughters. Whitman had tears in her her story. I tagged Medina Spirit’s owner on eyes as she shared how she felt watching a Twitter with the interview Rice gave me at horse that she bought at OBS cross the finBaffert’s barn. It is a great story. Mr. Zedan ish line first in the Kentucky Derby. At the called Rice that evening and invited her to post-Derby press conference, I saw owner be his guest at the Preakness, saying that he Amr Zedan show emotion as he struggled saw the interview where she expressed her to express the surreal emotions he felt. belief that God’s hands were in this entire I had made a point to track Rice down at story. That was her interview with me. the OBS sale in the weeks prior to the Derby to This is what Derby dreams are made of hear her story. After spending some time with – and for me and definitely for Christy Whither, I offered to loan her a fascinator, which she man and Gail Rice, this is a dream come true! wore so beautifully on Derby day and I saw her Seeing a Florida-bred horse, with such humwearing it in the Winners’ Circle. Of course, I ble beginnings, prove himself against all odds told her that I do not want it back! and win the first jewel in the Triple Crown On the Sunday morning after the Deris such an exciting accomplishment. Seeing by, I took Rice to the barns at Churchill his breeder go to the Preakness to watch him Downs to see Medina Spirit in his stall. He again was a huge reward. was quite feisty and acted like he could run Even the later news released about a pohis race all over again. For me, seeing them tential error in the use of an ointment conreunited (and the horse clearly remembered taining a steroid that is not permitted even her) was the culmination of a job well done, in tiny doses in Kentucky cannot change the from his birth, through his training in Ocala fact that this “little horse” ran his heart out. and into the Hall of Famer’s barn and across He ran the race of his life, against the best the finish line first in the 147th Kentucky of the best and proved himself. He is truly a Derby. Baffert was not aware that she was Florida-bred champ! the breeder and they chatted, as she shared

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A Special Thank You

to all homeowners, donors and volunteers who supported and sponsored our Spring Garden Tour. Watch for details about our upcoming

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Set amid the ambience of the city’s oldest historic district and through the generosity of the homeowners, H.O.P.S. is pleased to showcase some of Ocala’s distinctive architecture, history, and culture. Since 1992, these home tours have provided a rare opportunity for guests to go inside some of our community’s most beautiful private residences.

2021 Historic Ocala Preservation Society Board Members Brian Stoothoff — President Rhoda Walkup — Vice President Richard Perry — Secretary Dennis Phillips — Treasurer Pamela Stafford — Past President Linda Anker Daniel Banks Giorgio Berry Bryan Caracciolo Robin Fannon Sean Gallaway Leon Geller Stephanie Howard R.J. Jenkins Lela Kerley Trish Kilgore Sarah Kirk Caryl Lucas Penny Miller Suzanne Thomas Diana Williams Link Wilson Holly Yocum

712 S.E. Fort King St. Ocala, FL 34471 | (352) 351-1861 | www.HistoricOcala.org Follow us on Facebook

From

Hall of Fame Award-winning horse trainer Bill White finds new kind of challenge as mayor of Dunnellon

to City Hall

BY BRAD ROGERS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RALPH DEMILIO

he glass case in the small den in Bill White’s Dunnellon home is crammed with elegant crystal and wood-carved trophies recognizing the 17 individual trainer of the year awards White won during two decades of training race horses at Miami’s legendary trio of tracks, Calder, Gulfstream and Hialeah. There’s also an 18th trophy. It sits somewhat hidden behind the more ornate awards that propelled White into the Calder Hall of Fame. This award stands out because of its simplicity – it’s homemade, just a board with four horseshoes nailed to it, with the name Satu in the middle. Satu was White’s first winner as a trainer. Yes, No. 18 is White’s favorite because it was No. 1. “It was a $3,500 maiden claiming race with a $1,500 purse,” White reminisced. “She won by a neck. She went wire to wire. I remember how exhilarated I was.” That was 1982. Fast forward almost 40 years and White’s days as one of Florida’s most successful and respected horse trainers are be-

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

hind him, but he is hardly just sitting on his porch watching the Rainbow River flow by. No, today White is the mayor of Dunnellon, a remarkable happenstance given that he and his wife of 42 years, Laura, just moved to Dunnellon in 2017. “I’m really enjoying it,” White said. “It’s something really new, something fresh. Being in a small town, you can really see the changes you affect. And it feels good. You’re not going to satisfy all the people all the time.” FROM TEACHING TO TRAINING White’s sudden arrival to local politics is not all that different from his sudden arrival to the world of horse racing. After graduating from the University of Florida with a master’s degree in special education, White went to work teaching elementary special education in Sarasota County. He also coached the high school baseball team, which had gone winless the season before he arrived and won a district championship his final season, and the JV high school football team.

But White had a love for horse racing that had been instilled in him by his grandfather while he was growing up in Southern Illinois. So, he would go on weekends to Tampa Bay Downs to get his horse racing fix. During those visits, he met a Sarasota businessman named Burt Butker, who owned and raced a few horses. They became friends. One day, Butker called White, then 30, and asked him if he wanted to train his small stable of horses. “I thought, ‘When am I going to have another shot?’” White said. He took the job, while maintaining his teaching position. In fact, Satu’s win came while he was still teaching – he had called in sick that day. White soon realized training horses was what he really wanted to do, so he resigned his teaching job of six years in the middle of the school year and went to work managing Butker’s modest stable of horses at Tampa Bay Downs. Despite Satu’s win, success did not come quickly. White said it took about three years before he began to see measurable success,

and after five years with Butker he headed south to Miami, which with three big tracks was the epicenter of horse racing during the winter months. His main barn was at Calder Race Course, although he also raced horses at Gulfstream Park and Hialeah Park. He admits he had to “learn on the job,” but because most of the horse racing world flocked to Miami during the winters in those days, it exposed him to the best competition, whether it be horses, jockeys or fellow trainers. “I think being involved in that environment accelerated my success,” he said. “And when you’re having success at that level, you say, ‘Hey, I can do this.’” MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF And do this he did. He won his first trainer of the year award – based on a combination of wins and earnings – in 1991 and would go on to win 9 total at Calder, including eight in a row from 1997 to 2004. The others were won at Gulfstream and the Tropical Park Meet at Calder. The trainer of the year trophies are the only awards on display in the White household, although wife Laura said there are boxes of more awards stored in the attic. Over the course of his 32-year career, White entered 12,052 horses in races, mostly in Florida. Of those, 2,034 finished first, 1,776 finished second and 1,676 finished third. His total career winnings were $34,839,761. “He never trained big stakes horses,” said Jan Cubbage, a former jockey and horsewoman who now serves on the Dunnellon City Council with White. “He was known as the claiming horse king in South Florida. Nobody was better at picking a horse out of a race for an owner than Bill White.” For all his success and recognition, White concedes one of the few regrets he has about his award-winning career is that he never got to train a big-name horse to its greatest glory. Oh, he trained such champions Mucho Macho Man, Little Mike and Not Surprising, but never got to train them for their biggest races. “I trained some big-time horses,” White said. “I guess my regret is I never got to ride the wave with them.” While White spent the majority of his horse training career in South Florida, it was an Ocala connection that both elevated his stature in the business and introduced him

Bill White

Over the course of his

to Marion County. “My first big break was when Fred Hooper called me,” he said, referring to the legendary Marion County horseman who owned the 1,100-acre Circle H Farm. Hooper, who is a fellow member of the Calder Hall of Fame with White, not only owned 1945 Kentucky Derby winner Hoop Jr., but also more than 100 stakes winners and is generally credited with bringing jockeys from Latin America to the United States. Familiar names like Laffit Pincay Jr., Braulio Baeza and Jorge Velasquez all got their starts with Hooper. Hooper’s widow and partner, Wanda Hooper Quigley, remains in contact with White. “Fred liked young trainers who were coming along, and Bill was doing good,” she said. “Fred liked his operation, plus he had integrity. Bill knew his horses. He knew what was good for them and what wasn’t. He

32-year career, White entered

12,052 horses

in races, mostly in Florida. Of those,

2,034 finished first, 1,776 finished second and 1,676 finished third.

His total career winnings were

$34,839,761.

could bring the best out of them – and he didn’t use much medication. “Whatever Bill White was given, he developed. He could really bring out the best in a horse.” White also trained horses, for other prominent Florida owners, including John

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUN 2021 |

Franks, Georgia Hofmann, Eugene and Laura Melnyk, the Steinbrenner family and Live Oak Plantation. LUCK IS JUST PART OF IT While White had a gift for horses, he is quick to point out being successful in horse racing takes more than a good eye or a hunch. “A trainer is ultimately responsible for everything and anything that happens to his horse,” he said. “It’s seven days a week, 24 hours a day. So, the passion for the game and the responsibilities make it a lifestyle.” “Then it’s a combination of having the talent, having the desire, plus you need a little luck.” After retiring from horse racing in 2014, White served as president of the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, which represents 5,000 Florida owners and trainers, crisscrossing the state and lobbying the legislature in an effort to boost purses and save horse racing in Florida. It worked. Today, White is removed from horse racing, saying he hasn’t been to a track since he moved to Dunnellon four years ago. But he still observes and laments the changes in horse racing since he first got into it. “From the time I got in racing until now, it’s almost unrecognizable,” he said. “And what I mean by that is the number of people you race in front of. When I started the grandstands would be full. Now, race tracks are like an empty bus station.” Beyond the lack of crowds, White believes criticism from animal rights activists has hurt the sport’s image. “What horse racing deals with now is any animal used for entertainment draws a lot of criticism,” he said. “It is now being looked at as something that is cruel to animals. So, the public perception of horse racing isn’t as positive as it used to be.” That said, White misses the “thrill of bringing your horse from basic light training to the winner’s circle.” There’s a part of it he doesn’t miss, as well. “Even if you’re a highly successful trainer and win 20 percent of your races, you’re living in a mentality where most of the time you’re losing.” For the record, White won 17 percent of his races, although he finished in the money – first, second or third – 29 percent of the time. Cubbage, the ex-jockey and now Dun-

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Bill White speaking with Luis Saez Bill White at Calder

nellon city councilwoman, put White’s career into perspective: “How big was Bill White? Well, every time you picked up a program, Bill White was all over it.” After years of visiting Marion County to meet with horse owners and attend Ocala Breeders’ Sales, he bought land in Dunnellon. It would be where White and wife Laura – they met in high school as co-workers in a grocery store – would settle, on the banks of the Rainbow River. Once a resident, White began attending Dunnellon City Council meetings. He didn’t like what he saw and decided to run for an open council seat. He won, running unopposed. The city was grappling with potentially devastating financial problems – it was on the verge of bankruptcy – and there was discord among council members and between the council and the community. White decided he wanted to take on a bigger role, so in 2020 he decided to challenge incumbent Mayor Dale Burns. The two had clashed repeatedly over fiscal matters. “Often,

the mayor and I didn’t see the world through similar lenses,” as White now puts it. He had to resign his council seat to run for the $150-a-month mayor’s post. Some heavyweight political names in town, namely former Congresswoman Karen Thurman – herself a former mayor of Dunnellon – and longtime state legislator Dennis Jones, lent their expertise and support to White. Thurman said White recognized that the council was dysfunctional and not responsive to the citizens’ needs. While campaigning, he knocked on almost every door in town… three times. “He listened to people,” she said. “He really sat down and tried to listen to people.” The result of the campaign was a 10-percentge point victory over Burns, 560-463. Not unlike horse training, the mayor’s job requires commitment, desire and a little luck. To get out of financial trouble, the city sold its utility. Not only that, while growth has exploded around Dunnellon, White said the city itself has not grown over the past decade. With no revenue generator and no growth, tax revenues

Bill White at City Hall

“He listened to people. He really sat down and tried to listen to people.”

are stagnant. White is looking for solutions. “Dunnellon has fought through (its near-bankruptcy) and only has $2 million in debt,” he said, assessing the state of the city. For now, the city is solvent “and paying the bills.” But because of the depth of its recent fiscal problems, White said the city has neglected its infrastructure to where it is a problem, and a huge financial challenge. Moreover, the current citizenry is passionate about protecting the rivers and Dunnellon’s small town charm, making it difficult to bring in significant growth. Some people have suggested letting Dunnellon become part of the county and dissolving the municipality. The idea has been a non-starter. “You get pushback to that because we

Bill and Laura White at home

love home rule,” White said. Also, “They like the quaintness. They like the rivers. They like the Old Florida feel.” For now, White said his strategy is to make the council more citizen-friendly and more responsible to the public. He also believes the city has to be more aggressive in seeking state and federal grants, whether they are for environmental protection, infrastructure improvements or social initiatives. Regardless, White said the city’s $4 million tax base is insufficient to meet the city’s needs. He believes a more engaged City Council is essential to meeting the challenge. “I’m trying to change the culture,” the mayor said. “I want this council to be an open council, a welcoming council. We want you to come to us.” A big change that occurred this year was the elimination of the city administrator’s position. The council turned some of those responsibilities over to the city clerk and took some on themselves. “The City Council, which delegated much of its authority to the city administrator, has taken back that authority. So now, we have a strong city council form of government,” the mayor said. White, however, knows that addressing all of Dunnellon’s problems, like training a

horse to win, will take time and slow-butsteady development. For Thurman, he is on the right track. “I give Bill credit for recognizing the direction the Council was going,” she said. “He is what a small city mayor should be. He’s very visible, and I appreciate that. He’s very old school.” WHERE IS HORSE RACING? As for the future of horse racing, White believes it will continue but will be different. “Yes, horse racing will survive,” he said. “But, what mostly will be left will be the big tracks. You just see a contraction of the game, the closing of the smaller tracks, so all that’s left will be places like Gulfstream and New York.” Marion County, in turn, will continue to thrive as the Horse Capital of the World, too – but not just because of racing horses. “The Ocala area is being discovered by the show horse world, with the World Equestrian Center. That is going to pay big dividends.” White’s love for horse racing is palpable when he talks about it, and he gets sentimental when he talks about his years as one of Florida’s premier horse trainers. “It’s numbing now that I look back on it; it’s a blur” he said. “I have to pinch myself and ask, did it really happen?”

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUN 2021 |

etc

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUN 2021 |

ETC

charity

Major Dwayne Durham

A hand up for Ocala’s neediest BY SHARON RAYE AND CARLTON REESE PHOTOGRAPHY BY RALPH DEMILIO

hey are as much a part of the Christmas milieu as house lights, church choirs and garland and without them during the holidays would exist a palpable void. They would be the Salvation Army bell ringers with their iconic red kettles that bring in the spirited charity of passers-by. The clinging bell amid the winter chill that greets shop customers as they come and go signals a holiday aura encompassing the cheer and benevolence unique to that season. For most people, the ritual of tossing

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

change into that red bucket accompanied by the customary “Merry Christmas!” is the only acquaintance most have with the Salvation Army and for the 10 months of the year when the bell ringers are idle the organization is deemed out of sight-out of mind. It is during those other 10 months, though, when all that giving comes to fruition in the form of a helping hand to those who need it most. Not simply an organization that solicits donations for charitable causes, The Salvation Army is itself a ministry, part of the universal

Christian Church. As such, its outreach encompasses myriad needs that all have enormous impact on a local level. “It’s a two-pronged mission,” said Major Dwayne Durham. “We preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs without discrimination.” Durham, who along with his wife, Marion, is a pastor in the church, has been a near life-long “soldier” in the The Salvation Army. Because of the organization’s mission of preaching the gospel, he fears a misconception among people that the orgnization’s services are relegated only to people of faith. He assures, this is not the case. “It’s Christian-based, we have faith and service, and we are serving God, but we are also serving man.” Along with the holiday fund raising, per-

“We expect people to take responsibility for themselves; we don’t want to do anything for somebody they can do for themselves.” haps the most recognizable part of The Salvation Army’s mission is the thrift store. The store not only provides a source of funding for the many charitable endeavors of the organization, it also provides affordable goods that might otherwise go unpurchased and with the dignity that doesn’t come with a hand-out. Many needy clients are able to use vouchers through The Salvation Army’s social services and it acts like a gift card at the store. Whereas some people can’t afford to buy clothes from a traditional clothing store or even regular household items from a discount retailer, these quality items are available at the thrift store located on Northeast 10th Street. Through donations, goods are vetted, stocked and sold at the store which turns those revenues into food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless and counseling for the distraught. Therein lies the diverse outreach of The Salvation Army, helping in places that many people might not have otherwise considered. The list of services boggles the mind: The Emergency Shelter, a 40-bed men’s dorm and 20-bed women’s dorm that provides warmth and safety for those experiencing temporary homelessness. Nutritional meals provided at a rate of two per day to thousands of homeless and low-income people each year.

The Family Emergency Services program, which assists families struggling to keep employment and homes. The program provides monetary help with food, clothing, furniture and even utilities as funds are available. The Corrections Program works with the Marion County Misdemeanor Probation Department in assisting parolees’ efforts to fulfill court-ordered obligations. The program also provides ministry to prisoners and parolees. Evangeline Booth apartment complex, subsidized by HUD, has 65 units for low-income seniors and offers recreational activities for them. The Center of Hope is equipped with social caseworkers who provide case management to homeless, clothing vouchers, personal hygiene items, identification cards, daytime sleeping accommodations for those who work evenings, transportation to medical appointments and referrals to other agencies. Mental health counseling, anger management, VA counseling, and assistance with applications for food stamps and social security disability are also provided. Holiday meals are provided during Thanksgiving and Christmas for the hungry. Food baskets, toys and clothing are provided to families unable to provide for themselves at that time of year. The Angel Tree Program provides as-

sistance with children’s gifts in providing a bountiful Christmas morning to those who might otherwise receive nothing under the tree. With these services, Durham said that, “We expect people to take responsibility for themselves; we don’t want to do anything for somebody they can do for themselves.” One of the world’s most recognizable charitable organizations, The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 in London by William Booth and his wife, Catherine. Known then as the East London Christian Mission, the name was changed in 1878 after Booth once described the mission as a “volunteer army.” Booth’s son is said to have exclaimed that he was no “volunteer” and instead was a “regular,” as in army parlance. Booth himself then decided to model the structure of his organization after the military with uniforms and ranks for members – he being the first “General.” “The reason that got started is because William Booth wanted people to understand that we are in a spiritual warfare,” Durham said. Like most charitable organizations, the lifeblood is volunteers and donations. And like most charitable organizations during the recent pandemic, volunteers have been hard to come by. “When we have normal time, we have the help of people in our feeding program to serve up the food,” he said. “We still have a couple volunteers for that, but it’s a lot less.” Durham is hopeful that the worst of the pandemic is behind us and that this holiday season will look a little more normal. “Last year, everyone had masks and everything had to be sanitized and we couldn’t handle money,” Durham said. “Unless there is an issue with a different strain (of virus), we would like to have as many people to help us with the bell ringing. When we don’t cover a bell-ringing site, that doesn’t give people an opportunity to give and they don’t see The Salvation Army and aren’t reminded that the need is there.” Those looking to volunteer as a bell ringer or wishing to help out in any of the services provided by The Salvation Army may phone volunteer coordinator Shirley Hsu at 352-629-2004, ext. 306, or email her at Shirley.hus@uss.salvationarmy.org.

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUN 2021 |

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health journal

Can’t sleep? If you’re experiencing sleep challenges, it could be insomnia disorder BRANDPOINT

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

any people have experienced the negative impact of a poor night’s sleep, often referred to as “waking up on the wrong side of the bed.” In fact, studies show that as many as 30 percent of adults worldwide have experienced insomnia symptoms and 10 percent of patients have insomnia disorder. Insomnia is on the rise due to the pandemic and the massive upheavals people are experiencing to their everyday routines. “Based on my experience, the myriad

“We must continue to give sleep the attention it deserves as we seek to combat the negative effects of the COVID-19 environment on our health and wellbeing.”

of shifts in our day-to-day lives is a perfect storm for sleep challenges,” said Russell Rosenberg, Ph.D., D.ABSM, sleep specialist and former chair of the Board of the National Sleep Foundation.

WHAT CAUSES INSOMNIA?

Insomnia, an inability to fall and/or stay asleep, can be influenced by many things, including lifestyle habits (i.e. caffeine intake and lack of a wind-down routine), as well as a person’s sleeping environment (i.e. bedroom temperature). Certain types of brain functioning may also impact sleep, such as the inability to turn down wake signals in the brain. These wake signals are regulated by a neuropeptide in the brain called orexin. “Orexin signaling is believed to promote periods of wakefulness. For people who frequently struggle with sleep, it is possible that orexin signaling is not functioning normally,” said Rosenberg.

DIAGNOSING INSOMNIA DISORDER

For adults who have insomnia disorder, obtaining the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep per night may seem like an impossible task. A healthcare provider might diagnose you with insomnia disorder if you: Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep for three out of seven nights each week for a period of at least three months. Struggle socially, at work, in school or in other important areas of functioning due to your insomnia.

TREATING INSOMNIA DISORDER

“We must continue to give sleep the attention it deserves as we seek to combat the negative effects of the COVID-19 environment on our health and wellbeing,” said Rosenberg. “People struggling with sleep consistently should take it seriously and make an appointment with a doctor or healthcare professional to see if they may be struggling with insomnia disorder. Once this initial step is taken, the conversation can begin about what treatment options may be best.” Doctors have several options when

treating patients with insomnia disorder, but often start with the least invasive treatment approach. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, known as CBT-I, typically includes “sleep restriction” (i.e. limiting the amount of time people spend in bed when they are unable to sleep) and “stimulus control” (i.e. keeping the bedroom dedicated to sleep and sex, as well as getting out of bed when you can’t sleep).7 For people who cannot manage their symptoms through behavioral and/or environmental changes, there are several prescription treatment options which may be considered when discussing your symptoms with a doctor. Four main classes of prescription medications are used to treat sleep issues: sedatives, antidepressants, melatonin agonists and orexin receptor antagonists. Each class has a different mechanism of action that affects the central nervous system in a specific way. Orexin receptor antagonists (blockers) belong to a class of medications that in-

hibit the effect of orexin, a chemical in the brain that plays an important role in keeping people awake. In people with normal daily sleep-wake rhythms, orexin signaling is believed to promote periods of wakefulness. For example, lemborexant 5mg and 10mg tablets, a prescription medication, is part of this class of orexin receptor antagonists and is a prescription medicine for adults age 18 years and older who have trouble falling or staying asleep. In a clinical trial, patients reported falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer with lemborexant. “It is crucial to offer patients treatment options that may help them fall asleep and stay asleep,” said Dr. Rosenberg. As we continue to deal with the pandemic, adequate sleep is an important aspect of health and well-being that many struggle with. It’s important for patients to speak with their doctor to determine which treatment approach is best for them. All prescription medications should be used as directed by the prescribing doctor.

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state of the city

Code Enforcement

BY ASHLEY DOBBS

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

“This is our most visible role, the ‘battle of blight.’ Our job performance is easily measured by the impact of property values and the image of our community.”

permits and many other local ordinances and Florida statutes. Staff will make every attempt to reach those in the community that may be out of compliance and in violation of an ordinance. In many cases, residents may not be aware they are out of compliance until receiving a notification. Officers may grant a reasonable time to correct the situation before any additional action is taken and owners will not be deemed repeat offenders until extensive documentation shows that no action was taken, or requests to appear at a public hearing have been ignored. Home and business owners are encour-

aged to be proactive in the process. “Code Enforcement recently sponsored our first community clean-up event where we coordinated with volunteers and other city departments to assist with picking up litter, garbage removal, grass cutting, home safety inspections and smoke alarms,” said Pogue. “This is the first time that I know of where, instead of Code Enforcement coming in and telling property owners what they need to do, Code Enforcement came into the community and helped citizens clean.” Ashley Dobbs is the Marketing and Communications Manager for the City Of Ocala.

Photos courtesy of The City of Ocala

he City of Ocala Code Enforcement helps maintain a community aesthetic by keeping neighborhoods free of overgrown lawns, abandoned vehicles and unsightly debris. While code enforcement personnel are sometimes classified as safety professionals, the organizational structure of a code enforcement department is set up differently than a traditional officer role. Code enforcement officers wear many hats and their roles can differ within various jurisdictions. However, within the City of Ocala, their primary role is to investigate complaints and work with businesses and homeowners to comply with city ordinances. The City of Ocala Code Enforcement Department consists of 12 workers that serve within the city limit – four code enforcement officers, two environmental enforcement officers, two parking enforcement officers, one senior enforcement officer, two administrative staff and a manager who oversees the daily operations. Each day this staff works diligently to educate and inform the public of ordinances and ensure the enforcement of these codes. Maintaining an open line of communication, understanding, and streamlining process with our citizens creates an opportunity to increase the education and assistance available within the city. “We support and enhance the quality of life in our city by working with property owners of aging buildings, homes and properties to prevent them from becoming unsightly. This is our most visible role, the ‘battle of blight’,” states James Pogue, City of Ocala Code Enforcement manager. “Our job performance is easily measured by the impact of property values and the image of our community.” It is the duty of this department to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Ocala. This division of the city enforces codes that pertain to zoning laws, contracting and permitting requirements for both the City of Ocala and the State of Florida; including but not limited to occupational licenses, sign codes, alcohol location

The FUN Begins When the SUN Comes Out!

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Summer Camps

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ETC

state of the county

Killer heat!

Leaving pets in summer’s blistering heat is cruel, and potentially deadly BY STACIE CAUSEY

igh temperatures in Florida can be exhausting, especially during the summer months. To combat the sweltering heat, we wear breathable clothing and reduce our time spent in the sun. Unfortunately, our pets can’t reach into the closet for different sets of fur, and they usually can’t operate air conditioners. This means it is your responsibility as a pet owner to ensure your pet stays cool. Dr. Martha Zimmerman, a veterinarian with Marion County Animal Services, explained it is not unusual to see pets brought in to the local animal clinic because of heat exhaustion. Sometimes these pets are past the point of help and die as a result of owner negligence. “Usually when we get called, it’s because people are running into a store,” said Stephanie Owens, senior animal control officer with Marion County. “They might leave their cars running, but the problem with that is you’re leaving your car and your pet at risk of being stolen.” Dogs may be in distress if they are breathing hard or trying to get to the bottom of the car. When they get really hot, they usually go to the floor of the vehicle and may become unusually quiet. “Leaving pets at home would be best,” said Zimmerman, an 11-year veteran with the county. “If you have to take them in your car, have someone wait with your pet while you do whatever you need to. Parking in the shade is good, but the car can still get very hot, very fast, even with the windows down.” According to the Department of Geosciences at San Francisco State University, the interior of a vehicle can reach a brutal 104° F after 30 minutes, even if the outside temperature is a cool 70° F. Zimmerman explained that some of the signs of heat exhaustion include heavy panting, diarrhea and foaming at the mouth. In

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

If traveling with pets, keep them hydrated, don’t leave them unattended and allow them to stretch their furry legs by taking frequent breaks. extreme cases, they can experience seizures, heat strokes and, ultimately, death. It’s important to act immediately if your pets experience any of these symptoms. To treat them, get the animal into an air conditioned room, give them water and get them to a vet for further treatment. However, the best way to stop heat exhaustion is preventing it in the first place. Ideally, you may want to keep your animals at home with plenty of water and room to move around comfortably whenever it’s hot outside. If traveling with pets, keep them hydrated, don’t leave them unattended and allow them to stretch their furry legs by taking frequent breaks. Pets can also suffer from heat-related injuries if they are left outside without sufficient access to shade and water.

In Marion County, it is illegal to leave your pet tethered outside and unattended for long periods of time. This is partially because your companion is at a higher risk of suffering from strangulation or heat-related complications. Another overlooked hazard that can affect our beloved pets is contact with hot asphalt. The ground’s surface can be significantly warmer than the surrounding air because it’s baking in the sun. If you wouldn’t walk on it with bare feet, your pets probably shouldn’t either. For more information about pets and their health this summer, please contact Marion County Animal Services at 352-671-8700 or animalservices@marioncountyfl.org. Stacie Causey is a Public Information Specialist for the Marion County Board of Commissioners.

2021 Sportsman’s Dinner and Auction August 26th, 2021 | 6-9:30pm Palm Grove Club at Oak Run

Benefitting Marion County’s Children Casual Dress | BBQ Dinner | Full Bar Included Live and Silent Auctions of Hunting and Fishing Gear Plus items for the Ladies, Door Prizes and Raffle items, too! $500 - Table of 8 (save $100) or $75 Per Person www.ocalakiwanis.org for tickets or sponsorships

For More Information Contact: Roseann Fricks 352-812-5639 or Tammy Hoff 352-299-5210

ETC

Kiwanis

Korner

2021 Kiwanis of Ocala Annual Beef Sale

May Meetings

Guest speaker John Robles, senior manager and community engagement for Florida Special Olympics, Dr. David Oliver, and Joe Voge, president

Tom James, auctioneer; Joe Voge, president; Paul Conley, past president ‘93 Diana Williams, director of the beef sale, and Tom James, auctioneer

Corporal Colton Sullivan and his K9 sidekick, Adelm

Andy Spahn, CPA, Purvis & Gray, tracking the bids

Olivia Alderman, student who raised the steer for the sale and Diana Williams, past-president

iwanians gathered again on May 14th, as they do every Friday, but this was the day of the annual beef sale. For over 60 years the Kiwanis Club of Ocala has purchased a steer every year at the Southeast Youth Fair. Olivia Alderman raised this year’s steer with tender love and care, and lots of grain! Last year the sale was a little different, due to COVID-19, in that the steer was auctioned in its entirety since the club was not meeting in person. The high bid went to a member of the club, 88-year-old Cathy Vandeven. Cathy sets a great example, as all our members are dedicated to help provide for the needs of children in our community. The proceeds of our steer auction go to support Camp Kiwanis. At age 97, longtime member Doug Oswald stays involved and as per tradition auctioned off the first pound, which drew a generous $400 donation and set the stage for

Doug Oswald ‘Here’s the beef!’

a lively auction. Tom James then proceeded to auction off the remainder of the premium, vacuum packed T-bone and porterhouse steaks, roasts, all the way to the stew and soup bones. Tom knows most of the club members and knows how to encourage participation. He even auctioned a porterhouse steak provided to Tommy Ball (dedicated pianist tickling the ivories for the club’s enjoyment over lunch) to show appreciation for Tommy’s talent. Oswald moved to the Ocala area because of the agriculture industry, was hired by Commercial Bank and Trust Company as an agricultural loan manager and eventually worked his way up to becoming president of Sun Bank. Among his many community service endeavors, Doug was president of the Southeast Youth Fair and through Kiwanis he continues to serve. The Kirk/Oswald Beef Sale, as Beef Sale Chair Diana Williams re-

fers to it, is blessed with leaders that helped build this event to be the club’s longest tradition—leaders like Jim Kirk, Jim Jernigan, Jim Payton (who auctioned our steer for so many years), Bill Griffin and Croswell Branch. Doug made it a point to mention Croswell’s perfect attendance record for over 50 years and how Greg Branch (Croswell’s son, still involved with Seminole Feed Stores) has continued to support the beef sale for many years by donating the cost of the steer. Thank you to Greg for ensuring the success of the sale! Since 1924 the Kiwanis Club of Ocala has served the children of the community with its many projects including book distributions in elementary schools, funding of car seats and cribs, and the Camp Kiwanis summer program, to name only a few. See our website ocalakiwanis.org for more details and contact information if you would like to get involved.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Kiwanis International is a global community of clubs, members, and partners, dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time. Today, with more than 550,000 members in 80 Countries, Kiwanis empowers members to pursue creative ways to serve the needs of our children, such as fighting hunger, improving literacy and being a mentor. Kiwanis Clubs host over 150,000 service projects per year.

www.facebook.com/KiwanisClubOfOcala

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

HONOR THE HEROES Ocala Kiwanis Brick Program Sponsoring Camp Kiwanis for the Kids In Honor of Nick Nikkinen, Chair of the Camp Kiwanis Trustee Board and Assistant Property Appraiser of Marion County. Nick recently passed from complications of COVID.

Honoring All Heroes During COVID 19 Caretakers, Nurses, Doctors, Military, Volunteers, or any person meing a difference during the pandemic season. Bricks may be also purchased to honor anyone that has passed during this period of COVID.

Each brick: $250 minimum donation. May include name of honoree, reason for honoring and/or description of honor (3 16-character lines).

Deadline for purchase:

Nov 10, 2021

Dedication Ceremony at Camp Kiwanis on

Nov 20, 2021

For more info and order forms:

NC Sizemore: 352-291-8778 or ncsizemore@gmail.com or Karen Dailey: 518-669-3696 ocalakiwanis.org Facebook: Kiwanis Club of Ocala http://bit.ly/Kiwanisbricks

From camping at Camp Kiwanis (since 1948), to projects to improve academics, citizenship, and child safety, the Kiwanis Club of Ocala serves and cares for the children of Ocala and surrounding areas. Kiwanis International is a global community of clubs, members, and partners, dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time. Today, with more than 550,000 members in 80 Countries, Kiwanis empowers members to pursue creative ways to serve the needs of our children, such as fighting hunger, improving literacy and being a mentor. Kiwanis Clubs host over 150,000 service projects per year.

Rotary

Circle

Travel to Classical Greece with Ocala Rotary Club

ravel back thousands of years to a time of great architects, philosophers and mythical gods on this journey to Greece! Greece is the place for you in 2022! Ocala Rotary Club is promoting this awesome trip to Greece as a club fundraiser. The trip is May 12-20, 2022. There is plenty of time to prepare. Not only do we get to enjoy this great trip but we also raise funds for many worthy causes of Rotary.

www.indus.travel/tour/classical-greece-with-ocala-rotary-club To learn more about joining Rotary, please visit: www.RotaryInternational.com

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

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ETC

state of the city

Celebrating Juneteenth by telling its story 1st Annua

A trio of events are planned this month for the upcoming Juneteenth Celebration in Ocala, and they offer something for everybody, regardless of age.

irst of all, what is Juneteenth? Simply, Juneteenth is an annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It has been celebrated by African-Americans since the late 1800s. It gets its name because the day all slaves were formally and finally freed – more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation – following the Civil War was June 19, 1865. Juneteenth is short for June 19th. This year in Ocala, the local Juneteenth festivities will kick off with a performance by Kimberly Wilson at the Circle Square Cultural Center at On Top of the World on Thursday, June 17, from 7-9 p.m. Wilson performs a one-woman musical – that she also wrote – called “A Journey.” The show focuses on “the strength and influence of Black womanhood.” “Seven women, seven pivotal generations, present their stories through song, movement and dialogue and how their faith, hope and calling helped shape the America we know today,” is a description of the show in a news release from Wilson. Wilson’s onstage “journey” includes historical reflections from Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks and Maya Angelou.

“A Journey” is being sponsored by the Bridges Project and Master the Possibilities. Tickets are $2 for members and $7 for non-members. On Saturday, June 19, the actual Juneteenth, the newly formed Ocala Juneteenth Celebration Committee is planning a day of festivities at Webb Field, 1501 W. Silver Spring Blvd. The innaugural Annual Juneteenth Celebration will feature food, vendors and entertainment and is intended to celebrate the freedom Juneteenth represents. It is open to the public and will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Finally, Master the Possibilities and Duke Energy are bringing the “Shagmar Pathways to Freedom Exhibit” to Live Oak and Cypress Halls at On Top of the World, June 22-25. Created by the Rev. Leroy and Emma Chandler, the exhibit features more than 2,000 artifacts from Black history in America, including items from the slave trade and the Civil War to Reconstruction and the Jim Crowe era. The exhibit culminates, historically speaking, with the civil rights movement and the election of Barack Obama as president. The exhibit is free and open to the public

Juneteen th Celebratio n

from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, except for June 24th when it will remain open until 7 p.m. For information about Wilson’s one-woman show or the Chandlers’ exhibit, call Master the Possibilities at 352/861-9751.

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | JUN 2021 |

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HOPS

looking back

Publishing Pioneers Ocala’s newspaper history pre-dates the Civil War

BY CARLTON REESE WITH THE HISTORIC OCALA PRESERVATION SOCIETY

he halcyon days of the newspaper industry seemed to fade upon the arrival of the new millennium, but even in 2021 the medium still exists in Ocala with print and online editions of several publications. The long-standing Ocala Star-Banner has been the stalwart publication and can trace its roots back to 1866, but it was not the starting point for newspapers here. That honor would go to the Ocala Argus, which began publication in 1847, just two years after Florida gained statehood. Just a quaint village mainly in the planning and clearing stages, Ocala was nonetheless ready for its own newspaper, and the void would be filled by George M. Grouard, who had recently moved to the area after publishing newspapers in Jacksonville and Palatka. The Ocala Argus was a four-page weekly of four columns and contained little to no coverage of events on a national or world scene. The newspaper recorded items of local interest, such as detailed accounts of public meetings. In 1851, the Marion Star began and reflected the local political views of the times as was customary for newspapers in those

| JUN 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

days. According to a 1956 article by Eloise Robinson Ott, the masthead of the Marion Star, “foreshadows the coming conflict of the States… ‘In the Sovereignty of the States Lies the Safety of the South.’” Also in 1851, The Conservator began weekly publication under Lewis C. Gaines. Unlike the Marion Star, The Conservator was “strictly a Union paper intended to aid in the organization of a National Union Party upon the basis of the Constitution and the late compromise as a settlement forever of the slavery agitation” as stated in one of its early editorials. In 1852, Gaines embarked on a new publication, The Tropical Farmer, a monthly likely to have taken the place of The Conservator. Other publications that sprang up around this time include The Mirror (1853), The Southern Sun (1854) and The Ocala Home Companion (1857). Established by Charles S. Reynolds, The Ocala Home Companion continued publication for more than six years, making it at the time the longest record of any Ocala paper. The East Florida Banner, later to become the Ocala Banner, was founded in 1866 by T.F. Smith and became one of the

best-known papers in the state. Frank E. Harris, an associate of Smith’s, soon became owner and editor and would serve in such capacity for over 60 years. Born in Tallahassee, Harris enlisted in the Confederate Army at age 16 and served until the close of the Civil War, then moved to Ocala where his uncle Ebenezer Jackson Harris had settled. In establishing the paper, the first stories written were about the delay in the trial of captured Confederate President Jefferson Davis. In 1943, the Ocala Morning Banner (as it was then called) was sold to John H. Perry, who had recently purchased the Ocala Evening Star, and this brought about a merger of the two publications to form what is now the Ocala Star-Banner. The Banner offices were located on the west side of Main Street near the Fort King intersection. As for Harris, Ott notes in her 1956 article, “With the passing years, the Banner became one of the influential newspapers of the state… (Harris’) entire lifetime was devoted to his paper; his retirement from its editorship taking place only a short time before his death in 1928.”

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Ocala Magazine June 2021 Digital Issue

Articles inside

Juneteenth Celebration

Rotary Circle

Kiwanis Korner

State of the City: Code Enforcement

Health Journal: Fighting incesant insomnia

Bill White: From Hall of Fame to City Hall

Charity Spotlight: Salvation Army

ETC

Everything Equine: A day at the Derby

Spurrier’s new restaurant

Anthology: Poetry in motion

Socially Speaking: Golf, garden tours and Gator eats

Dining Out

A sizzlin' feast for Father's Day

From the Editor’s Desk

Day trippin’ to Punta Gorda

High on hemp: Florida’s new crop takes off

From the Mayor

Buddy Martin: The Great Communicator

OM Pulse

Letter from the Publisher