‘NIL’ deals approved for high school athletes
By Jim Turner Florida News Service
High school athletes in Florida, just like their college counterparts, will be able to make money off the field through endorsements and other kinds of deals.
While saying additional protections are needed, the State Board of Education on Wednesday ratified a plan approved last month by the Florida High School Athletic Association that will allow high school athletes to get paid through name, image and likeness, or “NIL,” deals.
Board of Education Chairman Ben Gibson said the athletic association, which regulates high-school sports, must prioritize the protection of studentathletes, most of whom will be minors.
“This could be a great opportunity for some student-athletes, but we want to make sure they do it in a manner that they are protected and not exploited,” Gibson said.
The plan, which overhauls a section of the association’s bylaws that govern “amateurism,” will allow studentathletes to brand themselves for commercial endorsements, promotional activities and through social media.
High schools won’t be able to use promises of NIL deals to recruit players.
State Education Commissioner Manny Diaz said the bylaw changes were “not taken lightly” and warned against companies trying to use NIL deals that “circumvent the process and take advantage of our students.”
Board member Esther Byrd suggested the association require students to register when participating in NIL deals.
“I am very concerned about the bad actors,” Byrd said. “Obviously, they have already popped up. We know it is coming. We know they don’t care about our rules, and they are going to do what See NIL deals, page A2
Who’s counting; and why?
Learning about those who are homeless in Marion County—and helping them—involves numerous local and even national agencies.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
Scores of homeless and needy people who visit the Tuesday Morning Outreach (TMO) of First United Methodist Church in Ocala get a hot meal and access to a wide range of necessities.
But the people who come there to eat, get new wearables or a phone and identification documents, also get a lot more—a sense of fellowship and a feeling that someone cares.
“We’re not alone,” said a woman who appeared to be in her 30s and said she has been living in her car and enduring the heat. She pointed to others in the church hall on a recent Monday morning and said there’s “fellowship” among those who are homeless and hungry.
Visitors at the recent TMO gathering shared a variety of situations.
Sosha said she is living outdoors near a local state park. She had been working as a security officer but lost her job and her situation spiraled downward.
Antwaun was once living behind a convenience store but said he has friends at the TMO.
A young pregnant woman waiting just outside the hall entrance said the church outreach is “the best place.” She evidently has lived “on the streets” for three years and it was unclear if she was currently living sheltered or outdoors.
“Taz” served in the Army in 1978 but has suffered medical setbacks and has lost a significant amount of weight. He got a cell phone through a governmental program at the TMO and was given numbers for two veterans’ outreaches here he could call.
Michael said he was living outdoors and at one point had a camper. He said jail time for drug possession contributed to his situation but “an address” would help stabilize him.
The first person that visitors met at the recent TMO gathering was church member and volunteer Lloyd Lindquist, who checked their stored information in the outreach computer.
See Homeless, page A3
“Unfortunately, most homeless that we serve are dealing with mental illness and/or substance abuse issues.”
Pastor and former NAACP president runs for Congress
Democrat James
Stockton is
vying for the District 6 seat on the U.S. House of Representatives
Bishop J. David Stockton III, the Sr. Pastor at the Greater New Hope Church, poses for a photo in the Sanctuary of the church on Emerald Road in Silver Springs Shores, Fla. on Wednesday, August 12, 2020. Stockton is the new president of the NAACP of Marion County. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
Alocal pastor-turnedpolitician is the sole Democrat vying for the District 6 seat of the U.S. House of Representatives—and he hopes to bring Ocala’s interests to Congress.
Bishop James David Stockton, 52, serves as the pastor of the Greater New Hope Church and is a community leader of faith. Through his work as the former president of the Marion County NAACP, he is a longtime advocate of civil rights in the community.
As the only Democrat in the race for Congress in District 6, he will face the winner of the Republican primary election in the general election in November. The candidates running in the Aug. 20 GOP primary election are incumbent Rep. Michael Waltz, John Grow, and write-in candidate Richard Deminsky.
Each congressional district is made up of about 710,000 people. District 6 encompasses parts of Marion, Lake, Putnam, Volusia, Flagler and St. Johns counties. Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms and receive a salary of $174,000.
See Stockton, page A2
Jason Halstead Executive Director of Brothers Keeper
NIL deals
Continued from page A1 they want to do.”
Craig Damon, executive director of the association, said bylaws continue to be updated, noting that issues involving what are known as “collectives” were amended this week in reaction to a national group found recruiting and collecting money in multiple states including Florida.
Damon said that for most students, an NIL deal would be equal to having an afterschool job, while at the college level “you see student-athletes getting compensated for their name being on a roster.”
“We don’t foresee kids making hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars off this,” Damon said. “However, there will be that 1 percent of elite athletes that possibly may have that opportunity. But for the majority of our student-athletes, it will be something local with a local business.”
The association plans to post online videos to share information with parents and students about how NIL deals operate, Damon said.
NIL deals have helped transform college athletics across the country in recent years. Florida lawmakers approved NIL regulations in 2021 that were revised last year to allow universities to become more involved in the process.
As part of the high-school
Stockton
Continued from page A1
“I see myself as someone who really wants to be a voice to the voiceless, and one who is willing to listen, to see what people are really desirous of,” Stockton said. “If not now, when? And if not you, who?”
Outside of his duties as pastor of his church, he is the immediate past president of the Marion County NAACP and the chair of the board of governors for the Ocala/Marion County Continuum of Care for Homelessness. He is also a member of the Marion County Affordable Housing Advisory Council, the Central Florida Community Action Agency and the Marion County Land Development Regulation Committee.
“If I continue to get up and do my best every day to be my best, that’s what my faith teaches me,” Stockton said. “My faith teaches me to be the best person I can be, so that somebody might want to be like me.”
Stockton resigned as president of the NAACP when he launched his campaign for Congress.
A first-time politician, Stockton said he hopes to bring the role of a representative back to what it should be—someone who speaks for the people, rather than having solely focusing on economics and policy.
Stockton said his platform is based on four core principals— healthcare, education, rights for women, and environment:
“H.E.R.E.”
“My daughter was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, and because of the type of insurance she had and the lack of endocrinologists in the area, it took us almost a year to get in to see a specialist for her hyperthyroidism,” Stockton said. “That’s a problem. That is what we have to work on.”
In addition to national issues such as border reform and gun control, Stockton said he wishes to ensure that issues that the people of District 6 face every day are advocated on a national level, one of
bylaws, student-athletes and their families will be encouraged to seek legal counsel and tax advice when considering NIL activities.
High school athletes would still be prohibited from being paid for on-field activities, hiring agents and receiving awards unapproved by the athletic association.
Also, student-athletes who transfer after starting a sport will be prohibited in most cases from securing NIL agreements during that season.
Students won’t be able to use their team uniforms, logos, mascots or any other identifiers of their schools as part of NIL deals. Also, deals would have to end when
students graduate from high school and would have to hold harmless schools, school districts and the athletic association from liability.
Students will be prohibited from endorsing services during school-sponsored events or athletic activities and can’t enter into deals tied to adult entertainment, gambling, firearms, tobacco, marijuana or NIL collectives.
Violations will result in warnings for first offenses. Second offenses would result in student-athletes being ineligible to represent schools for one year. Third offenses could lead to student-athletes being barred from competing throughout their time in high school.
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which being education.
“Education is important to me. Being a person of color, I must admit, I have a problem with saying to little Black and brown children who, historically with their forefathers and foremothers, carried slaves, telling them that slavery was a Job Corps program where they learned skills and things that would help them in their future,” Stockton said. “I have a problem with that type of rhetoric and that type of conversation.”
Stockton emphasized the problem of teachers not making high enough salaries, or not being able to personalize their teaching.
He also described the powerful effect that many strong women have had on his life, especially the ones who raised him, and expressed a desire to defend women’s health and reproductive rights.
“I’ve always had strong women around that were some of the wisest, gentlest, nurturing people in the world,” Stockton said. “Now people are saying that women don’t have the right to make fundamental decisions about themselves for themselves. I have a problem with that, and I’ll take that to Washington.”
Lastly, Stockton said he hopes to back legislation that protects the environment, from the farmland of Marion County to the beaches of Flagler County.
“We’re in the Sunshine State. Why aren’t we not only utilizing hydropower, our state is surrounded by water on three sides, but solar and wind power?” Stockton said.
In Stockton’s financial disclosure, he listed an income of $2,500 from Jan. 1, 2023, until April 15, 2024. This sole income was made through a stipend from the Greater New Hope Church, for his work as its pastor. In the year prior, he listed an income of $1,200.
Stockton did not disclose any assets, unearned income, liabilities or debts.
In total, he has raised $14,890
in campaign contributions. Of that, he has received $5,300 in party committee contributions, including $1,650 from ActBlue, a political action committee which fundraises to serve Democratic candidates and nonprofit organizations, and contributions from the Palm Coast Democratic Club, OTOW Democratic Club, Florida Democratic Party, and the Democratic Club of Oak Run.
Thus far, he has spent $13,925 in expenditures, including for a qualifying fee of $10,440 to the Florida Department of State.
The qualifying fee must be paid by federal candidates to appear on the ballot under a qualified party. Candidates had to pay this amount by April 26. A candidate who wishes to appear on the ballot unaffiliated with a party would only have to pay a $6,960 filing fee.
One of Stockton’s opponents, the incumbent Waltz, has raised over $1.5 million for his campaign.
Stockton said he was concerned about his ability to raise money in comparison to his opponents, but that he runs a grassroots campaign and mostly works to ensure that he can gain recognition for his campaign through knocking on doors and word of mouth.
“District 6 is the size of Rhode Island state, so it’s a lot of space to cover, but it has been really, really exciting,” Stockton said. “Just meeting the people, the different ones around the district, and just learning so much about our district has just been phenomenal.”
Stockton said it is through the connections made while on the campaign trail that he believes he is a good fit to represent the people and bring awareness to the issues that matter to them.
“Of course I want to win, but whether I win or whether I lose, I believe I have made some connections with some people that have forever changed my life,” Stockton said.
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File photo: Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said changes that will allow high-school athletes to make money were “not taken lightly.” [Colin Hackley]
Homeless
Continued from page A1
Visitors then checked in with church member volunteers Luann Mayer and Cindy Warner, who had each one fill out a questionnaire for information about their housing and employment situations and other necessary information if they were seeking an identification document.
People in need can get essential items like toiletries and clothing at the TMO. Bicycles are available to those who are employed, and bibles and prayer are offered.
Teri Keepers, chair of the TMO, reports about 6,000 people were served in 2023 and said the outreach is 100% funded by FUMC. The TMO is held in a large hall adjacent to the church, which is located at 1126 E. Silver Springs Blvd.
The meal at the recent TMO included pulled pork, fresh vegetable and beans. Bakery products were donated by Publix Supermarkets. The meal was prepared by Patti and Tulley McQueen, who operate La Casella caterers of Ocala. Their crew members Christine Pittman and Barbara Van Dyke, along with church member volunteer Steve Bryans, handled the 122 meals served at the recent TMO session.
A representative with the Lifeline cell phone governmental program manned one of several booths in the hall for the recent outreach. The Lifeline phones are provided to those who have necessary proof of requirements, which include being a food stamp or Medicaid recipient. The representative said about 10 phones were issued in a recent TMO.
Sherri Snare, benefit consultant, worked a booth for Accent Insurance Group of Ocala. Snare provides information about qualifications for rent and utility assistance. She has been involved with the TMO outreach for about six years.
REQUIRED CENSUS
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2024 required census of homeless people in Marion County, posted by the Ocala/Marion County Joint Office of Homelessness Prevention, indicates the lowest number of homeless people here since 2010.
The current year figure of 378 homeless people is based on a field count by trained teams that fanned out across the county on Jan. 23. The count indicates that at that point in time, 201 people were living unsheltered in outdoor camps, under bridges and other areas, and 177 were living in local shelters.
According to Florida Department of Health data, the 2023 estimated count of the homeless in Marion County was
454; in 2022, it was 455. The highest estimate in 15 years was 2012, at 1,032.
At least four people who identified themselves as homeless at the recent TMO gathering did not recall or were not aware of being counted in the January 2024 HUD required “PIT” or point in time count.
That brought up the question of just how accurate is the annual “PIT” count and what trends are people seeing who work with homeless people and those in danger of becoming homeless?
To learn more, we did an email Q&A with representatives from four local agencies that work closely with these constituencies, starting with the church.
TUESDAY MINISTRIES OUTREACH
Keepers said the church outreach assists the homeless and needy with food, clothing and access to a wide range of services such as help with utility bills and obtaining identification documents that are often necessary to enter some local shelters.
Q:
What is your reaction to the 2024 PIT count numbers?
A: On Jan. 23, 158 homeless and disadvantaged were at Ocala First United Methodist Church from sunrise until 12 p.m. receiving our services, which include showers, clothes, toiletries, a hot lunch, assistance with Florida state ID, cellphone, access to SNAP, Medicaid/ Medicare ,etc.
Q: What numbers of homeless have you been serving?
A: Here is our data that was collected weekly for 2023: Served, 5,982; showers, 1,381; toiletry packs, 2,228; survival items, 300; bikes issued, 51; work boots, 32; laundry kits, 222; bus passes, 13; Florida ID/birth certificates, 73 “Blessing Hands (a sub ministry as part of the Tuesday Ministries Outreach) assisted 68 individuals with Ocala Electric outstanding balances in which we used $3,468 of our designated budget,” Keepers wrote. “Since January 2024 through June 2024, TMO has served 3,293 folk which, based on our trend, we have increased our folk served 10% and expect our numbers to continue to increase.”
INTERFAITH EMERGENCY SERVICES
Interfaith CEO Karla Greenway has worked to help serve the homeless and needy here for almost 14 years.
Q: How accurate is the PIT count?
A. The homeless population is a moving target even when they stay local. Also, it’s based on self-reporting to a degree, so if someone says they aren’t homeless, but actually are, they
So I would say that is true (drop in homeless) but it has happened over a span of about five years and got a big boost from the government funding that came with the pandemic.
Q:
What upcoming trend do you see in the number of local homeless people?
A: If the basic costs of living don’t come down, I forecast an increase in the number of homeless and it will be a very different population than what we have seen historically.
Greenway said that IES had 2,115 calls for help in 2023, compared to 1,335 in 2022, an increase she attributes to food and rental increases.
decrease in funding.
BROTHERS KEEPER
Brothers Keeper is the social services outreach of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church of Ocala. The outreach includes emergency “hand up” help services, Christmas and Thanksgiving programs, a soup kitchen in downtown Ocala that is overseen by Sister Concepta Najjemba and which serves a lunch meal typically to about 150 people or more 365 days a year, volunteer efforts and a thrift store to cover overhead so all donations go to the outreach. Brothers Keeper also partners with other local agencies to help those in need.
don’t get counted. It also doesn’t capture all of the single moms living in cars with their children and/or the ones that don’t want to be identified as homeless; a number that seems to be growing. As far as the number going down, I would say it has gone down overall since the year before COVID-19.
Q:
What factors might have contributed to a possible drop on the number of homeless people here?
A: (During the pandemic) we (all of the nonprofits that work with this population) got a great deal of money that we don’t normally get to work with the homeless. Interfaith had a staff of five dedicated solely to helping them get services, get housed, or preventing households from becoming homeless.
During those couple of years, in partnership with the other local agencies, we were able to thin out the homeless population here quite a bit. That is also how the city was able to implement the diversion program (a paid one-way bus ticket), helping those who end up here without shelter get back to their home counties; this program has continued to be funded due to its impact.
In 2018 Project Hope paid off their debt and by 2019 were able to utilize more of their apartments for their temporary housing program. His House for Her opened, which has taken some of the women battling addiction off of the count. Next year we hope to see Open Arms Village open their women’s program, which will further impact the number of homeless receiving services that should lead them to housing. Also, we have continued to operate a homeless services program on a small scale and in one quarter alone we assisted 47 individuals in getting into shelter or housing. We hope to increase that success with the opening of a dedicated center for this purpose.
We have created a specific homeless services program that focuses solely on the literally homeless with a grant from United Way. For the ‘22-‘23 year, this program successfully assisted 91 homeless individuals to get into housing and another 19 into shelter or rehab.
“We’ve had 683 (calls for help) the first five months of this year so we are on track to take about 1,600 calls by the end of the year,” she wrote. “We have no low-barrier shelter beds and that is a big problem that keeps many on our streets and in the woods. There is an effort that I think is going to be funded by the Marion County Hospital District working with Wear Gloves to open a lowbarrier shelter so that will have a positive impact in the future.”
SOCIAL SERVICES OUTREACH
Mike Travaglini is the director of the social services outreach at Saint Theresa Catholic Church in Belleview. The church is a “hub” of services for those in need in south Marion County and a partner in the Belleview Area Social Services network of members, which includes churches and individuals, according to its website, mystcc. org, which notes that the church’s outreach served “over 68,000 clients and families in 2019.” The social services outreach aids the needy and homeless with rent, utility payment, short term motel stays and more. The church operates a food pantry and a soup kitchen open every day of the year, which serves a meal to about 200 people daily in a covered sit-down patio dining area. The outreach also provides career, health and dental services and access.
Q: Do you feel the PIT numbers are an accurate reflection of the number of homeless people in our area?
A: My opinion is no. We have seen an 11% increase in food assistance just from last year, which means either people are on the verge of or are new homeless possibly living in their cars, which is hard to track.
Q: What trend do you see in the homeless or near homeless population here?
A: Trends are a constant steep increase in rents with little to no increase in wages, which results in numerous new homeless with a
Jason Halstead is the executive director of Brothers Keeper.
Q: Do you feel the PIT count that shows 378 homeless persons in 2024 vs 453 for 2023 is accurate based on what you’re seeing daily?
A: Yes, I believe the PIT count is accurate. Rates of homelessness can change day to day, but these counts seem like a good snapshot of what we’re seeing in our ministry overall.
Q: What trends are you seeing now?
A: We have seen an increase in people calling for assistance with housing or shelter. The agencies that work with the homeless or those at risk of being homeless are doing great work, but affordable housing and a low barrier shelter are still needed. Unfortunately, most homeless that we serve are dealing with mental illness and/or substance abuse issues.
Many of the homeless are also individuals who have aged out of foster care and have no support system. Most of the clients we see who are at risk of being homeless are seniors living on a fixed income or single mothers with children who are having a hard time making ends meet and supporting their families on a single income.
Q: How many are served daily by your agency’s soup kitchen, and are those numbers up or down?
A: Our soup kitchen numbers are up slightly compared to a few years ago. Some of the clients who eat at the soup kitchen are homeless and many are housed in the surrounding area but suffer from food instability.
Q: Any other comment?
A: The breakdown of the family, mental illness and substance abuse are the largest contributors to homelessness and poverty. If we can focus on, address and treat these issues directly, we would see a dramatic decrease in homelessness and poverty.
Patti McQueen of La Casella Catering loads vegetables back into an oven as she helps serve homeless people during the Tuesday Ministries Outreach that helps homeless people at the Ocala First United Methodist Church on East Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. La Casella Catering prepares and serves all the meals for free for homeless people during the Tuesday Ministries Outreach. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
People pray together during the Tuesday Ministries Outreach that helps homeless people at the Ocala First United Methodist Church on East Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Seasonal summer slump felt as jobless rates rise in region
Staff report
The jobless rate in the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion region was 4.5% in June, up 0.7 percentage point over the month and 0.5 percentage point greater than the region’s year ago rate of 4.0%.
The labor force was 219,052, down 1,219 (-0.6%) over the year. There were 9,947 unemployed residents in the region, an increase of 1,602 compared to May and up 1,143 over the year.
According to preliminary employment data released July 19 by FloridaCommerce, there were 209,105 employed across the region, down by 300 since May and 2,362 fewer than the same time last year, as noted on the CareerSource CLM press release.
Levy County continued to post the lowest jobless rate in the region at 4.1%,
up from 3.6% over the month and year. Marion County followed with 4.4%, also up from 3.6% over the year and 3.8% in June 2023. Citrus County reported a 5.2% unemployment rate, an increase from 4.5% in May and 4.6% over the year.
Marion County’s labor force was 151,668, an increase of 989 over the month and 365 fewer over the year. There were145,035 employed, a decrease of 148 compared to May and down 1,150 compared to the same time last year. The county had 6,633 unemployed in June, 1,137 more than the previous month and 785 more than in June 2023.
Rusty Skinner, CareerSource CLM’s chief executive officer, noted in the release that the bump in the jobless rate and number counted as unemployed is in line with what the region typically experiences moving into the summer months with seasonal shifts in education support
and agriculture employment, as well as an influx of post-secondary students returning to the area looking for summer jobs before going back to school. Skinner said it tracks similar upticks statewide with increases over the month in 67 counties; the rate also increased in 66 counties compared to June 2023.
“What we’re experiencing at this time of year is a typical summer slump; it is not unique to our region nor to any other area in Florida for that matter,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we take our foot off the gas; we know businesses are eager to hire, which is why we strive to connect them with those looking for work.”
In June, nonfarm employment in the Ocala Metropolitan Area, which covers all of Marion County, was 120,300, an increase of 1,600 jobs over the year for a 1.3% growth rate over the year. Industries gaining jobs over the year were Education
and Health Services, which added 700 jobs; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+600 jobs); Mining, Logging, and Construction (+500 jobs); Other Services (+200 jobs); Government (+200 jobs); and Leisure and Hospitality (+100 jobs). Other Services, with a 5.4% growth rate; Mining, Logging and Construction (+5.3%); and Education and Health Services (+3.5%) industries grew faster in the Ocala metro area than statewide over the year. Industries losing jobs were Manufacturing (-300 jobs): Professional and Business Services (-200 jobs); Information (-100 jobs) and Financial Activities (-100 jobs).
Information about job fairs, hiring events and other services is available at careersourceclm.com or by calling 800-434-JOBS (5627).
Join the Indian Bollywood Flash Dance
Locals will host a four-minute Bollywood dance performance on Citizen’s Circle.
Marion County Public Library System seeks volunteers for Library Express program
Library Express program to help children build literacy skills
The Marion County Public Library System is looking for volunteers to read to children at their Head Start locations during the school year in a program called Library Express.
Volunteers will receive training on how to conduct storytime sessions and have all the reading materials provided to them.
Anyone who is interested in volunteering is required to submit an application. This application can be filled out at all nine public library locations, online at library. marionfl.org. The deadline to submit an application is Monday, August 26. All applicants will be required to be cleared by a confidential background screening and attend an orientation and training session. If you are approved, you will be required to commit to the program schedule.
The Library Express program is designed to help young children build literacy skills and develop a love of reading, according to a press release issued by Marion County Board of County Commissioners.
“Reading aloud to children from an early age brings about a myriad of
benefits, including fostering their school readiness skills. Notably, children who are read to at home at least thrice weekly are approximately twice as likely to be among the top 25% in reading scores, in contrast to those who are read to less frequently. Reading aloud to children significantly contributes to their cognitive development by introducing them to new words, exposing them to diverse ideas, enhancing their language skills, and bolstering their reading comprehension abilities,” according to research issued by Amy R. Napoli, Early Childhood Extension Specialist with at the University of Nebraska. Understanding the need for early intervention, Marion County Public Schools has ramped up early learning opportunities. Since the 2021-2022 school year, every elementary Marion County school has provided voluntary pre-kindergarten (VPK) programs.
This local reading program is a great way for volunteers to share their love of reading and learning while making a positive impact on the community youth.
Additional questions about volunteering for the Library Express program, should be directed to the Marion County Public Library System at 352-671-8551.
The Indian Bollywood Flash Dance will take place on Oct. 5, at the Citizens’ Circle in downtown Ocala. The dance performance is a part of the Gentiva Ocala Metro India Fest, which is being organized by Dr. Sheni Meghani of the Strategic Community Alliance, Inc.
The Indian Bollywood Flash Dance is a four-minute-long choreographed piece based on popular Bollywood dance moves and music. The team of participants will perform this piece at the event venue as soon as the DJ starts the music.
“This event is not a stage performance, so no pressure has to be taken and participants can wear
NONPROFITS
any attire, from T-shirt and jeans to traditional Indian clothes and anything in between,” assured Meghani by email.
The audio and video of the music will be sent by the organizers so people can practice the dance at their convenience, at their pace, whenever and wherever their schedule permits. According to Meghani, there will be no choreography and participating requires a “minimal time commitment and a lot of willingness to have fun.”
Anyone interested in participating in the dance should provide their name, email address and cellphone number to Saritha Rao at rsprao837@gmail.com by Aug. 15 to receive details, videos and other instructions, such as the exact time of the dance.
ARTS GROUP REACHES MILESTONE
Staff report
Community Stages, a nonprofit theatre arts organization based in Ocala, provides personal development for all ages through performing arts training, community events and familycentered performances.
The group, which is in residence at the Chelsea Art Center at 3305 E. Silver Springs Blvd., is celebrating its first anniversary with some free events.
An open house will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 18, with opportunities to tour the venue, meet team members
and learn about programs and classes. An Aug. 20 event from noon to 1 p.m. is open to homeschooled students ages 9 to 14 to learn about the Homeschool PAL (Performing Arts Local) and VAL (Visual Arts Local) programs. An audition prep workshop will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 22 for ages 10 to 18, ahead of auditions for a holiday musical. The auditions will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 3.
To learn more, go to communitystages.org or call (352) 707-8243.
File photo: Women wear Saree dresses as they dance together in the Bollywood Dance Along during the Gentiva Ocala Diwali Celebration at Citizens’ Circle in Ocala on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. The traditional Indian event was hosted by the Strategic Community Alliance to celebrate Diwali, the Indian festival of light, to show happiness, prosperity and the beginning of a new year. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.
Cast members from Community Stages, front, from left, Zoe Cox, 16, and Caroline Overly, 10, and back, from left, Lilly Gonzalez, 16, Robert Skipper, 14, Charlie Overly, 13, Tyler Ruiz, 18, and Trinity Gori, 16, rehearse a scene from one of their folktales at the Chelsea Art Center on East Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala, Fla. on Thursday, March 21, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
MCPS finalist for statewide Teacher of the Year awarded $20,000 from governor
FHP seeks driver and vehicle in connection to man’s death
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
Law enforcement is seeking the public’s help in finding the driver and vehicle that left the crash site Monday night after striking a 71-year-old Ocklawaha man who was lying in the roadway, the Florida Highway Patrol reports.
The victim, found deceased on the south shoulder of County Road 25 near Bay Road, had “been struck by an unknown vehicle at an unknown time
frame.” The vehicle was traveling east on County Road 25. According to the FHP press release, the victim, whose name was not released, was “lying down within the eastbound lane of travel” when he was struck.
The driver and vehicle left the scene, according to the press release, which lists the incident time as 9:50 p.m.
Anyone with information about the vehicle or driver is asked to call Cpl. Brett Detweiler at (352) 512- 6644 or text *FHP via cell phone.
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
Marion County’s own finalist for the statewide Teacher of the Year competition was awarded $20,000 on Tuesday from Gov. Ron DeSantis, just days ahead of the gala where one Florida teacher will be chosen as the winner.
Jennifer Brown, a mathematics teacher from Forest High School, is one of five finalists for the statewide Teacher of the Year competition after taking home the award at the Marion County level.
Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded each of the five finalists a $20,000 check.
On July 25, the winner of Florida’s Teacher of the Year will be named at a gala. The winner will receive additional awards and take home a total of $50,000.
Brown teaches the subjects of geometry and trigonometry. A product
of Marion County Public Schools herself, saiw d she’s always wanted to teach and impact students’ lives the same way her teachers impacted hers. Brown began her teaching career in 1996 at her alma mater, Wyomina Park Elementary School.
“I just love learning,” Brown said. “My whole life, I’ve had great teachers who have always inspired me.”
She credits the many great teachers who taught her for inspiring her to choose teaching as a career.
“Being around other like-minded people who love their careers and love teaching and made me love teaching and want to provide that for students,” she said.
Brown’s geometry classes take mathematics off the page and into the hands of her students, who often do collaborative activities to communicate, work together and solve problems. Brown has been teaching for 21 years and taught in the Marion County school district for the last nine years.
Book signing with Dave Schlenker
Dave Schlenker, a local author and longtime journalist, will be signing copies of “Columns, Confessions and A Brain Cyst,” from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, at the Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.
The book is his second collection of essays and articles from the “Ocala Star-Banner,” “Ocala Style” and the “Ocala Gazette.”
In the new book, the noted pundit delves deep into pressing issues, such as: Why is there underwear on the doorknob? Where is the SS Minnow? Who placed sardines in his car in August? Is Erik Estrada still a hunka hunka burnin’ love?
Schlenker’s first book is “Little Man BIG Mouth,” culled from 30 years of newspaper and magazine columns written by the self-described “Dad in Cargo Shorts.”
To learn more, go to fb.com/dave.schlenker
Jennifer Brown, center, poses with her Golden Apple award with students in her 9th grade AVID class at Forest High School in Ocala on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Brown teaches Geometry and AVID at Forest and was recently named the Golden Apple Teacher of the Year. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Another Q&A with District 1 candidates for Marion County School Board
The two candidates vying to represent District 1 on the Marion County School Board are both experienced at the role, and it’s up to the voters to decide in August which to choose.
Allison Campbell is running for reelection for her current seat on the school board, while former school board member Beth McCall challenges her in an attempt to rejoin the board.
Campbell has served on the school board since she was first elected in 2020. With three children enrolled in Marion County Public Schools, she aims to be the “voice of a parent” on the board. She recently earned
Q:As Marion County’s test scores have been released, we can see that the district ranks on the lower side in comparison to the rest of the state. What factors do you think contribute to students’ low scores in standardized testing? What solutions do you propose to see continued improvements in test scores?
A: For years, our District was nearly last in the state for kindergarten readiness. Having our earliest learners unprepared for school causes the District to have a lot of educational ground to make up. We put VPK programs in every elementary school for four-year-olds and opened the Fordham Early Learning Academy. Those initiatives helped move us to 37th in the state. We still have a long way to go but are improving in that area. It takes time.
A major issue continues to be attendance. Chronically absent students often do not perform well in class and on their tests. To address this, the School Board has aligned with legislators to address state statute changes needed to enhance attendance requirements. We need to continue working to provide opportunities that will give those at-risk students more of an incentive to attend school. Additionally, I have been dialoging with the superintendent about ideas for 6th and 9th graders to help them transition more easily into middle and high school and get off to a faster start at each level.
Importantly, we have provided more robust Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes for students, but if they need intensive reading and math, that limits their abilities to take CTE electives. The new 7-period day schedules in many secondary schools will help with that. Our middle school elective offerings sometimes can offer too much specialization for a full semester. We should go back to life skills classes like old-school home economics and shop classes to introduce students to multiple opportunities that they could potentially specialize in during high school. Those types of classes will help students engage and attend school, which in turn will help them in tested subjects. Further, the District hired teachers last summer to create full lesson plans and curriculum maps for each tested-subject state standard in K-5. Now that we have state progress monitoring, those examples and plans can help teachers of students struggling in specific areas. Also, as we expand those plans into every tested grade level, and classroom teachers become more familiar with the resources available, we will have more targeted instruction focused on the specific areas of need. Again, it takes time, but plans are in place to help us continue improving. Our vision remains to help every student succeed.
her doctorate in strategic communication from Regent University
Campbell’s time on the school board has been marked with navigating the pandemic, updating the interlocal agreement among the school board, county and its municipalities, and reinstating impact fees to fund construction after a 13-year hiatus.
McCall served on the school board in the District 2 seat from 2016 until her resignation in June 2021. Since she has worked as the director of talent development at the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership and served on the board of a number of
Q:
Given the investigations conducted into the district’s procurement policy, you expressed a desire to send the findings of the report to the governor, but the board could not agree on an outcome. Ideally, how do you wish this situation would have played out? Do you feel that there should have been an opportunity for reprimand for the board member who violated district policy?
A: Since being elected in 2020, the School Board had at least one other independent investigation where the report was sent to the Governor. That provides precedent, so I had anticipated that same outcome. However, I do not believe discipline or reprimand of elected officials belongs at the local level except at the ballot box. I appreciate that the Governor alone, potentially in coordination with the state ethics commission, can provide discipline to local elected officials.
Q:
Many citizens have expressed concern that it will be difficult to find enough teachers to work in the two new elementary schools and high school, given the number of vacancies within the existing Marion County schools. What solutions do you propose to improve teacher recruitment and retention?
A: Traditionally, Board members shouldn’t interfere with the innerworkings of the operations side of the district. We have approved new positions and job descriptions for recruiting. We have partnered with companies to assist with substitutes, special education teachers, and teachers from other countries. However, hearing this concern repeatedly from many constituents during this re-election campaign has caused me to realize I need to “get into the weeds.” I have experience and expertise in recruiting physicians to Marion County when we had significant doctor shortages, so I can help strategize, coordinate plans, and tell our story to educators who should consider MCPS.
We must identify more students interested in teaching and help them through their education journeys. We must recruit both inside and outside of the state. We must identify more members of our local community who have a “gift of teaching” yet aren’t being fulfilled in their current professions, who can consider teaching as a second career.
For retention, our educators must feel valued and appreciated. They must feel heard. I’m grateful to have received the Marion Education Association (Teacher’s Union) endorsement again, because they know I listen and advocate for their needs. I take those phone calls instead of letting them go to voicemail, or if I’m unavailable, I return calls to try to help in a variety of ways. I continue to believe our professional development courses need to focus on the whole teacher - and not just curriculum - courses that consider financial health, mental health, and other personal development can help educators be better professionals. Student discipline continues to challenge classrooms, so administrators must uphold policies and the code of student conduct to protect the sanctity of the classroom for instruction. If teachers are supported, heard and valued, we can keep more of them encouraged and excited to tackle the vitally important jobs they do.
Q&A with Beth McCall
Q:As Marion County’s test scores have been released, we can see that the district ranks on the lower side in comparison to the rest of the state. What factors do you think contribute to students’ low scores in standardized testing? What solutions would you propose to see continued improvements in test scores?
nonprofit organizations, including as executive director of the Marion County Children’s Alliance.
McCall earned a master’s degree in management and leadership from Webster University. She received a bachelor’s degree in education and music from Eastern New Mexico University.
McCall moved homes and now resides in District 1 where she is running for office.
The “Gazette” asked both candidates a second series of questions about their qualifications for office and professional history. Their written answers are included here verbatim.
A: Attendance plays a crucial role in the educational development of children and youth. When students are not regularly present in school, they miss out on essential lessons, social interactions, and the overall structure that formal education provides. This absence can hinder their academic progress and long-term. Truancy court has returned to Marion County. These are problem solving courts that are designed to help families and get to the root cause of why children are not in school. Parents of students that habitually miss school may face criminal charges. Parents need to understand that their involvement is key to ensuring their children’s consistent school attendance and, subsequently, their learning and development.
The emphasis on early learning is anticipated to significantly enhance student achievement over time. When I previously served on the board, we took a proactive step by instituting the Fordham Early Learning Academy, recognizing the crucial role early education plays in a child’s academic and social development. Currently, each elementary school offers a Voluntary PreKindergarten (VPK) program, designed to prepare four-year-olds for the rigors of kindergarten. This program addresses various developmental areas, including literacy skills, social skills, and other foundational competencies essential for early success in formal education.
Historically, many children entered kindergarten without the necessary readiness skills, placing them at a disadvantage from the start. The VPK program aims to bridge this gap by providing young learners the tools they need to thrive in a classroom environment. By focusing on literacy, social interaction, and other critical skills, VPK helps to level the playing field, ensuring that all children, regardless of their background, have a fair chance at academic success. This early intervention is not only beneficial for the students but also alleviates the pressure on kindergarten teachers, who can then build on a stronger foundation.
I firmly believe that the emphasis and resources dedicated to early learning will yield measurable improvements in student outcomes as these children advance through the educational system. By the time these VPK participants reach third grade, we can expect to see a significant increase in their standardized test scores, reflecting their enhanced readiness and ability to meet academic challenges. This forward-thinking approach underscores the importance of investing in early education as a means to foster long-term academic achievement and overall student success.
Q:Given the investigations conducted into the district’s procurement policy, do you agree with the school board’s decision not to send the findings to the governor for further review? If you were serving on the board, how would you have
handled this situation?
A: I agree with the decision not to send the findings to the governor for further review. Steps have been taken to look at the process for procurement by forming a committee comprised of industry experts and others. The formation of this committee represents a much-needed step in the right direction. It demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement and accountability within the procurement process. By taking these actions, the organization is positioning itself to better manage resources, ensure fair competition, and ultimately deliver greater value. This strategic approach not only addresses current challenges but also sets a strong foundation for future success.
Q: Many citizens have expressed concern that it will be difficult to find enough teachers to work in the two new elementary schools and high school, given the number of vacancies within the existing Marion County schools. What solutions would you propose to improve teacher recruitment and retention?
A: Recruiting and retaining teachers is indeed a formidable challenge that many educational institutions face today. One innovative approach is the “grow your own” strategy, which focuses on nurturing potential educators from within the community. By encouraging paraprofessionals who exhibit the potential to become teachers and offering them scholarships to complete their degrees, we can create a dedicated and well-prepared workforce.
Additionally, cultivating high school students within Education/Training Academies to pursue careers in education and return to teach in Marion County establishes a sustainable pipeline of future educators. This approach not only addresses the shortage of teachers but also ensures that educators are deeply connected to and invested in their community.
Our greatest resource is our people, those that day-to-day step into the classroom providing not only teaching but parenting, counseling and much more. They should be respected and regarded as professionals. They should have the resources they need and the support to do their jobs. I would work diligently to ensure teachers have excellent staff development to stay up to date with trends and new curriculum. I would encourage mentoring and coaching of new teachers from veteran highly effective teachers. I would promote wellness and self-care initiatives within the district to keep our teachers mentally and physically fit. To build a positive culture where those working in it want to stay and thrive, a community of trust and respect must first be built.
Q&A with Allison Campbell
File photo: School board member Allison Campbell speaks during a meeting at the Marion County Public School Board in Ocala on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.
File photo: School board member Allison Campbell speaks during a meeting at the Marion County Public School Board in Ocala on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.
Florida updates driver’s license numbering
New system to use randomization, starting July 31, 2024
Staff report
Anew Florida driver’s license will soon have four randomly generated digits as part of their license number, in an effort to increase security.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) announced on July 23 that, beginning on July 31, 2024, the license numbers on all new driver’s licenses and identification cards sold in Florida will contain at least four randomly generated numbers.
This change is in response to legislation amending Florida Statute 322.14 (1)(a), which requires the distinguishing numbers assigned to a driver’s license or identification card.
According to a press release from the FLHSMV, the new system aims to improve security and safeguard individuals’ identities.
“While the license or identification card format will remain the same, a different formula utilizing randomization will now be used to determine the driver license numbers assigned to a customer,” the FLHSMV said in a statement.
“Customers renewing or replacing their license or identification cards in person or online will be issued a new number. Those applying for a firsttime license or identification card will be issued a card that meets the new statutory requirements.”
The new number will only change if the customer’s last name changes, the FLHSMV said.
“Once the new number has been issued, it will only change again if the customer’s last name changes,” they said. “Any new credential, printed report or receipt will display the newly generated driver license or identification number.”
MARION’S ANTI-LITTER CAMPAIGN EARNS NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Marion County’s “No Horsin’ Around with Marion” anti-litter campaign was honored with the 2024 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties.
The NACo awards honor county government programs across 18 categories that strengthen services for residents.
“This is something the community has to come together and want to stop,” said County Commissioner Craig Curry
in a press release. “We’re going to be the facilitator to put the effort together, but the community ultimately is going to come up with the game plan and the execution of that game plan.”
The litter campaign, started in 2022, works to combat littering through advertising and education, in addition to stronger ordinances to penalize persons found guilty of littering and dumping.
NEW CEO NAMES AT HCA FLORIDA WEST MARION HOSPITAL
“Isaiah’s
communities of
Lake and Sumter counties,” said Alan Keesee, Chief Executive Officer of HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, in a press release. “We are one hospital with two campuses, and I am confident in his ability to continue the legacy of safety and excellence at HCA Florida West Marion Hospital.”
of HCA Florida Healthcare
Voting runs through July 29 to claim the national title, which Florida won in 2023.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
The Florida Highway Patrol is hoping a photo of an FHP patrol car backdropped by the launch of a Delta IV Heavy rocket will propel their vehicle to first place in the 2024 America’s Best-Looking Cruiser contest, according to a Florida Department of Motor Vehicles and Highway Safety press release.
FHP is looking for a repeat of their first cruiser contest win in 2023, with 180,000 votes garnered by a photo of the vehicle next to a large alligator.
The open to the public contest, sponsored by the American Association of State Troopers, is based upon online votes for photos of highway patrol cruisers from 49 states. Voting runs from July 15 to 29.
The winner will be featured on the 2025 AAST calendar and sales proceeds will support the AAST Foundation, which provides educational scholarships for member troopers’ dependents, according to the press release.
FHP Colonel Gary Howze stated in the release that the agency is working for a repeat win.
“Your Florida State Troopers are working to represent Florida and be America’s best for our the second year in a row while promoting public safety,” Howze stated. “The competition for America’s Best-Looking Cruiser provides a positive opportunity to support law enforcement nationally.”
The FHP contest entry photo by photographer Sean Stoltz was taken at the Space Launch Complex at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on April 28. It features a black and tan 2019 FHP Dodge Challenger in the foreground as a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket blasts off in the background in billowing clouds of exhaust. The photo was taken during the final launch of the Delta IV Heavy, which has delivered high priority national security payloads for 63 years, the press release stated.
To vote, go to www.surveymonkey. com/r/bestlookingcruiser2024 FHP cruiser in running for best-looking
Isaiah Zirkle [HCA
Officials and members of the Marion County Litter Task Force pose for a group photo during the Marion County Litter Task Force press conference on April 21, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.
The FHP contest entry photo by photographer Sean Stoltz was taken at the Space Launch Complex at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on April 28.
Wyomina Park Elementary School opens early
Students and others returned July 22; other MCPS schools will start the year on Aug. 12.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
Wyomina Park Elementary students, faculty and staff went back to school on Monday, July 22.
Kevin Christian, director of public relations for Marion County Public Schools, said the opening, which occurred about two weeks before other district schools are set to open, is part of a Florida Department of Education pilot year-round schedule.
A 2024-2025 year-round calendar, approved by the Marion County School Board on March 26, and available at marionschools.net, indicates week-long breaks in November and March 2025 for students and a 10-day Christmas holiday break, along with other breaks.
“WPE students attend 180 days, like all other students. Their major breaks
like Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring, all coincide with traditional school year calendars, which begin Aug. 12 this year,” Christian wrote in an email.
There are 503 students enrolled at Wyomina Park. Community meetings were held “where stakeholders had an opportunity to provide feedback,” according to Chris Carlisle, director of governmental and community relations for Marion County Public Schools.
Wyomina is one of at least two Florida schools trying the schedule, with another in Brevard County, according to the school official. The impact of the yearround schedule on factors like student achievement will be evaluated.
The school is located at 511 NE 12th Ave., Ocala. A post on the Ocala Police Department Facebook page reminded drivers to be “extra mindful and considerate” and to slow down for 20 mph school zones.
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
One man is being treated for his injuries after being shot, and his alleged shooter claims to have been stabbed during an incident in a residential area of Weirsdale on July 22, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Brian Curtis, 36, has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, shooting from a vehicle within 1,000 feet of a person, and possession of methamphetamine, records show.
Authorities said Curtis fired multiple shots outside the home of the shooting victim, whose identity has not been released, after an argument ensued between the two men. Curtis told law enforcement that he began shooting after the other man stabbed him, but he received only a minor injury. The MCSO said no other accounts so far have backed up Curtis’ version of events.
On July 22, deputies were called to the 13400 block of Southeast Sunset Harbor Road to respond to a shooting. When they arrived, they found a man lying on the front porch of a home on Southeast 134th Avenue after being shot in the foot.
The victim told deputies that he had been shot by Curtis, who he knew personally.
An eyewitness reported seeing a driver in a green Chevrolet pickup truck traveling east on Sunset Harbor Road drive over the median, stop on the northside shoulder, pull out a handgun and shoot at another man three or four times.
The witness described the victim standing outside of the house, about 15 feet away from the roadway where the shooter had stopped.
Several other people called 911 to report a reckless driver in a green Chevrolet pickup truck after the man fled the scene and was driving west on Southeast Highway 484 in Belleview toward Interstate 75.
One of the callers, Christopher Bennett, was with Curtis outside of the vehicle when it was pulled over in the 13100 block of Southwest 16th Avenue in Ocala. Curtis told Bennett that he had initially been stabbed by the other man (the shooting victim), and so he
shot him in retaliation with a 9mm handgun.
When deputies arrived there, they confiscated a Glock 43 handgun from the vehicle and placed Curtis in an ambulance to treat his stab wound.
“He advised that the victim allegedly hit the defendant’s ex-girlfriend with a vehicle. The defendant stated that he called the victim over to his truck, and an argument ensued,” according to the arrest report. “During the argument, the defendant stated he confronted the victim about hitting the ex-girlfriend with the vehicle and the victim stabbed him in the left side of the chest.”
Marion County Fire Rescue transported Curtis to the Ocala Regional Medical Center to be treated for his injuries. While at the hospital, a sheriff’s deputy found a small bag filled with a white crystal substance on Curtis’ person, which tested positive as methamphetamine.
“The defendant stated that after being stabbed, that is when he shot the victim and drove away,” according to the report. The victim has not been charged with the stabbing, as Curtis’ testimony is the only report of the victim acting violently toward him.
“There were no witnesses who saw the victim stab him,” said MCSO spokesperson Paul Bloom. “It was very minor in nature and potentially could’ve been something that he did himself.”
The victim told deputies that he was working outside his home when he heard his name being called, and saw the defendant come up to him.
“The victim states that the defendant threw a bullet at him and stated, ‘I have one of these with your name on it,’” according to the report.
The victim responded by saying he was tired of the other man’s threats and was going to call the police. The defendant drove off but then turned around, parked and started shooting, according to the report.
Neighboring witnesses offered deputies similar testimony.
Curtis was previously found guilty of careless operation of a vessel and operating a vessel without a boating safety identification card in 2004. In 2017, he was found guilty of careless driving, and also was charged with leaving the scene of a crash, carrying a concealed weapon and introducing contraband to a detention center, but the latter three charges were dropped.
Current Adoption Specials: “Ocala Gazette” regularly brings you three furry friends that are available for adoption from local animal rescue organizations.
Adoption fees are waived this month in exchange for a donation of school supplies for local students.
Kiki
Kiki is ready to trade shelter life for a cozy home and a nice family. This five-year-old cutie is equal parts lounger and loyal sidekick.
Zena
Four-year-old
Zena’s intelligence shouldn’t be wasted. Catahoula Leopard Dogs are quick learners and the perfect candidate for obedience training.
Mulch
Mulch has a heart full of joy and a nose for adventure. This four-yearold boy loves being a hound—he’s expressive, fun, and loves a daily sniffing excursion.
[Photo by Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
Meet Your Neighbors: The Top Shelf Band Hello, Ocala!
By Eadie Sickler Correspondent
The Top Shelf Band is rockin’ and rollin’!
The eight band members are all residents of Oak Run, a 55-plus retirement community in Ocala, and all have interesting and varied backgrounds.
At a recent practice session, they came together as if they had played music together for many years, when, in reality, the band has been together a scant two years, with the newest member just joining the others at the rehearsal. He fit right in, however, and didn’t miss a beat.
The group branched off from Oak Run’s Acoustic Jam Club, according to band leader John Zucco, who is a vocalist and plays electric lead guitar. Several participants in that original group wanted to play rock and roll music using electric guitars and other instruments and so, two years ago, the Top Shelf Band was born. Credited with the name of the band is Paula Hayward, the auxiliary percussionist and a backup vocalist.
The other band members are Betty Hoornbeck, drummer; Joe Yelich, electric guitar and lead vocalist; Jim Seitzinger, electric guitar and lead vocalist; Richard Boelter, electric bass guitar; David Tomlin, harmonica and electric guitar; and Dwight Braxton, electric bass guitar
Zucco was born in Medford, Massachusetts, and was a professional musician in the Boston area, singing and playing guitar. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Bay Community College with an associate’s degree in liberal arts. He attended Boston State University with studies in the elementary education discipline, but dropped out in his senior year and joined a band.
“The bug bit me,” he said with a smile.
Zucco worked for an entertainment agency in Boston, booking corporate events and weddings. He is “mostly retired,” but still does some of that work currently. His wife, Dianna, is employed by Medicare. They have two sons, ages 22 and 28, who live in Massachusetts.
The couple loves Ocala, he said.
“Moving here has changed my lifestyle. Instead of working late nights and sleeping in late, I now go to bed early and get up early. I love the peace and quiet here,” he added.
Hoornbeck, 74, admits to “drumming” from babyhood.
“I used wooden spoons and banged on pots and pans,” she said.
Hoornbeck has played in New Orleans Dixieland bands, which she loved. While there, she became a funeral director. After Hurricane Katrina devastated the area in 2005, she and her late husband moved to New Hampshire, where she opened and operated a “very successful bakery, selling Scandinavian fare,” since she is of Swedish descent. During that time, she also played with several bands. The couple later moved to Fort Myers in Florida and then to Oak Run in Ocala. Hoornbeck works at the Publix Super Market at Heath Brook Commons, and said, “I just love it.”
About the band, Hoornbeck said, “We all have fun, but we take the band seriously.”
“I’m a professional drummer,” she added. “Although I don’t read music, I play the cello, electric and acoustic guitars, and drums. But my love is drums.”
Hayward uses a total of 26 instruments in her craft, including tambourine, claves, guiro,
maracas, strikers, rattles and bells.
“Percussion is healing and cathartic. It compliments every instrument in the band,” she said.
Of singing backup as needed, she shared, “I have sung my whole life.”
Professionally, Hayward worked with airport team management in 22 various locations in North America. She has lived at Oak Run for two-anda-half years and has been part of the Top Shelf Band for a year.
“This is a massively talented group,” she said.
Yelich is a native of the Buffalo, New York, area. He received a Bachelor of Science in education from Buffalo State College and a master’s degree in school administration from Fredonia State College. He was a high school principal for 12 years and a superintendent of city schools in Oneonta, New York, for eight years.
“I liked getting results…getting kids to the finish line,” he said of that experience.
Yelich recalled singing in choruses in high school and college and played the trombone and guitar. He and his wife have two sons and a daughter, who all live in New York state. He retired in 2019.
“I love the Ocala heat!” he shared. “And I love to sing! Great stuff!”
Seitzinger has been with Top Shelf Band since its inception, starting out with the Oak Run acoustic band group. In addition to guitar, he sings vocals with Zucco.
Born in Philadelphia, his family moved to southern New Jersey when he was about 6 years old and lived there until moving to Oak Run. He began playing guitar when he was about 13 years old, learning from his older brother.
Seitzinger has four children and 10 grandchildren, all in the New Jersey area.
Boelter, a native of North Dakota, is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado and the Colorado University in Denver. He is a retired geologist. For 23 years, he was employed as an environmental geologist in New York state, responsible for “cleaning up superfund sites,” he said.
His wife, Tricia, is an administrator for a health care agency. The couple just returned from a trip to Vancouver, British
Columbia, where they visited their daughter and granddaughter, who was born on Father’s Day.
Ticia’s parents retired to Florida many years ago and, during visits to this area, the couple drove through Ocala and thought it was a perfectly sized town. They love the community.
Tomlin is a realtor for Oak Run, working with Decca Realty. His wife, Denise, is a retired licensed practical nurse and also works with the realty company at Oak Run.
Born in Port Huron, Michigan, Tomlin graduated from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, majoring in political science with a minor in sociology. In his professional life, he was in medical sales for about 30 years, he said, adding he became a licensed EMT, to familiarize himself with that aspect to expand his knowledge of the medical field. He had played in a band in Michigan, he added.
Tomlin and his wife have five children, eight grandchildren and four great-grands, all spread out between Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania. The couple moved to Ocala four years ago because they liked that the area is “folksy, and we wanted to get away from the cold weather of Michigan. We enjoy that this is horse country, and we like being close to all the amenities here,” he shared.
Braxton, not an official band member, came to the rehearsal with his bass guitar and said, “I’m here!” He played with the band and seemed to fit in right away. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, he is a retired police officer. He moved to Oak Run in Ocala to care for his mother.
In regard to the band, Tomlin lauded leader Zucco, crediting him with originating the band and bringing him into the rock and roll and electric guitar scene.
“I love playing the blues,” he said, adding that the band is “low-key, with no pressure. I love jamming with the band here.”
“We are for hire,” Zucco said about the band. “We do private or neighborhood parties…simple rock and roll!”
To learn more about the Top Shelf Band, John Zucco may be reached by calling (352) 509-6407 or via email at djjohnz@aol.com.
Members of the Top Shelf Band, from left, Paula Hayward, Joseph Yelich, Betty Hoornbeck, Richard Boelter and John Zucco, with “roadie” Joe St. Lawrence, pose together during
a rehearsal in the Palm Grove Recreation Center in Oak Run in Ocala on Thursday, July 18, 2024. Members David Tomlin and Jim Seitzinger, and newcomer Dwight Braxton, are not shown. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
Top to bottom: Joseph Yelich rehearses with members of the Top Shelf Band in the Palm Grove Recreation Center in Oak Run in Ocala on Thursday, July 18, 2024. Betty Hoornbeck, Richard Boelter and John Zucco, left to right, rehearse. Betty Hoornbeck plays the drums. Richard Boelter plays the bass.
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State State moves forward on social media law
By Jim Saunders Florida News Service
Facing potential First Amendment challenges, Florida has proposed details about how it will carry out a new law aimed at keeping children off social-media platforms and blocking minors from accessing online pornography.
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office on Tuesday published three proposed rules that include addressing one of the most closely watched issues in the law: age verification.
House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, made a priority of passing the law (HB 3) during this year’s legislative session, citing what he said are harms to children from social media. Technology industry groups have argued that parts of the law, including its age-verification requirements, would violate First Amendment rights.
The law, which will take effect Jan. 1,
seeks to prevent children under age 16 from opening social-media accounts on at least some platforms—though it would allow parents to give consent for 14- and 15-year-olds to have accounts. Children under 14 could not open accounts. It also requires age verification to try to prevent minors under age 18 from having access to online pornographic sites.
The social-media restrictions have drawn most of the attention, and the law largely puts the onus on platforms to verify the ages of users. It says that “knowing or reckless” violations could lead to the attorney general’s office filing lawsuits against platforms for unfair and deceptive trade practices. Also, platforms could face lawsuits filed on behalf of minors.
One of proposed rules published Tuesday says that willful “disregard of a person’s age constitutes a knowing or reckless violation” of the social-media restrictions.
“A social media platform willfully disregards a person’s age if it, based on
the facts or circumstance readily available to the respondent (platform), should reasonably have been aroused to question whether the person was a child and thereafter failed to perform reasonable age verification,” the proposed rule says.
The proposal adds that the attorney general’s office will “not find willful disregard of a person’s age has occurred if a social media platform establishes it has utilized a reasonable age verification method with respect to all who access the social media platform and that reasonable age verification method determined that the person was not a child unless the social media platform later obtained actual knowledge that the person was a child and failed to act.”
The proposed rules also address what is described as “reasonable parental verification” that could come into play, for instance, if parents want to consent for 14- and 15-year-old children to have access to social-media platforms.
One of the rules defines reasonable parental verification as “any method that is reasonably calculated at determining that a person is a parent of a child that also verifies the age and identity of that parent by commercially reasonable means.”
That could include methods such as platforms requesting from children the names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of parents; contacting the people whose names were provided by the children to seek information and confirmation; and “utilizing any commercially reasonable method regularly used by the government or business to verify” parents’ identities and ages.
The law, which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed in late March, does not identify social-media platforms that would be affected by the restrictions. But it includes a definition of such platforms, with criteria related to such things as algorithms, “addictive features” and allowing users to view the content or activities of other users.
Renner and other key supporters of the law argue that social-media companies have created addictive platforms that harm children’s mental health and can lead to sexual predators communicating with minors. But critics, including techindustry groups, have argued the bill is unconstitutional and pointed to courts blocking similar legislation in other states.
Before DeSantis signed the law, the tech-industry group NetChoice sent a letter to him that contended the measure was unconstitutional for a series of reasons, including its age-verification requirements.
“Age-verification schemes for the internet are blatantly unconstitutional,” Carl Szabo, the organization’s vice president and general counsel, wrote in the March 7 letter. “Because the internet is home to significant amounts of First Amendment speech, users should not be forced to forfeit their anonymity in order to access it.”
As DeSantis signed the law in March, Renner said he expected NetChoice to file a lawsuit. But Renner, an attorney, expressed confidence that the state would win in court and cited dangers of social media to children.
“This is an issue where we can no longer stand on the sidelines because of what we know,” he said.
Tuesday’s publishing of the proposed rules in the Florida Administrative Register could lead to a hearing before the rules are finalized. Rules are commonly used in state government to flesh out details after laws pass.
State denies discrimination against FAMU
By Jim Saunders Florida News Service
Disputing that state policies are discriminatory and rooted in segregation, Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office has asked a federal appeals court to reject a potential class-action lawsuit about issues such as funding and programs at historically Black Florida A&M University.
Lawyers in Moody’s office filed an 85-page brief last week asking the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold a decision by U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle to dismiss the lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of six Florida A&M University students.
Attorneys for the students contend that state practices involving FAMU have violated the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and what is known as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As examples, they allege underfunding of FAMU and that duplications of programs with nearby Florida State University and other universities have harmed FAMU.
But the state’s brief said that now “70 years removed from segregation, Florida presumptively has met its affirmative duty to dismantle its segregative system and has not enacted policies with discriminatory intent.” It said the lawsuit ignores other factors that play into issues such as funding.
“Over the past 70 years, Florida’s population has
skyrocketed from 3.5 million to over 22 million, and its university system has ballooned from three universities to 12,” the brief said. “Those dramatic shifts have brought with them a host of new considerations for legislators: What financial strategy best serves the state’s burgeoning population? What are each university’s needs? How many students do they serve? What research do they perform? How much non-state revenue do they receive? And how much funding does the state have to allocate?”
But in a May brief filed at the Atlanta-based appeals court, attorneys for the students alleged the state has “maintained discriminatory practices traceable to segregation.” The brief said, for example, that FAMU needs to have highdemand, unique academic programs to help draw a wide range of students.
“Florida has failed to create an academic identity for FAMU separate from its racialized history,” the May brief said. “That is a product of the unnecessary duplication of academic programs at other state universities, particularly geographically proximate FSU, and the failure to offer any unique, high-demand program at FAMU to attract racially diverse applicants and establish an academic identity beyond FAMU’s segregated history.”
The lawsuit, filed in 2022, names as defendants the state, the university system’s Board of Governors and system Chancellor Ray Rodrigues.
In his January decision dismissing the case, Hinkle wrote that the plaintiffs did not meet a key legal test of showing that disparities among state universities were rooted in what is known as “de jure” segregation— segregation sanctioned by law. He rejected arguments about issues such as overlaps in programs with other universities.
“The plaintiffs complain that FAMU has too few unique, high-demand programs— programs not available at any of the 11 other state universities,” Hinkle wrote. “But asked at oral argument for an example of any program FAMU is
lacking—any program the plaintiffs assert FAMU does not offer today because of the prior de jure segregation or current intentional discrimination— the plaintiffs could come up with none. FSU and UF (the University of Florida) have larger student bodies than FAMU and offer more courses, but the … complaint alleges no facts that would support a finding that this is traceable to de jure segregation or intentional racial discrimination.”
The state’s brief last week echoed Hinkle’s conclusions on such issues.
“Plaintiffs contend that
Florida has a policy of depriving FAMU of unique high-demand programs, which supposedly traces back to segregation,” the brief said. “But plaintiffs failed to plead any modern state effort to stunt FAMU’s curriculum. They identified not one program that FAMU has sought but was denied. And by their own count, FAMU has 34 unique programs not offered at nearby FSU, including four so-called unique high-demand programs. True, FSU has ‘five times the number of unique programs’ that FAMU has. But FSU also has almost five times the students that FAMU has.”
File photo
File photo
Florida Democrats quickly back Harris
By Jim Turner Florida News Service
Members of Florida’s delegation to the Democratic National Convention threw their support Monday to Vice President Kamala Harris, a day after President Joe Biden dropped his reelection campaign.
As part of a rapidly moving effort to coalesce support behind the vice president, a group of Florida party leaders held a call with reporters to back Harris’ bid to become president and pointed to increased enthusiasm they hope translates down the ballot.
“It is the Republicans’ dream to sit back and watch us fight each other and
create chaos,” said state Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Miami Gardens Democrat who chairs the Miami-Dade County Democratic Party. “But we don’t have to show them chaos. We can show them unity, and we can show them strength.”
Biden, 81, faced growing pressure to leave the race after a poor showing June 27 during a debate with former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee.
After Biden’s announcement Sunday that he was dropping out and supporting Harris, Democrats across the country scrambled to declare a new allegiance and avoid a potentially chaotic, brokered convention next month in Chicago.
The Florida Democratic Party said in a news release Monday that 236 members of the state’s delegation to the convention had
made the switch to Harris. The state has a 254-member voting delegation.
Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried said the speed of support for Harris isn’t surprising, as talks have been underway for “a hard couple of weeks.”
“With Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket for president, I know that everything is possible at this moment,” Fried said. “Florida is in play. Florida is winnable, not just at the top of the ticket, but certainly down ballot.”
Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, expressed hope that enthusiasm for Harris can help break the Republican supermajority in the state House. She cited issues such as abortion rights that Democrats hope will attract swing voters and cited a special-
Court dismisses abortion ‘statement’ case
By Jim Saunders Florida News Service
An appeals court Monday declined to take up a fight stemming from a “financial impact statement” that will appear on the November ballot with a proposed constitutional amendment on abortion rights, saying the case is moot because the statement was revised last week.
A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal, however, raised the possibility that Floridians Protecting Freedom, a political committee sponsoring the proposed constitutional amendment, could launch a new legal challenge to the revised statement—and that the state could reiterate its arguments that a circuit judge doesn’t have authority to decide such cases.
“To the extent that appellees (Floridians Protecting Freedom) may wish to raise new claims about the revised financial impact statement, they may do so in a separate proceeding,” said Monday’s ruling shared by Judges Stephanie Ray, Ross Bilbrey and Susan Kelsey. “Appellants (state officials) can again raise their arguments concerning the circuit court’s lack of jurisdiction in a case where there is an actual controversy presented.”
In briefs filed last week, lawyers for Floridians Protecting Freedom and the state argued the appeal
was not moot. Floridians Protecting Freedom also made clear it will challenge the revised statement, which it contends is politicized and inaccurate.
“For its part, the sponsor is committed to taking every legal action available to it, including filing a new lawsuit if necessary, to vindicate its legal right to a clear and unambiguous presentation of its amendment on the ballot,” the Floridians Protecting Freedom brief said.
Financial impact statements, which usually receive little attention, provide estimated effects of proposed constitutional amendments on government revenues and the state budget. But the abortion impact statement has become embroiled in controversy as Floridians Protecting Freedom seeks to pass an amendment that would enshrine abortion rights in the state Constitution.
A group of economists known as the Financial Impact Estimating Conference released an initial statement for the proposed amendment in November 2023. But on April 1, the Florida Supreme Court issued a ruling that allowed a six-week abortion limit to take effect.
Floridians Protecting Freedom filed a lawsuit in April arguing that the November financial-impact statement needed to be revised because it was outdated after the Supreme Court ruling. Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper agreed and
ordered the Financial Impact Estimating Conference to draft a new version.
State lawyers appealed, arguing that Cooper did not have legal authority to issue such an order. Amid the appeal, however, legislative leaders directed the Financial Impact Estimating Conference to revamp the statement.
The conference finished revisions last week, but the new version drew heavy criticism from Floridians Protecting Freedom.
Conference members representing Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida House engineered the changes. DeSantis and other state Republican leaders oppose the amendment.
After the revisions, the Tallahassee-based appeals court directed both sides to file briefs about whether the appeal stemming from the original version was moot. The court Monday said it declined to “exercise our jurisdiction to decide a moot question. This appeal is therefore dismissed.”
The dismissal, however, does not resolve the question about whether Cooper has the authority to review and order revisions to financial impact statements.
In their brief last week, the state’s lawyers argued the case was not moot because the legal questions about Cooper’s authority were likely to recur—including in a challenge by Floridians Protecting Freedom to the revamped statement.
“Here, it is a virtual
election win this year by Rep. Tom Keen, D-Orlando, in Central Florida’s House District 35.
“With abortion access being one of the top issues, it matters to have someone at the top of the ticket who is a trusted voice on that issue,” Driskell said.
Driskell said Democrats were able to get many independent voters to support Keen by talking about issues that the voters cared about, “namely abortion access and property insurance. So, having someone at the top of the ticket like Vice President Harris, who’s a trusted voice on abortion access and is a trusted voice on affordability issues, that makes all the difference in some of these races.”
But Republicans quickly pivoted their opposition from Biden to Harris.
Gov. Ron DeSantis described Harris, a former California attorney general and U.S. senator, as “too vacuous, too liberal and too unaccomplished for the voters,” while calling the effort to replace Biden with Harris as “just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.”
Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power highlighted a poll showing Harris down 10 points in Florida to Trump and said, “We are going to win and win big.”
While not running for a second term, Biden can remain in the White House until January, when a new president takes office. Several Florida Republicans, however, called for him to step down as president.
“Today’s (Sunday’s) Biden announcement reminds us that the Democrat Party is run by elites, who are obsessed with power and indifferent to the very democracy they lecture us about,” House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, tweeted on X. “If Biden is too feeble to run for President, then how can he remain President?”
Biden’s announcement Sunday freed up Florida delegates to vote for any candidates of their choosing as convention bylaws allow pledged delegates to change their votes due to extenuating circumstances.
The Democratic delegation includes 29 party leaders and elected officials, 30 automatic delegates, 146 district level delegates, 49 at-large delegates and 19 alternates.
certainty that the issue of the circuit court’s authority will recur,” the brief said.
“The (amendment) sponsor has already made clear it believes the revised statement ‘remains in violation of Florida law’ and has vowed to challenge it as soon as this (appeals) court permits the sponsor to do so. And although the question need not be one that is likely to recur between the same parties, that is no doubt true here.”
The proposed constitutional amendment will appear on the ballot as Amendment 4. It says, in part, that no “law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”
In part, the revised financial impact statement says there is “uncertainty about whether the amendment will require the state to subsidize abortions with public funds. Litigation to resolve those and other uncertainties will result in additional costs to the state government and state courts that will negatively impact the state budget. An increase in abortions may negatively affect the growth of state and local revenues over time.
Because the fiscal impact of increased abortions on state and local revenues and costs cannot be estimated with precision, the total impact of the proposed amendment is indeterminate.”
COVID-19 DEATHS TOP 3,000
By Florida News Service
With the year a little over halfway finished, more than 3,000 Florida resident deaths have been linked to COVID-19, according to data on the Florida Department of Health website. The website said a reported 3,002 resident deaths have been tied to the virus.
This year’s pace of deaths is lower than during the past four years.
The pandemic hit the state in 2020. That year, Florida had a reported 23,346 deaths, according to state data.
The number jumped to 39,869 in 2021, before declining to 21,294 in 2022 and 8,440 in 2023.
This year, 268 of the deaths have been in Miami-Dade County, while 235 have been in Palm Beach County, and 173 have been in Pinellas County.
]President Joe Biden with vice president Kamala Harris at a Juneteenth celebration at the White House on June 10, 2024 in Washington D.C. [Shutterstock]
Part of pretrial release law ruled unconstitutional
By Jim Saunders Florida News Service
An appeals court Wednesday rejected part of a 2023 state law that made pretrialrelease changes for people accused of crimes, ruling that it unconstitutionally infringed on the authority of the Florida Supreme Court.
A panel of the 3rd District Court of Appeal, in a 2-1 decision, sided with two people who were arrested in March on misdemeanor domestic-violence charges. During first-appearance hearings, a judge, relying on the law, said they would not be
eligible for pretrial release on “nonmonetary” conditions and imposed $1,000 bonds for each, Wednesday’s decision said.
The defendants, Giselle Romero and Wachovia Middlebrooks, quickly challenged the constitutionality of the part of the 2023 law applying to what the state classifies as dangerous crimes.
That part of the law says, “A person arrested for a dangerous crime may not be granted nonmonetary pretrial release at a first appearance hearing if the court has determined there is probable cause to believe the person has committed the offense.”
FLORIDA NOT FOCUS OF HARRIS CAMPAIGN
The chair of Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign Wednesday released an overview that said the campaign will “play offense” in a series of battleground states—but the list did not include Florida.
“Winning the presidential election still requires winning 270 electoral votes, and that means our pathways to victory runs through the states,” Jen O’Malley Dillon wrote in the overview.
“Vice President Harris enters a tight race, but it is clear that she can bring together a coalition of voters to keep a wide set of states in play. We continue to focus on the Blue Wall states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania—and the Sun Belt states of North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada, where the
The appeals-court majority opinion, written by Judge Kevin Emas, said the Florida Supreme Court in 2005 rejected a similar law because it “violated separation of powers principles by infringing on the exclusive rulemaking authority” of the Supreme Court. Emas wrote that while the Legislature has power to make “substantive” laws, the Supreme Court has the constitutional authority over “procedural” changes through legal rules. Like in the 2005 case, he wrote that the new law dealt with a procedural issue. He focused on the wording in the 2023 law related to probable cause.
“In sum, an arrestee’s substantive right to a probable cause determination is wellentrenched, grounded in the United States and Florida Constitutions, recognized a halfcentury ago by the United States Supreme Court, and governed by a procedural rule promulgated by the Florida Supreme Court,” Emas wrote in the decision joined by Chief Judge Thomas Logue. Judge Norma Lindsey dissented, arguing that the case was moot because Romero and Middlebrooks—who were arrested in separate incidents— were released from jail after filing their challenges. Emas, however, wrote that
FLORIDA NEWS SERVICE BRIEFS
Vice President’s advantages with young voters, Black voters, and Latino voters will be important to our multiple pathways to 270 electoral votes.
We intend to play offense in each of these states, and have the resources and campaign infrastructure to do so.”
The overview came three days after President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential campaign and gave his support to Harris, who quickly appeared to lock up the party’s nomination.
Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, won Florida in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.
Also, Florida Republicans have built a commanding edge in voter registration during the past few years.
FLORIDA POPULATION ESTIMATED AT 23M
State analysts have issued a new report that estimates Florida had slightly more than 23 million residents as of April 1—the first time the state has hit that mark in its annual estimates.
The report by the state Demographic Estimating Conference estimated the population at 23,002,597, up from 22,634,867 a year earlier. The report also includes
projections for future years, topping 25 million people in 2031.
It said that from April 1, 2024, to April 1, 2028, the state is projected to average 319,109 net new residents a year, or 874 a day.
“These increases are analogous to adding a city slightly smaller than Orlando, but larger than St. Petersburg every year,” the report said.
CITIZENS INSURANCE ADDS
3,500
POLICIES
The state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. added slightly more than 3,500 policies last week as its overall policy count continues to gradually increase.
Citizens had 1,223,778 policies as of Friday, up from 1,220,271 policies a week earlier and 1,215,064 policies two weeks earlier, according to data on its website.
Citizens, which was created as an insurer of last resort, has become the state’s largest carrier in recent years as private companies dropped policies and raised rates because of financial
problems.
Citizens reached as many as 1.412 million policies in fall 2023 before seeing reductions because of what is known as a “depopulation” program designed to shift policies into the private market.
With hurricane season starting June 1, Citizens officials have said they do not expect private carriers to take out policies over the next few months.
But Citizens President and CEO Tim Cerio said recently that estimates show Citizens could have fewer than 1 million policies by the end of the year.
the Miami-based appeals court also has received three other cases raising the same constitutional issue. The other cases were deemed moot because defendants were released, but Emas said appeals courts have “jurisdiction to decide the merits where the issue is very likely to recur or is capable of repetition but evading review.”
Nevertheless, he also wrote that a committee has recommended to the Supreme Court a rule change that would incorporate the disputed part of the 2023 law, which took effect Jan. 1.
MEDICAID EXPANSION MEASURE TOPS $225K
Apolitical committee leading efforts to pass a constitutional amendment in 2026 to expand Medicaid eligibility raised $225,179 in cash from July 6 through July 12, after raising slightly more than $250,000 the previous week, according to a newly filed finance report.
Almost all of the new money, $225,000, raised by the Floride Decides Healthcare committee came from the California-based Tides Foundation, the report posted on the state Division of Elections website shows. Florida Decides Healthcare wants to
FLORIDA GAS PRICES DROP
Average gasoline prices fell 15 cents in Florida over the past week as demand has slowed amid rising summer temperatures.
The AAA auto club said Florida motorists on Monday paid an average of $3.35 for a gallon of regular unleaded, down from $3.50 a week earlier.
“The arrival of summer used to signal the start of a robust driving season, but that has not been the case recently,” AAA spokesman Andrew Gross said in a prepared statement.
“We know that a record number of travelers were forecast to hit the highways for the July 4th holiday, but since then, they appear to be staying off the road, and the recent scorching heat is possibly to blame.”
Nationally, demand for gas fell 6.5 percent last week, according to the Energy Information Administration. Meanwhile, gasoline production dropped from an average of 10.3 million barrels daily to 9.5 million.
put a proposed constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot that, in part, would require the state to “provide Medicaid coverage to individuals over age 18 and under age 65 whose incomes are at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level.”
That would be a higher income threshold than under current law.
The proposal comes after the Republicancontrolled Legislature has repeatedly rejected calls over the past decade to expand eligibility for the health-care program.
By Caroline Bruckner Executive in Residence, Department
of Accounting and Taxation, American University Kogod
School
of Business
Right before I was born in the 1970s, my family moved to Texas from Nebraska. A big reason was because Texas was – and still is – considered a low-tax state, and my dad wanted to start his business there.
Texas is also one of nine states that don’t have an income tax on the “earned income” of people working there. That doesn’t mean Texas doesn’t impose any taxes on its residents – it does. Texans pay other taxes to help pay for schools, hospitals, health care, roads, airports, firefighters, business loans, public safety and all kinds of other public services. For example, Texans pay some of the highest property tax rates in the United States. Understanding the kinds of taxes that states can collect can be complicated. As a tax professor and policy expert, it’s my job to explain how our tax system is designed and operates.
Why states get to make the rules In general, states have the power to tax their residents. When residents choose to live in a state, they benefit from that state’s laws and protections and pay taxes as part of sharing the costs of government.
Massive IT outage spotlights major vulnerabilities in the global information ecosystem
By Richard Forno Principal Lecturer
in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
The global information technology outage on July 19, 2024, that paralyzed organizations ranging from airlines to hospitals and even the delivery of uniforms for the Olympic Games represents a growing concern for cybersecurity professionals, businesses and governments.
The outage is emblematic of the way organizational networks, cloud computing services and the internet are interdependent, and the vulnerabilities this creates. In this case, a faulty automatic update to the widely used Falcon cybersecurity software from CrowdStrike caused PCs running Microsoft’s Windows operating system to crash. Unfortunately, many servers and PCs need to be fixed manually, and many of the affected organizations have thousands of them spread around the world.
For Microsoft, the problem was made worse because the company released an update to its Azure cloud computing platform at roughly the same time as the CrowdStrike update. Microsoft, CrowdStrike and other companies like Amazon have issued technical work-arounds for customers willing to take matters into their own hands. But for the vast majority of global users, especially
companies, this isn’t going to be a quick fix. Modern technology incidents, whether cyberattacks or technical problems, continue to paralyze the world in new and interesting ways. Massive incidents like the CrowdStrike update fault not only create chaos in the business world but disrupt global society itself. The economic losses resulting from such incidents—lost productivity, recovery, disruption to business and individual activities—are likely to be extremely high.
As a former cybersecurity professional and current security researcher, I believe that the world may finally be realizing that modern information-based society is based on a very fragile foundation.
The bigger picture Interestingly, on June 11, 2024, a post on CrowdStrike’s own blog seemed to predict this very situation— the global computing ecosystem compromised by one vendor’s faulty technology—though they probably didn’t expect that their product would be the cause. Software supply chains have long been a serious cybersecurity concern and potential single point of failure. Companies like CrowdStrike, Microsoft, Apple and others have direct, trusted access into organizations’ and individuals’ computers. As a result, people have to trust that the companies are not only secure themselves, but that the products and updates they push out are well-tested
and robust before they’re applied to customers’ systems. The SolarWinds incident of 2019, which involved hacking the software supply chain, may well be considered a preview of today’s CrowdStrike incident.
CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz said “this is not a security incident or cyberattack” and that “the issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed.” While perhaps true from CrowdStrike’s perspective—they were not hacked—it doesn’t mean the effects of this incident won’t create security problems for customers. It’s quite possible that in the short term, organizations may disable some of their internet security devices to try and get ahead of the problem, but in doing so they may have opened themselves up to criminals penetrating their networks. It’s also likely that people will be targeted by various scams preying on user panic or ignorance regarding the issue.
Overwhelmed users might either take offers of faux assistance that lead to identity theft, or throw away money on bogus solutions to this problem. What to do
Organizations and users will need to wait until a fix is available or try to recover on their own if they have the technical ability. After that, I believe there are several things to do and consider as the world recovers from this incident.
Companies will need to ensure that the products and services they use are trustworthy. This means
doing due diligence on the vendors of such products for security and resilience. Large organizations typically test any product upgrades and updates before allowing them to be released to their internal users, but for some routine products like security tools, that may not happen.
Governments and companies alike will need to emphasize resilience in designing networks and systems. This means taking steps to avoid creating single points of failure in infrastructure, software and workflows that an adversary could target or a disaster could make worse. It also means knowing whether any of the products organizations depend on are themselves dependent on certain other products or infrastructures to function.
Organizations will need to renew their commitment to best practices in cybersecurity and general IT management. For example, having a robust backup system in place can make recovery from such incidents easier and minimize data loss. Ensuring appropriate policies, procedures, staffing and technical resources is essential. Problems in the software supply chain like this make it difficult to follow the standard IT recommendation to always keep your systems patched and current. Unfortunately, the costs of not keeping systems regularly updated now have to be weighed against the risks of a situation like this happening again.
How do 9 states get by with no income tax? A tax expert explains the
trade-offs they choose
Like how the U.S. Constitution gives the U.S. government the right to impose federal taxes, every state has its own state constitution and laws that may impose taxes on a range of items. They might tax earned income from wages, money earned from investments, purchases of alcohol, fuel, tobacco or groceries, or any number of other items, industries and activities, such as sports events and hotel stays. There are lots of different kinds of taxes, and every state has unique rules. Not just politicians decide what and how much tax to collect. Citizens often vote on whether to impose, increase or eliminate state taxes. For example, on Election Day in November 2024, voters in some states will be asked whether they want the state to increase taxes to fund social programs. In Oregon, voters will decide whether to increase taxes on corporations operating there to pay for a new anti-poverty program.
Among the states that do have a personal income tax on wages, the tax rates can either be the same percentage of everyone’s income or they can vary depending on how big the person’s paycheck is. In some states, tax rates increase as a taxpayer makes more money.
No income tax doesn’t mean tax-free
The nine states that don’t have an earned income tax are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota,
Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Two of those – New Hampshire and Washington – do tax some income, such as money earned from stocks and other investments, but they don’t tax income earned from working.
When a state doesn’t impose income taxes, it often imposes other taxes to pay for education, roads, health care and other public services.
In some cases, states will impose higher sales taxes or higher property taxes, such as taxes on a person’s home value. Or they may rely on cities and counties to impose those taxes to pay for services. For example, Tennessee has no state income tax, but it has one of the highest combined state and local sales tax rates – 9.548% – of any state.
On the other hand, Alaska is one of the lowest-tax states. It does not have a state income tax or state sales tax. Alaska does, however, have a state property tax, and it is able to impose significant taxes on the oil and gas companies that operate there. Its cities and other local jurisdictions can also impose sales tax at the local level, and they often do.
Pros and cons of no state income tax
There are both benefits and drawbacks to living in states that don’t impose a state income tax.
You might save money. But that doesn’t mean you will pay no taxes, and there are
trade-offs to consider. Sometimes, states with no income taxes do not have the best public services.
For example, you may want to move to a state such as Texas to avoid paying income taxes, but you will need to be prepared to pay more for health care. In general, Texas has some of the lowest government spending on health care or public transportation.
When states impose higher property taxes or sales taxes to bring in enough money to make up for the lack of an income tax, that can also affect the overall affordability of living in a no-income-tax state. This matters the most for lower-income people because state sales taxes have a greater impact on overall affordability. For example, students going to college and working part time may have low incomes. But if they live in a state with a high sales tax instead of an income tax, they will be paying the same high rate as fully employed people with much higher incomes. As a result, the students may struggle more to make ends meet than the full-time worker.
Remember, too, that in most cases, Americans still pay some tax on their income. Even if a person isn’t subject to state income tax, the majority of the U.S. population pays federal income tax, and for many people, those federal taxes are quite a bit higher than any state income tax.
Sports in extreme heat: Warning signs of heat illness and how high school athletes can safely prepare for the start of team practices
By Samantha Scarneo-Miller Assistance Professor of Athletic Training, West Virginia University
High school sports
teams start practices
soon in what has been an extremely hot summer in much of the country. Now, before they hit the field, is the time for athletes to start slowly and safely building up strength and stamina.
Studies have found that the greatest risk of heat illness occurs in the first two weeks of team practices, while players’ bodies are still getting used to the physical exertion and the heat. Being physically ready to start increasingly intense team practices can help reduce the risk.
I am an athletic trainer who specializes in catastrophic injuries and heat illnesses. Here’s what everyone needs to know to help keep athletes safe in the heat.
Why should athletes restart workouts slowly?
One of the biggest risk factors for developing dangerous exertional heat illnesses is your physical fitness level. That’s because how fit you are affects your heart rate and breathing, and also your ability to regulate your body temperature.
If an athlete waits until the first day of practice to start exercising, their heart won’t be able to pump blood and oxygen through the body as effectively, and the body won’t be as adept at dissipating heat. As a person works out more, their body undergoes changes that improve their thermoregulation.
That’s why it’s important for athletes to gradually and safely ramp up their activity, ideally starting at least three weeks before team practices begin.
There is no hard and fast rule for how much activity is right for preparing—it varies by the person and the sport.
It’s important to remember not to push yourself too hard. Acclimatizing to working out in the heat takes time, so start slow and pay close attention to how your body responds.
How hot is too hot for working out outside?
Anything that is hotter than normal conditions can be risky, but it varies around the country. A hot day in Maine might be a cool day in Alabama.
If it’s significantly hotter outside than you’re used to,
you’re more likely to get a heat illness.
To stay safe, avoid exercising outside in the hottest periods. Work out in the shade, or in the early mornings or evenings when the sun’s rays aren’t as hot. Wear loose clothing and light colors to dissipate and reflect as much heat as you can.
Hydration is also important, both drinking water and replenishing electrolytes lost through sweating. If your urine is light-colored, you are likely hydrated. Darker urine is a sign of dehydration.
What does acclimatization look like for teams?
Once team practices start, many states require heat acclimatization processes that gradually phase in activity, though their rules vary. Some states require 14 days of heat acclimatization. Some require six days or none. Some only require it for football.
Athletes who get a head start on acclimatization can help their bodies adapt faster and more efficiently to the heat. Regardless of what your state requires, all athletes participating in all sports should acclimatize carefully.
Heat acclimatization involves adding more strain during the workout every few days, but taking care not to add too much.
For example, instead of starting the first day of practice with full pads and full contact in football, players might start with just the helmets for the first few days.
Acclimatization is also about limits: Holding practice only once a day in the beginning and capping how many hours players practice each day can help avoid putting too much strain on their bodies too fast.
Coaches and athletic trainers must also keep an eye on the wet bulb global temperature— the combination of heat, humidity, radiation and wind speed—to gauge the heat risk to players and know when to limit or cancel practice.
This isn’t just for football. Whether it’s soccer, track and field, softball or baseball, heat illnesses do not discriminate. A Georgia basketball player died after collapsing during an outdoor workout in 2019—she was accustomed to practicing indoors, not in the heat.
What are warning signs an athlete is overheating? If a player starts to slow
down or gets lethargic, that may be a sign that they’re overheating. You might see evidence of central nervous system problems, such as confusion, irritability and being disoriented. You might see someone stumbling or trying to hold themselves up.
Most of the time, someone with exertional heatstroke will be sweating. They might have red skin and be sweating profusely. Sometimes a person with heat stress can lose consciousness, but most of the time they don’t.
What should you do if someone appears to have a heat illness?
If someone appears to be suffering from heat illness, cool them down as fast as possible. Find a tub you can put the person in with water and ice. Keep their head out of the water, but cool them as fast as possible.
Immersion in a cool tub is best. If you can’t find a tub, put them in a shower and put ice around them. Even a tarp can work—athletic trainers call it the taco method: Put the patient in the middle of the tarp, put some water in with ice, and hold up the sides to oscillate them slowly so you’re moving the water from side to side.
Every sports team should have access to a cooling vessel. About half the states require it. As that expands, these safety practices will likely trickle down to youth sports, too. If a player appears to be suffering from heatstroke, cool them down and call 911.
Having a comprehensive emergency action plan ensures that all personnel know how to respond.
What else can teams do to prepare?
Exertional heatstroke is a top cause of sports-related death across all levels of sports, but proper recognition and care can save lives.
Athletic trainers are vital for sports programs because they are specifically trained to recognize and manage patients suffering from exertional heatstroke and other injuries. As hot days become more common, I believe all sports programs, including high school sports programs, should have an athletic trainer on staff to keep players safe.
Signs of heat illness in athletes and what to do about it. Alexander Davis for Arizona State University, Korey Stringer Institute
Bird of the week
Limpkin
By Michael Warren
Kayaking the Silver River is one of the best ways to spot a limpkin in Ocala. These gangly wading birds patrol the river edges and use their uniquely adapted, tweezer-like bill to dine on apple snails.
NOTICE
Notice is hereby given , pursuant to applicable Florida Statutes including Chapters 194, 196, and 286, that the Value Adjustment Board in and for Marion County, Florida, will meet on Monday, August 19, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. in the Board of County Commissioners Auditorium at 601 SE 25th Avenue, Ocala, Florida, Marion County Governmental Complex, for the purpose of holding an organizational meeting for the 2024 Value Adjustment Board and other such business matters before the Board.
Notice is hereby given that a list of all petitions for portability of homestead exemption, exemptions for homestead, widows, widowers, disability, blind, government organizations, religious, literary, educational literary, educational, scientific and charitable organizations, veterans and first responders who have had their application for exemption wholly or partially approved or denied is maintained by the Property Appraiser in and for Marion County, Florida, and available to the public for inspection at 501 SE 25th Avenue, Ocala, Florida, during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Please note that if a petitioner decides to appeal a decision made with respect to any matter considered at the above advertised organizational meeting, the petitioner will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose, the petitioner may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings was made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal was to be based. The exemption procedures of the Value Adjustment Board are provided in Chapter 194, Florida Statutes, and records of the Value Adjustment Board and its hearing(s) showing the names of persons and organizations granted exemptions, the street address or other designation of location of the exempted property, and the extent of the exemptions granted are public record.
The County Commission Auditorium is a handicapped accessible facility. If any accommodations are needed for persons with disabilities, please contact the Marion County Public Affairs Office at (352) 438-2300 / 438-2304 (fax), a minimum of 24 hours prior to the hearing. Please be governed accordingly.
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.
Limpkin [MichaelWarren.com]
government
JULY 29
Marion County Development Review
Office of County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave., Building 1, Ocala
9am
The committee reviews and votes on waiver requests to the Land Development Code, major site plans and subdivision plans. The committee meets weekly on Mondays. See marion.fl.legistar.com/calendar.aspx for agenda and minutes.
AUGUST 6, 20
Marion County Board of County Commissioners
McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala
9am
The commission meets in the morning of the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at marionfl.legistar.com/calendar.aspx
AUGUST 6, 20
Ocala City Council
Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala
4pm The council meets in the afternoon each first and third Tuesday of the month. Ocala government agendas and minutes are available at ocala.legistar.com/calendar.aspx
AUGUST 6, 20
Belleview City Commission
Belleview City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview
6pm Meets in the evening on the first and third Tuesday of the month; Belleview agendas, minutes and video available at belleviewfl.org/200/agendas-minutes
community
THROUGH JULY 31
Marion County Parks Photo Contest
The Marion County Parks and Recreation Department is accepting citizen submissions of photos of local parks and amenities. Activities can include anything outdoors, highlighting the fun natural offerings available for residents, like nature walks, biking, and summer water activities. Simply email your photos to parks@marionfl.org to enter.
AUGUST 3
4th Annual Chad Smith Benefit Xtreme Rodeo
Florida Horse Park, 11008 S. Highway 475, Ocala
12 to 7pm
The event will include some of the best riders and wranglers from all over the world, of all ages, as well as majestic bulls from multiple southeastern stock contractors. It will include live music, a cornhole tournament, food and a full bar for guests 21 and older. Tickets start at $15 for presale. Call (352) 857-6716 or visit bit.ly/XtremeRodeo2024 for tickets.
AUGUST 10
Patriot Service Dogs Story & Veteran/Service Dog Graduation Reilly Arts Center, 1750 NW 80th Ave., Ocala
6pm to 8pm
Celebrate 15 years of service in this special, free event from Patriot Service Dogs. Hear the story of the organization from its inception to today, with guest speakers and real-life beneficiaries. Also featured are the new dogs graduating into service roles, with demonstrations from animals and their handlers. Visit reillyartscenter.com/events/veteran-service-dog-graduation for more information.
AUGUST 23-25
Ocala Dog Ranch & EPIC Rehab Center Pet Expo Equine Performance Innovation Center, 5590 NW Hwy 225, Ocala Times vary each day.
This three-day event will feature a mobile dock for dog jumping games, rescue group vendors with information on services and animals available for adoption, food and beverages available on site, and more. EPIC Rehab Center features rehabilitation facilities for horses, such as boarding, swimming pools, and hyperbaric recovery chambers. Visit epicdogdays.com for more information.
AUGUST 24
Marion County’s Democratic Women’s Club “Equalitea” Day Event Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 12:30pm to 3pm The speakers will include former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and other guests. The club requests that guests wear white as a way to honor the Suffragist Movement. Proceeds raised will go toward providing scholarships to deserving high school students. Visit bit.ly/3A1LP89 for more information and tickets.
arts
AUGUST 1
“Splendor” Exhibit Reception
SouthState Bank, 1632 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
4 to 7pm
Artwork by Lisa Russo is on display until December. Join her and fellow art enthusiasts for a special reception on Aug. 1. Refreshments will be provided, along with a musical performance by Annabelle Lopiano. Open to the public, no registration required.
AUGUST 14
Coffee/Cocktails with the Conductor in the NOMA Black Box
Reilly Arts Center, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
Starting at 10am & 6pm
Guests can enjoy coffee in the morning session, or their favorite adult beverages in the evening, with Ocala Symphony Orchestra conductor Matthew Wardell in the first of this season’s Coffee/Cocktails with the Conductor series. Wardell will preview the upcoming season of shows in an informal, sit-down setting. Visit reillyartscenter.com/events for details.
AUGUST 18
Artist Talk with Charlita Rae Whitehead
Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
2 to 3pm
Discussing her new solo exhibit “Every Fiber of my Being,” Charlita Rae Whitehead will provide insight into the world of tufting, a form of art that combines weaving and needle embroidery with technological innovation, creating tapestries, looms, and more. No registration required, as it’s free to attend for both members and non-members. For more information, please visit bit.ly/charlita-rae-whitehead
education
JULY 29-AUGUST 2/AUGUST 5-9
Brick City Odyssey Summer Camp
Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
7:30am to 6pm
Hosted by Marion County Parks & Recreation, this camp is called a “modern twist on traditional fun” for children of all ages. The last two weeks of the camp will feature field days, trips to Easy Street, indoor skydiving at SkyZone and other activities for kids and teens. Visit bit.ly/3yO7iRB to learn more.
AUGUST 12
MCPS Regular Start of Schools Times may vary With the exception of Wyomina Park Elementary School, the rest of Marion County Public Schools will return to session with the beginning of the 2024-25 new school year. Please check your local school for specific start times and dismissals.
things to do
THROUGH AUGUST
2
Summer Kids Film Series Marion Theatre, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at various times
Tickets are only $5 for children and adults. Children 12 and under will receive a free summer snack pack with their ticket, which includes small popcorn, gummy snacks and a Capri Sun. Film showings will be 10am, 11am, 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm. Titles include “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, “Moana, Kung Fu Panda” and “Rio,” as well as others. Visit reillyartscenter.com/summer-kids-film-series to see the full list of upcoming movies and dates and times.
SEPTEMBER 7-8
Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band: The Musical World of Disney Marion Technical Institute, 1614 Fort King St., Ocala 1pm on Sat., 2pm on Sun. Join The Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band for “The Musical World of Disney,” a family-friendly concert performance of Disney classics. Children are encouraged to wear Disney costumes and join the parade during the Mickey Mouse March. UNIQULELE, the opening act, will perform 45 minutes prior to the concert. In partnership with Once Upon a Party, LLC, this event is free to the public. Visit kingdomofthesunband.org to learn more.
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Admission is free from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. At 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., see the 2019 documentary, “Cunningham,” which traces the artistic evolution of legendary American choreographer Merce Cunningham. Screenings are free as part of Free First Saturday.
CORPORATION, DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLE STATE OF FLORIDA CASE NO.: 24-CA-000919-AX
Defendants. NOTICE OF ACTION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action to declaratory judgment to the following personal properties in Marion County, Florida: LOT 4, BLOCK 13 OF BELLEVIEW HILLS ESTATES, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT
THEREOF AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK G, PAGE(S) 31 AND 31A, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA.
Property Address: 14131 SE 62nd Ct, Summerfield, FL 34491 VIN Number: Trailer
GMHGA4389924810A VIN Number: Trailer 2 GMHGA4389924810B
DEBBIE A. KEERNS
EDWARD W. KEERNS 14131 SE 62nd Ct, Summerfield, FL 34491 CONCORDE ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION 7929 Brookriver Dr, Ste 500, Dallas, TX 75247
has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to Cheyenne Whitfield, Whitfield Law, LLC, located at 10150 Highland Manor Dr., Suite #200, Tampa, Florida 33610 , and file the original with the clerk of this court on or before August 26,2024__ either before service on the plaintiff’s attorney or immediately thereafter, otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.
Dated: GREGORY
C. HARRELL As Clerk of the Court
By: As Deputy Clerk
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION
IN RE: ESTATE OF: Gordon James Wallace Deceased.
FILE NO.: 24CP001443AX
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Gordon James Wallace, deceased, whose date of death was March 7, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for MARION County, Florida, Probate Division, File Number 24CP001443AX, the address of which is Probate Division 110 NW 1st Avenue Ocala FL 34471. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
The personal representative or curator has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228 applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by the surviving spouse or a beneficiary as specified under s. 732.2211.
ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED
The date of first publication of this notice is July 26, 2024
Attorney for Personal Representative Alecia C. Daniel adh@genesislawpa.com
Florida Bar No. 36955 1860 SW Fountainview, Suite 100 Port St Lucie, FL 34986 Telephone: (772) 539-9831
Personal Representative KIM WALLACE CROSS 1005 Ferncliffe Lane West Chester, PA 19380
IN THE PROBATE COURT
FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF HORRY
CASE NO: 2024-GC-26-00040 Ashley Bines, Petitioner, Vs Shariyah Lisbon, Gloria Lisbon
SUMMONS & PETITION
APPOINTMENT OF CONSERVATOR
To: Gloria Lisbon
You are hereby summoned and required
To answer this Petition, a copy of which Is hereby served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer to the said Petition on the attorney for the Petitioner at 1121 Third Avenue,
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2024-CP-1453 IN RE: ESTATE OF JAMES WILLIAM WEBB, JR. Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of JAMES WILLIAM WEBB, JR., deceased, whose date of death was January 4, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for MARION County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, #1, Ocala, Florida 34471. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is July 26, 2024.
Personal Representative: VICKI WEBB Attorney for Personal Representative: SHANTA MATTHEWS, Attorney Florida Bar Number: 69935 814 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Suite D OCALA, FL 34470
Telephone: (352) 421-8722
Fax: (352)-306-3759
E-Mail: shanta@smatthewslaw.com Secondary: lori@smatthewslaw.com
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE TENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR POLK COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2024-CP-1411
IN RE: ESTATE OF JERRY MAGNESS
Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of JERRY MAGNESS, deceased, whose date of death was March 2, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for POLK County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 930 E. Parker Street, Room 240, Lakeland, Florida 33801. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE
AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is July 26, 2024.
Personal Representative: DELBERT THOMPSON
Attorney for Personal Representative: SHANTA MATTHEWS, Attorney Florida Bar Number: 69935
814 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Suite D OCALA, FL 34470
Telephone: (352) 421-8722
Fax: (352) 306-3759
E-Mail: shanta@smatthewslaw.com
Secondary: lori@smatthewslaw.com
Notice of Rule Making NAME
SUMMARY:
SUMMARY
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2024-CP- 1452 IN RE: ESTATE OF INEZ KIMBERLY WEBB Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of INEZ KIMBERLY WEBB, deceased, whose date of death was January 4, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for MARION County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, #1, Ocala, Florida 34471. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is July 19, 2024.
Personal Representative: VICKI WEBB
Attorney for Personal Representative: SHANTA MATTHEWS, Attorney Florida Bar Number: 69935
814 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Suite D OCALA, FL 34470
Telephone: (352) 421-8722
Fax: (352) 306-3759
E-Mail: shanta@smatthewslaw.com
Secondary: lori@smatthewslaw.com
NOTICE OF ACTION CONSTRUCTIVE SERVICE PROPERTY IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 5TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY CIVIL ACTION NO: 24CA000778AX Civil Division
OWNERS IN RE: RAINBOW SPRINGS PROPERTY ASSCIATION, INC., a Florida non-profit Corporation, Plaintiff, VS. MARTA FLORES; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF MARTA FLORES, et al. Defendant(s), TO: MARTA FLORES LAST UNKNOW ADDRESS: 100 W 93RD STREET, APT. 9C, NEW YORK, NY 10025
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose a lien on the following property in MARION County, Florida: LOT 016, BLOCK 178, RAINBOW SPRINGS, FIFTH REPLAT, ACCORDING To the plat THEREOF AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK T, PAGES 46-59 OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA. A lawsuit has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any to it on FLORIDA COMMUNITY LAW GROUP, P.L., Attorney for RAINBOW SPRINGS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSCIATION, INC., whose address is P.O. Box 292965, Davie, FL 33329-2965 and file the original with the clerk of the above styled court on or before SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2024 (30 days from the first date of publication, whichever is later); otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief prayed for in the complaint or petition. This notice shall be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in The Ocala Gazette (Newspaper). 22ND WITNESS my hand and the seal of said court at MARION County, Florida on this day of JULY 2024. Florida Community Law Group, P.L. Cassandra Racine-Rigaud, Esq. P.O. Box 292965 Davie, FL 33329-2965 Phone: (954) 372-5298 Fax: (866) 424-5348 GREGORY C HARRELL As Clerk, Circuit Court MARION County, Florida By: Bibl K OF COURT AND ROLLE As Deputy Clerk MARION COUNTY FLORIDA Email: jared@flclg.com Fla Bar No.: 0450065 Electronically Filed Marion Case # 24CA000778AX 07/01/2024 12:53:17
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2024-CP-1014
IN RE: ESTATE OF LUCY LORETTA ASHWOOD Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of LUCY LORETTA ASHWOOD, deceased, whose date of death was September 24, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for MARION County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, #1, Ocala, Florida 34471. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is July 26, 2024. Personal Representative: Delbert Thompson
Attorney for Personal Representative: SHANTA MATTHEWS, Attorney Florida Bar Number: 69935
814 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Suite D OCALA, FL 34470
Telephone: (352) 421-8722
Fax: (352) 306-3759
E-Mail: shanta@smatthewslaw.com
Secondary: lori@smatthewslaw.com
Crossword
Jumble
MESSY
FLUKE
COOKIE
SIDING
The clairvoyant doctor had a -“SICK” SENSE
Sudoku
Gasoline Alley
Broom Hilda
Middletons
