OG Digital Edition 09-12-2025

‘Into the Woods’

Stage production weaves fairy-tale magic to open The Civic’s 75th season.

By Jamie Berube jamie@ocalagazette.com

Justin Davis was wrestling with a stubborn computer in his home office when a call from The Ocala Civic Theatre, also known as The Civic, shifted his course as he was offered the role of resident music director.

“When I got the call, I was in my home office working on another IT job and I was very excited, because it was an opportunity to do something creative. At the time, I was fighting with a computer that was not behaving, so I was very excited to think about the future of doing music with people instead of working with machines,” Davis said.

Feeling out of place in the solitary world of IT, he craved connection.

“I applied for the job and I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but when I got that call that they wanted to move forward with me to be their next teammate, it was just an overwhelming sense of relief of finally being able to have that part of life filled for me while still being able to do IT work on the side,” Davis said.

He later learned that he would lead the music for “Into the Woods,” the Tony Award-winning musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine.

“I feel like I’ve come home. It’s a lot of fun to connect up with such a great organization,” Davis stated.

From Sept. 11-28, “Into the Woods” opens The Civic’s 75th season, weaving iconic Grimm fairy-tale characters with the tale of a baker and his wife in a magical forest. The story intertwines Jack of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel with the baker and his wife, who hope to break a witch’s curse to have a child.

In the magical forest, their quests for items requested by the witch to lift the curse include a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn and a slipper as pure as gold, leading to encounters with giants, wolves and charming princes along the way.

Directed by Executive Artistic Director Greg Thompson, this production is played by a darling, dynamic cast, with an evocative scenic design by Kaden Reynard and costumes by Amanda Jones. The show offers a mesmerizing yet sobering exploration of wishes and their repercussions.

Thompson crafts a unique vision, presenting the story through a child’s imagination.

“We tell the story through the eyes of a child—their narrator. It’s like the story comes alive in their imagination, mainly to help them deal with a tough personal situation. It’s

set among brambles and bushes of the forest, rather than the usual focus on tall, looming trees,” Thompson said.

Exploring the complex nature of parent-child relationships, “Into the Woods” examines how the hopes, dreams and expectations that parents place on their children shape these bonds and the individuals involved, according to Thompson.

CREATIVE CASTING

Christian Gonzalez returns to The Civic in the role of Jack from “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Most recently, Gonzalez appeared as the lead of SpongeBob SquarePants in “The SpongeBob Musical.”

For Gonzalez, “Into the Woods” has been on his bucket list since he started doing theater.

“I’ve had a history of playing youthful, energetic roles in the past and Jack is among the best of that type. I haven’t had the opportunity to be in a dramatic piece in a while and while Jack has lots of fun comic moments throughout the show, he really has a terribly difficult and tragic story towards the end of the show, where, for a while, he’s a big target of blame by a large group of people,” he said.

See Into the Woods, page A8

Grooming for success

School bus gun scare highlights radio gains and continued gaps

By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com

An incident Monday morning in which a loaded revolver was recovered from a Marion County school bus underscored both the benefits and shortcomings of our local emergency communications systems.

Ocala Police Department officers responded to the scene at Southwest 27th Avenue and Southwest 14th Street, where they recovered a loaded 38-caliber revolver, according to OPD records. The juvenile was arrested on numerous charges and was taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice (see page A4). No injuries were reported.

A review of communications during the incident reveals both successes and gaps in how the various agencies involved coordinated their responses. EMERGENCY RADIO BUTTON WORKED AS DESIGNED

At 7:25 a.m. on Sept. 8, the driver of Bus 1959, carrying roughly 25 students to College Park Elementary, activated the vehicle’s emergency radio to report that a child was armed. Within seconds, the transmission was received by Marion County Public Safety Communications, which classified the incident as an “active shooter” and pushed alerts through its system. The response was only possible because of a 2024 interlocal agreement that placed all Marion County Public Schools buses on the county’s emergency radio network. Before the agreement, bus drivers relied solely on bus dispatchers and cellphone calls to report crises, a vulnerability county and school leaders sought to eliminate. Since 2023, the county has made a significant investment to upgrade its radios at a cost of more than $10 million. It’s also recently increased the number of towers to serve those radios. The school district jumped on the opportunity to tag onto the county’s upgraded radio system, even though it tripled their service costs to $152,289 as of the last budget year.

School District member Nancy Thrower, who played a major role in getting the interlocal agreement with the county for the collaboration, told the “Gazette” after Monday’s incident that

See School bus, page A8

Robert Fick got a second chance through a juvenile justice program

young men with retired thoroughbred racehorses.

By Margo Wilson margo@ocalagazette.com

After Robert Fick’s father died, Robert’s world grew darker. Fick, then 15, started hanging

out with kids his dad might not have approved of. It didn’t take that long before Fick found himself at the Ocala Center for Success and Independence, a residential program for young men ages 12 to 18

who have been sent there after running up against the State of Florida’s Juvenile Justice system. But it was at the center that Fick learned about an equine program, run through the Thoroughbred

Retirement Foundation’s Second Chances Juvenile Program for the Department of Juvenile Justice. In the program, youth must have been

See Robert Fick page A6

Give4Marion: Impact through giving

By Lauren Deiorio, Executive Director, Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County

Every year, Give4Marion emerges as an example of what happens when neighbors come together for a common cause. This 33hour online giving event provides residents with a simple yet powerful way to support the nonprofits that make Marion County stronger, healthier and more resilient.

According to the Johnson Center for Philanthropy, research on giving days shows that these campaigns do more than raise money—they democratize philanthropy by encouraging gifts of all sizes, engage new generations of donors and help organizations tell their stories to wider audiences. Many communities across the country have seen participation double or even triple during giving days, underscoring their ability to build momentum and create long-lasting impact.

Here in Ocala, nonprofits like The Pearl Project use Give4Marion not just as a fundraiser but as a platform for awareness and engagement. Their traumainformed programs provide vital support to foster and adoptive families, helping children who have experienced hardship find healing and stability. During Give4Marion, they connect with donors through creative outreach by offering local perks such as a cupcake for any contribution made during the giving campaign. These touches turn giving into a shared experience, reminding the community that even small acts of generosity can ripple into hope for children and families.

Habitat for Humanity of Marion County helps families achieve the dream of safe, affordable homeownership. Each home they build is more than bricks and mortar. It represents security, stability and an opportunity for future generations to thrive. The funds raised during Give4Marion fuel these efforts, ensuring that more families can break cycles of poverty and plant roots in neighborhoods they can proudly call their own.

The Marion County Children’s Alliance is another local agency that has far-reaching impact as it provides communication, collaboration and coordination among agencies and individuals who work with children and families.

“The alliance has taken part in Give4Marion since its inception. The awareness it brings to all

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

- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black in New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)

Publisher Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com

Bruce Ackerman Photography Editor bruce@ocalagazette.com

Dani Eskridge Director of Operations & Sales dani@magnoliamediaco.com

Andy Fillmore Reporter andy@ocalagazette.com

the nonprofit organizations is invaluable and the funds we raise help support our programs and advocacy efforts for children’s issues in Marion County,” said Executive Director Beth McCall.

Love In the Name of Christ of the Heart of Florida, or Love INC, in Summerfield, has a mission of mobilizing churches to transform lives and communities.

“Every gift during Give4Marion fuels love stories: a single mom finding stability, a volunteer discovering purpose, a family experiencing the embrace of God’s people,” said Dana Parker, director of the local affiliate office.

“Give4Marion is more than a fundraiser—it’s 33 hours where love takes action. Last year, because of your generosity, Love INC raised enough to replace our roof, ensuring our doors remain open to neighbors in need. That gift wasn’t just about a building—it was about every life touched inside,” Parker shared.

In 2023, Give4Marion helped the nonprofit expand its life skills program, Journey, which helps families go from struggling to thriving.

“This year, your support will help expand and renovate our donations center, including adding a restroom for our volunteers who tirelessly serve with joy and depend on Love INC for community connection. It will also launch Welcome Home, our mission-wide initiative to give families a jumpstart toward safe, stable housing—a place where dignity is restored, children can sleep peacefully and hope takes root. Together, let’s make these 33 hours life-changing,” Parker stated Trends across Florida confirm the power of collective giving. In

2024, Give Miami Day raised a record $39.5 million from more than 51,700 donors, generating over 109,000 gifts to support more than 1,200 nonprofits. This extraordinary outpouring of generosity shows what’s possible when communities rally together around a shared cause.

That same spirit of collaboration and generosity is alive in Marion County through Give4Marion, where every dollar given, whether $10 or $1,000, adds up to meaningful change for the nonprofits and those who need it most.

Give4Marion will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 16 and 17. This year will mark the sixth annual community day that is designed to bring together donors, businesses and nonprofits to strengthen Marion County through the power of collective giving.

Last year, the campaign raised more than $3 million for local nonprofits. This year, we hope to surpass that mark. Power Hour prizes will be awarded to nonprofits that complete specific challenges within the designated hour. Donors can take part in Matching Moments, when every contribution is matched dollar-for-dollar up to $100. Many nonprofits have secured their own matching gifts, giving each donation the chance to go even further.

Give4Marion is more than a fundraiser. It is a movement of generosity, a rallying point for our community, and a reminder that when we give together, we grow stronger together.

To learn more, go to give4marion.org

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Never forget

Traveling memorial wall was in Ocala for Patriot Day.

By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com

The 9-11

Traveling

Memorial Never Forget Wall was in Ocala on Sept. 6, serving as a poignant reminder of the travesties of Sept. 11, 2001.

Early in the morning on Sept. 6, a large number of motorcyclists stopped at War Horse HarleyDavidson north of Ocala to register for a patriotic “Ride to the Wall” together into Highland Memorial Park at 1515 NE 3rd St., Ocala, where the wall was erected.

According to the website of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, on Sept. 11, 2001, 19 terrorists who were members of al-Qaeda, an Islamist extremist network, hijacked four commercial airplanes.

“In a coordinated attack, the hijackers intentionally flew two of the planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and a third into the Pentagon. Learning about the other hijackings, passengers and crew members on the fourth plane launched a counterattack, spurring the hijacker pilot to crash the plane into a field in Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people were killed on that day, the single largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil,” the site states.

Sept. 6 was deemed locally as Patriot Day, according to Tom Duffy with Veterans Helping Veterans USA/Ocala, which helped organize the traveling wall event.

Events at the memorial park included an opening ceremony honoring victims of the 9/11 attack, a guest speaker and more.

Thousands of American flags, each representing a person who lost his or her life on 9/11, were set up in the shape of the Twin Towers in a field at the park.

To learn more, go to patriotday. info and vhvusa.org For information about the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, go to timeline.911memorial.org

Safety challenges come with continuing growth in the downtown area.

By Jamie Berube jamie@ocalagazette.com

The Ocala City council has renewed its contract with VIP Security & Investigations, LLC, to continue providing armed and unarmed guards at several areas due to increasing demand for security downtown. The one-year renewal, at $399,000, will continue security services at the Citizens Service Center, City Hall, the City Complex and the downtown parking garage.

The proposed contract, covering Oct. 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2026, is the final one-year renewal option under a 2021 agreement with VIP Security, a local firm owned by Angela and George Juaristic. The contract calls for services at $21.50 per hour for armed guards and $17.50 for unarmed guards.

The original three-year $870,416 contract was followed by a 2024 renewal at $377,000, which added a guard post at the City Complex. The $22,000 increase for 2025-2026 is driven by enhanced security measures at the City Complex. Davis said the original request for proposal established a three-year contract term with the option for three individual oneyear renewals, for a maximum of six years.

According to Ocala Public Information Officer Greg Davis, the main City Complex is now completely gated, with an additional guard post at Gate 4 to monitor incoming vehicles.

“Classified as critical infrastructure, the complex has been secured to restrict public access, prevent theft or sabotage and ensure the continued delivery of essential services, including clean water and the protection of city utility equipment,” Davis said.

Davis said the contract will be paid through the city’s general fund and parking enterprise fund.

Downtown Ocala’s growth has increased activity, but also safety challenges. Davis noted that downtown

security needs are most often tied to loitering and aggressive behavior.

“Loitering can lead to public drinking, drug activity, fights and safety risks in the parking garage, where security has at times contacted medical and police services for individuals in distress. Aggressive patrons are another concern, and security officers use de-escalation techniques to safely remove individuals and protect staff,” he said.

“Recent growth has made downtown more active and vibrant but with that activity comes a greater need for security. Trained officers help ensure the area remains safe by preventing incidents and supporting a welcoming environment for residents, businesses and visitors,” he added.

Davis pointed to VIP Security’s effectiveness as evident in recent incidents, such as April 1, when VIP Security personnel were among the first responders to a two-car accident near the CEP entrance and provided medical aid until paramedics arrived.

Other examples include an Aug. 24 incident in which security guards reported vandalism in the downtown parking garage to the Ocala Police Department, helping to deter further damage, and on Aug. 27 when security guards safely escorted an aggressive customer off city property after he verbally threatened staff. On Aug. 29, guards in the downtown parking garage helped a young woman who reported harassment and contacted OPD officers, who de-escalated the situation.

Loaded firearm recovered on school bus

The bus driver used an emergency radio button to notify authorities; no injuries were reported.

By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com

Aloaded firearm was recovered from a juvenile on a Marion County Public School bus headed for College Park Elementary on the morning of Sept. 8 after students alerted the bus driver, who pushed an emergency radio button to notify school officials and law enforcement, according to the Ocala Police Department.

OPD officers responded to the vicinity of Southwest 27th Avenue and Southwest 14th Street, where they recovered the loaded .38 caliber revolver near the juvenile, who initially resisted officers but was then taken into custody, an OPD press release stated.

The were no injuries in the incident.

“Detectives determined the firearm had been taken without permission from a relative’s secured bedroom. The juvenile admitted to taking the weapon the day prior and bringing it onto the bus concealed in his clothing. He also admitted to showing the firearm to other students but stated he did not intend to harm anyone,” according to an OPD statement.

According to OPD, the student was arrested and transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice. He faces multiple charges, including possession of a firearm on school property, possession of a firearm by a minor, carrying a concealed firearm, armed burglary, grand theft of a firearm, disruption of a school function and resisting arrest without violence.

Kevin Christian, MCPS Director of Public Relations, stated in an email that school bus drivers are “trained to use their emergency radio button for emergency situations just like this morning’s. That communication goes to district leaders and first responders.”

Christian stated he could not comment further on today’s incident but added that the driver “pushed the emergency button based on her concern for her students and bus route” and that the Student Code of Conduct discusses discipline for weapons offenses.

The student code at marionschools. net under the “Zero Tolerance Policy” states students who commit the “serious offense” of possessing a firearm at school, at a school event or on the school bus “will be expelled for a minimum of one calendar year and referred to mental health services and law enforcement.”

Dennis McFatten, executive director of Safety and Security for Marion County Public Schools, stated in an email that the swift reporting shows student and staff education is working.

“We want to thank our students and the bus driver for reporting this incident to the appropriate authorities without delay. Our continued efforts to educate students and staff on ‘See Something, Say Something’ is proof that it's working. We want to remind parents to have conversations with their students about the dangers and consequences for bringing weapons to any School Board properties, including school buses, McFatten wrote.

COMMUNITY NEWS: FIRE CHIEF EARNS DESIGNATION, FOOD DONATION APPEAL, AUTHOR RELEASES NEW BOOK

By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com

FIRE CHIEF EARNS DESIGNATION

Marion County Fire Rescue has announced that Fire Chief James Banta has earned the Chief Fire Officer designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

The CPSE website notes that, “As a CFO, you shoulder the vital responsibility of strategic firefighting planning, mitigating risks and steering emergency response coordination. The CFO designation signifies your adeptness in budget oversight and resource allocation, ensuring efficient operations even in challenging times.”

The credential places Banta among just over 2,000 individuals globally who have achieved CFO status, according to a MCFR social media post.

“Chief Banta’s achievement not only reflects his personal excellence but also elevates Marion County Fire Rescue’s commitment to safety, continuous improvement and community trust,” the post noted.

SEPTEMBER IS HUNGER ACTION MONTH

At its meeting on Sept. 3, the Marion County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed September 2025 as Hunger Action Month. The proclamation noted that 14.9% of Marion County residents face food insecurity and are often forced to make a choice between food and other needs.

In 2024, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and its 48 partner agencies provided more than 4.7 million meals to Marion County residents. Local agencies such as Interfaith Emergency Services, His Compassion, The Salvation Army and Brother’s Keeper continue this work daily, ensuring families, children,

seniors and individuals have access to food throughout the year, the news release noted.

“Hunger Action Month is not just about raising awareness, it’s about mobilizing our community to take part,” said Karla Greenway, CEO of Interfaith Emergency Services, in the release.

Hunger Action Month encourages citizens to donate, volunteer, fundraise, advocate and learn more about local hunger issues. Food banks across the country, including Second Harvest and its local partners, will host events throughout September to “Stock the Shelves.” To learn more, visit feedhopenow.org

NOVELIST UNVEILS NEW BOOK

cala writer Marian Rizzo, a frequent contributor to the “Ocala Gazette,” has announced the release of her most recent novel.

“The Shepherd’s Walk: From the Manger to the Cross and Beyond,” published by WordCrafts Press, was recently released in hardback, paperback, audiobook and ebook formats.

“Set amidst the tumultuous Judean region of the Roman Empire during the reign of Ceasar Augustus and Herod the Great, Marian’s tale follows the life journey of a young Jewish shepherd named Jesse who just happens to be with a group of shepherds keeping watch over their flocks one night, when a heavenly visitor appeared with the news that a savior had been born,” the news release noted.

A Pulitzer Prize nominee in the field of journalism and an award-winning novelist, Rizzo earned a bachelor’s degree in Bible education, trained for jungle missions with New Tribes (now Ethnos 360) and served at a Youth With A Mission training center in Southern Spain. She was a field and telephone counselor for the Billy Graham Organization. A tour of the Holy

For information about her numerous titles, go to wordcrafts.net/marian-rizzo

February 23; Tuesday, February 24; Wednesday, February 25; and Thursday, March 19, 2026, until such time as all matters and petitions properly before the Value Adjustment Board have been given an opportunity to be heard. The Value Adjustment Board, or its designated Special Magistrate(s), will meet in the Board of County Commissioners Auditorium at 601 SE 25th Avenue, Ocala, Florida, Marion County Governmental Complex, to hear petitions regarding valuation and exemptions from taxation. For the scheduling of individual cases, one may contact the Marion County Clerk’s Office, Commission Records Division, at (352) 671-5622. Notice is hereby given that a list of all petitions for portability of homestead exemption, exemptions for homestead, widows, widowers, disability, blind, government organizations, religious, literary, educational literary, educational, scientific and charitable organizations, veterans and first responders who have had their application for exemption wholly or partially approved or denied is maintained by the Property Appraiser in and for Marion County, Florida, and available to the public for inspection at 501 SE 25th Avenue, Ocala, Florida, during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please note that if a petitioner decides to appeal a decision made with respect to any matter considered at the above advertised hearing(s), the petitioner will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose, the petitioner may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings was made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal was to be based. The exemption procedures of the Value Adjustment Board are provided in Chapter 194, Florida Statutes, and records of the Value Adjustment Board and its hearing(s) showing the names of persons

Night of Hope set for Sept. 25

The annual event honors victims and survivors of domestic violence.

By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com

The Marion County Children’s Alliance has a Family Violence Prevention work group that helps address the impact of domestic violence locally.

The group includes representatives from social services, nonprofit and for-profit agencies, businesses and the community. Its mission is to organize activities that increase public awareness through education, training and collaborations with individuals, community leaders and public and private organizations.

“In Ocala/Marion County, we average more than 3,000 reported cases of domestic violence each year. The Ocala Police Department had 415 reported domestic violence cases through August of this year and 58 dating violence cases. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office had 1,515 reported domestic violence cases through July of this year. They don't report dating violence cases. Since we started tracking homicides in 1997, 154 people have died as a result of domestic violence. There have been three homicides this year,” Family Violence Prevention Coordinator Monica Bryant stated.

“In 2024, the work group provided emergency assistance such as shelter, food, gas cards, bus tickets and more to 182 families (270 children) affected by family violence and also provided safe shelter in our domestic violence apartment for eight families (13 children),” Bryant noted.

“We encourage anyone in an abusive relationship to call our 24hour local domestic violence hotline at (352) 722-2272. If they are outside of Marion County, they can call (800) 500-1119. To get involved with the Family Violence Prevention Workgroup, call us at (352) 438-5990.

This year’s Night of Hope is set for 5:30 p.m. Sept. 25, at the College of Central Florida, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala. The keynote speaker will be Melissa Dohme Hill, a survivor and advocate.

“She definitely has a story and, as a taskforce, we thought she would help bring more awareness about domestic violence and show the devastating impact it can have, but she's also an example that recovery is possible and you can still live a fulfilling life,” Bryant shared.

According to her website, in January 2012, Hill survived a brutal and nearly fatal attack by her high school ex-boyfriend, who stabbed her 32 times in the neck, face, arms and hands. She lost nearly all her blood, flat-lined four times and

To help further its programs, the work group organizes the annual Night of Hope - Honoring Victims and Survivors of Domestic Violence.

“The event, which includes survivor testimonies, dinner, entertainment, vendors and free childcare for attendees, is designed to provide a night of hope for those living in an abusive relationship plus raise awareness and provide education about domestic violence in our community. We also recognize our Conquerors and the Advocate of the Year. All proceeds stay local and are used to provide resources and services to victims and survivors of domestic violence in our community,” Bryant explained.

Special election

Staff report

Voters registered in the city of Ocala will head to the polls on Sept. 16 to elect a new mayor and fill the City Council District 3 seat in a special general election. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Incumbent Benjamin Marciano and Zackary Feliciano will be on the ballot for mayor.

Incumbent Jay A. Musleh will face challengers Mark W. Clark and TamBoura Jenkins for City Council District 3.

KEY DATES

VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS

The time to register to vote or request a mail-in ballot has passed.

Early voting runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 11–13 at the Marion County Supervisor of Elections office at 981 NE 16th St., Ocala.

Election Day is Tuesday and polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Vote-by-mail ballots must be received by the Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. Ballots may also be returned to a secure ballot intake station located at each early voting site during early voting hours, or in person to the elections office.

Due to changes in state law (SB 90), the 24-hour outdoor ballot drop box is no longer available. Voters may use the ballot intake station inside the elections office during business hours, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

WHERE TO VOTE

Registered voters can look up their polling location by visiting the Supervisor of Elections website at votemarion.

gov/335/Find-My-

suffered a stroke in the emergency room. Against all odds, she made an extraordinary recovery and found a renewed purpose. Today, she serves as executive director of Hands Across the Bay, where she helps families in crisis while raising awareness and providing education about the dangers and lasting impact of domestic violence.

Night of Hope tickets are $40 and may be purchased by calling (352) 438-5990 or going to fb.com/search/ top?q=night%20of%20hope%202025 and scanning the QR code on the flier. To learn more about Hill, go to melissadohmehill.com

Florida law requires voters to present current and valid photo and signature identification in order to vote (F.S. 101.043).

Acceptable forms of ID include:

* Florida driver license

* Florida ID card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

* U.S. passport

* Debit or credit card

* Military ID

* Student ID

* Retirement center ID

* Neighborhood association ID

* Public assistance ID

* Veteran health ID card from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

* License to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued under Florida law

* Employee ID card issued by a federal, state, county or municipal agency

Two forms of identification may be used if one contains the voter’s photo and the other the voter’s signature.

To learn more, go to votemarion.gov

Robert Fick

at the Center for Success and Independence for 30 to 45 days, have not gotten into trouble and have passed a risk-assessment evaluation.

When Velvet Saulsberry visited Fick’s class and talked about an offsite equine program, Fick knew he wanted admission into the program—and out of the center.

He ran up to Saulsberry after she spoke and tried to persuade her to take him on as one of her equine students.

Saulsberry, who works for Youth Opportunity Investments, runs the equine program at the center and has about seven students at any one time.

She talked to Fick’s teachers, his mother and his case manager. She made sure he arranged to stay in touch with a therapist. Eventually, Fick was approved.

He not only did well in the equine program, he shone.

In April, Fick, now 19 and a graduate of Ocala’s Vanguard High School, was named one of five Youth Ambassadors by the state’s Department of Juvenile Justice.

A Juvenile Justice website says about Fick, “Robert optimized his time in taking part in this program by actively learning and performing essential equine care tasks. He approached tasks with a collaborative spirit, consistently supporting his peers and contributing to the team environment.”

A year ago, Fick also landed a job as a racehorse groom with Ocala Stud, a thoroughbred farm that has bred three Kentucky Derby winners. Fick’s first-year anniversary at the farm was Sept. 3. “He’s one of our model employees,” said Joe O’Farrell, who oversees day-to-day operations at the farm with his brother, David, and father, Michael.

“We take pride in hiring locals,” Joe said. “We’ve had other Second Chance people. We’re trying to take care of people.”

Fick, who also has a second job at Big Midget, said for now, he just wants to do a good job at Ocala Stud and learn as much as he can. But he’s not ruling out returning to school and then assessing “what roads are available.”

No matter what, he’s pretty sure his future will involve horses, he said.

For Saulsberry, who helped Fick and others get through the Second Chance program, “I like seeing the growth and development,” she said.

She refers to herself as “the dictator of the barn.”

She said she practices a “no-nonsense policy” in dealing

with students’ problems and attitudes. But she’s also willing “to try anything” and is happy to work with “anyone who wants to learn,” she said.

She takes her students on field trips to such places as the University of Florida and community colleges. Vets visit and talk to the students. The students talk to blacksmiths, who demonstrate how to train horses to lift their hooves to be ready for horseshoeing.

Saulsberry tries her hardest to find jobs for center graduates.

Two days after Fick returned home from the center, he was working at Ocala Stud.

In addition to teaching students about horses, Saulsberry also has them do such things as plant roses and care for plants, try their hand at leatherwork, or make twisted wire art bracelets. She’s proud that in six years, her program has had no accidents.

She credits the horses for helping the students learn how to control anxiety and anger and to communicate better.

At Ocala Stud, many of the horses are young and have to be trained. The thoroughbred farm specializes in breeding horses and then training them for two years. Like children and youths, the young horses may be anxious. They may not understand how to interact with other horses or people. Saulsberry tries to get her students to observe the horses and to figure out what might trigger them. In doing this, the students might come to understand what triggers themselves, Saulsberry explained.

The students learn how to approach the horses and how to talk to them.

Saulsberry said all of her students have communication issues that need improvement. Pairing students and young horses helps both the students and horses learn to communicate.

O’Farrell explained that when his grandfather, Joe, started Ocala Stud in the 1950s, he focused on the sale of 2-yearold thoroughbred horses to distinguish them from those

raised in Kentucky.

Kentucky sells yearlings, and yearlings raised in Florida would not have the same cachet as horses raised in the Kentucky Derby state, even though all the horses “are bred on the same bloodlines,” according to the younger Joe.

Grandpa Joe proposed, “Why don’t we train them and do the hard work? We can offer a time trial,” grandson Joe related.

“And it caught on,” the younger Joe said. “When you’re buying a yearling, you don’t know what you’re getting. But when you buy a 2-year-old, you get to see performance. You can see them at full speed for a short distance. That kind of sets us apart.”

He said Ocala Stud has a racetrack on its property and a starting gate where the young horses can train.

Ninety percent of 2-year-old thoroughbred sales happen in the Ocala area, he said.

And Ocala has definite advantages in raising horses, according to Joe.

“We have a short freeze and all that sunshine. Our aquifer is very high. You can put a well in within 10 feet. The grass grows fast. We have limestone that’s similar to what Kentucky Bluegrass grows on. Florida became a training center and it caught on in the 1950s and ‘60s,” Joe said.

For those who know horses,

this information is useful.

But many of the students in Saulsberry’s program know nothing about horses when they start.

Saulsberry said Fick began her program with no equine skills.

“He’s definitely matured,” she said. “He’s very professional.”

Other of her students have enrolled in trade school, community college and a fouryear college, and some have been supported by Saddle Up Scholars, a program of U.S. Equestrian. Some are working with their parents in a family business. Others have jobs.

Joe O’Farrell also is an unofficial educator and community outreach specialist, not only by working for his family’s farm but also by being involved with equine policy through the Farm Bureau, the Florida Horse Park and the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.

He seems to delight in discussing the art and business of running a thoroughbred stud farm.

For example, did you know high season for thoroughbred horse sales is in the spring? April is the peak month, but March also is pretty busy and sales can go through June. Breeding often coincides with Valentine’s Day and into late February.

The last Kentucky Derby

winner from Ocala Stud was Street Sense in 2007 and there have been two previous winners. Many Ocala Stud horses have placed in other races.

Ocala Stud has around 80 brood mares and eight stallions. The gestation time for a foal is 11 months. During the winter season, Ocala Stud may have over 200 horses in training and up to 400 horses.

Joe said it’s not always easy to predict which horse will go the distance to the Kentucky Derby and beyond. Street Sense, for example, was a little on the big side but wasn’t necessarily the fastest or the smartest during training at Ocala Stud.

“You never know,” Joe said.

Many buyers arrive at the Ocala International Airport. They can fly horses home in planes that may be retrofitted to fit 10 to 12 horses. Horse racing as a sport has been popular with the English, Turkish and Saudis for many years. Today, buyers from Australia, Europe, Japan and Korea, among other countries and continents, fly to Ocala to check on their horses in training and perhaps buy some more.

Joe said it doesn’t matter from where the visitors come.

“The passion is the same,” he said. “It’s a worldwide sport. The racing never ends.”

To run a stud farm, you have to know something about agriculture, horses, medicine, business and racing.

“I’m kind of a jack of all trades,” Joe said.

And he said he loves the work.

“Being a part of the community, and a positive part, is very rewarding,” he said.

For more information about Ocala Stud, go to ocalastud.com

To learn more about all of the TRF offerings, including a program for women at the Lowell Correctional Institution in Marion County, go to trfinc. org/trf-second-chances-program

Building homes and hopes

Dual wall raisings in Ocala see the return of the local Habitat for Humanity Women Build initiative.

By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com

Wednesday morning brought bright skies and a sea of hot pink T-shirts and hard hats for future homeowner Britney Mann.

Habitat for Humanity of Marion County conducted sideby-side wall raisings for Mann through a Women Build project and for Curtis and Christina Jones in a Realtor Build initiative. Both events included plenty of helping hands and lifted prayers.

According to Carmen Garcia Tirado, development events manager for the local habitat affiliate, the Women Build relaunched this year, after a nearly 20-year hiatus, with a goal of raising $75,000 to fund Mann’s new home and some hands-on muscle to help build it.

For Britney, the wall raising marks the first visible step toward a dream she has had for years. A proud Ocala native and a certified nursing assistant at Avante at Ocala, she has poured her energy into caring for others, Tirado stated via email.

“She is the dedicated mother of three children: Jada, 13; Caiden, 12; and Caleb. For more than a decade, the family has crowded into a small two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment where all three children share a bedroom. Now, thanks to the Women Build initiative—relaunched in Marion County for the first time in nearly 20 years—Britney is building a safe, stable and healthy home where her children can grow and thrive,” Tirado noted.

“Women Build is about more than constructing walls—it’s about breaking down barriers. This movement empowers women to lead, to learn and to lift each other up while changing the future of a local family,” Rob Peters, president/CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Marion County, stated via email.

According to the national Habitat website, since 1991, Habitat’s Women Build volunteers have come together from all walks of life to build stronger, safer communities. Women Build opportunities are available across the U.S. and any woman or person who wants to learn how to build or repair a home is invited to join.

Tirado said the Jones’ have “built their lives in Ocala, raising a blended family of six children and celebrating the joy of 11

grandchildren.”

“But the home they’ve lived in for the past decade has been plagued with problems: windows that won’t open, leaky ceilings and an air conditioning unit that struggles year after year. Despite these hardships, Curtis and Christina have devoted their lives to serving others through ministry and community outreach. The Realtor Build, made possible through the Ocala/ Marion County Association of Realtors, is giving them the chance to create something they’ve long given to others: a safe and welcoming place to gather,” Tirado wrote.

“Two homes, built together on the same day, represent more than walls and roofs— they represent opportunity and stability,” Peters offered.

“Bringing together Women Build and Realtor Build in unison demonstrates the strength of community partnerships in addressing the critical need for affordable housing.”

Since 1990, Habitat for Humanity of Marion County has built 249 homes for families in need of safe, affordable

To learn more, go to habitatocala.org

Into the Woods

Continued from page A1

The Big Bad Wolf is played by James R. Taylor III, who is returning to The Civic with past credits such as Jervis Pendleton in “Daddy Long Legs.” Taylor also plays a prince who falls in love with Cinderella.

Taylor’s portrayal of the Big Bad Wolf brings a chilling yet human edge to the forest’s dangers, embodying a predator whose cunning masks deeper flaws.

“I think what excites me most about playing the wolf and Cinderella’s prince are the similarities between the two of them. They are both never content with what they have and are continually seeking for more, whether that’s more to eat in the case of the wolf, or another woman, like the prince,” Taylor said.

For Taylor, his approach to both characters has presented a learning curve compared to past roles.

“These characters are much more self-centered, which is a quality that I don’t often get to portray. Usually, the characters I have played are at least generous in some way or another, but this time they’re out to seek satisfaction seemingly only for themselves. I like to think I’m diametrically opposed as an actor, whereas these characters are 95% ‘me-me-me,’” he said.

In Taylor’s preparation for key moments on stage, he takes an unconventional approach when getting into character.

“This might sound strange, but I think of all the kind things I do for my wife and then act the opposite on stage. My characters are selfcentered jerks, so I say to myself, ‘What would I NOT do if this were real life?’ And then I do that,” Taylor said.

According to Thompson, the casting process was fierce, with 103 auditions for 21 roles, drawing talent from Leesburg to Clearwater.

“It’s a great mix of veterans, newcomers and first-timers,” Thompson said, praising the cast’s “fantastic” vibe.

The remaining 18 characters include Patricia Cohen, playing Jack’s mother. Cohen made her debut on The Civic’s stage in the quintet and ensemble of “Sweeney Todd.”

Iyanna Lynell, who made her Civic debut as Mary Debenham in

School bus

Continued from page A1

she was grateful for the arrangement and said the community is seeing in “real time” how this important planning and this investment are essential to student safety.

“We are operating on razor-thin margins in which to respond to threats,” Thrower said.

TWO CAD SYSTEMS, TWO RADIO SYSTEMS, FOUR AGENCIES

While the Marion County system relayed the emergency alert quickly to the jurisdiction of the Ocala Police Department through the CAD-toCAD interface, a review of multiple CAD reports illustrates the full picture of how all four agencies got to the scene.

• The county radio system tracks Marion County Public School buses.

• The county CAD system tracks Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the staging of Ocala Fire Rescue and Marion County EMS units nearby, preparing to respond in case students were injured.

The city CAD report, by contrast, is the only record of the city police response.

The split demonstrates the ongoing challenge of siloed systems; the county could track the school bus through their radio and see fire/EMS resources in real time but OPD deployment works from a separate CAD and radio system.

The way the CAD systems are connected currently, MCSO and

“Murder on the Orient Express,” is returning to the stage as Little Red Riding Hood.

Sweet, doe-eyed Cinderella is played by Adrienne Hebert, who last appeared in “The SpongeBob Musical” with other roles including Belle in “Beauty and the Beast.”

Cinderella’s stepmother is played by Elizabeth Cook, with her stepsisters played by Estella Cavalier and Sydney Nye. Both Cook and Cavalier are returning to The Civic after previously appearing in the quintet and ensemble of “Sweeney Todd.” Nye is making her Civic stage debut.

Cinderella’s mother is played by Ashlyn Gibbs who magically makes the role her own. Catalina is returning to The Civic stage with credits including Marie, the fairy godmother in “Cinderella” and Amalia in “She Loves Me.”

New to The Civic, Isaac Jovel plays a woodsman and understudy for Jack. The mysterious man is played by Garry Michel, who is new to The Civic but has appeared on stages around the world with credits including playing Frank in “The Rocky Horror Show” with the Bethel Actors Guild in Alaska.

Victoria Richards is returning to the stage with two parts, playing a harp and Snow White. Richards last appeared in the ensemble of “Mary Poppins.”

Caleb Spivey rocks the role as the baker. Spivey previously played Anthony in “Sweeney Todd” and Gaston in “Beauty and the Beast.”

The baker’s wife is played with perfect poise by Megan Taylor, who has also appeared on stage at The Civic as Jersha Abbott in “Daddy Long Legs.”

The witch is played by Abigail Blystra, who is excited about

county Fire/EMS dispatchers cannot see where OPD units are in relation to the scene of a call.

COUNTY COULD TRACK THE BUS; CITY COULD NOT

The CAD reports also highlight that only the county’s radio system operators could see bus 1959’s movements. OPD dispatchers were recorded asking, “Where is bus now?” while awaiting updates. Without direct radio tracking, OPD officers depended on county relays to find the vehicle.

making her debut at The Civic. Rapunzel’s prince is played by Daniel Boodoo, who played Lord Pinkleton in “Cinderella.” Janik Buranosky effortlessly plays two parts as a steward and understudy for the princes. Buranosky has played on stage as Davey in “Newsies” and Ratchett in “Murder on the Orient Express.” The characters of Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty are captured by Lily Capote who formerly played Elena Adrenyi in “Murder on the Orient Express” and Monika in “Loyalties.”

Crystal Catalina plays two roles, as a granny and a giant. Catalina made her splashy debut at The Civic in the ensemble of “The SpongBob Musical.”

The show is narrated by Kyleigh Wilkinson who is elated to be making her main stage debut.

NEVER TOO OLD FOR FAIRYTALES

For Director of Marketing and Public Relations Melody Murphy, the choice of “Into the Woods” to launch The Civic’s 75th season feels like a communal journey.

“It’s a show that so many generations can connect with. Most of us were raised on fairytales, and their stories are timeless. I think it gives audiences the feeling of starting out on a journey with us. We’re all going into the woods together and we’re setting out into our 75th year of storytelling and adventures. It feels immersive,’” Murphy said.

According to Murphy, the production’s universal themes will resonate with the community as it weaves tales of longing and connection.

“extremely effective.”

Ocala Police Chief Michael Balken wrote by email, “OPD is working towards that capability now, having just spent nearly 6 million dollars on mapcapable Motorola radios. Having just received my new radio on Monday of this week, it will take us just a little time to have that same functionality with the buses, as we currently do with our officers – thanks to those new radios.”

As the city of Ocala just made a significant investment in radios, we are left with the follow-up question: Would the city have cost savings like the school district if it joined the same network of radios with the county? Would that make them more interoperable?

He also wrote, “…we already preprogram each other’s channels and have robust capabilities and interoperability that I’m more than satisfied with. For potential cost savings – you’d need to contact Motorola.”

As previously reported by the “Gazette” after studying numerous emergency responses, siloed systems create unnecessary delays to response times to the public. In response, the city police chief has claimed that interfaces between the two CAD systems are

“Fairytales are beloved because they tell stories with universal themes. As our show description begins in the brochure, ‘Fairytales tell the truth: Everyone is wishing for something.’ The musical weaves together tales of family and love. It’s about people yearning for home and belonging and something better than what and where they are when we begin. It’s stories of family of origin as well as found family, and how no one is alone,” she said.

This resonance, paired with Thompson’s vision of a childlike forest of brambles, invites audiences to reflect on their own wishes and relationships.

Broken up into two acts with one 20-minute intermission, the show’s structure subverts expectations, according to Murphy.

“The plot takes many of the fairytales you know and love from childhood, and then asks, ‘So what happens next, after the happily ever after?’ Act two goes off the rails, but in a wonderfully interesting, slightly dark and twisty way, just like a path through the woods. It explores the idea that what we think of as a happy ending isn’t always, or a happy ending for one person means that someone else didn’t get what they wished for,” Murphy said.

For those hesitant to attend a play centered on fairytales, Murphy offers a heartfelt invitation to come and see it.

“You’re never too old for fairytales. It’s an amazing cast performing a classic musical, with some of Sondheim’s funniest and most melodic work. It’s touching, it’s clever, it’s witty, it’s visually beautiful; it’s all the things you want in a theatrical interlude. And you want to be here to celebrate

In 2019, Ocala’s previous police Chief Greg Graham and Fire Chief Shane Alexander agreed with Marion County Fire Chief James Banta and Sheriff Billy Woods in a workshop before the Ocala City Council about the disparate systems. Collectively, they confirmed their plan was to unify emergency communications under one CAD.

However, since then, Balken has signaled he doesn’t see the need to integrate the CAD systems while county public safety officials continue to hope the city will come around to the idea.

As previously reported, since 2016, national authorities on the subject of emergency communications have encouraged consolidation. Last year, Florida state legislatures pondered a bill that forced municipalities to consolidate on a county-by-county basis.

BOTTOM LINE

Monday’s school bus scare illustrates the high stakes of emergency communications. The county’s integrated school bus radios ensured a near-instant alert. But the continued divide meant city dispatchers lacked the real-time tools that county officials had, and county responders were not able to track how near or far OPD was to the bus waiting with 25 children.

Practically speaking, school buses cross city and county lines many times over the course of a school day but they operate from the county’s radio system. Public safety leaders acknowledged that until city and county systems, whether it be the CAD or radio systems, are fully interoperable, gaps like this will persist.

history, the opening of our 75th season. Go into the woods with us and disappear for a little while into our storybook world. You’ll be glad you did,” Murphy said.

As the curtain prepares to rise, Thompson hopes audiences find personal resonance in the fairy-tale journey.

“I don’t have any expectations when it comes to this. I just want them to be entertained and challenged, in whatever way satisfies each audience member. I believe theater can be a very personal experience. We each are touched by it in our own way. That’s why I tell people I’m not really into ‘provoking’ an audience; I prefer to evoke, hoping that our audiences are deeply engaged and leave with questions, thoughts and feelings they discuss long after the curtain falls,” Thompson said.

The Civic is located at 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Tickets for “Into the Woods” are $35-$40 for adults and $17-$20 for ages 18 and younger, based on seating section. This show is rated PG.

Buy tickets online at ocalacivictheatre.com. To get tickets through the box office, call (352) 236-2274 or visit 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

SIDEBAR: TIMELINE – SEPT. 8, 2025, SCHOOL BUS FIREARM INCIDENT

• 7:23:48 a.m. - “PSC received an emergency button activation from Bus 1959 over MCPS N EMERG Radio Channel – during the 15 seconds of open-air sounds of screaming are heard,” wrote Lisa Cahill the Director Public Safety Communications of the radio transmission.

7:24:06 a.m - “PSC Fire Supervisor hails Bus 1959 –receives no response.” (Cahill and radio audio)

7:24:23 a.m. - “PSC Fire Supervisor hails Bus 1959 again” (Cahill and radio audio)

• 7:24:27 a.m. - “PSC Call taking Supervisor utilized Command Central aware to ascertain the location of Bus 1959 and enters a S13I - Suspicious Incident call for service to Marion County Sheriff’s Office who operates from same center.” (Cahill and County CAD)

7:24:45 a.m. - Bus Drive of Bus 1959 advised “I don’t know if it is true, but a student says I got a student with a gun.” (Cahill, radio audio, County CAD)

• 7:25:23 a.m. - Marion Fire/ Sheriff classifies the call as Active Shooter (County CAD).

• 7:25:46 a.m. - Alert sent to OPD via CAD-to-CAD (County CAD).

• 7:26:06 a.m. - OPD dispatches its first unit. (City CAD).

• 7:26:31 a.m. - MCSO dispatches its first unit (County CAD)

• 7:26:57 a.m. - OPD dispatcher asks county, “Where is the bus now?” (City CAD)

7:26:29 - 7:26:35 a.m.County dispatches OFR and sends County medics. (County CAD)

7:27:31 a.m. - OPD dispatches its second unit. (City CAD).

• 7:28:14 a.m. - First MCSO unit arrives on scene (County CAD).

• 7:28:21 a.m. - First OPD unit arrives on scene (City CAD).

• 7:28:24 a.m. - OPD dispatches its third unit. (City CAD).

• 7:28:26 a.m. - Second OPD unit arrives on scene (City CAD).

7:30:15 a.m. - Additional OPD officers marked “at scene” (City CAD).

7:31:03 a.m. - OPD advises no further units needed (City CAD).

• 7:32:32 a.m. - City fire department/county medics stage

• 7:45:46 a.m. - OPD confirms EMS is not needed (City CAD).

• 7:53:26 a.m. - Student taken into custody (City CAD).

All aboard

Ocala secures state funding for downtown trolley service.

By Jamie Berube jamie@ocalagazette.com

Soon, riders will be able to climb aboard Ocala’s new trolley for a novel, and free, way to travel around downtown.

The city of Ocala is set to launch an innovative downtown circulator trolley service, thanks to a recent grant award from the Florida Department of Transportation and updates to its transit management contract.

The trolley service will traverse Ocala’s downtown area, improving mobility for residents, visitors and workers while increasing exposure for local businesses, according to project details outlined in the award letter.

The route will connect key activity centers, including the downtown square, Marion County Courthouse, AdventHealth Ocala Hospital, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, Ocala Downtown Market, Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership, City Hall/Citizens’ Circle, Tuscawilla Park, Reilly Arts Center and the downtown transfer station.

To address accessibility during hightraffic events, the trolley will serve as a vital resource.

“The service is designed to ease parking challenges in the downtown area while improving accessibility, offering 30-minute route intervals,” said Greg Davis, Ocala’s public information officer. “During events such as Light Up Ocala, while still early, we plan to utilize the trolley as an alternative transit source like we do with our other forms of transportation, as the normal route would be blocked by the event.”

The city will offer a “soft launch” this month.

“At this time the trolley is expected to be there in March, but for now SunTran will have one smaller vehicle for the soft launch of the route,” Davis said recently.

“The route will operate Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.,” Davis said.

He confirmed that the trolley will be offered at no cost to riders.

The project, aimed at enhancing connectivity in the city’s bustling core, will receive up to $114,572 in state funding for fiscal year 2025-26, matched by an equal local contribution, bringing the total investment to $229,144.

“State funding requires a 50/50 match, with city funds covering the remaining share of operating expenses,” said Davis.

The local contribution is sourced

through the city’s budget and aligns with the transit management services contract between the city and RATP DEV USA, Inc., which operates SunTran services, including the new trolley initiative.

The funding, part of FDOT’s Public Transit Service Development Program, will support the trolley’s initial operating expenses and a robust marketing campaign.

“Graphics and promotional efforts will support the launch of the trolley,” Davis noted, highlighting plans to raise awareness through signage and integration into the city’s live bus tracking system.

In parallel, Ocala has amended its transit management agreement with RATP DEV USA, Inc. to support the expanded services.

The third amendment, effective as of recent updates, adjusts estimated annual revenue vehicle hours and compensation rates for the renewal term (years four through six of the original contract).

For year four, the agreement sets 34,600 estimated annual revenue vehicle hours at a fixed hourly rate of $82.61, plus 200 special service hours and estimated ADA services at $627,930, which are paid per revenue mile.

“The adjustment to estimated annual revenue vehicle hours in year four will have a minimal impact, with fewer than 100 hours reflected in the budget. More significant changes occur in years five and six, where the project introduces approximately 1,700 additional revenue service hours,” Davis said.

These figures rise in subsequent years, with year five projecting 36,200 hours at $87.07 and year six at the same hours with a $91.77 rate. The amendment builds on prior changes that raised staff salaries to attract qualified workers and renewed the contract for its final three-year term.

The Public Transportation Grant Agreement with FDOT, which runs

through June 30, 2028, emphasizes joint participation to derive mutual benefits from the project. It includes provisions for audits, compliance with state laws and prohibitions on certain health care-

related mandates, reflecting broader state priorities.

For more details on the project or SunTran services, visit ocalafl.gov

Have a legal ad you need to publish?

ocalagazette.column.us/place

People, Places and Things Fort King Presbyterian Church: 60 years of service to the community

By Margaret Spontak Special to the Gazette

Sixty years ago, on Aug. 1, 1965, in the cafeteria of the old Ocala High School on Fort King Street, a new church was formed in Ocala. The service was conducted by Rev. Malcolm B. Koehler and Rev. Edwin W. Albright Sr. I was just 8 years old, totally unaware of the significance of this organizational service, while I was helping my father, John Hankinson, move chairs around the cafeteria. The only thing big I remember was the scary, giant metal fans that clanked away as people were trying to cool the room down before the important service began.

As an adult, I discovered the idea behind that life-changing event that shaped our church. It all began at the Crossroads Class for Young Adults at First Presbyterian Church. The class was made up mostly of veterans who had served in racially integrated armed forces. They had a vision of a better church—a church that welcomed people of all colors.

Creation of an intentionally racially integrated church was no easy effort in the early 1960s. Ocala was totally segregated, including its schools and protestant churches. This brave group of women and men, led by the late Gov. Kenneth “Buddy” MacKay, was the catalyst for what is now, 60 years later, Fort King Presbyterian Church, located at 13 NE 36th Ave., Ocala.

According to a history by MacKay, the First Presbyterian Church of Ocala donated the land for the church and paid a majority of the church’s budget for several years to allow us to launch this first desegregated protestant church in Marion County.

On the first Sunday, the Fort King Chapel met for worship, my dad brought one of his Black colleagues from the faculty of Ocala High School, and we have been racially integrated ever since.  Caribbean, African American and Hispanic members have greatly enriched our lives and the life of Fort King Presbyterian Church. My dad once shared that he wished we could attract more people of color to be church members, but he explained that we were building bridges by doing partnership programs and projects together. Then and today, the church welcomes all people with the goal that no person should be a stranger once they walk through our doors. Our signs proudly say, “All Are Welcome.”

A DESIGNATED MATTHEW 25 CHURCH

Buddy MacKay always told me we were an “activist” church. From its earliest days, Fort King Presbyterian has been missionoriented, not only supporting mission efforts but helping create them. Many ideas for mission projects have been inspired by Crossroads II, our adult Sunday program.

Over the years, the church has played an instrumental role in establishing organizations such as Interfaith Emergency Services and the Marion County Children’s Alliance, both of which continue to thrive and serve the people of Marion County. One reason I returned to the church

after living and working outside of the area was a sermon Rev. Jim Bullock gave about the need to protect our children.

We believe that mission is a calling shared by the entire congregation.

According to charter member Chris Berryhill, “The spirit and mission of this church has always been focused on service, not only here in this community but through outreach programs beyond its doors.”

The church is now designated as a Matthew 25 Church by the Presbyterian Church (USA). Matthew 25: 35-36 describes it best: “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”

SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Many past and current projects focus on supporting children and families. In 1993, a grant from the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation helped fund the Fort King Family Resource Center, a model childcare facility for children “at risk of abuse and neglect.”

In 1994, at the request of Dr. Faye Gary of Mt. Zion AME Church, Church Without Walls was formed, establishing a Sunday school program for youth at the Juvenile Detention Center and Lowell Correctional Institution. By 1995, four churches, including Fort King Presbyterian, each provided monthly teams to lead Sunday school classes and teach reading, ceramics, art, self-esteem and conflict-resolution skills. The program grew in 1996, housed on the FKPC campus, including mentoring, a diversion program for youth in trouble with the law and a prevention program for youth at risk, which offered parenting classes, career counseling, tutoring, free childcare for families, mentoring, substance abuse education, sexual violence education and more.

MAD DADS, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and other groups joined the program, which thrived for many years under leaders including Martie McLean and, later, the Rev. Bruce Seaman and dedicated church volunteers such as my mom, Shirley Hankinson, and my dad.

Our most recent project is The Pearl Project. Since 2024, Fort King Presbyterian has been providing space in our education building for their work. The Pearl Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening foster and adoptive families through support, training and resources. We are

helping make a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable children and those who care for them.

The story of a church’s birth tends to shape that.

Each year, we organize school supply drives to benefit both students and teachers. We have given books—on more than one occasion—to every child at the two elementary schools closest to the church. Most recently, we helped establish a library in a local apartment complex, creating a shared reading space for children, teens and adults. And, in one of my favorite projects, a group of dedicated church members dress dozens of teddy bears used by first responders when they come upon a call that involves children. In an age when other churches have given up sponsorship of scouting units, we welcomed them. Since the mid-2010s, we have assumed sponsorship of numerous troops.

A project that brings together children and adults is Art 4 All, a free, vibrant and inclusive monthly gathering bringing together people of all ages, faiths and abilities to experience creativity through art, crafts, music and dance. Fifty to 80 participants collaborate, from children with disabilities to seniors to professional artists to families, building bonds, all sharing their work with pride.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND MISSION TRIPS

Beyond Ocala, Fort King members, both youth and adults, have participated in mission trips across the region and internationally to Appalachia, North Georgia, Jamaica, Haiti and Sudan. Locally, the Christian Medical Clinic, Inc., was established in 1981 by members of Fort King Presbyterian Church, in collaboration with First Presbyterian and Silver Springs Shores Presbyterian churches, to address the lack of medical care for uninsured seniors. Funded by community donations, the clinic operated from Fort King’s Youth House, serving around 1,000 clients between 1981 and 1985. Today, the church continues to support other medical missions, including the Estella Byrd Whitman Clinic in West Ocala.

HOUSES AND AN APARTMENT FOR THOSE IN NEED

In 1992, Fort King Presbyterian Church became a Covenant Church with Habitat for Humanity, pledging financial support, volunteer labor, advocacy and prayer. Over the next 25 years, the church provided volunteers for the work parties and completed approximately three to four houses each year. Recently, we

collaborated with Interfaith Emergency Services to clean, paint and decorate an apartment for two men without homes.

COLLABORATING WITH DIVERSE COMMUNITIES

Through the years, FKPC has led or participated in many projects to improve social justice. From walking in the MLK Annual Walk and Souls to Polls, to supporting R.A.M.A.L., NAACP, and other nonprofits. That All May Be One (TAMBO) was a cooperative project of Mt. Moriah, Greater Hopewell, New Zion, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and Fort King Presbyterian Church, which all met for worship, fellowship and service projects from 2000–2002. In the spring of 2021, our church and St. Paul AME Church in west Ocala decided to join forces to provide a free weekly breakfast to hungry and homeless neighbors in the communities surrounding St. Paul AME. Together, we provided dozens of hot breakfasts, warm companionship, art activities and even a job fair.

EARTH CARE CHURCH

In 2011, FKPC was certified by the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. as an Earth Care Congregation, which requires an annual evaluation of our “earth friendly” practices. Fort King is one of 16 churches with this certification in Florida. The church’s facility team has installed all LED lighting, implemented energy and water conservation measures, removed skylights and transitioned to using more sustainable event and cleaning supplies. The church’s gardens, directed by Master Gardener Sheena Schlegel, supported by a team of dedicated volunteers, contain a pollinator garden, Florida-friendly and native plants, educational spaces for scouts and vacation Bible school, a memorial garden and a peaceful retreat for churchgoers.

A DIFFERENT LOOKING

CHURCH TODAY

Since the groundbreaking in December 1965, the church has undergone many changes. The HOPE House at Fort King Presbyterian Church stood dormant for years—until nearly 100 volunteers from the church and the surrounding community

came together to restore it in 2022. It now serves as an inclusive hub with indoor and outdoor spaces for community outreach, education and the arts. HOPE House has hosted a variety of events, including poetry readings, book signings, school field trips, art exhibits and classes, speaker series, support groups, interfaith gatherings and church committee meetings. Across the front of the property is a beautiful Ocklawaha River wildlife mural donated by artist Drake Arnold and members of the church. The project was a joint project with the city of Ocala and underscores the church’s commitment to conserving our natural resources. An expanded playground, built in part by scouts, gardens and two additional buildings, the main sanctuary and education building, were added over the years.

THE NEXT 60 YEARS

Our 60th anniversary booklet says, “To be relevant, we may need to embrace a new definition of what it means to be Christ’s church, a new understanding of what our task is to be for the working of God’s purpose. Perhaps we may even be charged with a new identity in accord with the Spirit’s direction. The future is not yet written. What it means for us to be God’s servant people may not be anything like what we envision, but we pray to be true to our call as it unfolds.”

The Rev. Bob Scott, transitional minister added, “Our 60th anniversary is not only a time to look back with gratitude, but also a time for us to look forward with purpose. Let’s celebrate the enduring spirit that continues to move among us—a spirit that calls us to grow, to serve and to carry the light into new chapters.”

A 60th anniversary celebration will begin at Fort King Presbyterian Church at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 14. All are welcome to attend.

Some material for this article was taken from the FKPC 60th anniversary booklet. To learn more about the church, go to ftkingchurch.org

Hometown Heroes

Annual gala

event honors more than 100 first responders and others.

By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com

The 2025 Hometown Heroes Awards Gala was held

Sept. 4 at the Circle Square Cultural Center at On Top of the World in Ocala. The event was cosponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Hiers-Baxley.

“This year’s gala recognized first responders from Marion County and seven surrounding counties, celebrating their selfless service, dedication and heroism. Honoring more than 100 first responders, the gala saw a crowd of over 400 people gather to celebrate them,” said Diana Williams. “The event also served as a major fundraiser for NAMI, a nonprofit that provides advocacy, education and support for individuals and families affected by mental illness.”

Special recognition from NAMI was presented to retired Ocala Fire Rescue Deputy Fire Chief Brian Stoothoff for his lifetime of public service.

The other honorees included:

Founders Lifetime Achievement Award Winner 2025 - Preston Bowlin, director, Marion County Division of Emergency Management Act of Valor Awards: Citrus County Fire Rescue - Captain/Paramedic Thomas Ratchford, Driver Engineer/ Paramedic Patrick Gaule, Firefighter/ EMT Camden Labonte, EMT Blake Daehnick, Paramedic Robin Bowers, Captain/Paramedic Nathan VanBuren, Driver Engineer/EMT Alan Blake and Firefighter/EMT Kamrin Papale Lake County Sheriff’s OfficeDeputy Ronald Kaliszewski Maron County Fire Rescue – Lt. Cody Murphy

Ocala Fire Rescue FireEquipment Operator/ Paramedic Jagger Maguire, Battalion Chief/ Paramedic Josh Phillips, Firefighter/ EMT Jeffrey Saunders and Firefighter/ EMT Joseph Villella Sumter County Fire Rescue – Lt. Adam Langley

The Villages Fire Department

- Firefighter Joey Carpenter, Firefighter Ethan Eckermann, Lt. Noah Hartman, Lt. Ryan Rushing, Firefighter Lance Roberts, Driver Engineer Matthew McCarthy, EMT Holland Perez, Firefighter Noel Castro, Firefighter Justin Clemente and Firefighter Scott Casta

Hometown Hero Awards: The honorees represent numerous agencies, including healthcare, hospice, law enforcement and fire rescue.

• Matthew Padgett

• Mike Miley

• Kyle Helfritz

• Kaitlyn Wilson-Butler

• Taylor Sparkman

• Stephanie Barker

• Donna Capps

• Michelle Sanders

• Ryan Paxton

• Savannah Long

• Brianna Fryer

• Austin Ridge

• John Gogan

• Sean Price

• Christy Jergens

• Todd Hockert

• Jessie Blair

• Beth McCall

• Jacqueline Nettles

• James Buckman

• Andrew Roden and K9 Jeb

• David Christmas and K9 King

• Trey Roberson and K9 Marshal

Art for all ages

The CF Appleton Museum of Art is offering new fall classes.

The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, has announced a new schedule of fall art classes. Designed for all ages and skill levels, the classes invite the community to learn, create and be inspired in a safe, supportive environment. Each class is led by experienced educators and artists.

Fall painting classes for adults include a watercolor workshop on Sept. 20 with Lisa Russo, inspired by the work of Jeff Koons; a two-

day abstract painting class with exhibiting artist Seth P. Benzel on Sept. 27–28; and a free online session on Oct. 14 that takes inspiration from the fall season. On Oct. 11, learn gel-plate printmaking with Deborah Horvath, or on Nov. 8, create a barn-quilt–inspired paper art project with E. Marie Fielding. For those interested in clay, options include a six-week wheel-throwing class from Oct. 18–Nov. 22 or a one-day ceramic luminary workshop on Dec. 13. For pre-K children ages 2-5, the Museum & Me program

will be offered from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, Oct. 7, Nov. 4 and Dec. 2. The Museum Happenings program, designed for independent and homeschool students ages 6-9, includes an educator-led gallery visit and hands-on artmaking activity. It is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.-noon Tuesdays, Sept. 30 and Oct. 28. Both programs are free for children and Appleton members and included with admission fee for adult nonmembers.

Multiweek classes for children will focus on developing students’

Bear hunt permits move forward

The News Service of Florida

People seeking to obtain one of the limited number of permits for the state’s first bear hunt in a decade can start to pay $5 entry fees on Sept. 12.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will take applications online at gooutdoorsflorida.com for a lottery-style drawing. Applications can be submitted through Sept. 22.

The state will make available 187 permits, with each person only able to receive one permit, regardless of how many applications they submit. Applicants must be 18 or older as of Oct. 1. A state hunting license is required to participate in the hunt.

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People whose names are drawn must pay $100 for the permits if they are Florida residents or $300 if they are non-residents. The commission has placed a 10 percent cap on the number of permits for nonresidents.

The hunt is scheduled from Dec. 6 to Dec. 28 in four parts of the state. They are the Apalachicola region west of Tallahassee, areas west of Jacksonville, an area north of Orlando and the Big Cypress region southwest of Lake Okeechobee.

Officials have estimated the state has about 4,050 bears. Bear hunting has long been controversial. In 2015, 304 bears were killed in two days after permits were distributed to anyone who paid for what was intended to be a week-long hunt

interest in art while learning new skills and techniques. Art Adventures for ages 5-7 will meet from 10:30 a.m.-noon on Oct. 4, 11 and 18. For ages 8-12, the Art Explorations program offers a sixweek clay session on Wednesdays, Oct. 15-Nov. 19, from 3:30-5 p.m. Teens ages 13-17 can join a wheelthrowing and hand-building clay class held on Saturdays, Oct. 18Nov. 22, from 2-4 p.m.

“Appleton art classes offer exceptional value and reflect the museum’s role as a statewide leader and resource for Florida residents,” said Hollis Mutch, museum educator, in the news release. “With an entire wing dedicated to arts education and a team of educators whose combined experience spans more than a century, we are proud to provide high-quality classes for all ages.”

To register for classes, visit appletonmuseum.org

Double lane closures on northbound I-75 in Ocala Sept. 14-19

Motorists are advised that the Florida Department of Transportation will be implementing nighttime double lane closures from Sunday through Friday, Sept. 14-19, on northbound Interstate 75 from County Road 462 to C.R. 484 in Ocala.

The lanes will close as early as 9 p.m. each night and are expected to reopen by 6 a.m. the following morning.

The double lane closures are needed for milling and paving operations. The work schedule is subject to change due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances. For more information, visit cflroads. com/project/452074-2

This work is part of the I-75 improvements being expedited

through the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative.

The improvements include the addition of an auxiliary lane in each direction from south of State Road 44 to S.R. 200 in Marion and Sumter counties. The auxiliary lanes will provide ramp-to-ramp connections, reducing congestion and improving reliability by providing drivers more space and time to merge safely, according to the FDOT. For information about I-75 improvements, visit movingi75forward.com

Per FDOT, during lane closures, motorists should expect delays. Follow posted speed limits and directional signage, avoid distractions and pay close attention when driving through the construction zone.

Something fishy

Scientists can’t explain some things about great white sharks.

By Jerald Pinson Florida Museum of Natural History

White sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) almost went bottom-up during the last ice age, when sea levels were much lower than they are today and sharks had to get by with less space. The most recent cold snap ended about 10,000 years ago and the planet has been gradually warming ever since. As temperatures increased, glaciers melted and sea levels rose, which was good news for great whites.

Results of a study published in the journal “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” show that white sharks had been reduced to a single, well-mixed population somewhere in the southern IndoPacific Ocean. White sharks began genetically diverging about 7,000 years ago, suggesting they had broken up into two or more isolated populations.

Today, there are three genetically distinct white shark populations: one in the southern hemisphere around Australia and South Africa, one in the northern Atlantic and another in the northern Pacific. Though widespread, the number of white sharks still remains low.

“There are probably about 20,000 individuals globally,” said study coauthor Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. “There are more fruit flies in any given city than there are great white sharks in the entire world.”

Organisms with small populations can be pushed close to the edge of extinction when times are tough. Mile-high glaciers extended from the poles and locked away so much water that by 25,000 years ago, sea levels had plunged by about 40 meters (131 feet), eliminating habitat and restricting great whites to an oceanic corral.

But something happened to great whites during their big comeback that remains as much of a mystery now as it was when it was first discovered more than 20 years ago. The primary motivation for this study was to lay out a definitive explanation, but despite using one of the largest genetic datasets on white sharks ever compiled, things did not go quite according to plan.

“The honest scientific answer is we have no idea,” Naylor said.

Scientists first got a whiff of something strange in 2001, when a research team published a paper that opened with the line, “… information about … great white sharks has been difficult to acquire, not least because of the rarity and huge size of this fish.”

The authors of that study compared genetic samples taken from dozens of sharks in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. They found that though the DNA produced and stored in the nuclei of their cells were mostly the same between individuals, the mitochondrial DNA of sharks from

South Africa were distinctly different from those in Australia and New Zealand.

The seeming explanation was that great whites tend to stick together and rarely make forays into neighboring groups. Over time, unique genetic mutations would have accumulated in each group, which, if it went on long enough, would result in the formation of new species.

This would explain the observed differences in their mitochondrial DNA but not why the nuclear DNA was virtually identical among all three populations. To account for that, the authors suggested that male sharks traveled vast distances throughout the year, but females either never traveled far, or if they did, they most often came back to the same place during the breeding season, a type of migration pattern called philopatry.

This idea was based on the fact that nuclear and mitochondrial DNA are not inherited in equal proportion in plants and animals. The DNA inside nuclei is passed down by both parents to their offspring, but only one, most often the female, contributes mitochondria to the next generation. This is a holdover from the days when mitochondria were free-living bacteria, before they were unceremoniously engulfed and repurposed by the ancestor of eukaryotes.

Male and female great whites do travel large distances in search of food throughout the year and females consistently make the return journey before it’s time to mate. Thus, the nuclear DNA of great whites should have less variation, because itinerant males go around mixing things up, while the mitochondrial DNA in different populations should be distinct because philopatric females ensure

all the unique differences stay in one place.

This has remained the favored explanation for the last two decades. Except no one ever got around to actually testing it. This is primarily because the data needed to do so was hard to get for the same reasons mentioned in the touchstone study: There aren’t many great white sharks and when researchers do manage to find one, taking a DNA sample without losing any appendages in the process can be tricky business.

Naylor and his colleagues began collecting the necessary data back in 2012.

“I wanted to get a white shark nuclear genome established to explore its molecular properties,” he said. “White sharks have some very peculiar attributes and we had about 40 or 50 samples that I thought we could use to design probes to look at their population structure.”

Over the next few years, they also sequenced DNA from about 150 white shark mitochondrial genomes, which are smaller and less expensive to assemble than their nuclear counterparts. The samples came from all over the world, including the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.

When they compared the two types of DNA, they found the same pattern as the one discovered in 2001. At the population level, white sharks in the North Atlantic rarely mixed with those from the South Atlantic. The same was true of sharks in the Pacific and Indian oceans. At a molecular level, the nuclear DNA among all white sharks remained fairly consistent, while the mitochondrial DNA showed a surprising amount of variation.

The researchers were aware of the philopatric theory and ran a few tests to see if it held up, first by looking specifically at the nuclear

DNA. If the act of returning to the same place to mate really were the cause of the strange mitochondrial patterns, some small signal of that should also show up in the nuclear DNA, of which females contribute half to their offspring.

“But that wasn’t reflected in the nuclear data at all,” Naylor said.

Next, they concocted a sophisticated test for the mitochondrial genomes. They first had to reconstruct the recent evolutionary history of white sharks, which is how they discovered the single southern population they’d been reduced to during the last ice age.

“They were really few and far between when sea levels were lowest. Then the population increased and moved northward as the ice melted. We suspect they remained in those northern waters because they found a reliable food source,” Naylor said. Specifically, they encountered seals, which are a dietary staple among white sharks and one of the main reasons why they have such a strong fidelity to specific locations.

“These white sharks come along, get a nice blubbery sausage. They fatten up, they breed, and then they move off around the ocean.”

Knowing when the sharks split up was key, as each group would have begun genetically diverging from each other at this time. All the researchers had to do was determine whether the 10,000 years between now and the last ice age would have been enough time for the mitochondrial DNA to have accumulated the number of differences observed in the data if philopatry was the primary culprit.

They ran a simulation to find the answer, which came back negative. Philopatry is undoubtedly a behavioral pattern among great whites, but it was not responsible for the large mitochondrial schism.

Naylor and his colleagues went back to the drawing board to figure out what sort of evolutionary force could account for the differences.

“I came up with the idea that sex ratios might be differen —that just a few females were contributing to the populations from one generation to the next,” Naylor said.

This type of reproductive skew can be observed in a variety of organisms, including meerkats, cichlid fish and many types of social insects. But yet another test showed

that reproductive skew did not apply to white sharks. There is a third, albeit less likely, option the team members said they can’t rule out at this stage, namely that natural selection is responsible for the differences. The reason why this is far-fetched has to do with the relative strength of evolutionary forces. Natural selection—the idea that the organisms best suited to leave behind offspring will, in fact, generally be the ones that have the most offspring—is always active, but it has the strongest effect in large populations. Smaller populations, in contrast, are more susceptible to something called genetic drift, in which random traits—even harmful ones— ave a much higher chance of being passed down to the next generation.

Florida panthers, for example, are highly endangered, with only a few hundred individuals left in the wild. Most of them have a kink at the end of their tail, likely inherited from a single ancestor. In a large population, subject primarily to natural selection, this trait would have either remained uncommon or disappeared entirely over time. But in a small population, a single cat with a kinked tail can change the world purely by chance through the auspices of genetic drift. By way of comparison, gravity exerts a force at all scales of matter and energy, but it is by far the weakest of the four fundamental physical forces. At the scale of planets and stars, gravity can hold solar systems and galaxies together, but it has very little influence on the shape or interactions of atoms, which are governed by the three stronger but more localized forces, such as electromagnetism. According to the study’s results, genetic drift cannot explain the differences between mitochondria in great whites. Because it is a completely random process, it cannot selectively target one type of DNA and spare another. If it were the culprit, similar changes would also be evident in the nuclear DNA. This leaves natural selection as the only other possibility, which seems unlikely because of the small population sizes among white sharks. If it is the causative agent, Naylor said, the selective force “would have to be brutally lethal.”

If you collect enough mass in a concentrated space, say on the order of a black hole, the otherwise benign force of gravity becomes powerful enough to devour light.

If natural selection is at play in this case, it would manifest itself in a similarly powerful way. Any deviation from the mitochondrial DNA sequence most common in a given population would likely be fatal, thus ensuring it was not passed on to the next generation.

But this is far from certain, and Naylor has his doubts about the validity of such a conclusion. For now, scientists are left with an openended question that can only be resolved with further study.

To learn more, go to floridamuseum.ufl.edu

A Jewish New Year favorite: chicken soup with herbed matzo balls

This is my go-to quick chicken soup recipe for colds or holidays when I am in a hurry. For Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, I like to make this soup three days ahead to let the flavors mingle. This recipe begins with a good-quality, store-bought broth, which immediately gives the chicken flavoring a head start. (Make sure to look for “kosher” on the label.)

Skinless bone-in chicken breasts add additional chicken flavor. (The bones help to enrich and slightly thicken the soup). This chicken soup cooks until the chicken is just cooked through, and the vegetables are tender. The chicken is cut up and returned to the soup awaiting its final pairing with the herbed matzo balls. If you prefer a lighter soup, strain out all the vegetables and chicken and serve the broth with the matzo balls. (Use the reserved chicken to make chicken salad.)

I prefer matzo balls that include seltzer water to lighten them and schmaltz (rendered chicken fat) to enhance the flavor. Chopped herbs add both flavor and color to the ivory dumplings. You can make up the matzo balls in the morning and keep them at room temperature in a little water until warming them in the chicken soup.

Tasty tips

The chicken soup starts with chicken broth that usually has some salt in it, so salt the soup at the end of cooking. Use parsley or mint if you don’t like dill in the soup and matzo balls.

Schmaltz can be found in the frozen meat section of many supermarkets. You will also find it at kosher meat markets. Make sure to melt it before using. Use kosher oil if you can’t find schmaltz.

Seriously Simple Chicken Soup with Herbed Matzo Balls Serves 6 to 8

For the soup:

2 medium whole chicken breasts, halved, skin removed, bone in

8 cups low-sodium chicken broth

6 cups water

2 medium onions, thinly sliced

4 carrots, peeled and sliced 1/2-inch thick

2 ribs of celery, sliced 1/2 inch thick

2 parsnips, peeled and sliced 1/2-inch thick

2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh dill, mint or parsley leaves or a combination

1 small tomato, quartered

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley, for garnish

For the matzo balls:

1/4 cup rendered chicken fat (schmaltz) or vegetable oil

4 large eggs, slightly beaten

1 cup matzo meal

1 tablespoon finely chopped chives

1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley

1 3/4 teaspoons salt

1/4 cup seltzer water, any sparkling water

1Place the chicken breast, stock and water in a large pot. Bring to a boil on medium-high heat. Skim the soup. Add the onion, carrot, celery, parsnip, dill and tomato. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about a half hour or until the chicken is cooked and the vegetables are just tender. Skim periodically. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

2Remove the chicken breasts from the soup and cool slightly. With your hands remove the meat from the bones, making sure to discard any bone or cartilage; tear or cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and return to the soup. Cover the soup and refrigerate. (At this point if you prefer just the broth, strain the soup first and then refrigerate.)

3

To make the matzo balls, blend schmaltz or oil and

eggs together with a whisk. Add the matzo meal, chopped herbs and salt to the egg mixture and stir together mixing well. Add the seltzer water and blend well. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator for half an hour for the mixture to thicken enough to make the matzo balls.

4Bring enough water in a large wide pot to come up 3/4 of the way to a boil on medium-high heat. Make the balls by rolling them very lightly into 1 1/2-inch balls. (The more you roll them, the tougher and heavier they will become.) Reduce the flame and drop the balls into the barely simmering water. Cover the pot and cook about 25 to 30 minutes or until cooked through. (Don’t take the lid off while they are cooking.)

5When ready to serve, remove the soup from the refrigerator and carefully remove any fat layer from the soup. Reheat the soup on medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes. Taste for seasoning. Add the matzo balls at the last minute just until heated through, about 3 to 5 minutes. Serve in bowls and garnish with parsley.

Advance preparation: The soup may be made completely ahead up to three days ahead, covered and refrigerated. The matzo balls can be made up to six hours ahead, covered and left at room temperature. The broth can be frozen for one month.

Beat the heat: Staying safe in extreme temps

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I love having my kids home for the summer, but I dread the humid weather. I’ve heard it’s going to be an especially hot one this year. What are some tips to stay safe in the heat?

ANSWER: It is important to take precautions if you are going to be outside in the heat or areas of high humidity, particularly during the summer months. If you’re not careful, high heat and high humidity can place you at risk for serious illness. Both the increased temperature and humidity impair the body’s way of cooling itself. Our core body temperature rises and we begin to sweat, causing dehydration. This can eventually lead to further medical issues such as heat cramps, heat

exhaustion and, in some severe cases, heatstroke.

The first signs of heatrelated illness can start with heat cramps, which are painful muscle spasms that can occur during outdoor activity. Heat cramps are caused by fluid and electrolyte loss, and they are most often felt in the arms, back, abdomen and calf muscles. Listen to your body and counteract symptoms by staying hydrated, stretching and gently massaging the affected area(s). Take a break from activity once the cramps begin and for a few hours after they have gone away.

Heat exhaustion is the next level of heat illness. Symptoms can include:

• Nausea

• Heavy sweating

• Rapid pulse

• Fatigue

• Abdominal cramps

• Dizziness

• Moist, cool skin and goose bumps in the heat

If you have symptoms of heat cramps or heat exhaustion, it is important to cool off and avoid outdoor activity. Seek a shaded place or go indoors and drink fluids. Sports drinks or powders containing electrolytes can help, but you should avoid beverages containing a lot of sugar as they can dehydrate you further. Contact your health care team if your symptoms worsen or don’t improve within an hour. Heat exhaustion is preventable, but it can lead to heatstroke, which is a lifethreatening condition.

Heatstroke is the most serious form of heat injury and can occur if your body temperature reaches 104 F or higher. Symptoms include:

Changes in behavior or mental state such as confusion, irritability, disorientation or slurred speech

Vomiting Headache

Flushed skin

Racing heart rate

Seizures

The inability to drink or cool yourself

If you or someone you are with have symptoms of heatstroke, call 911 and seek medical care immediately. While waiting for emergency services, remove excess clothing and use fans, ice packs or wet towels to

cool the body. Left untreated, heatstroke can harm your heart, brain, kidneys and other vital organs.

Some individuals are more at risk for heat-related illness than others. This includes older adults over 65 and people with chronic illnesses or obesity. Consuming alcohol, blood pressure medications, antidepressants and antihistamines also can increase your risk.

Don’t let the heat ruin your summer vacation. When traveling to a new area, be sure to give yourself time to acclimate to the heat. Be mindful when engaging in fun new activities that can dehydrate you quickly. Avoiding the hottest times of the day can keep you healthy and safe from heat-related illnesses.

Sports Trinity Catholic eases past Forest Celtics defense paces win over Wildcats.

By Mark Pinson Special to the Ocala Gazette

Trinity Catholic senior fullback Wyatt Lucas rushed for a game-high 127 yards and scored a touchdown, while the Celtics' defense had two interceptions and a safety in a thrilling 16-10 win over Forest High on Sept. 5.

The highly anticipated matchup drew a large crowd eager to see former Trinity Catholic head coach John Brantley, Forest High class of 1975, lead his alma mater against the Celtics for the first time.

The physical and emotional game lived up to the hype as both teams battled to the end with the outcome in doubt until a Forest fourth-down pass fell incomplete to seal the hard-fought victory for the Celtics.

"It feels good to get the win with some of the former coaches from Forest on our staff," said first-year Trinity Catholic head coach Clint Hart, who took over the Celtics' program after Brantley resigned after last season. "I think it means a lot to them and our players. Forest is a good team with a legendary coach and he's doing a good job over there."

For Forest, which saw its record drop to 1-1 on the season, the two turnovers, sloppy tackling, numerous penalties and missed opportunities proved too much to overcome.

"It is what it is," coach Brantley said. "We had two weeks off but that's no excuse, we should have been ready. You have to win close games. We can't feel sorry for ourselves because we had our chances, but this team has to learn how to win. We're a young football team and we're going to improve. Give Trinity Catholic credit, they did a great job, had a good game plan and played a solid game."

The game started off well for Forest as the Wildcats marched

down the field on their opening possession with precision as quarterback Caleb Sanford ripped off a 22-yard run and found junior wide receiver Trent Richburg open down the right sideline for a 43-yard touchdown pass. The extra point by senior kicker Kevin Morales made it 7-0.

The teams exchanged punts before Trinity Catholic, which improved to 2-0, took possession at the Forest 26-yard line. Lucas picked up a first down inside the 10 and looked to be going in for a score before he was stripped of the ball. Forest safety Ethan Godin pounced on the loose ball at the Wildcats' 1-yard line.

The good fortune was shortlived for Forest as running back Keziyrehun Rivers was tackled in the end zone by a swarming Trinity Catholic defense for a safety to pull the Class 1A Celtics within 7-2 late in the first quarter.

A good return on the Forest kick gave Trinity Catholic excellent field position at midfield. Celtics senior quarterback Carter Schofield completed a pair of passes and Lucas did the rest with his legs. Finishing off the drive by scoring from five yards out. The powerful Lucas finished the game with 127 yards on 24 carries. The point after gave the Celtics a 9-7 lead with 43.1 seconds left in the first period.

"Wyatt is a monster," coach Hart said. "We did a lot of good things, but there are a lot of things that we can improve on and get better."

The Forest offense struggled to get past midfield and Trinity Catholic took over at its 32 after a Wildcat punt. Schofield, who completed 7 of 13 passes for 94 yards, connected on four consecutive passes to move the ball to the Forest 14-yard line.

Freshman running back Amont Cadette gained eight yards on first down and found the end zone on the next play. The point after gave

the Celtics a 16-7 lead midway through the second period.

The score remained the same through the third quarter after Forest had a pass intercepted after reaching the Trinity Catholic 5-yard line. The pass from Sanford was tipped and Celtics' linebacker Kayman Poole made the pick to end the threat.

Trinity Catholic missed a long field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter. Forest had another promising drive end with an interception at the Celtics' 20-yard line by safety Christian Neal.

Forest finally put some points on the scoreboard when Morales nailed a 27-yard field goal to pull the Class 6A Wildcats within 1610 with 3:37 left in the game.

Trinity Catholic ran the ball with Lucas forcing Forest to use its three timeouts The Wildcats' defense forced a punt and their offense took possession at their 47-yard line with 1:17 remaining to play.

Sanford, who completed 7 of 22 passes for 162 yards, hooked up with Ethan Collins for a nice gain to the Trinity Catholic 35. But four consecutive incomplete passes, including one just off the fingertips of a Forest receiver in the end zone, turned the ball over on downs.

Trinity Catholic took a knee to seal the hard-fought victory. The Celtics return to action on Sept. 12 with a home game against Gainesville Eastside. Forest is on the road at Horizon the same day.

Palermo: Gritty, yet delightful

Europe is always changing – and Sicily’s capital, Palermo, is a fine example of this. For years, Palermo’s touristic reputation was tarnished by labels like gritty, run-down, polluted, traffic-clogged, crime ridden, and synonymous with Mafia violence. But those days are long gone. Palermo today is far cleaner, safer, and more inviting than it was in years past. But, at the same time, it retains its colorful edge – and that’s why I love it.

Over the last two decades, Palermo has reinvented itself with new museums, gentrified neighborhoods, pedestrianized streets, and upscale shops and hotels. The Mafia's influence has also significantly diminished. Sure, traffic is a free-for-all, and even the city's prettiest public spaces are rough around the edges. It’s like Naples in that regard – but most visitors come to appreciate Palermo's grittiness and what locals call its " bella chaos."

The heart of the city is Quattro Canti (“Four Corners”). It’s where two main streets –Via Maqueda and Via Vittorio Emanuele – intersect, dividing the city into four major historical neighborhoods. Between the streets are four Baroque facades, each adorned with three tiers of statues. The bottom statues represent the four seasons, from a young maiden for spring to an

elderly woman for winter.

A few steps from Quattro Canti is a trio of glorious churches, facing each other across Piazza Bellini: La Martorana, with gorgeous gilded mosaics; San Cataldo, filling a former mosque; and the highlight – the Church of Santa Caterina, where a simple exterior hides an explosive Sicilian Baroque interior.

Nearby, in Piazza Pretoria, the famous “Fountain of Shame” is one of the few Renaissance works here. Its gathering of marble statues includes gods, goddesses, and grotesques on several tiers, with the virgin goddess of hunt, Diana, presiding above the commotion. The nickname comes from the nude figures – considered quite racy in conservative Sicily.

While Palermo can seem a bit ramshackle, behind its gritty walls hide exquisite noble mansions reminding visitors of the island’s rich heritage. One of my favorite places to sneak a glimpse of aristocratic life is Palazzo Conte Federico, an elegant and extremely livedin mansion built upon the city wall. Count Federico’s family has lived here for centuries, and the current count is a racecar enthusiast (though after he flipped his car in a Sicilian road race, the countess said, “No more racing”). Mansion tours are led by the countess or their sons.

Perhaps the most fascinating

sight is about a mile from the center, in a crypt below a Capuchin monastery. The Capuchins, a branch of the Franciscan order, have a passion for reminding people of their mortality. Historically, when their monastic brothers died, their bones were saved and put on display. The Capuchins of Palermo took this tradition a step further, preserving bodies in their entirety.

Inside the Capuchin Catacombs, a maze of corridors contains about 2,000 clothed skeletons and mummies: monks in brown robes, women wearing favorite dresses, priests in their vestments, soldiers still in uniform, and children looking almost as if they are just taking a long nap. The oldest body –Brother Silvestro – has been hanging out here since 1599. These “bodies without souls” are meant to remind the living that their time on earth is transitory,

and something much greater awaits. If you believe in God, this crypt is actually a beautiful celebration of life. At the very least, it’s a thought-provoking reminder of your mortality.

Palermo became a major city after the ninth-century arrival of the Arabs, who were the first inhabitants to spur its development. In the 11th century, the Normans, arriving from northern France, conquered and re-Christianized Sicily. Yet the Arab influence lives on throughout the city.

A great example is at the Palatine Chapel, built in the 12th century inside the Norman rulers' royal residence. The king at the time hired architects and craftsmen from different communities, and together they built a simple Norman structure with Arab-style arches and geometric designs, then adorned the walls and ceiling with shimmering Norman-Byzantine mosaics.

Arab influence is also felt in Palermo’s street markets, where merchants retain the tradition of singing their sales pitches. My favorite place to witness this is the Ballarò Market, the city's oldest, most authentic, and liveliest market. And the Vucciria, with a little festival of meat, fish, and produce vendors, has one of the city's best street food scenes – a one-stop shop for boiled octopus, spleen sandwiches, and Sicily’s famous fried rice balls ( arancine ). While the Vucciria neighborhood is lively in the morning, it’s even better after hours. Make it a point to explore its characteristic back lanes at night, where you’ll likely stumble onto a wonderfully convivial scene under the stars – a kaleidoscope of edgy graffiti, cheap plastic chairs, soccer on the big screen, big-eyed kids with gelato, and people embracing life with Sicilian gusto.

Government

SEPT. 15, 22 AND 29

Marion County Development Review

Office of County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave., Building 1, Ocala

9am

The committee meets each Monday to review and vote on waiver requests to the Land Development Code, major site plans and subdivision plans. See marion.fl.legistar.com/ calendar.aspx for agenda and minutes.

SEPT. 16

Marion County Board of County Commissioners

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

9am

The commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at marionfl.legistar.com/ calendar.aspx

Ocala City Council

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala

4pm The council meets each first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas and minutes are available at ocala.legistar.com/calendar.aspx

Belleview City Commission

Belleview City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview

6pm

The commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video available at belleviewfl.org/200/ agendas-minutes

Multiple dates

MCPS town hall meetings

Locations below

5:45pm

Marion County Public Schools Interim

Superintendent Dr. Danielle Brewer will host four town hall gatherings, which are open to

parents, students, staff and the public.

• Sept. 18 – Lake Weir Middle School, 10220 SE Sunset Harbor Road., Summerfield

• Oct. 16 – Osceola Middle School, 526 SE

Tuscawilla Ave., Ocala

• Nov. 13 – North Marion Middle School, 2085

W. CR 329, Citra

• Dec. 18 – Dunnellon Middle School, 21005 Chestnut St., Dunnellon

Anyone with questions can call (352) 671-7555.

SEPT.

23

Marion County School Board

1614 E Fort King St., Ocala

5:30pm

The board meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Agendas and minutes are available at go.boarddocs.com/fl/marion/ Board.nsf/Public

SEPT. 23-25

Marriage License and Passport

Day events

Marion County Clerk of Court Annex Building, 19 N Pine Ave., Room 126.

7am-7pm

The Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller’s Office will offer extended hours for the processing of new U.S. passport applications, passport photography services and marriage license services and ceremonies. Appointments are required and standard fees will apply for all services. To make an appointment, visit bit.ly/3PwfGLk.

OCT. 8

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

SEPT. 11-28

“Into the Woods” Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Fairytales tell the truth: Everyone is wishing for something. Curses can last for generations. No one is alone. And children will listen. This magical musical weaves together the tales of Jack and his beanstalk, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red, a baker and his wife and a powerful witch. Learn more at ocalacivictheatre. com or call the box office at (352) 236-2274.

SEPT.

12

Dueling Pianos

NOMA Black Box, Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala

6pm

Grab a seat at a café table and enjoy cocktails and an evening of sing-along classics of soft rock and pop that spans decades. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com

Dueling Pianos Uncensored

NOMA Black Box, Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala

9pm

Experience musical mayhem and unleash your wild side on the dance floor as pianists engage in hilarious and unpredictable musical mash-ups while our cocktail servers dish up your favorite drinks. Find the details at reillyartscenter.com

SEPT. 13 AND 14

“That’s Entertainment!” concerts

Marion Technical Institute Auditorium, 1614 E. Ft. King St., Ocala

2pm Sept. 13; 3pm Sept. 14

As it heads into its 36th season, the Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band will present concerts that will include music from movies as well as classic and modern tunes. Pre-concert music will begin an hour prior to the main show and will feature the KOS Polka Band. The performances are free to attend. For more information, call (352) 390-0491 or visit kingdomofthesunband.org

SEPT. 13

Comedian Flip Orley

Community Arts

SEPT. 12

Taste of the Town Charity Event

Ocala Downtown Market, 403 SE Osceola Ave., Ocala

5-8pm

The Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center’s second fundraising event will include 19 area restaurants, food and beverages, and food truck vendors offering samples of food, bakery items, wine and beer. For tickets, go to zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2nd-annualcharity-taste-of-the-town

SEPT. 13

Ocala Recovery Festival

Tuscawilla Park, 829 N.E. Sanchez Ave., Ocala

10am-3pm

The eighth annual event will include exhibitor booths, recovery resources, entertainment, a kid’s zone, food and giveaways. The annual Recovery Champion Award will be presented. The event is free to attend. To learn more, call (352) 438-5990.

SEPT. 13-JAN. 3

“Alma’s Way: Welcome to My Neighborhood!”  Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala

10am-4pm Tuesday through Saturday

The Discovery Center will open the new traveling exhibit on Sept. 13. Based on the hit PBS KIDS animated series Alma’s Way, the immersive exhibit brings the life of 6-year-old Alma Rivera to Ocala. Guests can step into Alma’s world by exploring her family duplex, shopping at a neighborhood bodega, visiting a pet clinic, and even taking a subway ride on the iconic six train. For more information, call (352) 401-3900 or visit mydiscoverycenter.org

SEPT. 19

POW/MIA Recognition Day

Ocala/Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, 2601 E Fort King St., Ocala 9am

The event is hosted by Marion County Veterans Services to honor and recognize prisoners of war and those who are missing in action. Call (352) 671-8422 to learn more.

SEPT. 25

Night of Hope

College of Central Florida, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala

5:30pm The annual event honors victims and survivors of domestic violence. The keynote speaker will be Melissa Dohme Hill, a survivor and advocate, and executive director of Hands Across the Bay. Free childcare offered for

youngsters age 2 and older. For details, call the Marion County Children’s Alliance at (352) 438-5990.

SEPT. 24

Estate Planning Seminar

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

9:30-11am

The College of Central Florida Foundation will host a free estate and retirement planning panel discussion that will information on the effects recent legislation has on charitable donations. There will be an opportunity for questions and answers. Advanced reservations are required by emailing foundation@cf.edu

SEPT. 25

Seniors At Work Job Fair

Paddock Mall, 3100 SW College Road, Ocala

11am-2pm The Senior Resource Foundation of Ocala event is designed for adults ages 55 and older who are seeking part-time or full-time employment opportunities. Admission is free. For more information, visit srfofocala. org/events

SEPT. 27

Fall Arts & Crafts Show Countryside Presbyterian Church, 7768 SW State Road 200, Ocala

9am-1pm The show will feature a variety of handmade items from local crafters and artisans, as well as the popular basket raffle and bake sale. Food and drink will be available at the Country Café. To learn more, call (908) 902-3484.

Florida Thorobred Fillies Brunch and Fashion Show

Hilton Ocala, 3600 SW 36th Ave., Ocala

10am-1pm See fashions from Ladybead Boutique and support this social friendship club for women in the Ocala area horse industry. RSVP to Tammy Gantt by calling (352) 598-6832.

SEPT. 28

Pack Walk Silver Springs State Park, 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 9am Meet dogs from Marion County Animal Services and help support the park. Participants help walk the shelter dogs, interact with them and learn if one might be a good fit for adoption. Park admission is $2 per person. Learn more at animalservices.marionfl.org

Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave., Ocala

7:30pm Orley is considered “best” comedic hypnotist in the country and each 2 + hour show is different but equally funny, crazy and off the wall. It’s the best audience participation show you’ll ever see with 10-20 people on stage with some convinced that they’re aliens or they speak alien. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com

SEPT. 14

Phantasmagoria’s Poe, Through the Tales Darkly Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

7:30pm Journey with members of the acclaimed Victorian horror troupe as they bring to life the tales and poetry of Edgar Allan Poe. From the haunted stirrings of “The Raven” to the sheer terror of “The Tell-Tale Heart,” from the obsessively plotted revenge of “The Casque of Amontillado” to the bittersweet and lovely longing of “Annabel Lee,” along with a selection of other whimsical, macabre, and terrifying stories and poems, you are invited to celebrate an evening of Poe’s works. There will be a talkback and photo op after the performance. Learn more at ocalacivictheate.com

SEPT. 19

Blues in the Box: Matt Schofield

NOMA Black Box, Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala

7:30 pm

British blues guitar icon Matt Schofield returns with his original organ trio to celebrate 20 years since his landmark solo debut. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com

SEPT. 20 AND OCT. 15

Zora Listened! Storyteller Diane Johnson Locations below

OCT. 3

Cooks, Books & Musical Hooks Headquarters Ocala Public Library, 2720 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 2:45pm Dylan Newton, author of “Change of Plans,” will join chef Patti McQueen, of La Casella Catering; and songstress Miranda Madison for an afternoon of talking, cooking and singing. Learn more by calling (352) 671-8551.

OCT. 4

Party in Purple Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala 10am-12:30pm Proceeds of the dance fitness party will benefit local victims and survivors of domestic violence. To learn more, call the Marion County Children’s Alliance at (352) 438-5990 and find the event on Eventbrite.

11am Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960), African American author, playwright, poet, anthropologist and folklorist, collected the stories, songs and poems of African Americans living in northeast Florida. Storyteller Diane Johnson will bring Hurston to life through stories and music in these free events. Sept. 20, Headquarters-Ocala Public Library, 2720 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala; Oct. 15, Sankofa Public Library 1821 NW 21st Ave. Ocala. Call (352) 671-8551 for more information.

SEPT. 26

Zachary Bartholomew: Tribute to Chick Corea

NOMA Black Box, Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala

7:30pm Join award-winning pianist Dr. Zachary Bartholomew, his trio and special guest Jose Valentino for a tribute to jazz legend Chick Corea. To learn more, go to reillyartscenter.com

SEPT. 28

Ocala Symphony OrchestraThreads of Light: A New Requiem Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala 3pm

Experience the world premiere of “Threads of Light” by local composer Joshua L. Mazur, a moving new work created for the Ocala Symphony’s golden anniversary. Blending traditional mass texts with original poetry and featuring soloists Alexis Ault, Hannah Mazur and Kimberly Milton, this intimate performance is a celebration of light, hope and renewal. Find details at reillyartscenter.com

SEPT. 27

Hispanic Heritage Festival College of Central Florida, Ewers Century Center, 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala 11am-4pm At this free family event, visitors can get assistance with applying to the college with no application fees and can access community resources and enjoy music, food trucks and vendors. CF is hosting the festival in partnership with the Hispanic Business Council with sponsorship from CAMPUS USA Credit Union. To learn more, go to cf.edu/hhf

THROUGH SEPT. 27

“Where We Gather” exhibit

The Brick, 23 SW Broadway St., Ocala 10am-5pm Monday-Friday; 11am-4pm Saturday “Where We Gather” is a community-centered art exhibit that invites local artists to reflect on the spaces, both ordinary and sacred, where connection happens in Ocala and across the world. The theme, according to the Marion Cultural Alliance, is about the rituals, relationships and rhythms that turn spaces into places of belonging. To learn more, go to mcaocala.org

THROUGH OCT. 16

“The Gap Between Art and Life” College of Central Florida Webber Gallery, 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala 10am-4 pm, Monday-Thursday This innovative, immersive biennial is a competitive exhibition of installation art. After reviewing 97 entries from artists across the southeastern United States, the jury panel selected eight artworks by seven artists. The pieces each offer something unexpected, breaking from tradition and challenging the typical gallery experience. Admission is free. To learn more, go to cf.edu/ webber

THROUGH JAN. 18

“The Human Pulse: Photographs by John Elliott” Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

The exhibit features 42 black-and-white prints from the Ocala-based photographer’s ongoing series, “The Human Pulse,” shaped by his life and travels across 32 countries. His photographs reflect a dreamlike vantage point: floating somewhat above, sometimes even at a great distance, but still connected to the moment. Learn more at appletonmuseum.org

THROUGH OCT. 31

“The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers” Various locations and times The Keeneland Library launched the exhibit in the library from February 23 to Dec. 8, 2023, before traveling the exhibit to numerous other locations. It follows the lives and contributions of Black horsemen and women and includes interpretive panels, photographs, artwork, artifacts and video interviews. The exhibit will be at the Marion County Black History Museum inside the Howard Academy Community Center at 306 NW 7th Ave. where it may be seen from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays in September. There will be a meet and greet reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 18 at the museum, with Melvin Jones, the first trainer of Triple Crown winner Affirmed, and Gus Gray, a member of the Marion County Agricultural Hall of Fame. From Oct. 6-31, the exhibit may be viewed from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the FTBOA museum and gallery at 801 SW 60th Ave., Ocala. To learn more, go to keeneland.com/keeneland-library/heart-turfracings-black-pioneers and ftboa.com

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.

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

IN RE: THE ESTATE OF JAMES A. HELMAN, DECEASED Case No.: 42-2025-CP-002097-CPAXMX Probate Division NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of JAMES A. HELMAN, deceased, whose date of death was July 20, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 NW 1st Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s

IN THE 5 th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA.

IN RE: The Estate of PROBATE DIVISION

MARC L. ALOUIDOR, CASE NO.: 2025-CP001969 Deceased. / NOTICE TO CREDITORS (Formal Administration) TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS OR DEMANDS AGAINST THE ABOVE ESTATE: The administration of the Estate of MARC L. ALOUIDOR, deceased, whose date of death was June 17, 2024, and whose social security number is ***-**-6372, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 NW First Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475. The names and addresses of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITH THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE 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.

A Personal Representative or curator has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211. The date of first publication of this Notice is September 5, 2025.

Attorney and Personal Representative Giving Notice:

/s/ Steven E. Gurian . STEVEN E. GURIAN, ESQ., Attorney for Personal Representative EASY ESTATE PROBATE, PLLC 2601 South Bayshore Drive, 18th Floor Coconut Grove, Florida 33133

Tel: 1-833-973-3279

Fax: 1-833-927-3279

E-mail: SG@EasyEstateProbate.com

Florida Bar No. 101511

/s/ Marie Elsie Benjamin MARIE ELSIE BENJAMIN, As Personal Representative

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA Probate Division File NO. 2025-CP-002214

In Re: Estate of CAROLYN D. REAVIS (A/K/A DIANNE OCCHETTI), Deceased NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of CAROLYN D. REAVIS (A/K/A DIANNE OCCHETTI), deceased, whose date of death was June 21, 2025, File Number 2025-CP-002214 is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475.

The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons 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 WITHIN 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 SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE 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 September 12, 2025.. Attorney for Personal Representative: PAUL DEAN REAVIS 3636 Caddington Terrace Midlothian, Virginia 23113 Personal Representative: PENNY LYNN ROBINSON KECA

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

Case No.: 2025-2144-CP

IN RE: THE ESTATE OF GERALD ALBERT MATHIS, Deceased./

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of GERALD ALBERT MATHIS, deceased, whose date of death was July 27 , 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 Northwest First Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in sections 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under section 732.2211, Florida Statutes. All creditors of the decedent, and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE 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 the first publication of this Notice is September 12, 2025

Personal Representative: WENDY KATHERINE MATHIS NEWMAN 971 Village Drive Brooksville, FL 34601

Attorney for Personal Representative: JANET W. BEHNKE Florida Bar No. 135969 Janet W. Behnke, P.A. 500 NE 8 th Avenue Ocala, FL 34470 Phone: (352) 732-6464 janet@behnkelaw.net

and LILIANA DUARTE COVIS, Respondent/Wife. CASE NO.: 2025 DR 108 NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE To: LILIANA DUARTE COVIS ADDRESS UNKNOWN YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Dissolution of Marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on or before October 17, 2025 and serve it upon Law Offices of Jason G. Smith, P.O. Box 1828, Eustis, FL 32727, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 215 E McCollum Ave, Bushnell, FL 33513, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the Petition. This action is asking the court to decide how the following real or personal property should be divided: NONE. Copies of all court documents in this case, including order, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office notified of your current address. (You may file a Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Electronically Filed Sumter Case # 2025DR000108AXMX 07/14/2025 01:36:00 PM Approved Family Law Form 12.915). Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or emailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk's office.

WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.

ERIN C. MUNZ

Dated: August 26, 24,2025 CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT

By:Sund Bass Deputy Clerk

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA IN RE: ESTATE OF SHARON K. CLEMENT, DECEASED, CASE NO.: 2025-CP-2015

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Sharon K. Clement, deceased, whose date of death was January 23, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is, 110 NW 1st Ave., Ocala, Florida 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court WITHIN 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 decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

The personal representative or curator has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in sections 732.216-732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under section 732.2211. 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 first date of publication of this notice is September 12, 2025. Attorney for Personal Representative, Caleb V. Smith, Esquire

The Florida Legal Advocacy Group, P.A. 445 NE 8th Ave., Ocala, Florida 34470 FL Bar No.: 1008368 Tel:352-732-8030 Fax: 888-399-3129 cs@FlagOcala.com

Personal Representative, Leslie Thorn, 4755 SE 146th Place Ocala, FL 34491

N THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA. IN RE: THE ESTATE OF JOSEPH F FERRIGNO, Deceased. CASE NO: 2025-CP-000450. NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The the designation of the court in which the administration of this estate is pending, and the file number are indicated above. The address of the court is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475.

If you have been served with a copy of this notice and you have any claim or demand against the decedent s estate, even if that claim is unmatured, contingent or unliquidated, you must file your claim with the court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF A DATE THAT IS 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS NOTICE. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with the court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. EVEN IF A CLAIM IS NOT BARRED BY THE LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE, ALL CLAIMS WHICH HAVE

Inc. at Ocala, Marion County, Florida, on 9/09/2025, Marion County, Ocala, Florida.

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