Ocala Gazette | May 3 - May 9, 2024

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May 4

Events locally Pg B6

Marion County could see volunteer chaplains in schools after passage of state law

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

Among the many bills Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law this legislative session, the “School Chaplains” bill will allow for volunteer

Abe’s gift

5-year-old boy’s organs are donated after tragic death, saving multiple lives

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

When one family was struck by unimaginable tragedy, they couldn’t imagine why they would lose their child so unexpectedly. What helped ease their grief was the knowledge that their son’s death provided a gift so that others may live.

Alexander “Abe” Everts, 5, was pulled from a swimming pool at his home on Northeast 12th Avenue on April 17. He died April 25 at UF Health Shands Hospital. In arguably the hardest moments of their lives, Abe’s parents, Alexander Everts and Lindsey Kemp, made the courageous decision to donate his organs so that other people may receive much-needed transplants.

“I had an opportunity to save some kids and save another parent from feeling like how I’m feeling with the worst thing I’ve ever experienced,” Kemp said. “There was just no other option but to just do it. It’s the right thing. It’s an opportunity to have his legacy live on.”

Abe’s heart, liver and kidneys were successfully transplanted to four different people in need.

Abe’s donation took place on April 25, during National Donate Life Month and National Pediatric Transplant Week. Everts, Abe’s father, offered advice for other parents in the wake of his loss.

“I’d implore people to be present in your

NAACP HONORS ADVOCATES

The annual Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet acknowledged several local members and featured presentations about voting rights and awareness.

chaplains to be integrated into Marion County Public Schools to offer voluntary prayer during the school day for students and staff.

School Board member Sarah James brought up the recently passed legislation at the most recent school board meeting

on April 23, recommending that the board, superintendent and school board attorney begin to work on policies that will align with the new state statute.

The School Chaplains Bill, or House Bill 891, allows each school district’s school boards or charter school’s governing

boards to adopt a policy to authorize volunteer school chaplains “to provide supports, services and programs” to students, according to the bill’s summary. One of the bill’s biggest supporters was local philanthropist Brad Dinkins,

See School, page A3

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT

Ocala

woman breaks state record for most skydiving jumps in a day

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

As one Ocala woman plummeted toward the earth for the 78th time in 24 hours, she broke the Florida state record for most skydives in a single day.

Skydiving enthusiast Shyenne Bryant is not your average skydiver—apart from setting this impressive record, she’s also afraid of heights. Just over a year

By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com

Tago, Bryant turned to Central Florida Skydiving to fuel her adrenaline-seeking personality and get over her fear of heights in a sky-high way.

“It’s definitely an adrenaline high, even once you come down and get back on the ground,” Bryant said. “It’s a pretty special feeling.”

Bryant, 26, went skydiving for the first time in April of last year and said she “just instantly fell in love with it.” In her first year of skydiving alone, she

he 42nd annual Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet, which is the main fundraiser and awards ceremony for the Marion County Branch of the NAACP, was held April 26 at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place. The theme of the banquet was “Protecting Our Vote,” with several speakers and guests discussing recent changes in Florida laws that may impact voter registration or turnout. About 175 guests heard comments from several NAACP local officials and dignitaries.

Incoming chapter president Jerone Gamble, taking the reins from outgoing president James D. Stockton III, said violence like the shooting death of “A.J.” Owens, affordable housing and proper teaching of Black history are a few of the current issues facing the community.

“The future will be determined by our vote. There are too many registered voters not going to the polls,” Gamble said.

Guest speaker Jerron Hawkins was a student and 2016

See NAACP, page A2

Loretta Jenkins gets a hug from Bishop James D. Stockton III, the immediate past NAACP President, as she receives the President’s Award from him during the NAACP 5114 Marion County Branch 42nd Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place in Ocala on Friday, April 26, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.

logged an impressive 430 jumps.

“I’ve been pretty certain my whole life that I never wanted to skydive,” Bryant said. “I’ve had a pretty intense fear of heights my whole life—I actually still do.”

Bryant set out to break the record not long ago, when on a regular day she logged 10 jumps and said she wished she could do it all day long. On April 21, she and her team originally set out to break

See Skydiving, page A2

Shyenne Bryant broke the Florida state record for most skydives in a single day on April 21 with an impressive 78 jumps [Courtesy of Shyenne Bryant]

NAACP awards

Continued from page A1

working member of the My Brothers Keeper initiative that was started by then President Barack Obama in the wake of the shooting of Treyvon Martin. The focus of the group is addressing oppression aimed at boys and men of color, according to the event program.

Hawkins, a 2019 graduate of Howard University and graduate of Howard Law School, has worked with the ACLU, served as a strategic consultant for the Barack Obama Foundation and currently is a Department of Justice policy advisor appointee for the office of Community Relations Services, the program indicated. The focus of his office is to “mitigate acts of discrimination, hate crimes, bias and racism amongst youth” and his office handles an internship for youth.

Hawkins called himself a “product of the Brothers Keeper” initiative. He gave several examples of lingering, daily racism in America, including persons of color being followed in department stores and locks clicking shut as they approach. He said voter turnout for the Black community in Marion County was typically “below 20%” and that people should “not complain without taking action.”

“(We) must make sure the labor of our ancestors is not in vain,” he said.

Hawkins spoke about setting an example for youth and rather than only admonishing or correcting them, giving youth positive instruction.

Florida Congresswoman Yvonne Hinson called on the community to “stand in solidarity.”

Hinson mentioned CRT, or critical race theory, and decried the “dilution of African American history.” The Brookings Institute website states that CRT “has become a new bogeyman for people unwilling to acknowledge our country’s racist history and how it impacts the present.”

Barbara Fitos was recognized as the NAACP Freedom Fund Chair and chapter membership chair Herman Brown called for all members to participate.

“November 2024 (will be) the most controversial election in our lifetime and (we need) all hands on deck,” he said.

Brown said later that the local NAACP branch has 178 members.

Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano

spoke about his own experience in “overcoming obstacles” and offered words of encouragement.

Katelyn McCullough, recognized as a member of the Marion County Youth Council, offered greetings, as did Fredna T. Wilkerson with the Marion County Panhellenic Council.

Ovedia Rhoulhac, pastor of Glorious Hope Christian Life Center, offered an invocation, A. Michelle Lamb provided vocals and keyboard music, and Beverly Braxton handled door prizes.

Wantanisha Dawson Morant served as mistress of ceremonies.

Franklin Rich, the son of Mary Sue Rich, the namesake of the community center and local NAACP chapter member and former city councilwoman, said some recent changes in Florida registration laws amount to “voter suppression.” He said the Faith In Florida group had supplied cards at the banquet to facilitate voter registration.

Francine Julius Edwards, district aide to Hinson and a community advocate, was instrumental in coordinating distribution of voter registration information at the banquet. A local NAACP survey handed out at the banquet aimed to determine the “what issues will drive voters to the polls in 2024.”

Recent action by the Florida Legislature, includes CS/ SB 7050, which flsenate.gov describes as “Florida’s commitment to the integrity of elections” and “makes changes to enhance the accuracy of Florida’s voter rolls, and improves access to reports and data to boost voter confidence.”

The 2024 annual awards were presentation by handled by Edwards, Sarah M. Greene and Gwendolyn Dawson.

The Minority Business Award was presented to Alfonso and Davida Randolph, owners of Randolph’s Family Affair, Inc., a combined catering, printing and tax preparation business that serves people “from the heart,” the program stated.

The couple set up a nonprofit in 2019 that provides Thanksgiving and Christmas season food for the homeless and shopping trips and gift cards for youth, according to the program .

The 2024 Community Service Uplift Award was given to Rachael Drayton, a U.S. Army veteran who has served as an operating room

Skydiving record

Continued from page A1

the Florida state women’s overall record for most skydives in 24 hours by jumping 50 times.

By 1 p.m., Bryant had logged 40 jumps. Seeing that there was plenty of daylight left, she set her sights even higher.

“I am naturally a competitive and ambitious person,’’ Bryant said. “I kind of like looked around to my team and my support, and I said, ‘I think we can do it. I think we can break the overall record for the state.’”

The team consisted of two planes, two pilots, two people packing the parachutes, three parachutes, and even three or four people helping Bryant get dressed and geared up between jumps.

Since discovering her passion, Bryant has become a coach at Central Florida Skydiving, helping people feel safe and comfortable for their jumps, helping them improve at the skill and videotaping them with a camera through the air.

Bryant offered great thanks to Donnie Hickey, the drop zone owner at Central Florida Skydiving. Hickey also was one of the pilots taking Bryant up to 3,500 feet in altitude and getting her back to the ground within six-minute rotations.

A typical skydiving trip takes you up to 10,000 feet in altitude and provides about 45 seconds of freefall. To break the record, Bryant

technician and certified registered nurse Anesthetist. Drayton, who holds a Master of Science in nursing from Northeastern University, first entered the Army in 1988 and served until 1992, and also from 2006 to 2015, including deployment to Iraq in 2011. She attained the rank of captain.

Drayton has performed a mission trip to Haiti and serves as vice president of Black Nurses Rock! Ocala Florida Chapter and president of the Greater Gainesville Black Nurses Association. The organizations address “health disparities of people of color,” conducts health seminars and members distribute health information at events in Marion County, the program stated.

The 2024 Positive Social Awareness Award recipient was Barbara Brooks, founder and CEO of R.A.M.A.L. an educational and social nonprofit that has served Marion County for 15 years. The organization “fulfills its mission” with tutoring, scholarships for non-traditional college students and an endowment scholarship at the College of Central Florida.

Brooks is the co-founder of Chosen Children’s Christmas Party for at risk youth. She also is involved in Thanksgiving and Christmas help programs and distributing food and hygiene items to the homeless.

R.A.M.A.L. is a member of several local organizations, including the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership and the Marion County Children’s Alliance.

Loretta Jenkins received the chapter President’s Award for “Perpetual Excellence,” which was presented by Stockton.

Jenkins and her husband, Whitfield Jenkins, who was recently recognized by the local branch as “Freedom Fighter of the Century,” are both past presidents of the Marion County NAACP Branch.

Loretta Jenkins said she “joined (the local branch) in 1989 and never looked back” in serving and doing.

DeNaya Wilkerson was presented the President’s “New, Now and Next Generation Award” by Stockton for stepping into the branch and doing “stellar and wonderful work.”

To learn more, go to FB.com/naacpofmarioncounty and naacp.org

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jumped from 3,500 feet in altitude and experienced five seconds or less of freefall to jump 78 times.

Bryant spent about $4,500 to break the record, including for the cost of the jumps, the pilots’ time, the aircraft time and to compensate the parachute packers.

“I went on my first skydive right there in Dunnellon at Central Florida Skydiving, mainly, I think, to prove to myself that I could do it and that my mind was strong,” she said.

Bryant said the people she has met along the way have helped her form a tight-knit community, all of whom share the same exhilarating passion.

“I’ve known the people for a year now and I consider some of them my closest friends and I even consider some of them my family at this point,” Bryant said.

She isn’t just an adrenaline-seeker in her free time. For her day job, Bryant owns the Dakota Sport Horses farm and works as a professional competitive horse show jumper.

“I just have never turned down an adventure,” Bryant said. Next, Bryant hopes to

her license to

become a tandem instructor to take others skydiving with her. She can do so in two years when she meets the requirements for the amount of time participating in the sport and has already met the requirements for the number of jumps logged.

“This is just the beginning and the tip of the iceberg,” she said. “I’m looking to set many more records. Hopefully, I can take them even nationally and globally eventually.”

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.

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Shyenne Bryant broke the Florida state record for most skydives in a single day on April 21 with an impressive 78 jumps [Courtesy of Shyenne Bryant]

It’s time for the city to start paying a fair wage

By Ocala Gazette Editorial Board

It may not be popular to call for more taxpayer money to go for higher pay for elected city officials, especially during a time of economic hardship for many citizens, but the situation in Ocala warrants it.

Currently, under the city’s charter, five council members are paid $200 a month; the council president receives $250 a month, and the mayor is paid $550.

The state of Florida sets compensation for our other local elected officials and it’s at least partially based on the population numbers. For example, the Marion County Board of County Commissioners are paid $103,500 annually; the Marion County School Board members $48,774; our constitutional officers--the clerk of court, supervisor of elections, property appraiser, tax collector--are paid $177,301; and the sheriff is paid $215,220.

However, the compensation for the city council and the mayor are set by the city’s charter and it has not increased for decades. Increasing it would require a majority of the council to consider a motion that some of them could feel uncomfortable raising in case it was viewed politically as self-serving.

Since 2000, Ocala’s population has grown by 50% and is now approaching 70,000. Our city is no longer a quaint little Mayberry.

The workload of these elected officials has increased dramatically as well. We taxpayers expect council members and the mayor to provide oversight for an expanding number of city bureaucrats and to wall off these employees from private interests who seek financial gain against public interest.

The material to review before just one city council meeting often consists of thousands of pages of detailed development proposals and zoning requests. We get those agendas and pages usually at the same time the elected officials do, and it’s not near enough time for reporters to dive into all the details.

There is no way for these leaders, who essentially are volunteering their time, to consistently deliver the kind of diligent oversight needed while also having a career or caring for a family.

Many of us have watched our new mayor, Ben Marciano, over the past year juggle a family and multiple gyms while at the same time bringing cross sections of our community together to address societal problems with heart and youthful vigor. Our hope is that he doesn’t burn out or pay too high a price personally for his service. Because if he does, it won’t be only the mayor and his family who lose; we citizens will as well.

Some would argue that these folks chose to take on these positions, knowing the compensation (which includes the

option to “enroll in the same health, dental, and vision healthcare plans available to full-time employees through the city” at the same monthly rate.)

And there is also the valid point that much of the oversight of the city is the responsibility of the city manager, who is paid $225,000 annually. The city manager is appointed by the city council, but if the council has to gather and evaluate information for important decisions at the speed of water coming out of a fire hose, how effective can they be in following up on the many assertions the city manager offers them privately and during public meetings?

How does Ocala’s pay compare to that of other Florida city leaders?

Kelli Gemmer, Director of Communications for the League of Florida Cities, shared data from a 2021 survey of 411 cities. Of the 352 cities that responded, the approximate annual compensation for at least 280 of those council members was, on average, $9,000. The median range was $6,000 to $65,000 on the high end.

Gemmer says that for mayors in the state of Florida, survey results came back with 282 cities paying higher rates of compensation than the council’s. The average city paid their mayor $14,300. The median range started at $7,500 and went as high as $220,000.

Citizens at times can be frustrated when our leaders guide policy in ways that

Continued from page A1 kids’ lives,” he said. “As a parent, I understand how frustrating things get…just to let go the hard moments and hold your kids tight.”

Even with his son’s gift to others, Everts said nothing can ease the pain of such a loss.

“If it helps one person check the organ donor box at the DMV,” he said. “I know it’s good; it just hurts.”

In the operating room, Everts and Kemp had the chance to have their words read aloud to the surgical team before the organ harvesting procedure began.

“When (Abe) was born I

School chaplains

Continued from page A1

the chairman and founder of Helping Hands of Ocala. Dinkins contacted Florida Sen. Dennis Baxley to submit a school chaplain bill after being inspired by similar legislation passed in Texas.

“There are many students who come from homes where there’s emotional, mental, physical abuse and more. Depression, anger, confusion and suicidal thoughts are on the increase,” Dinkins said. “I believe chaplains would be a great resource to provide our students with the needed love, care and guidance in overcoming the impact of life’s setbacks and the negative issues our students face.”

Dinkins said he hoped that having chaplains in schools could support not only students but the entire school system.

“Chaplains will not only be available

thought he would save the world. As he grew to be special, I knew that had changed some, but I loved him even harder,” Everts wrote. “He saved my world, and that was good enough for me. Save their worlds. Save their families. Maybe, through them...he shall still save the world after all.”

to the students but also the teachers and other school staff, as they often suffer from stress and difficulties in their service to the students, and need support and encouragement too,” he said.

The bill was passed on April 19 and goes into effect on July 1. The school board will receive policy guidance from NEOLA, a company that takes state law and develops adhering policy for school boards.

At the board meeting, James asked

seem to benefit the majority instead of the privileged in our community. However, if we want our elected officials to look out for the interests of everyone and not just those with wealth and clout, we need to make it so these officials don’t live with financial risk for their effort.

Ocala has gotten by this far primarily because of the generosity of older elected officials who were either retired or whose children were already grown. But if we want to encourage younger Ocalans to consider public service, we must make it so that doing so is not a financial hardship.

For those who disagree with better pay for these positions, that’s your choice. But at least acknowledge that asking people who are managing careers and the demands of raising families to carve out time to do such an ever-increasing council or mayoral workload severely limits the pool of candidates and the level of service you want to demand.

There was a time when Ocala relied on volunteer citizens to fight fires, and that worked splendidly—until Thanksgiving Day 1883, when at least nine city blocks were reduced to ashes. We now accept the cost of professional firefighters as a fact of life and rest easier knowing they are on call, just a phone call away.

It is now time to consider paying our leaders a fair wage to allow them to concentrate solely on the safety and well-being of Ocala.

Kemp said she wants to remember her son’s personality, cherish the impact he had on her life and ensure that his legacy lives on.

“He was just always so gentle and kind and happy,” Kemp said. “He was just the sweetest kid.”

Abe was autistic and nonverbal, and at 5 he had not met a lot of a neurotypical child’s typical benchmarks. Instead, he passed a number of milestones of his own that were special for their family, Kemp said.

“Abe was never able to communicate verbally with us but that made the ways he did communicate all the more meaningful. Each smile, each hand hold, each hug, each time his eyes would find yours—those things spoke very, very loudly to anyone he wanted to hear him,”

Kemp wrote to the surgeons.

Abe loved to watch “Sesame Street,” and owned a number of collectible toys and wore pajamas and clothes from his favorite show, the family said.

“It was always about the simple moments with him, like he just loved to go Publix and ride in the ‘car’ shopping carts… we went to the park all the time because he just loved to swing,” Kemp said. “He just really found so much happiness in the tiniest everyday things.”

for some dates in which the school board can devote time to discussing policy for the chaplain bill and other recently passed legislation.

“I look at it as an opportunity for deregulation, which is what we’ve been working toward, which is giving school districts opportunities to do what’s best for their population,” James said. “This chaplains bill will give us the opportunity to make decisions for what is best for our

“I believe chaplains would be a great resource to provide our students with the needed love, care and guidance in overcoming the impact of life’s setbacks and the negative issues our students face.”

Brad Dinkins

Abe is survived by his 19-month-old sister Elizabeth “Eve” Everts. The parents chose Abe and his sister’s nicknames based off of the initials of their full names, Alexander Bernard Everts and Elizabeth Victoria Everts, A.B.E. and E.V.E.

“He was just carefree, and very brave,” Everts said. “He hadn’t a care in the world and was just the happiest kid, he was really sweet as can be.”

In the coming months, Kemp said she will learn more information about who received Abe’s heart, liver and kidneys in lifesaving transplants. At a great cost, Abe’s gift allowed for other families to hold their loved ones tight.

“Even in my darkest moments, the grief is just like a side effect of having gotten lucky enough to love him and be loved by him,” Kemp said.

To donate to Abe’s family, visit gofund.me/697a3456 or donate to the Ronald McDonald House of North Central Florida.

To learn more about becoming an organ donor, visit organdonor.gov/sign-up

students in Marion County.”

Before the bill’s passage, Dinkins had been working to push this type of legislation in Florida since last year. After Baxley introduced the bill, State Sen. Erin Grall sponsored it. In the Florida House of Representatives, Ocala’s Rep. Stan McClain became the lead sponsor of the legislation, Dinkins said.

“It is my hope that the school board will approve a wonderful chaplain program for the benefit of our students’ mental, emotional and spiritual health,” Dinkins said. “It is also my hope that many qualified men and women, full of the love of God and a love for people, will sign up to be volunteer chaplains, and that churches, businesses and individuals will provide financial support if needed to help sponsor a volunteer chaplain.”

Abe Everts [Courtesy of Lindsey Kemp]

Freedom from addiction

12-step program

Freedom Recovery hosts a special event on Saturday, May 11.

By Chris D’Avanzo chris@magnoliamediaco.com

The damage caused by substance abuse affects more than just the individual. Not only have drugs ruined, and often ended, people’s lives, they’ve destroyed families and upended communities, leaving a trail of wreckage in their wake.

Celebration Church in Belleview offers a 12-step ministry for people looking to reclaim their lives

from addiction. Led by husband-and-wife team Kenneth and Kim Lunday, the program, Celebrate Recovery, offers weekly Tuesday night meetings designed to help people on the road to recovery.

The toll of addiction affects people everywhere. It’s not limited to any race or creed, or to people of a certain income or background. It’s why Celebrate Recovery aims to expand their outreach by hosting a special event on Saturday, May 11.

This event will feature many of the success stories from people who graduated from the program to beat their addictions. But the battle against addiction for many is a life-long struggle, one that takes constant vigilance. The methods of the Celebrate Recovery program are designed to create a foundation that can hopefully carry people throughout their lives.

For some people, their lives are often tragically cut short. Those individuals will be remembered and memorialized as who they were in totality. They were more than their addiction, but were spouses, loved ones, friends, and members of the community.

The event is free and open to the public, with music, food, activities for kids, vendors, and a raffle drawing.

Anyone interested in learning more about the event or the Celebrate Recovery program can contact Kim Lunday at (352) 553-5412 or visit celebratebelleview.com.

BELLEVIEW DOUBLE SHOOTING RULED A MURDER-SUICIDE

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

Marion County Sheriff’s Office detectives have ruled that the double shooting earlier this month in Belleview that left two people dead was in fact a murder-suicide.

On April 21, deputies responded to a scene at 3282 SE 132nd Place to find Erica Brooks, 37, and James Marean, 60, dead from gunshot wounds inside a residence with the door open.

“Detectives have concluded that the landlord, James Maren shot his tenant, Erica Brooks, before shooting himself, indicating a murdersuicide investigation,” said MCSO spokesperson

Zachary Moore. Brooks had two children, ages 15 and 11, according to the GoFundMe set up by her mother, Carole Brooks. Carole Brooks said that she intends to raise the two children after the loss of her daughter.

“My daughter Erica Marie Brooks was born in Newark, Delaware where we lived until she was 11 years old. She grew up in Belleview, Florida and went to the Belleview Santos Elementary, Belleview Middle School and graduated from Belleview High School in 2005,” according to Brooks’ obituary.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the events leading up to the incident, Moore said.

DUNNELLON INCREASES

FEES FOR

BUSINESS TAX RECEIPTS BY 5%

Business owners in Dunnellon are going to have to pay the piper a bit more each year to obtain and maintain their Business Tax receipts—5% more, actually.

Local Business Tax Receipts, formerly known as occupational licenses, require a fee to be paid in order to open a business for the first time and for each year the business is running.

Until now, this fee has been $60.29 per year.

On April 10, the Dunnellon City Council passed an ordinance for the fee to be increased by 5%, effectively raising the fee to $63.30 per year.

Tax receipt payments are due and payable by Oct. 1 of each year and expire on Sept. 30.

Florida Statute allows for local governments to increase the tax every other year, by a maximum of 5%.

The Dunnellon City Council increased the fee by the maximum of 5% every other year from 2001 until 2007, and again by the same amount in both 2017 and 2022.

In 1994, the fee was only $45 per year. Now, 30 years later, it increases again to $63.30.

What’s UpDog?

Ocala Dog Ranch hosts a tournament to test your dog’s athleticism.

By Chris D’Avanzo chris@magnoliamediaco.com

Fans of sports might know that spring brings playoff tournaments, but would they know that now their dogs can join in on the fun? The Ocala Dog Ranch is hosting a tournament for our furry friends on Saturday, May 11.

Ocala Dog Ranch is an organization that offers obedience and agility training courses for dogs of all ages and sizes. Additionally, they have boarding options and daycare for pet owners travelling out of town.

Events like the UpDog Tournament, part of the UpDog Challenge program, are designed to test a dog and their handler’s endurance, agility, and communication. Dogs and humans must work together in a variety of games.

Competitors will have the option to play any or all of the following games:

• Four Way Play, in which dogs must catch a disc at four distinct areas known as “zones” to earn points.

• Time Warp, where dogs need to catch a disc at four zones in the quickest time.

ThrowNGo, where dogs go between 10 to 50 yards to catch throws to earn points.

Frizgility, in which dogs must traverse an obstacle course, catch a disc, and then return through the obstacle course in the quickest time.

FunKey, where dogs will venture through the obstacle course to catch a disc in various zones to earn points.

• 7Up, in which dogs must jump and catch discs at various zones, then return them to the “sweet spot” at the center of the field.

These games are created by UpDog Challenge, a nonprofit organization that hosts athletic competitions for dogs.

For more information on this event and other programs offered by the Ocala Dog Ranch, visit ocaladogranch.com.

New parking lot opens in downtown Ocala

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

Looking for a place to park your car in downtown Ocala without paying the meter?

A new, temporary lot has been opened on the northwest end of downtown to help alleviate parking stress until the new parking garage serves as a permanent solution.

The temporary lot is located at the intersection of West Fort King Street and Southwest Third Avenue.

“This is a temporary lot that will be accessible to the public until the construction for the new parking garage begins this fall,” said city spokesperson Ashley Dobbs.

The lot has no painted lines or parking blocks to mark off spaces, so there is no definitive number for how many cars it has capacity for, Dobbs said.

Parking here is free and can be utilized all day, except for nights. No time limits are in place for anyone who wishes to park there, except that no parking overnight is allowed.

The lot has been open for use staring on April 19.

Construction for the new parking garage is anticipated to begin in October. The garage will be built at the site of the Mount Moriah Baptist Church, since the city purchased the property in 2022.

“After construction starts this lot will be used as a laydown lot for the new parking garage and a portion will be allocated to parking for The Gathering Café, Serendipity Boutique and the Arthur Murray Dance Studio,” Dobbs said.

File photo: Copper, an 8-year-old Catahoula, catches some air as he leaps after his toy thrown by his owner, Julie Ostrander, before splashing down into the pool during the Bring The Heat Dog Dock Diving event at the Ocala Dog Ranch on Southwest 110th Avenue in Ocala on Sunday, July 2, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.

Fire claims the life of elderly woman in NE Ocala

By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazete.com

An elderly Ocala woman perished in a house fire April 25, the cause of the fire remains under investigation and the victim’s identity has not been released.

Records show Ocala Police Department’s 911 communications center received at least two calls about a neighbor’s house located at the 2600 block of Northest First Avenue being “up in flames.” The first call came in at approximately 11:22 p.m.

Ocala Fire Rescue Chief Clint Welborn said the fire had likely already spread to a dangerous level by the time of the 911 call. According to call and dispatch records, within 22 seconds of receiving the call, the 911 call taker had the address, and by 11:23 p.m., OFR had been dispatched. At 11:24 p.m., dispatch alerted first responders that an elderly woman lived in the house and still may be inside.

Ocala Police Officer Cole Chancey was first on the scene, arriving nearly a minute

after the call came in. He reported the house was “halfway engulfed” and that he received no response to attempts to contact any possible occupants on the east side of the house. At 11:26 p.m., Chancey reported the house was fully engulfed in flames.

OFR firefighters were notified at 11:34 p.m. they should evacuate the structure for safety reasons but crews continued to battle the flames from outside. According to a media release, battalion chiefs 22 and 11 maintained command “at the front and rear of the home, respectively.”

Welborn told the “Gazette” the initial source of water to fight a fire is always the fire engine, which he says holds 780 gallons of water. The downed powerline temporarily blocked access to the nearest hydrant, but crews were able to connect a hose so that when engine 3 ran dry at 11:35 p.m., there was a secondary access to water.

At 11:44 p.m., firefighters reported finding one victim. Three minutes later, OFR is alerted that a second female victim and child could potentially be inside. Crews performed a secondary search and

found no one.

The elderly woman’s family began arriving at 11:58 p.m. as OFR crews continued to battle the fire.

“The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the State Fire Marshall’s Office. Ocala Fire Rescue’s Prevention Division, the Ocala Police Department, and Marion County Fire Rescue also responded. Ocala Fire Rescue extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim during this difficult time,” the release said.

Welborn reiterated that the public needs to be reminded to have working smoke alarms in their homes that are loud enough to waken occupants when they are sleeping.

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive will take place May 11

By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamedico.com

The annual National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive will take place nationwide on May 11. Local donations will stay in Marion County to help individuals and families. This year’s food drive will be the 32nd for Ocala/

Marion County.

Karla Greenway, executive director of Interfaith Emergency Services (IES), which is a lead agency for not only the food drive but for the subsequent distribution of food, this year launched a video campaign leading up to the drive.

“I’m doing a mailbox challenge and seeing how many people I can get to do a short video at their mailboxes to remind people to participate,” Greenway said.

Through September 8

She did her own video, which can be seen at bit.ly/4biiOmi Greenway is asking that others make a video to share.

“Please have someone shoot a simple video (via smart phone) of you by your mailbox asking people to support the Letter Carrier’s Food Drive on Saturday, May 11. Be brief— videos around the 30 second mark get the most views. Be strait to the point. It doesn’t have to be perfect! Once you shoot your video, post it and tag us (facebook.com/iesmarion).

We want to circulate them daily the week leading up to the food drive so people don’t forget,” she noted.

Her sample script includes details such as, “Did you know that the National Association of Letter Carriers campaign provides over 50,000 pounds of food for Interfaith Emergency Services each year? Interfaith is a local organization that helps thousands of households in need throughout Marion County. The letter carrier food drive stocks the pantry shelves at Interfaith.”

On May 11, donors can put donations of food into their mailbox or place the items close by for pickup. Donations also may be made in post office branches leading up to May 11.

IES, which was formed in 1983, helps approximately 30,000 people annually. Clients range from those who may be experiencing homelessness, to senior citizens and veterans,

and people with disabilities or who are struggling to make ends meet. Clients are referred by word of mouth and entities such as houses of worship and public services agencies. IES provides basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, medications and hygiene items. IES partners with a number of local organizations to make the food collected during the drive available across the county. Rising costs of groceries and rent mean that many local nonprofits like IES are seeing more people than ever. The majority of the food that will come in through the drive will help the agency get through the summer months, especially when children are out of school and staying at home, and any excess with be shared with IES partner pantries.

The most needed items are staples such as peanut butter, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, macaroni and cheese, soup, rice, pasta and sauce, and other basics.

On the day of the drive, IES volunteers will drive around the county to help collect the donations as they are brought in by mail carriers. When the vehicles arrive at the IES warehouse near downtown Ocala, more volunteers sort the food donations for distribution to those who need them most.

To learn more, go to fb.com/stampouthungerocalafl

BEING

by Charlita Rae Whitehead

Photo supplied from Ocala Fire Rescue of NE home following fire that claimed the life of one elderly woman on April 25, 2024. [Ocala Fire Rescue]

Volunteers Bill Cherry, left, and Wally Wagoner, right, unload food from a USPS mail truck. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.

Home sale prices continued to rise in March statewide and for the Ocala metro area

Staff Report

The Florida Realtors agents’ association’s March 2024 market report shows that statewide the median single-family home sale price rose to $420,600, a 3.9% year over year increase, and townhouses and condo median sales price were $330,000, a 3.1% year over year increase.

Single-Family Market Sector

Brad O’Connor, senior economist for the statewide agents’ reporting and professional trade association, said, “Home price growth remained fairly calm by recent standards during the month of March. Also, more homes were listed on Florida’s multiple listing services this March than in March 2023, but the year-over-year changes were more modest than what we saw in January and February. New listings of single-family homes were up 7.7% in March, well off the pace of nearly 17% in January and over 28% in February.”

The statewide active listing inventory for single-family homes is just over 86,000, an increase of 40.5% over last March.

“The spring buying season is here, but stubbornly high interest rates continue to present challenges for many prospective homebuyers here in Florida,” O’Connor said. “This slowdown in the rate of new listing growth meant that although inventory increased from the end of February to the end of March, it increased more slowly

than it did in most recent prior months. Still, in a normal market, we usually expect inventory levels to decline from the end of February to the end of March. Inventory levels are something we continue to watch closely. Higher inventory levels will provide some relief in terms of affordability over time, as well as provide more choices for prospective buyers.”

The association reported the supply of single-family existing homes statewide increased to a 4.1-months’ supply.

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

Statewide, the number of cash sales for singlefamily homes decreased by 10.5% with a total of 6,981 throughout Florida, which accounted for 29.8% of all sales, nearly one-third of the overall market.

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

2024 Florida Realtors President Gia Arvin, brokerowner with Matchmaker Realty in Gainesville, said, “Persistently high mortgage interest rates hovering well above 6% continue to challenge buyers in Florida,

especially first-time buyers. While we are seeing an increase in new listings and in for-sale inventory, home sellers thinking of moving—whether it’s downsizing or needing a larger home—are also impacted by the higher rates when considering their next home purchase.”

The ability to qualify for new loans contributes to a lock-in effect among would-be home sellers who bought their homes some years ago with a mortgage rate of 3% to 4.5%.

Ocala/Marion County’s March median sale price reported for single-family homes was $289,900, an increase of 1.9% over last year, and saw 775 closings of single-family home in March, a slight decrease of .8% from March 2023.

Townhomes/Condos Market Sector

Locally, the market area of Ocala/Marion County townhouses and condos median sales prices came in at $210,000, a slight decrease of 2.3% less than March 2023. A total of 56 closed sales were reported.

Statewide, townhouses and condos active inventory is 57,188, a 77.9% increase from March 2023. Overall, the market is moving toward more activity.

Existing townhouse and condo properties statewide were at a 6.6-months’ supply in March, a large increase of 94.1% from March of 2023.

For townhomes and condos, the number of cash sales statewide was 5,037 a decrease pf 17.2% from March of 2023. Those sales represented 54% of the market.

FREE BREAST CANCER SCREENINGS OFFERED MAY 7

Staff report

The Florida Department of Health in Marion County and the Marion County Board of County Commissioners will provide free breast cancer screenings from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, at the McPherson Governmental Campus, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala.

The partners are seeking to emphasize the importance of early detection in diagnosing and treating breast cancer, according to the news release.

DOH-Marion has arranged for Mammolink, a provider of mobile mammogram services, to provide free 3-D mammograms. The event is open to

all women regardless of insurance status. Participants do not need an appointment. Staff from the DOH-Marion’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program will be on hand to determine if women can enroll in the program. Those who qualify can obtain breast and cervical cancer screenings for free or at a low cost.

Getting a mammogram is the single most effective method of early detection, since it can identify cancer several years before physical symptoms develop, the release noted.

For more information, go to floridahealth.gov

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to applicable Florida Statutes including Chapters 194, 196 and 286, that the 2023 Value Adjustment Board in and for Marion County, Florida, or its designated Special Magistrate(s), will meet beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 and continuing as necessary, or until such time as all matters and petitions properly before the Value Adjustment Board have been given an opportunity to be heard. The Value Adjustment Board, or its designated Special Magistrate(s), will meet in the Board of County Commissioners Auditorium at 601 SE 25th Avenue, Ocala, Florida, Marion County Governmental Complex, to hear petitions regarding valuation and exemptions from taxation. For the scheduling of individual cases, one may contact the Marion County Clerk’s Office, Commission Records Division, at (352) 671-5622.

Also let it be known that the 2023 Value Adjustment Board in and for Marion County, Florida, will meet at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, June 17, 2024 in the Board of County Commissioners Auditorium at 601 SE 25th Avenue, Ocala, Florida, Marion County Governmental Complex, for the consideration of adoption of the Recommendations by the Special Magistrates, to render final decisions on the 2023 Value Adjustment Board petitions, and to address all other matters properly before the Board.

Notice is hereby given that a list of all petitions for portability of homestead exemption, exemptions for homestead, widows, widowers, disability, blind, government organizations, religious, literary, educational literary, educational, scientific and charitable organizations who have had their application for exemption wholly or partially approved or denied is maintained by the Property Appraiser in and for Marion County, Florida, and available to the public for inspection at 501 SE 25th Avenue, Ocala, Florida, during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Please note that if a petitioner decides to appeal a decision made with respect to any matter considered at the above advertised hearing, the petitioner will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose, the petitioner may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings was made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal was to be based. The exemption procedures of the Value Adjustment Board is provided in Chapter 194, Florida Statutes, and records of the Value Adjustment Board and its hearing(s) showing the names of persons and organizations granted exemptions, the street address or other designation of location of the exempted property, and the extent of the exemptions granted are public record .

The County Commission Auditorium is a handicapped accessible facility. If any accommodations are needed for persons with disabilities, please contact the Marion County Public Affairs Office at (352) 438-2300, a minimum of 24 hours prior to the hearing. Please be governed accordingly.

Harnessing health

The AdventHealth Ocala Foundation has established an equine worker health initiative.

By Tammy A. Gantt Special to the Gazette

Reducing barriers to health care for equine workers in Marion County is a top priority for AdventHealth Ocala and has led to the establishment of the Harnessing Health: Equine Worker Health Initiative.

The health initiative program will include a bilingual healthcare navigator to assess needs, build services, and bridge gaps of care for equine workers. The navigator will travel to various locations, including farms, to provide outreach and enrollment assistance to help workers navigate the health care system, in coordination with other agencies.

The hospital-funded health care navigator will operate a mobile clinic van to travel to local farms and provide onsite health care services to equine workers. The clinics will bring health care directly to workers, making the process more accessible and efficient.

Care provided by the mobile clinic van may include typical primary care such as well visits and physicals, common acute and chronic health issues, point of care tests for blood glucose, pregnancy, rapid strep, and immunizations, as well as wellness education. Equipment for the van includes exam tables, a standing exam light, privacy screen, a portable blood pressure machine, a portable pulse oximeter and defibrillator AED.

Starting in 2025, as part of AdventHealth Ocala’s first graduate medical education program, primary care residency training will include clinicians collaborating with the navigator to provide services to local equine workers.

“AdventHealth Ocala has stepped up to assist our farm workers in a way that I believe will impact their physical and emotional well-being for years to come,” said George Isaacs, AdventHealth Ocala Foundation board member and Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association president.

In addition to the Harnessing Health: Equine Worker Health Initiative, the AdventHealth Ocala Foundation is investing $10,000 to seed the hospital’s Care 360° program fund. Care 360° is a no-cost program that coordinates

transportation, meal delivery, and more for underserved patients, including the equine worker population.

As the foundation continues to advance whole-person health, there is an importance to expand services to include health promotion interventions, accessible care, and proactive outreach to the community’s equine workers. The initiative will provide crucial resources for a population of people who are disproportionally impacted by lack of access to equitable health care.

AdventHealth Ocala, the foundation and members of the equine industry including the FTBOA, Ocala Farm Ministry, and equine farms invite industry stakeholders to help support the initiative to make health care more accessible and to provide services for equine workers and their families by contributing to the program expense.

“Every donation makes a difference to help our nonprofit hospital deliver accessible healthcare to those who need it most on our farms,” said Jacqui de Meric, Ocala Farm Ministry board member.

For the program to launch, the cost of the mobile clinic van and medical equipment is $350,000.

Future needs include supporting the medical residents who will travel with the mobile clinic by providing educational resources and medical equipment necessary for their involvement. This expands AdventHealth Ocala’s opportunity to increase capacity to train future physicians, nurses, and other staff, encourage an environment in which clinicians can collaborate and intersect education and health outcomes.

The AdventHealth Ocala Foundation will continue to seek support for these additional needed resources.

AdventHealth Ocala’s strategic steps include establishing a two-year strategic plan and rollout which began in 2023, providing quarterly status updates with key performance indicators, engaging agency partners, assessing needs and gaps, hosting equine worker health fair, hiring a bilingual health care navigator, establishing health outreach and partnerships, and purchasing a mobile clinic van and medical equipment. The foundation will provide seed funding for

the Care 360° program fund and secure additional funds to develop the Harnessing Health Initiative.

“As we continue to advance wholeperson health, it is important to expand our services to include health promotion interventions, accessible care, and proactive outreach to our community’s equine workers.

The Harnessing Health: Equine Worker Health Initiative will provide crucial resources for a population of people who are disproportionally impacted by lack of access to equitable health care. We invite you to help us support this initiative by making it more accessible and better equipped to provide services for equine

workers and their families,” said Amy Mangan, foundation executive director.

To learn more, contact Mangan at (352) 857-5388 or amy.mangan@adventhealth.com. Interested donors can go to yourgenerosityhealsocala.com

2024 Student and Emerging Artist Exhibition award winners announced

The 2024 Student and Emerging Artist Exhibition ‘COMMUNITY’ award winners were announced Tuesday, April 23 during a reception and award ceremony hosted by the city of Ocala Cultural Arts Division at City Hall.

High School:

• First Place: “Grandma” by Miharn Oka

• Second Place: “When You Need a Hand” by Levi Come

• Third Place: “The Weekly Walk” by Juliana Henningsen

One to Three Years Active Art Experience:

• First Place: “Comunitron 3000” by

Jess Arcila

• Second Place: “Emerging Manatee” by Nick Conzone

• Third Place: “Lavender Dreams” by Karen Hoffman

Four to Six Years Active Art Experience:

• First Place: “Face to Face” by Westly Kessler

• Second Place: “Esquina de Abuela” by Carla Gonzalez

• Third Place: “Patience” by Patricia Teal

Best in Show:

• “Bad Balance” by Lillian Hart

Hospice of Marion County’s Chief Medical Officer Mery

J. Lossada has been selected as one of the winners of the 2024 Inaugural Memory Care Innovation Award.

The award, in the Hospice and Palliative Care Category by Senior Housing News, recognizes health care professionals to be featured in the WTWH Media Healthcare publications and attend the BRAIN Conference in Chicago, Illinois in May.

agribusiness professor honored with distinguished faculty award

Tavis Douglass of the College of Central Florida has been honored with the Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty award. Douglass is an associate professor and the program manager of the agribusiness program at CF. The national award recognized faculty who support students in and out of the classroom, participate in college committees and are committed to student success.

George Isaacs, an AdventHealth Ocala Foundation board member and president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, spends some time with weanlings in a paddock at Bridlewood Farm north of Ocala. The foundation has established the Harnessing Health: Equine Worker Health initiative. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Jaqui de Meric, a board member with the Ocala Farm Ministry, is shown during an early morning workout at De Meric Stables & Sales in northwest Ocala. The nonprofit ministry is one of the organizations involved with the Harnessing Health: Equine Worker Health initiative. [Alan Youngblood]

Lillian Hart, best in show winner for

“Bad Balance.”

[City of Ocala]

J. Lossada [LinkedIn]

Tavis Douglass [College of Central Florida]

Ocala/Marion County TPO requests public input

The organization wants citizen input into transportation needs for its 2050 plan to accommodate future growth.

By Belea T. Keeney belea@magnoliamediaco.com

Akick-off meeting to outline the Ocala Marion County LongRange Transportation Plan for 2050 took place April 23 with a variety of local representatives, county staff, elected officials and Ocala/Marion County Transportation Planning Organization speakers. A public survey webpage (surveymonkey. com/r/WX7TZHT) is live online and TPO staffers encourage people to voice their opinions and offer input into the transportation needs for the area.

The survey asks for basic demographic information, transportation habits and input on areas that need improvement.

A key element in long-rang planning, said William Roll, a senior project manager with Kimley-Horn and Associates, is the forecast for a big population increase in Marion County. The group uses population estimates and they reported a projected population of 422,00 in 2025. For 2050, its “medium-high” estimate is 559,000.

Transportation is not just roads and cars, the organization reminded attendees. Plans for bike paths, public transportation/buses, multi-modal paths and pedestrian walkways are some of the elements that affect an area’s transit efficiencies. Representatives from various county municipalities included city of Dunnellon Tim Inskeep; city of Ocala Council member Ira Bethea; Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano; Marion County Commissioners Matt McClain, Craig Curry and Chair Michelle Stone; and the meeting was led by TPO Board Chair and Ocala City Council member Kristen Dreyer.

Baseline Population Forecast (Draft)

What is the 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan?

The TPO Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) is the cornerstone of the transportation planning process for the Ocala/Marion County planning area. The LRTP serves as a twenty-five (25) year blueprint for transportation improvements for the entire county that considers all surface modes of transportation, including roadways, transit, bicycles, pedestrians, trails, and freight. The development of the LRTP is based on an extensive participatory process with input from partners, stakeholders and the general public.

The two core elements of the LRTP include the Needs Plan and Cost Feasible Plan. A project that is included in the Needs Plan must go through a careful vetting process to ensure it is supported by the community; and meets the approval of the elected TPO leaders. A Needs Plan project is further prioritized based on available funding and whether it effectively supports the vision and goals of the TPO. If a project meets these thresholds, it is identified in the Cost Feasible Plan and will be eligible for funding.

What will the LRTP Do?

The LRTP will...

• Assess the transportation system of Ocala/Marion County

• Identify growth/development scenarios for the future

• Identify multi-modal project needs from 2025 to 2050

• Document public and partner input and feedback

How to Get Involved?

Visit the TPO’s website: https://ocalamariontpo.org/ Here, you can participate in an Online Survey, Interactive Comment Map, learn about upcoming meetings, and review project documents as they become available.

Curry asked about the impact of tourists and visitors to the estimates and planning. Roll replied that seasonal residents and resulting traffic changes are included in the group’s plans.

Stone encouraged public participation in the survey and upcoming public meetings.

“We need your feedback as we plan our future,” she said.

The TPO staff is available to speak at group meetings. A community open house meeting is slated for September and details will be published when they are available.

According to the TPO website, “The Ocala Marion County Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) is a federally mandated agency responsible for coordinating transportation projects, including highway, transit, rail, bicycle, pedestrian, aviation and paratransit, throughout the county. The TPO allocates federal transportation funds and works to improve the region’s transportation system by developing a variety of plans and programs.”

A focused webpage about this project is at bit.ly/ocala-tpo-plan and includes an interactive map for input on specific intersections or areas of concern. The public is encouraged to offer feedback.

To learn more, go to ocalamariontpo.org

Project Timeline

Spring/Summer 2024

• Kick-Off Meeting (Apr. 23)

• Project Video 1 (Apr.) Public Survey 1 (Apr.)

• Comment Map (Apr.)

Fall 2024

• Community Open House 1 (Sep.) TPO Board Update (Oct.)

Winter 2025

• Public Survey 2 (Jan.)

• Community Open House 2 (Feb.) Spring/Summer 2025

• Draft Needs Plan (Mar.)

• Project Video 2 (Apr.)

• Draft Cost Feasible Plan (May)

Fall 2025

Draft LRTP Public Review (Sep.)

• TPO Board Presentation (Sep.)

• LRTP Adoption (Nov. 20)

Contact Information

Ocala Marion TPO

2710 E Silver Springs Blvd Ocala, FL 33470 352-438-2630 ocalamariontpo@marionfl.org

[Images courtesy Ocala/Marion County Transportation Planning Organization]

For Volunteer Appreciation Week, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office has expressed thanks to volunteers John Fernandez and Harlan Cook, who each gave over 1,000 hours of their time to volunteer at the sheriff’s office last year.

Fernandez has volunteered with MCSO for 18 years, much of which was spent listening to more than 200,000 recorded jail phone calls to aid the Jail Investigations unit. He contributed 1,290 hours of volunteering last year.

Cook has served the Emergency Management team as the leader of the Marion Emergency Radio Team, which is composed of skilled radio operators and communicators to support shelters, healthcare facilities and distribution during times of emergency.

FLORIDA NEWS

WILDLIFE OFFICIALS BACK LAND SWAP

State conservation officials agreed Wednesday to move forward with a Central Florida land swap that could lead to part of a mitigation area for gopher tortoises and wetlands being used for a road extension.

Over the objections of area residents and local officials, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission directed Executive Director Roger Young to finalize agreements with the Central Florida Expressway Authority that would result in 160 acres of the Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area in Osceola County being exchanged for 1,550 acres in the region.

The expressway authority is also expected to provide about $41 million to help manage land going to the wildlife commission and for additional land acquisitions.

Split Oak Forest is a 1,689-acre

conservation area in Orange and Osceola counties. The expressway authority is looking at the land to extend the Osceola Parkway. The wildlife commission holds what are known as conservation easements on the property.

Commission staff members estimated that about 60 acres of Split Oak Forest would be directly affected by the road.

Commission Chairman Robert Barreto said the agency will get about 25 acres in return for each acre directly affected by the road and warned that the expressway authority could seek to acquire the land through eminent domain “and we get nothing.”

Commissioner Gary Lester said the job of the commission isn’t to “manage growth in the state.” Meanwhile, “We’ve got staff coming to us telling us that this is a net benefit to what we’re charged with, which is fish and

CIVIC LITERACY COURSE CHANGE EYED

Florida university officials are slated next week to consider taking steps that could lead to an additional course offering to fulfill a civic-literacy requirement for undergraduate students.

In January, the university system’s Board of Governors added a history course called Introductory Survey to 1877 to a list of general education “core” courses that would fulfill social-science

wildlife,” Lester added.

But Commissioner Gary Nicklaus said that “before we do anything, it should have the support of the people it’s going to effect.” Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla said the expressway authority needs to reconsider the path of the road.

“The conservation easements established were meant to protect Split Oak Forest in perpetuity,” Bonilla said.

“To alter these without considering the full environmental costs and against the explicit will of the people would undermine the very purpose of our agreement.” The county commission in November sided with voters who in 2020 overwhelmingly backed protecting the forest against the expressway authority’s road plan.

The county commission had previously supported the road plan.

course requirements.

The history course replaced Principles of Sociology as a core course, after the board decided to remove the sociology class from the list.

During a May 8 meeting, the board is expected to consider approving a notice of intent to change a regulation that would add the history course as an option to fulfill required civic-literacy

coursework.

Under the proposal, students entering universities starting in the 2024-2025 school year could take the Introductory Survey to 1877 course, an American government course, or a course titled Introductory Survey Since 1877 to complete the civic-literacy course requirement.

John Fernandez (left) and Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods (right) [MCSO]

Expert ER Care

When does the human spirit show up? When minutes matter? In moments of bravery? In an expert’s hands? Maybe there’s no way to measure the human spirit, but we see it every day in our AdventHealth Emergency Rooms. If you or a loved one are injured or experience chest pain, stroke symptoms or severe stomach pain, go to your closest ER in Marion County. We’re here 24/7 to help you feel whole. In case of a medical emergency, call 911.

People, Places & Things

Ocala rider wins prestigious apprentice award from Jockey Club of Canada

By Johanna Huebscher Correspondent

Sofia Vives’ dream career as a jockey is off to a fast start after the 21-year-old from Ocala recently won the Sovereign Award for Best Young Apprentice Jockey from the Jockey Club of Canada.

“To win this one was pretty rewarding,” Vives said. “We work hard all year and I’m very grateful for the horses and the owners and trainers and everybody on the backside who can help us.”

Vives was honored April 18 at the Jockey Club’s 49th annual awards celebration. Last year, she was an Eclipse Awards finalist for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

Several members of the Vives family have been jockeys including her father Lazaro Vives, now retired, and an uncle.

“Watching my dad’s replays and races that he won is pretty mesmerizing,” Vives said. Growing up, she was always around the farms in Ocala and knew that she wanted to race one day.

“As a little kid, I knew this is what my dream was always to be. I always wanted to be the girl who could do the boys sports,” she said. Although more women are entering the sport, only around 12 % of jockeys in

the U.S. are female, according to a 2020 study in the Journal of Sports Economics.

“I wanted to go in and show the boys that I can be just as tough as them and here we are,” Vives said.

Vives started galloping horses at 17. In 2022, she rode 16 races in two weeks and won four of them. An apprenticeship, which is a jockey’s first year of riding races, starts after their fifth win. At the beginning of December, Vives stopped racing temporarily to improve her fitness back in Ocala before she started her apprenticeship.

Then, in April of 2023, Vives came back and rode the entire year. Apprentices have 365 days from their fifth win to win as many races as possible. According to Equibase, a horse racing results data base, in the last year, Vives rode in 764 races and won 126 of them. Horses that Vives races earned over $3.5 million.

She describes her career as unimaginable.

“We try to take advantage of all the opportunities that we’re handed,” Vives said. “Thank God I’m able to continue working hard and riding and hopefully God continues watching over all of us and allows us all to stay safe.”

Vives said her parents are her biggest influence.

“Both have had my back

through a lot of ups and downs,” she said. “They’ve always taught me through hard work and dedication, success will come for you in the end.”

Vives plans to continue riding and learning and “gain as much knowledge” as she can. Her season will last from May 27

through Dec. 16. She’ll race at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto and also at Fort Erie Race Track in Fort Erie, Ontario. Because of Canada’s cold weather, jockeys are not limited to 365 calendar days, but only have to count race days toward their year-long apprenticeship.

This allows Vives to effectively race two years instead of one and permits her to shoot for back-toback Sovereign Awards, a goal she’s set for herself. She hopes to one day win the Triple Crown.

“This career sometimes isn’t long lasting,” she said, “and I would love it to be my lifelong career.”

Successful street party

The Ocala Civic Theatre’s Escape to Margaritaville Block Party saw more than 400 people dancing in the streets of downtown Ocala.

By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com

arrot Heads rule!

PFans of the late Jimmy Buffett, known as Parrot Heads, took to the streets of downtown Ocala in a swarm on the late afternoon of April 28.

The Ocala Civic Theatre hosted the “Escape to Margaritaville” Block Party in conjunction with the stage production of “Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville,” which runs through May 19 at the theatre.

The block party, held at the intersection of Southwest Broadway Street and Southwest 1st Avenue, gave guests a fun afternoon under a brilliant sun with some definite changes in latitudes and attitudes, as noted in Buffett’s iconic hit recording.

“We had a great time at our ‘Escape to Margaritaville’ Block Party. About 430 guests were dancing in the streets and beach balls were flying through the air as downtown Ocala became a tropical oasis,” said Melody Murphy, OCT’s director of marketing and public relations.

“Legendary Jimmy Buffett tribute band Gary Roland and The Landsharks put on a fantastically fun and interactive concert. The OCT cast of ‘Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville’ had a blast performing a couple of numbers from the show with them and leading the conga line,” Murphy added.

Murphy said that every guest was greeted with a lei upon entering O’Malley’s Alley and that “the crowd was full of Hawaiian shirts, grass skirts and parrot hats.”

Percussion artist SeanT brought his steel drums and island rhythms to the O’Malley’s patio and the Brick City Center for the Arts courtyard, and The Black Sheep on Broadway kept the margaritas flowing as the VIP lounge for the event, Murphy noted.

“With prizes like two Margaritaville getaway vacations and a custom guitar autographed by the late great Jimmy Buffett, the raffle was extremely popular. Raffle tickets and block party event merchandise will be on sale through the run of OCT’s ‘Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville,’ live on stage,” Murphy stated. The play will run Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. through May 19.

To learn more, go to ocalacivictheatre.com

Sofia Vives capture’s her 5th win on the card guiding Sabatini to victory in the $125,000 dollar Star Shoot Stakes on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Sabatini is owned by NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods and trained by Josie Carroll. [Woodbine/Michael Burns Photo]

Clockwise from left: Gary Rowland and The Landsharks Band performs live on Southwest Broadway Street during the Ocala Civic Theatre’s Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville Block Party in Ocala on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Patrick Freal and Sammi Leclain sing along and dance to Jimmy Buffett songs as Gary Rowland and The Landsharks Band performs. Kathy Whoolery of Spencer, West Virginia listens to Jimmy Buffett songs with her Landshark hat and Parrot Head glasses. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

Teen testimony

The annual Citywide event drew an estimated 1,500 attendees for a concert-like celebration of faith.

By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com

Citywide, an annual rock concertlike high energy faith-based gathering, was held April 28 on the grounds of the Frank DeLuca YMCA Family Center in Ocala. An estimated 1,500 people or more, mostly teens, attended the free event, which was themed a homecoming and welcomed all students to gather for music, testimony, fellowship and prayer.

Matt Overfelt of Ocala United, a local student ministry, is a founder and member of a team of four event organizers. He stated in an email that the high-powered outreach began with just a handful of youth.

“Citywide began over a decade ago with a group of 20 students gathering in an old church building with nothing more than an acoustic guitar and hearts turned toward Jesus,” Overfelt wrote. “The Citywide Worship team is a remarkable picture of the culmination of incredible leadership being joined by the most talented young musicians and vocalists ever assembled in Ocala.”

Citywide typically incorporates youth and parents from numerous churches and schools in the area. Darion Glover accompanied his son, Billy, 13.

“This is outstanding and I’m a believer myself. Ocala needs more events like (Citywide), every weekend,” Darion Glover said.

Billy Glover sat in the center of the audience and stayed to the end. He said he has found Citywide to be “fun” and “powerful.”

Sydnie Gibson, 27, of Ocala, first attended Citywide in 2012 at age 16.

“Citywide changed my outlook. I became more concerned about serving others and volunteering (and) excited about what God had in store for me,” Gibson said.

“I looked forward to the event each year because it gave me an opportunity to worship with friends I normally wouldn’t because we went to different churches and invite friends that normally wouldn’t want to go to a youth group but I knew I could get them to agree to one night a year,” she wrote in a text message.

Dave Waller, with Ocala United, has been an organizer from the start and felt this year’s event was “the most special.”

Lane Redrick, 21, is on the Citywide organization team. He is part of the Ocala United ministry, a rancher and University of Florida student with a major in agricultural business. He feels this year’s Citywide was “awesome.”

A featured performer was musician Emery Robbins, an Ocala native and recent Top 50 contestant on “American Idol.” He played 12 contemporary praise songs. He also served as one of the four organizers this year.

Robbins said the event was meant by the team of organizers

as a chance for students from anywhere to gather and “encounter Jesus.” He said the reaction of students coming forward to pray was “phenomenal”

Danielle and Jordan Woods came to enjoy the evening. Danielle Woods is involved with The Rock Program, which is youth focused.

The musicians played under a covered venue with seating on the YMCA’s Sportsplex but a large number of people sat in lawn chairs and played in the surrounding open field.

Jamie Mennenga said Citywide is an “amazing event to bring youth together” where they can “tell their story.” Her sons Colton,14, and 12-year-old twins Caiden and Carson attended the event.

Rev. Donald Curran Jr., Rector of Christ the King Anglican Church in Ocala, shared a thought about Citywide as he walked through the venue, “Love it. Young people are involved, spirit is strong,” Curran said.

A high school student shared testimony with the audience and spoke about moral excellence, self-control and love for all. Song lyrics projected on a video screen behind the stage contained phrases such as “anything is possible.” A highly animated upbeat performance near the close included singer Joel Santana and had many students dancing or jumping up and down in their seats.

Overfelt said he “never imagined” the event would grow as it has in over 10 years. He said when people come to the event they are “part of the miracle.” He referred to the gospel about the Prodigal Son and said “you can always come home” to a heavenly father after any experience in life. He said the message he’d like to send to students is, “You are seen. You are loved.”

To learn more, go to ocalaunited.us

“Love it. Young people are involved, spirit is strong.”

Jr.

“This

is outstanding and I’m a believer myself. Ocala needs more events like (Citywide), every weekend.”

Notes on index cards were displayed during the Citywide gathering. [Andy Fillmore]

Cole Waldren, right, was a sixth grader who spoke at the first Citywide. He has since moved to Atlanta but was in town and was asked to introduce this year’s student speaker, Fay Redrick, a senior at Forest High School. [Andy Fillmore]

Darion Glover

Rev. Donald Curran

Earthfest: Celebrate Arbor Day at Tuscawilla Park in Ocala

Saturday, April 20, was a gorgeous day in Ocala. The sun was warm, the wind was light and a feeling of being appreciative of our local beauty was in the air.

The city of Ocala’s Earthfest: Celebrate Arbor Day event at Tuscawilla Park was the perfect setting for guests to enjoy activities that included tree giveaways and tree climbing, along with eco-friendly vendors. There also was a youth fishing derby, rock wall climbing, a live butterfly encounter, yoga in the park, live music and food trucks.

Ocala has numerous local parks that offer beauty and a place for respite or recreation. Learn more at ocalafl.gov/government/city-departments-i-z/recreation-parks

Meet Your Neighbor: Nathan Robinson

By Eadie Sickler Correspondent

Nathan Robinson is a young man whose interests are varied.

He loves hiking in the beautiful parks in the area and being in natural settings. He describes himself as somewhat shy, quiet, loves to cook, likes children and animals, especially cats, but doesn’t have any of his own currently.

Robinson, 34, was born in Ocala and graduated from Lake Weir High School. He studied for two years at the College of Central Florida and attended Rasmussen College, taking courses to become a pharmacy technician. He was employed in that field for a time with a local pharmacy.

“I do intend to go back to college to complete studies for a

degree in the future,” he shared.

Both of his parents are retired from careers in the educational field, but he doesn’t see himself going in that direction.

He has been employed in the fast-food industry and was a fry cook at a country club restaurant.

“I love to cook,” he said, with his favorites being salmon and other seafood.

Always a worker, Robinson is currently employed as a pest control technician.

“It is fun work,” he said, adding, “I like meeting people and problem solving.”

Robinson is drawn to storyboard art and film, pop culture and music. He especially enjoys western movies starring John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, to name a few, and other older media.

“I like humor, too,” he shared,

even having done some stand-up comedy.

“That was a fun experience,” he said with a smile.

His interests include listening to audio books and reading selfhelp books and biographies. He said he claims no political bias.

“We are all similar at the end of the day. We are all people,” he offered.

Robinson works out at a gym regularly and likes spectator sports, especially basketball.

He has a younger brother who lives in Ocala and is a teacher of children with special needs. His brother is married and has two children. Nathan’s older sister lives in Tennessee. She is married and is a stay-at-home mom for her three sons.

In his spare time, he enjoys home improvement projects. He lives in Silver Springs, in a house near his parents’ home, which once belonged to his grandparents.

“There is a lot of history there,” he noted.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

Clockwise from left: Ophelia Bias, 4, blows some bubbles at one of the children’s activity tables during Earthfest: Celebrate Arbor Day at Tuscawilla Park in Ocala on Saturday, April 20, 2024. Brian Cengiz, 6, blows some bubbles at one of the children’s activity tables.

Edwin Jiminez, 8, goes tree climbing in a large live oak. Shondre Wiggins, 3, left, and Khalil Williams, 5, center, play drum buckets with SeanTMusic Global, right.

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

By Michael Warren

government

MAY 6, 13, 20, 27

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

9am

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

MAY 7, 21

Marion County Board of County Commissioners

McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala 9am The commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes, and video are available at marionfl.legistar.com/calendar.aspx

MAY 7, 21

Ocala City Council

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala 4pm The council meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Ocala government agendas and minutes are available at ocala.legistar.com/calendar.aspx

MAY 7, 21

Belleview City Commission Belleview City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd, Belleview 6pm Meets the first and third Tuesday of the month; Belleview agendas, minutes, and video available at belleviewfl.org/200/agendas-minutes

MAY 8

Dunnellon City Council Meeting

Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 River, Dunnellon

5:30pm Meets the second Wednesday of the month; Dunnellon agendas, minutes, and video available at dunnellon.org/89/agendas-minutes

MAY 13

Ocala Planning & Zoning Commission

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala

5:30pm Typically meets on the second Monday of the month, with agendas are usually posted the Thursday prior. Agendas, minutes, and video available from ocala.legistar.com/calendar.aspx

MAY 14

Belleview Planning & Zoning

Board

Belleview City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd, Belleview

5:30pm Meets the second Tuesday of the month; Belleview agendas, minutes, and video available at belleviewfl.org/200/agendas-minutes

community

MAY 4

Workout with the Mayor Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala 9am to 10am Join Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano for the first in a series of workout events scheduled for the first Saturday of each month. Activities will include youth fitness classes, machine training for beginners, smoothie bikes, and special giveaways. Former NFL player and local business owner Clint Hart will also lead fitness activities. The event will conclude with a celebration of Mayor Marciano’s birthday, with free refreshments for guests. Attendance is open to the public.

MAY 4

Connecting Y(our) Water with Gabi Sullivan Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 11am to 12pm Gabi Sullivan, water resource coordinator for the city of Ocala, leads a presentation on the importance of water conservation. This event is free to attend for members and non-members as part of Free First Saturday activities. For more information, visit appletonmuseum.org/events/connectingyour-water.

MAY 11

Ocala Dog Ranch UpDog Tournament

Ocala Dog Ranch, 12404 SE 112th Ave Rd, Belleview Signups at 8:30am, Begins at 9am Bring your furry friend and test their skills with a series of games in this tournament. Pups of all ages and sizes can compete in various disc games and other events. $11 per game and $15 at the door. Up to two dogs can be registered by an individual. To register, visit ocaladogranch.com/home/ disc-dog/updog-tournament

MAY 11

Freedom from Recovery Festival Celebration Church, 12404 SE 112th Ave Rd, Belleview 10am to 2pm Substance abuse and other forms of addiction will be addressed and people who lost their

lives will be memorialized. In addition to people seeking help, the event will be open to everyone, with music, food, activities for kids and a raffle drawing. For more information, visit celebratebelleview.com

MAY 11

War in Paradise: WWII in Florida with Eliot Kleinberg Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 11am to 12pm Eliot Kleinberg spent more than four decades as a reporter, including more than 33 years at the “Palm Beach Post.” He produced two history columns and more than a dozen books about the state. This Florida Talks program is a partnership between Florida Humanities and the Friends of the Ocala Public Library. For more information, visit floridahumanities.org/event/war-inparadise-world-war-ii-in-florida-6.

MAY 11

DEC Marion County Annual Fundraiser Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala 4 to 7pm Festivities include speakers, silent auction, live music, and dinner and dessert. Entrees will feature meat and vegan options. Individual dinner tickets are $100. Learn more at mariondems.org/fundraiser

JUNE 14

2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration: Grown Folks A Night of Elegance

Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala 6 to 11pm Presented by The Sircle Inc., this black-tie gala celebrates the past, present, and future of African Americans. Featuring keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Joy L. Gallmon, former pastor at St. Paul AME Church, along with music by DJ Tony and performances by Orlando-based dance troupe Be Heard Through Movement. Three high school seniors will be awarded scholarships of $1,000 each. For seating and sponsorships, visit checkout.square.site/buy/ ERQRW3HURNLQWOEZABBW2C66

arts

MAY 3

First Friday Art Walk

Downtown Ocala, 1 SE Broadway Street

The last First Friday until September. Check out art displays, local creators, arts and crafts and other family activities, live music and more. This event is free and open to the public. Weather permitting. Visit ocalamarion.com/events/first-friday-art-walk for more information.

MAY 4

Free First Saturday at Appleton Museum

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

10am to 5pm

Entry to the museum is free for all patrons on the first Saturday of each month.

MAY 7, 21

Museum & Me Class at Appleton Museum

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

10:30 to 11:30am

Bring your preschoolers and introduce them to the world of art. Appleton Museum presents a special class for toddlers and parents alike, with a short, guided tour of the museum and fun arts-and-crafts activities. To register, visit appletonmuseum.org/education/museum-me-pre-k-program-8.

education

MAY 3

Senior Learners Summer Term Kick-Off

College of Central Florida, Bld. 20, Room 107, 3001 SW College RD, Ocala

1:30-3:30pm

Learn from the instructors at this free kick-off event. Guests will have the option to attend in-person or on Zoom. The in-person portion will be at the College of Central Florida, Building 20, Room 107. Attendees will be provided with refreshments. For more information and how to register, visit seniorlearners.org or call (352) 239-8780.

MAY 24

End of 2023-24 MCPS School Year

Kids and teachers go on summer break, with the new school year scheduled to begin for most Marion County schools on Monday, August 12.

MAY 28 - AUGUST 2

The Morris Center Summer Brain Camp 3019 SW 27th Ave Suite 202, Ocala Times may vary. This summer program is designed to help children who struggle with learning disabilities, such as slow reading, dyslexia, ADHD/ADD, and more. Pricing begins at $200 per week for half-day sessions and $250 per week for full-day sessions. For more information, visit themorriscenter.com/services/summer-camp/ocala or call (352) 332-2629.

things to do

MAY 3-19

Jimmy Buffett’s “Escape to Margaritaville” on stage

Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Showtimes vary Expect changes in latitude and attitude as the Ocala Civic Theatre presents this stage show. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for ages 18 and younger, which can be purchased online at ocalacivictheatre.com or by calling the box office at (352) 236-2274.

MAY 4

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Kentucky Derby Events at World Equestrian Center World Equestrian Center, 1750 NW 80th Ave., Ocala 11am to 3pm Two events are taking place at WEC to celebrate the milestone 150th anniversary of the “Running of the Roses.” Beginning at 11am, Join Festivals of Speed for a special car show. More than 200 exotic, classic, muscle cars, motorcycles and luxury brands will be on display in front of the hotel on pavers in the grand plaza. Get tickets at festivalsofspeed.com/events/derby-edition-ocala Then at 5pm, WEC hosts its annual Hat Party. Guests will be treated to elegant small plates, samples of Veuve Clicquot Champagne, and mint juleps. There will also be the option to purchase derby-day cocktails, beer, and wine from the cash bars. Ages 21+. Tickets include your choice of one derby hat or a bottle of Woodford bourbon (first-come, first-served.) To purchase, visit showclix.com/event/2024-kentucky-derby-hat-party-

MAY 4

May the 4th Be with You (Star Wars Screening) Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave., Ocala 1pm to 6pm Marion Theatre presents a special Star Wars event celebrating May the 4th. Recognizing the signature line “May the force be with you”, May 4th has become an annual worldwide celebration of the iconic film franchise. At Marion Theatre, fans will be able to participate in a trivia competition, along with drinks, music, and other festivities. The feature presentation

of “Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope” begins at 3:30. The film will play at Marion Theatre throughout the month of May. For more information, visit reillyartscenter.com/events/may-the-4th-be-with-you

MAY 12

Symphony Under the Stars Ocala Golf Club, 3130 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Gates open at 3pm; Concert begins at 7pm Celebrate Mother’s Day with the Ocala Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Matthew Wardell will lead the orchestra as they play an array of songs from classics to themes from hit movies and heart-warming melodies. Following the concert is a live firework show. Guests are encouraged to bring picnic supplies as well as beverages, although concessions will be available on site. Visit fafo.org/symphony-1 for more information.

THROUGH MAY 17

Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series Webb Field, 1501 W Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 7pm to 9pm Continuing each Friday through May 17, these are free family-friendly public outdoor concerts. A joint project from the city of Ocala, Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission, Juneteenth Celebration Committee and Marion Cultural Alliance, the concerts celebrate a diverse array of music styles from local and touring artists.

MAY 26

Ballet Coppélia Performed by Coeur Ballet Academy West Port High School, 3733 SW 80th Ave., Ocala 2 and 5:30pm Get ready to be enchanted by the classic ballet comedy of Coppélia, where magic meets mastery on stage. Join Coeur Ballet Academy’s first annual performance for a celebration of grace, laughter, and the captivating girl with doll-like eyes. Coeur Ballet Academy will be performing only two shows, a matinee at 2 p.m. and an evening performance at 5:30. For tickets, visit couerballetacademy.com

Derby doings

Here is a list of some local Kentucky Derby events, from hat contests to a campout

and polo.

to 3 p.m. on May 4 include a Derby hat contest. Your best Derby attire is encouraged for this family friendly occasion.

From 5 to 7:30 p.m., WEC is hosting a Kentucky Derby Hat Party on the terrace at The Equestrian Hotel. The Hat Party features chef-attended action stations serving elegant race-day small plates, including garden-cuterie, bourbon maple-stung fried chicken and more. Enjoy included samples of Veuve Clicquot Champagne and mint juleps, or purchase derby-day cocktails, beer and wine from the cash bars.

Tickets include your choice of one derby hat (available on a first-come, first-served selection basis) or a bottle of Woodford bourbon, as well as beverage samples, small plates of cuisine and sample mint julep. For tickets, go to showclix.com/event/2024-kentucky-derby-hat-party-

Very VIP

By Tammy A. Gantt Special to the Gazette

If you are not at the Kentucky Derby on May 4, the next best thing is a Derby-themed event in the Horse Capital of the World. With the 150th running of the Run for the Roses, there are even more events to choose from locally and we’ve broken them down by type to make it easier to find a perfect fit.

Large and family friendly

The World Equestrian Center’s Festivals of Speed Kentucky Derby automotive showcase will provide more horsepower to the world’s most legendary horse race, featuring more than 200 exotic, classic and muscle cars. Guests will experience automotive designs by Porsche, Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, Aston-Martin, BMW, Mercedes, and McLaren. The festivities from 11 a.m.

The Ocala Royal Dames for Cancer Research are hosting their Derby event on Saturday at GoldMark Farm in the Triple Crown Museum at 5290 NW 130th Ave. from noon to 3 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person and include Derby style drinks and edibles. RSVP to Bern Paraiso at (352) 216-5493. Farm owner Janelle and her husband Paul Bulmahn welcome guests to experience the pinnacle of horse racing achievement in the museum nestled within the enchanting GoldMark Farm.

Short drive

The Black Prong Resort Bar and Grill is hosting a Derby Soiree from 4 to 8 p.m. on May 4 and they encourage guests to dress in Derby finest for an afternoon of Woodford mint juleps, hors d’oeuvres, chances to win contest, Derby games, race day fun and race day coverage. Tickets are $45 (includes one drink) and are available on EventBrite. Dinner will be available for purchase. The Nagles, the owners of Black Prong, also have connections to horses in the race through their training center, Oak Ridge, with Just a Touch and Sierra Leone.

Casual golf resort vibe

All the televisions will be on the Derby at the Stone Creek Golf Club in Ocala for its celebration from 3 to 8 p.m. on May 4, which includes a traditional Derby menu of fried green tomatoes, deviled eggs, Kentucky hot brown sliders and the official drink, mint julep. Reservations are not required but are accepted and the clubhouse offers seating indoors and outdoors. Nicole Bring is available for more information at (352) 291-2140.

Sheep derby

Only in Ocala would there be a Derby Day Lamb Sale offered by Sacred Silence Farm at 6775 NW 21st St. Viewing of lambs will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the live auction kicks off at 1 p.m. While the event invitation shows sheep in fancy Kentucky Derby hats, we’re pretty sure the 35 lambs will be selling sans the hats, but there will be lambs for all budgets. Guests who wear a Derby Day hat will receive a prize. Lawn chairs are recommended, and lunch is available onsite.

Campout and polo

The Sun Country Trail Blazers of Ocala are hosting a Kentucky Derby campout from May 3 to 5 at the Seminole Wind Ranch at 29248 Fl-44 in Eustis, for more information, call (954) 263-3964. Bring your own horse.

The Ocala Polo Club is hosting a Get Derby With It Kentucky Derby party at 5 p.m. May 4 with a sunset polo match. Guests can bring their own fare, tailgate, or purchase from local food trucks onsite at the Florida Horse Park at 11008 S Hwy. 475 in Ocala. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash. Gates open at 4 p.m. Derby themed events on tap.

Betting

Ocala BetS, at 1781 SW 60th Ave., will open at 12:15 p.m. with wagering available on the Derby and more horse racing simulcasts from across the country, displayed on more than 100 televisions. A fast-casual menu and full bar service are available. Advance wagering for the Derby will be available on Friday, May 3.

Vast DNA tree of life for plants revealed by global science team

Scientists use 1.8 billion letters of genetic code to build groundbreaking tree of life.

By Jerald Pinson

Florida Museum of Natural History

Anew paper published in the journal “Nature” by an international team of 279 scientists led by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew presents the most up-to-date understanding of the flowering plant tree of life.

Using 1.8 billion letters of genetic code from more than 9,500 species covering almost 8,000 known flowering plant genera (ca. 60%), this achievement sheds new light on the evolutionary history of flowering plants and their rise to ecological dominance on Earth. The study’s authors believe the data will aid future attempts to identify new species, refine plant classification, uncover new medicinal compounds and conserve plants in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss.

The major milestone for plant science, led by Kew and involving 138 organizations from 27 countries, was built on 15 times more data than any comparable studies of the flowering plant tree of life. Among the species sequenced for this study, more than 800 have never had their DNA sequenced before.

“This is an incredible example of collaboration among the world’s botanists, and the result is new insight into plant evolutionary history,” said co-author Pam Soltis, a distinguished professor and curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville.

Whereas previous studies have often heavily relied on DNA from chloroplasts, the source of energy production in plants, researchers in this study sequenced DNA from nuclei. The latter can be difficult to analyze but it contains unique information about an organism’s evolutionary history.

“Most of our understanding of flowering plant relationships has come from sequencing portions of the chloroplast genome—this study in contrast provides data from numerous nuclear genes, the Rosetta stone we have long needed for interpreting the evolutionary history of this major part of the tree of life,” said coauthor and museum distinguished professor Doug Soltis. Unlocking historic herbarium specimens for cutting-edge research

Flowering plants alone account for about 90% of all known plant life on land and are found virtually everywhere on the planet—from the steamiest tropics to the rocky outcrops of the Antarctic Peninsula.

The flowering plant tree of life, much like our own family tree, enables us to understand how different species are related to each other. The tree of life is uncovered by comparing DNA sequences between different species to identify changes (mutations) that accumulate over time like a molecular fossil record. Our understanding of the tree of life is improving rapidly in tandem with advances in DNA sequencing technology. For this study, new genomic techniques were developed to magnetically capture hundreds of genes and hundreds of thousands of letters of genetic code from every sample, orders of magnitude more than earlier methods.

A key advantage of the team’s approach is that it enables a wide diversity of plant material, old and new, to be sequenced, even when the DNA is badly damaged. The vast treasure troves of dried plant material in the

world’s herbarium collections, which comprise nearly 400 million scientific specimens of plants, can now be studied genetically. Using such specimens, the team successfully sequenced a sandwort (Arenaria globiflora) collected nearly 200 years ago in Nepal and, despite the poor quality of its DNA, were able to place it in the tree of life.

More than 500 of the species sequenced for the study are currently at risk of extinction, according to the IUCN Red List. The team also analyzed specimens of species that are already extinct, such as the Guadalupe Island olive (Hesperelaea palmeri), which has not been seen alive since 1875.

“In many ways this novel approach has allowed us to collaborate with the botanists of the past by tapping into the wealth of data locked up in historic herbarium specimens, some of which were collected as far back as the early 19th Century,” said co-author William Baker, a senior research leader at Kew. “Our illustrious predecessors such as Charles Darwin or Joseph Hooker could not have anticipated how important these specimens would be in genomic research today.”

Across all 9,506 species sequenced, more than 3,400 came from material sourced from 163 herbaria in 48 countries. Additional material from plant collections around the world, including DNA banks, seeds and living collections, have been vital for filling key knowledge gaps to shed new light on the history of flowering plant evolution. The team also benefited from publicly available data for over 1,900 species, highlighting value of the open science approach to future genomic research.

Putting the plant tree of life to good use

The flowering plant tree of life has enormous potential in biodiversity research. This is because, just as one can predict the properties of an element based on its position in the periodic table, the location of a species in the tree of life allows us to predict its properties. The new data will thus be invaluable for enhancing many areas of science and beyond.

To enable this, the tree and all of the data that underpin it have been made openly and freely accessible to the public and scientific community, including through the Kew Tree of Life Explorer. The study’s authors believe such open access is key to democratizing access to scientific data across the globe.

Open access will also help scientists to make the best use of the data, such as combining it with artificial intelligence to predict which plant species may have molecules with medicinal potential. Similarly, the tree of life can be used to better understand and predict how pests and diseases are going to affect the plants of a given region in the future. Ultimately, the authors note, the applications of these data will be driven by the ingenuity of the scientists accessing the information.

“Plant chemicals have inspired many pharmaceutical drugs but still have great untapped potential to aid future drug discovery,” said co-author and Kew senior research leader Melanie-Jayne Howes. “The challenge is knowing which to investigate scientifically in the search for new medicines out of the 330,000 flowering plant species.”

To learn more, go to floridamuseum.ufl.edu

Claire Rogers of Orlando, 6, sits behind the wheel of a vintage VW Beetle during Festivals of Speed at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala on Saturday, May 7, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

Music and margaritas

By Lisa McGinnes lisa@magnoliamediaco.com

Ocala Civic Theatre’s season wraps with the musical written by a yacht rock legend.

“This show is an absolute blast!” That’s how Ocala Civic Theatre (OCT) guest director Eb Madson described “Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville,” the season finale that features campy comedy set to a score of more than 20 of the late singersongwriter’s greatest hits.

“It’s a romantic comedy. It’s cheesy; it’s fun,” Madson said of the jukebox musical. “This show shouldn’t take itself too seriously at all. It’s the party at the end of the season.”

Madson, who has great memories of listening to Jimmy Buffett with his dad on camping trips, said, “This has been a really cool show to be part of.” He invites theatergoers to “come with your Hawaiian shirts on, ready to have a few drinks and enjoy the party.”

When the show opens, singer Tully, played by Christian Gonzales, and bartender bro Brick, played by Janik Buranosky, are living the good life at the Margaritaville island resort, where work barely interferes with the nonstop party fueled by tequila and a steady stream of pretty tourists. They’re joined by resort manager Marley, played by Alexis Medina, and busboy Jamal, played by Jordan Watson, along with barstool beach bum J.D., played by Patrick Stanley, plus the high-energy ensemble made up of a dozen singers and dancers.

Serious scientist Rachel, played by Adrienne Hebert, and her BFF, Tammy, played by Courtney Curtis, arrive from Cincinnati for one last girls’ getaway before Tammy’s wedding, and, while the sunseekers find the rundown resort to be not quite as luxurious as described

online, they hit it off with the help and hilarious hijinks ensue.

Intermission leaves the audience with multiple cliffhangers: Do they know where they’re gonna go when the volcano blows? Will dubious dieter Tammy ever get her cheeseburger in paradise? Does Tully tell Rachel his feelings are more long-term than lust? Can Crocs-withsocks-wearing J.D. catch the eye of island queen Marley? And will he ever find his lost shaker of salt?

The laid-back rom-com is a lively romp through hit after toe-tapping, trop-rock hit including “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” and “Son of a Son of a Sailor” right up through the closing scene, which feels like a concert with the audience invited to clap and sing along.

The eight-piece orchestra, led by OCT music director Jason Bartosic, lends a Caribbean sound. Encouraged by costume designer Amanda Jones to wear bright colors, beachwear and Hawaiian prints, the musicians are featured prominently on a riser onstage rather than in the orchestra pit.

“It makes us a part of the show, and that’s fun for the musicians,” Bartosic said. “We’re actually in the environment. Everyone loves Jimmy Buffett. Everything of his is recognizable, especially everything in this show. And it’s a whole lot of fun and just one big ol’ party.”

Margaritas will be on the menu at the concession stand, and OCT will continue its Starlight Series on Thursdays for this show. On May 2, 9 and 16, the preshow event will offer patrons a chance to enjoy free live music on the outdoor patio behind the theater, with food and drinks available for purchase beginning at 5:30 p.m. Impact Island Café will serve Caribbean cuisine and SeanTMusic Global will play island rhythms.

OCT held its first block party on April 28, with Jimmy Buffett tribute band Gary Roland and The Landsharks playing for a crowd of around 430 people in downtown Ocala, inviting the cast to join them on stage and give the audience

a preview of the musical.

“Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville” is live on stage May 2-19 at Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd. For tickets, visit ocalacivictheatre.com or call (352) 236-2274.

Crossword

Jumble

Gasoline Alley

Broom Hilda

Middletons

Animal Crackers

Cindy Barndt listens to Jimmy Buffett songs with her toy parrot on her shoulder as Gary Rowland and The Landsharks Band performs live on Southwest Broadway Street during the Ocala Civic Theatre’s Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville Block Party in Ocala on Sunday, April 28, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.

DIVISION

Deceased.

No. 24CP000440AX Division Probate NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Guillermo Gomez, deceased, whose date of death was October 10, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is Post Office Box 1030, Ocala, Florida 34478. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

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

The date of first publication of this notice is April 26, 2024.

Personal Representative: Vivian Anne Gomez Cottrill 5350 Reserve Dr. Dublin, Ohio 43017

Attorney for Personal Representative : Alexis Gonzalez E-mail Addresses: alexis@gonzalezlaw.biz Florida Bar No. 68861 Gonzalez Law, PL 1750 Coral Way Miami, Florida 33145 Telephone: (305) 858-4512

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF LYNDA SUE DELLHEIM File No. 2024-CP000719 Division PROBATE

Deceased.

NOTICE

BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of this notice is May 3, 2024.

for Personal Representative: Personal Representative:

(407) 574-8125

Fax: (407) 476-1101

E-Mail: jeanette.mora@fff.law

Secondary E-Mail: probate@ familyfirstfirm.com Laurel Walther 585 Grand Central Station Apex, North Carolina 27502

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF

CARLOS RODRIGO FIALLO

File No. 2024-CP-1247

Division PROBATE Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of CARLOS RODRIGO FIALLO, deceased, whose date of death was November 5, 2021, is pending in the Circuit Court for Palm Beach County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 205 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of this notice is May 3, 2024.

Attorney for Personal Representative: Personal Representative:

SAMANTHA SHEALY RAUBA, ESQ.

Attorney Florida Bar Number: 59503

McGraw Rauba & Mutarelli, PA

P.O. Box 4440

Ocala, FL 34478

Telephone: (352) 789-6520

Fax: (352) 789-6570

E-Mail: Samantha@LawMRM.com

Secondary E-Mail: Kathy@LawMRM. com

MARYANN L. FIALLO 7456 SW 101st Court Ocala, Florida 34481

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA IN RE: ESTATE OF PROBATE DIVISION

EDMUND ESANNASON, SR. (A/K/A EDMUND ESANNASON)

Deceased. Division: NOTICE TO CREDITORS

File Number: 24CP000129AX

The administration of the Estate of EDMUND ESANNASON, SR. (A/K/A EDMUND ESANNASON), Deceased, whose date of death was September 25, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is P.O. Box 1030 Ocala, FL 34478. The names and addresses of the Personal Representative for said Estate and the Attorney for said Personal Representative are respectively set forth below.

All creditors of the Decedent and other persons having claims or demands against the Decedent's Estate upon whom a copy of this Notice is required to be served must file their claims with this Court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

All other creditors of the Decedent and other persons having claims or demands against the Decedent's Estate must file their claims with this Court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of this Notice is

Attorney for Personal Representative: Personal Representative: Leona Esannason

BARRY A. DIAMOND, #471770 1713 N.W. 20 th Avenue

LAW OFFICES OF BARRY A. DIAMOND, P.A. Ocala, FL 33475 Coral Springs Professional Campus 5541 N. University Drive, Suite 103 Coral Springs, Florida 33067 Telephone: (954) 752-5000

Newspaper Notice of ERP Permit application.

Notice is hereby given that the Southwest Florida Water Management District has received Environmental Resource permit application number 888659 from Mr. Matt Grow, Airport Director, Ocala International Airport, 1770 SE 60 th Avenue, Suite 600, Ocala International Airport, Ocala, FL 34474. Application received: February 16, 2024.

Proposed activity: Commercial. Project name: Ocala North Development Road. Project size: 3.01 acres, Location: Section 17 Township 15 South, Range 21 East, in Marion County. Outstanding Florida Water: no. Aquatic preserve: no. The application is available for public inspection Monday through Friday at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North, Tampa, Florida 33637 or through the “Application & Permit Search Tools” function on the District’s website at www.watermatters.org/permits/ . Interested persons may inspect a copy of the application and submit written comments concerning the application. Comments must include the permit application number and be received within 14 days from the date of this notice. If you wish to be notified of intended agency action or an opportunity to request an administrative hearing regarding the application, you must send a written request referencing the permit application number to the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Regulation Bureau, 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North, Tampa, Florida 33637 or submit your request through the District’s website at www.watermatters.org . The District does not discriminate based on disability. Anyone requiring accommodation under the ADA should contact the Regulation Bureau at (813) 985-7481 or 1(800)8360797, TDD only 1(800)231-6103.”

MARION COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO

HOLD THREE HIRING FAIRS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL POSITIONS

Marion County Public Schools to hold three hiring fairs for instructional positions

Staff report

Three upcoming hiring fairs will offer instructional positions throughout Marion County Public Schools at various grade levels and subject areas to qualified candidates.

The fairs are scheduled for May 9, June 13, and July 18, all Thursdays, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (May and June) and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (July) at the Klein Conference Center at the College of Central Florida, located at 3001 SW College Rd., Ocala, 34474.

Face-to-face interviews and conditional job contracts will be offered on-the-spot to candidates who meet state- and district-mandated teaching requirements.

Registration is not required, but applicants are encouraged to visit www.marionschools.net to register before the event.

For more information about the hiring process and to view available positions, please visit www.marionschools.net or email Tonya.Nunn@marion.k12.fl.us.

OCALA’S PARKING GARAGE DEEP CLEAN CAUSES PARTIAL CLOSURE

City of Ocala to close downtown parking garage for three days for deep cleaning

Staff report

The City of Ocala will be closing the downtown parking garage for three days starting on Tuesday, May 7 for extensive deep cleaning.

The garage, located at 296 Broadway St. will remain partially closed until Thursday, May 9, with signs in place advising drivers of parking deck closures. The restricted areas of the parking garage will be marked off with appropriate devices, and vehicles parked in these areas will be towed at the owner’s expense.

The city says that during this time, visitors may still utilize parking throughout the downtown area, with approximately 478 on-street parking spaces available throughout downtown and midtown.

For more information on parking in the downtown area, you can contact the City of Ocala’s parking division at 352-629-8488 or parking@ocalafl.gov.