Ocala Magazine April 2022 Digital Edition

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OCALA MAGAZINE APR 2022

Triple Triumph

Ocala natives Brittany Bowe, Erin Jackson, and Joey Mantia bring home Olympic medals from Beijing

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CELEBRATING OUR 42ND YEAR!

APRIL • 2022 FEATURES 16 Hildebrand’s the coaching force behind our Olympians 20 Mantia: The greatest all-around skater ever?

28 Weddings: Fakhoury-Abubakar 30 Weddings: Mr. and Mrs. Hauge DEPARTMENTS 10 Letter from the Publisher 12 Letter from the Editor 14 From the Mayor

Easter Inspiration — p. 40 Photo by Ralph Demilio

ON THE COVER: Brittany Bowe, Erin Jackson, and Joey Mantia

Ocala’s City Magazine Since 1980 Serving the Horse Capital of the World® $5.95

OCALA MAGAZINE APR 2022

Photographer: Ralph Demilio

Triple Triumph

Ocala natives Brittany Bowe, Erin Jackson, and Joey Mantia bring home Olympic medals from Beijing

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39 40 44

EAT Coloring Easter eggs naturally Dining Out

47 48 50 52 54 56 58

PLAY At the Live Oak International Eating up the Strawberry Festival CF’s Night at the Farm Stepping out at the Autism Superhero Walk Tooling around the Tax Collector’s Car Show Anthology: Poetry in motion

61 62

EQUINE Live Oak's Return

65 66 70 72 74 76 78 80

ETC Charity Spotlight: O.W.L.S. healing wildlife Health Journal: Loneliness and isolation State of the City: Conserving out water State of the County: Tackling the litter problem Kiwanis Corner Rotary Circle Looking Back: Gov. Ferris Bryant’s impact

SPONSORED 28 Hawthorne Estates the place to retire 34 Lakeview Terrace a retirement gem

Volume 41, Issue 10

APRIL 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 Ashley Dobbs/City of Ocala | Writer Robin Fannon | Food + Lifestyle Mayor Kent Guinn | Columnist Crisandra Richardson | Photographer 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

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| APR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

BE PREPARED. BE SAFE. Hurricane season is June 1 - November 30 • Make sure all contact information is current on your account. Providing us with an up-to-date phone number will allow you to report your power outage easier and faster.

• If your power is restored while crews are still working in the area, please leave a porch light or externally visible light on so they can see that you have power.

• To view a real-time map of current outages, visit severeweather.ocalafl.org.

• Generators should not be plugged directly into a home’s main electrical system. This could potentially send an electrical charge back to the power grid, which could create an electrocution hazard for utility workers.

• To report a power outage in your area, visit myusage.com, use myusage mobile app or call 352-351-6666.

• Please do not report an outage more than once.

• For real-time updates and outage information during a storm, please follow Ocala Electric Utility on Facebook.

/OcalaElectricUtility

@OEUinfo

ocalaelectric.org | 352-629-2489

• Generators should be set up outside the home in a well-ventilated area. Individual appliances can be plugged directly into the generator.

• Visit severeweather.ocalafl.org to learn more about storm preparation and download your free storm preparation guide.

LETTER

from the publisher

Giving a hoot WHEN I FIRST READ OUR STORY ON THE OCALA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (OWLS) in this current issue, it brought back memories of my childhood when my family lived in Romeo. I was just 8 years old and I remember a baby owl near our house had fallen from its nest and was injured. No one from the local animal rescue office was in town so our family kept the owl for a few days until an expert was available to take it in.

We bottle-fed the owl and it progressed nicely for a couple days when a lady from the animal rescue unit arrived to take the bird. After being nurtured back to health, the owl was successfully released back into the wild.

I’m not sure if we followed the proper protocols or not, but at least it was a happy ending.

What an awesome creature these owls are and how crucial they happen to be to our local ecosystem. That’s why the work at OWLS is so intriguing and important. The birds are not only beautiful, they are important.

Unfortunately, sanctuaries such as OWLS are few and far between as licensing is so complicated on the state and federal levels – not to mention the negative effect the COVID pandemic has taken on such facilities, much like most businesses. Thankfully for OWLS, founder and operator Keith Belisle is of native American heritage and as such is able to use a legitimate religious exemption for the number of birds kept at the facility. The downside is that because a religious exemption is used, they had to give up access to all state and federal grants, which makes private funding that much more important.

There are no domesticated animals at OWLS, which means these are animals that would likely be neglected otherwise. What a sad prospect that is for such majestic creatures like the different varieties of owls that live here and unfortunately become injured through someone’s cruelty or accident.

Thanks to folks like Keith Belisle and Ken Lane at OWLS, there are many more happy endings.

APRIL MEANS EASTER and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the wonderful moments with my daughter and her mother who worked with Robin Fannon to customize Easter eggs. In our youths, we always decorated eggs the old fashioned way and it was a special time for family members being together.

With Robin, though, this wasn’t the old fashioned way at all, but something a bit more exciting. Ever the health conscious individual, Fannon brought a whole new means of decorating eggs to the table: Instead of using the regular dies to color the eggs, she used fresh fruits and vegetables.

What started as a fun tradition of dying eggs turned into something more: an educational endeavor. Beets were used for dark red or pink colors, turmeric for shades of yellow, spinach for green, blueberries for blue and red cabbage for purple.

Dying eggs the old fashioned way was fun, but it’s time to move on to something that’s safer and also provides an extra element of creativity and craftsmanship. Out with the old dyes and in with the fruits and vegetables – thank you, Robin!

Until next month,

PHILIP GLASSMAN, PUBLISHER

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words of wisdom

Welcome to the world, August

T

here are some things in life you can’t explain, and you don’t really want to. Take being a grandparent, for example. It’s the perfect job. A grandparent has all the authority — at least in his mind — but none of the responsibility.

You get invited to take part in all the good things that come along, from birthday parties to ballet recitals, but don’t have to deal with daily trials that come with raising a child. That’s what moms and dads are for.

And if you want to give a grandkid doughnuts for breakfast or candy before dinner, well, it happens. As my father once told me, that’s the “grand” part of being a grandparent.

So, how did being a grandparent get to be so special? I don’t know and I don’t care.

What I do know is that at 7:51 p.m. on Jan. 25, 2022, I became a grandfather. That’s when my first grandchild, August Atkinson – all 8 pounds, 7 ounces of her – was born in a Jacksonville Beach hospital. Needless to say, she’s gorgeous and sweet as can be. (I say that with the utmost objectivity).

The wife and I spent several days visiting August and her parents a couple weeks back and I got to hold my granddaughter a lot. She’s grown so much over the past couple months. As I rocked her and walked around with her on my shoulder, I thought about the world she will inherit from her grandfather and the rest of his generation.

I mean, we’re on the verge of World War III. Climate change is more real than most of us ever expected. Racial tensions and economic disparities are omnipresent. The list goes on.

Yet, I look at August and I am comforted knowing she will one day be part of making the world a better place. I have unshakable faith in that notion. Humans are basically decent and humane, and if August is any reflection of her parents, she’ll make a difference in meaningful ways.

They say children are born without prejudice. So, whatever a child learns about the world and how to interact with all kinds

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of other people, comes from others – parents and grandparents and the community in which they grow up. Yes, it takes a village.

So, as I held August, I talked to my daughter, Cait, assuring her that I would not tell her how to parent because the world in which August will grow up is so different than the one Cait grew up in and certainly different than the one I grew up in. Then, of course, I proceeded to invoke grandparent

So, how did being a grandparent get to be so special? I don’t know and I don’t care.

BY BRAD ROGERS August will encounter in life. She will have her share of both, I ‘m sure. But I will offer her this bit of advice – and it’s good at any age, from 2 to 82, and in any era. It can’t miss.

Live by the Golden Rule. That is, treat others as you would want them to treat you.

It’s good whether you’re on the playground or in the classroom or at a boardroom con-

August Atkinson

privilege and give her parenting advice for an hour. She listened politely. Thank you, Cait.

But a grandparent does offer, if not wisdom, real world experience. And some things never change. There will always be good and bad.

There will always be people in need. There will always be things that determine the direction of your life over which you have absolutely no control yet must confront and make the best of.

I don’t know what difficulties or victories

ference table. It will make a difference in your life, a positive difference, to be sure.

Oh, there’s plenty of other advice I’d love to offer … and undoubtedly will in the years ahead. But for now, August, you have a family that loves you and a world that needs you. Just be good to others and be good to yourself and life will reward you.

Welcome to the world, August. It’s already a better place because of you.

MAYOR

from the

The time is right for an inline track

BY MAYOR KENT GUINN

W

hat a privilege it is to be mayor of Ocala, the “Speed Skating Capital of the World!”

That does have a pretty nice ring to it, and why not? Champion horses of all disciplines have made Ocala the official “Horse Capital of the World,”so it only makes sense that after two native daughters and a native son brought home the entire contingent of U.S. medals won in speed skating at the Winter Olympics, that Ocala earn a similar designation, as unofficial as it may be.

We will have fun with this today and take pride in it forever as Erin Jackson, Brittany Bowe and Joey Mantia have quite literally put Ocala on the map. Watching the weather on a national network recently, there were the typical cities listed – Los Angeles, New York, Houston, you get the idea – and there was Ocala. Honestly, I had never seen Ocala listed on the national weather map of a major news program, but there it was, and I can’t help but think the three aforementioned athletes had more than just a little bit to do with that.

The press coverage these three skaters brought to Ocala was rather unprecedented. Not only did their talents shine at the games, as all three earned spots on podiums, but their humanity shined as well. Bowe’s giving up her spot in the 500m race to Jackson has been well documented and will go down not just in speed skating history, but in U.S. sports history for one of the great acts of selfless sportsmanship we’ve ever witnessed. At the games, the three conducted themselves as true ambassadors not just of their sport, but of the hometown where each was born and educated.

With that in mind, it seems the time is right to build a legacy to their accomplishments. All three broke as inline skaters under the training of Renee Hildebrand, who is pushing for an inline bank track to be built in Ocala, and I think the idea is not only great of itself, but is also consistent with the sports trajectory of this town. If a state-of-the-art track is built here, it would be one of only three such banked tracks in the country (one is in Fort Lauderdale and the other in Colorado).

With Hildebrand’s international reputation for producing world champion inline skaters and future Olympians who transition to ice, Ocala as home to such a facility makes perfect sense. What the Roberts family has done with the World Equestrian Center and Ken Colen has achieved with the new FAST aquatic center, Ocala is already home to a pair of the nation’s finest facilities in their disciplines. Why not make it a third?

I am going to push for the development of this project and think this is something all Ocalans can get behind, the same way we all got behind Jackson, Bowe and Mantia as they chased their Olympic dreams. Like WEC and FAST, an inline track of this sort will be one that attracts people from across the state and the country – knowing Hildebrand, it will also bring people from across the ocean as well.

In Cali, Colombia, seven banked oval inline skating tracks exist and that third-world country owns the sport right now. Putting just one such track in Ocala would be a boost for the sport not just locally, but for the entire country. It would also be yet another reason to call Ocala a destination town.

And once a track is in place and more champions are groomed here, “Speed Skating Capital of the World” may actually go from an unofficial to an official title.

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The Nay Has It Renee Hildebrand has built an empire of skating champions from her base in Ocala

BY CARLTON REESE

A

curious world clamors for answers, turning its inquisitive gaze toward a small southern town suddenly thrust into the limelight of Winter Olympics folklore and glory.

How can it be that a town where one might find the same number of ice skates as one would catcher’s mitts in Drammen, Norway, churn out speed skaters not just of elite status but worthy to stand on the podium of the world’s grandest stage?

A Winter Olympics tale with its origins in Ocala, Florida, one may think to be of the sort parallel to the “Eddie the Eagle’’ spectacle or the Jamaican bobsled fiasco; in short, a narrative of the silly underdog that is nothing more than a jester to distract from the serious competition. But no one is laughing, and no one is simply standing with folded arms – they are asking questions. Is there something in the water supply of Marion County? Is the mineral-rich soil so obliging to equine strength and stamina also beneficial to hominine speed and agility? Does some covert rink and military program exist to forge ruthless skating automatons?

The questions arise from a simple puzzling fact: No city in North America pro-

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Brittany Bowe, Erin Jackson and Joey Mantia proudly display their medals.

Photo by Ralph Demilio

duced more medal winning speed skaters at the recent Winter Olympics in Beijing, and only Ottawa, Canada can boast of a greater collection of total medals. The notion of champion ice speed skaters born and raised in Ocala seems as preposterous as Amish hip hop singers or comedians from North Korea.

The names Erin Jackson, Brittany Bowe and Joey Mantia are forever etched in the pantheon of Ocala sports icons, having brought home a gold and two bronze medals, respectively, from Beijing.

Another name that should be on that list, and the likely answer to all the former questions, is that of Renee Hildebrand. An inline skating “whisperer” of sorts, Hildebrand has forged an international reputation for producing world champion inline speed skaters, many who have made the successful transition to the ice. A skating instructor in Ocala since 1991, Hildebrand coaches out of the Skate-A-Way South rink and trains racers at Brick City Park (that is, when she is not in Holland or other exotic destinations

grooming future champions there).

“I know I’m the common denominator,” says Hildebrand, who trained all three Olympians as inline skaters from their youths to their transition to ice. She also coached Belgium’s Bart Swings, who won the gold medal in the men’s mass start in Beijing.

Inquiring minds want to know: Is it a fluke, or is there something in the secret sauce Hildebrand delivers to her athletes?

“I just work a lot on technique,” said Hildebrand, who earned a gruff reputation as “Nasty Nay” during her younger days as a competitive roller derby skater. “A lot of coaches work on technique at the beginning of the season, then they go on to speed training and they’re done.

“A lot of coaches get bored with (technique training) and Hildebrand’s unique exhaustion of they like to watch their kids race. technique is just one of the ingredients There’s probably a certain amount of coaches who aren’t quite sure in her world championship recipe. how to correct technique. It’s easier to just blow the whistle and tell them to go fast and turn left.”

Hildebrand’s unique exhe gets into it – it’s haustion of technique is just one of the infun for him.” gredients in her world championship recipe.

A passionate First, she must spot the talent deemed worskater with a strong thy of development and, second, she must work ethic goes a convince the athlete that lofty dreams are long way but will within reach. And when it comes to talent, not take the athlete it’s as much about desire and work ethic as to the highest level anything else. without the necesIn Jackson, Bowe and Mantia, Hildebsary confidence, and rand uncovered a treasure trove of passion that’s where Hiland assiduous work habits that grabbed her debrand hones in attention and convinced her all three would vation to get better,” said Sailor, who says as much as anything. Her Belgian students accomplish great things at the highest level. since starting his training two years ago with were fast and dedicated, but possessed a EuIn these three athletes were three different Hildebrand he “has gotten better and a lot ropean humility that belied their potential. personalities in terms of their approachfaster.” In 2021, Sailor made the U.S. World At a recent clinic in Holland, Swings es to the sport, and Hildebrand coached Team and is realistically eyeing a gold medand Olympic teammate Sandrine Tas each to their unique situations. Bowe was a al in the next World Championships. After dropped by to see their former instructor multi-sport athlete who spent a lot of time that, following Mantia’s lead, transitioning and speak to the starry-eyed students there. away from skating but stayed incredibly fit. to ice could be in the offing.

What they told the kids was Hildebrand’s Jackson was a bit of a study hound who put “I don’t want to (transition to ice) before instilling of confidence in them both was key schoolwork ahead of track work early in her I become a champion on inline skates,” said to their success, that no one before Hildebcareer. Mantia was a “gym rat” of the track Sailor, echoing one of Hildebrand’s mantras rand had ever told them they could be world who seemingly couldn’t breathe if wheels and yet another ingredient for developing champions. weren’t attached to his feet. high-level racers.

Aden Sailor, a 24-year-old inliner from “Joey just always gave 100 percent,” Hildebrand does not simply train her Tallahassee who is training under HildebHildebrand said. “He would do drills, then skaters and send them off to meets; she puts rand, is experiencing the same thing. he would come back out on the floor and do them up against strong international com“Once she told me she saw me being the next group’s drills. He just loves to train; petition as often as possible so they will be a world champion, that gave me the moti-

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | APR 2022 |

17

comfortable when it matters most.

“I think the one thing I did different with my skaters was I exposed them to international races early in their careers,” Hildebrand said. “Before ( Jackson, Bowe and Mantia) were 12, we went to international races in Colombia and France. I think exposing them to that was a huge part of their success in that before they became world team members they had already been to international races, whereas a lot of kids their first meet ever internationally is the world championships and that’s not where you’re supposed to be getting your experience.”

Hildebrand’s journey from nondescript instructor to racing guru did not happen overnight and only recently is she getting the well-deHildebrand’s journey from served attention beyond her sport. nondescript instructor to racing guru In 2002, Mantia did not happen overnight. and Bowe both captured their first world championships and by 2005 it was clear “When my dad got a house in Brooksthat Hildebrand’s students and clubs were the ville, I was pretty close to here,” Sadler said. dominant force in the nation. Hildebrand’s “When somebody with her status is living presence around the victorious skaters would that close, it’s not smart if you don’t take adnot go unnoticed – soon, other coaches and vantage of it.” skaters from around the world were approachSadler went through a period during ing her about her services. the recent COVID pandemic when he lost “When your kids are winning, everyhis passion for the sport, but it’s been re-igbody wants to go find the coach that’s maknited thanks to Hildebrand. ing them that fast,” Hildebrand said.

“I was not enjoying (inline racing) and I What ensued were several German athwas going to give it up,” he said. “She helped letes staying in the U.S. as exchange students me get that desire back. She helped me refor a year in order to train with Hildebrand. member why I got into the sport in the first Others from Europe would come for weeks place and brought back all those positive at a time during Christmas, sometimes with memories.” up to seven countries represented.

Under Hildebrand’s wing are young skat“So, it was basically international racing ers who look up to Mantia, Bowe and Jackhere at home.” son as racing idols to be emulated. That’s what She has produced myriad world chammakes training under the person who nurtured pions in the inline world, and the formula the careers of Olympians so desirable. seems to pay dividends on the ice as well, ev“It motivates me to think that one day I idenced by two golds and two bronze medals could be there (at the Olympics),” said Brady by her former inline students at the recent Ankney, a 13-year-old whose strong work Olympic Games. And that success begets ethic has led Hildebrand to refer to him as more success. her ‘mini Joey.’ “I watched them, wishing Behind the three Ocala Olympians that could be me someday.” is another generation waiting to take their Kash Wisco, 14, agrees: “At some point, place in the future. Among them Sailor and I hope to get where Erin, Brittany and Joey 19-year-old James Sadler, also of Tallahassee.

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Brittany Bowe, Erin Jackson, Renee Hildebrand and Joey Mantia Photo provided.

are. I think Renee can help get me there.”

Ankney has already won at Outdoor Nationals and set records in all six races he has won, and Wisco medalled at Indoor Nationals in 2021. With other promising young skaters like Kamryn Kerkela and Kynley Patterson training under Hildebrand’s watch, it’s likely Ocala has not seen the last of its Olympic hopefuls.

“If they want it, they can get it if they have that ability to push themselves out of their comfort zone,” says Hildebrand, both excited with the talent she sees coming through the ranks but also wary of the culture surrounding kids today. “You’re finding fewer and fewer kids that can do that nowadays. There’s a huge difference between coaching now and coaching when Brittany and Joey started back in the late ‘90s. To get them to actually show up for something three days a week, even, is hard.

“Now, when I find one that’s disciplined like that, I hold on tight.”

And when Renee Hildebrand selects you out of the herd, you had better take advantage, as it could take you to a place no one thought an Ocalan might end up: standing on a podium with a medal around your neck as the national anthem plays.

The formula for getting there is no secret: hard work, dedication, and a laser focus on long-term goals… and doing everything your coach tells you along the way, especially if that coach’s name is Renee Hildebrand.

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Skating Through Life Photo by Ralph Demilio

For Joey Mantia, a lifetime on skates has been ‘magical’

BY BRAD ROGERS

J

oey Mantia was 7 when he first started hanging out at the Skate-AWay South skating rink off Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala. He had tried baseball, gymnastics and karate, none of which worked out. So, he turned to roller skating. It was fun and allowed the youngster to play in air conditioning, out of the Florida heat.

As he skated around the roller rink day after day, he got faster and faster. That speed quickly caught the eye of rink owner and renowned inline skating coach Renee Hildebrand.

Within a year, Mantia was skating on Hildebrand’s competitive inline skating team and winning medals, including a national championship in his first year. Yes, at

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age 8. He would evolve into a self-described “rink rat” and over the next dozen years go on to win an astounding 28 world championships and set six world records.

It was a remarkable career that made Mantia one of the greatest, if not the greatest, inline skater ever. How great? He won the American Speed Skater of the Year award three years in a row, in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

And in his last year as a Junior, Mantia competed in 12 events at the World Championships, winning 10 gold medals and two silvers.

But he wanted more.

IN SEARCH OF GOLD So, the world’s premier inline skater decided he wanted to try what other top inline skat-

ers had -- switch to ice. For one reason: the chance to win an Olympic medal. He packed up and left Ocala for Salt Lake City, Utah, where the national speedskating team trains.

After 12 years of training with the national team and taking part in three Olympic Games (2014, 2018 and this year) Mantia finally won his Olympic medal, a bronze in the team pursuit at the Beijing Games two months ago.

It was what may be the beginning of the end of a long and certainly unexpected journey for the 36-year-old.

And what a journey it’s been.

“I had no idea in high school that this was going to be my life and where it was going to take me,” the Vanguard High School

THE ‘OCALA CREW’ One of the biggest storylines of the recent Olympics was the irony that Mantia, Bowe and Jackson – all native Ocalans – were standouts for the U.S. speedskating team

“Once you get the medal in your hand, it becomes real. It’s something physical. It resonates. It’s the journey."

but came from a town with no ice skating rink. When Bowe gave up her spot in the Olympic 500 meters to Jackson, who slipped during her time trial, the spotlight on Ocala as a speedskating mecca became white hot. When all three medaled for the U.S., it confirmed what people had been saying: that Ocala is the new epicenter of ice speedskating in the United States.

“Ocala is definitely the speedskating capital of the United States,” Mantia said.

He said the Ocala skaters, which he called “the Ocala crew,” is genuinely close, all having grown under Hildebrand’s tutelage.

“We’re like a miniature family out here,” Mantia said from his Salt Lake City home, which he is in the process of renovating himself. “Being part of the Ocala crew is really an honor.”

Mantia gives all the credit to Hildebrand. It’s easy to see his logic. Each of the Ocala crew come from completely different backgrounds and have different skill sets.

Yet, they all ended up at the Olympics, and each won a medal. The common denominator? Renee Hildebrand.

“I always give Renee all the credit for our

Photo courtesy Joey Mantia

honor grad said. “It’s not like as a kid I said I wanted to be an Olympian. It just sort of happened for me. It made some really magical things happen.”

Of course, ice skating isn’t inline skating. And Mantia’s introduction to ice skating went, well, not great.

“Think Bambi on ice, but with bigger thighs,” is how he once described it. “To be so good on wheels and so bad on blades. It was a long struggle to keep going and not turn back to inline skating.”

But he learned and excelled, winning world titles and setting records along the way. In fact, last month he won the International Skating Union World Cup championship in the 1500 meters. (Incidentally, Ocala’s other two Olympic speed skaters, Brittany Bowe and Erin Jackson, also won World Cup titles this year in the 1000 meters and 500 meters, respectively.)

Yet, for all his success, one thing has eluded Mantia — an Olympic gold medal.

It eats at him.

“It sucks,” he said. “I really wanted a gold medal. It just sucks that I couldn’t give it my all.” During the Beijing Games he suffered from “back issues,” which hindered his performance, he said.

Despite his disappointment over not winning gold, he has gained some perspective since the Olympics and now says he’s “ecstatic” to be an Olympic medalist, even if it’s a bronze.

“It’s one of those things that, when it happens, you say that’s not what I wanted,” he said. “But once you get the medal in your hand, it becomes real. It’s something physical. It resonates. It’s the journey.

“If I could give anybody advice, I would say you have to love what you’re doing, not just chasing a gold medal.”

Nevertheless, Mantia knows he has been blessed to be so physically gifted and to have traveled the world doing something at which he excels.

“I’ve never had a real job, and I’m doing OK,” he said. “Not bad, huh?”

success,” he said. “Apart from her coaching ability, which is phenomenal, she was a physical therapist, she was always ahead on nutrition. She was always thirsting for knowledge.”

He said each of the Ocala medalists has emerged differently from their experience. Jackson, he said, is “truly gifted” and “is best for the exposure of the sport.” Bowe has emerged as an elite skater and a leader on the U.S. team. And Mantia is the elder statesman of the U.S. team. This year, at 35, he became the oldest man to ever win a World Cup race.

For Hildebrand, who still stays in regular contact with her three proteges, it is rewarding to see them achieve such success.

So, who’s the best?

“They’re all such great human beings, it’s impossible to pick one,” she said. “It’s like asking who’s your favorite child.”

And what is it that made these three Ocalans who are so different successful?

“Some say it’s the Nay factor,” said Hildebrand, who in her roller derby days was known as Nasty Nay. “They call me Nay. They say I make them want to skate harder. When I believe in them, it helps them believe in themselves. And, of course, there is a history now.”

WHAT’S NEXT? Mantia will be 40 when the next Olympics roll around and he is not sure he can make it

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | APR 2022 |

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to a fourth games.

“At the age of 36, the game is ‘can you stay healthy?’ It’s hard,” he said.

He said he expects to compete for at least two more years, and then he is uncertain what he will do.

“It’s not the end of the road yet, but I know I’m one bad day away from it being over,” Mantia said. “Part of what is keeping

Photo by Ralph Demilio

"I used to get up at 2 in the morning sometimes and just skate around Ocala because I loved it so much."

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me going is I don’t know what I want to do next. It’s kind of weird.”

One idea is to return to inline skating as a coach holding clinics around the world.

“My heart is really with inline skating,” he said. “It’s weird, but I never really fell in love with the ice. With inline, I loved every aspect of it. I used to get up at 2 in the morning sometimes and just skate around Ocala because I loved it so much.

“I wish inline skating was an Olympic sport (which Hildebrand once lobbied for) because my life would be so different,” he added.

In the meantime, Mantia has plenty of hobbies and interests.

He owned a coffee shop on the University of Utah campus until the pandemic tore into his business. He’s thinking of reopening it.

He taught himself to play the piano by watching YouTube videos, but concedes, “I don’t read music, but I know my way around the piano pretty well.”

He loves to ride his motorcycle and go bicycling and is known to take frequent 100mile training rides.

He is known for his brutal training workouts -- his mantra is “Every day is LEG day.” During the Olympics, Yahoo Sports published an article with the headline, “Well, I Found the Most Humongous Thighs Competing at The Beijing Olympics, And They Belong to Speed Skater Joey Mantia.”

He has done numerous YouTube videos of his leg workouts – doing the filming, audio and editing himself.

He is a bachelor but has a girlfriend -- fellow Beijing bronze medalist Hanne Desmet, a Belgian speedskater.

With all that, Mantia acknowledges his is a pretty grand life.

His friend and agent Peter Quinn, a former speedskater himself, says Mantia has nothing left to prove to the sport or himself.

“Joey is one of the best all-around skaters – inline skating and on ice – the world has ever seen. Ever,” Quinn said. “If Joey Mantia retires, he retires as one of the best in his sport ever. But he didn’t get what he went for, so he is disappointed.”

Maybe. Mantia didn’t get his gold, but he took a journey few do. A journey that was magical.

“Looking back, if I had to do it all over again, I’d do it the same way 10 times over.”

‘I feel like I got screwed’

O

cala’s Joey Mantia won a bronze medal in speed skating’s team pursuit at the Beijing Olympics, but the three-time Olympian and reigning world champion in the 1500 meters believes he deserves a second bronze medal and plans to challenge the results to try and claim it.

In what was likely his final Olympic race, Mantia finished fourth in the mass start, a nearly four-mile race that he describes as “the Wild West.” But it was the closest of finishes. Lee Seung-hoon of South Korea ultimately won the bronze, officially beating Mantia over the finish line by 2/1000 of a second. How close is that? Scientists say it takes 1/10 of a second to blink your eye.

Mantia and his agent, however, say he was robbed. They claim Lee grabbed Mantia’s arm just before the finish line, giving Lee enough momentum to edge past Mantia.

Photos of the moment seem to show Lee grabbing the American.

Now Mantia wants what would be his second Olympic medal.

“I feel like I earned it,” he told OM. “I feel like I got screwed. I haven’t said much about it so far, but I’m going to appeal the results.

We might have to go to court.”

Mantia’s agent, Patrick Quinn, a former speedskater himself, was more explicit about the outcome and the failure of Olympics officials to review the alleged grab by Lee. “It’s disgusting, grotesque” Quin said.

“He was robbed. The evidence is so clear.

You can see the guy grab him. It’s terrible.”

Mantia and Quinn say they plan to pursue their challenge of the results, even if that means going to court.

“What we’re saying is he was actually held 5 feet from the finish line, and you can see it on video,” Quinn said.

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Where Ocala's seniors turn for independent living W hen Gerald and June Nettles retired to Ocala in 1995, they built their dream home, a sprawling four-bedroom house on a big lot. They loved their home, but as is the case with many seniors, it became too much to keep up.

So, Gerald, now 95, and June, 90, decided they needed to find someplace to live where they could take it easy and get some help but still live independently.

After looking at their options in Ocala, the native West Virginia couple chose Hawthorne Estates.

“We like it here,” said Gerald, as the couple sat in Hawthorne Estates’ spacious lobby.

“They have a lot of things to do, if you want, and it’s close to our son, who lives in Ocala.”

Hawthorne Estates, located at 3211 SW 42nd St., Ocala, provides independent living in an affordable, resort-style setting. Its 93 spacious units provide residents with their own residence with an array of services from meals and utilities to recreation and social activities.

The Nettles, who will celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary this October, hated to give up their home – it wasn’t easy.

“It was a big change for us,” said June, who retired from the Tupperware Corp. “To give up our home we had built and lived in, well, it was hard.”

But what the Nettles found at Hawthorne Estates was a place that provides their meals, cleans their apartment and offers an array of activities from card games to exercise classes to weekly movie nights. Their two-bedroom apartment, they say, is plenty roomy, utilizing the second bedroom as an office/exercise room.

And, most important, there is always someone on the Hawthorne Estates staff to

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| APR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Gerald and June Nettles lend a hand if the couple needs some help.

“If you need something, they do it for you,” said Gerald, who worked as a coal miner, a steelworker and a paint salesman before retiring and moving to Ocala.

Pat Smith is a new Hawthorne resident who likes to do a lot of things, to keep busy.

For her, Hawthorne is the perfect mix of good living.

“There’s so much to do,” said Smith, an energetic 91-year-old who likes to exercise.

She is currently trying to organize a regular exercise class at Hawthorne, which has an onsite gym.

“I like to exercise. I like to walk. I like to keep busy.”

In addition to the various activities that Smith enjoys, she said her one-bedroom apartment is one of the most appealing parts about living at Hawthorne. She said she

looked at other independent living facilities in Ocala and none compared to Hawthorne Estates in terms of size, space and amenities.

Her one-bedroom apartment has a balcony, as well as ample closet and kitchen space.

One aspect of Hawthorne Estates living that all the residents praise is its activities.

There is always something happening, from card games to bingo to the weekly Friday night Happy Hour, something Smith particularly enjoys, with its snacks, drinks and live music.

Pat Sapienza has lived in Ocala for more than 50 years, so she knows the community well. After raising five kids and a lifetime of volunteer service, Sapienza contracted COVID-19. It drove her to look for a place like Hawthorne. Like the Nettles and Smith, she looked at her retirement living options in Ocala and chose Hawthorne.

The biggest draw, Sapienza said, was the

Pat Smith size of the rooms, particularly the kitchens, when compared to other independent living facilities in Ocala. And her one-bedroom apartment has a balcony, so she has a place to grow her plants. (“I don’t miss my garden so much.”)

Hawthorne gives Sapienza a chance to live on her own terms while always knowing someone is there if she needs help.

“After I got COVID and got sick, I didn’t want to live alone anymore,” she said.

She liked the fact that Hawthorne provided two meals a day – lunch and dinner -that she described as “good food.” Like the Nettles and Smith, she too is a big fan of the activities provided at Hawthorne Estates.

There’s bingo, bridge, a garden club and, of course, Friday night Happy Hour.

It is the staff ’s responsiveness to residents’ needs, though, that Sapienza says makes living at Hawthorne Estates such a pleasure.

“I’m pleased,” she said. “The people are so friendly. They all try to please the residents. And if you don’t show up for a meal, they call your room, ‘Are you OK?’ They don’t monitor you, but they keep an eye on you.”

The services and amenities included in the cost of Hawthorne Estates living are numerous.

All utilities except personal cell phone – electric, water and sewer, cable television, wireless internet and trash removal – are included.

Pat Sapienza Hawthorne residents also can schedule transportation on the facility’s van through the front desk, or they are welcome to have their own vehicle, with free parking on the property.

For those who want to see a doctor without having to leave the facility, Hawthorne Estates has an outside concierge physician service that will come and treat residents in their homes.

Every resident has a choice of what size apartment they want, depending on their needs.

They can choose between studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. The apartments have a full-size modern kitchen, individual heating and cooling units, plush wall-to-wall carpeting, a large bathroom with safety features, spacious closets, blinds, screened porches and smoke alarms and a sprinkler system.

Hawthorne Estates is a smoke-free facility, too.

In addition to all that, residents are provided weekly apartment cleaning as well as weekly linen service. Laundry facilities are located in convenient areas throughout the facility, although personal laundry service is also available for an extra fee.

Hawthorne Estates is also conveniently located near the Paddock Mall and State Road 200 commercial areas.

In addition to the independent living

residences, Hawthorne Estates is a continuing care retirement community that also provides a 120-bed Skilled Nursing Facility that provides in-house rehab and outpatient therapy as well as a 26-bed secured memory care unit and a 36-bed assisted living facility.

Anyone interested in checking Hawthorne Estates out is invited to attend any of the Friday night Happy Hours.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT Hawthorne of Ocala 3211 SW 42nd St., Ocala hawthornevillageofocala.com (352) 237-7776, ext. 255

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | APR 2022 |

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NUPTIALS

Nawal Fakhoury & Ahmed Abubakar Date of wedding: December 4 2021

Video: Meet The Garrs (from Ocala)

Bride hometown: Ocala, Florida

Venue: The Howey Mansion

Groom hometown: Brampton, Ontario

Engaged: Lake Eola Park in Orlando on April 3 2021 (365 days after our first conversation over Zoom)

Parents of Bride: Dr. Manal Fakhoury & Dr. Riadh Fakhoury Photography: Catherine Coons Design: Pixies & Petals Ring: Jeweler in Toronto Floral: Pixies & Petals

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| APR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Honeymoon: Turkey & Egypt Special touches: The invitations incorporated a mix of flowers that represent Palestine and Somalia to nod to our roots — and a QR code to nod to meeting during a pandemic.

Since we met through LinkedIn, we recreated a LinkedIn profile for our wedding program. Nawal surprised Ahmed with cufflinks that has their first inside joke engraved on them. Our guestbook was a middle eastern cookbook — we asked guests to leave us a note on a recipe we should try to create. We are a couple with a sweet tooth — so our cake included a few donuts.

Unusual Happenings: Instead of a traditional father/daughter dance, me and my dad danced to Black Eyed Peas “I gotta feeling”

and brought in the whole family, Ahmed and the wedding guests. We entered the party with a traditional Palestinian Zaffa — which is a procession lead by two drummers.

Because Nawal and Ahmed are foodies, they set up three different food stations for guests to explore during dinner based on their favorite foods.

Our story: On June 8, 2016, I met the love of my life. The thing is, it would take this raging pandemic for me to learn my Canadian co-worker would soon become my future husband. Back in 2016, I was visiting the LinkedIn Toronto office, wandering around lost, when Ahmed offered to show me around. Our interaction was so brief I didn’t even remember meeting him.

We connected on LinkedIn, messaged each other every Ramadan to stay in touch, and that was it until March 2020. I was adjusting to new work-from-home orders when all of a sudden I got a message from Ahmed!

He knew I was living alone in N.Y.C. — then the epicenter of the virus — and wanted to check-in. After a few minutes of messaging back and forth, I said “We should finally become friends!” That Friday we met for the first of many Zoom catch-ups. I was literally the heart eye emoji on our first call — his charisma and warmth carried all the way through the WiFi — and we talked as if we had known each other forever. I remember saying, “I can’t believe we have never met before!?” and he wasted no time letting me know we had in fact met, four

years ago. Fridays at 10 a.m. became a standing Zoom meeting, which turned into exchanging numbers, which morphed into daily FaceTimes, a countdown to our first hug at LaGuardia Airport, to Thanksgiving where he met my parents. 2021 was filled with a family microwedding ceremony in July, his big move from Toronto to NYC in September, and our memorable reception with our loved ones at Howey Mansion in December.

The pandemic allowed the world to pause life in a way that allowed us to find one another. It took four years of being around the corner from one another, but this strange time brought me the person I can’t wait to spend all my time with.

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | APR 2022 |

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NUPTIALS

Brandon and Adiya Hauge

Date of wedding: 01.08.2022

Venue: Protea Wedding and Events

Bride hometown: Ocala, FL

How we met: High school

Groom hometown: Ocala, FL

Engaged: April 24th 2021 at Sholom park

Parents of Groom: Tammy Albright and Eric Hauge

Honeymoon: Kahari Resort in George Town, Bahamas

Parents of Bride: Leah Dennis and Nathan Lemons

Special touches: Hair: Ali Truluck

Photography: Lifelong Photography Studio

Unusual Happenings: Our nana was our flower girl (Patricia Hyatt) and our grandpa was our ring bearer (Mel lemons)!

Ring: Zales (groom) Guy jeweler(Brides) Floral: Graceful Gardener

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| APR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Makeup: by Steph Moser

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | APR 2022 |

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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.

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eat

Traditional Italian Easter bread rings, decorated with eggs and colorful sprinkles Natural Easter Inspiration p40 | Dining Out p44

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | APR 2022 |

39

Easter Inspiration

STORY, RECIPES AND STYLING BY ROBIN FANNON (IG: @RSVP_ROBIN) | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RALPH DEMILIO

Coloring Easter Eggs Naturally

H

ow about trying your hand at going “au natural” this Easter and color your hard boiled Easter eggs using colorful foods?

The results give you the most beautiful unique shades. The kids will enjoy this crafty, fun project, and many of the ingredients you may have already on hand in the pantry or fridge. All it takes is a few pots of boiling water and some white vinegar! Some common ingredients used for spectacular results are: PURPLE CABBAGE YELLOW ONIONS SKINS SHREDDED RED BEETS GROUND TURMERIC HIBISCUS TEA BLUEBERRIES RED ZINGER TEA SPINACH Keep in mind that the longer you let the eggs sit in the colored liquid the more vivid your colors will be. You can also lightly rub the finished eggs with a little oil for a nice sheen. Store them in the refrigerator until you are ready to hide them for the hunt. Don’t forget where they have all been hidden, or you will definitely regret it!

Here is a link for a complete guide and step by step instructions by Martha Stewart, of course! https://www.marthastewart.com/267850/dyeing-eggs-naturally

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| APR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Setting a beautiful, Spring inspired Easter table

W

hile I love the darker, earthy, moody feels of autumn and winter decor, Spring is really undoubtedly everyone’s favorite season. How could it not be? From lighter pastel, floral or striped fabrics, to fresh, colorful, seasonal centerpieces, Spring is a delicious gulp of fresh air! It gives us the chance to renew, refresh and lighten up. So open the windows, get outdoors or perhaps bring the outdoors in!

Pinterest is an endless source of inspiration for your Easter/Spring table decor, and here is a great link from Country Living magazine to help guide you https:// www.countryliving.com/entertaining/g2256/easter-table-displays-0406

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | APR 2022 |

41

Healthy and Delicious Salads and Side dishes

W

e continue the theme of “fresh and light” Spring inspiration with these delicious and healthy salads.

They are delicious and beautiful on their own, as a main course, but also make great accompaniments to your Easter main course of fish, chicken, lamb or ham. Don’t forget to lighten up your beverage choices as well.

If you enjoy wine, then Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc or even Champagne pairs well with these dishes.

Roasted Beet and Citrus Salad INGREDIENTS

» 2 raw beets, greens and stems removed, scrubbed under cold running water » 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil » Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper » 4 sprigs rosemary or thyme » 2 tablespoons (30ml) sherry vinegar » 1/4 cup toasted walnuts » 1 tablespoon (15ml) walnut oil » 1 grapefruit, cut into segments » 1 blood orange, cut into segments » 1 tangerine, cut into segments » 1 cup loosely packed arugula leaves

INSTRUCTIONS

• Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. Fold two large pieces of parchment paper in half cross-wise. Crimp the left and right edges to form a tight seal (leave the top open). Add washed beets into pouch, toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Add 2 sprigs rosemary or thyme to the pouch, then tightly crimp top of pouch to seal.

• Place pouches on a rimmed baking sheet and place in oven.

Cook until beets are completely tender and a cake tester or toothpick inserted into a beet through the pouch shows no resistance, about 1 hour. Open pouches and allow beets to cool for 30 minutes. Peel under cold running water (the skin should slip right off). Cut beets into rough 1 1/2-inch chunks.

• Lay arugula on a large platter, arrange beets and citrus on top, sprinkle with walnuts.

• Drizzle the olive oil and vinegar over the salad and season to taste with salt and pepper

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| APR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Strawberry Caprese Salad INGREDIENTS » » » » » » » » »

balsamic vinegar glaze for drizzling 1 cup sliced strawberries 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes 1 cup halved mini mozzarella balls 1 ripe avocado, pitted and diced 1/3 cup pine nuts lightly toasted 1/3cup loosely packed basil, torn Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

• Place the strawberries, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, avocado, pine nuts and basil in a shallow bowl or platter. Drizzle with olive oil, and season generously with salt and pepper.

Gently toss. Drizzle with the balsamic glaze

Healthyish Key Lime Mini Cheesecake INGREDIENTS • » » » • » » » » » » »

CRUST: 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs {56g} 1 tbsp sugar 2 tbsp butter melted {28g} KEY LIME CHEESECAKE: 4 oz light cream cheese softened 1 cup Greek yogurt 1/4 cup sugar 1 egg 2 tablespoons Key lime zest 4 key limes 1 tablespoon Key lime juice 2 key limes 1 teaspoon vanilla

INSTRUCTIONS

Avocado, Lime Cilantro Dip INGREDIENTS » » » » » » » »

2 cloves garlic, peeled 1/2 cup Greek yogurt 1/2 cup cilantro 1 jalapeno, stemmed, halved, and seeded (see note) 1 haas avocado, halved and seeded, flesh removed Juice of 1 lime Kosher salt, to taste Water, to thin, as needed

• Pre-heat oven to 350°F. • Line a standard-sized muffin pan with 9 muffin papers.

• Melt the butter, and stir in the sugar and graham cracker crumbs. Divide evenly amongst the 9 muffin papers, pressing gently into the bottoms using your fingers or a spoon.

• In a large bowl, use a hand-held mixer to beat the cream cheese until smooth.

• Add the Greek yogurt, sugar, egg, Key lime zest and juice, and vanilla. Beat for a few minutes until completely incorporated.

• Spoon about 1 ½ to 2 tablespoons of filling over the muffin papers, or until all the batter is used.

• Bake in the oven for 25 or so minutes, until centers are set (they may have a very slight jiggle still).

• Allow to cool completely, then place in the fridge and chill.

INSTRUCTIONS

• Place all of the ingredients except for the water in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Process until well-combined and smooth.

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | APR 2022 |

43

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.

Features include a hot/cold station, carving station, omelet station, and an assorted dessert display.

Join us every Sunday unless it’s a holiday.

Ages 1-3 free, 4-12 $17.95, 13 and up $24.95.

Call for more information or to reserve your seat 1.800.632.6262 The West 82 Bar and Grill offers fun innovative dining options with niche regional and eclectic southern charm. We use the freshest ingredients to include locally caught fresh seafood, Florida beef, as well as locally harvested fruits and vegetables.

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.

Breakfast: Monday-Sunday 6-10:30am | Sunday Brunch: 11:30am–2pm Lunch: 11:30am-2pm, Dinner: Daily: 5-9pm 9301 West Fort Island Trail, Crystal River, FL 34429 | (352) 795-4211 www.plantationoncrystalriver.com

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| APR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

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

C ome to the mov ies – on us! No charge

Marion Theatre | two dates/two times | in recognition of National Healthcare Decisions Day

April 16 | 11:30 a.m.

April 12 | 5:30 p.m.

Brought to you by

and the of Marion County

Since 1983

Visit www.mariontheatre.org Use the code HOMC22 at the checkout to redeem your free tickets!

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We’ve We’ve thought thought of of everything. everything.

Central Central Florida’s Florida’s newest newest home home for for innovative innovative senior senior living. living.

You have certain expectations for your retirement lifestyle. Allow us to exceed them You have certain expectations for your retirement lifestyle. Allow us to exceed them — with contemporary residences, a host of first-class services and a refreshingly — with contemporary residences, a host of first-class services and a refreshingly carefree lifestyle. Highpoint at Stonecrest has everything you want and more: carefree lifestyle. Highpoint at Stonecrest has everything you want and more: restaurant-style, all-day farm-to-table dining; rooftop bar and lounge; resort-style restaurant-style, all-day farm-to-table dining; rooftop bar and lounge; resort-style saltwater pool and dog park. Plus, assisted living and memory care is available saltwater pool and dog park. Plus, assisted living and memory care is available onsite if ever needed. Take in a whole new view from our brand-new community onsite if ever needed. Take in a whole new view from our brand-new community designed with the latest innovations for safeguarding your health and wellness. designed with the latest innovations for safeguarding your health and wellness.

See the possibilities for your future at Highpoint — call 352-504-3135 See the possibilities for your future at Highpoint — call 352-504-3135 to schedule an appointment. to schedule an appointment.

I N D E P E N D E N T L I V I N G | A S S I S T E D L I V I N G | M E M O R Y CA R E I N D E P E N D E N T L I V I N G | A S S I S T E D L I V I N G | M E M O R Y CA R E

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

play

Detail of “Harmony” by Esta Mann Oil on canvas On exhibit and available at Brick City Center for the Arts April 1-30, 2022 Society p48 | Anthology—Poetry in Motion p58

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | APR 2022 |

47

EVENTS

society

Live Oak International Tailgating PHOTOS BY RALPH DEMILIO

O

cala Magazine once again was delighted to be the tailgating judge and sponsor for 2022 Live Oak International. Judges Robin Fannon, food and lifestyle editor; Ralph Demilio, photographer; and Jessi Miller, creative director toured the tailgaters in search of the best presentation. There were favortes always and some newcomers to mix things up. Everyone brought their style and taste to their spaces, making for a delightful experience. Philip Glassman, publisher, awarded the winners at the ceremony.

Bonterra Farm's tailgate area

Foxflower tent Joan Pletcher at her VIP Reception Tent

Barbara Carbaugh and Beth McCall at the Roberts Real Estate VIP Reception Tent

Connie Wise

The Lowe tent group

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| APR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

2021 tailgating winner, Bobbi Hager with her group

Philip Glassman, Brax Glassman, Susan Gililand and the winning tailgating group, Bonterra Farm

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EVENTS

society

Habitat for Humanity Strawberry Festival STORY BY ELIZABETH B. CHRYST Chair-Habitat for Humanity of Marion County, FL

Photo by Julie Mancini

Photo by Julie Mancini

T

his year’s strawberry festival saw 35,000 +/- visitors enjoy strawberry treats of all kinds, local entertainment on two stages, a car show, a strawberry pie eating contest, a chance to shop over 250 vendors and a giant kid’s zone with fun for kids of all ages! The 8th annual strawberry festival was located at the McPherson Government complex on NE 25th Ave where plenty of parking and open spaces allow this festival to grow year after year.

The Habitat strawberry festival in Marion County represents a piece of American history when county fairs and festivals brought communities together. All proceeds made at the festival go towards building a home for a Marion County family in need. A Habitat home is built with mainly volunteers, including the future homeowner. The strawberry festival also is alive with volunteer spirit and known for uniting people from all parts of the county.

When the habitat homeowner completes their required volunteer hours (averages 250 hours) and is handed the front door keys to their new home, their first mortgage payment is likely to be sweeter than the strawberries sold at this year’s festival. Only for that habitat family, the safety and security they receive from the new home lasts longer than any of the sweet treats enjoyed at the festival.

George and Tammy Albright

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| APR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

UPCOMING EVENTS

Ocala's home for live entertainment!

National Artists, the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and more!

Ocala Symphony's

21st Century Anthology April 9 | 7:30 PM & April 10 | 3 PM

Assisted Living: The Musical April 29 | 7:30 PM

Reilly Noir Series:

Longineu Parsons April 15 | 7:30 PM

Artrageous

May 14 | 3 PM

Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn

Handel's Messiah

Classic Albums Live

Max Weinberg's Jukebox

April 22 | 7:30 PM

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers May 20 | 7:30 PM

April 24 | 3 PM

May 26 | 7:30 PM

Support provided by:

International Jazz Day: Concert Celebration April 30 | 7:30 PM Featuring Keith Caton Blues Band SeanTMusic Ocala Funket

Experience the best of the best with compositions by Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Bill Withers and more!

Media Support provided by:

Scan the QR code for a complete listing of Reilly, Symphony and Marion events!

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

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

EVENTS

society

The Night at the Farm

PHOTOS BY RALPH DEMILIO

T

he College of Central Florida Foundation hosted “The Night at the Farm” on Saturday, March 7, at the college’s Vintage Farm to help raise money for student scholarships.

The evening included craft beer tastings, live music and culinary delights and was attended by hundreds of CF Foundation supporters. It was held at the beautiful CF Vintage Farm campus, which is home to the college’s extensive agricultural programs, located on County Road 475 south of Ocala.

Erica Olstein and Joe Borge

Abby and Ross Jones Carl and Ann Zalak

52

Melissa Lee

James, Julianna and Jeanne Henningsen

Rebecca Gillette and Becky Kimbrough

Mitch Cook and Dorothy Pernu

Susan and Norman Reid

Simone Cormier and Rahul Razdan

| APR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

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EVENTS

society

Autism Superhero FUN Walk

O

n March 5th 2022, the 9th Annual Autism Superhero FUN Walk was held at Sholom Park.

There were more than 200 attendees with special appearances by the Marion County Sheriff 's Office, Marion County Fire Dept., 501st Legion, Marion County Humane Society, Community Partners as well as local Behavior Therapists.

Raffle prizes by sponsors included Universal Tickets, 2 Nights at Bluegreen Resort, $200 Pilot Gas Card, and more. There were prizes for the best Superhero costume, and overall, participants spent time enjoying the local autism community.

Outreach Autism Services Network is a non-profit organization founded 5/12/11 to provide low cost social & academic programs, no cost referrals & support (not financial) to individuals on the spectrum for autism & related neuro immune disorders (their families & caregivers) residing in the state of FL. Academic and social programs are offered in Ocala, FL. They are currently celebrating ten years of serving the autism community (eleven years in May). As they continue our search for a forever home, they will continue to host events and engage with our community. Executive Director: Karen Vega. Community Liaison: Ana Vonsander

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| APR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

EVENTS

society

2022 Tax Collector Car Show PHOTOS BY CHRISTEN BROWN

T

he Annual Tax Collector Car Show was held once again for the Marion County charities. The event was hosted by George Albright, Marion County Tax Collector, who saw the need and knew there was more that he and his team could be doing, while at the same time bringing families and fun together for a great cause—our charities that bless many less fortunate families and children.

This year was the largest to date in attendance, cars, and funds raised for the charities. Over 200 antique and collectible vehicles were shown, with members of the Antique Automobile Club of America Chapters attending and participating in the event.

A variety of vendors participated including food and drink, bringing forth fun for the families in attendance. More than $10,000 was raised with all proceeds going to a variety of Marion County charities such as Interfaith Emergency Services. There is nothing better than showing support for others while able to enjoy the freedom to once again congregate together for a good and worthy cause.

Doug Gray

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| APR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Dianne and Kirt Jens

Willie Hamilton

Gary Hricewich

Brian and Jen Sims

George and Tammy Albright

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

tickets: ocalacivictheatre.com

PLAY

anthology — poetry in motion

Friends

BY JERRY GLASSMAN

58

There are “deal” friends and there are “real” friends

So picking and choosing is one key to life’s game when you do it right, you will carry no blame

You pick and choose be careful, you could lose because some people are bad news not only that, they cry the blues

Real friends care They treat you fair

| APR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

So love the ones you’re with ... they are treasures!

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NIC ROLDAN Peek Inside His Life SPRING Fashion

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I t is a grand passion.

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equine

Gracious Living in the Horse Capital of the World®

Everything Equine p62

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | MAR 2022 |

61

EQUINE

everything equine

Live Oak International Returns PHOTOGRAPHY

BY RALPH DEMILIO

A

fter a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Live Oak International returned this year with an event that was bigger and better than any of its predecessors. The 31st edition of the combined driving and show jumping showcase held at Live Stud Farm on March 3-6 was a huge success as competitors from around the globe descended on Ocala to face the best competition in the world. Hundreds packed the Live Oak grounds.

Among the winners during the threeday event was Live Oak International host Chester Weber of Ocala, who completed the FEI Four-in-Hand marathon combined driving course with a total score of 152.02 to take top honors on his home turf.

There were nearly 50 competitors from 20 countries in the combined driving events and 45 competitors from around the globe in the showing jumping events, making the Live Oak International one of the largest and most prestigious equine events in North America.

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OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | APR 2022 |

63

r & u o T t r A

His t or ic O c al a Pr e se rvat ion Soc ie t y

Historic Home P r o u d ly p r e s e n t e d b y

Saturday, April 23rd 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Tickets available at SpringHomeTour.Eventbrite.com

Jack & Sara Morrison

C hris & Nancy P a s t e u r

Pamel a & Frank S t a f f o r d

etc

Entertainment at CF’s The Night At The Farm Photo by Ralph Demilio

Charity: Ocala Wildlife Sanctuary p66 | Health Journal p70 | State of the City p72 State of the County p74 | Kiwanis Korner p76 | OM Marketplace p77 | Rotary Circle p78 | Looking Back p80

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | APR 2022 |

65

ETC

charity

OWLS to the rescue Ocala Wildlife Sanctuary dedicated to rehabilitating injured animals

BY CARLTON REESE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RALPH DEMILIO

W

hen Keith Belisle takes in an injured animal, the kinship between the two is deep and immediate. This bond grows out of Belisle’s own similar near-tragic experience, from which he draws upon to nurture his own empathy.

The founder and operator of Ocala Wildlife Sanctuary (OWLS) with Ken Lane, Belisle was himself involved in an incident that left him debilitated and in need of extraordinary care and subsequent rehabilitation. When an orphaned deer or an owl sporting a clipped wing arrives at the sanctuary, Belisle knows a bit about what they’re going through, and he makes it his mission to make possible a long and happy life that can be a future source of inspiration for those who may come into contact with the animal.

At a young age, Belisle was involved in an automobile accident that left him with permanent nerve damage in his spine. Al-

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| APR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

most 10 years ago, a large tumor was discovered in his abdomen and doctors told him his chances of survival were slim. As such, Belisle does not take too kindly to dire news, instead acting on the belief that any negative situation can be turned into a positive. This attitude has worked to turn around the lives of many wild animals that would otherwise have been left for dead or not worthy of the effort to rehabilitate.

Consider Hobie, a great horned owl that came to Belisle and Lane 28 years ago as a result of a cruel trapper, who used a machete to chop off a wing. “A lot of kids and adults that have disabilities can relate to him,” Belisle said. Although Hobie hasn’t been able to leave the sanctuary, he has lived a long life that has been a symbol of hope for those facing a similar predicament.

“It’s my passion,” Belisle says of his life’s work in rehabilitating injured or abandoned animals. “I was born and raised on this prop-

erty, and all my life I’ve had involvement with wildlife.”

Currently at OWLS there are around 65 animals in Belisle’s care, including 15 owls, five macaws, a pair of gopher tortoises and a number of ducks, chickens and parrots.

Normally, the sanctuary houses around 100 animals, but the recent pandemic has cut into the number of animals being brought in and how many they can accept.

Typically, OWLS will get a call from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission involving a case that will bring in an injured animal; other times, random people have been known to bring injured wildlife to the sanctuary. The overwhelming number of cases are the result of human interaction, either intentional or not -- in the case of Hobie, a cruel human inflicted the damage. The resident orphaned deer, Buttercup, came to OWLS as a result of its mother being killed by a car just hours after giving birth.

“I decided we were going to give him [the owl] a chance in life, no matter what – I would want to be given that chance.”

—KEITH BELISLE

“There are a lot of automobile hits,” Belisle said. “We do get calls of birds being shot because they’re going after hens or whatever the case may be.”

What makes OWLS so special is that it is one of very few places of its kind. Licensing for such a facility that houses predatory or migratory birds is next to impossible – federal and state level issues are mandatory – and the pandemic has taken its toll on many such places.

“It’s forced a lot of rehabbers completely out,” Belisle says. “Ones I’ve known for 30-40 years have just shut their doors and unfortunately had to euthanize all their animals.”

One issue noted by Belisle is people’s misguided instincts when coming across a young bird. This time of year, many baby birds hatch and people are likely to come across them and not know what to do.

“People panic when they see baby birds on the ground,” Belisle said. “The motherly instinct of a person normally is to pick it up and take it in, feed and water it, which is the worst thing to do for a baby bird. You should actually try to place it back in the nest with the parents, and that includes owls or any bird of prey.”

Belisle’s passion includes building cages specifically designed for the rehabilitation needs of the particular animals. He recalls a particular owl he received many years ago that was completely paralyzed with the exception of being able to move its eyelids. Instead of euthanizing the creature, he worked with the owl as a personal therapist of sorts.

“I decided we were going to give him

a chance in life, no matter what – I would want to be given that chance,” Belisle said.

“I made this tiny jump-up for him and I exercised his legs and wings for him every day.

He was with us for 15 years and he could fly and he could walk.

“He was the one who taught me you never give up in life, no matter how bad the circumstances are.”

OWLS is a nonprofit organization that relies completely on volunteers and public

donations – no state or federal funding is involved. For Belisle, the reward comes in the successful rehabilitation of an animal and watching it take off back into the wild.

“It’s an amazing job to have, and to be able to work with them and release them back into the wild – it’s just a beautiful feeling.

“Normally, I’ll feel their heart beat up against mine just before I toss them off.

That’s my reward and my pay, and what a fabulous experience.”

OWLS is located at 2020 SW 5th Avenue in Ocala and can be reached at 352-895-0451 for information on volunteering, donating or visiting the sanctuary.

To view videos of the animals, one can visit online at givingahoot.org.

OCALAMAGAZINE.COM | APR 2022 |

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health journal

The Intersection

Between Loneliness and Social Isolation

BRANDPOINT

T

hese past couple of years have been challenging in lots of ways and many people, particularly older adults, have felt the weight and impact of loneliness and social isolation.

This has been especially true when staying home and sheltering in place has been recommended to increase safety. With less contact with others, it may be difficult for older adults to maintain the relationships that are so important to mental, as well as physical, well-being. In fact, loneliness has been found to lead to health risks, such as: * Depression * Poor sleep * Anxiety * Hypertension * Cognitive decline * Heart disease and stroke In addition, social isolation may lead to: * Increased risk of dementia * Cardiovascular disease * Inflammation * Reduced quality of life It becomes incredibly important to understand these effects and impacts of loneliness and social isolation. You might think the two concepts are very similar, if not iden-

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tical, but they have important distinctions.

Loneliness is the feeling of being alone and social isolation is the lack of social contacts.

only, both lonely and socially isolated or neither.

Those who were both lonely and socially isolated were more likely to be older, with a lower quality of life and greater medical needs and costs. They also had significantly higher rates of ER and inpatient admissions.

“These two constructs have been looked at separately. Moving forward you should make the connection to look at them together,” Barnes said.

Keeping interventions in mind for both conditions could have a big impact on seniors’ overall health. For social isolation it might be things like volunteerism, physical activity and engaging in a community, while for loneliness it might make sense to focus on personal strengths such as defining one’s purpose and building social awareness skills. AARP and the Global Council on Brain Health recently published a guide, “Boosters for Joy: A Guide on Ways to Connect,” that offers a wide range of helpful resources for boosting social connections.

“The pandemic has brought issues of loneliness and social isolation to the fore and should spark a national conversation,” said Dr. Erica Schwartz, M.D., president of Insurance Solutions at UnitedHealthcare. “The

“The pandemic has brought issues of loneliness and social isolation to the fore and should spark a national conversation.”

A person can feel alone, even if they have a wide social circle and, on the flip side, it’s possible for someone to not have many social connections yet not feel alone.

A state of loneliness or social isolation can have a major effect on one’s sense of wellness and overall health. But what is the impact when both are present?

Researchers from UnitedHealthcare and OptumLabs, in conjunction with AARP Services Inc., conducted and published a study in 2021 to discover how the combination affected late-life health outcomes. With a random sampling of AARP® Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan from UnitedHealthcare members, researchers, including Dr. Timothy Barnes, Ph.D., senior outcomes researcher with OptumLabs, collected survey data measuring groups who were lonely only, socially isolated

need to feel connected and to be connected is even more critical as we face continued disruption and disconnectedness in our daily lives. Research is needed to help further understand the impact of loneliness and social isolation on health and to find strategies to improve resilience.”

For Barnes, it was clear that staying connected to each other is not just a niceto-have but an urgent priority key to higher quality of life for older adults.

“With social isolation versus loneliness, there are things that you can quantify versus things that you feel,” he said. “Resilience, having a feeling of purpose in life, and optimism are also important.”

For more information on how to help get connected if you’re feeling socially isolated, visit connect2affect.org.

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

HIS Compassion Food Bank 352-351-0732

ETC

state of the city

Water Talk Q&A April is Water Conservation Month, and Ocala is committed to providing clean drinking water

BY RACHEL FAUTSCH AND ASHLEY DOBBS

R

achel Fautsch, water resources conservation coordinator for the City of Ocala, recently spent the day with Walter the Waterdrop, a water conservation expert, to discuss how conserving this natural resource can contribute to the preservation of the environment and save the strain on your wallet.

RACHEL: Walter, I know water conservation is an important topic to you, can you tell us how much water is used each day in Ocala?

WALTER: It sounds unbelievable, but City of Ocala customers consume nearly 13 million gallons of water a DAY! What may surprise people is how most of this water is used. An average of 50 percent, or just over 6 million gallons of our clean, potable, drinking water is used for residential irrigation, or more specifically, residents and businesses

watering their grass every day. By reducing this water waste, it could lead to additional gallons for drinking or helping to replenish the aquifer.

RACHEL: Why should we conserve water?

WALTER: This is my favorite question. We need to be conscious consumers of our clean water because it is a finite resource. This means we can’t make more water. The water we have now is the only water we will ever have in this world. The only thing that will change is how available or polluted the water will become. Less than 1 percent of all the water in the world can be used for clean, fresh drinking water.

Could you imagine a world without me? Oops … I mean water.

RACHEL: What is the main cause of water pollution?

WALTER: There are many different

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sources of water pollution but the one that is hard to control and predict is non-point source pollution. Non-point pollution is discharged by multiple contaminants over a wide area and can’t be directly linked to a specific pollution source (our homes or businesses). These contaminants include fertilizer, excess lawn debris, animal waste, septic tanks, general litter and more. As citizens of planet Earth, we should control and make active efforts to reduce this kind of pollution.

RACHEL: What are some tips for conserving water?

WALTER: There are simple ways you can save water in your home. Reduce outside irrigation and follow the city irrigation ordinance. To reduce use inside your home, turn off your faucet when you brush your teeth — it could save you nine gallons of water daily. Reduce your shower time by one minute and save over two gallons of water daily. Fixing a leaky toilet can save up to 200 gallons of water daily.

Small changes in our behavior can have HUGE impacts on our environment.

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

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state of the county

Cleaning Up County task force putting plan in place to help clean up litter

BY MARK ANDERSON

LITTER TASK FORCE Spearheaded by Marion County Commissioner Craig Curry, the Litter Task Force is comprised of elected officials and community members.

“I don’t think it takes people very long, whether you live in Marion County or you’re just visiting, to look along the roads and notice all of the trash,” Curry said. “If you ride out into the national forest, there’s dumping going on — not all from Marion County citizens. We’ve caught contractors from neighboring counties coming in and dumping roofing materials and all kinds of commercial trash, because they don’t want to pay the tipping fee in their county.”

Curry said the litter issue is one that’s near and dear to his heart.

“I’ll put it this way, when I see trash along the road, it’s kind of like a papercut for me. It means something,” he explained. “So, when I ran for office, it was one of the key points I spoke about. The topic of litter seemed to resound with many people around the county.

The health and appearance of Marion County matter to a lot of us who live here.”

Members of the Litter Task Force come from throughout Marion County and includes government agencies such as Marion County Environmental Services; the cities of Ocala, Belleview, and Dunnellon; the Florida Department of Transportation; the Florida Forest Service; the Marion County

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Sheriff ’s Office; and more.

Private companies and organizations such as the Ocala/Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership, Waste Pro, Waste Management, Realty World and others are part of the 28-member Litter Task Force.

Those team members meet on a regular basis to form an action plan on what the Marion County community can do to address the issue of litter. That action plan is due to be drafted this month, then brought before the County Commission at a meeting to discuss budget points.

NOT JUST A THROWAWAY IDEA Curry has studied what other communities are doing to successfully clean up litter, and he found a success story in the state of Texas.

“You’ve heard the phrase, ‘Don’t Mess With Texas?’ I didn’t realize it, but that came out of their litter task force study — it’s about their litter and garbage on the road,” he explained.

Through the “Don’t Mess With Texas” initiative that’s been in place for more than 35 years, Texas has been able to significantly reduce litter along their roadways, and the Litter Task Force is aiming to do the same for Marion County.

“Texas ultimately reduced their litter by around 72 percent, so that’s our goal,” Curry said.

One of the task force’s main goals is raising awareness of the issue and how much of an impact even the simplest actions can have on reducing litter.

“There’s a lot of simple things that can

In 2020, Marion County spent $900,000 removing litter from county-owned roadways, and 1.3 million pounds of litter were picked up. There is a $500 minimum fine for public littering. Repeat offenders, or anyone dumping litter that exceeds a certain weight, can even face jail time.

be done, we’re just going to put it together into a program of action,” he said.

Waste not, want not Though there will be costs associated with putting the task force’s plan into action, Curry said the benefits far outweigh the costs and will end up saving the county money in the long run. To Curry, the program is an investment into the health and aesthetics of our community.

STAY BEAUTIFUL Curry says the Litter Task Force is not only a way we can keep Marion County beautiful; it will also help save our community money.

“Taxpayers want to save money and reduce expenses, and to me, this is an unbelievably easy method of doing just that — having our community’s buy-in is crucial to the success of this initiative,” Curry explained. “If you don’t throw trash on the road, we can save you a million dollars a year. Now let’s go do it.”

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

Photos courtesy of Marion County

A

fast food bag on the side of the road. Commercial waste dumped in an empty lot. A used face mask alongside a sidewalk.

We’ve all seen this around Marion County. Litter is a huge problem — not just in our community, but throughout the United States.

The Litter Task Force is a new Marion County initiative to help address this issue.

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ETC

Kiwanis

Korner

Special Speakers

K

iwanis of Ocala welcomed guest speakers during February and the first week of March. President Tammy Hoff introduced presenters Aggie and George Albright, Kathy and Ron Beals — long time Kiwanis members of the Lake Weir Club and the current president of the Silver Springs Shores Kiwanis Club.

Aggie Albright announced a pleasant and special surprise while sharing sad news of the Silver Springs Shores Club closing it’s club. The Silver Springs Shores Club, along with previous Lake Weir long-time members Kathy and Ron Beals, presented a gift check to the Ocala Club of $12,000 in the process of the closing of the other fellow Kiwanis club.

Eddie Leedy, executive director of the Marion County Humane Society and former Deputy Sheriff (now retired after serving 34 years with Marion County Sheriff ’s Department), spoke on how they have changed operations during the last two years of COVID. He shared how it has affected their procedures, including the animals and adoption processing. Jennifer Martinez, executive director of Marion Senior Services, gave an excellent talk on updates and current changes.

Kiwanian Roseann Fricks, CEO of the Early Learning Coalition, spoke on their upcoming events. Jim Phillips, program chair and Kiwanian, welcomed guest speaker Jennifer Murty, owner of Ocala Style Magazine and the Ocala Gazette, who spoke on challenges and changes of journalism during these last two years.

Warren Barrett, Bernard Mitchell and Kathy Beals

David Ellspermann, Tammy Hoff, Eddie Leedy and Jim Phillips

Aggie Albright

Tammy Hoff, Ron Beals, Bernard Mitchell, Warren Barrett, Aggie Albright, Kathy Beals and George Albright

Jennifer Martinez

Penny Miller and Eddie Leedy Roseann Fricks

Eddie Leedy

Jennifer Murty

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Kiwanis International is a global community of clubs, members, and partners, dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time. Today, with more than 550,000 members in 80 Countries, Kiwanis empowers members to pursue creative ways to serve the needs of our children, such as fighting hunger, improving literacy and being a mentor. Kiwanis Clubs host over 150,000 service projects per year.

www.facebook.com/KiwanisClubOfOcala

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| APR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

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44

State of the County Veterans Benefits

77

Rotary

Circle

BEING THE DIFFERENCE Marion Rotary Annual Duck Derby Event and Rotary Club of Ocala Sunset Annual Golf Scramble

A

Photo by Bruce Ackerman Photo by Bruce Ackerman

The Rotary Club of Ocala Sunset hosted their 16th Annual Golf Scramble to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Marion County, as well as other local Charities. Many sponsors and volunteers donated their time and treasure to make the event a success, with Billy Gilchrist and other Rotarians leading the way.

Photo by Bruce Ackerman

ll Rotary Clubs of Ocala and Marion County, came together once again for the 3rd Annual Duck Derby event which benefits the children of Marion County along with the Discovery Center.

Over 5,000 yellow duckies were let loose at Tuscawilla Park Lake to begin the special day. Although there were several winners announced being Ty Parker, L O'Flynn and Todd Rudnianyn, all in attendance and those that volunteered and sponsored the event, were winners also. (and yes, all ducks are rubber ducks used at the event ).

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

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| APR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.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.

e l b a l i a v A w o N

2022 Historic Ocala Preservation Society Board Members

Dr. Lela Kerley — President Rhoda Walkup — Vice-President Historic Ocala Preservation Society Rick Perry — Secretary Dennis Phillips — Treasuer Brian Stoothoff — Past President, 2021 Pamela Stafford Linda Anker Daniel Banks Giorgio Berry Bryan Caracciolo Sean Gallaway STEERING COMMITTEE Leon Geller • Andrew Grunther (Chair) Andrew Grunther HOPS House. (Bryant House) • Leslie McCullough Trish Kilgore 712 East Fort King Street, Ocala FL • Lela Kerley Sarah Kirk For more information contact • Pamela Stafford Caryl Lucas Available at Your Hearts Desire Andrew Grunther, Committee Chair, Leslie McCullough in Ocala Shopping Center and EVENT PLAN 352-286-8819.

Penny Miller Shannon Roth Collection on “Spring is the time of plans and projects” Suzanne Thomas -Leo Tolstoy downtown square.

Diana Williams Link Wilson Proceeds benefit preservation In the spirit of unity, this year’s Spring—Leo Tour will feature homes in two of Ocala’s downtown Historic Holly Yocum Tolstoy

&

HISTORIC Home

The sequel to David Cook’s book, with new articles and history. $25.

Tour April 23rd 10:00am

“Spring is the time of play and projects”

efforts in our community.

Districts. This self-guided tour will commence in the Historic District and meander through the

Tuscawilla Historic District & Arts Park. Guests are encouraged to explore the presenting homes at their leisure and learn about the history of each district and the homes within. Local artists will have work on display & be available to answer| questions at the homes| in the Tuscawilla Historic 712 S.E.their Fort King St. Ocala, FL 34471 (352) 351-1861 www.HistoricOcala.org District. Cocktails and hors d’oeurves will be available at various locations along the tour route. The us ontheFacebook event will culminate at the historicFollow Union Station; home of the Magnolia Art Xchange & The Depot on Magnolia.

We are blessed in Ocala with multiple historic districts filled with history, life, & the homes that have lived through it all. Thanks to the dedication of HOPS and our valued homeowners, these historic homes have been restored and revitalized for many generations to come. Join us, and explore all the

HOPS

looking back

Ocala’s man in the governor’s mansion C. Farris Bryant went from Ocala High School to the state’s top position

BY CARLTON REESE WITH THE HISTORIC OCALA PRESERVATION SOCIETY

P

erhaps the most significant politician to be raised in Ocala was Cecil Farris Bryant, who would serve as Florida’s 34th governor from 196165 and later serve as director of the Office of Emergency Planning in the Lyndon Johnson administration from 1966-67.

Born in Ocala in 1914, Bryant graduated from Ocala High School then earned his B.A. from the University of Florida before earning a law degree from Harvard University. After serving in the Navy during World War II, Bryant embarked on a political career that would take him to speaker of the Florida House of Representatives in 1953.

His victory in the 1960 gubernatorial election would come at a time of enormous transition in the United States and especially in Florida, which was the fastest growing state at that time while also dealing with the issue of racial segregation. A Democrat who was elected as a segregationist, Bryant was not of the obstructionist mold of others at the time such as Gov. George Wallace of Alabama. He never blocked a school entrance, but during the campaign, Bryant famously remarked that, “The less said about segregation the better. To talk about it merely incites people and doesn’t solve the problem.”

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| APR 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM

Although Bryant helped transform the state by increasing funding for highways and the expansion of the university system, all to help attract tourism, businesses and new residents, it is his less-than-tepid response to racial segregation that has tainted what was otherwise a glowing legacy. He supported segregation, but refused to do so at the expense of violence or school closures.

When the Freedom Riders attempted to test the state’s segregation laws, Bryant worked closely with the state police to persuade restaurants to serve the demonstrators or close temporarily, thereby avoiding violence that had taken place in other Southern states.

During the contentious civil rights protests in St. Augustine in 1964, Bryant was slow initially to quell violence but later ordered the National Guard to protect black demonstrators and arrest white lawbreakers.

In those days, governors were limited to just one term, so when he left office he joined the Johnson administration as director of the OEP. In 1970, Bryant would run for a seat in the U.S. Senate, and with his high name recognition seemed a favorite to win, but Lawton Chiles pulled an upset victory in a primary run-off. That would be the last time Bryant would run for political office.

In returning to civilian life, Bryant moved to Jacksonville where he practiced law and headed the National Life Insurance Co. His views on segregation reflected the era in which he grew up, but in the end, Bryant was instrumental in building Florida’s highways, including the turnpike, which was a major factor in attracting Walt Disney World. He pioneered bond financing to expand the university system and was instrumental in getting a constitutional amendment passed to fund the acquisition of state lands for preservation.

When he died in 2002, Bryant was especially proud of his legacy that helped pave the way for Florida’s role today as a major player in tourism and industry. Under Bryant’s leadership and promotion, the number of schools in the State University System doubled, Cape Canaveral expanded to five times its original size, airlifting of Cuban refugees was celebrated and reapportionment increased urban representation.

Despite the glowing parts of his legacy, Bryant held firm to his beliefs on segregation until the day he died. In an Orlando Sentinel interview in 2000, Bryant claimed equality among the races would come faster “by changing the minds of the white people, not by forcing them to do something by taking their property away from them.”

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• No pain, no scalpels, no sutures • No anesthetic necessary • Laser light therapy tightens tissue and opens airways • High success rate • No appliances to wear

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TINA CHANDRA, D.D.S., LVIF, FIAPA

Cosmetic, Neuromuscular and Sleep Dentist ... a Physiologic Approach

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