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AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 13, 2020 | TWO DOLLARS

VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 6

Moving homeless, and trying to help them, too By Brad Rogers Executive Editor

A mask mandate

City requires masks, but takes velvet glove approach By Brad Rogers Executive Editor

n a day when Marion County announced 12 new death due to COVID-19, and the number of positive cases in the county neared 5,500 – including 4,702 since July 1 – the Ocala City Council voted on Tuesday to enact an emergency ordinance requiring all people entering businesses and government buildings within the city to don masks. The measure, a retooled version of an ordinance introduced by Councilman Matt Wardell two weeks ago, would require people to don a mask anytime they enter a business, house of worship or government building within the city. The lone dissenter on the council was Councilman Jay Musleh. The ordinance, which as an emergency ordinance will expire 60 days after Mayor Kent Guinn either signs it or, after `0 days, it becomes law without his signature. The ordinance states: “Each owner, manager, employee, guest, customer or patron of a business establishment must wear a face covering while in such business establishment.” The ordinance provides a host of exceptions, including for children under age 7, people who have medical reasons for not wearing a mask, people who are exercising and maintaining 6 feet of social distance and a business’ employees who are in an area not open to customers. The ordinance took a different approach to one Wardell introduced two weeks ago, which placed the burden of adhering to a mask mandate on individuals. When Police Chief Greg Graham said it would be a burden on his department to enforce that ordinance, Wardell regrouped and presented Tuesday’s version. As city attorney Rob Batsel told the council, this ordinance does not attempt to require individuals to wear masks, but rather it requires businesses to require masks. “The attempt here is to seek voluntary compliance,” he said. Businesses will be required to do four things to adhere to the law: • Post a sign on their front door declaring masks must be worn in the business. • Announce over the intercom, if the business has one, that masks must be worn by patrons. • Require all employees to wear masks. • Make “a reasonable effort” to get patrons to wear masks. A half dozen citizens spoke against the ordinance, some dismissing the notion that masks have any effect on curtailing the coronavirus, others bemoaning government intrusion into their lives. “I don’t think I need government to tell me what I

have to do to protect myself,” Lucy Sullivan said. “Is this about a virus or an election?” asked Rock Gibboney. “What you’re looking at is unconstitutional.” “A mask serves as a false sense of security,” said Bridgette Smith, calling the mandate “modern-day involuntary servitude.” Kevin Sheilley, president/CEO of the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership, expressed concerns over businesses being held responsible for the actions of individuals. “My concern here is we’re going after the wrong target.,” he said. There were also a handful of pro-mask speakers, including Susie Kuhn, a nurse whose husband, Dr. David Kuhn, last month helped spearhead a letter to the council signed by some 700 local physicians and other health care professionals beseeching it to pass a mask mandate. Kuhn noted that 12 people had died in Marion County on Tuesday from COVID-19. She further pointed out that two weeks ago, the county had experienced 33 deaths since the pandemic’s outbreak. But in the past two weeks, 43 people have died. Finally, she said, of the more than 5,400 positive cases of COVID-19 reported across Marion County since the beginning of the pandemic, more than half had occurred in the past two weeks. Council members made clear their intent is not to punish people but rather to encourage mask wearing. “I think most of us want to follow the law,” Wardell said. Councilman Justin Grabelle said the mask mandate enhances the chances of keeping businesses open. “We can poke holes in everything,” Grabelle said. “But overall, I think masks work. … We can’t let perfect get in the way of good.” Noting that he has six friends who are ill with the virus, Councilman Brent Malever said the council needed “to be proactive in some way.” “We need to do something to help the people,” he said. “That’s why we were elected.” Musleh, the lone dissenter to the ordinance, explained his problem is not with masks but with mandates. He said he believes people should wear masks when they can’t socially distance as a matter of respect for their fellow man, then added, “People, wear your damn masks!” There are relatively mild, noncriminal penalties available for violating the ordinance. Council members, however, showed little interest in doing so. Plus, if a business meets the four previously mentioned requirements, they are in compliance, even if a maskless customer is not. Nonetheless, the ordinance calls for the follow responses to reported infractions: • First offense, a verbal warning. • Second offense, a written warning. • Third and all subsequent offenses, a $25 fine.

he city-owned parking lot at Northwest First Avenue and Third Street in downtown Ocala had become a 24/7 gathering spot for dozens of homeless residents over the past year or so, drawing complaints from neighborhood businesses and promises of action from politicians who have been hearing such grumbling for years. Then suddenly this week, the parking lot where the homeless had lived and slept for months were gone. Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn said the city, after weeks of warnings, threatened to issue trespass citations, which would have meant jail for many of the homeless people. So, the homeless left. The homeless issue has been dogging downtown Ocala for a generation. New City Manager Sandra Wilson said addressing homelessness once and for all is one of her priorities. She said plans to redevelop the so-called “midtown,” the part of downtown Ocala located north of Silver Springs Boulevard and another city priority, is in question until there is progress in permanently removing the large numbers of homeless people from the center city. “That’s huge for us,” Wilson said of homelessness in the downtown. “It’s really impacting the quality of life of our midtown businesses. It’s sad, but it’s a complex issue.” Acknowledging that the issue is not new and that solutions are complicated and expensive, Wilson said she is looking for input from the community. “I’m looking for ideas from anyone,” she said. Of course, there are no shortage of ideas. A 2019 Marion County Public Policy Institute study that was months in the making said seriously addressing the issue calls for three things: a plan, a funding source and leadership. Once those are in place, there needs to be aggressive face-to-face outreach with the homeless to get them what they need to restore their lives to normality, said Scot Quintel, the executive director of the United Way of Marion County who chaired the PPI study, titled “Homelessness: The Long Way Home.” “You’ve got to interact with the homeless people to find out what services they need and how to get them to them,” he said. See Homeless, page 3

AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 13, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

County Commission holds the line on base property tax rate By Bill Thompson Deputy Editor

arion County commissioners on Tuesday sealed the cap on the community’s base property tax rate for 2021. The board unanimously backed a proposal, raised two weeks ago, to keep the approved tax rate paid by all county property owners constant at $4.42 per $1,000 of taxable value. That is the rate announced in mandatory mailers that will go out to property owners this week. By law, the board can

reduce the proposed rate in finalizing the county’s $629 million budget for next year, but it cannot go above the ceiling established on Tuesday. The first of two required public hearings on the budget will be held Sept. 3. At that rate, the owner of a home valued at $100,000 for tax purposes would pay $442. But the rate is separate from other property taxes levied by cities, special tax districts and state water management agencies In order to hold the rate steady, commissioners had to overcome a $4 million shortfall because of reduced

sales tax revenues from the state. Budget Director Michael Tomich explained that other taxes were generating more revenue than expected, and thus offset the deficit by about $1 million. Commissioners found about $265,000 when improvements to the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion were less costly than budgeted. Additionally, the board pared a proposed 3 percent raise for all county employees, except those working for the property appraiser and the sheriff, to 1 percent. Commissioners also

found savings in overtime costs apportioned to jobs that had been deleted in emergency services, holding off installation of a new air conditioning unit at the courthouse until 2022 and cancelling a contract with the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership for business loans. Regarding the latter, the board in April had set aside $250,000 the CEP could tap to help small local businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, though, Tomich indicated the county could retrieve that money because the federal CARES Act had

provided funding for that purpose. “It’s an amazing thing that you did, to try to do this just to make sure we keep our millage rate flat,” Commissioner Jeff Gold said in comments to the staff. “I’m sure the taxpayers appreciate it.” Taxpayers must wait and see how much they will appreciate it, however. Property values countywide increased by 7.8 percent this year, meaning many property owners will still see a higher tax bill, even though the base rate remains the same.

Taxable Property Value: $Billions $30 $25 $20 $15.0

$15

$14.0

$13.9

$14.4

$15.0

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

$15.6

$20.4

$16.5

$17.7

$18.9

2017-18

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

4.42

2019-20

2020-21

$10 $5 2011-12

2016-17

Millage Rate: $1 per $1,000 Taxable Property Value 6.00 5.50 5.00 4.50 3.89

3.89

3.90

3.89

4.02

3.98

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18

2018-19

4.00 3.50 3.00

Source: Marion County Commission

Test positive for COVID-19? What you need to know By Christy Jergens Guest Columnist

ore than 5,500 Marion County residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since Marion’s first case in March. As the community continues to see cases increase, the Department of Health in Marion County wants to re-share key things someone who is newly diagnosed with COVID-19 should know in the days and weeks after their diagnosis. Isolating at home Those who test positive should stay in one room, away from others in your household, including pets. Have sole use of a bathroom. Wear a cloth face covering. Don’t share personal household items like cups,

utensils and towels. At-home care Regarding care while at home, keep track of any symptoms, and check your temperature twice daily. Watch for common symptoms: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. Be alert for severe symptoms: trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or bluish lips or face. Call your doctor or health care provider if your symptoms get worse. Ask your doctor or health care provider about pain and fever medication. Get rest

and stay hydrated. For more information, visit https://www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/ if-you-are-sick/care-forsomeone.html. Public health staff will ask you about close contacts If you test positive, over a number of days, staff will monitor you and your contacts. This is called contact tracing, and it’s a core public health function that helps stop the spread of the disease. Guidelines for stopping self-isolation The timeline for stopping self-isolation, if you tested positive with symptoms, is at least 10 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared and at least 24 hours have passed since you’ve had a fever without using fever-reducing medications, and other

[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

symptoms have improved. If you tested positive without symptoms, at least 10 days have passed since the day you were tested, and you have no symptoms As of Aug. 5, Marion County is reporting 5,543 cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of this afternoon. This is an increase of 109 cases since the previous day. Of Marion COVID-19 tests from Aug. 4, 11.8% were positive; the county’s cumulative positive test rate

is 11.7%. The daily positivity rate for all new COVID-19 tests in Florida on Aug. 4 was 10.89%; the state’s cumulative positive rate is 13.16%. As of Aug. 5, a total of 76 Marion County residents have died after contracting COVID-19. They ranged in age from 32 years old to 98 years old. Christy Jergens is the public information officer for the Marion County Health Department.

AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 13, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Commentary

The GOP 10 gunning for your vote “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” - Thomas Jefferson

Executive Editor Brad Rogers brad@ocalagazette.com Deputy Editor Bill Thompson bill@ocalagazette.com Photography Editor Bruce Ackerman bruce@ocalagazette.com

Publisher Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@magnoliamediaco.com Staff Writers Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com Lisa McGinnes lisa@magnoliamediaco.com Graphic Designers Simon Mendoza simon@magnoliamediaco.com Brooke Pace brooke@magnoliamediaco.com Marketing Manager Kylie Swope kylie@magnoliamediaco.com

By Brad Rogers Executive Editor

he Aug. 18 primary election is just around the corner, and voters who are registered as Republicans have quite a challenge ahead of them in choosing a candidate to run in November to replace U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho. There are 10, that’s right, count ‘em, 10 candidates running to replace Yoho, a Gainesville Republican, in the halls of Congress. Oddly, the issue that this group of candidates has coalesced around? A meaningful replacement for Obamacare? No. More affordable housing. Nah. More affordable higher education? Phffft. No, the GOP 10 have decided

it is guns that are the biggest concern of the voters of Florida’s 3rd Congressional District, which stretches from Clay County, south of Jacksonville, to north Marion County. Every single one of them has made protecting the Second Amendment a key part of their platform, and all but one, Amy Pope Wells of Fleming Island, has sent out campaign fliers or broadcast ads featuring themselves shooting or toting a gun. This, despite the fact gun manufacturers can’t produce guns fast enough to meet public demand. This, despite the fact that gun violence in our own community has become a daily

fact of life. This, despite the fact that even after schoolchildren were gunned down in South Florida lawmakers couldn’t find the courage – or wisdom – to put some limits on the most powerful and deadly of firearms. Folks, no one has a problem getting a gun. And for those of us who take the time, getting a permit to carry a gun is no problem either. The only problem with guns is there are more guns in this country than people – and, unfortunately, too many of those guns are in the hands of the wrong people. I’m a gun owner and have a conceal carry permit. I am not opposed to guns or to people owning guns. But gun access or ownership is not even a little

problem in our country. So as Republican voters sift through the 10 candidates on the primary ballot, wouldn’t it be nice if those seeking to represent us actually were talking about things that are a real concern. You know, more affordable health care, cheaper prescription prices, lower college costs, more affordable housing, an infrastructure plan for the future, water supply protection, and, lest we forget, getting us out of this dadgum pandemic. Toting a gun is easy-peasy in this day and time. Finding a way to provide health care to more than 7,000 children in Marion County who have none isn’t. Making fun of gun-control

advocates on a TV ad is easy, too. Developing a plan that will allow a youngster to go to college without being saddled with debt the rest of their lives … well, that’s hard. Measuring who among the GOP 10 loves guns the most is one way to decide who to vote for in the race to be our next congressional representative. But I can think of a hundred issues and concerns that I and most other Floridians have that we’d love to hear about from our politicians. Theodore Roosevelt, himself an avid shooter, famously said. “A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.” The same could be said about guntoting political candidates.

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Deborah Slaton, right, a homeless woman and a woman who only wanted to be identified as Carol, left, who is also homeless, rest together in a parking lot [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

“Joanna,” a homeless woman, keeps all of her belongings next to her in a cart as she sits under her umbrella. [Bruce Ackerman/ Ocala Gazette] 2020.

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. We also strive to serve as a forum where all voices can be heard and to chronicle our community’s history.

1515 NE 22nd Ave. Ocala, FL 34470 352.732.0073

Homeless people gather together in a parking lot near the intersection of Northwest First Avenue and Northwest Third Street in Ocala, Fla. The homeless people who stay and live in the parking lot have become a familiar sight recently in downtown Ocala. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

From Homeless, page 1 PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT INVERNESS, FL SECOND CLASS PERMIT #114280

Quintel said one of the greatest needs in Ocala is “permanent supportive housing.” Permanent supportive housing is accessible, affordable housing for the homeless with regular support and interaction from social services agencies for everything from ensuring medications are taken on schedule to assistance in finding a job to getting regular mental health or drug treatment. Permanent supportive housing not only gets people off the streets, Quintel noted, but also makes the recovering homeless accountable. While such a program comes with a cost, Quintel believes the investment will be more than offset by the results. “As a community, even if there’ a cost of doing that, if we get them off the street, what we save in law enforcement and criminal justice costs, health care costs, well, the savings will more than offset the costs,” he said. Part of what the PPI study recommended was a change in how local homeless strategy and services are coordinated – and funded. The result was the creation of the city-county Joint Office of Homeless Prevention & Intervention, which has a newly hired director in Lisa Rice. Quintel said when outside analysts examined Ocala’s resources for assisting the homeless during the 2019 study, they homed in on Ocala’s permanent supportive housing inventory. What they found was

alarming, he said. They identified about a dozen such units in the community. They said there needs to be about 200 units to realistically serve the need. Guinn said he wants to hold a discussion about ways to fund homeless initiatives. In Miami, where they have developed an extensive and successful homeless assistance program, they have a tax on food and beverage that produces millions annually. The mayor said he would be willing to explore such a tax here. The city’s social services liaison, Robin Ford, who interacts and helps the homeless on a daily basis, said that any concerted effort to reduce homelessness must include effective mental health and drug treatment programs. “The biggest issues I see are mental health, substance abuse and the lack of permanent supportive housing,” Ford said. Quintel said he is optimistic because the creation of the Joint Office of Homeless Prevention & Intervention will have the help of a new funding oversight board, which was another outcome of the PPI study. Each community has what is called a Continuum of Care, the vehicle through which state and federal dollars are funneled to homeless programs. Ocala/Marion County’s used to be overseen by the Marion County Homeless Council, which struggled in that role. Under the new arrangement, the Joint Office will coordinate the Continuum of Care.

AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 13, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Amid COVID budget woes, Ellspermann urges overhaul of court funding mechanism By Bill Thompson Deputy Editor

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arion County’s top court official is calling for an overhaul of how the court system is funded, as the coronavirus pandemic constricts revenue and impedes many vital court operations. Clerk of the Circuit Court David Ellspermann, in a July 28 letter to Circuit Judge Edward Scott, the top administrative judge in the 5th Judicial Circuit, said a nosedive in the number of traffic tickets – down 28 percent this year -- is stressing his budget. Consequently, his staff ’s ability to oversee many essential court actions has been compromised. Ellspermann explained that many types of cases do not have filing fees attached, and thus the court system relies on revenue from traffic citations for funding. Those include criminal cases (both felony and misdemeanor); domestic violence; risk protection orders; civil, family and probate cases where the petitioner lacks the income to pay a filing fee; Baker Act and Marchman Act cases, where people are involuntarily committed for mental health matters or substance abuse; and juvenile cases. During “normal times,” he wrote, the underpinning for this system is the 450 tickets law enforcement officers throughout Marion County write each week on average. When COVID-19 raged the worst, that volume plunged to a low of 58 tickets in one week, he noted. Over the last month, the weekly average has run about 240. As a result, for the last quarter of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, the clerk’s office faces slashing $475,000, or 21 percent, from its budget. Ellspermann noted he tried to delay the impact. He implemented

a hiring freeze in March that has left seven necessary jobs vacant, and he has shifted staff around. Still, meeting the budget will require laying off or furloughing the equivalent of 2,080 hours over the next nine weeks, according to the letter. That will affect the workload of every employee, he maintained, and have an adverse impact on how effectively cases are processed. And when the pandemic-related restrictions are relieved, the court staff will be flooded with unresolved cases, especially foreclosure, eviction and criminal actions, Ellspermann added. In reshaping the priorities, civil, probate and family cases will be processed with less urgency. “Obviously,” he wrote, “this will frustrate citizens who expect their cases to be processed in a timely manner.” Ultimately, though, Ellspermann is urging policymakers to consider overhauling the funding mechanism to brace the system for the long haul. “The purpose of this letter,” he noted, “is to make you aware of the current situation and to plead with you to help fix this broken funding model for Clerks and ask the Governor for emergency funding” -- a request that Tallahassee has ignored so far. “It is simply unsustainable to continue trying to fund essential court operations through citizens who receive traffic citations,” Ellspermann concluded. “Our government’s responsibility is to provide a responsive court system. Together, I know we can find a funding solution that can be sustainable for years to come.” According to the Marion County Bar Association, Ellspermann also sent the letter to Circuit Judge Daniel Merritt, chief judge of the 5th Circuit. Neither Merritt nor Scott could be reached for comment.

Give4Marion offers donors and charities a new way to connect By Lisa McGinnes Staff Writer

ong before most people had ever heard of coronavirus, the Community Foundation Ocala/Marion County was planning a new day of giving. Give4Marion was meant to be another way for the community to support worthy local causes. Now it may be the lifeline the charities need to stay afloat through the pandemic. The inaugural Give4Marion campaign will take place October 20th. As simple as shopping online, the website will list participating local charities for donors to click and support. With fundraising events cancelled and community need escalating this year, nonprofits that serve Marion Countians need help now more than ever. “Many of them are trying to make up for the loss of fundraising events and recurring donations that were to be used in their current budget cycle,” said Lauren Deiorio, president/ executive director of the Community Foundation. “This is where we see Give4Marion playing a big role for many of them as they make up their losses.”

The Boys & Girls Club of Marion County is one organization that hopes to generate much needed funding. “We have all been impacted by COVID-19, some more than others,” said CEO/Executive Director April Savarese. “We are finding that our youth are struggling and need us now more than ever. With our two major fundraising events cancelled due to COVID-19 we are finding it more difficult to fulfill our mission. The Community Foundation is providing an opportunity for us to partner to raise awareness and financial resources desperately needed for our organization to continue to serve the community.” Although it couldn’t come at a better time, the foundation has been planning Give4Marion for a while. “We’ve had an interest in doing a giving day and had already planned to do one this year regardless of COVID,” explained Allison Campbell, strategic communications director for the Community Foundation. “Community foundations all around the state including the Community Foundation of North Central Florida and, most recently, the Community Foundation of

Sarasota County, have been doing these giving days for quite some time. We had all along intended to do one this year and now we certainly see the heightened reason why it’s going to be very beneficial to our community. It has been interesting navigating what that’s going to look like and realizing that it is needed now more so than ever.” Give4Marion is a oneday donation drive that will take place mostly online, Campbell said. However, donors who prefer to write a check or give cash will be able to drop off donations at the foundation office. “The donors will have the

opportunity on this day to actually create a shopping cart of giving,” Campbell explained. “So they can say, “I’m passionate about the arts and education and the environment,’ and they can go and look for various organizations and actually add a donation into their shopping cart. Our hope is that donors who get interested and excited about this and businesses and others who get excited about it will actually be able to see and learn about more opportunities to help in our community that people may not be aware of.” Charlotte Martin, owner of Marion Mobile Bar &

“The Community Foundation is providing an opportunity for us to partner to raise awareness and financial resources desperately needed for our organization to continue to serve the community.” -Lauren Deiorio

Bubbles and president of the Junior League of Ocala, called Give4Marion an “incredible resource” and said she plans to participate. “No corner of our community has been left untouched by the effects of the pandemic as COVID continues to create unmet needs above and beyond the usual, all while simultaneously shifting how nonprofits have to operate,” Martin said. “With several facing cancelled programs and rescheduled fundraising events, our local charities are depending on the generosity of others now more than ever.” Any 501(c)(3) organization that serves Marion County residents can sign up at www. give4marion.org. “Our goal is that we have hundreds of nonprofits participate in this so can share their story with a much broader, larger audience,” Campbell said. Martin sees Give4Marion as an easy way for anyone to give back. “Any donation you can make will work to ensure the charities you care about can continue to thrive through the crisis in order to achieve their missions,” she said. “All charitable donations, no matter how small, make an impact.”

AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 13, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

A piece of downtown history is up for grabs By Bill Thompson Deputy Editor

ntil the new Hilton went up, one of the taller landmarks in downtown Ocala could be found opposite the hotel, at 18 S. Magnolia Ave. The three-story building dominating the west side of the square -a downtown fixture with a long history -- could soon change hands. The 9,400-squarefoot site is set to be auctioned off on Aug. 12. The minimum asking price is $575,000, according to representatives of Tranzon Driggers, the Ocala-based real estate broker handling the sale. The building was initially constructed in 1895 as the home of the local Freemasons, city records say. The front of the building was redone in around 1940 in the Art Moderne style of architecture, which was popular for commercial structures at the time. On its website, the city notes, “Although significantly modified in c(irca)1940, the changes to this building, of interest for its longtime use as a Masonic Lodge, are historic and reflect a historic trend in downtown Ocala. Given its proximity to related examples and other historic properties, this building appears to contribute to an NRHP

(National Register of Historic Places) historic district.” The façade was renovated again three years ago. “It is vacant now. The owner did a fantastic job on the new front façade a few years back, and the interior is a blank slate for the new owner to turn into their new vision,” said David Bradshaw, president of Tranzon Driggers. Bradshaw is also emphasizing the building’s historic angle from a pop culture perspective, noting renowned commercial artist Joyce BallentyneBrand lived in the building for decades. A link on the auctioneer’s website points out BallentyneBrand resided in an upstairs apartment for more than 30 years, until her death in 2006 at age 88. Ballentyne-Brand’s career as a commercial artist began in part by painting maps for Rand-McNally and drawing illustrations for dictionaries. In the 1940s she began illustrating “pin-up” girls for calendars. She also drew for Sports Afield magazine for more than 20 years, and created ads for Pampers, Coca-Cola, Pepsi and General Motors. But her most famous work was done in 1959, when she created the iconic Coppertone tanning lotion ad

featuring a little blond girl having her bathingsuit bottom pulled down by a black dog, revealing her tan line. Many sources say BallentyneBrand was miffed that she was remembered for that piece, for which her daughter, 3-year-old Cheri, was the model. “Big deal, it’s only baby art. I didn’t feel there was anything special about that ad. Just a piece I was commissioned to do and nothing more,” she once said, according to the Kearney, Neb. Hub. Ballentyne-Brand was a Nebraska native. Against that backdrop, Tranzon Driggers alerts potential buyers that they have a “rare opportunity to own an important piece of Ocala’s history.” Pamela Stafford, president of the Historic Ocala Preservation Society, said she was not surprised by that. “Historic buildings have become very popular in the last several years. We’ve seen that with houses in the historic district, where prices are going up,” said Stafford. These deals, she added, “help save these buildings,” and preserve the history of the city’s core. “That whole section (of downtown) has been part of Ocala from the beginning,” she said. “I hope whoever buys it will do something special with it.”

[Brooke Pace/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Commentary

A blast from the past could affect our future By Bill Thompson Deputy Editor

n the Nevada desert – which is redundant, of course, because all of Nevada is pretty much desert – sits a mammoth structure resembling a refugee from Area 51. From high altitude, it looks like someone – or some thing? – carved metallic crop circles in the sand. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised if it was. After all, some largely overlooked nonCOVID-19 news this year involves UFOs. Last month, The New York Times quoted former government officials who claimed that “objects of undetermined origin have crashed on earth with materials retrieved for study.” This particular Nevada structure, however, is of alltoo-worldly origin. It is the massive Crescent Dunes solar farm – a twomile-wide set concentric circles comprised of more than 10,000 mirrors that direct the sun’s rays toward an energy-generating skyscraper. Crescent Dunes is also something else utterly familiar to our world: a government boondoggle. A decade ago, a solar energy venture start-up called SolarReserve pledged this site was the new wave in renewable energy. The price tag was a cool $1 billion.

SolarReserve made it happen with little skin in the game. The Obama administration, which had no problem spending other people’s money, provided $737 million in taxpayerbacked loans. By 2018, thanks to design and operational flaws, as well as improved solar-panel technology, Crescent Dunes was operating at 20 percent capacity. It eventually shut down last year and was taken over by the Energy Department. Last month the owners filed for bankruptcy, still owing taxpayers $425 million. Subsequently, the Trump administration tried to salvage this debacle and settled for recouping $200 million for taxpayers. In reporting on these circumstances recently, Reuters noted, “The project’s failure is a blow to the DOE renewable energy loan program, which had already been criticized by Republicans as a waste of money after it backed failed solar panel maker Solyndra during the Obama administration.” Ahh Solyndra. Another bungled Obama administration green energy deal, but one with a local twist. In March 2009, exactly two months after President Barack Obama was sworn in, the Energy Department announced $535 million in

taxpayer-backed loans for Solyndra, a California-based solar panel maker. Twenty-three months later, unknown to the public, Solyndra was already financially wheezing. At that time, after Republicans had wiped out Democrats to retake the House, GOP Rep. Cliff Stearns of Ocala became chairman of a subcommittee under the House Energy Committee. Stearns then spent months battling the White House to get answers about Solyndra, whose death rattle ceased with a bankruptcy filing in August 2011. Roughly 1,100 people lost their jobs amid the Great Recession. Through Stearns’ bloodhound-like pursuit and simultaneous investigations by the Treasury Department and the FBI, the public learned some juicy tidbits about this botched effort. For instance, the loan program was created by the Bush administration, and Solyndra became its first recipient. But that came in early 2009 after Obama had taken over and his crew overruled department staffers who wanted more time to review the company’s situation. Even Vice President Joe Biden’s chief of staff was aware it was a disaster waiting to happen, but, like others, dismissed doubts in order to tout

Obama’s commitment to green energy jobs. In 2010, the administration had been tipped off that the company was ready to cut employees, but held off under White House pressure to avoid bad news before the midterm elections. The public also learned Obama’s Energy Department reshuffled the loan terms to guarantee that private investors would be repaid before taxpayers. Stearns maintained at the time that the revised agreement violated federal law. Reportedly putting private investors ahead of taxpayers aided George Kaiser, a bigtime Solyndra investor, who ironically was an oil baron, and who had raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Obama’s 2008 campaign. The head of the department’s loan office declined to identify who changed the loan terms when Stearns and other members of his committee pressed for answers. Space precludes going into more detail. But a 2015 inspector general’s report on Solyndra noted that its executives’ actions “were, at best, reckless and irresponsible or, at worst, an orchestrated effort to knowingly and intentionally deceive and mislead the (Energy) Department.” The problem is that toplevel Obama officials knew, or should have known, they

were being played. Yet in true D.C fashion, no one was fired or went to prison and, according to the Washington Examiner, taxpayers recovered just $24 million from that debacle. Stearns lost the 2012 GOP primary and was out of Congress in 2013. It’s doubtful he left office satisfied that Team Obama was sufficiently held accountable after Solyndra went belly up. This blast from the past is relevant to our future, however. In September 2009, Biden spoke when Solyndra broke ground on its plants. “These are the jobs of the future,” he said. “These are the jobs that are going to define the 21st century and the jobs that are going to allow America to compete and to lead like we did in the 20th century. Out there at Solyndra, you guys have it figured out.” Yet Solyndra could have generated more energy if it had just piled up that $535 million in its parking lot and set it on fire. While we ridiculously let Obama, Biden and their media sycophants get away with saying straight-faced that their administration was “scandal-free,” if Biden wins in November, he will be impotent to resist the Democrats’ Green New Deal nonsense, and so more Solyndras are just over the horizon.

AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 13, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

[Meagan Gumpert/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

In its own quiet way, Ocala’s broadband service sees significant growth By Bill Thompson Deputy Editor

f it seems more crews from Ocala’s fiber-optic service are making the rounds, that’s because they are. The city’s broadband service, Ocala Fiber Network, or OFN, is experiencing a boom – albeit a very quiet one. And that’s fine with OFN Director Mel Poole, who insists that the service, despite its growing popularity, not get ahead of itself. “Slow and methodical. You’ll hear me say that a lot,” said Poole. “It takes time to build out the infrastructure, and people get frustrated, saying ‘Why are you advertising it when you can’t get it to me?’” “Just because you build it doesn’t mean they’ll come. But if you do build it, you just give it time.” Despite the low-key approach, city residents and business owners are turning on to OFN. The department’s revenues, customer base, staff, miles of fiber and “profit” all are up substantially in recent years, according to city financial records. Poole, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran whose career with the city began with Ocala Electric Utility, took over the department in 2014. In 2015, his first full year on the job, the OFN claimed 693 customers over a network covering 440 miles, and served by just seven employees. The department reaped $3.1 million in revenue, and cleared roughly $628,000 after expenses. For fiscal year 2019, the department had tripled in size to 20 staffers, who now serve 1,597 customers. The network now spans 781 miles, and last year, the department raked in nearly

$6.8 million, generating almost $2.5 million in profit, which was up 80 percent over the prior year. And the best part: OFN is not funded by taxpayers. “There are no tax dollars associated (with OFN). We operate just like a business,” Poole said. “Some customers thought that we were part of the general fund, which meant their tax dollars were paying for us. But we’re strictly an enterprise fund.” In government, enterprise funds are agencies designed to be selfsupporting through fees or other charges. But keeping with the business model, Poole said he believes customers are responding to market factors. The city, he said, offers residents and businesses fiber optic at a less expensive price than the “incumbents” – the other local telecom providers – that still utilize copper wire, which is slower and less reliable than fiber. One drawback is that the city limits its service. It sticks strictly to broadband, with no packages for television or phone service. Still, Poole said, “We’ve grown exponentially.” BroadbandNow, a group that advocates expanding high-speed internet service for consumers, notes that Ocala is among 331 cities across America offering broadband. Considering whether cities should compete in the local broadband market, the group breaks down the country into two categories: states with no or moderate barriers to municipal broadband service and those with tougher or substantive restrictions. In a May 2020 update to its annual survey of the issue, BroadbandNow reported that “states that have no municipal restrictions versus those that do … have lower internet prices on average.”

The group also determined that residents in no- or low-barrier states have greater access to “lowprice” broadband service, which it defines as $60 a month or less. Ocala charges $60 a month. Florida is among states that have fewer barriers. But those it does impose are weighty. Under Florida law, according to BroadbandNow, municipal broadband utilities are charged property taxes. Given the amount of equipment that’s involved in launching a network, as well as a requirement for officials to explain publicly how they can reach profitability within four years, those mandates render “nearly any municipal broadband proposal unfeasible,” BroadbandNow argues. Yet BroadbandNow points out that Ocala, which has operated its network for decades, is one of “only two municipalities (in Florida that) have successfully deployed broadband services to residents.” The other is Bartow. An article last month in a publication called Government Technology noted that Ocala Electric laid the foundation for OFN’s high-speed internet service in 1995 when it replaced its network’s copper wire with fiber optic cable. (The article was sponsored by Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, or ALE, which supplies some of OFN’s equipment.) The piece also pointed out that the City Council spurred OFN along by allowing the agency to bid on a contract to furnish fiber to the school district. OFN won the $1.3 million contract in April 2017, with options for four annual renewals, and ran 48 miles of cable. Poole says his team serves all schools but one, Reddick-Collier Elementary, which has a

different provider. “Providing our schools with reliable hi-speed Internet is absolutely essential in today’s technology world,” school district spokesman Kevin Christian said in an email. “When you add COVID-19 and online learning to the equation, there’s virtually no way any school district in any area could deliver education without such service. We’re grateful to have this service.” According to the ALE article, that deal with the School Board opened the door for OFN’s expansion. Beyond residential customers and businesses, the network serves public safety agencies, libraries, hospitals and medical offices and the courthouse. It also provides free Wi-Fi in city parks and over a 10-block zone in downtown. And the city’s water and smartphone-friendly parking meters, public safety cameras and traffic light system also rely on OFN. City Council President Jay Musleh called the decision to move forward with OFN “an opportunity to invest in our community.” “When a municipality can provide highly reliable internet services, and offer a comparable product at a cost-effective rate, it becomes a benefit to our residents and an incentive for businesses to locate here,” Musleh said in an email. OFN’s reach, he added, “has steadily increased over the years, and we feel positive that trend will continue. We are proud to be providing fiber services to all Marion County Public Schools, including the installation of free Wi-Fi access points in school parking lots during the COVID-19 shut down to assist students as they transitioned to distance learning. We continue to expand into targeted

neighborhoods and, as customers see the reliability and quality of their service, we hope to exceed initial projections and exceed our customers’ expectations.” Poole said the deal with the schools, beyond being the catalyst for OFN’s growth, has allowed the utility to give back. OFN has made grants to the Boys and Girls Club of Marion County, and the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, which promotes education initiatives in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM. According to Christian, the agency also serves as the business partner for three public schools: Lake Weir Middle, North Marion Middle and Marion Oaks Elementary. Each receives $3,000 from the agency. Poole said he chose those schools because they lacked a business partner. He hopes to double the number in the near future. “To me, that’s giving back to the kids and teachers. It’s all about the kids and their education,” he said. Poole said he envisions keeping OFN on its current trajectory for both customers and revenue. His long-range plan adds 240 new customers a year over the next few years. COVID-19 might affect that, he acknowledged. In fact, he considered 96 customers might be a better target. Besides the virus, one challenge facing OFN is informing potential customers about the service itself – and ensuring people understand it is broadband only. Ultimately, Poole said, his department plans to continue “methodical” growth. “Fiber is here to stay in so, so many different ways,” said Poole. “We are open for business.”

AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 13, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

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AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 13, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Community

8/7

Marion County Friday Market

8/8

Back to School Fest

Paddock Mall, 3100 SW College Rd. 8am-12pm Families are invited to enjoy live entertainment, vendors and fun, socially distanced activities. AdventHealth Ocala will have giveaways and health information and Chick-fil-A will be open for refreshments. Register for the backpack and school supply giveaway online at www.paddockmall.com. Call (352) 2371223 for more information.

8/5 8/8

Ocala Downtown Market

Farmhouse Restaurant, 11077 SE 57th Ct., Belleview 7:30-8:30am Contact Faith Wilt at (352) 602-5695 or ccandkbookkeeping@ gmail.com for more information.

SE 3rd Street and SE 3rd Avenue 9am-2pm A variety of vendors offer local fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood, fresh pasta, honey, arts and crafts, rain or shine. www. ocaladowntownmarket.com

8/10

Developing a Board Member Orientation

8/11

Networks CEMG

8/11 8/11

8/12 8/12 8/12 -13

Medicare Part C

8/13

Brick City Farmers Market

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

South Marion NetWorks Group

8/11

8/13

Community Foundation Ocala Marion County - virtual 11:45am-1pm A presentation by Rebecca Rogers, CFRE of the Colen Family Charitable Trust Foundation and Circle Square Foundation. Registration required. www.ocalafoundation.org

Power Plant Business Incubator, 405 SE Osceola Ave. 8:15-9:15am Chamber Execs and Marketing Group. Email tom@ocalacep. com for more information.

Beautiful Moments, 3400 SW 60th Ave. 4-8pm Farmers and artisan vendors offer fresh produce, herbs, pasta, eggs, and baked goods as well as locally crafted soaps and jewelry. Masks required. www.brickcityfarmersmarket.com

Arts

8/7

The Art of Purpose - Opening Reception

8/729

The Art of Purpose: An Applied Arts Exhibit

8/7

Levitt AMP Virtual Music Series

8/8

Levitt AMP Virtual Music Series

8/8

Appleton Museum of Art Youth Kit Pickup

8/13

YPO Summer Social

8/13

Levitt AMP Virtual Music Series

Edibles for Your Landscape

UF IFAS Marion County Master Gardeners – virtual 9-10:30am A free online class on ornamental, low-maintenance, Floridafriendly edible plants. Registration is required; call (352) 6718400 or email mandab@ufl.edu for more information. https:// sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/marion/

SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) - virtual 2-3:30pm Learn more about Medicare in this free Zoom workshop offered online or by phone. Call (352) 692-5262 or email shine@agingresources.org for more information.

Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 S. Broadway 5-6:30pm The Art of Purpose: An Applied Arts Exhibit showcases the original objects local artists have created with both aesthetics and function in mind. Artist awards will be presented at the opening reception. Please wear a mask. Email ashley. justiniano@mcaocala.com or call (352) 369-1500 for more information.

Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 S. Broadway Monday-Friday 10am-4pm; Sunday 11am-4pm This new exhibit, sponsored by Angie Lewis State Farm, celebrates applied arts, which integrate design and decoration into everyday and practical objects in order to make them aesthetically pleasing. Visitors to the gallery are asked to please social distance and wear a mask. Email Ashley.justiano@ mcaocala.org or call (352) 369-1500 for more information. www.mcaocala.org

Online via www.levitt.org 8pm This online concert features Americana husband and wife duo Amy LaVere & Will Sexton in Houston, Mississippi. www. levitt.org

Online via www.levitt.org 8pm G Street Revolution and Valley Wolf online from Merced, California. www.levitt.org

Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage

SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) - virtual 10-11:30am Learn more about Medicare in this free Zoom workshop offered online or by phone. Call (352) 692-5262 or email shine@agingresources.org for more information.

Hurricane Supply Collection Drive

Marion Senior Services, 1101 SW 20th Ct. 2-4pm Drive-through to drop-off donations to supply hurricane kits for senior citizens. Items needed include batteries, first aid kits, non-perishable food, bottled water, disinfecting wipes, flashlights, hand sanitizer, toilet paper and dog and cat food. Call (352) 620-3501 for more information.

CF Hampton Center, 1501 W. Silver Springs Blvd. 10:30am-12pm Drive through to pick up a free youth art supplies kit from the Appleton Museum. One per family. Call (352) 291-4455 for more information. www.appletonmuseum.org

Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 S. Broadway 5:30-7:30pm Young Professionals collective painting social with Teddy Sykes including beverages, hors d’oeuvres and an ice cream bar. www. ocalacep.com

Stiletto Network

Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St. 4-5pm Please wear a mask. Email April Savarese at asavarese@ bgcofmarion.com for more information.

Virtual Information Session

College of Central Florida – virtual 6-7pm Parents are invited to learn about the college application process and financial aid and receive a waiver of application fees. Email admissions@cf.edu for information on how to join this Zoom meeting.

City of Belleview Site Plan Committee

8/10

City of Ocala General Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees

8/10

City of Ocala Police Officers’ Retirement Board of Trustees

8/10

City of Dunnellon Community Redevelopment Agency Board

8/10

Dunnellon City Council

8/10

City of Ocala Planning and Zoning Commission

8/10

Marion County Historical Commission

Campaign Kickoff & Annual Meeting

United Way of Marion County - virtual 11am-12pm A free online celebration of United Way’s impact and kickoff for the annual giving campaign. www.uwmc.org/annualmeeting

Planned Giving for Nonprofits

Community Foundation Ocala Marion County - virtual August 12, Part 1; August 13, Part 2 | 1-2:30pm This workshop is part of the Nonprofit Academic Series by the Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership at the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College. David Torre, CFP of SunTrust Private Wealth presents on developing a robust planned giving program. Email kelsie@ocalafoundation.org for more information. Registration required at www.ocalafoundation.org

8/12

YL Exchange NetWorks

8/12

Introduction to SHINE

8/13

Summer Sweat Series

Infinite Ale Works 5:30-6:30pm Young Leaders is an industry-specific networking group of the Young Professionals Ocala and Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership. www.ocalacep.com

SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) - virtual 6:30-7:30pm A free Zoom workshop offered online or by phone. Call (352) 692-5262 or email shine@agingresources.org for more information.

Paddock Mall, 3100 SW College Rd. 9-10am Free community yoga classes with local instructors, limited to 15 participants. Advance registration required; call (352) 2371223. www.paddockmall.com

Government

8/7

1 Million Cups Ocala

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

Online via www.levitt.org 8pm This livestreaming concert features hip hop artist Nur-D in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. www.levitt.org

Dennis Monroe Public Works Complex, 5525 SE 119th St., Belleview 9-10am Call (352) 245-7021 for more information.

Online at https://zoom.us/j/99167639286 9am Call (352) 629-8372 for more information.

Online at https://zoom.us/j/93610837308 1pm Call (352) 629-8372 for more information.

Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 River Dr. 5pm Contact Mandy Roberts at mroberts@dunnellon.org or (352) 465-8500 for more information.

Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 River Dr. 5:30pm Contact Mandy Roberts at mroberts@dunnellon.org or (352) 465-8500 for more information.

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. and virtual 5:30pm In person seating limited per social distancing guidelines. Participate online at https://zoom.us/j/97314299662. Call (352) 629-8404 for more information.

Growth Services Training Room, 2710 E. Silver Springs Blvd. 6pm Call (352) 620-0944 for more information.

AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 13, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

8/11

City of Dunnellon Police Officer & Firefighter Pension Board

Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 River Dr. 8:30am Contact Mandy Roberts at mroberts@dunnellon.org or (352) 465-8500 for more information.

Marion Oaks MSTU for Recreation Services and Facilities Advisory Board

Marion Oaks Community Center annex, 280 Marion Oaks Ln. 9:30am The Marion Oaks Municipal Taxing Service Unit for recreation services and facilities advisory board helps determine the budget and projects for the Marion Oaks Community Center. For more information, call 352-438-2828.

8/11

Ocala/Marion County TPO Technical Advisory Committee

8/11

Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District Board

8/11 8/11

Marion County Public Library, 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd. 10:30am For more information, contact the Transportation Planning Organization at (352) 438-2630 or visit www.ocalamariontpo.org.

USDA Ocala Service Center, 2441 NE Third St. 12:30pm For more information, call (352) 622-3971, ext. 3.

8/11

Marion County License Review Board

8/11

Silver Springs Shores Tax Advisory Council

8/12

Marion County Code Enforcement Board

8/12

Marion County Commission Workshop

8/13

Marion County Development Review Committee Staff Meeting

8/13

Marion County Tourist Development Council

Ocala/Marion TPO Citizens Advisory Committee

Marion County Public Library, 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd. 1pm For more information, contact the Transportation Planning Organization at (352) 438-2630 or visit www.ocalamariontpo.org.

City of Belleview Planning & Zoning Board

City Hall Commission Room, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview 5:30-6:30pm Call (352) 245-7021 for more information.

Growth Services Training Room, 2710 E. Silver Springs Blvd. 5:30pm The License Review Board hears and investigate complaints regarding competency of licensed contractors. Call (352) 4382428 for more information.

Silver Springs Shores Community Center, 590 Silver Rd. 6pm For more information, call (352) 438-2810.

Growth Services Training Room, 2710 E. Silver Springs Blvd. 9am The Code Enforcement Board hears and resolves cases in which there is a code violation dispute. Call (352) 671-8901 for more information.

McPherson Government Complex Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave. 1:30pm Workshop to discuss Forests Edge, Edgewood and Ridgewood Park third addition road assessment projects under the new pavement condition index-based process outlined within policy 20-01. Call (352) 438-2650 for more information.

Office of the County Engineer Bldg 1 Conference Room, 412 SE 25th Ave. 8:30am Applicants may discuss proposed or current projects with county review staff prior to meeting formally with the Development Review Committee. Call (352) 671-8686 for more information.

Visitors and Convention Bureau, 109 W. Silver Springs Blvd. 9am The Tourist Development Council recommends use of tourist development tax revenue to enhance, promote, advertise and develop tourism in Ocala/Marion County. Call (352) 438-2800 for more information.

ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

4-8pm Conrad Marcum Eaton’s Beach Sandbar & Grill

9pm-12am DJ Karim Martin Pi on Broadway

7:30-11:30pm Grass Campers Bank Street Patio Bar

6-9pm Jeff Jarrett Charlie Horse

6:30-9:30pm Warren McCullough Brooklyn’s Backyard

2-6pm Jeff Jarrett Eaton’s Beach Sandbar & Grill

8-11pm Conrad Marcum The Black Sheep on Broadway

7-10pm The Big Bad Pi on Broadway

7pm Friday Night Live Orange Blossom Opry

6-8pm Stephen Perry Ocala Downtown Square

12-4pm Stephen Perry Bank Street Patio Bar

7-11pm Good2Go Good Time Bar & Grill

7pm Orange Blossom Opry Band CD Release Party Orange Blossom Opry

1-4pm Heather Lynne The Lodge

9pm-12am Stephen Perry The Lodge

7-11pm Good2Go Good Time Bar & Grill

5-9pm The Big Bad Bank Street Patio Bar

August is National Clear the Shelters Month. Adoptions $25 through August 31st! View more adoptable pets at www.marioncountyﬂ.org/animal. Adoption price includes up-todate vaccinations, county license, microchip and spay/neuter surgery.

Burgess

Pooh

Active and Aﬀectionate Happy-go-lucky, 8-year-old mixed breed male dog seeks a human with heart. He enjoys playtime with other dogs and escaping the heat with some cool pool time.

Snuggles and Sunny Windows 2-year-old feline female seeks her dream home—with a windowsill where she can watch the world and a cat tree she can climb. Pooh is so over shelter life!

352.671.8700

AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 13, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

The Centers looking to merge with Daytona-based outfit By Brad Rogers Executive Editor

he Centers Inc., Marion County’s largest mental health and drug treatment care provider, has entered into “the exploratory phase” of negotiations to merge with Daytona Beach-based Stewart Marchman Associates. Centers Chief Operating Officer Steve Blank confirmed the two mental health/drug treatment providers began discussing a merger about a year ago. Those talks have ramped up in recent weeks, to the point the potential partners are now “in the process of making wedding plans,” he said. “The business being what it, and funding being what it is, this is an opportunity for both organizations,” Blank said. “We feel it is a good opportunity to move The Centers to the next level.” Stewart-Marchman, based in Daytona Beach, serves four North Florida counties, Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia. It provides an array of mental health and addiction-related services and programs. It was founded by Hal Marchman, a longtime Daytona Beach pastor who was famously known as “the chaplain of NASCAR.” Marchman was also the inspiration for the Hal S. Marchman Alcohol and Other Drug Services Act of 1993, a state law that allows for the involuntary and voluntary assessment and treatment of an individual believed to be abusing drugs. Blank said the merger, which he seemed confident would

come about, would be beneficial to The Centers by allowing for expansion of some programs and broadening its service area. But, he added, “Mainly for us, our focus will remain our footprint in Marion and Citrus counties.” He said he believes the Stewart-Marchman merger would help as The Centers moves ahead, including continuing to build its relationship with the Marion County Hospital District, which controls some $250 million in money from the lease of Munroe Regional Medical Center, now AdventHealth. Moreover, he said, now is a good time for The Centers. “The Centers is in the best shape it has been in since I got here (five years ago),” Blank said. He explained that the organization is making a profit, adding new programs and has been recently re-accredited. “We’re now trying to be forward-thinking,” Blank said. Yet, he cautioned, there is a lot of discussion and review necessary before any proposed merger with Stewart-Marchman is finalized. “It’s just the beginning phase,” Blank said. “Nothing is signed and sealed. We have to do our due diligence. Something like this just doesn’t happen in a couple of months. It could take a while, and it should take a while. We want to do this right.” That said, Blank is enthusiastic about the prospects of the two organizations merging into one, saying they complement each other. “I think it’s great for Marion County,” he said.

The Centers is shown on Southwest 60th Avenue in Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, August 5, 2020. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Qualified. Experienced. Professional. Currently serving Marion County as an Assistant Property Appraiser Knows the job—no on-the-job training needed

As your Marion County Property Appraiser: I will strive to establish the lowest possible assessment and still ensure the tax roll is approved. I will protect the farmer, both large and small. I will instill fairness and equity across all property types. I will increase office transparency through social media and public engagement. I will advocate for the property owners of Marion County. I will ensure each property owner has every exemption and assessment cap they are entitled to. I will leverage technology to gain efficiencies and streamline processes. I am tried and tested, and ready to lead from day one. As a proud lifelong Republican, conservative, and NRA member I humbly ask you to choose a professional.

PICK NICK for Property Appraiser in the Republican Primary on or before August 18, 2020 PickNickforMarionPA@gmail.com | Facebook@PickNickforMarionPA | (352) 584-3475

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Approved and paid for by Nick Nikkinen, Republican for Marion County Property Appraiser

Knows the job—no on-the-job training needed

AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 13, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Farm Share Food Distribution

The Farm Share free food distribution was held in partnership with the Public Education Foundation of Marion County and Take Stock in Children. Members of Clay Electric Cooperative were also on hand to help distribute the food.

Motorists receive food during the Farm Share drive-thru distribution at Madison Street Academy on Northwest 4th Street in Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, August 5, 2020. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Todd Martin of Clay Electric Cooperative puts a box of food in the trunk of a car.. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Judi Zanetti, the executive director of the Public Education Foundation of Marion County, blows bubbles as she waves her foam finger to direct motorists. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Wally Wagoner, the president of the Public Education Foundation of Marion County, loads a box of food into the trunk of a car. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Volunteers distribute boxes of food. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Members of the Public Education Foundation of Marion County load cars with food in the Farm Share drive-thru food pickup area. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 13, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

CF to offer classes online this fall

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he College of Central Florida will offer the majority of fall semester classes in a variety of online formats when classes start Monday, Aug. 17. Career and technical programs and some specialized courses will have selected classes on campus following safety protocols. Some additional course sections may be offered in person in larger spaces to allow for required distancing. Some online classes will be offered in a synchronous format,

meaning that the instructor and students will meet and interact at a set time through Zoom or other online meeting platforms to allow for greater interaction. The decision to offer fall classes mostly online came after much discussion on the risks and benefits of bringing thousands of students, faculty and staff to our locations while COVID-19 continues to affect our community. Faculty and staff continue to serve students remotely. The Ocala Campus

Testing Center is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointments are required and walk-ins will not be permitted. Learning Resources Centers services are available remotely. The E-Learning Help Desk may be reached at DLhelp@cf.edu or at 352-854-2322, ext. 1317, MondayThursday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. For more information, call 352-873-5800, email admissions@ CF.edu or visit CF.edu/ healthalert.

Offer ends August 31

Superior Residences of Lecanto 4865 W Gulf To Lake Hwy. Lecanto · (352) 746-5483 superiorlecanto.com *Disclaimer - Resident can choose either a mover package OR furniture package; one offer per apartment. Both offers require full community fee payment and agreement for automatic monthly payment for term of residency. Mover Package: Our community will pay moving expense up to $1,500 when resident takes possession of apartment on or before August 31, 2020. Movers must invoice community directly. Furniture Package: Packages valued up to $1,500 are provided per apartment size when resident takes possession of apartment on or before August 31, 2020. Furniture andaccompanying items selected are considered property of this community after end of residency.

Help is here: workforce resiliency promoted with free job training

C 25 Years in Public Education

Election August 18 VOTE Primary Election Day November 3

! Lori Conrad for School Board @LoriBoard

$ loriconradschoolboard Paid by Lori Conrad for School Board

Cabinet of Curiosities Fossil Mastodon tooth

astodons lived in Florida during the last Ice Age (Pleistocene Epoch) and were ancient relatives of the modern elephant. These massive creatures ate leaves, twigs and brush, and had large dental cusps to grind their plant diet. We know Mastodons, along with other now-extinct animals, like camels, saber-tooth cat, and giant ground sloths, roamed Florida because we find their fossilized remains. However, Florida was not always as it is today. During the Pleistocene, the world was much colder (hence, the

areerSource Citrus Levy Marion is offering free access to Metrix Learning, a dynamic online training platform to help anyone improve their employment skills. The online learning initiative, called “Skillup® Citrus Levy Marion,” features more than 5,000 courses that can be accessed 24/7 by anyone with highspeed internet. Rusty Skinner, CEO of CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion, said that area community organizations are invited to partner with CareerSource CLM to access the Metrix Learning system to benefit those they serve. There is no charge for the service. Since the effects of the pandemic began to be felt in the region, the number of workers who lost their jobs skyrocketed to near record highs, hitting 12.9 percent in April, up from 3.9 percent

just two months earlier. “This free training is an ideal opportunity for anyone and everyone in our region, regardless of whether they lost their job due to COVID-19,” said Kim Baxley, vice president for Safety and Human Resources for the Central Florida Electric Cooperative and CareerSource CLM’s board chair. Skillup® Citrus Levy Marion allows participants to learn at self-pace, receive clear training milestones, and achieve industry certificates upon completion through customized badges. The online courses lead to more than 180 in-demand industry certificates and offer coursework in everything from soft skills to project management. For guidance and fee-free re-employment assistance, CareerSource CLM career coaches are also available to assess job

name Ice Age) and drier -- huge amounts of water were trapped in massive ice sheets which lowered the sea level. With such a lower sea level, the Gulf Coast of Florida extended about 50 miles further west, which means places like Tampa Bay would have been in the middle of the state! The Silver River Museum is a program of Marion County Public Schools. Learn more at www. SilverRiverMuseum.com. Photo and text provided by Scott Mitchell, director of the Silver River Museum

seekers’ interests and skills gaps and work with them one-on-one to create individual Training Plans aligned with their targeted career pathway. CareerSource CLM’s services are accessible by phone, email, Live Chat and video conferencing. Job seekers may also meet with staff, by appointment only, at any of the region’s career centers in Ocala, Lecanto or Chiefland. The Skillup® portal can be reached at citruslevymarion. skillupamerica.org. For more information, call 1-800-434-JOBS or visit careeresourceclm. com. Community human services agencies interested in becoming a Skillup partner should contact Dale French, CareerSource CLM’s director of operations, at 352873-7939, ext. 2204 or email dfrench@ careersourceclm.com.

WORD FIND

s is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may in any direction but always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 13, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE h word as you find it and when you have completed the puzzle, there will be 23 letters left r. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

Chess match

Solution: 23 Letters

Absolute pin Alert Battery Black Board Capped Catch Crosstable Defeat Desperado Draw En prise Endgame Exchange

Fast Fischer Hole Hush Indoor King Learn Lost Move Nerves Outsmart Patience Pause Pawn

Pieces Plan Prepare Queen Relax Rook Rows Slow System Take Tension Test Time

Solution: Not just for intellectuals

Creators Syndicate

737 3rd Street • Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 310-337-7003 • info@creators.com

Date: 8/7/20 Illustration by David Vallejo

Blessed Trinity Catholic School is now accepting applications for all grade levels (K-8) for the 2020-21 school year. Please visit our school website, https://btschool.org/studentadmissions/, for information about the admissions process and requirements. Please call 352-622-5808 ext. 3350 for information.

20 years of providing Central Florida with an excellent Catholic education www.trinitycatholichs.org 352-622-9025

AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 13, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

We encourage our readers to share their opinions through letters to the editor. All letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, taste and libel. Letters should contain the writer’s full name, address and phone number. Letters should be 200 words or less. To give as many readers as possible an opportunity, we publish only one letter every 30 days per writer. Submit your letter to letters@ocalagazette.com.

Time to write out the write-ins in the primary By Jim Clark Guest Columnist

he will of the people in Florida is still being thwarted. Back in 1998, we passed a state constitutional amendment that said, in effect, that voters of one political party could not be excluded from voting in the primary if their party did not field a candidate and there was a contested election for the other party’s nomination. It sounded simple. But along came a ruling, in 2000, saying that a write-in candidate would close the primary. In other words, if all candidates were from one party, and there was a write-in candidate who could be voted upon in the general election, forget the open primary. The state Supreme Court upheld the decision.

Many have complained over the years, but nothing has been done at the local level. There is an Amendment 3 on the November ballot which would close the loophole, maybe too much, for governor and state legislators. Under the amendment, all candidates in a race would be printed on the primary ballot, regardless of party affiliation, and the top two finishers would be on the November ballot. So far, there isn’t enough support on the horizon for Amendment 3. This may seem like a partisan issue, but it’s not. In Marion County, Democrats can’t vote for property appraiser or County Commission District 3 this year, because all candidates are Republicans, including write-ins. In Broward County, for example, it’s the

Republicans who are excluded. So, what are the solutions? First, you could eliminate, by amendment, qualifying for write-ins. There would still be a space to add names in November, but no one would be checked out unless they won, a remote chance. Second, the Legislature could take action, although that’s also unlikely. The people would have to take action with a constitutional amendment of their own. Third, all races below state level, including county commissioners and constitutional officers, could be non-partisan, as judges and School Board are now. Fourth, do nothing, and we can all keep complaining. Of course, the problem is solved if both parties field candidates. I can’t believe there is no Democrat

available to run in District 3. Regardless of party affiliation, everyone should get out and vote. The aforementioned nonpartisan races, such as school and judicial, are important. Find a way to vote, whether in person, by mail or early voting. In a recent Ocala city election, the turnout was only about 10 percent. That’s pathetic. We should be able to do better than that.

Jim Clark, who has lived in Ocala for 23 years, is a former copy desk chief at the Star-Banner and retired editor of the South Marion Citizen and West Marion Messenger.

For CF, community’s health care needs go beyond just nurses By Dr. Stephanie Cortes Guest Columnist

s both a longtime nurse educator and a licensed nurse practitioner, I know firsthand the vital role nurses play in a community’s health and well-being. I also know that nurses are part of an ecosystem of different occupations of health care practitioners, all of whom bring value and serve unique needs to care for the whole human health experience. As dean for health sciences at College of Central Florida, I have heard loud and clear from our community workforce partners about the critical need for new programs in cardiovascular technology, dental hygiene and respiratory therapy and for expanding our surgical technology, Associate Degree Nursing and RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs. The plans for the college’s Health Science Technology Education Building reflect these needs of our local

workforce partners and our community’s residents. The need for cardiovascular technologists is just one of the areas worth learning more about. Cardiovascular technologists (CVTs) work in a clinical setting assisting the physician in performing procedures to diagnose and care for cardiovascularrelated illnesses. We know from our health partners locally that staffing is an ongoing challenge that often requires hiring travel CVTs from national staffing agencies to help fill the local need. Michelle Hodge, cardiovascular service line administrator for Ocala Health, says: “We are committed to helping CF develop a CVT program because we recognize the value that a local program would provide our patients and this community daily.” The local job growth projection for the next eight years for CVTs is 14 percent and there are currently 90 openings in the area. The need for respiratory therapists has taken on a new urgency in the wake

of COVID-19. A recent article in U.S. News and World Report projected that in a worst-case scenario, the 130,000 respiratory therapists currently practicing in the United States will not meet the needs of COVID-19 patients and called the shortage of licensed respiratory therapists “a crisis.” This is compounded by the fact that educators and researchers in the field are actually shifting more of their time to clinical duties to help fill the need. There are currently 89 openings for respiratory therapists locally and this is projected to rise by 19 percent in the next eight years. That growth was documented before the COVID-19 outbreak. We are also well aware of our state’s distinctive age structure, with 19.4 percent of our residents age 65 or older – the highest proportion in this age group in the nation. According to the Eldercare Workforce Alliance, the combination of an aging Baby Boom population, an increase in life expectancy, and decrease in the relative

number of younger persons is contributing to a growing older population. CF is working to accommodate the increasing demand for health care professionals to serve this group and all of our community members. By providing the new health science programs and expanding current programs we will prepare hundreds of local residents for high-skill, high-wage jobs in the next few years and cultivate a holistic care approach to human health and wellness. To reach this goal we will need continued support from the community, an aligned pipeline of health science education from high school through college, and an alliance of health care institutions working as one. This community deserves the Health Science Technology Education Building and the College of Central Florida is committed to its fruition. Dr. Stephanie Cortes is dean of health sciences at the College of Central Florida.

‘My DNA is human’

s I sat reading the commentary “It’s in our DNA to resist a mandate” (July 31), the first thing I thought of was, my DNA isn’t American, its human. That’s the whole issue with mask wearing and believing that there really is a virus. Who likes wearing a mask? No one I know, especially me. I have COPD and have every excuse (non-DNA) to not wear a mask, but I do. I can only wear it for 30 minutes at a time, and that’s a struggle. I wear a mask because my DNA is human and hopefully with that comes my humanity. How do I walk into Publix or Aldi without a mask on, only to find so many others wearing their masks to protect me? That’s humanity. I am totally irritated by the ways we have chosen to deny a disease that kills my fellow Americans every day. We have applied religiosity to deny science with statements and placards that say “Faith rather than Fear.” What does that mean? If I have faith, I won’t get sick? What year are we in? Did those who have fallen sick and died, not have faith? Was every death in 1918 the death of a heathen? How arrogant! My faith says my DNA is human, not American or any other nationality. My DNA is not Christian, Jewish, Muslim or any other religion. Those are things we choose after deciding, hopefully, that we have an affinity for that group. Our DNA does not match theirs. Hopefully, we can connect with our humanness and demonstrate through our humanity, that we care for our fellow man and do whatever we’ve been told to do, to make a difference in spreading this virus. Are we comparing deaths in New York and New Jersey to those cases in Iowa and South Dakota? Seriously, do we see these two areas as equally populated or equally at risk? This issue is not about what you’re comfortable with or whether your civil rights are being violated. It is about staying healthy and protecting the health of our neighbors and loved ones. There are far better opportunities available to us all to defend the constitutional rights of all Americans. Just look around. Put your mask on and find another group that matches your “DNA” and make a positive, life-saving difference in the world. Gloria E. Nelson Ocala

AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 13, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

When moratoriums on mortgage foreclosures and evictions expire? By Jim Ash Guest Columnist

ith advocates predicting a “tsunami” of homelessness — and landlords enduring months without access to courts — Florida lawyers are eyeing the September 1 expiration of a statewide moratorium on mortgage foreclosures and evictions. Researchers at Princeton University’s Eviction Lab say that with the expiration of a CARES Act moratorium, and the pending expiration of moratoria in Florida and other states, some 28 million Americans are facing eviction. Before the pandemic, about 3.6 million Americans faced eviction every year. “There’s a lot of uncertainty and people are feeling very stressed,” said Jeffrey Hussey, director of public interest and litigation for Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida. “I’m getting calls that should take 10 or 15 minutes, and they’re taking 30 minutes, because now, I’m also part therapist.” Calls to a CLSMF hotline are averaging 1,300 a week from low and noincome residents who live in a 12-county service area, Hussey said. While Gov. Ron DeSantis extended the moratorium in Florida to September 1 with Executive Order 20-180, public interest and business litigators alike say it is only delaying the inevitable fallout from a COVID-19 pandemic. A U.S. Census survey in May showed that 30 percent of adults in Florida reported missing last month’s rent or mortgage payment or had slight or no confidence that their household can pay next

month’s rent or mortgage on time. The national figure was 26.4 percent. Hussey would welcome an extension of the moratorium, but he’s not sure how much good it would do. Landlords are people, Hussey said, and they have bills to pay, too. “My biggest concern is tenants are incurring large amounts of back rent owed, and right now, have no prospect of being able to pay those off and/or pay rent going forward,” he said. “There is no real solution to those types of cases.” Mandatory mediation might be an option, Hussey said, but only if tenants have some prospect of regaining their jobs. Business litigators say their landlord clients, many of whom have been waiving late fees and agreeing to set up payment plans, are hurting financially and need access to the courts. “A significant number of the populous has this misconception that landlords are these, like, Monopoly guys, running around in tuxedoes with all the money in the world,” said Doral attorney Armando Alfonso, who represents about 80 South Florida landlords. “The truth of it is, they’re just normal people.” U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development figures show that 47 percent of landlords are sole proprietors, many of them small-time investors who depend on rental income to make ends meet. Landlords still have mortgage payments, taxes, maintenance costs,

homeowner association fees, and other financial obligations, Alfonso said. The moratorium freezes foreclosures, but that’s little comfort to his clients, Alfonso said. “As a landlord, I don’t want to be in a place where, three or four months down the line, the moratorium is lifted, and I’ve got a foreclosure on my hands,” he said. “That just damages

eviction unless they are current on rent, or when the amount is disputed, deposit what they believe they owe in a court registry. Renters in Florida generally get a three-day notice to pay back rent before the landlord begins the eviction process. “One problem is that they call us too late and by the time we are contacted, there is very little that we can do,” Hussey said. Hussey says a growing number of landlords are taking matters into their own hands and illegally changing locks or shutting off utilities. Renters can fight that in court, but few tenants are aware of their rights, Hussey said. Paige Greenlee, a Florida Bar board member who also serves on the Business Law Section’s Business Litigation Committee, predicts a “rush to the courthouse” when the moratorium expires. “While this will be financially advantageous to lawyers who primarily, or exclusively, handle evictions and foreclosures, and who have not been able to prosecute these cases for months now, it is obviously going to place a large number of Florida’s citizens in the undesirable position of being without a place to live,” Greenlee said. The filings could create a backlog, Greenlee said, but the court system is now better at using remote technology. “I also have to assume it will put an immediate tax on our court system, until the courts are able to catch up with the backlog created by the moratorium,” she said.

Survey finds 30% of adults in Florida reported missing last month’s rent or mortgage payment or had slight or no confidence that their household can pay next month’s rent or mortgage your credit and it doesn’t solve anything.” Hussey says eviction will also mark tenants, making it harder for them to find a new place to live. Alfonso said he has worked out payment arrangements with most non-paying tenants. But some tenants are taking advantage of the moratorium by illegally withholding rent. Hussey advises his lowincome clients to contact their landlords as soon as possible and try to work out payment plans. “Hopefully the landlords will see the bigger picture,” Hussey said. Renters in Florida aren’t permitted to challenge an

“However, I think the fact that courts are operating virtually right now will actually be advantageous to allowing these types of cases to proceed expeditiously and efficiently, perhaps even more so than if the courts were open for in-person proceedings.” The CARES Act moratorium, which expired July 25, will complicate matters, lawyers say. It only applied to tenants living in federally subsidized housing or to landlords with a federally backed mortgage loan. The act required landlords to provide a 30-day notice to pay outstanding rent, so its impact will begin to be felt later this month. St. Petersburg attorney Matthew Weidner, a consumer advocate who represents renters, predicts that the expiration of the moratoria will bring a great deal of heartache and confusion. “I see this massive, category 8 hurricane circling just off the coast,” he said. Weidner contends that any eviction filed while the moratorium was in effect should be dismissed and the plaintiffs ordered to refile. Alfonso advised his landlord clients not to file during the moratorium. “There could be a plethora of issues,” he said. “I told my clients, look, you’ve got to be patient, I don’t agree with [the moratorium] but I think the prudent thing to do is not file anything … you’re just going to have a case number, and it’s just going to sit there.” Weidner is worried that Florida is unprepared for the consequences. “Where … are the legislators, the leaders, the adults in the room, that are preparing the citizens of this state for what is coming?”

AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 13, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

SunTran announces new service route

unTran launched a new bus route Monday, Aug. 3. The new express route will run alternately with the existing Silver route and will operate Monday through Friday, departing and returning from the Downtown Train Station between 8:20 a.m. and 5:35 p.m., with four trips during this time frame. Standard bus fares apply. This trial route will be operational for six months to provide public transpor-

tation to health and human service offices, with stops at the Sherriff ’s Operations Center, 948 NW 30th Ave.; Saving Mercy, 3601 W Silver Springs Blvd.; The Centers, 5664 SW 60thAve.; and ACCESS Florida (formerly the Florida Department of Children and Families), 3895 SW 13th St. “We’ve heard the community’s request to provide routes to these important resource offices,” said Steven Neal, SunTran

transportation manager. “By augmenting an existing route, we can evaluate a cost-effective way to fulfill a transportation gap identified by residents.” SunTran will assess the route at the end of the sixmonth period to determine if there is enough community engagement to continue the new route. For more information, please contact the SunTran at 352-4016999 or visit https://www. suntran.org/home.

Senior Learners goes interactive

enior Learners, Inc. is temporarily transforming from classroom to offering interactive, summer courses online, through Zoom, for seniors age 50 or older. Senior Learners will host “France: In Search of Claude Monet,” on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 1:30 p.m., online. Instructor Dr. Evelyn Kelly will discuss Claude Monet, who

became passionate about nature, and whose style of impressionism evolved to show it. The house and gardens at Giverny are now the must-see tourist destination in France. Born in Paris, but rejected by the artists of his time, Monet searched to find himself in many countries, including serving in the French Foreign Legion. Dr. Kelly will look at his

Supervisor of Elections, Marion County, FL

life and his love of nature. Monet loved the outdoors so much that he developed a studio in a boat to paint on the water. The cost of the course is $2.50 and is open to the public 50 years of age or older. Visit www.SeniorLearners.org or call 352-2398780 to learn more and register.

M P F W

Election Center 981 NE 16th ST•Ocala, FL 34470 PO Box 289•Ocala, FL 34478-0289 352-620-3290 352-620-3286 www.VoteMarion.Gov

PRIMARY ELECTION August 18, 2020

YOUR VOICE, YOUR CHOICE! VOTE BY MAIL

Convenient and Secure! Deadline to Request: 5 PM on August 8

EARLY VOTING

August 8 -15 | 10 AM - 6 PM Election Center 981 NE 16th St

Freedom Public Library 5870 SW 95th St

Belleview Public Library 13145 SE HWY 484

Reddick Community Center 4345 NW 152nd St

Deputy Brian Litz Building 9048 SW HWY 200

Silver Springs Shores Community Center 590 Silver Road

Dunnellon Public Library 20351 Robinson Road Forest Public Library 905 S HWY 314A

The Villages Mulberry Center 8445 SE 165th Mulberry Lane

ELECTION DAY

At your assigned voting location August 18 | 7 AM - 7 PM Request a mail ballot, view a map of early voting sites, and lookup your voting location at www.VoteMarion.Gov

IS YOUR VOTER INFORMATION UP-TO-DATE?

Lookup your voter record at www.VoteMarion.Gov to ensure your information is current and accurate. Please notify us if there have been any changes to your name, address, or signature. Changes to your voter registration can be made using the Florida Voter Registration Application or at RegistertoVoteFlorida.gov.

Para asistencia en español, comuníquese al 866-479-3290.

New Florida law to bring more electric charging stations to state highways By Marlowe Starling/ Fresh Take Florida

ne of Florida’s newest laws lays the groundwork for building a vast network of electric vehicle charging stations along highways, part of a broader effort to improve the appeal of such environmentally cleaner cars and trucks. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this summer signed the Essential State Infrastructure bill, supported by Republicans and Democrats in Tallahassee. It represents a nod by the DeSantis administration to the threat of climate change from vehicles’ carbon dioxide emissions, after Florida’s previous Republican governor, Rick Scott, generally avoided acknowledging causes of climate change. Source: Alternative Fuels Data Center The new law requires state officials to send the governor and lawmakers a new plan by July 1 next year to build more charging stations along state highways, with a status report due by Dec. 1. It also envisions a new network of “staging areas” in rural communities along Florida’s turnpikes to help drivers of electric vehicles quickly evacuate northward during hurricanes or other emergencies, since recharging electric cars can take an hour or longer. Here in Ocala, there are five charging stations, although only two of them are for the general public – the Tesla charging station at Market Street at Heath Brook and the downtown parking garage. The other charging stations are at Duke Energy’s facility on Maricamp Road, Pierson Nissan and BMW of Ocala. Florida has unique reasons to act to deter environmental threats from warming temperatures and foster better convenience for electric cars: The state is surrounded by rising seawater and is nearly 450 miles long from Key West to Georgia’s border – far longer than the range of the best battery-operated vehicles on the market. “You could have all these stations everywhere, but then people pull off the road, and they’re sitting there charging, and you have these massive long lines of cars,” warned Matthew Gruber, 37, of Miami, who owns a Tesla Model 3. He said the new law could discourage people from driving electric cars before big hurricanes, when masses of people hit the road. The law also requires the state to estimate the loss of gas tax revenue, which in Florida accounts for roughly one-quarter of state highway funding. Other sources include registration fees, tolls, bonds and other revenue. The law is part of a broader strategy, led by the Florida Office of Energy under Democratic Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, to design a roadmap for promoting

use of electric vehicles and expanding charging stations statewide. The energy office is one of the primary agencies responsible under the new law. Officials are studying where to build charging stations and how to design better ones, to make electric vehicles more attractive for road trips. It is still unclear whether the stations will be solar-powered or connected to the electrical grid, but officials are studying how the new stations will affect Florida’s grid. The law DeSantis signed said climate change “may” have significant effects on Florida and acknowledged that a “significant portion” of the state’s carbon dioxide emissions come from the transportation sector, surpassing even utilities as the biggest air polluter. Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, chairman of the infrastructure committee that introduced the bill, said it was intended “so that there was no impediment and no anxiety to purchasing electric vehicles for long-term trips.” Lee, who announced last month that he is retiring from the Senate, said it was inspired by years of inaction on climate change. The new state roadmap is also studying social equity issues, since the existing charging network largely bypasses minority, low-income and rural communities – some of which are more vulnerable to the adverse health effects of poor air quality. “It seems to be the best, quickest way for us to reduce the carbon footprint of Florida,” said Lee, who is married to Florida’s secretary of state. Gruber said he bought his Tesla a year ago for environmental reasons. Because he can’t charge his vehicle at his condo, he uses the second floor of the parking garage at his law office in Coral Gables, where the outlets charge up to 30 cents, rather than Florida Power & Light Co.’s baseline 10-12 cents, per kilowatt-hour. There are nearly 70,000 vehicle registrations filed as fully or partially electric with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, but an agency spokeswoman said owners are not required to identify cars as electric so that may not reflect the actual number registered in Florida. Florida boasts the third-highest number of electric vehicles in the nation behind California and Washington, according to the state energy office, and has just over 4,000 public and private charging outlets already, most of which are found in metropolitan areas. ___ This story was produced by Fresh Take Florida, a news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. The reporter can be reached at mstarling@ freshtakeflorida.com

AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 13, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

CURRY CRAIG

for County Commission

LEADERSHIP • EXPERIENCE • DEDICATION

Craig’s Credentials: Proven Track Record • Mayor, City of Ocala • President, Ocala City Council • President, Marion County Chamber of Commerce • President, Fort King Heritage Association • Board Member/Vice President, Munroe Regional Medical Center • Chairman, Economic Development Council • President, Munroe Hospital Foundation • Board Member, Public Policy Institute • Advisory Board Member, Marion County Parks & Recreation • Advisory Board Member, SunTrust Bank • Board Member, Veterans Helping Veterans • Officer, United States Army • Former Deacon, First Baptist of Ocala

Craig’s Plan: Let us Get Back to Work! • Pay our first responders a fair and competitive wage • Protect the horse farm preservation area • Launch a vigorous effort to remove trash from our roadsides • Reduce urban sprawl and preserve our quality of life • Protect our lakes, rivers and steams from pollution • Oppose toll-roads through our community • Operate with transparency and accountability • Work together to promote pride in our communities and faith in our leaders Paid by Craig Curry, Republican for County Commission.

LEARN MORE:

craigcurry2020.com Craig Curry for County Commission craig@craigcurry2020.com 352-572-8938 Write me: 2021 SE 25th Street, Ocala, FL 34471 45559 Curry Ad 10x20.5.indd 2

8/5/20 3:41 PM

Local businesses can find more coronavirus aid under new joint initiative

nother economic lifeline has been tossed to pandemic-weary businesses throughout Marion County. On Wednesday, the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership, working with Marion County, unveiled four programs designed to help firms struggling because of COVID-19. CEP President and CEO Kevin Sheilley said the organization seeks to seed the Moving Biz Forward initiative with $7.1 million from Marion County’s share of the federal CARES Act. Marion County received a total of $63 million for COVID-19 relief initiatives. Potential applicants do not have to be CEP members to seek aid. The county and the CEP are still negotiating the details, but on Tuesday commissioners greenlighted the CEP to publicize the program. The agency and county officials also are creating this initiative after, according to a Gazette analysis, roughly 3,300 Marion County businesses received at least $233 million from the Paycheck Protection Program,

which is part of the CARES Act. “This is for every business in our community,” Sheilley told commissioners on Tuesday. “Our number one goal is to ensure that our community is vibrant and prosperous, and the key to that is to have a vibrant, prosperous business community.” The application period for each is expected to open on Aug. 18. That’s also when the County Commission is expected to approve the final agreement. Here’s a look at what’s available: • The Bridge to Recovery Program is accessible to businesses with fewer than 25 employees. It provides funding for rent or mortgages, salaries, utilities, supplies and working capital. To qualify, both the company and its owner must reside in Marion County, and be licensed to do business here. The company also must have been in business for at least a year. Chains or franchises are not eligible, nor are real estate investment firms, multi-level marketers, adult entertainment outlets or gun dealers. Those that owe back taxes or are in bankruptcy also cannot qualify. Applicants must

also submit a profitand-loss statement (P&L) and a balance sheet for 2020 and the previous year. They must demonstrate how jobs would be lost without the funding, and provide a plan showing how the money will sustain them to recovery. Recipients must complete a one-hour online financial

Marion County, and be licensed here. The company must have been in business prior to Aug. 1, 2018. Moving Forward also excludes chains or franchises, real estate investment companies, multilevel marketing firms, adult entertainment businesses and gun sellers. Also ineligible are those in arrears on

“Our number one goal is to ensure that our community is vibrant and prosperous” -Kevin Sheilley

overview class, and will be required to provide quarterly updates for one year on how funding was used, the status of the company and the current number of employees. • The Moving Forward Program provides forgivable loans to companies with 26 to 100 workers. The funding can be used for rent or mortgages, salaries, utilities, supplies and working capital. Again, the owner and business must both reside in

taxes or in bankruptcy. Applicants must submit a P&L statement and balance sheet for 2020 and the past two years, as well as a plan for how the loan will help sustain them. These owners also will be required to show how jobs would be lost without the loan, provide quarterly updates for one year on how funding was used, the status of the company and the current number of employees. • The Testing Capacity Reimbursement

Close to home. A world of difference.

Program assists labs, clinics and physicians’ offices with costs associated with expanding COVID-19 testing capacity. The program offers grants, capped at $30,000, to private, for-profit firms located in Marion County. Qualified applicants must occupy the county address shown on their Sunbiz registration and must have started before Feb. 15, 2020. Those with multiple locations can submit a request for each one. Applicants must show the expenses, as documented by receipts, occurred after July 1, 2020. They may seek reimbursement for testing supplies or equipment, remodeling or expansion costs, or capital Improvements, which can include but are not limited to air handling, safety partitioning, and improvements designed to reduce the spread of the virus that comply with state and CDC guidelines. • The Project Operating Safely Program furnishes grants to private, for-profit companies located in Marion County. The firm must have started before Feb. 15, 2020, and occupy the county address listed on its Sunbiz registration.

Applicants must have purchased personal protective equipment (PPE), obtained professional cleaning and disinfection services, and/or made capital improvements because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those purchases must comply with CDC, state and county Health Department guidelines and occurred between March 1 and Aug. 30, 2020. PPE is defined as masks, face shields, gloves, hand sanitizer and disinfectant products. Eligible capital improvements include but are not limited to signage, air handling, social distancing partitioning, improvements for safe queueing, and changes intended to reduce the spread of infection. Grants are capped at $3,000 per business for businesses with 100 or fewer employees, and $10,000 per business for those with more than 100 workers. Businesses, however, can submit just one application per registered business address. For more information, those interested can visit MovingBizForward. com or contact the CEP at (352) 6298051.

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By Bill Thompson Deputy Editor

New, modern suites big enough to hold all the love your newborn brings.

Introducing the Baby Place®. For over 100 years, we’ve been the leading experts in mother and baby care. Now, our newly transformed, postpartum center brings you the best of everything at AdventHealth Ocala. Here, you’ll bond with baby in the peace and privacy of your spacious, suite-style room, complete with tech-savvy amenities to help ease your body, mind and spirit. And as Marion County’s only center with a Level II NICU, you’ll have all the support you could dream of during the most beautiful moments of life. Visit AdventHealthOcala.com/BabyPlace to learn more.

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