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FEBRUARY 5 - FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Ocala non-profits face fire assessment surprise By Ainslie Lee Ocala Gazette
O Capt. Jules Bouckhuyt of Ocala Fire Rescue sprays water in Ocala on Feb. 2. Funding for fire rescue has been an issue since the city’s fire fee was deemed an illegal tax last June. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
cala’s non-profit organizations will soon start receiving bills from the city, seeking hundreds if not thousands to help pay for fire services. It’s a bill some didn’t expect as non-profits are exempt from most taxes. “I have to admit that I just learned yesterday that we aren’t exempt, so I haven’t yet figured out what the financial impact will be for
us,” Interfaith Emergency Services’ CEO Karla Grimsley said in a text. “At this moment, all I can say is that I’m very concerned.” The situation came about after the Florida 5th District Court of Appeal deemed Ocala’s previous method of paying for fire services illegal. The city had to find another way to fund the service. They settled on a non-ad valorem assessment that applies to all property owners, even those that usually don’t pay tax. “That’s a tough one. We understand,” said Ocala’s
Clockwork Fury: Redux The popular Horse Fever equine statue gets an upgrade
See Fire Fee, page 3
Ocala extends mask ordinance another 60 days By Ainslie Lee Ocala Gazette
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By Susan Smiley-Height Ocala Gazette
and Horse Fever II. The fiberglass equine statues are painted by local artists and placed in public places or private venues by the sponsors. Crystal Fernung, who greeted guests at the Brick via Zoom on a laptop, said she will miss having Clockwork Fury at their thoroughbred farm. She also shared some insights into how he
fter recovering from a debilitating bout of COVID-19, Mayor Kent Guinn sparred with Councilman Matt Wardell over the effectiveness of a city mask ordinance. On Tuesday, the Ocala City Council voted 4-1 to extend the emergency mask mandate for 60 days. It was the second extension for the mandate since it first passed in August. Councilman Jay Musleh voted against the mandate, as he has each time previously. “It’s my view that you should wear a mask unless it’s medically impossible for you. All you’re doing is helping your fellow man. It’s kinda one of those things... It’s the least I think you can do to show concern for your fellow man. I don’t believe in mandates, so I will not support this ordinance,” Musleh said. Guinn agreed, and while the mayor does not vote on council business, he does get to join in the discussion. Guinn said he felt the city’s mandate was toothless and was more symbolic than substantive. The mandate does not require residents to wear masks but rather requires businesses to post signs stating that masks are required. There is no mechanism to enforce the mandate. Wardell, who first introduced the mandate, shot back that after Guinn vowed not to enforce the measure,
See Horse Fever, page 2
See Mask Mandate, page 2
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lockwork Fury has been a nontraditional — and wildly popular— Horse Fever ambassador from the moment his artist, Mark Hershberger, dreamed about a steam-powered horse rampaging through eerie streets. The vision led Hershberger to cut the fiberglass equine into pieces and then reassemble them in “steampunk” fashion as part of the Horse Fever II herd in 2010. The finished product garnered international attention. Fast forward to Horse Fever 20/20, the Anniversary Herd, which soon will introduce 15 new horses to the community, and a refurbished Clockwork Fury once again will have a starring role. The updated horse was unveiled on Jan. 28 at a ceremony and ribbon cutting at the Brick City Center for the Arts. Hershberger was on hand to reveal some of the changes he made over the last year, such as installing more than 100 crystals inside the horse, along with “a complete art studio,” fiber optics, a “crash cart” and a still-to-come audio system. Clockwork Fury’s owners, Brent and Crystal Fernung, of Journeyman Stud, returned him to the herd this year so he can be sold at auction to raise money for the Thoroughbred Retirement
city attorney Robert Batsel Jr. of the inclusion of non-profits in the assessment. Batsel said the method is a more equitable way to spread out the cost of fire services, which are available to everyone, including those organizations that usually don’t pay property tax. The city is collecting $9.2 million to fund Ocala Fire Rescue from February to September. A full fiscal year will require the city to collect $13.8 million.
Horse Fever artist Mark Hershberger unvieled his upgraded version of Clockwork Fury at a recent ceremony and ribbon cutting at the Brick Center for the Arts. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
Foundation’s Second Chances Farm at the Lowell Correctional Institution and the Marion Cultural Alliance, which came into being as a result of the initial Horse Fever public art project 20 years ago. The project has provided more than $2 million in grant funding since inception. In addition to the initial herd of 53 statues, the endeavor also has included Horse Fever in Motion
Ocala Black history sites important to future By Ainslie Lee Ocala Gazette
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t’s been more than 155 years since Howard Academy first opened its doors on Northwest Seventh Avenue on the westside of Ocala. Initially serving as the only Black school in the Marion County area, the historical landmark is now receiving help from the Marion
County School Board in the board’s recent push to emphasize Ocala’s rich Black history. The school board recently awarded Howard Academy $300,000 for structural repairs within the building. A water leak in the building, which now serves as a community
center, damaged one of the main supporting beams, which created an unsafe environment. “After we found out what the issues were, the problems were and how much it would cost, the school board unanimously agreed that because of its historical significance, that we needed to make sure that Howard Academy continues to be a community center as well as a resource,” said Eric Cummings, who represents District 3 on the school
board. In addition to providing a space for mentoring services, the centuryold building also houses the Black History Museum and Archives of Marion County, which was founded in 2004. The museum portion got a $55,000 facelift before reopening in 2019. Once repairs are completed, Cummings hopes to see the museum See Black History, page 8
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COVID-19 Update See page 10