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Ocala Style Magazine
Juneteenth Celebration
On June 15th, the Ocala Juneteenth Celebration Commission, LLC, hosted its annual Juneteenth event at Webb Field at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Complex. It included vendors, entertainment, food, speakers and more. According to history.com, Juneteenth, which is short for June Nineteenth, marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday.
Memorial Day Service
May 27th saw the annual commemoration event at the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, during which local heroes such as U.S. Army PFC Markie T. Sims were honored for their sacrifice in the line of duty. The event included a wreath laying, flyover, honor guard and guest speakers.
A Meeting of Mayors
On May 22nd, Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano welcomed five former mayors to talk about their experiences leading the city. On hand at Ocala Police Department headquarters were Wayne L. Rubinas, Randy Ewers, Kent Guinn, Gerald Ergle, who had suggested the gathering, and Craig Curry, who is currently a county commissioner.
A hero’s welcome
Travis Mills has done a lot to bring attention to wounded combat veterans, starting with his own recovery from losing portions of all of his limbs in an IED explosion during his third tour in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division. His journey led him to coin the term “recalibrated veteran” and to start the Travis Mills Foundation, which helps veterans and their families.
Read These Writers
Beck also is a pastor, professor, coach and consultant. He is the author of 14 books, including Deep Roots, Wild Branches: Revitalizing the Church in the Blended Ecology; Deep & Wild: Remissioning Your Church from the Outside In, A Field Guide to Methodist Fresh Expressions; , and co-author of Contextual Intelligence: Unlocking the Ancient Secret to Mission on the Front Lines with Leonard Sweet, Fresh Expressions in a Digital Age with Rosario Picardo, as well as The 21st Century Christian: Following Jesus Where Life Happens with Michael Moynagh. His most recent books include Painting With Ashes, Fresh Expressions of the Rural Church, The Five Congregational Personality Types, and Doing Justice Together.
‘Water Shapes Florida’
The new exhibit at the Florida Museum of Natural History showcases Silver Springs and the iconic glass-bottom boats. The Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida is an amazing resource located in Gainesville, just north of Marion County. Founded in 1891, it serves as Florida’s chartered natural history museum and is a beehive of exhibits, research and study focused on our wonderful and diverse state.
Mastering Your Garden
You may already know about the Master Gardener program available throughout the United States. And if you want to expand your plant knowledge and gardening skills, then you may want to consider joining this dynamic group of volunteers. Marion County has an especially robust program, coordinated by Jeremy Rhoden, the...
Alligator Allegory
My grandparents were the first to build a home along Lake Pasadena in St. Petersburg. It is called a lake, but it is more a retention pond with a dream and a small island in the middle. When I lived in St. Petersburg as a child, there was always an...
A Little Bit About … Danielle Marciano
She is a mom, volunteer board member with the Better Together foster prevention program and wife of Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano. At age 2, when my dad opened his podiatry practice. education:. Where did you go to school?. I graduated from Belleview High School, then earned a Bachelor of Fine...
Vows | June 2024 | Stephens
The Gastonian (ceremony) and Vic’s on the River (reception); Savannah, Georgia. Her favorite memory: “The entire day was absolutely perfect. Despite a rainy forecast, we woke up to the most beautiful weather. Ryan and I made sure to schedule a first look before the ceremony started and it was so special to have some time together, just the two of us.”
Making Moves
Karlie Loland-Ringer was born in South Louisiana but spent most of her formative years in the Pensacola Beach area. At 18, she relocated to Tampa and then made the move to New York City at 20 years old. Now in her 30s, she says she still feels at home in those cities, but her heart is in Ocala. We chatted with Loland-Ringer about what drew her to the area and her emerging career in the entertainment industry.
Vows | June 2024 | Lucas
Their favorite memory: “We live in Ocala now, but our favorite memory from our wedding weekend was eating at all of our favorite restaurants in the Sanford/Lake Mary area, near our hometowns of Debary/DeLand. Most of the restaurants were where we spent our first date or many anniversaries together.”
It’s Mermazing
When Eric Ducharme was a small child, he wanted to be a merman and make mermaid tails. He says people told him he was crazy. Now, the Mertailor is celebrating 20 years of creating some of the most spectacular mermaid tails and accessories on the planet. And he’s only 34 years old.
Editor’s Picks | June/July 2024
A guide to our favorite monthly happenings and can’t-miss events. Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Coldplay at Ocala Civic Theatre (The Marion Players, Inc.) under the gentle glow of candlelight. Learn more at feverup.com/m/148180.
Editor’s Picks | June 2024
A guide to our favorite monthly happenings and can’t-miss events. Majestic Oaks Ocala (Reddick) This music festival is designed to bring country music back to its roots—the small towns that make up the backbone of America. The all-star lineup includes Kid Rock and Jason Aldean. Camping options will be available and there will be more than 25 food and beverage vendors. Children are allowed but organizers recommend parental discretion as the event allows alcohol consumption. Free for ages 2 and under; tickets start at $129.99 for all others. For details, go to rockthecountry.com/ocala-info.
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