The ‘silent killer’
This Ocala couple became advocates for water safety awareness after losing their son to an accidental drowning.
By Jamie Berube jamie@ocalagazette.com
When Renee Brandies and her husband Evan pulled in to pick up her car from a tire shop last summer, she got a phone call that would shatter their world forever. It was her mother, Paula Kirkland, urging them to rush to AdventHealth Ocala Hospital with no explanation. In a panic, they arrived to find their 18-month-old son, Harlow, fighting for his life after falling into the family’s swimming pool.
“We get to the hospital and there’s probably 10 doctors and nurses just doing chest compressions, just trying to get his heart back and get him breathing. Once they did get him a little more stable, we were transferred to Shands,” Renee Brandies said.
According to Renee, Harlow had an accidental drowning. He fought for his life for 38 days before he passed away on July 28, 2024.
Inspired by Harlow’s tragic drowning, Renee and Evan founded a nonprofit,
Harlow’s Helping Hands, to honor his legacy by providing pool safety resources, swim lessons and CPR training to protect and empower families.
THE UNTHINKABLE
It was at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville that Kirkland explained what had happened that day.
In the matter of a moment, a lively poolside game turned tragic when Harlow fell into the water. Surrounded by his big brother, E.J., and E.J.’s football teammates, ages 10 to 13, Harlow had eagerly joined in on a Nerf gun battle and football toss before the unthinkable happened.
The boys were playing by the pool when E.J. noticed Harlow in distress after another boy called out his name. E.J. jumped into the pool to pull Harlow out of the water.
“My mom, during that moment, was outside but had walked inside to change laundry over and she heard a horrific scream and knew it wasn’t good. She ran out and immediately started chest compressions,” she continued.
While Kirkland performed chest compressions, the boys and neighbors sprang into action with one sprinting to a nearby law enforcement officer’s home and another struggling to relay the address to a 911 dispatcher.
“The boys knew most of the address, but they couldn’t remember the full address, so it took a minute for them to really get there. But during that time, my neighbors were over, everyone was trying to do CPR,” Renee said.
Despite their heroic efforts, the lack of oxygen left Harlow with severe brain damage. At Shands Hospital, medical teams battled for 24 hours to stabilize him, but the damage was irreversible.
Janice Ferguson, Evan Brandies’ mother, arrived that day at the family’s home after police were on the scene.
“You just go into survival mode because you’re trying really hard not to think about it,” Ferguson said.
Living less than a mile from Evan and Renee, her immediate concern was for
See The ‘silent killer’, page A6
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Why do cuts to Medicaid matter for Americans over 65?
Two University of Massachusetts Boston experts on aging explain why lives are at stake.
ByJane Tavares and Marc Cohen
Republicans in Congress intend to cut about US$880 billion in federal health care spending.
One of their primary targets is Medicaid. That government program covers 82 million Americans with health insurance Most of the people enrolled in the program are low income, have disabilities, or both.
Medicaid, jointly funded by the federal government and the states, is also the biggest funder in the U.S. of long-term care services, whether they are delivered in the patient’s home, another location where they spend part of their day or a nursing home. That makes it particularly important for older adults and those with disabilities. All states must meet the basic federal guidelines for Medicaid coverage. But 41 states have opted to take advantage of the Affordable Care Act provision that expanded eligibility to cover more people under the program.
We are gerontology researchers who study health and financial wellbeing in later life. We’ve been analyzing what the potential impacts of Medicaid cuts might be.
While the debate about how to reduce the budget focuses largely on dollars and cents, we believe that cutting federal spending on Medicaid would harm the health and well-being of millions of Americans by reducing their access to care.
In our view, it’s also likely that any savings achieved in the short term would be smaller than the long-term increase in health care costs born by the federal government, the states and patients—including for many Americans who are 65 and older.
WEAK TRACK RECORD
Wary of backlash from their constituents, Republicans have agreed on a strategy that would largely cut Medicaid spending in a roundabout way.
Previous efforts by the GOP in some states, such as imposing work requirements for some people to get Medicaid benefits, have not greatly reduced costs. That’s largely because there are relatively few people enrolled in the Medicaid
See Medicaid page A7
Renee and Evan Brandies recently attended an Association of Aquatic Professionals event to spread the word about their Harlow’s Helping Hands nonprofit. Their son, Harlow, was the victim of accidental drowning. [Photos courtesy Renee Brandies]
The Kentucky Derby: An American dream made possible in Florida
By Geroge Isaacs general manager, Bridlewood Farm
What a ride. What a feeling. What an unbelievable journey to play a part in Florida’s racing legacy. I couldn’t be more proud of Bridlewood graduates finishing 1-2 in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, and another in the top 10 with East Avenue. Now that I’ve had a moment to reflect, I can say with certainty: this finish wasn’t luck. It was a testament to Florida’s standing as a hub for racing excellence.
Florida, and particularly Ocala, has long been a cradle for champions. With abundant sunshine, ideal soil, mineral-rich spring water and an unmatched concentration of top-tier trainers and horsemen, Central Florida offers the perfect environment to develop elite thoroughbreds. These conditions, combined with
generations of expertise, form a recipe for success that’s as consistent as it is extraordinary. Bridlewood Farm has worked hard to become a nationally premier destination for schooling and training the best young horses each fall. This year’s Derby results endorse that effort. Sovereignty and East Avenue are Kentucky horses from Godolphin, a global racing empire, that came to Bridlewood for one reason: the global industry knows Florida produces results. I could not be more proud of our farm trainer, Meda Murphy, and her team for producing great results for our clients each and every year.
This year, 13 of the 19 Kentucky Derby contenders had Florida ties, whether trained, raced or raised here. Florida’s nationally competitive racetracks, renowned competition such as the Florida Derby and robust infrastructure
built by multigenerational family farms make this possible. Thanks to this foundation, Florida’s thoroughbred industry contributes $3.24 billion to the state’s economy annually, including over $180 million of commerce through the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company alone.
For me, Florida has always represented my American dream. As general manager of Bridlewood Farm, I’ve built a life here doing what I love and long have planned for the day my son Blaine will continue the legacy. But our story is just one of many. Florida’s strength lies in its community of horsemen and women, farms big and small, all contributing to a shared future.
The key to continued success? Work hard and double down on what makes Florida thoroughbreds great. With the right resources and support, tomorrow’s national champions will forever emerge from the Sunshine State.
Man faces charge of child neglect
Arrest report notes he left a child unattended in a car in a parking lot.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
A39-year-old Ocala man was arrested and charged with child neglect without great bodily harm following a May 3, 2025, incident when he allegedly left a child in a car seat unattended for about 40 minutes in an unlocked car in a local Walmart parking lot, according to an arrest affidavit from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Thomas Shaheen was booked into the county jail early May 4 and was released on May 8 in lieu of $15,000 bond, Marion County Jail online records state.
According to the affidavit, deputies responded to the Walmart store on Southwest State Road 200 after a customer informed the store manager about seeing the child “unattended.” The manager observed the child “secured in a car seat” in a silver Chevrolet Tahoe with the engine not running and the doors evidently unlocked.
The age of the child was not
released although an MCSO spokesperson said the child allegedly left unattended was “over 1 year” old.
Deputy Daniel Land Boucher arrived on scene and observed the child in the Tahoe’s backseat and could not determine if the child was breathing. Boucher entered the Tahoe’s rear door and found the child was sleeping, according to the affidavit.
Boucher observed the child “had a scrape in her left knee and dirt all over her body.” Marion County Fire Rescue transported the child to AdventHealth Ocala Hospital as a precaution, the affidavit states.
Surveillance video showed a male and a second juvenile leave the vehicle, the affidavit indicates. The driver of the vehicle was paged and Boucher that noted a man, later identified as Shaheen, approached the Tahoe.
Shaheen told the deputy he “did not leave (the child) in the car alone” and evidently claimed he left another unidentified juvenile in the Tahoe, who then
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left the vehicle to go find Shaheen.
According to the affidavit, after he was read his Miranda rights, Shaheen stated that “he did leave (the child in the Tahoe) while he and (another juvenile) entered the store,” evidently because the child was sleeping and he was unaware the vehicle was unlocked.
“(The defendant) initially claimed he left both children in the car but then changed his statement and said he left the female child in the car because she was sleeping and the male child came into the store with him,” an MCSO spokesperson clarified on May 12.
An MCSO post contains a body camera video with a time stamp showing interaction between Shaheen and MCSO Sgt. Greg Bicksler on scene and puts the date and time as 10 p.m. on May 3. Shaheen “claimed to not understand why” he was being handcuffed and arrested, the post states.
Jail records indicate Shaheen was booked just before 1 a.m. on May 4. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 6.
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George Isaacs, the general manager of Bridlewood Farm, spends some time with weanlings in a paddock in 2019. [File photo by Bruce Ackerman]
Weather woes hamper food drive
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
Inclement weather the weekend of May 10 and 11 impacted several local events, including the annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, which took place Saturday. The event also was hampered this year by a lack of funding for promotional materials to let folks know it was taking place.
Interfaith Emergency Services is the lead agency in Marion County for the annual drive and also for routinely serving a large number of local people in need. The food drive is always a key element in restocking the food warehouse through which so many get help.
“The 2025 Stamp Out Hunger food drive had its challenges. From missing some important marketing tools to
extreme weather, our wonderful letter carriers still delivered 73,000 pounds of food to the Interfaith pantry,” said Karla Greenway, CEO of Interfaith.
“Thanks to the help from hundreds of volunteers and Marion County residents who participated, and His Compassion, a key partner that stepped up to help us transport food, enough food was collected to sustain the Interfaith grocery assistance program through July. Compared to previous years, this amount was down considerably, but we are still extremely grateful for every item donated,” Greenway added.
“Due to the weather on Saturday, some neighborhoods didn’t get picked up and we hope they will drop the food donations off at their closest post office or at Interfaith, at 450 NW 2nd St. in downtown Ocala,” Greenway noted.
Greenway said IES has seen a 25% increase in new clients so far this year.
“In the 14 years I’ve been here, I’ve never seen so many people struggling to pay for groceries, pay their utilities and keep up with the rent. And many are people on fixed incomes who never thought they would need this type of assistance,” she stated in an earlier “Gazette” article. “This food drive is critical for our services through the summer months, when we see an increase due to children being out of school. Many families, especially those with children or senior citizens living on social security retirement benefits, look to us to make ends meet.”
To learn more, go to iesmarion.org
Photos by Bruce Ackerman
Ryland Anderson, 5, a volunteer with Kut Different, carries a USPS mail container as he helps unload donated food during the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger food drive at Interfaith Emergency Services in Ocala, Fla. on Saturday, May 10, 2025.
Bruce Reed, the Interfaith Emergency Services system manager, operates a forklift during the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger food drive.
Jacob Chatterton, 12, left, and his mother, Jennifer, load donated food into a bin at Interfaith Emergency Services.
Karla Greenway, the CEO of Interfaith Emergency Services, holds a sign she made to thank letter carries for collecting donated food from their routes.
C.J. Frazier, 14, left, and Jamielle Plummer, 13, right, both volunteers with Kut Different, load donated food from a mail truck into bins.
Volunteers with the Marion County Gator Club unload donated food from the bed of a pickup truck on May 10.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
THANK A TEACHER HONOR
HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, HCA Florida West Marion Hospital and the Public Education Foundation of Marion County have recognized Sunny Collins of Forest High School as the latest recipient of the Thank a Teacher program.
The nomination praised Collins, a health occupational sciences teacher and a sponsor of the school’s Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Club, for going above and beyond for her students.
“She encourages them and inspires them to be better students. She helps her students find their passion in the medical field and helps foster their goals,” it noted.
HCA Florida Ocala Hospital CEO Alan Keesee and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital CEO Isaiah Zirkle recognized Collins during an event at the school in April. Also in attendance were Marion County School Board Chairwoman Lori Conrad, school board members Sarah James, and Nancy Thrower, PEFMC Executive Director Meghan Magamoll and others.
During the 2024-25 school year, students, families and staff members can share their stories about a teacher’s inspiring actions, supportive words, creative lessons or overall positive impact. Teachers selected for recognition receive $250 and an email containing the messages.
To learn more, go to pefmc.org/thank-a-teacher
CASA MARION RECOGNIZED
CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse) Marion won the national 2025 Purple Ribbon Award for Organizational Hope Story of the Year.
The award was presented by DomesticShelters.org and judged by a national panel of respected professionals from the domestic violence field, the news release stated.
CASA Marion earned the award after launching certified domestic violence services in January 2024.
CASA Pinellas, founded in 1977, was asked to extend its certification to Marion County due to its award-winning, innovative programs. This is the second Purple Ribbon Award won by Community Action Stops Abuse after CASA Pinellas won Best New Service Launch in 2023 for its Family Justice Center, a comprehensive one-stop shop for victims of domestic violence, the release noted.
“It is deeply meaningful to receive this recognition so early in CASA Marion’s journey,” said Lariana Forsythe, CEO, said in the release. “Since launching, our team has worked with heart and urgency to build a foundation of safety, support and hope for survivors in Marion County. This award affirms that we’re on the right path—and it energizes us to keep growing, listening, and advocating for those who need us most.”
To learn more about the local agency, go to casamarion.org
Service honors slain Ocala man
The prayer service and candlelight vigil included a call to action to combat gun violence.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
Friends and family members gathered the evening of May 6 at the Immerse Church Sportsplex in Ocala for a prayer service and candlelight vigil to honor a 33-yearold man who died April 28 as a result of gunshot wounds.
Tevin Edward Hargrove was found injured around 12:25 a.m. that day at a residence in the Belleview area near Southeast 128th Street and Southeast 107th Court, according to a Marion County Sheriff ’s Office Facebook post.
Hargrove later died at a hospital, the post states. The MCSO has stated that the investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
More than 80 people attended the vigil, which was arranged and conducted by War Cry 4 Peace of Ocala, an anti-gun violence group that provides support for victims’ families. The event included a call to action to local men to combat gun violence in Ocala.
Kimberly Wilkerson, president of War Cry 4 Peace, welcomed attendees.
“We’re here to honor a special person,” Wilkerson said.
She later offered a prayer for Hargrove and his family.
Speakers with War Cry 4 Peace included Darell Tolbert, pastor of ElJireh Ministries, who recounted his past in the world of drugs and violence. He told those gathered that “the clock inside is ticking” and we should “stop wasting time.”
Taurean Williams, a minister who did not give a church affiliation, came forward and asked the men at the vigil to step forward to be part of a solution to gun violence.
“How do you stop and end (gun violence)? There is a solution (and) it starts with us,” Williams said.
Williams said men should be “the leader” and spoke of taking “ownership of children.”
“Is it possible to get through one month without gun violence?,” Williams asked of a group of more than a dozen men who embraced and prayed with him.
A woman who indicated she was related to Hargrove said he was a “funny man” who was “very protective of his family.” Another woman said she was Hargrove’s fiancé but preferred not to speak about her loss.
As the vigil closed, the attendees, holding candles, lined up in the form of Hargrove’s initials and then formed a circle to pray.
Information about sales of commemorative photo buttons, with a portion of proceeds going to the victim’s family for funeral arrangements, can be found on the War Cry 4 Peace Facebook page. The Ocala Police Department reports “zero” homicides in 2025 and the Marion County sheriffs office stated there have been “three firearm related homicides this year and 15 suicides involving firearms.”
From left, Meghan Magamoll, Emily Cook, Sarah James, Jennifer Brown, Jennifer Hatchett, Lori Conrad, Hollie Cunningham, Alan Keesee, Thank a Teacher recipient Sunny Collins, Isaiah Zirkle, Lamar Rembert, Nancy Thrower, Kaitlyn Wilson-Butler, Sabrina Godwin, Julie Shealy and Justin Godwin. [Photo courtesy HCA Florida Healthcare]
Friends and family members gathered the evening of May 6 at the Immerse Church Sportsplex in Ocala for a prayer service and candlelight vigil to honor, Tevin Hargrove, 33, who died April 28 as a result of gunshot wounds.
A large poster was on display in memory of Tevin Edward Hargrove at a vigil on May 6 in Ocala.
Photos by Andy Fillmore Ocala Gazette
Multiple charges for three accused in bank robbery, chase
Teller was briefly taken hostage, leading to kidnapping charge for one defendant.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
The armed robbery of the TD Bank at 2437 SE 17th St., Ocala, on May 8, 2025—which resulted in a high speed chase, crash of the fleeing vehicle and the shooting and injury of one of the three people charged in the case—put perhaps dozens of people at risk over $6,946, according to an Ocala Police Department arrest document.
Randall Lee Williford, 37, of Lady Lake, and Amanda Jean Bishop, 34, and Andre Javon Baker, 36, both with Ocala addresses, were each charged with robbery with a firearm. Williford was additionally charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggregated assault on a law enforcement officer, kidnapping and tampering with evidence.
The arrest document connected to Williford provided details of the alleged robbery.
“Contact was made with the bank teller and victim … who advised … a white male wearing a hat and a longsleeved red shirt (entered) inquiring about opening an account. She stated the suspect, later identified as Randall Williford, lifted his shirt and brandished the handle of a black handgun while stating, ‘Give me all the money, all of it,’” the document states
The victim stated Williford told her to “stay quiet” and he was not “afraid” to use the gun, according to the arrest affidavit.
Two other tellers were in another part of the building, the victim told investigators.
“(The victim) stated due to not having a bag, she took a coin box (quarters) and placed all the cash she had access to (later determined to be $6,946) in the box and handed it to Williford,” the affidavit indicates.
“The victim stated the defendant told her that he was going to walk outside with her and warned her not to cause any attention. She stated she walked out the first set of doors and asked if she could stay in the bank. She said the defendant instructed her to keep walking and stated, ‘I’m homeless, I have nothing to lose, keep walking!,’” according to the arrest affidavit.
“(The teller) stated she exited the
second set of doors, turning left on the sidewalk, into the parking lot. She stated she told the defendant there were no cameras in that area and instructed him to run and begged him to let her go. She stated the defendant began to run away, therefore she turned and ran back towards the bank in fear of being shot,” the affidavit states.
A chase at speeds reportedly up to 90 mph followed the robbery as the defendants, traveling in a 2011 GMC pickup truck, took a route east on Fort King Street, went south of Baseline Road and ended with the crash on Southeast 38th Street when the driver swerved to avoid a stopped vehicle and overturned in a retention pond, arrest affidavit states.
Williford was seen exiting the crashed vehicle through a broken rear window and “brandished and pointed” a pistol at OPD officer Parker Morley and Maj. Gregory Martin.
“Shots were fired at (Williford) resulting in a gunshot wound to the wrist,” according to the arrest affidavit.
Both Morley and Martin “were involved in the officer-involved shooting,” according to the OPD.
Det. Denise Drake investigated the armed robbery and arrested the three defendants.
The same TD bank was robbed on May 3, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. allegedly by a woman who passed a note to a teller indicating “she was armed with a gun,” according to a press release by OPD.
The press release states the defendant ”fled the scene with over $5,000.”
“Within 11 minutes, officers were able to locate the suspect, Christina Gates Thagard, driving westbound on SW College Road, near the College of Central Florida,” the press release stated.
“Evidence tied to the robbery, including the stolen money, clothing, a medical glove and other items, was found in her vehicle. Surveillance footage and witness descriptions confirmed Thaggard’s involvement. Detective (Mark) Pfiefer established probable cause and Thagard was charged with robbery with a firearm.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
LONGTIME VOLUNTEER HONORED FOR SERVICE
The Marion County Board of County Commissioners and the Parks & Recreation Department recently recognized Patricia “Pat” Gabriel for 19 years of volunteer service on the Parks & Recreation Advisory Council.
Appointed to the council in 2006, Gabriel served in leadership roles including chair of the advisory council. Throughout her tenure, she played a pivotal role in numerous park projects and improvements, including key developments at Wrigley Field and Carney Island, the news release noted.
LOCAL STUDENTS EARN FIRST IN SUMMER CAMP
Developed through a collaboration between the EQuIPD Grant at the University of Florida and Duke Energy, the Powering the Community outreach program has expanded since its inception in 2022 to bring an artificial intelligence and power distribution contest to middle school students throughout the Duke Energy service area.
The second Powering the Community: Middle School AI Design Contest ran from Feb. 7 to April 11, 2025. It hosted 16 students among four design teams from Marion and Sumter counties. The contest concluded with each student team’s submission of a design presentation video, in which they showcased the design process tailored for their home to a panel of judges from Duke Energy.
The winners were:
1st Place – Poor Lonely People from Fort King Middle School
2nd Place – Raider Creators from South Sumter Middle School
3rd Place – RaiderTech from South Sumter Middle School
MCPS EARNS SUNSPRA AWARDS
Marion County Public Schools captured five awards at the recent Sunshine State School Public Relations Association (SUNSPRA) Medallion Awards of Excellence competition in Orlando.
The organization honors public school districts throughout Florida based on criteria confirming exceptional work in public relations, communications, marketing and community engagement.
MCPS wins included:
• Supernova Award for the “New Bell Times 2024-2025” campaign. Only three awards were given and MCPS was highlighted for “a unanimous perfect score” in this category;
• Radiant Award for the “New Bell Times 2024-2025” campaign showcasing parent involvement;
• Silver Award for the “2024-2025 School District Calendar” in the Special Publications category; and
• Bronze Award for “What Went Right,” a marketing tool summarizing successes of the first day of school.
SUNSPRA’s president also honored MCPS’s Kevin Christian, APR, CPRC, and long-time director of Public Relations, with the inaugural “Lighthouse Award” for his commitment to mentoring others and “for being the guiding light that always leads our organization home.”
Pat Gabriel was honored during the May 6 Marion County Commission meeting. [Photo courtesy Marion County]
Marion County Middle School students work on a project as part of the Duke Energy sponsored Summer Powering the Community Energy camp at Fort King Middle school. [Photo courtesy University of Florida]
MCPS’s Kevin Christian, APR, CPRC, and Yamelie Gonzalez, in center, accept awards at the SUNSPRA Annual Conference in Orlando from award sponsor ParentSquare’s Valerie Ball, left, and SUNSPRA President Katherine Crnkovich, APR, CPRC.
Ocala Police Department officials work at the scene of an overturned vehicle at a retention pond where a person suspected in the robbery of the TD Bank was shot near Southern Pig & Cattle off Southeast Maricamp Road in Ocala, Fla. on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
The ‘silent killer’
her grandson, E.J., who shares a special bond with her husband, Robert, whom he calls “Papa.”
“My first thing was to call my husband. We said, ‘We’re going to make sure E.J. is okay.’ Him and Papa, they’re so close. E.J.’s hung out with us a lot,” she continued.
Robert took E.J. home briefly to give the boy a moment of calm.
“The police said it was okay, but then they needed to question him, so he came back,” Janice said.
Amid the chaos, she focused on keeping everyone grounded, even as her own heart raced.
“Honestly, I was just trying to help everybody remain calm. And you know, you’re not necessarily calm yourself, but you do the best you can to try to help everybody. We were just praying, you know, just praying that Harlow was going to be okay,” she said.
She didn’t see Harlow until the next day at Shands, a moment that followed a night of anguish.
“It was horrible because, all of a sudden, you’re driving home from work and everything’s cool, and then your life changes. It’s like one moment, life can change very quickly. I remember just screaming, ‘No,’ and hitting my steering wheel. I’m like, ‘Oh, God, no, this can’t happen,’” she continued.
During Harlow’s hospital stay, Evan recalled moments of progress.
“Once we were at Advent, they were able to get a heart rate and stuff back, but then they transported him to Shands, where we spent 28 days with him. He would make progress; they never thought he was going to get his ventilator taken out and he got that out. The next day, we got to take him outside and just hold him, because he still never opened his eyes,” Evan said.
“But they didn’t think he was going to be able to breathe on his own, but he did. So, we were happy. I thought that he was making progress. It was just like every time they gave us good news, like a day or two later, we got bad news again,” he continued.
For Renee, that time at the hospital allowed her to process and accept that Harlow would
“…I’m a part of the club no one wants to be a part of…”
Renee Brandies
I think that gives me a little bit of hope that something will come of this, something good,” she offered.
According to Evan, Harlow’s Helping Hands was a divine calling.
never be the same.
“There was a lot of brain damage done from the lack of oxygen, and so, after a while, he stopped accepting nutrition. His brain stopped telling his body to absorb it. We had to make the very tough decision to try to see what our next plan of care was,” she said.
Guided by faith, a path emerged.
“Our pastor at Church of Hope held a service and the president of Hospice of Marion County, watching online, felt called to make room for Harlow so he could come home. The pastor told us that, and that was the day after they asked us, ‘What are your wishes?’ It was kind of like God was saying, ‘This is where you’re going to go,’ and we went to the Grace Davis House in Belleview and Harlow was there for about seven days before he passed and gained his wings,” Renee shared.
“It was terrible, the story no one wants to be part of,” she added softly.
“Without God’s strength and his courage, we wouldn’t have been able to get through any of it. We prayed every day while we were in the hospital all day,” Evan said.
Renee said she finds comfort in transforming her grief over Harlow’s tragic loss into a mission to protect others. By raising awareness about the dangers of accidental drownings, she ensures her son’s legacy endures, offering hope through action.
“I truly believe that we all grieve differently and it’s never at the same time. For myself, I feel that just keeping Harlow’s memory alive by trying to help other parents, or grandparents or caregivers, just trying to let them know that this is a real thing and if it can happen to myself, it can happen to anyone,” she said.
“It gives me a little bit of solace knowing that his life was not wasted and that the pain I’ve endured was not for anything, and I think it kind of gives me that sense of I have a job to do as a mother. And as Harlow’s mother, I’m going to make sure everyone knows about his story.
“God put it on our heart in the hospital that whether Harlow made it or not, that we wanted to start a nonprofit for it and bring awareness because we were angry that we had never knew that accidental drowning was the number one cause of death for kids between 1 and 4, or the second leading cause of death for kids 5 to 12. And I just don’t understand why that’s not more common knowledge for people,” Evan said,
“Why are you able to leave the hospital without knowing that, but you can’t leave the hospital without a car seat. This kills more kids than car accidents. Why don’t they tell you that in the hospital; why is no one telling me this?” he asked.
A SILENT KILLER
Renee wishes she had known about what she calls this “silent killer” before it was too late. She now promotes swim training and advocates for CPR, safety equipment and heightened pool safety measures to prevent such tragedies, ensuring Harlow’s loss sparks lifesaving change.
“It is a very silent killer and it’s not what the movies look like. There is no splashing or yelling. It happens in a split second and, in most cases, there’s always people around, but unfortunately, it’s such a silent killer. Looking back knowing that now, I feel like I wouldn’t have been so comfortable with Harlow being around the pool. It just seemed like he was just far beyond his age, as far as his maturity level. I wished I had swim barriers. I wish I had a fence around. I don’t think you can have enough barriers,” she noted.
A part of the Brandies’ mission is to expose the overlooked crisis of accidental drownings, which claims more children’s lives in Florida than car accidents yet, they feel, receives scant media attention. She attributes this to insufficient legislative resources and the issue’s troubling normalcy and has vowed to advocate for policy changes.
“I think that it almost happens so much that it may not be a story. So many kids are dying from this in the state of Florida. We’re the number one state every
year, time after time, and I don’t know if it’s just not a good story, but I think it highlights where we’re lacking. Now that I’m a part of the club no one wants to be a part of, I’m going to definitely make sure that everyone knows and try to meet them at that legislative level because something needs to be done or passed,” she explained.
Renee emphasizes vigilant supervision and multiple safety measures to prevent accidental drownings, especially in Florida’s water-rich environment and advocates for comprehensive protection to spare families from tragedy.
“I think the number one thing that’s going to prevent a child from an accidental drowning is an attentive supervisor, like a water watcher,” she said.
According to Safe Kids Worldwide, a “water watcher” is a responsible adult who agrees to watch the kids in the water without distractions and wear a water watcher card. Renee also emphasizes extra layers of protection, such as safety fences and alarms.
Evan echoes the belief that vigilant supervision and multiple safety measures should be put in place to prevent accidental drownings.
“Number one, give them swimming lessons. Number two, always have a water watcher. They can’t just be one person, so if you’re having a pool party, they say you need to rotate your water watcher because if you have one person that’s supposed to watch the water the whole two to four hours, that person becomes complacent and looks down on their phone, email or text message or something like that. They say the best thing is to have a rotation every 15 to 30 minutes so the person’s really paying attention and not sidetracked. Number three, learn CPR in case it does happen, like we hope that it doesn’t ever come to that, but it’s better to know it and not need it than to need it and now know it,” he noted.
Evan also encourages families to let children know they cannot be around water without someone present.
“I don’t think you can do enough, especially here in the state of Florida where everyone has a pool and we’re by natural bodies of water,” Renee said.
According to the Florida Department of Health, from 2019 to 2021, Florida was
ranked the highest in the U.S. for unintentional drowning death rate among children ages 1 to 4 years. There are resources available for parents to combat these statistics. For example, the Sunshine Health Florida Medicaid program provides free swim lessons through the Frank Deluca YMCA Family Center in Ocala. While this information is not available on the YMCA website, Sunshine Health members can receive a voucher for the free swim lessons at the YMCA by providing their insurance policy information to the staff for a voucher.
MISSION IN ACTION
Renee and Evan recently put up a table at a FAST (Florida Aquatics Swimming Training) event where they met with a lot of parents who were in disbelief about the prevalence of childhood accidental drownings.
“Their eyes just got really big and they’re like, ‘I had no idea,’” she said.
The couple have also helped spread water safety awareness at events at the Belleview Splash Pad and Howard Academy’s Family Fun Day. Parents and grandparents, deeply moved, signed their kids up for swim lessons immediately.
“A lot of them were like, ‘We’re signing them up right now,’ or ‘I signed my child up after hearing your story,’ and I think that circles back to when I grieve. It kind of helps me,” she said.
Sharing their story with parents to prevent tragedy can be emotionally taxing.
“It’s hard to even talk about it and to sit at a table and try to share your story with parents in hopes to save their kids’ lives,” Renee said.
Ferguson goes to a lot of events with Evan and Renee to give them a break, even doing a few events on her own to help.
“It helps me share Harlow’s story, which helps me hope that we’re helping someone else and they don’t have to go through what we did. We were very blessed that he survived 38 days because everybody told me, ‘God didn’t answer your prayers,’ but he kind of did because the reality of drowning statistics, Harlow should never have survived all those days and we know that it was a blessing,” Ferguson said.
“I’m amazed at the wealth of resources in Ocala. Joining the Marion County Children’s Alliance and the Safe Kids Coalition in Marion County has been eye-opening. It’s a privilege to witness the dedication of so many people who’ve been tirelessly working on these efforts all along,” she added.
Evan Brandies becomes emotional as he and his wife, Renee Brandies, talk about their nonprofit, Harlow’s Helping Hands, during the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County Inspire Gala at the Circle Square Cultural Center in Ocala on March 8, 2025. [File photo by Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance honored Harlow’s Helping Hands as a Water Safety Champion, with Renee and Evan Brandies showing the plaque received by the local nonprofit. [Photo courtesy Renee Brandies]
Renee and Evan Brandies often host a Harlow’s Helping Hands table at local events to help raise awareness about accidental drowning.
[Photo courtesy Renee Brandies]
The ‘silent killer’
Continued from page A6
A lot of people don’t know that these resources are out there for them to utilize at no cost. So, we’ve just really been trying to dive into it and share that with as many people as possible,” Renee added.
May is National Water Safety Month and Harlow’s Helping Hands has an exciting project in store. They hope to put loaner life vests at every boat ramp in Marion County. The first location will be Ray Wayside Park in Silver Springs.
“We’re in the works of getting a loaner vest station at one of the boat ramps. Our goal is to hopefully have them at every one of them to provide life jackets for small children who are going out and don’t have one. We also have a few other projects in the works that we haven’t had solidified just yet,” Renee said.
DAY BY DAY
Renee emphasized the collaborative effort behind the success of Harlow’s Helping Hands, highlighting the critical support from her family and community.
“A few of our community leaders are also a part of our board foundation. We have wonderful arms around us to help guide us throughout the process. I would not be able to do all that it takes to get to where we’ve come in just a short period of time by myself,” she said.
“They are still reaching out, guiding us and showing us what to do and who to reach out to. We just have had an abundance of support and help guiding us,” Evan stated.
“We can only talk to so many people and with them sharing Harlow’s story it really keeps it alive and it spreads farther beyond what we’re capable of doing. And you know, that’s the whole goal, to bring awareness to this number one cause of our children’s deaths here in Florida,” Renee said. “It’s definitely been very heartwarming and heartfelt to see so many people from all sorts of organizations and backgrounds offering their support and resources. It truly has been moving to see here in Marion County that people love on people and in times like this, they show up in a big way. And we couldn’t be more grateful for that.”
Beyond raising awareness, the Brandies are committed to supporting families grappling with similar losses, meeting them wherever they are in their grief.
“It’s an uncomfortable conversation. A lot of parents who are living this story feel guilt and shame, and I’m not any different from any of them. I’m here to meet anyone where they are on this journey. I don’t think there is any real manual to it,” Renee said. “It’s just day by day, trying to find the new normal.”
To make a donation to the nonprofit, go to ocalafoundation.org/communityfoundation-funds/harlows-helping-hands
For updates about Harlow’s Helping Hands, visit FB.com/profile. php/?id=61563360696215
For details about National Water Safety Month, go to nwsm.phta.org
Medicaid
Continued from page A1
program who are physically able to be employed and aren’t already in the workforce. Nor have past efforts to reduce fraud, waste and abuse led to significant savings.
According to widespread media reports, Republicans are considering changes that would cut the amount of money that the federal government reimburses states for what they spend on Medicaid
In May 2025, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that 8.6 million Americans would lose their health insurance coverage should the GOP proposal become law.
Historically, states have dealt with budget cuts by reducing their payments to health care providers, limiting eligibility or restricting benefits. These reductions all particularly affected home- and community-based services that many disabled and older adults rely on.
About 3 in 4 of the people with Medicaid coverage who receive long-term care through the program get that care at home, in their communities or both, rather than residing in a nursing home. States save an estimated 26 cents for every dollar spent on those services delivered outside nursing homes.
LOSING COVERAGE CAN BE HARMFUL FOR YOUR HEALTH
We recently analyzed data from a nationally representative study of approximately 6,000 people who had Medicaid coverage but lost it when they turned age 65 because their income exceeded 100% of the federal poverty level. In 2025, that cutoff is about $15,560 for a single person and $21,150 for a couple.
Medicaid income eligibility generally drops from 138% to 100% of the federal poverty level at age 65 once Medicare becomes a person’s primary health insurer.
The people who participated in the study had lost their Medicaid coverage upon turning 65 between 1998 and 2020. Our team followed the experiences of these participants over a 10-year period starting at age 65 to see how they fared compared with people who continue to be enrolled in Medicaid after their 65th birthday.
What we found was both surprising and disturbing.
FEWER ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING
Over the decade following that milestone, the people who lost their Medicaid coverage had more chronic conditions and could perform fewer activities of daily living, such as bathing and getting dressed, without any assistance as compared with those who still had Medicaid coverage. In addition, they were twice as likely to experience depression and be in fair or poor health
As people’s health worsened, they also went to the hospital more often and stayed there longer. They also used outpatient surgery services more frequently
These services are particularly expensive for the health care system. Depending on the service, it may also be costly for patients. Unlike the comprehensive coverage of Medicaid, the Medicare program fully covers only inpatient hospitalizations, shortterm nursing facility care, hospice, some short-term home care, annual wellness visits, vaccines and some basic preventive care. Beyond that, Medicare requires the payment of premiums to help with uncovered services that can also include deductibles and copays.
This arrangement can lead to significant out-of-pocket costs that make health care hard for low-income older adults to afford unless they have both Medicare and Medicaid coverage.
We also found that older people who lost Medicaid coverage were less likely to see their primary care physician for routine and follow-up care, despite being enrolled in Medicare. This explains in part why they are going to the hospital more often, likely avoiding routine health care that may incur out-of-pocket costs and eventually utilizing Medicarecovered hospital care when needed.
In short, we found that exiting the Medicaid program upon turning 65 actually leads to an increase in the use of some of the most expensive health care services, such as inpatient hospitalization and outpatient surgery So, although Medicaid may no longer pay for these costs, the rest of the health care system does.
Just under 90% of older adults enrolled in Medicare have some kind of supplemental coverage that helps them pay for services that the program doesn’t cover. For 16% of the people with Medicare coverage, Medicaid covers those additional health care costs. The rest of that nearly 90% obtain supplemental coverage from private insurance companies or are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that’s run by a private company instead of the government.
However, 11% of Americans covered by Medicare don’t have any additional coverage. It is likely that those who lost Medicaid benefits at age 65 may not be able to afford any other supplemental coverage options and fall into this group.
PEOPLE WHO LOSE MEDICAID COVERAGE MAY DIE SOONER
One of our more troubling findings was that people who lost Medicaid coverage at age 65 were 14% more likely to die within the next 10 years than were those who kept their coverage in addition to gaining Medicare coverage. This was true even though the people who lost their Medicaid access tended to start out in better health.
Roughly 12 million Americans are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid today. Much is at stake for them and other low-income people as Congress considers making major changes to the program to cut federal spending on it.
For some Americans, it’s a matter of life and death. For others, it’s a matter of healthy versus unhealthy aging that leads to costlier health care not just for themselves but for the U.S. as a whole.
New creation joins Mermaid Tail Trail
Ocala artist Linda Reitz created “Celestial” as part of the legacy project that honors the history of Weeki Wachee Springs.
By Margo Wilson Special to the Gazette
She is 80 pounds of fiberglass, soon to be anchored in place by 1,000 pounds of concrete.
She’s 6 feet, 8 inches tall. Her scales include shades of blue, teal, purple and lavender, rendered with a brush, using automotive paint.
She’s “Celestial,” also known as Scarlett, and is the creative offspring of Linda Reitz, an Ocala artist who exhibits her work at the Rainbow Springs Art in Dunnellon gallery.
“Celestial” was unveiled recently at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park but was slated to move soon to the Kayak Shack in nearby Spring Hill.
“Celestial” is one of 10 new mermaid statues that have been added to the Mermaid Tale Trail, a drivable excursion from Brooksville to Weeki Wachee, where mermaid-hunters can spot and photograph 37 mermaid statues, including the newest additions.
Longtime Ocalan Newt Perry, founder of the Perry Swim School and a fixture at the Silver Springs attraction, where he was involved in numerous movie productions, among other activities, founded the Weeki Wachee attraction, which opened in the fall of 1947.
Reitz said she heard last summer, through the Hernando County Fine Arts Council, about the artists’ competition to create 10 new mermaids for the Mermaid Tale Trail. The original 27 mermaids were created in 2023 to mark the 75th anniversary of Weeki Wachee State Park. The council was joined by Brooksville Main Street and the Adventure Coast Visitors’ Bureau in sponsoring the mermaid statue competition.
Reitz’s design incorporates all the zodiac constellations on the rock upon which Celestial perches. And painting a larger-than-most-humans mermaid took some planning.
Reitz and her husband retrieved the mermaid by hefting the statue into their truck, then lugged her inside their house. While he went hunting, she painted the mermaid and finished before Christmas. The paint fumes were strong, and Reitz had to wear a mask.
After the mermaids were painted, a man affiliated with the project clear-coated all of them and they were stored in a warehouse for a while.
The mermaid unveiling was delayed several times because some of the original statues were carried away by hurricanes and one was damaged by a hitand-run driver, Reitz said.
But by the end of March, everything was ready.
Reitz said the mermaid painting “was a fun project but I don’t know if I’d want to do it again.”
She explained that it was difficult painting with a brush while using automobile paint. Not only did she have to hunt for a brush that would work but the paint dried in 90 seconds.
“It was a little bit of a challenge, but I think I finally got it,” she said.
A native of New York, Reitz and her husband had a wood shop there where they made pull-toys and carousel horses from exotic woods. She exhibited a wooden unicorn at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Since moving to Florida, she has incorporated Florida’s nature life into her work with acrylics and resin art. She explores how fluid acrylics—or pour art—and resin can serve as the abstract background for realistic paintings of fish; mammals, such as horses; and fantasy creatures. She often incorporates gold leaf, crystals or glitter in her work. She may paint on traditional canvas, or decorate coasters, clocks and turntables.
She said some of the other mermaid statues at the unveiling included one that’s a hippie, one that’s a pirate and many that include sea animals. A chiropractor purchased a mermaid with a painted-on spine.
Reitz said all of the artists worked with fiberglass mermaids that were made from the same mold, which was modeled after a Weeki Wachee mermaid.
She said the people from the Kayak Shack who bought her mermaid have a daughter, Scarlett, and that’s how “Celestial” got her other name. Like the real Scarlett, “Celestial” has black hair.
Even though she has some hesitation about doing a project like this again, Reitz said she thinks it would be a great idea to do a statue trail through Dunnellon, like the horses in Ocala and the turtles in Inverness. She thinks fiberglass statues of river otters might work, but she recommends using acrylic paint.
To get a map and follow the Mermaid Tale Trail, go to floridamermaidtrail.b-cdn.net
To learn the history of Newt Perry and his family, go to ocalastyle.com/in-the-swim
Submitted photos
Linda Reitz painted an 80-pound mermaid inside her house. She needed to wear a mask to ward off some of the fumes from the automobile paint.
Linda Reitz of Ocala, an artist at the Rainbow Springs Art in Dunnellon gallery, introduces her mermaid, “Celestial,” at Weeki Wachee State Park.
The crowd awaits the unveiling of mermaid statues at Weeki Wachee State Park.
BUDGET TALKS NOT ‘ANY CLOSER’
By Jim Turner The News Service of Florida
As budget talks remain stalled, House Speaker Daniel Perez said on May 13 that the House has offered possibilities including a “lean, criticalneeds budget with minimal spending and no tax cuts.”
But in a quest to lower state spending, the Miami Republican described a proposal by Gov. Ron DeSantis to send $1,000 checks to homeowners as an “irresponsible idea.”
With 97 of the 120 House members attending a brief session to extend the potential end date of this year’s legislative session, Perez said the House continues to make offers to the Senate about a tax package and a budget that must be completed by the July 1 start of the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
Perez has called for reducing the state’s sales tax rate but indicated Tuesday he
is more focused on reducing spending. DeSantis, meanwhile, has pushed for property tax cuts.
“The sales tax cut was a means, not an end,” Perez said. “We will embrace any and all ideas that curb the state budget. We must stop leveraging Florida’s future needs by overspending on today’s wants.”
Perez later told reporters that he doesn’t think lawmakers are at risk of a government shutdown but also noted the talks aren’t “any closer than we were a few weeks ago.” The House passed a resolution that would allow the session to continue as late as June 30.
Perez said the House
CITRUS FORECAST SLIGHTLY INCREASED
The News Service of Florida
Florida citrus growers might squeeze out a few more boxes of oranges than expected as they approach the end of the worst growing season in decades.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on May 12 released an updated forecast for the season that included a slight increase in the estimate for oranges. The forecast estimated growers will fill 11.63 million 90-pound boxes of oranges, up from an 11.6 million estimate in April.
The new estimate for oranges is about 35 percent lower than the 18.06 million boxes filled during the 2024-2025 season, which was the lowest since the 1935-1936 season. Orange production is on pace to be lowest since the 1931-1932 season.
The new forecast showed growers filling 1.3 million boxes of grapefruit, the same as in an April estimate. Estimates of lemons
stayed at 600,000 boxes and tangerines and mandarins stayed at 400,000.
Florida Citrus Mutual Executive Vice President and CEO Matt Joyner said he remains hopeful that lawmakers, who are trying to reach agreement on a new state budget, will approve a Senate proposal to pump about $200 million into the industry.
Senate President Ben Albritton, a Wauchula Republican and citrus grower, has made helping the industry a priority.
“Thanks to Senate President Albritton’s bold vision to make citrus great again and the prospect of unprecedented funding from the Legislature to advance research and replanting efforts, there’s hope for revitalizing Florida’s signature crop,” Joyner said in a statement.
The Senate proposal includes $125 million to replace trees that have been lost in recent years to storms and deadly citrus greening disease.
won’t be “intimidated” or “bullied” by the Senate or DeSantis. The governor, who has veto power, last week exacerbated a session-long feud with Perez by saying a sales tax rate reduction would kill any opportunity to cut property taxes and that it would be “dead on arrival” if included
“Members, I know that all of you are tired, some of us are sick, and I’m sure some of you are thinking: even if we are right, wouldn’t it be easier to stop fighting?” Perez told House members Tuesday. “It would be. Giving up is always the easier
path. After all, we could put the blame for the problem on past legislatures and push the responsibility for solving it onto future legislatures. And while that may be easy, it would also be wrong.”
The annual session was scheduled to end May 2 but had to be extended because the House and Senate did not agree on a budget. Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, indicated on May 2 that they had reached a “framework” that would include $2.8 billion in tax cuts, including reducing the sales tax rate. But behind-the-scenes talks blew up last week, with Perez accusing Albritton of backing out of the agreement on the budget framework. That has left unresolved budget “allocations,” which determine how much overall money will go to areas such as education and health and human services. Allocations need to be set before conference committees can begin formally negotiating details of the budget.
‘CAT FUND’ CASH ESTIMATE TOPS $6.7B
The News Service of Florida
The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, a crucial reinsurance program, will have an estimated $6.72 billion in cash to pay claims during the 2025 storm season, according to a report approved May 12 by a panel that helps oversee the program.
The so-called Cat Fund also would have access to about $3.25 billion in borrowed money through what are known as “preevent” bonds.
The Cat Fund provides relatively low-cost reinsurance—essentially backup coverage—to insurers to help pay claims if the state gets hit by a major hurricane or multiple hurricanes. Insurers have to cover pre-determined amounts, similar to deductibles, before they can tap the Cat
Fund to help pay claims. Insurers also buy private reinsurance to pay claims. Under state law, the Cat Fund is authorized to cover up to $17 billion in losses. In addition to using cash and the pre-event bonds, the Cat Fund has authority to issue additional bonds if it has claims up to that $17 billion total.
The report presented to the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Advisory Council estimated that the program’s losses from last year’s Hurricane Milton will total about $3 billion. Its losses from Hurricane Helene, however, will be only $10 million, and it will not have losses from Hurricane Debby, the report said. By contrast, its losses from 2022’s Hurricane Ian are estimated at $8.5 billion.
This year’s six-month hurricane season will start June 1.
State targets Chinese students ruling
By Jim Saunders
The News Service of Florida
Saying Florida is trying to protect against “nefarious foreigngovernment influence,” highereducation leaders this week asked a federal appeals court to overturn a ruling that blocked part of a 2023 law restricting ties between state universities and colleges and China.
Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office filed a 60-page brief at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals arguing that a federal district judge improperly issued a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit filed by two Florida International University doctoral students and a University of Florida professor.
The March 28 injunction ruling focused on the students, who are from China and say the law has prevented them from working as graduate teaching assistants, positions that carry stipends and other benefits. The students, Zhipeng Yin and Zhen Guo, received what are known as F-1 visas from the federal government to study in the U.S. U.S. District Judge Jose Martinez approved recommendations from U.S. Magistrate Judge Eduardo Sanchez, who said federal law governs such immigration and national-security issues.
But the brief filed May 12 disputed that the state law (SB 846) was “preempted” by federal laws.
Uthmeier’s office is representing the defendants, members of the state university system’s Board of Governors, system Chancellor Ray Rodrigues and Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr.
“In essence, the (district) court held that a state university must hire an alien student, no matter the security risks, because years earlier the federal government gave that student an F-1 visa and ran a cursory background check,” the brief said.
Also, the state’s lawyers contended that “Congress simply intended to provide a floor with its security review, not a ceiling” as part of the F-1 visa process.
“Nothing in the F-1 visa statutes or regulations indicate that Congress saw State Department desk agents as the first, last, and only line of defense against threats to the nation or to informational security,” the state’s lawyers wrote.
But in his recommendations, Sanchez, the magistrate judge, wrote that the state law “requires the Board of Governors to make a national security determination about foreign students seeking employment at state colleges and universities, just as the federal government
does when determining eligibility for and issuing visas to those students.”
”For example, although a student visa holder will have been found by the federal government to meet all of the eligibility requirements for the issued student visa, including satisfaction of national security concerns, SB 846 requires the state of Florida to conduct an independent assessment of national security concerns that may result in a conflicting national security determination,” Sanchez wrote.
“Indeed, SB 846’s application to students who have been granted student visas serves no purpose other than to revisit, question and potentially seek to override the federal immigration determination that the pertinent student does not pose a national security concern.”
The state law was part of a package of changes that the Republican-controlled Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis approved largely targeting China. Along with China, it sought to prevent involvement in the higher-education system by Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria.
The law prevents universities and colleges from employing people who are “domiciled” in China and the other countries, unless the people go through a process to get approval from the Board
of Governors or the State Board of Education, which oversees colleges.
The magistrate’s recommendations, filed Feb. 10, said Yin is pursuing doctoral studies in computer and information sciences, while Guo is studying materials engineering. In 2023, they were initially offered graduate teaching positions, which included annual stipends of $27,510 and tuition waivers, but were later told that the teaching positions were deferred because of the state law.
They remained students at FIU but had to pay full tuition, Sanchez wrote.
The state quickly appealed the injunction ruling and raised a series of issues in Monday’s brief. For example, the brief disputed that the students had legal standing to sue the Board of Governors because FIU — not the statewide board — denied their employment.
More broadly, the brief said the state “enacted SB 846 to protect its citizens from nefarious foreign-government influence by barring hostile foreign governments and their potential agents from stealing sensitive information at Florida’s public universities.”
The state also has asked the Atlantabased appeals court for a stay of the injunction while the underlying appeal plays out. The court had not ruled on that request as of the morning of May 14.
House Speaker Daniel Perez. [Photo courtesy flhouse.gov]
Members of the media record Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press conference about Hurricane Milton at the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park in Ocala on Oct. 8, 2024. [File photo by Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
Florida citrus. [Photo courtesy UF/IFAS]
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Charting a course
This WWII naval aviator served on missions aboard PB4Y-2 aircraft.
By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
Ray Charnley, 103, of Ocala, charted his own course during World War II as a naval aviator. His service included being a copilot and navigator on missions that lasted six hours on PB4Y-2 four-engine patrol aircraft along the coast of Japan, on at least one occasion under enemy fire. He was trained to use a sextant for celestial navigation and the course readings were taken through a bubble on the top of the aircraft.
“Today, a GPS will tell you where you are,” said Charnley, who celebrated his 103rd birthday on Feb. 20, 2025.
Charnley described the PB4Y-2 aircraft as similar to a B-24 four-engine bomber but with a single tail.
According to the Pima Air and Space Museum website, pimaair.org, the PB4Y-2 was used in World War II and as hurricane hunter plane.
“In 1943 the Navy asked Consolidated for a new patrol bomber based on the B-24. The PB4Y-2 design incorporated many changes including a single vertical tail, more armament, low level engines, and a stretched fuselage. The Privateer also had state of the art search radars and navigation equipment giving the aircraft an all-weather capability. By 1945 several squadrons of Privateers were conducting operations from the Philippines to the Aleutian Islands,” the website states.
According to the Naval History and Heritage Command website, history. navy.mil, the airplane was employed by the Navy’s Hurricane Hunters for a time.
Charnley a native of Johnston, Rhode Island, was working as a draftsman
at Brown and Sharpe Manufacturing in Providence, Rhode Island, when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Jan. 12, 1943, according to military records he supplied.
The 2000 book “Graniteville Went to War (WWII GIs Remember)” is a compilation of a number of veterans’ from around his hometown, including Charnley.
Charnley entered the Naval Cadet Training Program in January 1943 in Connecticut and “education and civilian cleansing” is referenced in the book. He had pre-flight training in Athens, Georgia, primary training in Memphis, Tennessee, and advanced flight training at Pensacola. He was trained in twoengine and four-engine aircraft including the B-24 bomber, the book indicates.
Charnley left in 1945 for overseas duty as a copilot and navigator in PB4Y-2 aircraft and flew from San Diego to Hawaii and then on to a main base on Tinian, Marianas Island.
“Stationed at advance base on Iwo Jima flying weather (flew into eye of hurricane) air-sea rescue (for downed B-29 planes) and reconnaissance missions when war ended,” Charnley stated for “Graniteville Went to War.”
the military and was stationed at Hawaii.
“He couldn’t stand Hawaiian music later,” Charnley said.
One of Charnley’s two brothers joined
Charnley married his first wife, Bernie, in 1945. After the war ended, he worked at Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island for a year and then they moved to Miami in 1947, where he worked with the United States Geological Survey.
The USGS, “the science arm of the Department of the Interior,” provides “an array of earth, water, biological and mapping data and expertise to bear in support of decision-making on
environmental, resource and public safety issues,” according to usgs.gov
According to “Graniteville Went to War,” Charnley and his family moved to Ocala in 1956 and he retired in 1977. Bernie, with whom he had a daughter, Debbie Nuetzi, passed away in 1991.
“My first wife died in 1991, and I remarried in 1995 to (Ella, who passed away April 2, 2025) a 7th generation Florida ‘Cracker.’ I play golf two to five times a week and am enjoying life,” his closing entry in the book states.
Charnley lives with his daughter and her husband, Mark Nuetzi, in southeast Ocala. Debbie, who graduated from Ocala High School in 1969, was born in the Miami area. She said her father saved two youths in danger of drowning in a canal near Miami International Airport in the late 1940s.
Charnley received a token of recognition from the USGS for the lifesaving act, but Debbie described her father as largely shrugging off the heroic act as all in a day’s work. She said he chided the youth to go tell their moms what they’d done.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman
World War II veteran Raymond Charnley, 103, poses with a photo of himself and his late wife, Bernie, taken on their wedding day in 1943, at his home in southeast Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. He served in the U.S. Navy Aviators during World War II, mostly in the Pacific theater, as a co-pilot and navigator.
Raymond Charnley is third from left, in the back row, in this picture of his platoon from World War II.
Raymond Charnley is on the right in this image from his days of service in World War II.
These are some photos in the WWII veteran’s scrapbook.
World War II veteran Raymond Charnley, 103, is in the center, second row, in this photo.
Historic World War II photos are seen in Raymond Charnley’s scrapbook.
Raney’s to host Road To Wishes truck show
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
Raney’s Truck Parts, a provider of aftermarket parts and accessories for the heavy-duty trucking industry, is hosting its first truck show fundraiser on May 31. The Raney’s Road to Wishes event will take place at Raney’s Chrome Shop at 3030 W. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, with proceeds to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The goal of the event, which will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is free to attend, is to raise $80,000.
“We’ve had a few goals from the very early days that we have always considered big milestone goals. One of those was opening up our own showroom here in Ocala, which we did in 2019. The next evolution of that goal was to host our first ever truck show on site. Every time we would sit down and really talk through what it would take to actually make a truck show happen, it became overwhelming and when you consider the chaos that came with COVID-19 shortly after we opened our showroom, the opportunity just wasn’t there the past few years,” explained Raney’s CEO Joel Raney.
“Then, in August of last year, I received an email from Amy, the CDL instructor at Marion Technical College, and she asked if I had considered putting on a show and mentioned partnering with Make-AWish. It was the partnering that caught my attention, and I felt compelled to make this happen,” Raney added.
“I’ve always been supportive of Make-A-Wish and find it so amazing the happiness they can bring to children who are facing the toughest of times at such young ages in their lives. What
Make-A-Wish does is give them hope and something to be excited about, which in turn helps them continue to fight and oftentimes overcome life threatening critical illnesses. I was already a huge believer, but that was strengthened even more when a young ‘Wish Kid’ and her family inadvertently helped me meet my future wife at an airport in 2011,” Raney shared.
“There was a little girl, who was a Wish Kid, singing and dancing at our gate while we were all waiting to board a flight to Orlando and that became the conversation starter between my wife, who was a complete stranger at the time, and myself,” he recalled.
“Seeing these kids able to forget their troubles and just enjoy the moments that Make-A-Wish gives them is really powerful. Our goal is to contribute to that through our truck show by raising awareness and funds to grant more wishes,” he said.
Sara Desmartin, the Make-A-Wish development and community outreach manager for North Central Florida, said the partnership between Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida and Raney’s Chrome Shop began through a mutual desire to make a positive difference in the local community.
“Joel Raney and his team were inspired to get involved in a hands-on way. Their passion for both their industry and their community led to the creation of Raney’s Road to Wishes, a truck show fundraiser designed to bring people together while raising critical funds to grant wishes. It’s been a natural and enthusiastic collaboration from the start,” Desmartin explained.
“Raney’s Road to Wishes will directly benefit Make-A-Wish by raising funds that help grant wishes for children with critical illnesses throughout Central and Northern Florida. These wishes are more than just nice experiences, they’re a vital
part of a child’s medical journey, shown to help build emotional strength and resilience. Importantly, all proceeds from this event will benefit wish kids in Marion County, making the impact truly local and meaningful,” Desmartin added.
“Make-A-Wish has granted numerous wishes for children and families right here in the Ocala area and throughout Marion County. The impact locally has been profound—from sending children on dream vacations to providing customized bedroom makeovers. These experiences not only uplift the children but bring hope and comfort to their families. Events like this ensure that we can continue to serve even more families in our own backyard,” she noted.
Raney’s Road to Wishes will include family-friendly activities, pony rides and a disc jockey. Food trucks will offer refreshments for sale. The main attraction will be custom-built show trucks from across the country and there also will be emergency vehicles like SWAT trucks, firetrucks, motorcycles and more. The winner of a best-of-the-best award will be given a spot in Raney’s calendar for 2026. Cash prizes will include:
Super Shine: $750
To learn more and make donations, visit raneystruckparts.com/road-to-wishes and raneys.online/wish
For additional information about Make-A-Wish, contact Desmartin at sdesmartin@cnfl.wish.org or (352) 3283633, and at cnfl.wish.org
Church-led job fair offered fresh start to job seekers
By Serfronya Wallace
Serfronya Wallace, Revealing Truth Ministries, Special to the Gazette
On April 30, 2025, the Revealing Truth Ministries Outreach Christian Center hosted its inaugural Second Chance Job Fair in partnership with Better Together. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the church campus in Ocala welcomed 129 job seekers looking for a new opportunity.
The event was part of the Nationwide Day of Second Chances, a movement aimed at helping individuals who have experienced barriers to employment. Some had career gaps, others had been involved with the justice system and many were simply ready for a change. The fair welcomed anyone in the community who needed support in finding work.
Better Together helped coordinate the event and a wide range of employers and resource partners participated. Organizations included Hilton Ocala, Comfort Keepers, Team Cone, Zero Hour Life Center, the Marion County Housing Authority and Marion County Public Schools. The jobs and services offered spanned industries from healthcare to construction to education.
By the end of the afternoon, eight people had been hired on the spot, 113 interviews had been scheduled or conducted and 28 individuals received one-on-one job coaching. Nearly 80 percent of attendees said they left feeling more confident about their employment future.
One attendee had three interviews scheduled before leaving the building. Another, a domestic violence survivor, connected with community
services and received help with food and housing.
“At Spherion Staffing & Recruiting, all we do all day long is schedule interviews,” said Patti Wallace. “I had more people today than I’ve had in the last week show up to my office. I completed a total of 25 interviews onsite today, six scheduled for tomorrow and I have four more candidates to follow up with. This turnout—and I do job fairs all over Lake, Marion and Sumter counties—best turnout I’ve ever been to.”
Volunteers from the church and community welcomed attendees, offered guidance, provided bilingual assistance to Spanish-speaking job seekers and prayed with those who needed encouragement or support.
To learn more, visit revealingtruthocc.org and bettertogetherus.org
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 home!
Custom built show trucks will be one of the big attractions at the May 31 Raney’s Road To Wishes truck show.
[Photo courtesy Raney’s Truck Parts]
The recent Revealing Truth Ministries Second Chance Job Fair in partnership with Better Together helped some attendees find employment. [Submitted photo]
A long-lasting love
These grade school sweethearts
finally tied the knot, 53 years after he proposed.
By Marian Rizzo Correspondent
Like Frank Sinatra sang back in the 1960s, love is lovelier “The Second Time Around.”
Such is the case with Jerry and Kathy (Clevinger) Stein, who met when she was 12 and he was 14. They dated during their early years in college, took different paths in life and recently got back together again.
As their story goes, Jerry proposed marriage to Kathy on her 18th birthday, on March 29, 1972, but they didn’t walk down the aisle until March 29, 2025, the day she turned 71.
“He wanted us to elope that night and go to Georgia,” Kathy recalled of that day in 1972. “He wanted us to get married. He was a junior in college in Melbourne and I was starting at UCF. He wanted us to be married when I started college. I said, ‘Yes, I want to marry you, but I can’t get married and not tell my parents.’ I said, ‘Let’s wait a little.’ Well, we did wait. We waited 53 years.”
Kathy still remembers their first meeting “like it was yesterday.” Their fathers, both letter carriers for the Ocala Post Office, had become friends. Jerry’s father also fixed broken appliances in a workshop he had set up in his garage. One day, Kathy and her father brought a broken toaster there for repair. Jerry was there working on a science fair project, a small version of a Tesla coil that could illuminate light bulbs. He later won the state science fair with that project.
“It was 1966. I thought he was the cutest,” said Kathy, remembering the moment she first set eyes on Jerry. “It was love at first sight, for both of us. For a couple hours, Jerry was showing me his science projects while our dads were talking.”
Because they lived on different sides of town and went to different
schools, Kathy didn’t know if she’d ever see Jerry again.
“After that, I broke the toaster on purpose,” she said. “I took the little spring out and my father didn’t know how to fix things. Back then you didn’t buy new appliances, you got them fixed.”
Jerry and Kathy gave each other promise rings on Christmas Eve in 1971 and continued dating into their early college years. Circumstances led them on different paths, however. Jerry went on to study pharmacology and Kathy pursued her master’s degree in speech and language pathology.
Jerry was married for 39 years and had four children, all professionals, then divorced 12 years ago. Kathy was married twice. She had one son, William Clevinger, an accomplished film producer.
During their five decades apart, Kathy kept a photo album/journal about their early years together.
She said she prayed often for Jerry, her “first and only love.” They reconnected a couple years ago on Facebook with Christmas and birthday greetings.
By this time, Jerry, a cancer survivor, was suffering from several orthopedic ailments.
“I was in really bad shape and
had no hope for the future,” he said.
Though he wanted to see Kathy again, he hesitated to make plans.
“He said he didn’t want me to see him like that,” recalled Kathy. “He didn’t want to be a burden to me. I said, ‘You can’t say I can’t come and see you or be in your life again just because you’re sick. I’ve waited my whole life to see you again. I prayed that God would allow me to see you one more time.’”
On Aug. 12, 2022, they met in person and went out for lunch.
“We talked for two or three hours,” said Kathy. “It was like those 50 years went poof! Three years ago, I was ready to give up on life and so was Jerry,” she said. “I was in a very abusive marriage that I should have had the courage to get out of a long time ago. I literally didn’t care if I lived or died.”
Kathy moved Jerry out of the assisted living facility where he was receiving treatments and got him back into his own apartment. She bought him a walker and took him to doctor’s appointments. There was something therapeutic about the reunion. Kathy said their doctors were amazed at how much their health had improved.
“We really saved each other’s lives,” she said. “Finding each other
again and reconnecting gave us hope and made us want to live again. God gave us a miracle. He really did.”
The Steins eloped on November 30, 2023, and followed up with a wedding ceremony and reception on March 29, 2025, on Kathy’s 71st birthday, exactly 53 years from the day Jerry first proposed.
Kathy’s younger brother, Dr. Sid Clevinger, gave her away. In attendance were more than 120 family members and friends, including 10 of Kathy’s sorority sisters. Kathy’s dear friend Jaye Perrett sang “Grow Old Along With Me” and her nephew, Adam Langenmayr, conducted the ceremony.
“It was a magical day, all our dreams finally came true,” said Kathy. “We had young love, now we have golden love. But we can’t live with regrets. Although it would have been wonderful to have a family together and share life together, I never loved anybody else but him.”
Since marrying, the Steins purchased a motor home and plan to make a honeymoon trip along the east coast this fall.
“It’s a miracle we got back together,” Jerry said. “Every day I discover something new about her and it gets better every day. She’s making my dreams come true.”
Jerry and Kathy Stein say their vows on March 29, 2025, with her nephew, Adam Langenmayr, officiating. [Photo by Dave Schlenker]
Jerry Stein [Submitted photo]
Kathy Clevinger [Submitted photo]
Kathy Clevinger and Jerry Stein prepare for a school dance. [Submitted photo] Kathy and Jerry Stein on their wedding day, March 29, 2025. [Photo by Dave Schlenker]
Kathy Clevinger accepts a promise ring from Jerry Stein on Christmas Eve 1971. [Submitted photo]
RICK STEVES’ EUROPE
A crossroads of civilizations in Istanbul
Some of my most vivid memories from my first visit to Istanbul in the 1970s are of the colorful locals. Scruffy kids sold cherry juice, and old men would grab huge cucumbers from wheeled carts, then peel, quarter, and salt them, and sell them for pennies. While the Old World magic in many parts of the city has been plowed under by modern affluence, today’s Istanbul is every bit as rich and rewarding as it was back then.
For thousands of years, Istanbul has marked the point where East meets West – a true crossroads of civilizations. Once known as Byzantium, it was named Constantinople in honor of Constantine, the Roman emperor who, around AD 330, as ancient Rome was falling, moved the capital to the less chaotic east. In 476, Rome and the Western Empire fell to invading barbarians. The city, so layered with rich history, was officially named Istanbul in 1923 with the founding of the modern Turkish Republic.
Plenty of traces of the Roman capital remain. In the heart of the Old Town is the Hippodrome, a racetrack like Rome’s Circus Maximus. Built in the fourth century, this square was Constantinople’s primary venue
for chariot races. Its centerpiece, a 3,500-year-old Egyptian obelisk, was originally carved to honor a pharaoh. What you see today is only the upper third of the original massive stone tower.
The best look at ancient Constantinople is Hagia Sophia. Built as a church in the sixth century, it marked the pinnacle of the Byzantine glory days, boasting the biggest dome anywhere until Florence’s cathedral was finished 900 years later. After the Byzantine Empire collapsed in the 15th century, the Ottomans turned it into a mosque, adding minarets and plastering over Christian mosaics. The prayer niche was shifted a bit off-center so it would point toward Mecca, rather than Jerusalem. (Long technically classified as a museum, it was redesignated as a mosque in 2020 and still welcomes non-Muslim visitors.)
Facing the Hagia Sophia is the Blue Mosque. The area in between is the historic and touristic center of Istanbul, with blossoming trees, refreshing fountains, and a mix of strolling tourists and locals. On my last visit, I had to just sit on a bench and marvel at the elegance of the scene.
Architecturally, the Blue Mosque, with its six minarets,
Kimchi comes together quickly and only gets better as it sits
Cucumber kimchi is a popular kimchi to enjoy in summer because it’s easy to prepare and offers a refreshing taste that can be enjoyed immediately. It requires two simple steps.
First, season the cucumber with salt (and sugar) to draw out its water. This prevents the kimchi from becoming too diluted. Then, add the remaining ingredients, toss together, and that’s it! You’ll have ready-to-eat kimchi that is vibrantly crisp and savory, with a hint of spiciness. Enjoy it as it ferments in the refrigerator, too, for a deeper yet still refreshing flavor.
Oi Kimchi (Cucumber Kimchi)
Makes about 8 cups
3 pounds pickling cucumbers or oi (Korean cucumbers)
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar, divided 1 tablespoon fine salt
1/2 yellow onion
3 ounces garlic chives
1 Fresno chile
3 1/2 tablespoons maesil cheong (plum extract syrup)
3 tablespoons fish sauce
3 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons gochugaru
1 1/2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1
Trim 3 pounds pickling cucumbers. Half lengthwise, remove seeds, and slice cross-wise into one-inch thick pieces. Toss with 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 tablespoon salt in a large bowl. Let sit for 20 minutes, tossing once halfway through salting.
2Meanwhile, cut 1/2 yellow onion into 1 1/2-inch pieces and separate layers. Cut 3 ounces garlic chives into 1 1/2-inch lengths. Stem and cut 1 Fresno chile in half lengthwise, then slice thin crosswise. Set aside.
3Drain cucumbers in a colander, shaking colander to release any additional liquid. Rinse now-empty bowl.
4Using gloved hands, toss cucumbers with onion, chives, Fresno chile, 3 1/2 tablespoons maesil cheong, 3 tablespoons fish sauce, 3 tablespoons minced garlic, 2 tablespoons gochugaru, 1 1/2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger, and remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar in bowl until evenly combined.
5Transfer cucumber mixture to a 3-quart storage container, cover, and place in a 50- to 70-degree location away from direct sunlight for 2 hours. Serve. (Refrigerate for up to 1 1/2 months; the flavor will continue to develop over time.)
rivaled the great mosque in Mecca – the holiest in all Islam. More than 20,000 ceramic tiles with exquisite floral and geometric motifs fill the 17thcentury interior. As is the custom in mosques, you park your shoes at the door and women cover their heads. If you don’t have a scarf, loaners are available at the door. Services are segregated by gender: The main hall is reserved for men, while the women’s section is in back. While some may view this as demeaning, Muslims see it as a practical matter: Women would rather have the option of performing the physical act of praying in private. One time, I visited in the evening, when once again it was the neighborhood mosque in action – not a tourist in sight. (A window was open for ventilation. I peeked through to find it was
the ladies’ prayer zone. I drew back, suddenly feeling a twinge of peeping-Tom guilt.)
To get a full appreciation for today’s Istanbul, you must leave the sightseeing core and explore the lively, more cosmopolitan neighborhoods. Istanbul’s contemporary heart is Taksim Square, circled by endless traffic and highlighted by a statue commemorating the father of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The square marks the start of bustling İstiklal Street, lined with shops and eateries.
İstiklal offers an enticing parade of taste treats. Carts and hole-in-the-wall restaurants sell traditional foods like simit (sesame seed bread rings), gö zleme (flatbread folded over cheese, potatoes, and other fillings), and dö ner kebab (meat grilled on a revolving spit and
served in flatbread). Windows display towers of honey-soaked baklava and Turkish delight, a sweet chewy treat. At stalls, you can sample a local favorite: kokoreç (sheep intestines, grilled and served with tomatoes, green peppers, and fresh herbs).
Strolling this mostly pedestrian boulevard from one thriving end to the other is a joyful ritual for me every time I’m in town. And it changes with each visit. As Turkey becomes more affluent and Western, the action here becomes more and more vibrant. This is today’s Turkey: a melting pot of 20 or so ethnic groups (Turk, Kurd, Armenian, Jew, Greek, and many more) and styles from the very traditional to the very latest. The city is a huge draw for visitors – still a crossroads of humanity. And according to the Turkish proverb, every guest is a gift from God.
Built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the early sixth century on the grandest scale possible, the Hagia Sophia was later converted from a church into a mosque by the conquering Ottomans. CREDIT: (Carrie Shepherd, Rick Steves’ Europe).
You’ll be surprised how quickly this boldly flavored, crisp-textured kimchi comes together. CREDIT: (Kritsada Panichgul/TCA).
CF Webber Gallery to host ‘The Pastel Odyssey’ exhibit
Staff report M
ore than 40 works showcasing pastel as a fine art medium will be on view in “The Pastel Odyssey,” an exhibition by the Pastel Society of Central Florida at the CF Webber Gallery from May 19 through June 19.
“The CF Webber Gallery is excited to host this stunning selection of pastel works by 17 Central Florida artists that highlight the depth, versatility and expressive nature of the medium,” said Jacqueline Bozman, Webber Gallery coordinator, in a news release.
The Pastel Society of Central Florida is a member of the International Association
of Pastel Societies, an organization committed to fostering growth through educational workshops and exhibition opportunities for pastel artists of all levels.
The community is invited to an opening reception from 4 to 6 p.m. on May 29. The Webber Gallery is located on the CF Ocala Campus at 3001 S.W. College Road. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and admission is free. For more information, visit cf.edu/ webber or call (352) 854-2322, ext. 1664.
AdventHealth Ocala doctor reaches 2,000 robotic procedures
complete 2,000
Staff report
Dr. Edwin Menor, the medical director of robotic surgery at AdventHealth Ocala, has reached a milestone by completing 2,000 robotic procedures, which took nearly five years.
Menor has nearly two decades of experience in advanced, minimally invasive procedures, both robotic and laparoscopic, as well as open repairs. He performs robotic surgeries using the da Vinci Surgical System, which has 3D vision that
magnifies the surgical field up to 10 times, giving surgeons a more detailed view of operating sites than they can see with their eyes alone.
The da Vinci’s robotic arms and instruments help surgeons work with tissue from angles and positions that can be very difficult to access. More steady than human hands, the arms are controlled by a surgeon at a console next to the patient. And the instruments are even more precise than laparoscopic tools, allowing our surgeons to perform complex surgical
procedures, the news release noted.
“I am very grateful to our amazing team at AdventHealth Ocala for their exceptional work every day in helping to care for our patients and reaching this new milestone. I am thankful for the trust these patients have in me to care for them, and it is an honor to be able to serve them and our community,” Menor said.
AdventHealth Ocala has been named a Center of Excellence for Robotic Surgery and Hernias by the Surgical Review Corporation.
Photo courtesy College of Central Florida
“The Dock Watcher” by Kathleen Karol.
“In the Moment” by Donna Kindel.
“Marsh Sunrise” by Lorelei Huff.
Dr. Edwin Menor, fourth from left, with black cap, said it took between four and five years to
robotic procedures. [Photo courtesy AdventHealth]
Government
MAY 19 AND 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 17, JUNE 19 AND JULY 17
Marion County Public Schools hiring events
College of Central Florida Klein Conference Center, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala Times vary These in-person hiring fairs will offer employment opportunities for instructional and other school-based positions throughout Marion County Public Schools: May 17 (10 am to noon), June 19 (3 to 5 pm) and July 17 (3 to 5 pm). May and June events are for instructional positions only; the July event features positions across the board. Registration is open at marionschools.net
MAY 21 AND 22
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission meetings College of Central Florida Ewers Century Center, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala
8:30am each day
The FWC will meet in person and the event is open to the public. There are opportunities prior to the meeting to provide comments and time also will be allotted for public speakers at the meeting. Public speaking is organized using a speaker registration process and time limits. For the agenda and to learn more, go to myfwc.com/commission
MAY 27
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
Community
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 20
Women Build 2025 Kickoff Party
One Health Center, 1714 SW 17th St., Ocala
5-8pm Habitat for Humanity of Marion County’s Women Build initiative focuses on empowering community members to participate in building homes and hope. This event will serve as a launch for building activities. To learn more, contact Carmen I. Garcia Tirado, development events manager for Habitat, at (352) 351-4663 and visit habitatocala.org
JUNE 14
Juneteenth Celebration Dinner and Dance Fundraiser
Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala
6 to 10pm
R.A.M.A.L. Educational and Social Services, Inc., invites the community to its fifth annual event. Juneteenth commemorates the historical celebration marking the end of slavery in the United States. In 1865, approximately 250,000 slaves were informed of their freedom and emancipated in Texas. Artist and art educator Charles Eady is the guest speaker. The event will include entertainment, spoken word poetry, raffles and a live art auction. Proceeds will enable R.A.M.A.L. to continue tutoring and improving student academic performance, providing scholarships to adult college students and offering financial literacy workshops. Tickets are $65 per person, through Eventbrite. Learn more at ramalservices.org
Don Philpott lecture
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.
Arts
MAY 16
Levitt Amp Ocala Music Series, final performance Webb Field, MLK Recreation Complex, 1510 NW 4th St., Ocala 6pm The Marion Cultural Alliance, with the city of Ocala, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission of Marion County and Juneteenth Celebration Commission, host the 2025 Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series, with free music every Friday from 6 to 8 pm. Next up are the McCrary Sisters, gospel. 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 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 17 ARTISTS TALK
“Strength and Resilience: Works by Carmen Rojas Ginés and Naomi Shanti” Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
2pm
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. It is on display through June 29. Shanti created 12 original tattoos interpreting each sculpture through her own perspective, life story and the experiences of the individuals she tattooed. To learn more, go to appletonmuseum.org
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
MAY 19-JUNE 19
‘The Pastel Odyssey’ exhibit College of Central Florida Webber Gallery, 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala 10am-4pm, Monday-Thursday More than 40 works showcasing pastel as a fine art medium will be on view in “The Pastel Odyssey,” an exhibition by the Pastel Society of Central Florida. The community is invited to an opening reception at 4pm on May 29. Admission is free. For more information, visit cf.edu/webber or call (352) 854-2322, ext. 1664.
Author, actor, singer, MMA fighter, race car driver and now stand-up comedian Jason Ellis will perform May 23 at the Marion
MAY 23
Jason Ellis
Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave., Ocala 7:30 pm
Born in Melbourne, Australia, and now living in Los Angeles, multi-athlete/performer Jason Ellis has had an illustrious career across many different platforms. He has been a professional skateboarder, radio personality, MMA fighter, race car driver, “New York Times” best-selling author, actor, singer, public speaker, past participant and current host of XGames, and most recently stand-up comedy. Learn more at mariontheatre.org
MAY 30
Dueling Pianos
Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St. Ocala 6pm Grab a seat at a café table in the NOMA Black Box and enjoy dueling pianos, cocktails and an evening of fun. Guests will be seated at tables of four to six. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com
Dueling Pianos Uncensored
Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St. Ocala 9pm New late-night dueling pianos show. Unleash your wild side on the dance floor as talented pianists engage in hilarious and unpredictable musical mashups while our cocktail servers dish up your favorite drinks. Find details at reillyartscenter.com
JUNE 6 (RESCHEDULED DATE)
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, was rescheduled from May 11 to June 6 due to inclement weather. The event 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
JUNE 13
Hear Us Roar II
Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 6-8:30pm Join The Arc Marion and Arts in Health Ocala Metro for a fundraiser supporting creative programs for adults with intellectual disabilities, empowering self-expression, confidence and wellness through the arts. Live music featuring The Arc clients and AIHOM music practitioners Becky Hudson (aka Becky Baby), David Reinwald and Brandon Dull. An art sale will feature original works by The Arc clients, created in workshops led by AIHOM artist practitioner Christopher Hershberger. VIP Experience includes early wine, hors d’oeuvres and early access to artwork. VIP tickets are $50; general admission is $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Learn more at fb.com/aihocala
Theatre. [Photo courtesy Reilly Arts Center]
Sudoku is played on a grid of 9 x 9 spaces. Within the rows and columns are 9 “squares” (made up of 3 x 3 spaces). Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-9, without repeating any numbers within the same row, column or square.
ARIES March
TAURUS
GEMINI
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 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.
Attorney for Personal Representative
Sean White, Esq. Florida Bar No. 1044113 Panther Law, P.A. 710 Oakfield Drive, Suite 127 Brandon, Florida 33511
Telephone: (813) 425-4373
Fax: (813) 425-4373
E-Mail: seanw@pantherlawfl.com Secondary E-Mail: pleadings@pantherlawfl.com Denise Ormiston 103 Sheldon Avenue, Greenwood, South Carolina 29649
FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION Caravelle Ranch Group I hydrologic Restoration Project. BID NO: FWC 24/25-93C TITLE: Caravelle Ranch Group I hydrologic Restoration Project.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is seeking competitive pricing to Construct ditch blocks, low water crossings, ditch plugs, culverts, wetland creation all in accordance with the plan and specifications, in accordance with the contract documents and Chapter 255 of the Florida Statutes.
To review the bid details: Visit https://vendor. myfloridamarketplace.com/ Select Search Advertisements. Enter FWC 24/25-93C into the Agency Advertisement Number box.
• Click the Search button.
• Select the solicitation to view the advertisement details. • Download files made available in the advertisement details page.
NOTE: The MyFloridaMarketPlace Vendor Information Portal (link provided above) is the posting location for all new and changing information regarding this solicitation. Interested bidders should continue to monitor this site for the entirety of the solicitation process.
Direct all questions to the Procurement Manager: Randy Golightly Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission 1875 ORANGE AVENUE EAST, Tallahassee, FL 32311–6160 Randolph.Golightly@MyFWC.com (850) 617-9648
Gasoline
Broom Hilda Middletons
