Ocala Style | March 2023

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE sue the

Focusing

ON NATURE For Conservation

CAMPING

ROLL RELAY Ride Run

352.804.8989

Just Listed

Prestige and Privacy

This majestic custom designed residence is situated on 19+ prestigious acres in NW Ocala. Feel the quality throughout this spacious home, with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, an open living room, chef’s kitchen, high ceilings throughout, delightful outdoor lanai area and generously sized closets. The triple split plan is perfect for added privacy. Enjoy a large kitchen island bar, plentiful cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. The spacious owner’s suite offers extra-large windows that provide views of the property and there are glass sliding doors leading to the lanai. The luxurious bath offers a double vanity, soaking tub and large walk-in shower. This property is easy to maintain, has simple landscaping and includes a whole house generator. A fenced backyard is beautiful and private.

Located in the prestigious NW Marion County area, just 8.5 miles to the World Equestrian Center. This 80+/- acre, state of the art equestrian facility has a 4-bedroom, 3-bath main residence with guest/employee housing, 4 barns, 104 stalls, ¾+/- mile racetrack, eurociser, round pen and plenty of lush green paddocks. There are three updated barns with office/tack room, restroom, LED lighting and four new wash racks. Additional improvements include 8-horse Kraft euorciser with metal roof, new round pen with viewing platform, multiple shavings pits, plus loading ramp, ¾+/- irrigated racetrack with starting gate, 11-zone irrigation for the track and viewing stand. There is new four-board fencing on the property.

Just Reduced

Joan Pletcher, Realtor

Our results speak for themselves.

List with Joan today!

Prime Property

This property offers 15+ acres of beautiful vistas from every view and lush pastures with granddaddy oaks and rolling land. The main residence sits high on a private knoll. The 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath home features a kitchen open to the dining area and a large office. The family room features a brick fireplace, large windows and views of the property. The spacious owner’s suite has a sitting area and access to a sunroom, where you’ll love entertaining, energized by the abundant amount of natural light, raised bar and views. The property is ready for your custom home or mini farm with room to ride. Other features include a private pool, 3-car carport, 2 detached dog kennels, plus storage. This is a peaceful parcel of land with gorgeous sunrises and is located in prime horse country. Whether your passion is horses or cattle, this is an ideal property for either. Located on Hwy 329 and zoned A-1.

This is a gated community graced with beautiful oaks, paved streets, street lighting and access to the Florida Greenways and Trails. It is close to the Florida Horse Park. This is a deed restricted community and is equine friendly. Lots range from 3+ acres. Bring your plans and build your dream home or farm of your choice. Florida’s Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway is by far one of the most treasured natural resources in this region and offers hundreds of miles of trails for horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking and relaxing. With special cooperation, Via Paradisus will be one of the only private trailheads accessing the Florida Greenway.

Paradisus

Phase II - 155+/- Acres

Via

Pecan Hill Farm

$3,950,000

Private and desirable! Drive into the scenic northwest Ocala area and you will find beautiful country living–perfect for Thoroughbred, Quarter horse, Hunter/Jumper, Eventer, Paso Fino or cattle enthusiasts. Unique 38+/- acre property just minutes to WEC and HITS. Beautiful vistas from every view, lush pastures with impressive granddaddy oaks and mature landscaping. The 4-bedroom, 3½-bath main residence features open kitchen, spacious living room with impressive stone fireplace and built-in bookcases. The family room offers access to screen enclosed lanai and pool area, overlooking lush green pastures. Enjoy the grand owner’s bedroom, plus three more bedrooms and a private office. The equine facilities include a 12-stall stable with tack room, feed room, wash bay plus 1/1 apartment. Second story allows for hay storage. Covered parking on each side of the barn for horse trailer and other items. Large 3-bay equipment building has workshop and RV hook-up. Nice 4-bedroom, 2-bath residence for farm manager and family. The lush fields are perfect for grazing with just the right number of scattered oaks for shade and a tranquil setting.

What should you expect working with Joan Pletcher?

Expect an unparalleled combination of professionalism, integrity and relentless commitment to her client’s unique needs, interests, and desires.

Joan is a residential, equine property and land development REALTOR® since 1985 and a horsewoman herself so her clients have the benefit of experience and specialized expertise.

“The Ocala region is home to the most beautiful equestrian estates and horse farms in the United States and the natural beauty of the area, along with an amazing variety of equine-centered activities and venues, such as the phenomenal new World Equestrian Center, makes this a place that more and more people want to call home,” says Joan.

Pecan Hill Farm

sn’t the cover of this issue gorgeous? The photo refl ects the magnitude of nature in relation to the seeming smallness we can feel when we are immersed in it. We are fortunate to live in a place surrounded by abundant tracts of wildness and carefully managed wild spaces that off er these special opportunities for refl ection or recreation.

The guy on the cover, Dawson Bland, is an avid outdoorsman and gifted photographer. In these pages, he shares his passion for exploring the great outdoors in ways that bring him close to nature and wildlife, which translates into stunning images for our enjoyment.

Trixie Smith is a highly motivated athlete who will again compete in this year’s Ride Run Roll Relay on the Cross Florida Greenway, which is just one way he pairs his competitive spirit with his love of the land.

For youth, the Ocala Conservation Center’s annual summer camp programs off er a wide range of activities for ages 8 to 17 that not only gets them into the Ocala National Forest, but also can earn them certifi cates in archery and hunter safety and teaches them life skills they can carry into adulthood.

For those who want to explore a little further from home, our Driveable Destinations article on Greenville, South Carolina, will let you in on the outdoors activities to fi nd there as well as great places to eat, read and sleep.

Whether you like to engage in outdoor/ adventure experiences in a local park or a primitive wilderness, or even another state, we hope you fi nd things that refresh your soul and spirit along the path.

Jennifer Hunt Murty Publisher

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PO Box 188, Ocala, FL 34478

Art

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Amy Harbert amy@magnoliamediaco.com

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Bruce Ackerman

Garrett Artman

Dawson Bland

Abbey Eaves Photography

Eighteenth Hour Photography

Mark Emery

Meagan Gumpert

John Jernigan

Scott Mitchell

Chris Spears

Misty Smith

Katelyn Virginia

Alan Youngblood

ILLUSTRATORS

Jordan Shapot

David Vallejo

CLIENT SERVICES GURU

Cheryl Specht cheryl@magnoliamediaco.com

ocalastyle.com

ocalastyle

ocalastylemagazine

ocalastyle

Editorial EDITOR IN CHIEF

Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com

CREATIVE CONSULTANT

Nick Steele nick@magnoliamediaco.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Greg Hamilton greg@magnoliamediaco.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ron Fernandez

Julie Garisto

JoAnn Guidry

Belea Keeney

Donna Lampkins

Christy Mitchell

Scott Mitchell

Jermaine Pearson

Dave Schlenker

Beth Whitehead

Sales

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Evelyn Anderson evelyn@magnoliamediaco.com

Ron Eddy ron@magnoliamediaco.com

D istribution

Rick Shaw

CAROLINE KING COUNSELING

individual + couples therapy

Caroline King, MA, RMHCI caroline@ckingcounseling.com www.ckingcounseling.com 352.509.5576

Specializing in trauma-informed therapy, relationship challenges, and life transitions.

EXPLORE

SENIOR LIVING IN CENTRAL FLORIDA

Since 1919

42 CAMPING FOR CONSERVATION

The goal of this summer camp is to inspire youth to conserve natural resources.

46 DRIVEABLE DESTINATIONS

Greenville, SC, is getting accolades from the New York Times, Food & Wine and Southern Living.

50 SOLO ACT

Trixie Smith is taking on the Ride Run Roll Relay for the second year as a one-person team.

55 OCALA COOKS

Donna Lampkins, Jermaine Pearson and Christy Mitchell share favorite recipes.

59 CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

Ron “Rondo” Fernandez shares some of the things that are important in his life.

in this issue

22 ENTERING OUR ORBIT

Former astronaut Tom Jones will talk about asteroid defense at IHMC in Ocala on March 9th.

24 CREATING P oss ABILITIES

Champions for Champions is a local nonprofit with a global connection.

34 WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

Dawson Bland’s fascination with the natural world translates into stunning photographs.

ON

60 ROAMING OUR RIVERS

The Silver and Ocklawaha rivers let you get close to nature in all its splendor.

62 SCHLENKERISMS

Dave and Amy have become pickleball purists.

63

BUTTERFLY BLISS

Attract butterflies and other pollinators with the right choice of plants and yard care.

THE COVER: Dawson Bland at the cross florida greenway

Photo by: Garrett Artman

This page: Top, by dawson bland, middle, courtesy of visitgreenvillesc.com, Bottom, by Scott Mitchell

INSIDER

Social Scene

Photo by Bruce Ackerman

Robert Wilson, an avid Florida history re-enactor, works with charcoal chimneys as part of the city of Ocala Recreation & Parks Department’s Cast Iron Cooking Class at the Fort King National Historic Landmark on January 28th. The students prepared a meal using cast iron Dutch ovens and a cauldron, heated by charcoal briquettes and a wood fire.

Cast Iron Cooking Class

FORT KING NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK

On January 28th, students learned about the history and care of cast iron cooking vessels, then prepared and ate a meal. Classes also will be held on March 18th, September 16th and October 21st, each with a different menu. The class is one of many offered by the city of Ocala’s Recreation and Parks Department.

Photos by Bruce Ackerman

Kaylene Dunn, Yvonne Cruz, Duane Dunn and Heatherann Cundiff

David Galvis and Steve Alexander

Kathleen Ramirez

Robert Wilson, Duane and Kaylene Dunn

Pasta Mardi Gras

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. March

The morning of January 16th was cold and windy, but that did not deter the hundreds of people who participated in the annual march to honor Dr. King. Groups and individual marchers made the 1-mile walk from the downtown square to the Dr. MLK Jr. Recreational Complex.

SILVER SPRINGS BOULEVARD

Photos by Bruce Ackerman

Jerriyah Martin, Me’Yarie Lightsey and Braylon Sweet

Vanguard High School cheerleaders

Latrice Sweet

Zephaniah Taylor and Leilani White

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day In the Park

Following the annual march on January 16th, participants enjoyed a day of festivities that included speakers, entertainment, a variety of vendors and community groups. The march and event at the park were organized by the MLK Commemorative Commission, Inc.

MLK JR. RECREATIONAL COMPLEX

Photos by Bruce Ackerman

Tiamia Dantzler, Kelvina Dantzler, Tia Dantzler, Keshia Dantzler, Eric Cummings and Sam Samuel

Shenita Boone, Rudolph Sterling and Loretha Tolbert-Rich

LeAnn Mackey-Barnes, Allison Jett, Troy Barnes, Kecia Matthews, Saundra Bradshaw, Maria Jefferson, Theresa Boston-Ellis, Loren Boston and Sharon Richardson

Jillian Ramsammy, James Henningsen, Lori Cotton and Steve Tweedle Kierra Latson, Jyla Gunsby, Jamhia Morman, Savannah Byrom and Terrance Lewis

Bluegrass and BBQ

On January 20th, the Tuscawilla Art Park Series kicked off with a festive event that included music by Appalachian Road Show and The Wandering Hours and barbecue prepared by Big Lee’s Serious About BBQ and Country Boyz BBQ, with desserts from Big Man’s Café.

TUSCAWILLA ART PARK

Photos by Bruce Ackerman

Appalachian Road Show

Dan Patchen and Marlene Lee

Glenn and Becky O’Connor

Melissa and James Auten

Richard and Angela Landgraf and Christopher Karr

Cedar Key Has Style – Come and See

Style has many meanings. One is a lifestyle that reflects everyday living: work, home, friendships, nature, pride of place, and community. Cedar Key definitely has style - unique though it may be. It’s a working-waterfront fishing village with a mere 800 permanent residents, hundreds more part-time winter residents, and many daily or weekend visitors throughout the year.

Located on SR 24 just 67 miles from Ocala, Cedar Key welcomes all as they cross the #4 bridge with a panoramic view of the Gulf of Mexico’s wetlands, islands, wildlife, and the entrance to a town that is the second oldest in Florida. What visitors won’t see are high-rise condos, fast-food restaurants, or big-box stores. Coming into view will be colorful cottages, evidence of clam and oyster operations, an active marina, small businesses, and residences tucked in between. The town has also been a haven for artists for decades.

Driving down Cedar Key’s Historic 2nd Street you can’t miss the colorfully painted Cedar Key Arts Center (CKAC) and its adjacent whimsical sculpture garden. CKAC is the center of nurturing and encouraging the arts in the community. The building houses the Cedar Keyhole Artists Cooperative on the main floor, and the Cedar Key Arts Center upstairs. The non-profit organization, which celebrated its 25th Anniversary

in 2019, fulfills its mission by hosting a dozen or so gallery exhibits each year, a wide variety of adult art workshops, a Summer Children’s Art Program, and coordinating the Old Florida Celebration of the Arts, a juried fine arts festival, each spring.

Following a formal visioning process in the spring of 2019, the Arts Center Board added Art in Public Places to its list of ways to promote the arts in Cedar Key. Bev Ringenberg, CKAC president at that time, describes the Art in Public Places initiative as “an evolution of ideas, talent, and community support that began back in 2014 when Cedar Key Arts Center was planning for the 50th Anniversary of the festival by sponsoring its first mural.”

The story goes something like this according to Ringenberg. Each year the festival committee chooses a theme and holds a design contest. In 2014 the theme was Cedar Key’s iconic Honeymoon Cottage. Amazing artwork poured in and though there could only be one winner, the festival committee liked the 2nd place design so much that it decided to ask the CKAC to co-sponsor a mural, created using photographer Ann Kamzelski’s design entry. After getting permission from the owners of the building adjacent to the Arts Center’s Sculpture Garden, Kamzelski’s design was recreated by Travis Parks, a talented artist who had

Working Waterfront

recently returned to Cedar Key.

The second mural was inspired by the 2015 festival design theme Seeing Art in Nature. This mural was done with the support of the Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges - demonstrating the power of partnerships for funding the projects. It is located on the north wall of the Marathon Gas Station. Again, this mural was created by Travis Parks.

Continuing the mural tour, in 2016 after Hurricane Hermine damaged the wall of the Cedar Key Market, the CKAC coordinated a community effort to finance a third mural on the north side of the market. The pirate theme that year was the idea of market owner Darlene Skarupski and designed and painted by Travis Parks.

Travis Parks continued to make his mark in 2021 when he painted the Working Waterfront, which was the festival’s theme that year. The artwork this time was a collaboration between Ann Kamzelski’s photography and Travis using a 3D application of a clam boat applied to the new CKAC addition as part of the initiative to finish the sculpture garden, and in keeping with the mission of creating Art in Public Spaces.

The most recent mural was completed in early December. Inspired again by the upcoming 2023 festival’s theme of Island Life. Bev Ringenberg and Travis Parks came up with the idea of using trompel’oeil, a visual illusion technique that tricks the eye into perceiving a painting as a three-dimensional object. The mural, which is located on the south wall of the NAPA store on 3rd Street, shares a picture of island life that is typically hidden from the view of most visitors.

Fortunately for Cedar Key residents and visitors, there are many other examples of public art throughout town created by a variety of artists, as well as two artist co-ops displaying the original work of over 50 talented artists year-round.

The pinnacle of the Cedar Key art scene is the

juried fine art festival, the Old Florida Celebration of the Arts. The festival’s reputation has grown, and it is now recognized by ArtFairCalendar.com as one of the top small town art fairs in the nation. The festival welcomes 100 artists and approximately 15,000-18,000 visitors annually. This free event benefits the Cedar Key Arts Center, the coordinating sponsor, in addition to local nonprofits and Cedar Key school groups.

The 2023 festival will be held April 1 (10am5pm) and April 2 (10am - 4pm). In addition to the outstanding art, visitors will enjoy local seafood, baked goods, music, and children’s activities in City Park.

So, come visit to see the murals, attend the festival and/or all the art activities going on! The Art Center galleries are open daily from 10am-5pm at 457 2nd Street. Questions, contact CedarKeyArtsCenter@gmail.com and visit the websites at CedarKeyArtsCenter.org and CedarKeyArtsFestival.com

Bev and Travis want you to “Watch Your Step”

The Old Florida Celebration of the Arts

On the Scene

A guide to our favorite monthly happenings and can’t-miss events

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK

Downtown Ocala

March 3

Enjoy the ambience of a festival and support local businesses and artists at the same time. The downtown square stage will feature live music and buskers will also play on the streets. Artists will display their works and food and snacks will be available from a variety of vendors and downtown eateries. Stores will be open late for shopping. For more info, ocalafl.org

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

McPherson Governmental Complex

March 4

From strawberry shortcakes to strawberry pies, or just a handful of plump and delicious strawberries, you can enjoy

this tasty fruit and plenty of other food options. The event includes a car show, vendor booths, activities for kids, live music and entertainment, including The Petty Experience and BXM Trickstars. The festival is free to attend. Parking is a $5 donation and proceeds will be split between Habitat for Humanity of Marion County and the Marion Therapeutic Riding Association. See habitatocala.org for more info.

NIGHT AT THE FARM

CF Vintage Farm Campus

March 4

This year’s festivities will include Cajuninspired small bites, live music and more. Hosted by the CF Foundation, tickets are $125 per person or $200 per couple and proceeds help establish scholarships at CF. For more information, visit NightAtTheFarm.org

Photo by Meagan Gumpert Hayden Hardin

FLORIDA SPRINGSFEST

Silver Springs State Park

March 4-5

For a fun day out in nature, trek out to the Florida SpringsFest and enjoy educational exhibits and learn about history, science and sustainability. Groove to live music and chow down at local food trucks. Admission is $2 and gives you access to the main park, the Silver River Museum and the option for glass-bottom boat rides for an additional fee. For more info, floridastateparks.org/events/ florida-springsfest

OCALA POLO CLUB WINTER

Florida Horse Park

March 5, 12, 19 & 26

GAMES

Tailgating at a polo match is a charming way to enjoy an afternoon out with family and friends. Chairs are suggested, food and drink are encouraged and tents are available for rent. Decorate your tent/tailgate area and you might win a prize. Leashed dogs are welcome. For more information, visit ocalapolo.com

LABYRINTH SPRING FESTIVAL

Wildwood Community Center, Wildwood

March 11

Walk a labyrinth and support the Rotary Club of The Villages in its mission to help local charities, food pantries and educational programs. The festival will offer live entertainment, vendors, a Kids Corner, food trucks and a classic car show. The labyrinth is a 45-foot painted canvas created by club members and the Interact Club. Free to all. For more info, check out, bit.ly/3x3wsrh

MASTER GARDENERS’ SPRING FESTIVAL

Southeastern Livestock Pavilion

March 11-12

This festival kicks off the spring growing season in Central Florida. This year the focus is on Florida-Friendly landscaping and you can find native plants, flowers, shrubs, tree, houseplants and more among the dozens of vendors on site. The KidZone includes bug and critter displays, educational events and a live butterfly encounter. Presentations are planned on how to grow orchids, encourage a wildlife

habitat in your yard and saving water in the landscape. Admission is $3; free ages 12 and younger. Bring your own cart or wagon. More info from bit.ly/3x3Vab2

LIVE OAK INTERNATIONAL

Live Oak Stud Farm

March 16-19

This is the largest international-level combined driving and show jumping tournament in the country, with the leading drivers, riders, trainers, coaches and owners from Europe and North America. With free parking, food vendors and more, this is always a terrific feature of the spring horse show season. Tickets range from $10 daily for general admission; tailgating spots start at $250; reserved seating and VIP packages that include brunch, dinner and dancing are also available. For more info and tickets, liveoakinternational.com/buy-tickets

ABBACADABRA: TRIBUTE TO ABBA

Orange Blossom Opry, Weirsdale

March 18, 2:30 pm & 7:30pm

This tribute band puts a fun dance spin on classic Abba songs such as Dancing Queen, Knowing Me, Knowing You and Lay All Your Love on Me. Tickets are $43-$58. See obopry.com for more info.

RAINBOW SPRINGS ART FESTIVAL

Downtown Dunnellon

March 18

This festival features lots of local artists and is a fundraiser for the Rainbow Springs Gallery. Raffles support scholarships for two high school seniors to study creative arts in college. Food and drink vendors will be onsite and there are several eateries in the area. Free to attend. More info at rainbowspringsart.com

SENIOR RESOURCE EXPO

College of Central Florida Ewers Century Center

March 22

This free expo showcases “Excellent Adventures” and features opportunities for seniors to try out a range of activities that help promote physical and mental fitness, balance and just having fun. Attendees can check out scuba diving, zip lining, golf,

bowling, yoga, archery and more. The Senior Resource Foundation is dedicated to improving and enriching the lives of older adults with educational resources, fundraising and grant opportunities. For more info, srfofocala.org

Coming Up: RIDE RUN ROLL RELAY

Florida Horse Park

April 1

This unique fundraiser combines teams of a runner, a horseback rider and a mountain biker to run a relay race through a trail course on the Greenway. Runners go 3.1 miles, riders go 5 miles and bikers go 8 miles. The course is beginner friendly, and entry includes primitive camping the night before, a race T-shirt and swag bag, plus awards and prizes. This event benefits the Greenway Equestrians and the Ocala Mountain Bike Association, groups that do

much of the work of trail maintenance. The event is family-friendly and will include raffle prizes, food trucks and vendors. Cost is $70 per racer and you can register at runsignup.com/triple-r-relay. For more info, contact Bre at (352) 236-7143 or email triple.r.relay@gmail.com

APRIL FOOLIN’ ON THE DOCK

Ocala Dog Ranch

April 1

If you’ve ever seen dog dock diving on TV, now is your chance to see it in person! This International Dog Sports event will have multiple jump opportunities, food trucks, vendors and dogs available for adoption from an area rescue group. Games include Horizon for distance, Eclipse for fetching and Velocity of speed. Free to spectators. Jumping rounds for your dog start at $20 in advance and $25 day of. For more info, check out ocaladogranch.com

Photo by Alan Youngblood

Entering Our Orbit

Retired astronaut Tom Jones will land at IHMC in Ocala on March 9th to discuss developments in asteroid defense.

By Julie Garisto

When he turned 5 in 1960, Tom Jones’ grandmother gifted him a children’s book titled Space Flight

“I became a space nut,” the retired astronaut says with a laugh.

On March 9th, Jones will lecture on the topic When Rocks Attack: Defending the Earth from Asteroids at the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC) in Ocala.

Before becoming a consultant, Jones flew on four Space Shuttle missions (1994-2001). On his last flight to the International Space Station, he led three spacewalks to install the centerpiece of the American Destiny laboratory. In total, Jones has spent 53 days in space.

Jones grew up during the Space Race between the U.S. and the then-Soviet Union. When he was 10, he went with his Cub Scout pack to a Martin Marietta rocket factory in the Baltimore area where he grew up.

“They were making the Titan II rockets that Cape Canaveral would use to launch the Gemini astronauts into space,” he recalls. “So, here I am looking up at these two 100-foot tall missiles, 10 stories tall. I realized that the astronauts have a really cool job.”

Jones became a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and earned a Ph.D. in planetary science, which led to his astronaut career.

Though he isn’t donning a space helmet any-

more, the Maryland native gets excited while chatting about recent developments in asteroid defense.

“In September, NASA did a test demonstration of diverting a harmless asteroid and, for the very first time, we changed the way the solar system operates with that test, called DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test),” he shares. “So, we’ll be talking about the results of that test.”

He and his cohorts in the Association of Space Explorers Near Earth Objects Committee volunteered to testify in front of the United Nations in 2008 to urge NASA to implement planetary defense technologies and set procedures in place to prevent a high-impact event.

“The plan was approved during the Trump administration,” he says, “and now NASA’s following that, along with FEMA, and the Pentagon has had insight in participation in developing that document.”

Jones has authored several books, including the critically praised Sky Walking: An Astronaut’s Memoir . In 2018, Main Belt Asteroid 1082 TomJones was named in his honor when he was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

The lecture, which will take place at 15 SE Osceola Ave., will begin with a reception at 5:30pm. To register to attend, go to ihmc.us/life/ evening_lectures/ocala-lecture-series

So, here I am looking up at these two 100-foot tall missiles, 10 stories tall. I realized that the astronauts have a really cool job.

Photo courtesy of IHMC

— Tom Jones

Creating Endless PossABILITIES

Champions for Champions is a local nonprofit with a global connection.

By Beth Whitehead | Photos courtesy of Champions for Champions

Local nonprofits rarely reach the national eye, but one Ocala organization is impacting people across the globe.

MariaCon Roman founded Champions for Champions in 2016 as a nonprofi t dedicated to providing opportunities for youth with special needs. One of the ways they accomplish this goal is by providing one very special opportunity—that of assisting in the design of

Miss Universe dresses.

It started with the group’s Universeability Pageant, Roman says. Miami resident Kirsten Regalado, president of Miss Worldwide International Pageant, fashion designer of the 2022 Miss Universe Iceland National Costume and for members of the House of Gucci, saw a Facebook post about the pageant and later sought out Roman to see if she could help their cause.

Taking part in a recent therapeutic basketball game, in partnership with the city of Ocala, were Champions for Champions players Mateo Villon, Gaetano Esposito, Michael McCurdy, Braylan Tandy, Jules Ryan, Trystan and Troy Sneeds, Charli Forsyth, Joyce Valcin, Jasper Roman, Shawn Warden and Kayla Smith, along with volunteer Chuck Forsyth and city of Ocala therapeutic program director Latoya Artis.

“Three years ago,” Roman says, “she saw the artwork that the kids do, and she said, ‘Oh my God, some of these are really beautiful.’ Three years ago is when we started designing for the Miss Universe contestants. She gives us a theme and we try to design to that theme.”

Champions for Champions provides inclusive programs and services for individuals with all abilities. The organization serves people with special needs and their families by facilitating and providing educational, social, sports, music, arts, job training and life skill programs. The group’s slogan is: Creating Endless PossABILITIES.

There are about 12 participants in the art program and they help contribute to the dress designs. There are around 15 participants in the culinary program and about 60 in the Universeability Pageant.

Anyone can enter the pageant, at no fee and with no age limit, and everyone is granted a prize and a title because Champions for Champions holds that each participant is just as special as their need is. The pageant has had virtual contestants from Brazil, South Africa and the Philippines.

Champions for Champions grew out of Roman’s fundraising efforts for different Ocala charities, which she had been supporting since 1999. But, she said, she kept thinking about ways to focus on opening doors to those with special needs.

“I’ve always thought of, ‘How could I get through to them?’” she shares. “You know, I wish I could go to their head. If you stay with them for so long, you kind of know that there is something good inside them, like there is a talent inside them but they just can’t express it. Champions for Champions is about creating endless possibilities.”

The 501(c)(3) got its name from one of its

primary fundraisers, an annual celebrity dinner and meet and greet with retired National Football League and National Hockey League champions. One of the co-founders of Champions for Champions is Ocala’s own Don Nottingham, a Miami Dolphins legend known as “The Human Bowling Ball.” The organization’s co-founding trio also includes businessman Kenneth Shaw.

The name Champions for Champions also is in honor of the volunteers who champion the cause of those with special needs.

Current Champions for Champions programs include a culinary class, a music program, dance nights, art Fridays, volunteer days in the community, inclusion in the Toastmasters International public speaking program, and opportunities to go surfing and bowling. Roman says they hope to one day be able to offer even more, such as an entrepreneurship program.

Champions for Champions relies on fundraisers, private donations and sponsorships to offer all of the life-skills building programs. The annual celebrity dinner and the pageant both will be held in April.

For more information, go to championsforchampions.org

Mateo Villon, Gaetano Esposito, Kailey Sullivan

CHRISTINA & KOBE PILCHER

November 12th, 2022

Venue: Silo Oaks

Photographer: Katelyn Virginia Photography

Florist: Martha’s Commemorative Creations

Hair: Hair by Sabrina Lynn

Makeup: Truluck Studios

Their favorite memory: “Having both of our families in the same place at the same time and being able to sit at dinner and look out at all the people who came to celebrate with us. We felt so loved and it truly was the best day.”

EMILY & MARK LAWRENCE

October 22nd, 2022

Venue: Private residence

Planner: Missy with Blessed Magnolia Event

Planning

Photographer: Abbey Eaves Photography

Florals: Blooming Events

Hair: Hair by Macy Holder

Makeup: Kiara Shannelle Makeup Artistry

Our favorite memory: “We both come from large families and our wedding was the first time both of our families were able to come together. There was something so special about having our families (and friends) together in the same room celebrating our love. You could feel the energy of our loved ones radiate throughout the night. It is a memory we will cherish forever and, as cliche as it sounds, our wedding day truly was the best day ever!”

REBECCA & NICHOLAS RODRIGUEZ

October 15th, 2022

Venue: C Bar Ranch

Wedding Coordinators: Kristin West & Renata

Dolbier

Photographer: Eighteenth Hour Photography

Beauty Team: Amanda Alvarez & Briannah Mercer

Their favorite memory: “It was our reception. We both wanted a wedding where everyone was dancing and having a great time. We picked the best songs for our playlist and, with the help of our DJ, we literally never stopped dancing. When we looked around and saw how much everyone was enjoying themselves and the music, it was instant gratification. With the help of our DJ, Jonathan Davis, we were so happy and so relaxed. It was perfect happiness.”

Quality and Consistency

Trained staff and advanced equipment keeps Outdoor Solutions

Ryan VanWagner is a lifelong outdoorsman and grew up working in the logging and timber business. He knows trees!

As the owner of Outdoor Solutions of Central Florida, LLC, VanWagner oversees a team that uses state-of-theart equipment to offer a wide range of services. The team includes a certified arborist and all staff members are highly trained in their area of expertise.

Outdoor Solutions can provide everything from basic tree removal in open spaces to working in tight quarters with limited access.

“We specialize in hazardous tree removal,” VanWagner states. “We use multiple cranes and spider lifts. I have invested a lot in top-of-the-line equipment to ensure the best possible outcome for our customers. For example, with our new Copma 650 grapple saw crane, with over 110+ feet of working boom, we can conquer ‘impossible’ jobs. With this equipment, we can remove or trim trees remotely without positioning the saw on someone’s property.”

VanWagner and his team have worked on hurricane relief efforts, with city governments, on thoroughbred horse farms and with thousands of private property and business owners. The team also gives back to the community by providing services to area nonprofits such as the Arnette house, which helps at-risk teens and their families.

One thing the team takes great pride in is taking care to not damage property and in a thorough clean-up after every job.

“We want to leave your property in better shape than when we started,” VanWagner says. “Some jobs, for example, require using numerous cranes, which are heavy pieces of equipment. We are careful to provide ground protection mats on your lawn to prevent surface damage. We treat and respect your property as if it was our own.”

Among the services offered by Outdoor Solutions are tree trimming, pruning and planting; cabling and bracing; skid steer and forestry grinding; land clearing; debris hauling; and crane subcontracting. The business is licensed and insured, and offers free estimates.

“Our goal is to gain lifetime relationships with our customers,” VanWagner says. “We do that by providing quality and consistency.”

in the forefront of area tree professionals.

Ryan VanWagner, William Mabrey, Patrick Forsyth, Garrett Smith, Bradley White, Jacob Cobb and Desmond Carson

Live Oak International – Bigger and Better

The Live Oak International combined driving and show jumping competition is renowned for attracting the best drivers and riders in the world. This year, the 32nd annual event, set for March 16-19, is expected to draw even more top-caliber competitors.

The tournament is the last leg before the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final in April and marks the return of the USEF Combined Driving National Championship for Advanced Four-in-Hand Horses, in which Live Oak International co-president Chester Weber will be competing for his 20th title.

The family’s competitive spirit may also be seen in top-ranked U.S. Show Jumping Team member Chloe D. Reid, who is Weber’s niece and co-president of the event. Reid recently returned from a summer in Europe with the U.S. team.

“I’m excited to come to Live Oak International and be able to compete on home ground and hopefully do really well in front of my family and friends,” Reid shares.

As for what competitors and spectators can expect, she says, “Chester is very much a visionary, and he always wants the event to be bigger and better.”

“For the sport side, we have increased the show jumping prize money, which will be attractive to the best international riders. Leading up to the World Cup Final on US soil, I know good riders who still need solid points from LOI to qualify, which will give us some top show jumping,” she shares.

With the return of the combined driving national championship, Reid notes that, “Chester is going for his 20th title, and it will be exciting for everyone to watch and cheer him on. The National Championship was held elsewhere last year, but the title has returned and we’re very excited and hope to do an amazing job in growing the sport.”

Live Oak International also will include a CSI1* division for young and upcoming show jumpers as well as a LOI youth driving division for the next generation of driving equestrians.

A big draw for spectators is sure to be the popular Budweiser Clydesdales, who “will be stabling at the show, performing in presentations and joining parties for photo-ops the whole weekend so people can see them up close,” Reid shares. “They are amazing!”

A great day for spectator viewing is Saturday, with the driving marathon, Budweiser Clydesdales presentation and show jumping.

“It’s a really good day to capture everything,” Reid offers.

“Sunday is the biggest day for show jumping, with the grand prix. And we’ll also have the Clydesdales again that day,” she adds.

The event, which takes place at Live Oak Stud, just west of Ocala, will include family-friendly activities, vendors, food trucks and VIP opportunities. General admission is $10 (free ages 6 and under), with free parking.

For more details and ticket options, including tailgating and VIP experiences, visit liveoakinternational.com

Live Oak International Co-Presidents Chester C. Weber & Chloe D. Reid

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

Dawson Bland has been fascinated with the beauty of the natural world since childhood and has been honing his craft as a wildlife photographer for the past six years. At just 23, he has been published professionally and has amassed an impressive body of work. There is a gentleness and a feeling of honor for the subjects present in his work, resulting in arresting images—each a stirring and enduring love letter to the natural beauty of all things wild.

By Nick Steele |

Photography by Dawson Bland |

Portrait by Garrett Artman

Dawson Bland is a quiet and thoughtful young man who grew up in Ocala, hiking, hunting and fishing with his father, grandfather and brother Hunter, who is a pro angler, a national boating safety advocate, ambassador to the Florida Boating Advisory Council and founder of the Not Finished Fishing apparel brand. Naturally, Dawson works as Hunter’s photographer and videographer, “capturing hundreds of hours of special content,” according to Hunter, including a recent interview for PBS’s Into The Outdoors series.

“Special” is also an apt descriptor of Dawson’s landscape and wildlife photos. While he was initially focused on taking portraits of his friends, he quickly found himself drawn to the spontaneity and accessibility of nature.

“I was bored one day, so I went out in my front yard and started taking photos of squirrels and birds. And then I went to the Cross Florida

Greenway and saw a deer. I was like, ‘Well, this is awesome,’” he recalls. “When I go there, I’ll spend a couple of hours and it's very rare that I don't leave with a few great photos.”

Listening to the stories of his encounters is enough to inspire anyone to seek out a wildlife experience of their own.

"My friend and I heard there were bison in Paynes Prairie, so we went out there a few times trying to find them," he shares. "One day we hiked into the heart of the prairie and saw hogs, turkeys and wild horses. We thought, ‘Are we ever going to see the bison?’ We were ready to turn around when we reached this giant open area with 30 to 40 bison. We were excited, but we sat down and just kind of gauged how they were acting. I didn't want to get too close and have them get nervous, but I wanted a close-up I had in mind. I crawled on my hands and knees to get the shot. That's probably my

favorite experience. It was such a rush.”

Dawson says the danger of spooking an animal is something a lot of people don't consider.

“These are wild animals and they're very unpredictable, no matter how well you think you can gauge the situation,” he cautions. “A bison is a 1,000-pound animal that could just charge you at any minute—same with wild horses. Alligators are extremely quick. You definitely want to give them about 100 to 200 feet of space and do your best to keep them wild. Feeding animals is a terrible idea because then it patterns them to go up to humans for food, which is dangerous to the animal and to humans.”

If you want to try your hand at wildlife photography, he advises, the proper way to get close is with a long lens.

“Buy a camera body that you can take the lens off. A full frame sensor is kind of the biggest thing now. What you want to invest in is the longest and sharpest lens you can get, anywhere from 300 to 600 millimeters,” he offers. “The lens is definitely more important than the body. I like Canon because they have some of the best lenses on the market.”

When you go is also essential.

“The best time to see animals, especially deer, is in the morning and the evening, when they are feeding,” he explains. “In the morning, I get there right at sunrise and stay out as long as I can. In the evening, the best time to get there is about two hours before the sun sets.”

While just at the beginning of his career, Dawson dreams of one day having his work featured in the publication that represents the gold standard for wildlife photographers.

“The dream job is National Geographic,” he shares. “That is the ultimate goal. In the meantime, I have smaller goals, like selling my first print and finding a way to make photography my full-time job, so I can do what I love every day.”

His passion for the great outdoors also includes hunting, which he admits confuses some people.

“My perspective behind hunting is not just killing, like a lot of people from the outside may think. I was raised with the idea that we're doing it for a reason. One is that we're providing our own food and that's important,” he shares. “Secondly, especially with white-tailed deer, there is no real predator for them. So, if their population doesn't stay in check, it grows wild and throws the ecosystem out of place. Hunters help keep the population in check, which is better for all the animals. Hunters probably have the most respect for animals, even though it may not make sense because we're taking its life. After I killed the biggest deer I ever had, I bawled my eyes out because I was proud that I finally did it and that it was going to be used for good things. But I get just as much of a thrill being surrounded by the animals when I'm hunting for them with my camera as when I'm hunting for them for food.”

Another great passion of his also gets him up close and personal with the great outdoors.

“I play a lot of golf. There are a lot of courses that are almost like nature preserves. The Country Club at Silver Spring Shores, whoever designed that course wanted you to feel like you were playing in the middle of the woods, surrounded by nature," he explains. "There's Juliette Falls in Dunnellon, which is beautiful and pristine with more of a Florida feel to it because you have these waste bunkers that are made of coquina shells and this sandy pine habitat, which is beautiful. Streamsong in Bowling Green is probably my favorite place to go. It's like a real golf destination. It's soothing to the soul essentially. In Daytona Beach, there's the LPGA International and they have a course that literally weaves in and out of an Audubon sanctuary. Everything that's not the golf course is a sanctuary for birds and wildlife.”

To learn more, visit Dawsonbland.com

Camping For Conservation

By Susan Smiley-Height | Photography courtesy Florida

If you know a youngster age 8 to 17 who wants to explore the great outdoors in the Ocala National Forest and receive training and certification in such endeavors as archery and hunting, you may want to tell them about the annual Ocala Outdoor Adventure Camp (OOAC).

The camp takes place at the Ocala Conservation Center (OCC), which is part of the Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network (FYCCN), founded in 2010 as a public-private partnership with a goal of inspiring youth to conserve natural resources. Four centers—in Ocala, Apollo Beach, West Palm Beach and Tallahassee—operate year-round and convert to summer camps from May through August. When not hosting summer camp, the centers are used for such things as hunter safety courses, youth hunter education challenges, Scout groups, 4-H shooting groups and school programs.

This year’s outdoor adventure camp for ages 8 to 14 runs for seven weeks, from June 11th through July 28th. There also is a leadership training camp for ages 15 to 17. The four “pillars”

of the program are paddle sports, shooting sports, fishing and wildlife discovery. Campers also swim, build bonfires, develop survival skills, do orienteering and learn knot-tying.

At the OCC, campers take meals in a dining hall and sleep in air-conditioned cabins. The center director is Will Burnett.

“I came to work at the camp when I was 15, as a volunteer,” he shares. “I love the outdoors and have always been passionate about working with children. Here, I was able to both work largely outside and teach kids about conservation. I fell in love with the place and it became like a second home.”

Burnett, a native of Mississippi, worked at the OCC for six summers during high school and college. After three years of wildland firefighting with the U.S. Forest Service and graduating from Florida State University with a degree in environmental studies, he became a hunter safety regional coordinator with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

“I held that position for three years and then accepted the director position at OCC in 2018,”

This unique summer camp offers outdoor experiences with a goal of inspiring youth to conserve natural resources.

Youth Conservation Centers Network

he says. “Camp changes lives for the better, both for the staff and the campers. Being able to unplug and immerse yourself in an outdoor environment, teaching and learning about the natural world and our role in it, is very rewarding. Recreation opportunities from fishing, swimming, watersports, camping and shooting keeps it exciting and engaging for the campers.”

Other OCC team members include Jarred Johnson, the hunter safety coordinator, a fourth-generation Floridian; Jeff Marr, the maintenance technician, who has been there since 1964 as camper, counselor, instructor and volunteer; and Mark Clere, the waterfront director, who has been overseeing swimming, canoeing, kayaking, paddling and fishing activities since 2012.

Kristi Johnson treasures the memories of summers as a pre-teen attending the OOAC, such as paddling a canoe, the connection to the outdoors during educational hikes and the excitement of mentored learning experiences at the camp’s shooting range. Her love of those early experiences, coupled with camp staff recognizing her leadership skills, led her to the counselor-in-training program and eventually to an assistant camp director position. She formed lifelong friendships with others and developed leadership and communications skills that serve her well today as assistant director at the University of Florida’s Dean of Students Office. She’s also an avid hunter, target shooter and conservationist.

“The Ocala Outdoor Adventure Camp provides a learning environment that’s safe and fun and allows kids to gain outdoors skills they wouldn’t learn at school,” Johnson offers. “The opportunity to learn about conservation, develop life skills like team building, and engage with others who share those outdoor interests and values is an experience every kid should have.”

OOAC Summer Camp Programs

Wildlife Adventures | Ages 8-10 | Explore upland ecosystems to discover the hidden mysteries of natural areas and use scientific tools to identify plants and animals. Discover how adaptations and interrelationships allow organisms to survive in their environment.

Pathfinders | Ages 9-14 | Participate in the FWC Hunter Safety Certification program, learn outdoor ethics, wildlife conservation, habitats, wild game and hunting skills. Classes are led by a certified instructor in a controlled environment.

Trailblazers | Ages 10-11 | Participate in an overnight wilderness camping experience. Learn skills such as wildlife viewing, basic knot tying, shelter building, orienteering, equipment preparation and canoeing.

Rangers | Ages 12-13 | Campers who have completed the Hunter Safety Certification can participate in this advanced shooting sports program.

Outfitters | Ages 12-14 | After completing the Hunter Safety Certification, campers can learn archery and bowhunting skills through innovative programs and acquire certification in the National Bowhunter Education Foundation’s bowhunting course.

Expedition | Ages 13-14 | Learn to make responsible decisions with minimal environmental impact, discover critical orienteering skills and perfect outdoor food preparation and cooking, knot tying, camp crafts and weather monitoring.

Leadership Camp | Ages 15-17 | Trained high school students support staff with camper activities. Forty community service hours are awarded for each week of volunteer service.

To learn more about camp tuition, which includes meals, lodging and minor accident insurance (secondary policy), go to fyccn.org/ocala-conservation-center-home

Florida’s Natural Paradise

Levy County offers scenic beauty, a rich history, abundant recreational opportunities and some of the best seafood on the planet.

From the shores of the Gulf of Mexico inland, with access to the Suwannee, Waccasassa, Wekiva and Withlacoochee rivers, two state parks, a prehistoric underground spring that is a mecca for snorkelers and another spring that draws scuba divers from around the world, Mother Nature reigns supreme in Levy County. That’s why the area is known as the Nature Coast.

But the attractions aren’t all outside. There are numerous opportunities to experience the present and explore the past through museums, cultural activities and festivals, including the renowned Cedar Key and Yankeetown Seafood Festivals.

Some of the notable places of interest include Devil’s Den, an underground spring inside a dry cave. A chimney hole at the top vents steam on

cold mornings, which appears as “smoke” and led early settlers to give it its name. The spring was once home to extinct animals dating back to the Pleistocene Age and contains ancient rock formations with stalactites and fossil beds dating back 33 million years. It is a destination for scuba divers and snorkelers from around the world. The nearby Blue Grotto also is a haven for scuba divers of all experience levels.

Adjacent to Devil’s Den is Cedar Lakes and Woods Gardens, a 20-acre botanical garden lovingly created in an old lime rock quarry. Over 30 years, the gardens have evolved to include extensive walkways, waterfalls, pavilions and bridges. Temperate and semitropical plants flourish year-round and a wide variety of wildlife

Photos by Pat Bonish

Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens

makes a home here. It is a special place to enjoy a family picnic or to simply find a quiet corner for serene introspection.

For those who enjoy boating, Levy County offers fresh and saltwater excursions ranging from air boating along the salt flats of the Gulf Coast to motoring through the dark and mysterious waters of the four inland rivers. From dolphin watching to fish catching, from daybreak on the water to sunset cruises, from kayaks to yachts, there is no end to the ways one can “get on the water” in this amazing place.

History buffs can make a day of visiting attractions such as the Levy County Quilt Museum, where the past unfolds in the astonishing patterns of lovingly crafted quilts and other items. There is also the Cedar Key Historical Society Museum, Chiefland Train Depot, Shell Mound Archaeological Site, Seahorse Key Lighthouse and the historic town of Rosewood.

The island town of Cedar Key can make for a day- or week-long stay for exploring, shopping and dining. Over time, the sleepy fishing village has morphed into a destination for artists, outdoors enthusiasts and epicureans. If you plan accordingly, you can get in on the fun and festivities of the Old Florida Celebration of the Arts on April 1, the 53rd Annual Cedar Key Seafood Festival on October 21 and 22, and the 8th Annual Cedar Key Pirate Invasion on November 3-5.

And speaking of festivals, Levy County is home to several, such as annual events to highlight and celebrate locally grown watermelons and peanuts. There is even the Tour de Melon bicycle touring event that travels through some of the most scenic

parts of the county.

Levy County boasts two beautiful state parks, Manatee and Fanning, both situated on the Suwannee River and both offering excellent facilities for swimming and family fun. There are a number of county parks, such as Henry Beck and Bronson Blue Spring, which also offer amenities for picnicking and swimming. Shell Mound Park in Cedar Key, which features a historic archeological mound, has amenities for camping, fishing and boating. The Waccasassa Park and Boat Ramp in Inglis offers bank fishing, picnic tables and docks for boat tie-ups.

And—bonus—the Inglis Yankeetown Lions Foundation puts on the annual Yankeetown Seafood Festival the weekend before Thanksgiving each year, giving you yet another opportunity to feast on some of the best seafood you will ever taste, fresh from local waters.

Levy County is also home to venues for activities such as trail riding on horseback, including the Devil’s Hammock Wildlife Management Area and Goethe State Forest, with the nearby Black Prong Equestrian Village, which hosts a number of public and private events.

Whether you are planning an outing for a day or an extended stay, for a large group or small party, you can discover a lot of beautiful hidden gems along Florida’s lovely Nature Coast and in inland Levy County.

Tolearnmoreaboutallthereistosee anddo,gotovisitnaturecoast.com

Greenville, South Carolina DrIvEaBlE DeStInAtIoNs

There’s been a lot of noise about Greenville, South Carolina over the past few years. The New York Times (NYT) ranked the quaint city, set in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, as 14th on list of 52 places around the world to visit in 2023. Food & Wine calls it one of “America's Next Great Food Cities” proclaiming that this once sleepy mill town "hums with culinary energy... menus are inventive and constantly evolving.” Sid Evans, the editor in chief of Southern Living (which named it the South's Best City on the Rise in 2022), has proclaimed, “The food here is adventurous, and the chefs have embraced the global influences shaping the modern South.”

By Nick Steele

With more than 120 great eateries, from fine dining to casual favorites—some of which have been nominated as semifinalists for James Beard awards—there are plenty of noteworthy spots to check out, including The Anchorage, Passerelle, Jianna, Soby's, Fork and Plough, Juniper, CAMP, Comal 864, Topsoil Kitchen & Market, The Commons and Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocer

But the buzz is not all about the food. Those in search of outdoor adventure getaways are following the advice of Outside magazine and Men’s Journal, which have also praised Greenville’s spectacular terrain and ample recreational pursuits.

For decades, Greenville was overshadowed by such neighboring cities as Charleston and Hilton Head but, in 2022, Fodors declared, “You’re going to the wrong city in the Carolinas. With the warmth of a small town and the urban planning of the future, Greenville’s intentionality stands out.”

As if it needed further confirmation, on the aforementioned NYT list, Charleston straggled behind Greenville at number 32 and Hilton Head didn’t even get a mention.

But this is no happy accident. Greenville’s community leaders and tourism agencies have been actively and strategically designing it to be a desirable and highly Instagram-able destination for close to a decade. An annual report from the official destination marketing organization for the city, VisitGreenvilleSC (VGSC), reveals its vision for it, “To be one of the most visited–and talked about–travel destinations in the Southeast” and Greenville’s city council published an economic development strategic plan in 2022 that identifies “intentional placemaking” as one of seven goals, to “celebrate Greenville as a

preeminent lifestyle destination.”

“Intentional” is an apt descriptor and while it can feel a bit like the city has been cleverly designed, like a Hallmark movie set to attract visitors, the appeal is somewhat undeniable.

“Tourism, economic development work hand in hand making it an attractive place to live, work, and play,” David Montgomery, former vice president of sales for VGSC, explained to Greenville Business Magazine while discussing, among other topics, the organization’s popular hashtag, #YeahThatGreenville, which Montgomery pointed to as the catalyst for the growth. “There are 36 other Greenvilles

SC Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism: “Visitors to Greenville, SC generate more than $1.3 Billion in direct spending in our community and $77 Million in state and local taxes. Yeah, Cha-Ching.”

“We see a high frequency of return travel,” Montgomery notes. “To a certain extent, we have people who come as visitors and wind up moving here permanently because they fell in love with the destination.”

Indeed, the population has expanded rapidly, bringing fresh blood, talented creatives and such companies as GE, Michelin and BMW to the area, which has helped transform the small city into a place filled with

out there in the U.S., so we felt like we needed to distinguish ourselves from the others.”

And they have not only cashed in on that idea, but are keeping receipts—evidenced by a cheeky video on the VGSC website called, 'The Greenville to End All Greenvilles' – That’s MY Greenville, based on their press accolades.

The VGSC also published the following information in their 2019 annual report, based on information provided by the US Travel Association/

engaging outdoor spaces, curated experiences, notable events and diverse cultural happenings. And the locals couldn’t be more excited about the changes.

“Citizens pulled out all the stops in an effort to top our list, putting signs on lawns, bombing our Facebook page (more than 7,000 people voted), and even organizing a parade down Main Street led by the mayor,” Outside magazine reports of the city trying to land on their best places to live in America list.

Opposite: The Grand Bohemian Lodge at Falls Park on the Reedy River, and image this page, courtesy of Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville.

“While Greenville didn’t win, we wouldn’t hesitate to consider a move here.”

It’s clear that the scenic destination is inspiring lots of folks to relocate and that they are finding a rich community at its core.

My first stop after arriving in town was to visit M. Judson Booksellers, located in a historic Beaux-Arts style building in the heart of downtown. This innovative independent bookstore offers a great selection of classic and contemporary works, everything from poetry to Southern Lit to cookbooks, releases from local authors, gourmet foods and gifts, as well as a charming café called Camilla Kitchen that serves breakfast and lunch, offering coffee, tea, wine and beer alongside light bites, ice cream and pastries. There, I met two locals who may pass for natives but are among those who relocated to the area for all it had to offer. Ashley Warlick is one of the owners and founders of the bookstore and her husband, Jim Scott, works as a bookseller. This energetic couple were thoroughly engaging and eager to chat about what makes their store and adopted home so special.

"What we aspire to is to not just be stacks of

bestsellers. We want to have books that you didn't think you wanted to read because you've never heard of before. We want those to be as prominent as bestselling books,” Scott explains. “We're all readers in the store. We're passionate about books. I'm a former English teacher and taught for 25 years. We do staff picks and we keep rotating those. People love them and it leads to conversations with our staff members. I think that that adds a lot.”

It’s all about “curation,” Warlick shares.

“We pride ourselves on being able to find a story for everybody, even for those who aren't necessarily readers. When we first opened, one of our inspirations was ABC [Carpet & Home] in Manhattan and the way that you can buy everything there,” she recalls, referencing the legendary 125-year-old lifestyle emporium in NYC. “We can't offer you everything, but we can offer you some really interesting stuff. We're great appreciators of food here and so almost everything is from South Carolina, from the greater South. We make an effort to reflect where we are with our food, like Marsh Hen Mill grits, cocktail mixes from Jack Rudy's out of Charleston and wines from a local distributor called Mission Grape, who specialize

Clockwise from top left: M. Judson Booksellers, BMW Performance Center, TopGolf, Swamp Rabbit Trail

in natural and organic and biodynamic wines. So, it's all brands that have great stories. That's what we do. We tell stories in a bunch of different forms. All of the furnishings are also for sale. They're vintage items that I pick up in the area.”

The store has many inviting seating areas where visitors can eat, read or do a bit of people watching.

“Over time, the space has evolved and making all these little nooks has been one of the really fun things. This is a space for community, where you can just come and have a seat. It’s about instantly making a warm connection with people when they walk in the door,” Warlick offers. “It's unique, local and authentic in all the ways that word can be used.”

They even sell custom guides developed by locals for those seeking insider recommendations.

“We collaborated on these with a local company called Paper Routes. Lib Ramos, the designer behind them, pairs local writers and local illustrators to make these really stunning maps. There is a coffee map, a cocktails map and I did one called Food from Other Places,” she explains of her guide to the local international food scene. “We wanted to do something that was artful and beautiful and reflected the routes where we would take visitors."

When it comes to active adventures in Greenville, Scott says there’s a choice for every interest, from hiking and biking to more “laid-back recreation.”

“I can drive 30 minutes and go on a beautiful hike alongside a waterfall,” he says, offering that his favorite hiking spot is the nearby Jones Gap. “We also just opened up Unity Park downtown, where you can go for a walk and visit the brew pubs and restaurants right on the river alongside the park.”

“The cycling community is also large here,” he continues. “Because you have miles of safe biking on the Swamp Rabbit Trail.”

Set on an historic rail bed that runs alongside the Reedy River, the paved trail stretches over 20 miles, is one of Greenville’s most popular and accessible recreation options, and offers you the option to bike or walk as you enjoy the beautiful scenery and parks that connect downtown to the quaint town of Travelers Rest. Swamp Rabbit cuts through the historic heart of Greenville at Falls Park, a bustling 32-acre community green space complete with a 200-foot suspension bridge that overlooks and curves around the waterfall below.

Just steps from the park sits Greenville’s most talked about new hotel, The Grand Bohemian Lodge. This boutique property—with a distinctive restaurant, bourbon bar and lounge—is perched on the falls just steps from Greenville's vibrant downtown. A contemporary take on a rustic lodge environment, it features urbane interiors and a serious nod to Native American art and culture. The hotel’s location is a unique draw. If you stay here, ensure you reserve a room on the falls side to take advantage of all that natural beauty.

Those looking to shift their vacation into high gear may want to check out the BMW Performance Center, where you can get behind the wheel of the company’s fastest cars, including the M8 Coupe (which can reach 60 miles per hour in less than three seconds) and experience a NASCAR-esque outing. You could also visit the aerial adventure park Treetop Quest, where they offer more than 60 outdoor obstacles and ziplines, or get in some tubing or kayaking on the nearby Green River, which has Class I and II rapids. But that’s just a taste of what “The Greenville to End All Greenvilles” has to offer. Yes, that Greenville!

Learn more at visitgreenvillesc.com

Left: Porch at the Grand Bohemian Lodge. Below: Paper Routes Guides to Greenville.

Left , photo by Nick Steele; right, photo courtesy of Paper Routes

Solo Act

Trixie Smith is taking on the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway’s Ride Run Roll Relay for the second year in a row—as a one-person team.

By JoAnn Guidry | Photo by Misty Smith

Named after his great-grandfather and father, Trixie Smith is always on the lookout for an adventure as unique as his name.

“I was 16 when I watched my first Iron Man triathlon event on TV,” says Smith, 43, who grew up in a small town south of Tallahassee. “I was amazed by the athletes who pushed themselves to the extreme, running, biking and swimming. I thought those are the kinds of people I want to be around; people who push themselves and don’t give up.”

Smith’s triathlon dream was deferred when he joined the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) right out of high school, but he began to develop the athletic skills to apply to that goal.

“We did a lot of swimming and running to stay fit,” notes Smith. “I’m not a particularly fast runner, but I can cover long distances. I’m most comfortable in the water, so swimming always felt very natural to me.”

When Smith was sent to the USCG Training Center in Petaluma, California, he acquired another key athletic skill.

“Petaluma is in Sonoma County and it borders Marin County, which is considered the birthplace of mountain biking,” says Smith. “I connected with some mountain bikers and that’s when I started mountain biking. So now I was running, swimming and mountain biking.”

After his USCG service ended, Smith joined the U.S. Army and served a year in Iraq. Following his discharge, he returned to the Tallahassee area and became involved with forest fire management.

“Now that I was more settled, I began pursuing that triathlon dream again,” shares Smith, who is a U.S. Forest Service wildland firefighter and the helicopter manager for the Apalachicola National Forest. “I competed in my first triathlon in 2007 and I just loved it. It was difficult and a great challenge, but I loved it.”

Just to put things in perspective, Ironman Triathlon participants must swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles. After that 2007 triathlon, Smith competed in the 2009 Great Floridian Triathlon in Clermont. That was followed by the 2010 Keys 100 Ultramarathon,

where he finished the 100-mile run in 28 hours, 27 minutes and 53 seconds.

“As I said before, I’m not a fast runner, but I am a steady runner and can go long distances,” says Smith. “I was 31 then and actually won my men’s age group of 30-34, which was kind of a surprise to me.”

Every year, Smith signs up for a triathlon, ultramarathon or adventure forest race to continually challenge himself. He points out that he “trains most days, running or mountain biking, and I have a whole forest to do that in.” On rainy days, he can jump on his office treadmill, which is set up like a stand-up desk. Smith was content with his athletic endeavors and wasn’t looking to add to his skills but ended up becoming an equestrian too. Married with three daughters, it was Smith’s oldest daughter Brigette who helped make that happen.

“Brigette decided she wanted a horse and a friend ended up giving her one,” shares Smith, who, with wife, Misty, owns a 7-acre farm. “Then Misty got a horse and so I decided I might as well get a horse, too so we could all ride together. That first horse was not a good experience at all. I got kicked in the face and decided to get rid of that horse.”

As luck would have it, Smith’s mother had also gotten into horses and had just weaned a black and white paint filly from her dam.

“My mother and I traded horses. And I decided if I was going to have a horse, then I was going to train it to be the kind of horse that I wanted. I worked with that filly every day and we definitely bonded,” says Smith. “Her name is Annie; she’s 10 years old now and we are a good team. She’s a great trail horse and I’ll ride her on forest fire breaks to check on prescribed burns.”

One day while Misty was doing some research for a new adventure for her husband, she came across the 2022 Cross Florida Greenway’s Ride Run Roll Relay. A team consisting of a runner, horseback rider and mountain biker go out one at a time on designated trails, tagging their teammate when they return.

“When Misty told me about the RRR Relay, I was interested right away,” recalls Smith.

I’m not a very competitive person against other people. I prefer to take on these athletic events to challenge myself. And the RRR Relay is a great way to do that and have some fun, too.

- Trixie Smith

“And then I had the idea that it would be more of a challenge if I did all three legs. I checked with Bre Ximenes, the Greenway Trails and Volunteer Coordinator, to see if that was possible. She said as long as I had someone to handle my horse while I was out running and biking, that was fine.”

And so, Smith did indeed compete under the one-person team name of, appropriately enough, Firewalker.

“Overall, it was a great experience. I enjoyed it and Annie did great,” recalls Smith, who finished the 5-mile horseback ride, the 8-mile mountain bike leg and 3.1 run in a total of 2 hours and 32 minutes. “And I learned some things that I can

tweak for this year’s event. I rode Annie with a western saddle in running shorts; don’t think I’ll do that again. I also got turned around a bit on the mountain biking leg, so the plan is to come a day early and check out all the trails.”

Smith’s 16-year-old daughter Skyler also competed as an equestrian on a team last year and plans to do the same this year. Misty will be there to support both her husband and daughter as needed.

“I’m not a very competitive person against other people,” says Smith. “I prefer to take on these athletic events to challenge myself. And the RRR Relay is a great way to do that and have some fun, too.”

Top and right photos, from the 2022 Ride Run Roll Relay, courtesy Bre Ximenes; left photo Trixie Smith and Skyler

Smith, by Misty Smith

Ride Run Roll Relay Unites Greenway Users

By JoAnn Guidry

Every day, individual equestrians, runners and mountain bikers are out on the 350 miles of trails in the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. But on the day of the Ride Run Roll Relay, they come together as teams.

“We are so fortunate to have the Greenway trails, with designated ones for horseback riders, runners/ hikers and mountain/paved trail bikers,” says Bre Ximenes, the Cross Florida Greenway Trails and Volunteer Coordinator. “And while there is some interaction between the multiple users on a daily basis, the Ride Run Roll Relay fosters camaraderie among these diverse people. And the event raises funds that go toward trail maintenance.”

The RRR Relay began in 2007 and ran through 2011. An outbreak of the equine herpes virus in 2012 prevented the event from taking place and it remained dormant until 2022.

Teams comprised of an equestrian, runner and mountain biker complete a relay-styled race. The equestrian leg is 5 miles, the mountain biker navigates 8 miles and the runner covers 3.1 miles. There is a special category for Hero teams, consisting of at least two first responders. If a person wants to participate, but has no team members, he or she can be matched with others to form a team. A participant can also be a one-person team, such as Trixie Smith was in 2022 and plans to be in 2023.

“I was approached by former participants interested in reviving the RRR Relay,” Ximenes explains of resuming the event. “There seemed to be enough interest and the 2022 event proved to be our best ever. We had 109 participants and 41 teams. Through registration fees, sponsorships and raffles, we raised $8,558 for trails maintenance.”

In addition to awards to the Top 3 teams, prizes are also handed out to fastest teams, middle-of-thepack team, turtle (slowest) team, best team name and best dressed team. There is a fair atmosphere with food and merchandise vendors, music and information booths about the Greenway.

“The RRR Relay is a great family event that promotes health through physical activity in a natural setting,” offers Ximenes. “It also brings awareness to our community about how fortunate we are to have the Cross Florida Greenway, a state park, in our backyard. We are grateful to all the community sponsors and volunteers who help make this event possible.”

The RRR Relay is a collaboration between the Florida Park Service and the Florida Horse Park, where the event is staged. This year’s event begins at 8am on Saturday, April 1. Registration is online only at runsignup.com/triple-r-relay

For more information, contact Bre Ximenes at (352) 758-1000 or triple.r.relay@gmail.com

Photo courtesy Bre Ximenes

LIVING

Ocala Cooks

Jermaine Pearson is a busy professional, devoted father and husband, and knows his way around the kitchen. One of his favorite meals to prepare is a soul food feast for family and friends.

Photo by Bruce Ackerman

Jermaine Pearson and his wife, Rachel, are the owners of Oneness Essentials, an exclusive line of soaps and other skin care essentials. The business was born of necessity, due to his adult-onset dermatitis. Their experimentations in creating natural skin care products were so successful they wanted to share them with others.

Jermaine, who is a fraud investigator with Hartford Insurance Group’s Ocala office, loves to cook for his family, which includes three young children. He is a master at preparing “soul food” and a recent dinner for family and friends featured his candied yams, along with crispy fried chicken, macaroni and cheese from scratch, collard greens and cornbread.

“What I love most is that soul food breaks racial and cultural barriers and causes everyone to unite at the dinner table over a feast cooked with love,” he says.

Jermaine adds that he and Rachel serve faithfully every week at Souls Harbor First Pentecostal Church of Belleview, where he recently won third place at the annual Fall Chili Cook-off.

Candied Yams

4 pounds sweet potatoes

1 1/4 cups Karo Light Corn Syrup

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons light brown sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup honey

2 tablespoons vanilla extract

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into large chunks and place them in a large pot and cover with water. Cook over high heat for about 40 minutes or until they are fork tender.

While the potatoes are boiling, melt the butter in a small dish in a microwave, for about 30 seconds. In a large baking dish, pour the melted butter on the bottom and add 1 cup of the brown sugar and all the other ingredients (syrup, honey, vanilla, cinnamon,

nutmeg and salt), then stir well and set aside.

When the potatoes are done, strain off the hot water and set them aside to cool, for about 10-15 minutes.

Set your oven to 350 degrees. Cut the potatoes again, this time into whatever size you prefer. Add the potatoes to the dish of candied sauce and sprinkle them with the remaining 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Place them in the oven and bake for 1 hour uncovered, basting occasionally with the candied sauce from the bottom of the pan.

Ocala Cooks is a place for our community to share their favorite recipes and discuss all things food. Join the conversation on Facebook and your recipe may be featured in a future issue. To learn more, visit fb.com/groups/ocalacooks

Donna Lampkins is retired and devotes her time to the Florida Parrot Rescue, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of companion parrots. The former restaurant owner is a true foodie and avid gardener.

“I have always loved this recipe because it is fairly easy to make, but it delivers a wow factor,” she shares. “It can be used as an appetizer or a main dish with a nice salad on the side.”

Mediterranean Cheese Tart

8 sheets frozen phyllo dough (about 17 x 12 inch rectangles), thawed1/4 cup butter melted

¼ cup, plus 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

½ cup chopped onion

1 teaspoon snipped fresh rosemary or ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed

½ of a 10-ounce package frozen, chopped spinach, thawed and drained

1/3 cup toasted pine nuts or walnuts

1 egg

1 cup ricotta cheese

½ cup crumbled feta cheese

¼ cup drained, oil-pack dried tomatoes, snipped

¼ teaspoon coarsely ground pepper

For crust, generously grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Unfold phyllo. Cover phyllo with plastic wrap, removing phyllo sheets as needed. Brush one phyllo sheet with some of the melted butter and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the parmesan cheese. Repeat layering with remaining phyllo sheets, melted butter and parmesan cheese. Using kitchen shears, trim phyllo to an 11-inch circle. Ease phyllo evenly into the prepared pan, pleating as necessary and being careful not to tear the phyllo.

For filling, cook onions and rosemary in olive oil

in a medium saucepan until onions are tender. Stir in spinach and pine nuts. Spread in the phyllo lined springform pan, set aside.

Lightly beat egg in a medium mixing bowl. Stir in ricotta, feta, and tomatoes and pepper. Carefully spread over spinach mixture. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of Parmesan cheese.

Place springform pan on shallow baking pan on the oven rack. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until center appears nearly set when shaken.

Cool cheese tart in springform pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Loosen sides of pan. Cool 15 to 30 minutes more. Remove sides of the springform pan. Serve warm.

Makes 12 appetizer servings or may be served as an entrée, paired with a salad and a nice red wine.

Ocala Cooks is a place for our community to share their favorite recipes and discuss all things food. Join the conversation on Facebook and your recipe may be featured in a future issue. To learn more, visit fb.com/groups/ocalacooks

Christy Mitchell is the director and owner of Worry-Free Preschool LLC. With her husband, Kyrie, she also is the co-owner of Junior’s Love LLC. Christy enjoys working with children.

“Teaching enables students to grow in all areas of their lives. I enjoy empowering children to become global citizens and thinkers,” says Christy, who is a mother of eight.

“During the weekdays, we are busy, so I go for meals that are easy to make. This meal, by Jocelyn Delk Adams of grandbaby-cakes.com, is a favorite amongst my family and friends,” she shares. “It takes little effort but makes a great impression. That is why it is my favorite.”

Brown Sugar Mississippi Pot Roast

2-4 pound chuck roast

1 packet dry ranch dressing

1 packet dry au jus gravy

1/3-2/3 cup dark brown sugar, packed

7 pepperocini peppers

8 tablespoons butter, preferably Land O Lakes Butter with Canola Oil

Put the roast on the bottom of the slow cooker.

Sprinkle the dry ranch dressing and gravy mix, and the brown sugar, over the top of the roast.

Add the peppers and then the butter.

Cook for 8 to 10 hours on low setting or 5 to 6 hours on high setting.

Use a spoon to remove any excess oil from the liquid on top of the roast.

Shred the roast by using two forks. Serve with mashed potatoes and side dishes such as broccoli or green beans.

Ocala Cooks is a place for our community to share their favorite recipes and discuss all things food. Join the conversation on Facebook and your recipe may be featured in a future issue. To learn more, visit fb.com/groups/ocalacooks

1

God

My faith guides me every day. God will speak to you in different ways at different times.

I am so grateful for what he has done in my life.

4

Ron “Rondo” Fernandez

Breathing Into Our Youth

I absolutely love coaching and working through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and in what we do with The Rock Program, which provides school supplies, food, toiletries, clothing and more to local students in need.

2 3

Cuban Coffee

SHARES THE THINGS HE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

Rondo is the owner of The Mojo Grill & Catering Co. and can’t live without his own extra grilled and extra wet chicken wings. He is very involved in outreaches such as providing meals in appreciation of first responders and supporting youth and says he gets his strength from his family. “Everything I do, I do for them,” he shares. “I love them more than words can say.”

It’s a must every day! It’s my Cuban tradition. I say “I love you, Dad” before my first cup as a way to remember him and all the times we had it together.

Latin American Café and Café

Havana have great Cuban coffee.

Miami Hurricanes Football

Blues and Soul Music

I love every team from Miami, but the Hurricanes have my heart. I even named my son Cane after them! Hopefully we will get back to where we need to be soon. 5

Music is my outlet. I love to sing and make music. I love the rawness of blues and soul. My biggest influences are Otis Redding and Gregg Allman. My favorite place to sing is at the Reilly Arts Center

Portrait by Chris Spears Photography; Bottom right photo courtesy of Reilly Arts Center

Roaming Our Rivers

The Silver and Ocklawaha rivers offer opportunities to get close to nature in all its splendor.

By Scott Mitchell

The Silver and Ocklawaha rivers run like ribbons through Marion County. Unlike many of our waterways, the shorelines of these rivers have not been heavily developed and remain mostly natural. The rivers both offer wonderful opportunities to explore, view wildlife and, in the case of the Ocklawaha, do some camping and fishing.

While the two rivers are connected, they are both unique. The clear waters of the Silver River gush up from the Floridan Aquifer through a cluster of springs at the iconic Silver Springs State Park. The river flows for about five miles through the park and merges with the Ocklawaha River just south of State Road 40.

The often-murky Ocklawaha River comes from Lake Griffin to our south and flows north about 75 miles, where it meets the St. Johns

River near Palatka.

Canoes and kayaks are best suited for exploring these rivers, although smaller power boats work as well. There are rental kayaks and canoes available at Silver Springs State Park and at the Ocklawaha Canoe Outpost in Fort McCoy.

Slow is the best speed for various reasons. By law, boats must operate at idle speed on the Silver River, while on the Ocklawaha the prudent skipper takes it easy to avoid damage to propellers from submerged stumps and logs. Slower is also better for wildlife viewing, reducing bank erosion, safety to other small craft and the overall health of the rivers.

To explore the Silver River, you can put in at the head springs and paddle the length of the river to Ray Wayside Park, at the base of the Ocklawaha Bridge on SR 40. As you paddle,

Turtles

photo by Scott Mitchell; opposite page, photos by Mark Emery

watch for manatees, river otters, alligators, countless turtles and fish, wild rhesus monkeys and a wide range of birds. Wildlife is best viewed from a distance for your own safety and also to limit disturbing these critters.

As you approach the end of the run, watch carefully on the left for the canal to the park and takeout area—if you reach the confluence of the Ocklawaha, you have missed Ray Wayside. Also known as the Ocala Boat Basin, this is a stateowned property that has been leased to Marion County since 1976. It offers boat ramps, bank fishing, volleyball, a playground, picnic pavilions and restrooms. There is a user fee. After your trip down the Silver River, you can have someone pick you up here or catch a shuttle back to the state park (call ahead to Silver Springs for details about this option).

The Ocklawaha River offers 20 miles of majestic “Old Florida” scenery between Ray Wayside and the county boat ramp in Eureka. Most of this area is completely natural and the river has a lot of bends. Gore’s Landing County Park lies at the 10-mile mark and offers a good stopover or takeout point for a shorter trip.

Sandy bluffs and small landings along the river make for great primitive camp sites—as long as they are not posted “no trespassing.” Anglers are likely to catch panfish, bass, catfish, bowfin and gar. The river here often runs dark and tends to be less busy than the Silver River.

When on an outing on either river, practice

these common-sense safety precautions: Tell someone about your plans and route; be sure to bring a life jacket, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water, snacks and a waterproof pouch for keys and phones.

Above all, be safe, take your time, relax, and enjoy what these outstanding local rivers have to offer.

Scott Mitchell is a field archaeologist, scientific illustrator and director of the Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center, located at 1445 NE 58th Ave., Ocala, inside the Silver River State Park. Museum hours are 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the park is $2 per person; free ages 6 and younger. To learn more, go to silverrivermuseum.com.

Becoming a Pickleball Purist

By Dave Schlenker | Illustration by David Vallejo

Truth be told, I got off on the wrong foot with pickleball.

The first time I heard the word—years ago in a newsroom—I chortled like a fifth grader with flatulence.

“What is it called? Pickleball?” I asked the newsroom clerk who had just edited a calendar listing on a pickleball event.

Is it played with actual pickles? Who, exactly, plays pickleball? Why do I keep saying it out loud? Pickleball. Pickleball. Pickleball.

The calendar listings, the clerk said, were for leagues in retirement communities. There it is. It is a retirement thing—like shuffleboard or water aerobics or golf cart brigades.

“Crazy old people and their crazy games,” I thought, not considering I was two years shy of qualifying for a 55-plus community.

Pickleball started seeping into all corners of Marion County. I am a tennis player, and a year ago I noticed new lines jutting across the tennis courts. Then came the players—an orderly, happy community with jacked-up pingpong paddles and wiffle balls.

Cute sport, I cackled.

As the months went by, I noticed there were more pickleball players on MY tennis courts than there were tennis players. And, oddly, they were not cussing.

They were having fun. To be sure, those happy people with their adorable little paddles included–gulp—people my age and younger.

You know where this is going.

As of Christmas 2022, the Schlenkers are certified pickleball people.

We are part of a growing society with many rules and rituals. We do not just call out the score with two numbers. Nope. That is for suckers with stringed rackets. We properly bellow three numbers before serving with one required bounce on one side and one required bounce on the other side before we rush—but stay out of—the kitchen.

The sound of that paddle hitting that wiffle ball … oh man! Satisfying and strange.

My wife and I now watch professional pickleball matches on TV. My new boss (who is younger than me) is an ordained pickleball ambassador. We study the rules, learn the lingo and tap handles (NEVER tap the business end of the paddle).

In late December, we thought we were getting the hang of it until we noticed a woman staring at us. Capped with a “Pickleball” visor, her outfit screamed purist. She invited us to join the foursome on the next court.

Oh, good golly no! We were just beginners smacking the ball into the net and onto neighboring courts. But the woman would not let up.

“Come. Play.”

“No,” we said again, taken aback by her tone. The next thing we knew, we were wiffle-deep in team play with coven purists.

Turns out, this is part of the pickleball community.

She did not want us to waste any more time playing wrong. Within 10 minutes, we were not as awful and were calling the scores correctly. It was awkward and enlightening.

At that moment we became pickleballers.

Incidentally, we also turned 55 in 2022. I see no correlation, so don’t even start.

Butterfl y Bliss

You can attract and help butterflies and other pollinators with the right choice of plants and yard care.

By Belea T. Keeney Illustration by Jordan Shapot

For many gardeners, part of the reason we like plants and flowers is because we like the critters they attract. One of the basic tenets of having a backyard wildlife habitat is to offer food, water, shelter and a safe place to raise young, and our gardening choices can have real impact on butterfly populations.

To attract them, author and butterfly expert Jaret C. Daniels reminds us, “Private yard and home gardens alone

collectively comprise the largest percentage of green space in urban areas.” His new book, Your Florida Guide to Butterfly Gardening, is brimming with color photos of butterflies and the plants they need, plus advice on planting in north Florida.

Daniels really knows his bugs. Well, insects, as he’s a professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida. He also serves as curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History’s McGuire Center for Lepidoptera (that’s

Milkweed

butterflies, folks) and Biodiversity. His book has lots of solid advice about how to attract and keep butterflies in your garden.

One, offer both nectar sources for the adults and host plants for larva. If you only have nectar plants for the adults, that’s “much like a quick mart,” Daniels writes. To encourage them to stay in your yard and reproduce, larval host plants are crucial so the young can grow safely.

Other elements to consider are diversity in both heights and the mix of plant species. You don’t want a monoculture with just one type of tree or shrubs. Nature always has a mix of plants, so you should, too. Think also about microclimates you might create. The fence on the north side of your yard might shelter a dense flowering shrub. That southwest corner of the house that really heats up in summer can be a perfect spot for a butterfly mud bath and more tender flowering plants in the winter.

Daniels also recommends that you plant in groupings and have more than just one of any flower or shrub.

“Larger drifts of color and plant groups tend to be more apparent in the landscape and attractive to visually searching butterflies,” he notes.

He also advises using native plants and keeping in mind the hardiness zone we’re in. Generally, Marion County is in Zone 9A, which means temperatures can occasionally go as low as 20-25 degrees. Those freezes and frosts will damage tender plants.

Beyond flowers and habitat, Daniels says to offer other resources for butterflies, such as filling a shallow dish with “old fruit, banana peels or melon rinds.” He also warns that this method can attract unwanted visitors like wasps, flies and ants. Personally, I’d only try this technique in wintertime and supervise it carefully, taking it in at night.

Butterflies also need water. Many get what they need from nectar, but you can also offer a shallow mud bath in a protected area with the soil kept moist.

If you want some real inspiration for your butterfly garden, make the short trek to the Butterfly Rainforest exhibit at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. This habitat features hundreds of freeflying butterflies and birds from around the world, in a lush tropical setting that’s enchanting and educational at the same time. A walking path takes you through the screened enclosure, and live butterflies and birds flit among the foliage. The museum also has an indoor exhibit, the Wall of Wings portion, which houses a three-story tall showcase of butterfly and moth specimens from all over the world. It includes some of the largest specimens on the planet, including the giant goliath birdwing, with females that can have a wingspan of 11 inches.

My first little yard project at my current house was redoing a small circle bed around a lamppost. I bought lantana, daisies and marigolds, and I didn’t even get them in the ground when two butterflies showed up to supervise and partake of the flowers. It was a sweet moment and proved that what you do in your yard matters to them.

Jaret C. Daniels book, Your Florida Guide to Butterfly Gardening, is available from University Press of Florida and major booksellers. To learn more about the Butterfly Rainforest, go to floridamuseum.ufl.edu

A native Floridian and lifelong gardener, Belea spends her time off fostering cats and collecting caladiums. You can send gardening questions or column suggestions to her at belea@magnoliamediaco.com

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