A29-year-old Ocala woman has died while in the custody of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the latest person to die while being incarcerated in the Marion County Jail.
Maniesa Fletcher died at the AdventHealth Ocala Hospital at 3:59 p.m. on March 14. The circumstances surrounding her death have not been released by MCSO, but the woman’s brother said the family was notified by MCSO that Fletcher was brain dead the day before being pronounced deceased at the hospital. Fletcher is the 31st person to die in MCSO custody since 2021. She had been held at the jail since Sept. 10, 2024, awaiting trial on charges of assault on a law enforcement officer and depriving an officer of a weapon or communication device.
Nationally, an average of about 1.40 deaths occurred annually per 1,000 incarcerated people in jails, according to the National Institute of Health. Given that Marion County Jail holds an average of 1,600 to 1,700 inmates at a time, and 31 inmates have died since January of 2021, the annual average of deaths in the jail is about 4.4 deaths per 1,000 incarcerated people per year.
See Young woman dies, page A2
Entities at odds over land clearing
A conservationist is upset with a governmental agency over property within the Silver Springs Forest
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
Local conservationist Guy Marwick was seeing red among the greenery in an area of the Silver Springs Forest Wildlife Management Area this week.
On Wednesday, March 26, Marwick, speaking by cellphone, said the St. Johns River Water Management District was “clear cutting” land that would be replanted as a “pine plantation.”
The area is on Highway 326, about ½ mile from the intersection with State Road 40 and near the Indian Lake State Forest. It is within the Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area.
Wildlife Management Area.
Marwick, the founder of the Silver River Museum and founder/director of the Felburn Foundation, said the foundation had donated $250,000 to SJRWMD to help preserve the land.
“So, I have some skin in the game,” he said.
Danielle L. FitzPatrick, Regional Media and Communications Coordinator, Strategic Communications and Engagement with the district said the recent clearing in the area is part of a habitat restoration project aimed at restoring the property to its natural state.
“Over time, fire-sensitive, shade-tolerant plants have displaced the fire-adapted, sunloving species that historically thrived in this
ecosystem—a process known as mesophication. This shift alters habitat conditions,” FitzPatrick wrote in an email on March 26.
“The St. Johns River Water Management District is actively restoring the area by reintroducing longleaf pine, a species that once dominated this landscape. This effort will help reestablish the natural ecological balance and allow for the return of prescribed fire as a management tool. Fire plays a critical role in maintaining healthy, resilient landscapes by reducing invasive vegetation, promoting native plant growth, and improving wildlife habitat,” she wrote.
See Land clearing , page A9
Trailblazing female captain dies in Ocala
Capt. Virginia Ferguson was the first female and first Black woman to hold a United States Coast Guard captain’s license in Florida and the first female glass-bottom boat captain at Silver Springs.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
One of Marion County’s most remarkable women, Capt. Virginia Ferguson, has passed away.
Ferguson was born Sept. 11, 1941, in Donaldsonville, Georgia, and grew up in Homestead, Florida. Her family later moved to Ocala to join other family members who were already here. She died March 25, 2025, in Ocala.
Ferguson was the first female and first Black woman to hold a United States Coast Guard captain’s license in Florida and the first female glass-bottom boat captain at the Silver Springs Attraction.
She is survived by her children, Youlanda Green Jones, Robert “Rocky” Green and Jessica HadleyBrown. She was predeceased by her son Bobby Eugene Ferguson and
See Female captain dies , page A2
Guy Marwick, director of the Felburn Foundation, talks about how protected land is being clear-cut in the Silver Springs Forest Wildlife Management Area that is managed by the St. Johns River Water Management District just north of the intersection of State Road 40 and County Road 326 in Silver Springs, Fla. on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2025.
Maniesa Fletcher, 29, died in the custody of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office on March 14. [Facebook]
Guy Marwick, director of the Felburn Foundation, shows a map of the land that is being cleared. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2025.
Photo: Maniesa Fletcher, 29, died in the custody of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office on March 14. [Facebook]
Female captain dies
Continued from page A1
grandson Kenyatta “Bear” Jones. She has 30 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Hadley-Brown said her mother “loved the water.”
“She just had that aspiration of loving the water and would talk about, ‘navigating the current of the river.’ In 1973, she began studying to receive her Coast Guard license,” HadleyBrown stated.
She said family members would often visit Silver Springs to go on boat rides with Ferguson, and bring friends along.
“She had a zest for Silver Springs,” she said. “In the early ‘70s, you could go there and choose an oyster that might have a pearl in it. We enjoyed doing that. She loved her job, and she would make sure we knew her speech that she so graciously gave to the visiting families.”
“In 2018, her tenure was 46 years, as of June 6, 2018. After the death of her grandson, she had a stroke that ended her career there,” Hadley-Brown said. “But she maintained her Coast Guard license and her Homeland Security clearance; she was very proud of that clearance.”
She also noted that Ferguson was an avid bowler, a great cook and at one time had a florist business in Ocala.
As for life lessons imparted to her children, she said her mother would tell them, “Never to give up. She would say, ‘Your journey will not always be easy, however, as you approach the milestones you will see the victory at the end.’”
A column in the May 2021 issue of the “Gazette’s” sister publication, “Ocala Style” magazine, by Scott Mitchell, director of the Silver River Museum since 2004, called Ferguson a “trailblazer.”
“She is known for being capable and professional. Her demeanor is both tough and warm-hearted, and she was a fixture at Silver Springs for close to half a century. During the late 1960s, Ferguson was raising kids and working at Club Bali, a well-known African American night club in Ocala. Several of the Silver Springs glass-bottom boat captains encouraged her to apply for a job. She did—and made history. On June 6, 1973, Ferguson became the first female and the first Black woman to hold a United States Coast Guard captain’s license in Florida. This was no small feat given that the era of open racial and gender discrimination was not yet a thing of the past. By the time she retired, Ferguson had safely introduced tens of thousands of visitors to the beauty of the springs and opened the door for younger female captains to follow.”
One of those captains was Connie Mann.
“I met Capt. Virginia in early 2006, when I was hired as a glass-bottom boat captain at Silver Springs. Out of the 30 captains, there were only three ladies, so they sent me to train at the Pink Dock, also known as the Fort King River Cruise, under Capt. Virginia’s watchful eye. She was not only the first female captain ever hired at Silver Springs, she was the first African American woman in Florida to obtain a USCG-issued captain’s license. No small feat in 1973,” Mann recalled.
“Capt. Virginia had a warm smile, twinkling brown eyes, a wonderful laugh—and a spine of steel she showed when necessary. She never called herself a trailblazer or pioneer or mentor, but she was all of that and more, for me and so many other women. She not only trained me to handle a boat and deal with guests from around the world; she showed me how to step into the role of captain with skill, grace and confidence, despite those who didn’t welcome the idea of a woman at the helm. By her example, she taught me that humor can diffuse many a situation and a warm smile invites good conversation,” Mann added.
Young woman dies
Continued from page A1
Fletcher was scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial conference on March 26. She was most recently represented by Public Defender Junior Barrett.
Fletcher’s brother Garth Fletcher told the “Ocala Gazette” that his sister had long suffered from seizures, and that family members pleaded with jail staff to provide her the medication she needed prior to her untimely death.
MCSO provided Fletcher’s name and date of death upon request but said the Major Crimes Unit is conducting an investigation into her death and no other details will be released until the investigation is complete.
The “Gazette” has requested Fletcher’s autopsy report from the Medical Examiner’s Office for Districts 5 and 24, which the office said it will provide after the investigation is complete.
As previously reported, upon the completion of internal investigation, if use-of-force is identified as the cause of death of an inmate, the case will be sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for further investigation.
MCSO has reported 28 deaths in custody to FDLE since 2021—excluding the death of Corey Merchant, who died in custody after an altercation with another inmate, and Patrick Wolfgang, who died in the process of being taken into custody by MCSO.
Deaths in custody of MCSO are reported to FDLE, as
“I will never forget the first time she had me pull up to the main glass-bottom boat dock. As luck would have it, the park manager and every single captain working that day stood and watched the new girl try to navigate those tricky currents. Talk about intimidating. Capt. Virginia lifted her chin, sent me her wide smile and kept murmuring, ‘Just do it like I taught you, Connie. Just do it like I taught you.’ I did and earned my place amongst the other captains that day,” Mann stated.
“Thank you for everything, Miss Ginny. For blazing a trail for other women to follow and for being an incredible mentor, encourager, example, sister and dear friend. Your encouragement to ‘do it like I taught you’ inspires me to do the same for the next generation. I’ll be looking for your bright smile when I reach heaven’s shore,” Mann continued.
Another Ocalan who knew Ferguson through Silver Springs is award winning cinematographer Mark Emery, who also was a glass-bottom boat captain for a time and who included Ferguson in his movie “The Silver River Story.”
“I knew Virginia mainly from working with her in the early 70’s at Silver Springs. Virginia was a wonderful lady, tough, smart and with a big heart. More important than that was her sense of self-deprecating humor. She injected humor often into her talks at Silver Springs. She would say in her talks as a glass-bottom boat driver, ‘We have over 30 species of fish here at Silver Springs. Now I can’t remember all 30,” and she would laugh a bit and then say, “we have catfish, bream, bowfin, largemouth bass, you catch a batch and I’ll cook them up and we’ll call them fried fish,’” Emery shared. “She loved her work at Silver Springs and in her many years of sharing the beauty and lovely surprises she saw on the Silver River, her excitement and joy was real. She said, ‘Silver Springs is my home; I spend more time here than I do at my house.’”
She was also observant of others who worked with her, regardless of race, Emery said.
“She admired Leon Cheatom, her manager, who recently passed as well, saying, ‘I have always admired Leon. If we were having trouble with too many people in line and not enough drivers, he would jump on the boat take folks out to help us out, I have always enjoyed working with him.’ She was the driving force in having a retirement party for Leon when he retired,” Emery offered.
“She shared her joy with folks who worked in the park. When manatees started coming back to Silver Springs, they would at times be in easy sight of the boat dock. She would go tell the workers in the restaurant to come down because the manatees were where they could see them. Virginia was a wise woman and expressed herself well on growing up with the segregation that divided us in her early days. She spoke to many hundreds of thousands of people about wildlife, spreading her own personal style of grace, joy and humor. We need more like Virginia Ferguson. She will be missed by all who knew her,” Emery shared.
Local photographer and businesswoman Cynthia Wilson-Graham remembered Ferguson as a devoted mother, grandmother and aunt.
““Miss Virginia cherished her children and family above all else. She was a straightforward and honest individual, always speaking her mind and meaning what she said. Her words were as reliable as her actions,” Wilson-Graham said.
“With the unwavering support of her family and additional training from Capt. Roosevelt Faison, Miss Virginia shattered the glass ceiling for women aspiring to become boat captains. Her strength and determination were evident in her pursuit of this goal when she obtained her license from the U. S. Coast Guard, becoming the first female boat captain at the WorldFamous as she Silver Springs, now Silver Springs State Park,” she added.
A life celebration for Ferguson will be held at 3 p.m. April 6 at Living Waters Church, 3801 N. US Highway 441, Ocala.
the agency applies for grants for state funding. The federal Death in Custody Reporting Act law requires all local agencies to report deaths in custody to the state level, but Florida has no state law enforcing DCRA reporting except for if the agency wishes to apply for grants.
Garth Fletcher said because of her seizures, Maniesa often suffered from episodes of psychosis. She was being treated by a doctor in Tampa, who had prescribed a medication to help negate the effects of the seizures, he said.
Garth Fletcher said his sister’s altercations with law enforcement were due to her psychosis. He said his sister was frequently treated at The Vines Hospital, a mental health clinic in Ocala.
She had previously served a 270-day sentence in jail, from Dec. 3, 2023, to Aug. 23, 2024, for resisting a law enforcement officer with violence, battery on an officer and depriving an officer of a weapon or communication device.
She was also held in jail from Aug. 25, 2023, to Sept. 4, 2023, for assault on a firefighter or EMT and resisting an officer with violence.
The “Gazette” will continue reporting on the circumstances surrounding Fletcher’s death and her cause of death once the Major Crimes investigation is complete. Editor’s Note: Investigate This! at The Marshall Project provided guidance to the Ocala Gazette team on how to navigate obtaining information under the federal Death In Custody Reporting Act.
The are numerous previous articles about this topic and the Marion County Jail at ocalagazette.com
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Capt. Virginia Ferguson [Photo by Mark Emery]
Capt. Virginia Ferguson, left, is shown with Capt. Connie Mann, with Mark Emery in the background at right. [Submitted photo]
Letter to the Editor
By Bernie Little, President Horse Farms Forever
Iwas surprised to see my picture with David Tillman highlighting your story on March 19th titled “SB 1118: A builder’s perspective.” (www. ocalagazette.com/sb-1118-abuilders-perspective/) Many of my friends were also surprised and confused as they thought I was endorsing Mr. Tillman’s perspective. Not true.
I would like to offer a different perspective to Senate Bill 1118. My perspective is that of a retired business owner now serving as a volunteer for Horse Farms Forever, focused on the preservation of horse farms and rural land in the face of unrelenting development.
I know Mr. Tillman professionally and hold him in high regard, with one caveat; he is biased in favor of his clients and members. That’s not a bad thing if he represents you, it just means that his work is for compensation and thus, as expected, his position and opinion are from that perspective.
The comments made by Mr. Tillman in your article on the impact of Senate Bill 1118 are biased by his role as president of the Marion County Building Industry Association, where Mr. Tillman is expected to advocate on behalf of its members. It reminds me of listening to the tobacco industry telling us that cigarette smoking was good for our health.
With that said, here’s a fact that I think Mr. Tillman and I agree on: Marion County’s population is growing. It is undeniable that the growth pendulum in Florida and especially Marion County has swung in the growth direction. According to the Census Bureau,
the Ocala metro area ranked No. 1 for growth among metro areas nationwide between July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024, with a population increase of 4%, the highest percentage in the nation.
Growth can be good for a community, if it is well-planned and fairly and concurrently pays for its impact on schools, public infrastructure and community services through sales taxes, impact fees and property taxes. Our county’s elected leaders recently put two sales tax initiatives on the ballot to help pay for the deferred cost of growth. The voters said yes to those initiatives. And the commissioners are currently debating and considering impact fees to further offset the deferred costs of growth.
Impact fees are not new to Marion County. However, during an economic slowdown about 15 years ago, the elected leaders responded to the call of the building industry to waive impact fees to make building more affordable. Most of those waivers have remained in place even as very robust growth has returned to our community.
According to an article in the “Ocala Star Banner” newspaper on June 05, 2012, “Marion County Commissioner Stan McClain received quick and total support from his colleagues after calling for suspending transportation impact fees for another year.”
“The commission had ended the collection of such fees in 2010 and in January 2011 extended the ban through the end of this year. Commissioners hoped that would spur the local economy. McClain said he wanted to bring the issue up now instead of waiting until the board is scheduled to go through the annual exercise of trying to index
the fees for the coming fiscal year. With little discussion, the board backed his proposal to suspend collection of all the fees through the end of 2013.”
Now, 12 years later, impact fees are finally back on the county commission’s agenda as a top priority.
With record population growth, the net result of those paused impact fees is that the growth we are experiencing today is not paying its fair share of the impact on schools, roads, utilities, law enforcement and fire/ emergency services. This is well documented in multiple costs of community services studies and an unpleasant fact your paper has often highlighted in previous stories. There’s another alarming concern—the impact fees being proposed today are based on historical costs that are behind the growth curve and don’t nearly compensate for the true impact of growth during the future cost cycle.
When population growth does not pay its fair share of the impact it makes on schools, infrastructure and community services, then the burden of those costs falls unfairly on the shoulders of the existing community.
With this staggering amount of growth and backlog of infrastructure needs, it is time to manage and moderate our county’s population growth until the needed schools, infrastructure and essential services can be concurrent with today’s population before we start building for a future population. If that requires a moratorium on new building, then that is what should be considered and debated by our elected officials.
How does Senate Bill 1118, introduced by Marion County’s own Stan McClain, factor into this population growth and unrelenting
Letter to the editor
By David O’Farrell General Manager, Ocala Stud Farm
For nearly 70 years, my family has poured everything into Florida’s thoroughbred racing industry—starting with my grandfather, who put Floridabred horses on the national stage and proved that Kentucky wasn’t the only place to raise champion runners. My father carried that legacy forward, and today, as the third generation at Ocala Stud Farm, I am fighting to protect everything my family and thousands of others have built from a misguided and misrepresented proposal in the legislature.
We’ve bred and trained Kentucky Derby and graded stakes champions, helped make Ocala the Horse Capital of the World and turned Florida into a formidable national competitor in thoroughbred breeding and
racing. But now, the legislation Florida lawmakers are considering could tear it all down by selling out our industry to out-of-state gambling interests with no loyalty to Florida’s racing tradition. House Bill 105 and Senate Bill 408 threaten to “decouple” live horse racing from thoroughbred gaming venues, stripping away the requirement that thoroughbred racing permit holders conduct live races. This reckless legislation would allow Gulfstream Park’s Canadian parent company to operate a stand-alone gaming facility without having to maintain its racing operation. The result?
A painful dismantling of one of Florida’s signature industries, leaving the livelihoods of thousands of workers and businesses in its wake.
Thoroughbred racing isn’t just a beloved tradition, it’s also an economic juggernaut.
According to an independent study commissioned by the American
Horse Council in 2023, the industry generates a $3.24 billion economy and supports 33,500 Florida jobs.
How can the dismantlement of a key pillar of Florida’s agribusiness even be open for discussion?
It appears the motive behind this bill is driven by corporate interests looking for a backdoor into Florida’s casino market. Gulfstream Park’s parent company has a history of abandoning racing venues, having closed or redeveloped multiple tracks in other states. Their new partnership with NASCAR as their “parimutuel gaming partner” is one more red flag about where their interests lie: on horsepower of any other kind.
It’s not about preserving thoroughbred racing, it’s about slot machines, sports betting, and a quick payday. They’re gambling with Florida’s economy, and we cannot take that bet.
A move like this ensures the devastating loss of our esteemed thoroughbred legacy and
development? It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Senator McClain’s bill is special interest legislation written to benefit developers and fast-track growth by taking authority out of the hands of local government and restricting public input.
Recent articles in two publications offer insight into the driving force behind the bill.
“The proposed state legislation is a priority for the Florida Home Builders Association as well as Deseret Ranches, the real estate arm of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints which has lobbyists working on the bill. Deseret Ranches owns hundreds of thousands of acres of ranch and swamp land spanning the eastern edge of Orange County, dipping into Osceola and Brevard.” the “Orlando Sentinel” reported.
“Long-term blueprints outline development across an area spanning nearly 250 square miles. Those plans envision 220,000 homes, 100 million square feet of commercial and institutional space and close to 25,000 hotel rooms—almost as many as Walt Disney World has,” “Florida Trend” reports.
The public may never know the identity of the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain pulling the
strings on Senate Bill 1118. I predict questions like what law firms participated in writing the actual text of the bill and who paid them will go unanswered. That’s the nature of Tallahassee politics.
That’s not the case in Marion County where we are blessed to have five excellent county commissioners. I have attended almost a thousand hours of public hearings and can attest firsthand that they work hard to do the right thing for Marion County and its citizens. While I don’t always align with their decisions, I completely trust them to carefully consider the facts and circumstances and use the democratic process to reach the best decision. Most importantly, they do it in a manner that is respectful of the citizens and transparent.
Local governments are organized closest to where people live to best understand and meet community needs, solve local problems and deliver the qualityof-life amenity services. Senate Bill 1118 seeks to take away the authority of local governments and stifle public input on local planning and zoning matters. Notwithstanding the bias otherwise, it is bad policy and sets a terrible precedent.
thousands of jobs to rival states like Kentucky that have seen double-digit market gains due to fair regulations and supportive racetrack operators.
Florida is at a crossroads. Lawmakers must decide whether they stand with our hardworking horsemen, breeders, and individuals who have built our state’s thoroughbred racing and agricultural heritage—or with the
foreign gambling giants looking to gut it for a quick payday. The choice, to me, is clear. Florida leads. Florida wins. I urge every legislator to stand up, push back, and reject this blatant attack on our industry. The stakes have never been higher. Let’s fight for Florida’s future—and win. Editor’s Note: This piece appeared in the “Tallahassee Democrat” on March 17.
David, Michael and Joe O’Farrell, left to right, are shown on the track at Ocala Stud Farm in Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. [File photo by Bruce Ackerman]
Bernie Little of Horse Farms Forever is shown during a Marion County Commission meeting on Feb. 20, 2204. [File photo by Bruce Ackerman]
Have your voice heard
Volunteers are sought for these vacancies on local government advisory boards.
Staff report
You can have your voice heard in local government by helping out on a volunteer board. By serving on a board, your experience and knowledge can influence governmental decisions and help you, your fellow citizens and local government. It alsogives you an inside look at the governmental systems and lets you participate more closely in your community.
CITY OF DUNNELLON:
The city’s general link is here: dunnellon.org/government/ boards-commissions
Planning Commission
2 vacancies for alternate members; 1 vacancy for staff liaison
Description: The Planning Commission has an administrative review function whereby the Commission reviews all changes to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, by amendment, evaluation, addition and appraisal for consistency with the existing Comprehensive Plan, and reviews all land-related/ zoning ordinances to determine consistency to the Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission holds quasi-judicial hearings with regards to land planning/ zoning cases, site plan reviews, variances, special exceptions, and review/appeal of administrative orders, and forwards its findings/ recommendations to the City Council.
Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm.
CITY OF OCALA:
The city’s general link is here: ocalafl.gov/government/citydepartments-a-h/city-clerk/ boards-and-commissions
The City Council appoints individuals to serve on over 20 boards, advisory committees, and commissions. These volunteers are from all over Ocala, and their experience, knowledge and expertise help influence decisions affecting the City by providing advice and feedback to City leaders and Council.
If you have questions, contact clerk@ocalafl.gov or call the Office of the City Clerk at (352) 629-8266. The main page is ocalafl.gov/government/citydepartments-a-h/city-clerk/ boards-and-commissions and each board has its own page and application link.
All are welcome to submit an application for consideration to a board or commission. Many boards have specific requirements, such as living within the city limits, being a qualified city voter, or owning real property within the city limits. These requirements, if any, are detailed for each board on their page.
Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
Description: The Affordable Housing Advisory Committee is responsible for developing an
analysis of impediments to the creation of affordable housing, as required by the city’s affordable housing funders. Members represent various aspects of housing including residential home building, mortgage banking, labor, low-income advocates, non-profit housing providers, real estate professional and other entities.
Vacancies: 1 current vacancy, terms run for three years
Size: 11 Members
Term Length: 3 years
Term Limit: n/a
Board of Adjustment
Description: The Board of Adjustment considers applications for zoning variances and special exception considerations for business and residential construction projects within the Ocala City Limits. Hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is error in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by the building official in the enforcement of the zoning code (chapter 122), authorize special exceptions as provided in the zoning code authorize variances as provided in the zoning code.
Vacancies: 2 current vacancies, terms run March 1, 2028.
Size: 7 Members
Term Length: 4 years
Term Limit: n/a
Brownfields Advisory Committee
Description: The purpose of the advisory committee is to promote and receive public comment on the identification, rehabilitation and redevelopment of identified Brownfield sites.
The purpose of the advisory committee is to promote and receive public comment on the identification, rehabilitation and redevelopment of identified Brownfield sites.
The advisory committee shall provide guidance in areas such as land use, employment opportunities, development proposals, community safety and environmental justice.
The committee consists of eleven members appointed by the Ocala City Council from boards, committees and organizations primarily representing West Ocala.
Vacancies: 3 current vacancies, terms from March 1, 2025 to March 1, 2028 and 2029.
Size: 9 Members
Term Length: 4 years
Term Limit: n/a
Downtown Redevelopment Advisory Committee
Description: The committee shall advise the Community Redevelopment Agency on redevelopment efforts of the established subarea pursuant to Chapter 163, Part III, Florida Statutes. The Downtown Ocala Redevelopment Advisory Committee shall consist of seven members appointed by the CRA Agency and City Council from property owners and organizations representing Downtown Ocala.
Vacancies: 1 current term ending March 1, 2025.
Size: multiple members
Term Length: 4 years
Term Limit: n/a
Historic Preservation Advisory Board
Description: The Ocala Historic Preservation Advisory Board oversees the historic resources of the City and advises City Council and City departments on matters relating to these resources, as well as manages Certificates of Appropriateness for properties located within the Tuscawilla Park and Ocala Historic Districts. Make recommendations to City council for matters relating to historic resources in the City changes to designated resources; attend pertinent informational or educational meetings, workshops and conferences; advise on development of goals, objectives and policies for historic preservation; advise city departments on matters relating to historic resources in the City; advise individuals on preservation of historic structures; educate public on economic benefits of same; and submit annual report to SHPO covering annual activities. The Board approves Certificates of Appropriateness for exterior alterations to properties located in the local Tuscawilla Park and Ocala Historic Districts.
Vacancies: 1 current vacancy for an architect
Size: 9 Members
Term Length: 3 years
Term Limit: n/a
Municipal Code Enforcement Board
Description: The Code Enforcement Division enforces codes that pertain to zoning laws, nuisance abatement, contracting, and permitting requirements of the City of Ocala and the State of Florida, occupational licenses, sign codes, alcohol location permits, and many other local ordinances and State Statutes. The Municipal Code Enforcement Board hears cases relating to code violations. Examine code violation cases presented by City Code Enforcement Officers. Empowered to levy fines and place liens on property if,
violation is not corrected.
Vacancies: 2 current vacancies
Size: 7 Members
Term Length: 3 years
Term Limit: n/a
Police Officers’ Retirement System Board of Trustees
Description: The Police Officers’ Retirement System Board of Trustees is responsible the administration and operation of the Retirement Plan for the City of Ocala Police Officers.
Vacancies: 1 citizen term expired Aug. 6, 2024
Size: 7 Members
Term Length: 2 years
Term Limit: n/a
West Ocala Redevelopment
Advisory Committee
Description: The committee shall advise the CRA Agency and City Council on redevelopment efforts of the established subarea. The West Ocala Redevelopment Advisory Committee is appointed as an advisory board to the Community Redevelopment Agency for the area defined as the West Ocala Redevelopment Subarea. The committee shall advise the CRA on redevelopment efforts of the established subarea pursuant to Chapter 163, Part III, Florida Statutes. Meets at least two times per year.
Vacancies: 1 current vacancy
Size: 9 members
Term Length: 4 years
Term Limit: n/a
MARION COUNTY
Marion County shows vacancies on the following boards: Board of Adjustment, Code Enforcement, Rainbow Lakes Estates, and d the Marion Oaks MSTU Recreation board. These are volunteer positions and have specific qualifications and criteria depending on the board’s focus. The county commission appoints members in regular BOCC meetings. An online application can be downloaded here: marionfl. org/my-commissioners/ advisory-boards and can be printed or saved as a PDF. Please email completed forms to commissionadmin@marionfl.org upon completion. Applications can also be obtained at the Marion County Board of County Commissioners’ Office located at 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala, Florida or by calling 352-438-2323.
Board of Adjustment
(2 full members – Terms expire April 2028)
Qualifications/restrictions: Members shall be residents and registered voters of Marion County.
Responsibilities: Review and make decisions under the Marion County Land Development Code regarding citizen requests for variances or special exceptions. Hear and decide appeals concerning
School District discusses interim superintendent
Jennifer Hunt Murty
jennifer@ocalagazette.com
The Marion County School Board discussed next steps in replacing the current superintendent during a workshop on March 24, after Superintendent Diane Gullet tendered her resignation.
Gullet, who was the district’s first appointed superintendent, has served in the role since 2020. She will resign at the end of her term on July 11.
Chairperson Lori Conrad summarized the board’s
consensus, which leaned towards allowing Gullett to complete her contract, while immediately opening applications for an interim superintendent to cover the role through February 2026, pending the board’s search for a permanent candidate. Conrad and Board Member Sarah James both favored exploring the cost of dismissing the superintendent early from her contract and appointing an interim superintendent swiftly. Both members also stated that, in speaking to internal and external stakeholders, they received overwhelming
encouragement to seek a local candidate for the position.
“I have three names to suggest,” James offered to the board. However, Eric Cummings expressed concern and preempted James from announcing the names during the workshop, citing concerns about the fairness of the process.
The majority of the board felt that the haste was not necessary and expressed concerns about getting someone up to speed on all the work the board had already initiated.
According to a social media post by Bailey Education, Dr.
interpretations of the Land Development Code by the Zoning manager. Alternate members may act in the temporary absence or disability of any regular member or may act when a regular member is otherwise disqualified in a particular case that may be presented to the Board of Adjustment. No member of the Board of Adjustment shall hold any other public position or office in any municipality or county government in Marion County.
Code Enforcement
(1 full member, 2 alternate members – Terms expire February 2026 and April 2028)
Qualifications/restrictions: Members shall be residents of Marion County.
Responsibilities: Members shall be residents of Marion County and should have experience or interest in zoning and building control, ad shall, whenever possible be in the field of architecture, engineering, general contracting, or subcontracting. Members shall have the power to adopt rules for the conduct of its hearings; subpoena alleged violators & witnesses to its hearings; subpoena records, surveys, plats & other documentary evidence; take testimony under oath; issue orders having the force & effect of law, commanding whatever steps are necessary to bring a violation into compliance and establish and levy fines pursuant to county ordinance. Members are required to e-file Form 1 (Statement of Financial Interest) with the Florida Commission on Ethics.
Marion Oaks MSTU Recreation (1 full member – Term expires April 2029)
Qualifications/restrictions: Members shall be residents of Marion Oaks MSTU.
Responsibilities: embers participate in preparation of annual budget, review & comment on current & past programs, activities, operations, goals, & objectives of the district & make recommendations on these or other issues to the county commission.
Rainbow Lakes Estates MSD Advisory Council (2 full members – Terms expire May 2027 and December 2028) Qualifications/restrictions: None specified.
Responsibilities: Members serve three-year terms. The RLE Advisory Committee submits a letter to the county commission requesting ratification of the MSD Advisory Council members elected by the residents of RLE. The district board of said district shall appoint an advisory committee consisting of seven registered electors residing within said district, six to be residents of Marion County, Florida, and one to be a resident of Levy County, Florida, to serve for a term of one year or until their successors be appointed.
Diane Gullett has been appointed as the Chief Academic Officer for the group, which operates in multiple states, including Florida. According to their website, the company partners with schools and districts for “customized professional development and teacher coaching.”
While some in the community have pegged Gullett as an outsider, she told the “Gazette” she plans to remain living in Marion County, Florida, for this next chapter in her career.
The district will resume the conversation during a meeting scheduled for April 3.
Diane Gullett, Ed.D., the first appointed superintendent of Marion County Public Schools
City of Ocala event will commemorate Fair Housing Act anniversary
The celebration on April 17 will include guest speakers and a complimentary dinner.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
The city of Ocala’s Community Development Services department is hosting a special event on April 17 as part of Fair Housing Month and to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act 57.
This celebration will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala. The event is made possible through partnerships with Community Legal Services, the Housing Finance Authority and the Ocala Housing Authority.
“Guests will hear from insightful speakers and enjoy a complimentary dinner as we reflect on the progress of fair housing and the work that still lies ahead,” noted the news release.
Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on April 11, 1968, the Fair Housing Act is a landmark federal law that prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status. It also ensures that federal housing programs actively promote fair housing and provide avenues for addressing discrimination, the release stated.
To learn more, the “Gazette” did an email Q&A with Community Development Services Director James Haynes Jr.
Q:
Who is your target audience in celebrating this 57th anniversary?
The community-at-large, to include local government housing and community legal agencies, realtors, attorneys, tenants, landlords and citizens.
Q:
Why is it important to recognize the Fair Housing Act as a federal law?
To avoid the effect of biases and misconceptions in real estate transactions.
Q:
Who will be the guest speakers at the dinner?
Nicole Carrero is the managing attorney of the Fair Housing Unit with Community Legal Services. Prior to joining CLS, Carrero practiced complex commercial litigation with a private firm. She has been a litigator for eight years, tried several cases to verdict and practiced in multiple areas of law.
Ricardo L. Gilmore is a senior partner and co-founder of Saxon|Gilmore. Gilmore has practiced law for more than 40 years and specializes in the areas of business and corporate law, real estate, public finance and commercial litigation. He serves as
general counsel to housing authorities in Florida and as special counsel in other states relative to affordable housing development matters, involving a multiplicity of legal issues unique to housing authorities as well as applicable to governmental agencies and/or corporate entities. He has developed a specialty in public housing law and has been involved in two extensive litigation matters appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court that established nationwide precedents.
Q: How does the City of Ocala Community Development Services Department, Community Legal Services, the Housing Finance Authority and the Ocala Housing Authority work together?
The city of Ocala’s CDS Department has a long-standing relationship with the Ocala Housing Authority and Central
Florida Community Legal Services in bettering housing opportunities. The city, as well as OHA, refer citizens with fair housing questions, concerns or complaints to Central Florida Community Legal Services. They review citizens’ circumstances and proceed with appropriate steps to rectify the reported housing legal issues. The city also looks to regularly partner with Central Florida Community Legal Services to provide fair housing training opportunities to renters and landlords, with the hopes of educating participants in an effort to avoid fair housing violations.
The Housing Finance Authority’s mission is to increase the availability of workforce housing and to provide state bonds to assist developers with the inclusion of affordable housing in their market rate developments. As an affordable housing landlord, it ensures fair housing practices are enforced and tenants are educated regarding their housing rights.
Q: Is there a deadline for people to RSVP for the free dinner?
Yes, Friday, April 4, 2025. They can register at allevents.in/ ocala/2025-fair-housing-event-city-ofocala/100001261163065679 or eventbrite. com/e/2025-fair-housing-event-city-ofocala-tickets-1261163065679?msockid=1b 793b4f4bcc6217220b2efd4a1a63ef
The Ocala City Council will be presenting a Fair Housing Proclamation to local housing agencies during its regularly scheduled meeting on April 1, which will begin at 4 p.m., at City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala. The meeting is open to the public.
To learn more, go to ocalafl.gov
A number of guests attended the city of Ocala’s 2024 Fair Housing Community Event. This year’s event is set for April 17. [Photo courtesy city of Ocala]
Meet Your Neighbor—
Frank Iervolino
By Eadie Sickler Special to the Gazette
Despite being the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit’s newest member, Frank Iervolino has an impressive history in civilian and military operations in the United States and internationally.
Iervolino admittedly, however, was not a “good” student in grade school nor his high school years.
“That is one thing that I regret,” he shared.
He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and, after graduating from high school, worked for a telephone company. A fellow employee impressed upon him to enlist into the U.S. Navy where he could decide to be a seaman or an airman. He chose the airman path.
Flying as a crewman in combat support missions in Vietnam, at 21 years old, he began to think of what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.
“It was either the height of optimism or the delusion of a madman,” he quipped, “but I decided I wanted to be an attorney.”
After active duty, he remained in the Naval Reserves and enrolled at Kingsboro Community College, then proceeded to Baruch University in New York, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration.
In 1975, Iervolino was hired by the United States Department
HELLO, OCALA
of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, as a strike force agent in the investigation and prosecution of organized crime senior leadership and associates in New York city.
While working for the treasury department, Iervolino earned his law degree from Brooklyn Law School, then a Master of Law degree from New York University. In 1984, he became an assistant district attorney in Kings County in Brooklyn, in the Organized Crime and Rackets
Bureau, again in the areas of organized crime and political corruption within New York state.
He has been a deputy attorney general with the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice and, following that, a criminal defense/tax attorney specializing in all areas of criminal defense and tax litigation. From 1995 to 2007, he was a senior trial attorney in New York, specializing in trials involving large multinational corporations.
While still employed in his civilian law practice, he also served in the Naval Reserves. From 1988 to 2006, he was a Reserve Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Officer Special Agent (commander). During that time, he conducted more than 25 short term (30 to 90 days) operations throughout Asia, Central America, Europe and the Middle East. Iervolino tells of “conducting homicide investigations in Iraq as well as searching for Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction.”
He was activated for Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In the 2007-to-2012-time frame, he began working for the Defense Intelligence Agency and was located at Camp Smith, Hawaii. He was a liaison to the FBI Counter Terrorism Task Force, with top secret clearance. His scope included south and southeast Asia
(Australia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand). He was a counterintelligence and counterterror operations officer in those countries. In 2011, Iervolino worked as a DIA counterintelligence officer in Afghanistan for special operations task force, comprised of a Navy SEAL team and Army special warfare group.
One of the most personally challenging assignments of his career, Iervolino said, was when he was assigned to Sicily, Italy. At the time, he explained, the Mafia was very strong in that area, and he was involved with a Carabinieri/NCIS operation to expose and incarcerate those involved in drug deals.
During all of this time, Iervolino’s wife, Catherine “Cathy,” and their two daughters, were keeping the home-fires
burning.
“I don’t know much of what he was involved in,” she said. “Most of it was top secret, and I was not privileged to know where he was, or how long he would be there, or what he was doing. I’m still not sure I want to know.”
Cathy, also from Brooklyn, is a graduate of Kingsboro Community College and St. Francis College, where she earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree. She was an account manager for IKG Industries in New Jersey.
When Frank was in Hawaii, Cathy was able to visit him there and enjoyed it.
“Most of the time, I stayed home. We have two daughters and a home, and I had a career of my own,” she said.
About not knowing of her husband’s whereabouts most of the time and living with that knowledge every day, Cathy shared, “If I came home from work and there was not a military car waiting in my driveway, it was a good day.”
The couple’s daughter Catherine lives in New Jersey with her husband Keith and their two children, Catherine and Thomas. Their youngest daughter, Cara, lives in Clearwater.
“I never wanted to live in Florida,” Cathy said, as Frank had suggested. “But one very snowy New Jersey winter, after the children had grown and began their own lives, I was shoveling snow and said, ‘Okay, let’s think about Florida,’”
The retired couple enjoy the amenities in the southwest Ocala development of Stone Creek. Cathy loves to play pickleball and enjoys line dancing. In addition to volunteering with the Cold Case Unit, Frank also serves as an advocate with the Veterans’ Court of the Marion County 5th Circuit Court and is a member of VFW Post 4781 in Ocala and the National Criminal Investigative Service Association for retired NCIS agents.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
Some of Frank Iervolino's memorabilia is shown at his home in Ocala.
Frank Iervolino is third from right in this 1969 photo taken near Northern Vietnam in the Tonkin Gulf by
a U.S. Navy Grumman S-2 Tracker plane while he was serving in the U.S. Navy.
Frank and Cathy Iervolino are shown in a photo from 1994.
Frank and Cathy Iervolino pose at their home in Ocala.
Frank Iervolino poses with his U.S. Navy helmet from the Vietnam War era in a room filled with memorabilia at his home in Del Webb's Stone Creek in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, March 10, 2025. Iervolino is currently a member of the Marion County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit.
Black bears visit Ocala neighborhood
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is holding virtual meetings on April 2, 3 and 5 to collect feedback on proposals for regulated black bear hunting.
By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
Residents in an old Ocala neighborhood adjacent to the city of Ocala’s municipal golf course got a visit from an adult black bear and two cubs on March 21. The bears were “lounging” in in a big oak tree as if they hadn’t a care in the world.
When Lloyd Rawls Jr. pulled into his home from his 12-hour shift working for Geo-Tech, he knew something was unusual.
“I saw garbage strung out on the side of my house and knew something was wrong,” he said.
His wife saw the bear first, after being alerted by the barking of their Australian shepherd that something was in the backyard.
Brian Creekbaum, who has lived in the neighborhood for 58 years, told the “Gazette” this is the first time bears have visited the neighborhood that he knows of, but added, “I did see a bobcat once before.”
Elena Amesbury, a biologist who teaches at the College of Central Florida and has lived on the street for 11 years, said she was worried about how the bears got so far into town and how they would get back to a forested area without getting hurt.
Rawls called 911 and an Ocala Police Department officer came out and took pictures of the bears and then left.
“The city dispatcher reached out to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and they said they couldn’t send anyone out unless there was a threat, which is fine now,” Rawls said while looking up at the tree, “but what about if they come down from the tree and a jogger or someone walking their dogs comes by and the mother feels protective of her cubs?”
“I wish I had a trap to put down with some food so we can get them out of here safely,” Rawls added.
Meanwhile, Rawls left the fence around his pool open in case the bears
County considers raising fi re rescue assessment rates
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
Marion County is considering an increase in the fire rescue assessment fee to account for population growth and additional need for service.
Marion County Fire Rescue Chief James Banta presented data to the County Commission at a workshop on Feb. 27, giving options for a one-time rate increase or a gradual rate increase over the next five years.
Assessment rates are only charged to residents living outside city borders. The city of Ocala has its own fire assessment rate, which is $364.15 for a single-family home with a square footage between 1,601 and 2,500.
Fire rescue assessment rates are different from impact fees and the penny sales tax, as the revenue can be used for regular department costs and operations. Impact fees and penny sales tax revenue can only be used for capital projects and infrastructure.
The current fire rescue assessment rate for a single-family residential home is $199.91. If the county approves raising the rate, residents will see an average increase of $84.06 over the next five years.
If commissioners choose to gradually increase the rate at 100% over the next five years, the rate would increase to $237.22 in 2025-26, $250.11 in 2026-27, $290.10 in 2027-28, $307.82 in 2028-29 and $325.43 in 2029-30.
The proposed rates will be on the agenda for discussion in the second week of April, with an initial resolution on the agenda in May and the final approval slated for September when the budget is finalized and approved for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
The current rates were adopted by resolution on Sept. 10, 2019, and the proposed new residential combined rate, based on a five-year average, would reflect an increase of $84.06.
my opinion is that the 100% rate is the appropriate rate,” Banta said.
“If I thought that we could do it at a lower rate, I would, but we spent a lot of time ensuring that the next five years were being fiscally responsible and that we’re presenting you what we really think we can accomplish over the next five years,” Banta said.
The rates were calculated by considering growth projections, including an annual increase in wages and salaries of 5% a year.
“So that accounts for additional personnel, that accounts for additional wages and that accounts for a new union contract that’s going to happen during this five-year period,” Banta said.
The proposed rates would bring in net revenue of $67.7 million in 2025-26, $71.4 million in 2026-27, $82.7 million in 202728, $87.7 million in 2028-29 and $92.6 million in 2029-30.
Rates would be collected from commercial, industrial, warehouse, institutional and miscellaneous properties—and in 2025-26 at rates of 15 cents or less per square foot, in comparison to the residential rate of about $64 per square foot.
Land property also is accounted for in rates, for $3.30 per acre in 2025-25.
The county is also considering reinstating impact fees for fire rescue, adding a new impact fee for emergency medical services and raising the impact fee for transportation. Impact fees are one-time payments made by developers to offset the cost of growth.
The move follows the school district, which reinstated impact fees to generate revenue for school construction last year after a 13-year hiatus.
The county also levies the penny sales tax, which generates funds for transportation and public safety.
got thirsty.
About 11 hours later, the bears moved on.
At its December 2024 commission meeting, FWC Bear Management Program officials gave commissioners a five-year update on implementing the 2019 Florida Black Bear Management Plan, highlighting recent bear management and research efforts. The commissioners directed staff to return to a future meeting to propose options for implementing a potential bear hunt.
The FWC is now holding a series of virtual public meetings to collect feedback from Florida residents on proposals for regulated black bear hunting in Florida, which will be presented to commissioners in May.
The meeting dates and times are:
• April 2 from noon to 3 p.m. EDT, fsu. zoom.us/j/96561628155#success, to join the meeting by telephone, dial (305) 224-1968 and enter Conference ID: 96561628155#
• April 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. EDT, fsu. zoom.us/j/94803064202#success, to join by meeting by telephone, dial (305) 224-1968 and enter Conference ID: 94803064202#
• April 5 from 9 a.m. to noon 12 EDT, fsu.zoom.us/j/91550331906#success, to join by telephone, dial (305) 224-1968 and enter Conference ID: 91550331906#
The last time there was a regulated black bear hunt in Florida was in 2015. According to the FWC, there were 46 wildlife management areas in the four bear management units that were open for hunting. Bears were harvested in seven wildlife management areas, with the majority—83 percent—taken in the Ocala National Forest.
For more information about the virtual meetings, go to myfwc.com/hunting/ bear
“We did a lot of work and future projecting over the last five years, and
Marion County has an estimated population of 419,000 people, with a projected annual growth rate of 9%. Marion is ranked 17th out of Florida’s 67 counties and its residential permit growth rate is ranked 15th.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman
Lloyd Rawls Jr. watches three Florida Black Bears in a large live oak in his backyard in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, March 21, 2025. Rawls said he noticed the bears up in the tree when he got home from work around 1 p.m.
A Florida black bear and two cubs hang out in a live oak tree in the backyard of Lloyd Rawls Jr.’s home on Northeast 31st Terrace in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, March 21, 2025.
Contractor chosen for Lake Weir Middle replacement
By Lauren Morrish lauren@ocalagazette.com
Despite environmental challenges and transparency concerns, Skanska USA Building Inc. was awarded the bid to construct a new middle school to replace Lake Weir Middle School.
Marion County Public Schools Facilities Consultant Angela Usher spoke at the Marion County School Board Meeting on March 25 to give the board a recommended firm for construction management services on what is now called Middle School “DD.”
Usher said a firm selection process on Feb. 19 determined that Skanska was the best-suited contractor, scoring the highest. Still, the process was repeated on March 3 as the board was concerned scores were not recorded, determining the same result.
The most recent scores ranked Skanska first with a score of 99.33, and the closest firm, Ajax Building Company LLC, followed in second with a score of 98.67.
The procurement process for Middle School “DD” is the first to take place after the controversy over awarding the contract for the future high school in southwest Marion County.
In April of 2024, a district selection committee chose Wharton–Smith Inc. as the winning bidder for the $120 million contract to build a high school in Marion Oaks. In the days and weeks following, competing firm Ausley Construction and School Board Member
Sarah James were accused of tampering with the procurement process by violating the “cone of silence” policy and issuing threats to school district staff, another board member, and Superintendent Diane Gullett. An external investigation by the GrayRobinson law firm substantiated the allegations. For the middle school project, Usher said the site has to undergo gopher tortoise relocation before construction can start. She said this could delay the project by 10 months but hopes to work around it due to rising costs from tariffs and inflation.
“At this point where we are in the construction process, I feel that we should be doing a better job,” said Chair Lori Conrad.
Conrad said she voted in favor of Skanska to move the project forward despite the district’s inability to adhere to state statutes by not initially recording and reporting the firm selection scores.
“As a board member, I was not informed that interviews were taking place, and nor was the legal department,” she said.
Conrad said a committee was formed, and a consultant was hired after the initial scoring to comply with statutes, but she
believes the new information about a 10-month delay shows transparency is still an issue.
School Board Member Sarah James was also concerned with transparency and noted the thousands of dollars it would take to relocate the tortoises.
She said if she hadn’t sent an email the day before the meeting asking for an update on environmental concerns, the delay Usher shared would not have been mentioned; only the firm recommendation would have been made.
Usher said she did not have a definite update but approximated the relocation
only at the board’s request, saying, “I did not want to come here and say it is a 10-month delay when it might not be.”
She said the district did comply with the requirements as Statute 287 states services are discussed in a public meeting and do not have to be recorded, and Statute 286 states meetings with a contractor can be exempt and have to be recorded if so.
School Board Member Allison Campbell thanked Usher for the update and said an email was sent 10 days before this meeting that included most of the information Usher discussed.
Campbell said while she understands concerns from fellow board members, “we were made aware of these issues,” and they may not have read the email thoroughly.
She said she understands archeological concerns can change a timeline.
“If you’ve ever built a school in the state of Florida, you’ve dealt with these kinds of issues, and I have full confidence that we’ll get this done on time.”
School Board Member Nancy Thrower also recalled the email and said she wasn’t concerned either, as the tortoises were previously a problem that was solved at another school in Marion County.
Thrower said, “I’m definitely going to vote to move forward obviously because that is what’s best for kids.”
Now that Skanska has been approved, the agenda item says the district will negotiate a contract with the company, and the gopher tortoises can be mitigated by removal and disturbance from construction on the site.
Photo: Lake Weir Middle School [Homes.com]
Land clearing
The district’s website has an entry posted July 7, 2023, that states: “An area within Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area totaling 165 acres will undergo a fuelwood harvest timber sale. Some internal roads may be impacted. When work is underway, please be careful with the logging trucks entering and exiting the property. The contract allows the work to be conducted through May 18, 2025. This work could impact hunting within the Silver Springs Forest Wildlife Management Area.”
The site also has an entry, dated March 4, with the title “Timber sale,” that states: “Areas within Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area totaling 330 acres will undergo a pine
thinning to reduce tree density. This work will improve growing space for the best quality trees, thus maintaining and improving forest health. When work is under way, please watch for log trucks
entering and exiting the property. Contracts allow for work to be conducted through Feb. 12, 2026. The project area is within the Wildlife Management Area and work could impact hunting.”
“They are just cutting everything down to the ground. They are trying to paint a rosy picture of a pine plantation but that is not good
Relaxing child labor laws OK’d
By Dara Kam Florida News Service
TALLAHASSEE — A year after lawmakers relaxed the state’s child labor laws, a divided Florida Senate panel on Tuesday gave initial approval to a measure that would further roll back work restrictions for kids as young as 14.
The proposal, which builds on the 2024 law, sparked heated debate, with critics of the plan saying it would lead to exploitation of children and proponents calling it a “parental rights” issue.
The bill (SB 918) would do away with restrictions on 16and 17-year-olds, who would be able to work more than eight hours a day on school nights and over 30 hours a week while school is in session, without mandated breaks.
In addition, the measure aims to remove restrictions for 14- and 15-year-olds who have graduated from high school, are homeschooled or attend virtual school.
Bill sponsor Jay Collins, R-Tampa, told the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee that the bill would
bring Florida into line with federal labor laws. Most of the jobs held by teens are in safe environments such as grocery stores, according to Collins.
“Ultimately, we’re not talking about ‘The Jungle’ by Upton Sinclair. We’re talking about them working at Publix, at Piggly Wiggly or jobs within the industry,” Collins said, referring to the book that exposed bad working conditions in the meatpacking industry. “This is a parental rights thing. Parents know their kids best.”
But Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, said the bill could allow employers to force young people to work long hours or risk being fired. Smith suggested the changes are being floated to help fill employment gaps triggered by the state’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Smith also questioned the rationale for allowing children as young as 14 to work overnight hours on a school night if they are homeschooled or enrolled in virtual school.
“This bill is going to lead to exploitation of minors, exploitation of children,” Smith argued.
Sen. Tracie Davis, D-Jacksonville, reiterated comments from various young people who spoke against the proposal and outlined potential problems if the bill becomes law, such as sleep deprivation, academic decline or increased pressure on students who are working to help their families financially.
The bill “takes away basic safeguards” for children, Davis said.
“There is something detrimentally wrong with what we’re doing here in this legislation,” she added.
The Legislature last year passed a law that maintained a 30-hour work week limit for 16- and 17-year olds when school is in session, but it allowed parents, guardians or school superintendents to waive the 30hour limit.
The law also allowed 16and 17-year-olds to work more than eight hours on Sundays and holidays when school is the next day. It required that 16- and 17-year-olds working eight or more hours in a day get 30-minute meal breaks after four hours of work. The law, however, shielded children under age 16
from the relaxed restrictions.
While the 2024 law received intense pushback from groups such as the Florida PTA and the League of Women Voters of Florida, the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association and other business groups backed it.
Alexis Tsoukalas, senior analyst at Florida Policy Institute, told the committee Tuesday panel that school absenteeism rates are soaring and that the vast majority of teens who have entered the state’s labor force are already working. Rolling back restrictions for the youngest workers is troubling, she said.
“This bill not only allows employers to schedule all 16- and 17-year olds for unlimited hours, overnight, and without breaks — but also targets kids as young as 14. For most, that means they’re in their first year of high school. We don’t let kids this young get a driver’s license and we’re worried about their social media consumption, so why are we OK treating them like they’re adults just because they’re home- or virtual-schooled?” Tsoukalas said.
Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, said he voted against last year’s bill and also opposes the current plan.
“I think we need to let kids be kids. I think the guardrails that we’re removing, even though it may be part of federal law, not in favor of it,” Gruters, R-Sarasota, said. “I just think it sends a bad message, and I think we should allow kids to work the hours that they’re allowed now with the waiver system, and that’s it.”
Other Republicans on the committee appeared skeptical about the changes but supported the measure, which was approved in a 5-4 vote.
Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, pointed to concerns around easing work restrictions for 14- and 15-year-olds.
The bill “needs some work,” Sen. Tom Wright, R-Ormond Beach, said. “I will be up (vote in favor) to try to move this along today, but I think we have a long ways to go on this particular bill.” Collins defended the proposed changes.
“This is about providing soft skills in executive functions, developing responsibility, sense of self and self-determination, learning personal finance, money management, assisting in growth in adulthood,” Collins said. “This is fundamentally a parental rights issue.”
Heavy machinery is shown on land being cleared in the Silver Springs Forest Wildlife Management Area just north of the intersection of State Road 40 and County Road. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2025.
This is a March 26, 2025, drone image of the Silver Springs Forest Wildlife Management Area where land is being cleared. [Photo by Michael Warren]
This March 26, 2025, drone image shows equipment and trucks inside the Silver Springs Forest Wildlife Management Area where land is being cleared. [Photo by Michael Warren]
This is a map from the St. Johns River Water Management District website showing the Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area Halfmile Fuelwood Harvest area.
People, Places and Things
Ocala civil rights advocate honored with road naming
Honorary Whitfield Jenkins Road is a portion of Northwest 24th Road, near Northwest 18th Street.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
Afive-intersection portion of Northwest 24th Road in Ocala was renamed Honorary Whitfield Jenkins Road in a sign unveiling ceremony on March 21.
Upwards of 100 family members, friends and associates, including several members of Jenkins’ fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, attended the ceremony.
“I never looked for this,” Jenkins, 84, said about the road naming. He lives a short distance from the site of the unveiling at Northwest 24th Road and Northwest 18th Street.
Jenkins served three terms as president of the Marion County Branch of the NAACP, from 1984 to ’89, ‘91 to ‘92 and ‘97 to ‘98. He was a member of the NAACP State Conference from 1996 to 2003. In 2024, the local NAACP branch honored him with the “Freedom Fighter of the Century” recognition, hailing him as a champion of civil rights and inclusion for all members of the community.
A biography supplied by his wife, Loretta Pompey Jenkins, who also is a former president of the local NAACP branch, stated that Whitfield was instrumental in getting the area west of Pine Avenue to around Interstate 75, with predominantly Black residents, annexed by the city. She said her husband carried on the work of Ocala civil rights activists of the 1960s. Whitfield Jenkins was born Sept.19, 1940, in Zuber, in north Marion County, and attended what is currently Fessenden Elementary School. The school was segregated and included high school classes at the time he attended and graduated. He earned
a bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University in health studies and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Rollins College. He was a teacher and physical education coach and later worked with the Florida Department of Corrections at Lowell Correctional Institute. After retirement, he worked as a union representative, the biography indicated.
Ocala City Council President ProTem Ire Bethea opened the road naming ceremony on Friday.
“This is a great day. Whitfield Jenkins is a beacon of hope. He is a true champion for the community,” Bethea said.
Bethea said Jenkins is a champion for civil rights, equality and inclusion, and one of the people who drives the community and who challenged and inspired change for brighter futures and more inclusion.
In addition to his wife, Jenkins was accompanied at the ceremony by daughter Rose Jenkins, son Ali Jenkins and grandson
Jordan Woods and his wife Danielle and their 2-month-old daughter, Eden. Rose called her father a “humanitarian” who “changed so many lives. Ali said he “looked back” and had a fuller understanding of things his father had said when he was a child. Jordan Woods said his grandfather was like a mixture of ingredients which “came out to a perfect recipe.”
The Rev. Edward Bland of Greater Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church said Jenkins has a “heart for the community” and is a “man of principle.”
Ocala City Manager Pete Lee called Jenkins “a leader in every way” and commented on his youth outreach. Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano said Jenkins was always concerned about the “whole community” and pointed to the support Loretta provided to her husband.
George Sabb, a friend of Whitfield Jenkins since 1962, said when he served as the mayor of Bartow, he would call his friend to discuss issues.
Eric Cummings, pastor of New Zion Baptist Church and vice-chair of the Marion County School Board, said Jenkins “challenged unfairness.”
Bruce Seaman, a member of the Bridges Project, a nonprofit group focused on race relations, said Jenkins is a big supporter of the organization.
Rodney Long, former executive secretary of the Alachua County Branch of the NAACP and a longtime friend, said Jenkins, is a “great mentor…who didn’t mince words.”
Jenkins said he could “not envision” what God had put him in place to do.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman
Whitfield Jenkins, 85, a former Marion County NAACP president and civil rights pioneer, gets a hug during a road dedication for him on Northwest 24th Road in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, March 21, 2025, during which a portion was renamed Honorary Whitfield Jenkins Road.
Whitfield Jenkins gets some help unveiling the Honorary Whitfield Jenkins Road sign on Friday, March 21, 2025.
Whitfield Jenkins celebrates with his Omega Psi Phi fraternity brothers during the road dedication.
Whitfield Jenkins, with his wife, Loretta Pompey Jenkins, at left and daughter, Rose Jenkins at right, speaks during the ceremony.
People gather in the front yard of the Jenkins’ home for the unveiling of the Honorary Whitfield Jenkins Road sign nearby.
Steampunk sweetness
A family favorite gets reimagined in a futuristic fantasy.
By Lisa Stroub McGinnes Special to the Gazette
Staging the scene in steampunk adds an element of edgy invention to the whimsical world of fiction’s favorite chocolatier— and the fantastical, futuristic aesthetic is just a backdrop for the exuberant performers who bring the magical world of Willy Wonka to life in the College of Central Florida’s spring musical.
With a cast of 30 students on stage singing and performing original choreography and stunts, the high-energy, family-friendly production of “Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka” delivers the nostalgia of the classic children’s novel and the whimsical, recognizable tunes of the 1971 film reimagined through the logic-defying lens of the steampunk style. Incorporating elements of science fiction, fantasy and historical fiction, the set and costumes evoke old-world charm combined with a gear-driven industrial influence to achieve mechanical magic amid an array of candycoated confections.
“Willy Wonka himself is an eccentric inventor. He fits naturally into this world with his gadgets and boundless invention,” explained Nonalee Davis, CF assistant professor of theatre and the musical’s director. “By staging this show with a steampunk approach, we were able to bring a contemporary flair and a sense of otherworldly magic that reinvents the tale for modern audiences while maintaining its whimsical heart. The 50 talented students involved
in this extraordinary show are having the time of their lives and the result is an unforgettable blending of entertainment and education—in the most exciting way possible.”
The costumes were designed by Abigail Stallings, CF assistant professor of digital media, who said the metal and gears and leather “add elements to create a steampunk feel while staying true to the original lore.”
“What’s neat about steampunk is there’s no real time period,” she noted. “It’s kind of a mix of Victorian elements, but it’s also got this kind of inventive, futuristic feel with robots— the Oompa Loompas—and elements of metal. So, it takes everything out of a time period and that adds to the magic and the whimsy of the Willy Wonka story. It creates this unique world for the characters that I think is emphasized through the steampunk elements.”
It’s “a fun show to direct,” said
Jason Longtin, CF professor of music and the show’s musical director. He conducts the 14-piece live orchestra, which includes 11 CF students.
“The tunes are catchy, and you’ll recognize them from the Gene Wilder movie,” he said. “You’ll know the songs, but not all of them. There are actually several new ones that were written specifically for the stage production.”
Director Davis has added a robotic dimension to the iconic Oompa Loompas as inventions brought to life from the mystical mind of Wonka himself and their dynamic choreography by CF dance instructor Justine McDaniel features experimental movement with lots of energetic stunts.
“There are definitely a lot of ‘wow’ moments,” McDaniel revealed. “There’s a lot of fun use of props with movement for the dancers.”
The cast describes the show as
“playful” and “exciting.”
“Its strongest characteristic is its spectacle,” explained Hunter Leary, who plays Grandpa Joe, a former chocolate factory worker and the steadfast companion of his grandson, Charlie. “The audience will not run out of things to look at; the lights are beautiful, the set is magnificent and there will be a lot of very cool things going on.”
The adorable Geovanni Jiminez, who plays Charlie Bucket with an endearing, hopeful charm, urges audiences to “suspend your disbelief.”
“It’s so fun to be able to dive into this role and escape reality for a little bit and really be able to just enjoy the moment as Charlie and be happy all the time,” Jiminez said. “Audiences are going to love everything. It’s jam-packed, with the lighting, the set and the people. It looks awesome!”
Xavier Rosado, returning to the CF stage after his breakout
role as Cedric in the fall 2024 production of “Puffs,” calls Wonka an “iconic” character he is “super excited” to play.
“Wonka is just so quirky and whimsical,” Rosado said. “He has his own style of everything, in acting, singing and movement, and that’s what I really love about this flexible character. Everybody knows Willy Wonka’s story, but they don’t know exactly this story with the steampunk and the changes we’ve made. Expect the unexpected!”
“Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka” is live on stage April 3-6 at the College of Central Florida Dassance Fine Arts Center at 3001 SW College Road, Ocala. Performance times are 7:30 p.m. April 3-5 and 3 p.m. April 6. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for non-CF students, and are free for CF students, faculty and staff. For tickets, visit cf.universitytickets.com or call (352) 873-5810.
Xavier Rosado as Willy Wonka, Geovanni Jiminez as Charlie Bucket and Hunter Leary as Grandpa Joe (left to right) rehearse a scene from
“Willy Wonka” at the College of Central Florida in Ocala, Fla. On Monday, March 24, 2025. “Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka” will be presented live on stage by CF Theatre April 3-6, 2025.
Camila Bran as Mrs. Beauregarde rehearses a scene with other cast members in “Willy Wonka” at the College of Central Florida.
From left, Kayla Stevens as Mrs. Gloop, Elias Alicea as Augustus Gloop and Mikey Snow as Mike Teavee rehearse at the College of Central Florida.
Xavier Rosado rehearses a scene with the Oompa Loompas in “Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka.”
Levi Grant as Mr. Bucket, Hunter Leary as Grandpa Joe and Geovanni Jiminez as Charli Bucket (left to right) rehearse for “Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka.”
Murder mystery dinner event
The
Roaring ‘20s themed event will benefit the nonprofit Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
Who dunnit?
Well, you’ll have to attend the event to find out.
The Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center is hosting a spring fundraising event with a Roaring ‘20’s Gangster theme on April 6 at the Reilly Arts Center NOMA Black Box.
Actors from The Murder Mystery Company will perform an interactive murder mystery while guests enjoy an Italian buffet dinner from Let’s Eat Fresh Caterers.
Promotional materials state, “Enjoy dinner at Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center’s exclusive Estella Dolce Vita Restaurant for an evening of fun, glamour, deception and danger. As dinner is served the mystery unfolds. A notorious gangster’s life ends… WHO DID IT? You are a part of the investigation—maybe even the KILLER! Can you and your fellow detectives solve the crime and who can you trust… before it’s too late?”
“We want this to be a new approach on a fundraiser,” said Levonda Goodson, the center’s CEO. “We think it will be a fun and exciting evening for everyone. Every dollar raised will go to advancing our mission and supporting the growth of a healthier Greater West Ocala community.”
The center offers a range of medical services, including preventive care, chronic disease management and acute illness treatment.
The Murder Mystery Company has more than 3,000 actors nationwide, along with 24 troupe directors.
“Born in a Grand Rapids, Michigan, living room in 2002, our journey from local performances to becoming America’s premier immersive theater experience reads like a mystery novel itself. Today, we stand proud as the largest theatrical company in the nation, offering over 7,500 shows annually across more than 20
troupes nationwide,” notes the organization’s website.
“At The Murder Mystery Company, we believe in the power of imagination. Our interactive Clue-style comedies invite every guest to step into a world of intrigue and play their part in a riveting tale of mystery. Whether you’re slipping into a flapper dress or a neon jumpsuit, you’re not just
attending a show; you’re stepping into a role in a thrilling narrative crafted just for you,” officials noted.
The schedule of events is cocktails, clues and characters at 4 p.m., buffet opens at 5 p.m., show begins at 5:30 p.m. The Reilly Arts Center is located at 500 NE 9th St., Ocala.
“Come in your Roaring ‘20’s flapper dresses, zoot suits,
fedora’s, boa’s, pearls and headbands,” encourages the wellness center’s leadership. Theme attire is optional, however.
The cost to attend is $60. RSVP by going to bit.ly/ EBWmurdermystery
For more information about the Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center, go to ebwchc.org
Combined event honors all ages
The Super Awards gala saw 43 honorees receive special recognition.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
In 2010, Chrissy Vickers started the Women of Purpose and Destiny Inc., nonprofit to empower women and teen girls to reach their purpose and destiny in life. Ten years later, she said she saw a need in the community to help motivate and encourage men and young boys and girls.
“I used to teach parenting classes to men incarcerated in the Marion County Jail and this touched my heart. Seeing grown men cry because of the mistakes they made and wishing they could turn back the hands of time inspired me to add a men’s division, along with me becoming a big sister to so many young men who come to me for advice. When I decided to add the men’s division (2020) and a children’s division (2021), it was a great opportunity to motivate, inspire and encourage everyone,” Vickers shared.
Since 2019, the nonprofit Women and Men of Purpose & Destiny Inc. has been hosting the Superwoman Awards, Superman Awards and Superkids Awards. This year, Vickers decided to combine all three award ceremonies, which were usually spaced throughout the year, into one event. The inaugural Super Awards gala was held March 8, 2025, at the Appleton Museum of Art.
“There were 43 award recipients at the inaugural event, of all ages, which included a 5-year-old girl name Jaliyah Vega who is a Nike shoe model and loves karate, to many others, like retired NFL player Don Nottingham, known as ‘The Human Bowling Ball,’ as well as Rashad Jones of Big Lee’s Serious About BBQ. Also, Judge Leann Mackey Barnes, pastors, businessmen and businesswomen, community advocates, children from the Boys & Girls Club of Marion County, Joiner Martial Arts, Ocala ITF Taekwondo and more,” Vickers said.
Each recipient received an award, a certificate and a letter of recognition from Florida State Representative Yvonne Hayes Hinson.
“The event had many exceptional performances by Dance By Sheila, The Art District (TAD) and Karate 4 Christ. It was an absolute success, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the WMOPD Team: Monique Weeks, Jordyn Riley and Christina Cruz. Ocala City Councilman Ire Bethea provided motivational words to the recipients,” Vickers added.
Vickers noted that Women and Men of Purpose and Destiny Inc. helps connect people to the right resources in the community through partnerships, which are vital to helping reach the entire community in one way or another. The organization meets periodically throughout the year and offers mentoring to youth, self-defense classes, selfdevelopment workshops and seminars for
men and women. They assist individuals with personal goals and, in the future, plan to help with career goals.
“During the holiday season, the organization assists homeless and low-
& Destiny Inc.]
income families with food and personal hygiene items. Long-term, the goal is to provide scholarships and grants to women and men who want to go back to school or start a small business and provide scholarship opportunities for teens who want to further their education by going to college,” Vickers explained.
“This will be one of our main ways of helping adults and youth reach their purposes and destiny. As we continue to expand, more volunteers will be needed in different areas, such as helping mentor youth. We would also love to have more sponsors for the big events like the Super Awards, which would help us be able to provide scholarships to welldeserved women, men and children in the community,” she added.
To learn more, find the organization at fb.com/profile.php?id=100064347956010
Photos courtesy Women and Men of Purpose
Chrissy Vickers, founder of the nonprofit Women and Men of Purpose & Destiny Inc., presents an award to Jaliyah Vega.
Judge LeAnn Mackey Barnes accepts her award from event moderator
The Super Awards event saw 43 people receive recognition.
The Murder Mystery Company will stage an interactive event on April 6 in Ocala, to benefit the Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center. [Photo courtesy The Murder Mystery Company]
Korean flavors enliven this simple weeknight dish
For a simple weeknight meal, we coated seared chicken tenderloins in a sweet gochujang sauce inspired by the glaze on dakgangjeong (Korean fried chicken). Chopped kimchi added mouthwatering spicy-sour flavor to coleslaw for an easy side.
Gochujang Chicken
Tenderloins with Kimchi
Coleslaw
Serves 4
1 (14-ounce) bag coleslaw mix
1 cup cabbage kimchi, drained and chopped
6 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/4 cup sugar, divided
1 1/4 teaspoons table salt, divided
3 tablespoons gochujang
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 1/2 pounds chicken tenderloins, trimmed
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 Combine coleslaw mix, kimchi, mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Whisk gochujang, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and remaining 3 tablespoons sugar in a second bowl until smooth.
2Pat chicken dry with paper towels and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Heat vegetable oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over mediumhigh heat until shimmering. Add chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side; transfer to plate.
3Add gochujang mixture to now-empty skillet and cook, stirring constantly, until glossy and bubbling, about 1 minute. Return chicken to skillet and toss to coat. Serve chicken with coleslaw.
of spicy chicken and slaw
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I was diagnosed with COPD last year after struggling with multiple symptoms. I quit smoking over 10 years ago, but I’m dealing with the effects of it now. How can I best manage the symptoms and live as fully as possible with this condition?
ANSWER: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a leading cause of disability and death in the U.S., according to the American Lung Association. More than 12.5 million people in the U.S. have a diagnosis of COPD, but millions more may have the disease without knowing it.
COPD is a chronic inflammatory lung disease most often caused by long-term smoking, especially cigarettes. Another cause of COPD is breathing in toxic fumes or gases. In rare cases, the cause is a genetic problem.
People with COPD are at increased risk of developing respiratory infections, heart disease, lung cancer, pulmonary hypertension and depression. Also, people with chronic lung disease like COPD may be at greater risk of severe illness and
complications from COVID-19. Factors that can increase the risk of COPD include exposure to tobacco smoke, including secondhand smoke; asthma; occupational exposure to dust and chemicals; exposure to fumes from burning fuel; infections; and genetics.
• Symptoms of COPD often don’t appear until significant lung damage has occurred, and they usually worsen over time, particularly if cigarette smoke exposure continues.
• Signs and symptoms of COPD can include:
• Chest tightness
• Chronic cough that may produce clear, white, yellow or green mucus
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Lack of energy
• Unintended weight loss
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in the ankles, feet or legs
• Wheezing
Most cases of COPD in the U.S. are directly related to longterm cigarette smoking. Stopping smoking can prevent COPD from worsening and reducing your
ability to breathe.
Many people with COPD have mild forms of the disease and need little treatment other than quitting smoking. With advanced stages of the disease, effective treatment is available that can control symptoms, slow progression, reduce your risk of complications and exacerbations, and improve your ability to lead an active life.
Treatment for COPD can include medications, such as inhalers; oxygen; pulmonary rehabilitation; in-home noninvasive ventilation therapy; managing flare-ups, also called exacerbations; endobronchial valves; and surgery.
Living with COPD can be a challenge, especially as it becomes harder to catch your breath. You may have to give up some activities you previously enjoyed. Your family and friends also may have difficulty adjusting to some of the changes.
These strategies can help people with COPD feel better and slow the damage to their lungs: Avoid smoke and air pollution. Besides quitting smoking, avoiding places where others
smoke is essential. Secondhand smoke may contribute to further lung damage. Other types of air pollution also can irritate your lungs, so check daily air quality forecasts before going out. Clear your airways. With COPD, mucus tends to collect in air passages and can be difficult to clear. Controlled coughing, drinking adequate amounts of water and using a humidifier may help.
Eat healthy foods. A healthy diet can help you maintain your strength. If you’re underweight, your healthcare professional may recommend nutritional supplements. If you’re overweight, losing weight can significantly help your breathing, especially during exertion.
Exercise regularly. Exercising when you have trouble breathing may seem challenging, but regular exercise can improve your overall strength and endurance. And it also strengthens your respiratory muscles. Talk to your healthcare team about pulmonary rehabilitation exercise programs.
Learn breathing techniques. Talk to your primary healthcare
professional or respiratory therapist about techniques for breathing more efficiently throughout the day. Also, be sure to discuss breathing positions, energy conservation and relaxation techniques you can use when you’re short of breath. See your healthcare team regularly. Stick to your appointment schedule, even if you’re feeling fine. It’s essential to regularly monitor your lung function and tell your healthcare team if you have worsening symptoms or notice signs of infection. Be sure to get your annual flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine to help prevent infections that can worsen your COPD, and ask your healthcare team when you need the pneumococcal vaccine.
It can help to share your fears and feelings with your family, friends and healthcare team. You also may want to consider joining a support group for people with COPD, and you may benefit from counseling or medication if you feel depressed or overwhelmed.― Mais Abdou, M.D., Pulmonology, Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Admission is free from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. At 11 a.m. in the auditorium, enjoy a talk by Dr. Victoria Machado, “Exploring Florida’s Sacred Waters.” By gathering historical outlooks and presentday environmental movements, Machado examines the cultural connections Floridians have to water and various environmental practices these connections inspire. Food trucks will be on-site throughout the day, as will El Bell’s flower truck and LifeSouth Community Blood Centers.
Saturday, April 5 This
Gochujang Chicken Tenderloins with Kimchi Coleslaw. CREDIT: (Steve Klise/TCA).
MAYO CLINIC
“Orbits and Ice Ages: The History of Climate”
Professor of astronomy
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
Dr. Daniel Britt has a lengthy resume of impressive credentials, and even has an asteroid named him: 4395 DanBritt.
He is the Pegasus Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Sciences at the Department of Physics at the University of Central Florida. He was educated in geology at the University of Washington and Brown University. His career includes service in the US Air Force as an ICBM missile launch officer and an economist for Boeing. Britt has served on the science teams of four NASA missions to Mars, comets and asteroids. He currently does research on the physical properties and mineralogy of asteroids, comets, the Moon and Mars, and is the director of the Center for Lunar and Asteroid Surface Science (CLASS). He has served as chair of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society and the Planetary Geology Division of the Geological Society of America.
He will lecture at the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition in Ocala on April 10, on the topic of “Orbits and Ice Ages: The History of Climate”
IHMC materials note that, “Climate change has become a major political issue, but few understand how climate has changed in the past and the
and planetary
sciences to lecture at IHMC in Ocala on April 10.
my 20s, I got very interested in space exploration and decided to change career fields. At that time, I had a master’s degree in economics and was working for Boeing, but I decided that it would be much more interesting to get in on the science side of planetary exploration. So, at 32 I went back to school and got a BS, MS and PhD in geology,” Britt
forces that drive climate. Most people don’t know that 50 million years ago there were breadfruit trees and crocodiles on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, or that 18,000 years ago there was a mile-thick glacier on Manhattan and a continuous belt of winter sea ice extending south to Cape Hatteras. The History of Climate provides context of our current climate debate and fundamental insight how the climate works.”
Britt told the “Gazette” that he became involved with the team at IHMC because, “We have a common interest in the hardware and details of space exploration.”
Since the topic of climate change can be “touchy” in conversation, we asked Britt what kind of reception he gets when he speaks on the subject.
“What I try to deliver is the
CF Webber Galley to host student art exhibition
Staff report
The College of Central Florida Webber Gallery will showcase the talent of the college’s visual arts and digital media students in the annual Student Art Exhibition on view from March 31 through May 6.
Featuring a diverse range of mediums and styles, the exhibition spotlights the incredible passion and creativity of CF’s student artists, noted the news release.
“We look forward every year to providing a platform for emerging artists to showcase their work in a professional setting at the Webber Gallery,” said Tyrus Clutter, professor and program manager for art. “Each piece in this show tells a unique
story, inviting viewers to explore the innovative visions of the next generation of artists.”
The community is invited to an opening reception and awards ceremony at 12:30 p.m. on April 2. Awards will include Best in Show, first through third place, honorable mentions and purchase awards. Notably, the People’s Choice Purchase Award, voted on by the CF student body, will add one student’s artwork to the college’s permanent art collection.
The Webber Gallery is located at the CF Ocala campus at 3001 S.W. College Road. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Admission is free.
For more information, visit cf.edu/webber or call (352) 854-2322, ext. 1664.
“Stilled Life” by Jose Conde Rivera. [Photo courtesy College of Central Florida]
Dr. Daniel Britt
Photos courtesy Dr. Britt
Government
MARCH
31, APRIL 7
Marion County Development Review
O ce 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.
MARCH
31APRIL 4
Operation Green Light
Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller’s
O ce, 110 NW First Ave., Ocala Hours vary
This is an opportunity for Marion County customers with suspended driver’s licenses to get their license back by paying overdue court obligations in full, including traffic tickets, while saving up to 25 percent in additional fees. This year’s event will be available in person, by phone and online. For details, go to marioncountyclerk. org
APRIL
1 AND 15
Marion County Board of County Commissioners
McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala
9am
The commission meets in the morning of 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
Meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video available at belleviewfl.org/200/agendas-minutes
APRIL 8 AND 15
Marion County School Board
1614 E Fort King St.
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
APRIL 9
Dunnellon City Council
Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 River Dr.
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
APRIL 9
City of Ocala public meetings
Marion Cultural Alliance, 23 SW Broadway St., Ocala Noon and 5:30 p.m.
Attendees will hear updates for the second parking garage and concurrent construction schedule for the Downtown Ocala AC Hotel by Marriott. Both meetings will present the same information. To learn more, call (352) 629-8404 or go to ocalafl.gov/growthmanagement
APRIL 11
Deadline to apply for city academy
The city of Ocala is accepting applications for the 2025 Ocala Future Leaders Academy, a summer youth employment program to provide onthe-job training and professional development for future careers within the organization. The program is open to Ocala residents ages 16-19 who are enrolled in a Marion County high school. Applications must be submitted online through the “Employment” section at ocalafl. gov
APRIL 18
Deadline for county photo contest
The Marion County’s Stormwater Program photo contest for the 2026 Stormwater calendar has a theme of Wildflower Waters, to showcase the range of hues emanating from waterbodies in Marion County. Entries are due by 5 p.m. April 18. For details and to submit online, go to marionfl. org/stormwater. High-resolution photo entries can also be delivered to Bibi Larson at the O ce of the County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave., Ocala. For more information, call (352) 671-8686.
Arts
MARCH 28 MAY 16
Levitt Amp Ocala Music Series
Webb Field, MLK Recreation Complex, 1510 NW 4th St., Ocala 6pm The Marion Cultural Alliance, with the city of Ocala, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission of Marion County and Juneteenth Celebration Commission, host the 2025 Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series, with free music every Friday from 6 to 8 pm. Next up is The Mexican Standoff (Tejano). Each event features food trucks, interactive activities and a spotlight on a local nonprofit. Find details at ocala .gov
THROUGH APRIL 6
“Murder On the Orient Express” Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Times vary Agatha Christie’s classic murder mystery is live on stage. In 1934, the famed Orient Express is hurtling from Istanbul through wintry western Europe, with the iconic Belgian detective Hercule Poirot among the international passengers. The train becomes stuck overnight in a snowdrift in Yugoslavia, but morning reveals an American tycoon is found stabbed to death in his locked compartment. Every passenger raises questions in Poirot’s mind. Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $35 for adults and $17 for ages 18 and younger. Learn more at ocalacivictheatre.com
THROUGH MARCH 29
“Journey Through the Wild Water” exhibit Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St., Ocala The Marion Cultural Alliance offers an exhibit that explores the beauty and wonder of the Ocklawaha and Silver Rivers with a multi-medium display featuring regional artists Mark Emery, Jillian Ramsammy, Karen Chadwick, Reinier Munguia and Alan Youngblood. Admission to the gallery is free. Learn more at mcaocala.org
MARCH 30
Ode to Joy: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala 3pm Under the baton of Maestro Matthew Wardell, the Ocala Symphony Orchestra with the College of Central Florida Patriot Singers and Ocala
Community
MARCH 28
Party in Purple for Domestic Violence
Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala
This event is organized by the Marion County Health Department, Marion County Children’s Alliance Family Violence Prevention Workgroup and Fully In Tune Temple, LLC, to help break the silence against domestic violence in the community. It will feature local Zumba, MixxedFit and Dance Fitness licensed and certified Instructors. Free Domestic Violence Awareness t-shirt for registrants while sizes and supplies last. All proceeds raised from ticket sales, vendor and sponsor raffle prizes will be donated to Marion County Domestic Violence Victims and Survivors. Get tickets at eventbrite.com
MARCH 29
Spring Fling Yard Sale
Grace Episcopal Church, 503 SE Broadway St., Ocala
8am-2pm
Multi-family sale will include furniture, décor, books, small appliances, flower pots, pet supplies, toys, sports team paraphernalia and more. Proceeds will benefit local women and children in need. To donate items or for more information, call (704) 840-6897.
MARCH 29
Betty Jean Steinshouer the Thread of Friendship: Marjorie, Zora and Dessie
Headquarters Ocala Public Library, 2720 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
11am
The Friends of the Ocala Public Library present: FLORIDA TALKS, with Betty Jean Steinshouer: The Thread of Friendship: Marjorie, Zora and Dessie. The presentation will examine the power of the friendships of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Dessie Smith Prescott and Zora Neale Hurston. Steinshouer shares stories and photos from the lives of these women, all now honored in the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame. Learn more by calling (352) 671-8551.
MARCH
29
Community Celebration
Howard Academy Community Center, 306 NW 7th Ave., Ocala
10am-1pm
The Community Home Project, a program of the Marion County Hospital District, will host a free event to raise awareness about the resources available in the community, with family activities, free health screenings, giveaways and more. To learn more, call (352) 671-4186.
Symphony Chorus, led by the talented Joshua Mazur, will join forces with four world-class soloists to bring epic work to life. For details and tickets, go to reillyartscenter.com
APRIL 36
Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka College of Central Florida, Dassance Fine Arts Center, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala April 3-5, 7:30pm; April 6, 3pm
This student performance captures the nostalgia of the classic children’s novel and the whimsical tunes of the 1971 film with a steampunk aesthetic. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for non-CF students and can be purchased at cf.universitytickets.com or by calling (352) 873-5810. Tickets are free for CF students, faculty and staff. For more information, visit cf.edu/theatre
APRIL 4
Dueling Pianos
NOMA Black Box, Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala 6pm; uncensored version 9pm Sing along for soft rock and pop, and more. Guests will be seated at tables of four or six. Get details at reillyartscenter.com
APRIL 5
Free First Saturday Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 10am-5pm
Every first Saturday of the month offers free admission to the College of Central Florida Appleton Museum of Art. Many times, special guest lectures or other events are part of the day. Guests can explore the permanent collection, special exhibitions and enjoy familyfriendly artmaking activities in the Artspace. To learn more, go to appletonmuseum.org
APRIL 5
Veronica Swift
NOMA Black Box, Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala
7:30pm Swift will perform selections from her new album, blending jazz, opera, rock, bossa nova and more. Get tickets at reillyartscenter.com
MARCH 29
Marion County Day
McPherson Governmental Campus | 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala
10am-3pm. Organizations from around the area will participate in telling Marion County’s story in a fun, informative and interactive way. The event will include food, games and more. For details, go to marionfl.org/mcday
MARCH 29 TO JUNE 14
Don Philpott lectures 10am
The Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway will present free lectures by the award-winning writer, journalist and environmental advocate. The topics and dates are Survival 101, March 29, Santos Large Pavilion, 3080 SE 80th St., Ocala; Edible Florida, April 19; The History of Wekiwa Springs and Rock Springs Run, May 10; and Florida’s Incredible Wildlife, June 14; all at Marion County Sheriff’s Office Substation, 3260 SE 80th St., Ocala. For details, call (352) 671-8560.
APRIL 1
Heart of HR: Driving Engagement and Innovation Conference Circle Square Cultural Center, 8395 SW 80th St., Ocala Johnny Taylor Jr., president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, the world’s largest HR professional society, will be the keynote speaker. Other speakers will include Kate Beeders, Kenneth A. Knox, Chris Laney and Jenni Stone. The conference is presented by CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion and the Ocala Human Resources Management Association. It will be emceed by motivational humorist, best-selling author and magician Jon Petz. Tickets are $175 for all-day access, including refreshments and lunch, or $200 for conference and reception. Advance tickets are available at bit.ly/HEARTofHR2025
APRIL 4
Marion County Go Red for Women Circle Square Cultural Center, 8395 SW 80th St., Ocala 10:30am-1pm The event focuses on connection and engagement, fostering an atmosphere of interaction and networking. It will include education and experiences that can help improve health and wellbeing. For details, email centralflcommunities@ heart.org or call (386) 292-2734.
APRIL 10
Dual Enrollment Discovery Night CF Ewers Century Center, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala 4:30-6:45pm The College of Central Florida invites middle and high school students and their parents to learn how to earn college credits through the CF Dual Enrollment program. Attendees are invited to come early for a campus tour and pizza. Registration is requested at cf.edu/desessions
APRIL 5 AND 12
StoryWalk: Elements at Play
April 5, 11:30am and 1:30 pm, Scott Springs Park, Ocala
April 12, 2pm, Marion County Library Headquarters, Ocala Community Stages’ ODDBITS Trunk & Trek Troupe returns with an immersive theatre experience featuring international folktales.
The actors will bring stories from Ireland, Niger, the Seminole people and Mexico to life in interactive and family-friendly performances. The events are presented in partnership with Ocala Recreation and Parks. This year’s events introduce ArtiFacts TR3, Community Stages’ first adult troupe. To learn more, go to communitystages.org
APRIL 11
John Jorgenson Quintet
NOMA Black Box, Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala
7:30pm Jorgenson is one of the world’s top gypsy jazz guitarists. Mastering the jazz swing pioneered by Django Reinhardt, the quintet will captivate you with soulful melodies, lightning-fast solos and worldclass musicianship. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com
APRIL 1213
The West Meets Scheherazade
April 12, 7:30pm – April 13, 3pm Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala
The Ocala Symphony Orchestra celebrates the finale of its 49th season. Featuring Michael Daugherty’s vibrant “Rio Grande,” Leanna Primiani’s emotional “1,001” and Eric Whitacre’s playful “Godzilla Eats Las Vegas,” the concert promises a journey through exotic tales and thrilling moments. After intermission, sail with Sinbad and fall in love with Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade.” Learn more at reillyartscenter.com
The Community Stages’ ODDBITS Trunk & Trek Troupe brings international folktales to life in outdoor and indoor performances. [Photo courtesy Community Stages]
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.
Public Notice
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Go to: ocalagazette.column.us/place
Answers: Farms that grow fruits and vegetables — PRODUCE PRODUCE
RICK STEVES’ EUROPE
Sweet surprises in Bruges
The medieval Belgian town of Bruges attracts hordes of day-trippers – but don’t let that keep you away. While the ultimate sight is the quaint town itself, the city also entertains with an infectious passion for good living. And it hides some sweet surprises.
The Flemish who live in this part of Belgium call this city “Brugge,” but the French half of the country (and English speakers) call it “Bruges.” Either way, the name comes from the Viking word for “wharf.” In other words, it’s been a trading center for a long time.
About a thousand years ago, the city grew wealthy as the most important textile market in northern Europe. Back then, its canals provided merchants smooth transportation. But when the harbor silted up in the 16th century, trade moved to the port at Antwerp, ending Bruges’ golden age.
Nowadays, the city prospers because of tourism. Plenty of visitors are attracted by the town’s fine pubs – you’ll find beer aficionados from around the world bending an elbow here. While many of Bruges’ best beers aren’t exported, enthusiasts consider enjoying these well worth the trip…year after year.
To gain an appreciation for Belgian beer, stop by the beloved ‘t Brugs Beertje, a pub famous for stocking more than 300 of the country’s brews. If you’re not up to sampling each, go right for the local favorite – Straffe Hendrik –literally “strong Henry,” a potent, bitter triple ale. Some beers are brewed only seasonally, so I always ask if there’s a special offering. Belgium is the world’s numberone exporter of chocolate, and Bruggians are born connoisseurs.
Every local has a favorite chocolatier. While Godiva has name recognition, there are plenty of smaller family-run places all over town (a favorite is Confiserie De Clerck). Most are generous with samples. The people of Bruges buy their chocolate with a concern for freshness the way others shop for pastry or bread. Yesterday’s chocolate just won’t do. Chocolate is sold by weight, usually in 100-gram increments (about 3.5 ounces). It’s fun to assemble an assortment of five or six chocolates. French fries (called Vlaamse frites, or “Flemish fries” here –they aren’t really French at all) are another Bruges indulgence. One time a local chef took me into the kitchen to witness the double frying – first to cook, then to brown – that makes Belgian fries taste so good. His nervous giggle as he waggled a fry before dunking it in its second hot-oil bath reminded me of the kid who showed me my first dirty magazine. Bruges is the only place I know with a museum devoted to the French (Belgian) fry. But skip the museum and
instead look for a fry cart (frituur) to sample the real thing. Belgians dip their frites in mayonnaise, but ketchup is there for Americans. When you’ve had your fill of beer, chocolate, and fries, walk it off with a visit to the Groeninge Museum. This world-class collection focuses on Flemish painting, from Memling to Magritte. You’ll gaze at 15thcentury canals, into the eyes of reassuring Marys, and at town squares festooned with people sporting leotards and lace. It’s an easy introduction to the subtle, technically advanced, and beautiful early Flemish style of painting. At the end of the day, the best place to be is on Market Square, in the cobblestoned old town. Ringed by restaurant terraces, great old gabled buildings, and a bell tower, this square marks the town center, just as it did in its medieval heyday. It hosts the best live carillon concert I’ve found in Europe.
Bruges is a city of bells. Though you can hear the tunes ringing out from the tower’s bells anywhere in the heart of town, I like to listen from one of the benches in
the courtyard below the carillon. Sitting in that courtyard, looking up at the rustic brick tower, and enjoying the music is a ritual for locals and a unique pleasure for visitors.
Seated there one evening, I gazed up at the lofty tower. Like a kid checking in with a parent before going down a slide at the playground, the carillonneur popped his head out a window and waved. Then he disappeared and began hammering – literally hammering. A carillon keyboard looks like the foot pedals of a big organ, but it’s played by the littlefinger sides of bare, clenched fists. After the concert, the crowd dissipated. I waited to personally thank the carillonneur. A few minutes later, he was at street level, in his overcoat, looking like any passerby. I shook his hand and found myself gripping a freakishly wide little finger. A lifetime of pounding the carillon had left him with a callus that had more than doubled the width of his pinky. He’s just one more artist perfecting his craft in the charm-filled
Bruges.
Crossword
Jumble
ANSWERS FOR PAGE B7
Sudoku
Gasoline Alley
Broom Hilda
Middletons
Bruges’ dreamy canal was essential to its early history as a trading center. CREDIT: (Rick Steves, Rick Steves’ Europe).
