Theresa BostonEllis retires as CFO of MCPS Pg B1
Numerous contradictions in 2023 in-custody death of Darrell Davidson
By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
Darrell Davidson’s death is one of more than 31 incustody deaths at the Marion County Jail in recent years that has been investigated only internally by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, which operates the jail, and without outside
review by other agencies. Although the “Gazette” was unable to locate Davidson’s next of kin for help obtaining his medical records compiled during his incarceration, the contradictions between jail reports and photographic evidence in Davidson’s case continue to indicate troubling gaps in accountability. Davidson was booked
into the jail on Oct. 13, 2023 on a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief. Intake records noted “blisters on his feet and an abrasion to his forehead.”
Davidson had been receiving methadone treatment prior to his arrest, but according to jail records, “On the day of his booking, the methadone clinic reported
that he tested positive for marijuana and therefore refused to continue dosing him while he is incarcerated”.
Federal Department of Justice guidelines state that polysubstance use is not a contraindication for treating opioid withdrawal and that withdrawal symptoms
Added incentives
The Ocala City Council approved $5.6M for downtown Marriott hotel project.
By Jamie Berube jamie@ocalagazette.com
Lovers of downtown Ocala, get ready: Marriott is moving in. At the Aug. 19 meeting, the Ocala
City Council approved a redevelopment agreement providing up to $5,619,644 in incentives to Domach, LLC for Project Hometown, a new downtown Ocala Marriott AC hotel aimed at revitalizing the city’s core.
The incentives include a mix of direct cash, in-kind services and tax-related benefits to help the developer build the 176-room hotel. The package features a $500,000 cash grant paid out after construction milestones are
South Marion High
Board backs proposed name for new school, with mascot and colors to follow.
By Jennifer Hunt Murty
jennifer@ocalagazette.com
Marion County’s newest high school is closer to having an official identity after the school board reviewed the results of a monthslong naming process during its Aug. 21 work session.
And the name preferred by most of respondents in two surveys was South Marion High.
Melissa Kinard, Region Three area superintendent, presented the recommendation with Ken McAteer, the principal of the school now known as new High School “CCC.” The school
is located at 1350 SW 165th St., Ocala.
“The naming committee included community members, parents and educators from the school community,” said McAteer, who oversaw the committee. “The first survey collected suggested
See New school, page A9
met; a $108,000 elevator incentive where the city covers half the cost of a dedicated elevator in the parking garage; $2.6 million in tax increment financing payments, which
Graduation policy change
Students losing certificates of completion also lose their commencement walk.
By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
The Marion County Public School District is alerting families to a significant change in graduation policy that could leave some students and parents surprised at commencement.
The change, mandated by the state, eliminates the certificate of completion as an option for students who do not meet all graduation requirements.
Beginning this year, under HB 1105, those who are unable to earn a standard high school diploma will not receive a certificate or other form of recognition at graduation. Florida’s State Board of Education has voted to eliminate certificates of completion, which were awarded to students with disabilities who did not meet all diploma requirements.
District officials said the change will directly affect dozens of local students each year.
“The certificate of completion is no longer an option for students … our schools will not award certificates
Subscribers will receive their paper through USPS on the USPS schedule. Subscription orders
See Davidson, page A8
Rendering of new high school in southwest Marion County.
Darrell Davidson’s booking photo.
Workers with Pre-Con Construction check the angle of a wall as it is lowered into place from a large crane at the construction site of the Marriott AC Hotel that is under construction in downtown Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. The 6-story, 176 room hotel will feature a rooftop restaurant and speakeasy. It is expected to be completed in late 2026. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2025.
Jose Juarez appointed to CF district board of trustees
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
The office of Gov. Ron DeSantis on Aug. 22 announced the appointment of Jose Juarez to the College of Central Florida District Board of Trustees.
Juarez is the chief executive officer, founder and owner of Victory Solutions and the owner of the BarbaCuban sauce franchise.
“Active in his community, he is a member of the Leadership Florida Cornerstone, Class 42 and the Ocala Silver Springs Rotary Club. A resident of Marion County for over 40 years, Juarez was the winner of ‘America’s New Grill Star’ in 2015,” the state news release stated.
The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
CF on Aug. 25 issued a press release which stated that there are seven seats on the district board and the other members are Joyce Brancato, Rusty Branson, Bobby
Durrance, Bill Edgar, Fred Roberts Jr. and Charlie Stone.
“As a longtime member of Marion County, I am deeply grateful for any opportunity to give back to the community, that’s done so much for
me and my family. The College of Central Florida is integral to this area and has educated and empowered our citizens for decades. I am honored to be a part of this institution,” Juarez said via text message on Monday.
Landry named interim UF president
By Jim Turner The News Service of Florida
Donald Landry, former chairman of the Department of Medicine at Columbia University, was approved Monday to serve as interim president of the University of Florida.
With little comment, the University of Florida Board of Trustees backed Landry to replace Kent Fuchs in the interim role as the Gainesville school prepares to restart a presidential search early next year. Fuchs, a former UF president, became the school’s interim leader last year after Ben Sasse resigned as president.
Landry, whose term is set to begin Sept. 1, must be confirmed by the state university system’s Board of Governors next month.
Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republican leaders frequently target Columbia for what they say is “woke” ideology and the Ivy League school’s handling of pro-Palestine protests after the 2023 attack by Hamas in Israel and retaliation by Israel in Gaza. But Mori Hosseini, chairman of the UF Board of Trustees, said he was “happy to have” Landry as he read the nephrologist’s biography to trustees.
In a news release, Hosseini characterized Landry as having “shown exceptional leadership in academia and beyond, building programs with innovation, energy and integrity.”
UF needed to hire a new interim leader after the state university system’s Board of Governors in June rejected the trustees’ choice of former University of Michigan President Santa Ono to become president. The Board of Governors cited Ono’s previous embrace of diversity, equity
and inclusion, or DEI, programs and his handling of campus protests at Michigan. Fuchs had agreed to serve one year as interim president.
Landry, who attended Monday’s meeting, called the appointment an “opportunity of a lifetime” while making comments that could appease political conservatives.
“We can support a wide range of speech, on topics we dislike. Yet, we would like to maintain civility. At a minimum, we will not allow disruption,” Landry told the trustees.
Asked about the protests at Columbia, Landry replied, “I saw things at Columbia that suggested an alignment between some faculty and students that, I think, encouraged the students to do things that were more reckless.”
“There shouldn’t be constant pronouncements that divide the faculty into those who are aligned and those who are not, dividing the students among those who are aligned and those who are not,” Landry added. “The ones who are aligned with the administration taking sides
Graduation
Continued from page A1 of completion because the state does not allow for it,” said Mark Ingram, coordinator for K-12 Academics, during the Aug. 21 school board work session.
“We are removing the certificate of completion because the state has told us to do so,” he said.
Previously, students who fell short of graduation requirements could still participate in commencement ceremonies. That option will no longer be available. District leaders said they are concerned families may not realize the implications until it is too late.
School board member Eric Cummings encouraged the district
“The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.”
- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black in New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)
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are emboldened to do things that are a bit more rash.”
Landry’s selection drew support from Christopher Rufo, a senior fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute and DeSantis appointee to the New College of Florida Board of Trustees who was among the vocal critics of Ono.
“Landry is a principled leader who will reverse ideological capture and restore truth-seeking within the institution,” Rufo posted on X.
It is not clear how long UF will take in conducting a presidential search. The “Tampa Bay Times” reported last week that Fuchs said the school’s search for a new president has become “more challenging” after the university system’s Board of Governors rejected Ono.
“The president’s search has become more challenging with the development of the past few months, but fundamentally UF is still one of the nation’s truly great universities with amazing students, staff, faculty, and serving as one of its leaders in any role is a privilege and fabulous opportunity,” Fuchs said Thursday at the university’s first faculty senate meeting of the school year, the “Times” reported.
Landry earned his doctorate in organic chemistry at Harvard University and medical degree from Columbia.
In 2008, Landry received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President George W. Bush for “diverse and pioneering research and his efforts to improve the well-being of his fellow man.”
Hosseini noted that under Landry’s leadership, philanthropy to Columbia’s Department of Medicine grew four-fold and reached third place in National Institutes of Health rankings.
Andy Fillmore Reporter andy@ocalagazette.com
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to be proactive in getting the word out because he anticipated getting calls from parents upset about their children not walking at graduation.
“The big shift and the biggest reason we wanted this communication to be clear is that certificate of completion students previously walked at graduation, but now that we don’t have a certificate, those students won’t be able to walk at graduation,” Ingram said. Ingram acknowledged that clarity was needed on the subject, even prior to the legislative change.
“I get a ton of phone calls from parents [and] students years later, who thought they had a diploma because they were awarded a certificate of
completion, they walked at graduation and now their job won’t award them a promotion, or they won’t give them certain responsibilities, so they can’t go take college courses because [of] that certificate of completion,” he said.
Board member Nancy Thrower and others also raised concerns that while the state eliminated the certificate of completion, lawmakers have not created another pathway or credential for students who do not meet all diploma requirements.
The district said it is working to ensure counselors, students and families are fully informed about the new policy to avoid confusion and disappointment as graduation approaches.
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Jose Juarez poses outside of his marketing office, Victory Solutions, on Southeast First Avenue in Ocala on Dec. 13, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]
Donald Landry [Photo courtesy Columbia University]
Addressing unmet needs
MCPS work session highlights the challenges and quiet victories of serving homeless students.
By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
Marion County Public Schools is serving more than 1,500 students without stable housing and while the district continues to provide federally mandated services, officials say the needs often go far beyond what law requires or what the district can fund.
At the Aug. 21 MCPS work session, Thomas Butler, the district’s McKinney-Vento liaison, told board members that 1,556 students were identified last year as homeless under the federal definition, which includes children who are doubled up with relatives or friends, living in shelters or motels, or in cars, campgrounds or other inadequate housing.
“These numbers represent children who come to us every day with challenges that go far beyond school,” Butler said, adding that the number is likely higher because some parents don’t come forward about their living arrangements for fear their children would be removed from their custody.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, first enacted in 1987 and reauthorized in 2015 under the Every Student Succeeds Act, requires districts to remove barriers for students who lack permanent housing. Those services include immediate enrollment, transportation to
a school of origin regardless of where the student is temporarily housed, comparable services, free meals, credit accrual and postsecondary support.
Butler told the board that the district no longer has federal COVID-19 relief funds that once helped place families in temporary housing such as hotels.
“We don’t have funds anymore to pay for hotels,” he said. “Sometimes I’m calling community members personally to see if they’ll step in.”
He shared that community donations have filled in the gaps—even paying for a student to join a school trip.
“There’s no way I was going to let that child miss out on that experience,” Butler said of a student’s trip to Washington, D.C.
Butler acknowledged that his briefing did not capture the full scope of the issue.
“This is the sanitized version,” he told the board.
In Marion County, Butler said, the Families in Transition program provided school supplies, family resources and case management to homeless students. Despite the instability, the district reported a 96% graduation rate for homeless students in 2024-25, with 30 students continuing to college.
Board members said the challenges homeless students face strike at the foundation of learning.
Interim Superintendent
Danielle Brewer pointed to the strain schools face in addressing both academics and unmet basic needs.
“I am looking forward to a time when we don’t have to put so much energy into getting our kids to school, that they come like they’re supposed to and we can take all of this energy and put it towards academics,” Brewer said.
The discussion frequently returned to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the psychological framework that emphasizes how survival and safety must be met before higher goals like learning can be achieved. Several board members noted that children dealing with hunger, housing insecurity or lack of safety will struggle to concentrate in class.
Under state rules, the district must train teachers, administrators, food service workers and transportation staff to identify potential indicators of homelessness. A student housing questionnaire is included in enrollment packets each year to help flag children in unstable living situations.
The data from last year shows the breadth of situations Marion students face. Of the 1,556 homeless students:
• 1,007 (64%) were doubled up in the homes of others due to economic hardship
• 314 (20%) were living in hotels or motels
• 133 (9%) were in temporary or inadequate housing
• 102 (7%) were in shelters
Butler told the board that while the law guarantees certain rights, the day-to-day work often requires creative problemsolving. He said the gaps are often bridged by reaching out to churches, community groups or individuals.
While those efforts have led to success stories, Butler reminded the board that the numbers presented do not reflect the stress carried by students.
“This is the sanitized version,” he repeated.
School Board Attorney Jeremy Powers ended the discussion with a cultural reference meant to capture the reality Butler had described.
He recommended the 2017 film “The Florida Project,” which
depicts children growing up in budget motels outside Walt Disney World.
“If you want to understand what this looks like for a child, watch that movie,” Powers said.
Even as the district faces funding shortages and rising demand, Butler noted the resilience of the students and the determination of staff. He pointed with pride to the number of students who graduated from high school and the number of those who are now bound for college to show that stability can be built with extraordinary effort.
“The day-to-day reality for many of our students is about survival,” Butler said. “Our work is to make sure they can survive—and succeed.”
Thomas Butler, Marion County Public Schools mental health and wellness/district homeless liaison, looks over files in his office at the Fordham Early Learning Academy. [Andy Fillmore/Ocala Gazette file photo]
Governmental board vacancies
Staff report
Consider having your voice heard in local government by helping out on a volunteer board. By serving on a board, your experience and knowledge can influence governmental decisions and help your fellow citizens. These are the current vacancies for various boards in the cities of Marion County and the county.
CITY OF BELLEVIEW:
The city's general link is: belleviewfl.org/151/BoardsCommittees
The application is at: belleviewfl.org/DocumentCenter/ View/39/City-Board-ApplicationPDF?bidId=
YOUTH COUNCIL
Description: The Belleview Youth Council is a leadership and civic engagement program designed to connect high school students with their community through education, service and hands-on experiences. Open to students in Belleview and the surrounding area, including those enrolled in public, private, or homeschool settings, the council offers an opportunity to learn about local government, develop leadership skills and make a positive impact in the community. During sessions, members engage with city and county leaders, department heads and staff to explore how municipal government functions. Activities include facility tours, Q&A sessions and discussions on civic responsibilities and public service.
Vacancies: Several are open for the 2025-26 school year Meetings are held monthly at 4:30 pm, starting Sept. 25. For more information, visit belleviewfl.org/202/YouthCouncil
CITY OF DUNNELLON:
The city's general link is: dunnellon.org/government/ boards-commissions
HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD
Description: The purpose of the board is to promote and preserve educational, cultural and economic welfare of the public. The board has established uniform procedures to preserve the city’s historic resources by enhancing public participation and involvement in the preservation and protection of such resources, including buildings, structures, monuments and other historic resources. In keeping with its purpose, the board has developed the Application for Historic Preservation Grant Facade Renovations.
Vacancies: One, for second alternate term
Meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm. For more information, visit dunnellon.org/government/ boards-commissions/historicpreservation-board
PLANNING COMMISSION
Description: The commission has an administrative review function whereby it reviews all changes to the city’s Comprehensive Plan, by amendment, evaluation, addition and appraisal for consistency with the existing Comprehensive Plan and reviews all landrelated/zoning ordinances to determine consistency to the plan. The commission holds quasi-judicial hearings with regards to land planning/ zoning cases, site plan reviews, variances, special exceptions and review/appeal of administrative orders, and forwards its findings/
recommendations to the City Council.
Vacancies: Two for regular members (terms ending July 14, 2027, and Jan. 11, 2028), one for second alternate member (term ending Jan. 9, 2026)
Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm. Learn more at dunnellon. org/government/boardscommissions/planningcommission
CITY OF OCALA:
The general link is: ocalafl.gov/government/citydepartments-a-h/city-clerk/ boards-and-commissions
The City Council appoints individuals to serve on more than 20 boards, advisory committees and commissions. These volunteers are from all over Ocala and their experience, knowledge and expertise help influence decisions affecting the city by providing advice and feedback to city leaders and council members. Many boards have specific requirements, such as living within the city limits, being a qualified city voter or owning real property within the city limits. The requirements, if any, are detailed for each board on its page. If you have questions, email clerk@ocalafl.gov or call the Office of the City Clerk at (352) 629-8266.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
Description: The board considers applications for zoning variances and special exception considerations for business and residential construction projects within the city limits. Hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is error in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by the building official in the enforcement of the zoning code (chapter 122), authorize special exceptions as provided in the zoning code authorize variances as provided in the zoning code.
Vacancies: One, term runs to March 1, 2028
Size: Seven members
Term Length: Four years
BROWNFIELDS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
Description: The purpose of the committee is to promote and receive public comment on the identification, rehabilitation and redevelopment of identified Brownfield sites. The committee shall provide guidance in areas such as land use, employment opportunities, development proposals, community safety and environmental justice. The committee consists of members appointed by the Ocala City Council from boards, committees and organizations primarily representing West Ocala.
Vacancies: Three, terms running through March 1, 2028 and 2029
Size: Nine members
Term Length: Four years
resources; attend informational or educational meetings, workshops and conferences; advise on development of goals, objectives and policies for historic preservation; advise city departments on matters relating to historic resources; advise individuals on preservation of historic structures; educate public on economic benefits of same; and submit annual report to SHPO covering annual activities.
Vacancies: One, for an architect
Size: Nine members
Term Length: Three years MUNICIPAL CODE
ENFORCEMENT BOARD
DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Description: The committee shall advise the Community Redevelopment Agency on redevelopment efforts of the established subarea pursuant to Chapter 163, Part III, Florida Statutes. The committee consists of members appointed by the CRA Agency and City Council from property owners and organizations representing Downtown Ocala.
Vacancies: One, for term ending March 1, 2027
Size: Multiple members
Term Length: Four years EAST OCALA
REDEVELOPMENT
SUBAREA
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Description: The committee is an advisory board to the CRA Agency and City Council for the area defined as the East Ocala Redevelopment Subarea and shall advise them on redevelopment efforts of the established subarea pursuant to Chapter 163, Part III, Florida Statutes.
Vacancies: One, for term ending March 1, 2029
Size: Multiple members
Term Length: Four years FIREFIGHTERS' RETIREMENT
SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Description: The sole and exclusive administration of, and the responsibility for the proper, effective operation of the retirement plan is vested in a board of trustees. The board shall consist of five persons; two firefighters elected by the firefighter members of the plan. Two trustees shall be residents of the city appointed by City Council. The fifth member of the board shall be chosen by a majority of the other four members of the board and appointed by City Council as a ministerial act. Form 1 Financial Disclosures are required to be submitted annually to the Florida State Ethics Commission.
Vacancies: One, term ending Oct. 4, 2025
Size: Nine members
Term Length: Three years
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
ADVISORY BOARD
Description: The OHPAB oversees the historic resources of the city and advises City Council and City departments on matters relating to these resources, as well as manages Certificates of Appropriateness for properties located within the Tuscawilla Park and Ocala Historic Districts. Make recommendations to City Council for matters relating to historic
my-commissioners/advisoryboards. Email completed forms to commissionadmin@marionfl.org. Applications also can be obtained at the Marion County Board of County Commissioners’ Office at 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala, or by calling (352) 438-2323.
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Description: The Code Enforcement Division enforces codes that pertain to zoning laws, nuisance abatement, contracting, and permitting requirements of the city of Ocala and the State of Florida, occupational licenses, sign codes, alcohol location permits and many other local ordinances and state statutes. The Municipal Code Enforcement Board hears cases relating to code violations. Examine code violation cases presented by City Code Enforcement Officers. Empowered to levy fines and place liens on property if, violation is not corrected.
Vacancies: Two, for alternate members
Size: Seven members
Term Length: Three years
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
Description: The commission is responsible for advising City Council on current and longrange planning, review and permitting of land development within the city of Ocala. Makes recommendations to City Council relating to zoning and land use and ensures that changes proposed are consistent with city's Comprehensive Plan. Members must be qualified voters of the city. Form 1 Financial Disclosures are required to be submitted annually to the Florida State Ethics Commission.
Vacancies: One, term ending March 1, 2026
Size: Seven members
Term Length: Two years POLICE OFFICERS' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Description: The board is responsible the administration and operation of the retirement plan for City of Ocala police officers.
Vacancies: Two
Size: Seven members
Term Length: Two years WEST OCALA REDEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Description: The committee is appointed as an advisory board to the Community Redevelopment Agency for the area defined as the West Ocala Redevelopment Subarea. The committee shall advise the CRA on redevelopment efforts of the established subarea pursuant to Chapter 163, Part III, Florida Statutes. Meets at least two times per year.
Vacancies: One, for term ending March 1, 2029
Size: Nine members
Term Length: Four years MARION COUNTY
These are volunteer positions and have specific qualifications and criteria depending on the board’s focus. The county commission appoints members in regular BOCC meetings. An application can be downloaded at marionfl.org/
Description: Members evaluate industrial and manufacturing projects, along with related facilities, to determine the appropriateness of financing such projects through the issuance of industrial development bonds. They are responsible for studying the county’s advantages, facilities, resources, products, attractions and overall conditions to support and encourage economic development in Marion County. Members must be residents and registered voters of Marion County.
Vacancies: One, term through May 2027
LAND DEVELOPMENT
REGULATION COMMISSION
Qualifications/restrictions: Members shall be residents of Marion County.
Responsibilities: Members should have knowledge in planning, environmental science, agriculture and the development industry and be capable of evaluating and recommending specific regulatory standards and criteria, reviewing and advising the County Commission on the adoption and amendment of the Land Development Code and Zoning Code, and preparing an annual report with recommended amendments to these codes. Alternate members attend meetings when regular members are unavailable and may serve in their absence.
Vacancies: One full member, term expires August 2026; one alternate member, term expires September 2029.
PINE RUN MSTU ADVISORY COUNCIL
Responsibilities: Make recommendations to the county commission pertaining to the MSTU budget, activities, goals and objective; and other issues as directed by the county commission.
Qualifications/restrictions: Applicants must be residents of Pine Run Estates.
Vacancies: One, term expires June 2028
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
Qualifications/restrictions: Members of this board are required by the Florida Commission on Ethics to electronically file an annual Statement of Financial Interests (Form 1).
Responsibilities: Review and conduct public hearings on proposed property rezonings and make recommendations to the County Commission regarding the adoption or amendment of the Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Code and Land Development Code. Applicants must be registered electors residing in Marion County and may not be employees of the county or any government entity in a policymaking position. Alternate members attend meetings when regular members are unavailable and may serve in their absence. Experience in planning, environmental science or the development industry is considered when appointing members.
Vacancies: Four full members and one alternate member, terms through September 2029.
Ocala City Hall. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]
IHMC lecture series resumes
Andrew Koutnik will speak about carbohydrates and exercise performance in Ocala on Sept. 9.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@maganoliamediaco.com
Andrew P. Koutnik,
Ph.D., is an awardwinning research scientist whose work sits at the crossroads of nutrition, metabolism and human performance. Convinced that optimizing physiology can simultaneously reverse chronic disease and elevate daily vitality, he translates rigorous science into actionable strategies for health and performance.
Koutnik will be the first speaker in the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition Ocala Evening Lecture Series, which kicks off on Sept. 9. The lecture topic is “Carbohydrates and Exercise Performance.”
The “Gazette” asked Koutnik to give us the gist of what he will discuss.
“For over 100 years we have been told that carbohydrates are essential for performance, but now we are questioning whether we need higher amounts of carbohydrate to perform and whether the diets athletes and weekend warriors are utilizing are actually putting them at risk for health decline. We are exploring the history and impact of carbohydrates on performance, but also health. I will be sharing cutting-edge science on what 100 years of sport nutrition has got right but, more importantly, what they got wrong,” he said.
Koutnik, a native of Tallahassee, who overcame childhood obesity and has
managed Type 1 diabetes for 17 years, enjoys pursuits that include Brazilian jiu jitsu and resistance and aerobic exercise. He and his wife Kelly have two sons.
He shared that, as a child, he had “extremely” high energy.
“While I would love to claim I explored all continents and had no fear, that wasn’t the case. I was very curious, but also hesitant at times when uncertain. My sons are both the same way, although the youngest has no fear whatsoever. When I asked my mother if I was the same, her guttural laugh and confirmation showed me she felt like the scoreboard has finally equalized as my wife and I navigate our son’s curiosity and energy,” he offered.
Koutnik said some of his
early influencers were his uncle John Lemmon and aunt Linda Lemmon.
“They were inspirational. They had run dozens of marathons, climbed mountains, rode multiple 100-mile bike races and were very successful people. They used to bring me to Atlanta as a kid and show me things I had never experienced. They constantly told me what I could do and what I could accomplish in life. This belief was one of the most important sets to starting the journey to who I am today,” he explained.
Along that journey, Koutnik said his focus changed from time to time.
“As a young kid everyone wants to be a police officer, firefighter or professional athlete of some sort. I was gifted at math, it always clicked and always made sense to me so, in late adolescence, I wanted to be an engineer. However, the moment I realized I wanted to be a biomedical and exercise scientist was not until I was an undergraduate at Florida State University,” he said.
“It wasn’t pure talent, but a passion I developed through my personal journey with obesity and a life-long diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes, along with meeting some inspirational researchers who made me realize how incredible science could be. What you could learn. What you could discover. You had incredible power to uncover things we never knew about the world. When I realized that, it was about
RECORD BREAKING FUNDRAISER
The Ocala Silver Springs Rotary Club, in partnership with Ocala Sunset Rotary Club, raised $160,000 at this year’s Brick City Beer and Wine Festival, beating last year’s record of $150,000.
exploring a path that made me wake up every single day and want to jump out of bed to do more—and that was discovering how the body worked,” he added.
Koutnik has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and/or international presentations and co-authored the first international clinical guidelines on therapeutic carbohydrate reduction for juvenile diabetes. His scholarship has earned three USF Research Awards, a Presidential Fellowship, induction into the USF Academy of Inventors, and honors from the Physiologic Society, Health Equity Action Network and Endocrine Society.
Among his professional mentors were Marcos SanchezGonzales, MD, Ph.D., who Koutnik described as “the first man to show me science, a laboratory, and make me realize how amazing science could be. One of a kind human.”
Another was Dominic D’Agostino, Ph.D.
“He was an inspiration as a human and scientist. Dom defied logic. He was one of the most incredible physically gifted people. He could deadlift a house. He led a research program at the USF College of Medicine that went completely against the grain, defied the odds and innovated the way the world sees nutrition. However, while he was changing the world, Dom also was one of, and is still one of, the most humble and giving human beings I have ever met. He taught me about science, but more
NONPROFIT NEWS BRIEFS: RECORD BREAKING FUNDRAISER, MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP CREATED
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
On Aug. 20, three local nonprofits—Interfaith Emergency Services, Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection and the Marion County Literacy Council— were awarded $160,000 during a presentation at the World Equestrian Center. Interfaith Emergency
Services provides a range of services and assistance to residents in need.
Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection provides services for victims of child
abuse in a safe and friendly environment. The Marion County Literacy Council provides GED testing and other resources for adults to improve their literacy skills.
importantly he taught me how to be a good human,” Koutnik shared.
Other early mentors included his parents Frank and Kim.
“They taught me how to be a kind and giving human. They set the example through actions, not words. They showed me the most important things (family, happiness) are often not thing most people strive for and that it takes incredible courage to ensure these remain the priority in today’s world,” he said.
In translating science to action through his work, Koutnik partners with elite athletes, clinicians and researchers, and co-hosts “In-Range,” a podcast with NHL star and fellow Type 1 diabetic Max Domi. He said he enjoys coaching athletes and people with Type 1 diabetes to “thrive, not just survive, and seeing them finally break through to the other side of both health and performance.”
He relishes Friday date nights with Kelly, seeing his sons “find joy in the simplest things” and hanging out with the family’s Australian shepherd and pet cat.
Each of the IHMC evening lectures begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m. The talk will begin at 6 p.m. The Ocala campus is located at 15 SE Osceola Ave. IHMC is headquartered in Pensacola. The Ocala event is free to attend but guests should RSVP at ihmc-20250909.eventbrite. com.
To learn more, go to ihmc.us/ life/evening_lectures/
Since its inception in 2014, the festival has raised more than $700,000 for local nonprofits.
The Ocala Silver Springs Rotary Club organizes multiple fundraising events throughout the year and also provides scholarships to local high school seniors.
To learn more, find the club at fb.com/ ocalasilverspringsrotary
MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP CREATED
from Interfaith Emergency Services. Frank lived the Rotary motto of Service Above Self, noted the news release.
Shifting climate around the globe know?
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the shifting climate across the planet is impacting extreme weather throughout the globe. NASA notes that heat waves affecting the land and the sea, severe floods, droughts lasting years in some cases, extreme wildfires, and hurricane-related flooding are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. Warming air and ocean temperatures resulting from the increased burning of fossil fuels is affecting the water cycle, shifting weather patterns and melting land ice, all of which is making extreme weather even more severe. And NASA warns that severity only figures to increase even further as the planet continues to warm, meaning the storms of today, already devastating to the communities they affect, figure to be even more so as air and ocean temperatures continue to rise.
“Kimberly’s Center is deeply grateful for the incredible team that works tirelessly behind the scenes to make the Brick City Beer and Wine Festival such a fun, successful event,” said Executive Director Dawn Westgate in the news release. “Thanks to their efforts, the festival raises vital funds to support three local nonprofits dedicated to caring for our community’s most vulnerable.”
The 2025 festival, which took place April 19, welcomed more than 1,400 attendees. In addition to raising funds, the event highlighted the importance of volunteerism, local partnerships and community driven initiatives, and eventgoers had the chance to learn more about each organization’s impact, the release noted.
Members of the Rotary Club of Ocala have launched the Frank M. Rasbury Memorial Scholarship in honor their longtime colleague, Frank Rasbury, who died July 24 at the age of 97.
Rasbury dedicated his life to service, both in the military and his community. As a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, he retired as a lieutenant colonel and was recognized for his leadership and commitment. He was a pillar in Marion County, serving as both club president and district president for Rotary and remaining active in the organization for over 45 years. His passion for helping others was recognized with honors such as the In Honor of Excellence Award from the March of Dimes and the Legacies of Love award
The scholarship will be awarded to Marion County high school students who demonstrate a commitment to service and leadership. Applicants will submit an application and an essay exploring what the Rotary motto means to them. A committee will select the recipients each year. The funds can be used for tuition or educational supplies.
“Through this scholarship, we hope to keep Frank’s memory alive and continue his mission of empowering the next generation to serve and succeed,” the news release stated.
To donate to the scholarship fund, go to gofund.me/65371066
To learn more about the club, visit fb.com/ ocalarotaryclub
To read the “Gazette’s” feature obituary on Rasbury, go to ocalagazette.com/alifetime-of-service
Andrew P. Koutnik, Ph.D.
Frank Rasbury at the Rotary Arbor in Tuscawilla Park in Ocala. [Photo by Meagan Gumpert, MAVEN Photo + Film]
Members of the Ocala Silver Springs Rotary Club awarded $160,000 to officials with Interfaith Emergency Services, Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection and the Marion County Literacy Council during a presentation on Aug. 20 at the World Equestrian Center. [Submitted photo]
Building back
Farm supply business regroups after devastating
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.
com
By taking things
“step by step,” the folks at Tizwhiz Feed & Hay are back in business at a new location after a fire destroyed their former site.
Manager Christina Harris said by phone that they are “still working, doing deliveries. It is taking a bit to get inventory in order.”
The new location is at 12402 NW Gainesville Road, in Lowell. The former site was a few miles north, in Reddick. The business also has a location in Springfield, Ohio.
On the evening of Aug. 12, Marion County Fire Rescue crews responded to the site at 15398 NW 44th Ave. Road in Reddick after several 911 callers reported smoke and flames. The responding crews could see a large column of black smoke from miles away.
According to MCFR, “Engine #11 arrived on scene at 7:37 p.m. to find the Tizwhiz Feed & Hay store fully engulfed in flames, with nearby homes threatened. As firefighters quickly deployed hose lines, multiple explosions were heard.” No injuries were reported.
Annabelle Leitner, a noted local historian, and her sister Nancy, are seventh generation farmers in the community of Shiloh in northwest Marion County. They have been longtime customers of Tizwhiz.
“The hay from Tizwhiz has been a part of my farm critter's life for over a decade. When I sat down at my computer on Tuesday
evening, Aug. 12, after feeding and haying the goats and donkeys, I could not believe what I was reading. Someone on my Facebook page had also just posted a video of Tizwhiz on fire. It is just not the fact that one of our local businesses was burning, it was also the site of the A.Y. DeVore peanut processing plant, which,
in my opinion, was an important part of Reddick history,” Annabelle said.
“I did not realize how hot the fire had to be until a couple days later when I was driving into Reddick from Fairfield and looked over to the north and saw the smoke that was still coming from the sight of where Tizwhiz once stood. It was a concern for us as longtime customers and farmers with livestock, whether the business would be able to reopen,” she shared.
“Although I really liked the location in Reddick, the Lowell site should work out well. It is easy to get to, only a couple of miles south of the original site and is very visible. We look forward to the rebuilding of this business,” she added.
Marion County Property Appraiser records list the 2.18-acre Reddick site under the name of Wayne Davis. Harris, who has worked for the business since 2013, said that Jason DeHaven, whose name also is listed for property at that same address, already owned five acres at the new location in Lowell.
Harris said they will store hay in the building that once was home to Susie Q’s, which at one time carried costume jewelry and thrift storetype goods. Workers are building a loading ramp to accommodate deliveries of hay and other goods.
Harris said that as far as she knows, the new site will be a permanent location.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” she said.
To learn more, go to tizwhizfeeds.com
Tizwhiz brand feed is shown for sale at the new location.
A loading dock ramp area is under construction at the new location of Tizwhiz Feed & Hay at the intersection of County Road 329 and NW Gainesville Road.
Christina Harris, right, the manager of Tizwhiz Feed & Hay, talks with Kevin Alfaro, as he unloads bales of hay with a forklift at the new location at the intersection of County Road 329 and NW Gainesville Road in Lowell on Aug. 25. The former business location in nearby Reddick was devastated by a fire on Aug. 12.
A raging inferno consumed the Tizwhiz Feed & Hay location on Northwest
in Reddick on Aug. 12.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
Downtown deluge
Two Ocala businesses flooded after intense rainfall overwhelms stormwater system.
By Jamie Berube jamie@ocalagazette.com
Two small businesses in downtown Ocala experienced significant flooding on Aug. 15 after a weather station recorded 4.25 inches of rain in just over two hours, but a city official said this was an unusual event, not a recurring issue for the area.
Ocala Public Information Officer Greg Davis said the flooding at The Gathering Café, 306 SW Broadway St. and Serendipity Boutique, 304 SW Broadway St., occurred during an unusually intense storm from 7:35 to 9:40 p.m.
“For perspective, a 10year storm produces 6 inches of rainfall over 24 hours. Downtown received nearly that amount in just two hours and five minutes,” he said, emphasizing that this deluge overwhelmed the city’s stormwater system, which is designed to handle less intense rainfall.
According to NOAA and the National Weather Service, a "10-year storm" is a storm event with a specific magnitude and duration that has a 10% chance of occurring in any given year. Davis confirmed that the stormwater infrastructure, built to manage a 10-year storm, could not cope with the rapid rain accumulation, leading to widespread flooding.
“Our streets and underground storm systems are built to manage a 10-year storm,” he said. “Instead, we received nearly that entire volume in a fraction of the time. Because of this, the system was overwhelmed.”
Davis also pointed out Ocala’s “strong record of stormwater management and flood risk reduction.”
Davis further noted that Ocala, rated a class 3 community in FEMA’s Community Rating System, ranks among the
Davidson
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may persist for 10 days.
During the week following his incarceration, Davidson was involved in three separate use-of-force incidents. Jail records show corrections officers used pepper spray and a Taser on him, placed him in a restraint chair and struck him during altercations.
After one incident, photographs documented Davidson’s nose as “bruised, swollen and visibly broken” with “active bleeding,” yet medical staff reported only a single new injury - a Taser puncture wound on his back.
On Oct. 16, Davidson pleaded for medical help. A nurse documented him saying, “Somebody help. I can’t do this. This is inhuman. Make it be over with. I don’t know what to do. I need an ambulance. I should be in the hospital. I’m going to overdose on ibuprofen. I promise you don’t get mad at what happens next.”
Despite Davidson’s condition, jail medical director Dr. Jose Rodriguez, under contract with the private company Heart of Florida that provides medical services at the jail, “did not allow him to
be transferred because he did not want inmates housed in the infirmary for medical observation anymore,” according to jail reports.
On Oct. 21, deputies found Davidson lying under his bunk. He resisted orders and was subjected to additional force. Minutes later, his condition rapidly deteriorated.
Though a nurse reportedly advised Davidson be sent to the infirmary, records show Rodriguez initially refused. Davidson was eventually admitted, where he collapsed. He was transported to AdventHealth Hospital but died later that evening.
Data obtained by the “Gazette” shows that in 2023 and 2024, post-booking emergency room visits for inmates dropped to less than half their historic levels, even as inmate deaths increased. Although no explanation has been provided by HOF regarding the sharp decline, HOF would have benefited financially from having fewer emergency room visits under their contract with the jail.
The medical examiner ruled Davidson’s death was from natural causes, citing
Reading is a beloved pastime that can positively affect cognitive health and even help to reduce stress. Though those benefits are largely associated with adults, reading can be equally beneficial to children, even those who have yet to learn how to read. According to the Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center, an affiliate of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, infants pick up on language earlier than researchers once realized, and hearing language is important as their brains prepare them to speak. Reading also supports word learning and preliteracy skills in older children. The ECLKC notes that when adults read to children, they typically speak words they would not otherwise use in typical discourse. That helps children expand their vocabularies, even before they learn to read on their own.
nation’s best for flood risk reduction, offering residents a 35% discount on flood insurance premiums. According to fema. gov/floodplain-management/ community-rating-system, the CRS is a voluntary program under FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program that
a blood disorder. But the office also documented approximately 50 wounds on Davidson’s body, including fractured nasal bones, a 9-inch bruise on his left torso, a 5-inch bruise to his right upper arm, a 6-inch bruise to his left forearm, and a 4-inch bruise above his left elbow.
Jail records, however, listed only four pre-existing injuries on the day he died.
Despite these discrepancies in visible wounds, the sheriff’s office determined no further investigation was necessary, records show.
To date, MCSO has not provided its internal morbidity committee report despite numerous requests.
WIDER PATTERN OF CONCERNS
The “Gazette” has previously reported that a whistleblower, former jail medical liaison Mary Tolbert Coy, filed a lawsuit against Sheriff Billy Woods alleging substandard medical care at the jail and a pattern of ignoring pleas for help from inmates. The suit claims that systemic failures endangered lives.
During Coy’s tenure as the medical liaison for the inmates, she wrote compliance reports every month noting a lack of compliance with Florida jail model standards by HOF. These included not responding to sick calls, not staffing according to the contract requirements, falsifying medical records, questionable medical decisions or lack of care.
“Failure to follow their own policies and procedures,” wrote Coy in recently obtained sworn answers to interrogatories delivered in the court case.
Coy outlines reporting verbally and in writing “violations of medical standards, policies, and procedures affecting inmate health,” by HOF. Also, she reported, “deliberate indifference to serious medical needs of an inmate” and falsified medical mental health inmate records, including documented assessments for inmates who were not seen or had been released.”
When her concerns were ignored, Coy disclosed that she reached out to outside agencies like Disability Rights Florida and the U.S. Department of Justice, hoping an outside agency would intercede and provide oversight since Coy’s reporting was being discounted by her superiors.
Coy was fired in August 2024. Since then, the MCSO has not reinstalled compliance reporting on the $14 million annual HOF contract for inmate medical care.
incentivizes communities to adopt floodplain management practices beyond minimum federal requirements
Despite this, no specific upgrades are currently planned to address downtown flooding. The city maintains a “continuous improvement” approach to enhance stormwater systems and further reduce flood risks, according to Davis.
For residents and business owners concerned about protecting their property during storms, Davis encouraged everyone to maintain flood insurance.
“Even if your property is not located in a designated highrisk flood zone, flooding can still occur during severe or unusually large storm events,” he said.
The city continues to prioritize flood mitigation to safeguard businesses and keep insurance costs low, Davis said.
“We are always working to strengthen the system, expand capacity and exceed flood mitigation standards. These efforts help improve our CRS rating, reduce the community’s flood risk and keep insurance premiums as low as possible, making it more likely that residents maintain coverage for unexpected severe events,” he said.
Suzanne Scheraga May 19, 1949 - August 11, 2025
into
on August 11 after 76 years of blessing the world with her presence.
Suzanne’s generosity and thousand-watt smile will be greatly missed. She was adored and admired by her family and many friends, not only for her kindness and warmth but also her strength and capability, which were formidable. She met no challenge to which she didn’t rise. In her last days, she said she had no regrets and considered herself extremely fortunate.
Following a brief illness, she passed peacefully at UF Shands surrounded by her loving children, Dan Scheraga of West Orange, N.J., and Beth Scheraga of Philadelphia.
Suzanne also is survived by former husband Jerrold Scheraga of Reddick, Fla.; grandson Sidney Scheraga and daughter-inlaw Michelle Scheraga of West Orange; sister Melanie Kantor and niece Natalie Kantor of Denver; and nephew Adam Stein of Huntington Beach, Calif.
Her ashes will be buried on Long Island alongside her brother Jerome Stein and grandmother Marta Thaler. She also is predeceased by parents Harold and Renee Stein and sister Jill Stein.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your choice of cancer research organizations. Suzanne will be loved and missed always.
Your Home Sold Coldwell Real Estate Services is shown surrounded by sandbags on Southwest Broadway Street where flooding occurred recently after heavy rain and thunderstorms in downtown Ocala on Aug. 19, 2025. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
Ocala - Suzanne I. Scheraga sailed
eternity
Ocala prepares for possible state efficiency audit
By Jamie Berube jamie@ocalagazette.com
At the Aug. 19 Ocala City Council meeting, council member Ire J. Bethea Sr. made a comment about a potential visit from the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), urging the city to prepare for a possible audit.
Fresh from a Florida League of Cities conference, Bethea shared
that there was one session where DOGE was discussed.
“The bottom line is, on this DOGE thing, everything that I got out of the session, and I think (City Manager Pete) Lee walked in on the session as well, is that they will be coming around,” Bethea said, referencing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recently created task force’s audit in Orlando.
Bethea recommended that the city conduct a self-audit to
ensure compliance with DOGE’s priorities.
“I would like to suggest that we make sure we are on top of everything,” he said, noting that relevant details are available on the DOGE website.
Lee echoed the sentiment, stating his preference in having Ocala’s internal city auditor, Randall Bridgeman, self-audit in preparation for DOGE’s arrival.
“We want to have Mr.
COMMUNITY NEWS BRIEFS:
Bridgeman kind of self-audit against what DOGE is most interested in,” Lee said.
Greg Davis, Ocala’s public information officer, clarified, however, that no DOGE visit is currently scheduled.
“When council member Bethea mentioned DOGE, the comment was meant as a generalization since DOGE has been visiting institutions and municipalities across the state,” Davis said.
NEW ACADEMY, CALL FOR MEMORABILIA, NEW PROGRAM NAME, CF GRANT AND MEDAL OF FREEDOM
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
Marion County Fire Rescue has launched the First Responder Academy, which is designed for high school seniors interested in a career in public safety.
Throughout their senior year, students enrolled in the academy will complete the Firefighter I training curriculum and certification. Upon graduation and successful completion of the program, each student will be hired by MCFR and continue their education with Firefighter II and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training, officially beginning their careers in public safety immediately after high school, the news release noted.
This initiative builds on the foundation of the former Career Academy program, previously offered through Marion Technical College and Marion County Public Schools.
“By creating the First Responder Academy, we are not only investing in the next generation of firefighters and EMTs, but also strengthening our community,” said Fire Chief James Banta in the release, “This program cultivates home-grown, servicedriven talent right here in Marion County, ensuring that our public safety workforce continues to grow and thrive.”
To learn more, go to marionfl.org/mcfr
CALL FOR MEMORABILIA
Ocala Main Street is inviting people to contribute to an upcoming exhibit at its newly opened Heart of the Park facility. The organization is seeking photographs, artifacts and memorabilia that reflect the history of Ocala, with emphasis on historic downtown and early public education.
“Whether it’s a vintage photo of the downtown square, a yearbook from Ocala High or a cherished keepsake from a local business or event, your contributions can help tell the story of Ocala’s past and preserve it for future generations,” the press release stated.
The items selected will be featured at the Heart of the Park, at 516 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala, with the exhibit opening in the Fall. Contributors will be credited and have the option to loan or donate their items.
The deadline for submissions is Sept. 15.
To submit items, email a description and photo to museum@heartoftheparkocala. com.
PARK PROGRAM RENAMED
Officials with the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park have renamed the cross program as Remember & Honor.
Veterans’ families can honor deceased loved ones and friends by purchasing a cross with a mounted flag and emblazoned with the veteran’s name, branch of service and military conflict in which they served. The crosses are displayed at the park for a week before and a week after Memorial Day and Veterans Day. A special display is posted to honor the 13 soldiers killed at Abbey Gate during the military evacuation at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2021, according to the news release. Crosses can be purchased by calling (352) 804-6953. To learn more, go to marionvetpark.com
CF FOUNDATION
RECEIVES GRANT
Tcolleges in Florida and created funds to address new and emerging charitable needs and (as a nod to his mother, Kathryn) to help single mothers, the news release stated.
“We are honored to receive this grant for the sixth year in a row from the Community Foundation,” said Chris Knife, vice president for Institutional Advancement and CEO of the CF Foundation, in the release. “Since 2020, the Edward K. Roberts Scholarship has helped 183 CF students overcome financial obstacles on their journey to a degree. This is a transformational scholarship, especially for part-time students and student-parents, helping cover both academic costs and essential living expenses that can be the biggest barriers to graduation.”
To learn more, go to cf.edu/foundation
OCALAN AWARDED MEDAL OF FREEDOM
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Aug. 20 presented five Floridians with a posthumous award of the Governor’s Medal of Freedom, one of the highest honors in the state.
The honorees included Marion County’s Kenneth “Buddy” MacKay Jr., Bob Graham, Jimmy Buffett, Lincoln DiazBalart and John Thrasher.
New school
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school names. During this survey, there were 151 responses with 83 names shared.”
After narrowing down the list to five finalists, the second survey was distributed to students, families and staff. McAteer said 406 people responded.
“The final results of survey two were South Marion High, 35.2%; Summer Oaks High, 24.9%; Suncrest High, 19.2%; Victory High, 17%; and Southwest High, 3.7%,” he said.
The committee then reviewed the survey data and made its recommendation.
“The naming committee recommendation for a school name for high school CCC is South Marion High School,” McAteer told the board.
The new high school is scheduled to open in August 2026.
Board members discussed the choice, with some noting it aligned with naming conventions of other district schools. District member Allison Campbell added that she checked for duplication.
“What I personally, as a board member, did not want was to have a name that is the same as three or four other high schools in the state of Florida. South Marion is the best choice all the way around,” she said.
While the board won’t formally vote until September, McAteer said the school is already moving quickly on the next step—selecting colors and a mascot.
“We’ve already started soliciting some feedback from community members and district members. What we really want for this is to get some buy-in from the students,” McAteer said. He said he visits Horizon Academy several days each week and plans to begin gathering input directly from students in classrooms.
he College of Central Florida Foundation can provide financial assistance to college students who may not qualify for other financial aid, thanks to a $70,000 grant from the Edward K. Roberts Community College Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The scholarship criteria prioritize students who are parents and are working to better themselves and their families through education.
Roberts established the field of interest fund to support underfunded community
MacKay (1933—2024) was a citrus farmer, lawyer and served as Lieutenant Governor and then as Florida’s 42nd governor following the death of Gov. Lawton Chiles in 1998. A Democrat, he began his public service in the Florida House, later becoming a state senator, U.S. Congressman and serving in statewide office as lieutenant governor and governor. After retiring from politics, he was appointed by President Bill Clinton as a Special Envoy for the Americas, becoming the second person to hold this position. During his tenure, he traveled to 26 countries in the Americas, working on regional trade agreements, hemispheric security, and human rights in Latin America. A respected public servant, MacKay’s legacy reflects decades of commitment to environmental protection, civil rights, and crisis management in Florida and across the Americas, the news release stated.
To read the “Gazette’s” feature obituary on MacKay, go to ocalagazette.com/ honoring-a-great-statesman-and-familyman/
“We hopefully will have a mascot and colors by mid-October,” McAteer said. “For band uniforms, for colors, for different facilities within the facility, for football uniforms, for the things that we have to buy well in advance, we have to have those. Some of these things are six to nine months out.”
Board member Eric Cummings agreed that branding must be established quickly.
“We know when it opens next August, we want whatever brand to be there and we’ll already start instilling that pride in that area for that school,” he said.
This is the first class in the new Marion County Fire Rescue First Responder Academy. [Photo courtesy Marion County]
Ocala City Councilman Ire Bethea listens during a meeting in February. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]
POLICIES TO EXIT CITIZENS
LATE IN YEAR
By Jim Saunders
The News Service of Florida
Florida regulators have approved proposals by private insurers to take potentially tens of thousands of additional polices from the state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. late this year, as Citizens is expected to shrink after the thick of hurricane season.
Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky last week signed orders that would allow five private insurers to assume up to 87,925 policies from Citizens in November and December. That came after the state last month approved proposals by nine companies to assume up to 428,947 policies in October, November and December.
The exact number of policies that will exit Citizens is unknown, as the totals approved are maximums. But last week’s orders are part of what is known as a “depopulation” program that is designed to reduce the size of Citizens, which was created as an insurer of last resort but became the state’s largest carrier in recent years amid financial problems in the private market.
As of Aug. 22, Citizens had 770,729 policies. As of June 30, it had 774,814 policies; the next largest property insurer, State Farm Florida Insurance Co., had 643,671, according to a state Office of Insurance Regulation report.
Under the depopulation program, private carriers can seek state approval to assume certain numbers of Citizens policies. Citizens topped 1.4 million policies in 2023 and the depopulation program has played a key role in whittling
that number.
But the program can have a downside from policyholders, who might see their rates increase. That is because of a law making customers ineligible to remain with Citizens if they receive offers of coverage from private insurers that are within 20 percent of the cost of Citizens premiums. For example, if a homeowner received an offer of coverage from a private insurer that is 19 percent higher than the Citizens premium, the homeowner would not be eligible for Citizens coverage.
The orders signed last week would allow Manatee Insurance Exchange to assume up to 51,500 policies in November, Monarch National Insurance Co. to assume up to 25,000 in November, Universal North America Insurance Co. to assume up to 10,000 in November and December, Slide Insurance Co. to assume up to 1,000 in November and Trident Reciprocal Exchange to assume up to 425 in November.
The vast majority of the policies are what are known as residential multi-peril policies, while others are for such things as commercial residential coverage for apartment and condominium buildings.
State leaders have tried to reduce the size of Citizens, at least in part, because of concerns about financial risks if Florida gets hit by a major hurricane or multiple hurricanes. If Citizens couldn’t pay all of its claims, it could collect additional money from policyholders throughout the state—including possibly nonCitizens policyholders—to cover costs through what are known as assessments.
While the number of Citizens policies has decreased over the past two years, the depopulation effort has slowed this summer as insurers wait out the hurricane season, which started June 1 and will end Nov. 30.
FILING ADDS FUEL TO FPL RATE FIGHT
By Jim Saunders
The News Service of Florida
Ratcheting up a battle about a proposed Florida Power & Light rate settlement, opponents have offered a "counter proposal" that would trim potential increases over the next four years.
FPL quickly criticized the new proposal, which was filed Aug. 26 by the state Office of Public Counsel, an agency designated in law to represent consumers in utility issues, and four groups that are parties in the FPL case.
The new filing appeared to put down a marker for what could be a contentious hearing in October at the Florida Public Service Commission in a rate case involving billions of dollars.
As an indication, the Office of Public Counsel and its allies identified themselves Tuesday as the “customer majority parties,” while identifying FPL and groups and businesses that hammered out the utility’s proposed settlement as the “special interest parties.”
“The majority settlement agreement (the new filing) contains proposed resolutions which fully resolve all of the issues in (the case) and results in customer rates that are actually in the public interest and not disproportionately favorable to the special interest parties,” the filing by the Office of Public Counsel and the groups Florida Rising, the League of United Latin American Citizens of Florida, Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida and Floridians Against Increased Rates said.
The filing came after FPL and numerous groups and businesses filed their proposed settlement last week. The Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities, has scheduled a potential two-week hearing of the case in October.
“FPL stands behind its proposed settlement agreement which was developed jointly with a broad coalition of customer groups and would enable FPL to continue investing for reliable service in a growing state while keeping customer bills well below the national average through the end of the decade,” FPL said in a statement Tuesday after the
new proposal was filed. The utility also contended that the new proposal “has no legal merit as an enforceable settlement,” describing the filing by the Office of Public Counsel and its allies as “like settling with yourself.”
FPL’s proposed settlement would increase base electric rates over the next four years, but not by as much as FPL originally sought in a plan filed in February.
The proposal would lead to increases of $945 million in 2026 and $766 million in 2027, according to the utility. FPL also would collect additional amounts in 2028 and 2029 for solar-energy and batterystorage projects.
The opponents’ filing Tuesday would result in increases of $867 million in 2026 and $403 million in 2027. It also would leave open the possibility of FPL seeking increases of an estimated $195 million in 2028 and $174 million in 2029 for generationrelated projects that could include solar and battery projects.
The opponents said the FPL proposal could lead to cumulative increases over four years of $6.903 billion, while the new filing could result in cumulative increases of $5.241 billion.
Base-rate cases are highly complex and play out over months, with voluminous amounts of technical and financial data. In addition to differences in the bottom-line numbers, the proposed FPL settlement and the filing Tuesday include other key differences.
As an example, a closely watched issue in base-rate cases is utilities’ allowed “return on equity,” a measure of profitability. The proposed FPL settlement includes a 10.95 percent target for return on equity. The opponents’ filing Tuesday included a 10.6 percent target.
FPL reached its proposed settlement with the Florida Industrial Power Users Group, the Florida Retail Federation, the Florida Energy for Innovation Association; Americans for Affordable Clean Energy; the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy; Walmart Inc.; EVgo Services, LLC; Circle K Stores, Inc.; RaceTrac Inc.; Wawa, Inc.; Electrify America, LLC; Armstrong World Industries, Inc.; and federal government agencies.
That proposal was announced days before the Public Service Commission was
scheduled to start a hearing this month on the rate plan that FPL filed in February. The initial plan sought increases of $1.545 billion in 2026 and $927 million in 2027, along with passing along costs in 2028 and 2029 for solar and battery projects.
JUSTICES WON’T HALT PULITZER TRUMP CASE
The News Service of Florida
The Florida Supreme Court on Aug. 26 declined to take up an attempt by Pulitzer Prize board members to halt a defamation lawsuit that President Donald Trump filed after the board refused to rescind a 2018 award to “The New York Times” and “The Washington Post.”
The Supreme Court’s decision effectively leaves in place a May 28 decision by the state’s 4th District Court of Appeal that denied a request for a stay of the lawsuit. As is common, the Supreme Court did not explain its decision.
The dispute stemmed from a lawsuit that Trump filed in 2022 in Okeechobee County contending he was defamed by a statement posted online by the Pulitzer board. That statement came after Trump requested that the board rescind the joint 2018 award to the two newspapers for reporting about alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The Pulitzer board commissioned two independent reviews of the “Times” and “Post” stories and declined to rescind the award decision, according to court documents.
The board statement said, in part, that the “reviews converged in their conclusions: that no passages or headlines, contentions or assertions in any of the winning submissions were discredited by facts that emerged subsequent to the conferral of the prizes.”
A panel of the 4th District Court of Appeal in February refused to dismiss the lawsuit against Pulitzer board members and other people associated with the board who live outside of Florida. The board members then sought a stay of the lawsuit while Trump is the sitting president. But in the May 28 decision, the South Florida appeals court rejected the request, pointing to the fact that Trump had not sought to put the case on hold.
The Big Three know? Did you
cream is a wildly popular dessert
Ice cream is a wildly popular dessert, with an estimated 15.4 billion liters of ice cream consumed each year around the world, according to the World Atlas. New Zealand consumes more ice cream than any other country, followed by the United States. When it comes to ice cream flavors, the International Dairy Foods Association says vanilla is still America’s favorite flavor, followed by the others of the “Big Three”: chocolate and strawberry. Butter pecan and cookie dough round out the top five flavors in the United States. Vanilla reigns supreme worldwide as well. Forty-six countries choose vanilla over other options according to research conducted by Premier Inn, a United Kingdom-based hotel chain. Worldwide, neapolitan and chocolate also are popular ice cream flavors.
Public Notice
Hotel project
Continued from page A1 act as a tax break by redirecting future property tax increases back to the developer over time; $559,000 in in-kind city improvements such as street upgrades and utility relocations around the site; a $1.6 million parking incentive providing discounted or dedicated spaces in the city's new garage; and nearly $200,000 in review contributions that waive or reduce fees for building permits and impact charges, easing the developer's upfront costs.
The vote marks a pivotal moment for a project already under construction on a vacant lot at 210 W. Silver Springs Blvd., set to transform into a six-story hotel slated for completion by late 2026.
The agreement, initially greenlit in concept on Nov. 7, 2023, outlines a minimum developer investment of $56,196,441, with construction managed by Ocala-based SSC Construction Management. HDG Hotels will operate the facility, which will feature a sixth-floor restaurant and bar, a first-floor bar and lounge, Class-A office space, meeting rooms, a business center, gym and outdoor patios.
The project aligns with the 2004 Ocala Downtown Master Plan, targeting economic growth on a site previously identified as a downtown eyesore, as noted in a Growth Management Department request for CRA fund use.
A related parking agreement reserves 225 spaces in Parking Garage No. 2, one block south, for exclusive hotel use, with 182 compact stacked spaces on the sixth floor and 43 standard spaces on the fifth floor, inaccessible to the public via barrier arms but potentially available on a first-come, firstserved basis during select city events such as Light Up Ocala.
During the council meeting, Jessica Fieldhouse, executive director of Ocala Main Street, voiced strong support for the project.
“We believe that hotels are a key feature to revitalizing downtowns,” Fieldhouse said. “We know that with this development project, it will be an infill on a current vacant lot, which nobody wants in our downtown. It will stimulate the economy, produce jobs and, furthermore, drive tourism into our community to support our small businesses. We are very excited about this project, and we're grateful that we have a local developer who is wanting to continue investing in downtown Ocala to support our small businesses in this way.”
Ocala Planning Director
Aubrey Hale provided insights into the hotel's ownership, confirming, “It’s Domach LLC, and then HDG, they’re going to be the hotel operator, and I believe they are also part of the LLC.”
He noted that the hotel is already under construction.
“The footers and the foundation have been installed, and I believe they’re going vertical on the construction,” Hale said.
On parking access, Hale explained, “It’s going to come down to the coordination between the hotel and our parking division, but we’ll also be having control over the arms, so we’ll be able to operate those during those special events.”
The agreement mandates that the developer purchase all electricity and fiber optic internet from the city.
Addressing this, Hale clarified this utility mandate is an incentive tool.
“We’re trying to verify our way of capturing our return on investment. They are required, through the agreement, to have us as the sole provider. After the terms of the agreement, they can elect to do what they want,”
Hale said.
“We weren’t as focused on the job creation as much as the capital investment,” Hale noted. “We know that it will create jobs, and it will bring in tourists. Even on the sales tax, they will be spending money within the city limits and without downtown specifically, hopefully, and then they will also be having the bed tax.
That’s also what we’re going to capture from that. All of those things kind of line up to added benefits. Plus, you have the local businesses that will see the influx of new tourism into the downtown.”
For more information, visit ocalafl.org or call (352) 6292489.
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Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
A large crane is being used to lift walls into place at the construction site.
The 6-story, 176 room hotel will feature a rooftop restaurant and speakeasy.
Workers with Pre-Con Construction work at the site of the Marriott AC Hotel.
Jonathan, a worker with Pre-Con Construction, checks the angle of a wall as it is lowered into place from a large crane.
Expert Care That
Heart
Some heartburn, also known as acid reflux, is normal. But when it happens often, it may be a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Acid can harm your esophagus, teeth, voice box and lungs and, if left untreated, it can even cause esophageal cancer.
Our expert physicians use comprehensive diagnostic tools to pinpoint the cause of your symptoms and develop a plan that’s right for you — one that relieves your symptoms and helps you enjoy life’s simple pleasures.
People, Places and Things
A legacy of financial stewardship
CFO Theresa Boston-Ellis is retiring after 33 years with Marion County Public Schools.
By Jamie Berube jamie@ocalagazette.com
If you ask Theresa
Boston-Ellis what drove her 33-year career as Marion County Public Schools’ chief financial officer, she will tell you it was the joy of seeing students smile. For Boston-Ellis, those smiles bridged the gap between budgets and lives, which, for her, matter more than a profit margin.
She said she feels her legacy lies in connecting numbers to the success of the district’s estimated 45,000 students.
“I’ve seen a lot of things, but I guess when you talk about what motivates me, it goes back to bridging that gap between the numbers and the students that we are supporting. It gives great pleasure to see students who started in kindergarten and they go all the way through to high school. It was nice to connect the numbers that we work with to the face of a child,” she said.
According to BostonEllis, when the school district does well, the community does well.
“The motivation really is the kids, seeing them grow up and go off to college, and a lot of them come back. They may come back and teach, they may come back and do other things, but just to feel like I'm a part of that, and I know that's cliche, but I would rather be tied into that kind of a connection than, you know, a profit motive,” she said.
Boston-Ellis’ MCPS financial stewardship as the district’s CFO will end on Aug. 29, her last day on the job. As she prepares to retire, her journey from managing budgets on paper ledgers to navigating the complexities of a multimillion-dollar budget reflects a remarkable blend of resilience, adaptability and a deep commitment to the students for whom she works.
Boston-Ellis began her career with the district in 1992 as an entry-level accountant, a time when budgets were tracked on sprawling spreadsheets and reports churned out from printers.
“It was big spreadsheets and reports off the printer,” she recalls, reflecting on an era that required meticulous manual processes.
Over the years, she witnessed the transition to modernized financial systems and oversaw two major updates to the district’s accounting infrastructure. The changes streamlined operations and consolidated multiple bank accounts, with each one tied to specific funds like the general operating fund, food service fund and capital projects into a single bank with distinct account streams.
“It was challenging because everybody had to learn new ways of
doing things,” she noted, acknowledging both the benefits and hurdles of modernization. Yet, her preference for paper persists. “I like the paper so I can make notes and carry it on from year to year.”
Her early days involved labor-intensive processes, with month-end closings taking two weeks and final balances delayed by weeks more.
“By things being modern, you can pull up accounts, you can make better decisions because things are in real time,” she said. As CFO of Marion County’s largest employer,
Boston-Ellis managed a budget where 70% is dedicated to salaries and benefits and navigated the challenge of equitable resource allocation across 64 schools serving diverse student needs.
According to Boston-Ellis, the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP), established in 1973, guides this process, ensuring equitable funding based on student counts, cost of living and program needs, such as additional resources for exceptional students.
“We’re charged to distribute those resources as equitably as possible,”
she said, emphasizing the importance of valuing every role, from teachers to custodians and bus drivers.
Her private-sector experience in oil, gas and transportation industries before she joined the district shaped her innovative approach.
“It helped me think out of the box,” she explained, and brought creative problem-solving to public education finance, where success is measured not by profit but by student outcomes.
“The school district is a government and there is no profit margin. Our success is measured by how well
in terms of funding, the economy, not only in the state of Florida, but the economy in Marion County, and the people have proven to be resilient. No matter what happens, we always come back,” she said.
Her accounting degree from Florida A&M University’s School of Business and Industry, under the guidance of Sybil Mobley, founder of that school, equipped her with technical skills and soft skills like communication and stamina. Internships with the Bank of Boston and the Federal Reserve built her confidence to navigate diverse work environments. She said her involvement in mentoring and visiting schools, such as Saddlewood Elementary on the first day of school for the 2025-2026 school year, kept her grounded.
the students do,” she said.
Boston-Ellis’s leadership was not disconnected from the livelihoods of MCPS employees. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she rode buses with food service workers to deliver meals and gained firsthand insight into their roles.
She fostered collaboration by holding meetings where departments like accounting, purchasing and food service shared how their work interconnected, which, she said, enhanced mutual understanding and support.
“When folks feel like you’re invested in them, they’re more supportive. I feel like I was an advocate for every department, so if I understand what they're doing, I can go talk to leadership about things that need to change,” she said.
Among her proudest achievements was securing a $350 million loan at a low interest rate to build two new elementary schools, a feat made possible by the district’s history of prudent debt management. The district’s transparency and financial reporting also earned national awards.
“I’m really proud of the people that I work with, as I’ve seen them grow from entry-level positions to supervisors and directors,” she said, giving credit to the “village” of colleagues, leadership and board members.
“I'm proud of the school district and the struggle that the district has gone through over the years. It's been ebbs and flows
“You can't see me now, but I'm smiling because the kids are so happy,” she said by phone that day. “Some of them, the backpacks are bigger than them. You see the parents’ kind of sad, but the kids are just glad to be in that atmosphere of school. It seems like the teachers were happy and everybody was glad to get back to, I guess, their normal day to day at a school. But that's really uplifting, and it's something I can’t really explain, but it's a good feeling.”
Despite the weight of managing the district’s finances, where funding hinges on student attendance measured five times a year and is subject to legislative changes and economic shifts, she never worked alone.
“It makes me nervous all the time,” she said, citing challenges like rising costs during COVID and budget cuts that required tough decisions. Yet, she offered, her team’s collaboration and the board’s support ensured no jobs were lost, even when borrowing for new schools or adjusting budgets for a new high school.
As she steps into retirement, Boston-Ellis envisions a financially stable district with a “rainy day fund” to weather unexpected challenges. She said her motivation has always been the students, reinforced by personal milestones like watching her son grow from a toddler to a man during her career.
“It really has been the grace of God that has covered me,” she reflected as she credited, her faith, family and colleagues for her success. “It’s not really about me. It truly takes a village.”
TRUE PROFESSIONALISM
Boston-Ellis’ coworkers echo a resounding sentiment: professionalism defined her career.
Theresa Boston-Ellis, right, who is retiring from MCPS as of Aug. 29, talks with Michelle Nelson during her retirement party at Marion Technical Institute on Aug. 22.
Theresa Boston-Ellis, left, gets a hug from Marion County School Board member Nancy Thrower during Boston-Ellis' retirement party at Marion Technical Institute in Ocala on Aug. 22, 2025. Boston-Ellis is retiring Aug. 29 as the chief financial officer of Marion County Public Schools after working for the school board for more than 30 years.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
Calzone an alternative to pizza
Calzones provide a fun and tasty alternative to pizza. Home cooks who want to think outside the pizza box can consider the following recipe for “Whole-Wheat Spinach Ricotta Calzones” from “Clean Eating for Busy Families” (Fair Winds) from author Michael Dudash, R.D.
Whole-Wheat Spinach Ricotta Calzones (7 servings)
For the dough:
1 1⁄2 cups warm water (105 F to 110 F)
1 3⁄4-ounce envelope quick-acting dry yeast
2 cups unbleached white whole-wheat flour, plus additional for dusting
2 cups unbleached bread flour
1⁄4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
1 1⁄2 teaspoons Italian herb seasoning Olive oil spray
For the filling:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 8-ounce package crimini (baby bella) mushrooms, finely chopped
4 cups lightly packed baby spinach, finely chopped
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1⁄2 cup soft goat cheese
1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
1⁄4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1⁄2 cup basil leaves, chopped small 1⁄4 cup drained sun-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped
1 tablespoon flaxseed meal
1⁄4 teaspoon salt 1⁄4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For serving:
1 1⁄3 cups marinara sauce
To make the dough: Pour the water into the bowl of a stand
mixer fitted with a dough hook, sprinkle in the yeast, and let it sit for 5 minutes. Add the flours, 3 tablespoons of oil, and salt and seasoning; mix for 10 minutes on medium-low speed until the dough is elastic in consistency. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and place it in a warm area until the dough doubles in size, about 90 minutes. If you don’t have a warm area in your kitchen, heat the oven to 200 F. Turn off the oven and wait 5 minutes before placing the dough in the oven to proof.
Once the dough has risen, punch down. Coat a large sheet pan (or 2 medium sheets) with olive oil spray, shape the dough into 7 equal balls, cover, and let rest for 15 minutes.
To make the filling:
Heat a large frying pan over medium heat and add oil. When the oil begins to shimmer, add mushrooms and sauté for 3 minutes; add spinach and garlic and cook until water releases and evaporates. Remove pan from heat and stir in the goat cheese. Add ricotta,
Theresa Boston-Ellis retires from MCPS
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
There was no end to the hugs and well wishes for Theresa Boston-Ellis on Aug. 22 as she was treated to a retirement party at Marion Technical Institute in Ocala.
Boston-Ellis, who has served Marion County Public Schools for 33 years, officially retires as the chief financial officer on Aug. 29. During her tenure, which began in 1992, Boston-Ellis served under seven superintendents and rose through the ranks as accountant, director, executive director of business services, deputy superintendent of operations and, ultimately, CFO.
Parmesan cheese, basil, tomatoes, flaxseed meal, salt, and pepper and stir. Transfer to a container and chill.
To assemble a calzone: Preheat oven to 500 F. Dust the counter, rolling pin, and a dough ball with flour. Flatten the dough into a 5-inch circle, rotating after every few rolls Place 1⁄3 cup of filling on the front half of the dough, leaving 1⁄2 inch around the border. Fold the dough over until the
meet, forming a half-moon. Fold over 1⁄2
Press the edges with your fingers to
and
with a fork. Gently, but quickly, transfer the calzone back to the sheet pan. Repeat this process with the remaining dough and filling. Brush the calzones with 1 tablespoon of oil and using the kitchen shears, cut four 1⁄2-inch slits into the tops of each. Bake on the middle rack until lightly golden on top and bottom, 15 to 18 minutes. Complement with warm marinara sauce when serving.
Have a recipe you would like to share? Email us at recipe@ocalagazette.com
Boston-Ellis
Continued from page B1
School board member Allison Campbell described her role as exemplifying “professionalism and dedication” and said Boston-Ellis was unmatched in her role.
“I’m gonna miss her poise and her dedication to getting it right and being transparent. I feel like I’ve built a pretty good relationship with her over the course of the last basically six years, because I got to know her a little bit before I became a school board member,” Campbell said.
“She was a subject matter expert from the beginning and knew her craft well. That’s institutional knowledge we’re going to miss for sure. She works such long hours, and she has spent so much time giving to the district, she needs to take some time for herself and let people give to her, because she has given so much of herself to the district and to her sorority and to all that. I don’t want her to be a stranger. I want her to continue to be a thought partner when we need her to be,” Campbell added.
Former MCPS Superintendent Diane Gullet emphasized Boston-Ellis’s integrity and focus on students.
“From the beginning, I could always count on her honesty and professionalism. She was purely focused on doing what was best for the district— our students. It was that simple, and I think it’s what everyone should aspire to in their roles. Doing the right thing for students even when it’s difficult for adults. I told Theresa she deserves a peaceful retirement knowing she served as a model for others and led with a pure servant’s heart. We should all be incredibly grateful. I am. Theresa was one of a kind. She had unwavering integrity and the financial leadership that were vital to our success,” Gullet said.
Interim MCPS Superintendent Danielle Brewer highlighted Boston-Ellis’s compassion and firmness, particularly during crises such as opening schools as hurricane shelters.
“I remember last year, when we opened schools as hurricane shelters, how deeply concerned and supportive she was, especially for our Food and Nutrition Services staff, who worked tirelessly to prepare meals for families seeking safety,” she said.
“She truly embodies professionalism in everything she does. She raised the standard for what it means to lead with integrity and care, and that example is something I’ll carry with me long after her retirement,” Brewer added.
“In my view, the reason why we have maintained stability and healthy reserves is directly due to her leadership and management,” school board member Nancy Thrower said of Boston-Ellis.
“Whenever the board has been in consensus and really passionate about funding certain initiatives, projects, partnerships, Theresa has always found a way to make it work, gently, yet continually reminding us that recurring costs are very important to minimize,” Thrower said, then added that Boston-Ellis had a “completely disarming sense of humor” and was “a quiet guiding light, a compass, a gem.”
“My hope and prayer for Theresa is that she has a very long retirement as she’s had a professional career, and that in her retirement, she is able to do everything that she’s dreamed about and prayed for and been excited about. She’s been so dedicated and such a fixture in all the right ways,” Thrower said.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
Eric Cummings, Theresa Boston-Ellis, Wantanisha Morant and Cassandra Boston.
Loren Boston, Janice Boston, Sharon Richardson and Darin Nine. Thomas Dyck, Gil Nieves, Sherri Simmons and Cayla Johnson.
Chad Frazier and Chris Carlisle.
Theresa Parker, Beverly Ware and Gwen Haynes.
Michelle Franklin, Nikki Neal and Theresa Boston-Ellis.
Theresa Boston-Ellis and Robin Deffeler.
Theresa Boston-Ellis, John Ellis III and Tahara Ellis.
Patty Eubanks, Theresa Boston-Ellis, Debbie Morin and Kristen Corrigan, left to right, pose together during Boston-Ellis' retirement party at Marion Technical Institute in Ocala on Aug. 22, 2025.
Archaeologists use X-rays to distinguish iron from different periods of America’s colonial past.
By Jerald Pinson Florida Museum of Natural History
On a dark night in late May 1543, a group of men snuck through the Native American town of Guachoya and stopped at the gated wall, where a body had recently been buried. Working quietly, they disinterred the body and carried it to a nearby river, where they wrapped it in shawls filled with sand and dropped it in the water. Thus ended the brief and brutal history of Hernando de Soto, a Spanish soldier who helped conquer Nicaragua, overthrow the Inca empire in Peru and famously led an extensive expedition and military campaign from present-day Florida up through South Carolina and west to Arkansas.
His men had decided to bury his body at first but given that he’d convinced the Indigenous inhabitants that he was a god before he died of an unknown illness, they later committed his body to a tributary of the Mississippi River, hoping no one would find him.
De Soto’s expedition represented the longest sustained 16th-century incursion of Europeans into North America, but it was preceded and followed by several others, 15 in all. The Spanish left behind detailed records of their exploits in the Americas but because they only had a vague sense of where they were at any given time, the exact routes they took remains unclear.
Archaeologists have sidestepped this issue by looking for things the Spanish left behind, especially iron, which they brought with them in great quantities. But the various expeditions, which often overlapped, make things complicated.
“A wrought-iron nail from the 1500s looks like a wrought iron nail from the 1600s,” said Charles Cobb, the Lockwood chair in historical archaeology at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville.
Nails account for more than half of all metal artifacts found in North America. This, of itself, is no small problem, said Lindsay Bloch, a courtesy faculty member at the Florida Museum and principal investigator at Tempered Archaeological Services. “Archaeologists find lots and lots of rusty nails and other rusty iron objects. We often can’t even tell what they are, so they get weighed, counted and put back in their bag. And usually, no one ever looks at them again,” she said.
The Spanish had more than just nails. They used iron to make axe blades, horseshoes, breastplates, helmets, spokes, spears, knives, guns and more. They even brought along blacksmiths and farriers on their expeditions to repair and repurpose things on the go. But these objects, like nails, are typically indistinguishable through time. From the moment
Digging deep
caught on completely,” Cobb said.
Christopher Columbus laid anchor in the Bahamas through the conquest of Florida, there were too few changes in the style of metalworking for there to be readily observable diagnostic differences between iron objects made by the Spanish. That may be about to change. Both Cobb and Bloch are coauthors of a new study in which they demonstrate that microscopic differences in iron from this time period can be spotted using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. They made this discovery by analyzing objects of unknown affinity, which they now think may have come from the de Soto expedition.
Custer’s last stand elevated the status of metal detectors, resulting in big discoveries
The new methodology follows on the heels of a quiet revolution that’s been taking place in southeast archaeology, namely the recent adoption of metal detectors in large-scale survey work.
This kind of change might seem like a no-brainer from the outside. If an absolute novice were told to find ancient metal artifacts, a metal detector is probably the first thing they’d reach for. But these devices are in many ways antithetical to long-established—and successful—methods of archaeological excavation. Before metal detectors existed, archaeologists relied solely on their own experience and intuition to find things. They’d set up a transect in a likely spot and dig test holes at regular intervals or scour a predetermined area for objects that had been exposed to the elements. Whenever they found something, they’d clear away an excavation plot and slowly, meticulously work their way down through the sediment horizons while
noting the exact location of each object. These methods are rigorously thorough and still in use. They’ve contributed the majority of what we know about ancient cultures that wasn’t put down in writing.
When the first portable metal detectors were invented in the 1930s, archaeologists didn’t have much of a need for them. But metal detectors did catch on with another group: Hobbyists and treasure hunters began finding metal objects all over the place, which they often kept or sold for profit. This didn’t sit well with archaeologists, who were of the opinion shared by Indiana Jones that such things belong in a museum.
“Metal detectors have a bad reputation in archaeology because they are often the go-to for people who loot historic sites,” Bloch said.
So, for several decades, most archaeologists wouldn’t have been caught dead with a metal detector, until 1983, when a wildfire in Montana cleared away the dense vegetation that covered the site of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer’s last stand at the Battle of Little Bighorn. The conflict between the U.S. Army and an alliance of Indigenous tribes had taken place over a large area, which made the standard archaeological approach of shovel testing impractical. An enterprising research team, not wanting to waste the narrow window of opportunity, decided to give metal detection a try.
Their gumption paid off. Archaeologists recovered such a great amount and variety of munitions that they were able to retrace the harried steps of U.S. troops, who were routed during the two-day battle.
“That made it a bit more legitimate for people, but it still took a long time for it to catch on, and it still hasn’t
Cobb has no qualms with metal detectors and has made consistent use of them for the last several years. His first big breakthrough came in 2015, when he participated in an archaeological survey in Mississippi. The survey was primarily undertaken to locate ancestral Chickasaw sites. On a whim, they decided to bring out a few metal detectors. Native Americans often traded iron objects they obtained from the Spanish, so it was reasonable to expect there might be a few items lying around that might be indicative of a former habitation. Instead, they discovered what was likely the site of a major battle between de Soto’s army and the Chickasaw that archaeologists had spent decades searching for.
Other breakthroughs soon followed. Before about 15 years ago, less than 100 European objects had been found at North American Indigenous sites outside of Florida. That number has since swiftly increased, leaving archaeologists looking for better ways to determine who these objects belonged to.
One option would be to analyze impurities in the iron. The process of refining iron ore by smelting and forging it leaves a substance that is very nearly 100% iron, but not quite. The more forging a metal is subjected to, the purer its content will be, but trace elements like copper, vanadium and manganese stubbornly resist removal. The proportions of those trace elements are specific to the geographic location where they were deposited. These differences can theoretically be used to determine where a hunk of iron had originally been mined from.
Metals lend themselves well to X-ray analysis because of their high density, and fortunately for Cobb, an expert on the subject happened to work just down the hall from his office.
“She won’t brag on herself, but Lindsay literally wrote the manual on how archaeologists should use X-ray fluorescence spectrometry when she was a grad student,” Cobb said.
The purity of iron artifacts and the trace elements they contain differ through time. Since their study was intended as a proof of concept, the authors decided to cast a wide net by looking at iron material from multiple places and time periods associated with Spanish colonialism. Among
the sites included were the first Spanish colony in the Americas, established by Columbus in 1492; several Spanish missions; the 16th century capital of La Florida (located in present-day South Carolina); the de Soto/Chickasaw battle site Cobb had helped excavate; a British fort; and three 19th century plantations.
They also included iron from a site in Alabama known as the Marengo complex. The area comprises excavations from several villages and is believed to be somewhere near the Indigenous town of Mabila, where de Soto’s men engaged in an even more devastating battle than the one they’d have with the Chickasaw a few months later.
Although objects from the Chickasaw battle unambiguously came from the de Soto expedition, the provenance of those from the Marengo complex is less certain. De Soto certainly traveled through the area and left behind a significant store of supplies after the loss of life incurred during the fighting, which reduced the expedition’s ability to haul heavy equipment through the wilderness.
But two decades later, another Spanish expedition came through the area led by Tristán de Luna, who established a nearby settlement that has also yet to be discovered. Grueling starvation and conflict forced de Luna to abandon the settlement, leaving behind supplies that would have been virtually indistinguishable from those of his predecessor. Thus, archaeologists working at the Marengo complex can’t be sure which of the two expeditions artifacts in the area came from.
Though de Soto and de Luna visited some of the same places and were met with similar fates (though De Luna was merely deposed by his men rather than dying outright), their expeditions differ in one important regard. De Soto lived in Spain when he began assembling ships, men and supplies for the trip, and he sourced all of his iron equipment from Europe. De Luna got his supplies from New Spain in South America. He also strongly relied on his men to bring their own assorted iron tools along.
In an early test of the X-ray fluorescence spectrometry method in archaeology, a 2013 study of iron artifacts from Pensacola (known to have come from De Luna) and others from Tallahassee (thought to have come from de Soto) yielded
tantalizing but inconclusive results indicating there were elemental differences between the two.
Hoping to find something more robust, Bloch scanned the assemblage of artifacts they’d gathered with a handheld X-ray spectrometer and held her breath. The types of impurities in iron varied markedly through time. The authors say the differences were so consistent that, going forward, they can be reliably used as a diagnostic feature. Small amounts of manganese, for example, were found in some artifacts from the 16th century, but this element was almost entirely absent in iron from later periods. Bismuth was more likely to show up in 18th and 19th century artifacts, and several impurities — including titanium, ruthenium and zirconium — were associated with iron from the late 16th and the 17th centuries.
Iron artifacts from the mid-16th century had the fewest impurities and of these, horseshoes had the highest iron content. There was a significant dip in iron quality associated with the 16th and 17th centuries, corresponding with the greater variety of impurities in artifacts from this time.
The quality of iron from later periods improved, but it never reached the level of purity found in objects from the early expeditions. Their results also suggested that the iron recovered from the Marengo complex had likely come from de Soto, but the authors say it’s still too soon to tell.
To be certain, they’ll need to take measurements from additional objects that they can pinpoint to specific expeditions that can be used as a standard. And X-rays, while proven to be informative in archaeological contexts, are the quick and dirty way to collect data. To really get down to the fine-grained differences, Cobb said, they will need use a method called isotopic analysis, which gives more precise (and expensive) results. The authors are currently in the process of applying for a grant that would allow them to do just that. The authors published their study in the “International Journal of Historical Archaeology.” Funding was provided in part by the Wenner-Gren Foundation, the Alabama Department of Archives and History, the Chickasaw Nation and the National Geographic Society.
To learn more, go to floridamuseum.ufl.edu
The Spanish undertook several expeditions through the American continents during the early 16th century, many of which overlapped. Map based on "The Luna Expedition: An Overview from the Documents" by James Worth. [Photo courtesy Florida Museum of Natural History]
The Spanish brought along vast quantities of iron on their long treks through the American interior. On his ill-fated expedition to La Florida in 1559, Tristán de Luna brought along more than 60,000 nails, 1,332 horseshoes and over 1,400 pounds of mule shoes. [Florida Museum image by Charles Cobb]
Many North American Indigenous towns were enclosed in a protective wooden palisade, as seen in this depiction of Pomeiooc in modern-day Virginia. Engraving by Theodor de Bry, from "A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia" (1588). [Photo courtesy Florida Museum of Natural History]
‘That’s Entertainment!’
Local concert band presents first concerts of new season.
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
As it heads into its 36th season, the Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band has been rehearsing for upcoming concerts on Sept. 13 and 14.
The theme for the performances is “That’s Entertainment!” Music
Director J. Craig Lilly will be joined by guest conductor Brian Lackey and vocalists from Once Upon A Party in a program of current and nostalgic favorites. Pre-concert music will begin an hour prior to the main show and will feature the KOS Polka Band. The performances are free to attend.
There are more than 70 active members of the band, all of whom are volunteers.
“Concert themes are decided by our music director, with input from our Conductor Emeritus Les Muncaster. When deciding on a theme, attention is given to standard music in our library, new music that may be available that represents current popular themes (i.e., movies, Broadway, pop hits, etc.), plus an inclusion of patriotic and traditional music to honor our veterans,” said clarinetist Janet Voyles.
“The upcoming concert will feature music from the movie ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ as well as ‘For Good’ from ‘Wicked.’ Included in the concert will also be some timehonored favorites, from Gershwin to Stevie Wonder. The pre-concert music features the band's very own KOS Polka Band, who will be dishing out a rousing combination of German polka, waltzes and marches,” Voyles added.
As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) allvolunteer organization, the Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band relies on donations and other funding to cover its operating costs, such as rehearsal and performance venue rentals, music and equipment storage space, music purchases, instrument maintenance, program printing, advertising, guest performers and more. While the events are free to attend, donations to help cover costs are needed and “happily accepted,” Voyles said.
The concerts will take place at 2 p.m. Sept. 13 and 3 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Marion Technical Institute Auditorium, 1614 E. Ft. King St., Ocala.
For more information, call (352) 390-0491 or visit kingdomofthesunband.org
Saturday, September 6
Admission is free from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. to enjoy the galleries and Artspace. At 11 a.m. in the auditorium, join artist Seth P. Benzel for a talk on his solo exhibition, “Deconstructing Self.”
Following the talk, visit the exhibition with the artist for a Q&A. At 2 p.m., Benzel will return to the “Deconstructing Self” gallery for an informal meet-and-greet. Free; no reservations needed to attend. Food trucks will be on-site throughout the day.
This
Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
J. Craig Lilly conducts the Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band during a rehearsal at Howard Middle School in Ocala on Aug. 25, 2025.
Dan Buhring, Bill Smith and Barry Fies, left to right, play trumpets during the rehearsal.
Brian Lackey, Jimmy Sexton and Michelle Hall, left to right, play in the percussion section.
Kathy Haldeman, right, plays the oboe as Brittany Scofield, center, plays the flute.
Members of the Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band play together during rehearsal.
Dale French, left, and Colin McAdams, right, play tuba with the Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band.
Historic display
‘The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers’
By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco. com
The Keeneland Library in Lexington, Kentucky, established in 1939, is a reference and research library and the world’s largest repository of the thoroughbred industry that is open to the public. The library is home to more than 30,000 books dating from the late 1500s, 5 million photographic negatives and prints dating from the late 1800s and millions of newspaper and magazine articles about all aspects of the industry from the early 1700s to today.
The Keeneland Library launched “The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers” in the library from February 23 to Dec. 8, 2023, before traveling the exhibit to numerous other locations.
“The groundbreaking exhibit that follows the lives and contributions of Black horsemen and women from enslavement to today engaged visitors with exhibited interpretive panels and never-beforedisplayed photographs, artwork, artifacts and video interviews. More than 100 photographs from Keeneland Library collections captured
moments across their varied careers, while commissioned artwork by LaVon Williams and loaned artwork from the Kentucky Derby Museum, the International Museum of the Horse and private collections honored their lasting legacies,” notes the library’s website. According to materials provided by Tammy Gantt, VP of Member
Services for the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association in Ocala, the exhibit will be on display locally through Oct. 31.
Following a stint at the On Top of the World communities through August, the traveling exhibit will move in September to the Marion County Black History Museum inside
Keeneland Association and supported with funding from the Kentucky Historical Society. Big Lick Gives, the charitable arm of the Big Lick LLC Family of Companies, funded a portion of the Ocala installation.
The Master the Possibilities educational program at OTOW and the Marion County Black History Museum at Howard Academy supported the FTBOA’s initiative to host the Ocala leg of the history exhibit.
“I am thrilled FTBOA can now showcase ‘Heart of the Turf’ throughout the entire county with these locations,” Gantt said. “From racetrack superstars to behind-thescenes caretakers, there are more than 125 stories told in this exhibit.”
the Howard Academy Community Center at 306 NW 7th Ave. where it may be seen from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. From Oct. 6-31, the exhibit may be viewed from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the FTBOA museum and gallery at 801 SW 60th Ave., Ocala.
“Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers” is sponsored by the
Additional programming will include a meet and greet reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 18 at the history museum, with Melvin Jones, the first trainer of Triple Crown winner Affirmed, and Gus Gray, a member of the Marion County Agricultural Hall of Fame.
To learn more, go to keeneland.com/ keeneland-library/ heart-turf-racings-blackpioneers and ftboa.com
For more than a century, we’ve been told that carbohydrates are essential for performance and endurance, that athletes “hit the wall” because their muscles run out of glycogen, and that the fix is ever-bigger doses of carbohydrates. Yet when Olympic-level cyclists, weekend marathoners, or special-operations soldiers finally slow down, muscle ATP is still plentiful. What fails first is the brain. Conducting the largest synthesis of data on carbohydrates on exercise metabolism and physical performance shows that changes in circulating glucose — not empty muscles — may be the real governor of human performance.
In this talk, we will trace how preventing a dip of blood glucose can extend effort by hours; why high-CHO “sports drinks” often work mainly by rescuing the liver, not refilling muscles; and how athletes consuming very little carbohydrates can sustain max effort and prolonged exercise performance.
Whether you’re a coach, clinician, or curious weekend warrior, you’ll leave with practical insights on how protecting the brain, strategic nutrient dosing, and rewriting the rules on exercise nutrition can unlock metabolic health and performance.
Dr. Andrew P. Koutnik, Ph.D., is an award-winning research scientist whose work sits at the crossroads of nutrition, metabolism, and human performance. Convinced that optimizing physiology can simultaneously reverse chronic disease and elevate daily vitality, he translates rigorous science into actionable strategies for health and performance. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and/or international presentations, co-authored the first international clinical guidelines on therapeutic carbohydrate reduction for juvenile diabetes.
His scholarship
‘The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers’ will be on exhibit in Ocala through Oct. 31. [Photo courtesy The Keeneland Library]
Chilled cantaloupe soup, a cool refresher
Cold soups hit the spot when the weather is agonizingly hot and humid. It’s been a tough summer this year, but cooling soups that require no cooking are the perfect solution.
Chilled melon soups are an Asian contribution to California cuisine. Most Asian melon soups are warm and savory, but this one is chilled and subtly sweet, and it comes together with minimal effort — yes, it is Seriously Simple. This adult version, which includes sweet vermouth, is not for kids. If you want to make it for the whole family, omit the vermouth. Here local ingredients are combined in an unusual way. Sweet vermouth, ginger, and basil are added to a cantaloupe base in this lighter version of Santa Barbara chef John Downey’s original recipe. The ginger, basil and orange give
the soup a slightly tangy flavor while the vermouth offers a hint of sweet herbaceous. All the ingredients come together in a most pleasurable result. This pale orange refresher is best enjoyed the same day it is prepared. This is an excellent first course with a mixed green salad or with shrimp, chicken or beef brochettes and citrus rice.
CHILLED CANTALOUPE
SOUP WITH GINGER AND VERMOUTH
Serves 4 1 medium cantaloupe (about 2 pounds)
Grated zest of 1/2 orange Juice of 1/2 orange 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger 1 tablespoon finely chopped basil 1 tablespoon sweet white vermouth
Salt and finely ground white pepper
1/4 cup sour cream or creme fraiche
Optional garnish:
2 tablespoons sour cream
6 fresh basil leaves
1. Cut cantaloupe in half and remove all seeds. Scoop out eight tiny balls from half of one cantaloupe, or cut into cubes, for garnish and reserve.
2. Remove skin from melons and cut flesh into small chunks.
3. Combine cantaloupe, orange zest, orange juice, ginger, and basil with vermouth, salt and pepper in a blender or food processor and puree. Add sour cream and blend. Taste for seasoning. Refrigerate four hours before serving.
4. To serve: Ladle soup equally into four shallow soup bowls. Place the melon balls or cubes on top of each bowl and garnish with sour cream and basil leaves. Serve immediately.
Seeing clearly: Understanding pink eye
DEAR MAYO CLINIC:
My entire family was recently affected by pink eye, including my mom, my nephews, my sister and even her dog! How is it so contagious? And what is it?
ANSWER: Pink eye is an inflammation of the lining of the eyelid and eyeball. The medical term for pink eye is conjunctivitis. Just as its name, pink eye, tells us, the most noticeable symptom will be a pink or red irritated eye or eyes. Other symptoms can include:
Itchiness in one or both eyes. A gritty feeling in one or both eyes. Discharge in one or both eyes. This can form a crust overnight that can prevent one or both eyes from opening the next morning. Watery eyes or tearing. Pink eye is most commonly caused by a virus, but a bacterial infection or allergies also can be to blame. In babies, pink eye can be caused by a tear duct that is not completely opened. Most viruses will go away on their own. If the cause is bacterial, we will recommend treating the affected eye(s) with an antibiotic drop.
Unfortunately, pink eye is quite contagious, just like many other infectious diseases such as colds and influenza. Patients can be at risk of catching pink eye if they touch someone who is infected and then rub their eyes or face. For this reason, it is important to be consistent with hand hygiene and hand-washing, and avoid touching other things around someone who may be ill.
Pink eye can be a pain, but don’t worry — it rarely affects your vision. If you do experience
blurred vision, eye pain, light sensitivity (photophobia) or feel as if something is stuck in your eye, seek urgent care. If you wear contact lenses, you should stop wearing them as soon as you notice pink eye symptoms. If your symptoms don’t begin to improve within 12 to 24 hours, you should make an appointment with your eye doctor to make sure you don’t have a more serious infection related to contact lens use.
Pink eye is one of our more common reasons to stay home from day care, school or even work if you’re an adult, because even adults can get pink eye. If it’s a bacterial infection, patients need at least 24 hours of antibiotic therapy before returning to normal activities. If it’s viral in nature, you may have to wait at home a little bit longer since there is no treatment other than time. If it is allergic in nature, one can safely attend school and work since allergies are not contagious. We generally recommend those patients stay at home until they feel better. Doing warm compresses on the eyes can help alleviate some of the symptoms. Rest will also help you heal. If your pink eye is from allergies, using appropriate allergy medications can help. Unfortunately, we are often contagious with viruses or bacteria that cause pink eye before we even have symptoms. That is why it’s so important to be consistent and mindful about our hand hygiene and careful about being around those who may not be feeling well. — Tina Ardon, M.D., Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
The Basque country’s cultural treats
The land of the Basque people, split between Spain and France, is a "nation without a state” – left off the map when they drew Europe's national borders. Basque Country is often left out of travel itineraries too, and that's also a mistake. With sunny beaches, spectacular modern architecture, tasty tapas, and feisty, free-spirited people, this region is filled with cultural treats.
Much unites the Spanish and French Basque regions: They share a striking Atlantic coastline, with the Pyrenees Mountains soaring high above the Atlantic. They have the same flag, similar folk music and dance, and a common language, Euskara, spoken by about half-amillion people. Both, after some struggles, have been integrated into their respective nations – but still enjoy significant autonomy.
Wherever you go, your Basque sightseeing should be a fun blend of urban, rural, cultural, and culinary activities. Devote at least a day to each country: Sleep in one, then side-trip into the other.
In Spain, San Sebastián is the heart of the tourist’s Basque Country, with its sparkling, picturesque beach framed by looming green mountains and a charming Old Town. On-therise Bilbao is worth a look for its landmark Guggenheim art
museum (designed by Frank Gehry) – and because it, too, has an atmospheric Old Town. Compared with their Spanish cousins, the French Basques seem French first and Basque second. My favorite home base here is the central, comfy, and manageable resort town of StJean-de-Luz. It’s a stone’s throw to half-timbered Bayonne (with its “big-city” bustle and good Basque museum) and the snazzy beach town of Biarritz.
On both sides of the border, traditional village settings reflect the colors of the Basque flag: Deep-red and green shutters adorn bright white chalet-style homes scattered across the lush, rolling foothills of the Pyrenees. Spared the beach scene development of the coast,
these villages offer a more rustic glimpse of Basque culture.
If you know where to look, Basque customs are strong and lively … perhaps nowhere more so than in one of their favorite sports, jai alai, where players use long wicker baskets to whip a ball – smaller and harder than a baseball – off walls at more than 150 miles per hour. Offering less adrenalin – but just as much Basque culture –are men’s gastronomic clubs. Common throughout the Basque Country, these range from more working-class communal kitchens to highbrow versions with extensive wine cellars and culinary libraries. The clubs serve several functions. They provide a men’s night out in a matrilineal society, where women
run the show at home. They're also a place where friends who’ve known each other since grade school can enjoy quality time together, speaking Euskara and savoring traditional ways in today's fast-paced world. And, they’re where men cook together and celebrate Basque foodrelated traditions.
Speaking of food: Mixing influences from the mountains, sea, Spain, and France, Basque cuisine is reason enough to visit the region. The local food –dominated by seafood, tomatoes, and red peppers – offers some spicy dishes, unusual in most of Europe.
On the Spanish side, hopping from bar to bar sampling pintxos (tapas) is a highlight of any trip. Local brews include sidra (hard apple cider) and txakoli, a light, sparkling white wine that’s often theatrically poured from high above the glass for aeration. You’ll want to sample the famous pil-pil, made from emulsifying the skin of bacalao (dried, salted cod) into a mayonnaise-like substance with chili and garlic.
The red peppers (called piment d’Espelette) hanging from homes in French Basque villages give foods a distinctive flavor, and often end up in piperade, a dish that combines peppers, tomatoes, garlic, ham, and eggs. Peppers are also dried and used as condiments. Look
for them with the terrific Basque dish axoa (a veal or lamb stew on mashed potatoes). Don’t leave the area without trying ttoro, a seafood stew that is the Basque Country’s answer to bouillabaisse or cioppino. To satisfy your sweet tooth, check out gâteau Basque, a local tart filled with pastry cream or cherries from Bayonne.
While their cuisine is easygoing, the independentminded Basques are notorious for being headstrong. Especially in Spanish Basque country, demands for freedom once showed up in terrorism with the ETA. But, thankfully, the EU’s policies of giving stateless ethnic groups more cultural respect and support means passionate advocates for Basque freedom now pursue their cause peacefully. As a culturally and linguistically unique people surrounded by bigger and stronger nations, the Basques have learned to compromise while maintaining their heritage and identity.
Though split between France and Spain, Basques maintain a vital culture, and a visit here provides a vivid look at the resilience of Europe’s smaller ethnic groups and “nations without a state.” Wherever you go, you'll find the region colorful, fun, welcoming … and unmistakably Basque.
RICK STEVES' EUROPE
In cities like San Sebastián, bars offer plenty of pintxos– the Basque Country’s version of tapas. [Cameron Hewitt, Rick Steves’ Europe].
Ginger, basil and orange give the soup a slightly tangy flavor. [Dreamstime/TCA].
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.
Government
SEPT. 1, 8, 15, 22 AND 29
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.
SEPT. 2 AND 16
Marion County Board of County Commissioners
McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala
9am
The commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at marionfl.legistar.com/calendar.aspx
Ocala City Council
Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala
4pm
The council meets each first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas and minutes are available at ocala.legistar.com/calendar.aspx
Belleview City Commission
Belleview City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview
6pm
The commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video available at belleviewfl.org/200/agendas-minutes
SEPT. 9 AND 23
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
SEPT. 10
Dunnellon City Council
Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 River Dr., Dunnellon
5:30pm
The council generally meets the second Wednesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at dunnellon.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=1
Community Arts
AUG. 29-30
Ocala Shrine Rodeo
Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2200 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala Gates open at 5:30pm Proceeds from the event will help support the Ocala Shrine Club and various youth organizations. This event is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. Learn more at ocalashrinerodeo.com
SEPT. 12
Taste of the Town Charity Event
Ocala Downtown Market, 403 SE Osceola Ave., Ocala
5-8pm The Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center’s second fundraising event will include 19 area restaurants, food and beverages, and food truck vendors offering samples of food, bakery items, wine and beer. For tickets, go to zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2nd-annual-charity-taste-of-the-town
THURSDAYS THROUGH SEPT. 25
Free Diabetes Self-Management Classes
Howard Academy Community Center, 306 NW 7th Ave., Ocala
5:30-7:30pm
The Community Home Project, an initiative of the
complications associated with diabetes. For more information or to register, call (352) 671-4186 or email chp@mchdt.org
SEPT. 27
Fall Arts & Crafts Show Countryside Presbyterian Church, 7768 SW State Road 200, Ocala
9am-1pm
THROUGH SEPT. 1
Blue Star Museums free admission for military veterans
Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Hours vary
Through Labor Day, the annual Blue Star Museums program will provide free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and up to five family members. Blue Star Museums is a nationwide initiative led by the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and museums across the country. Free admission is available to those currently serving in the United States military, including the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy and Space Force, as well as members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps and NOAA Commissioned Corps. Eligible participants must present ID. To learn more, go to appletonmuseum.org/visit/planyour-visit/blue-star-museums/
SEPT. 2
Museum and Me Pre-K for ages 2-5
Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
10:30-11:30 a.m.
This multisensory program begins with a storybook reading, followed by a short gallery visit to explore a featured artwork or artist. Afterward, children will head to the Artspace to create their own art. An adult must accompany each child throughout the program. Free for children and Appleton members; included with admission fee for adult nonmembers. Advance registration required at eventbrite.com/e/museum-me-september-2tickets-1431291775229?aff=oddtdtcreator
SEPT. 6
The Boss Project: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen
Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala
7:30pm
Experience the power, passion and heartland rock of Bruce Springsteen with the ultimate tribute to The Boss and the E. Street Band. One night only. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com
SEPT. 6
Free First Saturday Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 10am-5pm
Explore the permanent collection, special exhibitions and enjoy family-friendly artmaking activities in the Artspace. At 11am in the auditorium, join artist Seth P. Benzel for a talk on his solo exhibition, “Deconstructing Self.” Following the talk, visit the exhibition with the artist for a Q&A. Free as part of Free First Saturday; no reservation needed. At 2pm, meet artist Benzel at the exhibit for an informal meet-and-greet. Tasty Pot Island and Poppy’s Dogs food trucks will be onsite throughout the day, as will CAMPUS USA Credit Union. Learn more at appletonmuseum.org
SEPT. 11-28
“Into the Woods” Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Fairytales tell the truth: Everyone is wishing for something. Curses can last for generations. No one is alone. And children will listen. This magical musical weaves together the tales of Jack and his beanstalk, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red, a baker and his wife and a powerful witch. Learn more at ocalacivictheatre.com or call the box office at (352) 236-2274.
SEPT. 12
Dueling Pianos
NOMA Black Box, Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala 6pm
Grab a seat at a café table and enjoy cocktails and an evening of sing-along classics of soft rock and pop that spans decades. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com
SEPT. 7
SEPT. 12
Dueling Pianos Uncensored
NOMA Black Box, Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala
9pm
Experience musical mayhem and unleash your wild side on the dance floor as pianists engage in hilarious and unpredictable musical mash-ups while our cocktail servers dish up your favorite drinks. Find the details at reillyartscenter.com
SEPT. 13
Comedian Flip Orley
Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave., Ocala
7:30pm Orley is considered "best" comedic hypnotist in the country and each 2 + hour show is different but equally funny, crazy and off the wall. It's the best audience participation show you'll ever see with 10-20 people on stage with some convinced that they're aliens or they speak alien. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com
SEPT. 14
Phantasmagoria’s Poe, Through the Tales Darkly Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd. 7:30pm Journey with members of the acclaimed Victorian horror troupe as they bring to life the tales and poetry of Edgar Allan Poe. From the haunted stirrings of "The Raven" to the sheer terror of "The Tell-Tale Heart," from the obsessively plotted revenge of “The Casque of Amontillado" to the bittersweet and lovely longing of "Annabel Lee," along with a selection of other whimsical, macabre, and terrifying stories and poems, you are invited to celebrate an evening of Poe's works. There will be a talkback and photo op after the performance. Learn more at ocalacivictheate.com
SATURDAYS, THROUGH SEPT. 27
Summer Clay Classes for Adults Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 10:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
Led by Dawn Bergstrom, this class is designed for intermediate students who are confident in their ability to center clay on the wheel and have taken a Dig Into Clay class within the past three years. Expanding upon basic wheel throwing skills, students will dig deeper into new forms, glazing techniques and advanced throwing skills. To enroll, go to cffoundation.wufoo.com/forms/2025-digdeeper-aug-23sept-27/
SEPT. 1-OCT. 16
“The Gap Between Art and Life” College of Central Florida Webber Gallery, 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala 10am-4 pm, Monday-Thursday This innovative, immersive biennial is a competitive exhibition of installation art. After reviewing 97 entries from artists across the southeastern United States, the jury panel selected eight artworks by seven artists. The pieces each offer something unexpected, breaking from tradition and challenging the typical gallery experience. Admission is free. To learn more, go to cf.edu/ webber
THROUGH JAN. 18
“The Human Pulse: Photographs by John Elliott” Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala The exhibit features 42 black-and-white prints from the Ocala-based photographer’s ongoing series, “The Human Pulse,” shaped by his life and travels across 32 countries. His photographs reflect a dreamlike vantage point: floating somewhat above, sometimes even at a great distance, but still connected to the moment. Learn more at appletonmuseum.org
Ocala Symphony Orchestra - Music Box 1: Joshua and Hannah Mazur NOMA Black Box, Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala 3pm Join virtuosic musicians from the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and their talented friends for an intimate chamber music experience. Joshua Mazur, baritone, and Hannah Mazur, soprano, present “Grand Moments from Grand Opera: Up Close and Personal,” a program of arias and duets from the operatic masterpieces of Mozart, Bizet, Wagner, Verdi and more. Opera’s wonder lies not only in its grand spectacle — a full stage with orchestra — but in its rich
bring
vivid
and psychology of
Whitley Fordham, left, and Madelyn Lanz, right, of the Mellow Mushroom, pose with two of their pizzas during the Taste of the Town fundraiser for the Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center at the Ocala Downtown Market in 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]
The Ocala Symphony Orchestra offers a variety of different shows at the Reilly Arts Center. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]
Broom Hilda
Notice
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY STATE OF FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF File Number: 25-CP-001564
DONNA LEE HOOKHAM, Deceased. / NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of DONNA LEE HOOKHAM deceased, whose date of death was May 4 , 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County , Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is: Marion County Judicial Center 110 NW 1 st Avenue Ocala, Florida 34475
The names and addresses of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative's attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons 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 THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in sections 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under section 732.2211, Florida Statutes.
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 THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES, SECTION 733.702, WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT = S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
THE DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE IS: August 29, 2025.
C HARLES D. HOOKHAM 10755 Southwest 160 th Street Dunnellon, Florida 34432
CANDACE L. HOOKHAM
1536 Regal Mist Loop Trinity, Florida 34655
/s/ Lexy M. Bubley-Creighton
Lexy M. Bubley-Creighton, Esquire
Attorney For Personal Representative Florida Bar No. 1026786
BUBLEY & BUBLEY, P.A.
12960 N. Dale Mabry Highway Tampa, Florida 33618 Telephone (813) 963-7735
E-mail: LMB@bubleylaw.com
NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 25-CP-000341 IN RE: ESTATE OF: ELIZABETH MARIA KLIX Deceased. The administration of the Estate of ELIZABETH MARIA KLIX, deceased, whose date of death was October 19, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the physical address of which is 110 NW 1st Ave., Ocala, Florida 34475, and the mailing address of which is PO Box 1030, Ocala, Florida 34478. 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 the decedent's estate, on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30
NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 16, 2025
Pursuant to the requirement of Section 100.342, Florida Statutes, and in accordance with a Proclamation issued by Mayor Ben Marciano, dated July 14, 2025, notice is hereby given that a Special Election will be held in the City of Ocala, Florida, on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, for the purpose of electing individuals to fill the following offices:
Mayor
City Council – District I
City Council – District III
City Council – District V
Polls will be open from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00
P.M. on Election Day, Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
Early voting will be available from 10:00 A.M to 6:00 P.M., September 11 through 13, 2025.
The mail ballot request deadline is 5:00
P.M. on September 4, 2025.
All qualified electors residing within the City of Ocala who are properly registered to vote by the book-closing deadline, August 18, 2025, will be eligible to vote in this election. The election will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the City of Ocala, Florida’s Charter, the Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida, and the laws of the State of Florida.
For more information regarding polling locations, early voting, voter registration, or vote-by-mail procedures, please contact:
Marion County Supervisor of Elections 981 NE 16th Street
Ocala, Florida 34470
Phone: (352) 620-3290 Website: www.votemarion.gov
City Clerk, City of Ocala, Florida 110 S.E. Watula Avenue Ocala, Florida 34471 Phone: (352) 629-8266 Website: www.ocalafl.gov
Published on: August 29, 2025
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION
FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No 25-CP -2132-AX IN RE: ESTATE OF ROBERT DALE JORGENSON A/K/A ROBERT D. JORGENSON Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Robert Dale Jorgenson a/k/a Robert D. Jorgenson, deceased, whose date of death was January 18, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 NW 1st Ave #1, Ocala, FL 34471. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION
File No. 2025-CP-2114
IN RE: ESTATE OF
MARK CHRISTIAN BENSELER Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Mark Christian Benseler, deceased, whose date of death was February 4, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 NW 1st Ave #1, Ocala, FL 34471. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS
AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The written demand must be filed with the clerk. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is August 22, 2025.
Attorney for Personal Representative: /s/ R. Kevin Sharbaugh R. Kevin Sharbaugh, Attorney Florida Bar Number: 86240
DOUGLAS LAW FIRM 117 N. 2nd Street Palatka, FL 32177
Telephone: (386) 385-5914
Fax: (386) 530-2955
E-Mail: Kevin@dhclawyers.com
Secondary E-Mail: AmandaH@ dhclawyers.com
Personal Representative: Shawna Walker 16971 SE 65th Place Ocklawaha, Florida 32179
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF PATRICIA A. HARRIS a/k/a PATRICIA M. HARRIS, Deceased. FILE NO.: 2025-CP-2152
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA Probate Division File No. 2025-CP-2104 IN RE: ESTATE OF CLARA H. GOLDSCHMIDT
Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Clara H. Goldschmidt, deceased, whose date of death was June 18, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 NW 1st Ave #1, Ocala, FL 34471. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The written demand must be filed with the clerk. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is August 29, 2025.
/s/ R. Kevin Sharbaugh R. Kevin Sharbaugh
Attorney Florida Bar Number: 86240 DOUGLAS LAW FIRM 117 N. 2nd Street Palatka, FL 32177
Telephone: (386) 530-2955
Fax: (386) 385-5914
E-Mail: Kevin@dhclawyers.com
Secondary E-Mail: AmandaH@ dhclawyers.com
The Application of Authority for RSJD LLC has been filed by the New York Department of State on 6/11/2025
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA. IN RE: THE ESTATE OF TODD R. HIERS, Deceased. CASE NO: 2025-CP-2014 NOTICE TO CREDITORS
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION Case No.: 2025-CP-001364
IN RE: The Estate of RICHARD JOSEPH RONDEAU JR., Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of RICHARD JOSEPH RONDEAU JR. whose date of death was September 9 , 2024 , File Number 2025-CP-001364, is pending in the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Marion County, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 NW 1 st Ave., #1, Ocala, FL 34471 . The names and address 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 served must file their claim with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY 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 the decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of the first publication of this notice is August 29, 2025.
CARLA B. YATES, Esquire DENISE LaDONNA TERRELLRONDEAU YATES LAW FIRM, P.A. Personal Representative 320 W. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 600 c/o YATES LAW FIRM, P.A. Tampa , Florida 33606 320 W. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 600 (813) 254-6516 Florida Bar No.: 709166 Tampa, Florida 33606 cyates@ yateslawfirm.com IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF MARY P. GADDIS, Deceased. FILE NO.: 2025-CP-2070 NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of MARY P. GADDIS, deceased, whose date of death was January 8, 2025; is pending in
LOST TITLE APPLICATION NO.: 2436185 OFFICE OF TITLES
NOTICE PURSUANT TO SECTION 82 OF THE REGISTRATION OF TITLES ACT (RTA)
THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION
733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE,
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. The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The written demand must be filed with the clerk. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is August 29, 2025.
Attorney for Personal Representative:
/s/ Lorien Smith Johnson
Lorien Smith Johnson Florida Bar Number: 26662
LORIEN S. JOHNSON, PLLC 1520 W. Cleveland Street Tampa, FL 33606
Telephone: (813) 758-3492
E-Mail: LSJohnson@ LorienSJohnson.com
Secondary E-Mail: Admin@LorienSJohnson.com
Personal Representative: Kristin Jean Jorgenson 4741 Edgewood Avenue N Crystal, Minnesota 55428
NOTICE TO CREDITORS (Summary Administration) The administration of the estate of PATRICIA A. HARRIS a/k/a PATRICIA M. HARRIS, deceased, whose date of death was June 14, 2025; is pending in the Circuit Court of Marion County, Florida, Probate Division; File Number 2025-CP2152; the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475. An Order of Summary Administration was entered on August 25, 2025, and the name and address of the persons assigned control of the assets is LISA L. ANTHONY, 8845 S.W. 9th Terrace, Ocala, Florida 34476, the daughter of the decedent, and their attorney is Davis R. Watson III, Davis R. Watson III, P.A., 2201 S.E. 30th Avenue, Suite 202, Ocala, Florida 34471. The estate is insolvent and has no nonexempt assets with which to satisfy any outstanding claims. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court, WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. THE DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE IS AUGUST 29, 2025. Attorney for Petitioner: DAVIS R. WATSON III Florida Bar No.: 117996 DAVIS R. WATSON III, P.A. 2201 S. E. 30th Avenue Suite 202 Ocala, Florida 34471 (352) 732-8080 Email: davis@daviswatsonlaw.com
Personal Representative: Stephen Goldschmidt PO Box 70 Montgomery, Indiana 47558 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA. IN RE: THE ESTATE OF JEFFREY A. KLINE, Deceased. CASE NO: 2025-CP-1708 NOTICE TO CREDITORS The name of the decedent, the designation of the court in which the administration of this estate is pending, and the file number are indicated above. The address of the court is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are indicated below. If you have been served with a copy of this notice and you have any claim or demand against the decedent’s estate, even if that claim is unmatured, contingent or unliquidated, you must file your claim with the court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF A DATE THAT IS 3
The name of the decedent, the designation of the court in which the administration of this estate is pending, and the file number are indicated above. The address of the court is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are indicated below. If you have been served with a copy of this notice and you have any claim or demand against the decedent’s estate, even if that claim is unmatured, contingent or unliquidated, you must file your claim with the court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF A DATE THAT IS 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS NOTICE.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with the court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. EVEN IF A CLAIM IS NOT BARRED BY THE LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE, ALL CLAIMS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN FILED WILL BE BARRED TWO YEARS AFTER DECEDENT’S DEATH.
The date of death of the decedent is: June 28, 2025. The date of first publication of this Notice is August 29, 2025. The personal representative or curator has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent, or the decedent’s surviving spouse, is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act, as described in sections 732.216 – 732.228 F.S., applies, or may apply unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under section 732.2211, F.S.
Attorney for Personal Representative: JOSHUA L. MOSES Richard & Moses, LLC Florida Bar No. 119304 808 E Fort King Street Ocala, FL 34471 (352) 369-1300 Primary Email: Josh@RMProbate.com
Personal Representative: KAITLIN J. DELGADO 8419 McKibben Drive Chesterfield, VA 23838
WHEREAS the applicants) in the above stated application has/have declared that the following duplicate Certificate of Title has been lost, I HEREBY GIVE NOTICE that I intend to cancel the said Certificate of Title and issue a new one in duplicate fourteen days after the last publication of this advertisement.
Volume: 1019 Folio: 476 Lot No: 94 Place: Part of Havendale Heights Parish: St. Andrew Registered proprietor(s): Lurline Scott
The following transactions lodged with this application will be registered pursuant to section 81 of the RTA: Application to Note 2521086 Marriage Transfer 2521087
LOST TITLE APPLICATION NO.: 2436184
OFFICE OF TITLES
NOTICE PURSUANT TO SECTION 82 OF THE REGISTRATION OF TITLES ACT (RTA)
WHEREAS the applicant(s) in the above stated application has/have declared that the following duplicate Certificate of Title has been lost, I HEREBY GIVE NOTICE that I intend to cancel the said Certificate of Title and issue a new one in duplicate fourteen days after the last publication of this advertisement.
Volume : 1036 Folio: 262 Place: Cassava Piece Road Parish: St.Andrew Registered proprietor(s): Lurline Clarke Scott
The following transactions lodged with this application will be registered pursuant to section 81of the RTA: Transfer 2521094
L.Dunbar Deputy Registrar of Titles
Sports Forest blanks North Marion in season opener
Wildcats defense scores twice in win over Colts.
By Mark Pinson Special to the Ocala Gazette
The Forest High School football team opened its season in impressive fashion by blanking North Marion by a score of 35-0 on Aug. 22 at Mikey Kelly Stadium.
The Wildcats scored early and often thanks to their defense, which had four interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns against the overmatched Colts. The victory was extra sweet as new coach John Brantley won his first game at his alma mater. Brantley, who won a state championship as quarterback of the 1975 Forest team, was the coach at Trinity Catholic until 2024, before taking over the Wildcats program.
"We've been practicing well. You win football games in practice Monday through Wednesday not on Friday's," said Brantley. "If you practice well in that time frame and do the things you need to do to get ready for Friday night, it makes the game easier and it showed tonight."
Seeing the Forest defense pitch a shutout was especially good to see for the coaching staff.
"We talked after spring practice that we needed to improve on defense," Brantley said. "We moved some players from offense to defense and that solidified that side of the ball. They certainly played well tonight."
For North Marion, the early miscues, which led directly to 21 points, were too much to overcome for a youthful Colts squad.
"We killed ourselves," lamented second-year North Marion coach Jeremiaha Gates, who played for coach Brantley at Trinity Catholic and was a member of the 2010 state championship team. "The big three are missed tackles, explosive plays and turnovers, and we lost all three. You can't win football games like that."
Forest took its opening possession and marched 45 yards in seven plays with junior tailback Keziyrehun Rivers showing good balance and vision running behind an effective offensive line. Junior quarterback Caleb Sanford completed a pair of passes for 37 yards and Rivers bulled his way into the end zone from a yard out. The extra point by sophomore Zane Walden gave the Wildcats an early 7-0 lead.
North Marion took over at its 30-yard line and drove down the field behind excellent running from senior Jamarian Whitter
and junior quarterback Matthew Dial. Whitter rushed 11 times for a team-high 97 yards. The Colts faced fourth-and-goal from the one, but Dial was stuffed by a fired-up Forest defense to end the threat.
After an exchange of punts, North Marion's Dial had a pass deflect off a receiver's hands and into the arms of Forest senior cornerback David Slaughter, who returned it down the sideline for a 62-yard touchdown. The point after made it 14-0 with 9:33 left in the second quarter.
Things went from bad to worse on the Colts next possession, which also ended with an interception of a Dial pass that was returned to the North Marion nine. Forest scored in one play as Sanford followed excellent blocking into the end zone. Th extra point by Walden gave the Wildcats a 21-0 lead.
North Marion moved down the field on its next possession as Dial, who completed eight of 17 passes from 108 yards, found open receivers in the Colts secondary. A miscommunication led to another Dial interception, which senior cornerback Cedric Brigham returned 73 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. The point after made it 28-0 midway through the second period.
North Marion continued to fight and marched inside the Forest 5-yard line but, once again, the Wildcats swarmed Dial for a loss on fourth down to keep the Colts off the scoreboard.
Forest wasted no time in scoring as junior running back De'ontre Brown ripped off a 95-yard touchdown run. Brown finished with 107 rushing yards on just four carries. The extra point gave the Wildcats a commanding 35-0 lead.
Because of the 35-point lead, a running clock was utilized in the second half. Neither team was able to score in the final 24 minutes. Both teams were able to get a number of players into the game in the second half to gain valuable experience.
"This win is special," Brantley said of his first Wildcat victory. "This isn't about the coaches, this is about Forest and North Marion just like it was when I played in it 50 years ago. It's a good way to kick off the season and I'm happy and excited for our kids."
Forest is back in action on Sept. 5 when the Wildcats take on Trinity Catholic. North Marion will have a lot to work on in practice before taking on Fivay on Aug 29.
"We have to protect the ball better," said coach Gates. "We just need to execute and get some explosive plays and we'll be fine."
North Marion's head coach, Jeremiaha Gates, works with his players.
Forest's Knox Boutwell (44) tries to stop North Marion quarterback Mattthew Dial (5).
Forest's Keziyrehun Rivers (2) hurdles past North Marion's Jakari Washington (44). Forest's Ethan Collins (22) eludes North Marion's Kaleb Smith (34) for a large gain.
Forest's David Slaughter (3) celebrates his touchdown with John Blanford (28).
Forest's David Slaughter (3) runs the ball in for a touchdown as he eludes North Marion defenders after his interception during a football game at Forest High School in Ocala on Aug. 22. Forest won the game 35-0.
Forest's Ethan Collins (22) looks for the pass, which he couldn't hold onto, as he outruns North Marion's Latrel Griffin (20).
Forest's new head football coach, John Brantley celebrates a touchdown with his players.
Photos by Bruce Ackerman
Ocala Gazette
