Update on city emergency response times for fire & medical
By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
After posing questions about response times in the city to fire/medical calls earlier this year, the “Gazette” can report some progress.
We’ve ascertained the city hiccups can be attributed primarily to three things: fire/ medical dispatch that could be more efficient, slower than expected en route times from Ocala Fire Rescue, and dysfunctional communication between city and county.
The “Gazette” noticed holes in emergency communications between the city and county and, in a series of reports this year, encouraged city leadership to visit the county’s 911 center, where there was better organizational structure and better technology tailored explicitly for fire/medical calls that the city did not have.
Earlier this year, the “Gazette” reported that the Marion County Fire Rescue dispatchers wait until the city dispatchers—who are in a different location—share details from an emergency call for help. This delay negatively impacted response times and invited human error.
Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano and Councilmembers James Hilty and Barry Mansfield heard our concerns and went to both call centers to observe, just as the “Gazette” reporters had done.
Mansfield and Hilty spoke highly of the professionalism they observed from 911 call takers and dispatchers at both centers.
Over the past few months, the city implemented a new interface between its CAD system and the county’s so that the county’s dispatchers could see the city’s calls automatically without having to share them one by one. Both Mansfield and Hilty expressed hope that the interface would make things work more smoothly between the city and county’s fire departments.
We have noticed some improvement from this measure. However, there is still more to fix for the city to meet the county’s superior fire/medical dispatch level.
A LITTLE HISTORY ON HOW WE GOT IN THIS PREDICAMENT
In 2020, the Ocala City Council broke away from its arrangement with Marion County to share the dispatching of fire and medical emergency units. This decision went against not only the recommendations of a consultant they hired to explore the local emergency communication infrastructure but also against national recommendations that emergency communications should be consolidated regionally and work from a common computer-aided dispatch (CAD)
See Response times, page A4
Fast-growing Florida tops
23.3M people
By Jim Saunders Florida News Service
Growing faster than almost any other state, Florida’s estimated population topped 23.3 million people this year, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Census Bureau estimated that Florida had 23,372,215 people as of July 1, up from 22,904,868 a year earlier. Florida’s increase of 467,347 people was second only to Texas, which gained 562,941. Also, Florida’s 2 percent
growth rate trailed only the District of Columbia, which had a 2.2 percent rate, according to the Census Bureau. Texas and Utah each had 1.8 percent growth rates.
The estimated national population increased 1 percent to 340.11 million.
Florida’s growth reflected two key issues in the Census Bureau data: international migration and population increases in the South.
A news release accompanying the data said net international migration “was the critical demographic component of change driving
growth in the (U.S.) resident population. With a net increase of 2.8 million people, it accounted for 84% of the nation’s 3.3 million increase in population between 2023 and 2024.”
The Census Bureau said Florida, California and Texas had the largest gains from net international migration, with Florida showing a 411,322-person increase.
The news release also said the South added more people from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024, than all other regions combined. It said the
Help on the way for local homeless population
Officials recently broke ground for Mercy Village, a 79-unit complex in NW Ocala.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
An affordable housing project aimed at helping people experiencing homelessness took a major step forward on Dec. 18 when local officials took part in a groundbreaking ceremony for Mercy Village, a two-phase, 79-unit complex in northwest Ocala. The project, expected to be fully completed in about a year, will include a 59unit apartment building backed by Miami-
based nonprofit Carrfour Supportive Housing. There also will be 10 duplexes funded by a grant requested by Marion County Community Services homelessness prevention services or case management to help with the total of 79 units provided by Ocala nonprofit Saving Mercy Corporation.
“Mercy Village will offer a mix of supportive services and affordable housing, aiming to address the critical shortage of permanent housing for those experiencing homelessness or facing housing insecurity,” Penny Beehler, executive director of Saving Mercy, stated in a press release.
Ocala City Councilmember Jim Hilty Sr., on hand for the groundbreaking, called the project “a huge step” in addressing homelessness here.
Karla Greenway, CEO of Interfaith Emergency Services, an Ocala provider of essential services for those in need, will partner with the housing outreach.
“This project is what we’ve been hoping for and praying for. It’s a game changer and will provide appropriate housing for those in need,” Greenway said at the groundbreaking.
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See Mercy Village, page A2
See Growing Florida, page A6
Dignitaries and officials shovel dirt at the groundbreaking ceremony held Dec. 18, 2024, for Mercy Village, a 79-unit affordable and supportive housing complex to be built in northwest Ocala.
Rev. Patrick Sheedy of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, at right, was on hand during the groundbreaking ceremony on Dec. 18, 2024, for Mercy Village in northwest Ocala.
Photos by Andy Fillmore Ocala Gazette
Reddick is getting its first public park
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
Acontractor has been selected to make improvements to a park in Reddick that will become the town’s first public park, in partnership with Marion County. The park at 15630 NW Gainesville Road. Reddick is slated for improvements to Reddick Park, including
restrooms, sidewalks and a new parking lot, constructed by Foundation Services of Central Florida Inc.
“Marion County, in partnership with the town of Reddick, is constructing the town’s first public park,” according to the bid invitation.
The company received a $287,913 bid from Marion County on Dec. 17 to complete the
Mercy Village
Continued from page A1
Both phases of the project— Phase One the apartment building and Phase Two the duplexes— will be built on a portion of the 10-acre parcel at 3601 W. Silver Springs Blvd., which now houses Saving Mercy Corp., a faith-based nonprofit that provides “wraparound services” to chronically homeless persons, according to the organization’s website.
People in need are referred to Saving Mercy by various agencies and churches and by word-ofmouth. The organization’s vision is to “break the cycle of homelessness by providing not only a place to live but also the resources and support needed for long-term success,” according to the website.
Permanent supportive housing, the group states, offers “long-term, stable living environment combined with supportive services tailored to individual needs” and is an “one of the most effective solutions for combating homelessness.”
Carrfour Supportive Housing, which has developed and managed supportive housing for more than 10,000 homeless persons since 1993, will build and oversee the 59 oneand two-bedroom unit apartment complex, according to Sandra Newson, Carrfour’s vice president of Resident Services, who attended the groundbreaking.
The Phase One apartment building is expected to be completed by December 2025. Newson explained in an email that the roughly $23 million construction and capital funding needed for the apartment building was secured from sources including the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Low Income Tax Credit and State Apartment Incentive Loan.
“Carrfour is partnering with Saving Mercy and will be the developer and operator (manage the property). Saving Mercy will take the lead on the onsite supportive services for the residents,” she wrote.
project. The funding will be split between the county’s general fund and the town of Reddick’s budget.
The park will have a portion of an existing road removed, a two-stall restroom constructed, and receive sidewalks, fencing, and have the existing parking lot restriped, according to Marion County.
Five submittals were
“Staff and board members from Saving Mercy and city officials came to Miami and toured some of Carrfour’s development several years ago. When they were ready to develop, they reached out to us and we successfully submitted a tax credit application for FHFC (Florida Housing Finance Corporation) in 2022,” Newson stated.
Newson said 20 apartment units will be reserved for people qualifying with a percentage based on area median income.
Beehler said Saving Mercy will oversee the 10 duplexes of Phase Two and provide case management for residents placed in the 20 individual units, with residents signing a 12-month lease.
Jess Schultz, vice president of Partner Engagement with the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership, served as emcee for the groundbreaking ceremony. Schultz praised the project as positive work done by local businesses coming together and leadership going “outside what they are paid for.”
The Rev. Patrick Sheedy of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church of Ocala offered an invocation, praying in part that future residents get “a new lease on life” from their time at Mercy Village.
Blessed Trinity Catholic Church launched Saving Mercy, but the group is now an independent charitable organization with wide community support, according to an official with the church.
Steve Farrell, vice president of Saving Mercy, said the plan for an affordable and supportive housing project started several years ago when he and his wife envisioned a “way to help the homeless.”
“It’s been a long journey,” Farrell said.
Farrell said there are “a lot of people to thank,” including Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano and Marion County Community Services Director Cheryl Martin.
“Lives are going to be saved by this. This is what makes Ocala
“The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.”
- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black in New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)
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received, and Parks & Recreation Department Director Jim Couillard recommended that Foundation Services of Central Florida Inc. should receive the award “as the lowest, most responsive, and most responsible bidder.”
The project will be completed within 75 days after the company receives a notice to proceed.
special, when people come together to help people,” Marciano said at the event.
Marciano said later he wanted to “see it done right with wrap-around services to truly help people rebuild their lives.”
The city of Ocala is “assisting with site, building, and impact fees through the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency),” Gregory Davis, the city’s management office public information officer, stated in an email.
Martin initiated a grant that was awarded by Community Services for $1,764,265 in State Housing Initiative Partnership funds for construction of the 10 duplexes, with an expected completion date of June 2025.
Marion County Community Services said the grant agreement requires two units to be reserved for permanent supportive housing— rent on these units could be waived or paid by programs, according to a county official—and the remaining 18 duplex units will be leased at monthly rates currently expected to range from $455 to $1,085, depending upon the lessor’s qualifications.
The Ocala/Marion Joint Office of Homelessness Prevention, established in 2020, will provide a list of the people most in need of housing.
In the Joint Office, county personnel lead in funding issues and city personnel handle outreach and manage a coordinated entry list of people to prioritize services to the most vulnerable at-risk and homeless persons, according to the office’s website. The office has 30 people on the list, 21 of whom were in emergency shelters, according to a recent “Gazette” report.
Robin Ford, deputy director of Ocala’s Community Development Services, said at the event that 30 apartment units are planned to be reserved for people on the coordinated entry list.
Ford said the housing project will have a “very significant impact” on the homeless community in the area.
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By Susan Smiley-Height
ORGANIZATIONS OFFER
HOLIDAY OUTREACHES
Kerry Eck of Gentiva Hospice and Carissa Meadows of Hampton Manor are bringing holiday joy to children in need by leading the Senior Health Advisors Toys for Tots campaign this year.
The two rallied local businesses, community members and senior care providers to participate in the charitable effort.
“Our community has always come together to care for one another, and this year is no different,” said Eck in a news release. “The Toys for Tots campaign is a wonderful opportunity to give back and bring smiles to children’s faces during the holidays.”
FOUNDATION RECEIVES GRANT FOR YOUTH PROGRAM
The Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership Foundation has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Papa John’s Foundation’s Building Community Fund. The funds will support the CEP’s Leadership Ocala Marion Youth program, helping to keep participation costs affordable while also providing scholarships.
FIREFIGHTERS DONATE TO ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE
M“We’re so grateful for the outpouring of support from our partners and collection locations. Together, we can make this season brighter for so many families,” Meadows added.
The collection locations included Hampton Manor ALF, Gentiva Hospice, Timber Ridge SNF, Hawthorne SNF and ILF, Bridgewater Park SNF and ALF, The Bridge ALF, Canterfield ALF, Brentwood ALF, Paddock Ridge ALF, Pacifica ALF, LifeCare SNF, The Lodge SNF, Avante SNF, Encompass Rehabilitation and Bo Collision Center.
Gentiva Hospice also held a holiday celebration for residents of Harmony House Assisted Living. The event, organized by Morgan Thompson and Simone Biersay, with the help of the Harmony House Care Team of RN Brandi Lane, Chaplain Jim Sandoval and CNA Pam Nelson, took place on Dec. 18 and included treats and gifts.
The LOMY program targets high school students entering their junior year in Ocala and Marion County. This demographic represents a critical period in their academic and personal development, making it an ideal time for leadership and career exploration. With approximately 45% of students in the county qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the need for programs like LOMY is particularly urgent. Many students face significant financial challenges that limit their ability to participate in extracurricular activities or explore potential career pathways. Although LOMY is not free, the grant will help reduce fees and provide scholarships, addressing financial barriers that may otherwise limit participation, the news release noted.
embers of the Professional Firefighters of Marion County donated 3,458 pounds of nonperishable food to the recent Bring the Harvest Home food drive. The donation was 909 pounds more than in 2023. This was PFFMC’s fourth year of participating and members also collected $4,000 for a shopping trip.
The PFFMC labor union organization represents active and retired first responders working for or retired from Marion County Fire Rescue. The drive was in partnership with MCFR’s collection in competition with other county departments, according to the news release.
Bring the Harvest Home helps restock food
pantries that benefit Marion County citizens, including Brother’s Keeper, Interfaith Emergency Services and the Salvation Army. “We are committed to Marion County daily, both on and off duty. We are part of this community and love being part of the bigger picture,” PFFMC President Rolin Boyd stated in the release.
AVIATION CENTER EARNS DESIGNATION
PRP Aviation, a provider of aviation services, charter flights and flight training, has been designated a Platinum Cirrus Training Center. The training center’s appointment comes as Chris Prusak, a U.S. Air Force veteran and PRP Aviation
CEO, was recently awarded platinum status as a Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot, which requires more than 1,000 hours of instructing in Cirrus aircraft while adhering to strict procedures and safety protocols, the news release stated.
The platinum designation is awarded to flight training centers and instructors demonstrating exceptional dedication to safety, innovation and customer service. PRP Aviation is based at the Ocala International Airport.
Professional Firefighters of Marion County members pose with donations for the recent Bring the Harvest Home food drive. [Photo courtesy Professional Firefighters of Marion County]
Carissa Meadows of Hampton Manor helped with the Senior Health Advisors Toys for Tots campaign. [Photo courtesy Kerry Eck]
Response times
system.
An Oct. 8, 2019 workshop gives a glimpse into what the city leaders’ mindset was when they chose to deconsolidate fire and medical dispatch from the county. Then-Mayor Kent Guinn told city council, “You’re going to be inundated with requests by the county commission, you know, to meet, talk, change your mind, have a workshop, and on and on and on. So, you know, I would just tell you to mean what you say, say what you mean. And you know, stick to your guns… stay with it.”
Guinn was correct in that the county asked the city to work with them to correct the concerns based on the consultant’s report just one month earlier but to no avail. During that same workshop, Ocala Fire Rescue Chief Shane Alexander noted improvements since the county’s 911 call center came under county Fire Chief James Banta’s supervision, but he voiced expectations that having Ocala Police Department dispatch OFR units would improve response times within the city.
Fast forward to 2024, and that doesn’t seem to have happened.
OPD dispatching OFR has led to a number of public safety concerns, including delayed response times while dispatchers flip through a pdf for the dispatch matrix information, OFR units occasionally not informing dispatchers when they are
unavailable, and reports of some OFR units slow-walking their responses to calls because they know Marion County Fire Rescue units will be responding as well.
By contrast, Marion County officials followed the 2019 consultant’s recommendations and the county department has achieved significant improvements in dispatch efficiencies and call center organizational structure.
Ocala residents have seen some benefit from the county’s
decision because MCFR provides ambulance services for the entire county, including within the city limits. In practical terms, this means is that every vehicular accident involving an injury, every person requiring
medical help in their home, every structure fire that could result in an injury requires an MCFR response.
When the city decided to deconsolidate from the county’s dispatch system, then-OPD Chief Greg Graham told city council to expect “within the year” a significant budget request to enable all local public safety agencies to be on the same CAD system.
A short time later, Graham died unexpectedly. While OPD took over dispatching city fire and medical units, the system changes he spoke of never came to fruition.
Although OPD Chief Michael Balken did not agree with his predecessor, Graham, that public safety would be better served by using the same CAD system so information could be shared more easily between the different agencies, Balken has addressed this concern by getting a CAD interface put in place that shares city call information for fire/ medical automatically with MCFR.
However, the fire/medical dispatch software for the city remains antiquated compared to the county’s.
DISPATCH TECHNOLOGY MATTERS WHEN EVERY SECOND COUNTS
In 2024, “Gazette” reporters spent hours observing county and city dispatchers and noticed alarming disparities in the CAD technology being used by each agency as well as organizational inefficiencies stemming from OFR being dispatched by OPD and while MCFR calls are handled by county dispatchers.
Notably, the county’s dispatch system has more automation, which makes it faster and more nimble. Based on the nature of the call transferred by the 911 call taker to the dispatcher, the closest units and recommended responsive apparatus are suggested automatically to the dispatcher to edit or approve. When the “Gazette” observed this process, assigning units never took more than 20 seconds in the county and often took approximately 13 seconds.
At the OPD call center, a dispatcher would receive the call in a similar fashion to the county. However, the dispatcher must then scroll through a nine-page pdf computer file that contains OFR’s dispatch matrix before determining which
closest units to dispatch given the nature of the emergency. The dispatcher then notifies their county counterpart to send an MCFR ambulance and identify the closest OFR units to the scene.
In response to repeated requests from the “Gazette” for city officials to observe the county’s fire dispatch center and compare it to Ocala’s system, OFR Chief Clint Welborn said he would coordinate with MCFR Chief James Banta to watch the county’s fire dispatchers in action.
We believe this is the first time the OFR chief will observe the county’s fire dispatch system.
OCALA FIRE RESCUE PROMISES BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ENROUTE TIMES
After studying service calls throughout the year, the “Gazette” noticed that OFR’s incident reports did not include seconds or en route times. This starkly contrasts with how MCFR compiles its incident reports and raises questions including how the agency can hold its personnel accountable if it is not routinely collecting and analyzing response time data.
Sources and personal observation on emergency calls revealed OFR units at times responding slowly because they knew they could be canceled as soon as MCFR indicated it has an ambulance enroute.
Fire departments are different from law enforcement agencies in that they have nationally recommended response times. Fire departments are expected to have units enroute within 60 seconds if they are not on another call.
The “Gazette” also noticed a possible disconnect between OFR and the fire dispatchers employed by OPD at the city’s call center. In an internal affairs report by OPD into the Feb. 20 fiery crash on Southeast 36th Avenue that left an Ocala couple dead, the fire dispatcher reported to the investigator that sometimes OFR units get “mad” and “question whether they are the closest unit” and sometimes don’t communicate to the dispatcher when they are enroute.
While observing city dispatch for over 12 hours, the “Gazette” also noticed OFR units leaving their station for unknown activities without notifying the dispatcher that they weren’t available or telling the dispatcher to send another closer unit. These observations lend credence to the narrative of the dispatcher quoted in OPD’s internal investigation.
City Manager Pete Lee, who oversees OFR, said he has not been regularly receiving reports analyzing overall response times. The “Gazette” asked how he can ascertain the fire department’s effectiveness without receiving detailed response time information from OFR. Lee indicated he has the highest confidence in the chief and that they speak about operations regularly.
According to OFR’s Welborn,
who took over the department in 2021, the department does not systematically review response data in formal reports. Instead, he said, the department looks at certain specific incidents if there is a concern.
The agency collects the call data in a program separate from the CAD and incident reports and can provide a sampling of it. However, Welborn indicated he did not have someone on staff to analyze the data regularly for the purpose of preparing formal reports on response times.
Welborn agreed that formal reports on response times would benefit the department and hoped to eventually have the type of dashboard the county was rolling out at the end of the year that gives leadership realtime data on responses.
A city spokesperson indicated that the department would send notifications to shifts who were not meeting expectations for enroute times. The “Gazette” will be requesting those reports.
IDEAL MEASURES AND WHY THEY MATTER
You don’t need to be a medical professional to grasp that life and death can hinge on how quickly someone gets medical help following an injury or medical episode. That’s why it’s in the public’s best interest to demand that the city and county work together proactively to achieve every efficiency possible.
Additionally, the city’s position impacts those outside the city limits who might need to rely on an OFR unit for a fire call or if their cardiac emergency call gets routed to the city’s call center and there is a glitch in the city requesting an ambulance response from MCFR.
OFR runs significantly fewer calls than MCFR because the agency covers a much smaller territory. OFR units, however, can be called upon to provide fire suppression to county residents when they are closer to the call address than an MCFR unit. This often happens, so the agencies keep track and the county reimburses the city for providing this assistance.
The numbers tell a significant story. Records from the first quarter of 2024 show that MCFR responded to as many calls, if not more, within Ocala than the city’s own fire department-while relying on the city’s less sophisticated emergency call center.
The goal of state and national emergency response experts in emergency communications is to eliminate any hesitation or delay, which is why they advocate for agencies to consolidate their efforts.
MCFR Chief James Banta, who oversees ambulance services for the entire county, continues to maintain the position he took in 2019 when the city deconsolidated, “The county and city would be best served by consolidated 911 and everyone working from the same CAD system.”
The “Gazette” urges Ocala leaders to return to having OFR dispatched under the county’s superior CAD system to improve efficiency. Even better would be for the local public safety agencies to consolidate 911 call-taking and dispatch regionally while collectively choosing the best CAD system that works for all of them as recommended by the consultants hired by the city and county and agreed upon by every chief over our local public safety agencies when they chose to deconsolidate city fire and medical dispatch.
Siloed local public safety agencies are impacting response times. The sooner they come together, the better for the public. Lives truly are at stake.
Ocala drone shows approved, then company’s drones injure Orlando boy
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
Days after the city of Ocala approved a two-year contract with Sky Elements to continue the July 4th drone show, the company faced technical malfunctions when drones fell from the sky, injuring a spectator at a holiday drone show in Orlando.
On Dec. 17, the city council approved a $300,000 contract to put on July 4th drone shows for the next two years. The Marion County Commission plans to request $25,000 in funding from the Tourist Development Council to aid the cost.
On Dec. 21, a 7-year-old boy was severely injured after being struck by a drone at a holiday show at Lake Eola Park in Orlando. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident.
When asked if Ocala plans to honor its contract with Sky Elements, city spokesperson Gregory Davis said officials are monitoring the situation.
“For the city of Ocala, the safety of our citizens is always our top priority. We are closely working with our Risk Assessment team and monitoring the situation while gathering more information about what occurred,” Davis said. “As we learn more, we will take every necessary precaution to ensure our community’s and attendees’ safety at our events.”
The 7-year-old boy suffered an injury to his heart and lacerations on his face. He underwent heart surgery shortly after the incident, according to his family.
“He is currently staying in the hospital. I will be missing work at this time, and he will be celebrating Christmas in the ICU,” wrote his parents Jessica Lumedge and Adriana Edgerton on a GoFundMe page
The incident occurred at the 6:30 p.m. show. The following 8 p.m. show was canceled.
“Our thoughts are with the young individual and his family
affected by this unfortunate event,” said Davis.
The Holiday Drone Show was a permitted event through the FAA. It was in its third-year drawing crowds of approximately 25,000. This is the second year using the vendor, Sky Elements to operate the drones, according to the city of Orlando.
Ocala’s July 4th show drew a crowd of about 12,000 people and consisted of 300 drones. The show lasted 10 minutes. The new contract allows for more drones and a longer show time.
“Feedback from the community and our stakeholders was positive; however, a common sentiment was the desire for a longer show duration,” said Amy Casaletto, special services division head for the Ocala Parks and Recreation Department.
Before the contract was approved, Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano again said he would much rather have a fireworks show at Tuscawilla Park on July 4th. Marciano said he has been in contact with a fireworks professional who believes a small fireworks show could work at
that location, despite being in an urban area.
Councilmember Jim Hilty also opposed the contract, and voted no.
All drone arrays and light shows are subject to FAA regulation.
“Typically, these events require a waiver to the regulation that prohibits operating more than one drone at a time. We thoroughly review each drone show application to make sure the flying public and people on the ground will be safe,” according to the FAA.
Ocala sober living facility zoning decision postponed
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
The Ocala City Council has postponed deciding on a zoning change that would allow the Open Arms Village to expand its sober living facility to create a halfway house for women.
The owners of Compassion Methodist Church are seeking to change their zoning to limited community business so that Open Arms Village can use the church to house up to 16 women for holistic recovery.
The decision will be postponed until the Jan. 24 city council meeting, at the request of the applicant.
Open Arms Village has its main location at 1839 NE Eighth Road in Ocala, which serves men in Marion County by extending
time spent sober, improving psychiatric symptoms and reducing the likeliness of future costs to the hospitals and legal system, according to Open Arms.
Suzanne Kuhn, a board member from Open Arms, spoke on behalf of the organization before the city council.
“This is a service that is for the people and by the people. It’s funded by grants and donors within our own community. This is an existing structure that merely requires zoning approval to operate,” Kuhn said. “With this vote, you can help change the lives of motivated members of the community who are ready to make significant change and are just needing the structure and foundation to find themselves again.”
The extension of services to create a women’s program will be housed at the Compassion
Methodist Church and will include “housing, therapy, resume preparation, job skill development, driver’s license and transportation assistance, education, family reunification, case management, and recovery services,” according to church officials.
The church used to be the Druid Hills United Methodist Church until its closure due to lack of membership. For many years, it was the site of one of the largest and most popular “pumpkin patch” events in the region. Michael and Jill Beck of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Ocala, and their team, launched Compassion UMC at the location in 2023.
The applicants first asked the city for a building permit to make the necessary renovations to the church to convert a portion of
it to a shelter, and Planning & Zoning staff instructed them to also apply to rezone the property to be in accordance with city ordinances.
Since the owners submitted their application, residents near the church have expressed opposition to the expansion of the sober living facility, citing safety concerns because schools are near the site.
There are single-family neighborhoods to the east and west of the church, and it is near South Ocala Elementary, Eighth Street Elementary, Osceola Middle School, St. John Lutheran School and Blessed Trinity Catholic School.
St. John Lutheran School Principal James Knoepfel said he appreciated the idea of the facility but could not support the location being so close to the
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school at 1915 SE Lake Weir Ave., Ocala.
“While I acknowledge that there is a rigorous application and screening process for residents (of Open Arms), the potential risk associated with individuals who may be struggling with significant issues cannot be overlooked,” Knoepfel said.
Knoepful said he believes St. John Lutheran School represents similar values that Compassion Methodist Church does, said they have a similar commitment to service and compassion guided by scripture. He wishes, however, it would be at a different location.
“As an administrator, I’m obligated to speak up on behalf of the safety and well-being of our students before situations occur when problems or tragedies do take place at schools,” he said.
Travis Mills speaks on stage with his daughter, Chloe, during the “Never Give Up On Country” concert at Silver Springs State Park on Feb. 3, 2024. This year’s concert will be held Jan. 31 at Sheltair Aviation.
Demographic of Marion County voters in the 2024 GENERALELECTION
Sheilley resigns as president, Ocala renews contract
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
President and CEO Kevin Sheilley has announced his resignation from the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership to take on a similar role in South Carolina.
His resignation came shortly after the city of Ocala approved a new annual contract with the CEP with a vote of 4-1, despite concerns from some city council members that the chamber hadn’t considered the city’s wishes when backing a redevelopment proposal that will increase rail traffic through the congested downtown area.
Sheilley was the CEP’s first president, serving since 2012 shortly after the chamber was formed. The CEP announced on Dec. 19 that Sheilley was leaving to take over as president of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Incubator to the creation of the Ocala Metro Catalyst Fund to the addition of our Spanish language training, the resources available to entrepreneurs is unparalleled in the Ocala metro,” he said.
Incoming CEP Board Chair Charisse Rivers has appointed a search committee composed of herself, Doug Cone, Ken Ausley, Angie Lewis, CEP Board Secretary Dwayne Carlton, and Board Vice Chair Todd Rudnianyn. Cone will lead the national search to find Sheilley’s replacement.
The city’s contract with the CEP was originally presented at the Nov. 5 council meeting but was tabled until Dec. 17 so that city staff and the CEP could work to reformat the agreement, Hale said.
During this time, a conflictof-interest provision was added to the contract in attempt to prevent future disagreements like the Advanced Draining Systems proposal conflict.
Source: Wesley Wilcox, Marion County Supervisor of Elections
Growing Florida
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“The largest contributing component to this growth was international migration, which added 1.1 million people,” the Census Bureau said. “Domestic migration netted another 411,004 residents. The South was the only region with positive net domestic migration, where the number of people entering the region exceeded those leaving. Natural increase also contributed 218,567 to the growing region.” Natural increase is a measure comparing births and deaths. While Florida saw large overall population growth, it was one of 17 states that had more
deaths than births, with a 7,321 “natural decrease,” the Census Bureau said.
State economists also pointed to such a decrease in a July report that projected Florida’s population over the coming decade.
“Natural increase is expected to remain negative throughout the forecast horizon as deaths continue to outpace births,” the report by a state panel known as the Demographic Estimating Conference said.
The state report estimated Florida had a population of 23 million people on April 1, with the total estimated to increase to 25.7 million in 2034. State
and Census Bureau estimates have differed in the past, at least in part because of their methodologies.
The state report estimated Florida would add 319,109 net new residents from April 2024 to April 2028, saying such increases “are analogous to adding a city slightly smaller than Orlando, but larger than St. Petersburg every year.”
The new Census Bureau data showed Florida solidly in third place behind California and Texas in overall population. Florida is followed by New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina and Michigan.
The Census Bureau said three states, Vermont, Mississippi and West Virginia, had slight population decreases from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024.
PEDESTRIAN FATALITY IN SOUTH MARION COUNTY
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
A59-year-old man from The Villages was struck and killed Dec. 20 while trying to cross U.S. Highway 301 in south Marion County, the Florida Highway Patrol reports.
According to an FHP press
release, the victim was walking eastbound cross U.S. 301 near County Road 42 around 10:46 p.m. and entered the travel lane of a sedan driven north by a 57-year-old Ocala man approaching CR 42 in the outside lane.
“The driver was unable to observe the pedestrian crossing the roadway, causing the
sedan’s front to collide with the pedestrian. This crash is still under investigation,” the press release stated. The sedan driver was not injured and was wearing a seat belt.
According to FHP online data, through Dec. 14, 2024, there have been 18 pedestrian fatalities in Marion County so far this year.
Sheilley’s last day with the CEP will be Jan. 31, 2025.
“It has been a tremendous honor to lead the CEP over the last dozen years. We have an incredible team who works tirelessly each day toward making our community a great place to live, work, and play,” Sheilley said.
In 2024 through 2025, Ocala will pay the CEP $190,000 for business creation, retention and attraction services, particularly in the downtown and midtown development areas and at the airport industrial park, said Planning Director Aubrey Hale.
The funding has been broken into two categories—one is for a sponsorship grant, and the other for CEP services beyond partner benefits, including a work plan highlighting the focus areas.
Sheilley cited three CEP advancements he is most proud of helping to accomplish over the past 12 years.
“Not only have we impacted the creation of more than 13,000 jobs but the average wage in this community has grown 50% faster than the nation over the last decade,” Sheilley said. “No one should have a wage penalty because they want to live in this community.”
Additionally, the CEP campaigned for the initial passage of the county’s infrastructure sales tax, the 20year renewal for the tax, and the passage of the half-cent sales tax for schools.
“These funds set our community up for long-term sustainability,” Sheilley said. Sheilley said the work he did to grow and expand programming and access for entrepreneurs will continue.
“From the Power Plant Business Incubator to the IMPACT Initiative to the IMPACT Neighborhood
In September, the Marion County Board of Commissioners issued a special-use permit to Advanced Drainage Systems to convert the former Certified Grocer site at 6045 SE 83rd St. into a plastic pipe manufacturing plant, all with the backing of the CEP. The city of Ocala issued a letter and spoke before the board asking them not to approve the proposal, with concerns that increased rail traffic through the downtown area would negatively impact businesses.
“If the city and the CEP are in conflict, we’ll try to work it out. If we’re not able to, it allows us to have a termination of the agreement if so,” Hale said.
Councilmember Jay Musleh originally brought forward the concerns about the contract, and voted against approving the contract even after the amendments were made.
“I think the CEP does a great job; however, this $190,000 contract is the same thing as what we had several weeks ago. It’s the same amount of money, just divided up a little differently,” he said.
Council President Kristen Dreyer rebutted Musleh’s comments, voting in support of the agreement.
“I hear what you’re saying,” she said, “but this contract is remarkably different from what we’ve been working with in the past. They put a lot of time and effort into adding additional performance measures that you can hold them to the fire on.”
Mayor Ben Marciano cited recent CEP successes in his support of the city’s continued partnership.
“I think the CEP does a great job, thinking about what they did helping to pass the penny sales tax,” Marciano said. “I see tremendous benefit in the partnership…I think the contract is beneficial to both of us.”
What does the US attorney general actually do? A law professor explains
By Jennifer Selin Associate Professor of Law, Arizona State University
Shortly after former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration to serve as U.S. attorney general, President-elect Donald Trump announced he would nominate Pam Bondi for the position. A former Florida attorney general, Bondi also worked for Trump as a defense lawyer during the first of his two impeachment trials.
While much recent attention has focused on who the next attorney general might be, there has been less attention on what the attorney general actually does.
The attorney general is the lawyer appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate to lead the Department of Justice, known as the DOJ. Because the attorney general’s expansive responsibilities place the office at the forefront of both politics and the law, the position is one of the most important in the federal executive branch.
FILE LAWSUITS, GIVE ADVICE
Congress created the position of attorney general in 1789 so the national government had a designated lawyer to conduct federal lawsuits for crimes against the United States such as counterfeiting, piracy or treason, and to give legal advice to the president and cabinet officials, such as the secretary of the Treasury.
Initially, the attorney general served part time. Indeed, for the first few decades of U.S. history, most attorneys general maintained private law practices and even lived away from the capital. But as the federal government began to do more, the role of the attorney general grew and became a full-time job.
Today’s attorney general largely performs the same jobs as the first one, Edmund Jennings Randolph, did.
The attorney general represents the United States in all legal matters. In doing so, the attorney general supervises federal prosecutions by the 93 U.S. attorneys who live and work across the United States to enforce federal laws. The attorney general also supervises almost all legal actions involving federal agencies – from the Department of Homeland Security and the Environmental Protection Agency to the Social Security Administration.
For example, in the past few months, DOJ lawyers supervised by the attorney general have successfully prosecuted a man for conspiring to send to China trade secrets belonging to a
leading electric vehicle company; worked with the city of Baltimore to adopt police reforms after DOJ opened a comprehensive investigation into the 2015 death of Freddie Gray; and found that Arizona’s Department of Child Safety discriminates against parents and children with disabilities.
Additionally, the attorney general gives legal advice to the president and heads of the cabinet departments. This includes providing recommendations to the president on whom he should appoint as federal judges and prosecutors.
In combination, these two aspects of the job, representing the U.S. and advising the cabinet departments, mean that the attorney general plays a key role in helping the president perform his constitutional duty to take care that the laws of the United States are faithfully executed.
115,000
EMPLOYEES
Since 1870, attorneys general have had an entire executive department – the Department of Justice – to help them execute their duties.
Today’s department contains over 70 distinct offices, initiatives and task forces, all of which the attorney general supervises. There are currently 115,000 employees in the department.
The DOJ contains litigation
units divided by subject matter like antitrust, civil rights, tax, and national security. Each of these units conducts investigations and participates in federal lawsuits related to its expertise.
The Justice Department also has several law enforcement agencies that help ensure the safety and health of people who live in the United States. The most wellknown of these agencies include the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. branch of the International Criminal Police Organization, known as Interpol.
Additionally, the DOJ contains corrections agencies like the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the U.S. Parole Commission. These agencies work to ensure consistent and centralized coordination of federal prisons and offenders.
Finally, the department manages several grant administration agencies. These agencies, such as Community Oriented Policing Services, the Office of Justice Programs and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART), provide financial assistance, training and advice to state, local, tribal and territorial governments as they work to enforce the law in their own communities.
SEPARATING POLITICS FROM LAW
Given all the attorney general’s responsibilities, the role is both political and legal. As such, attorneys general historically have a difficult task in separating their jobs as policy adviser from their duties as chief legal officer of the United States.
For example, President George W. Bush’s attorney general, Roberto Gonzales, resigned from office amid accusations of the DOJ’s politicized firing of U.S. attorneys and misuse of terrorist surveillance programs. And Loretta Lynch, President Barack Obama’s attorney general, was criticized for meeting privately with former President Bill Clinton while former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was under investigation by the DOJ.
The attorney general’s job is complicated by the fact that the president has the constitutional power to fire them for political reasons.
During his first term, Trump replaced Attorney General Jeff Sessions after Sessions angered Trump by recusing himself – removing himself – from overseeing the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Given the attorney general’s connection to the president and the attorney general’s position as the head of the DOJ, critics see Trump’s nomination of Pam Bondi as a key part of his plan to control the department’s agenda, including through the use of the FBI to pursue his perceived enemies.
There is good reason for critics to question the relationship between the president and attorney general. As Kristine Olson, former U.S. attorney for the District of Oregon, wrote in the Yale Law and Policy Review, “The President’s power to appoint the Attorney General of the United States as a member of the Cabinet subject to dismissal contains the seeds of a fundamental rule of law crisis in the politicization of the U.S. Department of Justice.” In the past six presidential administrations, Olson writes, many attorneys general have yielded to presidential and political pressure when performing their jobs.
But some have not. For example, in large part because of her reputation for high ethical standards when navigating the job, Janet Reno – President Clinton’s attorney general – was the longest-serving attorney general in the 20th century.
Whether the Senate will confirm Bondi or someone else as the next attorney general puts the fate of the nation’s top law enforcement official in the hands of politicians.
November jobs report reflects relatively stable workforce
Staff report
The jobless rate in the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion region was 4.7% in November, the same as the previous month and 0.7 percentage point greater than the region’s year ago rate of 4.0%. There were 10,174 unemployed residents in the region.
According to preliminary employment data released by FloridaCommerce, the labor force was 216,827, down 2,250 over the month and a drop of 3,123 compared to November 2023. There were 206,653 employed residents across the three-county area, a decrease of 2,246 compared to October and 4,516 fewer over the year. The number of unemployed in the region represented a dip of just four over the over but an increase of 1,393 over the year, according to materials provided by
Rusty Skinner, CareerSource CLM CEO, said in the material that while “national election cycles often cause blips in workforce statistics … (the) overall data shows October and November as a relatively stable workforce.”
Marion Counted posted the lowest jobless rate at 4.4%, unchanged over the month; Levy County followed at 4.5%, also unchanged; and Citrus County rate of 5.6% reflected a 0.1 percentage point increase. Florida’s not seasonally adjusted rate, which matches how local rates are determined, was 3.6%, up 0.1 percent point over the month.
Marion County had 143,697 workers employed, a decrease of 1,275 compared to October and 3,270 more than a year ago. The county had 6,681 unemployed, up 72 over the month and 914 more than November 2023.
“While there are still citizens seeking jobs, there have not been any sizable dips in our area labor force or employment. As
we head into 2025, job listings are strong,” Skinner stated, adding that feefree services are available at CareerSource CLM
centers in each county “for those who feel they need to increase their skills to be competitive, we offer financial assistance and
training program that can help them gain those skills.” To learn more, go
Edmund Jennings Randolph, appointed by President George Washington as the nation’s first attorney general in 1789 and then, in 1794, secretary of state. The Diplomatic Reception Rooms, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C.
Electoral College deserves look
Florida lawmakers should at least delve into issues about the Electoral College.
By Bill Cotterell Florida News Servicve
Anew proposal that takes aim at the Electoral College is dead on arrival in the Florida Legislature, but lawmakers ought to at least give it a public hearing, if only to educate themselves about some possible alternatives.
There’s no sensible reason for a modern, technology-driven superpower to choose its president and vice president with a formula devised by the best minds of the 18th Century — men in powdered wigs and brocade kneepants whose quill pens wrote a Constitution that’s aged pretty well, with some exceptions. When it took wealthy men a week to get to state capitals on horseback, maybe it made sense to assign each state a population value and award the presidency to the guy who scored best in most former colonies.
Today, we don’t think that’s fair — everyone’s vote is equal, regardless of sex, race or home address. Yet the ballot is worth 54 electoral votes in California, but it directs only four electors in Rhode Island.
It would be easy to total up Maineto-Hawaii votes and declare a winner, as we do in other important contests like football. But if we did it that way, Al Gore and Hillary Clinton would have been president — along with a couple of others, going back in history — as they led the popular vote with big majorities in the Democratic Party’s safest states.
That wouldn’t have posed a problem for President-elect Donald Trump this year.
He got 77.2 million votes nationwide and 312 electoral votes, while Vice President Kamala Harris received 74.9 million and 226 electoral votes. More important, they slugged it out in seven “battleground” states — all won by Trump — not because they especially liked those states, but because of the Electoral College.
When asked why he robbed banks, Willie (The Actor) Sutton said, “That’s where the money is.” And this year, the presidential candidates fought hardest for Wisconsin, Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina and — especially — Pennsylvania because that’s where the electoral votes were.
One argument for keeping the Electoral College is that citizens in the Dakotas, Tennessee or Hawaii might never see a White House candidate if the politicians didn’t have to shake hands and make speeches everywhere. New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Chicago would elect every president if we did it by popular vote.
Well, guess what -- that’s already happening. Those areas are already pretty much locked up, red or blue. While candidates might raise a lot of money in the big urban areas, they go stumping in whatever states are in play every four years.
The non-partisan research group FairVote kept tabs on 262 campaign events held by Harris and Trump this year. It found that 94 percent of them took place in those seven in-play states. Trump did some publicity events in New York but he knew he wasn’t going to carry his native state, just as Harris
came to Florida a few times knowing there was no chance of getting our 30 electoral votes. Trump carried Florida, for a third time, by about 2.5 million votes.
State Rep. Mike Gottlieb, D-Davie, has introduced a bill for Florida to join in a multi-state compact and award its electors to the nationwide winner every four years. The same idea has failed a dozen times, going back to 2011, and there’s no chance Gottlieb’s bill will pass in 2025. If by some miracle it did, Gov. Ron DeSantis said he’d veto it.
That makes sense politically. If your side is winning under the current rules, why change? And there’s a sound legal reason, too: If I vote for a candidate, and he or she carries the state, I have a right to expect Florida electors will vote accordingly — not throw in with the nationwide winner.
Maybe a better system, if we must
keep the Electoral College, would be to break down the vote by congressional districts. The statewide winner could get two votes, symbolizing each state’s two U.S. senators, and then votes would be apportioned to whoever won each congressional district. That way Republicans in California, for instance, could salvage something — maybe a 3519 split — rather than seeing all 54 of their state’s electoral votes go blue. Legislators have a lot to do next session so they won’t spend time on bills with no chance. But it wouldn’t hurt to take a few hours on a slow day early in the 60-day session and at least have an honest discussion about the Electoral College.
Bill Cotterell is a retired Capitol reporter for United Press International and the Tallahassee Democrat. He can be reached at wrcott43@aol.com
Milton farm losses could top $600M
By Jim Turner Florida News Service
Agricultural production losses in Florida from Hurricane Milton could reach $642.7 million, pushing the state’s potential crop and livestock losses from three hurricanes this year to nearly $1 billion.
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, or UF/IFAS, on Friday released a preliminary estimate of losses from Milton, which plowed into Sarasota County with 120 mph maximum sustained winds on Oct. 9, crossed the state and affected 55 counties.
With losses estimated between $190.4 million and $642.7 million, Milton had a larger impact on agricultural production in Florida than Hurricane Debby in August and Hurricane Helene in September. Both of those hurricanes made landfall in rural Taylor County.
“It’s the area that the storm hit as well as the time of season that they (farmers) were in,” Christa Court, UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program director, said Friday about Milton during a conference call with reporters.
“It’s both the timing and the geography of the storm in this case,” Court added.
The UF/IFAS estimates for Milton are mostly tied to the current growing season and don’t include damage to such things as fertilizer and feed or repairs to damaged and destroyed infrastructure.
Milton affected more than 5.7 million acres of agricultural land, two-thirds of which was used for livestock grazing, according to UF/IFAS.
Vegetable and melon production took a large financial hit in Milton, with an estimated
$52.5 million to $233 million in losses. Greenhouses and nurseries were at $66.9 million to $177.3 million in estimated losses.
Livestock and animal production losses were estimated at $29.3 million to $86.5 million.
Fruit and tree-nut losses were estimated at $14.6 million to $57.7 million. Citrus losses were estimated at $23 million to $55 million. Field and row crops sustained an estimated $3.89 million to $32.9 million in losses.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture cut by 20 percent a forecast for Florida orange production in the current growing season and lopped another 14 percent off the anticipated harvest of grapefruit.
Helene resulted in an estimated $40.3 million to $162.2 million in losses, with the total
expected to be narrowed in the coming months. Debby led to an estimated $170 million in losses, according to UF/IFAS.
“Milton resulted in higher agricultural losses than Hurricane Helene, not only because it caused more intense weather conditions overall, but also because areas producing high-value commodities experienced higher-intensity weather conditions,” said Xiaohui Qiao, a research assistant professor with the Economic Impact Analysis Program.
As another comparison, Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in Southwest Florida in 2022, resulted in $1.033 billion in agricultural losses. Hurricane Irma, which ran up the state in 2017, caused $1.31 billion in losses.
Court said data collection has improved since Irma.
Days after Milton’s arrival, state Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson estimated that the storm caused between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion in losses, while Debby, Helene and 2023’s Hurricane Idalia, which also made landfall in Taylor County, caused another $1.5 billion in damages.
“This major hurricane follows several years of above average rainfall, severe storms and winds, other tropical cyclones, hard freezes, and the significant economic disruption to all sectors of the economy caused by supply chain issues and mounting inflationary pressures, which may hinder access to necessary resources these farmers need,” Simpson wrote to U.S. Department of Agriculture
Secretary Tom Vilsack.
An October report from the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services found major structural damage to nurseries and cattle ranches, while power outages caused disruptions to cow-milking operations. The report also found cotton, peanut and rice crops suffered “minor to catastrophic” damages, while vegetables, melons, blueberries, strawberries, and tropical fruits experienced “significant damages.”
A federal spending package proposed this week included $110 billion in emergency aid to communities recovering from Hurricane Helene and Helene Milton. But the fate of the money remained unclear Friday as the U.S. House struggled to pass a spending plan.
Rep. Mike Gottlieb, D-Davie, has proposed a bill that takes aim at the Electoral College. Colin Hackley/File
State rebuffed in manatees lawsuit
By Jim Saunders Florida News Service
Afederal judge has rejected a state attempt to end a lawsuit stemming from manatee deaths in the Indian River Lagoon and said a trial is needed to determine whether the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has violated the Endangered Species Act.
U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza issued a 17-page order last week siding with arguments by the environmental group Bear Warriors United that wastewater discharges into the Indian River Lagoon have led to the demise of seagrass and, as a result, the deaths of manatees.
But he said he must determine whether an “ongoing violation” of federal law exists. Mendoza denied a state motion for summary judgment, a request that would have shortcircuited a trial.
“As such, the only remaining issue of fact for the jury is whether there is an ongoing risk of manatee takings under FDEP’s (the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s) regulatory regime,” Mendoza wrote.
Bear Warriors United filed the lawsuit in 2022, contending that
the department has not adequately regulated sewage-treatment plants and septic systems, leading to discharges that killed seagrass — a vital food source for manatees — in a northern stretch of the Indian River Lagoon.
Florida had a record 1,100 manatee deaths in 2021, with the largest number, 358, in Brevard County, the focus of the lawsuit. Many deaths were linked to starvation.
The state had 800 manatee deaths in 2022, before the number dropped to 555 in 2023, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data. The state had a reported 538 manatee deaths this year as of Dec. 13.
Mendoza in September also denied a state request to dismiss the lawsuit, which names as the defendant former Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton.
In ruling last week on certain issues in the case, including that discharges led to killing seagrass and the deaths of manatees, Mendoza granted part of a Bear Warriors United motion for summary judgment — but the issue about ongoing risks remains to be resolved.
In its motion for summary judgment, Bear Warriors United said the department “has known
Bill bars regulation of presidential libraries
Local governments would be blocked from regulating construction and operation of presidential libraries for President-elect Donald Trump and other presidents who might plan such facilities in Florida, under a bill filed Thursday for the 2025 legislative session.
Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, filed the measure (SB 118), which would prevent local governments from enacting ordinances and other regulations about presidential libraries. The Donald J. Trump Presidential Library is a website administered by the National Archives and Records Administration since Trump left office in 2021.
Plans for a permanent location have not been announced as Trump, now a Palm Beach resident, gets ready to return to the White House in January.
for decades that the septic tanks and wastewater plants it authorizes release human nitrogen” that causes such problems as algae blooms in the lagoon.
“DEP thus authorizes the destruction of the lagoon’s ability to sustain seagrass and other macroalgae which are essential food sources for the manatees’ survival,” the group’s attorneys wrote. “As such, DEP’s regulatory regime for septic tanks
and wastewater plants directly and indirectly results in the ongoing unlawful ‘take’ of manatees, in violation of (a section of the Endangered Species Act), and this court must issue an injunction requiring compliance with the ESA (Endangered Species Act) to prevent further take of manatees.”
But in the state’s motion for summary judgment, attorneys wrote that Florida has
taken steps in recent years to try to reduce discharges into the lagoon and disputed that it has violated the Endangered Species Act. The motion said the department’s “actions are not the proximate cause of any harm” to manatees, which are classified as a threatened species.
“The record shows that DEP has not authorized or entitled any party to cause a violation of water quality standards,”
the state’s motion said. “It has, instead, worked diligently to restore an impaired water. There is no proximate cause. DEP is entitled to judgment as a matter of law because with no dispute of material fact, it has not violated the ESA.” The lawsuit involves part of the Indian River Lagoon from the Melbourne Causeway in Brevard County to Turnbull Creek in southern Volusia County.
Trans athlete law challenge rejected
Afederal judge has dismissed a Broward County teen’s challenge to the constitutionality of a 2021 Florida law that bars transgender female students from playing on women’s and girls’ sports teams.
U.S. District Judge Roy Altman on Thursday issued a 32-page decision rejecting arguments that the law violated the equal-protection rights of the student, identified by the initials D.N. Altman said the student needed to show the Legislature had a discriminatory purpose in passing the law (SB 1028).
The lawsuit, in part, cited statements made by legislators that it said showed such discrimination. But Altman wrote that the student “hasn’t plausibly alleged” that the Legislature was motivated by a discriminatory purpose. “At best, D.N. has suggested that SB 1028 impacts transgender girls differently than it does other students and that one or two legislators may have been motivated by improper animus when they voted for the law,” Altman wrote.
“As we’ve shown, however, we cannot impute the motivations of a couple legislators to the Florida Legislature as a whole.” He added that he concluded that the lawsuit’s “allegations — even when viewed in the light most favorable to D.N. — fail to show that, in enacting SB 1028, the Florida Legislature acted with a discriminatory purpose.”
Attorneys for the transgender girl filed suit in June 2021, after the Republican-controlled Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis approved the ban.
The law was part of a series of measures passed in Florida and other GOP-led states in recent years that have focused on transgender people. Altman’s ruling said the Broward student is 16 years old and was diagnosed with gender dysphoria at age 7. It said she has played sports such as volleyball but was barred by the law from playing girls’ sports at school. Altman also dismissed an earlier version of the lawsuit in November 2023 but allowed the student’s attorneys to file a revised case.
Publishers, authors say library books not ‘government speech’
By Jim Saunders Florida News Service
Major publishing companies and authors Friday argued that a federal judge should deny Florida’s request to dismiss a lawsuit over the removal of school library books, saying a controversial state law violates First Amendment rights.
Attorneys for the publishing companies, authors and other plaintiffs filed a document that, in part, disputed a state position that selection of school library books is “government speech” and, as a result, is not subject to the First Amendment.
“First, school libraries have not historically communicated messages from the state. Instead, school libraries have long served as vehicles to expose students to a broad array of ideas from authors who express unique, personal points of view. … Second, messages conveyed in school library books are diverse and contradictory — not endorsed by the state, as government speech must be,” said the document, which responded to a Nov. 15 state motion to dismiss the case.
Also, the plaintiffs’ attorneys wrote that numerous courts have held First Amendment rights exist in libraries.
“Here, the challenged statutory provisions impose a statewide mandate from Florida legislators to librarians, educators, and school districts that has resulted in the removal of hundreds of books,” the document said. “These provisions eliminate the traditional discretion that librarians, schools, and school districts have had by requiring them to remove books that they had selected for library shelves based
on educational criteria, community standards, and the value of each book as a whole.”
Six publishing companies, The Authors Guild, five authors and two parents filed the lawsuit Aug. 29 in federal court in Orlando. It is one of a series of lawsuits stemming from a 2023 state education law and related decisions by school districts to remove books from library shelves or to restrict access.
The lawsuit centers on parts of the law (HB 1069) that seek to prevent availability of reading material that is “pornographic” or “describes sexual content.”
In the Nov. 15 motion to dismiss the case, lawyers in Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office focused, in part, on the issue of library books as government speech.
“When the government selects materials to make available in a public-school library, it conveys that, in its view, those materials are of the ‘requisite and appropriate quality’ and will ‘be of the greatest direct benefit or interest to the community’ served,” the motion said, partially quoting a legal precedent. “The government, through public-school-library staff, effectively controls this message because it exercises final approval authority over book selection.”
Also, the motion to dismiss the case said the plaintiffs’ First Amendment claims “fail because the government does not generally violate the First Amendment when it withdraws a benefit that merely facilitates the exercise of a constitutional right.”
“The First Amendment does not require the government to provide access to particular materials in public-school libraries or to have school libraries at all,” the state’s lawyers wrote. “The
students are free to access those books elsewhere, and authors and publishers can still distribute their books to students through bookstores or other libraries.”
The lawsuit names as defendants the State Board of Education and members of the Orange County and Volusia County school boards.
In the filing Friday, the plaintiffs’ attorneys described as overbroad the part of the law barring access to material that “describes sexual conduct.”
“The prohibition on books that contain content that ‘describes sexual conduct’ violates the First Amendment,” the document said. “This provision is overbroad because it encompasses any book with any content that describes sexual conduct without regard to the Supreme Court’s standard for content that is obscene for minors, which is not reasonable in light of the purpose of school libraries.”
The lawsuit cited removals from library shelves of numerous books, such as “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison and “Love in the Time of Cholera” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Both of those authors were awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for their novels and other work.
The plaintiffs in the case are publishing companies Penguin Random House LLC, Hachette Book Group, Inc., HarperCollins Publishers LLC, Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC, Simon & Schuster, LLC and Sourcebooks LLC; The Authors Guild; authors Julia Alvarez, John Green, Laurie Halse Anderson, Jodi Picoult and Angie Thomas; and parents Heidi Kellogg and Judith Anne Hayes.
The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza.
Justices urged to rule on RICO issue
Saying the case “poses an important question,” Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office Friday filed a brief arguing the Florida Supreme Court should take up a case about whether a former Jackson County sheriff’s deputy should have been convicted on a racketeering charge related to planting drugs in vehicles during traffic stops.
Moody’s office went to the Supreme Court after a divided panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal ruled that former Deputy Zachary Wester should not have been convicted of violating a law known as the Florida RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization) Act because he acted alone. The appeals court upheld Wester’s convictions on other charges related to planting drugs.
In the brief Friday, Moody’s office pointed to potentially broader implications of the appeals-court ruling. “RICO is a critical tool in the fight both against organized crime and against individual perpetrators who infiltrate organizations and leverage them toward their criminal aims,” the brief said.
“Individuals backed by the potentially enormous resources of a corporate or governmental entity — whether that organization is witting or unwitting — are far more dangerous than individuals acting alone. Yet the decision below (at the appeals court) hinders prosecutors’ ability to bring the full weight of the law to bear against that category of offender.”
The appeals-court majority opinion, however, said RICO law was written to address organized crime and that applying it to criminals acting alone would create “unintended” results.
“Here, there is no question that Wester was employed by or associated with the JCSO (Jackson County Sheriff’s Office),” Judge M. Kemmerly Thomas wrote in the majority opinion joined fully by Judge
Joseph Lewis.
“Further, it is undisputed that he used the office of sheriff to carry out his crimes. That is to say, his acts were ‘inextricably intertwined’ with his law enforcement duties and facilitated the prohibited acts. However, the evidence establishes that he acted alone and not in concert with any other individuals in the commission of the crimes ‘through’ a pattern of racketeering activity.”
GOP Voter Edge Tops 1.13M
After dominating in the November elections, Florida Republicans held a registration advantage over Democrats of more than 1.13 million voters, according to newly posted data on the state Division of Elections website. The data showed that the Republican Party of Florida had 5,633,700 active registered voters as of Nov. 30, while the Florida Democratic Party had 4,497,119. Another 3,719,066 voters were registered without party affiliation, while 428,587 were registered with third parties. After Democrats historically led in registration, Republicans have steadily built a large edge in recent years. The GOP trounced Democrats in the Nov. 5 elections, with President-elect Donald Trump easily winning the state, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., getting reelected and Republicans holding supermajorities in the Florida House and Senate.
Florida Average Gas Price Under $3 Florida motorists are heading into the year-end holidays with the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas just below $3. The AAA auto club said the average price Monday in Florida was $2.99 a gallon, a nickel below the national average. The Florida average was down 14 cents from a week earlier. Also, motorists paid an average of $3.12 a year ago. AAA anticipates that 7.1 million Floridians will travel at least 50 miles for the year-end holidays.
Gaetz report details sex, drug allegations
Updated with dismissal of Gaetz lawsuit.
By Jim Saunders Florida News Service
The U.S. House Committee on Ethics released a report Monday alleging that former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz “regularly” paid women for sex, used illegal drugs and violated state laws.
The committee released the 37-page report more than a month after Gaetz, a Republican, resigned from Congress.
The report followed years of allegations and investigations into Gaetz’s conduct, including accusations that he engaged in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl.
The report alleged that Gaetz violated Florida law by hiring women for sex and violated a state statutory rape law. It also alleged that he violated state laws by using illegal drugs. The U.S. Department of Justice investigated Gaetz but decided last year against charging him with crimes.
“There is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz paid
women for sex, and had others pay women for sex on his behalf,” the report said. “The Committee heard testimony from over half a dozen witnesses who attended parties, events, and trips with Representative Gaetz from 2017-2020. Nearly every young woman that the Committee interviewed confirmed that she was paid for sex by, or on behalf of, Representative Gaetz. A few of the women characterized their relationship differently, describing a datefor-hire arrangement that may not necessarily implicate state prostitution laws. Even assuming the payments to those particular women would not violate prostitution laws, the Committee found evidence that Representative Gaetz spent tens of thousands of dollars on other women with whom he had a shared understanding that they would be compensated for sexual activity with him.”
The report also said the committee found substantial evidence that in 2017, “Representative Gaetz engaged in sexual activity with a 17-year-old
girl” and that during “the period 2017 to 2019, Representative Gaetz used or possessed illegal drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy, on multiple occasions.”
Gaetz refuted the allegations in posts Monday and last week on the social-media platform X. In a post Wednesday, he wrote that the “Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes. I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me.”
“In my single days, I often sent funds to women I dated — even some I never dated but who asked,” he also wrote Wednesday. “I dated several of these women for years. I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18. Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court — which is why no such claim was ever made in court. My 30’s were an era of working very hard — and playing hard too. It’s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I
should have earlier in life. I live a different life now.”
Gaetz also filed a federal lawsuit Monday in Washington, D.C., seeking to block the committee from releasing the report, arguing in part that it could include “potentially defamatory allegations.” In addition, the lawsuit contended that the report should not be released because Gaetz resigned from the House on Nov. 14 and that the committee was “attempting to exercise jurisdiction over a private citizen in direct contravention of its own rules and constitutional limitations.”
The lawsuit was dismissed later Monday after the report was released.
The report acknowledged that the committee “has typically not released its findings after losing jurisdiction in a matter,” but it said a majority of the committee members agreed the findings should be disclosed.
It said the committee “concluded there was substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules, state and federal laws, and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, acceptance of
impermissible gifts, the provision of special favors and privileges, and obstruction of Congress.” Committee Chairman Michael Guest, R-Miss., however, wrote on behalf of dissenting members that the panel lost jurisdiction to release the information after Gaetz’s resignation.
“While we do not challenge the Committee’s findings, we take great exception that the majority deviated from the Committee’s well-established standards and voted to release a report on an individual no longer under the Committee’s jurisdiction, an action the Committee has not taken since 2006,” Guest wrote.
Gaetz, long a controversial political figure, resigned after President-elect Donald Trump announced he had selected Gaetz to serve as U.S. attorney general. Several days later, however, Gaetz withdrew from consideration for attorney general.
Gaetz was first elected to the Florida House in a 2010 special election before winning the congressional seat in 2016. He was re-elected Nov. 5 in Northwest Florida’s Congressional District 1 before the attorney-general announcement and subsequent resignation.
Oldest citizen science project in U.S. yields new discoveries
Scientists can now predict how climate change will alter plant growth cycles, according to a new study.
By Jerald Pinson Florida Museum of Natural History
On Feb. 2, 1887, residents of Punxsutawney Pennsylvania consulted a large rodent regarding the arrival of spring, marking the first official celebration of Groundhog Day. According to Rob Guralnick, curator of biodiversity informatics at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville, our ability to predict the timing of seasons hasn’t improved much since then.
“We can’t generate good forecasts for whether spring will arrive early or late next year nearly as well as we can make predictions about the weather,” he said.
Weather patterns influence when a season begins and ends, but the ways in which plants and animals respond to these patterns, called phenology, is just as crucial. Meteorologists can make reliable temperature forecasts months in advance, but when it comes to predicting when a species of tree will start growing leaves throughout its range, scientists are often left shrugging.
When complex factors like climate change are added to the mix, such predictions become even more difficult to make.
But a new study published in the journal “Communications Earth & Environment” is set to make seasonal forecasting a little less onerous and a lot more reliable. The authors enhanced existing approaches used to predict phenology and added a measurement of how fast an area warms in spring. This improvement allowed the authors to predict how the timing of leaf and flower production would change over a period spanning more than 150 years.
PLANT SPECIES IN THE U.S. ARE FLOWERING EARLIER THAN THEY DID 150 YEARS AGO
The breakthrough was sparked by the rediscovery of an old 19th-century report containing thousands of detailed phenological observations for plants and animals throughout the eastern United States. The observations represent the earliest effort organized under the Smithsonian Institution to monitor biological cycles in the U.S. with volunteer collections, making it the first phenologybased citizen science project in the country.
Using these historical growth patterns as a starting point, the authors tested the accuracy of their equations. Given that plants produced leaves and flowers at a certain time in the 1850s, they predicted how the timing of those patterns would have changed 17 years later. They compared their results with modern observations to see how well they matched up.
Theresa Crimmins, the director of the USA National Phenology Network and coauthor of the study, happened across the report while working on a book chapter about phenology.
“I dug up this old document and realized there was actual data in it. Most of the other reports that had been referenced were just summaries,” Crimmins said.
Franklin Hough was a doctor and naturalist who oversaw the collection of seasonal plant and animal observations, which were published by the United States Patent Office in two volumes. He later served as the first chief of the U.S. Division of Forestry and was a lifelong advocate for conservation. [Image courtesy Forest History Society, Durham, NC]
The report was the result of a short-lived citizen science network established by the Smithsonian Institution to monitor seasonal conditions and was published in two volumes by the U.S. Patent Office. The production of volume two, which contains the data on plants and animals—was significantly delayed due to a flurry of official documents that needed to be printed during the Civil War. When it finally made its way into print, the second half of the report contained information on when dozens of plants produced leaves, flowers and fruit from Michigan to Florida and as far west as California.
“This is the oldest dataset we have where we’re looking at broad-scale phenology, and the change between then and now is striking,” Guralnick said.
To test their equations, the authors began by comparing the historical growth cycles with observations made within the last decade for 18 plant species. They anticipated differences between the two time periods caused by climate change, but they were unprepared for the magnitude of how much had been altered.
“All 18 species advanced their leaf growth and flowering phenology,” Crimmins said. “On average, it’s occurring more than three weeks earlier than it did in the past. There are some species that are flowering more than a month earlier.”
The fact that global warming has resulted in earlier springs and longer summers is wellestablished, but owing to the lack of historical data, it’s rare to
A new study shows it’s possible for researchers to predict plant growth cycles, like leaf production and flowering time, with more accuracy than ever. The authors say this will be a critical tool for anticipating and mitigating the effects of global climate change. [Photo courtesy Florida Museum of Natural History]
obtain confirmation that spans such a large breadth of time.
RATE OF SPRINGTIME
WARMING INFLUENCES WHEN PLANTS PRODUCE LEAVES AND FLOWERS
Not all areas—or all species—in the eastern U.S. have experienced the same rate of change over 175 years. Phenology in the northeastern U.S. has, for example, advanced to a greater degree than in the Southeast. The well-worn equations that have been used to predict leaf growth and flowering time have been unable to account for this and other seemingly anomalous patterns.
Normally, scientists use two broad variables to predict phenology: where the plant is located and how much warm weather it needs to become active. This tends to work well for individual species in a limited area, but it’s less effective at predicting broad changes, like the arrival of spring for an entire forest.
This limitation is generally attributed to large amounts of variation within and between species.
A maple tree will respond differently than an oak, for example, and an oak in one area will respond differently than an individual of the same species in another.
Climate change throws another curve ball.
“Not only is there variation
The authors used the oldest phenology-based citizen-science project in the U.S. to test their theory that the rate of warming in spring is a critical component for accurately forecasting flowering time and leaf production. [Image courtesy U.S. Library of Congress]
across species, there is variation across latitudes in the rate of global warming. Climate is warming faster at higher latitudes,” said co-author Lindsay Campbell, an assistant professor at the University of Florida’s Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory.
But even when scientists account for this unequal warming, there are other patterns that have so far eluded explanation. Red maples, for example, are among the earliest active plants in eastern North America. In late winter and early spring, leafless maples send out numerous crimson flowers that stand out among other bare and dormant trees like a signal flare. Pink azaleas take a more measured approach, with leaves and flowers arriving later in the season, towards mid-Spring. But in some conditions, this sequence can be reversed, and what are generally considered to be laterflowering plants—such as pink azaleas—can bear flowers before those considered to be early bloomers—like maples—that grow at the same latitude.
Guralnick suspected there was a missing piece of the puzzle that, if found, would help make sense of the patterns. In addition to a plant’s location and warmth requirements, he added a measurement for warming velocity, the rate at which heat is ratcheted up during spring. Areas next to large bodies of water tend to have slow warming velocities, because water takes longer to heat than air. Since water also retains warmth longer than air, these areas also tend to have warmer winters. He drew some back-of-the-napkin sketches and sought help from Crimmins and Campbell to refine the idea and develop a model for how warming velocity along with warm requirements might both determine phenology.
To test the idea, two museum interns, Michaela Keys and
Carolyn Davis, digitized the historical data from the Smithsonian report. Co-author Erin Grady, a graduate student in the UF department of biology, compiled modern observations taken by citizen scientists that are publicly available through iNaturalist and the National Phenology Network.
After running the numbers, their intuition was confirmed. With the addition of warming velocity, their predictions accurately aligned with the patterns in their data.
It also provided an explanation for the patterns that until then had proven intractable, such as later-flowering plants outpacing early bloomers. Though they generally flower late, a pink azalea in an area where spring temperatures increase rapidly can end up producing flowers before a maple growing in an area where temperatures climb more slowly.
The increased accuracy at predicting cycles within ecosystems may give conservationists a leg up when it comes to planning ahead. As global temperatures continue to increase due to climate change, species are not only changing up when they do things, but they’re also doing them in different places as their distributions shift, Guralnick said.
“I’ve always been skeptical about whether we’ll be able to predict what the world will look like in the near future, but I think we’re getting better at it as we take a more holistic view and as we get the underlying processes nailed down. Doing so helps us manage the diversity we have left,” he said.
Funding for the study was provided in part by the National Science Foundation and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
To learn more, go to floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Pink azaleas (Rhododendron periclymenoides) grow in moist, shady environments throughout much of the Northeast United States and typically flower early in the year.
[Photo courtesy Florida Museum of Natural History]
CF Appleton Museum of Art winter/spring 2025 classes
The offerings are for all ages and skill levels and are led by experienced artists and seasoned art educators. Staff report
The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida has announced a new schedule of studio art classes, workshops and programs for all ages and skill levels.
The art classes are offered on-site in the museum’s art studios and provide opportunities to explore artistic potential in a creative and supportive environment. All programs are led by experienced artists and seasoned art educators.
For adults, Dig into Clay returns with six-week wheel throwing classes on Saturdays, Jan. 11-Feb. 15 and March 1-April 5.
Learn to draw a portrait in profile with Lisa Russo on Jan. 25 or create a sculpture from stacked shapes of your own design in a twopart workshop on April 12 and 19.
Explore the art of printmaking with two workshops that focus on different techniques: On Feb. 15, E. Marie Fielding will lead a softcut block printing workshop and on March 15, Maritza JaureguiRodriguez will lead a workshop using stamping techniques with collage to create a koi fish-themed diptych.
Two free virtual workshops on acrylic painting are set for Jan. 21 and April 8.
For early learners, the Museum & Me program for ages 2-5 is offered once a month from 10:3011:30 a.m. on Jan. 7, Feb. 4, March 4, April 1 and May 6.
The Museum Happenings program is designed for independent and homeschool students ages 6-9 to explore the museum. Including an educator-led visit to the galleries and artmaking activity, the program is scheduled for Jan. 28, Feb. 25 and March 25, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Both Museum & Me and Museum Happenings are free for children and Appleton members; included with an admission fee for adult nonmembers. Pre-registration is required by visiting appletonmuseum.org
Multi-week classes for children will focus on developing student interest in art while learning new skills and techniques. Art Adventures for ages 5-7 meets from 10:30 a.m.-noon on three consecutive Saturdays, April 12-26.
For ages 8-12, the Art Explorations program offers three separate classes, each focusing on a different theme: On Wednesdays and Saturdays beginning in January, students can take a three-week class to learn drawing skills; on Wednesdays beginning in February, a six-week class on clay; and on Wednesdays and Saturdays beginning in April, a three-week class that explores color.
Teens ages 13-17 can take a sixweek AppleTeens class that focuses on wheel throwing, scheduled for Saturdays, March 1-April 5.
For full class details and registration, visit appletonmuseum.org.
Never Give Up On Country Concert will benefit veterans
Marion County’s Todd Brannon says the event organizer, the Travis Mills Foundation, helped him cope with post-military service issues.
By Susan Smiley-Height,
susan@magnoliamediaco.com
Todd Brannon was born and raised in West Palm Beach. He moved to Ocala in 2005, after he returned from deployment in Iraq as a U.S. Navy Seabee, where he sustained injuries from an improvised explosive device, or IED.
Brannon said he had shrapnel wounds, “mainly on the right side of my body from my neck down to my legs.”
Brannon was in the Navy from 1989 to 1995 and then served in the Navy Reserves from 1999 until 2007. In addition to a long recovery for his physical wounds in Iraq in 2004, he developed severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
“I was deployed in 2004. I was part of the convoy security team assigned to transport equipment and personnel to different locations. After being hit by an IED and losing two service members, we were assigned to retrieve a twostar admiral three days later upon his arrival in Ramadi and we came under fire. I was injured and five others paid the ultimate sacrifice,” Brannon said.
“I had four children and a wife waiting for me at home. I spent another five months before I could get the chance to go home. I still to this day suffer from my injuries and severe PTSD. My wife was my caregiver and passed away three years ago from COVID complications as I still struggle with her loss and to raise one son alone,” Brannon added.
The Travis Mills Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting “recalibrated” veterans like Brannon and their families.
Founded by retired U.S. Army
SSgt. Travis Mills, one of only five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his injuries, the foundation provides programs that focus on overcoming physical and emotional challenges. Located in the mountains of Maine, the veterans retreat offers a space for rest, recovery and connection. Brannon has spent time at the retreat.
For the past 18 years, Brannon has worked for Marion County, where he is a roads maintenance manager.
“I learned about the Travis Mills Foundation from one of my employees, whose son was wounded in Iraq also. I have been to the retreat in Maine and had a wonderful time and enjoyed all the activities. You could do as much or as little as you like there and rebuild with your family and meet new friends and develop great
relationships,” Brannon shared.
For the past three years, the foundation has held an annual Never Give Up On Country concert in Marion County, at locations including the World Equestrian Center and Silver Springs State Park. This year, the concert will take place on Jan. 31 at Sheltair Aviation.
Headlining the concert will be country music artist Chris Janson. Chris McNeil also will perform.
Janson is known for his charttopping hits such as “Buy Me a Boat” and “Good Vibes.”
“I’ve always been passionate about giving back to the men and women who’ve served
our country,” Janson said in a prepared statement. “Partnering with the Travis Mills Foundation, an organization that does so much for our veterans, is an honor. I’m excited to do my part and help support the heroes who’ve sacrificed so much.”
“Chris Janson’s support means the world to us,” Mills shared.
“His music brings people together, and this concert will allow us to continue expanding our services to veterans who need them the most. Together, we can ensure our heroes get the help and encouragement they deserve.”
Mills is no stranger to Ocala, having been in attendance at each of the concerts. On May 16 of this
year, he was the guest of honor for “a hero’s welcome” event and screening of “Travis: A Soldier’s Story” at the On Top of the World community’s Circle Square Cultural Center. The Marion County Board of County Commissioners declared May 17 as Travis Mills Day in Marion County.
The “Never Give Up On Country” concert, along with its sponsors and the community, has raised more than $1 million in support of the Travis Mills Foundation. The 2025 event marks the third time the show has been presented by Chase, foundation officials stated.
“At JPMorganChase, we are deeply committed to supporting our nation’s heroes and honoring their service,” said Carla Hassan, chief marketing officer, in a news release. “We are proud to partner with the Travis Mills Foundation, which empowers veterans and
Photos courtesy CF Appleton Museum of Art
Ages 5-7 will explore a variety of media in the three-week Art Adventures class.
Ages 8-12 can enroll in classes for clay, sketching and more in the Art Explorations program.
Two, six-week wheel throwing sessions are available for adults.
Learn to draw a portrait in profile with artist Lisa Russo.
Travis Mills speaks on stage with his daughter, Chloe, during the “Never Give Up On Country” concert at Silver Springs State Park on Feb. 3, 2024. This year’s concert will be held Jan. 31 at Sheltair Aviation. [Photo by Bruce Ackerman]
Todd Brannon shares a moment with his son Todd “TJ” Brannon Jr. [Photo courtesy Todd Brannon]
Never Give Up, page
Chris Janson will headline the Jan. 31 “Never Give Up On Country” concert in Ocala.
[Photo courtesy Travis Mills Foundation]
Bird of the week
Rufous hummingbird
The Rufous hummingbird is a native of the West Coast, where it migrates 4,000 miles each year between Alaska and Mexico. But occasionally one takes a long detour. This one appeared recently in the southeast Ocala backyard of Marty Cunningham, who has been cultivating an inviting bird habitat for more than 20 years. (Photo:MichaelWarren.com)
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.
Sudoku By The Mepham Group
Reining in a championship
The Fireman, a quarter horse owned by Peter and Courtney Morgan, captured the 2024 National Reining Horse Association’s Level 4 Open Futurity, with rider Kaci O’Rourke the first woman to win the title.
By JoAnn Guidry Special to the Gazette
Through a series of spins, lead changes and sliding stops, The Fireman displayed his equine athletic prowess in the 2024 NRHA Futurity, from Dec. 6-7 at the Jim Norick Coliseum in Oklahoma City. When the arena dust had settled, The Fireman, with Kaci O’Rourke in the saddle, had dazzled his way to being the best 3-year-old reining horse.
The NRHA Futurity, founded in 1966, is the premier reining event for 3-year-old horses. Top horses and riders come from around the world to compete for the coveted crown. Reining is a Western riding competition with roots in ranch work. A good working ranch horse is prized for being responsive to his rider with a light rein. Today, horse and rider are judged by how well they perform reining patterns in a show arena.
In NRHA competition, reining horses are judged individually as they complete one of 12 specific patterns. Each pattern includes such maneuvers as flying lead changes, small slow circles, large fast circles, 360-degree spins, rollbacks and sliding stops. The rider and horse are judged from the moment the duo enters the ring until the last maneuver. Each rider enters the arena with a score of 70, considered an average performance, and then the judges add or subtract points during the performance. Points are given for level of difficulty and finesse, while points are taken away for loss of control or deviation from the pattern.
O’Rourke and The Fireman earned scores of 224 in the preliminaries and 218 in the semifinals for a composite score of 442 to qualify for the Level 4 Open
Futurity finals on Dec. 7. In the latter, the duo scored 229 to win the title and the $350,000 prize money.
“We’ve raised reining quarter horses for more than 40 years,” said Peter Morgan, who with wife Courtney owns and operates Ocala-based Morgan Reiners. “We’ve had a lot of success both as riders and owners over the decades. But winning the NRHA Futurity is like winning the Kentucky Derby. It was so exciting for us to be there and watch Kaci and The Fireman win that title.”
As for O’Rourke, she became the first woman rider ever to win the NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity title in the 58-year history of the event.
“I always thought The Fireman was a special horse and he proved us all right,” noted O’Rourke, 30, who owns and operates Pond Hill Performance Horses in Aubrey, Texas, with
MAYO CLINIC
her husband, Jack Daniels. “We bought him as a yearling colt and he’s always been a sensitive, intense and very athletic horse all through his training. I always dreamed of winning the NRHA Futurity and thanks to The Fireman, that dream came true.”
The Morgans have been clients of Pond Hill Performance Horses since 2020 and that partnership has enjoyed success in the reining competition world.
As O’Rourke watched The Fireman blossom in his training, she offered the Morgans the opportunity to buy him.
“Not only have the Morgans been our clients from the beginning, they have become like family to us,” said O’Rourke. “We wanted them to be along for the ride with whatever success we had with The Fireman.”
For the Morgans, buying The Fireman was a new venture.
“We breed reining horses to sell and show. We have a
broodmare band of 12. We don’t usually buy colts,” admits Morgan. “But Kaci convinced us that she had a special colt she wanted us to buy. We bought him in late 2023 and Kaci was absolutely right about him.”
When the Morgans bought the colt, he wasn’t named The Fireman. The sorrel quarter horse colt by Inferno Six Sixty out of Redhot Walla previously went by the name Thiago.
“I’ve always been a George Strait fan and one of his biggest hit songs is called ‘The Fireman,’” Morgan explained. “And with his breeding, it was an obvious name change. Kaci still calls him Thiago, but his registered name is The Fireman.”
For the time being, The Fireman will continue to compete under O’Rourke.
“We are so happy for Kaci; she has worked so hard and deserves every bit of this success,” said Morgan. “We’ve had lots of offers to buy The Fireman, but he has given us the experience of a lifetime and we have no plans to sell him.”
Supporting weight-loss medications with adequate, tailored nutrition
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I have a family member taking a prescription weight-loss drug. She has been successful thus far, which I know is improving her health. She admitted, though, that she often eats less than 1,000 calories per day. How can I encourage her weight-loss journey, but also ensure she is getting adequate nutrition?
ANSWER: While weightloss medications are truly having a positive effect on many Americans’ health, it is important to also talk about nutrition. Not just the “please eat healthy and exercise” narrative (despite its truth), but making sure that patients on weight-loss medications are able to manage side effects, stay hydrated and consume adequate nutrients.
Medications for obesity approved by the Food and
Drug Administration often work by decreasing appetite and increasing fullness. Popular glucagon-like peptide 1 medications slow gastric emptying, or the rate at which food leaves the stomach. This can lead to common side effects such as nausea, constipation and vomiting. For most, these side effects are mild and temporary. They are likely to be most bothersome at medication start or with a dose increase, and they may resolve or improve within days to weeks. Keep your doctor informed about any severe side effects, and reach out if you are unable to eat or drink.
For many, side effects become manageable with time and intention. Users should eat slowly, avoid large meals, drink plenty of fluids and maintain protein intake. If calories become a concern (less than 1,200 a day), work on increased calorie and nutrient density with meals, beverages and snacks. Items such as Greek yogurt, smoothies,
protein shakes and soups are often nutrient-dense and easy to digest. Soft, blended or liquid meals may be better tolerated. Remember that hydration is crucial because the lack of it may cause or worsen side effects including nausea, constipation, headaches and fatigue. Make sure to have water or another healthy beverage on hand, and sip throughout the day.
Building a bank of habits is key for the long haul. While more medication options will be available in the coming years, it’s important to consider skillset, should someone need or choose to go off the weightloss drug. Weight regain can be a scary and very real concept. Just as someone who relies on a medication to keep their blood pressure in a healthy range, eliminating the medication would likely result in hypertension again. That’s why we use the word “tool” when it comes to weight-loss medications, procedures and
surgeries. They are an added benefit, but that one tool is not doing all the work. By focusing on nutritious meals and establishing an exercise routine immediately, the groundwork is set for long-term success, regardless of whether the tool is being used in the future.
Rapid weight loss, whether from lifestyle changes, medications or procedures, will lead to some muscle mass loss.
Focus on and divide sources of protein from food or beverages throughout the day. To not add volume to meals, brainstorm ways to add protein without adding bulk, like adding a protein powder or Greek yogurt to a morning smoothie, dipping veggies in cottage cheese or adding beans to a favorite soup. Eating protein as the first item in the meal is also a helpful strategy to make sure it’s not left on the plate.
Engaging in strength training is equally as important. Start with body weight if needed, and
increase weight or difficulty over time. Can’t nail a push-up yet? That’s OK! Practice first by using the wall. Then try from the arm of a couch. Progress to your knees, and don’t feel bad if a push-up from your toes just isn’t going to happen. The goal here is to maintain and/or build all muscle groups, regardless of whether that pushup would get you through boot camp. Other body-weight exercises include squats, lunges, planks, triceps dips and wall sits. Lastly, enlist help. A multidisciplinary team is an excellent resource to address your needs and concerns. In addition to the medication prescriber, patients may benefit from programs designed specifically for weight-loss medication users. Visit the Mayo Clinic Diet Rx Companion and Mayo Clinic Rx Medical Weight Loss websites to learn more. — Tara Schmidt, Registered Dietitian, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Kaci O’Rourke spends a sweet moment with The Fireman, who is owned by Peter and Courtney Morgan of Ocala.
Kaci O’Rourke leans down to give a pat to The Fireman. The duo won the 2024 National Reining Horse Association’s Level 4 Open Futurity.
Kaci O’Rourke and The Fireman recently won the 2024 National Reining Horse Association’s Level 4 Open Futurity, with O’Rourke the first woman to win the title. The horse is owned by Peter and Courtney Morgan of Ocala.
Photos courtesy Kaci O’Rourke
RICK STEVES’ EUROPE
London shines bright in winter
London dazzles year-round, so consider visiting in winter, when the city dresses up to the nines and bursts with festivities. Despite the season’s drearier weather and shorter days, London’s museums, theaters, and pubs always offer a warm, cozy welcome. And come January, tourist crowds are at a minimum, and airfare and hotel rates are generally cheaper. London is especially appealing (though crowded) in the weeks leading up to Christmas. In mid-November, ye olde Christmas markets spring up all over the city. The market on Leicester Square is perhaps the most central, but the Southbank Centre Winter Market (between the London Eye and the Royal Festival Hall), is one of the biggest. Other major markets include one in London Bridge City (also on the Thames’ southern bank, between London Bridge and Tower Bridge) and in the center of maritime Greenwich.
Many other squares are specially outfitted for the season. Covent Garden’s spectacular transformation includes a festival of mulled wine, impressive decorations, and maybe even a bit of snowfall. Nearby Trafalgar Square always sports a giant twinkling tree, given to London every year from the people of Norway in appreciation for British support during World War II. Free carol concerts are held beneath the tree, and a new poem is commissioned every year to be displayed at its base. The year-round gourmet extravaganza of Borough Market becomes a wonderful place to sample mulled wine, Christmas pudding, mince pie, and other traditional and seasonal favorites.
The city’s biggest to-do is Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, a giant Christmassy carnival that takes over a good share of the park through the end of the year. It boasts enough rows of old-time market stalls to rival the Southbank Centre’s market, as well as the UK’s biggest outdoor ice rink – plus roller coasters, a Ferris wheel, circus show, a “magical ice kingdom,” and all kinds of kitschy fun.
Elaborate light displays and store windows sparkle along major shopping
streets, including Oxford Street, Bond Street, Regent Street, and Carnaby Street. Christmas concerts and sing-alongs bring carols and hymns to Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, St. Martin-in-theFields, and Royal Albert Hall. (Check the local entertainment guides to make the most of your visit.)
Ice skating is easily London’s coolest outdoor offering in winter (at least in a literal sense). Somerset House has the Rockefeller Center of London ice rinks, where you can glide alongside the facade of a grand Neoclassical building. Other ice rinks sprawl in front of Hampton Court Palace, in Greenwich, and in Canary Wharf. Most are open for skating from mid-November until mid-January. (The rink in Canary Wharf runs a few weeks longer.)
“Pantomime” plays are a curious holiday treat. These wacky, beloved slapstick shows, while primarily aimed at kids, are so delightfully English that it’d be a shame to miss a chance to see one in London, no matter your age.
Most performances are put on prior to Christmas, but shows go into the new year. Two London theaters that usually stage pantos are the Hackney Empire and the London Palladium.
New Year’s Eve in London is usually busiest in the South Bank district, as the midnight fireworks are set off from the London Eye and nearby river barges. Shows attract upwards of 400,000 revelers to Trafalgar Square – the traditional hub of the partying – and the nearby riverbank. The biggest street party takes place within earshot of Big Ben, whose midnight chimes are broadcast nationwide. On New Year’s Day, a parade featuring 10,000 performers snakes through Soho. (Be aware that tickets are required for the fireworks, parade, and many events around the city – buy in advance.)
January brings out the best shopping deals, with many big sales kicking off immediately after Christmas. And while most Yuletide events wrap up within a week of New Year’s Day, mid-January
can be an ideal time for sightseeing, as it’s easily the city’s least-crowded time of year. February is also relatively uncrowded, though London is a major destination for families during the week-long “halfterm” break most British schools take in mid-February. Colorful Chinese New Year celebrations– which some claim are the largest outside Asia – liven up the West End in February (or late January, depending on when the lunar new year falls.)
London’s theater season is in high gear all winter. The plays rival New York’s in quality and range of options, and usually beat them in price. Whether Shakespeare, musicals, comedies, thrillers, cutting-edge experimentation, London does it all…and does it well.
London’s a super one-week getaway, with sights that can keep the thoughtful traveler well entertained. Whether you visit during the busy winter holidays or take advantage of less-crowded postholiday time, as long as you’re dressed for the weather, London is sure to delight.
Sudoku By The Mepham Group
Gasoline Alley
Broom Hilda
Middletons
London brightens winter’s dark nights with festooned twinkling lights. CREDIT: (Cathy Lu, Rick Steves’ Europe)
government
DECEMBER
30
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.
JANUARY 7, 21
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
things to do arts
DECEMBER 28
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
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
JANUARY 22
Dunnellon City Council
Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 River Dr. 5:30pm
The commission meets in the morning of the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at dunnellon.granicus.com/ ViewPublisher.php?view_id=1
DECEMBER 21 – JANUARY 2
Trains at the Holidays Webber Gallery at CF, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala 10am to 4pm The College of Central Florida’s Webber Gallery offers this exhibition of miniature displays and model trains with holiday themes and special local landmarks. Open daily from 10am to 4pm, with hours of noon to 3pm on Christmas Eve, and closed on Christmas Day. Learn more at cf.edu/student-life/arts-and-culture/webber-gallery
Concert for Good and 5K for Good 5K at Baseline Road Trailhead, 4255 SE 58th Ave., Ocala; 7:30am Concert at Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala: 7:30pm The annual Concert for Good returns for a fourth year to raise funds for local nonprofits. Concert organizers say “tis always the season for giving” in the Christmas tradition. The event begins with a community 5K for Good at the Baseline Road Trailhead. Tickets and registration are available at concertforgood.com
JANUARY 17
Dixon’s Violin
Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
7:30 to 9pm Dixon is a world-renowned violinist. With the help of electric looping, Dixon is able to perform as an entire orchestra. Go to ocalacivictheatre.com for tickets.
JANUARY 18
Sounds of Simon & Garfunkel
Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
2pm and 7:30pm Jeff Jablonski and Jeff Radi are musicians with a shared passion for classic rock, folk and the music of Simon and Garfunkel. Together, they form a collaboration worthy of their namesake duo. Tickets are available at ocalacivictheatre.com/event/sounds-of-simon-garfunkel/
Hypnotist Show
Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave., Ocala
7:30pm to 9pm The “Aliens Are Among Us and They’re Hilarious” show will feature Flip Orley’s unique act of comedy and hypnosis. For tickets, go to reillyartscenter.com
JANUARY 31
“Never Give Up on Country” Concert
Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave., Ocala
7:30pm
The Travis Mills Foundation will host its fourth “Never Give Up On Country” concert in Marion County. Headlining the concert will be country music artist Chris Janson, known for his chart-topping hits such as “Buy Me a Boat” and “Good Vibes.” Chris McNeil also will perform. The “Never Give Up On Country” concert, along with its sponsors and the community, has raised more than $1 million for the foundation, which supports “recalibrated” veterans. Tickets are $50, with the option to purchase a meal from Mission BBQ, and can be purchased at nevergiveuponcountry.eventbrite.com
AMERICA’S
WJANUARY 5
Free First Saturday Appleton Museum, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 10am to 4pm Entry is free for all patrons on the first Saturday of each month, typically with special programming or presentations. For more information, visit appletonmuseum.org
JANUARY 12
Young Artist Competition: Honors Recital Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala 1pm to 4pm
The Ocala Symphony Orchestra’s annual recital will feature finalists in junior and senior divisions. The winners will return in March to perform as soloists at the OSO’s “Youth, Tricksters, and Metamorphosis” concert. Visit reillyartscenter.com to learn more.
FEBRUARY 1
Ocala Art Group’s 75th Anniversary Reception, Painting Demo and Exhibition Chelsea Art Center, 3305 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 11am to 3pm
The Ocala Art Group hosts a reception to commemorate its 75th anniversary and to open a new exhibition from one of the members. The reception will feature live art and music, an auction and information about 2025 classes and live events. To learn more, visit ocalaartgroup.org
community
JANUARY 20
Marion County MLK 2025 Historic March
Downtown to MLK Recreational Complex, 1510 NW 4th St., Ocala 8am to 10am
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Commemorative Commission will host its annual march in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and in support of Dr. King’s legacy against injustice and inequality. Participants will first arrive at the MLK Recreational Complex, with shuttles to downtown. Line up begins at 8am, with the march back to the MLK Recreational Complex scheduled to begin at 9. For more information, visit bit.ly/mlkday2025
Creating a festive treat has never been more fun
e started our sliceand-bake mochapeppermint cookie dough with melted rather than softened butter. This allowed us to skip the usual creaming step and simply stir in the sugar along with an egg yolk and peppermint extract.
A little baking powder opened up tiny air pockets in the dough and kept it from being too dense. The yolk’s proteins and the sugar gave the cookies a pleasantly firm and crumbly texture and extended their shelf life to 10 days, making them ideal for shipping or gifting.
We cut the dough into chunks and coated them in a mixture of espresso powder, cocoa powder, dry milk powder, and powdered sugar before pressing them together into logs. When coated with the remaining mocha mixture and sliced, the logs revealed a gorgeous, organic mosaic pattern.
MOCHA-PEPPERMINT MOSAIC
SLICE-AND-BAKE BUTTER COOKIES
Makes about 40 cookies
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
16 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 1/2 tablespoons instant espresso powder
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
1 tablespoon dry milk powder
1. Whisk flour, salt, and baking powder together in a bowl. In the second bowl, whisk melted butter, granulated sugar, egg yolk, and peppermint extract until very smooth. Add flour mixture and stir with rubber spatula or wooden spoon until well combined (dough will be loose).
Let dough rest until firm, about five minutes.
2. Shape dough into a rough 8-by-5-inch rectangle. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least one hour or up to three days.
3. Sift espresso powder, cocoa, powdered sugar, and milk powder through a fine-mesh strainer into a medium bowl. Cut chilled dough into rough 3/4-inch pieces. Add to espresso-cocoa mixture and toss until pieces are evenly coated. Transfer
pieces to counter, shaking excess espresso-cocoa mixture back into bowl (do not discard). Divide dough pieces into two piles.
4. Working with one pile, firmly squeeze one-quarter of pieces together to form dough ball with streaks of espresso mixture throughout (do not knead dough). Repeat with remaining threequarters of dough to form three more balls. Squeeze and press dough balls together to form a rough 8-inch log. Continue to shape and roll log until
1 1/2 inches in diameter and about 9 inches long. Flatten log slightly on two sides, until it is 1 inch tall and has an oval shape. Repeat with remaining dough pile to form a second log.
5. Transfer reserved espressococoa mixture to counter and roll logs in mixture to coat evenly. Wrap logs tightly in plastic and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
6. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
7. Slice logs into 1/4-inch-thick ovals and space 1 inch apart on prepared sheets. Let rest at room temperature for 10 minutes. Bake cookies, one sheet at a time, until puffed and tops look dry but centers are still very soft, 10 to 12 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through baking.
8. Let cookies cool on sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 30 minutes. Serve. (Cookies can be stored at room temperature for up to 10 days.)
These cookies are ideal for shipping or gifting. CREDIT: (Beth Fuller/TCA).
Jason Steuber, director of the Appleton Museum of Art, and Victoria Billig, assistant director, are shown in this file image from a First Free Saturday event in 2023. [Photo by Bruce Ackerman]
IN THE COUNTY COURT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA
GREENFIELDS PROPERTY
OWNERS'ASSOCIATION, INC., A Florida Non-Profit Corporation, Plaintiff, VS. DOLPHIN INTREPID REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT GROUP, LLLP, an Arizona Limited Liability Partnership UNKNOWN TENANT #1 and UNKNOWN TENANT #2, Defendants. Case No.: 2024-CC-0950 NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Final Summary Judgment of Foreclosure, entered in Civil Case No. 2024-CC-0950 of the Circuit Court of the 5th Judicial Circuit in and for Marion County, Florida, wherein GREENFIELDS PROPERTY OWNERS' ASSOCIATION, INC. is the Plaintiff, and DOLPHIN INTREPID REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT GROUP, LLLP, UNKNOWN TENANT #1, and UNKNOWN TENANT #2 are the Defendants, I, Clerk of Court, Gregory C. Harrell, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash AT WWW.MARION.REALFORECLOSE.
COM, AT 11:00 A.M. on January 7, 2025, the following described property as set forth in said Final Summary Judgment of Foreclosure, to-wit: Lot 5, Block A, GREENFIELDS UNIT 1, a subdivision according to the Plat thereof recorded at Plat Book W, Pages 29 and 30, in the Public Records of Marion County, Florida. Parcel ID: 29698-001-05 Physical Address: 5405 SE 28th Lane, Ocala, FL 34480 ANY PERSON CLAIMING AN INTERST IN THE SURPLUS FROM THE SALE, IF ANY, OTHER THAN THE PROPERTY OWNER AS OF THE DATE OF THE LIS PENDENS MUST FILE A CLAIM BEFORE THE CLERK REPORTS THE SURPLUS AS UNCLAIMED.
If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the ADA Coordinator; 110 Northwest 1st Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475; (352) 4016710 at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately Electronically Filed Marion Case # 24CC000950AX 11/18/2024 12:27:02 PM upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days. If you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711. Dated this 18th day of November, 2024. *Pursuant to Fla.R.Jud.Admin.2.516(b)(1) (A), Plaintiff's counsel hereby designated its primary email address for the purposes of email service as: CS@flagocala.com*
/s/ Caleb V. Smith. Caleb V. Smith, Esquire Atty for Plaintiff FL Bar No.: 1008368 445 NE 8th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34470 (352) 732-8030 (t) (888) 399-3129 (f) cs@ flagocala.com
Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, you are advised that this office may be deemed a debt collector and any information obtained may be used for that purpose. The above is to be published in: OCALA GAZETTE Copies furnished to: Caleb V. Smith, Esq cs@flagocala.com Alexandra M. Scales, Esq Atty Ad Litem Dolphin Intrepid Real Estate Investment Group, LLLP c/o Howard J. Weiss, Esq 14850 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 450 Scottsdale, Arizona 85254 Unknown Tenant #1 & #2 5405 SE 28th Lane, Ocala, FL 34480
IN RE: ESTATE OF BETSY J. REILLY, Deceased IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File Number 24 CP 002746 AX NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of BETSY J. REILLY, deceased, whose date of death was January 9, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is Post Office Box 1030 Ocala, Florida 34478. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate, on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2024-CP-3082 IN RE: ESTATE OF ANTHONY C. KERNAN, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Anthony C. Kernan, deceased, whose date of death was November 17, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 NW First Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is December 27, 2024. Attorney for Personal Representative: COLLEEN M. DURIS Florida Bar Number: 975140 500 NE 8th Avenue Ocala, FL 34470 Telephone: (352) 732-7020 Fax: (352) 867-5111
Personal Representative: Jana Sue VanHoose 15823 Bayberry Drive Catlettsburg, Kentucky 41129
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2024-CP-2979
IN RE: ESTATE OF DEIRDRE ANNE GRAY Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of DEIRDRE ANNE GRAY, deceased, whose date of death was November 7, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for MARION County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, #1, Ocala, Florida 34471. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS
AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS
AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS
AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERI-
ODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM
FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AF-
TER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is December 20, 2024.
Personal Representative: BRONWYN CHEN
Attorney for Personal Representative: SHANTA MATTHEWS, Attorney
Florida Bar Number: 69935
814 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Suite D OCALA, FL 34470
Telephone: (352) 421-8722
Fax: (352) 306-3759
E-Mail: shanta@smatthewslaw.com
Secondary: lori@smatthewslaw.com
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2024-CP-2866
IN RE: ESTATE OF MICHAEL J. MCTAMNEY
Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA CITIZENS FIRST BANK, Plaintiff, V. TIMOTHY R. NEE, Defendant, CIVIL DIVISION
NOTICE OF SALE
Case No.: 24-CA-001530-AX
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to the "Final Summary Judgment Of Foreclosure," entered in Case No. 24001530-AX on November 25, 2024, in the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court, in and for Marion County, Florida, wherein Citizens First Bank, Plaintiff, and Timothy R. Nee, the Defendant, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the real property situated in Marion County, Florida, described below to the highest bidder, for cash, www. marion.realforeclose.com, at 11:00 A.M. on the 3rd day of February 2025, the following described I property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to wit: Lot 17, Block 7, of Kingsland Country Estates, Whispering Pines Subdivision, as per plat thereof, as, recorded in Plat Book N Pages 86 through 96, inclusive, of the Public Records of Marion County, Florida. Property address: 5068 SW 114th Street Road, Ocala, Florida, 34476-8606
Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the lis pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.
/s/ Catherine Paige Andringa
JOHN A. ANTHONY, ESQ. Florida Bar Number: 0731013 janthony@anthonyandpartners.com
CATHERINE PAIGE ANDRINGA, ESQ. Florida Bar Number: 1028374 cpandringa@anthonyandpartners.com
Anthony & Partners, LLC 100 S. Ashley Drive, Suite 1600 Tampa, Florida 33602
Telephone: 813/273-5616
Telecopier: 813/221-4113
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2024-CP-2956 IN RE: ESTATE OF ETHEL MAE NICINSKI Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE
PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENTS DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of the first publication of this Notice is December 20,
32713 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA IN RE: ESTATE OF RUTH L. MEYER DECEASED, CASE NO.: 2024-CP-3081 NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Ruth L. Meyer, deceased, whose date of death was November 14, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is, 110 NW 1st Ave., Ocala, Florida 34475. The name and address of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.
The administration of the estate of MICHAEL J. MCTAMNEY, deceased, whose date of death was September 27, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for MARI-
ON County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, #1, Ocala, Florida 34471. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS
AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS
AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is December 20, 2024.
Personal Representative: PATRICK M. MCTAMNEY
The personal representative or curator has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in sections 732.216-732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under section 732.2211. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The first date of publication of this notice is December 27, 2024. Caleb V. Smith, Esq., Attorney for Personal Representative The Florida Legal Advocacy Group, P.A. 445 NE 8th Ave. Ocala, Florida 34470 Florida Bar No.: 1008368 Tel:352-7328030 Facsimile:888-399-3129 cs@FlagOcala.com James Meyer, 4113 SW 143rd Lane Road Ocala, FL 34473
Attorney for Personal Representative: SHANTA MATTHEWS, Attorney Florida Bar Number: 69935 814 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Suite D OCALA, FL 34470
Telephone: (352) 421-8722
Fax: (352) 306-3759
E-Mail: shanta@smatthewslaw.com
Secondary: lori@smatthewslaw.com
Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 2020 SW 57th Ave, Ocala FL, 34474 on January 7, 2025 12:00PM (352) 663.9555
Mark Rohrbaugh - Motorcycle, trailer, and various other goods
Melvalene Pridemore - Furniture, appliances and boxes Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above facility to complete the transaction. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures. com. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.
The administration of the estate of ETHEL MAE NICINSKI, deceased, whose date of death was July 22, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for MARION County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, #1, Ocala, Florida 34471. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is December 20, 2024.
Personal Representative: CHARLES NICINSKI
Attorney for Personal Representative: SHANTA MATTHEWS, Attorney
Florida Bar Number: 69935
814 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Suite D OCALA, FL 34470
Telephone: (352) 421-8722
Fax: (352) 306-3759
E-Mail: shama@smatthewslaw.com
Secondary: lori@smatthewslaw.com
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA IN RE: FORFEITURE Case Number: 2024-CA-1313
$6,436.93 (Six Thousand, Four Hundred Thirty-Six Dollars and Ninety-Three Cents) in U. S. Currency TO: STEVEN MCDUFFIE Last known address:26 Water Track Ct, Ocala, FL 34472 YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that a forfeiture action has been filed against the above described currency by the City of Ocala, Ocala Police Department. You are required to file an answer and any written defenses with the Clerk of the Court and to serve a copy of the answer and defenses on or before January 16, 2025, on Kristi Van Vleet, Assistant General Counsel, City of Ocala, Ocala Police Department, 110 SE Watula Ave, Ocala, FL 34471. Failure to file your answer and defenses will result a default being entered against you. WITNESSED by hand and the Seal of the Court on this 2nd day of December 2024. Gregory C. Harrell, Clerk of Court.
Filing # 212989955 E-Filed 12/17/2024 09:56:53 AM RAINBOW SPRINGS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., a Florida non-profit Corporation, Plaintiff, VS. RENADA RAE TESTINO; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF RENADA RAE TESTINO, et al., Defendant(s). IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 5TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO. 24CA001209AX NOTICE OF SALE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 45 (To be published in The Ocala Gazette) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated December 2, 2024, entered in Case No. 24CA001209AX in the Circuit Court in and for Marion County, Florida wherein RAINBOW SPRINGS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., is Plaintiff, and RENADA RAE TESTINO, et al, is the Defendant, I will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash online on: JANUARY 22, 2025 at www.marion.realforeclose.com the Clerk's website for online auctions at 11:00 AM ET in accordance with section 45.031, Florida Statutes, the following described real property as set forth in the Final Judgment, to wit: LOT 16, BLOCK D, RAINBOW SPRINGS COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK "S", PAGE 106 THROUGH 116, INCLUSIVE, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA.
A/K/A: 8785 SW 197TH COURT RD, DUNNELLON, FL 34432. ANY PERSON CLAIMING AN INTEREST IN THE SURPLUS FROM THE SALE, IF ANY, OTHER THAN THE PROPERTY OWNER AS OF THE DATE OF THE LIS PENDENS MUST FILE A CLAIM BEFORE THE CLERK REPORTS THE SURPLUS AS UNCLAIMED.
Dated this 17th day of December, 2024. RENADA RAE TESTINO 8785 SW 197TH COURT RD DUNNELLON, FL 34432 SERVICE LIST Florida Community Law Group, P.L. Attorneys for Plaintiff P.O. Box 292965 Davie, FL 33329-2965 Telephone (954) 372-5298 Facsimile (866) 4245348 /s/ Jared Block Jared Block, Esq. Fla. Bar No. 90297
Email: Jared@flclg.com
PUBLISH IN: THE OCALA GAZETTE CASE NO. 24CA001209AX
NOTICE OF A SCHOOL BOARD
ADMINISTRATIVE BRIEFING AND WORK SESSION
NOTICE OF A SCHOOL BOARD ADMINISTRATIVE BRIEFING AND WORK SESSION
Notice is hereby given that the School Board of Marion County, Florida, will meet in a work session on January 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will be held at the Marion County Board of County Commissioners Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave, Ocala, Florida, 34471. An agenda will be published seven days prior to the meeting and may be obtained at the Administration Office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The agenda is also available from a link on the District’s website: www. marionschools.net.
Notice is hereby given that the School Board of Marion County, Florida, will meet in a work session on January 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will be held at the Marion County Board of County Commissioners Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave, Ocala, Florida, 34471. An agenda will be published seven days prior to the meeting and may be obtained at the Administration Office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The agenda is also available from a link on the District’s website: www. marionschools.net.
In accordance with Florida law (Chapter 865.09, Florida Statutes), notice is hereby given that NICHOLAS FITCHPATRICK, whose principal place of business is located at 4820 SW 48th Ave, Ocala, FL 34474, intends to engage in business under the fictitious name BELLOW CREATIVE.
This name will be registered with the Florida Division of Corporations and used for all business operations beginning on 12/20/2024. This notice is published in compliance with Florida law, which requires the registration of any fictitious name used in business to ensure transparency and public awareness.
based.
CF Webber Galley to host faculty art exhibition
Staff report
The College of Central Florida
Webber Gallery will showcase the talents of visual arts faculty members in the biennial faculty art exhibition that will be on view from Jan. 8 through Feb. 6.
New works by four faculty members span mediums including ceramics, fiber arts, mixed media, printmaking and more. The artists include Tyrus Clutter, professor and program manager for art; Abigail Stallings, assistant professor and program manager for digital media; Michele Wirt, senior professor of art; and Graham Young, associate professor of digital media.
“This dynamic exhibition celebrates the creativity and expertise of our visual arts faculty members, offering viewers an inspiring glimpse into the diverse approaches and techniques that define contemporary art,” said Jason Longtin, visual and performing arts department chair, in a media release. “Each work is a testament to the innovative spirit of our faculty, inviting visitors to experience the vibrant dialogue between tradition and experimentation that drives their artistic practices.”
The community is invited to a free reception from 4:40 to 7 p.m. on Jan. 30. The Webber Gallery is located on the CF Ocala Campus at 3001 S.W. College Road. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and admission is free.
For more information, visit cf.edu/webber or call (352) 854-2322, ext. 1664.
Never Give Up
Continued from page B2
their families by providing opportunities in their postservice lives. This event unites the community to support a mission that truly matters and makes a meaningful impact.”
Tickets for the concert are $50, with the option to purchase a meal from Mission BBQ, and can be purchased at nevergiveuponcountry. eventbrite.com
“I will be attending the concert. I know many of my friends that I met at the retreat will probably be there also,” Brannon noted.
To learn more about the concert or the Travis Mills Foundation, go to travismillsfoundation.org
“Next Stop” by Michele Wirt
“Overgrown 5” by Abigail Stallings
“Overgrown 1” by Abigail Stallings
Photos courtesy College of Central Florida
Chris McNeil performs during the “Never Give Up On Country” concert on Feb. 3, 2024, in Ocala. He also will perform at the concert coming up on Jan. 31. [Photo by Bruce Ackerman]
Sports
High School Football Coverage is Sponsored By
West Port overpowers Vanguard Grant’s 17 points lead Wolf Pack past Knights.
By Mark Pinson Special to the Ocala Gazette
The West Port High School girls’ basketball team continues to show significant improvement as the season progresses and the Dec. 20 dismantling of Vanguard was more evidence of that.
West Port senior forward Aaliyah Grant scored a gamehigh 17 points to go with 12 rebounds and a swarming man-to-man defense forced 30 Vanguard turnovers as the Wolf Pack rolled to a 49-19 win over the Knights.
The loss evened Vanguard’s record at 5-5 on the season, while the victory improved West Port to 9-3 overall.
“We came out, got the lead and held on to it,” said Wolf Pack coach Corey Rollerson. “We did a lot of good things tonight and we got the win and we’re happy with that. Aaliyah is an aggressive player inside and we looked to get her going early. She plays hard and has been phenomenal for us this season.”
West Port started slowly to open the game and only led by a score of 4-3 midway through the opening stanza. But senior Calise Smith scored five points, junior point guard Caniyah Graham added four of her 15 points, and Grant muscled her way to nine points in the paint as the Wolf Pack stormed out to a 22-7 lead over Vanguard heading to the second period.
The Knights tried to stay close as Saniria Gunsby scored four of her team-high eight points, but West Port utilized a trapping defense to force the Knights into numerous miscues, which the Wolf Pack turned into easy baskets. Graham knocked down a 3-pointer from the left baseline to give West Port a large lead and all the momentum heading into the half.
“Everything starts with our defense and we’re just starting to play the way we’re capable,” coach Rollerson said. West Port came out focused for the third period and continued to expand its lead as Grant, who also had three blocks, scored seven points and Graham drained a trey from long distance to give the Wolf Pack a commanding 45-13 lead heading to the final eight minutes.
Both teams went to their benches in the last quarter and West Port was content to work the ball around on offense and run clock with each possession.
Class 5A Vanguard continued to play hard with Gunsby knocking down a pair of free throws for the Knights.
Graham scored on a driving layup for her final points of the night and the Wolf Pack ran out the clock to seal the victory.
Class7A West Port will look to enjoy the Christmas break before getting back on the hardwood after the first of the year.
“We want to stay healthy and continue to improve and be playing our best ball when the district tournament comes around,” coach Rollerson said.
“Our goal is to win the district tournament and qualify for the state playoffs.”
Photos by Mark Pinson
Vanguard’s Saniria Gunsby, right, fights for a loose ball with West Port’s Jaliah Mason during the game on Dec. 20.
West Port’s Aniyah Finn (10) shoots as Vanguard’s Kenaria Dowdy (12) defends.
West Port’s Aaliyah Grant (12) scored two of her game-high 17 points over Vanguard’s Sylaya Roberson (22) during the Friday night game.
