Ocala Style | June 2023

MOVERS, MAKERS & RISK TAKERS

352.804.8989

Just Listed

Joan Pletcher, Realtor

Our results speak for themselves.

List with Joan today!

The Laurels of Bellechase

One of Ocala’s most desirable communities. Custom-built home features 6-bedrooms and 4-baths, with floor to ceiling windows that allow you to enjoy the views of the beautiful screen-enclosed pool and summer kitchen area.

$1,250,000

Traditional style estate on 5+/- acres. Horse friendly community. Spacious home features an open floor plan with 4-bedrooms, 4.5-baths and exercise room, plus office/media room. The outdoors offers a covered gazebo with fireplace, beautiful landscaping, pool and jacuzzi.

Just Listed

$2,476,000

Polo Lane

Pending

Equestian Oaks

Secluded 4-bedroom, 3-bath home with open living room, chef’s kitchen, high ceilings throughout and a delightful outdoor lanai area on 19+/- acres. The triple-split plan is perfect for added privacy. Luxurious owner’s suite. Partially fenced, plus whole-house generator.

5+/- Acre estate in gated community with access to the Florida Greenways and Trails for horseback riding, biking or strolling for miles. Spacious 4-bedroom, 4.5-bath home, plus office and theater/media room. Private backyard offers mature landscaping close to all conveniences.

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.

30+/-Acres with easy access to HWY 200. Close to WEC, HITS, and The Florida Horse Park. 3-bedroom, 4-bath main residence, 5-stall stable, two 2-bedroom, 2-bath guest/employee houses, generator, 3 wells and various size paddocks.

Publisher’s Note

outhern artist Walter Anderson once commented that, “The most sincere compliment we can pay is attention.”

One of the best things about this magazine is our commitment to paying attention to those in our community who are very interesting people and who make Ocala and Marion County such a unique place.

With this issue, we are passing out quite a few “compliments” and we hope you enjoy getting to know some of your neighbors.

The young singer/songwriter on our cover is Ocala native Noah Hunton and we will be keeping an eye on this rising star, who, in early May, was nominated as Male Vocalist of the Year for Modern Country in The Josie Music Awards, which will be presented at the Grand Ole Opry in October.

We bring you the life story of third-generation cowboy Ruben “Mr. Rodeo” Lamb, who, I’m just guessing, might disagree with the mantra of “Mammas don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys.”

You’ll read about career military man and business leader Mel Poole, an Ocala native who served 25 years in the Air Force and then returned to Ocala to lend a hand in growing his community’s infrastructure and caring for his family. We love coming-home stories!

We introduce you to noted historian Daniel Banks, who has worked tirelessly to capture important Black history, especially that of his grandfather Edward Davis, so it is never forgotten.

And we re-introduce you to award-winning artist, and friend, David D’Alessandris, whom I don’t get to see often enough. He is staging a new exhibit at The Brick City Center for the Arts, which opens June 2 with artworks that span his 50-year career. I always look forward to opportunities like this so I can be surrounded by all the good and fun energy he creates using his many talents.

We also check in on Sean McLaughlin on his first anniversary as CEO of ARC Marion and celebrate the lengthy career of Capt. Oscar Collins, a legend among the Silver Springs glass-bottom boat captains.

We salute all these men for their service, contributions and dedication. Thank you for entrusting us to share your stories.

Jennifer Hunt Murty Publisher

www.primewagyufarm.com

Publisher | Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@magnoliamediaco.com

Magnolia Media Company, LLC (352) 732-0073

PO Box 188, Ocala, FL 34478

Art

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Amy Harbert amy@magnoliamediaco.com

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Bruce Ackerman Corgi Photo

John Nevarez/H. H. Photography Kohen & Co.

Mahal Imagery

Dave Miller

John Jernigan

Mike Rastelli

Richard Rossetto

Kathy Thomas Photo

ILLUSTRATORS

Jordan Shapot

David Vallejo

CLIENT SERVICES GURU

Cheryl Specht cheryl@magnoliamediaco.com

ocalastyle.com

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

JoAnn Guidry

John Jernigan

Belea Keeney

Scott Mitchell

Jill Paglia

Dave Schlenker

Leah Taylor

Beth Whitehead

Sales ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Evelyn Anderson evelyn@magnoliamediaco.com

Ron Eddy ron@magnoliamediaco.com

D istribution

Rick Shaw

42 THE HISTORY KEEPERS

Daniel Banks is the descendant of civil rights leader Edward Davis.

48

DEFINING DAVID D, Artist David D’Alessandris stages the show of a lifetime.

53 SUMMER FLAVORS

Jill Paglia whips up some tasty seasonal dishes.

59 THE WONDER(S) OF TECHNOLOGY Alexa, write Dave a column!

60 THE LAST OF HIS GENERATION

Celebrating the lengthy career of Capt. Oscar Collins.

63

THE NEAR DEATH OF MISS LILLIAN Even experienced gardeners make mistakes.

20 ADULTING 101

ARC Marion clients learn valuable life skills.

26

MR. RODEO

Third-generation cowboy Ruben Lamb keeps the heritage alive.

32 MAKING CONNECTIONS

Career military man, business leader, visionary – say hi to Mel Poole.

36

LIVING A LEGACY

Ocala singer/songwriter Noah Hunton puts his life into his lyrics.

Special thanks to Jerry and Nancy Gallery, who lent us their 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air for this shoot. Jerry, who is a U.S. Army/Vietnam War veteran was awarded both a Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medal with a “V” for Valor, has restored several other vintage beauties by hand, including a ‘28 Model A Roadster, ‘41 Chevy Coupe, ‘52 Jeep Willys Woody, ‘66 Nova SS and a ‘67 Camaro RS.

ON THE COVER: Noah Hunton

PhotoS by: Dave Miller of MAVEN Film + Photo

This page: Top and middle, by Bruce Ackerman

Head to El Toreo for the best Mexican food this side of the border! Enjoy all of your favorite traditional Mexican dishes in a friendly and festive atmosphere.

Specials:

Mondays and Wednesdays, Margaritas are $2 Saturdays, 2 for 1 Margaritas All Day

El Toreo

3790 E Silver Springs Boulevard, Ocala (352) 694-1401 › 7 days 11a-10p

SR 200, Ocala (352) 291-2121 › 7 days 11a-11p

Located in the heart of downtown Ocala, Harry’s offers traditional Louisiana favorites like Shrimp and Scallop Orleans, Crawfish Etouffée, Jambalaya, Shrimp Creole, Blackened Red Fish, Louisiana Gumbo and Garden District Grouper. Other favorites, like French Baked Scallops and Bourbon Street Salmon, are complemented with grilled steaks, chicken, burgers, po’ boy sandwiches and salads. Their full bar features Harry’s Signature Cocktails, such as the Harry’s Hurricane, Bayou Bloody Mary or the Cool Goose Martini. They also feature wines by the glass and a wide selection of imported, domestic and craft beer.

Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille

24 SE 1st Avenue, Ocala (352) 840-0900 › hookedonharrys.com

Mon-Thu 11a-9p › Fri & Sat 11a-10p › Sun 11a-8p

Cajun Redfish & Crawfish Risotto

INSIDER

Social Scene

Photo by Bruce Ackerman

Charlee, Francesca and Stacey Rollins were among the many guests at the April 22nd Ladies High Tea at Licciardello Farms, with proceeds going to benefit the Interfaith Emergency Services Homeless Shelter Program.

Ladies High Tea

LICCIARDELLO FARMS

Photos by Bruce Ackerman

The annual event, hosted on April 22nd by Karla Greenway, CEO of Interfaith Emergency Services, exceeded expectations with elaborately decorated tables sponsored by numerous hostesses. Proceeds will benefit Interfaith’s Homeless Shelter Program.

Karla Greenway

Caly Bryan, Jolene Hartley, Erin Emanuel and Cailin Cruze

Almeida Nanton, Gerry Williams, Faith Cumbermack and Hilary Williams

Levonda Goodson, Chris Cotter, Cindy O’Connor and Heather James

Kari Coates and Joanne Coast

Children First Gala

The Marion County Children’s Alliance’s fundraising gala featured presentations of the Dr. Mike Jordan Awards of Excellence and Vision to The Pearl Project and Kut Different, respectively. The April 13th event included testimonials, dinner and music.

COUNTRY CLUB OF OCALA

Photos by Bruce Ackerman

Beth McCall, Thomas Buss, Jeremy Knight and Nan Knight

Lori Conrad, Ire and Jazzmin Bethea

Emery Robbins and Camden Collins

Stephen and Joy Zedler, Rashana Mitchell and Jamie Gilmore Jr.

Mary Paulus and Beth McCall

41st Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet

COLLEGE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

The NAACP 5114 Marion County Branch event on April 28th included presentation of the President’s Award to Loretha Tolbert-Rich as well as honors for Minority Business, Social and Community Uplift , and Positive Social Awareness.

Photos by Bruce Ackerman

Edna and Benjamin Bryant, Andre Greene, Kecia Matthews and Anna Menchan

Eric Cummings, Loretha Tolbert-Rich and James D. Stockton III

Michele Baker, Paula Leahmon, Tina Brito and Yolanda Thomas

Theresa Boston-Ellis and Donna Wilkerson

Cynthia Wilson Graham and Monica Bryant

75th Anniversary Champions Diamond Gala

Presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Owners’ Association, the April 24th party featured the accomplishments of horse trainers, owners, breeders and horses. Elegantly attired attendees enjoyed a cocktail reception and dinner.

CIRCLE SQUARE CULTURAL CENTER

Photos by John Nevarez/H. H. Photography

Ambassadors from the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation celebrated the 40th anniversary of their program

Sean Kaplan

Kathleen O’ Connell and Brock Sheridan

Brian Cohen, Michelle Stone and Joe O’Farrell

Tami Bobo

Nassal Kentucky Derby Party

by Bruce Ackerman

The annual Kentucky Derby Party hosted by Bill and Cindy Nassal included a trumpeter, vases of red roses, plenty of fashionable hats, and, of course, cocktails and bourbon. A leader board kept guests apprised of changes in the lineup right up until post time.

STONECLIFF FARM

Photos

Kathleen Miller, Melodee Schneider and Phyllis Gray

Marianne Howanitz, Ann Admonius and Greg Allen

Cindy and Bill Nassal

Pamela Calero Wardell and Matt Wardell

Joe Pequignot, Tom Miller and Robert Salat

Susan Gilliland, Julie Keyworth and Susan Jones

On the Scene

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

LEVITT AMP OCALA MUSIC SERIES

Webb Field at Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex

June 2, 9, 16 & 23

These free concerts are sponsored by the city of Ocala and the Marion Cultural Alliance. A variety of music genres will get your toes tapping, your feet dancing and your heart pumping. Artists display works, nonprofits share their missions and food vendors offer tasty treats. This month’s main performers are Chris Pierce (June 2); JuVox Sambou (June 9); Yusa (June 16) and Shamarr Allen (June 23). Each concert includes an opening act. For more information, check out fb.com/levittampocala

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION DINNER &

DANCE FUNDRAISER

One Health Center

June 3

The first of several of this month’s Juneteenth events is a fundraising party sponsored by R.A.M.A.L Educational & Social Services. The evening includes dinner, live entertainment, music, DJ Josh Hamilton, a spoken word performance, silent auctions and raffles. Proceeds will help provide services including employment assistance, affordable housing, tutoring and literacy, and will benefit community projects, scholarships for at-risk and non-traditional students, tutoring and mentoring. The cost is $50 per person and tickets are available at bit.ly/44oSCDX. To learn more, go to ramalservices.org

FREE FIRST SATURDAY

Appleton Museum

June 3

Admission is free and you can peruse the regular and special collections, enjoy the grounds, and make your own art in

Artspace. This month, see free screenings at 11am and 2pm of Loving Vincent, the critically acclaimed film about Vincent Van Gogh. New this month will be the Scuba Steve’s Snack Shack food truck. Ongoing exhibits include Paper Thin & Shadow Deep, Hiromi Mizugai Moneyhun’s hand-cut paper works and Pre-Post Poetic, handstitched collages by Debora Greger. Check out appletonmuseum.org for more info.

PET PALOOZA

World Equestrian Center, Expo Center 2

June 3-4

This expo will offer pet costume contests and parades, an agility course, education sessions and adoptable pets from Marion County Animal Services, the Humane Society of Marion County, Quality of Life Rehab & Foster, Voices of Change Animal League, No Paws Left Behind and Sumter County Animal Services. Tickets are $8 online and $10 the day of the event; free for ages 12 and younger. For more info, worldequestriancenter.com

WILDLIFE WEDNESDAYS

Fort King National Historic Landmark

June 7, 14, 21 & 28

Join park staffers for an educational presentation and hike. This month’s talks are focused on bears (June 7), snakes (June 14), frogs and toads (June 21) and turtles and tortoises (June 28). Free to attend. For more info, ocalafl.org

WIND DOWN AT THE WETLAND Ocala Wetland Recharge Park

June 13

Once the sun starts going down and things cool off, the wildlife action at the Wetland Recharge Park gets going. Water Conservation Coordinators will host an hour-long, leisurely stroll through the park with information and insights into the diverse ecosystem. This park is a known birders’ hot spot, with a variety of songbirds, raptors and waterfowl. Free to all; no pets please.

JUNETEENTH: GROWN FOLKS A NIGHT OF ELEGANCE

Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place

June 16

With featured speaker Lizzie Robinson Jenkins, founder of The Real Rosewood

Foundation, this event includes dinner from American Sunday Plate Catering, a dance performance from Be Heard Through Movement, tunes from DJ Tony and giveaways. Proceeds benefit the Sircle Inc., a nonprofit focused on cultural and economic empowerment and awarding scholarships to high school seniors. Tickets are $50. For more info, linktr.ee/thesircleinc

ORANGE BLOSSOM FUN IN THE SUN MINIATURE HORSE SHOW

Southeastern Livestock Pavilion

June 16-18

Miniature horses are often used as therapy animals and can carry loads in a cart, plus just stand there looking cute. This horse show celebrates and shows off the versatility, adaptability and overall adorableness of miniature horses and Shetland ponies. Classes will be offered in halter, driving, stock jumping, obstacles and showmanship liberty. For more info, orangeblossommhc.org

OCALA JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

Webb Field at Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex

June 17

The Ocala Juneteenth Celebration Commission and the city of Ocala host this event. It will include entertainment, vendor

Ocala Juneteenth Celebration, photo by Bruce Ackerman

booths, nonprofit groups, businesses and mentor groups, and food options. Funds from sponsorships will provide scholarships for local high school seniors for acceptance into a university, college or vocational program. The event is free to attend. See fb.com/OcalaJuneteenthCelebration or email ocalajuneteenth2020@gmail.com for more info.

AERIAL DREAM VIEWS OF LAND AND SEA

Ocala International Airport

Through June 20

Artist Maggie Weakley’s solo show is part of the Art in City Spaces program hosted by the city of Ocala. The paintings in her Water Collection use multiple techniques, including use of acrylics, spray paints, glitter, mica powder, plaster and more. Free to the public. For more info, maggieweakley.com

GOSPEL EXPLOSION

Appleton Museum of Art Auditorium

June 24

This variety show will feature gospel music, entertainment from The Craytons, comedian Des, Charles Groover and his puppets, and Pearlie Mae. There also will be vendors on site. Tickets are $25 at bit.ly/3nmHGpK.

DANCE PARTY: ROCKY AND THE ROLLERS

Circle Square Cultural Center

June 24

Get your dancing shoes on for this party with one of the most popular bands in the area. Start with doo-wop, then classic rock n’ roll and slide into ‘70s disco, with eraappropriate attire encouraged. Tickets start at $25. For more info, csculturalcenter.com

SUMMER MUSIC CAMP

Reilly Arts Center

June 28-30

This camp, which is sponsored by the Ocala Symphony Community Music Conservatory, is a hands-on introduction to the instruments of the band and orchestra. It is suitable for students in grades three through six. Att endees will learn how instruments work and blend in an ensemble, and have a chance to play each instrument. Professional musicians and educators from the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and Marion County Public Schools will lead sessions. Snacks are included in the $100 tuition. Scholarships are available. See reillyartscenter.com for more info and to register.

Sean McLaughlin

“Adulting 101”

ARC Marion offers a variety of programs to help those with developmental and intellectual disabilities learn valuable life skills.

By Beth Whitehead | Photography by Bruce Ackerman

In 1959, a group of Ocala parents gathered to support their children with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Soon, similar groups sprung up around the country and eventually became the Association of Retarded Children (ARC).

In the early 1970s, the name was changed to Association of Retarded Citizens to encompass all ages. In the ‘80s, the group became known as ARC (Advocacy Resource Center). In 2019, ARC Marion reaffiliated with the national ARC, becoming one of 600 chapters nationwide, and Florida ARC, becoming one of 37 chapters in the state.

“We are Ocala’s oldest and largest nonprofit dedicated to supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” says CEO

Sean McLaughlin, who recently completed his first year at the nonprofit. “We have a 16-acre campus with two residences. We have an Adult Day Training Program where individuals learn valuable life skills like cooking, budgeting, patience, communicating, art and much more. It’s adulting 101.

“Another part of our day program that I am very proud of is our Transitional Program,” he continues. “This was designed for people who have never been in any kind of day program before and need time getting used to structure and routine, individuals who can be disruptive in large groups and really thrive in a smaller group and those who have some behaviors that may have forced them out of programs with other providers.

“We found there was a hole in Ocala for people with disabilities who didn’t fit into your typical adult day training program,’’ McLaughlin adds. “I wanted to create a safe place for them to have the same experiences the rest of our participants get. So, we used one of our buildings and set it up as a mini day program, but with a higher staffing ratio. Everything within our day programs is designed to have a real-world application. It is supposed to prepare these men and women to be part of a more inclusive world.”

Another component is the supported employment program.

“We help people realize their employment goals and push them a little bit further,” McLaughlin explains. “We don’t believe that people with disabilities only need to be working as Publix baggers or at your local Goodwill. So, we ask, ‘What are your real goals? What do you want to do with your life?’”

He says one woman said she wanted to be a nurse. He found she didn’t want to be in a hospital but to work in a nursing home to help the elderly. She is currently accomplishing her dream, he shares.

McLaughlin notes the last few years have been difficult for many nonprofits.

“There were times when ARC had to seriously consider the future of the organization. I knew what I was coming into, and I welcomed the challenge,” he shares. “I felt my experience in this field and my graduate degree in nonprofit management gave me a unique perspective in how to run a sound business but also how to have fun and create unique programs that would get people excited.

“Programmatically, we did some major overhauls,’’ he says. “We moved away from piece work and contract labor, and really dove into life and social skills building. ARC quickly became a place where people wanted to go. Staffing is up 50 percent from one year ago and daily attendance is up almost 80 percent. We are now supporting well over 115 people per day. Our youngest is 18 and our oldest is 87, and we

have everything in between.”

McLaughlin says this year is focused on building stronger ties within the community, such as a new program in which clients choose a local nonprofit to support. ARC also has provided space on campus to house We Who Care, a local nonprofit that creates social events for people with disabilities, and Special Olympics will soon occupy a standalone building.

McLaughlin says 90 percent of ARC clients are funded through Medicaid. For others, the services cost around $50 a day. ARC Marion is supported by donations and partial proceeds from events hosted by local businesses, such as the King of the Wing cookoff and the Florida Feast.

McLaughlin says the greatest way to offer support, however, is, “Whenever you see a person with a disability, just don’t see their disability but instead see what they can offer.”

To learn more about ARC Marion, go to mcarc.com

Sean McLaughlin and Terry Rushing

Shane Dekker, Sean McLaughlin and Jackie Davis

JESSICA (ROGERS) & ANDREW CRANE

March 18th, 2023

Venue: Coastal Occasions, Jacksonville Beach Photographer: Kohen & Co.

Florist: Poppy Flowers

Hair/makeup: Kiara Shannelle Makeup Artistry; Good Hair by Haley

Their favorite memory: “The weather absolutely was not cooperating and the rain—though said to be good luck— was creating the need for a lot of pivoting and last-minute adjustments. One of these was that we had to cancel our exit, so we hit the dance floor instead. The next thing we knew, everyone was outside yelling for us to join them, so we went. Our friends had planned an amazing exit for us with fireworks, dried flower petals and so much love. We were so touched and felt so loved.”

KALI BRIANNE (STAUSS) & GERALD BOYD “JB” LOURENCO

April 9th, 2022

Venue: Bella Collina Country Club

Photographer: Kathy Thomas Photo

Wedding Planner: At Last Wedding Planning

Florist: The Graceful Gardener

Hair/makeup: Angelica Chrysler Beauty

Their favorite memory: “Our favorite memory was getting to spend time together, just the two of us, after photos and before the reception. Bella Collina has a beautiful wine cellar in which we were hidden away while everyone entered the reception. We were able to talk about how wonderful the ceremony was and how excited we were for the rest of the evening and to spend the rest of our lives together. This day was so special and being able to spend some time just us two was something special we will never forget.”

KELLI (WEST) & CHRISTOPHER MORIN

March 3rd, 2023

Venue: Twin Oaks Mansion at Silver Springs State Park

Photographer: Corgi Photo

Florist: Blooming Events

Hair: Morgan Coy-Tozzo

Bride’s favorite memory: “Our first dance was my favorite memory. I enjoyed spinning around on the dance floor for the first time as husband and wife. It was a magical moment we got to share with our friends and family.”

Groom’s favorite memory: “Seeing my bride for the first time that day. She was up on the stage of the mansion and when I turned around my breath was taken away. She was so beautiful.”

Offered at $3,950,000

21.91 +/- acres adjacent to former Ocala Jockey Club. CBS barn with 14 center aisle stalls feed & tack room. Owners’ office and a full 1 bed/1 bath studio apartment 180x140 sand arena with fiber. Recently renovated home open kitchen. Split floor plan, mudroom, salt water pool with spa. Located 20 min to WEC and HITS

Development opportunity on 227 +/- acres in the heart of horse country! This expansive property is currently zoned for equestrian use, making it the perfect location for developing high-end equestrian properties. Located in Farmland Preservation area this property is ideal for building stunning equestrian homes, barns, and facilities.

NW Highway 225, Reddick

Mr. RoDeOO

By JoA Guidry

Photography by Bruce Ackerman

Historic Images & Portrait Above by Mike Raste i

A third-generation cowboy, Ruben Lamb has done more than his part to keep that heritage alive in Ocala/Marion County.

I was born into thecowboylife. Mygrandfather and father were workingcowboys. It’sinmyblood.

“ “

Aformidable combination of the gift of gab, cowboy charm aplenty and a relentless work ethic makes Ruben Lamb a tough man to say no to on any given day. Lamb used those talents to sell the idea that became the reality of not one, but two Ocalabased professional rodeos. And just for fun, Lamb also convinced the Ocala City Council that an annual downtown cattle drive would be a good thing too.

Lamb was the driving force in establishing the Ocala Shrine Rodeo in 1983, the Southeastern Pro Rodeo in 1994 and the Downtown Ocala Cattle Drive and Cowboy Roundup in 2013. All three events are still going strong to this day.

Ask Lamb, 82, why he’s devoted so much of his life to these endeavors and he answers in his soft cowboy drawl, “I was born into the cowboy life. My grandfather and father were working cowboys. It’s in my blood.”

In fact, on Lamb’s handwritten birth certificate, his father Virgil’s profession is listed as cow puncher.

“My father worked for the Norris Cattle Company, which was one of the biggest cattle ranching operations in Florida for decades. When I was born, he and my mother were living in a cattle camp in the woods in Levy County. Cowboys and their families lived in small cracker houses close to cow pens, where the free-range cattle were brought in for doctoring,” shares Lamb. “When my mother, Marie, was ready to give birth to me, she was taken to my aunt’s house in between Chiefland and Rosewood while my father rode his horse to get the doctor.”

Once Lamb was born, it was back to the cow camp until the family soon moved to Oxford in Sumter County. His father continued doing cowboy work on ranch land that is now The Villages.

“I got my first horse when I was 3, while we lived in Oxford,” recalls Lamb. “She was a little gray mare. Our little cracker house sat in the middle of a cow pasture and I would ride her all around there.”

When he was 5, Lamb, his sister, Juanita, and mother moved to Ocala, settling into a one-bedroom house near what is now the Ocala Golf Club.

“My father had a bad case of wanderlust, so he had left the family before we moved to Ocala,” says Lamb. “My mother would walk downtown to work while my sister and I went to school. It was a hard time. And during that time, my mother actually divorced my father and we didn’t expect to ever see him again.”

But, when Lamb was 14, his father returned and his parents remarried. And it was Lamb’s father who took him to his first rodeo at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion.

“Of course, I had grown up on cattle ranches, but watching a rodeo was a whole different thing,” notes Lamb, whose sharp blue eyes light up at the memory. “It was so exciting, and I loved every minute of it.”

Little did Lamb know at the time how that first rodeo at the pavilion would play a role in his life’s path.

Twists Of Fate

After graduating from Ocala High School and a year of community college, Lamb enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1961.

“I served two years with the 82nd Airborne Division stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina,” he notes. “I came back to Ocala in 1963 with the intention of re-enlisting just as Vietnam was brewing. But love got in the way.”

Lamb walked into what was then the M&C Bank in downtown Ocala to inquire about a job in the bookkeeping department. He made eye contact across the room with a woman named Diana Ruff, who was a bookkeeper, and an immediate connection was made. Instead of re-enlisting, Lamb took the job.

“Diana would later tell me that when she saw me, she told her co-worker that I was the man she was gonna marry,” says Lamb with a chuckle. “I was smitten too, and although there was a rule against bank employees dating, we did. I’d leave her little notes on the windshield of her car; she still has some of them to this day.”

With their romance becoming more and more obvious to his boss, Lamb left at the end of his 90day probationary period. He went to work for U.S. Concrete Pipe in the insurance/payroll department.

Lamb at the rodeo in 1992, photo by Mike Rastelli

He and Diana were married on April 4th, 1964.

“The job was a good steady one, but it was just too much sitting in a chair,” says Lamb. “I’d rather be sitting in a saddle. So, on weekends and vacations, I did cowboy work for A Bar B Ranch and that soon became my full-time job.”

A Bar B Ranch was a sprawling cattle operation that spanned both sides of U.S. Highway 27, where Ocala Palms and Publix are now.

“We did all the cattle work on horseback and with cow dogs,” says Lamb with a grin. “We would drive the cattle back and forth across Highway 27. Of course, then it was just a two-lane road.”

In 1977, while working for A Bar B Ranch, Lamb was involved with bringing the first Florida High School Rodeo Association rodeo to the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion (SELP). Two years later, and after 16 years with A Bar B Ranch, Lamb was offered a job managing the SELP in 1979.

“At the time, the SELP was independently managed by the Southeastern Livestock Association. Jimmy Glisson Sr. was the president,” explains Lamb. “I walked into the SELP office and there was a set of keys waiting for me. I picked up the keys and went to work. My job included everything from picking up the

Rodeo Time

trash to coordinating events.”

But Lamb’s work ethic didn’t allow him to work just one job.

“I worked at SELP on Friday through Monday and had a route for Bryant Exterminating on Tuesday through Thursday. I also mixed in cowboy day work. I’d get a call from ranches like the Baldwin Ranch to come in for day work,” recalls Lamb, adding with a shrug. “For the greater part of my life, I worked several jobs at a time, seven days a week, to earn money for my family.”

Indeed, Lamb would work 16 years for SELP and 25 years for Bryant Exterminating.

The same year that Lamb went to work for SELP, he also joined the Ocala Shrine Club and soon he had a unique fundraising idea for the charitable organization.

“At the time, the main fundraising done by the Shrine Club was for members to stand on street corners with buckets to collect donations,” he says. “Having seen the success of the high school rodeos at the SELP, I had the idea of a rodeo fundraiser for the Shrine Club. Many of my fellow members were skeptical, but I went ahead with the idea.”

Poster courtesy of Southeastern Pro Rodeo Inc.

Lamb with his wife Diana

Of course, the Shrine Club had no money to finance a rodeo, but that didn’t deter Lamb.

“I approached Shrine Club member George McQuay, the president of First Florida National Bank,” he recalls. “I told George that I needed to open a checking account for the rodeo but didn’t have any money. But if the bank would be a ticket sponsor for $200, its name would be on the tickets. He agreed and put $200 in our rodeo checking account. Then I got Green Printing as another sponsor to print the tickets for free.”

Lamb then signed up six $500 sponsors who would have their business banners displayed above the bucking chutes. He sold ads in that first rodeo program. The programs sold for $1 and adult tickets cost $5.

In addition to raising seed money, Lamb contacted stock contractors and vendors, and got the rodeo sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. He was hands-on, setting up the arena leading up to the rodeo.

“We had that first Ocala Shrine Rodeo on Labor Day weekend in 1983,” says Lamb. “From our rodeo proceeds, we were able to donate $30,000 to the Florida Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa. By the time of our 18th rodeo, we had donated $1 million.”

For most people, establishing one rodeo would be enough, but Lamb is not most people.

“I just thought that it would be good for Ocala to have another rodeo in the spring now that the rodeo community was aware of us,” notes Lamb. “Once more, I started with no seed money but reached out to friends in the community, who responded. And Troy Weekley, who then operated Five Star Rodeo Company, agreed to underwrite the rodeo.”

Once again, Lamb worked his rodeo magic and, in March 1994, the Southeastern Pro Rodeo made its successful debut.

“I was so pleased that we were able to bring a second pro rodeo to Ocala,” says Lamb modestly. “Sometimes, I still can’t believe it really happened.”

Lest you think that Lamb then rested on his laurels, think again. While being the event organizer for both the Ocala Shrine Rodeo and the SE Pro Rodeo, Lamb also took a field representative position with Dodge Ram’s Rodeo Division in 1996. For 16 years, he drove around the southeast to rodeos sponsored by Dodge Ram.

After 35 years, Lamb passed the Ocala Shrine Rodeo on to the younger generation and now focuses on the SE Pro Rodeo. The Downtown Cattle Drive and Cowboy Roundup is now run by the city of Ocala.

In between all his jobs and establishing rodeos, he and Diana raised a family: sons Ruben Jr., who goes by Randall, which is both his father’s and his middle name; Justin and De De. There are also four grandchildren: Ava (18), Mason (16), Brody (13) and Bryson (9).

Still In The Arena

Today, Southeastern Pro Rodeo Inc. is headquartered in Lamb’s home, which is conveniently only two miles from the SELP. Lamb is the corporation president, with Justin, De De and Bret Mills on the board. Justin, who has a degree in business/ marketing, helps coordinate the rodeo with his father. De De is in charge of advance ticket sales, Mason is part of the rodeo set-up crew and Ava handles the ticket booth at the rodeo.

Not surprisingly, western-themed framed posters and prints hang on the office walls. There are also certificates of appreciation and various plaques awarded to Lamb. Several years ago, Diana had a painting of her husband commissioned. Always modest, Lamb hung it behind the office door. But on full display is a black and white framed picture of Diana sitting on the back of a gray brahman steer with Lamb holding the lead rope.

A room-length desk that Lamb shares with Justin spans one side of the room. Two SE Pro Rodeo posters hang on the wall above Lamb’s section of the desk. A self-taught, self-described doodler, Lamb drew the longhorn skull featured in the SE Pro Rodeo’s logo designed by Justin.

“There’s not a day that I don’t think about rodeo,” says Lamb, who recently donated his last cowpony, a paint mare named Patches, to the Heart of Florida Youth Ranch. “Once a rodeo finishes, we’re already working on next year’s rodeo.”

On March 15-16, 2024, the SE Pro Rodeo will celebrate its 31st annual event.

“I wake up every morning feeling blessed,” says Lamb. “I am so fortunate to have my wonderful family and friends and to have been able to live a cowboy life.”

I wake up every morning feeling blessed.

Making

Connections

MEL POOLE HAS LED A LIFE OF INTRIGUING MILITARY SERVICE AND SUCCESS AS A BUSINESS LEADER. AS FOR HIS VISION FOR THE FUTURE, HE WANTS TO ‘REFLECT CHANGE.’

BY SUSAN SMILEY-HEIGHT | PHOTOS BY BRUCE ACKERMAN

Mel Poole has traveled the world. Now, he is bringing the world to Ocala and Marion County as the director of the Ocala Fiber Network (OFN).

Poole is a retired U.S. Air Force First Sergeant who served in the United States and abroad, including within the U.S. Special Operations Command and Special Missions Squadron. For the past nine years, he has served as director of the city of Ocala’s fiber optic utility, which provides highspeed broadband services to businesses, schools and some residential customers.

Poole was raised in Ocala by his parents, the late Eugene Poole and Selestine WashingtonPoole. When Mel was in fifth grade, the family moved to the grounds of the Lowell Correctional Institution north of Ocala, where his father became the first Black assistant superintendent.

Mel graduated from North Marion High School in 1985. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Trident University International. In his teens, he says, he “did pretty good” in football and track at North Marion. “I was a running back and went to state on intermediate and high hurdles.”

“Mel went to school at Dr. N.H. Jones, Fessenden, North Marion Middle and graduated from North Marion High,” offers his mother, noting that, “he excelled in academics as well as sports.”

Poole attended what was then Central Florida Community College, now the College of Central Florida, for a while but “wanted something different.” Although his father had spent years in

the Army Reserve, Poole says he was “fascinated with airplanes, so I joined the Air Force.”

FLYING HIGH

In the beginning of his 25-year career in the military, Poole worked with the A-10 Thunderbolt.

“Some called it the warthog, some the tank buster,” he recalls. “That was in England. I spent my first three years in the Air Force living abroad. I was a hydraulic specialist, working with the landing gear, flight controls, brakes, in-flight refueling … From there, I went to California to work on the Skunk Works project, dealing with black ops, spy planes. I had some time on the U-2 spy plane and TR-1 they call it today.”

Poole was deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield.

“I was appointed on the spy planes, the first time ever deploying spy planes for war,” he recalls. “We were the first to deploy the U-2 abroad. We were one of the first to get there, get set up, flying real war missions, taking surveillance, spying on them early in the game.”

From there, he spent some time in Korea before moving to special ops in Fort Walton Beach.

“I worked on gunships, special ops type aircraft, still doing hydraulics, but with progressive ranks,” he shares. “I started going into leadership roles early on and became the lead tech as far as hydraulics.”

He soon was assigned to duty in Hawaii, with a plane specially modified to transport a four-star general and a four-star admiral.

“One controlled the entire Pacific; one the Air Force Pacific arena,” Poole notes. “I was on Oahu, at Hickam Air Force Base. From there we flew around the world. That’s where I really got a lot of experiences. I’ve traveled the world, literally—Guam, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Australia seven times, New Zealand, it was part of the job. The two senior officers we carried were dignitaries and it was our job to get them there safely and on time every time.”

While in Hawaii, Poole switched from aircraft production superintendent to human resources.

“We dealt with all the personnel issues, advising the commander on discipline, to help with the welfare of the troops,” he says. “I then went to Little Rock AFB, where I had a communications squadron, which is similar to what we do here today. And I also had the wing staff and the personnel of the base.”

Poole’s time in the states was cut short when he was deployed to the United Arab Emirates in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

“It was the same thing as taking care of troops back home, that was my deployment for the war effort,” he remembers. “From there, I came back and got orders to Italy, which was my last stop before I retired. I had an ammunition squadron. We had one of the largest bomb dumps in the Air

Force and we maintained all the bombs, bullets and missiles from the European theatre.”

COMING HOME

When he retired in 2011, Poole says he came home to Ocala to “get my feet on solid ground.”

“I had some irons in the fire and my mother said the city is hiring. I got hired in the electric department as a safety and training coordinator, in 2011,” he offers. “The assistant city manager asked if I wanted to open a telecom and see if we could move it to the next level. I accepted and here we are. We have really grown the operation to where it is today.”

The deputy city manager at that time was Sandra Wilson, who later became city manager.

“Mel was a pleasure to supervise. He was always the ultimate professional,” Wilson recalled. “He had great ideas on how to move OFN forward and had the tenacity to see them through. As a result of Mel’s leadership, OFN continues to thrive.”

As the director of OFN, Poole oversees more than 20 team members.

“We are the city’s phone company. We provide high-speed broadband internet to businesses and some residential areas. We offer free Wi-Fi in certain areas, to include city parks,” he shares. “I manage that team of professionals, who do a fantastic job. I oversee and make recommendations

Poole at various times during his military career and with his mother, Selestine Washington-Poole.

for the budget and direct the day-to-day operations.”

He says OFN has been around since about 1995 as part of the city’s electric department.

“Then we got into other government agencies, such as the Sheriff ’s Office, the county, and started slowly connecting them and providing them a service. From there we kind of morphed into where we are today,” he explains. “This department is unique to the city. There are maybe four fiber optic departments relative to a municipality in the state. We’ve been successful since inception. We monitor a whole host of things. We’re a smart city from traffic light/traffic controllers, Wi-Fi , we do a lot of work with FDOT, other government agencies, the hospitals, CAIs (community anchor institutions), we provide service to all the schools in Marion County with the exception of Reddick-Collier. That is a big win-win for the city as we keep that money at home and take care of our up-and-coming future, meaning the students.”

He says that early during the pandemic, his team developed a plan to work with the school board so students at schools in rural areas could access Wi-Fi to receive instruction and upload homework. Students in town could access free Wi-Fi through locations such as city parks.

“That was when the game changed a little bit, where now fiber is the thing,” he recalls. “Before, it was broadband, now people were starting to work from home and the challenge was how do we keep this network up and running and people were wanting more bandwidth. So, we had to strategize and split the team up so we could keep the network up and running. It was an interesting time for all of us, and definitely put fiber on the map.

“We function as a business. There are no tax dollars involved in what we do,” he adds. “Everything we do is essentially with a contract and business dollars. We operate just as electric, just as water, just as public works. We had a visionary thought in how we designed and built, and how we continue to build the infrastructure from a futuristic standpoint. I tell the team all the time, look down the road 10, 15, 30 years so we have a solid infrastructure in place. Because now, connectivity is important, whether it’s a cellphone, tablet, water heater, smart houses, cars, everything is going that way. We like to build for capacity; build for the future. That’s we are today, building for the future.”

Under his leadership, the department has twice won the city’s “President’s Award” as well as the IDC Government Smart Cities North America Award for Digital Equality and Accessibility.

“Mel’s a relationship guy who genuinely cares about the well-being of the men and women who

work for OFN,” said current City Manager Peter Lee. “Mel has worked hard to develop and retain his team. He is passionate about carrying out Ocala Fiber Network’s mission and focused on delivering high quality service to all of Ocala.”

Washington-Poole recalls when her son was a youngster roaming around West Ocala, where now he oversees OFN operations.

“When he was a little boy, we lived in the area near Dr. N.H. Jones [Elementary School] and he would sneak across the road to the fire station. The guys would spoil him there during the summertime,” she recalls. “Now, one of his hub stations is there for fiber optic. Just to think, he spent so much time there as a little kid and now he runs the program out of there to take care of the city. In the area where the Mary Sue Rich building [Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place] was built, he used to ride his bike to his grandmother’s house. Now, he was one of the ones who made sure the fiber optic was up to par in that new building. You never know from which you come to where you are today.”

THE FUTURE

As for his future, Poole says the travel bug still bites from time to time.

“I’ve traveled the world, I’ve been to all but about 10 states, but I haven’t visited our treasures, the Grand Canyon, the Rockies, so I want to do a little bit of travel,” he shares. “I like volunteering, giving back, helping people. I will probably—some have tossed out, would you run for office. I don’t know. Do I have that little flicker in me? I think so, it just hasn’t flamed up. Sometimes it flames up and then you think, uh, you know … So, in the next 10 years, there’s a lot of options on the table, but I do think giving back as far as volunteering and maybe a thought of something in politics. Just not sure yet.”

As for whether her son might run for office, Washington-Poole, who for years has been involved with voting efforts, offers, “He has always been around politics, and it piqued his curiosity. We’ll see once he gets his career behind him. I think he would be a great asset to Ocala and Marion County.”

Poole, who is on the boards of the Public Education Foundation and Ocala Community Credit Union, is the father of two girls and a son, all adults, and has five grandchildren. He enjoys playing golf and de-stressing through a top-down ride in his sports car, taking care of cattle with one of his brothers or just hanging out at home.

“I’m kind of private; do my own thing,” he offers. “But I do want to reflect change and I’m not quite sure how to do it. I think most people think change is a bad thing. Change is just another opportunity.”

Ocala singer, songwriter noah hunton puts his life into his lyrics.

By Susan Smiley-Height

Photography by Dave Miller

You could say that Noah Hunton lives and breathes music. But that might be an understatement.

The gifted singer, songwriter from Ocala is making some noise in Nashville. On May 4th he was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year for Modern Country in The Josie Music Awards, which will be awarded at the Grand Ole Opry in October. Hunton says that even as a kid, he was all about the music.

“I don’t know where I get my musical background from. I’m adopted. But ever since elementary school, I was always doing music,” he recalls. “I did maybe one year of basketball in middle school, but other than that, it’s always been music 24/7.”

The son of Mark and Joanna Hunton says that after he graduated from Forest High School in 2017, “I had to make money, I had to work, but if the job didn’t go with my music schedule, I was like, ‘Hey guys, I’m done, I’ve got to find another job.’”

He says he had eight or nine jobs since he graduated, “Just because I’ve always been so passionate about my music. A year and half ago, I quit my full-time job. I was working at Sound Exchange for two years and they were really flexible because it’s a music store, but I said, ‘I’m about to be 25, so I’ve got to take my shot and see where it goes. As soon as I did that, everything started blowing up and taking off. I just got back from Nashville and I’m working on a whole bunch of stuff. It’s just crazy.”

That road to Nashville got a good start on the downtown square in Ocala.

“My first gig in Ocala was at the Corkscrew Winery,” he shares. “And then I played on the downtown gazebo several times for the city of Ocala, and really every restaurant in Ocala, from Charlie Horse to Eaton’s Beach.

These days, his regional shows include venues such as Homestead Park in Williston, the Wildwood Winery and the World Equestrian Center, and large concerts such as The Beach Truck Invasion in New Smyrna Beach.

Hunton’s roots come out in his lyrics, such as in Hometown , in which he sings about performing on Broadway Street, and in Meant To Be , an homage to his fiancée, Ashley Hussar. Then there are the pure country riffs about partying with friends on Friday nights, in Huntn For A Good Time , and riding on a Silver Eagle tour bus “with new wheels on it” in Guitar With A Million Miles On It , written for him by Jason Sever with Blackbird Studio in Nashville. Hunton also has penned Rodeo , God’s Country ,

Shotgun Ridin’ and Legacy , which shares his hopes of leaving one.

Making it in the music industry does not come easy, nor without a significant financial investment.

“My first trip to Nashville was using all the money I was saving for months upon months upon months, by performing to get up there to just record one song,” he says with emphasis on the one. “And then after I went up there and got the feel for it, I had some hometown sponsors. Ocala Heating & Air always helps me out. Connor Tractor here in Ocala; they sponsor me. A lot of independent families help me out, other businesses. There are so many … they’ll say, ‘Oh, you’re going to Nashville, here’s a hundred bucks,’ and there’s other people that say, ‘Hey, here’s $5,000. God works in mysterious ways.”

Musicians Hunton has worked with locally include Kendall Tucker and Austin Hunter. In Nashville, he says he first worked with musician/producers Mitch Fern and Kip Allen and, most recently Michael Lattanzi, at Latitude Studio South.

“He’s done Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Michael Jackson, DMX, anyone and everyone in the business,” Hunton says of Lattanzi. “He has like a $5 million studio, and I just got back from his place the other day.”

“I learned about Noah from his manager sending me a sample of his music just blind on Facebook. I fell in love with his voice,” Lattanzi says. “He came to Nashville to my studio. I had him play a song for me live, just him and one of my acoustic guitars, and I thought he was very special. I told him, ‘You have a gift, and you are special and different than many of the others that I’ve worked with.’ So, we started to record. Noah has a great future in the business because of his work ethic. He is one of the hardest working people I have worked with. He is self-contained and makes all his own money just to be able to drive to Nashville from Ocala to record with me here in the studio. With that kind of work ethic and his talent, he will go very far.”

There have been bumps along the road, but Hunton says it always seems to work out. Such as in the beginning of April, when he arrived at his Airbnb in Nashville to discover they didn’t have his reservation. He says his producer had a buddy with an Airbnb who gave him a discount. He even reconnected with his former math and English teacher at Forest High, who had relocated to Nashville.

“In my senior year, they moved to Tennessee, and they’ve been following me ever since,” he

shares. “They have 200 acres in Tennessee so, when I had breakfast with them, they said if you ever need a spot to stay, for free … everything happens for a reason.”

He credits one reason for his success to staying sober and thinking of it as a business.

“I’m all business oriented when it comes to music,” he explains. “I don’t drink. I’m always business. So, I’m not like, let me sing, get paid, leave and go home. Instead of sitting down hanging out with my buddies on my break, I pass out flyers. Last year, I opened for Tim McGraw in West Palm Beach because of a situation just like that.”

Hunton says his early influences were singers such as Randy Travis, Josh Turner and George Strait, but now he finds inspiration in Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen. While he does some covers, he says he’s currently focused on his originals. “Most of the time now it’s all original music, because I have so much material of my own.”

Now, he hopes to inspire others. He says it doesn’t matter if it’s a younger or older generation, he wants his music to appeal to all ages. A couple of his videos feature his nearly 2-year-old “kid security guard,” who, he says, “Is always wanting to hop on stage with me. A lot of people I’ve met, their kids look up to me.”

He says his ambitions for the future are not necessarily about fame and fortune.

“I have never chased after the lifestyle,” he offers. “I’ve just let everything kind of come.”

He refers to his song Legacy as a testament to his determination.

“That song is saying, this is what I’ve gone through, and other people have gone through, like other people dissing on them and saying they’re not good enough,” he says. “This was my way of saying I went through this but I’m not letting it stop me.”

So where does he see himself in 10 years?

“I see so much. I see me playing at the Opry, a world tour, probably six, seven albums … definitely on the standard of where Morgan Wallen is right now,” he asserts with a genuine enthusiasm. “I already see, from who I’m working with now, I see me there in two years, if that.”

Hunton’s newest single is All Nighters and he plans to “drop” more new songs over the summer. In the meantime, his schedule is jam packed. Somewhere along the way, he says he and Hussar might elope as their schedules are too busy for a big wedding, but they will throw a big party for family and friends. And he wants to be a dad one day.

“I definitely want kids,” he says. “When these little kids look up to me, they are like my kids.

“I’m a firm believer in God and I feel like everything that’s happened to me, just all the work and dedication and my family and everyone helping me, being a part of my journey, and my fiancé being one of my biggest supporters,” he says softly, “it’s all for a reason. I want to live every second to my fullest potential and just strive to be better and better and better—no matter what.”

To learn more, go to noahhuntonmusic.org

Daniel Banks The History Keepers

Meet the descendant of one of Florida’s notable civil rights leaders, who keeps his grandfather's legacy alive through books and exhibits.

By Leah A. Taylor

PORTRAIT by Bruce Ackerman

Daniel R. Banks is an author, elder and family historian, whose Edward Davis exhibit retells Florida’s formidable past and path to progress.

Banks grew up captivated by the stories told at the feet of his older relatives.

“They had great memories,” recalls Banks, “especially of dates. They could tell you something that happened on February 14, in 1940.”

With a story, a wealth of information was transferred into Banks' heart, which beats unremittingly.

After a 30-year career in early childhood development, Banks retired but still labors part time in the field. He has also authored several books on various topics, ranging from the welfare of young Black boys, to travel and, of course, to his own family’s genealogy.

It was during a visit to his grandfather’s home, when Banks was 21 years old, that his passion for the latter topic was sparked. While fumbling through books in his grandfather’s study, he came across several curious mentions of his “highly regarded” grandfather—someone who, until that moment, Banks was unaware had such a storied and esteemed past. That’s when his grandfather, Edward Daniel Davis Sr., a former educator, lifelong civil rights leader, and successful businessman, provided him with an in-depth “history lesson” about his life and the names and stories of his formerly enslaved ancestors.

Banks recaps how he “sat with pen and paper in hand” and took note to collect as much as he could. Only one other male relative, his cousin Chester A. Sims, gathered as much of the history. “Mr. Davis” (Banks’ reverential term for his grandfather) chose to only pass these stories down to men. And Banks repeats them with precision.

He begins, “Simon Dunbar was the son of a

Thomas County slave master.” Dunbar was Banks' fraternal great-great-great grandfather. His mixed ancestry was likely on his maternal side as well. Davis further shared that his grandmother, Hattie Jen McMath Davis, “an angel if God ever sent one,” says Banks, “had a father who was enslaved, but upon receiving his emancipation, was given 100 acres of land according to the family. Something odd for a person unless there was a blood tie.” He smiles knowingly. Eventually, the Georgia land would be passed down to Mr. Davis and his sister, along with a

message to Davis that he would do great things.

Indeed, Davis did great things. Banks smiles wide when he tells the story of how Davis—long before the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. marched and Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat—fought for civil rights. It is hard to miss the adoration Banks has for Davis. He lists Davis’ accomplishments one-by-one. Firstly, Davis started the Florida Voters League in 1935, a nonpartisan organization created to educate and register Black voters. He returned to again

Mr. Davis

All images, both pages: courtesy of Daniel Banks

Letters to Mr. Davis from various historic figures including Martin Luther King, Jr., Mary McLeod Bethune and Thurgood Marshall.

serve as the league’s president in 1957. Banks says the league was so strong it swayed the 1948 presidential election of Harry Truman and Leroy Collins’ Florida gubernatorial race in 1956. “Back then, if candidates were racist, they lost the Black vote,” says Banks.

To Banks' surprise and delight, his grandfather went on to publish a memoir, A Half Century of Struggle for Freedom in Florida, in 1981. Banks attended the book signing, taking away even more knowledge. Decades of further research would

pass before Banks would honor Mr. Davis’ life in print. A King Mighty in Battle by Banks was published in February 2020.

“Every Black teacher and student owe a debt of thanks for these men,” says Banks. He refers to Mr. Davis and his colleague, Harry T. Moore, another civil rights icon. Davis presided over the Florida State Teachers Association at the time. According to Banks, the two men joined forces in the late 1930s to fight for equal pay for Black teachers and equal facilities for Black students. They would receive strategic insight from NAACP attorney Thurgood Marshall.

Consequently, the backlash was swift. In 1942, Davis, then principal of Howard Academy (now the Howard Academy Community Center, or HACC) was fired by the superintendent. Davis would leave education, return to Tampa and eventually build a profitable insurance business with offices in three states before retiring to Orlando.

Davis kept roots in Ocala, though. He cared for his family. “He loved his daughter,” Banks explains of his mother, Alice Marie Davis Banks. She was a teacher at Howard Academy, years after her father lost his principalship. Banks remembers that in the evenings, after teaching all day, she worked at the laundromat or Shell gas station that Mr. Davis owned. The businesses, a mile from the school, stood across from Covenant Missionary Baptist Church. However, when Banks was 10, Davis told him the businesses were going to be “displaced.”

“Mr. Davis explained that the city was going to build a bridge,” he says.

Banks recalls trying to visualize the words from his grandfather and replying childishly, “I don’t see it.”

He chuckles for a moment—the audacity of change. Banks did not see it then, but soon he would see the bridge (the railroad overpass that brings traffic into downtown Ocala on State Road 40) he believes was built to separate the Black community from the rest of the city.

After publishing a second biography in August of 2022, Letters to Mr. Davis: from Thurgood Marshall, Mary McLeod Bethune, Martin Luther King, Jr., and more, Banks shared a snippet during a Sunday school class in January at Fort King Presbyterian Church. Margaret Spontak was in the audience. She knew the community. Her parents were local teachers. Yet Davis’ name was unfamiliar.

“You need to do an exhibit,” recalls Spontak of her conversation with Banks immediately afterward. On February 19th, nearly a month later, the church’s Hope House hosted the Edward Davis exhibition and book signing. Letters is an extraordinary collection of documents, which were bequeathed “in perfect order” by Sims to Banks.

Above: Mr. Davis with his daughter Alice Marie Davis (Banks' mother) and below with both of his daughters.

All images, both pages: courtesy of Daniel Banks

The letters that chronicle the civil rights movement in the South were enlarged and displayed around the room. Copies of Davis’ memoir and Banks' books on Davis centered the exhibit, which ran for two months.

Other notable artifacts, too many to list, on Davis, are located throughout Florida. Several are attributed to Banks’ persistence. After a couple of rejections and years of research, in 2015, under Governor Rick Scott, Davis finally received a posthumous induction into the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame. Later, Banks petitioned the city of Ocala to dedicate the road running along Howard Academy to Davis. The council unanimously approved.

“A street he used to get to work now bears his name,” says Banks.

Davis is celebrated outside of Ocala as well. The Florida legislation named a portion of U.S. 441 and Colonial Drive in Orlando after him. And, in December 2016, a bronze bust of a younger Davis was unveiled, compliments of the Hillsborough County Commissioners. It sits on a marble stand at the Tampa Riverwalk Historical Monument Trail with the Hillsborough River as its backdrop.

Banks had hopes of Davis’ story becoming a

part of the University of Florida’s Smather’s Library in connection to Davis’ work to admit Virgil Hawkins into the university’s law school.

Reuben Buchanan and Banks had started the process before Buchanan’s untimely death.

The College of Central Florida, closer to home, is allowing Davis’ story to thrive. Banks is currently teaching Senior Learners using Letters as the text.

Banks is determined to preserve Davis’ place in Florida history while taking up his grandfather’s sociopolitical causes.

“It has been 80 years since Mr. Davis started this,” he offers. “We can see things change. But then there is another mountain.”

There are even more letters and documents on Davis still in bins. Some are too personal to share. But what Banks has traced genealogically thus far is now a legacy he sincerely shares with all. His generosity extends to anyone longing to discover their roots.

In mid-April, the Fort King Presbyterian Church donated the $3,000 exhibit to the HACC under Davida Randolph’s direction. Its arrival is a full circle stop on the street bearing Davis’ name in the community rich in Bank’s praiseworthy remembrances of his ancestors. Davis’ story has found a forever home.

Clockwise, from left: Graphic designer Andy Stracuzzi of Zed+Zed+Eye Design with his work; Margaret Spontak, Banks and Joanne CornellOhlman; Bust of Mr. Davis at Tampa's Riverwalk.

ARTIST DAVID D’ALESSANDRIS STAGES THE SHOW OF A LIFETIME. By Nick Steele | Photos By Bruce Ackerman

Award-winning artist David D’Alessandris, known to many as simply David D., has been musing on his life as an artist—where it began and what the future holds. So much so that he is staging an exhibit at The Brick City Center for the Arts, which opens June 2nd, of work spanning his 50-year career. The show, titled Retro/New, features work from the periods and mediums that have distinguished him as an imaginative creator.

In a release for the exhibit, he notes that he is known for his “imaginative use of color and … exploration of materials—acrylics, watercolor, fiber, paper, wood, metal, ceramics, and found objects— applid in both two- and three-dimensional formats.”

Indeed, a hallmark of his mixed media works is that they often imaginatively employ recycled and repurposed materials and objects.

“David D’Alessandris’ work is extraordinary. Not only is he an accomplished artist with a poignant attention to detail, but his approach is also fresh, new and distinguished. He sets the bar high and is a great example of a true artist entrepreneur,” offers Xochitl Jacques-Smith, the current COO of NOMA Publishing and former gallery director for The Brick. “I personally appreciate that David is truly a mentor to many local artists and we’re very fortunate for his contribution to our dynamic arts community.”

D’Alessandris earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting, design, and graphics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and then pursued graduate study in the Master of Fine Arts program at Carnegie

Mellon University. His work has been featured in group/solo exhibits and international juried shows at notable venues in New York City, Chicago, Dallas, Pittsburgh and in Florida at the Cornell Museum of Art in Delray Beach, Artspace in Miami and Gallery 221 in Boca Raton, as well as locally at the Webber Gallery, Appleton Museum of Art, Fine Arts For Ocala and Marion Cultural Alliance.

From a young age, he sensed that he’d find success and fulfillment in the arts.

“I always knew I was going to do this from the time I was 5,” he recalls. “It was either this or I’d be on Broadway trying to make people laugh.”

And while he was always creating art as a personal passion, professionally he initially went down a slightly different path and began a career in retail home and fashion product development.

“It was ‘77 and I was an executive for the Joseph Horn Company, at a department store in Pittsburgh. I was part of their creative team and I always painted as a thing to look forward to and release my anxiety. I did these caricatures of nuns, exhibited them and they started to get recognition,” he recalls. “In the summer of '78, I was recognized by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. It’s an eye-opening experience to be reading the Sunday paper and it’s about you. I figured, Oh, this is going to do something for me. Well, then I find out a lot of people don't really want nuns on their wall. You know, it’s sort of quirky.”

His success in his profession led to a 30-year career and eventually he worked his way up to vice

president at Burdines. He credits the many creative experiences he had during this time and international work trips as a significant influence on his art.

“I figured I’m getting paid to be creative and I still could paint and do my thing at home. I split myself: David the bohemian artist and David the professional, who had to wear suits and ties every day,” he explains. “The best thing about being an artist in a corporate career was the travel opportunities. Not many people could say, ‘On the way to the rug factory, we stopped at the Taj Mahal.’”

Two of his Nuns on Parade pieces are included in the exhibit, representing the earliest work in the show.

“There's also one from 1985, when I was living in Manhattan. You can definitely see the transition from the '70s to the '80s. I broke away from the nuns and I started doing caricatures of the people I worked with or knew. I'd go home and sketch and come up with a design that would incorporate these characters.”

The exhibit will also feature works from many of his past shows that have been staged locally.

“When I moved to Ocala in ‘06 and I had made the decision—I'm done with the corporate world. I've put in 30 years and now I am finally gonna do what I am supposed to do—I got into my art, established the studio, got involved in the Ocala art community. And lo and behold, I got into museum shows and galleries.”

This past summer, D’Alessandris and his spouse, Max Russell, traveled to India and the artist came home with a vision for some new works that echo the style of his early works but are absent of people altogether. These intricate compositions of iconic

urban landscapes are purposely void of humans, even though it was the humanity and overpopulation of India that provided him some early inspiration.

“I had been there before many times on business trips, and I'm really taken by the colors and how many people there are there. They are compressed, just living on top of one another. But I didn't see anybody flip off anyone or anything like that. All those people living there ... houses on top of houses, buildings on top of buildings, all these antenna and wires flying through the air. I thought about including people, but then I thought, No, I want it to be void of humans, but to show that humans were there. There's this peace and Zen there. This trip really was a gift.”

The reason to do the show now he says was a matter of timing and purpose.

“I just turned 69 and realized, Oh, my, I've been doing this for 50 years," he offers. "And I want to capitalize on my journey.”

He also notes a recent conversation when a friend asked when he was going to give it all up.

“It was like a knife in my back,” he shares. “I'm doing the best work of my life. I'm gonna keep doing this 'til I die. You don't turn off your creative juices because all your friends retired. If it is in you, you're gonna find the time to do it. You don't just turn it off. I'm not one to ever give up.”

The opening public reception for Retro/New will be Friday, June 2nd, at the Brick City Center for the Arts. The show will run through July 8th. For more information, visit david-d-art.com

LIVING

Summer Flavors

Hurray for the carefree days of summer, when we enjoy backyard barbecues, family gatherings, Fourth of July celebrations and, of course, all our favorite dishes of the season.

By Jill Paglia | Portrait by Mahal Imagery

In the summer months, at the top of the “request list” is my frozen Key Lime Pie, which I adapted from an Ina Garten recipe. Who doesn’t love Key Lime Pie and the fact that it is frozen is such a treat during the dog days of summer. It’s also one of my favorites because it can be made days in advance. All you have to do is prepare the fresh whipped cream right before you serve it, which takes less than five minutes. My Pulled Pork Sliders are perfection, and are sure to be a big hit with just about any man in your life. I love to put these on Hawaiian Rolls because the sweetness perfectly complements the tangy pork, and crunchy onion straws—

combining the straws with the pulled pork literally takes it up a notch and will have your guests coming back for more. This recipe can also easily be done in two batches so you have one batch on reserve (you can even freeze the pork) for another occasion. Broccoli Slaw is a great side with these. You can fi nd my recipe on ocalastyle.com in one of my past features.

For the seafood lover, the Shrimp Crostini is bursting with flavor and can be prepped ahead of time. My suggestion is to have plenty of shrimp and avocado on hand, because these appetizers disappear in a flash!

Until next time…Mangia Bene!

Garlic Shrimp Crostini with Avocado

12 slices baguette

1/2 stick butter, softened

1/2 tsp. garlic salt

1 ripe avocado

1 lime, juiced

1 tbsp.diced red onion

1 tbsp. chopped cilantro

3 tbsp. olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

12 large shrimp

3/4 tsp.smoked paprika

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1/2 tsp.cumin

1/2 tsp.salt

1/2 tsp.freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 and move rack to the top. › Line a baking sheet with parchment and place baguette slices in even layer. › Mix butter and garlic salt in small bowl. Brush mixture on each side of slices. › Bake 10-15 minutes, until crisp. › Mash avocado in a bowl and mix with the lime juice, red onion and cilantro. Set aside. › While baking crostini, heat oil in a large skillet over low heat. Add garlic and cook for about 2 minutes. Raise heat to medium-high and add shrimp, paprika, onion powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Stir and turn shrimp once or twice and cook until they are pink, about 5 minutes. › Spread crostini with mashed avocado and place shrimp on top. Serve immediately.

Frozen Key Lime Pie

Crust::

1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (10 crackers)

1/4 cup sugar

6 tbsp. (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melt

Filling:

7 large egg yolks, at room temperature

1/4 cup sugar

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

2 tbsp. grated lime zest

3/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (4 to 5 limes)

Decoration:

1 cup (1/2 pint) cold heavy cream

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Thin lime wedges

Preheat oven to 350. › For the crust, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter in a bowl. › Press into a 9-inch pie pan, making sure the sides and the bottom are an even thickness. › Bake for 10 minutes. Cool completely. › For the filling, in an electric mixer with a paddle attachment beat egg yolks and sugar on high for 5 minutes, until thick. Then on medium, add condensed milk, lime zest, and lime juice. › Pour into the baked pie shell and freeze. › Remove pie from the freezer 15 minutes before serving so that it softens a bit to slice. › For topping, beat the heavy cream on high with electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add sugar and vanilla and beat until firm. › Spoon or pipe onto the pie and decorate with sliced limes.

Pulled Pork Sliders

4lb pork butt roast, boneless or bone-in

3 tbs light brown sugar

2 tsp salt

1 tsp ground mustard

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp paprika

½ tsp garlic powder

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

1 ½ cups chicken broth

1 tbs Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp liquid smoke

2 tbs olive oil

Barbecue Sauce

1 cup apple cider vinegar

3 cups tomato ketchup

1 cup of broth from the instant pot

2/3 cup brown sugar

4 tsp spicy brown mustard

3 tsp garlic powder

4 tsp Worcestershire sauce

2 tsp salt

2 tsp black pepper

2 tsp Tabasco or cayenne pepper

Trim fat from pork and cut into equal chunks. › Combine dry ingredients to a large bowl and whisk together. › Add pork roast chunks to rub mix and coat well. › Add 2 tbs olive oil to instant pot and set to saute. Once it indicates hot, add two pieces of the pork. Sear on each side for about 2 minutes each. Remove pork and set aside on a plate. Repeat with remaining pork pieces. Once pork is seared and removed from pot, press cancel and add a 1/2 cup chicken broth. › Use a wooden spoon and deglaze the bottom of the pot. Make sure to scrape up all the bits. Then add remaining chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce and liquid smoke. › Place pork chunks directly into the liquid in the pot, spacing out as best possible. Secure lid and make sure vent is set to sealing. Pressure cook/manual on high pressure for 60 minutes. Then let pressure release naturally for 20 minutes or until pin drops. › Remove pork to a large bowl and shred with two forks. Drain the juices reserving one cup to add to barbecue sauce.

Place all ingredients in a saucepan and simmer over medium heat, stirring to combine. › Add 3/4 to 1 cup of juices reserved from your slow cooker. › Adjust to taste: add salt as needed, sweeten with brown sugar/honey or add vinegar for tart/sour. › Add back into instant pot and simmer until ready to serve. › Cut Hawaiian slider rolls in half leaving the bottoms all intact. Spread some pulled pork over the entire bottom. › Top with onion straws and top of roll.

Maui Onion Straws

2 cups Peanut oil

1 large egg

1/2 cup milk

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp.cayenne pepper

1 tsp.paprika

1 tsp.garlic powder

sea salt and freshly ground pepper

1 sweet Vidalia Onion

*Note

In a medium sauce pot, heat the oil to 350. › Whisk the egg and milk in a medium bowl. › Mix the flour, cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper in another medium bowl. › Cut the onion in half, then slice into 1-inchthick half rings; separate into short straw-like pieces. › Add to the milk mixture to soak. › Once the oil is hot enough, remove the onions from the milk mixture, shake off excess and dredge in the flour mixture, 4 or 5 pieces at a time. › Add to the pot and fry until golden brown; transfer to paper towels to drain.

I make the onion straws while the pork is cooking. I make the barbecue sauce with all ingredients except the reserved juices, then you are pretty much close to being all set by the time the pork is finished.

1

Daily Devotional

I start every day with a devotional on the “Jesus Calling” app by Sarah Young.

2

John Jernigan

SHARES THE THINGS HE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

Ocala native John Jernigan is a professional photographer whose photographer dad, Jim Jernigan, gifted him with a Schwinn Varsity 10-speed bicycle when John was 9 years old.

6

The Cross Florida Greenway

We are at the Santos Trailhead every Saturday and Sunday. I think it’s one of the most gorgeous areas in Florida.

My Cameras

I’m a Nikon guy. I use D850s, bought through B&H Photo Video – Electronics and Camera Store.

3 Coffee

I love Holy Cannoli, by Bones Coffee Company, which I get at Publix

“I was an outside kid, and still am,” he says. He loves biking and running with his wife, Sheila, “Who I definitely can’t live without!”

4

Big Green Egg

I’m a barbecue guy! I got mine at Belleview Ace Hardware

HOKA Shoes

I’m a fan of the Clifton and Speedgoat styles for running and cycling, found locally at The Running Elements and Fit2Run.

5

My Bicycle

I ride a Giant Bicycles road bike. Check them out at the Santos Bike Shop and Top Gear.

8

A Good Steak

I’m a big fan of a grass-fed rib eye and I find excellent ones at Sam’s Club in Ocala.

The Wonder(s) of Technology

By Dave Schlenker | Illustration by David Vallejo

Alexa loves ‘80s Stevie Wonder, especially the happy-bouncy I Just Called to Say I Love You Blech.

These days, I start my mornings by bellowing, “Alexa, play Stevie Wonder.” Then, out of the same ether that carried my command, Alexa answers, “Playing music by Stevie Wonder.” Most of the time, the first song is ‘80s Stevie Wonder, but then I launch another command and Alexa skips to Wonder’s most wonderous time: the 1970s with Superstitious, Higher Ground and Living for the City.

Despite our disagreement over Stevie’s best era (or rather my impatience with her rock-solid wrongness), Alexa and I are pals. She is polite and knows lots of stuff, from recipes to sports scores to the names of Taylor Swift’s cats (Benjamin Button, Detective Olivia Benson and Meredith Grey).

Have a question? Just ask the flashing orb on the kitchen counter.

Yes, fellow geezers, the future TV promised us is here. All that’s missing is a flying car (c’mon, Pete Buttigieg, this is your time).

Alexa, as many know, is the voice of Amazon’s Echo Dot, a chunk of creepy-glorious technology the size of a snow globe. Since my wife set up the Dot, Alexa has become our personal disc jockey (“Alexa, play The Beatles”), sous chef (“Alexa, search opossum casserole recipes”), dispute ender (“Alexa, who played Batman in the third movie?”) and show-off (“Alexa, is that the movie with nipples on the Bat suit?”).

But this column is not about nips, cats or even Alexa.

This column celebrates technology that is giving us bedsores.

These days, my wife and I do not need to leave the couch. Alexa can answer any question, our phone can adjust our thermostat, an app can deliver our groceries, text messages can ask your spouse to change the streaming channel, which is relying on the atmospheric nothingness to present endless entertainment to lifeless cell clusters cradled by technology.

The future is here! Alexa, play Kool & the Gang and prepare the casserole.

Is this a good thing? Absolutely. We deserve this. I speak to my Brady Bunch-era brethren and older. If you witnessed Marcia’s tragic collision with a football (“Oh, my nose!”), you were the family’s remote control.

That’s right, kids. If we needed to change the channel, we walked to a TV as thick as a Volkswagen, twisted a knob, walked back, sat down, noticed the fuzzy screen, walked back to the TV, adjusted the metal antenna on the set (geezer talk for TV) and walked back again to find your show is over.

Those were the days when cars had keys and phones had dials. Instead of barking commands at phones and snow globes, our parents barked at us to change the channel. So, yes, we deserve to be spoiled by stuff we do not understand.

In fact, Alexa just told me it will rain soon. Then she played I Just Called to Say I Love You. Hopefully, by the time I get my flying car, she’ll be able to clean the litter box.

The Last of His Generation: Capt. Oscar Collins Retires

By Scott Mitchell

The natural wonders and talented people associated with Silver Springs are unique in many ways. The boat captains who have worked at the springs and on the Silver River over the decades are no exception.

During the peak of racial segregation in the deep south, steamboat companies such as the Hart Daily Line hired African American captains and crew to run their boats. In 1924, when Carl Ray and Shorty Davidson purchased Silver Springs and began promoting the now world-famous glass-bottom boats, they primarily hired local Black men as well. This tradition carried on into the mid-20th century, when Oscar Collins of Fort McCoy began to work as a glass-bottom boat captain at Silver Springs.

At 54 years of service, Capt. Collins, who started in 1969, is not the longest-serving captain at the springs: Captains Roosevelt Faison, David Faison and Leon Cheatom all worked longer than Collins and collectively had 170 years of service by the time they retired. Collins, however, is the last of his generation to step off the boat and, in a way, his recent retirement marks the end of an era. He truly has been a mainstay at the springs for decades and has introduced countless visitors to the natural beauty of Marion County.

In April, Collins was honored by a gathering of friends, family, co-workers, working and retired boat captains, and state park staff during a special ceremony

Silver Springs boat captains past and present

Photos by Richard Rossetto

in the park’s Paradise Ballroom, which, fittingly, looks out over the glass-bottom boat docks. The evening included a DJ, plenty of refreshments and some of Collins’ favorite foods, with lots of fried shrimp, meatballs, crab cakes and barbecued chicken.

The retirement gifts for Collins included a commemorative plaque from the state park and a ship’s wheel signed by past and current captains. A vintage model of the Charlie Cypress glass-bottom boat, which was Collins’ assigned vessel for many years, was presented to him by Cape Leisure, the concession that currently operates the boats.

Park Manager Sally Lieb noted that when the state took over Silver Springs in 2013, she was relieved to learn that Collins would stay on to help ensure the boat tours would continue running with experienced and professional captains. She was not disappointed, as he logged another 10 years at the helm before he retired.

Marion County and Silver Springs have grown and changed dramatically

since 1969. In 1970, for example, there were 3.7 million people in Florida and now there are 21.7 million. Some of the changes were good, and some not so good, Collins maintains. All the while, the affable Collins has warmly welcomed guests. With his contagious smile, quick wit and trademark twofinger “peace” sign, he became part of the landscape of the springs.

Although Oscar Collins is no longer at the helm of a glass-bottom boat, he will continue to welcome visitors and share his deep knowledge of the springs. Several days each week, he can now be found in his new role at the state park’s “Discovery Room,” which is located along the promenade. If you haven’t met him yet, consider stopping by Silver Springs State Park some day and introduce yourself to the last of the original glass bottom-boat captains—one who helped make our beloved Silver Springs truly world famous.

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.

Captain Oscar Collins

The Near Death of Miss Lillian

Even experienced and trained garden folks make mistakes.

By Belea T. Keeney Illustration by Jordan Shapot

It was a mistake. A bad one. The spray bottle with the neem oil was shaped just like the spray bottle of Spectracide, one I normally wield only in the most desperate of times, carefully using cardboard around it to shield other plants and spraying the grass and weed killer only on nonwindy days.

Miss Lillian was a camellia I won a few years ago from the Ocala Camellia Society. She was named after Lillian Carter, the mother of former President Jimmy Carter, and was a little high maintenance from the start, always coming down with tea scale and producing only eight or so flowers per year. I’d brought her home in a one-gallon container, chosen a spot carefully on the north side of my house and had been coddling her for a while. She had put out lots of new growth this spring and was about three feet tall.

When Miss Lillian was younger and smaller, I used Q-tips doused in alcohol to remove the tea scale, aphids and powdery mildew. I’d do the treatment on top of and under the leaves, remove the gunk, spray them all down with water to avoid any damage from the alcohol and then, once dry, use neem oil. In April, I noticed Miss Lillian’s

leaves were again covered in tea scale and I decided to get rid of the issue or resign myself to a perpetually spotty-looking plant.

So, I grabbed the spray bottle and drenched Miss Lillian: The top of the leaves, bottom of the leaves, even rubbing against the black spots on the leaves.

I thought I was annihilating the scale and giving her fresh new shiny leaves. Boy, was I wrong.

I realized my error when I went out the next morning to water another camellia that I had moved and also treated. The leaves on both plants were twisted and distorted, curled up and brown.

I rushed into my garage to confirm my fear: yes, I had sprayed them both with Spectracide, not neem oil.

I also remembered not

feeling well that previous afternoon. I think I got Spectracide on my bare skin without knowing it and it affected me, too.

Lessons learned: Check the label on the spray bottle, wear gloves if you’re dealing with any kind of chemical or treatment and wash your hands afterward.

There actually may be some life left in Miss Lillian, which is amazing!

Once I realized what I’d done, I hosed her down thoroughly, underneath her leaves as well, then raked away the contaminated mulch and leaves and got rid of them. I’ve kept her in the ground and, as of late April, she had healthy-looking green leaves. If there’s more new growth, there’s hope Miss Lillian will survive. The smaller camellia, however, did meet an early demise.

This reminds me of another gardening crime: leaving pot-bound root balls intact.

Just plonking a plant into the ground or a container straight out of the plastic pot it came in sounds innocent. You would think that preserving those circling roots is a good thing, but it’s not.

Whether for your landscape plants or repotting a houseplant, gently loosening and even cutting roots that are growing in a circle will help them stretch out in the right direction and promote stronger growth.

For small houseplants and new annuals, I usually take a fork and gently insert it into the soil ball and work things loose. For landscape plants, I use a garden claw to break up hard soil segments and get the roots separated. I’ll use scissors to cut into really potbound and circled roots and spread them out a bit before setting them in place.

These steps will give the plants a much better chance of thriving in the long run.

Now all ye fellow plant lovers, do as I say and not as I do. Go forth and commit no crimes in the garden.

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