Memorial Day Monday, May 29.
Marion County Commissioner Jeff Gold tendered his resignation to the board chair on Tuesday, effective after the last board meeting in July.
Jeff Gold has had a long career as a first responder in law enforcement and fire services well before being elected as a Marion County commissioner in 2016. Over the years, he has witnessed more than his share of horrors, some of which take longer than others to process.
Gold recalls arriving at an accident scene once where three children were trapped in a car that was on fire. Despite his best efforts, including sustaining burns himself, he could not rescue the children. Experiences like that, he said, especially when children are involved, stay with him.
Marion County Fire Rescue Chief James Banta can relate to the anguish.
“Sure, I drive down certain roads, and
I recall what tragedy happened there,” he said. “You don’t just forget.”
The unique emotional challenges of being a first responder, coupled with other traditional workforce pressures such as an understaffed team struggling with an overwhelming workload, have all become part of the discussion as Marion County leaders search for ways to help those who come running when the rest of us are in danger.
Focusing their attention are two suicides within MCFR less than two weeks apart in January. There have been four deaths classified as suicides within the department since 2019; however, other department losses have left lingering questions about whether that figure is inaccurate.
Banta noted that suicides have increased among firefighters and
paramedics nationwide, even while it’s often difficult to track which deaths are suicides. The Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA) estimates that only 40% of firefighter suicides are reported.
The 2017 Ruderman White Paper on Mental Health and Suicide of First Responders found first responders, including law enforcement, are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. The report said a main reason why some first responders avoid mental health services that could help them cope with trauma is a stigma, real or perceived, about seeking help within a profession that prioritizes bravery and toughness.
Banta wants to overcome those barriers for the men and women in his department. He said meeting the emotional and mental health needs of his members has risen to
See Firefighters, page A4
barbecues,” Durand said. He noted that the observation of Memorial Day began as Decoration Day.
The article “How ‘Decoration Day’ became Memorial Day” at Military. com states the first official Decoration Day observance was held May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery.
according to the article.
Durand’s family history is steeped in military service. His maternal grandfather, Glen Paulich, served in WWII and parachuted into Normandy on D-Day. His father, Edward Gene Durand, a career Air Force veteran, served two tours in the Vietnam War. He died in 1995 at age 49 from nonservice-related causes.
Gold wrote in his letter to Curry, “I have achieved everything I can as Marion County Commissioner and feel I can better serve the community, as well as the state and nation, in other capacities.”
He told the “Gazette” that he had no immediate plans to share other than continuing to volunteer his time as a first responder in Marion County.
During board comments at the close of the May 2 commission meeting, Gold expressed frustration about the political jockeying that goes on behind the scenes. He did not answer direct questions from fellow commissioners about his intentions to run again.
Gold, a Republican, was first elected in 2016 as commissioner in District 3, which includes the Belleview area. He won a second term in 2020 against Bobby D. Dobkowski, capturing threequarters of the vote. His second term expires in 2024.
Marion County Supervisor of Elections Wesley Wilcox said in situations such as these, the governor would appoint someone to serve the rest of the term. Interested applicants do not have to live in the district. The application can be found at flgov.com on the “Appointments Office.”
Marion County Commission Chair Craig Curry told the “Gazette” he was sad about Gold’s decision. “I love Jeff Gold. He’s a solid guy, and I enjoyed working with him.”
Gold has a long career as a first responder, both in fire service and law enforcement, and he has been recognized with multiple medals of valor and other commendations from various agencies.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.comEdward Durand, a 20-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran whose family’s service to country spans four generations, will be thinking of his fallen comrades on Memorial Day.
“I’ll be paying respects to the friends I lost during my service,” Durand said.
Durand plans to attend the Memorial Day ceremonies at the Ocala/Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, which will begin at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 29.
“Memorial Day is not about
“May 30 was a day touted by the Grand Army of the Republic, an association of Union Civil War veterans, as an official day of remembrance for people across the country. The idea was to honor the war’s dead by decorating the graves of Union soldiers,” the article states. It indicates the observance was accepted by all former Union states by 1890 and became known as Memorial Day to “honor all fallen American troops.”
The 1968 Uniform Monday Holiday Act specified Memorial Day would be held on Monday and “codified the name Memorial Day into law,”
See Remembering, page A3
WHAT:
Memorial Day Remembrance Program
WHEN:
10 a.m., Monday, May 29
WHERE:
Ocala/Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, 2602 SE Fort King St., Ocala
WHO:
Marion County Veterans Services, (352) 671-8422
Gold also has earned a doctorate of education and healthcare administration and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice, and has performed undergraduate coursework in the areas of business, fire science and emergency medicine. Yet, he shared that he’s considering more “educational opportunities.”
“The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.”
- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black in New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)
Publisher Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
Evelyn Anderson Account Executive evelyn@magnoliamediaco.com
Bruce Ackerman Photography Editor bruce@ocalagazette.com
Allen Barney Reporter allen@ocalagazette.com
Staff report
The 2023 Fallen Officer Memorial event to honor Marion County law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty was held Thursday, May 18, at the McPherson Governmental Complex on Southeast 25th Avenue in Ocala.
The memorial service honored those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect others, as well as the families of the fallen. It included prayers and addresses by local officials and chaplains for law enforcement and fire rescue organizations. The presentation of colors was given by an honor guard. The service also included the playing of taps and a helicopter flyover. The service took place adjacent
to a permanent stone monument in front of the Tax Collector’s office, upon which is inscribed many of the names of local officers lost in the line of duty. A roll call of Marion County’s fallen officers included James George Binnicker, Perry Bostick, Burrel Dawkins, Jared Forsyth, Henry Gordon, Roscoe H. Hargett, Bill Hudson, Bill Hutson, Roscoe H. Hargett, Nathan Hattaway, Brian R. Litz, Edward Porter Jr., Chelsea Richard, Bill Rutherford, C.M. Starry M.O. Tuck, A.O. Warren, R.L. Wooten and Curtis Youngblood. Morrey Deen served with the Ocala Police Department from 1973 until 2003 and as Ocala Chief of Police from 1995 to 2003. Deen said in a phone interview that in the early 1970s, then Ocala police
chief K.C. Alvarez and Marion County Sheriff Doug Willis wanted to see a memorial set up to pay respect to those who gave their lives and be sure their sacrifice “was never forgotten.”
The memorial service was started 50 years ago, in 1973, Deen stated. An announcement was made at the opening of the event to acknowledge the landmark anniversary and the work by local law enforcement to establish the memorial.
To watch a video of the service, go to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at bit.ly/MCSO_FB
Marion school district increases budget for free meals at public schools.
By Lauren Morrish lauren@ocalagazette.comMarion County public school officials have raised the district’s food budget $3.5 million so students can continue to receive free breakfasts, lunches and, at some locations, after-school meals.
The additional money, on top of $8 million the Marion County School Board previously approved for food services this school year, are needed to offset rising food and fuel costs, district officials told the board on May 9. The $3.5 million will come from U.S Department of Agriculture child nutrition program funds.
Marion County Public Schools’ Department of Food and Nutrition Services aims to provide healthy food alternatives for students to encourage academic success. These items include fruits and vegetables, grains, baked foods, milk, juice, and more.
Supervisor of Food Services Jamie Lovett said an average increase of 30% to 40% in prices of food and supplies is driving the rising expenditures.
Lovett shared other components, such as the department’s delivery fee tripling since 2019. The price grew from $1.27 to $3.85 per case delivered to each campus. With trucks and vehicles transporting the cases, the surcharge cost of gas per delivery has been factored into the expenditure as well.
The district not only provides students with breakfast, lunch, and options for both meals throughout the academic year but also provides an after-school meal program, which has been expanded, leading to an increase in costs. In 20212022, just five locations with students who stayed after school received a full meal. In the 2022-2023 school year, this option was provided at 36 sites.
“We will continue to monitor the expenses and make decisions accordingly to ensure we are financially responsible with our funding,” Lovett said.
The department has contracted since 2014 with P.O.W.E.R Buying Group, or PBG, which procures, stores, and delivers food service products and supplies weekly to public and charter schools in the district. PBG provides USDA-approved nutritional
meals for students and purchases the items at a reasonable price needed to supply breakfast and lunch options.
A supporting vendor, Sysco Jacksonville, Inc. of Florida, works with PBG to provide distribution services. For this fiscal year, $7,192,685 has been paid to the vendor, according to the school board agenda item for the increase that was submitted.
The district has been approved to receive $379,690 from the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services through the Supply Chain Assistance Funding Program, or SCA. On Nov. 8, 2022, the school board approved this award’s original amount of $857,743. Through this second award, the total aid package has increased to $2,101,289. The funds are provided through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program to school districts facing supply chain disruptions.
Rosemarie Dowell Reporter rosemarie@ocalagazette.com
Ron Eddy Account Executive ron@magnoliamediaco.com
Andy Fillmore Reporter andy@ocalagazette.com
Julie Garisto Reporter julie@magnoliamediaco.com
Greg Hamilton Editor greg@magnoliamediaco.com
Susan Smiley-Height Editor susan@magnoliamediaco.com
Belea Keeney Reporter belea@magnoliamediaco.com
Lauren Morrish Reporter lauren@ocalagazette.com
Cheryl Specht Client Services Guru cheryl@magnoliamediaco.com
Amy Harbert Graphic Designer amy@magnoliamediaco.com
News tips tips@ocalagazette.com
Distribution Inquiries info@ocalagazette.com
Follow us @ocalagazette
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. ocalagazette.com
©2023 Ocala Gazette, LLC
Ocala Gazette (USPS# 25590) (ISSN 2771-1595) is published weekly by Magnolia Media Company, LLC, 1900 SE 18TH AVE STE 200, Ocala, FL 34471-8235. Periodicals postage paid at Ocala, FL. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Ocala Gazette, PO Box 188, Ocala, FL 34471.
The Ocala Gazette invites you to share your important news events with the community. Email your submissions to info@ocalagazette.com. Please include your name and contact information on the submission.
• Letters to the editor: 200 words or less.
Honorable Mentions: 150 words or less about an individual or organization accomplishment in the business, education, community service, athletics or other area of endeavor. Attach a photo of the individual or group being honored, if available.
Upcoming events: Are you holding a charitable or community event that is open to the public? Include the organization hosting the event as well as the time, date and a brief description of the event, along with registration information or other important instructions.
• News tips: Include whatever information you consider relevant.
The May 18 memorial service that paid tribute to those lost in the line of duty was the 50th annual observation in Marion County.The annual Fallen Officer Memorial Service was held May 18 in Ocala. [Mark Anderson, Marion County Public Relations]
Continued from page A1
“I have a flag which flew over the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., in honor of my father,” Edward Durand said.
Durand’s brother, Joseph Durand, served 12 years in the Marine Corps. Durand’s son, Joey, is in the Marine Corps and stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. A plaque with a photograph of the two, both in their Marine uniforms, is labeled “Like Father, Like Son.”
Edward Durand, 55, was born in 1967 while his father was deployed at Royal Air Force Base Alconbury in England. He joined the Marine Corps in 1985 at age 17, while the family lived in Rancho Palos Verdes, on a special program, and was in boot camp in California “while the rest of my class was walking across the stage in commencement ceremonies.”
He served mostly as an air crewman in CH-46 Boeing dual rotor helicopters, which can carry 25 combat ready troops or supplies, and logged more than 3,700 hours in the aircraft on various missions. His deployments include three Western Pacific tours in 1987 and 1989, to areas including Southeast Asia and Thailand.
On a third Western Pacific tour in 1991, Durand became involved in the Gulf War, flying support operations. He was awarded his first National Defense Medal for his service in the Gulf War as well as a decoration from the government of Kuwait. In 1994, he again was involved in operations in the Persian Gulf when Saddam Hussein began to gather forces.
“We operated 24 helicopters 24/7 to make it appear like we had many more aircraft than we actually did,” he said.
In 1996, he made another Western Pacific tour and then was assigned to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. After that, he, was transferred to the Eastern U.S. and served on Marine One from 1997 to 1999, transporting President Bill Clinton. In 2002, Durand served a six-month tour in Iraq during Operation Enduring Freedom and earned his second National Defense Medal. He later was involved in training combat troops and retired as a staff sergeant in December of 2005.
“It was the best 20 years of my life. I’d do it all over again,” he said. Durand and his wife, Jennifer Durand, both retired, he in 2017 and she in 2020, from the California Department of Social Services. They sold their home in 2021 and then traveled nationwide for a year in recreational vehicle before they settled into a house in Anthony, just north of Ocala.
Todd Belknap, of Ocala, served on the same ship, U.S.S. Belleau Woods, as Durand, in 1987. Although the two were not acquainted at the time, both are now Ocala/Marion County Veterans Park volunteers. Belknap is marketing and communications director for the Friends of the Marion County Veterans Park Foundation and Durand is on the foundation board.
To learn more about the foundation, go to marionvetpark.com
The Florida Department of Health in Marion County (DOH-Marion) on May 1 published the 2023-26 Marion County Community Health Improvement Plan, or CHIP.
Drawing from data found in Marion County’s 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment, the plan identifies specific goals that are intended to help the community achieve better health outcomes over the next three years, the news release stated.
More than 35 representatives of community organizations assisted in developing the CHIP goals, objectives and activities. Steering committee members represented organizations involved in health care, local government, social services, education, law enforcement and business.
The CHIP establishes 10 goals under four strategic priority areas: Healthy Aging (HA)
Goal HA1: Increase supportive care and services for the aging population.
Goal HA2: Promote healthy, active aging for all ages.
Access to Care (AC)
Goal AC1: Enhance access to healthrelated resources.
Goal AC2: Reduce primary care provider shortages in Marion County. Wellness and Primary Prevention (WP)
Goal WP1: Broaden availability of life skills and technical training for Marion County residents.
Goal WP2: Foster healthy behaviors to lower chronic disease prevalence in Marion County.
Behavioral Health (BH)
Goal BH1: Reduce high utilization calls of the 911 system from adults for mental health services.
Goal BH2: Educate providers and the community on the availability and accessibility of behavioral health programs and services in Marion County.
Goal BH3: Expand access to behavioral health care facilities.
Goal BH4: Advocate for the adoption of a comprehensive tobacco control policy for Marion County’s K-12 schools.
To read the entire plan, go to marion.floridahealth.gov
Since last week’s edition, we have received updated voting numbers in the House District 24 special election following the canvassing board’s first official results dated May 18. Unofficial results from the Marion County Supervisor of Elections Office show Ryan Chamberlin received 6,685 votes, winning the special election for House Seat 24.
Although there were 1,886 total write-in votes, only 883 votes were for
the only qualified write-in candidate, Robert “Foxy” Fox. Although it is not the highest number of votes ever cast for a write-in candidate, it is a record-setting percentage of voter turnout in a write-in candidate’s favor.
Notably, 190 ballots were cast blank.
There were no Democrats in the race. Out of 133,738 registered voters in House District 24, only 8,761 cast ballots–a voter turnout of 6.55%.
On May 17, during an event held at the College of Central Florida, United Way of Marion County recognized 2022-23 Annual Giving Chair Jared Konstanty, president/CEO of Signature Brands, for raising $1,420,000 in support and pledges.
Konstanty thanked Annual Giving Cabinet members Donna Cress, Lindsey Fields, Bill Paul and Kyle Yancey. Annual Giving Ambassadors included Shane Alexander, Peggy Bourne, Michelle Colbert, Katie Hunnicutt, Laurel Lingle, Jennifer Martinez, Brian Riedl, Kristy Rowland, Lisa Seiffer, Michelle Stone, Niki Tripodi, Shy Wheeler and Dr. David Willis.
Many individuals and organizations were recognized for their workplace campaigns, individual giving, grants and special events.
The city of Ocala received The Chairman’s Award for best practices supporting annual giving. City employees raised more than $80,000 for essential services impacting education, financial stability and health.
The Changemaker of the Year was
presented to Publix Charities and Publix Associates. Publix raised more than $472,000 for United Way of Marion County and $58 million nationwide. This year, United Way received $62,000 for the Public Education Foundation of Marion County and Community Partnership School at College Park Elementary School.
The Phyllis Ewers Community Service Award was presented to Monica Bryant. The award was established in 2019, recognizing a female leader for volunteer service and a champion of women’s and children’s services. Bryant is coordinator of the Family Violence Prevention Network Group of the Marion County Children’s Alliance.
Robert Haight, president and CEO of United Way of Marion County, thanked CF President James Henningsen for serving as the chair of the board of directors, and many others, and presented Chris Riopel with The Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Adam Woods, with Gulf Atlantic Bank, was announced as the 2023-24 Annual Giving Chair.
responded by myself with a truck to a nearby grass fire because everyone else was on a high priority call,” he said.
MCFR Capt. Joe Romani, supervisory president for the Professional Firefighters of Marion County,
“But I don’t like that those guys aren’t responding under safer conditions,” he said. “It’s one of the reasons I’m such a union supporter.”
An unsustainable workload
MCFR is responsible for providing not only fire services for unincorporated Marion County but also ambulance services for the entire county, including the city of Ocala. And as previously reported, the department has struggled to stay fully staffed as it competes with other counties for trained workers.
Marion County also is experiencing a population boom, and a greater demand for fire and medical services, all without any significant increase in its first responder workforce. At a recent county commission workshop, the MCFR reported to commissioners that from 2010 to 2022, they had an 8.06% increase in budgeted positions while their call volume increased by 65.17%.
Continued from page A1
the top of his very long list of needs for MCFR. “Many have expressed concerns that low pay, workload, mandatory overtime, lack of sleep, substance abuse and PTSD could be examples of the root cause,” he said at a news conference in February. “These are all valid issues.”
The “Gazette” asked Banta how he planned to make an impact on the mental health of his department.
“By controlling the things we can control,” he said, adding that fire officials are looking for ways to ramp up mental health resources and adjusting policies regarding discipline for substance abuse.
Gold, who this week announced plans to resign his commission seat by the end of July, spoke about the unique nature of the job. He said he knows long hours, sleep deprivation, eating on the run and the emotional gut punches eventually catch up with those who must be ready to go on a moment’s notice.
“You know, I’ve heard people say that firefighters get paid to sleep,” he said. “Well, they should test how quickly they can rise from a sound sleep and be in a vehicle, on their way to a call within a minute. That’s not sleeping. People should try it sometime.”
Following the recent suicides of MCFR
Firefighter Paramedics Allen Singleton and Tripp Wooten, the International Association of Firefighters, or IAFF, the labor union representing firefighters and medical service personnel, issued a statement about conditions within MCFR.
“Marion County firefighters have a workload double that of larger departments in Florida, yet they have
Be a friend.
Volunteers are needed to provide patient support for in-home, facility or hospice house visits, or to make phone calls.
It’s rewarding knowing you have brightened someone’s day, helped out with an errand or simply checked in.
half the workforce. And, due to forced overtime, Marion County firefighters are working close to 70 hours a week.
… Firefighters need the resources to do the job well, including a fair wage and the funding to recruit and retain a workforce. This ensures we can always answer the call, it is what municipalities owe our firefighters, their families and our communities.”
In addition to the admonition to address workload and work conditions, the IAFF described two issues as “overarching” for the department. The first is a lack of trust in management. Many members expressed the fear of asking for help due to a perceived distrust of management and the idea that help will come in a punitive form. The second is a lack of trust in the Peer Support Team. Many members expressed views that the Peer Support Team is used to gather information that could be relayed to management as a breach of confidentiality.
Those concerns echo conversations the “Gazette” has had with MCFR members, particularly union leadership, over the past year when they have expressed distrust in county administration and the county commission.
This week, the county and union have come to a tentative agreement to support retention efforts. Additionally, the fire department is also looking for the commission to implement a fire services impact fee and rethink its fire assessment to financially support MCFR’s needs. The fire assessment, added to each property owner’s tax statement, is reevaluated every five years. Impact fees would be assessed against developers when they set out to build a new structure.
MCFR Capt. Joe Romani, supervisory president for the Professional Firefighters
of Marion County, told the “Gazette” that, “I think what contributes to mental health strain is continually being asked to do things with the most basic resources.
For example, the National Fire Protection Agency says that the fire engine should have four people on it. Marion County budgets for four, but we only have three. But then I’ll need to send one of those three to help an ambulance and I’m down to two firefighters on a truck. And we respond with just the two. Hell, I’ve even
The volume of calls during the usual 56-hour work shift is a big challenge for some Marion County stations, which are experiencing twice the number of calls that is considered safe. Making matters worse, the department is shorthanded by roughly 31 positions every day.. This requires the crew members to work mandatory overtime after their 56 hours.
Year to date, MCFR men and women have worked more than 14,000 hours of mandatory overtime according to union representatives.
Commissioner Gold said the numbers were a shock to hear.
“I think, as a board, the past few years we were so focused on our struggle to fill positions that we lost touch on how the increased workload factored into that
equation,” he said. “I think, in hindsight, it seemed bad politically to have so many open positions, and that is why it got more attention than the call volume increase.”
Romani said union membership is increasingly asking to understand funding mechanisms for the county’s fire services such as impact fees and fire assessments because they want to understand why some of the most basic resources cannot be provided.
During a recent Marion County Hospital District board meeting, during a conversation exploring resources available to improve mental health services for members of the department, County Commissioner Kathy Bryant said, “If you asked the union, money fixes the problem” to the immediate workload capacity dilemma.
MCHD board chair Rich Bianculli responded rhetorically, “But when the problem is fixed [staffing shortage], and they aren’t worth as much, who’s stuck with the bill?” To which Bryant replied, “That’s what I’m saying.”
Up to this point, substance abuse has led to an automatic dismissal for an MCFR
member. But Banta said the department is adjusting that policy and is now looking at substance abuse as a mental health issue. His team is looking for a “last chance” option that would allow for addiction treatment before automatic dismissal.
At a recent town hall meeting for the department, Banta encouraged the men and women in the MCFR not to hold back from speaking up if they saw one of their fire family struggling with substance abuse. He hoped that amending the policy would make more firefighters comfortable being proactive in helping each other.
One firefighter during the town hall asked how that substance abuse treatment would impact a person’s potential for promotion. Banta said he was unsure now as the policy was still being developed. Currently, those in the department seeking mental health support must go through their health insurance.
Banta said that through peer support efforts the department is trying to take away some of the hurdles first responders may face when seeking mental health help, whether they be financial or access under their unique time constraints.
Both Banta and Gold said the support of their family over the years has been key to maintaining their mental health. That support, however, can be strained when a 100-hour workweek leaves their families frustrated about managing a household without them.
“Station family” and the “brotherhood” continue to play significant roles in maintaining a member’s mental health, and the recent losses have hit the MCFR hard. In addition to the recent suicides, the department has lost significant numbers of experienced personnel to other agencies in the state.
With each loss, there is an impact on morale and the department’s culture.
“Losing someone you’ve basically lived with for a third of your life…yeah, it’s going to be difficult,” said Romani, who has been in the fire service for 22 years.
He pointed out that “station family” is particularly important to young workers.
“I’ve got two paramedics under the age of 25 making life and death calls in the field,” Romani said. “That’s a lot for a 25-year-old who may or may not have
a support structure. That’s why it’s so important to have people in the field with experience working along with them.”
Romani said the habitual mindset of a firefighter paramedic to just “make things work” on one hand while feeling like “you don’t have support or that you’re in this on your own or that nobody understands what you’re going through, that compounds this mental health issue that they might be having other issues outside of work.”
Firefighters are often called heroes. Does that title place additional burdens on first responders?
“I don’t think anybody in the actual field carries that word,” Romani said. “Some of us are here for a job. Some of us are here because it’s the most exciting job they can find. Some because it’s something you’ve always wanted to do since they were they first saw the fire truck from elementary school.”
Banta, a 30-year fire service veteran who worked his way up in Marion County, told the “Gazette” that a lot has changed about the mental health conversation since he started.
“You know the old ways of suck it up buttercup when I started have drastically
changed. Then, there was no conversation. You would go to bad calls and see very bad things. It was only the camaraderie around the station, your station family, that usually supported you through all that.”
Banta said previously, there “was really no acknowledgment of, hey, these things 20 or 30 years down are still going to be troublesome.” But in the last 15 years, there has been a progressive shift to address the issue, such as debriefs to help process incidents.
“I think we have to be strong for the community, and sometimes that makes it hard to admit we need help. We’re all human. We’re all vulnerable and we all need some sort of support. As the fire chief, I have to be strong. Yet, it’s also important for me to show that I get help if I need it,” he said.
Banta said he tries to stress to his crews that they remember, “Yes, we are involved in a lot of bad things, but we do so much good. In the same shift, you could deliver a baby on one call and then be the last person to speak to someone before they die on another.”
He quickly added, “The responsibility is powerful, but it’s really the best career in the world.”
352-537-8111
“I’ve got two paramedics under the age of 25 making life and death calls in the field. That’s a lot for a 25-year-old who may or may not have a support structure. That’s why it’s so important to have people in the field with experience working along with them.”
Joe Romani MCFR Captain
The annual Rainbow River Cleanup, held May 20, saw scores of volunteers dredge up possibly the least amount of junk in the event’s 38-year history.
Jerry Rogers, president of the Rainbow River Conservation (RRC), sponsor of the event, said the trash levels on the river have progressively gone down over the last number of years.
“Volunteers collected about 150 pounds of refuse, compared to perhaps hundreds of pounds in earlier years,” Rogers said in a phone interview. He said he feels that education efforts may be paying off and that when people see or make trash, they now often “pick it up.”
RRC is a nonprofit that seeks to “protect and preserve the water quality, the natural beauty, the riverbed, and the flood plains of the Rainbow River through education,
conservation, stewardship, and advocacy,” according to its website.
Rainbow River Raiders and Current Problems, the latter a group founded in 1993 to clean the Santa Fe River, were both represented at the cleanup. Current Problems has collected 1,022,848 pounds of waste in an effort to keep Florida’s wetlands and waterways clean in the last 30 years, according to current problems.org.
Some of the more notable items collected Saturday on the Rainbow included:
* Most Harmful Item: Large slab with spikes collected by Rainbow River Raiders
* Most Unusual Item: Complete snakeskin, collected by Rod Jones
* Largest Amount of Trash Collected by an Individual: Madison McCafferty, large bag of glass bottles)
* Largest Item: Wood slab, found by Rainbow River Raiders Rogers said most of the things found were “personal
items,” like a cellphone and sunglasses.
Dr. Mark Knapp and his wife Debbie Knapp, members of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Rainbow River Patrol, participated. In patrolling over the years, Mark Knapp has “always been impressed in how pristine the river is because of the tremendous efforts of the RRC and (the) sheriff’s department,” he stated in a text.
Rogers said the volunteer turn out this year was one of the best ever, with about 150 people participating. The youngest was Jackson Whitehurst, age 6.
Rogers and his wife Faye were part of the crew that prepared a hot dog lunch for the participants. He said the large number of volunteers was reflected in the serving arrangements.
“We ran out of forks,” he said with a chuckle.
To learn more, go to rainbowriverconservation.org
The Marion County school board has approved spending nearly $2 million on learning materials from two educational curriculum companies in a move to enhance student academic achievement.
At its May 9 meeting, the board approved requests from the Marion County Public Schools Elementary Curriculum, Instruction & Digital Learning Department for a $1 million agreement with Teacher Created Materials, Inc., or TCM, and a $900,000 agreement with IXL Learning, Inc. The contracts’ provisions and the department’s access to the materials are for the 20232024 fiscal year.
The Elementary Curriculum, Instruction & Digital Learning Department oversees over 30 Marion County elementary schools and supplies the resources necessary for a successful educational environment.
Director of Elementary Curriculum
Debra Riedl advocated for these partnerships, noting that the price tag ensures schools were covered for any additional expenses. The department uses state funds through Florida Education Finance Program dollars for reading course funding. Title I funds supply individual schools’ spending apart from the department’s purchases.
The TCM curriculum is created by teachers for other teachers and their students to use. Specifically, it uses the Language Power curriculum to build proficiency for students learning English and students with learning disorders. A vocabulary support approach for summer school enrichment camp is also utilized. Another purchase for the enrichment camp from the company is Readers Theater kits, which have interactive scripts
students can act out.
The department is also investing in the company’s new program Summer Scholars, to provide third grade reading camp students with a divergent approach to English Language Arts, or ELA, through 25 prepared lesson plans.
The aim of the agreement with TCM is literacy proficiency and language acquisition and connections. Students practice speaking, reading, listening, and writing, engaging them with fun activities. Another component of the curriculum is for families. Parents can access additional development methods in English and Spanish to provide enhanced learning at home.
The agreement with IXL Learning makes ELA, math, science, and social studies subjects available to students in grades K-12 through a personalized teaching tool and learning engine.
“There’s an extensive video library where students have access to over 1,800 video tutorials,” Riedl said. “Tutors actually walk through concepts for students.”
IXL also allows teachers to track student progress and individualize instruction based on the results. An e-learning library is available with more than 40 videos for instructors and includes recommendations
on ways to motivate students. School leaders and administrators can also oversee the growth and progression of students. Professional Development training sessions with an IXL representative and teachers are recorded for further instruction.
“We’re going to beef up the training for this program next year and make sure that our students really are utilizing it and getting the most out of it so that they can experience success,” Riedl said.
Board member responses
The board weighed in on IXL’s contributions to student success.
Board member Lori Conrad said as a teacher she used this learning program almost daily with students. She said IXL is a luxury because skills below, and exceeding, the targeted grade level, can be practiced, establishing a better understanding of the material.
“I was teaching fourth, but I could assign third or second grade skills for practice. The same is true for excelling. I could assign a sixth or a seventh-grade math lesson if needed,” she said. “As a fourth-grade teacher, I felt that the curriculum moved very fast and IXL
provided a lot of practice for our students, which is needed.”
Conrad and School Board Chair Allison Campbell shared that the achievement levels in IXL, which aim for 100% completion, can be lowered to lessen the frustration when students are unable to complete a skill. They told Riedl this constructively to help educators apply the same change if needed and to make them aware of this area of potential student frustration.
Board Vice Chair Nancy Thrower applauded the department’s aim for continuous student improvement.
“I’m noticing a pattern tonight, it’s a great one,” she said. “We are being asked to approve literally millions of dollars in solid curriculum initiatives that will stand the test of time, and I love hearing the component of providing the training to the teachers and staff so that they can become very fluent with it.”
IXL Learning is digital and can be accessed both at school and at home, so students can continue learning and practicing up to the 8,500 skills available through the program at any time.
“You have to build the foundation before you can cap it off with a great roof,” Thrower said before voting to approve the contracts.
MCPS strategic plan
Marion County Public Schools set a strategic plan from 2021-2026 to maximize student success. The plan encompasses five goals, and these two agreements with educational corporations promote goal 1, which is student success.
The student success goal works to, “increase student achievement, opportunities, access, and equity,” as defined on the MCPS site.
Both TCM and IXL fuel this goal by strengthening core instruction, developing systems for data-driven instruction, engaging students, and ensuring the readiness of students at different levels, as outlined under goal 1.
Marion County Public Schools students, especially the seniors, are looking forward to the end of the 2022-2023 school year.
Many of these scholars devoted the years of their first through 12th grade studies to the pursuit of excellence and high academic achievement.
The students listed here are this year’s valedictorians, those who achieved the highest ranks in their graduating classes. We congratulate them on their success.
Belleview High School:
Zoya Baty
Jacob Brewer
Kyla Clark
Annemarie Emerson
Macy Fraunfelter
Brantley Overcash Jr.
Mikayla Register
Dunnellon High School:
Matthew Rapp
Forest High School:
Megan Griggs
Hallie Miller
Ava Pizzuti
Evangeline Ryan
Lake Weir High School:
Arely Rodriguez- Landaverde
North Marion High School:
Adrian Ascencio Jr.
Vanguard High School:
Megan Allard
Abigail Andal
Alexis Ashley
Martha Baxley
Chelsea Catabia
Ellison Conrad
Karan Doshi
Kamal-Eldeen Elmallah
Diana Gegaj
Sara Jiva
Daisy Jones
Emma Joyner
James Kearin
Peighton Labagh
Marleigh Martinez
Kaylee McCord
Benjamin Milbrandt
Audrey Miller
Chloe Minas
Kavi Miryala
Kush Miryala
Ragghuv Nandur
Kendall O’Connor
Addison O’Neal
Drashya Patel
Saanj Patel
Svar Patel
Sophia Reed
Alexandra Rudnianyn
Leah Sheridan
Vaughn Sirkis
Ahimsan Sivasekaran
Lanford Slaughter
Thya Tran
Kelci Walther
Litian Zheng
West Port High School:
Amy Chang
Victoria Goodrich
Vivek Sandrapaty
The state Board of Education on Wednesday approved a new rule that will lead to Florida officials publishing an annual list of library books and instructional materials that have drawn public objections, in a move that the board’s chairman said will “provide transparency for our families.”
The rule will carry out part of a controversial 2022 law (HB 1467) that increased scrutiny of school library books and instructional materials, amid a broader push by state officials to weed out inappropriate content. Last year’s law, in part, was designed to give parents and the public increased access to the process of selecting and removing books and other materials.
“A lot of these books that have been removed by districts have been for pornographic or graphic materials that don’t belong in schools, but it is done at a local level,” state Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., said during Wednesday’s meeting.
The new rule adopted Wednesday provides reporting guidelines for districts to give information to the state about materials that have been objected to.
For example, districts will be required to report the bases for objections, including whether books and materials were challenged under claims that they contained pornographic content or were inappropriate for a grade level or age group.
Districts also would have to report the “rationale for removing,
discontinuing, or limiting access to the material or not taking any of these actions.”
The state Department of Education ultimately will compile a list of all books that are removed or discontinued as a result of objections and, as a requirement of the law, “disseminate the list to school districts for consideration in their selection procedures.”
Under the rule, districts by June 30 of each year will be required to report their objection lists to the state Department of Education. The department subsequently would publish the statewide objections list by August 30.
State Board of Education Chairman Ben Gibson touted the rule as allowing for a “standardized reporting mechanism” statewide.
“It does continue to provide transparency for our families. It will also give us a way to post that material, which is required,” Gibson said.
But the larger push to ramp up scrutiny of school-library books and other materials has drawn strong objections from groups that advocate for First Amendment rights.
A federal lawsuit filed last week included plaintiffs such as the freespeech organization PEN America. The challenge alleged that Escambia County’s school district violated the First Amendment by removing or restricting access to more than 150 library books.
“Ensuring that students have access to books on a wide range of topics and expressing a diversity of viewpoints supports a core function of public education, preparing students to be thoughtful and engaged citizens,” the organization
said in a statement Wednesday.
Meanwhile, new requirements related to the process of restricting or removing books soon will be coming online in Florida.
A new law (HB 1069) signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last week includes a requirement that any books objected to on the bases that they contain pornographic material or describe “sexual conduct” be removed within five days of an objection and remain unavailable to students until the objection is resolved.
The measure is slated to take effect in July.
The incoming requirements came up during a brief discussion between state board member Grazie P. Christie and Paul Burns, a chancellor with the state education department.
“When a person, when a parent or member of the district objects to a work, how soon does the school district have to respond? I mean, I can imagine a scenario where you find an objectionable book and you know that your third-grader has access to it, and you’re worried about every day that goes by that your third-grader is walking by that pornographic book, for instance,” Christie said.
Burns noted that each district is responsible for setting their own policies about objectionable materials.
“I will say that, I’m kind of foreshadowing here, that you might see us coming back to this board. Because there was some legislation … that’s going to continue to help with this work,” Burns replied in part.
Members of the Board
Honorable Jeff Gold Board of County Commissioners, District No. 3
Honorable Craig Curry Board of County Commissioners, District No. 1
Honorable Nancy Thrower School Board, District No. 4
Citizen Member Gwendolyn Dawson Business owner with in the school district
Citizen Member Valerie Dailey Homestead property owner
The Value Adjustment Board (VAB) meets each year to hear petitions and make decisions relating to property tax assessments, exemptions, classifications, and tax deferrals.
All values should be county taxable values. School and other taxing authority values may differ.
*Include transfer of assessment difference (portability) requests.
If you have a question about these actions, contact the Chair or the Clerk of the Value Adjustment Board.
Chair’s name Jeff Gold Phone
Clerk’s name Gregory C. Harrell
ext.
Astatewide pediatricians association is pushing back in federal court against the Florida House’s efforts to obtain internal communications showing how the group adopted standards of care for the treatment of gender dysphoria.
House Health & Human Services
Chairman Randy Fine, R-Brevard County, issued subpoenas last month, amid efforts by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican legislative leaders efforts to wipe out care such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgical procedures for transgender minors.
Fine issued the subpoenas after House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, directed the committee to launch an investigation into standards of care adopted by Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Florida Psychiatric Association.
The pediatricians’ group filed a federal lawsuit, arguing that the communications sought by the House are speech protected by the First Amendment.
Compliance with the subpoena issued to the group would result in “disclosure of the position of individual members with respect to a controversial political issue,” which “not only violates the First Amendment rights of those individuals but can reasonably be expected to discourage future membership in the association,” Tallahassee attorney Barry Richard, who represents the pediatricians, wrote in the challenge
filed May 1.
The subpoenas are aimed at getting information related to guidelines established by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, or WPATH, and the Endocrine Society. Dozens of medical groups — including the two Florida groups targeted by the House — point to the WPATH guidelines, which have been revised eight times over the past two decades, to support the treatments.
The subpoena issued to the pediatricians’ group seeks communications regarding “the development, endorsement, and recommendation” of the standards or “reflecting disagreement or skepticism” by the group’s members or other healthcare practitioners of the standards of care. Fine’s committee is also asking for communications related to the group’s “consideration and rejection of the view that the standards of care should not include gender-affirming care.” The House also is requesting communications “that reference social media, peer influence, or other social influences relating to gender dysphoria in children and adolescents.”
The pediatricians association contends that the effort to compel the group to disclose “communications, positions, and thought processes among its members with respect to a matter that has become the subject of public and political controversy” violates the doctors’ speech rights. The group has asked U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor to issue a preliminary injunction blocking the subpoena.
“It is well settled that the First Amendment prohibits government, in the absence of a compelling state interest, not only from directly suppressing speech and association, but from doing so indirectly by demanding disclosure of private communications or otherwise taking action that can reasonably be expected to intimidate persons into refraining from exercising their rights of speech and association,” the lawsuit said.
But in a response filed last week, the House committee argued that the state “has well-established, compelling interests in the practice of medicine within its borders and in the health and welfare” of Florida children.
“If a group of Florida practitioners are employing and promoting the use of novel and seemingly harmful procedures on minors, the House undoubtedly has authority to investigate,” David Axelman, general counsel for the Florida House, wrote. “The House’s concern, of course, is that medical organizations in Florida may be parroting and promoting ideological standards that are thinly disguised as medical standards and then manufacturing a false ‘consensus’ to encourage the widespread adoption of harmful medical practices. That is profoundly a matter of state concern.”
Richard, however, disputed the House’s rationale in a reply filed Tuesday.
“Those types of amorphous justifications, unsupported by evidence, could be used by the state to justify invasion of anyone’s First Amendment rights,” he wrote.
The “private communications”
As he entered the 2024 race for the White House, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed a major elections bill that places additional restrictions on voterregistration groups and helps clear the way for him to run for president without resigning from office.
The 96-page bill, passed by the Legislature in late April, is a continuation of a years-long effort by DeSantis and Republican lawmakers to make elections-law changes that they contend are necessary to prevent wrongdoing. Democrats, meanwhile, argue the moves are aimed at making it harder to vote and target Black and Hispanic people.
Democrats also harshly criticized part of the bill (SB 7050) that changed what is known as the state’s “resign-to-run” law to help clear the way for DeSantis’ presidential bid. The governor filed federal paperwork for his candidacy Wednesday.
Florida law has said any state officeholder who “qualifies for federal public office must resign from the office he or she presently holds if the terms, or any part thereof, run concurrently with each other.” But the bill created an exemption for candidates for president or vice
president, effectively allowing DeSantis to avoid having to submit his resignation as he runs for president.
During a debate on the bill last month, Democrats argued the Legislature should not create an exemption to benefit only DeSantis, noting that state lawmakers in the past had to submit their resignations to run in special elections for congressional seats.
“If you’re going to do it (change the law), you should really consider at least evening the playing field for others, not selectively carving it out for one man,” Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, said on April 28. “I’m not going to change a law for one man.” DeSantis signed the elections bill and 19 other measures Wednesday without any comment.
Other contentious parts of the bill are directed at “third-party” registration groups that help people sign up to vote.
Under the bill, voter-registration groups could face a maximum of $250,000 in fines each year — five times the current $50,000 annual cap — for violating laws such as failing to submit completed registration applications to elections supervisors on time.
The measure shortens from 14 to 10 days the length of time groups have to turn applications in to supervisors and imposes a $50-per-day fine for each application that is turned in late. The groups also
will have to issue receipts to people when collecting voter-registration applications.
During debate on the measure last month, Democrats pointed to research that indicated one out of 10 Black voters and one out of 10 Hispanic voters use third-party groups to sign up to vote. They argued the increased penalties are designed to make it harder for Black and Hispanic voters to cast ballots.
Also, Democrats said proposed changes are aimed at keeping Republicans, who hold supermajorities in the House and Senate, in control. The bill is designed to “achieve the outcomes that the people in power want,” Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Windermere, said during an April 26 debate.
“This really is suppression. It is suppression, just like poll taxes. That was suppression. Just like violence against people who wanted to vote was suppression. Just like intimidation when you had the Ku Klux Klan march through certain communities was suppression,” Thompson, who is Black, said. “So I see different characters but the same objective, and that’s to make sure that only certain people vote.”
But Senate Ethics and Elections Chairman Danny Burgess, a Zephyrhills Republican who helped shepherd the bill, disputed Democrats’ objections.
between “identified private persons” linked through a “private association” are protected by the First Amendment, Richard argued.
“Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority,” Richard wrote, quoting from a 1988 U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
The House’s requests for information are similar to legal wrangling over records in a lawsuit challenging the DeSantis administration’s decision to prohibit Medicaid coverage of treatments for gender dysphoria for children and adults. The federal government defines gender dysphoria clinically as “significant distress that a person may feel when sex or gender assigned at birth is not the same as their identity.”
A federal judge in February sided with the state and ordered national medical groups to provide testimony about how the guidelines for the care were established. The groups’ appeal of the ruling remains pending.
The subpoena fight also comes after DeSantis signed a package of bills on LGBTQ-related issues. One of the measures builds on rules adopted by state medical boards that ban doctors from using puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery for children diagnosed with gender dysphoria.
Another measure, sponsored by Fine, aims to block venues from admitting minors to drag shows. An Orlando restaurant has filed a federal lawsuit challenging that new law.
“This bill does not and will not hinder anyone’s right to vote, nor would I ever subscribe my name to something that could even remotely be concluded to be voter suppression. There is nothing in this bill that makes it harder for a lawfully registered voter to cast their ballot,” he said.
The bill also shortens the time for voters to request mail-in ballots and eases campaign-finance reporting requirements for candidates and political committees.
A coalition of three-dozen groups recently asked DeSantis to veto the bill, arguing it would hurt the state’s elections and voter-registration organizations.
“Today, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law SB 7050, which will do widespread harm to Florida’s elections, especially the important work of community organizations who register people to vote who may not traditionally get involved in the democratic process,” Brad Ashwell, Florida state director of the group All Voting is Local, said in a Twitter post Wednesday.
The bill-signing marked the third year in a row that DeSantis and Republican lawmakers approved elections overhauls. Last year’s version included fulfilling a DeSantis request to create a first-of-itskind Office of Election Crimes & Security to investigate alleged voting irregularities.
When your child needs medical care, you want to be confident they are getting the best care and expertise available. At AdventHealth Ocala, we offer a range of pediatric services for children of all ages, conveniently located close to home. So, your littlest loved ones can get the care they need and back doing the things they enjoy most.
n Dedicated Pediatric ER
n Urgent Care
n In-home Urgent Care
n Virtual Care
n Labor and Delivery
n Level II NICU
n Pediatric Cardiology
n High Risk Pregnancy
n Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy
Learn more at AdventHealthOcala.com
“Marion County is a special place. We have so much here. Everywhere you go, you find arrowheads and shards from all the indigenous people who lived here thousands of years ago.”
By Julie Garisto julie@magnoliamediaco.comAmemorable landscape doesn’t just capture a detailed view of the outside world. It reflects an artist’s inner world, illuminated, and dappled by the magic of imagination.
Such an interplay of the real and the otherworldly comes through in Gary Borse’s paintings. His works hang everywhere from state collections to galleries across Florida to the Harn Museum of Art gift shop at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
The most recent of Borse’s landscapes — “Moonrise Melody,” “Night Light,” “Cypress Rhapsody” and “April Showers” — are currently on exhibit at C&C Fine Art Gallery in Ocala.
“Painting what you see and what you feel at the same time is like walking the fence,” he explained in his artist statement. “If you fall one way, you will have what everyone sees, and if you fall the other way, you will have what everyone feels. Therefore, you must stay on the edge of the fence.”
From palm trees bathing in moonlight to cypress stands and pine forests, Borse captures the beauty of a Florida landscape through his mind’s eye, interpreting scenes with vibrant colors and subtle specks of sunlight and moonlight that add shimmer to the water and leaves in his works.
He has also painted horses for Ocala’s Horse Fever and a violin for the Florida Orchestra.
As we toured his living room and studio, Borse showed off his majestic stand-up bass from his jazz days, sharing that he also played guitar in rock bands. A lifetime of paintings adorns the walls between Asian, eclectic sculptures, and colorful keepsakes. The woody aroma of Palo Santo infused the air, courtesy of wife, Lily Van Halen, a licensed massage therapist who specializes in lymphatic draining massage. Dogs of all sizes — Walker collie hounds Jake and Elmo, rat terrier Petey, a Griffey named Gigi and a chihuahua named Obe Juan Kanobe. —scampered about, adding cheer to the colorful yet calming home.
Outside his serene abode, Borse has helped spearhead an effort to save majestic land encompassing the Marjorie A. Hoy Memorial Park at Orange Lake Overlook (OLO) in McIntosh. He and his cohorts rescued the land from development and helped the Alachua Conservation Trust take over the scenic expanse known for its old windmill, located off U.S. 441. He’s continuing to work with the trust in hopes of acquiring more land adjacent to the OLO, which may one day qualify it as a federal wildlife refuge.
“Marion County is a special place,” he emphasized. “We have so much here. Everywhere you go, you find arrowheads and shards from all the indigenous people who lived here thousands of years ago. I find ’em all the time at OLO. You find little pieces of
things of arrowheads, ax heads and bird points. So, we know that there were thousands and thousands of people that lived on that hill.”
Up until the past decade, Borse cattle farmed on his idyllic property in Reddick/northwest Marion County.
“I wanted be away from the city, away from corporate America, and I wanted to paint pictures,” Borse said. “I’ve always wanted to be just painting pictures, but I had to raise my family. I was a single parent at the time.”
Borse’s daughter Katherine, now 40, lives in Tulum, where she works with yoga and acupuncture. His son Brian, 38, lives in Gainesville, where he translates five dialects of Chinese full time.
Having recently sold a large portion of the land and horses, Borse and Van Halen have a little more time to spend time relaxing by the pool in a patio blessed with one of the most sweeping views of the area’s rolling hills and pastures.
Borse’s downtime was well-earned.
“I had 40 head of cattle, and I had horses,” he shared. “It seemed like every day there was a storm with trees falling on the fence. You’re always fixing the fence. You’re always doing the work all the time. ... You grow your own hay every year and cut your own hay. So, with all these things that you have to do, it’s 24 hours a day. That’s why they call it animal husbandry.”
A former draftsman, Borse was born in Chicago in 1950. He studied art at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and the Art Institute of Chicago. He helped make his family’s patternmaking/plastics business a success, and after they sold it, he moved to Florida to be near his parents.
Raised Catholic, the artist-conservationist evolved in his beliefs around spirituality since his altar boy days, and his connection to “what’s out there” shows up in his works.
Borse’s Horse Fever equine “Mistaken Identity” is “a shaman, a healer, with fire and ice combined as yin and yang to calm the soul as well as fire up emotions to an atomic level,” he wrote in the statue’s description. “The power and vibration of color can help heal many maladies of the heart and soul.”
He reads about UFOs, making contact with ETs and theories around consciousness. “I’m also involved with a group, Exo-Conscious Humans, led by Dr. Rebecca Hardcastle Wright, who worked with Edgar Mitchell, the sixth astronaut to walk on the moon and the founder of the Institute of Noetic Sciences,” he added.
Borse also went on to speculate that he might have been an artist or composer in a past life.
“When I was little, I started painting and drawing, doing things that other people weren’t doing,’’ he recalled. “And then when I was going to school, I started playing different musical instruments — without instruction.”
Read more about Borse’s art and conservation efforts at garyborse.com.
Gary Borse captures the familiar and the sublime in his landscapes and other eclectic works.
Gary Borse
“Midnight Moonrise”
“April Showers”
From May 11-13, students from schools in Marion County took part in the Robofest World Championship, held at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan. The competition attracted teams from around the world. Among them were teams from Belleview Middle School (BMS) and The Cornerstone School in Ocala.
“We had four teams, consisting of 11 students attend. Each student competed in two events,” said Anthony Ness, who teaches robotics, world history and critical thinking at BMS. “Of the 71 teams in attendance, I believe we were the only public school. In addition to the U.S., there were 13 other countries in attendance.”
Robofest is a series of competitions for students from fourth grade through college age. The robots are autonomous, controlled by software developed by team members. In the Game event, robots are designed to accomplish a task that changes each year, with some mission requirements revealed just before the event. Other divisions include Exhibition, in which teams develop a task and build a robot to accomplish it; RoboArts, in which robots are created and programmed to perform in areas such as music and visual arts; RoboMed, in which teams create robots that perform tasks in healthcare and the life sciences; the Unknown Mission Challenge, in which mission tasks are unknown until the day of competition; RoboParade, a parade of autonomous robot “floats;” and BottleSumo, in which robots are programmed to push a bottle or the other robot off a table.
According to Ness, the BMS projects included:
• Tiny Tigers: Build a vacuum engine out of Legos. The engine had a transmission that would allow it to turn at different RPMs.
• Tigers: Self-driving car that would follow a track and stop at a “recharge station” that was green (wind and solar power).
• Pumas: Garbage truck that was autonomous and ran on burning garbage.
“All projects were built using Lego Mindstorm robotics kits. As you can guess, they weren’t full size, just models with a 4-minute presentation that talked about how it would work and research they did to develop their idea,” Ness explained.
The team members were:
• Robocat Tiny Tigers: Exhibition - Sabastian Nealy, Zackory Teets and Blake Ritz
• Robocat Tigers: Exhibition - Zackery Picard, Rowyn Picard, Michael Khadaran and Kaden Preston
• Robocat Pumas: Exhibition - Rohan Gupta, Blake Lewis and Vlad Nygaard
• Robocat Mountain Lion: Game - Cohen Medeiros
“The Tiny Tigers took second place for People’s Choice,” Ness noted.
In the exhibition categories, the Pumas placed fourth, Tigers fifth and Tiny Tigers sixth. The Mountain Lions placed 20th in the Robot Game. Brooke Schultheis, marketing and development coordinator for The Cornerstone School, said, “This was the first time that teams from The Cornerstone School qualified for the World Championship and we are so proud of their efforts. Even though they didn’t place at the event this year, they learned so much from the experience. We can’t wait for next year’s event!”
According to Kevin Christian, director of public relations for Marion County Public Schools, the district has other schools with robotics programs, “but none at the competitive level like BMS.”
Robofest first place awards went to teams from Michigan, Florida, Hong Kong, Macau, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan.
“Robofest teaches so many students every year important lessons about the jobs of our increasingly robot-driven and automated future, making STEAM education fun,” said Christopher Cartwright, Robofest director and associate professor of mathematics at LTU, in a news release.
Robofest was invented at LTU in 1999 by computer science professor C.J. Chung. More than 34,300 students have participated in the program. For more information, visit robofest.net.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
It’s a pretty sure bet that when more than 150 people at your 100th birthday party howl at the moon, you have had an interesting life.
June “June Bug” Barrett has certainly had that—a life filled with joy, sorrow, travel, hard work, and adventure. Barrett was born May 19, 1923, in Pittsburgh in a family home that had been built in 1910 in an area known as Cherry City.
The diminutive Barrett was feted on Saturday, May 20, with a celebration at Central Christian Church in northeast Ocala, where she has been a member since 1971. And she made quite an entrance.
“One of the things a lot of people were surprised by at the party was that she was wearing a pair of welding pants,” said her son Ken Colley. “When she was young, back in the ‘40s, she used to work at the Dravo shipyard in Pittsburgh. She used to hang off the side of the ships welding them. She welded PT boats. That’s when guys went to war and the women worked. Her crew nicknamed her ‘Shorty,’ for obvious reasons. They even bought her a leather jacket with the name ‘Shorty’ on it.”
Ken has three siblings: Kim, Karl and Kathy. His mother was widowed twice.
“My dad died when I was 3, in 1954. She remarried in ’60 and she was widowed again in ’64. She’s been single ever since,” Colley said.
“She’s had, I thought, a rough life. A lot of people have. And she could be one of those ‘Woe is me’ people, but no, she’s always full of hugs and joyous and happy all the time,” he added.
He said his mother worked as a waitress and in home health care for a time.
Early in her life, she and her first husband traveled a lot.
“A doctor had told her she could never have children,
so they bought an Indian motorcycle, a 1928 Scout. They traveled the U.S., to Canada, and finally hooked up with a traveling circus. They pulled a trailer behind them, which would drop down into a stage.
I called it snake oil, but they sold some kind of vitamin drink. Just traveled and sold that stuff. I think it was like Geritol. Then they got a Harley and kept traveling, Canada, the U.S., and all of a sudden, here I am,” Colley explained.
“She traveled every chance she got,” he continued. “My sister was in the Air Force and stationed in Spain and my mom went over there. She’s gone on wagon trains. She’s gone to Alaska. You name it. She’s always been an adventuress. She’d go right now if she could. She still goes to church and Bible study. She gets around. She’s totally together. She’ll beat you in Scrabble, and at Wheel of Fortune.”
Colley’s wife, Lynette, agrees with this vivid description.
“Mom has always been an adventurous person,” said Lynnette. “She has traveled to Spain, a lot of the U.S., including Alaska a few times. She has traveled by car, train, bus, plane, motorcycle, hot air balloon, cruise ship, mule/ horse, covered wagon and semi-truck. Wondering if I missed any?”
Colley said his mother came to Ocala in 1970, after he moved here.
“She had always talked about coming to Florida. She headed out for it one time, years ago, with all us kids, and got as far as Columbia, South Carolina, then went back. In 1970, I moved down here.
In August that year I got a letter saying they were coming from Pennsylvania to visit me at Christmas. Next thing I know, her blue station wagon with a U-Haul trailer and everything they had—kids, dog, everybody— pulled up in my front yard on Christmas Eve. That’s just how she was. She
Editor’s Note: Because we’re all feeling the pinch of inflation, the Gazette has begun “More for Less,” a recurring list of budget-friendly things to experience and buy to help stretch your dollar a little further.
By Julie Garisto julie@magnoliamediaco.com.From Marion County, Trader Joe’s fans must make a pilgrimage to Gainesville, Orlando or Jacksonville. It’s a store that defies the notion that gourmet goodies and items with quality ingredients, and even organic foods, must be priced for affluent shoppers only and marked up egregiously.
Many who shop at TJ’s like the vast array of international food items in the frozen section, which are perfect for a late workday. But there are some pantry staples and less glamorous items that are priced so much lower than the local grocery stores they more than make up for the extra gas to cross the county line.
Below are some examples but note that availability at your favorite location isn’t guaranteed. You might want to call ahead.
Kung Pao Chicken, $5.99/23 ounces
(Compare to General Chang’s Chicken at Walmart, $7.78)
Trader Joe’s version combines dark meat chicken with crunchy green and red bell peppers, onions, dried chili powder, water chestnuts and peanuts. Traditionally, sauces for this dish are rich and savory and can range from mildly spicy to sound-the-alarmand-grab-a-hose hot. TJ’s is medium-spicy—it tastes hotter if you eat the chili pieces, and a little less hot if you push the chilies to the side of the plate and treat them as a garnish.
Organic Coconut Aminos, $2.99, 8.5 fluid ounces (vs. Organic Coconut Aminos at local grocery stores, $6.68 at Walmart)
A great substitute for soy sauce, coconut aminos are made in Sri Lanka from organic coconut sap, hand-
wanted to be in Florida.”
He said that within a month or two, his mom became a member of Central Christian Church and has been active there ever since.
“She is one of the church’s four longest time members. Her and my sister and another guy I’ve known forever. That’s why she had such a good turnout at the party and the church was so gracious and gave us the venue for the party; because it was for her,” he said.
He said his mom basically raised her four children by herself and taught them valuable lessons along the way.
“She kept us in church and taught us to be respectful and treat our elders right. Every one of us grew up to be respectful. We all work. We all have earned our living,” he said. “When we were children, we didn’t have much, but I tell people she raised four children on $198 a month Social Security. We were a happy family.”
Among the many family members and friends at Barrett’s party was Shelia Arnett, who told those gathered how the howling at the moon phenomenon came about.
“It was at least 15 years ago, maybe 18. The Central Christian ladies were at a retreat in Orlando, and we were playing a game, ‘Have You Ever?’ June Bug said, ‘Have you ever howled at the moon?’ and no one had. So, we did it,” Arnett recalled.
For years now, on the occasion of a full moon, people will tag Barrett on social media and let out a rousing howl. And, of course, that’s what everyone did at the party on Saturday as well.
Barrett said by phone on Monday of turning 100, “I’m amazed. I never thought I’d reach this age.”
She said of raising her four children, “I had God’s help, but I also helped God, really.”
Her advice about life is to, “Live each day as it comes, and be kind to others.”
harvested and fermented, and then boiled to create a sauce with 13 amino acids. A touch of sea salt provides a balanced mineral quality. Don’t be dissuaded if the coconut flavor is off-putting to you. You can’t really taste it. In a blind taste test, you might not recognize the difference between Organic Coconut Aminos and soy sauce, except it isn’t quite as salty and a little sweet. At 300mg of sodium per tablespoon (vs. 920mg in the leading soy sauce brand), this gluten-free, kosher (pareve) sauce is a great option for those looking to reduce their sodium intake.
Strawberry Preserves Made with Fresh Strawberries, $3.69, 17.5 ounces
(Compare to Crofters Fruit Spread Organic Premium Strawberry, $4.96)
Each jar is made using freshly picked strawberries combined with a little bit of sugar, lemon juice concentrate, and a hint of pectin to jelly up this jam (no artificial flavors or coloring).
Shade Grown Espresso Blend, $8.99, 14 ounces
(Compare to Starbucks Espresso Roast, $13.49 at Walmart)
Trader Joe’s blend is grown under a shade canopy in the mountainous region of Matagalpa, Nicaragua, and comprises Arabica beans from a family-owned estate that has been growing, harvesting, and roasting coffee for five generations. The beans are given a dark, smooth roast that’s low in acid and rich in flavor.
Liquid Dish Soap Citrus Scent, $2.99, 25 ounces (vs. Meyers Clean Day Lemon Verbena, $4.78 on Amazon)
This isn’t a watered-down runny off-brand. As its marketing copy says, it’s “highly efficacious; i.e., you can use less soap and get more suds.” What it doesn’t have: unnecessary artificial colors and too-heavy fragrances. What it does have: TJ’s Dish Soap is crystal-clear and scented with nothing but a light, naturally derived citrus fragrance. It’s formulated to be phosphatefree and hypoallergenic (so it’s gentle on skin), and it’s biodegradable. It is a USDA certified biobased product, which means a certain percentage comes from renewable biological sources (87%, says the website). And, like other Trader Joe’s products, it’s never tested on animals.
Organic Toasted Sesame Oil, $2.99, 5 ounces (vs. Spectrum Naturals at Walmart, $6.49)
This oil, the company says, is made from the highest quality sesame seeds. It passed our taste test with a pleasant, toasted-sesame aroma that matches its “nutty, toasty flavor.” Use preparing stir-fry dishes, soups and ramen noodles, or add to grated cabbage to create an Asian-style slaw.
Bamba with Hazelnut Crème Filling, $1.99 for 3 ounces (Ossem Peanut Snacks, $3.29 at Target)
This has a delicate pop and silky hazelnutty ooze. The product is inspired by an Israeli snack, made of peanut-butter-flavored puffed maize manufactured by the Osem corporation in Kiryat Gat. According to the company, “the TJ buyer had one taste, and knew this miraculous marriage of sweet & salty goodness was a snackcident waiting to happen.”
“June Bug’’ Barrett has led a life of adventure, including welding on ships in WWII and being part of a traveling circus.
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 WarrenThis tiny songbird is almost always in motion, flitting from branch to branch and twitching its tail while it hunts for bugs. They have a whiny, high-pitched song. It’s typically easier to hear these birds than to see them, but they’re common in hardwood forests around town.
The state of Florida has enacted a program in response to rising energy prices.
• You can eliminate your electric bill with no out of pocket cost.
• Some electric bills are nothing more than $15/month administrative fee.
• Costs you nothing to find out if your home qualifies.
We at Titan are very proud and excited about being part of the solar stimulus program and in helping the environment.
The sun’s energy is free and will never raise its rates.
These incentives and tax credits will not last forever! Call Now 727-255-1728
ROOFING & HVAC
“Sure, probably”
40 Andalusian vegetable soup served cold
41 Bell-shaped lily
43 Ignoring, with “to”
46 Org. with Jets and Flyers
49 Instrument laid flat during play
50 Many a freshman
51 Like 70-Across
55 “Paper Moon” Oscar winner
56 Tot’s sassy demand ... or a hint to the start of the answers to starred clues
58 River of Flanders
60 YWCA part: Abbr.
61 1997 Mattel acquisition
63 Chem class part
65 Climbing greenery
66 “Wow!”
67 Sellout
MAY 26
Friday Foodie Fest
Lake Lillian Park, Belleview
5pm-9pm
Food trucks, live music, kids’ crafts and activities, face painting and vendors are on tap for this event, held the fourth Friday of each month. For more info, see ocalamarion.com or belleviewfl.org
MAY 26-27
36th Annual Sunshine State Mopar
Car Show
Florida Horse Park, 11008 South Highway 475, Ocala
All day
Welcome festivities take place on Friday and judging starts at noon on Saturday. Vendors with car items, arts and crafts, food and more will be offered, along with a Herb McCandless car clinic at 11am. Friday welcome party tickets are $25 and include dinner and dancing. Car show registration is 8-10am on Saturday. $10 parking fee. For details, go to floridamoparassociation.com
MAY 26 & JUNE 2
Marion County Friday Market
McPherson Governmental Campus Field, 601 SE 25th
Ave., Ocala
9am-2pm Shop locally fresh fruits and veggies, baked goods, jerky, freeze-dried treats, olive oils, seafood and more; recurs every Friday.
MAY 27 & JUNE 3
Ocala Farmers Market
Ocala Downtown Market, 310 SE Third St., Ocala
9am-2pm
Vendors offer local fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood, fresh pasta, honey, jewelry, baked goodies, and arts and crafts. Check out local food trucks and the occasional guest entertainer. Rain or shine; recurs every Saturday. Visit ocaladowntownmarket.com for more info.
MAY 27 & JUNE 3
Farmers Swap Meet Rural King, 2999 NW 10th St., Ocala
9am-2pm
A true farmers market where chickens, ducks, quail, geese, goats, turkeys, rabbits and sometimes even ponies are available, along with horse tack, home-grown plants, produce and hand-crafted items. Booth types vary, with occasional meat vendors, food trucks and other goods. Saturdays, weather permitting.
MAY 27
Ocala Tiki Fest
Citizens’ Circle, 151 SE Osceola Ave., Ocala
5pm-9pm
This luau for age 21+ features live music, fire dancers, artists, vendors, food trucks and rum samples. Tickets are $20-$75. For more info, thetipsyskipperocala.com/ocala-tiki-fest
MAY 27
Memorial Day Weekend Car Show
Highland Memorial Park, 1515 NE 3rd St., Ocala
10am-2pm
With show cars and trophies for winners, this celebration of veterans includes a tribute and special guest speaker Howard Mautner, a 99-year-old WWII veteran. Food trucks and DJ. Free to attend. For more info, bit.ly/3W6Vb9T
MAY 27
Market of Marion Car Show
Market of Marion, 12888 US Highway 441, Belleview
9am-1pm This monthly event features cars, valve cover
MAY 26-28
Paso Fino Extravaganza
International
World Equestrian Center, Arena 5, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala
8am-4pm
The tiny horses with the flashy gaits return with a variety of classes, including pleasure, junior horsemanship, equitation and amateur options. Parking and attendance are free; food and drink options are onsite. For more info, worldequestriancenter.com and pasofinoocala.com
MAY 26-28
WEC Ocala May Dressage
World Equestrian Center, Arena 5, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala
8am-4pm
World-class dressage competitions including FEI, USEF and USDF classes. Classes include pony rider, children’s team, grand prix, intermediate and preliminary. For more info, worldequestriancenter.com
JUNE 2-4
Angie Hammock Barrel Race Show
Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala
All day
Multiple races with great prizes and exciting action. For more info, see selp.marionfl.org
JUNE 3
Summer Sunset Polo Florida Horse Park, 11008 South Highway 475, Ocala
6pm
The summer polo season starts up this week. Free to the public, tailgate right next to the polo field and enjoy a unique evening
MAY 31
Marion County Planning & Zoning Commission
McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala
5:30pm Meets on the last Monday of the month. Agendas are usually posted the Thursday prior. Agendas, minutes and video available at marionfl.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
MAY 26 & JUNE 2
Chess Club at Freedom Library Freedom Public Library, 5870 SW 95th St., Ocala 10am-12pm Meets weekly on Fridays; new members welcome. Please bring your own chess set. For more info, Walt Lamp at (352) 854-9378.
MAY 26 & JUNE 2
Kiwanis Club of Ocala Knights of Columbus Building at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, 1510
racing, music, food, giveaways and trophies. Free to attend. Car show entry is $5. For more info, themarketofmarion.com or tvclassicac.com
MAY 27
Florida Black Bears Scott Springs Park, 2825 SW 24th Ave., Ocala
9am-10:15am Park of the free Programs in the Park series, this week is all about Florida’s black bears. Features the Bear Mystery Box to enhance learning. For more info, ocalafl.org
MAY 27
Back to the ‘90s Music Festival
Homestead Park, 1050 NE 6th Blvd., Williston
3pm-9pm
Step back in time and enjoy music from the Never Say Never band and the Clueless ‘90s dance party. Free to attend; food and drink options onsite. For more info, homesteadparks.com
MAY 29
Memorial Day Tribute
Ocala Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, 2601 SE Fort King St., Ocala
10 am
The Friends of Marion County Veterans Park Foundation host this yearly tribute to veterans of all armed forces. Prayer ceremony and more to honor veterans. Free to attend, chairs and blankets allowed.
JUNE 1
OTOW Farmers Market
The Town Square at Circle Square Commons, 8405 SW 80th St., Ocala
9am-1pm
Large selection of fresh seasonal produce from local growers as well as baked goods, plants, handmade soaps and more; recurs every Thursday. Visit circlesquarecommons.com for more info.
JUNE 1
Builder’s Roundtable
Ocala Golf Club, 3130 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
7:30am-9:30am
The city of Ocala and the Marion County Building Industry Association host a roundtable discussion for contractors, engineers, architects and other building industry professionals to learn more about city grant programs, processes and resources, and to share feedback and collaborate on opportunities for refinement. A complimentary breakfast will be served. RSVP encourage to (352) 629-8287 or gmd@ocalafl.org
JUNE 2
Levitt Amp Music Series
Webb Field at Martin Luther King Recreation Complex, 1510 NW 4th St, Ocala
7-9pm
Free weekly concerts sponsored by the city of Ocala and the Marion Cultural Alliance focus on a variety of musical genres. On June 2, it’s Chris Pierce with opener Evelyn Mohamed. Admission is free. Bring chairs and blankets. For more info, ocalafl.org/levittamp
JUNE 3
Juneteenth Celebration Dinner
Dance One Health Center, 1714 SW 17th St., Ocala
6:30pm
This annual fundraiser helps put one Juneteenth celebrations and is presented by R.A.M.A.L. Educational and Social Services. The evening includes live entertainment, a DJ, dinner, dancing, vendors, a silent auction and raffles. Tickets are $50 from Eventbrite. For more info, ramalservices.org
JUNE 3
Twilight Cruisers of Belleview Car
Show
Kent Furniture Centers, 10651 SE US 441, Belleview 5pm
A free car show/cruise-in that promotes the “classic autos of yesterday” and accepts food donations for the Interfaith charities. Recurs on the first Saturday of each month. See twilightcruisersflorida.com for info.
out. Saturday evenings through September. Check out ocalapolo.com for more info.
JUNE 3-4
Pet-Palooza
World Equestrian Center, Expo Center 2, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala
10am-5pm Pet parades, costume contests, agility courses, animal encounters, education sessions and more. General admission is $10; $9 for seniors; free 12 and younger. For more info, jpatterson@bmg1.com or worldequestriancenter.com
JUNE 4
Mounted Drill Team Show
Florida Horse Park, 11008 South Highway 475, Ocala
All day
Teams of horses and riders compete
JUNE 5
in choreographed patterns. Teams are judged on execution, spacing, timing, alignment, originality, coordination, difficulty, speed, horsemanship, music and crowd appeal. Takes place under the covered arena; food and drink options are onsite. Check out flhorsepark.com for more info.
Neuter Commuter
Locations vary, see website 9am Marion County Animal Services offers weekly neutering services with options for low-income households. The fees include the animal’s surgical sterilization, rabies vaccination, county license and microchip. Pet drop-off is 9am and pick-ups start at 3:30. Locations vary. For more info, and to register online, bit.ly/NeuterCommuter
Marion County Development Review Committee
Office of the County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave., Building 1, Ocala
9am
The first step for new development projects, the committee reviews and votes on waiver requests to the Land Development Code, major site plans, and subdivision plans. Meets weekly on Mondays; no agendas posted. Agendas and minutes available at marionfl.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
and Monetary Judgment and Taxation of Attorney’s Fees and Costs dated May 4, 2023, in the above-styled cause, the Clerk of Court in and for Marion County, Florida, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash by electronic sale at www.marion.realforeclose.com, on June 8, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., the following described real properties:
Building 18, Unit “D” in Springwood Village, a Condominium, according to Declaration of Condominium, thereof recorded in Official Records Book 616, Page 782,
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA.
IN RE: THE ESTATE OF EUGENE KENNETH ROSS, JR., Deceased.
CASE NO: 2023-CP-1120 NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The name of the decedent, the designation of the court in which the administration of this estate is pending, and the file number are indicated above. The address of the court is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are indicated below.
If you have been served with a copy of this notice and you have any claim or demand against the decedent’s estate, even if that claim is unmatured, contingent or unliquidated, you must file your claim with the court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF A DATE THAT IS 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS NOTICE.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with the court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION
IN
The name of the decedent, the designation of the court in which the administration of this estate is pending, and the file number are indicated above. The address of the court is 110 N.W. 1 st Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are indicated below.
If you have been served with a copy of this notice and you have any claim or demand against the decedent’s estate, even if that claim is unmatured, contingent or unliquidated, you must file your claim with
THE LATER OF A DATE THAT IS 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS NOTICE. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with the court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. EVEN IF A CLAIM IS NOT BARRED BY THE LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE, ALL CLAIMS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN FILED WILL BE BARRED TWO YEARS AFTER DECEDENT’S DEATH. The date of death of the decedent is: February 17, 2023 The date of first publication of this Notice is May 19, 2023.
Attorney for Personal Representative: JOSHUA L. MOSES Richard & Moses, LLC Florida Bar No. 119304 808 E Fort King Street Ocala, FL 34471 (352) 369-1300
Primary Email: Josh@RMProbate.com
Personal Representative: MELINDA MCDONALD 6810 SE 144th Place Road Summerfield, FL 34491
[Supplied]
Ocala author Marian
Rizzo will be signing books during a book fair from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at Barnes & Noble at 4414 SW College Road (State Road 200).
Rizzo has written five contemporary novels and two biblical era novels, in addition to non-fiction and inspirational writing. She co-authored the coffee table book, “Silver Springs, the Liquid Heart of Florida,” with environmentalist Robert Knight.
TSNL Global Outreach Foundation, Inc
DBA
TSNL Church San Antonio 16320 Huebner Rd San Antonio, TX 78232 tsnlchurchsa@gmail.com (210) 570-9098 (SENT 5-7-23)
TSNL Global Outreach Foundation, Inc
DBA
TSNL Church Raleigh 931 Kensington Park Road Fayetteville, NC 28311 tsnlchurchraleigh@gmail.com 910-580-0229
The College of Central Florida has earned Tree Campus
Higher Education recognition for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship. This is the 14th year CF has been recognized.
Tree Campus Higher Education is a national program of the Arbor Day Foundation that honors colleges, universities and their leaders for promoting healthy management of their campus forests and for engaging the community in environmental stewardship.
CF met the five core standards of tree care and community engagement: establishing a campus tree advisory committee; providing a campus tree-care plan; dedicating annual expenditures on the campus tree-care plan; participating in an Arbor Day observance; and instituting a service-learning project to engage students.
To learn more, visit treecampushighered.org and cf.edu
TSNL Global Outreach Foundation, Inc
DBA
TSNL Church Decatur 4002 Lehigh Boulevard Decatur, GA 30034 tsnlchurchdecatur@gmail.com 470-890-8876
According to the book store’s website, other authors at the event will include Dylan Newton, Mary Busha, Evan Geistfeld, Judy Haisten, Gabriela Lavarello, Joan Long, Rebecca Long, Elizabeth Mitchell and James Vredevoogd.
Students walk under the trees at the CF Ocala Campus. [Supplied]
MAY 26
“Summer Spotlight XXVI” Opening
Reception College of Central Florida Webber Gallery, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala
5pm-7pm
The Visual Artists’ Society presents Summer Spotlight XXVI, a showcase of local and regional artists work in a wide variety of mediums. The society is made up of professional and amateur artists and many of CF’s talented students. The exhibit includes a variety of styles and mediums. For more information, call (352) 854-2322, ext. 1552.
MAY 26
The Rocket Man Show: Tribute to Elton John Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala
7:30pm Rus Anderson focuses on young Elton John and the costumes, antics and music from this classic singer/songwriter. Tickets are $25-$85 from reillyartscenter.com
MAY 26
Mejor Sola Que Mal Acompañad
(Better Alone Than in Bad Company)
Marion Theatre, 50 S. Magnolia Ave., Ocala
8:30pm
This play tells the tale of a convention organized for women with bad love lives but the “expert” speakers who come to talk need much more help than the attendees. About laughter, love and heartbreak, this presentation is in Spanish. Tickets are $35-$60, from reillyartscenter.com
MAY 31
Kick Off Summer with OrisiRisi!
Sankofa Public Library at Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala
2pm
This celebration of music with drumming, dance, song and stories from the African continent will kick off your summer with a festive beat. Free to all.
MAY 31-AUGUST 30
Painting for Veterans
Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala
6pm-8pm
These free art workshops are held on Wednesdays for veterans. Hosted by the Arts in Health Ocala Metro group and veteran Aaron Thomas. Beginners welcome. Supplies are included. Register at ocalafl.org/recpark
JUNE 3
Free First Saturday
Appleton Museum, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
10am-5pm View museum works and collections, and create your own art in the interactive Artspace. This month, free screenings of the film “Loving Vincent” are at 11am and 2pm. Also, Scuba Steve’s Snack Shack will be onsite. See appletonmuseum.org for more info.
JUNE 3
Streetlife Serenader, tribute to Billy Joel Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala
7:30pm
The best of Billy Joel performed by the Streetlife Serenader band and featuring Joel’s biggest hits from the 70s and 80s. Tickets are $25-$40. See reillyartscenter.com for more info.
Blessed Be the Birds
City of Ocala Clerk’s Office, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala
Mon-Fri; 8am-5pm
Part of the Art in City Spaces program, Courtney Kravig-McGuire is a local artist with a special interest in showing the connection between nature and spirituality in her works. Visit ocalafl.org/artincityspaces
“Secrets” Art Show South State Bank, 1632 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
Daily during business hours
Abstract artist Kayla Moffatt’s technique includes writing a secret on the canvas before painting then using color and marking to connect with viewers. See kaylamoffattart.com for more info.
Paper Thin & Shadow Deep
Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
Tues-Sat; 10am-5pm; Sunday 12pm-5pm
The artworks from Hiromi Mizugai Moneyhun are threedimensional cut paper pieces that feel both lighthearted and alive. Moneyhun’s style combines traditional Japanese art forms along with modern elements from today’s Japan. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for youths. For more info, appletonmuseum.org
Aerial Dream Views of Land and Sea
Ocala International Airport, 1770 SW 60th Ave., Ocala
Airport hours
Part of the Art in City Spaces program, local artist Maggie Weakley shares her ocean-themed collection. Weakley’s series is comprised of multiple painting techniques. Free to the public. Visit ocalafl.org/ artincityspaces and maggieweakley.com
MAY 26 & JUNE 2
Courtyard
MAY 26
Miranda Madison
MAY
MAY 28
John
MAY 28
Doug
MAY 31
Cali
MAY
Rock
Matt
JUNE 3
Retro
ANSWERS FOR PAGE B4
By Mark Pinson
Special to The Ocala Gazette
North Marion senior lefthander Karson Lindsey allowed one hit in a complete-game shutout, and Rowan Quartararo had two hits and drove in a run to lead the Colts to a 4-0 win over Bishop Kenny in the FHSAA Class 4A state championship game the night of May 20 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers.
The win improved North Marion to 27-5 on the season and earned the Colts the first baseball state championship in school history. The victory also avenged a loss in the state championship game in 2021.
“It’s really hard to describe how much it means to win this state championship,” said veteran North Marion coach Dale Hall. “We worked extremely hard for this, and we had some balls bounce our way, but the pitching performance of Karson Lindsey and the defense that we played behind him is the reason we’re state champions.”
Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) ends the season with a record of 19-11.
North Marion got on the
scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning as Troy Guynn and Quartararo singled and Guynn advanced to third on a sacrifice fly to right field by Cooper Jones.
Bishop Kenny starting pitcher Garrett Corbett was called for a balk, allowing Guynn to score and Quartararo to advance to second base. Jake Tompkins followed with a one-out single to right field to plate Quartararo to give the Colts a 2-0 lead.
Lindsey, who allowed only an infield single in the second inning, cruised through the Bishop Kenny lineup with ease by combining his fastball with a devastating curveball.
North Marion, the No. 1 seed, tacked on a run in the bottom of the fourth inning when senior catcher Bobby Gottuso put down a bunt and reached on an error. Pinch runner Karson Smith was sacrificed to second by Tucker Jones and raced home on a run-scoring single to left field by Quartararo to put the Colts on top by a score of 3-0.
Lindsey, who struck out three and issued a pair of walks and hit a batter, was never in any real trouble and retired the Crusaders in order in the sixth inning.
“Karson was in complete control, he had all his pitches working and Bishop Kenny never got comfortable against him,” coach Hall said.
North Marion, which had nine hits, plated an insurance run in the bottom of the frame as Quartararo reached on a two-out outfield error and scored on a double down the right-field line by Cooper Jones off Crusaders reliever Michael Leonard to make it 4-0.
Bishop Kenny, the No. 2 seed, went down quietly in its final at-bat as Lindsey, a South Georgia State College commit, got a ground ball to first for the final out to seal the state championship.
North Marion players and coaches celebrated the historic victory on the field and received the state championship trophy and medals in a post-game ceremony in front of a large contingent of fans who made the long trip to support the Colts in their successful quest for a state title.
“To win it all you have to get some close calls go your way and balls that find some holes,” coach Hall said. “Everything went our way tonight.”
“It’s really hard to describe how much it means to win this state championship. We worked extremely hard for this...”
Dale Hall North Marion coach
The North Marion football team concluded three weeks of spring practice with a game against Lake Brantley on May 19. The Colts were able to play a number of young players at different positions, giving them valuable game experience in a 42-6 loss to the Patriots.
“I wasn’t worried about the score, I just wanted the kids to come out and play hard,” North Marion coach Greg Carr said. “A spring game win or loss doesn’t matter. We just wanted to have some new guys get opportunities and capitalize on them so we can head into the summer and work on getting better. I’m not discouraged because I know we have guys that can compete and play good football.”
Lake Brantley (Orlando) ran the option offense effectively as junior fullback Tavin Hebert scored two rushing touchdowns, while sophomore quarterback Parker Perales added a touchdown on the ground and one through the air as the Class 4M Patriots took advantage of the Colts’ inexperience.
“When you’re playing a team with that style of offense, it’s important to be disciplined and that was a lot of our guys’ first time seeing it,” coach Carr said.
There were no kickoffs in the game
and each possession after scores began at the 25-yard line unless a team had to punt.
Lake Brantley marched 75 yards in 10 plays, all on the ground, on its opening possession of the game, with Hebert capping the drive with a 31-yard run right up the middle of the North Marion defense. The point after gave the Patriots a 7-0 lead.
North Marion went three and out and was forced to punt on its first possession with Lake Brantley taking over at its 43.
The Patriots drove inside the Colts 30 before North Marion recovered a fumble to end the threat.
The Colts picked up a couple of first downs, but a fumble was recovered by Lake Brantley on its 48.
The Patriots capitalized on the turnover as tailback Alex Catano rumbled 52 yards for a touchdown. The point after made it 14-0 late in the first quarter.
North Marion’s next possession ended with an interception of quarterback Issac Smith’s pass by Lake Brantley’s Akemi Caraballo, who returned it 51 yards for a touchdown. The extra point gave the Patriots a 21-0 lead.
The Colts got on the scoreboard as running back Mitchell Brown broke several tackles on his way to a 60yard scoring scamper to pull Class 2S North Marion within 21-6.
Lake Brantley answered with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that Hebert capped off with a four-yard scoring burst. The extra point made it 28-7 midway through the second period.
North Marion was forced to punt and Lake Brantley gained possession at its 38-yard line. The Patriots moved the ball inside the Colts’ 5-yard line and Perales found the end zone on a keeper just inside the right pylon to give Lake Brantley a commanding 35-6 at the half.
North Marion picked up a first down on its first possession of the third quarter before having to punt.
Lake Brantley moved 70 yards in 13 plays, with Perales finding wide receiver Brian Williams open in the end zone for a 6-yard scoring strike. The point after made the score 42-6 and a running clock was used the rest of the game.
North Marion heads into the summer knowing that much work needs to be done and improvement in the weight room and on the field comes with hard work.
“We had a lot of young guys playing tonight and sometimes you have to take your lumps to get better,” coach Carr said. “I’m proud of my guys and we have to get stronger in the weight room and continue to work hard to get better and come together as a team during the summer.”
“We just wanted to have some new guys get opportunities and capitalize on them so we can head into the summer and work on getting better.”
Greg Carr North Marion coach
