Locala, March 2022, Ocala, FL by Lisa Anderson Media, LLC

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SADÉ CAIN

Living Her Dream: When Ponies Turn into Performance

HEATHER MASON To-Go: Former Waitress Feels Pretty Lucky

TREVOR DESHAW

The Right Direction Without the Wrong Intention: Living with a Giver’s Mentality

Volume 01, Issue No. 10 • MARCH 2022

forgiveness IS THE hardest thing

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LISA ANDERSON, PUBLISHER lisa@lisaandersonmedia.com senior copy editor JODI ANDERSON staff advisor CHAD TAYLOR

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EDITORIAL contributing writers APPLETON MUSEUM TEAM MEMBERS contributing writer DR. MANAL FAKHOURY contributing writer CINDY GRIMES contributing writer CYNTHIA MCFARLAND

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LISA ANDERSON MEDIA, LLC chief executive officer LISA ANDERSON sales & distribution manager DAVID LUGO media manager JOSHUA JACOBS website LISAANDERSONMEDIA.COM © Lisa Anderson Media, LLC and Locala™. All rights reserved. Online: ISSN 2771-1056, Print: ISSN 2771-1048, March 2022, Volume 01, Issue Number 10. Locala™ is a monthly publication, which is published by Lisa Anderson Media, LLC, 2320 NE 2nd Street, Unit 5, Ocala, FL 34470. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. For reprint or reuse permission, email info@localamag.com. Locally printed at First Impressions Printing, 1827 SW 27th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

Dear Ocala Remembering the 2020 Lockdown

BREAKING SOCIAL NORMS

1,508 Experiments: Healthy Cheese Inventor Almost Quit Before His Big Discovery

F R O M T H E PA D D O C K

Living Her Dream: When Ponies Turn into Performance

FROM THE EXPERTS

Cindy Grimes: On Connecting the Dots

Building a Community: Making a Difference Through Leadership

THE CHEWS LETTER

ON THE COVER

Breaking Bread: Living a Life of Service

ARTIST CORNER

Herstories, Histories, & Milestones From the Appleton Museum of Art

Rebecca McMurrer: Artist Q&A

REMEMBER THE 2020 LOCKDOWN

Looking for Peace: Healthcare Worker Hopes to Find Some Normalcy in the Future

To-Go: Former Waitress Feels Pretty Lucky

Finding Joy: Family Chooses Positivity Amidst the Uncertainty

F E AT U R E

The Right Direction Without the Wrong Intention: Living with a Giver’s Mentality

GIVERTORIAL

Ignite for Ocala: Benefit for Project Hope

28 localamag.com

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

DEAR OCALA,

LISA ANDERSON

wo years ago, the country held its breath, as we waited to hear if we would go into lockdown. Companies struggled to stay afloat, employees were laid off or put on furlough, and the restaurant industry tap-danced into the new dining experience. I was working for a well-known magazine, but having been there for less than a year, I was lumped in with those put on furlough. Like many others, I tried to traverse the murky waters of unemployment. The thought of sitting idle and simply waiting to hear if I could go back to work or not was nauseating. After three weeks of furlough, my significant other and I decided it would be best if I resigned, and that’s the story of how I became a publisher. I had the luxury of working from home, but many did not. In this issue, we sat down to discuss what it was like for some of the people who stayed in the outside workforce—from skilled nursing facilities to RV dealerships. Even though we have been swimming in these waters for the last two years, there is no doubt that in March 2020 we fell into a state of worry and uncertainty. Let’s not get completely lost in memories from the lockdown. We also have great stories from Cindy Grimes and the Appleton Museum. Plus, you can learn about Off Duty Tavern owner Susan Damien, saddle up with Sadé Cain, and hustle with our feature Trevor DeShaw. Finally, Lisa Anderson Media, our parent company, is sponsoring a story about a group whose mission aligns closely to that of our own. Please be sure to check out the GIVErtorial featuring Ignite Ocala. As always, I hope you enjoy the stories and share them with your friends and family.

Photo by Bailey Aro Hutchence

Most Sincerely,

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DEADLINE MARCH 31ST FINAL CALL

J EAN N E H E N N I N GS E N

P h oto s u b mi t ted by J ea nn e J en nin gse n

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P hoto by L is a A nd erso n

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P h oto s u bm it te d by Kat h r y n Be e ch e r

CHRIST Y CASEY

KATHRYN BE ECHE R

Ignite for Ocala BENEFIT FOR PROJECT HOPE

want you to close your eyes for a minute and image a time when you were in your darkest moment. Whom did you reach out to for help? What if that help wasn’t available to you? Now, imagine if that darkest moment was a situation of violence, and the help you reached for had to turn you away because they didn’t have enough room. “Shortly after moving here in 2012, I found out the local domestic violence shelter turned away women and children on a regular basis. It was like 35 to 70 women and children per month were being turned away, because they didn’t have room,” explains Ignite for Ocala founder and Monarch Leadership Group owner Jeanne Henningsen. “I just decided that was unacceptable. In my first marriage, I experienced domestic violence, but I was educated, I had a full-time job, and I had family. I had a place to go, and I could support myself. For me, it was an easy decision. For a lot of women, it’s not that easy of a decision.” SPARKING THE MOVEMENT Jeanne spoke with the shelter and discovered they had no funds and no one focusing on fundraising. She put together a group of women who had similar experiences as her own and/or believed in the cause. The women hosted a luncheon and raised $15,000—surpassing their goal of $10,000—and the movement was born.

Ignite for Ocala is not a nonprofit, and they don’t write grants. It’s a group of women who believe in helping nonprofits in the community. Their money, for tax purposes, goes through their funding partner Community Foundation. The group, which has helped other organizations, including Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection ($40k donated), Boys and Girls Club of Marion County, Wear Gloves, and Marion County Children’s Alliance, now has an application process for nonprofit organizations to apply, which can be accessed through their website. It opens in May. Their events have been very successful and part of it is because they believe in educating their sponsors about the charities and programs they are sponsoring. “What is important to [us] is that we’re a vessel to promote the organization,” says Ignite for Ocala Chair and realtor Christie Casey. “[We want] to be able to create the awareness that this is real, and they do need our help. It’s not just about giving money; it’s about giving your time and your talent to help them.”

with Ignite’s undertaking to create a safe and loving community. “We place homeless families in fully appointed, two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments with kitchens, appliances, new mattresses, cribs for babies and more. The families avoid the stigma of living in a shelter as our transitional apartments are located within our Hope Villas apartment complex,” states the Project Hope website. It goes on to say, “We provide comprehensive services including counseling, financial skill development, and trauma recovery services. We employ an on-site, experienced case manager and outsource licensed mental health counseling, as necessary. We also work with a vast network of community organizations that provide services to help meet each family’s individual needs for health, dental, and educational needs.”

PROJECT HOPE Jeanne, Christie, and Kathryn Beecher, CFO/CAO of Hospice of Marion County and Ignite for Ocala co-chair are focusing this year’s fundraising efforts on Project Hope, whose mission is to help homeless women and children become selfsufficient—a mission that truly aligns

Sponsor a Table Igniteforocala.com/get-involved

IGNITE FOR OCALA Luncheon & Silent Auction March 10, 2022 11:30a.m. –1:00p.m.

Volunteer or Contact Them Facebook.com/igniteforocala LEARN MORE ABOUT PROJECT HOPE Projecthopeocala.org

GIVERTOR IA L SPO NSO RE D BY L ISA AN DE RSO N ME DIA , L LC

BREAKING SOCIAL NORMS

1,508 Experiments HEALTHY CHEESE INVENTOR ALMOST QUIT BEFORE HIS BIG DISCOVERY

MARILYN LAHR & ANGELO MORINI Story & Photos by LISA ANDERSON

magine being 26 years old with three young children at home, and a panel of doctors tell you they think you have an incurable disease and to come back when you lose bodily functions. They’ll probably be able to give you an exact diagnosis, then. That’s exactly what happened to Marilyn Lahr in the early 1970s. When she climbed into her car, something snapped, and she wasn’t going to lie down and take it. “I just made up my mind that there was something out there that was going to make me well again, and I began a quest of living naturally.

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“I’m 78 years old. I’m on no medications. I have no major health problems. I’ve never had an organ fail me or anything like that.” Marilyn has been involved with multiple

BREAKING SOCIAL NORMS

companies over the years. She’s been a part of advisory boards and has studied alongside their scientists and doctors. “Along the way, I’ve found something that has obviously helped me, but just a little over a year ago, I met this man.” She points to the 79-year-old man seated next to her. Angelo Morini is the founder and CEO of Anutra® Grains: World’s Healthiest Whole Food™. It took several conversations before he told Marilyn what he did, but as the information poured out, she thought, “This was the answer to my prayer when I was 26 years old.” Now Marilyn is the Vice President of Marketing for Anutra®, but Angelo’s story starts even further back than Marylin’s quest to live a healthier life.

HEALTHY CHEESE?

“In 1963 I worked for my father,” Angelo begins. “I was going back and forth commuting in a station wagon. My dad couldn’t really pay me very much money, like five dollars a week.” His father owned four grocery stores, but in a world where big supermarkets were beginning to take over, Angelo’s dad was struggling to pay his 100-plus workers. Angelo, who lived in Pennsylvania, had just returned from the Navy and was studying to be a doctor—hence, his daily commute.

It was 1:30 in the morning and I was thinking, maybe it’s the last night I do this. — Angelo Morini

To earn a little more money and to help his dad’s stores, Angelo began selling pizzas. The only problem was their pizza supplier refused to deliver pizzas any other day but Thursday. The pizzas would often sell out by Saturday, and Angelo was getting frustrated with the poor service. He convinced his father to allow him to make the pizzas in their bakery and sell them in the store. The smells wafting from the basement kitchen were enough to increase business for his father. As the pizza demand grew, Angelo struck out on his own, and he found himself with another supply problem. The local cheese maker refused to make mozzarella, and the castoffs from his Swiss cheese, called grinders, weren’t enough to keep up with Angelo’s demands. “I went outside to a farm area, and I put my foot up on this fence. I was looking at these cows eating grass. I said, ‘Gee-whiz, cows are eating grass, and we make cheese out of the milk. Why don’t I find a way to get the amino acids out of the milk?’ I did it after 1,507 experiments.” And just like that, a healthier cheese was brought to market. It’s a bit like the TikTok videos where we “get to the good part,” but Angelo almost gave up one experiment before he cracked the code. “It was New Year’s Eve, and everyone was going out. I had a date with this girl in Washington, D.C., and I call her up about 10:00 and said, ‘I’m sorry. I just can’t make it because I’m on the verge of a major discovery.’ I was desperate.” At this point, his brother, a chemical engineer, was telling him to quit, and Angelo had been hearing about several other people across the globe that were trying to do the same thing. “It was 1:30 in the morning, and I was thinking, maybe it’s the last night I do this.” Angelo had nailed the flavor, but he couldn’t get the shreds to melt. That was until that night on the 1,508th try, when the cheese expanded and then melted. That

fateful night eventually brought about the public company Galaxy Nutritional Foods, which, interestingly enough, went public in 1987 on the Thursday before Black Monday (a stock market crash that occurred when the DJIA lost almost 22 percent in a single day). However, the company survived the crash. “We ended up selling in 30 countries. We were the largest company at what we did.” Galaxy Nutritional Foods is the maker of Go Veggies®. “In 2002, I was pushed out. Serendipitously, I received a phone call from Dr. Norman Borlaug, who won the Nobel [Peace] Prize,” states Angelo. That phone call is the reason Anutra® exists. Dr. Borlaug asked him to investigate the ancient grain Salvia Hispanica L. (aka chia) and find a way to bring its beneficial properties to market. Now, Angelo and Marilyn are on a mission to bring good health and help small businesses and solopreneurs, and they have even partnered with the charity organization Hope Springs International. “We’re so proud to say that the home of the world’s healthiest food is here in Ocala,” Marilyn concludes.

LEARN MORE

To learn more about Angelo and Marilyn visit anutra.com.

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Ocala’s 5th Annual

2022 International Women’s Day Celebration Tues, March 8, 11:30am-1pm at CF Webber Center

Honoring women in education

Visit ollinwomen.org or register on Eventbrite

REMEMBERING THE 2020 LOCKDOWN

Looking for Peace HEALTHCARE WORKER HOPES TO FIND SOME NORMALCY IN THE FUTURE

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REMEMBERING THE 2020 LOCKDOWN

CRYSTAL ASH Story & Photo by LISA ANDERSON

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REMEMBERING THE 2020 LOCKDOWN

o say the healthcare industry has been affected by the pandemic would be a gross understatement. Workers close to or old enough for retirement are throwing in the towel. Employees are jumping ship for higher paying agency work or becoming traveling nurses. Fear, exhaustion, and stress are not only reasons for staffing challenges, they are ever-present for patients, as well. Crystal Ash, Senior Director of Transitional Services at Palm Garden of Ocala Health and Rehabilitation Center, has watched and experienced the effects of the pandemic on workers and patients alike. “Prior to COVID, we got to meet with our families and patients. The hospitals would send referrals of clients, who were interested in our care, and I could go spend as much time with them [as needed].” Crystal’s job is essentially a mediator between the facility, hospital, and the patients. She does the assessments, determines if they would be a good fit for their facility, and if not, she’ll try to help them find another option. While her job description hasn’t changed, the way it can be handled certainly has changed since the initial 2020 lockdown. “Once COVID happened, the whole world went on a lockdown or shutdown. So, it became very difficult. The hospitals no longer wanted outside vendors, which I am considered, to come to the hospital because of the risk factor.” She used to spend a lot of in-person time with potential guests, as they prefer to call their patients or residents. The families could tour the facility, and Crystal could get a good read on the situation. “The connection was a huge thing for me, because we could talk on the phone, but you don’t see their facial expressions—the fact that they’re anxious or scared. You can’t touch them and say, ‘We’re going to get through this process.’ That was very difficult. You really lost that true connection of what I consider continuation of care.”

A DESIRE TO HELP PEOPLE

Crystal, originally from North Carolina, grew up with a family background in healthcare—from doctors to nurse practitioners to radiologists. Even her father was a nurse, and it was this, together with an upbringing in the church, that gave Crystal the passion to help people, no matter their background. “I’ve always liked to take care of people, especially older people. I’ve never related to people mostly my age. When I was younger, I always related to people that were older. I don’t know if I was more mature or if I just wanted to be around more mature people.” She moved to Florida 22 years ago. Crystal had come to visit her sister on a vacation and then she never left. She already had a background in admissions and marketing in skilled nursing facilities, so it was just a matter of finding the right job. Her desire to help people and family background were the driving force when she went to nursing school, but Crystal quickly realized she could help more people through administration, rather than passing out medications.

NAVIGATING THE PANDEMIC

“I didn’t work from home, because they needed me at the facility. There [are] only so many hands,” and as the pandemic continues, those helping hands get fewer and fewer. Crystal’s counterpart decided the stress, fear, and uncertainty were too much. She retired at 62, and Crystal, now 48, was left on her own. In fact, they haven’t been able to find a replacement, and she has been working seven days a week for over a year now. “My stress level is huge compared to what it was two years ago,” she admits. At the beginning of the pandemic, the guidelines were changing rapidly, sometimes in a matter of a few hours. The facility had set up a COVID unit, which further complicated staffing matters, because if a nurse or a CNA volunteered to work in the unit, they couldn’t work anywhere else in the building. It was difficult to get volunteers to staff the COVID unit because of the risk factors.

“We’re still facing so many challenges because it’s not just the virus itself. It’s all the things that go with it.” There is testing, staff shortages, families being able to visit and then not being able to visit, supply problems, and more. “It’s been a little bit of a rollercoaster ride.” At the beginning of the lockdown, there was a great deal of unknowns, and this added even more stress to healthcare workers’ home life, including Crystal’s home. “My spouse was worrisome. It was a huge deal for him and me, too! There were definitely times we slept separately, especially when we had a COVID unit in the building, even though it was separated from the main facility. He had that fear factor of constantly wondering when I was going to come up positive.” The pandemic has caused Crystal to rethink working in this field until retirement, but she’s nowhere near making a decision one way or another. “It’s hard for me. I have a passion and love for this type of work. I keep telling myself it can’t last forever.” In the meantime, she finds comfort in family, her dogs, her new massage chair, and taking walks in nature. “You have to have an escape. My job isn’t something I can leave at work.”

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REMEMBERING THE 2020 LOCKDOWN

To-Go

FORMER WAITRESS FEELS PRETTY LUCKY

HEATHER MASON Story & Photo by LISA ANDERSON

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REMEMBERING THE 2020 LOCKDOWN

I like being around people, meeting and introducing them. I don’t do very well by myself. I like jobs where you’re always on your feet and busy doing something. — Heather Mason

ou can cry one minute, scream the next, and then have a quiet drink together. It sounds like an intense relationship, but it’s part of the service industry Heather Mason finds fun. “I kind of like that. I can be myself. You aren’t going to take anything I say to heart in the heat of the moment. It’s fun. It’s really fun, and it’s not normal. I’m all about not being normal,” she says with a smirk. Heather has been in the service industry since she was 15 years old, and if you ask her what her favorite part is, she’ll tell you, “It’s the people. I like being around people, meeting and introducing them. I don’t do very well by myself. I like jobs where you’re always on your feet and busy doing something.” Over the years, she has met many people through the service industry whom she considers close friends, including her best friend. In fact, this friend introduced her to Chef Loring Felix. That’s right, the Fiery Chef himself. If you’ve been in his store, then you have probably met Heather. “I’m the customer service manager. I’m the cashier and the hostess. I’m the tour guide and the shopping cart! I’ve worked with Felix off and on for 10 years at different restaurants.” And it’s this business relationship that saved Heather, when the March 2022 lockdown happened.

FEELING LUCKY

Shortly before The Fiery Chef opened his storefront in November 2019, Heather was a practice manager for a therapist by day and served at a local restaurant at night. The timing couldn’t have been better. Things had been slow at the practice, and Heather decided to step away from the local restaurant after a few weeks of working with Chef Felix. When the lockdown hit, she would have lost her serving job and possibly the position at the practice, as well. “I’m lucky. I’m really lucky.” Since the store fell somewhere between a grocery store and takeout, it didn’t need to close. They simply

removed the dine-in area. That’s not to say things weren’t uncertain. “We were scared. We had only been open three or four months. We had no idea what was going to happen. We didn’t know if we’d have to do a complete shutdown.” Fortunately, they never had to shut down. Like most food service businesses, they simply learned to adapt to what the pandemic would allow. It wasn’t a big leap for them—they already served individual meals— but the catering slowed. They developed “COVID catering,” getting rid of the buffet-style catering for a time and offering their individual meals. “I knew we had a paycheck every week. We had food on the table. My husband worked, too. That’s one thing we didn’t have to worry about.”

LIFE IN LOCKDOWN

Heather’s teenage daughter has a chronic illness, and it caused concern that Heather was working with the public. “I was really nervous, but it was just three of

us in the store at that time. We didn’t have as many people coming into the store.” Mostly, it was pickup or curbside, making it a little less stressful day to day. However, just six days after her second shot, Heather’s daughter contracted COVID in September 2021, after attending a small family funeral. Luckily, the symptoms didn’t get too bad, and Heather attributes that to the vaccine. When she wasn’t working, Heather stayed home. She paid for a monthly grocery delivery service and took advantage of the restaurants offering delivery, too. She, like so many parents, became a teacher for her two teenagers. At work, she practiced extra patience with nervous customers. “I want COVID to go away. I want the variants to stop, because my daughter gets really scared of them. I just want [it] to go away.” Her sentiments echo the thoughts of so many people across the world.

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REMEMBERING THE 2020 LOCKDOWN

CASSIDY MURRAY 16

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REMEMBERING THE 2020 LOCKDOWN

Finding Joy

FAMILY CHOOSES POSITIVITY AMIDST THE UNCERTAINTY Story & Photo by LISA ANDERSON

ews about the pandemic spread, and businesses began to shut their doors. Like many across America and the world, Cassidy Murray and her husband fell into the fear of uncertainty. “It was a little scary, at first, because we didn’t know what was going to happen. The company did give us an option to stay home with job security, if we were uncomfortable. I chose to stay [at work]. I took all the precautions I thought [were] necessary, but nobody knew what was going to happen. We’d hear about businesses being shutdown.”

ARTS TO STARTS

Cassidy grew up on the outskirts of Lake City and had dreams of becoming an artist. “I was always the weird art kid at school,” she admits. There were art clubs, and she found inspiration through her grandma’s love of painting. After high school, she headed to college for a fine arts degree in photography, but quickly decided it wasn’t for her. She saw her enjoyment of art slipping away with the rigid guidelines of school, and she decided to pursue a career as a restaurant manager. That’s how she met her husband. Cassidy was managing a restaurant, which he would frequent. He began talking with her about the RV industry and eventually invited her to take a tour of one of the facilities. “The next thing I know, I’m selling RVs,” she chuckles. It’s been seven years since her career move, and she finds it fulfilling. “I get to work with people, still, which is something I enjoy. It’s less stress[ful]. I don’t have to manage anything. I just manage myself.” Her husband also sells RVs but at a separate branch. It sounds fun to be in the same industry as your spouse, but when the pandemic hit, all the eggs were in one basket.

UNCERTAINTY TO SECURITY

Like all businesses, the RV industry came to a rapid halt in March 2020. Business slowed and paychecks decreased. “There was so much uncertainty,” Cassidy remembers. The Murrays chose not to focus on the negative, however. Instead, they discarded any thoughts of Plan B and moved forward with a positive attitude. “When we left work, we would try to completely clock out. For us, that was really hard, because being in the same industry, our conversations aren’t one-sided, where you’re listening to your spouse talk about whatever they’re doing, and it’s all foreign knowledge to you. “We tried not to talk about the pandemic, and [instead], just refocused—whether it was something to do with the kids or new recipes.” Whatever the conversation, they tried to keep it light and fun. Then, a shift happened. The RV industry exploded as people began to work from home,

snowbirds stayed longer or wanted an alternative to flying, and medical personnel needed a place to quarantine. The Murrays, like a lot of working parents, had to figure out how to juggle their busy work schedules with homeschooling their children. It was a challenge with one older child, now almost ready to graduate, and one starting kindergarten in 2020. They were fortunate to have a good friend with a background in childcare, who was a stay-at-home mom, to help keep their kids focused on the school work. It’s the little things Cassidy misses the most. The first grade parties and the special events that allowed you to sneak away from work for 30 minutes to spend time with your kids at school. She’s grateful to see some of that return as the world slowly reopens. It’s been two years since the lockdown, and while there is more plexiglass and cleaning staff, the RV industry hasn’t changed much. Cassidy and her family are extremely thankful.

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F R O M T H E PA D D O C K

Living Her Dream WHEN PONIES TURN INTO PERFORMANCE

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F R O M T H E PA D D O C K

SADÉ CAIN Story by CYNTHIA MCFARL AND

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Photos by JOSHUA JACOBS

F R O M T H E PA D D O C K

t all started with a pony ride at the Sonoma County Fair. “My grandparents introduced me to horses when I was just two. I have pictures of me on a pony being led in a circle. I didn’t want to get off, and I’ve been horse-crazy ever since,” smiles Sadé Cain, 35. Born in California, Sadé was raised by her two grandmothers, who provided a non-traditional, but very stable, enriching childhood. When her obsession with horses didn’t fade after the family moved to New Jersey, her grandmothers found a stable that would allow Sadé to take lessons, starting at age four. “I took lessons at Hadafarm in Trenton until second grade,” recalls Sadé, who also learned to groom and tack up the ponies. “I started riding in a Western saddle, but that was shortlived, because I was watching other kids go over jumps.” By 1991, she was taking hunter lessons at Dun Cravin Farm, also in Trenton. Her first show that wasn’t on a lead line was at age six. Every summer, she was immersed in horse camp. “I just knew I wanted to be on a horse,” she declares. “Growing up, most of my friends rode, but it faded when they got to be teenagers. Not me. I always either worked at a barn for lessons or to keep my horses there,” says Sadé, who got her first horse at age 12. After getting her Associate of Science degree in Equine Science, Sadé devoted all her energies to riding, showing in both dressage and eventing, two uniquely different—and challenging—disciplines. “Dressage is so classical and refined, while eventing is so free and whatever happens, happens,” she explains. “The good foundation I got helped me be more stable and confident in my jumping.” As an adult, Sadé moved back to California for a time. It was there, in 2009, that she imported a talented Lusitano stallion from Brazil, which she showed in both dressage and eventing.

Horses have taught me consistency and given me a reason to live. I have motivation and a passion to do this every day. — Sadé Cain

SETTLING IN OCALA

In 2017, Sadé relocated to Ocala, specifically because of a horse she was riding at the time. She worked at Tack Shack of Ocala for several years, but while she enjoyed the retail aspect, Sadé always wanted to be part of a dressage training barn. That door of opportunity opened for her during the pandemic. “Dressage trainer Eline Eckroth offered me a job, and I knew the minute I walked into the barn that this was the caliber of place I was looking for,” says Sadé. Since December 2020, she has been barn manager at Connie Wise’s Crane Hill Farm in Ocala, where Eline trains. Sadé’s days are busy caring for the nearly two dozen horses: managing vet and farrier appointments, prepping horses for clients who come to train with Eline, and much more. Even better, the farm is just minutes from the barn where she operates her own business, Orange Eventing & Training. Here, she teaches lessons and trains and sells horses. “People never stopped buying horses during the pandemic,” she affirms. “People send me sales horses; I sold seven during the pandemic. It never slowed down.” In addition to her paying jobs, Sadé is constantly working on her own riding goals, honing her skills and preparing for the next competition. “It’s a good blend for me,” she says, admitting her daily routine didn’t really change during the pandemic, since her work is outdoors. “What it did was teach me a lot of patience and to value

my time a little better, so I’m not just running seven days a week. The pandemic taught me about categorizing my time, so I could be the best me every day without burning out.” While her days are mostly dedicated to all things equestrian, Sadé has two beloved Welsh Corgis—Blueberry and Cocoberry. A selfprofessed “space nerd,” she enjoys using her telescope, and she likes to write. Riding now is mostly about preparing for a competition, and Sadé likes it that way. “I love to compete. Throughout my life, competition has always been a goal for me, but it’s also expensive. Now, I have more opportunities to pursue it,” she enthuses. “When I have a show on the calendar, it gives me a goal, and a structured riding plan day to day. It shows me where my horse and I need more work.” Although Sadé has owned numerous horses through the years, she’s currently riding and showing clients’ horses. She is working towards achieving her silver medal in dressage and getting to the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) level of refinement. She also hopes to qualify for the American Eventing Championships. “Horses have taught me consistency and given me a reason to live. I have motivation and a passion to do this every day,” says Sadé Cain. “I’m living my dream. I can see there is more to come, and it’s attainable for me to get there.”

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™

ANGIE LEWIS

Highest Peaks: Creating Moments & Experiences with Family

LISA MIDGETT

Pink Cocktails & Dreams: The Lisa Midgett Story

MIMI LEGGETT

Fearless: Century Rider Still Taking On Challenges SADÉ CAIN

Living Her Dream: When Ponies Turn into Performance Volume 01, Issue No. 08 • JANUARY 2022

HEATHER MASON To-Go: Former Waitress Feels Pretty Lucky

VICKI SHEERIN

In the Moment: This Woman Lost 200 Pounds by Learning to be Present in Her Emotions TREVOR DESHAW

The Right Direction Without the Wrong Intention: Living with a Giver’s Mentality

Volume 01, Issue No. 10 • MARCH 2022

LEIGHTON OKUS

A Change in Perspective: Ballerina Reflects on Her Battle with Chronic Pain

BONNIE & KIM HEATH

A Heartfelt Calling: Foundation Thoroughbred Family Continues to Give Back

Volume 01, Issue No. 09 • FEBRUARY 2022

FROM THE EXPERTS

Cindy Grimes ON CONNECTING THE DOTS

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FROM THE EXPERTS

I’ve had some insights into my personal journey, as well. The fact that I am even watching this series is evidence of the impact of the pandemic. Pre-pandemic, I suffered endless to-do lists and perpetual busy-ness. I believed that with all of my work and responsibilities, I didn’t have “time to waste” with anything as frivolous as a TV soap about British aristocrats. Ouch. Even working class people can be snobs. Well, the pandemic gave me plenty of time. During my two bouts of COVID, the only thing on my to-do list was to breathe. During those dark, scary days, I spent

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ABOUT CINDY GRIMES Cindy Grimes is Spiritual Director of Center for Spiritual Living Ocala and co-director of Circle Up Center for Practical Peacebuilding. Visit: cslocala.org

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TAKING A BREATH

seemingly endless hours in solitude, consciously focused on my breath and healing. The Great Pause created time and space for me to reassess my values, beliefs, and priorities. It has been a catalyst for releasing mental, emotional, and physical baggage—things I don’t want to carry into the future. And it has reminded me of the fleeting and fragile nature of life, so I live with more purpose and gratitude. Lack of certainty about the future and the “new normal” can be scary. I’m grateful to know I can hit pause and access calm by simply taking a breath...and remembering the wise words of Steve Jobs: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”

Photo by vicnt2815/DepositPhotos.com

ownton Abbey is the latest Netflix obsession in my home. I discovered a love of historical fiction during the pandemic. Downton Abbey is an entertaining snapshot of the lives of an aristocratic family and their domestic servants in the early 1900s. News of the day included the sinking of the Titanic, World War I, and the 1918 flu pandemic. Like today, it was a time of momentous change and transition. The thing I enjoy most about historical fiction is being able to connect the dots from the present to the past. The glimpse into the beliefs and societal norms from our collective past gives me greater insight into how we’ve arrived at this juncture on our collective journey. Over the past hundred years, we’ve made tremendous strides with regard to equity and inclusion for historically disadvantaged groups. The pandemic has revealed we still have a long way to go to release the “–isms” fueling division, anger, and anxiety in our world.

Photo by Lisa Anderson

Story by CINDY GRIMES

FROM THE EXPERTS

Build a Community MAKING A DIFFERENCE THROUGH LEADERSHIP Story by DR. MANAL FAKHOURY

an one person really change the world through leadership? I think we have seen this happen through many good and not-so-good leaders in history. Having said that, this isn’t about your beliefs, it is about leadership and the influence a leader can truly bring. The fact is, we all have different beliefs. We can also agree that there are leaders and followers in life. A leader is simply someone who is passionate about something and builds or uses their influence to impact others. In today’s world of social media and instant technology, what truly matters to people is relationships. Maya Angelou said it best, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you make them feel.” How can you be a leader who makes people feel good about themselves and positive about you?

VALUE OTHERS

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Photo by Bailey Aro Hutchence

Connect with people and build relationships around what matters to them most. How you value people will be represented by who is following you.

ADD VALUE

This can be a simple gesture, taking a stand, using your voice, or starting a movement around your particular beliefs.

BE A DIFFERENCE-MAKER

Know the values you hold and live them out fully. When you live like this, being generous, kind, loving, and impactful comes eas,y because you become attractive to others who hold the same values in life.

SHARE YOUR PASSION

When you put the heart of others, relationship, values, and passion together, you truly can be a leader who not only impacts the world but changes it for good. When you live life like this, your community will build itself. People will be drawn to you, your passion, your values, and your influence. You, my friend, are the difference-maker the world is seeking. Change the world through your leadership.

ABOUT DR. MANAL FAKHOURY For the past 35 years, Manal has been making a difference in Ocala with hard work, generosity, and outstanding leadership. Visit: myfli.com or vestechpartners.com

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THE RIGHT DIRECTION

OUT WITH THE WRONG INTENTION Living with a Giver’s Mentality Story by LISA ANDERSON

id you see him—the man who walked the Square for six months carrying a briefcase full of letters demanding money for debts he owed? It was another beginning for Trevor DeShaw. Like many serial entrepreneurs, Trevor has stumbled, he’s tripped, and he’s fallen flat on his face. But he always gets back up. “I’m enjoying the ride. So many people just want to get to the dream, but it’s so important to enjoy the journey. That’s the blessing part, because guess what? I know a lot of people there, and they’re bored. It gets boring, if you don’t have a goal or an objective anymore. For me, you’ve got to fall in love with the journey—fall in love with the failures. I love messing

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up, being able to admit it, learn from that, and find out how much I don’t know. It’s incredible.” His hair is crazy, his demeanor wild, and his heart is two-sizes too big for his chest. “I really believe in the people first culture. If you start treating people [right], and start caring, having empathy, putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, and treating them the way they want to be treated—not the way you want to be treated, because there’s a difference.”

FINDING THE WARRIOR WITHIN

Trevor was born in a tiny town of about 300 hundred people in Savage, Montana. “We were the Savage

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Warriors. I use that in every hustle I do. I’m a savage warrior. I won’t quit until I win.” He moved with his family to California when he was eight years old and again to Pennsylvania when he was 16. After attending college in Boston, he married his first wife in 2001. About two years later, he felt a calling to go into the Navy but dismissed it. “I’m not a Navy guy! Look at me.” He gestures to himself in an elevator motion. Nevertheless, he kept feeling the call, and a week later, he was selling all his real estate investments and joining the Navy. He admits to not having any direction or idea of what it would be like or what to strive for in achievements. He hadn’t done any

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research and just “jumped off the cliff.” Trevor enjoyed bootcamp, being one of the oldest recruits at age 27, but he found “real life Navy” to be difficult. Along the way, he fell in love with another woman and, eventually, divorced his first wife to marry her. “We built an empire off of a mistake. We’ve been together now for 15 years. My wife is my hero. She inspired me to become the best version of myself. She deserves everything, and I will continue to grow every day for her. She is my why.” In 2010, after living through a bankruptcy, Trevor and his wife had the opportunity to buy a business in Gainesville. They left upstate New York, where they had been living, and set off on their new adventure, taking a gamble. It wasn’t long before they moved to the Ocala area, while still maintaining clients in Gainesville.

BUILDING THE EMPIRE

Trevor and his wife built the American dream. They owned and operated several cleaning

franchises across Northcentral Florida, and while they were making good money, they were still struggling and living paycheck to paycheck. They couldn’t figure out why they were not able to get ahead. When a mistake snowballed and nearly caused the family to lose their dream home, Trevor hit the streets with his briefcase full of the letters demanding money for debts he owed. “I was like, ‘No! My wife is not losing this home that she worked so hard for. I’m gonna make sure!’ And I put every [letter] in my briefcase, and I put it over my shoulder. I went and started going around Ocala Square every day for six months. Talking to everybody, anybody that would listen to me. I would tell them I know something is coming. I was just getting into this new financial thing. I didn’t know anything about it, and everybody knew I was a cleaner. Then, slowly, I made it work, and slowly we got caught up.” Trevor had read a book by Tony Robins that shifted his mindset on money, and that book changed his life. He now works in the financial services industry under the supervision of Andy Albright and his team. In just three and a half years, he made it to the Top 10 in the industry, competing against 30-year veterans. “When I hit 40, I knew I was built for something more. I didn’t know what it was,” he admits.

Trevor believes that he has found his calling, and his mentor, Tim Goad, is teaching him to believe in himself. “He’s helping me become the leader I want to be for my people, and the fact that they see something in me means the world to me. I don’t know. I’m just this crazy kid from Montana. I just want to shoot basketball or something, and they tell me I’m destined for something. “As an entrepreneur, you have to get used to [failure] because it’s part of the gig. Every single one of [us] is destined to be great. Everybody, if they took the chance on themselves, could do it. Take a gamble. I believe money is a tool. I

want to help train people how to use the tool, so they can unlock this freedom. I tell my kids, don’t bring me problems; bring me solutions.”

LOOKING AHEAD

Trevor, his wife, and their two teenagers love to travel. “We want to move to Costa Rica, eventually. We want to spend our money on travel and find a way to enjoy this life. We’re not meant to just work. We’re meant to be happy. We’re supposed to help one another. We’re supposed to love one another. “I love the giver’s mentality. I want to help inspire people in the right direction without the wrong intention.”

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THE CHEWS LETTER

Breaking Bread LIVING A LIFE OF SERVICE

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THE CHEWS LETTER

SUSAN DAMIEN Story by LISA ANDERSON

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Photos by JOSHUA JACOBS

THE CHEWS LETTER

usan Damien lives a life of service: From nurse practitioner to co-owner of the Off Duty Tavern, she loves to serve. Originally from Maryland, Susan grew up in the restaurant world, watching her mother fill several roles, including manager. “I was the kid who hung around the restaurant booths,” she says with a smile. She worked as a cocktail waitress to put herself through EMT training. It was there she met her now husband, Craig Damien. “Ever since our very first conversation, we talked about the potential of owning a restaurant. We love being able to serve people. That’s why we chose our careers. We wanted something that was fun—something we could do together,” Susan clarifies about their choice to open Off Duty Tavern.

BUILDING THE DREAM

The couple moved to Ocala in 2001. Craig, who is a Division Chief with Marion County Fire Rescue, and Susan started the research for their dream restaurant in 2019. After forming their LLC and moving through all the necessary steps, the couple opened the tavern just a year ago, in February 2021. “There was still a lot of COVID going on and there was a lot of uncertainty. It was a very scary time for us, but we had already committed our funds and resources. Our hearts were already in it. We weren’t going to give up. We weren’t going to let COVID derail us.” The research during 2020, while fun, was also concerning. Susan and Craig were looking at COVID through a healthcare perspective, but their dream outweighed the fear and uncertainties. “We love seeing people and hearing their stories. Having a service that we can provide what they want is just so exciting, and being able to see their faces when they get their plate of food…,” Susan trails off, her eyes sparking as she thinks about the happy customers.

LIFE OF SERVICE

Susan began her career as an EMT, but quickly realized she wanted to know what happened to the patients after she dropped them off at the hospital. She spent about 10 years as an ER nurse, before building her own small telehealth practice, which is now on pause, as she helps to grow Off Duty Tavern. In addition to serving in her day jobs, Susan is also a Guardian ad Litem, something she is extremely passionate about. “Even though it’s another project, I

love doing it. I can’t think of another way to spend my time.” Craig is an assistant coach with Scott Carrigan Baseball, and Susan serves as Team Mom/ Team Mom Coordinator. They are also both board members. Throw in three children (two of whom are now adults) and two Golden Retrievers, and you have a bustling, happy life, filled to the brim with serving others. Craig continues to serve with the Marion County Fire Rescue, but he goes into the restaurant to relieve staff on his days off. Eventually, they hope the place will be selfsustaining—giving them the opportunity to move to cooler weather in a few years. Until then, “We view our patrons as guests, rather than customers, and it is our goal to provide our guests a great experience every visit.”

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Photo Credit: Dave Miller

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ARTIST CORNER

Herstories,

HISTORIES, & MILESTONES Story by VICTORIA BILLIG & JASON STEUBER

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ilestones measure and demarcate information and destinations, giving us the means to reflect on how far we have come in our journeys and how far we might have left to go. This year, the Appleton Museum of Art will celebrate its 35th anniversary. The Appleton opened to the public in 1987, and in 2004, was taken under governance by the College of Central Florida. As a campus of the college, which was established in 1957, the museum has served more than 1.3 million visitors of all ages, who have enjoyed world-class exhibitions drawn from a permanent collection of 24,000 works of art. Visitors come from near–Marion, Citrus, and Levy Counties–as well as far, serving as a tourist destination to travelers from all over the globe, who seek learning experiences through the arts. With this vast collection spanning centuries and continents, the Appleton will celebrate another

ABOUT THE WRITER Victoria Billig is Assistant Director at the College of Central Florida’s Appleton Museum of Art. She previously held positions at Pelham Art Center, NSU Museum of Art, and USF Contemporary Art Museum.

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important milestone: Women’s History Month. March 1981 marks the beginning of the national celebration then known as Women’s History Week. Beginning the week of March 7, 1982, the observance recognized and celebrated the achievements of women in American history. In 1987, Congress expanded the week-long observance into what we know today as Women’s History Month. As champions of inclusive education

and equitable access to diverse arts, the Appleton invites you to “study, observe, and celebrate the vital roles of women,” as our nation’s holiday encourages, and join the museum in celebrating the women artists throughout history and the world, whose work is included in our permanent collection. Follow along on the Appleton’s Facebook and Instagram pages in March for “Herstories,” where each day of the month you can learn more about a different work of art. Be on the lookout for this fantastic new acquisition by celebrated artist Miriam Schapiro called “Celebrating Women’s Lives,” an oversized mixed-media canvas that confidently highlights three women set aglow by a vibrantly pink background. Schapiro’s works boldly and brilliantly explore women’s cultural heritage, as well as forward-thinking feminist expression.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Jason Steuber is Director at the College of Central Florida’s Appleton Museum of Art. Previously, he worked at the NelsonAtkins Museum of Art, Glasgow University, and Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida.

Photo submitted by Appleton Museum: Miriam Schapiro, “Celebrating Women’s Lives,” 1986, Collage with paper, fabric, and pigments on canvas, 64 x 98 in. Photo submitted by Appleton Museum (by Meagan Gumpert) • Photo submitted by Appleton Museum (by Ralph Demilio)

ARTIST CORNER

Rebecca McMurrer ARTIST Q&A this question sending me into an existential crisis. I don’t know what I am—a weirdo, maybe. My ideal role in life would be someone worth listening to and someone who could make a difference. I love people and feel compelled to advocate for things to make society better for us all. Quite literally my job title would probably be something like balloon artist.

What type an artist are you? I like to paint abstract but I also make many other crafts and companion pieces that live in the same colorful art family. What types of art and culture do you like to consume? It is a massive spectrum. I often joke (I’m not) that my biggest interests are reality TV and quantum theory. I love to think, I love to learn, and I can find interest in anything. Disturbing documentaries are my jam but so are haute couture fashion show reviews. I praise the internet and feel legitimately lucky I live in a time with so much access to information that I can indulge every curious whim. And there are many. Is there a connection between your message and the way you make your art? Maybe? It isn’t always a conscious effort but when I step back and look at a piece I feel good about, I notice my shape and color choices tend to have a feminine edge, and I feel great about it. I suppose my message is that equality between sexes doesn’t have to be so hamfisted. I’m not looking to make art with a specific message or meaning relevant to today’s society; it’s more about making something and not having it immediately devalued if there’s too much pink. I hope to normalize things by being normal.

Photo by Mark Anderson

What are you besides an artist? How do you define your role in life? I’m not even sure I’d consider myself an artist but wanted to shoot my shot and will not be offended if no one wants to listen to me. However, I also do not appreciate

How do you define success as an artist or person? What do you hope to accomplish? I mean, I get pumped when an Instagram post gets five more likes from the last. I am very scared about “putting myself out there,” so success for me might just be getting past that. I hope to accomplish this questionnaire I have been overthinking all day. Art-wise, I would like to accomplish [as much as] at least one other person who is into what I do, so the bar here is pretty low. How can we support you? Instagram: @knifespoonfork

WANT TO BE FEATURED IN OUR ARTIST Q&A? Send us your email to info@localamag.com.

Inclusion in the magazine is based on first come, first served. You must complete the questionnaire and submit a headshot to be considered for publication.

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Locala, March 2022, Ocala, FL

Articles inside

Trevor DeShaw

Letter from the Publisher