Ocala Gazette | April 23 - 29, 2021 by Magnolia Media Company

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 43

April is National Gardening Month

APRIL 23- APRIL 29, 2021

Battle over the sexes City council backpedals on gender-neutral charter change after wave of opposition.

By Ainslie Lee ainslie@ocalagazette.com

uesday’s Ocala City Council meeting drew an overflow crowd, most of whom were there to speak against a proposal to remove masculine pronouns from the city charter. More than 100 people - spread out due to social distancing in the council chambers, the chambers’ anteroom and the first-floor lobby attended the meeting. After nearly two hours of denouncements, including from the group which originally proposed the change, the proposal was scrapped altogether. The intention of the revision was to adjust language in the city’s charter, dating from the 1970s, so it reflected the expanded roles of women in certain male-dominated positions. The proposed amendment would have changed “councilman” to “council member” and “policeman” to “police officer.” In the current charter document, all officials are referred to as “he,” including the city manager, who is currently a woman. It would have also removed the pronouns he and his. But the proposal quickly drew backlash

with some worried it was a backdoor attempt to move toward the use of non-gender pronouns, which have gained momentum among advocates and some linguists. The backlash spurred Councilman Matthew Wardell to appear on a local radio station to try and explain the proposal’s intent. “I can’t choose what’s a hot-button issue. I can’t choose what someone’s going to misappropriate as something it’s not,” Wardell said during the show. “I think the idea of insisting on calling our city manager, who’s a woman, a ‘he’ is weird.” But many still questioned the intentions behind the proposal on Tuesday night. Gerald Bustin, the first to speak against the proposal, encompassed the overall theme of the 30-plus speakers who followed. “I am concerned about this gender problem,” Bustin said “It seems to me that we’re catering to the LGBT community and not to God… This is not necessary at all to move away from he or she, because that’s all we are.” Others feared the move would create a “slippery slope” where non-traditional pronouns used by those who identify as See Charter Change, page A2

City sued over panhandling ordinance By Ainslie Lee ainslie@ocalagazette.com The city is facing a federal lawsuit challenging its panhandling ordinances. The suit, filed on Monday by the Southern Legal Counsel and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), contends the city’s panhandling ordinances are unconstitutional. It is the second lawsuit filed by the two entities against the city since 2019. The first suit, which also included Ocala lawyer Andy Pozzuto, argued the city’s “open lodging” ordinance was unconstitutional. In February, U.S. District Judge James Moody ordered the city to stop arresting homeless people for sleeping in public. He also ordered the city to stop issuing trespass warnings without due process. The city responded by amending the ordinance to remove the mention of homeless people and updated its trespass warning policy. In Monday’s lawsuit, the groups argue the panhandling ordinances infringe on people’s First and Fourteenth Amendment rights and criminalizes people asking for help. The groups are representing Roger Luebke, Kimberly Burnham, Williams Taylor, Victor Hoyt Cox, Dustin Damico and Patrick McArdle. All were previously arrested under the ordinances, according to the complaint. The plaintiffs have spent a total of 209 days in the Marion County Jail and have been assessed more than $7,750 in fines due to the panhandling ordinances. The city first adopted its Roadway Solicitation ordinance on Feb. 5, 2008, making it unlawful for any person to stand in the street, highway, median or bicycle path and solicit or attempt to solicit from See Panhandling, page A10

Move to preserve thoroughbred history at Winding Oaks By Ainslie Lee ainslie@ocalagazette.com On Tuesday, the Ocala City Council approved an amendment to the planned 960-acre development at Winding Oaks farm that will ensure the protection of a historic horse cemetery and the home of a famed Ocala thoroughbred trainer. The move, approved unanimously by the council, also shifted some of the planned uses for the property, including designating 20 acres of the property as the future site of an elementary school and keeping about 225 acres as a working thoroughbred training center for the time being, according to

David Boston, Ocala’s planning and zoning manager. The plan would leave approximately 735 acres ready to develop more than 3,100 residential units, including more than 2,000 single-family homes and more than 1,000 multifamily units, according to Boston. While the path is clear for development, there has been no application to start building. Given the time frame for approval of such an application, the first homes are at least a couple of years away, said Boston in an email. But the move to preserve the cemetery and the home on the former thoroughbred farm is See Winding Oaks, page A2

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The Winding Oaks property is shown in this ariel photograph on Tuesday. More than 3,000 homes are planned for the site. [Dave Miller/Special to the Ocala Gazette]

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APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

From Charter Change, page A1 transgender or non-binary could make their way into the charter. At least one speaker suggested the use of “he/she” in the charter to acknowledge women and maintain the traditional gender pronouns. Still, Wardell attempted to assure those in attendance that the proposed charter change, which would have been placed on the ballot of the Sept. 21 city election for voters to decide, had no ulterior motive. “I just want to make clear that the Bible says ‘he or she’ and the charter says ‘he or she’,” Wardell explained. “What I believe the message of this is to recognize the many women, or ‘shes’ that work for the city and serve the city… The problem is now that we don’t say ‘he or she’, as you suggested. And I think that’s a good suggestion.” Despite Wardell’s attempts, the steady stream of speaker’s against the proposal continued. Some quoted news

articles referencing transgender athletes and voiced concerns over city bathrooms not having gender signage. Others recited poems playing off Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham.” “I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam I am,” Mary Greg began. “With cancel culture, I disagree that we can’t say words like ‘he’ and ‘she.’” The 21st person to take the podium was the lone supporter of the proposal. “I would ask that each of you… make an effort to combat the misinformation and the sheer propaganda that has surrounded such a simple issue as referring to a police officer of either gender as a police officer,” Sarah Clifton said. “And the fact that we have a woman serving in a position of authority and the charter does not reflect that… this is not nearly the catastrophic trip down a slippery slope that we’ve had, I don’t know how many people refer to

this evening.” After dozens of comments against the proposal, a representative of the Ocala pastors who suggested the change spoke. “I want the record to be corrected to indicate that there was never any intent from the Black pastors when we presented the resolution,” said Apostle Brandon D. Cave Sr., a representative of the African American Pastoral Leaders of Ocala Marion County. “There has been a misrepresentation of what our intent was.” But Cave went further than trying to set the record straight. “May I ask then, if I’m in order, just to rescind… just delete, the resolution that has been considered and take it from consideration. Because it was never our intention that we go down this slippery slope,” Cave said. After a few more comments, a voice from the dais pierced the chambers. “I withdraw my motion,” Wardell said, drawing

[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

applause from those in attendance. Fellow Councilman Ire Bethea quickly seconded the withdrawal, nixing the proposed amendment. “When the people who requested the ordinance withdraw it… we brought that forward because it was brought up and the people who brought it didn’t want it anymore,” Wardell said after the meeting. He still feels the charter should recognize women.

“I think including women in the charter is important. It’s important to recognize half of our population as being people that serve the city,” Wardell said. “But it’s more of, you start to get worried if this is the reaction that this group is going to get and they’re going to spread sorta misinformation and things that aren’t quite right, I didn’t want it to tank other charter amendments that might be on the ballot that are really important.”

believe to be the single best season for a horse in history. Dr. Fager, who was named after the neurosurgeon that saved Nerud’s life after being thrown from his horse, died in 1976 and is buried on the Winding Oaks property. According to Art Roy, who lives in the Heath Brook Hills adjacent to Winding Oaks, anywhere from 14 to 23 horses are buried on the property. Other champion horses such as Intentionally and Ta Wee are believed to be buried there. Both the cemetery and the Nerud home are located on the north side of the property. “A few of them, mostly the champions listed above, are buried whole,” Roy wrote in an email to David Boston, the city’s planning and zoning manager. “Others are buried in the tradition of head, heart and hoof.” According to Roy, burials began in the 1960s and continued into the early

2000s. Under the amendment, the Nerud house and horse cemetery would be part of the development’s 25% open-space requirement. The property is owned by Canadian billionaire Eugene Melnyk’s Cradle Holdings, Inc, according to Marion County property records. Melnyk bought the farm in 2001 but retired from the thoroughbred breeding and racing business in 2014. No members of the public or the council challenged the resolution. “We’ve had some meetings with chief (Mike Balken) and the mayor recently and just making sure that as we’re bringing this many new homes... this many new people into the city that we have the resources for our first responders, police, fire... across the board,” Council President Justin Grabelle said before offering his support. “We want to make sure they’re safe.”

From Winding Oaks, page A1

A shot of State Road 200 looking Southwest with the Winding Oaks property visible on the left. [Dave Miller/Special to the Ocala Gazette]

now secure. The effort came from residents during a virtual meeting held by the city’s engineering team in August. John Nerud, who died in 2015 at the age of 102, was a legendary horseman

and thoroughbred trainer who trained horses on the Winding Oaks property when it was Tartan Farm, one of Marion Counties last remaining legacy thoroughbred farms. Nerud’s training polished

Filling A Need Right: Robert Williams enjoys his breakfast outside of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, 718 NW 7th St, on April 20. The church offers hot breakfast to the homeless each Tuesday. The church teamed up with Ft. King Presbyterian Church and the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition for the April 20 event. Bottom right: Jahkeen Williams gives Chris Webb a haircut at St. Paul’s during a homeless outreach event. Bottom: Kenya Bacon, a volunteer, prepares person hygiene kits for the homeless at St. Paul’s. [Alan Youngblood/ Special to Ocala Gazette]

Dr. Fager, a thoroughbred racehorse, into a fourtime champion. Dr. Fager was named Horse of the Year, champion sprinter, champion turf male and champion older male in 1968, marking what many

APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

“Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” - Thomas Jefferson Publisher Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@magnoliamediaco.com Carlos Medina, Managing Editor carlos@ocalagazette.com Bruce Ackerman, Photography Editor bruce@ocalagazette.com Ainslie Lee, Associate Editor ainslie@ocalagazette.com Brendan Farrell, Reporter brendan@ocalagazette.com Sadie Fitzpatrick, Columnist sadie@ocalagazette.com Lisa McGinnes, Editor lisa@magnoliamediaco.com Susan Smiley-Height, Editor susan@magnoliamediaco.com

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Our mission is to inform and uplift our readers by reporting on the events, issues and stories that shape Ocala with accuracy, fairness and passion. We also strive to serve as a forum where all voices can be heard and to chronicle our community’s history.

Support Local Journalism Through The Community News Fund Ocala Gazette announces the launch of The Community News Fund. In a measure to ensure that Ocala can sustain substantive journalism for years to come, the Ocala Gazette, with support from the Florida News Foundation, proudly announces the launch of a Community News Fund. For at least a decade, substantive journalism in Ocala has declined despite the efforts of Ocala’s daily newspaper and the many community weekly newspapers, online news platforms, radio and television outlets tasked with covering local news. The motivation for creating the Ocala Gazette in July 2020, despite the challenges posed by a global pandemic, was to establish an outlet that could actively work to fill that void. Ocala needs and deserves the kind of journalism that comprehensively records our history by probing the stories that define Ocala and delivers information that allows its citizens oversight of their elected officials. What led to the void? As significant advertising revenue shifted from newspapers to social media outlets like Facebook, resources to support journalism became depleted. Mass industrywide layoffs left only a handful of journalists with few resources skimming the surface of local happenings, so that a significant portion of local government and critical social issues went unexplored, unchecked. Many newspapers responded by putting up “paywalls” (a method of restricting access to content, especially the news, restricting access to a purchase or a paid

subscription) to draw more income from readers and become less reliant on advertising. For the most part, readers felt let down with by the introduction of the paywalls, feeling cut off from information they felt was owed to them as a public service. In response, readers shifted their attention to free online platforms that focused on delivering salacious crime reports and merely reposting press releases from various sources. This type of information provides very little value to a community and is not the kind of substantive journalism that serves as a watchdog for the community, delivering fair and factchecked reporting that protects Ocala through investigation and exploration of the topics that are vital to the citizens of our community. What we can do together. So that we are not beholden to any financial interest or vulnerable to threats by government or big business, we need your help to safeguard the future of local journalism in Ocala. Those elected officials of which we ask hard questions can make policy decisions that either preserve or thwart local journalism’s survival. We ask that you request they support independent journalism because it serves the public’s interest. You can find out who your representatives are at www.house. gov/representatives/find-yourrepresentative To be the watchdog we believe you want us to be, we need more reporters and resources to absorb the cost of more investigative stories. Some of the investigative subjects on our radar are: abuse

of power and the spread of misinformation by governmental agencies; independent review of health-related issues, access to resources and best practices; corporate malfeasance and inappropriate or abusive business behaviors; discriminatory practices, bias and lack of representation. And finally, we would like you to help us explore ways to sustain the type of journalism that is a true partner to the public, free to everyone who wants to stay connected and civically engaged. By subscribing and donating to the Ocala Gazette, you help journalists keep citizens informed, hold officials accountable and cover the most important topics in our community. Your contributions will equip our newsroom to better serve you and all our readers, with more reporters on the street and more local news on our community. All donations made to the Community News Fund are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. The Florida Community News Fund is a program administered by the Florida Press Foundation, tax ID #59-2449377, a 501 (C) (3) organization. Those wishing to contribute can make donations online at https://fpf.column.us/ocalagazette, or send a check, payable to the Florida Press Foundation, to the Press Foundation at 336 East College Avenue, Suite 304, Tallahassee, FL 32301. Don’t forget to note the donation is for the benefit of the Ocala Gazette. Donations will be processed through the Florida Community News Fund and then sent to the newspaper.

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APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Marion County completes list of vaccine appointments By Brendan Farrell brendan@ocalagazette.com COVID-19 vaccines are available to all adults, but the Department of Health in Marion County is struggling to find takers. “We have exhausted our vaccination list, the list that we get from the state... we’re only seeing about 25 people calling to get registered a day,” said Preston Bowlin, emergency management director of the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office. “If there’s anybody that wants a vaccine, they can get them today. They can just come to the (Paddock) Mall, they can call the Marion County

hotline (352-644-2590), they can go to the Marion County website.” According to state records, more than 123,000 Marion County residents people have gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Marion County’s has an estimated population of more than 365,000, with just less than 300,000 above age 18, according to 2019 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Almost 85,000 have completed their vaccination series. “There’s no excuse for not getting the vaccine in Marion County,” Bowlin said. Between April 12 and April 16, the county

administered 13,367 vaccines, a 27.8% decrease from the last Mondaythrough-Friday stretch between April 5 and April 9. Thursday had the most vaccines in one day last week with 3,299 doses. Every day between April 5 and April 9 featured more vaccines being given out than last Thursday. Bowlin also mentioned that the last day at the Paddock Mall vaccination site will be May 28th, as the state is demobilizing the state contractors. The plan is to work with more businesses like FedEx and Amazon as well as opening a smaller vaccination clinic at the Department of Health in

Director of emergency management Preston Bowlin. [Bruce Ackerman/ Ocala Gazette]

Marion County and running in-home vaccination missions with Marion County Fire Rescue and Ocala Fire Rescue. Marion County had 63.4

positive cases per day last week, including a peak of 98 cases on April 15. This was an increase from 45.2 cases per day the previous week.

Marion unemployment at 5.5% Ocala Gazette Staff The Marion County unemployment rate was 5.5% in March compared to 6.2% a year ago, according to numbers released by the Department of Economic Opportunity on Friday. The unemployment rate increased month-over-month from an adjusted 5.2% in February. The year-over-year numbers include the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last March. Locally, the labor force was 142,923 in March compared to 143,537 a year earlier. The number of people with jobs was 135,116, lower than the 135,583 employed a year earlier. The number of people unemployed was 7,807 in March compared with

8,954 a year ago, according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. But the area continues to see state’s fastest annual job growth in manufacturing, with 400 new jobs added totaling 9,800, according to a press release by CareerSource CLM. The Ocala metro area also was tied for the second-highest annual job growth in trade, transportation, and utility jobs, with 500 new jobs added totaling 26,500. Industries that lost jobs over the year include leisure and hospitality (-1,300 jobs), education and health services (-600 jobs) and government (-500 jobs), according to CareerSource. The state’s unemployment rate was 4.7% in March, unchanged from February. The U.S. unemployment rate was 6%.

CF forensics students earns awards Ocala Gazette Staff College of Central Florida students competed for the first time in three years at the Phi Rho Pi national speech and debate competition in April, earning seven awards. The Phi Rho Pi competition for community college students featured 44 schools from 10 states and 262 students. The competition features public speaking and interpretation events, along with three forms of debate. CF had six students compete in 13 events. Eileen Hernandez earned three individual awards: a bronze in poetry and two golds in communication analysis and persuasive speaking. This is the first time CF has won an individual event. Hernandez also finished fourth among all competitors at the event. As a team, CF team won a silver in the Hindman Division. “I could not be prouder of how this team competed at the Phi Rho Pi competition. In spite of all of the struggles we have faced, our team came together and finished with a Silver award being the third-best team in the country,” said Matthew Maddex, CF associate professor of speech and director of forensics. “I am in awe of what they have accomplished. We are so excited about our results this year and cannot wait to go in person to Phi Rho Pi next year and build upon what we have done.”

Ocala Electric Utility workers Matt Lowery, left, and Hank Pearson install a sculpture at the MLK First Responder campus on Northwest Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in this September file photo. The utility industry was one of the local industry segments that showed strength in the latest job report. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

O.G. Toons

Remains identified as 51-year-old man The skeletal remains of a man found in a wooded area of Ocala in late March were identified as belonging to Norberto Munoz, 51. There were no signs of trauma or foul play discovered, according to the Ocala Police Department. A couple stumbled across the remains on March 31 near Northwest Gainesville Road in a

wooded area approximately 50 to 70 yards from the roadway, according to reports. Police believe Munoz was homeless. They have not been able to locate any family and are asking the public for help. Anyone with information about Munoz is asked to call Detective Trevor Barth at 352-369-7000.

Illustration by David Vallejo

APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Opinion Commentary

Beyond Books: Library is a gateway to knowledge climb into my lap with a book he’d picked out and snuggle into me, his head fitting perfectly under my chin. I loved reading to him Smiling animals in hushed nestled beneath whispers the branches as he of an old oak turned the tree greet the pages with little ones his chubby toddling into fingers. I Sadie Fitzpatrick Story Time in had come to Columnist a small room depend on of the Ocala these trips Public Library. My son and to the library to provide I take our seats on scratchy structure and stability to carpet squares. We join a our week. My childhood dozen toddlers and their was shaped by visits to this moms and dads as we clap, Mecca, and I yearned to sing and wave our hands continue providing this for in unison with Miss Sally my own children. before quieting to listen to Just like the heroes the day’s stories. in the books that line After Story Time ends, its shelves, the library’s we wander the aisles of the amazing staff rose to Children’s Library, touching the occasion to continue the spines of the books and providing vital resources to pulling out ones of interest. its patrons. My son loves the crackle the “Many people told plastic book jacket protector us that we served as a makes as he opens each lifeline to them during book. This journey to the the shutdown period,” library is our favorite part explained Karen Jensen, of the week, a ritual we’ve community liaison for the maintained since he was Marion County Public six months old and got his Library System. library card. Although the building That was in early March was closed, the staff found 2020, and there were creative ways to get library rumblings of a deadly virus materials to the public. quickly sweeping the globe. Online ordering and Toilet paper was beginning curbside pickup allowed to sell out. Sporting events patrons to check out new were being canceled. reading materials. A public However, life remained access computer remained normal in Ocala for the open outside so that most part. individuals needing to apply And then, in just mere for government assistance weeks, life was anything could do so. WiFi also but normal as the nation remained available for those went into lockdown. We that needed it. were heartbroken when we The library serves as a realized that our beloved lifeline for Ocala, global library was among those pandemic or not. It is so shuttered in an effort to stop much more than a building the spread of COVID-19. that houses books. It is both The absence of this a vital resource and a refuge weekly sojourn to the library for our community. It is a made me feel unsettled, meeting spot for all types unmoored. My son was at of clubs to gather, a place the perfect age where he’d to further learning through Editor’s Note: Sadie Fitzpatrick uses this space to explore the character and quirks that make Ocala uniquely wonderful and occasionally irksome.

both books and classes and a computer lab to apply for a new job or to complete an online class. Most of us have access to computers and printers in our own homes, but many people in our area depend on the library to gain access to the Internet and printer services. According to Jensen, in the 2019-2020 fiscal year, there were 87,729 uses of the 230 public access computers available as part of the Marion County Library System, proving this to be a vital part of the library’s offerings. The library system’s programs provide a way for both children and adults to learn a new language, hone their gardening skills or take an art class, all at no cost. This free programming is made possible through the financial support of the Friends of the Ocala Public Library, which provides funding for the children and adult programs of the libraries in Ocala, Fort McCoy and Reddick. There are six additional Friends branches that help meet the needs of the library

system in Marion County, comprised of more than 900 volunteers. In the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the library system was able to offer 1,552 library programs for all ages with 37,804 individuals participating in these programs (due to COVID-19, these were mostly held virtually). The Friends of the Ocala Public Library provides funding for the Zoom license the library uses to continue hosting its virtual classes. When it is safe to gather in large groups again, a movie license paid for by the Friends will provide movie nights and snacks for children and their families at no cost. Story Time has returned as Fresh Air Story Time, held under the outdoor pavilion at the OcalaMarion County Veterans Memorial Park located just steps from the library headquarters. We sit on the same itchy carpet squares six feet apart with all adults wearing masks. Miss Sally is now joined by Miss Faith, Miss Jessica and Mr. Jerome

and the fantastic literary world of characters and adventures is alive and well. In the story of Ocala, the library serves as the unsung hero of this narrative. It is so much more than a place where books are kept; it serves as a sanctuary for those seeking to learn, to escape, to improve. We must continue to support its staff and their mission to provide a safe, nurturing and welcoming environment for all of Marion County’s citizens to discover the magic of the library. Note: Support your local library! For just $15 a year, you can become a Friend of the Ocala Pub-lic Library by visiting http:// friendsoftheocalalibrary.org. All proceeds fund the adult and chil-dren’s programs. Advocate for increased funding for the library system by the Marion County Board of County Commissioners by calling or emailing them here. (https://www.marionfl.org/ our-county/board-of-countycommissioners).

Two-year-old Oliver Hancock reads a book he picked out with his mother at the Marion County Public Library Headquarters. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Smart growth needed to protect Marion farmland By Busy Shires Guest Columnist The month of April has been designated as Farmland Preservation Month by the Marion County Commission. There are more than 1,200 horse farms in Marion County and the mineral rich soil is the perfect grazing land for horses. As a result, the county has one of the largest horse populations in the United States with over 80,000 horses. That’s one horse for every four people. With the opening of the World Equestrian Center, the number of horses in Marion County will only continue to grow. Along with the growth of the horse industry, Marion County was one of only six counties in the nation that had positive job growth during the pandemic. Projects are underway to add five million square feet of industrial and warehouse space over the next few years. And where there are jobs, there must be housing to support the growing workforce. The Bureau of Business

and Economic Research at the University of Florida reports that Marion County is growing by over 2 percent per year, and added 7,700 residents in 2020. That breaks down to about four households or 21 people each day. With this rate of population growth, over the next 20 years, Marion County’s population is projected to grow by 150,000 residents to about 500,000 people. Growth is good for a community. The opportunity presented to our county is to grow wisely. When residential sprawl threatens farmland and open space, we all lose. Higher taxes, lower quality of life and the loss of community character and culture are all at stake. The key is to determine where, when and how to grow. It’s also important to determine the cost of providing infrastructure, such as roads and schools, for new development. For 30 years, the American Farmland Trust has been researching the cost of providing infrastructure to different land uses with Cost of Community Services

(COCS) studies. The COCS studies show that sprawling urban development costs more to provide services than the property taxes it contributes. While residential development requires expensive public services and infrastructure, privately owned farms do not require significant public infrastructure. The data also consistently shows that industrial land and farmland gives back while residential consumes more than it contributes in taxes. The median cost to provide services for each dollar of tax revenue raised by use: • Business – 27 cents • Agriculture – 36 cents • Residential – $1.15 To help prevent sprawling development and protect the scenic horse farms, it would be helpful if Marion County conducted a Cost of Community Service (COCS) study to help determine how proposed land-use changes are likely to affect the County’s budget. Good planning means saying ‘no’ when zoning change requests in rural areas require comparatively

expensive infrastructure upgrades as compared to more urban locations. Preserving farms and agricultural lands – through good planning – helps protect our environment, quality of life, and most importantly, our rural economy. Horse Farms Forever is working with elected officials and staff at the County to encourage good planning

as Ocala/Marion County grows. We also monitor for any potential roadway and development threats to the Farmland Preservation Area. We encourage you to join our efforts to protect the character and culture that horses and horse farms bring to Marion County. Busy Shires is the Director of Conservation Strategies for Horse Farms Forever, Inc.

APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Tornado touches down on Ocala Sunday night By Brendan Farrell brendan@ocalagazette.com A tornado blew through Ocala on Sunday night cutting a swath of about 2.5 miles near Interstate 75 and West Silver Springs Boulevard, according to the National Weather Service in Jacksonville. The twister tore through a building at 2940 W Silver Springs Blvd. The building, a training facility

for Raney’s Inc., is a few hundred feet from the truck parts retailer’s main warehouse. Al Sandrik, a NWS meteorologist, said that the tornado touched down near Silver Springs Boulevard and headed southeast. For most of the event, the twister had winds of between 60 and 90 miles per hour, but when it hit the Raney’s building in strengthened to wind gusts of 110 miles per hour, which would be a “strong” 1 on the

Joel Raney looks over damage caused by a severe thunderstorm Monday, April 19. Raney said that security footage showed that the building was destroyed at about 7:20 p.m on Sunday, April 18 in a possible tornado touchdown or downburst during Sunday evening’s storm that moved through the Ocala area. Raney’s large warehouse just to the west of The Academy only sustained minor damage with an air vent being ripped off the top of the building. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Damage is shown to Raney’s training building called The Academy that was destroyed in a severe thunderstorm. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale), Sandrik said. “Briefly, it was strong enough to destroy a building,” he said. Joel Raney, Raney’s CEO, received a call from a friend and a text that half of the building was gone. Raney looked at the building’s camera system from his phone and couldn’t believe what he saw. “Sure enough, I saw half the building was missing,” he said. Raney said that the main building

was intact, and his business was up and running Monday morning. They will have to rebuild the academy but he is glad no one was hurt. He was also touched by those who reached out to him after the new spread. “Obviously the most important thing was nobody was over in that building and keeping people safe, for sure,” Raney said. “Everybody’s been really willing to help... it’s really neat how well Ocala responds to things like this.”

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APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Change to emergency management operations discussed

[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

By Carlos Medina carlos@ocalagazette.com

on how to proceed with emergency management operations. The department is most often active during tropical weather events, including hurricanes, but also is responsible for emergency preparedness plans for biological, manmade and technological disasters. The department has worked closely with health officials and the county to coordinate the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The agreement between the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office and the county dates to 1988. Currently, 53 of the 67 Florida counties directly operate their emergency

The Marion County Commission requested a workshop to discuss whether the county’s emergency management department should remain with the sheriff ’s office or return to county control. The issue came up as part of the county’s strategic planning workshop in January as part of the county’s review of agreements with other organizations. On Tuesday, County Administrator Mounir Bouyounes asked the commission for direction

management departments, prompting Bouyounes to bring up a possible change. “I am not recommending either way, but I will be asking for direction from the board on what you want to do,” he said. Commissioner Craig Curry felt they should leave well-enough alone. “The person in charge of emergency management is doing an outstanding job for the community,” Curry said. “I like it the way it is.” But fellow Commissioner Kathy Bryant felt it was time to take a deep dive into the 33-year-old agreement. “The agreement was put into place in 1988 when this county was much,

much smaller and looked much differently,” Bryant said. “Statutorily, this board is responsible for emergency management… I’m not so sure it has to stay where it is right now. If it does, then I think that the agreement needs to be much different, look much different than it looks right now. Expectation needs to be clearly defined.” She praised emergency management for its work during the pandemic but said a few times she felt they were not fully included in decisions. Commissioner Carl Zalak suggested the sheriff submit a detailed plan for emergency management

and that county staff also submit a plan for the commission to consider. Bryant suggested they discuss the plans at a future workshop. The commission voted unanimously to set a workshop to be announced. During the same discussion, the commission also gave Bouyounes direction to formalize an agreement with the sheriff for the operation of the Marion County Jail. The sheriff ’s office has traditionally operated the jail, but the oversight falls to the county commission. Commissioners asked for a more robust operations plan, including detailed capital improvement plans.

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APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

State News DeSantis signs online sales tax bill By Jim Turner News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Ron DeSantis quietly signed into law a plan to require out-of-state online retailers to collect sales taxes on purchases made by Floridians, with the estimated $1 billion a year in revenue going to curb a pair of taxes on Florida businesses. While the proposal (SB 50) was widely supported by Tallahassee business groups, DeSantis’ signature was announced by the governor’s office just before 11:30 p.m. on April 19 in an email without comment. DeSantis faced a Monday deadline for signing, vetoing or letting the online tax bill become law without his

signature. Florida business groups have lobbied for years to require out-of-state retailers to collect and remit sales taxes, saying it is a matter of fairness. But past proposals failed because of concerns by Republicans that they could be viewed as increasing taxes on consumers. Scott Shalley, president and CEO of the Florida Retail Federation, said in a statement that the law creates a “level playing field” for all businesses. The sales-tax revenue will be used to replenish a depleted unemployment trust fund and then will go toward reducing a commercial rent tax. “The tax cut on business rent is an added bonus,” Shalley said. “With this costsavings, Florida businesses

across all sectors of the economy can reinvest in their community, create jobs and grow their businesses.” Retailers that have a “physical presence” in Florida are already required to collect and remit sales taxes, but retailers without such a presence haven’t faced the requirement when they make sales to Floridians, who have been technically supposed to send in sales taxes on their purchases – though few do. Proponents of the bill maintained that requiring collection isn’t a tax increase and that Florida retailers have been hurt by out-ofstate businesses being able to sell products without tacking on taxes. “We’ve created an unfair competitive advantage for foreign players and out-

of-state retailers on the backs of our local retailers,” Senate sponsor Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, said last month. But Democrats argued that working Floridians will be hurt by the proposal because of “regressive” sales taxes. The final package was approved 27-12 by the Senate and 93-24 in the House. “Governor just signed a bill into law to increase your taxes and give the new revenue of $1 billion to businesses,” Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, tweeted after the bill signing was announced. The bill is estimated to produce an estimated $1 billion a year, with the money first earmarked for the unemployment trust fund, which became depleted because of

massive job losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses pay taxes that go into the trust fund and, without another source of money, would have faced higher taxes to replenish the fund. Before the pandemic, businesses paid $7 per employee in unemployment taxes. The rate went to $49 this year and could have jumped to $87. After the fund is replenished, the revenue will be used to make a major cut in the commercial-rent tax, long a target of business lobbying groups. Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, agreed to reduce the commercial rent tax from 5.5 percent to 2 percent.

New protest laws already facing challenge By Dara Kam News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE – Civilrights attorneys are challenging a new set of state laws that establish a crime of “mob intimidation” and enhance penalties for riot-related violence and looting, arguing in a federal lawsuit that the measures unconstitutionally “seek to arrest the peaceful expression of free speech.” The challenge was filed Wednesday, two days after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the controversial package (HB 1), one of his top legislative priorities.

The governor laid out a framework for the legislation in September in response to nationwide protests after the May 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Republican lawmakers gave final approval to the changes last week, ignoring objections by Democrats and civil-rights groups that predicted the proposal would be challenged in court. A non-profit organization known as the Lawyers Matter Task Force and other plaintiffs filed the lawsuit in federal court in Orlando, naming as defendants DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody and Orange

County Sheriff John Mina. The legislation “is a horrendous injustice to Florida citizens and infringes on multiple constitutional rights,” Shannon Ligon, founder of the Lawyers Matter Task Force, said in a prepared statement Wednesday. The laws, among other things, create a new felony crime of “aggravated rioting” that carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a new crime of “mob intimidation,” which makes it unlawful “for a person, assembled with two or more other persons and acting with a common intent, to use force or threaten to use imminent force, to compel or induce, or attempt to compel or induce, another person to do or refrain from doing any act or to assume, abandon, or maintain a particular viewpoint against his or her will.” But the plaintiffs allege the laws expose “peaceful demonstrators and social justice advocacy organizations to civil and/or criminal liability” for other peoples’ conduct. The laws also fail “to adequately describe what conduct or speech will subject an individual or an organization to liability for ‘inciting a riot,’” the lawsuit said. The measures “target protected speech under the First Amendment” and “retaliate against” protesters by imposing “excessive bail, fines, or cruel and unusual punishment as a means of hindering the speech of dissenting opinions,” Orlando lawyer Aaron Carter Bates, who represents the plaintiffs, wrote in the 22-page lawsuit. The legislation “unconstitutionally threatens to impose liability on individuals expressing their rights to free speech regardless of their intent to incite violence, the likelihood that their speech will result in violence, or the imminence of the intended violence,” Bates wrote. In a prepared statement provided to The News Service of Florida, Bates called the measures an

overreach. “The purpose of these laws are nothing more than an attempt to silence the Black Lives Matter movement and other civil organizations by limiting the ability to protest,” he said. “The First Amendment is a pillar of American democracy, and the anti-riot laws clearly strip Floridians of their freedom of speech and right to assemble.” In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs said they planned on holding a peaceful demonstration Saturday to honor Floyd “and other victims of racism and police brutality.” But DeSantis’ signature on the legislation, which went into effect immediately, “effectively barred plaintiffs from exercising their free speech rights because of the resulting penalty of arrest” by Mina and imprisonment by Moody, the lawsuit said. Peaceful protests could be “characterized as a ‘riot’ due solely on the misconduct of one or two individuals – without any intent by plaintiffs,” Bates wrote on behalf of the plaintiffs. “As it relates to the planned demonstration, perceived unlawful violence, acts of force, or arrests may occur, even violence perpetrated by law enforcement,” the lawyer argued, adding that the plaintiffs fear criminal and civil liability though their intent is for the protest to be peaceful. “Plaintiffs must choose between encouraging and advising peaceful demonstrations, on the one hand, and exposing themselves to prosecution and civil liability under the denounced laws, on the other. Refraining from encouraging and advising peaceful demonstrations constitutes self-censorship at a loss of plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights,” the lawsuit alleged. Also, the laws will inhibit other organizers and groups, the lawsuit said. “The potential liability to organizations prevents them from effectively advocating for their views, even though group association enhances

advocacies,” Bates wrote. “In effect, the bill creates a perpetual threat of liability to plaintiffs and others in the event that anyone plaintiffs encourage or assist is arrested at any point in the future. Accordingly, the bill illegally restricts protected speech and association.” The legislation, titled “Combatting Public Disorder,” is not tailored narrowly enough to protect the government’s interests, Bates argued. “Unwarranted violence or public disorder during a demonstration is already illegal under Florida law,” he wrote. “The governments’ reported interest in preventing ‘riots’ is already established by existing Florida criminal statutes.” The lawsuit also alleged that the new measures violate constitutional dueprocess rights because they “invite arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement.” At a ceremonial billsigning event Monday in Polk County, DeSantis boasted that the bill is “the strongest, anti-rioting, prolaw enforcement piece of legislation in the country.” The legislation “strikes the appropriate balance of safeguarding every Floridians’ constitutional right to peacefully assemble, while ensuring that those who hide behind peaceful protest to cause violence in our communities will be punished,” he said. But the plaintiffs’ lawyer argued that the laws are impeding organizers’ ability to follow through on Saturday’s event, which they spent money to plan. The organizers of the rally “are no longer able” to obtain co-sponsors or co-organizers because others are afraid of criminal prosecution, the lawsuit said. “DeSantis’ signing of the bill into law… generated what appears to be the intended effect (but whatever intentional or inadvertent the effect, the bill’s violation of the Constitution happens and continues.) The ability of plaintiffs to conduct peaceful demonstration without fear of retaliation was impaired,” Bates wrote.

APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Bill protecting colleges from COVID-19 lawsuits clears House By Ryan Dailey News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE – The Florida House on Wednesday passed a wide-ranging higher education bill that, in part, would protect colleges and universities from coronavirus-related lawsuits. Sponsor Jackie Toledo, R-Tampa, said the bill (HB 1261), passed in a 92-22 vote, “prioritizes students and families.” Some House Democrats who opposed the bill, however, expressed concerns about offering the legal protections. Under the proposal, public and private colleges and universities would be shielded from lawsuits stemming from campuses being shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic and students being forced to learn online. The state university system’s Board of Governors and the State Board of Education, the governing bodies that oversee higher education, also would be protected from lawsuits under the measure. Class-action lawsuits have been filed seeking to recover money that students paid with the expectation of on-campus learning. Campuses were shut down across the state last year to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “The Legislature finds that during the COVID-19 public health emergency, educational institutions had little choice but to close or restrict access to their campuses in an effort to protect the health of their students, educators, staff, and communities,” an introductory part of the bill

said. The measure would take effect in July and would not apply retroactively to lawsuits already filed. Rep. Tracie Davis, D-Jacksonville, took issue Wednesday with the lawsuit protections. “In this bill, you’re still dealing with some liability issues and some prohibitions that some of us still have problems with, not holding our colleges accountable,” Davis said. The bill also would offer “buy-one-get-one-free” courses to students pursuing degrees in highdemand fields such as science, math and engineering at state universities. “This bill … addresses our state’s workforce gap in STEM fields, while rewarding those who pursue an education that meets our state needs,” Toledo, an engineer, said. “Ensuring a talent pool of engineers in the STEM fields will attract tech companies, construction companies and many other industries that offer highpaying careers.” The proposal also would lead to the university system’s Board of Governors creating a “dashboard” featuring data related to graduates in certain degree fields. The dashboard would include information such as post-graduation median salaries and student-loan debts. “This is to help guide students to make the most informed decision on their education and future,” Toledo said. An amendment to the bill Tuesday removed two provisions

Jackie Toledo [NSF]

Juneteenth, Emancipation Day eyed as legal holidays News Service of Florida A bill that would expand a list of legal holidays in Florida is headed back to the House, after the Senate on Wednesday added two days linked to the end of slavery. The Senate voted 39-0 on Wednesday to approve the amended bill (HB 1553). The House last week unanimously passed the measure to establish a “Victims of Communism Day” that would be observed each Nov. 7. The proposal, in part, would require students to be taught each year about how people have suffered and died under communist regimes. On Wednesday, Sen. Randolph Bracy, R-Ocoee, proposed adding two days to the measure: Emancipation Day on May 20 and Juneteenth Day on June 19. Emancipation from slavery in Florida was proclaimed on May 20, 1865. Juneteenth marks the announcement of the end of slavery reaching all Confederate states. Legal holidays are not paid holidays. Florida has legal holidays marking the birthdays of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and women’s rights activist Susan B. Anthony, Confederate Memorial Day, Good Friday, Flag Day and Pascua Florida Day, which marks the 1513 arrival in Florida of Juan Ponce de Leon.

that drew objections from Democrats. One would have allowed high-performing students who live outside Florida to receive cheaper in-state tuition rates if they have grandparents who live in Florida. The so-called “grandparent tuition waiver” proposal is in a separate bill (HB 1273), sponsored by Rep. Patt Maney, R-Shalimar, which was approved Monday by the House Education & Employment Committee. That measure is ready for consideration by the full House. Another provision taken out the bill Tuesday would have placed new eligibility requirements on a financial aid program for students at private colleges and universities. The program, known as Effective Access to Student Education, or EASE, helps about 41,000 students pay tuition. The Senate is weighing liability protections for colleges and universities as part of a proposal (SB 7070) that is ready for consideration by the full chamber. The Senate bill, however, also includes protections for public and private schools from prekindergarten through 12th grade. The measure was approved by the Rules Committee in a 9-7 vote Tuesday, receiving pushback from some Democrats. “We’re now tilting the scale of justice in an unfair way by doing this bill,” Senate Minority Leader Gary Farmer said. Bill sponsor Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, defended the protections that would be afforded to education institutions, saying they rendered the services promised to students. “The schools did provide the services. Although the pandemic created challenges for everyone, specifically universities, at the end of the day they did have school, they did have classes. Yeah, some of it was virtual. But the tuition and fees is the only thing that’s covered here,” Gruters said. The Senate could take up the proposal as early as Thursday. The Senate this month passed a financial-aid measure (SB 86) that, in part, would require the creation of a career dashboard in the university system.

House passes bill expanding school vouchers By Ryan Dailey News Service of Florida The Florida House on Wednesday passed a bill that would significantly expand eligibility for the state’s school-voucher programs. The measure (HB 7045) was approved in a 79-36 vote, largely along party lines. In part, it would consolidate the Gardiner and McKay scholarship programs, which serve students with special needs, with the Family Empowerment Scholarship program, which serves a broader population of low- to middle-income families. Also, students receiving Family Empowerment Scholarship vouchers could spend the money on such things as digital devices and internet expenses in addition to private school tuition. Students with special needs who receive vouchers could spend money on a wider range of expenses. A current requirement that students receiving vouchers be previously enrolled in public schools would be removed under the bill. The measure would also increase the maximum income eligibility to receive vouchers to 375% of the federal poverty level. That means a family of four making nearly $100,000 a year would qualify. In addition, the value of state-backed vouchers would increase to 100% of the perstudent funding amount for public schools, from the current 95%. Several Democrats argued Wednesday that private schools taking vouchers aren’t held to the same accountability standards as public schools. “I’m not going to argue vouchers with you. I’m just asking right now, have some level of accountability. Make sure children are getting the education they deserve,” Rep. Robin Bartleman, D-Weston, said. Bill sponsor Randy Fine, R-Brevard County, has repeatedly argued that private schools must compete and would risk losing students if they perform poorly. “One group believes that education should be accountable to government. I reject that. I believe that education should be accountable to parents,” Fine said. Representatives Susan Valdes, D-Tampa, Matt Willhite, D-Wellington, Michael Grieco, D-Miami Beach, and James Bush, D-Miami, crossed party lines to join the Republican majority in voting for the bill. Rep. Anika Omphroy, D-Lauderdale Lakes, also voted in favor of the bill after the roll call, which means her vote was not included in the official tally. A similar Senate bill (SB 48) is ready for consideration by the Senate. Senate sponsor Manny Diaz Jr., R-Hialeah, filed a proposed amendment Monday that would align the Senate proposal with the House bill.

Bill blocking some social media bans advances News Service of Florida A Senate committee this week narrowly approved a measure that would crack down on social-media companies, an issue that is a priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Appropriations Committee voted 10-9 to move forward with the bill (SB 7072), which includes barring social-media companies from removing political candidates from the companies’ platforms. Companies that violate the prohibition could face fines of $100,000 a day for statewide candidates and $10,000 a day for other candidates. The proposal also would require social-media companies to publish standards about issues such as blocking users and apply the standards consistently. But critics said they think the bill is unconstitutional, including violating First Amendment rights, and goes against Republicans’ focus on limited government. “This is a big government bill,” Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, said. But bill sponsor Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, said the bill focuses on social-media companies that are “acting as monopolies.” He said he has always been a free-market proponent. “What I say to you is that trust busting started with Republicans,” Rodrigues said, citing former President Theodore Roosevelt. DeSantis made the issue a priority after decisions by Twitter and Facebook to block former President Donald Trump from their platforms in January after Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol to try to prevent

certification of President Joe Biden’s election victory. A House version of the bill (HB 7013) is also under consideration.

A10

APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

From Panhandling, page A1

[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

those in vehicles. According to the complaint, to enforce the ordinance, a police officer must examine the content of a

person’s speech to determine if they are soliciting. “We value free speech in this country and in Florida. Just

as individuals have the right to discuss politics, religion, the weather, or education in public spaces, individuals have the right to ask for help in public spaces,” Jacqueline Azis, a staff attorney with the ACLU of Florida, said in a release. “Time and time again, courts have recognized our right to ask for charitable assistance. Ocala’s law is not unique, and it is as unconstitutional as other similar ordinances that courts have struck down throughout Florida and throughout this country.” The lawsuit further challenges the City’s current panhandling ordinance, which was revised on Nov. 6, 2018. In 2018, the city made additions to the ordinance making it unlawful to panhandle within 20 feet of business entrances and exits; bus stops and other public transportation facilities; ATMs and similar machines; any parking lot, parking garage parking

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meter or parking pay station operated by the city; public restrooms and gas pumps. It also prohibits panhandling after dark and expands the definition of “aggressive panhandling,” which includes obstructing, blocking or impeding an individual or group of people from passing by a panhandler. “Ocala’s ordinances prohibiting people from asking for help are unconstitutional under the First and Fourteenth Amendments,” lead counsel Chelsea Dunn of Southern Legal Counsel said in a release. “Every individual in this case has been subject to arrest based on the content of their speech. They have been jailed and assessed fines for acts as harmless as asking a stranger for a cigarette.” Rob Batsel, the city’s lawyer, said they had not received the lawsuit as of Tuesday afternoon. He also said the city’s policy is not to comment on pending lawsuits.

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APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

High-Stakes Bidding Ocala Gazette Two horses sold for seven-figures during the opening sessions of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales spring auction of 2-year-old thoroughbreds this week. A colt by stallion Quality Road, consigned by Ocala’s de Meric Sales, sold for $1.5 million on Wednesday to Speedway Stables to lead the first two days of the four-day sale. The auction’s second-highest selling horse also sold on Wednesday. A filly by the stallion Arrogate sold for $1 million to Katsumi Yoshida, who bought

the horse through an online bid. Marion County-based Mayberry Farm consigned the filly. The Ocala sales company introduced online bidding last year in the face of the COVD-19 pandemic. The option allowed buyer to purchase horses without having to travel to the sales pavilion. Yoshida’s purchases was the most expensive horse to sell via the internet. On Tuesday, during the first day of spring sale, a son of Gun Runner, consigned by Eisaman Equine, sold for $850,000. The sale continues through Friday. Check ocalagazette.com for the latest update on the auction.

Jose D’Angelo, left, and his father, Francisco D’Angelo, center, both of Miami, look on as Gil Martinez of S B M Training and Sales, leads a filly by Street Sense, around the outside walking ring at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company on April 20. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Hip 163, a bay filly by Noble Mission, is sold for $285,000 on the first day of the April Two Year Olds in Training sale. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Guillermo Ordonez leads a gray or roan colt by Gun Runner, through the Eisaman Equine barn area on April 20. The colt sold for $850,000. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

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APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Sports

CF rallies past St. Johns River St. John’s River State College’s J.J. Sousa (9) scores as the ball comes out of College of Central Florida’s catcher Miguel Useche’s (13) glove. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

By Brendan Farrell brendan@ocalagazette.com The College of Central Florida and St. Johns River State College were both playing cagey on Monday. Neither team was throwing its best pitchers, and both teams were trying their best to hide their best stuff from the opponent. With a 4-3 win against the Vikings, CF secured the third seed in the Mid-Florida Conference tournament, where it will face Palatka in a winnertake-all game on Saturday at Seminole State College. The winner will face Seminole in a best-of-three series for a spot in the state tournament. The Patriots are 3-1 against St. Johns this

season. “We didn’t give up any secrets today knowing that we’re probably going to play each other Saturday,” Pats coach Marty Smith said. “We feel like we can go in there with confidence, and if we play well, we’ll be OK.” Starter Nick Love cruised through the first two innings, but his defense hung him out to dry in the third. With one out in the inning, right fielder Tre Hondras muffed a fly ball, resulting in a double. An RBI single from Chase Malloy put St. Johns on top, and Malloy ended up taking second and third on a wild pitch. He scored the Vikings’ second run on a single to left. St. Johns extended the lead to three on a series of

mistakes from the Patriots. Center fielder Tre Hondras dropped the second fly ball of the inning for CF, allowing runner JJ Sousa to advance. The throw home beat Sousa, but CF catcher Miguel Useche dropped the ball while trying to make the tag to make it 3-0. With one out in the bottom of the fourth, CF shortstop Nick Calero was drilled in the head by a pitch but stayed in the game. Two batters later, third baseman Jeslyn Whitehead lined a hit that deflected off the St Johns third baseman’s glove and rolled into left field. Calero scored on the play to reduce the lead to 3-1. CF relievers Seth Baugh, Parker Seay and Alfredo Caraballo held the Vikings off the scoreboard for the

next three innings and only gave up one hit between the three of them. The Pats finally rallied in the seventh inning for three runs to take the lead. They led off the inning with a double and a hit-by-pitch before left fielder Garrett Wallace drove both runners home with a double to tie the game. Kilpatrick made up for his mistake in the field earlier in the game by giving CF a 4-3 lead on an RBI single. “Garrett Wallace has been our player of the month for the last six weeks,” Smith said. “The guy gets big hits for us every game, hits the ball hard, makes tough outs. Put him in the middle of the lineup, and he’s been completely consistent for the last

month.” The Pats dug deep into their bullpen – no pitcher other than Love was on the mound for more than two innings – but redshirt sophomore Logan Clayton finished off the Vikings with 1.2 scoreless innings. CF’s pitchers collectively had a solid day on the mound, as none of the Vikings’ three runs were earned. The six pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts, four hits and one walk. “The defensive letdown today, you know, I don’t feel too good about, but I do feel good about pitchers picking us up and making big pitches to get us out of innings and us scoring enough runs to win to cover up for those mistakes,” Smith said.

Forest cruises past Gainesville By Brendan Farrell brendan@ocalagazette.com The last time the Forest’s baseball team set foot on the baseball field before Tuesday was April 16 in a 17-2 win over Dunnellon. Thanks to the rain that pelted Ocala over the weekend and through Tuesday, the Wildcats were limited to exercises in the batting cages and bullpen sessions. While they were sloppy at times on Tuesday evening, the hiatus didn’t matter, as the Wildcats blew the game wide open in the fifth inning with five runs

to run away with an 11-2 win over Gainesville (5-17). Forest improves to 16-8 on the season with one game left before the district tournament next week. “A little sluggish to start, but it’s been a weird week I think to start with the rain yesterday, rain all day today, but yeah, I mean, not bad, though,” Forest coach Jed Yancey said. “They know not to ask if we’re going to play or not. So, the plan was to play all day – for them at least.” Forest jumped out in front early with a three-run first inning. A single, a walk and a couple of stolen bases put two runners in scoring position to set up a two-

Forest’s Tyler Thomas (11) celebrates on his way back to the dugout after scoring against Gainesville. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Forest’s Tyler Thomas (11) slides into second base against Gainesville’s Jesus Canizalez (16). [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

RBI double from junior Tyler Thomas. The junior then scored on a Hurricanes error to make it 3-0. The Wildcats tallied another run in the bottom of the second to take a commanding 4-0 lead, but Gainesville made it a game again with two runs in the top of the third. However, Forest made it a three-run game again in the bottom of the fourth. Forest’s offense then exploded in the bottom of the fifth. The Wildcats loaded the bases and then freshman Kaden Smith drew a walk to score another run. A wild

pitch plated another run and put two runners in scoring position. Junior Aaron Stelogeannis put the game out of reach with a two-RBI single to make it 9-2. After a passed ball let another runner from third touch home plate to make it 10-2, Gainesville finally escaped the inning. The Wildcats brought home another run in the bottom of the sixth to complete the blowout. “Okay night swinging the bats, really bad on the bases, we’ve got a lot to do there,” Yancey said. “But yeah, we’ll clean that up.”

APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

People, Places & Things

Arnette House student Dylan Fox, 15, with the tiny house he helped build at the Arnette House. The house is complete and will be donated to Veterans Services of Marion County. The house will be used for temporary veterans housing, and was built mainly with student labor and designed by vocational instructor David Ulloa. The project took a year to build. [Alan Youngblood/Special to the Ocala Gazette]

Tiny House – Big Benefit Students in a vocational education program have built a small dwelling that soon will house a homeless veteran. By Susan Smiley-Height Ocala Gazette

s with many projects, the pandemic threw a big wrench into plans for the tiny house built by students in the Arnette House Inc.’s vocational learning program. Initial plans called for the small dwelling to be raffled off during a public event. Then the plan changed to sell the tiny home to recoup some of the agency’s fundraising losses due to COVID-19. Now, to give back to the community, it will provide housing for a homeless veteran. Over the past 12 months, the endeavor merged into a partnership between Arnette House Inc., Marion County Veterans Services, Marion County Veterans Helping Veterans USA, the Marion County Veterans Council and the VFW Veterans Village. Arnette House Inc. provides programs for youth ages 6 to 17 and their families in the 5th Judicial Circuit, which includes Marion, Lake, Sumter, Citrus and Hernando counties. The organization was founded in 1979 by Vernon and Sara Arnette after their son Gary died of a drug overdose. It has expanded to include an emergency shelter, educational center, transitional living program and foster care group homes. The vocational program is funded by The Sexauer Foundation, which provides grants for charitable, educational and healthrelated or religious purposes, with a focus on children. Cindy Moore, Arnette House, Inc.’s community outreach and development coordinator, said the vocational program, which began a few years ago, teaches

basic car maintenance and carpentry skills. “They started out with bird houses, dog houses, Adirondack chairs and pool benches, then built two 8-foot by 10-foot sheds,” she said of the carpentry students. “They built a mini-camper that was raffled off last year and this past year the instructors decided to go big and build a tiny house. Most of the kids were of high school age and attended school at the Arnette House Learning Center. There were around 50 to 60 boys and girls involved. They learned how to use power tools and hand tools, how to measure three times and cut once, and about electrical, painting and plumbing.” Moore said women from the Chatham Quilters group made a quilt for the home and curtains. They told her about a place where several tiny houses are being used to house homeless veterans. “The next morning, I spoke with our management team and we all agreed we should donate the tiny house to a veteran in need as a way to give back to the community that has supported us for the past 40 years,” she said. Craig Ham, a retired U.S. Army colonel, is president of the Marion County Veterans Council, which has more than 50 member organizations that represent over 42,000 veterans in the county. “We offered to take ownership of the tiny house through the council and find a place to set it up,” he said. “The VFW Veterans Village has spaces for recreational vehicles, and the tiny house is on wheels. They will provide hookups for water and electric. And, if that first resident leaves, then we can provide housing to another veteran. It just makes good sense.” Ham said Jeffrey Askew,

director of Marion County Veterans Services, and Hank Whittier, executive director of Veterans Helping Veterans, will select the veteran who will reside in the tiny house. “I am more than happy to know that the students at Arnette House are learning marketable skills and they have a heart for veterans,” Askew said. “I thank God for those who care for veterans and their families who answered to call to protect our great nation.” The VFW Veterans Village, located in Fort McCoy, opened in 1991 and spans 42-acres. It is home to veterans, their spouses and widows or widowers. The venue is owned and operated by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Florida and is not subsidized by federal, state or local agencies. The director is retired U.S.

Army lieutenant colonel Alcides “Al” Lugo Jr. Lugo said the village recently became eligible for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program, or HUD-VASH. The program combines HUD housing vouchers with VA services to help homeless veterans and their families find and sustain permanent housing. “With the vouchers, a veteran could rent here,” he said. “We’re like a cruise ship on land. We provide everything from toilet paper to meals to housekeeping and cable TV.” He said they are excited about the tiny house and how we it can help a veteran. “A lot of people have supported our mission, and not only veteran groups,” he

added. “We are grateful to Arnette House and are glad the students are learning valuable skills.” The keys to the tiny house will be presented to a veteran during an event on July 1st at the Marion County Veterans Memorial Park in Ocala. In the meantime, there are still ways the community can get involved in the project. “We are going to be taking the tiny house around the community for everyone to take a tour before the July 1st hand-off and we are asking for donations for the vocational program and other programs at Arnette House,” Moore said. “We also are in need of sponsors for the tiny house, as we hope to have it stocked and decorated for its first occupant. Donations can be made through our website, www.arnettehouse.org.”

Arnette House vocational instructor David Ulloa looks over the tiny house he designed. [Alan Youngblood/Special to the Ocala Gazette]

For information on veteran services: Marion County Veterans Services, marionfl.org/government/departments-facilities-offices/veterans-services, (352) 671-8422 VFW Veterans Village, vfwvillage.org, (352) 236-0823 Marion County Veterans Council, on Facebook, (352) 843-2357 Veterans Helping Veterans, vhvusa.org, (352) 433-2320

APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Remembering McKenzie Golf tournament honors Ocala couple’s baby girl By Ainslie Lee ainslie@ocalagazette.com Ryan and Kait Gray had only been in Ocala for six months when their world turned upside down. Twenty-nine weeks pregnant with their second daughter, McKenzie, Kait Gray suffered a placenta abruption which occurs when the placenta separates from the inner wall of the uterus before birth. Kait Gray was rushed to the hospital while neighbors watched over her year-old daughter, Palmer, until Ryan Gray could get home. Due to blood loss, Kait Gray doesn’t remember much about her ride in the ambulance but remembers not expecting the baby to survive. Her thoughts were with Palmer and remembers not wanting to leave her behind. She asked paramedic not to let her die. “Let’s just figure this out,” Kait Gray remembered thinking. “Let’s just keep me alive.” The next thing she recalled was waking up in a hospital room at Munroe

Regional Medical Center, where she learned that McKenzie was alive. “She was actually pretty tall and big,” she said. Born about 11 weeks premature, McKenzie was transferred to UF Health Shands in Gainesville where she lived for three days. Kait Gray, still in the hospital in Ocala, got the call at 1 a.m. that McKenzie was fading. She persuaded nurses to let her travel to Gainesville to be with her daughter during the baby’s final moments. “That girl lived another eight hours,” Kait Gray said with a smile. “We got to sit with her, sleep next to her. We got to hold her, have our time. And then she passed on her own. Just her and I and our family in a really small room. “And then life was never the same.” At first it was difficult for the Grays, but they found comfort in the Ocala community. Soon, they wanted to do something to honor their late daughter. Both part of the golf community, Ryan and Kait Gray decided an annual golf

Honorable Mentions

event would be the perfect way to celebrate McKenzie’s life. Before taking the job as director of golf at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club, Ryan Gray played professionally throughout the Philadelphia and North Florida PGA sections, while his wife played college golf at Loyola-Chicago. After McKenzie’s funeral, which was held at Golden Ocala, hundreds showed interest in a golf tournament honoring McKenzie’s memory. “It was just a huge turnout,” Kait Gray said. “Everyone signed up and then you fast forward and three years it’s a celebrity golf tournament. We’re our own 501c3... it’s just blown up into this lifeform. Which, it won’t replace her, but it’s the second-best thing we could do.” Through the first two “McKenzie’s Moment” golf tournaments, both hosted at Golden Ocala, the Grays raised $235,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Central Florida, which offers a place to stay for families of patients

Ryan and Kait Gray [Submitted]

at Shands. The third annual McKenzie’s Moment golf tournament is set for April 25-26. And this year, the money raised will stay in Ocala. McKenzie’s Moment kicks off on Sunday evening with a pairings party, where teams of four will learn which celebrity they will play with. Teams bid on celebrities prior to the event. This year’s tournament will feature 32 celebrities, including Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, Ken Griffey Jr. and Florida Gators football head coach Dan Mullen.

The celebrity lineup also includes a slew of golf professionals, including Ocala’s Ted Potter. Teams will play on Monday at Golden Ocala. Benefiting from this year’s tournament will be four local organizations, including Project Hope, Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection, Never Say Never and AdventHealth. “It’s not necessarily something that’s ever going to be just a golf tournament,” Ryan Gray said. “Our goal is to make it a year-round charity with events going on where people are raising money for Ocala and charity.”

Marion County names employee of the quarter The Marion County Commission recognized the county employee of the quarter during its regular meeting on Tuesday. More than half a dozen county employees were nominated for the award which recognizes those who go above and beyond their duties. Justin McClure of the county’s animal services department was named the current employee of the quarter. McClure, who joined animal services three years ago, was recognized for his initiative in mastering a software mapping program and helping to train other employees in its use.

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By Beth Henley

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APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Creative’s Corner

From left: “Lady In The Water,” acrylic, “Fireworks When You Walked In”, mixed media and acrylic and “Stargazer,” acrylic, by artist Emmeline Basulto. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Creating Connections Abstract artist finds real opportunity in Ocala By Lisa McGinnes Ocala Gazette When artist Emmeline Basulto arrived in Ocala last summer, the New York City native was immediately impressed at the breadth of Ocala’s art scene. Now, she’s part of that scene with several of her works on display in “The Audience” exhibit at the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Administration Building and the Eighth Avenue Adult Activity Center. Her painting “There’s Hope Inside,” which draws the viewer into the eye-like center, was selected for the “Spectrum of Creativity” student and emerging artist competition which opened April 21 at Ocala City Hall. “This is the year for me in Ocala,” she said with a smile, adding that she was amazed by the number of opportunities for artists in the community. Basulto, who relocated here to be near family, believes that art can help us make human connections in a world where advances in technology have led to isolation. That’s why she combined her first name with robot to come up with her artist’s name: Embot.

“The Audience Is Smiling” acrylic

“Phones started taking over,” she said. “I felt like everybody was becoming robotic. It was like ‘leave me alone, don’t talk to me.’ Nobody really opens themselves up to each other. You can’t really connect with people like that.” It’s a different world than a decade ago when she was a teenager sketching on the train, she said. “I would doodle, and people would walk up to me and say, ‘That looks really good,’ or give me some feedback,” she remembered. It was the encouragement Artist Emmeline Basulto poses with one of her acrylic paintings, “Madelaine’s Painting,” in her “The Audience” exhibit that is on of a stranger who display at the Ocala Recreation and Parks Department office. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] prompted Basulto to become an artist at 17. first painting in acrylic,” she paintings represent met will look and see “I was doodling on a said. “I was able to express something from deep within something of them in piece of paper, and he myself. It just poured out herself. my painting,” she said. “I was like, ‘Wow, that looks of me, and I was able to “If there’s a specific would hope that they could really good. You should feel free. Once I started message that my soul wants relate and find something keep going.’ And literally, painting, I understood that to get at, it just flows out,” in themselves in my art – because he said that, I kept there was this hidden talent she said. “One of the things something that brings them going. Eventually, one of inside of me that was just that helped me evolve as an closer to their own truth, my coworkers said, ‘You waiting to escape.” artist was listening to myself their own empowerment. should add color,’ I did my All of Basulto’s abstract and believing in myself.” We are really just human And often, people who beings trying to get to know see her art connect with her ourselves, and the best part on a deeper level. is when we do it together. “People I have never That, to me, is real unity.”

APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Then....and Now

A photo of the then recently completed Marion County courthouse is seen in this 1965 archive photo. The new courthouse replaced the cramped turn-of-the-century structure that stood on what is now the downtown square. A concourse at the eastern-facing main entrance of the building featured a fountain and benches. To the right is the federal courthouse, now known as the Golden-Collum Memorial Federal Building and United States Courthouse. That structure opened in 1961. A 2021 view of the Marion County Judicial Center shows the extensive additions to the original courthouse. The latest addition opened in 2010 and the main entrance is located on the south side. That addition followed another done in 1991. The original 1965 building is still there, but it is largely obstructed by the additions to the east and a parking garage built to the west. The federal courthouse is still there but is also now obscured by the judicial center. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

WORD FIND

This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any direction but always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when you have completed the puzzle, there will be 25 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

Roll up! Roll up!

Solution: 25 Letters

Farce Fold Funny Gate Girls Graft Horses Jocular Joker Josh Jumbo Lights Lions Loony

Marquee Noise Pirouette Ringmaster Riotous Roar Show Take Tame Thrill Trip Whimsical Witty Zany

he trapeze act is a favourite

Adagio Antics Arena Arrow Bands Big top Cage Cats Circus Clem Crier Droll Dwarfs Event

APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Marion County’s inmate farm its own bumper crop [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

By Ainslie Lee ainslie@ocalagazette.com You’d be hard pressed to find a meal for 60 cents. But there are times during peak growing season when meals at the Marion County jail can cost just that, thanks to the crops and livestock raised at the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office Inmate Work Farm. With inmate meal prices at other institutions around the state and country costing upwards of $3 per meal, the savings add up to serious scratch considering the nearly 5,000 meals Marion County serves every day. Located on 54 acres at the corner of Maricamp and Baseline roads, the farm started more than 20 years ago under Sheriff Ed Dean. Since that time, it has proved a money saver for Marion County’s taxpayers, while providing several benefits for inmates who work the farm. The farm produces squash, zucchini, sweet corn, cabbage, green beans and peanuts in the spring. In the fall, the rotation

includes sweet potatoes and turnip greens. Those who volunteer to work on the farm can attend classes on row crop production, which teaches them the basics of soil science. They also have to complete a worker’s protection course required by federal law for those who work in fields treated with pesticides. Upon completion of the course inmates earn a certificate, which is valid for a year and can be used for other agricultural jobs once released. “The bonus here is that schoolhouse,” said Sgt. Paul Bloom of the sheriff ’s office. “These guys go in there and learn something. These guys have never done anything like this in their life. It’s all new to them.” According to Bloom, some released inmates have left the work farm and started a garden at home. The farm is home to more than 2,000 chickens at any given time. Currently, only one of the farm’s two chicken houses is in use and is home to about 2,000 Rhode Island Whites, which produce

Joell Fincher collects eggs inside the hen house. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

about 1,000 eggs a day. One inmate worker mans the chicken house, keeping it clean and collecting eggs. But the job isn’t for everyone, said Sgt. Evan Land, who supervises the work farm. Some inmates are scared of the chickens, he said. “I ain’t working in the chicken house,” Land said inmates tell him. As eggs are collected, they’re taken to a washing station where they’re bleached, washed and stored in a cooler until they’re taken to the jail. Robert Henry calls himself a “professional eggwasher” after three months of working on the farm. Henry was booked in December and won’t be released until late May. But he’s thankful for his time on the farm. “It’s better than sitting in there all day,” Henry said of the jail. “Makes the days go by faster.” When Henry stumbles across cracked eggs, he sets them aside to help feed the 35 hogs that also live on the farm. On top of rejected eggs, the pigs eat the inmates’

leftovers. Black, 400-pound barrels containing leftovers from the day before are brought to the farm, where the food scraps are heated over a fire each morning, killing the bacteria before being fed to the swine. “Nothing is wasted,” Land said. Hogs are raised on the farm until they are ready for slaughter. The sheriff ’s office has a partnership with the Manatee County Sheriff ’s Office, which has a similar work farm. Manatee County can process meat at its facility in Bradenton, giving Marion County a costeffective way to have its livestock slaughtered and prepared for the kitchen. The work farm also raises cattle, some of which go to feed inmates. Others are sold at market every October. Proceeds from the sales go to the county commission, which often give it back to the sheriff ’s office. The cattle processed for inmate meals is all ground into hamburger. “We’re not cutting filets off of them or

anything. Everything is ground,” Bloom said. “The hamburgers over there? It’s the whole cow. T-bone, filet... all that meat is ground. So, the hamburgers at the jail are pretty good.” Keeping costs low has caught the attention of other law enforcement agencies. According to Land, the Putnam County Sheriff ’s Office plans a tour of the local farm. And Marion County is eyeing new property. Anywhere from 50 to 60 of the farm’s cows are kept on grazing land near the Ocala International Airport on property leased from Ocala. Because of increased development in the area, the sheriff is looking for additional grazing land. Overall, the farm has proven a wise investment for both the taxpayers and inmates. “It was a good vision that (Dean) had,” Bloom said. “It’s saved the taxpayers so much money. Every year we look at it, but it’s in the millions of dollars that are saved by what we’re able to do here.”

APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Hundreds of egg laying Rhode Island White chickens. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Cattle are shown in a field at the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office Inmate Work Farm. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Shane Styers weeds around cabbage. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Robert Henry washes eggs. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Sgt. Evan Land describes how hogs are raised. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Obituary Enrique Sotomayor, 86, went home to be with his Lord on April 11, 2021 surrounded by family in Ocala, Florida. Enrique was born in Arequipa. Peru. He met his wife, Emilia, of 48 years in New York City in 1964, two years after both immigrated to America. They married in 1966 and began a family for themselves in 1968. Enrique lived a life that exemplified him and in doing so left a legacy for all that knew and loved him. The doors to his home and his heart were always open. He will be remembered for his unconditional love, his gentle spirit, his forgiving nature, his inner strength, his unwavering devotion to family and friends, his generosity, and his love for both Peruvian and American culture. Enrique and Emilia moved to Ocala Palms in 2005, where he was a devoted member of the Ocala Palms Worship Service. Devoted to God, during his time in Ocala, he attended services at both Queen of Peace then Blessed Trinity Catholic churches.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Fortunata Rodriguez Salazar; father, Mariano Lino Sotomayor Morales; and his wife, Emilia Sotomayor. Enrique is survived by sons, John Sotomayor and Alexander Sotomayor. A service will be held at Roberts of Ocala Funerals & Cremations, 606 SW 2nd Ave., Ocala, on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. A procession will immediately follow to his final resting place, The Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens, 5050 SW 20th St, Ocala, with a Committal Ceremony at 2 p.m. Everyone who knew him or the family and/or wish to celebrate his life is encouraged to attend. Arrangements are being handled by John and Alexander Sotomayor, and Roberts of Ocala.

Obituaries may be submitted at ocalagazette.com

Bob Wines, Ocala nursery owner, dies at 79 By Carlos Medina carlos@ocalagazette.com Robert “Bob” Wines Jr., who took over and expanded the namesake nursery established by his father in the 1950s, died on April 7. He was 79. Wines died quietly after a brief illness, according to Laurie Williams, his business partner. A native of Marion County, Wines took over the operation of Bob Wines Camellia Gardens & Nursery in the 1970s. He eventually expanded into landscaping, specializing in tree sales and planting. He also expanded the nursery’s inventory to include more ornamental plants, vegetables and fruits. All the while, he cared for and added to the extensive camelia gardens started by his father on the property at 2610 SE 38th St. “He loved flowers. He loved plants. He loved the

Tea Time Interfaith Emergency Services recently hosted the 2021 Ladies High Tea event to benefit homeless women and children. The event raised $16,000 for the organization’s homeless shelter. Top: Karla Grimsley, Interfaith CEO, sips tea during the event held on April 17 at the Ocala Hilton. Bottom left: A tea service is shown at one of the tables. Bottom right: Barbara Grimshaw, an Interfaith volunteer, puts the finishing touches on Zetta Corkins’ table ahead of the event. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

community,” said Williams, who joined the nursery in 1986. But at first, Wines set out on a different career path. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi in the late 60s, he returned to Marion County and started teaching elementary school reading. But he eventually took over the business his father started in 1952. The nursery grew out of the senior Wines’ love of camellias, which he collected and tended to after work at his boat and marine supply business. “He remembers his father working late into the evening out there with the camellias under lights,” Williams said recalling stories told by Wines Jr. While Wines Sr. eventually sold the boating business, he kept the nursey, which is now nestled in a residential neighborhood that grew up around it. “This was their house.

This is where they lived,” Williams said of the property. Still, the nursey retains a deceptive appearance from the entrance. Once inside, however, there are more than five acres to explore. “It’s like a hidden gem,” Williams said. Wines Jr. enjoyed visiting the nursery as often as he could. He would ride his golf cart around talking to the customers, offering advice or just a good word. “He loved the customers. He loved the people. He loved being out here around everybody,” Williams said. Wines also loved Lake Weir. He was an avid water skier and an accomplished slalom skier. “When he was young, he lived on that lake during the summers,” Williams said. Wines also gave back, she said. For the last three years, he helped a group that fed the homeless every day in Ocala. “He was a very strong,

Bob Wines Jr. [Submitted]

stubborn man with a very big heart that loved everybody. He was an amazing person,” Williams said. “We didn’t just look at him as a boss or the owner, he was our friend and he truly cared about all of us.” Williams said the plan is to continue with the business, which now includes Wines’ daughter

Maryanne Nowlan. “The nursery will stay here. This is his legacy. There’s no place like this around here,” she said. Wines was preceded in death by his father in 2013. Survivors include his mother, Adena Wines; daughters, Nowlan and Bobbye Lynn Wines’ and a granddaughter.

APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Now -7/3

Community Magnificent Magnets

Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave. 10am-4pm The new exhibit offers opportunities to discover the awesome science of magnetism and how it is used in everyday life as well as cutting-edge experiments. Open Tuesday-Saturday. Visit mydiscoverycenter.org for more information.

4/23 The Villages Polo -5/23

The Villages Polo Club, 703 N Buena Vista Blvd, The Villages 3pm Fridays, 1pm Sundays Watch competitive matches from the club’s elevated two-level stadium with optional tailgating. Visit thevillagespoloclub.com for tickets and more information.

4/23

Marion Oaks Farmers Market

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

Magnificent Magnet photo courtesy of City of Ocala

4/27

Networking University

Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership, 310 SE Third St. 11:30am-1pm CEP partners are invited to learn networking skills from local experts. Visit cepocala.com for registration and more information.

4/23

Marion County Friday Market

4/23 -25

Orange Blossom Express Miniature Horse Show

4/27

Power Hour Book Club

4/23 -25

Florida Cutting Horse Association Show

4/27

WinePO

4/23 -26

The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall

4/27

Autism in the Workplace

4/23 -24

Marion County Father-Daughter Dance

4/27

CF International Film Series

4/23

Creepy Crawly Fuzzy Cute Part 2

4/28

1 Million Cups Ocala

4/28

Forest Readers Book Club

4/28

Old Citrus County Courthouse Heritage Museum Tour

4/28

Wednesday Midday Market

4/28

Marion Business Advantage

4/24 4/24

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

Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road 8am Admission is free to watch miniature horses compete in halter, driving, obstacle and hunter/jumper events. Visit orangeblossommhc.org for more information.

Florida Horse Park, 11008 S Highway 475 8am This competition, which requires horse and rider to work together to herd cattle, is free for spectators. Visit floridacuttinghorseassociation.com for more information.

Crystal Harley Davidson, 1147 S Suncoast Parkway, Homosassa 9am-6pm Friday, Saturday, Monday; 10am-4pm Sunday The only local stop for the 3/5 scale replica memorial wall’s spring tour. Visit travelingwall.us for more information.

World Equestrian Center, 1390 NW 80th Ave. 6pm Friday, 4 & 7pm Saturday The annual event hosted by Ambleside School of Ocala offers three session of music and dancing, crafts, snacks and photo booth. Visit father-daughterdance.com for more information.

Fort King National Historic Site, 3925 E Fort King St. 7-9pm All ages are invited to a nighttime spider hunt. Visit ocalafl. org/recpark for more information.

City of Ocala Special Waste Amnesty Day

NE 14th Street at NE Eighth Avenue 9am-2pm Residents may dispose of household hazardous waste and electronics. Call (352) 351-6697 for more information.

Earthfest

Tuscawilla Park, 829 NE Sanchez Ave. 9am-2pm Celebrate Arbor Day with free family activities including tree climbing, a rock wall, youth fishing derby, butterfly encounter, yoga, archery, live music, crafts and food trucks. Visit ocalafl. org/earthfest for more information.

Ocala Downtown Market

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

Brownwood Farmers Market

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

Belleview Public Library, 13145 SE County Highway 484, Belleview 4:30pm Join a discussion of Tara Westover’s “Educated.” Call (352) 438-2500 to register.

The Keep Downtown, 36 SW First Ave. 5:30-7:30pm Young Professionals Ocala’s monthly social gathering. Call (352) 629-8051 for more information.

Virtual 7pm Transitions Life Center will host author Sam Farmer discussing strategies for workplace success and reasons why it makes good sense for companies to pursue workplace neurodiversity. Visit tlcocala.org for more information.

Ocala Drive-In, 4850 S Pine Ave. 7:30pm The College of Central Florida’s film series features a free screening of “Night of the Living Dead,” the 1968 zombie thriller with social commentary on race in America. An online discussion will follow on April 28 at 12:30pm. Visit cf.edu/ filmseries for more information.

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

Forest Public Library, 905 S Highway 314A, Ocklawaha 10:30am Join a discussion of David Grann’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Call (352) 438-2540 to register.

Virtual 12:30-1:30pm The College of Central Florida is hosting this historical tour of the exhibits, artifacts, architecture and research archives of this unique institution. Visit cf.edu for more information.

Ocala Downtown Market, 310 SE Third St. 1-6pm Shop a selection of produce, meat, natural and handmade products and food trucks. ocaladowntownmarket.com

The Crazy Cucumber, 4414 SW College Road 5-6:30pm An Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership quarterly after hours networking event. Call (352) 629-8051 for more information.

4/24

Comic Fest

4/24 -25

Bourbon & Blooms

4/29

Farmers Market

Tarzan the Ape Man

4/24 -25

Timberline Farm Butterfly & Blueberry Festival

4/29

4/24

Networking With a Twist

4/29

An Evening of Excellence Gala

4/26

Senior Fishing Derby

4/29

Classics and Cocktails: Citizen Kane

Paddock Mall, 3100 SW College Road A family friendly event with vendors and live entertainment. Call Vibranium Comics at (352) 237-9049 for more information.

The Bryant House, 712 E Fort King St. 10am-4pm The Historic Ocala Preservation Society presents a self-guided spring tour of seven beautiful gardens, including live music, artists, artisanal refreshments and pop-up boutiques. Visit fb.com/hopsbryanthouse for more information.

Timberline Farm, 3200 SE 115th St., Belleview 10am-6pm Saturday, 12pm-6pm Sunday Enjoy blueberry shortcake and blueberry plants for sale as well as family activities including a butterfly house and butterfly garden, train rides and hay rides, farm animals and crafts. Visit timberlinefarm.net for more information.

The Corkscrew, 16 SW Broadway St. 6-9pm This Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership networking event will be catered by The Fiery Chef. Call (352) 629-8051 for more information.

Tuscawilla Park, 829 NE Sanchez Ave. 9am-12pm A free catch and release fishing event with lunch, prizes and bait provided. Visit ocalafl.org/recpark for more information.

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

Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave. 5:30pm The 1932 classic, filmed in part at Silver Springs, will be introduced by City of Ocala Water Resources Conservation Coordinator Rachel Slocumb. Free popcorn will be provided courtesy of Water Resources. Visit mariontheatre.org for more information.

Country Club of Ocala, 6823 SE 12th Circle 6pm This benefit event for the Marion County Children’s Alliance will feature the inaugural Dr. Mike Jordan Award of Excellence. Visit mcchildrensalliance.org for more information.

Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave. 8pm Experience the 1941 Oscar-winning film with a signature Rosebud cocktail. Visit reillyartscenter.com for more information.

B10

APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Now The Art of Adventure -4/25

Arts

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm An exhibition of 1970s serigraphs by Clayton Pond highlighting artworks from Pond’s “Leisure-time Obsessions Series.” Visit appletonmuseum.org for more information.

Now Young in Art -4/25

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm Artwork created by Marion County Public School students highlights the importance of art education. More than 200 works from 42 schools are on display. The Superintendent’s Art Show in the museum café showcases one work selected from each school. Visit appletonmuseum.org for more information.

Now -5/1

Then and Now

Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St. Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 11am-4pm A collective show featuring works by Ocala Art Group members. Opening reception March 5, 5–6pm; exhibit open Tuesday-Saturday through May 1. Visit mcaocala.org for more information.

Now -5/2

4/23

Levitt AMP Concert Series

4/27

Teaching Tuesday: Cardboard Tube Trolls

Now -5/7

Visual Arts Student Exhibition

Now -6/21

People

CF Webber Gallery, 3001 SW College Road 10am-4pm A variety of artworks created by College of Central Florida visual arts students will be on display Monday-Friday. Visit cf.edu for more information.

Barbara Gaskin Washington Adult Activity Center, 210 NW 12th Ave. 9am-4pm This new exhibit of works by artist Shirley S. Wulff celebrates her memories, feelings and thoughts about collaborations with others. Visit ocalafl.org/culturalarts for more information.

Now The Audience -6/25

Ocala Recreation and Parks Administration, 828 NE Eighth Ave. 9am-5pm A new exhibit featuring the paintings of Ocala-based Emmeline Basulto, artistically known as Embot, reflect herself in representational and abstract forms. Her works are also on display at the Eighth Avenue Adult Activity Center at 830 NE Eighth Avenue. Both locations are open Monday-Friday. Visit ocalafl.org/culturalarts for more information.

Now -6/27 Now -7/7

Spectrum of Creativity

4/23

Aesthetic Melancholy

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. 9am-5pm This student and emerging artist competition features the work of high school students and artists with less than 10 years’ experience. Visit ocalafl.org/culturalarts for more information.

NOMA Gallery, 939 N Magnolia Ave. 6-8pm This free pop-up art show will feature the work of Aaron Thomas along with music by Caly and Megan, refreshments and a community art piece. Visit fb.com/nomagalleryocala for more information.

Government City of Belleview Site Plan Committee

4/26

Marion County Development Review Committee

4/26

Marion County Hospital District Board

4/26

Marion County Planning & Zoning Commission First Hearing

4/26

Ocala Housing Authority Board

4/27

Downtown Ocala Community Redevelopment Area Advisory Committee

4/27

Ocala/Marion County Transportation Planning Organization Board

4/27

City of Belleview Code Enforcement Board

4/28

East Ocala Community Redevelopment Area Advisory Committee

4/29

Marion County Development Review Committee Staff Meeting

Luminous Worlds

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm An exhibition featuring the large abstract canvases of Kristin Herzog, a Naples, Florida-based artist and former civil engineering draftsman. Visit appletonmuseum.org for more information.

Virtual 10-10:30am The Appleton Museum presents a live streaming art project that the whole family can make at home with basic art and craft supplies. Online at fb.com/appletonmuseum.

4/26

Crimes of the Heart

Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd. 2 & 7:30pm Three sisters reunite amid scandal at their Mississippi childhood home in this 1970s Southern Gothic dramedy. Visit ocalacivictheatre.com for show times and tickets.

Webb Field, 1510 NW Fourth St. 7pm The free outdoor concert series features The HeadTones supported by Souljam. Visit ocalafl.org/levittamp for more information.

City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview 9am Call (352) 245-7021 for more information.

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

Hospital District Office, 2547 E. Silver Springs Blvd. 5pm Call (352) 622-3662 for more information.

McPherson Government Complex Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave. 5:30pm The Planning & Zoning Commission conducts hearings for zoning changes and special use permits. Call (352) 438-2600 for more information.

Virtual 6pm Visit ocalahousing.org to participate online. Call (352) 3692636 for more information.

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. 10am Call (352) 629-8311 for more information.

McPherson Government Complex Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave. 4pm Call (352) 629-8297 for more information.

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

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. 4pm Call (352) 629-8311 for more information.

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

ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR 23

6pm Becky Sinn

Ocala Downtown Square

6pm Mike Smithson

Locos Grill & Pub

6:30pm Palomino Blonde

7pm Orleans

7pm Warren McCullough Off-Duty Tavern

7pm The Big Bad

7pm Charity Cox

8pm Chadwick Pierce

6pm John Johnson Shuckin’ Shack

7pm The Jake and Elwood Blues Revue Orange Blossom Opry

8pm Fareeza

8pm The Big Bad with SidePiece

9am Charity Cox The Lodge

1pm Chadwick Pierce The Crazy Cucumber

2pm Charity Cox Timberline Farms

Pi on Broadway

10pm Becky Sinn O’Malley’s Alley

The Corkscrew

6pm Grass Campers Bank Street Patio Bar

Horse & Hounds

Circle Square Cultural Center

Infinite Ale Works

The Crazy Cucumber

7pm Country Pioneers of the ‘50s & ‘60s Orange Blossom Opry

6pm Jeff Jarrett Charlie Horse

7pm Orange Blossom Showcase Orange Blossom Opry

B11

APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Lemonade for Lawson By Lisa McGinnes Ocala Gazette When Rob and Brittany Batsel’s kids decided they wanted to fix up their old lemonade stand and have a lemonade sale, their mom advised them to make it count. “You’ve got to have a cause,” Brittany Batsel remembered telling 8-yearold Andie and 5-year-old Will. “You can’t just do it for your piggy bank.” The siblings decided to help 7-month-old baby Lawson, the daughter of Sam and Jessica Armstrong who inspired the pink “Love for Lawson” signs that began

Lawson Armstrong [Submitted]

popping up in yards all over town late last year. Brittany Batsel’s youngest child, Mac, was born just a week before Lawson, giving Andie and Will a special interest in the story of the baby born with a rare bone marrow illness. “They couldn’t believe that this little baby had never really spent time with her sister,” Brittany Batsel said. “They can relate so it was a good teachable moment for them.” Andie and Will recruited their neighbors, Camden Douglas, 12, and Kimber Douglas, 8. They set up their lemonade stand at Scott J. Andrews Park, 1104 SE 12 St., after school on April 16. Their goal was to raise $300 to help Lawson’s family with the costs of a bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy, multiple surgeries and months of medical care. In just three hours, without even selling all their lemonade, the kids raised $4,000. “It was such a wonderful lesson for

them and for us as parents to witness how great it felt to give and how wonderful our community was in supporting a little baby who’s currently going through some big stuff,” Brittany Batsel said. Lawson’s grandmother, lifelong Ocalan Kelly Juarez, called the lemonade stand fundraiser “amazing.” “The [Submitted] sentiment, that was so sweet. It was those little girls’ idea to do that,” Juarez said. “I think Ocala’s got a big heart. They care about each other. It’s been really sustaining to us.” Prayers and an outpouring of love and support from the community have helped their family through the worst time they’ve ever had, Juarez said. After Lawson was born on Aug. 26, she spent much of her first few months at UF Health Shands Hospital. Then, just a few days before Christmas, she was transferred to Boston

Children’s Hospital. Now, more than two months after a bone marrow transplant, Lawson’s condition is showing significant improvement, Juarez said. “It’s not over but I feel like we’re turning a corner, so that is wonderful,” Juarez noted. “Lawson’s platelet count is doing fabulous. Her bone marrow seems to be progressing well.” Juarez said the family has tried to focus on the positives and use the experience as a lesson for Lawson’s 4-yearold sister, Peyton, who only saw her baby sister for a few

days last fall and hasn’t seen her mom in more than 4 months. “This has been the hardest thing and then it’s been chock full of blessings,” Juarez said. “It’s been really good for Peyton, because I can teach her through all this how we are going to pay it forward. We do little things to try to bless other people because I always tell her, look how people blessed us.” So far, the community has donated more than $62,000 for Lawson through the fundraising site GiveSendGo. com.

Honorable Mentions Ocala recognizes longtime employees The Ocala City Council recognized four employees with service awards during Tuesday meeting. Nick Blizzard was recognized for 15 years of service with the city. Blizzard works in traffic operations for the city and is the current traffic systems manager. Chris Hickman an Ocala Fire Rescue firefighter, paramedic marked 20 years with the department. During his time with fire rescue, he was awarded the medal of valor and was named

the firefighter of the year in 2016. Patricia Mraz celebrated 25 years with the Ocala Police Department. Mraz has worked in several roles at OPD including in patrol, working in the gang unit and as a school resource officer. Donna Guinn was honored for her 30 years at OPD. She joined the department in 1991 and was the city’s first victims advocate coordinator. She now supervises the victims advocate unit and has helped expand their services over the years.

Nick Blizzard

Chris Hickman

Patricia Mraz

Donna Guinn

Spring a Shelter Pet Special: Half oﬀ adoption fees in April View more adoptable pets at www.marioncountyﬂ.org/animal Adoption price includes up-to-date vaccinations, county license, microchip and spay/neuter surgery.

Barb

Marie

Gimme Five! Spunky 3-year-old female dog seeks a home that appreciates laughter. This funny girl loves to play and voice her happiness. She’ll bring lots of smiles to your family.

Walking Partner Enthusiastic 5-year-old female mixed breed dog seeks her human companion. She has the cutest prance when it’s time for a walk – she’ll remind you to get those steps in! 352.671.8700

Answers for pages B4,B5

Ocala Gazette publishes fond remembrances of your loved one Visit ocalagazette.com to submit an obituary

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