Ocala Gazette | August 4 - August 10, 2023

Rainbow River land gets protection

ELECTION COVERAGE

Business owner enters race for county commission

By Florida News Service

The state has completed a deal that will shield 135 acres along the Rainbow River in Marion County from development, the group Conservation Florida said this week. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet in January approved spending $3 million to purchase a conservation easement on the property, which will be part of a statewide wildlife corridor.

Under conservation easements, property continues to be privately

owned but cannot be used for such things as development. The non-profit Conservation Florida said it worked with landowner Jim Gissy to negotiate a sale of the conservation easement to the state through the Florida Forever program.

Traci Deen, president and CEO of Conservation Florida, said in a prepared statement that what is known as Gissy Rainbow River Ranch is an “amazing piece of land” that will be permanently preserved. “This property does it all—it protects water, wildlife, scenic views along the river and serves as a critical

connecting piece of the Florida Wildlife Corridor,” Deen said.

Before DeSantis and the Cabinet approved moving forward with the purchase Jan. 17, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton said the Rainbow River has one of the largest spring runs in the world.

“Acquiring a conservation easement is crucial for the protection of water quality as well as the ecosystem along the Rainbow River,” Hamilton said, according to a transcript of the meeting.

WWI veterans honored anew

Eagle Scout candidate Grayson Collins, with partners including the city of Ocala, refurbished a monument in Tuscawilla Park that is dedicated to those who served in World War I.

By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com

Undertaking the renovation of a monument at Tuscawilla Park that is dedicated to veterans of World War I was a bit more of a challenge than Grayson Collins expected. But the industrious teenager soldiered on and the result has more than met his own expectations, as well as those of others.

Grayson, 17, a member of Boy Scout Troop 72, embarked on the renovation as a qualifying project in his bid to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, which is Scouting’s highest honor. He said he decided to pursue becoming an Eagle Scout because, “not only does it look good on applications, it’s useful for life.”

According to scouting.org, a new research study shows that Eagle Scouts are more likely to have higher levels of planning and preparation skills, be goal-oriented, network well with others, assume leadership positions and work with others to improve their community.

Grayson spent about seven months on his project, which involved securing permission, raising funds, recruiting volunteers and working with area professionals, including several with Ocala’s Recreation and Parks Department.

The revitalized monument, which includes a water fountain feature, was rededicated on Aug. 2, under a bright morning sun with several officials, family members, fellow Scouts and

well-wishers in attendance.

According to Ashley Dobbs, the city’s marketing and communications manager, “the World War I Commemorative Fountain was first dedicated in 1927

by Judge J.C.B. Koonce.

The fountain underwent a previous restoration in 1997 by Troop 440 Boy Scouts of America and Ocala V.F.W.”

A newly installed plaque, See Eagle, page A3

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

Nicole Meade moved to Marion County 18 years ago on her honeymoon and never looked back. Now, she has filed to run for the District 5 seat on the Marion County Board of County Commissioners.

See Nicole Meade, page A2

Independent candidate enters county commission race

Jose “Manny” Alonso is running for the District 5 seat

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

When Jose “Manny” Alonso came to the United States from Cuba at age 14, his hope was to live “the American dream.”

Alonso now seeks to expand on that dream by running as an Independent for a seat on the Marion County Board of County Commissioners. He entered the race for the 2024 election on April 26.

He is running for the District 5 seat now held by Michelle Stone, a Republican who has served on the county commission since her first election in 2016. Stone, who drew no opposition in 2020, has not yet filed to run in the 2024 election. Republican Nicole Meade has also announced her candidacy for the seat.

Alonso declined to speak to the

See Alonzo, page A2

The Rainbow River near City Beach on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. [Alan Youngblood]

Grayson Collins, 17, a member of Boy Scout Troop 72, describes his Eagle Scout Project where he restored an historic World War I fountain before a dedication ceremony for the fountain at Tuscawilla Park in Ocala on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.

Nicole Meade [Supplied]

Capturing the Tevis Cup, again

The Tevis Cup, or Western States Trail Ride, was established in 1955 and

founding ride of endurance riding. Competitors have 24 hours to finish the 100-mile ride to earn a silver buckle.

the end of her 3-year-old year. Reynolds began training her to be an endurance horse at his and wife Heather’s Reynolds Racing operation in Dunnellon. The couple’s farm is within riding distance of the Goethe National Forest, which they utilize in their endurance training.

It should be noted that Heather Reynolds, 46, is also an accomplished endurance rider. She won the Tevis Cup in 2003, 2014 and 2018. This year, she finished ninth on Super Zonic Zell, a 9-year-old Arabian gelding.

The Reynolds have also won five Haggin Cups between them. The Haggin Cup is awarded to the Tevis Cup rider whose horse is deemed to be in the most superior physical condition of the first 10 horses to cross the finish line by a veterinary committee. Jeremy won the Haggin Cup in 2004, 2011 and 2017; Heather won in 1999 and 2003.

“For riders, winning the Haggin Cup is just as important as winning the Tevis Cup,” said Reynolds. “Heather and I consider ourselves fortunate to have won both.”

“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@ocalagazette.com

Evelyn Anderson Account Executive evelyn@magnoliamediaco.com

Bruce Ackerman Photography Editor bruce@ocalagazette.com

Allen Barney Reporter allen@ocalagazette.com

By JoAnn Guidry Correspondent

Dunnellon-based Jeremy Reynolds notched his fifth Tevis Cup victory on July 29 in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. Reynolds, 43, and his mount Treasured Moments, a 13-year-old Arabian mare, covered the 100-mile endurance ride in 13 hours and 14 minutes. Reynolds also won the Tevis Cup in 2021, 2011, 2007 and 2004.

“Treasure is such an amazing horse,” said Reynolds, who won the 2021 Tevis Cup with the same horse. “She is so special. This year, I just

rode her with a halter and a lead rope, and she did the rest.” Reynolds was quick to credit Tevis Cup officials with designing a slightly different course due to heavy winter snowfall and wildfire in the mountains.

“The Tevis Cup officials did an amazing job of fixing sections or rerouting the trail that was damaged by the wildfires,” said Reynolds, “Because of the heavy snowfall melt, we were unable to cross the river but a great alternate route was added. Horses and riders adapted well to the changes.”

Treasure, an ex-racehorse, was purchased by Reynolds towards

Nicole Meade

Continued from page A1

Meade, a 42-year-old Republican, officially entered the race for the 2024 election on July 12, and serves as her own campaign treasurer. She is running for the seat now held by Michelle Stone, who has served on the county commission since her first election in 2016. Stone has not yet filed for candidacy in the 2024 election.

Meade’s biggest priority? The welfare of first responders, she said. Meade’s husband, Teddy Meade, is a firefighter paramedic with Marion County.

“I hear from people every day. I have clients that are within the fire department and the police department, and they do have concerns and they’re big,” Meade said. “It’s anywhere from the pay to people leaving, to being understaffed, to just being stressed and not feeling like they can voice that.”

Meade’s clients are the patrons of her business, Infant Swimming Resource (ISR), through which she teaches aquatic self-rescue to toddlers. Meade opened up her swim instruction facility 16 years ago for ISR, which is nationwide and trains and contracts instructors like her, who can open up branches to teach techniques to prevent accidental drowning in children.

Meade said it is her involvement in the community through her business that she believes helps her to better understand its needs. She said she relies on clients, family and friends to express which needs should be prioritized.

“We have to make it enticing for people to want to be here, because right now Marion County Fire (Rescue) is known for the suicides.

That’s disgusting. That’s not OK,” she said.

Although first responders make up only about 1.4% of the workforce in Florida, their suicide rate is more than two times higher than the overall average for working-aged people in the state, according to the First Responder Suicide Deterrent Task Force. There have been four deaths classified as suicides within Marion County Fire Rescue since 2019.

Meade also expressed that, if elected, she would prioritize the improvement of roads in the county.

“I know that infrastructure is having to grow because of the growth of the county, which is beautiful,” she said. “However, we need to be taking care of all facets … nobody wants to buy a brandnew car and drive down a bumpy limestone road with potholes.”

Meade is currently opposed by Jose “Manny” Alonso, an Independent, who is a member of the Housing Finance Authority Board.

As of Aug. 2, Meade had no campaign contributions or expenditures, but said she plans to spend campaign funds on advertising. Meade said that she hopes for support and backing from the Professional Firefighters of Marion County.

One seat on the county commission is currently vacant after former commissioner Jeff Gold’s resignation in early June. Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to name a person to fill that seat until the election next year.

The general election takes place on Nov. 5, 2024. The deadline for voter registration is Oct. 7, 2024, according to the Marion County Supervisor of Elections website.

Both originally from California, Jeremy and Heather first met, of course, at an endurance ride in Nevada in 2001. A year later, they were married. In 2011, they moved to Dunnellon and established their Reynolds Racing. The couple competes on the United States Equestrian Federation team in endurance rides abroad by qualifying in Federation Equestre International (FEI) events. The Reynolds have competed in and represented the USEF in such countries as Spain, Portugal, Malaysia, Colombia, England, France and the United Arab Emirates.

“Next on our schedule is the Virginia City 100 Mile Endurance Ride in Nevada on September 16,” said Jeremy Reynolds. “Then we go to Kennard, Texas, for the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) National Championship, also a 100-miler, on Oct. 21.”

Alonzo

“Gazette” about his candidacy. According to his campaign website, Alonso wants to “leave politics at the door and get to work.”

“Manny’s platform for county commissioner focuses on bringing people together to find practical solutions to the complex challenges facing Marion County,” according to his website. Alonso works as a digital marketing strategist at Ocala Sales and Marketing, which helps businesses generate revenue and increase their online presence, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Alonso also serves the community as a member of the Housing Finance Authority Board.

“He believes in building strong partnerships with residents, businesses and community organizations to address the most pressing issues, such as improving infrastructure, enhancing public safety and increasing access to healthcare,” according to his website.

As of Aug. 2, Alonso has collected $105 in campaign contributions and has spent about $40 in expenditures.

One seat on the county commission is currently vacant after former commissioner Jeff Gold’s resignation in early June. Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to name a person to fill that seat until the election next year.

The general election takes place on Nov. 5, 2024. The deadline for voter registration is Oct. 7, 2024, according to the Marion County Supervisor of Elections website.

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is recognized as the

Jeremy Reynolds with Treasured Moments [Supplied]

Trans adults seek to block new law

Eagle Scout

By Dara Kam Florida News Service

Cto block a new state law making it more difficult for trans adults to access hormone-replacement therapy and surgery.

Republican-controlled

Legislature this spring and championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, requires patients diagnosed with gender dysphoria to sign informed-consent forms crafted by state medical boards.

doctors and osteopathic physicians—not nurse practitioners—are allowed to order hormone therapy. The law also requires transgender people seeking gender-affirming care to undergo lifelong mental-health exams by state board-licensed psychiatrists or psychologists.

erected “unnecessary barriers” to care and “impose medically unsupported requirements” on trans people, plaintiffs argued in a revised version of a lawsuit filed Friday.

with adults.

Continued from page A1 which contains that information, adds: “Second Restoration in 2023 by Grayson Collins of Troop 72 B.S.A., the City of Ocala and Generous Friends.”

The law (SB 254) also banned doctors from ordering genderaffirming care for children but allowed minors already receiving such treatment to continue, under certain conditions.

The law “singles out transgender individuals and creates arbitrary, harmful and medically unjustified restrictions that deter them from obtaining needed medical care,” the motion said.

fear, anxiety, self-loathing and despair,” Hamel said.. Hamel, the father of a 7-yearold son, said he can’t afford to relocate to another state.

consent forms approved last month by the state Board of Medicine and the state Board of Osteopathic Medicine.

The consent forms say “medical treatment of people with gender dysphoria is based on very limited, poorquality research with only subtle improvements seen in some patients’ psychological functioning in some, but not all,

Dan Karasik, a professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of California-San Francisco, said the forms are “riddled with false and misleading statements” and thereby “undermine informed consent.”

Daniel Shumer, a pediatric endocrinologist and professor who serves as the medical director of the Comprehensive Gender Services Program at Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, also criticized the forms.

medical ethics” and undermine physicians’ decisions about how best to serve their patients.

The “doctor-patient relationship is of fundamental importance and therefore should be free from legislative or regulatory interference that does not serve a medical justification,” Goodman said. “These principles apply as a matter of professional ethics notwithstanding any individual’s personal viewpoint on gender identity or whether gender transition care should be legally accessible.”

Debate about the bill restricting gender-affirming care focused largely on children during the legislative session that ended in May.

“Grayson has a couple of more housekeeping items to take care of, but the requirements are complete (for Eagle Scout),” Chuck Collins added. “His mother and I are very proud of him. This rank is obtained by fewer than 9% of all scouts and years of dedication to the program are required. Grayson has approached Scouting with a good attitude and has followed through with what he knew he had to do. His mother was the driving force behind Grayson being to this point. Without her constant encouragement over the past several years, he would not be where he is today. He has matured during his time in Scouting, and it has been a pleasure to watch him grow into the young man he has become. The accomplishment is a really big deal, and we are looking forward to his Eagle Scout Court of Honor when he is formally awarded the rank.”

“We cannot speak something into existence that doesn’t exist. We cannot change our sex,” Rep. Ralph Massullo, a Lecanto Republican who is a dermatologist, said in May before the House gave final approval to the measure. “And for those children that this bill addresses, they cannot change their sex, and they need to learn that fact.”

Following graduation from high school, Grayson said he plans to go to college with a focus in “sports science, like physical therapy, something to do with kinesiology or something like that. I love sports. I play lacrosse at school.”

Chuck Collins said he was only a Boy Scout for one year as a youngster but then was a Cubmaster for six years.

Grayson, a rising senior at Forest High School, has been involved in Scouting for about 10 years. In order to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, the Scout must accomplish several objectives, including a project of benefit to the community. Collins considered a couple of different options before settling on the monument restoration.

Parents of transgender children filed a lawsuit challenging the restrictions, and U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle last month blocked a ban

had to track down the irrigation meter and add in back flow and run about 300 feet of pipe. Grayson helped install the regulator, valves, wiring and the irrigation. Everything on the inside of the fountain, I did all that work, the technical stuff. It took about 100 hours to get it installed. There will be some maintenance, typically about once a week,” Carsey said.

The motion also argued that the “restrictions on transgender adults’ ability to obtain care, and those in the informed consent forms, are not even rational. Rather than fostering any interests in health or safety, they undermine them.”

Adult plaintiffs who joined the

“Some guys in our troop had built things from the ground up, but I saw this, and I jumped at it. I saw the way it was looking, and I wasn’t thrilled, so I thought, I can probably do something to make this look decently better. My vision was getting it out of disrepair and into functionality, and I think we succeeded,” he said.

FLORIDA NEWS SERVICE BRIEFS

“Thus, I am trapped in a state that is denying me access to critical medical care that I need to live and thrive,” he added. Plaintiffs on Monday also filed declarations from doctors who specialize in treating people diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

In viewing the work ahead of the public event, Rodriquez, a U.S. Army veteran, said he had been working for more than two years to have the project done but prior efforts fizzled out. He said he has experience working with other Eagle Scout endeavors and felt working with Grayson would be a good fit.

The doctors said the state’s approach is contrary to widely accepted medical standards and pointed, in part, to the informed-

“I was the leader of the pack’s Cub Scout program and I’m proud to say several carried on to earn Eagle. I continued in this role until my younger son Cash, now 16, went into Boy Scouts. As Grayson and Cash moved into Boy Scouts, I thought it important that they learn from other adults as this deepened their respect for leaders and allowed them to build confidence in themselves on their own,” he said.

“When a regulatory agency interferes with the informed consent process to require doctors to misstate information, impose medically unsupported requirements and create unnecessary barriers to ongoing care, the process is corrupted and patient autonomy is undermined. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the consent form itself …,” Shumer said.

Kenneth Goodman, founder and director of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy, said in a declaration that the stateapproved forms “depart from well-established principles of

CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDING CHANGE PROPOSED

Grayson worked closely with Ocala Parks and Recreation team members, including Parks Division Head Bill Rodriquez and Irrigation Specialist James Carsey. The work included pressure washing the monument, cementing stones into place, restoring the fountain and replacing a broken concrete eagle statue on the top with one cast in bronze.

The Florida Department of Education has started moving forward with a proposed change that would affect charter schools’ eligibility to receive money for such things as building facilities and buying property.

“It took a lot of time, and lots of contacts,” Grayson said. “I talked to James a lot, and Bill, and I had to contact stone masons and electricity people and do fundraising. We had to get donations for the eagle on top, which is solid bronze, and to cast that was pretty expensive.”

The department published a proposed rule Friday that involves “capital outlay” money and stems from a law (HB 1537) approved this year by the Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis.The proposed rule deals, in part, with school grades, which are based on factors such as students’ results on standardized tests.

“What he delivered is absolutely phenomenal. As a veteran, I take pride in it, and I think that for our community and as an anchor for the south end of Tuscawilla Park, it is a great addition,” said Rodriquez.

Florida is among a number of Republican-led states that have approved measures to curb or prohibit gender-affirming care for transgender children and adults. DeSantis, who is running for president, has made the issue one of his priorities.

In addressing those gathered on Wednesday, he offered thanks to a great number of people, and “my donors. We were able to raise about $9,700, and I’m very proud of that. I thank Stokes Electric, the city of Ocala and Brantley Irrigation, and James and Bill, with whom I worked most of the time. James provided me with hands-on experience and Bill provided us with a vision.”

As for the future of the monument, he said, “I hope it will stay this way for a long time before anyone else has to do it again.”

In a separate lawsuit, Hinkle on June 22 blocked a state ban of Medicaid coverage for transgender children and adults, saying the effort was “invidious discrimination.” The state also is appealing that decision.

He said an added challenge was getting the fountain operational.

Current Department of

“We started out thinking we would put something visually instead of having to go inside and get it actually running,” he said. “But I worked with James doing plumbing, putting in PVC, connecting pipes to pipes, connecting the tank. I had to become familiar with the timing system. It was a lot of new stuff I had never interacted with but was interested in learning.”

Carsey said the original lines to the water fountain had been “abandoned.”

“I had to install everything new. I

Pointing to concerns about a hit to Florida’s pension fund, Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to know if the state can take legal action against beer company AB InBev, which has been embroiled in a controversy involving transgender social-media influencer

Dylan Mulvaney. DeSantis on Thursday directed State Board of

Education guidelines say that charter schools that receive an “F” grade under the state’s accountability system, or two consecutive grades below a “C,” are not eligible for capital-outlay money. The proposal would change the rule so that charter schools that receive two consecutive “F” grades or three consecutive grades lower than a “C” would not be eligible for the funding.

The monument features wood and steel benches that were donated by the city and assembled by Grayson, his father, and the father of a friend. They rest upon concrete pads installed by the city, which are surrounded by a bed of new gravel. The back of the monument has beautiful plants that fan out around the perimeter.

Among those in the audience for the dedication ceremony were Grayson’s parents, Chuck and Mary Anne Collins, and brother Cash, 16, also a Boy Scout, and who also plans to pursue the rank of Eagle.

One special attendee was Jean “Nana Jean” King, who has known the Collins family for a number of years.

Lawmakers also during this year’s legislative session passed a separate measure (HB 1259) that requires school districts to share local property-tax revenues with charter schools.

“She helped raise these boys,” said Mary Anne Collins.

DESANTIS EYES BEER COMPANY

Sandy Clardy, the Scoutmaster for Troop 72, has known Grayson for about three years and also was on hand. Clardy has substantial experience in working with Eagle Scouts.

“The troop, if my count is correct, has had 87 Eagle Scouts, and me personally, probably three-quarters of those since I stated in 1980,” he shared.

Of the work Grayson did on the monument, Clardy said, “It’s a good cleanup. It needed it.”

promotional effort with Mulvaney. The backlash began when Anheuser-Busch, which is part of AB InBev, sent Mulvaney a special can of Bud Light that included a message on the top of the can that said, “Cheers to 365 Days of Being a Woman.” As of February, the State Board of Administration handled $235

The restored World War I era fountain that Grayson Collins, 17, a member of Boy Scout Troop 72, restored for his Eagle Scout Project is shown before a dedication ceremony for the fountain at Tuscawilla Park in Ocala on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.

Before photo of the World War I monument [Courtesy of Grayson Collins]

“What he delivered is absolutely phenomenal. As a veteran, I take pride in it, and I think that for our community and as an anchor for the south end of Tuscawilla Park, it is a great addition.”

Bill Rodriquez

City staff touts future projects

Ocala’s Planning and Growth Management teams inform residents about the city’s growth process and offer a peek at new developments.

By Belea T. Keeney belea@magnoliamediaco.com

Enthusiastic city staffers and about two dozen Ocala residents gathered July 27 to review a number of proposed or inprogress projects designed to enhance various parts of the city in the coming years.

The “Brick by Brick: Planning 101” growth management presentation saw Planning Department staffers and Growth Management team members providing up-to-the-minute details of projects such as the “O Track” for the extension of a walking and biking trail on the former Osceola Avenue rail track in Downtown, the possible revamping of the Paddock Mall, and the revitalization of the West Ocala area.

Residents attending the session provided ideas and suggestions for the staff, who encouraged members of the public to engage in the process going forward.

Mayorelect Ben Marciano also attended and said, “I was blown away. I thought they were well prepared, organized, super energetic, and it was really impressive.”

Although often thought of by some as a dry and bureaucratic aspect of local government, growth management is essential for a community to develop the way its residents want. Growth Management Director Jeff Shrum reminded attendees of the dynamics and effects of the department’s work. Whether it’s a zoning change from agricultural to employment center, as happened with the logistics centers for Chewy, Auto Zone and Amazon in the northwest corner of the city limits, to the more common

change to a medium- or high-density residential project such as the Lake Louise development, Shrum said the department’s work and decisions affect city residents in numerous ways.

Staffers offered examples of recent zoning changes and land use codes to help the audience understand the overall process. One example was the city’s efforts to expand residential density in the downtown core. The Watula South townhomes project final plat and developer’s agreement was approved by the Ocala City Council at its July 18 meeting. The nine townhomes are sited directly across from City Hall on Watula Avenue at Fort King Street. The project met zoning and land use requirements and had extra scrutiny from the Historic District team due to its location in that area.

Downtown and Midtown.

“Various boutique hotels have shown interest,” Hale said, including the site of the former European Car Clinic at Silver Springs Boulevard and Southeast Second Avenue. He also noted the Marion Hotel building that will be transitioning back into a hotel space. He mentioned that the Tuscawilla Park area is primed for residential development.

Suggestions from the audience included more parking spaces, getting a grocery store downtown and better lighting and sidewalks for the area north of Silver Springs Boulevard.

Staff also acknowledged the red negative indicators, including several on the Paddock Mall. This led to a discussion and information about possible changes to the aging mall. Code and zoning changes that would allow for substantial modifications to the building’s usages will be discussed at future City Council meetings, including ideas that might allow for the mall’s redevelopment as residential units or assisted living facilities.

Marciano said he was especially enthused about the midtown projects.

“Expansion of the Tuscawilla area, the north side of (State Road) 40. We’ve done a great job with developing the downtown area, and [should] continue to build on that,” he said.

2035 and 2050 Vision plans

by fall of 2024.

Land use and zoning review

Senior Planner Emily Johnson reviewed comprehensive plans and explained their overall importance and impact on growth. Comprehensive plans include analysis and planning using a variety of elements such as future land use, transportation, public facilities and infrastructure including water and sewer capabilities, housing and property rights. Plans must be reviewed and evaluated every 10 years per Florida statutes. The city of Ocala’s last review of its plan was in 2020.

Staff also explained land use concepts. Ocala now has six land use categories: High Intensity/Central Core; Medium Intensity/Special District; Low intensity; Neighborhood; Public; and Employment Centers. For example, the Downtown and North Magnolia districts are considered High Intensity/Central Core as evidenced by dense residential usage mixed with businesses. Just north of the railroad tracks along Northeast Eighth Avenue, however, a swath of area around Northeast 14th Street and along Northeast Eighth Street/Old Highway 301 is designated as low intensity, which is reflected in the residential homes on larger lots and mixed-use businesses in those areas.

Resident input welcome

Planning exercise got residents

An engaging part of the presentation was the Mark the Map exercise with three areas of Ocala shown on large printed sheets: East Ocala, the Downtown and Midtown core, and West Ocala. The attendees were encouraged to mark the maps with green indicators for positive areas of the city and red ones for areas they felt needed improvement.

Clusters of positives were seen in the downtown square area, Tuscawilla Park and Jervey Gantt Park.

Economic Development Director Aubrey Hale highlighted the various development changes in the works for

Hale also discussed the city’s 2035 Vision, noting that various elements of the plan are in progress and meeting milestones along the way.

“Overall, we’re about halfway there,” he reported. Building and site design elements in the plan are 63% complete, and general strategies are 65% complete, he said.

The city’s plans for its 2050 Vision are already in the works. It will build on the 2035 Vision for its process and completion and will again have a series of workshops to get public input. Resident input from focus groups helps staff understand what people want from the city and get feedback and ideas for improvements. The city aims to complete the 2050 Vision plan

Resident are encouraged to participate in creating the vision for Ocala’s future by getting involved with any of the city’s various boards and groups. The Planning & Zoning Commission, the Board of Adjustment, Community Redevelopment Areas and the Ocala Historic Preservation Advisory Board all have resident volunteers.

Staffers also highlighted the “Ask a Planner” link where residents can fill out some basic information about a potential project and receive input and expertise from planning staff without the in-depth requirements of a formal application. More information is available at bit.ly/44ORglJ, along with a download of the entire presentation of the “Brick by Brick Presentation.”

Project: Watula South

Coehadjoe Park zip line project canceled

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

Officials with Marion County Parks and Recreation no longer plan to open a zip line project at Coehadjoe Park.

The $35,500 project at the park, at 4225 NE 35th St., Ocala, began in January but was halted in June due to safety concerns, said Marion County Parks and Recreation spokesperson Sara Lambert via email.

“We explored the possibility of a zip line with enthusiasm,” said county spokesperson Stacie Causey via email. “However, after installing and prior to opening this piece of playground equipment for public use, potential safety concerns led our Parks and Recreation team to cancel the project and schedule removal.”

The county’s concern for safety came from the actual use of the zip line after its installation.

The project is scheduled to be removed during August, Lambert said.

The site preparations were done internally, and installation was done by Kompan Inc., a playground equipment manufacturer.

The county spent about $25,000 on the zip line project before it was scrapped. This does not include the money that was spent on ramps, borders and mulch, but those materials will be reallocated to other parks, Lambert said.

Funds for materials such as ramps, borders and mulch were already allocated within the Parks and Recreation budget.

In the wake of the zip line cancellation, no other projects have been planned to enhance the park in its place.

Inmates, prisons grapple with ‘oppressive’ heat

By Dara Kam News Service of Florida

Nearly a month into a stifling heat wave, corrections officials are attempting to alleviate sweltering conditions in Florida’s unairconditioned prisons, but advocates for inmates say the efforts fall short and aren’t being carried out the same way at all facilities.

Throughout July, inmates’ supporters pressed the Department of Corrections to take steps to offer some relief to the roughly 85,000 people locked up in prisons.

Last week, advocates scored a victory when department officials agreed to allow inmates to wear shorts and T-shirts instead of the mandated standard “Class A” clothing—undershirts, dress shirts, underwear, long pants, socks and shoes or boots—for most of the day.

Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Chairwoman Jennifer Bradley, a Republican whose sprawling North Florida district includes a number of prisons, said she has worked for weeks with Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon to find ways to mitigate the effects of what has been record-breaking heat in some areas of the state.

“This is something that has been an issue for many, many years. But this summer has been really unprecedented, unrelenting. I hear from (inmates’) loved ones, but more importantly, I visit prisons and when I go and visit, it is just oppressive,” Bradley, R-Fleming Island, told The News Service of Florida this week, adding that the state has “an aging prison population” that also will have to be addressed in the future.

Many prisons are decades old—as an example, Union Correctional Institution,

which is in Bradley’s district, has been operating since 1913—and installing air conditioning in all facilities would be expensive and take years to complete. Also, some aging facilities don’t have infrastructure that can be retrofitted for modern cooling systems.

Temperatures inside buildings without air conditioning can soar 15 degrees higher than the temperature outside. That means temperatures over 100 degrees last month put the thermometer above 115 inside prisons in some regions.

Dixon late last week “temporarily lifted uniform restrictions” to permit inmates to wear shorts and T-shirts, or “Class C” uniforms, Department of Corrections spokesman Paul Walker confirmed.

Bradley praised Dixon’s move.

“There was a free solution out there, and that was to allow inmates to wear shorts and T-shirts, to just change the uniform requirements, so that they weren’t wearing long pants and multiple layers on top … So really it was a change in policy that was no cost to DOC (the Department of Corrections),” Bradley said. “Does it get us where we need to be? No. But it is a really good, great, first step by DOC. Absolutely.”

But Denise Rock, executive director of Florida Cares Charity Corp., said not all inmates are being allowed to shed extra layers. As she fields hundreds of messages from inmates’ loved ones expressing concern about the heat and reporting conditions at facilities, Rock said not all prisons are following Dixon’s directive.

“It just seems to be wildly all over the place, not any consistency with institutions. So we still are continuing to go back and forth to try and get some consistency,” Rock told the News Service. “I believe that the administration up in Tallahassee, I believe

they get it. But the boots on the ground, those officers, they don’t.”

Rock’s group for weeks pleaded with corrections officials to relax the uniform standards. But she’s also asking them to reduce indoor temperatures by turning off lights during the day, boosting the number of fans in common living areas and providing access to showers throughout the day.

When asked about mitigation measures, department spokesman Walker said the agency has “air-conditioned housing units serving the most vulnerable inmate populations, including the infirmed, mentally ill, pregnant and geriatric.”

Day-use areas, including chapels, medical facilities and administration offices, are equipped with air conditioning, Walker added. Institutions also are audited and comply with federal standards.

Some prisons built before air conditioning was common “were instead designed to facilitate airflow to provide natural cooling within them,” according to Walker.

“All non-air-conditioned dorms use some form of climate control to mitigate heat, such as fans or exhaust systems, which create a high level of air exchange to cool the building. These housing units also incorporate other fans, such as a ceiling or wall-mounted circulation fans. In addition, all housing units contain refrigerated water fountains to provide a source of cool water for the inmate population,” he said.

The department did not respond to several requests for Dixon’s memo about the uniform standards. Rock is pressing corrections officials to be more open about what they’re doing to address the heat.

“We could handle this so much better if DOC would be transparent and just share the memo,” she said. “So we all know what should be done, and then when a warden

isn’t doing it, or the officer isn’t doing it on the institutional level, somebody can share. Why does it have to be a big secret?”

Meanwhile, Bradley said corrections officials also pledged to provide inmates “greater access to cold water” as the heat persists.

“These are things that we should be able, as a state, to provide—cold water, cool uniforms. These are things, short of AC, that do make a difference,” she said.

Bradley said she’s continuing to work with corrections officials to explore other mitigation efforts, such as providing more shade around outdoor pavilions and using misting fans.

Cynthia Cooper said her husband, Vohn, was in confinement last week in a small cell with no windows and no ventilation at Tomoka Correctional Institution in Volusia County. Four “medium-sized” wall fans and a large exhaust fan were inadequate to cool a common area, she said.

“Right now, it’s 97 degrees where I’m at. So if it’s 97 degrees outside, you have to add 15 degrees to that inside that dorm. There’s 80 men in that dorm. It’s just ridiculous,” she told the News Service.

Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-Hollywood, also has visited numerous prisons and receives messages from inmates’ loved ones about conditions at the facilities.

Pizzo said he relayed concerns posted on social media to corrections officials. Speaking to the News Service, he rattled off a number of issues at institutions throughout the state, including a broken water line at one facility that led prison staff to provide bottled water to inmates.

“We have really old, dilapidated, inefficient structures and plants and operations that need to be replaced,” Pizzo said.

Officials with Marion County Parks and Recreation no longer plan to open a zip line project at Coehadjoe Park [Courtesy of Marion County Parks and Recreation]

State Florida regulators balk at EPA Power Plant Plan

By Jim Saunders Florida News Service

Florida utility regulators and other industry officials are objecting to a federal proposal aimed at reducing greenhousegas emissions from power plants, arguing the changes could drive up costs for consumers and hurt the reliability of the state’s electric system.

The Florida Public Service Commission on Tuesday approved sending a document to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency raising concerns that the proposed rule could “result in unjust, unreasonable, and excessively costly carbon emissions performance standards that would risk the safety, reliability and affordability of electric service in Florida.”

Officials from the Florida Municipal Power Agency, an electricity wholesaler for

municipal utilities, and the Florida Reliability Coordinating Council, which works on energy planning, said their organizations also have sent concerns to the EPA.

“This (EPA) rule goes to the heart of whether we can meet the needs of the customers,”

Jacob Williams, chairman of the Florida Reliability Coordinating Council board, told the Public Service Commission.

The EPA released the wideranging proposal in May, saying it would dramatically reduce carbon emissions over the next two decades while helping protect public health. A news release from the agency said the proposal would “require ambitious reductions in carbon pollution based on proven and cost-effective control technologies that can be applied directly to power plants.”

“By proposing new standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants, EPA is delivering on its mission

to reduce harmful pollution that threatens people’s health and well-being,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a prepared statement. “EPA’s proposal relies on proven, readily available technologies to limit carbon pollution and seizes the momentum already underway in the power sector to move toward a cleaner future.”

During Tuesday’s Public Service Commission meeting, however, Commissioner Gary Clark expressed concern about “overreach” by the federal agency.

“The last thing we want to see is unnecessary expenses falling back on our customers,” Commissioner Mike La Rosa said.

The proposal, in part, would set new pollution standards for power plants fueled by natural gas and coal, while taking steps to shift toward cleaner technology such as a type of fuel known as green hydrogen.

Florida receives relatively

little electricity generated with coal, but it relies heavily on natural gas. About 70 percent of the state’s power generation in 2021 came from gas, according to the document the Public Service Commission approved Tuesday.

As an example of the Florida officials’ concerns about the proposed rule, Williams and Navid Nowakhtar, asset and strategic planning director at the Florida Municipal Power Agency, pointed to a potential requirement for use of green hydrogen. If a green hydrogen threshold is not met by 2032, the proposed rule would require scaling back generation at large gas-fired power plants, they said.

The Public Service Commission document said “no Florida utility has demonstrated the capability to co-fire the volume of low-GHG (greenhouse gas) hydrogen required to comply with the proposed rule. Due to Florida’s unique circumstances, the FPSC

(Public Service Commission) is concerned that Florida’s EGUs (electric generating units) will face substantial obstacles in implementing grid-scale hydrogen co-firing capabilities.”

The commission primarily regulates Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida, Tampa Electric Co. and Florida Public Utilities Co., which are able to pass along environmentalcompliance costs to customers. But the document approved Tuesday said the costs of the proposed rule remain unclear.

“Utility recovery of compliance costs associated with the proposed rule, as required by Florida law, will … have a near-immediate impact on the retail rates of electric service paid by all ratepayers in Florida,” the document said. “However, due to some of the uncertainties surrounding the proposed rule … the FPSC is unable to accurately estimate the potential costs that would be passed on to customers.”

State seeks halt of drag show ruling

By Jim Saunders Florida News Service

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is asking a federal appeals court to largely put on hold a ruling that blocked a new law aimed at preventing children from attending drag shows.

The state filed a motion Friday at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that said U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell overstepped when he issued a preliminary injunction that applied statewide against the law. Presnell’s ruling came in a constitutional challenge filed by the Orlando restaurant Hamburger Mary’s.

The motion seeks a stay of the injunction while the DeSantis administration pursues an appeal at the Atlanta-based court. The motion, if granted, would allow the law to be enforced against establishments statewide—except against Hamburger Mary’s, which would continue to be shielded by the injunction during the appeal.

“An injunction preventing enforcement of the statute against HM (Hamburger Mary’s) fully protects HM from any … harm,” the motion, filed by lawyers in Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office, said. “In granting broader

relief, the district court irreparably harmed the state by ordering it to refrain from enforcing a duly enacted law designed to protect children from exposure to age-inappropriate, sexually explicit live performances.”

Presnell issued the injunction in June on First Amendment grounds and later rejected a similar motion by the state for a partial stay. He wrote that the state was trying to “neuter the court’s injunction” by having it apply only to Hamburger Mary’s.

“Protecting the right to freedom of speech is the epitome of acting in the public interest,” Presnell wrote in the July 19 rejection of a stay. “It is no accident that this freedom is enshrined in the First Amendment. This injunction

protects plaintiff’s (Hamburger Mary’s) interests, but because the statute is facially unconstitutional, the injunction necessarily must extend to protect all Floridians.”

The law, dubbed by sponsors as the “Protection of Children Act,” would prevent venues from admitting children to adult live performances. It defines adult live performances as “any show, exhibition, or other presentation that is performed in front of a live audience, which, in whole or in part, depicts or simulates nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement or specific sexual activities, … lewd conduct, or the lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts.”

Regulators would be able to suspend or revoke licenses of restaurants, bars and other venues that violate the law. Also, it

would prohibit local governments from issuing public permits for events that could expose children to the targeted behavior. In addition, people could face first-degree misdemeanor charges for “knowingly” admitting children to adult live performances.

While the law does not specifically mention drag shows, it came after the DeSantis administration cracked down on venues in South Florida and Central Florida where children attended drag shows. It also passed this spring amid a wave of bills in Florida and other Republican-led states targeting LGBTrelated issues.

Hamburger Mary’s, which says it has run “family friendly” drag shows for 15 years, filed the lawsuit in May, and Presnell ruled June 23 that the law is not “sufficiently narrowly tailored” to meet First Amendment standards.

Presnell’s injunction barred the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation from “instituting, maintaining or prosecuting any enforcement proceedings under the act until further order of the court following a trial on the merits of this case.” The defendant in the case is Melanie Griffin, secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

“It is no accident that this freedom is enshrined in the First Amendment. This injunction protects plaintiff’s (Hamburger Mary’s) interests, but because the statute is facially unconstitutional, the injunction necessarily must extend to protect all Floridians.”

U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell

INMATE BACKED ON BEARD LENGTH

Afederal appeals court has upheld a decision that said a Florida prison inmate should be allowed to grow a “fist-length” beard because of his Muslim faith.

A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday rejected arguments by the Florida Department of Corrections that inmate Durell Sims needed to go through a formal rule-making process before filing a lawsuit about the beard length.

Sims filed the lawsuit as he sought an exemption from a Department of Corrections rule that beards can only be a half-inch long. Sims argued that the department policy violated a federal law known as the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which is designed to require accommodation of religion, according to Monday’s ruling.

A federal district judge sided with Sims, but the department argued

in the appeal that Sims needed to file a petition to start a rule-making process. The three-judge appellate panel, however, said Sims had gone through a grievance process before filing the lawsuit. “In short, Florida’s grievance procedures do not require that a prisoner file a petition to initiate rulemaking,” said the 11-page ruling, written by Judge Britt Grant and joined by Judges Elizabeth Branch and Gerald Tjoflat.

“Florida’s process instead requires just three things: an informal grievance, a formal grievance, and an appeal to the (corrections) secretary. The secretary does not dispute that Sims adequately completed each of those three steps. Sims, then, was free to file this lawsuit.”

The Department of Corrections website indicates Sims is serving a life sentence at South Bay Correctional Facility.

STUDENTS WITH ‘MATH DEFICIENCY’ EYED

The state Department of Education is proposing a rule that would help determine when students have a “substantial math deficiency,” which could lead to needing such things as individual education plans.

The proposal, published Monday by the department, would apply to students in kindergarten through fourth grade. Under the proposal, students who meet certain criteria would be deemed to have a substantial math deficiency. Students would have to score below the 10th percentile “based upon screening, diagnostic assessments, progress monitoring, other classroom data, or statewide assessments.”

Alternatively, students could be designated with a deficiency if “through teacher observation, the student has demonstrated

minimum skill levels for mathematics competencies in one or more of the areas of emphasis for that grade level.”

For example, one area of emphasis for kindergarten students would be “measuring, comparing, and categorizing objects according to various attributes, including their two- and three-dimensional shapes.” For fourth-grade students, an area of emphasis would be “developing an understanding for interpreting data to include mode, median and range.”

The proposed rule says students found to have math deficiencies “must be covered by a federally required student plan” such as an individual education plan, or IEP. An IEP is a “written plan for the special education of a student with a disability,” according to a document on the department’s website.

AIF URGES CAUTION ON LAND LAW

The business group Associated Industries of Florida on Monday urged state officials to move cautiously in carrying out a new law that restricts people from China from owning property in the state, saying it “could have unintended and negative consequences for investment in Florida and therefore limit the freedom of Florida’s future growth.”

The law (SB 264), signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May, limits land ownership by people from what Florida calls “foreign countries of concern”—China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria, with part of it specifically focused on Chinese people who are not U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents.

In a letter Monday to state

Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Melanie Griffin, Associated Industries President and CEO Brewster Bevis focused on how one section of the law will be carried out. For example, Bevis

UF PLANS FACILITY FOR AI IN AGRICULTURE

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is gearing up to build a new Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence that would bolster the use of artificial intelligence in agriculture. The facility is planned to be built in Wimauma, a rural area in Hillsborough County.

A request for proposals published Wednesday for the roughly $20 million construction project said the 34,000 square-foot facility would include “office, research and meeting space” and provide housing for about 32 graduate students.

“The facility will include a stateof-the-art research shop equipped with the equipment necessary to design and build robotic technologies for agriculture, meeting space to be used as a central hub for training in

AI and robotic technologies, as well as offices and open concept work areas,” the proposal said. Robert Gilbert, dean for research at what is commonly known as UF/IFAS, said the facility would be part of an effort to make UF/IFAS “the recognized leader” in the application of artificial intelligence for agriculture.

“The facility and associated faculty will develop programs in robotics, precision agriculture and plant breeding that will accelerate agricultural technologies for not only our strawberry and tomato industries in the region but the breadth of agricultural enterprises around the state,” said Gilbert, who also is director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of UF/IFAS.

NEW AREA CODE FOR MIAMI-DADE AND FLORIDA KEYS

New phone customers in MiamiDade County and the Florida Keys will get a 645 area code starting Aug. 4, the state Public Service Commission announced Friday.

The new area code, what is known in the telecommunications industry as an “overlay,” will be assigned in the same territory as the 305 and 786 area codes that cover Miami-Dade County and the Keys. Commission Chairman Andrew Fay said in a prepared statement the new code ensures customer demand for new lines is met.

“While minimizing the impact to

of new residents and businesses to the region—a testament to South Florida’s growing economy,” Fay said in the release.

The commission approved the new area code on Feb. 1.

Current customers will keep their numbers. The change won’t alter the requirement that people dial the area code plus the seven-digit phone number for a local call.

The commission in recent years also has approved new area codes in other parts of the state, as increasing populations and additions of cell phones and other technology have led to numbers running out in existing area codes.

wrote that if the section is interpreted too strictly, a U.S. real-estate fund could be prevented from investing in Florida if “passive” Chinese limited partners have small stakes. “As your agency decides how the law will be interpreted and applied, I encourage you to closely examine the language in (the section of the law),” Bevis wrote.

“Some interpretations of this section may be so broad as to apply to any publicly traded company with even minimal investment from the People’s Republic of China, even if the majority of investment and control in real estates is owned, controlled and operated by people in the U.S.”

Four Chinese people and a realestate brokerage that serves Chinese clients have filed a federal lawsuit and sought an injunction against the law, arguing it is unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor heard arguments July 18 on the injunction request but had not ruled as of Monday afternoon.

TOLL ROAD CREDITS REACH $227M

The Florida Department of Transportation on Monday said $37.2 million in credits were issued in June to frequent toll-road users, bringing the total to $227 million since a year-long program started in January. The program issues 50 percent credits to motorists who use SunPass or other Florida transponders

and make 35 or more toll-road trips in a month. The state has projected $480 million in credits will be issued during the full year. The program was approved during a special legislative session in December, expanding on a similar program in 2022 that was offered on fewer toll roads and with a lower rebate.

Media Group Backs Disney in Legal Fight

By Jim Saunders Florida News Service

Agroup representing journalists is supporting Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in a federalcourt fight against Gov. Ron DeSantis, saying state retaliation against the entertainment company violated the First Amendment.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group, filed court documents Friday arguing that U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor should reject a state request to dismiss a lawsuit that is part of a longrunning feud between DeSantis and Disney.

The feud stems from Disney’s opposition to a 2022 state law that restricted instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation in public schools. Disney filed a federal lawsuit in April, alleging, in part, that the state had improperly retaliated against it.

“Here, the government conduct in question targets a public company, but if the state of Florida and its officials succeed in defending their actions against Disney in this case, governments across the country may be emboldened to take action against not only public companies, but journalists, reporters, and the greater news media when they exercise their First Amendment freedoms,” lawyers for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press wrote in one of the documents filed Friday.

The federal-court filings came on the same day that an Orange

County circuit judge refused a request by Disney to dismiss a separate lawsuit filed in May by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

DeSantis and Republican lawmakers this year created the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District to replace the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which Disney had effectively controlled for decades. DeSantis also was given the power to appoint board members for the revamped special district.

In the Orange County lawsuit, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District is seeking a ruling that development agreements reached by Disney and the former Reedy Creek board are “null and void.” The agreements were approved shortly before the switch to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight board.

Orange County Circuit Judge Margaret Schreiber on Friday issued a 14-page decision denying a Disney request to dismiss the case or put it on hold until the federal lawsuit is resolved.

In the federal lawsuit, Disney alleged constitutional violations rooted in retaliation by DeSantis and his political allies. A key issue is a state law passed this spring invalidating the disputed development agreements between Disney and the former Reedy Creek board.

Attorneys for the state filed a motion June 26 seeking dismissal of the federal lawsuit on a series of grounds and took aim at what they described as a “sweetheart deal” that Disney enjoyed with the Reedy Creek district, which the state created in the 1960s. The

motion said the state determined that Reedy Creek needed reform.

“Local taxes? Disney set them,” the motion said. “Building and safety codes? Disney set those, too. Caps on land development? Disney made the final call. Disney could exercise eminent domain, permitting it to annex territory even outside the District’s borders, all without legislative approval. It could build and operate an airport, or even a nuclear power plant.”

Disney is fighting the motion to dismiss the case and was backed Friday by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, which requested approval to file a friend-of-the-court brief.

The request and the accompanying brief focused on the possibility of a broader threat of retaliation against journalists or businesses that anger governments. The brief said DeSantis and other defendants are asking the court “to depart from fundamental First Amendment precedent that prohibits government retaliation against a private speaker for commentary perceived by the state as critical—as defendants have done here.”

“This is a significant First Amendment case,” the brief said. “One of the world’s largest companies has alleged that a state openly acted to punish it for speaking out on issues of public concern—and the state has admitted as much.”

(Editor’s note: The News Service of Florida is not a member or donor to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, however, the Ocala Gazette is a donor.)

BLACK LAWMAKERS SEEK CHANGES TO EDUCATION STANDARDS

By Florida News Service

Members of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus are asking state education officials to revise new AfricanAmerican history standards that were approved last week. The standards have drawn criticism from the White House and prompted a defense from Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The state Board of Education gave the new standards, designed to guide lessons from kindergarten through high school, the green light on July 19. The wide-ranging guidelines require instruction for students in early grades about important historical figures, for example. Instruction for older students would include things such as lessons on African Americans’ contributions to things such as science, poetry, politics and literature.

But criticism of the standards focuses largely on part of the middle-school standards that would require instruction to include “how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”

Rep. Dianne Hart, D-Tampa, who is chairwoman of the Legislative Black Caucus, released a statement Friday that accompanied a letter urging DeSantis and state Education Commissioner Manny Diaz to revise the standards.

“Our request is simple; stop playing partisan politics with the futures of Florida’s children. To say that the enslaved Americans of our past somehow benefited from their violent exploiters without acknowledging the millions that never knew the freedom of autonomy over their own bodies, lives, and futures is shameful and disgusting,” Hart said.

Meanwhile, DeSantis has defended the standards while traveling around the country as he campaigns for president. In a video clip posted on Twitter by First Lady Casey DeSantis, the governor said the standards “makes it very clear about the injustices of slavery in vivid detail.”

DeSantis also has disputed Vice President Kamala Harris’ criticisms of the standards. Harris visited Jacksonville last week, where she said “extremist so-called leaders” in Florida are pushing “propaganda to our children.”

Diaz also has defended the standards. In a letter to school district superintendents Wednesday, Diaz said that “we are not turning our backs on the great work of the African American History workgroup,” which helped craft the standards. “We will implement these standards swiftly, transparently, and honestly,” Diaz wrote.

everything you need to help your baby thrive.

That’s why The Baby Place® at AdventHealth Ocala is dedicated to supporting moms and their babies with high quality care from pregnancy to delivery and beyond.

People, Places & Things

By Julie Garisto julie@magnoliamediaco.com

If you ask Amy Kuhns Roberts, art therapy provides a way to convey emotions and experiences not easily expressed in words.

“The objective is not about the final product; it is about healing through the process of making art,” she emphasized.

Roberts, an Ocala-based licensed clinical social worker, teaches mindfulness, meditation, and art workshops for cancer patients and others in need of healing experiences. She will lead a “Lunch and Learn” workshop titled “Healing Through Art Together” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 10, at the Brick City Center for the Arts, aka “the Brick.”

The free event is part of the Marion Cultural Alliance’s (MCA) August exhibition and experiential series, “The Art of Aging.” Artists 55 and older contributed to the exhibition, but the workshop is open to all ages. Seating is limited; prospective participants can reserve a spot in advance through Eventbrite.

Roberts, who’s also a writer and painter, has led two artfocused workshops with the MCA in the past five years. She taught mindfulness and meditation for six years and has provided counseling and group therapy for cancer patients for 23 years.

“‘Healing Through Art Together’ is about giving people permission to feel what they feel without a lot of structure and roles,” Roberts explained.

The Robert Boissoneault Oncology Institute, her employer, is one of the major sponsors of “The Art of Aging” and has sponsored the event for five years. Her services there include one-on-one counseling for patients and their families during and after treatment. Services and workshops on meditation and other personal enrichment are included in their care.

“We take care of the whole person, the whole family,” Roberts emphasized.

The Urology Institute of

Central Florida is another major medical sponsor.

Other events in the series include a watercolor workshop on Aug. 17 and “Having the Conversation,” a talk on end-oflife planning on Aug. 23.

“My hope is that they walk away with a new coping skill, a new tool on their toolbelt that they can use throughout their lives … or, at the very least, they have a wonderful afternoon where they get to take their mind off of what’s happening and have a fun time and socializing and feeling a connection with others,” Roberts expressed.

Unlike your typical “paint and sip” session, the “Healing Through Art Together” workshop involves a focus on mindfulness and collaboration. Participants will work in groups of three or four to paint a single canvas.

The collaborative approach reminds us we don’t always have control over circumstances and to find joy in being in the moment and working together.

Past art therapy workshop participants have approached art activities by drawing from personal memories.

Addie Clow, who joined one of Roberts’ recent art group sessions, found solace in a prompt that asked for an expression of what gives her peace.

Clow painted a turtle, and she called her work “My Serenity,” inspired by creatures she encountered while swimming on her 60th birthday in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

“I caught this magical moment on my brand-new GoPro,” Clow explained. “I felt with a smaller sea turtle a spirit-like connection that made me think of my deceased mother. It actually came up for air and swam towards me, and I also videotaped the bigger turtle, swimming along the bottom, feeding itself too, which I believed represented my dad. They swam one in front of the other into the abyss. I found it to be the most amazing, euphoric, random snorkeling experience in all the years I have snorkeled!”

Touching lives comes with

making friends—and losing friends. Working with cancer patients, Roberts has had to say her share of goodbyes.

One mindfulness workshop participant, Tim Smith, well known and highly regarded in the community, served as an ambassador for the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership. His death was untimely and tragic; he was murdered in his home last March.

“When my grandmother lived at Brookdale he supported my mom, her caregiver, with incredible integrity and grace,” Roberts shared. “His journal entry brings me some peace. He was at peace in his life, attending mindful retreats and working hard to better himself and others.”

Research has found that physical and mental health benefits can be achieved through art and art therapy.

A 2020 study in the “BMC Cancer” peer-reviewed medical journal reported that four guided, creative art (drawing) therapy exercises improved cancer patients’ psychological well-being by decreasing negative emotions and increasing positive emotions.

Other studies have shown art therapy alleviates pain symptoms, reduces stress and anxiety, enhances quality of life, improves the ability to cope with pain, stimulates mental function in older adults with dementia and diminishes depression in Parkinson’s patients.

Going easy on ourselves and not putting a lot of pressure to paint a certain way or cope a certain way is crucial to the art therapy process, Roberts explained.

“There’s a lot of healing that takes place in allowing yourself to be messy or allowing yourself to be in a difficult place, and giving yourself permission and being kind to yourself, being non-judgmental are core basic values of mindfulness,” she said.

“Creating provides a bit of a safety net so that, ‘Yeah, I can feel this tough stuff, but I also have this kind of nice blanket wrapped around me of compassion and kindness towards myself.’”

Amy Kuhns Roberts helps others heal through mindfulness, collaboration and uninhibited creativity.

Amy Kuhns Roberts

“Release” by Amy Kuhns Roberts

“The objective is not about the final product; it is about healing through the process of making art.”

FAST forward

Ocala’s world-class swimming and training venue hosts top level competitions.

Staff report

The Florida Aquatics Swimming & Training (FAST) venue has been bringing increased levels of competitive swimming to Marion County for more than a year.

In 2022, FAST hosted more than 45 days of competition meets, welcoming 10,000 spectators and allowing over 5,000 youth swimmers to compete. Starting July 13, FAST, at Calesa Township in southwest Ocala, hosted three competitions that brought in more than 2,500 swimmers and over 7,000 spectators in the span of three weeks.

The competitions included the July 1316 Florida Age Group Championships— Northern Region for swimmers ages 14 and under. From July 20-23, the Florida Senior Championships were held for high school and college-aged swimmers. From July 26-30, the USA Swimming Futures Championship Meet brought in the best swimmers from the Southeastern Region, which includes Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

“Across the three events, the swimmer’s ages ranged from 9 to 21. Many swimmers earned their personal bests and scored points for their teams. Team banners and flags were strung across the indoor pool deck to support their teams, and spectators cheered on the competition from the seatbacks on Level 2. Over 2,000 spectators not in attendance streamed the events from the FAST YouTube channel. Thank you to event sponsors Calesa Township, HDG Hotels, and World Equestrian Center,” said Kinley Rogers, in the marketing department with Colen Built Development, LLC.

“Swimmers who participated in the USA Swimming Futures Championships on July 26-29 broke national records and punched tickets to the U.S. Olympic Swim Team Trials next summer in Indianapolis. The Triangle Aquatic Center Titans from Greensboro, N.C., set a new record in the boy’s 15-18 and 17-18 National Age Group record in the 400m medley relay. Twentyfour athletes punched their ticket to the U.S. Olympic Swim Team Trials throughout 42 events. FAST was one of the five facilities nationwide to host this USA Swimmingsanctioned meet,” Rogers added.

To learn more about the FAST venue, which offers a range of lessons and programs, go to floridafast.com

Swimmers battle for the lead in the final heat of the Women’s 200 Meter Breaststroke.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

Sienna Angove of the Sarasota Sharks swim team, who qualified for the Olympic Trials with a time of 4:14.37

Georgia Johnson of Gamecocks Aquatics (S.C.) swim team, right, celebrates with teammate Laura Goettler, left, as they both qualify for the Olympic Trials with times of 2:31.31 and 2:30.99 respectively in the final heat of the Women’s 200 Meter Breaststroke.

Caruso of the Gator Swim Club sprints toward the wall on his final lap of the

400 Meter Freestyle as he qualifies for the Olympic Trials with a time of 3:53.90.

Team members of the Tac Titans (N.C.) swim team cheer for a teammate in a heat of the Women’s 200 Meter Breaststroke.

Team members of the Tac Titans (N.C.) swim team cheer for a teammate in a heat of the Women’s 400 Meter Freestyle.

‘Miss Alice’ feted for 104th birthday Commemorations for Alice Stewart included a drive-by by

birthday drive-by from about 30 members of the Ocala Street Cruisers Car Club.

The drivers tooled around the parking lot in collectible rides such as a 1975 Ford Bronco, 1956 Chevy Nomad wagon, 1969 Camaro, MoPar Challenger and Model A Ford. As Stewart waved from the facility’s front entrance, a number of well-wishers stopped their vehicles to greet her and give her birthday cards.

Stewart, an artist and former interior decorator, has an eye for color and balance and enjoys the artwork on many greeting cards, which she continued to sift through well after the visit. She provided some insight into her life history while accompanied by her personal caregiver, Kareen Saez.

Stewart was born Alice Strop in Mount Carmel Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and her father worked as a conductor for public transportation.

“My daddy loved cars, (he had) two touring cars,” she said, adding that she recalled an early touring car called the Elgin Six.

which Wayne had borrowed from his dad.

The couple had one son in 1940, Jerry Stewart, who passed away in 2020.

Scott Stewart, Jerry Stewart’s son, said he purchased a 1930 Ford Model A in 2016 and gave his grandmother a ride to bring back memories of the same type of car she remembered from decades years earlier.

Alice and Wayne Stewart moved to Ocala around 1950 from Columbus, Ohio, with their son, and the family operated a Gulf Oil service station near the intersection of State Road 40 and Pine Avenue in Ocala until the mid-1950s, Scott Stewart stated.

Jerry Stewart attended Ocala High School and, after the service station was sold, he served in the U.S. Navy on the U.S.S. Saratoga, then later worked with Marion County Code Enforcement, Scott Stewart explained. Wayne Stewart went on to work with the U.S. Postal Service locally.

founded in 1928 and is “one of the first all-female companies in the United States,” according to welcomewagon.com, which describes roots of the company as a “new mover” welcoming service with a hostess presenting gifts and coupons from local businesses and providing information to new members of community.

Alice Stewart has been a member of the Ocala Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution since 1977 and served as chapter librarian from 1998 to 2001 and chaplain from 2006 to 2010, according to chapter regent Renee Coventry.

Scott Stewart said he enjoys hearing about the family’s history during regular visits with “Miss Alice,” who has three grandchildren, nine greatgrandchildren and 12 greatgreat-grandchildren.

Saez said that with “Miss Alice’s” knowledge of current affairs and history, she is a window to “the past and future.

By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com

Alice Stewart—known as “Miss Alice” to family members and friends—had a 104th birthday celebration on July 29 that combined her love of cars and greeting cards. It also

revived memories of her first date with her future husband in the 1930s—in a Ford Model A with two cousins tagging along in the rumble seat.

Stewart, a resident at Holiday at Atria/Marion Woods, a senior living facility in southeast Ocala, was born July 30, 1919. She was treated to the one-day early

According to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History website, the Elgin Six was a product of the Elgin Motor Car Corp. of Argo, Illinois, which was founded by executives of the Elgin Watch Company and manufactured cars “built like a watch” from 1916 until 1923. It had a six-cylinder engine on a 114-inch wheelbase and came in roadster and touring models that sold for $845.

After she graduated from West High in 1937, Alice soon married Wayne Stewart. She related how those two young cousins tagged along on their first date to a drive-in and said they “wouldn’t get out of (the) rumble seat” of the circa 1930 Ford Model A,

Scott Stewart said his grandmother also worked with Welcome Wagon, which was

“Miss Alice is unbelievable,” Saez said. “She tells us stories (and) makes us laugh.”

Aviator’s Playground dedicated to avid airman

The blues skies over the Ocala International Airport on Saturday, July 29, seemed to beam down on the tarmac like the brilliant smile of Eddie Martin.

Martin, who became a licensed pilot and mechanic in his late teens, was an icon throughout the history of aviation in Marion County. He saw biplanes in local skies when the area hosted World War II flight training and served as an assistant airport manager for a time, for example.

Martin died Nov. 8, 2020.

On Saturday, the airport’s new Aviator’s Playground was dedicated to Martin.

According to the news release, the aviationthemed playground features ropes and ladders intertwined within an airplane-shaped structure. A play gym is set against a blue background to give the feel of floating through the clouds on a plane. Spring riders in the shape of airplanes allow children to use their imagination while bouncing and playing.

The playground has integrated aviation themes such as a printed compass on the rubber playground surface and aviation history panels lining the fenced area. The area overlooks the airport apron, allowing guests to watch incoming and outgoing planes.

members of a local car club.

Alice Stewart, center, poses with family members Robert Stewart, Brian Stewart, Scott Stewart and Hallie Croson, next to a Model A Ford. [Family photo]

Alice Stewart with a photo of her and grandson Scott Stewart, taken during her July 29th birthday celebration. [Andy Fillmore]

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

The new Aviators’ Playground is shown during the dedication ceremony at Ocala International Airport in Ocala on Saturday, July 29, 2023.

Left: Mike Martin, center, and Bill Martin, right, who are nephews of the late Edwin Martin Sr., look over the new playground with Jim Thomas, left.

Maya Davidyan, 5, plays in the new playground with her mother, Julia Matt Grow, the Aviation Director of Ocala International Airport. Reese Ugarte, 9, plays in the new playground.

Bird of the Week

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

Red-cockaded woodpecker [MichaelWarren.com]

By Michael Warren

This red-cockaded woodpecker is an endangered species that lives in mature pine forests. There are about 6,000 families of them left, and they’ve been on the endangered species list since 1970. Check out eBird.org from Cornell University to find where they’ve been sighted locally.

Weightlifting

competition benefits first responder community

Staff report

The “Bear the Burden” Big 3 Weightlifting competition, hosted in partnership with Marion County Fire Rescue (MCFR) and the Professional Fire Fighters of Marion County (PFFMC), was held at the EGH gym on July 28 and 29.

According to Joe Romani, the professional firefighters media contact, the fundraiser is for the Marion County Benevolence Fund (MCFBF), the charitable arm of the PFFMC, which raises money to support first responders and their families who may face issues with mental health, unforeseen emergencies, or major medical expenses.

“The MCFBF started in 2009 as a way for the PFFMC to increase the impact of their charitable work while streamlining normal business operations and now works closely with the MCFR Chaplaincy Program. Money is raised through events like the annual golf tournament, fishing tournament, and the ‘Bear the Burden’ competition,” Romani stated in a news release. In addition, all members of the PFFMC donate money from each paycheck throughout the year, which is managed by the MCFBF board.

The “Bear the Burden” event is held at the EGH gym, an acronym that stands for “Everyone Goes Home,” highlighting the mindset of a positive lifestyle and

mental health for first responders. The Peer Support Team and The Peer Fitness Trainers at the gym were brought into Marion County by a partnership of PFFMC and MCFR. Both programs are taught by the International Association of Fire Fighters in order to improve the quality and longevity of life for first responders while keeping them mentally and physically fit to respond to the citizens’ requests for help, Romani noted.

The competition is a combination of weight lifted during a squat, bench press, and deadlift.

This year’s winners are:

• Owen Ward, strongest man overall, lifting a combined 1,625 pounds

• Haley Shaw, strongest female overall, 780 pounds

• Dylan Schortemeyer, strongest pound-for-pound male, lifting 1,540 pounds Regan Thorenson, strongest poundfor-pound female, at 725 pounds lifted

MCFR Station 7, strongest station

A total of 62 competitors tried their best in the event, with a total of $1,840 raised from competitor fees and merchandise sales.

To learn more, go to @marionfirefighters on Instagram and Professional Fire Fighters of Marion County on Facebook.

28 Singer Sheena

30 Ban

35 Tidal movement

36 Joey of kiddie lit

38 Final thoughts?

40 Buenos __

41 Hand or foot

42 “Mental Illness” Grammy winner Aimee

46 HDTV choice

47 __ shadow

48 Unexpected endings

49 “I’m blushing!”

50 “Fancy!”

52 Southern California chain known for pastrami

54 Tidal movement

56 Lets use for now

57 Ideal places

58 Some matriarchs

62 “Meet the Press” moderator

Chuck

64 1910s conflict, for short

65 Narc’s org.

66 Unit of corn

67 Get on in years

68 Simple shirt

Retired MCFR Lieutenant and Crossfit Judge David Tozzo spots an unknown lifter with a bench press of 275 pounds. [Courtesy of Professional Firefighters of Marion County]

LOCAL CALENDAR LISTINGS community

AUGUST 4-5

Cal Ripken Youth World Series

Ocala Rotary Sportsplex, 5220 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala

Times vary

Dozens of youth baseball teams will visit Marion County for the annual competitions. Games are free and open to the public. For more info, ocalamarion.com or jessica.heller@marionfl.org

AUGUST 4 & 11

Marion County Friday Market

McPherson Governmental Campus Field, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala

9am-2pm

Shop locally fresh fruits and veggies, baked goods, jerky, freeze-dried treats, olive oils, seafood and more; recurs every Friday.

AUGUST 4-6 AND 11-13

Market of Marion

Market of Marion, 12888 SE US Highway 441, Belleview

8am-4pm

A classic farmer’s market with lots of vendors.

Open every weekend, with monthly special events like car shows on the fourth Saturday. See themarketofmarion.com

AUGUST 5

Friends of the Library Book Sale

Headquarters Public Library, 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

10am-2pm

This quarterly sale of paperback, hardbacks, books on tape and more benefits the Friends of the Library programs and local branches. Prices start at .25 cents. See friendsoftheocalalibrary.org

critters & equine

AUGUST 4-6 & 9-13

Summer Series: Hunter/Jumper Shows

World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala

AUGUST 5

Free School Immunizations

Florida Department of Health in Marion County, 1801 SE 32nd Ave., Ocala

9am-noon

The department will host a free back-to-school immunizations event for families with children in grades Pre-K through 12. No appointment is necessary. DOH-Marion staff will also process transfers of vaccination records for families from outside Marion County. For more information, call (352) 629-0137 or visit marion.flhealth.gov.

AUGUST 5 & 8

Back to School Community

Giveback

Aug. 5, The Forest Community Center, 12-3pm

Aug. 8, Frank DeLuca YMCA Gymnasium, 3-7pm

The Community Foundation for Ocala-Marion County, supported by various charities and foundations, is offering a backpack giveaway to prep students for the coming academic year. Students must preregister through bit.ly/Marion_Back2School.

AUGUST 5 & 12

Ocala Downtown Farmers Market

Ocala Downtown Market, 310 SE Third St., Ocala

9am-2pm

Vendors offer local fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood, fresh pasta, honey, jewelry, baked goodies, and arts and crafts. Check out local food trucks and the occasional guest entertainer. Rain or shine; recurs every Saturday. Visit ocaladowntownmarket.com for more info.

AUGUST 5 & 12

Farmers Swap Meet

Rural King, 2999 NW 10th St., Ocala

9am-2pm A true farmers market where chickens, ducks, quail, geese, goats, turkeys, rabbits and sometimes even ponies are available, along with horse tack, homegrown plants, produce and hand-crafted items. Saturdays, weather permitting.

AUGUST 9

Medicare Classes: Medicare Part C

Online 10am

The SHINE organization is offering free classes by computer or phone. Future classes will cover the basics of Medicare, prescription drug coverage, medicare.gov and more. For more info, email shine@agingresources.org or call (800) 262-2243.

AUGUST 10

Wind Down at the Wetland Ocala Wetland Recharge Park, 2105 NW 21st St., Ocala

6pm-7pm Enjoy a summer evening stroll with an educational tour from the city of Ocala’s Water Conservation Coordinator. Free to attend. Call (352) 351-6772 for more info.

AUGUST 10

Summer Night Lecture Series

Fort King National Historic Landmark, 3925 E. Fort King St., Ocala

6pm-8pm

Topics cover state and local history and, this week, Florida native and edible plants. Recurs every Thursday night through Aug. 17. Check out ocalafl.gov/recpark for more info.

government

AUGUST 7 & 14

Marion County Development Review Committee

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

9am

AUGUST 8

8am-4pm Food and drink options onsite; some events have a parking fee. See worldequestriancenter.com for more info.

AUGUST 5-6

August Barn Burner Dog Dock Diving

Ocala Dog Ranch, 440 SW 110th Ave., Ocala

9am-5pm

This International Dog Sports event will have multiple jump opportunities. Free for spectators. $20 in advance and $25 day of to register a canine to participate. For more info, check out ocaladogranch.com

AUGUST 5 & 12

Summer Sunset Polo

Florida Horse Park, 11008 South Highway 475, Ocala

6pm

Free to the public. Tailgate next to the polo field for a unique evening out. Saturday evenings through September. Check out ocalapolo.com for more info.

AUGUST 9

Wildlife Wednesdays

Heritage Nature Conservancy, 2205 NE Third St., Ocala

5pm-6pm

Weekly topics vary and often cover turtles, tortoises, snakes, bears, bats, owls and more. Free to attend. For more info, ocalafl.gov/recpark

AUGUST 10-13

Riders of the Wind Grand Oaks Resort, 3000 Marion County Road, Weirsdale

Times vary, see website

Created by a Kazakhstan family with a history in show business, the performances and costumes were inspired by the Genghis Khan era and Russian cavalry. Tickets are $10 for children, $25 for adults. See theridersofthewind.com for more info.

AUGUST 10

OTOW Farmers Market

The Town Square at Circle Square Commons, 8413 SW 80th St., Ocala

9am-1pm

Fresh seasonal produce from local growers as well as baked goods, plants, handmade soaps and more. Recurs every Thursday. Visit circlesquarecommons.com for more info.

AUGUST 11

Kayaks & Koffee

Brick City Adventure Park, 1211 SE 22nd Road, Ocala

8am-12pm

The county Parks & Recreation team leads a guided paddle down the Chassahowitzka River near Seven Sisters Springs. All equipment, travel, entrance fees and coffee with light refreshments are included. Tickets are $50. For more info, parks.marionfl.org/home-parks

AUGUST 12

Purple Heart/Agent Orange

Recognition Ceremony

Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, 2601 E Fort King St., Ocala

10am

National Purple Heart Day is Aug. 7; Agent Orange Awareness Day is Aug. 10. The Friends of Marion County Veterans Park Foundation will host a dual observation on Aug. 12. The public is welcome to attend. Those who are a Purple Heart recipient or have been affected by Agent Orange, or are a family member of such veterans, may be recognized at the ceremony by reaching out in advance to (352) 342-1775 or info@marionvetpark.com.

AUGUST 8

The first step for new development projects, the committee reviews and votes on waiver requests to the Land Development Code, major site plans, and subdivision plans. Meets weekly on Mondays; agendas are usually posted the Friday prior. Agendas, minutes and video available at marionfl. legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

civic

AUGUST 4 & 11

Belleview Planning & Zoning

Board

City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview

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

Dunnellon Historic Preservation Board

City Hall, 20750 River Drive, Dunnellon

5:30pm

Normally meets the second Tuesday of the month; Dunnellon agendas, minutes and video available at dunnellon.org/89/ agendas-minutes

AUGUST 14

City of Ocala Planning & Zoning Meeting

City Hall, 110 SE Watula Avenue, Ocala

5:30pm Meets the second Monday of the month; agendas, minutes and video available from ocala.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

AUGUST 5 & 12

South Ocala Chess Club at Freedom Library Freedom Public Library, 5870 SW 95th St., Ocala

10am-12pm Meets weekly on Fridays; new members welcome. Please bring your own chess set. For more info, Walt Lamp at (352) 854-9378.

AUGUST 4 & 11

Kiwanis Club of Ocala Central Christian Church, 3010 NE 14th St., Ocala

12pm Meets weekly on Fridays. Supports Camp Kiwanis, children’s literacy and Habitat for Humanity. More info at ocalakiwanis.org

Ocala Chess Club at Headquarters Library Headquarters Library, 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

11am-3pm Meets weekly on Saturdays; new members welcome. Please bring your own chess set. For more info, facebook.com/ groups/53070499106

AUGUST 10

Ocala Lions Club

Ocala Golf Club, 3130 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

12pm Meets weekly on Thursdays; newcomers welcome. The club supports vision health and diabetes prevention. More info at e-clubhouse.org/sites/ocalafl

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM

OUR

MISSION IS TO INFORM AND UPLIFT OUR READERS BY REPORTING ON THE EVENTS, ISSUES AND STORIES THAT SHAPE OCALA WITH ACCURACY, FAIRNESS AND PASSION.

arts

AUGUST 4

Art of Aging: The Golden Age Reception & Opening

Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St., Ocala

5pm

Continuing in its 8th year of celebrating senior artists, the Marion Cultural Alliance hosts a reception and opening of the show. Light refreshments will be served and artists will be on hand for a meet and greet. The exhibition will be on display through Aug. 26. See mcaocala.org for more info.

AUGUST 5

Free First Saturday Appleton Museum, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

10am-5pm View museum works, regular and special collections, and create art in the interactive Artspace. This month, artist Charles Eady will give tours of his solo exhibition, “The Unscene South,” at 11am and 2pm. Scuba Steve’s Snack Shack will be onsite. See appletonmuseum.org for more info.

AUGUST 5-25

Painting and More Workshops

Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala

10am Arts in Health Ocala hosts visual artists to teach these free weekly art workshops, held on Fridays. All supplies are included, and beginners are welcome. See aihocala.org/painting-and-more for more info.

AUGUST 7-SEPTEMBER 7

“The Gap Between Art and Life”

Exhibit

CF Webber Gallery, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala

Monday-Thursdays, 10am-4pm

Eight new pieces were selected for this exhibit, with works from four different installation artists from all over the US. An opening reception will be held at 5pm on Aug. 25. The exhibit is free and open to all. For more info, cf.edu/webber

AUGUST 9-SEPTEMBER 6

Regal Summer Movie Express

Regal Hollywood Theaters, 2801 SW 27th Ave., Ocala

10am

The movie fest offers family and kid-friendly movies at $2. For more info, bit.ly/43k01DC

AUGUST 9-30

Painting for Veterans

Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala

6pm-8pm

These free art workshops on Wednesdays are hosted by the Arts in Health Ocala Metro group and veteran Aaron Thomas. Beginners are welcome and supplies are included. Register at ocalafl.gov/recpark

AUGUST 10

Coffee and Cake

NOMA Art Gallery, 939 N. Magnolia Ave., Ocala

1pm-4pm

These weekly coffee (and cake) klatches bring together gallery guests, artists, patrons, creative types and more. Every Thursday afternoon. All are welcome. See nomaocala.com/events for more info.

AUGUST 10

Sharon Owens: Barbra Streisand

Remembered

Circle Square Cultural Center, 8395 SW 80th St., Ocala

7pm

Recreating the look and sound of the iconic Barbra Streisand, this show covers her early ‘60s hits to more recent offerings. Tickets are $29-$34. See csculturalcenter.com for more info.

AUGUST 11

Rising Country Artist Concert

Vivid Music Hall, 201 W University Ave., Gainesville

August 11

7pm

Ocala’s own Noah Hunton headlines a mix of new country artists. Along with Hunton, singer/ songwriters Austin Hunter, Jagger Whitaker and the band Myxed will play. General admission is $15; a meet and greet package is available for $30. For tickets, see noahhuntonmusic.org or rising-country-artist-concert.ticketleap.com/risingcountry-artist-concert

AUGUST 11

Forever Everly: The Everly Brothers

Rockumentary

Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala

7:30pm

More than a tribute band, this blend of movie performances and live music covers the Everly Brothers era that also includes music from Paul

Simon, The Beatles and more. Tickets are $20-$45. See reillyartscenter.com for more info.

AUGUST 12

Not Fade Away: Rock n’ roll Reignited Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St, Ocala

7:30pm This group of young musicians honors the oldies with classic rock n’ roll from the early days of the genre. Covering Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ritchie Valens, Roy Orbison and others. Tickets are $20-$45. See reillyartscenter.com for more info.

THROUGH AUGUST

30

Deadline: Ocala Outdoor Sculpture

Competition The call for entries for the Seventh Biennial Ocala

Outdoor Sculpture Competition is now open. Ten works will be selected for a two-year outdoor exhibition in Tuscawilla Park and Tuscawilla Art Park. This competition is open to artists currently working and residing in North America with experience in large outdoor public art. For information, visit www.ocalafl.gov/sculpture

THROUGH DECEMBER 12

“Patternz” by Kelsey Mahoney Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala

Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm

The city continues its Art in City Spaces program with this exhibit by emerging artist Kelsey Mahoney. Her abstract work is filled with vibrant colors and mosaic themes. Free to the public. For more info, ocalafl.gov/artincityspaces

THROUGH JANUARY 4

“Bold and Inspired: Native American Regalia” and “Abstract Island Expressions”

Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala

Community center hours

Married couple Diana and William Lee are exhibiting their work in side-by-side exhibitions, each with its own distinctive style and theme reflecting each artist and their different approaches. Diana shows colorful acrylic paintings are inspired by her Cherokee ancestry and experiences visiting Native American sites in Kentucky. William revisits his childhood growing

up in Nassau with his vibrant abstract expressionist paintings. The exhibit is part of the Ocala Art in City Spaces program. See ocalaflo.org/artincityspaces for more info.

THROUGH JANUARY 8

The Beauty of Nature and Recyclable Refuse

Recreation and Parks Administration Building and Adult Activity Center, 828/830 NE Eighth Ave., Ocala

8am-5pm

Florida artist Albert Bevilacqua focuses this exhibit on recyclable items and he’s turned them into an artistic statements about protecting the environment. Free to the public, this is part of the Art in City Spaces program by the City of Ocala. See ocalafl.gov/artincityspaces for more info.

THROUGH JANUARY 9

Tony A. Blue, American Painter Ocala International Airport, 1770 SW 60th Ave., Ocala Airport hours Blue exhibits includes work in acrylics, mixed media and photographs, and his colorful, abstract paintings are inspired by Florida’s tropical natural landscape. The exhibit is free and open to the public during airport hours. For more info, ocalafl.gov/artincityspaces

THROUGH JANUARY 28

“The Unscene South” by Charles Eady

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

10am-5pm, Tuesday-Saturday

This new exhibit from artist Charles Eady focuses on the daily lives of “free Blacks” from the Civil War era. He is a contemporary mixed-media artist and author. Check out appletonmuseum.org for more info.

THROUGH JANUARY 28

“Caught Up in History and Captured on Film” by Randy Batista

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

10am-5pm, Tuesday-Saturday Batista’s work focuses on Florida and Cuba, two places that had profound impact on the artist. This exhibit features club members of The Spanish Center of Tampa and their daily lives. Check out appletonmuseum.org for more info.

Gasoline Alley

Middletons

&music nightlife

5 questions about MRI

By Fabian Gonzalez Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I suffered an injury while working out and my primary care physician ordered an X-ray. However, after reviewing the results, my doctor recommended that I have an MRI. I am a very anxious person. Can you explain more about what this type of testing entails and what I can expect?

ANSWER: Understandably, any health care concern can lead to feelings of anxiety and nervousness. Depending upon the situation, your care team may begin with an imaging scan such as X-ray, which is a painless test that gathers images of the structures within the body. If additional information is needed— particularly of the organs or soft tissues in the body—an MRI may be ordered.

MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is a medical imaging technique that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create a detailed image of the organs and tissues in the body.

People often come into an MRI with a lot of misconceptions and just as many questions. Below are the top five questions I answer almost daily. Hopefully this will help bring you a sense of what to expect when undergoing this radiology test.

1. How long will this take?

MRI exams take longer than X-ray and CT scans. The routine appointment time at Mayo Clinic is 45 minutes, though some exams could take as long as four hours to complete.

There are many reasons for this extreme time difference. First, electromagnetism is used to create these images. We can only go as fast as the human body will magnetize. Second, the intention is to create the best imaging possible, which inherently means more time inside the scanner. But the clarity means the radiologists often are able to detect pathology more clearly in our images as opposed to those that come from other facilities.

2. Why do I have to change my clothes and remove my jewelry?

MRI machines have superconducting magnets that generate heat and create an extremely strong magnetic field, so it is imperative to be safe. The magnets can pull ferrous objects, or those containing iron, into the machine with a large amount of force. This also can cause the machine to rotate and twist with the magnets’ flux lines. Nonferrous objects like aluminum or copper will generate heat once inside the scanner, which may cause burns. There have been instances where clothing has been set on fire. To prevent any of these issues, we ask all patients to change into hospital-approved clothing and remove all jewelry and any devices such as cellphones, hearing aids and other items from the body.

3. My doctor said my implanted device is safe. Why do you need my information?

To ensure the safety of every patient and the technologists, it is important to know if certain devices, such as pacemakers, stimulators, clips or coils, have been implanted inside the body. These devices often have generators or batteries and, thus, require an additional layer of safety to ensure that nothing interferes with the machine, its ability to obtain the most accurate imaging or our ability to keep you safe. When we know that a patient has an implanted device, we must adjust how the scanner operates based on the manufacturer’s guidelines. Specifically, we must make sure you can be safely placed within a 1.5-tesla (1.5T) scanner or a 3-tesla (3T) scanner. A tesla is the unit of measure for magnetic strength. MRI scanners at Mayo Clinic are 1.5T, 3T and 7-tesla (7T) in strength. We also must ensure the device is placed in “MRI safe” mode before we begin scanning. If a patient were to enter the MRI environment without all the safety measures being taken it could damage the device or burn or even shock the patient.

4. What, if any, injections am I going to receive?

During an MRI exam at Mayo Clinic, many patients receive a contrast injection, which is used to help enhance the imaging. The injection typically is given through an IV and does not hurt or burn. Additionally, depending on the exam being performed, some patients may receive an injection of a drug called glucagon, which will help slow the motion within the abdomen so more precise images can be captured.

5. I am claustrophobic. What happens if I feel unsafe or unwell during an exam?

There is a camera inside the MRI tube so technologists can monitor you. Also, patients wear headphones so they can hear instructions and communicate with the technologists. If you feel unwell or anxious at any time during the exam, you can speak up and staff will work to aid you. Additionally, for some patients, sedation may be available. If you are unable to have the MRI per formed, the radiologist and your referring physician will consult with one another and determine if another exam is more appropriate.

McCoy 6pm

AUGUST 12

Sandra & Alex Lekid Homestead Park 1050 NE 6th Blvd., Williston 6pm

AUGUST 12

Hired Guns Charlie Horse 2426 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 7pm

Another question I often hear relates to whether it matters which type of facility is visited to obtain an MRI scan. I always encourage people to speak with their health team about the reason for the scan and to seek out the best facilities to perform their imaging. There are different types of scanners, which can vary in terms of the magnet strength used to gather images. At Mayo Clinic, we use 1.5T, 3T and 7T scanners. Depending upon the need of the patient and the part of the body being scanned (i.e., brain, spine, abdomen, knee), a specific scanner may be better suited to accurately view a patient’s anatomy and determine a diagnosis.—Fabian Gonzalez, Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida (Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org.)

The

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA.

IN RE: THE ESTATE OF FRANK GIAMBRONE, Deceased.

CASE NO: 2023-CP-1774

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The name of the decedent, the designation of the court in which the administration of this estate is pending, and the file number are indicated above. The address of the court is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are indicated below.

If you have been served with a copy of this notice and you have any claim or demand against the decedent’s estate, even if that claim is unmatured, contingent or unliquidated, you must file your claim with the court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF A DATE THAT IS 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS NOTICE.

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with the court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. EVEN IF A CLAIM IS NOT BARRED BY THE LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE, ALL CLAIMS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN FILED WILL BE BARRED TWO YEARS AFTER DECEDENT’S DEATH.

The date of death of the decedent is: June 21, 2023. The date of first publication of this Notice is August 4, 2023.

Attorney for Personal Representative: JOSHUA L. MOSES Richard & Moses, LLC Florida Bar No. 119304 808 E Fort King Street Ocala, FL 34471 (352) 369-1300

Primary Email: Josh@RMProbate.com

Personal Representative: SANDRA ANDREWS 109 SE Mira Lavella, Port St. Lucie, FL 34984

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF FRED W. TILESTON, File No. 42-2003-CP001766 Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Fred W. Tileston , deceased, whose date of death was June 13, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 NW 1 st Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is July 28, 2023.

IN THE 5th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA. IN RE: The Estate of DOLORES M. TRIMBLE, CASE NO.: 2023-CP-1210 PROBATE DIVISION Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS (Formal Administration) TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS OR DEMANDS AGAINST THE ABOVE ESTATE:

The administration of the estate of DOLORES M. TRIMBLE, deceased, whose date of death was October 22, 2021, and whose social security number is XXXXX-7182, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 NW First Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475. The names and addresses of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITH THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this Notice is July 28, 2023.

Attorney and Personal Representative Giving Notice: /s/ Steven E. Gurian . STEVEN E. GURIAN, ESQ., Attorney for Personal Representative EASY ESTATE PROBATE, PLLC 2601 South Bayshore Drive, 18th Floor Coconut Grove, Florida 33133 Tel: 1-833-973-3279 Fax: 1-833-927-3279 E-mail: SG@EasyEstateProbate.com Florida Bar No. 101511 /s/ Dolores M. Trimble DOLORES M. TRIMBLE, As Personal Representative

CALL TO ARTISTS FOR ART IN CITY SPACES

The city of Ocala has announced a call to artists for the “Art in City Spaces” exhibition program. The city is seeking unique, thoughtprovoking public exhibitions that center around aviation and aerospace themes in any two-dimensional media. Proposals are currently being accepted for the exhibition space at the Ocala International Airport at 1770 SW 60th Ave. The program provides the opportunity for artists and art organizations to exhibit their work in a municipal public space, to be viewed by citizens and guests of

all ages. Applications are available online at ocalafl.org/artincityspaces. Only complete applications will be reviewed.

Viewer engagement, originality of concepts, use of media, and techniques are all considered during the review process. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and exhibitions can be booked up to two years in advance, according to the news release.

For more information, contact the Cultural Arts Division at (352) 6298447 or artinfo@ocalafl.org.

MARION SENIOR SERVICES

RELEASES AARP AGE-FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN

Marion Senior Services (MSS) has released the Ocala/Marion County Age-Friendly Action Plan as an extension of the 2023-26 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).

According to the news release, establishment of an action plan for becoming more age-friendly under the criteria established by AARP renews MSS’ status as a member of the AARP Network of age-friendly states and communities. The plan commits to increasing supportive care and services for the aging population, increasing civil participation and employment for all ages, and increasing community support and health services through various programs.

In alignment with this action plan, MSS is opening a new dining site at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place. MSS clients are granted

access to a once-daily nutritional meal, education, community, and the goal is to encourage seniors to increase their daily exercise and activity through exposure to the amenities offered by the facility, and through proximity to other county and city parks.

The plan also seeks to adopt local policies to increase intergenerational participation in city and county advisory boards and increase the number of community partners in the Elder Co-Response team. With the development of the CoResponder Program in Marion County, supportive care and services for the aging population will increase by diverting high utilizers from costly acute care settings and providing assessment and community support services needed to allow elders to live independently and age in place, the release noted.

FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR STUDENTS IN 55 SCHOOLS

. Reference Terracon Project No. EQ237320

The Food and Nutrition Department of Marion County Public Schools will provide free breakfast and lunch to all students, regardless of family income, at 55 school sites for the 2023-2024 school year. This means the district’s projected 44,400 students can receive free meals without question.

The program is provided in partnership with the Community Eligibility Provision initiative

WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL FOREVER BE BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of the first publication of this notice is August 4, 2023. s/Margaret A. Wharton MARGARET A. WHARTON Florida Bar No. 292151 S. ANN WILSON Florida Bar No. 64514

S. Central Ave

Box 621172 Oviedo, FL 32762-1172 (407) 365-7193 FAX (407) 366-0776

for Personal Representative s/Judith B. Sandefur JUDITH B. SANDEFUR

PUBLIC NOTICE: Marion County is proposing to build a 250-foot Self-Support Telecommunications Tower located at 1750 NW 100th Street, Ocala, FL 34475 (29° 17’ 33.12” N/ 82° 09’ 20.17” W). Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30-days from the date of this publication to Malyssa Peabody, Terracon, 8001 Baymeadows Way, suite 1, Jacksonville, FL 32256; 904-549-7377; Malyssa.Peabody@terracon.com . Reference Terracon Project No. EQ237319

NOTICE OF A SCHOOL BOARD ADMINISTRATIVE BRIEFING AND WORK SESSION

Notice is hereby given that the School Board of Marion County, Florida, will meet in a work session on Thursday, August 17, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will be held at the MTI Auditorium, 1614 E. Ft. King Street, Ocala, Florida, 34471. An agenda will be published seven days prior to the meeting and may be obtained at the Administration Office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The agenda is also available from a link on the District’s website: www.marionschools.net.

and is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture. No application is required to participate. Schools were selected based on the percentage of students from each campus who are participating in one or more variations of public assistance/service programs, the news release noted.

For more information, contract Food and Nutrition Services Coordinator Tammy Alvarez at (352) 671- 4190 or tammy.alvarez@marion.k12.fl.us.

CF WEBBER GALLERY PRESENTS ‘THE GAP BETWEEN ART AND LIFE’

The College of Central Florida (CF) Webber Gallery presents “The Gap Between Art and Life” on view Aug. 7-Sept. 7. This exhibition is the Webber Gallery’s inaugural competitive exhibition of installation art.

After reviewing 89 submitted entries, the jury panel selected eight diverse artworks by four different artists that will allow visitors to interact with the gallery space in new and unique ways. The jury panel was made up of Leslie Hammond, president of Artistic Eye Fine Art Services, and Victoria Billig, assistant director of the Appleton Museum of Art.

“It was an honor to be on the selection committee for the Webber Gallery’s first biennial of installation art,” Billig said in the news release. “As a medium that is generally represented less in museums and galleries, particularly in our region, ‘The Gap Between Art and Life’ shines a light on captivating, immersive works of art created by installation artists from across the United States.”

An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 25. Webber Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and admission is free. The gallery is on the CF campus at 3001 S.W. College Road. For more information, visit cf.edu/webber or call (352) 854-2322, ext. 1664.

FHP is top ‘gator’ in photo competition

By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com

It’s official: The familiar black and tan Florida Highway Patrol Dodge Charger has been voted “America’s Best-Looking Cruiser” for 2023 in a nationwide competition held by the American Association of State Troopers (AAST).

A photo of a 2019 Dodge Challenger FHP cruiser taken at Gatorland in Orlando by retired FHP Lt. Jeff Frost, with Tamale, a 15-year-old, 180-pound, 8 ½-foot long American alligator, in the foreground, was submitted for the contest. The winning photo will be used on the cover of the 2024 American Association of State Troopers calendar.

Calendar proceeds will benefit the AAST Foundation, which provides educational scholarships to dependents of member troopers.

The contest began July 17 and ended July 31, and saw 1,006,234 votes cast in 49 states

for photos of each state’s cruiser. Many states featured vehicles with iconic backdrops. The FHP entry received 181,071 votes; the California Highway Patrol entry had 142,220 votes and the Nevada Highway Patrol entry received 132,489, according to an FHP press release.

The FHP press release stated in part that “states resorted to playful yet competitive banter and went head-to-head like never before.”

“It’s gratifying to see the inclusion and enthusiasm for supporting Florida by citizens, other partners, and our FHP members,” FHP Director Col. Gary Howze said in the release.

Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle Executive Director Dave Kerner reacted to the win by saying in the release: “I am incredibly proud that the Florida Highway Patrol won first place in this year’s competition. I know that the effort displayed by those pushing us toward this victory came from a deep love and respect for the patrol and its history as Florida’s finest.”

CREAMY AND UNDENIABLY MEATY, THIS PASTA IS SURE TO BE A CROWD-PLEASER

Germany’s tranquil, romantic Mosel Valley

By Rick Steves

By Erica Turner, Cook’s Illustrated America’s Test Kitchen

Pasta alla zozzona is a fusion of two Roman classics, Amatriciana and carbonara, with pork sausage and onions added in to send the pasta over the top. “Zozzona,” a Roman dialect word for dirty, references the dish’s rich flavor and the unusual mash-up of ingredients that makes it unrecognizable on the plate.

To create a meaty, creamy, and decadent pasta that reflected the true tradition of pasta alla zozzona, we used equal parts guanciale and Italian sausage to double down on pork flavor and to create significant amounts of pork fat that emulsified into the passata to create a creamy, not greasy, sauce. Egg yolks and Pecorino Romano infused further creaminess into the sauce. Rigatoni’s tubular shape was ideal for cradling the glossy sauce and chunks of guanciale and sausage.

Pasta alla Zozzona

Serves 4

When I need a dose of quaint cobbled towns and storybook castles while in Germany, I drop into the dreamy Mosel Valley. The Mosel, located near Germany’s western border, is the Rhine’s peaceful little sister.

The main tourist town of Cochem, tucked between steep vineyards and the river, boasts picturesque medieval streets. Stroll the delightful riverfront promenade, play life-size chess, or just grab a bench and watch Germany at play. To join in the fun, take the Sesselbahn chairlift up to a hilltop (and restaurant), enjoy the views, hike down, and end up at a wine-tasting at Weingut Rademacher.

shops, zero ATMs, one bus stop, one mailbox, and about 140 residents who run about 30 guesthouses and eateries. It’s nicknamed the “Sleeping Beauty of the Mosel” because until about 1900, it was inaccessible except by boat. Today it’s still just grape vines, cobbles, fancy door knockers, the smell of dank back alleys, and Mosel River views. Midday in peak season, its charm is trampled by tourists. But early and late, it’s a dream.

5 ounces guanciale

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

5 ounces sweet Italian sausage, casings removed, broken into 1-inch pieces

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

3/4 cup passata

8 ounces rigatoni

Table salt for cooking pasta

1 ounce Pecorino Romano cheese, grated fine (1/2 cup), plus extra for serving

2 large egg yolks

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1. Slice guanciale into 1/4-inch-thick strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 1/4inch pieces. Heat guanciale and oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until fat is rendered and guanciale is starting to brown, 4 to 6 minutes.

2. Add sausage and onion and cook, using a wooden spoon to break meat into pieces no larger than 1/2 inch, until sausage is no longer pink, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in passata; reduce heat to medium-low; and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until fat is fully incorporated, 2 to 4 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, bring 2 quarts water to boil in a large pot. Add pasta and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often, until al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain pasta and return it to the pot. Add tomato-meat sauce to pasta. Set pot over medium-low heat and stir until pasta is well coated, about 1 minute.

4. Whisk Pecorino, egg yolks, and pepper in a medium bowl until combined. Slowly whisk 1/2 cup of reserved cooking water into egg yolk mixture (mixture will not be smooth). Off heat, stir egg yolk mixture into pasta until sauce looks glossy and is slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Adjust sauce consistency with remaining reserved cooking water if needed. Transfer pasta to platter and serve immediately, passing extra Pecorino separately.

(For 25 years, home cooks have relied on America’s Test Kitchen for rigorously tested recipes developed by professional test cooks and vetted by 60,000 at-home recipe testers. The family of brands—which includes Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country—offers reliable recipes for cooks of all skill levels. See more online at www.americastestkitchen.com/TCA.)

Wine-tasting is a popular activity here. Sample local white wines or RoterWeinbergs-Pfirsich Likör – a cordial made from the small, tart “red peaches” unique to the Mosel Valley. Throughout the region on summer weekends and during the fall harvest, towns host wine festivals with oompah bands, colorful costumes, and dancing, powered by the good food and wine.

Like most Mosel towns, Cochem grew up below its castle. Though it looks majestic – rising from a hill above town – Cochem’s castle is better admired from afar. This 19th-century reconstruction is more fanciful than authentic.

Burg Eltz, on the other hand, is the real deal. Lurking in a mysterious forest about 30 minutes by car from Cochem, this is my favorite castle in all of Europe. Thanks to smart diplomacy and clever marriages, Burg Eltz avoided wars and was never destroyed, remaining in the Eltz family for eight centuries. The castle is furnished throughout basically as it was 500 years ago. That’s rare in castles.

It was a comfortable castle for its day: 80 rooms made cozy by 40 fireplaces and wall-hanging tapestries. The Grand Gallery was where nobles met. A carved jester and a rose look down on the big table, reminding those who gathered that they were free to discuss anything (“fool’s freedom” – jesters could say anything to the king), but nothing discussed could leave the room (the “rose of silence”). The finely decorated master bedroom contains all the comforts of the time, including a toilet – one of 20 in the castle, each flushed (occasionally) by rainwater.

Just upstream from Cochem is Beilstein, the quaintest of all Mosel towns. If you’re looking for convalescence, this is the place to go. Beilstein has zero food

On my first morning here, a rumble shook my room at the Hotel Haus Lipmann and woke me up. Stepping outside onto my small terrace, I saw a massive barge filled with coal lumbering by on the river. In a moment, it was gone, and I was left with the tranquil essence of the Mosel. Across the glassy river, the sleepy little ferry was parked. Above it a church spire stuck like a slate spike through a hill cloaked in a green corduroy of vineyards. As if animating some symphony to the direction of a cosmic conductor, a huge and orderly flock of black birds swooped back and forth like sound waves across the fields and around the spire.

Biking and boating are great ways to while away a Beilstein day. Boats come and go all day for relaxing river trips, though because of the locks, they can take longer than you’d like. I opted for a riverside bike ride. Smooth and perfectly flat bike lanes remain separate from car traffic, allowing you to ride in peace while admiring gorgeous riverside scenery. Wrapping up my day, I sat on the hotel’s terrace. Sipping my sprightly white wine, I gazed at the tiny twocar ferry sliding on its cable back and forth across the river. Its slow, monotonous rhythm and the bikers that came and went with each landing were mesmerizing. At dinner, the hotel manager served me homemade bread with tubs of Schmaltz (greasy pork lard). I asked him if he knew Barry Manilow. He said yes. I said, “Schmaltz is to butter what Barry Manilow is to music.” He said, “Ja, schmaltzy.”

But I like the tune the Mosel River plays. It’s impressive that just a couple of quiet days here can relax your mind and restore your spirit.

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

Cochem is the hub of the middle Mosel and marks the start of the most scenic stretch of the valley. [Rick Steves]

The winning FHP cruiser photo entry was taken at Gatorland in Orlando by retired FHP Lt. Jeff Frost.