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The Appleton Museum of Art, ��������, joins museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums initiative, a program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families this summer. The 2024 program will begin on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18, and end labor day, Monday, Sept. 2. Learn more and find the list of participating museums at

Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaborations with the Department of Defense and participating museums across America.

“We are grateful to the Appleton Museum of Art for participating in this summer’s Blue Star Museums program and we hope military families will take this opportunity to create meaningful lifelong memories,” said Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “Whether you are traveling this summer, getting to know a new duty location or exploring what your community has to offer, Blue Star Museums is a wonderful opportunity to create connection and find inspiration.”

In addition to the Appleton Museum of Art, the Blue Star Museums program includes children’s museums, art, science and history museums, zoos, gardens, lighthouses and more, and hail from all 50 states, the district of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The current list of participating museums will continue to grow as organizations are welcome to register to be a Blue Star Museum throughout the summer.

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military Air Force, Army, Coast guard, Marine Corps, Navy and Space Force, members of the reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps – and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Conventions common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), DD Form 1173-1 ID card or the Next Generation Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.

The Appleton extends free entry to U.S. military Veterans, who receive free admission year-round. Veterans can show a veteran ID Card (VIC), Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) or the Veterans designation on their state-issued driver’s license or ID for entrance.

“Our founder, Arthur I. Appleton, served as a Navy Lieutenant during World War II and the Appleton team is composed of over 30% Veterans. We are pleased to once again join the Blue Star Museums program and extend free entry to Veterans,” said Appleton Director Jason Steuber.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the ��������, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit

 

The Appleton Museum of Art, ��������, invites the community on the first Saturday of each month for a day of free admission and special programming as part of the ongoing Free First Saturday series. The upcoming June 1 Free First Saturday features two events that focus on Florida’s natural springs.

At 11 a.m. in the auditorium, artist Margaret Ross Tolbert will give a talk entitled, “Canvassing Florida Springs.” Highlighting works on display in her solo exhibition, “Water’s Margins,” hear how the springs continuously attract her to visit and how this influences her work across the mediums of painting, photography and film. Take the opportunity to wander through the “Water’s Margins” galleries, as this weekend marks the final chance to see Tolbert’s awe-inspiring exhibition. The exhibition closes Sunday, June 2.

At 2 p.m. in the auditorium, Matt Keene will make brief remarks before a screening of his film, “Lost Springs.” Keene is an award-winning filmmaker and journalist based in St. Augustine, Florida His 40-minute documentary follows Margaret Ross Tolbert and others as they explore and discuss a grouping of springs that have been temporarily exposed during a drawdown of the Kirkpatrick/Rodman Reservoir.

“The springs are a vital component of Florida’s unique ecosystem, including our own beautiful Marion, Citrus and Levy counties,” said Appleton Assistant Director Victoria Billig. “We extend a warm invitation to all to join us Saturday, June 1 to hear more about Tolbert and Keene’s passionate appreciation for these natural wonders, and to support the final weekend of Tolbert’s exhibition, ‘Water’s Margins.’”

Free First Saturday hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Events are free; no reservations needed. The Donut Express and Brick & Ember food trucks will be on-site from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Free First Saturdays are sponsored in part by Marion Cultural Alliance, National Endowment for the Arts and CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the ��������, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit

Tavis Douglass, associate professor and program manager of the Agribusiness program at the ��������, has received the prestigious Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty award by the American Association of Community Colleges. This national honor recognizes faculty who support students inside and outside of the classroom, participate actively in college committees and go above and beyond in their commitment to student success.

Professor Douglass, who started as an adjunct at the college in 2012 and became full-time faculty in 2019, has utilized his extensive background in managing agricultural farms to revolutionize the Agribusiness program’s curriculum. At the college’s 103-acre Vintage Farm Campus, he has implemented hands-on, experiential learning with cutting-edge agricultural activities including the use of drones for crop data collection and the application of pesticides, as well as high-tech irrigation systems equipped with remote soil sensors and weather stations.

During the pandemic, Douglass creatively recorded over 140 lectures, significantly enhancing his students’ learning experience. He has also developed several invaluable partnerships with local and state agricultural organizations to enhance the program. As a longtime member of the Florida Farm Bureau, Douglass has leveraged the promotion of the Agribusiness program—the lone of its kind in the Florida College System—to reach more than 300 middle and high school agricultural instructors, along with 60,000 students to emphasize the benefits of state certifications.

Professor Douglass holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Operations Management and a Master of Arts in Agribusiness Management from the University of Florida. His achievements include recognition as one of Ocala Magazine’s “40 Under 40” Future Leaders, Grow Gainesville Speaker of the Year and recipient of ��������’s STARS Award for excellence and dedication in the classroom.

For more information about the Agribusiness program and other offerings at the ��������, visit .

The ��������’s Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus Associate Degree Nursing program has been recognized as the 2024 Best RN Program in Florida by RegisteredNursing.org. The nursing advocacy organization evaluated nearly 150 RN programs and ranked the top 20 based on the percentage of graduates who pass the national licensure exam. This is the second year in a row that ��������’s Associate Degree Nursing program has topped the list.

The two-year program prepares students to become registered nurses, providing direct care to patients in hospitals, nursing homes and community-based agencies. The Citrus program is part of the collegewide nursing program.

“Nursing remains a critical and fast-growing field in Florida,” said Dr. Stephanie Cortes, dean of health sciences at ��������. “With our commitment to affordable, high-quality education, we are empowering our students to thrive in a career that offers countless opportunities. Our expanded program initiatives are directly addressing the urgent need for skilled registered nurses across our regional health care systems.”

This ranking places �������� at the top of a list of 20 colleges and universities including other state colleges as well as University of Florida and Florida State University. According to RegisteredNursing.org, programs were assessed on several factors which represent how well a program supports students toward licensure and beyond.

For more information about �������� Nursing, visit . For more information on the 2024 Best Nursing Schools in Florida, visit .

 

The �������� Webber Gallery presents an upcoming exhibition, “Grafted Roots: Artists Flourishing in the Sunshine State,” showcasing a vibrant collection of artworks that highlight the talent and diverse styles of artists from Ocala and beyond. The exhibition will be open to the public May 20 through July 18.

Curated by David Campo, a scholar and member of the Ocala Cultural Arts, “Grafted Roots” brings together artists who, like grafted plants, have been transplanted from various locations, enhancing the local cultural landscape with their stories of resilience and perseverance. Campo, who holds a Master of Arts in Art History from the University of Georgia and a Master of Arts in Museum Studies from the University of Florida, aims to foster connections and growth within the artistic community through this exhibition.

“As a guest curator, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to feature my dear friends and talented artists, across Ocala and Gainesville, in my show,” said Campo. “To have the chance to showcase the breadth of Florida artists by sharing diverse stories though varied media is hopefully just the beginning of this budding relationship.”

The exhibition features a broad array of artworks, presented in multiple styles and media, reflecting the wide range and exceptional abilities of the artists. Many of these artists are well known locally and consider Ocala their home.

An opening reception will be held Friday, May 31, 6-8:30 p.m., featuring live music and light refreshments. Admission to the exhibition and the opening reception is free.

The Webber Gallery is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free. For more information about the exhibition, visit or call 352-854-2322, ext. 1664.

The Appleton Museum of Art, ��������, presents “Every Fiber of My Being,” featuring abstract fiber art by Charlita Rae Whitehead. The exhibition will be on view in the second-floor Preview Gallery from April 13 to Sept. 8.

The history of making rugs goes back thousands of years and has been an important part of many cultures and traditions around the globe. Through the artist’s lens, the lineage of rug making is both celebrated and reinterpreted, honoring the resilience and ingenuity of generations past.

Whitehead, a self-taught artist, has been working in the tufting medium since 2022. Tufting is an electric version of punch needle embroidery, which uses a long, hollow needle with a beveled point to push yarn through material to form a continuous loop stitch. In addition to tufting, the artist uses a variety of tools and materials to create her dreamy yet expressive tapestries, incorporating traditional punch needle methods, different types of yarn and varying pile heights to create topographical hills and valleys.

In “Every Fiber of My Being,” Whitehead portrays each piece as “a milestone along the path of discovery,” inviting viewers to engage with an age-old art form through innovative techniques and concepts. Delve into the captivating realm of bold color combinations, expressive curves, distinctive shapes and enchanting textures, where the opportunity to become immersed awaits. Every fiber embodies the artist’s evolving experience and every thread tells a story.

 

About the Artist:

Charlita Rae Whitehead is a self-taught abstract fiber artist based in Ocala, Florida. Being born in Japan and growing up in multiple national and international communities profoundly shaped Whitehead’s world view and aesthetic, igniting her passion for culture, community, inclusivity and liberation. She earned degrees in Health Information Management and Health Services Administration from the �������� and the University of Central Florida. Whitehead has exhibited at Shapot Art Gallery, Brick City Center for the Arts and the �������� Webber Gallery.

Regular admission fees apply to visit. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month as part of the Free First Saturday program.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the ��������, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit

The �������� Foundation will host a free estate planning seminar Thursday, April 18, 10-11:30 a.m. in the Webber Center at the �������� Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road.

Attorney Samantha Shealy Rauba with the McGraw, Rauba & Mutarelli firm will discuss trusts and trust funding and cover strategies to assist attendees with understanding and implementing philanthropic plans.

Advanced registration is required by emailing Traci Mason at the �������� Foundation at masont@cf.edu. To learn more about the �������� Foundation, visit ��������.edu/Foundation.