Ocala Gazette | November 6-12, 2020

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 19

$2 November 11 is Veterans Day

NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12, 2020

Campbell wins School Board seat Business leader tops career educator with 53.5 percent of the vote

By Brad Rogers Ocala Gazette

I

n the only countywide contest on Tuesday’s ballot, Allison Campbell beat Lori Conrad for the District 1 seat on the Marion County School Board.

The contest between two political newcomers pitted Campbell’s business approach of attendance, budget accountability and

communications against Conrad’s 25 years of classroom experience and calls to improve attendance, continue upgrading school security and overhaul curriculum with newer books and better technology.

The final vote tally was 93,319 to 81,149, or 53.5 percent to 46.5 percent.

Campbell was surprised by the margin of victory in a race many predicted would be close.

“I’m surprised that (the margin of victory) was 12,000 votes,” she said.

Now, she said, she wants to get to work.

“I’m ready to serve and get to work – serve all the students, serve all the departments in the school system that often get overlooked. Serve all the employees, not just the 3,000 teachers but all the employees See Campbell, page 5

Allison Campbell, center, gets a hug from her parents, Boyd and Carolyn Williams, after she won the Marion County School Board District 1 race over Lori Conrad. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Election 2020

Record turnout

Presidential race drives voter turnout to all-time high in Marion

By Bill Thompson Ocala Gazette Whatever else you can say about him, President Donald Trump is good for democracy.

On Wednesday, Michael McDonald, a political science professor at the University of Florida, and the manager of the U.S. Elections Project website, tweeted that he estimated turnout for the 2020 election at 66.9 percent.

According to McDonald, turnout for the Republican incumbent’s showdown against Democrat Joe Biden was the highest for a presidential election in 120 years, when 73 percent of voters cast ballots.

And voters flocked in droves to the polls, or the mailboxes, largely because of Trump – even those who don’t like him. An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll in August found that 58 percent of Biden backers were voting for the former vice president because they wanted to vote against Trump, while just 36 percent indicated they were voting for Biden.

Marion County experienced a significant trickledown effect from that passion.

On Tuesday, 205,397 total ballots were cast in See Election, page 4

More election coverage begins on page 4

Christmas parade organizers hoping for city approval

By Brad Rogers Ocala Gazette

O

rganizers of the 65th Ocala Christmas Parade are moving ahead with plans for the holiday event, but they will have to win Ocala City Council support later this month if the parade is actually going to roll.

Parade committee Chairwoman Sue Mosley said the group began making

plans for the parade back in July “because we couldn’t wait until the week before to begin making plans.”

The parade is currently scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 12 – it’s traditionally held the second Saturday in December – at 5:30 p.m. The parade route will start at the McPherson Government Complex on 25th Avenue and move east on Silver Springs Boulevard to Eighth Avenue, where it will turn and disband at Tuscawilla

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Park.

Mosley said this year’s parade is being dedicated to former Police Chief Greg Graham, who died two weeks ago in a plane crash near Dunnellon. Graham was a longtime supporter of the parade and worked with the committee closely.

In order to hold the parade, the parade committee must get a permit from the city of Ocala, and that permit must be voted on by the City Council. The

permit is on the council’s Nov. 17 agenda. While the permit typically wins automatic approval, the city is taking extra care this year in approving events that draw large crowds because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City Council last month canceled the annual Light Up Ocala, a celebration of the lighting of the downtown Christmas lights that drew more than 20,000 annually. It was deemed too much of a

superspreader threat by the council.

Light Up Ocala, however, is a city-sponsored event.

The parade is not sponsored by the city but rather by the Friends of the Christmas Parade Inc. Mosley said parade organizers are confident it can be held with proper safety in mind.

“I think we’re going to have plenty of room at See Parade, page 11

Inside: Community Center................. 2 Commentary............................ 3 COVID Plan............................. 11 Trinity, Vanguard advance.... 12 Dunnellon undefeated........... 13 Impact fees............................... 17

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NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

News in Brief Veterans Day ceremonies set for Wednesday Marion County government and Marion County Public Schools join forces to honor local veterans with two Veterans Day Ceremonies set for Wednesday, November 11, starting at 11 a.m.

Held at the Marion County Veterans Park on Southeast Fort King Street and Southeast 25 Avenue, this ceremony serves as Marion County’s official Veterans Day ceremony. This is the 14th consecutive year the school district has participated in this event.

This year’s event features a Color Guard presentation by West Port High School’s JROTC, music from the Belleview High School jazz band, student essays, a family wreath presentation and 21-gun salute by the Ocala Police Department, and more.

Those attending in person should bring their own seating and follow COVID-19 safety precautions that may include safe social distancing and face coverings.

Those who don’t want to attend in person may watch a virtual ceremony featuring students from around Marion County on the district’s YouTube channel (MCPSmedia) and the Marion Education Channel, available on Cox 12 and Comcast 99 along with a handful of local cable systems.

This virtual ceremony also starts at 11 a.m. and includes a West Port High School JROTC Color Guard presentation, Hillcrest students sharing the Pledge of Allegiance, music from the Belleview High School band and Forest High School chorus, a Missing Man table presentation by Belleview High’s JROTC team, essays from students at Hammett Bowen Jr. Elementary, and much more.

Ocala changes trash collection schedules for Veterans Day City of Ocala business offices will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day. There will be no residential collection for sanitation, yard waste or recycling routes that day.

Residential sanitation collection regularly scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 11 will occur instead on Thursday, Nov. 12. Thursday’s regular collection day will occur Friday, Nov. 13.

Waste Pro recycling collection for City of Ocala residents regularly scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 11 will take place Thursday, Nov. 12.

Thursday’s regular collection day will occur Friday, Nov. 13.

For more information, please contact the City of Ocala Residential Sanitation Department at 352-3516697.

COVID testing center in Reddick Saturday The state Division of Emergency Management will host a one-day, free drive-through COVID-19 testing event in Reddick on Saturday, Nov. 7. Testing will be held at the Reddick Community Center, 4345 N.W. 152nd St., Reddick, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To be tested, individuals should bring a valid photo ID. Minors under age 18 will only be tested if they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. People should be prepared to stay in their vehicles while waiting for testing; restroom facilities will not be available. Only people who are being tested should be in the vehicle, with the exception of parents, guardians or caregivers. No pets are permitted in the vehicle during tests.

Testing will run until 4 p.m. or until all available samples are used, whichever comes first.

For more information, call the Marion County COVID-19 Hotline Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 352-644-2590.

The Mary Sue Rich Community Center, depicted in this artist rendering, will feature a fitness center, walking track, basketball courts, meeting rooms, an indoor playground and more. [Courtesy of the City of Ocala]

City OK’s contract for Mary Sue Rich Community Center Multi-purpose center in west Ocala will cost almost $10 million, span 41,750 square feet

By Brad Rogers Ocala Gazette

A

fter years of planning, the Ocala City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to begin construction on the Mary Sue Rich Community Center, a nearly $10 million project city officials say will be a centerpiece for the revitalization of the city’s west side.

The council voted 5-0, without comment, to award the construction contract to R L Burns Inc. out of Orlando to build the 41,750-squarefoot, two-story community center.

It will be built on the former Royal Oak charcoal plant site, across the street from the now-closed Pine Oaks Golf Course.

City Councilman Ire

Bethea said after the meting that the community center, the first true facility of its kind in the city, will be a benefit to the entire city, although it will be located on the west side.

The community center will include a health and wellness area with an open fitness area; indoor walking track; two multi-purpose studios with a partition for larger groups; a mind, body and dance studio; two full basketball courts in a gymnasium with 120-person bleachers for each court; an indoor playground that connects to one of the courts, which will be used for camps; a senior studio and multipurpose room; and a library and media center. There are

The lobby of the Mary Sue Rich Community Center is shown in this artist rendering. The 41,750-square-foot facility will be built on the site of the former Royal Oak charcoal plant in west Ocala [Courtesy of the City of Ocala]

also huddle rooms for tutoring and health advice.

In addition to the health and wellness areas, the center will have designated indoor spaces for senior, youth and family programs; a 400-seat banquet/ event space that can be divided into three rooms; and a kitchen to serve seniors and children after school, in addition to being available for catered events.

When asked how big of a deal

Honorable Mentions Ocala’s Austin Little honored by Statewide Insurance Professional Association Ocala insurance and financial advisor Austin Little has been selected by NAIFA-Florida as one of this year’s Top 4 Advisors Under 40 in Florida.

The Top 4 Advisors Under 40 award each year recognizes excellence and achievement in the insurance and financial services field by measuring business production, longevity in the business, professional association involvement and community involvement -- for professionals 40 years of age and younger. The award is based on an advisor’s achievements in the industry, NAIFA

membership and involvement, community involvement, and volunteer efforts in other organizations.

Little is a life and property-casualty agent with Farm Bureau Insurance of Marion County.

He was recently recognized statewide as the 18th most successful Farm Bureau agent.

NAIFA-Florida is the statewide professional association for those in insurance and financial advising, since 1932.

“We are delighted and honored to have Austin as one of our four winners this year – and to recognize him

for his professional achievement and success,” said NAIFA-Florida President Joe Chalom, of Coral Springs, FL. The formal presentation of the award will take place at NAIFAFlorida’s Annual Awards Ceremony, to be held virtually on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 4:30 p.m.

the community center was for west Ocala, which he represents, Bethea said, “I think it’s a big deal for the city in general. We need to spread out things that benefit the whole city. ... I think, all in all, it’s going to be a great benefit to the west side as well as the whole community.”

Bethea, who used to work for the city as a recreation supervisor, said he approached former city Recreation and Parks Director

Kathy Crile with the idea of a community center about eight years ago. The two of them developed a plan and convinced former City Manager John Zobler to get behind it.

The city administration figured out financing by borrowing money from the city itself that will be paid back over 10 years at 2 percent interest with See Rich, page 6

Historic Ocala Preservation Society welcomes two new board members The Historic Ocala Preservation Society (HOPS) recently welcomed their newest board members, Stephanie Howard and Giorgio Berry.

Howard said she joined the organization because she feels it is important to form a connection to the neighborhood in which you live. Berry stated that he has an interest in old houses and values the preservation of history.

Both members reside in Ocala’s historic districts and look forward to their involvement in the community.

HOPS is a a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to the heritage education of the community and the preservation of historic structures and sites.

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NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12 , 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Commentary We may loathe taxes, but we love our community more

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By Brad Rogers Ocala Gazette “I hate paying taxes.

But I love the civilization they give me. -- Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Listen to most politicians these days, and their message on taxes is pretty simple. Taxes, especially new ones, are a bad thing. And, for the most part, voters like that in their elected leaders because, like Holmes, no one loves paying taxes.

But also like Holmes, we, as citizens, understand that if we want to live in a decent place, it requires money. Sometimes it requires more money than our governments have and that means raising taxes.

Marion County voters on Tuesday once again showed that while they may not love taxes, they love living in a community that is safe and sound – and it’s worth investing to keep it that way. A remarkable 73 percent of Marion County voters said yes to renewing a 1 percent local option sales tax for four more years. The tax is expected to raise more than $196 million between Jan. 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2024.

You can do a lot with $196 million. And county officials made sure voters knew exactly what they are going to get for their money – again. Rehab of our jail and animal shelter.

New fire and EMS stations.

New police cars, fire trucks and ambulances. And, of course, new roads.

And Tuesday’s vote is not an anomaly. It was, again, the second time Marion County voters had imposed the sales tax on themselves. That proponents claim 30 percent of all sales tax

revenues in our community come from tourists and the estimated 80,000 people who commute to Marion County each day to work made for a pretty good sales pitch.

Oh, the first time the sales tax passed, it garnered just 55 percent of the vote. This time it was 73 percent. Maybe people do love certain kinds of taxes.

And it’s not just the county’s sales tax with its appeal of being shared by all. Marion County voters have also approved a 1-mill property tax on themselves for the schools.

Twice. In 2014 and again in 2018 voters approved the property tax hike so the school district could hire art, music and physical education teachers as well as librarians and teachers’ aides.

That tax generated $69.3 million in its first four years. In the first year of its second fouryear run – like the sales tax, it is subject to voter review after four years – it generated $20.3 million.

What has that meant to our schools? To start with, 450 teacher, teacher aide and librarian jobs. School Board member Kelly King noted at a recent meeting that, if not for the 1 mill, the school district would have to lay off hundreds of people.

So why are voters who hate taxes imposed by their elected leaders so willing to impose taxes on themselves at the ballot box? Two things, I think.

One, both the sales tax and school tax referendums laid out specifically what we the people would get for our money. The school tax referendum even requires a citizen committee, known as the Independent Citizens Referendum

Oversight Committee, or ICROC, to issue an annual report to assure voters the money is being exactly spent on what voters were told it would spent on.

Second, the citizenry is not ignorant. Most of the stuff these two taxes pay for are essential in nature.

Plus, these taxes boost first responders and teachers, two groups the public respects and whose value to society is understood.

When police cars and ambulances are breaking down because they are old and worn out, that’s not in our best interest. We want cops and paramedics to be able to show up when we call them. When we do not have enough money to hire art, music and P.E. teachers, that’s not in our best interest.

The other thing, and our elected leaders recognize this, both these taxes have strong accountability mechanisms to ensure our elected and appointed governmental leaders are fulfilling the will of the voters, that is, the taxpayers.

After Tuesday night’s sales tax victory, County Commissioner Kathy Bryant told the Gazette: “I’m very happy that the citizens of Marion County have confidence in us and

see what we’ve done and have voted to renew the sales tax. I think it was a statement that we did what we said we’d do with the first tax.”

Yep, doing what the voters ask indeed fosters trust. What a refreshing message – this week, particularly.

Also, we all want good public safety. We all want to be able to get around Marion County with relative ease. We all want our children and grandchildren to get a wellrounded education that includes art, music and P.E. So, good job, Marion County. Thomas Jefferson’s famous line, “That government is best which governs least,” has been bastardized over the years into “The best government is that which is closest to the people.” Well, you can’t get much closer to the people than their own ballot, and when given the facts, the power and the assurance that their will will be carried out, it turns out people don’t exactly hate taxes, and sometimes are even willing to impose new taxes on themselves – over and over.

All because, yes, they may hate paying taxes, but they love the community they live in more.

Technicans install a cage in a new patrol car at the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

A referendum that really works

By Joanne Crowder Guest Columnist

W

hen the economy crashed in 2009, I was one of the newer Marion County Public School teachers who received a termination notice. The news was devastating. I loved my school and had become involved in our community and formed wonderful friendships.

Thankfully, I was rehired, but the funding crisis for our schools had only just begun.

The budget deficits caused over-crowded classrooms, the elimination of vocational programs, classroom aides, and the unfathomable loss of great teachers. Our elementary students only received library services, music, art and physical education for half of a year because we lost half of our special area teachers. There was just one teacher per subject for every two schools.

In 2014, the Marion County community saw

firsthand the negative impact the recession brought to our schools.

You said “yes” to our students by voting for a one-mill referendum to support teachers and crucial programs. You recognized the value that referendum had on our students, and you said “yes” again in 2018 with 73% of our community voting to continue the referendum.

Exactly what happens when voters say “yes” to the public school system?

Our referendum supports 100 highly qualified teachers and 192 paraprofessionals. It also reduces the number of students in each class and allows students to receive more individualized attention.

Continuing the referendum added funding for safety initiatives, including school resource officers at each school, fencing, cameras, and other key safety elements to keep our children safe while they are at school. In my role as the fine arts specialist, I visit all of our schools, and

I am always happy to see the school resource officer’s vehicle prominently parked in front of each school.

Our district formed partnerships with business leaders, the CEP and the College of Central Florida to better align and expand our vocational and technical education programs to meet our community’s needs. Our Career Choice Academies serve as a talent pipeline to develop Marion County’s future workforce. This referendum supports 16 vocational teachers and over 30 vocational programs.

Thanks to the referendum, our students also have the benefit of receiving library media services, physical education, and music and art full time for the entire school year. These programs benefit our children’s health, creativity, social skills and love of reading. The referendum also supports 51 physical education teachers and technicians, 27 media specialists and aides and 35

art and music teachers.

Sometimes, I wonder what would have happened had I not been rehired.

I have succeeded in my new position and continue to be very active in our community by serving arts organizations and forging partnerships to highlight the talents of our students.

I’m grateful for these responsibilities and the opportunity to fulfill them.

Thank you, Marion County, for supporting our students by repeatedly saying “yes” to our children.

Rest assured your onemill referendum directly benefits the students of Marion County. Investing in our children ensures their success and the wellbeing of our community for generations to come.

Joanne Crowder is the Fine Arts program specialist for Marion County Public Schools. She holds bachelor’s degrees in audio engineering and music education from Berklee College of Music and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Saint Leo University.

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NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Election 2020 GOP sweeps 4 legislative seats in Marion

By Bill Thompson Ocala Gazette

R

epublicans swept all four state legislative races that affected Marion County on Tuesday’s ballot.

In Florida House District 23, incumbent state Rep. Stan McClain, of Ocala, was re-elected to a third term after defeating Democratic challenger Cynthia Dela Rosa, also of Ocala.

With all precincts reporting, McClain received 67 percent of the vote in retaining his seat. District 23, which is wholly within Marion County, covers

almost all of the county east of U.S. 441.

In Florida House District 22, newcomer Joe Harding, of Williston, captured the seat held

by Rep. Charlie McClain Stone, an Ocala Republican who is term-limited out.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting in both counties in the district, Harding beat Democrat Barbara Byram, also a Levy County resident, with 64 percent. District 22 spans western Marion County west of U.S. 441 and south

retention question, six state constitutional amendments, the School Board District 1 race and the renewal of a local sales tax for four years.

The Trump-Biden standoff garnered 202,546 votes. In other words, 98.6 percent of voters who cast ballots Tuesday opted for one or the other.

The School Board race between Allison B. Campbell, the winner, and Lori Conrad drew 174,468 total votes.

The local tax referendum did somewhat better, with 188,421 total votes.

Among those other 12 contests, the proposed Amendment 2, which would gradually raise Florida’s

of U.S. 27.

In Florida House District 33, with 99 percent of precincts reporting, incumbent Rep. Brett Hage defeated Democratic challenger Dee Melvin, of Wildwood. Hage, of Oxford, won a second term by taking 70 percent of the vote.

In Marion County, District 33 includes The Villages of Marion.

Finally, Jennifer Bradley overcame Democrat Stacey Peters to win the District 5 seat in the state Senate. Bradley, of Fleming Island, is the wife of incumbent GOP Sen. Rob Bradley, who is term-limited out.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Bradley received 75 percent of the vote to defeat Peters, who was an 11th-hour substitute

for Melina Rayna Barratt, who died of cancer just three weeks before Election Day. District 5 covers 11 counties including the Dunnellon area in Marion County.

One other legislative contest that affected Marion County was decided with the Aug. 18 primary.

In that election, an open primary between a pair of Gainesville-based Democrats, Yvonne Hayes Hinson beat Rodney Long to win District 20.

The Marion County portion of District 20 covers the northwest section lying north of U.S. 27 and west of U.S. 441/301.

minimum wage to $15, came closest to a presidential-level response, with 198,022 votes.

“I think it was a testament to the interest.

Candidates drive turnout,” Wilcox said of the new record.

Here are a few other elections tidbits from Tuesday.

Wilcox noted that “preelection” turnout was also a new record.

Roughly 80 percent of votes were cast either by mail-in ballots, which were requested ahead of Election Day, or during 13 days of early voting.

Nine of 122 precincts topped 90 percent turnout.

The champion in this group,

with 94.3 percent turnout, was Precinct 4653, one of four inside On Top of The World.

Three of those four broke 90 percent turnout, while the other reached 89 percent.

At least nine of every 10 voters also voted in the communities of Stone Creek, Summer Glen, Spruce Creek and The Villages.

On the other hand, only two precincts recorded below 60 percent turnout.

They were the Hampton Center (56 percent) and Zion United Methodist Church (58 percent), both in Ocala.

In the presidential race, Biden carried only 17 of 122 Marion County precincts.

His local support was

anchored in precincts with large minority communities, including in Reddick, Marion Oaks, Silver Springs Shores and in the heart of Ocala on the north and west sides.

In one of the only two local contests on the ballot, Campbell, the School Board member-elect, similarly dominated her election, winning 100 precincts. Her opponent, Conrad, showed considerable support in the eastern, southeastern and southern parts of Ocala, where she captured 13 of the 22 precincts she won.

Meanwhile, the renewal of the 1-cent sales tax – the other local issue – prevailed with the majority in all 122 precincts.

Harding

From Election, page 1 Marion County, driving local turnout to 77.6 percent, election records show.

That was a new high, according to Elections Supervisor Wesley Wilcox.

Local turnout for 2020 was almost a full percentage point above the previous record, 76.75 percent, set just four years ago when Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton.

The total votes cast for Trump and Biden offer one measure of local interest in the presidential contest.

Besides the race for the White House, all voters in Marion County were eligible to vote in 14 other races on the ballot: six state appellate judges facing a

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NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12 , 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Election 2020 Marion sales tax approved 4 more years

By Brad Rogers Ocala Gazette

During the tax’s first four years, it generated $167 million for county and municipal governments oters in Marion County, with overwhelmingly money going to buy 388 renewed a 1 percent police cars, 12 fire trucks, local option sales tax for 12 ambulances, a Sheriff ’s a second four-year run Office helicopter, 300 air on Tuesday, so Marion packs for firefighters, County and its municipal bulletproof vests for police governments will have a officers, 2,000 new public projected $200 million safety radios, new fire to divvy up and spend on stations and to finance roads and public safety some $101 million in needs through 2024. road construction and Unofficial voting results improvements. showed that the sales tax County officials estimate passed 132,489 to 55,932, that the tax will raise nearly $200 million over the next four years.

While the first four years of the local sales tax allowed the county to take huge steps in recovering from the recessioninduced budget cuts of the previous decade, county officials have said the county still has work to do on that front.

Unlike the A Rolling Greens Fire Station was completed recently using sales tax money. [Bruce Ackerfirst four years man/Ocala Gazette] 2020

V

or 70 percent to 30 percent.

In 2016, when the tax first passed, it won with 55 percent of the vote.

The outcome pleased county officials who had pushed hard for a renewal of the tax.

“I’m very happy,” County Commissioner Kathy Bryant said. “I’m very happy that the citizens of Marion County have confidence in us and see what we’ve done and have voted to renew the sales tax.

I think it was a statement that we did what we said we’d do with the first tax.”

of the tax, when spending was focused on updating public safety vehicle fleets, replacing antiquated public safety equipment and building and repairing roads, the focus of the next four years will be targeted much more on upgrading essential buildings, not the least being the county jail, and more roads.

More than $10 million is proposed for a wide range of jail maintenance and renovation projects.

The sales tax proposal also calls for building one new fire station and rebuilding three others and buying 19 new fire engines and 24 new ambulances.

Marion Fire Rescue also proposes a new EMS station costing $2.7 million for the west side of the county.

Included in the $78 million in proposed public safety sales tax expenditures are a $7.6 million hangar and “special ops” building for the Sheriff ’s Office, as well as a $1.5 million gun range and $2.1 million driving pad.

Sheriff Billy Woods is also seeking a second helicopter at a cost of $3.8 million and is proposing buying 188

new patrol cars.

The county’s Animal Services is asking for $2.7 million for a “rehabilitation” of its facility on Baseline Road.

Among the roads projects on the county’s list are: North Highway 314A, Northwest 49th/35th Street, Northwest 60th Avenue, Northwest 80th/70th Avenue, Northwest 112th Place Road, Northwest 145th Avenue Road, Northwest 150th Avenue, Northwest Highway 320, Northwest/ Northeast 42nd Street, Northeast 19th Avenue, Northeast Highway 314, East Highway 25/South Highway 25, Southeast 47th Avenue, Southeast 59th Street, Southeast 73rd Avenue, Southeast 183rd Avenue Road, Southeast Sunset Harbor Road, Southeast Maricamp Road, Southwest 31st Street/34th Place, Southwest 49th Avenue, Southwest 80th Avenue and Marion Oaks Manor.

The local sales tax would remain in place from Jan. 1, 2021 and through Dec. 31, 2024. Voters would have to renew it again after that.

From Campbell, page 1 Improving attendance was a point of agreement between Campbell and Conrad.

Campbell said that “80 percent of success is showing up” and, after visiting every school in the district, those schools with the worst attendance records also have the worst academic performance.

“We have to get back to communicating why attendance is important,” she said.

Citing a record $652 million school district budget this year, and the fact that 80 percent of the budget is spent on salaries and employee benefits, Campbell believes how the other 20 percent is spent must be more closely scrutinized.

“I’m of the belief that $652 million is enough to live within our means,” the mother of three public school students said.

Campbell, a public relations professional, made better communications at all levels of the school

system, from students on up, a cornerstone of her campaign. She believes improved communications between those running the school district can improve the operation of our schools, but also that teaching effective communications to our children will enhance their futures as well.

Conrad, a Dr. N.H. Jones fourth-grade teacher, said the school district’s curriculum needs to be updated.

“Everything is so old,” she said. “The books are old.

The technology isn’t great.”

Conrad also said too much testing in Marion County schools is eating up instructional time and is unnecessary.

Whether adding a third teacher to the School Bord – board members Kelly King and Nancy Thrower are both teachers – would give teachers an outsized influence on the School Board became an issue during the campaign.

Meanwhile, Conrad had some campaign hiccups over

the past several months.

First, it was discovered that her main residence was not located within District 1. But a nearby family farm is in the district, and Conrad moved there in mid-campaign. Following a formal complaint to state officials, an inquiry found there was nothing illegal about it and Conrad was cleared. Since then, however, the county has assessed her family back taxes because the structure she is living in was never permitted.

Also, Conrad received a written reprimand for using her school email to conduct campaign business, which she said mostly involved emailing her teacher friends, although some of the more than 200 emails were to outside consultants and elections officials.

Campbell said she was grateful to so many people who she met along the campaign trail and those in the school system who helped her, adding that she believes those who voted for her understood her vision.

Allison Campbell celebrates her win in the Marion County School Board District 1 race over Lori Conrad as one of her sons, Connor, 10, leaps into her arms at her home in southeast Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

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NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Election 2020 Cammack elected to Congress Daniel Webster also re-elected for sixth term

By Bill Thompson Ocala Gazette

R

epublican Kat Cammack survived 2020’s most crowded primary to earn a shot at a congressional seat. On Tuesday night, she closed the deal.

Cammack, of Gainesville, took 57 percent of the vote to defeat Democrat Adam Christensen, a political newcomer, also of Gainesville, in the race for the 3rd Congressional District.

The 3rd District includes the city of Ocala as well as most of northern Marion County in stretching across North Central Florida to the Jacksonville suburbs.

All precincts in five of the six counites in the district had reported results on Tuesday night. The exception was Clay County, where 90

From Rich, page 2 Community Redevelopment Area tax revenues. It also received a $2.3 million grant from the Marion County Hospital District, with the stipulation that the district can conduct health and nutrition programs at the community center.

In addition to the Mary Sue Rich Community

percent of precincts had announced the vote total.

But there, Cammack led by about 46,000 votes.

Cammack succeeds Rep. Ted Yoho, a Gainesville Republican Cammack who opted to not run again to fulfill a campaign pledge to serve just four terms.

In a statement, Cammack said she was “incredibly honored” by her victory and added, “In January, I will take an oath to the United States Constitution, not a political party, and I vow to represent all Americans.”

She also recalled how her family lost their home to “a failed Obama-era program in 2011.”

Center, Crile – before her retirement this summer – said the area has the Lillian Bryant Recreation Center nearby, as well as the city’s new Water Recharge Park, with its walking trails. She described the combination as a “fantastic recreation corridor.”

Bethea agreed, noting that the community center is in keeping with the city’s

Webster

“Only in the United States of America would I be able to go from being homeless to the U.S. House of Representatives in 10 years, and I will always fight for Florida’s families the same way I would my own.”

In winning, Cammack also will take over for the man she helped guide to Congress. Cammack was Yoho’s campaign manager in 2012 when the large-animal veterinarian scored a major

Vision 2035 Plan that calls for “connectivity” between recreational facilities across Ocala.

R L Burns was the low bidder of 12 companies that bid on the project. Local firms that bid on the project were Ehlers and Scherer Construction, CullisonWright Construction and Tallen Builders.

The contract calls

upset over 12-term Congressman Cliff Stearns in the Republican primary.

Cammack went on to serve as one of Yoho’s top staffers for several years, and come January, at 32, she will be the youngest Republican woman serving in Congress.

Meanwhile, in a rematch of the 2018 election, Republican U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster defeated Democrat Dana Marie Cottrell of Spring Hill in the race for the 11th Congressional District.

With 99 percent of the precincts reporting, Webster, who is from Webster, received 67 percent of the vote.

He was first elected to

Congress in 2010 from a district rooted primarily in Orlando. He moved over to the 11th District in 2016 after the Florida Supreme Court ordered the boundaries to be redrawn to satisfy provisions of a state constitutional amendment.

District 11 includes Marion County south of State Road 40, as well as all or parts of Lake, Sumter, Citrus and Hernando counties.

In a third congressional race affecting Marion County, incumbent U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn was re-elected to a third term in the 2nd Congressional District.

The Panama City Republican’s only opposition was a write-in candidate, Kim O’Connor of Tampa.

Dunn’s district covers all or parts of 19 counties, including portions of Marion County west of Interstate 75.

for $8.95 million for construction, an 8 percent contingency fund totaling $716,286 and $117,028 for the cost of five alternate bids. The total cost is not to exceed $9.78 million.

In addition to the recreation facilities that will complement the Mary Sue Rich Community Center, the city has approved plans to develop

the old Pine Oaks course into hundreds of homes, including affordable housing. That project has yet to get under way.

“I think this quadrant (the city’s northwest region) is going to be a great gateway to the city, and the further they come into the city, the better it will be,” Bethea said.

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NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12 , 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Horse-O-Ween Ocala’s equine friends got to show off their Halloween best recently during the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership Horse-O-Ween event at the Ocala Downtown Market. Kids got candy for Halloween and numerous horse owners brought different breeds of horses all decked out in Halloween costumes for the event hosted by the Ocala Downtown Market and Louisa Barton. [Photos by Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 202

Kayla Barteau of Horses Without Humans Rescue in Bell and The Oaks in Lake City, sits on Dargon, a 12-year-old Friesian/thoroughbred mixed breed, who was dressed as a Guardian Angel, during the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership Horse-O-Ween event at the Ocala Downtown Market.

Louisa Barton, the Scarecrow, left, and Ian Lampert, as the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz of Horses Without Humans Rescue in Bell and The Oaks in Lake City, pose for a photo during the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership Horse-O-Ween event held for Halloween at the Ocala Downtown Market.

Little Joe, a 17-year-old miniature horse, who is the mascot of Auro Equine Transportation, sticks his tongue out as he wears his devil costume during the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership Horse-O-Ween event.

Rose Mottie and her daughter, Isabella, 8, pose for a photo with Albano Reis of Oak Bell Farm, right, and Marchador, a Magalarga breed from Brazil.

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NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Happy 103rd, Mary!

Woman celebrates birthday at Brentwood at Fore Ranch Mary Elizabeth Geiger, a longtime resident of Jacksonville who currently resides at Brentwood at Fore Ranch, celebrated her 103rd birthday with family, friends and Brentwood staff on Monday. Geiger was joined by her niece, Marti Funk, Marti’s husband, professional wrestler Dory Funk Jr., and Dory Funk III. Geiger was born in Savannah, Ga. and soon after moved to Hilliard, Fla. She then moved to Jacksonville, and married her high school sweetheart, Milton Geiger. They were married for 35 years until he passed away in 1975. She lived most of her life after that with her sister in Jacksonville and cared for herself until last year.

[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020

Mary Elizabeth Geiger poses for photos with her niece, Marti Funk, Dory Funk III and Marti’s husband, professional wrestler, Dory Funk Jr., left to right, during her birthday party at Brentwood at Fore Ranch Assisted Living and Memory Care.

Geiger

T

Mary Elizabeth Geiger, center, who celebrated her 103rd birthday on Monday, gets some help blowing out the candles on her birthday cake from her niece, Marti Funk, left, and Marti’s husband, professional wrestler, Dory Funk Jr., right, during Geiger’s 103rd birthday party.

Celebrity’s Soul Food opening national headquarters in Ocala

he Celebrity’s Soul Food restaurant brand is celebrating the opening of its new corporate headquarters in Ocala on Monday, Nov. 9.

Founded in 2014 by Florida-native and celebrity executive chef Dr. Fredrick Jacobs, “Dr. J,” and his wife Taja Jacobs, Celebrity’s Soul Food will open its new Ocala offices at 2631 S.E. 58th Ave. “We are just so delighted to be back in Florida, bringing the brand home and growing the Celebrity’s Soul Food community across

the country,” said Jacobs, CEO of Celebrity’s Soul Food, in a press release.

“At a very early age, I inherited my passion for food from my mother and grandmother, as I spent time preparing meals with them and learned firsthand how food can bring us together.

Celebrity’s Soul Food was born of that spirit and we’re committed to continuing to innovate and build on the soul experience.”

Celebrity’s Soul Food embraces local flavors and sources regional specialties,

according to the press release. Dishes are prepared from scratch and utilize fresh ingredients to create such elevated menu favorites as gold-dusted chicken wings and red velvet chicken and waffles. “Guests are treated like VIPs, earning the brand’s signature “star treatment” with every dining experience,” it states.

Celebrity’s Soul Food is in the midst of an ambitious 200-location roll out across the country. Twenty-four franchisees have signed on as partners with another 30

currently in development.

“It’s very gratifying to see business owners and entrepreneurs take action to become a part of our evolution with the Celebrity Soul Food brand. We welcome the contributions of our franchisees in the days ahead, and feel proud to be able to offer a proven business model they can believe in,” said Taja Jacobs, chief sustainability officer for Celebrity’s Soul Food.

For more information about Celebrity’s Soul Food, including current and

Jacobs

upcoming locations, visit www.celebrityssoulfood.com or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube

Get local help with your Medicare questions.

I’m Susan Tate, a licensed sales agent in Ocala. When it comes to Medicare, it’s important to consider all of your options. What works well for your neighbor may not be the best fit for you. I know the ins and outs of Medicare, and I’m ready to answer your questions and help you find a plan that fits your needs.

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Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. ©2020 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

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NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12 , 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

CareerSource holding Paychecks for Patriots for veterans

Two faiths break ground on Tree of Life Sanctuary

Eighth annual event designed to pair vets with career opportunities

Temple Beth Shalom and First Congregational United Church of Christ, both of Ocala, broke ground on their new Tree of Life Sanctuary in midOctober.

Dedicated to the principle of Tikkun Olam, which in Hebrew means Temple Beth Shalom Rabbi Ze’ev Harari and First Congregational “Healing the World,” United Church of Christ Pastor Dr. Harold W. McSwain break ground on the Tree of Life Sanctuary in October. [Courtesy of churches] the two congregations are creating a facility to bridge bridging differences where they can share worship space by advancing meaningful and and conduct their educational, social transformative interfaith dialogue, justice and artistic endeavors. according to a press release from the The new sanctuary will be located two groups. on 80th Avenue in Southwest Ocala The effort is intended to “create as one of the founding ventures in the and promote sanctuary that is a ‘safe new Calesa Township, a 5,000 home, and sacred’ space of great hope and multi-age housing development inspiration for our respective and that will include a charter school, mutual futures,” the release states. retail facilities, and the new Florida “We can accomplish together, both in Aquatics Swimming and Training resources and public witness, what Center. Calesa Township was could never be accomplished alone.” unveiled earlier this year by Colen The church’s pastor, Dr. Harold Built Development, a sister company W. McSwain, and the temple’s of On Top of the World Communities rabbi, Rabbi Ze’ev Harari have been Inc. close colleagues for over a decade, Responding to the imperatives of having not only served each other’s their respective religious traditions congregations, but have worked to help heal the world, the two closely to foster interfaith dialogue congregations are partnering and cooperation with other faith to promote understanding and traditions, as well.

Ocala Gazette

C

areerSource Citrus Levy Marion will hold a “Paychecks for Patriots” virtual career fair on Tuesday, Nov. 10 as part of a statewide effort to connect Florida veterans with career opportunities. The career fair takes place from 10-11:30 a.m.

During Paychecks for Patriots, now in its eighth year, CareerSource CLM will help match veterans with employers who value the knowledge, skills and attributes attained during military service. Similar hiring events, mostly virtual, will be held throughout the month by other CareerSource Florida regions.

CareerSource CEO Rusty Skinner said Paychecks for Patriots, which is open at no charge to veterans and members of military families, is part of an ongoing effort to “help make Florida the most veteran-friendly state in the nation.”

“With Veterans Day upon us, and during our special month of giving thanks, we can think of no finer way to honor those who have served our

country than by hiring in updating their a hero,” Skinner said. resume, sharpening CareerSource interview skills or CLM is using a other employability multi-functional assistance are platform developed encouraged to by recruiters that take advantage of enables businesses CareerSource CLM’s and candidates to fee-free services, participate from available virtually and anywhere on any in-person: device.

Virtual staff “This year’s event assistance is available may look different from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. than usual, but Monday through CareerSource CLM Friday by phone, remains committed email, Live Chat or to using technology to teleconferencing. still allow for service In-person members and veterans assistance is available to come together with weekdays from 9 local businesses,” a.m. to 4 p.m. at Skinner said. “It Career Centers enables veterans to in Ocala, Lecanto meet in real time with and Chiefland; hiring managers, learn appointments are about job openings recommended but not and submit resumes.” required.

For veterans unable To register for the to access the job fair Paychecks for Patriots online, a limited Virtual Career Fair, number of computers visit careersourceclm. will be available by com and click on the appointment only link at the top of any at the CareerSource page, or go to [bit.ly/ CLM career center, RegisterP4P]bit.ly/ 2703 NE 14th St., in RegisterP4P. Ocala. To schedule an Veterans interested appointment, call 800in learning more about 434-JOBS (5627).

Paychecks for Patriots Marion County’s or CareerSource Veterans Helping CLM’s Veterans Veterans will also Services, should have limited computer call 800-434-JOBS access at its office, (5627), ext. 2225.

2730 E. Silver Springs Businesses interested Blvd., in Ocala. in participating should 3.5” x 2.5” | Maximum Font 30 pt Skinner noted that callSize: 800-746-9950, ext. veterans interested 2205.

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NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Guinn to nominate Balken as police chief Mayor has final say in selecting chief to replace the late Greg Graham

By Brad Rogers Ocala Gazette

M

ayor Kent Guinn told Ocala City Council members Tuesday night that he will recommend Deputy Police Chief Mike Balken as the city’s next police chief.

Guinn said he will make a formal recommendation to the council at its next regular meeting on Nov. 17.

Balken, who is serving as acting chief in the wake of former Police Chief Greg Graham’s death in a plane crash on Oct. 25, has been with the Ocala

Police Department since April, 1994, when he was hired as a patrol officer. In the ensuing years, Balken served as a detective and watch commander. In 2015, he attained the rank of major and headed OPD’s investigations. Two years later he was placed in charge of the Patrol Division.

Upon the retirement of longtime Deputy Chief Rodney Smith in 2018, Graham named Balken deputy chief.

The question of a new chief came up as Councilman Ire Bethea suggested the city keep flags at half-staff for 30 days in recognition of

Graham’s service to the city.

Bethea also said the 30-day “mourning period” would give citizens time to evaluate Balken’s performance.

Guinn responded by saying he was ready to move ahead.

“Mike Balken is my choice,” the mayor said. “My plans aren’t going to change.

I’m not going to bring a name other than Mike Balken.”

Under Section 2.08 of the city charter, the mayor has the power to name a new police chief. It states, specifically, that “The city council shall appoint a chief of police nominated by the mayor.” Guinn pointed that

out to Bethea, who agreed the mayor has that power to nominate the police chief.

“My plan is not changing,” Guinn continued. “I don’t want to waste people’s time.”

Balken, who attended the City Council meeting, did not say anything regarding Guinn’s comments. His only remarks were to thank the city and its residents for all the kindnesses and expressions of sympathy OPD had received in the wake of Graham’s death.

Guinn said Graham, who was 58, had a succession

Deputy Chief Balken

plan that included promoting Balken to chief upon Graham’s retirement.

“That was Greg’s plan the whole time,” Guinn said, “for Mike to be chief when he retired.”

Non-profits to get another $3 million in COVID relief

By Bill Thompson Ocala Gazette

T

he Marion County Commission on Tuesday approved another $3 million to aid local nonprofit groups rocked

by COVID-19.

But the head of the Community Foundation, the liaison between the board and the recipients, said time grows short and more groups need to finalize their applications so both sides will know whether another fiscal injection is necessary to help nonprofits recover.

The County Commission seeks to disburse $64 million received under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act, a $2-plus trillion coronavirus aid package passed by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump in March.

The board got $15.9 million up front and recently won state

approval to receive another $12.8 million.

The more significant funding initiatives included $7.5 million directed to the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership to help local businesses with COVID-related costs. A county report outlining CARES Act grants as of Oct. 28 shows that another big slice – nearly $9.7 million – went to AdventHealth Ocala.

Much of the rest went to cover the county’s own expenses or those of other local government agencies.

The Community Foundation, which is responsible for vetting applicants from the local nonprofit realm, submitted 45 applications to the county for grants totaling $2.4 million, said President and Executive Director Lauren Deiorio. (Agencies can and have submitted more than one application, depending on what they seek reimbursement for.)

According to that county document, the foundation has

received $657,936 to be distributed to local groups.

Deiorio noted that the foundation is reviewing another 25 possible grants. Those recipients, if approved, would receive $1.4 million combined.

Yet 65 more requests are in “draft mode,” said Deiorio, meaning they started the application process but haven’t followed through to completion. Meanwhile, the foundation knows of others that may need help but have not formally started the application process.

Deiorio said an initial review of the “draft” requests indicates the additional $3 million that the County Commission green-lighted Tuesday may cover them. But, she added, that’s unclear until the applications are completed.

“We can’t see how much that they’re requesting. We’re just not sure,” she said.

Deiorio said the foundation is working diligently to get the various groups to that point. That’s because

the CARES Act set a Dec. 30 deadline for qualified expenses.

Yet, the County Commission’s calendar is quickly winding down.

Given the amount of time needed to review the applications and get them on the board’s schedule, time is of the essence, Deiorio said.

The County Commission has three more regular sessions before the federal deadline, the last scheduled for Dec. 15.

“The need is so great right now and they’re desperately trying to get a handle on things,” Deiorio said.

“We want the nonprofits to finish what they’ve started. We’re doing everything we can to push them. I’m not sure they’re going to extend the CARES Act through 2021.”

As far as COVID relief aid for local businesses, Kevin Sheilley, the president and CEO of the CEP, said 306 applications for CARES Act funding under the agency’s Moving Biz Forward program have been approved.

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NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12 , 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Local health officials developing COVID vaccine plan

By Bill Thompson Ocala Gazette

C

OVID-19 may still be a threat within Marion County, but local public health officials and emergency managers are now preparing for the day a vaccine arrives.

On Tuesday, the County Commission heard a briefing on how the community would react when a coronavirus vaccine is available.

Mark Lander, administrator of the county Health Department, and Emergency Management Director Preston Bowlin gave the presentation.

Lander noted that Gov. Ron DeSantis had submitted an immunization plan to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services last month.

The document outlines a three-part approach.

During the first phase, Lander said, the amount of vaccine would be limited, so the distribution of it would focus on healthcare staffers, “essential” workers and “high risk” citizens, including those 65 or older and those with underlying health conditions that make them more susceptible to hospitalization or death.

During the meeting, Lander pointed out that 331 of the 351 people who have died with or from COVID-19 in Marion County were 55 or older.

And the Health Department has reported that more than 90 percent of fatalities also had underlying health issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, among others.

Lander pointed out that once enough vaccine is available, the state during the second phase likely would set up large-scale drivethru immunizations in large cities.

Meanwhile, locally, the Health Department would establish “pods” for vaccinations, emphasizing large employers.

Once at the final phase, provided there are no shortages, the Health Department would administer the vaccine similar to how it conducts COVID-19 testing, with the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion being established as an immunization

hub, said Lander.

The drug would also be available for distribution at retail outlets in this stage.

Lander identified some challenges the county faces in preparing for a vaccine.

Six possible vaccines are now in the trial stage, Lander said. He described four of them as “very positive,” including one being developed

by Johnson & Johnson.

On Tuesday, the North Florida/ South Georgia Veterans Health System announced that the VA hospital in Gainesville would be the site for the nation’s fourth large-scale COVID-19 vaccine trial. According to VA spokeswoman Cindy Snook, the VA was seeking volunteers to test a possible vaccine being developed by the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

While veterans may participate, the pool of potential subjects was not limited to them. The VA also sought help from its own staff as well as family and friends of veterans, Snook said. The VA wants to focus on frontline and essential workers as well as minorities, especially blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans, since the coronavirus appears to affect them at greater rates than other demographic groups.

Lander said the early research suggests the vaccine must be kept between 50 degrees below zero and 86 degrees below zero.

Thus, specialized refrigeration units are needed.

“You really don’t find that anywhere normally through businesses,” he said.

As evidence of that, Lander noted that such units were back-ordered by at least two months.

But the county already has some in hand, as Bowlin, the emergency management director, found them.

The county has purchased seven freezers or refrigerators to store the vaccine.

According to Procurement Director Susan Olsen, the units cost $52,885 in total, which was paid through the county’s share of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act, a $2-plus trillion coronavirus aid

package passed by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump in March.

Lander also told the board that the county has a mobile refrigerated trailer to move the vaccine supply where needed.

“We feel very confident we’ll be able to do these remote sites,” he said.

Besides storing the drugs to prevent long waits or waste, Lander said the county faces a possible shortage of having sufficient healthcare personnel in helping administer the vaccine.

To draft the final vaccine plan, Bowlin told commissioners, officials are drawing on the experiences of trying to conduct mass testing for COVID as well as the county’s response to the H1N1 outbreak a few years ago.

Bowlin said a task force has been assembled to iron out other details, such as how to deploy firstresponders and communications tactics. The panel will begin meeting next week.

The state Division of Emergency Management, Bowlin added, has already assured county officials that it holds sufficient personal protective equipment, syringes, alcohol, swabs and Band-aids so the vaccine can be administered in Marion County, when necessary.

Back in April, Trump launched Operation Warp Speed, a publicprivate partnership with drugmakers, to produce 300 million vaccine doses by the end of the year.

Within the past few weeks, Trump had said a vaccine might be ready

by Election Day, although some administration officials had indicated next year was more realistic.

Last week, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said research data should be available in December to determine how close the nation is to a COVID vaccine.

But Pfizer, which is conducting one of the ongoing trials, recently announced that before Thanksgiving it would seek “safety” approval to use the vaccine from the Food and Drug Administration, if the data supported that.

From Parade, page 1 both the staging area and along the parade route so people in the crowd can safely social distance as well as the people in the parade,” she said.

She said there will be handsanitizing stations along the parade route and spectators and parade participants will be urged to wear masks and socially distance.

Mosley believes it is possible to create a safe spectator area along the 2-mile route. That is in part because she does not expect this year’s crowd to be anywhere near the 65,000 people organizers say attend the parade in an average year.

“If we get 25,000 people I’ll be surprised,” she said. “It will be a petite parade.”

A smaller parade overall is also expected, too, Mosley said.

Typically, there are 6,000 to 7,000 parade participants. This year she expects that number to be more like 4,000 – again, because of the pandemic.

Assistant City Manager Ken Whitehead, who is coordinating the city’s permitting process, said the city will use the same health safety criteria it used for Light Up Ocala to make its recommendation to the council. Those criteria are based on

Gov. Rn DeSantis’ recommendations and Health Department numbers for COVID_19 cases and hospitalizations in our community.

Whitehead said a meeting is planned Friday between the parade committee, the city staff and Health Department officials to determine what COVID-19 mitigation steps will be necessary to keep the event safe. He acknowledged that the stretched-out venue – as opposed to the confines of the downtown square where Light Up Ocala is held – may factor into whatever recommendation the city reaches.

City Council President Jay Musleh said he is unsure how the council will vote on the permit, but while the parade is not a city-sponsored event, a lot of city employees are required to work it.

City worker safety, he said, will be a factor in the council’s decision.

Mosley said the parade committee will not have its traditional parade marshal this year. Instead, with the theme of this year’s parade being “A Hero’s Christmas,” veterans from each branch of the military will be honored and a representative from each branch will ride in the parade as co-marshals.

News in Brief Marion Fire Rescue reduces response times via partnership Marion and Lake counties have adopted a mutual aid agreement to reduce response times along the Marion/Lake county line.

The agreement between the Marion County Board of County Commissioners and Lake County allows the closest unit to respond to a call regardless of jurisdictional boundaries to provide the most appropriate help in the quickest amount of time, according to a release from Marion County Fire Rescue.

As an added benefit, property owners may now be eligible for insurance premium reductions.

MCFR encourages citizens to contact their insurance company for potential insurance savings due to this new automatic aid agreement.

If insurers require a verification letter, one may be obtained online at MarionCountyFL.org/ MCFRinsuranceSavings.

Marion County Fire Rescue is pursuing similar agreements with surrounding jurisdictions.

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12

NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Sports

Trinity Catholic players celebrate as they defeat Pensacola Catholic in the Class 3A Region 1 final at Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala on Saturday, Oct. 31. With the win, Trinity Catholic heads to the state Final Four State Tournament in Fort Myers. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Vanguard, Trinity storm to state semifinals Lady Knights, Celtics try to topple giants Ponte Vedra Beach, Bishop McLaughlin on Saturday; Forest out Ocala Gazette

A

n impressive season has come to an end for the Forest Wildcats with a loss in the state regional final to St. Petersburg High School.

Forest, which had stormed through the playoffs without a serious challenge, lost three sets to one to St. Petersburg, 25-23, 25-22, 20-25, 27-25. Forest ends the season 16-1 overall.

But Ocala is still wellrepresented in the FHSAA state Girls Volleyball Tournament.

Vanguard continued its dominant run with a straight-sets win over Fivay last Saturday, 25-16, 25-

19, 25-13. With the win, the Lady Knights, 15-2, moved into the Final Four, where they will face Ponte Vedra Beach, 25-0, in the state semifinal game.

It will be an uphill battle for Vanguard, as Ponte Vedra Beach is ranked No. 4 overall in the state by MaxPrep Sports.

Trinity Catholic also moved into the Final Four, in the 3A State Championship Tournament, with a 3-1 win over Pensacola Catholic last Saturday. The Lady Celtics, 16-6, face Bishop McLaughlin in the semifinal game this Saturday at Bishop McLaughlin in Fort Myers.

Bishop McLaughlin, with a 25-2 record, is ranked No. 3 in the state

by MaxPreps.

Vanguard’s Adyla Kerley (23) celebrates a point as Vanguard High School defeated Fivay in straight sets last Saturday in Ocala. [Alan Youngblood/Special to the Ocala Gazette]

Vanguard’s Sophie Reed (C) (28) celebrates her 1000th assist this season after Vanguard High School defeats Fivay in straight sets at Vanguard in the 5A 2020 FHSAA Volleyball State Tournament in Ocala, Florida on Saturday October 31. [Alan Youngblood/Special to the Ocala Gazette]

Trinity Catholic’s Amelia Fitzpatrick (17) sets the ball during a win over Pensacola Catholic in the Class 3A Region 1 final at Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala on Saturday, Oct. 31. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Vanguard’s Veronica Velez (32) and Ruby Owen (34) block the shot as the Lady Knights defeated Fivay in straight sets at Vanguard in the 5A 2020 FHSAA Volleyball State Tournament last Saturday. [Alan Youngblood/special to the Ocala Gazette]

13

NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12 , 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Tigers still kings of Marion Dunnellon holds off tough Forest team to remain undefeated Ocala Gazette

T

he Dunnellon Tigers brought an unblemished record into Ocala for a matchup with the Forest Wildcats last Friday and narrowly escaped with a 10-7 win.

Dunnellon started off the season winning its first three games by a combined score of 133-16. But the Tigers entered the toughest part of their schedule several weeks ago and barely topped Vanguard before last week’s showdown with Forest.

Dunnellon faces another stiff test this Friday when it takes on West Port, which boasts a 4-1 record. West Port’s only loss this season was a 43-6 shellacking at Vanguard.

Forest, meanwhile, dropped to 2-3 on the season with the loss to Dunnellon but gets a choice matchup with 1-4 Lake Weir this Friday.

In other action last week: • Belleview remained winless with a 38-13 loss to North Marion. Belleview faces Vanguard, 4-1, Friday night at home.

• Vanguard shut out Lake Weir, 38-0, and faces Belleview in an away game • Trinity Catholic beat Calvary Christian, 2724, at home. The Celtics have the week off before facing Melbourne Central Catholic Nov. 13 in Melbourne. Trinity is 4-3 on the season and ranked No. 97 in the state overall

by MaxPreps Sports.

Calvary defenders try to slow down Trinity Catholic’s Kellyn West (2) as the Trinity Catholic Celtics take on the Calvary Christian Warriors at Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala on Friday October 30. [Alan Youngblood/special to the Ocala Gazette]

Forest’s Antonio Crim Jr. (24) dives for a score as Dunnellon defenders Julius Gardner (10) and Tinnibu Hollis (3) try to bring him down during a football game at Forest High School in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, Oct. 30. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Trinity Catholic quarterback Cole Gonzales (1) uncorks a pass over the defense in the Celtics win over Calvary Christian Warriors at Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala last Friday. [Alan Youngblood/special to the Ocala Gazette]

Dunnellon’s Brodie Lucky (5) tries to break free from Forest’s Izaiah Guy (7) last Friday. Dunnellon won the game 10-7. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

14

NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

A trove of treasures unearthed The people and events that shaped the area come to life at the Marion County Museum of History

H

istorical artifacts provide insight into our past, fueling our imagination with images of previous eras.

Archivists and chroniclers who understand the importance of the past are able to demonstrate the significance of previous times, as are collectors, who painstakingly acquire artifacts to add depth and volume to collections that narrate the past.

The Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology recently acquired several collections and items that help tell the story of people and events that shaped the area.

One of those collections centers around an Ocala resident, Louis Dosh, a West Point graduate, and the oldest son of Bert Dosh, the former editor of the Ocala Star-Banner. His is a story of love, passion and sacrifice.

“Bert Dosh had four boys and one girl,” said Price Landrum, Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology board of trust president. “All four boys went into the Army, and three of them went to West Point … the day he graduated the Point, he married Betty (who was

a Ford Modeling Agency model).”

However, Dosh had the misfortune of being in the Philippines when that nation fell. He was able to escape the ensuing death march and was engaged in guerilla activity in the jungles for two years, eventually surrendering to the Japanese when his health took a turn for the worse, said Landrum.

“He was in a prisoner of war camp for a while, and then was put on one of the hell ships, which was bombed by the U.S. Navy.

He was taken ashore, put back onto another hell ship, and then died and was buried at sea.”

It was at about the time of Dosh’s death, that his wife Betty christened the S.S. Ocala Victory, without knowing the fate of her husband, said Landrum.

“At that time, they thought he was still a prisoner of war,” said Landrum. “They had gotten two cards from him as a prisoner of war. The amount of war bonds sold in Marion County and the fact that he was a prisoner of war, were among the reasons that it (military watercraft) was named the S.S. Ocala Victory. They didn’t find out that he had died until the Americans had reconquered the Philippines.”

Richard Cardinali, a museum trustee, talks about an exhibit on the American Territorial Period and the Second Seminole War at the Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology in the McPherson Governmental Complex. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Betty, Louis’ widow, received not only the bottle from the shipping company, but a box with her name on it, said Landrum. She also received two pieces of jewelry and a photograph album. However, the story of Louis and Betty Dosh was immortalized globally when their nuptials appeared in one of the most widely acclaimed periodicals of the time.

“Their wedding was the cover story of Life Magazine, a month after they got married,” said Landrum. “We have a Purple Heart that she got in 1945. In 2011, Senator

“AdventHealth saved my life.”

Nelson got Louis’ medals for Louis’ brother, who was still alive in January.

He was going to get his daughter-in-law to bring us the rest of his medals, and then COVID hit. I’ve been afraid of trying to call him because I don’t want to hear that his phone has been disconnected, and we came that close to meeting Louis’ brother.”

One of Louis’ grandnephews is an Ocala resident, said Landrum.

The family has a deep history with the area, with one of his other brothers having worked for Barnett Bank for time.

In addition to the aforementioned items, the museum has photo albums, drawings and a scrap book Louis made for Betty of West Point, said Landrum.

“The family put a memorial headstone up for him here in town,” said Landrum. “He’s on one, maybe two, memorials up at West Point. We have a photograph of the memorial; we’re not sure of where it is, but It looks as if it’s at West Point. His house is still standing in the historic district.”

Louis Dosh aspired to See Museum, page 18

Al

Heart Attack Survivor Retired Physician AHO-517

By Ben Baugh Correspondent

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15

NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12 , 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Community

Now -1/2

Astronaut Academy

11/6

Marion Oaks Farmers Market

11/6

Marion County Friday Market

11/7

Hackin’ It for Hospice

11/7

Community Garden Replant Day

11/7

Brownwood Farmers Market

11/7

11/7

11/7

11/7 -8 11/10

11/10

11/10 11/10

Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave. Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4pm Kids of all ages learn about space travel with hands-on exhibits exploring the space station, Mars rover and rockets. www.mydiscoverycenter.org

Marion Oaks Community Center, 294 Marion Oaks Ln. 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.

Candler Hills Golf Club, 8137 SW 90th Terrace Road 7am-12pm This charity golf tournament benefits Hospice of Marion County. Registration begins at 7, followed by breakfast and a shotgun start at 8:45. Register your team of four at www. hospiceofmarion.com and plan to stay for lunch after the tournament. Call Damian Romano at (352) 854-4840 for more information.

West Ocala Wellness Community Garden, 2200 W. State Rd. 40 8:30-10:30am Community members are invited to replant their crops or start a new garden plot in the West Ocala Wellness Community Garden. Visit ocalafl.org/garden or call (352) 368-5540 for more information.

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

Ocala Downtown Market

Courtesy of City of Ocala

11/11

Veterans Day Celebration

11/11

1 Million Cups Ocala

11/11

How to Stay Relevant (and tell your story) in Uncertain Times

11/11

Young Leaders Exchange

11/12

Farmers Market

11/12

YPO Scavenger Hunt Shenanigans

11/12

Adapting Your Business Operation to the New Normal

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

TEDxOcala

College of Central Florida, 3001 SW College Road 10am-4pm Fifteen innovative speakers present their ideas on the theme “Voice” at Ocala’s 6th annual TedxTalk. They include renowned horse expert Pat Parelli, international speaker Courtney Epps, and other educators, storytellers, entrepreneurs and artists.

Visit tedxocala.com for tickets and more information.

Brown’s Fall Festival

Brown’s Country Market, 13940 U.S. Hwy. 301, Oxford 10am-4pm Shop seasonal produce and plants and enjoy live music, local vendors, food trucks, a classic car show, axe throwing and a kids’ corner. The event benefits Villagers for Veterans and the Humane Society of Sumter County. Call (352) 303-1550 or visit brownandbrownfarms.com for more information.

Six Gun Territory Wild West Weekend

Kirby Family Farm, 19650 NE 30th St., Williston 10am-4pm Experience wild west showdowns, train robberies, shootouts and Can-Can dancers along with train rides, a petting zoo, live music, food and a carousel. Call (352) 812-7435 or visit kirbyfarm.com for more information.

Paychecks for Patriots

Virtual 10-11:30am CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion hosts a virtual career fair for veterans. Visit careersourceclm.com or call (800) 434-5627 for more information.

Ocala/Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, 2601 E. Fort King St. 11am Honor local veterans with cannon fire, the playing of Taps, the laying of a wreath, a student chorus and poem recitals. Follow facebook.com/marioncountyflorida 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.

Community Foundation Ocala Marion County - virtual 1-2:30pm This workshop featuring speaker Annetta Wilson is part of the Nonprofit Academic Series by the Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership at the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College. Registration at www.ocalafoundation.org is required.

Infinite Ale Works, 304 SE Magnolia Ext. 5:30-6:30pm Young Leaders is an industry-specific networking group of the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership.

Email tom@ocalacep.com for more information.

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

Paddock Mall, 3100 SW College Rd. 5:30-7pm An adult scavenger hunt for members and prospective members of Young Professionals Ocala.

Backstage Tour

Circle Square Cultural Center, 8395 SW 80th St. 12-1:30pm A behind-the-scenes guided tour including green rooms, front of the house and backstage equipment. Registration at masterthepossibilities.org is required.

Stiletto Network

CenterState Bank, 1632 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

3-4pm Email April Savarese at asavarese@bgcofmarion.com for more information.

Exceptional Service Builds Customers

Online via http://midflorida.score.org 7-8pm Learn why exceptional service is one of the best ways to grow your business. Email midflorida@scorevolunteer.org to register for this free online workshop.

Now -1/1

Online via http://midflorida.score.org 7-8pm Learn about the changes most likely to continue to impact business owners as we emerge from the pandemic shutdown as well as technologies to adapt. Email midflorida@ scorevolunteer.org to register for this free online workshop.

Arts Hinterlands

City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. 8am-5pm Artist Megan Welch, a portrait painter and educator who lives in Northeast Florida, has created an exhibition of portraits in oil and graphite that portray the stories of those navigating the temporal nature of life, the unknown and the human condition. Open Monday-Friday. Call (352) 629-8447 for more information.

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Now -1/15

11/6 -28 11/6

11/8

11/8

NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Florida: Explored

City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Administration, 828 NE Eighth Ave. 9am-5pm Ocala artist Dan McCarthy’s exhibition includes pieces created during his exploration of Indian Lake State Forest, a hidden gem in Marion County, capturing the mood and feeling of this wild space. Open Monday-Friday. Call (352) 629-8447 for more information.

11/9

City of Ocala Planning & Zoning Commission

11/9

Dunnellon City Council

11/10

Networks CEMG

11/10

Marion Soil and Water District Board

11/10

Ocala/Marion County TPO Technical Advisory Committee

11/10

Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District Board

11/10

Ocala/Marion County TPO Citizens Advisory Committee

11/10

City of Belleview Planning & Zoning Board

11/10

City of Dunnellon Historic Preservation Board

11/10

Marion County License Review Board

11/10

Marion County School Board

11/12

Marion County Development Review Committee Staff Meeting

11/12

Marion County Code Enforcement Board

11/12

Marion County Tourist Development Council

11/12

2020 State of the County Address

Paint What You Love Exhibit

Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St. Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 11am-4pm A collective art exhibit featuring artworks in all mediums by more than 40 student artists of Marion Cultural Alliance artist Carol Basso. The opening reception will take place November 6th from 5-6pm. Email Ashley.justiniano@mcaocala.com for more information.

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. and virtual 5:30pm Call (352) 629-8404 for more information. Visit https://zoom. us/j/97314299662 to participate online.

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

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

First Friday Art Walk

Downtown Ocala 6-9pm Stroll historic downtown Ocala and explore more than 20 artist displays, free, hands-on family art activities and extended shopping hours. Visit ocalafl.org/artwalk or call (352) 629-8447 for more information.

Growth Services Conference Room A, 2710 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

9:30am Call Ann Bishop at (352) 438-2475 for more information.

Seasons of Change

NOMA Ocala, 939 N. Magnolia Ave. 11am-1pm Enjoy Sunday brunch accompanied by live music by Godiva at the opening of the “Seasons of Change” art exhibit. Follow facebook.com/nomagalleryocala for more information.

Marion County Public Library, 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

10:30am For more information, contact the Transportation Planning Organization at (352) 438-2630.

Petals and Paint: Antique Hydrangeas and Heartfelt Gratitude

Gallery B an Art Collective Art Gallery, 405 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

2-5pm Artist Julie Shealy and floral designer Taylor Grace come together for a unique workshop that allows participants to create two masterpieces—a custom seasonal floral arrangement featuring hydrangeas and a painting of the design in the theme “Heartfelt Gratitude.” Register at www. julieshealy.com or call (352) 875-2419.

USDA Ocala Service Center, 2441 NE Third St. 12:30pm Call (352) 622-3971 for more information.

Marion County Public Library, 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

1pm For more information, contact the Transportation Planning Organization at (352) 438-2630.

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

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

Growth Services Training Room, 2710 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

5:30pm The License Review Board hears and investigate complaints regarding competency of licensed contractors. Call (352) 4382428 for more information.

School Board Meeting Room, 512 SE 3rd St. 5:30pm Call (352) 671-7700 for more information.

Courtesy Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band

11/8

Veterans Light the Stars

11/10

Teaching Tuesday: Thaumatrope

Ocala/Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, 2601 E. Fort King St. 6:30pm Kingdom of the Sun concert band presents its ninth annual performance to honor veterans. Bring your chairs and blankets to this free concert with a fireworks finale. Visit kingdomofthesunband.org or call (352) 624-9291 for more information.

Appleton Museum – virtual 10-10:30am The Appleton Museum presents a live streaming art project that the whole family can make at home with basic art and craft supplies. Online at facebook.com/appletonmuseum.

Government

11/9

City of Belleview Site Plan Committee

11/9

Marion County Development Review Committee

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

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.

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

Growth Services Training Room, 2710 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

9am The Code Enforcement Board hears and resolves cases in which there is a code violation dispute. Call (352) 671-8901 for more information.

Visitors and Convention Bureau, 109 W. Silver Springs Blvd.

9am Call (352) 438-2800 for more information.

McPherson Government Complex Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave 7pm Marion County will take a look back at the success of the 20192020 fiscal year and presentation of plans for empowering Marion County in 2021. Asl offered online at fb.com/ marioncountyflorida

17

NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12 , 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Commission waives school impact fees again

ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR 6

7

6:30pm Stephen Lopez The Crazy Cucumber Eatery and Bar

6

The Corkscrew

6:30pm Carle Klutts

7

Hiatus Brewing Company

6

7pm Becca

7-10pm Music from the Heart The Corkscrew

7pm John Copeland

7

Infinite Ale Works

8pm Warren McCullough The Keep Downtown

6

7pm The Music of George Strait Orange Blossom Opry

8

11:30pm John Copeland Pi on Broadway

6

7-11pm Conrad Marcum O’Calahan’s Pub & Eatery

11 6

5-9pm Conrad Marcum Bank Street Patio Bar

8pm Fareeza The Keep Downtown

6

8pm Roosevelt Collier Band

12

7pm The Big Bad Pi on Broadway

Marion Theatre

7

4-8pm Conrad Marcum

12

Bank Street Patio Bar

Eaton’s Beach Florisiana Cuisine

7

6pm Groove 41 Circle Square Commons

6-10pm Jeff Jarrett

12

7pm Jammer All Stars Showcase Orange Blossom Opry

Schools have not collected impact fees on new development since 2011

By Bill Thompson Ocala Gazette

T

he Marion County Commission has continued the moratorium on collecting impact fees for schools.

While local developers and builders likely applaud this, the commission’s vote was not done at their behest.

Rather, the request came from the School Board.

Impact fees are one-time assessments levied on new growth for a variety of infrastructure needs. The idea is for newcomers to offset the cost of those projects, such as roads or schools.

The County Commission, again at the request of the School Board, first suspended the collection of school impact fees in June 2011, during the depths of the Great Recession.

The moratorium has been periodically

renewed and was set to expire this year on Dec. 31.

But two months ago, School Board Chairman Eric Cummings notified the County Commission that his board was willing to go without the revenue for another year.

Cummings wrote that the school district now has “ample capacity, at each school level, from a districtwide perspective.”

He added that there were “important nuances” to this outlook. “Generally,” he wrote, “surplus capacity exists for schools north of SR (State Road) 40.

In schools south of SR 40, a number of instances of persistent overcrowding exist.”

But, “In the context of the coronavirus pandemic, the District anticipates reduced ‘in person’ school attendance for the 2020/21 school year,” which in turn should reduce the district’s funding from the state, as based

on the Education Department’s formula.

“Given this expected data anomaly, and the previous trend of ample capacity, the Board’s consensus recommendation is for the BCC” – the County Commission – “to continue to suspend (not terminate)” the school system impact fee, Cummings wrote.

When commissioners implemented the initial suspension, the fee was $3,967 per single-family home.

The fee varies by other forms of housing.

Marion County has added roughly 10,000 new single-family homes between 2012 and 2020, according to county property appraiser’s office records.

Between 2011 and 2016, suspending collection of the fees cost the school district a total of $13.7 million.

A county spokeswoman said officials stopped tracking the total in 2017.

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A scale model of the W.H. Fore Homestead in Scrambletown (1872-1928) constructed by John A. Marsh, the grandson of Mr. Fore, is shown at the Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology in the McPherson Governmental. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Indian arrowheads are shown at the Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology in the McPherson Governmental Complex. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

From Museum, page 14 be an opera singer, said Landrum. He was in the glee club at both Ocala High School and West Point.

“He wrote poetry, and when he was 17, he wrote a poem about giant redbirds bringing death out of the sky,” said Landrum. “In one of his last letters home to his mother before the war started, he wrote to her that he wasn’t afraid to die.”

The romance between Louis and Betty was like many others, in that the war disrupted and transformed their lives, ultimately changing the course of their relationship.

“I know there were a lot of people who had just gotten married, who ended up being separated during the war. On paper they were married for six years, but they got separated after three and never saw each other again,” said Landrum.

“Betty went with him to the Philippines but was evacuated before the war started.”

The museum recently featured an exhibit of an area in Marion County that had a significant economic impact.

“We had a beautiful revolving display about Marti City, featuring the cigar labels on the boxes, that were pieces of artwork,” said Judy Delk, Marion County Historical Society board of trustees.

“We have a pretty banner featuring a bunch of those from Marti City, which was a Cuban community of cigar makers, outside of the city limits, and there were seven factories here and they grew tobacco here.”

The museum was also the recent recipient of 640 artifacts, with many

of them being traced back to an individual who wore multiple hats while serving the citizens of Marion County.

“There was a guy named Cromartie, who was both the mayor of Reddick and a justice of the peace for the county,” said Landrum.

“And until we got this stuff, I had never realized there had been justices of the peace in Marion County.”

Many of the artifacts are legal papers from Cromartie’s time while serving as a justice of the peace, according to Landrum.

“We have arrest warrants for various crimes dating back into the 1930s and 1920s,” said Landrum.

The museum also boasts an impressive genealogical section, said Delk.

“We had 600 items that were just donated by a local historian and genealogist, Hoyalene Thomas, and her specialty is in early Marion County,” said Delk. “She’s a member of our board of trustees. She has spent 40 plus years doing research and genealogy of the old surveys and communities.”

Also in the museum’s possession is a Marion County map from 1892 that had been produced by a familiar name on the local landscape, Moorhead Engineering.

“Mr. Moorhead was the county engineer, and Moorhead still sells a replica of that map, but we have the original one on display,” said Landrum. “It shows all of the post offices and schools in the county.

In the 1890s, if you lived in one of the rural areas, they did not deliver your mail to you; you had to go into the post office to pick it up,

Historical photographs of Ocala and Marion County are shown on display at the Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology in the McPherson Governmental. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

A display of photographs and items from Marion County is shown at the Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology in the McPherson Governmental Complex. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

and that’s why there were so many post offices in the county.”

A recently retired insurance agent gifted a collection of Sanborn Insurance maps to the museum, and they took on added meaning for Landrum.

“They showed all the buildings in the community,” said Landrum.

“The one that he gave us was the 1930 one, updated to 1965, and the way it was updated, you can put your phone light underneath a page and see the building that was there before, and it has my grandparents’ house in it. That was just kind of mind blowing.”

Legal documents and maps weren’t the only paperwork to take up permanent residence at the museum recently.

“We had a lady contact us by email, and she said that her father always wanted to come and live in Marion County,” said Landrum. “He collected brochures and she asked if we wanted them. I was expecting a manila envelope with some tri-fold brochures like we used to write away for when I was a kid and we had to plan a trip. We would write to the chamber of commerce as a school project.”

When the package did arrive at the museum, it contained 183 items, with certain pieces dating back to the earlier part of the 20th Century, said Landrum. The Eighth Street Elementary School building that was constructed in 1914 hadn’t been built yet, and the box

contained a conceptual drawing and images that the board at the museum had never seen before.

A propitious surprise happened one Saturday, when a man walked into the museum with a box, and explained that his father-in-law had lived in Ocala. The donation was far more than just society columns. His father-inlaw’s ancestors played a big role in conducting business in the area during the late 19th Century, said Landrum.

“Marion County had a thriving black middle class, and a lot of the brick buildings downtown were built by these black entrepreneurs,” said Landrum. “Some of the paperwork from the wheeler and dealt with him. He loaned money to farmers to buy seed and fertilizer. Ocala had the only bank ever chartered by the State of Florida to African-Americans. We got paperwork from one of the board members of that bank. So, that was an unexpected treasure.”

It’s hard to believe that something as simple as a produce crate would possess so much beauty, but that’s exactly the case with a number of images depicted on the wood that once held various fruits in the museum’s possession.

“The crates have all of this art work,” said Landrum. “They were the paper labels they would slap on the end of the crate, and the art was done in a variety of styles. There are all different companies because there have been

several times in Marion County’s history that citrus was a big important part of the agricultural section.”

The site where the current Seminole Feed Store in Tuscawilla Park sits, at one time was part of the city dump. The museum received a unique collection of bottles, many of them from the late 19th Century.

However, the backstory behind the unearthing of the bottles adds to the flavor that’s uniquely Ocala.

Jim Jernigan’s (of Jim Jernigan Photography) son went and dug on the property, prior to the Seminole Feed Store being built, and found some of the bottles, said Landrum.

“When Jim Jernigan passed away, his son sold the collection, and someone bought it and gave it to us,” said Landrum.

The museum has a wide variety of collections, featuring artifacts and memorabilia from the prehistoric period to colonial times and to other eras, said Delk.

“We welcome donations to the extent that we have space available as long as they’re appropriate for display or to store in our archives,” said Delk. “We also take loans, if someone wants to loan something for a period of time for some of the revolving displays.”

The Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday from 10am to 3pm.For more information, visit their website at www. marioncountyarchaeology. com.

The Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology is shown in the McPherson Governmental Complex in Ocala. The museum is open to the public during the week and on Saturdays and tours will frequently be given. The admission fee is $3. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.