Ocala Gazette | March 17 - March 23, 2023

Live Oak International

FDOT plans to improve State Road 200

By Belea T. Keeney belea@magnoliamediaco.com

When even Marion County’s Assistant County Administrator for Public Works and Growth Services, Tracy Straub, admits, “No one likes driving State Road 200!” citizens know there’s a problem. Most anyone who drives SR 200 would agree, and, more importantly, so does the Florida Department of Transportation, which can do something about it.

The world-class competition, March 16-19, features show jumping, combined driving and the Budweiser Clydesdales.

By Belea T. Keeney belea@magnoliamediaco.com

Imagine a misty Ocala

morning, with light fog

settling among the gentle green hills of the Live Oak Stud farm when you hear a distinct thump of horse hooves, the rattle of harnesses and out of the mist comes a horsedrawn carriage, its driver in

tuxedo-style formal wear and wearing a top hat. That elegant ensemble is part of the dressage phase of the combined driving competition slated for the Live Oak International on March 16-19.

Live Oak International is unique in that it’s the only show jumping and combined driving tournament in the United States. This is the 32nd annual

event. Under the direction of Co-President Chester Weber, who this year will be competing for his 20th USEF Combined Driving National Championship for Advanced Four-in-Hand Horses, Live Oak International has added the full set of combined driving tests. With the 2012 addition of his niece and Co-President Chloe D. Reid, a member of

the U.S. Show Jumping Team, they added the show jumping element for broad appeal to sports fans and competitors.

According to the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), combined driving is designed to test a driver’s ability and the horse’s obedience, speed and

See Weber, page A2

Season opening success

Ocala racer Josh Hart wins callout event in new top fuel dragster.

By Allen Barney allen@ocalagazette.com

Ocala resident and business owner

Josh Hart started off the 2023 NHRA season in style by winning the second annual Pep Boys AllStar Top Fuel Callout in Gainesville on March 11.

The National Hot Rod Association starts each new season at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, an event that Hart won in 2021. The Callout kicked off the weekend’s festivities and Hart was matched up with Austin Prock in the opening round.

Hart took down Prock with a run of 3.765 seconds and a speed of 331.77 mph, then eliminated the top fuel defending champion Brittany Force with a run of 3.757 seconds and speed of 330.88 mph.

In the final round, Hart was matched up with Mike Salinas. Hart, in his R+L Carriers dragster, scorched Salinas with a pass of 3.748 seconds at 331.53 mph. The run was the second-fastest time of the Callout and netted Hart a cool $80,000 in winnings.

Hart said he went into the event with no expectations due to the low number of runs his car had made before Saturday.

“We had a brand new car. It’s been a good car, but we only had three or four passes on it before the competition round.

To go right out there and do what we did was storybook,” Hart said.

“It’s awesome for our team and it’s good for morale. It’s just great all the way around and there is nothing better than to win the first race of the season. Hopefully, we can carry that momentum throughout the entire year.”

The Gatornationals was the first of a 21-race schedule that will continue March 24-26 at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona.

Hart is looking to build off his early success in the top fuel category as he enters his third year in the class, following a successful five-

year stint in the top alcohol division. The Callout was his third win in top fuel and he said he hopes to be in the hunt for many wins during the 2023 season.

“Winning a championship is obviously on our mind. The main thing is just growing

The FDOT says it is aware of the problems drivers face on the busy road from Interstate 75 east to U.S. 301/Pine Avenue, and the agency has plans to try to alleviate some of them. In discussing improvement plans at a March 9 public meeting, FDOT Project Manager Ty Garner said, “The purpose of the project is to extend the operation life of the roadway and make the corridor safe for all users.”

During the meeting at the College of Central Florida’s Klein Conference Center, residents, elected officials and city and county staffers reviewed concept plans and discussed the proposed changes with Garner.

The goals for the road improvements include providing safer left-turns at signalized intersections; reducing congestion in the center turn lane; implementing safer driving speeds; enhancing pedestrian connections; and improving overall safety for all users.

The crash history of that section of roadway is sobering, with 879 crashes reported from 2014-2018, a 47% increase over the previous five-year time period. Of those, 496 were injury crashes, and 42 resulted in incapacitating injuries while four involved fatalities. Eight of the crashes involved pedestrians and 16 involved bicycle riders.

“Crashes have continued the upward trend with 301 crashes reported in 2020,” stated the FDOT’s video presentation at the meeting. The lack of median restrictions and the two-way left turn lanes were factors in the crashes; two-way left turns are often termed “suicide lanes”

See Highway, page A3

Median plantings, pedestrian crossings and narrower lanes will help slow and aim traffic for better access to businesses and improve safety.

Chester Weber spends some time with Phoenix, 13, one of the Budweiser Clydesdales that was on hand for the Live Oak International media preview at Live Oak Plantation in Ocala on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Live Oak International runs from March 16 through March 19 and Chester Weber will be competing for his 20th win with his horse team. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.

Josh Hart of Ocala is shown in the pits during the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Hart drove the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster to the win over Mike Salinas in the Scrappers Top Fuel dragster in the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout final race on Saturday during the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. [Thomas Gaines/Gainesville Raceway Track Photographer] 2022.

Weber shoots for 20

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Continued from page A1

athleticism. There are three demanding phases with a carriage in tow: Driven Dressage, Marathon and Cones. These are similar to the mounted sport of three-day eventing with its dressage, cross-country and show jumping phases. Competitors can drive a turnout of a single horse, a pair of horses or a team of four horses.

Classes on Thursday, March 16, are for driving dressage, including single horse, pony pairs and fourhorse teams. This aspect of the sport is similar to mounted dressage, in which horses and drivers perform specific movements, speeds and gaits.

Friday’s classes expand with both combined driving and show jumping competitions. Driving dressage concludes and the first driving marathon takes place.

Per the USEF, “Typically, the second phase is the fast-paced and demanding cross-country marathon. The marathon tests a horse’s fitness, stamina and agility, along with a driver’s accuracy and judgment as they navigate an intricate series of hazards which will include water, steep hills and sharp turns—all within the fastest time possible.”

The last phase of combined driving, the cones course, is a timed class in which horses and drivers

have to accurately negotiate an intricate, winding course of narrowly set cones. The key element—no knocking over the cones with the carriage wheels.

Live Oak International has become a destination event for many equine competitors and Reid said Saturday is a jam-packed day, full of classes, presentations and a vendor village.

“It’s a really good day to capture everything,” she said.

Classes in combined driving, show jumping and two in-ring presentations from the Budweiser Clydesdales are on the schedule.

The hitch team of the stunning Clydesdales will be onsite and doing photo ops the entire weekend. Reid said the worldrenowned equines will be stabled at the show and “people can see them up close. They are amazing!”

So, whether you want to be dazzled by show jumpers clearing fivefoot fences or enjoy the

IF YOU GO:

ambience of a fancy carriage driven by someone in a top hat and tails, Live Oak International offers an abundance of choices.

For $10 general admission, you can watch the varied competition classes, enjoy the grounds, visit with vendors and purchase from various food options onsite. A la carte tickets are available for daily admission, premium parking, a week-long pass and even a Saturday night disco party for $100. Various packages, including VIP experiences, tailgating options, food and special seating, are also available, starting at $250.

To find the full schedule, go to liveoakinternational.com/visit

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What: Live Oak International - combined driving and show jumping classes

When: March 16-19

Where: 2215 SW 110th Ave, Ocala. From State Road 40, head south on 110th Avenue. Premium access and tailgating spots will be on one side; general admission parking is across the street.

For more info: liveoakinternational.com/visit

Local burns rubber

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Continued from page A1 together as a team and staying consistent all season and winning some races,” Hart said.

He credits the success to his 15-member team, including crew chief Ron Douglas and co-crew Chief Dave Gatrell.

“They are the ones that worked

all the amazing hours in the shop throughout the winter months to make sure that car was ready to go,” Hart said.

Hart not only is burning rubber and winning races on the weekend, he also owns and operates Burnyzz Speed Shop in Ocala while raising two children with his wife, Brittanie. Just three days before winning at

the Callout, the Harts’ and company hosted a fan fest for NHRA fans at Burnyzz. Part of the reasoning for the event was to raise money for Racers for Christ, a nonprofit Christian ministry that serves people in the world of motorsports. The fan fest raised around $4,000 towards the nonprofit and saw more than 7,000 people show up to see the likes of over 25 professional NHRA drivers, including longtime racer John Force and his daughter Brittany Force.

“It was a fabulous turnout and it was awesome. It wasn’t all business motivated, it was more about the community and the fact that we did little advertising and got that type of result was off the charts,” Hart said.

If the past week is any indication for how the remainder of 2023 will unfold, Hart may be doing plenty of celebrating in the coming months.

You can watch Hart and his team at the NHRA Arizona Nationals when qualifying begins at 10:30 a.m. eastern time on March 24 on Fox Sports 1.

To learn more, go to joshhartracing.com

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One of the courses is shown during the Live Oak International media preview at Live Oak Plantation in Ocala on Wed., March 15, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.

Josh Hart of Ocala drives the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster to the win over Mike Salinas in the Scrappers Top Fuel dragster in the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout final race during the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville on Saturday, March 11, 2023. [Thomas Gaines/ Gainesville Raceway Track Photographer] 2022.

Highway 200

Continued from page A1 because they can allow forwardmoving cars to approach each other without barriers.

Pedestrian safety enhancements include improved crosswalks, sidewalk curb ramp reconstruction to current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, and construction of new sidewalk to fill existing gaps throughout the project corridor. Another proposed safety improvement is the construction of three midblock crossings equipped with Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons (PHBs), which are pedestrian-activated signals that display a red light to stop traffic and allow the pedestrian to cross. The proposed PHBs would be constructed between SW 35th Terrace and SW 34th Avenue, between SW 32nd Avenue and SW 26th Street, and between SW 12th Avenue and SW 10th Avenue.

SR 200 is currently a seven-lane divided roadway with three travel lanes each way. The center lane was always intended for left turns, but the FDOT also noted that type of turn lane was designed for roads with fewer lanes and lower posted speeds. The speed limit currently on those sections of road is 45 mph.

Three new pedestrian-hybrid beacons are also planned. This is an overhead traffic signal that is put into use when pedestrians or bike riders want to cross. Once the signal is activated, the lights will turn yellow then red, stopping vehicle traffic and allowing for safe crossing. The proposed new intersections with pedestrian-hybrid signals are planned for:

This project also includes signalization and lighting upgrades and horizontal deflections to accommodate landscape planters on either side of the road. The additional landscaping in the medians and narrowed travel lanes along the entire corridor will encourage safer driving speeds and will help meet FDOT’s goal of providing a safer roadway for all users.

Florida’s safety vision begins a nd ends with a single word: ZERO

The most significant improvement proposed is the replacement of the center left turn lane with a raised landscaped median; the plantings will allow drivers to see opposite direction traffic but not allow left turn crossovers. Garner said, “Those will be low-growing shrubs. They won’t obstruct sight lines for users.”

SW 35th Terrace and SW 34th Avenue, near the Equus Inn and Bank of America on the southeast side and the Panda Express and Chick-fil-A on the northwest side.

Zero fatalities. Zero injuries. Zero families, communities, and workplaces impacted by the tragedy of a life lost or permanently changed by a serious injury. Achieving zero takes everyone working together. None of us can do this alone. We can all do something.

SW 32nd Avenue and SW 26th Street, near the Texas Roadhouse and Regions Bank on the southeast side and Wells Fargo Bank and Tidal Wave Auto Spa on the northwest side.

CFLRoads.com

The FDOT will also narrow and restripe the traffic lanes to 11 feet, which will slow and calm traffic speeds.

The locations of the new left-turn intersections are under review. The goal of the changes is to continue to allow access to businesses on the road while still improving safety and avoiding driving conflicts in the center lane.

Ocala business owners Jon and Sonya Tyler operate the Meeple Movers Boards Games Café at 3101 SW 34th Ave. in the Shoppes at Paddock Park plaza.

“I think the median is a great idea,” Jon Tyler said. “Far too many people use the middle lane of SR 200 as a passing lane or make blind turns across three lanes. It seems like every day there’s another wreck visible from our plaza.”

SW 12th Avenue and SW 10th Street, near Marion Technical College and at the start of the overpass section leading east to Pine Avenue/U.S. 301.

The design phase has a $1.8 million cost and construction costs are currently estimated at $13.1 million. Garner said the department hopes to get construction bids completed in spring of 2024, with actual construction starting in July or August of 2024.

Although construction will affect traffic, Tyler wasn’t too worried about its impact.

State Road 200 (SW College Road ) Safety Improvements From East of I-75 to South Pine Avenue (U.S. 301)

“I doubt the construction or change to road design will have a significant impact on our business as there are other roads to reach us from,” he said. Many businesses along those stretches of SR 200 can be accessed through alternate entrances.

Raney’s: Revolutionizing the truck parts industry

father owned,” related Joel Raney, who studied civil engineering at the University of South Florida and graduated in 2010. “My father wanted us to find a way to sell parts online, so that was the goal. We tapped into the aftermarket space, and we were able to grow quickly because there weren’t a lot of people selling parts and accessories to the trucking industry online. It is a unique niche.

“Selling parts for semi-trucks isn’t the same as selling shoes. So many truck parts don’t fit in a shoebox,” he continued. “We sell a diverse number of products and shipping some of them can be difficult. You have bumpers, hoods, all the way down the line to lug nuts. In a way, the difficulty is kind of what shields the industry from a big box store trying to come in and enter the industry. It’s a technical industry, too, and you must have a sales staff that knows the product and can relate to the customer. That’s where we really excel. We are second-to-none in customer service. Our sales department creates lifelong relationships with these truck drivers, and the drivers know when they call, they are dealing with someone who knows the industry, cares about the industry, and can relate to them.”

By Michael Compton Correspondent

Trucking is a critical component of the global economy, and parts retailers are essential in keeping the industry humming smoothly. For those in the commercial trucking business, finding and sourcing truck parts can be a real challenge. Traditionally, the process of finding parts involves either driving to a retailer or making multiple phone calls, both of which can be timeconsuming and inefficient.

Ocala’s Raney’s LLC is changing all that.

Launched in 2010 and a separate branch from Raney’s Truck Center—the latter a staple in the trucking industry since 1957—Raney’s online platform for selling heavy-duty truck parts and accessories has proven to be a game-changer for truckers and fleet managers to access the parts they need quickly and easily.

A trusted and familiar name in the trucking industry in Central Florida for providing truck parts, accessories, as well as customization and maintenance services, Raney’s is now a household name in the trucking industry around the country, thanks to its online e-commerce

IHMC Lecture Series

Powered by: www.ihmc.com

15 S.E. Osceola Avenue Downtown Ocala

Co-hosted by:

Morgan L. Cable

THE TALK: Exploring Ocean Worlds

Our solar system is host to multiple ocean worlds - planets and moons that contain oceans of liquid, usually water, either on their surfaces or underneath icy crusts. These worlds are prime targets of exploration due to NASA’s quest to ‘follow the water’ and may contain all three ingredients for life as we know it - water, chemistry, and energy. Could life exist in the oceans of Enceladus or Europa? Could even stranger life have emerged in the liquid methane lakes of Titan? Dr. Cable will cover our current state of knowledge of these ocean worlds, and discuss some current missions and future mission concepts to explore their plumes, surfaces, and ocean depths.

store that allows users to easily access parts and aftermarket alternatives, saving truckers valuable time and money.

Back in 2010, Mark Raney recognized the need for a more accessible way to purchase essential trucking supplies and tasked his son, Joel, with figuring out how to enter the online marketplace. Raney’s LLC was launched that year by Joel, who is now the company’s CEO; along with his cousin, Jacob Chak, who is no longer with the company; Zach Combs, Raney’s general manager today; and Eric Anderson, Raney’s project manager.

“It all started out of a little house my

Raney’s user-friendly online store is a prime example of how technology is revolutionizing the trucking industry. Providing a much-needed solution to the challenges faced by trucking businesses in sourcing essential supplies, Raney’s concept is designed to make the process of locating truck parts easier, faster, and more efficient. With a massive inventory of top-quality truck parts and accessories from leading manufacturers at its 123,000-square-foot warehouse on West Silver Springs Boulevard, just east of Interstate 75, Raney’s opened an 11,000-square-foot showroom and retail space onsite in 2019 and is now a one-stop shop for truck drivers looking to customize their vehicles.

“Going from where we started to housing everything under one roof with our warehouse and all the departments

April 20, 2023

Reception: Begins at 5:30 p.m.

Talk: Begins at 6:00 p.m.

Seating is limited RSVP to ihmc-20230223.eventbrite.com or call 352-387-3050

Season Sponsors:

Morgan L. Cable is the Co-Deputy PI of the Planetary Instrument for X-Ray Lithochemistry (PIXL) Instrument aboard the Mars 2020 (Perseverance) rover and the Science Lead for the Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS) Project. She has worked on the Cassini Mission, is a Co-Investigator of the Dragonfly mission to Titan, and is serving multiple roles on the Europa Clipper mission. Currently Dr. Cable performs laboratory experiments to study the unique organic chemistry of Titan. She and colleagues were the first to discover minerals made exclusively of organics that may exist on Titan’s surface. Morgan also conducts fieldwork in extreme environments on Earth, searching for life in places such as the Atacama Desert, ice fields at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, nutrient-limited lakes at the base of Wind Cave (the densest cave system in the world) in South Dakota, fumarole-generated ice caves of the Mount Meager stratovolcano in Canada, and lava fields of Iceland.

Lecture Sponsors:

Joel Raney, the CEO of Raney’s, poses by a large display of chrome bumpers they sell from Bumpers By Valley Chrome at Raney’s in Ocala on Monday, March 6, 2023. Raney’s is a leading provider of aftermarket parts and accessories for the heavy duty trucking industry. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.

OCALA GAZETTE and then opening the showroom and retail store has been a huge victory for us,” Raney said. “Opening the showroom was especially exciting for everybody. That gave us respect and more authority. If you just have an online presence, customers can always ask, ‘Who is Raney’s?’ Now we have the storefront that says, ‘This is who we are.’

“We wanted a showroom since we launched the business from our homes,” he added. “It was an awesome victory. It was a great feeling, and we celebrated it together as a team. That was a big moment in our history. And the showroom has done even better than we projected. We have a great team out there and a great store manager. The location and proximity to the interstate are huge. This is the largest showroom in Florida, so when drivers come and see it, it is an experience for them.”

Having grown from just a four-person team at the beginning, Raney’s now employs 110 people and is still growing. The sustained growth Raney’s has experienced has generated interest from private equity firms in recent years and just last year Raney’s sold a majority of the company to Incline Equity Partners headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA.

“We have been on a very strong run, 10-plus years of very solid growth year over year,” Raney explained. “I felt like, ‘Wow, this is an amazing run. How do we ensure that the success continues? How do we gear up to prepare for the future if that level of growth is difficult to sustain?’

“I came to the realization that to get us to the next level, it would be nice to have some help to do that with,” he continued. “We sold a majority of the company, and in a way, we took some chips off the table and locked in all that success and growth. It’s a weight off my shoulders and my father’s shoulders to be able to celebrate that moment, but I wasn’t ready to walk away from the company. This is my family, and I consider everyone here an extension of my family. It was the best of both worlds that I could cash out quite a bit of our ownership but still roll back in some ownership, too. I still have a double-digit ownership stake as well, and I am still heavily invested. We chose Incline Equity because we felt they valued our culture and wouldn’t come in here and be super hands-on, but instead be a more high-level, strategic partner with capital to go out and do acquisitions and invest. They have been a great partner now for six months. They’ve been everything they said they would be.”

TEAMWORK

Raney’s commitment to customer satisfaction has been a key driver of the company’s success.

“In the end, it always comes back to the team,” Raney said. “I would put our team up against anybody. We have an amazing team, effective team leads, and high-

quality people in every department. When customers shop with us, they really do become part of the Raney’s family. When they feel that, it drives repeat business. When these truck drivers invest in their trucks, it is expensive, and they are big investments. They are going to own them for a long time.

“If we are successful in earning a customer, they are going to shop with us for 10 years or more,” Raney added. “We still have drivers that Zach and I built relationships with back when we first started and only had four employees. They still buy from us today. It’s neat to see.”

As far as acquiring new talent, Raney insists a background in the trucking industry is surprisingly not a prerequisite.

“We don’t ever look for people that have experience in the trucking industry,” he shared. “It’s not a requirement. What we look for are people with a strong desire to come in and make a difference. Our interview process is focused on work ethic and personality. We look at how well a prospective hire will fit into our business model, our culture, and our atmosphere.

“If you keep adding people that want to be around each other, that fosters a positive feeling and creates a healthy work environment that people can enjoy,” he continued. “If they are happy, the customer is going to hear that happiness in their voice, and other people are motivated to work with people like that. We focus on hiring personality and culture fits and then we teach them about the trucking business. This approach has worked really well for us, and I think it is something we get right. A big part of our success has been building a team of people that really want to be here and make a difference. We have a lot of people on our team that have come here from somewhere else, including our first CFO (Ashlee Weisser) who recently moved here from Tennessee with her family. We want to keep the right people in the right seats. Once we get a good employee, we want to keep them.”

Joel credits his father for shaping much of his business acumen.

“Growing up, I saw him working deals and talking on the phone,” Raney said. “He would always drive home the fact that you must take care of the customer and take care of your team. I would see all of that and I also worked summers in the business, cleaning (service) bays and things like that.

“When we started the business in 2010, I didn’t even know trucks,” he added. “Of course, I knew the makes and models, but I didn’t know what fits what. Customers would call and ask us questions like, “Do you have this part for this truck?’ I would put them on hold and immediately call the manufacturer to see what the customer needed. As far as the technical aspect of the business, I had to learn on the job as we grew. In terms of the business aspect, I learned most everything from my father, and for culture, we have always looked at Zappos as a role model.”

When asked how the team at Raney’s measures success, Raney said, “A lot of our success comes from what people think about our brand. We look at what the customer reviews say. Are they talking about us in a positive way? The other way we gauge success outside of the numbers is how

our team feels about us. Are they excited to be here? If not, what are we missing and what do we need to do to improve? With the growth we have experienced, keeping the culture the same becomes more difficult. Since we are so busy with multiple projects, we depend on our culture team and the HR team, which play important roles in our company.”

Being CEO of the company comes with a unique set of challenges for Raney, including managing a vast network of suppliers, navigating supply chain logistics, and leading teams on the frontlines.

“It’s stressful, all the ups and downs of business, and it can take an emotional toll,” he admitted. “I’m very thankful for the team that surrounds me. It helps to offload some of the stress, and it is reassuring to know that it’s not just me shouldering everything. I have a lot of people here to share it with and a lot of people I can depend on.”

CHALLENGES

While Raney’s has grown significantly from its nascent stages, there have been obstacles to overcome. Parts suppliers have faced significant challenges in recent years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, including shipping issues and inflation. Despite facing increased costs and extended delivery times, Raney’s has managed to maintain its supply chain and keep up with demand. Raney’s has also had to navigate inflationary pressures, which have driven up the cost of products. Nevertheless, Raney’s has worked hard to maintain its competitive pricing, and its commitment to quality service has helped the company weather the challenges.

“Inflation has had a huge impact,” Raney said. “You used to be able to buy a bumper for a typical truck for $350. Now, it costs over $500. So, we are seeing bigtime price increases. Normally, we would see 5 to 10 percent price increases from our vendors maybe every other year or so. Now, we are experiencing 20 percent increases and, in some cases, several times a year. The cost of products has gone up a lot. And then when you factor in lead times and shipping, it has been a nightmare at times.

“While we had a surge of growth, at the same time we also had the supply issues,” he added. “So, we had a massive demand without any supplies. The amount of stress that was put on our warehouse team and our customer service team, as well as human resources trying to hire more staff to help with the growth, was just enormous. Getting enough personnel and enough inventory was challenging, but a lot of that has eased up. It’s all gotten a lot better recently. The cost of shipping has

normalized a bit, and that’s a good thing. This year has started out strong, and we’re enjoying the ride.”

THE FUTURE

Whether it is brake pads, bumpers, or suspension systems, Raney’s has clearly helped revolutionize the trucking industry and has grown into a go-to source that supplies everything truckers need to keep their vehicles running smoothly. As a result, Raney’s appears well-positioned for the future and any uncertainty that could come with it.

“The trucking industry is a critical industry,” Raney said. “It’s not going anywhere. If they ever get the megabattery situation figured out, we might see some EVs (electronic vehicles) enter the trucking industry down the road, and we’ll be ready for that.

“I expect the trucking industry to continue to grow,” he added. “Our goal is to spread Raney’s brand. We’re a leader in the industry, and that is great and all, but we want to dominate the industry and make sure that everyone in the trucking industry has an opportunity to experience the Raney’s brand.”

If there is one objective that Raney has yet to see through to fruition, it is the dream of having a truck show in Ocala.

“One day, we really want to host a big truck show here, which would be very cool for Ocala,” Raney shared. “We could do a truck parade and a tour of Ocala. It would be complex to figure out, but we have the space, the customer base, and vendor support. Maybe we can do something in the next year or two. It would be great for Ocala.”

CF partners with FleetForce to offer truck driver training

The College of Central Florida is partnering with FleetForce Truck Driving School to offer Commercial Driver’s License training at the Ocala campus.

A kickoff event take place 4:30-6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21, at the Webber Center at 3001 S.W. College Road. Guests can tour the outdoor obstacle course. Classes will begin March 27.

“CF is a driver of talent development for local employers and we know that our community has become a hub for the expanding logistics sector,” said Jennifer Fryns, associate vice president for career and professional programs, in a news release. “By partnering with FleetForce to offer this hands-on training through our Corporate College, we can help alleviate the truck driver shortage while providing students a new option for an in-demand career in a little as four weeks. Program completers who later develop an interest in continuing their education in logistics and supply chain will then have a head start in CF’s logistics and supply chain certificate and degree programs.”

In mid-February, FleetForce Truck Driving School announced the addition of six new programs in partnership with community colleges in Ocala, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Niceville, Daytona Beach and New Port Richey, and the launch later this year at schools in Lake City and Gainesville. These training sites are expected to produce more than 3,000 new truck drivers annually.

“Truck driving remains at the core of our country’s economic abilities, and we see evidence of the growing need for new drivers every day,” said FleetForce owner Tra Williams in the release. “We’re excited to show what can be done to meet this tremendous need. Thanks to our new locations, there’ll soon be an influx of highly trained professional drivers on the road. That’s going to be a huge help to Florida industries, in addition to the U.S. supply chain and economy.”

To learn more about CF, visit CF.edu. For information about FleetForce, visit fleetforcetruckdrivingschool.com.

Joel Raney, the CEO of Raney’s, on the “Chrome Throne,” a one-of-a-kind display of different styles of chrome exhaust systems produced by Dynaflex Products in Commerce, California and sold at Raney’s in Ocala on Monday, March 6, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

Michele Lamb, a salesperson, describes some of the features of an Extremevision headlight assembly in the showroom at Raney’s in Ocala on Monday, March 6, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/ Ocala Gazette] 2022.

Different styles of chrome rims are shown for sale in the showroom at Raney’s in Ocala on Monday, March 6, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.

THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA.

IN RE: THE ESTATE OF SHAWN E. SOLDANO, Deceased.

CASE NO: 2023-CP-510

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The name of the decedent, the designation of the court in which the administration of this estate is pending, and the file number are indicated above. The address of the court is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are indicated below.

If you have been served with a copy of this notice and you have any claim or demand against the decedent’s estate, even if that claim is unmatured, contingent or unliquidated, you must file your claim with the court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF A DATE THAT IS 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30

DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS NOTICE.

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with the court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

EVEN IF A CLAIM IS NOT BARRED BY THE LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE, ALL CLAIMS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN FILED WILL BE BARRED TWO YEARS AFTER DECEDENT’S DEATH.

The date of death of the decedent is: January 7, 2023

The date of first publication of this Notice is March 17, 2023.

Attorney for Personal Representative:

JOSHUA L. MOSES Richard & Moses, LLC

Florida Bar No. 119304 808 E Fort King Street

Ocala, FL 34471 (352) 369-1300

Primary Email: Josh@RMProbate.com

Personal Representative: NANCY MAY DOWLING 189 E. Oglethorpe Street Ellaville, GA 31806

deceased, whose date of death was January 1, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110

March 17 , 2023

LEGAL NOTICE (F.S. 98.075)

Notice is hereby given:

BELL, JARRETT D

10833 SW 156TH PL

DUNNELLON, FL 34432

CRIM, AMBER L

924 NW 4TH ST OCALA, FL 34475

CUTLER, DEREK

19440 SE 91ST LN

OCKLAWAHA, FL 32179

FARLEIGH, MIRANDA D

77 BAY DR

OCKLAWAHA, FL 32179

HUGGINS, VIRGINIA M

11602 SEMINOLE RD

DUNNELLON, FL 34431

IAROVAIA, LARISA V

48 PINE TRAK

OCALA, FL 34472

JAMES JR, ROBBIE C

6040 NW 64TH ST

OCALA, FL 34482

JOHNSON JR, STEPHEN D

605 NE 22ND AVE

OCALA, FL 34470

LADD, DONALD E

207 NE 168TH CT

SILVER SPRINGS, FL 34488

other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA

IN RE: THE ESTATE OF PROBATE DIVISION ANITA J. ROBBINS, CASE NO.: 20 22-CP002555-AX Deceased.

CAROL ROBBINS, PETITIONER / NOTICE TO CREDITORS

and other persons having claims or demands against Decedent's Estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is March 10, 2023.

MARIELLEN ESKEW, Petitioner

LAW OFFICES OF AL NICOLETTI

ALFRED V. NICOLETTI, ESQ.

Florida Bar No.: 125446 7512 Dr. Phillips Blvd. Suite 50-647 Orlando, Florida 32819

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT IN THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA.

IN RE: ESTATE OF JAMES O. SHAWEN, FILE NO. 2023-CP-486 Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The name of the decedent, the designation of the court in which the administration of this estate is pending, and the file number are indicated above. The address of the court is 110 N.W. 1 st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are indicated below.

If you have been served with a copy of this notice and you have any claim or demand against the decedent’s estate, even if that claim is unmatured, contingent or unliquidated, you must file your claim with the court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF A DATE THAT IS 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS NOTICE.

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with the court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. EVEN IF A CLAIM IS NOT BARRED BY THE LIMITATIONS

MANNO, BRETT J 19330 NE 75TH AVE

CITRA, FL 32113

MARTINEZ-ROMAN, JESUS G

13700 SW 40TH AVENUE RD

OCALA, FL 34473

MORRISSETTE, JASON R

17705 SE 95TH CIR

SUMMERFIELD, FL 34491

NORRIS, JESSICA E

8295 SE 131ST PL

SUMMERFIELD, FL 34491

NOURJIAN, MIHRAN

10450 SE 148TH ST

SUMMERFIELD, FL 34491

ONLY, FAE S

4532 NW 22ND AVE

OCALA, FL 34475

PETTY, KRISTEN M

4037 NW BLITCHTON RD

OCALA, FL 34475

REFFITT, JOSHUA K

12869 SE 53RD TERRACE RD

BELLEVIEW, FL 34420

ROUSH, NICHOLE L

15473 NE 148TH TER FORT MC COY, FL 32134

TORRES-SANCHEZ, DANIEL E 8941 SW 33RD CT

OCALA, FL 34476

WHITE, THOMAS E

16201 NE 148TH TERRACE RD

FORT MC COY, FL 32134

WHITEHEAD, GERONE

1509 NW 19TH AVE OCALA, FL 34475

You are hereby notified that your eligibility to vote is in question. You are required to contact the Supervisor of Elections, in Ocala, Florida, no later than thirty (30) days after the date of this publishing. Failure to respond will result in a determination of ineligibility by the Supervisor and your name will be removed from the statewide voter registration system.

Wesley Wilcox Marion County Supervisor of Elections 981 NE 16th Street Ocala, Florida 34470

The administration of the ancillary estate of ANITA J. ROBBINS , deceased, whose date of death was March 2, 2022; File Number 2022-CP-002555-AX, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 NW 1st Ave #1, Ocala, FL 34471 . The names and addresses of the personal representative and her attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate, on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served, must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THSS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME

and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with the court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. EVEN IF A CLAIM IS NOT BARRED BY THE LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE, ALL CLAIMS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN FILED WILL BE BARRED TWO YEARS AFTER DECEDENT’S DEATH. The date

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF ROBERT THOMAS RILEY JR

File No. 23CP000432AX Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Robert Thomas Riley Jr, deceased, whose date of death was August 18, 2021, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 NW 1st Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE

MCA OFFERS FOUR FRIENDS GRANTS

The Marion Cultural Alliance, Inc. (MCA) established the Four Friends Grant Fund as a permanent endowment, generating income to support small grant requests of up to $1,000 by artists in Marion County.

The inspiration for the fund is the legacy of leadership created by community leaders Jim Copeland, Mack Dunwoody, E. L. Foster and a friend who wishes to remain anonymous.

“Each provides a leadership legacy of his own, that when combined serve as an

REGION’S JOBLESS RATE TICKS UP SLIGHTLY

The jobless rate in the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion region was 3.3% in January, up 0.4 percentage point over the month and 1.3 percentage points lower than the year ago rate of 4.6%. The labor force was 216,178, up 4,039 (+1.9%) over the year. There were 7,214 unemployed residents in the region, an increase of 962 compared to December, but a drop of 2,649 compared to January 2022.

According to a CareerSource CLM news release, Levy County continued to post the lowest unemployment rate in the region at 3.1%, an uptick of 0.4 percentage point over the month and 1.2% lower than the previous January. Marion County followed at 3.2%, an increase of 0.5 percentage point over the month and down 1.2% over the year. Citrus County’s rate, at 3.9%, also increased over the month by 0.5 percentage point and dropped by 1.5% compared to January 2022.

Several industry sectors – financial activities, government, other services and professional and business services – grew faster in the Ocala metro area than statewide over the year. No industries lost jobs.

To learn more, visit careersourceclm.com or call 800-434-JOBS (5627).

enormously inspirational example to those who may choose to follow in their footsteps of improving the quality of everyday life for people. As close friends over the years, they inspired one another, with E. L., Jim, and Mack earning the nickname ‘Three Musketeers’ as they had a reputation for coming to the rescue of so many good causes, including the seedlings of what grew to become MCA,” stated a news release from the organization.

The Four Friends Grants are meant to be small amounts of support that will enhance an individual artist’s ability to work and prosper in their chosen medium. There is no deadline. A review committee will meet on demand to consider applications and release funds as deemed appropriate.

To apply, go to mcaocala.org/4-friends-grant-fund

A dynamic shopping experience

Southwest Ocala’s new Bravo Supermarket targets Hispanic and other international shoppers.

she said, are used in many of the store’s desserts and cooked foods.

“He put his heart and soul into these recipes and made sure we can continue to honor them here in Ocala,” she shared.

Browsing the aisles, we see an impressive variety of herbs, some organic products and imported Jose Valdez coffee. It’s only available “ground,” not in whole bean packaging (as of opening week).

Asian products include tamari for Japanese recipes. You can also find kosher products or bulgar wheat for Middle Eastern tabouleh.

Some South American items, sadly, were missing during our visit, such as Colombian and Brazilian cheesebreads (pandebono, pao de queijo).

Venezuela is South America’s most represented nation productwise at the new Bravo.

Union, she explained.

Note, some staples can cost a bit more. Customers have complained online about some prices on Google and Facebook. Make sure you do a cost comparison before you shop by searching online for weekly circulars (store fliers). Bravo Supermarket Ocala advertises its sales on its Facebook page (search Bravo Supermarket Ocala) and on Instagram (@Bravo_Ocala).

Independently owned

According to its website, Bravo Supermarkets are independently owned and operated.

According to “The Shelby Report,” Bravo is part of a “virtual” chain operated by New York-based Krasdale Foods and its marketing arm, Alpha 1 Marketing.

By Julie Garisto julie@magnoliamediaco.com

Beyond the banners and branding, Ocala’s new Bravo Supermarket recalls that friendly, bustling corner store of yesteryear — but with a Latin twist.

The new store at 8585 SW State Road 200 fills more than 17,800 of its square feet with grocery staples, imported products, meats and produce enjoyed by Latin cultures worldwide.

On its opening day, March 10, booths were set up to help customers shop for health care, and salsa music on Youtube playlists was piped in through speakers. The product signage and graphics colorfully contrasted with white-painted industrial lighting overhead, imparting a sleek, clean and contemporary ambiance.

“We are an international store,” emphasized store owner Jose Jorge. “We’re not only Hispanic. We offer products for most Americans and Europeans, and people from around the world. We have a little bit of everything; it’s a perfect mix.”

Of Marion County’s roughly 400,000 residents, around 16% of them are native Spanishspeakers, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics.

Bravo and its Spanish-speaking staff sell products imported from throughout Latin America and accommodate other ethnic groups with items they often cannot find at other local markets.

Special items

Plants from local nurseries decorate the produce department, where papaya, guava and coconut hold court with red ripe tomatoes on the vine and other salad staples. An assortment of greens, fresh herbs and vegetables line the wall, with culantro leaves, garlic, green peppers, and ajíes dulces (small sweet chile peppers), as well as a variety of dressings such as recaíto, a green aromatic puree of onions.

Front shelves stock Lakeridge Wines from Clermont, which can be sampled at periodic wine tastings.

A fully bilingual staff of clerks and managers accommodate native Spanish speakers while they indulge their sweet tooth at Bravo’s first in-store La Michoacána ice cream parlor. We recommend the Ferrero chocolate hazelnut.

Next to the ice-cream counter, a full-service deli features hot prepared foods (catering is available). Hot items include steaming-fresh empanadas, yuca fries, plantains, black beans and rice or pigeon peas and rice, pulled pork, chicharron and oxtail. Fresh seafood salads also are available.

The adjacent bakery displays fresh-baked pastries and custard-filled delights. Hot, fresh pan dulce, a soft-crusted, slightly sweet bread, beckons from an aisle cap.

There is no need to scarf it all down in your car or wait until you get home as you can enjoy a

meal or dessert and coffee at one of the tables lining the front of the store.

Super-fresh aguas frescas are available by the ice cream counter. The cold drinks are prepared with fruits of the day blended with ice — plus, if preferred, a dollop of milk for creaminess.

At the back of the store, a full-service meat and seafood market hawks a wide variety of beef, pork and chicken, along with fresh-caught snapper and grouper; some chill on ice in their entirety. To the left, atypical organ meats, such as tripe (cow stomach lining) can be used to make mondongo.

According to Jorge’s wife, Damaris Jorge, the meat department sells custom cuts. She shows off a huge hunk of whole beef round picana, that she describes as a top-rump-roast favorite of Brazilian barbecues.

“We will have sales on our meat every week,” she stresses.

The self-styled ambassador assisted customers during the store’s grand opening festivities, standing out from the crowd in an elegant orange suit. Like her husband, she was born in the Dominican Republic.

When asked about products we couldn’t find, she said the store can accommodate special orders and product requests.

Damaris’ uncle, Belarmino Rodriguez, donated some of the recipes, handed down from her widowed grandmother, who sold baked goods and other items to make ends meet. Those recipes,

For those who wish to make an Ecuadorian colada morada drink during fall’s Dia de Los Muertos festivities, the difficultto-find naranjilla, also known as lulo in Colombia, is available in packaged pulp form. Next to it, guanabana (soursop) pulp can be used to make a juice or smoothie, a welcome alternative to oversweetened nectars.

Some items are still on order. Tamarillos, a fruit-like nightshade also known as “tomato of the tree,” are not yet featured in the produce department but will be in the coming days, a store representative assured us.

Damaris pointed out the Intermix sign at the customer service counter. Intermix is a cash delivery service a bit like Western

“We own the name and we let the independent operators run the stores,” said Dennis Wallin, a longtime grocery industry executive and executive vice president of Alpha 1 Marketing.

Ocala’s new Bravo Supermarket occupies a space once anchored by a Publix and a Save a Lot. The previous Bravo store is now a Key Foods Supermarket.

“We visited a Bravo in Brooklyn, N.Y., and wanted to bring it to the beautiful city of Ocala,” effused store owner Jorge, who likens Ocala to Tampa as a fast-growing city but with less traffic and more scenic tranquility.

Partnered with Instacart, Grubhub, Uber Eats, and DoorDash, Ocala’s new Bravo Supermarket should be convenient and accessible to the western/southern perimeter of Marion County.

The new Bravo Supermarket on State Road 200 on opening day. [Julie Garisto]

[Supplied]

Marion County will soon have a circuit judge vacancy

M. Healis returns to serve Sumter/Citrus counties.

According to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ website, when the governor is notified of a vacancy because of a judicial resignation, retirement, death, or elevation of a sitting judge, the governor requests the chair of the Judicial Nominating Committee (JNC) convene the committee to select and submit names of qualified individuals to the governor for possible appointment to the bench.

The governor’s office has not published that request; however, it is expected.

Applicants who apply for the position interview with the JNC, which then determines by majority vote which applicants are to be recommended to the governor for consideration.

spokesperson for the Fifth Judicial Circuit.

“They get to serve at least one year before facing election,” explained Fuller.

Robert W. Hodges, the Administrative Judge for Marion County, indicated that Judge Healis’ docket comprises the probate, guardianship, and dependency dockets, which are what the judge appointed by DeSantis should expect to take over.

Those interested in being prepared to apply for the vacancy once the JNC formally announces its applicants can review the application and related information at flgov.com/ under the website’s judicial tab.

By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com

As a result of the Fifth Judicial Circuit announcing the retirement of Circuit Judge G. Richard Singeltary of

Lake County, effective April 25, Marion County will have an open seat for a circuit judge.

The fifth judicial circuit comprises Marion, Sumter, Citrus, Lake, and Hernando counties.

When a judicial vacancy

occurs, judges in the same circuit sometimes use the opportunity to put in for transfers to other counties. In this case, after factoring in judicial transfers within the circuit, it will be Marion County short a circuit judge once the Honorable Kristie

HELP RESTORE HISTORIC WATERFALLS

The JNC has no more than 60 days from the time it is requested to convene to nominate no fewer than three and no more than six applicants.

The governor then has 60 days to appoint a judge from among the nominees.

The appointee will serve until they face election in the year following their appointment, according to Jeffrey Fuller,

According to Fuller, judges will not transition to other counties until the governor’s appointment fills the vacancy, so it will be Lake County Circuit judges, not Marion County, having to make up the extra caseload that will result in being short a circuit judge.

This report will be supplemented once the governor’s office notifies the JNC to start the nominating process.

CHANGE OF PLEA SCHEDULED FOR JOE HARDING

By Stasha McKnight Special to the Ocala Gazette

The Friends of Rainbow Springs State Park are working to raise funds to restore and maintain the historic waterfalls at Rainbow Springs State Park.

Rainbow Springs has an extensive history here in Marion County, all the way back to the 1800s, and then as a roadside attraction and then this beautiful state park. Rainbow Springs man-made waterfalls are a unique part of Florida and the Florida State Parks system and, unfortunately, they have not been flowing for a few years. They had been flowing since the 1930s.

Rainbow Falls was Florida’s highest cascade, at 60 feet. It was finished in 1936. Seminole Falls, the second tallest, shares a pump house with Rainbow Falls.

Both of these waterfalls are manmade, with the water being pumped up from the river and returned directly back through short streams and smaller waterfalls, which can be seen flowing under several small bridges along your walk through the park.

Thousands of visitors have stood in awe and have photographed these beautiful, magnificent waterfalls and many of you come to Rainbow Springs to see the waterfalls. Some of you have many memories of them or have been told stories about them. They are an

important part of the history of this park.

The caption of a black and white photo from the dedication of the Rainbow Springs Waterfalls on March 14, 1937, notes that the celebration included a “Timucua Indian Pageant with a Sun Dance and Water God ritual and there was a water carnival with movie mermaid revue, exhibition swimming, fancy diving by Newt Perry’s aquatic stars, life-saving demos, canoe tilting, clown diving, alligator wrestling by Harold Williams and a 10-foot gator. There was PeeWee the circus clown and his dog Rex, University of Florida swim team, Billy chase, Bill Collin, Bob Barry, W . Liddell, Bob Quixley, L.G. Haskell, R. Albertson, H. Skipper, Tom Knotts and demos. They celebrated 50th anniversary of discovery of phosphate. It featured dancers from Dunnellon dance classes. There was lunch, soft drink stands, facilities for dancing, all free admission and parking.”

The Friends of Rainbow Springs State Park are raising funds to restore and maintain the waterfalls to preserve their history and for the visitors of Rainbow Springs State Park and for generations to come to enjoy. Your generous donation to help with this special project is greatly appreciated. You can donate on our website, in our gift shop or by mailing your donation to Friends of Rainbow Springs State Park, 19158 SW 81st Place Road, Dunnellon, Florida 34432.

By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com

Achange of plea hearing has been set in the case of former State Rep. Joe Harding, who faces several federal charges related to allegations that he defrauded a pandemic-related government small business loan program.

The hearing, considered by legal experts as a routine matter in such cases, has been set for 4 p.m. March 21 at the U.S. Courthouse in Gainesville before District Judge Allen C. Winsor. The decision to change Harding’s plea was revealed during a March 6 status conference on the case. The case is currently set for trial on May 10.

Harding, an Ocala Republican who previously represented District 24, resigned the seat in December following a six-count indictment for wire fraud and other charges related to the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.

Harding, who has previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, declined to comment on what that change of plea hearing could entail. However, a local attorney familiar with practicing criminal law in federal court said a change of plea hearing is common in federal criminal court.

“A defendant’s initial plea of not guilty is simply the first step after an indictment that allows the defendant and his attorney access to all of the facts and evidence gathered by the government,’’ explained the attorney, who did not wish to be identified. “Once that investigative information has been disclosed and reviewed by the defendant and counsel, if there is a likelihood of an adverse outcome at trial, the defendant may wish to change his not guilty plea to a plea of guilty or no contest. The ultimate charges agreed to as part of the plea agreement between the government and the defendant may result in the negotiation of relative legal positions and other factually mitigating factors.”

If the defendant is convicted, changing a plea earlier rather than later

can sometimes work to a defendant’s benefit at sentencing, said the attorney.

“Often the government will agree to recommend a lesser sentence or punishment in exchange for an early resolution, as compared to a harsher recommendation that might be made if the defendant was found guilty at a trial,” the lawyer said.

Before issuing a sentence, the judge will review all the material facts and circumstances surrounding the case and the defendant; federal sentencing guidelines; recommendations for a sentence by the government and the defendant’s request for a specific sentence.

Sentences can range from a term of community control up to and including jail time, fines, and a term of probation.

According to the grand jury’s indictment, Harding applied for EIDL loans for two entities, The Vak Shack, Inc., an agricultural supply business in Williston, and Harding Farms, LLC., a 46-acre horse and cattle facility in Williston.

The indictment alleged that Harding falsely represented the number of employees and gross revenues for both entities and claimed they were active in 2019 and 2020 when they were not, and that Harding supported the false claims with “fraudulently created bank statements.”

Prosecutors allege the business entities had been dormant from May 2017 through Dec. 16, 2020, and therefore had no gross revenues for the 12 months prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a necessary element of qualifying for the EIDL program.

Federal prosecutors are seeking a criminal conviction as well as forfeiture of any property, real and personal, derived from the proceeds of the loan transaction.

Harding had been reelected without opposition to his second term in 2020. District 24 encompasses the central southwest quadrant of Marion County. A special election is set for May 16 to fill the vacancy.

File photo: Oasis Rainbow Springs Florida

File photo: The Marion County Judicial Center is shown in Ocala on Wednesday, August 5, 2020. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

File photo: Rep. Joe Harding during the Marion County Delegation at the Klein Conference Center at the College of Central Florida in Ocala on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.

New outreach for veterans

A local nonprofit has deployed a mobile unit to help vets in Marion, Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Levy and Putnam counties.

covers services for veterans outside Marion County, while a block grant covers assistance for veterans Marion County.

The mobile unit, decorated with the emblems of each branch of the armed services, has an office area inside that will include a computer terminal to access information and check on available benefits.

Gibbons said several dozen MREs (Meal, Ready to Eat), Boost nutritional drinks and Quest protein bars, as well as clothing, can be stored in the mobile unit to give out in the field.

Tyler Vincent, a representative of NEADS World Class Service Dogs, worked alongside Gibbons and MCVHV Office Manager Gary Pascale at the Forest Community Center event to provide information about “highly trained dogs (to) provide independence, empowerment and companionship to people who are deaf or have a disability” according to NEADS literature.

and their families including counseling, referral, advocacy assistance including food and limited financial assistance for such items as rent, utilities (and) special dietary needs,” the website states. It also assists with finding employment, providing speakers and a weekly radio show. Volunteers make hospital visits, do grocery shopping and make minor repairs to the homes of veterans. The organization helped more than 4,800 veterans and their families in 2022, according to its website.

MCVHV also has been in involved with local officials in the Marion County Veterans Court program and cooperates with local agencies and outreaches to supply meals to homeless and homebound veterans.

The MCVHV office contains a pantry and storeroom in which food, furniture and items such as walkers are stored. Gibbons, Pascale and Brenda James with MCVHV recently took in a large donation of clothing.

By Andy Fillmore Correspondent

The Marion County Veterans Helping Veterans USA (MCVHV) Outreach

Mobile Unit reported for its first field duty at the Forest Community Center in East Marion County on Feb. 25.

The 26-foot-long converted Gulf Stream RV will bring emergency help and information about benefits to veterans in

areas of Marion, Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Levy and Putnam counties. The vehicle is wrapped in an eye catching red, white and blue theme. The wrap includes the phone number and a list of a few of the services the non-profit MCVHV can provide, including emergency food and clothing, limited financial aid for rent and utilities, and referrals to local agencies for continued help.

“This will allow us to bring our services and information about Veterans Administration

and other available benefits to veterans living in the remote areas of Marion County who can’t easily get to our office in Ocala,” said MCVHV Outreach Coordinator Terry Gibbons. Gibbons said plans call for the mobile unit to be parked at the county library branches in Belleview, Dunnellon and Reddick as the sites are well known in those areas. The RV was funded by a grant from the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, which also

NEADS, a non-profit, was formerly known as the National Education for Assistance Dog Services and Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans. The NEADS Service Dogs for Veterans program helps veterans with a physical disability, hearing loss or PTSD. The NEADS representative will be a regular guest on the mobile unit.

MCVHV, located at 2730 E. Silver Springs Blvd., in the Veterans Service Center building, was established in 1977 and incorporated in 2002.

The outreach provides “social service contacts to veterans

“Most of the material is donated, but we do purchase for the food pantry,” Gibbons said.

The outreach has helped clients ranging from a walk-in who needed clothing to an Army veteran with a large family who suffered a house fire.

Gibbons pointed out a rack filled with portioned bags of dry pet food and one of the MCVHV personnel said that people in need had been known to give their own food to their pets.

To learn more about MCVHV, go to vhvusa.org, email vetshelpingvets@vhvusa.org or call (352) 433-2320.

Terry Gibbons and his dog Griffin pose with Marion County Veterans Helping Veterans USA’s new mobile unit. [Andy Fillmore]

Mobile unit brings information and services to veterans who can’t readily get into the VHV office in the Marion County Veterans Service Center on East Silver Springs Boulevard. Van in action at Forest Community Center event Feb. 25, 2023. [Andy Fillmore]

From left, Marion County Veterans Helping Veterans USA Outreach Manager Terry Gibbons, Office Manager Gary Pascale and Pantry Manager Brenda James work in the nonprofit agency’s storeroom. [Andy Fillmore]

LAWMAKERS SEEK TO CURB CHINA LAND PURCHASES

MARION COUNTY CLERK OF COURT AND COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE AWARDED CERTIFICATE

The Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller’s Office has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021.

communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report.

By Jim Turner Florida News Service

The Florida Senate has started fast-tracking a proposal that would bar the sale of agricultural land and property within 20 miles of military bases to interests tied to the Chinese government or other nations on a list of “countries of concern.”

The bill (SB 264), which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, also would prevent Florida government agencies from entering contracts involving access to personal information with entities tied to countries of concern. Also, it would require health-care providers to ensure electronic technology keeps patient information within the continental U.S.

“There are countries that simply don’t stand up for our way of life, our thoughts or ideas, ideals and principles,” bill sponsor Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, said. “This bill protects, strategically speaking, our land and to make sure … we aren’t dependent on other countries for agriculture.”

While China is the primary focus of Collins’ proposal, other countries of concern are Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and Agriculture

Commissioner Wilton Simpson have pushed for restrictions on farm-land acquisitions by people and entities linked to the Chinese government.

While she voted for the measure, Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book, D-Plantation, questioned if the proposal creates a discriminatory situation “for individuals who are here in this country who want to purchase property.”

Collins said the intent is to differentiate between people who have migrated to the U.S. and people still tied to the targeted governments.

“We are not targeting individuals. We are

talking about countries specifically and their practices on the international stage,” Collins replied. States, according to a Senate staff analysis, have “narrow limits” to apply laws exclusively to “alien inhabitants,” but court decisions have determined “each state, in the absence of any treaty provision to the contrary, may deny to aliens the right to own land within its border.”

The bill would take effect July 1. People or entities that own agricultural land before then would not have to give up the property, but they would be prevented from expanding their acreage after that date.

Information is not readily available about how much agricultural land in Florida is owned by entities tied to China.

A Senate staff analysis pointed to a 2021 U.S. Department of Agriculture report in which 6.3 percent of the 21.85 million acres of privately held agricultural land in Florida was owned by foreigners of all nationalities.

“It is unclear how much of that land is owned by China, although the (federal) department does report that (China) owns 96,975 acres in the ‘South Region,’ which includes Florida,” the staff analysis states.

Also under the bill, starting Jan. 1, 2024, entities seeking to bid on government contracts that involve access to individual personal information would have to provide signed affidavits declaring they don’t rule afoul of prohibitions on ties to countries of concern.

Violations could result in civil penalties equal to twice the value of the contracts and five years of being ineligible to seek other contracts.

Collins’ proposal would need to clear the Rules Committee before it could go to the full Senate. A similar bill (HB 1355) has been filed in the House.

The report was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly

The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. This is the 37th consecutive year that the Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller’s Office has received this award, and the third year in a row for Clerk Gregory C. Harrell.

OCALA ELECTRIC UTILITY RECOGNIZED WITH AWARD

Ocala Electric Utility (OEU) is among 13 Florida public power utilities to receive a Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) Safety Award, which recognizes utilities’ commitment to safety. OEU received first place in Category B for 60,000 to 199,999 worker hours. The award was presented at the Florida Lineman Competition awards banquet March 4 in Orlando.

FMEA recognizes and rewards safe operations through its annual safety awards. Utilities are placed into categories based on their total worker hours and rewarded for the most incident-free records.

The incidence rate used to judge utilities is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses compared to the total number of worker hours during 2022, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), stated the news release.

Linework is listed as one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs. To provide reliable power, Florida lineworkers, and power crews are frequently engaged in dangerous work that can place them at risk of serious or fatal injuries, which is why public power utilities place a significant emphasis on safety culture and training, the release noted.

When heart problems like AFib, arrhythmia, or heart failure begin to affect your life, you need expert care from a trusted team. As one of Florida’s first designated HeartCARE Centers by the American College of Cardiology, we provide nationally recognized care for a range of cardiovascular conditions. So you can keep your heart beating with the pace of life.

Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, is sponsoring a bill aimed at preventing land purchases by entities tied to China. [Colin Hackley]

People, Places & Things

By Julie Garisto julie@magnoliamediaco.com

Talia Guastavino began creating eye-catching, dreamlike paintings on canvas when her classmates began learning the alphabet.

Now 7, she began painting professionally last year.

She showed talent as young as age 3, when she finger-painted. Not long after that, she copied an illustration of “a little guy” that a friend sent in the mail and shocked her mom with how well-drawn the picture was.

“I was so impressed,” Claudia Guastavino said. “I said, baby, you love to do this, and she said, ‘Yes, Mama, I love to paint and draw!”

Claudia and Talia’s father, Javier Guastavino, took their budding artist, the oldest of three girls, to a youth entrepreneurial event in Ocala last year to sell some of Talia’s work. District 2 school board member and artist Don Browning attended the event and took notice of Talia’s talent. At the same, artist and gallery owner E.J. Nieves introduced himself and tried to purchase the same painting. Both artists would wind up having a big impact on young Talia’s blossoming career.

“Ever since that event, people in the community who met Talia that day have been keeping in touch with us on social media,” Claudia said.

Claudia, originally from Portugal, and Javier, whose parents are from Uruguay, met in New Jersey and moved to Ocala from Daytona Beach not long after Talia was born. Claudia owns a cleaning business and Javier manages Oxford Downs.

“We loved how family-friendly this city is,” Talia’s mom said, praising Ocala and Talia’s school, Dr. N.H. Jones Elementary School.

The Guastavinos continue to encourage their daughter and said they have allocated profits from her art to a college tuition fund.

Talia enjoys painting abstract, expressionistic works, and displaying them at local festivals and other vendor events. Next year, the

Guastavinos plan to auction her works to help the school fund its computer lab.

“But we want to make sure she gets to be a kid and her life has balance, too,” Claudia stressed, emphasizing that she makes sure Talia takes long breaks from painting, so she doesn’t get tired of it.

Talia is anything but tired. The young artist has helped her mom organize local art shows such as the first “Anything, Everything Art” event for artists age 1-18. It will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, at Lady of the Springs Catholic Church, 4047 NE 21st St. Ocala.

As a working artist, Talia has already amassed effusive testimonials. Some say she shows the signs being of a born leader by helping her peers and giving encouragement and hugs.

Elizabeth Rodriguez, the owner of Ellie’s Rico Dulces, said her son Jacob has been a friend of Talia’s since the two started attending karate classes together. The kids are in the same first-grade class at Jones Elementary.

The sweets-making mom owns an original work by Talia: a cake painting that hangs on her office wall. She described Talia as “spunky” and having a “bright personality.”

“Talia is a very talented and inspiring young artist who is passionate about creating beautiful abstract paintings,” said longtime local artist Maggie Weakley, who encouraged Talia to paint with acrylics.

Nieves, owner of NEHS Galleries, continues to be a mentor and praises Talia’s unique imagery.

“Talia is most certainly an abstract expressionist,” he said. “Her work inspires me because you can tell that she is curious and adventurous within her art and is never afraid to take risks on the canvas.”

What does the young painter want to be when she grows up? An architect, she told her mom.

“I want to paint to make people smile and love art; art makes me happy,” she also said.

To learn more, go to fb.com/taliasrainbow

Mentor E.J. Nieves poses with young artist Talia Guastavino next to her painting, “The Kingdom.”

Artist Talia Guastavino may only be 7 but her abstract-expressionist works are growing in popularity.

Photos provided by Clarence Simpson Photography

“Deep Sea”

Once upon a time with Sondheim

Meadowbrook Academy Performing Arts’ production of “Into the Woods” takes over Ocala Civic Theatre on March 23-24.

By Julie Garisto julie@magnoliamediaco.com

West Ocala private school Meadowbrook Academy spends several months each year producing full-scale musical productions, and this year is no exception. Angie Quidley and her cast of triple-threat teens—along with an intrepid, hard-working crew—are taking over the Ocala Civic Theatre and reviving the songs, dance and sylvan enchantments of Stephen Sondheim’s hit musical “Into the Woods,” premiering at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, March 23-24.

“This is the junior version of Into the Woods,” Quidley explained, “but we have to add underscore and scenechange music to it because they chop it up and it doesn’t flow. I have to make it flow.”

If you haven’t seen it, Sondheim’s musical is a mashup of fairy tales with a script that “the Guardian” calls “playful, quirky and fun” and “a profound exploration of parental anxiety and loss.” It’s chock full of sass and wit, and a touch of pathos. In the play, we learn about the outcomes of Brothers Grimm all-stars including “Little Red Riding Hood,”, “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Rapunzel” and “Cinderella” as well as some others.

The play starts with a childless baker and his wife and their quest to begin a family (the original beginning of the Brothers Grimm’s “Rapunzel”). A witch has placed a curse on them, and other fairy tale characters join them on an eventful odyssey as they try to lift the curse.

Beloved playwright Sondheim died at 91 in 2021. His career spanned more than six decades. He penned the lyrics to Leonard Bernstein’s score for “West Side Story” in 1957 and became known for musically dynamic,

somewhat edgy and out-of-the-ordinary plays such as “Company” (1970), “Sweeney Todd” (1979) and “Into the Woods” (1987).

Part teacher, part den mom and big inspiration, Quidley exudes nonstop energy and persistent followthrough during a recent dress rehearsal at the school. Students fill a classroom, draping costumes and props over Yamaha keyboards left over from Quidley’s elementary music class.

The mood is upbeat and Quidley leads the group in prayer before staging scenes at the adjacent church on the property. Quidley has performance experience herself, including a turn as the “Memory”-belting Grizabella in “Cats.”

Greg Thomson, artistic director at the Ocala Civic Theatre, worked with Quidley on “Cats,” and he said he’s glad the theater’s lighting and sound people will assist in the production.

“We are always happy as a community theater to have community groups in our space and integrating with us as well,” Thompson said. “I think it’s great for kids to have the experience in a facility that has full lighting system and all the stuff that we provide.”

The students will be ready, too, said Quidley.

“Since before Christmas, they’ve been learning their lines and places, and they’re learning how to read the music,” she said. “We put together a concert team, and they went out to nursing homes. It’s important for them to bring cheer to the residents.”

Lead Alexa Blanco helps the cast and crew, building set pieces with her contractor father’s help and taking on other responsibilities in addition to her lead role as the baker’s wife.

She explains the difference between the stage production and the 2014 movie adaptation directed by

Rob Marshall, featuring a cast of heavyweights such as Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Johnny Depp, James Corden and Anna Kendrick. Receiving mixed reviews, Rotten Tomatoes gave it a critics’ score of 71 and an audience score of 49.

“You’ve got to separate them as two different works of art that took the same lyrics and the same storyline,” Blanco offered. “In the stage production, it’s as dramatic as it is funny. Whereas, the movie made it more serious and darker.”

A senior this year, Blanco has been accepted at several colleges. “I have nine BFA offers,” she said of bachelor of fine art programs at various schools across the U.S.

The production also features senior Makayla Baxley as a fearsome witch with a convincing cackle. When she’s not performing, she’s active in several sports activities.

Other cast members include C.J. Kimball, who nobly portrays the baker; the capable Aaliyah Maninga as the narrator; a gracious Daniela Morales as Cinderella; and the feisty duo Valeria Viteri and Katie Weible as Cinderella’s infamous stepsisters.

According to Quidley, the production offers valuable life lessons for teens. The mastery needed to succeed in musical theater is an elaborate process just as it is in life.

The longtime teacher at Meadowbrook works with the students to make sure they’re singing in character. Once they nail that, they feel like they can do anything, she said.

“Musical theater builds confidence, and kids feel successful right away,” Quidley said.

Tickets to Meadowbrook Performing Arts’ “Into the Woods,” onstage at 7 p.m. on March 2324, are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Call (352) 861-0700 for more information.

The Witch, played by Makayla Baxley, 18, left, cuts off Rapunzel’s hair, as Sara Stephens, 17, right, plays Rapunzel during a rehearsal of “Into The Woods” at Meadowbrook Academy in Ocala on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

Skyler Forsythe as Little Red, 16, right, rehearses a scene with Christopher Kimball as The Baker, 15, left, and Alexa Blanco as the Baker’s Wife, 18, center.

Nyah Brummitt as Jack’s Mom, 13, Lydiann Garboden as Jack, 13, and Victor Youmans as The Cow, 13, left to right.

Kaylyn Kinnecom as The Granny, 14, left, and Gabby Morales as The Wolf, 13, right.

Center: Cinderella played by Daniela Morales, 16, right, rehearses a scene with her evil stepsisters, Kaitlyn Weible as Lucinda, 16, left, and Valeria Viteri as Florinda, 16, center.

Albert Sullivan as Cinderella’s Prince, 14, left, and Braylon Dickerson as Rapunzel’s Prince, 14, right.

Fiesta time in downtown Ocala Tattoo fest helps local furbabies

By Julie Garisto julie@magnoliamediaco.com

If you love dogs, cats and tats, check out a semi-annual Ocala charity event that will give you some new body art to show off while boosting the ongoing efforts of the Humane Society of Marion County (HSMC).

Fist City Tatoo has teamed up with HSMC to present Art for Animals from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, at 1905 SW College Road, Ocala.

For those interested in getting inked, pre-selected flash designs will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The tats start at $50 and will be posted inside Fist City on the day of the event.

The event will include the Lucky’s Kitchen food truck and prize drawings of local goods and services. Profits will go to HSMC to help local animals in need.

By Julie Garisto julie@magnoliamediaco.com

“Prepara la fecha, Latinos!”

That’s Spanish, in so many words, for “Get ready to party!” and it’s the tagline for Festival Latino-Downtown Ocala, which will take over the downtown area from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 25.

The event will be headquartered at Citizens’ Circle on Southeast Osceola Avenue and will pay tribute to different Latin American cultures with food and music from Orlando acts Plena de Barrio, Mariachi America Canta, percussion ensemble Grupo Kon Clase and Ocalabased DJ Joe Ortiz.

Food trucks Mr. Fry Guy, Taqueria

Taco Rico, El Preferido, El Punto Food Truck and Chinchorrear Es La Que Hay will be serving Mexican and Caribbeaninspired foods. Kids’ activities add to the fun.

Participating vendors include the College of Central Florida, Bravo Supermarkets Ocala, PNC Bank, CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion, Asociación de Artesanos y Artistas Plásticos en Florida Central, the Association of Puerto Rican Handicraftsmen and Plastic Artists of Central Florida, Baked & Co (popular for its baked goods at the Downtown Market every Saturday) and Jireh Salon.

“Ocala and Marion County are growing every year,” said DJ and event organizer Ortiz, founder of PartyMix productions.

According to Census statistics, around 16 percent of Marion County is composed of Hispanic residents.

“This growing number made me realize how important it is to celebrate Latin culture,” Oritz said. “We are a diverse group of people, but can all relate to our love for music, food and community.”

For more information, email partymixproductions1@gmail.com.

Hello, Ocala!

The nonprofit, founded in 1964, is a no-kill shelter dedicated to the care and protection of animals. Its mission is to prevent cruelty, suffering and overpopulation of animals through education, housing and financial support.

The organization has earned a 100% score by Charity Navigator for its “Impact & Results beacon,” which is used to estimate the impact a charity has on the lives of those it serves and determines whether it is making good use of donor resources.

Roseann Morton, president of the HSMC board of directors, recently received the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County’s Board Member of the Year Award for her work with the society, which she has served for 25 years.

For more information, visit thehsmc.org.

By Eadie Sickler Correspondent

Majors Phillip and Lynn Irish were appointed to move from a small suburb near Jacksonville, Florida, to the Marion County Salvation Army post in June of 2022. Typically, the organization moves officers (pastors and administrators) every three to four years, he said.

The couple, who are from Ironton, in southern Ohio, met when his family attended services at the small missionoriented church where her family were members. Phillip was employed as a producer/director for a radio and television station. Lynn is a registered nurse. When they met, she noticed he had an earring and thought that was “cool.”

Lynn said when they were in the small town of Ironton, they were involved in a tri-state setting. They lived in Ohio, worked in West Virginia and went to

church in Kentucky, all within close distance of their home. The church in Kentucky was a small Salvation Army church, which Phillip’s parents attended. The couple became very active in the work of that church.

While Phillip was teaching a Sunday school class at the Kentucky church, a Salvation Army high commander for the Kentucky/Tennessee area, who was visiting the church, strongly challenged him, asking to know why he and his wife were not enrolled as cadets in the Salvation Army officer training program.

That program requires both husband and wife to be in the program with the intent to become joint leaders, or “majors” in the Salvation Army. They determined this was God’s will for them and “sold everything, packed up the kids, and moved to Atlanta, Georgia,” Lynn said, and were enrolled as cadets in the Salvation Army College for the two-year officer training.

After completing the training, they

were commissioned as captains, in which capacity they served for 15 years before achieving the rank of majors. Their first appointment was in Nashville, Tennessee, where they served for four years at the Salvation Army church.

Since that time, they have served in Hopkinsville, Kentucky; Mobile, Alabama; Orlando, Florida; Citrus County, Florida; and in Clay County, Florida, near Jacksonville.

Their four children include daughter Morgan, who is married and has a son, Charlie. They live in Maine, where her husband, Eddie, is the Salvation Army divisional music director for northern New England. Daughter Madison is 26 and lives in Ocala. Daughter Maysun, 18, will graduate from high school in Ocala this spring. Their son, Merrik, 16, is in high school in Ocala.

“When we came here, our mission for Ocala was to re-establish our full service into the community in the post-COVID environment,” Phillip said.

Services here never stopped during that time but, moving forward, they plan to enhance the programs that are available, they shared.

Lynn said one vision is to rebuild the youth program, which is her area of focus.

“This is in process now, and there will be an ongoing emphasis in this area,” she added.

They emphasized that “Ocala is extraordinary in that this is a very loving community and church. Everyone has been uniquely welcoming.”

Lynn added that “Ocala is a quiet, big little town. It’s not crazy busy like Jacksonville or Orlando.”

Phillip explained that “first and foremost, the Salvation Army is basically a church. Sharing the word of God is the motivation for everything else the corps does because of the love of God.”

The broad spectrum of services offered in the community is driven by the needs of the community, he explained. Church services are held each week, as well as Sunday school, mid-week Bible study and small groups for men, women and children.

The Irishes said that community involvement of the Salvation Army, in addition to the well-known Red Kettle program during the holidays, includes:

• Emergency Services – Assists families attempting to keep homes and jobs by providing help with food, clothing, furniture, utilities (as funds are

available) and housing.

• Center of Hope – Provides daily meals to thousands of homeless and lowincome people every year.

• Emergency Shelter – For homeless individuals and victims of tragedies, the Center of Hope provides shelter for women, men and families. There is a 40-bed capacity.

• Transitional Housing – Six safe and secure family rooms at the Center of Hope are offered to those who have become homeless through loss of job or because of tragedy. Three meals a day are provided, along with laundry facilities and limited transportation. While living there, adults are encouraged to work or further their education to secure permanent housing and employment.

• Counseling – Professional staff work to help individuals find long-term solutions to their issues. Appointments are made for further evaluation, counseling and the medical clinic.

Family Thrift Store – Raises money to enable the Salvation Army to provide household goods and clothing to those in need.

Holiday programs – Thanksgiving and Christmas meals are provided for those who would otherwise go without. Food baskets, toys and clothing are provided to individuals who are unable to provide for their families.

The Angel Tree Program – Provides gifts and clothing through donations for Christmas presents for children in families who could otherwise not afford to give their children a Christmas celebration of any kind.

• Youth programs

Senior housing – A HUD property administered by the Salvation Army, the Evangeline Booth Apartment complex, has 64 apartments for lowincome seniors.

The couple emphasized, “We are happy to be here to see what the Lord will do while we’re here.”

Phillip quoted Salvation Army founder, William Booth, who originated the organization’s motto, “This, and better we’ll do.”

The Salvation Army’s main facility is located at 2901 NE 14th St. in Ocala. To learn more call, (352) 629-2004 or go to salvationarmyflorida.org/ocala

Majors Phillip and Lynn Irish of the Salvation Army during the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at the Salvation Army on Northeast 14th Street in Ocala on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

File photo

File photo

Sudoku is played on a grid of 9 x 9 spaces. Within the rows and columns are

“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.

By Michael Warren

Bird of the Week & &music nightlife

The downy is the smallest woodpecker in Marion County and can be found in neighborhoods and forests all over town. It also visits feeders. The charming downy looks almost identical to the hairy woodpecker, which is a larger and has a longer bill. But the hairy woodpecker is only seen a few times a year in our area, mostly in the Ocala National Forest.

MARCH 17 & 24

Courtyard Jams

MCA Courtyard

23 W Broadway St., Ocala

6-9pm Music, dancing, drumming, poetry and limbo. Free to attend; Friday nights weekly.

MARCH 17

Ecliff Farrar

The Yellow Pony World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala

Tickets are $35 for this special event. 5-10pm Music, food, drink and more.

MARCH 17

REL Charlie Horse 2426 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

7pm Live music, DJ Bingo, trivia games and karaoke.

MARCH 17

St. Patrick’s Day Block Party

Expo 1 World

MARCH 19

Kenna Dee Flying Boat Tap Room 9672 SE 58th Ave., Belleview 11am-2pm Florida-brewed beers, pizza and acoustic music for Sunday brunch options.

MARCH 22

Houston Keen The Yellow Pony World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala 6-9pm

MARCH 22

Blues Jam Charlie Horse 2426 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 7pm

MARCH 23

Jeff Jarrett Uptown Music at The Yellow Pony World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala 6-9pm

MARCH 24

Mark Z Uptown Music at The Yellow Pony World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala 6-9pm

MARCH 24

Clay Booker Homestead Park 1050 NE 6th Blvd., Williston 6-9pm

MARCH 25

Side Piece Charlie Horse 2426 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 7pm

MARCH 25

Grass Campers The Yellow Pony World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala 6-9pm

MARCH 25

Blvd., Williston

Houston Keen Homestead Park 1050 NE 6th Blvd., Williston 6-9pm

Downy woodpecker [MichaelWarren.com]

community

MARCH 16-19

Live Oak International

Live Oak Stud, 2215 SW 110th Ave., Ocala

8am-last class

This world-class competition combines driving dressage and obstacle classes, a presentation by the Grandview Clydesdales and stellar show jumping competitions, along with free parking, food vendors and the Budweiser Clydesdales. Tickets range from $10 daily for general admission; tailgating spots and VIP packages start at $250. Go to liveoakinternational.com/buy-tickets

MARCH 16-19

Winter Horse Trials & Sunshine State

Open Pleasure Shows

Florida Horse Park, 11008 South Hwy 475, Ocala

All day

Multiple events include horse trials for eventing and youth and adult classes in English and Western disciplines including halter, lead line, ranch riding and more. For more info, sunshinestateops.com

MARCH 17

Parade of Senior Services College of Central Florida Klein Conference Center, 3003 SW College Road, Ocala

10am-2pm Agencies and services for seniors is the focus of this expo, with lots of information about insurance, long-term health care, services for the blind, general social services, onsite health tests and more. Free to ages 50+. For more info, Ocala Recreation and Parks, (352) 368-5517.

MARCH 17

Marion County Friday Market

McPherson Governmental Campus Field, 601 SE 25th

Ave., Ocala

9am-2pm

Shop locally fresh fruits and veggies, baked goods, jerky, freeze-dried treats, olive oils, seafood and more; recurs every Friday.

MARCH 17-18

Southeastern Pro Rodeo

Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala

5:30pm, gates open

The 30th annual event will offer breakaway roping, saddle and bareback bronc riding, tiedown roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing and bull riding. Tickets are $22; on Friday only, $10 for ages 6-11. For more information visit, ocalarodeo.com

MARCH 17-19, 22-26

2023 Winter Spectacular Show

Series

World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala

8am-4pm

See world-class hunters and show jumpers, culminating in the Grand Prix on Saturday evening. For more info, worldequestriancenter.com

MARCH 18

Saddle Oak Club Spring Craft Show

Saddle Oak Club Neighborhood, 5620 SW 60th St., Ocala

8am-1pm

Crafts for sale, along with resident yard and bake sales, breakfast and lunch items.

MARCH 18

Special Kids Classic Golf

Tournament

Country Club of Ocala, 6823 SE 12th Circle, Ocala

7am registration; 8am shotgun start

The eighth annual event benefits Transitions Life Center and its services for special needs clients. Prizes, raffles and breakfast. $500 for a foursome; upgraded foursome with perks at $600. For more info, tlcocala.org/eventandnews

MARCH 18

Rainbow Springs Art Festival

Downtown Dunnellon, West Pennsylvania Ave. and Cedar St., Dunnellon

9am-5pm

The festival is a fundraiser to support scholarships for two high school seniors to study creative arts in college. A variety of media are represented: jewelry, textiles, pen and ink, watercolors and more. Food and drink vendors will be onsite and there are restaurants in the area. Free to attend. More info at rainbowspringsart.com

MARCH 18

Pine Run Spring Craft Show

Pine Run Neighborhood, 9219 SW 101st Place, Ocala

9am-2pm

Crafts for sale, including knitting, cards, paintings, woodworking and more. For more info, search13@ptd.net.

MARCH 18 & 25

Yoga in the Park

Sholom Park, 7110 SW 80th Ave., Ocala

9am

Free yoga classes at the stage area; recurs every Saturday morning. Visit sholompark.org for details.

MARCH 18 & 25

Ocala Farmers Market

Ocala Downtown Market, 310 SE Third St., Ocala

9am-2pm

Vendors offer local fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood, fresh pasta, honey, jewelry, baked goodies, and arts and crafts. Check out local food trucks and the occasional guest entertainer. Rain or shine; recurs every Saturday. Visit ocaladowntownmarket.com for more info.

MARCH 18 & 25

Farmers Swap Meet

Rural King, 2999 NW 10th St., Ocala

9am-2pm

Chickens, ducks, quail, geese, goats, turkeys, rabbits and sometimes even ponies are available, along with horse tack, home-grown plants, produce and hand-crafted items. Booth types vary, with occasional meat vendors, food trucks and other goods. Saturdays, weather permitting.

government

MARCH 20 & 27

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. Meets weekly on Mondays; agendas are usually posted the Friday prior. Agendas, minutes and video available at marionfl.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

MARCH 21 & 23

Operation Green Light-Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller

Clerk’s Office, 110 NW First Ave, Ocala

7:30am-5:30pm

The Clerk of the Court is offering extended hours as part of its annual Operation Green Light event, which allows people with suspended driver’s licenses to pay fees and tickets and potentially save up to 20% in fees. Criminal and traffic divisions will be available in person, online or via phone. For more info, marioncountyclerk.org

MARCH 19

Cynthia Wilson-Graham Presentation

Green Clover Hall, 319 SE 26th Terrace, Ocala

2pm

Author and historian Wilson-Graham will speak about is the early history of area Black businesses. The presentation is free for Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology members; $5 for non-members. For more info, marioncountyarchaeology.com

MARCH 20-22

March Sale: Two-year Olds in Training

Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co., 1701 SW 60th Ave., Ocala

11am Two-year old thoroughbreds in training for racing careers hit the auction floor. Open to the public. For info, obssales.com/2023/02/2023-march-sale

MARCH 22

Excellent Adventures-Expo for Active Seniors

College of Central Florida Ewers Century Center, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala

10am-2pm Explore golf, tennis, scuba diving, dancing, hiking, yoga and more. The Senior Resource Foundation of Ocala partners with providers and proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Marion County. For more info, srfofocala.com

MARCH 23

Medicare Classes

Online

10am & 2pm

The SHINE organization offers free classes by computer or phone. For more info, shine@ agingresources.org or call (352) 692-5209.

MARCH 23

Career and Internship Fair

CF Ewers Century Center, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala

3:30pm-6pm CF is holding a job and internship fair with local employers who are looking for staffers for full-time, part-time and internship positions in Marion County. Check out cf.edu/event/career-and-internship-fair-2 for the list of employers and more info.

MARCH 23

OTOW Farmers Market

The Town Square at Circle Square Commons, 8405 SW 80th St., Ocala

9am-1pm

Large selection of fresh seasonal produce from local growers as well as baked goods, plants, handmade soaps and more; recurs every Thursday. Visit circlesquarecommons.com for more info.

MARCH 25

Festival Latino Citizens’ Circle, 110 SE Watula, Ocala

11am-6pm Celebrate Latin culture with food trucks, drink options, artists’ booths, music, kids’ activities and more. Free to attend. For more info, see facebook.com/latinfestivalocala

MARCH 21

City of Dunnellon Planning Commission Meeting

City Hall, 20750 River Drive, Dunnellon

5:30pm

Meets monthly in the third week; Dunnellon agendas, minutes and video available at Dunnellon.org/89/Agendas-Minutes

MARCH 21

City of Ocala City Council Meeting

City Hall, 110 SE Watula Avenue, Ocala

4pm

Meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Agendas are usually posted the Thursday prior; agendas, minutes and video available from ocala.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

MARCH 21

Marion County Board of County Commissioners

Meeting

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

9am & 2pm

Meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. The Planning & Zoning portion is scheduled for the 2pm meeting. Agendas are usually posted the Thursday prior. Agendas, minutes and video available at marionfl.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

MARCH 25

Art for Animals Tattoo Event

Fist City Tattoo Shop, 1905 SW College Road, #1, Ocala

12pm-9pm

This unique fundraiser for the Humane Society of Marion County is in its eighth year and features Fist City tattoo artists inking for charity with “flash tattoos” of specific designs. Pets will be onsite for adoption, along with raffles, giveaways and Lucky’s Kitchen food truck. For more info, see Fist City Tattoos on Instagram.

MARCH 25

Down for Donuts

CrossFit Iron Legion, 217 SE 1st Ave., Ocala

8am

This fitness competition is for any level of athlete with division, scaled tests, individual and team events, along with a silent auction, and , of course, donuts. Proceeds benefit Gigi’s Playhouse, a Down Syndrome Achievement Center. Tickets start at $50. See crossfitironlegion.com/events-schedule/ down-for-donuts-8 to register.

MARCH 25

GospelFest

Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 5000 SW College Road, Ocala

12pm-6pm

The second annual gospel festival will feature a variety of musical acts, home-cooked foods, children’s activities and open mic for people to share stories. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and tents as the event is outdoors. For more info, call Pastor Standley Gillings (352) 286-3170 or event co-chair Karon Johnson (352) 875-0197.

MARCH 26

Pack Walk Silver Springs State Park, 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

9am-10:30am

Help Marion County Animal Shelter staffers walk adoptable dogs. Park entry is $2. Recurs month on the fourth Sunday. For more info, animalservices. manrionfl.org

MARCH 26

Ocala Polo Club Winter GamesSeason Finale

Florida Horse Park, 11008 South Highway 475, Ocala

1pm

This is the last match of the winter season. Bring chairs, blankets and snacks. Tents are available for rent. Leashed dogs are welcome. For more information, visit ocalapolo.com

THROUGH MARCH 31

Ocala Future Leaders’ Academy Locations vary per assignment

5pm

The city of Ocala summer youth employment program creates on-the-job-training in a variety of agency roles. Ocala residents ages 16-19 are eligible to apply. Jobs will start in early June and pay $15 per hours. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. March 31 via http://bit.ly/3lftmy4

MARCH 21

Public Hearing On 2019-2024 Consolidated Plan & more

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

10am

Public comment for a substantial amendment for consolidation plan, action plan for the Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships and Emergency Solutions Grant.

MARCH 21

City of Belleview City Commission Meeting

City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview

6pm-8pm

Meets the first and third Tuesdays; Belleview agendas, minutes and video available at belleviewfl.org/200/Agendas-Minutes

MARCH 27

Marion County Planning & Zoning Commission

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

5:30pm

Meets on the last Monday of the month; agendas, minutes and video available at marionfl.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

civic

MARCH 17 & 24

Chess Club at Freedom Library

Freedom Public Library, 5870 SW 95th St., Ocala

10am-12pm

Meets weekly on Fridays; new members welcome. Bring your own chess set. For more info, Walt Lamp at (352) 854-9378.

MARCH 17 & 24

Kiwanis Club of Ocala

Knights of Columbus Building at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, 1510 SE

3rd Ave., Ocala

12pm

Meets weekly on Fridays. Supports Camp Kiwanis, children’s literacy and Habitat for Humanity. More info at ocalakiwanis.org

arts

MARCH 18

Abbacadabra: Tribute to Abba

Orange Blossom Opry, 16439 SE 138th Terrace, Weirsdale

2:30 pm & 7:30pm

This tribute band puts a fun dance spin on classic Abba songs. Tickets are $43-$58. See obopry.com for more info and tickets.

MARCH 18

The Spinners Circle Square Cultural Center, 8395 SW 80th St., Ocala

7pm

The R&B giants with stellar harmonies and smooth sounds have earned six Grammy nominations, 18 platinum and gold albums and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Tickets from $35, see csculturalcenter.com/events/the-spinners

MARCH 18

Saved by the ‘90s Party

Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave., Ocala

8 pm

This dance party and band performance combines the best of ‘90s music with songs from the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys and Beastie Boys. Tickets are $20-$35 from reillyartscenter.com/ events/saved-by-the-90s

MARCH 22

VFW Wednesday Dinners

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

4:30pm-6:30pm

The post offers weekly dinners 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.

THROUGH MARCH

“Outside Mullingar”

19

Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala

Showtimes vary, see website

This live stage play is a charming romance that takes place in rural Ireland when neighbors feud after a family farm is inherited. Tickets are $30 for adults; $15 for ages 18 and under. See ocalacivictheatre.com for more info.

MARCH 23

Celebrating Women’s History - “This Changes Everything”

Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave., Ocala

2 pm

A film by women, about women and for women is the main event, with refreshments and a facilitated discussion afterwards. The documentary features Geena Davis, Meryl Streep, Sandra Oh and others. Proceeds support scholarships for Marion County students. Tickets are $40 from reillyartscenter.com/ events/celebrating-womens-history-movie-bywomen-about-women

THROUGH MARCH 31

Long Legs & Fragility by Cara Van Leuven City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala

Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm

Part of the Art in City Spaces program, Van Leuven paints horses full-time and uses her experience as a carriage driver for inspiration. Free to the public during business hours. For more info, see ocalafl.org/artincityspaces

MARCH 23

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

12pm

Meets weekly on Thursdays; newcomers welcome. The club supports vision health and diabetes prevention. More info at e-clubhouse.org/sites/ocalafl

MARCH 28

Ocala Blue Star Mothers Arena 1, second floor, World Equestrian Center, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala

6pm

The organization for mothers of active duty military and veterans meets the fourth Tuesday of each month. For more info, ocalabluestarmothers.org

THROUGH APRIL 9

Focus on the Essence

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

Tues-Sat; 10am-5pm; Sunday 12pm-5pm

The photography of Anne Noggle came from a donation to the museum and highlights self-portraits and those of her friends and family. Her photos are known for their composition and exquisite lighting. For more info, appletonmuseum.org

THROUGH MAY 21

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

Tues-Sat; 10am-5pm; Sunday 12pm-5pm

The museum goes big with large pieces of art in this collection, including historical, modern and contemporary art pieces. Works include a 10’ x 4’ painting by Valenkamph and Snyder’s “Florida Pink Ignition,” which is almost 7’ x 7’. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for youths. For more info, appletonmuseum.org

THROUGH MAY 25

Revolutionized Textile & Fiber

Mary Sue Rich Community Center, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala

Daily when center is open

Artist Ingrid Humphrey, a native Floridian, displays her handmade dolls and tapestries, which portray the sisterhood of women of color all over the world. Free to the public. For more info, ocalafl.org/artincityspaces

THROUGH JUNE 9

Blessed Be the Birds Clerk’s Office, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala Mon-Fri; 8am-5pm

Part of the Art in City Spaces program, Courtney Kravig-McGuire is a local artist with a special interest in showing the connection between nature and spirituality in her works. Her medium of choice is printmaking. Visit ocalafl.org/artincityspaces

THROUGH JUNE 13

Aerial Dream Views of Land and Sea

Ocala International Airport, 1770 SW 60th Ave., Ocala Airport hours

Part of the Art in City Spaces program, artist Maggie Weakly shares her ocean-themed collection. Free to the public. Visit ocalafl.org/ artincityspaces

THROUGH JUNE 18

Paper Thin & Shadow Deep Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

Tues-Sat; 10am-5pm; Sunday 12pm-5pm

The artworks from Hiromi Mizugai Moneyhun are three-dimensional cut paper pieces that feel both lighthearted and alive. Moneyhun’s style combines traditional Japanese art forms along with modern elements from today’s Japan. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for youths. For more info, appletonmuseum.org

A community resource for Highest Quality Care

Quality matters. Especially when it comes to health care.

Hospice of Marion County has been accredited by the Joint Commission, the nation’s highest standard, since 2011. It has been re-accredited four times and earned the designation of Deemed Status during the last three surveys.

When it comes to your family, you want the best.

Errors and runners left on base cost Vanguard against Chiefland

pitcher Seth Campbell.

Campbell bounced back against the next hitter and induced his second double play in as many innings to keep Chiefland ahead.

Chiefland extended their lead to 4-1 in the top of the third on a run-scoring double to center by Luke Watkins and a sacrifice fly to right by Wade Gore.

Campbell retired the side in order in the bottom of the third and Antonucci followed suit in the top of the fourth inning. Vanguard threatened to close the gap in the bottom of the fourth after a single by Kevin Campbell, a walk by Noah Wood and a single by Adam Oxendine to load the bases with two outs.

keep the bases loaded. Jordan Volker drew a two-out walk to drive in a run, but Wilson buckled down to strike out Kylin Carter on a fastball to seal the win.

The pitching for Chiefland avoided big innings and allowed their defense to work throughout the game to get the win.

“We threw a lot of strikes.

Seth didn’t look as crisp on the mound, but he competed and gave us a chance to win.

Taylor and Sai did a great job coming in by pumping strikes and inducing some ground

balls. Pitching has been the backbone of our team and we hope to continue pitching well,” Brock said.

The disappointing loss for Vanguard gave head coach Scott Schaub an opportunity to reiterate a part of the game he and his staff have been preaching all season.

“Timely hitting has been our style of baseball every game and today showed how important it is to our hitting. We lacked the big hit today to get our momentum going like we have all season,” Schaub said.

By Allen Barney allen@ocalagazette.com

The Chiefland Indians (6-3)

avenged a season-opening loss to the Vanguard Knights (6-4) on March 14 by taking advantage of multiple errors by the Knights defense and solid pitching to win 5-2.

“It’s a good win for us because they beat us at our place to start the season, so hopefully that means we are getting better,” Chiefland head coach Chad Brock said.

Vanguard starting pitcher CT Antonucci ran into trouble in the top of the first inning after giving

up two singles with no outs. After coming back to get the first two outs, Antonucci had a fastball get away from him and get by the catcher to allow Chiefland’s Saia Wilson to score from third.

Vanguard had an opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the first after Adam Oxendine singled to left and stole second base but was left stranded after a popout and a double play.

Chiefland added a second run on a run-scoring single to center from Colton Brown to give the Indians a 2-0 lead. The Knights rallied in the bottom half of the inning with a run on a throwing error from Chiefland starting

Campbell escaped the jam by forcing Jake Wells to fly out to center field. Adam Oxendine came on in relief for Antonucci and fired a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth for Vanguard. Chiefland’s Taylor Brown also retired the side in order during the home half of the fifth inning.

Oxendine ran into a heap of trouble in the top of the sixth as he walked Gore and hit the next two hitters to load the bases with one out. Gore scored on a pass ball by Oxendine to give Chiefland a 5-1 lead before the senior right-hander forced a double play to end the inning.

Brown threw another clean inning of relief to keep Chiefland’s lead at four runs heading into the seventh inning. Oxendine fired a scoreless seventh, his third inning of work following Antonucci’s start.

Vanguard started off the bottom of the seventh with momentum as Wood was hit by a pitch and Oxendine drew a walk. Following a strikeout, Brock brought in Wilson to close out the game.

Antonucci singled off Wilson to load the bases but Luke Oxendine struck out looking to

Sudoku

ANSWERS FOR PAGE B4

Jumble

Crossword

BabyGirl

BabyGirl has a good sniffer and she likes to use it. Her dream is to have someone who will take her on forest trails so she can discover new aromas and adventure. If you have always wanted to start exploring the local parks, seven-year-old BabyGirl wants to be your sidekick!

CLOWN

ABATE

EXHALE

SNEEZE

She was learning to use Microsoft’s spreadsheet program and thought it was --

EXCELLENT

Current Adoption Specials: Ocala Gazette regularly brings you two furry friends that are available for adoption from local animal rescue organizations.

Max

MCAS is waiving adoption fees this week- don’t miss this awesome deal!

Browse our adoptable pets at marionfl.org/animal to find your next best friend!

Anyone have a lap that can hold a 55 lb. dog? Three-year-old Max wants to know. This guy loves riding in the car, meeting new people, and hanging out with his volunteer friends. He likes to try out everyone’s lap to see whose is the comfiest. We think you should let him try yours, too!

Chiefland’s Saia Wilson (12) makes it safely back to first base as Vanguard’s Noah Wood (28) looks for the out during a baseball game at the College of Central Florida in Ocala on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

Vanguard’s Adam Oxendine (3) makes it safely back to first base as Chiefland’s Wade Gore (14) looks for the out.

Vanguard’s CT Antonucci (5) slides safely into second base as Chiefland’s Taylor Brown (6) can’t handle the throw.

West Port edges Forest in softball

Forest rides big inning to a rivalry win over North Marion

By Mark Pinson Special to Ocala Gazette

West Port’s Analiz Santiago had three hits and drove in two runs and senior Ryleigh Bauer scattered six hits in a completegame effort to lead the Wolf Pack to a 10-8 win over Forest on March 8.

West Port, which led by as many as six runs midway through the game, overcame an uncharacteristic six errors to improve to 5-3 on the season.

“Give Forest credit, they are a good team and didn’t get down and kept battling and we made a few errors which helped them get back in the game,” said West Port coach William Brewington. “We’re still figuring out our lineup and the girls are starting to believe in the fundamentals that we’re teaching them of swinging at strikes in the zone. When we do that, we can put hits all over the board. Hats off to Ryleigh, she struggled a little bit but pitched well overall and I’m glad she’s on our team.”

Forest, which showed great fortitude in fighting back from a large deficit, dropped to 5-4 overall.

“I’m proud of the girls for battling back and having a chance to win,” said Forest coach Daniel Kelley. “We were a little listless, but we woke up and showed a lot of heart. Right now, we’re hitting the ball better than we’re fielding. I like this team; we’re just not playing up to our potential.”

West Port opened the scoring in the top of the first inning as Bauer laced a two-out run-scoring single to give the Class 7A Wolf Pack a 1-0 lead.

Bauer, a hard-throwing right-hander, cruised through the Forest lineup in the bottom of the frame.

West Port extended its lead in the

top of the second inning on a pair of walks and four hits and a sacrifice fly by Santiago to take a commanding 5-0 lead.

Forest got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning on a single by Rilynn Fountain and an RBI double to center field by Emily Bellomo to make it 5-1.

West Port, which banged out 11 hits, added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 7-1 lead off Forest sophomore right-hander Naomi Meyer.

The Wildcats refused to fold and clawed back with some timely hitting and the aid of three West Port errors to pull within 7-4 after five innings.

The Wolf Pack answered in the top of the sixth inning as Santiago smacked an RBI single and Alena Ishman drove in a run with a ground out to take a 9-4 lead.

The Class 6A Wildcats wouldn’t quit as Bellomo drilled a solo home run over the right-center field fence. Forest, which had six hits, took advantage of a pair of West Port errors to plate three more runs to close within 9-8 heading to the final frame.

Ishman, who came on in relief of Meyer with two outs in the sixth inning, gave up an RBI double to Santiago in the top of the seventh inning to make it a tworun game.

Bauer, who struck out six and walked two, retired the Wildcats in order in the bottom of the frame to seal the victory.

By Allen Barney allen@ocalagazette.com

The Forest Wildcats (4-3) leaned on clutch relief pitching and an eightrun fourth inning to beat the North Marion Colts (4-2) 9-7 on March 9.

North Marion starting pitcher Hunter Jones and Forest starting pitcher Mason Laurito drew the attention of multiple scouts, but it was the hitters who made the most noise in opening inning.

The Colts scored first after Karson Lindsey singled to left field and moved up to second base on a pass ball. A twoout single to right field by Jake Tompkins gave North Marion an early lead.

Forest answered in the bottom half of the inning on a run-scoring single to left from Porter Craig to tie the game at 1.

Jones and Laurito settled down in the second inning as they both worked around a one-out walk to strike out the side.

Forest grabbed its first lead of the game when Trevor Murray launched a solo home run to left field to lead off the bottom of the third inning.

North Marion answered back immediately as Tompkins singled to start the top of the fourth, followed by three consecutive walks from Ross Ray, Luis Reyes and Samuel Cauthen. After Cauthen’s bases-loaded walk tied the game, Forest head coach Mark Streit brought in Craig to get out of the jam.

Troy Guynn kept the line moving with a walk to give North Marion a 3-2 lead. Craig got the first out of the inning before a dropped fly ball in left field brought in another run for North Marion.

Cooper Jones finished off the scoring with a single to the warning track in right field and gave his team a 5-2 lead. Craig retired Lindsey and Tompkins via a groundout and strikeout to stop the bleeding.

The lead would not last for long for the Colts as Forest got back-to-back walks from Jorge Romero and Aren Smith. The consecutive free passes ended the night for Jones, a University of Florida commit.

“We’ve seen a lot of big arms already and we have worked hard on having an approach at the plate and being able to recognize what we want to offer at, instead of just offering at everything and being blown away,” Streit said.

Jonah Garcia came in to pitch for Jones and gave up a single to Jonathan Rubin to load the bases with no outs. Things quickly fell apart for Garcia and the Colts as he hit Brock White with a pitch to drive in a run.

Following White’s hit-by-pitch, Robert

Kohler singled to right to drive in a run and Trevor Murray drew a walk to tie the game at five. Mikey Mellucci singled to center to drive in the go-ahead run and knocked Garcia out of the game after five batters faced.

Dylan Roberson was brought in and threw a wild pitch to bring in a run before giving up two more runs on a sacrifice fly from Kohl Kilcrease and a run-scoring single from Romero.

Robertson got a groundout to end the inning. Forest scored eight runs to take a 9-5 lead.

Craig retired the side in order in the top of the fifth inning and the Forest bats were kept quiet in the bottom half of the inning.

North Marion started off the top of the sixth with momentum as Cauthen and Guynn were hit by pitches. Following a flyout from Rowan Quartararo, Cooper Jones hit a RBI double down the left field line to bring the deficit to 9-6.

Craig worked out of the jam by striking out Tompkins and forcing a flyout from Ray. Forest got a leadoff single from Craig in the bottom half of the inning but stranded him at second.

North Marion got one more opportunity to come back and seemed to be in good position in the top of the seventh inning when Bobby Gottuso drew a leadoff walk and Tucker Jones singled to left off Kilcrease.

Kilcrease, who was brought in after the walk to Gottuso, showed perseverance by forcing a 5-4-3 double play off the bat of Cauthen. Kilcrease induced another groundball against pinch-hitter Michael Long to end the game and give Forest the win.

The loss was disappointing for North Marion head coach Dale Hall, but he is confident his team will learn from the defeat.

“We just played poorly; got to give credit to Forest. Our guys got to get it done on the mound. They’re going to have to do a better job of stepping up, and they will. They’re all great kids and work extremely hard. They’ll all learn from this situation and move forward,” Hall said.

Tompkins and Cooper Jones led the Colts offense with two hits and a run batted in each.

The word that Streit kept saying about his team is resiliency. With TCU commit Kaden Smith and starting right fielder Keegan Princinsky out with injuries, it has given other players the opportunity to step up and gain experience.

“We were resilient tonight and we just continued to battle. We only had 12 guys in the dugout tonight, so everybody played and had a role. Everyone did their job and that is what we preach all the time,” Streit said.

Craig earned the win with three innings of relief, gave up one run and struck out three. He also collected two hits and a run batted in.

Kilcrease picked up the save, his first of the season. Trevor Murray had a solid night, with a home run and two runs batted in.

“This win boosts our confidence in a big way because we lost to them in the preseason. So, tonight was a big win and we are pumped,” Craig said.

West Port’s Alena Ishman (4) sends Forest’s Juli Gabriel (30) out at first base during a softball game at Forest High School in Ocala on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

West Port’s Alejandra Matos (7) catches a Forest hit in left field.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

“Right now, we’re hitting the ball better than we’re fielding. I like this team; we’re just not playing up to our potential.”

Daniel

Kelley Forest coach

Forest’s Robert Kohler (6) waits on the late throw as North Marion’s Tucker Jones (2) slides safely into second base during a baseball game at Forest High School in Ocala on Thursday, March 9, 2023.

Forest’s Trevor Murray (7) looks for the double play after sending North Marion’s Jake Tompkins (19) out at second base.

Rodeo entertainer

Brinson

Harris will bring his specialty act to the Southeastern Pro Rodeo this weekend.

accomplishments in the trade.

“Brinson is over the top and he has doubled the best I ever did,” Cliff said in a telephone interview.

Cliff said his family hails from Texas and relocated to the Micanopy area around 1970. He said he was a cattle buyer until around 1985, at age 24, when he became involved with rodeo because he had always heard about rodeo performers among people in the cattle industry as he grew up.

“Brinson’s eye-hand coordination is unbelievable. He taught himself to juggle around age 5 or 6,” Cliff said.

performs rope tricks with an 80-foot rope atop a 12-foot ladder. He uses a padded barrel to distract bulls in an emergency when a rider goes down.

“It’s not so bad when the barrel rolls, but when it (flips) end to end it’s a pretty rough ride,” he said.

Brinson’s two Australian shepherds, Reride, 10, and Cheddar,1, are his fellow performers.

He said he’s a huge rodeo fan and has “the best seat in the house, inside the arena.”

By Andy Fillmore Correspondent

Internationally known rodeo

personality Brinson Harris, who performs as “Brinson James the Entertainer,” will bring his unique brand of high energy rodeo entertainment and rope tricks back to Ocala for the first time in nearly two decades this weekend.

Harris will be one of the featured acts at the Southeastern Pro Rodeo, which runs Friday and Saturday at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion.

You can call Harris a “cheerleader” because of his antics to whip up the crowd and help everybody enjoy the show but calling him a “rodeo clown” might be a bit off base.

“I’m an entertainer,” Harris said.

Justin Lamb, one of the organizers of the rodeo, said fans will see eight major rodeo events, including breakaway roping, barrel racing, bareback bronc riding and bull riding,

and headliner Jessica Blair, who performs a “Roman Horseback” act, riding atop two horses.

Harris, 29, a native of Micanopy in nearby Alachua County, last performed here about 17 years ago when he was still training with his father, Cliff Harris, while the two worked as the rodeo clown duet of “Hollywood Harris and Booger Head.”

Brinson apprenticed with his dad until he was 18 and then set off in his own direction as an entertainer, or what Cliff Harris calls a “hype man.”

Brinson said his family has roots in the cattle industry and that he trained with his father as a “clown baby” before he began traveling with the Professional Bull Riders organization, which led to his adopting the job of rodeo entertainer.

Cliff, 62, said he is “proud” of his son’s

Brinson travels throughout the U.S. and Canada, where he appears on televised rodeos, and in Australia. His interactive act incudes leading the crowd in songs, high fives and working from the arena fences. He

Lamb said the Southeastern Pro Rodeo was started in 1994 and that fans from as far as Washington State and countries including Austria, England, China and Spain attend. He said international rodeo fans who are going to the attractions in Orlando often include a trip to Ocala to see an “American Rodeo.”

Friday night is “Wrangler National Patriot Night at the Rodeo,” according to ocalarodeo. com, and veterans, active service members and first responders receive discounted admission with identification. Friday is also Wrangler Kids’ Night, with a special admission price for kids with a paying adult. Saturday is Wrangler Bucking Cancer Awareness Night. During the event, 50/50 drawings will be held to benefit the local nonprofit Michelle-O-Gram breast cancer outreach, which assists with obtaining mammograms.

To Southeastern Livestock Pavilion is located at 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala. To learn more, go to ocalarodeo.com or call (352) 421-3199. For more information about Brinson Harris, go to bit.ly/3FrX4a5

SOFTBALL SCORES

SCOREBOARD

SCHOOL & COLLEGE SPORTS RESULTS

BASEBALL SCORES

Brinson Harris of Micanopy, whose performing name is Brinson James the entertainer, peeks out of his rodeo barrel at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion in Ocala on Monday, March 13, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.

Left: Brinson Harris performs a rodeo trick with his dog, Reride The Wonder Dog, a 10-year-old Australian Shepherd, at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion in Ocala on Monday, March 13, 2023. Right: Harris jumps through the lasso as he does a roping trick. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.