Stunning custom-built home in SE Ocala on a picturesque 1-acre lot. Open floor plan with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a charming eat-in kitchen, gracious formal dining room and dedicated office space. Detached garage provides an additional 1,000+ SF of versatile space tailored to serve as a home office, sophisticated man cave or income-generating 1/1 apartment. Additionally, enjoy the convenience of being near the scenic Santos Trailhead for biking, hiking or horseback riding.
Exceptional Estate Farm
The residence situated on 5.79+/- acres sits in elevated bliss in a serene setting surrounded by magnificent oak trees. The 3-bedroom, 3-bath split floor plan offers an expansive living area with a rock fireplace overlooking the picturesque outdoors, a large dining room perfect for gatherings and a separate sitting room with expansive windows offering beautiful views. The spacious kitchen is equipped with stainless steel appliances, a center island, eating space and large pantry. The property includes a center aisle concrete block barn with 8 stalls, separate workshop/storage area and a large parking pad for equipment. The property is perfect for equestrians, offering lush pastures. Its convenient location provides easy access to the World Equestrian Center, Florida Horse Park and Greenways and Trails and is just 3 miles from town amenities. Located in Silver Hammock Preserve equestrian community on 4.89+/- acres which offers a tranquil escape. The home features a charming design. Upon entry through the Brazilian walnut front door, you’ll find 5-bedroom, triple split home with abundant natural light and breathtaking views. The kitchen is equipped with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, custom hickory cabinets, a center island, raised bar seating, a large pantry and an eat-in nook. The outdoor living area impresses with a covered lanai, beautiful pool, pergola and a generously sized custom fire pit. Conveniently, the property is just minutes away from major stores, restaurants, medical facilities and downtown Ocala. Option to purchase an adjacent 4.79 +/- acre lot for another residence or barn. Exclusive Equestrian Community Our results speak for themselves. List with Joan today! Joan Pletcher, Realtor 352.804.8989 $549,000 $850,000 $1,520,000
Stunning Private Sanctuary
Discover peace and tranquility for you and your horses on this stunning 73+ acre private sanctuary adorned with majestic trees that offer breathtaking views. The meticulously manicured landscaping, verdant rolling pastures and an abundance of shade from the sprawling tree canopies create a picturesque setting. The main residence boasts a spacious chef’s kitchen, dining area and large great room that features tongue and groove ceilings and a beautiful brick fireplace, with stunning views of the outdoor entertainment areas. The owners’ suite offers your own private oasis. The centrally located concrete barn offers 14 stalls and is impeccably maintained, while the frame barn provides an additional 14 stalls. Delightful 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom guest home.
$2,550,000 $5,500,000
Meticulously maintained 69+/- acres of lush, green pastures, providing ample space for riding, training and grazing. Start to finish: the facility is designed for safety and the horse’s comfort. Shared ownership in 3/4+/- mile race track. Excellent ventilation in the block main barn, with each of the 100 stalls cooled by professional-grade fans. Two additional barns with 38 stalls. Nine round pens are ideal for starting young horses. Six wash racks stations for grooming and cooling down horses. Centrally located office area. Privately located modern 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath main house will impress with its elegant stonework and tongue and groove ceilings. Resort-style pool and pool house equipped with a Wolf range, venta hood, sink and full bath. Renovated mobile home for guests or staff. Conveniently located near the Williston Airport.
Ultimate Equestrian Lifestyle
Expect an unparalleled combination of professionalism, integrity and relentless commitment to her client’s unique needs, interests, and desires.
Joan is a residential, equine property and land development REALTOR® since 1985 and a horsewoman herself so her clients have the benefit of experience and specialized expertise.
“The Ocala region is home to the most beautiful equestrian estates and horse farms in the United States and the natural beauty of the area, along with an amazing variety of equine-centered activities and venues, such as the phenomenal World Equestrian Center, makes this a place that more and more people want to call home,” says Joan.
Dear Readers,
here are real-life heroes in our midst. In this issue, we profile a few local people who embrace a commitment to their community, their families and their professions.
Marion County Fire Rescue Chief James Banta says there are days when he can’t believe a guy from Anthony is the head of a $130 million public safety agency with more than 770 employees. But he is, and everything about his past has prepared him for this role. This includes learning about hard work from his jockey father and teamwork from his football coaches at North Marion High School.
Yamila Acosta, executive director of the Marion County Literacy Council, helps others by leading from the heart and sharing her life experiences, some of which are exactly the same as what the nonprofit’s clients are facing.
Our resident pundit, the famous (infamous) Dave Schlenker gives us an exclusive essay that provides a glimpse into his private life, brain tumors and all, and fiber artist Charlita Rae Whitehead talks about what prompted her to take up the art of tufting, which led to her current exhibit at the Appleton Museum of Art.
We share information about the important work of the caring professionals behind the Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection, which helps youth impacted by abuse and neglect, and how transplanted Ocalan Fe Wood grew up raising orchids in her native Philippines and now shares her knowledge and gorgeous plants with locals.
These folks are just a sample of the many notable locals who put their hearts and souls into making Ocala/Marion County a wonderful place to call home.
Jennifer Hunt Murty Publisher
Publisher | Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@magnoliamediaco.com
PO Box 188, Ocala, FL 34478 Magnolia Media Company, LLC (352) 732-0073
Art
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Amy Crescenzo amy@magnoliamediaco.com
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Brooke Pace/Pebble Graphics LLC
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Bruce Ackerman
Crocker Farm Auction
Eighteenth Hour
Photography
John Jernigan
Maudie Lucas
Photography
Scott Mitchell
Wildalys Photography
ILLUSTRATORS
David Vallejo
CLIENT SERVICES GURU
Cheryl Specht cheryl@magnoliamediaco.com
Editorial
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Greg Hamilton greg@magnoliamediaco.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
JoAnn Guidry
Scott Mitchell
Dave Schlenker
Beth Whitehead
Sales
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Jane Lyons jane@magnoliamediaco.com
D istribution
Rick Shaw
ocalastyle.com
ocalastyle ocalastyle ocalastylemagazine
45 OCALA COOKS
Check out the Grand Champion and People’s Choice bakers in the recent Cheesecake Battle.
48 DRIVABLE DESTINATIONS
The Follow That Dream tour and more.
52 THREAD BY THREAD
Fiber artist Charlita Rae Whitehead’s tufting exhibit is on display at the Appleton Museum of Art.
56 ENSLAVEMENT, RESISTANCE AND CREATIVITY
The pottery of David Drake is exhibited in most major fine art museums across the country.
in this issue
SAFETY AND SERVICE
MCFR Chief James Banta balances saving lives, running a growing department and caring for family.
32
LEADING FROM THE HEART
Learn how Yamila Acosta, executive director of the Marion County Literacy Council, helps others.
38 COLUMNS, CONFESSIONS AND A BRAIN CYST
This Dave Schlenker exclusive essay gives a glimpse into his private life.
59 A LITTLE BIT ABOUT…
Scott Mitchell shares some personal insights.
60 HELP, HOPE AND HEALING
Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection helps youth impacted by abuse and neglect.
62 A FLORAL FANTASIA
Transplanted Ocalan Fe Wood grew up raising orchids in her native Philippines
ON THE COVER: Traci and James “Jamie” Banta Jr. with Rip, photo by John Jernigan, Jim Jernigan Studio THIS PAGE: Photos by Bruce Ackerman
UF HEALTH OCALA NEIGHBORHOOD HOSPITAL — NOW OPEN
Our commitment to Ocala is growing with the opening of our newest hospital, featuring a state-of-the-art ER with shorter wait times, inpatient services for when a higher level of care is needed, an advanced surgical center, the convenience of an on-site medical laboratory, and comprehensive imaging services. Introducing UF Health Ocala Neighborhood Hospital — where convenience meets compassion, backed by the nationally acclaimed care our UF Health experts offer.
Located off I-75 at Exit 354 and U.S. Highway 27, visit UFHealth.org/OcalaNeighborhoodHospital to learn more.
NOW OPEN 24/7 ER
Located in the heart of downtown Ocala, Harry’s offers traditional Louisiana favorites like Shrimp and Scallop Orleans, Crawfish Etouffée, Jambalaya, Shrimp Creole, Blackened Red Fish and Louisiana Gumbo. Other favorites, like French Baked Scallops and Bourbon Street Salmon, are complemented with grilled steaks, chicken, burgers, po’ boy sandwiches and salads. Their full bar features Harry’s Signature Cocktails, such as the Harry’s Hurricane, Bayou Bloody Mary or the Cool Goose Martini. They also feature wines by the glass and a wide selection of imported, domestic and craft beer.
Harry’s Seafood
Bar & Grille
24 SE 1st Avenue, Ocala
(352) 840-0900 › hookedonharrys.com Mon-Thu 11a-9p › Fri & Sat 11a-10p › Sun 11a-8p
El
Baked Stuffed Shrimp
INSIDER
Social Scene
by Bruce Ackerman
Photo
Taffen Anderson and Katrina Thomas enjoyed the Grown Folks: A Night of Elegance event on June 14th at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, which was presented by The Sircle, Inc.
Grown Folks:
A Night of Elegance
MARY SUE RICH COMMUNITY CENTER AT REED PLACE
Photos by Bruce Ackerman
The June 14th event, a black-tie gala hosted by the Sircle, Inc., celebrated the past, present and future of African Americans. The keynote speaker was Rev. Dr. Joy L. Gallmon, with music by DJ Tony and performances by Orlandobased dance troupe Be Heard Through Movement.
Shauna Williams, Onnie Finch, Mitzi Berryan and Sandy Downing
Regina Berry, Maggie Lewis and Natasha Oliver
Bernitha Springs, Demita Newton and Daphne Collston Gabby Oliver, Natyri Oliver and Lauryn Oliver
Te’Sha Jackson and Sam Samuel
Memorial Day Service
OCALA-MARION COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK
Photos by Bruce Ackerman
May 27th saw the annual commemoration event during which local heroes such as U.S. Army PFC Markie T. Sims were honored for their sacrifice in the line of duty. The event included a wreath laying, flyover, honor guard and guest speakers.
Alfred Merrill, Ralph Mueller and Howard Mautner
Eoghan Cullen
John Earl
Autumn Beldock
The Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band
A Hero’s Welcome
CIRCLE SQUARE CULTURAL CENTER
Photos by Bruce Ackerman
Combat veteran Travis Mills started a foundation to help other wounded veterans and their families. On May 16th, he was guest of honor at a celebration that included the screening of Travis: A Soldier’s Story and the Marion County Board of County Commissioners declared it Travis Mills Day.
Travis Mills with the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard
Luella Gruenthal
Dale Midon, Travis Mills, Linda Peterson and Bob Peterson
Craig Curry and Travis Mills
Senior Chief Donald Kennedy
‘Star Wars’ Costume Contest
ST. MARK’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Photos by Bruce Ackerman
Lots of interesting characters were out in force on May 4th for the May the 4th Be With You “Star Wars” costume contest, which was a fundraiser for the nonprofit Ora Clubhouse, which helps people in their recovery toward mental wellness.
Jason Anderson
Zac Bolesta, Jessica Matos, Aaron Hickman and Dale O’Brien
Angie Rushing, Amy Keel, Vanessa Matthew, Drew Hetherington, Dr. Julie Stubrud, Leda Pérez, Gerri Gerthe, Te’Sha Jackson and Kevin Ledzian
Torie Pedrick and Jeremiah Crafton
Children First Gala
The Marion Children’s Alliance’s 2024 Dr. Mike Jordan Awards of Excellence and Vision paid tribute to three local programs.
By Susan Smiley-Height | Photography by Bruce Ackerman
The Marion County Children’s Alliance recently hosted its annual gala event and awards ceremony to recognize the 2024 Dr. Mike Jordan Awards of Excellence and Vision.
The criteria were that an organization has demonstrated exceptional performance in initiatives for or with the children of Marion County. The alliance combines numerous groups in support of children. Jordan was one of MCCA’s founders and an 18-year volunteer and executive director.
The alliance also presented its inaugural Youth of the Year Awards, and no one was more surprised by the honor than young Takyrn Hayes, who was visibly moved. Hayes shared the honors with Jasman Thomas. The criteria included
academic achievement, behavior, attendance, consistency with meeting with the mentor and tutor, and positive feedback from faculty and staff.
The May 10th event took place at the Country Club of Ocala. MCA Executive Director Beth McCall provided materials about the honorees.
“Takyrn Hayes is a student at Oakcrest Elementary. His tutor, Ashley Dries, said Takyrn has improved this year not only academically but as a student overall,” the material states. “He has worked hard to reach his goals in the core subjects of math and reading, while at times he struggled he continued to push through to be successful. Takyrn has become a leader in his grade level as students look up to him for support
Clockwise from left: Thonesia Douglas and Takyrn Hayes; Judge James McCune, Capt. Chris Hickman and Dr. Mike Jordan; Jeremy Vickers, Ashley William, Jasman Thomas and Casey Rivera
and encouragement.”
According to the notes, “Jasman Thomas has become a true leader of his class at Fort King Middle School. He is a student athlete who maintains an above average GPA. His teachers have seen him blossom into a young man who exhibits genuine kindness. Jasman encourages his friends to make good choices and to stay focused on their overall goals. We’ve seen these leadership skills grow with Jasman since joining the SKIP (Supporting Kids, Involving Parents) mentoring program. His mentor, Jeremy Vickers, has given him opportunities to show his leadership skills during group sessions.”
The Dr. Mike Jordan Awards of Excellence and Vision were given to The Rock Program, the Ocala/Marion Fire Rescue Mentorship Program and Early Childhood Court.
The Rock Program transforms school campuses into “hubs of possibility, where dedicated volunteers and staff work to ensure that more than 10,000 local students can feel like the champions they are.” The program provides supplies such as deodorant, clothing and shoes.
Since its inception in 2016, The Rock has opened 17 Rock Rooms, each serving an average of 800 students annually. Locations are primarily on middle and high school campuses, but support has recently been made available to alternative schools as well.
The Ocala/Marion Fire Rescue Mentorship Program has demonstrated a “profound commitment to mentorship, providing invaluable guidance and support to youth within the Ocala Marion community. Through personalized mentorship, participants have been able to develop essential skills such as basic problem solving, teamwork, effective communication techniques and leadership principles and practices. In addition, cadets undergo rigorous physical training through which they gain confidence and learn how to pursue their aspirations with perseverance and grit,” states the provided materials.
The program has served 209 participants. Forty have transitioned into professional roles within their fields of interest, two cadets enlisted in the armed forces and 34 have received scholarships totaling $255,000.
The Early Childhood Court, also known as a Problem Solving Court, was established in 2018 to provide support to families in the dependency court system who have at least one child under the age of 5 who has been removed from a home.
The families voluntarily participate and receive support and services until permanency for the children is achieved.
Since August 2021, under the leadership of Program Coordinator Martha Firkins and General Magistrate Joshua Soileau, the Early Childhood Court has served more than 35 families and over 74 children. Twenty-six cases resulted in children being reunified with their parents, six cases closed in permanent guardianship with family members with parental rights and visitation intact, and three cases closed through adoptions in which all caregivers were long term placement options for the children while parents had the opportunity to work their case plans.
The Early Learning Court collaborates with community partners such as Kids Central Incorporated, The Pearl Project, Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection, the Marion County Children’s Alliance, Perspectives, Ocala Consulting and Prevention, SMA, Children’s Home Society and others.
The gala included a resolution thanking brothers Caleb and Luke Lombardo for their Concert for Good events that helped support the alliance and local artists Mel Fiorentino and Aaron Thomas creating artworks live.
According to McCall, the alliance in 2023 served 304 children/youth in the Mentoring and Tutoring program. The Family Violence Prevention program provided emergency services that included shelter, food and other necessities to 259 families, which included 437 children. The nonprofit organized Friday Night Done Right and Natural High Events for teens to encourage fun without alcohol or drugs and 1,440 teens were in attendance. The alliance also started the Safe Street Partnership of Marion County to help provide solutions and prevention for teen violence.
To learn more, go to mcchildrensalliance.org
Jeremy Vickers, Monica Bryant, Hilary Jackson, Sarah Gershitz, Beth McCall, Kelley Martin, Tanya Ousley, Valerie Mitchell and Justin Gunsby
Editor’s Picks
A
guide to our favorite monthly happenings and can’t-miss events
CHAD SMITH BENEFIT EXTREME RODEO
Florida Horse Park
August 3
The event will include some of the best riders and wranglers from all over the world, as well as bulls from multiple stock contractors. It will include live music, a cornhole tournament, food and a full bar for guests 21 and older. Call (352) 857-6716 or visit bit.ly/XtremeRodeo2024 for tickets.
BRICK CITY ODYSSEY SUMMER CAMP
Brick City Adventure Park
August 5-9
Hosted by Marion County Parks & Recreation, this camp is called a “modern twist on traditional fun” for children of all ages. It includes fi eld days, trips to Easy Street, indoor skydiving at SkyZone and other activities. Visit bit.ly/3yO7iRB to learn more.
Rodeo
photo by Bruce Ackerman
Nick Kaczmar
KIDZ FEST – THE ULTIMATE FAMILY FUN EXPO
World Equestrian Center
August 10-11
The event will include animal interactions, character meet and greets, Touch A Truck, bounce houses, interactive games, entertainment, face painting, giveaways and family friendly exhibitors. Free parking; concessions on site. Learn more at bmgevents.ticketspice.com/ocala-kidz-fest
PATRIOT SERVICE DOGS STORY
AND VETERAN/SERVICE
DOG GRADUATION
Marion Theatre
August 10
Celebrate 15 years of service at this free event. Hear the story of the organization from its inception, with guest speakers and beneficiaries. New dogs graduating into service roles, with demonstrations from animals and handlers, will be featured. Visit reillyartscenter.com/events/veteranservice-dog-graduation for more information.
HEAR US ROAR!
Ocala Civic Theatre
August 16
This is a dual fundraiser for The ARC Marion and Arts in Health Ocala Metro to support client arts programs promoting self-esteem and wellness. Enjoy a live performance of The ARC clients
onstage with AIHOM musicians Becky Baby, Megan Miles and Carl Page. Paintings created by the clients during workshops led by AIHOM artist practitioner Christopher Hershberger will be available for bid in the silent auction. VIP tickets include sparkling wine and light hors d’oeuvres as well as early access to silent auction bidding. Learn more at bit.ly/arc-hear-us-roar
BLUFFETT: A TRIBUTE TO JIMMY BUFFETT
Reilly Arts Center
August 16
Bluffett takes on the atmosphere of a Jimmy Buffett concert, with lots of audience participation during the uncanny re-creation by this group. Break out the Hawaiian shirts and beach sandals and start steaming the clams. Let Bluffett set the beach-pace and take you to Margaritaville. Tickets range from $20 to $55, available at reillyartscenter.com
ARTIST TALK WITH CHARLITA RAE WHITEHEAD
Appleton Museum of Art
August 18
Discussing her solo exhibit Every Fiber of my Being , Whitehead will provide insight into the world of tufting, a form of art that combines weaving and needle embroidery with technological innovation, creating tapestries, looms and more. Free to attend. For more information, visit appletonmuseum.org
WATKINS GLEN SUMMER JAM ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Reilly Arts Center
August 23
The concert will commemorate the 51st anniversary of the Watkins Glen Summer Jam of 1973. Recreating
the classic bands the Allman Brothers Band, The Grateful Dead and The Band, are Steelin’ Peaches, Unlimited Devotion and Hannah Harber and Thomas Wynn, respectively. For tickets and VIP access, visit reillyartscenter.com/events/watkins-glensummer-anniversary-celebration, or contact the box office at (352) 351-1606.
OCALA DOG RANCH AND EPIC REHAB CENTER PET EXPO
Equine Performance Innovation Center
August 23-25
The event will feature a mobile dock for dog jumping games, rescue group vendors and concessions. The center features rehabilitation facilities for horses. Visit epicdogdays.com for more information.
VOWS
Celebrate...
Ocala’s brides and grooms, get a glimpse into their most special of days and hear firsthand about the memories that will always hold a place in their hearts.
Pictured: Roshan and Spencer Tomlinson | Photographed by Wildalys Photography
ROSHAN (PARISHANI) & SPENCER TOMLINSON
April 13th, 2024
Venue: Silver Springs State Park Photographer: Wildalys Photography Hair/makeup artist: Pretty n’ Pinned
Their favorite memory: “When our photographer took us outside as the sun was setting for some really great photos. We had a ton of fun doing all sorts of funny poses and Wildalys was great at getting us to loosen up. It really ended up being a special experience.”
TIFFANY & BEN BRITTON
December 9th, 2023
Venue: The Magnolia, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Photographer: Maudie Lucas
Photography
Wedding planner: Elite Wedding
Planning
Florist: Echelon Florist
Hair & Makeup: Effortless Beauty
Their favorite memory: “Our officiant came up with the most beautiful poem, tailored to our childhood, adolescent and adult lives. Then he had us turn towards our guests (who traveled from Florida to Tennessee) and said, ‘If anyone here would not hesitate to help Tiffany and Ben in a time of need, please stand.’ Every single guest stood up for us. It was the coolest moment and really solidified the love everyone had for us as a couple.”
CLAUDIA (HENDERSON) & RAYMOND GONZALEZ
February 24th, 2024
Venue: World Equestrian Center
Photographer: Eighteenth Hour Photography
Wedding planner: Blessed Magnolia
Florist: Ling’s Moments
Hair/makeup: Kiss and Makeup Orlando
Their favorite memory: “We genuinely cannot choose one moment that was our favorite. Every waking moment of that day was an absolute dream. Between reading our vows during our first touch, finally seeing each other at the altar and dancing all night long with our loved ones, it is impossible to choose. It was the best night of our lives.”
SAFETY
SERVICE and
By Susan Smiley-Height
MCFR Chief Banta balances saving lives, running a growing department and caring for family.
Portraits by John Jernigan
There are days when James “Jamie” Banta Jr. says he can’t believe a guy from Anthony is the head of a $130 million public service agency with more than 770 employees. But he is.
Banta, 51, is our Marion County Fire Rescue chief, and everything about his past has prepared him for this role. This includes learning about hard work from his jockey father and teamwork from his football coaches at North Marion High School.
“I was born and raised in Marion County. My parents moved here from Illinois. My father was a jockey and came here to work with Stavola Farms,” he shares. “I was born in 1973 and was an only child. I went to Anthony Elementary School, North Marion Middle School and graduated from North Marion High School in 1991.”
Banta grew up around horses so his years before high school were pretty much filled with things to do with equines, such as riding competitions. In his early teen years, he took up scuba diving.
“I spent a lot of time scuba diving. Got to go the Grand Cayman Islands, do a lot of stuff with that,” he recalls. “When I entered high school, I started playing football and excelled in it pretty well. What I liked about football and how it transitioned into my career was the team aspect. Some of those early coaches gave me a good foundation of what it means to be a team and that has transcended into my career because this job absolutely is about a team. We can’t do anything alone.”
He notes that, near the end of his high school years, he was focusing on commercial diving.
“I wanted to do commercial-type diving, turn scuba diving into a career, and I was set to go
to a school in Houston. While I was waiting to start that, I got introduced to the fire department by a friend who was volunteering. I went to the station, rode along, and that’s when everything changed,” he shares. “Being a fireman wasn’t a lifelong passion as a kid, it wasn’t that. It was that introduction, and something clicked, and I changed my plans and never looked back.”
THE JOURNEY
Banta was hired by Ocala Fire Rescue shortly after he attended Florida State Fire College. He became a paramedic in 1996. Early in his journey, he also worked part-time for Munroe Regional Hospital, which is now AdventHealth Ocala.
“They handled the ambulance service, and I was a paramedic and also worked part-time for UF Health ShandsCair,” he says. “I immersed myself into everything I could to further my career. In 1997, I left the city and came to work for the county as a paramedic/firefighter. Then I went from firefighter/ paramedic to lieutenant to captain to division chief to deputy chief and then fire chief in 2017.
Along the way, he got his associate degree from University Medical Services through the College of Central Florida and a bachelor’s degree in public safety administration from Columbia Southern University. He is associated with professional groups such as the Florida Fire Chiefs Association and International Association of Firefighters.
He admits that one challenge to his ascension to fire chief was the requirement for speaking in public.
“I was very much an introvert growing up and, really, as an adult,” he shares. “One of my hesitations when I had the opportunity to apply for this job was the amount of public speaking that comes with it. I knew every aspect of the fire department but that part of it was pretty terrifying, and I contemplated not applying because of that. Like in everything, you train yourself through things, so I took an online public speaking class as one of my college classes and it taught me to navigate that.”
THE FAMILY
On one of his forays escorting patients to local emergency rooms, Banta met a registered nurse named Traci. They married in 1998 and are the parents of daughters Danielle Cook, 34, and Chelsey Christensen, 33, both nurse practitioners; and son Jacob, 24, a firefighter with MCFR. Danielle is married to MCFR firefighter Brendan Cook; Chelsey is married to MCFR firefighter Kevin Christensen. The Bantas have five granddaughters: Avery, Emmy, Lucy, Ruby and Charley.
Left , photo courtesy of MCFR
The Bantas at home with Rip
is our ‘real-life hero.’”
ALWAYS RAISE YOUR HAND
The chief offers high praise for Traci, noting that she “essentially raised three kids as I would focus on the department and the community, along with being a sounding board for challenges and understanding some of the more traumatic aspects of dealing with tragedies as she was also an ER nurse.”
Banta says he loves to exercise and be on the water.
“I love fishing, saltwater, inshore, and I do some duck hunting” he says. “I also love spending time with my wife and children and grandchildren, and obviously that’s more important than fishing and anything else.”
He shares that God is an important part of his life.
“My wife was raised Catholic. I was raised Pentecostal. Very big difference in the two types of churches,” he offers. “I would say we probably focus more on relationship less than, you know, church … as long as you have that relationship, that’s the most important thing.”
The Bantas live on 20 acres in the Sparr area, where they have six cows, some chickens, a miniature schnauzer and a wirehaired pointing griffon.
“Jamie exemplifies the true meaning of dedication, balancing the demands of his role as fire chief with an unwavering commitment to our family,” shares Traci. “As the fire chief, he leads with integrity and passion, and at home, he’s equally devoted, always putting our family’s needs first. I truly do not know how he manages all his commitments while always providing for our needs. His dedication to his profession and to us is a testament to his strength of character and love. He
When asked about his career success, Banta says, “It’s an example, I think, of working, dedication and passion for something you love. And, obviously, God opening doors at the right time.”
He goes on to explain, “A lot of people ask me, ‘How did you get to where you are? How do you feel you’ve been successful in this position?’
One of the things I tell them all, always be willing to raise your hand, no matter what you’re being asked to do. And that’s something I feel like I have done my entire career.”
He says it’s easy when somebody says, “Hey, there’s a burning building and there’s kids trapped inside, or there’s a nasty car wreck and you need to do these things to save them, that’s easy… I’m not saying that is easy to do, but as a first responder, that’s what we are here to do. It’s easy to raise your hand and say that. It’s a little harder when somebody is asking you to lead an investigation that is going to most likely result in the termination of people you care about. But always being willing to raise your hand and do whatever the organization asks you to do, and I think that that is something I’ve always done, that has helped me succeed.
MCFR has 25 career fire stations and three career EMS stations. Of the 774 employees, 635 are first responders.
Among the challenges of his leadership role, Banta says, “is ensuring they are fully prepared to do their job. Having the physical, mental and equipment needs to meet the needs of the community safely. Ensuring every one of them goes home” after every shift.
His direct team of deputy chiefs—Robert Graff, Drew Rogers and Robert Kruger—report to him, Left
and top right, photos courtesy of Chief Banta. Additional images courtesy of MCFR
The Bantas with their grandchildren
Chief Banta and Jacob Banta
and then there are division chiefs. That is how they “keep an appropriate span of control.”
Of the 774 employees, 88 are dispatchers and 635 are first responders. The remainder are administrative staff. Banta oversees Public Safety Communications and MCFR personnel respond to all the medical emergencies in Marion County and its municipalities. All firefighters must become EMTs or paramedics to advance.
“It’s not a requirement to become a paramedic, but you do end up getting capped in your promotional progression,” Banta explains. “In order to move up in the higher ranks, you have to be a paramedic.”
He adds that MCFR also has a group of “high-
performance” employees who are single certified. “They are EMTs and paramedics that do not have to become firefighters,” he notes. “They don’t do the fire position, just the medical.”
RESPONSIBILITY AND REWARD
Banta says there are a lot of rewards in public service.
“One is being able to make a difference in people’s lives who are in desperate need of help, and another is seeing when the things we have done to make sure our people are properly prepared and equipped and trained to have the resources that they need, when it comes together, and the recent
Chief Banta participating in a training exercise
Chief Banta leads the PTSD Walk
Chief Banta and Deputy Chief Robert Kruger
LT Larry Waldren and Chief Banta
It’s a lot of responsibility with this job, but with that comes great rewards. “ “
bus accident is a prime example of that,” he offers.
He was referring to the May 14 fatal bus crash that involved 53 farmworkers, eight of whom died. The bus was carrying the workers to a farm in Dunnellon and was traveling west on State Road 40. According to Florida Highway Patrol reports, Bryan Howard, 41, of Dunnellon, was traveling east when his pickup truck entered the bus’s travel lane and hit the large vehicle. The bus left the road and hit two fences, struck a tree and overturned.
Howard initially was charged with eight counts of DUI causing death and negligent vehicular homicide and later with 11 counts of DUI with serious bodily injury. He remains in the Marion County Jail.
Numerous local agencies responded to the scene, including a large contingent from MCFR.
“The ability to care for close to 50 people, many of them in critical condition, multiple of them dead, and to be able to manage that scene with the level of professionalism and success is extremely rewarding to me because it shows that as an agency, we’re doing the right thing,” Banta says. “We’re preparing our people in the right ways. And we’re hiring the right people. I think that’s a testament… that’s one of the rewards.”
And it’s not just the “big” cases that define the career of a first responder, he shares.
“I often tell new hires there is a reward, but it comes with extreme responsibility,” he expounds. “You can literally, and I have done this, watch a newborn take their first breath into this life and, in the same day, you can be the last voice a person hears or the face they see. It’s not just running to fires and training, it’s a lot of responsibility with this job, but with that comes great rewards.”
When asked how a first responder might deal with the challenges, he talks about resilience.
“A lot of it is, and we’re getting better at this, it’s building resilience and ensuring they are okay following those types of calls, making sure we have the resources available if they are having challenges dealing with that,” he assures. “When it comes to mental health in the fire service, building resilient firefighters and first responders, we focus a lot on ensuring that other parts of their life are strong. If your marriage is strong, if your finances are strong, if your relationships are strong, then it helps you to deal with the other aspects of this job. If one of those, or multiple of those are failing, it’s much harder to deal with the other parts of the job. We focus a lot on building, basically, your armor, trying to make you more resilient. This wasn’t recognized when many of us started. It was suck it up, be tough, and we’re way past that at this point.”
His team members say they appreciate his leadership.
“I have worked for Chief Banta in some capacity for most of my 28 years in the fire service. He has always been a leader that allowed us to grow and experience new things as we became officers ourselves,” notes Graff. “He is almost always patient and understanding, even in times when we learned things the hard way. He has always asked that we put our people and the mission first and he has led that request by example.”
THINK YOU WANT TO BE A FIREFIGHTER?
Banta says his department welcomes applicants but notes the job calls for a unique skill set.
“I view it as the best career in the world, but this job’s not for everybody,” he explains. “There’s a lot of things that are enticing to this job, you know the pay is not too bad anymore, the schedules are good and getting better. You’re helping your community; you’re serving your citizens—all those things are very enticing, but some people just aren’t meant for the job.
He recommends that people who want to pursue a career as a first responder spend some time on the job.
“We have opportunities to do ride-alongs, we have a mentorship program,” he outlines. “We have a ton of resources to help you get from point A to point B. If anybody wants to come into this fire department, we have an avenue if that’s what they want to do.”
He is quick to caution, however, “It takes hard work, it takes dedication, it takes sacrifice.”
WHAT IS NEXT?
Banta is part of the State of Florida’s Deferred Retirement Option Plan, or DROP, which allows people to remain working while they are effectively retired, meaning they collect a pension that goes into a special fund while they continue to receive a paycheck.
“I’m in the DROP, so my career here ends in seven years or less,” he says. “I don’t’ know what the future holds, but I do know you have to be out for a year, and then you can come back. I don’t perceive myself doing that. I’ll have about 35 years of public service, and I think I’ll be ready to try something different.”
He goes on to say, “What I do know is that as much as I love the fire department, it’s not who I am. I think that we see a lot of first responders, military, that when they identify as that’s who they are, then when that’s gone, they’re lost. I don’t know what the next chapter looks like, but I’ll put as much effort into that as I have the fire department.”
In the meantime, he is happy to live in Marion County and says this is great place “to grow up in, to raise a family.”
Leading from the Heart
By Susan Smiley-Height
Yamila Acosta, the executive director of the Marion County Literacy Council, uses her life experiences to help others become a better version of themselves.
Photography by Bruce Ackerman
Jeffrey Stone, Yamila Acosta and Trevus Bryant
Prospective clients who walk into the offices of the Marion County Literacy Council learn one thing very quickly: Executive Director Yamila Acosta has most likely been in their shoes. Her ability to connect with students is one reason she recently celebrated 15 years of service with the nonprofit organization, which has seen its share of ups and downs but currently is growing so fast it’s hard to keep up with the demand.
The organization was founded in 1999 by Barbara Woodson. The three core programs include Adult Basic Education, to help adults learn to read and write proficiently, improve general reading skills, build vocabulary, obtain a driver license, register to vote or fill out a job application. In the General Education Development (GED) program, students receive academic support one-on-one and in small groups. The ESOL program offers classes to native speakers of languages other than English who range in ability from basic literacy to advanced grammar and pronunciation. The council also offers basic computer, citizenship, financial literacy and health literacy classes.
Acosta, Program Manager Trevus Bryant, Program Coordinator Christine Lewis, Program Assistant Arlynda Heards and a little more than 30 volunteer tutors are working with nearly 500 students. The council is funded by grants from United Way of Marion County, the annual Give4Marion initiative, private and business donations, and fundraisers such as Kiss the Horse, Weiner Wars and a spelling bee.
A ‘Champion’ for the Students
Acosta, who was born in Cuba and came to America when she was 10 months old, has experience with all the council’s core programs and understands what students are feeling when they reach out for help. She says of her early family life in Miami that her parents did not speak English.
“My older sister and I had to speak the Spanish language at home, but then when we were at school with friends, we were able to speak the English language. I’m blessed that happened because I’m bilingual and obviously I have the job I have today thanks to that,” she shares. “But it was kind of hard because we missed out on a lot of things. We were going home to parents who didn’t know the language and couldn’t help their children.”
Acosta, now 45, had dreams of becoming an emergency room surgeon, but says, “God had a different life for me.”
“I became a teen mom at 16. That obviously changed everything,” she notes. “My daughter is now 28 years old but when I first looked at her, I said, ‘Oh, my God, how am I going to do this?’”
She married but it didn’t work out, so she became a single parent.
“My parents were the best grandparents in the world,” she recalls. “I finished high school during night school, and I dedicated myself to work at a title company and to my child. When I turned 22, we decided to move to Ocala. My entire family was into Paso Fino horses and had a farm in the area and I wanted my child to be raised in a community like this; smaller, less people.”
She remarried a year later and had a son, now 18, and another daughter, now 16.
“Unfortunately, my second marriage didn’t work, and I again became a single mom. At that time, because I was into title work and real estate was really bad, I got laid off,” she shares. “I remember walking into CareerSource looking for assistance and I started receiving food stamps, which I had never had to do. They had a welfare program where they help you build a resume and look into different avenues. Before I finished that program, I got hired to their call center. Before you know it, I became their SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) coordinator and I was now helping the people that used to be me, the ones receiving the welfare, the cash assistance, the food stamps.”
She stayed there until she “found a wonderful man who helped me raise my kids and I didn’t have to work.” While her children were in school, she felt she “needed to do something with my life and then I found this place.”
“I started in a part-time data entry position. The executive director needed someone who spoke Spanish and English and who was a little stern. She said, ‘I think you’re the right person,’” Acosta recalls. “I remember doing the interview and she asked, ‘How do you see yourself in five years?’ and I said, ‘Having your job.’”
Over time, Acosta became a program coordinator, then, she says, “the executive director left, and a new executive director came and started changing some things and then the other program coordinator left. So, it was just me. Then I left for about two years because my father was really sick and I took care of him until he passed away. The executive director went to my Dad’s funeral and that really touched my heart and I said, ‘That’s where my heart is.’ I miss it. I love my students. I loved what I had created, and I came back as a volunteer.”
She says the ESOL program had dwindled
Trevus Bryant, Arlynda Heard, Yamila Acosta, and Christine Lewis, with Wesley
Meredith Hayward and Travis Aurenburg, with Wesley, during this year’s Kiss the Horse fundraiser
because no one at the council spoke Spanish.
“No one was connecting with those individuals. I had close to 300 students when I left that program so when I came back as a volunteer, I started calling and within a month I had back all of my students,” she explains.
“I reopened in Marion Oaks, at College Park Elementary, I had classes going on here, I had classes in the evenings. They all came back, and it grew again. It was a connection because I understand their struggles, because of my parents and how I was raised. That program was really close to my heart. The program coordinator left and they said, ‘Do you want the job?’ And I said, ‘Yes, of course.” The executive director moved on a little before COVID-19 and it was just me running the place. That’s when I met Jeffrey Stone, one of our students. It was hard. And then the board asked me if I needed an executive director, and I said no. For about a year or two we were without one.”
She says the board challenged her to accept the position, but she was “afraid.”
students to feel like this is their home, where they can come and make mistakes and learn and get to where they need to go and be the best versions of themselves.”
“Yamila is a seasoned nonprofit professional, but she never allows ‘professionalism’ to create a barrier between her and our students,” offers longtime board member R.J. Jenkins. “She has an informal, real, direct style. She tells people the truth even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable. It’s a rare and valuable quality, and it has earned her the respect of everyone she comes into contact with. If you want someone to tell it like it is, then Yamila’s your girl.”
Yamila’s devotion to the literacy council is, first and foremost, a devotion to our students, to the women and men who are working so hard to build better lives for themselves and their families.
– R.J. Jenkins
“I wasn’t ready for that next step out of my comfort zone, going out there and meeting people at a different level. I always liked the connection of being able to work with the students, know their story, help them reach their goals, meet with my tutors, have that personal connection. I didn’t want to be behind closed doors or in meetings the whole day or fundraising. I wanted my students to come in and say hello and if they have an issue, let’s talk about it,” she says. “And then I got to a point where I felt comfortable, and I said let me take this on.”
She says she couldn’t do it without “my board members. They are amazing, very supportive.”
She is taking courses such as grant writing and fundraising “and all those other things that you need to know because for a very long time we were just sustaining, existing. There was a point the literacy council only had two weeks’ (of funds) in the bank left for operating. Now, it’s amazing how we have grown. I want
And, he adds, “Yamila’s devotion to the literacy council is, first and foremost, a devotion to our students, to the women and men who are working so hard to build better lives for themselves and their families. She knows their names, she knows about their lives and, most importantly, she believes in them. And they can feel that. For some of them, Yamila is the first person who has ever truly believed in them. Because of her, part of our students’ experience with us is the experience of having a champion.”
From Student to Board Member
Jeffrey Stone II, 38, was born in the central Florida town of Bartow and grew up in Davenport, surrounded by orange groves. He says he grew up in a Hispanic family and that his stepdad migrated here at 18 from Mexico.
“He was a very hard worker, in landscaping. Mom was stay-at-home; I have two half-brothers,” he shares. “We grew up near our grandparents, had a lot to do with them.”
As a young adult, Stone and his wife started a family. They have a son now 18, a daughter age 14, a daughter age 3, and a son, 4, who was born with severe medical disabilities. After he was born, they moved to this area as there was a family member here
at the time who could help with his care. Stone, who was a manager with a solid waste department, says the insurance company told him, “You’ve got to change your ways, you can’t work, you can’t make this money and pay these millions of dollars. He was in NICU for 90 days.”
Stone decided to go to college, but “I didn’t have my GED or high school diploma,” he recalls. “I found the literacy council and saw they did one-on-one tutoring and reached out to the contact, which was Yamila. I left a message, and she called me back while I was sitting at AdventHealth, where my son was on life support. It sounded like the right thing for me, so I signed up. I obtained my GED within six months, during the pandemic. I even tutored by phone. I was very determined.”
Stone, who still handles his son’s medical affairs, later became a fulltime student at the College of Central Florida and is set to graduate in December with an associate degree in computer information technology. Three years ago, he became a board member of the literacy council.
“Yamila has always been there for me, that shoulder to lean on if you need anything,” he says. “It’s been a great adventure here. Over those three years, we have grown significantly. I remember bringing my own textbook or sharing one with someone to, now everyone gets a textbook.”
“I believed in Jeffrey the minute I talked to him on the phone. And I was thinking, ‘How can he do it? His child is on life support. There’s no way he’s going to come or be able to concentrate,’” Acosta shares. “But there was never any time I let that show in my tone of voice. I was like, ‘You can do this. Whatever we need to do, whatever time you need.’
“He was my student and then he became one of my bosses,” she continues. “That was exciting, a great feeling that someone on my board now actually was able to go through the struggles with me and really know the ins and outs of this place and what we need for this place to continue growing
From top: Yamila Acosta, the executive director, places a book in the Little Free Library; Jeffrey Stone
and helping more people like himself.”
Stone says he has applied for an internship with the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office and plans to return to the workforce.
“I want to slowly work on my bachelor’s degree, go to the next level,” he notes. “You never know where the road is going to lead you. Life changes so much.”
Challenges and Rewards
“All of our students have a different story. You have no idea what they are coming in with and I have to make sure that when they leave, they believe this can be the place to help them change,” Acosta offers.
“The worst thing is to have someone creating doubts. That’s not what we do here. Not just me. My coworkers; they are special people. To work in the nonprofit world, you have to be a special giving, loving person.”
“There’s a lot of people out there who need GED’s, need to learn English,” Stone adds. “This a very demanding thing that people need and which the Marion County Literacy Council tries to offer and soon as we build a little, there’s more at the door.”
Sometimes the students come to the council, and sometimes the council goes to them.
“We work with the Clerk of Courts, judges, they send individuals to us that is part of their probation, get your GED or go to jail. We work with Phoenix House with people in rehabilitation. We have been at the jail, we are at the Lowell Correctional Institution,” Acosta says.
She is teaching the ESOL program at AutoZone in the evenings because they don’t have enough tutors. “These employers are coming to us saying we want to help our employees, give them a better position but we can’t because they don’t speak the language of have their GED,” she states.
As the current program year comes to an end, Acosta says they are on track to have 15 GED graduates. Those who do earn their state-
accredited GED get to “walk” with students from Marion Technical College, so they experience the whole “cap and gown” feeling.
There is an annual registration fee of $80 for the council, which includes tutoring and materials, and some tests and assessments. Some fees associated with GED testing are paid to the institution conducting the testing.
“There’s a lot of good things we do, and all with volunteers,” Acosta points out. “We have amazing volunteers. There are roughly 32 actively participating and we definitely need more.”
About 15 percent of students don’t complete the coursework and one of the most common reasons is, “Just things going on in life,” Stone offers. “We’ve also seen that people will come in and then maybe take a sixmonth or year break and came back and finish.”
“We always leave the door open,” Acosta says,
“When you walk in here, you get real people. You have an executive director who can say, ‘I was a teen mom. I went to night school. I had kids. I had a drinking problem years ago. Things that relate,” she affirms. “If I can do it, you can do it. And when you get that from someone you think is going to look down at you, it makes a difference. We are real people. We understand kids get sick. Your car breaks. You need to stay home because… whatever…”
“One of Yamila’s greatest strengths is that she does this work with an open, nonjudgmental heart,” Jenkins states. “Some of our students come from challenging circumstances: maybe they’re recovering from addiction, maybe they’re justice-impacted, maybe they’re homeless. But for Yamila, all that matters is that they want to learn. If they want to learn, then she will lift them up. Period.”
The Marion County Literacy Council is located at 120 SW Fifth Street, Ocala. To learn more, call (352) 690–7323 or go to marionliteracy.org.
COLUMNS, CONFESSIONS AND A BRAIN CYST
Our local pundit finds humor in many things, even the challenges of brain tumors and tremors, which, he says, “have been a mix of physical therapy, meds, chiropractors, wine, moderate profanity and the support of my patient wife.”
By Dave Schlenker
EDITOR’S NOTE: This essay was written for Dave Schlenker’s latest book, Columns, Confessions and A Brain Cyst, now available on Amazon.com. The book is his second collection of essays and articles from the Ocala Star-Banner, Ocala Style and the Ocala Gazette. A longtime Florida journalist, Schlenker delves deep into pressing issues: Why is there underwear on the doorknob? Where is the SS Minnow? Who placed sardines in his car in August? Is Erik Estrada still a hunka hunka burnin’ love?
The tremor in my left hand started in 2023. The right hand was punching a keyboard or chopping vegetables or just doing what extremities are supposed to do in their 50s, but the left hand had its own rhythm.
It felt like a third cup of coffee on an empty stomach. Like the jitters before a job interview. Like a spastic drum solo fueling a mosh pit.
“Well, that’s odd,” I said dismissively, just like that time 31 years ago when a stabbing pain seized my left eyeball.
The tremor grew worse, too independent to ignore. Typing became a carnival side show. Perhaps a visit to my neurologist was in order before I knocked over more coffee and wine.
In the fall of 2023, two neurosurgeons reached the same conclusion. This is another unexpected byproduct of that big ol’ honkin’ brain cyst affixed to my cerebellum, that sack of spinal goo that has been fighting for skull space since, well, maybe forever.
Another shared neuro-community conclusion: No more brain surgery. Three was enough. My scarred neck tissue, tender skull and delightful menu of surgery symptoms would not allow it.
About that brain cyst …
As the band Sister Hazel sings, “You
should see the world inside my head.”
This is the full story of that big ol’ chunk of ick. This latest dance with neuro docs prompted two things: (1) A tremor med that works and, (2) the spark to sit down, write about the cyst and—at 56—come to terms with its command on my adult life.
The ‘World Inside My Head’ Is Gross
World Inside My Head is on Sister Hazel’s marvelous 2004 album, Lift. When I pause long enough to consider my brain, I start humming the chorus because if you could see the world inside my head, you would see a tangle of nerves, scar tissue, cerebral guts and a cyst that has survived three scalpel assaults.
Yes, my brain anomaly has a soundtrack: “The weight on me is hanging on to a weary angel,” Hazel frontman Ken Block wrote. Yet, that cyst has always marched to its own beat.
I was 25 and walking up my girlfriend’s driveway in October 1992 when the pain knocked me off balance. It felt like a knife stabbing the back of my left eyeball— twisting, resting, stabbing, twisting again. It lasted maybe 30 seconds and faded as quickly as it attacked.
“Well, that’s odd,” I recall thinking at
the time.
Then we went to dinner. I had a steak and a cold beer. I did not think about the episode again until I had another painful one. Then another the next week and so on and so on.
My physician suggested migraines. They are blinding and debilitating, he said. Take some Advil and keep track of it. Call if it continues. It continued.
Stumped, the physician sent me to a neurologist, who saw a healthy 25-yearold yammering about headaches. During the second visit, the neurologist arranged an MRI, perhaps a concession to ease my chatter or, at the very least, move on to the next patient in the examining room.
The radiology tech said I could bring a CD, so I listened to Béla Fleck and the Flecktones’ self-titled album in the tight MRI tube. The MRI’s clunks, moans and jet-engine screeches mixed with the band’s funky banjo jazz. It was a surreal soundtrack for a groom-to-be’s wandering thoughts.
Groom?
Did I mention I was set to marry that sweet girlfriend in less than two months? Well, I was set to marry Amy Sue in less than two months. So, this whole headache/ MRI/banjo cacophony needed to wrap up pretty damn quick. We had dishware to pick out.
“Your doctor will call you with the results in about two weeks,” the radiology tech said.
Two hours later, the neurologist himself called.
“We found the source of your headaches,” he said. “You have a very large arachnoid cyst on your left cerebellum. I’m talking BIG, the size of a fist. We need to remove it soon.”
“As in surgery?” I asked, not grasping the surgery was, well, brain surgery.
On October 19th, 1992, a nurse shaved my head, another dumped calming fluids in my IV bag and my family gathered around me trying to find nonbrain stuff to discuss. Maybe it was the happy juice, but I was not nervous. I spent much of the
Amy and Dave Schlenker
time trying to tame the elephant in the room with jokes and random Dave babble.
When they wheeled me into the operating room, I looked at the surgeon and said, “Just take a little off the top, doc.”
He smiled a you-poor-simp smile, which was the last thing I saw before …
‘I Want Morphine!!! Now!’
The pain was like someone had sliced into my skull, drilled bone, pulled apart my neck muscles and poked around my head innards with a scalpel for a few hours. Which is exactly what had happened.
I was trembling from the pain and chills, trying hard not to move but yelping because sobbing is movement and movement is pain. I wanted two things immediately: Drugs and Amy Sue.
Less than two months later, Amy and I were married as scheduled. She was breathtaking. I was partially bald. The scar on the back of my head—the side facing the wedding guests—looked like a pregnant leech migrating north.
I felt good. Life was wonderful. Hair
grows back.
As does an arachnoid cyst the size of a fist.
Upon looking at Cyst 2.0, the neurosurgeon said when an obstruction has been there so long—my whole life, probably—the brain tissue just does not pop back into place once the cyst is gone. The empty space filled back with fluid, with cyst walls forming again to contain the goop.
It was 2000. We had survived Y2K, so what the hell?
The approach to surgery number two was a shunt; this is a drainage tube that neurosurgeon two installed from the brain cyst to the stomach, emptying the cyst sack and allowing the spinal juice to vacate through my digestive system.
I woke up trembling in the recovery room again, white-hot pain slicing from scalp to neck. This time, there was a lump near the incision that contained an adjustable pressure valve. The neurosurgeon would bring out some voodoo stick, place it on the lump-valve
thing and adjust the amount of fluid flowing into my stomach.
Recovery should have been easier, yet pain remained a constant. The neurosurgeon continued to adjust the valve lump, suggesting we just needed to find the correct pressure. This went on for weeks until Amy had a novel thought: A second opinion.
A quick PSA: Never hesitate to get a second medical opinion. Trust your body.
The second opinion came from Dr. Robert Mericle (pronounced Miracle) at UF Health Shands Hospital at the University of Florida. And that opinion was pretty straight-forward: Get this shunt out of your brain, pronto.
Good call. When Dr. Mericle cracked open my head, he discovered the cyst had collapsed into a flat pancake-shaped mess of tissue gurgling with pockets of blood and reaching for my brain stem. It also tangled up already-agitated nerves in my neck and head.
The shunt did not kill the cyst. It just pissed it off.
Third Times The Charm, Right?
I felt better after the third surgery; still, it was clear there were things I would just need to accept. The cyst, of course, popped right back into place, and the neuroworld decided to stop cracking me open and just treat the symptoms.
I get an MRI every few years, but the cyst has remained the same size and shape since it grew back after the third surgery. The stabbing eye pain shows up rarely, and the Fist of Ick on my cerebellum creates substantial balance issues. I often walk like a sailor spit out of a saloon at 3am.
Ironically, the pain and discomfort I now experience is mostly from the scar tissue created by three brain surgeries designed to quell pain and discomfort. The scar tissue has locked up my neck, limited my mobility and encapsulated the nerves north of my shoulders.
I get severe pain infrequently now; yet, when it comes, it is here to party.
Imagine your neck muscles are a Twizzler, that DNA-like strand of licorice composed of smaller strands twisted together. Imagine pulling those strands apart, not peeling but ripping violently for the center, creating jagged caverns
in the gooey stalk. In the center of the Twizzler carcass are nerves, now exposed and raw and crimped. The base of the skull tightens into a righteous fist, pain shoots to the scalp via an angry occipital nerve and your pounding skull thunders with every heartbeat.
Here in 2024, I am a deliriously happy husband and father and driver of Thor, a restored, 2009 6-speed MINI-Cooper. I have a good job and a huge, floppy golden doodle named Rigby Floyd—part Beatles, part Muppet bass player.
It’s a wonderful life full of blessings and laughter.
I am a fan of meds. The pain is infrequent mainly because I do not give the pain much of a chance. After my second surgery (ShuntFest 2000), the only med that touched the pain was Fioricet, a delightful mix of acetaminophen, butalbital and caffeine.
It knocked out the pain and made me very chatty. It also hooked me and prompted excruciating rebound headaches when I ran out, which was often. Addiction is a tricky thing when pain relief is the high you seek. The buzz is a happy extra until you crash.
The last two decades have been a mix of physical therapy, meds, chiropractors, wine, moderate profanity and the support of my patient wife.
Strange Is Just A Different Point of View
The tremor—that most recent symptom—appeared like a B-list sitcom guest. Present, perhaps even promising. It grew to be uncontrollable toward the end of 2023.
Suddenly, I was a writer who could not type. I did not realize the extent of the tremor’s impact until I was sitting at the neurologist’s office, breaking into tears as I recited the things I could no longer do.
The cyst and its subsequent nerve damage are causing the tremors, the surgeons agreed. But no more brain surgery. More scalpels will cause more scar tissue and nerve damage. Treat the symptoms.
Then something great happened: The neurologist prescribed a medication that stopped the tremors. Think about that. I had a debilitating problem. A doctor
prescribed a nonnarcotic pill. It worked. Bam! In my 30 years of neurology tag, I have not experienced this.
So, What Now?
Hell if I know.
Here’s what I do know.
My neck does not turn much. My head still hurts occasionally. My balance is comically bad. My tremor is better. My dog always cracks me up.
All that said: This was not cancer.
My icky cyst on my left cerebellum is just a fistful of fluid that tinkers with my quality of life but not life itself. I have been to more than a handful of funerals for friends toppled by cancer in recent years, and it is jarring. These were mothers and fathers our age who took much better care of themselves than I do.
And then there is my sweet Amy Sue. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019.
No symptoms. Early detection. Girls, get your mammograms. She beat it with quiet dignity, a bumbling husband, faith, family and radiation.
It returned in 2021. And, like my angry shunted brain, it was on a rampage. She was the patient this time; all the lessons she showed me about caring for a sick spouse were in my hands with higher stakes.
In the recovery room following her double mastectomy, Amy looked like I did in 1992. Scared. Chilled. Hurting.
It was uncanny. She quivered under heated blankets, trying hard not to move because weeping is movement and movement is pain. I held her hand just as she held mine in that recovery room in 1992.
She recovered with grace. She is a quiet survivor. I love her.
Sitting at home on this day, typing without a tremor, my wife healthy and happy in the other room, I can tell you this: Our health and recovery provide context for everything I do and write.
Amy is great these days. Rigby likes her
better, but so would I.
I have a stupid brain cyst on my cerebellum. It is an odd-but-effective conversation anchor. I am not the Brain Cyst Guy, but rather a dad/writer/ photographer/nice guy with an icky sack of crud affixed to his cerebellum.
I wobble. I stretch. I whine. I hug my wife. I listen to Sister Hazel and banjo jazz in tubes.
Context
This is the world inside my head. Doc, just take a little off the top.
Dave will be doing a book signing from 5 to 7pm, Friday, August 9th, at the Ocala Civic Theatre at 4337 E Silver Springs Boulevard, Ocala.
Dave and Amy with Rigby Floyd
EN POINTE
Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, noon-5 p.m. 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd. | AppletonMuseum.org -an
• Camellias
• Hanging Baskets
• Azaleas
• Gardenias
• Herbs
• Veggies
• Roses
• Hummingbird & Butterfly Plants • Ornamental Trees
• Shade Trees
• Annuals
• Perennials
• Fruit Trees • Citrus Trees
• Mulches
• Fertilizers • Birdbaths
• Statuary
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Ernst Oppler, (detail) “Schéhérazade,” 1910s, Oil on canvas, Gift of Susan Oppler Wood, Florida Institute of Technology 2021 transfer.
LIVING
Ocala Cooks
Meet the two bakers who took top honors in the recent Cheesecake Battle to support the Run to End Alzheimer’s, hosted by the Senior Health Advisors group.
Crissie Trussell is with Senior Helpers, a private duty home care company that is veteran owned and specializes in dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s care, from companion services to end of life. “We also work with veterans in the community who need extra support in their home,” she notes. Crissie is married to Marion County Fire Rescue Capt. Eric Trussell and they have “two beautiful daughters.” For the recent Cheesecake Battle to support the Run to End Alzheimer’s, hosted by the Senior Health Advisors group, Trussell recruited her good friend Nichole Pedrick to help her bake this cheesecake, which won the People’s Choice award. Trussell found the recipe, by Camila Hurst, on Pinterest.
Biscoff Cheesecake
Crust
1 package of Biscoff cookies
1/3 cup unsalted butter
Batter
32 ounces of cream cheese, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup Biscoff cookie butter
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs, at room temperature
Decoration
1/2 cup Biscoff spread
1/4 cup Biscoff cookies, crumbled
Pre-heat the oven to 325ºF. Place the Biscoff cookies in a food processor and process to make fine crumbs. Melt the butter and mix with the Biscoff crumbs. Press the mixture on the bottom of an 8-inch or 9-inch cheesecake pan. If using an 8-iinch pan, it must be deep. Bake the crust for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool down.
Beat the cream cheese for 3 minutes with a mixer at medium speed until creamy. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar and beat for another 2 minutes. Scrape the bowl and beat for another 30 seconds. Add the sour cream and Biscoff cookie butter to the bowl and mix to combine. Scrape the bowl. Add the vanilla, salt and mix. Make sure to scrape the bowl a few times during the mixing
process, to avoid the cream cheese forming lumps in the batter. Add the eggs to the batter one at a time and mix just until combined. Waiting for each egg to be incorporated before adding the next one. Avoid over mixing once the eggs are added to prevent cracking of the cheesecake.
Pour the cheesecake batter over the cooled crust. Note, some cheesecake pans require the sides to be greased before adding the batter. Wrap the bottom of the pan with a few layers of tin foil. Place the pan in a large roasting pan and add hot water to form a water bath. This is very important, so the cheesecake doesn’t crack.
Bake for 60 to 70 minutes. To check if the cheesecake is done, it should jiggle slightly in the center, but the edges should look set. Turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake there for 1 hour. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and place it in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours.
Before serving, melt the Biscoff cookie butter in a microwave for a few seconds until it’s runny. Pour over the cheesecake and spread with a spatula. Spread Biscoff cookie crumbs around the edges of the cheesecake.
To be featured in Ocala Cooks, send us an email at editorial@magnoliamediaco.com
Baking has long been a hobby for Isabelle Jean-Obrien, vice president of marketing and business development for Summit Care. “Coming from a first-generation French family, cooking, specifically baking desserts, draws me in. As a working mom of two young kids, I don’t get the opportunity as much as I would like, so when my new team at TimberRidge needed a cheesecake for the Cheesecake Battle, I jumped in. I had never baked a cheesecake before, but thought, why not? My Espresso Cheesecake, which was named the Grand Champion, was a mixture of a couple of recipes and I needed it to be perfection for the cause, which was raising money for Alzheimer’s research and a cure.”
Espresso Cheesecake
Espresso Cookie Crust:
1 box chocolate cookies, fillings removed (I used Oreos)
2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
4 tablespoons sugar
3/4 cup salted butter, melted
Espresso Cheesecake Filling:
12 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sugar
4 tablespoons espresso powder
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 to 2 tablespoons Kona Coffee Liqueur
Espresso Ganache: 1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup dark or semisweet chocolate chips
1 tsp Kona Coffee Liqueur
1 teaspoon espresso powder
Whipped Cream:
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon espresso powder
To make the crust, if you use Oreos, remove the filling and crush them in a food processor. Add about one teaspoon of espresso powder, 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup butter and mix. It should stick together, but not be crumbly. Add a bit more butter if needed.
Press the crust dough into a spring form pan and press firmly around the bottom and build a slight wall on the sides. Refrigerate.
For the filling, mix ½ cup of sugar and one cup heavy cream and beat until stiff. In a separate
bowl, put ½ of the cream cheese and whip until smooth. Add two eggs and beat until mixed. Added the whipped cream to the cream cheese mixture. Add 1 tablespoon of instant espresso powder and 1 or 2 tablespoons of Kona Coffee liqueur. Use a spoon to mix, then pour into the crust. A water bath is important in making cheesecake. I wrapped my pan in aluminum foil. Fill a large baking pan with about 1 inch of water and set the wrapped cheesecake in the pan. Place in an oven preheated to 350 and cook 20 minutes. Check for consistency and cook a bit longer if needed. Remove from oven and place in freezer.
To make the ganache, put about ½ of the bag of semisweet chocolate in a glass bowl and set over an almost boiling pot of water or use a double boiler. Add about ½ cup of heavy cream and stir as the morsels melt. Stir in 1 tablespoon espresso powder and 1 teaspoon of coffee liqueur and let sit.
For the espresso whipped cream, put 2 cups of heavy cream in a bowl with ½ cup of sugar and beat. Remove about 1 cup into a separate bowl and gently stir in about 1 tablespoon of espresso powder. Get the cheesecake and spread a layer of ganache on top and put it back in the freezer for about 5 minutes. Remove the cheesecake from the pan. Put the traditional whipped cream in a piping bag and make a thin layer across the top. Put the espresso whipped cream in another piping bag and make peaks on the outside and put some in the middle. Put a dark chocolate covered espresso bean in each peak and use broken Oreos to make a cookie peak in the middle. Sift a light dusting of espresso powder on top.
Follow That Dream tour and more Drivable Destinations:
Marion’s neighboring Levy and Citrus counties off er a wealth of opportunities for outdoor adventures, tasty dining options, unique lodging experiences and the chance to revisit the historic places that were key elements in the fi lming of Elvis Presley’s ninth motion picture.
By Susan Smiley-Height
Just a short drive from Ocala, you can step back in time to visit historic locations in Citrus and Levy counties that are tied to Elvis Presley, the singer, actor and entertainer who remains a cultural icon today. It was in the summer of 1961 that Presley was in the area to film his ninth motion picture, Follow That Dream.
Some of the scenes were filmed in a bank in downtown Ocala, but that venue is now privately owned and is not open to enthusiasts. In our neighboring counties, however, fans are warmly welcomed at the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum in downtown Inverness, where the movie’s climatic courthouse scenes were shot. The beautifully restored venue houses numerous displays on the bottom floor, but it is the top floor that appeals to those eager to be on the trail. And, of special note, scenes from the movie were used to help restore the courthouse to its original splendor during renovations.
During a recent tour, Steve Hrycaj, chair of the Inverness Cultural Heritage Council of the Citrus County Historical Society, regaled our group of visitors with anecdotes about the weeks that Elvis and company basically took over the town, such as that it was so hot the actor had to continually keep changing shirts, which one intrepid local boy took to his mother for laundering day after day.
Across the street from the courthouse museum is the equally historic Valerie Theatre, where Elvis and the cast would review daily takes. The tour group was treated to a viewing of the film there on a Thursday night, which was opened to the public and sold out all the seats.
Follow That Dream is a fun, yet heartwarming and inspiring movie, with a story line about a ragtag “family” of vagabonds who set up lean-tos and other “facilities” (a cantankerous outhouse) on a Florida “beach.” You can still visit that beach area, but it looks far different nowadays as all the white beach sand that was hauled in is now covered up by native palms, palmettos and scrub oaks.
That’s where the Follow That Dream Parkway comes in. Opening scenes in the film show the family driving into a tree-shaded lane, where they are stopped by a log across the road. You can still visit that site, on US Highway 19 and North Basswood Avenue, north of Crystal River, where the family trespasses onto the movie version of an unopened new highway. A little further north, in the Inglis/ Yankeetown area, the parkway leads you to the Bird Creek Bridge and Pumpkin Island, where the artificial beach set was built in 1961. As you begin that journey, stop at the Withlacoochee Gulf Area Chamber of Commerce, where a statue of Elvis and an interactive kiosk await you. Plus, you can sit for a
The historic Valerie Theatre in Inverness was where Elvis Presley and others reviewed daily takes during the filming of Follow That Dream in the summer of 1961. Recent tour guests were treated to a sold-out showing of the movie at the venue. Photo courtesy Discover Crystal River
photo op on a piece of the guardrail the actor sat on in the film.
According to a blog post on the Discover Crystal River website, Bird Creek is one of 11 locations in or near Citrus County that Elvis fans have on their must-see list. Among the sites is the Port Paradise Hotel in Crystal River, where he and members of his entourage stayed during the filming.
Area historian Kathy Turner Thompson recalls that Elvis bought a boat and enjoyed being on the water in Kings Bay, which is world famous for its manatee encounter experiences. She shared information to the tour group about colorful characters at the time, such as the then-Sheriff Francis “Cowboy” Williams, and his teenage daughter Katie and her friends Ann and Emily. A narrative provided by Thompson notes that Elvis had his eye on young Katie, which met with disapproval from her famous father. Thompson also shares that while Elvis was in the area, he was surrounded by people wanting autographs and photos and that “he took the time to give an autograph, he greeted people and smiled, he didn’t
shut people out the whole time he was here.”
The movie, which also starred Arthur O’Connell, Anne Helm, Joanna Moore and Roland Winters, had its debut at the Marion Theatre in Ocala. According to the March 19, 1962 issue of the Ocala Star-Banner, the premiere was scheduled for April 10 that year. The star did not attend, but the dignitaries on hand did include the wife of then-Florida Gov. Farris Bryant.
Stroll, Shop and Dine
Downtown Inverness is a very walkable area and lives up to the town motto of “Small Town Done Right.” You can start by booking a stay the WoodSprings Suites Inverness hotel, which is within a block of a number of shops, stores, breweries and eateries. I recommend starting your day at Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters, with the Cali Toast breakfast sandwich. It is served with side of fruit and when you add a cup of freshly roasted and brewed dark, rich coffee, you just can’t go wrong.
Inverness is surrounded by Lake Henderson and Lake Tsala Apopka. For a lunch treat, check out The Cove Resort and Pub, which offers
Clockwise from left, Inverness features colorful murals, the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum, the Valerie Theatre and numerous connections to Elvis Presley and his ninth film, Follow That Dream. Photos courtesy Discover Crystal River
RV sites, spacious cabins and quirky small cottages for rent, all perched on the edge of the waterways. The pub is a huge venue with a big menu. Try the Oinkers, their homemade potato chips loaded with tasty pulled pork and a special sauce. My take-home portion of the jumbo wings slathered with Sergeant Major sauce had me happily knoshing late one night in my hotel room!
For a fine dining experience, you must visit Oscar Penn’s. This landmark (a historic home near downtown) is under the careful guidance of owner and executive chef Jason Counsel. He and his team create some outstanding dishes, such as the Golden Tile Fish special enjoyed by a few members of our tour and hand-cut steaks that are fork-tender and extremely tasty.
For fun, visit The Depot District, where you can rent bikes and take off to explore the Withlacoochee State Trail and Liberty and Wallace Brooks parks. While there, stop at the historic Train Station, where you can chow down on handhelds, pizzas and more. And you can do some Duckpin Bowling, which is a mini version of the traditional sport. And be sure to keep an eye for a number of colorful murals painted on buildings all around downtown.
Swim, Paddle and Chill
Crystal River is the Manatee Capital of the World and home to the only National Wildlife Refuge in the United States created to protect habitats for Florida’s beloved official marine animal. This is where you can swim with the legendary sea cows, under the careful watch of volunteer rangers and tour operators, for a truly thrilling experience.
During the summer, you can also go “scalloping” to haul in a catch of tasty bay scallops, which many area eateries will prepare to your liking. For a special treat, visit the Waterfront Social restaurant and tiki bar, at the old site of the Port Hotel and Marina, which offers amazing food and drinks (try the Grand Floridian!) and mesmerizing views of Kings Bay and the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, where kayaking is a popular activity.
There is a whole lot more to do, see, eat and enjoy in these areas of our beautiful state. So, the next time you want some adventure close to home, or want to Follow That Dream , just head south.
To learn more, visit discovercrystalriverfl.com, cccourthouse.org and inglisyankeetownchamber.com
Mementoes remain from when Elvis Presley filmed Follow That Dream in parts of Levy and Citrus counties, including at the Withlacoochee Chamber of Commerce building, where a section of guard rail makes for a great photo op. In the center image, historian Kathy Turner Thompson shows an old photo of Elvis on set with Col. Tom Parker. Photos courtesy Discover Crystal River; center image by Susan Smiley-Height
Thread By Thread Thread By Thread
Abstract fiber artist Charlita Rae Whitehead has progressed from unfinished hand embroidery kits to a 19-piece tufting tapestries exhibit at the Appleton Museum of Art. Whitehead's Every Fiber of My Being will be on display until September 8th.
By JoAnn Guidry | Photography by Bruce Ackerman
harlita Rae Whitehead’s abstract fiber artwork is a revelation in yarn. A prime example is the aptly named Bliss, a 3-foot x 3-foot visual delight of color, texture and unintentional heart shapes. Varying shades of purple, red, teal, brown and hot pink get your attention from across the room. Up close, the different types of yarn, including wool, cotton and acrylic, intricately woven together in different pile heights create mesmerizing topographies. You spot the heart shapes that Whitehead will tell you appeared on their own out of the artistic process, which makes her smile.
“In 2020, I began learning about hand embroidery, but never progressed beyond practicing stitches with samplers and working on, but not finishing a few kits,” reveals Whitehead, 36, who in January became the Economic Development/Cultural Arts Projects Coordinator with the city of Ocala. “Then I wanted a rug for my apartment and found out really nice artistic rugs are very expensive. So, I began researching rug making and came upon the art of tufting.”
Tufting, which originates from the European craftsmanship of embroidering rugs, refers to a process of creating three-dimensional textile surfaces. In the case of abstract fiber art, the emphasis is on the aesthetics rather than the utility. An electric tufting gun is used to push the yarn through a tufting cloth hung on a frame to form continuous loop stitches. Tufting is also called the electric version of punch needle embroidery.
Whitehead was contemplating getting into tufting when her partner, artist Jordan Shapot, gifted her with a tufting gun.
“The first piece I did on my 3-foot x 3-foot frame was Bliss, says Whitehead. “When I finished it, I gifted it to Jordan. It’s on loan from him for the Appleton Museum exhibit.”
Looking around at her Appleton Museum of Art exhibit, which opened April 13th and will run through September 8th, Whitehead is a bit amazed.
“Up until I began tufting in 2022, I had never been involved in any visual art form,” says Whitehead, who has a Bachelor of Science in health services administration from the University of Central Florida and logged a nine-year career in health information management. “Growing up, I sang in my high school choir and did some theater. I did draw a little as a kid, but stopped because I thought I wasn’t good enough to continue on with that. But I think as my life has evolved through my life experiences, so has my idea of what is art and how I can express myself through it.”
A Nomadic Childhood
Whitehead’s father Charles was in the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, when Charlita Rae was born in 1987. Her mother Gwendolyn was a nurse, and the family includes Charlita’s older sister Natasha.
“In the Air Force, my father worked in logistics. When I was 3, we moved to Moody Air Force base near Valdosta, Georgia,” says Whitehead. “When I was 12, we relocated to the RAF Alconbury base in Huntingdon, England. During that time, through various family and group excursions, I got to travel all around Europe. It was a great way to be exposed to all kinds of cultures.”
The next move was to Altus Air Force Base in Altus, Oklahoma, when Charlita was 16. The family remained there until Charlita graduated high school. Whitehead’s father retired from the Air Force and the family moved to Ocala in 2006. Charles Whitehead would go on
to work for Veteran’s Affairs Department in Ocala and Gainesville before retiring again.
“I was diagnosed with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) while in Oklahoma after I graduated high school, which gave me a lot of clarity about myself,” admits Whitehead. “I knew I needed to go to college and researched up-and-coming career fields. Since my mother had been a nurse, I decided to go into the healthcare field. I got an associate of science in health information technology from College of Central Florida and got married in 2011.”
Flipping The Page
Flash forward to July 2020, Whitehead has earned her bachelor’s from UCF and is now divorced.
“It was such a time of upheaval for me. In addition to the divorce, I lost several family members; one to a car accident and others died of COVID. I took a break from working to deal with it all,” shares Whitehead. “Jordan and I had met in 2019 at The Keep, a now closed bar in downtown Ocala. I picked up those hand embroidery kits was an activity to do on hikes while Jordan was painting plein air.”
In August 2021, Whitehead became the studio and gallery coordinator, as well as artist’s assistant,
at Jordan Shapot Art Studio and Gallery. And by 2022, she was immersed in tufting.
“I work primarily out of my home studio but occasionally at Shapot Art Gallery,” says Whitehead, who radiates creative energy. “I’m inspired by nature, color and texture. I love that all the colors and color combinations are found in nature. I sometimes work in bursts and then may not touch a piece for weeks or more. Other times, I finish much more quickly.”
One of Whitehead’s three tufting frames is 8-foot x 6-foot, which she notes “allows me to work large or on multiple smaller pieces at a time.” And because she is working from the back of the frame, pushing the yarn with the tufting gun through the cloth, she has to remember to stop now and then to peek around to the front to see what’s developing.
In 2023 into early 2024, Whitehead exhibited some of her fiber artwork in shows at the Shapot Art Gallery, Brick City Center for the Arts and CF Webber Center Gallery.
“In February 2024, I was part of a group exhibition, Body Language, curated by Jordan and Stephanie Guerra. My contribution was Marked, which was a photo I took of myself, projected, traced and made into a tufting piece,” explains
Whitehead. “It’s one of my favorite pieces and it was my first sale.”
The person who bought Whitehead’s Marked was Victoria Billig, the assistant director of the Appleton Museum of Art. Jason Steuber, the director of the Appleton, had also attended the Body Language exhibition.
“Victoria (Billig) and David Reutter, the registrar for the Appleton, later visited my home studio to look at my work,” recounts Whitehead. “I was then offered and accepted a five-month exhibition at the Appleton.”
Billig says, “We’re so pleased to exhibit Charlita’s work at the Appleton. Museum visitors will undoubtedly appreciate her sophisticated yet playful approach to color and design, as well as the creativity and technical skill involved in creating each piece.”
Grateful Creativity
Whitehead’s Every Fiber of My Being exhibit is so named because it consists of nearly every tufting piece she has created. In addition to Bliss, a few of her other favorites include:
• Parting Waters is a diptych depicting two bodies of water in rich hues of blue with the white wall providing separation. Whitehead notes that this “provides the flow to the piece.”
• Depression in the Tropics is a triptych, each piece in browns and blues and indeed conjuring up hurricane season, is mounted on wood. Whitehead points out “that each piece is interacting with the others.”
• Mother Bare, at 24-inches x 64-inches, is the largest piece in the exhibit, featuring various yarns in purple, pink, mauve, brown, green winding around in and out in Whitehead’s signature tufting technique. She shares, “I let my friends look at it when I was finished, and the reaction was that it felt maternal.”
Whitehead is grateful for where her art has brought her and looking forward to where it will take her.
“Art gives you an avenue to create and contribute at the same time,” says Whitehead. “Art brings value and grace to our lives.”
Whitehead will give an artist’s talk at 2pm on August 18th at the Appleton Museum, with free admission. To learn more, visit appletonmuseum.org/exhibitions/every-fiberof-my-being
Enslavement, Resistance and Creativity
The pottery of David Drake is exhibited in most major fine art museums across the country and a piece recently appeared in Ocala for a brief time.
By Scott Mitchell | Photos courtesy of Crocker Farm Auction
Part of working at a museum involves assessing donations and deciding if they are a good fit or better suited for another institution. One never knows what will arrive. Sometimes it’s “treasure,” and
other times it is not. An incredibly unique object with a fascinating story of enslavement, resistance and freedom was recently brought to light right here in Marion County.
Last November, a local family with antiques
to donate contacted the Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center. Digital photos of old butter churns and crosscut saws confirmed the items could be used as props in the old pioneer cabins we have here at Silver Springs State Park. An older gentleman who lamented that his younger relatives were not interested in history arrived to deliver his heirlooms.
Everything seemed normal, with the exception of one stoneware crock. It was odd, like no other I’d seen, and I’ve assessed many over the years. Terracotta in color, it looked like an old pot one would use for a patio plant. The shape is best described as a widemouthed jar. It is large, with a capacity of six gallons. There is a bird of some sort and the words “Eagle Toed Owl” etched (in cursive) into the clay. This was a mysterious oddity, to say the least.
Images of the old jar were sent to Tony Zipp of Crocker Farm Auctions in Maryland, who
specializes in American folk pottery. Zipp called me within minutes. The vessel “likely dated to the 1830s and was very rare.” Zipp claimed it could be worth tens of thousands of dollars. A true Antiques Roadshow moment had come to Ocala. The gentleman who donated the objects was contacted and since neither of us had any idea how significant the piece was when it was delivered, the decision was made to return it to the family.
The jar would have been used to store food and was almost 200 years old. The handwriting style, shape of the vessel, glaze and firing technique confirmed it was made near Edgefield, South Carolina, by an enslaved man named Dave Drake, arguably the most famous folk potter in the United States. Pottery attributed to Drake is highly sought after by art museums and collectors alike. By April, the piece had sold at auction for $72,000 to a private collector.
Drake, the long-deceased historic potter
from South Carolina, holds the record of $1.56 million for the highest sales price paid for American folk pottery. While the dollar amounts are impressive, the story of Drake is even more fascinating. He was an African American potter born into slavery, who not only threw beautifully made stoneware vessels but often signed and dated his work. Many even have inscribed poems and verses on the rim like the words “Eagle Toed Owl” found on the pot brought to the Silver River Museum.
Prior to the development of refrigeration and modern food preservation, few options existed to keep food from spoiling. Stoneware crocks were made to store dried and salted meats, fermented (pickled) foods and liquids like wine and vinegar. These ceramics were made for daily use and could be found in most every kitchen. Factories producing pottery were common in areas with good clay. Both free and enslaved potters turned out affordable and durable vessels for sale. Before glass Mason jars and plastic containers, stoneware production was a necessary and major industry.
The area around Edgefield, South Carolina, is known for historic ceramics. The region is rich in clays that are perfect for pottery manufacture. Factories known as “potteries” were common in this area from about 1810 into recent times. Local clay was dug and turned into utilitarian vessels that were coated in alkaline glazes (made with wood ash, feldspar, clay and water). Pots were fired in wood-fired kilns and then sent to market. The kilns were often semi-subterranean and dug into the ground to retain heat, a trait resulting in the term “groundhog kiln.”
Drake was one of the countless enslaved potters of Edgefield. Census data, family documents and records of slave sales indicate he was born about 1800 and lived until at least 1870. He appears in the census records of 1870 but is absent by 1880. The last date appearing on a pot he made is 1864. It is well-documented that Drake was enslaved by several owners during his life. Prior to emancipation, he would have simply been known as Dave. Once freed at the end of the Civil War, he took the surname of his final owner Harvey Drake. Dave Drake lived out his final years as a free man.
The fact that Drake was literate is very unusual. After an uprising of enslaved people in 1830, most slave states passed laws making it illegal to teach slaves to read or write. An early owner of Drake’s ran a print shop, and he likely became literate there prior to 1830, perhaps so he could set up printing presses with text. He soon learned to turn pottery and was
known for creating large containers, some with a capacity of up to 25 gallons.
Why he was allowed to sign and date his pottery remains a mystery. Even more incredible are the short poems and verses he inscribed onto some of his vessels. Notable examples include:
(8/26/1840) “Another trick is worst than this—dearest miss—spare me a kiss”
(4/12/1858) “A very large jar—which has four handles—pack it full of fresh meats—then light—candles”
(5/3/1862) “I made this jar—all of cross—if you don’t repent—you will be lost”
Denied his freedom most of his life, Drake managed to claim his identify as a man and find an outlet for his creativity through clay. He was essentially saying, “I am Dave the potter and this is my art.” This was enslavement, resistance and creativity combined into a stoneware jar. In the world of American art, Drake’s work stands alone and is a testament to a life lived that would have otherwise been unknown.
Pottery created by Dave Drake is exhibited in most major fine art museums across the country, including both the Smithsonian Institution and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago, to name just a few.
Excellent books documenting his work include Great and Noble Jar: Traditional Stoneware of South Carolina , published by the McKissick Foundation and University of Georgia Press (1993) and The Words and Wares of David Drake , published by the University of South Carolina (2023).
Scott Mitchell is a field archaeologist, scientific illustrator and director of the Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center at 1445 NE 58th Avenue, inside the Silver River State Park. Museum hours are 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday. To learn more, go to silverrivermuseum.com
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A Little Bit About ...
Scott Mitchell is the director of the Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center, which is a program of Marion County Schools. He’s also a family man of 27 years, field archaeologist, scientific illustrator, history buff, military veteran and avid outdoorsman.
Where were you born? In Miami but raised in Fort Myers (fourth generation Floridian).
When did you come to Ocala? I was hired at the Silver River Museum in 2004 and moved to Ocala in 2005.
Where have you traveled to? My father was an airline pilot, so I’ve seen almost all of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. I’ve also been to Australia, Honduras, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Paris, England, Scotland and Ireland. The highlands of Scotland were exceptional.
What are you currently reading? The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson (a wonderful historical author).
What’s your favorite meal? That would be a tie between shrimp and grits and a fresh grouper sandwich.
What’s your favorite movie? O Brother, Where Art Thou? (for the plot, acting and music).
What kind of music do you prefer? Folksy southern rock (chickenpecking music according to my wife, Susan).
Favorite place to dine in Ocala/Marion County for a special occasion? Mark’s Prime, for the wonderful food and service.
Hardest thing you’ve ever done? Serving as director of the Camp Kiwanis Summer Camp. It is utterly exhausting, stressful and rewarding all at once.
influence:
Who influenced your life the most? My mother, who is a wonderful woman; and the United States Marine Corps between 1983 and 1987.
pet peeves:
style:
hobbies:
Coolest thing you’ve ever done? Worked as a field archaeologist and picked up objects last touched thousands of years before.
Who do you hope to influence? My hope would be to help people understand how interesting and complex history is, and that we can learn valuable lessons from past events if we pay attention.
What is your biggest pet peeve? Rudeness. I see no reason or good in it.
Favorite colors? Earth tones, blues and greens. Classic or trendy? Classic style (what little I have).
Dogs or cats? Dogs for sure. Labrador retrievers in particular. Introvert or extrovert? I’m definitely an extrovert.
What do you like to do? Being outdoors (both the woods and waters of the Gulf Coast, which is in my blood).
What’s on your bucket list? My wish would be to sail more.
Photo by Bruce Ackerman
Help, Hope and Healing
Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection helps youth impacted by abuse and neglect.
By Beth Whitehead | Photography by Bruce Ackerman
Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection was formed after a task force comprised of law enforcement, prosecutors and child protection leaders convened in 1996 to help find a better way to care for children and teenagers in the aftermath of child abuse allegations.
“The task force identified the Children’s Advocacy Center model as the best way to care for our communities’ children and founded this organization,” notes Executive Director Dawn Westgate. “During its formation, Thad Boyd was approached by the task force and asked to prayerfully consider supporting the mission. Boyd and his family championed the work of protecting and advocating for child abuse victims and out of that commitment to children came the name, Kimberly’s Cottage and, today, Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection. Thad, Chris and Snow Boyd’s sister, Kimberly, had lost her life in a car accident in 1994 and the task force asked to honor her legacy by naming the newly formed nonprofit for her.”
The nonprofit was awarded 501(c)3 status
in 1999 and is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
“Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection was established with a vision of reducing trauma to children and teenagers who have experienced abuse and neglect,” Westgate explains. “Today, Kimberly’s Center is an integrated part of the child welfare system, that both assists child abuse investigations in collaboration with local law enforcement and also provides ongoing specialized trauma therapy and advocacy to help children heal from abuse and neglect.”
Kimberly’s Center is accredited by the National Children’s Alliance as one of only 25 Children’s Advocacy Centers in Florida. So far this year, Kimberly’s Center has provided critical services to more than 1,400 children in Marion County. To date, the agency has helped more than 22,000 children begin healing from the trauma of abuse.
“We have a team of 25 staff, ranging from a pediatrician, to APRNs, mental health therapists, forensic interviewers, child advocates and more,” Westgate notes. “We are co-located with a unit of
Dawn Westgate
child protective investigators from the Department of Children and Families as well as a major crimes detective from the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office, all placed full-time in our facility.”
Kimberly’s Center provides specialized care, including trauma therapy and advocacy, and also assists in child abuse investigations with local law enforcement. There are between 20 to 30 children scheduled for services on an average day, Westgate says. These services may include medical exams, forensic interviews and trauma therapy. Unscheduled emergency cases come in all the time and children are often brought in for care while they are waiting for a foster bed.
“Interviews, medical exams and support while waiting for foster care are all programs that are available 24/7,” Westgate continues.
The center’s Child Protection Team, which is funded by the Florida Department of Health, makes safety recommendations to the Department of Children and Families and assists law enforcement in child abuse allegations.
Four master’s level therapists provide trauma therapy and are trained in various treatments to assist children who are victims of abuse. Every family that comes to Kimberly’s Center is assigned a child advocate who works closely with non-offending family members to help them access support. This program also provides for the physical and emotional needs of Marion County children while they are being placed in a foster care bed or otherwise moved out of their home and is unique to Kimberly’s Center, Westgate says.
To help prevent the abuse that brings children through Kimberly’s Center, a team of advocates teach age-appropriate information to students in classrooms across Marion County, which includes topics such as bullying, digital dangers, body safety, mental health awareness, dating violence and human trafficking.
“This program, in partnership with Marion County Public Schools, is in its fifth year and was in every public-school last year,” Westgate notes.
Kimberly’s Center is funded primarily through private donors, corporate sponsorships and
partnerships. Government grants and aid from foundations and charities provide valuable funding for specific projects and the center also brings in revenue through fundraising events such as an annual auction, annual 5K and more.
The agency is in the process of adding an additional 5,000 square feet of space to create a new lobby and make space for the Trauma Intervention & Advocacy program for children waiting on a foster care bed and also for expansion of other key services.
“Some of our most compelling moments are when we are able to work with a child who has struggled to put words to the abuses they have endured,” Westgate offers. “When those children are able to talk with one of our interviewers and disclose what has happened and for them to feel supported and believed is incredible.”
To learn more, go to kimberlyscenter.org
A Floral Fantasia
This transplanted Ocalan grew up raising orchids in her native Philippines and loves to share her knowledge, and plants, with others.
By Susan Smiley-Height | Photography by Bruce Ackerman
Step into the world of Fe (pronounced Faye) Wood and you enter a realm of flowering plants that have enchanted people for millions of years. At Fe’s Orchids, you can immerse yourself in a world of color, contrast and fragrance. She will answer any question a visitor may have and even “babysit” plants for snowbird residents or provide “doctor” services to orchids that need some TLC.
Wood was born in the Philippines and was a devoted student under the tutelage of her father, a farmer who grew mostly corn, other vegetables and coffee.
“I was born in the province of Mindanao and was raised on a small farm,” she shares. “I would follow my father wherever he would go and that’s where I learned about gardening, not from a book, but from watching what he was doing.”
As she was growing up in her large family,
Wood says her dream was to go to college, but her father was old-school and thought women belonged in the home. Her brother aided her quest for knowledge, and she eventually earned a degree in engineering. After graduating, she had a small store and restaurant near her home. In 1994, she met Ocala dentist Dr. Raymond Wood through a pen pal program. They married in 1995 and have one son. Dr. Wood passed away in 2022.
Fe Wood says she always was raising orchids at their home in Ocala, giving many of them away, and her husband urged her to make it a business. She opened Fe’s Orchids at the Market of Marion 16 years ago. She has greatly expanded the initial 10-by-10-foot space over time and it now houses an incredible array of orchids and other plants.
According to the American Orchid Society, the orchid family (Orchidaceae) is the largest
Fe Wood
flowering plant family on earth, with about 28,000 species. It is also one of the oldest plant families, dating back about 100 million to 125 million years ago to the Late Cretaceous Period. Among the plants seen at Fe’s shop are the popular Phalaenopsis, Vanda and Dendrobium.
“I love it. And not because of making money, no, it’s been my hobby since I was young,” she enthuses. “Growing orchids is easy. You need air, water and light, that’s all. The only thing is knowing how to care for different kinds of orchids.”
Her favorite is the Lady Slipper, which, according to fs.usda.gov, is one of the plants known as the “elegant ladies” of our national forests and grasslands.
Wood is quick to share her deep knowledge about how to water, fertilize and propagate orchids. And she pooh-poohs the adage about watering them with ice cubes.
“People say, ‘Can I put ice cubes?’ No, no, no; don’t put ice cubes,” she stresses, her voice rising an octave. “You need to protect your orchids in the wintertime so if you put the ice cubes in there it will shock the plant and the root will start deteriorating. And then they bring the orchid to me, and I say, ‘You need a doctor for this plant!’”
Wood’s shop is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There are some days she is not there as she is very actively engaged with two dance groups and performs cultural dances in many locations, such as Daytona Beach and The Villages.
When she is in “residence,” however, you can expect to learn a lot about orchids and life as she flits around the flower-filled space, chattering in a lovely sing-song patois. She is emphatic that anyone can successfully grow orchids after they learn a few basic concepts, such as figuring out a watering routine and finding the right place for each plant, such as in filtered sunlight for some and more sun for others.
She insists that orchids shouldn’t be too intimidating or time consuming to care for, bursting into a fit of laughter when she says, “Growing orchids is really easy—especially if you know how to ignore your husband!”
To learn more, go to Wood’s site at fb.com/orchids4everyone or visit gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/orchids
Editor’s note: Susan Smiley-Height subbed in for Style’s regular garden columnist, Belea T. Keeney, who took a break this month.
Seeing your baby for the first time will be an experience you’ll never forget. That’s why, in addition to the extra monitoring and attention we offer in our Level II NICU and the elevated level of prenatal and postnatal care we provide through our McKenzie Kearney Gray Maternal Fetal Medicine program, we add thoughtful, memorable touches with The Birth Day Experience.®
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