Ocala Magazine March 2022

Ocala’s City Magazine Since 1980 Serving the Horse Capital of the World®

OCALA MAGAZINE MAR 2022

Live Oak International Returns

March: When Florida Becomes a Sports Mecca

FAST:

Ocala’s Olympic-Level Swimming Facility

$5.95

Golf Course Properties

GOLDEN OCALA GOLF AND EQUESTRIAN CLUB — Presiding over the 15th green. Stately residence with 5 or 6 bedrooms, 5.5 baths. Formal living, formal dining, butler’s bar, Chefs kitchen, informal dining alcove open to the family room. Private elevator or stairs lead to the second floor. Covered lanai, summer kitchen, beverage bar surrounding pool and the adjoining garden.

2 - 2 car garages. Access to the World Equestrian Center. $2,150,000

BEST HOMESITE IN LAKESIDE at Golden Ocala. Looking to build a home close to the World Equestrian Center? This 1.09 +/- lot located in Lakeside is a great building site overlooking the lake and golf course. Amenities include: clubhouse, world class dining, pool, tennis, spa, café, fitness center and stables for your horses. Homes in Lakeside require minimum of 6,000 sq ft. living area.

Offered at $875,000

COUNTRY CLUB OF OCALA — Overlooking 15th fairway. Formal dining, formal living with fireplace, great room with built in bookcases.

Chef ’s kitchen and breakfast area with French doors leading to enclosed entertaining area. Large bonus room plus 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. Porch with built in summer kitchen and seating areas overlooking beautiful views.

Oversized 3-Car garage plus RV garage. $1,750,000

COUNTRY CLUB OF OCALA — Overlooks the 15th hole - 2+ acres private retreat with 10,075+/-SF living area. 4 wings with 5 bedrooms, 5 baths & 2 powder rooms. Formal living room with fireplace. Sports court with volleyball, pickle-ball, basketball, putting green, gym with infrared sauna, infinity edge pool. Cabana with 2 bedroom/ 2 bath living area living area plus game room. $3,995,000

In 2022: $4,846,560 Sold • $8,630,000 Pending

Close to World Equestrian Center

LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION! — Prime location for a developer with Hwy 27 frontage, 75 +/- acres with easy access to the World Equestrian Center and HITS. Center aisle barn, fenced paddocks, perfect for any discipline. Property is zoned A-1 with MR land use (4 units per acre). $6,472,750

LOCATED JUST MINUTES TO WORLD EQUESTRIAN CENTER — Frontage on HWY 27- Great Location! This is your opportunity to purchase 40+/- acres in this great location. 3 Bedroom / 3 Bath pool home, 1 Bedroom/ 1 bath cabana, 18-stall barn with office, full bath, and tack room, Property is zoned A-1 with land use of (Rural Land).

Adjoining 42 +/- acres also available.

CLOSE TO WORLD EQUESTRIAN CENTER — Prime 28.42 +/- acres in great NW location steps from WEC South and Golden Ocala Golf / Equestrian Club. Opportunity to build your horse farm across the street from the new WEC equestrian complex. Beautiful building sites overlooking pond with magnificent sunsets. Property is perimeter fenced with existing well. Ready for horses or livestock. No Deed restrictions. $1,500,000

Looking for a location close to the World Equestrian Center with Highway 27 frontage.

This 42.31 +/- Acres includes pond, gated entrance plus 20-stall barn, round pen, and open shed for storage. Land is Zoned A-1 with land use of Rural Land and Rural Activity Center. $4,231,000

List with us today!

R E A LTO R ®

Ocala Farms

S rom HIT Across f STATE OF THE ART Equestrian sporting horse facility that has it all!

13+ Acres, main home, 3 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom, gourmet kitchen, covered lanai and attached 3 car garage. 24 Stall stable, open areas plus A/C tack room, covered round pen, lush paddocks. 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom guest apartment. $1,800,000

INVESTOR’S DREAM — 29+/- Acre equestrian farm. Frontage on HWY 27 across from HITS show grounds and convenient to the World Equestrian Center. 4 Bedroom, 3 bathroom home with a country-style covered front porch. 22 stall barn with tack and feed rooms. Property offers 2 RV hookups. 2/2 mobile guest home. $1,897,000

MIDWEST THOROUGHBREDS – Incredible, state of the art training and rehabilitation center features cold-water spa, expansive swim circle under roof, 3 barns with 120 stalls, 3/4 +/- mile track, and equipment building. Main residence, pool house, plus 2 managers residences. $4,750,000

BEAUTIFUL EQUESTRIAN FARM — located in the prestigious NW Ocala area with scattered live oaks and lush green pastures. Main barn features 2,400 SF with 4 offices, reception area, conference room plus 14-over-sized stalls plus breeding area. Two additional 14-stall barns. 6 horse Eurosizer. Employee housing. Close to the WEC. Sites available for dream home. $2,495,000

R E A LTO R ®

Considering Ocala?

SUMMIT — Brand New Construction! Gated neighborhood on 3.81 +/Acres. 5,900+ SF, 4 Bedroom, 4.5 bath home. Formal living, dining room, Chef ’s kitchen, and office/ library. . Master Suite with sitting area leads to pool and lanai area. Large den and rec room with built in beverage area, fireplace opening onto the pool and lanai. 3-car garage plus portico. Equine friendly community. $2,494,000

PRIVATE COUNTRY LIVING 14 +/- Acres with majestic Granddaddy Oaks in gated community. Chef ’s kitchen with butler’s pantry. Family room with fireplace, wet bar, and sliding glass doors to pool area. Master suite features fireplace, spacious sitting area. Screen-enclosed pool, covered lanai and summer kitchen. 4-stall barn with tack room, plus overhead storage. Direct access to the Florida Greenway and Trails. $2,175,000

PRIVACY AND TRANQUILITY — on 23.21 +- acres recently updated 4,000 SF estate with 4 bed/ 3.5 baths. Open floor plan with spacious great room plus stone fireplace. Pool. Zoned for horses or cattle. 9-Stall barn with tack/feed room, office, and 2 bed/ 2 bath guest apartment.

Arena. Covered Storage building. $1,795,000

14 ACRES – HWY 475 FRONTAGE — Long-paved driveway leading to two architecturally designed, spacious homes. Main home: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths w/office. Second home: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths w/office. Enjoy sunsets from the front porches. Property is zoned A-1 for horses and cattle. 3 miles to I-75, 3.5 miles to The Florida Horse Park and Greenways & Trails. Lots of possibilities. $1,199,000

g buying or n ri e d si n o c e ’r u If yo call today! selling, give us a R E A LTO R ® For these and other properties, visit JoanPletcher.com for information, videos, and more choices.

352.347.1777 | Cell: 352.266.9100 | Cell: 352.804.8989 | joan@joanpletcher.com Due to the privacy and at the discretion of my clients, there are additional training centers, estates, and land available that are not advertised.

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LEAVE ‘EM GREEN WITH ENVY

CELEBRATING OUR 42ND YEAR!

MARCH • 2022 FEATURES 16 F.A.S.T. makes a big splash 24 The Live Oak International is back!

28 Florida is a wintertime sports mecca 38 OM Pulse DEPARTMENTS 10 Letter from the Publisher 12 Letter from the Editor 14 From the Mayor

Making almond milk — p. 44

ON THE COVER: Chester Weber and Chloe Reid on location at Live Oak International

Ocala’s City Magazine Since 1980 Serving the Horse Capital of the World®

OCALA MAGAZINE MAR 2022

International Returns

Photographer: Ralph Demilio March: When Florida Becomes a Sports Mecca

FAST:

Ocala’s Olympic-Level Swimming Facility

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| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Live Oak

$5.95

45 44 48

EAT Doing away with milk in your diet Dining Out

49 50 54 56 58 62

PLAY Happenings WEC hosts fashion show HITS is back and going strong HOPS meets Anthology: Poetry in motion

67 68

EQUINE The equine industry wants you!

73 74 76 78 80 82 84 88

ETC Charity Spotlight: H.O.M.E. of Belleview Health Journal: Vitamin D is vital to good health State of the City: Doing business with the city State of the County: Celebrating Marion’s history Kiwanis Corner Rotary Circle Looking Back: When Paddock Mall arrived

Volume 41, Issue 9

MARCH 2022

OM

OCALA’S #1 MOST AWARD-WINNING CITY MAGAZINE

CELEBRATING OUR 42ND YEAR! Philip Glassman, CCIM | Publisher philip@ocalamagazine.com

Penny Miller | VP/Corporate Development penny@ocalamagazine.com

EDITORIAL Brad Rogers | Contributing Editor brad@ocalamagazine.com

ART Jessi Miller | Creative Director jessi@ocalamagazine.com

Carlton Reese | Senior Writer carlton@ocalamagazine.com

PHOTOGRAPHY Ralph Demilio | Chief Photographer ralph@ocalamagazine.com

Sharon Raye | Copy Editor Christen Brown | Social Correspondent

CONTRIBUTORS Louisa Barton | Equine Columnist Mark Anderson/Marion County | Writer Robin Fannon | Food + Lifestyle Mayor Kent Guinn | Columnist OPERATIONS Randy Woodruff, CPA | CFO randy@ocalamagazine.com

Ocala Magazine Wins Five 2021 Florida Magazine Association Awards!

EDITORIAL OR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES 352.622.2995

www.ocalamagazine.com OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER HOPS — Historic Ocala Preservation Society MEDIA PARTNER & PRESENTING SPONSOR of the Tailgating Competition at Live Oak International OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR 2022 International Women's Day Celebration EXCLUSIVE MEDIA SPONSOR FOR George Albright Annual Golf Tournament OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR FINE ARTS FOR OCALA

THE OFFICIAL CITY MAGAZINE OF

TEDxOcala · HITS · Equiventure

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OFFICE 743 E. Fort King St., Ocala, FL 34471 MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 4649, Ocala, FL 34478 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR by mail or email: editor@ocalamagazine.com SUBSCRIPTION One year - $49, Two years - $95, Single Issue - $5.95.

COPYRIGHT ALL contents copyrighted © 2021 by Ocala Magazine Publications. All rights reserved.

Reproduction or use of editorial or advertising content in any manner without written permission is strictly prohibited.

Horse Capital of the World® is a registered trademark of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Owners’ Association.

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| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

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LETTER

from the publisher

Now appearing on the global stage I CAN’T STOP BUT THINK ABOUT HOW FAR WE HAVE COME in such a short time in this community of ours. From a sleepy, rural town with big dreams to a player on the international stage, Ocala has truly grown into an amazing place that 30 years ago would have seemed silly to imagine.

In this issue, the glory that is Ocala is well documented and it is with great pride that we are able to document the growth of this area within the pages of this magazine.

Think of the new Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training (FAST) facility, which Brad Rogers writes about in this issue. Such a facility would never have been earmarked for the Ocala area even 10 years ago, but here we are with what looks to be one of the premier aquatic centers in the country. This place is drawing attention from internationally elite members of the sport and will bring guests from all over to take part not only in extensive training but competitive events of the highest order.

Why FAST in Ocala? Truth is, the creation of FAST here represents another rider on what is a pretty big wave of momentum regarding Ocala’s significance on the world stage. Before FAST was the World Equestrian Center, which is the premier facility of its kind in the world. The existence and success F.A.S.T. of WEC is all the proof anyone needs to be sure that this area is ripe for the development of projects that hold national and global significance.

With this momentum, it’s exciting to think about what will come next.

Just over 40 years ago, Ocalans were all excited about the advent of a new mall (see “Looking Back” in this issue) and now we’re talking about local venues that could hold Olympic trials some day.

How far we have come!

We discovered in February, though, that it isn’t just buildings and faLive Oak International cilities that are “putting Ocala on the map” – it’s people as well. When three skaters from Ocala all win medals on the world’s biggest stage, it’s time to take note that this is more than a fluke; it’s the result of an area that is coming of age. How many other cities can claim three Olympic medalists at this moment? Most cities would be lucky to have just one!

It’s with the utmost humility that we are able to chronicle the growth of Ocala within the pages of OM, and we recognize what a blessing it is to World Equestrian Center be a part of this community. We have published our Charity Register for the 18th year and it is proof of the selfless nature of the people in this community. From star athletes to service-minded individuals to generous and community-loving businesses, we enjoy a unique compilation of human talent here and we should never take it for granted.

That talent includes many of the media sponsors that help make this free magazine possible to the people of Ocala, businesses such as Cox Media, HITS and Live Oak International. Thanks to local businesses and the aforementioned partners, we are able to enjoy many blessings of living in Ocala, a place where it seems there is no ceiling on what can be achieved.

Until next month,

PHILIP GLASSMAN, PUBLISHER

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words of wisdom

An Olympic tale for the ages

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| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

That unbelievably generous act captured the world’s attention and, ultimately, it’s heart.

“It’s hard to imagine someone would give up an Olympic spot for you,” Jackson would later tell Olympic.com.

That’s what everybody thought.

Pretty soon those chasing the Bowe-Jackson story realized they came from the same town — Ocala, Florida — as does Mantia. They all grew up together as competitive inline skaters, each with multiple world championships. It was our town, our athletes everybody was talking about. And it felt really, really good.

Before you could say speedskating, reporters from around the world were talking and writing about the Florida town that was producing America’s best speedskaters.

Who’d have thunk it?

All the attention surprised the Olympians, especially Bowe’s gift to Jackson, who went on to win gold in the 500m.

“Initially I didn’t think it was that big of a deal, to be quite honest with you,” Bowe told Olympics.com. “In my heart and soul, it was just the right thing to do. And very quickly we both realized this was going to be a lot bigger of a deal than we both anticipated or thought of. ” Bigger, indeed. Everywhere you looked during the Olympic Games people were talking about the kids from Ocala. And when all three medaled, it just brought renewed attention — and a retelling of the whole story — to what some are now calling “America’s hotbed of speedskating.”

Bowe has come to appreciate how much it meant to a nation weary of divisiveness and disease.

“The amount of support and love we have received over the past month has

BY BRAD ROGERS just been incredible,” she told Olympics.com last month. “In times when there is so much division, it’s been great to bring so many people together. This moment is awesome.”

Awesome, and then some. For a memorable two months, Ocala was the talk of the Olympics because three of our own stepped onto the world stage showing not only that they are world-class athletes, but world-class people.

Yeah, everyone loves a good story, especially when it’s about your own. Be proud Ocala that Bowe, Jackson and Mantia delivered a story for the ages. It’s one that won’t be forgotten.

Photo: Lev Radin, Shutterstock

E

verybody loves a good story, and it’s hard to think of a better one than the one about Ocala’s three Olympians that was told and retold during the recent Winter Games.

It started as a story of selflessness and sportsmanship and ended with the trio of native Ocalans — Brittany Bowe, Erin Jackson and Joey Mantia — coming home with Olympic medals hanging around their necks.

That these children of Florida, who grew up in a town with no ice skating rink and where the temperature was 77 the day the Olympics started, all won their medals speedskating on ice just made the story better.

Yet, this Olympic tale was more than a feel-good story. It was a public relations bonanza for Ocala. Yes, we’re one of the 10 fastest growing places in the country. Sure, we’re one of America’s best places to retire or to start a business. And, of course, we’re the Horse Capital of the World.

But the ride Bowe, Jackson and Mantia took us on since the beginning of the year has been uplifting and pride-stirring on another level. They are not just Olympians. They are the son and daughters of Ocala who made us proud as athletes and, more importantly, as people. Oh, did they make us proud.

A public relations magician could not have concocted a better storyline – and who would believe it if they had. And they darn sure could not have gotten the sort of attention for Ocala that our Olympians did.

For those who have been on Mars the past couple of months, a quick recap. Former champion inline skaters here in Ocala, Bowe, Jackson and Mantia all went to the Olympics at the top of their game. But during the Olympic trials in early January, Jackson – the No. 1 ranked 500-meter skater in the world – slipped during her race and failed to make the U.S. team. Bowe, who had won the 500m trial, and also qualified in the 1000m and 1500m races, gave her 500m spot to Jackson.

Erin Jackson

MAYOR

from the

Time to celebrate Ocala’s Olympians

BY MAYOR KENT GUINN

L These are kids who were born in Ocala and went to public school here and even learned to skate here, getting their formative training that would lead them to eventually earning Olympic medals.

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et’s have a parade! Like every other Ocalan, I am swelled with pride over the accomplishments of our three Olympians during last month’s Beijing Olympics, and a parade to welcome them home is just the thing to let them know how much we appreciate them.

Erin Jackson, Brittany Bowe and Joey Mantia accomplished what no amount of chamber of commerce marketing ever could: They put Ocala on the map of international players and conducted themselves in a manner that spoke well of their Central Florida rearing. In these three athletes, we have some of the finest ambassadors of their sport and their hometown.

We are not talking about three people who have passed through here for a short spell on their way to speedskating glory – these are kids who were born in Ocala and went to public school here and even learned to skate here, getting their formative training that would lead them to eventually earning Olympic medals.

In April, the three are set to come home and a glorious Ocala welcome should be in the offing, one with a parade and downtown celebration. I see no reason Ocalans by the thousands should not show up to pay tribute to their favorite son and daughters.

Bowe and Mantia are the elder statesmen of the group and they were able to each haul in bronze medals at Beijing – Bowe in the women’s 1000m and Mantia as a member of the men’s team pursuit. At ages 33 and 36, respectively, Bowe’s and Mantia’s accomplishments are especially noteworthy. For Bowe, perhaps being the flag bearer for the U.S. team at the opening ceremonies was as big an honor as any.

For Jackson, winning the gold medal in the women’s 500m was significant not just because she is a native Floridian beating all comers in a winter Olympic sport, but also for being the first black American woman to medal in speedskating. At age 29, she still has some years left in her and hopefully we will see her compete in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy. It’s hard to calculate just how much of an inspiration Jackson has been to little girls all over the country who are convinced they can achieve great things like her and that there are no barriers strong enough to keep them from pursuing their dreams.

I hope everyone realizes just how special a moment this was for these athletes and for Ocala. Boasting three Olympic medalists from one city is hard enough if you happen to be a large metropolitan area like Chicago or Philadelphia, but a small town in Central Florida like Ocala? We are used to seeing local athletes hit it big in football, baseball and basketball, but for it to happen in speedskating where nary an ice rink exists?

This speaks volumes of their inline skating coach Renee Hildebrand at Skate-A-Way South, who set them on their paths to stardom. To coach up three locals who would be inspired to take their talents to the ice and reach the elite level they have is truly remarkable and I believe deserves some recognition at our celebration.

By now, many of you have no doubt noticed the Clear Channel billboards touting the exploits of these three athletes and soon we should have details about a parade and celebration downtown or even elsewhere. When it happens, we can show these athletes just how much everyone here appreciates the hard work they have put in and the impact they have made on this town.

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W

ithin the massive new Calesa Township development west of Ocala sits a glass-and-concrete edifice that demands explanation. It’s a three-story, 82,000-square-foot swimming facility being built for the Ocala/Marion County community by the Circle Square Foundation, which is affiliated with On Top of the World Communities. Virtually everyone involved in the project believes it is going to change sports and tourism locally.

The Florida Aquatic and Swimming Training facility, or F.A.S.T., is the $38 million vision of On Top of the World Communities President Ken Colen. As F.A.S.T. nears completion this month, it offers two Olympic-size pools, including one indoors, and a host of amenities that makes the complex one of the finest in the nation.

Initially envisioned as a community pool to replace the College of Central Florida’s aging and decaying Newton Perry Aquatic Center, Colen planned to build a pool that would serve the needs of the area’s residents, first responders and swim teams.

Once CF determined it would have to close the Perry pool, Colen stepped up.

What was eventually built, though, is so much more than a community pool where children can learn to swim, people of all ages can exercise and local high school and club swim teams can practice and compete.

“The vision of helping our community was expanded to include the larger global swimming community,” said Rebecca Rogers, executive director of the Circle Square Foundation of which Colen is trustee.

The range of audiences F.A.S.T. intends

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | MAR 2022 |

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to serve is broad and deep, just like its pools.

Rogers and F.A.S.T.’s newly hired swimming coach, Brian Shrader, both said that the intent behind the facility is to first serve local residents, from youngsters learning to swim and seniors seeking to stay fit to first responders training to save lives and high school teams competing.

But by expanding the facility to two pools, as well as adding elite training and coaching facilities, they say it will also be a ”destination” for some of the best swimmers and swim teams in the country, indeed the world.

“It’s going to be about the 6-year-old who comes through here and goes on to the Olympic trials,” said the 54-year-old Shrader, who was a competitive high school and college swimmer before embarking on a coaching career that included stops at collegiate powerhouses Florida and Texas and stint on the Olympic team coaching staff. “One of the things that’s going to happen locally is these high schools are going to get good.”

Among the things F.A.S.T. will offer the community will be free swimming lessons for every third-grader in Marion County who wants them.

Construction began on the project in 2020. After scrapping the original plan for a single, outdoor community pool and deciding to build an indoor pool, the F.A.S.T. developers consulted with former UF and Olympic head coach Greg Troy on what he thought the facility should further entail.

One of Troy’s first suggestions was a second pool outdoors. Colen embraced the idea.

What evolved was a massive expansion of the original concept. The enclosed pool, known as a natatorium, would be joined by a second Olympic-size pool, as well as outdoor areas for children and families.

During the F.A.S.T. team’s research on how to proceed with the facility, the group attended the 2021 Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Neb., in part, to see how a major national meet is run.

After the visit, the group found out that it could buy one of the pools used at the Olympic trials. The metal pools by the Italian firm Myrtha, are pieced together like a puzzle and had been erected in the Omaha convention Center for the Olympic trials.

F.A.S.T. ultimately bought the warm-up pool used at Olympic trials and it is now in the ground in Ocala.

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When it opens on March 22, the natatorium will feature an indoor 10-lane, 50-meter/25-yard Olympic competition pool, deck space for up to 800 swimmers, and over 2,000 spectator seats. The seven-lane 50-meter/25-yard/25-meter outdoor pool will be competition caliber and will have 700 fixed bleacher seats with additional viewing from a covered second floor viewing area. A splash pool with seating and shade is available for younger swimmers.

The facility will also house an indoor dryland fitness center, state-of-the-art scoreboards, men’s and women’s locker rooms, and community meeting spaces.

Shrader, who will coach the F.A.S.T. Falcons, the competitive team that will call F.A.S.T. home, believes the new facility will not only be a hit with local residents, but will attract some of the nation’s best swimmers to come here and train.

“We will have Olympians training in

...it will be a ”destination” for some of the best swimmers and swim teams in the country, indeed the world. this facility,” Shrader told OM. “They will come because it’s such a remarkable place.”

Shrader cited the new weight room and fitness center that will be in the facility – designed specifically with championship swimmers in mind … and with some of their input.

“It’s one of the reasons teams will come here to train,” he said. “It’s a one-stop shop

where they can weight train and swim in the same building.”

Rogers, the foundation executive, said once the decision was made to build a worldclass aquatic center, Colen and his team set out to make it the best it could be in order to attract not only as many local residents as possible, but as many competitive swimmers

and swim teams as possible.

“We have offered everything they could want, including coaching,” she said.

And it’s not just the big things like the weight room, specially designed locker rooms or the two Olympic pools that make F.A.S.T. special. For example, a special ventilation system has been installed to minimize

the chlorine smell in the natatorium, which often is offensive in enclosed pool facilities.

Also, the indoor pool is designed to minimize waves caused by the swimmers. And, finally, while most major competitive pools run about 8 or 9 feet deep, the indoor pool at F.A.S.T. starts at 9 feet deep and goes to 13 feet, and as Shrader put it, “deeper is faster.”

“What makes a pool ‘fast’ is depth,” he said. “The deeper, the faster. There will be records set here.

“It’s going to be fun to see what happens.”

What Colen, Rogers, Shrader and those in the economic development community expect to happen is that F.A.S.T. will become not only a bustling recreation center for the

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | MAR 2022 |

19

“It’s going to be about the 6-year-old who comes through here and goes on to the Olympic trials.” community but a major destination for competitive swimmers from around the country.

“This is the swim version of WEC (The World Equestrian Center),” said Kevin Sheilley, president/CEO of the Ocala Metro Chamber &Economic Partnership.

For Sheilley, F.A.S.T. combined with WEC once again will make Ocala a tourist destination of a new kind – a sports tourism destination – a half century after the relative demise of Silver Springs as a major attraction.

“For the first time in 50 years – since the opening of Disney – tourism will not be the economic driver, but it will be an economic driver,” he said.

On Top of the World Communities is already planning a hotel near its entrance on State Road 200, in part, to serve the visitors F.A.S.T. is expected to draw.

An economic impact study by GAI Consultants in May 2020 projects that the aquatic facility will increase year-round visitation in Marion County by 12 percent, which will result in an 8 percent increase in county tourist development tax revenues, or about $257,000 per year.

In addition, F.A.S.T. is expected to create 425 jobs throughout the community, producing $12 million in new wages and an overall $34 million economic impact on Ocala/Marion County.

During a recent CEP gathering, Colen noted that On Top of the World Communities has grown by 5,000 residents since 2014 and Calesa Township is expected to bring 5,000 more. That growth, he said, necessitates a community aquatic facility.

“It’s really important to have a good aquatic center for the community,” he told the group. “I think teaching children to swim is fundamental to their healthy development and certainly their survival,” he said. “It

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Brian Shrader

“It’s going to be about the 6-year-old who comes through here and goes on to the Olympic trials,”

F.A.S.T. is expected to create 425 jobs throughout the community, producing $12 million in new wages and an overall $34 million economic impact

builds so many things, self-confidence, grit.

It’s lessons learned that flow through life.”

Nonetheless, Colen also said he recognizes that F.A.S.T. has the potential to be an economic driver.

“With an enterprise like F.A.S.T., and I use the term ‘enterprise’ purposely, it can be another economic driver for Marion County,” he said.

“What we’ll bring in swim meets and attendance puts heads in beads and butts in restaurant seats, on and on. It’s a real economic driver, a multiplier in this county.”

Troy, the former UF coach and now consultant to F.A.S.T., said it will drive more than the local economy. It will change swimming here and beyond.

“It’s not just a local driver,” Troy said.

“It’s going to be a regional driver, a state driver. It has the potential to be an international driver.” “ … It just blew me away how well it is planned. It’s going to be a destination for a lot of people to come train. It’s going to be literally one of the top three destination facilities in the country.”

He expects 2,000-5,000 athletes to visit F.A.S.T. its first year.

The nearly finished facility is not already attracting the attention of the swimming world. In addition to having meets scheduled for May and July, including a week-long visit by a New Jersey swim team, F.A.S.T. has received sponsorship support from TYR, a major maker of swimming gear.

TYR is also sponsoring the F.A.S.T. Falcons

and will have a store in the facility.

Shrader said the few meets already scheduled in the coming months are just the start of much bigger things.

“Our goal is to have every coach who comes through here and every parents to say, ‘We want to come back,’” he said. “And, we want to be an economic driver, but we want to serve the community.

“It just a great thing.”

Sheilley thinks Shrader is spot on.

“What excited me is it will increase tourism by 12 percent, and I think that is conservative,” he said. “Because everything Ken Colen does, he undersells and overdelivers.”

F.A.S.T will hold its grand opening Saturday, March 26. To find out more about F.A.S.T., go to its website at floridafast.com.

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | MAR 2022 |

21

Dr. Poonam Warman, M.D. Pulmonary and Internal Medicine

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Over the last 20 years, Dr. Poonam Warman, M.D. has served the Ocala community by providing the highest quality medical care in Pulmonary and Internal Medicine.

Dr. Warman obtained her medical education and training from well-respected physicians in her field of medicine at distinguished institutions. Dr. Poonam Warman has a B.A. from Case Western Reserve University and was on the Dean’s List. She received her M.D. from The Ohio State University School of Medicine with High Honors in gross anatomy, embryology, and clinical radiology.

Following medical school, she completed her residency in categorical internal medicine, at the Northeast Ohio College of Medicine. Dr Warman did a Fellowship in Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the University of Oklahoma during which time she published a chapter in a Medical Textbook. While Dr. Warman has extensive medical education and training, she still continues to refine her expertise and skills with advanced medical education courses and training for current, stateof-the- art medical care.

Dr. Warman has been invited to lecture by her peers at primary care physician and hospital meetings on issues in pulmonary medicine, including diagnosis and management. Additionally, she served as a subinvestigator for studies and trials for complex matters such as special medical diagnosis of antithrombin, patients with severe sepsis, thromboembolism, and pneumonia.

Furthermore, she is published in the medical publication of Journal of Radiology, with Dr. Bova R. Bennett for her expertise in the use of MRI and CT in the early diagnosis of recurring colon cancer.

Dr. Poonam Warman, M.D. For more information, please call our office at

352.369.6139

1500 SE Magnolia Extension, Suite 202, Ocala, FL 34471

Dr. Warman is a highly rated Pulmonologist and Internal Medicine physician, not only from within the medical community and her peers, but more importantly with her patients. When Dr. Warman opened her private practice in Ocala in 2000, she invested all her education, training and heart in her community with the sole purpose of giving high quality medical care. She has always had a passion for helping others to heal and it is reflected in her reviews from patients. One such review states, “My 86 year old mother, my 66 year old sister, (with advanced stage early onset Alzheimers), and I saw Dr. Warman. She is Amazing!

She went out of her way to see my mom every time she was in the hospital. She treated all of us with great dignity and respect.”

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Live Oak International is back, bigger and better than ever!

L

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| FEB 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Chester Weber

Photos courtesy Live Oak International

ive Oak International, the nation’s only equine event featuring both combined driving and show jumping, is returning March 3-6, 2022, with its biggest show ever, along with a record amount of prize money in both disciplines.

Held at the pastoral Live Oak Stud Farm, located on State Road 40 west of Ocala, the Live Oak International tournament was canceled in 2021 due to the pandemic.

That year off gave the organizers a chance to expand and improve the event. Now in its 31st year, Live Oak International is indisputably one of the nation’s premier equine events.

Running Live Oak International is a team effort by the Weber family – and is the one time of the year that the public can enter and see the magnificently beautiful Live Oak Stud property. Family matriarch Charlotte Weber opens her farm for the event, and son Chester Weber, daughter Juliet W. Reid, and granddaughter Chloe D. Reid all play integral parts in planning and putting on the tournament together.

The event started as a way for Chester Weber, co-president of Live Oak International, to promote the sport of combined driving in America. The holder of 18 U.S. national combined driving championships, Chester competes extensively in Europe, where the sport of combined driving is more in demand. His goal is to raise the profile of the equestrian discipline in the U.S. to where it is comparable to Europe.

Live Oak International is the largest CAI-3* combined driving tournament in North America, and the Ocala competition

Chloe Reid

offers the most prize money of any driving tournament in the United States. The combined driving competition includes three phases – dressage, marathon, and the cones obstacle course and is held over three days,

March 4, 5 and 6.

Chloe D. Reid said the marathon portion of the event is a must-see sport at its highest level with extreme entertainment and will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March

Photo by Ralph Demilio

Chloe Reid and Chester Weber

5. “The marathon is the most intense phase of the combined driving and it’s really exciting to watch,” she said.

There are an expected 50 competitors from around the globe representing.

New to the Live Oak International schedule this year is the LOI Youth Driving Division where eight junior drivers under the age of 16 are being invited to compete at the tournament all show expenses paid. It

is part of Chester Weber’s ongoing efforts to promote the sport he so loves.

“Chester really wants to promote the sport and introduce it to a new generation,” Reid said. “It’s his main reason for holding Live Oak International, and what better way to grow the sport than to involve youth who will be the future of the sport.”

This is the 10th year that show jumping will be a part of Live Oak International, and the decade of competition will be celebrated with the Fédération Équestre Internatinale (FEI) CSI-4* Longines World Cup qualifier event. It is one of only eight World Cup qualifiers in the United States and will come with $216,200 in prize money. An exciting aside, Reid noted, is the Sunday, March 6, Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Ocala Grand Prix will be broadcast by CBS Sports.

There will be 45 competitors from 20 countries taking part in the showjumping event, with $327,000 in prize money and rider bonuses on the line. The show jumping competition starts on Friday, March 4th.

While Live Oak International is touted as the biggest spectator event in Marion County and features top-tier competitors in combined driving and show jumping, Reid points out it is for more than just the horse crowd.

There is something for everyone, including an AdventHealth Ocala Kids Zone, with a bouncy house, face painting, and games, vendor booths with shops for horse fanatics or shoppers alike, as well as an Audi Gainesville Biergarten and food vendors for those who just want to enjoy a nice day outdoors.

In addition, the Grandview Clydesdales will be on hand for presentations Friday through Sunday. Spectators will have a chance to not only see the Clydesdales perform but pet them and have photographs taken with the gentle giants.

Tickets for Live Oak International are available for different levels of the Live Oak International experience. General admission is $10 each day and children under 6 are welcome for free. For those wanting to tailgate or have the VIP experience, which includes special seating overlooking the main arena, tickets start at $250.

For more information about tickets and Live Oak International, go online to www. liveoakinternational.com.

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | FEB 2022 |

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Spring When it comes to sports, the state of Florida owns the month of March

BY CARLTON REESE

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| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Fever OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | MAR 2022 |

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Spr ng Fever

A

n azure sky filtering the soft rays that fuel autotrophs and bathe a populace in its warm suffusion – such is the sketch of daily life Floridians take for granted during the temperate month of March, but much heeded by multitudes of sports organizations in search of a spring paradise. Yes, if the calendar reads March and one happens to be a sports enthusiast, then one is ultimately fixated on the Sunshine State.

Major League Baseball teams have been aware of this fact for over 100 years, making Florida its spring home ever since the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians trained in Tampa and Pensacola, respectively, back in 1913. As such, the crack of wooden bats and the popping of leather mitts have become fixtures of the state’s March soundscape since long before revelling spring breakers or Harley riders ever thought to descend here on their annual furloughs.

The NCAA Tournament, college basketball’s showcase event, brings its show to Florida most every March, and even at that, holds only a fraction of the state’s attention.

But for 2022, March may seem to take

But for 2022, March may seem to take a bit of a swipe on the chin in Florida as the NCAA will not be coming here.

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| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

a bit of a swipe on the chin in Florida as the NCAA will not be coming here (places like Dayton and Buffalo seem more attractive?) and MLB players and owners may be too busy squabbling over their golden goose to make it here for Spring Training. Still, with no NCAA Tournament and a possible MLB lockout/strike/greedfest casting a pall over Florida’s month of distinction, this is still the place to be for sports fans.

As March signals the official beginning of when it is okay to start drinking frozen rum runners, it also signals the arrival of the PGA Tour. The Arnold Palmer Invitational, played in Orlando at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge March 1-6, presents local golf fans with the closest opportunity to trod next to many of the biggest stars of the sport. If healthy, defending champion Bryson DeChambeau has said he will return to Bay Hill in an effort to win back-to-back titles.

Bay Hill marks the second stage in a four-week PGA Tour jaunt of Florida that

actually starts the last week of February at the Honda Classic in West Palm Beach.

The weekend after the Orlando event is The Players Championship at the famed TPC-Sawgrass near Jacksonville. A fan favorite that boasts a $20 million purse, The Players has long been considered an unofficial major championship and some even consider it to be a “fifth major.”

The final stop on the Florida swing is down in Palm Harbor north of Tampa at the Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course for the Valspar Championship.

Although the preferred option for Florida sports fans in March would normally be the donning of a tee shirt while sipping a cold beer in grandstands of Dunedin’s TD Ballpark or Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field, nursing a light lager adjacent to the 16th fairway at Sawgrass presents a nice alternative.

With the NCAA Tournament eschewing Florida, the Southeastern Conference is stepping in to fill part of that void by holding its men’s basketball tournament championship in Tampa March 9-13.

Baseball, basketball and golf have always been March stalwarts in Florida, but the state

also brings in professional tennis, world class equestrian (see OM’s story on the Live Oak International in this issue), professional drag racing, charity cycling and for 2022 the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team.

Even horse racing, forever seemingly dormant in March for Florida, has become a rather big deal. The Tampa Bay Derby, once a race hardly anyone would plan a weekend around, has quickly grown into an event of stout proportion. The March 12 race at Tampa Bay Downs is one in a string of Kentucky Derby prep races as part of the Kentucky Derby Championship Series.

For much of its history, horses competing in the Tampa Bay Derby enjoyed rather nondescript careers, but that cannot be stated these days. The growing stature of the event has helped it churn out talent fit for the big time. In 2007, Tampa Bay Derby runner-up Street Sense went on to win the Kentucky Derby. 2010 third-place finisher Super Saver, trained by Todd Pletcher, went on to win the Derby. Pletcher’s Tapwrite won the Tampa Bay Derby in 2018 then went on to win the Belmont Stakes.

Most recently, in 2019, Tacitus won the Tampa Bay Derby in a record time of 1:41.9 then placed in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.

As part of the Kentucky Derby Championship Series, the Tampa Bay Derby offers 85 Derby qualification points, divided on a 50-20-10-5 basis. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday in March.

For tennis enthusiasts, the drive to South Florida is rather short when it is to witness one of the top events outside of the major championships. The Miami Open, March 21-April 3, features the top players on both men’s and women’s circuits and is played at Hard Rock Stadium. Those familiar with the name will note that this is a football stadium that converts into tennis for this tournament.

For those who can’t get enough of that burning fuel smell and deafening engine roar, the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville March 10-13 should satisfy those cravings. The drag racing calendar’s first east coast event, the Gatornationals boasts of being the site for some historical runs, including the first 300-mph pass in 1986 by Belleview’s “Big Daddy” Don Garlits.

Gatornationals has been held annually since 1970, making it the fourth-oldest professional drag racing event on the NHRA circuit.

In soccer, it doesn’t get any bigger than the FIFA World Cup, and the U.S. Men’s National Team will pin its qualifying hopes on a match in Orlando March 27. The Americans will battle Panama in a World Cup qualifying match at Exploria Stadium. After a humbling 2018 in which the U.S. failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in eight tries, this year’s contingent stands in good position (5-3-2 over the first 10 qualifying matches).

But a weak finish could make things difficult.

Keep in mind, Panama already defeated the U.S. back in October.

Finally, for those who prefer to compete as opposed to merely spectate, the sport of cycling offers that chance and March is the best time in Florida for such an endeavor.

Close by are three charity cycling events that present challenges for the experienced riders and fun for the newbies.

On March 5, riders can either head to Gainesville for the Tour de Gainesville or

Orlando’s Championsgate Resort for the Bike MS: The Citrus Tour. On March 2627, riders can head to either Fort Myers or Tampa for a myriad of lengths of races with the Pan Florida Challenge Cancer Ride.

It’s not too hot; it’s not too cold. In Florida, it’s just right – one look at an overstuffed sports calendar is all the evidence you need.

Although the preferred option for Florida sports fans in March would normally be the donning of a tee shirt while sipping a cold beer in grandstands of Dunedin’s TD Ballpark or Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field, nursing a light lager adjacent to the 16th fairway at Sawgrass presents a nice alternative.

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | MAR 2022 |

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Spr ng Fever Major League Baseball nearby Spring Training sites: DETROIT TIGERS Lakeland Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium 2301 Lakeland Hills Drive 863-686-8075 www.tigers.com/springtraining NEW YORK YANKEES Tampa Steinbrenner Field 1 Steinbrenner Drive 813-879-2244 www.yankees.com/springtraining

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES Clearwater Spectrum Field 601 N. Old Coachman Road 727-467-4457 www.phillies.com/springtraining TORONTO BLUE JAYS Dunedin TD Ballpark 373 Douglas Avenue 727-733-0429 www.bluejays.com/springtraining

College basketball: SEC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT Tampa March 9-13 Amalie Arena Tickets: www.amaliearena.com

PGA Tour sites: ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL March 3-6 Bay Hill Club and Lodge, Orlando Tickets: www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP March 10-13 TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach Tickets: www.theplayers.com VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP March 17-20 Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course), Palm Harbor Tickets: www.valsparchampionship.com

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| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

SETTING A NEW STANDARD OF CARE FOR CANCER TREATMENT

Advanced treatment options offer faster, more precise radiation therapy If you are diagnosed with cancer, it’s important to learn about all of your treatment options. Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) is at the forefront of science and research, providing the most up-to-date treatments personalized for your unique needs.

Shorter courses of radiation treatment are quickly becoming the standard of care for prostate, lung, breast, bone and brain cancers. These advanced options are available from FCS, many offered exclusively in Marion County.

Targeting tumors with greater precision Successful radiation therapy depends on delivering the proper amount of radiation to the cancer in the best and most effective way, destroying cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.

A treatment technique known as hypofractionation delivers the total dose of radiation more precisely and in fewer sessions, compared to standard radiation therapy. Patients can complete their course of radiation therapy much faster with optimal outcomes and a better overall experience.

Shorter treatments for prostate and lung cancer One in six American men can expect to develop prostate cancer in their lifetime; the average age at diagnosis is 66. The good news is that the survival rate is extremely high, thanks to a range of advanced treatment options.

Traditional prostate treatments are time intensive (typically requiring daily treatment for nine weeks).

Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that the use of shorter treatment schedules (daily treatment for five weeks) results in similar positive outcomes, no increase in side effects, fewer trips and less expense. In select cases, another emerging treatment — stereotactic body radiotherapy — can be delivered in as few as five treatments as an alternative to surgery for patients with prostate cancer and early-stage lung cancer.

Advanced technology [to better target tumors] offered exclusively in Ocala Advanced techniques use SpaceOAR gel to reduce the risk of rectal damage during prostate radiotherapy.

FCS is the only provider in Ocala offering SpaceOAR to protect healthy rectal tissue.

Breast Cancer FCS is the only cancer center in the area to provide two modern treatment techniques that protect the heart during radiation treatment for breast cancer. Traditional methods of blocking the heart may place patients at higher risk for a heart attack. Deep inspiration Breath Hold creates more separation between cancer and the heart, making treatment more precise. This video demonstrates the specialized deep inspiration breath hold technique.

See the technology in action:

FLCancer.com

Spr ng Fever

Horse Racing: TAMPA BAY DERBY March 12 Tampa Bay Downs, Tampa Part of the Kentucky Derby Championship Series Information: www.tampabaydowns.com

Soccer: U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM World Cup Qualifier March 27 Orlando Exploria Stadium United States vs. Panama, 7 p.m.

Professional Tennis: MIAMI OPEN March 21-April 3 Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens Tickets: www.miamiopen.com

Drag Racing: NHRA GATORNATIONALS March 10-13 Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville Tickets: www.nhra.evenue.net

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| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Charity Cycling Rides: TOUR DE GAINESVILLE March 5 Starting Point: 3300 SE 15th St., Gainesville Information: www.bikereg.com BIKE MS THE CITRUS TOUR March 5 Starting Point: Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate Information: www.mssociety. donordrive.com PAN FLORIDA CHALLENGE CANCER RIDE March 26-27 Starting Point: USF Riverfront Park, Tampa Information: www.panfloridachallenge.org

A BOWLER, A FATHER AND A YOGA TEACHER WALK INTO YOUR OFFICE.

YOU WALK OUT WITH A SOLID FINANCIAL PLAN. Our team’s diverse background is unmatched – just like our expertise and our resources. Put them all to work for you. » » » » »

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A Grand

OPPORTUNITY Nestled on 350+/- gently rolling acres of Florida horse country,

Grand Oaks Resort & Saddle Club is a property unlike any other.

This carefully cultivated retreat is replete with centuries-old oaks, broad green pastures, and Southern charm, providing the ideal environment to train, relax, and recreate. The relentless pursuit of excellence can be seen in every aspect of this remarkable resort, and now it is available for purchase.

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This opportunity is not expected to last long, so please contact us at

your earliest convenience for more information. Broker registration is accepted.

TomW@TheGrandOaks.com 3000 Marion County Road • Weirsdale, Florida 32195

OM PULSE Of Oscars, St.Patty’s Day and time

84% Half OF OM RESPONDENTS SAY THEY HAVE NO PLANS TO ATTEND AN MLB SPRING TRAINING GAME THIS YEAR.

83%

OF OM RESPONDENTS SAY THEY

wear green on St. Patrick’s Day.

favor changing Daylight Savings Time to year-round.

Every 38

| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

OM RESPONDENT CLAIMS TO NOT BE SUPERSTITIOUS REGARDING THE WEARING OF GREEN ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY.

50% SAY THEY WILL WATCH THE OSCARS CEREMONY ON TELEVISION.

OM RESPONDENTS’ CHOICE FOR

Best Motion Picture AT THE UPCOMING ACADEMY AWARDS IS “DON’T LOOK UP.”

Photo: Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock

The movies, “King Richard,” “Licorice Pizza” and “West Side Story” each received mention.

Andrew Garfield Kristen Stewart (“TICK, TICK … BOOM) IS THE FAVORITE PICK AMONG OM RESPONDENTS FOR BEST ACTOR AT THE UPCOMING ACADEMY AWARDS.

(“SPENCER”) IS THE FAVORITE PICK AMONG OM RESPONDENTS FOR BEST ACTRESS AT THE UPCOMING ACADEMY AWARDS.

For Spring Break, 33% OF OM RESPONDENTS ARE PARTIAL TO VISITING AN AMUSEMENT PARK. Other activities of note included staying home, going to the beach and visiting a local park.

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | MAR 2022 |

39

Saturday, March 5, 2022 | 6-8:30 p.m.

College of Central Florida Vintage Farm Campus

For more information, visit NightAtTheFarm.org.

Thank you to our event sponsors.

Patricia Conrad, CFP® & Jared Kirby, CFP®

Ausley Construction | SouthState Bank SECO | Conrad Tree Service Florida Express Environmental Senior Learners HuntonBrady Architects | Bill and Debbie Browder

Retirement Retirement Retirement Community Community Community

BrandHope New to 30,000 sq in ft Clubhouse see you 2022.

To celebrate the opening of our New Clubhouse, we are offering, for a limited To celebrate celebrate the the opening opening of of our our New New Clubhouse, Clubhouse, we we are are offering, offering, for for aa limited limited To time, Great Sale Pricing on many of our homes. Lakeview is a wonderful place to time, Great Great Sale Sale Pricing Pricing on on many many of of our our homes. homes. Lakeview Lakeview is is aa wonderful wonderful place place to to time, live and the Clubhouse, with its gorgeous performance stage and many dining live and and the the Clubhouse, Clubhouse, with with its its gorgeous gorgeous performance performance stage stage and and many many dining dining live areas, will give our residents even better accommodations, activities and service. areas, will will give give our our residents residents even even better better accommodations, accommodations, activities activities and and service. service. areas,

Now’s the time to sell your house and enjoy the peace of mind of Life Care at

Now’s the the time time to to sell sell your your house house and and enjoy enjoy the the peace peace of of mind mind of of Life Life Care Care Now’s Lakeview. Houses are selling rapidly and at high prices with low interest rates. This

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HIS Compassion Food Bank POUND FOR POUND, PENNIES FOR FOOD

CHALLENGE

His Compassion Food Bank provides FREE food and product valued at more than $47,500,000. As of November 18, 2021, we have given over 19 million pounds of food and goods to the residents of Marion County, 129 agencies, Marion County Public Schools, area restaurants, dentists, veterinarians, and doctors’ offices. All product has been given free and mostly hauled by our trucks.

We need YOUR help.

During January through April, we challenge the community to match us pound for pound, pennies for food.

To obtain collection jars, contact Joy Guydan at 352-351-0732 or email hiscompassionflorida@gmail.com with questions H H H Donations by check or cash convert to pounds, too! H H H

www.HISCompassionFlorida.org PICK UP FREE FOOD ON TUES & THURS MORNINGS (COME EARLY!) AGENCIES & DELIVERIES MON/WED/FRI at 2000 NE 78th St, Ocala, FL 34479

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eat

Not keen on green beer? Try some superfood for St. Patrick’s Day!

Quit Milking It p44 | Dining Out p48

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | MAR 2022 |

43

Quit Milking It Healthy, tasty ways to be done with dairy products STORY, RECIPES AND PHOTOS BY ROBIN FANNON

S

o many of us are getting away from consuming conventional dairy products. The negative health effects of consuming dairy products are well documented. They are high in saturated fats and contribute to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, increased symptoms of asthma and aggravate acne and skin disorders. Research is now showing that consuming dairy can increase your risk of developing diseases such as Multiple Scle-

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| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

rosis and Parkinson Disease, to name a few.

If you have decided to eliminate dairy for health reasons, you will inadvertently be helping the environment and animal welfare.

Conventional dairy cows live in miserable conditions and are definitely not happy cows.

Thankfully, there are delicious alternatives to explore. Below is the basic recipe for plant-based milk and from there the possibilities are endless.

On a personal note, as a home chef, there

are just some recipes that call for and benefit from the use of dairy. In this case, go for organic, pastured or grass-fed varieties from reputable sources.

Once you have had a freshly made, chilled glass of almond milk, you’ll never want that conventional bovine sludge again.

Homemade Almond Milk INGREDIENTS

» 1 cup raw almonds (soaked overnight in cool water // or 1-2 hours in very hot water) » 5 cups filtered water (less to thicken, more to thin) » 1 pinch Himalayan or sea salt

INSTRUCTIONS

• Place almonds in a glass bowl and soak with clean, filtered water at least 12 hours.

• Drain the almond and place in a blender with 3 cups of fresh water.

• Blend for 10 to 12 seconds on high.

• Strain mixture through cheesecloth or a “nut bag” available for about $10 on Amazon or other retailers.

• Squeezing the pulp to extract all the milk.

• Return to the blender and add your desired flavoring.

• Store in a glass pitcher in the refrigerator for about 3 days (if it lasts this long!).

Golden Milk This traditional Indian, Ayurvedic, anti-inflammatory concoction is perfect in the evenings before retiring.

INGREDIENTS

» 1 1/2 cups fresh almond (or other plant based) milk » 1 tsp. ground turmeric » 1/4 tsp. fresh cinnamon » 1 pinch of black pepper (helps with turmeric absorption) » Sweetener of choice: maple syrup, stevia, coconut sugar or honey

Flavor enhancers and sweeteners » » » » » » »

Vanilla Extract (or fresh Vanilla Bean) Honey Maple Syrup Agave Almond Extract Cocoa Cinnamon

» » » » » » »

Turmeric for Golden Milk (Recipe provided) Strawberries Banana Peanut or Almond Butter Dates Pumpkin Spice Stevia

For other varieties try using cashews, macadamia nuts or brazil nuts, and using the same method below try it with oats or fresh coconut.

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | MAR 2022 |

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Let’s go nuts!

A healthy version of the classic. These cookies are crunchy on the outside with the right amount of gooey on the inside. They are also gluten-free and low in sugar. You can eliminate the granulated sugar altogether and use coconut sugar, maple syrup and/or honey.

Almond flour peanut butter (gluten-free) cookies INGREDIENTS » » » » » »

1 cup creamy peanut butter ½ cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 egg (at room temp) ½ teaspoon baking soda 1 cup almond flour

INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 350 F. • Place the peanut butter in a small saucepan and melt on low for 1 minute or until melted. Stir every 20 seconds.

• Combine the peanut butter and sugar in a medium mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 1 minute.

• Add in the vanilla and egg, beat with an electric mixer until combined. (Egg must be at room temperature).

• In a separate bowl, combine the almond flour and baking soda. Mix with a fork.

• Add the almond flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture. Mix with an electric mixer until combined.

• Drop cookie dough onto a cookie sheet using a rounded tablespoon or a cookie dough scoop.

• Press down with fork in a criss-cross direction.

• Bake for 7-8 minutes. Let cool on a cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove and cool on a cooling rack.

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| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Noodles with Peanut Sauce This super easy sauce is a good staple for a quick weekday lunch or dinner. I love a healthy buckwheat Soba or Udon noodle with this, but you can use your favorite. You can also add additional protein or veggies, like thinly sliced carrot, red pepper or sliced chicken, shrimp or thinly sliced beef. Garnish with chopped spring onions.

INGREDIENTS

Dandelion (or Kale) Walnut Pesto Delicious stirred into hummus, spread on bruschetta or mixed in with your favorite pasta.

INGREDIENTS » » » » »

1/2 cup walnuts 1 garlic clove dandelion greens (about 2 handfuls) parsley (about 1 big handful) 1/4 Cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated (optional) » 1/3 - 1/2 cups olive oil » salt & pepper

» 8 ounces angel hair or other skinny pasta, Soba or Udon noodles » ½ cup creamy peanut butter » ¼ cup hot water or more as needed » 2 tablespoons soy sauce » 2 tablespoons lime juice » ½ teaspoon chili garlic paste » 1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey » ½ teaspoon minced garlic » ½ cup slivered or julienned veggies » ½ cup sliced scallions white and green parts

DIRECTIONS

• Cook pasta according to package directions.

• While the noodles are cooking, put the peanut butter, water, soy sauce, lime juice, chili paste, brown sugar or honey, and garlic in a food processor or blender and process until smooth.

• When the pasta is cooked, drain it and return the pasta to the pot. Add the sauce and toss until well coated. If you need to add more hot water to loosen the sauce so it distributes easily over the noodles, add more.

• Turn the pasta into a shallow serving bowl and top with the radishes and scallions. Toss and serve warm.

DIRECTIONS

• In 375° oven, toast walnuts for 3-5 minutes, just until fragrant.

• In a food processor, pulse walnuts and garlic until grainy.

• In a bowl, add parmesan cheese and stir in olive oil to your taste.

• Season with salt and pepper.

• Store in the refrigerator 3-4 days, or in the freezer for several months.

• Note: If you don't have a food processor, finely chop all the ingredients on a cutting board or combine with a mortar and pestle.

IG: @RSVP_ROBIN

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | MAR 2022 |

47

dining out

EAT

Ocala is going out!

Advertise with us to connect with our hungry readers.

Call 352.622.2995 and reserve your space.

Ivy On The Square Whether gathering with friends or family for lunch or a night out, you’ll enjoy fresh salads, mouthwatering comfort food, late-night tapas and drinks. Specials include our Pecan Salmon, Southern Fried Lobster and famous baked Krispy Chicken. After dining enjoy a stroll in our boutique where we offer a variety of gifts, jewelry, home decor and clothing. Looking to host a special event or dinner? Call and talk to one of our staff members on the options we have available.

Stop by our new speakeasy bar and enjoy our specialty drinks! Gift certificates available.

53 S. Magnolia Ave., Ocala | (352) 622-5550 Closed Mon, Tues 11am-2pm, Wed 11am-9pm, Thurs 11am-9pm 106 NW Main St., Williston | (352) 528-5410 Sun-Wed 11am-2pm, Thurs-Sat 11am-8pm | ivyhousefl.com

West 82° Bar and Grill IT’S BACK! The best brunch in Citrus County.

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Overlooking the beautiful Kings Bay and Crystal River, the West 82 satisfies all of your senses in one place.

Call for reservations and weekly specials.

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| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

9301 West Fort Island Trail Crystal River, FL 34429 (352) 795-4211 plantationoncrystalriver.com

Photo by: IG @reginaldgeffrad

play

“Graciela” (English “Grace”) by Andres Garcia, resident artist at Magnolia Art Xchange Acrylic on canvas | 48 x 48 | IG/FB @OfficialLaughingArtist | Email: OfficialLaughingArtist@gmail.com ARTIST’S STATEMENT: I named this painting after my Grandmother, who is a huge reason why I paint today.

She said, “If you are happy painting and being an artist why not do it for the rest of your life?“ Those words sunk in and ever since she passed away in March 2020 I’ve been creating everyday. Her love for Roses and her Country of Colombia were an inspiration to this piece.

Happenings p50 | Society p54 | Anthology—Poetry in Motion p62

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | MAR 2022 |

49

Happenings OM Rainbow Springs Art Festival MAR. 19-20 • 10 AM–5 PM • FREE ADMISSION

Historic Downtown Dunnellon / W. Pennsylvania Ave and Cedar St. www.rainbowspringsart.com | 352-445-8547

After Dark in the Park Movie Series: "Dreamgirls" MAR. 25 • 8 PM • FREE Bring a blanket or chairs to sit on. Concessions available.

Tuscawilla Art Park 213 NE 5th St 352-368-5517 | visit www.ocalafl.org/recpark

29th Annual Southeastern Pro Rodeo MAR. 18-19 • GATES OPEN 5:30PM • PERFORMANCES BEGIN 7:30 PM Get ready for two jam-packed performances filled with exciting competition in saddle and bareback bronc riding, tie down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, and the most dangerous eight seconds in any sport, BULL RIDING.

At the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion www.ocalarodeo.com | 352-421-3199

”Passion“ Juried Group Exhibition THROUGH– MAR. 26 • 9 AM–4 PM NOMA announces the opening of their first juried prize winning exhibition of 2022. Welcoming art lovers and collectors to celebrate the meaning of "passion" through the language of artistic expression from artists around the world.

939 North Magnolia Avenue, Ocala Thurs-Sat 12pm-6pm 352-657-1212 • www.nomaocala.com

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| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

March2022 Kevin Nealon

The Unfinished

MAR. 11 • 7:30 PM

MAR. 19 • 7:30 PM AND MAR. 20 • 3 PM

Actor, comedian and author Kevin Nealon is best known for his nine-year stint as a cast member of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” and has received critical acclaim for his role in the Showtime series “Weeds.” Nealon created some of the “Saturday Night Live's” most memorable characters; his recurring role as an anchor on “Weekend Update” helped make the sketch a show staple. Currently, Nealon stars in CBS’s “Man With a Plan.”

500 NE 9th Street Ocala • (352) 351-1606 www.reillyartscenter.com

The winners of our Young Artist Competition, Kye Richardson (12) and Elisabeth Thomashoff (20) take the stage with the OSO along with Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Ballade and Schubert’s incredible B minor symphony, The Unfinished.

Raymond Chobaz, Principal Guest Conductor | Matthew Wardell, Music Director

500 NE 9th Street Ocala • (352) 351-1606 www.reillyartscenter.com

Marion County Master Gardeners' Spring Festival MAR. 12 • 8 AM–4 PM AND MAR. 13 • 9 AM–4 PM The largest plant sale in the region! Bring your wagons to haul your many lovely new plants as you explore over 75 commercial plant vendors and educational booths. The children will also enjoy the outdoor Kid Zone where they can be surrounded by live butterflies in the butterfly tent. Tickets $2 per person (12 and under are free).

At the Southeastern Livestock Pavillion www.eventbrite.com/e/181963356297 or http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/marion/master-gardeners-/events

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | MAR 2022 |

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Ocala's home for live entertainment!

National Artists, the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and more!

OSO: The Unfinished March 19 | 7:30 PM March 20 | 3:00 PM

An Evening with Kenny G

Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn

Assisted Living: The Musical

March 26 | 7:30 PM

Reilly Noir presents Longineu Parsons April 15 | 7:30 PM

An Evening with Jefferson Starship

April 22 | 7:30 PM

OSO: 21st Century Anthology March 19 | 7:30 PM March 20 | 3:00 PM

April 4 | 7:30 PM

April 29 | 7:30 PM

Artrageous: The Interactive Art and Music Experience

Support provided by:

May 14 | 3 PM

UPCOMING AT THE MARION THEATRE

Concerts, classic films, special events and more!

The Marion Theatre has something for everyone with a great lineup of movies and live concerts.

Additionally, this unique space is perfect for private film events! Host your next birthday party, company outing, or gather friends to watch your favorite film by renting the theatre.

Scan the QR code with your phone to visit our website with our complete listing of Reilly, Ocala Symphony and Marion Theatre events!

ReillyArtsCenter.com | 352-351-1606 | 500 NE 9th Street

Media Support provided by:

MarionTheatre.org | 352-820-3049 | 50 S Magnolia Ave

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17201 SE 109th Terrace Road • Summerfield, FL 34491 • HighpointStonecrest.com

EVENTS

society

One Year of Odette Boutique STORY + PHOTOS BY CHRISTEN BROWN

L

ocated at the World Equestrian Center, Odette Boutique offers so much more than just equestrian style. Their beautiful boutique located in Arena 4 offers the best in trending fashions from boho beachy chic to exclusive designer collections.

Odette recently commemorated their one year anniversary with a weekend full of love and celebration.

Owner and fashionista, Michelle Barnecette kicked off the weekend of festivities with a Galentine’s Day event which included personalized canvas art giveaways among other surprises. The following day, the anniversary celebration continued with a custom straw hat bar and refreshments. Many valued shoppers and visitors enjoyed the beautiful atmosphere and celebratory spirit which included a lovely balloon arrangement display from Party Innovations by Luisa.

That night, the main arena transformed into a catwalk where models stepped out wearing the latest and greatest in Odette fashion. It was an unforgettable fashion event, and just the beginning of many more to come.

Kristin Dean and Michelle Barnecett

Michelle Barnecett

Kristin Dean and Jorgianna Paola

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| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

SAVE THE DATE THE OCALA CIVIC THEATRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESENTS

Behind

Mask The

AN EVENING OF ENCHANTMENT A magically immersive experience with French delicacies, signature libations, celebrated songs, surprises, and a Broadway star.

Monday, April 25 at 6:30pm Creative Black Tie

FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND INFORMATION: Laurie W. Zink: lz@zgroup1.com 352-817-4155 Rosie Miller: rmiller@ocalacivictheatre.com 352-236-2851 ext#104

tickets: ocalacivictheatre.com

EVENTS

society

HITS Ocala $100,000 Ocala Electric Utility Grand Prix PHOTOS BY RALPH DEMILIO Mackenzie Grahm, Bailey Sehrem, Anissa Jessee, Isabelle Bard, and Molly Dinapoly

Scott Reynolds and Louissa Barton Tracy Fenney Riding MTM Apple

Gail Sonnenburg and Laurel Blankmore

Sarah Lawrence, Claire Khuen L, and Laurie Baker

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| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Francois Lamontagne Riding Chanel du Calvaire

Ire Bethea , Doug and Jessica Peebles, Tyler and Zac Puckett

EVENTS

society

HOPS Annual Meeting 2022 PHOTOS BY CHRISTEN BROWN

Rick Perry, Rhoda Walkup, Linda Anker, and Brian Stoothoff

T

he Board members of HOPS held their annual meeting at the HOPS office and Bryant House on Fort King Street on January 26th.

Inclusive within the agenda was the induction of new officers for 2022-23, of which were Dr. Lela Kerley, President; Rhoda Walkup, Vice-President; Richard 'Rick' Perry, Secretary; and Dennis Phillips, Treasurer.

Past President, Brian Stoothoff handed the gavel over to Dr. Kerley and shared some special moments during his year of serving as HOPS President.

Those in attendance shared in the past accomplishments of HOPS in 2021 in spite of enduring another year of the COVID virus, and are looking forward to the the special upcoming events for 2022.

The first event for 2022 is the HOPS Annual Historic Homes Art Tour to be held on Saturday, April 23rd at 10:00 to begin at the Bryant House on Fort King Street.

For tickets and more information, go to: SpringHomeTour.EventBrite.com.

Linda Anker and Brian Stoothoff

Rick Perry and Brian Stoothoff

The HOPS board members

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| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Rhoda Walkup and Brian Stoothoff

The Bryant House

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r r & & u u o o T T t t r r AA

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Historic HistoricHome Home P r o u d l yP rp o r eu sdelny t pe rd e bs ey n t e d b y

Saturday, Saturday, April April 23rd 23rd 10:00 10:00 AMAM – 4:00 – 4:00 PMPM

Tickets Tickets available available at SpringHomeTour.Eventbrite.com at SpringHomeTour.Eventbrite.com

EVENTS

society

CEP Annual Luncheon PHOTOS BY RALPH DEMILIO

Bart Rowland and Dean Blinkhorn

Louisa Barton and Tamara Fleischmaker

John DiDonna and Dion Leonhard DiDonna

Katherine OBrien, Alberto Rullan, Riadh Fakhoury

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| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Mike Edwards, Sandra Breeden, Palmira Bennett, Jim Bennett, and Vince Perez

Tom James and John DiDonna

Joe Reichel

LIFE-SIZED 24-KARAT GOLD LEAF

Gold Horses FOR SALE

These unique life size horses have been expertly crafted and covered with 24-karat gold leaf and capture the attention of those that pass the gates. The attention to detail is strikingly realistic and are truly unique pieces of artwork.

The horses are 6.5 feet long, 6 feet height, 2.5 feet wide and weigh approximately 200-300 pounds apiece. They are designed to be bolted to a front entrance pedestal and are relatively easy to move.

Sale price is $120,000 for the pair.

Not to be sold individually.

Additional photos and more detail dimensions available to interested parties.

PLEASE CONTACT KATE HOLLAND AT (850) 520-1737 OR KATEFHOLLAND@GMAIL.COM

PLAY

anthology — poetry in motion

Dreams

BY JERRY GLASSMAN

They can all come true when you realize it’s up to you Make it a theme to follow your dream It’s a picture show It’s a map of what could be

62

| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Determination can overcome a lot figure out the step by step process to set the stage to enjoy your life the way you want it to be

sing to the sun dance under the stars howl at the moon live from the heart

Go for it!

You only live once.

Tell your dreams to the night time stars so your dreams can greet you in the morning when you wake

If you don’t like the script rewrite the story

Dream on little dreamer, dream on ...

The FUN Begins When TheSUN FUNComes BeginsOut! When the the SUN Comes Out!

JUNIOR CAMP JUNIOR CAMP

DANCE CAMP DANCE CAMP

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HIGH ADVENTURE CAMP HIGH ADVENTURE CAMP NEW!

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Registration is Open Registration is Open for Summer 2022! for Summer 2022!

Summer Camps Summer Camps

Visit www.thecornerstoneschool.org Visit www.thecornerstoneschool.org to register or for more information. to register or for more information.

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Gracious Living in the Horse Capital of the World®

Everything Equine p68

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | MAR 2022 |

67

EQUINE

everything equine

Horsing Around at the Ocala Downtown Market for the Equine Industry

BY LOUISA BARTON

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| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Then there is technology. There are fantastic new apps available in the horse world, for anything from managing boarding businesses to safer methods of microchipping horses with more efficient ways to track equine medical records and keep all horses in better health.

With all of this in mind, the Equine Industry Expo on March 9 from 12-7 p.m. at the Ocala Downtown Market, presented

by Miller and Sons Plumbing, Inc., becomes a very important event in the Horse Capital, providing a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to learn about this great industry. This event is part of the Chamber

and Economic Partnership’s (CEP) Equine Initiative, presented by Pyranha.

The Marion County area is home to

Photos courtesy of Louisa Barton

O

cala/Marion County is the Horse Capital and the recent Quality of Life Survey commissioned by Horse Farms Forever proved that horses, farms, farmland preservation and our equine history and culture is of utmost importance to those who call home to this “horsecentric” area of Florida. Generation after generation, in beautiful Marion County, people have raised, trained and ridden horses for work or for pleasure.

With new technology at the forefront of all that we do, and with less access to horses for our youth due to rising costs and for a variety of other reasons, it is more important than ever that we reach the younger generations.

As this area continues to grow in popularity for equestrians to relocate their homes, farms and training centers here, there is more of a need for an equine industry workforce than ever. Ads are running constantly for grooms, veterinary technicians, show stewards, barn managers, riders and more. Many of these careers offer very competitive salaries and even benefits in some cases. There are chances for advancement and opportunities to climb to the top with reputable farms and training centers and other equine related businesses.

some 62 different breeds of horses and the Equine Industry Expo will showcase some of those breeds for a safe “Meet and Greet,” and then at the end of the day’s events, the horses will lead a parade around the Downtown Market for all to enjoy. Throughout the

day, David Helmuth’s Clydesdales will give free carriage rides, courtesy of Larsen Hay. With a master farrier, an equine dentist, top breeders, veterinarians, trainers, riders and other equine professionals, including new equine technology businesses, on hand to answer questions, there is no better way for young people or those seeking employment within the industry to learn more. This is equine “edutainment” at its best and the perfect opportunity to learn more about an industry that is worth almost $3 billion a year to Marion County.

With a demo in the FEI Round Pen by the famous Sylvia Zerbini and Rico, her 2019

Breyer stallion, and a chance to meet Hall of Fame jockey Jacinto Vasquez, there will be fun and excitement for all ages. After all, there is nothing like coming face to face with beautiful horses while learning about the careers available in this wonderful industry. So, we hope you will come and horse around at the Ocala Downtown Market on March 9 from 12-7 p.m.

Louisa Barton is the Equine Initiative Director at the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership, Showcase Properties of Central Florida Farm Realtor and host of the Horse Talk Show on the Sky 97.3, Audacy.com and Equus Television

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | MAR 2022 |

69

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Lavana Korr at NOMA Gallery making a mask for the Mardi Gras Masquerade in the NOMA Black Box at the Reilly Arts Center Charity: Hands Of Mercy Everywhere p74 | Health Journal p76 | State of the City p78 State of the County p80 | OM Marketplace p86 | Looking Back p88

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | MAR 2022 |

73

ETC

charity

Troubled girls find a H.O.M.E.

or most teenage girls, the prospect of an unexpected pregnancy means entering a dark place bereft of hope and full of challenges that cannot possibly be met. For many, the situation resembles more punishment than blessing. At Hands of Mercy Everywhere (H.O.M.E.), a maternity home in Belleview, the goal is to foster a nurturing environment that puts young girls on a trajectory toward a happy ending, or at least one that avoids the tragic outcomes that are all too common.

Founder and CEO of H.O.M.E., Diane

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| MAR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Schofield, explains that many young girls are victims of mental and sexual abuse or have parents in jail or have been neglected or even abandoned. In their trauma, “these young girls are looking for love in all the wrong places. It shouldn’t be a punishment for them because they are carrying a child,” Schofield said. She says that girls may think the only options for them are abortion or adoption, becoming a good parent not among them.

H.O.M.E. provides access to education and health care that would have been denied these young girls, and it comes with provid-

ing life lessons with Christian values. In the past 18 years, H.O.M.E. has grown to become one of the largest maternity homes in the state of Florida and currently houses 17 girls and six babies.

Through the Florida Department of Children and Families, girls come to H.O.M.E. and most bring with them a life deficient of proper rearing. Once at H.O.M.E., girls begin to receive physical, mental and spiritual development they had likely never experienced.

“They’ve been placed with us through

Photos courtesy of Hands of Mercy Everywhere

F

Hands of Mercy Everywhere — putting young mothers on a trajectory toward a happy ending ››BY CARLTON REESE

a court order because a parent abused, abandoned or neglected them,” Schofield said. “We have tons of parenting classes and we work with them on tutoring. When they go back to school, we work with them on daycare.”

At H.O.M.E. it is much more than just a safe space for troubled girls. The teens learn valuable life skills, interpersonal skills such as simple things like how to speak to an adult, apply for a job or even fill out a lease.

Most of these girls have never dealt with professional adults and proper etiquette may be sorely lacking. It’s time to grow up, and it happens at H.O.M.E. For the girls going through a pregnancy or already with a baby, there is the task of not only caring for a child and learning how to be a good parent or citizen, but also completing the necessary education required in society. That means girls miss a lot of school and have a lot of catching up to do – all while going through a pregnancy then raising a baby.

“We do have a really good success rate for them graduating,” Schofield said. “We work a lot with Belleview High School – if a student is behind, we get her caught up real quick.”

Schofield assures that in the program, “We’re there to help them, but not to raise their child for them. If you do that, it would be so easy to get pregnant again. They need to see the process, the good and the bad.”

The girls at H.O.M.E. all have to pull their weight, performing the chores necessary to make H.O.M.E. a home for all – there is no catering to the girls as if they were guests, and cash allowances are made each month in return. Through it all the girls learn how to be a good parent and how to be responsible and hard working.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, instead of falling through the cracks like many others, the staff and girls at H.O.M.E. seized the opportunity to come together to forge ahead in a different manner.

“We have three houses on the same block, and during COVID we turned it into a school and daycare,” Schofield said. “We were the church because you couldn’t go to church; it was a life skill center and a counseling center. I give kudos to our staff that didn’t quit and were willing to be flexible and versatile.

“The girls grew up a lot during that time.

There was a lack of knowledge about COVID

so they had to rely on us for guidance. It created an amazing bond with all of us.”

The counseling program at H.O.M.E. includes Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), which was designed to meet the needs of children who have experienced “adversity, early harm, toxic stress, and or trauma.” Children who have endured traumatic experiences often hold a distrust of the loving adults in their lives and TBRI is specifically suited to help parents, caregivers and teachers care for children in the proper way that helps instill that necessary trust.

Over the years, the girls who have come through H.O.M.E. have developed special relationships with the staff and the other girls.

They know they will never again be alone.

“The bonding that goes on with those

girls in that house is special,” Schofield said.

“They go their separate ways but they develop a sisterhood. They stay in contact. They stay in contact with the staff.”

Where was once a dark place, light enters for these troubled girls and success is measured in different ways. For some, success means raising a healthy child and embarking on a successful career.

“For me, (success) may be that they’re not abandoning or abusing their baby, or maybe they got their GED,” Schofield said.

“We do have a really good success rate of graduating girls.”

To some, that may not seem like much, but from where most of these girls starte, a high school diploma and a healthy baby is a dream come true.

What: Hands of Mercy Everywhere Where: 6017 SE Robinson Road, Belleview, Fla. 34420 Mission: “To provide a Christian-based residential group home for teenage girls, and pregnant or parenting teens in the foster care system.”

Of Note: Since 2004, over 900 residents and babies have come through H.O.M.E. To donate: Visit handsofmercyeverywhere.org and click the “donate” tab; you may donate through the Amazon Wish List as well.

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | MAR 2022 |

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ETC

health journal

Vitamin D

Turns out it plays an important role in immune health BRANDPOINT

V

itamin D is known for helping with bone health, but its benefits extend beyond that. Due to its positive effects on the respiratory and immune systems, more than 100 clinical trials have been conducted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to look for links between vitamin D and COVID-19.

Higher blood levels of vitamin D correlated with lower incidence or severity of COVID-19 in most reviews of the research.

Thirteen recent meta-analyses examined data from 100-plus independent studies. Most studies focused on vitamin D blood levels and COVID-19, while two exclusively looked at vitamin D consumption in relation to the illness. Most analyses reveal that higher blood levels of vitamin D appear to be correlated with lower incidence or severity of COVID-19, whereas lower blood levels of vitamin D appear to be correlated with a more severe case of COVID-19.

“Increasing evidence suggests a link between higher vitamin D levels and lower incidence of COVID-19,” said Luke Huber, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN). “We have known for years that vitamin D plays an important role in immune health, and now there are multiple meta-analyses that appear to demonstrate the benefits of this nutrient in COVID-19.”

One statistical review found that intervening with vitamin D in an active case of COVID-19 reduced chance of death, though another, smaller meta-analysis did not see a statistically significant relationship.

Timing and dosage of those vitamin D in-

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terventions may have led to different results.

Summaries of the meta-analyses and links to the research are available on the CRN Foundation’s “Vitamin D & Me!” website.

“Consumers need science-based evidence to make informed health decisions,” said Brian Wommack, CRN Foundation executive director. “We hope consumers use these findings to better understand how nutrients like vitamin D support their goal of living a healthy lifestyle.”

PREVALENCE OF LOW VITAMIN D STATUS

Low vitamin D status is increasingly common. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) was found to be 28.9 percent, and vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) 41 percent in 26,010 U.S. adults surveyed as part of the ongoing National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2001-2010.

Recent studies in the British Journal of Nutrition, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and Aging Clinical and Experimental Research revealed that the following people are more at risk for VDD and VDI: • People of color, especially the Black community • Less educated populations • Those of lower socioeconomic status • Smokers • Physically inactive people • Obese individuals • Infrequent milk drinkers • Individuals with chronic diseases, especially of the liver, kidney and heart • Anyone with a disease that leads to malabsorption, such as Crohn’s disease • Older adults, due especially to aging skin’s

reduced ability to synthesize vitamin D • People with pre-existing conditions, such as diabetics • Anyone with reduced exposure to sunlight, such as those hospitalized and institutionalized • Those taking certain medications HOW DO WE GET VITAMIN D?

Vitamin D comes from three potential sources: food, sunlight-dependent production in the skin and supplements. Because vitamin D is not easily obtained from food, many countries have regulations that require vitamin D fortification of commonly consumed foods, such as milk, orange juice, other dairy products and cereals.

With regular sun exposure, a healthy diet and healthy kidneys, many people can make the vitamin D they need; however, most people are not regularly exposed to the sun, and diets vary. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, few people can obtain enough vitamin D from food sources alone, making supplementation important.

How much to supplement will vary based on vitamin D status. It’s important to first discuss dosage with your doctor, as deficient and insufficient individuals will need a different supplement strategy.

TAKEAWAYS

Simple supplementation may make you less likely to get sick and may lessen the degree of sickness if you contract COVID-19. It isn’t a substitute for other measures, but it’s another step you can take to keep you and your family healthy.

“This growing body of research does not indicate that vitamin D is a substitute for vaccines, mask wearing, social distancing or other behaviors to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus,” said Huber. “But the data indicate that vitamin D levels may play a role, in combination with other therapies, in strengthening the immune system to resist the virus.”

The CRN Foundation, a nonprofit educational organization of the dietary supplement industry that provides information about responsible use of dietary supplements, has put together a “Vitamin D & Me!” educational initiative to explore the science: VitaminDAndMe.org.

ETC

state of the city

Procuring New Relationships How the city is connecting government with businesses

BY ASHLEY DOBBS

T

here are many moving parts within a local municipality. Often, we think about the things that directly impact our lives such as having electricity running into our homes, water flowing from our faucets, or having our garbage collected each week. While those publicly facing departments play an important role in making sure our citizens are cared for, there are a multitude of departments that operate “behind the scenes,” each playing a crucial role in keeping our city moving forward.

One of those departments is Contracting & Procurement. This department ensures the city receives quality goods and services for the best price; promotes vendor relations; negotiates, drafts, and executes contracts, along with mediating in a fair manner any contract disputes when they arise.

The complexity of curating the right business for the city’s needs while balancing the taxpayers’ trust is no easy task. At the heart of the operation is a professional team of 13 people who work to streamline processes, ensure the objectives of our City Council are met, and that the city is operating within the directives set forth by Florida Statutes. The Contracting & Procurement Department achieves connections to local businesses in a variety of ways, including our fully electronic bid system and our diversified small business program.

BIDOCALA.COM Through the city’s website, www.BidOcala. com, businesses are encouraged to register their information as an official city vendor.

Vendors or the public can research active bids, see who is awarded contracts and review vendor resources. This website contains the information needed to partner with the city on business contracts.

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DIVERSE SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM Another important resource within this department is the Diverse Small Business Enterprise program (DSBE). The City of Ocala is committed to helping businesses, especially those locally owned and operated by minority groups, including women and veterans. Launched by the City of Ocala, it provides businesses the opportunity to participate in the city’s contracting and procurement processes. By partnering with the City of Ocala, the playing field is leveled in the bid process, allowing minority and diverse business owners to remain competitive with larger businesses and organizations.

The DSBE program provides opportunities and educational topics to help vendors learn how to do business with the city. Events are led by community leaders and outreach advisors and cover a variety of topics. Current business leaders engage during educational sessions with DSBE class members, providing real life examples and solutions for navigating the business world in our community. The program is designed to fully comply with the city’s procurement policies. As a government entity, the goal is for business owners to become successful members of the

community without disadvantage.

To learn more about this program or to enroll in future programs, visit www.ocalasmallbiz.com or call 352-629-8364.

Fundamentally, a successful Contracting & Procurement Department isn’t just about buying goods, negotiating a fair price or executing contracts. When done right, the department builds relationships with businesses which ultimately expand the local economy and support our city. Success comes when you can provide opportunities and understanding to assist both the business owner and the community we serve. Ultimately, what we are trying to accomplish within the City of Ocala is connecting local government and businesses as true community partners.

Ashley Dobbs is the Marketing and Communications Manager for the City Of Ocala.

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state of the county

County drafts “Empowering Marion For Success II” strategic plan

BY MARK ANDERSON

O

n March 26, the county gathers to celebrate Marion County’s unique 178-year history at Marion County Day, an annual festival featuring food trucks, vendors and fun activities from around the county.

First held in 2019 to celebrate the county’s 175th birthday, Marion County Day was put on hold in both 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19. Now, Marion County is excited to again host Marion County Day at the McPherson Governmental Complex on March 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

MARION COUNTY HISTORY Many settlers relocating to the area after Florida’s purchase from Spain in 1821 came from South Carolina, and when forming a new county in 1844 from parts of Alachua, Hillsborough, and Mosquito (Orange) counties, those settlers decided to name it after Revolutionary War hero Gen. Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox,” who also hailed from South Carolina.

Florida officially became a state in 1845, and the first county commission in 1846 named the county seat “Ocala,” a modification of the name “Ocali,” a Timucuan Native American name for the area.

On Thanksgiving Day in 1883, a fire raged through downtown Ocala, destroying several businesses. When rebuilding, construction crews used bricks instead of wood or other materials, leading to the “Brick City” nickname that’s still used today in Ocala’s downtown square. The fire also led to the formation of Ocala’s first fire department in 1885, one of the oldest in the state

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WHAT:

MARION COUNTY DAY

WHERE: McPherson Governmental Complex 601 SE 25th Ave. Ocala, FL 34471 WHEN: Saturday, March 26 — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

HOW TO ATTEND: Marion County Day is completely free to attend. Parking will be in the field to the south of the McPherson Complex

of Florida.

With warm winters and plenty of sunshine — we are in the Sunshine State, after all — Ocala and Marion County became known as the “Kingdom of the Sun,” a title still in use today throughout the county.

These are just a few of the stories from nearly two centuries of history right here in our community.

MARION COUNTY DAY Marion County Day celebrates that history with fun, family-friendly activities spanning the parking lot in front of the property appraiser building at McPherson Governmental Complex.

With food trucks, cold beverages, a Kid Zone that’s sponsored by Marion County Parks & Recreation, a bounce house, archery station, and a petting zoo, Marion County Day is an event you won’t want to miss.

Plus, learn more about Marion County history through presentations by local historians, along with special artifacts and exhibits highlighting our unique spot in Central Florida. Marion County Day is completely free to attend as well, so bring along your friends and neighbors and come celebrate everything our great county has to offer!

Mark Anderson is a public relations specialist for the Marion County Government.

Photos courtesy of Marion County

ETC

Founded 1924 Kiwanis Club of Ocala provides a positive influence and creates opportunities for local children to be curious, safe and healthy. Please join us at one of our meetings to network and highlight local community speakers.

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You can have your delight for a one stop shop for your gourmet, exotic, and everyday chocolate needs. If we don’t have your desires on the shelf, simply make an order in advance and we can customize it specifically for you. We are a neighborhood store in a neighborly community, see you at Ocala’s Chocolate & Confections!

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OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | MAR 2022 |

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The Rotary Clubs of Marion County:

Giving Back Through Service Rotary’s 2 official mottoes are:

The Rotary Clubs of Marion County Support Many Charitable Causes. Some of those include:

• Service Above Self • He Profits Most Who Serves Best

• Interfaith Emergency Services • Discovery Science Center • Annual Rotary Discover Fest Fundraiser

Rotary International serves to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian services and to advance goodwill and peace not only in their own communities, but around the world. There are over 35,000 member clubs worldwide and over 1.2 million individuals known as Rotarians.

• Boys & Girls Club of Marion County • Wear Gloves • Kimberly's Center • Marion County Literacy Council • Domestic Violence Center of Marion County • Honey Packs, Inc. • Pace Center For Girls

To learn more about joining Rotary, please visit: www.RotaryInternational.com Follow Rotary On Facebook

HOPS Set amid the ambience of the city’s oldest historic district and through the generosity of the homeowners, H.O.P.S. is pleased to showcase some of Ocala’s distinctive architecture, history, and culture. Since 1992, these home tours have provided a rare opportunity for guests to go inside some of our community’s most beautiful private residences.

2022 Historic Ocala Preservation Society Board Members

&

Historic Ocala Preservation Society

HISTORIC Home Tour

April 23rd @ 10:00 am

HOPS House. (Bryant House) | 712 East Fort King Street, Ocala FL

Dr. Lela Kerley — President Rhoda Walkup — Vice-President Rick Perry — Secretary Dennis Phillips — Treasuer Brian Stoothoff — Past President, 2021 Pamela Stafford Linda Anker Daniel Banks Giorgio Berry Bryan Caracciolo Robin Fannon Sean Gallaway Leon Geller Andrew Grunther Stephanie Howard R.J. Jenkins Lela Kerley Trish Kilgore Sarah Kirk Caryl Lucas Leslie McCullough Penny Miller Suzanne Thomas Diana Williams Link Wilson Holly Yocum

ERING COMMITTEE For more information contact Andrew Grunther, Committee Chair, 352-286-8819.

Andrew Grunther (Chair) “Spring is the time of play and projects” Leslie McCullough —Leo Tolstoy Lela Kerley 712 S.E. Fort King St. Ocala, FL 34471 | (352) 351-1861 | www.HistoricOcala.org Pamela Stafford

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The Laurie Ann Truluck Team OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | MAR 2022 |

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HOPS

looking back

When Ocala Welcomed the Paddock Mall

BY CARLTON REESE WITH THE HISTORIC OCALA PRESERVATION SOCIETY

I

n August of 1980, Ocala was a growing small town that still had one major missing piece: a full-scale, enclosed shopping mall. That would all change on Aug. 13 of that year when the Paddock Mall officially opened its doors for the first time and Ocala would become a shopping hub of Marion, Citrus, Lake and Levy counties.

The opening of such a mall was a rather big deal at the time, making front-page news both the day of and day after the grand opening.

The Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce president at that time, Gordon Skipper, summed it up thus: “It’s a mark of a new era for Ocala in the fact that this particular unit is indicative of a larger community image.”

Built by the Edward J. Debartolo Corp. and Arlen Realty and Development Corp., the Paddock Mall opened at a cost of $30 million. On its first day, 42 stores opened for business including two large department stores: Maas Brothers (later to become Burdines and now Macy’s) and Belk Lindsey. A third anchor store, J.C. Penney, would open

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the following January. Plans called for four anchor stores – Sears would join the Paddock Mall family in 1991 – and the accommodation of 92 stores.

In the early days of the Paddock Mall, there was no real food court as there exists today. Where the food court currently resides on the mall’s southeast side, Walgreen’s occupied that spot that faced a Morrison’s Cafeteria across the walkway. The common sight every Sunday morning was church goers waiting for the mall doors to open at 11 a.m. so they could enjoy an early lunch following services.

Mall patrons in 1980 enjoyed iron horse statues amid the calming tones of waterfalls so familiar at other enclosed malls. Today, those horses guard the southeast entrance of the mall where the food court exists.

The night before the mall’s opening, a ribbon-cutting preview party was held at the mall with Ed Debartolo, Jr. among the speakers. At the time, DeBartolo was president and managing partner of the San Francisco 49ers. When DeBartolo, Sr., took to

the podium, he joked that, “I’m happy to say that my record of building shopping malls has exceeded the 49ers’ record of wins.” Of course, the previous season the 49ers won only two games, but were only two years away from winning the Super Bowl.

Cutting the ribbon with DeBartolo would be Miss Florida, Caroline Dungan, and 12-year-old actress Marth Nix who portrayed the character Serena Burton on the television show, “The Waltons.”

According to an article in the Ocala Star-Banner, the festivities also included a musical program presented by the Lake Weir High School Jazz Rock Band and Ensemble.

Before the arrival of the Paddock Mall, farmland adorned the space on College Road and traffic was light. The mall paved the way for development along both sides of SR 200 all the way to the I-75 interchange.

Of course, today, development extends well beyond the I-75 corridor all the way to CR 464, and the advent of the Paddock Mall 42 years ago is a big reason.

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