Ocala church celebrates 50-year milestone
By Marian Rizzo Correspondent
Two years ago, the Rev. Jeremy Knight was appointed pastor of a church that was only a few years older than he was. Now 44, Knight and the congregation of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church are celebrating the church’s 50th anniversary with a special service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 10.
The Rev. Dr. David Allen, district superintendent of the Northeast District Office, will share a sermon. A celebration will follow in the fellowship hall.
St. Paul’s, located at 800 SE 41st Ave., Ocala, is part of 67 churches in the Northeast District of United Methodist Churches. In a text message, Allen praised St. Paul’s for reaching the milestone of 50 years.
This remarkable anniversary is a testament to the enduring faith, dedication, and love that has shaped a vibrant United Methodist faith community over the decades. St. Paul’s has not only been a place of worship but also a sanctuary of hope, support, and connection for countless individuals and families in the community. Here’s to many more years of service, growth, and inspiring generations to come,” Allen wrote.
To Knight, it’s not just a milestone but more like a new beginning. A former youth minister, Knight moved here from South Mississippi with his wife, Nan, and their children, Leyton, 15, and Elise, 12.
“ This has been a great fit for our family,” said Knight. “It’s an honor to be able to witness God’s faithfulness even in my two years and to understand it through the lens of others who have been here so much longer. The church has done a great job of creating programs for children and youth by helping them truly belong to the community. I would love to stay and be a part of this beautiful growing community and continue to do the good work at St. Paul’s.”
St. Paul’s of Ocala started in 1974 on 11 donated acres in southeast Ocala. Members first met for worship at WardHighlands Elementary School and the church was chartered on Dec. 15, 1974, with about 65 members. On May 18, 1975, the congregation broke ground for their first sanctuary, which now serves as a fellowship hall. The current sanctuary was built in 1986, said longtime member, Beth McCall, noting that her husband,
See 50 Years, page A4
By Jim Saunders Florida News Service
RTakeaways from Tuesday
nearly the same margin.
epublicans had a great night. Democrats? Not so much. And 60 is a magic number in Florida. Here are five takeaways from Tuesday’s elections: — NO DOUBT: In 2022, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis won a second term by 19.4 percentage points, and Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio was re-elected by 16.4 points. On Tuesday, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump won Florida by about 13.2 points, and Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott got re-elected by
See a pattern? And that’s just at the top of the ticket. Up and down the ballot, Republicans further cemented their power in Florida. As an example, registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans in Miami-Dade County. But on Tuesday, Trump won Miami-Dade by more than 11 points, Scott won by 10 points, and GOP candidates handily won races for county sheriff, clerk of courts, property appraiser, tax collector and supervisor of elections.
— DESANTIS DELIVERS: After DeSantis’ presidential campaign was
Paychecks for Patriots
CareerSource CLM job fairs will be held Nov. 12 in Citrus County and Nov. 19 in Ocala to help veterans find jobs.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
urple Heart recipient Kashif Aris found an ideal employment fit in less than two days through the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion Paychecks for Patriots program.
Aris, whose military occupations included diesel mechanic, was hired on with Autobahn Imports automotive repair in southwest Marion County in January of this year after he signed up with the veterans’ employment program.
“Autobahn has been almost a second home. The work environment is amazing and so is the staff,” Aris said.
“Aris is excellent. We’re very happy,” said
Autobahn Imports owner Seth Becker. Joe Dorr, a local realtor and Autobahn Imports customer, has an office near the CLM center in Ocala recommended the veterans’ program to Becker.
Henry Ayala, a U.S. Army veteran, is CLM’s local veteran employment representative and is based in the Ocala office.
Aris said Ayala “opened a file and made sort of an induction” with job history and more information. The same day, there was an employer contact and in less than two days I was hired,” Aris said.
Aris, 37, joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2009 and was soon deployed to Afghanistan, where he suffered a grade three concussion and back injury when his
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fuel convoy was struck by two IEDs. He said the first explosion was muffled by a mine roller on the front of the 7-ton truck and the second blast was remotely detonated underneath the vehicle. He initially thought that he was not injured.
“My back hurt and I thought it was from carrying my gear,” he said.
Aris’ medical recovery included eight months of rehabilitation.
Aris was living in Fort Lauderdale but in December 2023 decided to move to the Ocala area where he has family. He initially was to transfer to a prearranged job here, but the situation dissolved. He visited Marion County Veterans Helping Veterans and was in turn referred to CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion.
Kashif Aris, who obtained employment at Autobahn Imports through the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion Paychecks for Patriots program, talks with business owner Seth Becker. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]
Marion County Supervisor of Elections, Wesley Wilcox, Cristi Cerra, Candidate Services Representative for the Supervisor of Elections Office, Election Canvassing Board members, Judge Robert Landt and Kathy Bryant of the Marion County Commission, left to right, watch as 2024 Presidential Election results come in at the Marion County Election Center in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Paychecks
Continued from page A1
“I recall meeting Marine veteran Kashif Aris, who worked as a mechanic during his service and initially struggled to settle in and adjust to civilian life when he first moved to the area. We were pleased to be able to help him by promptly connecting him with the appropriate organizations for housing assistance and VA compensation support. Most significantly, we were able to put him in touch with the ideal mechanic shop, who agreed to interview him and eventually offered him a position as a mechanic for European automobiles. Knowing that veterans can always count on us when things don’t go as planned is incredibly rewarding and satisfying,” Ayala said.
CareerSource CLM is a workforce program provider supported by the U.S. departments of labor, health and human services and education, and offers services such as job placement and holds career workshops like Paychecks for Patriots job fairs, which will be held Nov. 12 in Citrus County and Nov. 19 at the College of Central Florida’s Klein Center in Ocala.
“Paychecks for Patriots is part of a statewide effort to connect those who served/are serving our country and their families with employers with immediate jobs to fill and who are eager to hire our heroes because they recognize and value the knowledge, skills, and abilities developed during military service,” the CLM website states.
The 2024 Paychecks for Patriots program also will include a free clinic at the CLM Center in Ocala to offer help with resumes, sharpening interview skills and more. Interview outfits will be available from the center’s Clothes Closet at no charge.
SunTran will provide a limited number of free bus token to veterans on a “first come first serve” basis, available at several locations
countywide, including the Marion County Veterans Service Office and the Ocala Ritz Veterans Village.
Chris Pozek, an Army veteran whose military job was 91 Bravo, combat medic, operates both Veterans Mobile Repair Service and Trans Max Transmissions on Northeast 36th Avenue in Ocala.
He has hired several employees through CLM veteran programs.
Pozek said that employees who are qualified and want to work are “hard to find.” He said the CLM candidates are a pre-selected “best fit” for the particular business and described the CLM counselors as “awesome” and “career coaches.”
Ayala said in an email that veterans have the background to make successful employee team members.
“It’s a win-win: military service creates individuals who work to earn the respect of their peers and understand how to bring people together to pursue strategic, common goals,” he wrote.
“These types of job fairs provide them the opportunity to meet with
employer’s face to face to discuss this and certain skills obtained through years of services, which may not necessarily be on a resume,” he stated.
“We owe it to those who were willing in making the ultimate sacrifice for our country to help them now in finding a job,” Ayala wrote.
Paychecks for Patriots: Powered by Hope Florida is presented statewide through a partnership of FloridaCommerce, CareerSource, Hope Florida (which offers connections among the public, private and faith-based communities) and the Florida Department of Veterans Affair.
The local Paychecks for Patriots job fairs are supported by CareerSource CLM, Ocala SunTran, Citrus County Transit and BIVOUAC Veteran News.
Veterans wishing to pre-register for a job fair may go to bit.ly/HiringHeroes24
To learn more, go to careersourceclm.com.
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U.S. Army veteran Chris Pozek operates Veterans Mobile Repair Service and Trans Max Transmissions in Ocala. He has hired several employees through CareerSource CLM veterans’ programs. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]
Kashif Aris, who obtained employment at Autobahn Imports through the CareerSource Citrus, Levy, Marion Paychecks for Patriots program, works on a vehicle. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]
By Amy Davidson
The day that bassist, composer and founding member of The Grateful Dead, Phil Lesh, died, I grabbed my phone to text my son Braeden. We share a love of music, but The Grateful Dead is “our band.” Then, I realized: I shouldn’t send this text. I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news while my son was away from home, with very limited talk/text time.
While Braeden, or B, was at basic combat training for the U.S. Army, our communication was reduced to “old school” methods. Phone calls, letters and waiting. Waiting a week to hear from anyone is a rarity in the modern ways of constant contact. As B transformed from a volunteer civilian into a soldier, every element of his new life would be structured.
Sending B to “boot camp” meant letting go on an entirely different level than when my first two children left the nest. It’s feelings that all parents must feel when they send their child off into the world. It’s confusion, pride, excitement, emotional turmoil and, at times, it’s grief. Different versions of this scene have played out for centuries, millennia; across battlefields, homelands and borders. Mothers, sending their sons off to defend as trained warriors. Even across Ocala and Maron County, there are approximately 178 families that are likely feeling a similar pang, as we watch the news or not watch the news, worrying about the wars that may lie ahead for our soldiers. It’s living in a keen sense of time. Everything just feels heavier in every moment: the good, the sad, the reality checks, the time checks.
Just a week before Lesh died, I hugged B for the first time in 10 weeks at his BCT Family Day. When we “tapped out” our soldier in training (SIT) on Hilton Field, the relief flushed through my body. Crying, I cupped his face in my hands. The face of a young man still—but changed with the disciplined physical training and Army diet. He had filled into his features, and into the role he seemed to be preparing for most of his life.
In 2013, at 7 years old, B listed his New Year’s resolution as “To be a better citizen.” His favorite president during that era was George Washington. And when the same child traveled with me for my photography work at Civil War re-enactments, he’d visit the booths, trying on hats, fumbling through baskets of war memorabilia. Ten years later, when he enlisted, our lives became intertwined with the United States Army.
These are the ways I connect while being “disconnected” from my SIT:
Letter writing: Write no matter what. Cathartic process. It’s physical, using a pen and paper. The physical act of walking to the mailbox and pulling up the red flag. The conscious act of buying stamps—and understanding that this simple stamp is a lifeline.
Others’ letter writing: Letters are a SIT’s connection to the world outside. Friends and family sending letters is a reminder that there is good in the world. Even one letter can make all the difference when all of your comforts from home are on the backburner.
Digital connection:
I joined Facebook groups devoted to basic training at his specific base, with many in his own company. Connecting with other parents who understand the sense of urgency to get the facts was helpful especially as we planned our trip to Family Day/Graduation Day.
By leaning into family and friends: It takes a village. Acts of kindness were shown in a friend printing address labels so mail wouldn’t be returned to sender. Sharing information, letters, some details of phone calls with B’s siblings, father, stepmom and stepbrother, his Kanga (grandmother) and extended family, friends. Them sharing the same with me. The hugs from surrogate mothers and besties; neighbors; my children.
By listening to music/reading:
I’ve been reading “The Complete Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics” book, a gift from a dear friend, that I then gifted to B. A few of my favorite songs during this time have been “Standing on the Moon,” “Ripple” and “Box of Rain.”
The program from B’s graduation highlights that this is the “only army in the world that defends an idea, not the mother or fatherland, not a dictator, monarch or other potentate, but an idea where the people are sovereign.” Each year, Fort Jackson “generates over 40,000 new soldiers” who will move on to “their respective miliary specialties.” Once graduated, soldiers go to their advanced individual training and then they report to the first duty station. Granted, we won’t always be waiting for scheduled phone calls, but we’ll always be waiting for good news.
On Oct. 26 B’s father and stepmom were married in a beautiful ceremony at Licciardello Farms. We couldn’t help but miss those who were not with us that day. But we celebrated the merging of two families who, together, look forward to the holidays in December when our soldier will be home for two weeks.
In the meantime, we’re all wearing B’s favorite clothing that he left behind, traded for army fatigues and “pinks and greens.” His big brother has his red Thrasher hoodie; his big sister, his gray Thrasher hoodie; and I, the black Grateful Dead hoodie. His little brother, five years younger, has always worn B’s hand-me-downs, but they look so much cozier now. Let there be songs, and phone calls, letters and comfy clothes, to fill the air.
Motorcyclist dies in SW Ocala crash
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
after he failed to stop at a four-way stop intersection in southwest Marion County, the Florida Highway Patrol reports. According to an FHP press release, the crash occurred around 9:44 p.m. at the intersection of Southwest 62nd
Avenue Road and Southwest 103rd Street Road.
The cyclist was riding east on Southwest 103rd Street Road approaching the avenue while an SUV driven by a 59-year-old Ocala man was approaching the intersection from the south on 62nd Avenue Road.
“The driver of (the SUV) came to a controlled stop before proceeding into the intersection, the driver of (the motorcycle) failed to stop and proceeded into the intersection causing the front of (the motorcycle) to strike
the right side of (the SUV),” the FHP report stated. The motorcyclist was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased, according to the press release.
The motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet. The driver of the SUV received minor injuries and was wearing a seat belt, the press release stated.
Braeden Castaldo
Tuesday election
Continued from page A1
buried early this year in an Iowa snowbank, chatter swirled about whether his power would somehow be diminished in Florida.
But DeSantis on Tuesday showed that he hasn’t lost his ability to drive debate — and results — in the state. DeSantis led successful efforts to defeat ballot proposals that would have allowed recreational use of marijuana and enshrined abortion rights in the state Constitution. The efforts were controversial, as DeSantis used state agencies to try to help persuade voters to oppose the amendments. But if DeSantis runs again for the White House in 2028, he particularly will be able to tell the Republican base that he defeated the abortion amendment.
— THE MAGIC NUMBER: All six proposed constitutional amendments
50 Years
Continued from page A1
Wayne, served on the stewardship committee for the construction. Beth founded St. Paul’s Christian School in 1985. She also started the children’s music ministry and currently serves as director of the church choir.
McCall said she first came to St. Paul’s when the church was still in its infancy.
I was a newly married young bride,” said McCall. “I have lots of memories. My oldest daughter was married in that church. All of my children were baptized and confirmed there and both my parents’ funerals were held at that church. When St. Paul’s started in 1973, they recruited younger people to help start the church, so it was a young church with young families. As the church aged the congregation aged, and now with the school, we’re bringing young children back. Like most churches, you go through growing pains and reach a point where there are many children in the church and when they grow up you see them go off. Now the focus is on a young minister who is dynamic and bringing more young people into the church.”
Charter members Cathy and Larry Huennekens watched the leadership transition through nine pastors over the years, with Knight being the tenth. The first was Terry Markins, who started the church meetings at Ward-Highlands, Cathy said.
“He would go door to door and hang a little calling card on the doorknob with his name and future church meeting,” Cathy
on Tuesday’s ballot received more than 50 percent of the vote. But only two amendments — one to put hunting and fishing rights in the Constitution and another to make a property-tax change — passed.
How could that be? Unlike in most states, Florida requires approval from 60 percent of voters, rather than a majority, to change the Constitution.
For instance, the abortion proposal, Amendment 4, received support from 57.1 percent of voters but failed. Backers argued Tuesday night that a majority of voters sent a message that DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature should repeal a law that largely prevents abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
To put it mildly, that is probably wishful thinking.
— DOWNTRODDEN DEMOCRATS: Republicans have controlled almost all levers of political power in Florida since
Gov. Jeb Bush was first elected in 1998. But as recently as 2018, Democrats lost gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races by less than 1 percentage point.
Now, the bottom has fallen out. In addition to the huge margins that Trump and Scott ran up Tuesday, Democrats couldn’t cut into GOP supermajorities in the state House and Senate and didn’t come close to flipping any Republican-held congressional seats.
It’s true that Republicans have vastly more money than Democrats and have skillfully used redistricting to their advantage, but that will be the situation for the foreseeable future. With a gubernatorial election two years away, Democrats will need to quickly figure out a way to be competitive — or face remaining in the political wilderness.
— NOTHING TO SEE HERE: When lawmakers gather in Tallahassee on Nov. 19 for a one-day organization session,
some of the names and faces will be different. But Republicans will maintain supermajorities that pretty much give the GOP free rein in the House and Senate.
Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, easily won Tuesday’s only competitive Senate race. Meanwhile, Republican House members Susan Plasencia of Orlando, David Smith of Winter Springs, Paula Stark of St. Cloud, Peggy Gossett-Seidman of Highland Beach and Fabian Basabe of Miami Beach fended off Democratic challengers.
Also, Republicans Erika Booth knocked off Rep. Tom Keen, D-Orlando, in a Central Florida district, and Republican Anne Gerwig appeared to narrowly defeat Rep. Katherine Waldron, D-Wellington, in a Palm Beach County district. In a pick-up for Democrats, Leonard Spencer defeated Rep. Carolina Amesty, R-Windermere, in the Orlando area.
said. “After we saw that for several weeks, we said we’re going to check this out, and we’ve been there ever since. Our daughter was 4 years old and our son was 7 years old when we started. Shortly after, I taught Sunday school.”
Cathy recalled that because their first Christmas Eve service was held at the school there was a concern there would be no lights at night, but the city sent in workmen who turned the lights on temporarily.
“It was just regular lighting,” Cathy said. “But we did have decorations. Not many, just a small tree somebody donated. It wasn’t even a real one. Once we got established, a member of the church who lived east of town donated a tree every year. We would go out and cut our own Christmas tree down. We did that for many years. We got to the point where there were not many trees left.”
Similar sentiments were shared by longtime member Frank Rasbury, who once served on the staff parish committee and was a liturgist. These days, Frank, retired Lt. Col., wears his U.S. Army uniform to services on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. His wife, Naida, used to sing with the church choir. On Christmas Eve she still opens the program with “Sweet Little Jesus Boy.”
Reflecting on the early days of St. Paul’s, Rasbury said the population was mostly older folks.
“ We watched some kids grow up in the church,” he said. “We watched them go to high school, college, and some of them
got married or went off and joined the military. There were times when we had more kids involved than other times.”
Rasbury expects good things will happen under Knight’s leadership.
We like Jeremy a lot,” he said. “I listen to him, and I watch how he carries himself, his interactions with people and his family. When he does his sermons, rather than hide behind a lectern and read a prepared script, he’s out in front of it and talks to us in a language we can relate to very easily. I used to come to church because I liked to listen to the choir and see my church family, people I only see on Sunday. Shaking hands and asking how they are has always been pretty important to me. Now I’m eager for the pastor’s sermon as well.”
To learn more, go to spocala.org or call (352) 694-2161.
County, school district sales taxes pass in Marion County
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
Marion County voters have approved both the county penny sales tax and the school district half-cent sales tax in the 2024 General Election.
Marion County Penny Sales Tax
Renewal:
Marion County voters have voted yes on renewing the penny sales tax, extending it for 20 years to fund infrastructure and public safety.
The measure passed with 62.37%, and 126,392 votes.
Extension of existing sales surtax for public safety and transportation infrastructure: In order to fund improving roads, reducing traffic congestion, building new fire stations, reducing 911 response times, improving animal control, law enforcement, and other public safety and transportation infrastructure in Marion County and its municipalities as allowed by law, shall Marion County extend the existing one percent sales surtax for a period of twenty years?
The county’s penny sales tax was first approved in 2016 and increased Marion County’s sales tax from 6% to 7%, then renewed in 2020 for another four-year period. Now, the county asked for voters to
approve the tax for the next 20 years.
The penny sales tax is projected to generate about $65 million a year, 70% of which will go toward road and infrastructure projects and the other 30% toward public safety needs.
The county engineer put forward a list of 27 road projects to be funded by the penny sales tax over the next 20 years and would cost upward of $1.4 billion—$1.1 billion of which needs funding. That shortfall could be filled by the penny sales tax revenue.
School Half-Cent Sales Tax:
Marion County voters have voted yes on the school district’s half-cent sales tax referendum, which will be used to fund school facility construction and capital projects.
The measure passed with 59.42%, and 121,043 votes.
Due to the county’s population growth, School district staff has recommended five new schools and nine new wings to existing schools be constructed over the next 15 years The cost for this new construction, in addition to necessary maintenance and renovations to other schools, is estimated to be about $1.8 billion, $1 billion of needs funding.
The school half-cent sales tax has been a revenue generator for the district in the past, from January 2005 through
December 2009. Levying the tax generated over $111 million in revenue and helped to fund the construction of four schools: Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks, Legacy Elementary School, Liberty Middle School and Marion Oaks Elementary School, according to MCPS.
School Capital Outlay Sales Surtax to Improve Safety and the Learning Environment:
To retain high-quality teachers, reduce classroom overcrowding, and improve safety and security by expanding, constructing, and improving school facilities, with collected revenues shared according to Florida law with eligible public charter schools based on their proportion of total school district enrollment, with oversight by an independent volunteer committee, shall the school district of Marion County levy a one-half cent sales surtax for ten years to fund such activities for Marion County schools?
The Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership was tasked with advertising and polling for both the county penny sales tax and the school half-cent sales tax, as the governmental bodies cannot lobby for their own propositions.
“CEPI (our political committee) has invested heavily in the promotion and marketing of the ½ cent sales tax for our
schools. We have run two different sets of ½ cent commercials across a targeted array of media for the last month. Along with the TV (broadcast, YouTube, Roku, etc.) ads, we have been running online retargeting ads. This is in addition to the texting campaign to vote by mail voters and then early voters. We have easily invested more than $100,000 just on the marketing in the most recent weeks. This does not include polling, marketing research, focus groups, etc. or earlier investments and marketing,” according to the CEP.
CEP president and CEO Kevin Sheilley told the “Gazette” in July that the polling response toward the renewal of the county’s sales tax had been “positive,” in two surveys it had conducted. The first survey had 600 participants and the second had 400 participants.
Sheilley estimated that the CEP had raised about $200,000 for the promotion of the county sales tax at that point. The CEPI is chaired by Doug Cone, and composed of Carolyn Roberts, Navroz Saju, Harvey Vandeven, and Chris Langley.
Sheilley said in July that about 55 to 65% of those surveyed approved of the school half-cent sales tax, and 65 to 75% approved of the county’s renewal of its penny sales tax.
Ginny Grabelle is shown with her sons George and James in the fellowship hall at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. [Photo by Judy Green]
St. Paul’s member Naida Rasbury and music director Beth McCall welcome early arrivals to the church campus. [Photo by Judy Green]
Katelyn Walker had fun getting her face painted during a spring event at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. [Photo by Judy Green]
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Amendment 1 fails, school board elections to remain nonpartisan
Amendment 1-Partisan School Board Elections:
Voters have chosen to deny Amendment 1 of the Florida State Constitution, keeping school board elections throughout the state nonpartisan.
The amendment needed 60% of the vote to pass, and only received 54.9%, according to the Florida Division of Elections.
Florida’s school board elections have been non-partisan since 1998, when voters passed an amendment to prohibit party labels for candidates.
Alabama, Connecticut, Louisiana and Pennsylvania all conduct partisan school board elections.
Amendment 1:
Proposing amendments to the State Constitution to require members of a district school board to be elected in a partisan election rather than a nonpartisan election and to specify that the amendment only applies to elections held on or after the November 2026 general election, However, partisan primary elections may occur before the 2026 general election for purposes of nominating political party candidates to that office for the placement on the 2026 general election ballot.
The next school board members up for reelection in 2026 are Eric Cummings and Sarah James. School Board Chair Nancy Thrower has already expressed that she does not plan to run for reelection at the end of her term, so her seat will be vacant and up for election.
Recreational marijuana for adults fails in Florida
Amendment 3-Recreational Marijuana
By Jennifer Hunt Murty Jennifer@ocalagazette.com
Florida will not be the 25th state to permit recreational cannabis use after the general election failed to deliver a supermajority vote of 60% percent in favor the measure- despite bipartisan support at the highest levels. Amendment 3 would have allowed adults to possess up to three ounces of marijuana, with up to five grams in concentrate form. Under the new law, existing Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers would have been authorized to sell marijuana to adults for personal use.
The failed campaign for Amendment 3 was spearheaded by Smart and Safe Florida, and reported an impressive $153 million in contributions. Trulieve, the state’s largest medical marijuana company, contributed $144.6 million, funding an expansive campaign that emphasized economic growth, accountability, and safety in the cannabis industry.
Proponents highlighted Florida’s cannabis industry as a growing job creator and revenue generator, with potential tax contributions projected to reach $4.06 billion by 2025.
The amendment faced substantial opposition from Governor Ron DeSantis and affiliated groups, who raised $33.4 million to campaign against it. DeSantis argued that the amendment would establish a “monopoly” in Florida’s cannabis market, favoring existing companies like Trulieve and denying Floridians the right to grow their own plants. The governor has been a vocal opponent, calling the measure “radical” and launching a series of public service campaigns to discourage support.
DeSantis criticized the amendment’s lack of a provision for home cultivation as an effort to deliver big business for the larger cultivators.
DeSantis mobilized state resources to oppose Amendment 3, with several state agency leaders joining his efforts. The Florida Department of Health released warnings about marijuana use, while the state’s highway safety agency aired public service announcements cautioning against driving under the influence of cannabis.
However, advocates argue that the lack of a home-grow provision was a
strategic choice to avoid issues with the Florida Supreme Court, which requires ballot initiatives to cover only one subject. Rivers has voiced support for home-grow legislation and noted that bipartisan lawmakers plan to introduce a bill next year to allow Floridians to cultivate marijuana for personal use.
Former President Donald Trump,
who resides in Florida, publicly backed Amendment 3, stating on his social media platform that it represented a lawful and effective approach to legalization. In a rare moment of agreement, Vice President Kamala Harris also voiced support for legalization efforts, contributing to a campaign ad that brought together unlikely allies for the failed cause.
Florida pro-choice measure falls short
Amendment 4-Pro-Choice Initiative
By Jennifer Hunt Murty Jennifer@ocalagazette.com
Despite most Florida voters casting ballots supporting a pro-choice abortion initiative, it did not meet the threshold to be enshrined in the state Constitution with at least 60% voter supermajority support.
This vote follows a year of significant legislative and judicial changes that have reshaped access to the procedure.
The push for Amendment 4, led by Floridians Protecting Freedom, raised more than $100 million to support the initiative. Supporters argued that Florida’s six-week abortion law, one of the nation’s strictest, included exceptions for a pregnant woman’s health and cases of rape and incest up to 15 weeks, but documentation requirements made the exceptions difficult to access and left doctors in a tough position trying to figure it out, according to amendment supporters.
Governor Ron DeSantis and allied conservative groups gave the issue formidable opposition which included state resources such as the Health Department.
DeSantis launched a high-profile campaign against Amendment 4, calling it “deceptive and vague,” and held a series of campaign-style events across the state to
rally opposition against it.
The vote came in as newly released state data reveals a sharp decline in abortions— down 18.7% during the first ten months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
The decrease, from 64,918 to 52,753 reported abortions, follows the implementation of the Heartbeat Protection Act on May 1, which largely banned abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
This state-level shift parallels national changes since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and eliminated federal constitutional protections for abortion. Since then, several states have put abortion measures to voters, with pro-choice campaigns achieving success in states like Vermont, Michigan, California, and Ohio, while pro-life measures were defeated in Kansas, Kentucky, and Montana.
Florida is one of several states voting on abortion-related measures today, with others including Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Nevada, and South Dakota, reflecting the ongoing national debate over
reproductive rights. Supporters of Amendment 4 argued it is essential to protect individual healthcare decisions from governmental interference, especially in light of the recent Supreme Court rulings. Opponents contended that the measure undermines legislative efforts to regulate
abortion and protect fetal life and argued that the language does not require an actual doctor to be involved in the medical decision, only a healthcare provider. Opponents felt the measure was an attempt to legalize abortion up to the moment of birth.
The Marion County School Board meets in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.
[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Election Precinct polling workers drive in ballots as 2024 Presidential Election results come in at the Marion County Election Center in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Marion County Supervisor of Elections, Wesley Wilcox, left, talks to Election Canvassing Board member
Kathy Bryant of the Marion County Commission, right, as 2024 Presidential Election results come in at the Marion County Election Center in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
United States Senate & Congressional Results
U.S. Senate, Florida:
The race for senator of the state of Florida has been called, with Rick Scott clinching victory, retaining his seat against challenger Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
Scott attained 55.58% of the vote across Florida, with a total 5,970,762 votes received, according to the Florida Division of Elections.
Scott (R) was first elected in 2018, after serving two terms as Florida’s governor. As governor, Scott’s legislative priorities were to pursue tax cuts and create new jobs.
As of Nov. 5, Scott raised a total of over $40.4 million for his campaign. He spent a total of over $39.7 million.
Mucarsel-Powell (D) is a former congresswoman, who served Florida’s 26th district from 2019 until 2021. An immigrant from Central America, Mucarsel-Powell’s main priority disclosed during her campaign was to expand Medicare coverage.
Mucarsel-Powell attained 42.78% of the vote across Florida, with a total 4,594,934 votes received, according to the Florida Division of Elections.
Mucarsel-Powell raised a total of $31.4 million for her campaign. She spent over $29.7 million.
Congress, District 3:
Incumbent Kat Cammack has defeated challenger Tom Wells to win the District 3 seat for Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Cammack attained 61.62% of the vote across the district, with a total 241,007
votes received, according to the Florida Division of Elections.
Each congressional district is made up of about 710,000 people. District 3 encompasses parts of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Suwannee, and Union Counties. Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms and receive a salary of $174,000.
Cammack (R) was first elected to Congress to serve the 3rd District of Florida in 2020. Cammock served on the House Agriculture and House Energy and Commerce committees.
Cammack raised a total of over $2.5 million toward her campaign. She spent over $1.7 million.
Wells (D) sought to unseat Cammack, and also previously ran against Ted Yoho. Wells’ campaign expressed during his campaign were to protect civil rights and education.
Wells attained 38.38% of the vote across the district, with a total 150,104 votes received, according to the Florida
Division of Elections.
Wells raised a total of over $16 million toward his campaign. He spent $15.7 million.
Congress, District 6:
Incumbent Michael Waltz has defeated challenger James David Stockton to win the District 6 seat for Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Waltz attained 66.55% of the vote across the district, with a total 284,179 votes received, according to the Florida Division of Elections.
Each congressional district is made up of about 710,000 people. District 6 encompasses parts of Marion, Lake, Putnam, Volusia, Flagler and St. Johns counties. Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms and receive a salary of $174,000.
Waltz (R), the incumbent, was first elected to Congress to represent Florida’s 6th District in 2018, taking the place of Ron DeSantis when he became governor.
Stockton (D) ran to unseat Waltz. Stockton, the former Marion County NAACP president, is an Ocala resident and the pastor of the Greater New Hope Community Church.
During his campaign, Stockton said he would prioritize four principles if elected: healthcare, education, rights for women, and environment.
Stockton attained 33.45% of the vote across the district, with a total 142,850 votes received, according to the Florida Division of Elections.
Stockton raised $29,782 toward his campaign. He spent $28,727.
Waltz is the chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and member of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and serves on the House China Task Force. Waltz raised over $2.5 million toward his campaign. He spent over $2.1 million.
Matt McClain will continue as district 3 commissioner
Marion County Commissioner Matthew McClain will retain the district 3 seat he was appointed to by Gov. Ron DeSantis last September after prevailing against a write-in candidate Rich Brown.
Encouraging a write-in candidate to run to close voting in races to only Republican voters when there are no Democratic candidates has become a popular move in recent years and practically speaking makes winning the general election a formality.
McClain, 34, is a third-generation Marion County resident, is the son of Stan McClain, a former Marion County commissioner and state House representative who has termed out of
that seat and will next represent Marion County in the Florida Senate district 9.
Prior to being appointed a commissioner, McClain worked in the state Legislature as the chief aide to Florida Sen. Dennis Baxley since 2016 and worked under former State Rep. Charlie Stone (wife of current commissioner Michelle Stone) starting in 2011.
According to financial campaign records filed to date, the McClain family, father and son, pay a substantial amount of campaign money raised to Front Line Agency, a Tallahassee campaign consultant owned by McClain’s uncle, Bret Doster.
County commissioners serve four-year terms and receive an annual salary of
$107,386.
After his win, McClain told the “Gazette” that his priorities will remain the same.
“Invest in better equipment and resources for all of our first responders. Build more roads and invest in critical infrastructure so that we can accommodate the growth we’ve seen in Marion County. Protect our natural resources and rural areas so that they can be enjoyed by our future generations,” he said.
McClain said that voters’ passage of the infrastructure surtax is going to help the county accomplish those investments in public safety and infrastructure.
“It’s now our job to ensure that those
funds are used efficiently and effectively,” he said.
Marion voters pick a few new state representatives
Marion County voters have kept two familiar faces and added four new faces to represent them at the state level.
State legislators earn a starting salary of $29,697 a year, or $175/day for a maximum of 60 days. Members can also receive per-diem rates when required to meet outside a regular session.
State House
Marion County is divided among five Florida House Districts: 20, 21, 23, 24, and 27.
Newcomer Judson Sapp (REP) won District 20, which encompasses Putnam and parts of Clay, Marion and St. Johns, against Tony Connelly (DEM), 74,114 to 24,152 votes.
House District 21 representative Yvonne Hayes Hinson (DEM) was reelected for a third term without a challenger. Her district encompasses parts
of Marion and Alachua counties.
For Florida House District 23 includes Citrus County and part of Marion County. newcomer J.J. Grow (REP) beat Judith Vowels (DEM) 80,257 votes to 28,323.
Florida House District 24, which encompasses only a part of Marion County, will continue to be served by incumbent Ryan Chamberlin, (REP). Chamberlin won the vote 66,054 to 36,483 against newcomer Robert Shaw (DEM) in the general election. This will be Chamberlin’s first full term as an elected representative, after winning a special election in 2023.
House District 27, which encompasses parts of Lake, Marion and Volusia counties, will be represented by Republican newcomer Richard Gentry after he won the general election race with 69,178 votes against Dennis M. Simpson Jr. (LPF), who received 1,980 votes, and
received
votes. State Senate Stan McClain (REP), a longtime politician who served on the Marion County Board of County Commissioners for 12 years and then termed out as a State House Representative for District
27,
Andy Ferrari (DEM), who
30,672
is now Marion County’s sole State Senator (District 9) beating his challenger, a newcomer Sylvain Dore (DEM), 177,831 votes to 103,188. McClain’s son, Matthew McClain, also won a seat in the general election on the Marion County Board of County Commissioners.
Rick Scott Kat Cammack
Michael Waltz Matt McClain
Stan McClain
Yvonne Hinson
Cookin’ up a good time for a good cause
The Marion County Chili Cook-off, which is a fundraiser for The Cornerstone School, drew a large crowd to sample tasty wares, including a returning injured firefighter/team captain.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
The 43rd Annual Marion County Chili Cook-Off on Nov. 2 had nearly 20 teams vying for the coveted title of Best Chili, Best Booth and other honors. And the competition was tough!
Earning the top honor of Judged Chili Grand Champion was Eaton’s Beach Sandbar & Grill. The first runner up was Mission Barbecue and the second runner up was Stonestreet. Eaton’s Beach also nabbed the Best Restaurant Judged Chili. The People’s Choice Chili Grand Champ was Aspire Chili Charmers, with Marion County Fire Rescue claiming first runner up honors.
It’s a fair bet that the Professional Fire Fighters of Marion County L3169 Chili Cook-off team was glad to have their leader, MCFR Capt. Chris Trubelhorn, back behind the burner this year.
Trubelhorn was badly burned while fighting a structure fire in Silver Springs on Nov. 1, 2023. He spent eight weeks receiving treatment at UF Health Shands Hospital
in Gainesville. He said he endured 10 surgeries over two months for burns on his arms, hands, sides, flanks and abdomen.
I’m secretary of the Professional Fire Fighters of Marion County. My wife and I accepted the challenge to lead the chili cook-off for PFFMC every year. That’s my baby,” he said in an article from December 2023. “I was so sorry to miss it this year but will be back next year. We have so much fun.”
Trubelhorn said via email on Monday that he was happy to return to the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion for the annual cook-off and that he still has some recovery ahead of him.
I’m not back yet, still on light duty. I have at least one more surgery on my right hand,” he shared. “My health is much improved. I have visible scars over much of my body and my right finger is still deformed, but hopefully surgery will fix that.”
Trubelhorn is a U.S. Navy veteran whose deployments have included Operation Desert Storm. He and his wife Tabitha have one son and three grandchildren. He is a 19-
Cancelled event raises still supplies needed funds
Bark in the Park vendors and sponsors provide support for Marion Senior Services and Marion County Animal Services.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
The Senior Resource Foundation of Ocala’s fourth annual Bark in the Park – A Doggy Expo event, which had been scheduled for Oct. 13, was cancelled due to Hurricane Milton. The fundraising component of the event, however, still provided critical support for two local agencies.
“In light of the cancellation, vendors and sponsors redirected their support, donating $2,000 each to benefit the Marion Senior benefit the Marion Senior Services’ Meals on Wheels program and Marion County Animal Services. The contributions from vendors and sponsors ensure Meals on Wheels can continue providing essential nourishment and companionship to local seniors. At the same time, Marion County Animal Services can enhance care for community animals in need,” stated the
foundation’s founder and president, Phyllis Silverman, in a news release.
“ The Senior Resource Foundation of Ocala expresses heartfelt gratitude to sponsors and vendors, including: Campus USA, Canterfield of Ocala, Citizens First Bank, Devoted Health, Freedom Health, Great Expectations Realty, Guided Solutions, Haynes Houndmade Treats, Hospice of Marion County, Humana, Husky Haven of Florida Inc., Maricamp Animal Hospital, Marion-Alachua Training Facility, Mid Florida Agencies - Florida Blue, Pet Paradise, Procyon Training, Renewal by Anderson, Sharon Howard Photography, Smart Cremation, VIPcare, WellCare and Wire 3,” the release noted.
The Senior Resource Foundation of Ocala is dedicated to supporting the well-being and independence of local seniors through community partnerships, volunteerism and resource programs.
To learn more, go to srfofocala.org
year veteran of MCFR.
In the Best Judged Booth contest at the event, AdventHealth claimed the top spot, with Hot Chili Doc claiming first runner up. The People’s Choice Booth Grand Champ was Marion County Fire Rescue, with The Cornerstone School’s National Junior Honor Society as first runner up. AdventHealth also earned the Trapper Ron Morgan Spirit Award.
Winners in the ninth car show at the event included Best in Show, Matt Smith, ’83 Chevy S-10 and People’s Choice, John Derose, ’94 Ford F150.
“ The Marion County Chili Cook-Off was a great success. It brought the community together with great food, friendly competition and a fantastic atmosphere. It was wonderful to see everyone enjoying themselves and we’re looking forward to next year’s event,” said Brooke Schultheis, the school’s marketing and communications coordinator.
To learn more, go to marioncountychilicookoff.com and thecornerstoneschool.org
From left, Herb Silverman, marketing and webmaster, Senior Resource Foundation of Ocala; foundation president Phyllis Silverman; Kyra Lynch, director, Marion County Animal Services; and deputy director Stephanie Kash. [Photo courtesy Senior Resource Foundation of Ocala]
From left, Ira Dorin, Marion Senior Services; Herb Silverman, marketing and webmaster, Senior Resource Foundation of Ocala; Phyllis Silverman, foundation founder and president; and Alison Holt, Marion Senior Services. [Photo courtesy Senior Resource Foundation of Ocala]
Wendy Smith of the Aspire “Chili Charmers” (Aspire At Arbor Springs) stirs a big pot of pork and beef chili at her booth during the 43rd-annual Marion County Chili Cook-Off.
Mia Palacios, 12, a student at The Cornerstone School, passes out samples of chili in her chili pepper costume.
Rick Allen judges chili during the 43rd-annual Marion County Chili CookOff at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
Judge Jim McCune judges chili during the 43rd-annual Marion County Chili Cook-Off
Filnnghuala Lai, 13, Natalie Lammens, 13, and Sebastian Sanchez, 11, left to right, all students at The Cornerstone School, serve chili at their booth
Chris Trubelhorn of Marion County Fire Rescue, center, his wife, Tabitha, left, and Joe Romani, also of Marion County Fire Rescue, right, stir and serve chili for people at the Professional Firefighters of Marion County Local 3169 booth
All fired up
Visitors to Ocali Country Days on Nov. 9 and 10 will have an opportunity to see potter Deb Sands loading and stoking a wood-fired kiln.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
Deb Sands’ sky-blue eyes, soft voice and gentle demeanor belie the fact that she is a toughskinned tamer of one of the world’s oldest mechanisms for producing functional wares and decorative pieces—a wood-fired kiln.
It was Sands, who, in 2016, mentioned to Scott Mitchell, director of the Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center inside Silver River State Park, that the Pioneer Village on the property needed such a kiln.
“Deb started with the museum as a historical pottery making demonstrator in 2014 or 2015. She is a very talented artist and knows a great deal about historic stoneware ceramics. Her historically accurate display and pottery wheel are fascinating, and she’s great at sharing her knowledge with guests,” Mitchell noted.
“In 2016 Deb suggested we build a wood-fired kiln here to teach visitors about pioneer skills and local history. The kiln was completed in 2017 and has been an important part of the museum program since. We don’t know exactly how many wood-fired kilns there are in Florida, but there are not many. Ours is unique in that it primarily serves as a teaching center and is not commercial in nature,” he added.
Sands and her kiln, named Lasair, which she said is the Gaelic female name for flame, will be a key part of the Ocali Country Days festival that will be held at the museum campus on Nov. 9 and 10.
In 1995, the Ocala National Forest Historical Interpretation Association donated and moved several replica pioneer buildings, such as the Godwin House and the pioneer schoolhouse/church, from Camp Kiwanis to the Silver River Museum. That same year the first museum Pioneer Days was held as an educational fundraiser. The festival, now called Ocali Country Days, has happened every fall since then and this is the 30th year,” Mitchell said of the history of the event.
“Ocali is a historic name for the native Timucuan people, or possibly the name of their main village, who lived in what is now western Marion County. The name was recorded by early Spanish explorers in the 16th century. The word was later adapted to become ‘Ocala.’ We call our festival Ocali Country Days because it recognizes our first inhabitants but also celebrates how pioneers made a new life in the countryside of what is Marion County,” Mitchell explained.
Among the many displays at the Pioneer Village and inside the museum are numerous examples of vintage pottery items that would have been used in everyday life in those early days. In the gift shop, visitors can purchase cups, bowls and small jugs made by Sands and fired inside the kiln on the property.
Getting from the point of creating pottery to go into the kiln until it is fired and unloaded several days later is a very laborious labor of love for Sands, who does it all on a volunteer basis.
“I call her Lassie,” Sands said of her pet name for the kiln, “and sometimes she’s very good and sometimes she’s very particular.”
The journey
Sands, who was born on an air base in Tampa, said she began to learn the art of weaving from her greatgrandmother when she was 5 years old. It was 30 years ago that she took a six-week pottery class.
“I’m still a weaver, but now I play with mud more than I do fiber,” she said.
She often participates in “pre-1840 living history events, so everything I make has to represent before 1840. Back then it was more function than art. Ring bottles, also called flasks or harvest jugs, representing 1700s colonial America, are among the styles I make.”
Sands was teaching pottery to Boy Scouts at Camp Daniel Boone in North Carolina around 2010 when she met Mitchell, whose son was attending the camp. When he learned that she lived in Florida, he invited her to
come and demonstrate the skill during Ocali Country Days.
Sands, who had been living on Sanibel Island on Florida’s west coast, eventually moved to Fort McCoy.
“I moved from the island to the woods,” she said.
In the interim, Sands met her significant other, Hank Steinmetz, a blacksmith from Ohio. Now, she calls herself a “reverse snowbird” and spends summers in Ohio and winters at her cottage in Marion County.
While in Ohio this summer, Sands threw more than 100 items of pottery that will be fired in the kiln in Ocala during the upcoming festival.
Taming the beast
One thing is sure, when you are in control of an apparatus that “comes to temperature” at 2,350 degrees, you had best know what the heck you are doing.
The firing journey begins with amassing at least two cords of dried wood, and Sands prefers oak that has been locally sourced. When it’s time, her works, along with those of three other local potters, can be loaded into the kiln. She has to climb inside the kiln and patiently—and very gently—secure the pieces onto a series of shelves, moving from the back to the front as she goes, which takes about six hours.
The next step, which often begins around 4 a.m. on firing day, involves building a coal bed at the front of the kiln.
“ The fire box comes out and you put the wood down there and start the fire. That takes about four hours. Once we get the coal bed going, we start stoking it. There are three grates that are 2-inch solid steel by 48 inches long. We’ll start with eight to 10 logs and stoke eight to 10 minutes. As temps increase, we stoke a bit faster, eight to 10 logs maybe six to eight minutes and when we’re getting really close to temperature, it’s eight to 10 logs every two minutes. We’re watching the chimney; you start with clear heat coming out, then white smoke, then grey smoke and then it gets flames,” she explained of the process that takes about 12 hours to complete.
The temperament of Lassie depends a lot on the quality of the wood, the weather and other factors, most of which Sands said she has learned by doing.
Sands, who has an electric kiln in Ohio, explained that the unique coloring of items cured in the woodfired kiln come from the “flames dancing around the pots and licking them and the ash landing on them, which creates a glaze. You can look through the dampers and see it and it’s all magic. It gives me goose bumps. When it’s firing, it sounds like a blast furnace. There is so much pressure in there!”
Once the kiln has “reached temperature,” it gets some final stoking and then is left to “cook” for four or five days and then “we open it and see what happened,” she said with excitement.
Check it out
Visitors to Ocali Country Days will be able to see Sands loading the wood-fired kiln on Nov. 9. She will be there early Nov. 10 to begin the firing process, which, she said, if the conditions are good, should result in the kiln coming to temperature around 2 p.m. that afternoon.
Deb has taken it and run with it. I think each kiln has its own personality and, over the course of multiple firings, she really knows the ins and outs of it,” Mitchell said.
When asked why she does such demanding work on a volunteer basis, Sands stands a bit taller and replies, with her voice steadily rising: Why? Because it’s a woodfired kiln! When you see it, you’ll know why!”
Ocali Country Days offers numerous demonstrations of time-honored skills, entertainment, food trucks, visits to the museum and tram tours of the state park.
Mitchell noted that in addition to seeing the kiln in action, some of his other favorite activities are “the demonstrations of sugar cane syrup making and cooking over an open hearth with cast iron. Both of
HOSPITALS RECOGNIZED FOR ORTHOPEDIC, SPINE & VASCULAR SURGERY
Staff report
HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital announced they have received six best specialty awards from Healthgrades, an online resource for searching for a doctor or hospital.
For 2025, Healthgrades ranks HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital among the nation’s 50 best hospitals for vascular surgery and surgical care, and among the 100 best hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery, joint replacement, spine surgery and
prostate surgeries, according to the press release. In Florida, Healthgrades ranks the hospitals at No. 1 in the state for orthopedic surgery, spine surgery and vascular surgery and No. 2 in the state for joint replacement and surgical care. HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital were also named among the top 10% in the nation for cardiology services and rated five stars for treatment of heart attack, heart failure and pacemaker procedures, the release noted. Visit healthgrades.com to learn more.
these activities would have been ordinary in the past but are fairly rare now. They require skill and hard work and yield good things to eat!”
He noted that, “with support from the Marion Cultural Alliance and National Endowment for the Arts, the Silver River Museum has been able to bring in additional musical talent to perform and we are bringing the large stage back to the museum lawn and looking forward to great live music both Saturday and Sunday.”
The Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center is located at 1445 NE 58th Ave., inside Silver River State Park. Once parking areas at that entrance are filled, guests may be directed to park at the main park entrance, where they can take a tram to the other side.
The cost to attend Ocali Country Days is $10 per person, with ages 5 and younger admitted at no charge.
For complete details, go to silverrivermuseum.com/ event/2024-ocali-country-days
SECO ENERGY ANNOUNCES EXPANSION PLAN
SECO Energy has announced a five-year plan to build an expanded headquarters building in Sumter County and new operations centers and warehouses in Lake, Marion and Sumter counties. The project is slated to break ground in January 2026 to complement a system-wide construction work plan that includes thousands of new service
connections to serve the rapidly growing population, several new substations and miles of transmission lines to adequately deliver power generated by Seminole Electric Cooperative. The construction has an expected completion of 2028, the news release noted. To learn more, go to secoenergy.com
Deb Sands of Deb Sands Pottery poses in the wood-fired kiln in the Cracker Village at the Silver River Museum at Silver Springs State Park in Silver Springs, Fla. on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. Sands will be firing the wood-fired kiln during Ocali Country Days on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
The wood-fired kiln is shown in the Cracker Village at the Silver River Museum at Silver Springs State Park in Silver Springs, Fla. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Wood-fired and electric-fired pottery is shown by the wood-fired kiln in the Cracker Village at the Silver River Museum at Silver Springs State Park.
People, Places & Things Classic drama comes to local stage
Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie” will run Nov. 7-24 at the Ocala Civic Theatre.
By Jamie Berube, Special to the Gazette
When Mark Burdette was 16, his first acting coach handed him a script for “The Glass Menagerie” and made him promise if he ever got the chance to audition for it, he would. Burdette read over the script and fell in love with the character of Tom Wingfield.
“My acting coach told me I have to read this monologue, ‘it fits you to a T,’” Burdette said. He first auditioned for the role as the play’s narrator, Tom Wingfield, at age 33. He was not selected.
“They chose someone who looked quite a bit older than I do. I questioned whether or not to come audition for it here because I’m 44, and this character is not supposed to be that old,” he said.
When Burdette auditioned at Ocala Civic Theatre, he found out he got the role the following day. He now looks forward to fulfilling the promise he made to his first acting coach this fall as he makes his OCT debut asTom.
From Nov. 7-24, legendary playwright Tennessee Williams’ classic 1944 drama, “The Glass Menagerie,” will be live on stage at OCT. Set during the Great Depression in 1930s St. Louis, the play is described by Tom as a memory play in his opening monologue.
Burdette commands the stage at the start, before we meet his mother, Amanda Wingfield, played by Alexis Medina; sister Laura Wingfield, played by Hannah Brannon; and gentleman caller Jim O’Connor, played by Caleb Maclaren Lowe.
The year is 1937 and the location is the Wingfield’s apartment in St. Louis, Missouri.
Returning to the OCT stage, Medina, with a thick southern drawl and thunderous theatrical presence, sweeps the stage in her role of overbearing mother, obsessed with her past life as a southern belle growing up in Blue Mountain, Mississippi. Prior to her role as Amanda, Medina appeared as Marley in “Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville,” part of the quintet in the ensemble of “Sweeney Todd,” and Medda Larkin in “Newsies” at OCT. Medina captures Amanda’s struggle of finding a suitable gentleman caller for her daughter, Laura, who she believes has been attending business college during the day.
Wistful and shy Laura is played by Brannon, who is returning to the OCT stage after previously playing Beatrice in “The Servant of Two Masters” and Woman #2 in “First Date.”
In the first act of the play, Laura is caught deceiving her mother when Amanda discovers Laura has not been going to business college but taking walks around the city instead. Fearful of what will become of Laura without an education or a suitor, the smothering mother begins her campaign to find a gentleman caller for Laura.
Crippled from a childhood injury, Laura spends her time at home playing music on a phonograph and tending to her collection of glass animals, which her mother calls her “glass menagerie.” Brannon captures the demure, doe-eyed role of Laura with poise.
Director of marketing for Ocala Civic Theatre, Melody Murphy, said the play fits in beautifully with the art scene in Ocala.
“The art scene is flourishing right now. There is so much going on. There is so much music, so much art. I think resurrecting a classic like this fits in perfectly,” Murphy said.
According to Murphy, while the play is not appropriate for a small child, it could be important for a middle or high schooler to see.
“If you have a middle schooler or a high schooler who is a little bit more mature for their age, I think it’s important to see a classic drama like this. They’re going to be learning about Tennessee Williams in school and this play is going to come up in their studies,” Murphy said.
Seeing a play performed live does something different for the mind and imagination, according to Murphy.
“Hearing people’s voices say the lines, seeing the costumes, seeing all the little authentic touches of a bygone era, when you can actually see that, and it’s not just in your imagination, it’s a really vivid memory,” Murphy said.
The stage is decorated with 1930s-style props that speak to the dreary aesthetic of the Great Depression with a clothesline hung along the back of the stage, a phonograph, and a typewriter to the right of the center of where Laura’s glass animals are kept in a display cabinet. The set depicts a family of three living in poverty in a disheveled apartment where Amanda reminisces about her youth as a debutante prior to meeting the only absent character of the play: Tom and Laura’s father. Dubbed by Amanda as an alcoholic, the father’s portrait hangs in the home along with the cold feeling of his absence.
Tom works in a shoe warehouse as the breadwinner of the family. Burdened by poverty, his overbearing mother and his sister’s condition, Tom finds escape through alcohol and movies.
Broken up into two acts, the play is around two hours long, with one intermission before the beginning of the second act, where Caleb Maclaren Lowe shines in the role of Jim O’Connor Lowe previously played Kevin in “Stage Kiss” and appeared in the quintet in “Sweeney Todd” at OCT.
Jim works at the warehouse with Tom, and Tom invites him over for dinner. Upon hearing this, Amanda joyously prepares a meal with hopes that Jim will become a suitor for Laura. Laura is mesmerized by Mr. O Connor, who she had a crush on in high school. Amanda encourages the two to share dandelion wine over candlelight after supper. Laura shares her collection of glass animals with Jim before an unexpected turn of events occurs.
This memory play depicts the struggles of the Wingfield family as they navigate themes of tragedy, hope, and illusion.
Director Eb Madson said he is honored to be back at Ocala Civic Theatre, where last season he directed “The Velocity of Autumn” and “Escape to Margaritaville.” Madson calls “The Glass Menagerie” “a meditation on memory”—how it shapes us, haunts us, and often distorts the past. His favorite part of directing the OCT production has been the “table work.”
“With this show I loved doing the table work. It’s a part of a process where we read the text as a cast and delve into the text, talk about all the symbolism, all the character development and you really get to know your actors,” Madson said.
“With such a rich text as ‘The Glass Menagerie,’ there are so many juicy layers,” he continued.
According to Burdette, the play is anything but boring.
“Some people hear ‘classic drama’ and think ‘oh, that might be a snooze,’ but I guarantee that they will be so infatuated with the characters and the story that they’re not going to think about checking their Facebook, and I think that’s good for society, to get away from these distractions and find some real beauty in your town,” Burdette said.
Madson’s hope is that the production will resonate with audiences, not just as a reflection of a bygone era but also as a mirror into our own experiences with memory and regret.
According to OCT, “The Glass Menagerie” is the most autobiographical of Williams’ work, winning the New York Drama Critics Circle Award as Best American Play.
The Ocala Civic Theatre is located at 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Tickets for “The Glass Menagerie” are $35 for adults and $17 for ages 18 and younger. This show is rated PG. Buy tickets online at ocalacivictheatre.com. To get tickets through the OCT box office, call (352) 236-2274 or visit 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
Above: Mark Burdette as Tom Wingfield, left, and Hannah Brannon as Laura Wingfield, right, rehearse a scene from “The Glass Menagerie” at the Ocala Civic Theatre in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. The Tennessee Williams play will be performed live on stage from Nov. 7-24 at the Ocala Civic Theatre. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Above: Hannah Brannon as Laura Wingfield rehearses a scene from “The Glass Menagerie” at the Ocala Civic Theatre in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. The Tennessee Williams play will be performed live on stage from Nov. 7-24 at the Ocala Civic Theatre. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Above: Hannah Brannon as Laura Wingfield rehearses a scene from “The Glass Menagerie” at the Ocala Civic Theatre in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. The Tennessee Williams play will be performed live on stage from Nov. 7-24 at the Ocala Civic Theatre. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Left: Alexis Medina as Amanda Wingfield, left, and Hannah Brannon as Laura Wingfield, right, rehearse a scene from “The Glass Menagerie” at the Ocala Civic Theatre in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. The Tennessee Williams play will be performed live on stage from Nov. 7-24 at the Ocala Civic Theatre. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Hannah Brannon as Laura Wingfield, Alexis Medina as Amanda Wingfield and Mark Burdette as Tom Wingfield, left to right, rehearse a scene from “The Glass Menagerie” at the Ocala Civic Theatre in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. The Tennessee Williams play will be performed live on stage from Nov. 7-24 at the Ocala Civic Theatre. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
OCT on the road
Ocala Civic Theatre’s production of “The Impresario” will take place at the Grace Episcopal Church parish hall on Broadway Street
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
While “The Glass Menagerie” is on stage at the Ocala Civic Theatre from Nov. 7-24, a six-person cast will be performing in OCT’s Rattlebox On the Road production of “The Impresario” from Nov. 15-17 in the parish hall at the historic Grace Episcopal Church in downtown Ocala.
Featuring an original book and libretto by OCT Executive and Artistic Director Greg Thompson, the “light and comical tale of divas, delusions and players of ever y definition is set in a golden age of Ocala, at the Marion Opera House,” noted the news release.
In the hour-long one-act play, with music by Mozart, a weary theater manager must cope with a meddlesome assistant who fancies himself an opera singer, two jealous prima donnas and a star-struck financier with an eye for the ladies. According to provided materials, “The Impresario” features five OCT vocalists:
• Jason Bartosic, resident music director, played the Duke of Plaza-Toro in “The Gondoliers” at Idaho State University; Uncle Fester in “The Addams Family: A New Musical” at the Palace Theatre in Pocatello, Idaho; Horace Vandergelder in “Hello, Dolly!” with the Ashland Summer Repertory in Ohio; Edna Turnblad in “Hairspray” with the Idaho Summer Repertory; and Sparky in “Forever Plaid” at the Temple Theatre in Sanford, North Carolina. OCT roles include Mary Sunshine in “Chicago” and Tito Morelli in “Lend Me a Tenor.”
Jamille Lea Brewster, resident voice teacher, made her Ocala debut with “Summer Songs” and appeared in the ensemble of “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella.” Roles elsewhere include Lucia in “Lucia di Lammermoor” and The Countess in “ The Marriage of Figaro” at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In El Paso, Texas, she played Papagena in “The Magic Flute” with the El Paso Opera, Cinderella in “Into the Woods” at Sun City Musical Theatre, Mabel in “The Pirates of Penzance” with the Gilbert & Sullivan Company of El Paso, and Cosette in “Les Miserables” with UTEP Dinner Theater.
• Ashlyn Gibbs was last seen as Marie, the fairy godmother, in “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella.” Previous OCT roles include Amalia in “She Loves Me,” the Wardrobe in “Beauty and the Beast” and ensemble in “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” At the Art Center of Citrus County, Ashlyn played Nellie in “South Pacific” and Julie Jordan in “Carousel.” She sang Ida in “Die Fledermaus” at Western Plains Opera Company in Minot, North Dakota.
• Adam Pryor sings with the Brick City Cabaret Company of OCT and has appeared in “Heart and Music and Words, Music, Art: A Love Story.” He also has performed in OCT’s Starlight Studio and at “The Spitfire Grill: From Screen to Stage.” He is the chorus and orchestra director at West Port High School and director of music at Grace Episcopal Church.
James Ray Taylor III has played numerous roles at OCT, including Joseph Pulitzer in “Newsies,” Lumiere in “Beauty and the Beast,” Johnny Cash in “Million Dollar Quartet,” Aaron in “First Date” and Gomez Addams in “The Addams Family: A New Musical.” He sings with the Brick City Cabaret Company of OCT and has appeared in “Heart and Music and Words, Music, Art: A Love Story.”
The production’s pianist is Chris Goddard, interim organist at Holy Trinity Church in Gainesville and an adjunct professor of music at the University of Florida and Santa Fe College. He has performed internationally and toured extensively across North America. Grace Episcopal Church is located at 503 SE Broadway St., Ocala. There will be four performances of “The Impresario,” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16; and 2 p.m. Nov. 16 and 17. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for ages 18 and younger. Buy tickets at ocalacivictheatre.com, at the box office or by calling (352) 236-2274.
OCT’s Rattlebox On the Road production of “The Impresario” features an original book and libretto by OCT Executive and Artistic Director Greg Thompson. [Photo by Bruce Ackerman]
Ocala pastry chef competes again on TV
Yohann
Le Bescond is appearing on the Food Network’s “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking” series, which will premiere Nov. 14.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
With a wave of a magic wand, Ocala chef Yohann Le Bescond is appearing on the Food Network’s new series “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking,” which will premiere on Nov. 14. Perhaps the connection was fate as Le Bescond said his favorite character from the popular books and movies was the wizard Dumbledore, headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
“I’ve always been drawn to him as a very secretive but knowledgeable person and I’m always gravitating toward the people I can learn from. I always felt he would have been a mentor if I had been in that world,” Le Bescond said.
Le Bescond, the executive pastry chef at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, has had plenty of mentors in his storied career. The young Frenchman started baking at the age of 13 in his mother’s kitchen. By the time he was 20, he had completed the Brevet Technique des Métiers Pâtissier program. By the age of 22, he held his first executive pastry chef title. In 2023, he competed in the Food Network’s Summer Baking Championship and made it to the season finale. Restaurant Hospitality named him to its Power List of notable chefs around the world in 2023.
For the “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking” show, he was reunited with Carla Hall, one of the judges on the summer baking series.
“Seeing her again on ‘Wizards of Baking’ was super cool; she’s almost like family,” he said.
The “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking” show is hosted by James and Oliver Phelps, the English actors who played twins Fred and George Weasley in all eight Harry Potter films.
The pastry chefs and cake artists on the baking show are competing to receive the first ever Wizards of Baking Cup and the opportunity to be included in a new Harry Potter cookbook. The show was filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in England, on the original movie sets where Harry Potter’s magical journey was brought to life.
“It was a great experience and I’m very happy to be able to represent Ocala again on national TV,” Le Bescond said during a recent phone interview.
He said he was happy to be back in Europe for a short time as he had “missed the food and the older cities.”
“It felt great to be back in Europe for a little bit. To be back in London was almost like going home. I couldn’t see my parents, even though they live two hours away from London, but it was definitely super cool to go back to Europe,” he shared.
He said the first episode of the series involved a “very long day of filming” and that the “whole experience was fantastic.” He said that not filming in front of a live audience “took a bit of pressure off.”
“This was my first time working with Warner Bros. and the brand of Harry Potter. The amount of investment, from the culinary side to the equipment, was top-notch. I remember walking onto the set and the size was double what I was used to. I filmed in New York and Los Angeles, so seeing the real Warner Bros. set was mind blowing, as was how so many departments worked together to make this happen,” he noted.
“Meeting the twins, who were the hosts, was very cool. You remember them as being the red-haired twins and now they are not red headed, so that was the first thing I noticed. You know it’s been 20 years since the last movie, so everybody ages a little bit,” he added.
Le Bescond said the theme of the first episode was our common connection to the Harr y Potter movies. In that episode, he was paired with Kayla Giddings.
“My partner and I kind of went back to what was very special about the first movie, which is how we all fell in love with the series, really, and we wanted to recreate a showpiece that was our love letter to Harry Potter and the series as a whole,” he said of their creation.
Throughout the competition, special guests from the films, including Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) and Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), will join judges Hall and Jozef Youssef and share their experiences.
While Le Bescond could not reveal additional details about the series, he said that it was “a very transformative adventure.”
“I made lifelong friends and great connections for the future. I’m very happy and can’t wait to see it,” he stated.
To learn more, including the schedule and ways to watch, go to foodnetwork.com/shows/ harry-potter-wizards-of-baking
[Photo courtesy Food Network]
[Photo courtesy Food Network]
Judges Jozef Youssef and Carla Hall, in front of the Hogwarts Express, check out the creation made by Yohann Le Bescond and Kayla Giddings for the first episode of the Food Network’s “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking” series. [Photo courtesy Food Network]
Yohann Le Bescond, executive pastry chef at the World Equestrian Center, is shown at Emma’s Patisserie, inside The Equestrian Hotel on the property. [Photo by Meagan Gumpert]
Kayla Giddings and Yohann Le Bescond are shown on the set of the Food Network’s “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking” series. [Photo courtesy Food Network]
Christmas trees decorated by community members on display at museum
Staff report
Through Jan. 12, the Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, is offering a display of trees decorated by community groups, organizations and businesses. The annual tradition is showcased alongside “A Dickens Christmas: The Urban Family’s Holiday Exhibition.”
During the summer, the Appleton seeks participants from the community to provide and decorate themed trees to adorn the second-floor galleries during the holiday season.
“Each year, our participants provide beautifully decorated trees that reflect the mission and spirit of their organization, while others delight visitors with their imaginative designs,” said Victoria Billig, assistant director of the Appleton Museum of Art, in the press release. “We’re really happy to have such great representation from our community partners this year and we appreciate all of the hard work and thoughtfulness that is clearly reflected in their displays.”
This year’s participants include Appleton Artspace, Better Together, Bridge to Hope, CAMPUS USA Credit Union, College of Central Florida, East Marion Elementary, Hands Up Communications with LN Signs and Greater Marion County Association of the Deaf, Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, Humane Society of Marion County, North Central Florida Media and Urban Counseling.
Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month as part of the Free First Saturday program. Free First Saturdays are supported in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union, Marion Cultural Alliance and the National Endowment for the Arts. Otherwise, regular admission fees apply.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 7, the museum will host the annual Holiday Community Day, sponsored by the Urban family. Enjoy face painting, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, holiday crafts and more. For details, visit appletonmuseum.org
Burchfield, Ansel Adams, Jim Dine, Louise Nevelson, Käthe Kollwitz, Joan Miró, James Rosenquist, Genryusai Seiya, and many others.
A Willy Wonka-themed tree with photo op, decorated by Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services.
Bridal Robe, Early to mid-20th century, Turkmen peoples, Uzbeki stan, Wool, cotton, silk embroidery, tassels, metal amulets and enameled stones, Gift of Ruth E. Funk, Florida Institute
Photos courtesy of CF Appleton Museum of Art
A tree featuring ornaments provided by local deaf families, decorated by Hands-Up Communications with LN Signs and Greater Marion County Association of the Deaf.
Making music and friends
On Top of the World Dulcimer Club members play ancient instruments to create modern tunes and connect their community.
By Eadie Sickler Special to the Gazette
Have you ever gone to a concert to hear dulcimers, psaltery or banjammer instruments? Probably most have not. These instruments are not commonly used in most of today’s orchestras and bands. There are no drums, keyboards or brass instruments. As a matter of fact, the ancient instruments are not played by notes, they are played by numbers, explained Rich Furlong, president of the On Top of the World Dulcimer Club.
Dulcimers and psalteries are ancient instruments, dating back perhaps 5,000 years, with origins in the Near East. The dulcimer was known as a santouri in Greece and as a santur in India. It is related to the much older psaltery and spread across North Africa and then Europe, according to online information of the Smithsonian Institute. These instruments are referenced in Biblical times and writings, too.
In the 1800s, the modern mountain dulcimer originated in the Appalachian Mountains of southwest Virginia and Kentucky, with Scottish and Irish immigrants to the United States. The meaning of the word dulcimer is “sweet sound” and, indeed, the OTOW Dulcimer Club does produce a sweet sound, with members of the group playing various types of dulcimers, a psaltery, a guitar, a fiddle, a bass guitar, two mandolins and two banjammers, which are played like a dulcimer but sound like a banjo.
At a concert at OTOW last week, 14 members gathered to blend their music in slow, melodic tunes and some faster tunes, many of which were very recognizable and to which the audience was invited to sing along. The concert was sponsored by the OTOW Global Diversity Asian Social Club.
Furlong said everyone who is a resident at OTOW can join the group and even with no musical experience can learn to play the dulcimer. There are two beginners’ classes currently being taught in club members’ homes.
“You do have to have some basic musical understanding, though,” he said, adding, “it is an easy instrument to play, because you don’t have to read notes.”
Furlong explained that there is a schematic of the fret board with numbers along the lines. A player can press the number on the board to get a note. Furlong has taught a class of the history of the dulcimer at the Master the Possibilities learning center at OTOW. The psaltery is a form of dulcimer and can be played by plucking or using a bow.
Furlong said the group started 13 or 14 years ago. Kerie Dawkins is vice president. Patricia Gift is “gig manager” and a soloist. She announced each number the group played.
“We are a group of seasoned, beginner-level musicians who enjoy playing their dulcimers, guitars, fiddles, mandolins and psaltery,” Furlong said. “This group brings people together. It is important for senior citizens to get out and have the opportunity to socialize with others. We are all friends. Nobody’s a professional, so there is no competition. This is a great bunch of people.”
Furlong calls himself a “snowbird from New Jersey.” He moved here in 2010. He came to visit Florida because he wanted better winters. In New Jersey, he was a middle school history teacher and then a high school guidance counselor before retirement. He plays clarinet in the Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band and likes hiking, biking, kayaking and jogging.
“The central Florida cost of living seems better than in other areas in the state. I have no regrets in moving to Ocala and the OTOW community,” he said.
The Dulcimer Club plays gigs outside of OTWO, such as at local nursing homes, churches and various civic organizations.
“We will work for food,” Furlong said with a smile.
To learn more about the club, contact Gift at pamgift@earthlink.net or (717) 798-4085.
Annual holiday bazaar returns for 77th year
The Episcopal Church Women’s holiday bazaar is an annual event benefitting local nonprofits.
Report
Grace Episcopal Church will host its 77th annual holiday bazaar in the church’s parish hall at 503 SE Broadway St. in downtown Ocala. Opening with a preview party on Nov. 8, from 5 to 7 p.m., attendees can get in for a $5 donation and receive a complimentary glass of wine and a gourmet snack while they shop. Shopping continues Nov. 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with free entry for all patrons.
The bazaar has been an annual tradition since the 1940s. The Episcopal Church Women, or ECW, host the event each year with the goal of supporting local nonprofit organizations. One ECW member, Ann Anderson, has been involved with the event for all 77 years. Beginning as a young girl, she would help her mother in the days when the event took place at a hotel in downtown Ocala, before the church had its own parish hall. Anderson is one of several ECW members whose family legacy goes back multiple generations. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse) Marion and Ocala Farm Ministries. CASA Marion provides support services to local residents who are victims of domestic violence. The Ocala Farm Ministry assists families and children in the horse farm community with after-school tutoring, sports and community center activities.
The bazaar will offer a wide array of holiday items, including handmade crafts, vintage jewelry, unique gift creations, artwork and new and pre-loved holiday treasures. Attendees can also enjoy homemade baked goods, frozen soups and casseroles to-go. Raffle drawing prizes will be gift baskets, handmade quilts, a subscription to Fresh Flower Bouquet, a Painting Party for Four, original art and much more. Raffle tickets will be available during the event at one for $5 or three for $10. Prize winners will be contacted on Nov. 10. To learn more, call 352-275-9029.
Carolyn Abramovich plays her dulcimer as she performs with other members of the On Top of the World Dulcimer Club in The Arbors at On Top of the World in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/ Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Mike Gallup, Karie Dawkins, Rich Furlong and Rich Hadden, left to right, pose with their dulcimers as members of the On Top of the World Dulcimer Club perform for people in The Arbors at On Top of the World in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Members of the On Top of the World Dulcimer Club perform for people in The Arbors at On Top of the World in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Karie Dawkins plays her psaltry dulcimer with a bow as members of the On Top of the World Dulcimer Club perform for people in The Arbors at On Top of the World in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette Staff
government
NOVEMBER 18, 25
Marion County Development Review
Office of County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave., Building 1, Ocala
9am
The committee meets each Monday to review and vote on waiver requests to the Land Development Code, major site plans and subdivision plans. See marion.fl.legistar.com/calendar.aspx for agenda and minutes.
NOVEMBER 19
Marion County Board of County Commissioners
McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala
9am
The commission meets in the morning of the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at marionfl.legistar.com/calendar.aspx
NOVEMBER 19
Ocala City Council
Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala
4pm
The council meets each first and third Tuesday of the month. Ocala government agendas and minutes are available at ocala.legistar.com/calendar.aspx
NOVEMBER 19
Belleview City Commission
Belleview City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview 6pm Meets the first and third Tuesday of the month; agendas, minutes and video available at belleviewfl.org/200/agendas-minutes
NOVEMBER 20
Dunnellon City Council
Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 S River Road, Dunnellon 5:30 to 7:30pm Meets the third Wednesday of the month; Agendas, minutes and video are available at dunnellon.org/government/agendas-minutes
community
NOVEMBER 8-9
77th Annual Holiday Bazaar
Grace Episcopal Church, 503 SE Broadway St, Ocala Fri from 5-7pm; Sat from 9am-2pm
Get into the holiday spirit with the 2024 edition of the holiday bazaar. A variety of items will be on sale, such as fall and Christmas decorations, handmade arts and crafts, homemade baked goods, and raffle drawings. On Friday, wine and cheese will be available for patrons at the special event preview, while on Saturday, vendors will be on-site for the morning and afternoon. Includes chance drawings for the 2024 bazaar quilt, themed baskets and more. Proceeds benefit local women and children in need. For more information, call (352) 286-8536
NOVEMBER 8-9
IHMC Research Showcase
IHMC Ocala Campus, 15 SE Osceola Ave., Ocala Day 1 from 8am to 3pm; Day 2 from 9am to 1pm The Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition will present the latest research in AI, human cognition, communication, and health and wellness, during this two-day event at the Ocala campus. Day 1 will focus on industry relevance and professional development, while day 2 will be geared towards the general public, with live demonstrations and educational seminars. To learn more, visit ihmc.us
NOVEMBER 9-10
Ocali Country Days Silver River Museum, 1455 NE 58th Ave., Ocala 9am to 4pm For one weekend only, visit the Silver River Museum campus as it is transported back in time to life in the 1800s. View history as it comes alive, with re-enactments of what it meant to live, work, learn and play for people in the 19th century. Guests will have the opportunity to witness real demonstrations of sugar making and other “old-timey” skills, all while sampling cuisine and touring the Silver River State Park. For more information, visit silverrivermuseum.com
NOVEMBER 10
Car Show Benefiting Ocala Blue Star Mothers
Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, 2601 SE Fort King St., Ocala 11am to 3pm A special Veterans Day classic car show will feature on-site food trucks and raffle giveaways. Entry is free to the public, with a $20 fee to register a vehicle and $30 fee to register as a vendor. Proceeds go to benefit the Ocala Blue Star Mothers, an organization that supports military families. For details, go to ocalabluestarmothers.org
NOVEMBER 10
Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band:
“Veterans Light the Stars” Concert
Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, 2601 SE Fort King St., Ocala 6:30 to 8pm The 13th annual “Veterans Light the Stars” concert will be a commemorative celebration of Veteran’s Day. Guests will be treated to a fireworks show and renditions of patriotic staples by the Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band. Entry will be free to all. The event is weather permitting, with a reschedule date of Nov. 11 if necessary. For more information, visit kindomofthesunband.org
NOVEMBER 13
James Melton Walk of Fame presentation Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave., Ocala Starts at 12:30 Ocala’s James Melton was considered “the tenor of his times.” He appeared in movies, on Broadway, on numerous radio shows and in concert. He also was known for his vintage automobile collection. Melton will be honored by the city of Ocala and Ocala Film Foundation with a plaque on the walk of fame in front of the historic theatre. The event begins at 12:30 p.m. and will include a screening of “Stars Over Broadway.” Learn more at FB.com/ events/1529470784440612?acontext=%7B”event_action_history”%3A[]%7D
NOVEMBER 7-24
“The Glass Menagerie” Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Showtimes vary The famous play by Tennessee Williams comes to the Ocala Civic Theatre for a series of shows throughout November. Tom Wingfield will guide the audience through his faded memory of 1930s St. Louis, recalling his mother Amanda and his sister Laura, in a family struggle for love and acceptance. Tickets can be purchased at the OCT Box Office, online at ocalacivictheatre.org, or by calling 352-236-2274.
NOVEMBER 8, 15, 22
Starlight Studio: “The Glass Menagerie” Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 5:30 to 7pm Starlight Studio are special Friday night parties on the front porch in the lobby of OCT, with live music, drinks and on-site food trucks to get the audience into the spirit for the show. This edition features 1930s jazz played by Sean-T to put you in the time and place of “The Glass Menagerie.” To learn more, go to ocalacivictheatre.org
NOVEMBER 15-17
“The Impresario” Grace Episcopal Church, 503 SE Broadway St., Ocala Showtimes vary.
OCT presents an original one-act comedy written by Greg Thompson and featuring music by Mozart in its Rattlebox on the Road series. The play tells the story of the manager of The Marion Opera House, set in Ocala, dealing with a meddlesome assistant moonlighting as an opera singer, two jealous prima donnas and a star struck financier with an eye for the ladies. Tickets can be purchased at the OCT box office, online at ocalacivictheatre.org or by calling (352) 236-2274.
NOVEMBER 24
“Messiah” Community Sing Along Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala 5 to 7pm Guests and performers will come together to sing along to pieces from the opera “Messiah” by George Frederic Handel, orchestrated by the Ocala Symphony Orchestra. Most notable is the song “Hallelujah,” whose iconic namesake refrain has been sung out for centuries. Singing is optional, but both the choir and the audience will be sure to be in harmony during these familiar classical pieces. For tickets and more information, visit reillyartscenter.com
things to do arts
NOVEMBER 11
K County Songwriters Showcase
Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
7 to 9pm
Three up-and-coming singer-songwriters bring their talents to Ocala for a night of original music.
Featuring Clint Daniels, Elvie Shane and Trea Landon, three Nashville-based performers. Daniels has written hit songs for country stars Joe Nichols, Montgomery Gentry, Eric Church, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Brooks & Dunn and others. Shane’s debut single “My Boy” was platinum-certified and peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay charts in 2021, and No. 28 overall on the Billboard Hot 100 for all genres. Landon’s debut album “Dirt Road Dancin’” released in 2020 and has over 100 million streams. Learn more at ocalacivictheatre.com/event/k-country-songwriters-showcase
NOVEMBER 12
Ira Holmes International Film Series: “Long Flat Balls”
Appleton Museum of Art and College of Central Florida 2pm at Appleton; 7:30pm at CF
The Ira Holmes International Film Series screens a mixture of both classic and modern films, as well as a mix of popular and obscure, across all genres. On Nov. 12, audiences will see “Long Flat Balls,” a 2006 comedy from Norway about a group of workmates who venture to Germany to see the World Cup. Films at the Appleton are free to museum and film series members; nonmembers pay museum admission. The 7:30 p.m. screenings at CF have free admission. Learn more at cf.edu/filmseries
NOVEMBER 13
Coffee with the Conductor
Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala 10am
Sit down with Ocala Symphony Orchestra’s Maestro Matt Wardell and Choir Conductor Joshua Mazur for a preview of the upcoming “Messiah” Community Sing Along. These monthly sessions give audience members an opportunity to meet with the conductor to learn more about the concerts, the process behind each piece’s selection, and some of the history behind each song. For more information, visit reillyartscenter.com/events/coffee-with-the-conductor-2
NOVEMBER 16
Party in the Park
Tuscawilla Park, 213 NE 5th St., Ocala 12 to 5pm
Visit the park for a free community concert and a variety of on-site food trucks and vendors. Featuring the likes of Steeln’ Peaches, Ocala’s own Kimber Davis Band, Emery Robbins and more performing live at the Jenkins Outdoor Stage, this is a great opportunity to enjoy some of the cooler fall temperatures and spend time outdoors. Entry to the event is free for all. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com
NOVEMBER 11
Veterans Day
NOVEMBER 28 Thanksgiving
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Bird of the week
House Wren
By Michael Warren
The diminutive House Wren is a classic angry bird. Take a walk in the cooler months and when you hear a bird loudly scolding you from the underbrush, that’s likely a House Wren. These birds are also known for destroying the nest of other small birds. This one was photographed near the Baseline Trailhead.
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.
American Wren [MichaelWarren.com]
Current Adoption Specials:
Kola feels like a model in her butterfly costume. She would happily walk alongside the kiddos who are on the search for treats. This 2-year-old would like doggie playdates and playing dress-up for all the holidays.
“Ocala Gazette” regularly brings you three furry friends that are available for adoption from local animal rescue organizations.
Prissy wants to love, but live like she’s the only feline you fancy. Not a fan of sharing people with other cats, this 4-year-old wants a lap, a windowsill, and a spot on your bed all to herself!
Brock has been searching for his future family since January. He loves car rides, cuddle time, and playing ball in the yard. Who’s ready to tell this 5-year-old big boy that he’s THE ONE?
Persons
Any person deciding to appeal any
sion made by the
at the meeting will need a record of the proceedings and, for such purpose, may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence on which the appeal is to be based.
Brock
Kola
Prissy
Crossword
Jumble
Gasoline
Broom Hilda
Middletons
