Ocala Gazette | March 29 - April 4, 2024

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

As one young singer from Ocala stood before musical legends Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry to sing his heart out, even under studio lights in Nashville he showed his humility and talent to the world.

Emery Robbins had the opportunity of a lifetime when the 18-year-old auditioned for Season 22 of “American Idol,” winning over the hearts of the judges and earning a golden ticket to Hollywood to become a contestant.

“I’m just a kid from Ocala with a guitar,” Robbins said.

Now that “American Idol” has aired Robbins’ three votes of ‘yes’

Former firefighter with cancer files lawsuit against county after being denied health benefits

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

FAfter retiring from Marion County Fire Rescue in February of 2016, Shinn was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in August of 2022. Although Shinn had been

See Firefighter, page A5

from the judges, viewers can tune in to follow the contestants to Hollywood in the next episode, airing on ABC at 8 p.m. on March 31. Robbins auditioned back in November 2023, and was shown in the first episode of the season on February 18 holding his golden ticket. Robbins couldn’t say much about his future on the show to avoid spoiling the rest of the season but said he was not only grateful but also humbled to earn the chance to perform in Hollywood.

“You’re just so captivated by everything that’s going on, with the lights and the cameras,’’ Robbins said. “I just tried my best to be as real as I could.”

The singer said he’s somewhat of a new musician. He taught himself

MCHD trustees to discuss creating a low-barrier homeless shelter in Ocala

By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com

During a March 25 Marion County Hospital District meeting a trustee offered to transfer a contract to purchase a building to the district which could eventually be used to meet the increasing demand for housing the homeless.

Although the topic was not on the meeting agenda, Rich Bianculli told his fellow trustees the board should include serving the homeless as a pillar initiative of the district.

Bianculli pointed to the new law recently signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that prohibits homeless people from sleeping on public property. The law has left communities across the state

wondering how they will fund solutions to their homeless situation and how they will enforce the measure when it goes into effect on Oct. 1.

To meet the growing need for shelter beds, Bianculli proposed that the board take over a real estate contract he had entered into for a building he felt would best be utilized as a low barrier shelter.

Bianculli did not provide the address to the property during the meeting but described the parcel as the “old domestic violence shelter.” The “Gazette” believes the building Bianculli was referencing is located at 2010 Pine Ave. The domestic violence facility closed when it lost necessary funding last year.

Bianculli told the trustees that he had entered into a real estate contract to purchase Rich

See Homeless, page

Emery Robbins, 18, a Forest High School graduate who recently appeared on American Idol, poses for a photo in downtown Ocala on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Robbins passed the American Idol auditions in Nashville and will be heading to Hollywood.

[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.

Golden ticket

Continued from page A1

to play the guitar during the COVID-19 pandemic, and he hasn’t put it down since. Robbins eventually started playing the guitar and singing at Church @ the Springs in Ocala.

Robbins auditioned with the song “God Speed” by Zach Bryan. He chose the song not only for its country genre but for its moving lyrics that he relates to in his own life, he said.

“The way that I interpret it is this man is going on a journey and only God and his mama know what he needs,” Robbins said. “The lyrics in the song really related to me and the situation I was in, just having new experiences, trying things you’ve never done before in situations you never thought you’d be in.”

Robbins received good critiques from the judges, including Bryan saying the young singer had “raw talent,” something that meant a lot to Robbins because of the way he looks up to the renowned country musician.

Not only does Robbins love country music because he grew up listening to it (his first concert was Alan Jackson), but he loves to perform it because of the common themes of Christianity present in the genre, he said.

After graduating from Forest High School in May, Robbins decided to turn his love for God and his love for music into a career by working as the youth ministry’s worship director at his parish, Church @ the Springs.

“I think that music in church is so important,’’ Robbins said. “And it’s so relatable to a lot of people because the words are written straight from Scripture.”

The connections he made through worship are also what led him to becoming a contestant on “American Idol,” he said.

“Matt Overfelt runs Ocala United, a local youth group here in Ocala, (and he) was like, ‘Hey, man, I’m going to sign you up for “American Idol”’…Eventually, I was asked to go audition in Nashville in front of the judges and it was just such a surreal experience and I’m super grateful for it,” Robbins said.

Robbins gave credit to his support group of family and friends, who traveled to Nashville with him for his audition. He was accompanied by his mother Ali Robbins, father Ryan Robbins, brother Josh Robbins, sister Ryli Robbins and girlfriend Halsey Fore.

for utility customers to cash fire service refund checks

By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com

With the deadline fast approaching for Ocala Electric Utility customers to receive and cash court-ordered refund checks for illegally assessed fire service fees, attorneys for the city and the customers have agreed to temporarily halt to the uncollected money from automatically reverting to the city.

According to a May 2022 court order, refund checks totaling almost $80 million in illegal taxes collected by Ocala needed to be cashed by April 30, 2024 or the funds would stay with the city. As previously reported by the “Gazette,’’ city records show that as of December, almost 18,000 people had not cashed refund checks totaling more than $7 million.

After the city told the “Gazette” they had no duty to notify the 18,0000 about their uncollected refunds, at the end of December the “Gazette’’ published the names of those persons with uncashed checks who were owed more than $100.

City attorney, William Sexton said that even though the city anticipated having all the checks reissued, it would not turn away claimants who came forward after the April 30 deadline.

Sexton said that city staff had reviewed all returned mail against national address databases to ensure that the city was directing the checks to the correct account holder.

The new judge assigned to this case, Judge Steven Rogers has entered a temporary order approving the parties’ stipulation and those who paid the fire fee tax in their utility bills from Feb. 20,

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2010 through 2021 should contact the city should direct their claim to firefeerefund@ocalafl.gov or by phone to 352-629-2489.

Meanwhile, attorney for the Ocala Electric Utility customers represented in the class-action, Derek Schroth of Bowen & Schroth, has indicated that the city has not provided answers to his requests for additional information, which includes proof that the city checked national databases for updated addresses for returned mail as was required by that same May 2022 order.

Schroth has filed a Motion to Compel the city’s compliance with his records requests, which will likely be set for a hearing before Judge Rogers.

The request by the “Gazette” for the revised list of outstanding refunds remains unanswered at the time of publication.

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Emery Robbins, 18, a Forest High School graduate who recently appeared on American Idol, poses for a photo in downtown Ocala on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Robbins passed the American Idol auditions in Nashville and will be heading to Hollywood.

Stickers are shown on Emery Robbins’ guitar case (a collection actually started by his father).

[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.

Homeless shelter

Continued from page A1

the property for $625,000, with the intent to assign it to some agency to fund and close on the sale and use it for a homeless shelter.

The contract Bianculli referenced was not attached to the agenda, and attorney Robert Batsel, who represents both the MCHD and Bianculli, said the contract is not public record and therefore he would not provide a copy of it to the “Gazette.”

During the meeting, Marion County Commissioner Michelle Stone praised the intent of the new law as an effort to ensure the “safety of families.” But she acknowledged that the county was now trying to figure out possible solutions using

federal money that flows through the state and counties specifically earmarked to address homelessness.

One of the shortfalls in the community’s efforts to meet the need for shelter beds, Stone pointed out, was that none of the nonprofits had a “low-barrier” shelter, that is, a facility that does not require compliance with a particular set of behaviors or history.

Most, if not all, local shelters require a valid ID and a background check that denies access to those with a criminal history.

Bianculli said there were two buckets of money to discuss regarding his proposal: one was operational dollars and the other was the “$625,000 to close it,” which

he said he hoped would come from the county, the city of Ocala and the MCHD. Bianculli told the trustees and Stone they had approximately 60 days under the contract to close the sale, adding that they would not find a better deal.

The fact that the property the facility sits on favorable zoning was considered a plus. The property is located in a county enclave and not in city limits, however according to the city, “the old women’s shelter behind that property” is within the city limits. The “Gazette” does not know exactly which property in that vicinity is under contract.

According to the city’s website, B-4 zoning allows for a community residential home with a “maximum of 14 unrelated

residents per single-family residential dwelling” or a fraternity or sorority house are allowed. Special exceptions can be sought for a boarding house with increased capacity.

Rather than vote on the matter during the March 25 meeting, trustee Harvey Vandeven suggested a workshop be scheduled to decide if the issue of homelessness should be considered as a pilar initiative of MCHD. The MCHD agreed to set a workshop to discuss the matter within the contract’s window.

Bianculli told the trustees he had no intention of making money from the deal but pressured them not to let the opportunity for the property pass them.

When the “Gazette’s” public records request was denied, Batsel wrote the following explanation: “Concerning the content of your request, I spoke with Mac and understand there was discussion of Rich’s contract for purchase of the shelter property and his desire to gain support from the District, County, City, or other government partners that may take an assignment or some other arrangement to effectively have the shelter owned by such partner(s). However, it’s my understanding that no contract was introduced and that neither the District nor anyone on this email has seen the underlying contract. In that case, the contract isn’t a public record of the District (as it was not made or received by the District at all, much less in connection with the transaction of our official business). It’s also my understanding that Rich signed this contract, perhaps with a partner or multiple, individually and not in his capacity as a trustee. As such, I don’t believe we have an obligation (or the ability) to provide the contract you’ve requested. If and when we (or any other public entity) are/is provided the contract, it will be a public record and we’ll have an obligation to provide it upon request.”

At the time of publishing, the MCHD had not responded to the “Gazette” with the workshop date and time.

Home sale prices continued to rise in February

Staff report

The Florida Realtors agents’ association released its February 2024 market report, showing that statewide the median single-family home sale price rose to $415,000, a 5.1% year over year increase and townhouses and condo median sales price were $325,000, a 3.2% year over year increase.

Single-Family Market Sector Ocala/Marion County’s February median sale price reported for single-family homes was $287,900, an increase of 3% over last year.

Brad

O’Connor, senior economist for the Florida

Realtors, a statewide agents’ reporting and professional trade association, said, “Florida home prices, as well as the number of closed home sales so far through 2024, look a lot like they did at this point a year ago in early 2023. In February, the median sale price for closed single-family home sales in the Sunshine State was $415,000, up just a bit over 5% from a year ago. The number of single-family home sales, meanwhile, was up only a little over 2% compared to last February. So, as was the case in January, not much of a change relative to last year, which is not entirely surprising given that mortgage rates have remained stubbornly high so far in 2024.”

The statewide active listing inventory for single-family homes is just under 85,000, which is an increase of 36.5% over last February.

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

“Despite the rapid rise in inventory levels that has resulted from the recent resurgence in new listings,” he said, “inventory levels at the end of February in both property type categories were still well within the ballpark of the pre-pandemic norm that was established roughly from 2013 onward. It will take a lot more inventory to put a significant dent in home prices.”

The association reported the supply of single-family existing homes statewide increased to a 3.9-months’ supply.

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

Statewide, the number of cash sales for single-family homes increased by 3.2%, with a total of 6,020 throughout Florida,

Community support for

which accounted for 31.6% of all sales, nearly one-third of the overall market.

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

However, mortgage interest rates typically ranging above 7% have continued to impact potential homebuyers’ ability to qualify for loans and contribute to a lock-in effect among wouldbe home sellers who bought their homes years ago with a mortgage rate of 3% to 4.5%.

O’Connor said, “While the demand side of the equation is little changed from last year, however, on the supply side, we are seeing significantly more new listings than a year ago. The monthly number of new listings in Florida dropped below normal levels beginning in Fall of 2022, when the mortgage rate lock-in effect really started to take hold, and they remained there for about a full year. But in the latter part of the third quarter of 2023, they returned to normal levels for the remainder of the year.”

Ocala/Marion County saw 665 closings of single-family homes in February, an increase of 18.5% over February 2023.

Fessenden

Townhomes/Condos Market Sector

Locally, the market area of Ocala/ Marion County townhouses and condos median sales prices came in at $257,490, a big increase of 24.1% over last year in February.

Statewide, townhouses and condos active inventory is 55,203, a 73.3% increase from February 2023. Overall, the market is moving toward more activity.

“Still, some local markets have actually seen significantly more condo sales so far this year relative to last year. While the largest townhouse and condo markets are generally seeing fewer sales than a year ago, there are bright spots in the more affordable suburban fringe and exurban counties surrounding them,” O’Connor said.

Ocala/Marion County, along with Homosassa Springs, Pensacola and Tallahassee, had the largest percentage of sale increases in this market sector, all over 20%.

Existing townhouse and condo properties statewide were at a 6.3-months’ supply in February, a big increase of 96.9% from February of 2023.

For townhomes and condos, the number of cash sales statewide decreased by 1.3% to 4,130 but represented 55.3% of the market.

Townhomes and condos sales in Ocala/Marion County were reported at 34 total, a 12.8% decrease from February 2023.

Elementary Donations from Lowell Correctional employees and local church help school fundraising.

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

The Parent Teacher Organization at Fessenden Elementary recently received a big surprise from some caring volunteers—a brand-new propane grill to cook for students, teachers and community members alike at future fundraising and school events.

PTO President Linda Ward expressed her gratitude to the many caring volunteers and supporters of Fessenden Elementary, saying that it takes a “community” to support the students, teachers and staff who call the school home.

“Things have been clicking for us and so we’re just so happy for the generosity of the community coming together to help us,” Ward said.

Each year, the PTO puts on several events to fundraise for the school, such

as Spanish Heritage Celebrations, the Penguin Patch, Legacy Day Black History Month Celebration, Krispy Kreme Donut Sales and Teacher Appreciation Week.

The PTO invites volunteers to come help at events, so when Major David LaCob from the Lowell Correctional Institution wanted to work the grill at an event, his help was warmly welcomed.

“Major LaCob has a daughter who teaches at Fessenden, and so I guess one conversation led to another and he volunteered to do some grilling at the school,” Ward said. “For a second event, he got together with some of the other workers at the prison and they came and did the grilling at the Legacy Day event.”

At Legacy Day, the volunteers grilled hotdogs and hamburgers all day to fundraise for the school. These funds will help with school beautification, such as for the project to add a two-sided digital marquee to mark the entrance of the school.

After this event, Ward said the group of volunteers gathered funds together personally, went to the store and picked out a new propane grill and presented it to the school.

“They said, ‘Because you all have so many fundraisers and so many activities going on at the school, we all decided to get together to buy and donate the PTO a grill,’” Ward said.

“A special thank-you goes to Sgt. Tammy Swengel for making this donation come to fruition,” Ward said.

Fessenden has a few things on their wish list that it hopes to use funds for, including clearing out and cleaning the roadway from County Road 25A to the railroad tracks, which leads to the school.

“It’s a historically Black school, so we’re trying to do the best we can with the resources that we have in the community’s interest,” Ward said. “They help us bring the school up to standard and ensure and

help the community.”

But the generosity didn’t end there, Ward said. Shortly after the donation of the grill, another big gift was wheeled into Fessenden. Ward said Rev. Martin Smith from Progressive Union Missionary Baptist Church donated a golf cart, something that the school identified a need for and would have had to purchase otherwise.

“Boy, we were so happy,’’ Ward said. “We ran out to the school and saw the golf cart, took pictures of the principal and got a video of her on the golf cart. She was so happy.”

The school also has expressed a need for materials and supplies that are needed for every-day use in the classroom for students.

“We go to every and anybody that will listen and help us all with our diverse community that we have in the school,” Ward said.

File photo

Warden Paul Kish; Sgt. Jacquline Mike; Sgt. Tammy Swengel; Linda Ward, PTO President; Gwendolyn Haynes, 1st Treasurer; Thelma Archie, Volunteer; Alice Burton, 2nd Treasurer; Major David Lacob; Asst. Warden Denise Oudshoff;

Lt. John Brower and Assistant Warden Chris Sapp. (not pictured)

Is homeless law a first step?

What comes next will be important with controversial new homeless law, our Capitol Columnist writes.

By Bill Cotterell

The French author Anatole France wrote, “The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread.”

The oft-quoted 19th-century skeptic might have smiled ruefully at a news conference Gov Ron DeSantis held last week to sign a law intended to drive homeless people out of urban areas.

Come Oct. 1, cities and counties may no longer allow homeless people to pitch tents on sidewalks or make a lean-tos in public parks to spend the night; rather, they will be directed to shelters or designated camping fields, supposedly safe from drugs and crime.

Well, make that “safer”—it’s got to be better than life, literally, in the gutter.

The idea behind the legislation is not just to move homeless people, but to steer them to drug treatment, mental-

Firefighter cancer

Continued from page A1

retired from the department and aged out of its health insurance, he meets all of the requirements for health benefits as a retired firefighter suffering from cancer.

Firefighters are entitled to health benefits for cancer treatment under Florida Statute 112.1816. This legislation was put in motion by Florida Senate Bill 426, which was written in part by workers compensation attorney James Spears, who works closely with the Professional Firefighters of Marion County and is representing Shinn in his lawsuit.

health counseling or other programs to return their lives to some normality.

The new law also says citizens whose homes or businesses are blighted by these modern-day Hoovervilles will be able to sue local governments to force a clean-up. The state is expected to provide $10 million for local governments to comply.

Predictably, the legislative debate on HB 1365 showed stark liberal-conservative differences in Tallahassee between the vocal minority of liberal Democrats

“In lieu of pursuing workers’ compensation coverage, a firefighter is entitled to cancer treatment and a onetime cash payout of $25,000, upon the firefighter’s initial diagnosis of cancer,” according to the bill.

Shinn served as a firefighter in Marion County for 22 years, since 1994.

While multiple myeloma is a rare form of cancer affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans per year, firefighters are at a 53% increased risk of developing multiple myeloma due to exposure from carcinogens, according to the Firefighter

and the steamroller tendencies of controlling Republicans. DeSantis and his GOP allies emphasized helping people with drug treatment and mental health counseling, while opponents said the bill could drive people into jails.

Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, one of the foremost advocates for poor people in the House, said the law “creates a scenario for local governments, where the only option if they can’t meet the demands of the Legislature, is to potentially criminalize the homeless.”

The trouble with legislating human behavior is that government often works along orderly, logical, statistical lines to solve problems that are disorderly, illogical and not conforming to statistical norms. Drinking and driving is illogical, and every Floridian understands that at 3 p.m.—but later on, after four or five drinks, getting behind the wheel doesn’t seem so stupid, no matter how legislators try to deter it.

Gambling, punching somebody, quitting school, theft— all are dumb, potentially harmful things that government warns against, but people keep doing. So how can a well-thought-out state plan reach people who wake up every day thinking about finding the money to get high?

Still, Rep. Sam Garrison, R-Fleming Island, said the state has to try. Doing something sure beats doing nothing, he said.

“This is not a perfect bill. It will not eliminate homelessness,

Cancer Support Network.

The PFFMC has also shown support for former firefighter Alex Sofield, who was diagnosed with stage four adenocarcinoma, a lung cancer, this year. Sofield resigned from the department after 19 years of service.

The union participated in the Women’s Council of Realtors “We Care Day 2024” by doing home and yard maintenance to support the Sofield family.

Two out of every three firefighters develop cancer in their lives, about 68%, in comparison to 22% of the general population, according to the Firefighter

but it is a start,” Garrison, who chairs the House health-care budget panel, wrote in an essay coinciding with DeSantis signing the law. “And it states clearly that in Florida, the status quo is not an option.”

Garrison and Eskamani are both right. Parents taking their kids to a movie or shopping downtown shouldn’t have to step over passed-out addicts on the sidewalk. Merchants deserve to have their doorways cleared of pilfered shopping carts holding the worldly possessions of some guy snoring in their shop door.

But a family living in a tent gets no help from being told to go somewhere else, nor does the drunk sleeping on a bus bench.

As Garrison said, it’s a start. Leaving people on the streets isn’t accomplishing anything. What will matter is how the state and local governments follow up.

They know $10 million isn’t enough. Garrison is in line to take over as speaker of the House in the 2026-2028 term, so he’s just coming into his prime as a powerful decision-maker for the next few sessions.

Whether this new law is just a get-tough gesture, or the “first step” Garrison spoke of, will depend on what legislators do next.

Bill Cotterell is a retired capitol reporter for United Press International and the Tallahassee Democrat. He can be reached at bcotterell@govexec.com.

Cancer Support Network.

Sofield was not eligible for the health benefits for firefighters with cancer, therefore has no connection to Shinn’s pending lawsuit.

Shinn is one of eight firefighters in Marion County who have been denied health benefits guaranteed by this law after being diagnosed with cancer.

Representatives from Marion County declined to comment on Shinn’s lawsuit “in an effort to uphold the integrity of the pending litigation.”

A hearing has been set for 9:45 a.m. on May 14 before Judge Steven Rodgers.

Rep. Sam Garrison, R-Fleming Island, led efforts to pass a bill aimed at preventing homeless people from sleeping in places such as sidewalks and parks. [Florida House]

Engagement center set to open soon

The Interfaith Emergency Services Engagement Center will accommodate two staffers and about 30 volunteers to provide an array of services for those in need in the community, with a focus on the homeless.

By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com

The new Interfaith Emergency Services Engagement Center under construction in downtown Ocala is on track to open in August.

The 6,500-square-foot, single-story, $1.6 million facility located at 108 N. Pine Ave. will accommodate an additional IES staffer and about 30 volunteers to provide an array of services for those in need in the community, with a focus on the homeless.

IES CEO Karla Greenway explained that the new center will concentrate services in one convenient location for persons who may not have transportation. It will house a computer center, skills center, laundry and a host of social services, such as grocery assistance, workbooks, gas cards, government issued ID assistance and free reading glasses.

Social services are currently provided from the IES offices at 435 N.W. 2nd St. and the IES Center for Life, a 3,748-square-foot structure built in 1975, which is located on North Pine Avenue adjacent to the new Engagement Center. The Hope Clinic and Freedom Dental will remain in the Center for Life.

Amber Poland will serve as manager of the new Engagement Center and also act as one of the new center’s two staff members. Poland’s position is funded by a grant from United Way of Marion County.

“We will be able to provide structure, resources and a dedicated space where they feel seen, heard and valued. The friendships built, combined with the services provided, will allow clients to feel empowered to take control of their

employment and housing,” Poland wrote in part in a text. “The engagement center will provide us with the opportunity to give the one thing that the chronically homeless need most—hope.”

Poland said she’s grateful to show “God’s love” to those who seek help at the new center.

Greenway said she expects the ability of the organization to help the homeless to effectively “double.”

“In the last quarter of last year, we provided services to 170 (individual) homeless persons,” Greenway said. She said 52 of those people were assisted into some type of housing and were “off the street.”

“This was done with one staff member in one room,” in the existing IES Center for Life and IES offices on Northwest 2nd Street, Greenway said.

“The new Engagement Center will offer ‘wrap around’ services in one place, like help with getting identification needed to enter some shelters, driver’s licenses and provide access to a computer and even get mail,” she said.

Greenway said future plans include partnering with local mental health providers, CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion and the Marion County Literacy Council, and that IES may consider hiring a mental health counselor.

Greenway said she also looks forward to partnering with city and county agencies that help the homeless, especially in light of new legislation.

HB 1365 was signed recently and will become effective in October. It includes “(homeless) individuals are prohibited from camping on city streets, sidewalks, and parks—and instead placed in temporary shelters monitored by law

enforcement agencies” and “shelters will also include substance abuse and mental health treatments,” according to flgov.com, the website for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The legislation “directs the Department of Children and Families to authorize temporary campsites” which maintain sanitation and have running water and restrooms; and that do the following: and “provide access to substance abuse and mental health treatment resources through coordination with the regional managing entity” while prohibiting the use of alcohol and illegal substances,” the website states.

Greenway said although low barrier shelters would be a great step forward, more “supportive housing” and “case management” is needed.

Shelters that, for example, intake people directly from the street with little or no identification or entry requirements, are referred to as “low barrier.” She feels that without case management and guidance, the person taken “off the streets” might go right back.

“The (most) need is for funding and human resources. For every one person doing field outreach with the homeless, we need three case managers,” Greenway said.

The Marion FL-514 Continuum of Care is the HUD funded group of local help agencies focused on helping the homeless. The group includes Arnette House, Brother’s Keeper, Citra First United Methodist Church, Community of Gratitude, Families in Need of Dunnellon, First Baptist Church of Belleview, First Baptist Church of Salt Springs, Food for Christ, HELP Agency of the Forest, IES, Love Inc. of the Heart of Florida, Ramah Missionary Baptist Church, Saving Mercy,

Shepherd’s Lighthouse, Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church, The Salvation Army, United Way of Marion County, Marion County Veterans Helping Veterans and Wings of Faith.

According to the city of Ocala’s website, the city and Marion County form the Joint Office of Homelessness Prevention, the “lead agency for federal funding.” The Marion County staff primarily oversees funding and applications, while the city of Ocala staff is the lead agency for handling outreach efforts, Coordinated Entry and the Homeless Management Information System,” the site notes.

Greenway said every agency has a “piece of the puzzle” in addressing homelessness, including organizations like the nonprofits Wear Gloves, which provides work skills, and Saving Mercy, which helps with housing and case management.

Greenway said the area has about 25 beds available in the county for “supportive housing” but “we need 200.” She said IES has an apartment building in northeast Ocala that has 10 bedrooms available for chronically homeless people and eight for very low-income people. The IES offices at 435 S.W. 2nd St. can accommodate about 37 people in emergency situations.

The new Engagement Center was financed in part by a $600,000 community development block grant through Marion County Community Services, IES funds and an anonymous private benefactor, according to Greenway.

She’s looking forward to getting into the new facility and serving the community.

“We’re excited,” she said.

To learn more, go to iesmarion.org

Levy C t Vi it B rea

VisitLevy co

Photo by Bonish Photograph

State DeSantis signs major health care package

By Jim Saunders Florida News Service

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a package of bills that supporters say will help improve access to health care, boost the number of doctors in Florida and address issues such as mental-health treatment.

“What they (state leaders) are tackling right now are some of the biggest challenges that we face in the Sunshine State, and that’s access to health care in a reliable, reproducible, sustainable kind of a way,” said Tampa General Hospital President and CEO John Couris, who took part in a bill-signing event in Bonita Springs. “We’re facing a myriad of challenges in the health-care industry, in the health-care system. There are critical shortages in the healthcare workforce. We’ve seen an exceptional growth in labor costs. Patients are struggling to access the care they need, and the demand for behavioral-health services is at a record high.”

The bills were a priority of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, a Naples Republican who dubbed them the “Live Healthy” initiative. Passidomo pointed Thursday to trying to meet health-care needs of a rapidly growing population.

“Unfortunately, the new Floridians are not bringing their health-care providers with them,” Passidomo said. “We’re going to change that. The good news is that Live Healthy will help grow Florida’s health-care workforce, increase access, incentivize innovation so Floridians can have more options and opportunities to live healthy here in the Sunshine State.”

“Patients are struggling to access the care they need, and the demand for behavioral-health services is at a record high.”

John Couris

Tampa General Hospital President and CEO

to get a physical therapy appointment. It’s tough to see a nurse practitioner.”

DeSantis signed five bills, though much of the attention has focused on a wide-ranging measure (SB 7016) that includes $717 million in spending. The bill, for example, will provide money for increased residency slots for doctors and put additional dollars into loanforgiveness programs for healthcare professionals.

The bill also will take workforce-related steps such as helping clear the way for foreign-trained physicians to practice in Florida.

“Health care workforce is a challenge,” state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who took part in the bill-signing event, said. “It’s tough to get appointments oftentimes, especially with specialty physicians. It’s tough

The bill also includes issues such as trying to shift patients away from hospital emergency rooms for non-emergency conditions. It will require hospitals to take steps to divert patients such as by creating a “collaborative partnership” with federally qualified health centers or other primary-care providers.

The bill also includes allowing “advanced birth centers” that could provide cesarean-section deliveries for women who have what are considered low-risk pregnancies. Birth centers already exist but are not allowed to provide cesarean sections, which are surgical procedures done in hospitals.

Other bills signed Thursday included a measure (SB 7018) that will provide $50 million a year for a revolving-loan fund program for health-innovation

projects. The program will provide loans with a maximum interest rate of 1 percent, with priority given to applicants such as rural hospitals and organizations that provide care in medically underserved areas.

Another bill (SB 330) will designate four behavioral-health teaching hospitals linked to universities to help address issues with treating patients for mentalhealth conditions.

The linked behavioralhealth teaching hospitals will be Tampa General Hospital and the University of South Florida; UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville and the University of Florida; UF Health Jacksonville and the University of Florida; and Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami and the University of Miami. The bill also will allow the state Agency for Health Care Administration to designate additional behavioralhealth teaching hospitals as of July 1, 2025.

The bill will provide $100 million a year over the next three years to the teaching hospitals, with additional money provided

for such things as residency positions for psychiatrists.

“I’ve said, look, I want more beds for mental-health patients, particularly people that are not able to function in society,” DeSantis said. “And so this is going to be, I think, a key component of that, and I think it’s something that’s going to be very, very meaningful.”

Other bills signed were a measure (SB 1758) that addresses programs and services at the Agency for Persons with Disabilities and a measure (SB 322) that creates a publicrecords exemption for certain health-care professionals.

The bills moved through the Legislature with almost no opposition, though Democrats repeatedly argued that the package should include expanding eligibility for Medicaid—an idea rejected for the past decade by Republican leaders.

Passidomo made clear as she began moving forward with the legislation that she would not consider expanding Medicaid.

“Access to health care is important at every phase of life,” Passidomo said Thursday. “Insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare, does not guarantee access. Even Floridians with great insurance face barriers to care.”

Florida permitting fight flares in Congress

By Jim Saunders Florida News Service

AThe move came after U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss last month ruled that the

Bean’s amendment, which was added Thursday to a bill called the “Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act,” said the EPA’s 2020 transfer decision “shall have the force and effect of law.” Bean, who served in the Florida House and Senate before getting elected to Congress in 2022, said “thousands of projects” are on hold because of the issue.

“Give us the chance to continue this important work in the state of Florida,” Bean said as he presented the amendment.

The fate of the overall bill is unclear, at least in part because it has drawn opposition from the Biden administration. In a statement issued last week, the White House said the bill “would weaken the Clean Water Act, remove protections for waterways that are vital to the well-being of American families, and undermine ongoing, bipartisan efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of infrastructure permitting processes.”

The Republican-controlled House passed the bill Thursday by a narrow 213205 margin.

Bean’s amendment, which deals with what are known as section “404” permits, passed in a voice vote, after drawing criticism from U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Calif.

“The state of Florida can pursue implementing a 404 program but through the proper approval process, and Congress should not mandate a program that has been deemed deficient by the courts,” Napolitano said on the House floor.

COURT TOSSES OUT $43M TOBACCO VERDICT

By Florida News Service

Adivided appeals court Wednesday overturned a $43 million verdict against the cigarette maker Philip Morris USA Inc. in a lawsuit involving the death of a longtime smoker.

A panel of the 3rd District Court of Appeal, in a 2-1 decision, said the trial included improper hearsay testimony from sons of the late smoker, Norma K. Lipp. The panel ordered a new trial.

The majority decision said Lipp smoked filtered cigarettes for decades, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1992 and died a year later. Her son, Michael, as representative of her estate, later filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Philip Morris.

The case was one of thousands of what are known as “Engle progeny” lawsuits, which stem from a 2006 Florida Supreme Court ruling that established critical findings about the health dangers of

smoking and misrepresentation by cigarette makers.

A jury sided with Lipp’s estate and awarded $15 million in compensatory damages and $28 million in punitive damages. But Wednesday’s majority decision agreed with Philip Morris’ position that hearsay testimony by Lipp’s sons, Michael and A.J., was improperly admitted in the trial and used in a closing argument.

The decision, written by Judge Alexander Bokor and

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers usually holds the permitting authority, but the federal government transferred the power to the state in late 2020, about a month before former President Donald Trump’s administration ended.

The Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, the Sierra Club, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, the Florida Wildlife Federation, Miami Waterkeeper and St. Johns Riverkeeper filed a lawsuit in 2021 in Washington, D.C., challenging the transfer.

The Washington-based Moss on Feb.15 found that actions by the EPA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in approving the permitting shift violated the federal Endangered Species Act. Moss vacated the transfer but said the state and the federal government could seek a stay of his ruling. He also did not decide certain legal issues in the case.

The state on Feb. 26 filed a motion for a stay of Moss’ decision. The judge has not ruled on the motion and has scheduled an April 4 conference in Washington. The environmental groups have opposed a stay.

Attorneys for the state also have urged Moss to issue a final judgment, which could help clear the way for an appeal. But the environmental groups Thursday filed a 39-page response objecting to the issuance of a final judgment.

In part, the environmental groups pointed to other issues in the case that Moss has not decided. For example, one of those issues involves the Clean Water Act.

joined by Judge Monica Gordo, said the improper testimony was about Norma Lipp expressing anger over tobacco-industry deceptions about the safety of filtered cigarettes.

“Here, the central theory to the plaintiff’s case was that tobacco companies deceived Mrs. Lipp into believing that smoking filtered cigarettes was safer than smoking non-filtered cigarettes,” Bokor wrote. “The plaintiff advanced this theory through the testimonies of Mrs. Lipp’s two

sons, and primarily through Mrs. Lipp’s hearsay statement that the tobacco companies lied to her.”

But Judge Kevin Emas dissented, arguing that the hearsay statements were only one part of the case. Emas wrote that it is “clear that the erroneously admitted evidence is merely cumulative to the other substantial and admissible testimony introduced at trial on the same question, and could not reasonably have had any impact on the disputed issues at trial.”

U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fla., proposed an amendment to allow Florida to keep wetlands-permitting power. [Colin Hackley/File]

Disney, District settle lawsuit

By Jim Turner Florida News Service

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District have reached a legal settlement that includes nullifying controversial development agreements that the entertainment giant entered with the former Reedy Creek Improvement District.

The settlement was announced Wednesday and approved by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board, which was created last year by the Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District replaced the decades-old Reedy Creek district, which had close ties to Disney.

The deal ends an Orange County circuitcourt lawsuit that came amid a feud between DeSantis and Disney over the company’s opposition to a 2022 state law that restricted instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. Disney filed a separate federal lawsuit and appealed after a U.S. district judge in January dismissed that case. The appeal remains pending.

Walt Disney World Resort President Jeff Vahle said in a prepared statement the company was “pleased to put an end to all

litigation pending in state court.”

“This agreement opens a new chapter of constructive engagement with the new leadership of the district and serves the interests of all parties by enabling significant continued investment and the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs and economic opportunity in the state,” Vahle said.

A copy of the settlement was not immediately available.

The district provides government services for a swath of Central Florida that includes Disney properties. Disney reached development agreements with the outgoing Reedy Creek board shortly before the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board took over.

In the lawsuit, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District sought a ruling that the development agreements were “null and void.”

DeSantis, appearing Wednesday at the Orange County State Attorney’s Office for a bill-signing event, said his actions on changing Reedy Creek and the education issue “have been vindicated.”

“Going forward, we’re going to continue to govern with the best interests of the state of Florida,” DeSantis said. “So, I’m glad that they were able to do that settlement on those eleventh-hour (development)

DESANTIS SIGNS TCC REBRAND

By Florida News Service

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday announced that he signed a measure that will rename Tallahassee Community College as Tallahassee State College.

The renaming of TCC follows nearly every other school in the state’s network of 28 colleges shedding the “community college”

label in favor of “college” or “state college.” Hillsborough Community College will be the only remaining school in the system to keep the community college moniker.

In announcing that he signed the bill, DeSantis said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the name change for TCC will be “conforming it to other institutions in Florida that are branded as state colleges.”

covenants and restrictions.”

The state in the 1960s created the Reedy Creek district. But in pushing to revamp the district, DeSantis said “allowing a corporation to control its own government is bad policy.”

Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board member Charbel Barakat said Wednesday the district is “eager to work with Disney and all other businesses to make the country’s tourism destination famous for a second reason, which is good government.”

The settlement also came as the district board on Wednesday appointed Stephanie Kopelousos to the $400,000-a-year position as district administrator. Kopelousos was recommended by DeSantis and had worked for him as legislative and intergovernmental affairs director.

Paul Huck, an attorney for the district, outlined the settlement to the board and also said Disney agreed to withdraw publicrecords requests tied to the litigation. Among other things, Huck said Disney agreed to work with the district to review a 2020 comprehensive plan for the region.

In the separate federal lawsuit, Disney alleged state officials unconstitutionally retaliated against the company over its opposition to the education law. The company’s appeal is pending at the Atlantabased 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The measure (SB 522) will take effect in July. The name change is estimated to cost about $500,000 according to a legislative analysis of the bill.

Expenditures would be related to signage, publication, documentation and advertising.

The cost “will be absorbed by the institution, and expended over two fiscal years,” the analysis said.

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People, Places & Things

‘Story Walk’

A troupe of young actors will perform stories from around the world in a unique way at an Ocala city park.

By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com

What could be better than a nice walk in a lovely local park?

Add in young actors offering mini plays around the winding paths and you have “Story Walk: A Journey Through the Forest and Around the World.”

The city of Ocala Recreation & Parks Department, in partnership with Community Stages, will host the unique event April 13 at Scott Springs Park, at 2825 SW 24th Ave., Ocala.

Stories from different parts of the world, including Europe, Africa and Asia, will be performed by the talented troupe of young artists.

“Guests can expect to be captivated by energetic and engaging performances. The diverse performance styles will ignite guests’ imaginations and sense of adventure while immersing them in storytelling from around the world,” noted a news release from the city.

To learn more about the actors, the performance and the group itself, we did a Q&A with Terry LeCompte, founder and director of Community Stages.

What is Community Stages?

Community Stages is a pending nonprofit theater arts organization that provides performing arts training, community creative arts events and family-centered theater performances on “stages” throughout Marion County. Committed to the creative development of people of all ages and aspirations, we offer school year skillbuilding and performance classes in theater arts at the Chelsea Arts Center for learners 5 to 17 years of age.

For adults, we have theater workshops that develop skills in communication, collaboration, leadership, critical thinking, creative problem solving and more. These soft skills cultivated through training in theater arts prove advantageous across various career paths. Throughout the year we also host community sing-

alongs, an arts-career discussion series and provide theater and professional development workshops for community and cultural partners.

Who is involved?

I co-founded Community Stages with Jim Foster. Our classes are held at the Chelsea Art Center and we work closely with owner Barbara Fife.

Other cultural partners include The Appleton Museum of Art, Fort King National Historical Landmark, The Pearl Project, Ocala Recreation & Parks, the Marion County Library System and The Cornerstone School.

A new organization, we are continuing to build our roster of artists and educators. In the past year, we’ve had the pleasure of working with Greg Doss, Jennifer Foster, Scott Nadenic, Jazmine Whipple, Will Elphingstone, Alexa Blanco, Grace DeClerk, Dylan Kinsey and Desiree Luvall.

The students involved in “Story Walk” are our ODDBITS!: Trunk & Trek Troupe, which includes Ben Burnette, Zoe Cox, Lilly Gonzalez, Trinity Gori, Caroline Overly, Charlie Overly, Robert Skipper and Tyler Ruiz, and special guest Aubrey Bush.

We also have a small team of students’ family volunteers who assist in administrative and production tasks.

How did you decide to do ‘Story Walk’?

“Story Walk” was inspired by Arts in the Open, a theatre company in Denver, Colorado, led by our friend and playwright Patti Murtha.

Patti and I started our careers in Theatre for Young Audiences together in New Jersey more than 20 years ago. We co-directed for a company called the Shoestring Players, whose philosophies greatly shaped who we are as artists today.

When it comes to engaging and impactful storytelling, the magic lays within the tellers of the story. With a handful of engaging actors, a great story and a live audience, we can touch lives, provide entertainment and stir social conscience in all spaces— in a park or in a theater.

What was involved in making it happen?

Community Stages auditioned for a winter performance class for actors ages 12 to 18. We formed a troupe of eight actors called ODDBITS!: Trunk & Trek Troupe. We rehearsed our show “Folklore in Gear” on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Chelsea Art Center. Sam Jarvis and I kicked around the idea of an outdoor performance of the show and we decided on a route through Scott Springs. Then Sam and her team, thankfully, worked out the logistics with Recreation & Parks.

What can people expect if they attend ‘Story Walk’?

We will have two performances, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. A small audience (about 20 people) will visit three stations along the trail. At two stations, our ODDBITS! troupe will share an international folktale. The eight actors will create everything the story needs using their bodies, faces, and voices. Through one 10-minute tale, they play all the characters, places and things. It’s a blast. Our stories are comedies from Africa, Ireland and Russia, adapted from traditional folklore by myself and Patti. They are fast paced, full of energy and laughs. One station on the path will feature an ODDBITS! actor who will take the audience on its own imagination journey.

Aubrey Bush will lead the audience through an interactive version of the classic tale “Jack and the Beanstalk.”

What’s next for Community Stages?

There will be a free indoor performance of “Folklore in Gear” at 2 p.m. April 20 at the Appleton Museum of Art. Community Stages and the Cornerstone School have partnered for two, two-week theater camps for ages 5 to 12. Drama Camp and Little Drama Camp run June 3 to 28. Both camps will have classes in acting, singing and dancing, inspired by the musicals “Mulan” and “The Greatest Showman.” You can learn more at communitystages.org or thecornerstoneschool.org Our school year classes will resume at Chelsea Art Center in early September.

“Story Walk: A Journey Through the Forest and Around the World” sessions will be available at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on April 13 and will run approximately one-hour. The cost is $5 per family and registration is required. To register, go to ocalafl.gov/recpark or bit.ly/story-walk-ocala

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

Cast members from Community Stages, front, from left, Zoe Cox, 16, and Caroline Overly, 10, and back, from left, Lilly Gonzalez, 16, Robert Skipper, 14, Charlie Overly, 13, Tyler Ruiz, 18, and Trinity Gori, 16, rehearse a scene from one of their folktales at the Chelsea Art Center on East Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala on Thursday, March 21, 2024.

Left: From left, Zoe Cox, 16, Robert Skipper, 14, Tyler Ruiz, 18, Charlie Overly, 13, Lilly Gonzalez, 16, Trinity Gori, 16, and Caroline Overly, 10.

Caroline Overly, 10, ties her scarf as she rehearses.

Robert Skipper, 14, puts on his hedgehog nose.

Pinewood Derby returns

For the first time in five years, local Scouts participated in a wooden model car race that will send winners to a regional competition.

By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com

About 50 Cub Scouts and 11 Boy Scouts from the Boy Scouts of America North Florida Council’s Five Rivers District gathered March 23 at the “Big Daddy” Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing south of Ocala for the 2024 District Pinewood Derby model car races.

The event was the first Pinewood Derby held here in five years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Five Rivers District includes Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Baker, Union, Hamilton, Suwannee, Lafayette, Dixie, Gilchrist and Levy counties.

Cub Scout Phoenix Reding, 7, said her entry at the southwest Marion County venue was fast, was painted cobalt blue and had black windows.

“Painting was the hardest part,” she said.

Phoenix was joined by her parents, Danielle and John Reding of Ocala, who are active

in scouting leadership.

The derby is a competition using gravity-powered model cars crafted from wood, which are rolled down an indoor track with an incline and timing device to record the roll time.

The cars—four were rolled in each race—were placed on the track by a scout leader and racers sat along the track watching the competition, which involved “best of” heat races. Race guidelines dictate that the cars weigh no more than 5 ounces, measure 7 inches long and be 2¾ of an inch wide. They may only use a designated type of wheels and a certain amount of added weights to enhance the roll, according to Steve Hickman, Scoutmaster of BSA Troop 18 of Ocala, who served as chairman for the event. Stephanie Hickman, Stephen Hickman’s wife, worked to hold the event.

Hickman said the Pinewood Derby is a “fun exercise” that highlights craftsmanship and “getting it just right.”

“The (Pinewood Derby

HCA FLORIDA OCALA LAUNCHES PHARMACY RESIDENCY PROGRAM

The HCA Florida Ocala Hospital is partnering with the American Society of Health System Pharmacists by launching a new pharmacy residency program.

The new program will train residents in patient care and drug treatment. This program is the first of its kind in Marion County.

Residents will take part in the program for one year for general clinical pharmacy practice. During that time, they will focus on evidence-based medicine and participate in the healthcare team to create and manage drug treatment plans for patients.

Opportunities for the residents will include research projects, medication use evaluations, conference attendance, committee involvement, teaching students, and more to create a well-rounded clinical pharmacist by the end of the first year.

racing) helps the scouts learn woodworking, planning, patience and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills based upon physics and weight placement,” Hickman wrote in an email after the event.

“(The racing) also helps Scouts learn to be good sports, learn to celebrate victory, acknowledge defeat, congratulate each other and learn the importance of competition, good sportsmanship and that by participating, everyone is a winner,” he stated.

The district competition involved: Kindergarten Lions, first grade Tigers, second grade Wolves, third grade Bears, fourth grade Webelos and Arrow of Light Scouts.

Heather Brose, Cubmaster of Pack 18, said the race participants received a uniform patch reflecting their involvement.

Ben Hilliard, with Pack 42, served as race starter and placed the cars on the track to be released and timed.

Adult scouting leader Barbara Kwatklsky, whose son is an Eagle Scout, had three entrants racing in the derby.

“It’s fun. The cars are made from a block of wood,” she said.

Alex Castora accompanied his son, Declan, 10, and daughter, Willow, 7. Declan raced his rather uniquely designed model of a semi tractor-trailer.

Steve Schroeder traveled to the event with his son, Kase, 6, and found it to be a “good experience” while Katie Demonaco’s daughter, Patrica, 8, and Cub Scout Layne Strange, accompanied by his grandfather, both placed in the races. Logan Drillick, 9, garnered first place in the Bears group, with his parents, Tori and Ian Drillick, looking on. Three generations of the Thomason family were represented as Larry and Jan Thomason came out to support their son, Trevor Thomason, and his daughter, Jocelyn, 10, who finished first in her den competition.

The winners from Saturday’s races, already winners in their individual packs and troops, will advance to the North Florida Council derby on April 13 at The Brumos Collection, a museum featuring famous racing cars in Jacksonville.

2024 Five Rivers District Pinewood Derby

Results, in first, second and third place order: Lions (kindergarten): Parker Pokorney-Duong, Pack 197; Michael Demonaco, Pack 574; and Alija Carneccia, Pack 574

Tigers (first grade): Hawk Hutchins, Pack 18; Jaden Ryan, Pack 197; and Bodhi Komyati, Pack 197

Wolves (second grade): Hayden Waring, Pack 18; Aubree Shumpert, Pack 563; and Jaxon NickersonSpaziano, Pack 563

Bears (third grade): Logan Drillick, Pack 574; Patricia Demonaco, Pack 574; and Layne Strange, Pack 574

Webelos (fourth grade): Keegan Erhart, Pack 42; Jocelyn Thomason, Pack 563; and Cooper Yanke, Pack 563

Arrow of Light Scouts: Jaden Griffin, Pack 18; Jordan Drillick, Pack 574; and Liam Serrano, Pack 197

To learn more, go to nfcscouting.org/fiverivers

TAdvanced registration is required by emailing Traci

at the CF Foundation at masont@cf.edu. To learn more about the CF Foundation, visit CF.edu/Foundation.

Phoenix Reding, 7, displays the Pinewood Derby uniform patch she earned for racing her handmade wooden model car in the Five Rivers District Pinewood Derby held Saturday, Mar. 23, 2024 at the “Big Daddy” Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in southwest Marion County. Phoenix’s mother, Danielle Reding, is seen in background. [Andy Fillmore]

Race starter Ben Hilliard, standing, is seen starting four gravity powered cars on a roll to race during the Five Rivers District Pinewood Derby held Saturday, Mar. 23, 2024 at the “Big Daddy” Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in southwest Marion County. [Andy Fillmore]

A sweet surprise Family rallies around mother for first time in years.

By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com

On March 19, Janulee Shirvis, 79, a resident of Ocala for 26 years, thought she was going out to lunch with a friend, but boy was she surprised when she instead was reunited with all four of her daughters for the first time in 22 years.

According to Dèsirée Shoats White, the second oldest of the siblings, they started planning the event months in advance but even then, they ran into some glitches.

“Each of the four of us had to make sacrifices and tackle many obstacles to make this happen,” she noted.

White lives in Kaufman, Texas. Her sisters are Theresa Shoats George of Waynesville, Ohio; Tonya Shoats McGhee of Kansas City, Kansas; and Jana Shoats of Kansas City, Missouri. Joining them for the surprise were three of Shirvis’ grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, ranging in age from 6 to 60.

“Our accomplice was our mother’s good friend, Jane Kurtz, who got our mother

to Mojo’s on Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala under the ruse of a lunch outing. The

GM at Mojo’s, Henry Bechtel, hostesses Peyton Crews and Jennifer Thomas, as well as our servers assisted in the surprise,” White shared.

“We came in one group at a time, beginning with two of Theresa’s adult children, Tesa and Nathan George, followed a few minutes later by each of us girls in order of age, each appearing a few minutes apart, ending with the youngest,” White said. “Each appearance was met with a scream and tears of joy and disbelief. Mom’s first sentence she was able to complete with her four girls surrounding her and tears streaming down her face was, ‘This is better than winning the lottery!’”

White said that while family ties were renewed, “most importantly, we were able to honor our mother, who has always given and sacrificed so much for us as a single parent. We could never repay her for that, and any sacrifice or obstacle we faced to achieve the reunion seemed obsolete once we saw the pure joy it gave her.”

“Mom’s first sentence she was able to complete with her four girls surrounding her and tears streaming down her face was, ‘This is better than winning the lottery!’”

Dèsirée Shoats White

Florida Federation of Garden Clubs celebrates 100 years.

By Jacqua Ballas President, Pioneer Garden Club of Ocala

The Pioneer Garden Club of Ocala is part of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs. On April 24, the federation will celebrate its 100year anniversary. Throughout this long history, the organization has introduced many projects to benefit the state of Florida.

The FFGC promotes the love of gardening, floral and landscape design, and civic and environmental responsibility. The federation provides education, resources and networking opportunities for members, youth and the community. It now has more than150 community-based clubs in the state and nearly 10,000 members, who belong to local garden clubs in every corner of Florida.

Here are some of the projects the FFGC has promoted in its 100-year history:

“The Florida Gardener” – This is the official publication of the FFGC. It is issued as an online quarterly magazine to more than 10,000 members. The magazine features the activities and accomplishments of individuals, circles, clubs and districts, guest authors and articles on environmental and horticultural interest.

Educational programs - The FFGC and National Garden Clubs, Inc., provide a wide variety of courses of study on topics such as the environment, horticulture, landscape design, floral arrangement and flower show judging.

• Scholarships – The FFGC funds scholarships for college-bound students or graduate students studying environmental majors.

• Youth camps – The federation funds Wekiva Youth Camp, an environmentally focused summer camp. It is included in “Newsweek’s” 2023 ranking of Best Summer Camps in the country.

Bartram Trail markers – The FFGC sponsors markers to educate the community about the travels of William Bartram in Florida.

Blue Star memorial markers - The program began in 1945 to show honor, support and respect for military services by setting up markers along state highways.

• Coral restoration – The federation supports coral research and restoration.

Florida wildflowers – The FFGC established the Florida State Wildflower license plate in 1999.

The tag features the coreopsis state wildflower. Fifteen dollars from every purchase of the tag is donated to the Florida Wildflower Foundation, which uses the funds to sponsor education, grants and research.

Pennies For Pines – The federation works with the U.S. Forestry Service to replant damaged forested areas.

Garden Clubs and Circles collect pennies in $68 increments, which will purchase enough seedlings to replant approximately one acre of forest.

• Roadside beautification/Paths of Sunshine – The FFGC works with the Florida Department of Transportation to recognize districts that use native landscape and wildflowers in planting and maintenance practices that are environmentally beneficial.

Reclamation and recycling trees, and reforestation – The federation encourages clubs to plant trees throughout the year and keep track of how many and what kind of trees, which supports reforestation.

The FFGC made it fun for members to join in the celebration by making a checklist of activities called “100 ways to celebrate 100 years” for club members to do. Some of the activities included doing a plant swap, assisting with a community garden, planting a tree on Florida Arbor Day, attending a garden tea, donating books to a local library, observing birds, participating in a bird or butterfly count, taking a hike on a nature trail and visiting a state park. The Pioneer Garden Club’s members have been happily engaged in doing many of the activities.

There will be other festivities to celebrate. The FFGC State Convention will be held in Jacksonville from April 9 to 12 and will celebrate the 100-year anniversary with a major flower show, tours of the Cummer Museum, workshops, the first Members Only Art Show and a keynote speaker who was the White House Floral Designer for the Obama administration. On April 24 there will be a brunch and dinner at FFGC headquarters in Winter Park, which will celebrate 100-year-old members born in 1924. It also will recognize the four original garden clubs in Jacksonville, Halifax County, Winter Park and Miami.

Pioneer Garden Club members congratulate the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs on its 100-year anniversary— and we look forward to celebrating our own 100th anniversary on April 15, 2027.

To learn more, go to pioneergardenclub.org and ffgc.org

Tesa George, Jana Shoats, Dèsirée

White, Nathan George, Ottawa George, Janulee Shirvis, Tonya McGhee with daughter Olivia, Kodiak George and Theresa Shoats George.

[Submitted photo]

Below: Janulee Shirvis with daughter Jana Shoats. [Submitted photo]

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

Swamp sparrow

By Michael Warren

As their name suggests, swamp sparrows are often found perched in low vegetation in swampy areas. They breed primarily in Canada and visit Marion County during cooler months. This one was photographed at the Ocala Wetland Recharge Park, where they can often be found foraging among the cattails.

Swamp sparrow [MichaelWarren.com]

Margum – Journey of a Dancer

Ocala Symphony Chorus Melodious Accord

LOCAL CALENDAR LISTINGS

government

APRIL 1

Marion County Development

Review Committee

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

9am

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

APRIL 2

Marion County Board of County Commissioners

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

9am

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

APRIL 2

Ocala City Council

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala

4pm

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

TBD

On Top of the World Rezoning Application Public Hearing

Per a press release from Marion County, “a public hearing relating to a requested zoning change from B-2 (commercial business) to PUD (planned unit development), will be rescheduled and re-noticed to accommodate anticipated public attendance. The public hearing pertains to a zoning change application identified as 240306ZP for 8441 SW 99th St. Road, Ocala.”

arts

MARCH 23 - APRIL 27

Dig into Clay: Wheel Throwing

Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St, Ocala

10am to 1pm

This six-week session offers potters of all skill levels a chance to practice and develop new skills and techniques in wheel throwing through fun and functional ceramic projects such as serving sets, vases, or your own creative expressions. Visit appletonmuseum.org/education/dig-into-clay-wheel-throwing-2/ to sign up.

APRIL 6

Free First Saturday at Appleton Museum

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

10am to 5pm

Entry to the Appleton Museum of Art is free for all patrons during the first Saturday of each month. During this event, photographer Martha Strawn will lead a tour of her “Across the Threshold of India” exhibit.

APRIL 9

CF Ira Holmes International Film Series: “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom”

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala/College of Central Florida, 3001 SW College Road, Building 8, Ocala

2-4pm (at Appleton) and 7-9pm (at CF)

This film is a production from Bhutan that was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022. It tells the story of a teacher in Bhutan who dreams of becoming a singer and moving to Australia. Screenings at CF are free and open to the public. Screenings at the Appleton are free to museum and film series members; nonmembers pay museum admission.

things to do

MARCH

APRIL

earth. Features of the day include a plant clinic, upcycled clothing displays and fashion show, a wildlife walk and talk about the 36th Avenue mural, earth friendly recipe sampling, art and conservation exhibits. Fort King Presbyterian Church is a designated Earth Care Congregation. The event is free and open to the public.

APRIL 13

Marion County Farmland Preservation Festival

Majestic Oaks, 17500 N U.S. Highway 441, Reddick

10am

The 16th annual event will include a farmer’s market, traditional farm and cottage crafts, farm animals, a petting zoo, hayrides and the popular horse and tractor parade. There will be live entertainment and food concessions. The event is organized by the nonprofit Save Our Rural Areas (SORA), which opposes urban sprawl on farmland, especially within the county’s designated Farmland Preservation Area. Admission is free; $5 for parking. To learn more, go to farmlandfestival.org.

APRIL 27

Historic Ocala Preservation Society Walking Tour

712 E. Fort King Street, Ocala

10am Walk through time with HOPS on a tour that will take you through six historic homes in Ocala’s Southeast Historic District, starting at the Bryant House. Tickets are available at bit.ly/a-walk-through-time

THROUGH APRIL 7

“Baskerville” Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

Showtimes vary The OCT team presents Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic tale refreshed as a whirlwind comedy and murder mystery with Holmes and Watson prowling the moors. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for ages 18 and younger. Visit ocalacivictheatre.com to view showtimes and purchase tickets.

MARCH 29

Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series

Webb Field, 1501 W Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

7pm to 9pm The Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series is a joint project from the city of Ocala, Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission, Juneteenth Celebration Committee and Marion Cultural Alliance to provide free family friendly public concerts. The March 29th show will bring a fun night of reggae and R&B as headlining act Jah Movement brings their local and authentic stylings. Also performing is Florida-native Ace Winn, specializing in acoustic R&B.

APRIL 19

Travis Ledoyt: Sun the Stars Concert Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th Avenue, Ocala 6pm to 9pm Travis Ledoyt has been dubbed “The World’s Best Young Elvis” by many who knew “The King” personally. See him live in concert at the Reilly Arts Center, performing songs by Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and others. Visit reillyartscenter.com/events/travis-ledoyts-sun-the-stars-tour/ for more information and for tickets.

APRIL 28

STEM event for girls

Girls of all ages and their families are invited to experience a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) event at the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida’s annual STEMapalooza on April 6 at Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland.

GSWCF serves nearly 18,000 members across eight counties: Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sumter.

STEMapalooza is an opportunity for

girls to learn about the world of science, technology, engineering and math, as well as discover what Girl Scouts has to offer. Attendees will get to explore STEM careers, chat with leading women in the STEM field and take part in fun, hands-on activities.

The event is open to not only Girl Scouts and their families, but any girl with an interest in STEM. Tickets are $5 for all attendees. Attendees can pre-register online at gswcf.org/stemapalooza or at the event.

To learn more, go to gswcf.org

Musical Masterpiece

College of Central Florida stages a classic in a larger-than-life production.

By Lisa McGinnes lisa@magnoliamediaco.com

With a set evoking the grand Parisian landmark and a talented cast of student actors, plus orchestra and choir, College of Central Florida’s (CF) production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” involves more than 70 individuals in a masterpiece of collaborative performing arts.

This modern retelling of the 15thcentury tale stays true to the story introduced in Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel, with songs from the Academy Awardwinning musical score of the 1996 Disney animated film, plus new numbers added for the 2014 Broadway-style musical.

“A production of this magnitude is an exciting undertaking for all our students,” said Jason Longtin, CF associate professor of music and the show’s musical director. “This is, by far, the largest collaborative production in my seven years at CF,” he said, explaining that the 21 singers in the onstage choir include CF students, faculty and staff plus community members, who are accompanied by a 17-piece orchestra.

“Our students, staff and community members have worked incredibly hard on bringing this beloved story to life,” Longtin said.

Nonalee Davis, CF assistant professor of theatre and the play’s director, noted this is the biggest show she’s produced on an academic stage.

“It’s an incredible opportunity for these students to do such an epic mainstage show, and I’m so proud of their hard work,” Davis said, adding that the musical is a collaboration between CF theatre, music and dance departments and CF dance instructor Justine McDaniel is the choreographer.

Set designer Tyler Stentiford’s gothic cathedral, with its massive stained glass windows and tall bell tower, takes up every inch of the stage, and the student actors make the most of it, singing and dancing their way through more than 20 songs.

Melrose Root, who said he’s “usually backstage,” brings an endearing charm to his first lead role as Quasimodo.

“He’s overall just very pure,” Root said of the famous literary character. “He’s got a very open, sweet heart, so I think that’s part of what makes him an enjoyable character. It was super important to me to make sure that I was portraying him correctly as a person with disabilities.”

Collin Williams, returning to the CF

stage after appearing as Sherlock Holmes in “The Hound of the Baskervilles” in the fall, is enjoying the role of antagonist Dom Claude Frollo.

“He is one of, if not the most, evil Disney villains,” Williams said of the powerful cleric. “And the reason why he is the most evil is because he’s real. He’s not magical, a wizard, or anything like that; he’s just a man.”

Also returning to the CF stage, Camila Bran, who played Lady Agatha in “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” shines as Esmeralda.

“She’s such a fun character,” Bran said of the musical’s female lead, an ethnic Romani, or Gypsy. “She just loves singing and dancing, and that’s exactly what I love to do. It is definitely an honor to be able to represent a minority, being part of the Latina community. It feels great to be able to show people, like little girls out there who are part of this group, that it is possible to follow your dreams in theater or any type of performance and showcase the talent we all have.”

Playing her “favorite character from the cartoon” is Ashlyn Methvin as Clopin, the King of the Gypsies, returning to the CF stage after playing Laura Lyons in “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” this time in a male role complete with mustache and long beard.

“I very much enjoy playing him. He’s a jokester, and he brings so much life to the stage,” Methvin said, adding that, although he does have “some dark elements to him,” the caretaker of the Romani brings “a fun element to the story.”

Captain Phoebus de Martin is played by CF Theatre veteran Kieran Boyle, who said he’s enjoying playing a character with “a lot more volume to him” after last appearing as Mr. Barrymore in “The Hound of the Baskervilles.”

“I think it’s going to be an exciting show for audiences – the amount of voices on stage, the presence, and a sound I don’t think they’ve heard before on this stage, at least for a very long time,” Boyle said. “It’s going to knock their socks off!”

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” is live on stage April 4-7 at the CF Dassance Fine Arts Center, 3001 SW College Road. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. ThursdaySaturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available online at cf.universitytickets.com or by calling (352) 873-5810.

Staff

Photos courtesy of Girl Scouts of West Central Florida.

Top to bottom: Collin Williams as

Claude Frollo rehearses a scene from “The Hunchback Of Notre Dame” with other cast members during a rehearsal of the play at the College of Central Florida in Ocala on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Melrose Root as Quasimodo, bottom left, and Camila Bran as Esméralda, bottom right, and top, from left, Porter Johnson as a Gargoyle, Taryn Stepinsky as St. Aphrodisius and Sarah Dowlah as a Gargoyle. Melrose Root as Quasimodo stands on the balcony.

[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.

Marion County Day

Marion County has a history that spans 180 years. The annual Marion County Day celebrates that heritage as it welcomes guests to learn more about their community.

This year’s event took place March 23 at the McPherson Governmental Complex on Southeast 25th Avenue. Numerous vendors offered a wide range of things to see, do or learn about.

The event included live entertainment, food trucks, arts and crafts, activities such as rides in a bucket truck and appearances by Rubbish and Debrie, the mascots for the No Horsin’ Around With Marion anti-litter campaign.

ANSWERS FOR PAGE B4

Gasoline Alley

Broom Hilda

Middletons

Animal Crackers

Photos by Mark Anderson Marion County Public Relations Specialist

Brick, an adoptable dog from MCAS.

Sam Mudd of The Mudds Jazz & Blues Band.

Rubbish and Debrie, the No Horsin’ Around With Marion campaign mascots.

Marion County MSTU Director Chad Wicker.

Marion County Day 2024.

Tampa business leader expands vision for Woodford Thoroughbreds

The historic farm is located in northwest Marion County and includes state-of-the-art facilities for training, breeding and stallion operations.

By Tammy Gantt Special to the Gazette

The Florida division of John Sykes’ Woodford Thoroughbreds sold to Danny Persaud, an entrepreneur and honored philanthropist in the Tampa area, who has renamed the 1,000-acre historic property Persaud Legacy Farms, LLC.

Persaud became interested in thoroughbreds after attending the Kentucky Derby and later meeting American Pharoah close-up. He met John Sykes, the farm’s previous owner, through Sykes’ family where conversations organically began about the farm and the opportunity to purchase it.

“When I pulled through the farm’s gates for the first time, I told my wife, Brittany, I was home,” Persaud said.

Persaud wants the farm to continue to be a legacy for all breeds of horses and his plans include offering training and boarding facilities for future racehorses, as well as eventers and show jumpers.

Persaud would like to fill the training facility with thoroughbreds utilizing the state-of-the-art facilities and training track. According to many who have trained over the surface, the training track is the best training track in Marion County.

The picturesque rolling hills on the farm and the natural lay of the farm

make it perfect for eventers. In addition, the farm has paddocks and facilities for breeding and stallion operations.

His vision includes opportunities for equine therapy riding and ways the community can enjoy the farm with events, meetings, and service projects. The philosophy of giving back and lifting others up rings true in every aspect Persaud becomes involved in.

Owning a farm is not new to Persaud. He and his wife already own a 400-acre farm, Danika Farms, named after his daughter. After immersing himself in the row crop industry by meeting in person with farmers from across the country, he invested in growing row crops in 2019. The farm’s goal was to upgrade the farm, which was run down when he purchased it, and to help people in the surrounding area by fostering a thriving community and creating jobs.

Persaud has many business ventures, include a leading armored transportation service carrier throughout Florida, MidFlorida Armored and ATM Services, which he started 23 years ago, based in Tampa; Quick Claims, which helps the insurance industry streamline claims; and commercial real estate.

Born in Georgetown, Guyana, bordering Venezuela in South America, Persaud came to the United States with his family as a child. His family became homeless and hungry, and it was the

kindness of a stranger who helped them find shelter. At times, he lived on a bowl of cereal a day because his family could not afford food. Ready for college, he slept in his car near Florida State University for three weeks, all the while trying to figure out a way to be able to attend classes when he had no money.

Challenges like these left him with a generous heart for others. By the age of 25, he was helping others out, including sponsoring hundreds of college students by funding, mentoring, and scholarships over the years.

His other passion is Wheelchairs 4 Kids, a nonprofit organization based in Tarpon Springs that is dedicated to improving the lives of children with physical disabilities by providing wheelchairs, home and vehicle modifications, as well as other assistive equipment, at no charge to the families.

Persaud has been honored many times for his business success and philanthropic efforts. In 2023, he was honored as businessman of the year by the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce. He has also been named CEO of the Year and Philanthropist of the Year in 2022 by the “Tampa Bay Business & Wealth” magazine. In 2023, he was awarded Small Business of the Year by the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce and served as chairman of the America Heart Association Ball.

Sykes wanted the Florida Farm to continue thriving with Persaud’s vision. Sykes and the Woodford breeding program’s story is one of passion, commitment, and graded stakes success. Originally purchased as Clover Leaf Farms II in 1997, the farm was outfitted as a facility designed for the breeding, development, and training of thoroughbreds, with focus on sales preparation and pinhooking.

The farm made headlines for selling I’ll Get Along, the dam of the thoroughbred champion Smarty Jones, who had caught the keen bloodstock eye of now Journeyman Stud’s Brent Fernung while working there. More legendary racehorses followed, including Midnight Bisou, Discreet Lover, Independence Hall, Miss Marissa, Tizamagician, and Last Judgment.

For more than three decades the Woodford farm has had success at the highest levels, including last year when Sykes posted six black-type winners including Drew’s Gold, Mimi Kakushi, Vahava, Rocket Can, who also won again this month, and Sunday Shoes.

Florida-bred Isolate, winner of the $1 million Godolphin Mile (G1), was born on the farm, which created a sense of pride for Sykes, who also owned his sire Mark Valeski, who stood for a time in Florida. Isolate will be honored as the 2023 champion older male by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Owners’ Association on April 15 at their annual Florida Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Gala in Ocala.

Sykes may have sold the farm, but he remains in the game. On March 12, a $700,000 Munnings filly from the Niall Brennan Stables consignment was purchased by John Sykes’ Woodford Thoroughbreds, after she ran an eighth in 9.4 seconds during the under-tack show. Also purchased by Sykes was a $300,000 filly by Liam’s Map.

At Tattersalls in December, he sent Will Walden on a mission to build up his stable of “Saturday afternoon” type horses. Walden purchased for Sykes three European-bred fillies for a gross of $2,377,781, purchasing stakes-winners Pipsy (Ire) and Olivia Maralda (Ire) and Group 3 stakes placed Aussie Girl (Ire).

The hope is these horses follow in the hoofprints of Sykes’ other leading horses, including graded stakes winner and champion sire Congrats. Under the Clover Leaf Farms II banner, he purchased Congrats from Clairborne Farm and Adele Dilscheider in the Spring of 2006, when the horse was 6 years old. The horse retired in July and went on to stand in Florida and later Kentucky in 2011. He sired Grade 1 winners Turbulent Descent (Test Stakes, Hollywood Starlet, and Ballerina Stakes) and Wickedly Perfect (Alcibiades Stakes) in his first crop.

The recent sale of the farm included Congrats, now 24 and still a looker with near perfect conformation.

“This is my first thoroughbred,” Persaud said as the 16.2 hand Congrats approached him from the paddock to greet him for the first time.

“My daughter made sure I brought carrots to feed him today,” he added.

If the life story of Persaud is any indication, the farm and its land will continue to serve the tradition of world class equine operations with a commitment and passion to give back to the community. It’s also clear his passion extends to making sure that the farm’s precious and legendary stallion Congrats lives out his life in peace at Persaud Legacy Farms.

Roxy Roxy is a nine-month-old lovergirl. Her heart is pure gold and we don’t want you to miss out on this gem of a cat. She is all the things people love about cats: soft, affectionate, playful, and full of purrs. She could be yours today!

Boss Two-year-old Boss is looking forward to his future. This fun guy likes other dogs, enjoys running with friends in the yard, and wants to be someone’s best buddy. In Boss’ previous life, he wasn’t provided

Danny Persaud with Congrats. [Submitted photo]