Mar/Apr 2019 Ocala's Good Life

OCALA’S

G On Top Of T he World, Th e Villages, Oa k Run, Ston e Creek, Spru ce Creek, an d all of Ocala’s Retirement Communitie s!

MAR/APR 2019

GOOD LIFE

TM

SERVIN

Retirement Redefined

Than

PLUS—

Disney For Seniors The happiest place on earth is not just for kids!

Exploring Cheddar’s

What’s all the buzz about this hot new restaurant on SR 200?

History Lesson

Learn all about Ocala’s past in David Cook’s new book.

INSIDE: Art Walk | Clyde Butcher VIP Reception | Cuisine Queen

FEEL THE FREEDOM OF HOT AIR BALLOONS

DO IT FOR YOU…

AND FOR THEM LOW-DOSE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (LDCT) “A quick LDCT scan can help our Board Certified radiology team identify abnormalities in the lung with exceptional speed, promoting faster treatment and better outcomes.”

— John M. Cain, MD & John S. Scales, MD You matter to so many. That’s why if you are or were a heavy smoker, it’s important to ask your doctor if LDCT lung cancer screening is right for you. Just a few painless minutes of your time can help protect your life and the love others cherish.

ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR LDCT?

For guidelines you can share with your doctor, visit www.raocala.com/services/low-dose-ct-screening It’s worth it.

www.RAOcala.com • (352) 671-4300 ACR Accredited Computed Tomography available at Medical Imaging Center and TimberRidge Imaging Center

We are proudly contracted with a variety of insurances and file all claims with the exception of non-contracted HMO's. Visit our website for a detailed list of contracted insurances. Contracted insurances are subject to change.

A FULL CIRCLE OF CARE CENTERED ON YOU.

ocalahealthsystem.com

“Is a little chest pain normal?”

ER

Emergency symptoms are good at hiding.

Not all signs of an emergency are obvious. Ongoing symptoms like indigestion, shortness of breath and chest pain could be an emergency in disguise. Thankfully, an Ocala Health ER is here to help.

With dedicated emergency experts and faster wait times, you can trust us for even better care. We’re here 24/7 to help you through any emergency — even the tricky ones.

Text ER to 32222* for average wait times at an Ocala Health ER near you. *Message and data rates may apply. For more information, go to texterhelp.com.

Escape into an environment where quiet and calm soothe your body, mind and spirit.

Massages

Beauty Services

Skin Care Treatments

Classic Swedish

Hair Services

Ageless Beauty Facial

Deep Tissue

Nail Services

Classic European Facial

Hot Stone

Waxing Services

Pure Collagen Facial

Body Polish & Wraps

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT TODAY

SPA & SALON HOURS

(352)861-8180 www.TheRanchFitnessSpa.com 8385 SW 80th St. Ocala, FL 34481

Mon. - Thur. 9 am - 6 pm Fri. 9 am - 5 pm Sat. 10 am - 4 pm

Lic. #MM19228 TheRanchFitnessSpa #12184-02/19

2019

Tickets on Sale Now!

NEW SHOWS!

NEW!

KANSAS Resident $60-115

may 17, 2019

Non-Resident $65-120

Throughout the spring and summer of 2019, KANSAS will be performing a set of KANSAS Radio Classics. Fans will hear songs they have heard on the radio, Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, and Classic MTV since 1974. With more Top 100 hits in the set than ever before, KANSAS Fans will also hear some classic B-Sides, fan favorites, and material off the band’s latest studio album, The Prelude Implicit.

KansasBand.com THE BATTLE OF THE BROADWAY COMEDIANS

Resident: $26-28

mar

2

2019

Non-Resident: $28-30

OPERA TAMPA

May

5

2019

KENNY CETERA’S CHICAGO

Resident: $30-32

mar

9

PABLO CRUISE

mar

16

2019

2019

Non-Resident: $32-34

PabloCruise.com Non-Resident: $34-36 Resident: $32-34

THE BOARDWALK BROTHERS

May

11

2019

DANCE PARTY THE BUZZCATZ

Jun

7

2019

23

2019

AbsoluteJourneyTribute.com Non-Resident: $28-30 Resident: $26-28

jun

ONE STOP PONY

NEW! NEW!

mar

ABSOLUTE JOURNEY

22

2019

mar

TUSK:

THE WORLD’S #1 TRIBUTE TO FLEETWOOD MAC

SIMPLY THE BEST! TINA TURNER BY KAREN DURRANT

29

2019

FleetwoodMacTribute.com Non-Resident: $28-30 Resident: $26-28

7 BRIDGES

DANCE PARTY JOHNNY WILD & THE DELIGHTS

5

2019

FREE with Ticket*

FORTUNATE SON: CCR EXPERIENCE

BigBeatProductions.com/BoardwalkBrothers

Resident: $22-24

Aug

31

2019

Non-Resident: $24-26

DOOBIE OTHERS: sepT

THE DOOBIE BROTHERS EXPERIENCE

14

AMBROSIA

2019

NEW!

FortunateSonTribute.com Resident: $26-28 Non-Resident: $28-30

TheDoobieOthersTributeBand.com Resident: $22-24 Non-Resident: $24-26

13

2019

NEW!

TheBuzzCatz.com Resident: $13 Non-Resident: $15

OneStopPonyBand.com Resident: $22-24 Non-Resident: $24-26

sepT

28

2019

LIVE FROM NASHVILLE COUNTRY LEGENDS

Oct

12

2019

7BridgesBand.com Non-Resident: $26-28 Resident: $23-25

26

2019

TheDiamondsMusicGroup.com Non-Resident: $26-28 Resident: $24-26

aug

DANCE PARTY ROCKY & THE ROLLERS

10

2019

oct

25

2019

NEW!

JohnnyDeeStarlights.wixsite.com/Orlando50sMusic

Resident: $13

The Ultimate EAGLES Experience

CANNED HEAT

NEW!

NEW!

jul

apr

THE DIAMONDS

NEW! NEW!

Doors open at 2pm, Show starts at 3 pm

13

2019

KMProd.com/Karen-Durrant Non-Resident: $24-26 Resident: $22-24

Jul

THE ULTIMATE EAGLES EXPERIENCE

apr

Non-Resident: $15

HEROES OF ROCK Nov

STARRING JOHN FORD COLEY WITH ELLIOT LURIE OF LOOKING GLASS

2

2019

RockyandtheRollers.com Resident: $13 Non-Resident: $15

THE HIT MEN:

nov

LEGENDARY ROCK SUPERGROUP

23

2019

NEW!

NEW!

NEW!

NEW! AmbrosiAlive.net/The-Band Resident: $30-32 Non-Resident: $32-34

CMIEntertainment.com/CountryLegends.html

Resident: $30-32

Non-Resident: $32-34

CannedHeatMusic.com Resident: $26-28 Non-Resident: $28-30

JohnFordColey.com & Elliot-Lurie.com

Resident: $28-30

Non-Resident: $30-32

NOV QUEEN FLASH: THE ULTIMATE QUEEN EXPERIENCE 2019

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NEW! QueenFlash.ca Resident: $24-26 Non-Resident: $26-28

TheHitmenLive.com Resident: $30-32 Non-Resident: $32-34

GLENN LEONARD’S dec TEMPTATIONS REVUE 2019

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NEW! CelebrityDirect.Biz/Glenn

Resident: $30-32

Non-Resident: $32-34

8395 SW 80th Street, Ocala, FL 34481 | (352) 854-3670 | CSCulturalCenter.com ALL SHOWS BEGIN AT 7 PM & DOORS OPEN AT 6 PM (EXCEPT AS NOTED) Gift Certificates Available

Schedule and prices subject to change without notice. Reduced ticket prices are for residents of On Top of the World Communities and Stone Creek. (Resident ID required when purchasing at ticket office.)

Ticket prices do not include sales tax. Refreshments available for purchase at events. To arrange for handicap seats, call or visit the ticket office. *Online tickets subject to a convenience fee. ALL TICKET SALES FINAL. **FREE TICKETS NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE. TICKETS MUST BE PICKED UP AT THE CIRCLE SQUARE CULTURAL CENTER TICKET OFFICE DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS.

#12185 - 31/19

Ocala’s

GOOD LIFE

TM

MAR/APR 2019

departments 8

The Editor’s Desk

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Good Start

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18

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Quick looks at our community. By Claudia O’Brien & Steve Floethe

Out & About

Buddy Holly night at the Reilly. Photos By Steve Floethe

On Second Thought

Bird is the word. By Claudia O’Brien

Out & About

Hangin’ at the downtown art walk. By Steve Floethe

Just My Type

Not a snowbird. By Mary Ellen Barchi

Good Eats

Cheddar’s on SR200... finally! By Rick Allen

Cuisine Queen

All the latest restaurant news. By Paula DiPaula

Dining Guide

WALT DISNEY WORLD

Talkin’ ‘bout balloons and Disney. By Dean Blinkhorn

20

Highlights of some of the area’s best restaurants.

Recipes

Out & About

features

Plan Ahead

Small-plate favorites. By Family Features A photographic celebration. By Steve Floethe Lots of reasons to get out of your easy chair. What are you waiting for?

20

Disney For Seniors

BY STEVE RUSSO

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The Way It Was

A BOOK EXCERPT BY DAVID COOK • INTRODUCTION BY JIM ROSS

Puzzle Page

Spend a few minutes with the crossword or Sudoku.

44

The trip to senior citizenry is a slow and gradual one, but it does yield a number of changes in how one approaches Disney’s resorts and theme parks. I’ve lost none of my affection for a trip to Walt Disney World, but advancing years have certainly changed the way I vacation there.

Former newspaper editor David Cook takes a look into Ocala’s sometimes funny, often curious past in a new book full of rich stories, all with personal notes and telling details. Now you get to meet these real characters, in a sense. Lucky you.

on the cover

36

Lighter Than Air

BY JAMES BLEVINS • PHOTOS BY MARCI SANDLER

CHEDDAR’S

Bud Hebrlee’s passion for hot air balloons is a freedom you can feel. Forty-plus years and five balloons later, Bud, 75, now lives in Dunedin with his wife, Judith, 69, and offers balloon rides from time to time to the lucky few who happen to cross his path or stumble on one of his low-key business cards in The Villages.

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

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“Rio”

Ocala’s

GOOD LIFE

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MAGAZINE

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Publisher/Art Director Trevor Byrne

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Celebrating 30 Years Providing More Than Beautiful Smiles!

ocalasgoodlife.com MAR/APR 2019

trevor@ocalasgoodlife.com

Publisher/Editor Dean Blinkhorn

dean@ocalasgoodlife.com

WE SPECIALIZE IN: General Dentistry Implants TMJ Therapy Sleep Apnea & Snoring BOTOX® Sedation Dentistry

Writers

Orthodontics Crowns and Bridges Teeth Whitening Cosmetic Dentistry BRA LE Root Canals

Rick Allen Mary Ellen Barchi James Blevins Paula DiPaula Debi Lander Claudia O’Brien

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DMD

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Celebrating Celebrating 30 Years 30 Years LEBRA Providing Providing More More Photographers Dentures, partials and repairs made in our onsite dental lab Than Beautiful Than Beautiful Steve Floethe John Jernigan Smiles!

Smiles!

7555 SW Highway 200, Ocala, FL 34476 Marci Sandler ebrating 30 Years 352.873.2000 Graphic Designers EBRA IN: WE SPECIALIZE LWE SPECIALIZE IN: Mitch Carnes roviding More www.OcalasDentist.com General Dentistry Orthodontics Wayne Smith Celebrating 30 Years R General Dentistry LEB A Orthodontics Implants Crowns and Bridges han Beautiful Stephen H. Dunn, Guneshi de Mel, Ann Kwok, Proofreaders Providing More TMJ Therapy Implants Crowns and Bridges Teeth Whitening Karen Bradley TMJ Therapy SleepThan Apnea &Beautiful Snoring Smiles!

Teeth Whitening Sally Tinkham Cosmetic Dentistry BOTOX® Sleep Apnea & Snoring Smiles!

Sedation DentistryBOTOX® Root CanalsCosmetic Dentistry Advertising Sales & Marketing WE Dentures, SPECIALIZE IN: made in our onsite dental labRoot Canals Sedation partials and repairsDentistry

Carol DeWitt

Kaye Schultz

WE SPECIALIZE IN: (302) 377-9142 (352) 427-4005 eral Dentistry Orthodontics Dentures, partials and repairs made in our onsite dental lab carol@ocalasgoodlife.com kaye@ocalasgoodlife.com 7555 SW Highway 200,Bridges Ocala, FL 34476 Implants General Dentistry Orthodontics Crowns and Derek Gisburne Sally Tinkham MJ Therapy Implants Crowns and Bridges (772) 224-1988 (352) 427-4006 352.873.2000 Teeth Whitening 7555 SW Highway 200, Ocala, FL 34476 TMJ Therapy Apnea & Snoring derek@ocalasgoodlife.com sally@ocalasgoodlife.com Teeth Whitening Apnea &Cosmetic Snoring Dentistry www.OcalasDentist.com BOTOX® Sleep Cosmetic Dentistry Distribution tion Dentistry BOTOX® Root Canals

352.873.2000 Sedation Dentistry Root Canals www.OcalasDentist.com es, partials and repairs made in our onsite dental lab n

Ann Kwok, DMD

Dentures, partials and repairs made in our onsite dental lab Stephen H. Dunn, DDS n Guneshi de Mel, DMD

55 SW Highway Ocala, FL 34476 7555200, SW Highway 200, Ocala, FL 34476

352.873.2000 352.873.2000 www.OcalasDentist.com ww.OcalasDentist.com

n Ann Stephen H. Dunn, DDS n Guneshi Mel, DMDde Stephen H. Dunn, DDS • de Guneshi Mel,Kwok, DMDDMD n Guneshi de Mel, DMD n Ann Kwok, DMD

H. Dunn, DDS

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Ann Kwok, DMD • Robert J. Evelyn, DMD

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

n

Jammie Crawford • Heidi Justice MEMBER:

Ann Kwok, DMD

OCALA / MARION COUNTY

CHAMBER & ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP

MC4

Published bi-monthly by Good Life Publishing Inc. ocalasgoodlife.com (877) 622-5210 MOVING FORWARD TAGLINE & ARROW

Guneshi de Mel, DMD

GREYSCALE LOGOS

n

OCALA / MARION COUNTY

CHAMBER & ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP

OCALA / MARION COUNTY

MOVING FORWARD

©2019 Good Life Publishing Inc. All FORWARD rights reserved. No part may be reMOVING printed in whole or in part MOVING without written permission from the publisher.

FORWARD Unsolicited material will not be returned. Publisher is not responsible for advertisers’ claims or content of advertisements.

FONTS

Stephen H. Dunn, DDS

CHAMBER & ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP OCALA / MARION COUNTY

CHAMBER & ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP

MAIN FONT:

TRADE GOTHIC BOLD (Kerning 50pt) TAGLINE FONT:

TRADE LIGHT OBLIQUE (Kerning 50pt)

COLOR

CMYK

HEX CODE (WEB)

PMS (APPROX)

the editor’s desk A Different Kind Of Adrenaline Rush by dean blinkhorn [dean@ocalasgoodlife.com]

I

’m not much of a daredevil, that much I can admit. Sure, every now and then you’ll catch me with a couple of like-minded buddies zipping along the twisty, knotty turns of the Santos Trail, an off-road cyclist’s paradise in nearby Belleview. But we’re certainly not going to put our no-longer-teenage limbs to the test in the more challenging parts like The Vortex. No, we’re pretty content mastering the “bunny” trails and making a go of an out-and-back to the Land Bridge. Maybe further on a good day.

However, my family did go ziplining a few years ago.

That was a trip! The three of us took on the series of zips for an afternoon of memorable fun. The adrenaline definitely got going as each of us began to get more comfortable with each successive zipline, finally reining it all in for one last lengthy flight across the waters of an abandoned limerock pit. The view was spectacular and the speed was just enough to take your breath away. If they’d let us all start again Every now and after climbing down the tree then you’ll catch from that final dismount, we would’ve in a heartbeat. me with a couple So when I got the first of like-minded glimpse into Bud Hebrlee’s feature on piloting lighterbuddies zipping than-air, helium-filled along the twisty, balloons, I was in awe. If James Blevins’ wonderful text knotty turns of hadn’t put me right up in the Santos Trail. the sky (which it did) with the retired general contractor from Central Florida, then Marci Sandler’s amazing photos would have had me in the clouds.

Stories like this are an editor’s dream, because I have a front-row seat to how the feature gets better and better from the initial assignment to when the final PDF of the stunning layout hits my email in-box. Graphic designer Mitch Carnes probably had the toughest job of all in deciding which magnificent photos to use in a lavish layout that could’ve easily gone for a couple more pages. I hope this story inspires your own heart-pumping adventures, however relative that may be.

ON THE OTHER SPECTRUM, we are proud to present veteran Disneyphile Steve Russo’s humorous take on visiting the popular theme parks with the benefit—and perhaps burden—the extra decades have given him and his wife. My family also enjoys going to the parks several times a year,

8

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

particularly for the popular Food & Wine and Flower & Garden festivals that respectively fill the Fall and Spring months with hands-on demonstrations, delicious tastes, and lots of really good music.

I found myself relating to many of Steve’s funny anecdotes and observations, particularly the ones about a few of the roller coasters and thrill rides I don’t always queue up for like I used to. Sure, I still love Mission: Space and Test Track, but I don’t find myself considering them must-do’s every time we visit. But the People Mover? We love that ride, even though I’m sure its gentle pace means it’s not on everyone’s bucket list.

Unlike Steve, though, I still fit my taller-than-average frame into the sled-like seats of Space Mountain every single time. I still can’t get enough of that pitch black excitement, just like when I visited the park with my brothers for the very first time and we must have ridden that one a dozen times. I’m sure our parents got tired of buying all the extra “E” tickets it required, but they never let on.

We were having too much fun.

All the best,

Everyone who knows me well is aware that I love music of all kinds, so...

What’s Dean Playing?

Kansas, “Leftoverture”—Their best album is in high rotation as I get ready for their highly anticipated May 17 concert at Circle Square Cultural Center.

“Carry on Wayward Son” and “The Wall” are the sure-to-be highlights of their set, but a little new stuff from their excellent “The Prelude Implicit” from 2016 would be welcome, too.

10,000 Maniacs, “In My Tribe”— The group’s best album yielded the sublime singles “”What’s the Matter Here” and “Like the Weather,” but their cover of Cat Stevens’ “Peace Train” was an unexpected surprise. I’ll be there March 8 for their show at the Reilly Arts Center with the ‘90s jam band Spin Doctors. Will you?

FRIDAY, MAY 17 Ticket prices $65 – 125

Purchase tickets at Circle Square Cultural Center Box Office, CSCulturalCenter.com or call 352-854-3670. @kansasband

KANSASBAND.COM

/kansasband

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

9

good start

By Claudia O’Brien & Steve Floethe

CLUB CORNER:

Attention, Model Railroad Fans

Here’s 2019’s Color Of The Year!

Every year, the Pantone Institute announces its choice for Color of the Year. This year, Pantone announced PANTONE (PMS) 16-1546 (“Living Coral”) as the color for 2019.

“Living Coral embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment,” they said in a press release. “It emits the desired, familiar and energizing aspects of color found in nature. In its glorious, yet unfortunately more elusive display beneath the sea, this vivifying and effervescent color mesmerizes the eye and mind.”

10

T

here’s nothing quite like the specter of a well-done model train exhibit to draw people into the tent. Each December Ocala’s Model Railroaders’ Historic Preservation Society pulls out all the stops for their show at the College of Central Florida’s Webber Gallery.

The group’s main display consists of a massive H-O Scale model layout inspired by historic local area landmarks in miniature, like Ocala’s 1917 Train station, the Seminole Feed plant, and the town of Anthony. And there is an equally impressive smaller N-Scale model layout that features tunnels, bridges, and a 100-car coal train. All together the exhibit features 23 steam- and diesel-powered model freight and passenger trains, most of them in constant motion. But there are smaller, more portable educational displays, including a four-part scale model interpretation of the early days of railroading beginning with the laying of the original wooden rail line from Ocala to Silver Springs.

If you love model railroading, but missed the event during the holidays, there are still many chances to enjoy the group’s displays.

They’ve been invited to exhibit some of their trains at the Community Festival celebrating Marion County’s 175th anniversary on March 30 at McPherson Field, 601 SW 25 Avenue in Ocala. In addition, the group puts on the Ocala Lions Club Train Show twice LEFT TO RIGHT: Jim Delawter, Neal Frisbe, Tom Flynn, Keith Getsee, Marty Shapiro, Carmen Sebastiano and Eric Bassner

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

a year and holds six annual open houses at its museum located at 1247 NE 3rd Street.

They also bring some of their trains on visits to nursing homes.

“Everything we do is free,” says club president Jim Delawter. “We accept donations during the year and are a 501(c)(3).”

The group is always looking for railroadrelated items to add to its museum and is currently holding a membership drive, so anyone interested in the hobby is encouraged to contact them.

He said most of the club’s members are simply railroad fans. Jim and the club’s vice president, Marty Shapiro, are the only ones who have actually worked for railroads, both as locomotive engineers. Jim worked for 42 years for the Chicago Western that merged with Union Pacific. Marty worked for the Delaware and Hudson Railway.

“You don’t have to know how to do it,” says Jim. “We’ll teach you.”

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Phone: (352) 401-0747 Email: omrr@gmail.com Web: ocalamodelrailroaders.com

The illness of a loved one can be daunting.

Now you don’t have to handle it alone.

W

hen my mother became critically ill, I saw what my father went through. Scared, confused, and overwhelmed with information, he didn’t know which direction to go. Being an RN, I was able to sit and hold his hand and explain—in “regular people talk”— what was happening. It helped him to understand mother’s condition and make the appropriate medical decisions best for her. This personal experience and seeing so many others struggle with the “maze” of illness and healthcare, inspired me to create Nurse Advocate Solutions.

With 30 years RN experience, Linda Barrett, RN, will intercede on your behalf with physicians, case managers, attorneys, insurance companies, and anyone involved in the care of your loved ones.

Here’s what her happy clients say: “Linda has truly been an angel

of mercy for me. We have bonded over our elderly dads, both of whom are tormented with advancing dementia, so she understands my situation completely. I am so happy to be handing him over to Linda, who is so experienced, as I am exhausted fighting this fight right now”.

“Very reliable service.

Linda has an innate ability to sort through the decision maze and come up with the most affordable and best solution for her clients.

5 stars in my book!”

— Gerry D., Lady Lake

— Nancy J., Oregon

nurseadvocatesolutions.com email: linda@nurseadvocatesolutions.com

“Let me be your voice to help you be heard by your family and medical providers. I’ll give you all the information you need to make the healthcare decisions that are right for YOU!”

(352) 354-9841

–Linda Barrett, RN OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

11

good start GOOD TO KNOW:

Ocala Is Tops In Florida!

GOOD HISTORY:

Ma Barker House Open For Small Tours

O

fficials from the Marion County Commission and Marion County Parks & Recreation were given a private tour of the historic Bradford-Ma Barker house in January. The structure was relocated to Carney Island Recreation and Preservation Area on Lake Weir two years ago from its original location on another part of the lake in Ocklawaha. Now, small guided tours of the house are being offered to the public. (See below for details.)

The house was originally built by the Bradford family from Miami as a weekend getaway lake home. The Barkers leased the house from the Bradfords in 1934 to use as a hideaway. Early the next year (January 16, 1935) the lovely house on the lake became the scene of the infamous shootout between members of the crime family and the FBI. Ma Barker and her son, Fred Barker, were fatally shot in the melee. Bullet holes from the shootout are still visible on many walls in the house and much of the furniture and other belongings in the house are the originals, documented in black-andwhite photographs taken at the crime Marion County Commissi on scene. It is said to have been the longest Chair Michelle Stone FBI-involved gun battle in history.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? mabarkerhouse.org (352) 671-8560 OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

The active-adult communities website 55places.com has put together a list of the five “most affordable places to retire” in the U.S. in 2019. The story was subsequently widely reported on the CNBC cable channel and on CNBC online. Four of the top places are in Florida. Daytona Beach (#5), Jacksonville (#4), Lakeland (#3), and Ocala (#2). Sioux Falls came in first, thanks in part to its 22 percent population growth between 2000 and 2010.

LIFE HACK:

An Apple A Day Keeps Sprouts Away?

Do you hate those ugly sprouts that form on your potatoes after just a couple of weeks? It turns out that an apple stored in close proximity to the potatoes will help keep those sprouts away, helping the potatoes last longer. Expert Jihyun Ryou says that it’s the ethylene gas produced by apples that prevents potatoes from sprouting. Since apples also cause other fruits and vegetables to ripen too quickly, storing apples away from them is good for your other produce too.

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

13

good start Photos Supplied By John Spoltore

WORD!

What The Heck Does ‘Bespoke’ Mean?

GOOD NEIGHBORS:

• It has nothing to do with speaking or talking.

I

• It’s an adjective, not a verb.

Great Try!

t was short of the current Guinness record, but still an impressive number (a tentative count of 2,836) showed up at The Villages Polo Fields in February to take part in the world’s largest line dance to “The Electric Slide” and to raise awareness about lymphoma. The record for most people simultaneously performing to the song is 5,000. And while it didn’t set a record, Bob Mesioh, the Slide Over Lymphoma event chairman and two-time survivor of the disease, termed the event a success. “As a first-time event of this kind in the Villages, we did pretty darned good,” he says. The event brought in $50,000.

• It means something custom-made or custom–designed (“a bespoke table”).

• Originally, it referred to pricey custom-made men’s suits (from London’s Saville Row, for example).

• It’s grossly overused these days. A New York Times article about the word was headlined: “Bespoke This, Bespoke That. Enough Already!”

GOOD TRIP:

Jump Right In!

I

t may be too soon to think about finding your special swimming area for the hotter months to come, but we stumbled on one so out-of-the-way we wondered if only the locals know of its existence: Mill Dam Lake Recreation Area off SR40 in the Ocala National Forest. We were amazed to find a well-maintained white sand beach and a swimming area accessible by wheelchairs along with an abundant number of picnic tables, plenty of parking space, and spotless restroom facilities. The cost is a low $2 user fee, and the beach and swimming area is open to the public from March 16 to September 30. For the remainder of the year, October 1 to March 15, the area becomes a group campground/recreation area for both day use and tent camping.

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OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

SOMETHING YOU PROABLY DIDN’T KNOW:

The first sales pitch for the Nerf ball was: “NERF: You can’t hurt babies or old people!”

—Source: Mental Floss

SERVICES INCLUDE:

MidState Skin Institute

is pleased to announce our newest office location in Paddock Park!

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!

Deerwood

1630 SE 18th St, #400 Ocala, FL 34471

CLINICAL DERMATOLOGY: Acne Eczema Psoriasis Skin Cancer Vitiligo Hair Loss Liver Spots Rosacea

COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY:

(352) 512-0092

Botox Fillers (Juvederm/Restylane) Laser hair removal Photofacials for rosacea & sundamaged skin Laser treatments for acne scarring and resurfacing Individualized skin care regimens

Jasmine Park

7550 SW 61st Ave, Ste 1 Ocala, FL 34476

(352) 732-7337 Paddock Park

3210 SW 33rd Rd, Ste 101 Ocala FL 34474

352-470-0770

MidStateSkin.com Katie Keel, APRN Colby Beck, PA-C Dr. Ashley Cauthen Melissa Singleton, PA-C Stacey Klingbeil, PA-C

Anna Wilemon, Licensed Aesthetician Offering Dermalinfusion facials, microneedling, PRP, permanent makeup, chemical peels, IPL, Sublative Laser treatments and waxing.

Offer expires 4/30/2019

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

15

OUT & ABOUT

5 Lynda & Terry Burke, Pat Grillo 5 Angelo Grillo, Amy & Phil

Gleaves

Buddy Holly Tribute & Valentine’s Day Sock Hop Music lovers of the ‘50s and ‘60s packed the Reilly Arts Center on Valentine’s Day to hear the tribute band Not Fade Away salute such legends as Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, and Jerry Lee Lewis. There was even free Brusters ice cream and a line of vintage cars for concert-goers to explore in the parking lot.

5 Joanne & Bob Kolch

5 Karl & Ellen Stroessner

Photos By Steve Floethe

5 Kerry & Walt Erickson, Carol & Jim O’Connell 5 Julie & Mike Cross, Yvonne & Bob Rowan

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3 Joanne & David Schemery 5 Tony Augustyn, Harry & Kathleen Burns OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

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on second thought

by claudia o’brien [claudia@ocalasgoodlife.com]

The Chick And I

Y

ou’ve probably heard somewhere that chickens are getting to be popular pets these days. You may even know people who keep chickens in their backyards.

If you’re thinking about doing that yourself, whether it’s for the fresh eggs, to create an educational project for the grandkids, or because you don’t like your neighbors very much, please do your research. There are quite a few things you need to know about before you fall in love with your first fluff-ball. Also remember that not all neighborhoods allow chickens, and some areas specifically prohibit roosters.

You know why.

That said, I can tell you first hand that chickens can make great pets!

Jerry was a great buddy bird. He followed me everywhere!

18

WHEN I WAS LITTLE, I received a baby chick for Easter one year. I knew he was going to arrive because I’d overheard my mother talking to a neighbor. She was telling Mom to make sure she picked out a natural-colored chicken. I’m not sure if it was because they were healthier or because they weren’t gaudy. It was sometime in the 1950s when dyed baby chicks in various shades of pink, blue, purple, and green were all the rage.

I named my natural-colored chick Jerry. He was a great buddy bird! He followed me everywhere. I played with him mostly outside. I can’t claim he was potty-trained, but I don’t remember any messes in the house.

I’m sure he was allowed inside sometimes,

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

though, because I remember running around the dining room table with him fluttering behind me.

He was a pretty smart chick because he figured out how to cut between the table legs to the other side of the table and get in front of me. He and I both thought that was hilarious.

My mother didn’t drive, so I walked or rode my bike everywhere. As Jerry got older, he rode around town with me in my wire bike basket.

When he outgrew that, he took over one of my handlebars. He was quite good at balancing and when he was about to lose it, he just let go and fluttered to the ground.

Oh, and he loved Coca-Cola. I’d hold the little bottle at just the right angle and he’d glunk it down. If he saw someone holding a coke bottle, he’d sidle up and make motions with his beak that he wanted some. It probably wasn’t the best nutritional choice, but he lived a long and healthy chicken life.

When our daughter Joanie was little, she received two chickens one Easter that she named Flopsy and Jerry II. Steve built a very nice little coop with a fence around it for them in our Sarasota backyard and Joanie was diligent about cleaning, feeding, and watering her pets. Sadly, however, when Jerry II began crowing we had to find both chickens a new home out in the country.

Bottom line: Chickens really can make terrific pets, but check out what you need to consider before deciding on giving someone an Easter morning surprise. There’s lots of good information online. Williams Sonoma is a good place to start.

And maybe soon you’ll have a little Jerry of your very own.

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19

Crescent Lake at the Boardwalk Inn

Disney For Seniors

BY STEVE RUSSO

I

’m not sure exactly when it happened, but it did.

Somewhere along this journey we call “life,” I became a senior citizen.

If you asked me today how old I am, there’s something inside my brain—the left side to be sure—that would answer, “19.” The left brain still remembers the days of leaping fences and taking stairs two at a time. The right brain just stares at the left side, shakes his head slowly and makes that “tsk-ing” sound.

It goes on to say that a senior is “over retirement age.” Really? What, exactly, is retirement age? You can join AARP at 50. I know several people that

20

retired from full-time employment well before the typical retirement age of 62 or 66 or whatever number the government is using these days. I also know of people that continue to work well into their 70s. So which is it? Are you considered a senior at 50?

As you can see, determining if one has entered seniorocity, er, seniorness is very difficult. Fear not—because in yet another public service for you, my faithful readers, I have devised a simple test that will accurately determine whether or not you qualify as a card-carrying, early-bird special-hunting senior. If you can answer yes to three of the following

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

four questions, you’re a senior. Ready?

• Are you retired?

• Are you a grandparent?

• Can you remember your high school locker combination but your wife has to pin a note to your jacket when you head to the store for milk?

• Do you make a guttural noise that sounds very much like “Okie-doke!” whenever you do something strenuous, such as getting out of a chair?

How’d you do? I should note that originally there was a fifth question that had to do with graying hair. I’ve often said that gray hair is a sign of intelligence and I can tell you I’m get-

All photos: Walt Disney World

ting smarter every day. I had to remove this question in the interest of fairness. It seems many folks suffer from premature intelligence, even gaining these smarts in their late-twenties or early-thirties and certainly not seniors.

I’m also aware that a number of us also become somewhat follicly-challenged later in life, so the hair color test had to go.

“So what does all this have to do with Disney?” I hear you ask. Nothing—and everything. You see, the trip to senior citizenry is a slow and gradual one, but it does yield a number of changes in how one approaches Disney’s resorts and theme parks. When the announcer says, “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages” he means it. Disney is for the young and the young at heart.

I’ve lost none of my affection for a trip to Walt Disney World, but advancing years have certainly changed the way I vacation there.

For some, and I include myself in this group, being a senior brings with it a few physical challenges. My back, knees, and shoulders now bear the results of the abuse I inflicted upon them in my youth. In the words of Indiana Jones, “It’s not the years; it’s the mileage.”

So how are senior trips different than any other? Let’s distinguish. In my early years of visiting Walt Disney World, my wife and I brought along our preschool-aged children. They quickly became school-aged, then young adults, and now adults with spouses and children of their own, our grandchildren. Yet we still vacation together at Walt Disney World and I love and appreciate those vacations as much as those early ones. But we also vacation solo.

Now when I say “solo,” what I really mean is a trip with just me and the ol’ ball and chain—the missus, the little woman, my better half—you know what I mean.

These trips are no more or less enjoyable, but they are certainly different. There’s a certain sense of freedom and spontaneity when you don’t need to rush to ride Dumbo.

When you can stroll a bit, literally stop and smell the roses, and take advantage of some of the things Disney offers adults. To better explain, I’ll try to offer my perceptions and experiences in the three main components of a Disney vacation: the resorts, the restaurants (and lounges), and last but certainly not least, the theme parks.

As a final word, please understand that I do not visit Walt Disney World looking to find fault. I certainly offer opinions, but I try not to overreact when I come upon a burned-out light bulb, a ride closed for refurbishment, or discover my favorite restaurant has changed the dessert menu. In my first visit to the World, I enjoyed the escape from real life and marveled at how Disney “assaulted my senses.” All these years and 30-plus trips later, I still do.

Wilderness Lodge Boardwalk

Resorts

Let me state emphatically that I’m not a resort snob.

I’ve stayed in “value,” “moderate,” and “deluxe” resorts and I can truthfully say I’ve enjoyed them all—obviously, for different reasons. Some may choose a value resort for its theming, while others would prefer to put their vacation dollars to work somewhere other than a room they’ll spend very little time in. I understand both completely.

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

21

Jiko

Sanaa

The difference now, as a senior, is I no longer need to have the theming of a Pop Century, Art of Animation, or AllStars Sports resort as a form of entertainment. I much prefer the more subdued theming of the Beach Club, BoardWalk

I’ve lost none of my affection for a trip to Walt Disney World, but advancing years have certainly changed the way I vacation there.

Inn, or Animal Kingdom Lodge.

We’re Disney Vacation Club members and the BoardWalk Villas is our home resort. It’s no secret that I’ve become a Crescent Lake snob and that’s due primarily to its location. The ability to walk to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios perfectly fits with my priorities for a Disney World vacation.

22

Epcot is my favorite park and I could easily close every day with a coffee and pastry from the Les Halles BoulangeriePatisserie in the France pavilion followed by viewing their awesome fireworks display. I mean, who wouldn’t?

Once the last firework fades, it’s a short walk back to my resort where I absolutely love the sights and sounds of the BoardWalk area at night. A postfireworks double chocolate waffle cone from Seashore Sweets followed by a few minutes with a comedian/juggler/magician is as enjoyable as it gets.

I also find that as I’ve aged, I have a greater appreciation for the resorts themselves. I enjoy spending more time on a balcony watching the world go by—or simply relaxing at the resort.

Think about settling in with a book on a chilly morning next to that huge fireplace in the lobby of the Wilderness Lodge; or taking up in a wicker rocker on the back porch of the BoardWalk and spending an hour doing nothing but watching the Friendship boats cruising by on Crescent Lake; or spending time on your balcony at the Animal Kingdom Lodge watching antelope play, not to mention giraffe, zebra, Ankole-Watusi

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

cattle, okapi, and many more.

Restaurants

There was a time when I could live on burgers and fries during a week at Walt Disney World. Ah, I still could, but who am I kidding? I guess the difference now is that a Disney trip is no longer just about the theme parks and the attractions—it seems almost a waste not to sample of few of the more unique restaurants on site.

We all have our favorites, but I’m typically drawn to fare I can’t get at home. I know some will complain that much of the more exotic fare at Walt Disney World has been “dumbed down” a bit to accommodate the masses, but I’m OK with that. Jiko has become a favorite and the only place I’ve ever tried ostrich. I enjoy the California Grill for its always-changing menu and its spectacular views; Boma and Sanaa for their exotic flavors; ‘Ohana for the firepit and mountains of grilled food; Narcoossee’s for its, well, just because I like it.

I still thoroughly enjoy a Pecos Bill’s burger or the Anchors Aweigh from Columbia Harbour House, but I find

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad All photos: Walt Disney World

that each trip now has to have at least one meal where my server has an authentic French—or Italian, British, or Japanese—accent.

Theme Parks

Sometimes I kid myself and say there’s no real difference in how I toured the parks in my thirties and how I do it today. In my heart, I know that’s not entirely true.

I still love all there is to most of the thrill rides. I relish every minute on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Test Track, and Soarin’.

However, with a slight nod to my advancing years, I now stay clear of a few rides I used to enjoy.

I now give Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith a wide berth. Face it—the only people that should be upside down are performers in aerial stunt shows and gymnasts. And I am neither.

Space Mountain is another ride I now avoid. Even when I was riding it, folding a 6’ 2” frame into those little rockets was never comfortable.

Now, I find that the darkness that was once a thrilling component of the experience only hides the dips, turns, and drops and won’t let me prepare my body. The result is this ride is a bit rougher on the back than I care to endure.

So to net all this out, “Disney for Seniors” means spending a bit more time enjoying the resort’s amenities, dining a bit more frequently at a few of Disney’s finer establishments, and spending less time—or no time—on a few of the more intense attractions. Sounds like it’s something I can live with I can recall a trip, quite a few years ago, when the wife and I were walking through a theme park, probably trailing our kids as they raced off to the next attraction. An older couple, obviously seniors, walked by us hand in hand. They were strolling, chatting, and smiling, obviously thoroughly enjoying each other as much as their surroundings. Barb and I looked at each other, smiled, and said, “That’s us in a few years.”

We were right.

The 2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 6-June 3, 2019 Put Steve’s advice to good use at one of the best annual events in Central Florida. Here are some highlights of what’s new this year.

• Lots of first-time music guests to the park: Jon Anderson (Yes), Ambrosia, Glass Tiger, Steven Curtis Chapman, TobyMac, A Flock of Seagulls, Peabo Bryson, John Michael Montgomery, Colin Hay (Men At Work), and War. • Arbor at the Gardeners Terrace, Flavor Full Kitchen, and The Citrus Blossom, outdoor kitchens located around the park, are all-new places to try different tastes and spice up your kitchen at home.

• The topiary and garden exhibits are always miniature works of art. This year, be sure to look for the debut of the penguin-themed one at Future World West.

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

23

OUT & ABOUT

5 Bill & Rita Schertz

5 The Greiners: Julie, Jeff, Nancy, and Susan

First Friday Art Walk

5 Todd Kouns, Jill Crawford

It was a busy night in Downtown Ocala recently. These popular events are held from September through May from 6-9pm on the first Friday evening of the month. The public is invited to enjoy the accomplished local artists, live entertainment, and the neighborhood shops and restaurants that feature extended hours.

5 Jimena Forero, Mike Cruz

Photos By Steve Floethe

4 Edith & Phillip Bucchi

5 Margaret Watts, Diane Probisco, Linda Harlow, Peter Else

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4 Artist Newy Fagan OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

5 Robin Lester, Gene Henderson

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just my t y pe

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by Mary Ellen Barchi [maryellen@ocalasgoodlife.com]

Never A Snowbird

I

n 1923, the term “snowbirds” described seasonal workers who moved south for the winter months. Now it’s used in reference to the large number of retirees who make the yearly migration to Florida. But even before the moniker was coined, tourists have been spending winters in the Sunshine State years before Flagler built the Florida East Coast Railway, the Overseas Railroad to Key West, and elaborate hotels in St. Augustine. And in the days before I-95 and I-75 paved the way for families flocking to Orlando’s attractions, Florida’s mild climate served as a haven for those who could afford to escape the harsh winters of the north.

Though the early snowbirds lacked six-lane highways for their journey south, it seems they were seeking the same financial relief—as well as relief from freezing temperatures—as the snowbirds of today.

Although the bitter-cold winters of my native state of New York did influence my decision to move south, I was never a snowbird. I moved lock, stock, and barrel to live in Ocala full time, but not without some trepidation. Before making the decision 29 years ago to pull up stakes, I visited family that had moved to Ocala and always asked the same question: “Does it get much hotter than this?” But no reassur-

Even though I still consider myself a New Yorker who currently lives in Ocala, I can say with utmost certainty that I would never move back.

ing answers from my well-meaning family could prepare me for the perspiring—a lady does not sweat—I did that first summer I lived in Ocala, even with air conditioning, a luxury I never had up north.

Then there was the pace, or lack thereof, something I still struggle with, especially in the grocery store. Yes, I confess to having grocery store aisle road rage. “Why aren’t these people moving?” I would ask myself in disbelief as I waited to pay for the gallons of iced tea I suddenly couldn’t live without. Not used to people casually chatting in the checkout line, I tapped my foot impatiently and glanced at my watch as the cashier politely inquired about how the customer’s mother’s health was or how their children were doing in school.

Twenty-nine years ago in Ocala, it seemed like everyone knew everyone else. Outside of seeing one’s family, such behavior was unheard of in the fast-paced and somewhat impersonal lifestyle of the over-populated big cities up north.

Then there was the difference of available food, though not in restaurants. I’m talking about the different products I was used to buying in the grocery stores. “What do you mean you don’t carry Progresso-brand canned tomatoes?” I once asked in horrified disbelief. “How am I supposed to make my tomato sauce?”

I must admit, I adapted to the lower cost of living right away. I was able to rent a condominium apartment for half of what it would cost up north. My car insurance was also cut in half, and although I did miss the change of seasons, I never missed the ice, snow, and cold temperatures of a northern winter.

So even though I still consider myself a New Yorker who currently lives in Ocala, I can say with utmost certainty that I would never move back.

Ocala is my home, and I’ve adapted to the southern lifestyle. I’ve even been known to chat with someone I don’t know and make a new friend as I go about my day.

Even in the checkout aisle.

Follow Mary Ellen Barchi on her blog, fromawriterspov.blogspot.com, and on Twitter: @writer_mebarchi.

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

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27

28

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

Former newspaper editor David Cook’s look into Ocala’s sometimes funny, often curious past.

A BOOK EXCERPT BY DAVID COOK • INTRODUCTION BY JIM ROSS ILLUSTRATION BY MAGARET WATTS

O

cala/Marion County has been blessed with the best kind of historian, the kind for whom people, not events, are history’s most important element. David Cook doesn’t drown his readers in dry data and timelines. He tells stories: true stories, interesting stories, stories about people and the things they did or failed to do. His dispatches about Marion County history are always about, and for, real people. That’s why they come alive and have such staying power.

This book is full of such stories, all with personal notes and telling details.

Now you get to meet them, in a sense. Lucky you.

‘The Biggest Thing That Has Ever Happened To Ocala’ Construction on the CrossFlorida Canal begins.

T

alk of constructing a ship canal across Marion County to connect the Gulf of Mexico with the Atlantic Ocean in early 1932 was like exciting music to so many people who were struggling to cope with the worst economic depression of their lives. But

the all-powerful railroads were almost unanimously against this scheme, and they fought the canal idea with everything they had. In the end, their selfish objections fell before the backlash of a deepening depression and a new president intent on putting people back to work by creating jobs.

It is important to remember there was no such thing as an environmental movement in those days. The issue of water would finally dawn on opponents and would become an important element in stopping the canal’s forward movement in the mid1930s, even though their main argument was based on erroneous science.

South Floridians were convinced the underground water supply flowed south in Florida when they were told a deep water ship canal would cut off their water supply. Ignored was the fact the St. Johns River and the Ocklawaha flowed north.

Finally, in early September 1935, President Roosevelt quit his dilly- dallying over whether to begin construction of the proposed Florida Ship Canal and gave the long-awaited goahead signal. The immediate response made a tremendous impact on Ocala and Marion County. Potential workers already were gathering by the hundreds

TOP: These bridge supports separating north-south lanes of U.S. 441, shown being built, are all that remains of the Florida Ship Canal construction in 1935-36. (David Cook Collection) ABOVE: Route of the Florida Ship (later, Barge) Canal across the peninsula as designated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1935. (Corps of Engineers)

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

29

Ma Barker (right) and her son Fred engaged in a five-hour machine gun battle with the FBI from their Ocklawaha home.

in the Ocala area, and the number soon would quickly mushroom within a few weeks as the word spread that jobs would be available.

“It is the biggest thing that has ever happened to Ocala and Marion County,” said Ocala Mayor Bradford Webb.

It didn’t last. By mid-May 1936, Ocala was already bracing for the demise of the project that had provided work for over 6,500 men at its peak and was now grinding to a halt as federal money ran out. By the end of June, Ocala was beginning to look abandoned.

‘Bullets Smashed Through Her Door’

The Barkers die in an Ocklawaha shootout.

M

rs. A.F. Westbury was startled awake just before daybreak by the sound of nearby gunfire. It sounded like machine guns chattering, only louder as if only yards away from her home. She said it sounded like a war had begun a little way from her doorstep.

30

She jumped out of bed, as bullets smashed through her door and tore into the wall above her bed. She later said she was frightened, but actually she was scared to death. She cracked open her door to see what was happening. More bullets hit the door facing above her head. She looked out of a window and saw five or six men in her front yard, running around and shouting and firing their guns at the house next door.

Mrs. Westbury’s daughter was awake. Also frightened by the noise and the bullets ripping into their home, the child wanted to know what was happening. As more bullets hit the walls—it is not clear who was shooting towards her house—Mrs. Westbury broke open a back window, and together, mother and daughter huddled on the ground as guns continued to fire.

They sought safety in a neighbor’s house about 50 yards away. As they frantically ran for safety, Mrs. Westbury said “some men” yelled for them to stop.

“They must have shot at us two dozen times,” she said later.

The federal men didn’t know who the pair were when they fired.

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

Fortunately, they were very bad shots and missed the mother and daughter running through tall grass. “It was still a little dark,” the mother said. They watched the battle continue from the safety of the neighbor’s house not knowing what was happening.

The FBI’s machine gun-dominated battle with the notorious Ma Barker and her son Fred in Ocklawaha in midJanuary 1935 was over five hours later.

Kate “Ma” Barker and Fred were dead from bullet wounds. Other members of the Barker-Karpis criminal gang were not there.

The director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, claimed the deaths shattered the criminal gang. His opinion was that Ma Barker was the “brains” of the gang and Fred was her “first lieutenant.”

The bodies of Fred Barker and his mother were taken by ambulance to an Ocala funeral home on Orange Street.

The ambulance driver was F.L. McGehee, who became an Ocala policeman and later was elected sheriff of Marion County. The FBI agents are said to have apologized to Mrs. Westbury for shooting at her and her daughter.

‘A LongLasting Impact’

Major retail giants come to downtown.

T

he arrival of a J.C. Penney store in downtown Ocala in early 1933 was one of those unheralded historic events that would have a long-lasting impact on the commercial success of the city’s vital retail center. If Penney saw the possibility of financial success in struggling Ocala, could Sears, Roebuck and Co. be far behind?

When Penney moved into the two-story brick building on North Magnolia, between what is now Silver Springs Boulevard and First Street, most of the businesses around the square were locally owned.

Sure enough, the arrival of J.C. Penney soon was followed by Sears, Roebuck and Co., settling in another building in the same block. Sears even used a furniture warehouse in the rear that also had been used by MacKay Furniture.

Soon, Sears and Penney would be joined by a new firm, Belk-Lindsey, in the same block on Magnolia. It wasn’t quite a chain store, but it was the beginning of a new partnership in Florida to compete with other merchandisers. After World War II, it was Belk that led the migration of retail businesses away from the downtown retail center to outlying shopping centers, locating first in Pine Plaza with a great deal of local fanfare, then finally moving to the mall.

Sears bought formerly stateowned land on Silver Springs Boulevard at 25th Avenue to develop its own shopping center that it would call Searstown.

Like Belk, Sears later would

move to Ocala’s new Paddock Mall where it would have more space.

The original block along the west side of Magnolia that housed Penney, Sears, and Belk has been converted into a parking lot today. The buildings were demolished like so much of historic downtown Ocala, victims of a changing economy.

‘The Largest & Newest’

The Marion Hotel meets the needs of the “modern” traveler.

V

isitors stopping overnight or longer in Ocala in the mid-1930s to visit Silver Springs or simply to escape the cold weather up north would have had a wide variety of choice of places to stay, none of which would have been anything like the motels that dotted the landscape in the years following World War II. Hotels were most frequently the choice, and in mid-March 1935, Ocala could boast that it had 10 hotels, three of them in downtown Ocala—the Marion on North Magnolia, the Ocala House on the east side of the courthouse square, and the Harrington Hall on Main Street at Fort King Street.

The Marion was the largest and newest, built to meet the needs of the late 1920s before the Great Depression set in with the stock market crash of ’29.

It was built primarily by local investors and was designed to provide Ocala with a modern facility offering accommodations of the highest standards of the day.

Only in the modern era did it run into financial difficulty in the face of the great popularity of the many motels which offered conveniences for motorists that were difficult to resist, like driving up to the front door of

Major chains like Sears, Penney and Belk opened stores on North Magnolia Avenue in downtown Ocala in the late 1930s. All would leave downtown for outlying shopping centers. (Ocala Star-Banner)

Hotel Marion (David Cook Collection)

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

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Famous fan dancer Sally Rand

your room. The Marion closed as a hotel in the 1970s and the building, now named the Sovereign building, has been put to other uses.

around the state.

Chapin’s announcement that Sally would go swimming at Silver Springs was just about the last straw. Shorty Davidson, co-operator of the attraction immediately declared that the swimming beach would be closed to the public if Sally went swimming in the springs. Of course, some local men wanted to know what Sally would wear for a swimsuit.

The performances at the Ritz Theater, which was located on the site of today’s Parramore Music, drew sellout crowds and brought forth no further condemnation. My mother wouldn’t let me go near the theater while Sally’s group was in town, not that I was old enough to want to go. I remember much of the outrage being expressed locally before the show.

Afterwards, I recall one man telling my mother later, “She didn’t show a thing!”

‘The Performances Drew Sellout Crowds’ Sally Rand’s potentially risqué act gets Ocala talking.

O

cala was all a-twitter in early 1936 when theater advertisements heralded a performance by the worldfamous fan dancer, Sally Rand, and her troupe on the stage of the Ritz Theater on Silver Springs Boulevard. She took off her clothing in public, didn’t she?

Well, she covered herself with fans—mostly. But in Ocala, her dancing figure would be obscured by “bubbles,” too. It was said by Ted Chapin, publicity manager for Sparks Theaters, that Sally was trying out a new act as she toured the company’s network of movie houses

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OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

The city auditorium is now the Reilly Arts Center

‘Not A New Idea’

Ocala gets an auditorium—finally.

M

embers of the Ocala-Marion County Chamber of Commerce set out in late July 1936 to find ways to bring more conventions to this area and attract the sort of people who would spend money and enhance the local economy. First, there had to be a convention hall large enough to seat at least 2,500 people.

It was not a new idea. Repeated efforts had been made for several years to get federal funding through one of the relief programs, most recently the WPA. Plans for a building in Tuscawilla Park already were complete, but the politics of the time—and limited local money—dismissed the possibility of an auditorium. Over time it would emerge that the main reason an auditorium hadn’t received approval was the fact that major downtown merchants opposed the Tuscawilla Park location. The merchants wanted something closer to their stores.

Despite everything, the city auditorium somehow got built, mostly as originally planned in Tuscawilla Park. It is now the Reilly Arts Center, which houses the Ocala Symphony Orchestra.

Doug Engle/Ocala Star-Banner

A Closer Look At David Cook

L

ocal historian and retired Ocala Star-Banner editor David Cook’s new book, The Way It Was: A Trek Through Marion County’s Past, features tales of the county’s history with scores of fascinating photographs.

“There have been so many stories here that have never been told or only partially told,” explains Cook. “I set out to tell those tales.”

In addition to these mostly unknown stories, the book includes selections from the hundreds of memorable columns on area history Cook wrote over his many years with the paper. Even after retirement, he continued writing his regular column, “The Way It Was,” for many years.

“I hope people will enjoy the book,” says David, 91, “and that it will stimulate an interest in the history of Ocala and Marion County.”

—Claudia O’Brien

Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan

‘I Knew I Couldn’t Act’ An Olympian-turned-actor puts Silver Springs on Hollywood’s radar.

J

ohnny Weissmuller already had several Olympic gold medals and was looking ahead to the 1932 Olympics when he paused at Silver Springs in 1931 to work on an underwater movie.

He said in an interview in Ocala in 1939 that he had no thought of an acting career at that time. He was focusing on the 1932 Olympics where he was to break his own record in the 100 meter relay.

Later, an MGM writer saw him swimming in a Hollywood pool and told him he should take a screen test for a Tarzan role. The size of the man and his rugged looks suggested the he-man of the jungle made famous in the novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs. “I laughed at him,” Weissmuller said. “I knew I couldn’t act.”

The writer returned the next day to urge him to take a screen test, and

Weissmuller finally agreed.

When his turn came, he stood before director and was ordered to strip to the waist.

“He looked at me much as a horse doctor examines a sick animal and then he said, ‘This is the man we have been looking for,’ and that is how I came to be in the movies.”

Weissmuller said he loved Silver Springs, calling it the best water in the county to swim in. He had no comment about the bronze makeup that was applied to his body for filming and was philosophical about his acting career.

“I expect to continue in the picture business as long as Tarzan is in demand.”

As a matter of fact, he was to continue long after he became too flabby to play Tarzan, playing other roles, primarily Jungle Jim. Weissmuller was high in his praise for the people of Ocala.

“Everybody is so friendly and courteous,” he said. “It will be a sad day when we head for home.”

Want To Buy A Copy?

The price is $25 and all proceeds go to the Historic Ocala Preservation Society (HOPS) for its work to preserve the area’s rich, colorful history. It’s available at Your Heart’s Desire, Shannon Roth Collections, and the Ivy on the Square Boutique.

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

33

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LIGHTER than

Bud Hebrlee’s passion for hot air balloons is a freedom you can feel.

By James Blevins • Photos By Marci Sandler

B

ud Hebrlee’s 43-year journey with hot air balloons started in Garden City, Kansas, in 1974, when he and about 20 of his friends invested in buying a hot air balloon none of them knew how to fly.

“Suddenly, here I was,” recalls Bud, “vested as a partner in this balloon venture in Kansas. Naturally, I wanted to learn how to fly it. And that’s exactly what I did.”

Of that original group of 20 investors, only five would go

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OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

Bud’s balloon (far right yellow one) was one of many at a recent “Balloon Glow” in The Villages.

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

37

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OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

The Villages’ inaugural Balloon Glow event was a huge success. People came from all over the county to see the glowing balloons light up the night sky. on to obtain their hot air balloon piloting licenses, Bud included. And of those five pilots, only Bud is still piloting today.

“It became an addiction,” says Bud of ballooning. “I love flight. It’s the freedom that you feel, the quiet tranquility of the sky. There’s a peace you find when you’re up in a balloon.”

Forty-plus years and five balloons later, Bud, 75, now lives in Dunedin with his wife, Judith, 69, and offers balloon rides from time to time to the lucky few who happen to cross his path or stumble on one of his low-key business cards in The Villages.

“I fly my balloon for what they call ‘sport and pleasure,’” says Bud. “And occasionally I take passengers up, too.”

BUD GENERATES POTENTIALLY INTERESTED passengers by word of mouth.

But he wouldn’t necessarily call what he does a business. He does not own a website. He does not advertise on Facebook. He works on a case-by-case basis, following his muse, one might say.

“I don’t want to be nailed down to a hectic schedule of trying to schedule balloon rides and the like,” says Bud. “That’s just not me. When you retire, you don’t want to have a hectic schedule that you have to get into every morning and go online to check the weather to see if you

can fly or not.

“At my age,” continues Bud, “I want to retire and just have fun.”

Splitting time between homes in Florida and his wife’s hometown of Frenchville, Maine, Bud, a retired general contractor, travels the country with his balloon, participating in a wide variety of ballooning events.

“There are regular little towns and villages and cities all across the country that have regular events involving hot air balloons,” says Bud. “They’re happening all the time. You only have to run a search on Google and you’ll find them.”

One such event happens to be the largest balloon festival in the world. Every year since 1972 during the first weekend of October, Albuquerque, New Mexico, hosts the nine-day International Balloon Fiesta.

And for the past 22 years, Bud has been there to participate.

“They launch as many as 550 balloons as a norm,” says Bud. “It’s a truly massive event.”

During the summer months in Maine, Bud will take up a few passengers every couple of weeks or so, launching from a series of small towns near the Canadian border that, if connected by lines on a map, create, in Bud’s words, “two perfect side-by-side triangles,” with flyover space perfect for ballooning. Caribou, Washburn, and Presque Isle combine to form the first triangle, while, sharing a side, Caribou, Presque Isle, and Fort Fairfield triangulate to form the other.

“It’s a nice little area to fly in,” says Bud. “There’s a real abundance of wildlife that you can see: moose and deer running around. The best time of the day to launch is early in the morning when the winds are calm and steady and the view is clear from 1,000 feet up.”

After making recent arrangements

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

39

Are You

Ready?

For Your First Hot Air Balloon Ride:

Bud with his wife and “crew chief” Judith

In early June, Bud participated in Balloon Glow, a brand-new ballooning event held on The Villages polo fields. Balloon Glow sees pilots taking passengers up and down on fixed ropes called tether rides or, like Bud, simply parking their balloons in the fields for people to see up close, all while glowing from inside, as if each balloon had somehow captured a million wayward fireflies in the night.

The balloons achieve this glowing effect by firing raw propane through their burners, which lights up the balloon’s entire envelope or canvas.

WHAT TO WEAR: • Boots or sneakers with high socks • Pants that you can move in • Ball cap or hat • Layered clothing depending on the weather • Sunscreen

WHAT TO BRING: • • • •

For Bud, it’s especially important at events like Balloon Glow to share his passion for balloons with the next generation of potential pilots.

“Some children would never have the opportunity to stand so close to a hot air balloon,” says Bud. “To see the joy in their eyes is truly heartwarming.

I cannot express the pleasure it gives me and my wife to make those kids happy.”

In Bud’s experience, first-timers often go from nervous and apprehensive in a hot air balloon to thrilled and amazed in about three minutes. Most people, according to Bud, just cannot believe what

“Relax, have fun, and enjoy the ride. I don’t think

Sunglasses Small cameras An adventurous spirit An empty bladder

that I’ve ever had an unhappy passenger.”

— Bud Hebrlee

Source: rohrballoons.com

with community leaders in The Villages, Bud launches near the municipal airport or sometimes from the Live Oaks Community Church parking lot.

“We have to be very careful in weighing and measuring where we go and where we land,” says Bud. “And our landowner relationships are extremely important because we don’t want to upset landowners, nor do we want to be caught up in a trespassing situation. You have to be very considerate. Ask for permission, rather than forgiveness.”

40

“It’s called a static display,” explains Bud. “It’s a real crowd-pleaser. We let kids come in and out of our gondola, so parents can take their pictures. We try and accommodate as many people as possible.”

The Villages’ inaugural Balloon Glow event was a huge success. People came from all over the county to see the glowing balloons light up the night sky.

“The place was just packed,” says Bud, “so we’re going to be doing more.

We’re planning on one in Orlando. And I think we’re going to be doing it right down there by Disney.”

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

they are seeing: it’s that overwhelming.

Many people comment on how it is quieter than they expected, gentler. A freedom you can feel, but only while in the stratosphere.

Before long, Bud’s passengers are just as captivated with the experience as he’s been for over four decades.

“I tell everyone,” says Bud, “bring your cameras, just relax, have fun, and enjoy the ride. I don’t think that I’ve ever had an unhappy passenger.

“In 43 years,” concludes Bud, “no one has ever asked me to land.”

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

41

RENEW HOME SHOWCASE: Jim & Tricia Evans

BEFORE 3The ReNew crew carefully removed the old cabinets so that they could be donated to a young military family. The new white cabinets and sleek countertops created a lighter, airy look.

AFTER

‘They Were Just Nice People’

ReNew in Ocala is the place to go to fix outdated floors, bathrooms, and kitchens on a budget.

Satisfied clients Jim and Tricia Evans love their beautifully updated northeast Ocala home.

J

im and Tricia Evans love their cozy and quiet home of almost three years. It’s a well-kept space that has seemingly dozens of designed places to curl up with a good book, enjoy a glass of wine, or catch up on a favorite TV show. Jim and Tricia love to entertain and the thoughtfulness in each detail is maximized for the guests’ Tricia & Jim Evans enjoyment.

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Tricia is a retired educator and Jim enjoyed a career in district textbook sales throughout the state. When they decided to downsize yet again from other local homes that were either too big or required too much upkeep, this cozy-but-spacious home in the heart of town spoke to them. They moved in almost three years ago and have been busy making every space—from the sunny Florida room and the outdoor grill area to the manicured walkways and meditative sitting areas—inviting and friendly. Recently, they finally got around to tackling the outdated kitchen and laundry room. The ad for ReNew in a previous issue of Ocala’s Good Life got their attention and they

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

clipped it out.

“We never had a professional kitchen remodel,” Jim says. “We always did our own. But we knew this one was going to need a professional’s touch.”

Jim called Jim LaValle with ReNew and they knew right away it was going to work.

“One of the things Jim suggested was to move the cabinets out a bit to eliminate some of the extra space for a better dishwasher placement and more storage,” Tricia remembers. “Jim suggested all kinds of little things—like the soft-close drawers, for example— that make the whole space so much nicer to live in.”

The couple also appreciated that

BEFORE 3Better dishwasher placement and more storage was achieved by smart use of cabinet space.

AFTER

“I told Jim that all of his people were really good,” Jim adds. “Whether it was drywall, cabinets, tile, or plaster, they knew what they were doing and they were extremely professional.”

For Jim LaValle, it’s another job well done, something that never gets old for him or his crew. They take pride in every single assignment, and he’s more than happy to guide his clients every step of the way.

“You have to have that vision of what the final product is going to look like,” Jim explains, “and the product knowledge to get the job done.”

Jim and Tricia would definitely recommend ReNew for anyone looking to remodel their kitchen or bathrooms.

The company’s work was superb and Jim kept everything well within budget.

“His crew was very helpful, always cleaning up after themselves, and very respectful,” Tricia says. “They would come early in the morning and would communicate with us all day. They even fixed a post that was a little loose, which certainly wasn’t part of the job.

They were just nice people.”

Jim kept in contact with them during compete with the new, sleek surface. In the whole process, even when a small all, the project took a solid month start issue arose. He made sure his crew got to finish, with only a few minor issues right on it. along the way.

“Jim didn’t push us to do anything “It’s amazing how different the that we didn’t need, and he never overvisual sightline into the kitchen is now sold us,” Tricia adds. He even worked when you take away the extra height of with the couple so they could donate the countertop and make it even with their old cabinets to a young military the others,” Tricia says. “It opens up the family. whole space into the breakfast nook.”

“Jim’s crew took them out so carefully and put them in 6From This… our garage until she could come by to pick them up,” she says.

“That’s definitely a lot harder than coming in with a sledgehammer to knock them all down, so we really appreciated his help with that. She was so excited about getting them. It felt good to pay it forward.”

The couple loves the OD LIFE SPEC To This6 S GO IAL ’ finished product. They were A L A impressed with Jim’s color suggestions and how much Job nicer the rooms look with new Your ReNew Additional customers only. cabinets, doors, and hardware.

10% off for new t customers! Mention this ea rep we’ve 5% Off for e of pricing (after By reconfiguring the pantry discount at the timour best price). given you into the laundry and making better use of the space in both rooms, everything feels much more user-friendly and open.

2501 SW 57th Ave, #805, Ocala They decided to leave the curCall to schedule your free consultation rent appliances to keep costs down and since they were Jim (352) 857-9604 FINANCING AVAILABLE Call RenewKandB.com practically new anyway.

Now the countertop is Professionally managed projects from design to completion smooth and spacious, with the clean backsplash adding some Cabinets • Countertops • Flooring • Showers Jim LaValle —“The Design Guy” needed texture that doesn’t

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Photos courtesy Cheddar’s

GOOD EATS: CHEDDAR’S SCRATCH KITCHEN

‘A True Homecoming’

By Rick Allen

Long-rumored to be coming to a prime location on SR200, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen has opened its very busy doors across from an equally busy car dealership. And, yes, it’s on busy SR200, but those delicious honey butter croissants and piled-high onion rings are worth every minute of the wait.

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T

he first time I heard about Cheddar’s was in a conversation with Ken DePasquale, owner of the beloved original Carmichael’s and a veteran restaurateur tuned in to Marion County’s culinary scene better than anyone I know. It would be out on College Road, across from Sullivan Buick, GMC Cadillac, he said. Sensing a scoop, I contacted the chain’s press office for confirmation. What came back was a tepid, “maybe, maybe not, certainly not any time soon, probably not” response. That was some six years ago.

Fast forward to early November 2018 and Cheddar’s Scratch

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

Kitchen opened its doors in Ocala—on College Road across from Sullivan no less— to great fanfare.

“The community,” says Managing Partner Ashley Norman, “has really welcomed us with open arms.”

ABOUT CHEDDAR’S SCRATCH KITCHEN— Cheddar’s prides itself on producing meals that are fresh-made when ordered.

That’s where the “scratch kitchen” comes in. And it

all started 40 years ago in Arlington.

Ashley said she was a fan of the eatery even before she joined the management team five years ago. One night during pregnancy, she woke up at 4am craving chicken tenders.

“My husband said, ‘Well, then, go make some.’ I said, ‘No, I wanted Cheddar’s chicken tenders.’” They’re that good? “Well,” she answers, “we were the first ones in line the next morning.”

NEVERENDING MENU—The choices are staggering. Inside the 11-by-17-inch menu are more than 50 options: appetizers, soups, salads, chicken, steaks, seafood, and comfort food. Then there’s the other side.

Moreover, the menu is tweaked every few months for seasonal tastes. For instance, currently “new” are TexasSized Nachos, Chicken Tender Parmesan, Blackened Salmon & Shrimp, and “Better Than Mom’s” Meatloaf, which they were out of the day I was there.

“It’s really popular,” said our server, Chelsea Sharp.

BUT WHERE’S THE CHEESE?— Despite its name, Cheddar’s is not cheese-oriented. “We’re not a fondue restaurant,” Ashley says of a common misconception. Rather, it’s upper-end casual dining with a feel for home.

Then why “Cheddar’s?” As the story goes, Ashley explains, one of the

are the Chicken tenders dar’s ed top seller for Ch

founders took a selection of possible names for a new restaurant concept to his child’s elementary school and let the kids vote on them. “Cheddar’s” won.

DON’T MISS— The aforementioned chicken tenders, the top-seller chainwide (they sell 30 million “Better Than Mom’s” Meatloaf annually) and locally, and the honey butter croissants, the chain’s second best-seller at at least one from opening week has 15 million. Let’s not forget the onion returned at least once a week since. rings, a foot-high stack of individually double-battered rings.

FRIENDLY STAFF—If our server is “Every time an order goes through any indication, then Cheddar’s boasts the dining room,” Ashley says, “ana very friendly staff indeed. Never inother six orders come in.” trusive, Chelsea nevertheless was right there with a suggestion and a smile.

BEST TIME TO GO—Since Ched“Chelsea is a good example of dar’s opened in Ocala last year, it’s been our staff,” Ashley says. When Ashley nonstop popular, with waits sometimes was hiring for the opening, she was 30 minutes or more. Ashley says the looking for experience, “but more than best times to minimize the wait are when the eatery doors open at 11am or that I looked for personality, for those personalities that mesh well with each during the afternoon lull about 3pm. other.” Total staff stands at 165, and When my family visited on a Sunday on any given shift there are some 20 at lunchtime, we were told the wait servers out front and about the same would be about 35 minutes, but we number in the kitchen. “Someone is in were seated at the 17-minute mark. the back chopping something [or] batThey don’t take reservations. tering something all the time.”

YOU’LL BE IMPRESSED BY—Besides the food, the interior decor. This Cheddar’s is very reminiscent of the original Carmichael’s with its red-brick walls, dark-wood accents, and greenery. If only there was a fireplace dominating one wall...

Fireplace aside, the cozy atmosphere is the idea.

“It’s meant to feel like home,” Ashley says. “Cheddar’s is family and it feels like it.”

And it appears to be paying off. There’s already a troupe of return patrons, according to Ashley, because

OCALA CONNECTION—Ashley says she “jumped at the chance” to open the Ocala unit when it was offered. Her husband is from Ocala and his mother still lives here, so it was a true homecoming.

“I genuinely want this to be as great a restaurant as I can make it,” she adds. “I didn’t come here to be just okay. I came here to be great!”

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen 4065 SW College Road (352) 291-0641 cheddars.com OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

45

cuisine queen

by Paula DiPaula [paula@ocalasgoodlife.com]

Fabulous Food Trucks & More

F

ood trucks. We’ve seen them on corners and sometimes in the most unlikely places. Years back, some would frown upon them. Turn the clocks forward, though, and not only are they flourishing, but they’ve also become a claim to fame for some locals. Ocala’s Rashad Jones went from food truck to Food Network and still operates Big Lee’s Serious About Barbecue, 304-9105, from a food truck.

Dunnellon’s Angela Branton-Boone has kept the mobile business and also operates a successful restaurant, Angie B’s Southern Palate, 462-7152. Ocala’s Mike Batte of Turnpike Mike’s Bistro, 237-8460, who outgrew his food truck, has opened his own four-wall restaurant and is now opening a second one in Rainbow Springs Golf & Country Club in Dunnellon.

The latest success story is Lori Frazee, who has been operating a food truck in Dunnellon on Hwy. 41 for the past two years. This food competitor has been on the Travel Channel’s “American Grilled” and Food Network’s “Chopped” and has won national and local awards for her barbecue skills. Her dessert, Bacon White Chocolate Bread Pudding, won The Golden Ticket award at the World Food Championships.

Now Frazee is moving from food truck to Rainbow Lakes Boulevard in a place that has housed several restaurants, the last being Trina’s Hungry Turtle, which has no affiliation with Frazee’s new restaurant, Barn Goddess BBQ & Grill, (352) 566-4033.

“We’re not just barbecue,” she says. “We have a fantastic 80/20 fresh, ground chuck burger.”

Frazee plans to open in March and will be serving

Not only are food trucks flourishing, but they’ve also become a claim to fame for some locals.

46

breakfast, lunch, and dinner. See her Facebook page for hours, menu, and more. You may even come across her instructional cooking videos in your search!

Golabki, pierogies, kielbasa, bigos, beef goulash, zurek soup, and country-style Polish ribs. We now have a taste of Poland in Ocala at Aneta’s Bistro, (352) 644-6060, on Pine Avenue. Not sure what to choose when you get there? Try their Polish Platter. See Anita Stanicki’s Facebook page and the pictures will thoroughly convince you to head over there now! But please finish this column first.

Another Roadhouse is coming to town, Texas Roadhouse that is. There’s some kind of connection with that word and peanut shells on the floor, letting grownups feel like kids again. It will be at the northwest corner of the Paddock Mall. This chain is also known for their aged, hand-cut steaks. No local phone number yet.

Also coming soon is Keke’s Breakfast Café on SW 27th Avenue in the old Cici’s Pizza location.

Serving breakfast and lunch, all Keke’s are open from 7:00am-2:30pm. For a taste preview, visit the Lady Lake location on Hwy. 441.

If you travel West SR200, you may have seen the large sign indicating “Pie-O-Mine Coming Soon” to the Market Street at Heathbrook. A New York-based restaurant that has just begun and has already spread to Ohio is now coming to Florida. This company prides itself on fresh pizza ingredients and custommade salads.

Tidbits: Many will be happy to know that Pho Kim Long, 236-5791, the Vietnamese restaurant that closed on Pine Avenue about two years ago, is re-opening on SR200 near Ollie’s Bargain Barn. The old site of the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce will soon be known as the Hilton Garden Inn, a project of Danny Gaekwad’s that will include rooms to rent, 10 residential units, retail shops, and three restaurants.

Formaggio Pizza and Italian Restaurant, 509-3661, has moved into the old Schnitzel Factory building. The Tilted Kilt is now O’Calahan’s Pub & Eatery, 3515458. Crispers is now J&C Crab-Juicy Seafood.

More restaurants are coming! See you next time.

Got A Hot Tip For The Cuisine Queen?

E-mail me at paula@ocalasgoodlife.com

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

Bucket List Time

Turn that extra unused car into an unforgettable summer trip.

We’ll buy your car, regardless of age and miles—and we’ll pay top dollar for it!

–Chris Spears, Owner

“Where Friends Send Friends”

2261 SW College Rd. • (352) 694-1234

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99.5 FM Gainesville

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99.7 FM Ocala/The Villages OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

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DINING GUIDE

48 SW 1st Avenue, Ocala (352) 433-2570 • lacuisineocala.com Owner-operated since 2009, La Cuisine in Ocala has all the Old World charm of any romantic hideaway in Paris. Ideal for a quick bite at lunch time or a leisurely meal, the menu is filled with classics such as French onion soup, escargots and Boeuf Bourguignon. Located in the heart of Ocala’s beautiful and vibrant historic downtown, come indulge yourself with our award-winning menu and dedicated service in a unique French bistro atmosphere. Patrice and Elodie are here to welcome you! Don’t miss our blissful live music every Friday.

Specialties: Escargots, Frog Legs, Organic Half Roast

Chicken, Beef Bourguignon, Ratatouille, Creme Brulee, Parmesan Truffle French Fries

Dinner Hours: Daily starting at 5:30pm.

Lunch Hours: Tues.-Fri. 11:30am-2pm Brunch: Sunday

11am-2pm

NEW OUTDOOR SEATING!

4414 SW College Rd, Ocala (Heath Brook) • (352) 861-0666 Info: The sushi creations at Edo are practically an art form.

Straight from New York, sushi chef Tim is a master of the craft with creations that can be whimsical (wasabi-flavored Pringles to scoop the greens) or dramatic (a tower of sushi rolls crowned by tempura shrimp with their tails pointed skyward). The Ninja Roll features shrimp tempura and crabmeat in a dense setting of flavors. The King Lobster Roll is definitely worth requesting, as it’s an off-menu-only option. Freshness is key to quality sushi and you won’t find fish in Ocala that’s fresher than Edo’s. Is grilled food more your style? The hibachi tables are front-row seats to an entertaining dining experience. Also serving classic Chinese favorites such as sesame chicken and beef & brocolli.

Specialties: Fresh Sushi and Sashimi; Hibachi Grilled Steak, Chicken

and Seafood; Asian Noodle Soups; Chinese Cuisine

Hours: Mon.–Thurs 11am-10pm Fri. & Sat. 11am-11pm Sun. 12pm-10pm

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LUNCH SPECIALS—Served with soup or salad starting at $8.95. Mon.-Sat. 11am-3pm.

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

DINING GUIDE Make a full day of it! Start out with a river boat tour and end with a delicious dinner—all from one scenic location!

ST. JOHNS RIVER TOURS Departs from Blackwater Inn (866) 349-0674 www.stjohnsrivertours.com Before dining at Blackwater

Inn, take a leisurely boat tour to the many tributaries of the St. Johns River.

Discover exotic plant and wildlife steeped in history dating back to ancient Indian and Spanish civilizations. Call 866-349-0674 to book your boat tour with Capt. Bob. Accomodating groups of up to 21 people.

It’s the perfect daycation!

55716 Front St, Astor, FL 32102 • (352) 759-2802 www.blackwaterinn.com Info: Combine the picturesque view of the beautiful

St. Johns River with a lavish salad bar and tasty, fresh seafood (or USDA Choice beef) for a true culinary experience. Save room for one of the elegant desserts! Fun, food & spirits will greet you as you enjoy the balmy breezes and panoramic view of William’s Landing atop Blackwater Inn. Whether it’s for dinner or for a lighter fare, you can be assured of a pleasurable occasion.

Specialties: Unique Casual Dining, Unlimited Salad

Bar, Petite Dinners For The Light Appetite, Fingerling Catfish, Frog Legs, Alligator Tail, Grilled Quail, USDA Choice Beef & Fresh Seafood.

Blackwater Inn Hours:

Tues.-Thurs.

Fri. Sat. Sun. Mon.

4:30pm-9pm 4:30pm-10pm 11:30am-10pm 11:30am-9pm CLOSED

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

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Three Restaurants Worth The Drive!

DINING GUIDE

Take a step back in time and enjoy the best burgers and fries around!

BURGER STATION 2700 N Hwy 41, Hernando (352) 726-0040 Tues.-Sat. 11am-8pm

Riverside dining—freshest seafood!

13821 Southwest SR200, Dunnellon • (352) 854-2288 110 West Main Street, Inverness • (352) 726-2212 stumpknockers.net Dunnellon Hours:

Inverness Hours:

Tues.-Fri. 2pm-close Tues.-Sun. 11am-close Sat. & Sun 12pm-close Closed Monday Closed Monday OPEN ALL HOLIDAYS EXCEPT THANKSGIVING

Red’s

Breakfast & Lunch 8411 North Carl G Rose Hwy, Hernando (352) 344-4322 Hours:

Great American food in a warm, friendly atmosphere!

Tues.-Sun. 7am-2pm Closed Mon.

! e id r e h t y o j n e d n a e it t e p p a r u o y g in Br

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

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E

xquisite Eating

Small plates to make for appealing dishes

54

I

FAMILY FEATURES

magine treating yourself and your dinner guests to a delicious, restaurantcaliber meal without leaving your dining room or hiring a personal chef. Small plates, also known as tapas, are lighter, bite-sized indulgences that you can prepare and style seamlessly. By putting your own artful, unique spin on small plates, you can indulge in a meal that appeals to the senses and conveys sophistication.

It can be easy to create delicious small plates: all you need are wholesome, seasonal ingredients to pair with an artisan-crafted, quality olive oil such as Carapelli. The line, with three varieties to explore, brings a renaissance to the modern kitchen and is ideal for endeavoring chefs looking to try new flavors and experiment with tastes or recipes. It embodies a true passion for the art of creating extra-virgin olive oils and is designed to lift cooks out of the everyday cooking experience.

Keep in mind that when it comes to small plates, what’s important isn’t just the recipe, but the plate – and plating – of the cuisine itself. Foods that appeal to the eye are likely to tempt the taste buds as well. Invest in appropriate-sized dishware for small plates that allows the food to take center-stage.

For a true multi-sensory indulgence, also take time to garnish your dishes, big and small, with edible enhancements that lend a subtle complement to the main attraction. A selection of fresh greens, sprinkling of herbs and even a light drizzle of olive oil can do the trick.

Plan how you’ll adapt your favorite dishes for size – and season – with more tips and recipes at carapelliusa.com.

Carrots and Fresh Herbs with Champagne-Dijon Vinaigrette OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

WHIPPED RICOTTA AND GOAT CHEESE BEET SKEWERS

Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 3 hours, plus cooling time Servings: 42 skewers Beets:

2 beets (about 1 pound), 3 inches in diameter, peeled and sliced into 3/4-inch chunks

1 tablespoon Carapelli Oro

Verde Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus more for drizzling 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

1 teaspoon sea salt arugula, for garnish

flaked sea salt, for garnish Whipped Ricotta and Goat Cheese:

4 ounces goat cheese 1/4 cup whole milk ricotta cheese

1 tablespoon Carapelli Oro

Verde Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest 1/8 teaspoon sea salt 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Whipped Ricotta and Goat Cheese Beet Skewers

Heat sous vide water bath to 185 F. In mixing bowl, combine beets, olive oil, thyme and salt; toss to coat. Remove beets from liquid and divide, placing them in single layer into two quart-sized vacuum-seal bags, leaving any excess

liquid behind.

Use vacuum sealer to remove air and double-seal bag. To use zip-top bags instead, slowly dip slightly open bags into large container filled with water, allowing water to displace air. Seal bags when air is removed.

Place vacuum-sealed bag into prepared water bath, placing heavy, heat-resistant bowl on top of beets to keep them submerged, if necessary. Cook 3 hours.

If you do not have a sous vide machine, bring large stock pot filled with water to rolling boil. Place vacuum-sealed bags in water. Reduce to gentle simmer, cover and cook 1 hour.

Carefully remove beets from water bath and cool in sealed bag until they reach room temperature, about 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes more before serving.

In mini food processor, cream goat cheese, ricotta and olive oil until smooth. Add zest, salt and pepper: stir to combine.

Transfer cheese mixture to piping bag fitted with star tip and refrigerate until ready to use.

To serve, remove beets from bag and arrange on serving platter. Pipe dollop of Whipped Ricotta and Goat Cheese onto each beet. Drizzle with olive oil.

Garnish with arugula and pinch of flaked sea salt; place skewer through each beet to serve.

OLIVE OIL DRIZZLED PECORINO POPCORN Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes Servings: 4 1/2 cup grated pecorino, plus more for garnish 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for garnish

3 tablespoons Carapelli

Unfiltered Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided 1/3 cup yellow popcorn kernels In bowl, combine pecorino and pepper; mix until well combined and there are no cheese clumps.

In small saucepan over low flame, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil; keep warm.

CARROTS AND FRESH HERBS WITH CHAMPAGNE-DIJON VINAIGRETTE Prep time: 10 minutes. Servings: 6 Champagne-Dijon Vinaigrette:

2 tablespoons champagne vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard

1 tablespoon clover honey 1/2 cup Carapelli Organic Olive Oil 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Add remaining olive oil and popcorn to large Dutch oven. Stir until all popcorn kernels are coated in oil.

Cover Dutch oven with lid and cook over medium-high heat, shaking pot periodically.

Once popcorn begins to pop, lower heat to medium and continue to shake pot approximately every 15 seconds. When popping slows considerably, remove Dutch oven from heat and allow to rest until popping ceases, about 30 seconds.

Remove lid and transfer popcorn to large mixing bowl. Drizzle warm olive oil over popcorn; toss to coat. Sprinkle cheese mixture over popcorn; toss to coat.

Divide popcorn into bowls. Sprinkle some freshly grated pecorino and dash of freshly ground black pepper over top; serve.

Olive Oil Drizzled Pecorino Popcorn

1 teaspoon fresh parsley, finely chopped

1 teaspoon basil, finely chopped

1 pound carrots, peeled and

finely shredded

2 tablespoons Italian parsley, chopped

2 tablespoons chives, thinly sliced, plus more cut into 3/4-inch pieces, for garnish 1/3 cup Champagne Vinaigrette

fine sea salt, to taste freshly ground black pepper, to taste chive sticks, for garnish

In medium mixing bowl, combine champagne vinegar, Dijon and honey. Whisk constantly until well combined. While whisking, slowly drizzle in olive oil to emulsify. Add garlic, salt, pepper, parsley and basil: whisk to combine.

In mixing bowl, toss carrots, parsley and chives. Add dressing. Season, to taste, with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with chive sticks.

Notes: Vinaigrette can be stored in refrigerator up to five days. For zestier salad, add additional 2 tablespoons vinaigrette to carrots; serve with crusty bread.

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

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OUT & ABOUT

5 Betty Bell, Jane DeSouza

5 Lori Kenny, Mary Kraus, Bob Kellogg

Clyde Butcher VIP Opening Reception

5 Ralph Demilio, Victoria Billig

Photographer and conservationist Clyde Butcher is well known for his amazing large-format black-and-white photographs of the Florida Everglades. In his current exhibit at the Appleton Museum, visitors are able to enjoy 35 photographs, which capture the rugged and remote beauty of the Florida Everglades. Recently, Directors Circle members of the Appleton and Collector’s Circle members of Fine Arts for Ocala attended a special opening reception for the exhibit, which included a talk with the artist. The exhibit continues through May 26.

5 Jena Brooks, Jon Barber

Photos By Steve Floethe

5 James & Noreen Dygert 6 Norris & Susan Krohn

56

5 Clyde Butcher

5 Gloria & Kevin Kenney

4 Shirley & Don Sjolund OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

Bucket List Time

Turn that extra unused car into an unforgettable summer trip.

We’ll buy your car, regardless of age and miles—and we’ll pay top dollar for it!

–Chris Spears, Owner

“Where Friends Send Friends”

2261 SW College Rd. • (352) 694-1234

Prestige4U.com

AMERICA’S EVERGLADES: THROUGH THE LENS OF CLYDE BUTCHER February 2-May 26, 2019 Museum, ARTSpace and Appleton Store Hours

Tuesday–Saturday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday: noon–5 p.m.

4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd. | AppletonMuseum.org | 352-291-4455 -an equal opportunity college-

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

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PLAN AHEAD Do you have an event that you’d like to include in our calendar?

Email your submissions to dean@ocalasgoodlife.com

Through March 24

HITS OCALA WINTER HORSE SHOW CIRCUIT—

The public is invited to watch as these equine athletes and their riders compete in one of Ocala’s signature events. Visit hitsshows. com for a complete schedule or call 246-8833.

Through May 26

THROUGH THE LENS OF CLYDE BUTCHER—These

powerful black-and-white images are portraits of the eternal bond between man and nature that is the soul of the Everglades. From the deepest cypress strands of the sawgrass prairies to pinpoint still-lives of rare species, Butcher reveals its ecosystems in magnificent detail. Appleton Museum. appletonmuseum.org or (352) 291-4455.

Mar. 1 & Apr. 5

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK—

Come support Downtown Ocala merchants and watch local artists work on their craft. 6-9pm.

Downtown Ocala. ocalafl.org or 629-4727.

March 1-24

MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET—The

Nowak family’s faith is shaken to the very core when a deathbed confession causes the family legend to unravel, and the results are heartfelt and hilarious.

Various prices and times. The Hippodrome Theatre, Gainesville. thehipp.org or (352) 375-HIPP.

March 6-7

KINGDOM OF THE SUN BAND—Come see the all-

volunteer local band perform once again, directed by Les Muncaster. Donations are appreciated and keep the band able to perform. 2pm on Saturday and 3pm on Sunday.

Marion Technical Institute. kingdomofthesunband.org or 624-9291.

Mar. 6-Apr. 7

THE CIVIL WAR—Richard

Kirk will explore the issues tearing the nation apart in the years leading up to the conflict. $30. Wednesdays from 1:303:30pm. Presented by Senior Learners, Inc. at the University Center, Building 20 at the College of Central Florida. Register at seniorlearners.org or call 2398780.

Mar. 6-June 3

EPCOT INTERNATIONAL FLOWER & GARDEN FESTIVAL—A spring special

event filled with Disney character topiaries, a colorful array of flowers, gardens, live music, and special presentations.

MASTER GARDENER’S SPRING FESTIVAL March 9-10

The area’s largest all-in-one plant sale and gardening expo!

Visit vendors selling an array of plants, garden décor and plant-related accessories. Learn from the experts during ingarden talks and seminars on everything from trees to raised gardens and tropical fruits to composting. $2 (12 and under FREE). The Southeastern Livestock Pavillion. Sat: 8am4pm, Sun: 9am-4pm. 671-8400.

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OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

Disneyworld.com.

March 7-10

AMELIA ISLAND CONCOURS—One of the

premier auto shows in the country is back at one of the most picturesque locales in Florida, the Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island.

Ticket prices and times vary according to the event schedule.

Ameliaconcours.org.

LIVE OAK INTERNATIONAL—This

year, Live Oak International will host the USEF Combined Driving National Championships for the Advanced Four-in-Hand Horse and Advanced Pair Horse. Driving begins with dressage on Thursday and Friday, continues with the marathon on Saturday, and concludes with the cones phase on Sunday. liveoakinternational. com.

March 7-17

SILENT SKY—In the early

1900s, astronomer Henrietta Leavitt meets the two fiercely smart women who lead the “Girls’ Department.” Henrietta is dismayed to discover that, though she and the other women are all brilliant scientists, they aren’t allowed to touch a telescope. One of them, head astronomer’s apprentice Peter Shaw, seems fated for a starcrossed romance with Henrietta.

Lit with a luminous beauty, this inspiring drama is based on the true stories of extraordinary women who reached for the stars. $27. Matinees at 2pm, evening at 8pm. Ocala Civic Theatre. $27. ocalacivictheatre.com or 2362274.

March 8

10,000 MANIACS & THE SPIN DOCTORS—The

multi-platinum selling band 10,000 Maniacs ushered in the soundtrack of the ‘90s and haven’t stopped. For the second half, welcome all four original members of the band that created the five-time platinum album “Pocket Full of Kryptonite,” the Spin Doctors. Doors open at 6pm. $35-75. 7:30pm. Reilly Arts Center. reillyartscenter.com or 351-1606.

AFTER DARK IN THE PARK: JUSTICE LEAGUE—Free

movie with popcorn, hot dogs, and drinks available for a small fee. Bring a chairs and blankets.

7:00pm. Tuscawilla Park. ocalafl. org or 629-4727.

March 8-10

GREEK FESTIVAL—Three

fun-filled days of all things Greek including food, music and dance. There will also be Irish and American dancing, a world bazaar, face painting, sand painting, and clowns. St. Mark’s Greek Orthodox Church. greekfestivalocala.com.

March 9

MARCH FOR MEALS AWARENESS WALK—

Registration opens at 8am. $10 suggested donation.

9:00am. Veterans Memorial Park and McPherson Complex. marchformeals.com.

March 9-10

MASTER GARDENER’S SPRING FESTIVAL—Many

plant-related vendors come together on one special weekend, selling everything from plants, flowers, garden décor, fountains, and water pond accessories. The Southeastern Livestock Pavillion.

Sat: 8am-4pm, Sun: 9am-4pm.

671-8400.

March 10

THE CHIEFTAINS—This band

will take you on a journey through rousing jigs, mournful ballads, and everything in between. $3050. 2pm. The Phillips Center, Gainesville. performingarts.ufl.edu or 800-905-2787.

March 12

HEALTH SEMINAR—Low

Back: Bullet Proof Your Low Back.

A light lunch/refreshments will be provided. Space is limited, so please call to reserve your seat.

Free. 12:15pm. Chiropractic USA. 351-2872.

OCALA OPEN CHARITY PRO-AM—Participants will

warm-up next to pros who will be vying for Ocala Open honors, play golf with a pro, and get a few pointers on their own game. The day concludes with a barbecue and an awards luncheon.

Proceeds from the event benefit Hospice of Marion County and Interfaith Emergency Services.

Candler Hills Golf Club. 861-9712.

March 13

DENVER—Starring Ted Vigil.

featured this month is Mr. Kyle Novak, currently the Art Gallery Director at Santa Fe College in Gainesville. His lecture will address ideas of plagiarism and appropriation in art. 122pm. Appleton Museum of Art. ocalaartgroup.org.

March 18

OCALA ART GROUP MONTHLY MEETING—Being

March 15

JOHNNY CASH TRIBUTE—

From the early days with Sam Philips at Sun Records, to the later years with Rick Rubin and American Recordings, Cash Unchained delivers a complete catalog of breathtaking music from one of the greatest country artists of all time. $17-32.

7:30pm. Reilly Arts Center. reillyartscenter.com or 351-1606.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC—A brand new production of The Sound of Music is coming to the Phillips Center. The beloved musical story of Maria and the von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences with its awardwinning best score. $45-65.

7:30pm. The Phillips Center, Gainesville. performingarts.ufl.edu or 800-905-2787.

March 16

PABLO CRUISE—Known for

pop/rock hits “Whatcha Gonna Do?,” “A Place in the Sun,” “Love Will Find a Way,” “I Go to Rio,” “Don’t Want to Live Without It,” “I Want You Tonight,” and so many more. Doors open at 6pm. $3236. 7pm. Circle Square Cultural Center at On Top of the World. csculturalcenter.com or 509-4033 or 438-3354.

March 16-17

FROM COLORED TO BLACK—This unique theatrical

experience provides the foundation for critical dialogue around black history and identity, encompassing over eighty years of Florida’s black oral history with stories from the St. Augustine Civil Rights Movement, the resettlement of Rosewood, Gainesville’s Old Lincoln High School, and more. 2pm Saturday and Sunday, 7:30pm Saturday.

The Phillips Center, Gainesville. performingarts.ufl.edu or 800905-2787.

March 17

A TRIBUTE TO JOHN

5pm. $15-30. Reilly Arts Center, Downtown. reillyartscenter.com or 351-1606.

LIVE ON STAGE!

ANOUSHKA SHANKAR—

Sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar is a singular figure in the Indian classical and progressive world music scenes. She has earned six Grammy nominations as well as credit as an “Asian Hero”

by Time Magazine, and she is the youngest and first woman to receive a British House of Commons Shield. $25-45.

7:30pm. The Phillips Center, Gainesville. performingarts.ufl.edu or 800-905-2787.

The inspiring drama

March 19-20

RICHARD KOGAN—Kogan

performs lecture-recitals in which he explores the psychological forces of the great composers while expertly playing their works. Tuesday’s program is The Mind and Music of George Gershwin and Wednesday’s is Beethoven’s Deafness: Psychological Crisis and Artistic Triumph. $35. 7:30pm.

The Phillips Center, Gainesville. performingarts.ufl.edu or 800905-2787.

By Lauren Gunderson

MARCH 7-17 SPONSORED BY: WUFT

The divine comedy

March 22

PARADE OF SENIOR SERVICES—Come out to the

showcase of community services available to seniors and their families. 10am-3pm. Ewers Century Center at the College of Central Florida. 401-3916.

March 22-23

SOUTHEASTERN PRO RODEO—Rodeo contestants

will converge on Ocala competing in saddle and bareback bronco riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, and the always-popular and most dangerous eight seconds in rodeo, bull riding!

Gates open at 5:30pm and the action begins at 7:30pm at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion. $20. ocalarodeo.com or 4015900.

By Michael Cochran

MARCH 28 - APRIL 21

SPONSORED BY: Elite Equestrian Magazine

March 22-24

SUNNYLAND ANTIQUE BOAT FESTIVAL—Head

south to enjoy some of Florida warmth and take the opportunity to view some great antique boat restorations. It is necessary to pre-register for the event if you

352.236.2274 • OcalaCivicTheatre.com 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, FL 34470 • In The Appleton Cultural Center

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

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wish to have a place for your boat and be able to take advantage of all the numerous amenities. $10.

9am. Wooton Park on Lake Dora, Tavares, Florida. 772-335-5200.

WINE & SEAFOOD FESTIVAL—This signature

event marks the beginning of springtime and the warmer weather brings people out to enjoy fabulous live outside music and entertainment throughout the entire weekend. Lakeridge wine, beer, soft drinks and a variety of tasty seafood specialties will be available for purchase, along with complimentary winery tours and tastings. $10. Lakeridge Winery. lakeridgewinery.com or (800) 768-9463.

March 23

BOWIE AND GLASS: A SYMPHONIC TRIBUTE—The

Ocala Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Wardell are joined by Adam Volpe and the Voltron Collective to play a special tribute to David Bowie and Philip Glass’s Symphony No. 4 “Heroes.” $1528. 7:30pm. Reilly Arts Center. reillyartscenter.com or 351-1606.

FOUNDATION STYLE LETTERING CLASS—This

calligraphy class is offered by

Alison Clement. Register by March 12. $45. 10am-3pm.

Marion County Sheriff’s Building. ocalacalligraphy.org.

JOURNEY TRIBUTE—Hear all of your Journey favorites: “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Open Arms,” “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart),” “Who’s Crying Now,” and many more. Doors open at 6pm. $26-30. 7:00pm. Circle Square Cultural Center at On Top of the World. csculturalcenter.com or 509-4033 or 438-3354.

March 26

APOLLO’S FIRE—Named for

the classical god of music and the sun, Apollo’s Fire is a collection of creative artists who share founder/conductor Jeannette Sorrell’s passion for drama. $2040. 7:30pm. The Phillips Center, Gainesville. performingarts.ufl.edu or 800-905-2787.

March 28

FUNDRAISING EVENING—

Event hosted by HUGS Charities of Ocala to honor Leo Smith.

Includes hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, and dress is casual.

Funds raised stay in Marion County and provide critical help to families dealing with cancer. $75.

6:30-8:30pm. One Health Center

Ballroom.

YEFIM BRONFMAN—Widely

considered one of today’s most acclaimed and admired pianists, Yefim Bronfman stands among a handful of artists. He has been nominated for six Grammy Awards and will play selections from Debussy, Schubert, and Schumann. $30-50. 7:30pm.

The Phillips Center, Gainesville. performingarts.ufl.edu or 800905-2787.

Mar. 28-Apr. 21

ETERNITY—You think your

job is tough? Try being a Grim Reaper. Abe may not look like the traditional dark hooded figure with a scythe, but escorting dead people to the afterlife is his job just the same. So can you blame Abe for delaying an “appointment” to treat himself to an ice cream sandwich? $27.

Matinees at 2pm, evening at 8pm. Ocala Civic Theatre. $27. ocalacivictheatre.com or 2362274.

March 29

ASSISTED LIVING: THE MUSICAL—The show’s host

couple enters heaven, suspecting their son pulled the plug to get his hands on Dad’s vintage Corvette.

The couple fondly remembers Pelican Roost, a retirement community where 18 different characters sing and dance, revel and kvetch, celebrate, and bloviate their way through later life. $20-35. 7:30pm. Reilly Arts Center. reillyartscenter.com or 351-1606.

FLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE—Watch this group

pay homage to a group who dominated the charts during the band members’ formative years.

Doors open at 6pm. $26-30.

7:00pm. Circle Square Cultural Center at On Top of the World. csculturalcenter.com or 509-4033 or 438-3354.

SANTA FE COLLEGE SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL April 6 & 7

Set amid picturesque turn-of-the-century homes in the Northeast Gainesville Historic District, the 49th annual Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival offers fun and inspiration for the whole family. Original artwork by diverse and talented artists, children’s hands-on art jungle, live entertainment and yummy food! sfspringarts.org

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OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

March 30

THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES—Each

monologue, performed by a cast of Ocala’s women, will deal with an aspect of the female experience. Female empowerment and individuality drive the theme of this iconic production. This production at the Reilly Arts Center benefits PACE Center For Girls. $18. 7:30pm.

Reilly Arts Center. reillyartscenter. com or 351-1606.

March 31

A MUSICAL SERENDIPITY—

The audience will hear pieces from renowned artists such as Debussy, Puccini, Rogers and Hammerstein, Gershwin, and more, featuring classically trained soprano and ordained Cantor Kim Komrad and celebrated pianist Bob Cubbage. $20-30. 3:00pm.

Reilly Arts Center. reillyartscenter. com or 351-1606.

April 1-29

ACTORS IN THEIR EARLY ROLES—Enjoy popcorn while

Elaine Smith offers insights into our best actors’ early films. $25.

Mondays from 1-4pm. Presented

by Senior Learners, Inc. at the University Center, Building 20 at the College of Central Florida.

Register at seniorlearners.org or call 239-8780.

April 2

ROOMING HOUSE—With

all dancers donning headset microphones, they travel down a physical and psychologically complex rabbit hole, using movement and conversation to examine human behavior. $2540. 7:30pm. The Phillips Center, Gainesville. performingarts.ufl.edu or 800-905-2787.

April 4-7

OCALA CULINARY FESTIVAL—Fellow foodies,

prepare to have your appetites indulged, your palates teased, and your hearts and minds overjoyed with new possibilities.

A group of dedicated industry professionals have joined forces to provide a platform for extraordinary talent to create unforgettable culinary experiences and generate insightful dialogue about food, wine, and spirits. There will be a benefit dinner, seminars, and tastings. Check the website for specific events and costs.

Downtown. ocalaculinaryfestival. com.

April 5

CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH WALK—Benefits

children’s counseling services.

5:30-9:00pm. Downtown Ocala. ocalafl.org or 629-4727.

JEFFERSON STARSHIP—

Featuring original and historic members David Freiberg and drummer Donny Baldwin, along with longtime members Chris Smith on keyboards and synth

From packing to delivering and everything in between!

April 6 and 7, 2019 COME CELEBRATE THE FESTIVAL’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY! Fill your creative spirit along Gainesville’s NE 1st Street. Come and enjoy Florida’s top art destination that is fun for the entire family!

• Original artwork by diverse and talented artists presenting vibrant, one-of-a-kind paintings; fabulous and fun jewelry; powerful and inspiring photography; creative ceramics for everyday use; and lots of other incredible artwork.

• Children’s Hands-On Art Jungle featuring fun crafts and face painting and other activities.

• Live continuous entertainment on two stages and a Saturday evening celebration concert!

• Fun, festive, yummy food and beer garden.

Free In Home Estimates • Flat Rate or Hourly Services Locally Family Owned & Operated

affordablemovingusa.com

COME JOIN US IN THE CELEBRATION! sfspringarts.org

LIC# IM2661

UPCOMING EVENTS t — Just For You The Best in Live Entertainmen

Jefferson Starship Friday, April 5 7:30pm

VIP ($75) includes meet and greet

A 75-minute vaudeville-esque revue originally written for two actors and a pianist.

Friday, March 29 7:30pm

Cash Unchained: The Ultimate Johnny Cash Tribute March 15, 2019 Remembering John Denver, a Tribute starring Ted Vigil March 17, 2019 Bowie and Glass: A Symphonic Tribute March 23, 2019 The Vagina Monologues: Benefiting PACE Center for Girls March 30, 2019 Ocala Symphony Orchestra: Going for Baroque Apr 7, 2019 Ocala Symphony Orchestra: Art of the Dance Apr 27, 2019 - Apr 28, 2019

For a listing of all upcoming shows and to purchase tickets visit ReillyArtsCenter.com or call the box office at 352-351-1606.

500 NE 9th St., Ocala, Florida 34470 • Box Office Hours: 10am-2pm

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

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bass and Jude Gold on lead guitar. $20-75. 7:30pm. Reilly Arts Center. reillyartscenter.com or 351-1606.

STORM LARGE—Known for putting her unique spin on classics while charming audiences and critics alike. This performance includes content which may not be suitable for children. $25-45. 7:30pm. The Phillips Center, Gainesville. performingarts.ufl.edu or 800905-2787.

April 5-7, 12-14

ASSASSINS—This musical

uses the premise of a murderous carnival game to produce a revuestyle portrayal of men and women who attempted to assassinate Presidents of the United States.

Advisory: Gun shots and guns are used on stage during the production. $12. 7:30pm Friday and Saturday, 3:00pm Sunday.

The Dassance Fine Arts Center, CF Ocala Campus. tickets.cf.edu or (352) 873-5810.

April 5-26

NON-WESTERN ART AND MUSIC—Sara Satterfield will

focus on images and recordings from areas such as India, China, Japan, and Africa. $20. Fridays from 1:30-3:30pm. Presented

by Senior Learners, Inc. at the University Center, Building 20 at the College of Central Florida.

Register at seniorlearners.org or call 239-8780.

April 6

SPRING HERITAGE TOUR OF HOMES—Tour day will

include touring several homes, complimentary refreshments, a display of antique automobiles for viewing, a unique retrogarage, and other activities. $22.

10:00am-4:30pm. Ocala Historic District. historicocala.org or 3511861.

April 6-7

SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL—

Gainesville’s signature Spring Arts event transforms NE 1st Street into a creative celebration. Original artwork by diverse and talented artists, children’s hands-on art jungle, live entertainment and yummy food! sfspringarts.org

Apr.6-7, Jun. 22-23 & Sep. 7-8

WESTERN DRESSAGE SERIES—Light hands, subtle

cues, and an appreciation for the ultimate benefits derived from a

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true partnership between horse and rider all led to a revolution in Western Horsemanship. Thus, Western Dressage was born.

Various times. Florida Horse Park. events@flhorsepark.com or 3076699.

April 7

GOING FOR BAROQUE—

The community chorus comes together to bring in the Baroque, featuring Vivaldi’s “Gloria” and “Magnificat,” along with orchestral works by Corelli and Handel. $17-23. 3:00pm. Reilly Arts Center. reillyartscenter.com or 351-1606.

April 9

HEALTH SEMINAR—Breathing

Issues: End Allergies and Asthma.

A light lunch/refreshments will be provided. Space is limited, so please call to reserve your seat.

Free. 12:15pm. Chiropractic USA. 352-351-2872.

April 10

OCALA ART GROUP MONTHLY MEETING—

Featured this month will be an art demonstration by Mr. Don Borie, who will be drawing the human figure in pastels. Mr. Borie has been the organizer for the Ocala Figurative Artists group.

12-2pm. Appleton Museum of Art. ocalaartgroup.org.

April 11

JASON MICHAEL CARROLL—He has 5 top

25 Billboard singles, stars in the movie “Strings,” and has just released the official movie soundtrack. $15-35. 7:30pm.

Reilly Arts Center. reillyartscenter. com or 351-1606.

April 12

LIZ VICE—Come see this

authentic singer for her impressive range and undeniable spirituality. Her work has led her to share the stage with artists such as The Temptations, Lecrae, and Eric Early of Blitzen Trapper. $35-50. 7pm and 9pm.

The Phillips Center, Gainesville. performingarts.ufl.edu or 800905-2787.

April 12-14

ARC MARION’S OCALA BIKE FEST—Three days of

motorcycle fun, including a chance to win a 2017 HarleyDavidson Street Glide. Times vary.

ARC Marion Campus. 387-2210.

OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined

April 13

BATARDE STYLE LETTERING—This calligraphy

class is offered by Barbara Fife.

Register by April 4. $45. 10am3pm. Marion County Sheriff’s Building. ocalacalligraphy.org.

GUNS N’ ROSES TRIBUTE—

Come see this tribute performance featuring all the classic songs. $15-30. 7:30pm.

Reilly Arts Center. reillyartscenter. com or 351-1606.

TINA TURNER TRIBUTE—

Karen Durrant is widely regarded as the #1 Tina Turner look-alike and impersonator in the world.

Doors open at 6pm. $22-26.

7pm. Circle Square Cultural Center at On Top of the World. csculturalcenter.com or 509-4033 or 438-3354.

April 13-14

BLUES AT THE WINERY—By

popular demand, the area’s most talented blues musicians will perform on the outdoor stage the entire weekend. Lakeridge wine, beer, soft drinks, and a variety of food will be available for purchase, along with complimentary winery tours and wine tastings. $10. Lakeridge Winery. lakeridgewinery.com or (800) 768-9463.

April 16

WIND SYMPHONY—Come

for the Wind Symphony’s spring concert under the direction of John D. Ash, the associate professor of the Music, Visual and Performing Arts Department.

7:30pm. The Dassance Fine Arts Center, CF Ocala Campus. tickets. cf.edu or (352) 873-5810.

April 17

PATRIOT SINGERS—Come

enjoy this free choral concert.

7:30pm. The Dassance Fine Arts Center, CF Ocala Campus. tickets. cf.edu or (352) 873-5810.

PIANO & VOCAL RECITAL—

Come enjoy and support the talented CF Visual and Performing Arts Department piano and vocal music students for their spring recital. 12:30pm. The Dassance Fine Arts Center, CF Ocala Campus. tickets.cf.edu or (352) 873-5810.

Apr. 19-May 12

SEX WITH STRANGERS—

This show is a smart and sexy exploration of the conflict between the life you live online and the life

you try to live in the real world.

Various prices and times. The Hippodrome Theatre, Gainesville. thehipp.org or (352) 375-HIPP.

April 20

BRICK CITY BEERFEST & CONCERT—Annual beerfest

and a free Feel Downtown LIVE concert. 2-8pm. Citizens’ Circle, Downtown Ocala. brickcitybeerfest.com or 7892486.

PINK FLOYD TRIBUTE—

Accurate, highly talented and with an energy that will electrify, Pig Floyd delivers the music of Pink Floyd. $25-50. 7:30pm. Reilly Arts Center. reillyartscenter.com or 351-1606.

April 24

INSTRUMENTAL RECITAL—

Come enjoy and support the talented CF Visual and Performing Arts Department instrumental music students for their spring recital. 12:30pm. The Dassance Fine Arts Center, CF Ocala Campus. tickets.cf.edu or (352) 873-5810.

April 27

EARTHFEST—An Arbor Day/

Earthfest celebration that includes a children’s fishing derby, food, music, outdoor activities, tree giveaways, vendors, art exhibits, and races. 10am-2pm. Tuscawilla Park. 368-5517.

JAZZ BAND—The CF Patriot Blues Jazz Band and Jazz Combo is back for its spring concert under the direction of Greg Snider. $12. 7:30pm. The Dassance Fine Arts Center, CF Ocala Campus. tickets.cf.edu or (352) 873-5810.

April 27-28

OCALA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA—Their show “Art

of the Dance” is an exploration of the pulsing rhythm of dance through Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 7” and Rachmaninoff’s “Symphonic Dances.” $10-35.

7:30pm Saturday and 3:00pm Sunday. Reilly Arts Center. reillyartscenter.com or 351-1606.

April 28

CHAMBER MUSIC ENSEMBLE—This spring

concert presented at the Webber Center is coordinated by Dr. Sarah Satterfield. $12. 3:00pm. The Dassance Fine Arts Center, CF Ocala Campus. tickets.cf.edu or (352) 873-5810.

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New name Same commitment HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Ocala has been committed to a higher level of rehabilitative care for our patients and their families. Under our new name, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Ocala, we continue to provide the same inpatient rehabilitative care you have come to expect, connecting patients to superior outcomes and a better way of life.

The Joint Commission DiseaseSpecific Care Certification in Stroke Rehabilitation

2275 S.W. 22nd Lane Ocala, FL 34471 352.282.4000 encompasshealth.com/ocalarehab Š2018:Encompass Health Corporation:1371893

FREE HEALTH SEMINARS

All workshops will be held @ 12:15. A light lunch/ refreshments will be provided. Space is limited, so please call to reserve your seat.

Meet The Spine & Injury Pros

Mar. 12th: Low Back—Bullet Proof Your Low Back Apr. 9th: Breathing Issues—End Allergies and Asthma

Dr. Jessica Perhealth, Dr. Philip Roger, Margaret Edelson, Dr. Renny Edelson, Dr. Gary Brodeur, Dr. Hector Andino and Dr. Dania Mercado

“Corrective care is the key factor in returning to Good Health.

Getting adjusted in rhythm is the pathway to a Good Life.”

—Dr. Renny Edelson As soon as you step into a Chiropractic USA office, you are greeted by caring professionals who will give you a tour of the facility. State of the art diagnostic tools allow accurate documentation of functional loss. There’s no guessing—you’ll see your progress in detailed before and after results. The doctors at Chiropractic USA are here to help you achieve optimum health through Natural Corrective Care.

SPINE AND INJURY CENTER

We Are A Medicare Provider.

All Insurance Participation Accepted.

Jasmine South (Ocala) 7668 SW 60th Ave.,#500 (Airport Road)

(352)

351-2872

The Villages

3614 Wedgewood Ln (Next to Bonefish Grill)

(352)

259-2225

New Location Coming Soon!

Ocala East

942 SE 17th Street Ocala Fl 34471