Hands-on and historic
The Silver River Knap-In and Prehistoric Arts Festival will showcase skilled artisans.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
The past as present. That is what will happen in coming days, when the Silver River Knap-In and Prehistoric Arts Festival will bring Native American artisans to Ocala to demonstrate time-honored skills and traditions.
Among the many participants will be Pedro Zepeda, a Seminole canoe carver who last year received the 2025 Florida Folk Heritage Award, which is given to outstanding folk artists and advocates who have made longstanding contributions to Florida’s folklife and cultural resources.
Making a special appearance will be Harold Littlebird, a Kewa and Laguna Pueblo artist who is renowned for his intimately crafted pottery, which often features images that connect with the natural world.
The history of Marion County is deeply intertwined with Native American history, including with the Timucuan and Seminole tribes. The area is rich with artifacts, many of which may be found inside the Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center, located inside Silver Springs State Park. The festival takes place at the center, which includes a pioneer village and wood-fired kiln.
Visitors to the festival, which will take place Feb. 21 and 22, will be able to view the treasures on display in the museum and also talk with and see at work a number of expert flint knappers, archaeologists, shell carvers, potters, hide tanners, bow makers and other specialists.
This event will include displays of ancient Native American stone tools as well as hands-on activities like archery and pottery making. Experts will give talks on the archaeology of Florida. Vendors will offer unique crafts and food for sale.
PEDRO ZEPEDA
According to the Florida Department of State, Zepeda is a master folk artist and teacher who specializes in traditional Seminole arts. Growing up in a Seminole community, he learned many of the artforms from experienced tribal members.
Zepeda said these included his grandmother, Tahama Osceola; his brother, Brian Zepeda; and Seminole Indian leader Ingram Billie Jr.
The press release announcing Zepeda’s being named the recipient of the 2025 Florida Folk Heritage Award noted that using only an adze and sourcing cypress trees that have fallen naturally, he creates dugout canoes in the traditional Seminole style that have been used for transportation for centuries.
See Arts, page A5
FWC releases hunt data
Four black bears taken in Marion County
By The News Service of Florida
As the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission continues to analyze the state’s first permitted bear hunt in a decade, the agency has started to release more data.
A fact sheet posted Feb. 6 showed that all but six of the 172 permits purchased were by Florida residents and nearly half of the 52 bears killed during the 23-day hunt that started Dec. 6 were female.
None of the 24 female bears were reported to be lactating, which is a sign a female bear recently gave birth. The quota was said to be based on a formula that sought to reduce the number of females killed.
“All bears harvested met the size requirements of the hunt,” a release from the FWC stated. “No warnings or citations were issued for violations of bear hunting rules.”
The report states that a warning was issued for trespassing in a Wildlife Management Area.
And while the permits were said to be non-transferable, the report notes that one bear was killed by a “guest hunter.”
FWC Executive Director Roger Young said that “by all management measures, the hunt was a success.”
The hunt was held in four regions of the state where an estimated 3,609 bears lived.
A bear killed in Collier County weighed 697.4 pounds.
All but three of the bears were killed with a rifle. Two were killed with a shotgun. One death was attributed to a hunter with a bow.
The permits were awarded through a lottery style draw that required $5 per entry. Animal rights groups encouraged supporters to apply to limit the number of bears killed.
The fact sheet states that of the 163,459 applications received, they were submitted by 14,996 individuals.
Dunnellon railroad tie fire exposes gaps in oversight as cleanup begins
By Jennifer Hunt Murty Ocala Gazette
One week after a massive Feb. 1 fire consumed tens of thousands of creosote-treated railroad ties along a CSX rail line in Dunnellon, cleanup has begun, but major questions remain about environmental exposure, oversight and accountability. Rail cars have begun removing an estimated 60,000 railroad ties that remained after the fire, according to city officials. The fire,
which burned an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 ties, sent thick black smoke over nearby neighborhoods and forced evacuations near the city’s main thoroughfare.
It will likely take several train trips to remove all the rail ties from the site to their destination in Alabama during a precarious time when Marion County remains at a high risk for wildfires.
While the immediate emergency has passed, responsibility for the aftermath is spread across a complex web of private companies and government agencies — and
residents say they are still seeking clear answers.
INVESTIGATION
TRANSFERRED TO STATE
Marion County Fire Rescue and the Dunnellon Police Department were the initial responders to the fire, but the investigation into its cause has since been transferred to the state.
On Feb. 4, MCFR Public Safety Information Manager James Lucas notified the “Gazette” that “The state Office of Agriculture and Law Enforcement (OALE)
will be the lead investigative agency.”
The “Gazette” asked OALE whether cleanup activities conducted by CSX contractors immediately after the fire — including the use of heavy machinery — could have affected evidence relevant to the investigation. OALE had not responded to the inquiry.
WHO OWNS WHAT — AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE
CSX Transportation owns the parcel of land where the fire
occurred but has said it does not own the railroad ties nor does it operate the rail line. The rail line is leased and operated by Florida Northern Railroad.
The railroad ties are owned by Track Line Rail, a Texas-based company that communicated its intention to grind the ties on the Dunnellon site in October after bringing them from Newberry, Florida where they were stopped from grinding them without approval of DEP.
See Railroad fire, page A9
Seminole canoe carver Pedro Zepeda, right, will bring his handcrafted creations to Ocala, along with skilled flint knappers, for the annual Knap-In and Prehistoric Arts Festival.
[Photos by Michael Warren]
OCALA ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS AVOID RATE HIKES
Conservation credited for stability after extreme cold snaps impact grid.
By Jamie Berube jamie@ocalagazette.com
Ocala Electric Utility (OEU) customers will not face power rate increases despite extraordinary costs during last weekend’s severe cold weather event, thanks to the utility’s Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund and widespread voluntary conservation efforts.
During the Feb. 3 city council meeting, City Manager Pete Lee called on Chief Financial Officer Janice Mitchell to address the event, related energy costs and circulating rumors. Mitchell explained that the extreme cold that impacted much of the Eastern United States created major challenges for Florida utilities.
According to Mitchell, on Feb. 1 at around 7:45 a.m., the Florida Municipal Power Pool (FMPP), a cooperative of which OEU is a member, lost three generation units due to freezing temperatures. This triggered an Energy Emergency Alert Level 3, the most severe alert level for a grid operator, signaling critically
low supplies and reserves, and making controlled rotating outages a real possibility.
Emergency power purchases from other in-state utilities, which cost approximately $2.3 million for OEU’s share (with market prices spiking from $2 to $3 per megawatt-hour to more than $1,800 per megawatt-hour), helped avoid load shedding, which is customer power shutoffs. Coordinated generation recovery, customer-owned generation and voluntary energy conservation/ load shifting during peak morning hours helped maintain system reliability without interruptions for Ocala customers.
“Over the past several days, Florida utilities managed an extreme cold weather event that impacted much of the eastern United States. So, it’s not an OEU issue, not a Florida issue, but an overall issue. The Florida municipal power pool, which we are part of, experienced particularly challenging conditions early Sunday morning, when the three generation units were lost due to freezing
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF ROBERT CHRISTOPHER KARL, File No. 26CP000207AX
Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of ROBERT CHRISTOPHER KARL, deceased, whose date of death was March 16, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is P.O. Box 1030, Ocala, FL 34478. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below.
temperatures,” Mitchell said. Mitchell emphasized that individual bills may appear higher than usual due to increased usage for heating during the cold snap, but no rate adjustments are needed because the Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund absorbs unexpected costs from extreme weather and market volatility.
“So, what does this mean for Ocala electric customers? Power rates won’t be going up, which is good news. OEU has the rate stabilization reserve that helps balance things out during these unexpected situations,” Mitchell said.
Following the meeting, City Council President Ire Bethea Sr. asked for a public letter to be dispersed to thank residents and businesses for their cooperation. The letter, which was received by the “Gazette” the afternoon of Feb. 5, highlighted voluntary actions such as lowering thermostats, layering clothing, unplugging devices and delaying large appliance use as key to averting outages.
RULE TITLE: 2026-2027 Code of Student Conduct
RULE NO: Board Policy 5500
SUMMARY: Two work sessions are scheduled for March 5, 2026, and April 2, 2026 (if needed) for the purpose to review the 2026-2027 Code of Student Conduct, which will reflect changes in legislation in order to comply with F.S. 1006.07.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COST: Upon approval, the document will be posted on the District’s website and has minimal direct costs. Any person who wishes to provide information regarding the statement of estimated regulatory costs or to provide a proposal for a lower-cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: Section 1006.07 Fla. Stats. (2025)
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1006.07 F.S. District school board duties relating to student discipline and school safety.
A WORK SESSION WILL BE HELD: TIME: 9:00 A.M.
PLACE: School Board Administration Office, 1614 E. Fort King Street, Ocala, FL 34471
DATE: Thursday, March 5, 2026, and April 2, 2026 (if needed)
A copy of the proposed Code of Student Conduct may be obtained by writing to: Department of Student Discipline, Marion County Public Schools, PO Box 670, Ocala, FL 34478
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Public Notice
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
MARION COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT GIFT SUPPORTS CF
A$2.3 million gift from the Marion County Hospital District to the College of Central Florida Foundation completes the funding needed for CF’s new AdventHealth Center for Nursing, which opened in January 2025. The check was presented by Curt Bromund, CEO of the Marion County Hospital District, to the college’s District Board of Trustees at the Jan. 28 meeting.
“The College of Central Florida is very thankful for the hospital district’s continued support of our efforts to fill the ranks of health care workers in our region,” said Jim Henningsen, CF president, in the news release. “These funds, along with support from AdventHealth Ocala, the Florida Legislature, the Marion County Board of Commissioners and others made our state-of-the-art nursing education center a reality for our community’s next generation of nursing professionals.”
This is the most recent of multiple gifts the hospital district has made to aid CF in expanding health care education as the college responds to the region’s growing need for nurses and allied health professionals. Enrollment in CF’s Health Sciences programs is up more than 12% for the Spring 2026 semester and, over the past few years, graduates of CF’s Registered Nurse Associate in Science program have achieved a 98% job placement rate, the release noted.
For more information, visit cf.edu/nursing
MARION SCHOOLS EARN AWARDS
Eight Marion County public schools, the most ever, earned national spotlight attention in the latest round of awards from the Magnet Schools of America organization.
“Merit Award of Distinction” honors were announced for:
Belleview Middle (first-time winner)
• Dunnellon High (five-year consecutive winner)
• Howard Middle (repeat and second-consecutive year winner)
• Madison Street Academy (repeat winner)
• North Marion High (repeat winner)
• North Marion Middle School (repeat winner)
Belleview High, a repeat winner, received another Merit Award of Excellence and, in its first time applying, Vanguard High captured a Merit Award as a Top School of Excellence, the highest award possible, the news release noted.
The results reflect the dedication of school teams and their commitment to provide innovative, high-quality magnet programming to 10,000-plus combined students. School representatives will be recognized and receive their awards at the annual Magnet Schools of America conference in mid-April in San Diego, the release stated.
CINTAS AWARD TO OCALA HOSPITAL STAFFER
Cintas Corp. has recognized Dolores Conchas, a patient room cleaner at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, with its C.A.P.E. Award.
Cintas selects just 10 environmental-services workers each year for the C.A.P.E. (Cleaning to Advance the Patient Experience) Award. Conchas was chosen from more than 1,600 nominees.
Cintas executives presented Conchas a $2,500 prize and a matching $2,500 grant for her favorite charity at a Jan. 15 event in Ocala. She donated the matching grant to the Hope Fund, a HCA Healthcare internal charity that provides financial assistance to HCA Healthcare employees facing hardship because of illness, injury or natural disaster.
Conchas also will have her name on a digital billboard in Times Square in New York City, receive a new cleaning cart and qualify for a scholarship to obtain certification from the Association for the Health Care Environment, the release noted.
“I am humbled to receive the C.A.P.E Award. This means so much to me because I love my job, the people I work with and our patients,” said Conchas, who maintains the cardiovascular intensive care unit at the hospital, in the news release. “The Bible tells us about the need to serve others, and I see that as my mission — to care for others, both our staff at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and our patients, even if it can be heartbreaking sometimes.”
“Dolores is an exceptional and inspiring member of our team, and we are extremely proud of her for earning this recognition,” said Ricky Melendez, director of Environmental Services at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, in the release. “She fosters a healing environment through the pride, professionalism and dedication she brings to her work, as well as the compassion, kindness and genuine care she consistently shows to our patients.”
Cintas created the C.A.P.E. Award in 2020 to celebrate the efforts of environmental services technicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Private Henry Thomas: The unrecognized soldier
By George Albright Special to the Gazette
In 2021 a member of Vets Helping Vets received a phone call that a headstone of a World War One veteran had been found on a farm in Chiefland, in nearby Levy County. It was determined this was the only headstone found and was not part of an old, rural cemetery. With the help of Florida’s Department of Veteran’s Affairs, the life story of Henry Thomas, whose name was on the headstone, came to light, along with his service to our country.
Thomas was an African American man who was born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1894, but grew up in Brooksville, in Hernando County. Growing up, he worked in the wild pine groves, gathering pine sap from the trees to make turpentine.
Thomas continued to work in the local wild pine groves, now harvesting pine sap with which to make soap. It was a brutal way to make a living. He lived a quiet, rural life in Bell and died on April 29 1956, at the Veteran Administration Hospital in Lake City, at the age of 61. The listed causes of death were pneumonia, heart disease and malnutrition. According to his death certificate, he was buried in Cedar Field Cemetery, in Bell, days after his death. In August of 1956, a relative of Thomas’ applied to the VA for a military headstone for him.
soldiers mainly for supply, support and labor tasks here in the U.S., rather than being sent to Europe to fight on the front lines. He served his country at the time of war and then returned home to live a quiet unassuming life. But for this abandoned headstone, few if anyone alive would ever remember Henry Thomas of Bell, Florida.
Thomas is one of the countless unrecognized men and women who answered the call to serve our country and asked nothing in return, other than dying with dignity in a VA hospital and receiving a government issued gravestone to proudly display their service to our country.
While WWI was raging, Thomas responded to the call and was inducted into the U.S. Army on April 25, 1918. Immediately, he was shipped to Camp Mills, on Long Island, New York, as a member of the Army Company A, 427th Reserve Labor Battalion. There, the primarily African American battalion of soldiers handled labor intensive projects for the war effort, thus supporting active combat soldiers in the U.S. and Europe. In essence, Thomas and his fellow Black soldiers provided the necessary support and resources for front line troops to win the war overseas.
WWI ended on Nov. 11, 1918, and Thomas was honorably discharged from the Army on March 13 1919. He returned to his native town of Brooksville, then years later moved to the tiny town of Bell, in Gilchrist County, northwest of Gainesville.
Thomas’ headstone was erected on his grave in Bell in late 1956 or 1957. The partially broken headstone was found in a farmer’s field in 2021, 65 years later, in Chiefland, 40 miles away from Bell. We will never know whether vandals possibly removed and discarded the headstone, miles away from the grave site, decades after Henry’s death. What we do know, however, is that these events have publicly brought to life the deeds and service of Private Thomas to his country during a time of world war.
Thomas endured a life of hard labor in Brooksville and Bell, during the Jim Crow era of separate but equal laws in the south. He also endured institutional racism in the U.S. Army, which used African American
A diligent search of the town of Bell and the surrounding area concluded that the Cedar Field Cemetery no longer existed, having possibly become a victim of the overgrowth of nature. This sad ending haunts many rural cemeteries in our country nationwide.
Thus, Thomas’ headstone is probably permanently separated from his grave site. However, this broken piece of marble is the tangible symbol of a giant who answered the call to his country, when the very foundations of our country were being threatened by evil abroad a century ago. Henry Thomas, job well done!
The broken headstone of Pvt. Henry Thomas. [Photo courtesy George Albright]
From left, CF trustees Fred Roberts Jr., Jose Juarez, Bill Edgar and Rusty Branson; Marion County Hospital District CEO Curt Bromund; CF trustee Charlie Stone; CF President Jim Henningsen; and CF trustees Bobby Durrance and Joyce Brancato. [Submitted photo]
Dolores Conchas, a patient room cleaner at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, with her cape after earning the C.A.P.E. Award, is shown with Ricky Melendez, director of environmental services at the hospital. [Submitted photo]
Mandatory burn ban in effect
Order issued as dry conditions and sustained winds increase risk of wildfires in Marion County.
Staff report
Not long after the Marion County Wildland Task Force issued a press release on Deb. 6 announcing a voluntary burn ban, a wildfire broke out Feb. 7 near Weirsdale and Ocklawaha. On Feb. 10, the ban became mandatory.
The Marion County Board of County Commissioners press release noted that the countywide mandatory burn ban would become effective at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
“The action follows recent freezing temperatures, dry conditions, and sustained winds that have significantly increased the risk of wildfire throughout Marion County. County officials determined the burn ban is necessary to protect the health, safety, and property of residents,” the release noted.
Under the burn ban, all outdoor burning is prohibited, with the following exceptions:
• Outdoor cookers and grills may be used provided they are attended at all times by a responsible adult while in operation.
Commercial land clearing operations may proceed only after inspection, review, and approval by the Florida
Forest Service or Marion County Fire Rescue on a case-by-case basis.
Adequate fire suppression personnel and equipment must be present on site, and final authorization must be granted by the Florida Forest Service.
• Public fireworks displays are permitted when conducted in accordance with approved special use and fireworks permits and when adequate fire suppression personnel and equipment are on site.
Marion County Fire Rescue urges residents to take the following precautions during this period of heightened fire risk:
Postpone outdoor burning activities until the burn ban is lifted.
• Dispose of yard debris at one of Marion County’s 18 recycling centers as a safe alternative to backyard burning. For locations and information, call (352) 671-8465.
• Report arson or suspicious activity immediately to law enforcement. Do not discard cigarette butts from vehicles.
Use caution when operating lawn mowers or other equipment that could produce sparks.
Call 911 immediately if you see a fire or a large column of smoke.
Weather conditions and wildfire risk will continue to be monitored until the burn ban can be lifted, the release stated.
Homeowners can reduce the risk of damage from wildfires by clearing the area around their homes of underbrush or dry plants/vegetation as these items create fuel for wildfires. It is also important to ensure that roofs and gutters are clear of trees and debris, an earlier release noted.
Scorched
is
on Feb.
Zepeda makes presentations at conferences and events across the country. He has demonstrated at the Florida Folk Festival, Ocmuglee Mounds National Historical Park, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and was 2019 Artist-In-Residence at HistoryMiami. His work has been featured in several museums.
From 2007-2013, he worked at the AhTah-Thi-Ki Museum on the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation, first as the oral history coordinator, then as the traditional arts coordinator and lastly as the outreach coordinator.
Prior visitors to the knap-in or the annual Ocali Country Days event, which is also held at the state park, may recall seeing and talking with Zepeda.
“I’ve enjoyed teaching about canoes and Seminole culture and history. I want the public to come away from my demonstrations and talks a little more informed about the Seminole people. Not only about our past but also who we are today and we’re still here practicing our culture. It’s important to maintain our traditional arts because they are not simply objects, but carriers of cultural knowledge that we don’t get without practicing those arts,” he wrote.
He said he will be bringing a 16-foot dugout canoe that he made from cypress to Ocala.
“Often, I’ll also bring other carvings that are done, or that are in progress,” he added.
Scott Mitchell is the longtime director of the museum and educational center, which are part of the Marion County Public Schools system.
“Pedro is well known and respected among Seminole and Miccosukee, and non-native people, for his cultural knowledge and canoe carving ability. He is exceptional in his ability to relate to all people and as a soft-spoken educator. He is a direct descendent of the famous Seminole war leader Osceola (~18041838) and Cory Osceola (1893-1978), who
was a well-known canoe carver,” Mitchell said.
HAROLD LITTLEBIRD
According to the Adobe Gallery of the Southwest Indian, Littlebird’s stoneware is “an uncommon medium in Pueblo pottery and his masterful use of it truly sets his creations apart. The significance of his work is underscored by the inclusion of his stoneware in the permanent collection of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe, New Mexico.”
Born of Kewa (formerly Santo Domingo) and Laguna Pueblo heritage, Littlebird graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts in 1969.
Littlebird lives in Oxford, in north Sumter County, just south of Marion County. He said by phone that during the pandemic he showed his work at an arts and crafts show in northeast Ocala but this is his first time coming to the Prehistoric Arts Festival.
“I’m very excited about participating,” he said.
Littlebird lived in California, then Utah for a time. He said he wanted to know more about his Pueblo ancestry by actively
participating in ceremonial life and went to live with his brother in northern New Mexico.
“It was there I was introduced to the hippie generation, while becoming involved with beat poets like Alan Ginsberg, which made me a poetry student as well as a pottery major at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe. I became a singer, songwriter and performer all through high school and into my artistic career, which started in the early ‘60s to now,” he shared.
He said he often gets back to New Mexico for shows and celebrations.
Littlebird describes his work as contemporary but with traditional pursuits behind it.
“One of the things I try to tell people is that it’s not only a craft but has valuable concepts of indigenous history and spiritual elements that have been passed on from generation to generation by elders, through stories, song, prayer, dance and participation in tribal ceremonies. I call my own creations stories in clay, by what creator God has gifted me to pursue,” he noted. “Though I do not speak my own tribal languages very well, I strive to understand the value of those traditions.”
He said his work is more contemporary because it is stoneware pottery, which is usable.
“My work you can actually use, and it is also a collector’s item because I’m represented in the Smithsonian in Washington, DC, at the National Museum of the American Indian, as one of only a handful of potters,” he said.
Littlebird said he learned early on that his art would be non-traditional.
“I do all hand work. I haven’t worked on a potter’s wheel since I was a student at the institute. I learned how to throw forms, all kinds of things, but it just wasn’t inspiring me. I told my professor and he said, ‘I see you are a hand builder.’ He gave me some special underglaze pencils and I went, ‘Whoa, you mean I can draw with these?’ And he said he knew I loved to draw,” he explains.
And when you see Littlebird’s works today, you will see his drawn as well as stamped images underneath the glazes.
“I outline first, in my black underglaze pencil and then fill in the colors,” he said. “And I use stamps as well. I’ve made clay stamps from when I was in high school, and a lady who was making her own, she gave them all to me. And I found a great manatee stamp at Goodwill.”
Hours for the Silver River Knap-In and Prehistoric Arts Festival are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 21 and 22. The festival entrance is at 1445 NE 58th Ave., Ocala. Admission is $10 per person; free for ages 5 and younger. Proceeds support educational programs at the Silver River Museum. For more information, call (352) 236-5401 or visit silverrivermuseum.com
Harold Littlebird [Submitted photo]
This manatee piece was created by Harold Littlebird using clay stamps and underglaze pencils. [Submitted photo]
This turtle motif was hand-drawn by Harold Littlebird using underglaze pencils. [Submitted photo]
Showing off for good reason
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
Paul Dempsey’s trips to gas up his satin blue 1952 Kaiser Virginian often last long beyond filling the gas tank.
“People come up and want to stop and talk about the Kaiser. You don’t see them all the time,” Dempsey said, adding that the “unique body shape” draws attention.
The Virginian is among 200 collectible cars motorcycles and boats expected to be on display at the 16th annual Marion County Tax Collector’s Charity Auto Show to be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 21 at the McPherson Governmental Complex.
Dempsey’s award-winning Kaiser sedan has heavy chrome bumpers, a continental style rear mounted spare tire and a large exterior sun visor mounted to the roof. It has the distinctive styling of a pre-cell phone and internet era when the make of an auto could be immediately identified and when people seemed to have a bit more time for a pump-side chat.
Dempsey said his grandfather had a Kaiser and he always wanted one. His son helped him find the car in Orlando in an online search about 10 years ago and he purchased the Kaiser in its current condition. The Virginian has a 226 cubic inch straight six-cylinder engine, developing 115hp with an “L” head valve arrangement. The electrical system has been converted from six to 12 volts and the car has a “Hydra-matic” automatic transmission with neutral in the top position where park is normally seen.
According to “A Quick History of the Frazier Automobile” online, the company started as Kaiser-Fraser, a partnership of industrialist and World War II Liberty ship builder Henry J. Kaiser and mechanic/engineer Joesph
The FWC
Continued from page A1
Long a controversial issue in Florida, supporters say, in part, a hunt could help better manage bear populations as the animals interact with humans. They also point to a voter-approved ballot measure in 2024 that enshrined hunting and fishing rights in the state Constitution.
Opponents question if hunting reduces human-bear interactions and say the state should use nonlethal options to address bear populations.
Editor’s note: A public information request from the “Gazette” to the FWC yielded the overall report, which stated that four bears were killed in Marion County, which is in the Central area. That area’s population was listed at 1,198, with 18 permits issued and 49,649 applications received.
[Image courtesy FWC]
W. Fraser. The company was established in 1947 and by 1949 Fraser left. In 1953, the manufacturing firm became KaiserWillys. In 1955 the firm changed its name to Kaiser-Jeep and in 1970 was absorbed into American Motors Corporation, the article states.
Dempsey, who was with the city of Ocala/Ocala Electric Utility from 1976 until his retirement in 2011, has lived in his northeast Ocala home since the late1970s. He said he finds the car to be a conversation starter with people, especially at car shows. He said cars often reflect the owner’s personality and that the Virginian seems to say slow down and chat a spell.
Marion County Tax Collector George Albright will display a 1950 Plymouth station wagon at the show.
“This model set the stage for all station wagons from Detroit being made out of steel, rather than steel and wood as in the past decades. It has a 218 cubic inch sixcylinder motor and three speed manual transmission,” Albright wrote via email
“The interior has just been completely redone by classic car interior expert Slade Morton of Ocala. The music props are added by me to make the car look like an Allman Brothers Band road vehicle,” he stated.
Albright said the money raised through the annual show will benefit Marion County charities.
Registration forms are online at mariontax.com/online-forms (scroll down to “Charities”) and vehicles may be registered as the event as well.
The show venue is located at 503 SE 25th Ave., Ocala. The event is free to attend for spectators.
To learn more, call (352) 368-8206 or email jwicklein@mariontax.com or go to mariontax.com
Marion County Braver Angels Alliance
We envision an America where courageous citizenship is the honored norm, renewing civic culture and building trust across political differences. We’re taking a stand against toxic politics.
Braver Angels is leading the nation’s largest cross-partisan, volunteer-led movement to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic.
For more information go to BraverAngels.org or email us at boswald@braverangels.org or gharrell@braverangels.org
NEXT EVENT
Thursday
February 19 th , 2026 @ 5:30 pm
Marion County Public Library
2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala, FL. 34470
Topics will include a community forum on the effect of kratom on our community.
Come Join Us!
Marion County Tax Collector George Albright will have this 1950 Plymouth station wagon at the show.
[Submitted photo]
Paul Dempsey poses with his 1952 satin blue Kaiser Virginian at his northeast Ocala home on Feb. 7, 2026. [Photo by Andy Fillmore/Ocala Gazette]
It’s Southeastern Youth Fair time
The annual event, which is a showcase for Marion County FFA and 4-H members, is set for Feb. 19-28 in Ocala.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
The Southeastern Youth Fair remains one of the oldest and largest such student events in the nation. This year’s fair, set for Feb. 19-28, will mark the 86th anniversary of the annual program, through which local FFA and 4-H members demonstrate their skills and raise money to further their education.
This year’s show will have 1,036 exhibitors with 3,248 entries in 46 different shows and contests.
An important element of each youth fair revolves around the market animal shows and auctions. The market animals include steers, swine, goats and lambs. The student participants invest a lot of time and money into raising their animals. They learn how to feed, groom and care for them, and keep mandatory detailed records. During the fair, the participants show the animals in hopes of winning ribbons and bragging rights, followed by the auctions, through which the youth earn money.
Last year’s SEYF participants sold 478 market animals, with sales grossing $1.9 million and more than 95% of the funds going directly to the youth.
“The Southeastern Youth Fair is a premier showcase of our youth in leadership and agriculture. It’s a tremendous way for businesses and individuals to support the youth in Marion County who have worked so hard on their 4-H and FFA projects. We have 163 market steers, 286 market swine, 77 market lambs and 32 market goats, which will be sold to the highest bidder — providing locally-grown meat to stock your freezers, but also supporting these children and their futures,” said Executive Director Sara Le Fils.
And the fair is not just about animals. There are many other ways in which
to participate, including horticulture, kitchen, photography, sewing and tablescaping. Contests include the Dave Baillie BBQ cookoff, club exhibits, conservation tray, insect collection, livestock judging, plant ID, speech, tractor driving and more.
The theme this year is Sew It, Grow It, Show It.
“This theme pays homage to all the contests and opportunities for our kids to showcase their talents,” Le Fils said.
Each SEYF has a special honoree and this year that will be Craig Carpenter.
According to Le File, Carpenter has been an integral part of the SEYF community for decades, including more than 20 years on the executive and general boards, where he served as president from 2008 to 2009. He was treasurer of the Marion County Cattlemen’s Association for more than two decades, retiring in 2024. Carpenter was born and raised in Ocala, where his grandfather was a Marion County sharecropper and his father, Richard Carpenter, spent his career in the agricultural equipment business.
SEYF participants often learn skills that last their lifetime.
“They learn responsibility, marketing, communication, entrepreneurship and record keeping, which are just a few of the life skills,” Le Fils noted. “There is nothing better than the hands-on learning that happens to our local youth who raise an animal, learn to market and promote their project, then showcase it at the fair together with their friends and fellow club and chapter members. They make life-long memories here.”
The general public is welcome to attend the fair, which takes place at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion at 2232 Jacksonville Road, Ocala.
To learn more and see the full calendar of events, go to seyfair.com
BRAVER ANGELS TO MEET FEB. 19 IN OCALA
The
session will include a forum on the effect
of kratom in the community.
Staff report
Braver Angels is a national organization with a mission to strengthen democracy through civil discourse. The Ocala/Marion County Braver Angels alliance will meet at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Marion County Public Library Headquarters at 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.
“The Marion County Braver Angels alliance encourages courageous citizenship by facilitating conversations across the political divide. At our meeting next week, we will conduct a community forum on the effect of kratom on our community,” alliance member Buddy Oswald stated in the press release.
Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves contain compounds that can produce stimulant effects at low doses and opioid-like sedation at higher doses. While state law provides some regulation on the sale of kratom, the substance can be purchased locally at some gas stations, smoke shops and some health boutiques.
The “Gazette” and the News Service of Florida have previously reported on kratom at local and state levels. In August 2024, Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a ban prohibiting the
alkaloid 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, a derivative of kratom, which led to a legal battle that is still unfolding. At a Nov. 18
Ocala City Council meeting, Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano called for a ban of the sale of kratom within the city limits. At the time, Ocala City Manager Pete Lee said he did not know if the city could regulate kratom if it is not regulated by the state but that he would find out the status. A number of people attended the Dec. 2 council meeting to express opposition to the proposed ban.
Some Florida cities and counties have instituted bans: Sarasota (2019), St. Johns County (2021) and Winter Park (2024).
According to the Braver Angels website, the group envisions “an America where courageous citizenship is the honored norm, renewing civic culture and building trust across political differences.” The local group first hosted a Navigating Difficult Conversations workshop in mid-November 2025 and has since been meeting monthly.
To learn more, go to braverangels.org or email dhoswald@gmail.com
For prior “Gazette” and News Service of Florida reporting on kratom, go to ocalagazette.com/kratom-conundrum and ocalagazette.com/fight-heats-upover-ban-on-smoke-shop-product
OBITUARY
Rose M. Bevacqua
December 16, 1921 - January 1, 2026
Ocala - Rose M. Bevacqua, 104, of Ocala, Florida, passed away on January 1, 2026. She was a popular and respected resident at Pine Run Estates for the past twenty years. She was born in Fulton, New York. She is survived by her children: son and caregiver, James, Charlene, Jerry (Sue), and Anthony; her grandchildren, Richard and Laura Bevacqua of Hawaii; her siblings, Joseph St. Phillips, Anthony St. Phillips, Carm Warner, Marie Pinch, and Jean Feeney. There will be no services in Ocala. A Spring funeral and burial will be conducted in Fulton, New York.
Kaylynn Tyson, then 10, of the Town and Country 4-H, pets her steer “Peanut” in a stall during steer weigh-in at the Southeastern Youth Fair in Ocala on Feb. 26, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]
Brant Cagle, then 14, of the Lake Weir Middle School FFA, drives a John Deere tractor and pulls a trailer between marking poles during the tractor driving contest at the Southeastern Youth Fair in Ocala on March 1, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]
As budgets tighten, states double down on efficiency and tech innovation
This is the last in a series of five articles examining key debates unfolding in the nation’s statehouses this year.
By Melissa Maynard Pew Charitable Trusts
Throughout the country, states are racing to improve efficiency and modernize government — streamlining services, digitizing operations and rethinking how employees do their work. These efforts are accelerating as tightening budgets collide with rapid advances in technology, including generative artificial intelligence (AI), that make efficiency goals that once were out of reach now seem attainable.
The shape of this work varies widely. States such as Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas have emphasized controlling costs and improving accountability — sometimes echoing themes raised by the federal Department of Government Efficiency — by targeting waste, fraud and abuse or cutting red tape, for example. Others, including California, Colorado, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Utah and Washington, have centered their efforts around digital service delivery and improving residents’ experiences accessing services as part of a broader push to rebuild public trust in government, which has fallen to near-record lows.
But although the focus differs from state to state, the common thread is a deliberate push to retool key systems and processes, improving service delivery while trimming costs.
“When city and state officials fulfill people’s expectations, they create small increments of trust which aggregate to more total trust in the way government operates,” said Stephen Goldsmith, professor of urban policy at Harvard’s Bloomberg Center for Cities. “Government needs to prove that it can do its basic and core work better, faster and more responsively.”
BLENDING PEOPLE, PROCESSE, AND TECHNOLOGY
Improving efficiency often hinges on behavior change and the successful integration of analog and digital reforms.
For instance, Maryland’s modernization initiative focuses on improving statewide coordination and leveraging the state’s purchasing power to bring down costs on everything from vehicle fleets to technology assets and office supplies. The state expects just one seemingly simple change — making employees across agencies aware of and providing easier access to an underutilized, low-cost statewide shipping contract — to save $800,000 a year.
“It’s behavior change, but it starts with conversations in the field, understanding the blockers, working through them and then creating new protocols and policies,” said Asma Mirza, Maryland’s chief performance officer. Colorado, meanwhile, has been tackling efficiency under the banner of the Governor’s Operational Agenda, which is organized around simplifying interactions through digital government, reducing the state’s leased and owned space and improving contact center operations. By testing different strategies, tracking the results and refining the approach over time, the state is producing measurable results.
For example, in January 2025, residents faced average call wait times of nearly 37 minutes for help with unemployment insurance, but by October, a mix of strategies had brought waits down to about 15 minutes. One big piece was understanding customer needs: More than half of the roughly 30,000 monthly callers just wanted to know the status of their claims, so the state introduced an AI-powered virtual agent to provide that information. Adding 18 bilingual agents and online features to help people find what they needed without calling also helped to reduce wait times.
“Good government is what Coloradans expect from their leaders and in Colorado we continue working to maximize efficiency and better provide services to Coloradans across the state,” Governor Jared Polis (D) said via email. “This includes reducing our office space footprint, breaking down barriers and using innovative technology to help Coloradans access permits and licenses more easily, creating publicly accessible dashboards to ensure accountability for our bold goals, and much more.”
The state’s effort has gained momentum through the Colorado Digital Service (CDS), a collaboration between the governor’s office
and the state chief information officer. Staffed by a team of product managers, designers, engineers and procurement and contracting specialists, CDS works with agency staff to solve high-priority problems and facilitate continual cross-agency learning. Bringing these technical experts in house is enabling Colorado to shift from one-off projects to ongoing collaboration and to reduce its dependence on external vendors, said Emily Miller, deputy director of operations in the governor’s office.
“We’ve been very intentional about bringing in these product leaders that really can own the destiny of all of our technology products,” she said.
More than a dozen states now have digital service teams in place, according to the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University, and national investments, such as the $120 million Recoding America Fund, are likely to further expand state capacity to upgrade technology and digital services. Arizona, Maryland and Pennsylvania launched teams in the past three years, and the model is spreading quickly.
“Just having a small number of skilled in-house technologists who have the support of political executives would do a lot to modernize tech services in government,” said Don Moynihan, a professor at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.
GENERATIVE AI’S EXPANDING ROLE
Technology, and especially generative AI, has become a recurring feature of these modernization efforts.
In the earliest days of generative AI in state government, states often started by deploying general-purpose tools across agencies and encouraging broad experimentation. As agencies have grown more familiar with AI technology, it has increasingly emerged as part of the normal work of fixing day-to-day problems in government operations, from managing workloads to analyzing data, rather than as standalone initiatives.
In some cases, AI functions touch resident-facing services; in others, they focus squarely on internal efficiency. Many AI efforts tied specifically to resident services are still in the early stages, often limited to pilots or internal use, according to a report from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers and Accenture. Only 6% of state chief information officers reported mature, scaled AI capabilities, though nearly all expect some level of deployment within a year. Beyond service delivery, states are using AI in less visible ways, for example, to analyze data and flag potential waste or fraud in Florida and Oklahoma or to support broader efforts to redesign how agencies do their work.
State leaders emphasize that AI tools are meant to assist rather than replace state workers, even as the scale of their AI ambitions expands. An October report from Iowa, for example, estimated that tasks suitable for AI automation could free up 6.3 million hours for the state’s approximately 19,000 employees “to focus on higher-value tasks.”
But experts advise moving slowly and carefully with AI.
“The thoughtful folks are piloting first, taking time to figure this out,” said Amanda Renteria, CEO of Code for America. “What I worry about are the states that feel squeezed and grab the first
tool they see. Then they’re stuck digging out of a hole later.”
MODERNIZING STATE GOVERNMENT FROM THE INSIDE OUT
Tightening budgets and shifts in the state-federal fiscal relationship have pushed many states to give employees more tools and flexibility to work efficiently.
For instance, Utah’s Government Reform, Innovation & Transparency (GRIT) initiative, which Governor Spencer J. Cox (R) launched in May via executive order, combines ongoing and new reform efforts under one umbrella. Reforms underway include widespread AI deployment and aggressive soliciting of resident feedback, via QR codes and website widgets, about the “effort, reliability, satisfaction and compassion” they experience when interacting with state services — data the state uses to continually improve.
Under the GRIT initiative, Utah’s agencies are required to identify and pursue efficiency projects and to regularly report on cost, time and service improvements metrics. Additionally, some projects undergo efficiency evaluations, jointly conducted by the governor’s budget office and the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst. Agencies that implement recommendations from these evaluations can, in some cases, redirect a portion of the money saved toward retaining and rewarding key staff.
Utah’s population has grown by 45% since 2004, while the state workforce has increased by only about 7%, so GRIT focuses on empowering employees to solve problems, not reducing their numbers. Recognizing the need to do more with only a modestly larger staff, Utah has doubled down on rewarding strong performance and using feedback to guide improvement efforts, recruitment and retention.
“We value the workforce and believe that if you move the needle as a team, you’re going to be much more effective,” said Sophia DiCaro, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget and a senior adviser to Cox. “They’re the ones doing the work on the front lines. They know what the issues are and have good ideas about ways we can do things better. We want to lean in on that.”
The governor’s office estimates that the GRIT initiative has already saved more than 12,000 hours of staff time and $7.7 million while making $9.8 million worth of service enhancements without adding costs.
Other states are also using data from residents to refine services. New Jersey’s Office of Innovation uses AI to quickly distill thousands of comments submitted through a feedback widget embedded in state websites so that staff can identify and quickly respond to usability issues.
California is soliciting input from state employees about how to operate more efficiently and effectively via Engaged California, an interactive digital democracy platform modeled after an effort in Taiwan.
Through a September 2025 executive order, Washington rebranded Results Washington, its well-respected performance management office, as Your Washington to underscore a focus on “bridging people and government to deliver timely, fair and tailored services that exceed customer expectations.”
“The executive order is the world’s largest
permission slip, which gives us all kinds of tools to be able to measure customer experience at every level and bust silos,” said Jesse Jones, executive director of Your Washington.
BREAKING BOTTLENECKS
The same focus on integration and continual improvement is also driving states to rework core administrative processes, particularly those that have historically had backlogs and delays.
During periods of fiscal and administrative strain, routine activities can take longer and backlogs can pile up.
“If you’re one of the sheets in that pile, it means everything to you,” said Code for America’s Renteria.
States are taking action to address bottlenecks across program areas and reduce administrative burdens more generally for residents and state employees.
Through the use of AI tools, Arizona’s Department of Child Safety has saved caseworkers —who juggle intensive administrative requirements alongside emotionally taxing work helping families — an estimated 17 minutes per reporting activity, equaling 2,800 staff hours a year, according to the department’s chief information officer, Frank Sweeney. The department also uses AI to help employees navigate complex policies, organize their work and securely manage sensitive information through automated redaction.
“We want to take as much off of them as we possibly can so that they can focus on having those real, meaningful interactions with children and families,” Sweeney said.
In October, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) cleared its backlog of permit applications for the first time in 15 years, a feat that required not only keeping pace with 30,000 new applications so far this year but also processing more than 2,400 older applications.
Simple changes to the permitting process can have a big impact on businesses.
“Before, a clean application had a dedicated deadline, but if a permit had any errors, it was sent to the back of the line,” said David Wade, chief of staff for Pennsylvania’s Office of Transformation and Opportunity.
Now, anyone seeking a permit benefits from a transparent tracking system with a money-back guarantee for licenses, permits and certifications that take longer than the advertised timelines.
The guarantee has also helped to reinforce a broader culture shift across agencies, especially around meeting timelines and reducing bottlenecks, with hiring as a major focus. The commonwealth has streamlined requirements, sped up hiring by 40%, reduced its vacancy rate from 14% to 5%, and filled 225 positions at DEP alone since 2023, a key step toward eliminating bottlenecks. The recently enacted state budget adds funding for new positions, and the governor’s office is pushing for legislation to make further changes to the state’s civil service system, such as eliminating the requirement that all job postings stay open for at least 14 days.
Nationally, interest has been growing in modernizing the complex policies and processes that govern state workforces and the new Recoding America Fund includes a focus on ensuring that governments at all levels have “the right people, doing the right work.” North Carolina made changes aimed at increasing flexibility in its human resources system in 2025 and will debate additional changes this year. And California simplified hiring processes, including collapsing job classifications, making transfers easier and reducing the number of exams that many applicants need to take.
The impulse to look under the hood of state government and fix what’s broken is not new. But what is new this time are the tools, structures and sense of urgency shaped by fiscal and administrative pressures as well as by shifting public expectations.
Melissa Maynard oversees The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Fiscal 50 project. To learn more, go to pew.org
Pew Charitable Trusts image
Railroad fire
Following the fire, CSX hired contractors GHD and Arcadis to conduct environmental monitoring and oversee cleanup activities.
In a letter to Dunnellon Mayor Walter Green, CSX Regional Vice President Craig Camuso wrote, “For questions regarding claims or property damage, residents should contact Track Line Rail at 312848-1812.”
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PUSH BACK
Dunnellon and Marion County both initiated code enforcement actions against the corporate entities in November 2025 and formally opposed Track Line’s application for a state air permit to grind railroad ties on site.
In response to local pushback from the city and county to the project, CSX entered into a verbal agreement with Dunnellon and Marion County before the fire to remove the ties in December.
While CSX was removing the first batch of rail ties, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection approved the permit on Jan. 9, and no more rail ties were picked up before the Feb. 1 fire.
MCFR Chief James Banta had warned about the risks of stockpiled creosote-treated ties in a Dec. 4 letter, nearly a month before the fire.
During the fire, the city declared a state of emergency under the Marion County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. The Marion County Board of County Commissioners declared its own local state of emergency on Feb. 3.
AIR TESTING RAISES QUESTIONS
CSX has provided the city of Dunnellon and the “Gazette” with real-time air-monitoring results conducted by its contractor, GHD, covering Feb. 1 through Feb. 4.
The monitoring focused on gases and volatile organic compounds, including carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and cresols. Officials said no readings exceeded action levels for those specific constituents.
However, the testing did not include measurements for particulate matter — a key concern during creosote fires.
According to the contractor’s fact sheet, fires involving creosote-treated wood have the potential to generate “noxious
odors, particulate matter, and various chemicals.”
Federal toxicological guidance from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry states that heavier and more hazardous components of creosote, including highermolecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are more likely to attach to particulate matter rather than remain in gaseous form.
As previously reported, the “Gazette” has asked CSX and DEP why particulate matter was not monitored during the fire. Neither CSX nor DEP has responded to the inquiry.
NEW CLEANUP PLAN APPROVED
Just hours before a tense Dunnellon City Council meeting on Tuesday, DEP approved a new cleanup plan submitted by
CSX contractor Arcadis.
The plan calls for excavation of a burn area approximately 1,150 feet long, up to 95 feet wide, and up to 2 feet deep, with material transported to a statelicensed landfill.
Unlike the initial response, the plan requires:
Four fixed-point particulate matter monitors
Daily sampling for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and creosols
Vice Mayor Tim Inskeep, who was appointed as the city’s liaison to oversee cleanup, criticized early site activity.
“They’re out there loading up a semi-truck… stirring up dust,” Inskeep said during the meeting. He warned that equipment could spread contamination and said delays in soil sampling “screams lack of urgency.”
Inskeep, who told the council he had a 40-year background in nuclear industry project management, said the city lacked sufficient data to set a firm timeline for removal of the remaining ties.
RESIDENTS DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY
Residents expressed frustration with communication failures and the reliance on company-funded testing.
Jim Peterson, a Blue Cove resident whose business sits near the burn site, said, “Myself and my family have been devastated… It’s all in my lungs.”
Another resident summarized the sentiment during public comment: “We have the fox watching the hen house.”
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Excavation and confirmation soil sampling were scheduled to begin this week. DEP has stated that a representative will remain on site to provide direct oversight.
The Dunnellon City Council also voted to coordinate with Marion County to prepare a lawsuit seeking an injunction under a nuisance-abatement law, which city officials described as a legal safeguard to ensure full remediation.
Groundwater testing of public wells is underway by the Florida Governmental Utility Authority. Results were expected today, but none have been released. Florida Department of Health officials have said the agency is working to identify private wells for testing.
As cleanup proceeds, residents and local officials continue to press for independent data, enforceable commitments, and answers about how thousands of creosote-treated railroad ties were allowed to accumulate — and burn — in the city.
THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA CASEY DICKERSON f/k/a Casey Piker and TRAVIS DICKERSON, Plaintiff, V. ESTATE ROBERT K. OLIVER; ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, UNDER, AND AGAINST ROBERT K. OLIVER, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, OR CLAIMANTS; ROBERT K. OLIVER, JR., MICHAEL OLIVER; and CHRISTOPHER OLIVER, Defendants.
Case No.: 2025-CA-2176
NOTICE OF ACTION
To the following Defendant: Any and All Unknown Parties claiming by, through, under, and against Robert K. Oliver, whether said Unknown Parties may claim an interest as spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, or claimants
Last known address: 2520 State Route 8, Lot 2, West Winfield, NY 13491 Current address: Unknown YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that a lawsuit has been filed against you regarding the following described Real Property: The West 80 feet of the East 3730 feet of the South 115 feet of the North 1610 feet of the East 3/4 of Section 33, Township 11 South, Range 24 East, Marion County, Florida; the North 15 feet to be used for utilities and road right of way; such property also being described as Lot 29-S. ALSO: The West 80 feet of the East 3650 feet of the South 115 feet of the North 1610 feet of the East 3/4 of Section 33, Township 11 South, Range 24 East, Marion County, Florida; thence North 15 feet to be used for utilities and road right of way; such property is also being described as Lot 28-S; Road 7.
Parcel ID: 0051-019-028
You are required to serve a copy of your written defenses to this action, if any, on Daniel J. Raymer, counsel for Plaintiffs, whose address is 445 NE 8th Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34470 on/or before MARCH 23rd, 2026 The original must be filed with the clerk of this court either before service on Plaintiff's attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint filed herein.
Dated this 4th day of FEBRUARY, 2026
IN THE COUNTY COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA LAKEVIEW WOODS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., A FLORIDA NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION, Plaintiff, VS. J A HOME IMPROVEMENT AND INVESTMENT, INC, Defendant(s). CASE NO.: 2025-CC-429
NOTICE OF SALE UNDER FLORIDA STATUTES CHAPTER 45 NOTICE IS GIVEN that, in accordance with the Final Summary Judgment of Foreclosure and Monetary Judgment and Taxation of Attorney's Fees and Costs entered on or about January 22, 2026, in the above-styled cause, the Clerk of Court in and for Marion County, Florida, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash by electronic sale at www.marion. realforeclose.com, on February 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., the following described real property: Lot 26, Block C, Trails East, according to the Plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book Z, Page 37-40, of the Public Records of Marion County, Florida. Marion County Property Appraiser Parcel ID No.: 31982-003-26.
Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the lis pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of this pleading was furnished via US First Class Mail and/or eservice on this 27th day of January, 2026, to: JA Home Improvement and Investment, Inc., c/o Shirley German, 23. Bourque Street, Lawrence, Massachusetts 01843; and JA Home Improvement and Investment, Inc., c/o Shirley German, 46 WHITMAN ST # 48, Lawrence, Massachusetts 01841.
JUDICIOUS LAW, P.A.
By: BRADFORD J. TROPELLO, ESQUIRE
bjt@judiciouslawpa.com ma@judiciouslawpa.com
Post Office Box 369 Ocala, Florida 34478 (352) 509-5015 Florida Bar No.: 42694
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION
File No. 2026-CP-0078
IN RE: ESTATE OF MICHAEL T. MEHAFFEY
Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of MICHAEL T. MEHAFFEY, deceased, whose date of death was August 28, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for MARION County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, #1, Ocala, Florida 34471. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS
AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS
AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS
AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUB-
LICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is February 13, 2026.
Personal Representative: JACQUELINE SQUIRE
Attorney for Personal Representative: SHANTA MATTHEWS, Attorney
Florida Bar Number: 69935
814 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Suite D
OCALA, FL 34470
Telephone: (352) 421-8722
Fax: (352) 306-3759
E-Mail: shanta@smatthewslaw.com
Secondary: lori@smatthewslaw.com
A MEETING OF THE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP FOR PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES PLANNING
NOTICE is hereby given that the Interim Superintendent of Marion County Schools has caused to be scheduled a meeting of the Technial Working Group (TWG) on February 24, 2026 at 1:00 PM at the Browne Greaton Cole Auditorium, 1614 East Fort King Street, Ocala, FL 34471
- Building 1, Room 17, This meeting is scheduled to convene in accordance with language adopted by the School Board and all general service local governments of Marion County, in the Third Amended Interlocal Agreement for Public School Facilities Planning. The meeting will focus narrowly on the existence, organization, exchange, and use of planning data, the discussion of possible uses for MCPS and/or county property, and any possible changes to language in the Third Amended Interlocal Agreement for public school Facilities Planning. It is anticipated that one or more members of the Marion County School Board, the Interim Superintendent of Schools for Marion County, general service governmental elected officials of Marion County, and related staff members may be present and may provide input to the Technical Working Group (TWG) in the meeting. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, anyone needing special assistance due to a disability should contact Ms. Elena Martines Young, Executive Assistant, at 352671-7707 at least 72 hours prior to the meeting.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA
DAVID OPELLA, Plaintiff, V. LINDA S. OPELLA, ESTATE OF NANCI OPELLA, JENNIFER-LE MOORE, ADAM ROBISON, and BRY-ANNE EARLE, Defendants. Case No.: 2024-CA-2394
NOTICE OF ACTION
To the following Defendant: Estate of Nanci Opella. Last known address: 6850 Beresford Avenue, Parma Heights, OH 44130; 9233 Independence Boulevard, Apt. 520, Parma Heights, OH 44130
Current address: Unknown YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that a lawsuit has been filed against you regarding the following described Real Property: Lot 12, Block "C", OAK RUN NEIGHBORHOOD 4, as per plat thereof recorded in Plat Book "Z", pages 10 through 16, of the Public Records of Marion County, Florida. Parcel Identification Number: 7004-003012
You are required to serve a copy of your written defenses to this action, if any, on Daniel J. Raymer, counsel for Plaintiffs, whose address is 445 NE 8th Avenue, Ocala, Florida on/or before 34470 MARCH 23rd, 2026. The original must be filed with the clerk of this court either before service on Plaintiff's attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint filed herein. Dated this 4th day of FEBRUARY, 2026.
Thick, black smoke rises from a raging inferno as railroad ties burn behind the Comfort Suites in Dunnellon on Feb. 1, 2026.
[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
People, Places and Things
Creating with intention
Artist Tyrek Studivant’s
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
Tyrek Studivant is a curator — of art and life.
He painstakingly creates works of contemporary art, but with the old masters in mind. He works hard to support his blended immediate family of a fiancée and their combined five children. And through it all, this young Ocala artist melds his life story with his visions for the future.
Studivant recently had his painting titled “Them Darn Nab Seagulls” named Best in Show for the 2026 Student and Emerging Artist Competition hosted by the city of Ocala in partnership with Fine Arts for Ocala (FAFO).
The resulting “Techne” exhibition is on display at Ocala City Hall through March 9. The title “Techne” is derived from the Greek word “τέχνη,” meaning skill, craft or the art of making, reflecting the exhibition’s focus on creativity, technique and innovation.
And all of those terms also fit into the life of Studivant, who was born in California when his father was stationed there in the U.S Marine Corps. Studivant was raised in Ocala and, after graduating from Lake Weir High School, also served in the USMC.
As for honing his craft, Studivant said he is self-taught.
“I was always painting and drawing as a kid. It was just something I used to kind of express myself,” he said. “I would doodle and then there was what I call YouTube University.”
He describes his style as neoclassical.
“I really respect the old master’s methods in their way of composing art, and they focused a lot more on the drawing aspect and then glazing on top of it so if you see a piece like this one,” he said, pointing to one of his works in progress, title “Another One,” which shows his likeness in shades of blue, “this is just the under painting.”
“Eventually, it will be my skin tone, but it’s going to be with thin layers of coppers, flesh tones, reds magentas and a certain kind of green, that when you mix them all
artwork recently earned him Best of Show honors in the “Techne” exhibition.
together in thin layers, it composes into something very beautiful. And that’s the difference between when you go to museums and look at the old masters art, it looks different, and that’s what I’m trying to emulate. But I still like to add impressionism and sometimes I will just paint on the spot, in big, bold strokes. I lean heavily on the classical ways and then I just add a touch of newer, more modern elements,” he added.
As for how he decided to paint the piece that won the Best in Show title, which shows raucous seagulls in a beach scene, along with some of his children, he said he and his fiancée, Maia Fox, were talking about entering the city/FAFO competition and he just came up with the idea and knocked it right out. The name is a throwback to phrasing used by his grandmother.
“She was a very pivotal person for me. When I named it, I kind of just leaned on her. She has passed away, but I leaned on her to come up with a name for it,” he explained.
“One thing she always said was, ‘family, family, family. Her wealth was family. And that picture depicts a day my family spent at the beach. And so, it felt right. I wanted to put
my grandmother in it. I felt like that’s what she would have said,” he added.
What Studivant hopes to convey through his art is that “this world doesn’t have to be hell. it’s all about your perspective.”
“Sometimes, a lot of our decisions lead us to consequences that we don’t favor, and you have to understand that a lot of what our perspectives, or our mindsets, have become, are based off our own decisions. You can make the best of it, or you can choose to see it in a certain light. What I want to convey, more than anything, is my truth, and what we choose to do after said decisions,” he shared.
Studivant has been a resident artist with the Magnolia Art Xchange (MAX) and has had his works displayed at area venues such as the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place and the Appleton Museum of Art.
Now, he said, he wants to create a more intentional body of work, as with “Another One.”
“It’s kind of going to be touching on the message that I genuinely want to convey — live in a worldly lifestyle and you will get worldly results. You’ll see it in this painting here,” he said, motioning again to the
work in progress. “The decision of drinking, smoking, women… these depictions have a dual meaning. This is a depiction of my failed marriage. Now, what decisions am I going to be making? This painting will tell my personal flaws. All I’ve painted so far has been joy, and I always want to focus on the beauty in life and the positive aspects of it, but with beauty there is also pain.”
Studivant is the father of three boys, one with Maia. She is the mother of another son and a daughter. The blended family of seven collectively embraces art in various ways. Their son, Nasa-Soul, 2, likes to sit in his father’s lap when he works on paintings in his home studio. Fox herself is an artist who also entered a work in the “Techne” competition.
Fox said she looks up to her fiancé when it comes to art, and as a mentor.
“I used to draw when I was a kid, but I didn’t have the confidence to pursue it. But when I met him, he would encourage me. If not for him, I wouldn’t actively be painting,” she noted, while directing attention to a piece she is working on as a commission for her sister.
“He inspires me a lot, his way of storytelling. He is many things to me, a teacher, a partner. I just love to watch him work and see how people appreciate his work because he puts a lot of thought, care and consideration into it. If you could see the process… he plans down to every tiny bit, super intentional. I love seeing him get his work into museums. He’s very much an, ‘If I speak it, it exists,’ kind of person. Before he got into the Appleton, he said to me, ‘I’m going to have a painting in the Appleton,’ and it damned sure happened. I was in awe.”
As it turns out, Studivant had several pieces on display in Ocala’s noted museum. Now, they hang in the couple’s bedroom, which is filled with ornate furnishings.
“His intentionality can be seen even in this décor. His expression goes to every fiber of his being. His creativity touches everything. He planned how he wanted the room down, to a T. He technically curated the room into a gallery of sorts,” Fox said with a broad smile as she waved her hand around the room.
According to Jamie Antonetti, cultural arts coordinator for the city of Ocala, the “Techne” artists competed in divisions based on years of experience. The exhibition was juried by Álvaro Lima, assistant professor of art history at the University of Florida, Ryan Andrew Neumann, representing FAFO; and Charlita Whitehead, city of Ocala Economic Development Project Coordinator and a practicing artist. The prizes included scholarships, cash awards, gift certificates, museum memberships, professional framing and more.
“Techne” is on view 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday at Ocala City Hall, at 110 SE Watula Ave., through March 9. All artworks are available for purchase unless otherwise noted.
Studivant, who works in oil, acrylic and mosaic, accepts commissions. To inquire, call (352) 454-6107 and leave a message. To learn more, find him at instagram.com/ty_vinci
Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
Tyrek Studivant works on his latest painting “Another One,” an oil on wood panel, with his son, Nasa-Soul Studivant, 2, sitting in his lap.
Tyrek Studivant, right, poses in front of his large mosaic titled “The King” with Maia Fox, left, and her daughter, Valerie Rivers, 3, and their son, Nasa-Soul Studivant, 2.
Tyrek Studivant’s painting “The Journey Home,” was among his works once on display at the Appleton Museum of Art.
Tyrek Studivant is shown with “Them Darn Nab Seagulls,” which won Best in Show in the “Techne” exhibition. [Photo courtesy city of Ocala]
Tyrek Studivant’s painting “Flying Through Spirit,” an oil on canvas, is shown hanging above angels on the headboard of a bed.
Tyrek Studivant poses with some of his artwork, clockwise, from top left, “Crowning Of The King,” an oil on canvas, “Bet You’re
Wondering How I Got Here,” an oil on wood panel and “The Creator,” an oil on wood panel, at his home in Ocala on Jan. 29, 2026.
Charity Challenge Cup comes to Ocala Feb. 20-22
The Balcony Gymnastics team is supporting the Finding a Cure for ALG13-CDG endeavor.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
Hundreds of tumbling, jumping and flipping gymnasts will descend on the World Equestrian Center soon. And the good news is, their activities will help nonprofits.
The Charity Challenge Cup, presented by Lightning City Gymnastics and Cheerleading, in Lutz, will draw teams from around the state. It will be held in WEC’s Expo Center 1, at 1284 NW 87th Court Road, Ocala.
One of the competing teams will be Balcony Gymnastics in Ocala. One of the team supporters is Zenika Hale, from Dunnellon, whose sister, Siena, is one of fewer than 100 children in the world with a rare genetic disorder called ALG13-CDG. It is one of type of a group of metabolic diseases known as congenital disorders of glycosylation, or CDG. ALG13-CDG is caused when a mutation arises spontaneously in someone’s ALG13 gene or is inherited. In Siena’s case it was spontaneous. Zenika was not born with ALG13-CDG.
Zenika is a participant in the Balcony
Gymnastics program and Balcony’s competing team will be raising awareness and contributions for Finding a Cure for ALG13-CDG.
There is no cure for ALG13-CDG, so parents of children like Siena are raising money to collaborate with the biotech company Perlara PBC on a drug repurposing project to find a potential treatment to improve the quality of life for their children. Siena’s mother, Keszia Hale, is the project director for Finding a Cure for ALG13-CDG.
According to competition information shared by Hale, the teams will earn money in various ways, including $15 from each athlete, team awards, individual awards, highest scores, spirit awards and more. The team that earns the most money for its charity will earn the Charity Challenge Cup trophy.
Admission to the Charity Challenge Cup is $25 per day for adults; $15 for ages 5 to 17.
To learn more about the event in Ocala, go to lightningcity.com
To donate directly to help Siena’s family and others, go to secure.givelively.org/ donate/cdg-care/finding-a-cure-foralg13-cdg
Learn about JFK and America’s space initiatives
Master the Possibilities will offer two special presentations in March in Ocala.
Special to the Gazette
Master the Possibilities Inc. is a not-for-profit that offers quality instruction and learning experiences. MTP will continue its themed term, “Exploring 250 Years of America,” with a lineup of special March presentations that examine leadership, global influence and innovation across pivotal moments in American history.
The one-day events will feature nationally recognized scholars and professionals, and offer rare access to expertise typically found on university campuses and national stages.
On March 12, from 6 to 7:15 p.m., Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Fredrik Logevall will present “JFK: The Making of a Leader,” in a remote presentation based on his “New York Times” Notable Book of the Year.
Logevall draws on newly uncovered archival materials, including Oval Office recordings, interviews with Jacqueline Kennedy and declassified intelligence documents to explore how John F. Kennedy’s early life, World War II experiences and international outlook shaped his rise to the presidency. The program will offer participants a deeper understanding of leadership during a transformative period in American history.
On March 20, from 3 to 4 p.m., MTP
will shift its focus to innovation and global influence with “America and Space… Reaching for the Stars.”
Greg Clements, associate director of research and technology at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, will provide an insider’s perspective on how America’s space program has shaped scientific progress, national identity and international relationships. The presentation will include updates on current and future NASA initiatives, offering a forward-looking view of America’s role in space exploration.
“These March programs reflect the breadth of our ‘Exploring 250 Years of America’ theme,” said Michelle Shideler, director of education at Master the Possibilities. “From examining presidential leadership during the Cold War to understanding how space exploration continues to influence America’s place in the world, these presentations invite our community to engage with history as something living and evolving.”
All special presentations are open to the public. Programs featuring speakers of this caliber, many of whom regularly appear on national stages and university campuses, are available locally for $8 for members and $13 for non-members.
For registration and additional program information, go to masterthepossibilities.org
PORTRAITS IN PASSING
Zenika Hale, right, participates in Balcony Gymnastics programs. The Balcony team will participate in the Charity Challenge Cup to support the Finding a Cure for ALG13-CDG project, which could benefit Zenika’s sister, Siena, center, who has the rare genetic disorder. Their mother, Keszia, helped launch the nonprofit. [Bruce Ackerman/ Ocala Gazette file photo]
Master the Possibilities will offer March programs about President John F. Kennedy and America’s space programs. [Photo courtesy NASA]
(pictured) “Abandoned,” 2021, Ann E. Kozeliski (American, b. 1954), Chinese brush painting on Double Xuan using eastern watercolors and Japanese “Sumi” ink, On loan from the artist.
Lighting up the night
The Raney’s Road to Wishes fundraising truck show in Ocala was bigger and brighter this year.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
With bright flames shooting several feet high from the tall pipes of semi-trucks on the evening of Feb. 6 in Ocala, the Raney’s Road to Wishes fundraiser got off to a rousing start.
The event, organized by Raney’s Truck Parts, a provider of aftermarket parts and accessories for the heavy-duty trucking industry, this year spanned two days, Friday and Saturday, with expanded offerings.
The event, as with the inaugural show in 2025, was a benefit for the Make-AWish Foundation. It took place at Raney’s Chrome Shop at 3030 W. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.
CEO Joel Raney said ahead of the show that it was being expanded to include a Friday night light show with food trucks and live music, with several additional activities set for Feb. 7.
The “Gazette” did a Q&A with Raney on Feb. 9 to learn the outcome.
How did the added Friday night event go?
“I was extremely happy with how our Friday night addition turned out. If you’ve never seen nearly 70 semi-trucks all lit up at the same time, with every type of light pattern, color and strobe effect you can imagine, it is well worth experiencing. The live music was amazing as well and with several food trucks on site, it just felt like a really fun, large parking lot party. We had
several hundred attend the nighttime event and I am sure that will grow next year.”
What about the other added activities?
“We added more inflatable activities this year, which were very popular with the kids. We had inflatable football games, dart games, axe throwing and more. We also had a mechanical bull this year, which was a big hit.”
Overall, how was the turnout this year?
“The turnout was great! We had nearly 2,000 total attendees between Friday and Saturday, which was up from last year, and we had close to 20 more trucks this year. There was a wide range of semis for people to admire. On Saturday, the crowds were quite large, with the field for parking next to us completely full and the kids’ activities area packed all day. I know the food trucks were busy as well.”
How much did you raise for Make A Wish Central and Northern Florida?
“Well, our goal is $90,000 and we are still tallying up all of the day of event funds raised, so I don’t have a final number yet. With that said, I feel strongly that we are going to reach that goal. I know we are currently over $65,000.”
Will you do it again next year?
“Absolutely and it will be in February again.”
To learn more, go to raneystruckparts. com/faq-road-to-wishes
Thomas Dobbs, 10, peers through a mock Panaflex Panavision move camera by a “Smokey and the Bandit” Trans Am.
Flames shoot from pipes of a big rig during the Road to Wishes Truck Show at Raney’s Truck Parts and Chrome Shop in Ocala on Feb. 6, 2026. The second annual event, on Feb. 6 and 7, was a fundraiser for the Make-AWish Foundation.
Joel Raney, left, talks to John Jaikes of Scranton, PA, as he cleans up his 1999 Kenworth W900L semi with 3.5 million miles on it.
A Jerry Reed tribute semi-truck from “Smokey and the Bandit” was at the show.
Bo Durban of Canton, GA, looks under the hood of his “Smokey and the Bandit” 1977 Trans Am.
PJ Brink of Garretson, SD, talks about the neon green lights on his 2023 Kenworth W900L.
Daniel and Phyllis Snow of Snow Trucking in Harrison, AR, pose by “The Goose,” their 1996 Freightliner Classic XL.
Several semis went all out with lights during the Friday night event.
Flames shoot from pipes of a semi, lighting up the Raney’s parking lot.
People look on as big rigs light up the night.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
“Pawty” proceeds break record
Birthday party at Rainbow Springs Art in Dunnellon collects 4,252 pounds of pet food.
By Margo Wilson Special to the Gazette
Many cats, dogs and other pets will have some lunch to munch on for a while, thanks to Andrea Smith, her nonprofit, Pounds for Pounds Animal Charities, and Smith’s Feb. 7 fundraiser to collect pet food.
Held for the first time at Rainbow Springs Art in Dunnellon gallery, Smith’s “pawty” collected 4,252 pounds of pet food, a new record, up from the 3,116 pounds donated last year. And Pounds for Pounds also oversaw the adoption of nine of 11 dogs who needed homes.
At the same time, the gallery held an exhibit of pet art that area artists contributed. A reception for the show, as well as for new gallery artists, has been rescheduled for Feb. 20 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the gallery. Snacks will be served. The reception had been planned to coincide with the “pawty,” but a scheduling conflict arose.
The pet art exhibit will be on display through March 5. Visitors can vote for their favorite piece and the winner of the People’s Choice Award will receive $150.
Previously, Smith had held the annual “pawty” in her Citrus Springs yard. But teaming with the art gallery for the first time this year was “wonderful that it was not at my house,” Smith said. “The Rainbow art center couldn’t have been more gracious. And they let me run it the way I wanted.”
Twenty vendors, including artists and crafts people, as well as two food trucks, and area singer and guitarist Barry Denham, who was accompanied by a friend on flute and one on guitar, participated.
A vendor, Jennifer Hicks of Jens Metal Art & Design of Homosassa, donated 570 pounds of food, the most raised by a single contributor, and won an airboat ride for six.
For four years, gallery member and woodcarver Steve Burden has displayed his woodworking pieces at the “pawty.” He helped coordinate bringing the event to the gallery. He said Smith “has never lost her passion for raising awareness and food for shelters and the animals they house” and said it has been his pleasure working with her.
Smith started the fundraiser when she turned 60 and decided that instead of a typical birthday celebration, she wanted to give something back to the community. Over the years, including this year, she has collected about 12,000 pounds of pet food, which was donated to Citrus County Animal Services.
And she said she’s already making plans for a “pawty” at the
gallery next Feb. 6, when she’ll turn 65.
Rainbow Springs Art in Dunnellon gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday and Monday. The gallery is at 20826 Walnut St., Dunnellon.
To learn more, call the gallery (352) 763-4048. Reach Smith by text at (941) 224-8145.
You don’t like the gym. Now what?
You can exercise at home, join a club, stream content or get out and about in beautiful Marion County.
Staff report
Exercise is an important component of overall health. Experts say adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise each week, along with muscle-strengthening activities at least two days a week.
Some believe heading to the gym is the best way to get the exercise they need, and it very well may be — unless it’s not.
Some people don’t like going to a gym and are therefore unlikely to do so with enough consistency to benefit from membership. However, the gym is not the only place where individuals can meet fitness requirements.
Those who are not necessarily enamored with the idea of exercising at a gym for a variety of reasons can rest assured that it’s still possible to be fit and healthy.
In 2023, Civic Science polled thousands of Americans on
how they chose to exercise and found that exercising at home is more popular than heading to the gym. Fifty-two percent of respondents said they exercised regularly at home, while 28 percent exercised regularly at
a gym. At-home exercisers also were 21 percent more likely than gym-goers to say they worked out once a week or more.
People who want to find ways to stay fit without a fitness
A look at probiotics
Some live microorganisms (mostly bacteria and some yeasts) may provide a healthy boost.
Staff report
It’s easy to view bacteria and yeasts through a particular lens, without realizing that these microorganisms serve various functions. Certainly, bacteria can lead to infections, but certain bacteria also are important for maintaining health.
Probiotics are live microorganisms (mostly bacteria and some yeasts) that may offer various health benefits. Probiotics are sometimes referred to as “good” or “beneficial” microbes due to their role in balancing the gut ecosystem. The Mayo Clinic reports that research suggests probiotics may be helpful, but it hasn’t yet been proven that probiotics improve health and are safe for everyone. While side effects from probiotic supplements seem to be
rare, it’s best to consult a physician before taking such products.
WHAT ARE SOME COMMON PROBIOTICS?
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says the most common probiotics are bacteria that belong to groups called lacobacillus and bifidobacterium. Others are yeasts such as saccharomyces boulardii. Probiotics are found in various foods, including fermented dairy products like yogurt, kefir and cheese as well as other fermented foods, including sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, tempeh, miso, sourdough, salami, olives and kombucha. Additional forms of probiotics include probiotic capsules and powders.
club membership have plenty of options.
Get at-home equipment. Setting up gym equipment in a spare room, the basement or the garage can help athome fitness fans exercise. All it takes is some compact weights, perhaps a treadmill or elliptical and a few additional items to exercise effectively at home.
• Tune into streaming services. Many content providers upload exercise videos online so people can follow along at home or elsewhere. A quick search of YouTube offers a variety of options that fit with the type of exercise one desires. From 30-minute aerobic walking workouts to rebounding to yoga videos, content is there and may be free to watch.
• Head outdoors. Walking or jogging around the neighborhood or on local trails can be effective. Plus, it exposes a person to sunlight and fresh air and provides an opportunity to see people in the community.
WHAT ARE PREBIOTICS?
The terms prebiotics and probiotics cannot be used interchangeably. Harvard Health says prebiotics are ingredients in certain foods that the intestines cannot fully digest. One can think of prebiotics as the food upon which probiotics feed. Prebiotics also may trigger the growth of good microbes in the digestive tract.
POTENTIAL PROBIOTIC BENEFITS
Probiotics may benefit health through several mechanisms. They may restore gut microbe balance after a poor diet, illness or antibiotic use. Probiotics can help crowd out harmful pathogens in the gut. They may reduce “leaky gut”
And, bonus, this is easily doable in Marion County, where there are numerous parks and springs, the Ocala National Forest, the Cross Florida Greenway and much more. Play a sport and/or join a club. Individuals may want to take up a physical activity, like joining a sports team or participating in a club that has physical activity, such as a hiking club. The Better Health Channel says exercising with a friend is a great way to stay motivated, as each person can spur on the other.
• Turn on some tunes. Dancing around to favorite songs is a fun way to engage in physical activity. If other exercise ideas seem uninspiring, upbeat songs that get a person moving can help. Union Health says keeping one’s heart rate between roughly 114 to 135 beats per minute is a good workout. Search for songs that will help achieve that rate. If heading to the gym isn’t a person’s first choice for exercise, there are several other ways to exercise.
by supporting gut barrier integrity. Probiotics also may calm inflammation and help boost the immune system.
ADDITIONAL USES FOR PROBIOTICS
Probiotics are largely known for their use in the digestive tract, but probiotics also come in topical versions or suppositories to target specific areas. Harvard Health says vaginal probiotic supplements are hugely popular and are designed to promote beneficial bacteria. Some common gynecological conditions are thought to be caused by an imbalance of bacteria inside the vagina. However, as of now, the benefits of suppositories like these are unknown and should be discussed with a gynecologist before use.
Topical probiotics have demonstrated beneficial effects for the treatment of certain inflammatory conditions like acne, rosacea, psoriasis and others, says the National Institute of Health. But again, caution should be heeded and any new products should be discussed with a doctor.
Probiotics are an all-natural alternative that many people consider when seeking to improve personal health. It’s important to speak with health care providers about the efficacy of probiotics and whether they are safe and effective for particular needs.
Eric Avery, Denise March and Brandon Avery participated in the Ride, Run, Roll Relay at the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park south of Ocala on Nov. 20, 2021. Most of the course was on the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, which is just one of many places in which to exercise in Marion County. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]
Stock image
Andrea Smith of Pounds for Pounds Animal Charities collected 4,252 pounds of pet food for her fundraiser “pawty” at Rainbow Springs Art in Dunnellon gallery on Feb. 7. Her granddaughter, Vivian, and friend, Jeff Lewis of Bradenton, helped out. [Submitted photo]
A pet show art exhibit by area artists continues at Rainbow Springs Art in Dunnellon gallery through March 5. A reception for the exhibit and for new artists is set for Feb. 20 from 4 to 6 p.m. [Photo by Margo Wilson]
Government
FEB. 16 AND 23
Marion County Development Review
Office of County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave., Building 1, Ocala
9am
The committee meets each Monday to review and vote on waiver requests to the Land Development Code, major site plans and subdivision plans. See marion.fl.legistar.com/ calendar.aspx for agenda and minutes.
FEB. 17
Marion County Board of County Commissioners
McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala
9am
The commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at marionfl.legistar.com/ calendar.aspx
Ocala City Council
Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala
4pm
The council meets each first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas and minutes are available at ocala.legistar.com/calendar.aspx
Belleview City Commission
Belleview City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview
6pm
The commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video available at belleviewfl.org/200/agendas-minutes
Arts
THROUGH FEB. 15
“Little Shop of Horrors”
Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Times vary With music Menken & Ashman, this campy, black-comedy musical was an off-Broadway smash hit in 1982, followed by the cultclassic 1986 movie adaptation. There will be 15 performances: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. The show is rated PG. For tickets and to learn more, go to ocalacivictheatre.com
FEB. 14-15
Film Music Spectacular
Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala
7:30pm Saturday, 3pm Sunday
Experience the magic of Hollywood with an evening of unforgettable film music from the Ocala Symphony Orchestra. From the sweeping romance of “Tara’s Theme” from “Gone With the Wind” to the thrilling adventure of “Pirates of the Caribbean,” this program celebrates the power of the silver screen. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com
FEB. 20
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives
Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala
7:30pm
Join the five-time Grammy winner and Country Music Hall of Famer and his group for an unforgettable night as they bring their new cosmic instrumental album “Space Junk” to life, blending surf-soaked guitar, soulful steel and their signature high-octane artistry. With
FEB. 23-26
Marriage License and Passport Day events
Marion County Clerk of Court Annex Building, 19 N Pine Ave., Room 126, Ocala
8am-7pm Processing of new U.S. passport applications only; passport renewals will not be accepted. Passport photography services. Marriage license services and ceremonies. Appointments are required and standard fees apply for all services. To make an appointment, visit bit.ly/3PwfGLk. For more information, visit marioncountyclerk.org or call (352) 671-5588.
FEB. 24
Marion County School Board 1614 E Fort King St., Ocala
5:30pm The board meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Agendas and minutes are available at go.boarddocs.com/fl/marion/ Board.nsf/Public
MARCH 11
Dunnellon City Council
Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 River Dr., Dunnellon
5:30pm The council generally meets the second Wednesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at dunnellon.granicus. com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=1
Community
FEB. 16-25
African American Read-In Marion County Public Libraries Times vary Celebrate a rich heritage of literature, film, music and art at the 36th National African American ReadIn. Readers, performers and listeners of all ages are welcome. Take part in any or all of the events: Feb. 16, 2 p.m., Belleview Public Library and Sankofa Public Library; Feb. 17, 10:30 a.m., Forest Public Library; Feb. 18, 1 p.m., Marion Oaks Public Library; Feb. 21, 1 p.m., Headquarters-Ocala Public Library; Feb. 25, 3:30 p.m., Freedom Public Library.
FEB. 19, 26 AND MARCH 3
America 250 programming Master the Possibilities, 8415 SW 80th St., Ocala Times vary Master the Possibilities (MTP) invites the community to explore history, culture, innovation and the arts through visiting speakers and special events. Many of these one-day programs are part of MTP’s America 250: Exploring 250 Years of America theme, which recognizes the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary. To register, visit masterthepossibilities.org or call (352) 861-9751.
FEB. 14
Book launch Indigo East Community Center, 8385 SW 84th St., Ocala 1pm Phyllis M. McNeal, an author, business coach who provides self-esteem workshops for women, will discuss her book “Step Into Your Power: Sassy, Classy & Smart – The Path to Total Self-Confidence.” Free admission, but registration is required at eventbrite. com/e/author-book-launch-phyllis-m-mcneal-sassyclassy-smart-tickets-1980768128794)
FEB.17
Marion County Spelling Bee
support from the wildly original Hogslop String Band and an optional VIP experience featuring a private mini-performance, Q&A and exclusive merch, this is a one-of-a-kind country celebration that’s as bold, authentic and adventurous as Marty himself. Details at reillyartscenter.com
FEB. 21
Chris Botti
Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala
7:30pm
After decades of global acclaim, superstar collaborations, and performances on the world’s greatest stages, Botti steps into a new artistic chapter with a small acoustic ensemble and a renewed focus on pure, elegant musicianship. Learn more at reillyartscenter. com
THROUGH
FEB. 22
“Under the Cover of Knowledge: Betty Ford-Smith’s Pinecone Quilts” Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Ford-Smith’s quilts are striking, contemporary interpretations of the traditional pinecone quilt, a form rooted in African American quilting practices dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. To learn more, go to appletonmuseum.org
FEB. 24
CF International Film Series:
“Linda Linda Linda”
Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala (2pm) CF Bld. 8 Ira Holmes Classroom, CF Ocala Campus (7pm)
The screenings are part of the CF Ira Holmes International Film Series. For three friends, their dream of playing the final high school concert together is dashed when their lead vocalist quits the band. Desperate, they recruit the first person they see: a Korean exchange student whose comprehension of Japanese is limited at best. It’s a race against time as the group struggles to learn three songs in three days. The soundtrack fuses Japanese bangers with original music composed by James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins. Free for Appleton and film series members; included with admission fee for nonmembers. Free at CF. Learn more at cf.edu.org
Browne Greaton Cole Auditorium located at 1614 E Fort King St., Ocala 6pm Twenty-two middle school students from 11 middle schools across Marion County will compete in a battle of words to become the champion. The winner will earn bragging rights and a cash prize. The competition will be recorded for later viewing on the district’s YouTube Channel (@MarionCountyK12). For more information, call (352) 236-0519, email mark. ingram@marion.k12.fl.us or visit spellingbee.com
FEB. 20
Children’s Charity Classic
HITS Post Time Farm 13710 US Highway 27, Ocala 6pm United Way of Marion County is hosting the second annual classic, which will support local nonprofit organizations. This year’s theme is board games. Professional equestrians will be paired with a nonprofit to help funds. For more information, go to uwmc.org/childrens-charity-classic or call (352) 7329696.
FEB. 21
Tuscawilla Sculpture Stroll
Tuscawilla Park & Art Park, 829 NE Sanchez Ave. and 213 NE 5th St., Ocala 11am-5pm Celebrate the 10 new sculptures from the 2026-2027 Ocala Outdoor Sculpture Competition. Guided tours, entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, games, food trucks and more. VIP experience available. For details, call (352) 629-8447 or email artinfo@ocalafl.gov.
FEB. 23
Teen Dating Violence Awareness
Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala 11:30am-1pm
The Florida Department of Health in Marion County invites the public to attend a community lunch and learn focused on teen dating violence awareness and promoting healthy relationship decisions. It will feature guest speakers Monica Bryant, an advocate for domestic violence prevention and chair of the Family Violence Prevention Workgroup, and Donna Guinn, the Ocala Police Department’s victim advocate supervisor. Contact DOH-Marion at (352) 644-2687 to learn more.
FEB. 26
HUGS fundraiser
Ocala Downtown Market at 360 SE Third Ave. 6pm
HUGS Charities of Ocala is a nonprofit organization that raises funds throughout the year. Through the HUGS Patient Assistance Program, the money is used to help cancer patients in Marion County with rent, utilities, auto repairs, gas for travel to cancer treatments and more. HUGS 16th annual signature fundraiser will honor cancer survivor Whitney Batsel Griffith and the College of Central Florida Nursing Program. It will include heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, live music and a silent auction. To learn more and get tickets, go to hugscharities.org
FEB. 27
Bruce Kaplan Memorial Golf Tournament Stone Creek Golf Club, 9676 SW 62nd Loop, Ocala 11am The second annual tournament is a benefit for the Reilly Arts Center, home of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. To register, go to reillyartscenter.com/events/bruce-kaplan-memorialgolf-tournament-2026/
VOCAL Furball “Boots, Black-tie & Best Friends: A Western Extravaganza” World Equestrian Center, Expo 1, 1750 NW 80th Ave., Ocala 6-10pm Cocktails, gourmet appetizers, silent auction, threecourse dinner and dancing. 93.7 K-Country’s Lewis Stokes will emcee the evening. Attire is black-tie optional, but guests are encouraged to add a touch of Western flair to their formal wear. VOCAL officials also will announce a new capital campaign to expand their campus and programs. To learn more, call (352) 289-0800.
FEB. 28
Cast Iron Family Cooking 3925 E Fort King Street Ocala 4pm Kids and parents can enjoy an evening around the campfire. Join chef Kevin from Crones Cradle Conserve for a hands-on cooking class, then relax with a sunset trail hike. Learn more at ocalafl.gov/ government/city-departments-i-z/recreation-parks/ fort-king-national-historic-landmark
FEB. 29
Arts in Health Ocala Metro Savor the Arts Dinner Historic Roger’s Family Farm, 16251 SE 27th Place Road, Ocklawaha 4pm The menu is anchored by grass-fed Fort McCoy beef. Each course will be complemented by wines from Stella’s Modern Pantry. AIHOM music practitioners will offer vocals and instrumental pieces. An artist practitioner will paint live, creating an original work. Proceeds support Arts in Health Ocala Metro programs. Get tickets at aihocala.org/savor-the-artsfundraiser or call (352) 723-5444.
FEB. 27
Cooks & Books and Musical Hooks: Voyage to the Emerald Isle Belleview Public Libray 13145 SE Highway 484 Belleview 3pm Capture the enchanting spirit of Ireland with an afternoon of charming stories, lively songs and exquisite flavors. Author Nancy Blanton, chef Sean Langan from Three Six Bistro and folksinger Tom O’Carroll come together to share tales and tunes that resonate with the warmth of Irish culture. To learn more, call )352) 671-8551.
Dance Alive National Ballet Swan Lake Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala 7pm The most beautiful ballet of all time! Swan Lake is the story of a Prince whose fiancée has been transformed into a swan by the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart. Featuring Dance Alive National Ballet Principal Dancer, Carla Amancio, as the Swan Queen, the stage is transformed into a world of beauty and artistry. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com
FEB. 28
Sister Hazel and Keller Williams Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala
7:30pm
Celebrate the Reilly’s 10th birthday with music featuring platinum-selling favorites Sister Hazel and genre-bending singer-songwriter Keller Williams. From
Sister Hazel’s chart-topping hits and legendary fandriven energy to Keller Williams’ one-of-a-kind looping magic, this special anniversary concert promises a lively, joyful celebration of a decade of arts, music and community. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com
THROUGH MARCH 5
“Manifest” exhibition CF Webber Gallery, 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala Monday-Thursday, 10am-4pm The collaborative exhibition features works by Craig Hawkins and Matt Armstrong, who channel their southern upbringing into finding common ground to express their pursuit of a deeply personal faith, imagining how the supernatural may manifest. For more information, call (352) 854-2322, ext. 1664.
THROUGH JUNE 21
‘Portraits in Passing: Contemporary Chinese Brush Painting by A.E. Kozeliski’ Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Times vary Rooted in the ancient traditions of Chinese brush painting, Kozeliski’s process draws on the discipline’s four foundational strokes, techniques that require mastery of brush pressure, water-ink balance and handmade paper selection. For more information, call (352) 291-4455 or visit appletonmuseum.org.
It’s a Marty party on Feb. 20 in Ocala. [Photo courtesy Reilly Arts Center]
Sudoku is played on a grid of 9 x 9 spaces. Within the rows and columns are 9 “squares” (made up of 3 x 3 spaces). Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-9, without repeating any numbers within the same row, column or square.
ANSWERS FOR PAGE B7
Crossword
Jumble
WEAVE
BUDDY
MOSAIC
HONCHO
Answers: On the breezy day, Mount Rushmore's presidents were experiencing HEADWINDS
Sudoku
Gasoline Alley
Broom Hilda
Middletons
Animal Crackers
