Ocala Gazette | March 8 - March 14, 2024

Impact fees for schools approved

After 13-year hiatus, developers will once again pay fees to offset costs of growth.

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

The battle to reinstate school impact fees has finally come to a close after nearly two years of tireless backing from the Marion County School Board.

The Marion County Commission voted yes on Tuesday to reinstate impact fees—one-time payments made by developers for each new home built to support the cost of building new schools. The county suspended impact fees in 2011 during the economic recession.

School district staff has been working on finding a way to reinstate the fees since May 2022, when the school board was presented with updated statistics on student population growth and many schools’ issues with reaching capacity due to lack of space.

School Board Chair Nancy

Thrower spoke before county commissioners before their vote, urging them to approve the impact fee ordinance because it is in the best interest of the county’s schools.

“Enrollment in Marion County Public Schools is at an all-time high with new students

The deterioration of once-great schools

“We would love to see some space that reflects the pride we have for our school. We’d love to be able to give our students all of the things that we want for them.”

Sarah Schrader Sparr Elementary Assistant Principal

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

The aviation program at Sparr Elementary is meant to be the school’s pride and joy, an innovative program that will bring the school magnet status next year. Due to the aging school’s lack of space, however, the program is housed in a cramped room that doubles as a storage unit.

In an effort to show just how much financial help many schools across the district need, Marion County Public Schools staff invited guests to tour nine schools last week, one of which was Sparr Elementary, a hub of learning for grades pre-K through fifth nestled in the rural northern area of the county.

Without concrete funding methods, and with higher priorities such as building two new elementary schools in the crowded southwest portion of the county, a plan to help Sparr Elementary cannot be made for

Honoring

certain now, said Barbara Dobbins, executive director of Operations and Emergency Management.

The school district has pursued bringing back two funding sources that could go toward capital projects, such as building new schools and constructing new wings to existing schools: reinstating school impact fees and increasing the local-option sales tax.

Impact fees are one-time payments made by developers for each home they build in order to offset the cost of new schools. The fees are assessed based on how many

By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com

Astudents each type of home will generate. The county commission approved an ordinance on Tuesday to reinstate impact fees, which had been suspended since 2011 due to the recession.

enrolling daily, thus creating the urgent need to build more schools and expand capacity at existing schools,” she said.

After an extensive study, the consulting firm Benesch recommended the school board ask the commissioners See Impact, page A2

Manufacturing milestone

E-ONE is celebrating 50 years of producing fire emergency vehicles, rescue trucks, aerial fire trucks, rescue pumpers and custom fire apparatus.

By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com

Tmemorial service was held Monday for Marion County Sheriff’s Office K-9 officer Leo, who was fatally wounded while protecting deputies when an armed suspect opened fired on them Feb 17 in east Marion County.

MCSO Lt. Paul Bloom opened the ceremony calling it a “solemn day” and saying Leo’s life was “cut short but was not short on loyalty and bravery.”

Leo’s handler, MCSO Cpl. Justin Tortora, said he had trained for thousands of hours to face the person others wouldn’t want to face and that his K-9 partner saved lives.

“Because of Leo, three men

went home that day,” Tortora said. Tortora said on the day of the shooting, “We were where we were supposed to be,” protecting people from harm. He called Leo’s action “the bravest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Leo, age 4 ½, is a Malinois who served with MCSO for three and a half years. He was the first MCSO K-9 to be killed in the line of duty, said Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, Woods said a section in the central area of the MCSO Operations Center parking lot where the ceremony was held, and flagpoles stand, will be made into the MCSO K-9 Memorial.

Leo K-9 units from around the state were in Ocala on Monday to honor the sacrifice of the MCSO canine officer who died in the line of duty. Tynlee

“This will be hallowed ground now,” Woods said of the area. Flags there were at half-staff for the memorial.

he E-ONE campus in southwest Ocala was a festive site on Wednesday, March 6, for the 50th anniversary celebration of the fire truck manufacturer, complete with speeches and a cake.

E-ONE is a subsidiary of REV Group Inc. The anniversary celebration, which is set to span a year, includes components such as honoring longtime customers and employees, special events showcasing new deliveries of fire trucks, the unveiling of a new fire truck badge that will be applied on all trucks delivered this year, a commemorative challenge coin and more.

The March 6 event in Ocala included a ceremony for the first 50th anniversary-badged pumper truck coming off the production line, which is bound for Pasco County Fire Rescue, and recognition of fire departments statewide.

In showing how things have changed over the years, one of the company’s first fire trucks, from 1984, was on display, along with an original invoice in the amount of $123,771. The price tag for the new truck bound for Pasco County is priced at $900,000.

Many officials were on hand See 50 years, page A6

Shaun Duncan, the supervisor of Technical Services for Marion County Public Schools, shows a sample of galvanized water pipes that are rusting away in the walls and underneath the school during a Marion County Public Schools tour of Sparr Elementary School in Sparr on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.

See Sparr, page A4

Impact fees

Continued from page A1

to reinstate school impact fees at 100% of its recommendation, which would set an impact fee of $10,693 for each single-family home built. By comparison, the single-family home impact fee was $3,967 when it was suspended in 2011.

After outcry from local developers over how a $10,000 impact fee would negatively impact affordable housing and other developments, the school board decided to ask for an impact fee of 40% of Benesch’s recommendation, or $4,307 per single-family home.

School district staff has recommended that five new schools and nine wings to additional schools be built by the year 2038 to keep up with the projected 9% increase in student enrollment.

The projected cost of both new construction and maintenance by the year 2038 will total approximately $1.8 billion.

The extensive progress of negotiations between the school board, county and city of Ocala led the school board to ask Benesch to return for more information to satisfy the city’s qualms.

Ocala officials argued against the rate proposed for multifamily housing, insisting that many of the apartment buildings being built in the city would be less likely to house students, and in turn asked for more specific categories for rates based on square footage.

The city eventually got on board after given the opportunity to weigh in on multifamily rates.

“The City of Ocala will collect the fee in accordance with the interlocal agreement between the parties,” wrote City Manager Peter Lee. “We look forward to continuing the work with the school district and the county as a part of

the Technical Working Group and we anticipate transparency, clarity and accountability of all parties moving forward.”

The educational impact fee rates were finalized as follows:

Multifamily (condominiums), per dwelling unit: $1,990

Mobile home park, per dwelling unit: $2,866

Single-family attached/townhouse, per dwelling unit: $2,020

Single-family detached/mobile home on a lot, per dwelling unit: $4,307

Multifamily apartment; 1 to 700 square feet: $1,604

Multifamily apartment; 701 to 900 square feet: $3,847

Multifamily apartment; 901 to 1,200 square feet: $4,337

Multifamily apartment; Greater than 1,200 square feet: $5,525

Impact fees must be paid for each housing unit with a permit approved after March 5, 2024.

The debate over the past several months has often left onlookers unsure whether impact fees would be reinstated due to disagreements over the school board’s decision to pursue a sales tax in addition to the impact fees. Due to legislation at the state level, there are restrictions on local governments for increasing impact fees, including needing a supermajority vote from the commission.

Commission Chair Michelle Stone warned school board members not to repeat actions she believes were mistakes made when impact fees were last in effect.

“I’m being very clear that I would expect that you have better plans in place for the future going forward for if and when you want to increase them or if you ever need to pause them again,” Stone said. “The future

of our community is counting on that. And I would also ask that as you are planning for these future schools, that you are planning for how education will take place in the future.”

Commissioner Carl Zalak voted yes to the impact fee ordinance, although he has expressed concern over the school board simultaneously pursuing a half-cent sales tax increase, which will be on the 2024 general election ballot along with the county’s request for a penny increase in the 7% sales tax for infrastructure and public safety.

“Fundamentally, I believe in the process of trying to figure out the very best way of how to fund and what taxation should look like,’’ Zalak said. “What I do know is that we shouldn’t pass growth impacts onto people that are already here, who have been paying school board taxes for generations. That should try to come from growth, at least to the best of our ability.”

The commission also passed a measure stating that if anyone tries to contest the education impact fees, the school board would be responsible for all legal fees for the county. The county previously brought up concerns about a lawsuit against Santa Rosa County, which was sued over the way officials there instated impact fees.

With the passing of the impact fee ordinance, the school district can now begin to plan construction of new schools and add wings to existing schools.

“The Marion County School Board wishes to acknowledge the collaboration of stakeholders throughout the county,” Thrower said. “We also acknowledge the many joint and individual meetings that the Marion County School Board and the Marion County Board of County Commissioners have offered to receive public comment.”

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

Marion County firefighters will no longer have to mow the grass outside their fire stations after the county approved a contract with landscapers to allow the crews to rest and respond to calls.

The Marion County Commission on Tuesday approved a contract with Southern Lawn Care Mid Florida Inc. after hearing from Marion County Fire Rescue Chief James Banta, who argued that times have changed over the past 45 years that firefighters have done yard work at their stations.

“Pulling the lawn responsibility away is a good thing to just provide (firefighters) additional downtime and rest and relaxation,” he said.

The annual contract will cost the county about $45,000 for the rest of this year and $95,000 each year after that for landscaping

services at Marion County’s 31 fire stations. Before hiring lawn care professionals, it cost $35,000 to maintain the equipment that firefighters used to mow the lawns.

Commissioner Carl Zalak described this move as a cultural change, questioning the proposal by saying the younger generation of firefighters won’t understand the effort necessary to maintain their stations.

“When I was a young kid, it got drilled into you, that you take care of your place,” Zalak said, reminiscing on his responsibilities in the home as a child. “The way you do those things, the way you present that feature, it tells us about who you are and tells us about the crews.”

Banta countered that the department wants to place more emphasis on professionalism to allow the stations to look more put together, and that a professional lawn service would be more equipped for the beautification of

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the fire stations.

As for firefighters’ responsibilities around the station, Joe Romani, vice president of the Professional Firefighters of Marion County, said the crews are always busy because “Everything you have to do at home, we have to do at the firehouse.

“Every station has to follow a set list of daily duties,’’ he said, “and my daily chores are established by the department. Some stations go a little further than what is just the basic requirements of mopping, cleaning, taking out the trash and all that.”

Firefighters are additionally responsible for washing all vehicles at the station in between calls, in addition to grocery shopping and cooking.

“Securing the lawn care for the station allows us to be ready to respond,” Romani said. “It takes something off of our plate that allows us to not have to mow the yard at 8 o’clock at night because we’ve had a busy day or training.”

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File photo: The Marion County Fire Rescue Station 28 in Rolling Greens is shown in Ocala on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020.

[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Inspire Gala honors local philanthropists

Local community supporters were recognized for their contributions

By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com

Hundreds of people gathered for the second annual Inspire Gala, held at Hilton Ocala on March 1, to celebrate philanthropy and community service in Marion County. The event was hosted by the Community Foundation Ocala/ Marion County.

Stan Hanson, on behalf of the Adam Hanson Foundation, presented awards for the Male Youth Philanthropist and Female Youth Philanthropist.

Aubryn Barnes, a student at Shady Hill Elementary, was honored for starting an annual holiday cheer event that invited first responders to her family’s house while they were working holiday shifts. Sean Martin, a student at Dunnellon High School, was recognized for his leadership in athletics.

Hanson said Martin’s leadership “goes beyond the game, leading his team in devotion and prayer, fostering a sense of unity and spiritual growth among his peers. He ensures that his fellow teammates feel uplifted and empowered, embodying the values of teamwork and camaraderie.”

R.J. Jenkins, the director of the Marion County Literacy Council, was presented the Unsung Hero award. Jenkins told the crowd that he found his community after moving to Marion County with his husband by getting to know the other generous community members who work in the nonprofit sector.

Rusty Branson, who presented the award, said of Jenkins, “He’s not just brilliant, he is kind. His compassion embodies the spirit of a hero. He may not seek the limelight or receive the praise, but his actions speak volumes.”

Lisa Irwin, founder of Arts in Health Ocala Metro, accepted the Emerging Nonprofit of The Year honor. The organization connects art and healing through music, dance, performing and visual arts, led by local artists. Some activities include distributing free art kits, sponsoring music classes for veterans at the Ocala Symphony Community Music Conservatory and traveling to underserved communities to create art.

Danielle Marciano was recognized as Board Member of the Year for her work with Better Together. The nonprofit organization helps parents going through a hard time keep their kids out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggle so they can reunite as a family with the tools and support system to thrive.

Marciano, the wife of Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano, received the award as she acknowledged the many nonprofit board members in the room who had gone above and beyond to serve.

“I’ve always struggled with the desire to do grandiose things to solve social issues in our community, however I’ve taken solace in living it the way that

St. Therese of Lisieux recommended. I don’t have extra letters that follow my name to denote any sort of special education or possess any superhuman strength. I don’t claim any superpowers or have any outstanding talents above anybody else. But I can love so like St. Therese. I can try to do little things with great love,” she said.

Curt Brummond, CEO of the Marion County Hospital District, accepted the award for Corporate Partner of the Year. The district’s trustees manage hundreds of millions of dollars to be used for the public’s health.

Ron “Rondo” Fernandez, president of The Rock, accepted the Non-Profit of the Year honor. The program, which is organized by Fernandez and his wife, Toby, has converted classrooms into The Rock rooms as part of Empowered of Central Florida. The rooms at local schools offer students in need school supplies, food, toiletries, feminine hygiene products, clothing and even washers and dryers to do their laundry. The Rock program helps about 250 students each day.

Brandon and Diannah Perry were honored with the Philanthropist of the Year award after distributing millions at the bequest of his mother, Cathy Perry. She was a devoted animal advocate and three years after her passing on Feb. 1, 2020, many nonprofit organizations in the community received donations totaling more than $5 million through the Cathy D. Perry Trust. Brandon and Dinnah visited many of the local nonprofits to deliver checks in various amounts, including Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection, Hospice of Marion County, Humane Society of Marion County, Royal Dames for Cancer Research, Inc., Voices for Change Animal League (VOCAL), Marion Therapeutic Riding Association, Final Furlong, Horse Farms Forever, Interfaith Emergency Services, Sheltering Hands and Junior League of Ocala. Donations also went to the Duke University Brain Tumor Cancer Center, Florida Thoroughbred Charities, Thoroughbred Charities of America and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Foundation, among others.

Frank Hennessy, chairman of the community foundation board of directors, presented his legacy award to Frank DeLuca. DeLuca, the owner of DeLuca Toyota, has given more than $14 million to the community through the years and lent his wisdom to countless nonprofit boards. One example of his philanthropy is the Frank DeLuca YMCA Family Center in southeast Ocala.

To learn more about the foundation, which offers philanthropic guidance for donors, tax and financial advisors, nonprofits and the public sector, go to ocalafoundation.org

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

Sean Martin, left, is congratulated by Stan Hanson, as Martin receives the Male Youth Philanthropist of the Year award during the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County Inspire Gala at the Hilton Ocala in Ocala on Friday, March 1, 2024.

Aubryn Barnes, 9, reads her award acceptance speech after being named the Female Youth Philanthropist of the Year, as founder Stan Hanson, center, and Ashley Gerds, the Director of Strategic Engagement for the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County, right, look on

Danielle Marciano, left, receives the Board Member of the Year award from Angie Lewis, right.

Brandon Perry, center, speaks as his wife, Diannah, left, holds the award as they receive the Philanthropist of the Year award from Doug Cone III, right.

R.J. Jenkins, left, receives the Unsung Hero of the Year award from Lauren DeIorio, the President and Executive Director of the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County, center, and Rusty Branson of SouthState Bank, right.

Frank DeLuca, the President and owner of DeLuca Toyota, center, celebrates with his wife, Angela, right, as his grandson, Christian DeLuca, left, hoists the large, 35 pound trophy after DeLuca received the Frank Hennessey Legacy Award award.

Lisa Irwin of Arts In Health Ocala Metro, center, speaks as she receives the Emerging Nonprofit of the Year award.

Ron “Rondo” Fernandez of Empowered The Rock, left, receives the Nonprofit of the Year award from Frank DeLuca, right.

Erika Skula, the CEO of AdventHealth Ocala, right, speaks as Lauren DeIorio, the President and Executive Director of the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County, looks on.

Sparr Elementary

Continued from page A1

The school board has also moved to place a request to increase the 7% sales tax by a half-cent on the general election ballot this fall to generate funds for new schools.

Sparr Elementary was built in 1964 and as the community evolved and grew, the school grew with it. But after multiple additions, “There’s only so much land available” to utilize without completely changing the footprint of the school, said Assistant Principal Sarah Schrader.

Since its opening, Sparr’s enrollment has increased by 40% and now totals 440 students. Most of the classrooms, rooms and even closets are used for multiple purposes to efficiently use all available space.

“We would love to see some space that reflects the pride we have for our school. We’d love to be able to give our students all of the things that we want for them,” Schrader said. “Our school is growing; our magnet program is just beginning. We know Sparr is only going to become a better place to be, and we’d like to have facilities to help us accomplish that.”

Take one room, for example. It houses all of the supplies for the Future Aviator Academy, the school store and an administrator’s office. In this particular building of the school, the air-conditioning system was installed in 1992, so the 32-year-old system is well past its expiration date. It often stops working, leaving students cooled by just fans.

The Future Aviator Academy program is an addition to the school, which allows for third through fifth grade students to learn about concepts of aerospace engineering and aviation through hands-on instruction.

Aging buildings not only negatively impact the mechanical aspects of a school—such as its

plumbing, air conditioning and lighting—but the deteriorating conditions also negatively impact teacher retention, student attendance and performance, according to the school district.

Several classrooms at Sparr don’t have direct access to restrooms. In one area of the school, three restrooms are shared by five classrooms, one of which only can be accessed by going through a classroom, which often causes interruptions for that class during the school day.

“These fifth grade students have to leave their classroom, go knock on a fourth grade classroom and interrupt their classroom to go in to use the bathroom,” Schrader said. “Then it becomes the responsibility of those teachers to help monitor that bathroom usage.”

Running through the floors, walls and ceilings is galvanized cast iron plumbing that is original to the school and is now in dire need of repair.

When it comes to how often maintenance is conducted at Sparr, Technical Services Supervisor Shaun Duncan said it’s needed “constantly.”

Across the entire district, the facilities average at about 24,000 work orders per year. Maintenance and repairs are partially funded by the capital outlay from the 1.5 property tax millage rate, but those funds only cover about 20% of maintenance and facilities needs. The other 80% of unfunded maintenance needs simply does not get done.

Maintenance was formerly funded in part by Public Education Capital Outlay dollars, which used to be a state funding source that came from taxes generated by landline phones, according to MCPS spokesperson Kevin Christian.

With aging facilities such as Sparr and the nearby Anthony Elementary, the school district explained that building a new

school to combine the two elementaries would end up being less expensive than trying to fix the existing issues and expand the schools to have enough space for their growing student populations.

For many of the schools across the county, portable classrooms have been the solution for a lack of space. But portables often come with problems of their own.

“We have approximately 832 portables across our district that we own. Of that, about 246 of them are used for instructional purposes. At any given moment in an instructional day, that impacts about 4,000 to 6,000 students,” Dobbins said.

Many of the portables have no water or sewer capabilities, leaving students to trek to nearby buildings to use restrooms during the school day. Given the frequent inclement weather of Florida, this journey could leave students walking through the rain as most schools severely lack covered walkways.

“If we’re in severe weather and we have to evacuate the portables, then you’re looking at every student having to go into another building, and most likely sitting in hallways or other classrooms and losing the instructional time and that significantly impacts their performance,” Dobbins said.

Sparr, like many other district schools, lacks covered walkways in many exposed areas of the school.

“I can tell you that every one of our 50 schools is short covered walkways. It’s just another example that we prioritize, with the little funding we get, those life-threatening type of needs such as HVAC and plumbing and things like that,” Dobbins said.

Sparr is not the only school with problems; schools across the district are dealing with their aging facilities and the consequences of growth. Many schools in the southwest portion of the district, such as West Port

High School, have reached or exceeded the total capacity of students that the schools can hold. With the future of Marion County promising expansive growth, and with the current rate of 200 new residents moving to the county per week, school district officials are asking for support from area legislators and the community alike.

“Seeing what our student needs

are is the priority for everything that we do,’’ said Superintendent Diane Gullett. “We can’t expect to provide a productive learning environment when students are working in closets and they have to impact two or three classrooms just to use the restroom facilities. Our students deserve better than that, and I do think our community will support what’s best for our students.”

Multiple serious accidents this week

By Andrew Filmore andy@ocalagazette.com

A16-year-old girl was seriously injured Friday (Mar.1)

afternoon when the van she was driving crashed head-on into a Marion County Public Schools bus carrying dozens of students in northern Marion County, according to a Florida Highway Patrol press release.

The crash injured the bus driver and two of the students onboard, the Florida Highway Patrol reports.

According to the FHP press release, the

crash occurred around 2:20 p.m. when the van, headed northbound on County Road 315 , “crossed the center line and traveled northbound in the southbound lane of CR315 causing a head-on collision“ with the bus carrying 36 students.

The girl driving the van suffered serious injuries and it was unknown if she wore a seat belt, the press release stated.

The 24-year-old woman driving the bus incurred “minor” injuries and two students on the school bus were “transported to a local hospital with injuries,” the press release stated.

The press release stated a second

MCPS bus -behind the bus which was struck- was driven by a 26- year-old man and carrying 33 students.

The second bus was struck by debris from the initial crash and no injuries were reported on second bus, the press release indicated.

A Facebook post by Marion County Fire Rescue indicates the crash occurred in the 12400 block of Northeast CR-315 in Fort McCoy and states the van driver was transported as a “trauma alert” and a total of four students were transported to a local hospital.

Units from the MCFR Fort McCoy Station responded to the crash and extracted the “minivan” driver and triaged students, according to the post.

Meanwhile, the FHP reported a 50- year-old Dunnellon man died and a 61-year-old woman from Morristown suffered minor injuries in a crash in southwest Marion County on Friday (March.1) night.

According to an FHP press release, the crash occurred around 7:35 p.m. when the unidentified man who was traveling west on Southwest 29th Street “failed to stop for the stop sign at U.S. Highway 41” and pulled into the path of the woman’s vehicle which was headed south on U.S. Highway 41.

Both vehicles involved were pickup trucks and the victim wore a seat belt while the other driver did not, the press release stated.

Responders from MCFR pronounced the victim deceased at the scene, the press release stated.

On Sat. March 2, a 40-year-old Ocala woman was located and arrested shortly after she allegedly fled a crash that caused the death of one man and injuries to another in southeast Marion County,

according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Mary P. Wise was booked into the Marion County Jail Sunday at 2:28 a.m. and charged with hit and run , (failure) to remain at a crash involving a death and (failure) to remain at a crash involving injury other than serious bodily injury, jail records indicate.

According to an FHP press release, the crash happened near the intersection of Spring Road and Spring Place in a “dark area with no street lighting” just before 11 p.m. on Saturday (Mar.2 ).

The area is perhaps a half of a mile east of the Heather Island Shopping Plaza (Publix) on the south side of County Road 464 (Maricamp Road),

According to the FHP press release, a 49-year-old man on a pedal- cycle towing an 84-year-old man in a “motorized scooter” was headed east on Spring Road while Wise was headed west on Spring Road in a 2006 Chevrolet pickup.

The truck “struck the pedal-cyclist and scooter with its right front section,”and “fled the scene” headed west, according to the press release.

The FHP press release stated the 84-year-old died and listed injuries to the 49-year-old man as “serious.”

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office “quickly located (the suspect) within the same neighborhood as where the crash had occurred, ” the press release stated, FHP investigators went to the location and “positively identified” the vehicle due to parts which matched the crash scene and a residential video aided in the vehicle identification, the press release indicated.

Wise also faces a charge connected to property damage, according to jail records. She was held as of Sunday morning on no bond.

Assistant Principal Sarah Schrader, center, talks about the small school cafeteria, which is also used for school plays and many other things because of the lack of the school’s size during a Marion County Public Schools tour of Sparr Elementary School in Sparr on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

David Hartley, the Library Media Specialist, talks about the small space he has to work with students.

A 16-year-old girl was seriously injured Friday (Mar.1) afternoon when the van she was driving crashed head-on into a Marion County Public Schools bus carrying dozens of students in northern Marion County, according to a Florida Highway Patrol press release. Two children on the bus were transported to the hospital. [Supplied MCFR]

K-9 Leo memorial

Continued from page A1

Woods spoke of the “unique bond” between handler and K-9 and said Leo “gave everything.”

K-9s have served with MCSO since 1967 and the first was Kirk, partnered with Paul Taylor, Woods stated.

MCSO currently has eight K-9 units, according to Public Information Officer Zach Moore.

The incident that claimed the lives of the suspect and Leo occurred on Feb. 17 around 9 a.m. in the 900 block of Northeast 144th Court, about 15 miles east of Ocala.

According to an MCSO release, deputies responded to a call for service involving battery by strangulation and found a suspect identified as Jeremy Bradsher, 44, in the backyard.

“(The suspect) initiated gunfire towards our deputies, injuring K-9 Leo in the exchange. Responding with necessary force, deputies returned fire, resulting in the apprehension of the suspect, who was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced deceased,” the press release stated.

Tortora praised the assistance of fellow MCSO deputies, the Ocala Police Department and Alachua County deputies, who helped transport the injured K-9 through busy traffic and travel to the University of Florida Veterinarian Hospital.

A team of four doctors at the UF facility, who were present at the memorial, made heroic efforts to save Leo, Tortora indicated.

Leo succumbed to his injuries on Feb. 20 which was his “end of watch.”

Several hundred members of law enforcement from across the state, citizens and local elected officials attended the memorial.

Amanda Aponte and her daughter Addilyne, 5, were among a number of citizens who came to pay their respects to Leo.

Marion, Citrus, Alachua, Putnam, Sarasota, Madison, Seminole, Volusia

and Palm Beach were among the counties represented by K-9 units and personnel.

Ocala, Williston, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Ocoee and Lake Mary were some of the city police departments on hand with K-9 units and officers.

The Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Corrections, Marion County Jail, U.S. Marshall’s Service and Marion County Fire Rescue also were represented.

Deputies Taylor Rayburn and Kyle Schultz represented the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office. One of the deputies likened having a K-9 partner to “having a kid” and “you live, eat and sleep with them” but they would take a bullet to protect their human partner.

Justin Tolbert and K-9 Bodi, Garrett Bechtel with K-9 Xyrus, Lloyd O’ Quinn with Ranger, Cauy Kerley with K-9 Goro and Casey Walsh with K-9 Stern lined up with 34 other K-9 units to pay their respects during the memorial, which included a prayer and the playing of taps by K-9 Cpl Calvin Batts. The MCSO Honor Guard provided a 21-gun salute and music was supplied by MCSO Bagpipes.

Walsh said she wanted to be a K-9 Officer “since she was 5 years old.”

MCSO Chaplain Vern Phillips offered a prayer and called Leo an “example of selflessness.”

Woods presented Tortora with a ceremonial flag that had flown over the Florida capitol building from Congresswoman Kat Cammack, delivered by Jeannie Rickman, economic development coordinator with the congresswoman’s Ocala office.

Tortora said losing his K-9 partner “hurts like heck.”

In a closing tribute, the MCSO Communication Division made a “Final Call” for service to K-9 Unit 5699— Tortora and Leo—which was played over the public address system.

Tortora replied that Leo was “10-7,” or out of service.

“Because of Leo, three men went home that day.”

MCSO Cpl. Justin Tortora Leo’s handler

K-9 Cpl. Justin Tortora gets a hug during a memorial service for his K-9 Leo at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Ocala on Monday, March 4, 2024.

Left: Alesa Tortora, the wife of K-9 Cpl. Justin Tortora, holds the American flag for K-9 Leo.

Below: Lt. Julie Vowinkel of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office wipes away a tear as she stands with other members of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

50 years of E-ONE

Continued from page A1

for the celebration, including Mike Virnig, president, REV Specialty Vehicles Segment, and representatives from the city of Ocala and Marion County. The governmental agencies provided proclamations that noted the milestone anniversary.

According to materials provided in advance of the event, “Five decades of E-ONE’s existence have been marked by continuous growth, with a humble beginning of 25 employees evolving into a workforce of nearly 1,000 individuals in Ocala. In these 50 years, E-ONE has become a pioneer and worldwide leader in the design and manufacturing of fire emergency vehicles, rescue trucks, aerial fire trucks, rescue pumpers and custom fire apparatus.”

The company started with 25 employees and today employs more than 1,000 people at facilities in Ocala and Hamburg, NY.

“We’re proud of E-ONE’s network of loyal customers around the world as well as all our past and present employees’ commitment to building the best apparatus for firefighters,” said Virnig in a news release. “From those first days in 1974 until today, it has been our privilege to offer the leadership and service E-ONE is known for to our customers in the fire industry and we look forward to the exciting and ground-breaking next 50th years of the company.”

Company materials note that it was in 1974 that “Bob Wormser founded Emergency One, Inc., now known as E-ONE, and introduced the first modular extruded aluminum fire truck body, which could be built separate from the chassis and loaded later. This launched the company’s reputation in the fire industry for pioneering innovation, still evidenced 50 years later in the fire apparatus it produces for fire departments around the world.”

E-ONE opened an 82,000 square foot production facility in Ocala in 1978 and in 1981 produced its first aerial, a 110’ welded extruded aluminum aerial with integral torque box chassis. Other milestones include:

• 1983 - 95-foot platform and 135-foot ladder introduced, both part of the modular line of aerials

1990 - Opened 65,000 square foot welcome center/production facility 1994 - Introduced the HP 75 ladder with 500-pound tip load

• 2001 - HP 95 Mid-Mount introduced

• 2007 - HP 100 Platform released

• 2011 - eMAX pumper introduced 2017- Metro 100 Quint introduced 2020 - DND Air Transportable ARFF produced 2022 - All-Electric Vector released

To help celebrate the anniversary milestone, E-ONE customers, employees and others can share their experiences at e-one.com/50years and on the company’s various social media channels.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

Dan Desorcie, Thomas McLendon and Dale Clifford, left to right, look over the original owners manuals and paperwork of a 1984 Emergency One firetruck that was in service in Petal, MS, during the 50 Years of E-ONE celebration at E-ONE in Ocala on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.

People gather for the celebration.

A 1984 Emergency One firetruck that was in service in Petal, MS and built by E-ONE.

A photo of Robert Wormser, the founder of E-ONE.

Thomas McLendon of Sunbelt Fire, left, and Clay Gibson of E-ONE, right, look over the original owners manuals and paperwork of a 1984 Emergency One firetruck.

Home sale prices continue to rise Lawmakers set to pass $117.46B budget

The Florida Realtors Association’s January 2024 market report shows that statewide the median single-family home sale price rose to $405,000, a 3.8% year over year increase, and townhouses and condo median sales price were $320,000, a 3.2% year over year increase.

The statewide active listing inventory for single-family homes, townhouses and condos is just over 81,600, which is an increase of 24.8% over last January.

Ocala/Marion County’s January median sale price reported for single-family homes was $280,000, up from $278,500 a year before. Local townhouses and condos median sales prices came in at $203,750, up from $192,450 a year before.

“While sales and prices remained fairly similar compared to a year ago, we saw significantly more new listings this January,” said Florida Realtors Chief Economist Brad O’Connor. “New listings of single-family homes were up 16.7% year over year, while new listings of townhouses and condos were up by 31.4%. This is a continuation of a trend we’ve seen over the past few months and it mostly has to do with abnormally low numbers of new listings in late 2022 and early 2023, mostly due to how fast mortgage rates were rising at that time.”

He noted that while last month’s new listings were well above where they were in January 2023, the numbers were basically in line with pre-pandemic levels in January 2019 and January 2020.

With new listings back to normal levels over the past few months, the Florida housing market has added some inventory, thus pulling it out of those multi-year lows, according to O’Connor.

“That’s great news for prospective homebuyers who have been looking for more variety in the market,” he said. “Affordability remains a challenge, but the extra inventory we have now should help to keep further price growth in check for the time being.”

The association reported the supply of single-family existing homes statewide

increased to a 3.8-months’ supply.

“Months’ supply inventory is a useful indicator of market conditions,” the report stated. “The benchmark for a balanced market (favoring neither buyer nor seller) is 5.5 months of inventory. Anything higher is traditionally a buyers’ market, and anything lower is a sellers’ market. “

Existing condo-townhouse properties were at a 5.8-months’ supply in January, an increase of 87.1% from January of 2023.

Statewide, the number of cash sales for single-family homes increased by 3.3% with a total of 4,826 throughout Florida, which was 32.5% of all sales, nearly one-third of the overall market. For townhomes/condos, the number of cash sales increased only by 0.1%, but represented 55.9% of the market.

“Cash sales can be a useful indicator,” the report stated, “of the extent to which investors are participating in the market. Investors are far more likely to have the funds to purchase a home available up front, whereas the typical homebuyer requires a mortgage or some other form of financing.”

Ocala/Marion County has seen an increase of 5.9% in single-family home closings in over the past 12 months, which is higher than the 3.2% increase experienced statewide. Ocala/Marion County had 595 total closed sales in January, with 553 reported as single-family homes and 42 reported as townhomes/condos.

However, mortgage interest rates above 6% continued to impact potential homebuyers’ purchasing power while also contributing to a lock-in effect among would-be home sellers who bought their homes years ago with a mortgage rate of 3% to 4.5%.

“We’re seeing positive signs that forsale inventory is beginning to increase in many local markets across the state, which should encourage buyers who may have been waiting on the sidelines,” said 2024 Florida Realtors President Gia Arvin, broker-owner with Matchmaker Realty in Gainesville. “It looks like mortgage rates may be starting to ease and if that continues, we should see more pent-up demand translate into closed home sales.”

By Jim Turner and Ryan Dailey Florida News Service

Florida’s 60-day legislative session is expected to end on time Friday after the release Tuesday of a $117.46 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

House Speaker Paul Renner announced at 11:49 a.m. Tuesday that the spending plan was “on the desk,” after House and Senate budget leaders finished negotiations Monday.

“It was a textbook smooth process,” Renner said. “And given the hour of the day, that means we’re going to be able to have a pretty good Friday and spend the weekend at home.”

Renner’s comments came one minute after the budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year was made available. That started a required 72-hour “cooling off” period before lawmakers can vote on the budget, which will be nearly 1.4 percent smaller than the budget for the current fiscal year, which will end June 30.

But overall state spending will be higher than the $117.46 billion in the budget because of separate legislation. For example, lawmakers have approved spending $717 million in a major health-care bill (SB 7016) that includes efforts to attract more doctors to the state.

A Senate news release said the budget includes spending $500 million to pay down state debt. It also comes after the state budget was boosted in recent years by federal money related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As the timeline to spend pandemic funds is coming to (an)

end, we are making smart, fiscally responsible adjustments and right-sizing our balanced budget to a level sustainable for the long term,” Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, said in a prepared statement.

As the legislative session began in January, leaders discussed a need to tighten spending. Gov. Ron DeSantis in December proposed a $114.4 billion budget.

The negotiated budget includes a 3 percent pay raise for state employees, with additional increases at the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and for agents who protect DeSantis and his family.

The budget includes a $1.8 billion increase in funding for public schools over the current fiscal year, which will mean a $240 bump in per-student spending.

Senate Education Appropriations

Chairman Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, pointed to $1.2 billion in the budget for increasing teacher salaries and said it was “renewing our commitment” to educators. That amount represents a roughly $200 million increase for teacher pay over the current year.

Lawmakers also included a $40 million increase in school safety funding, bringing the total to $290 million, and a $20 million boost to school mental-health funding, bringing the total to $180 million.

The Florida Education Association, a statewide teachers union, said the budget wouldn’t go far enough in supporting students and educators.

“Florida has the fourth largest See Budget, page A9

AdventHealth debuts new helicopter

AirStar 1 will help with efficiency and safety in hospital-to-hospital transfers and 911 responses.

On March 4, the AdventHealth West Florida Division launched AdventHealth AirStar 1, a cutting-edge medical helicopter set to redefine patient transfers within the Tampa Bay region, which includes Ocala/Marion County.

AdventHealth AirStar 1 will enhance the efficiency and safety of hospitalto-hospital transfers, minimizing delays in critical care transports, noted the news release. The twin-engine Airbus H135 P3H will be stationed at Lakeland Linder International Airport. AdventHealth AirStar 1 will be operated by a team of 12 trained medical professionals, including registered flight nurses and certified flight paramedics.

The aircraft will be operational 24/7, 365 days a year, with state-of-theart instrumentation and safety features. AirStar 1 also will be on standby for community 911 responses, providing rapid medical assistance for trauma, stroke and cardiac alert patients across multiple counties.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

Erika Skula, the President and CEO of AdventHealth Ocala, sits behind the controls.

Right: First responders, members of AdventHealth Ocala and members of the flight crew pose for a group photo with the new AdventHealth AirStar 1 helicopter after it landed on the helicopter pad.

The new AdventHealth AirStar 1 helicopter comes in for a landing on the helicopter pad at AdventHealth Ocala in Ocala on Monday, March 4, 2024.

People look over the new AdventHealth AirStar 1 helicopter after it landed.

Ana William, 9, left, sits on the patient stretcher as she gets a tour of the new AdventHealth AirStar 1 helicopter from Flight Paramedic Mark Adams, left,

Plan passes to curb homeless public sleeping

By Jim Turner Florida News Service

Acontroversial proposal designed to prevent homeless people from sleeping in public places while requiring local governments to address the issue is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The Republican-controlled Senate on Tuesday voted 27-12 along party lines to pass the bill (HB 1365), which would bar cities and counties from allowing people to sleep at places such as public buildings and in public rights of

Budget

way. The House approved the bill last week, and DeSantis has voiced support for it.

Senate sponsor Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, said the goal is to provide safer locations for people than sleeping at places such as parks or under overpasses and pavilions.

“Insufficient shelter beds and insufficient permanent housing solutions result in unsheltered sleeping and camping in public places, places that we want our kids and grandkids to enjoy, like the parks,” Martin said. “This bill is a compassionate response to the

Continued from page A7 economy in the nation, yet Florida’s budget doesn’t reflect that,” union President Andrew Spar said in a prepared statement. “Make no mistake — our state has the ability to provide funds to pay teachers and education staff professionals fairly, to fully fund public education, to ensure teacher vacancies are filled so every child can have an educator trained in their subject, yet chooses not to make these real issues a priority year after year.”

In a news release, the union pointed to the money in the budget for teacher salaries, saying it would “need to cover

roughly 200,000 educators.”

shortage of shelters and supportive housing by providing an alternative to sleeping in the streets.”

But Democrats argued the state would provide limited resources to local governments to carry out the measure, potentially exposing the local governments to lawsuits.

Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-Miami Gardens, said the measure is “literally reshuffling the visibility of unhoused individuals with no exit strategy for people who are experiencing homelessness.”

“I understand that this bill does not make it illegal for people

“While $200 million sounds historic, the truth is, the salary increases being proposed in Florida’s budget don’t move the needle far enough or fast enough for educators working toward a better life,” the FEA said in a statement.

In higher education, the budget has just shy of $750 million in what’s known as capital-outlay funding for state colleges and universities. The funds can be used for such things as construction and maintenance projects.

The budget also includes more than $230 million for maintenance and repair projects at charter schools.

by Margaret Ross Tolbert

to sleep in public places,” Jones said. “But rather, it appears to make it illegal for local governments to ignore people sleeping in public.”

The measure would allow local governments to designate certain property for sleeping or camping if the sites meet standards set by the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Such areas, which could only be used for one year, would have to include access to such things as restrooms and running water, have security and be deemed alcohol- and drug-free. Also, the sites could not harm values of nearby properties or safety.

The bill would give residents and business owners standing to file civil lawsuits against local governments for allowing illegal sleeping or camping on public property.

Fiscally constrained counties—mostly rural counties—would be exempted from certain requirements if complying would create a financial hardship.

Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-Sunny Isles Beach, said the bill isn’t designed to solve homelessness, but to clean streets of a “nuisance.”

“When you say that Jefferson County will not have to provide behavioral health services to this, but in Broward County you will, you don’t really mean it that you’re trying to help all those people,” Pizzo said, referring to rural Jefferson County being

On environmental issues, the budget includes $702 million for Everglades restoration and operations at the South Florida Water Management District. Meanwhile, flood and sea-level rise programs would get $125 million, while $55 million would go toward natural springs.

The budget doesn’t include an additional $5 million DeSantis sought for a program that has transported undocumented immigrants to out-of-state “sanctuary” communities. Instead, about $9 million still available in the current year would roll into next fiscal year.

“We’re trying to craft a responsible

fiscally constrained.

Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Windermere, said costs for local governments could top $500 million and cautioned that the planned “encampments have the potential to increase human trafficking.”

Sen. Rosalind Osgood, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat who was once homeless, said the approach would create greater mistrust between people experiencing homelessness and law enforcement and could divide communities.

Martin said a $117.46 billion state budget, which lawmakers are expected to pass Friday, includes $30 million in challenge grants for local governments to provide mental-health and substance-abuse services, shortterm and traditional shelters and sanctioned camping and safeharbor sites.

In February, DeSantis pointed to homeless problems in San Francisco as he expressed support for legislative efforts to provide “some support for counties for additional sheltering, providing some financial support for both substance-abuse (programs) and mental health.”

“What we don’t want to see in the legislation is any incentive to create homeless camps, particularly in areas that would interfere with the public conducting normal business,” DeSantis said during a Feb. 5 news conference in Miami Beach.

budget and if the funds were not used (in the current fiscal year), we revert and reappropriate them,” Passidomo told reporters. “We’ll see how it goes over the next year. And if those funds are used, we’ll be able to appropriate more in the next budget cycle.”

The spending plan includes $528.6 million for land acquisition and management programs, which include Florida Forever and the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Another $17 million will go to continuing a program that offers $5,000 bonuses to new lawenforcement recruits and to attract veteran officers from other states.

File photo

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In case of a medical emergency, call 911.

Free access offered through museum

Thousands of CT-scanned natural history specimens offered through online database.

By Jerald Pinson Florida Museum of Natural History

Natural history museums have entered a new stage of scientific discovery and accessibility with the completion of openVertebrate (oVert), a five-year collaborative project among 18 institutions to create 3D reconstructions of vertebrate specimens and make them freely available online.

Researchers published a summary of the project in the journal “BioScience,” in which they review the specimens that have been scanned to date and offer a glimpse of how the data might be used to ask new questions and spur the development of innovative technology.

“When people first collected these specimens, they had no idea what the future would hold for them,” said Edward Stanley, co-principal investigator of the oVert project and associate scientist at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville.

Natural history museums got their start in the 16th century as cabinets of curiosity, in which a few wealthy individuals amassed rare and exotic specimens, which they kept mostly to themselves. Since then, museums have become a resource for the public, with exhibits that showcase biodiversity for anyone interested in learning about it.

However, the majority of museum collections remain behind closed doors, accessible only to scientists who must either travel to see them or ask that a small number of specimens be mailed on loan. The research team behind oVert wants to change that.

“If you require someone to get on a plane and travel to you to collaborate, that’s prohibitive in a lot of ways,” said David Blackburn, lead principal investigator of the oVert project and curator of herpetology at the Florida Museum. “Now we have scientists, teachers, students and artists around the world using these data remotely.”

Between 2017 and 2023, oVert project members took CT scans of more than 13,000 specimens, with representative species across the vertebrate tree of life. This includes more than half the genera of all amphibians, reptiles, fishes and mammals. CT scanners use high-energy X-rays to peer past an organism’s exterior and view the dense bone structure beneath. Thus, skeletons make up the majority of oVert reconstructions. A small number of specimens were also stained with a temporary contrast-enhancing solution that allowed researchers to visualize soft tissues, such as skin, muscle and other organs.

The models give an intimate look at internal portions of a specimen that could previously only be observed through destructive dissection and tissue sampling.

“Museums are constantly engaged in a balancing act,” Blackburn said. “You

want to protect specimens, but you also want to have people use them. oVert is a way of reducing the wear and tear on samples while also increasing access, and it’s the next logical step in the mission of museum collections.”

oVert was funded with an initial sum of $2.5 million from the National Science Foundation, along with eight additional partnering grants totaling $1.1 million that were used to expand the project’s scope. The goal was to initially scan only specimens preserved in ethyl alcohol, which represent the bulk of fish, reptile and amphibian collections. Specimens that are too large for fluid preservation are also unlikely to fit into a CT scanner, but researchers were reluctant to leave these out.

A partnering grant to the Idaho Museum of Natural History was used to create a digital model of a humpback whale. The entire specimen was too big to scan with sufficient resolution, so researchers painstakingly took apart the skeleton, produced 3D models of each individual bone, then reassembled the physical and digital specimen.

Even moderately sized specimens at times required a little ingenuity, as was the case with a set of iconic tortoises at the California Academy of Sciences.

“They have the largest Galapagos tortoise collection in the world. These are not things you put in boxes and loan,” Blackburn said.

Using funds from another partnering grant, curatorial staff members had to come up with a way to photograph each tortoise in a 360-degree rotation. Photographing their undersides was problematic, as their curved shells made it impossible to keep them upright. After a few trial-and-error runs, they settled on placing the specimens on top of inflatable swimming tubes.

Scientists have already used data from the project to gain astonishing insights into the natural world.

In 2023, Edward Stanley was conducting routine CT scans of spiny mice and was surprised to find their tails were covered with an internal coat of bony plates, called osteoderms. Before this discovery, armadillos were considered to be the only living mammals with these structures.

“All kinds of things jump out at you when you’re when you’re scanning,” Stanley said. “I study osteoderms, and through kismet or fate, I happened to be the one scanning those particular specimens on that particular day and noticed something strange about their tails on the X-ray. That happens all the time. We’ve found all sorts of strange, unexpected things.”

CT scans from oVert were also used to determine what killed a rim rock crown snake, considered to be the rarest snake species in North America. Another study showed that a group of frogs called

pumpkin toadlets had become so small that the fluid-filled canals in their ears that confer balance no longer functioned properly, causing them to crash-land when jumping. A massive study of more than 500 oVert specimens revealed that frogs have lost and regained teeth more than 20 times throughout their evolutionary history. And yet another study concluded that Spinosaurus, a massive dinosaur that was larger than Tyrannosaurus rex and thought to be aquatic, would have actually have been a poor swimmer, and thus likely stayed on land.

And the list goes on, full of insights and ideas that would have been impossible or impractical before the project’s outset. “Now that we’ve been working on this for so long, we have a broad scaffold that allows us to take a broader view of evolutionary questions,” Stanley said.

The value of oVert extends beyond scientific inquiry as well. Artists have used the 3D models to create realistic animal replicas, photographs of oVert specimens have been displayed as museum exhibits, and specimens have been incorporated into virtual reality headsets that give users the chance to interact with and manipulate them.

oVert models have are also used by educators. From the outset of the project, Blackburn and his colleagues wanted to place a strong emphasis on K-12 outreach. They organized workshops where teachers could learn how to use the data in their classrooms.

“It’s been a game-changer for my evolution unit,” said Jennifer Broo, a high school teacher in Cincinnati. “I teach juniors and seniors, and I absolutely love them, but they can be a tough audience. They know when things are fake, which makes them less engaged. Using the oVert models, you can teach concepts at an appropriate level while also maintaining the authenticity of the science. My class has gotten

so much better because I have had the opportunities to work with and expose my students to real data.”

There’s virtually no end to the number of things oVert could be used for. The biggest challenge will be creating tools that are sophisticated enough to analyze the data. Never before have this many 3D natural history specimens been publicly available and instantly accessible, and it will take further developments in machine learning and supercomputing to use them to their full potential.

“Generating the data is just the start,” said Jaimi Gray, a postdoctoral associate at the Florida Museum who’s working on NoCTURN (Non-Clinical Tomography Users Research Network), a project developed toward the end of oVert to make the best use of CT scans possible. “The aim of oVert was always to facilitate the exploration of vertebrate diversity. We’re going to keep exploring, but the goal of NoCTURN is to give people the tools to use the data, whether it’s for research, education or industry.”

openVertebrate was funded by grants through the National Science Foundation.

Visit sketchfab.com/ufherps to view a sample of 3D interactive models.

Visit bit.ly/432Evnt to access the full openVertebrate repository. To learn more, go to floridamuseum.ufl.edu

Left to right: Armadillos were long considered to be the only living mammals that produce protective bony plates, but a discovery made while CT scanning oVert specimens unexpectedly showed that African spiny mice produce the same structures beneath the skin of their tails. [Image by Edward Stanley] To date, scientists have used oVert data in more than 200 peer-reviewed publications. Researchers performed a digital dissection of North America’s rarest snake when a specimen was found that had died while trying to eat a centipede.

Left to right: An analysis of oVert specimens revealed that frogs have lost their teeth over 20 times throughout their evolutionary history, more than any other vertebrate group. Rather than a research project, oVert was a community of specialists who worked together with the sole objective of adding value to museum collections by making them more widely available. [Florida Museum image by oVert] The vestibular system in Brachycephalus frogs is the smallest ever observed in vertebrates, but it takes up proportionally more space within their heads than in larger organisms, leaving them unable to balance while jumping. [Florida Museum photo by Amber Singh and Edward Stanley] The

Elite equestrians to compete in Ocala

The 33rd annual Live Oak International will again draw equestrians from around the world for FEI jumping and combined driving national championships.

By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com

From March 14 to 17, the Horse Capital of the World will showcase international combined driving teams and show jumping individuals during the 33rd annual Live Oak International.

The event takes place at the renowned Live Oak Stud just west of Ocala’s city centre. The expansive property, with its rolling acres accented by mature oak trees, is the perfect location for guests to see the top competitors in the world, including Live Oak Stud’s Chester Weber, a 20-time Four-in-Hand National Combined Driving Champion.

Weber is co-president of Live Oak International, along with his niece, Chloe Reid, who is a competitive show jumper. Combining the family’s equestrian disciplines of jumping and driving, Live Oak International also offers the CSI4*-W and CSI1* jumping divisions. The highlight

of this discipline will be Sunday’s $200,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Ocala, presented by Lugano Diamonds.

The driving event is divided into three phases: dressage, marathon and cones, and will bring international teams of horses and drivers to race for victory. A crowd highlight is Saturday’s driving marathon, during which horses will splash through water hazards and navigate tight turns at exhilarating speeds.

This year’s tournament will once again host the USEF Driving National Championship for Four-in-Hand.

“I am delighted to host this esteemed championship once again in the global arena where it rightfully belongs. As an active participant in this discipline, I understand firsthand the significance of a premier venue hosting world-class competition,” said Chester Weber. “Every year, Live Oak International is determined to grow bigger and better. As a co-president of the tournament, I work alongside my team, who work incredibly

hard to ensure the grounds are ready and our offerings are deserving of the world’s top competition. Our team is focused on increasing awareness of combined driving in the U.S. and making this championship the best national championship to date.”

The event will feature a diverse range of driving divisions for worldwide competitors, including FEI 3*, FEI 2*, intermediate driving, para driving and youth driving.

The LOI Youth Driving Division, which made a successful debut in 2022, will return and will provide “emerging talents with the unique opportunity to compete at an elite facility and gain invaluable experience.”

“The youth division holds immense significance for me as it embodies the future of the sport. I believe providing younger competitors with the chance to participate at the same venue as the sport’s best offers a valuable learning experience on a world-class stage. Having the younger competitors rubbing shoulders with some of the sports elite

can only inspire the next generation”

Weber stated.

Live Oak International provides not only elite equestrian competitions, it also has social elements for participants and guests, such as a VIP party, which this year has a theme of “Welcome to the Jungle.” There will be a food truck competition on Saturday afternoon.

Spectators will be able to see the KWPN Dutch Harness Horse Competition, in which six Dutch harness horses will compete for the first ever KWPNNA Fine Harness Trophy, a classic in Dutch fine harness sports that is driven in traditional attire and is spectacular to watch.

Attendees can see Weber vie for his 21st USEF

Driving National Championship for Four-in-Hand as the driving competitors engage in a number of competition phases, including dressage, cones and marathon.

Also, LOI is the last chance for jumping competitors to qualify for the 2024 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final, which will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This high level of jumping will guarantee some fierce competition.

“Every edition, we strive to surpass our previous years’ achievements. Our world-class facility is truly exceptional and with our fantastic team we’re determined to share this experience with as many competitors, sponsors and spectators as possible. We certainly cannot wait for March to come around and give an unforgettable experience to all,” said Reid.

Live Oak International Farm is located at 2215 SW 110th Ave., Ocala. Tickets range from $15 for a day pass and parking (free for ages 6 and under) up to VIP packages starting at $250, which include meals, premium parking, parties and reserved seating.

For more information, go to liveoakinternational.com/buy-tickets

File photo: Chester Weber drives his FEI3 Horse Team to the final hazard as he leads Gerben Steenbeek and his team of St. Mary’s, Ontario, Canada in the Marathon during Live Oak International at Live Oak Plantation on Saturday, March 18, 2023.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

File photo: The Natalie Tasha Wilkie team of Paso Robles, CA drives the FEI3 Horse Pair through the Gold’s Gym water hazard in the Marathon. File photo: Patti Rozensky of Archer, Fla. drives the FEI2 Pony Single through the Gold’s Gym water hazard in the Marathon.

Bird of the week

Cedar waxwing

By Michael Warren

These beautiful bandits visit Marion County from December through May. They have a reputation for occasionally getting drunk and passing out after eating overly ripe berries. Listen for their distinctive, high-pitched whistle high in the trees. These waxwings were photographed feeding on a Carolina laurel cherry along the Florida Trail near the Rotary Sportsplex.

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IHMC Lecture Series

Co-Hosted by:

Thursday

March 28, 2024

Reception: Begins at 5:30 p.m.

Talk: Begins at 6:00 p.m.

Seating is limited RSVP to ihmc-20240328.eventbrite.com or call 352-387-3050

Kevin Gluck

THE TALK: Mind Flight: A Sampling of Things We Now Know about the Human Mind

We live in an era increasingly enlightened by improving knowledge about how and why people learn, forget, and make decisions. This knowledge comes from decades of discoveries by a diverse set of allied disciplines dedicated to improving our understanding of the human mind.

Today it seems unsurprising, perhaps even imperative, that there exists in the world an organization like IHMC focused on the study of cognition in humans and machines. A century ago, however, this would certainly not have been so. Back then, the prevailing opinion was that the internal workings of the mind were not even a valid topic of scientific study, because they were not directly observable. Fortunately, that archaic way of thinking has fallen out of fashion.

In this lecture we will enjoy a metaphorical “flight” or “sampler” of insights about our minds, all of which have some relevance and implications for our everyday lives.

Kevin joined IHMC as a Senior Research Scientist in March 2023. He has a leadership role in building a basic and applied research program in computational cognitive sciences, will be a contributing faculty member to the Joint UWF-IHMC Intelligent Systems and Robotics Ph.D. program, and will play a prominent role in fostering collaborations in these areas with government, industry, and academia.

Kevin earned a bachelor’s degree in cognitive psychology from Trinity University; he earned both a master’s and a Ph.D. at Carnegie Mellon University, also in cognitive psychology. While in graduate school at CMU, he was awarded a training fellowship from the Air Force Research Laboratory, marking the start of his tenure as a civilian scientist with AFRL.

Sudoku is played on a grid of 9 x 9 spaces. Within the rows and columns are 9 “squares” (made up of 3 x 3 spaces). Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-9, without repeating any numbers within the same row, column or square.

www.ihmc.com

15 S.E. Osceola Avenue

Downtown Ocala

Kevin has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, is an inventor on two U.S. patents, and had a lead role in the organization and management of 14 international conferences and workshops. He is a Fellow of the Psychonomic Society and served as Chair of the Governing Board for the Cognitive Science Society.

Season Sponsors: Lecture Sponsors: A Friend of IHMC

Cedar waxwing [MichaelWarren.com]

LOCAL CALENDAR LISTINGS

government

MARCH 9

City of Ocala Tire Amnesty Day

Hampton Aquatic Center, 255 NW Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., and NE

14th St. and NE Eighth Ave., Ocala

8am-1pm

The city is offering free tire disposal for private citizens (not businesses) with a limit of 10 tires per resident. This service is for residents living within the city limits, and a driver’s license listing a city address may be requested. For more information, contact the Residential Sanitation Division at (352) 351-6697.

MARCH 11 & 18

Marion County Development Review Committee

Office of the County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave., Building 1, Ocala

9am

The first step for new development projects, the committee reviews and votes on waiver requests to the Land Development Code, major site plans and subdivision plans. The committee meets weekly on Mondays. See marionfl.legistar.com/calendar.aspx for agendas and minutes.

MARCH 12

Dunnellon Planning Commission

City Hall, 20750 River Drive, Dunnellon

5:30pm

Dunnellon agendas, minutes and video are available at dunnellon.org/government/agendas-minutes

civic

MARCH 8 & 15

VFW Dinners

Angela S. Santos FVW Post 4781, 9401 SW 110th St., Ocala 4pm-6pm

The post offers weekly dinners on Fridays for about $5-$7 with a variable menu. The dining room is open to the public, meals are prepped by VFW Auxiliary volunteers and proceeds benefit veterans in Marion County. For the menu, call (352) 873-4781.

MARCH 8 & 15

South Ocala Chess Club at Freedom Library Freedom Public Library, 5870 SW 95th St., Ocala 10am-12pm

The club meets weekly on Fridays and new members are welcome. Bring your own chess set. For more information, contact Walt Lamp at (352) 854-9378.

MARCH 8 & 15

Kiwanis Club of Ocala

Elks Club, 702 NE 25th Ave., Ocala

12pm

The club meets weekly on Fridays and supports Camp Kiwanis, children’s literacy and Habitat for Humanity. More information is available at ocalakiwanis.org.

arts

MARCH 14

On the Genealogy of Morals

MARCH 16

Shakespeare’s Sonnets Brick City Center for Arts, 23 SW Broadway St., Ocala

5:30 to 6:30pm

Reading and discussion from Marion Cultural Alliance and Marion County Literacy Council’s series “10 Things You’ve Always Wanted–But Felt Too Intimidated–to READ.” Visit mcaocala.org for details.

THROUGH MARCH 17

“Seeing Christ in the Darkness: Georges Rouault as Graphic Artist” Exhibit Webber Gallery, College of Central Florida, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala 10am-4pm; Monday-Thursdays

The exhibition features 18 original etchings, lithographs and wood engravings. Admission is free. For more information, visit cf.edu/ student-life/arts-and-culture/webber-gallery

THROUGH MARCH 17

Holly Yocum

South State Bank Art Gallery, 1632 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

Daily bank hours

The bank’s second floor art gallery offers exhibition from artist Holly Yocum. Her work has been shown at the Appleton Museum of Art,

MARCH 12

Belleview Planning & Zoning Board

City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview 5:30pm

The commission meets second Tuesday of the month. Belleview government agendas, minutes and video are available at belleviewfl.org/200/Agendas-Minutes

MARCH 13

Dunnellon City Council

City Hall, 20750 River Drive, Dunnellon 5:30pm

Dunnellon agendas, minutes and video are available at dunnellon.org/government/agendas-minutes

MARCH 15

City of Ocala Parade of Senior Services

College of Central Florida Klein Center, 3003 SW College Road, Ocala

10am-2pm

The Parade of Senior Services brings together more than 30 agencies to provide information about a wide range of services for senior citizens in Ocala/Marion County and surrounding areas, such as health insurance companies, long-term care facilities, services for the blind and social services offered by Marion County, like the board of elections, electric and veteran services. Free to attend for adults 50 and older. For more information, call the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department at 352-368-5517.

MARCH 19

Marion County Board of County Commissioners

McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala

9am

The commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at marionfl.legistar.com/calendar.aspx

MARCH 19

Belleview City Commission

City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview

5:30pm

The commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Belleview government agendas, minutes and video are available at belleviewfl.org/200/Agendas-Minutes

MARCH 19

Ocala City Council

City Hall, 110 SE Watula Avenue, Ocala

4pm

The council meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Ocala government agendas and minutes are available at ocala.legistar.com/calendar.aspx

MARCH 9 & 16

Ocala Chess Club at Headquarters Library Headquarters Library, 2720 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

11am-3pm

The club meets weekly on Saturdays and new members are welcome. Bring your own chess set. For more information, visit facebook.com/groups/53070499106

Homosassa State Park and the Marion Cultural Alliance. Her work focuses on nature, birds, flower arrangements and European scenics.

THROUGH MARCH 17

Deadline/Call to Artists: Student and Emerging Artist Competition

Online application

The city of Ocala’s annual competition has three divisions: high school students, artists with one to three years active experience and those with four to six years. Entries must have been completed in the past two years. The deadline is March 17. Entries can be submitted online at ocalafl.gov/StudentAndEmergingArtistExhibit, via email to artinfo@ocalafl.gov or mailed to City of Ocala Cultural Arts, 201 SE Third Street, second floor, Ocala, FL 34471. For more information, visit ocalafl.gov/culturalarts.

THROUGH MAY 11

“Turtle Travels” Exhibit Opening

Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala

Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10am-4pm

This exhibit is all about turtles and tortoises, with interactive exhibits such as a board game that shows migration routes and habitats, and a loggerhead turtle’s camera-view of swimming. General admission is $8 per person, $28 for a family of four and annual memberships are available. For more information, visit mydiscoverycenter.org

THROUGH MAY 13

“Tranquil Realms” Exhibit

Recreation and Parks Administration Building, 828 NE Eighth Ave., Ocala

Mondays-Fridays, 8am-5pm

As part of its Art in Public Spaces program, the city of Ocala hosts

MARCH 9 & 16

Toastmasters Early Bird Ocala

Marion County Literacy Council, 120 SW 5th St., Ocala 8am Newcomers are welcome. Learn to feel comfortable with public speaking and improve leadership skills. This club meets Saturday mornings for practice. Contact toastmaster.sherrivaughn@gmail.com or 6938954.toastmastersclubs.org for more information.

MARCH 13

VFW Lunches Angela S. Santos FVW Post 4781, 9401 SW 110th St., Ocala

11am-2pm

The post offers weekly lunches on Wednesdays for about $5-$7 with a variable menu. The dining room is open to the public, meals are prepped by VFW Auxiliary volunteers and proceeds benefit veterans in Marion County. For the menu, call (352) 873-4781.

MARCH 14

Ocala Lions Club

Ocala Municipal Golf Club, 3130 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

12pm

The Ocala Lions Club meets every Thursday. Newcomers are welcome; call Membership Chairperson Libby Marks de Martino at (352) 441-0073.

artist Lor Gill to exhibit her collection of landscape oil paintings using certified Bob Ross techniques and products. Visit the artist’s portfolio at gallerygill.com. For more information, visit ocalafl.gov/artincityspaces

THROUGH JUNE 2

“Water’s Margins” Exhibition Opening

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

Tuesday-Saturday museum hours

Artist Margaret Tolbert focuses her creativity and art about, on and in the waters of Marion, Levy and Citrus counties. For more information, see appletonmuseum.org

THROUGH JUNE 11

“Bodies of Water” Exhibit

Clerk’s Office Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala

Mondays-Fridays, 8am-5pm

Artist Rebecca Pujals-Jones exhibits this collection focused on the waterways of Florida, including Crystal River, the Chassahowitzka River and the Tsala Apopka Lakes. Visit or visit ocalafl.gov/ artincityspaces for more information.

THROUGH JULY 2

“Wanderlust” Exhibit

Ocala International Airport, 1770 SW 60th Ave., Ocala Airport hours Photo and videographers Meagan Gumpert and Dave Miller highlight their landscape photography featuring Florida’s natural beauty. This free exhibit is on display at the airport, which is open to the public. Visit ocalafl.gov/artincityspaces and mavenphotoandfilm.com for more information.

things to do

MARCH 15-17

Live Oak International

Live Oak International Farm, 2215 SW 110th Ave., Ocala

All day This renowned driving and show jumping event bring international teams of horses and drivers to splash through water hazards, navigate between cones and cover an outdoor obstacle course. There’s also a show jumping component, and this year, the youth division continues to nurture young talents. The weekend offers driving dressage classes, cross-country driving and arena show jumping. Tickets range from $12 for a day pass and $12 to park all the way up to VIP packages starting at $250 that includes meals, premium parking, parties and reserved seating. Visit liveoakinternational.com/buy-tickets

OCALA TO OFFER PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The city of Ocala is offering a new summer internship for students to learn the inner workings of the city’s water resources and engineering departments.

The city will select five interns to participate in the program from among eligible incoming high school juniors, seniors or 2024 graduates. Two interns will work in water resources operations, two will work in engineering and one will work in conservation and outreach. Each student will receive on-the-job training to gain experience in utilities and local government.

Interns will work 28 hours per week and earn $15 per hour. Participants will work for six hours a day for four days a week.

The application deadline for the program is at 5 p.m. on March 29. Qualified applicants will be interviewed in mid-April. Those selected for the program will be notified in early May. The internship will span from June 3 until July 25, depending on the intern’s school schedule.

To learn more about the program and to submit an application, visit bit.ly/4bUu9tX

CF PRESENTS ‘POLITE SOCIETY’ IN FILM SERIES

The College of Central Florida will present the critically acclaimed film “Polite Society” as part of its Ira Holmes International Film Series on March 26.

The film tells the story of martial artist Ria Khan as she tries to save her older sister Lena from her impending marriage. Directed by Nida Manzoor, the coming-of-age comedy highlights sisterhood and independence in the Bollywood and martial arts genres just in time for Women’s History Month.

The first screening of the film will be at 2 p.m. on March 26 at the Appleton Museum of Art at 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd. The event is free to all museum and film series members, and non-members may attend by paying admission.

The second screening, which will be free and open to the public, will be at 7 p.m. on March 26 at the CF Ocala Campus, 3001 SW College Road, in Building 8.

For a full series list and more information on the CF Ira Holmes International Film Series, contact Wendy Adams at (352) 873-5800, ext. 1546, or visit cf.edu/filmseries.

Literature Lecture Series makes the classics easier to grasp

Marion Cultural Alliance and Marion County Literacy Council have partnered together to return the popular series “10 Things You’ve Always Wanted – But Felt Too Intimidated – to Read.”

By Chris D’Avanzo

chris@magnoliamediaco.com

Running from March 4th to March 23rd, this discussion and lecture series will cover some of classic literature’s most challenging and thought-provoking works. Famous classic writing from the libraries of William Faulkner, Virginia Woolf, Plato, and William Shakespeare, just to name a few, will get a contemporary redress as their core concepts are broken down and examined. This lecture series will be presented by R.J. Jenkins from the Marion County Literacy Council at the Brick City Center from the Arts. At evening events, legal age attendees will be served complimentary Prosecco.

Event Dates: March 4th at 5:30 PM

Ulysses

March 5th at 9:30 AM

Tender Buttons

March 6th at 12 PM

Dante’s Inferno

March 7th at 6:00 PM

The Sound and the Fury

March 14th at 5:30 PM

On the Genealogy of Morals

March 16th at 11:00 AM

Shakespeare’s Sonnets

March 19th at 9:30 AM

Plato’s Cave Allegory

March 20th at 5:30 PM

Mrs. Dalloway

March 21st at 12 PM

The Wasteland

March 23rd at 10 AM

Discipline and Punish

Interested readers can visit bit.ly/mclc-read to RSVP for free.

OEU HONORED WITH FLORIDA MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION SAFETY AWARD

Ocala Electric Utility has been honored with the Florida Municipal Electric Association Safety Award at the Florida Lineman Competition awards in Jacksonville. The award recognizes utility companies’ commitment to safety for its power crews, as working as a lineman is considered among the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the United States.

Utility companies are

categorized based on their total worker hours and rewarded for the most incident-free records. The incidence rate used to judge utilities was based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses compared to the total number of worker hours during 2023, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

OEU received third place in Category B with other utility

companies of a similar size.

“OEU staff is committed to providing safe, reliable power to our customers,” said Utility Safety and Training Coordinator Glen Moehling. “Fostering a culture of safety in the workforce involves creating an environment where safety is not just a priority, but an integral part of everyday operations and mindset. Our team is proud to have this safety conscious mindset.”

File photo: Keith Green, a lineman with Ocala Electric Utility, as he works on power lines from a bucket truck at the Eugene Dearmin substation off Southeast 36th Avenue in Ocala on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.

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Comedian Impressionist ROB MAGNOTTI

Giselle presented by Dance Alive National Ballet