Issuu

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 35

Football is back! Page A9

August 28 - September 3 2026

Artistic relaunch

After the headlines Station 21 case offers lessons for government and media. By Jennifer Hunt jennifer@ocalagazette.com

Jordan Shapot poses with a self-portrait titled “Putting The Pieces Back Together,” right, and “Scribble Nude On Couch,” back, at Shapot Art Studio & Gallery on NE 8th Road in Ocala on Aug. 21, 2026. He is one of the artists organizing the relaunch of the Ocala Studio & Gallery Tour the first Saturday of every month starting Oct. 3. On Sept. 19, his gallery will host a preview event to showcase the galleries and artists. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2026.

The Ocala Studio & Gallery Tour program will offer a special event Sept. 19, followed by monthly first Saturday tours. By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com

cala and Marion County are continuing to attract a wide variety of artists who find a welcoming environment and a robust and diverse arts community. Some of those artists are “relaunching” the Ocala Studio & Gallery Tour to showcase some of the area’s thriving venues. While the tour has been in existence for a few years,

there is a new focus on pouring more effort and energy into it. One of the lead organizers is Jordan Shapot, a noted local artist who is an award-winning alumnus of the Savannah College of Art and Design. To help kickstart the relaunch, his Shapot Art Studio & Gallery at 2318 NE 8th Road in Ocala will host a special event on Sept. 19. From 6 to 9 p.m. that evening, people are invited to stop by and learn about the 14 galleries and studios that are part of the first Saturday tour

lineup. Admission is free and all are welcome. The event will offer a chance to meet artists face-to-face, view samples of their work and learn about classes and workshops available throughout the year. There will be music and a DJ, a food truck, complimentary refreshments, an art raffle and activities for children and adults. “On the 19th, everybody’s coming here for a preview. We’re working to get all 14 locations here so people can learn a little bit about which

ones they want to go visit when the monthly tours resume in October,” Shapot shared. “Each one will have about three to five pieces for display in my gallery and I’m pairing up with my neighbor, Curiously Clever Photography, which also has a gallery space. There will be some table displays, like an info booth, essentially, and I’ll pull the projector screen down and do a presentation,” he continued. See Artistic relaunch, page A3

One of the images Judge Timothy McCourt reviewed during an April 30 hearing was taken at 10:14 p.m. Nov. 16, 2025, at Marion County Fire Station 21, and shows Paramedic Kaylee K. Bradley, 25, holding a cell phone; while Firefighter/EMT Tate Trauthwein, 19; EMT Edward Kenny III, 22; and firefighter/EMT Seth Day, 22, a firefighter/EMT; wrestle with EMT Kayne Stuart,19; in an incident described by authorities as “horseplay that went too far.” [Photo courtesy of Firefighter/Paramedic on scene that day]

hen allegations of violent hazing at Marion County Fire Rescue Station 21 became public last year, the response was swift. Four firefighters were arrested following the Nov. 16, 2025, incident in which firefighter Kayne Stewart, 19, was wrestled down and had his cellphone and other belongings taken. The allegations included Stewart being whipped with his own belt and being waterboarded by coworkers dripping water onto a towel that covered his face, all over a TikTok video. See After the headlines, page A8

One less business tax? Ocala appears headed toward elimination of its business license fee. By Steve Collins steve@ocallagazette.com

ompanies may soon pay a little less to do business in Ocala. At its Aug. 18 meeting, the Ocala City Council took an important step toward

eliminating the city’s business tax receipt requirement, which is essentially a business license that’s required to operate in the city. City staff estimate the move will eliminate about $300,000 in revenue. Proponents of the change say, however, it’s not just about the

money but also about sending a message that the city is probusiness. The council’s move involved passing a resolution removing BTR revenue from the payoff mechanism for a 2015 bond. See Business tax, page A2

Ocala City Hall [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]

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INSIDE:

Dory Funk Jr. memorial.....................A4 Marion Transit transition..................A5 Rainfall deficits.....................................A6 Blue Angels coming to Ocala.............B1 Calendar................................................B6

August 28 - September 3 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

COMMUNITY NEWS By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com

UNITED WAY CELEBRATES 65 YEARS

Greg Harrell, center receives the Bonnie Heath Legacy Award from Alan Keesee, left, and Rusty Branson, right, during the Aug. 20 United Way of Marion County annual meeting and 65th anniversary celebration in Ocala. [Photo courtesy United Way of Marion County]

nited Way of Marion County hosted its annual meeting and awards ceremony, along with a celebration of its 65th anniversary, on Aug. 20 at the College of Central Florida Klein Center in Ocala. The organization presented awards and honors to community leaders and top donors and rolled out its new framework for enhanced community impact, including new internal programs that focus on youth opportunity, financial security, healthy community and community resiliency, according to the news release. The meeting marked the start of the 2026-2027 campaign year, with new board members being sworn in, including Kristy Rowland as executive board chair. The executive board roster includes Kourtney Corcoran, Annual Giving chair; Doug Day, treasurer; Lina Piedrahita, secretary; Dale French, vice chair, Community Impact; and Alan Keesee, immediate past board chair. The event also served to introduce new president/ CEO Natalie McComb. “This is an exciting time to join the United Way of Marion County. After listening to the community and seeing the immense need in Marion County, we are proud to be the leading nonprofit organization uniting local resources to help our neighbors,” McComb said in the release. The featured speaker for the event was Florida Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Mark Wilson. Awards presented included: • Annual Giving Campaign Chair award: Kourtney Corcoran • Affinity leadership for Alexis de Toqueville Society award: William Chambers

• Affinity leadership for Children’s Charity Classic award: Kourtney Corcoran • Affinity leadership for Women United award: Laurie Ann Truluck • Local government awards: Marion County Property Appraiser, Marion County Clerk of Courts and Comptroller, Marion County Supervisor of Elections, Marion County Board of County Commissioners and city of Belleview • Education awards: College of Central Florida and Marion County Public Schools • Financial services awards: Regions Bank and Chambers/Pabst/Merrill Lynch • Public and community services awards: Ocala Chamber and Economic Partnership, Heart of Florida Health Centers, Marion County Medical Society and CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion • Outstanding campaign coordinator awards: Christopher Ramos and Otania Brunelle • Major donor awards: Publix Super Markets, Inc, Signature Brands, LLC, city of Ocala, Lockheed Martin Corp, SECO Energy and Duke Energy • Small business awards: Hilton Ocala and Express Employment Professionals • Changemaker of the Year award: VITAS Healthcare • New workplace campaign partner award: E-ONE • Ambassador of the Year award: Larry Daniels • Board chair award: Alan Keesee • ADT Society award: Deborah Sumey • Bonnie Heath Legacy award: Greg Harrell • Leadership award: Bob Haight

Business tax Continued from page A1 Director of Finance Peter Brill described the vote as “the last financial piece needed” to clear the way for the possible removal of the BTR. Growth Management Director Jeff Shrum said the Planning and Zoning Commission must first weigh in on the proposal to eliminate BTR before the matter will come to the City Council. Public Information Officer Gregory Davis said in an email that the City Council will make a final decision in October or November. That’s well past the annual Sept. 30 deadline for license renewal. However, Shrum said, the city hasn’t sent out renewal notices and Davis wrote that businesses can hold off on paying. “The city will not be penalizing anyone for not renewing their tax receipt during this time,” Davis wrote. Davis added that if a business does pay the tax and the City Council

- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black in New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) Publisher Jennifer Jean Hunt jennifer@ocalagazette.com Bruce Ackerman

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bruce@ocalagazette.com Dani Eskridge

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dani@magnoliamediaco.com Andy Fillmore Reporter

andy@ocalagazette.com Greg Hamilton Editor

greg@magnoliamediaco.com Susan Smiley-Height Editor

susan@magnoliamediaco.com

New President/CEO Natalie McComb addresses attendees at the annual meeting on Aug. 20. [Photo courtesy United Way of Marion County]

The organization is continuing its internal programs like Strong Families, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), Community Partnership Schools at College Park and East Marion Elementary Schools and ReadingPals. UWMC also announced new programs such as Thrive Tutoring, 2.4 Million Meals, Nourish Now, Long-Term Recovery Group and Champions for Employment. To learn more, visit uwmc.org

OCALAN NAMED RISK MANAGER OF YEAR

ity of Ocala Risk Manager Richard Dennis was recognized during the Aug. 18 City Council meeting as the Risk Manager of the Year for the North and Central Florida Territory by Public Risk Underwriters of Florida, Inc. PRU of Florida specializes in the administration of public entity risk pools and provides services including underwriting, loss control, marketing, accounting, excess insurance placement and claims oversight. Dennis has served as the city’s risk manager since November 2021 and has more than 25 years of experience across public and private sectors. Under his leadership, the city has continued to strengthen its risk management practices through technology, process improvements, employee training and data-driven safety initiatives. These efforts include new in-house tools for inspections and incident reporting, ongoing employee safety training and enhancements to the fleet safety program, the news release stated.

“The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.”

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News tips tips@ocalagazette.com Distribution Inquiries info@ocalagazette.com

Our mission is to inform and uplift our readers by reporting on the events, issues and stories that shape Ocala with accuracy, fairness and passion. We also strive to serve as a forum where all voices can be heard and to chronicle our community’s history. From left: Brown & Brown, Inc. Public Risk Advisor Kyle Stoekel, city of Ocala Risk Manager Richard Dennis, Public Risk Underwriters of Florida, Inc. Director of Loss Control Services Pamela Hancock. [Photo courtesy city of Ocala]

ultimately eliminates BTR, it would be the city staff ’s recommendation that the money be returned. For most companies, any savings is unlikely to be lifechanging. Davis said in an email that the average paid for all accounts this past year was $91 and that most businesses paid between $35 and $75. He wrote that the highest bill was the $3,850 paid by a rental car company that was charged $20 per rental vehicle. Council member Kristen Dreyer said in an interview with the “Ocala Gazette” that she was the person to bring the issue to the council’s attention. “Why do our businesses have to pay this tax when they already pay taxes,” Dreyer asked. Council member Barry Mansfield said he agrees with that sentiment. “If we don’t need it, I don’t want to charge a customer for it. When I say customer, I mean our constituents,” Mansfield said in an interview. “Because I still look at it like a business. So, if we don’t have to

charge, let’s not. So, that’s my simple philosophy.” Dreyer said in addition to saving businesses money, she’s interested in changing a process that feels broken and sometimes like a punishment for choosing to do business in Ocala. She said she worked with a local medical facility where each doctor was self-employed and thus expected to have their own license. She said another issue has been no consistent enforcement mechanism, so while some businesses find themselves jumping through hoops others simply don’t bother to get or renew their license. On its website, the city describes the BTR as “a local business tax charged for the privilege of engaging in or managing any business, profession, or occupation within the city of Ocala.” Dreyer said she objects to doing business being framed as being a “privilege” because it ignores the important role businesses play in providing services the city can’t.

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August 28 - September 3 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Artistic relaunch Continued from page A1 “Sometimes the public doesn’t realize how broad and robust the art scene is locally. Gainesville has a nice studio tour; a lot of other cities have this. It just makes for a fun day of going around and seeing what local artists have to offer. We want to put all these places on the map, literally and figuratively. It’s a way to bring people together and I’ve always felt that a rising tide raises all ships,” Shapot offered. “We are trying to bring more awareness and put more focus and energy into our goal. We also plan to have quarterly raffles or something similar and passports that you can have stamped when you visit a location. We’ve talked about a scavenger hunt type thing,” he added. The first Saturday tour relaunch on Oct. 3 is perfect, he said, as it aligns with the Marion Cultural Alliance’s annual ARTober programming as well as the annual Ocala Fine Arts Festival hosted by Fine Arts For Ocala in late October. “There is a lot happening and we are trying to highlight that. It’s pretty amazing. As local artists, we talk with each other all the time and there’s a lot of camaraderie and we’re all just working to build each other up—and it’s something very special,” he shared. The Ocala Studio & Gallery Tour participants currently include the 8th Avenue Gallery, Appleton Museum of Art, Arts at the Canopy, Brick City Center for the Arts, Chelsea Art Center, Curiously Clever Photography, Design by Daniel, Magnolia Art Xchange, Marion County Maker Collective, Selker Studios, Shapot Art Studio & Gallery, The Inky Ibis Studios, Voyam Fine Art and the College of Central Florida’s Webber Gallery. To learn more, the “Gazette” did an email Q&A with Carmen Rojas Gines of Voyam Fine Art and Courtney Kravig of The Inky Ibis Studios.

Jordan Shapot poses in his studio with his dog, Aucilla, a 6-year-old mixed breed, with his paintings, “Losing Color,” a self-portrait, right, and “Scribble Nude On Couch.” [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Jordan Shapot waves a banner featuring the upcoming Ocala Studio & Gallery Tour. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Jordan Shapot paints on a still life he was working on alongside a student who was producing a similar painting at his gallery. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Participants Jason Ballard and Naomi are receiving instruction on the plasma cutter technique from Carmen Rojas Gines during the Self Standing Sculpture Class. [Photo courtesy Carmen Rojas Gines]

Artist Courtney Kravig speaks to students in a West Port High School AP art class about printmaking. [Photo courtesy of the artist]

Instructors Lauren Rosa and Carmen Rojas Gines are pictured with participants from the Glass Class, who created a stained-glass piece. [Photo courtesy Carmen Rojas Gines]

CARMEN ROJAS GINES

What is your involvement with the Ocala Studio & Gallery Tour relaunch? I am participating through Voyam Fine Art as an artist, art educator and local studio owner. Our space serves as an art school, working studio and gallery where we exhibit artwork created by artists and students. We also provide space for artistic production, creative projects and restoration work. I am proud to support this relaunch because it brings artists and the community closer together. What is your realm of art? Our primary focus is sculpture and three-dimensional art. As an art teacher, sculptor of metal and glass worker, I want people to understand how form and space can carry meaning and enrich our lives and communities. Metal is one of our principal materials. We create constructivist and free-form sculptures using several welding and fabrication techniques. We also work with molds and casting materials, including resin, plaster, liquid plastic and glass. Our glasswork includes stained glass, glass fusing and free-form glass. We also explore painting in relationship to dimension, texture and sculptural form. Will your studio/gallery be part of the tour? Yes. Voyam Fine Art will be part of the tour and open to visitors from Ocala and surrounding communities. We want people to experience the studio as a living creative space, a place where art is imagined, taught, created, restored and shared. Why should people tour these local venues? The tour allows people to explore at their own pace, meet local artists, see where the work is created and understand the stories behind it. Visitors can learn new skills, discover original artwork, support local artists and perhaps find inspiration for their own creative journey. When people support local art, they are investing in the cultural heart of their community. What makes Ocala/Marion County such a great mecca for art and artists? Through my experience as an artist and educator, I have seen that Ocala and Marion County have a deeply creative spirit. Children, young people and adults continually show a genuine desire to learn, experiment and explore innovative techniques. That curiosity motivates us to continue growing not only as artists, but also as a community. Art gives us common ground. It helps us understand one another, express what words cannot always explain and imagine new possibilities. This is why I believe in supporting the arts: when art grows, the community grows with it.

COURTNEY KRAVIG What is your involvement with the Ocala Studio & Gallery Tour relaunch? I am a committee member of the Ocala Studio Gallery Tours. I joined Jordan and our friends/peers last year, and we’ve been slowly meeting monthly and building momentum towards a bigger relaunch to bring awareness to the community that our studios and gallery spaces are here and available to visit. What is your realm of art? I am primarily a printmaker, and that’s what I was formally trained in. I went to Herron School of Art & Design for my BFA in printmaking with a minor in book arts. This involves things such as linocut and screen printing that are more commonly known, but my primary mediums in school were lithography and etching; I have focused on linocut since graduating college due to equipment availability or lack thereof. Will your studio/gallery be part of the tour? My space is called The Inky Ibis Studios, which is indeed part of the tour, located inside a salon off of Silver Springs Boulevard behind Checkers. It’s five minutes from downtown. This is where I started tattooing as well, and initially the space functioned as both my tattoo studio and print studio. I have since moved to a tattoo shop and converted this space into strictly my art studio. Now I take the first Saturday of each month off from tattooing (at Stranger Flowers Yet in Belleview) to spend my day in there in hopes of spending some time with visitors and sharing my work/explaining my process. It’s a very technically driven and complicated medium, and people really benefit from being able to see a demonstration. Why should people tour these local venues?

“Were You Raised in a Barn?” by Courtney Kravig. [Photo courtesy of the artist]

People should tour these spaces because it shows someone not just the art itself, but what it took to make the art that they love to see on gallery walls. It’s “where the magic happens” so to speak. This is where you will find Ocala’s local art scene on many days and nights of our lives. Most people think of the art world and picture the exhibit openings, selling work, mingling; in reality, and for the artists, it’s all the late nights, early mornings and in between other jobs and gigs where the art world lives. We spend hours upon hours alone in these spaces and they can tell people so much more about the work itself. What makes Ocala/Marion County such a great mecca for art/artists? Ocala is not where I would have expected myself to have my first dedicated art studio, to own property, to build my life, but like many other people I have found home here. At first because I had family moving down here, and initially I didn’t know if I would like it. But as the art community has grown, and embraced me so fully and genuinely, I have found such

authentic friends and people I’ve grown to think of as chosen family. Despite its exponential growth, Ocala is still a small town and a tight knit group of folks. As artists, we’re all just doing our part to make this city the open, inclusive, creative place we all want to be a part of. There are a lot of us who want to see not only ourselves, but all of our friends and peers, succeed and we have an opportunity to make that happen for each other but we need the community’s support too. The passion, sustained efforts and authenticity of our artists make Ocala a mecca for the arts. The first Saturday tours are slated to run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., but many locations, such as the Appleton Museum of Art, offer expanded hours. That venue, in fact, offers a monthly Free First Saturday event that includes free admission to view all of the exhibits plus opportunities to hear guest speakers and more. “The first Saturday gallery tour is a wonderful way for residents and visitors to experience the growing arts scene in Ocala/Marion County. We’re delighted that Marion Cultural Alliance’s Brick City Center for the Arts is one of the stops, giving guests an opportunity to discover new exhibitions, meet local artists and experience the incredible creative talent we have right here in our community,” said Jaye Baillie, executive director of the Marion Cultural Alliance. “The Ocala Studio & Gallery Tour brings our galleries together and encourages people to spend time— exploring art, visiting local businesses and discovering something new. It’s another example of how the arts contribute to the vibrancy and vitality of our community,” she added. To learn more, go to ocalastudiogallerytour.com

August 28 - September 3 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

‘See ‘ya later cowboy’ Family members and friends bid farewell to Dory Funk Jr. in small, private ceremony. By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com

he legendary Dory Funk Jr. was known for his own athletic prowess as well as for teaching and mentoring new generations of wrestlers. He also was known for his mega-watt smile, which was as big as Marion County (which is larger than the state of Rhode Island) and his heart for people and animals, which was bigger than his beloved state of Texas.

Dory Funk Jr. was photographed at his home in Ocala on Jan. 23, 2026. He passed away in Ocala on Aug. 4 and a memorial ceremony was held here on Aug. 21. [Bruce Ackerman/ Ocala Gazette file photo]

Dory Funk Jr. [Image courtesy Marti Funk/FB]

In a small, private memorial service on Aug. 21, family members, friends and members of the wrestling community gathered at Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens in Ocala to remember the wrestling legend and longtime local resident. Photos of Dory were displayed on easels at the front of the chapel, showing him in his heyday and flashing that famous smile. The ceremony included two videos, the first showing the professional career that took him around the world, and the second giving a glimpse into his personal life. Dory was born Feb. 3, 1941. He passed away in Ocala on Aug. 4. For many years, he and his wife Marti operated the Funking Conservatory here, where numerous students learned the craft of wrestling from the master. According to a recent memorial post on the WWE website, “Dory eventually followed in his father’s footsteps by opening a wrestling school, the Funking Conservatory, which served as a veritable talent pipeline into WWE’s Attitude Era and beyond. Funk helped train superstars like Kurt Angle, Edge, Christian, The Hardy Boyz, Mark Henry, Mickie James and more.” The same post noted that “the Texan started developing his wrestling business acumen and

Memorial marker for Dory Funk Jr. at Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens in Ocala. [Image courtesy Marti Funk]

grappling mastery at a young age, driven hard by a caring father, Dory Funk Sr., whose own experience between the ropes made him an ideal mentor and role model for his impressionable son. Alongside his younger brother Terry, Dory earned a distinguished reputation as a marquee attraction in sportsentertainment as both a tag team and singles competitor. “He won numerous championships over a career that lasted more than half a century, most notably a four-year run as NWA World Heavyweight Champion, which ranks behind only Lou Thesz for the longest reign in that title’s history. He regularly competed across the United States and Japan and also served as a promoter in both countries. His travels ultimately brought him to WWE for a run that was highlighted by The Funks’ victorious effort at WrestleMania 2 against Tito Santana and Junkyard Dog. Along with brother Terry, Dory secured his place in wrestling lore when The Funks were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by longtime friend Dusty Rhodes in 2009.” Among those in attendance at the memorial service in Ocala were Gerry Brisco and his son

Wes Brisco. Gerry is the brother of the late Jack Brisco, a noted wrestler who died in 2010. Also on hand were Rob Van Dam, also known as RVD, with his mother Pat and sister Terri, Steve Corino, Matt Bloom, Wesley Blake and Shane Plummer, who wrestled under the name Shane Chung, with his wife Samantha. Family members included Marti Funk, sons Dr. Dory “Dink” Funk III and his wife Nazalie and son Dory “Kai” Funk IV and daughter Jennifer; son Adam Funk and his husband David; and nieces Stacy and Brandee Funk, the daughters of Terry Funk. A number of Dory Funk’s favorite hymns were played during the ceremony. A version of “How Great Thou Art,” by Bethel Music, was the last hymn her husband heard before his passing, according to Marti. Dory Funk III, who has a medical practice in Colorado, offered a moving eulogy to his father, recounting memories of growing up in Texas and more. He ended by noting his father’s famous smile and that he “was a very happy person.” Marti Funk spoke those to gathered and thanked everyone for being there to pay honor to her favorite “cowboy.”

Marti and Dory Funk Jr. [Image courtesy Marti Funk/FB]

Attorney Robin Conner of St. Augustine, who is a deacon in his church and family friend, offered a message and prayer just before the memorial closed out with the hymns “One More River to Cross” and “Heaven Will Be Worth the Journey.” Both Marti Funk and Conner spoke about Dory’s faith and how they knew they will someday see him in heaven. Among the attendees at the memorial service was Dave Schlenker, a local journalist who wrote about Dory many times. It was Schlenker who photographed him for the “flaming” cover shot on his book, “The Last of a Great Breed: True Stories From A Career in Pro Wrestling.” Schlenker even went head-tohead in the wrestling ring with Dory on Nov. 24, 2012, at the Funking Conservatory, in a match/fundraiser for the Marion County Literacy Council. Upon hearing of Dory’s death, Schlenker wrote via text: “A true loss, not just for wrestling but for Ocala. Huge heart. A gentle giant

who could crush you like a gnat. I loved to make Dory laugh, and he laughed often. I will sincerely miss him. This is a tough one for me.” At the memorial service, Schlenker, along with former “Star-Banner” colleague Alan Youngblood and his wife, Chris, and yours truly, also a former OSB colleague, recalled many encounters with Dory, most of them fun-filled and trademarked by his famous smile. Following the ceremony in the chapel, attendees gathered at the Elevation 89 restaurant a the Ocala International Airport for a private reception/luncheon that was sponsored by Dory and Marti’s dear friend Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. A memorial marker is in place at Good Shepherd, depicting Dory’s famous cowboy hat and a boot. Plans are underway for a public memorial show on Thanksgiving night at Hilton Ocala. Details will be released as they become available.

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August 28 - September 3 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Seeking options for transportation program Marion Senior Services will stop offering Marion Transit rides by December because of rising insurance costs. By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com

fter 40 years of operating the familiar Marion Transit buses, Marion Senior Services is calling it quits. The organization first announced its intentions to drop the bus service in July. During an Ocala/Marion County Transportation Planning Organization workshop on Aug. 25, MSS announced plans to get out of the transportation business by December, citing skyrocketing liability insurance costs. The fate of Marion Transit, which uses the familiar white vans with burgundy and gray stripes, was a primary agenda item at the workshop, which took place at the Marion County Board of County Commissioners auditorium. The TPO is a 12-member board that oversees transportation in the county. Members include the mayor of Ocala, four Ocala City Council members, all five Marion County Commissioners, a Belleview City Commissioner and a city of Dunnellon city council member. A Florida Department of Transportation representative is a non-voting board member. In addition to Marion Transit ride programs, Marion Senior Services, with more than 300 volunteers, offers services

Photo courtesy mariontransit.org

including nutrition, in-home care and Meals on Wheels. Marion Transit provided more than 1.16 million passenger miles in combined travel in four transportation programs in 2025, according to a presentation at the workshop. The ride programs include complementary ADA paratransit, travel disadvantaged, mobility for seniors and disabled citizens, and transportation for rural areas. The door-to-door ADA service, within 3/4 of a mile of a SunTran fixed route, is a program contracted with the operators of SunTran. The city of Ocala is the administrative agency for SunTran and has contracted with RATP Dev to perform day-to-day operations and management of

the system, the website notes. MSS Executive Director Jennifer Martinez said at the workshop that liability insurance costs for Marion Transit have “tripled” and become prohibitively expensive. She indicated that liability insurance is now costing MSS $1.3 million, yet the coverage might not be sufficient for a large lawsuit. “We’re pushing our luck,” Martinez said. MSS is concerned a large lawsuit obtained by a “billboard lawyer” could break the operation financially and possibly have a negative impact on the body of other services offered to senior citizens. An email sent to Martinez following the workshop to

confirm the limits of Marion Transit’s current liability insurance was not returned in time for publication. Martinez was accompanied at the workshop by legal representative Chris Cervellera and Marion Senior Services Transit Director Clayton Murch, who made a presentation about Marion Transit services MSS is currently the Community Transpiration Coordinator for Marion County, a position established for each county by the Florida legislature in 1989. CTCs coordinate transportation programs for the travel disadvantaged in each county who would not otherwise have access to essential services or daily needs, according to a meeting agenda. The Marion Transit ride services are funded by a mix of county, state and federal funds, depending upon the particular transportation program. A presentation at the workshop cited the need for coordinated transportation services here for reasons including an aging population, people who do not drive and that Florida is “largely a car dependent state,” especially in rural areas. TPO members questioned Martinez and her legal representative about options including a local government

takeover or creating a separate limited liability corporation to handle Marion Transit. After discussion, the board decided to review the option of “request for proposals” to seek another contractor to handle Marion Transit. “The city of Ocala (SunTran) retains responsibility for contracting ADA paratransit service,” according to a meeting agenda. Although no final vote was made, TPO members discussed short term assistance for MSS through additional funding and lobbying for legislation to hold the nonprofit immune from some or any liability. The TPO workshop also saw discussion about new interactive traffic information and an FDOT representative gave an update on agency projects. Those projects include intersection improvement at State Road 200 and Southwest 60th Avenue, with a dedicated signal for each lane on SR 200, set to begin Sept. 9, and a resurfacing project has been completed on Southwest 110th Street at the Citrus County Line. The TPO next meets at 3 p.m. Sept. 22 at the MCBOCC auditorium at the McPherson Governmental Complex in Ocala. For more information, go to ocalamariontpo.org and mariontransit.org

Florida eyes AI rules for state colleges The DOE wants all 28 institutions in the Florida College System, which includes the College of Central Florida, with its main campus in Ocala, to outline policies. By Ana Goñi-Lessan the News Service of Florida

he Florida Department of Education is proposing a rule to require all public colleges in the state to adopt policies addressing artificial intelligence. The DOE wants all 28 institutions in the Florida College System—which includes the College of Central Florida, with its main campus in Ocala—to outline AI policies for students, staff and guests on campus, covering academic integrity and dishonesty, course assignments and grading. “The purpose of this rule is to require Florida College System institutions to adopt policies that provide for the use and limitations of use of artificial intelligence tools in order to ensure quality of education for students, efficiency of operations and a safe learning environment for the whole college community,” the proposed rule states. Education Commissioner Henry Mack

approved the rule on Aug. 24 and the State Board of Education will consider the issue at their next meeting on Sept. 16 at Polk State College in Winter Haven. The rule applies to AI and AI instructional tools, which are defined as software applications or services that use AI. Instructional tools do not include AI that “meet a student’s social needs,” like simulating a friendship or relationship and employing “anthropomorphic design features for the purpose of encouraging a student to continue interacting with the system.” The DOE is already in the process of directing all K-12 school districts to incorporate rules regarding AI in their internet safety guidelines as well. The agency will require school districts to notify parents when an AI instructional tool is approved for use, with the ability for parents to opt their child out of using it. Any AI used in grades PreK-5 will have to undergo an additional review for approval and no AI instructional tools can be used to meet a

student’s social or emotional needs; to simulate an emotional relationship with a student or use relationship-building or anthropomorphic design features to encourage a student to interact with the AI. The state Senate attempted to pass an AI Bill of Rights this year, which would have put some restrictions on tech companies and how minors can use them, but the legislation didn’t address the use of AI in schools, colleges or universities. The measure failed after the House blocked multiple attempts to get it to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk. It was one of DeSantis’ main priorities this year and when the measure wasn’t passed during the regular legislative session, DeSantis called a special session to bring the measure back to the floor. But House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, maintained his stance of deferring the issue to the federal government and never brought up the bill. The proposal called in part for establishing parents’ rights to control children’s interactions with AI chatbots, prohibiting state agencies

Marion County Braver Angels Alliance We envision an America where courageous citizenship is the honored norm, renewing civic culture and building trust across political differences. We’re taking a stand against toxic politics. Braver Angels is leading the nation’s largest cross-partisan, volunteer-led movement to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic. For more information go to BraverAngels.org or email us at boswald@braverangels.org or gharrell@braverangels.org

from contracting with AI firms tied to a “foreign country of concern” and setting rules about the unauthorized use of people’s names, images or likenesses. Florida is also involved in a civil lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, claiming its ChatGPT product aided acts of violence. Attorney General James Uthmeier, in announcing the suit, cited several incidents around the country where the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT allegedly helped users commit murders, mass shootings and suicides. The lawsuit claims OpenAI was negligent, engaged in unfair trade practices and violated public nuisance and product liability laws. In the suit, Uthmeier cited the April 17, 2025, shooting at Florida State University, which left two dead and five wounded. Law enforcement officials say the alleged shooter consulted with ChatGPT on weapons, ammunition and the ideal campus setting to kill as many people as possible.

August 28 - September 3 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Significant rainfall deficits continue Despite rainy season, district says water conservation remains critical. Staff report

ecent rainfall has provided some welcome relief to portions of central Florida, but significant rainfall deficits remain and full recovery of water resources is a long-term process, according to the St. Johns River Water Management District. The district reminds residents, businesses and large water users that despite recent storms, significant rainfall deficits persist and water conservation remains essential, according to a press release. Florida typically relies on its summer rainy season to replenish water resources and help offset deficits that accumulate through drier times of the year. However, rainfall has remained below average during most of the past year across much of the district, allowing deficits to persist despite some recent storms. While isolated storms can temporarily improve local conditions, it will take sustained periods of above-average rainfall across the region to replenish groundwater supplies, restore river flows and fully recover from the accumulated rainfall deficit. Until that occurs, water conservation remains one of the most important tools available to help protect water resources, the release noted. Conservation efforts remain especially important as the region continues working to recover from rainfall deficits that have accumulated over the past 12 months. Reducing water use today helps protect groundwater

Image courtesy St. Johns River Water Management District

resources and ensures supplies remain available for residents, businesses, agriculture and the environment while the region waits for the consistent rainfall needed to close the deficit, according to the SJRWMD. “The rainfall we’ve received

recently is certainly welcome, but we’re still working to overcome deficits that have accumulated over the last year,” said District Director of the Division of Water Supply Planning and Assessment Clay Coarsey in the release. “Florida’s rainy

season plays an important role in helping replenish our water resources, but so far we haven’t seen enough widespread, aboveaverage rainfall to make up the difference. That’s why conserving water remains so important as we continue to monitor conditions.” Counties within the district, including Marion, continue to experience varying levels of drought recovery. As of Aug. 18, rainfall deficits across part of the Ocklawaha River Basin are over 15 inches below average, depending on location. • Alachua County: 17.31-inch rainfall deficit • Lake County: 11.39-inch rainfall deficit • Marion County: 16.62-inch rainfall deficit • The District’s Phase III Extreme Water Shortage declaration remains in effect throughout the affected areas. The declaration was issued in response to prolonged drought conditions, declining groundwater levels and reduced surface water flows. • Mandatory restrictions remain in place, including: • Residential and commercial properties are limited to one day per week of landscape irrigation. • Landscape irrigation is prohibited between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily. • Commercial and industrial users must suspend certain non-essential water uses. • Golf course fairway irrigation is limited to one day per week. • Aesthetic water use, such as decorative fountains, is prohibited.

• Street and pressure washing activities face additional restrictions. • Irrigation restrictions for new plantings, including sod, have been tightened. Outdoor irrigation continues to represent one of the greatest demands on potable water supplies. Residents are encouraged to verify that irrigation timers are set correctly to ensure that irrigation occurs only on their designated watering day and only during allowable hours. Irrigation systems should also be checked for leaks and sprinklers should only water landscaped areas, not streets, sidewalks or driveways. To view the complete water shortage order, including detailed requirements for each water use category and water conservation tips, visit sjrwmd. com/wateringrestrictions Residents may occasionally see irrigation systems operating in public spaces such as parks, medians and common areas during the water shortage. In many cases, these systems use reclaimed water, which is a highly treated recycled water source that helps reduce demand on potable groundwater supplies. While conservation remains important across all water sources, some reclaimed water systems must continue operating to maintain system function or manage storage capacity, according to the SJRWMD. To learn more about reclaimed water and its beneficial uses, visit floridadep.gov/water/ domestic-wastewater/content/ floridas-reuse-program

August 28 - September 3 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Noted educator, civil rights activist, minister and mentor dies in Ocala

Public Notice

The Rev. Dr. Lorenzo S. Edwards Sr. leaves behind a legacy of leadership. By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com

ev. Dr. Lorenzo S. Edwards Sr., husband, father, mentor, minister, college administrator and civil rights and religious leader for decades in Marion County, passed away on Aug. 16 at the age of 88. Edwards served as pastor of Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church of Ocala for 50 years. “Rev. Edwards performed lots of baptisms,” said Regis Boatwright, a member of Mount Moriah MBC for 70 years. Davida Randolph, program manager for Marion County Public Schools’ Howard Academy Community Center, which houses the Black History Museum of Marion County, was christened as a child by Edwards. Randolph said we have “lost a giant.” “Rev. Edwards laid foundations that many of us continue to stand upon today. His influence can be seen in education, ministry, civil rights, public service and throughout the countless lives he touched in Ocala, Marion County and far beyond,” Randolph wrote in an email. Edwards, a native of Marion County, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, held bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Florida and a doctoral degree from Inter-Denominational Theological Seminary, according to a June 20, 2024, city of Ocala Proclamation signed by Mayor Ben Marciano. The proclamation was presented at an event held at the College of Central Florida Hampton Center at 1501 W. Silver Springs Blvd. to recognize Edwards’ “remarkable service to the community” and the college by naming the CF Hampton Center Community Room in his honor. Edwards focused on “providing opportunities for higher education for minority students” as Director of Minority Affairs at Central Florida Community College/Hampton Center, the Proclamation stated. Edwards served on the Ocala City Council for 10 years, was president of the local branch of the NAACP and served with ministerial organizations. The event was covered in a June 24, 2026, “Gazette” article “The Dr. Lorenzo Edwards Community Room Dedicated in Honor of Lifelong Service to the College of Central Florida and The City of Ocala.,” read a plaque attached to the room entrance, according to the article. The event was attended Edwards, his sons, Stanley, Richard and Brian, Ocala City Manager Pete Lee and City Council members Ire Bethea and Jim Hilty Sr. and CF President James Henningsen. An announcement released by CF for the room naming stated that Edwards started with CF in 1989 as Coordinator of Project Success and Minority Recruitment and in 1990 “advanced to the role of Dean of Minority Affairs and Handicapped Services.” In 1998, Edwards became director of the Hampton Center, “where he continued to influence and shape the community until his retirement in 2003,” according to the release. Rev. Dr. Jerone Gamble, pastor of Mount Canaan Missionary Baptist Church and leader with a “legacy” with the Second Bethlehem Association, according to the group’s website, said he grew up near Edwards’ home. He was mentored as a younger clergyman, especially about visiting the sick at home and in the hospital, something Edwards did faithfully, he said, “day and night.” Gamble said Edwards “surrounded himself” with youthful ministers to share his pastoral experiences. Boatwright recalled Edwards’ installment in 1968 as pastor and his 50 years as church leader. Edwards began his service after the Rev. Frank Pinkston, who was hailed as a civil rights activist,

Rev. Dr. Lorenzo Edwards, foreground center, holds a city of Ocala proclamation presented to him during a ceremony naming the C ommunity Room at the College of Central Florida Hampton Center in his honor on June 20, 2024. Behind from left are Ocala City Manager Pete Lee, city council members Jim Hilty Sr. and Ire Bethea, and CF President James Henningsen. [Andy Fillmore/Ocala Gazette file photo]

Rev. Dr. Lorenzo Edwards, foreground center, is shown with sons, from left, Stanley, Richard and Brian, during a June 20, 2024, ceremony at the College of Central Florida Hampton Center to name the Community Room in honor of Edwards. [Andy Fillmore/Ocala Gazette file photo]

completed his service at the church. Edwards’ leadership saw the church acquire properties, establish community outreaches, a health ministry and youth programs with a program offering a scholarship, Boatwright said. Randolph stated in her letter that she appreciated her lifelong association with Edwards. “I will always be grateful that my life’s journey allowed me to know him first through the eyes of a child and later to work alongside and learn from him as an adult. His legacy will live on and he will never be forgotten. Rev. Dr. Lorenzo S. Edwards’ light will continue to shine through every life he touched and far every foundation he helped build,” she wrote. Richard Edwards, 68, said his father was a “loving and supportive parent” who was always there to back his children’s endeavors, from playing in a band to playing sports, but his father could also administer parental guidance when necessary. “He was a great all-around dad,” he said. He said when his mother, Barbara Edwards, became ill prior to her passing in 2024, his father cared for her “24/7.” Lorenzo and Barbara Edwards were married 67 years. The couple also had another son, Darryl, who is deceased. Richard Edwards said his father managed the Pine Oaks Golf Course in Ocala for about 60 years ago and was an avid fisherman. “Then he became a fisher of men,” he remarked about his father’s calling to the clergy. A wake service was set to be held Aug. 27 at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church at 606 S.W. Broadway St. “My father was baptized at New Covenant Church, and this makes it a full circle,” Richard Edwards said about the wake service. According to an online obituary, visitation will take place 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 28 at Sellers Funeral Home, Inc., 440 SW Broadway St., with the funeral service to begin at 11 a.m. Aug. 29 at College Road Baptist Church, 5010 SW College Road.

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August 28 - September 3 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

MCFR DEVELOPS A NEW INVESTIGATIVE from the original arrest affidavits. When asked why no department interviews After the headlines absent took place, Graff said MCFR was not obligated Attorney Bobi Frank, who represented Day, PROCESS Continued from page A1

Seth Day, Edward “Teddy” Kenny III and Tate Trauthwein were charged with kidnapping and robbery. Kaylee K. Bradley was charged with felony robbery and principle/accessory to robbery, but the charges later were dropped. In response, MCFR fired the four employees alleged to have participated in the incident as well as several supervisors who were not present when it occurred. Photographs of marks on Stewart’s back were publicly released as evidence of the severity of the attack. The incident received widespread media attention and the initial descriptions left little room for ambiguity. Nearly a year later, however, the outcome reflects a more nuanced situation and deserves a public conversation about how it could have been handled better by both the government agencies and the media. Three of the firefighters pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery charges after prosecutors concluded the evidence was insufficient to prove the more serious crimes beyond a reasonable doubt. The felony false imprisonment charges filed after their arrests were dismissed as part of the plea agreements. Stewart told the court he supported the plea agreements. MCFR supervisors who were fired have returned to service. Battalion Chief Clint Balik was reinstated after approximately six months. Capt. Victor Payette and Lt. Fred Bowers returned through a May mediation agreement that included partial back pay and restoration of seniority and benefits, although both returned at the lower rank of driver/ engineer. Driver/engineer Quintin Gaines also has returned to the department. Union President Rolin Boyd acknowledged it was a frustrating time to navigate but also remarked, “I think the fact that these employees wanted to return to work at Marion County Fire Rescue also speaks volumes about what is good working in the department.” Those outcomes do not diminish what happened at Station 21, but they provide a teachable moment about what can happen when government agencies and the news media convey explosive preliminary conclusions before the full investigative and legal processes have run their course. Notably, while Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods held a press conference announcing the arrests, which included sensational details about the incident, there was no press conference announcing the quiet resolution of the case.

FROM FELONY CHARGES TO MISDEMEANOR COUNTS

The difference between the initial allegations and the eventual criminal cases was significant enough that Circuit Judge Timothy McCourt asked prosecutors to explain how the cases had changed before he would accept the negotiated pleas. McCourt noted the defendants had initially been arrested for kidnapping, robbery and battery — charges carrying potentially severe prison sentences — before prosecutors filed lesser charges of false imprisonment and battery and ultimately agreed to dismiss the felony charges in exchange for guilty pleas to misdemeanor battery. Assistant State Attorney Drew Brandies said probable cause for an arrest requires a different evidentiary threshold than proving a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. After reviewing photographs, witness statements and other evidence and speaking with Stewart, prosecutors concluded they could not prove the elements necessary for kidnapping or robbery beyond a reasonable doubt. The distinction is important: An arrest affidavit represents the evidence supporting probable cause to make an arrest. It is not a complete account of what occurred. McCourt made that observation from the bench. “People think that judges know everything there is to know about a case. Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said, noting an arrest affidavit “does not include every fact.” At the conclusion of sentencing, McCourt told the three defendants he had “the distinct impression that it was horseplay that got out of hand.” He nevertheless emphasized that Stewart should not have been subjected to the conduct and warned the defendants about the consequences of violating probation. “How long were y’all in jail? Long enough to get a taste of it?” he asked. When one answered yes, McCourt fired a warning to the young men before him: “You hunker down there for a year, you’ll get a real taste of it.”

DEFENSE PRESENTED EVIDENCE OF A MORE COMPLICATED INCIDENT

Defense attorneys presented photographs and messages they argued supplied context

showed McCourt a photograph taken during the incident, adding, “We thought of the old cliche of a picture is worth 1,000 words.” Reading only the arrest affidavit, she said, could leave the impression that the entire episode was something other than horseplay. The photograph, she continued, showed Stewart on the ground “clearly not in distress, smiling and engaging.” Frank emphasized that the defense was not attempting to minimize Stewart’s experience. “Nothing that comes out of our mouths, collectively or individually, is meant to upset or disrespect the victim’s position in any way,” she said. Frank also argued that station house horseplay and pranks were not aimed solely at Stewart. “This is not an isolated incident,” Frank told McCourt. “This is a culture within the fire department.” She pointed to examples of other firefighters but added, “they absolutely have taken accountability and responsibility,” adding that Day and the others cooperated with law enforcement and did not attempt to conceal what had occurred.

EMPLOYMENT CONSEQUENCES ALSO CHANGED The criminal cases were not the only actions that look different after additional review. MCFR initially disciplined employees beyond the firefighters directly involved in the incident, including supervisors who maintained they did not witness it. Stewart told law enforcement in his initial interview that he did not believe either Payette or Bowers knew what was occurring at the time of the incident. Records reviewed by the “Ocala Gazette” also raised questions about some of the evidence used in the administrative investigation. Automated Vehicle Locator data, for example, could have validated Payette’s claim that he was away from the station from 9:32 a.m. until 12:51 p.m. during a period in which the county initially alleged he had participated in a discussion involving deletion of evidence.

BANTA: RESPONSE WAS WARRANTED, PROCESS NEEDED IMPROVEMENT MCFR Fire Chief James Banta, responding to questions from the “Gazette” in August, defended the department’s decision to act quickly but acknowledged that MCFR’s administrative investigation should have been more independent of the criminal investigation. “The department acted promptly based on the information available at the time,” Banta wrote. “We do not regret treating the allegations seriously, referring potentially criminal conduct to law enforcement, protecting the affected employee, or pursuing administrative accountability.” Banta, however, identified an important lesson from the case: Criminal and administrative investigations serve different purposes. Law enforcement interviews are conducted primarily to determine whether evidence supports criminal charges, he wrote, while a departmental investigation must determine whether employees violated policies, supervisory responsibilities or professional expectations. “In a future incident of this magnitude, MCFR would conduct a more fully independent administrative investigation,” Banta wrote. That would include separately interviewing or re-interviewing all material witnesses and involved employees, including people who were not arrested, “rather than relying as heavily on interviews conducted during the criminal investigation.” Deputy Chief Robert Graff also defended the department’s original response while acknowledging room for improvement. He said a subsequent review identified opportunities “to further strengthen the separation of criminal and administrative investigations, enhance documentation, and improve investigative consistency.” Banta cautioned against interpreting the grievance resolutions involving Payette and Bowers as findings that all MCFR’s original concerns were unfounded. Some administrative findings were modified while others remained sustained, he said. Likewise, Banta said the reduction or dismissal of criminal charges did not alter the department’s conclusion that Station 21 required a serious response. “The principal lesson from this incident is not that MCFR should have acted less decisively,” Banta wrote. “It is that future criminal and administrative investigations should be more clearly separated and independently completed.”

MCFR has since developed a new internal investigation procedure that addresses some of the issues exposed by the Station 21 investigation. The draft Standard Operating Guideline says its purpose is to establish a “clear, consistent, and legally defensible process” that ensures due process and protects employee rights. It also requires compliance with the Florida Firefighters’ Bill of Rights when applicable. The proposal also separates operational supervision, investigation and discipline. An operational supervisor would address immediate safety concerns and refer a matter for administrative review but would not conduct formal investigative interviews or make findings. An Administrative Division Chief would collect evidence, conduct interviews and determine whether allegations are sustained, not sustained or unfounded — without recommending discipline. An Operations Chief would then separately determine whether corrective or disciplinary action is warranted. The guideline also provides employees with the rights afforded by law, collective bargaining agreements and department policy, including representation during investigatory interviews. Banta said the process was developed with guidance from the county attorney’s office and has already been used in five internal investigations during a trial period. He said no union representatives or department employees had raised objections or concerns about that investigative process and that MCFR believes it is ready to become departmental policy. The document provided to the “Gazette” remains a draft, with its effective and revision dates listed as “TBD.”

NEW CONDUCT STANDARDS DEVELOPED WITHOUT UNION CONSULTATION MCFR has also expanded its conduct standards and developed training addressing hazing, bullying, harassment, retaliation and supervisors’ responsibilities. The distinction between the two initiatives is important. One establishes how allegations against firefighters should be investigated; The other tells firefighters and their supervisors what conduct is prohibited and what they are required to do when they encounter it. The officer training establishes a straightforward directive: “See it. Stop it. Document it. Elevate it.” It distinguishes acceptable firehouse camaraderie from hazing, bullying, coercion and abusive conduct. Mutual, respectful humor, professional disagreement and corrective supervision are identified as acceptable. Conduct creating risk, humiliation, coercion or pressured participation is not. The standards prohibit initiation rituals involving embarrassment, coercion, humiliation or social pressure and pranks or horseplay that create safety risks, disrupt operations or target an individual. They also place substantial responsibility on supervisors. “You own the station climate,” the training tells officers. Supervisors are directed to intervene promptly when conduct becomes unsafe, abusive, coercive or degrading: “Failure to act, delayed intervention, or allowing prohibited conduct to continue is itself a policy violation.” Banta said all personnel were required to electronically acknowledge completing the training. Rolin Boyd, president of the Professional Firefighters of Marion County, confirmed to the “Gazette” that the union was not consulted in developing the updated conduct standards. That presents a separate issue from the new investigative process Banta described. Clearer standards may help define boundaries that were less explicit before the Station 21 incident, but imposing consequential new expectations without consulting the union representing the employees who must follow and enforce them raises another question about process — particularly after a case in which the county’s handling of employee discipline resulted in grievances, mediation and reinstatements and tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees for the union and the county. The issue is especially significant for supervisors because the new standards make them accountable not only for their own behavior but, under certain circumstances, for misconduct they fail to stop even if it happens while they are sleeping and no one informs them, such as was the case for Payette. When the “Gazette” listened to the employee terminations hearings, Assistant County Administrator Amanda Tart told employees they were being terminated without providing them evidence supporting that decision. They were told they could file public records requests for the information after the fact.

to do so and the agency could rely solely on the statements made to law enforcement. The county also shut out the union representatives from material evidence, which frustrated their members and forced the union to spend $20,000 in legal fees to fight the county to get the jobs reinstated.

WHAT A PHOTOGRAPH CAN — AND CANNOT — ESTABLISH

The Station 21 incident also offers a lesson about the evidentiary weight given to photographs. An image of marks on Stewart’s back became an important part of the public presentation of the case and were referenced by the county in their reports and termination meetings. Stewart told investigators he did not believe he had injuries to his back, yet the circulated photo was erroneously used to insinuate otherwise. A separate photograph taken during the incident showed participants, including Stewart, smiling during at least one portion of the incident, was not widely circulated. Neither photo establishes that Stewart was not battered or that the conduct was acceptable, but they do demonstrate something more basic: A photograph captures a moment. Its meaning depends upon context. That is particularly important for journalists when photographs are supplied by the government agency investigating the people depicted rather than by a news photographer or a member of the public. Images are powerful evidence. They can also become powerful framing devices when the public only sees images selected for their view by the agency involved.

DUE PROCESS IS PART OF ACCOUNTABILITY

The Station 21 case ultimately presents two separate issues that should not be confused. The first is conduct. Three firefighters pleaded guilty to battery. MCFR has made clear that hazing, coercion and abusive conduct are unacceptable, and the department has strengthened its rules and training in response. But as the “Gazette” has reported, the department has a history of looking the other way in similar incidents. Going forward, the four firefighters who were arrested, one of whom had charges dropped, will have to face whatever comes up when their name is searched online. The second is process. The serious nature of an allegation does not lessen government’s obligation to determine accurately who did what, distinguish firsthand evidence from assumption and afford employees the procedural protections to which they are entitled. Serious allegations make those safeguards more important, not less. MCFR has recognized that distinction and is changing its investigative procedure accordingly. But this isn’t the only explanation for why the department acted rashly on bad information. Investigative notes drafted by Graff and reviewed by the “Gazette” included erroneous conclusions and reflect that he did not do one of the most basic investigative steps: building a timeline in which to frame comments and facts in order to draw correct conclusions. This case also illustrates why early public statements should carefully distinguish among allegations, preliminary evidence and established facts. Government has the power to shape the initial understanding of an event, particularly when official statements, arrest affidavits and selected photographs arrive together. For journalists, it is a reminder that official information is basically source material. A press conference is a source. An arrest affidavit is a source. A photograph selected and released by an investigating agency is a source. None of this is the final word. The allegations about Station 21 deserved the scrutiny they received. So did the actions of the firefighters involved. The eventual negotiated pleas deserve coverage as well. Accountability does not end with the first headline. It also requires reporting when felony allegations become misdemeanor convictions, when fired employees return to work, when evidence complicates an original account, and when the government changes the procedures it used to reach its original decisions. The lesson is not that government agencies or journalists should hesitate to respond to serious allegations. It is that the certainty of the response should never exceed the certainty of the evidence.

August 28 - September 3 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Sports Forest tops North Marion 15-6 Wildcats beat Colts in ‘sloppy’ season opener. By Mark Pinson Special to Ocala Gazette

orest and North Marion clashed on Aug. 21 in a typical first game of the season—with numerous penalties, missed assignments and a number of players battling painful cramps from the heat and humidity. Forest senior quarterback Caleb Sanford tossed a 31-yard scoring pass to Taj Graham, senior running back Keziyrehun Rivers scored on a 5-yard run and the Wildcats used a stifling defense to force a pair of turnovers to record a 15-6 win over the Colts. “It was a sloppy game,” said Forest second-year coach John Brantley. “We started the game and played great football with an eight-minute drive and scored a touchdown. Then we lost our intensity and things started getting sloppy. But we got the win and we’re never going to complain about winning. We didn’t get to play last week because of the weather and that hurt us, but we’re not going to make excuses, we know we have to get better and we will.” North Marion scored its touchdown on an 11-yard run by senior quarterback AJ Cook, but the Colts had trouble moving the ball with any consistency against a stout Forest defense. “We’ve got a lot of things to work on,” said first-year North

Marion coach Omar Vences. “We’ve got to get in better shape and we need better discipline. We came in and changed the culture of the program and it’s a process the players have to buy into. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and we have to keep working to get better every day.” Forest took the opening kickoff and marched 53 yards in 11 plays with Rivers, who gained 58 yards on 17 carries, finding the end zone on a short run. The drive was aided by three offsides penalties against North Marion. Sanford displayed excellent accuracy by connecting with three different receivers. Junior kicker Zane Waldren booted the extra point to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead midway through the opening quarter. After an exchange of punts, North Marion crossed midfield before Cook had a pass intercepted by Forest sophomore cornerback Tevin Hargrove. The Wildcats had a pair of drives derailed by penalties before finding the end zone again as Sanford found Graham open on a slant pass that he took 31 yards for the score. Sanford completed 15 of 21 passes for 156 yards with one touchdown and one interception. A twopoint completion to senior wide receiver Ethan Collins gave the Wildcats a 15-0 lead at the half. After a scoreless third quarter, North Marion took

Forest’s Keziyrehun Rivers (2) runs the ball for a touchdown as he eludes North Marion’s Jeremiah Ford (14).

Forest’s Cai-ryn Roberts (3) taunts North Marion’s Kylen Bell (21).

Forest head coach John Brantley works with his team as they play North Marion.

advantage of a bad snap on a Forest punt and recovered the ball on the Wildcats’ 12-yard line. On third down, Cook scrambled away from pressure and scored on an 11-yard run. Cook completed 5 of 21 passes for 43 yards with a pair of interceptions. The extra point was blocked to leave the Colts trailing 15-6 with 10:06 left in the fourth period. Forest answered with a timeconsuming drive that ended with a missed field goal from 38 yards. North Marion got the ball back with five minutes left in the game, Cook marched the Colts inside the Wildcats’ 30-yard line, but a sack, the fourth of the night, ended the threat. Forest ran out the clock to seal the road victory. “Anytime you can win on the road in Marion County it’s a good win,” said coach Brantley. “We’re going to watch the film and see what we need to do to get better. We have a chance to be a pretty good football team, but you’ve got to show up and do it, not just on Friday nights, but Monday through Wednesday in practice. We need to have that intensity in practice and bring it to the field on Fridays.” Forest was set to be back in action on Aug. 27 with a road game at Gainesville Eastside. North Marion was slated to travel to Ocala on Aug. 28 with a game at Trinity Catholic.

Forest’s Cai-ryn Roberts (3) pulls in a pass ahead of North Marion’s Kysen Smith (11).

Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette Forest’s Cai-ryn Roberts (3) taunts North Marion players by waving bye-bye as he celebrates Forest’s second touchdown with teammate Grayson Yancey (7) during a football game at North Marion High School in Citra on Aug. 21, 2026.

Forest players run onto the field.

Forest’s Taj Graham (8) eludes a North Marion player as he runs for a large gain.

North Marion’s quarterback AJ Cook (1) throws under pressure from Forest defenders Daylin Eason (13) and Dushon Greene (32).

North Marion’s quarterback AJ Cook (1) tries to elude a Forest defender.

North Marion’s Sherrod Williams (8) runs past Forest’s Dushon Greene (32).

North Marion’s Amari Smith (7) and Jeremiah Ford (14) break up a pass intended for Forest’s Tevin Hargrove (1).

Forest’s Cai-ryn Roberts (3) looks for a pass on the first play of the game.

Forest’s Eli Newell (60) celebrates the first touchdown of the game by teammate Keziyrehun Rivers (2) against North Marion.

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August 28 - September 3 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

People, Places and Things Landing the Blue Angels The story behind Ocala’s new threeyear air show contract. By Steve Collins steve@ocalagazette.com

ohn Cowman said he gets calls from local airports all the time. The retired U.S. Air Force chief master sergeant spent 15 of his 36 years on active-duty working on air shows and in retirement runs a company that operates its own air shows, so Cowman is a good guy to call if your community wants to bring an air show to town. However, getting Cowman on the phone is just the first step. “Most of them don’t work out because I don’t know how to do anything small,” he said. After several years of planning, it’s that “go big” attitude that Cowman will be bringing to Ocala April 30-May 2, 2027. The initial “Wings Over Ocala Florida” air show will feature performances by the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels over three days. Cowman said the final two days of the event will each include five hours of “nonstop action.” The Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau estimates the event will attract at least 25,000 people and have an economic impact of about $4.5 million in its first year. The Marion County Tourist Development Council is expected to kick in $100,000 annually for

three years as title sponsor. The Ocala City Council on Aug. 18 cleared the way for the event by agreeing to a three-year contract with Cowman’s JLC AirShow Management. The city agreed to cover the cost of police and fire support, estimated at $38,175 for the first year. Although Cowman gets plenty of calls, he said it was he who first approached the Ocala International Airport. Cowman said he was attracted to the location near places such as Orlando and Tampa, as well as the fact the airport has long enough runways and other facilities to support a large air show. The air show has been several years in the making. Cowman said talks about bringing an air show to Ocala began in 2022. However, Cowman said both sides agreed that an event wouldn’t happen until they’d landed either the Blue Angels or the Air Force’s Thunderbirds. That process, Cowman said, involves competing against roughly 350 other air shows to get on one of the jet teams’ annual schedules. Airport Director Matthew Grow compared the prospect of having an air show without one of the top jet teams to building a shopping center without having a major brand such as Publix as the anchor tenant.

The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels are coming to Ocala in 2027. According to its website, the mission of the squadron is to showcase the teamwork and professionalism of the Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a culture of excellence and service to country through flight demonstrations and community outreach. [Photo by Mark Streit Photography, courtesy John Cowman]

“If you don’t have a jet team for your air show, you might as well have an open house at the airport,” Grow said. Ocala missed the cut on its first two attempts. “It was always a dream you might say, until the U.S. government came and said, ‘Yes, we will give you the Blue Angels,’” said city council member Barry Mansfield, who represents the council on the Tourist Development Council. “The second that happened, then it was like, ‘This is really gonna happen,’ so I was really excited.” With JLC’s three-year agreement with the city, Cowman said he anticipates it becoming easier to attract teams such as the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds. “It’s just going to become one of those destination shows that all the teams want to go to,” he said. Although the city has agreed to pick up the tab for police and fire service, Mansfield said that because the contract stipulates that after the first $300,000 in net revenues the city gets a 30% cut, he

thinks the actual cost will likely be lower than the $38,175 estimated for the first year. Council member Kristen Dreyer noted that money for the air show will come from the airport fund and not tax dollars. “The airport makes money like Macy’s would if you went to Macy’s, and the money that this airport makes is what is paying for law enforcement and fire to be there, so this is not tax,” Dreyer said. For his part, the airport director said any money spent will result in valuable public relations. “From my perspective, it’s an opportunity to show off Ocala,” Grow said. “We have a great facility out there. We could see upwards of around 45,000 people show up for the event, and where we are right now with the airport is the perfect time to show it off.” Had things turned out differently, Ocala might have already hosted an air show by now. Cowman said he got a call in November from representatives of the Thunderbirds, who had an opening in April and were wondering if something could be

put together in Ocala. Cowman said his first call was to the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co., which is located near the airport, and he learned that there would be a large number of horses on the property for an auction. He said one fear was an air show could spook the horses. “The last thing we want to have is a conflict with an auction,” he said. Grow said he didn’t believe the issue was about the potential for spooked horses but rather about the fact the airport doesn’t currently have the capacity to accommodate large numbers of out-of-town visitors for equestrian events at the same time as an air show. Although Cowman is the guy who first picked up the phone to pitch the idea of an Ocala air show, he said he’s not looking for credit. “One of the key things I’m trying to stress is that this is Ocala’s air show,” Cowman said. “I’m just the guy helping run it.” Tickets and ticket prices will be available beginning Sept. 8 at wingsoverocalaflorida.com

The Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, ordered the establishment of the Blue Angels team on April 24, 1946, according to blueangels.navy.mil [Photo courtesy John Cowman]

The closest the Blue Angels fly to each other is 18 inches during the Diamond 360 maneuver, according to the squadron website. [Photo courtesy John Cowman]

An estimated 11 million spectators view the Blue Angels squadron during air shows each year, per the unit’s website. [Photo courtesy blueangels.navy.mil]

A view from the cockpit of a Verijet charter jet shows a tarmac filled with planes in the general aviation area at Ocala International Airport in 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]

August 28 - September 3 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

CF’s Appleton Museum of Art to host master storyteller Caren Neile will offer a “Florida Lore” presentation on Sept. 5 as part of Free First Saturday events. Staff report

uring the Appleton Museum of Art’s next Free First Saturday event, set for Sept. 5, Caren Neile will give a presentation on “Florida Lore.” The presentation is a partnership between Florida Humanities and the Appleton as part of Florida Humanities’ America 250 Florida Talks programming. Neile, PhD., MFA, has taught storytelling studies at Florida Atlantic University since 2000. A performance storyteller, she has worked in 13 states and seven countries, including as a Fulbright Senior Specialist in Vienna and Jerusalem. Her numerous publications include the books “Florida Lore” and “Only in Florida,” and chapters in books such as the “Oxford Handbook of American Folklore & Folklife Studies.” She co-hosts the Public Storyteller podcast for Miami public radio WLRN,

Caren Neile [Image courtesy fau.edu]

according to the news release from the College of Central Florida. “From the Ashley Gang to the Devil’s Millhopper and the Ghost of Bellamy Bridge, Florida folk culture is brimming with fascinating characters and situations almost too amazing to be true. But are they true?

This presentation is a dynamic performance from a master storyteller and professor who brings these legends to life and discusses their importance and whether it may not matter if they are fact or fiction. A must for history buffs and Americana fans, this presentation is based on Dr. Neile’s book, ‘Florida Lore: The Barefoot Mailman, Cowboy Bone Mizell, the Tallahassee Witch, and Other Tales,’” the news release noted. Free First Saturday events run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission to view exhibits and more. Neile’s presentation will begin at noon in the auditorium. Auditorium doors will open at 11:30 a.m. and seating is limited to 250 on a first-come, firstserved basis. The Donut Express and Big Red Hot Dogs food trucks will be on-site throughout the day, along with LifeSouth Community Blood Centers. This Free First Saturday is

Image courtesy College of Central Florida

sponsored in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union and Florida Humanities. The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the College of Central

Florida, the museum is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. For more information, call (352) 291-4455 or visit appletonmuseum.org

SEASON 76 • 2026-2027

So many worlds to explore.

July 10-12, 2026

July 17-19, 2026

Oct. 29 – Nov. 15, 2026 Sept. 3-20, 2026

Jan. 28 – Feb. 14, 2027

March 11-28, 2027

Dec. 9-20, 2026

April 29 - May 16, 2027

Season tickets on sale now! 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala, FL 34470 (352) 236-2274 • ocalacivictheatre.com

August 28 - September 3 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Learning the craft of theatre arts

Local nonprofit group to host open house ahead of launching Fall programming. By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com

ommunity Stages is a nonprofit theatre arts group that creates opportunities to learn, make and share the craft. Through performance-based classes, ensembles, camps, workshops, performances and community collaborations, participants of all ages build skills, explore their creativity and connect with others. If you would like to learn more about this dynamic local group, mark your calendar for a free open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Chelsea Art Center at 3305 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Guests will be able to meet Community Stages artists and teaching staff, explore upcoming programs, enjoy refreshments and theatre activities, and see singers and actors from the organization’s ensembles in two short performance showcases.

Adilynn Byall, as the Boss Elf, uses a megaphone to encourage other elves as they rehearse a scene from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer JR.” during a Community Stages rehearsal at the Chelsea Art Center in Ocala on Nov. 20, 2025. The group will soon kick off its 2026 season. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]

“We want people to come through the door, meet us, play a little, see some of the work and discover where they might fit,” said Community Stages founder and director Terry LeCompte in a news release. “There are opportunities here for people at nearly all the ages and stages of life.” Fall 2026 programming begins in September: • Community Stages’ Trunk & Trek Troupe: Holiday Edition is an evening performance class for ages 9–18. Meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays, the ensemble will rehearse and perform “A Christmas Wizard of Oz” by Kathryn Schultz Miller. • The NEW Homeschool Players, for ages 8–12, offers a daytime performance class meeting on Tuesdays. Students will prepare “It’s Christmas, Carol,” a holiday musical by John Jacobson and Roger Emerson. • The Family Playhouse class

brings children ages 5–9 and an adult partner together two Sundays each month to imagine, create, and share through theatre. • Adults can take the stage through HeartStrings & Harmonies, a musical theatre and vocal ensemble, and ArtiFacts, Community Stages’ storytelling and community performance ensemble. Community Stages uses a performance-based approach to theatre education: students learn theatre by making theatre. Rehearsal becomes the classroom as performers build acting, vocal, movement, storytelling, collaboration and ensemble skills while working toward performances shared with the community, the release noted. Community Stages is an approved Step Up For Students direct-pay provider for eligible programs. To learn more, go to communitystages.org

Call to artists Submit entries soon for the Rainbow Springs Art in Dunnellon gallery’s “Colors of the Fall Community Art Show.” By Margo Wilson Special to the “Gazette”

Rainbow Springs Art in Dunnellon gallery. [Photo courtesy rainbowspringsart.com]

painting of a crimson-leafed tree. A sculpture of a squirrel bearing acorns. A photo of a pumpkin patch. Use your imagination to enter the Rainbow Springs Art in Dunnellon gallery’s “Colors of the Fall Community Art Show,” which will run from Sept. 5-25 at the gallery.

“We hope to see all the reds, golds and oranges of fall, captured in a variety of mediums,” said the gallery’s treasurer, Kathy Sage. The show is open to all area artists, who are invited to submit up to two pieces, no larger than 18 inches by 24 inches. Art dropoff will be Sept. 3-4 at the gallery. The entry fee is $20 for one piece of art and $30 for two.

A “People’s Choice” award of $150 will go to the artist whose work collects the most votes from the people who see the show. A reception for the artists is set for 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 11. Gallery member Diane Anthony said fall is “the cozy, family time of the year.” Artists are invited to recognize this in their submissions.

The gallery, located at, 20826 Walnut St., Dunnellon, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday and Monday. The phone is (352) 763-4048.

Public Notice

Skyway Towers, LLC proposes the construction of a new 195ft Self-support (lattice) communications tower with an overall height of 199 feet, at the approx. vicinity of: 11411 SE 132nd Place, Ocklawaha, Marion County, Florida 32179. Coordinates: [Latitude: 29° 01’ 51.59” N, Longitude: 81° 57’ 47.74” W]. Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30 days from the date of this publication to: Trileaf Corp, Jessica Cilento, j.cilento@ trileaf.com; 407-660-7840; 2600 Maitland Center Parkway, Suite 330, Maitland, Florida 32751.

NOTICE UNDER FICTITIOUS NAME LAW PURSUANT TO SECTION 865.09, FLORIDA STATUTES

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Spirit Slime Bar located at 2704 SE 48th St in the City of Ocala, Florida 34480 in the County of Marion intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida. Dated at Ocala, Florida, this 22nd day of August, 2026. Owner, Janna Abbott

Bespoke Southerly, LLC also doing business as Ride Southerly intends to register the fictitious name Ride Southerly with the Florida Department of State. Principle place of business is 12100 NW 100 Street, Ocala, FL 34482.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of DB Lawncare & Landscaping located at 18803 SW 51st Lane, in the City of Dunnellon, FL, 34432, in the County of Marion, intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Dated at Dunnellon, Florida, this 20th day of August, 2026. Dominick Bouchard

Notice is hereby given that PIRU PASHA VENTURES LLC intends to register the fictitious name CANASTÓN CLUB with the Florida Department of State pursuant to Section 865.09, Florida Statutes.

More information about the show may be found at the gallery or at rainbowspringsart.com under “Events.”

Have a legal ad you need to publish? ocalagazette.column.us/ place

August 28 - September 3 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Butterflies worldwide are on the move as the climate warms

A new global study shows the scale of the range shift of butterflies is far greater and more complex than previously understood. By Gerald Pinson Florida Museum of Natural History

large, international team of scientists has determined that one in 10 butterfly species globally has shifted its distribution range, with climate change and extreme weather driving nearly 80% of documented movements. The study, the largest of its kind, includes analyses of 6,182 rangeshift records for 1,758 species across 105 countries, drawing on English and nonEnglish scientific literature as well as 68 expert assessments. Lead author Shawan Chowdhury, head of the Global Change Ecology Lab at Monash University in Australia, said the findings expose a rapidly changing natural world and major blind spots in how biodiversity change is monitored. “We found butterfly species shifting their ranges on every continent where they occur. The scale is astonishing, and it’s happening far beyond the wellstudied regions of Europe and North America,” Chowdhury said. “Climate change is now a dominant force reshaping where species can survive. For many butterflies, to survive, the only option is to move, often quickly, to track suitable conditions.” The study, published in “Nature Ecology & Evolution,” shows 80% of species expanded their ranges, often moving into newly suitable areas as temperatures rise. At the same time, 27% contracted their ranges and 22% shifted along elevational gradients. “Projects like these are difficult to do on a global scale because it requires the efforts of many specialists and historical documents that can be difficult to obtain,” said study co-author Akito Kawahara, curator and director of the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. “It was great to see that McGuire Center could use the power of the data that we have to help contribute to this.” When the researchers looked at how many species in each country had documented range shifts, five European countries stood out: the Czech Republic, Finland, Luxembourg, Spain and Sweden, each of which has records for more than half of its butterfly species. A total of 32 countries had documented shifts for at least a quarter of their known butterfly species and 10 countries for more than half. “One of the most striking insights is how much evidence we were missing,” Chowdhury said. “When we included nonEnglish studies and expert knowledge, a completely different global picture emerged. Without these sources, we would have dramatically underestimated the global patterns of range shifts, especially overlooking key patterns in the tropics, where 80% of insect species live.” The research highlights severe geographic gaps: Central Africa, Southeast Asia, New Guinea and the Amazon Basin remain critically underrepresented despite being global biodiversity hotspots. “These are the regions where species are most vulnerable and where we know the least,” Chowdhury said. “Tropical butterflies already live close to their upper thermal limits. Even small increases in temperature can push them beyond their limit, especially when landuse change is breaking up the very habitats butterflies rely on to move and track suitable climates.” The authors warn that without equitable, standardized and multilingual biodiversity monitoring, conservation efforts risk being guided by an incomplete and biased evidence base. “Butterflies are earlywarning indicators. If their ranges are shifting this dramatically, it signals profound changes across ecosystems,” Chowdhury said. “We urgently need coordinated global monitoring, especially in the tropics, to understand what species are doing, where they’re going and how we can protect them.”

Tree nymphs: By documenting the biodiversity around them, people can help scientists monitor where different species are found. [Photo by Jeff Gage/Florida Museum of Natural History]

Black swallowtail: Butterfly species are shifting their ranges on every continent where they occur, with climate change and extreme weather driving nearly 80% of documented movements. [Photo by Jeff Gage/Florida Museum of Natural History]

Blue morpho: This global study includes analyses of over 1,750 species spanning across 105 countries. [Photo by Jeff Gage/Florida Museum of Natural History]

Painted beauty: The batesia hypochlora butterfly is found in the upper Amazon basin. [Photo by Jeff Gage/Florida Museum of Natural History]

Commander: Moduza procris is found in South Asia and Southeast Asia. [Photo courtesy Shawan Chowdhury]

One easy way people can help, Kawahara said, is to regularly observe and document the biodiversity around them. “By photographing butterf lies and uploading images to apps like iNaturalist, scientists can follow trends in which species are present and when and where. This is especially important at a time when the environment is changing rapidly.” To learn more, go to floridamuseum.ulf.edu

Common wanderer: The research highlights severe geographic gaps: Central Africa, Southeast Asia, New Guinea and the Amazon Basin remain critically underrepresented despite being global biodiversity hotspots. [Photo courtesy Shawan Chowdhury]

August 28 - September 3 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

RICK STEVES' EUROPE

Italy connoisseurs choose leisurely Lucca

n a sunny summer evening in Lucca, Italy, I was inspired by the simple joy of watching an old man bicycling with his granddaughter atop the wide, fortified wall that once protected this proud city from its enemies – and now corrals its Old World charm. Then, on rented bikes, a group of chatty tourists frolicked by. Their enthusiasm was contagious. Squinting at the energy in their smiles, surrounded by dazzling sunshine, it struck me that the sun in Italy seems to have a special glint. It's as if it's telling visitors, "Embrace life!" Lucca has no single monumental sight. It’s simply a uniquely human and well-preserved city. Despite being seen as the "touristic" center, the mostly trafficfree old town actually feels more local than touristy (aside from a few cruise excursions from nearby Livorno that pass through each day). Lucca began as a Roman settlement. In fact, the grid layout of the streets (and the shadow of an amphitheater) survives from Roman times. As was typical for Roman towns, Lucca's two main roads quartered the fortified town, crossing at what was the forum – the main market and religious/political center (today’s Piazza San Michele). The amphitheater sat just outside the original Roman walls. The city is a bit of a paradox; while it has Europe’s mightiest Renaissance wall, it hasn’t seen a battle since 1430. A friend once explained to me the difference between a Renaissance wall and a medieval wall: Medieval walls

are thin, because with weapons like arrows and stones, there was no need for thick fortification. But in Renaissance times, the advent of powerful cannons introduced the need for thicker, more substantial walls – like Lucca's. These days, locals treat their ramparts like a circular park. And, with plenty of rental bikes available, visitors can enjoy a lazy pedal around its two-and-a-half-mile circuit. It's a wonderfully smooth 20-to30-minute ride, depending on how fast you go and how crowded the wall-top park is. The best people-watching – and slowest pedaling – is during "passeggiata" time, just before dinner, when it seems all of Lucca is out doing slow laps around the wall. In its heyday, Lucca packed 70 churches and over 100 towers within its walls. Each tower was the home and private fortress of a wealthy merchant family, and offered a safe, all-in-one structure to live, work, and garden. Interiors were single rooms stacked atop each other: shop, living room, and then the kitchen, all connected by exterior wooden staircases. The rooftop was generally a vegetable garden, with trees providing shade. Later, the wealthy city folk moved into the countryside, trading away life in their city palazzos to establish farm estates complete with fancy villas. Among Lucca's towers, Romanesque churches seem to lurk around every corner, as do fun-loving piazzas filled with soccer-playing children. The main pedestrian drag here is Via Fillungo, which connects the town’s two busiest

SERIOUSLY SIMPLE

The ultimate summer frittata

hile the heat continues to pound us from coast to coast, I cook as simply as possible. No long simmering stews or soups for me. I am moving toward no-cook chilled soups, chilled precooked salmon or shrimp, tomato and fruit salads, crisp vegetable salads or barbecued anything. One of my favorite ways to beat the heat and serve up something satisfying is to prepare a frittata with ingredients that are both seasonal and colorful. I usually do this in the morning before the afternoon heat sets in. Frittatas can be eaten warm or at room temperature and served for brunch, lunch, or supper. That’s why they easily fit into my summer menus. Use this recipe as a template for whatever ingredients you prefer. If you are just adding veggies, begin with Step 2. The classic Italian frittata is a flat, round omelet cooked over low heat until firm and finished in the oven. Frittatas can be simple or as multilayered as this version that includes sausages, zucchini, mushrooms, and plum tomatoes tucked inside. To round out the meal, serve with roasted baby potatoes. Vegetable Sausage Frittata Serves 4 to 6 2 sweet Italian sausages (1/3 to 1/2 pound total) 2 hot Italian sausages (1/3 to 1/2 pound total) 12 large eggs Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (about 6 ounces) 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 medium shallots, finely chopped 1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced 2 small zucchinis, thinly sliced 1 medium garlic clove, minced 4 medium plum (Roma) tomatoes, sliced Optional garnish: 1/4 cup sour cream 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil leaves 1. In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook the sausages, turning frequently until browned, about 10 minutes. Drain on paper

Frittatas can be eaten warm or at room temperature and served for brunch, lunch, or supper. CREDIT:(Maura McEvoy/TCA).

towels and let cool. Cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices and set aside. 2. Preheat the oven to 425 F. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs with salt and pepper. Stir in 1 1/4 cups of the cheese. Set aside. 4. In an ovenproof nonstick 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter with the olive oil. Add the shallots and saute until softened but not brown, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and saute for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the zucchini and continue cooking for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute. Arrange the sausage slices around the vegetables and season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. 5. Pour the egg mixture over the sausages and vegetables and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Arrange the sliced tomatoes around the edge of the skillet. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup cheese. 6. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the frittata is puffed and brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and invert onto a plate. Invert again onto a serving platter, so the tomato border faces up. (Alternatively, serve directly from the pan.) Garnish with the sour cream and basil, if desired. Use a pizza cutter to serve. Advance preparation: Although it will be completely different in texture and taste, the frittata may also be made one day ahead, refrigerated and served at room temperature.

Unique, simply human Lucca has no single monumental sight – and perhaps because of this, feels more local than touristy. CREDIT:(Rick Steves' Europe).

squares: Piazza dell’Anfiteatro and Piazza San Michele. Between the two, you can get a taste of Lucca’s rich past, including several elegant, century-old storefronts. At delightful Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, you’ll feel the architectural ghost of the town’s Roman amphitheater. With the fall of Rome, the theater (which seated 10,000) was gradually cannibalized for its stones and inhabited by people living in a mishmash of huts. The huts were cleared away in the mid-19th century to better show off the town’s illustrious past and make one purely secular square for the town market (every other square is dominated by a church). While the arena’s long gone, its oval shape is a reminder of the city’s classical heritage. Piazza San Michele also has ancient roots. It’s hosted a market since Roman times, when it was the forum. Today it’s dominated by the Church of San Michele. Towering above its fancy Romanesque facade, the archangel Michael stands

ready to flap his wings – which, thanks to a crude mechanical contraption, he actually did on special occasions. Nearby, the Church of San Giovanni hosts nightly concerts celebrating the music of hometown composer Giacomo Puccini. One of Italy’s greatest opera stars, Puccini is the genius behind the likes of La Bohème, Madame Butterfly, and Tosca. His delightful arias seem to capture the spirit of this wonderful corner of Italy. While neighboring Pisa has the famous tipsy tower you can climb, lesserknown Lucca is a favorite stop for many Italy connoisseurs. It's just a 30-minute train ride from Pisa and an hour’s drive from Florence – but just because you can easily tack Lucca onto a day trip doesn't mean it should be rushed. If you have time for more than a touristy quickie at nearby Pisa, consider slowing down, grabbing a gelato, and basking in Lucca's genuine charm.

MAYO CLINIC Q & A

The importance of screening for pancreatic cancer DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My uncle recently passed away from pancreatic cancer. My mom keeps saying how important it is for us to get screened for it. I’m still young. Do I need to go through screening? ANSWER: Pancreatic cancer is unfortunately detected in most situations when people present with symptoms, which in the US and throughout the world is often at a late stage. Patients usually have abdominal pain that is persistent in the mid-abdomen and spreads through to the back. In some cases, people present with jaundice, or yellowing of the skin. They also can experience weight loss and generalized fatigue, but symptoms are somewhat nonspecific. This is why it’s challenging to diagnose if we wait until symptoms develop. Anytime you have persistent symptoms such as abdominal pain, jaundice or any other intestinal symptom, you should seek advice from your healthcare team. That’s what we’re here for. We see patients all the time who have abdominal pain, most of which have benign causes, but in some cases, it can be serious, such as pancreatic cancer. The only way to really confirm whether it’s benign or a more serious condition is to further investigate it with tests such as ultrasounds, blood tests, CT and MRI scans. People at greatest risk are those who have a family history of pancreatic cancer or those with a known genetic condition that puts them at risk for multiple cancers, including the BRCA “breast cancer” gene. And the more relatives you have, the greater the risk. Our current threshold to recommend screening is if someone has two or more first-degree relatives — mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters — with pancreatic cancer or any three relatives, such as uncles, aunts or grandparents. Those people are at the greatest risk. Another quite common condition is a certain type of cyst of the pancreas that produces mucous (called IPMN or MCN) that can turn malignant. These are commonly found incidentally on

scans done for other reasons. We now have excellent ways to follow these to catch cancer early. There are some other factors that are part of lifestyle that put you at increased risk. Smoking tobacco or any use of tobacco products is a major risk factor for pancreatic and other cancers. Also, alcohol use, obesity, persistent diabetes and a diet that’s low in nutritious foods such as vegetables, fresh fruits and whole grains. The more healthy foods we eat, the lower our cancer risk, including pancreatic cancer. Right now, we’re screening about 10% of the people who are at risk for pancreatic cancer. Those are the ones who have a strong family history or who’ve had genetic testing — they have a known genetic risk. This only accounts for 1 in 10 individuals. What we’re moving toward very quickly now is to broaden those screenings to other individuals at risk. For example, new-onset diabetes after the age of 50, particularly in the setting of weight loss, is a very common condition and indicator of risk. This includes most individuals who will eventually be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and should be offered screening. I really want people to have a sense of hope for pancreatic cancer. We have made important improvements to overall survival and the shift toward early detection. We have had great success in many other cancers as well, including shifting the curve in colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and even lung cancer. Pancreatic cancer has been one of the most difficult, but we’re starting to make progress. So if you have a family history of pancreatic cancer, or if you have risk factors such as a cyst on your pancreas or increasing blood sugar with unintended weight loss, those are things you should let your health care team know about, and ask if you should be screened for pancreatic cancer. That is our best way of finding a disease at a curable stage — to find it early.

August 28 - September 3 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

LOCAL CALENDAR LISTINGS

Government AUG. 31, SEPT. 7, 14, 21 AND 28

Marion County Development Review

Office of County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave., Building 1, Ocala 9am The committee meets each Monday to review and vote on waiver requests to the Land Development Code, major site plans and subdivision plans. See marion.fl.legistar.com/ calendar.aspx for agenda and minutes.

SEPT. 1, 15

Marion County Board of County Commissioners

McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala 9am The commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at marionfl.legistar.com/ calendar.aspx

Ocala City Council

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala 4pm

The council meets each first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas and minutes are available at ocala.legistar.com/calendar.aspx

Belleview City Commission

Belleview City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview 6pm The commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video available at belleviewfl.org/200/agendasminutes

SEPT. 8 AND 22

Marion County School Board

1614 E Fort King St., Ocala 5:30pm The board meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Agendas and minutes are available at go.boarddocs.com/fl/marion/ board.nsf/public

SEPT. 9

Dunnellon City Council

Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 River Dr., Dunnellon 5:30pm The council generally meets the second Wednesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at dunnellon.granicus. com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=1

Boat & Brunch

Silver Springs State Park, 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Beginning at 9am Enjoy a 30-minute tour on the world-famous glass bottom boats, followed by brunch in the Springside Cafe. Park admission of $ per person not included. Alcoholic and specialty beverages available for purchase. For tickets, go to fareharbor.com/embeds/book/silversprings/ items/660075/calendar/2026/08/?full-items=yes to learn more, call (352) 261-5840.

SEPT. 4 AND 5

Ocala Shrine Rodeo

Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 Jacksonville Road, Ocala 7:30pm Proceeds help support the Ocala Shrine Club and various youth organizations. This event is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. It will include bronc riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, roping and more. Learn more at ocalashrinerodeo.com

SEPT. 9

Adult Spelling Bee

Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave., Ocala 6pm The event will benefit the Marion County Literacy Council and Artify Ocala, Inc. For details, email info@artifyocala.org or call (352) 299-5673.

SEPT. 10

Taste of the Town

Ocala Downtown Market, 403 SE Osceola Ave., Ocala 5-8pm The Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center will host its third fundraising event with 26 area restaurants, food and beverages, and food truck vendors offering samples of a different array of food, bakery items, wine and beer. For tickets, go to ebwchc.org

AUG. 29

In the Air Tonight: Tribute to Phil Collins and Genesis

Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala 7:30pm Experience the ultimate Phil Collins & Genesis tribute with In The Air Tonight. Featuring iconic hits, world-class musicians, powerful vocals, and stunning visuals, this electrifying performance brings the music you know and love to life on stage. Learn more at reillyarts center.com

AUG. 30

Jamie Lissow – The Better Off Dad Comedy Tour

Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala 7:30pm Get ready for a night of laughs with comedian and actor Jamie Lissow. Known for his appearances on GUTFELD!, Real Rob and his hit Dry Bar Comedy special, Jamie brings his sharp wit and unforgettable comedy to the stage. More info at reillyartcenter.com

SEPT. 3

First Thursday Exhibit Reception

Arts at the Canopy, 1703 NE 8th Road, Ocala 5-8pm The free event will showcase the artwork of Morgan Raines, whose work includes imagery inspired by wildlife, nature and the beauty of everyday life. Complimentary wine, food and refreshments. Learn more at artsatthecanopy.com

Community AUG. 30

Arts

SEPT. 12

Fall craft fair

Christ the King Anglican Church, 4440 SE 3rd Ave., Ocala 9am-3pm The Anglican Church Women event will include handmade crafts from local artists, food and more, with proceeds to benefit ACW charities. To learn more, call (352) 351-9727.

Ocala Recovery Festival

Tuscawilla Park, 829 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala 10am-3pm This free community event brings together local organizations, recovery resources, families and community partners to celebrate recovery, remember those we have lost and inspire our community to take action. Hosted by the Marion County Children’s Alliance and Community Council Against Substance Abuse in partnership with the Marion County Hospital District. Learn more at /mcchildrensalliance.networkforgood.com/ events/102536-9th-annual-ocala-recovery-festival

SEPT, 13

2nd Sunday Makers Market

Heart of the Park, 516 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala 10am-2pm The community-driven monthly market celebrates local makers, artists and small businesses. It features handmade goods, art and crafts, food trucks, live music and more in a family-friendly setting. Learn more at ocalamainstreet.org

THROUGH SEPT. 29

“Treehouses: Look Who’s Living in the Trees” Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala 10am-4pm Guests can roam from tree to tree and explore habitats trees provide for animals, search for signs left by raccoons, woodpeckers, bears and other species, cross a suspension bridge and climb through two treehouses, become animal trackers, come face to face with wildlife, move along the Forest Sound Dance Floor, build a treehouse, learn about sustainable logging and explore how trees are used in everyday life. For more information, visit mydiscoverycenter.org

Catch The Wire Birds in action in Ocala. [Photo courtesy Reilly Arts Center]

SEPT. 4

Reilly Noir: The Wire Birds

Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St. Ocala 7:30pm Award-winning 8-piece ensemble blending folk, country, jazz, bluegrass and classical influences. Fresh off winning the 2026 Best New Florida Song from the Will McClean Foundation, the band brings Florida’s landscapes, history and culture to life. Get tickets at reillyartscenter.com

SEPT. 5

Free First Saturday

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 10am-5pm During the event, Caren Neile will give a presentation at noon on “Florida Lore.” The presentation is a partnership between Florida Humanities and the Appleton as part of Florida Humanities’ America 250 Florida Talks programming. Auditorium doors will open at 11:30 a.m. and seating is limited to 250 on a first-come, first-served basis. The Donut Express and Big Red Hot Dogs food trucks will be on-site throughout the day, along with LifeSouth Community Blood Centers. For more information, call (352) 291-4455 or visit appletonmuseum.org

SEPT. 12

Super Pickle: A Hilarious Pickleball Musical Parody

Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala 7:30pm Get ready to serve up the laughs with a wildly entertaining new comedy that dives paddle-first into the pickleball craze sweeping the nation. A laughout-loud comedy with clever pop song parodies and big characters, it pits seasoned players against eager newbies in a hilarious battle of skill and sass. Think Weird Al meets Wimbledon, with paddles and polyester. From court rivalries to community chaos, this high-energy musical serves up fast volleys, big laughs and a whole lot of heart. Get tickets at reillyartscenter.com

THROUGH SEPT. 13

My Country, ’Tis of Thee: Celebrating American Art and Design Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Hours vary Drawn from the Appleton’s permanent collection, the exhibition highlights a wide range of American expression across time periods, subjects, media and functions. It also explores the role Florida and its natural wonders, including those of Marion County, has played as a source of inspiration for artists. For details, go to appletonmuseum.org

THROUGH DEC. 3 AND BEYOND

Art in City Spaces

City of Ocala Cultural Arts Division art exhibitions include: • Landscapes by Nancy Bowden, on display until Dec. 2 at the Clerk’s Office inside City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. • “Stillness in Motion,” by Gwen Morrison, on display until Dec. 3 at Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. • “Through the Looking Glass,” by Linda Bourassa, on display until Dec. 16 at the Eighth Avenue Adult Activity Center, 830 NE Eighth Ave. • “Creative Voices,” by Arts in Health Ocala Metro, on display until Dec. 17 at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave. • “Waterscapes” by Marjorie Dodrill, on display until Dec. 22 at the Ocala International Airport, 1770 SW 60th Ave. All exhibitions are free and open to the public during each facility’s regular business hours. For more information, go to ocalafl.gov/artincityspaces

THROUGH DEC. 31

Photography exhibit by Keith Sackin

Arts in Health Ocala Metro Healing Arts Gallery, 2880 NE 8th Road, Ocala. Office hours A native of Ocala, Sackin attended Emory University before a spinal cord injury in 2001 reshaped his path. His photography explores disability, embodiment, memory and human connection. AIHOM is a nonprofit organization that connects art and healing. Its programs include music, dance, performing and visual arts. To learn more, go to aihocala.org

THROUGH JAN. 24

“Life, Labor and Lens: Randal Levenson’s Working-Class America” Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Times vary Drawn from the 80 works by Levenson in the Appleton’s permanent collection, “Life, Labor and Lens” features 25 black-and-white and color photographs that evoke a sense of familiarity and nostalgia. For more information, go to appletonmuseum.org or call (352) 291-4455.

FREE FIRST SATURDAY + “FLORIDA LORE” STORYTELLING Saturday, September 5 Admission is free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to enjoy the galleries and Artspace. At noon in the auditorium, master storyteller and professor Dr. Caren Neile brings Florida folklore to life, from the Ashley Gang to Bellamy Bridge, in an engaging exploration of the legends that continue to shape the state’s cultural imagination. Free to attend. Food trucks will be on-site throughout the day. This Free First Saturday is sponsored in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union and Florida Humanities.

Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store -an equal opportunity college-

Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, noon-5 p.m. 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd. | AppletonMuseum.org

Scan the QR code to learn more about the event.

August 28 - September 3 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Sudoku is played on a grid of 9 x 9 spaces. Within the rows and columns are 9 “squares” (made up of 3 x 3 spaces). Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-9, without repeating any numbers within the same row, column or square.

Across 1 Mazda two-seater 6 Nerve centers 10 A bit open 14 "What a bummer!" 15 Soon, quaintly 16 Small bay 17 Part of a cross-examination 20 French 10 21 Salt Lake City college athletes 22 Female sheep 23 Mint family herb 26 Earlier than 29 High school honor that may come with a tiara 31 Pa. neighbor 34 Having five sharps, on a score 35 One of a kind 36 Nobleman's address 39 Adjust, as wheels 41 __ non grata 42 Flee 43 Verdi opera set in Egypt 44 Hibernation spot 45 Tackle the slopes 46 Highlighted excerpt in an article 48 WNBA official 51 Spoils 52 Place for the Torah 55 Stella __ cookies 56 Pro vote 58 "Behave!," and an apt title for this puzzle 64 "Got it" 65 Future atty.'s exam 66 Give a quick review 67 Moist 68 "Sisters" Emmy winner Ward 69 Writing class writing assignment Down 1 Waze display 2 __ Jima

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 19 23 24 25 27 28 30 32 33 36 37 38 40 41 43 46 47 49 50 52 53 54 57 59 60 61 62 63

French buddy Cannondale two-seater Not voting 56-Across Owned Mentally restless Pitcher Jim who wrote the 1970 memoir "Ball Four" Show scorn Put on a show __ de vivre Affirm Painter Magritte Strike, as from a formal record Retired fast jet, briefly Steeple topper James of "Gunsmoke" Turn around Bridle strap Hooting birds Witty remark Louisiana religion with African roots Will who voices Lego Batman Musical mixtures Basra's country "Fleishman Is in Trouble" actress Claire Hibernation spot Heap Like the northern lights Read carefully Seventh planet from the sun Big name in ice cream April __ Day Surrounded by Set's opposite Was aware of Loosen (up) Susan of "L.A. Law" School support org. Private chats on soc. media Sine __ non Asset in a covert op

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES ON PAGE B9

August 28 - September 3 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE Public Notice

Public Notice

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

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

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

CASE NO.: 2026-CA-000439

File No. 26CP001840

MIDFLORIDA CREDIT UNION, AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO COMMUNITY BANK AND TRUST OF FLORIDA, Plaintiff, vs. THE ESTATE OF PAULA SHELDON; JORDAN J. RICCARDI, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF PAULA SHELDON; THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF PAUDA SHELDON; JULIE MICHELE POLING N/K/A MICHELE MURPHY; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF JULIE MICHELE POLING N/K/A MICHELE MURPHY; TENANT #1; TENANT #2; WINDHORSE SANCTUARY, INC.; APPALACHIAN BEAR RESCUE; THE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST USA, INC.; SKYDOG SANCTUARY, INC.; SOUTH FLORIDA BEAGLE RESCUE, INC.; BOBBIE J. BURNES; AND ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, AND UNDER, AND AGAINST THE HEREIN-NAMED DEFENDANTS WHO ARE NOT KNOWN TO BE DEAD OR ALIVE, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, OR OTHER CLAIMANTS, Defendants. / NOTICE OF ACTION TO: THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF PAULA SHELDON and ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, AND UNDER, AND AGAINST THE HEREIN-NAMED DEFENDANTS WHO ARE NOT KNOWN TO BE DEAD OR ALIVE, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, OR OTHER CLAIMANTS YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose on the following real property in Marion County, Florida: Commence at the S.E. corner of the S.E. 1/4 of the N.E. 1/4 of Section 10, Township 15 South, Range 20 East, Marion County, Florida, Thence N. 00 degrees 58 minutes 20 seconds E. along the East Boundary of said S.E. 1/4 of the N.E. 1/4 a Distance of 890.98 feet to the Point of Beginning, Thence continuing N. 00 degrees 58 minutes 20 seconds E. along the aforesaid East Boundary of the S.E. 1/4 of the N.E. 1/4 a Distance of 20.00 feet, Thence N. 89 degrees 52 minutes 19 seconds W. 883.97 feet, Thence N. 01 degrees 20 minutes 14 seconds E. 437.47 feet to a point on the North Boundary of said S.E. 1/4 of the N.E. 1/4, Thence N. 89 degrees 52 minutes 19 seconds W. along the aforesaid North Boundary of the S.E. 1/4 of the N.E. 1/4 a distance of 424.34 feet to the N.W. corner of said S.E. 1/4 of the N.E. 1/4, Thence S. 01 degrees 20 minutes 14 seconds W. along the West Boundary of the aforesaid S.E. 1/4 of the N.E. 1/4 a distance of 457.47 feet, Thence S. 89 degrees 52 minutes 19 seconds E. 1308.44 feet to the Point of Beginning. Subject to road rightof-way across the East 20.00 feet thereof. Parcel Identification No.: 21048-002-02 Property Address: 1630 NW Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34482

100th

has been filed against you in the Circuit Court of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, Marion County, Florida, and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses to the Complaint, if any, to Gregory A. Sanoba, Esquire, 422 South Florida Avenue, Lakeland, Florida 33801, within 30 days of the first publication date of this Notice of Action and file the original with the Clerk of this Court either before service on Plaintiff’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise, a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint. GREGORY C. HARRELL, DATE: 7/9/26 of Court and Comptroller By: H. Bibb, Deputy Clerk

PROBATE DIVISION

Clerk

If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the ADA Coordinator at the Office of the Trial Court Administrator, Marion County Judicial Center, 110 NW First Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475, Telephone (352)401-6710, at least seven (7) days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than seven (7) days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711. Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: Extra Space Storage 15855 S.US Hwy 441 Summerfield FL, 34491 on (date) @ 12 pm. Eric Bilyou washer & dryer, 2 computer monitors, mattress, vacuum, guitar and boxes Kenneth H. Whiting engine & hoist, vacuum, kids playhouse The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

ROAN HILLS HOMEOWNERS Division 44-E ASSOCIATION, INC., Plaintiff, IN RE: ESTATE OF Case No. 26-CCvs. RAMON HEVIA000035 MONTEAGUDO JASON WALLACE, Deceased. and HOLLY BREANNE NOTICE TO CREDITORS The summary administration of the WALLACE, estate of Ramon Hevia-Monteagudo, Defendants. / deceased, whose date of death was June 12, 2026, is pending in the Circuit NOTICE OF SALE Court in and for Marion County, Florida, Notice is hereby given that pursuant to Probate Division, the address of which Paragraph 5 of the Final Judgment of is 110 NW 1st Avenue, Ocala, Florida Foreclosure entered in the case pending 34475. The names and addresses of the in the County Court of the Thirteenth personal representative and the personal Judicial Circuit in and for Marion County, representative's attorney are set forth Florida, Case No. 26-CC-000035 the below. Clerk of the Court, Marion County, shall All creditors of the decedent and other sell the property situated in said county, persons having claims or demands described as: against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served Lot 133, CALESA TOWNSHIP ROAN must file their claims with this court ON HILLS PHASE 2, a subdivision OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS according to the plat thereof recorded AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST in Plat Book 14, Page 184, of the Public PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 Records of Marion County, Florida. DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE Parcel ID No.: 3546-200-133 (“Property”) OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. Property Address: 6428 Southwest 72 The personal representative has no duty nd Terrace, Ocala, FL 34476 to discover whether any property held at at public sale, to the highest and best the time of the decedent's death by the bidder for cash at 10:00 a.m. on decedent or the decedent's surviving September 23, 2026 . The sale shall be spouse is property to which the Florida conducted online at http://www.Marion. Uniform Disposition of Community realforeclose.com. Any person claiming Property Rights at Death Act as described an interest in the surplus proceeds from in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, the sale, if any, other than the property applies, or may apply, unless a written owner as of the date of the notice, must demand is made by a creditor as specified file a claim within 60 days after the sale. under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The Publish in Ocala Gazette written demand must be filed with the If you are a person with a disability clerk. who needs an accommodation in All other creditors of the decedent and order to participate in this proceeding, other persons having claims or demands you are entitled, at no cost to you, to against decedent's estate must file their the provision of certain assistance. claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS Please contact the Public Information AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST Department, Marion County PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. Government Center, 601 SE 25th Ave., ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN Ocala, FL 34471, Phone (352) 401-6710 THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN (voice), 352-438-2300 (voice) 711 for FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 the hearing impaired. Contact should WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. be initiated at least seven days before NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME the scheduled court appearance, PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY or immediately upon receiving this CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR notification if the time before the MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE scheduled appearance is less than OF DEATH IS BARRED. seven days. The date of first publication of this notice is Dated this 21st day of August 2026. August 21, 2026. RABIN PARKER GURLEY, P.A. Attorney for Personal Representative: /s/ Stephen R. Garcia-Vidal Stephen R. GarciaVidal, Esq. Florida Bar Number: 0145203 Elderly Care Law Firm 14707 S. Dixie Highway PH 401 Miami, Florida 33176 Telephone: (305) 836-4697 Fax: (305) 836-3315 E-Mail: contact@ elderlycarelawfirm. com Personal Representative: Maria Hevia

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2026-CP-1786 IN RE: ESTATE OF ELOISE ELEANOR MCGUIRE Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of ELOISE ELEANOR MCGUIRE, deceased, whose date of death was May 28, 2026, is pending in the Circuit Court for MARION County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, #1, Ocala, Florida 34471. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is August 21, 2026. Personal Representative: KATHY JO SCHWARTZ Attorney for Personal Representative: SHANTA MATTHEWS, Attorney Florida Bar Number: 69935 814 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Suite D OCALA, FL 34470 Telephone: (352) 421-8722 Fax: (352) 306-3759 E-Mail: shanta@smatthewslaw.com Secondary: lori@smatthewslaw.com

2653 McCormick Drive Clearwater, Florida 33759 Telephone: (727)475-5535 Facsimile: (727)723-1131 For Electronic Service: rpglaw.com Counsel for Plaintiff

pleadings@

By: /s/ D. Jefferson Davis Monique E. Parker, Florida Bar No.: 0669210 D. Jefferson Davis, Florida Bar No.: 0073771 Copies furnished to : RABIN PARKER GURLEY, P.A. 2653 McCormick Drive Clearwater, Florida 33759 For Electronic Service: Pleadings@ RPGLaw.com Jason & Holly Breanne Wallace 6428 SW 72nd Terrace Ocala, FL 34476 FLORIDA Newspaper Advertisement: Extra space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 16679 US. 301 Summerfield, Fl 34491 on September 8, 2026 @ 12:00 pm joe watkins - Household items Brandon Neil - Household items Kenneth Jarman - Household items EDWARD RAMOS - Household items Patricia Bryant - Household items

The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.co m. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

NOTICE OF MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MARION COUNTY MARION COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD LEASING CORPORATION - COP Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the Marion County School Board Leasing Corporation will meet on September 8, 2026 @ 5:00. The meeting will be held at the Browne Greaton Cole Auditorium, 1614 E. Fort. King Street, Ocala, FL 34471. An agenda will be published seven days prior to the meeting and may be obtained at Bridgeway Academy, 1614 E. Fort King Street. Ocala, FL 34471, 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 NOTICE UNDER FICTITIOUS NAME LAW PURSUANT TO SECTION 865.09, FLORIDA STATUTES Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Insanely Delicious Peanuts located at 16370 Ne 140th Terrace , Ft McCoy, Florida 32134, in the County of Marion, City of Ocala, State of Florida, 34480, intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State. Dated at Ocala, Florida, this 20th day of August, 2026. Name of Owner(s) or Sole Proprietor: Derek Yenowine

ROAN HILLS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., Plaintiff, vs.

Case No. 26CC-001442

Public Notice IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2026-CP-1825 Division PROBATE IN RE: ESTATE OF KATHLEEN M. DONEY, Deceased.

Public Notice IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE File No.: 2026-CPOF 001873 ROBERT S. SHEBAUGH, Deceased . NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of ROBERT S. SHEBAUGH, deceased, whose date of death was June 21, 2026, NOTICE TO CREDITORS File Number 2026-CP-001873 is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, The administration of the Ancillary Estate Florida, Probate Division, the address of of KATHLEEN M. DONEY, deceased, TO: AARON MICHAEL YOUNGBLOOD whose date of death was December 6, which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475. 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, foreclosure on the following property in the address of which is 110 NW 1st Ave. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal Marion County, Florida: Ocala, Florida 34475. The names and Lot 135, CALESA TOWNSHIP SORREL addresses of the personal representative representative's attorney are set forth GLEN 2, according to plat thereof as and the personal representative's attorney below. recorded in Plat are set forth below. Book 15, Page 178-184, of the Public All creditors of the decedent and other All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands Records of Marion County, Florida. persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy against decedent's estate on whom a of this notice is required to be served must PARCEL ID NO.: 3546-502-135 copy of this notice is required to be served file their claims with this court WITHIN (“Property”) must file their claims with this court ON THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS Property Address: 7540 Southwest AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE 57th Place, Ocala, FL 34476 PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE NOTICE ON THEM. OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. A Lawsuit has been filed against you and The personal representative has no duty you are required to serve a copy of your to discover whether any property held at All other creditors of the decedent and written defenses, if any, on or before 30 the time of the decedent's death by the other persons having claims or demands days after the first publication of this Notice decedent or the decedent's surviving against decedent's estate must file their of Action, on Rabin Parker Gurley, P.A., spouse is property to which the Florida claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS Plaintiff’s Attorney, whose address is 2653 Uniform Disposition of Community AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST McCormick Drive, Clearwater, Florida Property Rights at Death Act as described PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. 33759, and file the original with this Court in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, either before service on Plaintiff’s attorney applies, or may apply, unless a written ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN or immediately thereafter; otherwise a demand is made by a creditor as specified THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA default will be entered against you for the under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER relief demanded in the Complaint. All other creditors of the decedent and This notice shall be published once each other persons having claims or demands BARRED. week for two consecutive weeks in The against decedent's estate must file their NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME Ocala Gazette claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS WITNESS my hand and the seal of this AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR , PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. Court on this ______ day of MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE 2026. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN If you are a person with a disability THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN OF DEATH IS BARRED. who needs an accommodation in FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 The date of first publication of this notice is August 21, 2026. order to participate in this proceeding, WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. Attorney for Personal Representative: you are entitled, at no cost to you, to NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME the provision of certain assistance. PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY Please contact the Public Information CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR Department, Marion County MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE EDWARD W. SOULSBY, B.C.S. Government Center, 601 SE 25th Ave., OF DEATH IS BARRED. Attorney for Personal Representative Ocala, FL 34471, Phone (352) 401-6710 The date of first publication of this notice is Florida Bar Number: 0488216 (voice), 352-438-2300 (voice) 711 for August 21, 2026. TROTTER & SOULSBY, P.A. the hearing impaired. Contact should 4064 SR 44, Suite B be initiated at least seven days before Attorney for Personal Representative: Wildwood, Florida 34785 the scheduled court appearance, Telephone: (352) 205-7245 or immediately upon receiving this Fax: (352) 205-7305 notification if the time before the SAMANTHA SHEALY RAUBA, ESQ. E-Mail: ed@trotterlaw.com scheduled appearance is less than Attorney 2nd E-Mail: justin@trotterlaw.com seven days. Florida Bar Number: 59503 RABIN PARKER GURLEY, P.A. McGraw, Rauba & Mutarelli Personal Representative: 2653 McCormick Drive P.O. Box 4440 STEPHANIE ANN OLTMANN Clearwater, Florida 33759 Ocala, FL 34478 4241 Henry Drinker Road Telephone: (727)475-5535 Telephone: (352) 789-6520 Madison Twp, Pennsylvania 18444 Counsel for Plaintiff Fax: (352) 789-6570 For Electronic Service: Pleadings@ E-Mail: Samantha@LawMRM.com IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR RPGLaw.com Secondary E-Mail: Gina@LawMRM. MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA com PROBATE DIVISION Gregory C. Harrell Clerk of Court Case: 26-CP-001833 BY: Personal Representative: IN RE: ESTATE OF DEPUTY CLERK CYNTHIA WORLEY VERLIA RENE EPPERLY, Personal Representative Deceased. Copies Furnished to : 2079 Wicker Wood Way NOTICE TO CREDITORS Snellville, Georgia 30078 The administration of the estate of VERLIA Aaron Michael Youngblood RENE EPPERLY, deceased, whose date 7540 Southwest 57th Place First Add Run 08/212026 of death was December 28, 2025, is Ocala, FL 34476 Second Add Run 08/28/2026 pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH Extra Space Storage will hold a public address of which is 110 NW 1st Avenue, JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARI- auction to sell personal property described Ocala, Florida 34475. The names and ON COUNTY, FLORIDA below belonging to those individuals addresses of the personal representative IN RE: ESTATE OF BUTLER CURTIS listed below at the location indicated: and the personal representative’s attorney HAGINS JR, DECEASED. 4620 SW College RD Ocala, Fl 34474 on are set forth below. CASE NO.: 2026-CP- 1861 September 8 th , 2026, at 12:00pm All creditors of the decedent and other NOTICE TO CREDITORS Joseph Chi- Appliances, Furniture persons having claims or demands The administration of the estate of Butler Personal stuff against decedent's estate on whom a Curtis Hagins, Jr., deceased, whose date Sara Ashlaw- Collectables, personal stuff copy of this notice is required to be served of death was June 3, 2026, is pending in Jacqueline VaughnClothing and must file their claims with this court ON the Circuit Court for Marion County, Flori- household stuff OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS da, Probate Division, the address of which Iris Sierra- kid's toys, household stuff AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST is, 110 NW 1st Ave., Ocala, Florida 34475. Shindeka Kinsler- Clothing, Household PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 The names and addresses of the personal stuff DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE representative and the personal represen- Latasha Taylor- Appliances, Household OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. tative's attorney are set forth below. Stuff All other creditors of the decedent and All creditors of the decedent and other per- This auction will be listed and advertised other persons having claims or demands sons having claims or demands against on www.storagetreasures.com . Purchase against decedent’s estate must file their decedent's estate on whom a copy of this must be made cash only and paid at the claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS notice is required to be served must file above referenced facility to complete AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST their claims with this court WITHIN THE the transaction. Extra Space Storage PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME may refuse any bid and may rescind any The personal representative has no duty OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS purchase until the winning bid der takes to discover whether any property held at NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE possession of the personal property. the time of the decedent’s death by the OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOdecedent or the decedent’s surviving TICE ON THEM. NOTICE OF FORFEITURE PROCEED- spouse is property to which the Florida All other creditors of decedent and oth- INGS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF Uniform Disposition of Community er persons having claims or demands THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND Property Rights at Death Act as described against decedent's estate must file their FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA IN in ss. 732.216-732.228, applies, or may claims with this court WITHIN THE LAT- RE: FORFEITURE OF: Case Number: apply, unless a written demand is made by ER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME 2026-CA-001682 DIGITAL CURREN- a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS CIES CONTAINED WITHIN BINANCE Florida Statutes. The written demand must NOTICE. ACCOUNTS BELONGING TO SAMEER be filed with the clerk. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN SIDDIQUI TO WIT: 0.76283092 BTC ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN Judge: Hodges ALL PERSONS who THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA claim an interest in the following property: FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER 0.76283092 BTC which was seized be- WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. BARRED. cause said property is alleged to be con- NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD The personal representative or cura- traband as defined by Sections 932.701 SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED tor has no duty to discover whether any (2)(a)(1-6), Florida Statutes, by the City TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER property held at the time of the decedent's of Ocala, Division of Ocala Police Depart- THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS death by the decedent or the decedent's ment, on or about May 8, 2026, in Marion BARRED. surviving spouse is property to which the County, Florida. Any owner, entity, bona The date of first publication of this notice is Florida Uniform Disposition of Community fide lienholder, or person in possession of August 28, 2026. Property Rights at Death Act as described the property when seized has the right to JONATHAN PAUL EPPERLY in sections 732.216-732.228, applies, request an adversarial preliminary hearing Personal Representative: or may apply, unless a written demand for a probable cause determination within 19563 Southwest 86th Lane is made by a creditor as specified under twenty (20) days from the date of receipt Dunnellon, FL 34432 section 732.2211. of notice, by providing such request to JOSHUA BERMAN NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERI- William E. Sexton, City Attorney's Office, Attorney for Personal Representative ODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM 110 S.E. Watula Ave, Ocala, FL 34471, by Florida Bar No. 93203 FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE certified mail return receipt requested. A Berman Law LLC AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF complaint for forfeiture has been filed in Post Office Box 70002 DEATH IS BARRED. the above styled court. Marietta, Georgia 30007-0002 The first date of publication of this notice is Telephone: (404) 452-3824 August 28, 2026. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the un- joshberman@bermanestatelaw.com Caleb V. Smith, Esquire dersigned, desiring to engage in business Secondary Email: lwelton@pfhpa.com Attorney for Personal Representative under the fictitious name of Ocala SigThe Florida Legal Advocacy Group, P.A. nature & Seal, located at 2497 SW 27th NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the un445 NE 8th Ave., Ocala, Florida 34470 Avenue, #1002, Ocala, Florida 34471, in dersigned desiring to engage in business FL Bar No.: 1008368, Tel: 352-732-8030 the County of Marion, intends to register under fictitious name of Store Space located at 3584 SE 58th Ave. in the County Fax: 888-399-3129 cs@FlagOcala.com said name with the Division of Corpora- of Marion in the City of Ocala, FL 34480, Personal Representative, Joan Sams tions of the Florida Department of State, intends to register the said name with the 2500 18th Street South, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Florida. Division of Corporations of The Florida Department of State. FL 33712 Owner: Gwyneth Hiesinger Owner, Storage Cap Ocala, LP August 20, 2026

AARON MICHAEL YOUNGBLOOD, Defendant. / NOTICE OF ACTION

August 28 - September 3 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Bird of the week Black-necked stilt Week of August 28th thru September 3rd 2026 ARIES

March 21-April 20

Good vibes are heading your way, Aries. Cosmic energy continues through your sign, showing visions of future ambitions.

TAURUS

April 21-May 21

Appreciate the world around you, Taurus. It’s easy to get fixated on what isn’t working, but be grateful for all of the things that are going right.

GEMINI

May 22-June 21

Gemini, light banter is the name of the game for conversation this week. Avoid any topics that can lead to confrontation or confusion.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

You may have a sudden urge to get organized at home or the office, Cancer. Spend time sorting and clearing out the clutter to be more productive.

LEO

July 23-August 23

Celebrate yourself this week, Leo. You deserve some recognition just for being you. What better person than you to initiate that?

VIRGO

August 24- September 22

Your responsibilities are at an alltime high right now, Virgo. That means you are in high demand. Pick and choose projects to fit your schedule.

LIBRA

September 23October 23

Give yourself a break, Libra. You have been putting your nose to the grindstone for a long time. You deserve an opportunity to enjoy the lighter side of life for a bit.

SCORPIO

October 24November 22

Scorpio, advocate and negotiate for yourself as much as you can in the days to come. Some skillful selfpromotion can open new and exciting doors.

SAGITTARIUS

November 23 -December 21

Right now your demeanor is sensitive and compassionate, Sagittarius. Unfortunately, this can make you vulnerable, so keep your friends close.

CAPRICORN

December 22January 20

There may be surprises around the workplace this week, Capricorn. A supervisor may be sending mix signals. Ride out this unsettled time.

Black-necked stilt shorebirds are notoriously frustrating for birders to identify. Differentiating species often comes down to subtle differences in color, bill length and behavior. The black-necked stilt is a welcome standout, with its gangly pink legs, striking black and white colors and pointy bill. They’re found in ponds and mudflats in Marion County from March through the end of August. This pair was photographed at a pond near the Baseline landfill. Photo by Michael Warren. See more at https://michaelwarren.com/birds

AQUARIUS

January 21-February 18

Aquarius, patience is an asset this week. A careful approach to problem-solving will yield the results you’re seeking.

PISCES

February 19-March 20

Try not to question the mysteries of the universe right now, Pisces. Unconventional vibes are coming your way, which may lead you on some bizarre, yet enjoyable journeys.

Animal Crackers

Broom Hilda

ANSWERS FOR PAGE B7 Sudoku

Middletons

Jumble

Gasoline Alley

Crossword

DRAWN PANDA OUTING HYPHEN Answers: For this guy, having huge arms and winning arm wrestling matches — GO HAND IN HAND

B10

August 28 - September 3 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

How to tell bees, hornets and wasps apart Bees, wasps and hornets are distinguished by their behavior, waist and body texture. WASPS

Staff report

eople who spend any measurable amount of time outdoors likely have crossed paths with various flying insects that cohabitate in a typical yard. Some of the most ardent pollinators and pest control agents also have the potential to be dangerous if provoked. While most bees, wasps and hornets are content to go about their business, their stingers can make these insects formidable foes, particularly to those who are allergic. According to The Best Bees Company, there are more than 20,000 known species of bees and more than 100,000 known species of wasps worldwide. Those who don’t want to get too up close and personal with stinging insects may not know how to tell the different types apart. Bees, wasps and hornets are distinguished by their behavior, waist and body texture.

BEES

If it has a fuzzy body, it’s a bee. Bees tend to be non-aggressive and may be carrying pollen on their backs. They also live in wax hives. You’ll likely see bees flitting from one flower to another in the warmer weather. Honeybees will die after one sting, advises PBS, but bumblebees and carpenter bees have smooth stingers that will not get stuck, enabling them to sting again.

Wasps are stinging insects which can be social or solitary. Wasps have smooth, shiny bodies and narrow waists. They can be bright black and yellow or black and white. Wasps can sting repeatedly, says The Spruce, but they may not always be aggressive; it depends on the species. Yellowjackets are a type of wasp. They are sensitive to threats and not afraid to use their stingers. Another way to distinguish wasps from bees is that wasps hang their legs down while flying and bees keep them tucked in.

Shutterstock images

HORNETS Hornets are wasps and tend to be social in nature. They only construct paper nests and can be more aggressive than other types of wasps. “The Old Farmer’s Almanac” says hornets can be highly defensive with more painful stings and also may be larger and rounder in size than other wasps. In the United States, the one true hornet species is the European hornet, which nest in trees. It’s impossible to avoid bees and wasps entirely, but individuals can be mindful of where they are making their nests. As these insects are important to the ecosystem, it’s key not to exterminate them haphazardly. If a nest is problematic, it’s best to have a professional come and relocate or remove it safely.

Wasp

Bee

Hornet

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