Currents Jan 2015

VOLUME 9 ISSUE 2 JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 2015

REACH For The Stars

PRICELESS

STEM Students are Changing The World

Our therapy program is designed to rehabilitate individuals back to their highest level of independence and functioning.

Our therapists and nurses work closely with the physician and resident in order to create a plan of treatment that will combine comprehensive care with the patient’s personal goals.

services • Individualized Physical, Occupational & Speech therapy • Joint Replacement (Knee, Hip, etc...)

• Stroke • Cardiac Disease • Fractures (Hip, Shoulder, Pelvic, etc...)

2 | Currents | January/February 2015

• Arthritis • Neck/Back Pain • Balance Disturbances • Difficulties Walking • Generalized Weakness • Wound Care

Activities of Daily Living: • Bathing • Ambulating • Dressing, • Eating • Transferring

Your family’s health means everything to us.

For comprehensive family care, you can feel confident turning to Lake Shore Primary Care West. And now, we are proud to welcome Michael C. Ukaegbu, M.D., to the group. Dr. Ukaegbu provides services ranging from routine exams to the careful management of chronic conditions. He is dedicated to helping families like yours achieve and maintain good health – for life. Same-day appointments are often available. And for your convenience, you can call or schedule your appointment online.

Michael C. Ukaegbu, M.D.

Jennifer Scott, ARNP

Internal Medicine

Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Member of the Medical Staff of Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center and Member of the Allied Health Staff of Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center.

221 SW Stonegate Terrace, Suite 101

386-292-7744 ShandsLakeShorePhysicians.com Currents | January/February 2015 | 3

[c o n t e n t s]

6

06 High-tech health at home

Four top-of-the-line health and fitness gadgets can help you keep track of your workouts, weight and dieting all from the comfort of your own home.

12 Robots were just the start

Columbia High School teacher — and 2014 Champion of Children — Celena Crews shares her love for STEM education and passion for her students.

20 A wedding on the radar

20

Some styles fade and other trends die, but these wedding trends are sure to stick around and make your day the best it can be.

24 Tickle the ivories

Even when all around her were giving up, local piano teacher Genie Harris never gave up on her dream — and business — of teaching others the art of piano.

28 ‘I do’ forever

Vern and Maureen Lloyd have been through life’s ups and downs — together. The Lake City couple got married in 1962 and never looked back.

36 Bring back the swagger Columbia High graduate Michael Kirkman is working hard during the MLB off-season, hopeful to return to the game he loves.

42 Don’t wish winter away

[ [ Avid gardener Martha Ann Ronsonet shares the joys of winter gardening in North Florida, and what flowers work best in this weather.

PUBLISHER: Todd Wilson EDITOR: Robert Bridges ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Theresa Westberry SALES: Eileen Bennett Donna Bowen Jose Rodriguez

WRITERS: Tony Britt Emily Buchanan Eric Jackson Sarah Loftus DESIGN: Emily Lawson PHOTGRAPHY: Jason Matthew Walker

CURRENTS magazine is a publication of the Lake City Reporter, 180 E Duval St., Lake City, FL 32055.

To inquire about advertising, call (386) 752-1293 or e-mail Currents@lakecityreporter.com. © Copyright 2015.

28 42 COVER CREDITS Columbia High School science and engineering teacher Celena Crews talks about the challenges of teaching STEM classes and what’s ahead for her in the future.

— Photo by Jason Matthew Walker

You can feel good about having so many surgical options close to home.

If you ever need surgery, it’s good to know that you have two skilled general surgeons right here to care for you. Jerzy Polmerski, M.D., and Edwin Gonzalez, M.D., FACS, provide a wide range of surgical options, including minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures. For many people, these procedures can mean less pain and a quicker recovery when compared to traditional surgeries.* For more information, call 386-755-7788 or visit ShandsLakeShorePhysicians.com.

Edwin Gonzalez, M.D., FACS Jerzy Polmerski, M.D.

These surgeons provide the following types of procedures: Breast Surgery • Biopsies • Colon and Rectal Surgery Cystoscopic • Endoscopic • Gallbladder • General Surgery Hernia Repair • Laparoscopic • Thyroid and Parathyroid Ultrasounds • Pediatric Surgery (ages 2 and up)

755 SW State Rd. 47

Currents | January/February | 5 Center *Patient results may vary. Consult your physician about the benefits and risks of any surgical procedure or treatment. • Members of the Medical Staff at Shands Lake Shore Regional2015 Medical

FITNESS TRENDS

High-tech fitness at

HOME

Stay on top of your workouts, diets & more with these easy-to-use gadgets.

By EMILY BUCHANAN As fitness gadgets and technologies continue to evolve, skipping the drive to the gym and exercising right from your living room may become your future daily routine.

Here are some high-tech items to help you accomplish just that.

TAO Chair The TAO Chair, a chair designed to give you a full work out by sitting in it, takes watching your favorite television show while burning calories to whole new level.

The chair lets you press and pull with your legs and arms in different directions as the chair moves and tracks your work out. Sensors are embedded inside the chair and track your movement in every direction, according to the TAO Wellness website.

The TAO Chair works out different muscle groups all over your body by using the company’s Variobics system, which a system that uses exercise that is variable, measured and active.

Retail Price: Not yet available

With sensors embedded inside the TAO Chair, you can track your total calories burned in each session. The unique Variobics system works different muscle groups all over your body.

6 | Currents | January/February 2015

Chest pain. It may mean nothing.

But it may take everything.

Heart Attack Warning Signs Include: Shortness of Breath Nausea Dizziness Chest Pain Arm Pain Cold Sweat

Getting help immediately gives you a better chance to survive a heart attack. So know the warning signs listed above. And if you ever experience any of them, call 911 and get to the nearest emergency room.

368 NE Franklin St., Lake City • ShandsLakeShore.com Currents | January/February 2015 | 7

FITNESS TRENDS

SmartMat Yoga mat The SmartMat Yoga mat is another high-tech fitness piece of equipment that can be used in the comfort of your living room.

The yoga mat has built in sensors that connect to your smart phone that give you feedback on your yoga practice, according to SmartMat’s website.

By connecting the mat to the app, it offers feedback for adjustments on position, balance and alignment.

The yoga mat works in two modes: in-home private mode and in-class assist mode.

With the in-home private mode, you can choose a yoga class on the SmartMat app, follow the sequence, receive real-time adjustments 8 | Currents | January/February 2015

and a score from SmartMat so that you can continue to work towards a personal goal.

You can also bring the SmartMat with you to a yoga

class with the in-class mode.

The yoga mat will give you an additional analysis on your pose executions during class.

Retail Price: $447

Growing to better serve YOU! hERe when you need us.

Our expansion will double the size of our emergency room and bring our cardiac catheterization lab into the main hospital, providing for more centralized care for our patients. Follow us on Facebook to learn more about our expansion project – www.facebook.com/LakeCityMedical.

www.LakeCityMedical.com

Voted Best of the Best Emergency Room in Lake City Text “ER” to 23000 for average ER wait* times *Wait defined as arrival time until seen by qualified medical professional.

LCM-6110 Growing ER Ad_7x9.75.indd 1

Currents | January/February 2015 | 9 8/28/14 5:05 PM

FITNESS TRENDS

FitBit One The FitBit One is a gadget worn throughout the day that tracks your everyday movements.

You can clip it onto your clothes and it tracks movements such as your steps around the house, the distance you walk to work or the calories burned while you take the stairs to your bedroom, according to FitBit’s website.

Not only can you wear it during the day, but you can also wear it at night when it measures your sleep quality and helps you learn how to sleep better. The FitBit One also has a silent alarm that vibrates to wake you in the morning.

The FitBit One will automatically sync your data to your computer or smart phone after signing up with an account on the website in order to track your progress.

Retail Price: $99

Track your every step, distance walked, and more with the FitBit One — a gadget so small and discreet no one will know you’re wearing it. The FitBit One works 24-hours a day, even while you sleep, measuring your sleep quality and waking you with a silent, vibrating alarm.

UP by Jawbone

Unlike other fitness tracking devices, UP takes tracking health levels and guidance to a whole new level by also tracking your diet.

The tracking device is worn around your wrist and tracks your diet by giving you healthy food scores, logging the amount of water you drink and also providing popular restaurant menus with enhanced calorie tracking, according to Jawbone’s website.

UP also features a function called Insight Engine, which helps the person wearing the device learn about the different activities, diet and sleep patterns that all influence each other.

Retail Price: $79 10 | Currents | January/February 2015

Watch more than your workouts with UP, watch what you eat and feel good about it.

The UP gadget by Jawbone tracks your diet by giving you healthy food scores, logging the amount of water you drink and more.

Currents | January/February 2015 | 11

ROBOTICS TRENDS

Robots were ju

12 | Currents | January/February 2015

ust for starters Celena Crews is helping revamp STEM education countywide.

FROM THE CURRENTS STAFF Photos by Jason Matthew Walker

As a Central Florida fifth-grader on Jan. 28, 1986, Celena Crews stood outside with her classmates and looked into the sky as history unfolded horribly before her.

“I grew up in Bradenton and we had a great view of Space Shuttle launches,” she said.

“We were all standing outside watching and cheering on this historic flight that was to carry the first teacher into space.”

But it was obvious something was terribly wrong.

“I remember the complete silence followed by the sobs of all the teachers,” she said recalling the Challenger disaster. “Later that week as we all absorbed what happened, I asked my teacher what could be done to

make sure that never happened again. Her words to me were this: ‘I think NASA needs some new engineers.’”

That one sentence changed her life forever.

By the end of elementary school young Celena Crews was determined to become an aerospace engineer and work at NASA. And she did.

But somehow — improbable as it might have sounded at the time — she ended up in Lake City, where she is helping inspire a new generation of students to dream big.

Crews, the 2015 district Teacher of the Year, is best known for creating the robotics program at Columbia High School and a whole lot more.

But it didn’t come easy.

Crews was living her own dream at Johnson Space Center in Houston where she was part of the Electrical Power System team on the International Space Station program, in the mission evaluation room of mission control.

Then came word her husband Brett’s

LEFT: Timothy Dotson (back row, from left), Priyanka Patel, Mohammed Raffey, Celena Crews, Andrew Nydam (front row, left) and Houston Crews stand with Magnum PSI. Celena Crews, the Columbia High School science and engineering teacher, founded the robotics program at CHS. RIGHT: A 3D printer remote for a potentiometer is seen on a control panel.

The remote mimics the angle of the claw on the robot.

Currents | January/February 2014 | 13

ROBOTICS TRENDS

Timothy Dotson (left), 16, and Shawn Ziegaus, 16, look at hex spaces that Dotson made.

mother in Lake City had been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

They moved to Lake City, where Brett grew up, and Celena eventually went looking for a new career.

She tried teaching math in 2003 at CHS, but it wasn’t even close to what she’d expected.

“I had kids throw books at me, I had kids coming to school drunk and high,” she said. “It wasn’t why I wanted to teach.

It wasn’t the level of kids I wanted to work with because, unfortunately, I had 20-year-olds 14 | Currents | January/February 2015

that could barely read. These weren’t the ones that were going to be aerospace engineers.”

Still, she gave it everything she had and “got good results,” she said. “I had great relationships with my students but it took everything I had.”

Already pregnant with her first child, enough was enough.

Crews wouldn’t return to the classroom for another seven years.

But on a whim in 2010, she checked out the district employment website and saw something she didn’t expect: an

opening for a calculus teacher.

“I used to joke around that I would only return to CHS if I could teach calculus,” she said.

“Considering CHS had only had two calculus teachers in about 30 years, I didn’t actually think that would ever happen. I don’t know if you believe in signs or in divine intervention, but I knew I had to apply.”

All they asked was, “When can you start?”

Then came “this robotics thing.”

Amy Stanton, CHS science coach at the time, had already

AD VERTISEMEN T

Helping You Make the Transition CARETENDERS LAKE CITY HAS A VARIETY OFof SERVICES cAretenderS ofOF gAineSville hAS A vAriety ServiceS THAT Aid AID SENIORS thAt SeniorS IN in MAKING mAkingAALIFESTYLE lifeStyleCHANGE. chAnge

T

he life changes that come with age can be at once mystifying and frightening. Whether it’s something as minor as new glasses or as major as a move to assisted living, Seniors are often concerned that lifestyle adjustments can lead to lack of independence. Thankfully, Mederi Caretenders of Gainesville has a variety of programs aimed at answering questions and easing the transitions that Seniors face.

“As with anyone, when a senior is faced with one or more major life changes - such as a move to an assisted living community where they’re changing their lifestyle to accommodate some limitation, or they lose a loved one - this can be very scary and overwhelming and can possibly lead to decline in physical and/or mental health,” said Susan Swirbul, a patient care liason at Caretenders.

Caretenders has a variety of services specifically designed for clients undergoing a stressful period of change.

These Seniors might be experiencing new limitations on mobility, cognitive deficits, effects of medication or other challenges that necessitate a change in lifestyle. When combined with declining overall health and other factors, clients can easily become depressed and feel as if they are losing control of their lives.

One such service, the Transitional Care Program, assists in a Senior’s transition to an assisted living facility.

A physician’s order is placed for a comprehensive geriatric needs assessment, which is conducted by a nurse who

is thoroughly trained to identify the imminent needs of the patient.

Once the client is settled in, the program professionals help manage medical needs and communicate with families, assisted living staff and other people involved with the client’s care. The program includes a team of psychiatric and medical nurses, therapists and social workers, all of whom have extensive experience and training in working with Seniors in transition.

For patients dealing with loss of mobility or cognitive abilities, Caretenders provides occupational therapists to help them re-learn and perform everyday tasks. They can also ensure that Seniors are using medical equipment correctly – for example, they can demonstrate proper positioning in a wheelchair.

All of these changes can take their toll on a Senior’s morale. Psychiatric nurses provide emotional support and teach clients how to deal with their feelings of frustration and helplessness. They also partner with other Caretenders professionals to provide education and moral support to caregivers, as they play a crucial role in a Senior’s outlook on life.

“Having an expert team of Caretenders clinicians that specialize in working with senior adults needing transitional support can help seniors sustain good health by incorporating proven techniques, like thorough mental/physical assessments, support counseling and engagement in meaningful activity,” said Swirbul.

“I wondered if my family could manage all the care I needed after leaving the hospital.”

A Special Kind of Caring...

That’s The Caretenders Tradition A dedicated team of compassionate, highly skilled healthcare professionals who treat their patients like family is our hallmark.

• SkIlled NurSINg • PHySICAl THerAPy • OCCuPATIONAl THerAPy • CerTIFIed HOMe HeAlTH AId • CArdIAC CAre • dIAbeTIC CAre • OrTHOPedIC reHAb • urOlOgy CAre • SPeeCH THerAPy • OuTPATIeNT reCOvery

Committed To The Highest Quality Home Care Services.

Serving AlAchuA county And Surrounding AreAS

4923 NW 43rd Street, Suite A Gainesville, Florida 32606

352-379-6217 Call For More Information About How Caretenders Can Help You. Lic# HHA299991306

Currents | January/February 2015 | 15

ROBOTICS TRENDS applied for the grant to get things started. Then-CHS Principal Terry Huddleston just needed somebody to lead the way.

Crews said Huddleston made it sound easy. “‘C’mon, you were a NASA engineer, you built robots,’” she said he told her, “and I said, ‘No, I didn’t.’”

Besides, she told him, she didn’t have time for that.

“I’m staying up at night relearning calculus so I can teach it the next day. I’m in survival mode, I can’t take this on,” she recalled. “But eventually they talked me into it.”

All this was in her first semester back in the classroom in fall 2010. She was still teaching mostly remedial math, but that would soon change as well.

Since then, Crews has become the emblem of STEM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Math — education in the county, and the accolades have piled up, including Teacher of the Year.

When representing the district at the 26th annual Macy’s Florida Teacher of the Year event in Orlando last July, she was presented one of two special recognition awards given out during closing ceremonies.

Crews was also named a “Champion of Children” last year by the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations.

That’s a statewide honor given to a teacher who consistently seeks outside resources and opportunities for their students — something especially vital to an underfunded rural district.

“The best part of it was the recognition for Columbia County,” she said. “We’ve shown that small rural districts can 16 | Currents | January/February 2015

A potentiometer is seen on the C.H.I.E.F. (Champion Hope In Engineered Form) robot, which shoots a yoga ball into a goal.

Robotics student Christian Zecher, 16, fine tunes Magnum PSI, which shoots T-shirts during the CHS football games.

A 3D printed trigger is seen on the C.H.I.E.F. robot.

grow and maintain successful STEM-based programs and business partners just like the bigger districts can.”

On top of that, her CHS robotics team, GET SMART, placed in the top four in the world for the Media & Technology Innovation Award at the end of their 2014 season. They made it to the final rounds of the Orlando regional for the third year in a row, nearly unheard of for a newer team, after ranking in the top 8 out of 64 teams at the robotics competition in Orlando.

And one former student, now a freshman at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., was a top ten finalist and had his design for a 3D-printed kicking tee selected for use in the media kit for the 2014 Stratasys Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge, a global contest.

That “robotics thing” changed Crews’ life by any measure.

It led her to found an Engineering Technology program at CHS that in turn has changed how she spends her day in the classroom.

“I still teach that one AP Calculus class but instead of the rest of my days being filled with intensive math classes, they are now filled with three levels of Engineering Technology classes,” she said.

“My students are learning computer programming and computer-aided design. They are earning industry certifications in AutoCAD and SolidWorks and have the opportunity to work with a 3D printer. They are exploring different areas of engineering and many of them are deciding to go on to pursue degrees in engineering.”

Best

of the

HOsPItAL for

Best

15 yeArs cOnsecutIve

Lake City Medical Center has been named the Best of the Best hospital in Lake City for 15 consecutive years! While we are pleased to be recognized with this award, our priority continues to be providing the very best medical care to the communities we serve. Thank you to our physicians, nurses and caregivers for making a difference every day!

Thank you for voting us Best Hospital and Best Emergency Room!

Text “ER� to 23000 for average ER wait* times *Wait defined as arrival time until seen by qualified medical professional.

(Message and data rates may apply. For more information, visit: TextERHelp.com)

LCM-6430 Best of the Best Ad_Currents_7x9.75.indd 1

www.LakeCityMedical.com

12/30/14 11:45 AM

Currents | January/February 2015 | 17

ROBOTICS TRENDS Robotics instructor Celena Crews speaks with Bill Griffin, a technical mentor, about setting up the new Computer Navigated Control router, which uses a drill bit to cut out wood, aluminum and acrylic materials.

Four years after returning to the classroom, Crews can boast of former students studying engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the University of Florida, the University of South Florida, the Air Force Academy and Cal-Poly. With plenty more to come.

“I can now say I’ve accomplished what I set out to do when I decided to try teaching,” she said. “I have inspired students to go and do what I did.”

That doesn’t mean she’s ready to call it a day.

But she has been engaged in considerable self-reflection

18 | Currents | January/February 2015

of late about her future in education.

“While I love working with students and know I make a lasting impact, I feel I have an even bigger purpose to fulfill,” she said.

This school year she is participating in the Teacher LEAD Network, a program for

current district Teachers of the Year throughout Florida. The goals of the program include strengthening teacher leadership at local schools, fostering collaboration and lifelong learning among teachers, and supporting academic achievement.

After that she plans on pursuing a master’s degree in Educational Leadership.

Crews said honing her leadership skills will help her reach her goal of spreading STEM education throughout the county and beyond.

The exact form her ambitions will take is yet to be seen.

Still, the sky’s the limit — just like in NASA.

A birthing experience as unique as your baby.

Having a baby is one of life’s most amazing experiences. And at The Birth Center at Shands Lake Shore, we’re here for you, as the only hospital in the area standing by with the staff and facilities for your delivery. We offer options to accommodate your personalized birth plan, with the safety of you and your baby as our primary concern. And in most cases, labor, delivery and recovery can all take place in your private birthing suite. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 386-292-7800 or visit ShandsBaby.com.

368 Northeast Franklin Street Lake City, FL 32055

Currents | January/February 2015 | 19 82374_SHLAK_BirthingCenter_8_875x11_375c.indd 1

1/15/15 3:07 PM

now TRENDING: Your WEDDING TRENDS

Here are tips to make the most memorable day of your life even more memorable.

Wedding

By EMILY BUCHANAN Worried that your big wedding day might become a part of an outdated trend before it even happens?

Unlike wedding trends that typically last a few years and then fade away, these trends are more likely to last a couple decades.

Getting in shape for your wedding day has always played a big role. As more people are signing up for a gym membership nowadays, the first trend we see is that more gyms are offering personal training packages for newly engaged couples.

“With such a huge life event, couples strive to be spiritually, mentally and physically ready for the big day, which gives them a better outlook on what they’re marriage will turn out to be,” said Michelle Richards, owner of Lake City’s Step Fitness, who decided to offer discounts to newly married couples when she opened her gym seven years ago.

Although Richards hasn’t seen a recent increase in newly engaged couples signing up for memberships together, she said she has seen a steady increase of soon-to-be brides signing up and trying to shed that lastminute weight to be in top shape for their big day.

Richards said about 50 percent of her customers use the couples’ discounts, which is about 30 to 40 20 | Currents | January/February 2015

Meet the Management

Bette J. Carlson, M.S.R.D. Administrator

Stacey Johns, RN Director of Nursing

Amanda Gibson, LPN A-Hall Unit Manager

Colleen Wirth, LPN B-Hall Unit Manager

Terri Hauge, LPN Restorative Nurse Coordinator

Debbie O’Reilly Therapy Director

Sandy Watson Activities Director

(386) 752-7900

Teresa Graham Business Office Manager

1270 S.W. Main Blvd., Lake City, FL

Audrey Short Director of Admissions

Jessica Herndon, RN Mona Gleaton, RN C-Hall Unit Manager Risk Manager/Staff Development

Jodi Rodgers, LPN MDS Coordinator

Donna Primous Housekeeping Manager

Sheila Miller Social Services Director

Adam Dotson Maintenance Director

Linda Frederiksen Dietary Manager

• 24 Hour Nursing Care • Short Term Rehab • Long Term Care • IV Therapy • Palliative Care / Hospice / Respite Care Currents | January/February 2015 | 21

WEDDING TRENDS

We’ll help your team find a

NEW PERSPECTIVE

Frazier Fotography

Experience the unique facilities and warm hospitality of Cerveny Conference Center.

Available to host your next meeting, retreat, ministry program, wedding, reception or camp.

450 Seat Pavilion . 9 Meeting Rooms . Mandi’s Chapel . Motel Lodging Audio / Visual . Excellent Cuisine . Nature Trails . White Lake

The Bishop Edwin G. Weed Camp The Bishop Frank S. Cerveny Conference Center

11057 Camp Weed Place, Live Oak, FL 32060 . (386) 364-5250 . www.campweed.org 22 | Currents | January/February 2015

Y COMPU

Another trend beginning to unfold with newly married couples is wedding websites.

Without going through all the trouble of getting to the store and buying something for a friend or family, now all you have to do is go to their website.

Many couples can now communicate information about accommodations to their wedding guests or questions about registry items.

User-friendly hosting sites make creating a wedding websites an easy task for anyone.

The last up-and-coming trend, some say, is worth a thousand words.

Although posed photography will likely never go out of style, candid photos of the bride and groom celebrating their special day with the ones they love have become a popular trend.

From capturing photos using photobooth props to having the bridal party jump in the air on the count of three, newly married couples want to fill their photo albums full with laughter and fun shared with others on their big day.

CENTRO .INFO

Wedding Websites

COURTES

percent less than the normal membership rate.

“Even if couples were to take 30 minutes every day to work out, it could help de-stress a very stressful day,” she said.

“Especially in a town like Lake City where couples tend to get married at a younger age and they have to plan their big day on top of going to college.”

When a bride signs up for a membership, Richards said that she will see the bride working out more often than other regular members that use the gym.

Richards has also seen mothers of the bride in the gym working out right before their son or daughter’s big day.

“Everyone wants to look good for that special day,” she said.

“When couples workout together, it strengthens them physically and mentally for the future.”

We are Dedicated to Improving Lives - Everyday.

TOI-Health.com

146 SW Orthopaedic CT Lake City, FL

386-755-9215

Columbia County Sheriff’s Office personnel are dedicated to serving our community with integrity and compassion while delivering proactive, professional law enforcement services to meet the diverse needs of our community.

Visit us online at www.ColumbiaSheriff.org Operations Center

Voted Best Campground in Lake City

Lake City Campground The best memories are made around a campfire.

Mark Hunter, Sheriff

Columbia County Detention Facility

386-752-9212 4917 US Hwy 90 East Lake City, FL 32055

386-755-7000 389 NW Quinten St. Lake City, FL 32055

District Two Fort White 118 SW Wilson Springs Rd. Fort White, FL 32038 386-497-3797

• Cabins • Cottages • Propane • Monthly & nightly sites • All pull thrus • Pets Welcome • Swimming Pool • Playground, volleyball, shuffle board • Fishing Pond

Call 1-866-773-Camp for reservations 4743 N. US Hwy 441 Lake City, Florida 32055

Ph: (386) 752-9131 www.lakecitycampground.com lakecitycampground@yahoo.com

See it first in the Lake City Reporter

Let us celebrate your engagement with you!

Currents | January/February 2015 | 23

MUSIC TRENDS

PIANO LADY THE

Woman has been giving lessons since early ‘70s.

By SARAH LOFTUS

Photos by Jason Matthew Walker

F

orty-three years ago, at the age of 13, Genie Harris started giving piano lessons. Back then, piano lessons were a common activity for children.

Organized sports weren’t quite as popular as they are now. Computers, tablets and video games didn’t exist yet.

Piano lessons is just what kids did.

In the past 43 years, a lot has changed.

Today’s youth don’t know what it’s like not to have a computer in their homes or not see adults around them texting on their smart phones.

Piano lessons are no longer one of the most popular activities for kids. And pianos are no longer a common item found in homes.

More than a century ago, acoustic piano sales were booming, with more than 364,500 pianos sold in 1909. But ever since, piano sales have been steadily falling, and more recently, sales have started to plunge. Piano stores across the U.S. have been closing, and the few stores that are still open are sometimes the only ones left in certain areas.

Despite all that, Harris’ steady flow of piano students has remained steady.

The Lake City resident doesn’t know exactly why she has never seen a decline in students, even during the Great Recession as other piano teachers had to move on to other jobs to stay afloat, but she’s thankful for it.

In 2007, as the stock market began crashing, when she and her husband still

Genie Harris sits at the piano in her Lake City home. ‘I always knew I was going to (teach),’ she said. ‘I started teaching when I was 13. It’s really fun to see my students succeed. My goal has never been to create a star musician or virtuoso, but mainly to just see them experience something that they couldn’t do before.’

24 | Currents | January/February 2015

Currents | January/February 2015 | 25

lived in Orlando, he was one of millions of Americans that lost his job.

It was her teaching that allowed them to pay their bills.

Harris said she only lost fewer than five students during the recession, and for most, it was because they moved away, not for economic reasons.

“I was amazed,” she said. “People will do things for their kids when they really enjoy it.”

They’ll find a way to afford it even if money is kind of tight, Harris said.

In 2010, she and her husband moved to Lake City where he found another job. She had no students, but things picked up quickly.

“I didn’t have any trouble building up my business,” Harris said.

26 | Currents | January/February 2015

Now, she teaches about 20 music lessons a week — 15 of which are piano lessons, 12 of which are acoustic piano lessons. The other lessons she gives are voice and violin lessons, and the other piano lessons she teaches are on digital pianos.

Her students are all different ages. The bulk of her piano students are third-grade to ninth-grade students, but she also has some younger and some older. A couple are in first and second grade. One is in college, and she even teaches a few senior citizens.

She said that during the summer of 2014, she had at least three new students begin and has had very few leave.

She has heard all the stories of piano teachers across the nation having to close down shop, but she doesn’t see herself becoming one of them.

BAYA POINTE

NURSING AND R EH ABI L ITATION CEN TER

a Consulate Health Care Center

Currents | January/February 2015 | 27

LIFELONG TRENDS

LONG LIVE LOVE Compromise is key for couple married for 52 years.

By SARAH LOFTUS

I

Photos by Jason Matthew Walker

n the mid-1950s, Vern Lloyd asked Maureen to dance at their church’s youth dance in North Syracuse, N.Y. They knew each other vaguely but weren’t really friends.

They went to the same high school, and Maureen hadn’t really liked Vern. She always heard his name read on the morning announcements for all of his accomplishments. He was really smart, and it kind of annoyed her.

That changed eventually.

They danced together as friends at the church dance.

But nothing really came of it. And in 1958, Vern left for college to study chemical engineering the State University of New York at Potsdam — a few hours north of their hometown.

That could’ve been the end of their friendship, and they might’ve never seen

28 | Currents | January/February 2015

Lake City residents Vern and Maureen Lloyd have been together for 52 years. Vern said that the secret to staying strong is through ‘perseverance. We sometimes have arguments, but we resolve them. We compromise.’

each other again.

But it wasn’t, and they did.

In the summer of 1959, when Vern was back in North Syracuse, he decided to go visit his high school with some friends to see his old teachers.

He had no idea that Maureen would also be there, taking a summer school course.

“I think maybe there was a little flicker from before,” Vern said.

So he asked Maureen out to dinner and a movie.

Maureen said she thinks she said yes because the idea of dating a college guy while still in high school was exciting.

They went to Hyde’s Hotdog Stand. They can’t remember what movie they saw, but it was fun.

And with that, a romance and great friendship was born.

One that would turn into a 52-year and counting marriage.

One that would inspire the couple to be the best versions of their selves and has showed them and

continues to show them how to love, be good friends and work together. Through good times and tough times.

Four years after getting married, seven weeks after their first child Jennifer was born, Vern was summoned to Vietnam. At Potsdam, he was in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corp, so when the Vietnam War started, he had to go.

In June of 1966, Vern stood in the Syracuse airport with his wife and baby daughter as he left for war.

“I can still picture (Jennifer) in the (baby) carrier as I left the airport,” he said.

After kissing and hugging them, he got on the plane.

He missed them, and they missed him, but they found a way to get through it.

Maureen would write Vern a

Inspiring STYLE for every woman.

JOHN WIND MAXIMAL ART Gotta Have It! Jewelry

Exclusively at

Voted Best Place For Jewelry & Gifts

Specializing in Primary Care & Physicals

Urgent Care Primary Care Weight Loss Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy Now Accepting New Patients

Walk-ins Welcome No Appointment Necessary

Family Medical & Weight Loss Clinic

Sports Physicals $25 Work Physicals $60 DOT Physicals $85

386.719.9227

Located at the corner of Baya and 90, Lake City, FL

Origins Family Medical & Weight Loss Clinic, Inc. is a primary care facility | New Patients Welcome Currents | January/February 2015 | 29

LIFELONG TRENDS letter and send a picture of Jennifer almost every day.

In the mid ‘60s, cassette tapes were popular, so Maureen would also send him tapes of Jennifer’s squeals, cries and laughs.

And to this day, they still have those letters.

It was hard, but the war wasn’t nearly as bad for Vern as it was for others, he said.

And a year later, he came home and got a job in Niagra Falls, N.Y., where they lived for the next 20 years.

And a year after that, their second child, a daughter they named Susan, was born.

They’ve lived in three states since then, raised two daughters, watched their daughters go on to have their own kids, counseled them during their own hardships, volunteered more hours than they can count, most notably organizing the March of Dimes Walk, and supported one another when the other needed it most.

And most importantly, stayed positive through it all.

Even in the really difficult times where they didn’t know what tomorrow held.

In 2002, Maureen was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

30 | Currents | January/February 2015

“I remember the way he was looking at me as we drove home from the doctor in Gainesville” right after she was diagnosed, she said. “I know what he was thinking. I was thinking the same thing.”

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma affects the lymphatic system and weakens one’s immune system.

Vern and Maureen Lloyd are pictured above in their 1962 wedding in New York. The couple went to the same high school in North Syracuse, N.Y. and had their first dance at a church’s youth group dance nearly a decade before they wed.

Helping nature provide.

Helping nature provide.

Our backyard is your backyard.

Currents | January/February 2015 | 31

P

H n p

LIFELONG TRENDS

‘In sickness and in health’ became a reality for the Lloyds during their 52 years of marriage. In 2002 Maureen was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. After radiation treatments and 11 years had passed, another health tragedy struck. In 2013 Vern had a stroke. After a week in the hospital, he spent the next 2-3 months recovering at home and is now in good health.

32 | Currents | January/February 2015

They were wondering if she would make it.

At first, Vern was a wreck, but overall, he did well during her 19 radiation treatments, which is what got rid of the cancer.

“I told him I didn’t want him to worry too much,” Maureen said.

So she told him he didn’t have to go with her to the treatments and left him at home with things to do around the house, like small paint jobs, to keep his mind off the cancer.

Eleven years later, in 2013, another health tragedy struck their family.

Vern had a stroke.

Maureen said he just started speaking gibberish, but it all happened so fast, so she doesn’t remember all the details.

“It was kind of a really trying time for me,” she said.

Vern was in the hospital for a week following the stroke and then recovered at home for two to three months. He hasn’t had a stroke since, and his doctors say he’s in good health now.

But they don’t know what caused the stroke in the first place. Maureen said Vern has had a lot of stress in his life from working, so she thinks that may have contributed.

While they were both scared when the other got sick, they stayed positive for each other.

And supported one another.

It’s what you do in marriage, they said.

That and give each other a chance.

We recognize taking the time to get to know a patient is a huge aspect of what makes the healing process a positive one. The other aspect is treating a wide range of medical needs with the most advanced surgical treatments available. That means everything from cancer detection and treatment to hernias and gastrointestinal problems.

Here are just a few if the most common medical conditions and surgical treatments Dr. Soler offers his patients: n Cancer Detection and Treatment

n Colonoscopy and Gastrointestinal (GI) Endoscopy

n Breast Cancer Management

n Polyps

n Benign Breast Disorders

n Gallbladder Removal

n Hernia Surgery Laparoscopic

n Abdominal Pain Management

n Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia, & Anti-Reflux Surgery

n Hemorrhoids

n Colon Cancer

n Diverticulitis

When being admitted to a hospital, you can request us for your surgical provider.

Call for Appointment (386) 755-6682

Currents | January/February 2015 | 33

Durable devices StatePoint

People of all ages and lifestyles use tablets for just about everything. Unfortunately, the way we use these fragile devices often puts them at risk for breaking, and certain models are more susceptible to going kaput.

To help shoppers make smart decisions, a protection plan provider for tablets, smartphones and other electronics decided to find out how durable the most popular tablets are. Evaluating key elements such as front and back panel design, edge construction and materials, size, weight, “slideability,” water resistance and “grip-ability,” the Breakability Score tests devices in everyday danger situations brought on by our lifestyles and habits.

Overall, larger tablets proved to be far more breakable than smaller ones, as well as the least water resistant.

Accidents do happen and an affordable protection plan can help you protect your pricey tablet investment.

If you’re buying a new tablet, make sure you research your options first, and consider adding a protection plan.

34 | Currents | January/February 2015

Firearms Ammunition Bow Repair/Service Archery Accessories FFL Transfers Class 3 Weapons Dealer P New & Pre-Owned Firearms always loaded 9-6 Monday-Saturday

386-243-8587

www.jwweaponry.com

2747 SW Main Blvd.

Lake City, FL 32025

GREAT DOCTORS, FRIENDLY STAFF, FAMILY PRACTICE DONE RIGHT!

MultieSpecialty Practice Primary Care ee & Up Urgent Care Weight Loss Womens Health OBGYN Care Workers Comp DOT, School & Work Physicals IneHouse Lab Draw ER Alternative

Two Great Locations 2806 West US HWY 90, Lake City * Across from Walmart 155 SE 6th Pl, Lake Butler * Behind Badcock Furniture

eeeeeeeeeeeeee

dynamichealthcenters.com

Most Insurance, Medicare & Medicaid Accepted.

Currents | January/February 2015 | 35

SPORTS TRENDS

kirkman gets his

swagger

BACK

By ERIC JACKSON

I

f he isn’t staring down a strike zone, you can probably catch him lakeside staring down waterfowl — mallards must be alert when Michael Kirkman is around or else. associated press

The duck hunter hopes to drive that same sort of fear into opposing batters when he trades his shotgun for a baseball glove next month for Major League Spring Training.

With just a few weeks until he reports to camp, the Texas Rangers pitcher knows it’s time to go back to work after months of relaxation.

“It’s flown by,” Kirkman said. “I’m just trying to get back into the swing of things.

36 | Currents | January/February 2015

It’s time to start working hard. I’m looking forward to the 2015 baseball season.”

The Columbia High graduate returns to his Lake City family home every off-season and again has accomplished everything he wanted to do like going on a hunting excursion in Arkansas or even catching his nephew’s birthday party.

These days Kirkman can be found at his alma mater, working on his mechanics, on

the same mound he anchored the Tigers to numerous victories before being drafted by the Rangers in 2005.

The Lake City native, who is 2-6 with a 4.98 ERA with the Rangers, has endured peaks and valleys during his baseball career.

Nonetheless, the Rangers’ longest-tenured player showed promise when he was called up from a Triple-A late last season and compiled a 1.59 ERA in 12 games played.

Kirkman says the main ingredient to that success was a new-found sense of confidence, which he plans to bring with him to Arizona next month.

The left-hander, who recently signed a one-year minor league deal, couldn’t be more prepped for what could be his final shot as a Ranger.

Kirkman makes no bones about the pressure — he says his swagger is back.

Increasing arm strength continues to be on Kirkman’s to-do list as he switched to a lower armslot in his delivery last season, which was ample in his impressive finish.

The 28-year-old also is trying to improve his control over the plate as he prepares for his 11th year with the organization.

Kirkman is tagged as a left-onleft specialist. He held lefty batters to a .198 batting average during his time in Round Rock (Triple A) last season.

Before being demoted to Round Rock, the 2010 Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year in September

ABOVE LEFT: In this May 2013 file photo, Texas Rangers’ pitcher Michael Kirkman throws a pitch during a baseball game against the Houston Astros.

ABOVE RIGHT: In this April 2013 file photo, Texas Rangers’ player David Murphy (second from left) congratulates relief pitcher Michael Kirkman (50) after he pitched the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners in Arlington, Texas. The Texas Rangers won 7-0.

associated press

Lake City’s Most comfortable address!

With spacious 2 bedroom apartments (with your choice of 1, 1.5 or 2 bathrooms) located in a quiet, serene setting, you will love coming home.

Ask About

FREE

1 Month Rent Amenities: • Spacious apartment layouts • Gourmet kitchens with dishwashers • Digitally controlled central heating and air • Washer/Dryer Hookups in every apartment • Ceiling fans in all living rooms and bedrooms • Gated entry to community • Sparkling pool • Pet friendly

Corporate/Furnished Short Term Available 384 S.W. Dexter Circle Lake City, Florida 32025 (386) 754-1800

www.thegrovelakecity.com

Visualization of a typical apartment

Apartments Currents | January/February 2015 | 37

was used as an everyday situational pitcher and hopes to retake that role during the upcoming season.

“I have a very good opportunity to make the team,” Kirkman said. “If I pitch anywhere close to last year, I’ll make that team. I want to go out there and compete for myself, for my family, and for the team. I love it especially on the big stage, in the big leagues.

There’s nothing like 30, 40 thousand fans being in the stands.”

Batters should be cautious of No.50 because he’ll have a different fire in his eyes this season.

Texas Rangers pitcher and former Columbia High School baseball player Michael Kirkman is seen on the CHS baseball field in this February 2014 file photo.

38 | Currents | January/February 2015

Currents | January/February 2015 | 39

OUTDOOR TRENDS

Angling

goes high-tech

By TONY BRITT |

Josh Lester, a sales administrator for McDuffie Marine and Sporting Goods, tests out a SIMRAD Evo 2 touchscreen fish finder, encased in a glassed-over panel system.

The new technology is often found in yachts and big boats but is becoming more commonplace.

They include features like a fully functioning radar and echo displays, can take video and also run all of the instruments.

O

ver the years fishing has e v o l v e d and one of the primary reasons behind the evolution has been technology.

Long gone are the days of sitting on buckets waiting to catch fish. In fact, the days of riding in a boat hoping to find fish is also becoming a distant memory due to technological advances in the sport.

The principal technological advance on most anglers’ boats today is the fish finder. No longer do fish finders just indicate whether something is swimming under the boat, recent advances allow anglers to see photo-like 40 | Currents | January/February 2015

Photos by Jason Matthew Walker

images that vividly show the bottom structure, wrecks, reefs and fish.

Josh Lester, who works in the sales department at McDuffie Marine and Sporting Goods, said touch-screen fishfinders have increased in popularity and technology becomes more prevalent in fishing.

In addition he said many fishfinders now offers ‘down scan’ and ‘side imaging’ fish finding capabilities. The images are provided through the fishfinder’s transducer, which is either mounted to the back or front of the boat. Most of the latest models of fishfinders also have Google Earth overlay for

OUTDOOR TRENDS mapping capabilities.

“Down scan basically gives you a photo-like picture of the bottom structure,” he said. “If you come over a ship or some submerged trees, you’re going to see a photo-like picture of it. You can clearly tell what it is.”

Lester said “side scan” basically performs the same operation as “down scan” but does it on both sides of the boat, instead of directly below the boat.

“The seven-inch touch screens are probably the most popular ones, but we’ve sold some here lately as large as 16-inch,” he said, noting most screens are either seven, nine, 12- or 16-inch models.

The fishfinders are described as “next generation” technology and cost substantially more than fish finders in past years.

“Technology, just like anything, has come a long way,” Lester said. “These machines start off at $1,200 now, whereas before you could purchase a GPS/ fishfinder for $500. They still make lesser machines, but they don’t do the things that they higher quality machines do.”

Lester said the cheaper units don’t have the capability to perform “down scan” or “side scan,” but can do the Google Earth map overlay.

“They just basically mark your routes, waypoints and trials,” he said of the units with older technology.

Lester also noted that many of the higher-end units also have an option where their memory can be expanded with aftermarket mapping cards.

“Pretty much all of the GPS units now have an SD card option where you can download updates for maps,” he said. “You can

This image shows the opening of the Suwannee River in the Suwannee Sound on the west coast of Florida. The unit offers a Google map overlay.

update them every few months.”

A company called Navionics makes details mapping charts that are sold on SD cards for about $200 each.

“You can put them in these machines, the micro-SD cards, and it enhances the quality of your pictures and they point out a lot of the wrecks and (fishing) hot spots,” he said.

Lester said the units are made

for fresh- and saltwater anglers with maps that show different bodies of water in different regions of the country.

As an angler, Lester said there are several advantages with the introduction of the new technologies to fishing.

“They are much easier to work now,” he said. “All of these touch screens are easier to use, especially with offshore fishing.

With these new sonars, down scan and side scan, anglers can find wrecks and rock easier. It just makes fishing easier.

“With your GPS mapping, it just helps you find your fishing spots and allows you to navigate easier than the old GPS units,” Lester continued. “It’s safer. Anytime it helps you navigate better, it would definitely be safer.”

CAR 3

$

WASH

Tuesday Wednesday Sunday EVERY WEEK On Express Wash Only $5.00 Value

Free Vacuum with Every Wash!

Cascading Hot Wax

4

$

3 B $

UG

SPRAY

CAR WASH 4114 W. US Hwy 90 (next to Royals Mobile Homes) Currents | January/February 2015 | 41

GARDENING TRENDS

Wintgardening era

I

t’s difficult for me to look longingly toward spring when winter gardening is such a pleasure in North Florida. Winter is certainly the most comfortable time to be outside, when it seems someone left the AC on.

Gardening in North Florida is a pleasure three out of four seasons a year. June, July and August are another story, but I’m sure that’s why God gave us the cool and beautiful springs and rivers to enjoy during the hottest times.

So, for now, let’s just enjoy our perfect weather, in between our seldom hard freezes. Although we can usually transplant or move plants anytime of the year in Northern Florida, it is less stressful on the shrubs and trees if we do it in January through the middle of February because plants are dormant and are not actively growing. Resist the urge to do any major pruning or fertilizing in January because it might encourage plants to come out of dormancy and risk freeze damage. The few pruning exceptions are pears, blueberries, apples, dormant grapes and persimmons.

The exception for fertilizing is for the 42 | Currents | January/February 2015

Martha Ann Ronsonet winter annuals and fruit trees (except spring-flowering shrubs, such as azaleas). Never fertilize plants that are not actively growing. To do so will only waste the fertilizer, because the plant cannot use it and it will leach down or run off into our water supply.

Annuals should be deadheaded (removing spent blooms) in any season. This will prevent the plant from using energy to produce seeds and will promote more blooms.

When choosing annuals to add to your garden, the bigger 4-inch pots will establish more quickly, as smaller transplants may be more susceptible to soil fungus diseases and seedling pests, such as cut-worms.

Empty plastic cups or flower pots make good barriers for your tiny seedlings to prevent cut-worm damage. Just cut the bottom out and split if necessary to wrap around the seedlings.

February is the time to cut

b a c k your tattered looking ground covers, such as liriope, holly fern and aspidistra, before new growth begins. If you wait too late the new growth may be nipped off and will show where it has been cut all season, especially true of liriope. The plants will look so much fresher when they leaf out and it won’t be necessary to selectively prune out the ratty looking leaves.

Early February is the time to prune and shape rose bushes.

Leave strong canes and remove the smaller pencil thin shoots, dead or damages canes, branches and suckers. Hybrid tea roses require more severe pruning than floribundas and climbing roses. Prune hybrid teas knee high, leaving 3 to 4 canes into an open vase shape.

Easy care and old garden roses need pruning just to shape the bush and for removal of dead or damaged branches, removing no more than 1/3 of the bush.

Climbers are pruned by removing old, weak canes and suckers and leaving healthy canes. Remove all yellowed leaves on the ground and the plant to help prevent overwintering of diseases.

Remember in cold weather and in

shady areas, less water is needed. Once every 10 to 14 days is enough if it doesn’t rain.

Water the lawn and ornamental plants 24 to 48 hours before a hard freeze is predicted and rain is not expected, this will help with cold protection. The University of Florida tells us not to attempt the commercial method to protect plants during a freeze. This method requires a continuous controlled flow of water to ice down plants for cold protection. A layer of ice can give off heat, but if not precisely controlled, could severely damage plants and the lawn.

Camellias truly are the Queen of the winter garden.

What more could we ask in a plant. Evergreen, grows in the shade and flowers heavily in the winter. By choosing now

you can see the many colors and type blooms available to add to your garden. They give so much in return for so little. (picture of Camellia japonica) Don’t be tempted to prune the dead foliage from your cold damaged plants, it gives added protection from future freezes. Wait until you see new growth peeking through, then you can clean up, otherwise too much may be removed and will take longer to recover. That is one of the hardest things to do when you see old brown dead foliage and it’s a beautiful sunny day. Patience is one of the most admirable traits a good gardener can possess. n Martha is an avid gardener who lives in Lake City. She is the author of “Gardening in the Deep South and Other Hot Pursuits.”

530 South West Florida Dr. • LAKE CITY, FL

RV Sales Hours: Monday-Saturday 8am-5pm, Sunday 11am-4pm

888.440.5754 | CampingWorld OfLakeCity.com

Currents | January/February 2015 | 43

FESTIVAL TRENDS

Civil War comes to life

By TONY BRITT

The Battle of Olustee was fought more than a century and a half ago when on Feb. 20, 1864, Union and Confederate troops clashed in the only major Civil War battle fought on Florida soil.

That day a total of 2,807 troops from both sides lay on the battlefield either dead or wounded following five hours of gunfire, cannon shots and strategic troop movements.

The battle, which marked a Confederate victory, signaled the end of Union efforts to restore Florida to the Union.

For close to four decades local re-enactors, Battle of Olustee descendants and living historians have paid homage to the troops who participated in that battle by hosting an annual battle re-enactment and battle festival.

Through the years the Olustee Battle Re-Enactment has become the largest re-enactment in the southeast United States.

The 2015 Battle of Olustee Re-Enactment and Olustee Battle Festival will take place Feb. 13 -15.

44 | Currents | January/February 2015

After Years Of Simulated Use, We Maintained Support 4 Times Better Than Other Leading Brands

Bay Island Memory Foam

699

$

Kirkpatrick

95

Queen 2-pc Set

999

$

95

Destiny Opti Cool Memory Foam

$

Queen 2-pc Set

129995 Queen 2-pc Set

Mon.-Fri. 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. • Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

FURNITURE SHOWPLACE Wholesale Sleep Distributors CATALOG SHOWROOM FOR COMPLETE HOME FURNISHINGS Currents | January/February 2015 | 45 US 90 West (across from Publix) Lake City • 386-752-9303

FESTIVAL TRENDS In 1978 a group of Columbia County residents decided to honor the troops by staging a battle re-enactment, and this year marks the 39th year the Olustee Battle Re-enactment has taken place. The first two re-enactments took place at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville.

The following 37 events took place at the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park in Baker County.

Events at the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park, which is also Florida’s first state park, will take place Friday, Feb. 13, beginning at 9 a.m. with class tours for school children; Saturday, Feb. 14 with a mini-battle at the battlefield, and culminates at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15 with

46 | Currents | January/February 2015

the 39th Annual Olustee Battle Re-enactment.

Faye Bowling Warren, executive director of the BlueGrey Army, which stages the re-enactments, said the events are not designed to glorify war, but to commemorate the event that impacted the local community 151 years earlier, and more importantly to do it with dignity. The Blue-Grey Army hosts the annual Olustee Battle Festival each year. 2015 marks the 37th Annual Olustee Battle Festival.

The Olustee Battle Festival is slated to take place Friday, Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 14, in downtown Lake City. Most of the activities will take place at or around Olustee Park.

The two-day battle festival

features performances by local entertainers, arts and craft vendors selling their wares, food vendors, Civil War Skirmish at the shore of Lake DeSoto and a parade on Saturday.

This year’s Olustee Battle Festival will also feature Disc Connected K9s, World Champion Frisbee Dogs and their trainer Lawrence Frederick. Frederick and the award-winning dogs are slated to perform three times daily during the Olustee Battle Festival.

An estimated 40,000 people attended last year’s Olustee Battle Festival weekend during the 150th Anniversary of the battle.

Is foot pain cramping your style?

With 28 specialty physicians, you won’t have to shop for another solution.

We believe the best way to live life is to do more of what you love. Whether you have muscle, bone, joint or spine pain, we have an experienced, specialty physician dedicated to getting you back to what matters most. You get to choose who you see, so take the next step and schedule an appointment.

From diagnosis to recovery, our team is with you every step of the way.

Take the next step, call 386-755-9215.

We are Improving Lives - Everyday.

TOI-Health.com

Gainesville | Ocala | Lake City | Alachua Currents | January/February 2015 | 47

48 | Currents | January/February 2015