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Ocala issues proclamations on grief awareness, fentanyl prevention and line-worker appreciation
Summary
The council presented proclamations recognizing National Grief Awareness Day (Aug. 30), National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day (Aug. 21) and a Line Worker Appreciation Day; a fentanyl survivor urged the community to treat addiction as a public-health issue.
At its Aug. 19 meeting, the Ocala City Council issued three proclamations acknowledging local and national awareness efforts. Mayor Ben Marciano read proclamations for National Grief Awareness Day (08/30/2025), National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day (08/21/2025) and Florida Line Worker Appreciation Day (Aug. 26).
Yolanda Mitchum, founder of h3 Haven Inc., accepted the grief-awareness proclamation and described the nonprofit's partnerships with counselors and therapists to support people coping with loss. Michelle Pepin, presented with the fentanyl-awareness proclamation, gave personal testimony about losing her son and urged community support for prevention and treatment: "On 04/20/2018, I lost my son, Ian, to fentanyl poisoning." Pepin emphasized that addiction is a sickness and thanked emergency responders and local partners for their work.
The line-worker proclamation honored Ocala Electric Utility employees and retirees for storm response and long hours maintaining the electric system. Council members thanked recipients and noted mutual-aid responses during severe weather.
