Gazette
VOLUME 5 ISSUE 27
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Turns
JULY 5 - JULY 11, 2024
Five area arts and culture organizations are scrambling to adapt after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed significant funding in the 2024-25 cycle. By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
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Combined photos: First: Davina and the Vagabonds perform during the kickoff of the Levitt AMP Concert Series on Webb Field at the Martin Luther King Recreation Complex in Ocala on Friday, April 22, 2022. The concert is hosted by the Marion Cultural Alliance in partnership with the City of Ocala. Second: A cast member does a flip during a dress rehearsal of Newsies at the Ocala Civic Theatre in Ocala on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. [Image created by Amy Crescenzo using photos by Bruce Ackerman]
mong the many enjoyable pursuits in Ocala/Marion County are those that engage participants with organizations such as Arts in Health Ocala Metro, the CF Appleton Museum of Art, Marion Cultural Alliance, Ocala Civic Theatre and Ocala Symphony Orchestra. These nonprofits offer a wide variety of programming to enhance the area’s quality of life by giving people opportunities to expand their horizons artistically and culturally. The museum, for example, is currently offering summer arts camps for youth ages 5 to 17 that will help them discover the works of renowned artists, experiment with different materials and try new techniques to create their own masterpieces. Arts in Health Ocala Metro is offering “Parlor Picnics” for more mature audiences on July 7 and Aug. 5, respectively, featuring the themes “Catharsis: Music as a Tool For Healing” and “Word Offering: A Foretaste of Seasons Reaching for Spring.” The five agencies in this article rely on various forms of financial support, which may include private, corporate and governmental income. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently vetoed state arts funding to the tune of $26 million for the 2024-2025 cycle. According to Jaye Baillie, See Arts, page A6
Hotel Marion façade restoration is underway By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
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he historic Hotel Marion will soon be reflecting improvements to its façade. The restoration of the historic Hotel Marion began in the spring of 2022. The project to renovate the 1927 hotel is being co-managed by local business owner David Midgett and HDG Hotels. The plan envisions 58 rooms and suites starting on the second floor and the old ballroom will be converted into a grand lobby with a central bar and they will hold multiple dining options. John Donahue, with Donahue Architecture Inc., from Ocala, is the architect on the project. The Collage Companies out of Lake Mary oversaw the demolition and will manage the project’s construction. A design firm headquartered in Miami, Lang & Schwander, is doing the interior See Hotel, page A3
Construction to begin for new Aviation, Automotive/ Diesel Mechanics building at MTC New facility to be complete by September 2025 By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
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onstruction is ready to begin at Marion Technical College for its state-of-the art Aviation and Diesel Mechanic Program building, with an estimated completion in the fall 2025. For the first time, the Florida Legislature approved a special appropriation of $5.57 million for Marion County last July to construct a building to house the aviation and auto mechanic program to boost trade-centered education. With the new 15,000-squarefoot center, students will have the opportunity to study automotive general service, automotive collision refinishing, aviation powerplant and airframe mechanics, and diesel systems. The new facility will be on the grounds of the existing campus but stand as a separate building across the parking lot at 1014 SW Seventh Road in Ocala. “The state needs aviation mechanics, and we definitely need diesel mechanics in this area. So, this was a no-brainer,” MTC Principal Gary Smallridge said. The Marion County School Board approved the project at its June 25 meeting, with an estimated cost of nearly $4 million for the first phase of the project. The project will be done in two phases with this first phase consisting of the construction of the metal buildings and complete infrastructure and build-out for the aviation program. The diesel and auto mechanic building interior buildout will come as a second phase, according to the school district. “We’ve been waiting for this night for a long time at MTC. We’re here See Diesel, page A2
“It was so great to receive the appropriation, and now let’s actually see the shovels in the ground and really make the building come to life. It’s going to be a wonderful opportunity for our community and for future students who will be there ...” Construction workers with C.G.C. Service work on scaffolding on the 7th floor of the historic Hotel Marion that is being renovated on North Magnolia Avenue in Ocala on Thursday, June 20, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
Allison Campbell
School Board Member
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Election Coverage......................... A4 First Kids Day ............................... A7 State News...................................... A8 June Real Estate Closings........... B1 Calendar......................................... B8
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