Ocala Gazette | September 8 - September 14, 2023

Bomb testing in Ocala National Forest

The history of the Pinecastle Impact Range dates to the 1940s.

Who is in charge in Ocala during an emergency?

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

Right up until the hours before making landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida last week, Hurricane Idalia was projected to pass over Marion County. That sobering possibility had many here wondering what would happen if a hurricane or other natural disaster struck the county.

Specifically, who would be in charge of the emergency response?

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

Residents may have heard a little extra noise coming from the Ocala National Forest this week as the U.S. Navy conducted bomb testing at the Pinecastle Impact Range. But other than the noise, the only thing those near the range should be cautious about is

wildlife that officials say may move around more frequently because of the disturbance.

“During bombing periods, wildlife may be temporarily displaced. Use extra caution when driving through the Ocala National Forest and surrounding areas. Secure any items around your residence that could attract wildlife. Always be mindful of larger animals including black bears,” noted a news release from Naval Air Station (NAS)

Jacksonville.

Testing of live and inert, or inactive, bombs occurred Sept. 5-7, from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. and 2:30 to 4 p.m. each day, according to the news release. Bomb testing happens relatively frequently at this site, which is the only place on the East Coast of the United States where the Navy trains with live bombs.

See Bomb, page A2

Redistricting appeal could go on fast track

By Jim Saunders Florida News Service

Astate appeal has put on hold a circuit judge’s ruling that a congressional redistricting plan violated the Florida Constitution, as the case could be on a fast track to the state Supreme Court.

Secretary of State Cord Byrd and the Florida House and Senate filed a notice Monday that is a first step in appealing the decision issued Saturday by Leon County Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh. Under a procedural rule, the notice triggered an automatic stay of Marsh’s decision while the case continues to play out.

The notice was filed to appeal the decision to the 1st District Court of Appeal, but attorneys for the state and voting-rights groups that challenged the redistricting plan agreed last month to seek what is known as “pass-through jurisdiction” to the Florida Supreme Court.

If granted, that would effectively mean skipping the usual process of litigating at the 1st District Court of Appeal before going to the Supreme Court. The

agreement last month said the parties would seek a Supreme Court ruling by Dec. 31.

State lawmakers are scheduled to start the 2024 legislative session in January. A Supreme Court ruling by Dec. 31 would allow them to redraw congressional lines, if necessary, during the session.

The qualifying period for 2024 congressional candidates will be April 22 to April 26, according to the state Division of Elections website.

Marsh issued a 55-page decision that sided with a coalition of voting-rights groups that challenged the redistricting plan, which Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed through the Legislature in 2022.

The lawsuit focuses on North Florida’s Congressional District 5, which in the past elected Black Democrat Al Lawson but was overhauled in the redistricting process. White Republicans won all North Florida congressional districts in the November elections after the map was redrawn.

Florida voters in 2010 approved a constitutional amendment, known as the Fair Districts amendment, that set standards for redistricting. Part of that

barred drawing districts that would “diminish” the ability of minorities to “elect representatives of their choice.”

The voting-rights groups argued that the 2022 redistricting plan violated the socalled “non-diminishment” standard.

“Under the stipulated facts (in the lawsuit), plaintiffs have shown that the enacted plan results in the diminishment of Black voters’ ability to elect their candidate of choice in violation of the Florida Constitution,” Marsh wrote.

The notice of appeal, as is common, does not detail arguments that lawyers for Byrd and the Legislature will make as they challenge Marsh’s ruling.

But DeSantis and the state’s attorneys have argued that the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause prevented using a district similar to the previous shape of Congressional District 5 because it would involve racial gerrymandering.

The district in the past stretched from Jacksonville to Gadsden County, west of Tallahassee, incorporating areas that had large Black populations. The 2022 plan put the district in the Jacksonville area.

As part of an interlocal agreement established in 1988, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) heads emergency response. The agency’s Division of Emergency Management coordinates not only the response to an emergency such as a hurricane, but the preparation, recovery, education and awareness surrounding one.

As for the city of Ocala, the chain of command is less clear.

While the city follows the county’s lead in case of an emergency, according to city spokesperson Ashley Dobbs, the county’s response plan lists the mayor as being in charge of Ocala. In reality, City Manager Pete Lee takes command during an emergency, according to city officials.

After the “Gazette” brought this discrepancy to the attention of city officials, the city attorney recommended an update to the city code to reflect that the city manager should take point in an emergency.

“I would like to develop a draft ordinance that amends our code to provide specific delegation of emergency declaration and management authority to the city manager so that there is no question of that in the future,” said City Attorney William Sexton during his report at Tuesday’s city council meeting.

The discussion of a change in the city’s code regarding the chain of command during an emergency was not on the agenda or made known to the public before the meeting.

Ocala does not have an emergency management plan of its own, nor does it intend to create one, said City Council President Jim Hilty.

“I don’t know of any intention of creating a separate plan right now,” he said. “The system’s working well, in all the times that I’ve been involved with it.”

See Emergency, page A3

The county’s response plan says it’s the mayor. Reality says otherwise.

“Sweeney Todd” starts this week

“The Pinecastle Impact Range spans 5,698 acres of the Ocala National Forest and is the only location on the East Coast where the Navy trains with live bombs [Michael Warren].”

Bomb testing

“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)

Publisher Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com

“The Pinecastle Impact Range spans 5,698 acres of the Ocala National Forest and is the only location on the East Coast where the Navy trains with live bombs [Michael Warren].”

Continued from page A1

The use of the range differs from week to week. Navy and Marine Corps commands use the Pinecastle range to activate either practice bombs or live bombs to prepare for deployment, said Kaylee Larocque, NAS Jacksonville spokesperson, via email.

Over the past few months, bomb testing occurred from June 28-July 2, July 5-9, Aug. 1, Aug. 22-24 and Aug. 28-31.

Ocala has played a pivotal role in naval operations since the early 1940s, when the War Department acquired more than 40,500 acres of the forest for what was then called the Lake Bryant Bombing and Gunnery Range, according to NAS

Jacksonville.

Through World War II, the U.S. Army Air Force Command used this range, as part of the Pinecastle Army Field and Orlando Army Air Base, for rocket missions, bombing practice, ground gunnery and firefighting.

In 1951, the Navy acquired a portion of the range, which has continuously been in operation ever since to help train military personnel.

Today, this unique portion of the Ocala National Forest is used as a training location so military pilots can get real-life training in a realistic environment.

“The Pinecastle Range is the only U.S. East Coast training facility authorized for the release of

explosive air-to-surface ordnance, including close air support, an essential factor in air warfare training,” according to NAS Jacksonville.

Synthetic training, such as the use of simulators, is commonly used within the Navy for training. The Ocala National Forest offers a kind of training that cannot be simulated, however, and is instrumental for pilots who specialize in air strikes, according to NAS Jacksonville.

To file a noise complaint about the bombs, email nasjax. noisecomplaints@us.navy.mil. For more information about the Ocala National Forest, visit fs.usda.gov.

Sit back, relax–ride with SunTran S Sit relax–

Ji Li arrived at SunTran in 2020 after more than 10 years in transit planning. He strives to assist riders in a positive manner, including ensuring that routes are beneficial to our environment while enhancing the system’s efficiency. Recently, Ji worked with city staff to apply for and receive a $16.1 million grant through the FTA. The purpose of the Low-No Program is to support the transition of the nation’s transit fleet to the lowest polluting and most energy-efficient transit vehicle. These federal dollars will become part of the long-term transportation strategy for the city to expand service to underserved areas with cutting edge transit technology. The plan hopes to incorporate “Uber-style” microtransit that will offer more frequent service, reduced travel time, and real-time booking. In the words of Ji, “I’m excited about the future and want to make sure SunTran expands before my eyes.”

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Emergency response

Continued from page A1

In an email, Dobbs explained that the city and county join forces as necessary.

“In the event of an emergency, the city and county work collaboratively to ensure that information is distributed in a quickly and timely manner,’’ she wrote. “(MCSO) switches over to the Emergency Operations Center during emergency events. Once the EOC is activated, we operate as one unit with the information coming through that agency.”

While the city is working to update its code, Marion County’s emergency plan, which was last revised in 2018, calls for county departments to each have their own response plan, according to county spokesperson Stacie Causey.

When the “Gazette” requested these documents, the county denied their release claiming that they were confidential under Florida Statutes 119.071(3)(a)1.c.

When the “Gazette” requested only the titles, subheadings, authors and approval dates of the plans with all other information redacted, the county again denied the release of that

limited information.

The statute cited by the county exempts the government from releasing “records, information, photographs, audio and visual presentations, schematic diagrams, surveys, recommendations, or consultations or portions thereof relating directly to the physical security or fire safety of the facility or revealing security or fire safety systems; threat assessments conducted by any agency or any private entity; threat response plans; emergency evacuation plans; sheltering arrangements; or manuals for security or fire safety personnel, emergency equipment, or security or fire safety training.”

The “Gazette,” however, can find no exemption in the statute that prevents the county from sharing the date, page count, author, titles, or subtitles to their department plans.

Additionally, the state’s Sunshine Manual points to numerous cases that support the idea that “the Sunshine Law should be liberally construed to give effect to its public purpose, while exemptions should be narrowly construed.”

Woman arrested in Ocala for election-related identity fraud

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

A24-year-old paid petition circulator was charged with 16 felony counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information on Aug. 29 in Ocala, according to the Marion County Supervisor of Elections.

Maria Guadalupe Bautista turned in 191 petition forms that were suspected of being fraudulent for a constitutional amendment for the Limited Authorization of Casino Gaming, according to a press release from Supervisor of Elections Wesley Wilcox.

An investigation began in November of 2021 by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the State Attorney’s Office, the Fifth Judicial Circuit and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office into a total of 767 petition forms that were suspected of being fraudulent.

Out of Bautista’s 191 forms, 16 were confirmed to be fraudulent during the investigation. Two of the forged petition forms used the identities of individuals who were deceased at the time the

signatures were forged, according to the press release.

The constitutional amendment the petitions were for, which failed to make it onto the ballot in 2022, was to authorize businesses with cardroom licenses to offer casino gaming if they make minimum capital investment toward new development and construction if passed, according to the Florida Division of Elections.

Bautista was charged by and will be prosecuted by the State Attorney’s office. She was booked into the Marion County Jail on Aug. 29. Her bail was set at $80,000, or $5,000 per count of identity fraud, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) database.

Her arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 3 at 9 a.m. in front of Circuit Judge Peter Brigham, according to the MCSO.

“Supervisors of Elections take fraud seriously and are committed to protecting your vote,” said Wilcox in the press release. “Throughout the year, our staff verifies thousands of candidate and initiative petitions signed by Marion County voters and validates the signature on each petition.”

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Blown away birds Hurricane season can provide glimpses of birds not often seen in the region.

By Sandra Poucher Special to the Ocala Gazette

As Hurricane Idalia passed north of Ocala on Aug. 30, strong storm winds blew birds off course and disrupted migratory routes.

While many birds will find a safe place to ride out a storm, other birds may attempt to outfly or avoid hurricanes. Many birds come inshore seeking food or shelter ahead of or immediately after a storm. Flocks of seabirds are observed flying ahead of a storm, using the winds to flee. Even rarely seen seabirds, who typically prefer isolation, will gather, and fly inland seeking safety.

Birds are observed within storms, flying downwind to stay aloft. They may get trapped within the storm and carried along, far from their intended destination. Migrating birds can be blown off-course by the force of the winds. Caught in the eye of the storm, carried hundreds of miles, these birds can be lost and tired, separated from familiar landmarks and food sources.

Kent Weakley, a local birder and owner of Blue Sky Graphic Communication, Inc., noted, “Last year, during Hurricane Nichole, I landed 12 new species for the county and some all-time firsts, including a pomarine jaeger over Lake Weir. That storm had bands that stretched into our county, blowing from NNE to SSW. Think of storms and the radiating bands like conveyor belts delivering birds inland from the coast and even from far out to sea. This last storm pulled birds from south Florida and brought them to Marion County.”

A variety of species are affected by hurricanes. Most often seen in the southernmost parts of Florida, American flamingoes, native to northern South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, ended up along the Gulf Coast as far north as the panhandle and inland, in Alachua County, after Hurricane Idalia. These birds may have been blown off their migratory route from the Yucatan peninsula to Cuba, a 700mile detour north (and 500 miles from their southern destination). The birds appear healthy and are expected to soon make their way back to familiar ground.

Another species, magnificent frigatebirds, with distinctly deeply angled wingspans of 7 to 8 feet, prefer to remain aloft, foraging above the oceans. Despite their size and bravado, frigatebirds do not have water resistant wings. If a frigatebird lands in the water or gets wet, it will be unable to fly. The Audubon Society checklist traces a route of magnificent frigatebirds up the center of the peninsula in advance of the storm.

Weakley photographed a gathering of these enormous seabirds near Gator Joe’s on Lake Weir.

“I witnessed 68 frigates,” Weakley enthused, mentioning that there could have been as many as 100 magnificent frigatebirds above the lake. He recorded several species that may have been avoiding the storm, including black-bellied plover and sanderlings.

“The birds are a bit off-course, but as soon as the weather clears, they move out and return to the coasts. Think of it like when your GPS takes you to the wrong address. Once you realize you’re not in the right place, you turn around and go back. That’s pretty much what these birds do,” Weakley said.

While birds may have a hard time finding their favorite foods, most of the displaced species will find their way home after the storm passes.

If you see an unfamiliar bird, you can record your sighting on eBird, run by the Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Even recording familiar birds after a storm can be helpful. These sightings help us understand bird—and tropical storm—behavior.

“Also, I think we humans have no idea of the birds’ abilities because we compare our physical abilities to theirs. In other words, we think walking 10 miles in one day is extreme. Birds can easily fly hundreds of miles in one day under normal circumstances. So, heading to the beach for them is not that big a deal,” Weakley noted.

For more information and to record bird sightings, visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at ebird.org/home

Magnificent frigatebirds flying along the north shore of Lake Weir, Aug. 30, 2023. As the hurricanes winds began subsiding, dozen of these ocean going birds headed southwest back to their usual surroundings on the coast. [Kent Weakley, Special to the Ocala Gazette]

OCALA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OPENS AUDITIONS FOR 2024 YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

The Ocala Symphony Orchestra (OSO) is now accepting instrumental and vocal auditions for its 33rd annual Young Artist Competition.

The qualify in the junior division, applicants must be 12 to 18 years old. To qualify in the senior division, applicants must

MCPS LAUNCHES ATTENDANCE CAMPAIGN

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

of school each month, they miss 18 days of learning—10% of the entire school year,” according to an MCPS press release.

auditions are due by Oct. 30. Competition finalists will compete in front of a live audience on Jan. 14, 2024, at an honors recital at the Reilly Arts Center. Finalists from each division will earn a cash prize of $200.

Winners will be chosen to perform their concerto live with the OSO at the Reilly Arts Center on March 23 and 24 for the subscription

Marion County Public Schools

(MCPS) has kicked off a yearlong campaign to improve student attendance and keep students learning in the classroom.

The campaign will center on a theme of “showing up together” in partnership with a national campaign through Attendance Works.

“Starting as early as preschool and kindergarten, regular attendance is essential for students gaining the

In Marion County, 16% of students are chronically absent.

“Parents, families, relatives, caregivers, and the community at-large can support student attendance by ensuring students are at school, on time, every day, realizing sickness, death, and other issues may impact attendance temporarily,” according to the press release.

MCPS hopes to address and prevent chronic absenteeism by enhancing partnerships between the community,

Growing his community

An Eagle Scout candidate’s community service project will help grow food for rescued animals at the Ocala Wildlife Sanctuary.

By Andy Filmore andy@ocalagazette.com

For Julien Ryan, reaching Eagle Scout rank has meant more than overcoming the usual hard work and commitment involved in attaining scouting’s top rank.

Julien, 17, a junior at Vanguard High School and scout since age 6, is autistic, has cerebral palsy and motor and verbal disabilities.

The teen recently completed his required Eagle Scout project, which involved raising funds to buy two free standing hydroponic gardens and one vertical garden and installing all three at the Ocala Wildlife Sanctuary (OWLS). The gardens will help provide food for the roughly two dozen rescued animals at the sanctuary.

Julien’s grandmother, Bonny Ryan and his sister, Andrea “A.J.” Ryan, 20, have been supporters and encouragers for the Eagle Scout candidate all along the way.

“I’m very proud of Julien,” Andrea Ryan said, adding that she looks forward to her brother having further involvement in scouting.

Bonny Ryan explained that the scouting honor is yet another milestone for Julien. She said that, initially, there was concern he might not walk or talk.

Julien is a member of Troop 100, which is sponsored by First United Methodist Church of Ocala. Larry Callaway is the scoutmaster and Bonny Ryan is an assistant scoutmaster. Julien has earned at least 90 merit badges and said swimming was his favorite activity.

Brian Boelke, an adult leader with Troop 100, said Julien brings a lot of character to the troop and called him a “true leader.”

Jim Simon, an adult leader with the troop, also praised the Eagle Scout candidate.

Julien had visited OWLS previously and chose to do his project to benefit the resident wildlife and researched the gardens on the internet. The two nearly 6-foot-tall hydroponic towers and the upright garden will help provide fruits and vegetables to feed the animals, which includes rescued owls and other birds, a white tail deer named Buttercup and tortoises. The materials for the Eagle Scout project cost about $1,000 and required around 75 volunteer hours to complete.

Julien raised funds by manning a booth at a Tractor Supply location seeking donations. Several of his fellow scouts, including Jon Lanning, an Eagle Scout from Troop 692; David Hall, Troop 113; and Tristyn DeBose and Dean Boelke, of Troop 100, helped with the project.

The wildlife sanctuary has been operated for more than 21 years by Keith Belisle, a bird of prey expert, and Kenny Lane. OWLS has been a nonprofit since 2005. Belisle has experience in offering educational programs for schools, 4-H clubs and through the juvenile justice system.

Belisle said that Buttercup, now 15 years old, was rescued as a newborn after her mother was struck by a car on Fort King Street and was raised at OWLS. Hobie, a great horned owl, was the victim of what sanctuary literature calls a “cruelty case.” Hobie, who is over 23 years old, was found about 20 years ago in a “snare type trap” and someone “proceeded to chop off her wing with a machete.” Belisle has formed a strong bond with Hobie.

Belisle said that in addition to providing food for the animals, Julien’s project will help provide education about hydroponic gardens and that, eventually, some of the produce may be donated to help needy youth in the community. He praised Julien for “never giving up” on his goal of attaining the rank of Eagle Scout.

Lane said Julien’s project will be a benefit to the sanctuary and help with on-going feed expenses, such as about $15 a week for lettuce.

Following submission of his project paperwork and a board of review, Julien expects to receive his Eagle Scout award in a ceremony in several weeks.

Bonny Ryan said he was concerned at first, but coordinated his team and the project went well.

“I’m so happy,” Julien said to his grandmother.

For more information about the Ocala Wildlife Sanctuary, including a wish list for donations, go to ocalawildlifesanctuary.org or call (352) 895-0451.

To learn more about the Boy Scouts of America Marion District, go to FB.com/bsamariondistrict

NOTICE

OPTIONAL ORIENTATION FOR SPECIAL MAGISTRATES OF THE VALUE ADJUSTMENT BOARD

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to applicable Florida Statutes and codes including Florida Administrative Code Chapter 12 D-9.012(5) and 12 D-9.012(6), that the Value Adjustment Board will hold an Optional Orientation meeting for instructional purposes relating to the Axia electronic petition filing system for its duly appointed Special Magistrates on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the Marion County Clerk of Court conference room located at 110 NW 1st Avenue, Ocala (2nd floor Administration Office). The meeting is open to the public for observation purposes. If any accommodations are needed for persons with disabilities, please contact the Marion County Clerk’s Office at (352) 671-5622.

HEARING DATES OF THE VALUE ADJUSTMENT BOARD

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to applicable Florida Statutes including Chapters 194, 196 and 286, that the 2023 Value Adjustment Board in and for Marion County, Florida, or its designated Special Magistrate(s), will meet beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, OCTOBER 12, 2023 and continuing as necessary on: Tuesday, November 14; Wednesday, November 15; Thursday, November 16; Wednesday, November 29; Thursday, November 30; Friday, December 1; Monday, December 11; Thursday, December 14; Thursday, December 21; Friday, December 22, 2023; and Monday, January 8; Tuesday, January 9; Thursday, January 11; Friday, January 12; Thursday, January 25; Friday, January 26; Monday, February 12; Tuesday, February 13; Wednesday, February 14; and Thursday, March 14, 2024, or until such time as all matters and petitions properly before the Value Adjustment Board have been given an opportunity to be heard. The Value Adjustment Board, or its designated Special Magistrate(s), will meet in the Board of County Commissioners Auditorium at 601 SE 25th Avenue, Ocala, Florida, Marion County Governmental Complex, to hear petitions regarding valuation and exemptions from taxation. For the scheduling of individual cases, one may contact the Marion County Clerk’s Office, Commission Records Division, at (352) 671-5622.

Notice is hereby given that a list of all applications for portability of homestead exemption, exemptions for homestead, widows, widowers, disability, blind, government organizations, religious, literary, educational literary, educational, scientific and charitable organizations who have had their application for exemption wholly or partially approved or denied is maintained by the Property Appraiser in and for Marion County, Florida, and available to the public for inspection at 501 SE 25th Avenue, Ocala, Florida, during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Please note that if a petitioner decides to appeal a decision made with respect to any matter considered at the above advertised hearing(s), the petitioner will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose, the petitioner may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings was made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal was to be based. The exemption procedures of the Value Adjustment Board are provided in Chapter 194, Florida Statutes, and records of the Value Adjustment Board and its hearing(s) showing the names of persons and organizations granted exemptions, the street address or other designation of location of the exempted property, and the extent of the exemptions granted are public record.

The County Commission Auditorium is a handicapped accessible facility. If any accommodations are needed for persons with disabilities, please contact the Marion County Public Affairs Office at (352) 438-2300 / 438-2304 (fax), a minimum of 24 hours prior to the hearing. Please be governed accordingly.

Keith Belisle of the Ocala Wildlife Sanctuary, left, shows Hobie, a rescued Great Horned Owl, to Julien Ryan of Boy Scout Troop 100, 17, right, as Ryan works on his Eagle Scout Project at the Ocala Wildlife Sanctuary in Ocala on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

Members of Boy Scout Troop 100 and other volunteers work on transferring seedlings into the pods of a hydroponic unit. Left: Dean Boelke, 13, bottom, and Tristyn Debose, 15, top, of Boy Scout Troop 100 filling a hydroponic unit with water. Below: Keith Belisle of the Ocala Wildlife Sanctuary, left, shows King Tut, a rescued Gopher Tortoise, to Julien Ryan of Boy Scout Troop 100, 17, center and Dean Boelke, 13, right.

Should we blindly trust that government has sufficiently planned for emergencies?

Marion County Emergency Plans

By Ocala Gazette Editorial Board

Ronald Reagan was the first U.S. President to make the Russian proverb “Trust, but verify” popular in the 1980’s. Since then, it’s been used countless times by elected officials and others to describe their posture of exhibiting faith in someone or something while also doing due diligence to avoid being snookered.

It’s a dichotomy because it says to trust while also suggesting the lack of trust exists.

As journalists covering local government, we similarly wish to exhibit

faith in the word of government officials that they are protecting and leading our community in a responsible way.

There may be no more important aspect of our need to work for the people with local officials in the spirit of “trust, but verify” than when it comes to public safety issues. Which led us to question how our local officials are planning for emergencies.

Last year, you may recall, the “Gazette’’ reported the sheriff, who has been delegated the responsibility of overseeing emergency management efforts by the Marion County Board of Commissioners, would not allow the press to observe community meetings for emergency management. Was there sensitive information being shared in these meetings that should be off-limits to the press and, by extension, the public? According to multiple people who attended those sessions, the answer was no.

But also, according to those same sources, no one in attendance was asking any hard questions of the sheriff or his staff.

So, the “Gazette” started asking for documents that would give readers a glimpse into the county’s emergency plans. We initially reviewed the county’s 2018 Emergency Management Plan, and immediately saw that it was outdated. The most obvious problem was the chain of command for cities under the county’s emergency structure didn’t jibe with the city of Ocala’s charter.

Under the plan approved by the county

BoardCertifiedUrologist

commission, mayors are in charge of their city’s emergency response, not city councils or city managers. This seemed, on its face, contrary to the city of Ocala’s charter as well as reality. When Hurricane Idalia was looming last week, it was City Manager Pete Lee, not the mayor, who was running things at city hall.

The county’s plan also said the cities could develop their own emergency management plans, but the city of Ocala confirmed they have not done so and see no need to do so if they are “collaborating” with the county during an emergency. This arrangement seems a bit shaky when the city can’t say for sure who is in charge when trouble arises.

The “Gazette”’ raised these concerns with City Attorney William Sexton and Lee before Idalia blew past Marion County last week. To their credit, they immediately set the issue for the next city council meeting, where Sexton encouraged the council to change the city’s charter to clarify that the city manager was in charge in an emergency. It’s expected they’ll ask the county to update the emergency management plan to acknowledge this revised chain of command.

The ”Gazette” continued examining the emergency planning document and learned that each county department has specific plans they rely on for emergency planning and responses. We asked to see those plans and were told they were exempt from Florida’s public records laws in their entirety.

The county cited a state statute that only protects certain sensitive emergency information. So, we tried again, asking this time for the county to redact all of what it deemed to be sensitive information in the plans and simply provide benign details such as the date of the plan, the author’s name, and titles and subtitles. This, we felt, would be sufficient to give readers an idea of the topics included as well as how old the plan is.

Once again; request denied.

Obviously, we understand why it’s in the public’s interest to keep most details of emergency planning and responses under wraps. After all, no one wants to give aid to potential active shooters or any other public menace.

But should this include the titles of sections of a plan? The dates the plan was adopted and updated?

The county, city and sheriff’s office all say they have emergency management under control in one big, happy collaboration and that you the public, and we the press, should just sit back and wait for self-serving press releases.

That’s a lot of trust they are asking you to have in a relationship that has had its share of bumps and potholes. Look no further than the friction between Ocala and Marion County over the last public safety emergency; specifically, how the county commissioners chose to handle the millions of federal CARES Act dollars that came in to help offset the costs incurred from the COVID-19 pandemic.

We must also point out that our county officials have struggled to keep pace with public safety needs such as fully funding Marion County Fire Rescue during non-emergency times. Should this inspire confidence in their emergency planning prowess?

One of the things that should be most disturbing to citizens is our local government’s insistence, topped by the sheriff’s office, on being the only source of “reliable information.” They accomplish this in part by limiting access to information provided to the press.

Hmm, what other governments out there tell their people to believe only what they are told and not to ask questions? A few countries that none of us want to live in, right?

The people of Marion County are not sheep, blindly believing whatever they are told.

Instead, we follow the Gipper’s old maxim: Trust, but verify.

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book by Hugh Wheeler • From an adaptation by Christopher Bond Originally directed on Broadway by Harold Prince • Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick Originally produced on Broadway by Richard Barr, Charles Woodward, Robert Fryer, Mary Lea Johnson, Martin Richards, in association with Dean and Judy Manos

FLORIDA NEWS SERVICE BRIEFS

INSURANCE ISSUES COULD POSE LONG-TERM PROBLEMS

As Florida recovers from Hurricane Idalia, Fitch Ratings this week warned about longterm effects of propertyinsurance problems in Florida and California.

“Rising premiums and reduced availability of homeowners’ property insurance could drag on housing markets, development activity, overall economic growth and ultimately tax bases for certain California and Florida local governments over time,” the ratings agency said in a post Tuesday on its website.

“Insurers are reevaluating their exposures to geographic areas with elevated catastrophe risk as they face greater losses and higher building and reinsurance costs. Insurance

plays a key role in securing mortgages and enabling rebuilding following natural disasters.”

Fitch said Florida has the highest homeowners’ insurance premiums in the country and pointed to pullbacks of firms such as Farmers Insurance in Florida and California. It also cited massive growth at Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. which was created as an insurer of last resort but now has nearly 1.4 million policies.

“Recovery following natural disasters may be delayed or incomplete if there are greater numbers of those who are underinsured or uninsured due to affordability or non-renewal issues,” Fitch said.

“High-risk areas could be left with a smaller

tax base if hurricane or wildfire damage leads to permanent relocations, or if these areas find it difficult to attract new residents. Fitch has not observed these effects playing out to date, as insurance is one of many factors in home purchase decisions. However, pressures on housing demand could be amplified with increasing natural disasters and insurance markets in which the insurers of last resort are costly or impose higher assessments to cover increased claims.”

Florida lawmakers in December passed a series of changes to try to shore up the insurance market, including taking steps to limit lawsuits against property insurers.

JULY TAX COLLECTIONS TOP EXPECTATIONS

Florida collected about $3.311 billion in general-revenue taxes in July, $225.9 million more than had been forecast in March, according to a report posted online Tuesday by the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research.

The report came after state economists in August issued a new forecast that updated the March estimates. The August update added $2.77 billion to the state’s generalrevenue tax projections for the current fiscal year and next fiscal year. General revenue is closely watched because it helps fund schools, health-care programs and prisons.

DESANTIS REQUESTS AID FOR FISHING INDUSTRY

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday sent a formal request to the U.S. Department of Commerce seeking assistance for the fishing industry after last week’s Hurricane Idalia. Without putting a dollar figure on the potential damage, DeSantis said in a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo that the commercial and residential fishing communities in North Florida’s Big Bend region were “greatly affected” by the Category 3 hurricane.

“Florida’s Big Bend is an important cornerstone of the state’s fishery,” DeSantis said in the letter.

“This region includes over 600 fishermen, 160 fishery wholesalers and retailers, 240 aquaculture shellfish farmers, and 450 for-hire charter captains, all of which play important commercial fishery roles.”

Fitch Ratings

House and Senate members who serve on the Joint Legislative Budget Commission will receive a presentation Friday on a long-range financial outlook—through 2026-2027 fiscal year—for the state.

A news release from the governor’s office said Idalia, in part, caused boat facilities to be lost and halted commercial and charter fishing operations.

“Additionally, tourism for fishing in the area will be impacted while the community rebuilds,” the news release said. Idalia made landfall Aug. 30 in the Keaton Beach area of Taylor County after coming up the Gulf of Mexico.

“Recovery following natural disasters may be delayed or incomplete if there are greater numbers of those who are under-insured or uninsured due to affordability or non-renewal issues.”

People, Places & Things

OCT season opens with musical thriller

Murder and madness meet musicality in Ocala Civic Theatre’s

By Lisa McGinnes lisa@magnoliamediaco.com

From the opening notes of dissonant organ music, there’s no doubt that “Sweeney Todd” is a musical thriller that delves into the darker themes of the human experience. But there’s one thing you won’t miss in Ocala Civic Theatre’s (OCT) production of the Tony Award-winning musical: gratuitous gore. Instead, Director Greg Thompson leans into the humanity of the characters in this quick-paced tribute to the late composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim.

“People think ‘Sweeney’ is about murder and gore,” said Thompson, OCT’s executive and artistic director. “But we are not making this production gory, because ‘Sweeney’ is not about any of that. It’s about love. It’s about revenge. It’s really about what you’re willing to do for love.”

To be fair, what the title character is willing to do for love and revenge is coldblooded murder, wielded with the sterling silver straight razors the barber calls his “friends.” Yet, as the body count goes up, the audience is spared copious amounts of blood.

“I think it’s more powerful that it’s all done in symbolism,” Thompson said. “You hear the sound when the blood pours; it’s very visceral. You see the color of the blood. It’s much more symbolic and metaphorical.”

As the large ensemble of 20 invites you to “attend the tale of Sweeney Todd” in the opening number, you’re transported not to Victorian times, but–surprise!–to 1970s London. Scenic and Projection Designer Tyler Stentiford’s set is industrial brick punctuated by pops of color and flashes of fire on the projection screen backdrop. The costumes by OCT Resident Costume Designer Amanda Jones are rich in the textures of the time: leather, corduroy, velour and denim, with the signature silhouettes of ’70s bell bottoms.

‘“Sweeney Todd’ is based on a 1972 melodrama by Christopher Bond, and

then Sondheim’s ‘Sweeney Todd’ came to the stage in 1979,” Thompson said. “I thought, it was born in the ’70s so let’s set it in the ’70s, and it works well. I also think ‘Sweeney’ is so durable and we get to explore that. There’s a universality about its message, about the humanity that’s represented.”

With more than 80% of the show set to music, the talented cast has a chance to display the breadth of their vocalism with live accompaniment by an 11-piece orchestra led by Jason Bartosic, musical director, keyboardist and conductor.

Although Sweeney Todd is “the demon barber of Fleet Street,” OCT newcomer Jeremy E. Scarbrough plays the title character as less a demon than a complex, tortured man who calculates revenge only after all hope is lost. His musicality is masterful as he sings in no less than 16 musical numbers throughout the show.

His sidekick, the garrulous Mrs. Lovett, is played by OCT veteran Jessica Mongerio, who called Lovett her “bucketlist role.” She’s loquaciously lyrical with excellent enunciation in a Cockney accent, giddily dancing an upbeat twostep while singing about “shepherd’s pie peppered with actual shepherd on top.” Todd and Lovett harmonize beautifully, with her character adding levity to his brooding, formidable presence in a long leather trench coat.

Roe Agnese’s return to the OCT stage is a commanding portrayal of a female Pirelli, described by Jones as the show’s “most fashion forward and flamboyant character.” She’s vocally and visually stunning in an emerald velour corduroy pantsuit, complete with plaid vest and funky patterned blouse.

The show’s sweetness comes from the young lovers, Anthony (Caleb Spivey) and Johanna (Adrienne Hebert). He’s eager and tender in his “Johanna” solo; she’s endearingly naïve as the proverbial bird in the gilded cage, imploring, “Let me sing!” OCT rates this show PG-13 and recommends it for those high school age and older.

‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.’

Jeremy Scarbrough as Sweeney Todd, right, and Jessica Mongerio as Mrs. Lovett, left, rehearse a scene with other cast members from “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” at the Ocala Civic Theatre in Ocala on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

Adrienne Hebert as Johanna

Jessica Mongerio as Mrs. Lovett and Jeremy Scarbrough as Sweeney Todd

Greg Doss as Judge Turpin, right, and Aaron Lowe, left

Roe Agnese as Pirelli the barber, right, and Caleb Vang, left

Caylinn Mosblech as the Beggar Woman

“It’s about love. It’s about revenge. It’s really about what you’re willing to do for love.”

Greg Thompson Director

Never forget A national day of remembrance ceremony will take place Sept. 9 at Ocala veterans park.

Staff report

Early Saturday morning, Sept. 9, a large number of motorcycle riders will gather at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion to perform a solemn duty. They will escort the 9/11 Traveling Wall to the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, where it will be on display to the public.

Registration for the riders will begin at 7:30 a.m., with kickstands up at 9:03 a.m., which is the time on Sept. 11, 2001, that hijacked Flight 175 struck floors 77 to 85 of

the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City in a terrorist attack that had other components.

The motorcycle escort will bring the 9/11 Traveling Wall on a scenic route through Ocala, with an estimated arrival time of 9:40 a.m. at the veterans park at 2601 E. Fort King St. The wall will be dismounted and erected for public viewing.

Members of the public are encouraged to arrive by 9:30 a.m. There will be free parking in the nearby Marion County Public Library parking lot. A Patriot Day: A National Day of Prayer and Remembrance ceremony

will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will include the Marion County Fire Rescue Honor Guard.

The planning committee chairs for the event are Marion County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Pamela Driggers and Ocala Police Department Lt. Eric Hooper.

To learn more about the event, see marionvetpark.com/patriot-day

For information about Sept. 11, 2001, go to 911memorial.org

People look at names inscribed on the 9/11 Traveling Memorial Wall during the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Patriot Day at the Ocala/Marion County Veterans Memorial Park in Ocala on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.

Michael Haworth talks with his daughter, Grace, 8, about United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed into a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, as shown in a photo on part of the 9/11 Traveling Memorial Wall.

Kenny Haworth of Marion County Fire Rescue rings a bell to remember people lost in the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

Rainforest research—remotely

Florida Museum researcher advances to finals in multimillion-dollar biodiversity competition.

By Jerald Pinson Florida Museum of Natural History

Over the course of four weeks this summer, a crew of biologists, engineers, entrepreneurs and programmers gathered at predetermined sites within Windsor Nature Park, a 185-acre tropical rainforest in the heart of Singapore. They had traveled from all over the world to participate in a one-of-akind competition hosted by the XPRIZE Foundation, in which 13 teams would have three days to identify as many organisms within the forest as possible.

Up to 10 winning teams would equally split $2 million and advance to the 2024 finals, where they would vie for the first-place prize of $5 million. But there was a catch: All observations and data collection had to be conducted remotely.

“The competition is specifically intended to spur the development of technology that allows us to monitor biodiversity within rainforests without disturbing the ecosystem,” said Niyomi House, a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow with the Florida Museum of Natural History.

House is a member of Team Waponi, which is led by Thomas Walla, a professor of biology at Colorado Mesa University, and is one of the few groups that made it to the semifinals in Singapore this summer. After a delay in which judges tallied the number of species and verified identifications, XPRIZE recently announced that Team Waponi is among the six finalists and will compete next year in Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest in the state of Amazonas.

The winning device that secured the team’s place in the finals involved a wireframe box, a drone and a saw.

“Our team invented a device called the Limelight, which attracts insects in the forest canopy,” House said. On the morning of June 3, members of Team Waponi carefully assembled their equipment and waited for noon, which would mark the start of the 24 hours

they’d have to collect data.

When the clock started, drone operators piloted five Limelight devices into the canopy, gently placing each into the bough of a tree. As the sun descended, bulbs attached to the frame flicked on, illuminating a white canvas that served as both beacon and landing pad for insects attracted to the light. Cameras on either end of the screen photographed each visitor. Above this stage, a malaise trap captured insects as they flew upward, while an inverted pit trap below caught insects attempting to crawl away.

A third trap was stocked with a pungent lure to attract dung flies and an additional camera to photograph them. The Limelight devices were also equipped with bioacoustics recorders. The team was counting on these digital eyes and ears to detect more than members could with their own senses.

Before navigating back to the group, the drones collected plant samples using an extendable saw. The team’s time was cut short by five hours because of storms that dropped thick sheets of rain, during which the drones couldn’t operate. But when the skies cleared and the Limelights were retrieved, the devices were filled with hundreds of insects. That’s when the real work began.

“Each team had 48 hours to extract and sequence DNA, analyze the results and write a report,” House said. “The experience felt like completing an entire master’s degree in just two days.”

House and her teammate set about gleaning as much information as they could from each specimen, splitting their time between a field lab set up in a tent and a molecular lab at the nearby National University of Singapore.

Meanwhile, other members of the team ran each photograph through machine learning software, which identified insects based on their physical characteristics.

A similar program was used to single out the various hoots, howls, caws and grunts

captured by the bioacoustics monitor and match them to those of prerecorded animals.

When they added everything together, the team members had collectively identified hundreds of species, genera and families, all without stepping foot in the forest. The speed at which they could strip living things down to their component DNA base pairs and use that to decipher the identity of the organism they belonged to was a physical and technological feat.

“The way it’s currently done, the process of DNA extraction, amplification, cleaning and creating a genetic library is not easy. There are several reagents that have to go in at different times with specific temperatures, and it takes hours and hours of training to learn how to do it,” House said.

The main goal of the XPRIZE competition is to test and extend the limits of existing technology. The foundation got its start in 1996 with a $10 million prize for the team that could design a suborbital aircraft capable of flying into space.

A few years ago, it would have been impossible to identify organisms across an entire ecosystem with ambient noise and trace amounts of DNA. Team members are in the process of adding even more bells and whistles to the Limelight before the competition’s final round but, regardless of the outcome, they intend to continue developing techniques that make biodiversity science and monitoring more accessible to everyone.

“My dream is to eliminate the complexity of DNA sequencing by creating a set of standard tools and kits people can use in different situations and a pipeline that tells them what’s available and how to access it,” House said.

The Florida Museum of Natural History is on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville.

To learn more, go to floridamuseum.ufl.edu

The Limelight devices were airlifted into the canopy with remotely piloted drones. [Courtesy of Team Waponi]

Team Waponi is made up of researchers and professionals with various backgrounds, including robotics experts who delivered and retrieved the Limelights and took leaf samples from the canopy using drones. [Courtesy of Team Waponi]

Each Limelight device was equipped with a white screen illuminated by lights on both sides to attract insects. [Courtesy of Team Waponi]

Waponi team members who specialize in genetics extracted DNA using a makeshift lab assembled in a tent onsite. [Courtesy of Team Waponi]

Bird of the Week

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.

By Michael Warren

One of our most common wading birds, the white ibis congregates in ponds and marshes throughout Florida, where it forages for crustaceans, small fish, and insects. Like several other white birds, the white ibis has black wing tips. The melanin that gives the wing tips their black color also makes them stronger and more resistant to wear and tear.

White ibis [MichaelWarren.com]

SEPTEMBER 8-DECEMBER 15

Coffee and English

Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala

5:30pm-7pm

Join the English Language Learners (ELL) group each Friday as they practice and improve their English in a fun, relaxed environment. See ocalafl.gov/recpark for more info.

SEPTEMBER 8 & 15

Marion County Friday Market

McPherson Governmental Campus Field, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala

9am-2pm

Shop locally fresh fruits and veggies, baked goods, jerky, freeze-dried treats, olive oils, seafood and more; recurs every Friday.

SEPTEMBER 8-10 & 15-17

Market of Marion

Market of Marion, 12888 SE US Highway 441, Belleview

8am-4pm

A classic farmer’s market with lots of vendors.

Open every weekend, with monthly special events like car shows on the fourth Saturday. See themarketofmarion.com

SEPTEMBER 9 & 16

Yoga in the Park Sholom Park, 7110 SW 80th Ave., Ocala

9am

Free yoga classes; meet at the stage area. Recurs every Saturday. Visit sholompark.org for details.

SEPTEMBER 9 & 16

Ocala Downtown Farmers Market

Ocala Downtown Market, 310 SE Third St., Ocala

9am-2pm

Vendors offer local fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood, fresh pasta, honey, jewelry, baked goodies, clothes, and arts and crafts. Check out local food trucks and the occasional guest entertainer. Rain or shine; recurs every Saturday. Visit ocaladowntownmarket.com for more info.

SEPTEMBER 9 & 16

Farmers Swap Meet

Rural King, 2999 NW 10th St., Ocala

9am-2pm

A true farmers market where chickens, ducks, quail, geese, goats, turkeys, rabbits and sometimes even ponies are available, along with horse tack, homegrown plants, produce and hand-crafted items. Saturdays, weather permitting.

SEPTEMBER 9

Ocala Recovery Festival

Tuscawilla Art Park, 829 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala

10am-3pm

This annual festival celebrates sobriety with exhibitor booths, recovery resources, food

options, entertainment, a kids’ zone and giveaways. There will be a photo booth, pony rides for kids, goodies from Ice Ice Dreyton and more. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be served while supplies last. Free to attend. For more info, mcchildrensalliance.org/events-2

SEPTEMBER 9

Patriot Day 2023

Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, 2601

E. Fort King St., Ocala

9:30am

The public is welcomed to this national day of prayer and remembrance for the 9/11 Traveling Wall tour. The wall will be escorted by hundreds of motorcycles, leaving from the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion and going south through Ocala and east to the park. See marionvetpark.com/patriot-day for more info.

SEPTEMBER 9

Exciting Explorers at Discovery Center

Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala

Tuesdays-Saturdays 10am-4pm

The center’s newest exhibit, Exciting Explorers, open this week with opportunities for high-seas adventures or treks into dark tombs. Learn about archaeology, preserving artifacts and navigation. General admission is $8 per person and annual family memberships are available. For more info, mydiscoverycenter.org

SEPTEMBER 9

Rec n’ Roll Saturday

Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala

4pm-9pm

Relive the ‘80s playing classic table games and video games like Candyland, Hungry Hippo, Donkey Kong and more. Free to attend.

SEPTEMBER 9

Jazz & Justice

One Health Center, 1714 SW 17th St., Ocala

6pm

The Marion County NAACP hosts its annual music and awards event. This year is the first Advance the Cause of Justice Award and the recipient is Judge LeAnn Mackey-Barnes. Tickets are $35 from the branch office: (352) 351-4560.

SEPTEMBER 11

Freedom Walk

Belleview Community Center, 5615 SE 110th Place, Belleview

6pm

The annual walk honors the heroes, the fallen, and families affected by 9/11. Sen. Dennis Baxley, local city and county officials, and first responders will discuss the impact of 9/11. Light refreshments will be served after the service and commemorative walk around the lake. For additional information, call (352) 233-2122.

critters & equine

SEPTEMBER 8-10

Summer’s End Morgan and Saddlebred Horse Show

World Equestrian Center Ocala, Arenas 2 & 3, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala

Times vary, see website Morgans and Saddlebred horses are distinctly American breeds, and were bred to offer easy gaits meant for long days in the saddle and fast trotting. Free to spectators; food options onsite. For more info, fmha.net/summers-end-horse-show/

SEPTEMBER 9-10

Sunshine State Open Pleasure Show and Pony

Club Event Rally

Florida Horse Park, 11008 South Highway 475, Ocala

All day

These two events offer a variety of spectating choices. Food and drink vendors onsite. For more info, flhorsepark.com

SEPTEMBER 9 & 16

Summer Sunset Polo

Florida Horse Park, 11008 South Highway 475, Ocala

6pm

Free to the public, tailgate next to the polo field and enjoy a

civic

SEPTEMBER 8 & 15

South Ocala Chess Club at Freedom Library Freedom Public Library, 5870 SW 95th St., Ocala 10am-12pm

Meets weekly on Fridays; new members welcome. Please bring your own chess set. For more info, Walt Lamp at (352) 854-9378.

SEPTEMBER 8 & 15

Kiwanis Club of Ocala

Central Christian Church, 3010 NE 14th St., Ocala

12pm Meets weekly on Fridays. Supports Camp Kiwanis, children’s literacy and Habitat for Humanity. More info at ocalakiwanis.org

SEPTEMBER 13

Medicare Classes

Online 10am & 12pm

The SHINE organization is offering free classes for anyone wanting to learn more about Medicare, available by computer or phone. Two classes are offered this week: prescription drug coverage and navigating the Medicare.gov site. For more info, email shine@agingresources.org or call (800) 262-2243.

SEPTEMBER 14

OTOW Farmers Market

The Town Square at Circle Square Commons, 8413 SW 80th St., Ocala

9am-1pm

Fresh seasonal produce from local growers as well as baked goods, plants, handmade soaps and more. Recurs every Thursday. Visit circlesquarecommons.com for more info.

SEPTEMBER 14

Tyke Hike in the Parks

Fort King National Historic Landmark, 3925 E. Fort King St., Ocala

9am Ocala’s Recreations and Parks Department host these weekly explorations in city parks to explore nature and learn about the area. Free to attend; the park site varies weekly. This week the theme is “Mushrooms & Moss.” See ocalafl.gov/recpark for more info.

SEPTEMBER 14

Sheldon Grant, Master Gardener Headquarters Library, 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

4pm

Join local gardening experts from the Master Gardeners programs for advice on growing fall and winter plants here in Marion County. Free to attend. For more info, library.marionfl.org

SEPTEMBER 15

National POW/MIA Recognition Day Marion County Veterans Park, 2601 E. Fort King St., Ocala 11am

Join the Marion County Veterans Council to honor prisoners of war and missing in action service members. A curated POW/MIA display will be available.

SEPTEMBER 15

Parents’ Night Out College Road Baptist Church, 5010 SW College Road, Ocala 6pm-8pm

This event offers childcare for no charge and the chance for parents to have a meal, run errands or take a break and recharge. Better

unique evening out. Saturday evenings through September as weather allows. Check out ocalapolo.com for more info.

SEPTEMBER 13 (20 & 27)

Wildlife Wednesdays

Fort King National Historic Landmark, 3925 E. Fort King St., Ocala

5pm-6pm

Free to attend. This is a great way to learn about native animals and their habitats in Ocala. For more info, ocalafl.gov/recpark

SEPTEMBER 15-17

Pac West Barrel Race

Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala

All day

Multiple races with great prizes and exciting action, all free to spectators with food and drink options onsite. For more info, see mjcloward.wixsite.com/ pacwestbarrelracing Professional

SEPTEMBER 9

Blooming Violets of Marion County Marion County Sheriff’s Southwest District Office, 9048 SW State Road 200 Ocala, FL 34481 10:30am-12:30pm The group meets monthly to celebrate and enjoy African violets. Includes refreshments, raffle, program and meeting. Contact Laura for more info, (352) 624-0116.

SEPTEMBER 9 & 16

Ocala Chess Club at Headquarters Library Headquarters Library, 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

11am-3pm Meets weekly on Saturdays; new members welcome. Please bring your own chess set. For more info, facebook.com/ groups/53070499106

Together hosts the event and offers dinner, games and fun for children from infants to age 17. To register, visit bettertogetherus.org/pnoregistration or call (239) 470-2733.

SEPTEMBER 16

Rock Art! Paint On!

Forest Public Library, 905 S. Highway 314A, Ocklawaha

2pm

Join local artists for a family-friendly, hands-on class on how to paint miniature masterpieces on river rocks. Free for all. For more info, library.marionfl.org

SEPTEMBER 16-17

Ocala Comic Con

World Equestrian Center Ocala, Expo 1, 1390 NW 80th Ave., Ocala

Saturday 10am-6pm; Sunday 11am-6pm

With special guests, the convention spans comics, sci-fi fandom, manga, cosplay, trading cards, gaming, movies and television. Weekend passes start at $40. See ocalacomiccon.com for more info.

SEPTEMBER 16-17

KDC & the Sunshine Sliders: Boas & Bowties Dinner Dance

Ed Croskey Recreation Center, 1510 NW 4th St., Ocala

6pm-10pm

Ocala’s soul line dance team is hosting a dinner and dance. Tickets are $30 through EventBrite. See bit.ly/boas-and-bowties to purchase.

SEPTEMBER 17

World War I and Florida History Lecture

Marion County Museum of History & Archaeology, Green Clover Hall, 319 SE 26th Terrace, Ocala

2pm

The museum’s lecture series continues, this month with Professor Rebecca Johnson from Santa Fe College, discussing Florida’s impact on World War I. Admission is $5 for non-members and free for museum members. For more information, call (352) 236-5245. See marioncountyarchaeology.com/mcmha/Lectures.htm for more info.

SEPTEMBER 10

Ocala Camellia Society Marion County Sheriff’s South District Office, 3260 SE 80th St., Ocala

2pm Camellia enthusiasts get together monthly to learn about plants of all kinds, share their experiences and enjoy guest speakers. For more info, facebook.com/people/Ocala-Camellia-Society/100064745886741

SEPTEMBER 14

Ocala Lions Club

Ocala Golf Club, 3130 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

12pm The Ocala Lions Club meets every Thursday. Newcomers welcomed; call Membership Chairperson, Libby Marks de Martino, and (352) 441-0073.

government

SEPTEMBER 11

Ocala Planning & Zoning Commission

City Hall, 110 SE Watula Avenue, Ocala

5:30pm

Usually meets on the second Monday of the month. Agendas are usually posted the Thursday prior; agendas, minutes and video available from ocala.legistar.com/calendar.aspx

arts

SEPTEMBER 8-24

“Sweeney Todd”

Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

Times vary, see website Revenge is a dish best served cold in this gleefully gruesome classic musical about a deadly barber and his meat pies. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for ages 18 and under. See ocalacivictheatre.com for more info.

SEPTEMBER 8

Greater Dunnellon Historical Society

Dunnellon Historical Society Train Depot, 12061 S. Williams St., Dunnellon

5pm-9pm

The Whistle Stop Café serves up fried green tomatoes, Cuban sandwiches, gourmet grilled cheese and more, along with live music starting at 7pm. The cover charge is $5; food is priced separately. For more info, dunnellondepot.com

SEPTEMBER 9

Wall of Echoes, Tribute to Pink Floyd

Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St, Ocala

7:30pm

Expect to hear songs from “The Wall,” like “Comfortably Numb,” “Another Brick in the Wall” and more. Tickets are $25-$40. See reillyartscenter.com for more info

SEPTEMBER 10

An Evening of Mission and Music

Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala

4pm

The AdventHealth Orchestra performs this benefit concert featuring AdventHealth CEO Erika Skula on percussion. Proceeds benefit the hospital’s

SEPTEMBER 11 & 18

Marion County Development Review Committee Office of the County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave., Building 1, Ocala

9am The first step for new development projects, the committee reviews and votes on waiver requests to the Land Development Code, major site plans, and subdivision plans. Meets weekly on Mondays.

SEPTEMBER 12

Belleview Planning & Zoning Board City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview

5:30pm

Meets the second Tuesday of the month; Belleview agendas, minutes and video available at belleviewfl.org/200/Agendas-Minutes

SEPTEMBER 13

Dunnellon City Council Meeting

City Hall, 20750 River Drive, Dunnellon

5:30pm

Normally meets the second Wednesday of the month; Dunnellon agendas, minutes and video available at dunnellon.org/89/Agendas-Minutes

labor and delivery services. A VIP reception starts at 2:30pm and the concert begins at 4pm. Tickets are $50. For more info and tickets, ocalamissionandmusic.com

SEPTEMBER 10

Eirinn Abu Concert Countryside Presbyterian Church, 7768 SW State Road 200, Ocala

3pm

The saxophonist and recording artist will offer an inspirational concert with hits from his CDs. Free to attend; a love offering is welcome. For more info, call Sally Zarnowiec at (407)276-5699.

SEPTEMBER 14

KT Tunstall Concert Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala

7:30pm

With global hits, Tunstall has established herself as a singer/songwriter with folk music and rocker chops. Tickets are $35-$85. See reillyartscenter.com for more info.

SEPTEMBER 14

Coffee and Cake

NOMA Art Gallery, 939 N. Magnolia Ave., Ocala

1pm-4pm

These weekly coffee (and cake) klatches bring together gallery guests, artists, patrons, creative types and more. Every Thursday afternoon. All are welcome. See nomaocala.com/events for more info.

SEPTEMBER 16

Galactic Empire Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala

7:30pm

This band is a combination of cosplay and heavy

metal versions of John Williams’ movie music. Tickets are $25 to $75 from the Reilly. For more info, see galacticempireband.com

THROUGH DECEMBER 12

“Patternz” by Kelsey Mahoney

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala

Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm

The city continues its Art in City Spaces program with this exhibit by emerging artist Kelsey Mahoney. Her abstract work is filled with vibrant colors and mosaic themes. Free to the public. For more info, ocalafl.gov/artincityspaces

THROUGH JANUARY 4

“Bold and Inspired: Native American Regalia” and “Abstract Island Expressions”

Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala

Community center hours

Couple Diana and William Lee exhibit work in side-by-side exhibitions, each with its own distinctive style and theme reflecting each artist and their different approaches. The exhibit is part of the Ocala Art in City Spaces program. See ocalaflo.org/artincityspaces for more info.

THROUGH JANUARY 8

The Beauty of Nature and Recyclable Refuse

Recreation and Parks Administration Building and Adult Activity Center, 828/830 NE Eighth Ave., Ocala 8am-5pm Florida artist Albert Bevilacqua focuses this exhibit on recyclable items and he’s turned them into an artistic statement about protecting the

environment. Free to the public, this is part of the Art in City Spaces program by the City of Ocala. See ocalafl.gov/artincityspaces for more info.

THROUGH JANUARY 9

Tony A. Blue, American Painter Ocala International Airport, 1770 SW 60th Ave., Ocala Airport hours Blue exhibits includes work in acrylics, mixed media and photographs, and his colorful, abstract paintings are inspired by Florida’s tropical natural landscape. The exhibit is free and open to the public during airport hours. For more info, ocalafl.gov/artincityspaces

THROUGH JANUARY 28

“The Unscene South” by Charles Eady Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

10am-5pm, Tuesday-Saturday

This new exhibit from artist Charles Eady focuses on the daily lives of “free Blacks” from the Civil War era. He is a contemporary mixed-media artist and author. Check out appletonmuseum.org for more info.

THROUGH JANUARY 28

“Caught Up in History and Captured on Film” by Randy Batista Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

10am-5pm, Tuesday-Saturday Batista’s work focuses on Florida and Cuba, two places that had profound impact on the artist. This exhibit features club members of The Spanish Center of Tampa and their daily lives. Check out appletonmuseum.org for more info.

CEP LEADERS NAMED CERTIFIED CHAMBER EXECUTIVES BY ACCE

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

Two leaders of the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership (CEP) have received the designation of certified chamber executives by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), according to a CEP press release.

The ACCE is a nationwide association of over 1,300 chambers of commerce which offers resources, development

opportunities and networking for members across the country.

Certified chamber executives are tested and selected based off their management of their chamber, specifically in the areas of planning and development, communications, membership, operations and revenue. Only 10 professionals earned this distinction in the country this year, with President and CEO Kevin Sheilley and Chief Experience Officer Tamara Fleischhaker being two of them.

“The board of directors

congratulates Kevin and Tamara on this important designation” said Christopher Langley, CEP chairman of the board in a press release. “This certification represents the top professionals in the industry, with fewer than 4% of all chamber professionals having earned their certification. The CEP is one of only a dozen chambers in the nation with two CCEs on staff and the only Florida chamber with this distinction.”

2pm

President and CEO Kevin Sheilley, center [Supplied]

Chief Experience Officer Tamara Fleischhaker, center [Supplied

CF’s Ira Holmes International Film Series begins Sept. 12

The Ira Holmes International Film Series at the College of Central Florida is returning with a full season of 12 films from across the globe, as well as special events including a live filmmaker Q&A at the Marion Theatre, a sci-fi Halloween costume contest, a kid-friendly Japanese anime feature and bonus performances by the Southwest Florida dance team made famous in a recent documentary. The series kicks off Sept. 12 with the 2022 Polish film “EO,” which follows the journey of an adorable nomadic donkey named EO, removed from a circus, who experiences both cruelty and kindness from a cast of human characters. With stunning cinematography and a

resonant musical score, the drama road movie directed by Jerzy Skolimowski earned the Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize and an Academy Award nomination. Screenings will be held at 2 p.m. at the Appleton Museum of Art and 7 p.m. at the CF Ocala Campus, Building 8, Room 110, 3001 S.W. College Road.

“This season features an exciting slate of films representing a diverse range of cultural topics and locations across the globe, with special features for Hispanic Heritage Month and Women’s History Month,” said series coordinator and CF Professor Wendy Adams, in the news release. “Whether you like action, anime, comedy, documentary, drama or science fiction, we’ve got something you’ll enjoy.”

Series Schedule:

Sept. 12 – “EO”

Sept. 26 – “Long Flat Balls: Broken Promises”

Oct. 10 – “Utama”

Oct. 24 – “Stewart Udall and the Politics of Beauty” special event at the Marion Theatre. One screening only at 7 p.m. Filmmaker John de Graaf will introduce his latest documentary and host a Q&A following the film. The CF Student Activities Board will provide free popcorn and a drink for CF students and film series members.

Oct. 31 – “Fantastic Planet” special Halloween event: wear a sci-fi-inspired costume to the 7 p.m. screening and win a prize. The CF Student Activities Board will provide refreshments and giveaways.

Nov. 14 – “Honeyland”

Jan. 30 – “Pather Panchali”

Feb. 4 – “Spirited Away” special event at the Marion Theatre. One 2 p.m. screening of the Academy Award-winning animated fantasy, rated PG. The CF Student Activities Board will provide

free popcorn and a drink for CF students and film series members.

Feb. 13 – “Petite Maman”

Feb. 27 – “Calendar Girls” (2022) plus an additional special event at the Appleton Museum: on Saturday, March 2, meet the Southwest Florida dance team featured in the film and watch them perform at 11 a.m. and noon. Free as part of Free First Saturday.

March 26 – “Polite Society”

April 9 – “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom”

All films will be shown Tuesdays at 2 p.m. at the Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, and at 7 p.m. at the College of Central Florida, 3001 S.W. College Road, Building 8, Room 110, unless otherwise noted. Films at the Ocala Campus are free and open to the public. Films at the Appleton are free to all museum and film series members; nonmembers pay museum admission. Films may contain mature content.

For more details, visit cf.edu/filmseries.

OCT fall classes are underway

Those ages 9 to 17 will flip over four new sessions and get to perform in a Fall Sharecase in late October.

The new slate of Fall 2023 classes for The Academy at Ocala Civic Theatre (OCT) began Sept. 5. Four options are available. Each eightweek class will be taught by two adult instructors.

“Our instructors—some new, some returning long-time favorites—are Jason Bartosic, Jamie Bevan, Janik Buranosky, Liz Cook, Greg Doss, Jessica Mongerio, Dani Moreno-Fuentes, and Greg

Thompson,” noted the news release.

The classes are:

• Theatre Unplugged, an exploration of musical theatre for ages 9-12; Tuesdays, 5-6:30 p.m.

Theatre Lab, a study of acting tools and techniques for ages 9-12; Wednesdays, 5-6:30 p.m.

• Theatre Lab: Homeschool Edition, a study of acting tools and techniques with sessions for ages 9-12 on Wednesdays from 1-2:30 p.m. and for ages 13-17 on Tuesdays from 1-2:30 p.m.

The Studio, a performancefocused class for ages 13-17;

Thursdays, 5-6:30 p.m.

On Oct. 29, at 2 p.m., the students will show what they’ve learned as they perform in the Fall Sharecase. Tuition is $125 for each class. Register online at ocalacivictheatre. com, by calling (352) 236-2274 or in person at the box office Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. OCT is located at 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.

To view the entire Fall and Winter class flyer, go to bit.ly/oct-classes

Middletons

ANSWERS FOR PAGE B4

Sudoku

Jumble

Crossword

FOYER

GAVEL

ATTEST

HELIUM

They re-surfaced the pool table, and -IT FELT GREAT

Gasoline Alley

Animal Crackers

Broom Hilda

File photo: A cast member does a flip during a dress rehearsal of Newsies at the Ocala

Civic Theatre in Ocala on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.

NOTICE UNDER FICTITIOUS

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA.

IN RE: THE ESTATE OF JAMES OSTROWICKI, Deceased.

CASE NO: 2023-CP-2079 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 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: August 13, 2023. The date of first publication of this Notice is September 8, 2023.

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: KATRINA OSTROWICKI 1707 Princeton Avenue Midland, TX 79701

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA. IN RE: THE ESTATE OF LORRAINE JEAN BYRON, Deceased. CASE NO: 2023-CP-2041 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 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: February 23, 2023

The date of first publication of this Notice is September 8, 2023.

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: MATTHEW A. BYRON 153 Whispering Oaks Drive Ellijay, GA 30536

The School Board of Marion County, Florida announces its intent to acquire professional services as follows:

THE MARION COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IS REQUESTING QUALIFICATIONS (PROPOSALS) FROM ARCHITECTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA PURSUANT WITH SECTION 287.055, FLORIDA STATUTES, THE “CONSULTANT’S COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATIONS ACT” (CCNA), SECTION 287.057 (24) FLORIDA STATUTES, AND SECTION 1013.45 FLORIDA STATUTES TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES:

ARCHITECTURAL, CIVIL, STRUCTURAL, AND MECHANICAL/ ELECTRICAL/PLUMBING ENGINEERING AND OTHER APPROPRIATE CONSULTING SERVICES POTENTIALLY INCLUDING

A DESIGN STUDY, PHASES OF DESIGN THROUGH CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION AND ANY ADDITIONAL OR ASSOCIATED WORK OR EXTENSIONS OF THE WORK ON THE SITE, AS MAY BE NECESSARY, MEETING ALL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS, FOR THE FOLLOWING PROJECT:

NEW OSCEOLA MIDDLE SCHOOL GYMNASIUM – PROJECT 24-109

Please access the Marion County Public Schools Web Site at https://www. marionschools.net/Page/75563 , for requirements for preparation of submittal packages, and the scope of work for the project. Direct any questions to the Facilities Department in writing at 1105 S.W. 7th Road, Ocala, FL 34471 or email to FACDOCS@marion.k12.fl.us .

Advertisement to run: September 1, 2023 September 8, 2023

NOTICE OF A SCHOOL BOARD ADMINISTRATIVE BRIEFING AND WORK SESSION

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION

IN RE: ESTATE OF PATRICIA ANN GERIG

Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS

OCALA ELECTRIC UTILITY TO HOST CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY

By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com

File # 2023-CP001422

The administration of the estate of PATRICIA ANN GERIG, deceased, whose date of death was January 6, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division; File Number 2023-CP-001422; the address of which is 110 N.W. 1 st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons, who have claims or demands against decedent's estate, including unmatured, contingent, or unliquidated claims, and who have been served a copy of this notice, must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against 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

Ocala Electric Utility (OEU) is set to host a Customer Appreciation Day from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 5 at Citizens’ Circle.

The event is scheduled to coincide with Public Power Week from Oct. 1 through 7, which aims to help customers and stakeholders better engage with their local utility company and benefit from the services they offer.

On customer appreciation day, OEU will provide food cooked by OEU crews, along with family activities, entertainment and giveaways.

“Appreciation prizes include bill credits to be used on customer accounts. Guests must have a City of Ocala municipal service account to qualify,” according to a press release from the city.

CASE NO: 2023-CP-1923 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 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS NOTICE.

Notice is hereby given that the School Board of Marion County, Florida, will meet in a work session on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will be held at the MTI Auditorium, 1614 E. Ft. King Street, Ocala, Florida 34471. An agenda will be published seven days prior to the meeting and may be obtained at the Administration Office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The agenda is also available from a link on the District’s website: www.marionschools.net.

IN CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION

IN RE: ESTATE OF File No: 23 CP 2078

ROGER A. MAYS Deceased.

Customers will have the chance to spin a prize wheel to receive utility vouchers with randomly assigned monetary values.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the Estate of Roger A. Mays , deceased, File Number 23-CP-2078, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 NW 1st Ave, Ocala, FL 34471. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

NOTICE OF SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the School Board of Marion County, Florida, will meet on Thursday September 21, 2023, at 8:30 a.m., at the School Board Administration Office, 1614 E. Ft. King Street, Ocala, Florida, 34471. An agenda will be published seven days prior to the meeting. The agenda may be obtained at the Administration Office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The agenda is also available from a link on the District’s website: www.marion.k12.fl.us.

Persons wishing to address the Board should register with the Chairman prior to 8:40 a.m.

Any person deciding to appeal any decision made by the Board at the meeting will need a record of the proceedings and, for such purpose, may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence on which the appeal is to be based.

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: May 23, 2023. The date of first publication of this Notice is September 1, 2023.

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: FRANK H. KOVACH 1527 Racimo Drive Sarasota, FL 34240

NOTICE UNDER FICTITIOUS NAME LAW PURSUANT TO SECTION 865.09, FLORIDA STATUTES NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that VVVNN LLC will engage in business under the fictitious name V NAIL SALON, with a physical address 3405 SW COLLEGE RD STE 215 OCALA, FL 34474, with a mailing address 3405 SW COLLEGE RD STE 215 OCALA, FL 34474, and already registered the name mentioned above with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations.

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 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

The date of first publication of this Notice is September 1, 2023.

Attorney for Personal Representative: Personal Representative: Nathan Dougherty, Esquire Misty Dawn Watters Florida Bar No. 118632 4935 Chandler Crossing P.O. Box 380984 Middletown, Ohio 45044 Murdock, FL 33938 Tel: (941) 270-4489 Email: contact@nathandoughertylaw.com

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF MILDRED JENNERWEIN LOREY, FILE NO. 23CP001642AX Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of MILDRED JENNERWEIN LOREY a/k/a MILDRED WEAVER LOREY, deceased, whose date of death was on March 04, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court of Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which

“We are dedicated to the community we serve,” said Doug Peebles, director of Ocala Electric Utility, in the press release. “Public Power Week, along with our annual Customer Appreciation Day, helps to highlight OEU’s efforts as Ocala and Marion County’s hometown public power provider.”

Public Notice

FLORIDA STATUTES CHAPTER 45 NOTICE IS GIVEN that, in accordance with the Final Summary Judgment of Foreclosure and Monetary Judgment and Taxation of Attorney's Fees and Costs dated August 24, 2023, in the above-styled cause, the Clerk of Court in and for Marion County, Florida, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash by electronic sale at www.marion.realforeclose.com, on September 28, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., the following described real properties: Lot 6, Block C, Trails east, according to the plat thereof, as recorded in Plat Book Z, Page 37-40, of the Public Records of Marion County, Florida. Marion County Property Appraiser Parcel ID No.: 31982-003-06. Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the lis pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been furnished by eservice or U.S. Mail to: Georgina Salzer, 1731 SE 15th Street, Apt. 602, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316; and Blanchard, Merriam, Adel, Kirkland and Green, P.A., btropello@bmaklaw.com and maleman@bmaklaw.com.

JUDICIOUS LAW, P.A. By: BRADFORD J. TROPELLO, ESQUIRE bit@judiciouslawpa.com ma@judiciouslawpa.com Post Office Box 369 Ocala, Florida 34478 (352) 509-5015 Florida Bar No.: 42694

High School Football Coverage is Sponsored By

Crusaders cruise past Saints for first win

Ocala Christian blanks St. John Lutheran in 8-man football

the Saints and forced another punt. Forella broke several tackles on his way to a 72-yard touchdown run. A 2-point pass was no good and the Crusaders led 22-0.

St. John failed to pick up a first down and Ocala Christian found the end zone again as Gomez broke loose on a 50-yard scoring run to make it 28-0.

St. John put together a solid drive with Trace Dyess, Noah Baeder and Colton Gleason picking up solid yards on the ground with hard running. The drive stalled and the Saints punted the ball.

The Crusaders quick-strike offense struck again as junior quarterback Conrad Bloom connected with the fleet-footed Davis on a 65-yard touchdown pass. The 2-point run by Gomez made it 36-0 with 8:36 remaining in the second period.

The Ocala Christian defense pounced on a St. John fumble at the Saints’ 35. After a 22-yard scramble by Bloom, Davis scored on a 13-yard sweep to the right side. Brandon Norman ran for the 2-point conversion to make it 44-0.

By Mark Pinson

Ocala Christian earned its first win of the season in impressive fashion on Sept. 1 as sophomore running back Josh Davis scored six touchdowns to lead the Crusaders to a 74-0 win over Saint John Lutheran.

Ocala Christian, which scored touchdowns on all seven of its first-half possessions in building a commanding 52-0 halftime lead over the Saints, improved to 1-2 on the season.

“It was a good win,” said Crusaders coach Jim Pierce. “We blocked and tackled well and got good play from all of our subs, which is always a blessing. We lost last week to Shorecrest by a score of 63-14, but we learned from that game and played much better tonight. We still have room for plenty of improvement.”

The loss dropped St. John Lutheran to 0-3 overall.

There are no kickoffs in 8-man football, so Ocala Christian took possession of the ball at its 25-yard

FOOTBALL SCORES

line to begin the game.

Ocala Christian quarterback Jose Gomez ran for four yards before Davis ripped off a 71-yard scoring run down the right sideline. Senior running back Skyler Forella powered his way into the end zone from two yards out for the 2-point conversion to give the Crusaders an 8-0 lead with less than a minute gone in the game.

St. John took over at its 25 and a couple of running plays gained a few yards before an incomplete pass by quarterback Austin Cate forced the Saints to punt.

Ocala Christian took over at its 41 and marched 59 yards in five plays, with Davis finding the end zone on a 9-yard scoring scamper. Forella ran for the 2-point conversion to make it 16-0 midway through the first quarter.

St. John suffered a key loss on its next possession when Cate was injured while being tackled by a host of Crusaders and did not return to the game.

The Ocala Christian defense, which forced a pair of St. John turnovers and had several tackles for loss, stopped

St. John failed to pick up a first down and Ocala Christian tacked on a score as Gomez hit Davis with a 37-yard scoring pass for a 52-0 lead at the half.

A running clock was used in the second half. The Crusaders tallied a touchdown in the third quarter and a final one in the fourth quarter as Davis scored on a 52-yard run for the final score. Davis rushed five times for 151 yards and four touchdowns, and the talented Crusader sophomore had two receptions for 102 yards and two scores.

“The line did a great job of blocking and we played with a lot of effort and determination,” Davis said. “We had a tough pair of losses to open the season, but we came out, played hard and did what we were supposed to do and got the win.”

St. John Lutheran was back in action Sept. 7 with a home game against City of Life Christian Academy out of Kissimmee. Ocala Christian is back on the gridiron Sept. 9 with an away game against Gainesville Christian.

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL SCORES

20-25, 15-9) Trinity

25-15, 15-4)

Special

Ocala Christian Academy’s Skyler Forella (3) runs for a touchdown and outruns St. John Lutheran’s Lucas Dobrzykowski (31) during a football game at Ocala Christian Academy in Ocala on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

St. John Lutheran’s quarterback Trace Dyess (10) is stopped by Ocala Christian Academy defenders.

Ocala Christian Academy’s Skyler Forella (3) celebrates his touchdown on St. John Lutheran with Vincent Perrella (63).