VOLUME 2 ISSUE 8
AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021
MARION $2 COUNTY FOOTBALL PREVIEW PAGE B1
County gives preliminary OK for $71 million
Pandemic Fatigue, Politics and Positivity
By Matthew Cretul matthew@ocalagazette.com
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s the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into its second year and cases continue to rise in Marion County and the state, some Ocala healthcare workers find themselves not only physically and emotionally fatigued but also caught in the politicization of the pandemic. Through it all, they tirelessly work to help stem the virus’ impact and deal with the misinformation they encounter along the way. Fighting a battle on two fronts “The hospitals are overcrowded,” said Dr. Anish Khanna, the facility medical director for the TeamHealth hospitalist group that contracts with Ocala Health System facilities in Ocala. He said there is a commonality among those who wind up in the hospital.
By Carlos Medina carlos@ocalagazette.com
“If you were to go around and take out all the unvaccinated people from the statistics of who’s hospitalized, our hospitals would be empty. Not only are they unvaccinated, but they’re also younger and sicker than previous patients,” he said. Stacey Bates is an advanced practical registered nurse with Ocala Lung & Critical Care. She works in the ICU at West Marion Hospital, and she also sees similarities in who winds up as her patients in the ICU. “What I have personally seen, and I work in the ICU five days a week, and I follow my patients on my days off, I can only think of three patients at the most that were vaccinated,” said Bates. As the pandemic has changed, so has her patient population. “The first wave... at that time it was an older population that was getting sick, nobody was vaccinated… but that is what is so different with this third wave, it’s a
younger population. We’re seeing young people dying, and there’s a certain level of frustration because you feel like this could be prevented if people would get vaccinated,” she said. Dr. David Kuhn of Trinity Clinic understands that some may have questions about the vaccine or a hesitancy to receive it, and he tries to take it one hesitant patient at a time. He attempts to answer all the questions his patients have, but he finds it troubling when he encounters individuals who act in bad faith, attempting to undermine Ocala’s healthcare providers who are working tirelessly and doing all they can. “It’s one thing to make a personal calculation to opt-out of the vaccine for personal reasons or health reasons, that’s obviously OK. But to actively and even militantly try to interfere with what we’re trying to get accomplished during
The Marion County Commission on Aug. 16 gave tacit approval on spending $71 million in American Rescue Plan Act money but put off a final decision until October. Instead, the commission loosely agreed to spend all but $7 million of the money on mostly water and sewer projects. The commission also tentatively approved spending $500,000 on a broadband internet feasibility study. They will make a firmer decision on where the money goes in October, including how much will go toward nonprofit agencies. On June 1, the county received half of the money allocated under the act which was approved by President Joe Biden in March. During the Aug. 17 meeting, a string of community nonprofit agencies showed up to urge the commission to commit millions for the benefit of local agencies. The Ocala Marion County Community Foundation sent the county a proposal for $8.4 million which it would administer and disburse. The Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership requested $2.5 million for a COVID Healthcare Incentive Program (CHIP). The money would be used to attract healthcare industry jobs to the area. County staff, meanwhile, submitted $71 million in projects, mostly water and sewer related. The commissioners agreed in consensus to the $64 million in county projects, with the caveat that
See Providers, page A2
See County Money, page A4
School board votes for mask mandate with opt-out By Matthew Cretul matthew@ocalagazette.com
Eric Cummings speaks during a meeting of the Marion County Public School Board. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]
In the face of hundreds of students quarantined due to COVID-19 after the first four days of classes, the Marion County School Board on Aug. 16 agreed to implement a temporary policy mandating masks, but with a parental opt-out provision. The opt-out would not require a medical or religious exemption. The move changes the policy that kept masks strictly optional when schools opened on Aug. 10. The resolution takes effect immediately, but enforcement began on Aug. 19.
Lindsey Ardmore attended the meeting and was the first to speak during the public comments. Ardmore has previously spoken out against mask mandates during past meetings, and she reiterated her stance at the Aug. 16 meeting advocating for parental choice, or at the very least an opt-out policy for parents who do not want their children to wear masks. “My daughter is a gifted kindergartner at MSA (Madison Street Academy). She is brilliant, but she cannot handle a mask. She has sensory integration issues. She can’t focus. She’s reading at a second-grade level, but she can’t focus if she’s got a mask on her face.
It’s just not fair to her… or the other kids that have other issues like her that don’t necessarily look like they have that,” Ardmore said. Samantha Shipwash also spoke against mask mandates during the meeting and said no children wear masks in her thirdgrader’s class. She also said she would probably lose her mind if she had to homeschool, and she believed that if masks became mandatory, “a lot of people are going to start pulling their kids out of public school.” Not all of those who spoke during the public comments portion of the meeting were against mask policies, however. Dr. David Kuhn See Mandate, page A3
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Editorial.................................... A5 State News................................ A6 City Council Elections........... A8 Creative’s Corner.................... B5 Arnette House Regatta..........B6 Calendar................................... B9
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From Providers, page A1 a pandemic, which is to try to vaccinate as many people as we can and to save as many lives as we can, is disrespectful,” said Kuhn. Bates also sees two distinct groups when it comes to vaccines. She said there is a group of patients who may not have access to up-to-date or accurate information. When she has conversations with them and provides them with information that answers their questions or addresses their hesitations, they usually change their minds and become more open to receiving the vaccine. The other group actively operates to try to undermine the work they are doing. They are not interested despite whatever evidence she presents. “It feels like with the third wave of COVID there are two battles we’re fighting,” she said. “It’s not just fighting COVID itself, it’s fighting this battle of people refusing to believe in COVID or to believe in available treatments to help prevent it.” For Bates, the encounters with her ICU patients are all eerily similar. “Every time I see a patient for a consult and I ask them, ‘Have you been vaccinated?’ There is most certainly a level of regret,” she said. “Some are vocal about it, and then others you can just kind of see this wave come over them. You can see it on their face that if they had the opportunity to do it again, they most certainly would get vaccinated.” Dealing with Misinformation One source of information often misrepresented is data found within the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS). VAERS is a joint surveillance program designed and run by the FDA and CDC to monitor potential issues with vaccines. According to the FDA, “VAERS collects and analyzes information from reports of adverse events (possible side effects) that occur after the administration of USlicensed vaccines.” The program welcomes reports from multiple sources, including individuals, healthcare providers, vaccine manufacturers and others. While anyone can submit a report, simply submitting a report does not automatically mean there is a correlation or causation between a vaccine and the issue being reported. Once an issue is reported, the FDA and CDC examine the data before determining if there is a causal link between a reported issue and a vaccine. Kuhn said VAERS data is often taken out of context, and people use it to play on fears related to the vaccine. “They like to use that
(VAERS) death count, but basically, anybody can go on there and say that someone died from a vaccine,” he said. “But obviously, all the deaths are reviewed, and an extremely small number, I think less than ten, are confirmed as death associated with the vaccine or as a result of the vaccine.” Khanna also believes the individuals spreading misinformation are doing so by using technically true but misrepresented information. “They’re playing on the fact that (the vaccine) was an emergency use and the fact that it’s not 100% effective… but I think the numbers clearly state that it mitigates the severity of Sharae Gibson, R.N. is shown in this file photo. [Bruce Ackerman/OG] illness, and it mitigates the mortality,” he said. had the vaccine] across patients. Bates agreed. the country, state by state “(Using) care and “It goes beyond some is easily under 10%. And compassion is what we do of the statements... ‘Oh, I can tell you, anecdotally, for everybody, whatever it’s experimental,’ or ‘It from our experience in our political side you fall on, doesn’t provide immunity,’ facilities and the numbers whatever your beliefs are. and it’s actually harmful that are out there that None of that matters. We disinformation at this patients who are vaccinated care for each patient the point, and it’s malicious to are less likely to get best we can. Nothing else the community,” she said. hospitalized, less likely to matters… nursing is truly “It (the vaccine) is proven have a severe illness, and there for everyone, no effective and safe. It has less likely to succumb to the matter what,” she said. been well studied, there are disease.” Khanna believes the two multiple research studies should be detached that support this. It’s as well. just frustrating at “To me, medicine “To me, medicine and politics this point.” and politics need to She said it need to be separated…to me, be separated… to sometimes feels me, this (pandemic) this [pandemic] is not political… like those pushing is not political… misinformation or because at the end of the day, if because at the end of information taken you’re not alive to have political the day, if you’re not out of context is alive to have political counteracting their views, then it’s a moot point.” views, then it’s a goal of providing moot point. Your accurate information -Dr. Anish Khanna healthcare is much and to help gain more important. acceptance of the Your health is much vaccine. One factor that is key more important than your Even though the in accepting and believing political views,” he said. vaccine will be moved from the information found on We’re not doing (anything in emergency approval to full COVID-19 is trust. regards to medicine) to be authorization relatively “There’s so much a part of a political party… soon, Kuhn believes there mistrust about anything that we’re doing it because the will still be those who will anybody reads or hears or science is dictating that find issues with the process. sees anywhere online unless that’s the right way to go. So “The FDA approval is it comes from that they’ve it is upsetting that it’s been right around the corner, already pre-determined is a politicized.” maybe a month away or trustworthy source,” Kuhn so, but I feel like a lot of said. Finding a Bright Spot in them (who won’t get the And if they choose to the Storm vaccine) are just going to believe less than credible Some shifts feel like déjà vu use another excuse after the information, it leads them to to Bates. FDA approval comes,” he overestimate their ability to “It’s the same scenario, you said. “They’re still going to beat the virus. walk into a patient’s room, say, ‘Well, it was rushed. We “The ones who have they were diagnosed with don’t believe the FDA now,’ no fear of the virus, it’s COVID and pneumonia and that kind of thing.” extremely difficult to get and they have severe Another source of them to get vaccinated,” he difficulty breathing, and information lacking context said. they’re requiring a higher comes in the form of level of oxygen. Maybe a published studies. OpenSeparating medicine and BiPAP machine, and they source studies that have politics are struggling even with not been peer-reviewed Kuhn has been proactive that. And you have to, as a for accuracy or errors are about getting the new cases, provider, approach them presented as irrefutable hospitalizations, and other with, ‘OK, what is the next facts. statistics relating to COVID step from here if you cannot “Those of us that are in Ocala through his weekly sustain on this machine?’ speaking out, doing this on a Facebook posts. And while And these people are daily basis… we understand he realizes some see the awake, they’re very much this,” said Khanna. “We pandemic through a political orientated, they know what’s look at all the studies that lens, he actively works to going on. And as soon as you are out there, we know keep his posts apolitical. say, ‘I would recommend what’s a good study, we “I try very hard to keep putting you on a life support know what’s a bad study, we the politics out of our posts. machine,’ you can just see know what’s an in-between I don’t mention it,” he said. this wave of anxiety and fear study... the numbers speak While people tend to come over them.” for themselves. You can go take politics and their She said that anxiety on Google and find whatever political views seriously, often transfers to the you want to find… but Bates said there’s no room providers as well, and the the percentage of people for partisanship in treating experiences they deal with hospitalized [who have
Nurses with the Florida Department of Health Marion County. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]
daily require a strong bond with their coworkers. “When we see young children, 19, 20 years old falling to their knees in the ICU crying, pleading with God as we’re terminally extubating their father on a ventilator, there is that support group to fall back on,” Bates said. Kuhn also realizes the toll it’s taken on him and his peers. “Obviously, it’s affected all of us in healthcare. Doctors, nurses, everybody in healthcare,” he said. While working during the pandemic has been taxing, Khanna described one positive that has emerged. “What keeps all of us going as a healthcare community is each other. An unexpected side effect of this pandemic has been a global respect for each other, and a level of kindness and respect for each other’s role,” he said. That level of gratitude he said, is one big factor in keeping their spirits up. “We appreciate each other, and I think that’s what gets us up every morning and gets us to work every day is that we’re working in a community that’s coming together, and being a part of that community as a whole.” Bates feels that community bond as well. “We certainly stand together, stand strong…we couldn’t do it without each other,” she said. Khanna realizes times may be tough, but the healthcare providers in Ocala fighting to make their patients’ lives better won’t give up. “We’re obviously being stretched to our limits, and what we think are our limits change day to day because as healthcare workers, we adapt,” he said. Despite all their efforts, Kuhn said it’s difficult to gauge their success. “There’s no way to ever know if we moved the needle or not,” Kuhn said. “But hopefully we did over the last 18 months or so. If we were able to convince one person to get vaccinated or save one life, it will all be worth it.”
Dr. David Kuhn of Ocala Health. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]
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AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE
“The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.” - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black in New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) Publisher Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@magnoliamediaco.com
Carlos Medina, Managing Editor carlos@ocalagazette.com Bruce Ackerman, Photography Editor bruce@ocalagazette.com Matthew Cretul, Senior Reporter matthew@ocalagazette.com James Blevins, Reporter james@ocalagazette.com Sadie Fitzpatrick, Columnist sadie@ocalagazette.com Lisa McGinnes, Editor lisa@magnoliamediaco.com Susan Smiley-Height, Editor susan@magnoliamediaco.com
Marion schools plan nonteacher $1,000 bonuses By Matthew Cretul matthew@ocalagazette.com Marion County Public Schools plans to make sure all its full-time employees, not just teachers, get a $1,000 bonus for their efforts in the face of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement came after public school teachers and principals began receiving $1,000 checks from the state after the legislature approved using some federal stimulus money for bonuses earlier this year. In Marion County, about 2,500 qualified for the state bonus, but another 3,500 district employees, including custodians, bus drivers and food service workers, among others, were left out. The school district plans to use about $5.2 million from
an Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) grant, provided through the CARES Act, to pay the bonuses. Theresa Boston-Ellis, CFO for the school district, presented the plan during a Marion County School Board work session. She said the U.S. Department of Education allows using ESSER funds for bonuses, with some restrictions. “We can use it to pay for bonuses as long as the LEA (Local Education Agency) can justify how the bonuses are addressing the recovery, response and prevention of COVID-19,” she said, reading from a DOE email. Teachers and principals who work at alternative and charter schools in Marion County received the initial state-provided bonuses, but the proposed district-level
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bonuses to non-teachers will only be for public school staff. Charter schools received their own ESSER funding said BostonEllis, so they can provide their nonteaching employees with bonuses if they choose. Non-teaching employees at the county’s alternative schools may receive bonuses as well, though not through the district’s ESSER money. But to guarantee $1,000 goes to each employee, the checks will have to be for nearly $1,500 to cover taxes. Full-time employees who worked for the district through May 26 will be eligible for the district-level bonus. Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program or VPK teachers were not covered by either the state’s bonus program or the district plan. They may be able to receive bonuses through another source, Boston-Ellis said. Part-time and temporary school employees are not included in the district-funded bonuses. The board discussed finding a way to offer those part-time and temporary workers a bonus, even if it was less than $1,000. Boston-Ellis said the grant application for the $5.2 million in bonuses was sent on Thursday, but she was not sure when the district would receive the money.
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From Mandate, page A1 supported a masking plan with the ability for parents to opt their children out should they choose to. “I’m sick of COVID. I know we’re all sick of COVID,” he said. “But here’s what I know, is that there’s a lot of misinformation out there, we all know it…here’s what else I know, delta is spreading in our schools, and that spread is going to get worse.” He went on to equate the delta variant and its transmission rate to that of measles and noted the variant is more infectious than smallpox. Kuhn also offered the backing of the medical community in Ocala. “The doctors of Ocala will be here to support the school board to buy masks for every student that needs one,” he said. Rose Jenkins spoke in support of mask policies as well. Jenkins has been a nurse in Ocala for the past 11 years and has a disabled daughter in high school who was homeschooled all last year. She said her daughter is suffering from anxiety already this year because other students around her are not wearing masks. “I work in it. If your loved one has COVID right now, you can’t be there to hold their hand as they take their last breath. I’m dealing with it. It’s mentally and emotionally exhausting,” she said. “I’m with my friend right now as her husband, who was a bus driver here in the Marion County School System, has succumbed to COVID. As a nurse, as a parent, I’m just asking [for] a temporary [policy] until we can get this under control because we are out of control.” The board voted 3-1 to pass the resolution during the sevenand-a-half-hour emergency meeting. Board Chairwoman Nancy Thrower and Board Members Eric Cummings and Kelly King voted in favor. Board member Allison Cambell voted against the move. The mask mandate would not allow employees to opt out, except for religious or medical reasons. The resolution would last for up to 90 days unless the board extends the policy. During the meeting, the board hammered out details including expectations of students riding buses, mask policies at sporting events and health department metrics that will guide the decision to end the policy. The board received guidance
Krista Patel, 12, who is starting 7th grade, walks to her first class on the first day of school at Osceola Middle School. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]
from Florida Department of Health – Marion County Administrator Mark Lander on suggested benchmarks that would help determine when it would be appropriate to conclude the masking policy. Currently, Marion County is classified as having a high level of community transmission by the CDC, and Lander suggested that the county
“I’m sick of COVID. I know we’re all sick of COVID. But here’s what I know, is that there’s a lot of misinformation out there, we all know it…here’s what else I know, delta is spreading in our schools, and that spread is going to get worse. -David Kuhn
would need to drop to the next category down, which is classified as substantial, for two weeks. The board also extended the opt-out policy to students riding busses and participating in extended day programs as well. If a parent has chosen to opt their child out of wearing a mask, the child will still be able to ride their assigned bus or take part in
extended day activities. Masks will be available for all indoor sports within the county when they get underway next week, but crowd sizes will not be limited, and masks will not be required if social distancing is possible. On Aug. 16, the school system reported 139 positive COVID-19 cases from Aug. 10 to 13. The cases included 93 students and 46 employees. The cases prompted 531 quarantines – 456 students and 75 employees. The final resolution changing the face mask policy will comply with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent executive order banning mask mandates for students. The wide opt-out provision would keep it from running afoul of the order. While some on the board pointed out that masks are not a “magic bullet” against the virus, the coverings, along with other mitigation practices, like frequent cleaning and social distancing could help reduce the chances of spread. It was pointed out, however, that even if students and staff are wearing masks, they are still subject to the same quarantine protocols. If someone has spent 15 minutes within six feet of a person who tests positive, they must quarantine at home. Those in quarantine can return after a negative PCR test after the fifth day of exposure or wait eight days after the contact without showing symptoms.
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AeroAggregates opening soon reducing our overall carbon footprint compared to a lot of materials,” said Archie Filshill, CEO and co-founder of AeroAggregates. The Dunnellon plant will supply materials for horticulture, infrastructure projects, commercial construction, resiliency planning, and insulated block manufacturing across the Southeastern United States. “AeroAggregates’ ability to manufacture and distribute for the area is a further testament to the logistical advantages of the Ocala Metro.” The new facility expects to recycle the equivalent of 140 million glass bottles, according to an Ocala CEP press release. For more information on AeroAggregates’ products and services, visit www.aeroaggregates. com
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they could still shift the projects around later. During a June 1 commission meeting, county staff said the county was required to submit a preliminary spending plan to the federal government by Aug. 31. The commission’s consensus plan would satisfy that requirement. At that same June 1 meeting, staff also proposed spending upwards of $49 million on water and sewer infrastructure projects, followed by $12 million to replace the county’s lost revenue and another $10 million to assist local businesses and non-for-profit organization. But commissioners preferred keeping dollar amounts out of the recommendation and instead directed county administration to bring back specific projects and their associated costs. The Community Foundation addressed the issue during its bi-weekly briefing. “While another two-month postponement is disappointing, particularly for those who need more immediate relief, we will continue fighting to help meet all nonprofits’ immediate COVID-related needs and ask that you do not lose heart in this endeavor,” the statement read. The $71 million can only be spent on five categories: • To support public health expenditures. • To address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency. • To replace lost public sector revenue. • To provide premium pay for essential workers. • To invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure. Under the program, the county has until Dec. 31, 2024, to allocate the money and until Dec. 31, 2026, to complete all work and services. On Aug. 3, the Ocala City Council approved $600,000 for the foundation from the city’s $6.1 million in American Rescue Plan money.
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The Marion County Commission is shown in this file photo. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]
A new manufacturing company is set to begin operations in Dunnellon this October. AeroAggregates is a manufacturer of ultra-lightweight foam aggregates originating in Eddystone, Pennsylvania. The new Dunnellon plant, located at 11611 SW 147th Court, will turn post-consumer recycled glass into material that can be used in infrastructure and commercial construction projects throughout the Southeastern United States. The company touts that the glass blocks weigh less and offer better insulation values and greater fire resistance than concrete. “From manufacturing to delivery to placement, we’re not only accelerating construction, but also
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Editorial Ocala Gazette Editorial Board On Sept. 21, Ocala voters will choose four city councilmembers. Among the candidates, Barry Mansfield, Ty Schlichter and Greg Steen, seek three of the seats. All make their livelihoods from the construction industry. Two of these candidates, Mansfield and Schlichter, share campaign signposts and are featured on mailers together. Is it in the best interest of our city to have 3/5 of the council come from the construction industry? We don’t think so. One or two representatives from any one
industry could add to the board, but enough of them to carry a majority of the vote on any given issue doesn’t seem wise and we would argue against having any industry disproportionately represented on the council. The council should be made up of members from a cross-section of society, with diverse backgrounds, experience and expertise. How else can Ocala residents expect to get a considerate, thoughtful consensus? Adding to the possibilities for abuse is the sheer number of decisions the council must consider related to growth and development. Fla. Stat. §112.313(6) warns against a government employee or government official using their official
position or any property or resource which may be within his or her trust, or perform his or her official duties, to secure a special privilege, benefit, or exemption for himself, herself, or others.” However, there are some loopholes the statutes don’t cover and the public and even your local newspaper would have a hard time finding ways to keep them accountable. We don’t mean to imply we have independent knowledge that would lead to us to suggest that any of the three candidates related to the construction industry would act improperly. But, there is no way to know if a private developer gives a company tied to a
council member special consideration when it comes to bidding for work. Although a candidate would likely make an oath to the contrary, the developer offering the consideration has made no such oath. Limiting the number of opportunities for real or perceived cronyism would help the city council maintain its integrity and trusting ties with the community. Of course, there is always the real possibility for abuse with a politician from any industry. The days of passing bulky manila envelopes filled with cash to politicians are largely over. That kind of money is too risky. Why take the chance when it’s easily
hidden through a seemingly legitimate “upturn” in business? It’s why people often ponder the motives behind a presidential candidate who will spend $1 billion to win a seat that pays $400,000 per year. While that may be too simplistic a take, there are ways to work the system if you’re so inclined. And it’s not exclusive to such a lofty office as president. The cynic will say of politicians, “They’re all crooked.” Others will say, “That’s just the way it’s done.” But wise people look for ways to mitigate potential conflict. In this case, city voters can limit exposure by voting for a balanced council on Sept. 21.
Letter to the Editor The homeless question When Manal Fakhoury announced she was running for Mayor of Ocala she indicated that a critical issue on her agenda was to deal with the police response to “homelessness.” Her mindset is that no one is too small or too big to invest time and energy to make the world a better place. This attitude in leadership can have a very positive impact on a difficult problem like homelessness. To that end I am assisting her in addressing the human factor in the police response to homelessness. Because police
respond to calls for service 24 hours a day, they tend to be the first to detect social problems like homelessness. Therefore, what does success in dealing with homelessness look like? For the short term, success may be defined as getting more people into temporary or transitional housing and accessing services for mental health issues, substance abuse, and other factors that lead to homelessness. For the police, success may mean placing homeless people with social service agencies so
they can obtain the care they need, a reduction in crime involving homeless persons (as victims or perpetrators), and fewer citizen complaints about encampments or other locations where homeless individuals gather. For the long term, success entails getting more people off the streets and into permanent supportive organizations that provide affordable housing and jobs. Leadership is needed that will prioritize training of professionals, including law enforcement officers
and the funding for the various community services needed to effectively address homelessness. This not only addresses the needs of the homeless, but also the needs of the police for community support systems. Criminalizing homelessness simply diverts attention without ever addressing the root causes of homelessness. New leadership will be timely and critical in addressing this issue. It is unrealistic to expect that these type of changes will happen overnight, even
the most effective programs will not make the problem of homelessness disappear altogether. However, with concerted and coordinated efforts of police and their partner agencies, together with elected leadership and funding, communities like Ocala can experience real success, reducing suffering and distress among individuals who are vulnerable, while increasing community safety and overall quality of life. Henry DeGenest Ocala
Marion struggles to find bus drivers as virus surges By Terry Spencer and Kelli Kennedy Associated Press Marion County Public Schools continues to struggle to find enough school bus drivers, forcing current drivers to take on several routes and snarling how long it takes students to get to school and back home. It’s the same story around the state as many school districts are finding it difficult because of the pandemic to hire enough bus drivers, with some using managers and other stop-gap measures to get students to class as the new school year begins. The Associated Press contacted most of the state’s 20 largest districts on Aug. 16 and many said they have not been able to fully fill their openings, forcing some drivers to handle extra routes. Other districts are asking parents to drive their children to and from school when possible to reduce the numbers requiring busing or putting transportation department managers back behind the wheel.
In Marion, COVID-19 has exacerbated the shortage and the district needs about two dozen drivers. “What’s hitting us most now is providing substitute drivers for those being quarantined” because they tested positive for COVID or came in direct contact with someone who has it, district spokesman Kevin Christian said. “When you have a shortage compounded by quarantined drivers, that’s extra challenging.” More than 21,000 students began taking the bus at the start of the school year on Aug. 10. That was almost three times the number of students who rode the bus at the start of the 2020 school year. Many parents initially opted not to send their children to school due to the pandemic and the mask mandates enacted by the school board. During the first four days of school there were 139 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among students and employees, compared to 10 cases in the first week of 2020. The cases
prompted the quarantine of more than 531 students and staff. The districts transportation department was among those listed among the 37 schools and district facilities impacted by the cases and quarantines. Specifics for each location were not released. The district held a bus driver job fair recently to try and fill the open positions. District officials are also trying to reorganize routes to better handles the shortages. They are also urging parents who can to drive their children to school. Florida has been hard hit by the resurgent COVID-19 pandemic, and that has likely scared off candidates for a job that can be stressful under normal circumstances. Many districts are not requiring masks on buses, but even districts that do are short drivers. “Recruiting and retaining bus drivers was a struggle pre-pandemic, but the labor
shortage in general has exacerbated the issue not only for us, but for districts everywhere,” said Erin Maloney, a spokesperson for Hillsborough County Public Schools in the Tampa Bay area. The district requires students to wear masks unless their parents opt them out, but it still needs to add 100 drivers to the 750 now working. “Our bus drivers are running double loads in some areas to make sure kids get to school,” Maloney said. “We also have anyone with a license who is able to drive working in our transportation building out on the roads instead. It is all hands on deck.” The state education department had no immediate comment on the driver shortage. The delta variant of the virus has swept through Florida over the last two months: About 15,600 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, nearly
eight times more than in June, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Not all districts are struggling. A few districts like Pinellas, Seminole and Brevard counties say that despite the pandemic, they have enough drivers. But others say they are juggling to cover all their routes. Palm Beach County schools asked parents to drive their children if possible. Polk County normally has 510 drivers, but only has 430 working. Collier County is using staff and former substitute drivers to fully cover its routes. Lake County has 26 open positions out of 237. Lee County, which needs to add 100 drivers, made its drivers full-time employees so they are eligible for health insurance and other benefits sooner, giving an incentive to new hires. The Ocala Gazette contributed to this report.
A6
AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE
State News Florida tourism continues to bounce back By Jim Turner News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE – Florida attracted 31.7 million visitors in the second quarter of this year, as the state continued to expand tourism-marketing efforts and COVID-19 vaccinations became readily available. The total was a 16.3% improvement from the first three months of the year and was 223.4% above the second quarter of 2020 when the global pandemic devastated the state’s vital tourism industry. The 2021 visitor numbers from April 1 through June 30 were also just 2.2% below where the state was in 2019, a year when the state was unknowingly at the end of a decade-long run of annual record-setting tourism numbers. Dana Young, president and CEO of the tourismmarketing agency Visit Florida, said in a statement Sunday the growth this year represents an “incredible achievement for our state’s economic recovery and underscores the effectiveness of Visit Florida’s marketing.” Florida’s second-quarter numbers were driven by travelers from other parts of the United States. During the three-month period, Florida drew 30.563 million domestic visitors,
representing a 215.9% increase from the same period in 2020 – and an increase from the same period in 2019. “Our rebound campaigns have not only helped propel travel well past 2020 levels, but a 6% increase from 2019 domestic visitation as well,” Young said. “These efforts have also been crucial for conveying the safety and diversity of our state, which is home to infinite vacation options from coast to coast.” Young has made a goal of topping a state economist’s projection in January that the tourism sector will not make a full recovery until 2024. Economists later revised the projection for a return to “normal” for overseas travelers to the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Florida’s recovery has benefited from other states shutting down marketing efforts for most of 2020 after the pandemic closed hotels, theme parks and tourist attractions. A marketing rebuild began last summer and has continued this year – from first pitching Floridians on exploring the state, to trying to attract travelers from other parts of the U.S., to expanding attention in May to Mexico and England. Still, the road remains bumpy for tourism officials. Florida in recent weeks has been one of the hottest spots for coronavirus
[Dave Miller]
cases driven by the highly contagious delta variant. That resulted in Walt Disney theme parks again requiring guests to wear face masks while indoors, on attractions and in enclosed transportation. Masks remain optional indoors, regardless of vaccination status, for guests at other major theme parks, including Universal Orlando, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens. Florida also is getting hit with negative media attention for water quality issues such as a red tide outbreak that led this summer to massive fish kills in the Tampa Bay area. “Moving forward, Visit Florida remains wholly focused on driving even more success for Florida’s tourism economy and showcasing everything our great state has to offer to travelers,” Young said in the statement Sunday. Florida could be bolstered
in the coming months and into the winter season as cruise ships have started returning to sea and by a partial return of travelers from Canada, which this month opened its border to vaccinated Americans. The Biden administration has not made a similar border decision, but pressure has been mounting from the tourism industry. “Reopening the U.S. land border to fully vaccinated Canadians would mark a good starting point towards rebuilding our own travel economy, and the Biden administration should reciprocate this policy decision – given the high rate of vaccination across Canada – without further delay,” U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow said in a statement last week. Florida’s second-quarter numbers showed 1.115 million overseas travelers, a nearly 95% jump from the
first quarter. The estimated 15,000 Canadian visitors in the second quarter was a 74.1% improvement from the same period in 2020, but down 56% from the first quarter of this year. Two years ago, Florida drew 930,000 Canadians, 2.646 million overseas travelers and 28.83 million domestic visitors in the second quarter. Visit Florida received $50 million in the state budget that started July 1 for marketing efforts. Another $5 million is calculated into the agency’s $121.2 million budget from the U.S. Commerce Department Economic Development Administration through a federal stimulus law known as the CARES Act. An additional $25 million in federal pandemic stimulus money is coming through the American Rescue Plan Act. Private tourism groups and businesses are expected to provide $9.1 million in cash and $54.1 through “cooperative advertising” and other offsetting expenses. For the first half of this year, Florida totaled 58.943 million visitors – up 47.6% from the first half of 2020, but down 13.6% from 2019, when the state was on pace for a record 131.422 million visitors. Last year, Florida ended with 79.338 million visitors.
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A7
AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE
State takes aim at districts defying mask order By Ryan Dailey News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE – The State Board of Education on Aug. 17 ratcheted up pressure on officials in two school districts who want student mask mandates with exceptions only for medical reasons, floating the possibility that district leaders who defy state directives could be removed from office. The board, during an emergency meeting, voted to direct state Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to “investigate” the actions of Alachua County and Broward County school officials. The result could include withholding funds from the districts, state board Chairman Tom Grady said, adding “it may involve withholding salaries, it may involve removing officers, it may involve reviewing district
conduct.” The state board, however, did not impose such penalties on Aug. 17. Grady, a former state House member, also said the board’s moves could include providing a report to the Republican-controlled Legislature to take action. The BOE meeting came as Florida continues to see a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations fueled by the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus. School districts in various parts of the state have grappled with the possibility of requiring masks to try to prevent the spread of the virus. Gov. Ron DeSantis on July 30 issued an executive order aimed at preventing districts from requiring students to wear masks. The Florida Department of Health followed by issuing a rule that requires parents to be able to opt out of student mask requirements. The meeting put on display
[AP Photo]
a power struggle between the state board and local school districts, with the board asserting that Alachua and Broward officials violated the health department’s rule and a new state law known as the “Parents’ Bill of Rights.” Alachua and Broward want to require that students have doctors’ notes before they can be exempted from mask requirements. Corcoran wrote in letters last week to Alachua and Broward officials that the state board would pursue financial penalties if the districts moved forward with requiring doctors’ notes. He threatened withholding “funds in an amount equal to the salaries for the superintendent and all the members of the school board.” In his letters, Corcoran wrote that requiring doctors’ notes to opt out is “inconsistent” with the health department’s rule. Both of the districts refused to change course last week. The state board found “probable cause” on Aug. 17 that Alachua and Broward officials “acted contrary to the law” by requiring doctors’ notes. But Alachua County Superintendent Carlee Simon doubled down on an earlier argument that the district is in compliance with the Department of Health rule. Simon argued to the state board that the Alachua district allows two avenues for parents to opt out: by showing medical reasons or through
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Beach County schools case. “The Florida Constitution therefore creates a hierarchy under which a school board has local control, but the State Board supervises the system as a whole. This broader supervisory authority may at times infringe on a school board’s local powers, but such infringement is expressly contemplated – and in fact encouraged by the very nature of supervision by the Florida Constitution,” the excerpt from the ruling said. State Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, a Democrat running for governor next year, held a news conference just before the Board of Education meeting to object to what she called “unconstitutional threats” from DeSantis and Corcoran. Fried has repeatedly said in recent weeks that she intends to work with the federal government to reimburse any school officials for financial penalties imposed by the state board. “Schools need to be able to require masks, at least for now, for the kids who aren’t eligible to get the vaccine yet and those who are at a greater risk of getting sick from COVID,” Fried said. In a letter to Florida district superintendents Friday, U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona wrote that the department “stands with you” in enacting universal student mask policies despite state efforts to prohibit them.
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A8
AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE
Elections Q & A with the candidates Editor’s Note: Leading up to the city election, we’ll be asking candidates to weigh in once a week on a question about city government. The candidates are given almost a week to respond to the question in writing and we do not edit their answers. Should city leadership consider the capacity of the local hospitals and health care workers when deciding whether or not to implement a public health mandate? These candidates did not answer the question: Alex Everts, Brent Malever, Gregory Steen, Jay Musleh, Kevin Lopez, Lori Martin Gregory, Rusty Juergens Manal Fakhoury: As a healthcare professional, my answer is Yes. City leadership should make decisions based on the most relevant, accurate, and factual information. The greatest risk to our community from COVID-19 is our healthcare infrastructure becoming overwhelmed and collapsing under a wave of hospitalizations. It is critical that our leadership do everything in their power to protect us and that includes aggressively pursuing scientifically backed options within the power of the City Council and The Mayor. At the very least, recommending vaccinations or weekly negative COVID test results for all city employees as well as mandating that all city employees and contractors wear masks is the simplest and most powerful tool in our governments arsenal to stop the spread and protect all of us. To me, there is no acceptable threshold for the number of people in our community that we lose. Part of the job of the mayor is to use the platform of the Office of the Mayor to lead, and the mayor can create a culture of depoliticizing masks and encourage simple preventative measures to save every possible person we can from contracting COVID, or worse dying of COVID. Our beliefs determine our behaviour which determine our results - and the mayor has the platform to help influence citizens to positively understand the value of masks and vaccines. As mayor,
the people of Ocala can count on me, to lead with compassion, to act proactively and assertively to protect and serve, and most importantly to deliver results for our city. Barbara Fitos: Capacity issues at our local hospitals is a key measurement factor in implementing any public health mandate/ ordinance as hospitalizations measure rates of severe infection and thus spread of viruses such as Covid 19. City leadership must be able to rely on timely, accurate data in making such critical determinations. One needs but cite the letter signed by over six hundred healthcare professionals at the height of the Covid 19 outbreak in our community in 2020 as evidence of the strain put on our front-line healthcare professionals – in addition to the entire hospital staffs of maintenance, janitorial, etc. And it effects all aspects of critical care for those illnesses and conditions not related to the Covid 19 outbreak and the current upticks in infections post availability of vaccines. These capacity issues drive public health policy for the safety and well being of all our citizens including those front-line hospital and healthcare workers. And finally, in no way should any public health mandate or discussion or consideration of same become political nor should opinions on either side of the mandate issue be demonized. We are community and the health, safety and well being of all recognizing that with
freedom and individual rights come responsibility. Kent Guinn: The reason for the consideration of the mandate exists whether there are 2 or 2,000 hospital beds. With that said under our Charter the Mayor doesn’t have the authority to issue a mandate. The City council would do it just as they did it in 2020. Jim Hilty Sr.: It is imperative that the City of Ocala leadership consider the capacity of local hospitals and consult with the County Health Department before enacting any mandates or recommendations regarding any public health interventions. This should be a coordinated team effort that truly benefits the health and well being of the public. Curtis Jones: Yes to your question. In this new normal, the covid virus has changed the landscape for adequate heath care. I think leadership should direct traffic so that our 1st responders don’t get overwhelmed or discouraged. We must try to follow CDC mandates for
safety and security. Kevin Lopez: Yes, leadership should consider hospital capacity in the decision to do a public health mandate, that is always a factor in public health but it is not the only factor. I am not a medical professional and realize that we should listen to the guidance from our local healthcare providers with their recommendations. I do disagree with enforcing a public health mandate only at the city government level, that falls into the role of our State Department of Health to weigh the factors with experts in the medical field. However, I would not stop a local private business from enforcing a policy if they choose to do so, they have the right to refuse business for not following their health and safety policies. Jay Musleh: Local mask Mandates are unenforceable per the Governor’s recent executive order. I have also been on record as opposing mask mandates in general. If conditions worsened and the Governor made such an order then I would be in favor. If not then my position would be to continue to urge our citizens to mask up and practice social distancing and not adopt a local mandate.
Campaign Contributions The following list contains the political contributions for all candidates running for Ocala city elections which will be decided on Sept. 21. The contributions are complete through the July 31 reporting date. In addition to the direct contributions, at least two political committees have also been active in the some of the races. Accountability in Government, Inc., who received $15,000 in donations during the month of July from entities owned by local businessmen, Doug Cone and Harvey Vandeven. That political committee is currently running two campaigns: • One is a digital campaign with pop-up ads and a
Manal Fakhoury mayoral candidate
Total raised $41,741 To date, Fakhoury has the largest number of contributors and has raised the most money. A.B Perkins, Greensboro, GA, Retired, 100 Allen Parsons, Santa Rosa , CA, Retired, 100 Althea Dove, New Symerna Beach, FL, Pastor, 100 Alvin Formella, Ocala, FL, Pest Control, 25 AM Bulmer, Ocala, FL, Retired, 25 Amira Sims, Protected Voter, Instructor, 50
direct mail piece calling Manal Fakoury “A wolf in sheep’s clothing.” • One direct mail piece campaigning for two candidates, Barry Mansfield and Ty Schlichter, against Brent Malever and Jay Musleh. The print and digital pieces state “Paid electioneering communication paid for by Accountability in Government, Inc.” Florida Statute 106.011 (8)(a) defines “electioneering communications” doesn’t include distribution of such material through digital ad/ web means, but instead specifically identifies distribution through “television station, radio station, cable television system, satellite system, newspaper, magazine, direct mail, or telephone.”
Amira I Sims, Protected Voter, Instructor, 100 Ammar Ateyah, Gainesville, FL, Owner, 500 Ammar Mousa, Windermere, FL, Dentist, 250 Anil Gogineni, Protected Voter, Physician, 500 Anne Mackay, Oklawaha, FL, Retired, 100 Atlantic Intl Capital, Boca Raton, FL, Business, 1000 Barbara Brooks, Ocala, FL, Retired, 50 Barbara Brooks, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 Bhadresh Patel, Hernando, FL, Physician, 500 Bhaveshkumar Patel, Ocal, FL, Business Owner, 250 Campbell Simone, Ocala, FL, SLP, 200 Carol Mccammon, Ocala, FL, Not Specified, 50 Carole James, Ocala, FL, Retired, 25 Chintan Desai, Tampa, FL, Self, 1000 Cindy Gardner, Ocala, FL, Women Owned Business, 100 Complete Nutrition LLC, Ocala, FL, Consulting, 100 Connor Farrell, Washington, DC, Owner, 100 Cynthia Strickland, Summerfield, FL, Consultant, 250 Cynthia Strickland, Summerfield, FL, Self Employed, 100 Daisy Kendrick, Ocala, FL, Nurse, 50 David Wagner, Ocala, FL, Retired, 50 Diane Irwin, Ocala, FL, Realtor, 150 Diane Rowden, Weeki Wachee, FL, Retiree, 100 Diane Trice, Ocala, FL, Not Specified, 50 Edward Bales, Harleysville, PA, Founder, 100 Emad Sabbah, Norcross, GA, President, 500 Emily Teeter, Ocala, FL, Not Specified, 50 Fatima Shanawany, Ocala, FL, Homemaker, 250 FMCC, Ocala, FL, Business, 1000 Francine Julius Edwards, Summerfield, FL, Dist Sec, 100 Frank Fusco, Ocala, FL, Physician, 100 Gitty Collins, Ocala, FL, CEO, 100 Grace Unlimited, Ocala, FL, Business, 100 Hanan Enani, Ocala, FL, Not Specified, 100 Hartley Baker, Ocala, FL, Not Specified, 50 Henry Henry, Ocala, Fl, Not Specified, 250 Henry I DeGeneste, Ocala, Fl, Retired, 100 Huwaida Arraf, Macomb, MI, Attorney, 100 Ibrahim Salman, Ocala, FL, Management, 500 Ibrahim I Salman, Ocala, FL, Management, 500 Iris Hoffert, Ocala, FL, Retired, 200 Janice Ball, Ocala, FL, Nurse, 100 Jayadeva Chowdappa, Tarpon Springs, FL, Physician, 250 Jerone Gamble, Ocala, FL, Not Specified, 100
Readers have reported they are having digital ads pop up while on their phones in various apps and webpages leading them to a web page that outlines donations Fakhoury has made to Democrat candidates while leaving out the donations Fakhoury made to Republican campaigns. Citizens for Florida Prosperity PC, connected financially to Florida First Forever PAC, received a $20,000 contribution from local businessman Stan Hanson, the same politico behind Facebook page Marion County Political Forum. The political committee is currently running one campaign for city council candidate Lori Martin Gregory with the disclaimer, Paid by Citizens for Florida Prosperity.
Jessi Miller, Ocala, FL, Creative Director, 500 Jill Carel, Ocala, FL, Retired, 50 Jim Zogby, Washington, DC, President, 500 Joanne Ohlman, Ocala, FL, Psychologist, 250 John Auerbach, Dunnellon, FL, Radio Personality, 150 Jolee Gonzalez, Ocala, FL, Not Specified, 50 Jon Tyler, Ocala, FL, Owner, 100 Joshua Demonte, Gainesville, Fl, Business Owner, 200 Judy Johnson, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 Julia Eddy, Washington, DC, Consultant, 25 Kamal Elmallah, Ocala, Fl, Retired, 250 Karin Dean, Morriston, FL, Peacebuilder, 100 Katherine Glynn, Ocala, FL, Attorney, 250 Katherine O’Brien, Ocala, FL, Veterinarian, 1000 Kathleen Bogolin, The Villages, FL, Business Advisor, 100 Kathryn Ohlman, Rock Hill, SC, Retired, 250 Kaye Abight, Ocala, FL, Retired, 40 Kayser Enneking, Gainesville, FL, Physician, 1000 Kyle Arnett, Gainesville, FL, Practice Manager, 100 Laila Fakhoury, Ocala, FL, Retail, 250 Lana Smith, Pasadena, MD, Retired, 1000 Laurie Suquet, Ocala, FL, Not Specified, 500 Leda Perez, Ocala, FL, Life Coach, 100 Leo Teeter, Ocala, FL, Not Specified, 50 Lily Snow, Ocala, Fl, Retired , 20 Lina Piedrahita, Ocala, FL, Real Estate Broker, 300 Lisa Reilly, Ocala, FL, Real Estate Broker, 500 Lisa Reily, Ocala, FL, Real Estate Broker, 50 Lisa I Reilly, Ocala, FL, Real Estate Broker, 450 Mahmoud Hafez, Sunnyvale , CA, Sales, 100 Malak Fakhoury, Ocala , FL, Not Specified, 50 Mamdouh Zeini, Lady Lake, FL, Physician, 100 Manal Fakhoury, Ocala, FL, Pharmacist, 5000 Marianne Howanitz, Ocala, FL, Attorney, 250 Mark Donohue, Ocala, FL, Chair & Founder, 250 Mark Robinson, Ocala, FL, Retired, 25 Mary Neely, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 Mary Lou Todd, Ocala, FL, Retired, 50 Mary Sue I Rich, Protected Voter, Retired, 100 Mary Sue Rich, Protected Voter, Retired, 50 Mayank Patel, Ocala, Fl, Business Owner, 250 Meenu Jethwani, Ocala, FL, Therapist, 100 Michael Fallon, Ocala, FL, Professor, 150 Mohammed ElMallah, Ocala, FL, Physician, 1000
Muna Alaseer, Riverview, FL, Occ. Therapist, 1000 Nader Barakat, Santa Rosa Valley, CA, Engineering, 500 Nagy Shanawany, Ocala, FL, Physician, 1000 Natalia Cox, Ocala, FL, Local Govt Employee, 100 Nawal Fakhoury, Ocala, FL, Hr Specialist, 1000 Neptune Advertising, Ocala, FL, Business, 150 Nizam Razack, Orlando, FL, Physician, 1000 Nose Up Properties, Ocala, FL, Business, 500 Pamela Olsen, Ocala, FL, Attorney, 750 Parmanand Gurnani, Lecanto, FL, Physician, 200 Patricia Marseille, Winter Garden, FL, Director, 1000 Patricia Tomlinson, Ocala, FL, Museum Curator, 50 Patrick DeShaw, Ocala, FL, Retired, 250 Paul Franck, Ocala, FL, Pharmacist, 500 Perry Morgan, Ocala, FL, Sales Consultant, 500 Poornima Srinivasan, Ocala, FL, CPA, 250 Poornima I Srinivasan, Ocala, FL, CPA, 750 Premalatha Murthy, Ocala, FL, Homemaker, 250 Rebecca Pujals-Jones, Hernando, FL, Teacher, 101 Richard Jensen, Dunnellon, FL, Not specified, 100 Ruth Gore, Ocala, FL, Retired, 200 Saleh Saleh, Ocala, FL, Management, 100 Sandi Shannon, Ocala, FL, Optician, 100 Sandra Champ, Protected Voter, Retired, 100 Shanwany Hisham, Ocala, FL, Attorney, 350 Shreyas Amol Jethwani, Ocala, FL, Strategist, 5 Srisha Rao, Ocala, FL, Physician, 1000 Steven Kalishman, Gainesville , FL, Attorney, 100 Swaminathan Holdings, Ocala, FL, Business, 500 Tamiko Baker, Ocala, FL, PTA, 50 Tandor Consulting LLC, Ocala, FL, Business/Sales, 100 Tarek Ayoub, Ocala, FL, CEO, 250 Tim Dean, Ocala, FL, Attorney, 100 Tina Chandra, Ocala, FL, Dentist, 200 Tobey Fierst, Leesburg, FL, Retired, 50 Tom Frederick, Odessa, FL, CEO, 1000 Tommy Brooks, Ocala, FL, Clergy, 500 Tyla Kennedy, Ocala, FL, Self, 100 Tyler Emmons, Ocala, FL, Practice Manager, 100 Tyler Lindsey, Ocala, FL, PA, 100 Vicki Sawyer Lindo, Ocala, FL, Office Manager, 250 Victor Boynton, Ocala, FL, Pastor, 50 Whitfield Jenkins, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 Yeralin Martinez, Ocala, FL, Business Development, 250
A9
AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE
Kent Guinn mayoral candidate
Total raised $31,325
Brent Malever Seat 1
Total raised $25,075
Kent Guinn, Ocala, FL, Insurance, 100 Gregory J Steen, Ocala, FL, Electrician, 1000 Bernadette Castro, Locust Valley, NY, Prop Mgmt, 500 Downtown Square Ocala, LLC, Locust Valley, NY, Real Estate Development, 1000 Austin Intl Realty LL, Locust Valley, NY, Real Estate, 500 Darrel R. Hackett, Ocala, FL, Retired, 1000 West Oak Dev LLC, Ocala, FL, Real Estate Dev, 1000 Scott Siemens, Ocala, FL, Real Estate Developer, 1000 West Oak Dev II LLC, Ocala, FL, Real Estate Dev, 1000 Todd Clifford, Ocala, FL, Not specified, 100 Wesley Wheeler, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 Florida Express Envir, Ocala, FL, Envir Services, 1000 United American Recycling Serv, Ocala, FL, Waste and Recycling, 1000 R. Connor Tuck, Ocala, FL, Law Enforcement, 50 Marie R. Tuck, Ocala, FL, Homemaker, 1000 Jaroslaw Gradek, Ocala, FL, Health Care, 100 Ben Marciano, Ocala, FL, Health and Wellness, 1000 Pamela Stafford, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 CBS Underground, Ocala, FL, Contractor, 500 Big D Roofing Services, Ocala, FL, Roofing Services, 1000 Thomas E. Rhodes Inc., Ocala, FL, Real Estate App, 500 Stauss Law, PA, Ocala, FL, Law Firm, 250 Caleb Stauss, Silver Springs, FL, Roof Contractor, 1000 McBride Holdings LLC, Ocala, FL, Holding Co, 500 Scott Bradshaw, Ocala, FL, Insurance, 500 Terry Crawford, Ocala, FL, Manufacturing, 1000
Scott Siemens, Ocala, FL, Real Estate Developer, 1000 Legendary Trails Inv LLC, Ocala, FL, Real Estate Dev, 1000 Siemens Dev LLC, Ocala, FL, Real Estate Dev, 1000 West Oak Dev II LLC, Ocala, FL, Real Estate Dev, 1000 West Oak Dev LLC, Ocala, FL, Real Estate Dev, 1000 Ernest W Griggs Jr., Ocala, FL, Auto Service, 200 Steve Ausley, Ocala, FL, Construction, 250 Todd M Duffy, Ocala, FL, Construction, 250 McBride Land Dev Co, Ocala, FL, Land Dev, 250 Brad’s Auto Sales, Ocala, FL, Car Dealer, 500 George J Albright, Ocala, FL, Tax Collector, 100 Terry Crawford, Ocala, FL, Manufacturer, 500 Kenneth Ausley, Ocala, FL, Contractor, 250 David Tillman, Ocala, FL, Engineer, 500 Michael Kroitor, Ocala, FL, Retired, 250 Ray H Johnson, Ocala, FL, Retired, 200 Scott Bradshaw, Ocala, FL, Insurance, 500
Prior City Manager, John Zoebler, contributed to Malever’s campaign.
barry mansfield Seat 1
Total raised $41,700
Construction Tire & Maint, Ocala, FL, Auto Shop, 1000 Hartwell Investment Corp, Ocala, FL, Investor, 500 Castlerock Sitework Llc, Ocala, FL, Site Cont, 1000 Ciraco Electric Inc, Ocala, FL, Electrical Cont, 1000
Jay Musleh Seat 3
Total raised $20,110
Rusty Juergens Seat 3
Guinn has received contributions from entities controlled by Doug Cone and Harvey Vandeven. These Entities have collectively contributed $15,000 to the PACAccountability In Government, Inc which is running a digital campaign against Mayoral Candidate Fakhoury.
Don Kay, Ocala, FL, Real Estate, 300 Ruthy F Young, Ocala, FL, Hair Salon, 100 Manisha Gaekwad, Ocala, FL, Housewife, 500 Karan Gaekwad, Ocala, FL, Developer, 500 Douglas P Cone, Jr., Ocala, FL, Businessman, 250 Reliance Petroleum, Ocala, FL, Sales, 500 Riti Investments LLC, Ocala, FL, Sales, 500 Kunal Gaekwad, Ocala, FL, Hotel Management, 500 Ronald G Shashy, Ocala, FL, Retired, 200 John Zobler, Palm Coast, FL, Retired, 200 Landis V Curry, Jr., Ocala, FL, Lawyer, 500 William R Browder, Ocala, FL, Real Estate, 500 Joe Bradshaw, Ocala, FL, Insurance, 500 Christi McCall, Ocala, FL, Real Estate, 200 Harvey Taub, Ocala, FL, Doctor, 500 Michael Koontz, Summerfield, FL, Merchant, 100 Southern Assoc. Realty LLC, Ocala, FL, Real Estate, 100 John S Clardy, Jr., Ocala, FL, Oil Company, 500 Kenneth L Whitsett, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 Wesley A Wheeler, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 Harvey Vandeven, Ocala, FL, Contractor, 500 Leo W Smith, Jr., Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 George W Tucker, Leesburg, FL, Retired, 100 Balanced Mech Svcs, Ocala, FL, Mechanical Cont, 250 Deluca Toyota, Ocala, FL, Car Dealer, 1000
Richard Barber, Jr., Ocala, FL, Farmer, 100 William H Tuck, Ocala, FL, Retired, 500 Pamela Stafford, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 Richard Andrews, Jr., Ocala, FL, Pet lodging, 500 J Malever Construction, Groveland, FL, Const, 1000 Ciraco Electric, Ocala, FL, Electrician, 250 Michael Kroitor, Ocala, FL, Retired, 750 Fabricated Metal Products, Ocala, FL, Fabrication, 500 Gary Handeman, The Villages, FL, Retired, 100 John Futch, Protected voter, Retired, 500 Joseph Switt, Morriston, FL, City Employee, 100 VT Industries Inc, Ocala, FL, Manufacturer, 300 George T Crawford, Ocala, FL, Manufacturer, 500 L Fred Conley, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 Geo-Technologies Inc, Ocala, FL, Geo-tech Engr, 500 Ronald G Shashy, Ocala, FL, Retired, 200 Henry L Whittier, Ocala, FL, Veterans Nonprofit, 125 Diane Trice, Ocala, FL, Retired, 50 NRG Enterprises LLC, Ocala, FL, Corp/Real Estate, 250 Elka Malever, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 Patricia Bishop, Ocala, FL, Retired, 50 Richard Jernigan, Ocala, FL, Retired, 150 John Rudnianyn, Ocala, FL, Real Estate, 500 Brent Malever, Ocala, FL, Auto Sales, 500
After Fakhoury, Mansfield has raised the most money in this city election.
Cone Distributing Inc, Ocala, FL, Distrubition, 1000 Douglas P Cone Jr, Ocala, FL, Developer, 1000 Greg Blair, Ocala, FL, Banker, 200 John Penn Corp, Ocala, FL, Flooring Cont, 1000 Debra Bianculli, Ocala, FL, Investor, 1000 Mcbride Holdings Llc, Ocala, FL, Developer, 500 Gary A Thurston, Ocala, FL, Developer, 500 Cgd Investments Llp, Ocala, FL, Investments, 500 B Greiners Inc, Ocala, FL, Retailer, 500 B Kade LLC, Ocala, FL, Retailer, 500 BJ Hammett, Citra, FL, Electrical Contractor, 1000 Midstate Electric of Ocala Inc, Ocala, FL, Electrical Cont, 1000 Midstate Fire & Systems LLC, Ocala, FL, Cont, 1000 John L Alvarez, Ocala, FL, Trucking, 1000 Steven B Hering, Ocala, FL, Material Sales, 1000 Mark Rogers, Inverness, FL, Hvac Contractor, 1000 Karen I Rogers, Inverness, FL, Admin Assistant, 1000 Justin R Rogers, Hernando, FL, HVAC Cont, 1000 Dana I Rogers, Hernando, FL, Family Manager, 1000 Thad Boyd, Ocala, FL, Real Estate, 500 Robert Greblick, Summerfield, FL, Investor, 50 Dunnrite Roofing Inc, Silver Springs, FL, Cont, 1000 Florida Concrete Construction, Ocala, FL, Cont, 1000 Ocala Landscape Mgmt Inc, Ocala , FL, Landscaper, 1000
Phillips CDJR, Ocala, FL, Dealership, 1000 Lance Hill, Protected Voter, Sales, 500 Russell Branson, Ocala, Fl, Banker, 100 Steve Lossing, Ocala, FL, Insurance, 500 Caleb Rivera, Ocala, FL, Doctor, 1000 Blackhawk Investments LLC, The Villages, FL, Invt, 1000 William Kearns, The Villages, FL, Developer, 1000 United Sales, Ocala, FL, Material Supplier, 500 James H Poston Jr, Ocala, FL, Retired, 300 Diversified Consult Concept LLC, Ocala, FL, Consult, 100 Joseph Nisbett, Orlando, FL, Retired, 1000 JWN I LLC, Orlando, FL, Developer, 1000 Advanced Welding Fabrication, Summerfield, FL, Metal Fabricator, 500 Geo Technologies Inc, Ocala, FL, Site Engineer, 500
Jay Musleh, Ocala, FL, Banker, 1000 Kenneth C Ausley, Ocala, FL, Contractor, 500 John Zobler, Palm Coast, FL, Retired, 200 George J Albright, Ocala, FL, Tax Collector, 100 West Oak Developers LLC, Ocala, FL, Developer, 1000 B Siemens Development LLC, Ocala, FL, Dev, 1000 B West Oak Developers II LLC, Ocala, FL, Dev, 1000 Peek Family LTD Partnership, Ocala, FL, Dev, 1000 Hilton Garden Inn Ocala, Ocala, FL, Hotelier, 500 Holiday Inn Conf Center, Ocala, FL, Hotelier, 500 Ocala Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Ocala, FL, 500 LLC DBA Diamond Oil Reliance Petroleum Holdings, Ocala, FL, C-Store Operator, 500 Gregory T Blair, Ocala, FL, Banker, 200 Revocable Trust Douglas P Cone, Jr, Ocala, FL, Beer Distributor, 500 Cone Distributing, Ocala, FL, Beer Distributer, 1000 Kirk A Boone, Protected Voter, Developer, 250 Richard Bianculli, Ocala, FL, Retired, 1000 Charles Ruse, Protected Voter, Attorney, 250 Stanley Hanson, Ocala, FL, Retired, 500 Wesley Wheeler, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100
Lawrence Sutton, Protected Voter, Dentist, 300 Russell Branson, Ocala, FL, Banker, 200 McCall Appraisal Company, Ocala, FL, Appraiser, 300 McBride Land & Devt, Ocala, FL, Real Estate, 300 Julie F Boyd Living Trust, Ocala, FL, Retired, 250 Nathan R Garcia, Ocala, FL, Real Estate, 250 Gerald B Ergle, Ocala, FL, Retired, 250 John Rudnianyn, Ocala, FL, Developer, 500 I Investments Account, Ocala, FL, Developer, 500 Wilson & Williams, P.A., Ocala, FL, Attorney, 200 Robert Wilson, Ocala, FL, Attorney, 300 R. William Futch, P.A., Ocala, FL, Attorney, 100 Jon Barber, Ocala, FL, Real Estate, 250 Brittany Schroeder, Ormond Beach, FL, PR, 250 Terry Crawford, Ocala, FL, Manufacturing, 500 Richard Andrews, Ocala, FL, Retired Banker, 100 Alice Goodson, Ocala, FL, Retired, 25 William Ponder, Ocala, FL, Retired, 25 Becky Butcher, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 Gary Ashlock, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 Nicholas D’Altilio, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 Janet Trexler, Ocala, FL, Retired, 20
Lindsey Lynn, Ocala, FL, Mother, 1000 Ritey Caylor, Ocklawaha, FL, Accountant, 250 Joshua Yailaian, Ocala, FL, Hairdresser, 900 Lesley Hall, Ocala, FL, Secretary , 100 Debbie Vanwagner, Ocala, FL, not specified, 50 Cheryl Treesh, Ocala, FL, not specified, 25 Leon Norreguard, Summerfield , FL, not specified, 100 Dana Hronec, Ocala, FL, not specified, 100 Stephanie Cartwright, Ocala, FL, Retired , 150 Michael Couch, Ocala, FL, not specified, 50
Mary Potapow, Ocala, FL, Retired, 200 Patricia Schafer, Ocala, FL, Homemaker, 500 Wayne Roberson, Ocala, FL, Retired, 500 Marty Roberson, Ocala, FL, Retired, 500 Cliff Stearns, Ocala, FL, Retired, 250 Walts Brake & More, Ocala, FL, Automobile Serv, 1000 Joan Stearns, Ocala, FL, Retired, 250 John Futch, Protected voter, Retired, 500 Charles Lakatos, Belleview, FL, Construction, 100 David Moore, Ocala, FL, Realtor, 25 Edward H. Johnson, Ocala, FL, Retired, 250 Agricon Equip Co, LLC, Ocala, FL, Agr Equip, 1000 Sharon L. Jernigan, Ocala, FL, Retired, 250 William A. Nassal, Ocala, FL, Construction, 1000 Richard Bianculli, Ocala, FL, Recycling Services, 1000 Harvey W. Vandeven, Ocala, FL, Construction, 500 Steve B. Forrest, Ocala, FL, Attorney, 200 Richard & Moses, LLC, Ocala, FL, Law Firm, 250 Holiday Inn Conf Center, Ocala, FL, Event Venue, 500 Cone Distributing, Inc., Ocala, FL, Beverage Distri, 1000 Solomon CJs Power Sys, Ocala, FL, Power Equip, 500 Hilton Garden Inn Ocala, Ocala, FL, Hospitality, 500 Douglas P. Cone, Jr. Revocable, Ocala, FL, Trust, 1000 Scott Bradshaw State Farm Ins, Ocala, FL, Ins, 250 Kade LLC, Ocala, FL, Retail, 500 Patrick Acevedo, Ocala, FL, Physician, 1000 Bryan Merrill, Ocala, FL, Sales, 1000
Counts Const Co Inc, Ocala, FL, Site Contractor, 1000 Kimberly S Scott, Ocala, FL, Office Admin, 1000 Glenn Counts, Ocala, FL, Contractor, 1000 Candace Bramlett, Ocala, FL, Administrator, 1000 Agricon, Ocala, FL, Equipment Dealership, 1000 Bernard Little LLC, Ocala, FL, Distribution, 500 Mcbride Land & Development , Ocala, FL, Dev, 250 Michael Bianculli, Ocala, FL, Investor, 1000 Katherine Delk, Ocala, FL, Accountant, 600 Azim Saju, Ocala, FL, Hospitality, 500 W.H. Tuck Jr, Ocala, FL, Developer, 500 Harvey Vandeven, Ocala, FL, Contractor, 500 Shaida Saju, Ocala, FL, Hospitality, 500 Benjamin Marciano, Ocala, FL, Gym Owner, 500 Barry M Mansfield, Ocala, FL, Candidate, 100
Prior City Manager, John Zoebler, contributed to Musleh’s campaign.
Sandra Avera, Ocala, FL, Retired, 40 Michael W. Radcliffe En, Ocala, FL, Engineer, 200 Pamela Wardell, Ocala, FL, Executive Director, 250 LPS of Marion County, Ocala, FL, Real Estate, 1000 George Conomos, Ocala, FL, Trucking, 500 Victor Musleh, Protected Voter, Attorney, 400 Kenneth Whitsett, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 Victor I Musleh, Protected Voter, Attorney, 600 Maricamping LLC, Ocala, FL, Landlord, 250 James Schneider, St. Pete Beach, FL, Retired, 250
David Desantis, Ocala, FL, Local Business owner , 500 Kali Stauss, Ocala, FL, Lawyer , 200 Drew Ditty, Ocala, FL, Business owner , 250 Chad Ditty, Ocala, FL, Demolition solutions , 1000 Bobby Tillander, Ocala, FL, Metal Building supply, 1000 Seth & Nancy Ditty, Ocala, FL, Horse Farm, 500 Christopher Dunham, Ocala, FL, Dunham & IngramLLC., 250 Kyle Kay, Ocala, FL, Business owner, 500 Mark & Carol ABC AUTO, Ocala, FL, Business owner, 500
Total raised $7,425
Ty Schlichter Seat 3
Total raised $39,315
Central Florida Electric, Ocala, FL, Electrical Cont, 1000 ZET II LLC, Dunnellon, FL, Property Mgmt, 1000 Parker Chris, Ocala, FL, Professional, 100 Parlier Paul, Ocala, FL, not specified, 40 Feasterco, Ocala, FL, Construction, 1000 Sonitrol, Ocala, FL, Security, 1000 H Shanawany Inc, Ocala, FL, Law Firm, 1000 Our Island Beach House, LLC, Ocala, FL, Rentals, 500 Desadowi, LLC, Ocala, FL, Trust, 500 Zachary Schlichter, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Lawyer, 1000 Benjamin French, Gainesville, FL, Ins Broker, 500
Darla Priest, Ocala, FL, Realtor, 250 Kurt Stange, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Sales, 100 R Conner Tuck, Ocala, FL, Law Enforcement, 50 Whitt Harper, Ocala, FL, Insurance, 250 Security Land Holding Co, Ocala, FL, Real Estate, 300 Micheael J Bianculli, Ocala, FL, Retired, 500 Richard Bianculli, Ocala, FL, Retired, 500 Steve & Leslie Schaap, Ocala, FL, Retired, 200 John K Roberts, Ocala, FL, Real Estate, 250 Theodore W Feaster, Ocala, FL, General Cont, 1000 Semsite Solutions LLC, Ocala, FL, not specified, 100 Carolyn K Roberts, Ocala, FL, Real Estate, 300 Stewart Hill, Ocala, FL, Engineer, 75 Jameson Fredrick, Ocala, FL, Engineer, 50 Carolyn Roberts Real Estate Inc, Ocala, FL, Real Estate, 200 Chester Weber, Ocala, FL, Entrepreneur, 1000 Navroz Saju, Ocala, FL, Development, 250 Navroz I Saju, Ocala, FL, Developer, 250 Azim Saju, Ocala, FL, Developer, 500 Ben G McLauchlin, Ocala, FL, General Cont, 500 Shannon Schaeffer, Ocala, FL, Designer, 100 Nolan Galloway, Ocala, FL, Broker, 500 Digvijay Gaekwad, Ocala, FL, General Business, 500 Harvey W Vandeven, Ocala, FL, Contractor, 500 Law Office of Grant & Dozier, Inverness, FL, Law, 1000 Roy T Boyd, Ocala, FL, Real estate Developer, 250 JWN I, LLC, Orlando, FL, Development, 1000 Joseph Nisbett, Ocala, FL, Broker, 1000 William J Kearns, The Villages, FL, Rest/Dev, 1000 Cindy Kearns, The Villages, FL, Retired, 1000 Western Florida Lighting, Altamonte Springs, FL, Supp, 300 Mason Jordan, Ocala, FL, Technology, 100 John Penn, Ocala, FL, Flooring, 500
Billionaire Developers behind World Equestrian Center contributed $3,000 between three entities to Schlichter. They have not contributed to any other city candidate.
Jessica Montgomery, Ocala, FL, Equestrian, 100 Katina Pantaziz, Ocala, FL, Attorney, 100 Ben Marciano, Ocala, FL, Gym Owner, 1000 Karan Gaekwad, Ocala, FL, Real Estate, 50 Alethia Pantaziz, Ocala, FL, Physician, 500 Doug & Megan Stamm, Ocala, FL, Attorney, 100 My Weber, Ocala, FL, not specified, 50 Tillman & Associates, Ocala, FL, Civil Engineer, 500 Eric Main, Ocala, FL, Project Manager, 100 Chase Vickers, Ocala, FL, Pharmacist, 100 Sarah Brantley-Ayers, Ocala, FL, Sales, 100 B Our Island Beach House, LLC, Ocala, FL, Rentals, 500 Luetgert Development, Ocala, FL, Developer, 500
Douglas P Cone Rev. Trust, Ocala, FL, Distributor, 500 Cone Distributing Inc., Ocala, FL, Distributor, 1000 Robert Salat, Ocala, FL, Broker, 500 Jayanth Koneru, Ocala, FL, Cardiologist, 300 Timmy Johnson, Ocala, FL, Dentist, 100 Karrissa Shannahan, Ocala, FL, Teacher, 100 Brice Carpenter, Ocala, FL, Project Manager, 500 Dodson Site Dev, Reddick , FL, Site Work, 500 Amrit Palace Indian Restaurant, Ocala, FL, Rest, 250 Tom Ingram, Ocala, FL, Banker, 500 Geo-Tech Inc, Ocala, FL, Testing, 350 Brad Cochran, New Port Richie, FL, Rest owner, 150 Pam Puente, Ocala, FL, Educator, 50 Grace Alford, Ocala, FL, Retired, 50 Jen Watt, Ocala, FL, Self Employed , 100 Christen McFarland, Ocala, FL, Self Employed, 100 William Phillips, Ocala, FL, Sales, 500 Adela Amir, Ocala, FL, Self Employed, 100 Kenneth C Ausley, Ocala, FL, Construction, 500 Richard Bianculli, Ocala, FL, Retired, 500 Adam Wright, Ocala, FL, Teacher, 100 Drew Darley, Ocala, FL, Field Manager, 100 Michael Bianculli, Ocala, FL, Retired, 500 Katherine Clayton, Ocala, FL, Retired, 250 Ben G McLauchlin, Ocala, FL, Contractor, 500 Gill Logistics, LLC, Ocala, FL, Logistics, 1000 R.L.R. Invst LLC, Wilmington, OH, Investment, 1000 Golden Ocala Equest Land, Ocala, FL, Land Holdings, 1000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian, Ocala, FL, Mgmt, 1000 Transition Water Sports LLC, Ocklawaha, FL, Watersport Sales, 500 Mathew P Fabian, Ocala, FL, Consultant, 500 Charles D Bell, Not specified, Engineer, 500
A10
AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE
kristen dryer
lori martin gregory
barbara fitos
Seat 4
Seat 4
Seat 4
Total raised $7,350
Total raised $2,350
Total raised $5,350
Schatt Marketing & Investment, Ocala, FL, Marketing, 500 Tillman & Associates Engineering, Ocala, FL, Engineering, 1000 Richard Bianculli, Ocala, FL, Financial Services, 1000 Richard & Moses, LLC, Ocala, FL, Law Firm, 250 Michael I Bianculli, Ocala, FL, Financial Services, 1000 Benjamin Marciano, Ocala, FL, Health And Fitness, 1000 Doug Cone, Ocala, FL, Entertainment, 1000 Harvey Vandeven, Ocala, FL, Construction, 500 Ken Ausley, Ocala, FL, Construction, 500 Geo-Technologies, Inc., Ocala, FL, Engineer, 600
Patricia R Tomlinson, Ocala, FL, Curator, 150 Joanne Cornell-Ohlman, Ocala, FL, Psychologist, 100 Diane Trice, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 Barbara R Fitos, Ocala, FL, Retired, 2000
Alex Everts
Curtis Jones
William Taylor, Ocala, FL, Businessman, 500 Glen Fiorello, Ocala, FL, Businessman, 100 Buddy Martin, Ocala, FL, Journalist, 200 Lori Martin Gregory, Ocala, FL, CEO, 200 Rich Bianculli, Ocala, FL, Financial Services, 1000 Stan Hanson, Ocala, FL, Businessman, 1000 Martha Hanson, Ocala, FL, Businesswoman, 1000 Patricia Shafer, Ocala, FL, Nurse, 100 BWW and Associates LLC, Ocala, FL, Financial Services, 1000 George Albright, Ocala, FL, Tax Collector, 250
Kevin Lopez
Seat 4
Seat 4
Seat 4
Total raised $545
Total raised $100
Total raised $1,182.78
Calvin R Hagins, Fort Belvoir, VA, Financial Advisor, 100 Austin Egan, Madisonville, LA, Chef, 25 Gerald Winton, Ocala, FL, Contractor, 100 Kyle Arnett, Gainesville, FL, Optometry, 100 Michael Quimby, Ocala, FL, Correctional Officer, 20 Shane Mosley, Ocala, FL, Insurance, 50 Richard Strickland, Pensacola, FL, Air Force, 50 Robert Turner, Leesburg, FL, Landscaper, 100
Kingdom Impact Ministries, Ocala, FL, Church, 100
Loodiana Palushi, Silver Springs, FL, Best Version Media, 500 Scott Kifer, Ocala, FL, Insurance Sales, 100 David Moore, Ocala, FL, Broker, 100 Gary Steen, Jacksonville, FL, Retired, 1000 Jose Rodriguez, Ocala, FL, Barbershop Owner, 250 Greg C Steen, Ocala, FL, Candidate, 3000 Greg C Steen, Ocala, FL, Candidate, 3000 Paul Stentiford, Ocala, FL, General Contractor, 100 Palushi Media LLC, Ocala, FL, Publisher, 250 Curry Enterprises Inc, Ocala, FL, Electrician, 1000 Biztech, Ocala, FL, It Tech, 150 Joseph Vardis, Ocala, FL, Surface Cleaner, 250 William Taylor, Ocala, FL, Insurance-, 500 Chris Rose II, Waldo, FL, Pool Tech, 20 R Kevin Graham, Ocala, FL, Retired, 50 Susan Savoix, Ocala, FL, Retired, 50 Sonda Eunus, Ocala, FL, Business Owner , 50 Susan I Savoix, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 Cynthia Tieche, Protected voter, Business Owner, 150 Cone Distributing, Inc, Ocala, FL, Beverage Distribution, 1000
Gregory Steen Seat 5
Total raised $30,781.43 Janet Steen, Ocala, FL, Retired, 20 Dustin Vetter, Ocala, FL, Priority Heating &, 100
Candidate with the highest personal financial contribution to his own campaign in the sum of $17,241.43
Jim Hilty Seat 5
Total raised $10,400
James Patrick Hilty Sr, Ocala, FL, Candidate, 250 Steve Farrell, 0cala, FL, Retired, 500 Fran Marino, 0cala, FL, Retired, 500 Richard J Bianculli, Ocala, FL, Financial Services , 500 Michael J Bianculli, Ocala, FL, Financial Services, 500 John S Rudnianyn II, Ocala, FL, Real Estate, 500 Ana M Dunwoody, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 Ken Daley, Ocala, FL, Food Services, 250 Robert Kennedy, Ocala, FL, Real Estate Agent, 1000 Ray Strickland, Ocala, FL, Insurance Agent, 500 Ford Of Ocala, Ocala, FL, Auto Sales and Service, 1000 Diane Trice, Ocala, FL, Retired, 50 Charles Ruse, Protected voter, Attorney, 250 Hilton Garden Inn, Ocala, FL, Hotel Owner, 500 Holiday Inn Express, Ocala, FL, Hotel Owner, 500 Holiday Inn Conference Center, Ocala, FL, Hotel Owner, 500 James Patrick Hilty, Ocala, FL, Candidate, 3000
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Gregory campaign receives help from Citizens for Florida Prosperity PAC.
Gerardo Lopez, Lecanto, FL, Pediatric Doctor, 200 Ryan Shuman, Houston , TX, Enablement-Software Developer, 100 Christopher Griffin, St. Petersburg, FL, Not Specified, 25 Carole Shaw, Dunnellon, FL, Dir Of CS And Sales, 257.78 David Dyer, Ocala, FL, Not Specified, 100 Lopez M Marsha, Lecanto, FL, Retired, 500
Greg T Steen, Ocala, FL, Electrician, 750 Greg Steen, Ocala, FL, Electrician, 500 James Steed, Ocala, FL, Physician, 50 Greg Steen, Ocala, FL, Electrician-, 305.09 Michael Saxe, Ocala, FL, Retired, 100 James Steed, Ocala, FL, Physician, 50 Rachel Vardis, Ocala, FL, Billing Analyst, 50 Joseph Vardis, Ocala, FL, Owner, 50 Greg Steen, Ocala, FL, Electrition, 1000 Greg Steen, Ocala, FL, Electrician, 1000 Diversified Consulting Concept, Ocala, FL, Consulting, 100 Dunham & Ingram LLC, Ocala, FL, Attorney, 250 Greg Steen, Ocala, FL, Electrician, 900 Greg Steen, Ocala, FL, Electrician, 10.9 Emmett P Healy, Ocala, FL, Banker , 100 Palushi Media LLC, Silver Springs, Fl, Media, 150 Trevor DeShaw, Ocala, FL, Insurance, 500 The Ranch at 315, LLC, Ocala, FL, Realty, 200 Kenneth C Ausley, Ocala, FL, Construction, 500 Rick Mosley, Ocklawaha, FL, Director, 700 Don Ellis, Protected voter, Construction, 50
Guy Mongello, Ocala, FL, Motorcycle Dealer, 100 Ashley Miller, Ocala, FL, Owner, 100 Gregory J Steen, Ocala, FL, Electrician , 1000 Gregory J Steen, Ocala, FL, Electrician-, 1000 Gregory J Steen, Ocala, FL, Electrician-, 1000 Greg J Steen, Ocala, FL, Electrician, 647.46 Ryan Chamberlin, Belleview, FL, CEO, 200 CG Paint Worx LLC, Ocala, FL, Auto Repair, 200 Greg Steen, Ocala, FL, Electrician, 900 Stanley Plappert, Ocala, FL, Attorney, 500 Tillman Associates Engineering, Ocala, FL, Engineer, 500 Ben Marciano, Ocala, FL, Business Owner Zone, 1000 Greg Steen, Ocala, FL, Electrician , 900 John Perez, Ocala, FL, Retired, 150 Nose Up Properties, Ocala, FL, Realty, 500 Greg Steen, Ocala, FL, Electrician, 900 Navroz Saju, Ocala, FL, HDG Founder Principal, 500 Hilton Garden Inn Ocala, Ocala, FL, Hotel, 500 Azim Saju, Ocala, FL, HDG President CEO, 500 Kevin R Graham, Ocala, FL, Retired, 200 Greg Steen, Ocala, FL, Electrician, 427.98
A11
AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE
Rental assistance program doles out millions By James Blevins james@ocalagazette.com In April, the United Way of Marion County received $10.8 million in CARES Act relief funds from Marion County to help those impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Four months later, about half of the money from the Emergency Rental Assistance program has helped nearly 900 clients. Scot Quintel, local United Way CEO, said so far, the program appears to be positively affecting those it is aimed at helping. “At the end of [July], there had been 886 households that had been assisted with funding through the (COVID Assistance Program) CAP program. So, that would be either rental or utility assistance, or both,” Quintel said. To date, a little more than $4.5 million has been spent as a part of the program, Quintel said. They received more than 2,853 applications for assistance. “We have additional funding. We’re still processing applications as quickly as possible. And we still have a number of other households that are still going through the application process,” Quintel said. While the U.S. Treasury
guidelines requires the money be spent by September 2022, Quintel expects they will run out of funds by the end of the year. The county is proposing a second round of Emergency Rental Assistance. The CAP program is targeted to those who have experienced a reduction in income, incurred significant costs or experienced other financial hardship due to COVID-19. To qualify for the program, an individual must be a Marion County resident; at or below 80% of the average median income; experienced hardship due to COVID-19; provide a valid form of ID; and apply online at UWMC.org/CAP. While the assistance program is helping, Karla Grimsley, Interfaith Emergency Services CEO, said there are still people struggling with housing. “We are seeing more and more people calling [us at Interfaith] not because they lost their jobs or that they don’t necessarily qualify for the CARES funding, but because landlords have taken a risk due to the moratorium on rent and now that their properties are worth more, a lot of landlords have opted to sell,” Grimsley said during an Aug. 17 Marion County Commission meeting. A significant portion of people rent on a month-tomonth basis. Rents are also
increasing, and leases are not being renewed. “And we’re getting calls now from people in tears. People who have been good tenants, that now cannot find a place to move to at the same level that they’ve been paying, and there’s just not enough rental units,” she said. Grimsley said those affected are part of a wave of the “new homeless.” People who have never been homeless in the past and are used to paying their own bills and keeping a roof over their heads—suddenly find
themselves without a home. “It’s been heartbreaking to hear these stories when people call us,” said Grimsley. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) does provide funds, said Grimsley, but certain rules are applied to how those funds are spent. Rules that do not necessarily help this new wave. “We do get money from community services,” said Grimsley. “But in order for us to get them we have to subscribe to a model [called]
‘Housing First’—which means our first goal is to house them. We house them first, and then we give them services. And I’m going to tell you, when we get those dollars, we feel like we’re beating our heads against the wall because there’s just not enough housing.” The housing that is available is not affordable. “You have to consider that most of the people we work with are disabled; they’re income total is maybe $700-800 a month. There’s no housing that we can put them in,” she said.
Sutton Place Apartments are shown in this file photo. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]
Walk a Mile in My Shoes
A walk to raise awareness of the difficult conditions of those experiencing homelessness every day.
A Walk With Purpose | Become a Champion | Register | Sponsor | Volunteer
S AT U R D AY
SEPT 18 2021 9 AM
REGISTRATION
5Annual th
Register today to commit to walk 1 mile and secure Champions (sponsors) for your walk
Thanks to our sponsor
How It Works Participants arrive at the starting point and surrender their shoes and select a pair of donated (sanitized) shoes; carrying their personal shoes in a plastic bag. Show your support during the walk with cardboard signs in support of our homeless and Interfaith. Participants walk 1 mile from First Presbyterian Church to Interfaith’s Center for Life. Proceeds support Interfaith’s homeless shelter, where thousands of women, children and families have received love, support and an end to homelessness!
Join Us At the Walk Individuals: Minimum of $250 in donations ... $25 from 10 Champions!
Teams: Minimum of $500 in donations ... $25 from 20 Champions! There will be prizes for those that raise the most money!
Register at IESmarion.org/walk
Donations can be made online at IESmarion.org/donate. Be sure to include the name of the walker sponsored in the comments section. Mail your donation to Interfaith P.O. Box 992, Ocala, FL 34478. Have questions? IESmarion.org or call Karla at 352-209-7045.
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AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE
MARION COUNTY
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
BELLEVIEW
DUNNELLON
FOREST
LAKE WEIR
NORTH MARION
TRINITY CATHOLIC
VANGUARD
WEST PORT
OCALA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
See More, Page B2
By James Blevins james@ocalagazette.com Last year’s high school football season wasn’t ideal for a lot of reasons, mostly related to playing under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fall sports in general didn’t even begin practice last year until late August. It was a decision that came direct from the Florida High School Athletic Association. Preseason games were affected, and regular seasons were truncated for some teams. In 2020, it was all about overcoming the obstacles coming from off the field as players, coaches and fans were faced with the unique challenges that come with a oncein-a-century worldwide pandemic. But as the 2021 season gets ready to kick off, the specter of the COVID-19 delta variant and a new surge is at the forefront. How it could affect the season remains to be seen. For now, area football teams are looking to get back on the gridiron. Before the first whistle of the regular season blows on Aug. 27, we take a glance at each Marion County team and how they faired in 2020, and what each program looks to accomplish in 2021.
ST. JOHN LUTHERAN
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AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE
BELLEVIEW RATTLERS District: 6A-5 (along with Lecanto, Pasco, Springstead and Vanguard) Head Coach: Brady Ackerman, 2nd Season Ranked: 466th in Florida; 76th in Division 6A Last Season: 1-7 overall record Belleview Head Coach Brady Ackerman, who replaced Adam Martin last November, is looking to continue the gains his squad made in 2020. “We are in the process of changing the culture here in our football program,” said Ackerman, a former player at the University of Florida, earning a SEC Championship ring in 1991. “We want to be competitive and compete for a winning season,” Ackerman said The Rattlers lost their first seven games last year, before winning a tightly fought defensive game in their season finale at Umatilla, 10-0. Despite winning its last game, Belleview would ultimately lose their 5A Region 2 play-in game to North Marion on a neutral field, 47-0. But Ackerman is confident in his veteran players coming out and giving Belleview fans their best efforts, starting in the first game, a rematch
against Umatilla on Aug. 27. “We have a good group of seniors that deserve to have some success.” Ackerman said. “And we feel like we are on track to give them that. It takes time to build a winning program that lasts, but with the community’s support, we can make Belleview one of the best programs in the county once again.” Key Returns: Jackson Dennis, senior, wide receiver; Jahari Baker, senior, defensive back; Eugene Reed, senior, running back; Dylan Kennard, senior, center; Mike Minor, senior, defensive tackle; Justin Swander, senior, wide receiver; Andrew Lanctot, junior, wide receiver; Cornelius Bentley Green, junior, linebacker; Cedric Durden, junior, wide receiver; Erick McGlaughlin, junior, running back; Nick Didato, junior, defensive end; Ethan Dodsworth, sophomore, offensive tackle Key Newcomers: Earnest Flythe, junior, quarterback; Gerald Lawton, freshman, wide receiver; Jermaine White, freshman, wide receiver; Brittin Stevens, freshman, quarterback; Kaleb Harrold, senior, wide receiver; King Hubbert, senior, defensive back; Aiden Kaczmerski, freshman, kicker Key Losses: None.
[Bruce Ackerman]
DUNNELLON TIGERS District: 5A-5 (along with Citrus, Crystal River, Lake Weir and Leesburg) Head Coach: Price Harris, 8th Season Ranked: 74th in Florida; 8th in Division 5A Last Season: 10-2 overall record, 4-2 in the playoffs (5A Region 2 Champion, reached 5A State Final Four) In 2020, Dunnellon advanced to the Class 5A Final Four for the second time in three years, losing by less than a field goal to Rickards (Tallahassee), 26-24. Rickards would go on to lose to American Heritage in the state final 24-6. During the regular season, the Tigers ran the table, going undefeated against Lake Weir (53-0), Belleview (48-8), North Marion (328), Vanguard (30-28), Forest (10-7) and West Port (35-0). In the Class 5A regional playoffs, Dunnellon made short work of Eastside (Gainesville) in the 5A Region 2 play-in game (50-0) and squeaked past North Marion in the Region 2 quarterfinals (13-7). Menendez (St. Augustine) forfeited its semifinal game, setting up a Dunnellon vs. Vanguard matchup in the Class 5A Region 2 championship, which the Tigers won
in a close contest, 13-10, to advance to the final four. In 2021, Dunnellon considers each game on its schedule to be tough, said Head Coach Price Harris. The Tigers overlook no one. “Our expectations never change,” Harris said. “We expect to compete for a district championship and make a run in the playoffs. Our goal, each and every year, is to put a team on the field that honors our past and gives our community a sense of pride.” Key Returns: LJ Fitzpatrick, senior, wide receiver; Jaden Dyer, senior, offensive linebacker; Brody Luckey, senior, running back; Arrieon High, senior, running back; Trent Townsend, senior, quarterback; Kelo Jeffries, senior, defensive linebacker; Kaden Richardson, senior, offensive line; AJ Winn, senior, defensive line Key Newcomers: Gage Hiers, junior, offensive line; Jaylin Johnson, junior, offensive line; Bolden Richardson, senior, offensive line; Gavyn Leinenbach, junior, linebacker; Maxwell Valcius, junior, wide receiver; CJ Donahoe, senior, wide receiver; Senadrick Brown, senior, wide receiver; Caleb Lathrop, senior, defensive line Key Losses: Demetrius McCants, Colby Smith, Shai’hem Thomas and Drew Leinenbach [Ken Lanese]
FOREST WILDCATS District: 7A-2 (along with Buchholz, Chiles and Leon) Head Coach: Robin Williams, 3rd Season Ranked: 129th in Florida; 30th in Division 7A Last Season: 3-4 overall record, 0-1 in the playoffs Forest opened the 2020-21 season with a bang, winning a defensive game against North Marion 7-0 on the road. The rest of the season would be a mixture of highs and lows for the program, including a loss to Vanguard, 20-14, followed by 42-0 Wildcat win over Belleview. After the Belleview blowout, the Wildcats would take two straight losses against West Port 19-13 and Dunnellon 107, all down to the wire. Continuing its up-and-down woes, Forest would rollover Lake Weir 38-0, but ultimately lose to Edgewater 47-14 in the 7A Region 2 play-in game. Head Coach Robin Williams, who used to play high school football at Vanguard, has been coaching high school football in some capacity since 2006. He feels his Wildcats should have a winning record this year,
make the playoffs again and play for a district and county championship. “Expectations are high,” said Williams. “We are slowly building this program back to being a consistent playoff team and competing for the top spot in the county.” With a whole new defensive staff, headed by new defensive coordinator Matt Franklin, Williams sees a continuation of last season’s strong defensive mindset going forward into 2021. “Our goal is always to put a great product on the field,” said Williams. “A product that represents the community and makes them proud to call themselves Wildcats fans.” Key Returns: Jamarrius Burkes, senior, wide receiver; Elijah Russell, defensive end; Steve Curry, senior, quarterback; Damion Lewis, junior, running back; Jabrel Samuel, wide receiver; Josh Pitts, junior, defensive tackle; Omarion Leslie, junior, linebacker Key Newcomers: Trimar Cave, defensive back; Daniel Sneller, defensive end Key Losses: Zach Williams, Danny Gray and Nylo Seymour
[Bruce Ackerman]
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AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE
LAKE WEIR HURRICANES District: 5A-5 (along with Dunnellon, Citrus, Crystal River and Leesburg) Head Coach: Eoghan Cullen, 2nd Season Ranked: 451st in Florida; 65th in Division 5A Last Season: 1-6 overall record The Hurricanes’ season ended on a sour note last year on Nov. 13 when the ‘Canes lost in overtime 6-3 to Atlantic (Port Orange). In fact, the only high note in 2020 came on Oct. 9 when Lake Weir won its lone game in 2020 in a close game against Belleview—18-6 on the road. Lake Weir allowed 219 points in 2020, while only scoring 27. The Hurricanes will be working to remedy that disparity in 2021. “We’re excited about this upcoming season given that we’ve had a full offseason, unlike
last year. We have a lot of youth and they bring a good work ethic,” said Head Coach Eoghan Cullen. Key Returns: Skyler Spaulding, senior, inside linebacker; Jearld Smith, senior, middle linebacker; Dwayne Reid, senior, cornerback; Manny Geisel, junior; quarterback; Robert McKinley, senior, wide receiver; Brandon Moak, junior, wide receiver; Ja’Mauri Jackson, junior, defensive end; Devonte Welcome, junior, wide receiver; Walter Turner, junior, running back Key Newcomers: Jeremiah Smith, freshman, cornerback; Kalil Lawson, freshman, safety; Omarion Watts, freshman, defensive end Key Losses: Tyrese Terry, Elijah Williams, Corone Williams, Preston Guyton and Rheon Johnson
[Alan Youngblood]
NORTH MARION COLTS District: 5A-4 (along with Clay, Eastside, Menendez and Palatka) Head Coach: Willie Offord, 1st Season (Replacing Gregory Carr) Ranked: 292nd in Florida; 37th in Division 5A Last Season: 3-6 overall record, 0-1 in playoffs The Colts opened last year’s season against Forest, and they do so again this year on Aug. 27. This time though, North Marion is looking for more success, losing in 2020 7-0. And one player North Marion hopes will help them accomplish that goal is new Sophomore Quarterback AJ Cussins. Cussins replaced graduated quarterback Quintin Gross from a year ago. After winning their regular season finale against Belleview last year, the Colts would go on to defeat the Rattlers again in the opening round of the 5A Region 2 playoffs, 47-0, before narrowly losing their next contest to county powerhouse Dunnellon, 13-7, in the region quarterfinals, ending any further playoff hopes. In 2021, North Marion will need to navigate a tough schedule, with several back-to-back district rival games earmarked in the middle of the schedule, and a possibly consequential Dunnellon game on
the road on Oct. 8. Key Returners: Jeriahmiah Mack, senior, cornerback; Trent Hoffman, senior, wide receiver; Chaz Mackey, senior, quarterback; Terrence Kennedy Jr., senior, running back; Ed Williams, senior, running back; Hunter Kapral, senior, middle linebacker Key Newcomers: AJ Cussins, sophomore, quarterback; Andrew Zock, sophomore, defensive end; Caleb Rollerson, sophomore, wide receiver Key Losses: Quintin Gross
[Alan Youngblood]
VANGUARD KNIGHTS District: 6A-5 (along with Lecanto, Pasco, Springstead and Belleview) Head Coach: Edwin Farmer, 8th Season Ranked: 125th in Florida; 22nd in Division 6A Last Season: 8-3 overall record, 3-2 in the playoffs (5A Region 2 runner-up) If Vanguard football had one stumbling block in 2020, then it was most definitely Dunnellon—losing to the Tigers 30-28 during the regular season and again in the 5A Region 2 final, 13-10. Despite impressive wins in the playoffs, over such teams as Crystal River (38-0 in the 5A Region 2 play-in game), Ridgeview (35-0 shutout in the regional quarterfinal) and Clay (38-7 in the regional semifinal), the Knights were unable to solve Dunnellon. Vanguard gets another chance against the Tigers early on in 2021, hosting Dunnellon at home on Sept. 10 at Booster Stadium. Key Returners: Dewhitt Beterson Jr., senior, running back; Grandin Wilcox, senior, kicker; Mahdi Brooks, senior, wide receiver; Tyrell Randall, senior, running back; Tre Parker, senior, middle linebacker Key Newcomers: Cameron Powell, sophomore, cornerback; Cameron King, sophomore, wide receiver; Fred Gaskin, sophomore, cornerback/running back/ quarterback Key Losses: Tony Johnson, AJ Law and Tevin Williams
[Alan Youngblood]
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AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE
WEST PORT WOLF PACK District: 8A-3 (along with Apopka, Evans, Lake Brantley and Ocoee) Head Coach: Steve Rhem, 3rd Season Ranked: 207th in Florida; 44th in Division 8A Last Season: 5-3 overall record, 0-1 in the playoffs The Wolf Pack accomplished a lot early on in the 2020 regular season. They won two tight games against Belleview (18-17) and North Marion (24-13), before suffering their first loss to intercounty rival Vanguard (43-6). West Port would then go on a two-game winning streak, blanking Lake Weir 34-0 and squeaking past Forest 19-13. Both were home games. But the last two games of 2020 told a different story. The Wolf Pack took a beating from Dunnellon 35-0 in West Port’s
season finale, on the road which they followed up with another loss to the Spruce Creek (Port Orange) Hawks 35-12 in the 8A Region 1 quarterfinals. Like most teams in the county, West Port hopes to solve Dunnellon this year during the regular season. In they can find a way to beat Dunnellon, the Wolf Pack may be able to punch their ticket for a deeper postseason run in 2021. Key Returners: Gavin Savino, senior, quarterback; Jylique Barnes, senior, wide receiver; Nate Rocker II, senior, strong safety; Peter Finn, sophomore, defensive tackle Key Newcomers: Ayden DeMartino, freshman, outside linebacker; Sawyer Hart, freshman, quarterback; Deanthony Sancho, freshman, wide receiver Key Losses: N/A
[Bruce Ackerman]
OCALA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY CRUSADERS District: Gulf Division—Sunshine State Athletic Conference Head Coach: Jim Pierce, 1st Season Ranked: N/A Last Season: 1-9 overall record With eight seniors and five juniors returning, Head Coach Jim Pierce has high expectations for his Crusaders football team, who just moved from an 11man squad a year ago to an 8-man squad for the 2021 season. The 8-man setup, according to Pierce, will allow Ocala Christian Academy to avoid playing every player on each side of the football, offense and defense, nonstop throughout a game. “You can’t condition for that,” said Pierce. “You can condition to play offense every play, but you can’t condition in Florida to play both offense and defense every play.” In 2020, despite finishing with a 1-9 record, Pierce said that his team has a lot of character, due in large part to the program’s many returning seniors and juniors. “We’ve got a lot of veterans,” said Pierce. “We’re going to have seven to nine seniors that are going to play a lot, which helps the younger ones learn.” Also, 2021 marks OCA’s 49th school year,
according to Pierce. “We have the distinction of having the longest running football program of any private school in the county,” Pierce said. Key Returners: Keiron Williams, senior; A.J. Council, senior; Logan Forella, senior; Trey Woods, senior; Joey Sanzone, senior; Cian Bloom, junior Key Newcomers: Daniel Young, junior; M.J. Decicco, junior; Skyler Forella, sophomore; Cole Helinski, junior Key Losses: Jett Bloom, wide receiver; Colton Bloom, quarterback; Rushad Davis, defensive tackle
ST. JOHN LUTHERAN SAINTS District: Sunshine State—Central Florida (along with City of Life Christian Academy, Eastland Christian, Lake Mary Prep, Real Life Christian Academy) Head Coach: Tim Montenero, 1st Season (Replacing Joel Bronson) Ranked: N/A Last Season: Played two games before cancelling season due to COVID-19 St. John Lutheran was adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 as far as football is concerned. With low-player numbers, the Saints were forced to field only 15 players for
an 11-man football squad, losing both games to the only two schools they played—Cedar Creek Christian (54-0) and Halifax Academy (54-19). In 2021, St. John will work to field more players and complete its season scheduled to start on Aug. 20 against Lakeside Christian at home. Key Returners: Ryan Cubbedge, senior, quarterback; Jaelen Facey, senior, defensive tackle; Chase Thomas, senior, defensive tackle; Dylan Hicks, senior, center; Key Newcomers: Chris Espinosa, junior, guard Key Losses: N/A
TRINITY CATHOLIC CELTICS District: 3A Region 1 (along with Crescent City, Episcopal (Jacksonville), Florida High (Tallahassee), Interlachen, Maclay (Tallahassee), P.K. Yonge (Gainesville), Pensacola Catholic, Providence (Jacksonville), Walton (DeFuniak Springs)) Head Coach: John Brantley, 2nd Season Ranked: 50th in Florida; 6th in Division 3A Last Season: 7-4 overall record, 3-1 in the playoffs (3A Region 2 Champion, reached State Final Four) Trinity Catholic struggled a bit during a bad patch of games in the middle of its season in 2020 but managed to right the ship towards the end of the schedule, earning a long playoff run. The Celtics aim to go deep in the playoffs again in 2021. “I feel just like every year,” said John Brantley. “We’re going to be competitive, and we’re going to make a run at everything.” After notching wins against South Sumter (48-31) and Gainesville (38-7) to start the season in 2020, the Celtics went on a threegame slump, dropping games to The Villages Charter (27-25), Bolles (24-7) and Sandalwood (17-14). But with much-needed wins against Victory Christian Academy on the road (20-7) and
Calvary Christian at home (27-24), Trinity Catholic earned a slot in the 3A state playoffs. The Celtics faced Taylor (Pierson) in the Region 2 semifinals—after Melbourne Central Catholic forfeited in the quarterfinals—winning convincingly 49-0. In an almost identical rout, Trinity Catholic beat John Carroll Catholic 48-0 in the Region 2 championship game, before falling to Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville) 56-33 in the state semifinal. Trinity Christian would go on to win the 3A state title. With senior Cole Gonzales returning to the field as Trinity Catholic’s top triggerman, Brantley feels confident his team will continue were it left off in 2020. “Anytime you got a quarterback coming back who’s been in your system now for years that really helps. But we got to surround him with some good players—and we got them. We got the size up front. We’re looking forward to these kids playing this year,” said Brantley. Key Returners: Cole Gonzales, senior, quarterback; Tommy Kinsler, junior, guard; Donathan Lecorn, junior, outside linebacker Key Newcomers: Gerrick Gordon, freshman, guard Key Losses: Jamarian Samuel and T.J. Snowden
All above rankings are from MaxPreps.com
[Bruce Ackerman]
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AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE
Creative’s Corner
E.J. Nieves poses with his artwork, “I am Grateful For You,” in his art studio named N.E.H.S. Studios at Workspace Collective. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]
Nieves poses with the concept artwork in front of his wall mural, “Octopoda” at Workspace Collective. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]
Art + Business Local artist uses a studio in a coworking space to add creativity to productivity. By Lisa McGinnes
Ocala Gazette
E.J. Nieves says his motto is “Build bridges, not kingdoms.” He’s set out to use his art studio at Workspace Collective on Southeast First Avenue not just to create new works, but to help connect the art community with the business sector. The artist, who painted the “Paddock’s Valkyrie” mural at Paddock Mall this spring, has shifted from smaller canvases to bigger formats during the two years since he relocated to Ocala from Orlando. “I’ve really started to understand the power of a mural and what it can bring a business, what it can bring a community,” he explained, “to have something larger
than life that people are able to interact with even when you’re not there.” Not long after Nieves opened his N.E.H.S. Gallery, which stands for “No Eye Has Seen,” last summer in a Neighborhood Storage unit on Eighth Avenue, he met Zachary Cox, co-owner of Workspace Collective. “It was like a spark,” he remembered. “He believed in my work in a season when not a lot of people did. And he gave me a chance. He introduced me to Adam and then I met their wives – the Workspace team. Their idea for Workspace, I really fell in love with it.” The idea they came up with draws the attention of everyone who tours Workspace Collective’s second location next to CrossFit Iron Legion. Nestled between office
suites, next to the podcast studio and adjacent to the coworking desks, is Nieves’ art studio. “We made this really cool plan,” he said. “We were just kind of playing around with a thought of a studio, a ‘dirty’ space, being smack dab in the middle of a ‘clean’ space. It was something way different. My clothes are completely covered in paint most of the time and I’m there painting; the walls are
covered in paint. But in any other office everything’s very clean and pristine.” The studio, Nieves said, together with the “Octopoda” mural he painted just inside the front door, forms a “really cool sandwich of creativity with business.” Artists can learn a lot from businesses, and businesses can learn a lot from artists, Nieves said. “I have always been
somebody who wants to connect art with business. That’s something I feel is important. I think it’s a very synergistic relationship that can happen when business owners, businesswomen, businessmen and artists get together in the same room at the same table and talk about ideas, talk about structure and organization and creativity. There’s so many different ways to collaborate.”
Artwork by Nieves, “This Is Love,” “Snake Eyes” and “Punisher Logo,” left to right. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]
Pour With A Little More The art class was part of the “Creature Feature” art exhibition at The Brick, and was led by Dunnellon artist Bridget Hanley, who taught the students how to prepare, mix and pour different colors of acrylic paint all at once onto a small canvas to create artwork with a distinctive look. The Marion Cultural Alliance “Creature Feature” exhibit, which features artwork of animals, continues through the end of August at the Brick City Center For The Arts. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]
Susan Walters, center, reacts as she does her pour of mixed acrylic paint.
Bridget Hanley works to spread the paint around the canvas
Bridget Hanley uses a blow torch to spread the acrylic paint on the canvas.
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AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE
Whatever floats your boat Arnette House Regatta returns on Sept. 18 By James Blevins
james@ocalagazette.com Some boats will sail, and some will sink. And, for the organizers of the Third Annual Arnette House Regatta, they wouldn’t have it any other way. The event—set for Sept. 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Park and Big Lake Weir Beach—asks boaters with little to no experience to build seaworthy crafts from just about anything they can find, with some caveats. No fiberglass material, for instance. No old kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, standup boards or pontoons. No caulking compounds, two-part or mixed adhesives, no rubberizing paints or sprays. That would be too easy. The event organizers want racers to challenge their creativity in the design and build of their boats. “There are a lot of things that people can come up with,” said Cindy Moore, community & development coordinator at Arnette House. “It can’t be enclosed. That’s one of the rules. The boat must be open in case it tips over. We don’t want anyone getting hurt in this event.” “You can make a boat out of anything,” said Denise Paradis, assistant shelter and group home manager at Arnette House.
“Just be creative. Anybody can go into a garage and look around and go ‘Yup. I’m going to need that. And that, and that.’ It’s like a MacGyver thing. Who wouldn’t have fun being MacGyver?” Fun is at the center of the event, which replaced a previous static fundraising effort. “Denise and I were sitting in the office and thinking to ourselves: ‘We got to come up with another event,’” said Moore. “We’ve been doing the annual benefit for so long, and we wanted to do something different.” Paradis first saw a cardboard box boat race in Indiana and thought the idea would be perfect for Ocala. All money raised goes to the nonprofit Arnette House, which A boat modeled after one built by Tom Hank’s character in the movie “Cast Away” takes off in the Arnette House Regatta in was established 2018. After the 2020 event was canceled due to COVID-19, the event will return on Sept. 18. [Kim Blaser/Submitted] in 1981 and offers emergency shelter “Anyone can do it. “Some people truly have for runaways, You don’t have to have no idea what they’re doing,” All money raised goes homeless and atbuilding skills. Though it chuckled Paradis. “Like to the nonprofit Arnette risk adolescents in helps,” Moore said. they’re rowing in the wrong House, which was Marion County. David Ulloa, direction while sinking. But The first regatta maintenance and safety failing is half the fun. It established in 1981 and took place in 2018 manager and vocational really is.” offers emergency shelter and raised $6,000. leader at Arnette House, The deadline to enter The second in 2019 has several regatta entries is Sept. 6. For information for runaways, homeless raised $8,000. The under his belt. and rules, visit www. and at-risk adolescents in third was scheduled “If you make the boat arnettehouse.org or call for 2020, but the too sophisticated, with Moore at (352) 622-4432, Marion County. pandemic forced too much software, it’ll ext. 231. organizers to cancel sink. Or it won’t float fast “I think of all our events, the event. enough,” Ulloa said. and we do quite a few, this This year’s regatta has confirmed, and more spots Moore said some designs one is by far the one I get already raised close to are available. The entry fee that look unseaworthy the most excited for. The $9,000. is $150 per boat. Motors are actually work. Others not so one that is the most fun,” So far, eight entries are not allowed. much. Paradis said.
Let’s Make Ocala An All-America City Again! As mayor, Manal will revitalize and reinvest in our community by addressing key issues from public health, to social equity, and investing in our youth, Manal will bring people together to move Ocala forward.
H Public Safety & Lowering Crime H Creating Opportunity For ALL H Tackling Homelessness
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Dr.
Fakhoury MAYOR FOR
VOTE SEPT. 21 Serving ALL of Ocala ManalForMayor.com
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AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE
Support your local plant store By Jennifer Odom
Special to the Ocala Gazette We’ve all heard the idea: Help the little guy—give local business your support. That well-intentioned whisper lingers in our mind. But then, habits die hard. We need plants, so we jump in the car to head out to the most obvious place, the big box stores. But where are all the small retail plant nurseries (or stores) in our county? I scoped out the area recently and located all the ones I could. A few I could not reach. Sadly, some excellent nurseries have recently “gone under” during this COVID mess, including Taylor Nursery and Superior Nursery. But quite a few remain, and here’s a starting list, organized by quadrant, for Marion County. Let me encourage you to take this opportunity—while it’s so hot, and nothing’s going on in the garden—to explore those remaining local small plant nurseries. You can go online to find more details and give the little guy a boost. Southeast Sitting at number one is Kenny’s Place Nursery— a business with a mission. Matt Langley, an employee, explains that workers are all special needs adults. “A man named Kenny started this place. His specialneeds brother would come to work with him. When Kenny passed away his brother had no place to go. So, Kenny’s parents decided to open up
[John Jernigan]
the nursery, so others could come too,” Langley said. This non-profit business is an adult day training center, or ADT, with 14 workers, and carries a wide variety of plants. Bob Wines Nursery, a family business, has been around since 1952. They specialize in camellias and azaleas, carry many other flowers, and will deliver and install anything purchased. Northeast Close to town near the new rail overpass sits Tower Hill Nursery. Owner Ryan Mims says he always strives to create a small-town country feel. Besides flowers, his place specializes in large tree installment. Nearby in a strip mall, Peacock Village is a quaint little store whose shelves overflow with fairy gardens,
s e t a R t Best n e m e r Reti ings Sav A’s & IR
Ocala (352) 671-5374
houseplants and succulents. Heading north of town, along 441, sits McGovern’s Nursery, with fair prices and a wide variety of plants. This heritage-family owner’s past boasts of its agricultural roots that go back 100 years in Marion County. Tucked away close by we find Grace Nursery. They carry unique hard-to-findplants at great prices. The owner’s passion is to educate the client and provide plants that boost the health of humans and nature. Northwest On Highway 40 near Interstate 75 is The Yard Stop. They carry vibrantly healthy plants in a showy garden center with locally sourced plants as well as some big equipment. Also near I-75 on Highway 27 is another family-owned
company—since 2009—S & S Brothers Nursery. Their rows and rows of beautiful plants will draw you right in. Southwest (and Dunnellon) Not too far south of the Paddock Mall we find Shady Road Nursery. For those interested in native Florida vegetation, this business carries about 70% Florida native plants, and is working to increase that number. The owner gives individual help and personal attention to your landscaping needs. Head southwest along State Road 200 and across from Oak Run we discover Murray’s Gardens and Fun Finds, LLC. These folks specialize in ivy and geraniums and carry a little bit of everything. If they don’t have what you need, they are eager to locate it for you. Dunnellon boasts
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Grumbles, a gift shop with loads and loads of flowers of all kinds and a wide statuary collection. Paradise Airplants, also of Dunnellon, specializes in airplants and colorful bromeliads. Who knew we had such a place? Bob Smoley’s Gardenworld—accessed online only, but also in Dunnellon, concentrates on cacti, succulents and euphorbias. Olive Tree Growers of Dunnellon displays a wide variety of olive trees, of great recent interest to the gardeners, and offers helpful educational advice based on years of experience. What an amazing variety of businesses right under our noses. From cacti, bromeliads, fairy gardens, and camellias to olives, Marion County is home to a wide assortment of nurseries just begging us to take a field trip. Now, when that little whisper reminds us to shop for plants at local small businesses, at least we’ll have a clue where to start. Together, intentionally, we can help our local economy, because after all, that littleguy is actually us. For more information on Florida’s native plant nurseries visit www.fann.org. For information on the Florida Native Plant Society and local chapters, go to www. fnps.org Jennifer Odom is an avid gardener and an Ocalabased author. Her latest novel “Girl with a Black Soul” was recently released. For information visit jenniferodom.com
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B8
AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE
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Date: 8/20/21
B9
AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE
Community
8/20
Marion Oaks Farmers Market
8/20
Marion County Friday Market
8/20
8/20
Marion Oaks Community Center, 294 Marion Oaks Lane 9am-12pm Fresh vegetables, artisan food products and handmade crafts.
McPherson Government Complex, 601 SE 25th Ave. 9am-2pm Shop locally fresh fruits and veggies, cinnamon buns, jerky, freeze dried treats, olive oils and seafood.
Virtual 10-11am CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion will present strategies to stand out from the competition in behavioral interviews at this free workshop. Visit careersourceclm.com to register or get more information.
McIntosh Civic Center, 5835 Avenue F, McIntosh 3-6pm The Florida Department of Health in Marion County will offer vaccinations for residents age 12 and older. Call (352) 6442590 for more information.
8/20
Ocala Polo Arena League
Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road 6pm Friday, 10am Saturday Horse previews and demonstrations Friday and horse sale Saturday. Visit ocalahorsesale.com for more information.
Tamarian Farms Equestrian Center, 4615 NW 110th Ave. 7pm Spectators are invited to bring a picnic and the family to watch an action-packed polo match in a covered arena. No admission fee. Visit fb.com/tamarianfarms for more information.
8/21
Ocala Downtown Market
8/23
Summer Sunset Polo
8/24
8/25
1 Million Cups Ocala
8/25
Forest Readers Book Club
8/25
Geekout! Fandoms and Gaming Club
8/25
Power Hour Book Club
8/25
Wednesday Midday Market
8/25
Careers and Colleges Expo 2021
8/26
Interview Strategies
8/26
Farmers Market
8/26
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic
8/26
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic
8/26
The Customer Experience
Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership, 310 SE Third St. 8:30-9:30am New CEP partners and those who want a refresher can learn about CEP programs and services. Visit ocalacep.com for more information.
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.
Forest Public Library, 905 S Highway 314A, Ocklawaha 10:30am Join a discussion of Susan Orlean’s “The Library Book.” Call (352) 438-2540 to register.
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic
Ocala Horse Sale
8/23
CEP 101 Partner Orientation
Interview Strategies That Get You Noticed
8/20 -21
8/21
8/25
310 SE Third St. 9am-2pm A variety of vendors offer local fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood, fresh pasta, honey, arts and crafts, rain or shine. Visit ocaladowntownmarket.com for more information.
Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road 8am-2pm For more information, contact the Florida Department of Health in Marion County at (352) 624-0137.
Summer Sunset Polo
Florida Horse Park, 11008 S County Highway 475 6pm Spectators are invited to tailgate and bring chairs and a picnic for a family experience watching equine athletes playing the sport of kings at this week’s Back to School match. Visit ocalapolo.com for details.
Job Specific Resume Development
Virtual 10-11am CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion will help you create a job specific resume in this free live workshop. Visit careersourceclm.com to register or get more information.
75 West Networks Group
SpringHill Suites, 4100 SW 40th St. 9am Call (352) 817-6984 for more information about this Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership small referral networking group.
Ocala Public Library, 2720 E Silver Springs Blvd. 4:30pm Explore the world of fandoms through comics, movies and games. Call (352) 671-8551 to register.
Belleview Public Library, 13145 SE County Highway 484, Belleview 4:30pm Join a discussion of Cheryl Strayed’s “Wild.” Call (352) 4382500 to register.
Ocala Downtown Market, 310 SE Third St. 1-6pm Shop a selection of produce, meat, natural and handmade products and food trucks. ocaladowntownmarket.com
College of Central Florida, 3001 SW College Road 5:30-7:30pm Representatives from dozens of public and private colleges, universities, technical institutes and military branches will be available to share information with high school students. Call (352) 671-7146 for details.
CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion, 2703 NE 14th St. 9-11am Jobseekers can learn how to stand out from the competition at a job interview. Call (800) 434-5627 to register.
Circle Square Commons, 8405 SW 80th St. 9am-1pm Locally grown seasonal produce, baked goods, plants and more. Visit circlesquarecommons.com/farmers-market for more information.
Rainbow Lakes Estates Oberman Building, 4040 SW Deepwater Court, Dunnellon 9:30-11:30am The Florida Department of Health in Marion County will offer vaccinations for residents age 12 and older. Call (352) 6442590 for more information.
Marion Oaks Community Center, 280 Marion Oaks Lane 1:30-3:30pm The Florida Department of Health in Marion County will offer vaccinations for residents age 12 and older. Call (352) 6442590 for more information.
CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion, 2703 NE 14th St. 9-11am Attendees can learn the importance of the customer experience to prepare to be successful in a customer service job. Call (800) 434-5627 to register.
Now Summer in the Sun -8/27
Arts
NOMA Gallery, 939 N Magnolia Ave. 12pm-5pm Thursday-Saturday For this juried exhibition, artists were invited to submit works based on the theme “What Does Summer in the Sun Mean to You?” Visit nomaocala.com for more information.
8/24 -27
Your Florida-Friendly Yard
Virtual 10-11:30am The UF/IFAS Extension Marion County presents a fourpart series on Florida-friendly landscaping covering topics including the right plant for the right place watering and fertilizing efficiently, using mulch and attracting wildlife and managing yard pests and reducing runoff. Email mandab@ufl. edu or call (352) 671-8400 for more information.
8/24
The Shores Market
8/25
Drive-Thru COVID Testing
Silver Springs Shores Community Center, 590 Silver Road 5-7pm This new weekly indoor farmers market includes farm fresh goods, artisan food products and arts and crafts vendors. fb.com/theshoresmarket
Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road 8am-2pm For more information, contact the Florida Department of Health in Marion County at (352) 624-0137.
Now- Creature Feature 8/28
Brick City Center for the Arts 10am-5pm Tuesday-Friday, 11am-4pm Saturdays A new exhibit of animal art by Marion Cultural Alliance member artists captures how and why animals — from house pets to mythical creatures — excite the human imagination. Visit mcaocala.org for more information.
Now Ready Set Go -9/25
Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave. Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4pm This new, hands-on exhibit explores the many modes of transportation that move people and goods around the world with experimentation stations and activities including a toy engine auto garage and a kid-sized drag race strip with food-powered cars. Visit mydiscoverycenter.org for more information.
Now Countenance -9/26
Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd. Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm A selection of works from the permanent collection examine the ancient tradition of portrait-making through a new lens. Visit appletonmuseum.org for more information.
B10
AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE
Now -10/2
Works
8/26
Lunch with Lizards
Now -10/2
ART-CALA
8/26
Coffee, Cake & Community
Now -10/18
The Game of Life
Ocala Recreation and Parks Administration, 828 NE Eighth Ave. Monday-Friday 9am-5pm This art exhibit showcases the works of Aliye Cullu, a painter and graphic designer who specializes in plein air landscape oil paintings. Visit ocalafl.org/culturalarts for more information.
Barbara Gaskin Washington Adult Activity Center, 210 NW 12th Ave. Monday-Friday 9am-4pm Artworks from Art Army Ocala were created by participants at the First Friday Art Walks during 2020-2021. Visit ocalafl.org/ culturalarts for more information.
Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St. 11:30am-1pm In conjunction with this month’s “Creature Feature” exhibit, the public is invited to bring a brown bag lunch and enjoy an up close and personal experience with reptiles from the Discovery Center. Visit fb.com/mcaocala for more information.
NOMA Gallery, 939 N Magnolia Ave. 1-4pm Need a new space for inspiration? Bring your current project and enjoy some together time with other creatives. Visit fb.com/nomagalleryocala for more information.
8/26 Dirty Rotten Scoundrels -9/19
Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd. 2 & 7:30pm The Broadway musical adaption of the classic film starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin delivers all the hilarious hijinks and clever capers in a jazzy musical romp along the Riviera. Visit ocalacivictheatre.com for tickets and showtimes.
Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. Monday-Friday 8am-5pm This new exhibit features works by Jacksonville-based illustrator and painter Elena Øhlander, who explores identity, gender issues, individuality and pop culture with a Japanese context. Visit ocalafl. org/culturalarts for more information.
Government
Now Highlights from the Equine Collection -10/24
8/23
Marion County Development Review Committee
Now -11/7
8/24
Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District Board
Now Alison Saar: Works from the Permanent Collection -1/22/ 2022
8/24
Marion County Hospital District Committees
8/20
8/24
City of Belleview Site Plan Committee
8/24
Ocala/Marion County Transportation Planning Organization Board
8/24
Marion County School Board
8/24
City of Belleview Code Enforcement Board
8/26
Marion County Development Review Committee Staff Meeting
8/26
Marion County Tourist Development Council
Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd. Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm This exhibit of works from the permanent collection highlights more than 60 pieces which relay Arthur I. Appleton’s love of horses. Visit appletonmuseum.org for more information.
A Breeze Through Fertile Gardens
Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd. Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm This collection of paintings and drawings by Andrew M. Grant are inspired by the four elements: earth, air, fire and water. Visit appletonmuseum.org for more information.
Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd. Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm This exhibit of printed works curated from the Appleton’s collection showcases Alison Saar, an internationally acclaimed artist who incorporates spiritual and political themes. Visit appletonmuseum.org for more information.
8/21
8/21
Office of the County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave. 9am The DRC votes on waiver requests, drainage/site plans, subdivision master plans, preliminary plats, improvement plans and final plats. Call (352) 671-8686 for more information.
ArtCastle: One Year Later
Virtual 5:30-8pm Celebrate with NOMA Gallery, formed from the August 20, 2020 pop-up exhibit for artist relief and recovery. Visit fb.com/ nomagalleryocala for details.
Jewelry Making Series: Cold Connections
Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St. 11:30am-3:30pm Local jewelry maker Denny Machette Pizarro will teach students a variety of methods to join metal, stones, glass and found objects together to create jewelry without a torch. Registration is required at mcaocala.org/workshops.
Classics and Cocktails
Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave. 5pm This month’s classic film is “West Side Story” and the accompanying craft cocktail is Riff and Bernardo’s Knife Fight. Visit mariontheatre.org for details.
8/22
Sip & Shop
8/24
Spoken Word Ocala
Gallery B, 405 E Silver Springs Blvd. 11am-2pm Sip coffee and mimosas and shop the artworks created by Gallery B’s five founding members and nine associate artists. Visit gallerybocala.com for more information.
Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St. 7-9pm All styles are welcome in this casual, BYOB format. Visit fb.com/mcaocala for more information.
Growth Services Training Room, 2710 E. Silver Springs Blvd. 9:30am Call (352) 438-2475 for more information.
Hospital District Office, 2547 E. Silver Springs Blvd. 12pm Call (352) 622-3662 for more information about the audit, finance, investment, operations and strategic initiatives committee meetings.
City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview 2pm Call (352) 245-7021 for more information.
McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave. 4pm Call (352) 629-8297 for more information.
School Board Meeting Room, 512 SE Third St. 5:30pm Call (352) 671-7700 for more information.
City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview 5:30pm Call (352) 245-7021 for more information.
Office of the County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave. 8:30am Applicants may discuss proposed or current projects with county review staff prior to meeting formally with the Development Review Committee. Call (352) 671-8686 for more information.
Ocala/Marion County Visitors & Convention Bureau, 109 W Silver Springs Blvd. 10am Call (352) 438-2800 for more information.
ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR 20
6pm Becky Sinn
20
Ocala Downtown Square
20
6pm Jeff Jarrett
6:30pm Noah Hunton
21
6:30pm Tim McCaig
21
7pm Elvis Live in Concert Orange Blossom Opry
21
6pm The Mudds
21
6:30pm Rudy Turner
21
7pm George Dunham & Company Circle Square Commons
8pm Fareeza
8pm J. Lilley
21
9pm Jeff Jarrett
25
11am Becky Sinn Terrace on the Square
6pm Fareeza Off-Duty Tavern
25
6:30pm John Johnson World Equestrian Center Yellow Pony
26
The Lodge
22
1pm John Johnson The Crazy Cucumber
The Corkscrew
World Equestrian Center Yellow Pony
21
22
The Keep Downtown
La Cuisine
World Equestrian Center Yellow Pony
20
10am Becky Sinn
7pm A Night With Elvis Orange Blossom Opry
Ocala Downtown Market
The Crazy Cucumber
20
21
O’Malley’s Alley
Locos Pub & Grill
20
10pm Fareeza
6:30pm Michelle Ingrham World Equestrian Center Yellow Pony
26
7pm Orange Blossom Showcase Orange Blossom Opry
B11
AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2021 | OCALA GAZETTE
Then....and Now
The Flamingo Motel is shown in this postcard from the 1960s. Silver Springs Boulevard was once lined with motels catering to the tourists that crowded Silver Springs. [State Archives of Florida]
The Flamingo Motel is shown on Aug. 16. The motel is one of a handful still remaining from the time before the opening of Walt Disney World in Orlando drew much of the tourists away. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]
Current Adoption Specials: It’s Clear the Shelter month. ALL adoptions are FREE in August. Adoption includes up-to-date vaccinations, county license, microchip and spay/neuter surgery.
Snickers
Green-Eyed Girl Beautiful 6-year-old tuxedo female cat dreams of a forever home with perches and play time. She’d love a tall cat tree and a soft, sunny spot for naps.
View more adoptable pets at Marion County’s website: MarionFL.org/Animal This database is updated every hour. 352.671.8700
Louise
Good Girl Good natured 9-year-old female dog seeks a sidekick who appreciates a pup with life experience. Sweet talk her with “good girl” or “pretty girl” and you’ll have a friend forever.
Answers for pages B8
Ocala Gazette publishes fond remembrances of your loved one Visit ocalagazette.com to submit an obituary