MCBCC comes to consensus on increased fire assessments
By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
The Marion County Board of County Commissioners came to a consensus during their May 6 regularly scheduled board meeting that they will increase the fire rescue assessment fee to account for population growth and additional needs for service.
They agreed to work on a resolution they will pass that raises the fire assessment from $199 to $280.78 over the next five years for residential homes.
The fire assessment fee is tacked on to all real estate tax bills sent out annually to real property owners. Fire rescue assessment rates are different from impact fees and the penny sales tax, as the revenue can be used for regular department costs and operations. Impact fees and penny sales tax revenue can only be used for capital projects and infrastructure.
Assessment rates are only charged to residents living outside of city borders. The city of Ocala has its own fire assessment rate, which is higher than the county rate, at $364.15 for a single-family home with a square footage between 1,601 and 2,500.
Marion County Fire Rescue Chief James Banta presented data to the County Commission at a workshop on Feb. 27 that gave options for a one-time rate increase or a gradual rate increase over the next five years.
He presented three options to the MCBCC members on May 6:
1. Raise the assessment from $199 to $237.12 for the 2025/26 budget year and $290 for the next four budget years.
2. Raise the assessment from $199 to $280.78 over the next five years.
3. Raise the assessment from $199 to $283.97 for the next five years as recommended by a study.
MBOCC chair Kathy Bryant anticipated some hard budget decisions and encouraged the board to “ease into” the increase for taxpayers by stepping up the assessment for 2025/26 to 2026/27, saving $52.88 for 25/26.
Commissioners Craig Curry, Michelle Stone and Carl Zalak expressed empathy with Bryant’s concerns, but ultimately voiced support for the plan to assess the $280.78 for the five years.
The commissioners noted that next year, the county will be renegotiating the collective bargaining agreement with the fire union and asked the fire chief if this assessment took into consideration the potential requests of that negotiation, to which he responded affirmatively that it had been factored into his five-year projection.
The resolution also includes increases for commercial properties and vacant land as follows:
MCPS interim superintendent names deputy
The appointment of Benjamin Whitehouse must be approved by the school board before he officially assumes the role.
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
Danielle Brewer is now the official interim superintendent of Marion County Public Schools, taking over for outgoing Superintendent Diane Gullett. Brewer’s first move after her contract was finalized at the April 29 school board meeting was to appoint Ben Whitehouse as her deputy superintendent. Whitehouse has been an employee of MCPS for more than 20 years and currently serves as the director of
Assessment, Accountability and Research.
His appointment must be approved by the school board before he officially assumes the role of deputy superintendent. No agenda item is yet scheduled for the approval.
Whitehouse is a graduate of Forest High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history and master’s degree at the pro-teach program at the University of Florida.
Brewer will serve in the role of interim superintendent for a year, three months of which will be a “transition period” for her to shadow Gullett.
Gullett will retain control over district operations until the end of her term on July 11. During this time, Brewer will have the opportunity to recommend candidates for any job vacancies in the district.
Brewer will earn a base salary of
$169,333 and receive benefits. A successor to become the permanent superintendent must be chosen by April 29, 2026. In addition to considering internal candidates, the school district will be conducting a nationwide search in the year to come.
Challenge to springs rules rejected
Florida News Service
An administrative law judge on May 5 sided with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in a challenge to proposed rules about water withdrawals that could affect systems designated as Outstanding Florida Springs.
The state has 30 designated Outstanding Florida Springs, including such spring systems as Silver Springs in Marion County, Wakulla Spring south of Tallahassee, Ichetucknee Springs in North Central Florida, De Leon Springs in
Volusia County and Weeki Wachee Springs in Hernando County.
The Florida Springs Council filed the challenge in January, after the department proposed the rules, which are designed to carry out a 2016 law. The challenge made a series of arguments, including that the proposed rules largely mirrored already-existing rules and that the Legislature intended for increased protections for Outstanding Florida Springs from water withdrawals. The proposed rules affect what are known as consumptive use permits. But in a 30-page order
dismissing the case, Judge E. Gary Early wrote that the proposed rules “meet the facial requirements established by the Legislature” in a section of state law.
“Petitioner (the Florida Springs Council) argues that the proposed rules do not go far enough, and that they may be applied so as to allow harm to OFSs (Outstanding Florida Springs),” Early wrote. “However, whether the rules as applied may harm OFSs is a matter for consideration on a case-by-case basis as CUPs (consumptive use permits) undergo review and, potentially, challenge.”
Ben Whitehouse of Marion County Public Schools talks about the plan for reopening
Marion County Fire Rescue Chief James Banta, right, speaks as Commissioners Craig Curry, left, and Michelle Stone, center, listen
Silver Springs is one of 30 Outstanding Florida Springs. [File photo by Bruce Ackerman/ Ocala Gazette]
Feline fosters sought
The
Voices of Change Animal League is looking for volunteers to help cats become more suited for adoption.
By Belea T. Keeney Special to the Gazette
Joyce was the classic scaredy cat. She enjoyed being softly petted around her neck and head but was fearful of hands. She made eye contact and seemed friendly but caved in my “cat room” for a month and only then began to ever-so-tentatively explore the living room area. She had been rescued from a hoarder’s house and the foster coordinator for Voices of Change Animal League (VOCAL) suspected she’d spent her entire life in a cage. For her, just being in a house was initially intimidating.
By the time she was adopted, just over a year later, Joyce had taken to sleeping in my lap with her belly up, cutely snuggling up at bedtime against my chest and playing chase with toys and even fetching sometimes. With lots of love and quiet patience, Joyce really came out of her shell and turned into a charming kitty companion.
Joyce was the tenth cat I’ve fostered for VOCAL, and I’m currently on numbers 14 and 15—Berly and Ripley.
They come to me as guests, sometimes fearful, sometimes
brave, emotionally wounded or shut down, and they leave my home more confident, interactive with humans, affectionate and ready for their fur-ever homes.
A cute kitten, Geena sometimes got too hot on the porch and would come in the house and stretch out her body on the cool tile but stick her head outside the door to keep an eye on things; it was a scream.
Rocky, an orange Persian, was clearly accustomed to being the king of all he surveyed. He strolled out of the carrier and confidently strode around the house ready to be served immediately.
Port and Pinot were a brother-sister duo and they both loved to sleep near my head at night.
People often ask me, “Oh, how can you let them go? I’d get too attached.”
Well, I do get attached, of course. But I also think of my job as preparing them for better lives than they may have had. Some cats come from feral
colonies and aren’t very well socialized to humans; some come from owners who have had to go into nursing homes or have died; and the animals would be homeless or euthanized if not for fosters. My home is, I hope, a place where they can get emotionally balanced again, feel utterly safe and enjoy time catting around a home instead of being in a cage.
VOCAL volunteers also foster canines. Some pets become “foster fails” and end up being adopted by the volunteer, which is one reason
VOCAL always needs new foster parents.
Hosting a foster pet is also a no-pressure way to get into the practice of having an animal again.
Fostering pets has many benefits—to both the animals you help save and for yourself. A foster volunteer helps a pet get out of a caged shelter environment, helps them acclimate to a home situation and helps them have more companionship and enrichment.
Having a foster animal to care for also helps us humans get up and going each day, and is a nice way to enjoy an animal without having to
bear all of the expense. If you’re not ready to commit to owning a pet yourself, consider volunteering your time and love for an animal that could really use your help.
When the felines I have fostered go into a carrier for their trip to their new forever home, I give them one last kiss and tell them, “You’re going to a wonderful new home where your human will love you forever!”
VOCAL has a current need for cat fosters. The organization covers all expenses and provides food, litter, toys and other supplies. There is a screening process, and you’ll provide information about your living situation and any pets already in your home.
For more information about fostering or adopting, call the office at (352) 289-0800 or visit vocalforpets.org/ volunteer/#foster
Join the Supper Club and support senior citizens
The Marion Senior Services Meals on Wheels program needs help providing nutritious food.
By Susan Smiley-Height
susan@magnoliamediaco.com
There are some senior citizens in our community who must choose between eating or paying bills. And the local organization best positioned to help them, Marion Senior Services, cannot serve some of them due to a lack of funding.
“Many must choose whether to pay for other needs before food. You could end their wait by donating to our Meals on Wheels program today,” notes the agency’s website.
One way to support the program is by participating in
The Supper Club. You can enjoy dinner with family members and friends at your favorite restaurant and then post a selfie to your social media and tag #marionseniorservices and the restaurant. A flyer put out by MSS states that “900 seniors are waiting for a warm meal. End their wait. Scan the QR code to donate a meal to a senior. Just $10 provides a meal.” You also can donate by going to marionseniorservices.org, click “donate” and click “supper club.” Th donations increments are $10 for one meal, $50 for five meals, $200 for a month of meals, $1,200 for six months and $2,400 to provide a full year of Marion Senior Services has been delivering meals to the homebound since 1973. The first group of volunteers delivered 13 meals. MSS now provides more
400
to seniors 60 and over who are frail and homebound, but there is a need to serve many more. To learn more, call (352) 620-3501.
Cider was a foster through the VOCAL volunteer program. [Photo by Belea T. Keeney]
Joyce was one of the felines fostered through VOCAL. [Photo by Belea T. Keeney]
Silver Glen Springs item removed from FWC meeting agenda
The
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will meet in Ocala on May 21 and 22.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has removed the proposed consideration of a Springs Protection Zone at Silver Glen Springs from the agenda of the upcoming commission meeting to be held May 21 and 22 in Ocala.
Silver Glen Springs, located off of Highway 19 near Fort McCoy, is one of Marion County’s signature attractions and draws hundreds of thousands of swimmers and boating enthusiasts each year.
The FWC established SPZs as designated areas around a natural spring to protect the ecosystem by restricting boating activity such as anchoring, mooring or beaching vessels, with a goal of preventing damage to vegetation and aquatic life.
This decision comes in light of recent legislation passed by the Florida Legislature that proposes changes to the statutory requirements for establishing SPZs. Although this legislation has not yet been signed into law by the governor, it includes significant revisions— specifically, that any harm caused by vessels must be both significant and the predominant source of harm to a spring before an SPZ can be established. If signed by the governor, this legislation would take effect July 1, the news release noted.
The commission’s consideration of an SPZ at Silver Glen Springs
during the May meeting would be based on an evaluation of the request under the existing statutory criteria. If the commission was to have approved an SPZ at the May meeting, there would not have been sufficient time to establish the SPZ by rule before the newly proposed statutory criteria would take effect on July 1. Given this timeline and potential changes, it would be premature and potentially inappropriate for the commission to act on this matter at this time. Proceeding with the consideration of an SPZ under the current statute, while the Legislature has clearly expressed its intent
to revise those conditions, along with conflicting timelines for rule adoption, would preempt the legislative process. The FWC wants to ensure that any action taken by the commission reflects both the most current legal framework and the intent of the Legislature, once formally enacted, the release stated. Staff will continue monitoring the progress of this legislation and will revisit this matter once there is clarity on the statutory requirements for SPZ establishment.
To learn more, go to myfwc.com/ about/commission/commissionmeetings/may-2025/
PRESENTS:
Photo courtesy Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau
The HUD required census data gathered on PIT count day, combined with a count of available shelter beds, known as a housing inventory count, plays a “critical role,” according to HUD, in granting awards to local nonprofits and agencies known as the Continuum of Care.
The 23 members of the Marion County Continuum of Care FL - 514, from the Arnette House youth homeless shelter to Wear Gloves work based programs and transitional housing outreach, are listed at marionflcoc.org. In fiscal year 2024, FL- 514 was awarded $657,573 in homeless assistance awards, according to hud.gov
People living in outdoor camps, cars, abandoned buildings, parks, airports and bus stations are considered unsheltered while those in various types of emergency shelters, staying with friends or confined in institutions or hospitals, are not considered unsheltered, according to the HUD PIT count guidelines at hudexchange.info
Rachel, 59, who chose to use only her first name, was homeless and living in a camp during the time frame of the PIT count and was not counted. She said she doesn’t believe anyone in her camp in northwest Ocala was counted, but this was not confirmed with officials.
Rachel, who has worked in the healthcare industry, has lived in the area for 25 years and been homeless three times. She said she has dealt with alcohol addiction but at the
considered homeless). This doesn’t include those housed at Shepherd’s Lighthouse down in Belleview, most of those sheltered at Salvation Army or those sheltered at Project Hope,” Greenway wrote in an email.
“These are also the ones that come into town. There are more homeless we know of that are in the outskirts of Ocala and rarely if ever come here,” she stated.
“I think the PIT count is a more accurate count of those who are homeless for an extended period of time (most of them years) and are in this position because of additional challenges such as intellectual (cognitive) disabilities, mental illness, physical disabilities or addiction. Most have more than one of these issues going on,” she wrote
“Another staggering number is the individuals that are lingering on the streets is our aging population. We track ages for our United Way grant support and in the past eight months we have seen 88 people between the ages of 60 to 64 experiencing homelessness; another 75 between the ages of 65 to 74 and six homeless individuals OVER the age of 75,” Greenway stated.
Jessie Vega with IES said the night of this year’s PIT count was “colder than average,” which might have affected the outcome.
Jason Halstead, executive director of Brother’s Keeper, a ministry of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, which operates ministries including a year-round downtown feeding program that serves hundreds of meals daily to the needy, said weather may have been a factor in the PIT count in 2025.
time of our conversation had been sober 67 days.
Karla Greenway, CEO of Interfaith Emergency Services, one of the area’s leading nonprofit agencies, said the PIT count is the “best method” but can be “misleading.”
“It’s self-reporting and some homeless people don’t want to be counted,” she said.
Greenway said she has seen an increase recently in the number of women with children living homeless in cars and “people in crisis with rents going up.”
The Marion County Clerk of the Circuit Court reported 157 eviction cases in December 2024, 91 in March of this year and 112 in April.
Greenway said another factor in count accuracy is that homeless camps are becoming “more mobile” because of the fear of trespass and the recent state ban on camping on public property.
Neither the Ocala Police Department nor the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office report any arrests to date related to the Florida “no camping” on public property statute FS 125.0231 of 2024. There are guidelines in the statute that beds must be available before action is taken but it is unclear what misdemeanor or felony charges, if any, might be tied into the statute.
“Our Engagement Center (on North Pine Avenue) had 566 individual clients that came in for services in 2024 and of those 86 were in a shelter (but are still
He stated in an email that “the number of homeless we see at Brother’s Keeper is about the same as it has been. Maybe slightly less.”
Meanwhile, two major projects to assist those in need of housing are open or on the horizon.
Wear Gloves, a nonprofit Continuum of Care member, provides “workforce readiness” training at its Ocala Dignity Center and participants may be involved in Dignity Roasters, a seller of locally roasted coffee.
Wear Gloves recently held a grand opening for Dignity House, a 13,000 square foot facility in southwest Ocala intended to house up to 70 homeless men in phases, with a transitional housing program. One of 12 client rooms will be reserved for emergency intake from law enforcement.
Saving Mercy, a local faith-based nonprofit that provides “wrap around services,” broke ground in December 2024 on a two-phase yearlong project that includes a 59-unit apartment building backed by Carrfour Supportive Housing of Miami and 10 duplexes funded by Marion County Community Services.
The 79 units will provide “supportive housing and affordable housing,” according to Saving Mercy Executive Director Penny Beehler.
“I’m excited about the opening of Wear Glove’s
new shelter and the progress being made at Saving Mercy,” Halstead said.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
Karla Geenway, CEO of Interfaith Emergency Services, talks with Sammy Dyers, a homeless man, on Northwest 2nd Street in Ocala in 2021.
An unidentified homeless man sleeps in a parking lot near the Marion County Judicial Center and Golden-Collum Memorial Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Ocala in 2020.
Karla Greenway, CEO of Interfaith Emergency Services, center, talks with Melissa Hanson, the case manager of the IES engagement center, right, where multiple agencies work together to help homeless people, and Robin Ford of the city of Ocala, in 2024.
Giant croc-like carnivore fossils found in the Caribbean
The sebecid fossils were found at the Dominican Republic site
By Brooke Bowser Florida Museum of Natural History
Imagine a crocodile built like a greyhound—that’s a sebecid. Standing tall, with some species reaching 20 feet in length, they dominated South American landscapes after the extinction of dinosaurs until about 11 million years ago. Or at least, that’s what paleontologists thought, until they began finding strange, fossilized teeth in the Caribbean.
“The first question that we had when these teeth were found in the Dominican Republic and on other islands in the Caribbean was: What are they?” said Jonathan Bloch, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville.
This initial confusion was warranted. Three decades ago, researchers uncovered two roughly 18-million-year-old teeth in Cuba. With a tapered shape and small, sharp serrations specialized for tearing into meat, they unmistakenly belonged to a predator at the top of the food chain. But for the longest time, scientists didn’t think such large, land-based predators ever existed in the Caribbean. The mystery deepened when another tooth turned up in Puerto Rico, this one 29 million years old. The teeth alone weren’t enough to identify a specific animal, and the matter went unresolved.
That changed in early 2023, when a research team unearthed another fossilized tooth in the Dominican Republic— but this time it was accompanied by two vertebrae. It wasn’t much to go on, but it was enough. The fossils belonged to a sebecid and the Caribbean, far from never having large, terrestrial predators, was a refuge for the last sebecid populations at least 5 million years after they went extinct everywhere else.
A research team described the implications of their finding in a new study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The study’s lead author, Lazaro Viñola Lopez, conducted the research as a graduate student at the University of Florida. He knew his team members had come upon something exceptional when they unearthed the fossils.
“That emotion of finding the fossil and realizing what it is, it’s indescribable,” he said.
Sebecids were the last surviving members of the notosuchia, a large
and diverse group of extinct crocodilians with a fossil record that extends back into the age of dinosaurs. They varied widely in their size, diet and habitat preferences and were notably different from their crocodile relatives, as most of them lived entirely on land.
The sebecids acted like carnivorous dinosaurs, sprinting after prey on their four long, agile limbs and tearing through flesh with their notorious teeth. Many had protective armor made of bony plates embedded in their skin. The mass extinction event 66 million years ago that wiped out nonavian dinosaurs nearly destroyed notosuchians as well. In South America, only the sebecids endured, and with the dinosaurs gone, they quickly rose to be the apex predator.
The open sea separating the Caribbean islands and mainland South America would have posed a serious challenge for a terrestrial sebecid to swim across.
In finding the fossils, the research team revealed possible evidence in support of the GAARlandia hypothesis. This theory suggests a pathway of temporary land bridges or a chain of islands once allowed land animals to travel from South America to the Caribbean.
If, as scientists hypothesize, the serrated teeth discovered on other Caribbean islands also belonged to a sebecid, the history of these giant reptiles extends beyond the Dominican Republic.
They would have occupied and shaped the region’s ecosystems for millions of years. Yet today you’d be hard-pressed to find evidence of the large terrestrial predators. In their absence, smaller endemic predators like birds, snakes and crocodiles have evolved to fill the gap in the food chain.
“You wouldn’t have been able to predict this looking at the modern ecosystem,” Bloch said. “The presence of a large predator is really different than we imagined before and it’s exciting to think about what might be discovered next in the Caribbean fossil record as we explore back further in time.”
This revelation aligns with similar observations ecologists have described worldwide. Islands are known to act as “museums of biodiversity,” providing a haven that allows plants and animals to survive even after their related species have gone extinct on the mainland.
Although the tropics are among the most biodiverse places on Earth, much of their natural history remains a mystery. That’s why, according to Bloch, they’re the most important—albeit challenging— regions for paleontologists to study.
Historically, many paleontologists in the Caribbean have excavated fossils from caves and blue holes, where large accumulations of remains are often found. Caves can serve as shelter against harsh conditions for animals and predatory birds like owls and hawks frequently bring their prey inside to eat, leaving behind pellets or discarded bones. Blue holes preserve fossils exceptionally well, as they lack the oxygen that fuels decay.
But these locations only provide a narrow snapshot of past biodiversity because most of the fossils are relatively young. While these sites provide valuable insight into recent history, they have their
limitations when it comes to older, less well-known fossils.
Today, Caribbean paleontologists are taking a new approach. Finding deeptime fossils often requires more effort and fortunate circumstances, but they’re willing to face the obstacles.
“This is like a renaissance,” said Viñola Lopez, describing the renewed interest and excitement in the region.
Local scientists have the advantage of being able to react quickly when a potential fossil bed is discovered. The dry, rocky landscapes that contain fossils are hard to come by in the Caribbean, where wind and rain erode outcrops and today’s forests cover fossil beds.
“Outcrops don’t last too long, so you go there when you can. When they’re cutting the road or a few months after that, you find the fossils. If you’re looking in a few years, it will be gone,” Viñola-Lopez said.
Finding sebecid fossils in the Dominican Republic site was possible because local work crews happened to be cutting a road directly through it. Elson Core, a graduate student from the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez at the time, came across the fossil beds while conducting stratigraphy research and alerted his colleagues. Viñola-Lopez learned about the site through fellow paleontologists and was eager to plan a visit for fieldwork.
This study represents one of many incredible discoveries that have recently come out of the Caribbean. Lazaro and his colleagues uncovered the Caribbean’s first record of mosasaurs, enormous reptiles that once dominated the seas. Meanwhile, the discovery of the oldest ground sloth fossils in Hispaniola has helped fill a gap in the region’s paleontological record.
Even more recent mysteries are coming into focus as well, with research suggesting the arrival of humans may be to blame for the extinction of the island’s native rodents. This flow of information and discovery emerging from the region is far from over. As Viñola Lopez said, “The sebecid is only the tip of the iceberg.”
Jorge Vélez-Juarbe of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Philippe Münch of Géosciences Montpellier, Juan N. Almonte Milan of Museo Nacional de Historia Natural ‘Prof. Eugenio de Jesús Marcano’, PierreOlivier Antoine and Laurent Marivaux of Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution de Montpellier and Osvaldo JimenezVasquez of La Oficina del Historiador de La Habana are also co-authors of the paper. Funding for the study was provided in part by the Florida Museum of Natural History.
To learn more, go to floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Led by artist Dawn Bergstrom, this camp invites kids ages 8-12 to dive into the basics of hand-building and glazing. Campers will master pinch pots, coil pots and slab construction, all while creating fun, one-of-a-kind pieces to take
Sebecids dominated South American landscapes for millions of years, but scientists were perplexed when their fossils started appearing in the Caribbean. [Florida Museum image by Jorge Machuky]
Lazaro Viñola Lopez knew his team members had come upon something exceptional when they unearthed the sebecid fossils. [Photo courtesy of Jonathan Bloch]
Tonsil cancer: What is it and how do you prevent it?
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My brother had lingering hoarseness and a sore throat. When he finally went to the doctor, he was diagnosed with tonsil cancer. He’s in treatment, but it’s been tough. Chemo makes him sick, and radiation is doing a number on his throat and salivary glands, making it hard to eat. He’s on a feeding tube, but he has lost a lot of weight and is fatigued. I’m worried about him. I never heard of tonsil cancer before this. I’d like to help spread awareness.
ANSWER: Dealing with a life-threatening illness — for yourself or a loved one — can be devastating. It can help to learn more. Spreading awareness and learning about prevention are so important.
Tonsil cancer is a type of head and neck cancer. Head and neck cancers include cancers of the tongue; the back of the tongue, which you can’t see when you look in the mirror; the tonsils; or the throat, which includes several body parts, such as the larynx or voice box. We also see other rare cancers, including salivary gland cancers and cancers in the sinuses and nose.
Tonsils, located on the left and right sides of the back of the throat, are part of the immune system, a complex network that protects the body against infection. Tonsils are part of the lymphatic system and have lymphoid tissue. That’s why they can look lumpy and bumpy. They’re filled with immune cells. That same lymphoid tissue is on the surface of the back of the tongue. Cancers that arise in the tonsil or back of the tongue are classified as oropharyngeal cancer, and most of these (approximately 70%) are caused by HPV.
Head and neck cancers, especially those caused by HPV, are more common in men. The most common way in which HPV head and neck cancers are found is from it spreading into the lymph nodes in the neck. The story we often hear is, “I was shaving, and I felt a lump in my neck.”
Most of the time patients don’t have a lot of other symptoms. They may notice discomfort when they’re swallowing or a sensation that there’s something in their throat that doesn’t feel right. HPV is a virus that almost everybody will get exposed to in their lifetime. The primary mode of transmission is sexual. Most people get exposed in their teenage years or early 20s. The virus typically doesn’t cause any symptoms, and there is no treatment. Fortunately, most people’s immune system will clear the virus from the body after exposure. However, in approximately
10% of people, the virus is not cleared, and they become chronic carriers of HPV and at risk for cancer development decades later.
HPV-associated cancers typically respond better to treatments. They tend to have a higher cure rate. We often treat HPV cancers differently than how we treat some non-HPV cancers, which are largely related to smoking and alcohol use. But we do actually see nonHPV cancers in nonsmokers as well.
When somebody is diagnosed with a type of head and neck cancer, we do a lot of testing to see if the cancer has spread into lymph nodes or other parts of the body. That helps us determine treatment.
If the cancer has not spread, treatment is individualized based on the patient’s needs, and it typically includes a combination of surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. But if a patient’s cancer has spread to another organ, chemotherapy and immunotherapy delivered throughout the body via the bloodstream are typical treatments.
In 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved immunotherapy to treat advanced head and neck cancer. What’s promising for the future is the next generation of immunotherapy that aims to further engage the immune system. Research is ongoing into therapeutic vaccines that try to get the body’s immune system to recognize and then fight the cancer.
Prevention, of course, is always better than treatment. While we cure most people with head and neck cancer, no cancer treatment is without long-term side effects and impact on life. While the HPV vaccine cannot prevent all cancers, it is considered a helpful measure in HPV prevention
The HPV vaccine has been available since 2006 in the U.S. It’s FDA-approved for males and females ages 9 to 45. For cancer prevention, we know from studies that earlier is better, before sexual activity begins, but we also know there’s still benefit over time, even up to age 45.
In addition to vaccinating yourself and your loved ones against the HPV virus, other tips to prevent head and neck cancers include:
• Stop smoking or using tobacco products. Better yet, don’t start.
• Drink alcohol sparingly, if at all.
• Consider healthy behaviors, including physical activity and a plant-based diet with more fruits and vegetables.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA IN RE: ESTATE OF CHRISTINE ANN SNYDER DECEASED PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 24-CP-001540-AX NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Christine Ann Snyder, deceased, whose date of death was October 11, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 NW 1st Ave. Ocala, Florida 34475 The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom
PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF THOMAS M. MARTUS, Deceased. FILE NO.: 2025-CP-1161 NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of THOMAS M. MARTUS, deceased, whose date of death was April 4, 2025; is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division; File Number 2025-CP-1161; the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475. The names and addresses of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons, who have claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, and who have been served a copy of this Note, must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court, WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. THE DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE IS MAY 2, 2025.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2025-CP-611 IN RE: ESTATE OF ANNIE RUTH HOPE BEARD-CANTRELL Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of ANNIE RUTH HOPE BEARD-CANTRELL, deceased, whose date of death was August 9, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for MARION County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, #1, Ocala, Florida 34471. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is May 2, 2025.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2025-CP-1073 IN RE: ESTATE OF JOSEPHINE MAZULA MACINO Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of JOSEPHINE MAZULA MACINO, deceased, whose date of death was February 23, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for MARION County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, #1, Ocala, Florida 34471. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is May 2, 2025.
Personal Representative: TRACI MAZULA-BOND
Fax: (813) 425-4373
E-Mail: seanw@pantherlawfl.com
E-Mail: pleadings@panther-
Personal Representative: DIANNE L. MARTUS 7834 S.E. 22nd Terrace Ocala, Florida 34480 Attorney for Personal Representative: DAVIS R. WATSON III Florida Bar No.: 117996 DAVIS R. WATSON III, P.A. 2201 S. E. 30th Avenue Suite 202 Ocala, Florida 34471 (352) 732-8080 Email: davis@daviswatsonlaw.com
Personal Representative: HENRY W CANTRELL, III Attorney for Personal Representative: SHANTA MATTHEWS, Attorney Florida Bar Number: 69935
814 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Suite D OCALA, FL 34470
Telephone: (352) 421-8722
Fax: (352) 306-3759
E-Mail: shanta@smatthewslaw.com
Secondary: lori@smatthewslaw.com
Attorney for Personal Representative: SHANTA MATTHEWS, Attorney Florida Bar Number: 69935
814 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Suite D OCALA, FL 34470
Telephone: (352) 421-8722
Fax: (352) 306-3759
E-Mail: shanta@smatthewslaw.com
Secondary: lori@smatthewslaw.com
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2025-CP-1162 IN RE: ESTATE OF ELAINE REGNER Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of ELAINE REGNER, deceased, whose date of death was January 29, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for MARION County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, #1, Ocala, Florida 34471. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is May 9, 2025.
Personal Representative: GLENN SKARUPA Attorney for Personal Representative: SHANTA MATTHEWS, Attorney Florida Bar Number: 69935 814 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Suite D OCALA, FL 34470 Telephone: (352) 421-8722
Fax: (352)
Government
MAY 12, 19, 26
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 20
Marion County Board of County Commissioners
McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala
9am
The commission meets in the morning of the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at marionfl.legistar.com/calendar.aspx
Ocala City Council
Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala
4pm
The council meets each first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas and minutes are available at ocala.legistar.com/calendar.aspx
Belleview City Commission
Belleview City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview 6pm
Meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video available at belleviewfl.org/200/agendas-minutes
MAY 13, 27
Marion County School Board
1614 E Fort King St.
5:30pm
The board meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Agendas and minutes are available at go.boarddocs.com/fl/marion/Board.nsf/Public
MAY 14
Dunnellon City Council
Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 River Dr.
5:30pm
The council generally meets the second Wednesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at dunnellon.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=1
Community
MAY 9
College of Central Florida commencements
World Equestrian Center, Expo Center 1, 1750 N.W. 80th Ave., Ocala 10am and 2pm
The ceremony at 10 a.m. will recognize graduates receiving baccalaureate degrees, associate in science degrees and certificates, with student speaker Rebecca Perkins. The ceremony at 2 p.m. will celebrate graduates receiving associate in arts degrees, with student speaker Amber Battillo. For more information, visit cf.edu/graduation
MAY 10
Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
Various locations
The easiest way to support the drive is to put canned goods or boxes of non-perishable food by your mailbox on the morning of May 10. Letter carriers will collect the items on their routes. Donors also may leave food at US Postal Service branch locations leading up to and the day of the drive or drop off food at the Interfaith Emergency Services food distribution warehouse at 450 NW 2nd St. or the thrift store at 718 N. Pine Ave., Ocala. All of the donated food remains in Marion County. To learn more, go to iesmarion. org and nalc.org/communityservice/food-drive
The annual event will offer fruit, shade and ornamental trees; native, butterfly, hummingbird and pollinator plants; herbs and perennials. Master Gardeners will be available for consultations and there will be a mobile plant clinic on site. Soil test kits will be available. Free admission. Bring your own wagon. To learn more, call (352) 671-8400.
The Marion Cultural Alliance, with the city of Ocala, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission of Marion County and Juneteenth Celebration Commission, host the 2025 Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series, with free music every Friday from 6 to 8 pm. Next up is Larry & Joe (Venezuelan Joropo and Appalachian folk. Each event features food trucks, interactive activities and a spotlight on a local nonprofit. Find details at ocalafl.gov
MAY 1-18
The SpongeBob Musical Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Boulevard Times vary SpongeBob (Christian Gonzales) is surrounded by colorful characters in the city of Bikini Bottom, among the coral reefs of the Pacific Ocean. A French narrator (James Ray Taylor III) introduces this undersea world while a foley artist fish (Alexa Hall) creates imaginative sound effects. This hilarious, family-friendly musical based on the beloved animated series is a delight for all ages. There will be 15 performances: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $35 for adults and $17 for ages 18 and younger, available at ocalacivictheatre.com, through the box office in person or over the phone at (352) 236-2274.
MAY 9
Neon Nostalgic: A Live ‘80s Music TV Experience
Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala
7:30pm This show creates a visually immersive and entertaining experience. The setlist includes hits from Prince, The Cure, Bon Jovi, Billy Idol, Duran Duran, Queen, U2, Bruce Springsteen and others. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com
MAY 9
Sit Down for Stand Up Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave., Ocala
7:30pm You won’t want to miss this hilarious stand-up comedy event featuring Patrick Garrity, Bob Holden and Jake Polin. Get details at mariontheatre.org
MAY 10
Blues in the Box: J.P. Soars
NOMA Black Box, Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala
7:30pm Blues guitarist and vocalist J.P. Soars, a past winner of the International Blues Challenge and Albert King Best Guitarist Award, has performed worldwide alongside legends like Buddy Guy and Joe Bonamassa. With a deep catalog spanning over 15 years, including his latest release “Brick By Brick,” he delivers a powerful live experience. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com
MAY
10 AND JUNE 14
Don Philpott lectures
MAY 11
Symphony Under the Stars Ocala Golf Club, 3130 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Gates open 3pm, music begins 5pm, fireworks 8:45pm The beloved Mother’s Day tradition, organized by Fine Arts For Ocala, or FAFO, will feature Becky Baby, the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and fireworks. Food, water, soft drinks, beer and wine, chairs, tables, blankets and flashlights are welcomed, but many of those items will be available for purchase from vendors. Do not bring tents, big umbrellas or pets. Adult tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the gate. Those ages 17 and younger are admitted at no charge. A VIP ticket option, at $95, includes VIP parking, dinner in the Ocala Golf Club clubhouse, one free drink ticket and a cash bar or BYOB, reserved Adirondack chair seating, enhanced audio and private restrooms. Pre-paid parking is $15 per car. Adirondack chairs may be rented for $10 per chair. Advance tickets are available at: Your Heart’s Desire, 1915 E Silver Springs Blvd.; the Ocala Golf Club; and Red Fern Pet Lodge, 1509 NE 22nd Ave., all in Ocala. To learn more, visit fafo.org/symphony-1
MAY 17
The Pure Zeppelin Experience Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala 7:30pm All of the musical majesty of Great Britain’s rock n’ roll titans, Led. The group brings the speed, power and energy of the original act with mesmerizing stage presence from the voices, drummer, guitarists and keyboards. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com
MAY 18
Journeyman: A Tribute to Eric Clapton Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala 7:30pm Fronted by Shaun Hague, this tribute has captivated audiences across the country with recreations of Clapton’s greatest hits. Get the details at reillyartscenter.com
THROUGH JUNE 29; ARTISTS TALK MAY 17
“Strength and Resilience: Works by Carmen Rojas Ginés and Naomi Shanti” Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Times vary
The collaboration between metal sculptor Carmen Rojas Ginés and fine artist and tattooist Naomi Shanti features “Guerreras,” a series of 12 metal sculptures inspired by the women who have shaped Gines’ life. Shanti created 12 original tattoos interpreting each sculpture through her own perspective, life story and the experiences of the individuals she tattooed. Blending natural elements like birds and flora with bold lines and form, her designs celebrate strength, resilience and the warrior spirit within women. She photographed the individuals and created unique works of art that feature her inspired tattoos. There will be a talk by the artists at 2pm on May 17. To learn more, go to appletonmuseum.org
Marion County Sheriff’s Office Substation, 3260 SE 80th St., Ocala
10am
The Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway will present free lectures by the award-winning writer, journalist and environmental advocate. The topics and dates are The History of Wekiwa Springs and Rock Springs Run, May 10; and Florida’s Incredible Wildlife, June 14. For details, call (352) 671-8560.
MAY 17
HOPS Spring Tour
Start at the Bryant House, 712 E Fort King St, Ocala 10am to 4pm
The Historic Ocala Preservation Society’s tour will include seven historic homes in the southeast district. Parking is free on the corner of Sanchez Avenue and Fort King Street. Advance tickets are $25 at historicocala.org or Your Hearts Desire; $30 at the door on the day of the event.
Community Health and Resource Fair
Tabernacle of Deliverance Church, 1120 W Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 10am to 3pm
The event is co- sponsored by Elder Options. Discover community resources and participate in health awareness. Enjoy food, refreshments and enter raffles for prizes. Registration not required to attend. Learn more at agingresources.org/event/tdomfair
MAY 23-25
Reunion events for Hard Rock, Booker T. Washington and Dunnellon High schools
Various locations and times
A multi-school reunion will unite students from the historic Hard Rock, Booker T. Washington and Dunnellon High schools. The itinerary includes: May 23, 5:30-9:30 p.m., meet and greet, American Legion Hall, 10730 US 41, Dunnellon; with a theme of Dress for the Decade’s High School Fashion Show • May 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., picnic, American Legion Hall, with catered meal, plus activities, vendors, disc jockey, line dance lessons, photography and bid whist May 24, 5:30 to 10 p.m., reunion banquet/black tie gala, Marion Oaks Community Center, 294 Marion Oaks Lane, Ocala, with DJ and 50/50 raffle drawing (raffle tickets available at all events) May 25, 11 a.m., reunion fellowship, 1st Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 11849 N. Williams St., Dunnellon, with guest speaker Rev. Marcus Dennard
To learn more, call event chair Jerome Brown, who attended Booker T. Washington and graduated from Dunnellon High in 1972, at (678) 361-8251.
Sharon Hayes, left, and Maxi Rodriguez, Interfaith Emergency Services warehouse manager, unload donated food from a U.S.P.S. truck during the Stamp Out Hunger Letter Carrier’s Food Drive in Ocala on May 11, 2024. This year’s food drive is May 10. [File photo by Bruce Ackerman/ Ocala Gazette]
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.
