Ocala Gazette | January 8 - 14, 2021

January is Animal Abuse Awareness month.

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 28

$2

See page 3 for more information

JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14, 2021

Marion County hospitals set COVID-19 inpatient record

By Brendan Farrell Ocala Gazette

A

s COVID-19 continues to surge across the state, hospitals in Marion County saw an influx of hospitalizations, registering the most people hospitalized locally since the start of the pandemic.

With almost 900 positive cases reported since Jan. 1, and a sevenday positivity rate of 16% as of Jan. 6, area hospitals saw a flood of new

patients.

On Wednesday, 148 people were in the hospital across the county due to COVID-19. A day earlier, the number was 170, a record.

Since the start of the pandemic, Marion County has accumulated more than 19,00 positive cases among residents. All told, 1,376 have been hospitalized and 495 have died, according to the Florida Department of Health.

“The main concern that we’re having within the health care community at this point are the

increasing hospital admissions for (COVID-19),” said Dr. David Kuhn, who runs the Trinity Clinic dashboard.

Higher COVID-19 numbers can affect the wider healthcare system.

“As these numbers increase to the level they’re at now, nursing staff becomes quite short,” he said.

“We worry that, if the numbers rise from even where they are now, that hospital care will be compromised for anybody who may need the hospital, whether they’re a (COVID-19) See Hospitals, page 5

A quiet winter

Marion County COVID-19 Hospitalizations January 5, 2021

170

December 1, 2020

58

November 1, 2020

35

October 1, 2020

34

September 1, 2020

59

August 1, 2020

114

July 1, 2020

28

*Agency for Healthcare Administration numbers via Trinity Clinic Dashboard

Cowan, Harrell take over property appraiser, clerk of court roles

By Ainslie Lee Ocala Gazette

F

Jake Parker Wymard clears a jump with Hat Trick in the Grand Arena as they compete in the Meter 30 class during the World Equestrian Ocala Winter Spectacular. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

By Ben Baugh Correspondent

S

omething will be missing this winter in Ocala: The large crowds and the applause and encouragement they bring to the annual winter horse show circuit.

This year, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, no spectators will be allowed at Horse Shows in the Sun held at HITS Post Time Farm. Meanwhile, at the inaugural event at the World Equestrian Center the crowd also will be

tempered.

While the Ocala Winter Classic Spectacular at WEC is not officially closed to spectators, the public is not allowed in the barn area or in enclosed arenas.

The facility’s restaurants and shops, remain open and much of the outdoor action is visible, said Charles Lagarce, president of Columbus Hospitality Management, which manages the WEC facility.

“The facility is open to the general public. We’re trying to be respectful to those that are

showing,” Lagarce said, adding that those entering the gate must have their temperature taken and are required to wear masks except while eating.

Despite the restrictions on spectators, HITS and WEC will offer full calendars of equestrian sport.

“Due to the restrictions in place from the United States Equestrian Federation—the U.S. governing body for equestrian sport, we will not be able to have See Shows, page 2

Marion County schools coping with COVID-19 as semester nears end

By Brendan Farrell Ocala Gazette

A

s the calendar flips from 2020 to 2021 and students return to school following winter break, Marion County schools are beginning to see how COVID-19 has affected education

over the course of a whole semester.

The fall semester ends on Jan. 14, concluding the first full semester students have had since the beginning of the pandemic in March. According to MCPS spokesman Kevin Christian, about 60% of students were in-person to start the 2020-21 school year. That has since increased to about 82%.

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“I think that speaks loudly in that many of our parents and students want face-to-face learning and value that as the best way for their children to learn,” Christian said. “So, we’ve been able to accomplish that and yet keep our students and our staff members safe See Schools, page 11

ollowing in the footsteps of people like Villie Smith and David Ellspermann is a double-edged sword.

Filling the shoes of Smith, who served as Marion County’s property appraiser for 24 years, and Ellspermann, who served as the county’s clerk of court for 24 years, is easier said than done.

But, Smith and Ellspermann were able to teach their successors a thing or two, as both worked for the men they replace.

On Tuesday morning, Jimmy Cowan took the reins from Smith, while Greg Harrell relieved Ellspermann as the two new public officials were among the five constitutional officers sworn into office.

Harrell and Cowan were the joined by Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, Marion County Tax Collector George Albright and Marion County Supervisor of Elections Wesley Wilcox who were all incumbents starting new terms.

Accompanying Cowan during Tuesday morning’s ceremony was his mother, Jean Cowan.

With his mother holding his late grandmother’s bible, Cowan was sworn in after over 28 years with the property appraiser’s office.

After graduating from Forest High School in 1987, Cowan has only worked at two places in his lifetime: the bowling alley, where he was a nighttime manager, and the property appraiser’s office, where he has worked his way up the ranks under Smith and the late Rudy Muckenfuss.

“I have worked from the bottom, basically up to management,” Cowan laughs. “And now I’m here.”

Aside from his duties at the property appraiser’s office, Cowan is also involved with the Marion County Youth Football League, where he’s a coach.

“I’m deeply rooted in the community as far as people, and I’ve always just tried to treat people with respect,” Cowan says.

“And I’m not really a politician – just like Villie said – I’m a public servant. That’s what I am.”

See Swearing In, page 5

Inside: Cattle Drive Canceled............ 2 Free School Lunches.............. 6 Vaccine Update........................ 9 Sports........................................ 12 Calendar................................... 15 Ocala Artist Honored............ 17

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JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

From Shows, page 1

Josh Dolan clears a jump with Ekilly Van De Horst. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

spectators this year,” said Kristen Vale-Mosack, HITS office manager. “We’re sad about that as the Ocala horse fans have always been supportive, and we appreciate that.”

The USEF instituted the no-spectator mandate in March. The HITS events are USEF sanctioned. The WEC events have sanctioning

from the National Snaffle Bit Association.

HITS starts its 10-week schedule on Jan. 19. WEC started their 12-week show on Jan. 6.

Exhibitors who plan to compete are still excited but realize the bubble atmosphere will change the feel of the shows.

“The good news as far

as participants is that our numbers look quite strong, so while COVID has certainly been a challenge for everyone, it appears that our sport, being an outdoor, individual sport has been able to stay strong,” said Vale-Mosack.

Sarah Barge has been showing at HITS Ocala for the past decade and

usually has about 15 horses in her barn at the facility off U.S. Highway 27. She said the stricter guidelines will affect the family of competitors as well.

“If the kids are showing, they can have a parent come, but the grandparents, brothers and sisters and all of their family members can’t come, and I think that’s hard,” said Barge, whose Stone Lane Stables is in Rochester, N.Y. “I think that’s the hardest part.

I don’t think it’s the size of the crowd, although that’s wonderful.

We love having all the people here, but I think it’s really hard for the families and the owners to have to limit their time at the horse show. We love it here in Ocala.”

Meanwhile, the WEC also recently announced a settlement to a dispute with the USEF. The USEF and the WEC Ocala will work in concert to host USEF sanctioned events in the

future, according to a recent statement from the WEC. The USEF previously asked the Federation Equestre Internationale, the world equestrian sanctioning body, not to sanction the 2021 Ocala Winter Classic Spectacular, but withdrew the request, allowing exhibitors, officials and horses to compete this winter at WEC without the events being sanctioned by the FEI or USEF, according to the joint statement.

USEF has a distance requirement for shows running during the same period. Even though the WEC events are sanction by the snaffle bit association, the USEF balked at the two events running only a few miles from one another.

Should the mutual plan come to fruition, the WEC Ocala has agreed not to host new competitions that haven’t been sanctioned by the USEF. The interim measure will allow for competition at WEC this winter. A plan is currently being formulated by both parties taking into consideration what’s in the best interest of equestrian sport and its stakeholders, addressing concerns regarding horse and rider welfare, while operating under the rules that govern all USEF organizers, according to the joint statement.

Jury trials still likely months away due to COVID-19 positivity rate

By Jennifer Murty Ocala Gazette A recent order from the chief judge for the 5th Judicial Circuit suspended jury trials and grand jury proceedings in the circuit until Jan. 18.

But when pressed by attorneys during a video conference this week, Chief Judge Daniel Merritt said the prospects of jury trials restarting any time soon were difficult to predict.

“What I have been doing on my criminal felony docket, for instance, like this week, I am setting late February pretrials, late march pretrials and the following week a trial

in April. Not necessarily believing that I may be able to do those jury trials but hoping that things will get better,” Merritt said.

He said while trials may not move forward as scheduled, setting trial dates helps to clear cases.

“The simple specter of the jury trial, of course, begins to make the litigants and criminal defendants begin to more realistically assess their situation with the possibility of trial on the horizon. And on my criminal docket, it is making a reasonable number of cases settle.”

Marion County has not held any trials since December due to the high COVID-19 positivity rate.

The seven-day average positivity rate should be under 10 or 11% before trials can begin, according to previous orders from Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady.

In Marion County, the positivity rate was 17.7% for the week ending Jan. 2. It was the highest positivity rate for any of the five counties in the circuit. Positivity rates for Citrus County stood at 14.1%, Lake County 15.4%, Sumter County 15.3% and Hernando County 14.4%.

Merritt’s Jan. 5 order canceling trials, essentially requires local courts to review the public health data for the circuit daily.

Since the beginning of

December, Marion County has tried to summon jurors and hold trials only to have to cancel them last minute due to local high COVID-19 numbers continuing a months-long disruption of jury trials due to COVID-19 since March.

Judge Edward Scott and Merritt met with local attorneys and judges to discuss the situation.

Of paramount concern during the meeting was the backlog of cases growing larger every day, and the safety of those participating in the process.

Although Sheriff Woods reported no inmates tested positive for COVID-19 in December, Judge Scott indicated that for the most

part inmates would continue to be restricted from coming to the courthouse “for the obvious reasons,” with the only exceptions being those cases where the inmate had entered a plea.

He also gave an update on readying a courtroom located at the jail with the right technology so that it could be better equipped to hold hearings.

Leonard Klatt, an Ocala attorney, asked if there was plan for reducing the Marion County jail population through bond reduction or other means.

Judge Merritt said attorneys can still seek bond reduction for inmates. Those hearings can continue even while trials are suspended.

COVID-19 rustles Ocala Cattle Drive

By Ainslie Lee Ocala Gazette

O

rganizers of this year’s Cattle Drive and Cowboy Round-Up guessed the event could draw somewhere between 4,000 to 5,000 spectators.

But with COVID-19 cases sharply up in Marion County, the Ocala City Council unanimously decided to cancel the Feb. 13 event.

The decision followed the cancellation of several other large public events, including Light Up Ocala and the Ocala Christmas Parade.

The cattle drive traditionally stretches a mile through downtown before ending at Tuscawilla Park, where events include hands-on demonstrations and other close-quarter activities.

Ocala’s Recreation and Parks Department reported maintaining social distancing during the four-

hour-long event was not feasible.

The event costs the city about $25,000. Last year it drew more than 6,000 people.

Typically, the Marion County Cattlemen’s Association drives a herd of cattle through downtown to Tuscawilla Park. Last year, activities at the park included demonstrations, live music and mechanical bull rides. The event also features a duck derby, which benefits the Discovery Center.

Instead of the typical cattle drive, the city is exploring alternatives, including a possible “virtual cattle drive.”

The virtual alternative would feature archival footage of cattle being driven through downtown, according to Preston Pooser, director of the city parks department.

The duck derby also could be held virtually while still raising money for the Discovery Center through the sale of ducks.

Cowboys drive cattle through downtown in this 2020 file photo. On Tuesday, the Ocala City Council voted unanimously to cancel the event due to COVID-19 concerns. [Dave Miller/File]

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JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14 , 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Molly, Marion County’s anti-animal abuse ambassador, gets her close up “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.”

- Thomas Jefferson

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Molly [Submitted/SPCA of Ocala]

By Susan Smiley-Height Ocala Gazette

M

olly, a white mixed-breed canine who survived lifethreatening wounds to become the ambassador for Marion County’s animal abuse registry, will be smiling down at passersby from bright red area billboards through the end of the month.

Molly was stabbed three times in the head and had her skull fractured with a baseball bat in early 2014.

Her accused attacker, Steven Scott Fleming, served time in state prison on three counts of felony cruelty to animals.

Molly now has a forever home with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Ocala (SPCA) of Ocala.

The Marion County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday issued a proclamation declaring January as Marion County Animal Abuser Registry Awareness Month.

The billboards highlight Molly and the designation.

The proclamation was accepted

by Lilly Baron, president of the SPCA of Ocala. Baron announced during

the presentation that a documentary is being filmed locally to highlight the registry and is designed so other communities can develop a similar program.

The local registry, commonly known as Molly’s Law, requires that any offender convicted of an animal abuse crime be placed on the registry.

The online database allows citizens, pet sellers and rescue organizations to verify that they are not placing an animal with an animal abuser, according to the county’s website.

“I would like to thank everyone that was involved in the making of our animal abuser registry,” Baron said at the meeting. “We are going on our fifth year of protecting animals lives from their abusers. The commissioners heard the voices of our residents for the voiceless. They listened and they took action.”

Baron said the documentary will feature local officials and agency leaders, and Peggy Hoyt, an attorney and animal activist whose father, John A. Hoyt, was formerly CEO of The Humane Society of the United States.

“Right now, one of their initiatives is to end the retail sale of pets across Florida,” Hoyt wrote of her

endeavors.

She also supports a nationwide registry of animal abusers.

“Evidence supports that domestic violence and other forms of violence, including murder, often starts with the abuse of animals,” she wrote. “A registry of this type could provide early identification of abusers and perhaps put a stop to their abusive behavior, protecting both pets, children and spouses or domestic partners.”

Baron said work is continuing on the documentary, with a local film crew. There is not currently a release date.

Hoyt said she hopes the documentary will spur along the push for a nationwide registry.

“It will highlight one dog’s incredible journey and the beginning of a grassroots movement across the United States,” she stated. “Molly is currently an ambassador for Marion County, Florida and their implementation of the law, but can stand as a symbol for abused animals throughout Florida and the nation.”

The county’s animal abuser registry is accessible at www. marioncountyfl.org/aar

To Report Animal Abuse Marion County Animal Services provides animal control services within unincorporated Marion County and the city of Ocala, enforcing state laws and county ordinances relating to animals.

According to the Marion County government website, animal control officers respond to more than 10,000 calls a year and are on-call for emergencies 24 hours a day. They rescue injured, sick or stray domestic animals and investigate aggressive attacks, as well as animal cruelties that can range from one-animal cases to large-scale incidents involving hundreds of animals.

To report an animal-related concern or complaint: • Within unincorporated areas of Marion County or within the city of Ocala, call Marion County Animal Control at (352) 6718727. For emergencies after-hours or on weekends, contact the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office at (352) 732-9111.

• Within the city of Belleview, contact the Belleview Police Department at (352) 245-7044.

• Within the city of Dunnellon, contact the Dunnellon Police Department at (352) 465-8510.

Marion County Animal Control provides assistance to incorporated cities upon request, but residents should contact the municipality in which the animal-related situation is taking place. If you are unsure if you are within a city’s limits, call animal control.

To learn more, visit www.marioncountyfl.org/departmentsagencies/departments-a-n/animal-services

Marion County Sheriff targets internet cafes Ocala Gazette Staff

T

he Marion County Sheriff ’s Office wants to prohibit the operation of simulated gambling devices found in internet cafes.

The agency, which has tried to rein in the cafes in the past, presented a proposed ordinance to the Marion County Commission on Tuesday that would cover the unincorporated portions of the county.

The county agreed to hold a public hearing on the issue on Jan. 19. The commission would have to approve the ordinance before it could be enforced.

In the ordinance, the sheriff ’s office proposes banning the devices

which are found in the cafes dotting the county. The ordinance would not cover Ocala, Belleview, Dunnellon, McIntosh or Reddick.

The sheriff ’s office reported at least 42 internet cafes operating in unincorporated Marion County.

They argue the machines deceive players, particularly the elderly, and negatively affect quality of life, health and safety of the community.

The agency argues the cafes attract criminal activity, including past instances of armed robbery and a shooting.

In the past, law enforcement has shut down cafes offering illegal gambling only for some to reopen at new locations.

Ocala does not have an ordinance covering internet

cafes. Dunnellon bans them, and Belleview strictly regulates them.

The proposed ordinance includes fines and possible jail time for violators. The ordinance would not apply to pari-mutuel wagering sites or devices not used in a commercial operation.

State law does not ban the devices, but other counties in the state have enacted similar ordinances.

On Tuesday, the commission also approved a memorandum of understanding between them and Ocala to open a library branch at the planned Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place.

The community center, a $10 million Ocala project, will include See Cafes, page 11

4

JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

The Ocala Wetland Recharge Park is seen from above in this file photo. The Ocala City Council on Tuesday voted to accept a grant which will help pay for pavilion at the facility. [Dave Miller/File]

Recharge Park adding pavilion with help of grant

By Ainslie Lee Ocala Gazette

T

he Ocala Wetland Recharge Park plans to add a rest area and pavilion at the recently opened facility.

On Tuesday, the Ocala City Council voted unanimously to accept a $376,880 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the project. The total cost of the 3,600-square-foot pavilion is just more than $471,000. The city will pay the difference.

The Recharge Park, which opened in September, hosts approximately 5,100 visitors a month. And in the same month of its opening, the FDEP awarded the City of Ocala with a Recreation and Trails Grant to construct the 90-foot by 40-foot pavilion.

The pavilion will house water fountains with overhead bottle filling stations and provide shaded cover for

existing bathrooms.

It was not clear when construction would start, but the grant guidelines call for the project to be done in the next two years.

The park features a man-made wetland that filters about 3 million gallons of treated wastewater from the city every day. The aquatic plants in the park’s holding cells scrub out any leftover nitrogen and phosphorus compounds still in the water and allows it to slowly percolate into the Floridan Aquifer, which is the state’s main source of drinking water. The park has a capacity to handle 5 million gallons per day.

Originally set to open in late 2019, the city had to deal with multiple caveins at the site. As the holding cells were filled with water, the enormous weight caused cave-ins that drained the cells.

Eventually, the ground stabilized.

The park, located at 2105 NW 21 St., features more than 2.5 miles of trails and has a growing wildlife population. It is open from sunrise to sunset or 7 p.m., whichever comes first.

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JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14 , 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

From Hospitals, page 1 patient or not.”

As of Monday morning, Marion County had one of the lowest available hospital capacities in the state. The county had an available capacity of 10.66%, which was the fourth-lowest of any county with hospital beds, according to the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration.

ICU availability was also dwindling in Marion County on Monday. The county had just 5.75% of adult ICU capacity available.

By comparison, 19.76% of adult ICU beds statewide were available. Marion County has three hospitals with adult ICU beds, and only Ocala Regional Medical Center had space left at the time.

But the hospitals say they have the flexibility to deal with surges.

“In late March, AdventHealth Ocala created a 52-bed COVID-19 unit on the sixth floor to prepare for an influx of patients and have been able to provide continued care for patients,” AdventHealth said in a statement. “Our hospitals are designed to create flexible and expandable spaces and we are able to pivot quickly, if necessary, to safely convert existing spaces to standard patient rooms or ICU/ critical care rooms. We also have sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators and specialized equipment available should it be needed due to increased demand. Additionally, we are prepared to pause our non-emergent surgical cases to increase capacity for COVID-19 patients, if, and

when necessary.”

Ocala Regional Medical Center also said they had a handle on the surging cases.

“Although over the last few weeks we have seen an increase in patients for a variety of health concerns including COVID-19, we continue to be under normal operations with adequate bed capacity, staffing [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] and supplies to implement surge plans to care for all for any reason, we are potential and current prepared to do so to ensure patients. Bed capacity is we remain able to meet the a fluctuating figure that needs of the communities routinely changes through we serve throughout the course of the day as evolving phases of the patients are admitted and pandemic. We are also discharged. If we needed

excited to be opening our new 36-bed unit tomorrow which will continue to highlight the best in class cardiovascular care we deliver while also bringing additional inpatient bed capacity to the community.”

Ocala Main Street’s downtown mission going strong

By Ainslie Lee Ocala Gazette

I

n 2020, there were enough short straws to go around. But perhaps none drew shorter straws than small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.

With constantly wavering safety protocols and more people hunkering down in the safety of their homes, small businesses were on the receiving end of haymakers all year long.

However, Ocala’s small businesses were able to crutch onto Ocala Main Street, a non-profit organization which strives to build the strength and vibrancy of downtown Ocala.

But even simpler than that, Main Street’s executive director, Leighton Okus, will tell you that its mission is to bring people downtown.

“I mean there’s a broader, more specific mission statement, but our overall goal is to bring people downtown,” Okus explains.

“We are always looking for ways to support the business and our community. And make our downtown as much as a vibrant, thriving, heart of our city. So doing that through COVID-19 was super tough.

“But really kind of beautiful in the way that we

all learned from each other and connected through survival mode.”

There’s no chapter in the small business handbook that tells a business owner how to navigate a global pandemic. Though that chapter might exist in future literature, in 2020 “survival mode” was the only resource Main Street and Ocala’s downtown businesses had at their disposal.

For Main Street, survival mode meant becoming more innovative with its approach.

In April, shortly after COVID-19 began ramping up, Main Street brought in local chalk artists to decorate the sidewalks outside of downtown eateries which offered curbside pickup.

Main Street’s Chalk Project went on to earn national recognition from National Main Street organizations.

“It was so fun for the artists, it was so fun for the restaurants… We had a huge response from the community and business owners that it was such a positive thing,” Okus said. “It was really cool to make a big splash while kinda redefining Ocala Main Street for our community.”

Ocala Main Street also held a Downtown Burger Tour, which Okus calls the highlight of her 2020.

For 13 weeks, members

of Ocala Main Street’s board of directors spent every Friday trying the burgers of downtown eateries and providing reviews on the burger and the overall experience at the restaurant.

The Downtown Burger Tour also fielded national recognition for Main Street.

And while earning national recognition for its efforts was rewarding, the moral victory merely compared in the grand scheme of things.

According to Okus, Ocala’s downtown area thrived during a time when so many others were crippling.

“When I do monthly phone calls with the other Main Street districts, Ocala has really stood out among those districts,” Okus said.

“Businesses are opening instead of closing. And that’s very rare in our current economic state.”

And while Ocala did see a number of new establishments pop up downtown, there were also a few closings.

The most memorable loss for Okus was Feta Mediterranean Cuisine going under. A staple for Okus and a landmark for many others, Feta permanently closed its doors on July 3, after eight years of serving Ocala.

“When Feta closed and

when we lost some of our local businesses, that was hard,” Okus said. “Knowing it was out of all of our control.”

However, despite the losses, Okus, Ocala Main Street and business owners were encouraged by the support of a “unique” Ocala community.

“I think there is something really unique about our community,” said Okus. “And the families that have been here for a long time that continue to invest in our economic development. Developers who have been here for a long time, they have a passion for making sure we continue to thrive.”

Continuing to thrive is a major component to Main Street’s mission statement.

And in 2021, the path is looking a little different than the past.

“I think what we are going to be aiming for in 2021 is a safer, smaller, more consistent downtown event presence,” Okus said.

Much of Main Street’s focus heading into the new year is being sure to communicate well to the community to ensure the safety of patrons through the everchanging protocols and regulations. Main Street hopes to make coming to downtown Ocala as comfortable as possible for

those still wary about the pandemic.

Main Street’s first event of 2021 is coming on March 27 when the inaugural Guns and Hoses, an all-day family event benefiting Marion County and Ocala’s first responders, as well as a fundraiser for Main Street comes to downtown Ocala.

Fundraising from such events like Guns and Hoses is just one way Main Street funds itself. Though the non-profit organization was previously partnered with the Ocala Chamber and Economic Partnership, the CEP’s funding of Main Street has since stopped.

While the CEP supports the mission of Main Street and believes and works towards the development of a vibrant downtown as key to community growth, the CEP ceased funding the organization a couple of years ago,” Olana McDonald, director of communications with the CEP said. “We continue to be supportive of their efforts.”

According to Okus, Main Street introduced membership fees in 2020 to help its funding efforts.

However, with a faltering economy, obtaining memberships was easier said than done last year. Okus hopes to see more businesses join the organization in 2021.

From left: Marion County Tax Collector George Albright, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, Marion County Property Appraiser Jimmy Cowan, Marion County Supervisor of Elections Wesley Wilcox and Marion County Clerk of Court Greg Harrell. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Cowan said many of his goals will continue what Smith started.

However, Cowan admits he will have to shore up the foundation his predecessor helped build.

“Villie built an excellent foundation.

We’ve got people in the right positions,” Cowan says. “We’ve had a lot of people leave because of retirement... So, when you get that institutional knowledge that’s walked out of the office, you gotta build a little more depth again.”

As for clerk of the court, Greg Harrell

won an uncontested election to take over Ellspermann’s seat.

Before winning the seat, Harrell served as the general counsel at the clerk’s office.

“I was excited and tremendously honored to be sworn in today as the next Clerk of Court and Comptroller for Marion County,” Harrell wrote in a text. “I am grateful for this opportunity.

I appreciate everyone who helped me get here, and I will do everything I can to serve and protect the public’s trust in their records and finances.”

Jimmy Cowan, left, poses for photos with Cathy Cavalier, right, a former assistant Property Appraiser, after Cowan was sworn in as Marion County Property Appraiser. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

6

JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Marion County public schools offer free meals to all students Ocala Gazette Staff

A

ll middle and high school students in Marion County Public Schools will now receive free school meals, according to the school system.

The new effort is paid for through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program.

Elementary students already receive free meals under the USDA National School Lunch Breakfast Program. The addition of secondary students

allows for more students to regularly receive nutritious meals and for the district to recoup costs associated with meal service, according to a press release.

Marion County public schools serve an average of 14,000 breakfasts and 21,000 lunches every day. During the first 10 weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the district provided nearly 475,000 student meals, according to the school system.

Curbside school meals are also available at 10 locations to children 18 and under regardless of income.

School

Address

Day

Serving Time

Belleview High

10400 SE 36th Ave., Belleview

Monday Only

8:30am-9am

Dunnellon High

10055 SW 180th Ave. Road, Dunnellon

Monday Only

8:30am-9am

Forest High

5000 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala

Monday Only

8:30am-9am

Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks

365 Marion Oaks Drive, Ocala

Monday Only

8:30am-9am

Lake Weir High

10351 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala

Monday Only

8:30am-9am

Lake Weir Middle

10220 SE Sunset Harbor Road, Summerfield

Monday Only

8:30am-9am

Liberty Middle

4773 SW 95th St., Ocala

Monday Only

8:30am-9am

North Marion High

151 W CR 329, Monday Only Citra

8:30am-9am

Vanguard High

7 NW 28th St., Ocala

Monday Only

8:30am-9am

West Port High

3733 SW 80th Ave., Ocala

Monday Only

8am-8:30am

Arbor Day comes early to Tuscawilla Park

By Kathy Mancil Correspondent

W

hile traditionally observed in April, Florida celebrates Arbor Day in January.

More precisely, the third Friday in January. The unofficial holiday sees thousands of trees planted across the country. This year, at Tuscawilla Park, the Pioneer Garden Club of Ocala will hold its tree-planting ceremony on Jan. 15.

“Planting Florida native trees is a great way to personally celebrate Arbor Day,” said Judy Greenberg, the club’s first vice president.

The event will include the planting of sweetbay magnolias. The garden club and the Marion Big Scrub Native Plant Society chose the tree to replace dying crepe myrtles located alongside the pond at Tuscawilla Park. The garden club used a grant from the National Garden Club (NGC) to help fund the project.

The tree-planting ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m.

“The project brings together the Marion Big Scrub Native Plant Society, Marion Audubon Society, Marion Daylily Society and the City of Ocala for a restoration project to beautify Historic Tuscawilla Park,” said Greenberg.

The collaboration was central to their selection for the grant.

“This project implements the environmental practice of restoring native plants in a publicly accessible urban landscape to create a bird/ pollinator habitat,” she said.

The sweetbay magnolia is noted for its showy white flowers, which typically appear from June through September.

Once mature, the tree will provide

shade for those who enjoy walking along the pond, Greenberg said.

The event also will feature the launching of the Pioneer Garden Club’s 2021 “Penny Pines” program.

The fundraiser benefiting the U.S. Forest Service raises money for replanting forested areas damaged by hurricanes.

Tricia Evans, president of the Pioneer Garden Club, said she chose the theme of “Bloom Ocala, Bloom Marion County” for her two-year presidency because she loves seeing blooming plants.

“No matter what is going on in the world, you can look at blooming plants, and they make you happy and feel good,” Evans said. “Enjoying blooming plants is good for the spirit, and I think we could all use a little more of that, especially right now with all that is going on in our world.”

She noted that the Pioneer Garden Club has participated in Ocala’s “Adopt a Park” program at Tuscawilla Art Park since 2015. Members helped beautify the park. Previously, they planted daylilies, native and nonnative plants with help from the Marion Big Scrub Native Plant Society and the Marion Daylily Society.

In November, members planted poinsettias in the Pioneer Garden at Tuscawilla.

Although it has been a challenge for the Pioneer Garden Club’s four garden “circles” to hold their monthly meetings in recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Evans said they have adapted.

The Pioneer Garden Club of Ocala was federated in 1927 and is a member of National Garden Clubs Inc. as well as the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs. For information, visit pioneergardenclub.org

Parents and guardians picking up meals on behalf of a child must present valid identification, including government-issued ID card, daycare center record, child’s passport, or any legal document proving parent/guardian identity and relation to the child.

For more information, contact the district’s Food and Nutrition Services office at (352) 671-4190 or check marionschools.net or summerbreakspot.org for updates.

Current adoption special: All pet adoptions in January are only $21 View more adoptable pets at www.marioncountyfl.org/animal Adoption price includes up-to-date vaccinations, county license, microchip and spay/neuter surgery.

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JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14 , 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

$81 million Ocala fire fee hearing delayed due to COVID-19 diagnosis

By Carlos Medina Ocala Gazette

A

Monday hearing connected to a potential $81 million judgment against Ocala was rescheduled because the city’s lead attorney was suffering from COVID-19.

Pat Gilligan, the attorney most familiar with the 7-year-old case, was suffering mental fogginess due to the illness, Christopher Anderson, another city attorney and Gilligan’s colleague, told Circuit Judge Robert Hodges before the beginning of the hearing.

The evidentiary hearing was to determine the details of establishing a fund to refund more than $81 million the city illegally collected in fire services fees.

The Florida 5th District Court of Appeal ruled the fee, which the city

rolled into the monthly electric bill of every city resident, amounted to an illegal tax. Florida’s Supreme Court refused to take up the case letting the appeals court decision stand.

The appeals court ordered the case sent back to the circuit level where the court would oversee the establishment of a fund ahead of refunds to upwards of 76,000 current and former customers.

The city argues the court has not established a final amount owed.

In a filing ahead of the hearing, the city argued it needed to know the amount so it could decide how to proceed, including possibly filing for bankruptcy.

Anderson said Gilligan got the diagnosis on Dec. 29, but continued to suffer from cloudy thinking as of Saturday.

Derek Schroth, the attorney representing the plaintiffs in the class-action suit, argued the

delay was unnecessary because the appellate court already set a mandate to establish the fund.

He also argued that further delay would harm those in line for a refund because unlike private parties, government agencies are not required to pay pre-judgment interest on damages. When a judgement is final, the city won’t have to pay seven years of interest, which would have offset the loss of value of the judgement due to inflation.

While he did grant the delay, Hodges took pause when his first suggested date for rescheduling – Jan. 15 – conflicted with Gilligan’s planned trip to Colorado.

They eventually agreed to reschedule the hearing for Jan. 21, at 9 a.m.

Hodges said while he is new to the case, he is familiar with the case file. Circuit Judge Lisa Herndon

previously oversaw the case. The appeals court has overturned decisions three times prior, all for the plaintiff.

“We’re going to follow what the 5th DCA has said on the case,” Hodges said. “We’re going to follow what that mandate is… I don’t intend to be appealed a fourth time.”

On Tuesday, the Ocala City Council continued its plan to implement a non-ad valorem tax on property to replace the fee. For residential customers, this year’s tax will amount to $190.77. For commercial property, the amount will depend on the size of the property.

The council voted unanimously to move the process forward. A public meeting is scheduled for Feb. 15 at 5 p.m., after which, the council will take a final vote on the proposal.

Ocala Gazette’s Ainslie Lee contributed to this report.

Ocala Rescue firefighters Micah Day, left, Ross Gauthier and Mike Bullard check the equipment on an engine at Ocala Fire Rescue Station 1 on Northeast 8th Avenue in this July file photo. The city is facing a possible $81 million judgement for the way it collected fire service fees. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

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JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Downtown Ocala Trump protest Members of the Trump Club of Marion County, as well as other Donald Trump supporters gathered in downtown Ocala on Wednesday afternoon, protesting the 2020 Presidential Election. Signs and other regalia supporting the 45th President of the United States lined Silver Springs Boulevard in the same hours that protestors stormed the Capital building in Washington D.C. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

April Smith of Citra blows an air horn at passing motorists on Wednesday in Ocala during a protest of the November election results.

Jake and Kelsea Crow of Ocala, with their children, Renesmae, 8 months, left, and Kayson, 1, take part in a protest of the November election results in Ocala on Wednesday.

Rebecca Anger of Ocala, left, holds a sign and an American flag as she protests the election results during a President Donald Trump rally on the Ocala Downtown Square in Ocala on Wednesday. The Ocala event was peaceful, unlike some gatherings in other parts of the country.

People wave flags and hold signs for passing motorists as they protest the election results with other protestors.

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JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14 , 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Marion County prepares for the next step in vaccine distribution

I

t could take until March to vaccinate the 50,000 Marion County residents 65 and older already registered for a COVID-19 vaccination.

But now that the Florida Department of Health in Marion County shut down the registration, some wonder what comes next.

The DOH suspended registration on Monday after they reached the 50,000 mark. That’s

about 50% of the senior population in Marion County. As of Tuesday, more than 3,000 residents have received their first shot, said Mark Lander, DOH in Marion County administrator.

Lander gave the latest figures during his regular update to the Marion County Commission.

The DOH received 3,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine and is expecting 10,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine this week. Both manufacturers require two doses of the vaccine,

but the brands are not interchangeable.

Vaccination of those older than 65 began on Tuesday with 240 people receiving the first dose.

The goal is to reach 1,000 vaccinations per day, but at some point, the second dose would factor in, Lander said.

“We have to remember, 21 days from that one point, if you’re pushing 1,000 out, half of those 1,000 are second doses,” he said. “We looked at some numbers, and we figured it could take I think it was 88 days is

Diana and Jim Quinn of Dunnellon receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination from Kelly Conklin, a registered nurse. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

what we looked at to get that 50,000 population out.”

To get to that point, Lander said that the local DOH is trying to work with AdventHealth Ocala to establish a support site at the Paddock Mall. The plan would use vacant storefronts for registration, vaccinations and observation. Lander said the move could happen as early as next Monday.

“Even if the Advent piece doesn’t move, we’re talking about going to that mall location because it’s better suited,” he said.

Lander also mentioned that the Florida Department of Health in Marion County would also be partnering with AdventHealth, Marion County Emergency Management and Ocala Fire Rescue for a large, one-day vaccination event for the medical community on Sunday. Lander said they had 900 providers register for their first shot.

“That’s going to be a big boost for them,” Lander said. “Once they’ve been vaccinated, they have that level of safety to continue practicing on and being assistant vaccinators for us as well.”

They are also working with other organizations, including the Heart of

Florida Health Center and private companies including 11 Publix locations in Marion County to push out vaccines by appointment.

By using an appointment-only program, Lander said that the county has avoided the scenes of senior citizens in long lines or camping out overnight that have been seen in other parts of the country.

“We knew we wanted this to be a very coordinated structure alignment with appointments,” Lander said.

“I think you’re all seeing what’s happening across the state. There’s a lot of, we’re hearing a lot of feedback, long lines, people waiting in lines, not getting vaccine.

That’s why we’ve opted for a registration system and to schedule appointments.”

The county is currently in the middle of a surge in COVID-19 cases. As of Wednesday, there were a total of 19,199 case in the county since the start of the pandemic. The county saw and increase of almost 600 cases since Sunday. Marion County has seen 1,3476 hospitalizations and 495 deaths due to COVID-19.

The county had a positivity rate of 19% on Wednesday, the 12th consecutive day the county has reported a positivity rate above 10%.

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Lisa Keefer of Sarasota, center, talks with her parents, Lois and Anthony Tyke of SumThis is a theme puzzle with below.

Find the listed words the grid. merfield, afterthe theysubject receivedstated the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination on thein first day of (They ma vaccinations at the Department of Health Marion County. run in any direction but always inFlorida a straight line. Some letters are used[Bruce more Ackerman/ than once.) Ring each word as youOcala find Gazette] it and when you have completed the puzzle, there will be 15 letters left

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JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Longtime Marion County public servants bid adieu

By Carlos Medina Ocala Gazette

F

or many, the new year brings with it the prospect of a fresh start. It’s no different for four longtime Marion County public servants who step away from their usual roles and prepare for new adventures.

David Ellspermann, Brad King, Ric Ridgway and Villie Smith leave behind more than a century of combined experience as community leaders.

Ellspermann served 24 years as Marion County clerk of court and comptroller, King spent 32 years as state attorney, Ridgway spent the same time as chief assistant state attorney, and Smith served 24 years as the Marion County property appraiser.

See more: https://bit.ly/3b81cNW Ellspermann and Smith both decided not to run for reelection in 2020, their last official day in office.

King also chose not to run again in 2020. He and Ridgway retired just before the new year.

In 1997, David Ellspermann took over from Frances Thigpin, who held the seat for 19 years.

Ellspermann, who in his role also served as the clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, auditor, recorder and custodian of all county

“AdventHealth saved my life.”

agenda.

The oath includes a promise to live by the Scout Law, which includes being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, courteous, thrifty and obedient.

State Attorney Brad King took the reins as state attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit in 1989.

In that time, his office prosecuted thousands of criminal cases, including many high-profile capital cases. The circuit covers Marion, Lake, Sumter, Citrus and Hernando counties.

King, a former Marion County Sheriff ’s Office deputy, became an assistant state attorney in 1981. His decision to retire came after he and his wife, Tammy, adopted a child they had been fostering. He said he wanted to focus more time on his family. The couple also have four grown children.

King waited until April to pull out of the race. At that time, only William Gladson, his executive director, had qualified to run. He faced no challenger in the general election.

For Ridgway, who joined King as his chief assistant early on, the decision to retire was a combination of clearing the deck for Gladson and wanting to spend more time relaxing.

He said his immediate plans are to catch up on projects around the house, but he hopes to spend more time with his grandchildren and fishing.

“I suppose it hasn’t fully sunk in yet,” Ridgway said. “I’m having to break the habit of checking my emails 10 times a day.”

He also hopes to continue working with smaller police agencies doing training.

“It’s going to be a big change. I’m sure it will have its ups and downs,” he said. “I’m 69 years old. I’ve got

things I want to do, and I’m going to do them. We’ve got a couple of trips planned as soon as COVID is over.”

He said he doesn’t focus on particular cases.

“I focus on the family of the victims. It’s amazing to see the grief people come through and the satisfaction they get when we get a just result in the courtroom,” he said.

Property Appraiser Smith’s first term as property appraiser also started in 1997. He took over for Rudy Muckenfuss, who served in the post for 16 years.

Smith helped transition much of the office’s records online and helped implement a proprietary appraisal system, which he said saved the county at least $2 million compared to buying new software.

Jimmy Cowan took over on Tuesday when he was sworn into office.

For Smith, who closes out a 47-year career at the property appraiser’s office, his focus will switch to farming land his family has owned since the 1850s.

“Right now, there is a lot of timber on it. I haven’t quite figured out what I’m going to do with it now that I have some time,” he said.

Smith said his departure is bittersweet.

“It’s been very rewarding to serve the public. Like I always said, ‘I’m not a politician. I am a public servant.’ I always tried to be as frugal with their money while making sure the job gets done to the highest standard possible,” he said.

While he was proud of the work the office did, it was hard to say goodbye.

“Besides employees, I consider them my friends,” Smith said. “They are a seasoned staff, and it will be a smooth transition for Mr. Cowan.

I look forward to them making a great office an even better office.”

Al

Heart Attack Survivor Retired Physician AHO-517

David Ellsperman. Photo by John Jernigan.

funds, became a fixture in the post.

Greg Harrell took over on Tuesday as the new clerk of the court.

In his final weeks in the position, Ellspermann marked several “lasts,” including his last commission meeting. The board issued a proclamation in his honor.

The proclamation pointed out several of his accomplishments, including making public records available online and his three-time selection as Clerk of the Year by the Florida Clerks and Comptrollers Association.

Monday, according to the proclamation, was “David Ellspermann Day.” “Someone has to remind this morning,” he said.

He spent Monday in the office hosting a stream of employees that stopped by to bid farewell.

The procession was bittersweet, but he said it was time for him to leave while still young enough to enjoy his retirement.

He plans to ramp up his bicycle riding and get back to riding several hundred miles a week.

“I am an avid long-distance bike rider,” he said. “I enjoy it. It’s my ‘me’ time.”

He said he and his wife, Jayne, plan to travel the U.S., visiting several national parks along the way.

He also wants to do more fishing.

As Ellspermann cleaned out his office, he shared some of the handwritten notes and inspirations he collected in his agenda.

In addition to quoting scripture and Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Sherlock Holmes,” Ellspermann also had a copy of the Scout Oath taped in his

When Al experienced chest pain and numbness in his jaw, his wife, Jan, suspected it was more than heartburn. They rushed to an AdventHealth ER where Al was quickly diagnosed and treated for a serious heart attack, giving him a second chance at life.

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11

JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14 , 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

From Cafes, page 3

From Schools, page 1

a gym, meeting rooms, an auditorium and indoor basketball courts.

The nearly 42,00-squarefoot, two-story building will go up at the site of the former Royal Oak charcoal plant, 1921 NW 17th Place. The center is part of a revitalization effort for the area. Nearby, a residential community, including affordable housing, also is in the planning.

The community will occupy the former Pine Oaks Golf Course.

Construction is expected to begin this month with the center set to open in spring 2020.

In other action: • The commission welcomed Mary Elizabeth Burgess as the new director of Marion County Growth Services. Burgess was previously with the city of Augusta, Ga., where she served as development services manager.

She takes over for Sam Martsolf who retired recently. Burgess begins on Jan. 11 and will earn a starting yearly salary of $98,000.

• Commissioners issued a proclamation declaring January as “Marion County Animal Abuser Registry Awareness Month.” The registry includes the names of those convicted of animal abuse in the country.

Enacted in 2016, it is commonly referred to a Molly’s Law, after the abused dog that inspired the registry.

because we stress, of course, we have the board resolution requiring face coverings and of course we’re social distancing as much as possible, washing hands, doing all of those sanitation steps throughout the day and then our custodians go into the classrooms and other areas each evening and cleaning those hightouch areas as well.”

Even as most students return to in-person learning, there are still concerns that students are struggling compared to pre-pandemic times.

Christian said that online learning isn’t the best situation for some students.

“Well, I think it would be fair to say that, if you looked at student grades overall, they would be somewhat lower than they were last year,” Christian said. “Online learning has changed everything, from how we teach, what we’re required to teach, how we grade what we’re required to grade.

“I think that our students and our staff members have adapted to the new way, if you will. We hope that translates into higher scores. The only way to find out really is to have those tests taken and see how those students do.”

Ginger Cruze is the principal of West Port High School. She says that of the “between 2,600 and 2,700” students at West Port, 1,200 started online and ended the semester with 800.

“Our teachers are champions, and they have worked very well with

the students online and face to face,” internet connections in Ocala aren’t Cruze said. “We’ve done a great the greatest. When both of her kids job with keeping things clean and are online for school and she needs safe. Our kids and staff have been to do her own work, it’s difficult awesome about wearing their masks, for everyone to have a consistent and we’ve had kids that have been connection. Additionally, it has been out, but we really haven’t had a lot of hard at times for her kids to stay actual COVID cases. It’s been more connected with their classmates, exclusions because of contact.” even with options like FaceTime.

Cruze said that grades are down “It’s difficult in that respect,” she for both online students and insaid. “I would love for them to be person students. Additionally, as an able to go back to regular school arts magnet program, West Port has when the time is right because had to do things a bit differently this socializing is difficult.” year.

Nasser believes that she’s lucky “We’ve had to rethink all of our because her children are older and art programs, everything that we’ve more responsible. done,” Cruze said. “(The) kids had a “I think that if I had smaller play and they wore masks the whole children in elementary school, time. You know, rock band concert, it would have been a bigger the kids had masks. It’s just a whole challenge,” Nasser said. “I think different way.” because my children are in middle Cruze is hoping to have more school and high school and they’re students return to school and repretty good students, they are able evaluate how they will utilize online to keep up.” classes after the semester ends.

Sonya Nasser has two kids, one who goes to Osceola Middle School and another at Vanguard High School. Both of her children are attending online classes because she didn’t feel that inperson classes were a safe environment for her son, who has asthma.

One of the issues that Nasser, who works remotely, has faced is that [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

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12

JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Sports Shorthanded Vanguard girls’ basketball team trounces Forest

By Brendan Farrell Ocala Gazette

D

own to just five varsity players and a JV player, the odds were stacked against Vanguard’s girls’ basketball team. Instead, the Knights dominated rival Forest 53-30 at home Tuesday night.

Vanguard had seven players in COVID-19 quarantine ahead of its matchup against the Wildcats, and it still outclassed its opponent from the opening tip to the final whistle. Jackecea Rodriguez led Vanguard with 22 points, while Rain Smith (16) and Donita Buie (12) also finished with double-digit points.

“Tonight’s effort was a culmination of a lot of stress, a lot of hard work and a lot of just encouragement from the girls,” Vanguard coach Terrance Lewis said. “If you give effort, anything can happen, and that’s what I told them before the game.”

The Knights jumped out to an early 7-1 lead, forcing a timeout with 4:43 left in the first quarter.

Forest coach Jessica Dickson held an intense meeting during the stoppage, but it didn’t change Forest’s fortunes. Vanguard led 18-10 after the first quarter.

Vanguard continued to pour it on in the second quarter, scoring five unanswered points to begin the second eight minutes. It took more than four minutes for Forest to hit its first bucket of the quarter. Vanguard went on a 10-2 run to take a 2812 lead with just under three minutes in the half.

The Knights ended up taking a 33-16 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Despite only having one substitute, Vanguard never relented or ran out of gas. The Knights cruised through the second half, outscoring the Wildcats 20-14 in the second half. Forest attempted to use its numbers advantage by rotating players in and out often, desperately searching for a winning combination that it never found. A botched substitution that ended with Forest having six players on the court summed up its night perfectly.

Forest will return home for a matchup against The Villages on Friday at 7 p.m., while Vanguard hosts Hawthorne on Thursday. Lewis expects to still have six players available for Thursday’s game, but he’ll have his roster return soon.

“With Hawthorne, it’s going to be a totally different game plan,” Lewis said. “We have to control our possessions; we have to limit our possessions and get good shots. If we do that, we can be in the game because I have enough athletes that’ll get through it. The only problem is, fatigue is going to kick in. So, that’s the only difference is, so we’re just trying to sustain.”

Vanguard’s Kierra Latson (1) and Kate Bass (15) take the ball away from Forest’s Emonie Sapp (5) during a basketball game at Vanguard High School in Ocala on Tuesday. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Forest’s Kailey Tucker (3) steals the ball from Vanguard’s Jackecea Rodriguez (2). [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Vanguard’s Trevonte Rucker breaks pledge to UF, heading to Jackson State

By Ainslie Lee Ocala Gazette

A

s of Tuesday, Vanguard football’s Trevonte Rucker’s commute to college grew by eight hours.

The Ocala-native announced on his Twitter on Tuesday afternoon that he would be taking his athletic and academic talents to Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi.

Rucker’s decision to commit to a lesser-known school like Jackson State shocked the college football world.

Ranked as the 33rd best wide receiver in the nation and 29th best overall recruit in Florida, Rucker fielded offers from 25 schools across the country.

Of those, Rucker maintained allegiance to the University of Florida for much of his high school career.

Rucker committed to the Gators during his freshman year in 2018.

“I mean, I was committed a long time,” Rucker said. “I felt that the vibe they were giving me, and they weren’t real like I thought they were.”

After Rucker opted not to sign with Florida during the early signing period in December, many speculated that there was friction between the Vanguard Knight and the Gators’ football program.

Florida fans were also quick to sound off on Rucker’s decision not to sign with the Gators, with some questioning his academic eligibility.

“Them saying that makes me work even harder,” Rucker said. “So, you tell them this: The more they keep talking, the more I’m going to keep working.”

However, committing to Jackson State has been a trendy move for toprated recruits around the country after the JSU Tigers hired NFL Hall-ofFamer Deion Sanders as the program’s head coach in September.

Sanders, a two-time All-American at Florida State University and eight-time Pro Bowl selection in the NFL, brought with him a staff with a combined 84 years of coaching a playing experience in the NFL. “I changed (my commitment) because all of Jackson State’s coaches have done been to the league,” Rucker said. “It’s a no brainer. I’m getting coached by the best to do it in the game.”

Also drawing Rucker to Jackson State was the school’s status of being a historically black college and university.

“Helping the culture and just being a leader, not a follower,” Rucker said of his decision. “Deion says he wants dogs, well, he got a hard-working dog that don’t stop.”

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JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14 , 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

PBR bull riding comes to Southeastern Livestock Pavilion Ocala Gazette Staff

T

he most elite bull riders from around the world will visit the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion on Jan. 16-17 as part of the Professional Bull Riders’ (PBR) Monster Energy Invitational.

It’s the first time the league comes to Ocala, and the event is the first stop in its PBR Unleash The Beast: American Roots Edition tour.

The tour is a limited series of events scheduled for historic outdoor venues and longstanding rodeo communities across the south, according to the PBR release.

The livestock pavilion dates back to 1945 and has hosted decades of rodeos, including the Ocala Shrine Rodeo and the

Florida High School Rodeo.

The event will follow all community and health guidelines in response to COVID-19, the release states.

All PBR personnel will be tested before the event and are required to wear masks.

The attendance will be capped at 50% capacity, and social distancing will be encouraged.

The bull riding action kicks off a 2 p.m. on both days. Each night, 30 of the world’s top bull riders will attempt to ride one bull per round, with the top-12 riders advancing to the championship round.

Tickets for the two-day event are on sale now, with general admission tickets starting at $50. Tickets for children ages 5-12 cost $15.

To purchase tickets, you visit PBRTIX.com or call (800) 7321727.

Jose Vitor Leme rides a bull in this handout photo from the PBR. [Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media]

LPGA tournament returning to Ocala in March Ocala Gazette Staff

T

he LPGA is headed back to Ocala with the Drive On Championship scheduled for Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in March.

The $1.5 million event is the third

event on the upcoming LPGA tour season and will run from March 4-7.

It’s the first time the tour returns to Ocala since 2016 after the twoyear run of the the Coates Golf Championship at Golden Ocala.

Coates, a golf equipment manufacturer based in Marion County, pulled out of the event for

the 2017 edition and the tour left town.

This time around, the event is presented by JTBC, a South Korean subscription network and broadcasting company.

The tournament is set for 54 holes and counts for 500 point toward the tour championship.

Accounting firms debuts new name, sign On January 4, 2021, the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership gathered for a ribbon cutting for accounting firm Collier, Jernigan, Eastman and Zublick, PA to celebrate the addition of two new partners Jacquelyn Eastman and Jayme Zublick and the firm’s subsequent name change. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Partners Jayme Zublick, Kathi Jernigan, Jackie Eastman and Daryl Collier, left to right, pose for a photo with Horse Fever horse Hi Ho Silver by artist Kelli Money Huff during the ribbon cutting.

Employees and members of the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership gather for the ribbon cutting for Collier, Jernigan, Eastman and Zublick, PA on Northeast 25th Avenue.

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JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

News in Brief

Culver’s hopes to bring taste of Wisconsin to Ocala

Call for entries to the Mid-Florida Local Image Awards competition The Ocala Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association has released its call for entries for the Mid-Florida Local Image Awards competition.

Since 2011, the competition has been used as a method to recognize the strategic work of local public relations practitioners and now includes entries from Citrus, Flagler, Lake and Volusia counties.

Public relations and communications professionals are encouraged to submit projects that have taken place between Jan. 1, 2020, and Feb. 28, 2021.

To qualify for judging, entries must incorporate sound public relations research, planning, implementation and evaluation

and demonstrate the best examples of innovation and design.

The deadline to submit an entry is 11:59 p.m. Feb. 28.

Entry fees vary depending on the number entries and whether the participant is an FPRA member.

Entries must be submitted electronically at FPRAImage.org/ Ocala.

The FPRA Ocala Chapter will host an in-person Image celebration Thursday, April 15, from 5:30-8 p.m. at Brick City Center for the Arts (23 SW Broadway St., Ocala).

Winners at this regional competition often compete in the state Golden Image Awards competition in May.

Ocala Gazette Staff Ocala is in line for a dose of Midwest flavor after Culver’s recent application for a permit to open a fast-food restaurant locally.

The chain, which started in 1984 in Sauk City, Wisconsin, is known for its ButterBurgers, deep-fried cheese curd and fresh-made frozen custard.

The application, filed with the city’s growth management department, calls for an almost 4,500-square-foot building in the 4900 Block of Southwest State Road 200. The proposed site is next to Bojangles on SR 200.

The restaurant will feature capacity for more than 100 inside and seating for 24 outside. There also will be a drive-thru lane, but because the chain makes everything to order, six parking spaces will be dedicated to the drive-thru.

In addition to an array of burgers, Culver’s also offers pot roast, fried shrimp dinners, chicken sandwiches and salads.

The chain has more than 740 locations across the country, including one in The Villages and one in Gainesville.

The application is under review by the city, and there is no immediate timeline for when the location would open.

Discovery Center opens new Chain Reaction Charlie exhibit The Discovery Center’s newest exhibit, Chain Reaction Charlie, opens to the public Saturday, Jan. 16 and will be on display through Saturday, April 3 at the Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave. The exhibit is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The new exhibit encourages kids to explore and tinker with items within their world.

Explore Chain Reaction Charlie’s backyard, go camping at Charlie’s tree house, get hands on in the garden, or test balancing skills at the Creek Cross Challenge.

Build inside Charlie’s Workshop, where participants will learn about six simple machines and how they can work together to make incredible new inventions.

The exhibit inspires children to become inventors or challenge

current inventions.

Discovery Center staff will be implementing increased cleaning protocols for the facility. All guests must wear a face covering while inside buildings and adhere to a physical distance of six feet apart.

General admission to the Discovery Center is $8 per person or $28 for a family of four. Annual memberships are also available for individuals and families.

StarLab Planetarium shows are held Saturdays at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. and tickets are $30 per ten-person group. An alternative Planetarium-like show, NASA Solar System Exploration, is also available for a $3 add-on to the price of general admission.

For more information, please call 352-401-3900 or visit mydiscoverycenter.org.

Rendering courtesy of Culvers

District Asks Homeowners to “Skip a Week” of Irrigation this Winter The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is reminding residents who irrigate their lawns to “Skip a Week” or more of watering during the cooler months of January and February since overwatering in winter can encourage pests and disease.

According to research by the University of Florida, grass doesn’t need to be watered as often during the cooler months.

One-half to three-quarters of an inch of water every 10–14 days is sufficient. In fact, if your lawn has received any significant rainfall, then you can turn off your irrigation system and operate it manually as needed.

You can determine when your

grass needs water when: • Grass blades are folded in half lengthwise on at least one-third of your yard.

• Grass blades appear bluegray.

• Grass blades do not spring back, leaving footprints on the lawn for several minutes after walking on it.

Watering only every other week at most during the winter will help conserve drinking water supplies that the public needs for critical uses during the dry season.

For additional information about water conservation, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/SkipAWeek.

Don’t Get Scammed When Registering for a COVID-19 Vaccine The Florida Department of Health warns residents to be on guard for fraud and scams during the registration process for the COVID-19 vaccines.

In some Florida counties, officials saw fake vaccine registration pages demanding credit card payments from residents signing up for vaccine appointments.

Similar scams are occurring across the country and worldwide, in a variety of forms, including: • Telephone calls offering vaccine registration for a fee • E-mails or other solicitation

purporting to be from a medical center seeking personal information to determine eligibility for a vaccine trial • Marketers offering to ship vaccine doses, either domestically or internationally, for an exorbitant fee Marion County residents should only use official government websites or official healthcare provider sites when registering online to receive any vaccine and remember that there will never be a charge for the vaccine.

By Paul Rudnick

January 14 – February 7

Sponsored by: WUFT & Equus Inn Aspiring actor really hates Hamlet. Ghost of legendary Shakespearean actor haunting his NYC apartment really doesn’t care.

Tickets $30 for adults $15 for ages 18 and younger

celebrating 70 years

4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, Florida 34470

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JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14 , 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Community

1/8

Marion Oaks Farmers Market

1/8

Marion County Friday Market

1/8

Marion Oaks Community Center, 294 Marion Oaks Ln. 9am-noon Fresh vegetables, artisan food products and handmade crafts.

McPherson Government Complex, 601 SE 25th Ave. 9am-2pm Shop locally fresh fruits and veggies, cinnamon buns, jerky, freeze dried treats, olive oils and seafood.

After Dark in the Park: A Fistful of Dollars

Fort King National Historic Landmark 7pm Ocala Recreation and Parks invites families to bring chairs and a blanket for a free showing of this 1964 spaghetti Western with Clint Eastwood. Visit ocalafl.org/recpark for more information.

1/8 -10

WEC Winter Spectacular

1/9

What’s in the Water?

1/9

Ocala Downtown Market

1/9

Brownwood Farmers Market

1/9

Backpack Giveaway

1/9

Olaf’s Chili Challenge

1/10

Polo Match: Horseman’s Cup

1/11

Beer & Tapas Pairing

World Equestrian Center, 1390 NW 80th Ave. 8am Spectators are welcome at hunter/jumper and dressage equine events. Parking is free, restaurants are open and leashed dogs are permitted. Visit wec.net for more information.

Fort King National Historic Landmark, 3925 E Fort King St. 9-11am A wildlands nature adventure for ages 6-16. Visit ocalafl.org/ recpark for more information.

First Friday Art Walk

1/8 -30

Nature’s Beauty: Seeing & Feeling

Ocala Downtown Square 6-9pm Stroll historic downtown and enjoy 16 artists displays, roving musicians, free family art activities and live music on the square featuring The Julie Black Duo. Visit ocalafl.org/artwalk for more information.

Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St. Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 11am-4pm A collective art exhibit featuring artworks by Dr. Jillian Ramsammy and photography by Dr. Saul Reyes. Opening reception January 8, 5-6pm; exhibit open Tuesday-Saturday through January 30. Email Ashley.justiniano@mcaocala.com for more information.

1/9 Luminous Worlds -6/27

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday noon-5pm An exhibition featuring the large abstract canvases of Kristin Herzog, a Naples, Florida-based artist and former civil engineering draftsman. Visit appletonmuseum.org for more information.

Highland Memorial Park, 1515 NE Third St. Noon-4:30pm This fundraising event to benefit Sheltering Hands cat rescue features chili tastings, live music, midway games and prizes, a baked goods sale and raffles. Visit fb.com/olafschilichallenge for more information

Florida Horse Park, 11008 S Highway 475 1-3pm Bring chairs, a picnic and the family and enjoy a live polo match. Visit ocalapolo.com for more information.

Big Hammock Brewery, 103 SE First Ave. 6:30pm Young Professionals Ocala invites members and prospective members for a five-course menu. Email andrea@ocalacep.com for more information.

1/12 1/13

Young Leaders Exchange

1/14

1/8

City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Administration, 828 NE Eighth Ave. 9am-5pm Ocala artist Dan McCarthy’s exhibition includes pieces created during his exploration of Indian Lake State Forest, a hidden gem in Marion County, capturing the mood and feeling of this wild space. Open Monday-Friday. Call (352) 629-8447 for more information.

Friends Recycling, 2350 NW 27th Ave. 10am-noon Marion County Children’s Alliance, Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida and the City of Ocala, in partnership with Marion County Public Schools, will give out free school supplies in a drive-thru only format. Children must be in the car. No walk-ups. Call (352) 438-5993 for more information.

Stiletto Network

1/14

Florida: Explored

2726 Brownwood Blvd., Wildwood 9am-1pm More than 70 vendors offer fresh produce and crafts. Visit thevillagesentertainment.com for more information.

1/12

1/14

Now -1/15

310 SE Third St. 9am-2pm A variety of vendors offer local fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood, fresh pasta, honey, arts and crafts, rain or shine. Visit ocaladowntownmarket.com for more information.

Networks CEMG

1/13

Arts

Power Plant Business Incubator, 405 SE Osceola Ave. 8:15-9:15am Email tom@ocalacep.com for more information about this group of the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership (CEP).

CenterState Bank, 1632 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

4pm Email April Savarese at asavarese@bgcofmarion.com for more information about this CEP group.

Infinite Ale Works, 304 SE Magnolia Ext. 5:30-6:30pm Young Leaders is an industry-specific CEP networking group.

Email tom@ocalacep.com for more information.

Kristin Herzog, “Azul I,” 2016, Acrylic painting on gallery-wrapped canvas with painted edges, 40 x 30 x 1.5 in. Courtesy of Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.

1/11 -2/12

Visual Arts Faculty Exhibition

1/14 -2/7

I Hate Hamlet

1/11

City of Ocala Planning and Zoning Commission

1/11

Dunnellon City Council

1/11

Marion County Historical Commission

1/12

Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District Board

Farmers Market

Circle Square Commons, 8405 SW 80th St. 9am-1pm Locally grown seasonal produce, baked goods, plants and more. Visit circlesquarecommons.com/farmersmarket for more information.

Everyone Needs an Elevator Pitch

Virtual 7-8pm Trish Collins will present tips to help participants create and perfect an elevator pitch for a good first impression. Visit midflorida.score.org for more information.

Government Marion County Development Review Committee

Chief Greg Graham Legacy Walk

Zone Health and Fitness, 524 S Pine Ave. 7am-7pm A charity event to celebrate and honor the life’s work of the late Ocala Police Chief Greg Graham. Visit grahamlegacywalk.com for more information.

Ocala Civic Theatre 7:30pm A witty play about a young actor dreaming of TV stardom and haunted by the ghost of John Barrymore. Visit ocalacivictheatre.com for tickets.

1/11

1 Million Cups Ocala

Power Plant Business Incubator, 405 SE Osceola Ave. 9:30-10:30am Two local startups present their business idea to an audience of community entrepreneurs. Email ryan@ocalacep.com for more information.

CF Webber Gallery, 3001 SW College Road 10am-4pm The talent of the College of Central Florida Visual Arts faculty is displayed in an exhibition of ceramics, prints, fiber, photography and mixed media pieces. Open Monday through Thursday. Visit cf.edu for more information.

Office of the County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave. 9am The DRC votes on waiver requests, drainage/site plans, subdivision master plans, preliminary plats, improvement plans and final plats. Call (352) 671-8686 for more information.

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. 5:30pm Also accessible online at https://zoom.us/j/97314299662. Call (352) 629-8404 for more information.

Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 River Dr., Dunnellon 5:30pm Call (352) 465-8500 for more information.

McPherson Government Complex, 601 SE 25th Ave. 6pm For more information, call Rolando Sosa at (352) 620-0944.

Growth Services training room, 2710 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

9:30am Call (352) 622-3971, ext. 3 for more information.

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JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

1/12

Marion Oaks Recreation Services and Facilities Advisory Board

1/12

City of Dunnellon Historic Preservation Board

1/12

Marion Oaks General Services Advisory Board

1/13

Marion County Code Enforcement Board

1/12

Marion County School Board

1/13

Marion County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee

1/14

Marion County Development Review Committee Staff Meeting

1/12 1/12

Marion Oaks Community Center annex, 280 Marion Oaks Lane 9:30am Call (352) 438-2828 for more information.

Marion Oaks Community Center annex, 280 Marion Oaks Lane 10:30am Call (352) 307-1037 for more information.

MCPS Office, 512 SE Third St. 5:30pm Call (352) 671-7707 for more information.

Marion County License Review Board

Growth Services Training Room, 2710 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

5:30pm The License Review Board hears and investigate complaints regarding competency of licensed contractors. Call (352) 4382428 for more information.

City of Belleview Planning & Zoning Board

City Hall Commission Room, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview 5:30-6:30pm Call (352) 245-7021 for more information.

Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 River Dr., Dunnellon 5:30pm Call (352) 465-8500 for more information.

Growth Services Training Room, 2710 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

9am The Code Enforcement Board hears and resolves cases in which there is a code violation dispute. Call (352) 671-8901 for more information.

Green Clover Hall, 315 SE 25th Ave. 3:30pm Call (352) 671-8770 for more information.

Office of the County Engineer Building 1 Conference Room, 412 SE 25th Ave. 8:30am Applicants may discuss proposed or current projects with county review staff prior to meeting formally with the Development Review Committee. Call (352) 671-8686 for more information.

ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR 8

5pm Indigo

9

Spanish Springs Town Square

8

5pm Cactus Jack & the Cadillacs

9

Brownwood Paddock Square

8

5pm Crossfire

6pm Chris Poindexter

9

7pm The Big Bad

9

8

9

7pm Cote Deonath/Elvis in Las Vegas Orange Blossom Opry

9

8pm Caly Bryan

9

8pm Noah Hunton

8pm Dueling Pianos

8pm John Johnson County Line Smokehouse & Spirits

6pm Fareeza

6pm Walker & Walker

6pm The Mudds

9

7pm Heather Allen

10pm Fareeza

10

5pm The Mudds Milano Ristorante

Trinity River Band will kick off the 2021 Spring Art Park Series performances from 6-9pm. The event will also feature artisan craft vendors and art organization activities, food from Big Lee’s Serious About BBQ food truck, and cash bar served by Marion Mobile Bar and Bubbles.

Limited seated will be provided; guests are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs. No outside coolers are permitted.

To purchase tickets, please visit ocalafl.org/artpark. For more information, contact the City of Ocala Cultural Arts Division at artinfo@ocalafl.org or 352-629-8447.

13

5pm Blue Stone Circle

5pm Chasing Amy

11

5pm Ampli-Fires

13

5pm Caribbean Chillers

13

5pm Scooter the DJ

13

5pm John Dixon Band

14

5pm Cece Teneal & Soul Kamotion

14

5pm Justin Heet Band Brownwood Paddock Square

5pm Paradise Band Spanish Springs Town Square

14

5pm MPiRE Lake Sumter Landing Market Square

14

Lake Sumter Landing Market Square

12

5pm Gilly & the Girl Bank Street Patio Bar

Spanish Springs Town Square

12

5pm Billy Buchanan Brownwood Paddock Square

Brownwood Paddock Square

12

5pm Rocky & the Rollers Spanish Springs Town Square

Lake Sumter Landing Market Square

11

5pm Studio 77 Lake Sumter Landing Market Square

Spanish Springs Town Square

11

5pm Take 2 The Club at Candler Hills

Brownwood Paddock Square

O’Malley’s Alley

News in Brief The City of Ocala kicks off the 2021 Spring Art Park Series at Tuscawilla Art Park, located at 213 NE Fifth St., on Friday, Jan. 22 with live musical performances by Trinity River Band and Pasture Prime.

Trinity River Band masterfully mixes genres of Americana, rock, celtic, Christian, folk and country.

Pasture Prime will play primarily classic, old-time bluegrass tunes with a few contemporary tunes as well.

Tickets are $5 per person and children under 10 are free. Concert gates open at 5:45pm with musical

10

The Corkscrew

9

5pm Ssnakeyez

5pm The Mudds The Club at Candler Hills

Lake Sumter Landing Market Square

La Cuisine French Restaurant

The Lodge

8

10

Circle Square Commons

The Corkscrew

8

5pm Clark Barrios Band

13

Spanish Springs Town Square

Ocala Downtown Square

The Keep Downtown

8

10

Brownwood Paddock Square

Crazy Cucumber Eatery and Bar

8

5pm Penta

5pm Mike & Band The Club at Candler Hills

Lake Sumter Landing Market Square

Shuckin Shack

8

5pm Caribe Groove

10

Spanish Springs Town Square

Lake Sumter Landing Market Square

8

2:30pm Cote Deonath/Elvis: the 68 Comeback Orange Blossom Opry

5pm Spazmatics Brownwood Paddock Square

14

7pm Orange Blossom Showcase Orange Blossom Opry

Ocala I-75 gateway project approved by city council Ocala Gazette Staff

A

fter a unanimous approval from Ocala City Council on Tuesday night, the Gateway feature on the Southwest 42nd Street flyover at Interstate 75 is a go.

The signage feature, which is being built in partnership with Ocala and Marion County, will welcome northbound drivers on I-75 into the Ocala area.

“The Gateway is intended to promote and advertise tourism in the state of Florida by serving as an identification marker alerting traveling motorists to their arrival

in the Ocala, Marion County area,” according to the city While the city will maintain the flyover bridge, the county will be responsible for the gateway’s construction and upkeep.

According to conceptual drawings, the gateway will feature 6-foot letters spelling out “Ocala,” vertical towers with opportunities to display the county logo, an upgraded pedestrian safety fence and surrounding landscape enhancements.

The gateway feature is still pending approval from the Florida Department of Transportation.

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JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14 , 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Ocala songwriter wins Will McLean contest

By Lisa McGinnes Ocala Gazette

S

cott Jackson has been playing music since he learned the banjo and guitar from his dad when he was a kid.

Now, at age 56, the Ocala dentist is an award-winning singer-songwriter.

Jackson recently won first- and second-place awards in the Best New Florida Song Contest at the Will McLean Festival.

It was a big achievement for a singer who has only been writing his own songs for the last five or six years.

“I couldn’t believe it when I got the phone call. I was floored when she told me I won,” Jackson said. “I was very surprised; I did not expect it at all.”

It was the second time Jackson entered the songwriting contest held in conjunction with the annual Brooksville folk music festival.

Last year, his song “Florida Highway” took fourth place. This year it took the top honors.

“I think I’ve always wanted to (write music); I just never took the leap to do it,” Jackson said.

The inspiration for the song came during a road trip to the South Florida neighborhood

Dr. Scott Jackson poses for a photo at Jackson and Joyce Family Dentistry on Southeast 18th Avenue in Ocala on Tuesday. Jackson won the best Florida song of 2021 at the Will McLean Festival. He won with “Florida Highway,” but also took second place with “Freedom Had To Wait.” [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

where he grew up. In the smooth, melodic refrain, he reminisces about his childhood home and the rosewood tree on the corner, concluding that “no matter where you’re from or where you roam, it’s friends and family that make it home.”

“I was just thinking about that nostalgic feeling that you get when you go back home to somewhere that you haven’t been in a long time,” he said. “And how sometimes you go back and realize it’s not

necessarily the place but the people and the family that were there that made it yet special, not just the place.”

Jackson’s second-place tune, “Freedom Had to Wait,” is a Civil War ballad about the Battle of Olustee, fought near Jacksonville.

He’s looking forward to performing both songs at next year’s Will McLean Music Festival in March 2022. As a partner in a busy dental practice, he doesn’t get many opportunities to perform.

“I’ll be there next year to play,” Jackson said. “It’s my only hobby. I don’t play golf or hunt or anything like that, so basically, it is my only outlet.”

He said winning the McLean contest, named after “the father of Florida folk,” has convinced him to focus more on writing new music.

“I definitely have confidence now to do more of it,” he said. “I try to create a visual thing. If I’m writing a song, I kind of see

visuals.”

Jackson said the music his sister introduced him to growing up, including James Taylor and Jim Croce, influences the songs he writes. He’s currently working on a couple of new songs he plans to introduce on his YouTube channel.

He hopes his feel-good folk music can bring listeners a bit of the escape it provides him. Winning the song contest, he said, “was the best thing that happened to me in the whole year.”

Senate, house plan sites for remote public testimony Originally appeared in The Florida Bar News

By Gary Blankenship

C

OVID-19 precautions will be limiting access to upcoming Florida legislative committee meetings, although the House and Senate have made arrangements that will continue to allow public testimony.

And while some of that testimony may be remote, unless it is by staff or preapproved expert witnesses, testifying will still require a trip to Tallahassee. All meetings will continue to be shown online on The Florida Channel and by House and Senate websites.

House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Clearwater, and Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Spring Hill, have released guidelines for holding pre-session

committee meetings in January and February, ahead of the March 2 start of the 2021 session.

The Senate is planning on a full schedule of committee meetings, while the House will cut its number of meetings in half and meet only two days a week instead of four or five.

Meetings are set for the weeks of January 11, January 25, February 1, February 8, and February 15.

According to a memo from Sprowls, only the largest House committee meeting rooms will be used to allow for social distancing among attendees and all rooms will be sanitized between meetings.

“Audience seating in committee rooms will be socially distanced and limited to meetings where committees are discussing bills or potential legislation.

The House will use an online registration system for the public (including

lobbyists and advocates) wishing to provide substantive testimony and for the press,” the memo said. “Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. There will also be an opportunity for the public to provide written testimony to committee members should they not be able to provide testimony in person. On certain issues of great public significance and when scheduling allows, we will also have expanded seating capacity for on-site virtual testimony….

“When feasible, agency and expert presentations in committee will be carried out by video conference.”

Simpson, in a memo, said the Senate has worked with Florida State University to set up three remote viewing rooms at the Leon County Civic Center, a few blocks west of the Capitol.

The rooms “will provide the opportunity for members of the public to view meetings and virtually

address Senate committees in a safe, socially distant manner,” Simpson’s memo said. “Each committee notice published in the Senate calendar will include the room number within the Civic Center where members of the public may gather should they wish to address the committee. As always, additional public comment can be offered in writing and for inclusion in the committee packet.”

The memo went on: “In-person committee viewing will be limited to those invited to present information before the committee as well as members of the media.

As determined by the Committee Chair, in advance of each meeting, committee staff will contact those with subject matter expertise (for example, agency staff ), who would typically attend a committee meeting within their jurisdiction, to determine whether, based on the

specific agenda, they should attend the meeting in person in order to answer questions that may arise.”

Legislators and their staff will be tested before the start of each committee week and are prohibited from going to the Capitol if they have tested positive or are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. Legislators are also asked to have virtual meetings instead of inperson meetings.

Visitors are likewise prohibited from the Capitol if they have tested positive, have symptoms, or are in quarantine and must wear masks when in the company of another person.

Congregating in public areas or outside meetings rooms is prohibited and those inside meeting rooms must observe social distancing restrictions.

Sprowls and Simpson said the pandemic procedures will be updated before the March 2 start of the session.

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