State sued over universal vouchers
By Ana Goñi-Lessan Florida News Service
Florida’s largest teachers union filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the Department of Education, alleging the disparity between traditional public schools and private schools receiving taxpayer vouchers violates the state constitution.
The lawsuit filed in the Leon County Circuit Court by the Florida Education Association was joined by a group of parents, school board members and civil rights organizations. It alleges nearly $5 billion in taxpayer dollars are being sent to private schools and charter schools via the Family Empowerment Scholarship, which aren’t held to the same standards or oversight as traditional public schools.
That discrepancy violates the Florida constitution’s requirement for the state to “make adequate provision for a uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high-quality system of free public schools,” the lawsuit claims.
“With this lawsuit we are simply asking for accountability, transparency and a basic set of educational standards, which is what every parent wants – regardless of where they choose to send their children,” said FEA President Andrew Spar. “Floridians have made it clear we should be strengthening not abandoning our public schools.” Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas defended the universal voucher program, saying the program empowers parents.
“Thanks to (Gov. Ron DeSantis), every Florida family has access to universal school choice, empowering them to select the learning environment that best fits their child’s individual needs,” Kamoutsas wrote in a post on X. “We stand unapologetically convicted on the principle of always putting students first!”
As of March, there were an estimated 521,000 students enrolled in private and home school options using voucher funds for the 20252026 school year, according to data from the state’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research.
According to the lawsuit, about a quarter of the state’s education budget is going to voucher programs, up from 12 percent in 2021.
See Vouchers, page A3
Rails to ranches: 150 years of Anthony
From its early beginnings, this small town has been home to a diverse population and has seen many changes and challenges.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
There is a small town in north Marion County that has a history rich in cultural diversity, is deeply rooted in agriculture, was part of the early railroad expansion in the area and has residents who share an affinity for its uniqueness.
Anthony, which can trace its beginnings to the mid-1800s, when a migration of settlers from South Carolina into Marion County began, will celebrate its 150th anniversary this year.
The Anthony Historical Society will host a Founder’s Day Celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 16, with the theme Rails to Ranches, 150 years of Anthony, Florida. The event, which will take place at the Anthony Community Park and
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
Among her numerous professional accomplishments, including serving as president of the local Branch 5114 of the NAACP, TiAnna Harris was perhaps best known for the deep love she had for
the adjacent Anthony Woman’s Club, will include historical memorabilia, vendors, live music, food trucks and more.
According to historical information online, in 1883, the Florida Southern Railway extended through the area and connected Anthony to markets in Ocala and beyond.
In addition to its agriculture and cattle farms, a late 1880s phosphate boom accelerated growth in the area. Anthony was incorporated as a town in 1892. In the 1930s, the town faced financial challenges that were too steep to overcome and residents voted for dissolution, after which the town transitioned to unincorporated status within Marion County.
Today, notable town entities are Anthony Elementary School, several small businesses, the Jumbolair
others, including the children she raised and those she mentored and supported. After being diagnosed with endometriosis and having a hysterectomy at age 23, Harris, whose first married name was Greene, later became the mother of three children who were not biologically hers — GerriAle Greene, Raykhia Thomas
Aviation Estates, of which noted actor John Travolta is a resident, and numerous equine and agriculture related properties.
According to Bertha Krietemeyer Flynn, who was born in Munroe Memorial Hospital, which is now AdventHealth Ocala, and was raised in Anthony, it was almost two years ago that she and Shelia Castro, who was raised in Anthony until age 11 and moved back seven years ago, began to talk about the history of the town.
Materials provided by Flynn note that they sat together with a shared worry: that the stories of Anthony — its pioneers, farms, railroad days and families — might fade if no one stepped forward to protect them. That concern, and the love behind it, became the
spark that created the Anthony Historical Society.
Among this area’s pioneering families were the Leitners, who settled in several communities within Marion County. According to Annabelle Leitner, who lives with her sister Nancy on the family’s pioneer heritage farm in Shiloh, in northwest Marion County, and who is a noted local historian, the name of Anthony can be traced to Col. E. C. Anthony from Muncie, Indiana.
“Jacob Leitner and his wife Charlotte Souter Leitner were my great-greatgrandparents. Jacob is the one who, according to Leitner family tradition, sold one of his plantations to Col. Anthony for what was to become Anthony Place, then later Anthony,” Leitner wrote via email.
See Rails to ranches, page A7
and ReJae Greene — and, in late 2021, she adopted Jaxson Greene.
A previous “Ocala Gazette” article from the time noted that she and her former husband had talked about adopting but didn’t follow through. After they divorced, she found fulfillment by helping friends and family members raise their three daughters. Along the way, Harris served for more than 27 years with the Department of Juvenile Justice, obtained several higher education degrees, started a nonprofit and other organizations, and was a member of numerous boards within the community.
Members of the Anthony Historical Society, front, from left, Bertha Krietemeyer Flynn, Shelia Castro, Christina Scott, Joyce Hooker and Betty Mitchell Oliver, and back, from left, Priscilla Lewis-Swinton, Lincoln Mitchell, Janet Mitchell-Silverhawk and Djuna Poole, look over historic photos during a meeting at the Anthony Woman’s Club on April 24, 2026. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2026. See TiAnna Harris , page A8
TiAnna Harris poses with her adopted son, Jaxson, then 21 months old, at Jervey Gantt Park in Ocala on Nov. 20, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]
Historic photos of Anthony.
Historic photos of Anthony are shown during a meeting of the Anthony Historical Society on April 24, 2026.
A historic photo of Anthony.
COMMUNITY NEWS
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
BETTER TOGETHER AWARDS
Better Together, a nonprofit with mission to build strong families and communities, recently honored its North Central Florida volunteers, supporters and community partners who have made a significant impact on the organization and its mission.
As a privately funded, volunteer-driven nonprofit, Better Together relies on the support of donors, churches, community partners and volunteers to provide services to families across the state. Each year, Better Together hosts a Doing Good Together reception in each of its six regions to thank these individuals and organizations, the news release stated.
During an event on April 14 at the Country Club of Ocala, several area volunteers and partners were honored:
Champion for Strong Families - Appleton Museum of Art, which has opened its doors for Better Together events, supported toy drives and given to the children Better Together serves.
• Church Partner of the Year - Christ the King Anglican Church. The Rev. Don Curran and the congregation continually support the Better Together mission year after year.
• Community Partner of the Year - Brother’s Keeper, which has provided families with clothing, food, household items and more while also referring families who need a little extra support.
Department of Children and Families Partner of the Year - Kerrian Angel, who has helped open new doors for families, strengthen relationships and make a meaningful impact through consistent communication and collaboration.
• Employer Partner of the Year - Comfort Keepers, which has participated in every Better Together job fair in North Central Florida since 2024.
• Host Family of the Year - Jennifer and Martin Williams, who have cared for 14 children in their home as a volunteer host family. and provide extended community for their families.
• Mentor of the Year - Angelee Burks, who came to Better Together for support during a difficult season and turned her experience into purpose.
Staff Appreciation Award - Aldrea Nicholson. Within months of joining the team in the fall of 2025, her initiative, confidence and genuine desire to see the team succeed played a significant role during a critical period of growth.
Super Volunteer of the Year - Katie Lee, who goes above and beyond for every family she serves. The event was sponsored by NAMI Marion County and The Vines Hospital.
To learn more, visit bettertogetherus.org
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
PARTNERSHIP
As families navigate higher costs for food, gas and other necessities, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida partnered with Wings of Faith and the Southeastern Youth Fair to host a food distribution on April 29 in Ocala.
Volunteers look over some of
Volunteers from Wings of Faith helped distribute fresh produce and pantry staples, along with more than 1,000 pounds of locally donated ground beef.
“Community supporters of the Southeastern Youth Fair donated three steers, representing a value of $20,000, to Farmers Feeding Florida. Fort McCoy Meat processed the gift into 1-pound packages, totaling 1,070 pounds of protein to benefit families who turn to Wings of Faith for food assistance each month,” the Second Harvest news release noted.
Farmers Feeding Florida, a program of Feeding Florida in partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, resulted in Second Harvest’s ability to distribute more than 6.5 million pounds of Florida-grown produce and protein, including 100,000 pounds of ground beef, across seven counties since July 2025, the release stated.
At the end of the day on April 29, three staff members from Wings of Faith and 61 volunteers served 321 hours as they distributed 40,037 pounds of free food to 504 families (consisting of 1,873 people), according to Second Harvest officials.
To learn more, go to feedhopenow.org
NEW BOOK RELEASED
Ocala businessman Daniel H. Osborne has released his newest book, “Four Foot Two: Building A New Business.” The intent, he noted, was to “provide a practical roadmap and accountability for new entrepreneurs.”
Osborne said he is an “integrator, entrepreneur and U.S. Army veteran whose life story is defined by resilience, discipline and a relentless pursuit of excellence.”
As the oldest of 11 children, he entered the workforce at age 10, launched his first business at 12 and was effectively an emancipated minor by 16 before joining the Army at 18, he said.
Osborne said his second book, following “It Hurts to Be Mad,” is an actionable, no-nonsense guide designed to equip new and aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools necessary for personal and professional success.
Expected to be live by mid-May, the audio book will be produced and voiced by Brett Barry, acclaimed for his work on the “For Dummies” series, Osborne stated.
To learn more, go to olivestrengthproductions.com
WEST PORT HIGH STUDENT EARNS SCHOLARSHIP
The SECO Energy Board of Trustees recently approved $48,000 in scholarships to high school seniors graduating this year who reside in homes served by SECO.
“These 12 outstanding local students exemplify academic excellence and leadership within their communities,” the news release noted.
The students were honored April 12 during a recognition event, and each received a $4,000 scholarship to support their educational journey.
Gabriella Smith, a student at West Port High School, located in Marion County, was one of the recipients.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING EVENT SET FOR MAY 14 IN OCALA
By Jamie Berube jamie@ocalagazette.com
The City of Ocala Community Development Services is holding its annual Affordable Housing Community Event on May 14, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place at 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala.
The gathering aims to link residents with helpful resources, professional advice and practical steps toward achieving stable housing over the long term. Guests will hear informative talks from invited speakers on topics such as rent-to-own home buying options, heirs’ property issues, support services for those facing homelessness and the value of voter registration and civic involvement.
Local organizations will be on hand to highlight the programs, assistance and opportunities they provide. Food will be provided and attendees will have a chance to participate in drawings for giveaways. Space is limited to approximately 75 to 100 guests, so
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Cassidy Vaughn, a partnerships manager in the Better Together North Central Florida region, left, and LaShara Lofton, the region’s executive director, congratulate Fr. Don Curran of Christ the King Anglican Church during an event on April 14 in Ocala. [Photo courtesy Better Together]
the locally donated ground beef that was distributed on April 29 through a partnership between the Second Harvest Food Bank, Wings of Faith and the Southeastern Youth Fair. [Submitted photo]
Firefighters accept plea deal in Station 21 hazing case; felony charges dropped
By Jennifer Hunt jennifer@ocalagazette.com
Three Marion County Fire Rescue firefighters accepted a plea agreement on April 30 and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery in connection with a November 2025 hazing incident at Station 21 that initially resulted in felony charges.
Under the agreement, felony false imprisonment and robbery charges were dismissed. Each defendant received a withhold of adjudication, 12 months of probation and additional conditions, including community service, anger management and no contact with the victim.
Circuit Judge Timothy McCourt accepted the negotiated plea of guilty to misdemeanor battery after initially expressing hesitation and requesting additional context about the case.
“This case obviously starts out one way,” the McCourt said in court. “These men are arrested for kidnapping, robbery, battery … offenses for which they can be sentenced to life imprisonment plus 15 years … and then it comes to dismissing the felony, leaving only the misdemeanor.”
As previously reported, the sheriff’s office and the county gave this incident significant media coverage.
CHARGES REDUCED AFTER REVIEW OF EVIDENCE
The defendants — Seth Day, Edward “Teddy” Kenny III and Tate Trauthwein — were originally arrested on charges including kidnapping and robbery following an incident involving a co-worker, Kayne Stewert, at the fire station.
Kaylee K. Bradley, 25, who served two years as a paramedic, initially was charged with felony robbery and principle/accessory to robbery but the charges later were dropped.
Assistant State Attorney Drew Brandies told the court the charges for the three men were reduced after a review of the evidence and witness statements.
“The main difference … is the level of evidence needed to justify probable cause for arrest versus that needed to prove these crimes beyond a reasonable doubt,” the prosecutor said.
Prosecutors said evidence did not support proving key elements of kidnapping or robbery at trial, including intent to terrorize or permanently deprive the victim of property.
“The evidence here was not sufficient to prove that element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt,” the prosecutor said,
Vouchers
Continued from page A1
In 2023 lawmakers expanded the existing voucher program, which was targeted initially to low-income families, to any K-12 student in the state. The law provides that money from corporate tax credits, which funded the initially program, be used first before general funds are used for the universal voucher program.
One of the images Judge Timothy McCourt reviewed during hearing on April 30 was taken at 10:14 p.m. Nov. 16, 2025, at Marion County Fire Station 21,and shows paramedic Kaylee K. Bradley, 25, holding a cell phone; while firefighter/EMT Tate Trauthwein, 19; EMT Edward Kenny III, 22; and firefighter/EMT Seth Day, 22, a firefighter/EMT; wrestle with EMT Kayne Stuart,19; in an incident described by authorities as “horseplay that went too far.” [Photo courtesy of firefighter/paramedic on scene that day.]
explaining the decision to reduce the charges.
Defense attorney Bobi Frank, who represented Day, urged the judge to consider photographs and other evidence she said showed the incident did not begin as a clearcut assault.
“We thought the old cliche of a picture is worth 1,000 words,” Frank told the court, referring to a photograph taken during the incident. She said that, within “the four corners of the arrest affidavit,” the incident appeared to be something other than horseplay, but “this photograph clearly indicates otherwise.”
Frank said the photograph showed the alleged victim “on the ground, clearly, not in distress, smiling and engaging.” She added that the defense did not intend to “upset or disrespect the victim’s position in any way.”
Frank also argued that the case had to be viewed in the context of a broader fire department culture.
“This is not an isolated incident,” Frank said. “This is a culture within the fire department, and this demonstrates to you that horseplay pranks are commonplace.”
She said the defendants had accepted responsibility and cooperated with investigators.
“At no time did any one of these individuals, and I specifically referring to
Last year, the state’s auditor general found a “myriad of accountability challenges” within the voucher system. The report showed overspending and delays in scholarship payments that resulted in a funding shortfall and a system without proper controls to verify where students who received the voucher payments were being educated.
A bill that would have implemented the recommendations from the report passed the Senate but never received a hearing in the House.
my client, Mr. Day, ever — they never gave an untruthful statement,” Frank said. “They never shied away from the situation.”
Frank said the consequences extended beyond the courtroom, noting the defendants had been terminated from their jobs and faced possible effects on their EMT and firefighter certifications.
“They’re very sorry,” Frank said. “The consequences that have been bestowed on them, sir, far outreach this courtroom.”
JUDGE CITES CONTEXT, VICTIM SUPPORT
During the hearing, the judge noted that his understanding of the case was limited to the arrest affidavit and filings.
“What we receive is an arrest affidavit … It does not include every fact,” he said. “It does not include facts that may make the crime look more innocuous.”
The court also referenced evidence, such as photos that were previously published by the “Ocala Gazette” and testimony suggesting the incident began as horseplay before escalating.
“I have the distinct impression that it was horseplay that got out of hand, and then it got out of hand further,” the judge said.
The alleged victim, Stewart, told the court he supported the plea agreement.
“100%,” he said when asked if he wanted the judge to accept the deal.
SENTENCING TERMS
Each defendant pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and received similar sentences, including:
• Withhold of adjudication
• 12 months of probation
• Two to three days in jail, with credit for time served 100 hours of community service
Anger management and anti-bullying courses
No contact with the victim
The judge emphasized the consequences of violating probation.
“It’s incumbent upon you … that you don’t violate probation,” he said. “If you violate probation, you can get a year in the county jail.”
He also referenced the defendants’ prior time in custody.
“You’ve been in jail long enough to get a taste of it?” McCourt asked the defendants.
McCourt previously served as attorney for the sheriff’s office until being appointed
Kelly L. Ryan
to the bench in January of 2024, so he is familiar with jail conditions.
PUBLIC SCRUTINY AND CONSEQUENCES
Defense attorneys argued the defendants, all young firefighters, had already faced significant consequences, including job loss and public scrutiny.
“That’s something that they will have to live with,” the judge said.
All three defendants were terminated from their positions with Marion County Fire Rescue following the incident.
Florida courts have long recognized that trial judges have discretion to accept or reject plea agreements and may require an admission of guilt as a condition.
McCourt cited Ingram v. State, wherein the appellate court held that a judge may reject a plea where there is no meeting of the minds regarding the terms, including whether a defendant must admit guiltwhich the state required.
The judge in this case required each defendant to plead guilty with an admission of guilt before accepting the agreement.
CASE RESOLUTION
Before concluding the hearing, the judge addressed the defendants directly, noting their roles as first responders.
“You were entrusted as firefighters … to help people in what could be their darkest hour,” he said. “There’s no indication that you ever failed to carry out that duty when called.”
He added that the incident would likely have lasting consequences.
“Whatever happened here happened,” the judge said. “Hopefully you learn from this and nothing like this happens again.”
“You’re young enough, to move on with your lives, and this not be a defining moment,” McCourt told the defendants.
As for Stewart, he told the Gazette following the hearing that he intended to continue in the fire service.
County commissioner Carl Zalak, who held press conferences on the incident, told the “Gazette” he had no comment.
Marion County Fire Rescue Chief James Banta reiterated that the department relied on law enforcement to handle the investigation that led not only to charges against those involved in the incident but also in the case of eight firefighters who lost their jobs following the incident.
OBITUARY
June 24, 1964 - April 26, 2026
Ocala - In Loving Memory of Kelly L. Ryan.
Kelly L. Ryan, born on June 24, 1964, in Beech Grove, Indiana, passed away on April 26, 2026, in Ocala, Florida, leaving behind a life marked by devotion, courage, and generous love. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend whose presence brought warmth, strength, and encouragement to all who knew her. Kelly lived a life that reflected her adventurous spirit, her deep faith, and her selfless care for others.
Kelly was the cherished wife of Dennis Ryan, and together they built a life grounded in love, loyalty, and shared memories. She was a devoted mother to Richard Van Rijk (Amber),
Alyssa Van Rijk (Eli), and Christian Ryan (Lauren). She found great joy in her grandchildren, Zoey, Brixton, and Sadie, who brought light and laughter into her days. Kelly also held close the love of her parents, Donald Kiesel and Sharon Fillmore, and treasured her brother, David Keisel. She was a loving aunt to Becca and Davis, and she was surrounded throughout her life by a host of special friends with whom she shared lasting bonds and many treasured moments.
Kelly graduated from Speedway High School in the class of 1982, and she carried the values of hard work and perseverance throughout her life. She served her country with honor in the United States Air Force for four years, and also served in the Army National Guard, experiences that reflected her strength, discipline, and sense of duty. Following her military service, she built a meaningful career as a Medical Office Manager, where her professionalism, compassion, and calm presence made a difference in the lives of those she served. She approached every responsibility with care and dedication, and she earned the respect of colleagues and friends alike.
A woman of Christian faith, Kelly lived with a spirit of grace and trust. Her faith was an important part of her life and gave her strength through every season. She was known for her loving nature and her willingness to put others before herself. Those who knew her will remember her as adventurous, loving, and selfless, three words that beautifully reflect the way she lived and the way she loved. Her life was a testament to kindness, resilience, and the quiet power of a generous heart.
Kelly made Ocala her home for 40 years, and the community became an important part of her story. She also lived in England and North Dakota, experiences that broadened her life and added to the richness of her journey. She embraced each place she lived with curiosity and openness, and she formed connections wherever she went. Her love of traveling reflected her adventurous nature, and she especially enjoyed running, biking, and hiking. These interests gave her joy and freedom, and they mirrored the energy and determination she carried throughout her life.
Kelly also gave her support to causes close to her heart, including StacheStrong and the fight against glioblastoma, or GBM. Her compassion for others extended beyond her family and friends, and she cared deeply about helping in ways that mattered. She understood the importance of standing with those facing hardship, and she did so with sincerity and empathy. Her concern for others was one more expression of the selfless character that defined her.
Kelly L. Ryan will be dearly missed and forever remembered. Her adventurous heart, loving spirit, and selfless life touched many, and her legacy will remain a blessing to all who carry her memory forward.
(Arrangements were entrusted to Roberts of Ocala Funerals and Cremations)
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Stache Strong in Kelly’s name. https://stachestrong.org/
Ocala’s Howard Mautner takes Honor Flight trip to DC
WWII veteran visited several memorials and helped lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
World War II veteran Howard Mautner of Ocala recently made a whirlwind six-stop First Coast Honor Flight trip to the Washington, D.C., area. The trip included Mautner laying a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
“It was a wonderful, tremendous experience,” said the 102-year-old Mautner in a phone interview days after the trip on April 25.
Todd Belknap, executive director of Marion County Veterans Helping Veterans USA, served as escort or guardian for Mautner.
“He was unbelievable,” Belknap said of Mautner’s participation and stamina during the trip.
Belknap said groups of well-wishers gathered at both Jacksonville International Airport and Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., and at each memorial visited, to cheer for the veterans.
Mautner was a “star” with some supporters acknowledging his 102nd birthday on April 28, three days after the Honor Flight, Belknap said.
“People waited in line to have their picture taken with Howard,” he said.
Belknap said the Honor Flight aircraft pilot also recognized Mautner’s upcoming birthday.
Belknap said the plan was
to have Mautner remain in his wheelchair during the laying of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier but Mautner “did not stay in his wheelchair.”
“Howard mustered up all his strength and walked the wreath forward,” Belknap said.
Belknap said Mautner also stood and saluted through a rendition of taps.
Congresswoman Kat Cammack and her infant daughter, Augusta Dair, met with Mautner during his Honor Flight trip, Belknap said.
Cammack promotes Honor Flights on her website, which included information about First Coast Honor Flight. A message to her Washington, D.C., office about the flights was not immediately returned.
First Coast Honor Flight
of Saint Johns, Florida, serves veterans in nine northeast Florida counties and “catastrophically ill and injured veterans from all service eras” with the “one in a lifetime” trips, according to firstcoasthonorflight.
org
The Honor Flight, with 22 veterans and about 40 guardians and support personnel, left Jacksonville at 7 a.m. and returned at 8 p.m.
Belknap confirmed the veterans itinerary:
In Arlington, Virginia:
* U.S. Air Force Memorial,.
* Iwo Jimo Memorial (U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial).
* Arlington National Cemetery,
In Washington, D.C.:
* Vietnam Veterans Memorial
* World War II Memorial
“I’m
On April 28, Mautner celebrated his 102nd birthday with family members and friends
* Lincoln Memorial Belknap said when he and Mautner returned home after the fast paced trip, Mautner said,
not tired.”
at two separate parties in Ocala. Mautner served in the Army from 1942 to 1945 and his service included working aircraft control in a tower in Italy.
WWII veteran Howard Mautner, with escort Todd Belknap, executive director of Marion County Veterans Helping Veterans USA, visited several memorials in Washington, D.C., on April 25, through First Coast Honor Flight.
Congresswoman Kat Cammack and her infant daughter, Augusta Dair, met with Mautner during his Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C., on April 25.
Photos courtesy Todd Belknap
Lotus Marion name and mission unveiled
The organization will serve as a dual certified center for sexual assault and domestic violence.
By Jennifer Hunt jennifer@ocalagazette.com
Acrowd gathered early on the evening of April 29 for a street party in front of Mainstreet Community Bank as community leaders formally announced a new name and expanded mission for one of Marion County’s primary victim services organizations.
The Marion County Sexual Assault Center revealed it will begin providing domestic violence services and operate under a new name: Lotus Marion.
“As of July 1, 2026, we will be the dual certified center for sexual assault and domestic violence in Marion County,” said Betsy Weber, executive director.
The transition follows a coordinated plan in which Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA) Marion will transfer domestic violence services to the local organization by June 30, marking a shift toward locally led care.
Weber said the name change reflects the organization’s broader scope.
“We chose something that really empowers strength and resilience and support,” she said in announcing the new name.
The center, which was founded in 2023 to address a lack of sexual assault services in the county, after Creative Services, Inc., a local nonprofit that had provided services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault for nearly 50 years closed, has already seen significant demand.
“In the past six months, we have provided over 1,300 services, and 93% of our survivors continue to come back,” Weber said.
DATA HIGHLIGHTS SCALE OF LOCAL NEED
Speakers tied the expansion to persistent levels of domestic violence in Marion County.
Lt. Clint Smith of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said there were about 4,000 victims of domestic violence and sexual assault locally in the past year.
“That number is not just a number. It’s our neighbors, it’s our friends, it’s our family,” Smith said.
State data reflects a similar scale over time. According to Florida Department of Law Enforcement reports, Marion County recorded:
3,481 domestic violence offenses in 2018
3,373 offenses in 2019
3,731 offenses in 2020
The 2020 rate exceeded 1,000 incidents per 100,000 residents, among the higher rates in the state.
Those reports show the majority of cases involve individuals in close relationships, including spouses, family members and cohabitants, underscoring the need for services beyond law enforcement response.
“We cannot arrest our way out of this issue,” Smith said.
FILLING A GAP IN SERVICES
State Attorney William Gladson said the expansion addresses a longstanding lack of accessible services in the community.
“We didn’t have that before. We just didn’t have it,” Gladson said. “There were years where we saw a decline in services … to the most vulnerable people, children and women who are
victims of domestic violence.”
CASA Marion had expanded into the county in 2024 to fill that gap temporarily and officials said the transition to Lotus Marion is intended to create a sustainable, local model of care.
FUNDING REMAINS A CHALLENGE
As the organization takes on a larger role, leaders said community support will be critical.
Ken Ausley, a board member, said the expanded operation comes with a significant funding need.
“If you look at where we are and where we need to be … we’re about $600,000 a year short of where we need to be,” Ausley said.
He described the effort as a public-private partnership requiring local support.
“The community has to step up and help with funding,” Ausley said, encouraging
donations of all sizes.
Officials said the new structure will ensure services remain uninterrupted while expanding access to shelter, advocacy, counseling and prevention programs.
“Your support tonight helps provide advocacy for survivors, shelter for those whose life depend on it, counseling for those rebuilding their lives,” Smith said.
Sara Lambert, a board member, right, and other team members unveil the new logo as Lt. Clint Smith of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office looks on during the Sip, Savor and Support fundraiser for Lotus Marion at Mainstreet Community Bank in Ocala on April 29, 2026.
Betsy Weber, executive director of Lotus Marion.
People listen during the street party at Mainstreet Community Bank.
Founding board members Elizabeth White and Racheal Franklin.
Members of Lotus Marion, from left, Christine Gordon, Susan Six, Legend Henry, Betsy Weber, Alison Vazquez, Brittany Cecil and Heather Berry.
State Attorney Bill Gladson, David Tillman and Reese Bourgeois.
Jeanne and James Henningsen, president of the College of Central Florida.
Helen Greene, Angie Umpleby and Kitty Barnette.
Bill Bullough, Angie Clifton-Peters, with Mainstreet Community Bank, and Angela Bullough.
Cate Kettner and Bridget Lynch.
Chelsea Allen, Junior League of Ocala president, with Ashlee Andrews and Lara Standley.
Monica Bryant and Valerie Mitchell, with the Marion County Children’s Alliance, and Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken.
Ken Ausley and Bill Kearns.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
By Michael Warren
WOPINION OPEN LETTER TO MARION COUNTY SHERIFF BILLY WOODS
hen your officers put on a badge and step out into the community, they’re entrusted with tremendous power. They bear the responsibility to protect and even take human lives. And we expect them to be accountable to the citizens they protect.
Likewise, when you were elected, we entrusted you with an even greater responsibility -- to lead, to listen and to answer to the community you serve.
We live in a moment where too many of our public officials (locally and nationally) think becoming an internet influencer is part of the reason we hired them. All of us have been part of a decades-long process that has disrupted the symbiotic (and often antagonistic) relationship between journalism and public officials. A cacophony of social media voices has emerged out of the decline of newspapers and the fragmentation of traditional media.
For public officials and business leaders, what’s the benefit of submitting to an adversarial press when you can issue a press release and post a YouTube video and bypass the former gatekeepers? Why bother having your message filtered through the intermediary of traditional news media that has lost much of its audience? (Especially when the final product doesn’t always reflect how you’d like the frame the narrative.) And if you do talk to the press, why not limit it to the outlets you consider friendly?
Using direct channels to speak to the public is faster, unfiltered and unfettered.
But a Facebook video also allows officials to sidestep difficult questions from wellprepared and sometimes adversarial questioners.
We see this nationally as well as locally on issues big and small. Why can’t rangers at Silver Springs State Park speak about the death of a baby manatee without approval from Tallahassee? Why did a city park ranger at Tuscawilla -- during a friendly chat about an exotic goose -- recoil when I shared with him that I contributed a weekly bird feature to the “Gazette?” (“If I talk to you, I’ll lose my job!”)
Answering to the professional press demands courage. Relying exclusively on oneway communication can become paternalistic and performative, ultimately to the detriment of our democracy.
Every citizen in a community delegates responsibilities by necessity. We are not all firefighters, doctors, plumbers, commissioners or police officers. As a citizen, I delegate the responsibilities of law enforcement to those I elect. In the same way, I delegate the responsibility of news gathering and reporting to those the experience and expertise I don›t have.
Answering to the press is answering to the community. And it requires courage.
Journalism has always had its failures, just like our government, just like our law enforcement. Journalists, too, are human and sometimes let their biases show. But their role in society is critical enough to a healthy democracy that it was protected in the first amendment. Like the three branches of government, the press provides a necessary check and balance on our elected officials
Forward progress
The Open Arms Village transitional housing program for women is set to open by 2027.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
The Open Arms Village transitional housing program for homeless women suffering from addiction is set to open by 2027 on the grounds of Compassion United Methodist Church in the Druid Hills area of southeast Ocala. The new facility will accommodate up to 22 women in safe, stable housing in a revamped building on the church grounds at 1712 SE Lake Weir Ave.
The women’s outreach will be a partner to the Open Arms Village men’s program based on the campus of St. Mark’s UMC in northeast Ocala.
Jill and Micheal Beck have been copastors of St. Mark’s UMC since 2019 and also co-pastor Compassion UMC as well as Wildwood UMC.
Jill Beck assumed the position of executive director of the Open Arms Village program for men in June 2025 after the former leader was arrested and charged with fraud and grand theft of $100,000 or more. The former executive director did not comment when questioned about the charges by the “Gazette” at the time. Beck also will serve as executive director of the Open Arms Village for women.
Compassion UMC has occupied the corner of Lake Weir Avenue and Southeast 17th Street for about two years. The site for many years housed Druid Hills UMC, which hosted a popular annual pumpkin patch. Beck is overseeing the revamp of an existing building on the campus, which will have eight double occupancy rooms, a spacious day room and a special interlock security main entrance to control visits. The project cost is estimated at $650,000 and the owner of the property is listed as Board of Trustees of the Annual Conf. Of the United Methodist Church, Inc., according to building permit related documents.
Karla Greenway, executive director of the nonprofit Interfaith Emergency Services, which provides a wide variety of services, including helping the homeless, wrote in an email message that a facility for women in addiction crisis is needed in Ocala. Greenway is a board member of the Open Arms Village for men program.
“This is needed very much. Addiction is a prevalent problem in our nation and in our community, and there simply aren’t enough resources to serve those who want the help,” she wrote.
“Research shows that residential treatment has a higher rate of success. Besides that, many of those struggling with addiction are homeless and it’s nearly impossible for someone experiencing homelessness to get sober or maintain sobriety. This women’s program will have high standards for those who participate, and I am confident it will save and transform lives.” she stated.
The nonprofit Open Arms Village for men opened in 2016 on the St. Mark’s UMC grounds and has graduated 520 men from a six-month program with case management that requires clients to have a 30 hour to 40 hour a week job. Clients must complete the program clean and sober, be employed and be ready to be a productive member of the community.
The Open Arms Village program addresses the “deeper, root causes” of homelessness and addiction and has a 74% success rate of graduating clients, based upon housing, employment and sobriety, according to its website.
For Beck, a women’s facility is not only needed but a “dream” come true to help struggling women. She said her passion to help women in crisis is fueled by having lost her mother to drugs and alcohol and a prior marriage that was marked by domestic violence.
Placing the half-way residence in the location has not been without controversy,
that can’t be performed by every citizen individually.
I’ve got a day job. I don’t have the experience, temperament or resources to make (expensive!) FOIA requests, vet and interview sources, analyze data, fact-check articles and operate a newspaper. That’s why I support a local newspaper that is engaged in this necessary work.
When our elected officials demonize unflattering reporting as “fake news” or call journalists “the enemy of the people” they undermine an essential pillar of our democracy. When they ignore the phone calls and emails of journalists, they sidestep accountability.
In your recent video, you described the “compassion” and “love” of your employees and how they attend to the wellbeing of those who are incarcerated. That’s terrific and I’m sure it’s true. But there’s more to the story that needs to be addressed.
Why do inmates in your prison die at three times the rate of the national average? The jail has had multiple deaths deemed homicides by the medical examiner, yet no one is held accountable. Are they dying merely because the inmates tend to make “bad decisions?” Why was nurse Mary Coy, the one responsible for monitoring inmate healthcare, fired? Why has medical compliance reporting ceased?
When Jacob Oakie was jailed only for his addiction, why did your guards pepper spray him in the face while he was hours from death due because of meningitis in the jail’s infirmary and unable obey their
however. Beck said at least one neighboring interest voiced protests against the facility, which received necessary re-zoning in an Ocala City Council vote on Jan. 21, 2025.
There is an existing women’s “sober living” facility on nearby Southeast 18th Street, which is operated by Oxford House of Florida, an organization that began in 1975 in Silver Springs, Maryland, according to its website. According to Ocala Police Department records, there have been no calls this year for service to
commands? Why doesn’t Heart of Florida have medical care to identify those who are mentally ill at the jail to prevent them from getting injured by guards when they are not able to obey commands, such as in the case of Zachary Altom? What steps is the Marion County Sheriff’s Office taking to address these vulnerable folks, who like many others in the county jail are awaiting their day in court and have not been convicted of any crime?
Raising these questions and documenting this issue is not “tabloid news,” as you’ve called it, it’s accountability to the community. You expect your officers to face the public they serve with courage and integrity; will you do the same?
Alongside the “bad choices” made by inmates, there are other serious issues that affect the health and wellbeing of inmates. Florida consistently ranks near the bottom of the nation in mental health care spending and for health care for the poor. The safety net for the poorest members of our community is full of holes. These aren’t choices you’ve made, these are choices we’ve made as a state.
Maybe this is sufficient reason to explain the troubling statistics about our jail. If so, why not answer the concerns the “Gazette” has raised?
We don’t expect perfection from those who represent us, whether they’re public officials or the press. But we do expect transparency and accountability. Our community needs courageous and principled leadership. We also need a fair, free and fearless press. And we need you to answer the phone when they call.
the address. In 2025, there were two calls, one involving a missing person and one involving a disturbance with a trespass warning issued. In 2024, there were two calls related to 911 call hang- ups, one for an obscene phone call and one for a disturbance. A woman was arrested for battery in one of the incidents.
To learn more about the Open Arms Village program, go to openarmsvillageocala.org
Jill Beck, who will serve as executive director of the Open Arms Village for women program, on April 14, 2026, stands inside the building at 1712 SE Lake Weir Ave., Ocala, that is being revamped to provide transitional housing for homeless women. [Photo by Andy Fillmore/Ocala Gazette]
This building on the Compassion United Methodist Church grounds in Ocala will soon house homeless women in the Open Arms Village transitional housing program, led by Jill Beck, shown on April 14, 2026. [Photo by Andy Fillmore/Ocala Gazette]
Rails to ranches
Continued from page A1
“Jacob and Charlotte’s eldest son, George Wesley Leitner, who was born circa 1835, was my great-grandfather and moved with his parents and his siblings to Marion County in the 1850s. When he married Caroline Lavinia Geiger in May 1866 at the Central Lutheran Church, he moved to the Shiloh area, where Caroline’s family had been since 1827, when the area was known as Wanton. My grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Leitner, knew his Anthony relatives but we did not. The Anthony Cemetery started as the original Leitner burial ground in Marion County,” she wrote.
Flynn, who is president of the Anthony Historical Society, also is a descendant of Jacob Leitner. During a recent interview with her and several other society members, inside the Anthony Woman’s Club, of which she also is a member, she noted that, “I think the property that we are standing on, Jacob Leitner got in a land grant. Some of his children had moved on to Oak so he sold part of his land grant to Mr. Anthony and that’s how Anthony got started.”
Flynn said that not long after she and Castro started working together, word spread through the community and people began sharing photographs, letters and more.
“Longtime residents sat down to record memories of citrus groves, train whistles and the rhythms of smalltown life. Meetings filled with people eager to help — some researching, some organizing archives, all united by pride in the place they call home. What began as two founders soon became a community effort,” she offered.
“The sesquicentennial is more than a date on a calendar; it is a tribute to resilience, to the agricultural and railroad roots that shaped the town, and to the pioneer families whose determination built a community that still thrives. The Anthony Historical Society stands at the center of this celebration, not as an observer, but as a guardian of the legacy being honored,” Flynn shared.
Flynn attended elementary school in Anthony and graduated from Anthony High School in 1961, then briefly attended Central Florida Community College (now the College of Central Florida). She became a bookkeeper at Seminole Feed and Sun Bank, then started Frank Flynn Studio with her husband Frank Flynn in 1973.
“I am a sixth generation Marion County resident and a direct descendant of Gabriel Priest, who was the first senator who founded Marion County,” she said.
Flynn has two children, who both live in Anthony. She said it is important to preserve local identity.
“Small communities often don’t get much attention, so their stories, from families who lived there for generations, local traditions and even hardships, can be lost if they aren’t acknowledged. Keeping that history alive helps residents stay connected to their roots,” she said.
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
Among those also in attendance at the recent interview session were Castro, Joyce Hooker and her daughter Christina Scott, Betty Louise Mitchell Oliver, Djuna Poole, Lincoln Mitchell Jr., Priscilla Lewis-Swinton and Janet Mitchell-Silverhawk.
“I am related to Jacob Leitner, who got a land grant from Spain. They came from South Carolina and he had 10 kids. Bertha Flynn is related too. There’s a lot of us,” Scott said later in a phone conversation.
“My dad owned a bar in Eureka. When he came to get his hunting license, my mom was there to sell them and that’s how they got together. When my dad retired in the ‘60s, they built a general store near Lake Kerr and Salt Springs. When my grandmother died, my dad moved to our property in Anthony. I was born in the hospital in Ocala and raised here on this property. This farm has been handed down through the generations, from Jacob Leitner’s daughter to her daughter to my dad and now to me and my kids,” Scott explained.
“My dad often said he thought it was the second oldest homestead in the county, but I don’t know that for sure. It’s been called Springhill farm since the 1800s and at one point was called Keeney Hill after my greatgrandmother, who was born here and lived here her whole life,” Scott added.
As for why history should be preserved, Scott offered, “You ought to know who you are.”
“And I think it’s important because of what they had to do to settle this area back then, the risks, the struggles, for us to have a great life,” she added. “Our forefathers really struggled. Life was not easy. We’re just spoiled.”
Mitchell-Silverhawk said members of her family settled in the Mt. Olive community adjacent to Anthony pre-1845.
“We are part Muskogee and Cherokee and Shosone. Mt. Olive was here in the beginning. Everybody knew the Anglo people lived in Anthony and the Black and Native people lived
in Mt. Olive,” Mitchell-Silverhawk said. “I was born in 1956, but I grew up with people born in the 1870s who gave us oral history and said never forget who you are.”
She said that Black and indigenous people did not receive the Spanish land grants that were given to many of the early settlers.
“Grandpa George had to go through Paynes Prairie because he wasn’t allowed to ride the ferry from Micanopy to Gainesville, so he had to pay for his land. Black people didn’t get the grants, they had to buy the land, and that’s how we got ours,” she stated.
Mitchell-Silverhawk was raised in Anthony/ Mt. Olive and Tampa. She attended the two-room Mt. Olive School for a time. She continued her education in Tampa and later worked in commercial advertising art with the Work-Color Corporation of America. She returned to Anthony in 1988 and worked with the US Postal Service from 1989-2013.
“I love history. Your first history lessons come from listening to your elders as they tell their life stories,” she said.
Mitchell-Silverhawk said Mt. Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she is a member, will have a booth at the upcoming Founder’s Day event.
Lewis-Swinton also attended Mt. Olive Elementary School, as well as Fessenden High School, Bullard-Haven Technical School in Connecticut and the Connecticut Business Institute. She had a career in commercial banking.
She said her family bloodline “reached from France to Sugarhill, which was known as the Negro side of Anthony. The area where the school currently is, was uptown for us to shop on Saturdays at Mrs. Nell Baskin’s store.”
As for some of her favorite memories of living in the Anthony area, she mentioned “going to school every day. Working the fields, orange groves, picking up work hands, which gave us opportunities to meet various types of people.”
“I loved the outdoors, working with flowers and enjoying the chickens, cows, hogs and horses sometimes. We passed our time playing horseshoes, volleyball, softball, hopscotch, marbles and jacks. We had the Sunshine Band on Saturday for all the children in the communities of Mt. Olive, Sugarhill and
Irvingville,” she recalled.
“Church on Sunday was a must,” she added. “One of my grandmothers was Methodist, one Baptist and my mother was Holiness. We had to attend every one of those services when we did not have services at the Holiness church. I had the best of three worlds, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, which prepared me for many trials and failures, but through them all, I’ve learned to trust in God.”
Castro attended elementary school in Anthony, then moved away at age 11. She attended Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. She returned to Anthony seven years ago and currently is the manager of the Dollar General store. She and her husband, Alfredo, have five children.
She said some of her favorite memories of the town were “climbing on Philip Woods’ fence while he fixed our family cars, and eating off the side of the road, whether it was oranges, pecans, honey suckle or green onions.”
She believes local history should be preserved, “So it doesn’t die. So many towns fade away, but Anthony is 150 years strong and we’d like to keep going.”
Mitchell was born and raised in Anthony. He attended Mt. Olive School from first through eighth grade and graduated from Fessenden High School in nearby Martin. He joined the U.S. Army on July 1, 1964, and retired as a sergeant major in 1994. He later worked with Marion County Solid Waste, from which he also retired. He said he joined the Anthony Historical Society because he wanted to learn more about the history of the area.
Betty Louise Mitchell Oliver said she was born in 1941 and was “raised in the Mt. Olive
settlement, now known as Anthony.” She attended Mt. Olive School and Fessenden High School. She worked at Morriston Cafeteria and in contracted field work, and attended New Hope Baptist Church, originally located in the fork of the road where Olson Car Repair is now, which later relocated to 86th Lane.
“I come from a large family, and I feel it is important for our next generation to know the history of Anthony before it became Anthony,” Oliver said.
FOUNDER’S DAY
The event on May 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will include a number of vendors and displays of memorabilia.
“We will have local bands and our friend, Brian Canyon, who is a hometown boy from Anthony, will be playing, and he has lined up some other people for the day,” Castro said.
She said the day will include food, games and activities, and that the Ocala Model Railroaders has two set-ups of the Anthony area and will bring one of them to be displayed inside the Anthony Woman’s Club building.
“We will have information about our history and have items out that people can see,” Flynn added. “We’ll have books calendars and T-shirts for sale.”
Flynn noted that the group would like, at some point, to find a space in which they could permanently display their collected memorabilia.
“We have a lot of we have items from the old Anthony High school that was here and items dating back to that. We have old guns and stuff from used to be a jail here,” Castro said.
“I have my white sweater with my leather A on it I got in basketball,” Flynn said with a big grin.
The Anthony Woman’s Club is located at 2120 NE 95th St.; the Anthony Community Park is at 2150 NE 95th St.
To learn more about the group, email anthonyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com or find them on Facebook.
Bertha Krietemeyer Flynn, Christina Scott and Janet Mitchell-Silverhawk look over historic documents from Anthony dating back to the turn of the century.
Historic photos of Anthony.
Betty Mitchell Oliver, Djuna Poole, Lincoln Mitchell, Janet MitchellSilverhawk and Priscilla Lewis-Swinton look over old photos.
Bertha Krietemeyer Flynn and Christina Scott look over historic photos.
Jumbolair Aviation and Equestrian Estates in Anthony on May 5, 2026.
The historic Felix DeVane house, which was the Mims
house previously, in Anthony on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
The Anthony United Methodist Church on May 5, 2026.
Anthony Elementary School on May 5, 2026.
The Anthony Cemetery in Anthony on May 5, 2026.
Christina Scott and Janet Mitchell-Silverhawk
Col. Edwin Anthony, the founder of Anthony. Jacob Leitner, from whom Col. Edwin Anthony acquired the land for Anthony.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
Continued from page A1
Harris passed away peacefully on April 28 in Ocala at the age of 51.
In February of 2025, Harris was inducted into the Black History Archives during the third annual Howard Academy Community Center Black History Awards Gala, along with Daniel Banks.
Davida Randolph, HACC program manager, introduced Harris and Banks. Their names were placed on a plaque in the Black History Museum of Marion County, located inside the community center at 306 NW 7th Ave., Ocala, and which is a program of Marion County Public Schools and is the home of the Black History Archives.
An “Ocala Gazette” article about the event noted that Harris served as 2018-2020 president of the NAACP of Marion County and was the third and youngest female to fill that role in the history of the organization. She also was the founder and CEO of Emerge2Solutions and worked with local youth and families for nearly three decades.
“She has been involved in aiding small businesses and founded the Marion County Black Business Network. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and a master’s degree from BethuneCookman College and has served as a juvenile probationary officer supervisor for over 10 years,” the program detailed.
“She was my classmate. We graduated together in 1992; she from Vanguard High School and me from Forest High School. Ever since then, we have worked together in many capacities in our personal and professional lives. She wore so many hats,” Randolph said by phone on May 1. “The thing that we worked most closely on was working with our kids. She was an amazing person and when I tell you that my heart is broken by the fact that such a gem has been taken away is just… she was a gem… I don’t even know how else to put it.”
“We served on the Ocala Juneteenth Celebration Committee together and she was very instrumental in working with the Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the Park event, and the list just goes on. Wherever she could step in, she stepped in and did her part. It’s so much. She did everything she could to bridge the gap for youth in our community,” Randolph noted.
According to materials provided by Randolph, Harris was an Ocala native, “known to be an agent for change and advocating for collaborative efforts to benefit youth, families and the community in which she serves.”
Harris got her associate of arts degree from the College of Central Florida, a bachelor’s in sociology and a minor in education from the University of Florida and a master’s degree from Bethune-Cookman University. She
served as vice president of student engagement for the UF Association of Black Alumni, Gainesville Chapter.
“TiAnna has served as the president of the Marion County Class of 1992, as a member of the State of Florida Probation Advisory Team and has been a juvenile probation officer supervisor for over 10 years. She is the founder of the Marion County Black Business Network. TiAnna has been recognized by various organizations in Alachua and Marion counties for her community involvement,” the material stated.
She also developed the countywide Young Ladies of Poise in 2015, which helped more than 200 girls in its three years of its existence and the Father’s of the Year Awards, spanning a period of four years.
In 2018, Harris became president of the local branch of the NAACP.
Sarah Greene, responding to a request to Branch 5114 officials on May 4, wrote via email that “Rev. Dr. Gamble, president, and all members of the NAACP branch, are saddened by her death.”
She also shared a letter written by Harris to the branch, dated Nov. 17, 2023, on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.
“During my tenure as president of the branch, I served with pride, faith and commitment to the community as the third female president and the youngest of the three in the history of the branch. I accepted the role with these principals in mind, to educate ourselves and others on the historical works of African Americans to restore pride and dispel negative stereotypes, to maintain awareness about the issues that impact African Americans the most, bridge the gap in top areas that lack communication, especially between those who share a common goal of impacting our youth, and to never stop advocating for change and equality for all people to build a sustainable community with everyone in mind,” Harris wrote.
She noted that during her tenure, the branch worked with educators in the community, formed the #iGNITEthe MarionVote initiative and that she served as community committee chair for the 2020 census. The branch also increased its digital footprint and invited community organizations to meetings to discuss the services they provide.
JUNETEENTH CONNECTION
Sharington Houston, chair of the Ocala Juneteenth Celebration Commission, said by phone on Monday that this year’s event is set to take place on June 20 and that the annual scholarship will be renamed in honor of Harris.
“TiAnna was our vice chair. It’s a lot right now because I knew her with Juneteenth and
also on a personal level. Everybody on the committee is kind of going through it but we are honored to be able to honor her as much as she supported this community. There are no words to describe how she impacted my life as a mentor and friend. She often coined me as her little sister,” Houston said.
“TiAnna was one of the original committee members who started the Ocala Juneteenth Celebration Committee and she was on board with the idea of being part of a group to educate the community as a whole about Juneteenth. She was an integral part of the scholarship committee and in addition to her many roles, especially that of being a mother and wife, the impact she had on at-risk youth was phenomenal,” she added. “She poured her heart into our at-risk youth not because it was part of her job with the Department of Juvenile Justice, but because she had a heart to do it.”
A DAUGHTER REMEMBERS
Speaking by phone on May 4, Gerri-Ale Greene had many fond memories of her mother, who she said raised her from infancy.
“Her and my mom were friends before I came about, and I ended up going to stay with her. She raised me and a family member’s daughter and one of my cousins, so she raised three of us, and then my little brother that she adopted, Jaxson. We’ve been through a lot all together,” Greene shared.
“From childhood on up, she made sure that I was in cheerleading. She made sure that everything I wanted was done. And she spoiled me, just the same way she did Jaxson and Raykhia and ReJae. It was times of laughter, we talked, she was here during my own process of adopting two children, Kalina and Koriona, so she does have two grandbabies that she loved,” Greene said.
“She taught me to hold my own. And that regardless of what anybody might tell me, that I am beautiful inside and out. She taught me how to be a woman; how to walk in my own turf,” she added.
In the midst of continuing to make preparations for her mother, Greene said, “Even preparing this service for her, it’s been hard, but I know that’s what she would have wanted, me to stay strong and endure and make sure about everything. She taught me about organization.”
“She raised me to be who I am today. And I am proud of who I have become. She was really strict on me, and it didn’t make sense at the time but now it does. How she was with me is how I am with my girls. I get it. She taught me a lot, to be who I am and not to be anybody different, not to let others change who I am,” Greene offered.
Greene also said that her mother “went back to school for us.”
“After she got her associate degree, she wanted us to know how to accomplish things, to conquer things regardless of what was going on. So, she went back to school for us. She wanted to show us that we could do it. She wanted to be a leading example. If I’m telling you to go college, she used to say, then I need to do it too. She proved that to me, that what I’m telling you to do, I’ve done it. She completed her bachelors and masters,” Greene explained. Greene noted that her mother “had a lot accomplishments” and also was involved with Jack and Jill of America, Inc., along with Jaxson. According to its website, the organization, founded in 1938, has been committed to stimulating children’s growth and development through educational, cultural, civic, health, recreational and social opportunities. That dedication remains today as we work toward improving the quality of life for all children, particularly African American children. Greene said that Jaxson will now “stay with my grandmother, Audrey Clark.”
THE SERVICES
In addition to her children and grandchildren, Harris is survived by her husband Jonathan Harris and many other family members, as well as fur-babies Cairo, a miniature schnauzer, and Nylah, a Yorkie, Greene noted.
In announcing services, Greene wrote via social media: “We invite family and friends to join us in honoring and remembering a life so deeply loved. A wake and viewing will be held as we come together to share memories, offer comfort and celebrate the moments that will always stay with us.”
The wake and viewing will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. May 7 at Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, 606 SW Broadway St., Ocala.
The funeral will begin at 10:30 a.m. May 9 at The House of God, 2830 NW 27th Ave., Ocala.
“TiAnna Harris, also known in the community as TiAnna Greene, will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her,” Greene wrote. “She was a source of love, strength and kindness, and her absence leaves a space that can never be filled.”
TiAnna Harris
TiAnna Harris, second from left, along with Daniel Banks, right, was inducted into the Black History Archives of Marion County in 2025. Also honored during the Howard Academy Community Center Black History Awards event were Clinton Hart, Unsung Hero Award, and Rosemary Roberts, Beacon of Light Award. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]
TiAnna Harris, with her mother Audrey Clark and Harris’ son Jaxson. [Photo courtesy Gerri-Ale Greene]
TiAnna and Jonathan Harris on their wedding day, with her adopted son Jaxson Greene. [Photo courtesy GerriAle Greene]
“Ocala Gazette” Q&A with candidates for County Commission
This is the sixth week in a nine-week project to ask questions of and hear responses from those seeking office.
Staff report
There are three candidates running for the District 2 County Commission seat (Matthew Cretul, Mike Crimi and Brien Weidemiller) and six for the District 4 seat (Randall Alvord, Jeff Bairstow, Clint Barkley, Anthony Barriner-Massa, Wanda Wimberly Lasher and Sherri Meadows).
The “Gazette” will email a different question each week to all of the candidates, for a total of nine questions over nine weeks. The candidates are given a week to respond in writing and we do not edit their answers. The answers from those who chose to participate are presented below in the order in which they were received.
QUESTION SIX: What is one decision the Marion County Commission has made in the past two years that you believe was wrong or could have been handled better, and what would you have done differently?
One area where decisions could have been handled better is how growth and development have been communicated and coordinated with infrastructure and long-term budget planning.
Marion County has been experiencing growth for years, but many residents felt caught by surprise as projects began to take shape across different parts of the county. While required notices were provided, they did not always come across as part of a larger, long-term plan. As a result, many citizens felt disconnected from the process and frustrated by changes happening around them.
At the same time, in some cases development moved forward before the necessary infrastructure and financial planning were fully in place. When growth outpaces road capacity, public safety services and water resources — without a clear, phased budget strategy to support it — it creates real, day-to-day challenges for residents as they commute to work, school and home.
I believe the issue is not growth itself, but how it is planned, communicated and funded over time. I believe more strategic, long-term budgeting would have better positioned the county to manage the pace of growth we are experiencing today.
What I would have done differently is ensure clearer, more proactive communication about long-term development plans, while requiring a comprehensive, upfront evaluation of infrastructure capacity and associated costs before approvals are finalized — so growth does not outpace our ability to support it or lead to unnecessary costs for taxpayers.
Good governance is not about stopping growth — it’s about managing it responsibly, planning ahead and making sure our community is informed, prepared and protected every step of the way.
—Sherri Meadows ***
One decision I believe could have been handled better is how the county has continued approving growth without ensuring infrastructure keeps pace, particularly roads and traffic flow in high-growth corridors like State Road 200 and County Road 484.
Growth itself isn’t the problem. Marion County is an attractive place to live and do business, but the sequencing has been off. Too often, development approvals come first and infrastructure improvements come later, after residents are already dealing with congestion and safety concerns. What I would have done differently is require a stricter “infrastructurefirst” approach. That means tying development approvals directly to funded, scheduled road improvements not just planned ones and using tools like proportionate share agreements
and impact fees more aggressively to ensure growth pays for growth in real time.
I also would have pushed for clearer communication with the public, showing exactly when and how infrastructure improvements will happen before approving major projects so residents aren’t left guessing.
At the end of the day, it’s about balance. We can support growth and protect quality of life but only if we plan ahead and hold ourselves accountable.
—Mike Crimi ***
I’m not going to accuse anyone of doing something wrong. Marion County is growing fast and I believe we need a stronger focus on planning, infrastructure, fiscal responsibility and protecting the character of our communities. Good people can disagree on policy.
My goal is to bring a fresh perspective, ask the right questions, listen to residents, and make sure growth works for the taxpayers, not against them.
—Jeff Bairstow ***
While it may seem paradoxical to call the reinstatement of impact fees a wrong move, it was a move too late. Marion County welcomes scores and scores of new residents every week, yet for nearly a decade, the commission allowed critical impact fee programs to remain suspended or repealed rather than requiring development to pay its fair share.
The fire rescue impact fee was suspended in 2010 and repealed entirely in 2015. It was not reinstated until May 2025. That is a 10-year gap during one of the county’s most explosive periods of growth.
Transportation impact fees remained well below full assessed value until this year, when the commission finally approved a phased schedule reaching 100% in 2028.
The consequences are undeniable.
Marion County faces an estimated $1.4 to $1.5 billion in transportation and infrastructure needs over the next 20 years, with only $900 million projected in available revenue. The county operates 32 fire stations and is struggling to keep pace.
Impact fees are not a tax on residents. They are a one-time charge on new development, ensuring growth pays for the infrastructure it creates. Had the commission acted sooner, reinstating fire rescue fees by 2020 and moving transportation fees to full rates years earlier, the county would be in a far stronger fiscal position today.
Compounding the problem, the commission cut the millage rate to 4.02 mils by redirecting $7.8 million in onetime ARPA interest funds, despite the known risks of doing so.
It’s great that the fees have returned, but it’s a decision that should’ve been made sooner.
—Matthew Cretul ***
Currently, both the county and the city fund the Ocala/Marion CEP (Chamber and Economic Partnership) at significant levels, which has produced several high quantity and high quality jobs here in Marion County with businesses like, FedEx, Chewy, Amazon and several others.
Obviously, AI data centers are a hot topic when it comes to those entities expanding into the Florida market because of our water supply needed for cooling these facilities, but myself and so many others would definitely not want to see our natural resources ravaged by the AI industry.
—Randall Alvord
These candidates did not respond by the stated deadline of 5 p.m. May
5: Brien Weidemiller, Clint Barkley, Anthony Barriner-Massa and Wanda Wimberly Lasher.
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People, Places and Things
Inspire Gala highlights philanthropy and collaboration
The Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County event celebrated collective impact.
By Jennifer Hunt jennifer@ocalagazette.com
The fourth annual Inspire
Gala, hosted by the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County, brought together nonprofit leaders, donors and community members on May 1 at the Circle Square Cultural Center to celebrate philanthropy and collective impact across Marion County.
The evening focused on recognizing individuals and organizations whose service and giving have strengthened the community, while reinforcing a broader message about collaboration among local nonprofits.
“Tonight, we gather with a shared purpose — to celebrate the extraordinary work being done throughout our nonprofit community,”
President & Executive Director Lauren Deiorio said in opening remarks, noting the gala was created to “shine a light on this collective impact.”
Throughout the program, speakers emphasized both the needs in Marion County and the role philanthropy plays in addressing them. One award presenter, Charisse Rivers of Zinnia Wealth Management, told attendees that if they took the position that money can’t buy happiness — “you just haven’t given away enough.”
Those honored during the evening were:
• Youth Philanthropist of The Year
– Conleigh Abbott
• Emerging Nonprofit – Lotus Marion
• Nonprofit Board Member of The Year – Todd Panzer
• Nonprofit of The Year –Community Legal Services
• Corporate Partner of The Year –SECO Energy Foundation
• The Unsung Hero – John Renyhart
• Frank Martin Hennessey Legacy Award – Colen Family
• Luminary Award – Estate Planning Council of Marion County – Mark Camp
RECOGNIZING SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP
The message echoed by Todd Panzar, honored as nonprofit board member of the year, was a sentiment that often is attributed to Winston Churchill: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Panzar was honored for his leadership and advocacy in supporting early learning initiatives in Marion County.
Panzar, reflecting on the role of nonprofit leadership, emphasized the importance of steady commitment and community focus.
“This work is about showing up, listening and helping organizations stay true to their mission,” he said.
The gala culminated with the presentation of the Frank Martin Hennessy Legacy Award to the Colen family, which built the On Top of the World community, among others, and was recognized for decades of philanthropy and communitybuilding efforts.
Accepting on behalf of the family, Robert Colen said the recognition reflects a long-held belief in responsibility to others.
“We have never been a family that has sought recognition for serving the community,” Colen said. “It has always been part of our values to try to do what is right, because we believe that we have a responsibility to the world around us.”
He added that the family’s guiding philosophy remains unchanged across generations: “We affect the lives of people, and we affect their lives for good.”
A CULTURE OF GIVING
Frank Hennessy, founder of the Community Foundation, also reflected on the importance of philanthropy in Marion County, both through structured giving and personal acts of generosity.
“At the end of the day, it’s about giving back,” Hennessy said, noting his own recent contribution. “I ended up giving $10,000… I feel like a new man.”
Organizers highlighted that the gala’s impact extends beyond a single evening, with proceeds supporting nonprofit programming and resources throughout the year.
The event also underscored the collaborative network that exists among local organizations —where a single point of contact for someone in need can connect them to a wide range of services, from housing and healthcare to education and financial support.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Award recipients spanned a wide range of categories, including youth philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, corporate partnership and emerging nonprofit services. Each honoree represented a different facet of Marion County’s nonprofit ecosystem.
As the evening concluded, organizers encouraged attendees to stay engaged and continue supporting local initiatives, emphasizing that sustained community involvement is essential to meeting growing needs.
“Our community is stronger because of the tireless work they do every day,” organizers said.
The Inspire Gala continues to serve as both a celebration and a call to action — reminding attendees that meaningful change depends not only on recognition, but on continued generosity and shared responsibility.
To learn more, go to ocalafoundation.org
Betsy Weber, executive director of Lotus Marion, center, becomes emotional as she stands with Lt. Clint Smith of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, right, while receiving the Emerging Nonprofit of the Year award, as Lauren Deiorio, president and executive director of the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County, looks on during the Inspire in Ocala on May 1, 2026.
John Renyhart walks on stage.
Conleigh Abbott of Trinity Catholic High School accepts the Youth in Philanthropy Adam Hanson Better Communities Foundation Award from Stan Hanson.
Mariah Delgado and Matthew Roudabush, right, of the SECO Energy Foundation, accept the Corporate Partner of the Year Award from Charisse Rivers of Zinnia Wealth Management.
Award winners pose for a group photo.
Nick Navetta, right, presents the Estate Planning Council’s Luminary Award for Mark Camp to his daughter, Lindsey Hampton.
Todd Panzer, chair of the Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, right, receives the Nonprofit Board Member of the Year Award from a representative from First Federal Bank.
Douglas Cone III and Lauren Deiorio pose with members of Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, which received the Nonprofit of the Year Award.
Alison Vazquez of Lotus Marion accepts the Emerging Nonprofit of the Year award from Erika Skula, president and CEO of AdventHealth Ocala, as MCSO Lt. Clint Smith walks on stage and Lauren Deiorio looks on.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
Robert Colen holds the Frank Martin Hennessey Legacy Award for the Colen family with Lauren Deiorio and Frank Hennessey.
Rolling for The Rock
Car show and vendor fair on May 16 will support program that helps area students.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
People can check out some cool collectible and military vehicles and enjoy a vendor fair at the upcoming Rolling for The Rock Program car show in Ocala.
The fun family day will benefit The Rock program, an outreach with volunteer staffed rooms in middle and high schools in Marion and Citrus counties where food, clothing, shoes, school supplies, hygiene supplies and even prom outfits are kept for students in need. The materials are meant to give the students tools to help build a rock-solid foundation to succeed.
The car show will feature a kid’s zone, music, plant sale, food trucks and more than 15 car award categories, from “coolest paint” to “coolest vibe” and people’s choice. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 16 at The Arc of Marion campus at 2800 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala. Douglas Suzukovich, president of the Florida Military Vehicle Heritage Group, said the organization plans to display vehicles at the show, likely including several Jeeps and Humvees.
Show admission is free but a donation of food, clothing or school supplies for The Rock is welcomed.
The Rock program was established about 10 years ago by local restaurateur Ron “Rondo” Fernandez and his wife, Toby. It is aimed at helping students be “engaged, stable and confident” according to its website.
“In 2025, the Rock program served 15,749 students by providing essential items, including 4,630 clothing items, 394 pairs of shoes, 3,065 food items, 7,729 hygiene products and 29,573 school supplies, removing barriers that impact learning,” the site states.
The program helped about 300 students at seven schools with items needed for prom outfits, according to Executive Director Troy Weaver.
Weaver indicated there is a general flexible limit of two items per category per student.
“In some special cases they
may take more. Teachers, counselors and nurses assist in qualifying the students but in reality we will serve any student,”
Weaver wrote via email.
Weaver said one student running track at an area school was able to get needed running shoes through the Rock.
Rock rooms are in all Marion County middle and high schools except Vanguard High, which currently gets visits from the Rolling Rock van.
Marion County School Board member Lori Conrad supports the program and is a volunteer in the Rock room at Forest High School.
The room is the same room where a shooting occurred in 2018. The incident injured a 17-year-old student and a 19-year-old was arrested in connection with the shooting after school resource officer
Deputy Jimmy Long rushed to the sound of gunfire, according to a CNN report.
Conrad noted that all donations are welcome and none are too small, such as a jar of peanut butter or a box of granola bars.
For those interested in participating in the car show, pre-registration is $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the event. Registration will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on show day.
Vendor spaces are $40. To sign up, email Weaver at execdirector@ therockprogram.org.
For information about The Rock program and ways to help, go to therockprogram.org
Toby Fernandez, Ron “Rondo” Fernandez and their daughter Amber Ellman, of The Rock, attended a nonprofit celebration at the Reilly Arts Center in Ocala on Sept. 20, 2023.
[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]
SOCIAL SCENE
High tea fun(d) raiser
Annual Interfaith event draws teams competing for honors while supporting local families.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
Interfaith Emergency Service’s 10th annual High Tea took place May 2 at the UF Extension Auditorium in northeast Ocala. The room was packed with guests attired in amazing finery and beautiful hats, with table themes such as the classic “Alice in Wonderland.”
In announcing the annual event weeks ago, Karla Greenway, the executive director of Interfaith, noted through social media that “The Ladies’ High Tea raises support for our homeless shelter. At any time, half of our residents are children and infants. Almost every family that comes in our shelter leaves stably housed with sustainable income. We only have 37 beds, but last year received over 1,500 calls from people in need of shelter. Sadly, we had to turn down more than 1,000 people who were desperate for a safe place to sleep. We are expanding our shelter to add 25 more beds this year.”
During the high tea gathering, “hostesses” bring together friends and family members to help raise money to support the cause.
“What an amazing event,” Greenway wrote via email on May 4. “These hostesses did a wonderful job of making the event special. Not only were the tables incredible but together they raised over $92,000 for our shelter ministry.”
The winner of the Golden
Teapot, with $41,740 raised, was the Recharge Clinic Table, hosted by Cynthia Tieche and Kirsten Young. Cherie Foster and the Women of Our Savior Lutheran went home with the Silver Teapot, raising over $5,053, and our new award, The Crystal Tea Cup, went to the Homes to Ranches Table hosted by Amy Jo Lord, who raised $4,850, Greenway shared.
The People’s Choice table theme winner, as voted on by all attendees, went to Jane Moerlie for “Alice in Wonderland.”
The Most Creative table theme honor went to Maria Roman with Champions for Champions “Chicken Salad Chick sponsored the event by providing food for the guests,” Greenway noted, adding that other sponsors included Recharge Clinic, Homes to Ranches Realty, Frank and Angela DeLuca, Lou James, Carmen’s Carmart, HCA Florida HealthCare, Midstate Skin & Aesthetics Institute and Mainstreet Community Bank.
“This is a new record for this event and we are already looking forward to next year. The event will be held the first Saturday in May again in 2027 and if there’s anyone out there who wants to get involved, please contact us at info@iesmarion.org or through our Facebook page,” she added.
Holly Yocum, Lisa Sheets, Angela Reynolds, April McDonald, Karla Greenway and Monica Bryant.
Daniella Rampersad, Kevin Ledzian, Jane Moerlie, Amia Moerlie, 6, Mark Mason, Deanna Eckhard and Craig Clark
Becky Drake, Casey Frank, Anne Chiulli, Brittany Hilton-Dame and Mandy Hodges-Nelson.
Theodora Christopher, Janice Barnes and Michelle Kambua, 16.
Josie Celis, Nicole Celis, Vivana Carcasses and Aviana Willis, 6.
Mary Beth Neely, Lou James and Karla Greenway.
Brittany Bishop, Christy McCrea, Jennifer Almeida, Mariah Williams, Nicole Lovely, Beatriz Pfouts, Samantha Novaes and Jessica Heller.
Tasha Osbourne, Angela DeLuca and Karla Greenway pose during the Interfaith Emergency Services High Tea at the UF Extension auditorium at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion in Ocala on May 2, 2026. Women look on at their tables during the Interfaith Emergency Services High Tea fundraiser.
Beth Knife and CF Foundation CEO Chris Knife.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
Otters and the Everglades on display
The Friends of Silver Springs State Park offer two new fine art photography exhibits.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
Noted photographers Linda Wilinski and Jade Cave will have works on display inside the Friends of Silver Springs State Park Welcome Center and Gallery at Silver Springs State Park from May 4 through July 6.
“The new show will feature ‘The Life of Otters’ by art photographer Linda Wilinski, who is an ethical conservation photographer,” according to Marianne Marcoux, a FSSSP volunteer and gallerist.
“Linda, often called the ‘otter whisperer,’ will speak to our membership and the general public on the topic at 3 p.m. on May 17 in the Saupp Center and I will open the gallery an hour before and an hour after her presentation,” Marcoux added.
“The second gallery wall will showcase ‘The Beauty of the Everglades’ by art photographer Jade Cave. Jade is English born and now resides in South Florida. Her work supports and promotes the preservation of fragile ecosystems like our Everglades,” Marcoux noted.
Cave shared via email that she “travels all over Florida to capture its beauty, with hikes in the Everglades, kayaking its canals and walks in its swamps to capture the magic.”
Her collections have been exhibited around the world, including shows in London, Venice, Italy, Vienna, New York and Miami, and her works are part of numerous private collections, including the art collection at the British Consulate in Miami.
She said her new collection shows off the beauty of the Everglades with never-before displayed collectable works — her collection works are limited to only 10 pieces produced worldwide of each image — which she said she does deliberately to highlight the urgent need for conservation. The works on display will be interactive by tapping your phone to the bottom right-hand corner, she noted.
According to her website, Wilinski is an award-winning wildlife photographer focused on the conservation of Florida’s freshwater springs. She is a certified Florida Master Naturalist and Spring Ambassador. Her works have been on exhibit at Leu Gardens in Winter Park, historic Mount Dora and the Cedar Key Arts Center. She completed a yearlong photo series for the Oakland Nature Preserve and is a board member of Rainbow River Conservation, member of Ichetucknee Alliance and communications advisory member of the Florida Springs Council.
She won first place through a Florida State Parks photo contest and Clyde Butcher picked one of her photographs as the winner of a local wildlife photography contest. She was the winner in two categories through the International Union for Conservation for World Otter Day 2024. Some of her otter photographs were published in IUCN’s “Otters” book. Wilinski works with the International Otter Survival Fund as well as Florida Otter Spotters. She said her gallery show will be interactive and visitors will be able to learn about the species by scanning QR Codes. In Addition to Wilinski’s lecture at 3 p.m. on May 17, the Friends group will host a meet and greet for both artists from 2 to 4 p.m. on May 16 in the Friends Welcome Center Gallery. Light refreshments will be served and there will be a drawing of chance for prints. All artwork is for sale, Marcoux noted.
“Profits from sales of my images at this exhibition will be donated to the Friends of Silver Springs State Park and one lucky visitor will get to win one of these valuable limited-edition pieces free of charge at the meet and greet the artist event,” Cave said. The park is located at 5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. A fee of $2 per person is required to enter.
To learn more, go to thefriendsofsilversprings.org and find them on social media and visit jadecaveart. com and lindawphotography.com
a petition for an administrative hearing must contain the following information:
(a) The name and address of each agency affected and each agency’s file or identification number, if known;
(b) The name, address, any email address, any facsimile number, and telephone number of the petitioner; the name, address, and telephone number of the petitioner’s representative, if any, which shall be the address for service purposes during the course of the proceeding; and an explanation of how the petitioner’s substantial interests are or will be affected by the agency determination;
(c) A statement of when and how the petitioner received notice of the agency decision;
(d) A statement of all disputed issues of material fact. If there are none, the petition must so indicate;
(e) A concise statement of the ultimate facts alleged, including the specific facts that the petitioner contends warrant reversal or modification of the agency’s proposed action;
(f) A statement of the specific rules or statutes that the petitioner contends require reversal or modification of the agency’s proposed action, including an explanation of how the alleged facts relate to the specific rules or statutes; and
(g) A statement of the relief sought
Otter [Photo courtesy of Linda Wilinski]
Flamingos [Photo courtesy of Jade Cave]
IHMC Ocala evening lecture set for May 21
Dr. Theresa Currier Thomas will discuss ‘the invisible aftermath of concussion.’
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magoliamediaco.com
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), including common forms of closed head injury such as concussion, is often assumed to be a short-term condition. Yet many individuals experience symptoms that persist or emerge later, including changes in mood, stress sensitivity, sleep and cognitive function.
In her lecture on May 21 at the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition campus in downtown Ocala, Dr. Theresa Currier Thomas will discuss the invisible aftermath of concussion(s), which in the past impacted a close family member.
By connecting laboratory discoveries to real-world symptoms, the lecture will aim to explain why individuals may not feel “back to normal” despite appearing physically recovered and how a deeper understanding of brain function may lead to more effective approaches for improving long-term brain health and resilience.
Thomas is an associate professor in the Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair within the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. She received her B.S. in agricultural biotechnology from the University of Kentucky, followed by a Ph.D. in anatomy and neurobiology and postdoctoral training in brain injury research at the University of Kentucky Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center. Prior to moving to Florida, she directed the Translational Neurotrauma and Neurochemistry Research Laboratory and held faculty and research appointments at the
IN THE COUNTY COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA ETHAN'S GLEN HOME OWNERS'ASSOCIATION, INC., A FLORIDA NON-PROFIT CORPORATION, Plaintiff VS. ESTATE OF MAUREEN GOODRICH, DECEASED; ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, SPOUSES, AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF MAUREEN GOODRICH; ESTATE OF ROBERT L. ANDREWS, JR., DECEASED, ANY AND ALL UNKNOWNHEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, SPOUSES, AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF ROBERT L. ANDREWS, JR.; UNKNOWN TRUSTEE OF THE DOUGLAS G. ANDREWS TRUST CREATED UNDER THE ARTICLE FIFTH OF THE ANITA V. ANDREWS DECLARATION OF TRUST
DATED JANUARY 19, 2006, Defendants. NOTICE OF ACTION CASE NO.: 2026-CC-0798 To the following Defendants: Unknown Trustee of the Douglas G. Andrews Trust Created Under the Article Fifth of the Anita V. Andrews Declaration of Trust dated January 19, 2006 Unknown
Address YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action has been commenced to foreclose a mortgage lien on the following real property, lying and being situated in Marion County, Florida, more particularly described as follows: The West 8.33 feet of Lot 7 and all of Lot 8 of Block D, ETHAN'S
University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Phoenix VA Health Care System. Her research examines the biological processes that drive late-onset and persistent symptoms after traumatic brain injury, with a focus on identifying early interventions to reduce long-term severity. She also studies how neuroendocrine dysfunction, particularly disruption of the stress response, influences recovery and rehabilitation outcomes.
Thomas serves on the executive committee of the National Neurotrauma Society and leads initiatives to support training and career development in neurotrauma research.
“I am deeply committed to mentorship, advocacy and building a strong neurotrauma community,” she shared via email. “I’ve helped develop several mentorship and networking programs, including one that has connected more than 340 trainees and professionals across 11 countries, 96 institutions and 29 states. Supporting career development and creating meaningful connections within the field is something I take seriously.
To learn more about the doctor, the “Gazette” did a Q&A with her.
WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED?
I was born in Richmond, Kentucky, but I was raised in a small rural town called Beattyville. When I was about 7, my parents separated and my mother moved us to the Louisville area. I spent the school year in Louisville and weekends and summers back in Beattyville, so I
\IN THE COUNTY COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA ETHAN'S GLEN HOME OWNERS'ASSOCIATION, INC., A FLORIDA NON-PROFIT CORPORATION, Plaintiff VS. ESTATE OF MAUREEN GOODRICH, DECEASED; ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, SPOUSES, AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF MAUREEN GOODRICH; ESTATE OF ROBERT L. ANDREWS, JR., DECEASED, ANY AND ALL UNKNOWNHEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, SPOUSES, AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF ROBERT L. ANDREWS, JR.; UNKNOWN TRUSTEE OF THE DOUGLAS G. ANDREWS TRUST CREATED UNDER THE ARTICLE FIFTH OF THE ANITA V. ANDREWS DECLARATION OF TRUST DATED JANUARY 19, 2006, Defendants.
NOTICE OF ACTION CASE NO.: 2026-CC-0798 To the following Defendants: Estate of Maureen Goodrich 3919 NE 22nd St., Ocala, FL 34470 YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action has been commenced to foreclose a mortgage lien on the following real property, lying and being situated in Marion County, Florida, more particularly described as follows: The West 8.33 feet of Lot 7 and all of Lot 8 of Block D, ETHAN'S GLEN, as per plat thereof recorded in Plat Book W, Pages 25 and 26, Public Records of Marion County, Florida. This action has been has been filed against you. You are required to serve a copy of your Electronically Filed Marion Case # 26CC000798AX 04/03/2026 05:05:36 PM written defenses to this action, if any, on Caleb V. Smith, counsel for Plaintiff, whose address is 445 NE 8th Ave. Ocala, Florida 34470 WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM 1ST DATE OF PUBLICATION. The original must be filed with the clerk of this court either before service on Plaintiff's attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint filed herein. Dated this 13th day of April, 2026.
Dr. Theresa Currier Thomas [Photo courtesy IHMC]
grew up experiencing both rural and city life.
WHAT KIND OF YOUTH/YOUNG ADULT WERE YOU?
I was very observant and curious about people — why they behave the way they do and what drives their decisions. That curiosity is still at the core of what I do today. As a young adult, I was also very goal oriented. I worked after school at Taco Bell to save money for my senior trip to France, which was especially meaningful because of my French-Canadian heritage. Travel and cultural exchange were always part of family conversations growing up.
WHEN DID YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
I didn’t — at least not early on. A research career wasn’t even on my radar growing up. In high school, I considered medicine, veterinary school and several lines of research, but nothing really fit. I just knew there were a lot of paths I didn’t want and I was still searching for the one that made sense.
WHAT PUT YOU ON YOUR CURRENT PATH?
My path started somewhat
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA
ROBERT ALBERS, TRUSTEE OF THE BOB ALBERS TRUST DATED JANUARY 7, 2005, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED APRIL 21, 2021, Plaintiff, V. DAVID A. HALL, ELLIS MEEKER CRISSON, JAMES H. VASSILEV, and ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, UNDER, AND AGAINST DAVID A. HALL, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES OR CLAIMANTS, Defendants. CASE NO.: 2025-CA-1617
AMENDED NOTICE OF ACTION
To the following Defendant:
Unknown Parties claiming by, through, under and Against David A. Hall Last known address: 1401 Lake Groves Road North, Lake Placid, FL 33852 Current address: Unknown YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that a lawsuit has been filed against you regarding the following described Real Property: Commencing at the Southwest corner of Section 2, according to the plat of Manhattan, recorded in Plat Book 2, Page 2, Public Records of Lake County, Florida, run thence South 89°29'34" East along the South boundary of said Section 2, a distance of 5280.30 feet to the Southeast corner thereof, thence North 3791.55 feet, thence 5472.06 feet to the Point of Beginning, from Point of Beginning, run North a distance of 115 feet, thence East 75 feet, thence South 115 feet, thence West 75 feet to the Point of Beginning, also described as Lot 11, Block 46, Unit 3, according to the unrecorded Plat of Astor Forest Campsites.
You are required to serve a copy of your written defenses to this action, if any, on Stanley W. Plappert, counsel for Plaintiffs, whose address is 445 NE 8th Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34470 on/or before May 28, 2026. The original must be filed with the clerk of this court either before service on Plaintiff's attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise, a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint filed herein. Dated this 10th day of April, 2026.
unexpectedly. After my trip to France, I was encouraged to apply for an agricultural internship there the following summer. During that experience, a faculty mentor invited me to join her lab back in the U.S. and that was my first exposure to research. From that point on, I continued working in labs and eventually found my way to neuroscience.
But what truly committed me to this field was personal.
During my postdoctoral training, I took a neurotrauma course and learned about chronic symptoms following concussion. It immediately connected to my own life. When my mother was pregnant with my older brother, she was in a serious car accident — her head hit the windshield, and she fractured vertebrae in her neck. At the hospital, she was asked basic questions, answered them correctly and was sent home.
No one talked about long-term consequences.
She returned home with a head injury, a young child, a newborn and very little support. Growing up, I saw the effects — chronic headaches, depression, irritability and subtle but meaningful cognitive changes. At the time, those behaviors were misunderstood and often dismissed. This was very isolating for my mom. Looking back now, they are consistent with what we recognize as long-term effects of brain injury.
What’s most striking is that this is still happening. Even today, many people are told they’re “fine” if initial tests look normal, without meaningful education about what could develop later.
That realization changed the direction of my career.
My work now focuses on understanding why these longterm symptoms develop — particularly the role of brain circuits, hormones and stress — and identifying interventions
IN THE COUNTY COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA ETHAN'S GLEN HOME OWNERS'ASSOCIATION, INC., A FLORIDA NON-PROFIT CORPORATION, Plaintiff, VS. ESTATE OF MAUREEN GOODRICH, DECEASED; ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, SPOUSES, AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF MAUREEN GOODRICH; ESTATE OF ROBERT L. ANDREWS, JR., DECEASED, ANY AND ALL UNKNOWNHEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, SPOUSES, AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF ROBERT L. ANDREWS, JR.; UNKNOWN TRUSTEE OF THE DOUGLAS G. ANDREWS TRUST CREATED UNDER THE ARTICLE FIFTH OF THE ANITA V. ANDREWS DECLARATION OF TRUST DATED JANUARY 19, 2006, Defendants. NOTICE OF ACTION CASE NO.: 2026-CC-0798
To the following Defendants: Estate of Robert L. Andrews, Jr. 400 NW 80th Ave., Ocala, FL 34482 YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action has been commenced to foreclose a mortgage lien on the following real property, lying and being situated in Marion County, Florida, more particularly described as follows: The West 8.33 feet of Lot 7 and all of Lot 8 of Block D, ETHAN'S GLEN, as per plat thereof recorded in Plat Book W, Pages 25 and 26, Public Records of Marion County, Florida. This action has been has been filed against you. You are required to serve a copy of your written defenses to this action, if any, on Caleb V. Smith, counsel for Plaintiff, whose address is 445 NE 8th Ave. Ocala, Florida 34470 WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM 1ST DATE OF PUBLICATION. The original
that could prevent or reduce their severity. My goal isn’t just to study brain injury, but to change how we recognize and treat it. HOW DID YOU BECOME CONNECTED TO IHMC?
I recently moved to Tampa to join the University of South Florida after working at Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. I was recruited, in part, to work on a clinical trial evaluating hyperbaric oxygen therapy in veterans and active-duty military members with chronic traumatic brain injury, specifically to replicate some of the findings we see clinically in our preclinical models.
A colleague in Phoenix connected me with Dominik D’Agostino, who is actively working with hyperbaric oxygen chambers in preclinical models. He introduced me to IHMC because of our overlapping research interests in brain health, metabolism and performance. PLEASE SHARE WITH US ABOUT FAMILY, FAVORITE ACTIVITIES, ETC.
Right now, I’m in the process of relocating my husband and our dog to Tampa and we’re hoping to have everyone settled by the beginning of June.
Outside of work, I enjoy bourbon tastings, cooking, traveling and leadership development.
I also spend a lot of time thinking about how lifestyle factors — like nutrition, stress and daily habits — affect brain health, which closely ties into both my research and how I live my day-to-day life.
Each IHMC evening lecture begins with a catered reception at 5:30 p.m. Seating is limited so an RSVP is suggested and may be made through ihmc20260521.eventbrite.com or by calling (850) 202-4415.
Filing # 246683424 E-Filed 04/23/2026 01:08:22 PM IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROVANTAGE GROUP, LLC, Plaintiff, VS. CASE NO.: 25-CA-283 ALGENARD SIMMONS, individually, THE STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, and THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION - DIVISION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO, Defendants. CLERK'S NOTICE OF SALE UNDER F.S. CHAPTER 45 NOTICE IS GIVEN that, in accordance with the Final Judgment of Foreclosure and for Attorneys Fees and Costs dated April 8, 2026, in the above-styled cause, and in accordance with Administrative Order 3-15.13, the Clerk of the Court will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash at www.marion.realforeclose.com at 11:00
a.m. Eastern Time on May 13, 2026 the following described property: State of Florida Quota Alcoholic Beverage License #BEV 52-03627, series 4COP for use in Marion County, Florida If you are a subordinate lienholder claiming a right to the funds remaining after the sale, you must file a claim with the clerk no later than 60 days after the sale. If you fail to file a claim, you will not be entitled to any remaining funds.
Dated: April 23, 2026 THE TILLER LAW GROUP, P.A. Attorneys for Plaintiff 633 North Franklin Street, Suite 625 Tampa, Florida 33602
Telephone: 813-972-2223
Facsimile: 813-972-2226 E-Mail: marc@thetillerlawgroup.com Marc R.Tiller. Esq. Fla. Bar No. 0154814
Government
MAY 11, 18, 25
Marion County Development
Review
Office of County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave., Building 1, Ocala
9am
The committee meets each Monday to review and vote on waiver requests to the Land Development Code, major site plans and subdivision plans. See marion.fl.legistar.com/calendar.aspx for agenda and minutes.
MAY 12, 26
Marion County School Board
1614 E Fort King St., Ocala
5:30pm
The board meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Agendas and minutes are available at go.boarddocs.com/fl/marion/board. nsf/public
MAY 13
Dunnellon City Council
Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 River Dr., Dunnellon
5:30pm
Community Arts
MAY 11
Master the Possibilities seminar
Live Oak Hall, 8395 SW 80th St., Ocala
3pm “A Virtual Tour of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum” brings the memorial to life through guided storytelling and visuals, honoring the lives lost and the resilience that followed. Registration assistance is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. by calling (352) 861-9751 and registration is available 24/7 at masterthepossibilities.org
MAY 16
Rolling for the Rock Program Car Show & Vendor Fair
The Arc of Marion, 2800 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala
9am-3pm
This event will benefit local middle and high school students through The Rock program, which stocks supplies at schools. It will include food trucks, a plant sale, a kid’s zone, music and more. Admission is free for spectators, but donations of food, hygiene products and school supplies are appreciated. To learn more or register a vehicle, email execdirector@therockprogram. org
Memorial service for Catherine Steddom
Fort King Presbyterian Church, 13 NE 36th Ave, Ocala 1pm The church is hosting a memorial service to celebrate the life and witness of Catherine Steddom, who passed away on April 12. All are welcome. To learn more, email fkpc@ fotkingchurch.org or call (352) 694-4121.
MAY 20
Corridor Connect+ LIVE: Working Lands, Working Solutions Circle Square Cultural Center, 8395 SW 80th St., Ocala
4:45-8pm
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
MAY 19
Marion County Board of County Commissioners
McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala 9am
The commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at marionfl.legistar.com/calendar.aspx
Ocala City Council
Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala
4pm
The council meets each first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas and minutes are available at ocala.legistar.com/calendar.aspx
Belleview City Commission
Belleview City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview
6pm
The commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video available at belleviewfl.org/200/agendas-minutes
MAY 9
Dueling Pianos
Reilly Arts Center, NOMA Black Box, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala
6pm
Grab a seat at a café table and enjoy dueling pianos, cocktails and an evening of fun with friends. Performing sing-along classics of soft rock and pop. Get tickets at reillyartscenter.com
Dueling Pianos Uncensored
Reilly Arts Center, NOMA Black Box, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala
9pm
Unleash your wild side on the dance floor as pianists engage in hilarious and unpredictable musical mash-ups while cocktail servers dish up your favorite drinks. Get ready for a night of laughter, outrageous requests and a high-energy, adults-only atmosphere. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com
MAY 10
Symphony
Under the Stars
Ocala Golf Club, 3130 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
3-10pm
In partnership with Horse Farms Forever and sponsored by The Saint Bernard Foundation and Duke Energy, the gathering will bring together landowners, conservation leaders, horse farm advocates and community members committed to keeping the Florida Wildlife Corridor connected and protected and explore how working lands, wildlife habitat, and vibrant rural communities can thrive together. The keynote speaker is Ben Masters, a National Geographic Explorer and filmmaker. Learn more and get tickets at corridorconnect.org/events/160647
MAY 21, JUNE 18
Ocala/Marion County Braver
Angels Alliance
Ocala-Headquarters Public Library, 2720 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
5:15pm Braver Angels is a national organization with a mission to strengthen democracy through civil discourse. The upcoming meetings will reflect on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, with interactive discussions about why the declaration is important today and how it shapes our American identity. To learn more, go to braverangels.org or email Buddy Oswald at dhoswald@gmail.com
JUNE 6
Juneteenth Celebration Dinner/ Dance Fundraiser
Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala
6-10pm
R.A.M.A.L. Educational and Social Services, Inc., Inc., a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization presents the event, which will include dinner, live entertainment, a DJ, dancing, silent and live auctions, raffles and more. Proceeds will support community projects, scholarships for at-risk and non-traditional college students, tutoring and mentoring. Get tickets through eventbrite.com, Cash App $RAMALServices, Zelle (352) 875-4237 or ramalservices.org
Enjoy picnics, games, entertainment, a performance by the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and fireworks in this signature fundraiser for Fine Arts For Ocala. There will be a variety of vendors on site. Guests can bring picnics, chairs, tables, blankets and flashlights for exiting postfireworks. Food, water, soft drinks, beer and wine are permitted. No tents, large umbrellas or pets allowed. To purchase tickets, visit fafo.org/symphony-1
MAY 15
Jim Breuer: Find The Funny
Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala
7:30pm
Known for his iconic Saturday Night Live characters and wildly relatable storytelling, Breuer delivers sharp observations, hilarious family moments and spontaneous crowd interaction. Get tickets at reillyartscenter.com
Blues in the Box: JP Soars
Reilly Arts Center, NOMA Black Box, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala
7:30pm
The blues guitarist and vocalist brings soulful sound, masterful guitar work and authentic passion to the stage. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com
MAY 17
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala
7:30pm
Known for their horn-driven sound and electrifying performances, the band continues to captivate audiences with music that is timeless and vibrant. Step into the rhythm, feel the energy and enjoy a lively night of music that keeps the spirit of swing alive. Get details at reillyartscenter.com
MAY 30
Rhythm Fest
Webb Field, 1501 W Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
11am-5pm
Enjoy live performances throughout the day, including headliner The Family Stone, plus The Sensational Barnes Brothers, The Pharaohs of Funk, the Ocala Steel Orchestra and more acts. There will be local vendors, food trucks and a Kids Zone. Learn more at ocalafl.gov/government/citydepartments-i-z/recreation-parks/special-events/rhythm-fest
JUNE 12
Hear Us Roar III
Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
6pm
This is a collaborative fundraiser for Arts in Health Ocala Metro and The Arc of Marion. It will feature a sing-along style performance where clients from The Arc of Marion take the stage alongside AIHOM musicians Becky Baby, David Reinwald and Brandon Dull. Original paintings created by Arc artists during workshops led by AIHOM artist practitioner Christopher Hershberger will be available for purchase. VIP tickets include access at 6pm, light hors d’oeuvres and opportunity to view and purchase artwork before the performance. General admission includes entry to the 7pm show and access to purchase artwork following the performance. Tickets are on sale now at ocalacivictheatre. com/tickets
THROUGH JUNE 21
‘Portraits in Passing: Contemporary Chinese Brush Painting by A.E. Kozeliski’
Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Times vary Rooted in the ancient traditions of Chinese brush painting, Kozeliski’s process draws on the discipline’s four foundational strokes, techniques that require mastery of brush pressure, water-ink balance and handmade paper selection. For more information, call (352) 291-4455 or visit appletonmuseum.org.
THROUGH SEPT. 13
My Country, ’Tis of Thee: Celebrating American Art and Design
Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Hours vary Drawn from the Appleton’s permanent collection, the exhibition highlights a wide range of American expression across time periods, subjects, media and functions. It also explores the role Florida and its natural wonders, including those of Marion County, has played as a source of
for artists. For details, go to appletonmuseum.org
JR., DECEASED, ANY AND ALL UNKNOWNHEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, SPOUSES, AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF ROBERT L. ANDREWS, JR.; UNKNOWN TRUSTEE OF THE DOUGLAS G. ANDREWS TRUST CREATED UNDER THE ARTICLE FIFTH OF THE ANITA V. ANDREWS
It’s a Mother’s Day tradition – Symphony Under the Stars [File photo by Bruce Ackerman]
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.
Gasoline Alley
Broom Hilda
Middletons
Animal Crackers
