Ocala Gazette | March 25 - March 31, 2022

Olympions return home!

Festivities on page B5

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 12

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MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022

CITY OF OCALA OUTLINES STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

Sheriff and MCBOCC discuss renovations

By James Blevins james@ocalagazette.com

Top Left: Ocala City Manager Sandra Wilson speaks during the City of Ocala Strategic Planning meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Ocala on March 22.

Members of the Ocala City Council: (left to right) Jay Musleh, Barry Mansfield, Ire Bethea Sr., James Hilty Sr. and Kristen Dreyer.

Left: Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

(Left to right) Peter Lee, the assistant City Manager, Jeannine Robbins, the Strategic and Legislative Affairs Administrator and Randall Bridgeman, the Internal Auditor.

City leadership adds team engagement to priority list

By James Blevins and Jennifer Hunt Murty

C

ity Council joined staff leadership for a strategic workshop on Tuesday, March 22 to identify council priorities for the upcoming year.

During the meeting, council supported adding a fifth priority of “Team & Workforce Engagement” to their previously established priorities: “Quality of Place,”

“Operational Excellence,” “Fiscal Sustainability” and “Economic Hub.” “The city has operated with four strategic priorities for many years,” said City Manager Sandra Wilson.

“We knew we were missing a fifth priority, focused around people/ workforce, and began working to develop and deploy a citywide team engagement survey about two to three years ago.”

“We recognize if we aren’t successful in hiring and retaining

the right people, keeping them safe, engaged and providing training and development, we will not be successful in meeting any of the other strategic priorities,” she said.

“The annual team engagement survey results will be just one indicator we use to measure the city’s overall workforce engagement.”

At the start of Tuesday’s workshop, consultant David See City, page A4

The Two Sides to the Trash Can Debate

M

arion County Sheriff Billy Woods’ request for a remodel and expansion of the Sheriff ’s Operations Building using unspent funds from prior budget years was discussed during a Capital Improvement Project (CIP) workshop on Monday, March 21.

During the presentation at the McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, Jared Goodspeed, facilities director for Marion County, broke down the scope of work required to accomplish the sheriff ’s request before the Marion County Board of County Commissioners (MCBOCC).

“So we have our design in phases one through five, where phases one and five were previously funded and accounted for in our sales tax,” said Goodspeed. “The additional phases were identified as encompassing the entire building for a remodel to meet some of the sheriff ’s operational needs.”

Demolition, costing a total of $238,000, is also already funded, according to county documents.

Furthermore, the MCBOCC approved Woods’ request during its March 15 regular meeting that money previously set aside in the sales tax for the mobile command unit be released from that specific project and added to the Operations Office.

The county believes that the funding allocated through the sheriff is “adequate to do a remodel,” said Goodspeed, adding that a county architect is conducting a space management report to be completed by April 8.

Sheriff Woods told the Ocala See Sheriff, page A2

A breakdown of the garbage disposal dispute between Friends Recycling Center and the City of Ocala: Part 1 of 2

By James Blevins james@ocalagazette.com Over the last several months, Jerry Laurenco, owner and operator of Friends Recycling Center (FRC) in Ocala, has attended numerous Ocala City Council meetings with a single request: Will the city recognize his facility the same way the state does, that is, as a Materials Recovery Facility, or MRF? And the city has responded, time and again, that per city code, it only recognizes FRC as a recycling center.

But what’s the difference? And, importantly, why does this matter to city residents? Because some would argue that with garbage costs rising, a more See Garbage, page A2

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods speaks during a County Commission Capital Improvement Project Workshop in the County Commission auditorium at the McPherson Governmental Complex in Ocala on March 21.

[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

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MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

Garbage business in Ocala Continued from page A1 competitive market could help drive down prices for consumers.

What’s the Dispute?

It all starts with the green and brown receptacles that Ocala businesses and residents use. Brown is for recyclable items. The contents in the brown receptacles go to a recycling center.

Green is for garbage. This content goes to the landfill.

That’s how the city sees it. No gray areas, just green and brown. No matter what the state says FRC can do, Ocala officials say the city code supersedes the state.

Laurenco insists state rules allow him to operate his recycling center as an MRF. This would allow him to receive both brown and green receptacles and sort out the recyclable items from both, since both kinds of receptacles typically contain a certain amount of garbage along with recyclables. This mixture is called contamination.

Contamination originates from human error, when citizens do not properly differentiate between which receptacles they place their recyclable items and/or garbage. A significant amount of misplaced garbage or “contamination” occurs before either garbage or recycling trucks arrive to collect their respective containers.

Laurenco wants the city to rewrite its code to include MRFs in the ordinance language, allowing him to operate his facility as designed, something it cannot currently do within city limits.

But so far, the city has stood by its code.

Assistant City Manager Pete Lee said on March 8 that the city looks at the issue differently than does the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

“We don’t try, nor should we try, to mirror the state’s definitions,” said Lee of how the city defines recycling center.

“The state regulates what it regulates and we have simply divided it into trash and recyclables: brown container versus green container. We know there is going to be some contamination in brown containers, but the intent, the presumption is that those containers primarily contain recyclable materials.”

On March 1, Ocala City Council instructed city staff to look into and provide some alternative options on how the current code could be rewritten to possibly include such terms as “MRF” or “Recovered Materials Facility.”

The issue will be discussed at a strategic work session on Tuesday.

Dirty and/or Clean MRF

Currently, FRC meets the city’s definition of a recycling center. But to the state, FRC also meets the definition of a “dirty MRF.” Under DEP regulations, no more than 10% of the contents of each truck that enters the FRC site can be contamination.

At that level, the site is considered a socalled “clean murf.’’ If more than that, the facility is considered a “dirty murf ’’ and must be properly permitted by the DEP. Obviously, it is impossible to know whether a truck’s load has 10% or less contamination until the contents are dumped out on the floor and inspected.

Preferably, a MRF is designed and equipped to handle both clean and dirty levels of contamination at any given moment.

To be a state-permitted “dirty” MRF, the facility must also have a leachate collection system. Leachate is liquid generated from rainfall and the natural decomposition of waste. A “clean’’ MRF doesn’t require a leachate collection system.

FRC is permitted through the DEP to accept Class 1 garbage (defined as potentially toxic or dangerous waste) and Class 3 garbage (includes inert, insoluble material, e.g., rock, glass, bricks and dirt) as well as C&D (construction and demolition) debris, which commonly consist of drywall, concrete, wood and metal, as well as yard waste.

Also in the refuse business are transfer stations, where garbage trucks dump their loads on the ground, front-end loaders scoop it up and put it into semi-trailers, which then take it to a landfill.

Ocala’s codes don’t recognize transfer stations, either.

FRC’s Side

“The DEP don’t care what color the (receptacle) is,” said Laurenco, “they care about what’s on the ground, what’s in the (receptacles) and how it’s sorted.”

On average, he said, recycling loads brought to FRC carry at least 25% contamination, and many loads often contain much more than that. Any loads with over 10% contamination, regardless of what percentage of recyclable materials might still be included, per DEP, must be brought to the landfill.

To Laurenco, this is an incredible waste of recyclable materials. And it all stems, he said, from an outdated code. The city’s recycling center code definition was enacted in 1992 and Laurenco said it no longer reflects what’s happening on the ground—and in the garbage cans.

“It just isn’t realistic. There’s not a garbage truck picking up recyclables anywhere in Florida that’ll have [less than 10% contamination],” said Laurenco. “So, you’re in violation just by picking it up, because they’re always going to be more.

I’m in violation as we speak.”

The Florida Legislature, through the Energy, Climate Change and Economic Security Act of 2008, established a statewide weight-based recycling goal of 75% by 2020. The act directed the DEP to establish a reporting protocol and directed counties to report annually.

Florida reached its interim goals for 2012 (40%) and 2014 (50%); however,

it did not meet its 2016 (60%) or 2018 (70%) interim goals. In fact, the recycling rate has continued to decline since 2014.

Based on the DEP’s evaluation of available data, the drop can largely be attributed to a reduction in the reported amount of C&D debris recycled in 2018.

Ocala’s Side

Lee, Ocala’s assistant city manager, said the city takes a different, and simpler, view of things.

“The percentage [of contamination] doesn’t matter to us. It may matter to the DEP, but intent matters to us,’’ he said.

“If Jerry picks up brown cans, takes them to his recycling center and dumps them on the floor, it’s legal. If he picks up green cans and dumps them on the floor, it’s illegal. It’s that simple. He’s a recycling center. It’s not calculus.”

For the city, the source is all. The current code as written doesn’t recognize or differentiate MRFs—dirty or clean.

You are a recycling center or you are not, according to the city, you pick up brown cans or you do not. Green cans are picked up by GFL Environmental Inc.—Ocala’s current solid waste disposal provider, which has a contract valid through Sept.

30, 2025.

The Ocala City Council will consider options presented by the staff on how the current code could be rewritten.

“It’s not impossible to change the definitions,” admitted Lee. “It’s just a matter of the intent of those definitions remaining clear. We need to be careful about where these facilities might be located in the county. There’s a lot to talk about.”

Tagging

Along with its brown container vs. green container ordinance, the city also has a council-approved tagging program.

If a load comes in over 10% contamination, the original bin will receive a yellow tag warning on a first violation.

City personnel will reach out with a letter and speak to the resident. If it happens again, the bin will receive a red tag and the city will send another letter.

On a third offense, the city pulls that bin from rotation and trucks will no longer pick up that trash.

Director of Public Works Daren Park recently told the city council that Ocala has issued almost 2,600 yellow tags and almost 400 red tags, pulling about 223 receptacles.

The city has almost 11,000 accounts, Park said, and over 2,400 receptacles that are serviced six days a week, Monday through Saturday.

Next Steps

Councilmembers Kristen Dreyer and Barry Mansfield have both raised concerns over why the city hasn’t opened things up for competitive bids regarding who hauls its garbage, in the hope of driving down the price passed onto the citizen consumer.

At the March 1 city council meeting, Dreyer specifically addressed what she called a “monopoly on our garbage situation right now.”

“That’s not in the best interest of our taxpayers to have one company that can address our garbage,” she said. “If [Jerry’s] facility was open or someone else’s facility in town that could serve the same purpose, it would save us, if he were bidding our work $250,000 a year—because he would pull out the recyclables on average, and then send less garbage to the landfill. I think that’s to everyone’s benefit.”

At the end of the day, Laurenco said he just wants to operate his facility the way it was designed and permitted through the DEP to operate. His hope is that city council will amend its code’s language to better reflect more nuanced definitions of what a “recycling center” can be.

After the March 1 City Council meeting, Laurenco admitted to feeling optimistic about where things might be going.

“I think they’re finally starting to understand it better,” said Laurenco on March 2. “I mean, to me, I’m one of those keep-it-simple-stupid guys. Let’s not complicate something that doesn’t need to be complicated. Let’s have the code fit the facilities that we have.”

On March 15, Laurenco asked the Ocala City Council at its regular meeting, while the city staff was discussing possible rewrites to the code, if he could operate as a MRF. Jimmy Gooding, an attorney for the city, told Laurenco that if he believed he was operating consistently with the city code as it was currently written, then he could continue to do so, but nothing more.

“You may be legal per DEP,” said Gooding, “but if you’re not legal per the city code, then the city has the ability to pursue you for violations,” adding that at the present time the city had no knowledge of any ongoing violations.

“If you think you’re consistent with the current code as written, then take your chances,” he said. “If you want to wait and be sure after [city staff ] processes something to city council, then you can do that. But just because you have permission from DEP to do something does not mean you can do it under the city signing code.”

Assistant City Manager Ken Whitehead also said that city staff had met with the city attorney’s office on March 7.

“We talked a lot about what an ordinance would need to look like if council wanted to go in that direction [rewriting the city code]. That draft is being worked on as we speak,” he said.

Part two of this two-part series will include follow-up from the DEP, as well as follow-up on what city staff brings forward to the city council concerning alternative language to the current city code.

SheriffOperations wants to remodel Sheriff Officeand expand offices Continued from page A1

Operations Office Rem o d e l P h a s i n g P l a Sheriff n Gazette on March 11 that shifting funds from the mobile command unit over to the operation building was a “perfect” example of a sheriff working collaboratively with the county commissioners.

“We were looking at what was the best way to meet all my needs in remodeling the operations office, but not costing the taxpayers any additional funding in the future,” said Woods. “I think we came up with a good plan. The county has done an excellent job.”

Remodel Phasing Plan

• Square Feet Per Phase

• Square Feet Per Phase • Phase 1: 5,130 sq. ft.

• Phase 2: 10,200 sq. ft.

• Phase 1: 5,130 sq. ft. • Phase 3: 5,130 sq. ft.

• Phase 4: 7,225 sq. ft.

• Phase 2: 10,200 sq. ft.• Phase 5: 6,480 sq. ft.

• Demo : 13,000 sq. ft.

• Phase 3: 5,130 sq. ft.

By Numbers4: 7,225 sq. ft.

• thePhase Overall, the remodel of the Sheriff Operations Office is estimated to cost 5:It consists 6,480 a• totalPhase of $4,716,770. of five sq. ft. phases, including design and demo.

1 ($636,000) 5, as well assq. ft.

•Phases Demo : and 13,000 demo, are already funded through the sales tax. But Phase 5 includes another $810,000 in possible expansion.

Phases 2 ($1,275,000), 3 ($641,250) and 4 ($903,000), as well as Phase 5’s expansion and design ($213,520)—a total of $3,842,770 in additional needed funds—could potentially be funded through a combination of sources.

According to county documents, the additional funding needed to complete the project could be accomplished by using

[supplied]

a combination of sources: $576,800 from the FY 24 General Fund CIP; $2,085,548

from the FY 20 General Fund Sheriff Turnback; and $1,331,000 from the FY 22

Surtax (Mobile Command Unit)—for a total of $3,993,348.

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MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

COMMENTARY “The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.”

- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black in New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) Publisher Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@magnoliamediaco.com Bruce Ackerman, Photography Editor bruce@ocalagazette.com James Blevins, Reporter james@ocalagazette.com Sadie Fitzpatrick, Columnist sadie@ocalagazette.com Susan Smiley-Height, Editor susan@magnoliamediaco.com Amy Harbert, Graphic Designer amy@magnoliamediaco.com Lisa Maliff, Graphic Designer lisa.maliff@magnoliamediaco.com Kristine Nolan, Editor kristine@magnoliamediaco.com

Director of Sales and Marketing Andrew Hinkle andrew@magnoliamediaco.com Account Executives Evelyn Anderson evelyn@magnoliamediaco.com Sarah Belyeu sarah@magnoliamediaco.com Ralph Grandizio ralph@magnoliamediaco.com

Distribution Inquiries info@ocalagazette.com

Follow us @ocalagazette

Tradition Waves On Editor’s Note:

Sadie Fitzpatrick uses this space to explore the character and quirks that make Ocala uniquely wonderful and occasionally irksome.

By Sadie Fitzpatrick sadie@ocalagazette.com

I

realized this weekend I’m a bit of a hypocrite.

I am constantly advocating for Ocala/Marion County to grow, to change, to expand. However, I realized that change has reached my neighborhood, and I’m admittedly a little hesitant.

Trees have been bulldozed to make room for a new 108-unit apartment development across from our neighborhood elementary school. The Publix at Churchill Square has been closed down for a year-long renovation, promising a new and improved shopping experience upon its reopening.

Yes, these are necessary and exciting changes. I’m just a little miffed about them.

As the landscape of my neighborhood shifts, I’ve been seeking comfort in the familiar: walking through the historic district under the shadows of the towering oak trees, visiting my children’s favorite neighborhood park, and smiling at the home that has become an intrinsic part of my neighborhood, the Flag House.

The colorful, unique flags hung outside this tidy, quaint block structure earned the home the nickname “The Flag House” since the flags began flying in the late 1980s.

The Flag House, on the corner of Southeast 18th Avenue and Southeast 8th Street in the historic Woodfields area, has served as both a calendar of celebrations and a navigational beacon for this small slice of Ocala for the last 35 years.

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offer, there were four other offers on the table.

“At the end of the day, she chose us.

That’s the best way I can describe it. She worked with us to make sure we got this house even when we had bank delays and other hiccups. The family was so patient and kind with us,” Jackson recalled.

The Jacksons had known this house because of its flags and assumed the flags had been passed on to a family member or sold once the house was put up for sale.

They were honored when, at the closing on the home, Mrs. Hunter’s son asked if they would be interested in the flags. Mrs. Hunter had been hanging on to them, unsure what she was going to do with them. After reading the couple’s letter, she thought it was appropriate for the Jacksons to have them.

Along with the flags, the couple received a carefully crafted note in Mrs. Hunter’s looping penmanship listing the month in which they should be flown.

She had two conditions for possession of the flags: do not sell them, and fly them during the appropriate month.

The Jacksons have maintained them, never adding or redacting from Mrs. Hunter’s original, handmade collection.

It is the Jackson family’s hope that the flags will always stay with the home, no matter its owners.

“This house is known for its flags.

We want that history and tradition to stay with the home and continue on,” noted Jackson.

As my beloved neighborhood changes to reflect the momentous growth that Ocala/Marion County is undergoing, I pray we continue to hold tight to traditions like the Flag House, allowing them to both comfort and ground us.

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Ann Hunter, the creator of the flags, admired the decorative flags she had seen in a mail-order catalog, but thought they were too expensive. She decided to make her own flags out of nylon, creating three-foot-by-four-foot banners to commemorate various holidays for each month of the year.

The flags flew proudly year after year, reminding passersby to “Smile When You File” during tax season and to wish your dad a “Happy Father’s Day” with her “Yea, Dads” flag. No matter the weather, Mrs. Hunter’s flags were there to greet the day.

In 2018, Mrs. Hunter moved out of her home. Her two sons put their childhood home on the market, hoping the right buyer would come along to love the home their parents built in 1956.

Enter James Jackson. He and his wife, Dawn-Marie, had been searching for a home in the Woodfields area for years, but they had yet to find one that matched their budget and wish list. The Hunter home became a dream come true for the couple.

“In April 2018, one of our friends who knew we were looking at homes called us about the ‘for sale’ sign in the yard,’’ explained Jackson.

“We left my son’s baseball game immediately to see the house. We saw the house at 10 a.m. and made an offer at 1 p.m.

We attached a heartfelt letter about being educators, wanting to raise our three sons there, and our desire to keep the structure of the house the same.”

At the time of the Jacksons’

Keith Poole [supplied]

By James Blevins james@ocalagazette.com

K

eith Poole has filed the necessary paperwork to run for the District 4 seat on the Marion County Board of County Commissioners (MCBOCC), according to the Marion County Supervisor of Elections website.

Poole, a general contractor who owns KAP Design Group, LLC, said he feels the county commission could benefit from new viewpoints.

“I believe in term limits, and so, it’s

time for a change. It’s time for a different perspective. This is my home and I offer myself up for public service,” Poole said.

His associations and affiliations with various county, professional and service organizations, Poole said he believes that provided him with the necessary experience for the position.

“I sit on the License Review Board for the county. I used to sit on the Affordable Housing Committee. I’m a past president of the [Marion County} Builders Association,” he said. “I’m networked into the county. I know quite a few folks, and I understand the inner workings of the side of government that I deal with.”

Poole cited growth as the most pressing issue he believes Marion County is facing at the moment.

“We need to have a plan,” he said. “We need to be able to manage growth, to understand where we’re at, understand where we’ve been, realize why folks will want to live here, and try and preserve and protect that quality of life.”

“We can’t stop people from coming here,” he added; “but we need to be more proactive instead of reactive [when it comes to growth]. We need to work on infrastructure. We got to have our roads, our sewer. We’ve got to have plans for these things.”

Should he be elected, Poole said his focus would be on improving what he sees as a disconnection between the board and

it’s employees.

“I believe there’s a breakdown between county staff and [the] county commission,” he said. “And so what I would like to do is get in and understand the inner workings of the departments and their relationship back to the county commission.”

As an example of a breakdown of communication, Poole said he thinks that county staff brings the commission three “bad versions” of an idea, and they pick the “least of the three.”

“I don’t think it should be that way,” he said.

Poole sees himself as someone who wouldn’t be afraid to speak up when necessary, but knows to take notes when it’s time to listen.

“My vision is somebody to ask the tough questions. You know, we can’t just rubber-stamp everything that comes through. We’ve got to look at it. We’ve got to know what we’re dealing with,” he said.

Poole joins current MCBOCC Chair Carl Zalak III and Rachel Sams as candidates for the District 4 seat.

According to the Marion County Supervisor of Elections website, Poole currently has $6,500 in contributions as of March 15. Sams has $22,935 (with $2,735.48 in-kind and $3,547.23 in expenditures). Zalak has $77,000 in contributions.

The general election will be held on Nov. 8, 2022.

WOMEN’S EXPO SAVE THE DATE

Saturday, June 25, 2022 • 10am - 3pm College of Central Florida, Klein Center

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MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

City’s strategic workshop

Doug Peebles, the director of Ocala Electric Utility

Sean Lanier, City Engineer/Director of Engineer and Water Resources

Continued from page A1

pick who they trusted most to collect all the surveys and place them in an preaddressed envelope to the consultant.

Some departments chose to customize their surveys with additional questions to explore some of the issues specific to their departments—examples of such departments were fire, electric and water & engineering.

In addition to responding to survey questions, employees were asked to prioritize which survey questions they felt were most important. The consultant told city officials that they should take note that employees especially prioritized the survey question relating to whether or not they felt their leader cared about them and valued them each as a person.

Employees also prioritized communication and knowing what is expected of them in the workplace.

The consultant said that Ocala Fire Rescue (OFR) received the highest “satisfied” and “very satisfied” results from any fire department he had ever seen.

Councilmember Jay Musleh asked Ocala Fire Chief Clint Welborn and Ocala Electric Utility (OEU) Director

Harrawood of Baldridge Group shared the results from a City of Ocala employee engagement survey taken during the months of November and December 2021 of all city departments except for the Ocala Police Department, which declined to participate.

Harrawood told council that employee responses suggested high levels of overall satisfaction.

According to the survey, 89.18% of employees responded with “agree” or “strongly agree” to survey questions pertaining to their job, their leader, their team and future job growth within city government.

The consultant pointed out that those who selected “strongly agree” (46.19% of employees) ranked at least 10% higher than what the Gallup Corporation reported nationally for employee engagement trends over the past two decades.

In order to make employees feel safe when giving their honest feedback, the consultant explained that each employee was given a paper survey to complete, and each department polled employees to

Doug Peebles during the workshop why they believed OFR and OEU had maintained such high levels of job satisfaction after so much turmoil and turnover in each respective department over the last year.

Welborn credited it to OFR’s family-like atmosphere.

“Everybody is on board and valued,” he added. “And the leaders care, all across the board: from the fire chief all the way to the captains. I think that has really helped.”

Regarding OEU, Peebles said, “I think it’s just from being a team for so long, listening and trying to understand what the issues are, and then making those adjustments. I think that was probably the most important thing for us moving forward.”

Wilson said that the biggest take away from the citywide team engagement survey is that, as managers, the city cannot presume what is most important to its employees.

“If we don’t make the effort to ask, we are simply guessing at what they need to be productive, effective, safe and engaged,” said Wilson, adding that frequently those “guesses” will be based on staff ’s personal biases and experiences and not necessarily aligned with what employees really want and need.

“By simply asking for their input, we can ‘cheat on the test,’” she explained, “because our employees have given us the answers.”

Editor’s Note:

Next week’s edition will cover other highlights of the meeting.

FLORIDA CENTER FOR THE BLIND GETS HELP STARTING NEW PRESCHOOL TO HELP BLIND CHILDREN

% Overall satisfaction (answered “agree” or “strongly agree”) –89.18 % Answered “strongly agree” = “engaged” My Job Q1 –I know what is expected of me. 97.66 Q2 –I have the supplies & equipment to do my job well. 90.55 Q3 –I have the resources to do my job safely. 95.15 Q4 –We have good processes in place to do my job right. 91.48 Q5 –I know my department’s business plan measures & targets. 81.47 Q6 –I know how to contribute to the city’s mission & vision. 93.07 My Immediate Leader Q7 –My leader cares about me as a person. 92.89 Q8 –My leader encourages me to share & values my opinions. 90.53 Q9 –The frequency my leaders talk to me about my performance. 87.0 Q10 –My leader promotes a respectful workplace environment. 93.65 My Direct Team Q11 –There is good communication in our team.

88.95 Q12 –My team works well together to achieve the measures on our business plan. 92.48 Q13 –My team includes the right balance of skills & experience to be effective. 90.99 Q14 –My team is encouraged to be innovative to contribute City’s mission & vision. 88.46 My Growth Q15 –I am encouraged to develop my education, job knowledge & skills. 90.67 Q16 –I have access to training programs & resources that prepares me for the future. 86.43 Q17 –I am encouraged to learn about other city departments and how they operate. 66.67 Q18 –I would recommend the City to a friend or colleague as a great place to work. 86.89

OFR WARNS OF INVESTMENT SCAMS

PSA from the Office of Financial Regulation

T File photo

By Ocala Gazette Staff

T

he Florida Center for the Blind will be receiving a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) of up to $600,000 to purchase adjacent property for the purpose of establishing a preschool that provides intensive early-learning experiences for blind and visually impaired children.

The property consists of two parcels located at 2211 NE 14th Street.

The CDBG is a federal initiative that helps local communities fund specific solutions targeted at helping lowand moderate-income persons in the community. The Marion County Board of County Commissioners, who oversee that fund locally, unanimously approved the grant at their March 15 meeting.

Florida Center for the Blind serves people of all ages at no cost who are vision-impaired in both eyes, and cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or surgery resulting in difficulties performing daily activities. This new school would help children learn braille

from pre-k through second grade.

Anissa Pierboni, President and CEO of the Florida Center for the Blind, told the commission during the meeting that this early education intervention would help the visually impaired mainstream into local public schools quicker.

“We have to pull our students out of class to teach them skills they really should have before they start school, things like how to read braille, navigate safely, and use assisted technology,” said Pierboni said.

According to a press release issued

by Marion County following the award, proposals for CDBG may be submitted to the county for consideration “year-round to meet identified goals, emerging needs, and expenditure deadlines. Proposals will be evaluated on the project addressing county goals, priority needs, and national objectives.” The pre-application should submitted online via ZoomGrants at: zoomgrants.com/zgf/Marion_County_ Community_Services/Community_ Development Learn more about the Florida Center for the Blind at www.flblind.org.

he Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) has issued a reminder to Floridians to be aware of investment scams.

The top threats for 2022 were determined by a survey of securities regulators conducted by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA). The annual survey is designed to identify the most problematic products, practices, or schemes facing investors. The following were cited most often by state and provincial securities regulators: 1. Investments tied to cryptocurrencies and digital assets; 2. Fraudulent promissory note offerings; 3. Money scams offered through social media and internet investment offers; and 4. Financial schemes connected to self-directed individual retirement accounts (IRA).

OFR Commissioner Russell C. Weigel, III said, “It is important that Floridians research the investment product and professional before making a decision.

Knowledge is the best defense against becoming a victim of a scam. The Office of Financial Regulation is committed to protecting Floridians from financial scams, and equipping consumers with knowledge is one of the ways we are furthering that mission.”

Below are helpful tips to identify and avoid investment scams and threats: • Independently research the investment professional or company you plan to

work with and ensure they are properly licensed. Check the license status with the OFR online at flofr.gov, or by calling (850) 487-9687.

• Take steps to identify phony websites or social media accounts. Be sure to look closely at domain names, content, the dates they were established, and the quality of social media engagement.

Scammers spoof websites and use fake social media accounts to obscure their identities.

• Be wary of fake reviews. Scammers often reference or publish positive, yet bogus testimonials purportedly drafted by satisfied customers. These fake testimonials make it appear like the promoter is reliable. In many cases, though, the reviews are drafted by the scammer, not by satisfied customers.

• Stay away from unsolicited offers, high pressure sales tactics, or offers that sound too good to be true. Do not let yourself be rushed; take the time you need to make an informed decision.

• Remember the adage - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Bad actors often entice new investors by promising the payment of safe, lucrative, guaranteed returns over relatively short terms – sometimes measured in hours or days instead of months or years. These representations are often a red flag for fraud, as all investments carry some degree of risk, and the potential profits are typically correlated with the degree of risk.

Floridians who suspect fraud are encouraged to submit a complaint online at www.flofr.gov, or by calling (850) 487-9687.

A5

MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

TORNADO UPDATE

DeSantis visits Marion County and announces more than $29.5 million in aide

By James Blevins james@ocalagazette.com

A

fter visiting Ocala on Friday, March 18 for an unscheduled stop, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that more than $29.5 million in funding and resources would be made available to assist income-qualified individuals and families in Marion County impacted by recent severe weather events in Central and Northeast Florida, according to a press release from the Governor’s office.

These funds are made available in partnership with local Community Action Agencies (CAA), the release said.

“When a disaster strikes, both local and state agencies have roles in getting our communities back on their feet,” stated Gov. DeSantis in the Friday press release.

“My administration will continue to work with state agencies so that those impacted by disasters can access the resources they need to recover.”

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) disperses available funding for Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to local CAAs. DEO is currently working with the CAAs in Marion County to provide CSBG and LIHEAP assistance to impacted individuals and families.

Carl Zalak III, chair of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners (MCBOCC), who met with DeSantis on Friday, said afterwards that he was pleased to see the governor come down to Ocala and survey the damage, which is now estimated at approximately $15 million.

“The governor really stepped up,” said Zalak on Friday. “I met with him when he was over in El Dorado, in that subdivision there. He was surveying the damage.

We’re tremendously grateful for him and the state giving their assistance, helping people recover from this.”

As far as how quickly the funds will be released to those in need, Zalak said that the MCBOCC would have to look into that over the next couple days.

“That’s something we’re going to have to learn,” said Zalak. “But for now, we’re just glad it’s there.”

Available Resources

According to the Governor’s office press release, $4,010,045 in CSBG funding is available to assist eligible income-qualified households in Marion, as well as Clay, Putnam and Highlands counties who were impacted by the storm system.

Services may include the following: • Emergency health • Food • Housing • Debris removal • Repair electrical wiring or gas lines • Personal documentation (Driver’s License, ID cards) • Medical supplies • Daycare • Transportation assistance • Housing counseling • Financial management assistance • Nutrition programs • Community gardening projects • Food banks • Job counseling • Placement and training services • Homeless prevention programs

$25,522,570 in LIHEAP funding is available to assist income-qualified families in Marion, Clay, Putnam and Highlands counties.

Services may include the following: • Home heating and cooling costs • Utility relocation setup and deposit • Disaster related temporary housing • HVAC replacement • Generator purchase • Electrical power cable connection For more information, Marion County residents may contact the Central Florida Community Action Agency, 411 N. Main St., Suite 210, Gainesville, FL 32601, at (352) 373-7667.

Structure damage in the Eldorado neighborhood after a tornado devastated homes, businesses and apartment buildings in Ocala on March 12. [Alan Youngblood/Special to the Ocala Gazette]

Local government updates on tornado debris collection and cost

CITY STAFF MEETS WITH THE COUNTY REGARDING ANIMAL CONTROL AGREEMENT

Stephanie Kash, the operations manager of Animal Services, spends some time with a dog that was up for adoption at the Marion County Animal Center in Ocala on Dec. 29, 2020. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

By James Blevins james@ocalagazette.com Jared Peltz, the assistant County Engineer for Roads Maintenance, speaks during a County Commission emergency meeting about tornado cleanup in the County Commission auditorium at the McPherson Governmental Complex in Ocala on March 21. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

By Gazette staff

M

arion County Board of Commissioners approved during an emergency meeting held on March 21 to spend an additional $500,000 for tornado debris removal, after they spent the initial $100,000, they still had an estimated 500 yards, or 470 loads, left pick up.

The money will come from the solid waste budget.

Bobbi Perez, a spokesperson for Marion County, indicated that the contractor handling the debris removal was Miller Pipeline, a company out of Indiana and the debris was being hauled to the Baseline landfill.

During the emergency meeting, the MCBOCC agreed that it was unlikely that the tornado damage was substantial enough to trigger federal relief, but it hoped that writing to Governor Ron DeSantis would result in possible contribution from the state.

Previously, at the March 15 commission meeting following the tornado, Guy Minter, attorney for the

county, indicated that the neighborhood of El Dorado where the MCBOCC was considering debris clean up were private roadways and advised the commission that statutes prevent them from spending public money for the benefit of private property unless they could identify the public purpose.

The commission agreed that in this case, the amount of debris was such that blocked roads were a public hazard.

Marion County Administrator Mounir Bouyounes commended the commission for doing right by the community.

The City of Ocala

The City of Ocala has estimated that it has approximately 1,500 cubic yards of tornado debris to collect and estimates the approximate cost of debris removal to be $11,000.

“In addition to city staff collecting storm debris, we will be utilizing local vendor, Marion Tree for any tree work that needs attention during the cleanup efforts,” said Ashley Dobbs, spokesperson for the City of Ocala.

A

ccording to Assistant City Manager Ken Whitehead during a City Council regular meeting on March 15, city staff met with county staff on March 10 regarding a previous agreement made nearly 12 years ago concerning animal control in the city.

“We had a very good meeting,” Whitehead said. “We discussed the duration of the proposed agreement. We discussed the termination language and level of service. And county staff was conceptually amenable to some of our ideas—most of our ideas.”

The next step, he said, is for city staff to draft a revised agreement for City Manager Sandra Wilson to review, then negotiations will continue from there.

Prior to 2009, the City of Ocala provided animal control services to residents within the city limits. Then, the city sat down with the county and executed an inter-local agreement where Marion County would take over the animal control service in perpetuity.

The city transferred all of its equipment and staff to the county, as well as paid it a one-time payment of $375,000, according Darren Park, director of Public Works for the city, during a city council work session on Feb. 8.

But recently, the county has circled

back to the previous agreement, claiming that its costs to maintain the program have increased and that the previous agreement itself is no longer valid as there is no specified term listed in the agreement’s language.

Looking at options and costs, Park told the city council on Feb. 8 that the city had four options in regards to animal control and negotiations with the county.

Option one would be to maintain the “status quo” and not do anything, just see what happens.

Option two would be to assign a new inter-local agreement with the county, meeting them at their terms, which would require the city to pay $288,000 a year— half the first year, 75% the second and the rest by the end of the third year.

Option three would be to bring the animal control program back into the city, which would require the city to purchase equipment, vehicles and hire some FTE (Full Time Equivalent) to cover the service, as well as pay initial start back costs estimated to be about $250,000 (vehicles and equipment) to the bring the service fully back under the city’s umbrella. The annual estimated operating budget would be $580,000 ($300,000 operating plus $280,000 for personnel).

Ultimately, city staff recommended option four on Feb. 8, which would be to attempt to negotiate revisions to the county’s proposal.

A6

MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

Residential home prices continue their rise Marion County is second in the state for year over year increase to median home sales prices

By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com

A

ccording to a recently released report by Florida Realtors Association, the statewide median single-family sales price for homes in February rose another month to $381,481, up from $375,000 the previous month, a 21.1% year over year increase.

Statewide, townhouses and condo median sale prices statewide also rose to $290,000, up from $285,000, the previous month and a year over year increase of 24.3%.

In the same report, Ocala/Marion County’s February median sale price for single family homes was $269,000, up from $193,000 just a year before.

Out of the twenty-two metropolitan

areas monitored in the association’s report, Ocala/Marion County median single family home price had the second highest percentage year over percentage increase at 39.4% second only to Punta Gorda in Charlotte County, at 41.3%.

The median townhouse and condo market in the Ocala/Marion County also had a significant increase, with a February median sales price of $182,500, a 52.1% increase over the previous year.

For townhouses and condos, Ocala/ Marion County again holds the second highest increase to median sales prices year over year in the state–second only to Winter Haven who experienced a 57.8% increase.

Here is how Ocala/Marion County’s compared to the other metropolitan areas in Florida: Single Family Home

February 2022

Townhouse and Condo

GRAND OPENING

Median Sale Price

Y/Y % Chg.

Median Sale Price

Y/Y % Chg.

State of Florida

$381,481

21.1%

$290,000

24.3%

Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA

$410,000

24.3%

$315,000

40.0%

$400,000

14.3%

$478,000

25.8%

$330,000

24.7%

$290,000

19.3%

$310,000

5.1%

$147,500

9.3%

$260,000

33.3%

$195,000

31.8%

$358,961

26.0%

$250,000

20.8%

$324,900

32.6%

$252,500

57.8%

$530,000

19.1%

$300,000

22.4%

$700,000

25.6%

$425,250

33.5%

$458,450

23.9%

$350,000

31.1%

$269,000

39.4%

$182,500

52.1%

$394,000

21.2%

$240,000

17.9%

$327,700

19.3%

$265,000

29.3%

$330,000

15.8%

$399,000

31.5%

$319,900

28.0%

$355,000

-14.5%

$370,000

21.3%

$275,000

23.6%

$388,500

41.3%

$264,000

25.4%

$360,000

25.1%

$227,900

51.9%

$236,000

31.1%

$144,000

15.2%

$306,950

18.1%

$130,000

7.0%

$378,142

28.2%

$265,000

29.3%

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$375,000

30.0%

$320,000

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Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin MSA (Okaloosa and Walton counties)

Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach MSA (Flagler and Volusia counties)

Gainesville MSA (Alachua and Gilchrist counties)

Homosassa Springs MSA (Citrus County)

Jacksonville MSA (Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, and St. Johns counties)

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Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach MSA (Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties)

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North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton MSA (Manatee and Sarasota counties)

Ocala MSA (Marion County)

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Sebastian-Vero Beach MSA (Indian River County)

Sebring MSA (Highlands County)

Tallahassee MSA (Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, and Wakulla counties)

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The Villages MSA (Sumter County)

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A7

MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

MARION COUNTY BUILDING SAFETY DEPARTMENT FACES BUILDING BOOM CHALLENGES

CITIZENS ACADEMY HEARS MCSO COLD CASE STORIES IN DUNNELLON

By Eadie Sickler Correspondent

S

County Administrator Mounir Bouyounes speaks during a Capital Improvement Project Workshop in the County Commission auditorium at the McPherson Governmental Complex in Ocala on March 21. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com

M

arion County’s building boom has led to dilemmas for its building safety department—too much money and not enough qualified personnel.

Florida Statutes allow local government to collect fees associated with enforcement of Florida building codes. However, to ensure these fees don’t become a profit center for the local government, the statute restricts the way those fees can be used and how much of a balance the fund can carry.

According to the statue, the money collected in fees can only be used for “direct costs and reasonable indirect costs associated with review of building plans, building inspections, re-inspections and building permit processing; building code enforcement; and fire inspections associated with new construction” as well as “training costs” associated with enforcement. Also allowed under the statute, is building a structure that “houses a local government’s building code enforcement agency.”

In addition to putting limitations on how the money can be spent, the statute also restricts local governments from carrying forward a fund balance that exceeds the department’s average operating budget for the previous four fiscal years.

As of February 28, the fund balance had a $13,705,247 surplus of what the statute allowed.

In order to address the unique budget bind, Marion County Board of County

Commissioners, during their regular March 15 meeting, approved a resolution that temporarily reduces certain fees and charges for building and safety permit applications by 40% as well as zeroing out all the fees that were previously calculated by how many square foot the proposed structure was. The proposed residential permit would only cost $90 and commercial permits $180 as of April 1, 2022.

Under the revised fee structure, $4 million would reduce revenue annually and the fund balance would eventually drop into statutory compliance by fiscal year 2024, according to a presentation given by Marion County Building Safety Director Mike Savage.

The commissioners asked Savage about the difficulties his department was facing finding qualified personnel to meet the growing needs of the county. Savage indicated that he currently had nine open positions, due mostly to the stringent requirements established by Florida’s Department of Professional Regulations.

Gold suggested using the excess funds to offer “bonuses” to bring qualified personnel to the county’s building department.

Savage indicated that despite being short on personnel, inspections are being done timely for the most part; however, on the planning approval process, they’ve had to hire two outside private firms to give support-reviewing plans.

After working out the kinks, Savage says they are ready to hand over 400 different plans to the outside firms to address the department’s immediate caseload needs.

killed 98 women in a nationwide crime spree that included stops in Ocala and Gainesville all the way to California.

Although he had been tried for murder in several states, he was always released for lack of evidence. Phillips said that after comparing much evidence with other murders Little had committed, deputies from Florida confronted Little in California, while he was incarcerated, and he confessed to a murder in Florida, even drawing a picture of the victim.

Little told investigators he felt “God had told him to do what he did.” He showed no remorse.

Another case Phillips shared involved a 17-year-old male who raped and murdered a woman in her home.

Fingerprints and other evidence were taken at the scene. DNA testing was not available at the time, but when it became available, the suspect was located, He denied knowing the victim, but he gave police a DNA sample. It was a perfect match to other investigative evidence.

Phillips spoke of the many facets of working on a cold case, saying it is gratifying and important to be able to inform a family when a case is solved so they can have closure in a very difficult fact of the life and death of a loved one.

“We want to be the voice of the victims,” he said.

Monday’s session was held at the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Dunnellon. The academy gathers once a month at various venues throughout the county. Included in the list of volunteer programs are Chaplains, Citizens On Patrol (C.O.P.S.), the Cold Case Unit, Community Patrols, Funeral Escorts, Lake Watch, Mounted Unit and River Watch.

Other presenters at the meeting showcased how much volunteerism is actively working with the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office, not only to solve crilmes, but to be helpful to the residents in many ways. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can visit the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office website at https:// marionso.com/volunteer-services for an application and more information.

ometimes, all it takes to solve a confounding criminal case is something as simple as a cigarette butt. Or a Walmart receipt. In the right hands, these seemingly obscure items become pieces of the larger puzzle that, when solved, can lead to an arrest and justice for victims.

That was a key message shared Monday through anecdotes related by the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office’s Cold Case Unit to members of the MCSO Citizens Academy and Partnership (CAP) program, who met to hear presentations of the various volunteer programs grouped under the Citizens Academy umbrella.

Jim Phillips, a retired Marion County prosecutor and now chairman of the Cold Case Unit, explained how new technology has been instrumental in solving old cases.

The increased knowledge of DNA in recent years has helped the unit solve six murders, he said. Before the intricacies of DNA began to be tapped to solve crimes, many murders were unsolved for lack of concrete evidence to link a criminal to the crime or crime scene. Today, he said, DNA evidence has proved to be the “missing link” in solving crimes, even many years after the event.

MCSO Sgt. Clint Smith cautioned that even DNA has its limits. DNA samples taken from a crime scene can deteriorate over time. For example, if a victim’s remains are found after having been under water for a long time, or various chemicals and normal environmental factors were involved, the DNA evidence might not be able to be directly linked to a crime. However, he said, even if there is not a “positive hit,” DNA can sometimes still produce a lead.

Phillips talked of “The Devil’s Harvest,’’ a book written by Jessica Garrison that tells the true story of Jose Martinez, a hitman for drug cartels who committed some 30 murders in California’s Central Valley over three decades. Martinez was finally convicted in 2019 in Marion County of killing two Volusia County men whose bodies were found in the Ocala National Forest. Prosecutors used evidence including “old” DNA: a cigarette butt found inside of a beverage can in a vehicle. Martinez is serving a life sentence with no parole.

Phillips detailed another old murder case that was solved with the help of a Walmart receipt.

The scrap of paper and the store’s video camera put the suspect at the location at a specific date and time. The information led to the suspect’s girlfriend, who then agreed to implicate the man, who had moved to another state. When he was located by authorities, he confessed.

Jim Phillips speaks during a meeting of the Cold Case Volunteer Serial killer Samuel Little Services at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Ocala on March 8. (alias Samuel McDowell) [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

CITY COUNCIL AGREES TO MODIFY AGREEMENT FOR FUTURE BREWERY

The old Ocala Fire Rescue Headquarters is shown by Tuscawilla Park in Ocala on April 20, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.

Infinite Ale Works plans to relocate to the former fire station building overlooking Lake Tuscawilla in roughly a year.

By James Blevins james@ocalagazette.com

O

cala City Council (OCC) voted to approve a first amendment to the city’s redevelopment agreement with Brewery in Midtown, LLC (Infinite Ale Works) regarding the former fire station building located at 235 N.E. Watula Avenue, overlooking Lake Tuscawilla just north of Silver Springs Boulevard.

The original agreement was amended to include a sentence concerning the

developer’s financial investment in the project, ensuring it was “equal to, or in excess of, the amount of $750,000.” The amended language gave the city some wiggle room, including “terminating [the] Developer’s right to complete the Project,” according to city documents.

It’s been almost a year since the OCC unanimously approved the agreement with McDonald Properties & Investments, LLC, owned by Tom McDonald and Mike Owen, who previously owned Pi on Broadway.

Under that agreement the city sold the

one-acre parcel that houses the old Ocala Fire Rescue Station No. 1, which was once the city’s oldest operating emergency response facility, to McDonald Properties & Investments for one dollar. The property is valued at $360,000, according to the Marion County property appraiser.

The deal included reimbursement of up to $100,000 for roof repairs to the 1984 building during the first year. The city will then pay $25,000 per year for five years after that.

“We’re hoping to close in the next

few weeks,” said McDonald on March 16. “Then we’ll start construction and hopefully move over there in roughly a year or so.”

The original closing date was also extended in the new language of the agreement to April 30, 2022.

Infinite Ale Works is currently housed at 304 S. Magnolia Ave. Per the city, the planned project includes a microbrewery and restaurant. The owner is also considering a micro distillery.

A8

MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

State Planned spending ranges from airplanes to zoos

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis responds to questions from the media at the close of the legislative session on Monday, March 14, 2022. (Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat via AP)

By Jim Turner Florida News Service

help Moffitt secure bonds for construction.

Another $106 million would cover initial infrastructure.

CITRUS RECOVERY SOUGHT: Citrus recovery efforts drew $13 million, with most of the money slated for consumer awareness campaigns and $1 million to increase “production of trees that show tolerance or resistance to citrus greening, and to commercialize technologies that produce tolerance or resistance to citrus greening in trees.”

COURT CASH: Lawmakers approved adding a 6th District Court of Appeal and providing $50 million to build a courthouse in Lakeland. The state has had five district courts of appeal for decades, but the Florida Supreme Court recommended adding a sixth district.

EMERGENCY DIGS: The budget includes $80 million to build a new State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee.

FAIR AMOUNTS OF FUNDING: Lawmakers earmarked a total of $31.8 million to help various county fairs, agricultural museums, livestock expos and a rodeo.

HAMILTON COMES TO GAINESVILLE: Lawmakers approved creating the Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida to “support teaching and research

A

$112.1 billion budget that lawmakers passed last week covers more than the state’s basics for education, health care and law enforcement.

The budget and a series of accompanying bills include spending on everything from new state planes to zoos.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has line-item veto power, so it’s too early to know everything that will be in the budget when the fiscal year starts July 1.

But here is a sample of some of the items in the budget package: AIR FLORIDA: Lawmakers approved buying and replacing several aircraft, including two new jets for state leaders.

DeSantis already has at his disposal a $15.5 million Cessna Citation Latitude that lawmakers agreed to buy in 2019.

Other planes and helicopters would go to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

CANCER FIGHT FUNDED: The budget would provide a major boost to efforts to build an H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute campus in Pasco County. The budget includes $20 million as a first annual installment to

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concerning the ideas, traditions, and texts that form the foundations of western and American civilization.” The budget includes $3 million for the center.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA MONEY: The budget would provide $9.3 million to Florida A&M University’s Division of Research to educate minorities on medical marijuana and “the impact of the unlawful use of marijuana on minority communities.”

OYSTER AID ON MENU: Oyster restoration efforts are slated to draw $500,000 for Choctawhatchee Bay in Walton County and $495,000 for the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program. Also, $950,000 would go for “native oysters and clams restoration” in Manatee County PASCO RAYS: A late-emerging proposal calls for spending $35 million in what was listed in a Senate document as “Sports Training and Youth Tournament Complex” in Pasco County. The Tampa Bay Times reported the money would help cover a new spring training facility for the Tampa Bay Rays, though the Senate document does not specifically mention the Rays.

SNAKE HUNTING: The budget includes $2 million from what is known as the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to continue efforts to remove Burmese

pythons and other non-native wildlife from the Everglades. The budget says the money can “be used to purchase and utilize emerging devices and techniques for the removal of Burmese pythons as approved by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.”

STATE ARTIFACTS EYED: The Florida Department of State is slated to get $13.8 million to design and build an artifact curation facility in Tallahassee.

STATE GUARD REVIVED: The state plans to spend $10.7 million to reactivate the Florida State Guard, which hasn’t been active since 1947. DeSantis proposed reviving the guard to help the Florida National Guard during emergencies.

TOOTING THE HORN: The Department of Transportation would get $1 million to market work in road and bridge construction. “The marketing strategy must include components that bring attention to career opportunities that exist at the beginning, middle, and later stages of a person’s career and the availability of these careers to diverse peoples,” the budget said.

ZOOS GET AID: The budget would provide $18.32 million for zoos and aquariums across the state, including money that would go to manatee rescue and rehabilitation.

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MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

Appeals court questions state over protest law

A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is considering a challenge to a controversial Florida protest law. [Florida News Service]

By By Dara Kam Florida News Service

A

n attorney for Gov. Ron DeSantis drew skepticism Thursday from a federal appeals court during arguments in a challenge to a controversial law that enhanced penalties and created new crimes in protests that turn violent.

DeSantis championed the measure after nationwide protests focused on racial justice following the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25, 2020.

At a bill-signing ceremony last April after the Republicancontrolled Legislature passed the law, DeSantis called it the “strongest anti-rioting, most pro-law enforcement piece of legislation in the country.”

The Dream Defenders,

the Florida State Conference of the NAACP and other organizations challenged the law in federal court, alleging it is unconstitutionally vague, has a “chilling” effect on First Amendment rights and gives police too much power.

Finding it to be “vague” and “overbroad,” Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker in September issued a preliminary injunction blocking DeSantis and three sheriffs --- who were named as defendants in the case --- from enforcing the law.

The governor and Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams appealed Walker’s ruling to the Atlantabased 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

During Thursday’s hearing before a three-judge panel, Judge Jill Pryor asked the state’s lawyer about “ambiguities” in the law, which specifies that it does not apply to people who are

peacefully protesting.

“The plaintiffs say that when they look at the definition, it’s not clear, and I think they may be right, that if they’re peacefully protesting at a place where a violent disturbance breaks out, they may be able to be prosecuted or at least arrested under this statute,” she said.

Jason Hilborn, a state deputy solicitor general who represents DeSantis, said the law “requires the accused to be active in a violent public disturbance.”

But Judge Elizabeth Branch pressed him on the issue, saying “certain lines get blurry” when deciding who is committing wrongdoing.

“What if you do have a peaceful protest, not even near another protest … and there are 20 people that are participating in the peaceful protest and 10 all of a sudden start acting out violently. Because you’re participating in the protest where violence has broken out, I think that’s where it becomes hard to determine who is actually participating,” Branch said.

“In that hypothetical, your honor, the only people who are engaging and actively engaged in the violent part of that crowd would be participating in a violent protest,” Hilborn said.

The case focuses in large part on a section of the law that creates a new definition of “riot.”

“A person commits a riot if he or she willfully participates in a violent public disturbance involving an assembly of three or more persons, acting with a common intent to assist each other in violent and disorderly conduct, resulting in: (a) Injury to another person; (b) Damage to property; or (c) Imminent danger

DESANTIS SIGNS FINANCIAL LITERACY REQUIREMENT

By Florida News Service

S

tudents who enter high school in the 2023-2024 school year will be required to take a financial literacy course to be able to graduate, under a bill signed Tuesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

DeSantis touted the bill (SB 1054) as a way of getting students ready for life after high school.

“We think that it will help improve students’ ability in financial management, for when they end up in the real world.

But also, using these skills as pathways to high-demand fields, which there are very high-demand fields in this regard,” DeSantis said during a bill-signing event in Wesley Chapel.

Under the measure, students will be required to take a half-credit course in personal financial literacy and money

management. The course will include instruction on concepts such as the different types of bank accounts and how to open accounts, credit and credit scores, types of savings and investments and completing loan applications.

The bill also will reduce the number of required electives from the current eight credits to 7 ½ credits. Lawmakers including Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran joined DeSantis for the event. State Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis also praised the bill.

“Financial literacy is an important key to a strong financial future and I’m proud that learning the basics of credit, budgeting, savings and investing will now be taught throughout Florida’s schools,” Patronis said in a statement.

RODMAN DAM RECORDS CASE APPEALED

By Florida News Service

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n environmental group gave notice Monday that it is appealing a circuit judge’s decision in a public-records dispute involving information about the long-controversial Rodman Reservoir dam in North Florida.

Florida Defenders of the Environment and an individual plaintiff, Jim Gross, filed a notice at the 1st District Court of Appeal after Leon County Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey last month ruled against their records request. Environmentalists have called for decades to remove the dam, which was built in the 1960s as part of the Cross-Florida Barge Canal project.

The barge canal project was later abandoned, but the dam remained on the Ocklawaha River, creating the Rodman Reservoir. Environmentalists have sought to restore the flow of the Ocklawaha.

The public-records lawsuit, filed in October, sought what are known as “emergency action plans” about the dam from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The lawsuit alleged that the dam is in poor condition and “is subject to breach especially in the event of severe storms that commonly occur in Florida.”

The lawsuit came after the department rejected a public-records request. In a Feb. 24 order, Dempsey backed the department, which has provided redacted versions of the records to the plaintiffs.

The order said the department argued that other requested information was exempt from disclosure as it contains “threat assessments, emergency evacuation plans and … building plans, blueprints. schematic drawings or diagrams depicting the structural elements of a structure.”

of injury to another person or damage to property,” the law says.

The law makes it a thirddegree felony for anyone “found guilty of a riot, or inciting or encouraging a riot.” People arrested for violations of the antirioting provision must be held without bail until making first appearances before judges.

Judge Ed Carnes repeatedly asked Hilborn to explain how the 2021 law differs from the common-law definition of riot, which is what law enforcement and prosecutors have relied upon since a 1975 Florida Supreme Court ruling in a case known as State vs. Beasley.

“Give me a real world example. Tell me about Joe Protester and what would be covered under the common-law definition but wasn’t or is covered by the statute but it wasn’t under the common-law definition,” Carnes asked.

“I think our statute narrows the common-law definition by adding a willful requirement,” Hilborn answered.

But Carnes pointed to the Beasley case, which established a riot to mean a “tumultuous disturbance of the peace by three or more persons, assembled and acting with a common intent.”

“It seemed to me like Beasley covered that and said there had to be an intent,” Carnes said.

Hilborn agreed that the Florida Supreme Court read an “intent requirement” into the statute.

“But here we have an express indication, which provides even more help to an ordinary person on the street,” DeSantis’ lawyer argued.

Carnes appeared unconvinced.

“So if the Supreme Court of Florida says you have to have an

intent, that means you have to have an intent, doesn’t it? So the statute changed nothing. Counsel, doesn’t the fact that you’re having a problem telling me what the statute does that the common-law definition that it amends didn’t do indicate to you that there’s a problem with your theory?” the judge asked.

“I don’t think so, your honor,” Hilborn said.

Sonya Harrell, an attorney for the Jacksonville sheriff, took a stab at Carnes’ line of questioning.

“What we have now, your honor, is a belt and suspenders for the intent requirement,” she said. “So while the original statute was enforceable and somewhat sufficient, the amendment builds on the common law. It does not broaden the class of people who may be prosecuted. It instead assists law enforcement and prosecutors with determining who is willfully participating in a violent public disturbance.”

But James Tysse, who represents the plaintiffs, urged the judges to allow the preliminary injunction to remain in place.

Tysse said the new law has “absolutely chilled the exercise” of the plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights.

“So now, on its face, the amended definition now covers not only the violent rioters themselves … but anyone who, quote, participates in a larger assembly of which those rioters form a part,” Tysse said. “In the context of a protest, to participate is to be at the protest. It might be carrying a sign. It might be marching. It might just be being there.”

DESANTIS LEAVES INSURANCE, CONDO SESSION UP TO LAWMAKERS

By Jim Turner Florida News Service

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f Florida lawmakers hold a special session to deal with the troubled property-insurance market or to put additional requirements on condominium buildings, it won’t come from a directive

by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

DeSantis, appearing Monday in Wellington, said he’d “welcome” the return of lawmakers to Tallahassee to address either of the topics if a special session is called by legislative leaders.

“If they can get an agreement, they should do it,” DeSantis replied when asked about calling a special session on either topic.

“I’m confident we’re going to see something along those lines at some point within the next year, whether it’s soon, whether it’s closer to the (election), I don’t know,” DeSantis said. “I think that they realize that that’ll be something that we can do. So, I’m ready. I’ve got a pen ready. And so, if they do it, we’ll be very receptive to that.”

Lawmakers might be forced to return to Tallahassee for a special session on congressional redistricting. DeSantis has vowed to veto a redistricting plan that lawmakers passed, and new congressional lines need to be in place for the November elections.

But legislative leaders have not signaled they will call a special session on the property-insurance and condominium issues. The governor also has power to call special sessions.

Asked about DeSantis’ comments Monday, Katie Betta, a spokeswoman for Senate President Wilton Simpson, pointed to comments Simpson made to reporters on March 11.

Simpson, R-Trilby, said the Senate had a “pretty good bill” on property insurance and that there’s a chance lawmakers will be called back to Tallahassee as “we have many companies going out of business.”

But those comments followed Simpson saying property insurance changes made in the 2021 session need time to take hold.

“Last year, we passed a really good insurance bill, property insurance bill.

Part of it is still working through the court system, I believe, but it’s starting to work,” Simpson told reporters. “We were disappointed we couldn’t get more done this year, but that’s part of the process.

So, we decided it’d be better to wait for the next Legislature to take that issue up.”

House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, made similar comments

when asked about the insurance situation after the regular legislative session ended March 14.

“What I would also ask people to remember is that we just passed an incredibly significant reform last session,” Sprowls told reporters. “It did things like amend the attorney fee statute for the first time, I think, in 100 years.”

Last year lawmakers approved a series of changes that included a new formula to limit fees of attorneys who represent homeowners in lawsuits against insurers and a reduction from three years to two years the time to file claims. They also passed a proposal aimed at preventing roofing contractors from advertising to spur homeowners to file insurance claims, though a federal court has blocked that part of the law on freespeech grounds.

“You know, everybody in the insurance (industry) that you talk to always says reforms take 18 months,” Sprowls said.

“We’re not six months into that. So, it’s frustrating for me as a homeowner.

It’s frustrating for a lot of people. But I want to make sure that we’re making the right reforms that are going to have an impact on the marketplace and don’t inadvertently have an adverse impact.”

The 2021 law also allows larger rate increases for customers of the statebacked Citizens Property Insurance Corp., which has seen a huge growth in policies as private insurers have shed customers and raised rates to reduce financial risks.

As of Feb. 28, Citizens had 792,616 policies. That was up more than 200,000 from April 30, 2021, and almost 340,000 from two years ago.

Lawmakers also considered bills during the regular session to place increased requirements on condominium buildings after the collapse of the Champlain Towers South last year in Surfside killed 98 people. The bills dealt with issues such as required inspections and financial reserves to make repairs, but the House and Senate could not agree on a final version.

The House wanted to go further than the Senate on issues such as reserve requirements for condominium associations.

“It’s sort of like property insurance in that respect, and that sometimes you can work out the differences or remove things and get a product that everybody agrees on. But it wasn’t one of those times,” Sprowls told reporters March 14.

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MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

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MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

People, Places & Things $1 million American Pharoah filly a home run for the Gladwells at OBS March Sale

American Pharoah filly (Hip 532) co-bred by Torie Gladwell sold for $1 million at the OBS March Sale. [Photos by Judit Seipert]

By Michael Compton Correspondent

Into Mischief at last year’s Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

“That’s the most I’ve ever sold a homebred for, and the second time elling big-ticket horses at public we’ve sold a horse for more than a auction is nothing new to Jimbo million dollars,” said an emotional and Torie Gladwell of Top Line Torie moments after Lanni signed the Sales. While the Williston-based ticket for the juvenile filly on behalf of operation has fashioned a well-deserved Susan and Charlie Chu’s Baoma Corp., reputation for selling talented racehorses, following a spirited round of bidding that the sale of a $1 million bay filly by Triple concluded with a light round of applause Crown winner American Pharoah to inside the sale pavilion. “The first one Donato Lanni, agent, during the Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds (Princess Noor) worked out pretty well, so hopefully she goes on to be just as good in Training on March 16 gave the couple as the other horse we sold for more than a an extra reason to celebrate. Torie also million dollars.” bred the precocious filly in Kentucky in “I definitely did not expect that at all,” partnership with E.V.S. Corp.

It marked the second seven-figure horse she added. “We had quite a few people on her. The pedigree was a little bit lighter to sell in the auction ring for Top Line on her. We weren’t really sure what she Sales, which also sold Princess Noor for would bring, but obviously, two people $1,350,000 to agent Gary Young, agent wanted her.” for Zedan Racing Stables, at the 2020 The filly is produced from the Forest OBS Spring Sale. Princess Noor when Camp mare Just Parker, and is a halfon to capture three of five career starts, including the 2020 Del Mar Debutante sister to two-time winner Foxy Posse. This Stakes (G1) before selling for $2.9 million is also the family of graded stakes winner to Katsumi Yoshida in foal to leading sire and Grade 1-placed Following Sea, stakes winner and graded stakes-placed Qahira, and stakes winners Stormin’ Lyon and Quick Flip.

The popular filly caught the eye of prospective buyers at the sale’s under tack preview when she worked a fast eighth-of-amile in :10.

Lanni, Torie Gladwell alongside agent Donato Lanni at OBS. [Photos by Judit Seipert] who handled

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the bidding for the Chus, said of the filly, “I have come about their horsemanship had a feeling (Hip 532) was going to bring naturally. Jimbo’s father is veteran a lot. When you come to these sales and horseman Jimmy Gladwell, and Torie, a you ask these horses for so much, very few Missouri native, began her career with are able to do what they do. This filly had show horses before transitioning to everything. She’s a homebred, and she is Thoroughbreds and working early on for just a queen. This filly will go to Bob Baffert pinhooker Tony Bowling. Jimbo and Torie (to train), and we are pumped. Bob was will seek to keep the momentum going this here, and he liked her a lot. If anyone knows week in South Florida with a six-horse what a good American Pharoah looks like, consignment under their Top Line Sales it would be him (Baffert trained American banner at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Pharoah).”

Sale at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Shortly before Top Line sold the Beach, Wednesday, March 30.

American Pharoah filly—which was one of four seven-figure horses sold at the OBS March sale this year—they saw another offering, this one a Kentuckybred colt by firstcrop sire Bolt d’Oro sell for $900,000 to Japanese trainer Hideyuki Mori. The handsome colt is out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Foolish Cause, a halfsister to multiple Grade 1 winner Get Stormy. Foolish Cause is also the dam of stakes winner Foolish Humor “He’s been a straightforward horse all year for us,” Jimbo said of the colt who is bound for Japan. “He is very precocious. I’m so happy for Mr. Mori.

He is going to love this colt.”

The Gladwells, who launched Top Torie and Jimbo Gladwell of Top Line Sales. [Photos by Judit Seipert] Line Sales in 2008,

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MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

Fight or flight: Ocalan shares the bravery of Ukrainians many places in and around Kyiv have not had food, water or electricity for many days. The smallest towns have suffered the most, she said, because the suburban areas outside of Kyiv are the only thing standing between the Russian military and the capital.

“These little towns have some houses, like residential one-story houses, but they have a lot of apartment high-rises. It’s all gone, all gone,’’ she said. “But people [are] still standing.”

Mullens counts her brother-in-law among the brave Ukrainians fighting for their country.

“I cannot imagine if he is shaken, if he is in such a state of mind,” she said. “He [is] not shaken for himself. He’ll stay until he [is not] alive.”

One of Mullens’ family friends, Julia, lives in Pittsburgh, but her parents still live in Ukraine, just outside of Kyiv in one of the embattled suburbs.

“On the first day of [the] war, her dad Mila Mullens poses with a Ukrainian flag and an American flag in Ocala on March 22. Mila, who is originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, and mom [were] driving to a grocery moved to the United States 20 years ago and is an American citizen. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022. store, and a helicopter dropped some kind of bomb very low on this little town [with] no military base, nothing,” Mullens heart [is] crying for Ukraine.”

By Caroline Brauchler said. “Her mom got piece of bomb in her The last time Mullens spoke to Correspondent head, and they had no chance [to] take her brother-in-law, she said, he only her to a hospital.” feared for the safety of his family and ust over 20 years ago, one Ocala According to Mullens, Julia’s father woman left Ukraine to make a life in not for himself. He stayed in Kyiv after had to climb to the roof of their two-story sending his family to safety. Her mother, the United States. Today, she fears home to get enough cellphone service to sister and niece made their way to the she may never be able to return. call his daughter and give her updates on Ukrainian city of Irpin, then on to a hotel Mila Mullens, 60, anxiously waits for her mother’s condition. near the Baltic Sea, where the owner news from her family and friends who Julia’s parents attempted to flee Kyiv allowed them to stay for free. are struggling to survive the Russian by car several days ago, but they have “They are very safe now. My brave military’s onslaught in her native country. not been heard from since, Mullens sister managed to drive through [all of ] Her brother-in-law is fighting with fellow said.

Their photos are being shared on Poland. They are now [in] northwest Ukrainians in the capital city of Kyiv; her Facebook to try to find them and get them Poland,” she explained. mother, sister and niece have managed to to safety.

Her mother, an 83-year-old, has faced escape to Poland.

Ukrainians are largely unable to significant deterioration of her health in One friend’s family tried to flee Kyiv, receive medical care at hospitals because but fell victim to a Russian bomb, Mullens recent months as the crisis in Ukraine has of near-constant bombardments. Another escalated. said. Her friend is desperately trying to of Mullens’ friends, Lida, has been trying “My sister said she became like a contact her parents, whom she has not to fill the void child,” Mullens heard from in days. Another friend, a by giving out said. “Her blood cardiologist, is staying in Ukraine and medical advice sugar [is] very offering medical assistance to strangers “Everybody is talking, over the phone high now, higher over the phone and through whatever and internet than usual.” internet connections are available. saying we will win this war. to those who When The ongoing nightmare, Mullens Nobody just knows when.” are sick or Mullens last admits, is taking an emotional toll. injured. Lida, a spoke by phone “In a good time, I basically just go Mila Mullens cardiologist in with her brothervisit,’’ she said. “I cannot live there Kyiv, stayed in in-law, he said anymore. My whole life is here, but my

J

Ukraine because she doesn’t want to leave her family behind, Mullens said.

“Lida posted on Facebook: ‘Doesn’t matter if you know me or not, I can give advice on any kind of medical advice, not only cardiology. Just contact me,’” Mullens said.

Lida, she said, has helped many people with a variety of medical emergencies, sometimes telling them how to create solutions with items they have on hand.

Mullens and her husband, Everett, have no choice but to constantly watch the news from their home in Ocala and wait by the phone to hear from their friends and relatives. Everett Mullens, 72, said he wishes the United States would provide more support for Ukraine.

“Ukraine does all the fighting themselves; they should at least get planes and weapons to protect themselves,” he said.

He said that from an American perspective, a lot of people don’t understand what’s going on overseas.

Many people don’t care, he said, unless they have a direct tie to Ukraine or Russia.

“A lot of people don’t understand why we should care,” he said. “Everybody should care when they’re killing innocent people.”

Everett Mullens, who breeds and races thoroughbred horses on a farm in Ocala, has visited Ukraine many times with his wife. They still own property there, but they now feel uncertain about the fate of Ukraine.

“I’m worried now [that the] beautiful city of Kyiv doesn’t look at all like it used to before,” Mila Mullens said. “It’s all destroyed now.”

Mullens has put her faith in the citizens of Ukraine, who have stood up to fight. She trusts them to defend the country she holds dear, although it may take a while.

“Everybody is talking, saying we will win this war,” she said. “Nobody just knows when.”

While Mullens can only hope to return to Ukraine one day, she said she is strong in her identity and proud of where she comes from.

“I am sitting on two chairs: I am Ukrainian, but I am American,” she said.

Racing against child abuse

By Beth Whitehead Correspondent

K File photo: Dawn Westgate [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

As National Child Abuse Prevention Month approaches, Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection gets set for its 10th annual 5K run/walk event.

ristina Donahue watched the toddler enter the Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection complex one night a week or two ago. He was tiny, quiet and scared. She didn’t know what abusive home situation the investigators had just pulled him out of, but he was young enough she thought he might just want to cower and hide from the strangers looking at him. As she watched him instead go to a staff member and wrap his tiny arms around her in a hug, tears blurred Donahue’s eyes.

Donahue is the development director of Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection, a child advocacy center started in 1996 that partners with law enforcement and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to provide children a safe and comforting space while processing allegations of abuse or neglect.

“Essentially our goal is to reduce trauma to children during the investigation and treatment of allegations of physical abuse, sexual abuse, etc.,” said Executive Director Dawn Westgate.

Before Kimberly’s Center came to fruition, a child would have to go through multiple interviews with different organizations before moving to foster care placement. Now, Kimberly’s Center officials interview the child while representatives from law enforcement and/or DCF observe.

“Our staff are specially trained in how to conduct these interviews for kids,” Westgate said, with methods that are “trauma informed, legally sound and developmentally appropriate and, by us doing it, it reduces the number of times a child has to be interviewed.”

Kids also receive an exam from the antibullying. center’s medical team to ascertain any April is National Child Abuse physical abuse.

Prevention Month. Kimberly’s Center, in The next step is to find the child a foster conjunction with Ocala Police Department placement and Kimberly’s Center provides victim advocate Crystal Blanton and kids a safe place in which the child can former detective Stephanie McQuaigh, wait. is holding the 10th annual 5K Race/ Donahue said center staffers are there Walk Against Child Abuse on April 9. around the clock to feed the children, give The sponsor and host location for the them clothes and showers if they need them event is Calesa Township, a Colen Built and just make them feel like kids. She said Development at 8075 SW 63rd St., Ocala. a unit of DCF investigators is in the same Participants can register at www. building. kcrace.com, with a $25 fee per adult and “We are the only agency that the $10 per child, under the age of 10. Onsite DCF will bring children to to receive registration begins at 7 a.m. with the run/ investigative services,” Donahue said. “Each walk starting at 8 a.m. year we provide services to 1,300 children.”

Those who are not walkers or runners Kids can come back to Kimberly’s can still help raise awareness and support Center for free counseling as needed. All for kids who have been physically or of the services Kimberly’s Center offers sexually abused or neglected by providing are free for the children and their families, monetary donations, pajamas, diapers and Westgate said. clothing.

It is estimated that one in every four To learn more, go to kimberlyscenter.org children in this country has been abused.

Three years ago, Kimberly’s Center went from being an intervention agency to one that also focuses on prevention.

The prevention program, revolving around a curriculum called Child Safety Matters, is now in every public school in Marion County and teaches principles of body safety, online dangers and File photo: Play area at Kimberly’s Center [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

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MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

Ignite luncheon aids Project Hope

Frank DeLuca speaks to the crowd. [Photos by Maven Photo + Film]

By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com

A

pproximately 230 people attended the Ignite for Ocala luncheon on March 10 to help raise money for and bring awareness to Project Hope, a Marion County nonprofit established in 2007 by a faithbased community group to provide shelter and support for homeless women and their children. The event also honored businessman and philanthropist Frank DeLuca.

Ignite for Ocala, often simply referred to as Ignite, was formed for the purpose of helping local nonprofit organizations that share the group’s mission of creating a safe and loving community. Each year, through a committee process, Ignite chooses a nonprofit to shine a light on and help raise money for through the luncheon.

One current and one prior resident of Project Hope’s Hope Villas transitional living apartment complex spoke about their experiences with homelessness to the crowd that packed the College of Central Florida’s Klein Conference.

Shantel, a mother of three, described escaping an “unhealthy marriage” in 2017 then moving eight times over four years, which included involvement with two programs that help the homeless.

She and her children moved

to Hope Villas in April of 2020, right after the COVID-19 outbreak. She said Project Hope was “an answer to prayer” since she was out of work for two months due to the pandemic.

Shantel and her children stayed at the housing complex for 15 months and used the time to “heal and bond our relationships” in Project Hope’s “nurturing environment, which allows the women and children to focus on the emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of the hardships of homelessness and past negative experiences.”

She credits the accountability she had under Project Hope’s programing as aiding her to improve her parenting skills and learn other practical life skills, such as cleaning, credit building and public speaking.

Shantel later found stable employment and bought a house.

“I wanted to leave a legacy for my children, one they can look back and say how proud they are of me,“ she told the crowd.

“If people had given up on my children and in the first year, second year, third year of homelessness, I would not be here today. I thank each and every one of you for being a part of the hope and future for the homeless woman and children in Ocala,” she added.

A current resident, Blaze, recounted leaving a “constant roller coaster of different traumas, poor personal decisions,

divorces, abuses, broken homes and broken spirit” to come to Hope Villas.

Blaze also praised Project Hope’s programing model.

“Not only does this offer a sense of close community and commitment, but it has also given me practical tools and education to improve my way of life in and outside my home, from housekeeping basics, to parenting tools and resources, personal and emotional healing strategies, and techniques to break away from the patterns and slumps which kept me returning to the ways of life I found comforting but were only serving the ways in which kept my life from moving forward into the plan God has,” she shared.“These foundational building blocks of a healthy person, a sound parent and happy home are the same aspects which many people do not experience growing up as a child, or even well into adulthood.”

During the luncheon, Jeanne Henningsen, one of the founders of Ignite, presented a community champion award to Frank DeLuca, the owner of a Toyota dealership in Ocala, for his many different generous charitable contributions.

DeLuca took the stage to accept the award and gave insight into how he came to write checks for millions of dollars to support the local YMCA. Initially, he told the crowd, he had anticipated writing a check for $10,000 to

$15,000 but was presented with a rendering of the proposed building, with the name “Frank DeLuca YMCA” across the front.

The crowd roared in laughter when he said the rendering “even had the parking spots filled with Toyotas!”

Deluca praised Project Hope’s work “helping women and children become self-sufficient” and thanked the Ignite group for the award.

“I am overwhelmed and honored to receive the community champion award,” he said.

DeLuca also gave thanks to his employees.

“Like any business, you can’t be successful by yourself—it takes team effort. Therefore, I

would like to thank my team at DeLuca Toyota. They enable me to do what I do for the community,” he said.

On April 13, Ignite is planning to present a check from the money raised at the luncheon to Project Hope’s Executive Director April McDonald and board members.

Henningsen said Ignite’s next public meeting is scheduled for 8 a.m. May 19.

“This is our informational session, where we talk specifically about being on the team and the nonprofit application process,” she noted. “We request that anyone who wants to attend registers through our website, www.igniteforocala.com.”

Back left to back right: Lina Piedrahita, Jeanne Henningsen, Kathryn Beecher, Melinda Freeman, Andrea Bailey, Beth Nelson, Dr. Jennifer Fryns. Front left to right: Stephanie Burns, Christie Casey, Dr. Manal Fakhoury, Jennifer Hallermeier, Karen Hatch. [Photos by Maven Photo + Film]

Pipe and drum band wants you!

By Eadie Sickler Correspondent

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ave you ever wanted to learn to play the bagpipes or drums?

The Marion County Sheriff ’s Office Volunteer Coordinator, Wendy Holland, announces a new Pipe and Drum Band is being organized and anyone who is 14 years old or older is encouraged to apply.

You do not have to already know how to play the instruments. Free weekly classes are given to potential band members. Classes are one to two hours long, with an instructor for bagpipes, and one for the drums. They are held at the Sheriff ’s Dept. Complex at NW 30th Ave. in Ocala.

The band began about 20 years ago, but has been closed in the last year for lack of participants. One large family with home-schooled children made up most of the band for many years, but as the students grew up and aged-out for

Daniel McLain plays the bagpipes during the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Patriot Day at the Ocala/Marion County Veterans Memorial Park in Ocala, Fla. on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.

home schooling and went on to other endeavors, the band ceased to exist.

Holland said six bagpipes and three drums…one each of bass, snare and tenor…make up a band. “This is a great service that the Sheriff ’s Office would be able to provide to the community, and we are always looking for volunteers.

We will take as many as we can get!”

Uniforms will be provided by the Sheriff ’s Dept.

The band would be used at memorial services for law enforcement officers, in the Ocala Christmas parade and public requests for bagpipes at funerals, for example.

A video was placed on the Sheriff ’s Office Facebook Page on Feb. 23 in regard to the Pipe and Drum Band.

Applications are available at the following website: www.marionso.com/ volunteer-services. Scroll down to find the Pipe and Drum application.

Questions may be directed to Holland at wholland@marionso.com.

B4

MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

&

music nig ghtlife nightlife

MAR. 25

Sudoku is played on a grid of 9 x 9 spaces. Within the rows and columns are 9 “squares” (made up of 3 x 3 spaces). Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-9, without repeating any numbers within the same row, column or square.

MAR.31

Justin Lee Partin

Centerlane

The Yellow Pony World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala 6-9pm Dinner, drinks, and entertainment. For details, visit worldequestriancenter.com/events.

Charlie Horse 2426 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 6pm Live music. Also, karaoke Wed.-Sat.

APRIL 1

MAR. 25

Peaches & Karim

Charlie Horse 2426 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 7pm Live music. Also, karaoke Wed.-Sat.

The Yellow Pony World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala 6-9pm Dinner, drinks, and entertainment. For details, visit worldequestriancenter.com/events.

MAR. 26

APRIL 1

Second Slice

TC & Sass

REL

The Town Square at Circle Square Commons 8405 SW 8th St., Ocala 6-9pm Free and open to the public. Visit circlesquarecommons.com for details.

Charlie Horse 2426 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 7pm Live music. Also, karaoke Wed.-Sat.

WORD FIND

This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when yo pleted the puzzle, there will be 14 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

On with the show Solution: 14 Letters

MAR.26

Jeff Jarrett

Charlie Horse 2426 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 7pm Live music. Also, karaoke Wed.-Sat.

The Yellow Pony World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala 6-9pm Dinner, drinks, and entertainment. For details, visit worldequestriancenter.com/events

MAR. 30

APRIL 2

Torn

Blues Jam

Firecreek

Charlie Horse 2426 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 6pm Live music. Also, karaoke Wed.-Sat.

Charlie Horse 2426 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 7pm Live music. Also, karaoke Wed.-Sat.

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APRIL 2

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B5

MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

LOCAL CALENDAR LISTINGS

community MAR. 25 AND 26

MAR. 26 & APRIL 2

Ocala’s Olympic Heroes

Three Ocala area athletes—Brittany Bowe, Erin Jackson and Joey Mantia—medaled at the recent Winter Olympics in Beijing in speed skating.

They will share their stories at a celebration breakfast hosted by the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership at 8am Friday at the Church of Hope (web.ocalacep.com/events). Bowe will make an appearance at Trinity Catholic High School at 10:15am Friday (trinitycatholichs.org).

Jackson will be the guest of honor at the Howard Academy Community Center from 6 to 8pm Friday, (call 352-671-4175). All three will be feted by the City of Ocala with a Parade of Champions, which will begin at 5pm Saturday at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex and end downtown at the gazebo (ocalafl.org).

MAR. 25-27

Spectrum International Paso Fino Horse Show

World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala 8am-5pm High-stepping Paso Finos will strut their stuff at this international show for this historic Spanish breed of horse. Free parking, vendors and food options onsite, and well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome. Learn more at floridapfha.org

Yoga in the Park

Sholom Park: 7110 SW 80th Ave., Ocala 9am Get your downward dog going. Stretch out by the Sholom Park stage; recurs every Saturday morning.

Visit sholompark.org for details.

MAR. 26 & APRIL 2

Ocala Downtown Market

310 SE Third St., Ocala 9am-2pm A variety of vendors offer local fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood, fresh pasta, honey and arts and crafts. Check out some local food trucks and the occasional guest entertainer.

Rain or shine; recurs every Saturday. Visit ocaladowntownmarket.com for more information.

MAR. 26

Marion County Day

McPherson Government Campus Field, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala 10am-2pm This free family-friendly event celebrates the history of Marion County and features kids’ activities, a petting zoo, food trucks, storytellers, vendor booth, live music and more.

Visit marionfl.org for more info.

MAR. 26

MAR. 25

GospelFest

After Dark in the Park Movie Series: “Dreamgirls” Tuscawilla Art Park, 213 NE 5th St., Ocala 8-10pm This rags to riches story of three Black female singers in the ‘60s and ‘70s highlights spirited songs, some social commentary and the Academy Award-winning performance of Jennifer Hudson. Bring your own chairs or blankets; snack concessions will be available for purchase. No registration required. For more information, call (352) 368-5517.

MAR. 25 & APRIL 1

Marion County Friday Market

McPherson Government Campus Field, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala 9am-2pm Shop locally fresh fruits and veggies, cinnamon buns, jerky, freeze dried treats, olive oils and seafood; recurs every Friday.

Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 5000 SW College Road, Ocala 12-6pm Music, children’s activities and food are on tap at the free event, raising funds for improvements to the building and expand programs. Bring a chair or a blanket and your appetite. For more info or to make donations, contact Gus Gray at (352) 598-6832.

MAR. 26

Florida Aquatics Swimming & Training Grand Opening

Calesa Township, SW 80th Ave., across from Stone Creek entrance, follow signs into complex 11am-3pm The FAST facility celebrates its grand opening with an open swim at their new pool and some family fun. Food trucks, bounce houses and signups available for swim teams and competitions. For more info, floridafast.com

MAR. 27

Ocala Polo Club Winter Games

MAR. 25-APRIL 17

Easter Bunny at Paddock Mall

In front of Belk’s at Paddock Mall, 3100 SW College Road, Ocala Mon.-Sat. 11am-7pm; Sun. 12-6pm Photo opportunities and the option this year to sit with the Easter Bunny. Socially distanced photos will also be available. Hop into spring with this fun children’s tradition. For more info, paddockmall.com

Florida Horse Park, 11008 S Highway 475, Ocala 1pm The final match of the winter season. Get up close and personal with the equine athletes and their riders at this unique sporting event. Tailgating at polo is the perfect venue to enjoy an afternoon out with your family and friends. Chairs are suggested, food and drink are welcome, tents are available for rent. Leashed dogs are welcome. For more information, visit ocalapolo.com.

MAR. 27

APRIL 2

STRIDE Dressage Show

Florida Horse Park, 11008 S Highway 475, Ocala 8am-5pm From classical riding tests to driving, dressage emphasizes the connection between horse and rider as they move through pre-determined movements. Vendors and food options onsite.

Well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome. For more info. stridedressage.org or flhorsepark.com

MAR. 31

McIntosh Garden Show and Plant Sale

McIntosh Civic Center, Van Ness Park The McIntosh Seedlings and Garden Club’s annual plant sale is the perfect time of year to shop for new plants, seeds, veggies and more. Choose from perennials, annuals, vegetables, houseplants, herbs along with garden décor for inside and outside your home. Proceeds help sponsor scholarships to the Wekiva Youth Camp. Visit mcintoshseedlings.com

Farmers Market

The Town Square at Circle Square Commons, 8405 SW 80th St., Ocala 9am-1pm Large selection of fresh seasonal produce from local growers as well as baked goods, plants, handmade soaps and more; recurs every Thursday.

Visit circlesquarecommons.com for more info.

APRIL 1

Dinner at the Dunnellon Depot

Dunnellon Train Depot, 12061 S Williams St., Dunnellon 5-9pm Dinner by the Whistle Stop Café and live music from BoeCat Anderson and the Cool Corporate Cats kick off spring at the Dunnellon historic train depot. The menu will include fried green tomatoes, Cuban sandwiches, gourmet grilled cheese and desserts. Sponsored by the Greater Dunnellon Historical Society. More info is available from dunnellondepot.com

APRIL 1

First Friday Art Walk

Ocala Downtown Square 6-9 PM Artists will display their work, free family activities are available and there will be live music. Free and open to the public; guests are encouraged to bring chairs. For more information, call (352) 629-8447 or visit www.ocalafl.org/artwalk

APRIL 2-24|WEEKENDS

Butterfly & Blueberry Festival

Timberline Farm, 3200 Southeast 115th Street, Belleview Saturdays 10am-6pm; Sundays 12-6pm Weekends in April, Timberline Farm in Belleview offers up its annual Butterfly and Blueberry Festival. Enjoy the wispy flutter of butterflies up close in the butterfly tent, take a hayride, pet some farm animals or shop at the country store.

Enjoy live music while you browse the booths and sample local honey, peanuts, cotton candy, blueberry desserts, other tasty foods and more.

Visit timberlinefarm.net

APRIL 2

First Saturdays Market in the Park Ernie Mills Park, 11899 Bostick St., Dunnellon 8am-2pm A variety of vendors set up their booths at Ernie Mills Park. Many Dunnellon stores also offer Saturday specials and you can pick up a map of participating merchants. Stroll the park, decide where to shop in town and grab lunch, all while enjoying the Rainbow River area.

APRIL 2

Truck off Deem-it!

APRIL 1-3

Just Between Friends Consignment Sale

Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Rd, Ocala Fri. 10am-8pm; Sat. 9am-3pm; Sun. 10am-2pm Marion County’s largest children’s consignment sale takes place with lots of kids’ clothes, toys, maternity items, books, games, puzzles, movies and more. Sunday is half price day with all items on sale; presale tickets available for early shopping.

Check out Ocala.jbfsale.com for more info.

Tuscawilla Art Park, 213 NE 5th St., Ocala 12-6pm Food Truck Alley is the featured event at this food truck competition, where you can taste from a variety of local trucks plus check out artisan booths, a classic car show, kids’ activities, axe throwing and souped-up cars, trucks and Jeeps. Live music from Jeff Jarret and the Hayfire Group. The event benefits Kids Central, Inc., an organization that helps fostered and adoptive children. For more info, events.deemit.com

APRIL 4

APRIL 1-3

Ocala Arabian Amateur Show

World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala A sanctioned Arabian and Half-Arabian breed show, classes include halter, equitation and Western Dressage. This distinctive breed is versatile and participates in all types of disciplines from jumping to endurance races to dressage. Free and open to the public; leashed pets welcome.

Learn more at oaha.org

Best Pet Friends with the Easter Bunny

In front of Belk’s at Paddock Mall, 3100 SW College Road, Ocala 5-7pm One day only, the Easter Bunny is available for cute photos with your best pet friend. Reservations encouraged. Visit paddockmall.com for more info.

government MAR. 28

Marion County Development Review Committee

McPherson Governmental Campus, 601 SE 25th Ave., auditorium, Ocala 4pm The DRC ensures compliance with the county’s Land Development Code and votes on items such as waiver requests, major site plans and subdivision master plans, preliminary plats, improvement plans and final plats.

MAR. 28

Marion County Planning & Zoning Commission, first hearing

McPherson Governmental Campus, 601 SE 25th Ave., auditorium, Ocala 5:30pm The Planning & Zoning Commission conducts hearings for zoning changes and special use permits.

MAR. 31

Marion County Code Enforcement Board

2710 E Silver Springs Blvd., training room 9am The CEB hears and resolves cases and disputes to county code violations. Recurs monthly; for more information contact (352)671-8901.

VISIT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR ONLINE OCALAGAZETTE.COM/EVENTS

B6

MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

arts

MAR. 25

Riders in the Sky

Orange Blossom Opry, 16439 SE 138th Ter., Weirsdale 7pm Known as “America’s Favorite Cowboys,” this country group celebrates their 40th anniversary this year. Combining humor, musicianship and country favorites. Tickets $32-$46. See obopry.com for more details.

International Film Series, the Appleton presents this classic movie about race, equality and justice.

Free for museum members; nonmembers pay regular admission fee. Admission is free at the college campus. For more info, appletonmuseum. org or https://www.cf.edu/student-life/arts-andculture/international-film-series/

APRIL 1

The Malpass Brothers

MAR. 26

The Lords of 52nd Street: Legends of Billy Joel

Circle Square Cultural Center, 8395 SW 80th St., Ocala 7pm Billy Joel’s original band for his renowned “52nd Street” album helped create Joel’s distinctive sound. See csculturalcenter.com for more details.

MAR. 27

Orange Blossom Opry, 16439 SE 138th Ter., Weirsdale 7pm Country “youngins” Christopher and Taylor Malpass have recorded with Merle Haggard and perform classics of country and their own original songs. Tickets are $32-$46. See obopry.com for more details.

APRIL 1

Elton Dan & the Rocket Band: An Elton John Tribute

The Kingston Trio

Orange Blossom Opry, 16439 SE 138th Ter., Weirsdale 2:30 and 7pm The folk icons that have entertained crowds for nearly 60 years return to the Opry. Playing classics folk tunes and country favorites. Tickets are $30$44. See obopry.com for more details.

Circle Square Cultural Center, 8395 SW 80th St., Ocala 7pm Recreating the magic and energy of Elton John in his ‘70s and ‘80s heyday, Elton Dan pays tribute to this legendary songwriter and performer. See csculturalcenter.com for more details.

MAR. 28-MAY 5

APRIL 2

2022 CF Student Art Exhibition

CF Webber Gallery, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala Opening reception March 30 at 12:30pm; exhibition 10am-4pm daily Student artists from the Visual Arts and Digital Media department at CF will present their art in this showcase. The work will be judged by Carla Poindexter, professor of studio art at the University of Central Florida. Free. For more details, visit www.CF.edu or call (352) 854-2322, ext. 1664.

MAR. 29

“To Kill a Mockingbird”

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 2-4:15pm College of Central Florida, 3001 SW College Road, Bldg. 8, Room 110 7pm Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Ira Holmes

Free First Saturday at the Appleton Museum of Art

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 10am-5pm Free admission for all to the permanent collection and special exhibits. Take this opportunity to explore this art-filled space plus Big Lee’s BBQ food truck is onsite 11am-2pm. There will also be a blood drive for the LifeSouth Community Blood Center.

Visit applemuseum.org

APRIL 2

John Conlee

THROUGH APRIL 24

Heart of the Horse: Photographs by Juliet van Otteren

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm The beauty and complexity of horses is revealed through 40 black-and-white photographs by Juliet van Otteren. Visit appletonmuseum.org for more information.

ANSWERS FOR PAGE B4 Sudoku

THROUGH APRIL 24

Garden Party: Botanical Paintings

by Susan Martin

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm Florida artist Susan Martin’s photorealistic canvasses explore the botanical world by concentrating on small portions of plant life.

Her detailed explorations, influenced by the photographs of Russell Lee, can be observed in her sharp, clean examination of the subject, her preference for strong contrast that reveals surface quality and detail, and an emphasis on composition that comes from years of work in black-and-white.

Visit appletonmuseum.org for details.

THROUGH JULY 31

A Strange and Picturesque Country: Etchings by Earl H. Reed

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm Prints from the permanent collection by Earl Howell Reed. Although a largely self-taught artist, Reed’s work can be viewed in the collections of the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago. Visit appletonmuseum.org for details.

Orange Blossom Opry, 16439 SE 138th Ter., Weirsdale 2:30 and 7pm A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1981, this classic country songster brings his signature style and voice to our Opry. Tickets are $32-$46. See obopry.com for more details.

The Four Diamond, World Equestrian Center Ocala.

THE ULTIMATE KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY. Friday, May 6th 8:00 pm-10:30 pm Guests will enjoy a display of exotic & classic cars, festive cocktails, fine culinary offerings, scotch & bourbon tastings, luxury brand displays, great music, best derby hat contest & more MOTORSPORTS GATHERING Saturday, May 7th 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.

200+ exotic, classic & muscle cars will be on display at this Four Diamond resort.

Join the fun and display your car with us! After the car show watch the Kentucky Derby on 100 ft Jumbo-Tron’s.

For sponsor details, tickets or to register a show car: www.festivalsofspeed.com / 352-406-9325

Newsday Crossword

B7

MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

Oscar Preview: Five big questions ahead of Sunday’s awards

By Jake Coyle AP Film Writer

T

he Academy Awards have always loved a comeback story. This year, the Oscars are attempting to star in one, too.

On Sunday, the Academy Awards will try to bounce back from a 2021 ceremony that was plagued by pandemic restrictions, a botched ending and record-low ratings. The 94th Academy Awards will return to their usual home, Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre, and be broadcast live on ABC beginning at 8 p.m. EDT. (It’s also possible to stream it live on services like Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV and on ABC.com with provider authentication.)

How much of the Oscars’ downturn should be chalked up to COVID-19? How much is it the new normal? These are just some of the questions that hang over an Academy Awards that feels like a crossroads for one of America’s most enduring pop-culture institutions, and still the mostwatched annual show outside the Super Bowl.

Can the Will Packer-produced awards shrug off the pandemic, reverse years of declining ratings for network TV award shows and coalesce a big-tent event for a fast evolving movie landscape? In the interminable run-up to the springtime Oscars, many in the industry have been skeptical. Which leads us to the first of five questions heading into the show.

WILL THE OSCARS’ LATEST MAKEOVER WORK?

The biggest drama heading into Sunday revolves around a broadcast that has been substantially retooled to stem the ratings slide. As if making up for several host-less years, this time there are three: Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes. Will their combined star power move the needle at all?

Facing pressure from ABC, the academy will also first present eight categories — production design, editing, sound, score, makeup and hairstyling, and the three short film awards — before the telecast begins. Clips of their wins and speeches will be edited into the show. Critics throughout the industry, though, have lined up to decry the change. The largest union representing behind-thescenes workers, IATSE, on Monday called the decision detrimental to the “fundamental purpose” of the Oscars.

So what will Packer do with the extra time? Beyoncé and Billie Eilish will perform their nominated songs. An eclectic group of presenters has also been announced, including some unexpected names like DJ Khaled, Tony Hawk, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Shaun White — so this could finally be the year that Judi Dench learns how to perform a “McTwist.”

HOW MUCH WILL COVID DRAG DOWN THE PARTY?

Last year’s Oscars decamped to Union Station for an intimate show with a small number of attendees and lots of social distancing. This year, a full stage show and red carpet is planned, albeit with uneven COVID-19 protocols.

Attendees are required to submit two negative tests and proof of vaccination. Those presenting or performing don’t have to be vaccinated but need recent negative tests. Masks will be in the mix, too, for attendees sitting outside the orchestra at the Dolby and for media on the red carpet. After numerous attendees contracted This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Will Smith in a scene from “King Richard.” (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP) the virus after attending the March 13 BAFTAs in London, several nominees have been of Dog,” may become the first woman to ever win that quarantining, including Branagh and “Belfast” co-star award. Her director, Jane Campion, is also poised to make Ciarán Hinds. With infection and hospitalization rates history. Campion, the first women ever nominated twice way down, Los Angeles County is set to lift many virus for best director, is set to become only the third woman restrictions for indoor events on April 1, five days after to win the category. It would mark the first time the the Oscars. directing award has ever gone to women in back-to-back years, after “Nomadland” filmmaker Chloé Zhao won last WILL WILL SMITH WIN HIS FIRST year.

OSCAR? Troy Kotsur of “CODA” is in line to be the first deaf Nominated twice before for best actor (for “Ali” and “The male actor to win an Oscar. His widely expected win Pursuit of Happyness”), Will Smith appears a lock to would make him and his “CODA” co-star Marlee Matlin win his first Academy Award. Smith’s performance as the only deaf actors to land Academy Awards. And Richard Williams, father to Venus and Serena, in “King supporting actress, which Ariana DeBose seemingly has Richard” has remained the most likely choice throughout sewn up for her breakthrough role in Steven Spielberg’s the season. And the speech by the exuberant 53-year“West Side Story,” may see the first Afro-Latina and old star should be one of the most lively of the night. A openly LGBTQ actor win in the category. A win for win, though, will have to come over some formidable DeBose would come 60 years after Rita Moreno won for competition — including the actor who bested Smith’s the same role, Anita, in the 1961 original. That would be “Ali” performance 20 years ago: Denzel Washington, a the third time that two actors have won for playing the winner then for “Training Day” and a threat this time for same role, following Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix “The Tragedy of Macbeth.” as the Joker, and Marlon Brando and Robert DeNiro as Vito Corleone. But we’ll have to wait and see if DeBose’s WHO’S SET TO MAKE HISTORY? “West Side Story” co-star Rachel Zegler is there to cheer Many of the top awards could feature some major her on. milestones. Ari Wegner, cinematographer of “The Power

WILL A STREAMER TAKE HOME BEST PICTURE?

The two favorites both hail from streaming services, which have ever won best picture. The lead nominee, Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog,” up for 12 awards, had long been the presumed frontrunner, and possibly Netflix’s best chance yet to win Hollywood’s top award.

But after back-to-back wins with the Screen Actors Guild and the Producers Guild, Sian Heder’s deaf family drama “CODA” may have the edge. The film’s deep-pocketed backer, Apple TV+, has spent big to push a feel-good underdog indie to the front of the pack. If “CODA” wins, it will be the first time since 1932’s “Grand Hotel” that a film with fewer than four nominations (“CODA” has three) took best picture. Some predictions this year have been wildly off, though, so other nominees like Kenneth Branagh’s “Belfast” could still pull off an upset.

This image released by 20th Century Studios shows, from left, Ilda Mason as Luz, Ariana DeBose as Anita, and Ana Isabelle as Rosalia in “West Side Story.” (Niko Tavernise/20th Century Studios via AP)

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B8

MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

REDDICK HIGH SCHOOL REUNION SCHOLARSHIP Reddick High School originated in 1927 to serve the north Marion County small communities of Reddick, McIntosh, Lowell, Martin, Orange Lake, Boardman, Irvine and Flemington. The alumni of these small communities have still gathered for a reunion on a yearly basis, except for the COVID period.

In 1957 the school was renamed North Marion High School. The school eventually consolidated three high schools-Reddick Terriers, Anthony Red Devils and Ft. McCoy Pirates and they chose Colts for their new mascot. The new school was being built and the first class of Seniors in 1964 graduated in the

new auditorium, but never attended classes there as the buildings were not completed in time that year.

The idea came about to establish a scholarship in memory of those Reddick High School Terriers.

The Reddick High School Reunion Scholarship was established to recognize a worthy North Marion High School Senior. This is the fourth year that the $1000 scholarship has been presented. Those Seniors wishing to apply should contact Dana Spencer NMHS for information Dana.spencer@marion.k12.fl.us and 352-671-6010.

Janice Ray

MCSO Foundation supports county volunteerism

Rows of corn are shown growing in a field at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Work Farm at the corner of Southeast Maricamp Road and Southeast Baseline Road in Ocala on April 20, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.

By Eadie Sickler Correspondent

Ira Holmes International Film Series wraps up with bonus short film festival on April 12

By James Blevins james@ocalagazette.com

T

he finale of the College of Central Florida (CF) Ira Holmes International Film Series’ 60th anniversary season will be a bonus short film festival scheduled for Tuesday, April 12.

Highlights from the festival include two of 1962’s “best short films,” according to the CF press release: “Vive Le Tour,” Louis Malle’s “energetic evocation of the Tour de France,” and “La Jetée,” Chris Marker’s tale of time travel told in still images, which remains one of the “most influential, radical science fiction films ever made.”

In “Vive Le Tour”—or “live the ride” in English— Malle captures, in just 18 minutes, “the epic experience of this test of human endurance, as well as its furious pace and idiosyncratic personalities” involved in that most famed of French bicycle races, according to The Criterion Collection’s website.

While Marker’s “La Jetée,” or “the jetty,” is the kind of film that “haunts the brain,” said film critics Michael Koresky and Casey Moore in a 2012 co-written video essay on

the French film, a quality “attributable not only to its unforgettable postapocalyptic imagery but also to its soundscapes, as spare as they are ravishing and mysterious.”

Terry Gilliam’s 1995 feature-length film “12 Monkeys,” produced in the United States and starring Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt and Madeleine Stowe, was directly inspired by and borrows much from Marker’s 28-minute short film.

Films featured in the short film festival will be

shown at 2 p.m. at the Appleton Museum of Art, located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., and again at 7 p.m., at the CF Ocala Campus, located at 3001 S.W. College Road, Building 8, Room 110.

Films at the Ocala Campus are free and open to the public, while films at the Appleton are free to all museum and film series members. Nonmembers must pay museum admission. Films may contain mature content.

For more details, visit CF.edu/filmseries.

M

arion County is rich in its spirit of volunteerism. Many citizens volunteer in many organizations and events in many various ways to better the community in which we live.

The Marion County Sheriff ’s Office Foundation, created in 2008, is one of the organizations in the county exemplifying that credo by supporting the many volunteer arms at work under the auspices of the Sheriff ’s Dept.

Their actual mission statement is “To generate support for the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office programs that promote law enforcement, public safety and welfare.” It is a separate entity from the Sheriff ’s Office, being a 501 (3) non-profit organization.

Robert Morgan, president of the Foundation board of directors, emphasizes the need for volunteers in the various programs and activities sponsored by the Sheriff ’s Department “to deter crime and make Marion County a better place to work, live and visit.” He added, “I have a very deep passion for the Sheriff ’s Dept. and the Foundation.”

Speaking of the Foundation board, he said there is a current need for a volunteer secretary.

The Foundation reports there are 34 volunteer units made up of well over 500 citizen volunteers. In 2020 alone, almost 65,000 hours were logged by volunteers, which would amount to an estimated 1.6 million dollars, according to the National Points of Light hourly rate. Figures for 2021 are not available because of COVID-19. Dollars saved through the work of volunteers saved the taxpayers this money that didn’t have to be used by the Sheriff ’s Dept. for those tasks.

The Foundation relies strictly on donations for the support of the programs of the Sheriff ’s Dept. The donor can specify some donated funds used for one special purpose, for example, for the Sheriff ’s Office canine unit. Therefore, those funds are not available for general funding. Morgan said one dog the Foundation provides to the Sheriff ’s Office costs $10,000.

Other uses of Foundation funds include providing uniforms and rescue tools and equipment.

Sandra Grabczynski, a director on the Foundation Board, spoke of two of

the divisions of the Citizens Academy and Partnership Program (CAPS) that were presented at a meeting Monday in Dunnellon at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. The Foundation is a cosponsor of the CAPS program, providing light refreshments at their meetings and classes.

The Juvenile Division told of their work as victim advocates for missing or wandering children, and the Senior at Risk program was discussed.

Two tools available through the Sheriff ’s Office to track missing children or adults who may have memory issues or dementia were explained. The first is a Scent Kit. If a person, adult or child, is prone to wander, a kit may be obtained from the Sherriff ’s Office, which includes a special jar. A piece of an article of clothing of the individual is put into the jar, and it is to be stored in the refrigerator. If that person goes missing, the Sheriff ’s Office is called, and they take the jar to the canine unit. When the dog sniffs that piece of an article of clothing, they are often able to track the person down, and they can be returned to safety.

A second tool is a bracelet that is to be worn by an elderly person of special needs. This bracelet will tell their name and phone numbers to contact if the person is missing or is found wandering.

The Citizens Academy and Partnership (CAP) program is a volunteer unit of the Sheriff ’s Dept. which has been successful in educating citizens of Marion County in the operations of the Sheriff ’s Office and the issues relating to law enforcement and detention. It is an opportunity for citizens to get a working knowledge of the agency.

The Academy is a free 7- or 13-week educational program. A certificate of completion from the Sheriff ’s Dept. is presented to graduates. Anyone interested in this program can register at https://www.marionso.com/citizensacademy. Applicants will be subject to a background check, must have no felony convictions, must be at least 18 years of age and must be able to attend all classes.

Annually, all volunteers of the Sheriff ’s Dept. are treated to a dinner in honor of their work and accomplishments throughout the year.

This year’s banquet will be held March 30 at the Expo Center located within the World Equestrian Center.

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B9

MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

‘The Batman,’ still No. 1, crosses $300 million

Officials: Florida manatees eat ‘every scrap’ in food trial

By Curt Anderson The Associated Press

O

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Zoe Kravitz, left, and Robert Pattinson in a scene from “The Batman.” “The Batman” is still going strong three weeks into its theatrical run, with a tight grip on the top spot at the box office. Robert Pattinson’s debut as the Dark Knight earned an additional $36.8 million over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday, March 20, 2022. It also slid past the $300 million mark ahead of projections.

(Jonathan Olley/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

By Lindsey Bahr AP Film Writer

“T

he Batman” is still going strong three weeks into its theatrical run, with a tight grip on the top spot at the box office.

Robert Pattinson’s debut as the Dark Knight earned an additional $36.8 million over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. It also slid past the $300 million mark ahead of projections.

The Warner Bros. film is the highest grossing movie of 2022 and the second highest since the beginning of the pandemic (first place goes to “SpiderMan: No Way Home”).

“The Batman,” directed by Matt Reeves, also picked up $49.1 million internationally this weekend, bringing its global total to $598.1 million. The only place “The Batman” seems to be stumbling is in China where it earned $12.1 million in its first weekend. But about 43% of cinemas in China are closed due to the pandemic and “The Batman” still did slightly better than “Unchartered” which also opened there this weekend to $10.3 million.

“The Batman” cost an estimated $200 million to make, not counting the many millions spent on marketing. But it is already a win for Warner Bros., which took at hit at the box office in 2021 because all of its films were released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. It also helps that marketplace competition has been slim. The biggest competitor this weekend was the anime “Jujutsu Kaisen 0,” which was released by Crunchyroll and Funimation, and took in an estimated $17.7 million in its first weekend in North America, where it was playing on 2,748 screens. The Japanese film is based on a best-selling manga and available to watch dubbed or with subtitles.

“Fans made this movie a big hit this weekend,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. “It shows how passionate fans of anime are and how beautiful these films are when presented on the big screen.”

“It shows how passionate fans of anime are and how beautiful these films are when presented on the big screen.”

Paul Dergarabedian

Senior media analyst for Comscore

The horror film “X” also debuted this weekend on 2,865 screens and is projected to gross around $4.4 million.

Directed by Ti West and distributed

by A24, “X” is about a group of people who are terrorized while shooting a pornographic film.

Focus Features launched the crime drama “The Outfit,” starring Mark Rylance in 1,324 locations. It made an estimated $1.5 million. And outside of the top 10, Vertical Entertainment and Roadside Attractions had “Alice,” the Sundance breakout about an enslaved woman who gets transported to 1973, which made $176,120 from 170 locations.

ne thing wildlife officials have learned during the winter experimental feeding program to help manatees avoid starvation is that if you feed them, they will come.

Manatees have eaten virtually all of the estimated 160,000 pounds (72,500 kilograms) of lettuce provided at a warmwater power plant site where manatees typically congregate during cold months, officials said Wednesday during a virtual news conference.

“They’ve eaten every scrap of food we’ve put out,” said Scott Calleson of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

By the time the operation winds down in a few weeks, Calleson said the lettuce total will probably reach 200,000 pounds (90,700 kilograms) — almost all paid for by donations from people across the country.

It wasn’t clear the manatees would eat the lettuce when the unprecedented program began in December. But officials say that since Jan. 20 the slowmoving marine mammals have feasted on the food made necessary after more than 1,100 manatees died largely from starvation last year, the worst year for the threatened species on record.

Through March 11 of this year, about 420 manatee deaths have been confirmed, still an alarmingly high number. But as warm spring weather continues, the manatees are beginning to leave the feeding site to find natural food elsewhere.

“Manatees are spreading out to the warm weather sites, which is a good thing,” said Tom Reinert, south regional director for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

As successful as the feeding program has been, officials say people must remember it remains illegal for individuals to feed manatees on their own.

About 7,500 manatees, also known as sea cows, live in Florida waters. They are listed federally as a threatened species, although there are efforts to give them the heightened endangered designation.

Many of the animals face starvation because their favored seagrass food

is disappearing due to chronic water pollution from agricultural, sewage, urban runoff and other sources. Efforts are ongoing to restore the crucial seagrass beds, especially along the state’s East Coast where the problem is most acute.

Dealing with the long-term pollution and water quality issues will take much more time and effort, officials have said.

Still, there’s cautious optimism that the lessons learned this first year will make a similar effort envisioned for next winter much smoother and easier to operate, from setting up a command structure to finding refrigerated trucks to carry the lettuce.

“When we begin to ramp up for next winter, we know all these things,” said Jon Wallace of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Still, sick and dead manatees are still being spotted, mostly by people who see them in Florida waters and call an FWC hotline to report them. Dozens of rescued manatees are being cared for at SeaWorld in Orlando, which announced an expansion of its manatee facilities Tuesday.

On completion by July, SeaWorld said it will add a three-pool, 200,000-gallon (757,000-liter) complex that also includes a new lift floor to an existing pool.

SeaWorld says it will be able care for 60 ill manatees at a time once finished, the largest capacity in the U.S. “That larger space, together with our sizable, highly specialized and experienced manatee care team means that we are able to mobilize quickly and effectively to help save the lives of these animals and in doing so help save the species from extinction.” said Jon Peterson, vice president of Zoological Operations at SeaWorld in Orlando who works closely with the rescue effort.

Manatees are also being cared for at other aquariums and zoos, including the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium, meanwhile, announced it will construct new manatee rehabilitation pools and will invest in a $10 million manatee hospital being financed by donations.

Anyone who sees a distressed or dead manatee should call FWC’s wildlife hotline at 888-404-3922.

Did you hear? It’s spring!

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. “The Batman,” $36.8 million.

2. “Jujutsu Kaisen O,” $17.7 million.

3. “Uncharted,” $8 million.

4. “X,” $4.4 million.

5. “Dog,” $4.1 million.

6. “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” $3.2 million.

7. “Death on the Nile,” $1.7 million.

8. “The Outfit,” $1.5 million.

9. “The Kashmir Files,” $1.5 million.

10. “Sing 2,” $1.5 million.

A large pelican rests on a fountain with two cormorants in Lake Tuscawilla at Tuscawilla Park in Ocala on March 22.

[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

B10

MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE

SCORE BOARD SELECTED MARION COUNTY

HIGH SCHOOL & COLLEGE

SPORTS Lake Weir’s Chris Adleburg (15) makes it safely to second base as St. John Lutheran’s Ethan Adams (9) looks for the out during a baseball game at Lake Weir High School in Candler on March 21. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

PREP BASEBALL SCORES

RESULTS MAR. 15 - 21

March 21 St. John Lutheran Lake Weir

0 10

COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCORES

March 15 Belleview FSU High School

4 3

Newberry Dunnellon

3 4

Fleming Island Forest

2 1

The Villages Charter Forest

3 6

Lake Minneola Lake Weir

4 2

Nease North Marion

7 2

Trinity Catholic Atlantic

15 0

March 16 North Marion Buchholz

7 11

Vanguard Crystal River

9 1

COLLEGE BASEBALL SCORES

March 15

March 16 College of Central Florida Lake-Sumter State College

10 0

0 12

March 19 College of Central Florida Lake-Sumter State College

15 0

1 11

1 6

College of Central Florida FSW State College

2 17

College of Central Florida Santa Fe College

7 11

College of Central Florida Santa Fe College

8 0

March 19

March 21 St. Johns River State College College of Central Florida

College of Central Florida FSW State College

March 17

March 18 Lake-Sumter State College College of Central Florida

Lake Weir’s Angel Padilla (3) slides safely into third base as St. John Lutheran’s Landon Pindell (6) waits on the throw during a baseball game at Lake Weir High School in Candler on March 21. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

Results were gathered from MaxPreps.com and compiled by James Blevins

Lake Weir’s Austin Dodd (2) catches a St. John Lutheran hit for an out during a baseball game at Lake Weir High School in Candler on March 21. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

Daytona State College College of Central Florida

0 7

Daytona State College College of Central Florida

2 10

Lake Weir’s Chance Wilkins (8) makes it safely to second base as St. John Lutheran’s Wylie North (7) looks for the out during a baseball game at Lake Weir High School in Candler on March 21. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

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12/13/21 11:41 AM