Ocala Gazette | July 2 - July 8, 2021

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1

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JULY 2- JULY 8, 2021

Fakhoury announces bid for mayor By Lisa McGinnes Ocala Gazette After three decades of serving the community on nonprofit boards and working with youth, women’s and civic groups, Manal Fakhoury wants to be the next Ocala mayor. Fakhoury announced her intent to run on June 27. “I love Ocala,” said the

president and CEO of Fakhoury Leadership International and Vestech Partners. “I’m deeply invested in Ocala. I plan on living the rest of my days in Ocala. And I believe Ocala has even a higher potential. I love what we’ve been able to do in the last few decades that I’ve been in Ocala. But I believe that I have a skill set, a heart and a See Fakhoury, page A3

Marion Militants

Six area residents among those charged in Capitol riot By Joel Bronson joel@ocalagazette.com

T

he recent arrest of two Marion County residents brings to six the number of local people charged in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The list includes a convicted felon, a doctor and two couples with ties to far-right groups. More than 500 arrests across the nation have come after the riot, which saw protestors break into the U.S. Capitol as legislators voted to certify Joe Biden’s presidential win. Many of the rioters were supporters of President Donald Trump. Five people died in the

riot, including a Capitol Police officer who died after suffering a stroke. A protestor died after she was shot by an officer, and three other demonstrators died of natural causes. Many of the arrests have come after tips from the public and sometimes family members. Jamie Buteau, 48, and Jennifer Buteau, 44, of Ocala are the most recent arrests. The FBI filed charges on June 22 in connection to the Capitol incident. The couple were avowed QAnon conspiracy believers and even appeared in a documentary about the movement in 2018. Officials got a tip from someone who

recognized them from their segment in the production. Kenneth Kelly, 58, of Ocala was arrested on April 23 after officials received a tip from a relative reportedly identifying the man as being in the Capitol. Kelly turned himself in to authorities. Kelly is an internal medicine doctor who practiced in Ocala. He was working at AdventHealth Ocala but is no longer with the hospital, according to a hospital spokeswoman. His Florida medical license was first issued in 2019 and remains clear and active, according to state records. He See Arrests, page A2

Details of Alexander’s firing continue By Carlos Medina carlos@ocalagazette.com

See Page A7

Details continue to trickle out after Shane Alexander was fired from his post as fire chief of Ocala Fire Rescue on June 25. Alexander was fired for actively campaigning to replace Ocala City Council members so he could be appointed city manager, according to his termination letter. But the letter, signed by Assistant City Manager Ken

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Whitehead, also listed other reasons for his dismissal, including poorly managed internal grant procedures. On June 30, the city released more information concerning that issue. “The City was initially contacted May 3, 2021 from another governmental agency concerning problems with a $558,736 grant award managed by Ocala Fire Rescue. This communication prompted the City to investigate the origin, approval

Shane Alexander

See Alexander, page A4

Inside: Planned Developments.......... A3 Commentary............................ A5 Commercial Property Hot....A6 Sports......................................A10 Elvis in Ocala........................... B1 Calendar................................... B5

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From Arrests, page A1 has no history of discipline or public complaints, records show. Kelly Meggs, 52, and Connie Meggs, 59, of Dunnellon were arrested on Feb. 17. The couple are self-described members of the Oath Keepers, a group that swears to “defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” The Meggses allegedly attended training to learn paramilitary combat tactics in advance of the

Capitol riot. Michael Curzio, 35, of Summerfield was arrested the day of the riot in Washington D.C. He travelled to the scene with a friend and posted on social media before making the trip. “If anything happens – we get (expletive) up, arrested, or killed – just know I love you all and I did what I believed in,” according to a Facebook post. “And if you know

me, I did it because it was the right thing to do.” Curzio served eight years in prison on a charge of attempted first-degree murder. So far, Florida is leading the nation in arrests tied to the Jan. 6 incident with 47, according to information from the U.S. Department of Justice as of June 29. Texas ties Pennsylvania with 42

arrests and New York is next with 37 arrests, according to records. The FBI continues to try to identify those who participated in the incident. They established a website where people can view images of video captured on Jan. 6. Visit https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/ capitol-violence to view the images. Anyone with information to share can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-2255324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

The allegations and charges: Michael Curzio was among those in the front of a group that entered the upper level of the United States Capitol visitors center near the door to the House atrium, according to an affidavit by a member of the Capitol Police. Capitol Police officers ordered the crowd to leave. The crowd “willfully” refused the order. Curzio and six others were arrested and issued citations to appear. He is charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Curzio has pled not guilty and remains free on bond. A status conference was scheduled for July 1, at 9:45 a.m. Details of the conference were not available at press time. Kenneth Kelly reportedly drove to Washington, DC from Florida “knowing full well they were going to break in,” according to the relative that reported him to the FBI. The unnamed witness also provided text messages that had photos reportedly from Kelly stating, “breaking into the Capitol building via smashing windows.” Using GPS information, investigators were able to track Kelly’s phone in the Capitol from 2:56 to 3:09 p.m. on Jan. 6. Surveillance video stills also show a person that appears to be Kelly entering the Capitol and walking through the halls while holding a cell phone. He is charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Kelly is represented by George E. Tragos. He was released on $25,000 bond with instruction to check in with the court once a week. Kelly also had to surrender his passport

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On Jan. 6 they joined others to “form a stack of individuals wearing Oath Keepers clothing, patches, insignia, and battle gear. Together, the stack maneuvered in an organized and practiced fashion up the steps on the east side of the Capitol—each individual keeping at least one hand on

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• “Trump said It’s gonna be wild!!!!!!! It’s gonna be wild!!!!!!! He wants us to make it WILD that’s what he’s saying. He called us all to the Capitol and wants us to make it wild!!! Sir Yes Sir!!! Gentlemen we are heading to DC pack your (expletive)!!” • “Nice, we will have at least 50-100 OK (Oath Keepers) there.”

Jamie and Jennifer Buteau were seen on closed circuit television entering the Capitol on Jan. 6 at about 2:25 p.m., according to the charging documents. They entered the building through a broken door in the Senate wing. Minutes later, Jamie Buteau is accused of throwing a chair at Capitol Police officers as they rolled down metal doors to close off an interior passage. While the video does not show Jamie Buteau throw the chair, the timing of the event shown through surveillance and online videos makes it clear he threw the chair, reports state. Jamie Buteau is then seen dragging another chair around the building before the couple leaves the Capitol through the south door at about 2:46 p.m., according to reports. Both were identified through social media posts on Parler. The couple was each charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Jamie Buteau was additionally charged with obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers, engaging in violence on restricted grounds, and engaging in violence on Capitol grounds. Jamie Buteau was released on $25,000 bond. He was ordered to wear a GPS monitor and is prohibited from traveling to Washington, D.C., except as related to his case. He also had to surrender his passport. Jennifer Buteau was released on $25,000 bond.

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Kelly and Connie Meggs’ arrests became one of the highest profile cases. The media attention was so intense that a judge threatened a gag order. “The fact is, these types of statements in the media have the potential of affecting the jury pool and the rights of these defendants, and the government, quite frankly, in my view, should know better,” said Judge Amit P. Mehta. The Meggses were charged with conspiracy against the United States government, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting, destruction of government property and aiding and abetting, entering and remaining in a restricted building, and tampering with documents or proceedings. According to their indictment, the Meggses, and 10 others charged with them, conspired to “stop, delay, and hinder Congress’s certification of the Electoral College vote” as early as Nov. 3. On Dec. 22, Kelly Meggs wrote a series of messages on Facebook to another individual that read, in part:

the shoulder of the other in front of them,” according to the indictment. The group eventually entered the Capitol, according to officials. While Connie Meggs was released on bond, Kelly Meggs remains in custody. Connie Meggs must wear a GPS monitor and other than court, church, grocery shopping and seeking employment, she is restricted to her property. She can have no contact with Oath Keepers, and can have no access to computers, smartphones, tablets or any device that would allow her to communicate through either encrypted or non-encrypted applications.

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and his travel is restricted to the Middle District of Florida and the District of Columbia, unless he receives special permission. Kelly’s first status conference is July 8 at 11 a.m.

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From Fakhoury, page A1

“The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.” - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black in New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) Publisher Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@magnoliamediaco.com Carlos Medina, Managing Editor carlos@ocalagazette.com Bruce Ackerman, Photography Editor bruce@ocalagazette.com Ainslie Lee, Associate Editor ainslie@ocalagazette.com Joel Bronson, Reporter joel@ocalagazette.com Sadie Fitzpatrick, Columnist sadie@ocalagazette.com Lisa McGinnes, Editor lisa@magnoliamediaco.com Susan Smiley-Height, Editor susan@magnoliamediaco.com

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commitment to the city and I’d love to use my leadership skills to participate and to contribute.” Fakhoury, the 2021 American Heart Association Heart Walk chair, curator of TedxOcala and president of Ollin Women International, cited homelessness and public safety as important topics the mayor can affect. “I’ve seen, after each recession, homelessness rose across Ocala, and we’re watching the numbers right now rising again,” she said. “The mayor has to be the one to create longterm solutions helping folks get back on their feet and (getting them) the resources they need working with agencies that have been serving

these populations. We need to be having a really good conversation about what their needs are and how we can work together to really find solutions and problem solve.” The mayor also should ensure our community leads in the area of public safety, Fakhoury said. “It’s important to have positive policing. Building and maintaining strong community relations across all of Ocala in a coordinated effort, we can fight crime and help the community. It starts with the recruitment, the training, the outreach. I believe, from my understanding, and what I’ve heard, is they are severely underpaid, and the police officers are overworked. In order for us to keep

Ocala safe, we have to make sure we’re giving our officers raises, and we’re investing in our community through expanding successful crime reduction and community support programs and making sure they have the training they need.” Bringing many voices together is one of her strengths, said Fakhoury, who belongs to the Rotary Club and Toastmasters International and serves on the YMCA executive board. “Some of my uniqueness has to do with my ability to connect with people. If we create a culture of harmony and respect, and inclusion, then that’s how our community feels. I believe that we as a city

New residential developments proposed By Joel Bronson joel@ocalagazette.com Neighbors of a proposed development next to a 55-plus community voiced their opposition to the plan during a Marion County Planning & Zoning Commission meeting on June 28. CMH Parks Incorporated and Clayton Properties Group want to modify an expired planned unit development (PUD) permit to build 87-home on 27.89 acres next to the existing Falls of Ocala neighborhood. While the property was originally planned as the second phase of the community, the new proposal would remove the 55plus age restriction. The proposed move led to objections from some residents of the original project. Carren Porter lives in the original phase of the development and chose her residence for safety issues. “My purpose for moving here was because it is a 55 and older community, and I feel safe,” she said. James Sanders, another Falls of Ocala resident, believes the increase in traffic on Southwest 6th Place will cause issues for current residents. The new development, along with a lack of sidewalks or traffic lights on the road, will “create a safety hazard for the residents of Phase I and for the families of the

PROPOSED WEST SHIRE VILLAGE

West Shire Village Development

proposed Phase II,” Sanders wrote in an email to the board. But Charlotte Davidson, a traffic study consultant for the developer, said that Southwest 6th Place “was always to be used as access to the new development site.” Residents also worried about how the new construction would affect their wastewater and wells. Sanders feels the demands from both phases on systems that are “30+ years old” will be a detriment to both current and new residents. Commissioner Jerry Lourenco said he was concerned about

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have not reached our full potential,” she said. Fakhoury, who holds Doctor of Pharmacy and MBA degrees, was the clinical coordinator at Ocala Health for 28 years. She and her husband, Dr. Riadh Fakhoury, owner of Fakhoury Medical and Chiropractic, moved to Ocala 34 years ago and raised five children here. If elected, Fakhoury would “take zero from the city,” donating all compensation to charity, she said. Fakhoury would face incumbent Mayor Kent Guinn in the Sept. 21 city election. “I bring a new perspective. I say we can thank people who serve for a season, and then we allow new leaders to come in,” she said.

EXISTING 55+ FALLS OF OCALA

Falls of Ocala Development

PROPOSED RESIDENTAL DEVELOPMENT

the second phase not carrying a similar age restriction to the first phase. “I have no problem with you building single-family homes, but unit two should be 55 and over, as well,” Lourenco said. The gallery repeatedly shouted out comments in opposition to the new development. Greg Lord, the commission chairman, had to frequently call for order during the discussion. The commission split 3-3 on recommending the project. West Shire Village development approved A PUD application by Platinum Blue, Inc. was approved unanimously by the commission on June 28. The proposed development on the 41.6-acre patch of land located near Southwest State Road 200 and 95th Street Road would be known as West Shire Village. The development would consist of 230 multi-family homes— townhouses, duplexes, and triplexes—with a majority being rental properties. The proposed development received no opposition during the meeting. The Marion County Commission will consider the plans at its July 20 meeting. County commissioners are not bound by the P&Z commission’s recommendations.

Corrections & Clarifications The Ina A. Colen Academy, a newly created Marion County charter school is being built by the Colen Family Charitable Trust, a separate entity from the Calesa developers. The Circle Square Foundation is funding the Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training facility. A story published in the June 25 edition indicated otherwise.

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From Alexander, page A1 and management of the grant. This investigation was still ongoing at the time of Shane Alexander’s termination; however, the details confirmed were sufficient enough to establish that certain internal city procedures were not followed by Ocala Fire Rescue,” according to an email from Ashley Dobbs, city spokeswoman. The details were not immediately released. In the termination letter, Whitehead did not detail how he actively campaigned to replace council members but did state several business leaders brought the matter to the city’s attention and were “alarmed by your actions.” In an email Ken Ausley and Angie Lewis sent to City Manager Sandra Wilson and the five members of the city council on July 27, they raised concerns that they were the business leaders mentioned in the letter. The pair met with Wilson on June 22. “If it is our meeting that is being referenced we are stunned. In no way did we ever suggest or insinuate that Chief Alexander had involvement in anything of the sort. We did clearly state that there are business leaders who are actively recruiting and funding candidates that they believe will help fix some of the perceived deficits at the City. But this is typical of any campaign season and a fact well known to most who are paying attention to the political process,” the email states. “Related to the brief part of our conversation when you brought up Chief Alexander by name, we did respond that there is a perception among some that he, in his zeal to serve the City and prove his mettle as a leader, may at times be

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perceived as stepping out of his lane of responsibility. But we in no way stated or inferred that any of this supposed conduct, of which we have no firsthand knowledge or experience, was harmful to the City or justified even an official reprimand, much less a dismissal.” The city did not immediately respond to the email sent from Ausley and Lewis. A review of Alexander’s personnel file on Monday also did not shed light on the claim made in the letter. However, the review did reveal additional details about other incidents cited in Alexander’s termination letter. The letter stated that several employees, including department heads and managers, reported that Alexander pressured employees to increase United Way donations. The incident reportedly happened in early 2020 but was not documented until April this year. Marvin Ayala, the current Ocala Electric Utility director, mentioned the incident to Assistant City Manager Bill Kauffman, who then reported it to Whitehead. Alexander reportedly told Ayala and Eric Weaver, then interim utility director, that the electric department was “not doing that well” with United Way donations and “if you don’t cooperate, you’re at risk.” Weaver reportedly asked Alexander if he was threatening their jobs at which point Alexander backed down, according to a handwritten report of the incident by Whitehead dated April 28. In February 2020, Alexander was one of three finalists selected for city manager after then-City Manager John Zobler stepped

down unexpectedly. ThenInterm City Manager Wilson and Assistant City Manager Bill Kauffman were the other two candidates. Ayala said the incident happened about the same time the council was considering the new city manager, according to the item in Alexander’s personnel file. When it came time to select one candidate, the council split. Councilmen Justin Grabelle and Matt Wardell backed Alexander, thenPresident Jay Musleh wanted Wilson, and Councilman Brent Malever picked Kauffman. The council’s fifth seat was open at the time, and the council agreed to wait for a special election to fill the seat before voting. After Ire Bethea was installed into the District 2 seat in June, the council voted 4-1 to offer the position to Sandra Wilson. Grabelle was the only dissenting vote. Alexander was also accused of abandoning coworkers during a heated town hall meeting where the city’s fire assessment was discussed. The meeting was hosted by members of the Governor’s West Ocala Neighborhood Revitalization Council. Alexander was scheduled to speak about the agency’s mentorship program and Budget Director Tammy Haslam was going to discuss the fire assessment fee. During Haslam’s presentation, the discussion got heated and Alexander reportedly left. Both Haslam and Ramona Williams, the city’s community engagement coordinator, felt his support would have been good during the discussion. “He left when the going got tough,” Haslam reportedly told Whitehead, according to a handwritten account of the

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Past Chiefs’ Tenures: Shane Alexander: Oct 15, 2018 – June 25, 2021 City administration cited they had lost confidence in Alexander’s ability to continue as fire chief after several instances of unprofessional conduct. Bradd Clark: Feb. 1, 2012 – July 28, 2018 Clark resigned after 83 of 90 members of the Professional Firefighters of Ocala union gave him a no-confidence vote. Firefighters complained of bullying, retaliation and breaks in chain of command under Clark. John DeLorio: Jan. 19, 2011 – July 21, 2011 DeLoria was reassigned on his request after his performance as chief fell short of expectations.

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“a counter-productive and uncomfortable work environment for city staff.” Overall, Whitehead wrote he had lost confidence in Alexander’s ability to continue as fire chief after several instances of unprofessional conduct. City Manager Wilson accepted Whitehead’s recommendation to terminate Alexander. “I am deeply saddened that you sought to pursue a course that was counter to the council’s direction and the good of the organization,” Whitehead wrote. Alexander declined to comment on the details of his termination, but said he wanted to continue serving the community. Alexander became fire chief in October 2018 at a salary of $125,000. He joined the department as a firefighter paramedic in 1994.

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incident. On June 24, just a day before Alexander was dismissed, Whitehead, in another handwritten note, documented how Alexander met with a city employee without John King, the city’s fleet management’s director, in attendance, as was typical. The meeting reportedly made the employee uncomfortable and upset King, according to Whitehead’s note. Before the recent spate of reprimands all dated this year, Alexander’s performance reviews were at or above standard. Whitehead also listed an “excessive amount of idling time and no record of city phone usage to support that you were working.” The “idling” time item is related to the amount of time Alexander’s vehicle remained stationary while the engine was running. A detailed report about his vehicle listed 114 idle violations from March 26 through June 24 ranging from more than 10 minutes up to almost three hours. City vehicles should not remain idle for more than five minutes. Phone records also showed Alexander had not used his city-issued cellular phone since at least April and only one bill in the last 12 months showed phone activity, according to records. City policy requires employees to use their cityissued cell phones for official business because they are subject to public information requests, said Jared Sorensen, the city’s director of human resources. Whitehead, who oversees public services for the city, wrote Alexander’s actions undermined the city council and the city manager to the detriment of the organization, and his actions created

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Opinion Commentary

Jump on in, the tradition is fine Ms. Perry, however, Delee never felt any saying, “Seeing a child go has spent the last pressure to join the family from being afraid of the water 52 years teaching business but knew it was to realizing they can conquer countless Marion what she was born to do. swimming is amazing. It’s my County residents of all “In ninth grade, I had absolute favorite part. There’s ages to swim and dive. to do a major paper in my a moment where you know Teaching swim civics class about what we they just get it.” lessons isn’t just wanted to do for a career, and The majority of her a a job for Ms. I couldn’t think of anything students are under the age I squint at Perry, but rather other than wanting to be a of 12, but she does hold an the spot on a calling— and a swimming teacher. It’s what adult beginners swim class on the water family business. I’ve always wanted to do,” Saturdays. Her oldest student Sadie Fitzpatrick where I’m Her father, the late Delee explained. was an 88-year-old man Columnist supposed Newton A. Perry, Each summer, more than whose doctor recommended to jump, eyes stinging from began teaching people to 300 children learn to swim he learn to swim to help his the powerful chlorine. With swim in 1923. from Ms. Perry; that’s more arthritis. my toes wrapped tightly Perry moved to Ocala in than 15,000 people over her Ms. Perry doesn’t plan to around the worn edge of the 1922 and would often walk storied 52-year career. hang up her swimsuit until fiberglass diving board, I six miles through what was She said that it’s not after 2023, which will mark hesitate. then forest and dirt roads to unusual for a grandmother 100 years of the Perry family “Jump on in! It won’t hurt swim at the Silver Springs to be with her grandchild at teaching swimming in the you!” shouts a booming voice attraction. One day, Mr. swim lessons and remark, state of Florida. She hopes to from the side of the pool. Carmichael, the owner of the “Hey, Ms. Perry! You taught continue the legacy of Perry’s I bounce once, tilt my body attraction, asked Perry if he me to swim!” Swim School by having her forward in a diving motion could teach his wife to swim. Ms. Perry explained why daughter, Tasha, take over and plunge headlong into Mrs. Carmichael served she loves what she does, for her upon her retirement, the tepid water. As I kick as Perry’s first but those details hurriedly to reach the surface, student and his haven’t yet been a large, pruny hand roughly desire to teach worked out. guides me to the swim ladder. others to swim was As I remarked “Again!” says the voice. born. in my last column, My fellow divers and I “My father I know I’m often line up at the diving board always wanted to advocating for to receive instruction from own a house that our hometown to Delee Perry, Marion County’s had a swimming change. However, preeminent swim instructor. pool right outside it’s rites of passage Eight-year-old Sadie where he could like a peanut butter wanted to be a diver or open a swim milkshake from synchronized swimmer. My school,” said his The Hungry Bear mother indulged my desires daughter, Delee. and swim lessons and signed me up for diving In 1951 he from Perry’s Swim classes with Ms. Perry. bought property School that I hope Obviously, since you’re in northeast Ocala remain constant reading this column, you’ll and opened Perry’s as Ocala continues note that I am neither a diver Swim School four on its trajectory Delee Perry works with Sophia Lastinger, 6, as she gives her a swim lesson. [Bruce Ackerman/OG] nor a synchronized swimmer. years later. of enormous Editor’s Note: Sadie Fitzpatrick uses this space to explore the character and quirks that make Ocala uniquely wonderful and occasionally irksome.

expansion and growth. The unchanging nature of institutions like Perry’s Swim School can provide a sense of stability and consistency in this rapidly evolving world. There are no trendy techniques or fancy equipment at Perry’s Swim School. Ms. Perry relies on a simple, tried-and-true recipe for swimming success: person-to-person interaction, gentle instruction and consistency. It has worked for more than 15,000 students and will continue to impact hundreds more. While some might argue that these places refusing to adapt to this ever-changing environment are archaic and inflexible, I disagree. It is brave to remain unchanged when you have a good and valued formula: placing the focus of your business on people and what you can do to make a positive impact on their lives. I believe it’s entirely possible for us to embrace growth, and ultimately, change, while holding tightly to the ideals that these valuable institutions like Hungry Bear and Perry’s Swim School have taught us. So, here’s to change. And our cherished values remaining the same. Have your own observations about Ocala? Share them with Sadie at sadie@ ocalagazette.com.

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Local commercial real estate market remains strong By Max Russell Special to the Ocala Gazette Unlike the residential real estate market, which has remained remarkably healthy nationwide despite the pandemic, the commercial sector has weathered the COVID-19 storm selectively with prospects for future growth varying by sector and geography. In Ocala and Marion County, the commercial real estate marketplace has remained much stronger than in other locales. While the pandemic and the slower pace of global recovery still loom large on the U.S. economic horizon, real estate industry analysts seem in substantial agreement that the near-term outlook for the commercial sector in the United States appears sunny. According to experts, the light at the end of the tunnel is powered by such factors as federal financial assistance programs, the success of the national vaccination initiatives and pent-up consumer demand. Locally, certain commercial asset classes — distribution, industrial and multi-tenant housing for example, have continued to perform extremely well. Retail, including restaurants and hospitality asset classes, has been a mixed bag. In the traditional office space sector in Ocala, the market remains uncertain. And, not surprisingly, the multi-family segment, which includes apartments and similar developments, mirrors the continued growth in the residential sector. Distribution sector stays hot Vicky Bryant Morrison, past president of the Ocala Marion County Association of Realtors and owner of Bricks & Mortar Real Estate & Development, said the commercial real estate sector pretty much mirrors what’s going on in the residential sector. “We were seeing lots of activity pre-pandemic. That accelerated during the crisis and is continuing. We’re very limited on commercial

inventory with more prospects and buyers looking for space than we have available,” she said. Bartow McDonald of SVN Commercial Real Estate sees a number of positive signs in the local commercial marketplace. He noted that Ocala has become a highly desirable location for distribution and warehousing. Its strategic location on the I-75 corridor halfway between Atlanta and Miami enables distributors to reach more consumer homes more efficiently than any other Florida location. Ocala’s reach, combined with its wealth of available land, has attracted the attention of major companies such as Chewy, FedEx, and most recently Amazon, all of which have located distribution facilities here in the past several years. Morrison agrees that the logistics of Ocala has a lot to do with such expansion. “We’re seeing a lot of interest in the distribution and industrial market segment, including manufacturing,” she said. “Our taxes are favorable. The environment is great. Putting your business here makes good sense. That’s all good for our economy.” Impact of e-commerce on retail Another factor has bolstered demand: the enormous spike in consumers’ reliance on e-commerce and home delivery during the pandemic. According to McDonald, the spike is at least a contributing factor for why several million square feet of distribution space is currently under construction or planned locally. “While people stayed home, they learned how to click online and have boxes of stuff show up at their doorsteps,” he said. “For the first time a lot of people ordered almost anything for delivery, from groceries to clothes to car parts. This shifted the supply chains globally and has translated to a vast need for distribution and warehouse spaces for companies trying to accommodate the demand.” Experts see the trend toward e-commerce

continuing postpandemic. While a boon to online retailers, the dramatic consumer migration to e-commerce has had a sobering effect on traditional brick-andmortar retail, especially older malls, [Bruce Ackerman/OG] nationwide. Barrie year. Indications are favorable Scardina of Cushman & that Florida’s $90 billion Wakefield, a national real annual tourism trade seems estate services provider, poised to rebound quickly. said that mall owners Morrison said the opening and developers will need of the World Equestrian to address e-commerce Center has “opened up the trends by rethinking their hospitality door” stimulating tenant mix and instituting additional expansion to transformational solutions accommodate more visitors such as moving away from the to the area. According to traditional focus on apparel numbers released by the and toward new experiential Florida Economic Estimating and emerging brands such Conference, the state should as Warby Parker, Camp and see a sharp increase in Polestar. visitors in the second half of 2021 with the number rising Restaurants and hospitality to near pre-pandemic levels set to recover in 2022. On a brighter note, restaurants appear to be Impact of remote workforce on the rebound and should In the traditional office bolster fourth quarter space segment, Morrison performance for the retail said that while there’s still sector. Morrison pointed a high demand in Ocala, to the number of new she’s seen some strategic restaurants that have recently shifts in how employers opened. are using their office space. “Restaurants took a hard During the pandemic, many hit during the pandemic,” she office workers, enabled said. “But those with good by technology and online business plans are doing well. meeting apps, were permitted We’re seeing new restaurants to work from home. It coming in all over Marion remains to be seen if this County, including some of trend will continue postour more rural areas. Some pandemic. others that deferred opening Morrison commented because of the pandemic are that she’s already seen now going ahead with their some larger companies business plans.” downsize their office spaces McDonald noted, however, and others, including that staffing remains a health care and personal challenge for Ocala food services, shift to satellite service establishments but and branch operations. She may lessen as pandemicalso pointed to the rise of related unemployment shared workspace offices for subsidies wane. those who require a physical The hospitality sector, and location on an ad hoc basis. hotels in particular, tend to The pandemic-related be recovering slower than rise in working remotely may most others. The number of also become a factor in the tourists to the state dropped growth of the multi-family by more than two-thirds in segment of commercial real the second quarter of 2020 estate. According to the Wall compared to the previous

Street Journal earlier this year, as many as a quarter of the 160-million U.S. labor force may remain working remotely. The flexibility this affords has prompted many to consider relocating away from high-cost urban environments to other areas with a lower cost of living or more amenable climates. The newly coined term “Zoom town” refers to this kind of migration with its reference to one of the more widely used virtual meeting apps. “Not everyone has an appetite for densely populated areas. We’re seeing people coming from all over,” McDonald said, adding that he’s seen a considerable increase in the number of national multi-family real estate development organizations making site visits to Ocala. He also pointed to an accompanying challenge. “How do we accommodate all the people who want to move here and keep the right balance? We have to be careful not to destroy what makes Ocala such a special place.” Morrison confirmed the trend, noting that multifamily developments will start “popping up, with a couple about to come out of the ground” very soon. “We’ve got all the beautiful horse farms, the springs, the waterways, easy access to both coasts as well as the University of Florida nearby and Orlando as a transportation hub,” she said, cautioning that it will be up to city and county governments to make sure Ocala remains “a great place to live.”

Marion hits 50% COVID-19 vaccination rate By Carlos Medina carlos@ocalagazette.com Marion County recently achieved a 50% vaccination rate among all residents eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, according to a report by the Florida Department of Health. The local vaccination rate trails the state’s average of 57% of those 12 and older receiving at least one dose of the two-series vaccinations, as well as the single-dose version. In Marion, 162,722 people have received at least one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. The total also includes those who have taken the onedose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, according to the latest DOH report issued on June 25.

The state stopped issuing daily COVID-19 and vaccination reports in early June. More than 53% of Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and about 45% of the U.S. population are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While President Joe Biden’s hope to hit a national 70% vaccination mark by July 4 seems unlikely, in Marion, the vaccination rate for those 65 and older has hit that mark. “Our overarching goal was to get 70% of our seniors, our most vulnerable population, vaccinated by June 1. We achieved that goal,” wrote Christy Jergens, a spokeswoman for the DOH in Marion. The 70% number is tied to the concept of “herd

immunity.” “When we look at herd immunity historically, it can be reached once approximately 60% to 80% of a population has been exposed to the virus (whether by vaccination or natural exposure.) When there’s sufficient herd immunity in a community, the virus has difficulty spreading to others because so many people are protected against it,” Jergens wrote in an email. Demand for the shots, however, has slumped both in the county and nationally. During the week of June 18-24, only 1,323 people received the vaccine in Marion County, according to DOH reports. Due to the drop in demand, the county’s centralized vaccination site at the Paddock Mall closed on May 28, and the DOH started offering vaccinations

at rotating locations in the community. “Currently, we are taking the vaccine out to underserved parts of the community to enhance access to the vaccine. We’re going to a set group of locations for a five-week period on the same days and times to provide residents with a consistent opportunity at locations closer to them to get vaccinated if they wish to get the vaccine. We are providing a free $10 grocery voucher to people who get vaccinated at these locations,” Jergens wrote in an email. The vaccine is also available at the health department’s office, 1801 SE 32nd Ave. Marion County Fire Rescue and Ocala Fire Rescue continue to vaccinate those at long-term care facilities and homebound residents. Vaccines are also available

at Walgreens, CVS, Publix and Sam’s Club locations, among others. Marion County reported 32,123 cumulative cases of COVID-19 from March 1, 2020, through June 25, the most recent number available. From June 18-24, the county reported 110 new cases or a 3.4% positivity rate, according to state records. To see the locations where the health department is vaccinating, visit http:// marion.floridahealth.gov/ events/index.html Residents can continue to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine appointment by registering online at Marion.FloridaHealth. gov (or register directly at www.tinyurl.com/ MarionCOVIDvax). Residents without online access can call 352-644-2590 for information.

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North Marion celebrates their win in the Class 4A State Baseball semifinals in May 2021.

Allison Campbell celebrates her win in the Marion County School Board District 1 race in Nov. 2020. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]

First Year Reflections As a weekly newspaper, the Ocala Gazette marks it first year of publication this week. With 52 editions under our belts, we begin a new year of fair and honest coverage of the people, issues and events that shape our community. Over the last year, we have celebrated our triumphs, mourned our losses and kept a vigilant watch over the people and issues that affect our community. We take a moment to reflect on our coverage this past year. The Gazette started during the biggest public health crisis in a century. When we published our first edition, the COVID-19 pandemic had been roiling for four months. It had already changed the way many of us lived and worked. We wrote more than 150 stories on the pandemic. We marked the breakthroughs and successes but also tracked the deaths and struggles that touched so many. We documented the efforts to vaccinate tens of thousands and the logistics needed to keep the effort going. The Gazette provided extensive coverage when

the court system ground to a halt. We were there the first day when jury trials resumed. As the country is poised to return to a sense of normalcy, we will continue to report on the lasting effects of such a transformative time. The Gazette sent reporters to more than 100 sporting events covering local high school and college sports. We were there when Trinity Catholic won the state volleyball title and followed the Forest High boys’ basketball team and North Marion baseball team flirted with state titles as well. We captured the action through hundreds of photos across all sports and got personal looks at some of the coaches and athletes that shined. Our reporters covered city and county politics closely, offering in-depth reporting on some of the more controversial stories. After a court ruled the Ocala fire service fee was unconstitutional, the city was faced with having to refund more than $81 million to residents. We explored who could be stuck paying the bill and how the city wound up in the situation.

We studied how more than $64 million in federal CARES relief was used by the county and how the cities felt left out. We scoured the county’s financial records to let you know how they spent it and where they missed opportunities to help. Our extensive coverage of the homeless situation in Ocala put a spotlight on the struggle to handle the situation. We spoke to the homeless and heard their stories. We also heard from those whose businesses were impacted by the issue. We reported on the federal court’s rebuke of the city’s ordinance allowing police to arrest the homeless for sleeping in public. We continue to follow the pending lawsuit against the city’s panhandling ordinance. In short, we covered Ocala, warts and all. As we move into a new year, we rededicate our pledge to inform and uplift our readers by reporting on the events, issues and stories that shape Ocala with accuracy, fairness and passion. We will also continue to strive to serve as a forum where all voices can be heard and to chronicle our community’s history.

Jordan Preston speaks during a City Countil meeting discussing an emergency mask mandate in July 2020. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]

Pallbearers carry the casket of the late Ocala Police Chief Greg Graham in Oct. 2020. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]

A homeless man lies on the ground in Aug. 2020. Ocala continues to deal with the homeless situation. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]

Trinity Catholic celebrates their win in the FHSAA State Volleyball Championship in Nov. 2020. [Amanda Whittamore/Special to the Ocala Gazette]

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State News Budget, bevy of laws take effect By Jim Turner News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE – More than 100 new laws passed during the 2021 legislative session will hit the books this week, ranging from a record $100 billion state budget to a ban on COVID-19 vaccine “passports” and an expansion of school vouchers. Also taking effect are two measures from the 2020 session, including a law that will allow college athletes to make money off the field based on their names, images and likenesses. Most of this year’s new laws take effect Thursday, which also is the start of the state’s 2021-2022 fiscal year. But about 40 bills passed this year have already gone into place, and another 20 will take effect later this year. Among the laws taking effect Thursday: – BUDGET: Aided by federal stimulus funds, the new state budget (SB 2500) includes money for Everglades restoration and addressing the effects of sealevel rise. It also will raise the minimum pay of state workers to $13 an hour, give bonuses to first responders and provide an additional $50 million to raise teacher salaries. In addition, it will provide $96 million to offer home- and communitybased services to more people with developmental

and intellectual disabilities and earmark $100 million to clean up an old phosphate plant in Manatee County that sparked concerns this year about a potential environmental catastrophe. – TAX BREAKS: Lawmakers approved a $196.3 million tax package (SB 7061), highlighted by sales-tax “holidays.” That includes a tax holiday for back-to-school shoppers in August and a new “Freedom Week” tax holiday that will start Thursday and provide tax breaks on such things as entertainment tickets and outdoor equipment. – ONLINE TAX COLLECTIONS: After years of debate about the issue, lawmakers approved a measure (SB 50) that will require out-of-state online retailers to collect sales taxes on purchases made by Floridians. An estimated $1 billion a year in additional revenue will be used to replenish an unemployment trust fund and then go toward reducing a commercial rent tax. – BALLOT INITIATIVES: The Legislature approved a measure (SB 1890) that includes a $3,000 limit on contributions to political committees trying to get proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot. Opponents have filed a federal lawsuit to try to block the contribution cap. – SCHOOL VOUCHERS: Continuing years of efforts to bolster school choice,

lawmakers passed a measure (HB 7045) that will expand school vouchers. In part, the law will increase a family income threshold for children to qualify for vouchers and will remove a requirement that students had to previously be enrolled in public schools. – MOMENT OF SILENCE: Lawmakers approved a proposal (HB 529) that will require public schools to hold moments of silence each day. Teachers, while prohibited from suggesting the nature of any reflection, are expected to encourage parents to discuss with children how best to use the time. – CIVICS EDUCATION: Lawmakers passed a measure (HB 5) that will require high-school U.S. government courses to include “a comparative discussion of political ideologies that conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy” and require public schools to establish a civics-education curriculum to develop “an upright citizenry.” – INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM: The GOPcontrolled Legislature passed a measure (HB 233) that will require conducting surveys to assess the “intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity” at state colleges and universities. – TRANGENDER ATHLETES: After a fierce debate, lawmakers approved a wide-ranging

education measure (SB 1028) that includes a ban on transgender females participating on girls’ and women’s high-school and college sports teams. – RIGHT TO FARM: In a priority of Senate President Wilton Simpson, lawmakers passed a measure (SB 88) that will expand the state’s “Right to Farm” law and provide additional legal protections to farmers from what are known as nuisance lawsuits. – COVID-19 PASSPORTS: In a DeSantis priority, lawmakers approved a measure (SB 2006) to prevent businesses, schools and government agencies from requiring people to show documentation certifying COVID-19 vaccinations before gaining entrance — a concept known as requiring COVID-19 vaccine “passports.” The law also will grant the governor power to override local orders during health crises. – ALCOHOL TO GO: Known as “alcohol to go,” a new law (SB 148) will allow restaurants to sell alcoholic drinks with takehome meals. The measure puts into law a practice that DeSantis began allowing last year to help restaurants that had to dramatically scale back operations because of the COVID-19 pandemic. – PROPERTY INSURANCE: An insurance package (SB 76) will allow larger annual rate increases for customers of the state-

backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. It also will prevent contractors from soliciting homeowners to file insurance claims, seek to limit attorney fees in lawsuits against insurers and reduce from three years to two years the time to file claims. – TOLL ROADS: Two years after lawmakers passed a controversial plan to build and expand toll roads, they reversed course this year and approved a measure (SB 100) to repeal it. The new law, however, requires moving ahead with planning to extend Florida’s Turnpike from its current western end at Wildwood and planning to interweave a route along U.S. 19 from the Suncoast Parkway to Interstate 10 in Madison County. – GUN REGULATIONS: The Legislature approved a measure (SB 1884) that will broaden a controversial 2011 law that threatens tough penalties against local governments that impose gun regulations. The new law will allow lawsuits for “unwritten” local policies that violate the state’s gunregulation preemption. – FOREIGN INFLUENCE: As part of a push to curb influence of foreign governments, lawmakers approved a measure (HB 7017) that, in part, will require state agencies and universities to report receiving gifts or grants valued at $50,000 or more “from any foreign source.”

Freedom Week offers sales tax breaks By Jim Turner and Tom Urban News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE – Florida is about to find out how much a week of sales-tax “freedom” translates into capitalism. Starting Thursday, in what lawmakers dubbed “Freedom Week,” people will receive sales-tax breaks when they make a wide range of purchases that could help spur them to be more active after being limited by the coronavirus pandemic. Shoppers from July 1 through July 7 will be able to avoid paying all or part of sales taxes on purchases such as grills; bicycles; fishing and camping gear; kayaks and canoes; tickets for concerts, movies and ball games; gym memberships; boxes of softballs and sleeves of tennis balls; and even sunscreen. “What better way to celebrate than to offer a sales-tax holiday that will encourage people to explore our greatest asset – Florida’s outdoors,” House Speaker Chris Sprowls said in a statement last month when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a tax package (HB 7061) that includes the first-of-its-kind Freedom Week. Economists have estimated that the tax breaks will cut state revenue by $42 million

and local revenue by $12.7 million. But they, along with retailers, acknowledge that the numbers are a bit of a guess as questions remain over how much shoppers and businesses will participate. “It’s a little bit of an experiment, right? So, we hope it goes well,” said Scott Shalley, president and CEO of the Florida Retail Federation. “I know a number of our retailers are also adding their own incentives to get people out and about and to provide some clarity as to where the sales-tax breaks exist.” The tax package also includes a more-traditional tax “holiday” for back-toschool shoppers that will start in late July and last 10 days. The holiday, which will provide tax breaks on purchases of clothing, school supplies and personal computers. is expected to provide an estimated $69.4 million in tax savings. Shalley said he hopes “Freedom Week” can be bigger than projected. “We don’t have a feeling, because it is the first time,” Shalley said. “But there are some big ticket items on there, ($200) and ($300) types of items that have a sales-tax exemption on them. So there is definitely an opportunity to save.” Dominic Calabro, president

and CEO of the Tallahasseebased group Florida TaxWatch, said people need to “reestablish a sense of normalcy that they lost to the pandemic.” “After a year of stress and uncertainty, much of which was spent cooped up indoors, the good people of Florida need to get outside and experience all of the beautiful beaches and parks that the state has to offer,” Calabro said. Sales taxes will be lifted during Freedom Week on the following: TICKETS – Tickets purchased for live music events, sporting events, fairs, festivals, cultural events and movies shown in theaters. The tickets can be good for events scheduled through Dec. 31. – Entry and annual passes to museums, ballets, plays and musical theater performances. – Dues and fees for gyms and physical-fitness facilities. WATER GEAR – The first $25 of the price

of snorkels, goggles and swimming masks. – The first $50 of the price of safety flares. – The first $75 of the price of life jackets, coolers, paddles and oars. – The first $150 of the price of water skis, wakeboards, kneeboards, inflatable water tubes and floats capable of being towed. – The first $300 of the price of paddleboards and surfboards. – The first $500 of the price of canoes and kayaks. CAMPING GEAR – The first $30 of the price of camping lanterns and flashlights. – The first $50 of the price of sleeping bags, portable hammocks, camping stoves and collapsible camping chairs. – The first $200 of the price of tents.

FISHING GEAR AND SUPPLIES – The first $5 of the price of bait or fishing tackle sold individually. – The first $30 of the price of tackle boxes or bags. – The first $75 of the price of single fishing rods or $150 when sold as a set. OTHER ITEMS – Items for individual or team sports --- other than footwear and uniforms --with prices of $40 or less. – The first $15 of the price of sunscreen or insect repellant. – The first $30 of the price of water bottles. – The first $100 of the price of sunglasses. – The first $200 of the price of hydration packs and binoculars. – The first $250 of the price of outdoor gas or charcoal grills and bicycles.

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Federal judge blocks social media law By Dara Kam News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE – Calling it “riddled with imprecision and ambiguity,” a federal judge on June 30 blocked a new state law targeting social-media behemoths such as Facebook and Twitter that can strip politicians and other users from their platforms. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle issued a preliminary injunction as he sided with online-industry groups NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association, which filed the lawsuit challenging the measure pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and approved by Republican lawmakers this spring. “The legislation now at issue was an effort to rein in social-media providers deemed too large and too liberal. Balancing the exchange of ideas among private speakers is not a legitimate government interest,” Hinkle wrote in the 31-page order. The controversial law seeks to prevent large social-media platforms from banning political candidates from their sites and to require companies to publish – and apply consistently – standards about issues such as banning users or blocking their content. The industry groups sought an injunction to block the law from going into effect on Thursday, arguing that the measure violates the First Amendment rights of private companies and would harm their ability to moderate content on their platforms. Trying to flip the First

Amendment argument, lawyers for the state maintained that the socialmedia platforms are engaging in censorship and violating users’ speech rights. But Hinkle scolded the state for its position. “First, the state has asserted it is on the side of the First Amendment; the plaintiffs are not. It is perhaps a nice sound bite. But the assertion is wholly at odds with accepted constitutional principles,” the judge wrote. The “concentration of market power among large social-media providers does not change the governing First Amendment principles,” Hinkle wrote. “Whatever might be said of the largest providers’ monopolistic conduct, the internet provides a greater opportunity for individuals to publish their views – and for candidates to communicate directly with voters – than existed before the internet arrived,” he added. The plaintiffs “are likely to prevail on the merits of their claim that these statutes violate the First Amendment,” Hinkle wrote. “Like prior First Amendment restrictions, this is an instance of burning the house to roast a pig,” the judge said. Hinkle found that the state law also is flawed because it targets only large companies, applying to platforms that have annual gross revenues of more than $100 million or have at least 100 million monthly individual “participants” globally, such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Under the law, companies that remove political candidates from platforms

could face fines of $250,000 a day for statewide candidates and $25,000 a day for other candidates. “As the Supreme Court has recognized, discrimination between speakers is often a tell for content discrimination,” Hinkle wrote. “That is the case here. The state has suggested no other basis for imposing these restrictions only on the largest providers.” The new law includes a provision that shields theme-park operators from the restrictions. Hinkle said that the law “discriminates on its face among otherwise-identical speakers: between socialmedia providers that do or do not meet the legislation’s size requirements and are not under common ownership with a theme park.” DeSantis, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, pushed the socialmedia crackdown after Twitter and Facebook blocked Trump from their platforms after his

supporters rampaged at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. “Day in and day out, our freedom of speech as conservatives is under attack by the ‘big tech’ oligarchs in Silicon Valley,” the governor said at a bill-signing ceremony last month. DeSantis’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Wednesday. But the governor, a Harvard Law School graduate, has said he believes the state will prevail in the lawsuit. Hinkle’s order rejected the state’s arguments that the law was not subject to “strict scrutiny” by the court. Viewpoint- and content-based restrictions on speech are subject to strict scrutiny, the judge wrote. “Laws that are facially content-neutral, but that cannot be justified without reference to the content of the regulated speech, or that were adopted because of disagreement with the speaker’s message, also must satisfy strict scrutiny,” he said. “These principles

plainly require strict scrutiny here. The Florida statutes at issue are about as content-based as it gets.” To survive strict scrutiny, “an infringement on speech must further a compelling state interest and must be narrowly tailored to achieve that interest,” Hinkle noted. “These statutes come nowhere close. Indeed, the state has advanced no argument suggesting the statutes can survive strict scrutiny. They plainly cannot,” he said. NetChoice Vice President and General Counsel Carl Szabo hailed Hinkle’s decision. “When the state’s own lawyers can’t explain how the law works or even identify to whom it applies, there’s just no way that Florida’s enforcement of that law would keep users, creators, and advertisers safe from the tidal wave of offensive content and hate speech that would surely ensue,” he said in a prepared statement. “America’s judiciary system is designed to protect our constitutional rights, and today’s ruling is no different, ensuring that Florida’s politically motivated law does not force Floridians to endure racial epithets, aggressive homophobia, pornographic material, beheadings, or other gruesome content just to use the internet.” During a hearing Monday, Hinkle peppered lawyers with questions and swiped at the law. “I won’t put you on the spot and ask you if you’ve ever dealt with a statute that was more poorly drafted,” the judge asked lawyers representing DeSantis’ administration.

Transgender athlete law challenged By Dara Kam News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE – A 13-year-old Broward County soccer player and her parents are challenging a new state law that bans transgender female athletes from participating on girls’ and women’s sports teams, arguing that it is unconstitutional and “ignores basic medical science” about trans students. The measure (SB 1028), one of the most hotly debated issues of the 2021 legislative session, will make female athletes’ eligibility for sports teams contingent on their “biological sex” on birth certificates issued “at or near the time of the student’s birth.” The legislation, signed June 1 by Gov. Ron DeSantis, is similar to proposals considered or passed this year by numerous other Republican-controlled legislatures across the country. In a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday in the Southern District of Florida, lawyers for the student identified by the initials D.N. and her parents alleged that the new law will force her to abandon “the sports that mean so much to her” because she will not be able to participate on highschool girls’ athletic teams. The ban is unconstitutionally discriminatory and violates a federal law, known as Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination

in schools or education programs that receive federal money, the lawsuit said. D.N. would be “sidelined and ostracized solely because of her gender identity” if she isn’t allowed to play on girls’ and women’s teams, lawyers with the Human Rights Campaign, a national non-profit organization that advocates for LGBTQ rights, and the Arnold & Porter firm wrote in the 20page complaint. According to the lawsuit, D.N. has identified as a girl since she was a young child and has participated in girls’ sports for many years. “D.N. dreams of being on high school sports teams, whether it is in soccer or volleyball. She cannot imagine life without these experiences and feels it would be cruel to take this opportunity away from her. D.N. has lived as a girl for years now and this is her true identity,” her lawyers argued. Republican lawmakers tucked the transgender athlete ban into a wideranging education bill in an eleventh-hour move during the legislative session that ended April 30. DeSantis and other supporters maintain that the ban is necessary to prevent male athletes from having a competitive edge over female competitors. “I can tell you this, in Florida, girls are going to play girls’ sports, and boys are going to play boys’ sports. That’s what we’re doing, and we’re going to make sure that that’s the

reality,” DeSantis said as he signed the bill on the first day of June’s Pride Month. But critics contend that the ban will further isolate transgender students who are already at risk of being bullied or worse. D.N., referred to as “Daisy” in a news release issued Wednesday by the Human Rights Campaign, takes estrogen and her testosterone levels have been suppressed for more than a year, her attorneys said in the lawsuit. “D.N.’s identity and development are that of a girl and she is on estrogen. She has no competitive advantage merely because of the sex assigned to her at birth. Now and when she enters high school, from an athletic perspective, she is similarly situated to her cisgender female teammates,” they argued. The state law runs afoul of Title IX and federal regulations, which do not permit “a state or locality to discriminate based solely on a person’s gender assigned to them at birth,” the plaintiffs’ lawyers said. The law also violates transgender female athletes’ equal protection rights, the lawyers argued, because “it is neither tailored to the achievement of a compelling governmental interest nor substantially related to an important state interest.” “Florida’s purported state interest in athletic ‘fairness’ ignores basic medical science about transgender students, as well as the impact of hormone suppressants,” the plaintiffs’ attorneys wrote.

Under the new law, other students who contend they are “deprived of an athletic opportunity” or suffer “direct or indirect harm” because of violations of the trangender ban will be able to sue schools or colleges. Transgender girls “must now face the risk their participation will be subject to legal challenge,” D.N.’s lawyers wrote. “Any such suit would, of necessity, require production of private medical and academic records, which in any other context would not be available to other students or those students’ families, let alone the general public.” The law would subject D.N. “to an invasion of privacy” if she had to participate on boys’ teams and use boys’ locker rooms, although she is receiving estrogen and will continue to develop as a girl through puberty, her lawyers said. “Her social network and support system are the girls on her team, and she would be ostracized and bullied if she were to be forced to be on a boys’ team. Compelling her to be on the boys’ team also would force her to disclose her transgender status to the entire school,” they argued. The ban violates transgender female athletes’ constitutional right to privacy, wrote D.N.’s lawyers, who are asking a judge for an injunction against the law. In a statement provided to The News Service of Florida, House Speaker Chris Sprowls defended the new law, dubbed the

“Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.” “We believe in protecting the integrity of women’s sports and this legislation ensures that they can have the same opportunities as anyone else without unfair competition. The legislation is the result of rigorous dialogue and grounded in fact-based science. I trust the court system will ultimately rule on the side of Florida’s athletes and not corporate pressure,” Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, said. Christina Pushaw, a spokeswoman for DeSantis, said Wednesday that the governor’s office had not been served in the lawsuit yet “but we believe the case to be without merit.” The Human Rights Campaign also plans to challenge similar laws in Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee, according to Wednesday’s news release. “Given the unprecedented onslaught of state legislative attacks, we have a responsibility to utilize every tool in our belt to safeguard the LGBTQ community, including suing the states that infringe upon our civil rights,” said Alphonso David, the organization’s president. “On the first day of Pride Month, a moment of celebration, Gov. DeSantis signed a bill into law attacking transgender children—now, on the last day of Pride, we are sending a message to him, and all anti-equality officials, that you cannot target our community without retribution.”

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Sports Soccer Pitch The Villages Soccer Club eyes new stadium in Oxford By Joel Bronson joel@ocalagazette.com An 88-acre property in Oxford could soon be home to a 2,500-seat soccer stadium, according to plans presented at the Marion County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on June 29. Anderson DaSilva, cofounder and head coach of The Villages Soccer Club, has a grand vision for their current complex located on U.S. Highway 301 near the Marion County line. Right now, the team uses about 30 acres, which includes three fields, a covered training facility and a main house used for team meetings and other team functions. The expansion plans cover an additional 58 acres and would add two fields, the stadium, a restroom and concession area, internal roadways and additional parking and lighting. The Villages SC is a semiprofessional soccer team that plays in USL League Two. The league currently

has 83 teams split among several regional conferences. The Villages SC plays in the Southern Conference as part of the six-team Southeast Division. In 2019, the last full season before the COVID-19 pandemic, the team won the division before losing in the conference semifinals. The facility is currently hosting area youth for summer camps. On a recent visit, the practice fields were empty due to inclement weather in the area, but camp participants weren’t missing a beat. A group of elementaryage campers took part in drills with club players inside the training building. Older campers watched professional soccer highlights in a spacious auditorium with other club members. DaSilva sees the complex and surrounding property as an opportunity to grow the sport in many ways, even for school-age players. “We want to model IMG Academy,” DaSilva said, referring to the preparatory

Pedro Santos jumps for a header. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]

boarding school and sports training facility in Brandon. While IMG includes several sports, DaSilva’s plan is for soccer only. He envisions a facility

that can house aspiring soccer players in a setting where they can hone their athletic skills and earn their education at the same time. But for now, DaSilva

is focused on the club’s stadium project. The planning and zoning commission voted See Soccer, page A11

Carr ready to return Colts to prominence

Greg Carr poses for a photo on the field at North Marion High School. Carr is the new head football coach for the Colts. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]

By Joel Bronson joel@ocalagazette.com Greg Carr, second-year head football coach at North Marion High School, is living the dream. “When I was named head coach, my mom was in tears she was so happy,” Carr said. “It’s so refreshing being back home. I just want to make my community proud.” Carr’s roots run deep within the North Marion community. While a student-athlete at North Marion, Carr was a two-sport star. He shined as both a football and basketball player for the Colts. Carr was a standout wide receiver for the Florida

State Seminoles during his collegiate career, finishing fifth in the school’s history in both receptions (148) and yards (2,574), and finished second in touchdown catches with 29. Carr found success as a pro, playing Canadian League Football for parts of four seasons. He also was prolific as an Arena Football League receiver, winning rookie of the year honors as a first-year receiver for the Orlando Predators. Now that his playing days are over, Carr is thrilled to be “home.” His first year as head coach proved challenging for Carr. The Colts lost their first four games, including losses to Vanguard and Dunnellon by double digits. But three straight

wins, including a firstround playoff win against Belleview, proved to Carr and his coaching staff that the process was working. An eventual loss to Dunnellon in the second round, by only six points, provided a huge positive heading into the off-season. “Our guys started paying attention to the details,” Carr said. “You can score a touchdown, which we will definitely celebrate, but the throw was to the wrong read. We praise with high energy, but we also need to be able to correct with the same energy.” When asked about players receiving correction, Carr said, “I’ve never heard a player say, ‘Hey, stop praising me!’ So, our players need to have the same

attitude when coaches are teaching and correcting.” He said players started asking for help in areas they felt they needed improvement. When players aren’t doing what is expected, whether in the classroom, on the field or in the community, Carr and his staff rely on older players to mentor the younger ones. “This is someone’s senior year,” Carr said when referencing lack of effort. “We are truly all for one and one for all… We are a family; we do everything together.” Keeping players together and being mindful of their surroundings is important to Carr, especially with the recent gun violence involving area student-athletes.

“Our decisions are very important. We stress to our kids, ‘Be mindful of where you are and the people you hang out with.’ Don’t take issues lightly,” he said. Carr made sure to praise his assistant coaches for the culture being built at North Marion. “I have a great group of assistants. I am thankful for everything they do.” As a former college and professional player, colleges will inevitably come calling, but Carr said he’s happy right where he is. “I plan to be at North Marion as long as they’ll have me,” Carr said. “This truly is home, a way of life.” North Marion opens their season on August 20 at home against Gainesville High School.

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From Soccer, page A10 unanimously to recommend the project for approval. The Marion County Commission will consider the plan at a future meeting. Commissioners are not bound by the P&Z commission’s recommendation. Meanwhile, the club has not lost a home match since they began play at the Summerfield complex. Former club players have gone on to play at the Major League Soccer level, the top tier in the United States. Paulo Pita (LA Galaxy), Josh Fawole (DC United) and Gabriel Torres (Hartford Athletic) were either drafted or signed to play in MLS after playing with The Villages SC. DaSilva and co-founder Dr. Maen Hussein said they hope to continue providing fans quality soccer. “It’s a great time for everyone,” DaSilva said. “There’s music, the fans are loud, it’s so much fun!” The Villages Soccer Club plays its next home match on July 10 against Tampa Bay United. The match starts at 7 p.m., and parking lots open at 6 p.m. For information, including ticket prices, visit thevillagessc.com.

Anderson DaSilva poses in a goal on one of the fields at The Villages Soccer Club. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]

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People, Places & Things The Summer of Elvis 60 years since “Follow That Dream,” Ocalan remembers brush with King By Susan Smiley-Height Ocala Gazette

I

n 1961, John F. Kennedy became our nation’s 35th president. The U.S. faced a Cold War and a Space Race. Audrey Hepburn was a hit in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and Henry Mancini won an Oscar for “Moon River.” Elvis Presley’s concert at the Bloch Arena in Pearl Harbor raised $62,000 to help build the USS Arizona Memorial. After filming “Blue Hawaii” there in late March, Presley arrived in Florida in July to make his ninth motion picture, “Follow That Dream.” In the film, the vehicle of a gypsy-like family breaks down in coastal west Florida and the dad, Pop Kwimper, played by Arthur O’Connell, lays claim to a homestead. Presley played his son, Toby Kwimper. Much of the filming took place near Inglis and Yankeetown. In the film, the governor sided with the ragtag team of homesteaders, but others did not, and a battle ensued that included scenes filmed in a courthouse in Inverness and inside the Commercial Bank & Trust Co. in Ocala. Martin Stephens, then 22 and an officer with the Ocala Police Department, was assigned to accompany Presley on the movie set in Ocala. “It was over two long weekends,” Stephens recalled. “They were filming most of the movie at Yankeetown, but they needed to borrow some money, and they did the

bank scenes in Ocala. The building is still there, right before the Martin Stephens, left, with Elvis Presley on the set of “Follow That Dream” where Stephens was assigned to accompany the star. railroad tracks if you’re going into town.” Stephens said it would take quite a while for the movie crew to set up a scene, so they parked a travel trailer in the alley between the bank and the Masonic building. He said Presley and Anne Helm, in the role of the family’s 19-year-old unofficial babysitter, Holly Jones, would wait there. “We didn’t go in the trailer, but every time he stuck his head out, I had to be there,” Stephens explained. “I was assigned to him personally the whole time.” Stephens said the security detail for the movie set included the local Junior Chamber of Commerce motorcycle drill team, along with police officers and deputies from the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office. “We weren’t worried about riots or somebody hurting Elvis. The security Martin Stephens, now 82, holds photos of himself at 22, with Elvis Presley. [Bruce Ackerman/OG] was strictly to keep people back,” he explained. “He 500,” he said. there,” he said. though the deputy never couldn’t do nothing without Stephens asked Presley Stephens also remembers admitted it, that he sold his a crowd. We would offer to if he wanted the guard kept Presley fancied a pair of sunglasses.” chase people off, and he’d away. Presley said, “It’s just sunglasses worn by a deputy One of Stephens’ fondest say, ‘No, no, that’s what I’m part of doing business.” on the security detail. He memories is the day Presley supposed to do.’ He was very Stephens said he got one asked one of his entourage invited his group to lunch. personable and a nice guy. autograph, on the back of a to get him some just like “They had rented the He was interested in people bank draft. them. Marion Hotel, and the movie and was easy to work with.” Stephens remembered “The next morning, crew went over there to eat. Stephens said at least the film crew turned off the we’re coming by the deputy When we went to eat lunch one person took advantage air conditioning in the bank and Elvis says to his guys, that first day, Elvis told me, of Presley’s good nature. because it made too much ‘By the way, where are my ‘Let’s go.’ So I grabbed three He said if anyone handed background noise, so Presley sunglasses?’” Stephens said. guys. We went over there, Presley a piece of paper, they had to change his denim “In about 30 minutes, I saw and I didn’t know exactly would get an autograph. A shirt every 15 to 20 minutes, Elvis, and he had on a pair bank guard “probably got “It was unbearably hot in of sunglasses, and I know, See Elvis, page B2

Exhibit explores artist’s Indian culture By Amanda Valderrama

Special to the Ocala Gazette

Dr. Sheni Meghani’s exhibit will be the first of its kind for the Marion Cultural Alliance (MCA) in Ocala. Her showcase, titled “Seeing Peacocks through My Eyes: A Immersive Experience into Indian Culture through Folk Art, Dance, Storytelling and Culinary Tastes,” will run from July 1-10 at the Brick City Center for the Arts. The exhibit will kick off with three days of events starting with an opening reception on July 1 at 5 p.m. This will be an opportunity for participants to meet and greet with the artist while hearing the stories behind each painting and indulging in authentic

Indian bites. The event is free and sponsored by the Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida. The experience will broaden visitors’ understanding of India, its people, traditions and culture, said Ashley Justiniano, the center’s gallery director. “I do not believe anyone will leave the gallery without feeling enriched by vibrant colors, beautiful motifs, flavorful taste and enchanting melodies of folklife,” said Meghani. Her art is born through her experiences as a child growing up in Gujarat, India, and then filtering those memories through her life in the United States. “Her energy is contagious,” said Justiniano. “She is eager to get involved in the cultural community

and bring a little of her own into it.” Meghani often found herself speaking of childhood memories when her husband would ask about her paintings. After some time, she realized that there was no way to separate the stories from her artwork. She eventually started to write them down as she would create new pieces. The result became a multisensory cultural exhibit that she was able to fine-tune with the help of others, including some at MCA. Meghani hopes that this cultural experience will help people find common ground and bring others together. “Art is about people and relationships,” she said. “Art cannot exist on walls. Art can only thrive in communities, dialogues, experiences and sharing.”

As medical director of palliative care at Hospice of Marion County, Meghani came to MCA as a new artist who wanted to get involved with the arts community. Justiniano mentioned the July pop-up exhibit, and Meghani jumped at the opportunity. She said working with MCA has Dr. Sheni Meghani helped her to exhibit that will focus on the enhance and refine her ideas diversity and inclusion of “I would be thrilled to local artists. do this all over again with “This experience has Ashley and Jaye (Baillie,) in reminded me of my rich a heartbeat,” she said. heritage,” said Meghani. Meghani’s exhibit is “It is almost like I am the first of others that will discovering where I belong.” focus on different cultures. For information about According to Justiniano, the exhibit, visit mcaocala. the gallery is in the process org or call 352-369-1500. of planning a November

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Creative’s Corner

Amanda Decker poses with some of her handcrafted Wild Pear Soaps at the Juniper General Store. Decker began making the soap as gifts for friends and family, using scents and herbs that were their personal favorites. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]

Scented Soap

Local woman crafts botanical soaps with favorite fragrances By Lisa McGinnes Ocala Gazette The intoxicating floral fragrance of gardenia can remind you of a hug from your grandma, said soap maker Amanda Decker. Lemonade and watermelon smell like summer, she said. Aloe and lilies are how she defined the scent of Lake Weir. “Nostalgia really goes hand in hand with scent,” explained Decker, who handcrafts her plant-based Wild Pear Soaps in a wide variety of scents designed to put people in their happy place. “If you can connect a memory with a smell, that’s

magic!” she said. “Then you can keep that memory going.” It was four years ago, at Christmastime, that Decker first decided to try soap making. “I wanted to do it just as gifts for my friends,” she said. “We’re very holistic. We like botanicals and natural body care. I tried to make it very personal for my friends – smells and herbs that they enjoy themselves. That’s really what I still share to this day. I like to give holistic good vibes. When you use my soap, I want you to know that you are loved, and somebody put love into this product.” The name Wild Pear came from the giant sand pear tree on her mom’s property.

“It really connected our family because when it produces pears, it produces like 400 pounds of pears,” she said. “We make pear butter every year and send to our family and friends. So that one tree keeps our whole entire family connected. I wanted to be able to do something similar with my soaps. It’s like a representation of myself, and I can spread it around to my family and other people and share that abundance.” Decker, who’s lived in Ocala since she was 5 years old, incorporates as many local botanicals as possible into the soaps she cooks up in her kitchen. “I want things that grow here,” she said. “We have

such a beauty right here of Florida-specific botanicals.” She’s used loquats, hibiscus and gardenias from friends’ plants and trees and pine thistle from the Ocala National Forest. She said one of her most fun and recognizable scents is her soap that smells like Froot Loops cereal. Inspiration usually strikes as a scent she wants to capture, a memory she wants to evoke or a look she wants to create. “It starts with a spark, and then I create it step by step. When I have a theme, I can usually visualize shapes,” she said, adding that cold process soaps take six weeks to cure. “Right now, I’m making

a gumball soap, and I’m having to make these tiny little gumball toppers. I’m like, six weeks from now, this will be worth it. In the meantime, I have a whole tray of tiny little gumballs of soap.” Decker sells her soaps at Juniper General Store in Ocala, the Island Grove Wine Company Tasting House in Island Grove and JEMs Originals in downtown Micanopy. “I think it’s really important for people to have a connection with their elements, have a connection with their inner selves. And if you can find that through my soaps or something you like in my soap, then that is a gift.”

said, pointing to one of the images. “That’s the thing, these are guys from Ocala, see, and I wonder if we could track these people down. A lot of these are in the book.” The book he was referring to is “Elvis Presley the Summer of ’61,” which includes news reports, interviews with the cast, crew and locals, and more than 200 photos. Stephens, of course, has a copy and will gladly point out the pages that correspond with his remembrances. “If anybody challenges me on that photo,” he said, stabbing a finger at one image showing him near Presley, “I have the negative!” He points out a photo showing the marquee of the Florida Theatre sign, which proclaimed Welcome Elvis

and Now showing “St. Louis Blues” “A Dog of Flanders.” “That’s C.R. Proctor,” he noted, pointing to another photo. “That’s the director. That’s Col. Tom Parker, Elvis’ manager. Here’s little theater people, Michael Hall. They were the people in the bank. There’s Sadie Darnell, she was 9 years old. Her cousin was Tom Petty.” Petty, then 10, met Presley on the set because his uncle was involved in the film’s production. Shortly afterward, according to local lore, the budding young musician swapped his slingshot for a friend’s collection of Elvis Presley records. Petty later became a noted entertainer in his own right, and Darnell served as the sheriff of Alachua County for several years. Some other youngsters hanging around the movie set that sultry summer were Presley’s stepbrothers, Billy, Rick and David Stanley. His father, Vernon Presley, had married their mother, Dee Stanley, the year before. Billy Stanley said it was his first trip to Florida and his first time on a movie set. “We kids had moved into Graceland a year before, so it was all new to me,” he said. “We stayed close to where they were filming. There was a hotel, over close to the bridge scene, where they had the building on the beach. That’s where we stayed. We were there for about two weeks. I was only 8 years old. I loved the weather. It was nice and warm, and we stayed in the pool most of the time when we weren’t on the film set.”

He recalled that it was “fun hanging out on the movie set, watching how it was made, Elvis showing us around. And his co-star, Anne Helm, taught my brothers and I how to play Frisbee. It was a new toy; it had Rick and Billy Stanley, in front, visit with their stepjust come brother Elvis Presley on the set of the movie “Follow out. We That Dream”. [Submitted] got to meet When I say normal, I mean everybody, all Elvis always downplayed the actors and met the kids the entertainer part. By the that were in the movie. They time I realized who he was, seemed a little standoffish, it didn’t matter because all so my brothers and I didn’t I heard was ‘Billy, it’s just a push it. It was fun. We had a job. These people aren’t any great time.” better than anybody else.’ He “Follow That Dream” said people that dig ditches premiered at the Marion are more important than Theatre on April 11, 1962. what we do. That’s the way An “Ocala Star-Banner” he always played it with us.” article reported that nearly Stanley, who lives in 1,000 people were in Memphis, has a robust attendance. Presley was not following on social among them as he was busy media, often greets fans filming another movie. at Graceland, and loves Stanley said that after his to reminisce about living stepbrother made each film, there and sharing time with he would receive a 16mm Presley, who died in 1977. reel that they would watch Stephens, now 82, recalls at home. many times over the years “Down in the basement that people would seek him at Graceland, there used out about his time on the to be a projection room, so movie set with the famed that’s where we saw all of entertainer. Elvis’ movies,” he said. “It “I’ve gotten a call at 3 was fun sitting there and o’clock in the morning from being able to say, ‘Yeah, I England from someone remember when they filmed wanting something,” he said. this.’ To me, it was just “I don’t mind. He was just a normal. It’s like nobody else super, super nice guy.” has a famous stepbrother?

From Elvis, page B1 what we were supposed to do. Elvis went inside, so I said, ‘Well, I guess we guard the doors,’” he said. “We’re standing there, and in a minute, Elvis comes out and says, ‘Come on boys, you don’t have long to eat.’ We go in, and he’s got a table, and he says, ‘I went ahead and ordered for you.’ They brought us T-bone steaks, and he got a grilled cheese sandwich. ‘I didn’t know what you wanted,’ he said. ‘I just went ahead and ordered for you.’ That’s the guy I remember.” Stephens has photos of himself and other security personnel huddled around Presley inside the bank and said he was talking to them about his love of karate. “He did us a demo and even had some guys go get some boards to break,” he

People arriving at premiere of the movie at the Marion Theatre. [Florida State Archives]

WORD FIND

s a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may any direction but a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring JULY 2 -always JULY 8,in2021 | OCALA GAZETTE word as you find it and when you have completed the puzzle, there will be 21 letters left They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

News in Brief

A string quartet Solution: 21 Letters

© 2021 Australian Word Games Dist. by Creators Syndicate Inc.

Free child car seats and seat checks available

Crwth Drums Fiddle Fife Four Gong Group Harmony Haydn Hear Haydn Hear

Horn Jazz Key Klavier Lute Lyre Noisy Oboe Organ Ready Recital Rhythm

Rock Rondo Slow Stop Tabor Tenor Time Treble Trio Trombone Tuba Tune

The Florida Department of Health in Marion County will be re-starting its car seat classes in July. The classes are meant to help families who need a car seat receive one, whether it’s because their current one is damaged or expired or because they cannot afford to purchase a new one. The program is open to those receiving some type of aid, cash assistance, WIC, SNAP or Medicaid, according to a DOH press release. The classes will teach about safety issues, including the physical impact of car crashes, choosing the right car seat and the proper ways to install car seats. A certified technician will be present to ensure the car seat is correctly installed. Classes are scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Department of Health in Marion County’s Auditorium, 1801 SE 32nd Ave. Class dates are July 15, Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 18 and Dec. 16. Attendees must pre-register. To attend an upcoming car seat class, call 352-644-2751. The DOH also offers free car seat checks. Anyone who would like to have their car seat checked for proper installation can make an appointment to meet one-on-one with a certified child passenger safety technician. The technician works to ensure that the child is buckled correctly into the right car seat for the child’s size and age. To schedule a car seat check appointment, call 352-644-2751. Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the department’s main office at 1801 SE 32nd Ave.

Solution: Playing all the classics

Anvil Aria Banjo Bartok Bell Buccina Bugle Celesta Cheng Choir Concert Cor anglais

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Ocala Fiber Network a finalist for award IDC Government Insights named the Ocala Fiber Network (OFN) as a finalists for the Smart Cities North America Awards (SCNAA). The awards were designed to recognize the progress North American municipalities have made in executing Smart Cities projects, as well as providing a forum for sharing best practices to help accelerate Smart City development in the region. OFN is a finalist in the category of Digital Equality and Accessibility. Ocala Fiber Network turned its electric utility’s fiber-optic network into a municipal broadband service. OFN has 1,800 customers and over 750 miles of overhead and underground fiber, connecting multiple residents, businesses, and organizations across the city. Public services include free Wi-Fi in city parks and throughout a ten-block corridor in the downtown area. Ocala also leverages the network to deliver smart-city services, including public safety cameras and traffic management applications such as real-time parking fee payment and enforcement. “As COVID-19 closed businesses, shuttered schools and overwhelmed hospitals, OFN had the capacity to support telemedicine, distance learning and remote work,” said Mel Poole, Director of Ocala Fiber Network. “During the pandemic, OFN helped the county’s rural schools with distance learning, especially families who did not have high-speed internet access, by installing Wi-Fi access points at ten schools. This provided free internet access from the parking lot so that homework could be downloaded and uploaded while parents and students remained in their vehicles. We were able to quickly pivot to provide a critical resource to the community during a difficult year.” Winners will be honored at Smart Cities Connect, which will be held in October in National Harbor, MD.

Marion’s elections supervisor new president of state association Wesley Wilcox was recently installed as president of the Florida Supervisors of Elections Assocaiton (FSE) during its summer conference. Wilcox has served on the executive committee of the association since 2017 and is also the liaison for the Florida Voters Registration System. “It truly is an honor to serve as the 2021–2022 president of FSE,” Wilcox said in a press release. “It has been one of my goals since becoming a supervisor, and I am genuinely humbled by the opportunity.” The 2021-2022 FSE executive committee officers are as follows: President - Wesley Wilcox, Marion County President-Elect - Mark Earley, Leon County Vice-President - Ron Turner, Sarasota County Secretary - Charles Overturf III, Putnam County Treasurer - Travis Hart, Lafayette County Past President - Craig Latimer, Hillsborough County The executive committee is elected by FSE membership. Officers serve a one-year term.

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Madeline Youmans, 18, of Girl Scout Troop 401, poses with her Girl Scout Gold Award and her vest adorned with numerous Girl Scout patches. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]

Youmans and Wendy Crowley, an animal care technician, left, play with Simon, an adoptable dog, on the agility course that Youmans helped create. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]

Charting a new course 2021 Forest grad earns Girl Scouts Gold Award for agility course project By Beth Whitehead Special to the Ocala Gazette Madeline Youmans’ nerves heightened when the bright lights hit her eyes as she walked across the stage of the 2020-2021 Girl Scout Gold Award Ceremony in what was the crowning moment of her 12 years in Girl Scouts. On June 12, the recent Forest High School graduate presented the result of her community service project, which earned her the Gold Award, the highest achievement a scout can receive. Last April, Youmans proposed designing a dog agility course to serve the Marion County Animal Shelter. She got the idea after the shelter posted their

hope to build a course on Facebook. “I thought that that would be a good opportunity to do a Gold Award, so I emailed and called the shelter, and when they said I could do it, I started writing up the proposal for the council,” Youmans said. Youmans loves dogs—her home and heart are filled with two rescue labs, one a mix—so when a chance to help dogs at the Marion County shelter came along, Youmans seized it. The course of poles, hoops and tunnels offers the possibility of a physical catalyst to canine behavior, and Youmans designed it for that very effect. “It would help them with their exercise and their confidence skills,” Youmans said. “Because if they get praised for doing good on

the different obstacles, then that [would] boost their selfconfidence, which would, in turn, make them look better for hopefully getting adopted.” The project cost $300— all donated— and took 80 hours to finish. She and a team of dedicated volunteers worked on the project. Although the shelter had

ideas about the obstacles they wanted for the course, Youmans designed the layout and built many of the obstacles, she said. While she started the project in April 2020, it came to a halt during the summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the delay, the agility course debuted at

Youmans leads Simon through the poles on the agility course at Marion County Animal Services. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]

the Marion County Animal Shelter in December. The initiative Youmans took to accomplish her project, her community service hours, and her leadership of a team of volunteers to complete the endeavor all helped her earn the Gold Award. “I thought with COVID and everything that it would be a lot more challenging,” Youmans said. “So, when I found out I got it, it was a really good feeling.” Youmans began Girl Scouts in first grade and continued until her graduation from Forest this year. From grade school to high school, Youman’s said Girl Scouts has resulted in amazing friendships and a chance to hone her people skills. She also said the group equipped her with the confidence to take on any new challenge. The Girl Scouts instilled in her the knowledge that “you’re able to do it and being able to tell yourself that you’re able to do it and not give up,” she said.

Don’t scalp your palm trees By Jennifer Odom

Special to the Ocala Gazette Over-trimmed palms are mighty laughable. You may have identified these scalped palms by their feather-duster tops or tufts. Some may think it’s an acceptable new style. But the natives know better. It’s more than aesthetics. The palms are suffering. “It is painful to see palms trimmed up to only 6-8 fronds,” says Jo Leyte-Vidal, an eighteen-year veteran and instructor of Master Gardeners. “The green fronds are the food source for the plant. This weakens the palm, making it more susceptible to diseases,” Leyte-Vidal said. Not only that, but the tree is also now more vulnerable to insects. And it can take several years for a palm to recover from an over-pruning. Examine the “stalk” where the leaf connects to the tree. Fronds growing upward or sideways should stay on the tree. Only fronds that are dead or more than half-dead leaves should come off—if at all.

Palms may not require any trimming. Notice palms in the wild. If you are like me, you probably enjoy the graceful teardrop shape formed by the dead leaves that hang along the trunk, especially in the very tallest Washingtonia Palms. Now envision the Canary Island Date Palms with their flouncy tutu shape. I call these the “dancing palms.” Why ruin God’s art? As an oldtimer and native Floridian, I can attest that the “hurricane cut” was not a “thing” until recent years. And I’ve never heard of anybody getting slaughtered by a palm leaf in the middle of a hurricane. (Except for the weatherman.) I can imagine, though, it might be like getting hit by a flattened cardboard box. Use common sense, though. Trim above sidewalks where fronds could fall on peoples’ heads. Wasps love to make nests in palm leaves, whether green or brown, so watch out. Consider

working during the evening when the little devils are more settled. Lop off clusters of fruit that would clutter up your sidewalk. Squished

fruit and seeds can cause slipping and sliding. Palms scatter ripe fruit below the tree where seedlings spring up like sturdy blades of grass. (Pull them while they’re tiny to keep life easy.) But there’s a bonus to all this. Jelly palms (also known as the butia or pindo palms) are famous for their sweet peach-colored fruits. When they drop, send the kids out to pick them up so you can make a delicious jelly. This pithy fruit’s flavor resembles a mix of pineapple and strawberry. But make sure you have verified your palm is a pindo. Its long bluish-green leaf has a distinctive sidecurve to its feather-life leaf. Now, as a savvy Floridian, when you’re out and about, observe the different shapes of palm leaves. Once you see the differences, you’ll become an enthusiast. Your friends will wonder how you can tell the trees apart. Commit yourself to identify at least a few of the more common species mentioned in this

article, the pindos, Canary Islands, Washingtonias. But at the very least, learn to spot and treasure our state tree—the sabal, or cabbage palm with its shaggy round top of handshaped fronds. The tallest, like ancient sentries, stand high above the woods, and proudly represent us. Sadly, a variety of palm diseases have attacked our trees, such as lethal bronzing, bud rot, and blights. But don’t worry. Be informed. Some problems are simply nutritional. Questions? Call your Marion County Extension office at 352-671-8400. Whatever your situation, don’t let a saw-happy tree-trimmer destroy your palms. Learn to identify and appreciate our local species. And above all, don’t run off the road while you’re out there scanning the roadways for them. Visit https://hort.ifas.ufl. edu/woody/palm-pruning. shtml to see examples of proper palm pruning. Jennifer Odom is an avid gardener and an Ocalabased author. Her latest novel “Girl with a Black Soul” was recently released. For information visit jenniferodom.com

B5

JULY 2 - JULY 8, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

7/2-3

Now -8/6 7/2-4

Community Magnificent Magnets

Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave. 10am-4pm The new exhibit offers opportunities to discover the awesome science of magnetism and how it is used in everyday life as well as cutting-edge experiments. Open Tuesday-Saturday. Visit mydiscoverycenter.org for more information.

Summer Kids Film Series

Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave. 10 & 11am The Marion will show kids’ movies on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings throughout the summer, beginning with “The Little Mermaid” and “WALL-E.” Visit mariontheatre.org for details.

Summer Horse Show Series

World Equestrian Center 8am Hunter/jumper competition at all levels with a weekly $50,000 Grand Prix. Spectators are welcome. Visit wec.net for more information.

7/4

Fireworks and Festivities

7/6

Tuesday Talks

7/6

As the Page Turns Book Club

7/7

1 Million Cups Ocala

Eaton’s Beach, 15790 SE 134th Ave., Weirsdale 6pm Live music by The Band 4Play, with fireworks at dusk over Lake Weir. Visit fb.com/eatonsbeach for more information.

Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership, 310 SE Third St. 8:15am Jamie Schofield, MA, CAMT and Dr. Ashlee Seek, DNP, AGNP-C, IFMCP will present “A Whole-Person Approach to Creating New Rhythms to Self-Care.” Email andrea@ocalacep. com to register.

Freedom Public Library, 5870 SW 95th St. 2:30pm Join a discussion of Susan Orlean’s “The Library Book.” Call (352) 438-2580 to register.

Power Plant Business Incubator, 405 SE Osceola Ave. 9:30-10:30am Two local startups present their business idea to an audience of community entrepreneurs. Email ryan@ocalacep.com for more information.

7/2

Marion Oaks Farmers Market

7/2

Marion County Friday Market

7/7

Wednesday Midday Market

7/2

Reading With Rangers and Friends

7/7

WinePO

7/8

Farmers Market

7/8

Reading With Horses

Marion Oaks Community Center, 294 Marion Oaks Lane 9am-12pm Fresh vegetables, artisan food products and handmade crafts.

McPherson Government Complex, 601 SE 25th Ave. 9am-2pm Shop locally fresh fruits and veggies, cinnamon buns, jerky, freeze dried treats, olive oils and seafood.

Tom’s Park, 2300 NW Magnolia Ave. 11am Park rangers, police or fire rescue representatives will host a free children’s story time. Visit ocalafl.org/recpark for more information.

7/2

Cooks and Books: The Fiery Chef

7/2-3

Bonkerz Comedy Club

7/3

Yoga in the Park

7/2-3

The Boozy Cauldron

7/3

Virtual 3pm Belleview Public Library hosts Chef Loring Felix, who will step virtually into your kitchen and give you hot-weather cooking tips to pair with a tasty literary selection. Call (352) 438-2500 to register.

Ocala Downtown Market, 310 SE Third St. 1-6pm Shop a selection of produce, meat, natural and handmade products and food trucks. ocaladowntownmarket.com

The Keep Downtown, 36 SW First Ave. 5:30-7:30pm Young Professionals Ocala’s monthly social gathering. Call (352) 629-8051 for more information.

Circle Square Commons, 8405 SW 80th St. 9am-1pm Locally grown seasonal produce, baked goods, plants and more. Visit circlesquarecommons.com/farmersmarket for more information.

The Lodge Ocala, 36 S Magnolia Ave. 8pm Comedian Jersey will perform at Bonkerz’ new location inside The Lodge. Visit fb.com/thelodgeocala for tickets and more information.

Sholom Park, 7110 SW 80th Ave. 9am Bring your own yoga mat for a free, relaxing class taught by a certified local yoga instructor. Visit sholompark.org for more information.

Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave. July 2-3 | 7 & 9pm This pop-up cocktail experience features beverage arts professor Dolohov Draven leading guests on a magical journey through the tavern’s famous buttered beer and other signature cocktails, along with stories of the ghosts that haunt the establishment. Visit mariontheatre.org for tickets.

Marion County Community Cleanup

Silver Springs Shores/Maricamp Road 9am-12pm Volunteers are invited to clean up litter along Maricamp Road. Water and snacks will be provided. Visit fb.com/ keepmarionbeautiful for more information.

Ocala Downtown Market, 310 SE Third St. 10-11am Gentle Carousel’s miniature therapy horses share books and free activities through their Reading is Magic summer literacy program for young readers. Visit fb.com/therapyhorses for more information.

Arts Spectrum of Creativity

Ocala Downtown Market

Now -7/7

Seeing Peacocks Through My Eyes

7/3

Brownwood Farmers Market

Now -7/10

7/3

Celebration Craft Show & BBQ Festival

Now -8/5

Summer Spotlight XXIV

7/3

Summer Sunset Polo

7/4

Freedom Run

7/4

Cars & Coffee

7/3

310 SE Third St. 9am-2pm A variety of vendors offer local fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood, fresh pasta, honey, arts and crafts, rain or shine. Visit ocaladowntownmarket.com for more information.

2726 Brownwood Blvd., Wildwood 9am-1pm More than 70 vendors offer fresh produce and crafts. Visit thevillagesentertainment.com for more information.

Harbison Farm Cattle & Produce, 4696 NE County Road 329, Anthony 9am-4pm Vendors, music and food. Find the farm on Facebook or call or text (352) 239-3552

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. 9am-5pm This student and emerging artist competition features the work of high school students and artists with less than 10 years’ experience. Visit ocalafl.org/culturalarts for more information.

Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St. 10am-5pm Tuesday-Saturday An immersive experience into Indian culture through folk art, dance, storytelling and culinary tastes presented by artist Dr. Sheni Meghani, MD, MPH. Visit fb.com/mcaocala for more information. CF Webber Gallery, 3001 SW College Road 10am-4pm Monday-Thursday The Visual Artists’ Society presents the 24th annual juried exhibition of works in a variety of mediums Central Florida artist members. Call (352) 873-5809 for more information.

Florida Horse Park, 11008 S County Highway 475 6pm Spectators are invited to tailgate and bring chairs and a picnic for a family experience watching equine athletes playing the sport of kings. Visit ocalapolo.com for details.

Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, 2601 E Fort King Ave. 7:30am A 4-mile run in honor of Greg Iggy Miller. Proceeds will benefit the park and the “We Can” Weekend cancer support program. Visit fb.com/fmcvp for details.

War Horse Harley-Davidson, 5331 N U.S. Highway 441 7:30-11:30am Cars, trucks and motorcycle show with coffee beverages, live music and family activities. Visit fb.com/warhorseharley for more information.

Now Summer in the Sun -8/27

NOMA Gallery, 939 N Magnolia Ave. 12pm-5pm Thursday-Saturday For this juried exhibition, artists were invited to submit works based on the theme “What Does Summer in the Sun Mean to You?” Visit nomaocala.com for more information.

B6

JULY 2 - JULY 8, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Now Countenance -9/26

7/8

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd. Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm A selection of works from the permanent collection examine the ancient tradition of portrait-making through a new lens. Visit appletonmuseum.org for more information.

Now Highlights from the Equine Collection -10/24

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd. Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm This exhibit of works from the permanent collection highlights more than 60 pieces which relay Arthur I. Appleton’s love of horses. Visit appletonmuseum.org for more information.

Now Alison Saar: Works from the Permanent Collection -1/22/ 2022

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd. Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm This exhibit of printed works curated from the Appleton’s collection showcases Alison Saar, an internationally acclaimed artist who incorporates spiritual and political themes. Visit appletonmuseum.org for more information.

7/2 7/3

7/6

7/7

7/6

Marion County Public Hearings

7/6

Marion County Public Hearings

7/6

Ocala Community Redevelopment Area Agency Board Meeting

7/6

Ocala City Council

7/6

Belleview City Commission

7/7

Marion County Land Development Regulation Commission Meeting

7/7

Dunnellon City Council Workshop

7/8

Marion County Development Review Committee Staff Meeting

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd. 10am-5pm Enjoy free admission to the museum’s permanent and special exhibits and outdoor sculpture walk. Visit appletonmuseum. org for more information.

Virtual 9-11am The Appleton Museum invites kids ages 7-12 to create art that appeals to each of the five senses through free creative activities. Visit appletonmuseum.org to register.

Government Marion County Board of Commissioners

Free First Saturday

7/5-9 Summer Art Camp: Art Senses

NOMA Gallery, 939 N Magnolia Ave. 11:30am This lunch and learn for Young Professionals Ocala members will include painting a Picasso-inspired self-portrait with artist Mel Fiorentino. Email andrea@ocalacep.com to register.

7/6

Exhibit Tour: Seeing Peacocks Through My Eyes

Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St. 11am-4pm Take a 30-minute guided gallery tour from the artist’s perspective with Dr. Sheni Meghani, MD, MPH. Visit fb.com/mcaocala for more information.

YPO Self-Portrait Class

McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave. 9am Call (352) 438-2323 for more information.

McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave. 10am Public hearings to consider an ordinance authorizing the creation of Marion County local participation fund specifying the method of setting and computing annual non-ad valorem special assessments to help offset Medicaid deficiencies and also the Cedar Hills subdivision road improvement project. Call (352) 438-2300 for more information.

McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave. 2pm The Board of County Commissioners will consider reasonable accommodation and Development Review Committee waivers and will hold public hearings for consideration of road closure petitions associated with Meadow Ridge and Roosevelt Village. Call (352) 671-8686 for more information on DRC waivers and (352) 438-2300 for more information on road closure hearings.

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. 4:45pm Call (352) 629-8401 for more information. Visit https://zoom. us/j/446885807 to participate online.

Drawing in the Galleries

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd. 1-3pm Bring pencil and paper or borrow them at the museum for a self-guided drawing session with optional instruction. No registration required. Visit appletonmuseum.org for more information.

Gallery Talk: Seeing Peacocks Through My Eyes

Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St. 5-6:30pm Hear artist Dr. Sheni Meghani, MD, MPH tell her story and learn the sounds and moves of Indian folk music. Visit fb.com/mcaocala for more information.

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. and virtual 5pm Call (352) 629-8401 for more information. Visit https://zoom. us/j/446885807 to participate online.

City Hall Commission Room, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview 6pm Call (352) 245-7021 for more information.

Growth Services, 2710 E Silver Springs Blvd. 5:30pm Call (352) 438-2611 for more information.

Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 River Drive, Dunnellon 5:30pm Call (352) 465-8500 for more information.

Office of the County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave. 8:30am Applicants may discuss proposed or current projects with county review staff prior to meeting formally with the Development Review Committee. Call (352) 671-8686 for more information.

ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR 2

6pm Charity Cox

2

Swampy’s

2

5pm The Big Bad

6pm Jeff Jarrett

2

6pm Chris McNeil Locos Grill & Pub

8pm Miranda Madison

3

12pm Grass Campers

3

5pm The Big Bad World Equestrian Center Yellow Pony

4

6pm John Johnson

4

7:30am Jeff Jarrett

4

12pm Off the Chain World Equestrian Center Grand Plaza

4pm The Big Bad w/Sidepiece Gator Joe’s

7

War Horse Harley-Davidson

4

5pm O-Town Motown World Equestrian Center Grand Plaza

Shuckin’ Shack

Gator Joe’s

3

6pm Conrad Marcum Locos Grill & Pub

The Corkscrew

Shuckin’ Shack

2

3

World Equestrian Center Yellow Pony

Ocala Downtown Square

2

7pm Mr. Martini

6pm Heather Lynne Bank Street Patio Bar

8

6pm Jeff Jarrett Ocala Downtown Square

B7

JULY 2 - JULY 8, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE

Then....and Now A colorized photo on a postcard from the 1920s shows the historic Marion Hotel on North Magnolia Avenue. The hotel was built in 1927 and for at 60 years held the undisputed title of tallest building in Ocala at 98 feet and seven stories. The title is still disputed, though the Hilton Ocala on State Road 200 is estimated at 113 feet and has nine stories. [State Archives of Florida]

The hotel closed in the 1970s and the rooms became offices. In 1980, the building, now known as the Sovereign Building, was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. From the late 1990s through most of the 2000s, the building served as headquarters of Ocala National Bank. The bank failed in 2009. The building still serves as a landmark for city residents and visitors. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]

Current Adoption Specials: Let freedom ring! ALL pet adoptions are FREE in July. Adoption includes up-to-date vaccinations, county license, microchip and spay/neuter surgery.

Sassy

Ready to Work Lovely calico 2-year-old female cat wants to get to work. Through the Working Whiskers program, she can be placed as a mouser at a farm or business.

View more adoptable pets at Marion County’s website: MarionFL.org/Animal This database is updated every hour.

Horton

Pleasant Pup Good-natured 2-year-old mixed breed male dog seeks a predictable life. This easygoing guy appreciates leisurely walks, a cozy bed and a few toys to play with.

352.671.8700

Answers for pages B3

Ocala Gazette publishes fond remembrances of your loved one Visit ocalagazette.com to submit an obituary

Join us

on this

L ! L A F s u p cam

Fall semester starts Aug. 16.

Get ready for the full college experience with award-winning faculty, leadership opportunities and diverse student clubs. Choose from more than 150 academic pathways to prepare for a career you will love. Visit CF.edu/Fall to learn more and apply online.

Attend our Ocala Campus Open House!

July 28, noon-5:30 p.m. 3001 S.W. College Road

352-873-5800 -an equal opportunity college-

ER Care Without the Scare Marion County’s Only Dedicated Children’s Emergency Department When your child is sick or injured, it’s reassuring to know that our board-certified pediatric emergency physicians and ER nurses are nearby to provide expert treatment, on the spot. Even better is knowing that your ER is specially designed to be scare-free with pediatric waiting rooms and themed exam and treatment areas that ease the stress of an ER visit. We’re here when you need us with trusted care for your whole family.

AHO-670

To learn more or schedule an appointment, visit OcalaKidsER.com

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6/4/21 9:13 AM