Ocala Gazette | April 5 - April 11, 2024

Sheriffs and state business group issue a report that crime “feels” lower in Florida

By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com

At least 40 sheriffs from across Florida, State Attorney General Ashley Moody, and a representative from the Florida Chamber of Commerce, gathered for a press conference at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office today to issue a report touting the state’s superlative policy and results in combating crime.

The report, compiled by the Florida Sheriff’s Research Institute and the Florida Chamber of Commerce, sources most of its facts from outside media sources, including nearby Villages-News.com as well as Moody’s press releases.

The report also contained the results of a survey performed by the Florida Sheriff’s Association. According to the report, sheriffs in Florida and nationally were surveyed for feedback on crime. “The survey was distributed by the National Sheriff’s Association and Major County Sheriffs of America and was conducted between November 16-30, 2023. A total of 148 responses were received: 47 from Florida sheriffs and 101 nationally, from 17 different states,” explains the report.

Without providing specific crime statistic data, the survey found 40% of responding Florida sheriffs “believe” violent crime in the state has either decreased or stayed about the same (31%). On the other hand, 22% felt violent crime in their county had increased.

The poll also indicated that 72% of sheriffs were “satisfied” with their local State Attorney. Moody said some states are losing population to Florida due to increasing crime rates in areas where people don’t feel safe.

Multiple times, the “Gazette” has reported on the nationwide glitch in crime reporting statistics as well as the “feeling”

among citizens that crime is increasing is prevalent across the country, according to a recent Gallup poll.

However, when Moody was asked about the reliability of the nationwide and state crime statistics data and where the public could find reliable data to compare for themselves, she acknowledged that systems were under “remodel” but provided no public-facing data other than

Recreational pot going on ballot

By Dara Kam Florida News Service

Adivided Florida Supreme Court on Monday approved placing on the November ballot a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at allowing recreational use of marijuana. Trulieve, the state’s largest medical-marijuana company, has spent more than $40 million on the effort to get the proposed constitutional amendment before voters.

Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office urged the court to reject the measure, arguing it would be misleading to voters and was not limited to a single subject as required by Florida law.

But the 5-2 decision, authored by Justice Jamie Grosshans, found that the proposal met the requirements under the

court’s limited review.

“Our role is narrow— we assess only whether the amendment conforms to the constitutionally mandated single-subject requirement, whether the ballot summary meets the statutory standard for clarity, and whether the amendment is facially invalid under the federal Constitution. In light of those limited considerations, we approve the proposed amendment for placement on the ballot,” Grosshans wrote.

The ruling drew immediate praise from marijuana companies and cannabis proponents. “We are thankful that the court has correctly ruled the ballot initiative and summary language meets the standards for single subject and clarity. We look forward to supporting this campaign as it heads to the ballot this fall,” Trulieve CEO

Kim Rivers said.

The majority opinion rejected Moody’s argument that the proposal violated the single-subject requirement because it would both decriminalize and commercialize recreational marijuana.

“Allowing businesses to distribute personaluse marijuana, and authorizing individuals to possess it, are logically and naturally related as part of a dominant plan or scheme. Legalization of marijuana presumes the product will be available for the consumer. Likewise, the sale of personal-use marijuana cannot be reasonably undertaken while possession is criminalized,” wrote Grosshans, who was appointed to the Supreme Court by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2020. See Marijuana, page A2

the newly released report. During the press conference, a representative from the Florida Chamber of Commerce thanked Gov. Ron DeSantis and lawmakers for the decisions they have made for the “safety of all Floridians.”

“We know all eyes are on Florida as a national model on how to do things right and the fact that more than 2,000 people are moving to Florida See Crime, page A7

Ocala City Council protests continue, citizens demand support for ceasefire in Gaza

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

The Ocala City Council voted to move the public comment section to the end of each council meeting after the fourth consecutive meeting during which numerous citizens have come forward to demand that the council pass a resolution to support a ceasefire in Gaza.

Since the escalation of the IsraelPalestine conflict that occurred following a Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, citizens have pleaded for the city council to approve a resolution in favor of ceasefire between the two entities.

The attack by Hamas left about 1,200 citizens of Israel dead, according to Tel Aviv. In retaliation, the Israel Defense Force has killed over 32,000 Palestinian citizens, the majority of whom have been women and children, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has been ongoing

Supreme Court OK’s abortion limits, ballot initiative

By Jim Saunders Florida News Service

The Florida Supreme Court on Monday rejected decades of legal precedents and upheld a law that will lead to preventing abortions after six weeks of pregnancy—but also cleared the way for voters to decide in November whether they want to enshrine abortion rights in the state Constitution.

The court issued two bombshell opinions that will dramatically restrict abortion in the coming months, while setting the stage for a fierce political fight in November.

In a 6-1 decision, justices ruled that a privacy clause in the state Constitution does not protect abortion rights. That overturned legal precedents dating to 1989 and effectively gave the go-ahead to a six-week abortion limit that the Republican-controlled Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis approved last year.

In a 4-3 decision, justices approved the wording of a proposed constitutional amendment that abortion-rights supporters hope to pass in November. That proposal says, in part: “No law

shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”

The ruling on privacy rights will have the most-immediate impact. The case stemmed from a 2022 law that imposed a 15-week limit on abortions, but lawmakers last year also tied the six-week limit to the case. The 2023 law said the six-week limit would take effect 30 days after “a decision by the Florida Supreme Court holding that the right to privacy enshrined in … the State Constitution does not include a right to abortion.”

In the 51-page majority opinion, Justice Jamie Grosshans wrote that the Constitution’s privacy clause does not address abortion and that voters did not understand it to include a right to abortion when they passed the clause in 1980.

“The

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody speaks during a press conference about the Building Stronger, Safer Cities research report at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Ocala on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.

Marijuana on ballot

Continued from page A1

Proponents of the measure argued they relied on the court’s own “roadmap” in prior marijuana rulings to craft the proposal.

But Justices Meredith Sasso and Renatha Francis sharply disagreed with the majority opinion, writing in separate dissents that the proposal failed to meet requirements.

Sasso, who was appointed by DeSantis last year, said the amendment violated the singlesubject requirement and is misleading because it would allow the state’s medical-marijuana operators to participate in the recreational market. The state also could authorize other sellers, under the amendment.

“Instead, and as the full text of the initiative provides, there is an intervening step that may never materialize: the Legislature must decide to provide for the licensure of ‘other’ entities first,” Sasso wrote.

Sasso also argued that the part of the amendment saying it would allow adults to use marijuana is “false” because marijuana remains illegal under federal law.

“A state has no power to authorize its residents to participate in conduct that would constitute a federal crime,” she wrote.

Francis, who was appointed by DeSantis in 2022, went further, saying that the court should draw a narrower line around the single-subject requirement than it has in the past.

“As it relates to this case, personal use and commercialization of marijuana aren’t even two sides of the same coin. If the matters directly connected to the ‘subjects’ are different, it’s plain to me that the subjects themselves are different,” Francis wrote. “At bottom, using marijuana as an individual and growing it for commercial sale and consumption implicate different

criminal and regulatory schemes.”

Francis also warned against allowing the recreational-marijuana proposal to advance.

“Aren’t we incentivizing citizen groups to generalize their topics to such a degree they will always evade the single-subject limitation?” she posited.

In a concurring opinion, Grosshans acknowledged that the court’s precedents on the singlesubject issues may have been “erratic.”

“Though greater consistency is a laudable goal, I do not think that adopting a more restrictive approach guarantees achievement of that goal, especially when broad terms still exist under her formulation of the test,” she wrote.

Chief Justice Carlos Muniz also wrote a concurring opinion, saying the court in the future should require backers of proposed amendments to pay closer attention to the requirement that they comply with the U.S. Constitution.

The proposal will appear on the November ballot eight years after Florida voters approved an amendment broadly authorizing medical marijuana, and as the state’s medical cannabis industry continues to flourish. Nearly 900,000 patients currently are eligible for medical marijuana, and the number continues to climb.

The recreational proposal will require support from 60 percent of voters to pass.

House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, said the issue will be “up to the voters” but isn’t needed.

“But the problem with some of these constitutional amendments is, it’s all rainbows and unicorns because it’s drafted by proponents. Which, in the case of both abortion and marijuana, it looks innocuous, but then you start asking yourself, well, can you smoke on a child’s

Citizens protest

Continued from page A1

for the past 75 years, due to both entities claiming territory of the same region of land in the eastern Mediterranean. Palestine has been controlled by the Hamas militant group since 2007.

Local governments nationwide have approved resolutions supporting ceasefire in the hopes that state and federal legislators will also support the notion of ceasefire. Over 70 U.S. cities have passed resolutions to this effect, including Chicago and Seattle, according to Reuters.

On March 25, the United States abstained from voting when the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, according to the UN.

After the public comment at the March 5 meeting, City Attorney William Sexton asked the councilmembers if they would like to place a resolution in support of ceasefire on a future meeting agenda for a vote. Councilmembers Jim Hilty and Ire Bethea voted in favor of a resolution, while Councilmembers Kristen Dryer, Jay Musleh, Barry Mansfield and Mayor Ben Marciano voted against a resolution.

The Ocala City Council meeting on April 2 was the fourth consecutive meeting where citizens of varying

playground, can you smoke in an elevator? Things that we’ve restricted when cigarettes are concerned,”

Renner told reporters Monday afternoon. “And again, the marijuana amendment is overly broad, to serve the self-interest of those who are going to grow it and make billions and billions of dollars off of it.”

Brady Cobb, CEO of medicalmarijuana operator Sunburn Cannabis, called Monday’s ruling “a historic day” for the state.

“As the son of a convicted cannabis smuggler who operated in Florida, this ruling is personal for me and for so many other native Floridians who have felt the impacts of the war on the cannabis plant. Now, it’s time to get the Florida electorate educated on this important issue. I also want to thank the amendment sponsors for all of the hard work they put in to make this ruling a reality,” Cobb, a lawyer, said in a statement.

Matthew Schweich, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, called the Florida recreational proposal “one of the most important cannabis legalization campaigns” in recent years.

“We have the opportunity to end the injustice of cannabis prohibition for over 22 million Americans,” Schweich said in a statement.

Trulieve—the largest of the state’s 25 licensed medical-marijuana operators—contributed all but $124.58 of the $40,050,124.58 collected by the Smart & Safe Florida political committee, which sponsored the ballot proposal. The committee met a requirement for submitting nearly 900,000 petition signatures to place the initiative on the ballot. The court heard arguments on the proposal in November but did not issue a ruling until Monday’s constitutional deadline for justices to act.

opinions have used the public comment portion of the meeting to demand the council’s action.

The comments have lasted for upwards of two hours in some meetings.

Some spoke in favor of ceasefire, calling for peace for both parties. Others spoke against ceasefire, saying Israel has a right to defend itself and its territory. Others condemned Israel’s retaliation against the Palestinian people, saying the violence being committed in Gaza against the Palestinian people is a genocide.

Many of the speakers came as part of the group Marions for Peace, which drafted a resolution as a sample for what the city council could approve if the councilmembers were to vote on the matter. Marion for Peace was founded in 2003 and endorses nonviolent solutions to local, regional, state, national and international issues, according to a press release.

At the conclusion of the April 2 meeting, the council unanimously approved moving the public comment section to the end of the meeting rather than it taking place at the beginning, as it has been, in an effort to restore order to council proceedings.

Opportunities for public comment related to specific agenda items or public hearings will still be available throughout the duration of meetings.

“I’m not trying to silence them. They can speak, but it’ll be at the end of the meeting, because they’re

not contributing anything to the meeting as it is,” Musleh said. He added, “I will not ever support a resolution about the ceasefire in Gaza as it has nothing to do with the city of Ocala.”

Musleh said during the board’s March 19 meeting he felt the lengthy public comment was not constructive.

“I have no plans to ever change my mind and support such a resolution,” he said. “I do think that war is bad, but I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive.”

The city council did, however, issue a proclamation in support of Israel initially after the Oct. 7 attack. Now that citizens have demanded the city council take a stance on ceasefire, the councilmembers have refused to get involved.

In the Nov. 11 city council meeting, former Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn read a proclamation condemning the actions of Hamas and supporting Israel’s right to defend itself and its sovereignty and presented it to a number of Jewish community leaders.

“The city of Ocala recognizes the right and the obligation of the state of Israel to defend itself and to exist as a sovereign and independent nation with full rights and privileges afforded to all nations under international law,” Guinn said. “The city of Ocala stands in unity with the Israeli people and Jewish communities everywhere, reaffirms its unwavering commitment to Israel’s sovereignty and security, and condemns the unprovoked and barbaric attack by Hamas against Israel as citizens and Americans.”

Since voting against putting a resolution on a future agenda for voting on March 5, the city council has taken no action to reconsider the matter despite two more meetings where community members have peacefully protested.

“We are under no obligation to take action on an issue that does not impact the city of Ocala,” said Musleh.

Former Marion County Commissioner Barbara Fitos speaks during the public comment portion of the March 19 Ocala City Council meeting asking councilmembers to “search their hearts” for why they voted not to pursue a resolution in support of ceasefire in Gaza [Granicus]

Abortion rights

Continued from page A1

“Era-appropriate dictionary definitions and contextual clues suggest that abortion does not naturally fit within the rights at issue. Reliable historical sources, like the technical meaning of the terms contained in the provision, the origin of the amendment, and the framing of the public debate, similarly do not support a conclusion that abortion should be read into the provision’s text.”

Grosshans added, “The decision to extend the protections of the Privacy Clause beyond what the text could reasonably bear was not ours (previous members of the Supreme Court) to make. As a result, we removed substantial authority from the people’s elected representatives to regulate abortion—a profoundly unique and complicated issue that affects society in many significant ways.”

But in a dissent, Justice Jorge Labarga wrote that he is “convinced that in 1980, a Florida voter would have understood that the proposed privacy amendment ‘included broad protections for abortion.’” He pointed, in part, to the U.S. Supreme Court issuing the Roe v. Wade abortionrights decision seven years before the 1980 state constitutional amendment passed.

“The majority concludes that the public understanding of the right of privacy did not encompass the right to an abortion,” Labarga wrote. “However, the dominance of Roe in the public discourse makes it inconceivable that in 1980, Florida voters did not associate abortion with the right of privacy. Because of this, and with deep dismay at the action the majority takes

today, I dissent.”

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade effectively left abortion decisions to states and touched off legal, legislative and political battles across the country. Florida abortion opponents had long sought to overturn the 1989 Florida Supreme Court ruling, in a case known as In re. T.W., that said the privacy clause included abortion rights.

DeSantis and lawmakers approved the 15-week abortion limit before the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. But the U.S. Supreme Court decision emboldened Republican lawmakers in Florida and other states to go further, passing measures such as sixweek limits.

Also, the Florida Supreme Court has become far more conservative since DeSantis took office in 2019. He has appointed five of the seven members, and three justices who backed abortion rights retired from the court in 2019.

During an online press event held Monday by abortion-rights supporters after the Supreme Court opinions were released, Cecilia Grande, an obstetrician and gynecologist, said the six-week limit “represents pretty much a total ban” on abortion in Florida. At least in part, that is because many women do not know they are pregnant before six weeks. Monday’s ruling on the privacy issue will raise the political stakes for the proposed constitutional amendment on abortion rights that will appear on the November ballot.

The political committee Floridians Protecting Freedom, which started the amendment drive in May, submitted

nearly 1 million valid petition signatures, far more than the 891,523 signatures needed to qualify for the ballot. But it also needed the Supreme Court to sign off on the wording of the proposed ballot title and summary—the words that voters see when they go to the polls.

Muniz, Canady, Labarga and Couriel made up the majority Monday in approving the ballot measure. Attorney General Ashley Moody had argued the measure was flawed and should be blocked.

“That the proposed amendment’s principal goal and chief purpose is to limit government interference with abortion is plainly stated in terms that clearly and unambiguously reflect the text of the proposed amendment,” the majority opinion said. “And the broad sweep of this proposed amendment is obvious in the language of the summary. Denying this requires a flight from reality. We acknowledge that the text of the amendment—like any legal text—presents interpretive questions, but we neither endorse nor reject any litigant’s assertions about how the proposed amendment might be interpreted in the future and our decision today takes no position on the scope of legislative discretion that would remain if the proposed amendment were to become law.”

But Grosshans, Francis and Sasso each wrote dissenting opinions.

“As written, the title and the ballot summary (which parrots the amendment) fail to give the voters what they need to make an informed decision; thus, both violate the truth-in-packaging law,” Francis wrote. “The title fails to communicate to the voters that the

EDITORIAL

purpose of the proposed amendment is ending (as opposed to ‘limiting’) legislative and executive action on abortion, while inviting limitless and protracted litigation in the courts because of its use of vague and undefined terms. Just as it played out on the federal stage for over 50 years, the issue of abortion—far from the people settling the matter—will continue to be decided by each iteration of this court.”

House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, Sen. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, and Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers, criticized the proposed constitutional amendment in an online press event after the rulings.

“This is not about government interference in abortion, but rather about allowing abortion up to the moment of birth, eliminating parental consent for minors and allowing non-medical workers to diagnose patients, determine fetal liability and approve late-term abortions,” said Grall, who along with PersonsMulicka, has helped lead efforts to pass abortion restrictions.

But backers of the proposed amendment said they will quickly move forward with a campaign to try to pass it. The measure would require support from 60 percent of voters to pass.

“When voters head to the polls this November, they will send a message to Florida politicians,” Lauren Brenzel, the campaign director, said. “Decisions about whether or not to have an abortion should be between a patient and a provider, not between a constituent and their politician.”

—News Service Assignment Manager Tom Urban and staff writer Ryan Dailey contributed to this report.

Commissioners declare April Farmland Preservation Month

By Tim E Gant President of Save Our Rural Areas Inc.

On April 2, when the Marion County Commission declared April to be Farmland Preservation Month, I was there along with members of Horse Farms Forever (HFF) to accept the declaration on behalf of the people in the Farmland Preservation Area and the rest of the county.

The declaration is important. It reinforces the notion that agrarian activity has a positive impact on the economy and quality of life of the county. It states how important it is that these finite lands remain viable in the rapidly changing environment Florida faces with its unending parade of newcomers seeking homes here.

Here is the proclamation:

PROCLAMATION BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA

WHEREAS, according to the last Census of Agriculture, over 331,000 acres of land in Marion County are home to nearly 4,000 farms, including 1,200 horse farms; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that Marion County has more horses and ponies than any other county in the United States; with nearly 400,000 residents, it is estimated that there is one horse for every four residents in Marion County; and

WHEREAS, since 2001, Ocala/Marion County has been known as the “Horse Capital of the World®”, due to the abundance of sprawling green pastures rich with limestone and calcium, and as a testament to the County’s unique involvement in all things equestrian and its record of producing some of the finest champions in the sport; and WHEREAS, in 2005, the Marion County Commission designated approximately 200,000 acres in the northwest portion of the County as the Farmland Preservation Area, to provide a buffer for farmland against increasing growth, and to protect the valuable soils, water quality and spring sheds; and WHEREAS, since 2008

Save Our Rural Areas has hosted the Farmland Preservation Festival to raise awareness about the importance of preserving farms in Marion County for future generations; and WHEREAS, in 2022 and 2023, Horse Farms Forever, Inc.® worked in partnership with Marion County to amend its Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code to further preserve, protect, support, and enhance the rural, equestrian, and farmland character of the Farmland Preservation Area;

NOW THEREFORE, the Board of County Commissioners of Marion County, Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in us do hereby proclaim that the month of April 2024 be known as “FARMLAND PRESERVATION MONTH” DULY PROCLAIMED this

2nd day of April, 2024.

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA

The document acknowledges that Marion County has one horse for every four people; that 200,000 acres are set aside as Farmland Preservation Area, which provides a buffer against increasing growth, and protects valuable soils, water quality, and spring sheds. It also notes that HFF has worked with Marion County to amend the county’s comprehensive growth management plan and Land Development Code to protect and enhance the rural, equestrian and farmland character of the FPA.

The challenges are many, and the decisions the board makes have important implications for the future. It’s not an easy job, and we at Save Our Rural Areas understand and appreciate those challenges.

I liken the BOCC to a road, with groups like ours petitioning the board as to where to place the speed bumps and what fork in the road to take. It can be contentious at times, and I’m sure the board members feel like they’ve been run over after some long debates. I’m also certain that citizens often feel the same. But at the end of the day, the mindset moving forward has shifted toward the idea that we have a special place here, and the BOCC has acknowledged the fact.

It is up to “we the people” to keep that thought in the forefront of all the growth issues facing the county in future years.

Citizen participation is essential. We are grateful to all the people who have supported SORA through volunteered time and donations. I am constantly humbled by the good people in Marion County for all they do. Though they hail from all walks of life, they are hardworking, honest and forthright residents who are willing to defend the area they love.

In short, good Americans. I salute you all.

The last year has been a busy one, with SORA successfully defending the rights of owners of rural properties near the Jumbolair expansion project and the RaceTrac fueling station in the heart of the FPA. We successfully worked with Golden Ocala’s Jockey Club to reduce the impact of this grandfathered piece of property, reducing its impact on the area significantly.

With the historic teaming up of other nonprofits such as Horse Farms Forever and Ocala Horse Alliance, we have made our presence known. We don’t always agree, but our commitment to the health of the county trumps any differences we have. I look forward to a long alliance with these and other groups.

As April is Farmland Preservation Month, it wouldn’t be complete without a Farmland Preservation Festival, which SORA has hosted since 2008. On April 13, we return to Majestic Oaks Ocala, 17500 N U.S. 441, Reddick. Please mark your calendar and come out and celebrate our heritage with many vendors, kid activities, live music, and raffle items. It’s sure to be fun for everyone.

Hope to see you soon!

Report of ‘stabbing’ at Fort King Middle from fight with pen

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

The Ocala Police Department responded to a report of a “stabbing” at Fort King Middle School midday Wednesday, resulting from a fight between two students involving an ink pen. “During a lunch period today at Fort King Middle School, two students with special needs started fighting,” said Marion County Public Schools spokesperson Kevin Christian.

“One used an ink pen to attack the other resulting in injuries that were mostly superficial.”

The incident occurred at 11:35 a.m. and involved a 13-year-old student who stabbed a 14-yearold student in the head with a pen, said OPD spokesperson Jeffrey Walczak.

The injured student was taken to the hospital to be treated out of precaution, and has since been released, Walczak said.

“The incident was dispatched on first responder radios as a stabbing, hence a very strong first responder presence at the school,” Christian said. “However, when the call was downgraded, most of those responders left the scene.”

The 13-year-old student was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, Walczak said. Information about the incident was shared with the school community by Principal Michael Carter through a Skylert message. The “Gazette” has requested the audio recording of the 911 call to gather more information on the incident.

Canady, John Couriel, Renatha Francis and Meredith Sasso.

Update on the Florida House of Representatives race in Marion

District 20:

Andrew Edward Dodge (NPA)

Judson Sapp (REP)

Jamie Watts (REP)

District 21:

Yvonne Hayes Hinson (DEM) (Incumbent)

District 23:

Tod Gordon Cloud (REP)

JJ Grow (REP)

Judith Vowels (DEM)

District 24:

Ryan Chamberlin (REP) (Incumbent)

Nadege Thomas-Lang (REP)

District 27:

Steven Shives (REP)

Beckie Sirolli (REP)

Richard Gentry (REP)

Andy Ferrari (DEM)

Ocala’s ‘American Idol’ star comes home after making top 50

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

While “American Idol” contestant and Ocala’s own Emery Robbins’ time on the show has come to an end, his journey in music is only just beginning.

The 18-year-old singer was eliminated from the show in the most recent round of cuts, but he made it all the way to the top 50 in the April 1 “Showstoppers” episode.

“It’s genuinely made me a better person coming out of it,” Robbins said. “It’s been a really, really great experience all around.”

Robbins performed the song “Neon Moon” by Brooks & Dunn, which was not included in the aired footage of the episode. He said he chose the song because it’s a “country classic” and a “fun song to play.”

“Out of 60,000 people who sent in online applications, they chose 400 to go audition in front of the judges. Just to be in that group of people was something special, and then, of course, to be part of the 120 people who got to go to LA and be a part of it was something really special,’’ he said. “Then to make the top 50 on top of that was just so surreal.”

Robbins performed in front of judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry. The judges cut over half of the contestants in the most recent episode, Robbins being one of them, and the remaining 24 contestants will go on to perform in the live shows.

“Katy Perry told me after I was done that my voice was super unique and just original,” Robbins said.

Robbins performed with a live band, something he said he was accustomed to from his experience performing at Church @ the Springs, where he works as the youth ministry worship director.

“I have an honor of doing my job at Church @ the Springs where every week I get to play with a new team and a new professional musician,” he said. “That’s kind of just the quality of musicians that we have … so the adjustment wasn’t anything too great because I’m used to playing with spectacular people.”

Robbins said he hopes this experience will propel his career in music, and he hopes to release his own music in the coming months.

“I’m hoping to get more into the music industry realm of things and less of the Hollywood side of things now,” he said.

His next performance will be at Citywide Concert on 7:30 p.m. on April 28, a night of worship for middle school, high school and college-aged students at the Frank DeLuca YMCA Family Center.

Now that his “American Idol” journey has been shared on the air, Robbins’ secret is finally out, and he can share his experience on the hit ABC show with the world.

“It was super difficult to keep it a secret, but at the end of the day, I’m super grateful for the opportunity and I’m grateful for the progress I was able to make and the connections I was able to make,” Robbins said.

MARION COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 2024 RACE UPDATE

Staff report

As the election season approaches, several key local races are coming into focus following some movement among candidates.

Marion County Commissioner Michelle Stone, chairman of the board this year, now has no opposition as she seeks a third four-year term. Fellow Republican incumbents Craig Curry and Matt McClain each have an opponent.

Initially, Stone drew opposition from Nicole Meade, a Republican, and one independent, Jose “Manny” Alonso; however, both have withdrawn. Stone reports $57,061.72 in her campaign account.

McClain is running for the first time to keep the seat he was appointed to by Gov. Ron DeSantis following the resignation of Commissioner Jeff Gold.

McClain is new to running for office, but not to local politics. He worked in the state Legislature as the chief aide to Florida Sen. Dennis Baxley since 2016 and worked under former State Rep. Charlie Stone (wife of current commissioner Michelle Stone) starting in 2011. His father is Stan McClain, a former Marion County commissioner and state

House representative who has termed out of that seat. Stan McClain is running to represent Marion County in the Florida Senate.

McClain, who currently reports no campaign contributions, initially drew opposition from two Republican political newcomers: David M. Blackwell and Sarah Almeida Dennis. Dennis has since shifted her aim and is now challenging Curry. Both Blackwell and Dennis listed no campaign contributions during the latest reporting period. Curry reports $69,951.

Dennis told the “Gazette” that she and her husband made the decision to switch races because Curry had no opposition and her familial connections to Belleview had changed making her feel comfortable moving. “My husband is already house shopping in that district,” she told the “Gazette.”

According to Marion County’s Supervisor of Elections Wesley Wilcox, candidates can file to run for the three county commission seats until noon on June 14.

Unless other candidates file to run, these races will be decided during the Aug. 20 Republican primary. Because there are no candidates from other parties in the race, all registered Marion County voters will be eligible to vote in these contests.

TRAFFIC CALMING STUDY FOR SE OCALA TO BE PRESENTED

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

Findings from a traffic study for the Woodfields neighborhood and Eight Street Elementary area will be presented by the city of Ocala this week.

A community meeting to present the findings of the study will take place at 5:30 p.m. on April 10 at the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition at 15 SE Osceola Ave. The event is free and available to all to attend.

“The purpose of the meeting is to present the community with information and options for traffic calming and to gather feedback from attendees,” wrote city spokesperson Ashley Dobbs.

The city of Ocala hired consultant Kimley-Horn to conduct the study for this area to determine existing conditions,

crash history, speed data, potential traffic calming measures, and pedestrian and bicycle improvements.

The southwest Ocala area encompasses between Southeast Watula Avenue and Southeast 22nd Avenue, bordered to the north by Southeast Fort King Street and bordered to the south by State Road 464.

“The format of the meeting will be like the Vison 2050 meetings, with maps and easels set up to facilitate audience participation,” Dobbs said.

Vision 2050 meetings took place in February through March and facilitated a chance for the public to give input on the future of the city.

For more information on the traffic study meeting, contact the Transportation Engineering Division at (352) 351-6689.

Emery Robbins, 18, a Forest High School graduate who recently appeared on American Idol, poses for a photo in downtown Ocala on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.

BOCC

to vote on

312-unit apartment complex

at On

Tillman and Associates Engineering, LLC, on behalf of the landowners, On Top of the World Communities, LLC, has filed an application to rezone a 22.63-acre property site located at 8441 SW 9th Street Rd, Ocala, FL 34481 from Community Business (B-2) to Planned Unit Development (PUD) (see Attachment A) The request is to develop two parcels including portion of 3530-1001-07 and all of 35300-100004 for 312 multifamily/townhome units with amenities

Top

of

the World Neighbors oppose the project citing 55+ community concerns, safety issues for seniors in the area and incompatibility with multifamily housing.

By Belea T. Keeney belea@magnoliamediaco.com

Once again, organized groups of county residents are planning to confront the Marion County Board of County Commissioners over a proposed development, this time a 312unit apartment complex at the entrance to the On Top of the World retirement community.

Opponents insist the multifamily rental housing does not belong in a 55+ subdivision and have raised issues ranging from the area’s already overcrowded schools to safety concerns to the loss of character of their community.

The commissioners moved the hearing to April 22 at 9 a.m. after hundreds of opposition parties swarmed the Planning & Zoning hearing held Feb. 26. Initially, a change of venue was announced but the board will meet at its usual auditorium; the time and date was changed to accommodate what is expected to be a large public turnout.

Planning & Zoning approved application

Feb. 26

The county’s Planning & Zoning staff recommended approval with conditions, and the P&Z Commission—after discussing the application for over two hours on Feb. 26—voted 5-2 amid strong public opposition to approve and move the application on to the county commission.

The application from Tillman and Associates Engineering, LLC, was on behalf of the landowners, On Top of the World Communities, LLC, and is “to rezone the 22.63-acre property site located at 8441 SW 9th (sic) Street Rd. “The change would be from Community Business (B-2) to Planned Unit Development (PUD) on two parcels for 312 multifamily/townhome units with amenities. No nonresidentialuse areas are proposed by the PUD,” the application stated. The correct street address is 8551 SW 99th Street Road. The apartment community would be owned and managed by Continental Properties, a national multifamily developer and owner/ managers of properties. They have 16 communities in Florida and 77 total throughout the United States. Representatives for Continental said studio apartments would start at about $1,300 per month, and the threebedroom models will start at $1,800 per month.

A unique aspect of this project is that it is set within the Vested Development of Regional Impact of Circle Square Woods of OTOW, established in 1978 when State Road 200 was a two-lane road and barren of

nearly all other development.

The P&Z staff report stated, “According to applicant’s email, originally, at the time the project was established, the historic provisions of Marion County’s 1973 effective development regulations enabled B-2 zoned commercial properties to be developed commercially or for residential development. The PUD proposes to utilize a portion of the project’s vested enabled development amounts on the vested commercial site. The proposed 312 multifamily dwelling units are drawn from total of 3,600 multiple-family dwelling units under the vested rights.”

There are multifamily neighborhoods within OTOW comprised of dozens of sixplex, one-story villas that make up the Friendship Village and Americana sub-neighborhoods on the southwest portion of the senior community. These are also part of the multifamily allowed uses for the VDRI.

The rezoning is slated for the Canopy Oaks mixed-use PUD that has already been developed at SW 80th Avenue and SR 200, with a shopping center that currently includes a Publix grocery store, restaurants, banks, a hotel, a Dunkin’ Donuts and Cody’s Original Roadhouse that were part of the Phase 1 plans. The apartment complex is slated for Phase 2 along with a proposed clinic/medical office and a fast food restaurant.

Ken Metcalf—director of planning with Stern, Weaver, Miller in Tallahassee and the lawyer representing OTOW— told the P&Z board, “It’s the developer’s choice what vested rights they want to use. These units are already approved. We didn’t even need to apply for a PUD. The B-2 zoning from the ‘70s is still in effect.”

The application also stated the units are exempt from transportation and school concurrency requirements because of its vested status. The PUD would be serviced by Bay Laurel Utilities for water and sewer, which is part of the OTOW family of service providers; it will not impact county water/sewer and stormwater needs.

The P&Z staff report section on schools stated the community is served by Hammett Bowen Jr. Elementary School (118.33% utilization); Liberty Middle School (111.64% utilization); and West Port High School (109.81% utilization).

All of the schools are operating over their capacity; however, county staff felt this was not enough of a significant issue to recommend denial.

“While the local schools within the area are experiencing overcrowding, the school district as a whole has ample capacity for any new students generated by this development,’’ the report stated. “It is concluded that the proposed rezoning public schools’ impacts could adversely affect the public interest.”

The P&Z staff report estimated that an additional “2.4 persons per household,” would add about 749 people to the area.

Figure 1 is an aerial photograph showing the general location of the subject property. The subject property is situated within the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) and is located within the secondary spring's protection overlay zone. No non-residential use areas are proposed by the PUD.

Figure 1

General Location Map

OTOW resident opposition

II. STAFF SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS of the Applicant's request because it is consistent with Land Development Code (LDC) Section 2.7.3.E.2, which requires that granting a rezoning will not adversely affect the public interest, that the rezoning is General Location Map [Supplied]

OTOW residents and concerned neighbors have been staging regular protests since February around the community’s various entrances on public property.

Organizers report that dozens of sign holders and those gathering signatures on opposition petitions indicate the level of anti-apartment sentiment among those affected. Residents also planned a “No Rezone” golf cart parade to take place inside the OTOW community.

Nancy Carp, a neighborhood organizer for OTOW residents, said security issues, costs for road improvements and the financial hardship to improve safety for OTOW residents are her main concerns.

“We have a gatehouse, but it’s just for surveillance,” Carp said. “It’s just for cars coming in and out. But anybody can come in or out, even on a golf cart, and they don’t get checked. People walking in don’t get checked. If there are apartments, it’s (OTOW) just around the corner.”

Opponents who spoke during the Feb. 26 P&Z hearing noted numerous concerns, including the distinction between renters and property owners; the lack of activities for children in the area; the prevalence of other agerestricted communities in that stretch of SR 200 such as Oak Run, Palm Cay and Pine Run; additional traffic issues; the possible uncontrolled pedestrian traffic into OTOW; and school overcrowding that will be exacerbated by another development.

The commission auditorium was full that day, and nearly 100 people waited out in the courtyard for their turn to speak or observe the meeting. Carp reported over 500 people also waited outside the building during the meeting. Opposing speakers talked to the board for about 45 minutes.

Tom Rumora, an OTOW resident and organizer, in a letter to the BOCC that he shared with the “Gazette,” wrote, “The developer claims to already have the so-called ‘right to build unrestricted family apartments and/or commercial facilities,’ due to a zoning decision made 50 years ago. However, there is strong opposition from thousands of OTOW residents, and if these apartments were being

proposed today without this ‘right,’ the Zoning Board and County Commissioners would logically reject the project.”

Rumora also mentioned security in his letter.

“The 55+ restriction in OTOW will be nullified by the apartments. A small fence or row of shrubs will NOT realistically prevent people of all ages from having easy access, visibility, contact, and impact on OTOW residents. The apartment project will therefore functionally nullify one of the most important aspects of life in OTOW—the legal, ethical, and moral expectation of quiet, safe, adult/retirement living standards. Apartment residents will become VIRTUAL OTOW RESIDENTS, merely separated by the tiniest of distance and physical restraints. They will have uncontrolled 24-hour access— bypassing the gate/guard—in golf cars, scooters, bicycles, skateboards, and on foot.”

One opposition speaker mentioned a better use of the parcels would be to build medical facilities or an assisted living/senior community. Another raised the possibility of teenage skateboarders mixing with seniors in golf carts with disastrous results. The speed limit of 55 mph on SR 200 and a mix of children and school buses were also mentioned as a concern.

In addition to the project itself, Carp said she was also taken aback by the demeanor of

at least some of the P&Z board members. Some appeared bored, she said, checking their phones or not paying attention.

“We attended the Planning and Zoning meeting on February 26th, with over 500 people strongly expressing our concerns but to no avail,’’ she wrote. “In fact, the chairman made the comment, ‘This will just be good practice for March 19th when we go before the County Commissioners.’ At the end, he then stated, ‘I will sell your home for you right now and make lots of money for you and me.’ We were appalled by these statements.”

In reviewing the video, the “Gazette” confirmed that Greg Lord, P&Z member and an area real estate agent, spoke to residents’ expectations about buying next to vacant land.

“They didn’t tell you that this plot of land would be developed one day,’’ he said. “It’s their (the property owner’s) right (to develop.) My fellow real estate agents don’t tell you this land won’t stay vacant. In Marion County … the horse farms will be gone one day.”

He also stated, “Those folks that live on that street to back up to this, when they want to sell their property, come to me, and I’ll help you sell it and make money on it.” The audience reacted audibly to the comment and board member William Heller shook his head at the remarks.

Figure 2

Conceptual Plan

Social media flurry about illegal immigrants in Marion turns up false

By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com

Over the past week, social media has seen a flurry of activity with pictures of white buses allegedly delivering illegal immigrants to Marion County.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office reports at least a dozen calls over a three-day period for suspicious white buses

delivering “unamerican men” to the Relax Inn, located at 5331 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

On March 31, the “Gazette” came upon the motel when a white bus with a black stripe painted down it and the initials “JNT” painted on the front was parked there and dozens of Spanishspeaking individuals were coming out and getting onboard.

Affixed to the side of the bus were notices about the “Migrant

and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act,” information about 911, worker’s comp insurance, the minimum federal wage, and warnings about pesticides and employee rights.

The bus driver did not speak English, but called his “boss,” Jacob Trinidad of JNT Harvesting, on his cell phone and handed the phone to the “Gazette” representative.

Trinidad said local

RANDOM SCHOOL SEARCHING CONTINUES

K-9 units search for drugs and weapons in middle and high schools

Moore said.

authorities had already come to the motel and were provided work visas and that the Mexican migrant workers were there to harvest blueberries.

Lt. Paul Bloom with the MCSO confirmed that was the case to the “Gazette” by email.

“It is true, these are migrant farm workers that travel through every year to harvest all of the watermelons, strawberries and other fresh fruits we enjoy.

As a lifelong resident of Marion County, I remember seeing them come through when I was a child here. Having worked patrol, I don’t recall ever having an issue with these folks. Typically, they are very reclusive and respectful if you come across them,” Bloom wrote. The “Gazette” asked Bloom if there were any verified reports of illegal immigrants being bussed into Marion and he said no.

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

Forest High School underwent a surprise search on April 1 by a Marion County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit as part of the administrative search policy instituted over a year ago.

The search was routine and scheduled but occurred at random as part of the surprise searches conducted by the sheriff’s office in coordination with Safe Schools to keep weapons and illegal drugs out of Marion County middle and high schools.

Administrative “surprise” searches of schools occur weekly, according to MCSO spokesperson Zachary Moore.

“Safe Schools uses a computer program to randomly select a school and classroom in the county for our (School Resource Officer) K-9 units to search for guns,”

Marion County Public Schools spokesperson Kevin Christian said the school district could not divulge the randomization method used to select schools for searching.

“Principals receive notification minutes before a search takes place,” Christian said.

During these searches, students and school faculty are asked to exit the

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classroom and leave all of their personal belongings inside, which are searched by a K-9 unit to sniff for weapons and drugs. Students are searched with a metal detecting wand outside of the classroom to locate any items that might be on their person.

Before the administrative search policy was introduced in February of 2023, probable cause or suspicion was needed for a search to be conducted in schools.

Above and right: The Marion County Sheriff’s Office reports at least a dozen calls over a three-day period for suspicious white buses delivering “unamerican men” to

Caramel This two-year-old beauty has a vivacious spirit that is simply contagious. Caramel loves a good run with other dogs and then a lounge in the cool breeze with her pals.

Crime report

Continued from page A1

every day proves that what we are doing here is working,” the chamber representative told those assembled.

The introduction to the report states Florida’s goal is to become “a top 10 global economy by 2030.”

“Florida is the third largest state in the nation with approximately 23 million people. We expect to add 2.8 million more residents, 1.35 million new jobs, 40 million more annual visitors, and approximately 2.5 million more drivers on our roads by 2030.”

In order to ensure safety as the state’s population grows, the report outlines policies that

both the Florida Association of Sheriffs and the Florida Chamber of Commerce, as well as the DeSantis administration claim they are getting right and thus having lower crime stats than other blue states.

The report states that criminal justice systems in other states have made reforms like “eliminating bail” that allow for thieves to get off with less consequences, whereas Florida legislators have increased penalties for criminals who make coordinated thefts and become repeat offenders.

When it came to drugs, the report said, “Unlike Oregon or even states that have legalized marijuana recreationally, Florida has taken a different approach”

such as “increased mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment of those trafficking fentanyl” or other drugs that cause death.

The report indicated that Florida has taken an “opposite approach” to activists who have sought to “defund law enforcement” by putting in legislation that stops local governments from cutting back police and sheriff budgets.

The report also touts success targeting “rogue prosecutors” the governor has stepped in to remove the prosecutors and or reassign cases.

Additionally, the report says Florida has strengthened the bail system and held juveniles more accountable for crime.

In the report’s conclusion,

“research” contained in the report, as well as “recent survey data” show that positive solutions are being implemented for both

“economic prosperity and community stability.” To watch the press conference, visit bit.ly/4aBE5qD.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper, the President of the Florida Sheriff’s Association, speaks during a press conference about the Building Stronger, Safer Cities research report at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Ocala on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.

State

State targets disclosure law challenges

By Jim Saunders Florida News Service

Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office is urging state and federal judges to toss out challenges to the constitutionality of a 2023 law that requires mayors and other elected municipal officials to disclose detailed information about their personal finances.

Lawyers in Moody’s office filed motions Monday arguing that the cases, filed by municipalities and dozens of elected officials from across Florida, should be dismissed.

One of the lawsuits, filed in Leon County circuit court, alleges the disclosure requirements violate privacy rights; the other lawsuit, filed in federal court in Miami, alleges violation of First Amendment rights. Both cases were filed in February, after numerous municipal

officials resigned because of the law.

But in Monday’s motion to dismiss the Leon County case, the state’s attorneys disputed the privacy arguments and said financial disclosures “have been a constant for Florida politicians since the 1970s.”

“Elected municipal officials such as individual plaintiffs necessarily and purposefully amble outside of what would be the normally protected zone of privacy for the express purpose of achieving office. As a result, individual plaintiffs do not have a ‘reasonable expectation of privacy’ with respect to their financial information,” the motion said, partially quoting a legal precedent.

But in an amended version of the Leon County lawsuit filed March 22, attorneys for the plaintiffs said the law requires municipal officials who were in office as of Jan. 1 to “disclose quintessentially private, highly personal financial information.”

The law requires municipal officials to file what is known as a Form 6, which includes detailed information about issues such as income, assets, liabilities and net worths. State and county elected officials have long filed Form 6 disclosures, but municipal officials in the past filed what is known as a Form 1, which requires lessdetailed information.

“Requiring that uncompensated (or minimally compensated) elected officials disclose their precise net worth, income and assets does not serve (let alone constitute the least restrictive means of serving) any compelling interest,” the Leon County lawsuit said. “Form 1 disclosures have for years provided sufficient transparency to inform the public of potential conflicts, prevent corruption and create public confidence in government.”

But in the state’s motion to dismiss the Leon County case, attorneys in Moody’s

DESANTIS OKS TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE

By Florida News Service

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed a wide-ranging transportation package that includes prohibiting state money from going into local publictransit advertising.

“Can you look a taxpayer in the eye and say, ‘Yeah, you need to kick in a little bit more money so that some county can go on some ideological joyride on their

buses?’” DeSantis said at a bill-signing event at Florida Polytechnic University.

“No, we’re not going to do that.”

The law (HB 1301), which will take effect July 1, says Department of Transportation funds can’t be used for marketing or advertising activities on buses or other vehicles operated by public-transit agencies.

“Such vehicles are limited to displaying a brand or logo of the

public transit provider, the official seal of the jurisdictional governmental entity, or a state agency public service announcement,” a legislative analysis of the bill said.

The law also will change the way the Department of Transportation secretary is chosen. It will eliminate a process of the Florida Transportation Commission recommending finalists to the governor, who makes the ultimate selection.

office described the law as Florida taking “another step in its ongoing efforts to enhance governmental ethics.”

The lawsuits name as defendants members of the Florida Commission on Ethics, which administers and enforces disclosure laws. Moody’s office represents the commission. Plaintiffs in the lawsuits include officials and communities ranging from Miami Springs to Destin.

Citing information from the Florida League of Cities, the Leon County lawsuit said more than 100 municipal officials have resigned because of the increased disclosure requirements. Officials face a July 1 deadline for filing the reports.

Lawmakers this year considered a proposal to push back the effective date of the requirements to 2025 and exempt officials in communities with 500 people or fewer. But the proposal died before the legislative session ended in March.

The bill also will direct the Florida Rail Enterprise to include among its duties the acquisition of “future rail corridors and rights-of-way in coordination with FDOT’s planning of the state highway system.”

A Senate version of the bill initially sought a 44-foot-wide rail corridor in the Interstate 4 right-of-way to extend the private Brightline passenger rail service from Orlando to Tampa.

6 issues on November ballot

By Jim Saunders Florida News Service

With the state Supreme Court this week signing off on ballot initiatives about abortion rights and recreational use of marijuana, Floridians in November will vote on six proposed constitutional amendments. Passage of each proposal would require support from at least 60 percent of voters. Here are brief descriptions of the six issues:

— ABORTION: In what could be 2024’s biggest political issue in Florida, voters will decide whether to enshrine abortion rights in the state Constitution. The vote will come after Gov. Ron DeSantis and lawmakers approved preventing abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The proposed constitutional amendment, in part, says: “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before

viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”

— CAMPAIGN MONEY: Lawmakers approved placing a measure on the ballot to again try to repeal a program that offers state matching funds to gubernatorial and state Cabinet candidates. Voters approved the matching-funds program in 1998, and a repeal attempt failed in 2010. When the program was created, supporters said it could help reduce the influence of bigmoney contributors in statewide elections, but critics have long derided the program as welfare for politicians.

— FISHING AND HUNTING: Fishing and hunting have been traditions for generations of Floridians. Voters in November will decide whether to enshrine a right to fish and hunt in the state Constitution. With the backing of outdoors groups, lawmakers voted almost unanimously last year to place

the measure on the ballot. In part, the proposal says hunting and fishing “shall be preserved forever as a public right and preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife.”

— MARIJUANA: Eight years after voters approved a constitutional amendment that broadly allowed medical marijuana, they will decide this year whether to give the go-ahead to recreational use of marijuana. The political committee Safe & Smart Florida, backed heavily by the Trulieve medicalmarijuana company, led the drive to put the measure on the ballot. It would allow people ages 21 and older to “possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption.”

— PROPERTY TAXES: Homeowners could receive slightly larger property-tax breaks if voters approve a constitutional amendment that the Legislature put on

the ballot. The proposal would lead to adjusting part of the homestead propertytax exemption for inflation. Homeowners receive tax exemptions on the assessed values of their property up to $25,000 and on the values between $50,000 and $75,000. The proposal would require adjusting for inflation the exempt portion currently between $50,000 and $75,000.

— SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS:

With supporters seeking to do away with a requirement that candidates run without party labels, voters will decide whether to hold partisan schoolboard elections. Florida historically had partisan school-board elections, but voters passed a constitutional amendment in 1998 to make the races non-partisan. Lawmakers, however, placed a measure on this year’s ballot that would return to partisan races starting in 2026. School board races in some areas have become battlegrounds in recent years.

Report: Pandemic slashed tourism marketing return

By Dara Kam Florida News Service

Following a pair of blockbuster decisions by the Florida Supreme Court, Democrats are galvanizing around abortion as a “front and center” issue that they say could affect races up and down the ballot in November.

Focus on the abortion issue exploded Monday shortly after the seven-member Supreme Court— which includes five justices appointed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis—overturned decades of precedent and upheld a 2022 Florida law banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The ruling will trigger a 2023 law preventing abortions after six weeks. Critics maintain that the six-week restriction, which will take effect next month, amounts to a virtual ban on abortions.

Justices, meanwhile, also allowed a proposal to go on the November ballot aimed at enshrining abortion rights in the Florida Constitution. As with all proposed constitutional changes, passage of the measure would require approval from at least 60 percent of voters.

The abortion-rights proposal will share the November ballot with President Joe Biden’s reelection matchup against his predecessor, former President Donald Trump. While Trump lost nationally, he defeated Biden by more than 3 percentage points in Florida in 2020.

Political insiders had largely written off Florida for Democrats in this year’s elections, as Republicans have built a large voter-registration advantage and hold all statewide elected offices and

supermajorities in the Legislature.

But Democrats are seizing on the abortion issue as a potential crack in the GOP’s dominance in the state.

Hours after Monday’s court opinions, Biden’s campaign issued a memo with the subject line “President Biden’s opening in Florida.”

”Make no mistake: Florida is not an easy state to win, but it is a winnable one for President Biden, especially given Trump’s weak, cash-strapped campaign and serious vulnerabilities within his coalition,” the president’s campaign manager, Julia Chavez Rodriguez, wrote.

Abortion rights “will be front and center this election cycle,” she added.

“We definitely see Florida in play. And unlike Donald Trump, we have multiple pathways to 270 (electoral-college votes) that we’ve been able to keep open,” Chavez Rodriguez told reporters during a press call Tuesday.

Democrats are blaming Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court appointees for a 2022 ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, which for nearly 50 years guaranteed access to abortions. The 2022 ruling left decisions about abortion up to states and spawned a series of laws in Republicandominated states, including Florida, restricting access.

Biden called Florida’s six-week limit “outrageous” Tuesday in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“Yesterday, Florida’s Supreme Court upheld a state abortion ban, likely triggering the Governor’s more extreme law eliminating access before many even know they’re pregnant.

Outrageous @VP and I remain

committed to protecting reproductive freedom in Florida and across the U.S.,” Biden’s post said, making references to DeSantis, the six-week law and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Florida Republicans also are gearing up for a battle over abortion in November, with state House Speaker Paul Renner telling reporters “there will be an organized effort” to defeat the proposed constitutional amendment.

“The effort will really be focused on those in the middle,” Renner, R-Palm Coast, said Monday. “This (the proposed amendment), really, would go right up to the time of birth, with no opportunity for regulation whatsoever. It is extreme in its focus. It would be one of the most extreme laws in the country, as well as around the world, should it pass.”

But Laura Goodhue, executive director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, said Renner’s remarks about lateterm abortions were “absolutely not” accurate.

“This is a scare tactic. What the amendment simply says is that abortions are permitted without political interference but before viability. And viability means when a pregnancy can survive outside the womb,” Goodhue said in an interview Tuesday.

According to the state Agency for Health Care Administration, 7,630 of the 84,052 abortions performed in Florida in 2023 were in the second trimester, or after 13 weeks of pregnancy. Abortions in the third trimester are outlawed in Florida, and none were conducted in 2023, according to the agency’s website. Carlos Lacasa, a Republican

former state legislator who is advising the Florida Women’s Freedom Coalition, a group backing the ballot initiative, advised proponents to educate voters with “50 years worth of statistics” about the infrequency of late-term abortions, “which are the type of abortions that are of most concern to voters who would otherwise be pro-choice … so that they’re not swayed by inflammatory rhetoric.”

The proposed amendment puts Florida “in play for people who want an end to government interference in their personal, private lives,” Goodhue said.

Lacasa also said the impending six-week ban will likely drive up support for the ballot proposal, known as Amendment 4.

“I firmly believe that that is the case, that it will enhance the prospects of passage of Amendment 4 by at least 5 percent. I think we’re already over 60 (percent). I think we’re going to pick up an extra five points minimum, thanks to the six-week ban because there will be a greater sense of urgency among those who believe in reproductive rights,” Lacasa told The News Service of Florida on Tuesday.

Before Monday’s rulings, Florida Democrats had already started using the abortion issue as a cornerstone of this year’s elections. As an example, Democrat Tom Keen flipped a Central Florida state House seat in a January special election in a campaign focused largely on abortion rights and property insurance.

Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, pointed to Keen’s victory during the Biden

campaign press call Tuesday.

“This November, Florida will draw a line in the sand and say ‘enough.’ We will vote to put this (amendment) clearly in the Florida Constitution, and we will hold our elected officials accountable if they try to take away our rights,” Driskell said.

Supporters of the ballot measure are buoyed by the success of similar efforts in seven other states—California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Ohio and Vermont—following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling in the case known as Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

The Florida Supreme Court’s approval of Amendment 4 for the ballot is “shaking up the political landscape” in Florida, wrote Rick Wilson, a former Republican consultant who is a co-founder of the Lincoln Project.

The proposal is “consequential and will reshape the race in Florida—particularly downballot,” Wilson wrote in a Substack post Tuesday.

Lacasa predicted the abortion initiative could drive up turnout in November among Democrats, independents and “Republicans such as myself who are otherwise skeptical about the ballot,” referring to the presidential candidates.

Lacasa offered some advice for Republican lawmakers about the pending six-week restriction.

“My advice would be to call a special session and fix this before November. It’s in your hands. It wouldn’t surprise me if those conversations are happening today,” he said.

— News Service Assignment Manager Tom Urban contributed to this report.

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People, Places & Things

Marion County’s arts magnet school invites the community to a

By Lisa McGinnes lisa@magnoliamediaco.com

West Port High School theater teacher Kate Messenger predicts audiences “can’t help but sing along” with the school’s “rocking” production she describes as “this generation’s answer to ‘Grease.’” The enthusiastic cast of 27 of the area’s most talented high school performing arts students have masterfully recreated the ’80s look, sound and moves for a show the director, music director, choreographer and cast all describe as “fun.”

Live on stage April 11-14, the musical “Footloose” reprises the familiar story from the 1984 hit movie: A Chicago teen moves to small town and goes toe to toe with the preacher who banned dancing–and cheek to cheek with the reverend’s rebellious daughter. The film’s Academy Award- and Grammy Award-nominated soundtrack, highlighted by Kenny Loggins’ title song, topped the Billboard chart for

two months after its release.

“‘Footloose’ is one of those classic movies everyone has either seen or heard of … and is sort of cemented in pop culture, regardless of generation,” said Adam Pryor, West Port chorus director and the show’s musical director. “It is incredibly fun music that strays from the musical theater genre that perhaps most people expect when they think of a high school musical production.”

Pryor explained that he enlisted musicians from the school’s concert band and rock band for the pit orchestra, and--between the cast, backstage crew, musicians and technicians--more than 50 students are involved in the production.

“It has been exciting to learn ’80s rock songs and just jam out with these students,” Pryor said. “The cast is incredible and features some of the most talented singers I have had the pleasure to work with.”

Messenger, the show’s director, explained that she tries to select shows that will have a lot of opportunity to showcase the talent of the students she teaches.

rollicking rendition of the musical “Footloose.”

“Directing this show has been an absolute blast,” she said. “Our cast and crew are so talented and we all truly enjoy the process. I love coming to rehearsal and watching them play, no pun intended. The show is delightful and fun to watch.”

The cast members exuberantly sing and dance their way through 15 songs, with multiple production numbers choreographed by Kim Wise.

“They’re a great group of young adults who work super hard,” Wise said. “I’ve had so much fun choreographing this, because it’s made me feel like I’m back in college again. That kind of music was the soundtrack of my years back then.”

Wise explained the musical includes “a little bit of country dancing” plus the style she remembers from school dances, with the “big showstopper” at the end containing “a couple of surprises.” Two of the smaller dance numbers were choreographed by students, which Messenger said allowed more collaboration between director and cast.

Just a year after his first onstage

appearance in the school’s dinner theater performance of “The Odd Couple,” 18-year-old senior Xavier Rosado said “it’s very humbling” taking on the role of Ren, made famous by Kevin Bacon.

“I think I have big shoes to fill and I’m going to work hard,” he said. “I just enjoy this character so much. My favorite thing about this character is he kind of resembles me, because I’m always dancing and always singing.” Plus, Rosado noted, he moved from New York to Ocala at the beginning of high school and feels the similarity with Ren, who feels “very out of place” at a new school in a new town.

“All of us are having fun,” Rosado continued, explaining that the cast, including female lead Marissa Boyd as Ariel, “genuinely all have great chemistry.”

“We have worked so hard on it, and we’re having fun doing it,” Rosado continued. “It’s so fun!”

“Footloose” is live on stage April 11-13 at 7 p.m. and April 14 at 2 p.m. at West Port High School, 3733 SW 80th Ave. For tickets, visit wphs.seatyourself.biz.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette Clockwise from far left: Xavier Rosado, 18, a senior, who plays the part of Ren, center, gets lifted in the air by Cordel Miner, 18, a senior, who plays the part of Willard, left, and Brett Griffin, a junior, who plays the part of Garvin, right, during a rehearsal of “Footloose” at West Port High School in Ocala on Monday, April 1, 2024. Xavier Rosado, 18, a senior, who plays the part of Ren, left, and Marissa Boyd, 17, a junior, who plays the part of Ariel, right. Cast members dance together.

Rodeo royalty

Marion County’s Callie Sue Edwards and Shane Kuhn recently collected pro rodeo awards in saddle bronc riding and for best specialty act.

By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com

Have you ever seen a water buffalo or a half horse/half zebra perform at a rodeo?

Well thousands of people have, and that’s thanks to a couple from Shiloh, in northwest Marion County.

Callie Sue Edwards and Shane Kuhn perform together at rodeos as Banjo the Water Buffalo and Friends, and Kuhn also competes in individual categories.

The Southeastern Professional Rodeo Association recently awarded its 2023 Specialty Act of the Year to Banjo and Friends and the 2023 Saddle Bronc Rider award to Kuhn. The honors were extended during the Southeastern Professional Finals Rodeo held March 2123 in Philadelphia, Mississippi.

Saddle bronc riding is an event in which the contestant attempts to ride a bucking horse for eight seconds. The horse is equipped with a regulation saddle with stirrups and a six-foot braided rein attached to a halter that is held with one hand. The rider is scored by judges, Edwards noted.

Kuhn amassed the highest average of scores overall for 2023. His prize was a custom Corriente roping

saddle specially made for the winner of the 2023 Frontier Classic Rodeo Series. He also competed in steer wrestling.

Banjo the Water Buffalo and Friends includes Edwards and Kuhn, along with water buffalo Banjo and Harley, white Andalusian mare Crystal and Zorro, the “zorse,” a cross between a zebra and a horse.

“The Frontier Classic Rodeo hired us for about a dozen rodeos last year throughout Alabama and Mississippi. The rodeo committee voted for the best specialty act that year and we made the cut, which meant we performed at the finals this year in Philadelphia, Mississippi,” Edwards said.

They also received a big, shiny belt buckle.

Edwards said their show involves several components, all geared to entertain the crowds gathered for the rodeo competitions.

“Shane enters the arena, usually wearing a light-up suit, kind of like ‘The Electric Cowboy,’ and galloping on Crystal as he trick ropes and spins and shoots his pistols at balloon targets. The horse takes a bow and Shane continues to trick rope on the ground or on top of the truck. After that, we enter on the water buffalo, with me on Banjo and Shane riding Harley, and go around the arena and go through a fiery jump,” Edwards explained.

She said she also will do the “hippodrome stand,” meaning she stands up on the moving animal and goes through the jump.

At one point, Banjo will walk up a ramp into the bed of a truck. Edwards or Kuhn will stand on top of him and shoot a gun in the air.

“For the final part of the act, Shane rides his white horse, and the zebra horse runs from the other end of the pen. I walk out and mount Zorro and the four of us make a fast lap around the arena while shooting guns and making a final jump over the fire and then we wave as we exit the arena,” Edwards said.

She said they already are set to perform in several SPRA events this year.

When asked why they do it, she replied: We were born and raised cowboys and cowgirls. It’s in our blood I guess.”

To learn more, go to sprarodeo.net and fb.com/banjothewaterbuffalo

The Gazette previously reported on Banjo and Friends and some other local Wild West show performers. Find the article and photos at ocalagazette.com/wild-and-wonderful

Left to right: Shane Kuhn and Callie Sue Edwards, with Banjo and Harley, perform during a professional rodeo. Callie Sue Edwards rides Zorro, the “zorse,” during a rodeo. [Photos courtesy Banjo the Water Buffalo and Friends] Clockwise from left: Shane Kuhn and Callie Sue Edwards, with Banjo the water buffalo, during a professional rodeo. Shane Kuhn performs with Crystal, his Andalusian mare. Belt buckle. [Photos courtesy Banjo the Water Buffalo and Friends]

Flow artists have found a welcoming performance venue in Ocala.

By Jamie Berube Special to the Gazette

low artist Stevie Granger thinks the community of flow artists in Ocala can enhance the city’s art scene.

“When we are out here on Thursdays, people stop in their cars and watch. Or they slow down and watch. I don’t think that a lot of people in Ocala are ready to embrace this kind of artistic expression. But it’s growing,” Granger said, speaking of weekly performances at the Muddy Lotus Kava Bar near downtown Ocala.

According to the Flow Arts Institute website, flow arts is a general term used to describe the intersection of movement-based disciplines such as dance, juggling, fire-spinning, and object manipulation. Flow arts includes a variety of pursuits that harmonize skill-based techniques with creative expression to achieve a state of presentmoment awareness known as flow.

Common forms of flow arts include poi and staff spinning, hula hoop (or “hooping”), juggling, sphere manipulation (or “contact juggling”), and fan dance. New props and expressions emerge as flow artists cross pollinate with martial arts, yoga, circus, belly dance, and beyond.

Granger discovered flow art at a music festival.

“I discovered flow through music festivals when I started hanging out with a bunch of raver kids. It went from gloving with gloves with LED lights on the end, to poi,” Granger said.

Poi is a form of performance art and also the name of the prop used in the performance.

Granger said poi, which originated in New Zealand, was once used as an offseason warrior training.

“Then it turned into the fire dance stuff you see in Polynesian places. From there, the flow art and raver community picked up poi,” Granger explained.

The poi prop consists of fabric or fire-resistant materials and tethered weights that are typically sack-like in form. This prop can be swung around in geometric patterns to create a rhythmic and artistic show.

“My first set was literally a pair of socks and tennis balls,” Granger said.

Every Thursday from 9 p.m. until 11 p.m. at the Muddy Lotus Tea Kava Bar, flow artists meet for spin jam sessions that involve fire spinning, poi-ball dancing and hula-hooping. The sessions began when the bar opened on Nov. 4, 2018, according to owner Kibbie Fulton

The folks at Muddy Lotus reached out to people in Tampa and St. Pete to get them to come to Ocala to make this happen, according to Muddy Lotus employee, Dillon St. John.

Flow artist Lizzie Steger described flow art as movement meditation.

“Flow art is a combination of prop manipulation, meditation and dance. If those three things had a baby, it would be flow art. I call it flow art or

movement meditation,” Steger said.

Steger discovered flow art before she moved to Florida.

“I saw some girls doing flow at the beach one day at Virginia Beach, and I thought it looked cool. I went on the internet and started googling stuff and discovered that there is a whole world out there of flow artists,” Steger said.

“When I first picked up flow art, I was severely depressed. I was an alcoholic, and it helped me focus on something better for me than alcohol. It gave me a new addiction, a healthy addiction,” Steger added.

Of the props used in flow art, Steger loves hula-hoops the most.

“I dabble in just about all of them. I also do poi, staff and fire-eating,” she said.

Steger is one of many flow artists who look forward to gathering every Thursday to perform at Muddy Lotus.

Chris Knight, a 48-year-old account manager, discovered the scene at Muddy Lotus in October 2023.

“I came and sat and watched for months. Someone I met at Muddy Lotus was doing poi, and I asked to try it out. I came up another night, and the same person came and sat by me and put their poi near me, and I started playing with them like a toy,” Knight said.

Knight has been dabbling with poi and spinning fire for five months and said he has found the art and the community to be an outlet for creative expression.

“Even though I’m 48 and have a beer belly, it makes me feel like it’s OK to go out there and self-express,” Knight said. “It’s also an escape from my job, a way to relax.”

For flow artist Andrea Blau, the art helped her de-stress from her job at the health department during COVID-19.

“I moved to Ocala six weeks before COVID, and flow became a way for me to de-stress from the craziness. I was working at the health department, standing outside testing people in 100-degree weather, testing people in their cars for COVID,” Blau said.

Flow artist Chris Willet said the Ocala flow community has been invited to perform at various venues outside of Muddy Lotus.

“People in the Ocala flow community get invited to perform frequently. Some of us have performed at the World Equestrian Center and also the Tiki Drink Festival in May of 2023 put on by Tipsy Skipper, a bar downtown,” Willet said.

“It’s not that widespread that Ocala residents will pay money for a flow performance. They may balk at the amount of money it costs to have us. It’s $300 an hour to perform; that’s what I would charge,” he stated.

Willet said he discovered flow art in college.

“I was living with my best friend, and his mom did fire performances professionally. One day she came to visit us and brought her fire toys and showed us how to use them,” Willet said. “I made my own staff after that. I bought a Kevlar wick online and made a staff, and the rest is history.”

Willet said Kevlar is used for making bulletproof vests and fireproof race-car suits.

“That’s why you can set it on fire, and it doesn’t just burn away,” Willet stated. “The emerging technology is LED technology. You can do more things with the new technology, and you can enhance performance with it.”

Flow artist Richard Marquette said LED technology has helped the flow art gain traction.

“Now we have LED technology, but in the ‘90s they used glow sticks on strings. Rave culture has been doing this for a while,” Marquette said.

According to Marquette, the city of Ocala reached out to his friends within the flow community to arrange a performance at a carnival.

“In 2018, the city of Ocala reached out to us to spin fire for the fall carnival. They were apologetic because they don’t have the budget to pay us, but we’re looking to establish contact with the city to possibly perform at parades,” Marquette said.

“We get invited to festivals a lot. We get invited to almost a dozen events per year,” he stated.

Marquette is described as the grandfather of flow art by those who meet at Muddy Lotus. He has been a part of the scene for three decades.

“I’ve been in both generations of flow. The first rise of flow arts and fire spinning was in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. That’s where it started, and it’s only increased from there,” Marquette said.

“In the ‘90s, we had to make our own props, this current generation mostly buys their props. In the first generation, we were working with lower quality aluminum, copper, and steel, so our prop weight was much heavier,” Marquette explained.

According to Marquette, city regulations and fire safety laws make it hard to branch out into other spaces in Ocala.

“Because of open flame, you have to have a permit to do it on public property. It helps having places like kava bars where they can perform. Without that, they’d be relegated to their own backyards,” St. John said, adding that he believes flow art brings a special value to Ocala.

“Flow brings a new age and a new flavor to it. It gives people a way to express themselves outside of the norm of traditional art,” St. John stated.

St. John said he has loved having the group of flow artists at Muddy Lotus every Thursday.

“One of my favorite things is that you get so many people from so many different walks of life. It’s really awesome to see people from all walks of life get together over a shared interest. The artists are very welcoming people,” he said.

To learn more, go to flowartsinstitute.com or visit the Muddy Lotus website at thealchemistbrews.com

Flow artist Lizzie Steger, with the hoop, performs at the Muddy Lotus Kava Bar. [Photo by Jamie Berube]

Flow artist Chris Willet. [Photo by Jamie Berube]

Sarah Stoner demonstrates a form of flow art at the Muddy Lotus Kava Bar in Ocala. [Photo by Jamie Berube]

Bird of the week

By Michael Warren

Afamiliar year-round resident of the Southeastern United States, the Carolina Wren is a cute little cinnamon-colored bird with a powerful and varied voice. Only the male sings and on average it has a large repertoire of more than 30 songs. They’re easily attracted to backyard feeders, and you can encourage them to stick around by providing a brush pile for nesting and protection.

April is National Healthcare Decisions Month

Make your end-of-life decisions known to your family, caregivers and physicians.

It's a gift to your loved ones if you are unable to speak for yourself during a medical emergency.

Carolina wren [MichaelWarren.com]

LOCAL CALENDAR LISTINGS government

APRIL 8, 15, 22, 29

Marion County Development Review Committee

Office of County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave., Building 1, Ocala 9am

The first step for new development projects, the committee reviews and votes on waiver requests to the Land Development Code, major site plans and subdivision plans. The committee meets weekly on Mondays. See marionfl.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx for agendas and minutes.

APRIL 9

Belleview Planning & Zoning Board

Belleview City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd, Belleview 5:30pm Meets the second Tuesday of the month; Belleview agendas, minutes and video available at belleviewfl.org/200/Agendas-Minutes

APRIL 10

Dunnellon City Council Meeting

Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 River, Dunnellon 5:30pm

Meets the second Wednesday of the month; Dunnellon agendas, minutes and video available at dunnellon.org/89/Agendas-Minutes

arts

MARCH 23 - APRIL 27

Dig into Clay: Wheel Throwing Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St, Ocala 10am to 1pm

APRIL 11

City of Ocala Fair Housing Community Event

Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave, Ocala 6-8pm Free to attend without registration. Attendees will learn about fair housing basics, financial education subjects, available community services, and one-on-one discussion with guest speakers. Visit bit.ly/ocala-fair-housing to view the list of speakers.

APRIL 16

Marion County Board of County Commissioners

McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala 9am

The commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at marionfl.legistar.com/calendar.aspx

APRIL 16

Ocala City Council

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala 4pm

The council meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Ocala

This six-week session offers potters of all skill levels a chance to practice and develop new skills and techniques in wheel throwing through fun and functional ceramic projects such as serving sets, vases, or your own creative expressions. Visit bit.ly/dig-into-clay to sign up.

APRIL 6

Free First Saturday at Appleton Museum

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 10am to 5pm Entry is free for all patrons on the first Saturday of each month. During this event, photographer Martha Strawn will lead a tour of her “Across the Threshold of India” exhibit.

APRIL 9

CF Ira Holmes International Film Series: “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom”

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala/College of Central Florida, 3001 SW College Road, Building 8, Ocala 2-4pm (at Appleton) and 7-9pm (at CF)

This film is a production from Bhutan that was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022. It tells the story of a teacher in Bhutan who dreams of becoming a singer and moving to Australia. Screenings at CF are free and open to the public. Screenings at the Appleton are free to museum and film series members; nonmembers pay museum admission.

APRIL 14

LILAC Assemblage of Southeast Asian Dances

College of Central Florida Dassance Fine Arts Center, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala 6-8:30pm

As a part of its “Experience India—Artist in Residence 2024,” the Strategic Community Alliance, Inc. will present a unique showcase of Southeast Asian dances, such as Vietnamese, Korean, Mongolian, Japanese and Filipino, will be performed by Asian cultural performers. Binal Wala, a highly accomplished dancer and choreographer from India and SCA’s Artist in Residence 2024, will present a classical Indian dance recital in Bharatnatyam style. The event is free and open to the public.

things to do

THROUGH APRIL 7

“Baskerville”

Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

Showtimes vary

The OCT team presents Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic tale refreshed as a whirlwind comedy and murder mystery with Holmes and Watson prowling the moors. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for ages 18 and younger. Visit ocalacivictheatre.com to view showtimes and purchase tickets.

APRIL 5, 12, 19, 26

Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series

Webb Field, 1501 W Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

7pm to 9pm

The Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series is a joint project from the city of Ocala, Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission, Juneteenth Celebration Committee and Marion Cultural Alliance to provide free family friendly public concerts. The April 5th show features Metalachi, bringing a fusion of heavy metal with mariachi music for a unique sound paying homage to their southwestern Latino roots. Opening act is El Trio Rosal, a Latin music group from Orlando.

APRIL 19

Travis Ledoyt: Sun the Stars Concert Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th Avenue, Ocala 6pm to 9pm Travis Ledoyt has been dubbed “The World’s Best Young Elvis” by many who knew “The King” personally. See him live in concert at the Reilly Arts Center, performing songs by Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and others. Visit reillyartscenter.com/events/travis-ledoyts-sun-the-stars-tour/ for more information and for tickets.

APRIL 28

Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville Block Party Downtown Ocala, intersection of SW Broadway & SW 1st Ave 3pm to 7pm Visit downtown for

in latitude and attitude as the Ocala Civic Theatre

government agendas and minutes are available at ocala.legistar.com/calendar.aspx

APRIL 16

Belleview City Commission

Belleview City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd, Belleview 6pm

The commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at belleviewfl.org/200/Agendas-Minutes

APRIL 22

On Top of the World Rezoning Application Public Hearing

McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala 9am

Per a press release from Marion County, “a public hearing relating to a requested zoning change from B-2 (commercial business) to PUD (planned unit development), will be rescheduled and re-noticed to accommodate anticipated public attendance. The public hearing pertains to a zoning change application identified as 240306ZP for 8441 SW 99th St. Road, Ocala.”

community

APRIL 13

Fort King Presbyterian Church Earth Care Fair

13 NE 36th Ave., Ocala 10am to 3:30pm

Spend a day of learning and fun highlighting things you, your family and church can do to care for the earth. Features of the day include a plant clinic, upcycled clothing displays and fashion show, a wildlife walk and talk about the 36th Avenue mural, earth friendly recipe sampling, art and conservation exhibits. Fort King Presbyterian Church is a designated Earth Care Congregation. The event is free and open to the public.

APRIL 13

Marion County Farmland Preservation Festival

Majestic Oaks, 17500 N U.S. Highway 441, Reddick 10am

The 16th annual event will include a farmer’s market, traditional farm and cottage crafts, farm animals, a petting zoo, hayrides and the popular horse and tractor parade. There will be live entertainment and food concessions. The event is organized by the nonprofit Save Our Rural Areas (SORA), which opposes urban sprawl on farmland, especially within the county’s designated Farmland Preservation Area. Admission is free; $5 for parking. To learn more, go to farmlandfestival.org.

APRIL 27

Historic Ocala Preservation Society Walking Tour

712 E. Fort King Street, Ocala 10am Walk through time with HOPS on a tour that will take you through six historic homes in Ocala’s Southeast Historic District, starting at the Bryant House. Tickets are available at bit.ly/a-walk-through-time

MAY 11

DEC Marion County Annual Fundraiser

Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala 4 to 7pm Festivities include speakers, a silent auction, live music, and dinner and dessert. Entrees will feature both meat and vegan options. Proceeds from the event will be used to support Democratic Party activities and candidates, help register voters and get out the vote in 2024. Individual dinner tickets are $100. Additional details about table sponsorship, silent auction, including basket donations, and program advertising opportunities for individuals, businesses or organizations can be found at mariondems.org/fundraiser.

Seeing the forest for the trees

Species diversity is directly correlated with productivity in eastern U.S. forests.

By Jerald Pinson Florida Museum of Natural History

When scientists and policymakers make tough calls on which areas to prioritize for conservation, biodiversity is often their top consideration. Environments with more diversity support a greater number of species and provide more ecosystem services, making them the obvious choice.

There’s just one problem. There are several ways to measure diversity, and each reveals a slightly different, and sometimes conflicting, view of how life interacts in a forest or other ecosystem.

In a new study published in the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,” researchers analyzed 20-years’ worth of data, which shows that the simplest measure of diversity—namely, adding up all the species for a given area—is the best way to measure the productivity of a forest.

“There aren’t many studies that look at the differences between measurements of diversity,” said lead author Yunpeng Liu, a postdoctoral associate at the Florida Museum of Natural

History in Gainsville. Those that have, Liu said, typically used data from small, geographically isolated forest plots.

Liu specializes in forest productivity, and when he learned the U.S. Forest Service maintains decades’ worth of tree data, he knew exactly what he wanted to do with it.

Liu and his colleagues compared how three measures of biodiversity are related to productivity, or the amount of growth, in forests across the eastern United States. They did so by analyzing nearly 2 million tree measurements from 23,145 forest plots. Data were collected between 2000 and 2020 from non-plantation forests, meaning the trees grew there naturally.

The team found that a greater number of tree species, called species richness, consistently resulted in a more productive forest. This isn’t all that surprising, given that the interaction between multiple species creates robust ecosystem services, such as carbon storage, wildlife habitat and resources like wood that can be harvested and regrown.

The researchers assumed that other measures of diversity would also show a strong, positive relationship with

productivity. Instead, they found that the measure of relatedness (phylogenetic diversity) and of various structural and chemical differences (functional diversity) were both negatively correlated with productivity.

Phylogenetic diversity shows how closely related the species in a given environment are to each other. Healthy environments typically contain multiple species that have only a distant relationship with each other, which allows them to collectively withstand change. If a virus or fungus were to sweep through and wipe out birch trees, the overall health of the forest would benefit from having various oaks, ashes, pines, walnuts and sycamores that remained unaffected.

Similarly, functional diversity is a measure of how much variety exists in the sizes, shapes and biological processes of organisms. The more differences there are in features such as tree size, wood density and rooting depth indicates how well a forest creates and makes use of all possible resources.

“These aren’t mutually exclusive measurements,” said co-author Douglas Soltis, a distinguished professor with the Florida Museum of Natural History. “They’re all ways that

we might be able to make better conservation decisions.”

Forests with higher phylogenetic and functional diversity are more resilient, but whether they’re more productive is unclear.

“We aren’t yet sure,” said co-author Robert Guralnick, curator of biodiversity informatics at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

It’s possible there isn’t enough information about traits to make an accurate assessment. This is particularly true of the shape and depth of roots, which are difficult to measure.

“It may also be that there are aspects of how trees of the same or different species structure their interactions with each other, especially as tree communities become more diverse, that we don’t yet understand,” Guralnick said.

A better understanding of diversity is indispensable for the proper management of forests and has far-reaching implications. It’s estimated that plant productivity has balanced out up to 30% of carbon emissions caused by human activity over the last several decades. Forests play a significant role in this process but are also among the most threatened

ecosystems on Earth.

For now, the number of species in a forest is the best proxy for its health and productivity. It also provides an easy guide for people working to restore degraded ecosystems, allowing them to focus their efforts on planting more species.

“It’s reassuring for other investigators and policymakers to know that species richness is reliable,” Soltis said, emphasizing the comparative speed and ease with which researchers can collect and analyze this type of data compared to other measures of diversity. “This is especially important when making conservation decisions with short notice and limited data.”

Funding was provided in part by the Postdoctoral International Exchange Program of the Office of China Postdoc Council and the USDA Forest Service. J. Aaron Hogan and Jeremy Lichstein of the University of Florida, Pamela Soltis of the Florida Museum of Natural History and Samual Scheiner of the National Science Foundation are also authors on the study.

To learn more, visit floridamuseum.ufl.edu

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library now in Marion County

The Early Learning Coalition of Marion County partnership will gift monthly books to children up to age 5.

The Early Learning Coalition of Marion County (ELCMC) has partnered with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to put free books in the hands of local children, ages birth to age 5, at no cost to the families. Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book-gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation,

a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has gifted more than 200 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and The Republic of Ireland. This is achieved through funding shared by the foundation and community and state partners. The Imagination Library mails more than 2.9 million high-quality, ageappropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. The program’s impact has been widely researched and results demonstrate its positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills,

noted the news release.

The ELCMC works to meet the early care and education needs of children and families in Marion County. The organization implements the Voluntary Prekindergarten, School Readiness and Child Care Resource and Referral programs on behalf of the Florida Department of Education Division of Early Learning plus additional complimentary programs that support parents as a child’s first and most important teacher, according to the news release.

ELCMC will host a ribbon cutting ceremony at 8 a.m. April 25 at 2300 SW 17th Road, Ocala, to celebrate bringing the Imagination Library to Marion County.

“We have been happily surprised by community response to the availability of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Marion County. Over a thousand children were registered in less than a week. This shows us the level of interest parents have to increase the pre-literacy skills of their children,” CEO Carrie Theall said in the release. “Partnering with the Imagination Library is a direct response to Marion County’s declining third grade reading scores. Research shows that children who have books in their homes and who are read to regularly prior to starting school are more likely to develop the early literacy and language skills they need to be successful in school. Getting high-quality books into the hands of families with children under five is the first step. Children’s excitement when they receive a book addressed to them each month encourages parents and caregivers to read more frequently with their children. This will lead to increased kindergarten readiness and, eventually, to improved reading scores in third grade and beyond. This partnership is a win for the entire community.”

Parents and guardians can enroll their children at ImaginationLibrary.com/USA/ Affiliate/FLMarionCo. Registered children will begin receiving books at their home addresses within twelve weeks. After that, books will come every month until the child’s fifth birthday.

To learn more, call (352) 369-2315 or visit elc-marion.org

Staff report

The Early Learning Coalition of Marion County (ELCMC) has partnered with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to put free books in the hands of local children, ages birth to age 5, at no cost to the families. [Submitted photos]

Buoyant Bratislava

By Rick Steves

Bratislava, capital of Slovakia and just an hour by train from Vienna, is the comeback kid among European capitals. A generation ago, the city was virtually a ghost town. Today, Bratislava is not only thriving—bursting with colorfully restored facades, lively outdoor cafés, and swanky boutiques—but it’s also growing at an incredible pace.

World War II left Bratislava a damaged husk. Following the war, communists showed little interest in preserving the city’s heritage, razing the Jewish quarter to make way for their ultramodern New Bridge, erecting a highway that sliced through the Old Town, and even selling the city’s medieval cobbles to cute German towns, which were rebuilding after the war and trying to restore some of their elegant Old World character.

With the collapse of communism in

1989, Slovakia’s new government began a nearly decade-long process of sorting out building rights and returning them to their original owners. By 1998, most of these property issues had been resolved, and owners were encouraged to restore their buildings. The city also did its part, replacing all the street cobbles, sprucing up public buildings, and making the Old Town traffic-free. Bratislava was reborn, and life returned with a vengeance.

The bustling centerpiece of Old World Bratislava is its main square, Hlavné Námestie. It’s lined by extremely atmospheric cafés, from Kaffee Mayer, an institution here since 1873, to Café Mondieu, housed in an Art Nouveau bank building and known for its 1904 Klimtstyle mosaics. During the holidays, a Christmas market blankets the square. The buildings that surround the square date from different architectural periods. When these buildings were restored, great pains were taken to achieve authenticity,

each one matching the color most likely used when it was originally built. The impressive Old Town Hall, with a Gothic core and Baroque façade, stands at the top of the square. Near the bottom of its bold yellow tower, a cannonball embedded in the facade acts as a reminder of Napoleon’s impact on Bratislava.

Another reminder is the cartoonish statue of a Napoleonic officer bent over one of the benches on the square. With bare feet and a hat pulled over his eyes, it’s hardly a flattering portrait.

This is just one of several whimsical statues dotting Bratislava’s Old Town. Most of these date from the late 1990s, when city leaders wanted to entice locals back into the newly prettied-up Old Town. Standing outside Kaffee Mayer, a jovial chap doffs his top hat. This is a statue of Schöner Náci, a poor carpet cleaner who, dressed in a black suit and top hat, brightened the streets of Bratislava during the communist days, offering gifts to the women he fancied. Another Bratislava fixture is the statue of Čumil “the Peeper,” popping out of a manhole with a grin plastered on his face (despite being driven over by a truck—twice).

Exploring the Old Town provides a look at where this country has been. But wandering outside the center offers a look at where it’s headed. Construction continues along the Danube riverfront, which has already been transformed into a people-friendly park. Just downstream from the Old Town is the futuristic Eurovea, resembling a computer-

generated urban dreamscape come true. This development includes a riverside park, luxury condos, a modern shopping mall, and shiny office buildings.

Despite massive progress, holdovers from the city’s communist past remain. The most prominent landmark from this time is the bizarre, flying-saucercapped SNP Bridge. Locals aren’t crazy about this structure—not only for the questionable Starship Enterprise design, but also because of the oppressive regime it represents. However, capitalists have reclaimed the bridge in part, turning the space up top into a posh eatery and observation deck called, appropriately enough, UFO.

With tens of thousands of students at several universities, Bratislava has a youthful energy and optimism. You can feel their presence, especially at night. Because there are no campuses as such, the Old Town is the place where students go to play. Some of the partying goes on in former bomb shelters, built during the tense times around the Cuban Missile Crisis. Today these make ideal venues for clubs—right in the town, but powerfully soundproof.

For me, Bratislava is one of Europe’s great urban success stories. What I once thought of as a drab, depressing place is now lively and joyful, with an inspiring energy. Bratislava has blossomed into the quintessential post-communist Central European city, showing what can happen when a government and its people work together to rebuild a city.

(Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public TV and radio, and organizes European tours. This column revisits some of Rick’s favorite places over the past two decades. You can email Rick at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook.)

Margum – Journey of a Dancer

Ocala Symphony Chorus Melodious Accord

Bratislava’s Eurovea is an ambitious mixed-use development along the Danube River. [Rick Steves]