Ocala Gazette | February 25 - March 3, 2022

Greek festival this weekend!

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 8

$2

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FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022

City Council approves agreement on planned Maricamp development Project still contingent on final rezoning approval March 1

By James Blevins james@ocalagazette.com

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By Rosemarie Dowell Correspondent

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hen Marion County School Board Member Allision Campbell decided to delve into recent statistics on student expulsions, she found a disconcerting theme of at least one D or F on their report cards.

But what she found out in a mid-year report she requested from district staff soon after, was in her words, “beyond alarming.”

Roughly half of the district’s middle and high school students, or more than 11,000, received a D or F in the fall of 2021, the report showed, and a majority of their parents, 7,000 in all, had not logged into Skyward to check their student’s grades last semester, although some may have used their child’s login instead of going through the parent portal.

Since revealing the jawdropping report during a Feb. 8 school board meeting, which also included dismal attendance data, Campbell has been on a mission to change the statistics before the end of the school year.

“This is a call to action for the community: I’m going to bring it up at every school board meeting

and I’m gonna keep talking about this until we see some change,” said Campbell, prior to Tuesday’s (Feb. 22) regular board meeting.

“While parent engagement is a big piece of the puzzle, I think it’s more student apathy than parent apathy,” she said.

“Students are just not as engaged as before; the pandemic certainly hasn’t done us any favors.”

Campbell said bringing back mandatory regular parentteacher conferences, and recruiting mentors from the community to tutor students during lunch may provide answers to the issues.

Spring open houses, with face-to-face interaction between parents and teachers, may also help, she said, since fall events were canceled because of COVID-19.

“I’d like us to be hyperfocused on this between March and May,” said Campbell. “I know that may be a lofty idea and goal, but if we approach it as a team effort, with everyone from students to parents to the community to churches, we may be able to change the trajectory and help our students that are struggling.”

The first-term board

member has doesn’t-need-tobe-said support from her fellow colleagues.

“The data was there and Campbell has shined a light on it,” said the Rev. Eric Cummings, school board chair, who also said parent-teacher conference, whether in person or virtual, might help hold struggling students accountable, along with before and after-school tutoring, and summer school.

“We do need more parent involvement, but we don’t want to be adversarial either,” he said.

“Let’s be real, a lot of things the school system does can be intimidating to working parents who don’t have the resources and technology available to help their child.”

“The answer is better communication from all parties,” said Cummings. “We as a district need to stop talking in acronyms and things parents aren’t familiar with, but parents need to be accessible as well.”

Many students getting a failing grade in middle or high school likely had struggles in elementary school too, he said.

“It’s probably not the first time they got a D or F,” said Cummings, who recently filed for reelection. “We need to go See Expulsions, page A2

ver the objections of neighbors warning against “hitting the iceberg’’ of more traffic on over-burdened local roads, the Ocala City Council last week conditionally approved plans that could pave the way for a 320-unit multifamily development on Maricamp Road.

The development agreement with traffic improvements for 23.51 acres located near the 2400 block of Southeast Maricamp Road is still contingent on final rezoning approval, due to it not being advertised separately. The council scheduled a new rezoning hearing for March 1.

Owned by the Albright Family Trust, the property is accessed via an 8-foot-wide road that connects to the western end of Southeast 24th Street. The property was annexed into the city in 2006, but the zoning was never established. There now is one single-family home on the property.

Several residents of Woodland Village, located southeast of the property, turned up at the Feb. 15 meeting to raise concerns largely focused on prospect of the development adding more traffic to an already taxed Maricamp Road.

But a consultant told the crowd a traffic study conducted in October concluded the development would not generate any additional traffic on Maricamp Road.

“We have evaluated the traffics impacts for this particular site and looked at what it’s generating. We are not generating any more traffic than what is currently approved on the site through that land-use policy,’’ said Amber Gartner of the design firm Kimley-Horn.

Gartner acknowledged that other developments in the area that had applications come in after the Albright application were not assumed in the traffic study.

“Although there’s a lot of development going in the area, there is standard procedure for how these things are evaluated and looked at on a case-by-case basis,’’ she said. “So, the site is projected to generate, approximately 166 trips during the PM peak hour.”

PM peak hours are the highest volume of traffic for a continuous hour between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. during a typical weekday.

Eric Hayden, a resident of Woodland Village, raised concerns over the point of views he was hearing during the presentations.

“You’ve heard this evening from paid advocates on behalf of Albright,” said Hayden.

See Public, page A2

A reel dilemma

Ocala case highlights fishing loophole in state’s open carry gun law

By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com

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he Marion County Sheriff ’s Office and the City of Ocala have settled a federal lawsuit brought by two residents who were detained by law enforcement officers in 2019 while openly carrying firearms on their way to go fishing in a downtown park.

On Sunday, Sept. 20, 2019, Kevin Sona and Tom Kuehn were walking along 8th Avenue around the 700 block toward Tuscawilla Park, records show. One of the men had a rifle slung across his back and the other carried a holstered pistol. Both were also carrying fishing rods.

Deputy Walton Lowery, who was off duty and heading to a church service at the Reilly Center in Tuscawilla Park, saw the

pair and relayed the information to two other deputies, Eli Serrano-Prusinski and Chris Rafferty, who were on special detail for the service.

Another off-duty deputy, Daniel Barker, earlier saw Sona and Kuehn walking on Silver Springs Boulevard and took a photo of them.

At around 9:30 a.m., around 10 minutes after Lowery reported seeing the armed

men, the other deputies saw Kuehn and Sona approaching the Reilly Center.

They drew their firearms and ordered the pair to the ground, while also notifying the Ocala Police Department, which has jurisdiction over the park area.

Within 30 minutes of the incident, attorney Eric J. Friday sent an email to See MCSO, page A2

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FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

MCSO and city settle lawsuit

Expulsions, lowered grades cause concerns for Campbell, Cummings Continued from page A1

Supplied

Continued from page A1 Tim McCourt, attorney for the sheriff ’s office, that read, “One of my members is currently being illegally detained by your deputies at Tuscawilla Park in Ocala. Please ensure all evidence, body cam footage, dash cam footage, and written notes are preserved from this incident.”

According to a complaint filed in January 2021, Kuehn and Sona “were shocked to have firearms drawn on them and to have two firearms pointed directly at them; they were placed in fear of death and/or great bodily harm” by the deputies.

During the incident, the complaint states, Sona had a business card ready to hand to deputies with the relevant Florida Statute written on it.

While Florida Statutes generally prohibit someone from either carrying openly or concealing a weapon without a permit or licensure issued by the state, it gives a few exceptions to the rule. One such exception is when “a person is engaged in fishing, camping, or lawful hunting or going to or returning from a fishing, camping, or lawful hunting expedition.”

The complaint noted that Sona and Kuehn were “carrying fishing rods and other fishing equipment so that it was readily apparent that they were going fishing” along with “firearms that were visible to the ordinary sight of others as permitted by Sec. 790.25(3)(h), Fla. Stat.”

McCourt said law enforcement officers need only a reasonable suspicion to detain somebody for violating Florida’s laws against openly carrying firearms to investigate whether their behavior fits within one of the exemptions in the law that allows for open carry.

Because there is not a large body of case law describing what constitutes “going to or returning from a fishing expedition,” during which time a person can lawfully openly carry a firearm, he said law enforcement officers have to consider the totality of the circumstances in determining if a person’s conduct warrants detention and further investigation, just as courts have to consider the totality of the circumstances in determining whether any detention or arrest was lawful.

Kuehn and Sona allege they were forced to lie on the ground in full view of the public for at least

10 minutes awaiting the arrival of officers from the OPD. The men were not arrested, and McCourt said Kuehn and Sona were allowed to continue walking to the park to fish.

The men also said the way the signs were placed around the Reilly Center that morning, a person would have no way of knowing a church service was in progress unless they reached the center and noticed signs indicating “church” on them.

The lawsuit lasted approximately a year before it was settled in December during court-ordered mediation. Under the settlement agreement, Kuehn and Sona received no money and were obligated to pay their own attorney’s fees and costs for bringing the case.

The sheriff ’s office agreed to pay the full cost of the mediation and the City of Ocala agreed to pay $1,000 to the Ocala Domestic Violence/Sexual Abuse Shelter and $1,000 to the Humane Society of Marion County.

McCourt declined to detail what was said during mediation, but he did say that the sheriff ’s office entered into the mediation feeling that the deputies were justified in stopping and detaining Kuehn and Sona.

“Our laws allow people to openly carry firearms when they are fishing or going fishing because there is a legitimate need for it,’’ he said. “But just because somebody is carrying a fishing pole, it doesn’t mean they are actually going fishing and it also doesn’t mean they can openly carry a firearm wherever they want. If that were the case, law enforcement officers would be powerless to detain and speak with an openly armed individual who was approaching a school, church, or any other place where people gather merely because they were carrying a fishing pole along with a firearm.

“When somebody engages in that type of highly suspicious behavior, in this day and age with active shootings a regular part of our lives, the law doesn’t require law enforcement officers to wait until a person starts shooting to take action,’’ he said. “The law allows us to do exactly what these deputies and officers did – approach the armed person and detain them so we can figure out what’s going on and whether the person should be released or arrested.”

back to see what happened to them in first, second, third, or fourth grade and address the system at a lower level.”

Having consistent standards from groups or individuals already tutoring or mentoring students may also help, he said.

School Board member Nancy Thrower said the pandemic caused havoc on education the past two years, with quarantines and illness from COVID affecting everyone from students to parents to teachers and staff.

“The number of Ds or Fs are not a surprise to me and they likely are higher than in the past,” she said. “We’ve had two years of educational interruption; it’s glaringly obvious the pandemic has had a detrimental effect on our students.”

Thrower, also up for reelection, said a back-to-basics approach, including parental involvement, which statistics prove drops off at the secondary level, is key to bringing up grades and attendance.

“We’ve got to get parents more involved and go back to the basics,” she said. “But we’ve also got the challenge of really helping the community understand the issues and make education our top priority across the board.”

In the end, Thrower said, it’s about doing the simple things over and over again, like parents checking their kid’s schoolwork each night, and community members being vested in the success of students.

“We need a full-court press: education is everyone’s responsibility,” she said. “We’ve got to implement changes to have the best culture in place for learning.”

Campbell said she just wants to see a change by the end of the fourth quarter.

“It’s time for us to attack this from all sides,” said Campbell, who has a slate of meetings with community members, teachers, groups and churches planned to address the issue.

“We need to come up with a plan, and create strategies and tactics to implement them,” she said. “I want to see a significant shift by the end of the school year.”

“While parent engagement is a big piece of the puzzle, I think it’s more student apathy than parent apathy. Students are just not as engaged as before.”

Allison Campbell

Marion County School Board Member

Public expresses concerns over increase in traffic Continued from page A1 “Our concern as residents is that we look at the whole situation.

Every little thing that changes here that you’ve been asked and have continued to be asked to consider separately raises the temperature notch where we live.”

Hayden asked the council to look at the aggregate impact on those who live near the proposed development.

“It concerns me when I see an image up there of State Road 200, saying, ‘Look, things on Maricamp are going to be fine.

Just like 200.’ Well, no, we don’t want it to look like State Road 200. I think we’re headed in the wrong direction if that’s the general idea,” he said.

Michael Lay, another Woodland Village resident, referred to recent development off Maricamp Road as a “pandemic of development.”

“We understand that the natural evolution of a city is that it grows,” he said. “And our inclusive residents are looking forward to welcoming more families and businesses

to our area. We are not antidevelopment. However, we are anti-traffic. We are anti-traffic accidents. And we are certainly anti-traffic fatalities.”

Lay said traffic on Maricamp Road is already “terrible,” to say nothing of adding more cars to the mix through development deal upon development deal.

Another developer, Trimcor, has announced plans to build luxury apartment complex just a few blocks northwest from the Albright site.

“We’re not going to fix that.

We’re going to add another 600-plus residences and some associated retail destinations to this already failing and dangerous traffic area,” said Lay. “We really need you to change direction here before we really hit the iceberg.”

Gartner, the consultant, said the traffic study was conducted per “standard methodologies” approved by the City of Ocala.

She added the methodology was reviewed and approved by the city, Marion County and the Transportation Planning Organization (TPO). The

methodology also included an evaluation of the site with its current access on 24th Street at Maricamp Road, as well what Gartner called “background traffic.”

“So, for the case of the Albright property, we did include the ARC commercial development as background traffic and our future traffic projections,” she said.

The development agreement includes several traffic improvements. These include signal-timing adjustments to allow for additional green lights for the eastbound, left-turn lane; an extension of the eastbound left turning lane to allow for additional cars to queue; and installation of a “Right Turn on Red Must Yield to U-Turn” sign for the southbound right turning lane from Southeast 24th Street to SR 464.

Councilmember Jim Hilty was the lone no-vote against the agreement. Council President Ire Bethea, Sr., and members Jay Musleh, Kristen Dreyer and Barry Mansfield all voted to approve.

Aerial shot of proposed development. [City documents]

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FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

COMMENTARY “The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.”

- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black in New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) Publisher Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@magnoliamediaco.com

Horse Farms Forever supports the WEC Jockey Club proposal to preserve the farm as a world-class equestrian event facility

Bruce Ackerman, Photography Editor bruce@ocalagazette.com James Blevins, Reporter james@ocalagazette.com Matthew Cretul, Senior Reporter matthew@ocalagazette.com Sadie Fitzpatrick, Columnist sadie@ocalagazette.com Susan Smiley-Height, Editor susan@magnoliamediaco.com Amy Harbert, Graphic Designer amy@magnoliamediaco.com Lisa Maliff, Graphic Designer lisa.maliff@magnoliamediaco.com Kristine Nolan, Editor kristine@magnoliamediaco.com

Director of Sales and Marketing Andrew Hinkle andrew@magnoliamediaco.com Account Executives Evelyn Anderson evelyn@magnoliamediaco.com Sarah Belyeu sarah@magnoliamediaco.com Supplied photos of Ocala Jockey Club from prior owners

Ralph Grandizio ralph@magnoliamediaco.com Lee Kerr lee@magnoliamediaco.com Distribution Inquiries info@ocalagazette.com

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Our mission is to inform and uplift our readers by reporting on the events, issues and stories that shape Ocala with accuracy, fairness and passion. We also strive to serve as a forum where all voices can be heard and to chronicle our community’s history.

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By Busy Shires Director of Conservation Strategies Horse Farms Forever

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he Ocala Jockey Club has a rich history of hosting top equestrian events. The clubhouse facility, which sits on top of one of the highest hills in Florida, offers one of the most iconic views of Marion County’s rolling hills and magnificent sunsets.

The property has the perfect terrain for a challenging cross-country course.

The Nygaard family owned the farm for 16 years and they developed the crosscountry course into an international CCI4*L 3-Day Event. It was also the only facility in the southeastern United States to host a qualifying event in eventing for the 2020 Olympic summer games.

The proposal by the Golden Ocala Equestrian Land (GOEL) organization to preserve and expand the iconic property into a world-class equestrian facility for polo, 3-Day eventing, driving, rodeo, and other equine activities is the best way to protect the land from incompatible development and to further uplift the horse sport industry in Marion County.

The property was purchased by GOEL in 2021 for $10.5 million and with a price tag like that, the 1,028 acre property could have easily been developed into 100 exclusive 10-acre estate sized lots, but at the expense of losing the equestrian event facility, race track, and cross-country course.

While the Ocala Jockey Club is located within the Farmland Preservation Area, and is subject to 10-acre lot minimum, GOEL has proposed clustering

approximately 94 three-acre to eight-acre home sites on 300 acres (74 if the existing town homes are included as part of the density.) By clustering the home sites, over 60% of the remaining acreage is reserved for equestrian activities.

There are plans to add commercial and retail space to serve the equestrian events, including a fueling station, and the addition of the 100-lot RV park and 200room hotel will help alleviate traffic on CR 318. The onsite accommodations will also allow people to be near their horses during events.

In addition, Horse Farms Forever reached an agreement with GOEL in September 2020 to support their plans for the Ocala Jockey Club in exchange for preserving the scenic view shed of two farms on US 27. GOEL replaced the B-2 zoning (commercial uses) on the 256-acre Crupi parcel (the farm with the castle entrance) and the farm directly across on US 27, the 247-acre Plumley parcel, with A-1 zoning and to develop these properties into farms of 10-acres or larger.

While Horse Farms Forever strongly favors maintaining 10-acre or larger parcels within the Farmland Preservation Area, the GOEL agreement to replace the Business zoning with Agricultural zoning on the high-profile Crupi and Plumley parcels in return for HFF’s support of clustering the Jockey Club farm sites into 3-acre or larger tracts and thus allow a much larger common area for equine activities was smart planning.

For event riders, losing the crosscountry course to 10-acre lots would mean one more eventing facility was lost to development. The venue hosted

one of only six CCI4*-L events in North America, but with GOEL’s proposal, the Ocala Jockey Club can once again host world-class 3-Day Events and other equestrian activities.

Pavla Nygaard was quoted in a 2019 Eventing Nation article about looking for partnerships to help take the Ocala Jockey Club to the next level. “In order to do so, the Event and the property deserves to look to upgrades and a larger team than we are able to commit on our own for the long term.

This is why we believe that the property and the Event will have an opportunity to be stronger with either strategic partners or with a new buyer who will be able to take the property further and faster than we are able to do on our own.”

Nygaard also added: “Erik and I wish the best for the property, as it is a historic farm that we are proud to be associated with. Whether we find strategic partners or a new owner, we want this property to retain its rustic and natural character, as it is what makes it so special and beautiful.”

Lynn Symansky, a 2019 Pan Am Games Individual Silver and Team Gold Medalist in eventing was quoted on the previous Ocala Jockey Club website: "The OJC is a real destination event with a true international feel. It's a worldclass facility with spectacular viewing and entertainment for spectators and owners.

It's an event I look forward to bringing my horses to every year...great atmosphere and courses on beautiful rolling terrain.

The OJC does a fantastic job putting on a top class event".

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CF celebrates $1 million healthcare scholarship donation with renaming event

By Ocala Gazette Staff

C

ollege of Central Florida students training in healthcare fields at the CF Citrus Campus now have a new source of financial aid, announced a CF press release on Jan. 20, thanks to a $1 million donation from the Citrus County Hospital Board.

The Charles S. Dean Sr. Endowed Scholarship for Health Sciences will provide tuition assistance for Citrus County residents seeking a Health Sciences degree from CF. “Now more than ever we see a need to recruit and train qualified healthcare professionals to meet the growing

demands of our local communities,” said Dr. Jim Henningsen, president of the College of Central Florida. “The new Charles S. Dean Sr. Endowed Scholarship for Health Sciences is a game-changer for our Health Sciences programs and the educational opportunities it opens up to countless students each year.”

Deborah L. Ressler, BSN, chair of the Citrus County Hospital Board, said the board was pleased to support the new scholarship.

“This support will ensure Citrus County students can participate in healthcare programs offered at the Citrus Campus and will enhance the students’ opportunities to participate in the

delivery of healthcare in our community,” she said.

Dean, one of the founders of the hospital board, is a CF alumnus and received the college’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2011. He is a lifelong resident of Citrus County, serving in the Florida Senate from 2007 to 2012, the Florida House of Representatives from 2002 to 2007, and was Citrus County Sheriff from 1981 to 1996.

In recognition of this gift, the CF Citrus Campus Learning & Conference Center was renamed the Charles S. Dean, Sr. Educational Center on Jan. 28.

To learn more, visit CF.edu/ foundation.

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FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH Leading Women

File photo

Mary Sue Rich

By Matthew Cretul matthew@ocalagazette.com

M

ary Sue Rich and Sandra Wilson are more than just pillars of the community in Ocala, they’re pioneers. Rich was the first Black woman to sit on the Ocala City Council, while Wilson is the first Black woman to serve as the Ocala city manager.

Between them, these dynamic local icons represent more than a half-century of service to our city. As part of the commemoration of Black History Month, Rich and Wilson shared with The Ocala Gazette their reflections on topics including their professional journeys as well as advice to the next generation of leaders.

Q: What does Black History Month mean to you?

Rich: It means a lot to me. Most of our children, and when I say our children, I mean all children, don’t know a lot about Black history. And it’s very important for us to teach them, I don’t believe it’s taught enough in schools. We need to let them know where we came from.

Wilson: Black History Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the significant contributions that AfricanAmericans have made and continue to make in every aspect of our society.

“I don’t believe [Black history] is taught enough in schools. We need to let them know where we came from.”

Mary Sue Rich

The first Black woman to sit on the Ocala City Council

Q: What does (or did) your position mean to

you?

Rich: It meant I could help the community. I didn’t only do what Black citizens wanted to be done, I did what anybody in the city needed. As an example, we took out all of the septic tanks [in the

MEAGAN GUMPERT PHOTOGRAPHY

Sandra Wilson

city] during my tenure. Everybody in the city is now on city water. That saved a lot of problems, removing all of the septic tanks. But that’s not the only thing I did, I did a lot of other things too. But that just comes off the top of my head. My goal was to help the people in the City of Ocala, not just people in the Black neighborhoods.

Wilson: The position of City Manager is the culmination of all of the training, education, and experience that I have attained in more than 30 years of public service.

It is a position that I have watched several individuals hold and I’ve learned from each one of them – some things “to do” and some things “not to do.” I aspired to obtain this position to be able to make a positive impact on the community, and I am blessed and honored that the elected officials of the City of Ocala have provided me the opportunity to lead such a dynamic organization with an excellent team of my fellow public servants.

Q: Describe your “path” to your position.

Assistant City Manager where I had the opportunity to oversee the IT Department, Fleet Management, Water Resources/Engineering, in addition to Human Resources and Risk Management. In 2014, I was promoted to the position of Deputy City Manager where I had the opportunity to also oversee Ocala Electric Utility, the city’s largest enterprise department. The rest is history.

Q: Any words of wisdom to the next generation?

Rich: To go for it, to try to get any position that you want.

And, anything that you want, you have to work hard for. You can’t just sit back and expect things to fall in your lap. You have to work for what you have and what you want.

Wilson: My words of wisdom to the next generation are to prepare yourself for the opportunities that will come your way. You cannot wait until the opportunity is upon you to prepare – you have to be prepared. You prepare yourself by deciding what you want to do; determine the credentials and experience that you need to qualify for it, and then get it done.

You have to remove as many of the barriers that are within your control and be ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Rich: Well, I saw a lot of things that I felt that I could help with, a lot of things that needed to be done in the city. And there wasn’t a Black [person] on the city council, and I had friends who encouraged me to run for the seat.

So, I ran, and I won, and I was on there for 24 years. When I left, I retired. I didn’t lose the seat, I was not opposed.

FULL-TIME POSITIONS PART-TIME POSITIONS I was undefeated in elections.

Faculty – Cardiovascular Technology, Head Coach - Women’s Cross Wilson: My path to Program Manager Country the city manager’s Faculty – BAS – Management Adjunct – Visual and office began with Information Systems Performing Arts me initially being Faculty – Computer Information Public Safety Officer Technology named the Human Resources (HR) Faculty – Sonography, Program Manager Director for the City Trades Specialist – Carpenter/Painter in January 2000.

Faculty – BAS - Accounting In HR, you have Trades Specialist - HVAC to become familiar with every area of a HOW TO APPLY Go to www.cf.edu/jobs Select one of the following online portals Administrative/Faculty/ city, which provided Adjunct Career Opportunities or Professional/Career/Part-time Career Opportunities. a natural projection Submit an electronic application, a copy of unofficial transcripts and resume online. and path to the city A copy of transcripts from an accredited institution must be submitted with the application. manager’s office. I was promoted in 2011 to the position of Chief of 3001 SW College Road, Staff/

Join the

Ocala, FL 34474 CF is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Team

FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

Called to Serve

BRUCE ACKERMAN/Ocala Gazette

Jamie Ulmer, CEO of Heart of Florida Health Center, speaks during the ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony of the Heart of Florida Health Center Drive-Thru Pharmacy on South Pine Avenue in Ocala on August 26, 2021.

By James Blevins and Matthew Cretul Ocala Gazette

J

effery Askew, the director of Veterans’ Services for Marion County, and Jamie Ulmer, the CEO of Heart of Florida Health Center, both credit their military service for instilling in them the value of service to others, regardless of skin color. Between the two, they have nearly a half century of military service: Askew spent 22 years in the U.S. Navy, while Ulmer put in 24 years with the U.S. Army. They then combined for another 30 years of public service in various capacities at the county and state level after leaving the military.

Askew and Ulmer spoke with the Ocala Gazette about how they serve in their current positions, what Black History Month means to them, and what advice they have for the next generations.

Q: What does Black History Month mean to

you?

Askew: It’s an occasion to celebrate the achievement of many African Americans who have gone boldly before me, and it’s a chance to inspire others. Not only those are who are of African American descent, but all Americans. If we can achieve something, so can they.

Ulmer: Black History Month means two things to me: diversity and sacrifice. Diversity is a hot topic now; however, it has always been a hallmark of my definition of a great organization. I do not only mean diversity of ethnicities or races. I am speaking of total diversity, including ethnicities, race, religion, and wherever you may originally be from, no matter if you were raised in a metropolitan, suburban or rural area. When you instill in an organization people from all walks of life and places, no matter what their color may be, you get an organization that will operate at a heightened level of performance, not to mention people learning from each other from their culture and different ways of doing things. I am proud to be the CEO of one of the most diverse organizations in Ocala and Marion County. I believe our tremendous amount of success has been derived from this principle.

Regarding sacrifice, I get butterflies in my stomach to think that someone literally gave up their life or livelihood to help establish a better life for me. It definitely makes me keep trying to make an impact, and to make lives better for people around me.

“Regarding sacrifice, I get butterflies in my stomach to think that someone literally gave up their life or livelihood to help establish a better life for me. It definitely makes me keep trying to make an impact, and to make lives better for people around me.”

Jamie Ulmer

CEO of Heart of Florida Health Center

Q: What does your position mean to you?

Askew: It means I have the opportunity to help others in need, and I value that. Not just veterans, but we see a lot of spouses, widows, and widowers. Being in this position gives me an opportunity to help a lot of people and it is an example to the community as a whole, that if I could do it, you can do it. It’s just about setting your mind to what you want to do.

MARK ANDERSON/Marion County Public Relations

Jeffery Askew, veterans service director for Marion County, stands in his office in front of a shadowbox featuring the awards he earned during his 22-year naval career on Feb 22, 2022.

Ulmer: My position as the CEO of Heart of Florida Health Center means that I have an opportunity to impact people in multiple ways. The first is our patients in the community. We are overwhelmingly committed to taking care of our patients to the best of our ability, no matter what their circumstances may be. We see everyone, no matter his or her ability to pay, and we stand by that. But my most significant impact is with my employees. I only use the word “my” in two instances when I am referring to taking care of people. I take it personally when it comes to impacting my employees’ lives. Without them, we would not be able to take care of our patients. Throughout my military career, I learned that my soldiers were someone’s most prized possession, and they trusted me to take care of them—at all costs. I still feel that way today about my employees at Heart of Florida Health Center.

Q: Describe your “path” to the position?

Askew: When I retired from the military, my first job was working in human resources for the [Marion] county commission. I was their human resource specialist. I handled recruitment, equal opportunity, I took care of the website as far as job announcements, and I also processed retirement paperwork. One day I was helping Jim Deck, the Veterans’ Services director at the time, with his retirement. He said, “Well, Jeffrey, I’m gonna be leaving here in a couple of months, and since you’ve got military experience and you have good interpersonal skills, I think you’d fit right in with this job.” A few months later, Mr. Smith, who was the assistant county Administrator, asked me if I would like to apply for the position. I was happy where I was at, you know, I liked being in human resources. But this job came open and I applied for it, and I got the job. And the rest is history.

Ulmer: I always knew I was going to be in the medical field in some capacity since I was very young. It was not until I was a senior in college that I knew I would be tracking as a healthcare administrator.

Being a Medical Service Corps officer in the Army taught me a lot about healthcare administration.

My first two years were mostly conducting healthcare administration in austere locations and conditions. It was not until I retired that I found my niche in public health and community health centers. It was then that I felt I could make my largest contribution to employees, patients, and the community.

Q:

Any words of wisdom to the next generation?

A5

Askew: I read a book yesterday, a children’s book, for the African American read-in. And the title of my book by Andrea Pippins was, “Who Will You Be?” There are a lot of role models out there, so, I’ll start with a question. And the question would be, who would they be when they grow up? What I leave with them is that you can be anything that you want to be. All you have to do is apply yourself, stay away from people who are doing things that you know they shouldn’t do. Get with somebody who is doing positive things, someone who has a positive impact on the community. Stay away from “naughty people”, so to speak. But you can be anything you want to be, and you can do anything you want to do. You don’t necessarily have to have a doctorate, you don’t necessarily have to have a master’s degree. You can have a high school diploma and still do something meaningful. Every job is important. So, they can be all they can be because there are a lot of opportunities out there for them. They just have to take advantage of them. I had an

opportunity, and I took advantage of it. When they have an opportunity, they need to take advantage of it. During this month, they acknowledged a lot of people who have done great things. They can model them, they can model after their grandparents, some of their relatives who are doing good things.

They can model people in the community. But there is always a place for positive people. There’s not a place for negative people. I would say to them, decide what you want to do, and then apply yourself to do it, and get someone who can help you do it.

Someone who can influence you and be a positive example for you to achieve that objective and never give up. Many positive people have contributed to my success.

Ulmer: My words to the next generation would be to always have a “back-up to the back-up plan.”

It builds resiliency and decreases anxiety to deal with life challenges. I would also say, become more diversified, and no, I am not talking about financially. I’m talking about with your friends, places you would like to travel or work. When people are exposed to other cultures, their heart reacts to situations in life with compassion and mercy.

A6

FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

Marion County, MCPS COVID cases down yet again HOSPITAL NUMBERS BEGIN TO DECLINE

By Matthew Cretul matthew@ocalagazette.com

MARION COUNTY UPDATE COVID cases in Marion County dropped for the fifth consecutive week, as the county registered 708 new cases during the week of Feb. 11 - Feb. 17, according to figures released by the Florida Department of Health (FLDOH) Friday evening.

In previous reports, the county reported recording 1,564 new cases during the week of Feb.4 - Feb. 10, 2,621 new cases during the week of Jan. 28 - Feb. 3, 3,955 new cases three weeks ago, 4,696 new cases four weeks ago, 5,536 new cases during the week of Jan. 7-13, and 3,130 cases during the week of Dec. 31-Jan. 6.

In addition to the number of new cases dropping, the county’s cases per 100,000 and new case positivity both decreased as well.

The cases per 100,000 dropped from 419.9 to 190.1, and the positivity rate declined last week from 17.7% to 10.3%.

While hospital numbers had remained high despite the declining number of cases in the last four weeks, overall inpatient hospitalizations and ICU beds occupied finally began to fall.

In Health and Human Services (HHS) hospitalization numbers last updated Feb. 18, county hospitals reported 89% of inpatient beds filled, with 17% being COVID patients. In addition, 90% of ICU beds were filled, with 17% being COVID patients.

For reference, HHS

hospitalization numbers from Feb. 11, county hospitals reported 96% of inpatient beds filled, with 22% being COVID patients. In addition, 94% of ICU beds were filled, with 20% being COVID patients.

In numbers from Feb. 4, county hospitals reported 97% of inpatient beds filled, with 23% being COVID patients. In addition, 93% of ICU beds were filled, with 20% being COVID patients.

For further reference, on Jan. 28, county hospitals reported 93% of inpatient beds filled, with 22% being COVID patients.

In addition, 89% of ICU beds were filled, with 25% being COVID patients; and on Jan. 21, hospitals reported 90% of inpatient beds filled, with 18% being COVID patients. In addition, 86% of ICU beds were filled, with 22% being COVID patients. Finally, on Jan. 7, HHS data showed 83% of inpatient beds filled, with 4% of those being COVID patients; and 84% of ICU beds filled, with 6% being COVID patients.

In Ocala, COVID Test FL is offering testing at the Ocala First Baptist Church located at 2801 S.E. Maricamp Road. COVID Test Express is offering testing in the Villages at 11714 N.E. 62nd Terrace. Both locations are open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Additionally, FLDOH announced testing is also taking place on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.

STATE UPDATE Not only did new COVID cases fall in Marion County for the fifth week in a row, but they also

fell across the state as a whole, as Florida recorded 42,473 cases for the week of Feb. 11 – Feb. 17.

Comparatively, the state reported 102,990 cases for the week of Feb. 4 – Feb. 10, 130,862 cases three weeks ago, 197,084 four weeks ago, 286,824 cases for the week of Jan. 14-Jan. 22, 427,633 new cases for the week of Jan. 7-13, and 393,705 new cases of COVID during the week of Dec. 31-Jan. 6.

The state’s cases per 100,000 average and new case positivity both dropped along with the number of cases. Cases per 100,000 fell from 468.8 to 193.3, and new case positivity from 14.3% to 8.2%.

The state’s overall vaccination rates continue to fall to their lowest number in more than six months, as Florida recorded administering 58,603 doses of the vaccine last week compared with 83,419 doses of the vaccine two weeks ago, 117,936 doses three weeks ago, 162,084 doses four weeks ago, 234,665 doses a month ago, 375,912 doses the first week in January, and 356,110 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine during the last week in December.

This brings the total state population of those ages 5 and up to 74%, the same percentage as the last two reports.

Specific to children ages 5-11, the state reported administering 4,717 doses of the vaccine last week, bringing the total number of children at least partly vaccinated to 363,567. The total population of children 26 ages 5-11 in the state is just AUG. under 1.7 million, and figures

For comparison, MCPS reported 248 new cases for the week of Feb. 5-Feb. 11, with 209 students and 39 employees confirmed COVID-19 positive; 513 cases for the week of Jan. 29-Feb. 4, with 424 students and 89 employees confirmed COVID-19 positive by the Florida Department of Health in Marion County.

While the numbers show a downtrend, the county remains just above the threshold set by FLDOH for MCPS to consider having students wear face coverings.

According to FLDOH guidance, the county must be below 99.9 cases per 100,000 (currently at 190.1) and the new case positivity must remain below 10% (currently at 10.3%) for two weeks in order for coverings not to be required.

released by the state showed 22% of them are now at least partly vaccinated against COVID-19, the same percentage as the last two reports, and by far the lowest population group in the state

MCPS UPDATE Marion County Public Schools (MCPS) cases continued the downward trend seen across the county and state as well, as MCPS reported 108 cases for the week of Feb. 12-Feb. 185, with 91 students and 17 employees confirmed COVID-19 positive by the Florida Department of Health in Marion County in figures released on Tuesday morning.

Additionally, MCPS reported 105 students and 5 employees had been identified as direct contacts to a COVID-positive case confirmed by DOH.

New reported Covid-19 cases per week

5,500 5,000

Feb. 11 - Feb. 17

4,500

Feb. 17:

4,000

Aug. 26:

3,228

Source: Marion County Health Department

3,500

708

3,500

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1,500

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AMY HARBERT/Ocala Gazette

County, firefighters finally finish contract negotiations Previous contract expired September 30, 2021.

By Matthew Cretul matthew@ocalagazette.com

A

fter months of wrangling, Marion County has reached a tentative agreement with its fire service personnel that provides a series of pay raises, advancement potential, and other benefits designed to attract and retain the best emergency care providers for county residents.

“It’s nice to be done,” Amanda Tart, the executive director of Administrative Services and Human Resources for Marion County who was the county’s representative in the negotiations, said after the negotiations on Friday, Feb. 18.

“Our main focus was to be able to have a contract that would be attractive to recruit and retain employees,” she said.

Daniel Garcia, the president of the Professional Firefighters of Marion County (PFFMC) for the last four years, feels the new contract should do just that.

“I think we covered most of the bases that we were looking to cover in these contract negotiations. I think that this is a big first step for Marion County Fire Rescue (MCFR) moving forward,” he said.

“The goal of every contract is to improve wages, benefits, terms, and conditions so that we can attract the best and brightest.

So, we retain our senior experienced employees to the benefit of the taxpayers and citizens of Marion County.”

One of the points of extensive discussion between the two sides during their meetings was a wage package that was both fiscally responsible on the county’s end but also allowed MCFR to offer competitive salaries to new hires.

The two sides traded pay plans until ultimately agreeing on the county’s final proposal, which includes raises in a stairstep structure. Garcia broke down how the proposal was designed.

“In their proposal, they are suggesting that they increase the starting rate of pay for EMTs (Emergency Medical Technician) by $3 an hour,” he said.

Tart explained, “Paramedics will get a 3% increase upon ratification, and then there will get a second 3% increase on Oct. 1, 2022. They will get a third 3% increase

on Oct. 1, 2023.”

In addition to the raises, Tart said MCFR employees have additional pay incentives.

“Throughout their contract, they have the ability to move up in their competency matrix, which makes them eligible for an additional 6% on top of those 3% raises every two years,” she said.

According to the contract, upon ratification, a single-certified firefighter would start in year one making $13 an hour; a single-certified EMT would start at $13.75, and a single-certified paramedic starts at $17.68. The salaries increase for dual-certified EMTs and paramedics and do not include overtime.

MCFR Deputy Chief for Operations Robert Graff, who also took part in the negotiations, feels the pay structure will allow the department to be competitive in attracting and retaining personnel for the long term.

“I believe it’s a wage package that will continue to keep the employees engaged here in our workforce, and then provide them a future so they can know what they’re going to make and how they can plan their lives,” he said.

Another area of debate between the two sides was the county’s ability to fill open positions by hiring from outside MCFR. The county proposed allowing the fire chief (currently Chief James Banta) the ability to externally advertise for positions if they remained unfilled after 60 days due to a lack of qualified internal candidates.

PFFMC was adamant the language was too broad and pushed back, insisting that hiring positions from outside MCFR could hurt morale. The county contended the language needed to stay in order to allow for flexibility and provided a safety net to get necessary positions filled.

Ultimately the county removed the language, and Tart said the overall contract provides enough incentives that should allow for internal hiring to flourish.

“Now that we’ve agreed to this contract, we’ve put several things in place that should make it very attractive to promote from within,” she said. “The hope is that we’ll get the applicants that we need to fill the positions that we need to fill. And if we

don’t, then moving forward, we’ll have to make some changes. Nobody wants to hire from the outside.”

Garcia agreed and said that the onus now shifts to MCFR to allow the cream of the crop to rise to the top.

“If we can’t find internal candidates to promote to the positions of entry-level management, then all of us have failed the employees in the organization because we should have enough in-house talent to seek the best and the brightest for the promoted positions,” he said.

Now that the negotiations are out of the way, Tart said both sides can turn their attention to filling the 42 open MCFR positions.

“It’s always good to show stability in the department,” she said. “I think having a contract that both sides have agreed to really gives people looking to start their career a roadmap to look at and be able to say, ‘Hey, this is how I can progress in my career and be successful working for Marion County.’”

The contract must now go to the

PFFMC general body, where they will have a three-day voting window. If the members approve the contract, it will then go to the Marion County Board of County Commissioners for approval.

Graff said he doesn’t see any holdups from this point on.

“I think it’s a great step for the fire department, I think it’s a great step for our employees, it’s a great step for the citizens that we can now have a signed, sealed, delivered contract, move it forward for ratification on their side, and then we’ll take it to the board for approval. I see that process going fairly smoothly,” he said.

“I think, at the end of the day, both organizations want to see the best for their members,’’ he said. “We want to see the best for the citizens. And I think we’ve done that.”

Tart said she hopes to get a PFFMCapproved contract in front of the commissioners for their April 1 meeting.

Once approved by the board, the contract would be effective immediately and would be valid until Sept. 30, 2024.

BRUCE ACKERMAN/Ocala Gazette

Deputy Chief of Marion County Fire Rescue, Robert Graff, second from left, speaks as Amanda Tart, the Executive Director of Administrative Services at Marion County Board of County Commissioners, left, and Capt. Danny Garcia, the president of the International Association of Firefighters Local #3169, right, and Lt. Eric Schwartz, also of the firefighters union, second from right, listen during the Collective Bargaining Agreement meeting between the Marion County Board of County Commissioners and the Professional Firefighters of Marion County at Green Clover Hall in Ocala on Feb. 18.

A7

FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

State Broadband expansion proposal sees changes

By Jim Turner Florida News Service

L

awmakers awaiting federal money scaled back a proposal Tuesday that would help broadband providers expand service to mostly rural, underserved areas.

Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, removed designated funding from his proposal that would establish a broadband polereplacement program (SB 1800 and SB 1802), before the Senate Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee approved the measure.

Boyd’s initial proposal included $400 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and called for the recently created Office of Broadband within the state Department of Economic Opportunity to seek another $100 million from the federal Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund.

“I don’t know at this point when those dollars will come,” Boyd said. “We assume they will come. There is the mechanism in the federal government to allow it, but we haven’t seen them yet.”

The American Rescue Plan Act included $10 billion for the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund to provide grants to states for projects and $130.2 billion for Community Development Block Grants. Another $64 billion was included in the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law in November, for programs such as the Broadband Equity, Access, and Development Program.

In supporting Boyd’s revised bill Tuesday, Sen. Loranne Ausley, D-Tallahassee, said with “significant federal resources coming,” the Legislature

needs to establish guidelines so the money is “getting to where it needs to go.”

The state’s share, if received after the current legislative session, in part could be directed to the Office of Broadband for staffing issues through the Joint Legislative Budget Commission, which is made up of House and Senate budget leaders.

Boyd’s proposal must still get approval from the Appropriations Committee before it could go to the full Senate.

The House version (HB 1543 and HB 1545) has cleared two committees and needs to clear the Commerce Committee.

The broadband office is working with the University of Florida on a strategic plan that is expected to be completed this summer.

The importance of internet access for work and education became even more clear as businesses and schools went remote during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Expanding broadband internet service to Floridians lacking access will generate economic gains for Florida and help us be first among the states uniquely positioned to close the digital divide,” state Public Service Commission Chairman Andrew Fay said in a prepared statement Tuesday.

“Florida must continue to rely on a wide range of services to keep pace with the growing demand for fast and reliable internet access.”

A release from the Public Service Commission said the Federal Communications Commission has allocated nearly $192 million to internet service providers through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.

A Senate staff analysis of Boyd’s bill said broadband access is available to 98 percent of the state’s urban areas and 78.6 percent of rural areas.

The disparity is attributed to the cost of building broadband infrastructure “across

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FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

House tax package worth $325 million — and growing

By Jim Turner Florida News Service

A

wide-ranging tax package approved Tuesday by the House Appropriations Committee would cut state and local revenue next fiscal year by at least $325 million, according to estimates that continue to be updated by state economists.

The proposal (HB 7071), which faced little criticism in the committee, is highlighted by sales-tax “holidays” on hurricane supplies, back-to-school items and tools and worker equipment. Also, the state would hold its second “Freedom Week,” which would provide sales-tax breaks related to such things as outdoor activities.

Also Tuesday, the committee approved a change that would lift taxes on admissions to FIFA World Cup matches and qualifying matches.

The House package doesn’t include Gov. Ron DeSantis’ call for a five-month suspension of state gasoline taxes starting in July. The bill is expected to see further changes as it gets approved by the full House and then becomes part of budget negotiations with the Senate.

Rep. Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, said the package includes a “myriad of issues” for “real life situations that Floridians face.” Rep. Ben Diamond, D-St. Petersburg, said it doesn’t include “the usual kind of Tallahassee lobbyists, big corporate tax giveaways that get worked out outside of these (committee) rooms.”

In a news release last week, House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor,

called the package “the single-largest sales tax cut package in the history of the state.”

A staff analysis of the bill released Monday said state economists had not released estimates on several parts of the package, including a proposed seven-day “skilled worker tool holiday” that would be held around Labor Day. Also, economists had not estimated the costs of a 14-day disaster-preparedness holiday in late May and early June that for the first time would include pet supplies or proposed tax breaks for what are known as Class II and Class III “short line” freight railroads.

Under the proposal, the railroads --including Florida East Coast Railway and Alabama Gulf Coast Railway --- could get credits against corporate income taxes equal to 50 percent of investments in maintaining or improving tracks and based on the total miles of track.

Totals were also not available on potential savings for parts of the package that would give sales-tax breaks on Energy Star refrigerators, washers, dryers and water heaters and on impact-resistant windows, doors and garage doors.

The economists put a $100 million estimate on savings for shoppers during a proposed 14-day tax holiday in late July and early August on back-to-school items such as clothes, school supplies and personal computers that cost up to $1,500.

Also, they estimated $76 million in savings for the seven-day “Freedom Week” tax holiday around Independence Day. During that period, shoppers could avoid paying sales taxes on tickets to music

events, sporting events, movies, theaters, parks, fairs and museums, purchases of items for camping, fishing and boating and purchases of surfboards, canoes, kayaks and bicycles.

Sales tax exemptions on baby clothes and shoes would cut state and local revenues by $74.6 million, while a separate proposal to lift sales taxes for a year on baby diapers would provide $35.6 million in savings.

Not imposing sales taxes on children’s books for three months “to encourage summer reading” would provide $3.3 million in savings for shoppers.

A recurring exemption for “green hydrogen” machinery and equipment backed by Florida Power & Light would cut state revenue by $300,000 a year.

Other aspects of the House proposal include a reduction in the sales tax for new mobile homes from 6 percent to 3 percent and an exemption from the sales tax on admissions to Formula One Grand Prix races.

The package also includes a proposal --- inspired by the collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside --- to provide tax relief to property owners affected by a sudden and unforeseen collapse of a residential building. Another proposal would provide a break for homesteaded property made unlivable for 30 days or more by future catastrophic events.

Bob McKee, a lobbyist for the Florida Association of Counties, warned that the measure aimed at future catastrophic events could result in “a diminished tax base” at a time when there are “increased

service demands because of the event.”

“We understand what is trying to be done here, which is, if there’s a catastrophic event that affects one home or three homes,” McKee said. “But our concern is if we have a truly catastrophic event, a Category 5 hurricane that hits downtown Tampa, hits Miami, we have a terrorist event in a populated area, or we have an act of war. Under those circumstances, we could have a massive impact on the property tax base, the way the property tax system works.”

House Ways & Means Chairman Bobby Payne, a Palatka Republican whose committee authored the tax package, said the state and federal governments can help local governments in such disaster situations.

“It’s just not fair to individuals, having to pay taxes on property they cannot inhabit,” McKee said. “And I’m more concerned about citizens than I am about the local government.”

The Formula One and FIFA proposals would fit into a category that already provides tax exemptions for admissions to pro and college football championship games and the Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, National Basketball Association, or National Hockey League all-star games.

Topped annually by a back-to-school tax holiday, final tax packages in recent years have totaled $372.4 million in 2015, $129.1 million in 2016, $91.6 million in 2017, $428.9 million in 2018, $121 million in 2019, $47 million in 2020 and $196.3 million in 2021.

House to battle over education proposals

By Jim Saunders and Ryan Dailey Florida News Service

T

he Florida House could be poised to pass two fiercely debated bills that would place restrictions on how issues about race, gender identity and sexual orientation are taught in public schools.

The Republican-dominated House is scheduled to take up the bills Tuesday, after weeks of opposition from Democrats and other critics such as LGBTQadvocacy groups.

Sponsors have given the title “Individual Freedom” to the bill involving instruction about race (HB 7), and the measure is an outgrowth of a push by Gov. Ron DeSantis to prevent the teaching of critical race theory. The bill related to instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation (HB 1557) has been titled “Parental Rights in Education.”

Despite the monikers, controversy continued Thursday as dozens of opponents turned out for a final committee meeting on the bill that would restrict instruction about gender identity and

sexual orientation.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Joe Harding, R-Williston, says in part that “instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”

Opponents have called the proposal the “don’t say gay” bill and alleged, in part, that it would further stigmatize LGBTQ people.

“If we are prohibiting discussion around sexual orientation, are we therefore prohibiting discussion around people being gay?” Rep. Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, asked Thursday before the House Judiciary Committee voted 13-7 to approve the bill along party lines.

But Harding said restricting sex- and gender-related instruction in younger grade levels is appropriate.

“I would also say that you could apply that to straight (sexual orientation). Again, we’re talking about kindergarten through third grade, children as young as 6 years old,” Harding said.

The other bill about race-related instruction is sponsored by Rep. Bryan Avila, a Miami Springs Republican who is a top lieutenant of House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor. It came after DeSantis announced a legislative proposal that he dubbed the “Stop Wrongs Against Our Kids and Employees Act,” or Stop WOKE Act. Like other Republicans across the country, DeSantis for months has targeted critical race theory, which is based on the premise that racism is embedded in American institutions, from the workplace to classrooms. The State Board of Education last year passed a rule to prevent teaching of critical race theory, and the bill — while not specifically mentioning the theory — would effectively cement the ban in law.

The bill lists several race-related concepts that would constitute discrimination if taught in public schools or as part of workplace training programs.

As an example, it targets instruction that would lead students to believe that a “person, by virtue of his or her race, color, sex or national origin, bears personal responsibility for and must feel guilt,

anguish or other forms of psychological distress because of actions, in which the person played no part, committed in the past by other members of the same race, color, national origin or sex.”

During a Feb. 1 committee meeting, Avila said the bill seeks only to ensure that lessons are taught in an “objective” manner.

“Nothing at all in this bill prohibits or does away with anything that is related to historical facts about slavery, about sexism, racial oppression, racial segregation and racial discrimination,” Avila said.

But Democrats and other opponents said it would limit teachers’ ability to discuss the realities of American history.

“History is not objective. Conversations are uncomfortable,” said Rep. Robin Bartleman, a Weston Democrat who is an educator. “I understand what this bill is trying to do, but … the only way you don’t repeat history is by discussing it.

By having honest conversations. By not stifling teachers.”

Senate versions of the bills also have received initial committee approvals, though they have not reached the full Senate.

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FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

STATE BRIEFS LOCKED OUT MLB PLAYERS, OWNERS FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTALIST, JANET TO MEET 3RD DAY IN A ROW RENO’S SISTER DIES AT 81

By Ronald Blum AP Baseball Writer

J

UPITER, Fla. (AP) — Locked out baseball players and team owners agreed to meet for a third day in a row on Wednesday in an attempt to reach a deal that would salvage opening day on March 31.

Players made counteroffers on several topics during Tuesday’s session.

The talks on the 83rd day of the secondAP Photo/Ron Blum longest work stoppage Signs are posted outside Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Mon., Feb. 21. Baseball in baseball history labor negotiations moved to the spring training ballpark from New York as players marked only the and owners join the talks, which enter a more intensive phase with perhaps a second time since week left to salvage opening day on March 31. the lockout began that bargaining on decrease domestic minor league contracts core economic issues has taken place on along with a plan to limit optional consecutive days. assignments to five per player each The sides had met on consecutive days season. just once before, on Jan. 24 and 25.

The union wants a $115 million bonus MLB has told the union an agreement pool, eight teams in a draft lottery and a is needed by Monday for the season maximum four optional assignments. to start on time. Players have not said The players and teams are far apart whether they accept that as a deadline. on luxury tax thresholds and rates. The Negotiations were shifted this week teams have told the union they will not from New York to Roger Dean Stadium, increase salary arbitration eligibility, will the spring training home of the Miami not decrease revenue sharing and will not Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals. add new methods for players to accrue On Monday, MLB increased its offer service time, which players said are of a bonus pool for prearbitration players needed to prevent teams from holding by $5 million to $20 million, upped its players back to delay free agency. proposal from three to four for teams More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/ participating in an amateur draft lottery hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_ and dropped its request for flexibility to Sports

LEGAL NOTICES REVAMP GOES TO HOUSE FLOOR

By Florida News Service

A

seemingly annual debate about proposed changes that could reduce newspaper revenues is moving to the House floor. The House State Affairs Committee on Monday voted 14-7 to back a measure (HB 7049) that would change laws about publishing localgovernment legal notices.

The bill, in part, would allow local governments to publish legal notices on publicly available websites if it would be cheaper than publishing them in newspapers.

“We're just continuing to move the ball down the field to allow local governments to exercise their home rule authority, which I know many of you care about, in order to decide whether they should put these public notices online or continue to subsidize newspapers,” bill sponsor Randy Fine, R-Brevard County, said.

Florida Press Association President

Jim Fogler said the proposal would reverse many changes approved in a legislative compromise that was reached last year and took effect Jan. 1.

“We feel we made great strides implementing this bill and 16 new publications are able to receive public notices today,” Fogler said. “And the bill is working. However, seven weeks later, now we are back to square one with this new bill.”

Under the proposal, special districts that span more than one county would have to post notices on websites that are publicly accessible to the residents in the districts’ regions. The bill was amended Monday to allow counties with populations under 160,000 to hold public hearings to determine if notices could be posted online. That stems, at least in part, from concerns about internet access in many rural areas.

The Senate does not have a version of the bill.

S

TUART, Fla. (AP) — Maggy Hurchalla, an environmentalist who fought to protect Florida’s wetlands and was a staunch supporter of her sister Janet Reno, the former U.S. attorney general, has died. She passed away Saturday at age 81.

The nonprofit group Friends of the Everglades confirmed Hurchalla’s death, calling her a legend.

“Maggy’s impact on Florida’s conservation movement cannot be overstated,” the group posted on its website, adding her granddaughter Kym Hurchalla is part of its staff. “Her advocacy was fueled by a deep love for Florida’s wilderness.”

Hurchalla served for 20 years as a Martin County commissioner. She also traveled to speak about her sister Reno, who under President Bill Clinton became the first female U.S. attorney general.

Hurchalla strongly supported Reno’s 2002 campaign for governor in Florida.

In 2013, she lent her voice for an episode of “The Simpsons” showing Reno as a character. Her sister could not speak longer lines because of her Parkinson’s, which contributed to her death in 2016.

Hurchalla played a key role in environmental restoration, serving on the Governor’s Commission for a Sustainable South Florida. She was known for kayaking through the Everglades near her home in Stuart, Florida.

“She was a creature of nature, and she took us all along for the voyage: Her family, friends, children, so many members of the county and complete strangers who just wanted to go on nature walks,” her daughter, Jane Hurchalla, told the Treasure Coast Newspapers.

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court

“She was a creature of nature, and she took us all along for the voyage: Her family, friends, children, so many members of the county and complete strangers who just wanted to go on nature walks.”

Jane Hurchalla

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Maggy Reno Hurchalla talks during an interview at home in Miami, Nov. 7, 2016. Hurchalla, an environmentalist who fought to protect Florida's wetlands has died on Feb. 19, at age 81. The nonprofit group Friends of the Everglades called her a legend.

refused to hear an appeal by Hurchalla that sought to set aside a $4 million judgment over her criticism of a rock mining project near the Everglades.

Her son, George Hurchalla, told the newspaper that she was recovering Saturday from a second hip surgery when she suffered cardiac arrest at home.

SUPREME COURT TO HEAR PINELLAS, PASCO TAX CASE

By Florida News Service

T

he Florida Supreme Court on Monday said it will take up a dispute about whether Pinellas County should be required to pay property taxes on land it owns in neighboring Pasco County. Pinellas County went to the Supreme Court after a panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled that Pinellas was not immune from taxes on the land. “Neither the trial court nor Pinellas County has identified any case law or constitutional provision that supports the proposition that counties are immune from taxation of their extraterritorial properties,” the appeals court said in a September 2019 ruling. But in asking the Supreme Court to consider the issue, Pinellas County pointed to

potentially far-reaching effects of the case.

“The Second District’s decision and reasoning recedes from long-standing case law relative to taxing ability and sovereign immunity to taxation,” Pinellas County attorneys said in a brief.

“As a result, the Second District’s decision requires that property appraisers assess property held by political subdivisions of the state based on whether or not the property is within the owner’s jurisdictional or geographic boundaries and, where the property lies outside of the political subdivision’s jurisdictional or geographic boundaries, determine what, if any, ad valorem exemptions apply; a previously unnecessary determination.”

An order from the Supreme Court did not set a date for arguments.

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FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

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FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

People, Places & Things Maestro and vocalist-wife to take final bows

Les Muncaster, the conductor and director of the Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band, conducts during a rehearsal in the auditorium at Marion Technical Institute in Ocala on February 21.

By Rosemarie Dowell Correspondent

O

f all the songs in band director Leslie, “Les,” Muncaster’s storied, decadeslong musical career, there’s one poignant melody he has yet to play - his Swan Song.

But soon, that will change.

After nearly 25 years as director and conductor of the 90-member symphonic Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band, Muncaster will take his final bow and retire following special, “Curtain Call,” concerts March 5-6 at Marion Technical Institute (MTI).

His wife, Marcia, who has served as the band’s featured vocalist, will also retire. The couple plans to travel and spend time with their blended family of five children and 10 grandchildren.

“I feel good about it; I feel like it’s time for me to move on,” said Muncaster, 84, who began his musical career in the U.S. Air Force Band, serving for 27 years including 15 years traversing Europe performing at embassies and a multitude of festivals.

“Being able to perform with my wife for the last 24 years has been fantastic and rewarding,” he said.

Marcia Muncaster, 73, who also served in the Air Force Band as a vocalist, said she and Les will miss both the band members and the faithful audiences they’ve grown to love over the years.

“It’s been phenomenal,” she said. “It’s a wonderful group of people, they are like family to us.”

The Muncasters moved to Ocala nearly 30 years ago from Biloxi, Mississippi, where Les had served as music director/conductor for Kinetic Skene Productions and as manager of the historic Saenger Theatre, and they’ve been a large part of the county’s cultural arts scene ever since.

In 1994, Les became the Music Director/ Conductor at Ocala Civic Theatre leading several award-winning productions including, “Fiddler on the Roof,” “The Secret Garden,” and “My Fair Lady.” Four years later in 1998, the couple joined Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band, and in December Les accepted the volunteer position of conductor/music director.

“Not too many people are given the opportunity that we’ve had since moving to Ocala,” said Marcia. “We’re thankful for all the support from the community and the school board over the years.”

When Les took the helm of the all-volunteer band, founded in March 1990 as the MidFlorida Symphonic Band, there were 35 original members and the band performed a few concerts each year.

Today, under Les’s tutelage, the number of band members has grown to 90-plus members ranging in age from 13 to 94-years-old and includes current and retired music educators and professional musicians, as well as 22 middle and high school students.

Libby Morgan, a bassoonist and charter member of the band, said the Muncaster’s

departure from the band will be bittersweet.

“I’m sad about them leaving; it’s just been a wonderful and rewarding experience over the years,” she said. “But I’m happy for them and know they’ll enjoy time with their family.”

Today, Kingdom of the Sun not only performs five-weekend concerts (Sat.-Sun) annually but also plays at various community events throughout the year, including an annual Memorial Day Commemoration and an audience favorite - the annual “Veterans Light the Stars” program, a Veterans’ Day concert at the Ocala/Marion County Veterans’ Park, including musical selections and a fireworks finale, all sponsored and funded by the band.

“He (Les) and Marcia have grown and expanded our program over the years,” said Morgan. “We are where we are because of them, no doubt.”

Every formal concert includes a special salute to the military and each performance includes the singing of the national anthem.

“We’ve performed some great music over the years and there are exciting things ahead,” said Les, who’ll pass the baton to Assistant Conductor David Fritz, who will serve as interim director. Fritz, a retired school band director, and trombone player has been with the band for six years “We know David will do a fantastic job as interim director; the band is in good hands,” he said. Meanwhile, Les will remain on the board of directors as director emeritus and serve as the military liaison.

The band, a formal non-profit as of 2017, more recently implemented a Guest Artist program and, at the band’s expense, contracts professional guest soloists to perform during concerts.

Through an agreement with area school band directors, the soloists also conduct master classes for selected area schools and their students.

As for what he considers his biggest accomplishment as leader of the band, Muncaster said it was Kingdom of the Sun’s selection to be the opening band for the National Association of Concert Band’s annual convention in 2003.

“It was their Silver anniversary,” he said.

“Over 250 bands belong to the association, so it was quite a big deal.”

The Curtain Call concerts, in honor of the Muncasters, will take place on Saturday, March 5 at 2 p.m. and on Sunday, March 6 at 3 p.m. at MTI, 1614 SE Fort King St., Ocala.

The concerts are free and open to the public, donations are accepted.

Musical selections will include: “America the Beautiful,” “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” (Phantom of the Opera), “Irish Washerwoman,” and “Bring Him Home” (Les Miserables).

Following the concerts, the Muncasters will take a much-anticipated and well-deserved cruise to Southampton, England for an overdue visit with several of their grandchildren.

“We’re looking forward to spending time with family,” said Les Muncaster, a 2020 Marion Cultural Alliance Service Award recipient.

Photos By BRUCE ACKERMAN Ocala Gazette

Musicians with the Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band play during a rehearsal.

Les and Marcia Muncaster of the Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band pose together before a rehearsal.

“It’s been phenomenal. It’s a wonderful group of people, they are like family to us.”

Marcia Muncaster

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FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

Creative’s Corner The art of

perseverance

Flamino Antonio in front of “Window to the Past” a/k/a T-Rex, which won the People’s Choice award in the 2022 Ocala Outdoor Sculpture Competition

Award-winning sculptor wins People’s Choice for his “Window to the Past,” a majestic T-Rex at Tuscawilla Park.

By Julie Garisto Special to the Gazette

A

rtist Flamino Antonio has made it his mission to give back to the city just some of what has been given to him.

The Colombian-born artist and Ocala resident shared with the “Gazette” that he celebrates Marion County’s equine tradition and strives to help Ocala become known for its beauty, culture art and community.

On Saturday, Antonio won People’s Choice honors for his Tyrannosaurus Rex recycled metal sculpture in the biennial Sculpture Stroll. Two years ago, his majestic horse, “The Strength of Perseverance,” won Best in Show and People’s Choice. The city purchased the sculpture and recently relocated Antonio’s equine masterpiece to the Ocala International Airport.

“This beautiful farmland-styled city gives me the tranquility I need to get the physical and mental balance to execute my work,” he said. “Here, I have been able to develop myself professionally thanks to the support we receive as artists living in Ocala; furthermore, their galleries and art offices are always open to support us.”

This year, Antonio’s majestic T-Rex towers over Lake Tuscawilla with prehistoric-meets-futuristic prowess, cobbled from wrenches and other odds and ends.

“This piece was an idea that I had one night, of so many, in which I could not sleep,” he said. “My mind begins to fly and sometimes it is very difficult for me to control it. Suddenly I began an imaginary

journey to the past and what began with an idea strengthened as it passed through my heart, until it reached my hands in my small workshop. In the end, what began as an illusion was transformed into reality.”

Born and raised in Bogotá, Antonio spent most of his life in Colombia. He and his wife and daughters relocated here around eight years ago.

As a child and teenager, he could not attend art school because of the chaotic climate caused by violent conflicts between the government and paramilitary groups.

“In my family, nobody influenced me to become an artist,” he said of his upbringing.

“They also did not like the idea that I worked with welding instruments.”

Still, his curiosity and interest in knowing the functioning of things continued to grow.

“As a child, I felt immense pleasure to see the creation of objects made by human hands,” he said. “Little by little that passion was growing and gaining strength and, to this day, it has not depleted, I still feel the same. Even though at that time I didn’t realize it, my essence as an artist

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was already taking over me.”

The persevering artist did not have the opportunity to attend a university, or a school of art, although he had wanted to.

“My artistic training has been the result of a coalescence of experiences throughout my life,” he said. “I have dedicated much of my time to the research, analysis and observation of sculptural creations and I can say that I am a self-taught artist.”

Most of the sculptures Antonio creates depict animals, but he has created versions of motorcycles and guitars.

“Fortunately, I am able to find inspiration in almost anything,” he said. “There is beauty in everything we see daily, even in the simplest things, you just need to have a little sensibility to find it.”

Antonio added that he enjoys working with scrap metal because it provides infinite possibilities with its different shapes and textures.

“I almost always use iron and steel,” he shared, “but I also include elements of copper, bronze and aluminum. Since all my sculptures are made entirely of used and discarded metals, I try to give

these materials a second, productive life, because for me each of these pieces tells its own story.”

By gathering hundreds or even thousands of pieces in a single sculpture, Antonio contributes layers of “character and strength” to his works while also “rescuing some sentimental value.”

The full-time artist compared his process to the human condition: “If only one individual has immense potential, then imagine what it would be like if we all worked together to achieve common benefits, perhaps, the world would be a better place for future generations.”

What lies ahead for Antonio?

“Well, my short-term plan is to have a larger workshop to make my life a little easier. I want to keep spending my time with my family — my wife and my daughters are my main source of support and inspiration. Without them, the result would not have been the same,” he said.

“I also try, whenever possible, to use my time in the most valuable way in order to enjoy the miracle of living and I want to continue to lead a simple and quiet life, always trying to do what is right,” he added.“I want my work to become a positive element in the lives of people who relate to my sculptures, give them joy, even if it is momentary. It is something that, for me, has great value and why not awaken the sensibility and creativity that many carry inside, perhaps this way we will find some happiness within ourselves.”

To learn more about the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department, including the Tuscawilla Art Park Series, visit ocalafl.org

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FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

Steeplechase racing returns to Florida

Image from The 2021 Carolina Cup at Springdale Race Course in Camden, SC [Photo by DAVID JENSEN/David Jensen Media]

The Florida Horse Park will play host to the inaugural Florida Steeplechase on March 5

Supplied

By Michael Compton Special to the Gazette

F

ollowing a hiatus of more than a decade, steeplechase racing is returning to the Sunshine State with the inaugural point-to-point Florida Steeplechase at the Florida Horse Park on March 5. With backing and support from both the National Steeplechase Association (NSA), the governing body of American steeplechasing, and Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation, the festive day of competition will feature a six-race card with a first-post time of 12:30 p.m.

The highly anticipated day of jump-racing is the brainchild of former NSA jockey Archie Macauley and his partner Jessica Berry, who serves as the event’s vice-chair. Macauley and Berry reside in Boynton Beach, Fl., but they are no strangers to the local equestrian community, spending one to two nights a week in Ocala.

They are hopeful that the Florida Steeplechase will fill a void and grow into a sanctioned event on the NSA calendar. Florida last hosted a steeplechase event in 2009. The Little Everglades meet in nearby Dade City began as an NSA-assisted point-topoint in 2000 (like the Florida Steeplechase) and continued without sanctioning through 2009.

“This year’s meet will be a showcase of the sport of steeplechase racing in the Horse

Capital of the World,” said Macauley. “Ocala hosts or is home to every other major horse sport and it’s time to shine a light on steeplechasing at one of its premier equestrian venues, the Florida Horse Park. Support for this year’s meet will be essential for showcasing the sport to spectators and sponsors whose participation next year will be key to growing the event into a fully sanctioned meet.”

Macauley and Berry began planning the Florida Steeplechase in early 2020, but progress was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We first started trying to put this together at the beginning of 2020 with an aim towards running it that November,” Macauley explained. “Then COVID hit, and obviously that put a big pause in our timeline.

In the fall of 2021, we received a lot of support from the horsemen that we spoke to and decided around November to try and get the ball rolling again.

“The Horse Park had the first weekend in March available, and we knew it was ambitious to try and put this together in essentially three months, but we also believed that it was a good date,” Macauley added. “It fell at the beginning of the jump-racing season, it was still within the winter season of the other equestrian disciplines that winter in Ocala, and it was just before the OBS 2-year-old sale (March 15-16). It started to sink in that this was really happening

Photos were supplied

when we launched the website in December, and from there we haven’t had any time to question it because we’ve been flat out organizing it.”

Despite delays and with the event coming to fruition, Macauley and Berry are appreciative of the widespread support they have received to get the inaugural meet up and running.

“When we lived in Pennsylvania, we became friends with Buck Davidson, the eventer, who is on the board of the Horse Park,” Macauley said. “Buck mentioned to us that the park would like to host a steeplechase, and he put us n touch with the park’s director, Jason Reynolds.

Jason invited us to come and see the park and once we did, we saw that it was a perfect place to run a meet.

“The local community has been incredibly supportive of the steeplechase,” he continued.

“First and foremost, the Horse Park (staff ) has gone above and beyond to make this happen.

Jason and his team have used their machinery and expertise to help us design, create, and maintain the course itself. The Ocala Chamber of Commerce was also one of our first points of contact and their Director of Equine Engagement, Louisa Barton, has been a tremendous help by introducing us to members of the local equine community. The local businesses and horsemen we have spoken to are all looking forward to the event and we are hoping for a big turnout and to establish steeplechase as an annual feature on the community’s calendar.”

Support from owners, trainers, and riders is crucial for the long-term success of the event, and Macauley is pleased with the reception the Florida Steeplechase has received from horsemen. To encourage participation from horsemen in Canada, South Carolina, and the mid-Atlantic region since purse money isn’t offered for the initial event, Macauley and Berry have offered free shipping to Ocala from South Carolina.

“One of the biggest supporters has been Mason Lampton,” Macauley indicated.

“Mason runs his own successful meet in Georgia and has been very generous with his time, advice, and

his sponsorship. A special thank admission ticking option where you must also go out to Mike there will be a bar and light fare Hankin for his role in facilitating buffet available. Tailgating options Brown Advisory’s involvement in are outlined on our website and the event. children under 12 will be admitted “Every owner and trainer we free. It’s difficult to predict what have spoken to so far has been size crowd we will draw because supportive of the event, and many this is our first year running the have already offered to support event, however, we could consider the meet by bringing runners. it a success to have a few thousand There are also some former spectators in attendance. steeplechase horsemen who live “If you are tailgating, get in the area who are keen to get dressed up in nice clothes. Bring involved and participate.” whatever you want to eat and The steeplechase course is drink and be ready for a full day located on the existing crossof action, Macauley added. “I country course at the Florida think people will be really excited Horse Park. The course is about 1 about the steeplechasing. It is 1/16 miles around and is slightly an amazing spectacle. There is undulating. There is a long nothing else like it, and we’re straightaway leading into the excited to bring it to Ocala.” stretch which will offer attendees an excellent vantage point for spectators to view the final fence Junior Pony Flat Race and the finish. Entries for the Div. 1 for small ponies at races close on March 1 at 11 a.m. ¼ mile; Div. 2 for medium In addition to the racing ponies at ¼ mile; Div. 3 for action, which will include a large ponies at ½ mile. junior pony flat race, the Florida Pony race open to juniors who Steeplechase will have something have not reached their 16th for everyone in attendance. There birthday as of the first of the will be a parade by the South current year. Mounts to be a Creek Foxhounds, Florida’s oldest minimum of 5 years old. foxhunting club (officially founded Maiden Hurdle in 1965). The hounds will parade About 2 miles for 4-year-olds on the racecourse accompanied and up which have never won by mounted members of the hunt over hurdles. in between the first and second hurdle races of the day.

Collins Engineers There will be a ladies’ Maiden Hurdle Fashions on the Field About 2 miles for 4 -year-olds competition. ODETTE boutique, and up which have never won located in the World Equestrian over hurdles.

Center, is the official sponsor of the Fashions on the Field Brown Advisory competition, and prizes will be Hurdle awarded to the winner, first and About 2 miles for 4-year-olds second runners-up. After the and up. races, there will be live music Temple Gwathmey Flat from BigTime Jukebox, a popular About 1 ½ miles for 3-yearCentral Florida dance band. olds and up.

“I think we have created a pretty amazing event in a short Eddie Woods Stables span of time,” Macauley said. “It’s Open Flat going to be fun and will showcase About 1 ¼ miles for 3-yearthe sport of steeplechasing very olds and up. well. We’re creating a new meet Maiden Flat and a new place to run and have About 1 ¼ miles for 3-yearhorse racing. It’s a tremendous olds and up which have never sport, and there isn’t currently a won on the flat. meet in Florida because there is no one to run it. You just need the right people who are crazy enough to try to do all of this and make it happen.

Like us.

What: For those interested Florida Steeplechase in attending the Florida When: Steeplechase at the Florida Horse Park, tickets can Saturday, March 5 at 12:30 p.m. be purchased online at Where: Thefloridasteeplechase.com.

Florida Horse Park “Our primary ticketing options are tailgates and Tickets: Turf Club,” said Macauley.

Thefloridasteeplechase.com “The Turf Club is our single

If You Go

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FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

Spring Strings Concert to feature Harp Twins at Sholom Park on April 9

Sudoku is played on a grid of 9 x 9 spaces. Within the rows and columns are 9 “squares” (made up of 3 x 3 spaces). Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-9, without repeating any numbers within the same row, column or square.

WORD FIND

This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when yo pleted the puzzle, there will be 15 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

Party animal Solution: 15 Letters Supplied

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holom Park announced on Feb. 15 that its new Spring Strings Concert series would feature the world-renowned Harp Twins on Saturday, April 9, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Camille and Kennerly Kitt, identical twin harpists, are classically trained with degrees in Harp Performance. They use electric harps and concert grand harps, while mixing musical genres, such as classic rock, metal, Celtic, soundtrack hits, as well as Nordic-inspired original songs.

Seasoned performers, the twins have toured North America, South America and the United

Kingdom, performing for celebrities, tech titans and world leaders alike.

The concert is $27 per person. Advance registration is required through the concert’s partners at Master the Possibilities Education Center. Lawn chairs are permitted, as are packed snacks. One Way Coffee and The Smoked Biscuit Company will also be on site providing food trucks.

For more event details or to register, visit Sholom Park’s website at www.sholompark. org. The park is located at 7110 S.W. 80th Ave. in Ocala. For registration assistance, contact Master the Possibilities Education Center at (352) 861-9751 or visit its website at www. masterthepossibilities.org.

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“Doc, I can’t live with this excruciating foot and leg pain and numbness!”

When you hear this from a patient it gets your attention.

Typically, I get the worst of the worst pain patients but when I recently heard this exclamation, my attention was particularly peaked. Let’s call this patient Bob. Bob is 62 years old with neuropathy in his hands and feet. He had Type II Diabetes and his life was literally as he described it “a living hell.” Clearly he was coming to the end of his rope. The nerves in his legs and feet were damaged. He was in HORRIBLE CONSTANT PAIN!

“I Can’t Sleep at Night!”

He complained to me, “I can’t sleep at night because my legs feel like they are being eaten by little bugs or chewed on by small animals.”

During the day, he could hardly walk and every step sent shooting pain like lightning from his toes and up his legs up almost to his knees. He had numbness in his feet and couldn’t feel his feet very well and had terrible balance problems. He was worried he might fall and injure himself.

“I Had to Help This Man!” I recently was fortunate enough to accidentally discover a new non-invasive and non-drug treatment for severe and constant foot numbness and pain caused by neuropathy.

> Foot and Leg Circulation > Nerve Sensitivity > Pain Fiber Receptors > Thermal Receptors

> Pressure Receptors > Light Touch Sensitivity > Nutritional Sensitivities

Don’t Suffer any Longer!

Call 352-840-0444 Now! I have been treating Neuropathy for years with great success but stumbled onto this new treatment in 2011 that is used to treat patients who are fearful of losing their legs. My staff and I witnessed some amazing reductions and eliminations of some of the worst pain and numbness syndromes I had ever seen…

And it was FAST! After just a few minutes of treatment on patients with extreme and chronic pain and numbness of the worst kind, we had patients telling us how their pain levels and numbness had decreased and they were shocked.

Some of them had their pain and numbness alleviated after only one treatment.

Using the latest and most recent technologies, I now offer a non-invasive, non surgical and painless neuropathy pain treatment. I help patients reduce or even eliminate their neuropathy pain and/or numbness using nutritional therapies, deep tissue super-pulsed cold laser treatments, combined with specific non-surgical, non-invasive, relaxing re-integration and stimulation treatments of peripheral nerves using whole body vibration to increase their function quickly.

We were able to reduce or even eliminate NEUROPATHY PAIN and/or NUMBNESS of the worst kind!

Dr. Douglas Swinson Chiropractic Physician

5481 SW 60th St. Ste 302 Ocala, FL | swinsonchiro�l.com

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES ON PAGE B7

Date: 2/25/2

B5

FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

LOCAL CALENDAR LISTINGS

community FEB. 25

Friday Foodie Fest

Lake Lillian Park, Southeast Robinson Road, Belleview 5-9 pm Held the fourth Friday of every month at Lake Lillian, this monthly event features food trucks, families can enjoy music and free activities for children and shop with local business and craft vendors while enjoying yummy food. Learn more at belleviewfl.org

FEB. 25-27

Marion County Fair

I-75 Flea Market, 4121 NW 44th Ave., Ocala 4-11pm Wed.-Fri., and noon-11 pm Sat.-Sun. Ride and games for all ages and, of course, fair food.

Family entertainment includes live music, magic shows, a petting zoo and alligator wrestling with Jimmy and Sara from the Gator Boys Road Shows.

Fair admission is free and wristbands and tickets are available for purchase. Saturday will feature the Jr. Chili Cook-off for high school-age students and younger. For more information, call (866) 666-3247 or go to https://dreamlandamusements.com/upcomingevents-amusement-carnival/#marion

FEB. 25-MAR. 5

Southeastern Youth Fair

Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala Area youth participate in animal handling and showing.

See everything from chickens, goats, lambs, sheep, rabbits and cattle handling to dog classes that showcase kids’ skills with obedience and training. Lots of food, handicrafts, needlework and a home show. Hours vary, check seyfair.com for more info.

FEB. 25 & MAR. 4

Marion County Friday Market

McPherson Government Campus Field, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala 9am-2:30pm Shop locally fresh fruits and veggies, cinnamon buns, jerky, freeze dried treats, olive oils and seafood; recurs every Friday.

FEB. 26 & MAR. 5

Yoga in the Park

Sholom Park: 7110 SW 80th Ave., Ocala 9am Get your downward dog going. Stretch out by the Sholom Park stage; recurs every Saturday morning.

Visit sholompark.org for details.

8th Annual

FEB. 26 & MAR. 5

Ocala Downtown Market

310 SE Third St., Ocala 9am-2pm A variety of vendors offer local fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood, fresh pasta, honey and arts and crafts. Rain or shine; recurs every Saturday. Visit ocaladowntownmarket.com for more information.

2022 y Presented B

FEB. 25-27, AND MAR. 2-6

World Equestrian Center Ocala Winter Spectacular Weeks 8 and 9 World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala Part of this 12-week show series, this hunter/ jumper competition ends with a weekly Saturday night Grand Prix show jumping in the Grand Arena.

Shops, full-service and fast-casual restaurants and pubs are available on site. Parking is free and leashed dogs are permitted.

Saturday March 5th, 2022

FEB. 27 & MAR. 6

McPherson Complex: 601 SE 25th Ave, Ocala fl

Ocala Polo Club Winter Games

9am-5pm

Florida Horse Park, 11008 S. Highway 475, Ocala 1pm Get up close and personal with the equine athletes and their riders at this unique sporting event.

Tailgating at polo is the perfect venue to enjoy an afternoon out with family and friends. Chairs are suggested, food and drink are welcome, tents are available for rent. For more information, visit ocalapolo.com.

MAR. 2

Wednesday Midday Market

Ocala Downtown Market, 310 SE Third St., Ocala 1-6pm Browse organic produce, microgreens, fresh-baked breads and more. Food trucks such as Tom’s Taste of Chicago, Jimmy’s Philly Cheesesteaks and Kona Ice Ocala; recurs every Wednesday. Visit facebook.com/ OcalaDowntownMarket for details.

MAR. 3

Farmers Market

The Town Square at Circle Square Commons, 8405 SW 80th St., Ocala 9am-1pm Large selection of fresh seasonal produce from local growers as well as baked goods, plants, handmade soaps and more; recurs every Thursday! Visit circlesquarecommons.com for more info.

MAR. 5

First Saturday Market in the Park

Ernie Mills Park, 11899 Bostick St., Dunnellon 8am-2pm A variety of vendors set up booths and many Dunnellon stores also offer Saturday Specials and you can pick up a map of participating merchants. Stroll the park, decide where to shop in town and grab a lovely lunch all while enjoying the Rainbow River area. Learn more at dunnellonchamber.com

MAR. 6

Ocala Veg Fest

Ocala Downtown Market, 310 SE Third St., Ocala 10am-3pm Featuring doctors, researchers and activists to discuss topics such as health, diet, animal welfare and the environment. Live music and exhibitors will showcase benefits of an ecofriendly, plant-based lifestyle including animal rescues, nonprofits, food and more. Check Ocala Veg Fest – aPlantBasedDiet.org for more info.

government FEB. 28

Marion County Development Review Committee

Office of the County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave., Building 1, Ocala 9am The DRC ensures compliance with the county’s Land Development Code and votes on items such as waiver requests, major site plans and subdivision master plans, preliminary plats, improvement plans and final plats. Visit marionfl.org

MAR. 1

Ocala City Council Meeting

City Hall Council Chamber – Second Floor, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala 4pm First and third Tuesdays of every month. If accommodations are needed to participate meeting, call (352) 629-8401 two days in advance so arrangements can be made.

For assistance accessing this meeting via Zoom, call (352) 629-8226. Visit ocalafl.org

MAR. 1

MAR. 2

Marion County Board of County Commissioners

Marion County Board of County Commissioners Workshop

MAR. 4

THROUGH APRIL 24

McPherson Governmental Campus, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala 9am First and third Tuesdays of every month. For details, go to marionfl.legistar.com/Calendar

McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium 2pm The MCBOCC will hold a Classification and Compensation Study Workshop

arts FEB. 25

After Dark in the Park Movie Series: “The Princess and the Frog”

Webb Field at Martin Luther King Recreation Complex, 1510 NW 4th St, Ocala 7pm-9pm Join fellow movie lovers for this animated tale about a prince, a princess and the frogs they become. This lighthearted adventure is family-friendly. Bring your own chairs or blankets; snack concessions will be available for purchase. No registration required. For more information, call (352) 368-5517.

FEB. 25

Mardi Gras Masquerade

Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala 7 pm Celebrate New Orleans in Ocala at the inaugural Mardi Gras Masquerade in the new NOMA Black Box at the Reilly Arts Center. Wear your evening finery and come with your most extravagant mask. Take your shot at being crowned King and Queen of Mardi Gras. Collect beads and doubloons throughout the night and see who is crowned “Most Adorned” guest of the Royal Court. Tickets are $15 -$60. Live music by the Swamp Krewe will get you moving to the beat all night. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com

FEB. 27

Deeper South: Merging Art with History

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 2-3:30 pm Artist and author Charles Eady will give a free talk on how history has informed his artistic process. He’ll offer insight into how he uses art to examine long-held beliefs about the South with an emphasis on the lives of those in the South before the Civil War. Eady’s paintings open dialogues into little-known facts about southern history and he tries to disrupt mainstream imagery and give voice to a population silenced from history. This talk is free and open to the public; no RSVP required.

(Regular admission fees apply if you also plan to visit the galleries.) Visit appletonmuseum.org

MAR. 3-20

Underneath the Lintel

Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E. Silver Springs Boulevard, Ocala Performance times vary An eccentric librarian (Alex Dagg) finds a battered travel guide in the library’s return bin – 113 years overdue. The book has notes in every language scrawled in the margins and a puzzling clue – a Chinese laundry ticket from London in 1913 – hidden in its pages. Both captivated by the mystery and irritated by the late return, the librarian embarks on a quest to seek the borrower’s identity. Buy tickets by phone at (352) 236-2274 or at the box office Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Masks are recommended. For more information or to buy tickets online, visit www.ocalacivictheatre.com

First Friday Art Walk

Ocala Downtown Square 6-9pm Enjoy 1960s and Motown-era songs with the band Retro Sounds. Artists will display their work, free family activities are available and this month a classic car display is sponsored by the Ocala Car Cruisers.

Free and open to the public. For more information, call (352) 629-8447 or visit www.ocalafl.org/artwalk

THROUGH MARCH 11

CF Webber Gallery: Selections from the Permanent Collection

The Webber Gallery at the College of Central Florida, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala Mon-Thu 10am-4pm “Selections from the Permanent Collection” is a curated glimpse into the hundreds of works contained in the College of Central Florida’s public art collection. This sneak peek into the college’s treasure trove features art by local and national artists as well as alumni. An opening reception will be held Feb. 23 at 12:30pm. Admission is free. For more information, call (352) 854-2322, ext. 1664.

THROUGH APRIL 24

Heart of the Horse: Photographs by Juliet van Otteren

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm The beauty and complexity of horses is revealed through 40 black-and-white photographs by Juliet van Otteren. Visit appletonmuseum.org for more info.

Garden Party: Botanical Paintings

by Susan Martin

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm Florida artist Susan Martin’s photorealistic canvasses explore the botanical world by concentrating on small portions of plant life. Her detailed explorations, influenced by the photographs of Russell Lee, can be observed in her sharp, clean examination of the subject, her preference for strong contrast that reveals surface quality and detail, and an emphasis on composition that comes from years of work in black-and-white. Visit appletonmuseum.org for details.

THROUGH JULY 31

A Strange and Picturesque Country: Etchings by Earl H. Reed

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm Prints from the permanent collection by Earl Howell Reed. Although a largely self-taught artist, Reed’s work can be viewed in the collections of the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago. Visit appletonmuseum.org for details.

B6

FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

&

music nightlife nig ghtlife FEB. 25

FEB. 26

Jeff Jarrett

Stella Beat

The Yellow Pony World Equestrian Center Ocala 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala 6:30-10pm Dinner, drinks and entertainment. For details, visit worldequestriancenter.com/events.

The Town Square at Circle Square Commons 8405 SW 80th St., Ocala 6pm Free and open to the public. Visit circlesquarecommons.com for details.

FEB. 25

FEB. 26

Firecreek

Second Slice The Town Square at Circle Square Commons 8405 SW 80th St., Ocala 6pm Music from the ‘60s-2000s. Free and open to the public. Visit circlesquarecommons.com for details.

Charlie Horse 2426 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 7pm Live music. Also, karaoke Wed.-Sat.

FEB. 25

MAR. 4

Joe Brown

D Scott Riggs

Charlie Horse 2426 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 7pm Live music. Also, karaoke Wed.-Sat.

The Yellow Pony World Equestrian Center Ocala 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala 6:30-10pm From blues to jazz to tasty mixes. For details, visit worldequestriancenter.com/ events.

FEB. 26

Pam Tillis Orange Blossom Opry 16439 SE 138th Terrace, Weirsdale 2:30 & 7pm Country music legend performs.

For more info, www.obopry.com

MAR. 4

Livestream Charlie Horse 2426 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 7pm Live rock and roll.

Also, karaoke Wed.-Sat. For details, visit www. ocalacharliehorse.com/events

FEB. 26

Sandra and Alex Lekid The Yellow Pony World Equestrian Center Ocala 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala 6:30-10pm

Pam Tillis

Ecliff Farrar

MAR. 5

Ecliff Farrar The Yellow Pony World Equestrian Center Ocala 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala 6:30-10pm Mix of rock, blues and R&B covers. For details, visit worldequestriancenter.com/events.

MAR. 5

Good 2 Go Charlie Horse 2426 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 7pm Live rock and roll. Also, karaoke Wed.-Sat. For details, visit www.ocalacharliehorse.com/events

WATCHMAN™ FLX implant

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1/7/22 4:00 PM

B7

FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

Inspired by her mother, Isabel Allende publishes 'Violeta'

By Gisela Salomon Associated Press

M

IAMI (AP) — Shortly before the coronavirus pandemic began, Isabel Allende suffered one of the greatest losses of her life: The death of her mother.

On Tuesday, the Chilean author published "Violeta", a novel that begins and ends with an epidemic and that covers the last 100 years of history through the eyes of a grandmother inspired by her mom, Panchita, one of the women who marked her the most.

Violeta, a strong woman who manages to overcome innumerable obstacles, gradually reveals details of her family and love life to her grandson Camilo, whom she has raised since the day he was born.

Set mainly in the Chilean Patagonia, with moments in Argentina, Miami and Norway, the novel deals with a wide range of themes, from feminism and verbal abuse, human rights violations and homosexuality, to amorous passions, infidelity and even global warming.

Throughout its almost 400 pages, it also reviews socialist movements, communism, military dictatorships in the Southern Cone and democracies.

"Violeta, like my mother, was a person, a beautiful woman, that wasn't very aware of her beauty. She was smart, visionary, talented, with good ideas to make money," Allende, 79, says in an interview in Spanish from her home in California.

"She takes all the chances, whether it's her love life and the life she wants to lead ... The difference is that my mom always depended financially on someone."

So Violeta, the woman who says to her grandson that her life is worth telling not

so much for her virtues as for her sins, is partly Allende's mother, partly herself and "a lot of imagination."

The novel, published in the U.S. by Ballantine, a Penguin Random House imprint, begins at the time Panchita was born, during the so-called Spanish flu of 1920, and ends at the time she died, during the coronavirus in 2020. Allende goes through the almost centenarian life of a woman born to a conservative and wealthy Chilean family, a status that changes radically when the Great Depression leaves them homeless.

The original idea for the book arose after the death of Allende's mother. Knowing that the two had had a very close relationship and got to exchange thousands of daily letters, some of Allende's friends suggested that she wrote a book about her mother's life. The novelist was still too emotional to see her mother with the needed distance to write about her.

Months passed and, when she felt stronger, she began "Violeta" inspired by her mother, but with a marked difference: The protagonist is a woman who supports herself and a good part of her family with her businesses.

The character of Camilo, a mischievous and rebellious grandson who Violeta raised and who later became a priest, is inspired by the Chilean Jesuit priest Felipe Berríos del Solar, a social activist critical of the church who fights against inequality and segregation and whom for years has been a "very close friend" of Allende. The author dedicates the book to him, her son Nicolás and her daughter-in-law Lori, her "pillars" at her old age.

And from those conversations between a writer who describes herself as "completely agnostic and feminist" and

AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File

Chilean author Isabel Allende poses for a photograph in Madrid on June 5, 2017. Allende's latest book "Violeta" releases on Tuesday.

a progressive priest emerged Camilo, to whom his grandmother Violeta confesses her admiration and tells him that he is the biggest love of her life. In real life, Allende feels the same way for her son Nicolás.

Perhaps that is also why a large part of the anecdotes of the character's childhood are those of her son, who after having made his first communion in a religious school in Venezuela told Allende that he did not believe in God and did not want to go to church anymore, the author recalls.

Throughout her life, Violeta is marked by death: That of her mother; her daughter Nieves, the mother of Camilo (a young drug addict inspired by Jennifer, one of the daughters of Allende's ex-husband Willy Gordon); her governess Miss Taylor and a lover, Roy. The writer herself experienced the

death of her 29-year-old daughter Paula in 1992, and that partly helped her with the character.

"I could describe that terrible pain of seeing your daughter die because I had lived it," says Allende, who in 1994 published the memoir "Paula" in honor of her daughter.

Along with love, violence, women's strength and the absence of fathers, death is a recurring theme in Allende's books, from "The House of the Spirits" to "A Long Petal of the Sea." This time, the message she wanted to convey was what she saw as her mother got older and run out of friends and loved ones.

"Loss is an important thing of old age.

There's so much loss! Everything dies on you," says the writer as she reflects on the experience of her mother, who passed away at the age of 98. "It was important to make that clear in the book, that the longer you live, the more you lose."

For Allende, the world's most widely read living Spanish-language author, the coronavirus pandemic has been an opportunity. Away from her travels and world promotional tours, she has gained the time she needed to turn more stories into books. "Violeta," Allende's second book of the pandemic after the non-fiction "The Soul of a Woman," already has a third ready: A novel about refugees that is in the process of being translated (the author writes fiction in Spanish.)

And as she does every year, on January 8 she began writing a new one.

"I have had time, silence and solitude to write," says the author, expressing gratitude that no one in her family has fallen ill with COVID-19. "Maybe I always have stories, I don't need inspiration; what I need is the time to write."

Construction commences on second World Equestrian Center hotel

By Ocala Gazette Staff

T

he World Equestrian Center (WEC) has officially broken ground on a second, five-story hotel, according to a Feb. 22 press release.

“We are confident that this hotel will be completed in time for our 2024 Summer Series,” said Justin Garner, director of Hospitality Operations for the WEC. “We have no doubt that the incredible teams we have working to bring this latest vision to life will have this property ready to welcome guests by June 2024.”

Located inside the 378-acre equestrian and multipurpose facility park, the new pet-friendly hotel has been designed to accommodate an extended-stay customer and will feature 400 larger, suite-like rooms, said the release.

Plans also include an 80,000 square foot restaurant complex adjacent to the hotel, the release added. It will cater to busy guests with a large grab-and-go marketplace featuring fresh, convenient

Cakes Pastries Cookies

food products. A fitness center and onsite washer/dryer amenities will also be available.

Outdoor recreation amenities will include a pool and feature lawn game activities. A special fenced dog park will also be available for guests with canines.

WEC’s first five-story hotel, called the Equestrian Hotel, opened to the public in December 2020.

For more information, visit the WEC website at wec.net or call Candace FitzGerald at (603) 738-2788.

Renderings courtesy of WEC

Renderings courtesy of WEC

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Tue-Sat: 10am-3pm | Sun & Mon: Closed 1412 N. Magnolia Ave. Ocala, FL

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B8

FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

Greek Food Festival

Say Opa! to Greek revelry while supporting area nonprofits.

Editor’s note: This article has been

updated with new information.

By Julie Garisto Special to the Gazette

G

reek culture and history have inspired our way of life around the world, from our democracy to theater to poetry, mathematics, sports and philosophy. Greeks have also taught us a thing or two about pleasure, from the tales of Dionysus to Zorba the Greek and too many poets and musicians to mention. According to Hellenes Abroad, around 150,000 people of Greek origin live in Florida.

In Marion County, the vibrant tradition of Grecian revelry will live on at the 2022

Greek Food Festival, an annual tradition happening this weekend, Feb. 25-27. The fest features Mediterranean food favorites, dancing, music, activities for children and more, all at the St. Mark Greek Orthodox Church campus in Belleview.

The church has grown from a mission with services conducted in Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in 2001 to constructing its own Orthodox church in 2010. Over the past two decades, the festival has grown from a half-day event to a three-day celebration.

Friday’s festivities will include a presentation of the flag by the Belleview High School Color Guard. An opening prayer will be given by Fr. Gabriel Gadah before welcoming remarks by Belleview Mayor Christine Dobkowski.

Bring the kids on Saturday and Sunday

to participate in free activities and games.

Face painting and balloon animals add to the fun. Parishioners will lead dances while indoor and outdoor tavernas serve Greek wine, beer and Ouzo. Onstage, the Aegean Duo will surely get toes tapping with their spirited bouzouki music. A lottery drawing allows attendees to support the church while winning cash prizes of $1,000, $500 and $250.

For many, hearty, aromatic Greek food will be the main draw, such as gyros, Greekstyle chicken, roast legs of lamb, pork souvlaki, moussaka, pastitsio, spanikopita, baklava, Greek coffee and more.

Proceeds from the event will go to several area charities and community programs including Operation Shoebox, Shriners Children’s Hospital and

Interfaith Emergency Services.

ROTC students from Belleview High School and Lake Weir High will be assisting workers at the festival.

“Last year, we just had a mini-fest with takeout food because of COVID-19,” said George Frangos, church president. “This year, folks can expect a full-blown food festival. We usually get more than 5,000 people coming through.”

Admission is a $2 donation; parking is free. Credit cards will be accepted and an ATM will be available.

The festival will be held 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 25-26, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, at St. Mark Greek Orthodox Church, 9926 SE 36th Ave., Belleview. To learn more, call (352) 245-0499.

Have pool table—will travel!

BRUCE ACKERMAN/Ocala Gazette

Rod "Hot Rod" Archibald racks up the balls as he plays pool in the bed of his 1954 Chevrolet pickup truck rat rod, nicknamed "Cue Ball" at his home in Bahia Oaks in Ocala on Feb. 23. Archibald built the custom rat rod in 2017. The 1954 Chevrolet pickup is built on a Chevrolet S10 frame and has a 355 cubic inch motor that produces 350 horsepower. The pool table was also custom-fitted for the bed of pickup by Archibald and draws a lot of attention from people, many who want to rack them up where the pickup is parked.

By Edith Sickler Special to the Gazette

H

ave you ever seen a pool table traveling down the highway in the back end of a “rat rod”?

If not, then you aren’t familiar with Rod (“Hot Rod”) Archibald of Ocala! He has one…mounted right in the bed of his 1954 “rat rod” which he explains is an unrestored vintage vehicle.

Rod’s 1954 sits on a 1998 S-10 frame with a high-performance Chevy 350 engine.

Now you know the skinny on the “rat rod’s” underpinnings.

Owners of such vehicles are usually quite attached to them, or to the idea of eventually restoring them, and usually have names for them. Rod has named his rat rod “Cue Ball,” because he said his late

father came to him in a dream and told him to name it that.

To explain a little further, Rod’s father was William (“Archie”) Archibald, who was an accomplished, tournament awardwinning pool player. “Archie” was always “Hot Rod’s” inspiration. Rod drove truck for a living for many years, and always kept his eye out for a 50s series truck. With his father being a well-known pool player and loved to teach others the game and who taught Rod all he knew about pool, the idea came to him, “Why not put the two together, and put a pool table into the back of a truck?” Why not, indeed. That is just what he did.

When he saw the truck he wanted, it was sitting in a field in Sayre, PA, close to Owego, NY, where the family lived at the time, without even a for sale sign on it.

“It was in pretty rough shape,” Rod said.

“The windshield was smashed, and it was in really bad condition.” Vintage vehicles, even that beat up, usually were selling for $1,000 or more, he said. He had $500 with him, and offered it to the owner, who accepted. That was in November of 2000. To completely restore Cue Ball to the finished product he dreams of, would cost in the neighborhood of $25,000 to $30,000, not counting labor, Rod knew, as he also has experience in restoring vehicles for others.

The truck sat until 2017, while Rod went through a run of adverse circumstances. He got married, then divorced, and then while he was out of town driving truck, all of his tools were stolen. As if that weren’t enough, Rod was diagnosed with stomach cancer…”large B lymphoma, which is cancer of the lymphatic system.” Surgery took about half of his stomach. Having been an Army veteran, he was in VA hospitals during all of 2020 with surgery and chemotherapy in both Sayre, NY, and in Wilkes-Barre, PA, at the Geisinger Hospital there. He is left with a large hernia which is inoperable.

He tried to do a part-time trucking job, but couldn’t do it, and ended up retiring. He will be 67 years old in a few weeks. Bills mounted, and he had to even sacrifice the car he was driving… leaving him with only his Cue Ball for transportation.

While Rod was driving truck, he often was routed into and through Ocala. He grew fond of the area, and said, “What’s not to like?! Look at this gorgeous weather! I love it here!” He moved to Ocala as soon as he had recuperated enough to manage the move. Here, he continues his quest to work on Cue Ball.

Rod found a regulation size pool table, 8.5 feet long. He had to cut it down to a 4x6 to fit into the truck bed. When he is setting it up to play pool (yes, it is functional!) he has to jack up the table, and level it with 2 x 4s. It has a wood bed under it, not slate. He often drives Cue Ball

Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette

Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette

to the Syracuse, NY, Nationals car show, and other shows also. While the vehicle has garnered much acclaim, it has never taken a trophy.

Still, it is his joy to take the truck to let people play pool with him. He doesn’t charge anything. “I just enjoy teaching people,” he said. After his cancer treatments were completed, he even took Cue Ball to the Sayre, NY, hospital complex, parked it in the lot, and staff members would come out to shoot a game or two of pool.” That was a joy to him, he said.

He has all of the cue sticks and billiard balls ready to play.

Cue Ball is a long way from being the restored truck of which he dreams. It should have “a beautiful, smooth, shiny finish; chrome bumpers…” his voice trailed off.

He has lots of stories to tell.

Current Adoption Specials: Ocala Gazette regularly brings you two furry friends that are available for adoption from local animal rescue organizations.

Marigold

Loving & Lively This playful and loving 16-week-old little lady plays well with others but is also independent enough to be on her own.

This week we highlight Sweet Water Rescue and Rehab in Williston. There is a $50 adoption fee to cover the spay/neuter surgery and shots. Contact the rescue by calling (352) 359-5430 or email sweetwaterrnr@gmail.com for application and information on how to bring a new friend home today.

Roger Moore

Warm & Affectionate This handsome 6-month-old fellow is an affectionate lap kitty who loves to cuddle and be held. And like his namesake, he’ll be your own personal goodwill ambassador.

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FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

Community trailblazer honored during Black History Month

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he late Leroy Johnson was honored during a Black History Month program at the Howard Academy Community Center in Ocala on Thursday, Feb. 17. Johnson, who passed away in 1998, was honored for his lifetime of helping the Black community in Ocala and Marion County. He was one of the first Black deputies at the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office, owned a diner and two gas stations. He endured death threats from the Ku Klux Klan, broken windows and racial slurs painted on walls during his tenure at the MCSO. On hand at the event was Thelma Wright, a cousin of Emmitt Till; Lizzie Jenkins, a niece of a Rosewood teacher; and Johnson’s son, Larry. Dancers with GAP Productions performed a musical dance during the program as well.

Some of the late Rev. Leroy Johnson’s historical items are shown during a Black History Month program held to honor him at the Howard Academy Community Center in Ocala on February 17.

Dancers with GAP Productions perform a musical dance.

Photos By BRUCE ACKERMAN Ocala Gazette

Thelma Wright, a cousin of Emmitt Till, right, speaks as Lizzie Jenkins, left, a niece of a Rosewood teacher, listens after they both received a National Civil & Human Rights award from Larry Johnson, the son of the late Rev. Leroy Johnson, center, during a Black History Month program.

Larry Johnson, the son of the late Rev. Leroy Johnson talks about some of his father’s historical items.

Wildcat bats, pitching defang Rattlers in season opener on the road 10-0

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he Forest Wildcats baseball team opened its 2021-2022 season with a 10-0 rout of the Belleview Rattlers Tuesday, Feb. 22. Forest scored at least one run every inning in a seven-inning road win, scoring two and three runs in the sixth and seventh inning, respectively. Senior Aaron Stelogeannis went 3-for-4 at the plate, scoring one run and two RBIs for the Wildcats. Teammate Tyler Thomas went 4-for-5, scoring one run and one RBI. Bradley White stole four bases for Forest, while pitcher Bo Hunt took the win from the mound, pitching four innings, allowing one hit and striking out five.

Photos By BRUCE ACKERMAN Ocala Gazette

Belleview's Jackson Dennis (17) slides safely into second base as Forest's Trevor Murray (7) looks for the out.

Forest's Ryan Curtis (12) slides safely into second base past the tag of Belleview's Barrett Patton (4).

Belleview's Eliel Martinez (5) slides safely into second base past the tag of Forest's Trevor Murray (7).

Forest's Aaron Stelogeannis (5) makes it safely back to first base as Belleview's Mitchell Campbell (15) waits on the throw.

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FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

BUTTERBURGERS & FROZEN CUSTARD Say hello TO NEW CRAVINGS Crowned with a lightly buttered toasted bun

Fresh Frozen Custard even thicker & creamier than ice cream

Fresh, never frozen beef seared after you order

Cheese Curds.

Golden bites of real Wisconsin cheddar

CULVERS.COM © 2019 Culver Franchising System, LLC. 8/19

for the huge success of our new restaurant on College Road!

Culver’s of Ocala

4836 S.W. College Rd. • Ocala, FL 34474