Ocala Gazette | October 16 - 22, 2020

October 20-21. Visit give4marion.com

OCTOBER 16 - OCTOBER 22, 2020

GIVE4MARION

Trump flies into Ocala Friday President to hold second rally this week in battleground state

By Brad Rogers Ocala Gazette

W

ith a huge crowd expected Friday for President Trump’s campaign rally at the Ocala airport, local officials say parking will restricted and traffic will be disrupted along Southwest 60th Avenue.

A Trump spokeswoman, Michelle Meadows, said the campaign had no idea how many will

show up for the 4 p.m. event. She said tickets are being distributed via the Trump campaign website (donaldtrump.com) until requests quit coming in, but there was no way to project attendance.

Meadows said Trump will fly in, make remarks and then will leave immediately after he speaks.

Local officials, however, are bracing for a big turnout.

“It’s kind of an all-

Voters will be asked to decide on renewing sales tax to pay for local needs

It will be the last question on the Nov. 3 Marion County ballot, but it is a $200 million decision for voters that local government officials say is needed to finish recovering from the budget cuts of the Great Recession and to meet the demands of resurgent growth.

The question is whether to renew a 1 percent local option sales tax for new roads and public safety needs. It will appear on the ballot as a “One Percent Public Safety and Transportation Infrastructure Sales Tax Referendum,” and it was first approved by Marion County voters in 2016 for four years, ending on Dec. 31.

During the tax’s first four years, according to county officials, it has generated $167 million for county and municipal governments in Marion

A third of felons registered to vote after debts paid by group

A

The $200 million question County, with money going to buy 388 police cars, 12 fire trucks, 12 ambulances, a Sheriff ’s Office helicopter, 300 air packs for firefighters, bullet-proof vests for police officers, 2,000 new public safety radios, new fire stations and to finance some $101 million in road construction and improvements.

If renewed, the local sales tax would remain in place from Jan. 1, 2021 and through Dec. 31, 2024. Voters would have to renew it again after that.

County officials estimate that if the tax is renewed, it will raise nearly $200 million over the next four years.

County Administrator Mounir Bouyounes said while the first four years of the local sales tax allowed the county to take huge steps in recovering from the recessioninduced budget cuts of the previous decade, the county still has work to do on that front.

$2

By Bill Thompson Ocala Gazette

See Trump, page 2

By Brad Rogers Ocala Gazette

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 16

A brand new 2020 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility is shown parked with other law enforcement vehicles to be serviced at Fleet Services. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

The new Marion County Fire Rescue Station 28 in Rolling Greens. The station was built entirely with funding raised through the Penny Sales Tax. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

foundation aiding former convicts in regaining their right to vote spent almost $3,700 per newly registered voter in Marion County, an Ocala Gazette analysis of court and voter records shows.

Since mid-August, Tides Advocacy, a liberal think tank in San Francisco, spent $120,642 to clear fines, fees and other court costs owed by 98 former felons who had committed crimes in Marion County, public records indicate.

Wiping those debts clean allowed them to register to vote under a 2018 voter-approved state constitutional amendment designed to restore voting rights for former convicts.

But the payments also raise questions for a handful of recipients about the implementation of what’s commonly known as Amendment 4.

Of the 98 beneficiaries of Tides Advocacy’s largess, 33 are registered voters, according to a state voter database.

That amounts to $3,656 per new voter.

Overall, Tides Advocacy spent an average of $1,231 per former felon, including those who didn’t register to vote.

Tides Advocacy is bankrolling this initiative on behalf of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, an Orlando-based organization that championed Amendment 4.

It’s unclear how the payments to square felons’ accounts in Marion County compare to those made in other parts of the state.

Two FRRC representatives contacted by the Gazette could not be reached for comment.

Based on the language of the law implementing Amendment 4, 30 of Tides’ recipients should be green-lighted to vote in the Nov. 3 election.

That’s because the Marion County clerk’s office received full payment for their debts as of Oct. 6, the deadline to register to vote.

Tides Advocacy did not

See Sales Tax, page 8

See Felons, page 2

Animal workers step in to avert cat-astrophe

By Bill Thompson Ocala Gazette

N

ational Happy Cat Month, the time when feline fans are encouraged to focus on the health and well-being of their furry friends, ended on Sept.

30.

While that moment

has come and gone, Marion County officials are looking to make more than 80 cats happy by finding them new homes.

County Animal Control authorities recently took custody of the cats as part of an investigation into allegations of maltreatment at a home in Salt Springs.

Per a judge’s order, county spokeswoman Stacie Causey said, the county now has 82 new cats at the Animal Center just off Baseline Road.

The investigation remains and open and ongoing, she said.

But in the interim, the department is giving away the newly acquired animals.

Causey said the county is promoting the rescue and the subsequent giveaway for a couple of reasons.

First, the Animal Center is already overflowing with cats, and a new wave of potentially abandoned kitties is anticipated as peak “kitten season” approaches.

See Cats, page 5

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Inside: COVID Declining.................... 3 CF debuts scholarships......... 3 Early voting Monday.............. 9 House 22 Profile...................... 10 Vanguard still unbeaten........ 12 Calendar................................... 15

2

OCTOBER 16 - OCTOBER 22, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

From Trump, page 1 hands-on-deck thing,” said Sgt. Paul Bloom, spokesman for the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office. “It’s going to be a ton of people.”

He added that the Ocala Police Department and the Sheriff ’s Office have been heavily involved in providing security, although the Secret Service is in charge of security.

City spokeswoman Ashley Dobbs said Sheltair Aviation, the airport’s fixed-base operator, is working directly with the White House on arrangements for the event and that details have been scarce.

Parking will be available on 60th Avenue near State

Road 40. Shuttles provided by the Trump campaign will then take rally-goers to the staging area, which local officials said had not been publicly disclosed as of Thursday morning, except that it will be at the airport.

The campaign has arranged to have bleachers brought in for the event, but Dobbs cautioned that seating will be limited and on a first come, first served basis, adding “a majority will be standing.”

Dobbs also warned rally attendees and others who travel the area regularly that 60th Avenue will be closed off and on throughout the afternoon and is likely to be

don’t care how somebody votes, but that they have the opportunity to vote.”

The Gazette’s review also indicates that most of those who committed crimes in Marion County and are now registered to vote no longer live in the community.

Nineteen of the 33 are scattered in other areas throughout the state, from South Florida to the Panhandle.

Amendment 4 also stated that all felons were eligible to regain voting rights except those convicted of sex crimes and murder.

Public records for those from Marion County show a broad cross-section of previous criminal activity.

Among those now eligible to vote, some have served time for offenses as innocuous as driving without a valid license or passing bad checks. Others, meanwhile, had committed violent offenses such as aggravated assault, armed robbery, battering cops and child abuse.

fully closed off during the rally.

Trump’s Marion County campaign chairman, Glen Fiorello, suggested people arrive early. Gates will open at 1 p.m., even though the rally does not start until 4 p.m.

It will be the president’s second visit this week to a state that is considered key

to his reelection chances.

Trump visited Sanford International Airport on Monday.

“Get there as early as you can so you can avoid the rush,” he said. “It’s a piece of history. I think you’ll see a phenomenal turnout. The people are excited.”

Local Democrats have taken to Facebook, meanwhile, to try to drum up an anti-Trump crowd for the event. They are urging Democrats to gather at the corner of State Road 40 and Southwest 60th Avenue.

And in response to the announcement that Trump was holding another rally in Ocala, Florida Democratic

Party Chair Terrie Rizzo released the following statement: “Donald Trump can hold a campaign rally in Florida every day until November 3rd and it isn’t going to change the fact that he failed in his number one job to protect the American people and owns the worst jobs record of any president in modern American history.

He can keep shouting his lies to Floridians, but we’ve already heard his excuses and we’re not buying more of his empty promises. Florida Democrats are already voting and we’re voting for Joe, a leader we can trust to tell us the truth and keep his word.”

In some cases, the costs were owed from crimes committed within the last couple of years, while other convictions stretched back a couple of decades.

But as noted earlier, the records also raise questions about how Amendment 4 has been implemented.

The amendment, approved by 65 percent of voters in 2018, said former felons could regain voting rights upon completion of their sentences.

In 2019, however, Gov. Ron DeSantis enacted a bill passed by the Legislature that included full payment of court costs, fees and fines as part of the sentence.

The FRRC has sued the state on behalf of 1.4 million Florida residents who stood to regain voting rights under the amendment. The group claimed that requiring the payments amounted to an unconstitutional “poll tax.”

A federal judge in Tallahassee agreed with that argument last year, and struck down parts

of the law. Then last month, a federal appellate court overturned the ruling, declaring that the Legislature could include fines and fees as part of a felon’s sentence.

It’s unclear whether the FRRC will appeal the decision.

Ironically, though, the Republican-led Legislature had adopted the position of Amendment 4’s earliest backers.

In March 2017, Floridians for a Fair Democracy, an Orlandobased political action committee that sponsored the amendment, approached the state Supreme Court to ensure the proposal met legal requirements for getting on the ballot.

Making the case for the group was Jon Mills, one of Florida’s most influential lawyers. Mills, a Democrat from Gainesville, was a former dean of the University of Florida’s law school and once served as speaker during his 10-year

career in the Florida House of Representatives.

During that 21-minute hearing, Mills confirmed under questioning by the justices that fines and fees were part of the sentencing “terms” that must be fulfilled before a felon was allowed to vote.

During the proceeding, Justice Ricky Polston asked Mills point-blank: “So it would also include the full payment of any fines?” To which Mills replied, “Yes sir.

Yeah, all terms means all terms.”

Moreover, Mills did not object or dispute the matter when two other justices raised the issue of fines, fees and court costs being included in the sentence.

In a recent article about the progress of Amendment 4, the Miami Herald pointed out that the American Civil Liberties Union likewise had stated that fines and fees were part of a felon’s sentence that needed remedying before they could be eligible to vote.

If You Go When: 4 p.m. Friday Where: Ocala Airport Tickets and information: www.donaldtrump.com

From Felons, page 1 submit payments for the other three until after the deadline.

Conservative critics of the work by Tides and the FRRC have argued that their program is little more than a voter-registration drive for the Democratic Party.

Yet voter records show the outcome is mixed.

The Gazette’s analysis reveals that 22 of those former convicts who owed court costs in Marion County did register as Democrats.

Among the other 11, seven are registered as Republicans and four are unaffiliated with any party.

While the new registrations certainly lean Democratic, the distribution across party lines supports what FRRC President and Executive Director Desmond Meade previously told the Gazette in a previous story about the group’s project.

“At the end of the day,” Meade said last week, “we

Two and a half miles of trails, unlimited amounts of nature.

2105 NW 21st Street Ocala, FL | 352-351-6772 The Ocala Wetland Recharge Park incorporates treated wastewater and stormwater from the Old City Yard a drainage retention area (DRA), that is located near the park, and has historically flooded during heavy rain events. Stormwater can contain many contaminants like: nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants from fertilizers and pet and yard waste, oil, grease, heavy metals, vehicle coolants, bacteria, and litter. These stormwater contaminants are the leading cause of water pollution. The park captures this polluted water, therefore reducing regional flooding. By sending this water to the Ocala Wetland Recharge Park, the total nitrogen can be reduced to nearly undetectable levels, and the total phosphorus will be greatly reduced. This freshly cleaned water will improve water quality and boost regional groundwater supplies.

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @ocalawetlandrechargepark

3

OCTOBER 16 - OCTOBER 22, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

COVID cases declining in Marion Officials urge continued vigilance, social distancing while state reopens “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.”

- Thomas Jefferson

Executive Editor Brad Rogers brad@ocalagazette.com Deputy Editor Bill Thompson bill@ocalagazette.com Photography Editor Bruce Ackerman bruce@ocalagazette.com Sports Editor Morgan Willett morgan@ocalagazette.com

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Follow us @ocalagazette

Our mission is to inform and uplift our readers by reporting on the events, issues and stories that shape Ocala with accuracy, fairness and passion.

We also strive to serve as a forum where all voices can be heard and to chronicle our community’s history.

By Bill Thompson Ocala Gazette

O

n Aug. 4 the Ocala City Council rushed to adopt an emergency order requiring people to wear masks as coronavirus cases spiked locally.

It seemed like a logical move.

That day, Marion County’s “positivity rate” – or the number of positive cases among all people whose test results were released that day – stood at 11.8 percent.

That day also was a pit stop on a weeks-long trend line along which the daily rate raged stubbornly above the 10 percent “red flag” level. At peaks along that line, the positivity rate rocketed above 20 percent.

Until Tuesday, those days appeared to be over.

The Marion County Health Department on Tuesday recorded a double-digit positivity rate for the first time since Aug. 26, department records show.

That 47-day streak of consecutive days below 10 percent was the longest since Marion County first topped the double-digit rate on June 23.

The local trend roughly follows that of Florida as a whole.

State Health Department records indicate the statewide positivity rate has not topped 10 percent since Aug. 11.

County Health Department spokeswoman Christy Jergens said state public health officials set 10 percent as a trigger point to indicate the county is conducting sufficient testing and contact tracing throughout the community “to catch infections and prevent spread.”

“It’s one of the key measures that we use and it helps us determine the overall level of transmission” Jergens said.

“If we get above 10 percent, it tells us there’s a substantial amount of spread of the virus, and additional mitigation measures need to be

implemented to control its spread.”

Of Tuesday’s spike, Jergens said it is a small, one-day sample and “ too early to draw possible conclusions” about the spread of the disease.

But locally other indicators are pointing in the right direction – down.

On Oct. 6, county Health Department Administrator Mark Lander told the County Commission that several key criteria from hospitals were encouraging.

While there had been some upticks on individual days recently, the sevenday and 30-day moving trends for COVID-19 hospital admissions, intensive care unit admissions and ventilator usage were all roughly half of what they were two months ago.

Lander said net admissions to local hospitals were another encouraging sign. Since about Sept. 13, according to his presentation, daily discharges from area hospitals have outpaced admissions on all but three days.

In his Oct. 6 presentation to the commission, Lander noted that there were jumps in the positivity rate after both Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. But so far, he told commissioners, “We have not seen spikes” following Labor Day. In a follow-up email to the Gazette, Lander noted, “The falling positivity rate in conjunction with no decrease in testing shows the effectiveness of mitigation measures, especially when you consider that there wasn’t a spike post-Labor Day.” “It’s going to continue to be important for individuals to follow mitigation practices like social distancing and masking while COVID is present and while we continue to open up and resume more normal activities.”

The drop in the positivity rate comes as Gov. Ron DeSantis has moved the state to full reopening.

Late last month, the governor issued an executive order announcing that Florida was moving into the Phase 3 of its COVID-19 recovery plan. The gist of the announcement was to lift capacity restrictions on bars and restaurants, and to prohibit local governments from clamping down on them, unless they can convince state officials reduced capacity is necessary.

“It’s something that we’re going to have to deal with,” DeSantis said in announcing the move.

“But just as all those experts said yesterday, we had our thing. Doing that from a fetal position where society flounders, people are out of work, kids aren’t in school, that is not going to work and that’s not the way forward for us.”

The “experts” DeSantis referred to were three public health experts who participated in the governor’s Sept. 24 virtual roundtable on COVID-19 research.

One of them was Martin Kulldorff, a professor at Harvard Medical School who specializes in infectious disease outbreaks as well as drug and vaccine safety.

During last month’s discussion with DeSantis, Kulldorff was adamant that lockdowns were a failing strategy. A better approach, he suggested, was to build up “immunity in the community” by letting younger, more social people live life relatively normally, while simultaneously enhancing bulwarks to protect the elderly and more vulnerable.

He said it would be difficult to tell when herd immunity is reached, which will occur when there is a vaccine or sufficient natural resistance to COVID from previously infected people, or a combination of the two.

But Kulldorff also told DeSantis last month that Florida was well on its way to achieving that.

And in an email to the Gazette this week,

Kulldorff suggested that Marion County’s numbers indicated likewise.

“When there is no increasing lockdown measures, and the hospitalizations and deaths go down for several weeks, it is because of increasing immunity in the population,” Kulldorff said. “And yes, that means we are approaching herd immunity, although we cannot say if we are all the way there yet.”

He added that places in Florida that were not hit as hard may witness some mounting numbers during reopening. Thus, Kulldorff also reiterated, “It is then key to protect the old and other high-risk groups until enough (of the) young has generated the immunity necessary to protect everyone.”

Lander indicated this was the approach locally.

“This is the strategy that we have been incorporating for some time,” he said in an email.

“The expectation is for those less vulnerable to continue moving forward with daily routines, observing mitigation strategies such as social distancing and face coverings where necessary, while focusing increased efforts on protecting the elderly and vulnerable populations by requiring Long Term Care testing of staff and recommending to this age group to take precautions when in public.”

In stark contrast to Kulldorff ’s opinion, The White House Coronavirus Task Force coordinator, Dr. Deborah Birx, and the nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, have repeatedly reiterated in interviews that they oppose the approach of allowing most Americans to become infected with Covid-19 in order to build widespread resistance to the disease.

The pair d warn that this approach would result in numerous deaths.

Instead they encourage achieving herd immunity by inoculating a significant percentage of the population with a vaccine.

CF unveils William H. Jackson Promise Scholarships 1515 NE 22nd Ave. Ocala, FL 34470 352.732.0073

PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT INVERNESS, FL SECOND CLASS PERMIT #114280

ocalagazette.com ©2020 Ocala Gazette, LLC

Answer for page 9

By Brad Rogers Ocala Gazette

T

he College of Central Florida has announced three new scholarship programs aimed at students in need and people looking to change careers because they were displaced from their jobs during the pandemic.

The first and most prominent of the new CF scholarships are the William H. Jackson Promise Scholarships, which were given to 25 students for the fall semester. The Jackson Promise Scholarships are intended for degreeseeking students who are in financial need or are first-generation college students.

“The scholarships are named for William H. Jackson, the president of Hampton Junior College, which was one of the 12 historically black junior

colleges in Florida. In 1966, Hampton Junior College merged with CF,” CF President Jim Henningsen said. “In honor of President Jackson and to honor our history with Hampton Junior College, we have dedicated $50,000 annually in new student scholarships.

“We are proud to support some of our highest achieving, highneed students with these scholarships. The college is committed to providing education opportunities for our local students, who will become our business leaders, civic leaders, health care providers, educators and other professionals in the coming years. By investing in our students, we are investing in our community.”

In the inaugural batch of Jackson Promise Scholarships, 23 students received $2,000 scholarships per academic See Scholarships, page 4

William H. Jackson. Photo courtesy of College of Central Florida

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OCTOBER 16 - OCTOBER 22, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Iconic horsewoman Carol Harris selling cherished horse, dog memorabilia

From Scholarships, page 3 year, and two students received full tuition and book scholarships valued at $4,000 per year.

The two full-scholarship winners were Jeremiah Evans and Kalis Stevens, both Vanguard High graduates. Evans is pursuing a degree in early childhood education, while Stevens is seeking an associate of arts degree with the goal of going into a medical field.

As part of their scholarship, the fullscholarship winners will meet regularly with a mentor, be expected to attend student activity events and speak to community groups about their CF experience.

Two other scholarship programs recently announced by CF target “individuals who are out of work or who want to reskill or upskill may qualify to attend CF with no tuition expenses.”

The first set of scholarships are called Rapid Credentialing Grants and are funded through $505,000 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, money. These scholarships are intended to train people for local high-demand jobs, including accounting technology specialist, computer information data specialist, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and logistics and transportation specialist.

These programs are for entry-level students and range from nine to 12 credit hours and can be completed 18 weeks or less. Most of these classes are available

online.

“This grant presents a great opportunity for our students and for displaced workers to consider options that will help them start a new career,” said Dr. Mark Paugh, vice president of academic affairs. “Our area has so many high-demand jobs that need employees, and these programs can help someone earn a certificate fast and pursue a meaningful career.”

In Marion County, the Rapid Credentialing Grant will also support a cohort of the Business Entrepreneurship College Credit Certificate program, offered in partnership with the Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership and its IMPACT initiative for minority business owners.

A third scholarship program, which essentially mirrors the Rapid Credentialing Grants, is the new “Get There” workforce education initiative. It is aimed at raising awareness about the various shortterm career and educational programs offered at CF and the state’s other community colleges and vocational schools.

CF will offer informational sessions on Oct. 21, Nov. 9, Nov. 20 and Dec. 2. Details are available at www.CF.edu/Essential.

Students may be eligible to receive additional funds for expenses such as uniforms and background checks, thanks to a partnership with CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion.

Supervisor of Elections, Marion County, FL

M P F W

By JoAnn Guidry Correspondent

A

sked why she decided to have an equine and canine memorabilia sale at her Bo-Bett Farm in Reddick Friday and Saturday, Carol Harris answered matter-of-factly.

“Well, I am 97 years old and I have so much stuff that I thought it was time to sell some of it,” said Harris. “Not only do I have so many memories connected to all the memorabilia that I’ve accumulated over the decades of raising champion quarter horses, as well as champion whippets and Italian greyhounds, so do a lot of other people. I thought this would be a good way to pass on some history about my farm, what we accomplished and bring people to Ocala.”

Already a successful horse and dog breeder in New Jersey, Harris moved to Florida in 1963 and established Bo-Bett Farm on 400 acres that had previously

Election Center 981 NE 16th ST•Ocala, FL 34470 PO Box 289•Ocala, FL 34478-0289 352-620-3290 352-620-3286 www.VoteMarion.Gov

GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 3, 2020

been a thoroughbred operation. In 1982, Harris purchased a Florida-bred yearling colt by thoroughbred stallion Really Rugged and out of a quarter mare named Alisa Lark.

Harris named the colt Rugged Lark, and he became one of the most celebrated quarter horses in the world. It is the literal treasure trove of Rugged Lark’s ribbons, trophies, awards, historical photos, paintings bronze statues, tack and much more that will be the centerpiece of Harris’s sale.

Rugged Lark’s remarkable career included being named the two-time American Quarter Horse Association Super Horse (1985 and 1987).

After retiring from the show ring, Rugged Lark became an ambassador for the AQHA, appearing at the 1996 Olympic Games, the 1999 Special Olympics World Games and that year’s AQHA World Championship Show.

Rugged Lark died on

Oct. 26, 2004, at the age of 23 and was buried at Bo-Bett Farm. He was posthumously inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2006.

“Rugged Lark received fan mail from around the world all through his life and even after his death,” said Harris, who was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 1997.

“He still has fans and I wanted to make available some of his memorabilia while I was still around.

It will give me great joy.”

Over the decades, Harris has also bred hundreds of champion whippets and Italian greyhounds. She still breeds, sells and shows whippets. The sale also included hundreds of the awards accumulated by her champion dogs.

“As you get older, you have to get practical about things and what you’ve accumulated,” said Harris, who still lives on what is now 70-acre BoBett Farm. “I have had a great life thanks to my horses and dogs. And I wanted to share that joy with other people.”

If You Go

Bo-Bett Farm Equine & Canine Memorabilia Sale Friday, Oct. 16, Saturday, Oct. 17 | 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

7255 W. Hwy 329, Reddick, FL 32686

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Easy Steps To Make A Difference

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Visit our website: www.Give4Marion.org on October 20-21, 2020 from 10 AM -10 AM.

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Search for your favorite nonprot organization, or discover a new cause to connect with.

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OCTOBER 16 - OCTOBER 22, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE From Cats, page 1 “For most of the country, kitten season is from February to November,” said Causey. “Florida’s mild temperatures pretty much make kitten season yearround with spikes in March, July and November.”

Secondly, the cats in question need to “debrief,” Causey said.

“Many of these cats have ongoing and chronic issues due to the stress of their previous life,” she noted.

“The immense activity and noise typical of any shelter is a lot to take in and not cohesive to healing from the mental and physical stress the cats have already experienced.”

Causey noted, for example, that seven of the felines were deformed and needed intensive medical care. The Animal Center’s veterinarian had to remove their tear ducts and eyelids, and then surgically close the cats’ eyes.

The county’s regular adoption fee for dogs and cats is $50. But Causey emphasized that the animals involved in this case are available for free, and that the county will handle the cost and services required for adoption.

That includes surgery

to spay or neuter the cats, providing a county license, the insertion of a microchip, making vaccinations current, and whatever other medical treatment, including surgery, the cats require in order to make them healthy enough for adoption.

“These babies need to find forever homes quickly to start their healing process,” Causey said.

Causey noted that the county shelter retains its “no-kill” policy, which

means the felines from this abuse complaint will remain in the custody of the Animal Center until adopted by the public or by other cat rescue groups.

“We work with rescues to alleviate the burdens of large seizures like this one, and greatly appreciate the rescue community for their constant support,” Causey said.

Still, she pointed out, the no-kill status is tough to maintain.

For one thing, budget constraints can take a toll on the care and feeding of the existing population, and that can be exacerbated by occasion events like this possible case of abuse.

Which is why, as in this instance, the Animal Center often holds free adoption events, Causey said.

“The purpose of a publicly maintained animal shelter is to be a temporary safe location for strays and injured pets until they

are rehabilitated to safely adopt,” said Causey.

“Animals should not remain in shelter environments for years, which happens. The intensity of the shelter environment’s impact on mental and physical health of animals is not good, not healthy.”

For more information about the cat giveaway, contact the Animal Center at (352) 671-8700, or visit in person at 5701 S.E. 66th St. in Ocala.

Cats are shown with Patty Blair, an animal care technician, in a cat adoption room at the Marion County Animal Center. The cats are some of 82 cats seized by Marion County from a Salt Springs home recently after a complaint for the cats’ well-being. About half of the cats from the seizure have already been adopted or moved to a cat shelter. The rest of them are looking for a loving home. Marion County Animal Services are adopting the cats out for free in order to get them into homes where they can recover. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

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Susan Tate Licensed Sales Agent 352-207-8607, TTY 711 sjtate@gate.net www.MyUHCagent.com/susan.tate

Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. ©2020 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Museum and Appleton Store

Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 12-5 p.m.

4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd. | AppletonMuseum.org | 352-291-4455

6

OCTOBER 16 - OCTOBER 22, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Honorable Mentions Hospice of Marion County among Best Places to Work in Healthcare

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Modern Healthcare has selected Hospice of Marion County as one of the 2020 Best Places to Work in Healthcare.

The award recognizes outstanding employers in the healthcare industry nationwide. Modern Healthcare partners with the Best Companies Group on the assessment process, which includes an extensive employee survey.

The complete list of winners can be found at ModernHealthcare. com/bestplaceslist “Hospice of Marion County was excited to learn that we ranked No. 45 in the Provider/ Insurer category out of 150 top healthcare organizations this year

by Modern Healthcare, especially since this was our first time being included in this prestigious award. Our team of professionals

continue to amaze me with their dedication to excellence and compassion to our community during this pandemic and are among the best in the nation,” Hospice of Marion County CEO Rick Bourne said.

About Hospice of Marion County is a not-for-profit hospice that provides end-oflife care for patients and their families since 1983.

18 SW Broadway Street Ocala, in Agapanthus

Ken Ford named “Living Legend” by Florida Trend

“A Higher Standard”

means we personally answer your call. All calls during business hours are promptly answered by an actual RBOI employee, ready to assist. No automation and no wait.

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The Villages 352.259.2200 Ocala 352.732.0277 Timber Ridge 352.861.2400 Inverness 352.726.3400 Lecanto 352.527.0106 RBOI.com

Saturday October 17th 9:00AM - 1:00PM

Ken Ford, the founder and CEO of the Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition in Pensacola and Ocala, was named one of “Florida’s 500”

by Florida Trend, an annual listing of the most influential executives in various sectors of Florida’s economy.

Headquartered in Pensacola, IHMC debuted its Ocala branch in 2010 to continue its cuttingedge research in robotics and the development of

technological systems designed to amplify human cognitive, physical, and perceptual abilities.

Ford, who was honored in the publication’s Living Legends category, was described by the publication as one of the state’s most eminent scientists.

He serves on the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence with, among others, Google’s former

CEO, the CEO of Oracle and the head of Microsoft research. In 2017, he was inducted into the Florida Inventor’s Hall of Fame.

CF dean McIntosh appointed to statewide commission Dr. Charles “Mac” McIntosh, dean of Criminal Justice and Public Service at the College of Central Florida, has been appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the statewide Florida

Come out and shop or rent your own table. The sale will be held indoors.

Come rain or shine.

Ocala Elks Lodge 286 702 NE 25th Ave. Ocala FL 34470 352-732-7091 ext 3

Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.

The commission’s mission is to ensure that all citizens of Florida are served by criminal justice officers who are ethical, qualified and welltrained.

There are 19 members representing all fields and agencies in criminal justice around the state.

“We are proud to have Dr. McIntosh represent our college and community,” said Dr. Mark Paugh,

vice president of Academic Affairs at CF. “He exemplifies the standards of professionalism, and his experience as a practitioner and educator will be a valuable asset to this commission and the field of criminal justice.”

McIntosh is a former reserve officer with the Ocala Police Department, a former deputy with the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office and former captain with the Florida Department of Corrections.

Current adoption specials: Free cats and kittens $10 dogs and puppies View more adoptable pets at www.marioncountyfl.org/animal.

Adoption price includes up-todate vaccinations, county license, microchip and spay/neuter surgery.

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7

OCTOBER 16 - OCTOBER 22, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

By Ben Baugh Correspondent

A

local group is planning a parade through Ocala in support of President Donald Trump on Oct. 24.

The parade is being sponsored by the Trump Club of Marion County.

Glen Fiorello has strong ties to the Trump Campaign, beginning his tenure with the president’s organization more than five years ago.

“I was the chairman for candidate Trump then, for Marion County, and as soon as the first debate I was hooked, and this was in 2015,” said Fiorello.

“He spoke the language that I understood as a businessman.”

A former Marion County commissioner and Marion County Building Association president, Fiorello managed Trump’s campaign in Marion County in 2016, and then was asked by the Republican Party of Florida to start a Trump Club in Marion County.

“I thought there were so many people in business in our community who supported our president,” said Fiorello. “It’s a silent way of getting the message out. In Marion County, there are more than 50,000

no party affiliations. They could be independent voters. Those are the ones who are really going to make this election. Maybe two or three years ago, we pushed for the registration drive, and if they see this big parade, it might be enough to turn them.”

The parade cuts east to west across Ocala, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Boulevard Market at 3711 East Silver Springs Boulevard. It will head west on State Road 40 before turning left on U.S. Hwy. 441, and west on State Road 200 to the Friendship Center at On Top of the World. Parade participants will be greeted by patriotic flag wavers, said Fiorello.

“When you organize something like this, you want to go where there are people,” said Fiorello. “The Ocala Police have been very easy to work with and have agreed to escort us, so we’re not going to tie up traffic.”

The event will take place rain or shine.

“One of the gentlemen from the parks department, Patrick Gillman, has been phenomenal to work with.

The volunteers in any organization are a valuable asset, and we’ve had great volunteers. They understand it and they get it.”

For more information, email glen4trump@gmail. com.

News in Brief Women’s March for Justice in Ocala Saturday The Democratic Women’s Club of Florida is holding a march for justice Saturday, Oct. 17, on Ocala’s Downtown Square to demand the seat of the late Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, be held open until after the November 3 election.

The march, in collaboration with nationwide Womens March and We

Demand Coalition, kicks off at 11 a.m. The group, representing Women’s Democratic Clubs from Marion and surrounding counties, states in its ads for the event: “We must speak out against #45(Donald Trump) & GOP policies! Her legacy of fighting for gender equality will not be in vain!”

Ocala seeks ideas for Art in City Spaces The City of Ocala is asking artists to submit proposals for the Art in City Spaces exhibition.

Proposals are being accepted for three exhibition spaces: • City Hall First Floor Lobby, 110 S.E. Watula Ave. • Recreation and Parks Administration Building Conference Room and Eighth Avenue Adult Activity Center, 828 N.E. Eighth Ave. • Barbara Gaskin Washington Adult Activity Center, 210 N.W. 12th Ave. The City of Ocala’s Art in City Spaces program provides the opportunity for artists to exhibit their work in a municipal

public space. Applications are available online at https://www.ocalafl.org/ artistopportunities.

Artists are asked to submit the application, resume, artist statement and three high-quality images files to City of Ocala, Recreation and Parks Department, Attention: Cultural Arts, 828 N.E. 8th Ave. Ocala, FL 34470.

Criteria will include viewer engagement, originality of concepts, use of media and technique.

For more information, or to view the complete criteria, contact the Cultural Arts Office at 352-629-8447 or artinfo@ ocalafl.org.

Plant a garden in West Ocala on Nov. 7 The City of Ocala, in partnership with the Florida Department of Health in Marion County and Feed the Need Garden, Inc., will host a West Ocala Wellness Community Garden Day on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Community members are encouraged to attend and replant their crops or start a new garden plot. Plots are available for $10 per year.

The event will be from 8:30 a.m. to

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10:30 a.m. at the community garden, 2200 W. State Road 40.

The goal of the West Ocala Wellness Community Garden is to educate and provide an opportunity for citizens to plant, cultivate and harvest vegetables for their families.

For more information, or to reserve a plot, please contact the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department at 352368-5540 or visit www.ocalafl.org/garden.

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OCTOBER 16 - OCTOBER 22, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

From Sales Tax, page 1 “We’re still trying to catch up,” Bouyounes said. “It may still take another round to get caught up.”

Unlike the first four years of the tax, when spending was focused on updating public safety vehicle fleets, replacing antiquated public safety equipment and building and repairing roads, the focus of the next four years – if the tax is approved for renewal – will be targeted much more on upgrading essential buildings, not least being the county jail and more roads.

More than $10 million is proposed for a wide range of jail maintenance and renovation projects, which County Commission Chairwoman Kathy Bryant said are needed to keep from having to replace the jail.

“We’re dealing with an antiquated jail,” she said. “We

either have to replace it or, well, the board decided to take this route.”

The sales tax proposal also calls for building one new fire station and rebuilding three others and buying 19 new fire engines and 24 new ambulances.

Marion Fire Rescue also proposes a new EMS station costing $2.7 million for the west side of the county.

Included in the $78 million in proposed public safety sales tax expenditures are a $7.6 million hangar and “special ops” building, as well as a $1.5 million gun range and $2.1 million driving pad for the Sheriff ’s Office.

Sheriff Billy Woods is also seeking a second helicopter at a cost of $3.8 million and is proposing buying 188 new patrol cars.

The county’s Animal Services is asking for $2.7

million for a “rehabilitation” of its facility on Baseline Road.

Among the roads projects on the county’s list are: North Highway 314A, Northwest 49th/35th Street, Northwest 60th Avenue, Northwest 80th/70th Avenue, Northwest 112th Place Road, Northwest 145th Avenue Road, Northwest 150th Avenue, Northwest Highway 320, Northwest/Northeast 42nd Street, Northeast 19th Avenue, Northeast Highway 314, East Highway 25/South Highway 25, Southeast 47th Avenue, Southeast 59th Street, Southeast 73rd Avenue, Southeast 183rd Avenue Road, Southeast Sunset Harbor Road, Southeast Maricamp Road, Southwest 31st Street/34th Place, Southwest 49th Avenue, Southwest 80th Avenue and Marion Oaks

Manor.

Proponents of renewing the tax say a sales tax is a quick way to raise significant dollars and, importantly, spread the burden across the entire community and not just on property owners.

In fact, they argue that 30 percent of all sales taxes paid in Marion County are paid by visitors, thus reducing the burden on local taxpayers.

“It’s really effective in meeting our needs without raising our millage rate,” Bryant said.

Moreover, Bouyounes said the county’s gas tax, which historically has funded major road projects, is maxxed out and not generating the kind of money the community needs for its road demands.

Local sales taxes can only be used for capital purchases or improvements.

In other words, they cannot

be used for salaries or recurring costs, such as utility bills or operational costs. It can be used for buildings, equipment and infrastructure.

The total amounts of local sales tax dollars expected to be spent by the various county agencies from 202124 are: • Animal Services: $2.7 million • Sheriff ’s Office: $42.5 million • Fire Rescue: $37.8 million • Transportation: $117.5 million • Total: $200.6 million If you would like to learn more about how the county spent the first four years’ worth of the sales tax, and what it plans for the next four years, go online to marionsalestax.org.

Schools’ Technology Task Force working with ‘sense of urgency’

By Brad Rogers Ocala Gazette

A

committee appointed to help resolve problems teachers and students are having with online learning in the Marion County Public Schools is “acting with a sense of urgency” and, after one meeting, has expanded its original goals.

Deputy Superintendent of Schools Mark Vianello, who is leading the so-called Technology Task Force, said the task force has 29 members and met the first time on Oct. 7 and again on Wednesday. He said it has divided into two subcommittees.

One subcommittee is looking at how to conduct quarterly district assessments that measure students’ readiness for the statewide Florida Standards Assessments in the spring and also to determine how to deal with online student tardiness and absenteeism.

Students taking online courses through MCPSOnline – about 30 percent of Marion County’s students do so – are supposed to have a school day that mirrors that of inperson students. It has not worked out that way. Too many students are not signing on or staying signed on for classes, teachers have told the School Board.

A second subcommittee is sifting through more

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than 1,200 survey responses from the county’s teachers – a 47 percent response rate, Vianello said – to determine the biggest technology issues facing teachers and how to resolve those concerns. Among the considerations after the first meeting was whether or not to allow teachers to return to using Zoom, as they did in the spring, and whether to restore Google chats, which the district had silenced over security issues. There have been widespread complaints from parents and teachers about the Microsoft Teams teaching platform that is widely used around the district.

“They have a heavy lift,” Vianello said of the committee members.

A second committee has been reactivated.

The school district named a Reopening Committee after the end of last school year to assess what went right and, more importantly, what went wrong with online learning after the shutdown in the spring, which Vianello calls Version 1.0.

“We planned how we could improve on Version 1.0,” he said.

“We came up with Version 2.0, which is better. Now we’re looking at how to go to Version 3.0.”

The Reopening Committee’s latest task will be to “look at the best placement of students,” Vianello said. Too many of the district’s students taking classes through

MCPSOnline are failing.

“We have students who are not being successful on MCPSOnline,” he explained. “What are we going to do about that? We can’t just let them be unsuccessful.

We have to continue to get better. We have to get to Version 3.0, so we’re listening to all the stakeholders and doing what we have to do to get there.”

Both Vianello and Superintendent of Schools Diane Gullett have acknowledged the frustrations of students, parents and especially teachers and say they are moving as quickly as possible to resolve the problems.

“It is incredibly challenging to sustain what we’re doing right now,” Gullett told the School Board at a Oct. 8 board workshop meeting. “On behalf of the students, my expectations are that the students are thriving in an environment that they’re in currently, and when they’re not, what do we do? We have to make sure we have set them up for success, and we also have to support our teachers and staff that are providing this delivery model.

“We are working with a sense of urgency and know that with the timing of the end of the nine weeks coming up, we need to have some answers” The Technology Task for is made up of principals, teachers, district staff and students.

9

OCTOBER 16 - OCTOBER 22, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Early voting begins Monday Voters have two weeks to cast ballots at locations around Marion

A

s if we needed it, Marion County Elections Supervisor Wesley Wilcox has offered another reminder that an election looms.

Early, in-person voting begins Monday and will continue through Oct. 31, Wilcox’s office announced this week.

Accordingly, Wilcox will open nine sites to voters. They include: • Wilcox’s headquarters at 981 N.E. 16th St. in Ocala • The Belleview Public Library, 13145 S.E. County Road 484 • The Deputy Brian Litz Building, 9048 S.W. State Road 200 • The Dunnellon Public Library, 20351 Robinson Rd. • The Forest Public Library, 905 South County Road 314A in Ocklawaha • The Freedom Public Library, 5870 S.W. 95th St. in Ocala • The Reddick Community Center, 4345 N.W. 152nd St. • The Silver Springs Shores Community Center, 590 Silver Rd. • The Villages Mulberry Center, 8445 S.E. 156th Mulberry Lane in Summerfield The polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

In a press release,

Wilcox noted that the first few days of early voting tend to be busy.

During the contentious 2016 general election, more than 5,000 voters combined turned out at all polling locations each day for the first five days of early voting. Turnout tapered off in the middle of that season, before accelerating again in the closing days.

For 2020, though, Wilcox’s office is also taking measures to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19.

Thus, with normal early rush and enhanced safety steps, he encourages prospective early voters to be patient and anticipate longer wait times.

For those who may want to duck a larger crowd, Wilcox noted that the earlyvoting foot traffic is historically smaller at the Forest Public Library, Reddick Community Center, Silver Springs Shores Community Center and Dunnellon Public Library.

Meanwhile, Wilcox also notes that voters can still obtain mail-in ballots until 5 p.m. on Oct. 24.

Those interested in voting by this method can request a ballot by visiting www.VoteMarion.

Gov, emailing VoteByMail@ VoteMarion.Gov, or calling (352) 6203290.

Wilcox reminds voters that in order for mail-in ballots to count they must be

received by his office by 7 p.m. on Election Day. The U.S. Postal Service is encouraging voters to mail their ballot at least a week prior to Nov. 3 to ensure it will be delivered in time.

Mail-in ballots can also be returned to the secure ballot drop box at the main elections office or at any open early voting site during hours the polls are open. And new for this election, voters who may be concerned about ballot security can now sign up for mail-in ballot status notifications at www.

MarionBallotTrax. com.

Statewide, as of Wednesday, 1.9 million Floridians had already submitted mail-in ballots.

In Marion County, that tally was 39,157, out of nearly 90,000 requested.

Comparatively, for the 2016 election, 38,016 county voters cast mail-in ballots.

For those who still prefer traditional, in-person voting on Election Day, Wilcox notes that on Nov. 3 they are required to 3.5” x 2.5” | Maximum Font Size: 30 pt cast a ballot at their home precinct. He encourages voters to 3.5” x 2.5” | Maximum Font Size: 30 pt look up their assigned voting location before 3.5” x 2.5” | Maximum Font Size: 30 pt 3.5” x 2.5” | Maximum Font Size: 30 pt heading to the polls.

That can be found at Kelly Moore www.VoteMarion.gov/ Financial Advisor MyPrecinct.

7668 Sw 60th Ave Suite 100 Kelly Moore Ocala, FL 34476 On Nov. 3, polls Financial Advisor 352-237-0379 will be open from 7 Kelly 7668 Sw 60th AveMoore Suite 100 a.m. to 7 p.m. at all of Kelly Financial Advisor Ocala, Moore FL 34476 Financial Advisor Marion County’s 122 352-237-0379 7668 Sw 60th Ave Suite 100 precincts. To vote, the 7668 Sw 60th AveFL Suite 100 Ocala, 34476 Ocala, FL 34476 e d ward j one s .com state requires voters 352-237-0379 352-237-0379 to present a current, MKT-5894K-A valid ID with photo e dward j on e s .com This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may and signature.

MKT-5894K-A run in any direction but always in a straight line.j one Some letters are used more than once.) Ring e d ward s .com edward j one s .com each word as you findMKT-5894K-A it and when you have completed the puzzle, there will be 17 letters left MKT-5894K-A over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

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10

OCTOBER 16 - OCTOBER 22, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Byram, Harding running to capture Stone’s House seat

By Brad Rogers Ocala Gazette

T

wo political novices are running for the state House District 22 seat that is being vacated by state Rep. Charlie Stone, and their platforms are as different as their profiles.

Democrat Barbara Byram and Republican Joe Harding are running for the District 22 seat that includes Levy County and most of western Marion County, including the State Road 200 corridor and Dunnellon.

Byram, 64, is a seasonal national park employee who lives near the Goethe State Forest in Levy County, and Harding, 33, is a farmer and father of four with a background in construction management who lives in Williston. They seek to succeed Stone who is being term-limited out of the House after eight years in office.

Both candidates agree that their rural district needs more vocational and technical education to help attract better-paying jobs and, in turn, raise the standard of living in District 22.

Harding points out that the average annual household income in Levy and Marion counties is $35,000 and $38,000, respectively.

“If we want to raise wages,” Harding said, “we don’t get there with a minimum wage. We get

there with a more skilled and trained workforce. If we do that, the jobs will follow.”

Byram agrees and would also push for more “business incubators.”

“We need some kind of vocational-technical education,” she said, adding that her father and grandfather were both teachers. “The young people are leaving in droves. We lack innovation out here, and I think a business incubator would help stimulate the economy.”

That is about where their agreement on the issues ends.

Byram said the way the Legislature works needs to be changed. Too many decisions are made without adequate debate or public input.

She said the most recent example of this is the state’s plan to build a toll road through Levy County and other parts of North Florida to the Georgia state line. It is part of a legislative plan called MCORES, or Multiuse Corridors of Regional Economic Significance, a multibillion-dollar plan that was rammed through the Legislature last year with little public input. Byram founded the Citizens for an Engaged Electorate in response.

“I’m extremely frustrated with the state Legislature, with how business is done there, and I think it should be changed,” she said.

Barbara Byram

While Harding believes public education is adequately funded but is not using those dollars efficiently, Byram believes too many public education dollars are being funneled off to help charter and private schools.

Harding noted that Marion County Public Schools have a $652 million budget this year, about $14,000 for every one of its 43,000 students. He believes school systems are top-heavy administratively, and more money needs to go toward maintenance and construction. But that is not happening.

“In the middle of all this, no one is talking about teachers and students,” Harding said.

Byram, meanwhile, said while state leaders boast about record education funding, the reality is that, once inflation is factored in, it has actually gone down.

“No teacher should have to pay out of pocket for classroom needs,” she said.

Joe Harding

“It’s just wrong.”

Harding is also an advocate for school choice, meaning parents should be able to send their child to any school they want -- public, charter or private.

Harding has said he opposes new taxes, but Byram is outspoken about the need for major tax reform in Florida. She said the state’s dependence on the sales tax is a mistake.

“The sales tax, obviously, does not work in times of crisis, as we’re now seeing,” she said. “I favor a state income tax.”

One of the issues Harding is most vocal about is agriculture. He believes more needs to be done to promote agriculture and to protect farmers. Specifically, Harding believes farmers are too often erroneously blamed for Florida’s environmental programs.

“Farms are green spaces,” he said. “Any good farmer that is looking to preserve their farm for

future generations is going to be environmentally responsible” He believes Florida should step up its efforts to promote homegrown agriculture products.

Health care is a concern of Byram, who believes “wholeheartedly” in Medicare for all.

“We have to take the profit out of health care,” she said. “Obviously relying on a for-profit system isn’t working. So, the state needs to step in and do something about it.”

On water, Byram is a staunch environmentalist.

Harding, meanwhile, said the state is spending record amounts on springs restoration and Lake Okeechobee, yet there seems to be a simmering dispute between environmental and agriculture forces.

“You seem to have a line drawn in the sand – you have environmental and you have agriculture. I think they have an awful lot in common.”

Harding said the number of septic tanks in Marion County is a water issue and more needs to be done to ensure they are working efficiently and not polluting the groundwater.

Finally, Byram favors “gun sense” laws – background checks for all gun sales and outlawing military-style weapons and large magazines.

Members of the Florida House of Representatives are elected to two-year terms and earn $29,697 per year.

Has your business been negatively impacted by COVID-19?

Loan, Grant, and Training Funds for Marion County Businesses Marion County wants to ensure that every business continues to grow through the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to an allocation of the County’s CARES Act Fund, assistance programs are now available for businesses of all sizes. Every business should be committed to keeping employees safe.

Bridge to Recovery Program The Small Business Assistance Program seeks to assist businesses with 25 or fewer employees who have been experiencing continuing negative impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The business will need to submit an online application demonstrating the negative impact of COVID-19 and will be able to receive up to $15,000. The business will be expected to maintain the same number of employees. The company will report quarterly on their status for a period of 1-year.

Moving Forward Program The Business Assistance Program seeks to assist businesses with 26-100 employees who have been experiencing continuing negative impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The business will need to submit an online application demonstrating the negative impact of COVID-19 and will be able to receive up to $40,000. The business will be expected to maintain the same number of employees. The company will report quarterly on their status for a period of 1-year.

Testing Capacity Enhancement Reimbursement Grant Private labs, clinics, and physician offices can apply to be reimbursed for the purchase of equipment, testing supplies, additional space, etc. to expand their testing capabilities.

Project Operating Safely (PPE Reimbursement Program) Project Operating Safely will provide up to $3,000 in reimbursements to local businesses with fewer than 100 employees and up to $10,000 for businesses with more than 100 employees for the purchase of necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and other health and safety-related items and services. Businesses may apply once for a reimbursement and funds will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis.

Find out how your business can access funds and submit an application at

MovingBizForward.com

11

OCTOBER 16 - OCTOBER 22, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Down for Donuts raises $8,000 for Down Syndrome center Dozens of people competed in the fifth-annual Down For Donuts fundraiser at CrossFit Iron Legion in Ocala on Saturday, Oct. 10. The event was held to raise money for Gigi’s Playhouse, a Down Syndrome Achievement Center that has helped families like Ted and Karen Dreaver for years. The Dreavers are the owners of CrossFit Iron Legion, whose daughter, Kiera, 5, was born with Down Syndrome. There was also a silent auction. This year, the event raised more than $8,000.

[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Maritza Rivera, left, lifts free weights as she battles through the “DT Workout” 12 minute intense fitness competition, as judge Kyle Proctor, right, grades her for reps.

A.J. Ravay tosses a Speedball up as he battles through the “Donut Kill My Vibe” 15 minute intense fitness competition.

Carly Kowachuk power lifts free weights as she battles through the “Donut Kill My Vibe” 15 minute intense fitness competition.

Stacie Menadier, left, lifts free weights as she battles through the “DT Workout” 12 minute intense fitness competition with her partner, Natalie Snyder.

IS IT TIME? Tired Of Worrying About Missing Medications Failing Health

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12

OCTOBER 16 - OCTOBER 22, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Sports Battle of the unbeatens Vanguard rolls over unbeaten West Port, Dunnellon continues to dominate in week three

By Morgan Willett Ocala Gazette

T

hree area teams entered last week’s games undefeated, but just two walked away with unblemished records by the time the final whistle blew.

Unbeaten Vanguard crushed any hopes West Port had for a perfect season with a 43-6 thrashing of the Wolfpack, and Dunnellon continued its early season roll with a 32-8 drubbing of winless North Marion, which continues its surprising slide after entering the year ranked in the top 60 in the state.

Vanguard 43, West Port 6 Starting off 2-0, West Port had high hopes for their 2020 season but ran into a juggernaut in Vanguard Friday night.

It looked like the game would be a defensive struggle, as both teams put up zeroes in the first quarter and entered the second period knotted at 0. The second quarter started much like the first, as both teams committed turnovers but were unable to capitalize.

With roughly 5 minutes remaining in the second quarter, Vanguard’s Tyrell Randall broke off a long run into the red zone, and Alexander Law put the Knights on the board with a one-yard plunge.

Then, with under a minute to go in the second quarter, Law completed a 35-yard pass to Trevonte Rucker for a touchdown as the

Knights ended the second up 14-0.

Vanguard’s defense began to make its mark in the second half as Randall came up with a big interception to put the Knights on West Port’s 44-yard line. He then caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Law, and Law followed that with a run for a two-point conversion.

Vanguard rolled from there. Rucker took a West Port punt 60 yards for a touchdown to put the Knights up 29-0.

With just four minutes to play in the game, West Port finally put 6 on the board with a 50-yard touchdown pass from Chaz Siddall to Lenard Hill, but the two-point conversion attempt failed. Vanguard put the nail in West Port’s coffin when Randall took the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a score.

Vanguard’s Riley Smith finished the scoring by scooping up a West Port fumble and running it back for 6.

Dunnellon 32, North Marion 8 Facing 0-2 North Marion, Dunnellon overwhelmed its opponent on both sides of the ball for the third week in a row.

Both teams failed to score until the end of the first quarter, when Dunnellon’s Le’Var Fitzpatrick ran it in from four yards out and Brody Luckey ran in the two-point conversion.

Over the next three quarters Dunnellon would go on to put another 24 points on the board to North Marion’s 8. The Tigers would roll up 303 yards of offense and

their defense was again stout, holding the Colts to just 93 for the game.

Dunnellon was able to rely on the combined effort of quarterback Trent Townsend, who threw for 89 yards, with Julius Gardner and Christiaan Fashaw being his lead receivers.

Dunnellon’s offense didn’t Vanguard’s Tyrin Wilson (21) intercepts a pass in the end zone intended for West Port’s Lykhi Velasquez (10) stop with during a football game at Booster Stadium on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020. passing, as the Tigers rushed for a total of 211 yards, possessions in the first It doesn’t get any host winless Belleview. led by Brody Luckey quarter. In the second easier for TC this week Lake Weir, at 1-1, (57 yards), Demetrius period, Bolles punted as they make a trip will travel to West Mccants (32 yards) and to TC, but the Celtics back to Jacksonville Port to take on the C. Fashaw (31 yards). turned over the ball on to take on undefeated Wolfpack. West Port, On the other side of the downs and Bolles took Sandalwood. coming of a trouncing ball Jermain Fashaw advantage and put 7

by Vanguard, hopes to lead the defense with on the board with a Ocala Christian 38, walk away with a W seven tackles. rushing touchdown First Academy 7 and gain momentum and point after kick.

After four straight for their game against Lake Weir 18, Entering the third losses to start Forest in week five.

Belleview 6 quarter, the Celtics the season, Ocala Meanwhile, Lake Weir, After getting kicked off to Bolles, Christian was able following their victory pummeled by which marched down to walk away with over Belleview, hopes Dunnellon in their the field and added a W following their to move to 2-1. season opener and seven to the board matchup against First Vanguard, at 2-0, then using their with a touchdown Academy on Oct. will face off against bye in week two to pass and PAT to go 9. OCA scored 18 North Marion, who regroup, Lake Weir up 14-0. With under points in the first half is currently 0-3. The was relieved to get a minute remaining followed by 20 in the Knights will likely use a W in week three. in the third quarter, second. First Academy this week to perfect the Although Belleview Bolles punched the was unable to answer details of their game had 126 rushing yards ball in the end zone for until they put 7 on the and minimize errors, on the night, with another touchdown, board in the fourth. as they look ahead to Darryl Minor leading then got the scoring Ocala Christian will a big matchup with the pack with 50, the going in the fourth play at home against undefeated Dunnellon Rattlers passing game with a field goal.

Seven Rivers on Oct. in week five. continues to struggle.

But the Celtics 16. Seven Rivers’ Dunnellon, who At the end of the night, answered back with record is 1-3. has yet to be truly Lake Weir walked a rushing touchdown challenged, has a bye. away with the close

by T.J. Snowden, St. John The Tigers will use the victory over Belleview, making the score 24-6.

St. John unfortunately week off to prepare for improving to 1-1.

A successful PAT put this year has only been Vanguard on Oct. 23.

Belleview remained an additional point able to play one regular winless at 0-3. on the board for TC. season game to date.

Private School Action TC threatened on its They fell to Cedar Trinity Catholic 7, This Week’s next possession with a Creek on Sept. 9 and Bolles 24 Matchups: 31-yard reception by were forced to forfeit Trinity Catholic made Entering week 4, Omarea James, but to Eagle’s View on Oct. the daunting trip to Forest coming off a bye threw an interception 2, due to not enough Jacksonville on Oct. in week three, looks to to end the drive and players. They take on 9. Neither team was improve to 2-1, as they the game.

Halifax Friday. able to capitalize on

Belleview High School Rattlers Andrew Davis (3) hauls in a touchdown pass. [Alan Youngblood/Ocala Gazette]

Vanguard’s Tyrell Randall (4) breaks away from West Port’s Elijah Hopkins (1). [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Belleview High School Rattlers Victor Maldonado (30) is swarmed by Hurricane defenders as the Belleview Rattlers take on the Lake Weir Hurricanes. [Alan Youngblood/Ocala Gazette]

The Belleview Rattlers run out on the field before they take on the Lake Weir Hurricanes. [Alan Youngblood/Ocala Gazette]

13

OCTOBER 16 - OCTOBER 22, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Area girls look to roll Forest, North Marion, Trinity Catholic, St. John and Vanguard move into championship games

Forest High School setter Sheridan Turner (8) returns the ball as Forest High School takes on Buchholz High School in the 6A District 4 play. [Alan Youngblood/Ocala Gazette]

By Morgan Willett Ocala Gazette

A

s district play gets underway, many Marion County teams have already met their demise, and are left with no other choice but to look ahead to the 2021 season.

Others, however, are full steam ahead in hopes of claiming the title of district champions and advancing onto Regionals.

Postseason Districts: 2A – District 4: • St. John Lutheran (13-5) • Meadowbrook Academy (8-7) • Redeemer Christian (10-8) In the first matchup for this District, St. John faced Saint Francis Catholic on Oct. 12, and although the first and third sets were close, the Saints prevailed 3-0.

Meadowbrook and Redeemer Christian both received byes in round 1.

Following St. John’s win, they pushed forward in the bracket

and looked across the net at Redeemer Christian in round two on Oct. 13. The young Saints team was led by Sophia Ochoa (11 kills) and Rylee Palmateer (15 kills), giving St. John the win, 3 sets to 1.

On the other side of the bracket, Meadowbrook played Seven Rivers, which defeated Countryside Christian in round one. Although Meadowbrook lost the first set 19-25, the girls were able to rally and win the next three sets.

Meadowbrook will host St. John for the championship game at 6 p.m. on Oct. 15.

3A – District 3: • Trinity Catholic (12-6) Trinity Catholic faced Taylor on Oct. 13 in Pierson, FL. The lady Celtics dominated and won the bout 3-0. Trinity Catholic’s offense was led by Cloe Teter, Kiana Laborde and Amelia Fitzpatrick with 11 kills each. In addition to the strong offensive stance, minimal ballhandling errors

Redeemer Christian School’s Aria Eisel (5) dives after a Saint John Lutheran spike that ended up going out of bounds. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Vanguard’s Ruby Owen (34) spikes the ball past Lake Weir’s Morgan Giitinger (1) and Destini Torino (13) during the district final. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

facilitated TC’s win.

The Celtics face off against Father Lopez for the championship on Oct. 15. Father Lopez enters the game with a record of 10-1.

The match will again be in Pierson, with a starting time of 6 p.m.

4A – District 5: • Dunnellon (1-12) • North Marion (8-5) Following a bye in round one, Dunnellon played Crystal River on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Crystal River won handily, 3 sets to 0, with a score in set 3 of 25-10.

Also with a bye in round one, North Marion squared off against Citrus in round two. As Citrus entered the match with a record of 11-2 on the season, North Marion had their work cut out for them.

However, 11 aces and a combined 21 kills allowed the Colts to topple Citrus 3-0.

“Last night the Lady Colts exhibited what hard work and great communication look like. The girls showed excellent teamwork and our

defense was very solid. We are looking forward to the District Championship against worthy opponent, Crystal River High,” stated, Assistant Coach Ashley Johnson.

North Marion moves on to face Crystal River in the championship on Oct. 15. As Crystal River suffered two losses in the regular season to Citrus, both 3-0, North Marion is strongly favored to move on to the Regional Tournament next week.

5A – District 5: • Belleview (4-9) • Lake Weir (1-11) • Vanguard (11-2) Lake Weir drew a bye in round one, and will face Vanguard, which defeated Belleview on Oct. 12, 3 sets to 0, with the set scores being 25-16, 25-13 and 25-21. Vanguard’s offense was led by sophomore duo Sophie Reed with 31 assists and Emma Ehman with an astounding 21 kills on the night.

Vanguard faced Lake Weir on Oct. 14 for the championship

The Forest girls volleyball team celebrates as they win their match against Buchholz High School in the 6A District 4 play.

[Alan Youngblood/Ocala Gazette]

and as with the regular season, Vanguard trounced Lake Weir 3-0. Vanguard dominated the first two sets 25-7 and 25-8. Allowing their 2nd string to play in the 3rd set made the score much closer at 25-23. The lady Knights were led once again by Ehman who had 13 kills on the night, made possible through the assistance of setter Reed. Also contributing to the offense with kills were Ruby Owen with eight and Adyla Kerley with seven.

Vanguard is officially district champions and will move on to Regionals next week.

6A – District 5: • Forest (13-0) The sole Marion County team in the 6A-District 5 bracket, undefeated Forest (12-0 enters the tournament not having lost a single set. Forest faced Buchholz out of Gainesville on Oct. 13 and triumphed 3-1.

Although the Wildcats, didn’t have the strong offensive stance they are accustomed to,

with 11 aces and very few errors on the night, Forest’s consistency continues to pay off. In addition, Forest’s scrappiness enabled them to walk away with 96 hard earned digs. Buchholz being the first real challenge of 2020 for Forest, Coach Collins reflected on the game stating, “The team responded well to being under pressure for the first time this season.”

Moving forward in the bracket, Forest will face Gainesville at 7 p.m. on Oct. 15. As Gainesville lost both regular season bouts to Buchholz 3 sets to 0, Forest should walk away as District Champions and move forward to Regionals.

7A – District 5: • West Port (7-6) Having finished the regular season at 7-5, West Port had a tough season. Unfortunately, they were unable to end the 2020 season on a high note and were defeated by East Ridge in the first round 3-0. East Ridge will face Apopka for the Championship.

St. Francis celebrate a spike as St. John takes on St. Francis during 2A District 4 playoff action. [Alan Youngblood/Ocala Gazette]

14

OCTOBER 16 - OCTOBER 22, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Silver River Museum to reopen with new exhibit, wing New 300-square-foot addition debuts next weekend with Native American dugout canoes

By Brad Rogers Ocala Gazette

T

he Silver River Museum is planning to reopen its doors to the public next weekend, and it has a new gallery and new historic exhibit to show off when it does.

The museum, located in Silver Springs State Park, will open for weekends only beginning Oct. 24-25, said Scott Mitchell, museum director. It has been closed due to the pandemic since March.

The museum opens with a new exhibit, as well as a new

3,000-square-foot wing built specially to house it. The exhibit, “Dugout Canoes: Paddling Through the Americas,” features dugout canoes “from Florida to the Amazon and out to the Pacific Northwest,” according to a grant proposal written by Mitchell for the project.

The idea for the canoe exhibit sprung from what has been described as a major find of dugout canoes in 2000 at Newnan’s Lake, south of Gainesville, Mitchell said. During the drought of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, the lake’s level fell to the point that major portions

of its shoreline were exposed like never before. What was revealed was more than 100 Native American dugout canoes in the lakebed.

No one knows why so many dugouts were in the lake.

“That discovery was really was the spark that led to this exhibit,” Mitchell said.

The Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida originally housed the exhibit, which took two tractor trailers to move it to Ocala.

Researchers who measured and tested the artifacts said the ages of the canoes range from 500 to

5,000 years old.

Mitchell received a grant from the Ocala-based Felburn Foundation for $350,000 to build the addition to the museum. Local businesses, including Innovel Solutions, Bowden Construction and the Public Education Foundation of Marion County, also contributed time and services to bring the project to fruition.

The Florida Museum at UF has loaned the exhibit to the Silver River Museum for a minimum of 10 years at no charge, Mitchell said.

“It was sort of a group effort between the two museums,”

he explained, adding that the Florida Museum had planned to decommission the exhibit at their facility, thus making it available to Silver River.

“It’s a wonderful exhibit,” Mitchell said.

“The dugout canoe is one of those cultural building blocks. It had great implications on human progress,” changing transportation, commerce and food collection and distribution.

The exhibit will not only show ancient dugout canoes but also explain how they were found, excavated, tested, researched and preserved.

“Just over 10,000 students visit the Silver River Museum annually,” the museum wrote in its Felburn grant proposal. “If this exhibit is up for 10 years, then a minimum of 100,000 students would benefit.”

Since the exhibit opened in late February, and the museum was forced to shut down in early March, Mitchell said it is virtually a new exhibit to the community.

“It’s going to be brand new to most of the community,” he said.

The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Scott Mitchell, the museum director, describes some of the features of a Native American dugout canoe from Vancouver Island on display in the new Dugout Canoes: Paddling through the Americas exhibit at the Silver River Museum in Silver Springs State Park. The museum plans to reopen to the public on again on Oct. 24-25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. after being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic since early March. Face coverings will be required to enter the museum. The new dugout canoe exhibit was a traveling exhibit from the Florida Museum of Natural History at UF and Mitchell received a $350,000 grant from the Felburn Foundation to build a nearly 3,000 square foot addition to the museum to house the new exhibit. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

15

OCTOBER 16 - OCTOBER 22, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Now -1/2

Community Astronaut Academy

Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave. Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4pm Kids of all ages learn about space travel with hands-on exhibits exploring the space station, Mars rover and rockets. www.mydiscoverycenter.org

10/16 Marion Oaks Farmers Market

Marion Oaks Community Center, 294 Marion Oaks Ln. 9am-12pm Fresh vegetables, artisan food products and handmade crafts.

10/16 Marion County Friday Market

McPherson Government Complex, 601 SE 25th Ave. 9am-2pm Shop locally fresh fruits and veggies, cinnamon buns, jerky, freeze dried treats, olive oils and seafood.

10/16 Casino Gala Royale

Country Club of Ocala, 6823 SE 12th Cir. 6-10pm Marion County Building Industry Association hosts a casino night to benefit Veterans Helping Veterans. Enjoy casino games, a cash bar, hors d’oeuvres and music. Visit www.mcbia.org for tickets and more information.

10/16 Nightmare of Pine Street -17

Wayne’s World of Paintball, 4841 S Pine Ave 8-11:30pm The annual haunted trail to benefit Toys for Tots features 5 acres of haunted attractions. Please wear a mask and proper footwear. Visit www.waynes-world.com or call (352) 401-1801 for more information.

The Astronaut Academy exhibit at Discovery Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday

10/16 Fall Parade of Homes -18

10/18 Charity Golf Tournament

10/16 The Pickin’ Patch Pumpkin Patch -18

10/19 Marion County - Leading the Way

117 SE 22nd Ave. 11am-5pm Friday-Saturday, 12-5pm Sunday Marion County Building Industry Association offers tours of nine new model homes located throughout Marion County.

Visit www.mcbia.org for a map and more information.

11000 Rolling Hills Rd., Dunnellon 3-7pm Friday, 10am-7pm Saturday, 12-7pm Sunday Enjoy a corn maze, kids’ hay fort with slides, hay maze and live bluegrass music as you pick a pumpkin. www.dunnellonpumpkinpatch.com

10/16 Coon Hollo Fall Festival and Flashlight Fall Nights -18

22480 N. Hwy 441, Micanopy Festival: 4-7pm Friday, 10am-7pm Saturday, 12-7pm Sunday Flashlight Nights: 7-9pm Friday and Saturday The festival includes a hemp maze, pony rides, hayride, sack slide, pasture putt-putt and farm animals. Flashlight nights feature bonfires, hayrides and maze by flashlight. Visit www. coonhollo.com or call (352) 318-9258 for more information.

10/16 Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch -18

Timberline Farm, 3200 SE 115th St., Belleview 4pm-dusk Friday, 10am-dusk Saturday, 12pm-dusk Sunday Family activities include a pumpkin patch, hay rides, slide, face painting, music, craft and food vendors and kids’ games.

A portion of the proceeds benefit St. Theresa’s Soup Kitchen.

Visit www.timberlinefarm.net or call (352) 454-4113 for more information.

10/17 Evergreen Cemetery Volunteer Cleanup

Evergreen Cemetery, 300 block of NW Eighth St. 8am-12pm Volunteers are invited to clean headstones, rake leaves and pick up debris to support the restoration and beautification of this historic cemetery. Masks provided. Call Tom Casey at (352) 351-6723 for more information.

10/17 Brownwood Farmers Market

2726 Brownwood Blvd., Wildwood 9am-1pm More than 70 vendors offer fresh produce and crafts. www. thevillagesentertainment.com

10/17 Ocala Downtown Market

SE 3rd Street and SE 3rd Avenue 9am-2pm A variety of vendors offer local fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood, fresh pasta, honey, arts and crafts, rain or shine. www. ocaladowntownmarket.com

10/17 Drive-In Dance Party

Ocala Drive-In, 4850 S. Pine Ave. 10am-12pm Making Strides Against Breast Cancer presents a socially distanced dance party, with attendees dancing near their vehicles to music by DJ Casey Heathman, and a pink car decorating contest. Call (352) 240-5063 or visit www. makingstrideswalk.org for more information.

10/17 Women’s March for Justice

Ocala Downtown Square 11am-2pm The Democratic Women’s Club of Florida, in collaboration with Women’s March and We Demand Coalition, invites women to show up for justice to hold the seat of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in her memory. Visit www.dwcf.org for more information.

10/17 Biketober Fest -18

War Horse Harley-Davidson, 5331 N. US 441 11am-4pm Enjoy food, beer, live music and a bike wash, with proceeds donated to charity. Call (352) 227-1606 or visit www. warhorseharley.com for more information.

Ocala Golf Club, 3130 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

8am-3pm Charlie Horse hosts a tournament to benefit Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection which features longest drive, closest to the pin, hole-in-one and best dressed team prizes. Email charliehorseocalagm@gmail.com or call (352) 622-4050 for more information.

Circle Square Cultural Center, 8395 SW 80th St. 2-3:30pm Kevin Sheilley of the Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership will talk about Marion County’s growth, expansion and future plans. Register for this free event at www.masterthepossibilities.org or call (352) 861-9751 for more information.

10/20 NonProfit Business Council

Ocala Police Department, 402 S. Pine Ave. 8:15-9:30am A free monthly professional development workshop for NonProfit Business Council members. www.ocalafoundation. org/non-profit-business-council

10/20 Tuesday Talk: Business Advancement Series

CEP, 310 SE 3rd St. and virtual 8:15-9:30am Dr. David Willis presents the latest research in sleep science and action items to improve sleep. Attend the networking breakfast and presentation or attend on Facebook Live. RSVP to andrea@ocalacep.com. www.cepocala.com.

10/20 Florida-Friendly Landscaping: Recycling Yard Waste

Virtual 10-11:30am IFAS Marion County Master Gardeners discuss recycling yard waste, reducing stormwater runoff and protecting the waterfront. Registration via https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/marion/ is required for this free online workshop.

10/20 Give4Marion -21

Virtual 10am-10am The Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County’s inaugural 24-hour online giving campaign offers donors the chance to support more than nonprofit organizations that provide services to Marion County residents. www. give4marion.org

10/20 Biz Promoters Networks Group

Power Plant Business Incubator, 405 SE Osceola Ave. 11:30am-12:30pm Bring your own lunch. Email tom@ocalacep.com for more information.

10/20 Florida Springs Protection Open House

Silver Springs State Park, 5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

6-7:30pm A socially distanced open house to learn about water quality issues, environmental concerns and septic tank requirements in connection with Silver and Rainbow Springs. Call (352) 438-2300 for more information.

10/20 Be: Books & Empowerment

Thrive Chiropractic, 606 SE 1st Ave. 6:30-8pm A book club geared toward connecting female business professionals and young moms with books that empower women. https://be-books-and-empowerment.eventbrite.com.

10/21 ExCEPtional Mornings

Church of Hope, 3233 SE Maricamp Rd. 7:30-9am Presentation by CEP President & CEO Kevin Sheilley for CEP partners. Call (352) 629-8051 for to RSVP or for more information. www.ocalacep.com

16

OCTOBER 16 - OCTOBER 22, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

10/21 1 Million Cups Ocala

Power Plant Business Incubator, 405 SE Osceola Ave. 9:30-10:30am Two local startups present their business idea to an audience of community entrepreneurs. Email ryan@ocalacep.com for more information.

10/21 Town Hall Meeting

Virtual 12-1pm The Cancer Alliance of Marion County hosts a virtual town hall meeting for cancer patients and survivors to share challenges, successes, resources and programs. Participate online at https://zoom.us/j/93205580451. Contact Amy Roberts at (352) 732-0277 or aroberts@rboi.com for more information.

10/21 Jobs of the Future Accounting Chat

Virtual 12:15-2pm The College of Central Florida’s Business and Technology Department hosts an informative event exploring the highdemand, high-wage career opportunities in accounting. The first 10 registrants will receive a small gift and one attendee will receive a grand prize. Register at www.cf.edu/bustechevent or contact Bonnie Hays at haysb@cf.edu for more information.

10/21 CF Dual Enrollment Information Session

Virtual 6-6:45pm The College of Central Florida invites students and parents to learn more about dual enrollment, earning high school and college credit at the same time. Attendees will receive a waiver of application fees. Visit www.cf.edu/informationsession for more information.

10/22

Florida Feast

Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Rd. 6-8pm The Marion County Road Builders Association hosts a feast of authentic Florida cuisine to benefit local charities including Interfaith Emergency Services, ARC Marion and Arnette House. Enjoy food, fun prize drawings and a silent auction. www.iesmarion.org

10/22 Farmers Market

Circle Square Commons, 8405 SW 80th St. 9am-1pm Locally grown seasonal produce, baked goods, plants and more. www.circlesquarecommons.com/farmersmarket

Arts

Now Pump Boys and Dinettes -10/25

Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd.

7:30pm This high-octane, country-flavored musical set at North Carolina’s Double Cupp Diner promises a down-home good time. Performances are Thursday-Sunday through October 25th. Visit www.ocalacivictheatre.com for tickets and more information, or call (352) 236-2274.

10/12 Pre-Conception Exhibit Opening

CF Webber Gallery, 3001 SW College Rd. 10am-4pm A solo exhibit of sculptures by Russell Bellamy features both floor-based interactive sculptures and wall-based relief sculptures influenced by the proximity of urban and rural landscapes. The exhibit is open Monday-Thursday through November 5th. Visit www.cf.edu/webber for more information.

10/15 Intimate Apparel -18

College of Central Florida-virtual 7:30pm CF Theatre presents a streaming play filled with desire, passion and betrayal that tells the story of an Edwardian-era African American seamstress who creates exquisite lingerie for women of the boudoir and brothel alike. Visit www.cf.edu for tickets and more information.

10/16 Learning Landscape Photography

Sholom Park, 7110 SW 80th Ave. 10:30am Photographer Ray Cech shares photography tips and tricks to help you capture the perfect nature image with your camera or smartphone. Register at www.sholompark.org or all (352) 8730848, ext. 7650 for more information.

10/16 Ballet Barre Demonstration

NOMA Ocala, 939 N. Magnolia Ave. 12pm Ballet dancer and instructor Leighton Okus offers an inside look at classical ballet barre. Purchase lunch onsite from DB’s Rolling Dough for a magical lunch hour, part of FAFO’s Artober. www.fafo.org

10/16 Snack-Size Plays

The Sharon – virtual 1pm The Studio Theatre Tierra Del Sol introduces an entire virtual play reading in only 10 minutes – complete with snack pairing suggestions. www.thesharonstudio.com

10/16 Expressive HeARTS: Healing Through the Arts

The Monarch Center, 2895 SE 62nd St. 2-3:30pm Hospice of Marion County hosts a gathering for adults to express grief freely and without judgment through simple writing, craft and art projects in a relaxed environment. Space is limited; register at www.monarchcenter-marion.com or call (352) 873-7456.

10/16 Ocala Symphony Orchestra: Open Rehearsal

Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St. 7-8pm Students and their families are invited to attend a rehearsal for Ocala Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale.” Students can hear Maestro Matthew Wardell’s interactions with musicians and complimentary soda and snacks are provided. RSVP for this free event to info@reillyartscenter.com. Call (352) 351-1606 or visit www. reillyartscenter.com for more information.

10/17 FAFO’s Market & Mingle

Marion Cultural Alliance, 23 SW Broadway St. 1-4pm Meet the local artists showing in FAFO’s “Community” exhibit, purchase one-of-a-kind local artworks and enjoy Infinite Ale Works brews and small bites. The event is free, and VIP tickets can be purchased for early admission. Follow @ FineArtsForOcala on Facebook or email fafoocala@gmail.com for more information.

10/17 Ocala Symphony Orchestra: The Soldier’s Tale

Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St. 7:30pm Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale” was written in 1918 at the height of the Spanish Flu pandemic. This special collaboration with Dance Alive National Ballet features Joshua Mazur as narrator. Distanced seating is limited. Call (352) 351-1606 or visit www.reillyartscenter.com for tickets.

Pump Boys and Dinettes is showing at 7:30 p.m. nightly through Sunday at Ocala Civic Theatre

Now Alone Together -10/31

NOMA Gallery, 939 N. Magnolia Ave. 12-6pm An art exhibit featuring best-in-show artists from the last five Ocala Arts Festivals presented by Fine Arts for Ocala (FAFO) and sponsored by the David & Lisa Irwin Midgett Foundation at the historic Coca Cola building. Open Thursdays-Sundays. www.fafo.org

10/2 -31

Community

Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 S. Broadway 12-6pm Local artists take on the topic “What does community mean to you?” in this new exhibition. Opening reception October 2nd, 5:30-7:30pm; exhibit open Tuesday-Saturday through October 31st. Call (352) 369-1500 for more information.

Alone Together is on tap from noon to 6 p.m. at NOMA Gallery on North Magnolia Avenue

17

OCTOBER 16 - OCTOBER 22, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

10/18 Petals and Paint: Sunflowers, You are my Sunshine

Gallery B an Art Collective Art Gallery, 405 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

2-5pm Artist Julie Shealy and floral designer Taylor Grace come together for a unique workshop that allows participants to create two masterpieces — a custom seasonal floral arrangement featuring sunflowers and a painting of the design in the theme “You are my Sunshine.” Register at www. julieshealy.com or call (352) 875-2419.

10/19 Hinterlands Exhibit Opening

City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. 8am-5pm Artist Megan Welch, a portrait painter and educator who lives in northeast Florida, has created an exhibition of portraits in oil and graphite that portray the stories of those navigating the temporal nature of life, the unknown and the human condition.

Exhibit open Monday-Friday through January 8th. Call (352) 629-8447 for more information.

10/20

Teaching Tuesday: Kusama Pumpkin

Appleton Museum – virtual 10-10:30am The Appleton Museum presents a live streaming art project that the whole family can make at home with basic art and craft supplies. Online at www.facebook.com/appletonmuseum.

District Board of Trustees & Munroe Regional 10/20 Hospital Health System Committees Hospital District Office, 1121 SW First Ave. 12pm Call (352) 622-3662 for more information.

10/20 Community Redevelopment Area Board

McPherson Government Complex Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave. 1:50pm Contact Chris Rison at (352) 438-2600 for more information.

10/20 Marion County Commission Planning & Zoning

McPherson Government Complex Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave. 2pm Call (352) 438-2600 for more information.

10/20 Ocala Community Redevelopment Area Agency Board Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. and online 4:45pm Call (352) 629-8401 more information. Visit https://zoom. us/j/446885807 to participate online.

10/20 Ocala City Council

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. and online 5pm Call (352) 629-8401 for more information. Visit https://zoom. us/j/446885807 to participate online.

10/22 Teachable Thursdays

NOMA Ocala, 939 N. Magnolia Ave. 3:30-4:30pm Artist Maggie Weakley offers a free class for adults and kids age 7 and up and promises even those who say “I can’t draw” can learn to see like an artist. Email callmaggie@yahoo.com for more information.

10/22 FAFO Artists’ Panel

NOMA Ocala, 939 N. Magnolia Ave. 5:30pm Fine Arts for Ocala offers a free art discussion with local artists. Bring your favorite beverage and your art questions and join the conversation. www.fafo.org

10/19

Government

10/20 City of Dunnellon Planning Commission

Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 River Dr., Dunnellon 5:30pm Call (352) 465-8500 for more information.

10/20 Belleview City Commission

City Hall Commission Room, 5443 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview 6pm Call (352) 245-7021 for more information.

10/21 Marion County Parks and Recreation Advisory Council Parks and Recreation Conference Room, 111 SE 25th Ave. 3pm Call (352) 671-8560 for more information.

Marion County Development Review Committee

Office of the County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave. 9am The DRC votes on waiver requests, drainage/site plans, subdivision master plans, preliminary plats, improvement plans and final plats. Call (352) 671-8686 for more information.

County Development Review Committee Staff 10/22 Marion Meeting

Office of the County Engineer Bldg 1 Conference Room, 412 SE 25th Ave. 8:30am Applicants may discuss proposed or current projects with county review staff prior to meeting formally with the Development Review Committee. Call (352) 671-8686 for more information.

10/20 Marion County Board of Commissioners

McPherson Government Complex Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave. 9am Call (352) 438-2323 for more information.

10/20 Marion County Public Hearing

McPherson Government Complex Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave. 10am Public hearing to consider an amendment to a developmental agreement for Freedom Crossings and an amendment to ordinance 08-16. Call (352) 438-2300 for more information.

10/22 Silver Springs Shores Tax Advisory Council

Virtual 11:30am Participate online via https://zoom.us/j/99234254171. Call (352) 629-8243 for more information.

ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR 16

6-8pm Becky Sinn Ocala Downtown Square

16

6-9pm Jeff Jarrett Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar

17

5:30-9:30pm Houston Keen The Black Sheep on Broadway

17

9pm-12am Jeff Jarrett The Lodge

16

6-9pm Chris Poindexter Loco’s Grill & Pub

16

7-11pm Music from the Heart The Keep Downtown

17

6:30-9:30pm Doug Adams Hiatus Brewing Company

18

10am-2pm Grass Campers Bank Street Patio Bar

16

7pm Friday Night Live Orange Blossom Opry

17

2-6pm Rob Hazen Bank Street Patio Bar

17

7:30-11:30pm Humans In Disguise Bank Street Patio Bar

22

5-9pm Jeff Jarrett Bank Street Patio Bar

THEULTIMATE ULTIMATE ICONICIN LUXURY THE ININICONIC LUXURY THE ULTIMATE ICONIC LUXURY

22 00 2 0C C L ACX X T4,X X T 5O O T6 20 AA DD I LILLAC T4, T5 R RX X T6

0%APR APR FO FORR60 60MMOONNTTHHSS 0%

THE ULTIMATE IN ICONIC LUXURY

11

FO L LUA E DB B YR ER FO R RWW E LELQQ UA L ILFI IFEI D UU YE SS 2 2 2 0 2 0PURCHASE CADILLAC X T4 , X T 5 O R XT6 PLUS$1,500 $1,500 PURCHASE ALLOWANCE PLUS ALLOWANCE

IMATE IN ICONIC LUXURY 1

0% APR FO R 6 0 M O N T H S

Dealership availability hours of operation subject to change in accordance with federal local laws restrictions.

Dealership availability andand hours of operation areare subject to change in accordance with all all federal andand local laws andand restrictions.

1. Monthly payment is $16.67 every $1,000 financed.

Average example down payment is 11.4%.

Some customers may qualify. available with lease some other offers.

Take retail delivery by 8/31/20.

1. Monthly payment is $16.67 forfor every $1,000 financed.

Average example down payment is 11.4%.

Some customers may notnot qualify.

NotNot available with lease andand some other offers.

Take retail delivery by 8/31/20. ® ® ® ® 2. Not available with lease some other offers.

Take retail delivery by 8/31/20.©2020 ©2020 General Motors.

All rights reserved.

Cadillac XT4® XT5® XT6® 2. Not available with lease andand some other offers.

Take retail delivery by 8/31/20.

General Motors.

All rights reserved.

Cadillac XT4® XT5® XT6®

FO R W E L L- Q UA L I F I E D B U Y E R S

PLUS $1,500 PURCHASE ALLOWANCE2

4040 SW College Rd, Ocala, FL 34474 (352) 732-4700 www.sullivancadillac.com

FRANK DELUCA

NO PAYMENTS ‘20COROLLA

PRESIDENT/OWNER

FOR UP TO

6 MONTHS!

*

BUY CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED

17,788

$

or DRIVE NEW

84

$

‘20CAMRY

$

PER MO 1

BUY CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED

20,788 or DRIVE NEW

118

$

‘20RAV4

PER MO 2

BUY CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED

23,888

$

or DRIVE NEW

104

$

PER MO 3

SR 200 Ocala, FL 352-732-0770 • DELUCATOYOTA.COM “TOYOTA MAKES THE CAR...DELUCA MAKES THE DIFFERENCE!”

**INTEREST ACCRUES FROM INCEPTION. MAXIMUM TERM MONTHS. DELUCA TOYOTA WILL PAY THE SIX MONTHS OFPAYMENTS UP TO . THIS OFFER APPLIES TOWELLLQUALIFIED BUYERS AND REQUIRES APPROVED CREDIT. NOTALL BUYERS WILL QUALIFY FOR THESE RATES. MAY NOTBE COMBINED WITH CERTAIN OTHER OFFERS. EXCLUDES TAX, TAG, REGISTRATION, TITLE AND DEALER FEE. CERTIFIED PRE OWNED COROLLA ,,,, #TTTTT SALE PRICE ,,,, EXCLUDES TAX, TAG, REGISTRATION, TITLE, AND DEALER FEE ORR #BBBBB COROLLA LE MODEL ##### VIN##YFEPRAEELPPPPPPP MONTH LEASE WITH APPROVED CREDIT. ...DUE AT LEASE SIGNING PLUS TAX, TAG, TITLE, REGISTRATION, AND DEALER FEE OF . SECURITY DEPOSIT. PLUS DEALER INSTALLED OPTIONS. K MILES PER YEAR ... A MILE FOR OVERR ... DUE AT LEASE SIGNING PLUS TAX, TAG, TITLE, REGISTRATION, AND DEALER FEE OF . SECURITY .... #TTTTT CERTIFIED PRE OWNED CAMRY LE SALE PRICE ,,,, EXCLUDES TAX, TAG, REGISTRATION, TITLE AND DEALER FEE. OFFER EXPIRES ////////. ORR BBBBB NEW CAMRY LE MODEL ##### VIN##TTCCCAKKLUUUUUUU MONTH LEASE WITH APPROVED CREDIT. AGE. NET CAP COST .... EXCLUDES TAX, TAG, REGISTRATION, TITLE, AND DEALER FEE. #TTTTT CERTIFIED PRE OWNED RAVV XLE SALE PRICE ,,,, EXCLUDES TAX, TAG, REGISTRATION, TITLE AND DEALER FEE. ORR BBBBB NEW RAVV LE MODEL ##### VIN# TTKKRFVVLCCCCCCC MONTH LEASE WITH APPROVED DEPOSIT. PLUS DEALER INSTALLED OPTIONS. K MILES PER YEAR... A MILE FOR OVERAGE. NET CAP COST ...EXCLUDES TAX, TAG, REGISTRATION, TITLE AND DEALER FEE. CUSTOMERS WHOBUY THREE ELIGIBLE TIRES WILL GET THE FOURTH FOR . ELIGIBLE TIRES MUST BE PURCHASED CREDIT. ... DOWN DUE AT LEASE SIGNING PLUS TAX, TAG, TITLE, REGISTRATION, AND DEALER FEE OF . SECURITY DEPOSIT. PLUS DEALER INSTALLED OPTIONS. K MILES PER YEAR ... A MILE FOR OVERAGE. NET CAP COST THROUGH SOUTHEAST TOYOTA COMPLETE TIRE & MAINTENANCE. TIRES PURCHASED BY THE DEALERSHIP OUTSIDE OFTHE SET COMPLETE TIRE & MAINTENANCE PROGRAM DONOTQUALIFY FOR REIMBURSEMENT. VALID ONLY ON TOYOTA AND SCION VEHICLES. TIRES MUST BE DEALER INSTALLED BY NOVEMBER , . ALL TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS ARE ELIGIBLE TOPARTICIPATE. OFFERS EXPIRE ////////.