


Screaming about water
By Brad Rogers
Editorial page editor, Ocala Star Banner
Published: Sunday, April 29, 2012
Four hours of spirited discussion on Thursday about Scott Siemens' plans to build a "science and technology" park in the boondocks of Irvine (the Interstate 75-County Road 318 exit) was heavily weighted in opposition to the project that calls for 258 residences, a 200-room hotel, a shopping center and almost 1 million square feet of research and development facilities. In the end, the commission listened to the protests from neighbors and others, then voted 3-2 to approve the project.
A weary and aggravated County Commissioner Stan McClain summed up his feelings about all the anti-development, save-our-rural-countryside sentiment with this gem:
"We talk about agriculture. We can't even do an agricultural development in Marion County without someone screaming about water."
Really, commissioner? McClain was obviously referencing the recent uproar over the request by Adena Springs Ranch to pump 13 million gallons of water a day from the aquifer and drop 135 wells to do so — just a few miles from Silver Springs, by the way.
My response to Commissioner McClain is, why aren't you screaming about water for us?
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On Thursday night, April 26, the Marion County Commissioners laid a death sentence on the future of the Farmland Preservation District and the health of rural county life in general. By approving the Siemens/Irvine project in contradiction to the Comprehensive Plan's outlines, commissioners opened the door to unrestricted development with dubious long term benefits but readily apparent short term ones for "interested" parties.
Does one dare ask--Was the Fix in?
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Judging and teaching both at home in Central Florida and all around the country, Susan and Bill Woods each acknowledge over thirty-five years of experience that can help you better understand and train your horse.
They have been active on the national dressage scene since 1980, their dressage specialty arising from broad backgrounds in balance-seat work, both on the flat and over fences.
Both are known for their ability to outline sound, classical goals and to communicate effective techniques to riders of all levels. They carry on the ideals and principles they learned at the American Dressage Institute and the USDF-sponsored Violet Hopkins National Instructors Seminars and which they, in turn, were tabbed to spread to hundreds of teachers and dozens of groups throughout the US at USDF Regional Instructor Workshops.
Susan and Bill are each USDF Bronze and Silver Medalists. They've each trained and shown many horses from Training Level to FEI, and they continue to coach students both at the Florida shows and those whom they meet at clinics and then send off to competitions, ribbons, and medals in their own areas. Their students show at every level through Grand Prix.
Over twenty and nearly thirty years respectively of dressage judging give Susan and Bill a special perspective to help you understand what all judges are looking for and what it takes for you to succeed in the show arena.
Find out more about each of them on the tabs to the left.

BILL'S PROJECTED
PATH
CLICK
HERE FOR UPCOMING CLINIC AND JUDGING APPEARANCES BY SUSAN AND BILL
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A
friend at a club meeting announced that she was now riding with a
classical trainer and that the lessons were so different, so much better
than from her old instructor. What kinds of differences would she have
been referring to?

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