Socially Speaking: Golf, garden tours and Gator eats

2021 George Albright Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament

STORY+ PHOTOGRAPHY BY LESLIE WENGLER | SOCIAL EDITOR

The 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.

Aggie Albright live auctioning

Leslie Wengler Bruce Fishalow Neighborhood Storage team

Steve Roberts and Justin Albright Jimmy Cowan, Rob Beal and Dale

AdventHealth Ocala team Jim Maguire and John Brandish

Showcase Properties team

Lightbody team

Ocala Electric Utility team JJ Abright, Dr. David Albright, Austin Albright, Glenn and Theresa Lane, Silver Sponsor

Father and son team

Tammy Hoff, N.C Sizemore and Joe Vogee of Kiwanis

Volunteers at the registration table

Keane Kash team

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

Bourbon & Blooms

HOPS Spring Tour of Gardens 2021

HOPS, 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: 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.