21 equines perish in barn fire
The blaze happened at the Roberts Quarter Horse Farm in Reddick, which is owned by the family behind the World Equestrian Center in Ocala.
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
Abarn in Reddick, on property owned by the Roberts family, owners of the World Equestrian Center, caught fire in the early morning hours of April 8 and 21 horses perished.
Marion County Fire Rescue was dispatched to the fire at the Roberts Quarter Horse Farm property at 3:58 p.m. after a 911 caller reported a barn on fire with horses trapped inside.
The 10,000 square foot, single story barn, at Northwest 118th Street Road, Reddick, was already fully ablaze by the time of MCFR’s arrival at 4:13 a.m.
The roof of the structure had collapsed, which contributed to the deaths of the horses inside. The fire was called under control at 5:13am. No injuries were reported to civilians or firefighters at the scene, MCFR noted.
Units from MCFR Lowell Station #11 were the first on the scene of the fire. Located at 12250 NW Gainesville Road, Reddick, the station is 3.1 miles away from the Roberts Quarter Horse Farm. The next-closest station is MCFR’s Golden Ocala Station #20, which is 7.4 miles away.
The Marion County Fire Marshal, the State of Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosives, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are conducting investigations into the origin and cause of the fire.
“We are aware of a tragic incident that occurred on private property personally owned by the individuals who also own World
See Barn fire, page A6
Grassroots group unites like-minded citizens
The Ocala Blue Dots hope to bond the region’s smaller groups into a cohesive force, all working toward the purpose of influencing policy.
By Jamie Berube
Erika De La Cruz did not plan to spearhead a movement, but a scroll through TikTok before the app was nearly banned in January lit a spark.
Under the hashtag #winterboots, a code designed to skirt the app’s algorithm, she saw Floridians asking, “‘Okay, what’s going on in Ocala for organizing protests?” related to
President Donald Trump’s second term. Frustrated by the lack of local organizing resources, she felt it was time to step up.
“If I didn’t act, no one else would,” De La Cruz said.
Out of this, Ocala Blue Dots, a Redditbased group targeting Trump and Elon Musk, was born. Blue has come to symbolize Democratic voters and their interests, while red is associated with the Republican Party.
De La Cruz chose Reddit as the platform to rally a group because, in her view, platforms such as Musk-owned X— formerly Twitter--were not an option.
“Blue Sky didn’t work for communitybuilding, and so Reddit made sense,” De La Cruz said.
With this, a new chapter of local grassroots activism began. The group currently has 565 members.
On April 5, members of Ocala Blue Dots joined an estimated 1,000 other protesters in downtown Ocala for 50501 demonstrations, a nationwide series of protests against the Trump administration’s actions.
The name 50501 originally stood for 50 protests, 50 states, one day, reflecting the initial goal of coordinating simultaneous protests in every state on a single day. It has
Family of killed inmate sues
Marion County sheriff and deputies
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
The children of Dennis DiGenova, a 73-year-old veteran who was killed in custody, are suing the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for their father’s wrongful death.
Dennis DiGenova Jr. and Ashley Whitehead have filed suit in federal court against Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods and three deputies, claiming that their father’s death was preventable and that his civil rights were violated while incarcerated in the Marion County Jail, according
to court records in the Middle District of Florida.
DiGenova’s death is one of 31 known fatalities occurring in the custody of MCSO since January 2021. The “Gazette’’ has reported extensively on conditions within the jail and allegations of inappropriate use of force and medical neglect by
workers at the facility.
MCSO said it will not comment on pending litigation.
DiGenova was brought to the Marion County Jail on July 18, 2023. He was being held at the Marion County Jail on a charge
See Family of killed inmate , page A9
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Marci Carson, Mari O’Donnell and Tami Johnson are members of the Ocala Blue Dots grassroots group. [Submitted photo]
See Blue Dots, page A2
Dennis DiGenova [Submitted photo]
Blue Dots
Continued from page A1
evolved into a broader movement aimed at resisting what organizers describe as anti-democratic and harmful policies being pushed by the Republican Party and Trump loyalists.
According to De La Cruz, the involvement of Musk’s unofficial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is part of what propelled the Blue Dots to join the protests.
“It was very frustrating to have an unelected individual that was unvetted within our government making decisions that he shouldn’t be making,” De La Cruz said. “Although I understand that he was appointed by the president (as a “special government employee”) he has not gone through the proper channels to hold an office.”
Outside of taking on national issues, the Blue Dots’ purpose in protesting is to forge a community within a community.
“The protests themselves are a way to build solidarity, to show people, ‘Hey, there’s people who think like you around you,’” De La Cruz said. “Because we are in a predominantly red area, a very conservative area, a lot of people feel disenfranchised. They feel like there’s not someone that thinks like them. So that, to me, is the main focus of the protests themselves.”
De La Cruz said they have collaborated with like-minded groups such as the Marion County Democratic Party to offer a shared platform by adding their logos to the flyers she was producing and encouraging collective action. The goal is not to elevate Blue Dots above other groups but to unite the region’s smaller groups into a cohesive force, all working toward the purpose of influencing policy.
James Elmore helped get the Blue Dots groups going and provided security through de-escalation training and legal monitoring. He has since stepped down from that role but remains an active member to offer advice and encouragement.
“A lot of folks are afraid to protest. I’m trying to show them it is OK,” Elmore said. “Ocala Blue Dots gives us a place to gather, plan and act. The information sharing and networking are invaluable. It was started just a couple of months ago and is already over 500 members strong.”
Nancy Carp stumbled upon the Blue Dots groups by chance.
“I was looking something up on Reddit and it caught my eye. I am now spreading the word to all Democrats about this group,” Carp said.
She believes that protests make a difference.
“During my lifetime I have protested many times. I wouldn’t have done it if it didn’t make a difference,” Carp said. “The fact is that throughout history protests have brought awareness and change to the government and other situations.”
In Carp’s view, peaceful protests are a way of saying there will be accountability for governmental actions.
“It sends a strong message that ‘We the People’ are angry and we won’t put up with this. We will not stand for people being hurt. We are always better when we stand together as one,” she said.
For those in Marion County who are hesitant to protest, Carp said she understands their fears.
“I also am afraid when I protest; however, it doesn’t even come close to the fear that I have of losing my country. Protesting is simply a tool to exercise your right to speak out about wrong things,” Carp said.
Tami Johnson also stumbled upon the Blue Dots group by chance.
“I was looking for outlets where I might be able to find younger people and I’ve been poking around everywhere,” Johnson said.
“I got involved with the Marion Dems and, in my quest, I was always looking for a younger crowd because that’s what the Democratic Party needs, more young people,” Johnson continued.
“The young people are the ones who have the energy, and also they’re the ones who have the most at stake. I mean, I’m going to be gone in 20 years, but the young people are looking at 60 years or more. So, they should be involved,” Johnson said.
Johnson expressed deep concern about the current administration and its direction, which she views as rooted in authoritarianism. She considers this path dangerous and detrimental, causing significant harm to many people. In her opinion, it offers no advantages for the country as a whole.
According to Johnson, the most valuable aspect of the Blue Dots group is networking, community and anonymity. There is the threat of infiltrators trolling the group online, however.
“The thing about the Reddit group is that the infiltrators could get in, but they don’t know who any of us are. I mean, they can figure out where we’re having a protest, but they don’t know who we are,” Johnson said.
“They can’t identify us personally. So, I think that’s helpful for a lot of people who want to do something or speak up or share information and don’t want to be identified,” she continued.
John Dunn supports the Blue Dots and the downtown protests. He and his wife have taken part in three so far.
“Like many of the protestors, we fear that our elections, military, scientific and medical institutions and even our judicial systems are all threatened,” Dunn said.
“In the 1970s, my wife and I lived in Germany and realized what happened there in the 1930s could happen anywhere. We were right. Now, it’s our turn. That’s why we were standing along Silver Springs Boulevard on April 5 waving cardboard signs with 1,000 other patriots,” he added.
While Dunn does not think local elected officials will be fazed by what they are doing, he said the protests do matter.
“For one thing, all those people who showed up realized they weren’t alone. Several told me that until now they’d been apprehensive about speaking out in such a conservative community,” Dunn said.
“I also hope we modeled for others how to fight for democracy,” he continued.
De La Cruz acknowledged that Ocala is a conservative county, which presents an interesting context for organizing an anti-Trump protest. She explained that she faced surprisingly little resistance, less than she had anticipated. She sees this as evidence that people, even in a conservative area, respect the First Amendment. She admitted that early on, the biggest pushback didn’t just come from conservatives, it came from her own circle. Some doubted the impact of her efforts and asked why she bothered, suggesting it wouldn’t make a difference.
Jeani Derrough works with the Blue Dots offline and through their signal chat and said the group always has people who attempt to intimidate them at some of their protests.
“Those attempts are really very half-hearted at best; the conservative factor isn’t really a challenge for us having these protests at all. We believe in their right to have just as much say and to protest as well, if they want to, because one of the things we’re fighting for is freedom of speech and so that has to apply to everybody,” Derrough said.
The next 50501 protest is slated for April 19, with Ocala Blue Dots prepared with signs and chants.
“It looks like millions of Americans around the country feel like we do. Next time, our numbers will be even bigger,” Dunn said.
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Hundreds of people hold signs during the 50501 protest against President Donald Trump and his policies on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the Ocala downtown square. [Photo by Bruce Ackerman]
Questions remain about Ocala-county emergency communications improvements
By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
Months after Ocala officials say the city had implemented improvements to its computer interface to link its emergency response center with Marion County’s call center to automatically share all calls, not all calls are being shared, and the changes were so minor that county counterparts did not know it had occurred.
The improvement was intended to speed up communications between the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office and Marion County Fire Rescue and the Ocala Police Department and Ocala Fire and Rescue. Until the change, dispatchers had to share vital information one call at a time, potentially slowing the critical response time and inserting opportunities for human error.
The “Gazette” has reported for almost a year on glitches in the city’s 911 dispatch system and on city officials’ refusal to use the same CAD system as the Marion County Communications Center. The city deconsolidated its fire dispatch from the county in 2019, placing the city’s fire dispatch instead with the Ocala Police Department. At the time, then-OPD Chief Greg Grahm, Ocala Fire Rescue Chief Shane Alexander, as well as Marion County Fire Chief James Banta and Marion County Sheriff Billy
Woods, empathically told the city council that the only way the deconsolidated dispatch would work was if they all used the same CAD.
Five years later, they still work from disparate CAD systems.
In December, the “Gazette” reported that the agencies finally come to a solution that made the CAD systems work together more seamlessly. The report was based on a Sept. 12, 2024 email from Jeffrey Walczak, OPD’s spokesperson, who copied Police Chief Michael Balken and Mayor Ben Marciano.
That understanding was echoed by Marciano during a November 2024 meeting.
In January, the “Gazette” followed up with the county’s 911 Center Director Lisa Cahill, to see how the improved interface between the two CAD systems was working. Cahill said she was unaware of any changes to the CAD2CAD interfaces between Ocala and the county.
An hour later, after checking with Ocala’s 911 Director Sherri Grunland, Cahill emailed the “Gazette” to say that Grunlund confirmed that the city has revised its CAD interface with the county.
That change, however, was never communicated to Marion County officials on the other end of that critical help line.
When asked about the apparent miscommunication, Balken indicated that the “Gazette” was unfairly focused on the city’s 911 service and should
turn a critical eye on the county’s system.
Asked to give an example of an error, he replied, “I’m not going to do your job for you.”
The “Gazette” requested all emails between OPD and the county to determine if there was any communication regarding the improved interface of the CAD or testing for it in 2024. Also, we looked for any mentions of operational errors at the county call center.
The city responded to this public records request with an invoice for more than $44,000. When the request was narrowed down to emails between the city’s 911 director and anyone in the county for the same period, we received a reduced records bill of $22,000 to review and redact 2,619 emails, from OPD’s records department supervisor Heather Hedges.
The “Gazette” made the same public records request to Marion County and was provided the thousands of emails without charge.
Our review of the emails found no mention of the new interface between the county and city.
In a follow-up email, Balken gave this timeline of events.
“On Aug. 1, 2024, members of our department met to discuss the possibility of augmenting our CAD capabilities in an effort to automate the sharing of calls with Marion County Public Safety. Our CAD vendor accepted our change request and worked to adjust the software to more
efficiently share call information. That adjustment was made, necessary testing was completed, and the change went live on Aug. 5, 2024.”
The four-day turnaround period is at odds with Balken’s earlier statement that the city and county staff had had many meetings discussing the matter.
Balken also clarified what change has been implemented.
Rather than every city 911 call automatically being shared with the county, the CAD2CAD interface update allowed city call takers and dispatchers to share calls without pressing as many buttons.
The system, however, determines if the call demands a response by MCFR or the MCSO before sharing the call.
In a Jan. 17 email to the “Gazette,” Cahill said she confirmed with OPD “they have implemented a new auto-send feature which allows the CAD to determine (with pre-determined parameters) if a call needs to be sent to Public Safety via cad2cad.”
But she noted, “We are still only able to see a call if we take the call or it is sent to us via CAD2CAD, whether automatically or manually.”
The status of cooperation between these vital public safety agencies continues to be murky, primarily due to the city’s lack of communication or transparency about its operations.
In November, the Marion County Director of 911 Management asked Grunlund
to answer a questionnaire about 911 operations for the state’s Emergency Communications Board, the city’s response was that their CAD system was installed in 2007 and was last updated in January 2024. There was no mention of the August 2024 CAD interface change.
The questionnaire asked if the city was considering changing its CAD. Ocala’s response was “No.”
Prior reporting:
• Marion County continues to get bad health grades. But who is at the helm to fix? | Ocala Gazette
• Siloed agencies pose unnecessary challenges to improving public safety levels | Ocala Gazette
• Can emergency personnel locate me through my cellphone? | Ocala Gazette
• Providing quality observations to the community takes a lot of time and work | Ocala Gazette
• The “first” of the first responders | Ocala Gazette
• Sheriff, OPD and state attorney Gladson threaten journalist with arrest and prosecution | Ocala Gazette
• City of Ocala emergency dispatch continues to struggle | Ocala Gazette
• Fatal crash leaves questions about City emergency communications | Ocala Gazette
• Podcast: https://www. ocalagazette.com/ocalagazette-podcast-december-272024-january-2-2025/
Teachers honored
Two Marion County Public Schools educators receive recognition for positive impact.
Staff report
HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA
Florida West Marion Hospital, with the Public Education Foundation of Marion County, recently presented Thank a Teacher awards to Claire Sensibaugh of Vanguard High School and Emily Gray of Belleview High School.
During the 2024-25 school year, students, families and staff members are encouraged to share stories about a teacher’s inspiring actions, supportive words, creative lessons or overall positive impact. Teachers selected as a result of nominations from the public receive $250 and a special email containing the messages.
Gray, who teaches the collegelevel AICE English Literature program for seniors, was selected from a pool of nominees compiled and judged by previous winners of the Golden Apple Award, a prestigious honor given to public school teachers in Marion County.
Her nomination noted that she is a dedicated and compassionate teacher who cultivates creativity, critical thinking and resilience among her students, while “helping them navigate the challenges of adolescence with grace.” Her impact “resonates far beyond the
classroom walls” as she serves as a “beacon of inspiration and positivity within her community,” the news release noted.
Gray is a graduate of Belleview High School. As a senior in the AICE English Literature program, she told her teacher, Leta Edwards, that she aspired to become a teacher and would return to Belleview High to take over the program from Edwards when she retired.
Gray, who received the Thank A Teacher award during an event at the school on Feb. 27, said she was “very overwhelmed, excited, shocked and very happy” at receiving the award.
“This curriculum is everything I ever wanted. I still talk to Leta every now and then. She’s still really proud of me. I still have her library here. I feel like I’m doing her justice,” Gray stated in the release.
Sensibaugh, a geometry teacher, was honored during an event at Vanguard on March 25. She was praised for her selfless devotion to her students and her patience in the classroom, according to the release.
“A good education is the foundation for our students to create a better life for themselves and our community,” said HCA Florida Ocala Hospital CEO Alan Keesee, in the release. “We believe it is important to honor
those teachers, like Claire, who inspire our youth to achieve academically and to thrive as good citizens who contribute to the community.”
“The HCA Florida Healthcare Thank a Teacher campaign is an
opportunity for all of us to show appreciation to teachers through shared words of gratitude. Saying thank you to teachers is a simple, yet priceless, way to acknowledge their hard work and dedication,” Public Education Foundation of
Marion County Executive Director Meghan Magamoll offered.
To learn more about the program and the nomination process, go to pefmc.org/thanka-teacher
From left, Vanguard High School Assistant Principal Samantha Roberts, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital CEO Alan Keesee, Public Education Foundation of Marion County board member Melissa Conner, Marion County School Board member Sarah James, Golden Apple Academy member Beth Abel, school board chair Lori Conrad, Claire Sensibaugh, Marion County Public Schools Superintendent Diane Gullett, Golden Apple Academy Chairwoman Emily Cook, Vanguard High School Principal Colleen Wade, Public Education Foundation of Marion County Executive Director Meghan Magamoll and school board member Nancy Thrower. [Submitted photo]
From left, Golden Apple Academy Chairwoman Emily Cook, Emily Gray, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital CEO Alan Keesee, Belleview High School Principal Heather Guest, Marion County School Board member Allison Campbell, Take Stock in Children Mentor Coordinator
Ashlie Gray, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital Communications and Community Engagement Director
Kaitlyn Wilson-Butler and Belleview Chamber & Economic Partnership Director Joe Reichel. [Submitted photo]
AdventHealth Ocala set to welcome family medicine residents
Eight open spots were all filled on Match Day, which took place March 21.
Staff report
Eight new physicians are joining AdventHealth Ocala’s team to take their next steps to become fully licensed, board-certified family physicians.
Before Match Day, which took place on March 21, the applicants interviewed at residency programs in the specialty of their choice and ranked their preferences. The residency programs also rank their preferences of applicants. The rank lists were then matched through the National Residency Match Program. On Match Day, the prospective residents found out where they are going to continue the next chapter of their medical careers.
AdventHealth Ocala filled all of the eight open spots for its family medicine program and will welcome the new residents to Ocala in July.
“Graduate medical education is the final phase of medical training that equips physicians to become independent physicians in their specialty. We in AdventHealth also intend to train physicians to provide
compassionate, whole-person care,” said Dr. Klive Forde, the Family Medicine Residency Program Director at AdventHealth Ocala in the news release.
“We are thrilled to welcome our new resident physician colleagues to AdventHealth. We look forward to helping
nurture these talented and dedicated family medicine residents into compassionate and clinically outstanding physician leaders, who will work diligently to enhance healthcare in our community,” Forde continued.
AdventHealth Ocala’s Clinic First residency curriculum emphasizes the importance of the family medicine
outpatient practice as the primary site for clinical training. Residents will have the opportunity to work closely with attending physicians across all specialties and immerse themselves in AdventHealth’s wholeperson care model, with residents guiding patients toward total wellness—mind, body, and spirit, noted the release.
“We are delighted to welcome these extraordinarily talented physicians to our AdventHealth family,” AdventHealth Ocala President and CEO Erika Skula said in the release. “Our incredible team is deeply committed to supporting them with their journey to become the next generation of healers and we are grateful to have them help care for our community.”
“We are deeply committed to serving our community and ensuring health equity for all. Our program emphasizes providing care to underserved populations and working to eliminate health disparities. You will be part of a team dedicated to making a meaningful impact on the lives of those who need it most,” Forde stated on the program website.
AdventHealth Medical Group Family Medicine is located on the hospital campus at 221 SW 11th St., Ocala. Primary clinical rotations will occur mainly at the hospital.
To learn more, go to adventhealth.com/ adventhealth-graduatemedical-education/familymedicine-residency-ocala
From left, Fran Crunk (AdventHealth Ocala CFO), Donoff a Nelson, DO, (DipABLM, to AdventHealth Medical Group Family Medicine), Dr. Klive Forde, MD (AdventHealth Ocala Family Medicine Residency Program Director), Erika Skula (AdventHealth Ocala President and CEO), Karen Edge (practice manager at AdventHealth Family Medicine GME Ocala), Dr. Janice Bedford, MD (AdventHealth Medical Group Family Medicine) and Cynthia Perez-Patterson (AdventHealth Family Medicine Residency Coordinator. [Photo courtesy AdventHealth]
Big changes on the local culinary scene
Taverna Berrocal is moving into the former Sky Fine Dining location and Sky will move to downtown Ocala.
By Jamie Berube
If the sky’s the limit, Chef Juan Berrocal has reached it.
This spring, his EuroPeruvian gem, Taverna Berrocal, will relocate to the top floor of the Holiday Inn & Suites near I-75 in Ocala, swapping its cozy 2515 NE 3rd St. space for a sprawling spot with skyline views.
For Berrocal, this is the opportunity he has been waiting for.
“I am finally going to be able to deliver what I really want to the Ocala people,” Berrocal said. “Everybody knows this spot at the Holiday Inn, all of the locals, it’s special.”
Berrocal says the move to the Holiday Inn will enable him and his culinary crew to make some changes.
“With all my wonderful chefs, we are going to elevate our concept, because here at this smaller location I have been kind of limited because of the size of the restaurant,” he explained.
Taverna Berrocal opened on April 8, 2022, then closed temporarily in March 2023 for a revamp. The restaurant relaunched with a new tapasfocused menu on June 21, 2023, following Berrocal’s travels to refine his offerings. With a focus on tapas-style dining, the cozy eatery’s current interior space for dining is small, but that will soon be upgraded and expanded by the highly anticipated move into the boutique hotel.
“We are going to be inspired with this new location that is so beautiful,” Berrocal said.
While Berrocal is eager to make the move happen this spring in a 30-day time frame, it may take longer.
“It’s a lot of work, our goal is 30 days, but in reality, it may take 60 days,” Berrocal said.
Beyond culinary elevation, he wants more space for his growing restaurant.
“I’m moving over there because my restaurant is getting busier. The Holiday Inn space is like six times bigger than my current place. So, it’s a whole different scenario. It’s a whole
different deployment and delegation of work and hiring. With such a large number of seats, we are definitely going to have a different plan about the reservations and walk-ins and about lunch,” he said.
Berrocal says he plans to be open from 3 to 10 p.m. every day and until midnight on weekends because of the hotel bar which he calls “beautiful.”
For his regular customer base, the move has been met with mixed reactions.
“Some of them, they oppose. They say, ‘Oh, no, we like it here, this little restaurant, you know, it’s cozy,’ and they think if I move into a big restaurant, things will change,” he said. “It’s not going to change; all my customers are going to be very comfortable. And so far, the reaction, it’s been overwhelming. They’ve been calling a lot and commenting on Facebook. There’s a lot of expectation.”
Kunal Gaekwad and members of his family own the Holiday Inn and he calls it one of their trophy properties. Gaekwad has known Berrocal for a couple years as a frequent guest at his restaurant. He said they had no intention of leasing the space at the Holiday Inn, but that changed when he found Berrocal.
“We would have left it empty for the next 10 years. But it’s only because we found chef Juan over at Taverna that we thought he could be a good fit. Taverna simply meets our criteria to lease our space. His dishes are extremely unique and he’s a very talented chef, so seeing that, it made sense for me to give him the opportunity to bring his experience and his restaurant over to our hotel, because we didn’t want to give it to someone that was not going to be able to hold our high expectations for one of our trophy properties,” Gaekwad said.
In November 2020, the space atop the multi-story hotel where Berrocal is moving was occupied by Sky Fine Dining, which closed due to the pandemic with plans to reopen in 2021. While Sky did not reopen at that time, it will reopen this fall at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Ocala, which also is owned by the Gaekwad family.
“Sky will open in downtown Ocala, we’re shooting for the end of this year, hopefully in the fall. It’s our goal,” Gaekwad said.
Sky Fine Dining offered an eclectic mix of gourmet cuisine with a focus on Asian fusion and steakhouse offerings. Gaekwad praised the former restaurant as a standout in the city’s culinary scene.
“In my view, it was, and still is, the most aesthetically advanced restaurant in Ocala,” he said.
He noted that Sky’s strong reputation led the family to hold off on seeking new tenants after its closure and said they initially considered a reopening to their own high standards. However, after building the Hilton Garden Inn downtown, they shifted focus.
“We realized it made more sense to rebuild the restaurant entirely in a new space. We love the downtown market,” Gaekwad said.
In the past 20 years, Gaekwad said, his family has primarily focused on bringing new things such as high-end car washes, hotels and apartments to Ocala.
“We’ve been pioneering it more so than anyone in the entire city in the last 30 years. Our goal is not to just copy and paste what we see around us, but to take our experience from traveling abroad and around the country and applying it to Ocala, because we know that people in Ocala are ready for the next level,” he said.
“A lot of larger companies and especially franchises overlook the Ocala market because they don’t see that the demographic needs high-end offerings. But we felt the exact opposite.”
With Taverna Berrocal and Sky Fine Dining slated to open this year, Gaekwad’s vision is taking shape.
“I think that as of right now, there are no two restaurants in Ocala that have anything similar to what we’re offering in terms of the ambience and the culinary offerings,” he said.
Berrocal said his wildest dream for this new chapter in his restaurant’s culinary history is to bring some acclaim to Ocala.
“That’s why I am bringing all these professional chefs from all over the world to see if we can work very hard to get the first Michelin Star for Ocala,” Berrocal said.
To do so, there will be no shortcuts.
“I don’t believe in shortcuts in my kitchen, and in my new beautiful restaurant, there will be no shortcuts,” Berrocal said.
There will be challenges with this move, according to Berrocal, and he asks for help through prayer.
“Every day we have to pray to God to give us the energy in the challenges that are going to be right in front of us in different aspects. We have to keep going. And for me as a professional chef, this is my goal, my dream. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity to jump like a tiger and make it happen,” he stated.
For Gaekwad, Sky and Taverna Berrocal will be more than fine dining, they will be magnets for Ocala’s booming population.
“We’re one of the fastest growing metro areas in the entire country. With this many new people coming in, it’s very important that we have offerings for them, things to do, because if we don’t, then people are going to start looking outward and going to other cities like Gainesville, Orlando and Tampa. And we want to keep them here. We want to keep them happy,” he offered.
Whether it is Berrocal’s leap toward a Michelin Star or Gaekwad’s stake in Ocala’s rise, together, they are plating up more than meals, they are serving Ocala a taste of what’s possible.
To learn more, go to tavernaberrocal.com and ocaladowntown.hgi.com
Barn fire
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Equestrian Center. While the private property is entirely separate from and not affiliated with World Equestrian Center business or operations, we extend our deepest sympathies to those affected,” said a WEC spokesperson. “As this is a personal matter, we will not be providing further comment. We appreciate your understanding and respect for the
privacy of those involved.” Ralph “Larry” Roberts and his wife Mary Roberts opened the billiondollar World Equestrian Center in 2021, after the success of their other location in Wilmington, Ohio. WEC is the largest equestrian complex in the United States, featuring indoor and outdoor arenas, hotels, restaurants and more. The family has developed hundreds of acres of land in Ocala, including the Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club. Patriarch Larry Roberts passed away in 2023.
Chef Thomas McDougall Jr., left, and owner and chef Juan Carlos Berrocal, center, with Taverna Berrocal, pose with Kunal Gaekwad, right, at the former location of Sky Fine Dining at the Holiday Inn & Suites on Southwest 38th Avenue in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, April 4, 2025. Taverna Berrocal will be moving into the former Sky restaurant location on the top fl oor of the hotel and Sky will be moving into the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Ocala. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2025.
Marion County nonprofit acquires island
Forest Animal Rescue, based in Silver Springs, has purchased a 60-acre island in the St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserve in Crystal River.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
Forest Animal Rescue in Silver Springs provides for the safe release of native wildlife on protected land it owns. They also rehabilitate and release black bear cubs for authorities in Florida and surrounding states.
In addition to the nonprofit’s campus in Marion County, founders Lisa and Kurt Stoner recently purchased a 60-acre island in the St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserve in Crystal River, which provides shelter and nesting areas to a large number of water birds.
FAR was able to acquire the island through “the late Maria Molnar, who was a beloved supporter of the sanctuary for 15 years,” Lisa Stoner said.
“We have observed virtually every bird native to this habitat taking advantage of the trees and freshwater pond on this island, including eagles, osprey, spoonbills and even flamingos,” Stoner noted.
“We will be protecting and restoring the habitat by removing any invasive plants, such as Braziian pepper, and helping to ensure that the wildlife remains undisturbed on the island. This will also be a perfect place for us to release rehabilitated wildlife native to this habitat as needed, since that requires privately owned land,” she added.
FAR, which was founded in 1998, at one time provided care for rescued wildlife such as tigers but does not currently do so.
“We wound down our program for the lifetime care of exotic animals because the demand for that program has dropped significantly, thanks to improved captive wildlife laws. The remaining lifetime care animals we had were placed in good hands at accredited sanctuaries we work with. This allowed us to expand our native wildlife and habitat protection program.
City of Dunnellon moves forward on contracting MCSO for law enforcement
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
The city of Dunnellon is finalizing the future of its police department as it asks for county approval to contract law enforcement services out to the Marion County Sherriff’s Office.
Upon final approval, the Dunnellon Police Department will have one sole staff member—Chief Julie Vowinkel, who is an MCSO lieutenant.
The ordinance was discussed and finalized at a Dunnellon City Council special meeting on March 10. It will now be sent to the Marion County Board of County Commissioners for final approval by mid-May.
Dunnellon Mayor Walter Green commended Vowinkel for her work since taking over in February and said he looked forward to being on the “right track” for keeping citizens safe.
“We want a continuality of the best law enforcement we can offer our citizens and our businesses. That’s the goal. That’s the bottom line,” Green said.
performance of the department.
Scaglione was appointed chief in June 2023 after the resignation of thenChief Mike McQuaid. Since Scaglione’s resignation, Capt. Ron Bray led the department until February. Bray now serves directly under Vowinkel.
As part of the agreement, Vowinkel will report to Sheriff Billy Woods for dayto-day patrol, criminal investigative or operative issues—not to any Dunnellon personnel or officials.
Dunnellon’s police force, formerly a staff of six officers, will be staffed by MCSO employees. Reserve officers will be retained to oversee the city’s marine patrol.
The contract will cost Dunnellon $128,000 per deputy per year, at a total of about $675,000 a year. This would save the city over $620,000 per year in comparison to its current costs.
The need for this program has increased exponentially over the past few years,” Stoner explained.
When asked how they learned about the island in the aquatic preserve, she said they spend a lot of time in the area and noticed it had a large number of water birds using it on a regular basis.
“And then we regularly witnessed airboats cutting through and scaring the birds. Most of the land in this protected estuary is owned by the Department of Environmental Protection, but when we called them to report it, they pointed out that it wasn’t their property. We contacted the owner, and he was not in a position to do anything to stop the disturbance of the wildlife, but he liked the fact that we wanted to protect it. After discussions for over a year, Forest Animal Rescue managed to purchase it,” Stoner shared.
“We have not released wildlife there yet, but as soon as we are able to block off the source of disturbance, we have plans to do so,” she added. “We partner with wildlife rehabilitators across the state of Florida to release native rehabilitated animals that can’t go back where they came from onto our protected land, since it is not permitted for them to release onto government/ public land. This will increase the diversity of wildlife habitat we have to offer for the animals that need it.”
The FAR website and social media pages offer for tips for how people can make their property more beneficial to the wildlife that lives around them as well as community updates, funding needs and volunteer opportunities for habitat restoration and “adopt a highway” cleanups.
City officials have been ruminating over the future of the police department since December 2024, when then-Chief Chris Scaglione resigned in good standing from the force, after being placed on paid administrative leave by the Dunnellon City Council in November 2024. Scaglione was placed on leave after a council member brought forward several issues of concern with Scaglione’s performance and the
In accordance with the 60-day window required for notice of the end of contract for Dunnellon’s existing officers, the effective date of the contract with MCSO will be May 13. Marion County staff will prepare an agenda item for the county commission for final approval on or before that date.
The existing Dunnellon Police officers may be hired by MCSO if they make it through the hiring process. MCSO officials said two officers had already applied but did not get hired.
To learn more, go to dunnellon.org and marionso.com
Forest Animal Rescue has purchased this island in the St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserve in Crystal River, which is home to many water birds.
The sun sets behind the 60-acre island, which will be used by Forest Animal Rescue for the release of rehabilitated wildlife native to this habitat as needed.
photos
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods. [File photo by Bruce Ackerman]
Volunteers help local veteran
A partnership between Lockheed Martin and Rebuilding Together brought upgrades to the home of former U.S. Navy medic John MacLaren.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
disabled Vietnam
AWar-era U.S. Navy medic had a major upgrade made to his property on April 4 thanks to the efforts of dozens of volunteers from Lockheed Martin in a partnership project with Rebuilding Together, a Washington, D.C., based nationwide nonprofit home and community building outreach.
The improvements made to the southwest Ocala home of Hope and John MacLaren included debris removal, new wood fencing on the backyard of their half-acre lot and custom bathroom grab bars.
“This is a miracle and an answer to prayers,” Hope MacLaren said as volunteers like Sadie Johnson and Stacey Hicks with Lockheed Martin pitched in on the project.
“I’ve always helped others,” John MacLaren said.
Jeff Chang, human resources manager with Lockheed Martin, said the MacLaren home is the third local partnership project between his company
and Rebuilding Together. He said 70 projects have been done nationwide by the corporate partnership, which dates back to 2022. Rebuilding Together began in 1973 in Texas and has several corporate sponsor partners.
The donated labor and materials for the local veteran came about through referrals and collaborations including a state agency, the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office and Veterans Helping Veterans USA of Marion County.
About two dozen Lockheed Martin employees and members of Veterans Helping Veterans were on hand for the project, which started with a prayer circle.
John MacLaren, 70, joined the Navy shortly after he completed high school. His service included work as a corpsman and providing medical attention to incoming prisoners of war. He said he has a medical disability with an “undetermined” prognosis, which he feels was contracted during his duties as a corpsman. His
Veterans Affairs medical disability has increased over the years.
Terry Scott, a Rebuilding Together program consultant/ contractor, was on hand to oversee the work. Scott, with the nonprofit for 15 years and involved in projects including post-disaster work, went over the project with the MacLarens, including height measurements for the custom bathroom grab bars.
Timothy Vitt and Israel Brown with Lockheed Martin helped dismantle old wooden fencing
Public Notice
and stacked the wood for removal so new fencing could be installed.
Kevin Swaby, an electronic associate specialist with Martin Lockheed of Ocala, said “it’s a pleasure” to help on the project at the veteran’s home.
“Veterans protected me. This is giving back,” he said.
To learn more, go to rebuildingtogether.org
Photos by Andy Fillmore
John MacLaren, a disabled U.S. Navy veteran, center, and his wife, Hope MacLaren, speak with volunteers during a partnership project on April 4, 2025, between Lockheed Martin volunteers and Rebuilding Together, a national outreach, at the MacLaren’s home.
Volunteers Timothy Vitt, left and Israel Brown, right, dismantle old wooden fencing at the home of John and Hope MacLaren.
A prayer circle kicked off the workday with volunteers from Lockheed Martin and the Rebuilding Together national outreach.
Volunteer Sadie Johnson clears limbs and debris at the southwest Marion County home of disabled Navy veteran John MacLaren and his wife Hope.
‘Big: Culture & Arts Festival’ comes to Downtown Gainesville
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
The third-annual Big: Culture and Arts Festival is returning to Gainesville this week, in a celebration on April 11 and 12.
Organized by Marion County native Laila Fakhoury, the festival will take place between the Porters Quarters community and South Main Street. The event’s theme is a crossover
between circus and street culture, Fakhoury said.
“The reason that we chose the theme circus is because we just love the concept originally of circus, which is that no matter who you are, where you are, or if you feel alone in your community, you know that the circus is going to come into your town and celebrate you and allows people to be the authentic and true selves,” she said.
Family of killed inmate
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of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill after a dispute with his roommate. DiGenova died before he went to trial for the charge, and the case was closed after his death, according to court records.
During booking, he was the victim of force by Deputy Justin Douglas, Detention Deputy Jason Lester and Detention Deputy Charles Cicci, according to an internal investigation conducted by MCSO.
That same day, he was also in an altercation where he was kicked by another inmate—Philip Boyer.
DiGenova died 10 days later, on July 28, 2023, at the HCA Ocala hospital from complications related to a cervical spine fracture sustained while he was being held in the jail, according to the District 5 &
24 Medical Examiner’s Office.
The medical examiner ruled
DiGenova’s death was a homicide.
To date, however, no detention deputies nor inmates have been charged for their involvement in his death.
Now, his family demands a trial by jury in addition to judgment for damages against the sheriff for constitutional, state and civil rights violations. They are represented by the law office of Robert Rush, of Rush & Frisco Law.
The complaint alleges that MCSO was aware of DiGenova’s physical and mental health impairments, as DiGenova had previously called 911 for help after injuries and had previously been placed in protective custody under the state’s Baker Act by law enforcement.
“Woods failed to ensure that
Fakhoury founded Big with Jahi and Khary Khalfani. The trio co-own Dion Dia Records and How Bazar, a venue and marketplace. The event is also supported by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County.
The festival centers on a oneof-a-kind fashion show, made possible by the Ocala-based moving company Florida Moving Pros, led by Austin Hendrix. The show will begin at sunset, at 7:50 p.m. on April 11.
DiGenova was not discriminated against or punished because of his disability. As a result of DiGenova acting out on account of his disabilities, he was attacked by officers during the intake process and kept naked in his filthy cell. He was denied treatment for his physical infirmities until it was too late,” according to the complaint.
The complaint references other inmates who have died or been harmed in custody, including several individuals whose deaths the “Gazette” has reported on in recent months— Scott Whitley, Mayra Ramirez and Cory Merchant Additionally, the suit references former jail medical liaison Mary Coy, who came forward as a whistleblower and has now filed suit for wrongful termination against Woods and MCSO.
The use of force used by deputies against DiGenova was investigated by the MCSO Major
“They’re going to be bringing their big box truck, and the models will be in the back of that, and they’ll come out as the box truck pulls onto the festival grounds,” Fakhoury said.
Musical headliners will include The Alchemist, MIKE, Navy Blue, Annabelle Kline, Elijah Fox, Pink Siifu, Pearl & the Oysters, and Kaelin Ellis.
“Attendees can look forward to a circus-themed extravaganza including a
Crimes Unit, but the investigators determined allegations that the actions of jail staff caused the injuries that led to DiGenova’s death could not be proven.
“The investigation revealed several other mechanisms and factors which could have caused or contributed to Inmate DiGenova’s injuries which ultimately led to his death,” according to the report.
According to records, while he was housed in the jail, being transported and being treated at the hospital, DiGenova often vocally told others that deputies caused his injuries.
The complaint also alleges that MCSO staff attempted to cover up the cause of DiGenova’s Injuries.
“Upon information and belief, Sergeant Clinton, who accompanied DiGenova to HCA Ocala, attempted to cover-up the use of excessive force by reporting that DiGenova had
street fashion show, an indoor skatepark, aerial performances, fire breathers, bounce houses, local artist showcases, food trucks, coffee pop-ups, a drive-in movie theater experience, and much more,” according to the website.
Turnout is expected to be upwards of 2,000 to 2,500 people, Fakhoury said.
Tickets are on sale starting at $45 and can be purchased at bigcaf.com
fallen at the jail and refused medical treatment,” according to the complaint. The break in DiGenova’s neck caused the complete transection of his spinal cord at C7, toward the base of his neck, which hospital staff said caused paralysis to part of his body.
The suit also alleges escalated occurrences of use of force at the jail, going from 219 incidents in 2019 to a peak of 602 incidents in 2023—while calling for a solution.
“The MCJ Detention Deputies need ongoing training and education in de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention, implicit bias recognition and in the care and custody of special needs inmates,” according to the complaint.
Editor’s Note: Investigate This! at The Marshall Project provided guidance to the Ocala Gazette team on how to navigate obtaining information under the federal Death In Custody Reporting Act.
People, Places and Things
Crafting friendships
This group of basket weavers produce interesting and beautiful works of art as they share camaraderie.
By Eadie Sickler Special to the Gazette
Sarah’s Fun Basket Weavers gather weekly at First United Methodist Church in Ocala to hone their craft of basket making. Under the expert tutelage of Sarah Kelsay, they learn to create egg, market, bread and napkin baskets, totes and other designs and styles.
Some of the crafters have been in the class for many years and others have just started and are learning the basics. Kelsay spends her time showing, helping and training her students how to successfully complete their projects. Each student gets individualized instruction, as needed.
“When a person first comes to the class, they are shown how to make a basic round muffin basket and a square napkin basket to get the basic basket-making information and knowledge. That usually takes a couple of classes,” Kelsay said.
At that early stage in the process, the members do not take their creations home to work on them but come to the classes to complete them. After that, the students can choose from a myriad of styles and designs from books and patterns available at the classes or from other sources. Some members may work on their baskets at home between classes if they choose, but when they need instruction with a particular method or level of dexterity, Kelsay will show them at the next class.
Many embellishments can be added to baskets during and after the weaving process, including curls, beads, colors and flowers.
Basket weaving came to Kelsay’s attention when she saw a local newspaper article many years ago in regard to a class. She went to the class and “got hooked,” she said. She said she has been making baskets since 1980 or before and decided later on to teach a class herself.
Kelsay has perfected her craft to the point that she displays and sells her wares at the First Friday Art Walks in downtown Ocala and the annual Ocali Country Days event. In the past her works have been featured at the Fine Arts For Ocala’s Ocala Arts Festival. She has also shown her baskets in Gainesville, Lakeland and Micanopy.
Kelsay was born in Tennessee and graduated from the University of Kentucky in Bowling Green, with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She obtained her master’s degree at Morehead State University in Kentucky, where she met her husband, Terence, who also was a graduate of the school. He became an English instructor at Morehead and later at the College of Central Florida. She taught at South Ocala Elementary School for about five years and then became the librarian at Eighth Street Elementary School from 1968 to 2001. Terence is deceased. The couple’s son, John, lives in Ocala and their daughter, Margaret, lives in Kentucky. Between the
siblings, Kelsay has four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Kelsay said the basket weaving group, which has almost a dozen members, is a very congenial group and that they meet together occasionally for social events. She said they sometimes call themselves the “Crazy Basket Cases.”
New library program takes root
The Marion County Public Library system will host a grand opening for its new seed library on April 19.
By Amy Panaia Davidson Special to the Gazette
Garden, plant and seed enthusiasts of all levels in Marion County will soon have an opportunity to grow with the Marion County Public Library.
The grand opening of the MCPL’s seed library will take place at 10:30 a.m. on April 19 at the headquarters branch at 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. A variety of plant and flower experts will share their garden tips during the event and seeds will be available for check-out.
A seed library is a service through which library patrons can select from a catalog of different seed varieties. With a library card, patrons can check out flower, vegetable, herb and ornamental plant seeds to use for their home garden development at no cost. This type of service aims to connect growers who are interested in building a more localized and sustainable “plant population” within their backyards.
Library Community Liaison Karen Jensen said there has been interest from the community to explore this service, which can increase access to homegrown fruits and vegetables.
“Gardening is a passion that many of our patrons enjoy and our public library resources, in various formats, are available to assist the varied gardening interests of our community,” she said. “We hope that the seed library will spread the joy and benefits of gardening.”
The seed inventory collection will be stored behind the information desk at the Headquarters-Ocala Public Library. At each of the nine library locations there will be a seed catalog and with a library card, a patron can make their selections for delivery to one of the locations. Seeds are organized and sorted/stored in plastic drawers that are labeled and organized according to plant type. Library cardholders can borrow seeds, grow the plant at home and then bring seeds back to add to the library’s collection after a plant’s growth cycle.
The seed catalog consists of more than 200 different seed varieties— and counting.
“The library welcomes the donation of seeds in well-sealed and labeled packages for inclusion in our seed library,” Jensen added.
Seed sources are a passion and pursuit for many gardeners. While there exist many traditional methods of acquiring seeds, such as seed
catalogs and garden stores, seed libraries can spread an awareness of local varieties and specific plants that do well in a grower’s area. According to the UF/IFAS Extension Office’s website post about gardening solutions, at gardeningsolutions.ifas. ufl.edu/care/planting/seed-sources/, “Just because it’s sold in Florida doesn’t mean it thrives in Florida.”
Sarah Klitenick of Ocala is an avid gardener with an interest in growing wild native flowers. By doing so, Klitenick said, she’s building the biodiversity locally to increase the number of pollinators, birds and beneficial insects. She also grows southeast Asian vegetables and fruits.
She is interested in participating in the seed library to gain knowledge and resources, and to donate as well.
Eileen Siegel is a newer member of the group and has been attending for about a month. Jorja Greig said she came to the class years ago after a friend invited her. “At first, I didn’t like it, there is so much different terminology. But after completing the basic baskets, I began to enjoy the process and the camaraderie of the group,” Greig said. Susan Mahan said she started basket weaving with her sister-in-law about 30 years ago and had made egg baskets for family members. Greig introduced her to the local class.
“I am drawn to color,” Mahan said as she displayed several baskets she brought to a recent class.
To learn more about the weekly class, including how to join in, call Sarah Kelsay at (352) 817-2967.
“I’m looking for edible herbal plants that grow well here and to learn more about sourcing eco types for our specific zone and I’d love to offer what I can to the seed library,” she said.
The seed library is supported by materials and funds from Friends of the Ocala Public Library, UF/IFAS Extension Services Marion County, Marion Soil and Water Conservation District, Florida Wildflower Foundation and private donations.
Ann Bishop, with the Marion Soil and Water Conservation District, said the seed library aligns with the district’s initiatives to support adequate supplies of healthy food nationwide.
“We understand that not everyone in every community has access to healthy foods and see this project to enhance nutrition in underserved communities. Many
of the contributions to this project are in-kind services. Our team volunteered to coordinate with the great team at Headquarters-Ocala Public Library to get the project’s foundations set,” Bishop said.
“Our team reached out to several agencies and organizations about purchasing or donating seeds. One of our partners, UF/IFAS Marion County Extension Service, donated 1,550 seed packets:1,103 vegetables/ fruit, 344 ornamental plants, and 103 herbs,” Bishop noted. “We anticipate this program will grow and become self-sustainable: take a seed, give a seed.”
For more information and to obtain a library card, call (352) 671-8551 or visit library.marionfl.org
Lynda Esto holds a large basket she made in the class at First United Methodist Church.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman
Lenora Evans, right, gets some help completing her basket from Sarah Kelsay.
Jackie Brennan works on weaving her basket during the weekly class.
Phyllis Sherman, right, uses clothespins to hold her basket together as Susan Mahan looks on.
Pat Martin soaks the reeds of her basket in water to make them pliable.
These works were completed in Sarah’s Fun Basket Weavers class.
Photos by Amy Panaia Davidson
This is an example of the packages in the new Marion County Public Library seed library.
Renee Fernandez, a public service assistant, shows the new seed library collection at the Headquarters-Ocala Public Library in Ocala on April 8, 2025.
Firefighter retirement party
Marion County Fire Rescue workers honored during event that was paused during the pandemic.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
On March 15, the Professional Fire Fighters of Marion County celebrated the return of its annual retirement party and recognized 15 retirees.
The PFFMC is a labor union that represents 575 active and retired first responders from Marion County Fire Rescue.
The newly recognized retirees were provided an evening of music and dinner while they visited with past retirees and current members of PFFMC.
Awards were presented honoring their rank and years of service to Marion County Fire Rescue.
The retirees collectively represent 388 years of experience in the fire service, the news release noted.
The 2025 class of retirees, with their number of years of service and year of retirement, are:
Battalion Chief Joe Amigliore, 28, 2023
Division Chief Travis Blackburn, 27, 2024
Lt. David Calder, 28, 2021
Lieutenant Scott Chappell, 22, 2023
Lt. Kris Cole, 29, 2021
• Lt. Gary Crane, 20, 2024
• Division Chief Craig Damien, 26, 2023
• Capt. Anthony Gillan, 19, 2024
• Battalion Chief Chris Hays, 29, 2022
Lt. Scott Ramage, 28, 2023
Deputy Chief Rodney Mascho, 33, 2023
Driver/Engineer Craig Ustik, 29, 2022
Capt. Chris Trubelhorn, 20,
MAYO CLINIC
2025
• Lt. Brian Gill, 24, 2024
• Lt. Kris Wuenstal, 26, 2025
The news release noted that the high number of retirees was due to the party being paused since 2021.
“It’s essential to us to recognize a lifelong sacrifice to the job and to remind the retirees that while they may no longer work for MCFR, they are
always welcome as a family with our union,” said PFFMC retiree executive board member Phil Shinn in the release.
Find the group on social media at @marionfirefighters, @ FF4Marion and iafflocal3169
Photos courtesy Professional Fire Fighters of Marion County
Living kidney donation may be option for those with Type 2 diabetes
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I was surprised to learn that even though I have Type 2 diabetes, I possibly could be a candidate to donate a kidney to my husband who has end-stage kidney disease. Would donating a kidney be safe for me and my husband? I thought diabetes could cause kidney failure.
ANSWER: Thank you for considering the gift of life through organ donation. I am wishing all the best to you and your husband.
You are correct; diabetes is the top cause of kidney failure. This is why patients with Type 2 diabetes previously were ruled out as potential living kidney donors. However, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network updated its living donor criteria
to allow people with Type 2 diabetes to donate a kidney if there is no evidence of organ damage or an unacceptable lifetime risk of complications.
The major benefit of this policy change is to open up the door for those who would like to be living kidney donors who could not be donors in the past. This can increase the pool of potential living kidney donors and be a lifeline to many people who suffer from end-stage kidney disease. Mayo Clinic Transplant Center also adopted its own more stringent policies to minimize potential risks. In addition to national criteria, Mayo Clinic patients with Type 2 diabetes also must meet the following criteria to be a donor: Be age 60 or older.
• Have well-controlled diabetes and not use insulin.
• If over age 65, can be using up to two oral medications for diabetes.
• Not be overweight.
• Have no family history of kidney disease. Undergo a thorough health assessment and individualized risk evaluation.
People with Type 1 diabetes, however, remain ineligible to be a living kidney donor.
About 89,000 people are on the U.S. waiting list for a kidney transplant, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing.
Unfortunately, kidney disease usually is irreversible and continues to worsen over time. While some types of acute kidney injury may recover, in general,
chronic kidney disease is a progressive disease that leads to dialysis or the need for a kidney transplant.
If someone is facing endstage disease, one option is to go through dialysis, which temporarily replaces kidney function. That can be done through the blood, called hemodialysis, or through the abdomen, called peritoneal dialysis. However, a kidney transplant is the gold standard treatment because studies show transplant patients live longer and have a better quality of life than those on dialysis.
Receiving a living kidney donation also typically is faster than a deceased donor kidney, with arrangements taking weeks to months for a living kidney donation compared
with an average wait of several years for a deceased donor kidney. Research has shown that people who receive a kidney from a living donor kidney have better outcomes than those who have a deceased-donor kidney transplant.
Kidney transplant surgery is done through a minimally invasive, laparoscopic approach through small incisions in your abdomen using surgical instruments and a thin tube with a camera on the end called a laparoscope. Patients typically have a short hospital stay and less pain than after an open surgery. Many donors return to work and their activities a few weeks after donating a kidney.
— Naim Issa, M.D., Nephrology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Retirees Bob Walsh and Jim Swanger discuss “old times.”
Retiree Scott Ramage signs the retirement banner.
MCFR Retirees in attendance at the 2025 retirement party.
German flavors in French Alsace
Alsace is French with a German accent.
Cultures mix across the region’s enchanting, cobbled villages, scenic vineyards, hearty cuisine, and art that’s still as vibrant as the medieval day it was painted.
Standing in the eastern corner of France like a flower-child referee between France and Germany, Alsace has weathered many invasions. Once a Germanspeaking part of the Holy Roman Empire, it became part of France in the 17th century. After France lost the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, Germany annexed it. It bounced back to France after World War I.
All these centuries as a political shuttlecock have given Alsace a hybrid culture. And the city of Colmar is a great home base from which to experience it.
Long popular with French and German tourists, this well-pickled old town of about 70,000 is often overlooked and underrated by overseas travelers.
During World War II the American and British military were careful not to bomb quaintly cobbled Colmar. So today Colmar not only survives, it thrives with 15th- and 16th-century buildings, distinctive cuisine, and rich art treasures.
Colmar’s Unterlinden Museum gets my vote as one of the best
small museums in Europe. It fills a 750-year-old former convent with exhibits ranging from Roman artifacts to medieval winemaking, and from traditional wedding dresses to paintings that give vivid insight into the High Middle Ages.
Matthias Grunewald’s gripping Isenheim Altarpiece, showing a gruesome crucifixion, is the museum’s most important work. Germans know this painting like Americans know the Mona Lisa.
The altarpiece was commissioned 500 years ago by a monastery hospital filled with people suffering terrible skin diseases – a common cause of death back then.
The hospital’s goal, long before the age of painkillers, was to remind patients that Jesus understood their suffering. The many panels led patients through a series of Bible stories culminating with a reassuring Resurrection scene.
At the north gateway to Colmar, a familiar icon may surprise many Americans: a replica of the Statue of Liberty.
Colmar is the hometown of Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor who designed the Statue of Liberty (a gift from France to the United States to commemorate 100 years of American independence).
Colmar’s Bartholdi Museum describes the creation of Lady Liberty and displays many of
AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN
Bartholdi’s sculptures. One room is dedicated to the evolution and completion of the Statue of Liberty; she was assembled in Paris, then taken apart and shipped to New York in 1886 … 10 years late.
When you’re ready for a break from museums, it’s time to hit the road. The Route du Vin – the wine road of Alsace – is an asphalt ribbon tying 90 miles of vineyards, villages, and feudal fortresses into an understandably popular tourist package.
The dry and sunny climate here has produced good wine and happy tourists since Roman times, so vineyard-hopping is a great way to spend an afternoon. Roadside dégustation signs mean winetasters are welcome. Thanks to Alsace’s Franco-Germanic culture, its wines are a kind of hybrid –distinctly French in style and generally drier than their German sisters.
Riesling is the king of Alsatian grapes; it’s robust but drier than the German style you’re probably used to. Sylvaner – fresh and light, fruity and so affordable – is perfect for a hot day. Pinot gris wines are more full-bodied, spicier, and different from other pinot gris wines. Gewürztraminer is “the lady’s wine” – its bouquet is like a rosebush, its taste is fruity, and its aftertaste is spicy – as its name implies ( gewürtz means “spice” in German). In case you really get “Alsauced,” the French term for headache is mal à la tête.
Along with its wine, Alsatian cuisine is world famous. Even vacationers traveling on a shoestring should spring for a fine meal in Alsace.
You can’t mistake the German influence: sausages, potatoes, onions, and sauerkraut. Look for choucroute garnie (sauerkraut and sausage) – although it seems a little hearty and rustic to eat
it in a fancy restaurant. Also try sampling Baeckeoffe (a meaty onion-and-potato casserole made with white wine), Rösti (an ovenbaked potato-and-cheese dish), Spätzle (soft egg noodles), fresh trout, and foie gras. For lighter fare, try poulet au Riesling (chicken slow-cooked in riesling wine). At lunch, or for a lighter dinner, try a tarte à l’oignon (like an onion quiche, but better) or tarte flambée (like a thin-crust pizza with onion and bacon bits). Dessert specialties are tarte alsacienne (fruit tart) and Kugelhopf glacé (a light cake mixed with raisins, almonds, dried fruit, and cherry liqueur).
For a pleasing taste of European culture, there’s nothing quite like Alsace. Visitors enjoy a rich blend of two great societies: French and German, Catholic and Protestant – just enough Germanic discipline with a Latin joy of life.
This everyday cake boasts big flavor that will keep you coming back to snack
Coconut layer cake, a Southern favorite, is taken to a whole new level with our simple stirtogether coconut snack cake using minimal equipment. We used the right combination of sweetened shredded coconut, cream of coconut, and coconut extract to make a cake that was layered with flavor — and not fuss — and hit all the right tropical notes.
Mild sweetened shredded coconut offered a balanced coconutty base and texture to the cake. At the same time, just a bit of coconut extract boosted the coconut flavor without becoming too overwhelming. Cream of coconut — a heavily sweetened, emulsified product used in desserts and cocktail mixes — provided enough sweetness for
this snack cake that no additional sugar was needed. We whipped up a cream cheese frosting in the food processor for a salty, tangy, sweet topping to our coconutty confection and then sprinkled more toasted coconut on top for a nutty, sweet crunch.
Coconut Snack Cake
Serves 9
For the coconut cake:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon table salt
1 1/4 cups cream of coconut
1/2 cup whole milk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
3/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted, divided
For the cream cheese frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese, cut into 8 pieces
1 cup powdered sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon coconut extract
1/8 teaspoon table salt
For the coconut cake:
1Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325
F. Make foil sling for an 8-inch square baking pan by folding two long sheets of aluminum foil so each is 8 inches wide. Lay sheets of foil in, pan perpendicular to each other, with extra foil hanging over edges of pan. Push foil into corners and up sides of pan, smoothing foil flush to pan. Grease foil.
2Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl; set aside. Whisk cream of coconut, milk, eggs, melted butter, vanilla, and coconut extract together in a second large bowl.
Whisk coconut mixture into flour mixture until fully combined. Gently stir in 1/2 cup toasted coconut until evenly distributed.
3Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until the toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack and let cake cool completely in pan on wire rack, about 1 1/2 hours.
Half-day summer art camps for ages 5–17 at the Appleton Museum of Art. Register early as spaces fill quickly! Need-based scholarships are available. Visit AppletonMuseum.org or scan the QR code to learn more.
Using foil overhang, lift coconut cake out of pan and transfer to cutting board; discard foil.
For the cream cheese frosting:
1. Process all ingredients in the food processor until smooth, about 30 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl with rubber spatula as needed.
To finish:
1. Spread frosting evenly over the surface of the cake. Sprinkle frosting evenly with remaining 1/4 cup toasted coconut. Serve. (Frosted cake can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to two days.)
The vineyards along Alsace’s Route du Vin grow familiar grapes such as riesling and pinot gris – but the wine they produce is uniquely Alsatian. CREDIT:(Rick Steves, Rick Steves’ Europe).
Enjoy coconut in every bite! CREDIT: (Steve KliseTCA).
FLORIDA NEWS SERVICE BRIEFS
SENATE PASSES
‘GRANNY FLATS’ PLAN
The Florida Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill that would require local governments to allow what are known as “granny flats” or “carriage houses” in single-family residential areas. Sponsor Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said the bill (SB 184) would help increase workforce housing as the state continues to grapple with affordablehousing issues.
The bill would require cities and counties to allow adding what are technically known as accessory dwelling units, which are independent living spaces added on properties. Current law says local governments can allow the dwelling units, but the bill would require them to do so.
The House Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee on Wednesday approved a House version of the bill (HB 247), sponsored by Rep. Bill Conerly, R-Lakewood Ranch. It would need to clear the Commerce Committee before it could go to the full House.
FLUORIDE
PROHIBITION READY FOR SENATE VOTE
Awide-ranging agricultural bill that would prohibit local governments from adding fluoride to water supplies is ready for a full Senate vote. The measure (SB 700), approved along party lines by the Republican-controlled Senate Fiscal Policy Committee on Tuesday, in part revises the definition of “water quality additive.”
The bills come amid debates in communities throughout Florida about whether to continue the longstanding practice of adding fluoride to drinking water to help with dental health. A longtime critic of fluoridation in Escambia County, Pueschel Schneier told the committee the issue is about “medical freedom” and claimed there is no excuse for someone to claim they don’t have access to a toothbrush. “No government entity has the right to medicate us against our will,” Schneier said.
“They have no right to medicate an entire population because they believe maybe a small portion of that population will benefit.” But Jackson Oberlink, legislative director for Florida For All, maintained that fluoridating water has been one of the nation’s most successful public health initiatives.
“Are cavities the new culture war? Is the water too woke?” Oberlink said. Calling it “public health malpractice,” Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo in November advised local governments to stop adding fluoride to their community water supplies. The American Dental Association responded by claiming Ladapo was “misinformed.”
Local officials in Port St. Lucie, Naples and Niceville are among communities that have agreed to remove fluoride from their water. The wide-reaching bill approved Tuesday also would allow the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to create rules to prohibit plantbased products being “mislabeled” as meat and poultry products.
The bill also would ban most drone operations over agricultural lands and preempt local governments from regulating construction of housing for “legally verified” agricultural workers.
A similar housing preemption was vetoed last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who claimed the 2024 measure lacked enforcement related to illegal workers.
GAS PRICES RISE BUT COULD FALL
Average gasoline prices in Florida increased last week, but the Trump administration’s tariffs are affecting oil prices and could slow or reverse recent rises at the pump. Florida motorists Monday paid an average of $3.18 a gallon, up 8 cents from a week earlier, according to the AAA auto club. The national average Monday was $3.26 a gallon.
Recent increases have been attributed to refinery maintenance and the switch to summer-blend gasoline. “The oil price plunge is reportedly attributed to concerns that tariffs could cause a global economic slowdown, potentially resulting in a reduction in fuel demand,” AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said in a prepared statement.
“The market is also now worried about an over-abundance of global oil supplies. This comes after OPEC+ announced plans to raise oil production in May by about three times more than previously planned.”
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in an online post that “oil prices have plummeted” with tariffs being “some of the most significant” in more than a century.
“In addition to falling oil prices, the stock market has dropped sharply, and the risk of a recession has increased --- raising the likelihood of reduced global energy and oil demand, which is sending prices lower,”
De Haan posted on Bluesky. “As a result, motorists can expect gas prices to begin falling nearly coast-to-coast, with oil now at its lowest level since the early days of the pandemic of 2021.”
Average prices Monday ranged from $2.91 a gallon in the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach area to $3.31 in the West Palm BeachBoca Raton area, according to AAA.
FLORIDA JOBLESS CLAIMS DIP
The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday estimated 5,402 first-time unemployment claims were filed in Florida during the week that ended March 29, down slightly from a revised count of 5,614 claims during the week that ended March 22.
The Department of Labor report came after the Florida Department of Commerce said last week that the state’s unemployment rate increased from 3.5 percent in January to 3.6 percent in February. The February rate reflected an estimated 398,000 Floridians qualified as out of work from a labor force of 11.196 million.
Florida has averaged 6,057 weekly claims since the start of the year. Nationally, an estimated 219,000 claims were filed during the week that ended March 29, down from a revised count of 225,000 during the week that ended March 22. Since the start of the year, the nation has averaged 221,333 weekly claims.
Ballot initiative plan ready for senate vote
By Dara Kam Florida News Service
ALLAHASSEE —The
TSenate Fiscal Policy Committee on Tuesday approved a measure aimed at imposing additional hurdles on the ballot-initiative process and heightening penalties for wrongdoing.
Lawmakers are pursuing the changes after highly contentious and expensive battles over proposed ballot initiatives last year that sought to put abortion rights in the state Constitution and allow recreational marijuana for adults.
Gov. Ron DeSantis helped lead campaigns to defeat the proposals, which fell short of receiving the necessary 60 percent voter approval to pass. DeSantis this year is championing the ensuing effort to crack down on the ballot-initiative process.
Senate Ethics and Elections Chairman Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, told the Fiscal Policy Committee that the proposed changes seek to address investigations by the state Office of Election Crimes and Security that found wrongdoing related to the 2024 initiatives.
“Bad actors have undermined and corrupted” the ballot-initiative process, Gaetz, a former Senate president, said.
“There’s one stain on Florida’s election integrity, and it’s deep and it’s broad and it’s ugly,” he added.
The Senate plan (SB 7016), which is ready to head to the full Senate, doesn’t go as far as a bill (HB 1205) approved by the House last week.
As an example, the House plan would require the Office of Elections Crimes and Security to investigate if 10 percent of submitted petitions during any reporting period are deemed invalid. Supporters of proposed constitutional amendments often submit more signatures than are needed to get on the ballot, with the expectation that some will be rejected. The proposed 90 percent validation rate poses a virtually insurmountable hurdle, critics argue.
The Senate proposal would require an investigation if 25 percent of submitted petitions are deemed invalid. The Senate bill says that sponsors of initiatives cannot be fined if they discover a violation of signature-gathering laws and report it “as soon as practicable” to the secretary of state’s office, something the House does not include in its plan.
Critics of the legislation argued Tuesday that the proposed restrictions could expose sponsors of ballot measures to exorbitant fines and erect unnecessary hurdles
to what many said was one of the nation’s most onerous signaturegathering processes.
The bill “imposes a minefield of new barriers for citizen-led amendments and essentially criminalizes many aspects of the process,” Brad Ashwell, state director of All Voting is Local Action, told the panel.
The Senate bill also would require anyone who gathers signatures to register with the state and undergo training. Currently, unpaid volunteers who circulate petitions do not have to register.
The Senate proposal also would cap how many petitions someone who is not registered can possess and make violations of the restriction a felony. Unregistered people would be allowed to possess petitions for themselves, two other people and certain family members.
One of the most-controversial changes included in both bills would shorten from 30 days to 10 days the length of time signature gatherers would have to submit petitions to supervisors of elections and would increase penalties for late-filed petitions. Both chambers’ plans also would require voters to provide identifying information, such as their driver’s license numbers, when signing petitions and require people gathering petitions to be Florida residents.
The Senate proposal does not include a part of the House bill that would give the Legislature more power to carry out amendments that pass by allowing lawmakers to define “terms of art” in initiatives.
In addition, the Senate and House plans vary on how felons and people who are not U.S. citizens can participate in the initiative process. The House would prohibit noncitizens or felons from “collecting or handling” petitions, while the Senate version would prohibit felons or noncitizens only from collecting petitions. The Senate also would not require sponsors to conduct background checks on workers who gather signatures.
Both proposals would require county supervisors of elections to notify voters whose signatures have been validated and allow them to revoke their signatures.
The Senate bill is “responsive to very real fraud and deficiencies in the system that have been identified,” Sen. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, said before the committee approved the bill Tuesday with a 19-5 vote along party lines.
“Pick the issue that you would least like to see in the Constitution … and then decide what is your tolerance for fraud and that is why are doing this,” she said.
Florida leads the nation in the number of immigrants with Temporary Protected Status, or TPS.
By Mercedes Vigon
Associate professor of Journalism, Florida International University
Soon after taking office, the Trump administration moved to scale back protections for the largest groups of these immigrants – those from Haiti and Venezuela.
TPS applies to immigrants from designated countries that the Department of Homeland Security considers dangerous due to armed conflicts, environmental disasters, epidemics or other conditions. There are currently 17 countries on the list. The most recent country added was Lebanon on Oct. 16, 2024.
According to a federal report published in December 2024, nearly a third of the roughly 1.1 million TPS recipients live in Florida. Of those, 59% are Venezuelan and 35% are Haitian, with the other 6% coming from other TPS nations.
I’m a professor of investigative journalism at Florida International University in Miami. For the past 24 years, I’ve worked with students to report how various waves of immigrants have integrated into Florida, and also on the impact of historical immigration crackdowns on the state’s workforce.
Because so many TPS recipients live here, ending TPS may affect Florida more than any other state – but it is still hard to say if and when that will happen.
UNCERTAIN TPS EXPIRATION
DATES
Temporary Protected Status allows beneficiaries to stay and work in the U.S. for a designated period, typically ranging from six to 18 months. This time period can be extended if conditions in the affected country remain unstable. It does not provide a permanent legal pathway to stay in the United States.
President Joe Biden’s administration created two TPS designations for Venezuelans –one in 2021 and a second in 2023.
In early February 2025, Trump’s Homeland Security director, Kristi Noem, rolled back extensions of TPS for Venezuelans that the outgoing Biden administration had issued on Jan. 17, 2025. Then, two days later, she issued a termination notice that canceled TPS for 2023
Venezuelan recipients altogether.
Noem’s orders meant that almost 250,000 Venezuelans covered by the 2023 designation were expected to lose their residence and work permits on April 7, 2025. Another 256,000 Venezuelans who requested their TPS under the earlier designation were expected to lose their protections on Sept. 10, 2025.
But Venezuelans got some breathing room on March 31, when U.S. District Judge Edward Chen blocked the change in their immigration status, writing that Noem’s decision “smacks of racism.” As a result, they will keep their TPS protections while the case moves through the courts.
Noem has said that having Venezuelans in the country “is contrary to the national interest” and accused them without proof of gang affiliations.
The judge’s ruling doesn’t affect the more than 520,000 Haitian immigrants nationwide expected to lose their TPS protection on Aug. 3, 2025.
The expiration of TPS potentially affects 341,000 immigrants in Florida. But it doesn’t mean all of these people
will leave the country. TPS rules allow immigrants to apply for a change of immigration status, and some will apply for asylum or student visas. Others will go underground.
LOCAL ECONOMIC EFFECTS
These policies won’t just affect Venezuelan and Haitian TPS holders personally. It will likely cause some big waves in the Florida economy.
The non-profit American Immigration Council, an immigrant advocacy group, estimates that 95% of TPS holders in Florida age 16 and older are currently employed. They paid approximately US$485.9 million in local and Florida state taxes, according to the same report.
Although the public often associates immigrants with work in the construction, agricultural and meatpacking industries, most are employed in education and health care.
FEWER HOME HEALTH AIDES
Immigrants account for 64% of all home health aides in Florida, according to the American Immigration Council.
Nationwide, 1 in 4 direct care workers are immigrants, according to a policy brief from PHI, an advocacy group for elder care and disability service workers.
Not all of these workers are TPS holders, but an estimated 7% of foreign-born caregivers are from Haiti. Additionally, the research from PHI suggests that the actual percentage of home health aides who are immigrants is likely higher, as many immigrant workers in this sector operate in the “gray market.” These workers receive direct payment from the people they work for, which makes their employment hard to track.
PHI projects that the longterm care sector in the U.S. will need to fill 9.3 million new direct care job openings by 2031 due to the country’s aging population.
SCHOOL STAFF A CONCERN
The public school system is another area where the sudden loss of TPS recipients will likely be deeply felt.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the third-largest school district in the country, is
experiencing an ongoing shortage of teachers and staff. The district had nearly 700 education and support positions unfilled in August 2024, according to a district-by-district count done by the Florida Education Association.
“It is not only teachers,” an administrator told me in March 2025, explaining that the vacancies are also among registrars, custodians, paraprofessionals and other roles. These “high stakes” education jobs, as he described them to me, are difficult for Miami-Dade County schools to fill.
The Miami-Dade school district doesn’t report on the nationality of its employees – or their immigration status. But unfilled positions in the school district dropped after an influx of Venezuelans and Haitians in 2019, the administrator told me.
Losing these workers would likely mean South Florida’s persistent education and home health care labor shortages would worsen – making it increasingly difficult for families with schoolage children, the elderly and individuals with special needs to access affordable essential services.
State parks bill advances in house
By Jim Turner
TALLAHASSEE — A bill aimed at preventing a return of efforts to build golf courses, pickleball courts and resorts in state parks is ready to go to the full Florida House.
The House State Affairs Committee on Tuesday unanimously supported the measure (HB 209), which sponsor John Snyder, R-Stuart, said seeks to prevent “unintended development within the state park system.” It came after widespread opposition last year to a plan dubbed the “Great Outdoors Initiative” by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
While Snyder’s bill is headed to the House floor, it remains to be seen how the issue will progress in the Senate. A Senate version of the bill (SB 80) still would need to clear two more committees in the final weeks of the legislative session.
Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, has voiced support for some aspects of the proposal. But he also noted his wife is a pickleball player and that courts could be a park enhancement that would not
disturb “natural Florida.”
“It’s really about achieving balance,” Albritton told reporters March 27.
“We can have the conversation about, you know, what’s disrupting and what is not, and
try to enhance that experience for Floridians,” Albritton added.
The Department of Environmental Protection proposal last year called for golf courses, resort-style lodges and pickleball courts at 10 state parks. The proposal was pulled back after the public outcry. Gov. Ron DeSantis at one point described it as “half-baked.”
Rep. Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg, said the proposed House bill would protect all 175 state parks.
“This is an example of when the public is able to shift the Legislature and really get positive changes,” Cross said. “We don’t always see that. When you’re an environmentalist and you love conservation, you’re often on the losing end and you have to continue to fight over and over again.”
A focus of last year’s plan was adding golf courses in the 11,500acre Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County. It also
included building lodges with up to 350 rooms at Anastasia State Park in St. Johns County and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Walton County.
Pickleball courts and disc golf were outlined for other parks.
Snyder’s proposal was revised Tuesday to clarify that construction could not harm a park’s natural resources, native habitats or historical sites. Construction couldn’t include sporting facilities, such as golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball courts and ball fields.
“There were some loopholes in the original language,” Friends of the Everglades Executive Director Eve Samples said. “We think it had good intent. But those loopholes have been addressed.”
Also, under Snyder’s proposal, the Division of State Lands would be able to add camping cabins that hold six guests and are “compatible with the state park’s land management plan.”
Rep. John Snyder, R-Stuart, wants to prevent projects such as golf courses in state parks. Colin Hackley/File
Government
APRIL 14, 21, 28
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.
APRIL 15
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
Ocala City Council
Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala
4pm
The council meets each first and third Tuesday of the month. 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
APRIL 15
Marion County School Board
1614 E Fort King St.
5:30pm
The board meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Agendas and minutes are available at go.boarddocs.com/fl/marion/Board.nsf/Public
Community
APRIL 12
Scrubfest Homegrown 2025
Scrubland Farmz, 22505 NE 130th Court, Fort McCoy
8am-3pm This plant festival focuses on edible, medicinal and native plants with a dozen presentations about mushrooms, healing plants, moringa trees, plants for sale and more. Food trucks, an artisan market and a kids’ zone. $20 in advance, $25 day of event. For more info, go to scrublandfarmznursery.com
APRIL 12
Farmland Preservation Festival
Stirrups ‘n Strides Therapeutic Riding Center, 4246 W Highway 318, between Orange Lake and Citra 9am to 3pm
The event is organized by the nonprofit Save Our Rural Areas group, or SORA. It will include family-friendly fun, cottage and traditional farm crafts, farm animals, tractors and farm equipment, food vendors, live music and plants for sale. Admission is free but there is a $5 charge for parking, which will give the paying guest a raffle ticket they can take to the SORA booth for a chance on a selection of items. To learn more, go to farmlandfestival.org
APRIL 12
Water Safety Day
Florida Aquatics Swimming & Training (FAST), 4635 SW 67th Ave. Road, Ocala Noon to 3pm FAST is hosting the second annual event to raise awareness. The free event is open to the public and includes swimmers of all ages. Activities will include learning the importance of water safety and prevention strategies, swim lessons and informational booths from local fire stations, hospitals, police departments and others. Food will be available for purchase from the FAST Fuel Café. Pre-register at FloridaFAST. com/tickets.
Arts
APRIL 11 – MAY 16
Levitt Amp Ocala Music Series
Webb Field, MLK Recreation Complex, 1510 NW 4th St., Ocala 6pm The Marion Cultural Alliance, with the city of Ocala, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission of Marion County and Juneteenth Celebration Commission, host the 2025 Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series, with free music every Friday from 6 to 8 pm. Next up is The Dollyrots (pop rock/punk). Each event features food trucks, interactive activities and a spotlight on a local nonprofit. Find details at ocalafl.gov
APRIL 11, 12, 13
“James and the Giant Peach” Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, at 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala 7pm April 11 and 12; 2pm April 13
The Academy at Ocala Civic Theatre will offer its youth production of Richard R. George’s creative dramatization of the book by Roald Dahl. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for ages 18 and younger and can be purchased at the OCT box office or over the phone at (352) 236-2274, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and online at ocalacivictheatre.com
APRIL 12
StoryWalk: Elements at Play
Marion County Library Headquarters, Ocala 2pm Community Stages’ ODDBITS Trunk & Trek Troupe offers an immersive theatre experience featuring international folktales. The event is presented in partnership with Ocala Recreation and Parks and this introduces ArtiFacts TR3, Community Stages’ first adult troupe, made up of parents of CS students. To learn more, go to communitystages.org
APRIL 12-13
The West Meets Scheherazade
Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala
April 12, 7:30pm; April 13, 3pm
The Ocala Symphony Orchestra celebrates the finale of its 49th season. Featuring Michael Daugherty’s vibrant “Rio Grande,” Leanna Primiani’s emotional “1,001” and Eric Whitacre’s playful “Godzilla Eats Las Vegas,” the concert promises a journey through exotic tales and thrilling moments. After intermission, sail with Sinbad and fall in love with Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade.” Learn more at reillyartscenter.com
APRIL 18
Steeln’ Peaches: Tribute to the Allman Brothers Band
Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala 7:30pm Celebrate 55 years of the Allman Brothers Band. With exceptional talent, dynamic chemistry and a commitment to honoring the band’s expansive jams and virtuosic compositions, Steeln’ Peaches delivers an electrifying experience. Find out more at reillyartscenter.com
APRIL 18
Sit Down for Stand Up
Marion Theatre, 50 S. Magnolia Ave., Ocala
7:30pm Live stand-up comedy event featuring three talented and hilarious comics. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com
APRIL 24-26
The Music Man presented by Redeemer Christian School Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala April 24, 25 and 26, 7pm; April 26, 2pm There’s trouble in River City when a fast-talking salesman gets his heart stolen by the town librarian. Meredith Willson’s six-time, Tony Award-winning musical comedy has been entertaining audiences since 1957 and is a family-friendly story to be shared with every generation. For details, go to reillyartscenter.com
APRIL 12
Boomtown Days
Historic downtown Dunnellon 9am-5pm The event will include live entertainment, a car show, arts and crafts, a cowboy show, a beauty pageant and a kids’ zone. Learn more at dunnellonchamber.com
APRIL 14
(MONDAYS THROUGH JUNE 9)
Free Diabetes SelfManagement Class
Rainbow Lakes Estates Community Center, 4030 SW Deepwater Court, Dunnellon 6pm-8pm The Marion County Hospital District, in collaboration with Marion County Parks and Recreation, is offering a program to those 18 and older who are living with diabetes, are prediabetic or are providing care or support for someone with diabetes. Participants will take part in the Diabetes Education Empowerment Program (DEEP), an eight-week curriculum designed to provide practical knowledge and tools for enhancing diabetes self-care. For more information or to register, call (352) 622-3662 or email amp@mchdt.org.
APRIL 17
Fair Housing Act celebration
Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala
5:30-7:30pm
The city of Ocala’s Community Development Services’ public event will celebrate the 57th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. The free event is made possible through partnerships with Community Legal Services, the Housing Finance Authority and the Ocala Housing Authority. Guests will hear from featured speakers and enjoy a complimentary dinner. RSVP at eventbrite.com/e/2025-fairhousing-event-city-of-ocala-tickets1261163065679?aff=oddtdtcreator
APRIL 19
Earthfest in Celebration of Arbor Day
Tuscawilla Park, 800 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala
9am-1pm
The city of Ocala’s Recreation and Parks Department will host Earthfest, the city’s annual Arbor Day celebration. The event will include the Youth Fishing Derby, from 9 a.m. to noon, for ages 14 and younger. Participants are encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment and bait; a limited number of supplies will be available. Additional activities include recreational tree climbing, a rock-climbing wall, eco-friendly vendors, animal rescue organizations, food trucks and the Ocala Clothing Swap. Free tree saplings and pollinator plants will be available while supplies last. Entertainment will be provided by Peaches and Karim. For more information, visit ocalafl.gov/earthfest
APRIL 19 (TO JUNE 14)
Don Philpott lectures Marion County Sheriff’s Office Substation, 3260 SE 80th St., Ocala 10am
The Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway will present free lectures by the award-winning writer, journalist and environmental advocate. The topics and dates are Edible Florida, April 19; The History of Wekiwa Springs and Rock Springs Run, May 10; and Florida’s Incredible Wildlife, June 14. For details, call (352) 671-8560.
APRIL 25
NAACP of Marion County Freedom Fund & Awards Banquet
Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala
6pm The keynote speaker will be Cong. Maxwell Frost. Tickets are $75 per person or $140 per couple. For details, call (352) 351-4560 or email marioncountyflnaacp@gmail.com
MAY 6 (REGISTER BY APRIL 25)
Adult Mental Health First Aid Training Via Zoom
9:30am-4:30pm The nationally recognized course, created by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in adults. It is for parents, teachers, coworkers, friends, neighbors, service providers and others. The training is facilitated by certified instructors from the Community Council Against Substance Abuse and the Marion County Children’s Alliance. Thanks to funding from the Marion County Hospital District, the course is available at no cost to Marion County residents. RSVP at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI pQLSdyxUUjxR5smOTaSl6RwriKZUBE9Pt kKQ7Y-lEbDyzjKGQkXg/viewform?pli=1
APRIL 26
Drive-up Food Giveaway Revealing Truth Ministries Outreach Christian Center, 757 SW 62nd Court, Ocala 10am (while supplies) The Beyond Us Community Development Corporation presents this outreach. Learn more by calling (352) 209-7515 or visiting revealingtruthocc.org
APRIL 26
Kimberly’s Center 5K Race Against Child Abuse
A. Colen Academy, 5080 SW 66th Court Road, Ocala 8am Calesa Township, by Colen Built Development, will sponsor and host the 13th annual race. The 5K brings awareness to Child Abuse Prevention Month and raises funds to support services and programs for children suffering trauma, abuse and neglect in Marion County. The first 250 runners registered will receive a special edition 5K t-shirt. The first 800 runners will receive a challenge medal. For registration, visit kimberlys5krace. itsyourrace.com/event.aspx?id=15593
APRIL 29
Early Childhood Forum with Derek Clarke Mary Sue Rich Community Center, 1821
21st Ave, Ocala
11:30am-1:30pm Derk Clark, known for his “Rapping Dad” videos that have garnered over 250 million views, is the keynote speaker for the Early Learning Coalition of Marion County’s second annual Early Childhood Forum. Clark will share his powerful and inspiring story of survival, resilience and overcoming adversity. The free luncheon event is open to all. tickets can be reserved at ELC-Marion.org/events/earlychildhood-forum/.
The Steeln’ Peaches group will perform its tribute to the Allman Brothers Band on April 18 at the Reilly Arts Center. [Photo courtesy Reilly Arts Center]
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.
ocalagazette
EDWARD ANTHONY DENTE PROBATE DIVISION File No. 25-CP-000741 Division Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Edward Anthony Dente, deceased, whose date of death was September 26, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 NW 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 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
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 March 4, 2025. Attorney for Personal Representative: Personal Representative: Nathan L. Townsend, Esq., Attorney Florida Bar Number: 0095885 1000 Legion Place, Ste. 1200 Orlando, FL 32801 Telephone: (407) 792-6100
Fax: (407) 982-1314
E-Mail: nathan@nltlaw.com
SUMMARY: Public hearing to be held on May 13, 2025, to discuss and vote on Rezoning for High School CCC.
SUMMARY OF RULE: Board action with current statutes governing general powers of the district school board.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COST: There are no additional costs required other than that of advertising.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 1001.41, Fla. Stats. (2024).
Law(s) Implemented: 1001.41, Fla. Stats. (2024).
A public hearing will occur at the following School Board Meeting:
TIME: 5:30 p.m.
PLACE: School Board Administration Office, 1614 E. Fort King Street, Ocala, Florida
DATE: May 13, 2025
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE REZONING FOR HIGH SCHOOL CCC
CONTACT: Stephen Ayres, Director, Student Assignment and Records Marion County Public Schools PO Box 670
Notice of Rule Making
NAME OF AGENCY: The School Board of Marion County, Florida RULE TITLE: Instructional Materials RULE NO.: Board Policy 2521
SUMMARY: Hold a public hearing on May 13, 2025, NO VOTE Hearing, to approve the 2024-2025 Instructional Material Titles for Adoption.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COST: Revisions align policy with current statutes governing instructional materials.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 1001.41, 1001.42 Fla. Stats. (2022).
Law(s) Implemented: 1003.41, 1006.28, 1006.283, 1006.29, 1006.30, 1006.31, 1006.32, 1006.34, 1006.36, 1006.38, 1006.40, 1006.41, 1006.42, Fla. Stats. (2022).
A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD:
TIME: 5:30 p.m. PLACE Browne Greaton Cole Auditorium, 1614 E. Ft. King Street, Ocala, Florida 34471
DATE: May 13, 2025 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE RECOMMENDED TITLES FOR ADOPTION, CONTACT: Braegan Hughes, Coordinator, Curriculum & Instruction Marion County Public Schools PO Box 670 Ocala, FL 34478
IN THE 5 th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA.
IN RE: The Estate of PROBATE DIVISION
GLADYS LOFTON, CASE NO.: 2025-CP000363 Deceased. /
NOTICE TO CREDITORS (Formal Administration)
TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS OR DEMANDS AGAINST THE ABOVE
ESTATE: The administration of the Estate of GLADYS LOFTON, deceased, whose date of death was March 25, 2024, and whose social security number is ***-**-8617, 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 WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (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 THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITH THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE 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.
A 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 ss. 732.216-732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211. The date of first publication of this Notice is April 4, 2025.
Attorney and Personal Representative Giving Notice:
/s/ Steven E. Gurian .
STEVEN E. GURIAN, ESQ., Attorney for Personal Representative EASY ESTATE PROBATE, PLLC 2601 South Bayshore Drive, 18 th Floor Coconut Grove, Florida 33133
Tel: 1-833-973-3279
Fax: 1-833-927-3279
E-mail: SG@EasyEstateProbate.com
Florida Bar No. 101511
/s/ Tridney Askew
TRIDNEY ASKEW, As Personal Representative
Blessed Trinity Catholic Church is seeking proposals from qualified Door and Locksmith providers to purchase and install a cloud-based access control system on specific locks across multiple campus buildings. The project includes upgrading locks to be ADA-compliant and integrating them with a centralized access control system for enhanced security and management. This proposed project is funded through the FL-NSGP Security Grant. Proposals will be considered from Door and Locksmith companies that have been successful in completing similar type projects as well as adherence to any Special Provisions. Proposals are publicly solicited, and a fixed price (Lump Sum) contract will be awarded to the responsive company whose proposal conforms with all material terms and conditions of the RFP, and is the best value to Blessed Trinity Catholic Church. Proposals will not be accepted after 12:00 Noon on Monday, April 21, 2025. RFP is available electronically via email request to kbaker@blessedtrinity. org. All Email requests should have a title of "Blessed Trinity Lock/Access Control project Bid Document Request."
Publication Dates LSAR0219369
IN THE 5th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA.
IN RE: The Estate of PROBATE DIVISION HAYDEE DUARTE, CASE NO.: 2025-CP000818
Deceased.
/ NOTICE TO CREDITORS (Formal Administration)
TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS OR DEMANDS AGAINST THE ABOVE ESTATE: The administration of the Estate of HAYDEE DUARTE, deceased, whose date of death was May 2, 2025, and whose social security number is ***-**-7740, 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 WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (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 THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITH THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE 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.
A 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 ss. 732.216-732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211. The date of first publication of this Notice is April 4, 2025.
Attorney and Personal Representative Giving Notice:
/s/ Steven E. Gurian . STEVEN E. GURIAN, ESQ., Attorney for Personal Representative EASY ESTATE PROBATE, PLLC
2601 South Bayshore Drive, 18th Floor Coconut Grove, Florida 33133
Tel: 1-833-973-3279
Fax: 1-833-927-3279
E-mail: SG@EasyEstateProbate.com Florida Bar No. 101511
/s/ Martha Bunge
MARTHA BUNGE, As Personal Representative
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA
IN RE: ESTATE OF SANDRA J. EMEIS, DECEASED, CASE NO. 2025-CP-0512
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Sandra J. Emeis, deceased, whose date of death was December 25, 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 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 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.
Notice is hereby given that the School
Florida,
April
2025, at 5:30 p.m., at the School Board Administration Office, 1614 E. Ft. King Street, Ocala, Florida, 34471. There will also be a Public Hearing for the Request for Pre-Qualifications for General Construction Services 2025-2026. An agenda will be published seven days prior to the meeting. The agenda 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.marion. k12.fl.us.
Persons wishing to address the Board should register with the Chairman prior to 5:40 p.m.
Any person deciding to appeal any decision made by the Board at the meeting will need a record of the proceedings and, for such purpose, may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence on which the appeal is to be based.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA THE FAIRWAYS AT SILVER SPRINGS SHORES CONDOMINIUM NO. 5, INC., A FLORIDA NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION, Plaintiff, VS. CASE NO.: 2023-CA-3470
WILLIAM E. JEFFERSON, AS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF PHILIP MORRISON, MEGAN E. CARDWELL, AS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF JANE FOX, ELLEN CARDWELL, PETER MORRISON, STACY YANKELEVITZ, AND SAMANTHA MORRISON, Defendant(s). NOTICE OF SALE UNDER FLORIDA STATUTES CHAPTER 45 NOTICE IS GIVEN that, in accordance with the Final Summary Judgment of In Rem Foreclosure and Taxation of Attorney's Fees and Costs entered on or about April 4, 2025, in the above-styled cause, the Clerk of Court in and for Marion County, Florida, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash by electronic sale at www.marion.realforeclose.com, on May 1, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., the following described real property: Building 3, Unit 205-D, THE FAIRWAYS AT SILVER SPRINGS SHORES CONDOMINIUM NO. 5, together with an undivided interest in the common elements, according to the Declaration of Condominium filed March 8, 1978 and recorded in Official Records Book 870, Pages 0435 through 0510, as amended from time to time, Public Records of Marion County, Florida; 763 Midway Drive, Unit B, Ocala, Florida 34472; Marion County Property Appraiser Parcel ID No.: 90495-03-205. 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.
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been furnished by U.S. Mail or Eservice on this 7th day of 2025, to: Megan E. Cardwell, as Personal Representative of Jane Fox, 27 Ash Hill Road, Carmel, Maine 04419; Stacy Yankelevitz, 2804 Snow Goose Lane, Lake Mary, Florida 32746; Samantha Morrison, 2880 Tulane Avenue, Long Beach, California 90815; William E. Jefferson, as Personal Representative of Philip Morrison, 23 Curtis Street, Wakefield, Massachusetts 01880; Ellen Cardwell aka The Estate Of Ellen Cardwell aka The Unknown Spouse, Heirs, Devisees, Grantees, Creditors, or Other Parties Claiming By, Through, Under, or Against Ellen Cardwell, 763 Midway Drive, Unit B, Ocala, Florida 34472; Peter Morrison aka The Estate Of Peter Morrison aka The Unknown Spouse, Heirs, Devisees, Grantees, Creditors, or Other Parties Claiming By, Through, Under, or Against Peter Morrison, 763 Midway Drive, Unit B, Ocala, Florida 34472; Judit Karparti, Esquire, karpatilaw@gmail.com.
JUDICIOUS LAW. P By: BRADFORD J. TROPELLO, ESQUIRE bjt@judiciouslawpa.com ma@judiciouslawpa.com Post Office Box 369 Ocala, Florida 34478 (352) 509-5015 Florida Bar No.: 42694
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 April 4, 2025. Attorney for Personal Representative, Caleb V. Smith, Esquire The Florida Legal Advocacy Group, P.A. 445 NE 8th Ave. Ocala, Florida 34470
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF WALTER SELDEN SAUNDERS, Deceased. FILE NO.: 2025-CP-496 NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of WALTER SELDEN SAUNDERS, deceased, whose date of death was April 16, 2024; is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division; File Number 2025-CP-496; the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475. The name and address of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative’s attorney is set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons, who have claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, and who have been served a copy of this Note, must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court, WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED 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 APRIL 11, 2025.
Personal Representative: ANA K. SAUNDERS 15395 Southern Martin Street Winter Garden, Florida 34787
Attorney for Personal Representative: DAVIS R. WATSON III Florida Bar No.: 117996 DAVIS R. WATSON III, P.A. 2201 S. E. 30th Avenue Suite 202 Ocala, Florida 34471 (352) 732-8080 Email: davis@daviswatsonlaw.com
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA. IN RE: THE ESTATE OF MARY L. BULLWINKLE, Deceased. CASE NO: 2025-CP-826
you must file your claim with the court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF A DATE THAT IS 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS NOTICE. All other creditors of the decedent
Filing # 220013438 E-Filed 04/01/2025 09:44:49 AM NOTICE OF ACTION CONSTRUCTIVE SERVICE PROPERTY IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 5TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY CIVIL ACTION NO: 24CA001448AX Civil Division OWNERS IN RE: RAINBOW SPRINGS PROPERTY ASSOCIATION, INC., a Florida non-profit Corporation, Plaintiff, VS. CORNELIUS VULPEN, et al, Defendant(s), VAN VULPEN; CARLA F.W. VAN TO: CORNELIUS VAN VULPEN; CARLA F.W. VAN VULPEN AMENDED NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION (Amending to correct name of newspaper) YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose a lien on the following property in MARION County, Florida: LOT 6 OF BLOCK 134 OF RAINBOW SPRINGS FOURTH REPLAT ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, AS SAME IS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK "S", PAGES 54 THROUGH 74 OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA.
A lawsuit has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any to it on FLORIDA COMMUNITY LAW GROUP, P.L., Attorney for RAINBOW SPRINGS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., whose address is P.O. Box 292965, Davie, FL 33329-2965 and file the original with the clerk of the above styled court on or before (or 30 days from the first date of publication, whichever is later); otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief prayed for in the complaint or petition. This notice shall be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in The Ocala Gazette (Newspaper) 1ST WITNESS my hand and the seal of said court at MARION County, Florida on this day of APRIL 2025.
COMPTROLLER GREGORY HARRELL As Clerk, Circuit Court MARION County, Florida of Court Bill As Deputy Clerk RION AND COUNTY By: Florida Community Law Group, P.L. Jared Block, Esq. P.O. Box 292965 Davie, FL 33329-2965 Phone: (954) 372-5298 Fax: (866) 424-5348 Email: jared@flclg. com Fla Bar No.: 90297
D. SILBERHORN Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of DAVID D. SILBERHORN, deceased, whose date of death was January 14, 2025, 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 April 11, 2025.
Personal Representative: TEYA M. GAMMEL 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
Answers: The doctor that treated herons, egrets, cranes, flamingoes, etc. had a — "WADING" ROOM
Crossword
Jumble
Gasoline Alley
Broom Hilda
Middletons
