The Editor’s Desk

Finding Stories That Move Us

The Editor’s Desk by Dean Blinkhorn [dean@ocalasgoodlife.com]

Sometimes cover stories have a way of working out. Let me explain. Before COVID-19 hit, we had already commissioned a great photo of the annual Fine Arts For Ocala Mother’s Day concert, Symphony Under The Stars, and had planned on using it for the cover image for the May/June 2020 issue. We had even mocked it up, done all the color corrections, even wrote the cover text call-outs. Then, while we were all in our mandatory shut-down, we made the decision to skip that issue.

Well, a year later, we still had a great cover! Once we confirmed that the concert was a go, we started talking about all the other cool events that were also moving forward, albeit in uncharted waters, and that’s when Cynthia Brown, our project manager extraordinaire, got to work. She started calling our best contacts to come up with a list of events that goes well beyond “the usual suspects.” The two main criteria of each event—it had to be outside (since we still wanted to play it safe, even with more people getting vaccinated) and it had to be fun.

So if you’re an animal-lover, Cynthia is recommending nearby farms where you can see horses, tigers, elephants, and bats. Yes, bats. If you’re into music, she’s suggesting a classic rock concert downtown, a free multicultural musicfest series, and a singing riverboat tour. I told you this list went beyond the norm!

My favorite? That cool car show coming to the Market Of Marion at the end of May and June. I always like checking out the market for some good deals and for the peoplewatching, but I love looking at old cars, too. When put together, that’s an irresistible combination. My dad collected and restored the entire line of 1940 Fords, so I’ll be looking for a coupe like the one he used to race or the woody station wagon that always drew stares when he took his young family (including me) on long Sunday drives. I hope you find your own favorite thing to do—and if you do, be sure to check out our photo contest in the sidebar to the story. We’ll print the best ones in the next issue.

The next comment I want to make is on another article, this one an “On The Job” feature with Jenny Martinez, the executive director of Marion Senior Services.

I’ve known Jenny for a while and to say she’s one of the best people in Ocala is an understatement. She has a big heart and an even bigger vision for the people she serves. I can’t imagine the difficulty of matching resources with some of the neediest seniors in our area during a pandemic. For many, MSS is their lifeline.

Writer Olana McDonald followed her around for a day to try to capture what it’s like to lead such a big—and vital—organization like hers. What she saw was a group of staff and volunteers united behind Jenny’s vision of compassion and heart. If there’s anything you can do, please reach out to the number at the end of the story and tell Jenny that Ocala’s Good Life sent you.

You’ll be in good hands.

All the best,

What’s Dean Playing?

Nina Simone, “The Very Best Of Nina Simone: Sugar In My Bowl”—A good friend helped me rediscover the enigmatic jazz chanteuse and she doesn’t disappoint on this generous set. “Turn Me On,” “The Look Of Love,” and the title cut show her impeccable chops and the numerous live takes reveal her playfulness with an attentive audience.

Glen Campbell, “Reunion: The Songs Of Jimmy Webb”—Another friend gifted me a few records from her collection and I had to play this one first. There’s no “Galveston” or “By The Time I Get To Phoenix,” but lesserknown songs like “You Might As Well Smile” reveal even more from one of country music’s best teams. Glen’s timeless voice is missed.

Billie Holiday, “Love Songs”—The recent Billie Holiday movie on Netflix distorted her life so badly that I had to seek solace in her wonderful music to erase the painful images. While Holiday has a lot of compilations, this is one of her best, covering her youthful voice at all of its power, especially on “All Of Me,” “Them There Eyes,” and “My Man.”