The 2024/25 school year is on!
Staff report
Marion County Public Schools announced 40,202 children showed up for school on Aug. 12, which is on par with last year’s first day attendance records.
However, MCPS expects 45,873 students once everyone is registered and in attendance.
“Over 3,500 teachers, principals and other instructional and support staff greeted students, helped them find their classes, and began the teaching process,” according to a MCPS press release issued at the end of the first day of school.
Of those teachers, 274 are brand new to working for the district. MCPS reported it still had 83 open teaching positions on the first day.
Nancy Thrower, District 4 school district member and current school board chair, has experienced her share of “first days” back to school during her long teaching career.
Thrower wrote in an email, “What I witnessed helping in my schools in District 4 was everyone taking that extra time, that extra step, that extra care, that extra everything to make each and every student, family and each other feel welcomed and supported.”
Board member for
See School, page A3
Purple Heart recipients honored
Marion County Board of County Commissioners recently honored local military veterans for meritorious service or who were wounded under combat conditions.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
Vietnam War veteran and Purple Heart Award recipient
F.L. Brown called Tuesday, Aug. 6, an amazing day. He was one of the recipients who were honored for their military service during the Marion County Commission meeting, one day before National Purple Heart Day.
“It feels good to be recognized,” said Brown, 72, of Ocala, who was wounded while serving in the U.S. Army in 1972. Brown said he was the point man when his unit was ambushed and he was shot in the arm.
Dorothy Antonelli stood with the group representing her uncle, Peter Patete, a Purple Heart recipient who died in the Korean War in 1950 and whose remains have never been found. Antonelli has steadfastly honored her family member’s loss and sought his remains.
“Ocala Gazette” lawsuit against MCSO to be reassigned to another judge following hearing
Court heard argument to release footage from Marion County Jail inmate death
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
After the final hearing was held Monday in the “Ocala Gazette’s” lawsuit against the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Circuit Judge Steven Rodgers recused himself from the case after hearing over two and a half hours of testimony and arguments.
The “Gazette” seeks to obtain surveillance footage from the Marion County Jail in relation to the death of inmate Scott Whitley on Nov. 25, 2022. Whitley’s surviving family has viewed this footage and claims it shows several detention deputies using excessive force to subdue Whitley, causing his death.
The court must decide whether the footage is exempt from being released as a public record under Florida Statutes §119.071(3)(a)1 and §281.301, which allow video surveillance to be shielded from the public if it would compromise the facility’s security, or whether there is good cause to release the video as a public record to serve a public interest.
The “Gazette’s” case refers to the precedent of the case when news outlets successfully sued for the release of surveillance video footage of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas mass shooting in Parkland for the public to understand the questionable police response. The “Gazette” wishes for the court to find that releasing the footage of Whitley’s death would serve the public’s interest, as it believes Whitley’s death is part of the larger societal problem of the treatment of the mentally ill, in and out of jail.
On Tuesday morning, the “Gazette” received a notice that Rodgers would be recusing himself from considering the case any further. The case has been reassigned to Lake County Circuit Judge James Baxley. The “Gazette” seeks to verify the events that caused Whitley’s death, given the different narratives described by the Whitley family after viewing the footage and by the sheriff’s office. MCSO claims Whitley was not compliant with deputies’ commands leading up to and during the incident that led to his death, contrary to the family’s claim that the footage shows Whitley in compliance. Over the course of the 12-minute altercation that led to Whitley’s death, the nine officers involved deployed Tasers 27 times and used pepper foam and physical force to subdue him. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide.
During the hearing on Monday, MCSO General Counsel Marissa Duquette
See Gazette, page A4
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Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
Clockwise from top: Eddie Rocker of Kut Different, a youth mentoring program, welcomes students as they arrive on the first day of school at Howard Middle School in Ocala on Monday, August 12, 2024. School counselor Heather Howard, right, helps Jamirrah Washington, 11, a 6th grade student, find her classroom. Students arrive on the first day of school.
Purple Heart
Continued from page A1
The Purple Heart, America’s oldest military award, was established by Gen. George Washington in 1782 during the Revolutionary War to “recognize heroic acts by his troops,” according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
The decoration was renewed in 1932 and “awarded for meritorious service, but now soldiers could also receive it if they’d been wounded by the enemy,” the website states.
During the meeting, the commissioners proclaimed Aug. 7, 2024, as “Purple Heart Day in Marion County,” recognizing 2 million American service members who have been awarded the Purple Heart, a number of whom are living in Marion County.
Commissioner Craig Curry spoke about the award recipients. “(These recipients) took a bullet for the country,” he said.
Curry said he was a classmate of Hammett Lee Bowen Jr., a “normal guy” who did an “extraordinary” act in the Vietnam War and saved the lives of three of his comrades in his squad by throwing himself on a hand grenade.
Bowen is Marion County’s only Medal of Honor recipient. According to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website, Bowen, 21, an Army staff sergeant, died on June 27, 1969, after he “hurled himself on the grenade, absorbing the explosion with his body while saving the lives of his fellow soldiers.”
The Purple Heart recipients and family members at the meeting were brought forward and each was presented a framed copy of the commissions’ proclamation and a challenge coin marked “Purple Heart/Combat Wounded.”
The proclamation read, in part, “Recognizing our Purple Heart recipients can help raise awareness about the impacts of wartime deployments and combat situations on veterans and their families” and put a focus on the need to provide support for veterans.
Matthew Cretel, the commission’s legislative manager, stated in an email that he coordinated with people including Curry, Assistant County Administrator Amanda Tart, Public Relations Director Bobbi Perez and Veterans Services Director Jeffrey Askew to arrange the Aug. 6 event.
“The purpose of the event was to make sure Marion County further recognized its veterans who were awarded one of the country’s most honored military awards, the Purple Heart,” he wrote.
“Those of us who served in Iraq or Afghanistan have found multiple bonds with those who served before us in Vietnam. One specific area where we connect is the similarities between their exposure to Agent Orange and ours to burn pits. Both groups were exposed to toxins, and the results of that exposure might not be visible for decades,” Cretel wrote.
“Seeing how they fought for the medical coverage they deserved
gives us a roadmap of how to move forward. Seeing the barriers they faced gives us an idea of what we will face,” he stated.
The Purple Heart recipients who attended the meeting and were honored included:
Vietnam War:
* Odell Hamilton, 74.
* Jerome (Jerry) Anderson, 77, Army, wounded by a mortar round in the Vietnam War in 1966.
* Michael Jackson, 78, Army, wounded in ambush in 1967.
* F.L. “Frankie” Lee Brown, 72, Army, wounded in ambush in 1972.
* Steve Petty, Army, 80.
* Joseph Marquis, 82, Army, wounded three times in 1968.
* Henry Bolding, 75, Marine Corps, wounded in an ambush.
* Reginald Nealy, 75, Marine Corps, injured when his patrol was ambushed March 31, 1967, during a firefight and explosion where two South Vietnamese soldiers in his unit died. He was hospitalized for 30 days and was awarded his Purple Heart medal in the field.
Korean War
* Peter Patete, Army, (received by Dorothy Antonelli) killed in action, Korean War.
Operation Iraqi Freedom
* Vito Giammanco, Army, 45.
Family members of the veterans included Brown’s wife, Angela, and son, Yabuku Johnson,16, who said he is “happy we have people like (his father),” and several others. Anderson’s wife, Barbara, said the parking spaces reserved for Purple Heart recipients are a good type of recognition.
In a discussion after the proclamation ceremony, several veterans spoke of their experiences. Marquis, 82, was wounded while
serving as a tank commander in Vietnam.
“If you ask any veteran in the room, they will likely say, ‘We were just doing our job,’” Marquis said. “We (Purple Heart award recipients) shed our blood for this country, and people should stop and think about that.”
Marquis, who was “doused” with Agent Orange chemical defoliant during the war, had open-heart surgery due to an illness listed by the Veterans Administration as related to the chemical. He added his concern for how the chemical affected the people of Vietnam.
Marquis said there was a “30year delay” in obtaining some VA benefits.
Nealy, 75, is active in the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 795 in The Villages. He said many Vietnam War veterans had a difficult homecoming and he and his comrades in the MOPH want to “make sure that never happens again.”
“We want to welcome home young veterans, especially the wounded ones. It’s very positive to help the families,” he said.
Bolding, 75, was also wounded in the Vietnam War. He was part of a team combined with South Vietnamese forces that performed a mission on the “worst night ever with a full moon” near a village where even water buffalo presented a danger because they could “smell Americans.”
Bolding’s unit came under attack after their location was revealed by an internal subversive. He was wounded by mortar fire and airlifted for treatment.
Bolding, who said it took over 40 years to secure 100% VA benefits, said his return home from Vietnam to Washington, D.C., was not positive.
“They spit on my shoes,” he said.
“The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.”
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Purple Heart recipient and Vietnam War veteran Joe Marquis, right, poses Aug. 6, 2024, with his wife, Judy, next to a parking spot adjacent to the Marion County Board of County Commissioners offices which is reserved for Combat Wounded recipients of the medal. The board recognized Purple Heart recipients with a proclamation one day before National Purple Heart Day on Aug. 7, 2024. [Andy Fillmore]
Purple Heart recipients and family members pose next to a parking spot adjacent to the Marion County Board of County Commissioners offices that is reserved for Combat Wounded recipients of the medal. Left to right: Jeffrey Askew, director of Marion County Veterans Services; Patricia Bolding, wife of recipient Henry Bolding; Yabuku Johnson, son of Brown; Angela Brown, wife of Brown; recipient Henry Bolding (rear); recipient F.L. Brown, recipient Jerry Anderson and his wife, Barbara. [Andy Fillmore]
School is back in session
Continued from page A1
District 1, Allison Campbell, indicated in an email she visited all 10 schools in her district, interacting with students and leadership team, while also sending her own three children off to middle and high school.
She wrote the “Gazette” that being there in person for the first day helped her gather a lot of insights from school administrators that she intends on sharing with the superintendent.
“I assisted with carline at two schools, helped with buses at two others, visited classrooms in another school, and engaged with principal leaders on each campus,” she said. “I witnessed multiple families registering and enrolling students for the first time on the first day of school as our amazing leadership teams worked to place students in classrooms, some with little room for additional warm bodies.”
Campbell said during one visit she was alerted to a need unique to some foster parents.
“I witnessed a foster mom with a new student who was just placed in her care, so she was coming in to register the foster child,” she said. “She not only needed to register her but also said she needed after-care. Knowing how our after-care programs run with wait lists, I left that moment with a new resolve to help solve this community challenge.”
MCPS reported that 2,970 children and their parents benefitted from Marion Afterschool Programs (MAP), a 4% increase over last year. The district says that MAP sites are filled to capacity, and 489 students are on waiting lists for afterschool programs.
Kevin Christian, spokesperson for the district, wrote about all the preparation that goes into being ready for the first day back to school.
“The coordination of 45,873 expected students, over 6,400 full- and part-time employees, 417 portable classrooms, and 51 schools does not happen by accident, and it won’t happen at all if someone doesn’t mind the switch,” he wrote in an email.
Campbell reminded the community of ways for the public to support schools through volunteering through the Public Education Foundation to be a mentor.
“If anyone is interested in serving as a mentor through Take Stock in Children, they have at least 30 students who need mentors,” she said. “It was a wonderful surprise to see my Take Stock in Children mentee during a class change at Forest High School. I haven’t seen her since May, so it was great to see her!”
Despite MCPS acknowledgement of its fair share of challenges such as same-day registrations and buses that ran behind schedule, Thrower proclaimed, “It was truly one of the best first days ever!”
How to get your kids ready to go back to school
without stress−5 tips from an experienced school counselor
Shannon Pickett Purdue University
The shift from summer vacation to going back to school can be tough for children and their families. Beyond adjusting to new routines, the transition requires handling a mix of emotions. While some kids might feel excited about new teachers and classmates, others may experience anxiety, sadness or uncertainty about the upcoming school year.
With 15 years of counseling school-age children, I’ve seen how common these stresses can be. I also have three schoolage kids of my own. Here are five strategies to make the transition smoother that I not only share with the families I counsel, but that I also apply in my own home.
1. Listen to your child
Listen to your child’s concerns about this transition and validate their feelings. Some children are great at communicating their feelings and talking about them, but others may need to be asked specifically how they feel about the transition back to school. It helps to assure them that most students, even teachers, are experiencing some of the same feelings. Let your child know that it is OK to have a mix of emotions; it is possible to be excited, nervous and sad all at the same time. Research has shown the
importance of listening to children, even at a young age, because they are the experts in their own lives.
2. Discuss the new routine
Talk about what the new routine will look like for the whole family. With after-school activities and changing work schedules, it could look a little different each day. Having conversations about the new routine reminds children what the day will look like and will set expectations accordingly.
This takes some of the uncertainty out of the equation, which can be comforting during a time of transition. Research has shown the importance of stability for childhood learning and academic success.
3. Plan ahead
Planning ahead logistically will help your child be prepared mentally for this transition. For example, if it is a new school environment for your child, attend an open house or schedule a tour. Even if the classroom is not open for them to go in, being able to walk into the building will help them to feel more at ease.
Check in with your child to ensure that all their summer reading and assignments are completed so that they will be prepared for their class. If additional academic support will be helpful, have tutoring support lined up.
DUNNELLON MAN DIES IN ACCIDENT
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
A44-year-old Dunnellon man died as the result of a single vehicle crash Tuesday morning, Aug.13, in northwest Marion County, the Florida Highway Patrol reports. According to an FHP press release, the victim, whose name was not released, was driving a truck tractor (dump truck) loaded with dirt north on County Road 225A south of Northwest 79th Avenue Road around 9:10 a.m. when “(f)or unknown reasons, the dump truck crossed over the center line, exited the roadway onto the west grass shoulder and struck a concrete barrier wall.“
The victim, who was wearing a seat belt, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Marion County Fire Rescue, the press release stated.
In order to make the first day run smoothly, have outfits picked out the night before and backpacks packed. This facilitates a smooth morning so that everyone can begin the day on a positive note. When children start the day stressed out and overwhelmed, it can be hard for them to shake that feeling. Research has shown that anxiety can lead to increased time spent awake and poorer sleep for adolescents.
4. Instill confidence
Instill confidence in your child so that they feel empowered and develop a positive sense of self. Ensure that you are talking to your child in a positive manner and highlight their strengths. This helps children to feel more confident about tackling the new school year. Research has shown that students who practice positive self-talk show improved academic performance. Instilling the practice of positive self-talk in children cultivates a mindset that they can overcome challenges at an early age.
Giving your child space to make choices about their self-image – for example, the clothes that they wear and how they style their hair – also helps them to feel empowered and improves self-esteem. High self-esteem directly correlates to future success in life, whether it’s in their relationships, careers or overall
functioning.
Taking a step back as a parent can be hard, but it is a natural part of the childrearing process. I remember struggling when my oldest daughter no longer wanted help doing her hair and wanted to do it all by herself. It was difficult not to step in, but I could see how proud she was of herself for handling this task on her own.
5. Seek support when needed Change takes time to settle into. If your child is having a difficult time adjusting after three to four weeks have passed, it might be helpful to consider additional support for your child. This could include the school adjustment counselor, guidance counselor or an individual therapist.
From my own clinical experience, I often see a significant increase in referrals in the month of October for children needing services. That’s because October tends to be a good time to assess how your child is doing, after the chaos of transitioning back to school. If you want to seek outside counseling for your child, the school adjustment counselor can provide a list of local resources, or you can also use websites such as Psychology Today and search by ZIP code for local therapists in your area.The Conversation Shannon Pickett, Professor of Psychology and Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Purdue University
Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
Left to right: Principal Suzette Parker, center, and Helen Hamel, the Magna facilitator, left, help Mason Snow, 11, a 6th grade student, right, find his classroom on the first day of school at Howard Middle School in Ocala on Monday, August 12, 2024. Eddie Rocker of Kut Different, a youth mentoring program, gives Awana Gunsby, 11, 6th grade, a hug.
A 44-year-old Dunnellon man died as the result of a single vehicle crash Tuesday morning, Aug. 13, in northwest Marion County, the Florida Highway Patrol reports. [Supplied by Marion County Fire Rescue]
This time, the patient saves the clinic
Citra Family Health
was about to end a 30-year run when “a miracle” happened.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
Patients and staff at Citra Family Health were teary-eyed on June 13 as the clinic prepared to shutter after a 30year run. But just hours before the owners were to close the doors, longtime patient and local resident Al Goodman stepped up and bought the clinic business, allowing the healthcare provider to remain open.
Goodman credits the clinic staff with “saving his life” twice over the years, including initially treating him after he was effected a nearby lightning strike and also after suffering a ”TIA” or what he called a “mini-stroke.”
“(Citra Family Health) has been part of the community for (almost) 30 years (and) to
see it close didn’t strike me right,” he said. Jenny Harris, the clinic’s front-desk manager, called the saving of the clinic operation at the last moment “a miracle.”
“It was a sad day. We had already packed,” Harris said. She had already called most people on a list of over 1,000 patients treated by the facility to notify them of the shutdown. The clinic has seen 20 or more patients daily at times.
Harris said patients, including those who travel from surrounding locations Fort McCoy, Palatka and Hawthorne, were “praising God” for the clinic’s “amazing” last-minute reprieve.
Nicole Perrone, the clinic’s board-certified physician associate since June 2023 and CEO since June 14, described some patients as “distraught and
Gazette vs. MCSO
Continued from page A1
reemphasized the department’s claims that releasing footage from the Alpha Echo Pod of the jail could expose potential blind spots and weaknesses in the facility’s security system. Duquette and the defense’s witness Nathan McClain, the MCSO detention investigations supervisor who filed the initial incident report after Whitley’s death, said releasing the footage could allow inmates to potentially use contraband or attempt to escape with knowledge of the capabilities of the security system.
The “Gazette,” represented by attorney James Slater, asked Rogers on Monday to determine whether the records the newspaper is seeking are subject to disclosure; to find that MCSO had a duty to disclose these records; to find that MCSO’s delay in releasing the records was unjustified; to find that MCSO’s refusal to release the records was unlawful; to order MCSO to permit the “Gazette” access to the footage without delay; and to award the “Gazette” compensation for attorney’s fees, costs and expenses accrued.
The court heard testimony for the plaintiff’s case from “Gazette” Publisher Jennifer Hunt Murty and Pamela Whitley, the sister of the descendent.
The “Gazette” brought forward 16 exhibits of evidence; including several articles covering Whitley’s death and the subsequent lawsuits; correspondence between the “Gazette” staff and former MCSO general counsel Tim McCourt, who is now a circuit judge; correspondence between “Gazette” staff and Duquette, who took over for McCourt at the beginning of 2024; photographs from the cell and hallway of the jail where Whitley was killed; and legal records from both the “Gazette” lawsuit and the Whitley family’s wrongful death lawsuit against the sheriff, which has now been settled.
The correspondence included multiple attempts and suggestions of compromise from the “Gazette” for MCSO to release
crying” about the clinic closing.
“Many of our patients are disadvantaged and don’t have the means to travel to Ocala or Williston for treatment. We have one patient who rides his lawn mower to get here,” she said.
The facility, Perrone explained, can treat chronic conditions and provide some urgent care based upon the patient’s trauma level. Citra Family Health is a “National Health Service Corps (NHSC) certified rural healthcare clinic,” she said, and is overseen by a medical doctor in Belleview.
Perrone said the clinic staff can diagnose and treat illnesses from the common cold to diabetes, COPD, arthritis. “We manage very complex patients who have cancer, but we do not provide actual cancer treatment,” which is referred out, she explained.
Perrone, 24, an Ocala native, is a graduate of Forest High School. She attended the University of South Florida in Tampa and completed post-graduate studies at Bay Path University in Longmeadow, Massachusetts.
Perrone said she has a “passion” for the clinic and “a heart” for the members of the North Marion County community, which she considers her hometown.
Perrone said in some cases patients do not have health insurance and, for treatments like mammograms, the clinic will refer the patient to nonprofits like “Michelle-O-Gram,” a Marion County-based outreach center.
The clinic has a third parttime staff member, Stacy Berardi, who serves as a medical assistant and handles clerical duties.
Barbara Murphree owned Citrus Family Health from
2004 to 2014 and served as the clinic’s physician assistant with an Ocala medical doctor acting as supervising physician. She stated in a text message that the clinic opened in 1998 and meets national standards set by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
She called the clinic “central to the community,” providing readily accessible essential healthcare to residents of an “underserved” area.
Murphree wrote that the previous owners were about to close the clinic when Goodman purchased the operation, and now Perrone continues to provide “expert medical care” to clinic patients.
Goodman moved from Miami to the Citra area in 1978 and was involved in establishing the Miami Revival Center church in his new hometown.
He said the first occupant of the building at 17805 N U.S. 301 was Cestone Realty and then
the property was sold to a fellow church member and made into the Buds and Blossoms flower shop before the clinic took over.
Marion County Property Appraiser records indicate the 1,692-square-foot clinic building, constructed in 1981, and the surrounding 2.17-acre parcel was purchased by Orion Investments of Gainesville in April 2023. The clinic operation business leases the building from the property owners, Perrone indicated.
Goodman, who is a licensed water management expert, has monitored and managed the water for the building for county requirements, for many years.
Goodman took a “leap of faith” when he learned of the planned closing and visited his longtime bank but was denied a loan to buy the clinic operation. He then visited Truist Bank in Ocala and the loan was approved.
“Now (Citra Family Health) can keep serving the community,” he said.
the footage.
Murty’s testimony emphasized to the court the newspaper’s motive for obtaining the footage, highlighting the “Gazette’s” desire to bring attention to the larger community issue of the treatment of the mentally ill and the conditions in the Marion County Jail.
Murty described the discrepancies she found between the narrative given by the sheriff’s office and the narrative given by the Whitley family after they viewed the footage.
“The initial press release concerned us because it was misleading,” Murty said. “It could have been a really important opportunity for the sheriff to shine a light on a societal problem, which is that we do not have enough resources for those that are mentally ill or their families who are trying to take care of them.”
Murty described the press’ role as part of the checks and balances system of government and explained her desire to protect a vulnerable population by demanding accountability.
“The only way sometimes you can get through to people to show the misery of it is to show them a photo or a video,” Murty said. “We can write all the words but until you see it, it’s easy to try to act like it’s not happening.”
Pamela Whitley, who spoke on behalf of her brother’s estate, called herself “her brother’s voice,” offering her perspective since her brother no longer can. She has seen the footage from her brother’s cell and described what she saw to the court.
“It was barbaric. I saw it with my own two eyes. They repeatedly kept tasing him and also pepper sprayed and he was pleading for help,” Whitley said. “I don’t know how more compliant you can be when you’re sitting on a toilet completely naked with your hands up saying, ‘Wait.’”
The family’s case against MCSO was settled, a decision which was made by Whitley due to the declining health of her parents and their inability to take the stand, she said. The estate received compensation of $150,000, and now
wishes to support the “Gazette” in its case.
“My family would like the public to see that video, because I don’t think that was an isolated incident,” Whitley said.
McClain’s testimony brought to light further details of Whitley’s time in jail, clarifying that the man was housed in the Alpha Echo Pod of the complex, where inmates who are deemed “escape risks” are held under higher surveillance.
While being questioned by Slater, McClain testified that “in theory,” an inmate would be able to map out the locations of the cameras in the jail and relay that information to other inmates or be able to take advantage of any weaknesses or blind spots in the surveillance system.
McClain described the circumstances of why Whitley was denied clothes while in custody, saying that inmates who pose a risk to themselves or others often have all items removed from their cells that they could use for harm, including clothing and bedding.
In McClain’s report, he described only the detention deputies’ actions at the time of Whitley’s death and did not describe any actions Whitley made that could be noncompliant. He explained this by claiming that as he knew the Florida Department of Law Enforcement would be investigating the death due to use of force, his investigation was surface level to give the FDLE investigators an overview.
The judge could not make a ruling within the same day of the hearing, citing a need to further review the evidence and testimony. No further events have been scheduled in court since the case was reassigned to Baxley.
Slater urged the court to rule in favor of the “Gazette,” saying it is in the public’s best interest to bring the footage into the light.
“I think we’ve met our burden to show that there’s good cause that the public has an interest in this. We’ll call this that it’s newsworthy,” Slater said. “The family wants the video out there.”
Jenny Harris, left, front desk manager at Citra Family Health, and Nicole Perrone, the clinic’s Physician Associate and CEO, pose with longtime patient Al Goodman at the facility on Aug. 9, 2024. [Andy Fillmore]
Nicole Perrone, left, the clinic’s Physician Associate and CEO, is seen with longtime patient Al Goodman at the facility on Aug. 9, 2024. Goodman purchased the clinic operation hours before the prior owners of the business had planned to close the doors June 13. [Andy Fillmore]
Helping hands needed
The nonprofit Humane Society of Marion County is looking for volunteers to help care for the more than 200 felines and canines currently at the shelter.
By Eadie Sickler Correspondent
There currently are more than 200 animals awaiting adoption through the Humane Society of Marion County. That means there is a great need for humans to help care for the animals as they await a forever home. At this nonprofit, which was founded in 1964, volunteers are critical to meeting the mission of being a no-kill shelter.
“Over 200 volunteers a year make it possible to not only keep running, but to thrive in serving the animals in Marion County,” said HSMC Outreach Coordinator Jami Harrer.
“We are close to capacity,” in terms of the numbers of animals that can be accommodated, Harrer added.
“We have only 65 paid employees between the shelter, the new clinic and the thrift store,” Harrer explained, “but it takes many more people to maintain all these services. Our volunteers have donated more than 10,000 hours a year, which helps to keep the doors open. A partial list of daily shelter needs includes cage cleaning, animal feeding, dog walking and facility cleaning. There are tasks for everyone who will volunteer, including office chores, fostering, fundraising, donation collections, and outreach programs.
As a no-kill shelter, no animal will ever be euthanized there, no matter how long it is a “resident” or whether or not it is “adoptable.”
“We are dedicated to caring for and protecting animals in Marion County,” Harrer said.
Some animals are in the shelter as a result of hoarding situations, some because of abuse and/or neglect, some because of illness or the age of their owner. Some have endured trauma such as tornadoes, hurricanes, or floods. One kitten, only about 6-8 weeks old, is at the shelter daily in the care of Shelter Administrative Coordinator Kirstin Tanner, who fosters her and takes her home with her every day. The kitten is very frightened, and has some “road rash,” possibly from being thrown from a moving vehicle, as she was found on a busy interstate highway.
“After some TLC (tender, loving care), she will be okay,” Tanner said.
The goal of the shelter is that all animals that are adoptable will find forever homes.
“They all have stories, or else they wouldn’t be here,” Harrer continued. “Some are here for the rest of their lives. The longest time an animal has spent at the facility is 3,699 days, or 10 years and one month. That animal
was a homeless golden retriever/ German shepherd mix dog named Lanie that had survived a tornado and was traumatized and not adoptable. He passed away at the shelter.
The care of all the animals at the shelter requires many volunteer hands.
There are some animals who have special needs and will require a special person to adopt them. An example is Cyclone, who is a sweet looking, timid, 3-yearold, 85-pound, mixed breed male dog. He has been in the shelter for 10 months, the product of a hoarding situation. He gets along well with other dogs and cats, but it would not be advisable for him to be in a home with young children as he is very fearful.
A male cat named Dexter, who has been at the shelter for nine months, which is most of his life, is an orange tabby who is immune compromised, meaning he has continuing medical issues that only a special adopter would be able and willing to take on.
“He is really sweet and playful,” Harrer said.
There are several other adoptable animals considered “long-term” for various reasons. These animals, as well as all the others, are well cared for and given as much attention as is possible but, by necessity, still live their lives in a cage. There are 150 kittens in foster care right now, who will soon be adoptable.
What does it look like to be a volunteer?
There is a commitment for volunteers, Harrer explained. First, there is a volunteer test
online. The organization’s website, thehsmc.org, talks about safety regarding being around animals and the shelter itself. Volunteers are asked for a minimum of 10 hours of other volunteer work before interacting with the animals. That might look like activities such as cleaning the shelter, helping with adoption events in the community, and other activities.
Tanner screens all volunteers and gives them name badges. All sign in each time they volunteer in order to count their hours and purpose for volunteering. Some high school students volunteer to earn community service hours toward scholarship programs such as Bright Futures. Also, to apply for grant funding, there is a need to keep track of how many hours volunteers work at the facilities. In the case of minors, parents need to give permission for the student to participate in volunteer activities at the facility.
One little girl, Harrer said, set up a lemonade stand at her home and gave the proceeds to the HSMC.
There are several longterm volunteers at HSMC, and Richard Schrieber is the longest. He began volunteering in 2012 and still is a regular at the shelter.
“I was a lifetime member (of the Humane Society), and had always been around animals” he said, “so I decided to volunteer.”
Schrieber, who hails from the Boston, Massachusetts, area, added, “I love cats in particular, but dogs, too. I love the people here, and all the animals.” He has four cats of his own at home, and “one or two outdoor feral cats
that I feed,” he said.
The HSMC’s new animal clinic, open for only about a year, is next door to the shelter. The clinic is open to the public and offers affordable veterinary care.
“The low-cost clinic was opened to help support keeping pets with the families who love them,” Harrer said.
Clinic services include essential veterinary care, routine vaccines, heartworm, feline combination tests, X-rays, preventative medication such as flea control, deworming, and microchipping.
Three veterinarians are at the clinic on a rotating schedule, and by appointment. While there are a minimum of 10 employees at the clinic on a daily basis, only two or three volunteers are used there because of necessary restrictions with various substances used in the care of animals.
Every animal brought into the shelter is spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated according to their age.
“The adoption fee for animals doesn’t even come near to covering the cost of these services,” Harrer explained.
The Humane Society maintains a thrift store at110 NW 10th St. that is operated by 10 staff members and three to five volunteers. Volunteers accomplish tasks such as sorting donations, stocking shelves, cleaning and dusting. Donations of new or gently used items, and especially clothing, are welcomed. All proceeds go to HSMC for operating costs. Any unsold items are donated to homeless relief endeavors in the area.
“Nothing ever goes to waste
… everything is put to good use,” Tanner said.
HSMC has several outreach events to educate the community as to the needs of the shelter, but also to advocate for humane treatment of all animals.
“The HSMC Humane Education program currently educates over 22,000 students in the Marion County Public Schools and is projected to exceed 45,000 students in the 2025 school year,” Harrer noted.
Harrer said the Bark Bus visits each school with furry visitors and instructs students about equality for all living things. Children at the shelter read to dogs in the Doggone Reading Program or socialize with cats during a Meeting New Fur-ends program at the shelter.”
60
years of service
Founded in 1964 in the living room of a private home, HSMC began helping a handful of animals and over 60 years has grown to adopt out more than 2,000 animals every year.
The agency also helps other nonprofits in the area, such as Interfaith Emergency Services, which is one of the largest providers of assistance to needy families.
“HSMC provides over 12,000 pounds of food a year to Interfaith to feed pets of struggling families in Marion County, also providing opportunities for local shelters and rescues in our county for the spay and neuter of animals in their care,” Harrer offered.
Basic continuing needs at the shelter include animal food and supplies, general facility and office supplies, paper products and cleaning supplies. For a more complete list, visit the website.
On the HSMC “wish list” are funding and labor for new fencing to replace what has broken down over the years, some much needed landscaping, and a new lobby with a storage area. Corporate entities are encouraged to undertake or participate in any of the shelter needs.
Day to day, however, it is the caring human beings who help make an important difference in the success of the organization.
“We are only as strong as our volunteers,” Harrer emphasized.
“You can judge the heart of a human by their treatment of animals and our volunteers have some mighty big hearts,” said HSMC Executive Director Eddie Leedy.
The shelter is located at 701 NW 14th Road, Ocala. To learn more about volunteer opportunities and more, go to thehsmc.org
Jami Harrer, the outreach coordinator, spends some time with Dexter, a cat who has been in the animal shelter for more than a year, at the Humane Society of Marion County in Ocala on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Left to right: Jennifer Mason, who has been a volunteer for three years, takes a one-year resident dog, Cyclone, 6, for a walk at the Humane Society of Marion County in Ocala on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. Volunteers Maribeth Schmidt, left, and Kat Miller, right, give treats to Tracker. Austin Burnett, the shelter operations manager, left, spends some time with Sully, a puppy, and staff
Matos, right. [Bruce
State House primaries include challenges to incumbents
By Jim Turner Florida News Service
More than a quarter of the 120 Florida House seats have primary elections Aug. 20, with Democrats competing in 14 districts and Republicans squaring off in 21.
The Florida Democratic Party this year has a strategy of fielding candidates in all House districts. But because of how districts are drawn—giving dominance to one party or the other—next week’s primaries will largely decide winners in many areas.
Here are snapshots of seven House primaries, including six where incumbents face challengers, from various parts of the state:
DISTRICT 13: One of two Democratic primaries in Jacksonville closed by write-in candidates, Rep. Angie Nixon faces a challenge from former
Jacksonville City Council member Brenda Priestly Jackson. Nixon, who was first elected to the House in 2020, has drawn controversy for some positions on issues such as sponsoring a resolution that would have called for an “immediate de-escalation and cease-fire” in the war between Israel and Hamas. But Nixon has drawn endorsements from groups such as Florida Planned Parenthood PAC.
Jackson, who served on the Jacksonville City Council from 2019 to 2023, has drawn support from several former Republican colleagues on the council, along with groups such as the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida.
DISTRICT 14: In the other Jacksonville race with a closed Democratic primary, Rep. Kim Daniels is being challenged by former teacher Therese Wakefield-Gamble and Lloyd Caulker, founder of Gospeler
Ministries.
Daniels served in the House from 2016 to 2020 and returned in 2022. She has received backing from groups and political committees such as Associated Industries of Florida, the First Coast Manufacturers Association and the Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville.
Wakefield-Gamble has received an endorsement from Florida Planned Parenthood PAC and money from organizations such as the Blue Florida and Florida Rising political committees. The presence of write-in candidates in District 13 and District 14 means only registered Democrats can vote in the primaries, though no Republicans qualified to run.
DISTRICT 32: Republican voters in part of Brevard County face a choice between two longtime GOP figures competing for an open House seat: state Sen. Debbie Mayfield and former Congressman Dave Weldon, both of Indialantic.
Mayfield, who chairs the Senate Rules Committee, cannot run again this year for the Senate because of term limits and is looking to return to the House, where she served from 2008 to 2016. Weldon was first elected to Congress in 1994 and served until 2009.
Backers of Mayfield include former President Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, and Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo. Weldon has drawn support from term-limited state Rep. Thad Altman, U.S. Rep. Bill Posey and Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey. Democrat Juan Hinojosa of
Rockledge awaits the winner of the primary.
DISTRICT 44: Without any other candidates running, the primary election will decide the winner of the Orange County seat, with Rep. Rita Harris, D-Orlando, facing former Rep. Daisy Morales, D-Orlando.
The primary is a rematch of the 2022 election, when Harris unseated Morales. Groups such as the Florida AFL-CIO and the Florida Education Association, major players in Democratic politics, have contributed money to Harris.
Morales, who was elected to the House in 2020, has raised little money for this year’s race but had loaned her campaign $25,000 as of Aug. 2, according to a finance report. The primary will be open to all voters in the district.
DISTRICT 74: As he seeks a fourth term in the House in a Sarasota County district, Rep. James Buchanan, R-Osprey, is being challenged by North Port resident Michelle Pozzie, an education activist who co-hosts a show on Patriot.TV.
Buchanan has received support from a wide range of businesses and groups, such as the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida. He also comes from a prominent political family, as his father, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, has been in Congress since 2007.
Pozzie, who describes herself as a wife and mother, in addition to working as a real estate agent, has received endorsements from groups such as Moms for America Action. While Pozzie has championed much of Gov. Ron
DeSantis’ agenda, Buchanan has drawn the governor’s support. The primary winner will face Democrat Nancy Simpson in November.
DISTRICT 106: Rep. Fabian Basabe of Miami Beach is being challenged by Republican Melinda Almonte of Golden Beach in his first bid for reelection to the House.
Basabe has loaned $250,000 to his campaign and has received backing from prominent business groups. Almonte, who advocates for children with disabilities, has raised little money for her campaign account but had loaned $38,200 to the campaign as of Aug. 2.
Democrats have eyed the district as a possible seat that their candidate, former Rep. Joe Saunders, could flip in November. But a large amount of attention has swirled around Saunders’ aunt, Maureen Saunders Scott, also running for the seat as an unaffiliated candidate.
DISTRICT 109: With the Miami-Dade County race open to all voters, Rep. Ashley Gantt, D-Miami, is trying to fend off challenges from two former House members.
Gantt, an attorney, faces a rematch with former Rep. James Bush after defeating him in 2022. Also running is former Rep. Roy Hardemon.
Bush had been in the House for stretches starting in 1992 but lost favor with some progressive groups after, at times, siding with Republicans on issues. Hardemon served a single term in the House starting in 2016. No other candidates are running for the seat, creating an open primary.
Hospital districts, school board backed in opioid fight
By Jim Saunders Florida News Service
Astate appeals court Wednesday ruled that Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody could not prevent opioid-epidemic lawsuits filed by hospital districts and school boards after she reached settlements with the pharmaceutical industry.
A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal overturned a 2023 decision by Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper that said Moody had the power to enter settlements that effectively included trumping separate claims by local government agencies.
Wednesday’s ruling was a victory for the Sarasota County Public Hospital District, Lee Memorial Health System, the North Broward Hospital District, the South Broward Hospital District, Halifax Hospital Medical Center, the Miami-Dade County School Board and the Putnam County School Board. They have sought to pursue lawsuits to recover costs related to treating patients and educating children affected by the opioid epidemic.
All of the local agencies had sued drug distributors, manufacturers or pharmacies because of the epidemic.
“The attorney general does not have the legal authority to unilaterally dismiss, for example, actual and individual damages incurred by the two school boards for increased harms and expenditures for compliance with federal law for special educational needs for disabled students— disabled allegedly by the actions of the opioid (industry) defendants that caused the students or their parents to become addicted to prescription opioids,” the appeals court ruling said. “And this is but one example. The special hospital districts also assert individual and actual damages separate from the general public for harms allegedly inflicted by the opioid defendants
that caused these hospitals to have to provide specialized medical care for opioid-addicted and harmed patients. It is not within the attorney general’s power to make such decisions.”
Moody’s office entered into seven settlements with a variety of companies— with each of the settlements including a “release” of claims filed by local governments. Some settlements resulted from multi-state litigation—what is known as a global settlement—while others came as a result of a lawsuit that the attorney general’s office filed in Pasco County.
Moody in 2022 filed a lawsuit in Leon County circuit court against the hospital districts and school boards to try to prevent their claims against the industry.
The lawsuit said Moody’s settlements would provide money for opioid treatment, prevention and recovery services and that money would go to communities throughout the state. But the hospital districts and school board argued that Moody did not have the authority to release their claims.
Cooper’s decision last year said the Legislature “specifically granted the attorney general authority to enforce consumer protection laws” and that Moody had the power to enter settlements that prevented separate claims.
“Allowing defendants (the hospital districts and school districts) to continue pursuing their subordinate opioid claims threatens Florida’s sovereign interest in vindicating its citizens’ rights—all of its citizens’ rights—when confronted with societal harms such as the opioid crisis,” Cooper wrote. “These are collective harms. They do not flow in an insular fashion to individual (political) subdivisions— the harms cross city and county lines. Indeed the opioid settlements consider the pervasive harms caused by the opioid crisis and apply a mixture of statewide and local solutions. … Defendants’ continued pursuit of their opioid claims
in contravention of the opioid settlements jeopardizes the flow of tens of millions of dollars that will aid in the abatement of the opioid epidemic throughout the state of Florida.”
But the appeals-court ruling, written by Judge Brad Thomas and joined by Judges Ross Bilbrey and Thomas Winokur, said the Legislature has “assigned the rights of legal representation of claims to appellants (the hospital districts and school boards) themselves, not the attorney general.”
“In essence, the attorney general asserts the unilateral substantive authority to dispose of appellants’ claims on behalf of the people of Florida, notwithstanding the enactment of law assigning that authority to appellants,” the 19-page ruling said. “But the attorney general is the ‘chief state legal officer’ of the state, not the client. As the state’s chief legal officer, the attorney general has limited common-law authority … to litigate claims common to the state at large—and, of course, claims authorized by general law, and limited by that law—but not to control claims of appellants who assert unique and individual actual damages.”
The ruling also said Moody “argues unpersuasively that as the state’s chief legal officer, she may bar appellants from representing themselves, while simultaneously denying any interest in representing appellants. The attorney general argues that it is her prerogative to eliminate the value of appellant’s individual claims for harms
caused by the opioid defendants, as a ‘bargaining chip’ to obtain this global financial settlement. Thus, the attorney general asserts that she may disavow these school boards’ and hospital districts’ actual damages for her own negotiating prerogatives.”
“No doubt the global settlement achieves many laudable goals,” the ruling added. “But it cannot deprive appellants of their legal rights to be made whole for their unique losses.”
Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, faces a primary challenge from former Jacksonville City Council member Brenda Priestly Jackson. [Colin Hackley/File]
Parkinson’s disease argued to prevent execution
By Jim Saunders Florida News Service
ttorneys for condemned killer Loran Cole have asked the Florida Supreme Court for a stay of his scheduled Aug. 29 execution, saying the state’s lethal-injection procedures likely would cause “needless pain and suffering” because of Cole’s symptoms from Parkinson’s disease.
The attorneys Tuesday evening filed a motion for a stay and a broader brief that also argued Cole should be spared execution because of abuse he suffered as a teen at the state’s notorious Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys. Gov. Ron DeSantis on July 29 signed a death warrant for Cole, who was convicted in the 1994 murder of a Florida State University student in the
Ocala National Forest.
The motion and the brief said the Supreme Court should require a Marion County circuit judge to hold an evidentiary hearing on the Parkinson’s disease issue. The brief said Cole, who has had Parkinson’s symptoms since 2017, “experiences shaking in both of his arms from his neck to his fingertips and in his legs.”
“Cole’s Parkinson’s symptoms will make it impossible for Florida to safely and humanely carry out his execution because his involuntary body movements will affect the placement of the intravenous lines necessary to carry out an execution by lethal injection,” the brief said.
Cole’s lawyers also wrote that he “faces a substantial risk of illness by injury and needless suffering.”
“When placing an intravenous line,
each failed attempt creates a one-and-done for that vein,” the brief said. “Each attempt is singularly painful, and the pain will only escalate with each successive attempt to place an intravenous line. Should FDOC (the Florida Department of Corrections) fail to find a peripheral vein in Cole’s arms or legs, the lethal injection protocol directs the placement of a central intravenous line. The skill needed to do this is beyond an average person capable of placing intravenous lines in the arms or legs. The central vein location includes the groin, the neck, and below the collarbone.”
But Marion County Circuit Judge Robert Hodges last week rejected the Parkinson’s disease argument as part of a broader ruling that allowed the planned execution to move forward.
Hodges wrote, in part, that the claim was “untimely” because Cole has long known about the Parkinson’s symptoms but did not raise the issue until after the death warrant was signed.
Hodges also wrote that he found the Parkinson’s disease argument “without merit” and that Cole “failed to allege that medical personnel have previously had problems finding a vein in his arm or that he has previously suffered pain during the placement of an intravenous line. Instead, he merely speculates that he will suffer because of his involuntary body movements.”
“The placement of an intravenous line in a patient with body movements is neither unique nor rare in the medical field,” Hodges added.
Cole, 57, was sent to Death Row in the February 1994 murder of Florida State University student John Edwards, who went to the Ocala National Forest to camp with his sister, a student at Eckerd College, court records show.
Cole and another man, William Paul, joined the brother and sister at their campsite. After they decided to walk to a pond, Cole knocked Edwards’ sister to the ground and ultimately handcuffed her, the records said. Paul took the sister up a trail, and Edwards died from a slashed throat and blows to the head that fractured his skull, according to the court records.
Edwards’ sister was sexually assaulted and was tied to two trees the next morning before freeing herself. (In most cases, The News Service of Florida does not identify sexual-assault victims by name.)
Along with raising the Parkinson’s disease issue, Cole’s attorneys argue that his death sentence should be vacated because of abuse at the state’s now-closed Dozier reform school. Cole was at the Marianna school in 1984 and suffered abuse such as rape and beatings, according to Tuesday’s brief and arguments filed in the circuit court.
Cole’s attorneys said the jury that recommended a death sentence did not know about the abuse he suffered at Dozier. Also, the attorneys have pointed to a law that passed this year to compensate some victims of abuse at Dozier, though the law would not apply to Cole.
“Cole’s jury was not told about the compelling mitigation that Cole was a student at Dozier, where he experienced rape and other horrific methods of abuse,” Tuesday’s brief said. “If Cole’s jury had known about the severe abuse … at Dozier, and Florida’s willingness to acknowledge the severe problems at Dozier to the extent that designated victims are entitled to reparations, there is a reasonable probability the newly discovered evidence would yield a less severe sentence. There is a reasonable probability a jury presented with the newly discovered information would recommend a sentence of life for Cole.”
But Hodges last week ruled that “evidence regarding defendant’s (Cole’s) treatment while he attended the Dozier School is not newly discovered evidence.” The judge said Cole’s lawyers unsuccessfully raised the issue of his treatment at Dozier in previous appeals.
“The court finds that although (the) defendant is using a different argument, he is attempting to relitigate the same issue he raised in two prior motions,” Hodges wrote.
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office faces a Friday deadline for filing briefs at the Supreme Court.
File photo: Judge Robert Hodges speaks during the $80 million City of Ocala Fire Fee lawsuit hearing at the Marion County Judicial Center in Ocala on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.
State ban on cultivated’ meat challenged
By Jim Turner Florida News Service
ACalifornia-based producer of lab-grown poultry filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday challenging a new Florida ban on selling or manufacturing “cultivated” meat.
UPSIDE Foods, Inc., contends, in part, that the law violates a constitutional prohibition on favoring in-state businesses over out-of-state competitors.
“We’re not looking to replace conventional meat, which will always have a place on our tables,” Uma Valeti, a cardiologist who founded UPSIDE in 2015, said during a conference call Tuesday with reporters. “We want to give consumers a choice, a choice so they can eat cultivated meat or conventional meat, any choice they can make in the future to keep up with the demand for meat that will double by 2050.”
The lawsuit, filed in the federal Northern District of Florida, names as defendants state Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, Attorney General Ashley Moody and four state attorneys. Simpson, a key supporter of the law, called the lawsuit “ridiculous” and said “lab-grown meat is not proven to be safe enough for consumers.”
“Food security is a matter of national security, and our farmers are the first line of defense,” Simpson said in a statement. “As Florida’s commissioner of agriculture, I will fight every day to protect a safe, affordable, and abundant food supply. States are the laboratory of democracy, and Florida has the right to
not be a corporate guinea pig. Leave the Frankenmeat experiment to California.”
The Legislature this year approved the ban as part of a broader Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill (SB 1084), which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed on May 1. The lawsuit said Florida became the first state to ban the manufacture, distribution and sale of cultivated meat.
“In doing so, Florida did not cite concerns that cultivated meat is less healthy or safe than conventional meat,” said the lawsuit, filed by attorneys from the Institute for Justice legal organization. “Instead, Governor DeSantis announced that Florida was ‘fighting back’ against the ‘authoritarian goals’ of the ‘global elite,’ who he alleged would force consumers to eat cultivated meat. The governor also announced that the law was part of his administration’s ‘focus on investing in our local farmers and ranchers’ and an effort to ‘save our beef.’”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture last year approved UPSIDE to manufacture and sell its products. Since then, the company has distributed cultivated chicken products, an alternative to plant-based meat alternatives, at restaurants and tasting events across the nation, including in Florida.
“Laws like this in Florida will absolutely make sure that this innovation will go outside the United States and make it very challenging for us to have food safety and food security in the future,” Valeti said.
Paul Sherman, an Institute for Justice senior attorney, said a motion for a
preliminary injunction is pending. If approved, a preliminary injunction could allow UPSIDE to sell products in Florida while the lawsuit moves forward.
“The states simply do not have the power to wall themselves off from products that have been approved by the USDA and the FDA,” Sherman said, referring to the federal agencies. “And if consumers don’t like the idea of cultivated meat, there’s a simple solution. They don’t have to eat it. But they can’t make that decision for other consumers.”
The other defendants in the lawsuit are Jack Campbell, the state attorney in the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which includes Leon and surrounding counties; Bruce Bartlett, the state attorney in the 6th Judicial Circuit, which is made up of Pinellas and Pasco counties; Andrew Bain, the state attorney in the 9th Judicial Circuit, which is made of up Orange and Osceola counties; and Katherine Fernandez Rundle, the state attorney in the 11th Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade County. They are defendants because they would be expected to enforce the law.
The law, in part, makes it a second-degree misdemeanor to sell or manufacture cultivated meat. The manufacturing process includes taking a small number of cultured cells from animals and growing them in controlled settings to make food.
The lawsuit contends Florida’s ban violates the Supremacy Clause in the U.S. Constitution by pre-empting federal laws regulating meat and poultry products and violates what is known as the “dormant” Commerce Clause by insulating Florida
agriculture from out-of-state competition.
For example, the lawsuit pointed to March comments by House bill sponsor Rep. Danny Alvarez, a Hillsborough County Republican who said, “If you believe that we are doing this because we know that Florida’s agriculture can hold us down and provides plenty of safe, quality beef and agricultural products --- you are absolutely correct.”
Alabama followed Florida in approving a similar law, which doesn’t go into effect until Oct. 1. Similar bans have been proposed in states including Kentucky, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Texas.
UPSIDE, which would like to distribute its poultry products at Miami Beach’s Art Basel event in December and the 2025 South Beach Food and Wine Festival, contends Florida’s ban has affected the company’s revenue, promotional opportunities and reputation.
DeSantis traveled to rural Hardee County in May to sign the measure with members of the cattle industry on hand. While behind a podium that featured a sign saying, “Save Our Beef,” DeSantis said the law would protect against “an ideological agenda that wants to finger agriculture as the problem.”
DeSantis also called the products “fake meat” and said Florida was pushing “back against the global elite’s plan to force the world to eat meat grown in a petri dish or bugs to achieve their authoritarian goals.”
The law doesn’t prohibit cultivatedmeat research because of concerns that such a ban could affect Florida’s space industry, which is looking at cultivated meats for long-term space journeys.
BALLOTS CAST TOP 1.3 MILLION
The number of Floridians who have cast ballots in next week’s primary elections continues to steadily increase and topped 1.3 million on Wednesday, according to data posted on the state Division of Elections website.
The data showed that 1,027,221 people had voted by mail, including 437,620 Democrats, 428,569 Republicans, 147,189 unaffiliated voters and 13,843 third-party voters.
Meanwhile, 285,647 people had cast ballots at early-voting sites, including 180,650 Republicans, 83,809 Democrats, 19,080 unaffiliated voters and 2,108 thirdparty voters.
Early voting will continue through Saturday statewide, with some counties also holding it Sunday.
Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday for the primaries.
CITIZENS TOPS 1.237M POLICIES
The state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. added more than 3,000 policies last week, as Florida recovered from its first hurricane of the year.
Citizens had 1,237,500 policies as of Friday, up from 1,234,270 policies a week earlier and 1,228,928 policies two weeks earlier.
The Category 1 Hurricane Debby made landfall Aug. 5 near Steinhatchee in Taylor County before moving across parts of rural North Florida.
Citizens has relatively few policies in the region. As an example, it had 647 policies in Taylor County as of July 31, according to a report on
its website.
Citizens, which was created as an insurer of last resort, has become Florida’s largest property insurer in recent years as private carriers faced 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 aimed at shifting policies into the private market.
Citizens President and CEO Tim Cerio has said he expects Citizens to dip below 1 million policies by the end of the year because of depopulation efforts that will start in the fall.
DEBBY INSURED LOSSES REACH $113.8M
stimated insured losses from Hurricane Debby reached $113.8 million Wednesday, as claims continue to be filed after the storm, which made landfall Aug. 5 in Taylor County, according to data on the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website.
Insurers reported they had received 15,326 claims as of Wednesday, including 9,416 involving residential property.
Other types of claims included damage to vehicles and commercial property.
The data showed that 1,531 claims had been closed with payments made, while 1,558 had been closed without payments.
As a comparison, insurers as of Friday had reported 11,972 claims, with estimated insured losses of $89.5 million.
Debby made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near Steinhatchee, before moving across rural North Florida and into Georgia as a tropical storm.
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People, Places & Things
RELIGIOUS COLUMN
Writing a novel with first-hand experience
By Marian Rizzo Correspondent
After spending 30 years in the newspaper industry, I retired and started writing novels. The truth is, works of fiction also require a certain amount of factual information. Most of my written projects involve about 60% research and 40% writing. This point brings me to my current project, my 11th novel, The Shepherd’s Walk; from the Manger to the Cross and Beyond.
I got the idea for The Shepherd’s Walk while listening to a Back-to-the-Bible broadcast by radio host Dr. Woodrow Kroll. It was Christmas time, and Dr. Kroll said he would love to read a novel that takes a shepherd from the manger to the cross. I decided to give it a try.
My research involved books and other reading materials, of course, plus an internet study about shepherds in biblical times. But one thing was missing. I didn’t know what it feels like to be around a flock of sheep. Fortunately, I found a sheep farm right here in Marion County.
On a sunny morning, “Gazette” photographer Bruce Ackerman and I piled into a golf cart with Fairmeadow Farm owner Carol Postley, who drove us around her 57-acre farm where clusters of ewes grazed on ankle-high blades of grass or found shelter beneath sprawling oak trees. Each of the fenced-off pastures is guarded by Great Pyrenees livestock protection dogs that ward off wolves, coyotes, vultures, and other predators, including
humans, if necessary.
Carol’s sun-freckled face beamed with delight as she talked about her sheep. At 91 years of age, she still works the farm with the help of two full-time employees, Clay Meyers and farm manager Cherokee Vadala, who strolled among the sheep like she was one of them. If they left her side, she drew them back with a clap of her hands or by shaking a container of corn. The rattle of the kernels got mamas and babies “flocking” around her. Cherokee also gathered up a 6-week-old lamb and held onto him while I got to pet his soft wool.
Carol and her husband, the late Brooke Postley, purchased the Marion County acreage in 1989. For a short time they had a cattle business, but in the ’90s Carol started her sheep farm by purchasing 10 sheep from 4-H students at the Marion County Youth Fair. She insists the mineral-rich grass in this area is perfect for raising sheep.
“When you have this much grass, you gotta do something with it,” said Carol. “It’s wasted on horses. These are ruminant animals. They were made to live on grass. We separate them in small pastures. Then we move them around to give the grass a chance to grow.”
Carol estimates she currently owns about 100 ewes, an equal number of lambs, plus 20 rams, including a “teaser,” whose sole job is “to get the girls interested,” said Carol. “He looks like a ram, he smells like a ram, he baas like a ram, but he’s had a vasectomy. We put him in with the ewes and he runs around and they think he’s delicious. They all cycle, so the lambs are
all born at one time.”
Until breeding time, Carol keeps her handful of rams separated from the ewes. Though this breed doesn’t have horns, it doesn’t stop them from butting heads now and then.
“Somebody wants to be boss,” said Carol. “They back up and get a good run and come at each other, and you hear a crack. It sounds like a rifle.”
As we drove around, Carol often referred to verses from the 23rd Psalm. “The Bible was written, obviously, by people who took care of sheep every day,” she noted. Her repertoire went something like this:
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: “Sheep aren’t stupid,” Carol said. “They’re all out there lazing in the shade. They’re not out playing golf.”
He leadeth me beside still water is a reminder to take them to still water, not lakes or flowing rivers, she insisted. “Sheep can’t swim because they have small, hard hooves and a heavy woolen coat. It would be like you and me trying to swim in high heels. And if their coat gets wet it’s like swimming in a heavy woolen coat.”
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me. “The shepherd is with them, and they have confidence in the shepherd,” explained Carol. “If they’re going down in the valley there could be something new that they’ve never seen before and they stop dead. They’ll stamp their feet and go “woof,” and make a funny little sound, which catches all the sheep.
They’re communicating that there’s something new there.”
According to Carol, there are many different breeds and cross-breeds. She prefers Cracker sheep because they adapt well to the Florida climate and are resistant to parasites. She’s been crossbreeding her Cracker sheep with Maine Katahdins she purchased at the University of Florida ram show. Because they have hair instead of wool, the Katahdins can tolerate the warmer climate and they don’t need to be sheared.
“We’ve been working on a new line for over 20 years,” Carol said. “We’re hoping to make the Katahdins healthier and parasite resistant.”
It’s no different from biblical days, when cross-breeding also was common. “Who would think in the Bible they were playing genetics?” she said with a chuckle.
Of course, the sheep-raising industry has changed since the days of King David. Back then they didn’t have chutes for getting the lambs in line to check their health. Nor did they have the large electric shearing clippers in use today. Early on they used to pluck the wool, said Carol.
Ultimately, Carol straightened me out on a few misconceptions. I learned that a shepherd doesn’t castrate sheep so they will gain weight for the market. It’s done to prevent the less-than-perfect ones from breeding. I also learned that except for worming, warding off pesky flies, and watching for white eye and other diseases, little more needs to be done in the care of sheep. I had my hard-working shepherds combing, raking, bathing, and pulling burrs out of wooly coats that didn’t need it. Since sheep herding requires a lot less effort, my shepherds are going to get a much-needed rest. Most importantly, I should not have had my shepherd drive his sheep onto the plain like he would a cow or a bull. Now my shepherd leads his flock from one pasture to the next, walking before them, and they simply follow, like—well, like sheep.
Not all of my writing projects allow me such an up-close and personal opportunity. For example, when I wrote “In Search of the Beloved,” I had never been to Ephesus or Patmos, so I talked to people who’d been there. I also did virtual tours on the internet, and I interviewed by email a manager of a hotel on the Isle of Patmos. Readers told me it read like I’d actually gone there, but I only got there by osmosis.
This first-hand experience helped me to understand what it might have felt like to be a shepherd. I learned that sheep are shy, laid-back animals, and it can be very calming to hang out with them. In fact, Carol claimed she sometimes steps away from a sinkful of dirty dishes and just comes outside, leans on the fence rail and breathes in her sheep, like “tranquilizers,” she said with a smile.
Left to right: Marian Rizzo, a writer, left, pets a lamb held by Cherokee Vadala, the farm manager, right, at the Fairmeadow Florida Cracker Sheep Farm on Northwest 60th Avenue north of Ocala on Thursday, August 8, 2024. Cherokee Vadala feeds a St. Augustin Ewe as other sheep gather in a pasture. Cherokee Vadala feeds Ewes in a pasture. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Cherokee Vadala, the farm manager, cradles a lamb as other sheep are shown gathered in a pen at the Fairmeadow Florida Cracker Sheep Farm on Northwest 60th Avenue north of Ocala on Thursday, August 8, 2024. Writer Marian Rizzo recently visited the farm to do research for her 11th novel, “The Shepherd’s Walk, from the Manger to the Cross.” [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Dementia risk factors identified in new global report are all preventable–addressing them could reduce dementia rates by 45%
By Eric B. Larson, Affiliate Professor of Medicine, UW School of Medicine, University of Washington and Laura Gitlin, Dean Emerita and Distinguished Professor of Nursing and Health, Drexel University
Nearly half of all dementia cases could be delayed or prevented altogether by addressing 14 possible risk factors, including vision loss and high cholesterol.
That is the key finding of a new study that we and our colleagues published in the journal The Lancet.
Dementia, a rapidly increasing global challenge, affects an estimated 57 million worldwide, and this number is expected to increase to 153 million by 2050 worldwide. Although the prevalence of dementia is on the decline in high-income countries, it continues to increase in low- and middleincome countries.
This third updated report of the Lancet
Commission on Dementia offers good news and a strong message: Policymakers, clinicians, individuals and families can be ambitious about prevention and reduce dementia risk; and for those living with dementia and their caregivers, support their quality of life using evidence-based approaches.
The new report confirms 12 previously identified potentially modifiable risk factors from two previous reports, published in 2017 and 2020. It also offers new evidence supporting two additional modifiable risk factors: vision loss and high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, often called “bad” cholesterol.
Our study of published evidence found that collectively, addressing 14 modifiable risk factors could potentially reduce the prevalence of dementia by 45% worldwide. Even greater risk reductions could be possible in low- and middleincome countries and for people with
low income in higher-income countries given the higher prevalence of dementia, health disparities and risk factors in these populations.
The report further indicates that reducing these 14 risks can increase the number of healthy years of life and reduce the length of time with poor health in people with dementia.
Additionally, the report cites clinical trials showing that nonpharmacological approaches, such as using activities tailored to interests and abilities, can reduce dementia-related symptoms and improve quality of life.
We are a general internist and an applied sociologist and intervention scientist, and our work focuses on memory and wellness in older adults. Together with 25 other internationally recognized dementia experts under the leadership of psychiatry professor Dr. Gill Livingston, we carefully reviewed the evidence to derive recommendations for prevention, intervention and care.
Why it matters
The rapid growth of aging populations worldwide is a triumph of better public and personal health throughout the entire life span. Yet, given the lack of a dementia cure, this report highlights the importance of prevention as well as supporting quality of life for those with a dementia diagnosis.
In the new report, our team proposed an ambitious program for preventing dementia that could be implemented at the individual, community and policy levels and across the life span from early life through mid and late life. The key points include: In early life, improving general education.
In midlife, addressing hearing loss,
high LDL cholesterol, depression, traumatic brain injury, physical inactivity, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, obesity and excessive alcohol.
In later life, reducing social isolation, air pollution and vision loss.
Together, these add up to the Lancet Commission on Dementia’s estimate that 45% of dementia risk can be reduced. And an abundance of new research shows that when risk factors are addressed, such as exposure to air pollution, they are linked with improved cognition and likely reduction of dementia risk.
New evidence supports the notion that in high-income countries, reducing dementia risk can translate to more healthy years, years free of dementia and a shorter duration of ill health for people who develop dementia.
What still isn’t known
The 45% reduction in dementia risk across the world’s population is based on a calculation that assumes that risk factors are causal and can be eliminated. It shows how dementia prevention is critical and the impact it would have on individuals and families.
The commission emphasized the need for more research to identify additional risk factors, test risk factor changes in clinical trials, provide guidance for public health efforts, and identify and evaluate strategies for implementing and scaling evidence-based programs that support people with dementia and caregivers.
The updated report has worldwide public health and research impact and is being widely disseminated. It serves as a guideline to clinicians and policymakers and outlines new research directions.
Mindfulness and mental health
By Joel Bobby Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’ve been hearing a lot about mindfulness meditation lately and how it can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being. But I’m a bit skeptical and don’t really understand how sitting still and doing nothing can make such a big difference. I have a busy and active lifestyle, and the idea of spending time just focusing on my breath or thoughts sounds boring. Are there real benefits of mindfulness meditation and how it can realistically fit into a fast-paced life like mine?
ANSWER: It’s common to feel skeptical about an activity that promises quick and easy stress relief. Yet, mindfulness meditation promises just that. It’s a fast and easy way to reduce stress wherever you are.
Mindfulness meditation is the practice of purposefully being aware of and focusing your attention on the present moment. Mindfulness allows you to be in tune with your experience—right now in this moment—and to explore with curiosity whatever sensations, thoughts and emotions are present without expectations or judgment.
During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This focus can result in enhanced physical and emotional well-being.
Many people may think of mindfulness meditation as “sitting on a pillow, being still, with eyes closed.” This may work for some, but there are many ways to practice mindfulness meditation.
Practicing mindfulness involves using breathing methods, guided imagery, and other strategies to relax the body and mind to help reduce stress.
To try focused breathing meditation, sit down, take a deep breath and close your eyes. Focus on your breath as it moves in and out of your body. Sitting and breathing slowly for even just a minute can help.
As you start meditating, try these structured mindfulness exercises:
Body scan meditation. Lie on your back with your legs extended and arms at your sides, palms facing up. Focus your attention slowly and deliberately on each part of your body, in order, from toe to head or head to toe. Be aware of any sensations, emotions or thoughts associated with each part of your body.
Sitting meditation. Sit comfortably with your back straight, feet flat on the floor and hands in your lap. Breathing through your nose, focus on your breath moving in and out of your body. If physical sensations or thoughts interrupt your meditation, note the experience and then return your focus to your breathing.
• Walking meditation. Find a quiet place 10- to 20-feet long and walk slowly. Focus on the experience of walking, being aware of the sensations of standing and the subtle movements that keep your balance. When you reach the end of your path, turn and continue walking, maintaining awareness of your sensations.
Often, mindfulness meditation is recommended as part of a comprehensive treatment for physical and mental health conditions. It’s considered a type of mind-body complementary medicine. You can incorporate mindfulness meditation into your busy routine to improve your overall health.
There are many benefits of mindfulness meditation engaging the brain. Think of it as a form of brain exercise. Just as physical exercise keeps your body healthy, mindfulness meditation keeps your brain fit. Research has shown that just five to 15 minutes of daily meditation is all you need to begin experiencing benefits.
After decades of research into the practice, these benefits have been found to include an increase in:
Cognitive flexibility
Diabetes control
• Emotion regulation
• Empathy
• Focus and attention
• Immune system response
• Memory
• Positive emotions
• Positive relationships
Relaxation
Self-compassion
Self-esteem
The practice also affects many negative physical and mental symptoms, including decreases in:
Addictive behaviors
Anger and hostility
Anxiety
Burnout
• Depression
• Emotional reactivity
• Insomnia
• High blood pressure
• Need for pain medications
• Physical pain
• Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms
• Stress
Mindfulness is a supportive strategy to help manage many health issues. It pairs well with other medical treatments and counseling. It’s a simple strategy that doesn’t require a prescription or special equipment and can be practiced anywhere. Talk with your healthcare team about incorporating mindfulness meditation into your life and see if it makes a difference in your health and general sense of well-being.—Joel Bobby, licensed independent clinical social worker, Psychiatry & Psychology, Mayo Clinic Health System, Austin, Minnesota
(Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org.)
By David Pazmiño America’s Test Kitchen
With tender shreds of chicken, a sweet-tangy sauce, and a crunchy slaw, these weeknight barbecue sandwiches aren’t just achievable, they’re awesome! And better yet—using store-bought rotisserie chicken cuts hours off the cooking time.
Quick Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Red Cabbage Slaw Serves 4
Note: Coleslaw mix can be used in place of the red cabbage, if desired.
2 cups thinly sliced red cabbage
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons bread-and-butter pickle juice, plus 1/4 cup bread-and-butter pickles
1 teaspoon table salt, divided 1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 (2 1/2-pound) rotisserie chicken, skin and bones discarded, meat shredded into bitesize pieces (3 cups)
4 hamburger buns
1. Combine cabbage, sour cream, pickle juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a bowl; set aside.
2. Bring vinegar, water, sugar, pepper flakes, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt to boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Cook until reduced by half, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in chicken and cook until warmed through, about 1 minute. Remove saucepan from heat.
3. Divide chicken evenly among bun bottoms. Top with 1/2 cup cabbage mixture, then divide pickles evenly over cabbage. Cover with bun tops. Serve.
(For 25 years, home cooks have relied on America’s Test Kitchen for rigorously tested recipes developed by professional test cooks and vetted by 60,000 athome recipe testers. The family of brands—which includes Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country— offers reliable recipes for cooks of all skill levels. See more online at www.americastestkitchen.com/TCA.)
ARTIST TALK
Sunday, August 18, 2 p.m.
Join the artist in the Appleton auditorium for a talk on the work in her solo exhibition, “Every Fiber of My Being: Abstract Fiber Art by Charlita Rae Whitehead.” This talk is free; no reservation needed to attend.
Pleasant, progressive Oslo puts people first
By Rick Steves
On my last visit to Oslo, I was struck by how peaceful the city felt. It seemed a world away from the commotion and angst that comes with the 24-hour news here in the US. I couldn’t help but take notes: Parents park their baby carriages on the sidewalk as they abandon their infants for a few moments to step into a store to do some shopping. You can hear birds in the city center, which is nearly traffic-free. And when you do see a car, it’s usually electric (the best-selling car in Norway is the Tesla). A “congestion fee” keeps most cars from the center of town. And where traffic used to clog the harborfront, a tunnel takes cars under the city rather than through it.
Matching memories I have from my childhood visits, down at the harbor I notice a weatherbeaten sailor standing at the stern of his boat. He’s hoping to sell before sunset the last of the shrimp he caught before sunrise. Across the pedestrian boulevard,
the old yellow train station is now the Nobel Peace Center, which explains the vision of a man who dedicated the wealth he earned inventing dynamite to celebrate peacemakers. Nearby, the brick City Hall—where the prize is awarded—is decorated by statues glorifying noble workers as it towers high above the harbor action.
There’s a light mist. A sturdy harborfront boardwalk glistens as if happy to be the city’s dance floor. I stand at the edge of the scene and marvel at about a hundred Norwegians swing dancing to the tunes of a disc jockey under an umbrella—in what seems like a microcosm of a content society. It’s mostly American-style two-step to the recorded oldies...familiar tunes with unfamiliar Norwegian lyrics.
Every time I come to Norway, I’m fascinated by their experiment in big government. My friends here enjoy telling me why they don’t mind their high taxes. For example, everyone loves November. It’s “half tax month” as the government wants people to have some extra money
Nami is five-year-old has been at MCAS for nearly a month now and told us she thinks her person might walk in our doors at any moment. Let’s not disappoint this optimistic, bright-eyed beauty—help us keep her spirits up and announce that you’re ready to take her home!
for the upcoming holidays.
Coming out of the pandemic, the Nordic countries experienced a baby boom, even while birth rates fell in many other countries. Strong social safety nets in the Nordics, coupled with tax incentives for new babies, are likely key reasons. In Norway, parental leave is very generous. Families get up to 12 months leave at 80 percent pay. While the mom and dad can split the leave as they like, men are required to take at least a month of paid paternity leave when their baby arrives.
While I’m noticing more babies in Scandinavia, I’m also noticing much less smoke. I remember a time decades ago when tobacco smoke was a real problem for American travelers in Europe. Then, nearly 20 years ago, Italy and Ireland went smoke free...and so did Scandinavia. Today, much of Europe is as smoke-free as the US. In Norway’s bars, restaurants, cafés, and trains, it’s clean air for all. I visited one of Oslo’s infamous old “brown cafés”—so named for the smoke-stained interiors.
Of course, no one’s smoked inside here for ages. Nowadays, Norwegian restaurants and bars are routinely equipped with blankets so those who still smoke can do so outside--even in the cold season. To consume nicotine indoors, locals use snuff—snus in Norwegian. Men will notice that in urinals here, little used-up packs of chewing tobacco pile up where cigarette butts once did.
When the sun’s out, Oslo’s parks are packed—filled with the joy of families barbecuing on a disposable, charcoalheaped aluminum pan called an engangsgrill (one-time grill).”
American visitors will also notice a lot of nudity—primarily topless women and naked kids. Parents let their kids play naked in city parks and fountains, and it’s really no big deal.
Scandinavia has a casual approach to nudity. I’m not talking just mixed saunas (which are common throughout Europe). Many Americans are amazed at what runs on primetime TV. My friend tells me that Norway has mixed PE classes with boys and girls showering
Current Adoption Specials: “Ocala Gazette” regularly brings you three furry friends that are available for adoption from local animal rescue organizations.
It’s Clear the Shelters Month! To celebrate the nationwide campaign, we are waiving all adoption fees!
Xena has the heart of a princess and the paws of a warrior—no feather toy stands a chance against her. This five-month-old kitten may be shy at first, but playing is the way to her heart. This girl can keep you entertained for hours!
Visit MarionFL.org/Animal
together from the first grade on. In Norwegian hospitals, she tells me, women who need an X-ray, are casually sent from the doctor’s office down the hall past the waiting public to the X-ray room after they’ve stripped to the waist. “No one notices and no one cares,” she says. Scandinavians are quick to point out the irony that while much of America goes into a tizzy over a teacher who shows students a photo of Michelangelo’s naked David, it is America that statistically has the biggest problem with sex-related crimes. Travel makes it clear there are more ways than one to live your life. That’s one reason why I keep on travelin’.
(Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public TV and radio, and organizes European tours. This column revisits some of Rick’s favorite places over the past two decades. You can email Rick at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook.)
Boy Anyone a fan of smooth jazz or yacht rock? Six-year-old Pretty Boy is seeking a mellow home with laid back people. Not a fan of shelter life, this guy dreams of peaceful days, good music, and a place to call home.
Pretty
Nami
Aker Brygge, Oslo’s former shipyard, is today home to a mix of high-end condos, restaurants, and shopping. Oslo City Hall, with its twin towers, sits at the head of the harbor. [Cameron Hewitt, Rick Steves’ Europe]
government
AUGUST 19, 26
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 20
Marion County Board of County Commissioners
McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala 9am
The commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at marionfl.legistar.com/calendar.aspx
AUGUST 20
Ocala City Council
Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala 4pm The council meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Ocala government agendas and minutes are available at ocala.legistar.com/calendar.aspx
AUGUST 20
Belleview City Commission Belleview City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview 6pm Meets the first and third Tuesday of the month; agendas, minutes and video available at belleviewfl.org/200/agendas-minutes
community
AUGUST 22
United Way Community Celebration and Annual Meeting
Klein Center at College of Central Florida, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala
11:30am to 1pm United Way’s annual event to recognize the outstanding work of its supporters, volunteers, and community members and present awards. Guests can RSVP via email by contacting United Way at elovelace@uwmc.org
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 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 epcrehab.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
Come see keynote speakers, headlined by Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a former United States Representative, and other special guests from the Florida legislature. The club requests that guests wear white 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.
Mark your calendar
OCTOBER 5
Gentiva Ocala Metro India Fest
Ocala Citizens’ Circle, 151 SE Osceola Ave., Ocala
11:30am to 6pm
This is a free community-wide cross-cultural experience of India, brought to you by the Strategic Community Alliance, featuring a cultural celebration in Downtown Ocala, including a flash-dance mob at the downtown square, trivia competitions, a fashion show, Indian food and beverages, art on display, and activities for kids. This event is free to attend. For more information, visit scacommunities. org/events-news-and-activities
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,” 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. Free to attend. For more information, visit appletonmuseum.org/events/artist-talk-with-charlita-rae-whitehead
AUGUST 24
Michael Warren Photo Exhibit Reception
Friends of Silver Springs State Park Welcome Center, 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
2pm
Noted avian photographer Michael Warren has a gallery of his favorite bird photos on display through early September at the Friends of Silver Springs State Park Welcome Center inside the park. Many of the images have appeared in his weekly “Bird of the Week” feature for the “Ocala Gazette.” Entry to the park is $2 per person. Learn more at fb.com/thefriendsofsilverspringsstatepark
education
AUGUST 16
Senior Learners Kickoff Party College of Central Florida, 3001 SW College Road, Bldg. 20, Room 107, Ocala 1:30 to 3:30pm The event will include introductions to fall instructors and a description of their class offerings. Refreshments will be served to in-person guests. The kickoff also may be viewed on Zoom. To register for this free event, email info@seniorlearners.org
things to do arts
AUGUST 22
Adult Spelling Bee Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave., Ocala
7:30pm While the kids at the Scripps National Spelling Bee are sure to impress, come see if your friends can match the F-E-A-T at Ocala’s Adult Spelling Bee. This event benefits Artify Ocala and the Marion County Literacy Council. Admissions are free. Contestant registration is $25. Visit https://www.reillyartscenter.com/events/ adult-spelling-bee for more information.
AUGUST 23
Watkins Glen Summer Jam Anniversary Celebration
Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala
7:30pm Come see Steeln’ Peaches (Allman Brothers Band), Unlimited Devotion (Grateful Dead), and Harper Wynn (The Band) perform in this celebration concert. Commemorating the 51st anniversary of The Summer Jam at Watkins Glen, the 1973 concert was a world record holder for largest concert gathering with nearly 600,000 spectators in attendance. Tickets are on sale now at the Reilly Arts Box Office, or online at reillyartscenter.com/events/watkins-glen-summer-anniversary-celebration
AUGUST 31
Dueling Pianos in NOMA Black Box
Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala 6pm and 9pm Turn your Friday night into one of fun music and competition. Two musicians “battle” by playing a medley of soft rock and pop hits. Groups of up to 6 can be accommodated at tables in the NOMA Black Box theatre, with smaller parties having the opportunity to group up with new friends at their table. The late showing is “uncensored” and intended for adult audiences. Cocktails available for guests 21+. Tickets are on sale now at the Reilly Arts Box Office, or online at reillyartscenter.com/events/dueling-pianos
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SEPTEMBER 14-15
Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band: The Musical World of Disney Marion Technical Institute, 1614 Ft. 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 their Disney costumes and join the parade during the Mickey Mouse March. Doors open at 1:00 pm on Saturday and at 2:00 pm on Sunday. Featuring UNIQULELE, the opening act, performing 45 minutes prior to the concert. In partnership with Once Upon a Party, LLC. Event is free to the public. Visit kingdomofthesunband.org to learn more.
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.
permits are subject to review in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 403, Florida Statutes (F.S.) and Chapters 62-4, 62-210 and 62-212, F.A.C. The proposed project is not exempt from air permitting requirements and an air permit is required to perform the proposed work. The Permitting Authority responsible for making a permit determination for this project is the Permit Review Section in the Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Air Resource Management. The Permitting Authority’s physical address is: 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida. The Permitting Authority’s mailing address is: 2600 Blair Stone Road, MS #5505, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400. The Permitting Authority’s phone number is 850-717-9000.
Project File : A complete project file is available for public inspection during the normal business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (except legal holidays), at the address indicated above for the Permitting Authority. The complete project file includes the Draft Permit, the Technical Evaluation and Preliminary Determination, the application and information submitted by the applicant (exclusive of confidential records under Section 403.111, F.S.). Interested persons may contact the Permitting Authority’s project engineer for additional information at the address and phone number listed above. In addition, electronic copies of these documents are available on the following web site by entering the draft permit number: https://fldep.dep.state. fl.us/air/emission/apds/default.asp . Notice of Intent to Issue Air Permit : The Permitting Authority gives notice of its intent to issue an air construction permit to the applicant for the project described above. The applicant has provided reasonable assurance that operation of proposed equipment will not adversely impact air quality and that the project will comply with all applicable provisions of Chapters 62-4, 62-204, 62-210, 62-212, 62-296 and 62-297, F.A.C. The Permitting Authority will issue a Final Permit in accordance with the conditions of the proposed Draft Permit unless a timely petition for an administrative hearing is filed under Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S. or unless public comment received in accordance with this notice results in a different decision or a significant change of terms or conditions.
Comments : The Permitting Authority will accept written comments concerning the proposed Draft Permit for a period of 14 days from the date of publication of the Public Notice. Written comments must be received by the Permitting Authority by close of business (5:00 p.m.) on or before the end of this 14-day period to the above address and electronically to David Read at David.Read@FloridaDEP.gov . If written comments received result in
to the Draft Permit, the Permitting Authority shall revise the Draft Permit and require, if applicable, another Public Notice. All comments filed will be made available for public inspection. Petitions : A person whose substantial interests are affected by the proposed permitting decision may petition for an administrative hearing in accordance with Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S.
Petitions filed by any persons other than those entitled to written notice under Section 120.60(3), F.S., must be filed within 14 days of publication of the Public Notice or receipt of a written notice, whichever occurs first. Under Section 120.60(3), F.S., however, any person who asked the Permitting Authority for notice of agency action may file a petition within 14 days of receipt of that notice, regardless of the date of publication. A petitioner shall mail a copy of the petition to the applicant at the address indicated above, at the time of filing. A petition for administrative hearing must contain the information set forth below and must be filed (received) with the Agency Clerk in the Office of General Counsel, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, MS 35, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000, Agency_Clerk@dep.state. fl.us , before the deadline. The failure of any person to file a petition within the appropriate time period shall constitute a waiver of that person’s right to request an administrative determination (hearing) under Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S., or to intervene in this proceeding and participate as a party to it. Any subsequent intervention (in a proceeding initiated by another party) will be only at the approval of the presiding officer upon the filing of a motion in compliance with Rule 28-106.205, F.A.C.
A petition that disputes the material facts on which the Permitting Authority’s action is based must contain the following information: (a) The name and address of each agency affected and each agency’s file or identification number, if known; (b) The name, address, any email address, telephone number and any facsimile number of the petitioner; the name, address any email address, telephone number, and any facsimile number of the petitioner’s representative, if any, which shall be the address for service purposes during the course of the proceeding; and an explanation of how the petitioner’s substantial interests will be affected by the agency determination; (c) A statement of when and how each petitioner received notice of the agency action or proposed decision; (d) A statement of all disputed issues of material fact. If there are none, the petition must so state; (e) A concise statement of the ultimate facts alleged, including the specific facts the petitioner contends warrant reversal or modification of the agency’s proposed action; (f) A statement of the specific rules or statutes the petitioner contends require reversal or modification of the agency’s proposed action including an explanation of how the alleged facts relate to the specific rules or statutes; and, (g) A statement of the relief sought by the petitioner, stating precisely the action the petitioner wishes the agency to take with respect to the agency’s proposed action. A petition that does not dispute the material facts upon which the Permitting Authority’s action is based shall state that no such facts are in dispute and otherwise shall contain the same information as set forth above, as required by Rule 28-106.301, F.A.C.
Because the administrative hearing process is designed to formulate final agency action, the filing of a petition means that the Permitting Authority’s final action may be different from the position taken by it in this Public Notice of Intent to Issue Air Permit. Persons whose substantial interests will be affected by any such final decision of the Permitting Authority on the application have the right to petition to become a party to the proceeding, in accordance with the requirements set forth above.
Extension of Time : Under Rule 62110.106(4), F.A.C., a person whose substantial interests are affected by the Department’s action may also request an extension of time to file a petition for an administrative hearing. The Department may, for good cause shown, grant the request for an extension of time. Requests for extension of time must be filed with the Office of General Counsel of the Department at 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 35, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000, or via electronic correspondence at Agency_Clerk@dep. state.fl.us , before the deadline for filing a petition for an administrative hearing. A timely request for extension of time shall toll the running of the time period for filing a petition until the request is acted upon. Mediation : Mediation is not available in this proceeding.
Public Notice of Intent to Issue Air
Permit
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Air Resource Management,
Permit Review Section
Draft Air Permit No. 0830192-001-AC
Gaston Tree Debris Recycling, LLC, Ocala Yard Marion County, Florida
Applicant : The applicant for this project is Gaston Tree Debris Recycling, LLC. The applicant’s authorized representative and mailing address is: Mr. Camilo Fita, VP of Operations, Gaston Tree Debris Recycling, LLC, 4190 Northwest 93 rd Avenue, Gainesville, Florida 32653.
Facility Location : Gaston Tree Debris
Recycling, LLC proposes to construct a new mulching facility to be located in Marion County at 8510 Northwest Gainesville Road in Ocala, Florida.
Project : On July 2, 2024, the applicant submitted an application requesting an authorization to install a new air curtain incinerator (ACI) used to burn yard trash, clean wood, and land clearing debris, powered by a 74.5-horsepower diesel engine . Annual emissions from the project consist of: 64 tons of carbon monoxide, 28.3 tons of nitrogen oxides, 32.3 tons of particulate matter, 2.3 tons of sulfur dioxide, and 22 tons of volatile organic compounds. Emission increases are below thresholds; therefore, the project is not subject to a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) preconstruction review per Rule 62-212.400 of the Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.). Also, at these emission levels the facility is a minor source of air emissions.
Permitting Authority : Applications for air construction permits are subject to review in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 403, Florida Statutes (F.S.) and Chapters 62-4, 62-210 and 62-212, F.A.C.
The proposed project is not exempt from air permitting requirements and an air permit is required to perform the proposed work. The Permitting Authority responsible for making a permit determination for this project is the Permit Review Section in the Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Air Resource Management. The Permitting Authority’s physical address is: 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida. The Permitting Authority’s mailing address is: 2600 Blair Stone Road, MS #5505, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400. The Permitting Authority’s phone number is 850-717-9000.
Project File : A complete project file is available for public inspection during the normal business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (except legal holidays), at the address indicated above for the Permitting Authority. The complete project file includes the Draft Permit, the Technical Evaluation and Preliminary Determination, the application and information submitted by the applicant (exclusive of confidential records under Section 403.111, F.S.). Interested persons may contact the Permitting Authority’s project engineer for additional information at the address and phone number listed above. In addition, electronic copies of these documents are available on the following web site by entering the draft permit number: https://fldep.dep.state. fl.us/air/emission/apds/default.asp . Notice of Intent to Issue Air Permit :
The Permitting Authority gives notice of its intent to issue an air construction permit to the applicant for the project described above. The applicant has provided reasonable assurance that operation of proposed equipment will not adversely impact air quality and that the project will comply with all applicable provisions of Chapters 62-4, 62-204, 62-210, 62-212, 62-296 and 62-297, F.A.C. The Permitting Authority will issue a Final Permit in accordance with the conditions of the proposed Draft Permit unless a timely petition for an administrative hearing is filed under Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S. or unless public comment received in accordance with this notice results in a different decision or a significant change of terms or conditions.
Comments : The Permitting Authority will accept written comments concerning the proposed Draft Permit for a period of 14 days from the date of publication of the Public Notice. Written comments must be received by the Permitting Authority by close of business (5:00 p.m.) on or before the end of this 14-day period to the above address and electronically to David Read at David.Read@FloridaDEP.gov . If written comments received result in a significant change to the Draft Permit, the Permitting Authority shall revise the Draft Permit and require, if applicable, another Public Notice. All comments filed will be made available for public inspection.
be received by the Permitting Authority by close of business (5:00 p.m.) on or before the end of this 14-day period to the above address and electronically to David Read at David.Read@FloridaDEP.gov . If written comments received result in a significant change to the Draft Permit, the Permitting Authority shall revise the Draft Permit and require, if applicable, another Public Notice. All comments filed will be made available for public inspection. Petitions : A person whose substantial interests are affected by the proposed permitting decision may petition for an administrative hearing in accordance with Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S. Petitions filed by any persons other than those entitled to written notice under Section 120.60(3), F.S., must be filed within 14 days of publication of the Public Notice or receipt of a written notice, whichever occurs first. Under Section 120.60(3), F.S., however, any person who asked the Permitting Authority for notice of agency action may file a petition within 14 days of receipt of that notice, regardless of the date of publication. A petitioner shall mail a copy of the petition to the applicant at the address indicated above, at the time of filing. A petition for administrative hearing must contain the information set forth below and must be filed (received) with the Agency Clerk in the Office of General Counsel, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, MS 35, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000, Agency_Clerk@dep.state.
fl.us , before the deadline. The failure of any person to file a petition within the appropriate time period shall constitute a waiver of that person’s right to request an administrative determination (hearing) under Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S., or to intervene in this proceeding and participate as a party to it. Any subsequent intervention (in a proceeding initiated by another party) will be only at the approval of the presiding officer upon the filing of a motion in compliance with Rule 28-106.205, F.A.C. A petition that disputes the material facts on which the Permitting Authority’s action is based must contain the following information: (a) The name and address of each agency affected and each agency’s file or identification number, if known; (b) The name, address, any email address, telephone number and any facsimile number of the petitioner; the name, address any email address, telephone number, and any facsimile number of the petitioner’s representative, if any, which shall be the address for service purposes during the course of the proceeding; and an explanation of how the petitioner’s substantial interests will be affected by the agency determination; (c) A statement of when and how each petitioner received notice of the agency action or proposed decision; (d) A statement of all disputed issues of material fact. If there are none, the petition must so state; (e) A concise statement of the ultimate facts alleged, including the specific facts the petitioner contends warrant reversal or modification of the agency’s proposed action; (f) A statement of the specific rules or statutes the petitioner contends require reversal or modification of the agency’s proposed action including an explanation of how the alleged facts relate to the specific rules or statutes; and, (g) A statement of the relief sought by the petitioner, stating precisely the action the petitioner wishes the agency to take with respect to the agency’s proposed action. A petition that does not dispute the material facts upon which the Permitting Authority’s action is based shall state that no such facts are in dispute and otherwise shall contain the same information as set forth above, as required by Rule 28-106.301, F.A.C. Because the administrative hearing process is designed to formulate final agency action, the filing of a petition means that the Permitting Authority’s final action may be different from the position taken by it in this Public Notice of Intent to Issue Air Permit. Persons whose substantial interests will be affected by any such final decision of the Permitting Authority on the application have the right to petition to become a party to the proceeding, in accordance with the requirements set forth above.
Extension of Time : Under Rule 62110.106(4), F.A.C., a person whose substantial interests are affected by the Department’s action may also request an extension of time to file a petition for an administrative hearing. The Department may, for good cause shown, grant the request for an extension of time. Requests for extension of time must be filed with the Office of General Counsel of the Department at 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 35, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000, or via electronic correspondence at Agency_Clerk@dep. state.fl.us , before the deadline for filing a petition for an administrative hearing. A timely request for extension of time shall toll the running of the time period for filing a petition until the request is acted upon. Mediation : Mediation is not available in this proceeding. Public Notice
Petitions : A person whose substantial interests are affected by the proposed permitting decision may petition for an administrative hearing in accordance with Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S. Petitions filed by any persons other than those entitled to written notice under Section 120.60(3), F.S., must be filed within 14 days of publication of the Public Notice or receipt of a written notice, whichever occurs first. Under Section 120.60(3), F.S., however, any person who asked the Permitting Authority for notice of agency action may file a petition within 14 days of receipt of that notice, regardless of the date of publication. A petitioner shall mail a copy of the petition to the applicant at the address indicated above, at the time of filing. A petition for administrative hearing must contain the information set forth below and must be filed (received) with the Agency Clerk in the Office of General Counsel, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, MS 35, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000, Agency_Clerk@dep.state. fl.us , before the deadline. The failure of any person to file a petition within the appropriate time period shall constitute a waiver of that person’s right to request an administrative determination (hearing) under Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S., or to intervene in this proceeding and participate as a party to it. Any subsequent intervention (in a proceeding initiated by another party) will be only at the approval of the presiding officer upon the filing of a motion in compliance with Rule 28-106.205, F.A.C. A petition that disputes the material facts on which the Permitting Authority’s action is based must contain the following information: (a) The name and address of
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA. IN RE: THE ESTATE OF JOHN A. FARRELL, Deceased. CASE NO: 2024-CP-1906
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The name of the decedent, the designation of the court in which the administration of this estate is pending, and the file number are indicated above. The address of the court is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are indicated below. If you have been served with a copy of this notice and you have any claim or demand against the decedent’s estate, even if that claim is unmatured, contingent or unliquidated, you must file your claim with the court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF A DATE THAT IS 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS NOTICE. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with the court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. EVEN IF A CLAIM IS NOT BARRED BY THE LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE, ALL CLAIMS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN FILED
Public Notice
NOTICE OF SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the School Board of Marion County, Florida, will meet on August 27, 2024, at 5:30 p.m., at the School Board Administration Office, 1614 E. Ft. King Street, Ocala, Florida, 34471. An agenda will be published seven days prior to the meeting. The agenda may be obtained at the Administration Office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The agenda is also available from a link on the District’s website: www.marion. k12.fl.us.
Persons wishing to address the Board should register with the Chairman prior to 5:40 p.m.
Any person deciding to appeal any decision made by the Board at the meeting will need a record of the proceedings and, for such purpose, may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence on which the appeal is to be based.
and the personal representative’s attorney are indicated below. If you have been served with a copy of this notice and you have any claim or demand against the decedent’s estate, even if that claim is unmatured, contingent or unliquidated, you must file your claim with the court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF A DATE THAT IS 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS NOTICE. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with the court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. EVEN IF A CLAIM IS NOT BARRED BY THE LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE, ALL CLAIMS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN FILED WILL BE BARRED TWO YEARS AFTER DECEDENT’S DEATH. The date of death of the decedent is: June 27, 2024. The date of first publication of this Notice is August 9, 2024.
Attorney for Personal Representative: JOSHUA L. MOSES Richard & Moses, LLC Florida Bar No. 119304 808 E Fort King Street Ocala, FL 34471 (352) 369-1300 Primary Email: Josh@RMProbate.com
Personal Representative: JANET VERWELIUS 3572 Marlinspike Drive Tampa, FL 33607
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 August 9, 2024. Personal Representative: NICOLE BURTON
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 FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2024-CP- 1592 IN RE: ESTATE OF DAVID LEON FOWLER Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of DAVID LEON FOWLER, deceased, whose date of death was May 20, 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 August 9, 2024. Personal Representative: MARCIA K. LEONARD
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 FIFTH
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2024-CP-1924
IN RE: ESTATE OF ARTHUR GOLDSMITH
Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of ARTHUR GOLDSMITH, deceased, whose date of death was June 1, 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 August 16, 2024.
Personal Representative: VIRGINIA GOLDSMITH
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
Broom Hilda
Middletons
