living here 2012

People, places make Marion unique, Page 3

LIVING HERE

A GUIDE TO LIFE IN

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2012

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE OCALA STAR BANNER

Variety is the spice of dining life, Page 9

Calendar full of family friendly events, 4

MARIONCOUNTY

Breakthrough ServiceSundays @ 10:30 am

294 Marion Oaks Lane • 352-566-7586Visit us on the web at:

www.bethesda-worship-center.org

Bethesda WorshipCenter Inc.

Worship • Connect • Serve

“IF YOU WANT TO BE CLOSER TO GOD,COME TO BETHESDA WORSHIP CENTER, AND PRAISE HIM,

WORSHIP HIM, AND LISTEN TO HIS WORD!!!”

GOOD NEWS BAPTIST CHURCH729 N.E. 2nd Street, Ocala • (352) 362-5225

SCHEDULE OF SERVICESSunday School - 10:00 AM

Sunday Morning Worship - 11:00 AMSunday Evening - 6:00 PMWednesday Night - 7:00 PM

~ PASTOR KEITH COLWELL ~

www.jewishocala.orgRabbi Ze’ev

Harari

Temple Beth ShalomComprehensive Reform Jewish Congregational experience

Friday night services 7:30pm1109 N.E. 8th Ave., in the of Ocala

Religious School information: (352) 629-3587Membership information: (352) 854-6446

Christ the KingAnglican Church

Services:Rite I - 7:30 am

Rite II: 8:50 & 11:15 amChildren’s Church - 8:50 am

The Rev. Donald J. Curran RectorThe Rev. Matthew Walter

3801 US N HWY 441 inLivingWatersWorship

Center’s South Sanctuary351-9727

SUNDAY SERVICES10:30 AM

7633 No. Florida Ave.Citrus Springs

465-4225 naturecoastuu.orgGLBTWelcome

FINDUS ANDYE SHALLSEEK.

f you’re searching for a spiritualhome where questions are aswelcome as answers, find us.We are a loving, open-minded

religious community that is guidednot by a creed or dogma but by afree and responsible quest for truthand meaning in our lives. Thereis a religion that welcomes yoursearch. Discover UnitarianUniversalism.

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Editor: Tom McNiff, 352-867-4013; [email protected]

Copy editor: Sharon Sullivan

Cover design: Sean Ochal

WELCOME TO MARION: It’s the people and plac-es that make the area so special, Page 3

WEATHER EXTREMES: The central location gives us a mix of weather, Page 6

PLACE FOR LEARNING:Public, private schools and colleges provide quality education, Page 7

THE DINING EXPERIENCE: From barbecue to Thai fare, the area has some-thing tasty for everyone, Page 9

REPS AT A GLANCE: Know your federal, state and county-wide repre-sentatives, Page 12

TAKING OUR PULSE:State grades the com-munity’s overall health, Page 8

GEOGRAPHY LESSON:Get to know more about the cities in Marion County, Page 13

TRAINING GROUND: The county is where many great racehorses got their start, Page 17

alaN yOuNgblOOd/STaff phOTOgrapher/2011 file

WHAT’S InSIde

3

A FULL CALENDAR:Plan your year with our calendar of events, Page 14

NEW TO THE AREA?Know where to go for basic public services, Page 16

BIG BUSINESS: Horse industry has put Marion County on the map, Page 19

LARGEST EMPLOYERS:List of the top public and government em-ployers, Page 16

2| Sunday, February 26, 2012 LIVING HERE OCALA STAR-BANNER | www.ocala.com

Staff report

Marion County is an extraordinary place. It is vast (its 1,600 square

miles make it larger than Rhode Island), and it is diverse geographically, economically, ethnically and culturally.

Marion County is a melting pot, a place that blends political, cultural and economic differences. It is a place where the super wealthy maintain majestic horse farm estates across the street from middle-class subdivi-sions; where colorful Caribbean festivals coexist with country-west-ern concerts; where tea partiers share the down-town square with Occupi-ers; where culinary offerings run from Asian to Italian to Mexican to Brazilian to Cajun.

Marion County is a surprise, a delightful departure from the iconic Florida most people know. Instead of miles of white sand beaches, we have miles of rivers, hundreds of thousands of acres of lakes and a number of crystal-clear springs. Instead of palm trees, we have majestic oaks. Instead of endless strip malls, we have quaint downtown areas.

Take a stroll with us now as we explore Marion County and its hidden gems.

The geographySituated in North

Central Florida, Marion County is about equal distance from the Atlantic and Gulf coasts — roughly an hour each direction, which makes it an ideal launch pad for day trips to the beach.

If you head west, you’ll run into Cedar Key and

other trendy fishing villages along the Gulf coast. The seafood is out of this world, and those communities are ablaze with colorful arts and crafts fashioned by the hands of area artisans.

If you head east, you run into Daytona Beach or some of the other touristy beach communities.

And if you stay at home, you’ll find a very diverse place. The eastern third of the county is blanketed by the Ocala National Forest, which attracts hunters, anglers, campers and hikers from throughout the Southeast.

Ocala stands in the center of the county. It is the cultural and business center of the county, so it is

natural that its population of 58,000 or so swells to triple that size each workday as people make the daily commute to work, shop, eat and enjoy a host of recreational opportunities.

In and around Ocala, primarily west and north of the city, are some of the most breathtaking views in Florida. Drive out State Road 40 west, or U.S. 27 west, and you will pass miles of rolling horse

pastures rimmed with white, brown or black fences.

Head southwest to Dunnellon, and you will run into the Withla-coochee and Rainbow rivers, two of the most unspoiled and crystal-clear bodies of water in the state.

The peopleThe people of Marion

County are an eclectic mix. They are Southern-ers with fabulous drawls, Northerners with Brook-lyn and Boston accents, Midwesterners, home-grown Ocalans, and newcomers from South Florida with Caribbean and Spanish accents. Walk down most busy streets and you are likely

The area has so many hidden gems to explore

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

‘70 ‘80 ‘90 ‘10 ‘00Source: US Census Bureau

331,298

69,030

Marion County population: 1970-2010

SEAN J. OCHAL/Staff graphic

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

‘70 ‘80 ‘90 ‘10 ‘00Source: US Census Bureau

331,298

69,030

Marion County population: 1970-2010

SEAN J. OCHAL/Staff graphic

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Editor ––––––––––––––

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alan youngblood/staff photographer/2011 file

Thoroughbreds munch on the grass in a field at Ocala Stud as the day comes to an end on Sept. 18, 2011. Driving through the county you can see some breathtaking views with miles of rolling horse pastures.

alan youngblood/staff photographer/2007 file

Visitor Don Christman enjoys the underwater scenery during his tour of the headwaters of the Rainbow River.

Marion County age groups for 1990,2000, 2010

ROB MACK/Staff graphicSOURCE: US Census Bureau

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Editor ––––––––––––––

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2000

1990

85-up

75-84

65-74

55-64

45-54

35-44

25-34

19-24

0-18

85-up

75-84

65-74

55-64

45-54

35-44

25-34

20-24

0-19

65-up

60 64

50-59

40-49

30-39

20-29

0-19

64,181

23,742

31,810

35,855

44,391

46,001

47,094

28,822

9,402

60,976

10,941

26,435

35,252

31,262

30,562

35,289

22,756

5,443

47,917

23,579

26,331

21,825

18,920

13,364

42,897

Marion County age groups for 1990,2000, 2010


2010

2000

1990

85-up

75-84

65-74

55-64

45-54

35-44

25-34

19-24

0-18

85-up

75-84

65-74

55-64

45-54

35-44

25-34

20-24

0-19

65-up

60 64

50-59

40-49

30-39

20-29

0-19

64,181

23,742

31,810

35,855

44,391

46,001

47,094

28,822

9,402

60,976

10,941

26,435

35,252

31,262

30,562

35,289

22,756

5,443

47,917

23,579

26,331

21,825

18,920

13,364

42,897

PeoPle on Page 4

It’s the people, places that make Marion such a unique place to live.

www.ocala.com | OCALA STAR-BANNER LIVING HERE Sunday, February 26, 2012 |3

Register Now at www.mydiscoverycenter.org352-401-3900 • 701 NE Sanchez Ave. • Ocala 34470

IT’S A NO SCHOOL DAY!EXPLORE FLORIDA’S WONDERS:

“MEETWINTER”! Star of Dolphin TaleFriday April 6, 2012 7:45am - 5:45pm (Ages 10 - 14) $75

Visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and meet Winter who wears a prosthetic dolphin tale. We will participate in theRescue, Rehab, and Release program and enjoy a voyage into the bay to take a closer look at Florida sea creatures.

TODDLER’S EXPLORE(Ages 18 months-2 years)

Thursdays | Mar 1-April 26 | 9-10 a.m.CREATE SCIENTISTS

(Ages 3-5)Thursdays | Mar1-April 26 |

10:30-11:30 a.m.Through songs, stories, and

exploratory activities, your child will explore thewonders of nature and science. $26 per child formembers and $22 per child for non-members.

Limited to 15 participants.March: How’s theWeatherApril: Oceanography

EARLY RELEASE DAY(Ages 8-14)

MAKE IT AND TAKE ITART CLASS

Wednesday | Mar 7 and May 2 | 2-4:30 p.m.

$13.50 per person per member and $15 fornon-members. Limited to 15 participants.

Mar 7: We’re making Mono-Prints!Learn the simple process of creating a

one of a kind art print

May 2: Create your own winner for theKentucky Derby. Learn the process of buildinga 3-D horse sculpture from wire and fabric.

HOMESCHOOLTUESDAYS(Ages 8-12)

Tuesdays | Mar. 6 -April 17 | 12:30-2 p.m.FUN-�lled, hands-on scienti�c adventures.

First threeTuesdays of each month.Monthly topics are:

March:Welcome to the Jungle;April: Rocket Science.

$22 per child for members and$27 per child for non-members.

Preregistration required.Limited to 20 particpants.

to see cowboy hats, busi-ness suits, hajibs, high heels and riding boots.

And while the area is a tapestry of integrated neighborhoods, each community that makes up Marion County has a slightly different ethnic or cultural feel. Marion Oaks, on the county’s southern border, has a distinctive Hispanic influence. Silver Springs Shores is home to a sizable Caribbean population. West Ocala is a histori-cally African-American community. And if you head west on State Road 200, past Interstate 75, you come upon some of

Florida’s oldest and best senior communities, home to tens of thousands of people who migrated here because of the low cost of living, the favorable climate and the natural beauty.

The cultureNo matter your taste in

music, art and entertain-ment, it’s here. The community’s social calendar has an array of offerings that reflect the area’s ethnic and cultural diversity. There is a Caribbean Festival, African-American Arts Festival, and festivals — like Boomtown Days and McIntosh 1890’s festival

people: Favorable climate, low cost of living attract thousands of people to the area

Marion County Race/Ethnicity 1990, 2000 and 2010


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Editor ––––––––––––––

News Desk ––––––––––––

White:81%

White:85.3%

White:85.8%

Black:12.3%

Hispanic: 10.9% Asian: 1.3% NativeAmerican:

0.4%

2010

Black:12%

Hispanic: 6% Asian: .09% NativeAmerican:

1%

2000

Black:12.75%

Hispanic: 3% Asian: 0.5% NativeAmerican:

0.3%

2000

Marion County Race/Ethnicity 1990, 2000 and 2010


White:81%

White:85.3%

White:85.8%

Black:12.3%

Hispanic: 10.9% Asian: 1.3% NativeAmerican:

0.4%

2010

Black:12%

Hispanic: 6% Asian: .09% NativeAmerican:

1%

2000

Black:12.75%

Hispanic: 3% Asian: 0.5% NativeAmerican:

0.3%

2000

2011 file

Known only as “Bubbles,” she enjoys dancing with the Zumba fitness dancers at their booth during the 2011 Boomtown Days in the historic district of Dunnellon.

Continued from Page 3

Culture on Page 5


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— that celebrate the area’s rich history.

There is a terrific symphony orchestra in town, along with the Appleton Museum of Art and a celebrated commu-nity theater — Ocala Civic Theatre — that presents a full slate of live perfor-mances each season.

The shoppingWhile Ocala maintains a

small-town feel, the city and surrounding commu-nities boast some pretty good shopping options.

Ocala is home to not one, but two, malls. The older of the two, Paddock Mall, is conveniently located on one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares, College Road (State Road 200), and features national

chains like Belk, Sears, JC Penney and Macy’s, not to mention fashion retailers like Hollister, Aeropostale, Gap and American Eagle Outfitters.

The other mall, a relatively recent addition to the landscape, is situated just three miles west on State Road 200. Market Street at Heath Brook is an open-air mall that boasts such names as Dillards, Barnes & Noble, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Joseph A. Bank men’s fashions.

And if that’s not enough …

One of Marion County’s greatest features is its proximity to large cities and other great Florida destinations. Our resi-

dents love being able to live in a small town but also being able to escape to a variety of places within an hour’s drive.

Tampa and St. Peters-burg, about an hour and a half southwest of here, have great concert venues, professional sports franchises and unique cultural offerings such as the Cuban-influenced Ybor City.

Orlando is, of course, home to Disney and a number of other great theme parks like Univer-sal Studios, Seaworld and Wet ’n Wild water park.

North of here is Gainesville, which boasts the University of Florida and its great concert venues, not to mention one of the best college athletic programs in the nation.

Continued from Page 4

doug engle/staff photographer/2009 file

Market Street at Heath Brook, one of the county’s main shopping spots, is an open-air mall that is home to stores such as Dillards, Barnes & Noble, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Joseph A. Bank.

culture: Festivals, music, art reflect the area’s ethnic, cultural diversity

www.ocala.com | OCALA STAR-BANNER LIVING HERE SundAy, FebruAry 26, 2012 |5

By Joe CallahanStaff writer

We all know Flori-da weather: Hot, humid and with occasional tor-

rential rains.But weather in this area

of the state is more nuanced. Marion County offers everything from biting cold snaps to blistering heat waves; droughts to biblical rainfall; gentle breezes to tornadoes and hurricanes.

It’s simply never dull living in this part of the Sunshine State.

This part of Florida is where warm and cold fronts often settle and where Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico sea breezes collide, causing thunderstorms, tornadoes and more lightning than most people can imagine.

It’s a place of extremes, from regular 100-degree days beginning in June and lasting through September, to regular freezes in the mid-20s in the winter, sometimes beginning as early as mid-December.

This part of Florida sees extremes in rainfall, including spells of droughts in the winter and deluges in the summer. And if that is not enough, six months out of every year, the state is a target for hurricanes.

HurricanesHistorically, Marion

County has dodged hurricanes for about a century, mainly because of its central location in the north-central part of the state. Experts warn residents to keep their guards up.

And they are right. In 2004, hurricanes Frances

and Jeanne crossed Marion County two weeks apart, toppling trees onto power lines and plunging the area into darkness for weeks at a time.

Frances struck on Sept. 5 as a mere tropical storm, damaging 2,000 homes and causing $20 million in damages. Jeanne struck a few weeks later as a tropical storm, although damage was not as severe.

TornadoesAlthough Florida is

associated with hurri-canes, tornadoes actually appear much more frequently than most people realize.

The bad news is that Florida rivals Kansas when it comes to the actual number of twisters, about 50 on average. Texas leads the nation with about 100 annually.

The good news is that Florida tornadoes are usually less severe than those mile-wide F-5s that

obliterate Midwest towns. Florida tornadoes are usually F-0 or F-1 and are shrouded in severe thunderstorms, so they are not easily seen on radar.

Still, they can be deadly. A twister cut a swath of destruction just south of Marion County in 2007, killing 21 people.

ThunderstormsMarion County has more

thunderstorms each year

than almost any other place in the United States. In fact, there are 90 thunderstorm days each year, nearly one every four days on average.

The thunderstorm peak is between June and October. Most of these storms strike along the Interstate 75 corridor, a place where the Gulf and Atlantic sea breezes collide.

Lightning

Along with the thunder-storms comes lightning. Marion County gets about 37,000 lightning strikes per year — 25 per square mile.

An area from southern Marion County south to Tampa, and from Tampa across to Cocoa Beach, is known as “Lightning Alley” — so named because lightning strikes here more than anyplace in North America.

TemperatureSummers can be brutal.

Winters can be annoying.Summer temperatures

often hit 100 degrees. And with humidity, the heat index often rises above 110 degrees. Winter tempera-tures often drop into the 20s, although this past winter was considered mild.

In the fall and spring, there are often 30-degree swings in temperature when fronts start moving through this part of Florida. The high in July and August is 92 degrees. The average low in January is 45 degrees.

RainfallShifts in rainfall often

create extreme droughts and floods, depending on La Nina and El Nino influences, which have major effects on this part of Florida.

Usually fall and winter, from October through mid-May, is dry. Then regular spring and summer torrential rainfall begins.

Marion’s average annual rainfall is about 50 inches, with monthly totals ranging from 7 inches in July to 2 inches in Novem-ber.

WildfiresDrought often occurs in

the winter and spring, creating extremely dry conditions that lead to wildfire outbreaks. One of the state’s worst wildfire outbreaks occurred in 1998, when 500,000 acres burned statewide.

In that year, between Memorial Day and July 4, virtually no rain fell and fires destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses statewide. Luckily for Marion County that year, firefighters kept most wildfires at bay.

By the Numbers30-year averagesHottest Month: Au-

gust: 93 high, 72 low.Coldest Month: Janu-

ary: 71 high, 45 low.Wettest Month: June,

7.42 inchesDriest Month: Novem-

ber, 2.12 inchesAverage Rainfall:

49.23 inchesAnnual Thunder-

storm Days: 90Annual 90-Degree

Days: 136

all-time recordsHighest Temperature:

105 — 1985.Lowest Temperature:

11 — 1981.Coldest Month

Ever: January 1938, 47 degrees*Most Rainfall-Day:

11.72 inches, April 8, 1982Most Rainfall-Month:

16.72, April 1982*Average daily tempera-

ture.

Marion County a place of weather extremes

AlAN youNgblood/stAff photogrApher/2012 file

A sign at a business on Southwest 19th Avenue Road in Ocala shows just how cold it can get during the winter months of January and February.

2011 file

Tyler Mason, 6, balances on the attraction “Climb the Ladder” during the Ocala Jaycees God & Country Day 2011. The area’s warm temperatures for most of the year make it a great place for outdoor activities.

6| Sunday, FebRuaRy 26, 2012 LIVING HERE OCALA STAR-BANNER | www.ocala.com

By Joe CallahanStaff writer

Geographically speaking, Marion County is mam-moth. It’s larger

than the state of Rhode Island. It features ex-pansive rural areas that create unique transporta-tion challenges for Marion County Public Schools.

The School District, which serves nearly 42,000 students in kinder-garten through 12th grade, has the fifth largest school bus fleet in the state — one of the 100 largest in the nation.

Its 267 buses pick up more than 23,000 students daily, traveling nearly 5.7 million miles annually.

Those buses deliver students to the district’s 47 mainstream elementary, middle and high schools. The district also has one special-needs school, one technical and adult-educa-tion facility, and three charter schools.

Of those 52 schools, 76 percent earned an “A” or “B” grade from the state.

The district is Marion

County’s largest employer, with more than 6,000 employees — half of whom are teachers and 46 percent of whom are support staff.

The district’s $480 million budget is overseen by a five-member elected School Board. The

superintendent of schools also is elected.

The School District also offers virtual online and home schooling. For more information, go to www.marion.k12.fl.us.

Private schoolsOfficials estimate that

there are about 3,000 children who attend one of at least seven private schools scattered through-out Marion County.

Among the larger private schools are Blessed Trinity Catholic School (K-8), Trinity Catholic High School (9-12) and St. John Lutheran School (K-12).

Others include: Ocala Christian Academy, Meadowbrook Academy, Hale Academy, Souls Harbor Christian Acad-emy and Academy of Biblical Character Development.

College of Central Florida

College of Central Florida, formerly Central Florida Community

College, has been trans-formed in recent years. It not only changed its name but has started offering several bachelor’s de-grees.

Now serving nearly 9,000 students, CF offers bachelor’s degrees in business and organiza-tional management, with concentrations in agri-business, health care, information systems and public safety administra-tion.

The other bachelor’s degree is in early child-hood education, specifi-cally prekindergarten/primary education. CF also has campuses in Levy and Citrus counties. For

more information, go to www.cf.edu.

CF’s University Center

CF has seven university partners which offer various bachelor’s, graduate and doctorate-level programs. Each college or university partner has its own criteria for admission, as well as requirements for graduation.

Those seven partners are: Barry University, Capella University, Florida State University, Saint Leo University, University of Central Florida, Univer-sity of Florida and Webster

University.

Webster University

Located at its new Ocala home, 4414 SW College Road, Suite 942, Webster University was founded in 1915 and now has more than 100 campuses around the world.

It offers degree pro-grams in its schools of business and technology, communications and education, as well as select majors in the colleges of fine arts or arts and sciences.

For more information, go to www.webster.edu/ocala/.

Rassmussen College

Located at its new Ocala home, 4755 SW 46th Court, in front of West Marion Hospital, Rass-mussen College was founded as a business school in 1900 and now has 22 campuses in five states.

Known as Webster College until recently, Rassmussen offers degrees in five areas: health sciences, business, criminal justice, nursing and technology design.

For more information, go to www.rasmussen.edu.

Not far awayHere are a list of major

universities that are not far from Ocala: University of Florida, Gainesville; University of Central Florida, Orlando; Univer-sity of South Florida, Tampa; Florida State University, Tallahassee.

K-12Marion County Public

Schools has nearly 42,000 children at 52 schools: 29 elementary, 8 middle, 8 high, 3 charter, 2 combination, 1 special needs and 1 technical and adult education center.

Here’s a breakdown of the student population:School StudentsElementary 19,647

Middle 9,232

High 11,984

Alternative 961

TOTAL 41,824

Source: Marion county Public Schools

Schools, colleges offer quality education

doug EnglE/StAff PHotogrAPHEr/ 2010 filE

John McNair, a North Marion High School student, checks the boiling and freezing point of a coolant in automotive class on May 19, 2010.

doug EnglE/StAff PHotogrAPHEr/2010 filE

A student makes his way toward the Humanities/Social Sciences building as College of Central Florida’s Ocala campus. CF has about 9,000 students enrolled and has started offering several bachelor’s degrees.

www.ocala.com | OCALA STAR-BANNER LIVING HERE SUNday, FebRUaRy 26, 2012 |7

Staff report

How healthy are we? As a community, we’re improving, but we have a long

way to go, according to data compiled by the Florida Department of Health.

The numbers suggest that Marion County is doing better at diagnosing and treating heart disease as well as a variety of cancers, but we don’t exercise, eat right or go to the doctor as much as we should.

The data is contained in Florida Charts (www.floridacharts.com), a database featuring health and wellness measure-ments for all 67 Florida counties. The latest year available is 2010.

That year, however, the Department of Health gave Marion County a rating of 4 — the lowest

possible — for the percent-age of adults who get vigorous physical activity. Just 21.9 percent of Marion County adults got the recommended amount of exercise, well below the state average of 26 percent.

Marion County adults also get a lousy grade for eating too few fruits and vegetables. Just 22.1 percent of us eat five servings a day, compared with 26.2 percent of adults statewide.

There are other areas where we scored miser-ably, suggesting that we have great room for improvement.

Too few of us saw dentists in the past year

(24.5 percent); too many of us have high cholesterol (41.5 percent); and we have alarming rates of infant death and domestic violence.

On the good side of the ledger, our death rate from strokes is below the state average and improving, and our death rate from heart disease, while worse than the state average, is getting better.

Breast cancer? Our death rate is considerably below the state average, which garnered us a 1 — the highest mark — from the Department of Health. And perhaps not coinci-dentally, a whopping 62.9 percent of Marion County women over the age of 40

received mammograms in the past year — again, well above the state average.

The mixed results are not surprising, consider-ing that our access to health care services also is spotty.

According to the Department of Health, Marion County gets high marks for the number of hospital beds (237.3 per 100,000 population) and licensed dentists (38.6 per 100,000 population). But we get poor marks for the number of family physi-cians (just 15.2 per 100,000 population) and the percentage of people who have any kind of medical insurance (80.6 percent).

What does all this mean? The answer might rest with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Population Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin. Those organizations publish the annual Health Outcomes for each community in the nation, sifting data to

determine a community’s overall health relative to other communities.

Marion County ranks 47th out of 67 counties in Florida, or well below average, according to those groups.

Major Health Care Providers

Munroe Regional Medical Center ■

1500 SW First Ave., Ocala352-351-7200www.munroeregional.com

Munroe Regional Emergency Center-TimberRidge Cam- ■

pus9521 SW State Road 200, Ocala352-351-7500www.munroeregional.com

Ocala Regional Medical Center ■

1431 SW First Ave., Ocala352-401-1000www.ocalaregional.com

West Marion Community Hospital ■

4600 SW 46th Court, Ocala352-291-3000www.WestMarion.com

Marion County Health Department (medical, environ- ■

mental)1801 SE 32nd Ave., Ocala352-629-0137www.doh.state.fl.us/chdmarion

Heart of Florida Health Center (medical) ■

1025 SW First Ave., Ocala352-732-6599www.heartoffloridahealthcenter.org

The Centers (mental health) ■

5664 SW 60th Ave., Ocala352-291-5555www.thecenters.us

The Vines (mental health) ■

3130 SW 27th Ave., Ocala352-671-3130www.tenbroeckocala.com

Community’s overall health has room for improvement

DOUG ENGLE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/2006 FILE

Munroe Regional Medical Center, left, and Ocala Regional Medical Center are the area’s two big hospitals.

County rates high in treating heart disease and cancers, but low in exercise and healthy eating


By Rick AllenStaff writer

Time was, dinner out Friday night meant seafood or steak on College Road in

Ocala.Steak and seafood is still

there, but you’re more likely to find yourself in a place that serves Japa-nese, Chinese or Thai fare on the stretch of State Road 200 between Pine Avenue and I-75 that we could dub Asian Avenue.

Recently, at least three Eastern eateries and one Indian spot have joined longtime staples like Kotobuki, Ayuttaya and Tony’s Sushi. Ocean Buffet is in what once housed Bella Luna, the sushi-centric House of Japan occupies what once was Lone Star Steakhouse and Buffet City at the Martin Luther King intersection is in a build-ing that’s been a revolving door of restaurants and sa-loons.

Indian Bombay City now occupies the corner of College Road and South-west 27th Avenue. Planned to open later this year are a bakery called Breadali-cious across from Panera Bread and a new Mexican place next door to Outback Steakhouse.

Grace Sushi and Steak-house, wildly popular on SR 200, is opening a second spot soon in the new Parkview Commons Plaza on Maricamp Road.

But the newest trends in the area are eclectic comfort food and frozen yogurt.

The Braised Onion opened in December in one of the oldest restau-rants in Ocala — the LeMieux family-owned facility at 754 NE 25th Ave. that has housed a number of iconic eateries

dating back to World War II, including the Rustic Grill and Hightower’s, and several more brief endeav-ors after Bob Hightower retired.

But the Onion also features the return of chef Loring Felix to the kitchen, some 18 months after he closed his own Felix’s on Silver Springs Boulevard. Felix says his Onion menu is closer to his heart than even that of Felix’s: “Comfort food with a twist,” he calls it.

Around the corner at 2515 NE Third St. is Slyce Bistro and Pizzeria, which offers a niche board of artisan sandwiches and gourmet pizza.

Speaking of pizza, several new mom-and-pop pizzerias opened in the past several months.

While Brooklyn’s Original Pizzeria at 1011 NE 14th St. technically is not new, its owners are — and they’re cranking out some awesome grub. And with them are EZ’s Pizzeria on Maricamp Road in Silver Springs Shores and Wiseguys Pizzeria in the Pearl Britain Plaza on Northeast 35th Street.

And then there’s this frozen yogurt phenom-enon.

Since the mid-2000s, these self-serve frozen yogurt spots have been popping up around the country like so many music competition shows on TV. They’re expected to pass $1.6 billion in sales this year — all from

less-than-50-cents-per-ounce servings.

Two have opened in Ocala: My Mochi on Southwest 19th Avenue

Road within sight of the Regal Cinemas Hollywood 16 complex, and Peach-wave in Parkview Com-mons Plaza on Southeast

Maricamp Road.Across the street from

My Mochi in the strip fronting Wal-Mart on Easy Street is a brand-new

Shane’s Rib Shack, a Georgia-based barbecue chain making inroads into Florida. This unit’s space-age smokers crank out some top-tasting chicken, pork and ribs — and the store itself is testing a new lunch menu for the chain.

And there’s more. The Hilltop BBQ at 5848 S. Pine Ave. is highly regarded despite being miniscule and next door to a cemetery. Meanwhile, George Elysee adds a touch of his native Haiti to his barbecue at Elysee Grill in the Shady Hills Plaza a few steps from Best Buy. Fat Boy’s Bar-B-Q last summer began its fifth decade in the same spot at 4132 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

For some additional adventure in dining, there’s the Cabin Pub on State Road 40, about two miles east of County Road 314A in the Ocala National Forest, where new owners built a jail there just for fun.

Cup ’O the Irish at 3233 SE Maricamp Road offers early-morning joe and Irish eats on the east side of town. The ubiquitous Mojo Grill opened a Belleview location.

Finally, for an award-winning nosh, we have our Golden Spoon restau-rants: the French La Cuisine on Southwest First Avenue just off down-town and SKY Asian Fusion atop the Holiday Inn at I-75 and SR 200. Before last year, when SKY was a solo recipient of the award, no Marion County eatery had been so honored by the Florida Trend accolade before.

And now, we have two.

Variety is what makes area’s dining scene unique

file

The salad bar features a variety of salads at Sky Asian Fusion in the Holiday Inn & Suites Ocala Conference Center.

But the newest trends in the area are eclectic comfort food and frozen yogurt.


Findaphysicianclose tohome.CallMunroeRegional’sHealthResourceLineat352-867-8181.

Yes, itmatters.

Notbecausewesayso.Because theexperts say so.

ere are only 263 hospitals in America that have earned the prestigious “2012DistinguishedHospital Award for Clinical Excellence™”fromHealthGrades®, the leading provider of comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. Munroe Regional is one ofthem— theonly hospital inMarionCounty.

In fact,Munroe Regional is the only hospital inMarion, Citrus, Lake, Sumter and Alachua counties to earn this distinction. And inaddition to the 2012DistinguishedHospital Award for Clinical Excellence,Munroe Regional has earned no fewer than 10 other2011-2012HealthGrades awards for Excellence—in Patient Safety, Cardiac Care, Critical Care, Stroke Care, Pulmonary Care, SpineSurgery, Prostatectomy,Women’s Health,Maternity Care andGynecologic Surgery.at’s important. Because it means that you cancount onMunroe Regional. In fact, you should insist onMunroe Regional. Not because we say so. Because the experts say so.

As the only community owned hospital in Marion County, we believe that every one of our patients, every citizen of MarionCounty—anyone who entrusts their care, their family, their children and their life to Munroe Regional—deserves the best.We believe that you deserve a hospital this good.

Learnmore aboutMunroeRegional’s recent accolades andawards. Visitwww.MunroeRegional.com/accolades.

www.MunroeRegional.com/heartTM

www.MunroeRegional.comTM

*Region includesMarion,Citrus, Lake, SumterandAlachuaCounties.

Theregion’soneandonly.The region’s*only hospital namedOneofAmerica’s100 BestHospitalsforOverallCardiacServices in 2012.

It’s easy to talk about excellence. It’s another thing altogether to prove it.e fact is thatMunroe Regional is consistentlyranked as one of the best hospitals in the country. Not because we say so. Because the experts say so. HealthGrades®, the leadingprovider of comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals, has rankedMunroe RegionalOne of America’s 100 BestHospitals for Overall Cardiac Services in 2012— theonlyhospital inMarion, Citrus, Lake, Sumter andAlachuaCounties toearn this distinction.

AtMunroe Regional’s award winningMunroe Heart program, excellence is a way of life.We insist on it. Every day. As a result,when you or your family need heart care, you can count onMunroe Heart. Not because we say so. Because the experts say so.

As the only community owned hospital inMarion County, we believe that every one of our patients, every citizen ofMarionCounty— anyone who entrusts their care and their life toMunroe Regional—deserves the best.We believe that you deservea hospital this good.

LearnmoreaboutMunroeHeart.Visitwww.MunroeRegional.com/heart.

HealthGrades®, the leading providerof comprehensive information aboutphysicians and hospitals, has rankedMunroe Regional “One of HealthGradesAmerica’s 100 Best Hospitals forOverall Cardiac Services in 2012.”

10| LIVING HERE Sunday, February 26, 2012 LIVING HERE | 11

Federal government

U.S. Rep. CliFF SteaRnSAge, 70; Republican from

Ocala. First elected in 1988. U.S. Air Force veteran and for-mer hotelier; member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Vet-erans Affairs Committee. Salary: $174,000.District Office: 115 SE 25th

Ave., Ocala, FL 34471. Phone: 352-351-8777

U.S. Rep. RiCh nUgentAge, 60; Republican from

Brooksville. First elected in 2010. Illinois National Guard vet-eran and former sheriff of Hernando County; member of the House Administration Committee and the Rules Committee. Sal-ary: $174,000.District Office: 16224 Spring

Hill Drive, Brooksville, FL 34604. Phone: 352-799-8354

U.S. Rep. CoRRine BRownAge, 65; Democrat from Jack-

sonville. First elected in 1992. Former com-munity col-lege professor and member of the Florida House of Rep-resentatives; member of the House Transportation and Infra-structure Committee and the

Veterans Affairs Committee. Salary: $174,000.District Office: 101 E. Union

St., Suite 202, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Phone: 904-354-1652

U.S. Rep. Daniel weBSteR Age, 62; Republican from

Orlando. First elected in 2010. Business owner and former member of the Florida House of Rep-resentatives and Florida Senate; mem-ber of the House Rules Committee. Salary: $174,000.District Office: 315 SE 25th

Ave., Ocala, FL 34471. Phone: 352-629-9160

State government

State Sen. ChaRleS DeanAge, 72: Republican from In-

verness. First elected in 2007. Former member of Florida House of Rep-resentatives and former Citrus County sheriff; chair-man of the Senate En-vironmental Preservation and Conservation Commit-tee, member of the Senate Criminal Justice, Governmental Oversight and Accountability and Regulated Industries com-mittees. Salary: $29,697.District Office: 315 SE 25th

Ave., Ocala, FL 34471-2689. Phone: 352-873-6513

State Sen. evelyn lynnAge, 82; Republican from

Ormond Beach. First elected in 2002. Former member of the Florida House of Representa-

tives and former member of the Ormond Beach City Commission; member of the Senate Budget, Commerce and Tourism, Communica-tions, Energy and Public Utilities, High-er Education and Rules commit-tees. Salary: $29,697.District Office: 151 SE Osceo-

la Ave., Third Floor, Ocala City Hall, Ocala, FL 34471-2148. Phone: 352-694-0160

State Sen. Steve oelRiChAge, 66; Republican from

Gainesville. First elected in 2006. Former Alachua County sher-iff; chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee and member of the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation and Banking and Insurance committees. Salary: $29,697.District Office: 4131 NW 28th

Lane, Suite 7, Gainesville, FL 32606. Phone: 352-375-3555

State Sen. alan haySAge, 65: Republican from

Umatilla. First elected in 2010. Retired dentist and former member of the Florida House of Representa-tives; member of the Senate Agriculture, Banking and Insurance, Budget and Criminal Justice committees; Salary: $29,697.District Office: 1104 Main St.,

The Villages, FL 32159. Phone 352-360-6739

State Rep. DenniS BaxleyAge, 59; Republican from

Ocala. First elected in 2000 and served in Florida House until 2007, re-elected in 2010; funeral home operator and former mayor of Belleview; member of the House Health & Hu-man Services Committee. Salary: $29,697.District Office: 315 SE 25th

Ave., Ocala, FL 34471-2689. Phone: 352-732-1313

State Rep. Keith peRRyAge, 53; Republican from

Gainesville. First elected in 2010. Contractor; member of House State Affairs Com-mittee. Salary: $29,697.District

Office: 5220 SW 50th Court, Ocala, FL 34474-5675. Phone: 352-873-6564

State Rep. ChUCK CheStnUtAge, 49; Democrat from

Gainesville. First elected in 2006. Funeral-home operator and former member of the Gainesville City Commission; member of the House Appropria-tions Com-mittee. Salary: $29,697.District

Office: 3141 NW 13th St., Gainesville, FL 32609-2186. Phone: 352-955-3083

State Rep. MaRlene o’toole

Age, 67; Republican from Lady Lake. First elected in 2008. Retired IBM executive; member of the House Ap-propriations Committee and the Education Commit-tee. Salary: $29,697.District

Office: 916 Avenida Central, The Villages, FL 32159-5704. Phone: 352-315-4445

State Rep. ChaRleS van ZantAge, 68; Republican from

Keystone Heights. First elected in 2008. Architect and former member of the Clay County School Board; mem-ber of the House Finance and Tax Com-mittee. Salary: $29,697.District Office: Suite 5,

3841 Reid St., Palatka, FL 32177-2509. Phone: 386- 312-2272

County government

BoaRD oF CoUnty CoMMiS-SioneRSResponsibility: Main legisla-

tive body of county govern-ment2011-12 budget: $591.2

millionNumber of employees: 1, 412County administrator: Lee

NiblockGeneral information phone

number: 352- 438-2300Commissioner Charlie Stone,

chairman, 352-438-2323, charlie.stone@marioncountyfl.

orgCommissioner Kathy Bryant,

vice chairman, 352-438-2323, [email protected] Mike Amsden,

352-438-2323, [email protected] Stan McClain,

352-438-2323, [email protected] Carl Zalak,

352-438-2323, [email protected]

CleRK oF the CiRCUit CoURt DaviD ellSpeRMannResponsibility: Administrator

of the state and county courts within Marion County and chief financial officer and re-cords custodian for the County CommissionNumber of

employees: 1952011-12 budget: $10.9

your federal, state and county-wide representatives

Stearns

Nugent

Brown

Webster

Dean

Lynn

Oelrich

Hays

Baxley

Perry

Chestnut

O’Toole

Van Zant

Niblock

McClain

Stone

Bryant Amsden

Ellspermann

Zalak

goveRnMent on Page 13


AUTO • HOME • BUSINESS • LIFESINCE 1985

507 NE 36TH AVENUE • OCALA, FL 34470PHONE (352) 368-7090 • FAX (352) 368-7853

www.ahrensinsuranceagency.com

Over4,000 Orchids!

15730 SE Cty. Hwy 25 • Weirsdale, FL 32195(352) 821-2147 or 895-1613

Check Hours & Menu Onlinewww.lacuisineocala.comCall 352-433-2570For Reservations

BelleviewLand area: 1.8 square milesPopulation: 4,483City budget, 2011-2012:

$6,248,524City mayor: Christine

Dobkowski, 233-7214, [email protected] information

phone number: 352- 245-7021Website: www.belleviewfl.

orgNames and office

phones/emails of city council members:

Commissioner Michael Gold- ■

man, 274-3464, [email protected]

Commissioner Gary W. Ernst, ■

307-5345, [email protected]

Commissioner Wilma C. Loar, ■


Commissioner Robert “Bo” ■

Smith, 266-2107, [email protected]

OcalaLand area: About 40 square

milesPopulation: 53,491City budget, 2011-2012:

$626,303,508 City manager: Matt

Brower, [email protected] informa-

tion phone number: 352-629-2489Website: www.ocalafl.orgNames and emails of city

council members:Mayor Mayor Kent Guinn, ■

[email protected] President, Suzy ■

Heinbockel, [email protected]

Councilman Daniel Owen, ■

[email protected] John McLeod, ■

[email protected] President Pro-Tem ■

Mary S. Rich, [email protected]

Dunnellon

Land area: Approximately 6 square milesPopulation: 1,913City budget, 2011-2012:

$3,257,358City manager: Lisa Algiere,

465-8500Website: www.dunnellon.

org/General informa-

tion phone number: 352-465-8500Names and office phones

of city council members:Mayor Fred R. Ward, ■

465-6624Vice-Mayor Fred “Starkie” ■

Stark, 489-3067Councilman Dennis Evans, ■

489-6077Councilman Lynne McAn- ■

drew, 465-5919Councilman Penny Fleeger, ■

465-8500

McIntoshLand area: 0.7 square milesPopulation: 452 City budget, 2011-2012:

$1,004,299City manager: Debbie

Gonano, [email protected] information

phone number: 352- 591-1047Website: www.townofmcin-

tosh.orgNames and office

phones/emails of city council members:

Mayor Cary McCollum, ■


Council President Frank ■

Ciotti, 317-2568, [email protected]

Council Vice-President ■

Eva Jo Callahan, 591-0579, [email protected]

Council member Thurman ■

Kingsley, 591-2703, [email protected]

Council member Willie Ham- ■

ilton, 591-2409, [email protected]

Council member Marshall ■

Roddy, 494-9368, mdroddy@gmail.

Marion County’s cities at a glance

million General information phone

number: 352-671-5604Email: public@marioncounty-

clerk.org

PrOPerty APPrAIser VIllIe sMIthResponsibil-

ity: Assessor of real and personal property values within Marion County 2011-12 budget: $3.7 million

Number of employees: 56General information phone

number: 352- 368-8300Email: [email protected]

sherIff eD DeAnResponsibility: Chief law en-

forcement officer for unincor-porated Marion County2011-12 budget: $68 millionNumber of

employees: 742General

information phone number: 352- 732-8181Email: visit www.marionso.

com for contact information

suPerVIsOr Of electIOns Dee BrOwnResponsibilty: Administrator

of federal, state and local elec-tions and manager of voter registration information 2011-12

budget: $2.7 millionNumber of

employees: 15General

information phone number: 352-620-3290

Email: elections@

votemarion.com

tAx cOllectOr GeOrGe AlBrIGhtResponsibility: Collector and

disburser of local and state taxes and issuer of state driver’s, hunting, fishing and vehicle registra-tion licenses2011-2012

budget: $6.9 millionNumber of

employees: 118General information phone

number: 352-368-8200Email: [email protected]

Smith Dean

BrownAlbright

government: Sheriff’s Office has 742 employeesContinued from


MARCHKnap-In: Silver River Knap-in and Stone Age Arts Festival will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 3, and Sunday, March 4, at Silver River State Park, 1425 NE 58th Ave., Ocala. $5 per person. (236-7148 or www.floridastateparks.org/Silverriver)

Master Gardener Spring Festival: The annual plant sale and gardening expo will be March 10-11 at the Marion County Exten-sion Service, 2322 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala. $1. (671-8400)

2nd Annual Car Show: The show, sponsored by George Albright, Marion County Tax Collector, will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at 503 SE 25th Ave., Ocala. $15 pre-registration fee, $20 day of show. (368-8218 or [email protected])

O’Cala’s St. Patrick’s Day: Family friendly celebration of everything Irish will be from 5 to 9 p.m. March 17 on the downtown Ocala square. (629-8444)

Live Oak International: The Combined Driving Event will be held March 22-25 at Live Oak Farm.

2215 SW 110th St., Ocala. (www.cailiveoak.com/)

Fishing Derby: Young fisherman can spend the morning fishing in Tuscawilla Park from 9 a.m. to noon March 31. Seniors can fish on April 2. (629-8444)

The Fourth annual All Vehicles Past and Present Car Show: Event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, 692 NW 30th Ave., Ocala. Free for spectators. Registration is $15 prior to March 23; $20 after. (368-3582 or [email protected])

APRILPAAS Eggstravaganza: This fun family tradition presented by Signa-ture Brands, runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 7 at Tuscawilla Park, Ocala. (629-8444)

Downtown Dance Festival: This music-and-dance celebra-tion runs from 3 to 8 p.m. April 21 on the Ocala downtown square. (629-8444)

Hogs for Hope: A motorcycle ride and poke run for ARC Marion will be held in mid-April. (www.HogforHope.com)

Arbor Day Celebration: A celebration of trees, featuring live music, tree planting and more, will be held April 28 at Tuscawilla Park, Ocala. (629-8444)

Boomtown Days: Celebrate Dunnellon’s past with arts, crafts, pageants and more. Boomtown is in mid-to-late April. (489-2320)

March for Babies: The annual March of Dimes walking fundraiser begins with registration at 7 a.m. and kickoff at 8 a.m. April 28, Baseline Trailhead, 4255 SE 58th Ave., Ocala. (378-9522)

MAYDoc Hollywood Days: The annual event celebrates the movie “Doc Hollywood,” which was shot in

Micanopy. Event includes a car show, parade and more. Event is held in early May. (466-3327)

Kids, Cops and Firefighters Family Fun Fest: Enjoy a day in the park with local law enforce-ment and rescue staff from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 5, Martin Luther King Recreation Complex, Ocala. (629-8444)

Symphony Under the Stars: Bring a picnic basket and blanket and enjoy the sounds of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra on Mother’s Day, May 13, at the Ocala Golf Club, 3130 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. (351-1606 or www.ocalasym-phony.com)

What’s happening in 2012

FILE

Davin Slaughter, 2, hunts for eggs at the 11th annual PAAS Eggstravaganza on April 3, 2010, at Tuscawilla Park in Ocala. This year’s event will be held April 7.

FILE

ABOVE: Judy Gieselberg stops to smell a Heliotrope at J.P. Nursery at the Master Gardeners’ Spring Festival at the Southeastern Livestock Pavillion in Ocala on March 15, 2009. The annual plant sale and gardening expo will be held March 10-11. BELOW: Guests enjoy the fireworks display at the Symphony Under the Stars.

calendar on Page 15


JUNEHogs for Hope Blues and BBQ: Enjoy an evening of food and live music benefitting ARC Marion on June 1, 2800 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala. $25. Evening ends with a drawing for a new bike. (351-2479 or www.hogforhope.com)

JULYRed, White and Blues: A patriotic festival, featuring music, fun and food, runs from 6 to 9 p.m. July 3, the downtown Ocala square. (629-8444)

God and Country Day: The annual July 4 celebration includes arts, crafts, live entertainment, food and fireworks. The all-day event is on U.S. 27 and County Road 225. (843-9494)

AUGUSTFamily Fun Festival: This after-noon of free family fun is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 4 at Tuscawilla Park, Ocala. (629-8444)

SEPTEMBEROcala Shrine Rodeo: The annual rodeo will be held Labor Day weekend Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2322 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala. A special rodeo for Shrine Hospital patients is Thursday. (694-1515)

Marion County Springs Festival: The annual Marion County Springs Festival features educational displays, lectures and vendors focusing on preserving and protecting Marion County springs. The event is planned for a weekend in September. (www.springsfest.org)

Fort King Festival: The annual festival celebrates native Florida history. Re-enactors will demon-strate living history. The event is planned for late September. (629-2773)

OCTOBER Ocala Cultural Festival: A celebration of diversity in our

community with fun, food, music and dance from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 13 on the downtown Ocala square. (629-8444)

Marion Start! Heart Walk: Sponsored by the American Heart Association. The 5K walk will be held early to mid-October at the Baseline Trailhead, 4225 SE 58th Ave., Ocala. (marionheartwalk.kintera.org)

Master Gardener Fall Festival: Annual plant sale and gardening expo 8 a.m. to noon, early to mid-October, at the Marion County Extension Service, 2322 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala. (671-8400)

McIntosh 1890’s Festival: A day of arts and crafts in McIntosh. Event held on a Saturday in mid- to late October. (591-4038 or www.friendsofmcintosh.org)

Micanopy Fall Festival: A day of arts and crafts in Micanopy. Event held on a weekend in mid- to late October. (466-7026 or micanopy-fallfestival.org)

Ocala Arts Festival: The juried show features artists from around the nation as well as children’s activities. Event held mid- to late October at the McPherson Govern-mental Complex. (867-0355 or www.fafo.org)

Jeeptoberfest: The largest annual jeep gathering in the South-east will be held Oct. 27-28 at the Market of Marion. Event includes vendors, obstacle courses and more. (ocalajeepclub.com)

Orange-A-Fair: An old-fashioned day of contests, entertainment and cook-offs features citrus to benefit the Citra Historical Museum. Held late October. (595-3377)

Jazz Up Dunnellon: An evening of live jazz music, vendors, food and more held in mid-October along Pennsylvania Avenue in Dunnellon. (489-2320 or www.dunnellonchamber.org)

Blessed Trinity Carnival: Annual carnival featuring midway rides, prizes, games and food at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church,

5 SE 17th St., Ocala. Carnival is usually held mid- to late October. (www.btcarnival.com)

Nine Mile Pond: The Nine Mile Pond event is an annual arts and crafts show held around Lake Lillian in Belleview. Event is held in October. (www.belleviewfl.org)

Making Strides Against

Breast Cancer: The annual walk is sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Event held at Silver Springs Nature Park in mid- to late October. (629-4727, ext. 5822)

NOVEMBERSteel Horse Stampede: The annual motorcycle ride and poker run for Hospice of Marion County. The event is held in early November beginning at Hospice of Marion County headquarters. (873-7400)

Marion County Chili Cook-off: The annual Cornerstone fundraiser features local teams vying for chili titles while offering participants a chance to taste creative chili dishes. The event will be held at the South-eastern Livestock Pavilion, 2322 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala. (www.marioncountychilicookoff.org)

Ocklawaha River Raid: The annual civil war re-enactment commemorates the March 1865 Union army raid on local planta-tions near Ocala and the resulting skirmish with local Southern troops to be held at the Florida Carriage Museum in Weirsdale in early November. (687-8737 or www.ocklawahariverraid.com)

Light up Ocala: Event kicks off the holiday season with holidays crafts, food, children’s activities and light-ing ceremony from 2 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 17 on the Ocala downtown square. (629-8444)

Ocali Country Days: Annual event features presentations and displays that center around Central

Florida in the late 1800s. Event held mid- to late November at Silver River State Park. (236-7148 or www.silverrivermuseum.com)

Festival of Lights: Annual festi-val features carolers, Santa, boat parade and lights late November through the end of December at Silver Springs Nature Park, 5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. (236-2121 or silversprings.com)

Light up Lake Lillian: Annual event showcases the holiday lights around Lake Lillian in Belleview. Event features, vendors, Santa, entertainment and arts in crafts. Held the end of November or early December. (www.belleviewfl.org)

DECEMBERKiwanis Pancake Breakfast: An Ocala tradition, the all-you-can-eat breakfast usually is held the morning of the Ocala Christmas Parade, from early morning until early afternoon, at Eighth Street Elementary School, Ocala.

Ocala Christmas Parade: The nighttime parade features more than 125 units marching down Silver Springs Boulevard from Northeast 25th Avenue to North-east Eighth Avenue, Ocala. Parade is held the first or second Saturday in December. (www.ocalamarion-christmasparade.com)

Belleview Christmas Parade: The daytime parade runs along U.S. 441 in Belleview. Usually held the first or second Sunday in December.

Dunnellon Christmas Parade: Annual evening parade runs along Pennsylvania Avenue in Dunnellon. Held on a Saturday in mid-Decem-ber. (489-6846)

Symphony Under the Lights: Ocala Symphony Orchestra’s annual community concert held on the downtown Ocala square in December. Concert is free. Bring your lawn chairs. (351-1606 or www.ocalasymphony.com)

Trains at the Holidays: Annual train exhibit is held in December at the College of Central Florida Webber Center, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala. (854-2322, ext. 1664)

CALENDAR: There are plenty of events to attend throughout the yearContinued from

DOUG ENGLE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/2011 FILE

Justin Thigpen of Waycross, Ga., comes off his horse in the steer-wrestling event at the 29th Annual Shrine PRCA Rodeo at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion.The event features barrel racing, bronc riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping and calf roping.

BRUCE ACKERMAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/2011 FILE

Thousands of people enjoy the scene after the lights were turned on during Light Up Ocala on Ocala’s downtown square last year. The event marks the beginning of the holiday season.


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stores): 2,370 (retail)Ocala Regional Medi-

cal Center & West Marion Community Hospital: 1,725 (health care)Publix Supermarkets

(combined stores): 1,275 (retail)AT&T: 1,000 (support

services)Lockheed Martin: 929

(manufacturing)E-ONE Inc.: 850 (manu-

facturing)The Centers: 568

(health care)Cheney Brothers Inc.:

542 (distribution)Swift Transportation

Company: 537 (trans-portation)ClosetMaid: 460

(manufacturing)Hospice of Marion

County, Inc.: 452 (health care)On Top of The World

Communities Inc.: 377 (real estate developer)Childhood Develop-

ment Services Inc.: 371 (education)Signature Brands,

LLC: 303 (manufacturing)Custom Window Sys-

tems, Inc.: 302 (manu-facturing/distribution)Cone Distributing

Inc.: 300 (distribution)Kmart Corporation:

300 (distribution)Townley Manufactur-

ing Company, Inc.: 256 (manufacturing)Jenkins Auto Group:

239 (retail)

Source: Ocala/Marion County Economic Devel-

opment Corporation

Largest Government EmployersMarion County Public Schools: 5,735State of Florida (All Depts.): 2,582U.S. Government: 1,916Marion County Board of County Commissioners:

1,420City of Ocala (All Depts.): 950Marion County Sheriff’s Office: 761College of Central Florida: 401

Source: Ocala/Marion County Economic Development Corporation

Staff report

Marion County is a big place, and it can seem a lot bigger and more

confusing if you don’t know where to turn for basic public services.

Here, then, is a quick guide to basic services.

DrivEr’s LicEnsEs anD vEhicLE rEGisTraTions

The Marion County Tax Collector’s Office has strategically placed locations around the county where they issue driver’s licenses, boating licenses, vehicle registra-tions and more. The Tax Collector’s main office is at 503 SE 25th Ave. in Ocala, but there are also locations in Belleview, Dunnellon, State Road 200 and north Marion County. Call 368-8200 for more information, or visit http://mariontax.com.

MarriaGE LicEnsEsThe Marion County

Clerk of Courts issues marriage licenses and performs civil wedding ceremonies. To apply for a license, visit the Marion County Clerk of Courts office, Room 111 of the county courthouse at the corner of Pine Avenue

(U.S. 441) and Silver Springs Boulevard.

PassPorTsVisit the Marion County

Clerk of Courts, Room 111.

LibrariEsThe main library is at the

corner of Southeast 25th Avenue and Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala. The branch libraries are:

20351 Robinson Road, Dunnellon

13145 SE County Road 484, Belleview

5870 SW 95th St., off State Road 200

905 S. County Road 314A, Ocklawaha

14660 NE County Road 315, Fort McCoy

294 Marion Oaks Lane, Marion Oaks

15150 NW Gainesville Road, Reddick

bus sErvicESunTran, the county-

wide bus system, offers six routes through Ocala and outlying areas between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. The regular fares are $1.50 for adults, $1.10 for youth and students and 75 cents for seniors and the disabled. For more information, call 401-6999 or visit Sun-Tran’s website at www.ocalafl.org/suntran.

New here? Know where to go for your license and more


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By Fred HiersStaff writer

When great horses cross the fin-ish line in such memorable races

as the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup, often their early training years are deeply rooted in Ocala and in one of the hun-dreds of thoroughbred farms here.

Thousands of horses each year are shipped to Marion County to train as racehorses. After several months of training, they are usually handed over to

new trainers and head to the track to start their racing careers.

In many cases, those origins are forgotten or never even known by racing enthusiasts, but that doesn’t diminish the importance of those months in Ocala.

Florida’s first step onto the big horse-racing stage started with Needles.

The colt was the first Florida-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. He was owned by Bonnie Heath II and Jack Dudley. Before Needles, the Derby

had been dominated by Kentucky breds. Heath’s son, Bonnie Heath III also continues to train and

break horses.Needles’ two owners had

been Midwest oil wildcat-

ters who came to Ocala in the mid-1950s and joined the area’s fledgling racing industry.

After the horse won the Derby and Belmont Stakes in 1956, the two men decided to keep the colt here rather than send it to Kentucky for stud. Even though the pair earned less money by doing so, Needles focused addition-al attention on the thor-oughbred business in Ocala.

Most people don’t know that Needles was a sickly foal and was named Needles because of all the shots he received.

Many other celebrity horses once called Marion County home and went on

to win the Derby, perhaps the most famous of all horse races. In fact, four of the past five Derby winners spent time here.

Animal Kingdom, which won the 2011 Derby, was broken and trained by Randy Bradshaw at Adena Springs.

The 2010 winner was Super Saver, broken and trained by Ocala-based Darin Lamoureux.

The 2008 winner was Big Brown, which was broken and trained by Ocala-based Eddie Woods.

And the 2007 Kentucky Derby winner was Street Sense, which was broken and trained at Ocala Stud Farm.

Ocala training ground for some great racehorses

file

Florida’s first step onto the big horse-racing stage started with Needles. The colt was the first Florida-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby.

Horses on Page 18

Needles, Curlin, Affirmed, Zenyatta, Super Saver and more have ties to the area.


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The great mare Zenyatta also once called Ocala home.

In 2008, Zenyatta won the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic and returned the next year to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic, beating the boys and becoming the first filly or mare to do so. Zenyatta was broken and trained by Jeanne Mayberry in Ocala.

Another great horse, Curlin, received his early training in Ocala from Johanne Everard. Curlin won the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2007 and Preakness Stakes a few months before. The horse was named American Champion 3-Year-Old Male Horse in 2007 and American Horse of the Year, both in 2007 and 2008.

An Ocala horse also can claim one of the biggest

bragging rights in North American horse racing: The Triple Crown.

Since 1919, only 11 horses have won the Kentucky Derby, Preak-ness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. The last was Affirmed in 1978. Melvin James broke and trained Affirmed at Harbor View Farm in Fellowship.

But thoroughbreds aren’t the only breed that has produced champions.

Rugged Lark was a legendary quarter horse and arguably the most successful product of the local equine industry.

Rugged Lark , who was born, bred and trained at Reddick’s Bo-Bett Farm, earned 326 performance points in his show career. He was the first American Quarter Horse to win the Superhorse title twice. When he retired in 1987, he served as an ambassa-dor for the American Quarter Horse Associa-tion, making numerous appearances at the AQHA World Championship Show, the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and the 1999 Special Olympics World Games in Raleigh, N.C.

He was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame after his passing in 2004.

doug engle/staff photographer/2010 file

Jockey Calvin Bore pours water on Super Saver after winning the 136th Running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., May 1, 2010.

horses: Greats broken and trained in countyContinued from

the associated press/1999 file

Affirmed won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in 1978.


By Fred HiersStaff writer

Marion County has no short-age of beautiful pastures, farms,

fine weather and tourist attractions. But it’s the area’s horse industry that has put the county on the map.

The horse industry has created thousands of job, generated millions of dollars in annual econom-ic impact and has drawn worldwide attention that has helped attract both new residents and busi-nesses.

But while residents can live here for most of their lives amid horse farms and the equine history, much about the local horse industry goes unrecog-nized by many Ocala residents.

It starts hereNearly 1,600 thorough-

bred foals were born in Florida in 2011. Before the recession affected most businesses across the country — and the equine industry was no exception — the county produced about 4,000 foals annually. Marion County is largely the center of Florida’s thoroughbred breeding industry, and most stallions stand here.

In addition to the thoroughbred horses born here, thousands more are sent here from horse farms around the country, but mainly Kentucky, New York and Canada.

Their trainers and owners send them to area farms because the relatively warm weather allows for year-round training and the area’s mineral-rich soils are believed by many to

produce unique grasses that provide a healthy jump start for young horses beginning their careers.

Early rootsCarl Rose is credited

with building the first thoroughbred farm in Marion County. The road builder made his fortune mining limestone from the county for his extensive road projects across the state.

He soon saw that the very minerals he mined for industrial uses also were desirable for raising thoroughbreds. In the 1930s, Rose established Rosemere Farm along State Road 200, which he bought for about $10 an acre.

JobsThe horse industry has

an estimated $500 million annual economic impact on Marion County and Florida. Economists have estimated that as many as 30,000 area jobs are somehow touched by the industry. Those people, in turn, spend their money locally, helping unrelated business to remain profitable and financially afloat.

Horse capitalMarion County has

touted itself as “Horse Capital of the World” for years, but it’s not a title it came by easily. Dick Hancock, former vice president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, trademarked the phrase on behalf of Ocala and Marion County. That began a legal feud with

Lexington, Ky., which also claimed the title.

In 2002, the United States Patent and Trade-mark Office ruled that FTBOA had exclusive rights to “Ocala/Marion County Horse Capital of the World” and the design of its promotional material as a whole. But the trademark office also ruled FTBOA did not have exclusive rights to the phrase Horse Capital of the World because boastful claims, such as “the best” or “the most,”

could not be trademarked.

OBSOcala Breeders Sales

Company on Southwest 60th Avenue oversees the sale of thousands of thoroughbreds. It produc-

es $100 million in annual sales at its horse auctions. OBS also is a training center with a exercise track and facilities to allow betting on several other tracks throughout the country.

It’s not just about thoroughbreds

There are several hundred horse farms in Ocala, many less than 10 acres and with just a few horses. Although most are thoroughbred farms, about 100 are devoted to breeding, training and showing dozens of other breeds such as Paso Fino, Missouri Foxtrotter, Arabian, Morgan, minia-ture horses, quarter horses, hunter/jumpers and draft horses.

In 2007, the U.S. Depart-ment of Agriculture counted more than 31,000 horses in the county — about 25 percent of all the horses in Florida.

The Florida Horse Park

Also residing here is the 500-acre Florida Horse Park.

Created by the Florida Department of Agricul-ture in 1996, the park holds international competitions that attract some of the best riders in the world. Although the park, at 11008 County Road 475, is best known

for its hunter/jumper events, the facility also hosts a variety of other equine events, such as polo and rodeo demon-strations.

The park’s events are open to the public, and entry fees are usually only a few dollars. Vendors also are on hand serving food, drinks and equine-related crafts and art for sale.

The facility’s economic impact is several million dollars annually and expected to grow as it builds more barns and stalls and holds more events.

HITSHorse Shows in the Sun,

otherwise known as HITS, attracts about 7,500 riders, trainers and support staff from around the world to compete in a series of jumping events. The springtime, five-week event on U.S. 27 has an estimated $50 million impact on the county. Dozens of vendors sell food and equine supplies. Competitors and trainers also sell horses trained for hunter and jumper events.

FTBOAOcala also is home to the

Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ As-sociation, which repre-sents the interests of state thoroughbred breeders and trainers and oversees the payment of several millions dollars in breed-ers’ awards.

FTBOA also helps Florida thoroughbreds retired from racing find new homes, either as pleasure-riding horses or in second careers as hunter/jumpers.

Horse industry puts Marion County on the map

bruce ackerman/2011 file

Sandra Ruiz of Culpepper, Va., clears a jump with “Barco,” a 10-year-old Belgium, while practicing for Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala on Feb. 3, 2011.

The horse industry has an estimated $500 million annual economic impact on Marion County and Florida. Economists have estimated that as many as 30,000 area jobs are somehow touched by the industry.

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