County’s five-year plan will allocate over $16 million to alleviate homelessness, increase affordable housing
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
Marion County’s Five-Year Consolidated Plan is about to take effect in October; Here is a closer look at how the county plans to appropriate over $16 million toward housing development to serve the low-income community.
Through this federal funding, the county plans to develop and preserve affordable housing, prevent and end homelessness, stabilize communities, maintain and enhance public facilities and infrastructure, provide accessible public services, and enhance community development, according to the consolidates plan.
Since Marion County is considered
a federal entitlement community by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, every five years county staff must implement a plan to implement any federal programs that fund housing, community development and economic development. Community Services Director Cheryl Martin presented this rendition of the plan to in March, with a final approval from the County
Wear Gloves is expanding its Dignity House outreach
After renovations are completed in about a year, referrals of the most vulnerable persons in the area needing shelter will come from the Ocala/ Marion County Joint Office of Homelessness Prevention.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
Dignity House, an emergency intake center for unsheltered people, which was opened in March by the founders of the local nonprofit Wear Gloves, is
expanding from a three-bedroom house into a 13,000-square-foot building in southwest Ocala.
The expanded Dignity House will intake persons who were living unsheltered for a 30-day emergency stay.
Plans include offering future residents an 18-month “workforce readiness
training” program with in-house case management
People living unsheltered—such as in cars, under bridges and in camps— will be referred through a coordinated entry list administered by the Ocala/ Marion County Joint Office of Homelessness Prevention.
The building was the former site of domestic violence shelter. The renovations should be completed in about a year. Plans are to initially house 12 people a “non-congregational,” or one person per room, setting for about a year and eventually house up to 60 people.
The Dignity House is another initiative by Ken and Wendy Kebrdle, founders of Wear Gloves and the outreach’s Dignity Center work program and Dignity Roasters coffee shop and coffee sales in Ocala.
The Dignity House is aimed at transforming lives and restoring hope “through the power of housing,” according to a post on the organization’s website, which states, “Our initiative is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves a place to call home, where they can find stability, security, and a sense of belonging.”
“This won’t be a shelter with people
See Dignity, page A4
Ocala International receives FAA grant to pay for design of terminal rehabilitation
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
The Ocala International Airport is planning to rehabilitate the area surrounding the airport’s terminal, thanks to a grant that will provide funding from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Jim Taylor Field’s terminal will be getting much-needed improvements, with the rehabilitation of the apron surrounding the structure. The terminal apron is the area of the airport where aircraft park, refuel, and load cargo and passengers.
The existing apron’s condition has deteriorated and has “cracking, spalling and rutting,” according to the project scope. The 140,000 square-foot area will be load tested, then the asphalt will be milled to 5 to 7 inches deep and replaced with cement concrete during this phase of the project, according to the project scope.
Currently in the design phase, this portion of the project will cost $96,530, with $86,877 funded by the FAA and $9,653 funded by the airport’s reserve fund for contingencies.
The funding will allow engineers to evaluate the cracks on the ramp, estimate quantities for the bid schedule, perform surveys and investigations of load testing, develop concepts for rehabilitation of the apron, develop a plan, mill the surface of the existing pavement, and install
cement concrete pavement.
The city of Ocala will submit another grant application to receive funding from the FAA for construction of the project, which is anticipated to start in mid-2025.
The entirety of the project is anticipated to be finished by January of 2026.
Commission on Aug. 6.
“It outlines the needs analysis for Marion County, our housing market, and then outlines our strategic plan for the next five years and how we’re going to budget our Community Development Block Grant, our Home Investment Partnership funds and our Emergency Solutions grant,” Martin said.
County approves higher payout for firefighters with cancer
Union continues support of legal fight for ‘wrongfully denied’ case
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
Current and former Marion County firefighters who have been diagnosed with cancer will now be eligible for benefits, regardless of their enrollment in the county-sponsored health plan.
While the move overturns two outstanding claims from firefighters of wrongful denial of benefits, retired firefighter Phillip Shinn continues to pursue legal action against the county for the denial of his cancer benefits after his 2016 retirement.
Cancer benefits for firefighters are secured by Florida State Statute, enacted in 2019, to compensate firefighters with a one-time payment of $25,000 and for their out-of-pocket medical costs.
To receive these benefits, the current or retired firefighter must have been employed for at least five years and be on the employer’s health plan.
The county’s recent move expands benefits past the state requirements, allowing firefighters to receive this benefit whether or not they are on the Marion County-sponsored health plan, as long as they meet all of the other requirements.
“Through the continued support of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners and the Professional Firefighters of Marion County, our health, wellness and safety programs are a model for other departments in the state of Florida to emulate,” said Marion County Fire Rescue Chief James Banta.
Regardless of this, Shinn, supported by the PFFMC union, has not received these benefits after his diagnosis of multiple myeloma, a form of leukemia.
Shinn served as a firefighter in Marion
File photo: Planes are shown on the tarmac in the general aviation area at Ocala International Airport
Ken and Wendy Kebrdle, the founders of Wear Gloves, talk about their planned Dignity House for homeless people as they give a tour of the facility on South Pine Avenue in Ocala on Thursday, August 22, 2024.
[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Former Marion County firefighter Phillip Shinn filed a lawsuit against Marion County after being denied health benefits related to cancer. [Professional Firefighters of Marion County]
Expanding firefighter cancer benefits
Continued from page A1 County for 22 years, starting in 1994. After retiring from Marion County Fire Rescue in February 2016, Shinn was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in August 2022. Although Shinn had been retired from the department and aged out of its health insurance, he meets all the requirements for health benefits as a retired firefighter suffering from cancer.
While multiple myeloma is a rare form of cancer affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans per year,
firefighters are at a 53% increased risk of developing multiple myeloma due to exposure from carcinogens, according to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.
A summary judgment hearing for Shinn’s case will be held at 3 p.m. on Oct. 28 before Circuit Judge Gary Sanders. The case was previously heard by Circuit Judge Steven Rodgers, who recused himself from the case in April.
The expansion of firefighter cancer benefits in Marion County overturned two other outstanding claims by the union of wrongful
Five-year plan
Continued from page A1
The plan will be enacted on Oct. 1, 2024, and last until Sept. 30, 2029.
Marion County receives HUD funds each year, including from the Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership Program and from the Emergency Solution Grant (ESG).
“All of these funds must serve a low- to moderate-income population, and we are expected to receive approximately $16,222,814 over the next five years through the combination of those three grant sources,” Martin said.
The city of Ocala collaborates with Marion County in a Consortium to secure HOME funds, with Marion County taking the lead. Meanwhile, the city independently receives CDBG funds as an Entitlement City, according to the county.
The funds include about $10.9 million for CDBG projects, to help develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable environment to live in, and additional opportunities for low- and moderate-income people.
HOME funding of about $5.3 million can be used by the county to develop and rehabilitate rental housing and homeownership that
is affordable and accessible for low- and moderate-income people.
ESG funds of about $913,380 will support outreach for homeless people and families.
With these funds, the county aims to increase the availability of affordable housing, reduce discriminatory housing barriers, increase the amount of housing for people with special needs and transition homeless people and families into housing, according to the plan.
The median contract rent in Marion County is currently $885 higher than the national fair market rent of $617 for one-bedroom apartments and larger.
“This compares to an area median rent of $1,043 for a onebedroom apartment. This means that a household receiving a tenantbased rental subsidy cannot afford most homes within Marion County,” according to the plan.
To ease this strain, HOME funds will allow the Consortium to “to acquire, construct, and renovate affordable rental housing for county residents,” by 2029.
“In addition, Marion County has a new domestic violence provider as of January 2024 called CASA Marion. The county is working to
denial of benefits for two firefighters with cancer who were previously denied benefits. They will now receive the cash payout and compensation for their out-of-pocket medical costs.
“This new policy reflects our deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by our firefighters and their families,” said Commission Chair Michelle Stone. “By providing this additional benefit, we hope to offer assistance to those affected by cancer and show our commitment to their health and well-being.”
“The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.”
- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black in New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)
Publisher Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
acquire an identified permanent location within the next year,” according to the plan.
In the previous five-year plan, many community programs were supported by these revenues, such as Kut Different Inc., Marion County Veterans Helping Veterans Inc. and Habitat for Humanity. The county also acquired five manufactured homes to make them available for low-income buyers.
For the 2019-2023 plan, the county received funding through the same three grants, for a total of about $14,484,510.
The existing homeless shelters in Marion County include the Center of Hope of the Salvation Army, Interfaith Emergency Services and Arnette House. Three transitional housing programs exist for single mothers: Shepherd’s Lighthouse, Hands of Mercy Everywhere and Project Hope.
With 192 people moving to Marion County each week, this level of growth has been sustained for over a year and is expected to continue. Between now and 2029, the county hopes to apply its consolidated plan to alleviate the shortage of affordable housing that has resulted from this influx of new residents seen each week.
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Timothy McCourt invested as circuit judge
“I will be even handed,” said the former general counsel for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and former assistant state attorney.
By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
Hundreds of people gathered at the Marion County Judicial Center for the investiture of Judge Timothy McCourt on Aug 23.
The investiture came eight months after McCourt first took the seat appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis following the retirement of former Circuit Judge Larry Metz, who attended the ceremony along with at least 20 other sitting or retired judges from across the Fifth Judicial Circuit.
Chaplain Vernon Phillips opened the ceremony with a prayer for McCourt’s judgeship akin to what King Solomon prayed for, “an understanding mind,” so McCourt would be able to “discern between good and evil.”
Prior to appointment to the judicial bench, McCourt had served as the general counsel for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office since 2019 and was the most recent president of the Marion County Bar Association prior to appointment. Before his time at the
sheriff’s office, McCourt served as an assistant state attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit for 10 years, and about four years in private civil practice.
Robert Davis, as current chair of the Marion County Bar Association, ceremonially presented the judge’s robe to McCourt.
Sheriff Billy Woods spoke at the investiture and thanked McCourt for his service to that agency and acknowledged with humor that it wasn’t an easy position.
“There are probably two sheriffs in this state that attorneys sweat the most for, and that is myself and Grady Judd. They sweat the most because they never know what in the world is going to come out of our mouths or what we are going to do on any scene,” Woods said to the crowd.
Quoting the Bible book of Micah, Woods encouraged McCourt to seek justice, seek mercy, and maintain humility.
State Attorney Bill Gladson spoke of McCourt’s “connection to law enforcement” as a state prosecutor led him to work for Woods as general counsel. Gladson said McCourt also
had a “connection to victims,” which gave him the ability to undertake sensitively prosecuting sex crimes during his time at the SAO office.
Retired County Judge John F. Futch administered the oath of office to McCourt.
Seventeen years earlier, Futch had administered McCourt’s admission to the Florida Bar and was recognized as a mentor of McCourt’s during his early years as a prosecutor. Futch said early on he recognized McCourt as “extraordinary lawyer” and was pleased to see him enter this next chapter.
McCourt thanked his family members who had traveled to the investiture and gave a special thanks to his parents, thanking them for always encouraging him to “do my best.” McCourt promised the crowd to be “even handed” in his decisions and “take care” with the docket he was assigned.
Following the ceremony, McCourt invited his guests to the jury assembly room for tacos with accompaniments from LaHacienda Restaurant & Supermarket.
Sister of Susan Lorincz charged with child neglect
Officials claim she failed to provide food, supervision and medication to son.
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
The sister of Susan Lorincz, the Ocala woman convicted of manslaughter earlier this month in the shooting death of her neighbor Ajike “AJ” Owens, was charged with child neglect after law enforcement documented several incidents spanning nearly a year.
Ellyn Lorincz, 56, was arrested on Aug. 23 after Ocala Police Department investigators observed a pattern of neglect toward her 9-year-old son including multiple incidents from October 2023 until the present. OPD investigators noted a failure to provide the child with food, supervision, medication, and a clean home, according to the arrest report. No other adults or children are mentioned to have lived in the home with the woman and child.
Susan Lorincz was found guilty of manslaughter with a firearm on Aug. 16
for the killing of Owens. A jury found that Lorincz’ actions were not justified by selfdefense after she shot Owens through her locked front door. She is expected to be sentenced by November and faces up to 30 years in prison.
Ellyn Lorincz, who attended her sister’s trial, now must defend herself in court over claims that she neglected her son.
The following are reports of her interactions with law enforcement in recent months:
On Oct. 23, 2023, OPD responded to Lorincz’ home in an east Ocala apartment complex and found the child inside the home unattended. Lorincz told officers that she was upset because the child frequently kept her up through the night. The responding officer reported cat feces, roaches, food and medications left out and in reach of the child.
On Feb. 22, 2024, OPD encountered Lorincz at Spin City Laundry while responding to reports that she was intoxicated. The child was with her. Lorincz
told officers that she had taken pain medication, felt frustrated with the child’s behavior and that the pair walked a mile to the laundromat shortly before midnight.
On Feb. 28 at her home, Ellyn Lorincz told officers that she had not given the child his necessary medication.
On April 24, officers again responded to the home and Lorincz told them she wished to give up her parental rights.
On May 5, a neighbor told officers that the child had been locked outside of the home for hours. The child advised that he had not been fed since breakfast and did not attend school that day. Officers reported the same unclean conditions within the home.
On Aug. 14, officers responded to the home in reference to the child hitting his mother with a bike helmet. Lorincz called her son a number of derogatory and profane names when speaking with officers and asked them to “take him to jail or Baker Act him so she did not have to deal with him,” according to the report.
At this time, she was advised by the Florida Department of Children and Families that she had a legal responsibility to supervise her son. Officers reported similar dirty conditions within the house and were told that the child slept on the floor of his mother’s room.
On Aug. 20, officers reported to the home in response to the child running in and out of the house, and neighbors claimed he had been getting into altercations with other children and damaging property while left unsupervised for four hours. Lorincz said she had not given the child his medicine, and officers again reported cat feces, roaches and medications around the home, according to the report.
Lorincz was then arrested and released the same day after paying a $1,000 bond.
She made her first appearance in court on Aug. 24 before Circuit Judge Robert Hodges, the same judge who presided over her sister’s manslaughter trial. On Aug. 26, Lorincz entered a written plea of not guilty.
Judge John Futch (retired) administers oath to Judge Timothy McCourt on Aug. 23, 2024. [Ocala Gazette]
Dignity House plans
Continued from page A1
standing around outside,” Ken Kebrdle, said of Dignity House.
The couple opened the original Dignity House five months ago to accommodate three homeless women after they learned of their plights, such as living in their cars or on the street.
“Dignity House will help folks find jobs and receive training if they are interested,” stated Wendy Kebrdle, CEO of Wear Gloves.
Residents who are involved in the workforce training program will be prepared to seek work with any employer, including the Wear Gloves Dignity Center.
The Dignity Center outreach has provided workforce readiness for longer term unemployed people, job skills, certification for jobs and outsourced work for clients such as Trinity Surfaces flooring and ClosetMaid. The outreach also has a contract with the city of Ocala for a litter cleanup crew.
According to Marion County Board of County Commissioners meeting documents provided by Marion County Public Relations Manager Stacie Causey, Wear Gloves applied to the county’s Community
Services office for funds to purchase the building and make renovations.
The 13,000-square-foot single-story building which, county records state, was built in 1973. It was formerly the Ocala Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Center operated by Creative Services, Inc., an Ocala-based not-for-profit that closed its doors and stopped services in late July 2023. The building was purchased by Wear Gloves with $635,000 in HUD funds approved by the Marion County Board of County Commissioners on July 16. An additional $400,000 was approved for ongoing renovations and Wear Gloves will provide $258,750 towards the project, according to a county document.
The HUD monies were received by the county under the Home Investment Partnership Program - American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) funds through the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development and were provided to complete the Dignity House project because “there is continued need for emergency shelter, supportive housing and access to basic wraparound service,” according to a county document.
The county set a primary Community Development goal in 2018 with a five-year
Man faces charges related to shots fired at Ocala pub
Security staff members were escorting the 35-year-old off of the premises when, the arrest document notes, he allegedly produced a handgun and fired shots.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
A35-year-old Ocala man who faces multiple weapon and assault charges was also injured in an incident at O’ Malley’s Alley Irish Pub the evening of Aug. 22.
Juan Francisco de Jesus Tejada-Castillo was arrested at 11:19 p.m. after he allegedly fired multiple shots from a 9mm handgun during a melee in an outside area in the rear of the pub, in which about 30 patrons where located, according to an Ocala Police Department arrest affidavit.
Tejada-Castillo was arrested at the pub, which is located at 24 S. Magnolia Ave.
The affidavit states Tejada-Castillo was asked to leave by members of the pub’s security staff and a confrontation ensued.
Security staff members were escorting Tejada-Castillo off the premises when he allegedly produced a handgun and fired, according to one witness, up to four shots while being escorted and up to four
additional shots as security staff members and patrons wrestled the firearm away from Tejada-Castillo on the ground, the affidavit states.
consolidated plan “for funding through HUD, and in furtherance of the national objective, to develop viable communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income, and/or presumed benefit,” according to the document.
The Kebrdles came to the Ocala area in 2002 from northeast Ohio and, following a calling, they traveled for a time helping others and then established Wear Gloves here in 2009.
In 2023, Wear Gloves had 376 people employed, $836,073 in income and volunteers with the organization donated 6,893 hours to help clients, the website states.
Over the years, thousands of clients in the program work have been served with “dignity rather than dependency,” according to the website.
The referrals from the Ocala/ Marion County Joint Office of Homelessness Prevention come from a coordinated entry list of the most vulnerable persons in the area needing shelter.
City of Ocala Public Information Officer Gregory Davis stated in an email that “referrals for housing assistance are
made based on the vulnerability score and the length of time the client is homeless.”
“Currently, we have nine families and 27 individuals on the coordinated entry list. Each client on the list meets the criteria of being literally homeless. HUD uses the term ‘literally homeless’ to describe a person or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence,” he wrote.
Melissa Abney will serve as manager of the relocated and expanded Dignity House. Abney, a former homeless heroin and methamphetamine addict, has overcome her addiction and has been reunited with family members. She can help residents through her experiences.
Abney found self-worth and her path out of homelessness through the Wear Gloves Dignity Center program she joined about three and a half years ago during her journey toward sobriety, according to the Wear Gloves website.
“Without Dignity House I’d be dead,” said Abney, 46.
To learn more about Wear Gloves and its various programs, go to weargloves.org
A video referenced in the affidavit reportedly shows Tejada-Castillo grab a woman by the wrist and then he is asked to leave by security. The video shows a group involved the melee and the sound of three shots as the group proceeds to a stage area and the sounds of another shot when the group is at the stage.
A witness stated that Tejada-Castillo pointed the handgun at his face but the witness “grabbed the slide” of the firearm, the affidavit indicates.
Tejada-Castillo was transported to a local hospital on “trauma alert” level with injuries caused either by the shots he fired or during the melee with security staff and patrons.
The affidavit indicates Tejada-Castillo was “unconscious” when police arrived at the pub and was unconscious at the hospital and could not be interviewed
by investigators at that time.
TejadaCastillo was charged with firing “deadly missiles” in the bar area, five counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, armed trespass and improper exhibition of a firearm and was being held without bond.
George Carrasco, owner of O’Malley’s Alley, said in a phone interview that the shooting was the first episode of its type since the pub opened in 1997.
“We started using a magnetic wand (at the entrance for gun detection) the day after the incident,” he said.
Carrasco said he felt “truly blessed” because of the “heroic and fast actions of his staff and patrons,” which, he said, led to the shooter being subdued and unarmed before someone other than the shooter, who authorities said suffered a broken nose, was injured.
FIGHT AT WEST PORT HIGH LEAVES PRINCIPAL INJURED, STUDENT ARRESTED
physical arrests if they fail to comply with the conditions they agreed to, wrote Marion County Public Schools spokesperson Kevin Christian.
“Unfortunately, the principal was caught in the middle of the fight and was injured. She was treated and released from a local hospital,” Christian said.
Several deans were also involved in breaking up the fight, according to the citations.
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
An ongoing rivalry between students at West Port High School escalated into violence on Monday, causing the principal to sustain injuries, one student to be arrested and four students to receive citations.
Five female students, who have not been identified, were involved in a fight at about 1:05 p.m. at the Marion County high school. The school’s principal, Ginger Cruze, was injured while attempting to intervene.
“Ocala PD school resource officers at West Port High School responded to a fight on campus, leading to five female students being charged with disorderly conduct, with one additionally being charged with battery on a school official,” wrote OPD spokesperson Jeffrey Walczak.
For the four students who were issued civil citations, those citations may turn into
The fifth student was physically arrested and charged with felony battery on a school official and was taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice facility in Marion County, Christian said.
Another fight between the students had preciously occurred on Aug. 12, according to the citation.
Any actions that are of a nature to corrupt the public morals, that outrage the sense of public decency, that affect the peace and quiet of persons who may witness them, or actions of brawling or fighting are constituted as a breach of the peace or disorderly conduct, according to the citation.
“We want to make it clear that we will not tolerate such behavior within our schools. The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority, and we will continue to work with school officials and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to maintain a safe learning environment for all,” Walczak said.
Left to right: A floor plan is shown posted on a wall in the Wear Gloves planned Dignity House for homeless people at the facility on South Pine Avenue in Ocala on Thursday, August 22, 2024. The outside of the Wear Gloves planned Dignity House. A bedroom with some furniture in the Wear Gloves planned Dignity House. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
National Night Out returns to Ocala
The annual event, aimed at connecting neighborhoods and building relationships with law enforcement, hasn’t been held locally in a number of years.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
For the first time in about 10 years, a National Night Out celebration was held in Ocala. The event, sponsored by the Ocala Police Department and several private and governmental organizations, was aimed at connecting neighbors and building relationships with law enforcement toward a goal of “safer and more caring” neighborhoods.
The annual nationwide community campaign was started in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watches and 110 cities in Florida alone participated this year, according to the association’s website. The Ocala celebration was held at Lillian F. Bryant Park at 2200 NW 17th Place.
Tara Woods, OPD’s Community Liaison and Community Policing Bureau Coordinator, was pleased with the turnout, which saw the park’s parking lot filled up and overflow cars parked at the adjacent Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place in spite of thunderstorms in the area. Woods said the event has not been held in Ocala since about 2014.
OPD Chief Michael Balken and several officers joined the celebration, which featured guest speakers, food, dancing and information booths from various community resources, including the College of Central Florida, the Active Marion Project, OPD and Ocala Fire Rescue.
Ashley Lopez, public information officer with OFR, said their booth provided community members with
information about free smoke alarms and how to register, for example, a special needs person living at a particular address who would need extra assistance in the event of an emergency at that address.
Balken said the event was about neighbors and law enforcement meeting and that he had chatted with two young men who, under other circumstances, might have shied away.
“We want people in the community to run to us, not away from us,” Balken said.
Balken said if the event protects “one person” it is worthwhile.
“This is a great coming together for the community and OPD,” said Jason Dowdy, 43, who lives near the park.
Latoya Garrepp, who also lives in the area, said she has raised three adult children, now in their 20s, and has young grandchildren and felt that the Night Out event was a “good way” to bring the community closer.
Diana McDowell, Annabeth Giron, and her daughter, Luna, 5, were enjoying the music while Luna had ice cream.
“This is exciting, interactive and well needed,” McDowell said.
OPD officer Patrick Uronu participated in a few of the group line dances. He said the event was to show that law enforcement is “part of the community” and to “bridge the gap” with people.
Uronu said the Night Out event let kids know that officers are “like any person” when not fighting crime in uniform.
OPD Deputy Chief Louis Biondi said the turnout was good and that he expects the annual event will “gain momentum.”
Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano also was on hand for the event.
Kimberly Wilkerson of War Cry 4 Peace, an anti-gun violence and victim advocacy group in Ocala, told attendees the night was focused on “unification” of the community to build relationships and reduce crime and gun violence. She narrated as four members of community joined her on the stage and held a different color square that they joined together in symbolic unification.
Monique Weeks of War Cry for Peace, Chicara James of the Estella Byrd Whitman Clinic, Jeremy Vickers of the Marion County Children’s Alliance and Jamel Browning, with Walmart, provided the visual representation.
Javier Rabadan held his daughter, Ari, 2, as they walked around the venue. He said the event was “awesome.”
Darren Park, director of the city of Ocala Public Works, was accompanied by a group of the department’s employees as they cooked up hamburgers and hot dogs. Mission BBQ also served food.
Trey Robinson with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department said he works at Lillian F. Bryant Park and that, being likely the youngest employee, the youth related to him.
Mary Howard, who lives in the vicinity, said she was taking an evening walk when she passed the park entrance and decided to go in.
“Fantastic,” Howard said about the event.
To learn more about National Night Out, go to natw.org
Kimberly Wilkerson of the anti-gun violence and victim advocacy group War Cry 4 Peace speaks as group member Monique Weeks, Chicara James of the Estella Byrd Whitman Clinic, Jeremy Vickers of the Marion County Children’s Alliance and Jamel Browning, with Walmart, provide a visual representation during the National Night Out event to unite the community with law enforcement to promote safer and friendlier neighborhoods on Aug. 27 in Ocala. [Andy Fillmore]
An Ocala Police Department officer participates in a line dance with attendees at the National Night Out event at Lillian F. Bryant Park on Aug. 27. [Andy Fillmore]
Drummers keep a steady beat at the National Night Out campaign to unite the community with law enforcement to promote safer and friendlier neighborhoods. The event was held at the city’s Lillian F. Bryant Park on Aug. 27. [Andy Fillmore]
Members of the Ocala Public Works Department cook hamburgers and hot dogs at the National Night Out event in Ocala. [Andy Fillmore]
By Jim Turner Florida News Service
Trying to quell a bipartisan uproar, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that “half-baked” plans to bring golf courses, resortstyle lodges and pickleball courts to state parks will be revamped.
DeSantis said the Department of Environmental Protection will gather more public input before it could move forward with what is dubbed the “Great Outdoors Initiative.”
“Here’s the thing, I’d rather not spend any money on this, right?” DeSantis said during an appearance at the Polk
County Sheriff’s Office Operations Center in Winter Haven. “I mean, if people don’t want improvements, then don’t do it. And so, that’ll be something that citizens could be able to do.”
DeSantis added that he didn’t expect plans to advance this year from the department.
“They’re going to go back and basically listen to folks,” DeSantis said. “A lot of that stuff was just halfbaked, and it was not ready for prime time when it was.”
Critics of the initiative were pleased, but cautious, about DeSantis’ statements.
Friends of the Everglades put out a news release saying, “Our state parks are safe --- for now.”
“We won’t rest easy until the so-called Great Outdoors Initiative is completely dead,” said Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades.
Vote Water, also among the environmental groups leading the charge against the proposal, said that, while the proposal hasn’t been completely halted, DeSantis “blinked.”
The uproar started after the department this month issued a news release announcing the initiative and later used social-media posts to briefly outline plans for nine parks. Perhaps the biggest
target of opponents was a proposal to add three golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County.
DeSantis on Wednesday contended that plans were “leaked” to create a “narrative.”
“It was not approved by me,” DeSantis said. “I never saw that.”
The Department of Environmental Protection’s news release about the plans was titled, “DEP Announces 2024-25 Great Outdoors Initiative to Increase Public Access, Recreation and Lodging at Florida State Parks.”
“Today’s announcement reinforces the DeSantis Administration’s record support for conserving our natural landscapes and commitment to ensuring every Floridian can visit and recreate at Florida’s state parks,” the news release, dated Aug. 19, said.
A series of meetings had been planned this week across the state. But they were postponed Friday after opposition grew quickly from environmental groups, residents and Democratic and Republican lawmakers.
State lawmakers in 2011 also briefly targeted Jonathan Dickinson State Park for a golf course before a similar uproar scuttled legislation.
Tuskegee Dunes Foundation, a littleknown organization linked to the new Jonathan Dickinson golf proposal, announced over the weekend it was pulling its plans as “we did not understand the local community landscape and appreciate the clarity.”
The foundation, registered as a corporation in Delaware, lists an Oklahoma address shared with the nonprofit veterans group Folds of Honor.
DeSantis met with Folds of Honor
founder and CEO Dan Rooney on August 10 and said Wednesday the group could still consider rehabilitating an existing “rundown or abandoned” golf course in the region as a way to help military members and first responders.
DeSantis also defended the golf course proposal at Jonathan Dickinson, saying it was being “misrepresented” as taking away unsoiled land from the 11,500-acre park, which was once a military base.
“There were almost 1,000 buildings on that base back in the day. There’s still some of the remnants of it,” DeSantis said.
The Jonathan Dickinson land was used for secret radar training during World War II. Called Camp Murphy, the facility was closed in 1944, turned over to the state in 1947 and became a state park in 1950. Few aspects of the camp remain visible to park visitors.
Also drawing heavy bipartisan criticism were proposals to construct lodges with up to 350 rooms at Anastasia State Park in St. Johns County and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Walton County. The Topsail Hill plans also included four pickleball courts and a disc golf course in an “underutilized” area.
Additional cabins, pickleball courts or disc golf were also proposed for Oleta River State Park in Miami-Dade County, Honeymoon Island State Park in Pinellas County, Camp Helen State Park in Bay County, Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park in Broward County, Grayton Beach State Park in Walton County and Hillsborough River State Park in Hillsborough County.
It’s hurricane season. Are you Ready? State DeSantis says park plans need another look
Opponents rallied Tuesday in Tallahassee against a plan to put golf courses, lodges and pickleball courts in state parks. [Jim Turner]
Judge backs abortion clinic license
By Jim Saunders Florida News Service
An administrative law judge Wednesday ruled that Florida should approve a license for a Pensacola abortion clinic, after regulators last year rejected the application because of what they alleged were problems at a now-closed clinic in Louisiana.
Judge Yolonda Green issued a 40page recommended order siding with July Medical Services, LLC, which challenged a decision by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration to deny the license.
July Medical Services, which does business as Hope Medical of Pensacola, submitted an application in March 2023 to operate a clinic that would provide abortions and other services, such as ultrasounds, contraception and counseling.
But the Agency for Health Care Administration denied the application after obtaining information from Louisiana officials about the similarly named June Medical Services, LLC, a Shreveport, La., clinic that closed in 2022 and has ties to July Medical Services. The agency cited a “pattern of deficient performance” at the Louisiana clinic in its decision about the Pensacola license, according to Green’s ruling.
The judge, however, concluded that “AHCA failed to demonstrate that any ‘pattern of deficient performance’ on the part of June Medical, a separate entity, should be attributed to July Medical. Therefore, the license should be issued.”
“The operation history of June Medical raises some concerns about their compliance with state regulations,” Green wrote. “It also raises concern about the safety of patients. However, based on the evidence of record, there was no threat or actual harm to patients. All the deficiencies proven were corrected. Based on the foregoing, the competent substantial evidence establishes that June Medical’s Louisiana deficiencies did not establish a pattern of deficient performance.”
Green added that the Florida agency “argued that denial of July Medical’s application for an abortion clinic would be to protect the general health, safety, and physical and emotional well-being for patients. Yet AHCA disregarded there was no harm to any (Louisiana) patient’s well-being and the state of Louisiana renewed June Medical’s license each year that it was licensed.”
The ruling does not assure that a Florida license will be issued. Under administrative law, the recommended order will go back to AHCA for final action.
But it comes as Florida voters prepare to decide in November whether to pass a ballot measure that seeks to enshrine abortion rights in the state Constitution. It also comes nearly four months after a state law took effect preventing abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
The ruling said July Medical Services is owned by Michael Rothrock, whose late mother, Robin Rothrock, founded the Louisiana clinic about 1980 and operated it until she died in 2010. Ownership of the clinic went to Robin Rothrock’s estate, with her son becoming executor in 2011.
Green’s ruling said that July Medical Services’ administrator, Kathaleen Pittman, served as administrator of the Louisiana clinic.
The Florida agency initially approved a license for the Pensacola clinic but later said the approval was in error because a required site inspection had not been completed, Green wrote. The inspection was conducted in May 2023 without any deficiencies found.
But the agency issued an initial notice of intent to deny the license application in July 2023 and a revised notice in September. That came after Kim Smoak, a deputy secretary of the agency, reached out to the Louisiana Department of Health for information about June Medical, according to Green’s ruling.
The Louisiana agency provided documents about deficiencies and alleged deficiencies at the Shreveport clinic from 2004 to 2021, the ruling said.
Green said Louisiana citations against the clinic “consisted of lack of documentation in personnel files, lack of board meeting minutes, and inadequate documentation to verify physician’s orders failed to demonstrate diligence. Most of these violations were nonrepeated offenses.”
She also cited an incident in which the clinic did not report to authorities that a 14-year-old patient had been impregnated by a 17-year-old, a crime in Louisiana. But Green said that “incident alone is not sufficient to establish a pattern of deficient performance.”
In addition, Green wrote that Michael Rothrock was not the owner of the Shreveport clinic and did not operate it.
“Even if there were evidence to support Mr. Rothrock being responsible for June Medical’s performance, he clearly was not responsible for performance during the period from 2004 through 2011, which was before he became executor of the Robin Rothrock estate,” Green wrote. “Executors are fiduciaries who are responsible for carrying out the deceased person’s final wishes, and acting in the best interests of the beneficiaries.”
VISIT FLORIDA TO SEEK FUNDING BOOST
By Florida News Service
After receiving $80 million in this year’s budget, Florida’s tourismmarketing agency plans to ask for an increase in state funding during the 2025 legislative session.
“We did quite well this year with $80 million, but we’re going to continue to push for that $100 million mark,” Carol Dover, chairwoman of Visit Florida’s Public Affairs Committee, said during a Visit Florida meeting Wednesday at the Tampa Convention Center.
Dover is also president and CEO of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging
Association, “We know the governor supports that (funding),” Dover added. “We’re going to hope that we can get the House and Senate to step behind that as well.”
Heading into the 2024 session, DeSantis proposed providing $105 million to Visit Florida. The $80 million ultimately approved by lawmakers was the same as in the budget for the previous 2023-2024 fiscal year.
The agency, which requires matching money from the private sector, received $50 million from the state for the 2021-2022 fiscal year and an additional $30 million through federal stimulus programs tied to the COVID-19 pandemic.
State funding held at $50 million in the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Visit Florida reported 140.6 million visitors to the state in 2023, up 2.3 percent from the previous year and 7.3 percent more than in 2019, the year before the start of the pandemic.
For the first six months of 2024, the state had an estimated 74.8 million visitors, a 1.4 percent increase from the first half of 2023. Next year’s legislative session will start March 4.
Feds fire back in gun sales lawsuit
By Jim Saunders Florida News Service
The Biden administration this week urged a U.S. district judge to toss out a Florida lawsuit challenging a new federal rule that requires more gun sellers to be licensed and run background checks on buyers, disputing state arguments about lost tax revenue from gun shows.
U.S. Department of Justice attorneys filed a 27-page motion Monday seeking dismissal of the lawsuit, which Florida filed in May and revised this month. The rule, which the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives finalized in April, is an outgrowth of a 2022 federal law, known as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, that made changes to the longstanding background-check system.
Florida contends that the rule violates another federal law, the Administrative Procedure Act.
In the revised lawsuit, the state argued, in part, that the rule has led to lower attendance at gun shows—resulting in reduced tax revenue from purchases of
admission tickets.
But the Justice Department attorneys blasted the argument in this week’s motion to dismiss, saying the state did not “provide a basis for inferring a causal link between the rule and the myriad decisions about whether to attend certain gun shows made by individuals whose conduct in no way implicates the rule.”
“Indeed, there are plenty of reasons why Floridians might elect not to attend a particular gun show—e.g., a general increase in firearms prices, changes in purchasing preferences, poor advertising or show management, bad weather, et cetera,” the motion said. “And Florida’s complaint wholly fails to plausibly establish that the rule was instead the cause of the … decline in gun show attendance that the state alleges.”
But the revised lawsuit, filed Aug. 12 by Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office, said the state’s “asserted injury—lost tax revenue—is clear and ongoing.”
“Ordinarily, gun shows in Florida during the summer months of June, July and August enjoy high attendance rates—
often hosting thousands of people at a single show,” the lawsuit said. “But since the challenged rule went into effect on May 20, attendance at these summer gun shows across the state has decreased precipitously. In some parts of Florida, total attendance at such shows have dropped by as much as 50 percent, costing the state revenue from the 6 percent sales tax it would have earned on each admission ticket.”
The gun-show issue is important, at least in part, because Florida is trying to use lost tax revenue to establish legal standing in the case. Essentially, Florida contends the rule is causing it to suffer damages. Standing is an initial hurdle that plaintiffs must clear, and the Justice Department argues the lawsuit should be dismissed because Florida doesn’t have standing to challenge the rule
When the rule was finalized, the Biden administration said the changes were designed to close “loopholes” in the system that requires licensed gun dealers to run background checks. An overview posted on the White House website said “a growing
Court allows trans treatment restrictions
By Jim Saunders Florida News Service
Afederal appeals court has at least temporarily allowed Florida to move forward with restrictions on treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender people.
A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday issued a stay of a ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle that blocked the restrictions. The stay effectively means the restrictions can take effect while the appeals court considers an underlying appeal of Hinkle’s decision.
Hinkle in June issued an injunction against the restrictions, finding, in part, that they were motivated by “animus” toward transgender people and violated equal-protection rights.
But in a 2-1 decision, the appeals-court panel said Hinkle likely misapplied a legal presumption that the Legislature “acted in good faith” when it passed the restrictions in 2023.
The law prevented minors from beginning to receive puberty blockers and hormone therapy for treatment of gender dysphoria. Also, it allowed only physicians—not nurse practitioners—to approve hormone therapy for adults and barred the use of telehealth for new prescriptions. Opponents argued that the restrictions severely reduced access to hormone therapy for adults.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration has long disputed arguments about the effectiveness of gender-dysphoria treatments, particularly for minors. The appeals-court majority said Florida would suffer harm if it could not enforce the restrictions.
“As to harm to others, even with the law in effect, physicians may continue to prescribe and administer puberty blockers and hormones to adults,” said the majority opinion shared by Judges Britt Grant and Robert Luck. “And minors who were already receiving them may continue to do so.”
But Judge Charles Wilson dissented, saying he would “not find that the district court misapplied the law nor abused its discretion.”
“On balance, evidence in the record demonstrates that the plaintiffs and class members would suffer if the stay were granted—withholding access to gender-affirming care would cause needless suffering,” Wilson wrote. “In contrast, denying the stay would support a ruling grounded in the public interest. This matter is a medical issue, where patients are best left to make decisions alongside health professionals, with access to complete, unbiased information, as needed.”
The Republican-controlled Legislature passed the restrictions as Florida and other GOP-led states in recent years have approved numerous laws and regulations focused on transgender people. One of the highest-profile issues has been restricting use of
puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors with gender dysphoria.
The federal government defines gender dysphoria clinically as “significant distress that a person may feel when sex or gender assigned at birth is not the same as their identity.”
Attorneys for a transgender man and parents of trans children filed the class-action lawsuit challenging the Florida restrictions. In a 101-page ruling, Hinkle wrote that “gender identity is real” and likened opposition to transgender people to racism and misogyny.
“The state of Florida can regulate as needed but cannot flatly deny transgender individuals safe and effective medical treatment—treatment with medications routinely provided to others with the state’s full approval so long as the purpose is not to support the patient’s transgender identity,” he wrote.
Florida appealed and sought a stay of Hinkle’s injunction “as soon as practicable.”
“The state suffers irreparable harm because its laws have been enjoined,” the motion for a stay said. “And the state and its citizens face the prospect of risky, possible ineffective, and certainly life-altering treatments being administered.”
A coalition of organizations representing the plaintiffs issued a statement Monday night saying it was “deeply disappointed” in the appeals court’s decision to grant the stay.
“Allowing these discriminatory restrictions to go back into effect will deny transgender adults and adolescents life-saving care, and prevent Florida parents from making medical decisions that are right for their children. As the district court found based on voluminous evidence, the record shows that these extraordinary restrictions were based on disapproval of transgender people and serve no purpose other than to harm transgender Floridians,” said the statement issued by GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the National Center for Lesbian Rights Southern Legal Counsel and the firm Lowenstein Sandler LLP.
The stay was the Atlanta-based appeals court’s second ruling in less than a week that sided with Florida in a transgender-related issue. A panel of the court on Thursday blocked a new federal rule about sex-based discrimination in education programs while a legal battle continues to play out.
The panel granted a request from Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and other plaintiffs for an injunction against the rule, which deals with Title IX, a landmark 1972 law that bars discrimination in education programs based on sex. The rule has drawn opposition from Republicanled states across the country, largely because it would extend Title IX regulations to apply to discrimination based on gender identity.
number of unlicensed sellers continue to sell firearms for profit to complete strangers they meet at gun shows and online marketplaces, which has been a critical gap in the background check laws.”
In part, the rule changed a definition of being “engaged in the business” as a firearms dealer who needs to be licensed, according to court documents filed by Justice Department attorneys. The revised definition applies to a “person who devotes time, attention, and labor to dealing in firearms as a regular course of trade or business to predominantly earn a profit through the repetitive purchase and resale of firearms. The term shall not include a person who makes occasional sales, exchanges, or purchases of firearms for the enhancement of a personal collection or for a hobby, or who sells all or part of the person’s personal collection of firearms.”
Justice Department attorneys argued in this week’s motion that the definition closely tracks the 2022 law. But in alleging violations of the federal
Administrative Procedure Act, the state contended that the “Biden Administration now seeks to exploit the minor changes to federal law enacted in the BSCA (Bipartisan Safer Communities Act) to implement President Biden’s preferred policies by executive fiat.”
While a majority of states rely on the FBI to conduct background checks, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement handles checks in Florida. In the lawsuit, the state argued that the rule would force the FDLE to conduct more background checks, requiring more resources.
But in the motion to dismiss, Justice Department attorneys called that a “self-inflicted harm.” It said “any harms Florida suffers from conducting background checks result from its voluntary decision to perform services that the federal government is otherwise willing to perform (and does perform for the majority of states) for free.”
The lawsuit, filed in Tampa, is assigned to U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell.
Minutes matter when you or a loved one has an illness, injury, chest pain or symptoms of a stroke. With three locations in Marion County, the emergency experts at AdventHealth are nearby to provide the care you need to help you feel whole.
People, Places & Things
Local nonprofit is poised to take research “worldwide”
Arts in Health Ocala
Metro has released the results of a study that explored how its programming affects quality of life, confidence and physical and social engagement.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
Asmall gathering of people at the elegant historic home that is the headquarters of the Arts in Health Ocala Metro nonprofit heard some big news on Monday morning about a months-long study into the arts as a tool for healing.
The mission of AiHOM is to use things such as visual art, dance and music to serve local populations that include youth, veterans, individuals with special needs, those with Parkinson’s and dementia, and others. The clientele currently ranges in age from 2 years to 85 years.
On Monday, the organization’s executive director, Patricia Tomlinson, and researcher Cassandra “Cassie” Belden, revealed the results of the study, which can be accessed on the website at aihocala.org
In October, Tomlinson will present the findings at the 1st International Meeting of Arts Prescribing Healthcare in Thessaloniki, Greece, while Belden will make a presentation during the National Organization for Arts in Health conference in Houston, Texas.
“We’re going to divide and conquer,” Belden said. “We’re taking the research worldwide.”
The four primary groups involved in the research, according to the study, were Kut Different, which serves Black boys; Dare 2B Great, serving young at-risk women; The Arc Marion, which serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and the AdventHealth Pediatric Rehabilitation Center.
The announcement about the session on Monday noted the, “key findings reveal that arts engagement dramatically enhances quality of life, confidence, and social and physical activity. These results are especially significant for veterans, trauma survivors, seniors with dementia, people with disabilities, healthcare workers, caregivers, children, adolescents, and entire communities.”
Among those in attendance at the event was Lisa Irwin, founder of the LILAC (Lisa Irwin Legacy for Arts & Culture) Foundation. Arts in Health Ocala Metro began as an initiative of the foundation in partnership with the University of Florida Arts in Medicine Program. Also on hand was artist Christopher Hershberger, who works with clients at The Arc Marion.
Tomlinson opened the event by saying, “We have always gathered data from every art interaction we have had. We are a nonprofit that uses art to facilitate health and well-being. We have visual artists, musicians, literary and dancers, and we are very excited to utilize all of the power of art in our interactions.”
She showed copies of a survey tool called the “beach ball.”
“When we gather data, we use this to talk about whether they fit in, whether they are worried, proud, nervous—various well-being and self-esteem questions. When we are not able to survey the participants, for example, if they are very young children, we have a survey
we can give staff and, if applicable, parents, talking about whether we are making a difference, whether the people are looking forward to it, various things like that. In addition, our artists all keep notes from every interaction. One of the main questions we wanted to ask in this research was, ‘Are our art interactions making a difference in well-being, selfesteem and mental health?’ We found out they do, and we’re very excited about that.”
Belden, who is from Buffalo, New York, said she has “always been an artist of some sort; ceramics, photography, mainly oil paintings, and has always been interested in how the arts have the ability to heal. She moved to Florida two years ago in search of a graduate program in art therapy and during an internship at The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, someone told her about a program at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
“I was looking into the UF Center for Arts and Medicine graduate program and I saw that I could be taught tactical stills like research and evaluation that would help advance the field alongside my own personal practice. I dove into that program and this year I’ve had the opportunity to use what I learned and do this evaluation for AiHOM,” she noted.
Belden, who also currently is a National Research and Impact Associate with One Nation One Project and an outreach assistant at the Tampa Museum of Art, explained to the group about the mixed methodology of taking qualitative information and distilling it into quantitative data for the AiHOM study.
“The point of the research is in the title of my position, which is Community Engaged Research and Evaluation. The biggest thing is, we want to retell the story of the community. We want those voices to shine through. I came into this field as an artist and understand its power to connect and to heal and to raise feelings of resiliency and self-esteem,” she said.
“We came up with different surveys, such as with our partnered staff at The Arc Marion and AdventHealth Pediatric Rehabilitation Center. These are observation tools where they who work closely with the participants get to share with us their reflections on what they view with the artists. We also had focus groups, and I heard the most beautiful stories come out of these. It had me in tears every time. I heard about people who are really isolated, or experience really low mobility, dancing, reaching for things, little kids reaching for paint or walking towards music. Just the most beautiful reflections of what the arts can do for people experiencing adverse effects to health,” she added.
She said the research primarily focused on well-being and quality of life and “all the components that go hand-in-hand with that, like confidence and self-esteem and the ways in which participants socially engaged with not only each other, but with staff, and the way those engagements strengthened the connections they have.”
“One of the things we honed in on was the amazing quality that AiHOM delivers—its ability to have these people
be physically engaged. It’s not just mental components, but physical components and building skills and fine motor abilities. It’s phenomenal. Look at the report and some of the qualities highlighted in it. And let’s give a round of applause for the artists because without their dedication and talent and inclusivity and their tailored expertise at adapting every single experience to every single participant, none of this would have been possible,” Belden offered.
Tomlinson also noted that the research will be used as a “toolkit” for others.
“As a young nonprofit in the arts and health movement, which is really gaining traction throughout the U.S., we are in a wonderful position to start creating things for other organizations that may want to emulate what we are doing. Cassie is working on a toolkit so others can benefit from what we’ve learned and maybe any mistakes we’ve made so they can go forward with their own research and add to the body of incredible research that we’re getting,” Tomlinson shared.
“It’s so much more than the art making, it’s everything that comes from the belief in yourself to create and to advance and take initiative in your life,” Belden noted. “We have people from 2 years old to 85 years old being served. That is so invaluable to this community, for the artists who work here to tailor all of that knowledge and experiences to all of these who range not only in age but in ability and everyone is feeling satisfied by this art engagement. And we discovered things that went beyond what we sought to discover. We found a remarkable set of firsts that happen when you include the arts in community and healthcare spaces. People observing things from their participants, their loved ones, that they had never seen them do before because of the arts. Like never seen them say that before, never seen them dance, never seen them create something like that before, and that furthers the connection and the extent to which participants are excelling. People are getting to spread their wings … that’s so beautiful.”
“I can’t believe there is a nonprofit out there that does this. We are so grateful to them to come in and give their expertise, whether it be painting or music. Many of our clients probably didn’t know they had these abilities in them. We just did a show together called Hear Us Roar at the Ocala Civic Theatre and it was amazing … something our clients probably would never have had the opportunity to do without Arts in Health and Arc collaborating together,” said Rhonda Kincaid, community engagement coordinator for The ARC Marion.
Kincaid said Hershberger comes to The Arc every Friday and spends the day with clients.
“He is so talented, and he brings that out of our clients. They’ll spend the whole day with him in art class and it’s kind of like Bob Ross, one stroke at a time. At the end of the day, they have a painting. Quite a few of them went to Hear Us Roar and were sold and we also put them on our website for sale and we have the Art Giving project, explaining what we do with AiHOM and I go out to different businesses all over Ocala and Marion County so we can get the word out there and share these beautiful paintings,” Kincaid noted.
“The clients who take these classes
have come a long, long way in the past year and a half. It’s nothing for them to get up and sing karaoke. It also helps them deal with their behaviors as well,” she shared.
When asked if she sees the program continuing, she said with a laugh, “The arts are so under-funded in Marion County. I hope this program never goes away because I’ll have to start singing to them again.”
Hershberger said he became involved with AiHOM at the behest of Irwin, who approached him with the idea of Arts in Health in the early stages of forming the organization.
“And I was immediately on board. This unique endeavor provided a way for me to give back in a meaningful way with my skills and talents,” he said.
He met with Kincaid and toured the Arc facility and met with some of the people he would be working with.
“It was a perfect fit. They were excited to have an artist, and I was glad to be of service. As time went on, we tried all sorts of activities, from origami to painting. Ultimately it has primarily been painting; it is what the clients are motivated for and love. Our typical workshop starts with an open discussion where we collectively come up with ideas for the day, sometimes merging multiple ideas or lining up themes for the next couple of weeks. And then we get to work,” he said.
“It has been a true pleasure to watch as some of the clients have become so proficient they help others during the workshops or explore their own ideas. Which comes to our favorite phrase at Arc Marion: ‘There is no wrong way to art.’ The arts have truly touched all of us in profound ways. From the clients and their families to the staff and myself. We’ve all been moved by what the arts can do,” he added.
Tomlinson said AiHOM currently is serving a total of 17 nonprofits in Marion County and has thus far conducted more than 600 workshops.
When asked if the research aspect might continue, Tomlinson said, “This is just the beginning.”
And, she added, “Art heals and science proves it.”
To learn more about AiHOM and read the complete research results, go to aihocala.org
Artwork made by clients at The Arc of Marion. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Patricia Tomlinson, the executive director of Arts in Health Ocala Metro, left, and Cassandra “Cassie” Belden, the community engaged research and evalutive specialist from the UF research team, right, at Arts in Health Ocala Metro on Northeast 8th Avenue in Ocala on Monday, August 26, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Lisa Irwin, the founder of Arts in Health Ocala Metro, left, and Patricia Tomlinson, the executive director, right, look over artwork made by clients at The Arc of Marion before a press conference held to reveal a revolutionary study that shows the power of arts to heal at Arts in Health Ocala Metro on Northeast 8th Avenue in Ocala on Monday, August 26, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Marion County’s Boys & Girls Club Celebrates Annual Fundraiser
Hundreds attended the Aug. 23 Boys and Girls Club of Marion County annual luncheon fundraiser with the theme “Faces of the future.”
Following lunch and a motivational speech by Randy Fox, the club’s CEO and Executive Director, April Savarese, unveiled a special wall in the club’s game room of the Dr. HL Harrell Youth Center honoring the generosity of Frank DeLuca of Deluca Toyota.
Since 2016, DeLuca Toyota has provided $130,000 in financial support to the Boys & Girls Club of Marion County.
What is an Atlantic Niña? How La Niña’s smaller cousin could affect hurricane season
By
Annalisa Bracco, Professor of Ocean and Climate Dynamics, Georgia Institute of Technology and Zachary Handlos, Atmospheric Science Educator, Georgia Institute of Technology
The North Atlantic Ocean has been running a fever for months, with surface temperatures at or near record highs. But cooling along the equator in both the Atlantic and eastern Pacific may finally be starting to bring some relief, particularly for vulnerable coral reef ecosystems.
This cooling comes from two climate phenomena with similar names: La Niña, which forms in the tropical Pacific, and the less well-known Atlantic Niña.
Both can affect the Atlantic hurricane season. While La Niña tends to bring conditions ideal for Atlantic hurricanes, the less powerful Atlantic Niña has the potential to reduce some of the hurricane risk.
We’re ocean and atmospheric scientists who study this type of climate phenomenon. It’s rare to see both Niñas at the same time, yet in August 2024, both appeared to be developing. Let’s take a closer look at what that means.
La Niña and its cousin, Atlantic Niña
La Niña is part of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, a well-known climate phenomenon that has widespread effects on climate and weather around the world.
During La Niña, sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific dip below normal. Easterly trade winds then strengthen, allowing more cool water to well up along the equator off South America. That cooling affects the atmosphere in ways that reverberate across the planet. Some areas become stormier and others drier during La Niña, and the wind shear that can tear apart Atlantic hurricanes tends to weaken.
La Niña and its warmer opposite, El Niño, oscillate every three to four years or so.
A similar climate phenomenon, Atlantic Niña, occurs in the Atlantic Ocean but at a much smaller scale and amplitude. It typically peaks around July or August and tends to have a shorter duration than its Pacific cousin, and much more modest and local impacts. Atlantic Niñas generally have the opposite effect of Atlantic Niños, which tend to reduce rainfall over Africa’s Sahel region and increase rainfall in Brazil and the countries that surround the Gulf of Guinea, such as Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon. While much weaker than their Pacific counterpart, Atlantic Niñas can, however, partially counteract La Niñas by weakening summer winds that help drive the upwelling that cools the eastern Pacific.
Why are both happening now?
In July and August 2024, meteorologists noted cooling that
appeared to be the development of an Atlantic Niña along the equator. The winds at the ocean surface had been weak through most of the summer, and sea surface temperatures there were quite warm until early June, so signs of an Atlantic Niña emerging were a surprise.
At the same time, waters along the equator in the eastern Pacific were also cooling, with La Niña conditions expected there by October or November.
Getting a Pacific-Atlantic Niña combination is rare but not impossible. It’s like finding two different pendulums that are weakly coupled to swing in opposite directions moving together in time. The combinations of La Niña and Atlantic Niño, or El Niño and Atlantic Niña are more common.
Good news or bad for hurricane season?
An Atlantic Niña may initially suggest good news for those living in hurricane-prone areas.
Cooler than average waters off the coast of Africa can suppress the formation of African easterly waves. These are clusters of thunderstorm activity that can form into tropical disturbances and eventually tropical storms or hurricanes.
Tropical storms draw energy from the process of evaporating water associated with warm sea surface temperatures. So, cooling in the tropical Atlantic could weaken this process. That would leave less energy for the thunderstorms, which would reduce the probability of a tropical cyclone forming.
However, NOAA takes all factors into account when it updates its Atlantic hurricane season outlook, released in early August, and it still anticipates an extremely active 2024 season. Tropical storm season typically peaks in early to mid-September.
Two reasons are behind the busy forecast: The near recordbreaking warm sea surface temperatures in much of the North Atlantic can strengthen hurricanes. And the expected development of a La Niña in the Pacific tends to weaken wind shear – the change in wind speed with height that can tear apart hurricanes. La Niña’s much stronger effects can override any impacts associated with the Atlantic Niña.
Exacerbating the problem: Global warming
The past two years have seen exceptionally high ocean temperatures in the Atlantic and around much of the world’s oceans. The two Niñas are likely to contribute some cooling relief for certain regions, but it may not last long.
In addition to these cycles, the global warming trend caused by rising greenhouse gas emissions is raising the baseline temperatures and can fuel major hurricanes.
Lauren Deiorio, Frank and Angela DeLuca and Kristen Dreyer, left to right, pose together during the Boys and Girls Club of Marion County “Faces of the Future” luncheon at the Boys and Girls Club of Marion County in Ocala on Friday, August 23, 2024. A special wall was revealed during a CEP ribbon cutting - the presentation was held at the Boys and Girls Club game room of the Dr. HL Harrell Youth Center where Frank DeLuca donated $10,000 to the Boys and Girls Club. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Top to bottom: April Savarese, Angie Stokes and Jackie Troughton, left to right, pose together during the Boys and Girls Club of Marion County “Faces of the Future” luncheon at the Boys and Girls Club of Marion County in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, August 23, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024. The $10,000 check donation presentation. [Photos courtesy of Kaplan Media]
IHMC evening lecture series resumes
Research scientist Zachary Graham
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
The Institute for Human and Machine Cognition in Ocala is kicking off its newest round of evening lectures on Sept. 12 with a discussion by research scientist Dr. Zachary Graham about the health of the muscle and nervous system. Additional lectures are slated for Oct. 10, Nov. 6 and Dec. 10.
Graham received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from Ohio State University in 2007 and his master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in 2010 and 2014, respectively. He completed his postdoctoral training in muscle physiology from 2014-2018 at the National Center for the Medical Consequences of Spinal Cord Injury at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in the Bronx, New York, after which he joined the Birmingham VA Health Care System. He joined IHMC, which is headquartered in Pensacola, in 2021.
Graham was born in Delaware, Ohio, a college town about 30 minutes north of Columbus.
“I grew up mostly in the rural farmlands outside of Delaware. My primary interests were playing and watching sports. For watching, it was mostly Ohio State football but I was also a big fan of the Cincinnati Reds/Bengals. I played baseball and wrestled. As I got into high school, music became more interesting once I discovered Jimmy Page. Then I got into the major British hard rock bands of the time like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath,” Graham shared.
As a young sports and exercise enthusiast, he said that during his undergraduate work he had planned to become a high school physical education teacher but then life took a turn.
“I was double majoring in Spanish as well, but I was really starting to get
into art and modernism, primarily literature. During my fourth year at Ohio State, I studied abroad in Granada, Spain. Modernism and Granada strongly revolve around Federico Garcia Lorca and, when returning from Spain, I had a major interest in doing graduate work focusing on the literature leading up to the Spanish Civil War, largely influenced by Garcia Lorca’s drama and theatre works,” he shared.
“But as all things go, my phys ed program required a class that was only offered when I was abroad, which meant I was delayed 1.5 years for graduation. So, I graduated with only my Spanish degree and waited to see if I was accepted into Ohio State’s master’s program. My time in phys ed exposed me to a kinesiology class that heavily focused on exercise physiology and that class was one of the most interesting I took in college,” he explained.
He said that while he was abroad, he made a friend who worked in the building that housed the exercise physiology program at the University of Kansas.
“At the time, KU allowed you to get your teaching credentials while getting your master’s degree so I thought this would be a good way to accelerate getting my phys ed degree. I applied to the program and, to this day, I’m not quite sure why Phil Gallagher, who ultimately became my master’s and Ph.D. advisor, accepted me. His lab was my first exposure to research, and exercise and muscle physiology at the molecular level. So, I would say my time in Phil’s lab was what embarked me on my current path. But this path was greatly reinforced by my postdoctoral mentor, Chris Cardozo. The path has led from human-based research to solely animal-based research and now I’m at the place I want to be … trying to build a program where I can do both,” Graham elaborated.
In addition to his work as a research scientist at IHMC, Graham also is a
health science research specialist at the Birmingham VA Health Care System.
“I am very interested in how exercise can be implemented to improve the health and quality of life of individuals across disease states and the lifespan. Our group uses multiomic profiling to find novel molecular mechanisms and phenotypes that help guide individualized exercise prescriptions or more precise rehabilitation strategies. Spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease and aging are a few of my main research interests,” he notes in his bio on the IHMC website. “I also maintain an active pre-clinical line of research focused on muscle biology following spinal cord injury, predominantly focused on the role of connexin hemichannels in accelerating muscle dysfunction. Our collaborative team of talented interdisciplinary scientists is spread across many labs throughout the country, and we are always looking to extend collaborations.”
Graham said he was recruited to IHMC by Marcas Bamman, the current Healthspan, Resilience and Performance Director.
“I did all my work in his lab. When he left UAB to come lead this program at IHMC, I stayed in Birmingham but was interested in what IHMC was developing. When I was first offered the opportunity to come down, I originally turned it down to stay in Birmingham. But then I continued to see how it was growing and what it was turning into, I made sure not to turn it down a second time,” Graham shared.
Graham offered this synopsis of his upcoming lecture in Ocala: “The health
obviously a major factor in how well you can function during the normal day. When something happens that disrupts this relationship, such as trauma to the spinal cord or a degenerative condition like Parkinson’s disease, it causes major impact of health and quality of life. My talk will discuss some of the difficulties of treating these types of severe and chronic neural injuries and disorders.”
The lecture will take place at the IHMC campus at 15 SE Osceola Ave. and the evening will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m.
To learn more and RSVP, go to ihmc.us/life/evening_lectures/ocalalecture-series
Zachary Graham [Photo courtesy IHMC]
By Michael Warren
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.
government
SEPTEMBER 3, 17
Marion County Board of County Commissioners
McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala
9am
The commission meets in the morning of the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at marionfl.legistar.com/calendar.aspx
SEPTEMBER 3, 17
Ocala City Council
Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala
4pm
The council meets each first and third Tuesday of the month. Ocala government agendas and minutes are available at ocala.legistar.com/calendar.aspx
SEPTEMBER 3, 17
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
SEPTEMBER 9, 16, 23, 30
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. See marion.fl.legistar.com/calendar.aspx for agenda and minutes.
SEPTEMBER 11
Dunnellon City Council Meeting
Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 River Dr., Dunnellon 5:30pm
Dunnellon agendas, minutes and video are available at dunnellon.org/government/agendas-minutes
community
SEPTEMBER 16
Stearns Speaker Series: “Election 2024: Generational Change in Florida” College of Central Florida, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala
12:30pm to 1:30pm
The College of Central Florida Stearns Speaker Series returns with a discussion headlined by Susan MacManus examining the delicate balance of voting power between younger and older generations. Examples of trends in certain key areas among younger voters might be able to predict larger shifts in voting over time. MacManus is a retired distinguished professor of political science at the University of South Florida, with a Ph.D. from Florida State University. To register, visit cf.edu/event/stearns-speaker-series-election-2024-generational-change-in-florida
SEPTEMBER 17-18
Give4Marion
Online and in-person
10am on Tue. to 7pm Wed.
This nonprofit fundraiser benefits more than 100 Marion County organizations, serving all communities in areas of need. Nonprofits receive 100% of funds. Donations can be made online at give4marion.org or in-person at various special events held by the Community Foundation for Ocala/ Marion County. Visit ocalafoundation.org or give4marion.org for more information, or email Community Foundation Director of Strategic Engagement Ashley Gerds at ashley@ocalafoundation.org
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
SEPTEMBER 5 - 22
“Cinderella” at
Ocala
Showtimes
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of the tale in the musical by Rodgers & Hammerstein. Tickets are $35 for adults/$17 for ages 18 and under and can be purchased online or at the OCT Box Office. Visit bit.ly/oct_cinderella for more information.
SEPTEMBER 6
First Friday Art Walk
Ocala Downtown Square 6 to 9 PM
Visit the Downtown Square on the first Friday of each month to see emerging local artists and musicians, as well as a variety of free art activities and shopping at vendor booths. September kicks off the lineup of 2024-25 art walks, running through May of next year. Visit ocalafl.gov/artwalk for more information.
SEPTEMBER 7
Free First Saturday
Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
All day
Photographer Theresa Segal will present a tour of her new solo exhibition “Common Thread,” on display this month. Tours will be from 11 to noon, and from 2 to 3pm, in the Balcony Gallery for Florida Artists. Learn more at appletonmuseum.org
SEPTEMBER 21
Pints and Prints
Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
5:30 to 7:30pm
Guests 21+ will be able to sample adult beverages, learn more about printmaking and take home their own block print, gel print and dry point etches. This seminar will feature E. Marie Fielding and Vanessa Zumba-Gonzalez. ID required. For pricing and tickets, visit appletonmuseum.org/events/pints-and-prints
things to do arts
SEPTEMBER 6
The Boss Project: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen
Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 8th St., Ocala
7:30pm
Come see this tribute to “The Boss” Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Called “as close as you can get to the real deal,” The Boss Project has spent more than a decade performing Springsteen’s greatest hits. For information and for tickets, visit reillyartscenter.com/events/the-boss-project-a-tribute-to-brucespringsteen
SEPTEMBER 13
Sit Down for Stand-up
Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave., Ocala
7:30pm
This will be an oft-kilter, uncensored, adults only hour-and-a-half of comedy. The theme is “big.” It is headlined by Nik Macik and features Caroline Post, and is hosted by Big Joe Murray. Tickets are $15. For more information, visit reillyartscenter.com/events/sit-down-for-stand-up-sep
SEPTEMBER 14-15
Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band: The Musical World of Disney
Marion Technical Institute, 1614 Fort King St., Ocala
2pm on Sat., 3pm on Sun.
This is a family-friendly concert performance of Disney classics. Children are encouraged to wear Disney costumes and join the parade during the “Mickey Mouse March.” Featuring UNIQULELE, the opening act, performing 45 minutes prior to each concert. In partnership with Once Upon a Party, LLC. The event is free to attend. Visit kingdomofthesunband.org to learn more.
Mark your calendar
OCTOBER 3
Silent Disco at the NOMA Black Box NOMA Black Box Theatre, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala 7 to 10pm Dance to the beat of your own headphones. This event benefits Arts in Health Ocala Metro and the
Foundation. Dance in a glow in the
setup with shirt graffiti and facepainting, all to the tune of hits from the ‘70s to today. For more information, visit reillyartscenter.com/events/silent-disco
OCTOBER 11-13
27th Annual Jeeptober Fest
Florida Horse Park, 11851 SW 16th Ave., Ocala
File photo: Ken DeMoliner describes his acrylics of Marjorie Kinan Rawlings Cross Creek and Orange Lake that were on display and for sale during the First Friday Art Walk in downtown Ocala on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
File photo: People dance together in the Bollywood Dance Along during the Gentiva Ocala Diwali Celebration at Citizens’ Circle in Ocala on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA THE FAIRWAYS AT SILVER SPRINGS SHORES CONDOMINIUM NO. 5, INC., A FLORIDA NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION, Plaintiff, VS. WILLIAM E. JEFFERSON, AS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF PHILIP MORRISON, MEGAN E. CARDWELL, AS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF JANE FOX, ELLEN CARDWELL, PETER MORRISON, STACY YANKELEVITZ, AND SAMANTHA MORRISON, Defendant(s). CASE NO.: 2023-CA-3470
NOTICE OF ACTION-CONSTRUCTIVE SERVICE TO: ELLEN CARDWELL AKA THE ESTATE OF ELLEN CARDWELL AKA THE UNKNOWN SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, CREDITORS, OR OTHER PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, UNDER, OR AGAINST ELLEN CARDWELL; PETER MORRISON AKA THE ESTATE OF PETER MORRISON AKA THE UNKNOWN SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, CREDITORS, OR OTHER PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, UNDER, OR AGAINST PETER MORRISON; AND TO ALL PARTIES CLAIMING TO HAVE ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN THE REAL PROPERTY HEREIN DESCRIBED, TO WIT: YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to enforce a lien (aka lien foreclosure) on the following property in Marion County, Florida: Building 3, Unit 205-D, THE FAIRWAYS AT SILVER SPRINGS SHORES CONDOMINIUMS NO. 5, together with an undivided interest in the common elements, according to the Declaration of the Condominium filed March 8, 1978 and recorded in the Official Records Books 870, Pages 0435 through 0510, as amended from time to time, Public Records of Marion County, Florida. Marion County Property Appraiser Parcel ID No.: 90495-03-205. Physical Address: 763 Midway drive, Unit B, Ocala, Florida 34472. has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Bradford J. Tropello, Esq., of Judicious Law, P.A., the plaintiff's attorney, whose address is P.O. Box 369, Ocala, Florida 34478, within 30 days after first publication of this notice, and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on the plaintiff's attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the Amended Complaint. WITNESS my hand and seal of this Court this 23RD day of AUGUST, 2024.
GREGORY C. HARRELL As Clerk of the Court By: Deputy Clerk
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and cor-
rect copy of this pleading was furnished via US First Class Mail on this 23rd day of August 2024, to: Megan E. Cardwell, as Personal Representative of Jane Fox, 27 Ash Hill Road, Carmel, Maine 04419; Stacy Yankelevitz, 2804 Snow Goose Lane, Lake Mary, Florida 32746; Samantha Morrison, 2880 Tulane Avenue, Long Beach, California 90815; William Jefferson, as Personal Representative of Philip Morrison, 23 Curtis Street, Wakefield, Massachusetts 04401; Ellen Cardwell aka The Estate of Ellen Cardwell aka The Unknown Spouse, Heirs, Devisees, Grantees, Creditors, or Other Parties Claiming by, Through, Under, or Against Ellen Cardwell, 763 Midway drive, Unit B, Ocala, Florida 34472; and Peter Morrison aka The Estate of Peter Morrison aka The Unknown Spouse, Heirs, Devisees, Grantees, Creditors, or Other Parties Claiming by, Through, Under, or Against Peter Morrison, 763 Midway drive, Unit B, Ocala, Florida 34472.
JUDICIOUS LAW PA By: Bradford J. Tropello, Esquire Florida Bar No. 42694 bit@judiciouslawpa.com ma@judiciouslawpa.com
Post Office Box 369 Ocala, Florida 34478 Telephone: (352) 509-5015
NOTICE OF SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the School Board of Marion County, Florida, will meet on September 10, 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.
NOTICE UNDER FICTITIOUS NAME LAW PURSUANT TO SECTION 865.09, FLORIDA STATUTES
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Section 865.09,
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF MARY ALICE SPENCER, File No. 2024-CP1775
Division PROBATE
Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of MARY ALICE SPENCER, deceased, whose date of death was September 25, 2016, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which 110 NW 1 st Ave. Ocala, Florida 34475. 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 23, 2024.
SAMANTHA SHEALY RAUBA DU ANNE HAMBY Attorney for Personal Representative Personal Representative Florida Bar Number: 59503 5954 Spring Buck McGraw Rauba & Mutarelli, PA San Antonio, TX 78247 P.O. Box 4440 Ocala, Florida 34478 Telephone: (352) 789-6520 E-Mail: Samantha@LawMRM.com
Secondary E-Mail: Gina@LawMRM.com
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA.
IN RE: THE ESTATE OF CLEMENT JOHN DEABREU, Deceased. CASE NO: 2024-CP-2016 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 WILL BE BARRED TWO YEARS AFTER DECEDENT’S DEATH.
The date of death of the decedent is: July 23, 2023. The date of first publication of this Notice is August 23, 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
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 5TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO. 24CA000744AX
RAINBOW SPRINGS PROPERTY
OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., a Florida non-profit Corporation, Plaintiff,
vs. LAURA OLIVERO; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF LAURA OLIVERO, et al., Defendant(s). / NOTICE OF SALE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 45 ( To be published in The Ocala Gazette)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated August 7, 2024, entered in Case No. 24CA000744AX in the Circuit Court in and for Marion County, Florida wherein RAINBOW SPRINGS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., is Plaintiff, and LAURA OLIVERO; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF LAURA OLIVERO, et al, is the Defendant, I will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash online on: OCTOBER 8, 2024 at www. marion.realforeclose.com the Clerk’s website for online auctions at 11:00 AM ET in accordance with section 45.031, Florida Statutes, the following described real property as set forth in the Final Judgment, to wit: LOT 40, BLOCK L, RAINBOW SPRINGS COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK S, PAGES 106 THORUGH 116, INCLUSIVE, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA.
A/K/A: 8963 SW 191ST CIRCLE, DUNNELLON, FL 34432
ANY PERSON CLAIMING AN INTEREST IN THE SURPLUS FROM THE SALE, IF ANY, OTHER THAN THE PROPERTY OWNER AS OF THE DATE OF THE LIS PENDENS MUST FILE A CLAIM BEFORE THE CLERK REPORTS THE SURPLUS AS UNCLAIMED.
Dated this ________ day of 2024.
Gregory C Harrell As Clerk of Court
By: As Deputy Clerk SERVICE LIST
FLORIDA COMMUNITY LAW GROUP, P.L.
Attorneys for Plaintiff P.O. BOX 292965 DAVIE, FL 33329-2965
JARED@FLCLG.COM
LAURA OLIVERO
8963 SW 191ST CIRCLE
DUNNELLON, FL 34432
UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF LAURA OLIVERO 8963 SW 191ST CIRCLE
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA.
IN RE: THE ESTATE OF HELEN T. BADER, Deceased. CASE NO: 2024-CP-2032 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 WILL BE BARRED TWO YEARS AFTER DECEDENT’S DEATH. The date of death of the decedent is: August 2, 2024. The date of first publication of this Notice is August 30, 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: PENELOPE J. MCDONALD 8682 SW 116th Place Road Ocala, FL 34481
PUBLISH IN: THE OCALA GAZETTE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA. IN RE: THE ESTATE
DUNNELLON, FL 34432
NOTICE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA
A MEETING OF THE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP FOR PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES PLANNING
NOTICE is hereby given that the Superintendent of Marion County Schools causes to be scheduled a meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on September 13, 2024, at 9:00 AM at the MCPS District Office - 1614 East Fort King Street, Ocala, FL 34471 – Building 1, Room 17.
This meeting is scheduled to convene in accordance with language, adopted by the School Board and all general service local governments of Marion County, in the Third Amended Interlocal Agreement for Public School Facilities Planning. The meeting will focus narrowly on the existence, organization, exchange, and use of planning data, and any possible changes to language in the Third Amended Interlocal Agreement for Public School Facilities Planning.
It is anticipated that one or more members of the Marion County School Board, the Superintendent of Schools for Marion County, general service governmental Elected Officials of Marion County and related staff members may be present and may provide input to the Technical Working Group (TWG) at this meeting.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, anyone needing special assistance due to a disability should contact Ms. Elena Martinez, Executive Assistant at 352-671-7707, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting.
High School Football Coverage is Sponsored By
Trinity Catholic drops season opener to Tampa Catholic
Ocala’s youthful Celtics learn valuable lessons in loss to Crusaders.
By Mark Pinson Special to the Ocala Gazette
Tampa Catholic sophomore quarterback Lucas Ruan tossed three touchdown passes and running back Josh Balloon Jr. ran for a pair of scores to lead the Crusaders to a 40-14 win over Trinity Catholic in the season opener for both teams on Aug. 23.
Tampa Catholic’s defense forced three turnovers and scored twice against a young and inexperienced Trinity Catholic squad that struggled to find any kind of offensive rhythm.
Trinity Catholic, which lost in the Class 1A state championship game last year, lost several key players to graduation off last year’s talented squad.
“It’s a rebuild,” said Celtics coach John Brantley. “We’ve lost 19 seniors over the last two seasons, and you’re going to go through periods like this. We’re a very young team. We had two freshmen returning kicks and I’ve never had that in my 16 years of coaching here. These kids have worked hard all summer and we’re going to watch the film, learn from our mistakes and get better because there’s a lot of football left to be played this season.”
Tampa Catholic scored on its opening possession as Ruan guided the Crusaders 55 yards in nine plays with Balloon scoring on a 2-yard run. The extra point was missed to make it 6-0.
The lead didn’t last long as Trinity Catholic senior Sean Thornton took the ensuing kickoff back 95 yards for a touchdown. The point after by Andrew Leonard gave the Celtics a 7-6 lead midway through the opening quarter.
Tampa Catholic fumbled on its next possession with Trinity Catholic senior defensive back Ace Means falling on the ball at the Crusaders’ 47. The Celtics couldn’t capitalize on the excellent field position and were forced to punt.
Tampa Catholic marched down
the field in five plays as Ruan tossed a 23-yard touchdown pass. The extra point put the Crusaders up by a score of 13-7.
Trinity Catholic couldn’t pick up a first down and had to punt, but the punt was blocked, and Jonah Gonzalez picked up the ball and returned it for a touchdown to make it 19-7 at the half.
“It was a typical first game and we made a lot of mistakes and had a bunch of penalties,” Brantley said. “We had a lot of young players gain a lot of experience tonight and that is going to help with our depth.”
Tampa Catholic extended its lead in the third quarter as Ruan showed excellent touch on a 27-yard scoring strike to Kyreek Monette in the back of the end zone. The extra point made it 26-7.
Trinity Catholic managed to pick up a couple of first downs before having to punt the ball.
Tampa Catholic struck quickly as Balloon broke several tackles on his way to a 66-yard scoring scamper. The hard-running Balloon finished with 157 rushing yards on just 14 carries.
Trinity Catholic’s next possession ended with an interception of a tipped pass by quarterback Carter Schofield.
Tampa Catholic capitalized and increased its lead to 40-7 as Ruan connected with David Theado on a 24-yard touchdown pass. Ruan completed 15 of 18 passes for 162 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
Trinity Catholic refused to quit and drove down the field late in the game as Schofield completed several passes. Junior running back Wyatt Lucas powered his way into the end zone from 3 yards out for the final points of the game.
Lucas gained 53 yards on 10 carries, while Schofield was 13 of 26 for 109 yards.
Trinity Catholic will look to get into the win column on Aug. 30 with a home game against Melbourne
“These
kids have worked hard all summer and we’re going to watch the film, learn from our mistakes
...”
John Brantley
Trinity Catholic Celtics Coach
Counterclockwise from above: Trinity Catholic’s Joey Deriso (10) drops a pass.
Trinity Catholic’s quarterback Carter Schofield (3) looks for a way to get rid of the ball as he is sacked by Tampa Catholic’s Adam Elbouhachemi (13). Trinity Catholic’s Ace Means (1) looks for a way around Tampa Catholic defenders. Trinity Catholic’s Wyatt Lucas (29) battles for extra yardage as a Tampa Catholic player tries to stop him.
Central Catholic.
Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
Trinity Catholic’s Ace Means (1) is horse-collared and stopped by Tampa Catholic’s Braylon House (28) during the Celtics’ 40-14 season opener loss at Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala on Friday, August 23, 2024.
Tampa Catholic’s Manny McKinney (1) breaks a tackle by Trinity Catholic’s Sean Thornton (17) as he looks for extra yardage.
Forest sweeps The Villages for first win of the season
Balanced attack paces Wildcats over Buffalo in volleyball
By Mark Pinson Special to the Ocala Gazette
Despite coming off a tough
opening week and missing three starters to injuries, the Forest volleyball team played its best match of the season in earning a 25-19, 25-13, 25-17 win over The Villages High School in front of a raucous home crowd on Aug. 27.
The hard-fought victory improved Class 7A Forest to 1-3 overall.
“It was a very difficult first week with girls in new positions and some girls with their first real varsity experience,” said Wildcats coach Jimmy Collins. “The girls have been working hard, their attitudes have been good, and we played well overall. Our serve-receive was good, the defense was better, our setters were accurate, and our hitters were more aggressive tonight.”
The loss dropped Class 3A The Villages to 3-2 on the season.
Forest came out ready to play from the opening point as junior Ava Robinson had three kills and junior outside hitter Kyndall Seek contributed four of her match-high 14 kills as the Wildcats opened up a commanding 19-12 lead in the first set.
The Villages roared back behind outside hitter Viviana Toucet Martinez’s three kills and several Forest miscues to pull within 22-19.
Forest went on a 3-0 run behind a key block by Robinson and a pair of Buffalo mistakes to take the first set.
Feeding off the momentum from its first set victory and a fired-up crowd, Forest jumped out to a 21-11
lead in the second set as sophomore Aspen Keuntjes had a pair of service aces as did senior Avery O’Cull.
Junior Holland Hatchett found holes in the Buffalo defense with four powerful kill shots.
The Villages managed to score two points before Forest ended the second set with a flourish as Hatchett scored with a pair of spikes and a service error by The Villages put the Wildcats on top 2-0.
The Buffalo came out strong in the final set and led by a score of 6-5 before Forest began to assert its dominance at the net.
Strong play by Quash and outstanding serving by Seek fueled a 12-6 run to give the Wildcats a 17-12 advantage.
The Villages refused to go quietly and rallied behind strong serving and solid play at the net to close within 18-15.
Forest regrouped and rattled off a string of points as Mae Owen had a pair of blocks and Alivia Hunter found the range with a pair of crosscourt kill shots.
Appropriately enough, it was Seek who ended the match with a laser spike down the line to give the Wildcats their first taste of victory this season.
“We have a lot of good things to build on from this win,” Collins said.
Forest is back in action Aug. 30 with a game against Merritt Island in the Nike Tournament in Gainesville.
“Merritt Island is a good team and we’re looking forward to playing them,” coach Collins said. “We have a very tough schedule every year because that’s how you get better.”
“We have a lot of good things to build on from this win.”
Current Adoption Specials:
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Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
Forest’s Holland Hatchett (12) and Avery O’Cull (2) block a spike from The Villages during a volleyball match at Forest High School in Ocala on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
Forest players celebrate a winning point over The Villages.
The Villages’ Trinity Mitchell (8) and Angelyn Hunt (10) combine to block a spike from Forest.
Forest’s Annalise DeLabarrera (7) and Addison Owens (1) go after the same dig.
