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g continue continues t nuess to o shap sha e the shape the f our ou nation’s nat a ion’s on’ss youn you young yo ung g me men men

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PA PAID PRSRT STD S U.S. Postage o

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NEWBERRY EWBERR & JONESVILLE EWBERRY JON NESVILL L E

FREE FR F REE EE T TA TAKE AK KE EO ONE NE N E

Every Ev E Eve ve v ver errry e y Day Da D ay a y

Hearts He ea arts art r & rts

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PAID PA P AID A D

Spring 2009 | March – May

FREEE - TAK TAKE KE ONE

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HOPE H HO OPE PE HORSES HORSE SES

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PA D PAID

BACK BA BAC B AC ACK AC CK K TO SCHOOL SCHOO CHOOL

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GLO G GLORI GLORIA LOR L LO OR O RIA IA JAM JAMES ES

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Newberry’s 64th Annual

Watermelon Festival

A Mu M Musical usical ssica sic i Treaas asure u ure Treasure

also…

Shane Moore oore and Richy S St Stano ano ano an

Saving the Farm

Dudley Farm and Florida’s Eden host a Paint Out

A Season for Sneezing

Hillar Hillary ilillar llar Glanzer Glanz Gl Glanze G lanze zer Gave Gav Gaave ve tthe he Ultimate Ult U timate tiimat imate mate a e Gift G Gif iftt

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Hig High gh h Spring Springs S Spri Sprin priiin ngss Nonprofit Non Nonpro Nonpr Nonp Nonprof onp fitt Veterans H lps Helps lps Veter Vet Vete Ve ete t ans Heal H

FREE - TAKE ONE

PAID AII

Permit #827 Gainesville, FL

PAID PRSRT STD U.S. Postage

Winter 2008 | December – February

FREE - TAKE ONE

PRSRT RS T STD U.S Postage U Po Pos Po U.S.

BRONSON SPEEDWAY EDWAY DWAY New York natives revive revive a mark mar k local racing landmark

Permit ermit mit i #827 2 Gainesville, FL F Gainesville,

SAFE HAVEN Kiwanis Club benefits our area children

Spring pr 20 20088 | March 200 Marcch – May Ma

IS SAW TH THE E SIGN N

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F E - TAKE FREE TA T AK AKE ONE ONE N

PAID P A

PAID Permit #726 Gainesville, FL

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ECRWSS POSTAL PATRON

Permitt #82 P #827 27 nesville, esville, sville, sv ville, FL Gainesville,

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Permit Pe rmit mit #827 8 7 Gainesville, Gainesvil n ville, ille, FL

Tips for Coping with Spring Allergies

Spring 2009 | March – May

Life L Li ife fe Sa S av ve er Saver

Proudly serving Florida communities since 2003

Dynamic na n ami mic uo Duo

Hog Calling, Seed Spitting and Watermelon Queens

CALENDAR C ALENDAR LENDAR NDAR DAR R | BABE ABE RUTH RUT TH WORLD WORLD S SERIE SERIES ERIES RIE E | JOHN JOHN M MORAN ORAN N PH PHOTO PHO OTO ESSAY ES E SSA SAY SA AY

Summ Su S um mm mer er 2012 20 0112 Summer

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YOUR RE Y RESOURCE GUIDE FOR THE JONESVILLE AND NEWBERRY COMMUNITIES R RES TIES ES S

YOUR OUR RESOURCE RESOURCE GUIDE FOR THE H JONESVILLE JON NESVILLE E A AND ND NEWBERRY NEWBERRY COMMUNIT COMMUNITIES MMU MU IES ES

Take ake ak ke a Step Ste tep tep B Back aacck inn Tim iime me

Fun Entire

YOUR RESOURCE RESOURCE GUIDE FOR OR THE T GR GREATER EATER E ATER A ALAC ALACHUA HUA UA AN AND HI HIGH GH H SPRINGS AREAS REAS E

tthe h tthe he e

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High H Hi ig gh h H Ho on no orrss Honors Young Yo You Young Youn oung ng n gT Tumblers umble umblers mb mblers blers V lt i t th h

CONTENTS When Butterflies Flutter By also…

X

Gator Nationals

Music

also…

A RESTAURANT IS REBORN IN THE HISTORIC OPERA HOUSE DAZZLING FIREWORKS IN OUR TOWNS

e Light of a Full Moon

WINTER 2013 • VOL. 11 ISSUE 04

>> FEATURES 36

44 54

Full Moon Music

64

Got Milk?

Farm to Family Music Festivals Return

UF Dairy Farm’s Annual Open House & Family Day

BY LARRY BEHNKE

BY JENNIFER RIEK

Mary Lou’s Farm

72

Agriscience Champion

Training People to Train Horses

Local Boy Takes First Place

BY ELLIS AMBURN

BY NATANYA SPIES

Always a Cowboy

76

Anniversary Issue

A Legend Mentors Locals to Reach their Dreams

A Look Back Over Our Ten Year History with Staff Favorites

BY CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT

BY ALBERT ISAAC

10 | Winter 2013

Our urr ccity’s cit city ciittty y’s y ’ss ssto storied toried to oried dp pa a pioneering pioneerin pioneer pi pio p ioneeri io oneerin on neering neer eering eerin g fron frontier fro fr err

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FREE F R RE EE T TAKE AKE AK A KE O ONE NE

UIDE FOR THE GREATER ALACHUA AND HIGH SPRINGS AREAS

10

Permit #827 #8 a ai Gainesville, FL

A ALL LL L

I SAW AW TH THE E SIGN G GN Beth eth Mu Murph M Murphy y Off Offe ers er rs New w Int In Interp retations a Interpretations

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ESVILLE ESVIL EA AND ND D NE N NEWB NEWBER NEWBERR NEW NEWBERRY EWBER EWBERR E WBERR BERR RY C COMMUNIT COMM COM COMMUNITIES OMMUNIT OMMUN OM OMM M MM MMUNIT TIIES ES

CREA CREATION EATIO TIO TION ON ON

Locally ocally ally an and nd nationwide, nationwi tio o de, Girl G Gir Scouts couts outs uts ts celebrate cel c le ebrate t 100 te 1 yearss years

PAID PA P A AID

PIN’ PIN IN IN’ N DREN DR DRE RE N

and and

YEAR YEAR A OF O THE GIRL L

Santa Fe High High School band ban teaching more more than music mus usic

PRSRT P RSRT RSRT STD STD S U..S Postage U.S U.S. U Postag Posta ostage ta e

riends iends e d ds mes m es

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OVE OV O VE

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Tour ou the t waterway’s waterway s past and waterway’ and look to itss future future

p. 38 38

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WATER W ATER

ce to ce to p protect rotect Florid rrotec Flo F Fllo orid elo lon ongs to o us us elongs

EVERY EV ERY YD

Vol of th La Larr Larry arry Ta a Others O thers A

ON THE COVER In 2010, photographer Tom (TJ) Morrissey of Lotus Studios joined the Tower Team. Since then, he has taken thousands of photos for our cover stories and features, often going beyond the call of duty to get the shot. For one shoot he waded up to his elbows in Blue Springs with camera in hand, perching his expensive lighting equipment on a ladder submerged in the water.

>> TAKE A HIKE

26

Blazing the Trail

By Ashira Morris

The Florida Trail Permit P Perm mit #827 827 Gaines Gainesville, Ga nesville, le, FL

PA D PAID

PRSRT RSRT STD D U.S. U S. Postage tage e

| NA NATIONS NATIO NATION N ATIONS NS PA P PAR AR

HIG HIGH HI I H SP IGH IG SPR SPRINGS PR RINGS ING NGS GS

Our urr ccity’s cit city citty y’s y ’ss ssto storied toried to d p pa a pioneeri pioneerin pioneer p pi io iioneerin oneerin onee o neering neer n eeri eerin rin ng n g fron frontier fro err pioneering

S | NATI NAT N NATIONS ATI T ON NS S PA PA

Inspired by a hike on a section of the 2,000-mile Appalachian Trail, Jim Kern returned to Florida and went to work creating the Florida Trail. The venture established segments of trail from Big Cypress to the Gulf Islands National Seashore, winding around Lake Okeechobee as it makes its way upstate.

Mapping the Origins of the Official Florida Trail

BY ASHIRA MORRIS

J

im Kern’s hiking career began on a family vacation in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. After a few days in Nantahala, he was bored. So Kern, who was 26 at the time, rounded up his younger brother to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail with him.

The park service issued a map of the trial smaller than a standard sheet of paper. Using his thumb to measure distance, Kern figured they could make it to the Fontana Dam in a day.

The brothers took a blanket from the motel and tied it into a rucksack. Kern filled it with canned food, slung it over his shoulder, and they set off. Supplies they did not have included hiking boots and a flashlight.

The hike was not just a day’s jaunt. First, the rain began to fall, water dripping off of all the leaves in the forest. Everything from their knees down was sopping wet.

Then night crept in, covering the trail with its inky absence of light. They found a wide, fallen tree, pulled off sheets of bark the size of their torsos, and crawled inside, the skin on their noses rubbing the bark, the vegetal skin of the tree.

“And then,” Kern said, “we spent the most miserable night you could imagine.”

26 | Winter 2013

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Wint Winte Winter W Win inter interr 2013 20 2 201 0113 013 01 3 | 27 27

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Winter 2013 | 131

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Winter 2013 | 145

>> TRUE GRIT

130

The Battle of Olustee

By Courtney Lindwall

Battle Olustee History buff? Step back in time to learn about Florida’s most important and bloodiest Civil War battle, the Battle of Olustee. This February, thousands will participate in its 38th annual reenactment at Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park.

Experience the Union’s costly defeat firsthand and watch 1864 come alive.

Dedicated Reenactors Keep History Alive — 150 Years Later

STORY BY COURTNEY LINDWALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY CARSON

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or the Battle of Olustee reenactors, it can be hard to tune out the 21st century for very long. As Civil War buffs, they have recreated the North Florida battle meticulously — but the “smudges on their living history picture” still come often. Cars drive up. Visitors in modern clothing walk by. Someone makes a call on a cell phone.

But every so often, 1864 comes alive.

It is the night before Saturday’s battle, and deep in the North Florida woods, the soldiers march on. Dozens of reenactors are participating in what is called an “immersion event” — an opportunity to embody completely the life of their Civil War character.

They will march to the battle the night before — just the way Union soldiers did 150 years ago.

For as far as they can see, men outfitted in the deep blue of the North trudge along. Their wagon, packed full of supplies, lags behind.

The February cold bites the soldiers for the dozen or so miles to Olustee, where thousands of other reenactment troops will be waiting.

And for a moment — they can feel it.

The year is 1864 and they are Civil War soldiers.

“You get a little tingle up and down your spine,” said James Permane, who has played the Union’s General Seymour for a decade. “This is what it was like.”

The reenactment, now in its

38th year, draws thousands to Olustee Historic State Park. For two days, men and women recreate Florida’s most important (and bloodiest) Civil War battle The reenactment runs Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 15 and 16.

Thousands of reenactors participate.

As 2014 is the 150th anniversary, more than usual are expected.

“Settlers” will also provide period goods and music at the event.

The Battle of Olustee Historic Reenactment is at once entertainment and education. Many people do not realize that Florida has Civil War history at all. But in fact, the Battle of Olustee was one of the most costly battles of the entire war when measured as deaths per number fighting.

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>> DOWN IN A HOLE

144

Gopher Crossing

By Ericka Winterrowd

Gopher Tortoise

Sharing Our World with a Keystone Species

Why did the gopher cross the road?

Find out by meeting the three rescued gopher tortoises at O’Leno State Park. Get to know this threatened keystone species which is common in the peninsula of Florida and has been living right here in “Our Town” for generations.

BY ERICKA WINTERROWD

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hat stands on three and a half legs, has one eye, and occasionally hisses? The three gopher tortoises that now reside at O’Leno State Park, of course.

Meet Stumpy, Pop-Eye and Hissy.

Their names provide a clue as to how one might distinguish between the three of them.

The tortoises came from Silver Springs, where officials noticed the special needs of Pop-Eye who is missing one eye, Stumpy who is missing one forearm, and Hissy who has been living in captivity her entire life and is completely reliant on people to forage for her.

Now, these tortoises live together

in a new housing pen designed with specific rules and regulations by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Volunteers and state park officials have put in countless hours of work to make the pen just right for these three reptile ambassadors.

Cindy Preston has been a park service specialist at O’Leno State Park for 12 years. She runs the nature center.

“We are always looking for new ways to expand the nature center, and when Silver Springs was being rolled over to a state park and closing their zoo division we contacted them because we had heard they were looking for a home for these three gopher tortoises,” Preston said. “We gladly said we would take them in.”

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Hissy is a female approximately 20 to 23 years old. She was named Hissy because of her sassiness and keen ability to hiss. But, Preston said, she has a sweet nature too.

“She’s almost like a puppy dog,” Preston said. “She’ll come right up to you looking for food all of the time.

She’s got quite the personality.”

Pop-Eye is a female that is approximately 11 years old. Records indicate her eye was lost because of an injury. Looking at her, one would think she was born that way since Pop-Eye’s eye socket has completely healed over.

Lastly, there is Stumpy, the baby of the group. At 2 years of age, Stumpy’s sex cannot yet be determined.

“Stumpy seems to be the bravest,” Preston said. “He is the first

The articles printed in Our Town Magazine™ do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Tower Publications, Inc. or their editorial staff. Our Town Magazine endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however, we can not be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Our Town Magazine reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement. All rights reserved. © 2013 Tower Publications, Inc.

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130 Published quarterly by Tower Publications, Inc. www.towerpublications.com

PUBLISHER Charlie Delatorre charlie@towerpublications.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Albert Isaac editor@towerpublications.com fax: 352-416-0175 OFFICE MANAGER Bonita Delatorre bonita@towerpublications.com

PHOTO BY RAY CARSON

ART DIRECTOR Hank McAfee hank@towerpublications.com DESIGNER Neil McKinney neil@towerpublications.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ellis Amburn Larry Behnke Christine Boatwright Courtney Lindwall Ashira Morris Jennifer Riek Natanya Spies Ericka Winterrowd

>> FEATURES 130 150 Years Ago The Battle of Olustee Reenactment

INTERN Courtney Lindwall Natanya Spies

BY COURTNEY LINDWALL

156 Stop, Look, Listen Dial and Discover Adventures in “Old Florida”

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SPECIAL >> PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Ten Year Anniversary I know…I’m Sappy!

In case you were wondering, I’m officially old. Remember when your parents would say things like, “I can’t believe how fast this year’s gone by,” or “It feels like just yesterday when…” Well, move over Mom and Dad. Count me in the “Time sure does fly around here” camp because I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since the first issue of Our Town.

The older I get, the more sensitive I become to time and its neverending ticking. Blink your eyes and you’re way older then you think.

Stop, for what feels like 2 seconds, and your kids are married, in college or — in my case — high school, which is way worse. I’m hoping some of you know exactly how I feel.

What’s great about anniversaries is that they make us stop, even if it’s just for a moment, and think about the journey instead of the

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destination. Anniversaries, holidays and the special days in our lives demand that we stop and reflect on the things that matter most, the things for which we are most grateful. For many of us, that list looks pretty similar. We are grateful for our families, our health, our pets, those special people in our lives that we look forward to seeing and, for me, my gratitude for the best job I’ve ever had.

It’s not always been easy; actually some days (sometimes weeks and months) it’s been hard.

However, having the opportunity to work with people I truly love, the chance to live in a place that has been my only home, and to produce products that people can relate to and appreciate is something I will always be grateful for. I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by co-workers whose dedication to our team has been nothing short of

inspirational. Thank you all for your amazing contributions.

It’s fun to see so much of what we plan in our little conference room find it’s way onto the pages of our magazine. And, thanks to the support of over 150 local businesses, each issue continues to provide a unique look at what makes our towns such a special place to live.

So, there you have it. The ramblings of a guy who’s doing everything he can to keep the sands of time from slipping through his fingers. But no matter how fast it slips through, no matter how quickly time seems to fly by, the opportunity to stop and enjoy the moment is just too good to pass up. See? I told you I was sappy.

Cheers! s

MESSAGE >> FROM THE EDITOR

A Decade of Stories It’s been 10 years since the High Springs & Alachua magazine debuted. The magazine has come a long way in that time – and so have I. Ten years ago I had a very different career.

In the winter of 2003 I was working in the Office of the Medical Examiner – far from the world of writing (typing death certificates doesn’t count).

By the spring of 2005, I was unemployed and vacillating between the fear of being jobless and the excitement of rediscovering myself.

I had written a science fiction book, copies were about to hit the bookstores and I knew I had to set up some book signings. So I asked my wife to look for local book-signing events so that I could see how they’re done and rub elbows with other writers.

And then the High Springs & Alachua magazine arrived. My wife spotted a notice about a High Springs book-signing event. When the day arrived she reminded me to go.

March 26, 2005 was a pivotal day in my life. I attended the event and met author and then-editor for Tower Publications, Patricia Behnke, and her husband Larry. They were friendly and welcoming and, before I knew it, Pat was introducing me as a fellow author.

Pat says I came to her book signing and never left — and that’s not far from the truth. She later interviewed me for a profile story and soon thereafter offered me a freelance writing assignment. I took it. And before long I was one of the lead writers for Tower Publications. By the end of 2007, I was editor.

This entire series of events can be traced back to the serendipitous delivery of the High Springs & Alachua magazine to our humble abode.

So in this issue on our 10th Anniversary, in addition to our usual types of stories, you will find a special section highlighting 10 stories and/or important events from the past decade.

I hope that you have enjoyed the magazine as much I have.

All of us here at Tower Publications wish you a joyous and safe holiday season and a Happy New Year! s

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STAFF >> CONTRIBUTORS Ericka Winterrowd

Natanya Spies

is a graduate student in multimedia journalism at UF, where she also received her BFA in theatre performance.

She enjoys gardening, collecting gnomes, and fawning over a Malti-Pom named Doodle.

is a senior studying journalism at the University of Florida.

She is originally from Pretoria, South Africa, and her love for writing started when she used it as a way to improve her English after moving to the United States as a 6-year-old.

emwinter@ufl.edu

nspies@ufl.edu

Ellis Amburn

Christine Boatwright

is in the Hall of Excellence at TCU’s Schieffer School of Journalism. Involved daily in volunteer community service, the High Springs resident is the author of biographies of Roy Orbison, Elizabeth Taylor and others.

grew up in Florida, but moved to Alabama for college and later married her college sweetheart, Lucas. She won journalism awards for her work for a county newspaper in Shelby County, Ala. The couple moved to Gainesville.

ellis.amburn@gmail.com

ct_boatwright@yahoo.com

Ashira Morris

Larry Behnke

is a freelance writer and editor studying French and journalism at UF. She enjoys fresh vegetables, exploring foreign cities and teaching yoga. But really, she’d rather learn about you.

is an artist, writer, photographer and a graduate of the University of Michigan in cinematography and painting. He has used solar electricity since 1984 and lives in a dome home.

ashiramorris@gmail.com

larry@towerpublications.com

Jennifer Riek

Courtney Lindwall

is a freelance writer and a student at UF’s College of Journalism. She was born and raised in Seattle, and delights in all things classy or humorous. Needless to say, she would die in the wild.

is a Florida native, now studying journalism at UF. She loves telling and hearing good stories. In her little bit of free time, she enjoys hiking, camping and eating delicious food.

screaminnocence@gmail.com

c.lindwall@ufl.edu

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CHARITY OF THE MONTH

Beauty Haven Equine Rescue AUGUST 2013 WINNER – 3,867 VOTES

From her farm in Morriston, Theresa Batchelor breathes life back into the broken horses. hey come to her starved and beaten. Some have been abandoned and left to die. If not saved, many would be slaughtered. Above all, the horses are scared.

Batchelor, her family and a team of dedicated volunteers work together as a part of Beauty’s Haven Farm and Equine Rescue to give these horses a second chance at life. The rescue won $1,000 in the August SunState Federal Credit Union’s Charity of the Month contest with 3,867 votes votes on Facebook.

Batchelor takes horses in for rehabilitation and, if possible, will adopt them back out once they are healthy.

“She gets the worst of the worst,” said Jeanne Bartsch, who works on the nonprofit’s board of directors. “They need surgeries. They’re at death’s door. But she’s magical. She has this way so that most of them do survive.”

The story of Batchelor’s equine rescue began long ago — with a horse named Beauty. Years of health problems and surgeries had left Batchelor as an “incomplete quadriplegic” and unable to feel her arms or legs.

Although told by doctors she would never walk again,

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physical therapy and determination allowed Batchelor to not only walk but also to continue the things she loved, such as horseback riding.

During this period, she was contacted about a young Arabian mare, abused and seized by the county. His name was Beauty. It took time, but the shy, traumatized horse eventually formed a close bond with Batchelor.

“Theresa knew she needed the mare as much as the mare needed her,” the organization’s website reads.

The relationship with her rehabilitated horse spurred her to action. With Beauty in mind, Batchelor decided to dedicate her time to saving horses in need.

The rescue filed as an official nonprofit in 2006, and the horses have continued to find refuge at her Morriston farm ever since. Many of the volunteers at the farm are veterinary students from the University of Florida, and in this way, Beauty’s Haven has become a community effort.

Horses like Spirit, the blind mare who arrived severely wounded just a year ago, can now be seen on the organization’s website as just one of the haven’s many success stories. Adopted out and socialized, Spirit embodies the difference a year of compassion can make. s Learn more at facebook.com/ BeautysHavenFarmAndEquineRescue

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CHARITY OF THE MONTH

Carson Springs Wildlife SEPTEMBER 2013 WINNER – 2,204 VOTES

They first fell in love with big cats on the plains of South Africa. hristine and Barry Janks would travel to Shingwedzi a few weeks out of the year to visit the cheetahs and other wild animals and work with a conservation nonprofit.

“But it was too far to go,” Barry said. “We decided to take a rescue or two here. It turned into 50.”

The couple now runs Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation, which won SunState Federal Credit Union’s September Charity of the Month contest with 2204 votes on Facebook.

Their nonprofit is located in the northeast corner of Gainesville, a nearly 300-acre swath of land housing everything from Bengal tigers to lions to giraffes. They used their experience working with wildlife in South Africa to get started.

“When you start working with the animals and the large exotics, you realize how much people need to see and know these animals to understand them,” Barry said. “That kind of scared me. A lot of these animals are going extinct.”

In South Africa, a large part of their goal was education, specifically for the local kids.

Since moving their conservation work home to Florida, the focus has stayed the same. The facility is not open to the public, but tours are available by appointment. Donors, school groups, 4-H clubs and birthday parties come to the property to see Sunflower, the 3-year-old Bengal tiger, or Jay and Mocha, the rescued cougars.

But along the way, visitors learn the crisis these animals face, as well.

While natural habitat is disappearing, most of the animals taken in by Barry and Christine come from neglectful or abusive owners.

“We call it the ‘pets-gone-wrong’ section,” Barry said.

“Someone gets a little cute cat that they think is going to be such an adorable thing — and they are until they get to about 2 years old. Then they decide they’d rather

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be out in nature.”

Their first rescued animal, Tocatta the African serval, came from a woman’s apartment in Oklahoma City. With a proper diet and enclosure, they were able to save Tocatta from severe health problems including seizures. With the appropriate space and knowledge to house these animals, Christine and Barry have been able to pull dozens of others from life-threatening conditions.

Because so much of their work is rehabilitation, many of the volunteers are students from UF’s veterinary school. Additionally, the nonprofit’s current big project is to build an animal hospital on-site so that treating them will be easier.

But for as much as they give to the animals that need them, they still feel blessed.

“I had no idea they could be as sweet and wonderful and affectionate as they are. The big cats, as long as they have a nice life — they’re really giving back to you.” s

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“I try to mirror what SunState Federal Credit Union strives to be – a place where people and service really matter. For over 27 years I have tried each day to do everything I can to make our members happy.”

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CHARITY OF THE MONTH

Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses OCTOBER 2013 WINNER – 2,188 VOTES

He is just a few feet tall, but Magic the miniature horse can fill a room with joy. nown for his black coat, blue eyes and (of course) tiny size, Magic visits those who need him most.

He is the most famous on his team of 27 miniature horses — all therapy animals that visit hospitals, hospices, assisted living programs and disaster relief areas.

They are part of a larger organization, Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses, which has won $1,000 in the October SunState Federal Credit Union’s Charity of the Month contest with 2,188 votes on Facebook.

The registered nonprofit was founded and is run by Debbie Garcia-Bengochea and her husband Jorge. It began about a decade ago when the couple purchased their first two miniature horses for their North Florida ranch.

The horses would graze in a pasture in front of their bed-bound neighbor’s window. With curiosity piqued, the neighbor one day asked them to bring the miniature horses closer so he could have a better look.

Immediately, the neighbor was thrilled.

He was so excited to see the tiny horses that he got out of bed to pet and play with them. It was then that Debbie and Jorge realized the emotional power these pint-sized animals could have.

Since then, the couple has bought and bred an entire team of horses and traveled the world bringing comfort and happiness wherever they go.

The team has found international success.

Magic was named one of Time Magazine’s 10 most heroic animals, and on the Reader’s Digest list of Hometown Heroes, Magic was the only animal that made the cut. The AARP also named Magic the most heroic pet in America.

The Carousel therapy horses are now Breyer Model horses, becoming a part of the classic toy legacy. And some of the horses are now working outside of Athens, Greece, in orphanages, hospitals, schools and programs for the elderly.

But even though it has found success worldwide, the North Florida organization remains involved at home.

Outside of visiting those in need, Gentle Carousel runs an award-winning literacy program called Reading

K

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is Magic. The miniature horses visit local libraries, schools and at-risk youth programs to bring stories to life and inspire young readers.

Whether visiting young children touched with illness or communities faced with disaster, Gentle Carousel’s miniature horses bring larger-than-life joy to everyone they meet. s Learn more at www.facebook.com/TherapyHorses.

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“I’m going to do everything g in my power to put the credit union in the best possible position to maintain and improve our current level of success. It all comes down to our people and making sure they are in the best position to succeed, as they help our members to succeed.”

JOE JO E AK AKIN INS IN S SSFC SS FCU FC U Pr Pres esid es den entt & CE CEO O

Proudly serving our members and our community since 1957

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>> TAKE A HIKE

Blazing the Trail Mapping the Origins of the Official Florida Trail

BY ASHIRA MORRIS im Kern’s hiking career began on a family vacation in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. After a few days in Nantahala, he was bored. So Kern, who was 26 at the time, rounded up his younger brother to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail with him.

The park service issued a map of the trial smaller than a standard sheet of paper. Using his thumb to measure distance, Kern figured they could make it to the Fontana Dam in a day.

The brothers took a blanket from the motel and tied it into a rucksack. Kern filled it with canned food, slung it over his shoulder, and they set off. Supplies they did not have included hiking boots and a flashlight.

The hike was not just a day’s jaunt. First, the rain began to fall, water dripping off of all the leaves in the forest. Everything from their knees down was sopping wet.

Then night crept in, covering the trail with its inky absence of light. They found a wide, fallen tree, pulled off sheets of bark the size of their torsos, and crawled inside, the skin on their noses rubbing the bark, the vegetal skin of the tree.

“And then,” Kern said, “we spent the most miserable night you could imagine.”

J

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF JIM KERN

ABOVE: “The start of the beginning,” as Jim Kern wrote in his memoir. At the beginning of his initial hike in April of 1966, Kern, far left, hiked with journalist Mac Smith and a troop of Miami Explorer Scouts.

BELOW: A bird-watcher enjoys the Ocala Trail. This is one of the closest segments of the Florida Trail to Gainesville.

Yet despite the discomfort of the experience, Kern did not swear off hiking. No, he returned to Florida looking for a system similar to the Appalachian Trail.

(His brother, on the other hand, wrote an essay on the experience including the line “at no time was I happy to be here.” It’s now a mantra in the family if someone is not enjoying himself or herself.)

“I came back home and there was nothing there,” Kern said, referring to the lack of hiking trails.

Instead of shrugging his shoulders, accepting that Florida did not have a trail system and

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getting back to his job in Miami, Kern started brainstorming.

The end result was the Florida Trail, which established segments of trail from Big Cypress to the Gulf Islands National Seashore, winding around Lake Okeechobee as it makes its way upstate.

But rewind back for a moment.

Florida has a reputation for being hot, flat and a slew of other attributes that are not hikerfriendly. Kern knew he had to get positive publicity to gain support for his foot trail.

“I had to take a long hike,” Kern said. “I had to get the press

interested. And that’s what I did.”

In 1966, he headed down to the Tamiami Trail with Miami News reporter Max Smith. The first day, they worked together. The second day, Smith returned to Miami on an airboat. One day was enough hiking for him.

Kern continued solo around Lake Okeechobee, ultimately hiking 160 miles. A series of stories ran in the Miami Herald; Max’s sore feet were featured in one of the cover photos.

The media attention was exactly what Kern needed to make the Florida Trail Association a reality.

After the stories ran, the

“The task ahead of us was so big,” Kern said with a laugh. “I naively thought this trail, just glancing at a road map, would be about 500 miles long.” association suddenly had 70 members paying $1 in dues for the year. With interest and manpower secured, the only thing missing was the trail itself.

“The task ahead of us was so big,” Kern said with a laugh. “I naively thought this trail, just glancing at a road map, would be about 500 miles long.”

One of his friends was a pilot, so he rode along on a flight from Miami to Tallahassee, armed with a large roll of USGS survey maps to draw out a path. As they sped along at 120 mph, he tore off maps as the distance was covered.

“By the time we were halfway up the peninsula, the entire cabin of the plane was filled with coiled maps,” Kern wrote in his memoir, ‘Trail Reflections.’ “They threatened to engulf the pilot and block his vision.”

Kern had underestimated distance again: the trail stretches about 1,400 miles.

Years later, in the late 1990s, Deb Blick, the association’s trail resource coordinator, set out to create a GIS map of the entire trail.

“I had all of these things coming out of my backpack and over my head, around my waist,” she said. “I looked kinda silly going down the trail.”

As she made her way through the state, she created a digital map of the trail, infrastructure such as camp sties, and maintenance structures, such as bridges.

Previous to her work, the maps were all hand-drawn overlays of other maps of the area.

“I was pretty astonished at the time that going out with modern technology it was the people who knew the trail and the ground the best who were so capable of drawing the maps,” she said.

After the GIS project was complete, she took on volunteer training.

In the beginning, volunteers

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF JIM KERN

ABOVE: The Florida Trail uses old logging roads to get through wet areas. Nine Mile Swamp, west of Palatka, utilizes one of these roads.

TOP RIGHT: From Left: Alex Gibson, Jim Kern, Bob Douglas, Mal Dilaberto and Gary Horton prepare to hike from the beginning of Janes Scenic Highway, Collier County, to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

To this day, Kern continues to spread his love for hiking. Since creating the Florida Trail, he has also founded Big City Mountaineers, which takes disadvantaged children out on trails across the country, and the American Hiking Society, a national organization that promotes and protects foot trails.

RIGHT: From Left: Cliff Edstrom, Tom Montoya, Maragaret Scruggs, Jim Kern and Ken Alvarez ready for a three-day weekend hike to Juniper Springs Campground. Edstrom and Kern would continue north for two more days.

blazed the trail, in both senses of the word: they hacked through the forest to create the path and marked the trail using orange blazes, the hikers’ indicator that they are on the right path.

To this day, thousands of volunteers spend their time maintaining the trail.

“They’re some of the greatest people to work with,” Blick said.

A good portion of the work is maintaining the trail. Unlike trails built into rocky outcroppings with little to no vegetation, keeping the Florida Trail clear is nearly a Sisyphean task.

“For one thing, nothing ever stops growing,” Blick said. “We don’t have any months of the year when things don’t grow. It’s a constant battle to keep plants from coming in and covering up the trail.”

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If the trail is not mowed, lopped and clipped at least three times a year, it would be impossible to find the path.

In 1983, the government named the trail a National Scenic Trail. It is only one of 11 in the country, and the designation places it among the ranks of the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Rim Trail. The USDA Forest Services works with the nonprofit association to build, maintain and protect the trail.

However, the trail is not complete. The Florida National Scenic Trail does not include all of the land in the Florida Trail. And even the Florida Trail itself has gaps where hikers must walk along roads to reach the next section of trail.

Kern’s — and the association’s — ultimate goal is to complete the trail so that people can hike the

entirety of the state.

“One way or another, the trail will get built,” Kern said.

In order for the trail section to become a part of the national trail, the Florida Trail Association, USDA Forest Service and the local land manager must sign an agreement. Not all of the land managers have signed, rendering the trail fragmented.

Despite the fact that Florida cannot have through-hikers just yet, the state has countless hiking boot footprints farther than the day Jim Kern returned from North Carolina.

“We all think trails have to go up and down,” Kern said. “We all think trails have to be in the mountains. That’s just a silly mindset. Just give me a day in January and let me loose in the Big Cypress National Preserve.” s

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COLUMN >> CRYSTAL HENRY

Naked Salsa Vacation Tips Directly From My 4-year-old

M

om and Dad keep dragging me to this rat hole they call Disney World. They get all stupid excited over it so I play along. But by the last day I’m kind of over it. So here are some travel tips for you kids on your final day of vacation.

1. Mom and Pop should be rested at this point.

They’ve had an entire week of dragging you around the theme parks, so get up super early on your last day. You’ll be arriving home around 10 tonight, so set your internal wake-up call for the butt crack of dawn.

2. Mom is busy packing the suitcases, so now is your chance to try on any outfits you like. Don’t ever agree to the first one she chooses. That’s why she brings extras. She wants to see you wear all of them, so peruse the suitcase at will. Don’t bother to clean up after yourself. Mom lives for that stuff.

3. Don’t eat breakfast. It’s a waste to eat the junk they already have in the hotel room. Wait until you leave for the day and ask for something obscure. Be adventurous and creative in your request.

4. If the bus to Downtown Disney is 45 minutes late wait until you see it rounding the corner before mentioning that you have to potty. Mom always did want to be a runner. No better time than the present.

that your father lugs around for his own pleasure.

Rage against it.

7. Eat only four bites of rice at lunch. The parents have carbolicious snacks in the bag for the plane that are way better than “lunch.” They keep the best stuff in there to appease you on the flight. Hold out for it.

8. When it’s time to head to the airport keep reminding them that you want to stay. A tantrum is warranted.

It shows the degree of commitment and love you have for the vacation. Melting completely to the ground is the ultimate thank you for a good time.

9. Fun fact: airports are incredibly fun to run through.

Lure parents into a false sense of security by sticking close during check-in. Encourage them to check-in the stroller. Once it’s gone, run. Be free. Everyone thinks it’s adorable, especially security.

10. Voice your grievances while waiting to get through security or to board the aircraft. Anything that’s on your mind, just get it out now. In line. Melt into the floor in a fabulously theatrical performance.

Scream, “Let go! You’re not my parents!” when Dad attempts to carry you onto the gangway.

5. Fight for your right to sit four rows away from your parents on the bus. It’s a time to make new friends and they can’t monitor you as well from a distance.

This works if you have a sibling who likes to choose her own seat as well...four rows up from yours.

Divide and conquer, friends.

11. Once on board establish your space. Don’t tolerate younger siblings and their baloney. Don’t share your toys. Don’t allow them to touch you or your things. Alert parents loudly and with gusto if this is a problem. Remember yesterday when you encouraged your sister to play on the metal bars at the Speedway ride and she fell and busted her face open? Now is a good time to open that wound back up.

6. Do not, under any circumstance, get into that stroller willingly. It is 100 pounds of restrictive torture device

12. Order apple juice to drink. When the stewardess brings you an amber beverage stiff-arm it.

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She clearly has no clue that apple juice is orange. She is an idiot and should be fired. Kick the seat in front of you until she corrects her mistake.

13. Drink as much as you can so you can check out those awesome airplane bathrooms. It’s like peeing in a closet. Bucket-list material.

14. High-five your siblings for any extra fun behavior. Dumping an entire Dr. Pepper in Mom’s lap is high-five and a fist-bump. She gets to smell like Dr. Pepper but she doesn’t need the calories. How grateful she shall be.

15. Approximately three minutes before landing send the signal to sibling to checkout. Fall asleep on Dad and let sister fall asleep on mom. The juggling act that follows as parents attempt to gather belongings without waking you is priceless. The passengers and flight crew think it’s hilarious and precious, and Mom and Dad turn into ninja acrobats. Win. Stay asleep just until you get to the car. Then cry the whole way home because you’re tired.

Bonus points if you pee the bed once at home. s

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>> STRONG ROOTS

Full Moon Music Farm to Family Music Festivals Return

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY LARRY BEHNKE cherished musical event is rising from the ashes a year and a half after ending in Gilchrist County.

The new site is near Williston and is more isolated and larger than any previous location.

In April 2005, concert organizer Don Applebaum had an organic farm north of Alachua and would sometimes invite friends over for a drum circle. He was having trouble paying his mortgage, so his friend John Smith of Quartermoon band suggested having a concert with a modest admission charge.

For four years on the Saturday nearest the full moon, bands and fans enjoyed concerts in the country. Music would begin at 2 p.m. with folk and country, then

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advance through the evening toward rock, reggae and jazz.

People could stay overnight because camping was free. Sunday mornings became an open mic time for anyone to play.

The monthly shows were small at the beginning, but as attendance grew to 400, there was too much traffic on the private neighborhood road leading to the site.

In 2010 a new location was found and improved upon in Gilchrist County. Three-day concerts were held four times a year, every three months. The concerts became more professional and attendance increased. Although there was plenty of room at the 100-acre parcel, it was situated in the middle of three subdivisions. The concerts

were operating on Temporary Use Permits, and it became obvious the location was not suitable for the granting of a permanent permit.

Concerts ended there in mid-2012.

But Applebaum always believed Farm to Family Music would continue when the right spot was found. He has been working towards re-opening for over a year.

“We found an amazing new location for our Full Moon Music Festivals,” Applebaum said in late November. “When the shows begin, hopefully in March, we will not have to move again.”

The Farm to Family musical events are laid-back and family friendly. All ages and all kinds of people gather for their love of music and the peace of the country.

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The Farm to Family Full Moon Festival is a family-friendly event for people of all ages. A fan (left) and her dog rest by the ďŹ berglass sculpture created

by Jim Wegman of Velveeta Underground, a band that often plays at Farm to Family concerts.

The scene is idyllic. These are some mental pictures of what the past few events were like: A teen runs alongside his leashed dog in a sunny, grassy field. Dobro music plays in the background. A baby gazes up at his mother’s face as she holds his bottle. A couple sits in folding chairs, each with a white

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cockatiel on their shoulder. Old friends hug. Children run in circles, streamers flying behind them.

The smell of good food is in the air. It comes from the vendor area in the rear and includes a veggie wagon and BBQ tent. Other tents hold clothing, crafts, jewelry and a chair massage.

In a field within hearing distance of the stage, a VW camper is parked near a Winnebago with some grayhaired people sitting and waving at youngsters passing by on their way towards the music.

In front of the stage a semi-circle of sitters sip whatever beverages they brought with them. Tees, tanks and tie-dyes scatter color among the music fans. At dusk dancers begin filling the grassy area near the stage.

To the side, people play with Frisbees and hula-hoops.

Two little girls in fairy princess dresses clap their hands as they prance in front of the band. Barebellied beauties breeze by an elderly couple holding hands and getting lost in an old love song. A little boy blows a stream of bubbles upward.

As darkness falls, a giant orange moon pops above the tree line. The stage announcer points, telling the crowd to look up, and people clap. The band breaks into a footstomping rocker.

The music changes in variety and intensity and while the concert itself ends at midnight, and acoustic music continues at the Bill Monroe picking tent, set up by Quartermoon, the band that has

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been with these concerts since the beginning. A few of the musicians who played on stage earlier play next to amateurs, sometimes with 20 people all playing the same song.

Camping areas are divided, some into more quiet areas than others.

Morning arrives with the smell of campfire coffee. Sharp shafts of rising sun through the trees highlight people sitting outside their tents. A senior emerges from his camper to

turn his portable photovoltaic panel toward the sun. A young man cruises by on a golf cart to pick up trash and take it to the recycling area.

Over the years the population of the festivals has remained at a few hundred people. Because there is so much property, folks can spread out and not feel crowded. Perhaps this extra space helps create the extreme politeness between the many kinds and ages of people

attending. It really is the best of peace and music.

Music fans are thrilled that the concerts will continue.

“Progress is still moving forward with the site near Williston, and if all continues to go well, we will have a permanent home for Farm to Family Music,” Applebaum emailed his supporters in November.

He has been talking with everyone involved and working hard to make sure the concerts have a permanent location. A spring concert date is planned.

“Things are going well with getting Farm to Family Full Moon Music events happening again,” he said. “There are still some ducks to get in a row before the date is confirmed.”

Hopefully, the concerts will resume March 13 through 16.

Applebaum is also looking into funding and sponsors to keep ticket prices affordable. s For more information about the festival visit: farmtofamilymusic.com.

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>> HORSE SENSE

Mary Lou’s Farm Training People to Train Horses

STORY BY ELLIS AMBURN PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISTIN KOZELSKY ary Lou Ramey Hawkins is many things — a journalism graduate, a rancher, and mother of four grown sons, including Gainesville city commissioner Thomas Hawkins Jr. — but the role that perhaps defines her best is horsewoman.

She will often open her ranch in Fort White to other horse lovers for two days of fun, fellowship and an opportunity to experience Parelli natural horsemanship.

On one such occasion last May, Hawkins rode out to greet her guests on her Tennessee Walking Horse, The Silver Angel.

A petite, blond, blue-eyed Senior, she sat tall in the saddle and wore equestrian gear from head to toe, sporting a Troxel helmet, polo

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riding shirt, snug breeches and knee-high English field boots.

Describing the North Central Florida Parelli Playgroup, which Hawkins and several friends founded in 2004, she said in a telephone interview, “We are a group of people who love horses and study Parelli natural horsemanship, a way of communicating with your horse the way horses communicate with each other, through body language and body movement. This is a very kind, non-threatening way to develop a relationship with your horse, plus it’s a lot of fun.”

Pat Parelli, a horse trainer and former rodeo bronc rider, created the system with his wife Linda in 1981. Their revolutionary concept represents the exact opposite of

breaking a horse, eschewing the use of “force, fear, harsh bits, and mechanical training aids,” according to the Parelli website. Parelli riders learn to “think, feel, act, and play like a horse.”

Hawkins underwent training at the Parelli center in Reddick, Fla., one of many throughout the world.

She had grown up in Fort Worth, Tex., where she was riding horses since she was 9 years old.

“My sister Lou Ann and I were always horse-crazy little girls in Fort Worth and rode and showed Tennessee Walking Horses as children and until I was 15,” she said.

After moving to Florida, she acquired a 2-year-old horse that was very unmanageable.

“I wanted to learn more about

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Winter 2013 | 45

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HYPER

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MOUTHY HOR O SE EN NA ALIT LIITY

Is your horse an extrovert or introvert? Confident or fearful? According to The Parelli website, “Using Horsenality, students can quickly identify their horse’s innate characteristics, their temperament, and specific strategies for bringing out the best in their unique horse.” You must understand your horse to become partners.

training and discovered Parelli,” she recalled. “My horse responded very well.”

The program emphasizes “love, language, and leadership in equal doses,” according to the Parelli website. “Horses are fine just the way they are… What we do is more human training because it’s the human in the human-horse relationship that needs to learn how to relate naturally to the horse… Understand that horses are prey animals and that pretty much

46 | Winter 2013

everything they do or don’t do is based on their survival instincts.”

Parelli is convinced there is no such thing as a “bad” horse, only positive and negative traits.

Comprehending “horsenality” is essential because horses have different personalities and psychological configurations. An introverted horse is not treated the same as an extroverted one.

What is important is to see the world from the horse’s point of view, “figuring out what’s in it for them

when asking something of your horse.” The program lays bare the communication system horses use to “talk” with each other, and how people can translate that language.

Fortunately for humans, horse psychology is on their side. Horses are herd animals and intuitively recognize a leader and gravitate to him — but he has to speak their language.

Altogether Hawkins took five courses at the Parelli center.

“I’m now studying level three

People and horses enjoy a play day in September. From September through May, the Parelli club hosts one or two events every month at various locations. For the season’s calendar and more information, visit the NCF Playgroup website: ncfnaturalhorseclub.info.

Parelli,” she said.

Renaissance Farm, as her ranch is called, came into her life in 2002 when she drove from Gainesville to Fort White.

“It was just land, no buildings, just beautiful pastures,” she said. “I turned it into a Parelli playground with obstacle arenas for practicing the technique.”

Her verdant acres include a seesaw for horses called a teetertotter; a ramp; an earth podium (a platform filled with soil); jumps;

cavallitis (ground rails that train the horse to go over them in rhythm); hanging noodles; a wash rack; and three pedestals.

For a gala North Central Florida Parelli Playgroup event last May, 20 horse lovers brought their animals to Renaissance Farm. Twenty more showed up for lunch.

The highlight of the morning was a free Parelli training demonstration conducted by a professional instructor, Karen Woodbury of Micanopy. Anne

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Hanley hauled her Spotted Saddle Horse Budweiser from Dunnellon to participate in the lesson.

Explaining the problem she had been having with Budweiser, Hanley said, “Bud was a show horse that had been kept in a small area because no one could catch him.

He finally escaped when he was 7 years old. I saw him on a highway and stopped traffic to get him.

When Bud acts up, I say, ‘I just want to come in there and love you.’ I’ve had him for about four months.”

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Parelli-trained horses and their owners go through their paces on an obstacle course, including jumps during a playgroup event at Renaissance Farm near Fort White. Advanced students demonstrate Parelli natural horsemanship techniques.

In Renaissance Farm’s round pen, Hanley was unable to catch Bud, who blithely trotted off as she advanced.

Then Woodbury took over and proceeded to show how to tame a wild beast with love. Spectators flocked to the fence to watch her perform what one of them called a miracle.

A slim cowgirl dressed in black, Woodbury approached the big horse,

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which predictably walked away.

Undeterred, she increased her pace to keep up, speaking to Bud in the same patient, matter-of-fact tone a mother uses in talking to her infant.

“What we’re learning,” Woodbury said, “is the Parelli natural horsemanship style of riding. Right now, Bud is wondering, ‘Why are you walking in?’ We want him to be,

‘Oh, so you’re walking in.’ Teach him to be interested in you. He sees you and feels your energy. Walk when he walks, run when he runs.”

Paraphrasing Pat Parelli, Woodbury added, “Be careful of your words. They become your thoughts, and your thoughts become your actions.”

Continuing to jog alongside the elusive Bud, she advised Hanley, “Don’t go too slow around a horse, don’t creep, go with purpose. Make it a friendly game. The horse needs to find relaxation in the movement.

Our body and body language are universal. Use the carrot stick to guide and direct the horse. It would never be used to hit him.”

Watching the demonstration

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from the fence, Katherine Dunlop observed, “You’re working to get the horse to turn and look at you, pay attention to you, exerting quiet perseverance until the horse looks at you. [Say:] ‘Any time you want to pay attention to me, I’m available.’

Then he can rest. I took Parelli with Ms. Woodbury and others.”

In the pen, Hanley gave Bud a rub and said, “Good boy.”

Spectators seated nearby began to notice a sea change coming over Bud. He was beginning to listen to Woodruff, at last more interested in her than in grazing. Won over by friendliness, he now welcomed her approach, permitted her to pet him, and before long was metaphorically eating out of her hand.

In her chair outside the pen, Dunlop, drawing on her Parelli knowhow, ticked off unmistakable signs of progress.

“When a horse licks his lips, he’s relaxed,” she said. “Licking, blinking, lowering his head, he’s relaxed.

He feels your body language. You’re

building trust and communication.”

Everyone expected Woodbury to saddle up and ride Bud, seemingly the logical next step, but her work was finished, and it was time to let Hanley take over. In the parlance of the Wild West, Bud had been “broken,” but at Renaissance Farm, he had been “gentled,” as one observer put it.

In a later telephone interview, Hawkins explained the phenomenon.

“Parelli is not a way of training a horse. It’s a way of training people to train their horses. Karen [Woodbury] was working with Anne [Hanley] as much as she was working with the horse. When she turned the horse over to Anne, Anne knew what to do with the horse herself.”

The experience could not have been more different from the violent bronco busting depicted in the film “Duel in the Sun,” in which Gregory Peck sank his teeth into the ear of a rampaging stallion to force him to the ground. In “The Misfits,” Clark Gable roped a Mustang that

proceeded to yank the hapless actor around like a puppet on a string.

At Renaissance Farm, it was now high noon and time for lunch. A long buffet table groaned with goodies, all brought by guests — casseroles, hams, fried chicken, cheeses, chips, dips and a panoply of colorful summer vegetables, not to mention a tempting array of desserts.

After filling their plates, the guests sat in a large circle under a venerable oak tree on a manicured lawn adjacent to the ranch house. The were as chummy and comfortable as a big warm family, swapping horse stories and planning a trail ride for the near future in O’Leno State Park.

Anne Hanley talked about the horse she had owned before Bud. Named Count, he was also a handful.

“Count is a 14-year-old thoroughbred. Had him since he was 9. He bucked me at the house, fled through an open field, and ran down the highway. I told a man to go after the horse, and I went to the ER.”

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She added that she had just got married on a horse.

“Dave Hanley and I were wed on my farm, in the backyard, and I wore a white wedding gown sitting on a black Tennessee Walker named Bart. Dave was on Lad, a black Missouri Fox Trotter, and the grandkids were on my horse Dee, also a Trotter.”

Not one to mess with, Hanley is a certified volunteer member of the Marion County sheriff’s mounted posse unit.

“Parelli is not a way of training a horse. It is a way of training people to train their horses.”

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Dunlop talked about her two-hour drive from Cedar Key, bringing her “gorgeous white Tennessee Walking Horse,” and Hawkins interjected, “With a gorgeous gait.”

After lunch, it was playtime with the horses again.

Stacey Ewing owns Zen, a rescue from the Horse Protection Association of Florida. Ewing said that Zen had been abused and malnourished.

“We’ve been fostering for two years,” she said, “and Zen has his confidence back.”

Others led their horses around the ranch, occasionally stopping at Parelli obstacles. Deanne Bush of Fort White was with Teddy, a grey McCurdy Plantation Horse that had been “very aggressive before Parelli training.”

Alachua County deputy sheriff Danny Buckley was playing with his quarter horse Nugget, a gold Palomino that had just turned 6 and “loves to chase cows and to be in the center of things,” Danny said. “I built platforms, teeter-totters, and pedestals for him, and he plays on obstacles all day long. I got Nugget when he was an untouched 16-month-old that had never been haltered.

It’s freaky starting a horse.”

“Danny Buckley is level four Parelli,” Hawkins said in a telephone interview. “He learned by joining our club, attending events, and using a Parelli home-study program. He has also worked with several Parelli instructors, and now is one of the main people in the Alachua County sheriff’s office who goes out on animal calls.”

Five professional Parelli horsemanship instructors “are members of our club,” Hawkins said. “They often attend Playdays and provide free instruction. People can learn Parelli at our club events, at the center, or on DVDs they can study at home.

Months later, Hawkins and The Silver Angel were off to roam the mountains of Tennessee.

“Katherine Dunlop and her husband Greg came along,” Hawkins said. For her, and many others in North Florida, horsemanship is not so much a hobby as it is a way of life. s

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>> LIFELONG HORSEMAN

Always a Cowboy A Legend Mentors Locals to Reach their Dreams

BY CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT any little boys dream of one day becoming firemen, but Richard Watson always dreamed of being a cowboy. As a lifelong horseman, Watson fulfilled his childhood fantasy of horses, traveling and “being my own boss,” he said. “I always wanted to be a cowboy. That was my ambition when I was a kid.”

Watson, a Florida native and current Alachua resident, was thrown from his first horse when he was just a child.

“I got on a pony I wasn’t supposed to get on that was tied in the barn, and he bucked me off. I didn’t tell anybody,” the 82-year-old said with a grin. “I got bucked off my first horse when I was 5 years old, and I’ve been bucked off a lot of them since.”

Watson was 20 years old when he left his Florida roots and moved to Tennessee to train cutting horses, as well as polo ponies. He soon started his own business, a public stable where he taught young riders and boarded horses.

“I started out with a couple of kids. They were the kids of the families that I had been working their polo

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ponies. I just tried to figure out how to be smarter than they were,” Watson said with a chuckle.

Earning the title “master” from fellow horse trainer Molly Cobb-Smith of High Springs didn’t come by simply giving riding lessons to local children. He earned his stripes by working his way through the show jumping ranks.

“We were working with cutting horses, and I got working with some polo ponies,” he said. “One of the polo ponies we brought in had been a jumper at one time, and I thought, ‘That’s pretty neat. I’ll just see what it’s like to jump a horse.’ And the rest is history, as they say.”

Watson’s relationship with jumping began with polo ponies and ended with Grand Prix show jumping.

Grand Prix riders jump up to six-foot fences and rival Olympians in skill, Cobb-Smith said. When Watson competed at the Grand-Prix level, however, his experience differed from that of modern-day riders.

“Back when I was showing the jumpers, it wasn’t called Grand Prix,” Watson said, pronouncing ‘grand’ as ‘grahnd.’ “The big classes were the open jumper

PHOTO BY CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT

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PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT

Richard Watson coaches one of his pupils, Morgan Gravely, at Pony Paddock at Cedar Lane in High Springs.

RIGHT: Watson shares a story with Molly Cobb-Smith during his training session with Cobb-Smith’s niece, Morgan Gravely.

classes, and there were some really big classes. Then they started with the Grand Prix. I was still riding the jumpers, and I did a few of them.”

Watson’s daughter, who now lives in Memphis, also competed in Grand Prix show jumping.

“It’s big jumps. It takes a good while to get a horse to that point, and, nowadays, it takes a lot of money,” Watson said. “There’s big money to win now. There didn’t used to be much money to win. If you won a big jumper class at a big horse show and won $200, you were doing all right. Now you can win $300,000 in one class.”

Instead of flying over the jumps himself, Watson

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now freelances his equestrian abilities and coaches ambitious riders. Watson, along with Cobb-Smith, trains Morgan Gravely, a 17-year-old High Springs resident who is ranked highly, both nationally and within the Southeast, in show jumping.

“He supports Molly (Cobb-Smith) with his experience,” said Marianne Cobb, Gravely’s mother.

While he enjoys being his own boss, Watson said he also gets a certain amount of satisfaction out of training young hopefuls.

“When you get somebody who’s good and you take them on and can really get them to where they dream

about being, it’s worth it.”

Watson has worked with students from all walks of life during his tenure as an equestrian coach.

“There are so many kids who have all the ambition in the world and have the money behind them, but have no talent. They’re the ones you feel bad for. You do everything you possibly can to get them where they want to be, but you know deep down it’s not going to happen,” Watson said. “And then you’ve got the kid that’s got zero money that can really ride and can’t get anywhere. Then you’ve got the kid with lots of money who can ride and doesn’t want to be bothered with it. It seems unfair, but that’s life.”

One thing, Watson said, he can never teach his students is “feel,” a term that refers to how the horse and rider communicate.

“You can explain it, and say, ‘That’s it, that’s it,’ but you can’t write it down on a piece of paper. You can’t read it. You have to discover it,” Watson said. “I’m fortunate enough to have a lot of feel. I can tell a reaction before it happens almost.”

Watson’s abilities came into play when he decided to design a bit for a particular horse with which he was having trouble. He wanted to combine a hackamore, which utilizes nose and chin pressure for control, and a more traditional bit. Since he could not find what he wanted on the market, Watson “went down to the shop and started messing around to come up with something.”

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He learned to weld at 18 while working on a ranch in Polk City.

“We had junk equipment and had to keep getting it fixed,” Watson said. “One day, my boss came out with a welder and cutting torch in his pickup and said, ‘Don’t take anything else to town (to get repaired).’”

“I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing.”

Watson learned to weld and would visit welding shops to watch the professionals at work. He also watched saddle repair workers at horse shows to learn to make his own bridals.

“Throughout my whole career, I learned something because I had to have it,” he said.

After the success of his first bit creation, Watson contacted a fellow horse trainer in Williston who dealt with unbroken, potentially problematic horses.

“So I took every bit I made — the prototype — to him, and he told me, ‘Well, this could use this or use that.’ I had the chance to try it on lots and lots of horses,” Watson said. “I just kept dreaming up all these other weird things. I came up with five that worked, and I probably have 25 that don’t.”

Soon after, representatives from the Mikmar Bit Company in California saw one of Watson’s bits at work during a horse show.

“We made a deal because I was getting tired of making them. Inventing is one thing, and producing is another,” Watson said, laughing. “I don’t make near as much money as when I made them myself, but I know I wouldn’t be making them myself now. So, whatever I make is profit.”

Today, Watson continues working around the Alachua farm and teaching students.

“I have no intentions of retiring. What would I do?”

Watson asked. “As long as I can get from one place to the next, I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing.” s

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COLUMN >> ALBERT ISAAC

Different Note Deep Thought

I

had heard that 70 percent of the thoughts we think each day are the same thoughts we had yesterday.

Seemed ludicrous at first, so I starting digging (meaning, I did a Google). What I found was that this statistic is incorrect.

It’s actually 98 percent of our thoughts today are the same as yesterday’s thoughts.

Well, this explains a lot. No wonder I repeat myself.

No wonder I find myself running out of things to write about in this here column. No wonder I can’t seem to think of a title for my new, soon-to-be-released, future-bestselling novel, (insert name of novel here), my sequel to “Endless.”

No small wonder, indeed. Every day I tell myself I’m going to come up with a title TODAY and immediately find myself thinking of all the same, rejected titles I had thought of yesterday. Same thoughts. Over and over again.

Furthermore, we humans, I’ve read, have somewhere between 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day. How they came up with this number is beyond my pay scale. But for some reason, every time I think about that statement

I’m reminded of the line from “A Day in the Life” by The Beatles: “They had to count them all. Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall.”

Only in my mind I’m hearing: “Now they know how many thoughts it takes to fill the Albert brain…”

Now that’s an original thought. Well, semi-original, anyway. I did borrow heavily from The Beatles. I’ll see if I end up thinking about it again tomorrow and report back to you.

So we have all these thoughts, thousands upon thousands, and — for many of us — most of these thoughts are not only the same as yesterday but they are also negative. In fact, 80 percent of them are negative. This is why people can get in a rut. Why they get bored. Why they complain endlessly. Why they can’t think of titles for their novel.

Many of us often perpetuate these same negative thoughts by sending them out to all we meet. You know the guy. A dark cloud hangs over his head. He hates everybody, because they are all out to get him. He’s sick all the time. He has car accidents. Gets tickets. Gets angry. Oh woe is me!

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He then posts his trials and tribulations on social media sites, sharing with all world the things that annoy him. The bad driver who cut in front of him this morning. His flat tire. His gossiping co-worker. All of it, out there for the world to see, out there for people to think about like a giant thought amplifier, magnifying all that negative energy, feeding the dark cloud that continually rains ill will and misfortune upon him.

Energy vampires. That’s what they are.

Negative thoughts are draining. Thoughts containing words like “can’t” and “never” are bad for our physiology.

But we can change. It’s been proven and proven again by science that the brain is malleable. It can change, and thoughts themselves can change our brains.

First we have to recognize our negative thoughts.

Then we must make a conscious effort to modify them.

One example is instead of thinking, “I can’t possibly meet the deadline for this column,” I tell myself “It will be challenging but somehow I will do it.”

Another example that dawned on me quite a few years back (which I have used to prevent many a cold) is pretty simple. Ever notice the words we usually say when we start feeling bad? “I’m catching a cold.” “I think I’m getting sick.” “I’ve getting a sore throat.” Right?

I don’t say that any more. That’s self-fulfilling prophecy, that is. You’re telling the universe and everyone in it that you’re getting sick. So instead, I tell myself (and anyone who asks), “I’m getting over a cold.”

Of course, I also drink a lot of orange juice and water and try to get adequate sleep. It works wonders.

I would venture to say that 99 percent of the time I don’t get sick.

But what am I going to do with the other 58,000 thoughts that keep repeating themselves in my head?

And even more importantly, if the great thoughtcounters are correct in their calculations, how do I change the 46,400 negative thoughts?

Well, it’s back to the Google for yours truly. I’ll have to report back my findings in some future column.

But for now, did you know that 98 percent of our thoughts are the same as the ones we had yesterday? s

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>> HOW NOW BROWN COW

Got Milk?

UF Dairy Farm’s Annual Open House & Family Day

BY JENNIFER RIEK bout six miles east of Alachua, 500 bovines brace for the cue. They crowd like vultures, swaying, waiting, calling out to their brethren.

The metal gate jolts sideways. One by one, 24 cows file in, and the gate rolls back. Then, engorged udders meet the mouths of machines and the dairy farm begins its day.

The University of Florida Dairy Unit is a world away from the refrigerated section of your local grocery store. Every day, the farm’s neighbors hear the dull lowing of the cattle but do not necessarily connect it to their milk, butter and cheese. Three years ago, the dairy unit’s management decided to do

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away with the mystery and invited the neighbors to tour the facility.

The positive reaction led to more tours, more knowledge, and the next year the dairy unit opened its doors to all.

Thus Family Day at the UF Dairy Farm began.

“In many ways, what we do here represents what farmers do in the state of Florida,” said Albert De Vries, associate professor of animal sciences at UF. “It’s part of our outreach mission that we show people what’s going on at UF, what UF does for dairy science, and also just to see a commercial dairy farm.”

On March 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., children and adults alike will turn out to meet the source of

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PHOTO PROVIDED BY UF/DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCES

Family Day at the UF Dairy Farm offers visitors the opportunity to see how milk is produced locally, and to learn how University of Florida research supports more efďŹ cient, affordable and sustainable milk production. Take a leisurely tour and visit the cows in their barn. Also see the health care area, enjoy butter making, a milking machine, a hayride, calf petting, the milking parlor and lots more.

their dairy products. Walking the farm, guided by trails of orange tape, attendees can visit the many stations assembled by the staff to educate and entertain. Volunteers will instruct about the calving process. UF Dairy Science members will sell cheese. Children can shake condiment-sized cups of heavy whipping cream and in eight to 10 minutes eat homemade butter on crackers. Calves can be petted.

Misconceptions can be fixed.

After passing the initial area,

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visitors are led to the milking station, where two rows of 12 Holsteins stand as machines gently tug the milk from their udders.

The females are milked twice a day for about 15 minutes as one attendant oversees. The processes typically occur at 6 a.m. to noon and 6 p.m. to midnight, but will be rescheduled on the day of the event so that visitors can see the gathering in action.

When their udders are empty, the cows file out.

At another station further down, visitors learn about the barn itself, where piebald bovines shuffle and moo for the majority of their day. The sloping angle of the floor allows for excrement to be washed away from beds of sand. The cows dip their mouths in cool troughs to drink and nudge their heads through gates for food. They will live in these barns for the three years they are producing before a new generation of cows is introduced and the elders move on to

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PHOTO PROVIDED BY UF/DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCES

More than 1,500 attendees visited last year to learn what it takes to bring dairy products to local grocery stores. Dr. John Driver and his student volunteers related the history of the dairy farm at a learning station at the last event.

their second purpose.

“Every time we try to breed for cows that are healthier, produce more milk, get pregnant easier,” De Vries said. “Our new stock is typically a little better than our current cows. It’s like updating a car with a newer model. There’s nothing wrong with our cows, but these are better.”

De Vries is involved with a team of researchers who utilize the farm to learn. Their current interests focus on nutrition and reproduction. Nutrition is very tricky, he said, because it requires supplementing cows, inspecting fatty acids in the milk and observing the individual feeding. With 1,000 subjects — 500 in the barn and 500 in the pasture

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— De Vries and his team have many variables to consider.

In terms of reproduction, researchers are interested in the cows’ biology. The team’s current goal is to synchronize ovulation cycles. Cows naturally go into heat every three weeks, but males are not always available to breed. By changing the hormones, the team can inseminate the cows without waiting for the week of estrus.

“That’s common practice on a lot of dairy farms,” De Vries said, “but UF has always been strong in figuring out the biology and aligning the synchronization programs.”

The bovines are impregnated through two methods, one of which

is in vitro fertilization. Ovaries are collected when the cows are brought to slaughter and introduced to a supply of sperm in the sterile confines of a lab. The other method is classic artificial insemination of frozen semen from four specialized companies. Half of the unit’s stock is pregnant at a time while the other half provides consistent milk.

Visitors can learn more about the research as they wander past the rows of curious eyes. A volunteer will point to the free stalls that are unique to the dairy unit. Inside, cows can be individually fed to track the quantity a single cow eats.

About 50 pounds of feed will be given to a cow. The remainder will

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be measured. She can also portray the effects of different diets, to demonstrate correlations between milk production, milk components, proteins and fats.

A single cow can eat up to 45 pounds of dry feed per day. The 1,000 Holsteins produce what De Vries

years ago. Originally, the event was called Dairy Days, with the goal of teaching first through fifth graders how a dairy farm operates. The children were brought to the dairy farm on the university’s campus. They visited the seven or eight stations the club had set up, such as calf

“The bottom line is, we’re teaching them milk doesn’t come from grocery stores. There’s a lot involved.” estimates to be 22,000 pounds per cow per year, or 22,000,000 pounds for the farm. Farms never use the measurement of gallons, De Vries said, only pounds. At 8.6 pounds to the gallon, this totals to 189,200,000 gallons of milk per year. One farm, one operation, one small trickle of the flow we need for our cookies and cereal and tall glasses with dinner.

Family Day owes its initial creation to its quiet beginnings at the UF Dairy Science Club several

petting or the process of milking.

These days, Family Day has become more in-depth than the early Dairy Days. The first event in 2012 brought in nearly 1,000 people, plodding across the slick mud and grass, their mandatory closed-toe shoes protected by blue plastic booties. This year the team expects closer to 2,000.

“Lots of people come out,” said Lauren Mayo, previous club president in a 2013 interview. “We’re changing

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perceptions and allowing people to connect better with their food.”

Features this year include tours of the milking parlor and free-stall barns, displays of farm equipment, opportunities to make butter and pet calves, hay rides and free samples of Florida dairy products.

“We had a little over 1,500 attendees last year,” said Program Assistant Rebecca Matta in a recent email. “We had Girl and Boy Scouts, 4-Hers, FFA members and their families. We had young families, with toddlers, grandparents, and a host of others. We basically had people from all walks of life. It was so much fun.

The spring event will be a chance for more visitors — vegans, vegetarians and omnivores alike — to understand exactly what it takes to bring their dairy products to a store nearby.

“The bottom line is,” Mayo said, “we’re teaching them milk doesn’t come from grocery stores. There’s a lot involved.” s

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>> FUTURE FARMERS

Taster’s Choice Cody Emerson of High Springs Wins Top Prize in National Agriscience Fair

BY NATANYA SPIES ody Emerson, a 7th grader at High Springs Community School, placed first in the Agriscience Fair at the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, in the first week of November.

The National FFA Organization is an American youth organization that is open to middle and high school students and promotes and supports agricultural education.

Out of the convention’s six different categories, Emerson competed in the food products and processing category and placed first for his “which red meat do consumers prefer” project.

He decided to make jerky out

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of beef and deer meat, and after months of planning how he would do the testing, he created a tasters’ panel.

He conducted a blind test by passing out samples to 32 people, giving each a beef and deer meat sample. The people rated the jerky from “strongly dislike” to “strongly like.” Emerson found that beef was preferred over deer meat.

Emerson’s mother, Trina Emerson, said her son was the youngest participant to have ever won first place at the national level. The two other finalists in his category were 15 and 16 years old.

“I was very shocked. I knew he could do it, but I knew he was competing against older kids and I just knew it would be an honor for him to

be able win that award,” she said. “I was a proud mom — very proud.”

Emerson attended the national convention with two other students from his school after they all competed in the State FFA convention in Orlando in June.

“Just to get up to the national level was a terrific honor because they only pick 15 out of the whole nation in each category to go,” Trina said.

Tim Myers, a 14-year-old 8th grader from High Springs Community School, participated in the animal systems category with his “Bee Careful” project, in which he tested which household products are most effective to use as bee repellents. He tested baby oil, vanilla extract and bee dun. He

PHOTO PROVIDED BY TRINA EMERSON

Cody Emerson with his project and plaque. Cody was awarded $350 for taking first place.

Other participants included Tim Myers and Moss Caballero.

Moss won the $100.00 third place prize.

found that baby oil worked the best.

Moss Caballero, a 14-year-old 9th grader, received third place in the power structural and technical systems category, in which he tested products that serve as the best insulator.

“What these boys have

accomplished is something to be very proud of, especially for a small little town like High Springs,” Trina said.

Trina said Cody plans to attend the next state FFA convention in June and compete in the social systems category.

She said Cody loves to hunt and

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hopes to attend the University of Florida to major in Agriculture Communications and become a state officer with the Florida FFA Association.

“He understands the farm and agriculture life because that’s what we do,” she said. s

Winter 2013 | 73

73

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Winter 2013 | 75

75

Sprin Spr

a s r e v i n n A ssu I

FREE FR REE EE T TAK A AK

out Hono

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Proudly serving Florida communities since 2003

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ay back in the year 2003, a small publication debuted in the City of High Springs, just in time for the holiday season.

Auutu Autu Au t

FREE - TAKE ONE

ESVILLE SVILLE LE AND AND D NEW

Back t Schoo

CREATION CR CREA TION ON

In December of that year, Publisher Charlie Delatorre and other Tower team members gathered together in downtown High Springs to distribute 3,000 copies of their new magazine during the annual Christmas Parade. This inaugural holiday edition was little more than a pamphlet containing resources and information about the surrounding communities.

also…

NEWBERRY GARDEN CL ALL A LL LL

FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT PROGRAM

UIDE FOR THE GR

From this humble beginning, the High Springs & Alachua magazine was born.

The following year, three issues of the new pub — spring, summer and winter — hit the streets and the mailboxes of local residents.

By the summer of 2005, the now-quarterly magazine had acquired its first editor. And that autumn, the Newberry & Jonesville edition was born to encompass those communities as well.

Throughout the past decade the publication has evolved into the award-winning Our Town magazine you now hold in your hands.

Fu Fun Fu un n En E Entire ntire n nt ttiire re

Fes for Fa

er Days, ival al and the he elon el elo n Fe Fest Festival Festiva e l

For our 10th Anniversary edition, we are taking a look back at some of our favorites. Learn the backstories to these articles, a little history, and hear about other events that we’ve covered over the years.

Thank you for reading!

also…

High Springs The City’s Very

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CALENDAR | BABE RUTH WORLD SERIES | JOHN MORAN PH

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Tour the waterway’s past and look to its future

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HOPE O HORS HO HORSES E ES

Autumn 2011

JJILL ILL HEINERTH HEINERTH

OUR O UR W WATER ATER

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HIGH I IGH SPRINGS SPRI SPR NGS GS & ALACHUA ALACHUA AL

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PIN’ DREN

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Cave Diving

Local Galleries

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Permit #827 Gainesville, FL

A TOUCH OF GREEN RELAY FOR LIFE

PAID

High Springs Plans to Convert Abandoned Rails

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage

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HIGH SPRINGS HISTORICAL MUSEUM

WINTER 2011

PAID PA AID AID D

Permit #827 Gainesville, FL

PAID

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage

GLORIA JAMES

Permit mit #827 mi Gainesville Gainesville, esv FL PRS PRSRT S STD ST U.S. Postage

RELAY FOR LIFE | FLORIDA TRAIL ASSOCIATION | PROJECT LEGACY

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Relay Olé Takes Over High Springs for One-Night Event

Autumn 2013

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OLYMPIC O LYM LYMP LYMPI YMP M IC DR MP DREAMS DREAM DREA DRE REAM EAM A S

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Dynamic Duo

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A Musical Treasure

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Shane Moore and Richy Stano

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Local equestrian Morgan Gravely is ranked second in the state of Florida

Tips on Kayaking in North Florida

Irish Waterdogs High Springs Nonprofit Helps Veterans Heal

Permit #827 Gainesville, FL

PAID

PAID Permit #726 Gainesville, FL

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage

ECRWSS CRWS POSTAL PATRON PATRO AT N

BRONSON SPEEDWAY

Kiwanis Club benefits our area children

New York natives revive a local racing landmark

Winter 2008 | December – February

FR FREE RE REE EEE - TAK TAKE TA TA E ONE ONE ON E

PAID

PAID AID Permit rmit # #726 Gainesville, esville, FL

SAFE HAVEN

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage

Permit #827 Gainesville, FL

PRESORTED PRESORTED E ED STANDARD U.S. Postage P

Spring 2008 | March – May

FREE - TAKE ONE

I SAW THE SIGN

THAT OLD BLACK WATER

Beth Murphy Offers New Interpretations

Annual Great Suwannee River Cleanup Effort is Underway

PAID

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Spring 2009 | March – May

plus Going with the Flow

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Going for the Gold

Permit #827 Gainesville, FL

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Summer 2008 | June – August

FREE - TAKE ONE

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PAID P AID

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ESVILLE SVILLE AND AND D NEWBER NEWBERR NEWBERRY Y COMMUNITIES COMMUNITIES

SAVING THE SPRINGS Learn About the Howard T. Odum Springs Institute

Permit # P #827 #827 Gainesv Gainesville nes sv F Gainesville, FL

Spring 2009 | March – May

FREE FR EE - TAK E TAKEE ONE O

BACK TO SCHOOL Simplified Guide to Ease the Transition Back to Class

PAID

TOUR DE FELASCO

Riders and Volunteers Prepare for the 2013 Race

Permit #827 ainesville, aines esville, FL

BELLE ON WHEELS

ACR Hunnies Grow Roller Derby in N. Central Florida

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JJILL ILL HEINERTH HEINERTH

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ROAD R OAD T TRIPPIN’ RIPPIN’ WITH IIT TH C CHILDREN HILD HILDREN H ILD LD LDR D WITH Helpful H elpf el pfull ad a advice advic d dvic vice and a crafty cra cr rafty ty projects pro proje eccctttss

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Locally an and d nationwide, nationwiide, e Girl Girl Scout Scouts S outs celebrate ce ebra cel ebrate bra 100 0 years ea s

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10 What better way to kick off a look back over the years than with our very first feature story — one that would ultimately shape our focus.

« THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN WINTER 2003 This is where it all began, High Springs, Florida, in 2003. Our inaugural magazine kicked off with this feature story about the city of High Springs, espousing the wonderful things that have attracted visitors and new residents to the area for decades. Back then the chamber of commerce served 4,070 citizens —residents, businesses and retirees.

In 2012, that number stood at 5,494.

The article goes on to describe some familiar outdoor attractions, such as Blue Springs, Poe Springs and Ginnie Springs. In downtown High Springs in the last decade, some things have changed and some things have stayed the same.

The 2003 edition included mention of some businesses that will sound familiar to you: The Great Outdoors Trading Company and Café, the Station Bakery, The High Springs Community Theater, The Wellness Spa and The Grady House, to name a few.

78 | Winter 2013

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE; THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME Then as now, High Springs offered something for nearly everyone: dining, snorkeling, kayaking, arts, theater, bed and breakfast and even a movie theater.

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For our story about the ecology of the Santa Fe River, Wes Skiles provided a photo for our cover. « THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN SUMMER 2005 In the summer of 2005 edition, Gary and Marilyn Bennett’s Western Auto in High Springs became Bennett’s True Value, the City of Alachua celebrated its 100th birthday (with a preview of the “Largest Small-Town Fireworks Display in America,”) and a local newspaper, The Observer, changed publishers.

Larry and Pat Behnke had published the first issue of the monthly newspaper in March 2003. On April 26, 2005, the couple officially transferred ownership to Barbara Llewellyn, who continues to publish The Observer.

Pat became editor-in-chief for Tower Publications while pursuing her career as an author.

For Larry, breaking loose from the job of publisher meant time to pursue his creative interests. This local artist is still involved with The Observer, however, and also contributes to Tower Publications.

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A TRULY UNEXPECTED CHAPTER In that same edition, an unknown aspiring author, Albert Isaac, was featured in a profile announcing the release of his first novel, Endless.

Two years later he was offered a fulltime position at Tower Publications as Editor-in-Chief.

Recent news: He has completed the follow-up to Endless as well as a collection of his columns.

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“Our Heritage” was the theme for the Winter 2006 issue, from historical homes to geography and beyond.

A Look at Newberry’s

with a Local Historia

Don Davis began collecting photographs of Newberry and then wanted the stories

By Crystal Henry

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Winter 2006 | November - February

YOUR RESOURCE GUIDE FOR THE GREATER ALACHUA AND HIGH SPRINGS AREAS

Our Heritage From historical homes to natural geography and beyond

Alachua’s Historical Society looks for a home High Springs kicks off the holiday season

« THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN WINTER 2006

Swim with the manatees this winter

Speaking of looking into the past (on our 10th anniversary), in 2006, we visited with Newberry historian Don Davis. Although Don has never lived in Newberry, and he’s not even a Florida native, he’s been collecting photos and stories from the area since 1989. In fact, his photographic collection can be found at www.floridamemory.com/PhotographicCollection.

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e’s never lived in Newberry. In fact, he’s not even a Florida native. But you’d be hardpressed to find anyone who is as passionate about the history of Newberry as Don Davis.

Davis began his love affair with the city in 1989.

He was working at Barnett Bank, and collecting pictures of old gas stations on the side. People would come into the bank, and he would ask them about the pictures, but he just wasn’t satisfied with the photos themselves. He wanted to know the stories behind them, and so his researching began.

He said most historians are interested in real estate. They want to preserve the houses and buildings because they think that is what repre-

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In this edition we also learned about one writer’s moonlight canoe trip down the Santa Fe River (people still enjoy this activity), The Alachua Historical Society was looking for a home, and we visited with long-time Newberry barber Marvin Sanders. We lost Marvin, age 83, in 2012.

82 | Winter 2013

sents history. But architec Davis. He said he wanted who lived in the architectu not about some building a to show how much money So he began to hunt dow visiting people in and out had photos to share of the town was a friend to Davi every story behind every p a somewhat difficult task.

First, he found that man Photo by Crystal Henry

Above: Don Davis points to a Ten-Mile Trade Post Grocery in Jonesville. In the picture a Helen Farnsworth. A Kangaro where this gas station once w the only one from the picture

C

In order to share these stories with the city, Davis volunteered to enlarge his photos for Newberry City Hall and the Matheson Museum.

ry’s Past

torian

But architecture just didn’t interest d he wanted to know about the people he architecture and their occupations, me building a rich out-of-towner built much money he had. n to hunt down pictures of Newberry, e in and out of town. Anyone who share of the old phosphate-mining end to Davis. He wanted to know hind every photo, which proved to be ifficult task. und that many people protected their

enry

avis points to a photo from 1936 of the Post Grocery Story and Amoco Station the picture are Charlie, Charlie Jr. and rth. A Kangaroo gas station now stands station once was. Helen Farnsworth is om the picture who is alive today.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

photos as antique treasures, and rightfully so. These photos had been in some families for several generations and were passed down in wills. He had to swear to some that he would return them immediately after getting them copied, or in some cases he had to wait for people to copy the pictures themselves because they were so valuable to the owners.

After he obtained the precious photos, the real work began. Not everyone who gave him photos even knew what stories or dates went with the photos. Davis would use clues in the pictures and his knowledge of Newberry to piece together these lost stories. By using his knowledge of the events and developments in Newberry and clues like telephone poles in the background, Davis could pinpoint the time period when the photo was taken.

“You get to be a detective is what happens,” Davis said.

In order to share these stories with the city, Davis volunteered to enlarge his photos for Newberry City Hall and the Matheson Museum. He has collected around 250 historical pictures of Newberry and about 500 of Alachua County all together.

Davis said he would spend $2,000 to $3,000 per year and countless hours of research on the photos.

But lately Davis doesn’t have as much time to work on his research as he used to. But he still collects information and photos in his huge lateral filing cabinet at home.

Davis seems to know each person in each photo personally or at least he knows something about the history of their families or occupations.

He remembers one particular photo hunt where he went to an elderly man’s house in Gainesville.

The man was in very poor health and didn’t have

long to live, but he had a picture of a gas station in Newberry, and he wanted Davis to copy it.

“It was so valuable to me,” Davis said.

The pictures that seem to mean the most to Davis are those of everyday life. A mule in a cornfield says so much more to him than a posed picture because in those days professional photographers were basically the only people with access to photography equipment. So to see such a slice of simplicity, such as a worker leaning in the doorway of a shop, amazes Davis. He is thankful that someone thought to capture the little moments of people’s lives.

Davis wants to put together a bigger picture for people. He said each person may save four or five photos of their whole life for none other than sentimental reasons. They didn’t know what significance the pictures could have to anyone but them. But Davis brings these photos to life with detailed stories and captions.

In 1995, Davis was commissioned by Cindy Bass to write a book for the centennial of Newberry. Davis said he couldn’t do a book in such a short time, but agreed to do a film. He filmed 12 older residents of Newberry, four of whom are still alive today, to give people a glimpse of Newberry’s past.

“You can see how quickly history disappears,” Davis said.

He said the film, which is available on VHS at the Matheson Museum and Oak Hall Middle School, is even fading into history because of the advancement of technology. Although it was made just a few years ago, Davis said it should be put on DVD to keep up with the times.

Davis still loves to talk about the phosphate miners, gunslingers and all of Newberry’s history.

He’s not sure how many hours he put into his research, but the sheer volume of work he has collected speaks for itself.

“When I gathered this research it didn’t seem like it took a lot of time,” said the Newberry history buff.

No matter how much time it takes, Davis just wants people to know about the history of the town.

“Nobody knows,” Davis said.

And he sees it as his job to tell them. § To view Davis’s collection of photos visit The Florida Memory Project online at www.floridamemory. com/PhotographicCollection/.

Crystal Henry can be contacted at cystal@towerpublications.com.

62 | Winter 2006

DOWN ON MAIN STREET Also in 2006, Newberry was accepted into the Florida’s Main Street Organization.

Newberry’s Main Street Program strives to continue “Enhancing Newberry’s Downtown through sound economic development that promotes our future while preserving our past.”

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Our story on the Watermelon Festival featured Trevor Isaac on the cover, munching into a juicy watermelon.

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« THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN SPRING 2007

He got wet, he got cold and he got waterlogged — and he ate that watermelon for three days in a row. The photos earned Honorable Mentions for both Best Gloss Cover Design and Best Original Photography for a Feature at the Community Papers of Florida’s 2008 Annual Awards for Excellence.

Watermelons Galore!

NEWBERRY WATERMELON FESTIVAL

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W

hen the 2006 Newberry Watermelon Queen returns to the 62nd annual Newberry Watermelon Festival on May 12 to crown her successor, she will participate in the contests again, but she won’t be penalized if she doesn’t spit her watermelon seed the farthest.

Crystal Black, 20, is the current Newberry Watermelon Queen.

With an ever-so-slight drawl, the charming blond, who grew up in Trenton and went to her

In fact, for Tower Productions it was a 32 | Spring 2007 banner year, garnering seven national awards from the Association of Free Community Papers (awards chosen from about 5,000 submissions from all over the country) plus an additional 24 awards from the Community Papers of Florida. Our production team won 22 of these, and we came away with two for editorial excellence. Go Team Tower!

By the end of 2007 it was time to bid farewell to Editor-in-Chief Patricia Camburn Behnke who had accepted a new position as editor with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in Tallahassee. We wished her well as Albert Isaac stepped into that position.

84 | Winter 2013

first festival when she was I don’t practice. I spit my s came in second place.”

The seed-spitting conte the queen competition. Po give a two-minute speech porate some aspect of wate themselves in casual wear and have lunch with the ju contestant is questioned in Vying queens also have

33

From seed spitting to hog calling the Newberry Watermelon Festival has it all

hen she was 9 years old, said, “No, e. I spit my seed 17 ½ feet and d place.” itting contest is just one part of mpetition. Potential queens also nute speech in which they incorspect of watermelons. They present casual wear and an evening gown h with the judges, where each uestioned in a private interview. ns also have to “call up a hog,” said

president of the festival coordinating committee Chari Martin.

“The way to do it is to call out ‘Su-wee!’”

Martin said. “Or some people say, ‘here piggy, piggy, piggy.’”

The winner is chosen based on audience applause, said Black. There are no pigs involved in the decision.

The queen’s pageant is just one of the attractions of the Newberry Watermelon Festival. The roots of the festival reach back to 1946 and many of the same activities are still held every year. Pie and cake baking was popular in the 1940s and is making a comeback, Martin said.

Mark Copeland opens for the musical entertainment and Lewis Stokes from 93.7FM K-Country will be the master of ceremonies for the pageant. Watermelon vendors compete in the “Big Melon” contest. There is also a treasure trove of handmade crafts.

“There are 60-plus craft vendors from Georgia to Florida,” Martin said.

Potential queens have to display items for an auction. Black said people sell “plates, bowls, bowling balls, watermelon jewelry, and figurines.”

“For the auction, you have to dress in as much watermelon as you possibly can,” she said.

It is, after all, about the watermelons.

Billy Smith is in the watermelon business in Trenton and owns Billy Smith’s Watermelons Inc. He grew up in Newberry and has been a watermelon broker for the past 12 years.

Watermelon growing is quite the process, but technology has improved efficiency and allowed shorter growing periods. Usually in March, the watermelon seeds come in trays and are transplanted to earth at seven weeks old.

They are grown under a plastic covering, which generates heat.

“Water, heat and fertilizer is what makes them grow,” Smith said. “Even though the sun does go down, the heat is there five hours later. What you’re doing is creating spring a month early.”

Watermelon plants have to be watered every

day. Using a network of tubes connected to a well and inserted evenly into the plastic covering, forty acres can be watered in an hour and a half. With overhead irrigation, it used to take two days.

Harvesting usually begins in May. From May until about June 10, Smith and his men finish loading the watermelons onto trucks in Trenton. Then they move business up to the Southwest corner of Georgia, in a small town called Faceville, until July 4. For three months, from May to July, they put in about nine months worth of work, Smith said, if you base it on a 40-hour work week.

The seedless watermelons weigh about 13-16 pounds.

Photo courtesy of Crystal Black

Left: Newberry’s reigning Watermelon Queen Crystal Black, 20, of Trenton.

Photo Albert Issac

Previous Page: Trevor Issac enjoys a slice of watermelon. Lookout!

He loves to spit the seeds.

“That’s the most sought-after size, with an average of 15 pounds,” Smith said.

Larger watermelons weigh 16 to 22 pounds, but typically the largest ones are gone after one to two pickings.

Smith said, “The watermelons get smaller as the season gets longer.”

He said he prefers to eat his watermelon with (a grain of) salt.

Smith was born in Newberry the same year the Watermelon Festival was created. He is on the board of directors for both the Alabama and the Florida watermelon associations and last year sponsored the Alabama queen. He said sponsoring the queens is gratifying because they promote the watermelon industry. The state queens go to WATERMELON ON PAGE 38 Spring 2007 | 33

A FOND FAREWELL TO PATRICIA BEHNKE Patricia Behnke (now Zick) says she’s a storyteller no matter what she writes. “It took me 45 years to say, ‘I am a writer,’” she states on her website. “Once I made the admission, the writer that had been locked up inside me overflowed onto the page.” She’s now a fulltime author in Pittsburgh, PA and her work can be found at www.pczick.com.

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Every summer since 2006 we focus on our most precious resource — our water Summer 2008 | June – August

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the the

Aquifer: Aq uifer:

« THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN SUMMER 2008

OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE HOW YOU CAN HELP PROTECT IT

also…

THE RETURN OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS A RESTAURANT IS REBORN IN THE HISTORIC OPERA HOUSE

LIGHTING THE SKIES DAZZLING FIREWORKS IN OUR TOWNS

AND MUCH MORE!!

Usually our summer issues featured a cover photo taken by the late-great, worldrenowned filmmaker and adventurer, Wes Skiles. In the summer of 2008, we brought you a story about Wes and writer/producer Jill Heinerth and their award-winning documentaries, with special emphasis on “Water’s Journey, The Series.”

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The first film in the series follows the path of water through Florida’s environment, highlighting the springs and ground water.

The second follows the course of the St. Johns River, and the third follows the watershed from Orlando to the Everglades to the Florida Keys.

By Albert Isaac

T

he cave divers swim through crystal clear spring water flowing deep beneath the earth’s surface.

Two men above ground track them with a device that

looks like a bad movie prop, but is actually a custommade state of the art device that receives signals transmitted through the water and rock below their feet.

They follow the signal, walk-

16 | Summer 2008

In the winter edition we published a profile on renowned celebrity author Ellis Amburn, who — among his many accomplishments — had spent several months with Priscilla Presley while penning “Elvis and Me,” had worked with Sammy Davis, Jr. on his biography, “Hollywood in a Suitcase,” and was even Jack Kerouac’s editor.

The list goes on (and on), but for now, he also contributes his talents to Tower Publications.

86 | Winter 2013

ing throu across bu through The di is not so past an o the sandy

Photo courtesy of Wes Skiles

A cave diver floats through crystal clear water within the aquifer during the making of the awardwinning series, “Water’s Journey.”

ss

al Filmmakers Follow Water’s Journey oss the State ing through golf courses, across busy highways and through a local restaurant.

The divers notice the water is not so clean. They swim past an oil drum sitting on the sandy bottom. Soon the

High Springs. He made surfing films with his 8 mm movie camera and experimented in stop-action photography.

“I loved biology and history, but I was really fascinated with shop and graphic arts,” Skiles said. “In shop I built unique things. I started building cave diving reels and lights. I got really interested in photography.

I fell in love with capturing a single moment and telling a story with photography.”

In 1981 he moved to High Springs and went on to found Karst Environmental Services and Karst Productions.

“Twenty years before its time I started Karst Envi-

divers surface in a foreboding place aptly named Vampire Sink in High Springs. The water is nasty, filled with all manner of garbage from bedsprings to antifreeze containers.

It stinks and stings their eyes.

Vampire Sink is clean now, Photo courtesy of Wes Skiles thanks to the efforts of these intrepid explorers and other Wes Skiles is a photographer, CEO, executive producer and director. concerned citizens who helped His High Springs company, Karst clean it. And the adventurProductions, specializes in High ers who made this historic Definition film production. trip through the aquifer have recently completed the third in a series of films aptly named, The adventurers who made this historic “Water’s Journey.” trip through the aquifer have recently Wes Skiles and Jill Heinerth are not your average cave divcompleted the third in a series of films ers. Best known as a pioneering aptly named, “Water’s Journey.” technical diver, Heinerth is also an award-winning filmmaker who holds the women’s ronmental,” Skiles said. “I’ve etcetera. I immediately did diving world record for her known all of these things for something with it. I basically work at Wakulla Springs.

20 years that are now common jumped right into doing the While working with the United knowledge.” first-ever deep cave diving fi lm.

States Deep Caving Team’s Skiles does not have a sciI quite got into it.”

Wakulla 2 project she helped ence degree, but is an explorer For some time Skiles had map an underwater cave syswho uses direct observation to contemplated the “Water’s tem in three dimensions. see how things work.

Journey” concept. Virginia Skiles, founder of Karst “I physically go out there,” he Wetherell, then secretary of the Environmental Services, Inc. said. “It is amazing how many Department of Environmental and Owner/President of Karst people don’t get out. You can’t Protection, had watched one of Productions, Inc., is a pioneering understand this by looking at his films at a DEP conference photographer and adventurer select sources of information.” and invited him to find a way to tell that story. who for years has explored the Skiles said he became more “I gave a presentation to all world creating award-winning involved in photography in 1986 of these people, and they all documentaries for PBS and when a man named Ira Friedsaid yes,” Skiles said with a National Geographic. man saw one of his slideshows. laugh. “This is a sad statement: Skiles’ interest in photogra“Right there on the spot it scared me to death.” phy and cave diving began as a he sponsored me with Sony Skiles realized that although teen living in Jacksonville and equipment,” Skiles said. he knew intellectually all the spending his free weekends in “Editing equipment, lights, Summer 2008 | 17

THE GREAT OUTDOORS That summer we also wrote about the rebirth of a High Springs landmark: The Great Outdoors Restaurant.

The restaurant continues to thrive.

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Spring brings flowers and festivals, and we featured both in this issue.

Spring 2009 | March – May

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« THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN SPRING 2009

Festival Fun for the Entire Family High Springs Pioneer Days, Alachua Spring Festival and the Newberry Watermelon Festival

also…

High Springs BMX

In the spring of 2009, we told you the story about Don Goodman, co-founder of Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, the second largest botanical garden in the state of Florida.

This article garnered 3rd Place at the CPF 2010 Awards for Excellence in original writing.

Kanapaha

BOTANICAL G

The Zoologist and the Dragon — A G

By Wendy Norman

H

e knew, when he was 10 years old and watched the little green snakes in his hand emerge from their shells, that he was into this kind of stuff. This kind of stuff — snakes, alligators, plants, and the like — became more than just a boyhood interest for Don Goodman. It became his passion, his lifestyle, his job, and the reason he now lives with only one arm.

Goodman, born naturalist, professional zoologist, and co-founder and director of Kanapaha Botanical Gardens — the second largest botanical garden in the state of Florida — has tangled with an alligator and lived to tell the tale.

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That year Dudley Farm was in peril, having been placed on a list of closures after Gov. Charlie Crist had ordered all state agencies to cut their budgets by 10 percent. To help save the park, Florida’s Eden partnered with Dudley Farm to sponsor its annual Paint Out at the park in March. The paintings were sold wet of the easels and the money earned from the event demonstrated that the park generates revenue.

Fortunately, the park was spared. It still offers family friendly events throughout the year.

88 | Winter 2013

Goodman had many ye naturalist before beginning at the University of Florida his years at UF he met his w what Goodman calls a “ha Without her dedication to could not have accomplish Before opening Kanapah Goodman enjoyed a simpl spending some years as a t plants with his wife from t “I decided where you liv which job you have,” Good

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had many years of self-education as a re beginning his doctorate in zoology ty of Florida in 1966. It was during F he met his wife, Jordan, who is also n calls a “hard-wired naturalist.” edication to the same interests, he accomplished his goals. ing Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, oyed a simple life in Gainesville, e years as a teacher and also selling s wife from their greenhouse. where you live is more important than have,” Goodman said.

Little did he know he would Goodman said. soon have his dream job in the Goodman still remembers a time town he loved. He and his wife, when Kanapaha was just an infant tired of merely selling plants project as he and his wife strugfrom their greenhouse, started gled to make ends meet teaching thinking of ways they could at Santa Fe Community College. take their love for plants to a Now, 30 years later, visitors can new level. appreciate the magnificent result “We wanted to be involved of the Goodmans’ years of hard with plants at an educawork that went into making tional level, but there were no Kanapaha a successful non-profit, botanical gardens in Gainesville,” educational botanical garden.

Goodman said. “So we decided Today, the 62-acre garden boasts to start one.” “the state’s largest public display The concept for Kanapaha of bamboos and the largest was exceptional, but the developherb garden in the Southeast ... ment plan was daunting. In 1977, [as well as] a premier stand of Goodman and his wife took the Chinese royal bamboo,” acfirst step towards their dream. cording to Kanapaha Botanical They established the North Garden Web site.

Florida Botanical Society, which As a non-profit organization, began as a small group of people Kanapaha raises all of its neceswho wanted to put a big plan sary funds on its own. While an into action. occasional small grant will come NFBS overcame a potentially through, there is no dedicated huge obstacle when Alachua public funding source to support County agreed to give the Kanapaha. Instead, the garden society a complimentary lease relies on revenue from visitor for 33 acres, and eventually 29 admissions, fees from the 1,000Photo by Albert Isaac more, on the southwest side of plus members, private contribuA stream meanders through Gainesville, for only one dollar tions, gift shop profits, garden elephant ears at the Kanapaha a year. Despite having a place rental fees for weddings and other Botanical Gardens. to build the gardens, the team events, and annual garden events started out with zero resources, but a whole lot of such as the Spring Garden Festival and the Winter enthusiasm.

Bamboo Sale.

“There was a lot of youthful naiveté involved, but CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE we never even considered the possibility it could fail,”

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Spring 2009 | 125

IF YOU BUILD IT… Also reported in an article in the autumn 2009 edition was that the City of Newberry was set to open The Easton Newberry Sports Complex and that the Cooperstown Dreams Park was next on the agenda. Both are now a reality.

In August of 2013, the USOC selected it as a Community Olympic Development Program.

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‘Tis the season for changing leaves, cooler temps, Halloween and ghost stories.

Haunted Inn(terview

Our Writers Discuss Thier Assignmen Document Things that Go Bump in th

BY ALBERT ISAAC

F

or our story on hauntings, we sent two intrepid reporters on special assignment to the Herlong Mansion in Micanopy and the Grady House Bed and Breakfast in High Springs — both of which are reportedly haunted. Admittedly skeptical, Nicole Greiner and Jessica Chapman spent a night in each of these inns. This is what they have to say about their experiences.

Q:

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Autumn 2010

Greener Pastures Mill Creek Horse Retirement Farm in Alachua is Great for Horses and Families Alike

« THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN AUTUMN 2010

First of all, do you believe in ghosts?

Jessica: I’m not one to believe in ghosts, haunted houses or anything similar. But after staying at both the Grady House Bed and Breakfast and the Herlong Mansion, if I was going to get haunted anywhere it would be at the Herlong Mansion.

Wes Skiles Saying Goodbye to a Local Legend

Flying with Angels

Nicole: I don’t believe in ghosts, either. However, I can live without spending another night in a mansion in a storm when the lights go out.

Jessica: It was really nice.

Nicole: It was a pretty house. The sun was shining when we got there.

Jessica: From the front, it had huge trees with moss hanging down so it is believable that it could be haunted. Especially when you get inside, because it’s big and it just

Trace the history of Halloween through the ages

Jessica: It was the 1800s with

around her. I w

next to that w saw the ghost.

Nicole: I thought it was just a really nice older house. It wasn’t as scary to me, like the Grady House, which was smaller.

spooked? We a

Jessica: That’s what was surprising to me. I did not get remotely spooked at the Grady House. But at the Herlong Mansion, that’s about all I got. Nicole had the opposite experience. I just don’t get it.

Q:

Did the innkeeper at the Herlong Mansion share any ghost stories with you?

Safe Haven

Eye of the Eagle Wildlife Sanctuary

In August, the Babe Ruth Softball World Series came to the City of Alachua — and has kept coming back every year since. In 2010, the Santa Fe 12-and-under girls captured the tournament championship.

Additionally, a team of Newberry High School students called PANTHER (Providing a New Way To Help Environmental Restoration) won a national competition — the only school in the nation to earn a sweep of first place finishes in all three Eco Challenge contests. In fact, NHS teams had finished first place for the past three years.

90 | Winter 2013

standing outsi story] window

felt very, very old. In a good way.

In the fall of 2010, two of our intrepid writers agreed to a Nicole: Carolyn told us stories hair-raising assignment — about the ghost hunters [who came Q: Tell us about your experiences they would spend the night to investigate]. They brought a ton at the Herlong Mansion. of equipment into the room and I understand a storm blew in? in a haunted house. Two had their camera set up to take houses, in fact: The Grady 32 | Autumn 2010 House Bed and Breakfast in High Springs and the Herlong Mansion in Micanopy. Our writers wrote a feature about ghosts and hauntings and then sat down for an interview to talk about their ‘ghostly’ experiences.

Giving a Lift to Patients in Need

Spook-tastic

10 pictures at there was a ve of a woman w around her he

room where gh stayed, it’s sto then the lights

thing I though went out was enough batter puter to write

Nicole: I am si

the stairs talki

the phone and lights go out. A

Jessica: I heard ran in and slam

and started pa

freaked out. Sh floor near the

Nicole: It just r

d ew)

nment to p in the Night

0 pictures at a time. And in one here was a very distinct picture

f a woman wrapped with a cloth round her head, and she was

tanding outside of the [second tory] window.

essica: It was like a woman from

he 1800s with a shawl wrapped round her. I was sleeping right ext to that window where they

aw the ghost. See why I was

pooked? We are staying in the

oom where ghost hunters had tayed, it’s storming outside, and hen the lights went out. The first

hing I thought when the power went out was that I didn’t have nough battery left on my comuter to write my story.

with the lights going out. I was outside of our room. And I was creeped out, even before the lights went out, because I looked down and saw this man walking around. I didn’t scream that time. I was really quiet. I ran to the room, and in the back of my mind I thought it was the guests, but they weren’t in the main house.

Q:

Was it a ghost?

Nicole: I just thought if there would be any ghosts in the houses it would be in the Grady House,

Q:

because of the way it was set up.

Nicole: Yes, she did. Lucie said she was in the house alone one night with her dog. And she heard distinct male voices upstairs. And then her dog growled. But she didn’t want to go up there.

Jessica: How? I don’t understand that. I thought it was cozy. We had the perfect conditions for it to be haunted that night [at the Herlong Mansion]. I told Nicole when it started storming that this should be a horror movie.

Nicole: It wasn’t a ghost, sorry to disappoint you.

Nicole: I guess I just wasn’t in the mood that night. But the Grady House has the narrow hallway. And

he phone and all of a sudden the ghts go out. And I screamed.

Q:

essica: I heard Nicole scream. She an in and slammed the door shut

Nicole: Yes.

nd started pacing. She was very

Jessica: I wasn’t. I was more afraid

there was an old telephone there.

Everything was more old fashioned there, I thought. There were old pictures of people on the walls, black and white pictures of people from the 1800s. I constantly felt

reaked out. She sat down on the

of the dead.

their eyes watching me. The steep

Q:

staircase and narrow halls made me feel as though a ghost would have a grand ole time in the home.

Nicole: I am sitting at the foot of he stairs talking to a friend on

So are you more afraid of the living than the dead?

oor near the fireplace.

Nicole: It just really wasn’t cool

Can you tell us about your experiences in the Grady House?

www.VisitOurTowns.com

COL LD STOR RAGE Read the h original story o line anytime. Since 2010 on 0, a l of our al u mag gazines hav ave e been be en arc rchi hive ved for yo you u to look lo ok k bac a k at a whe ene neve verr yo ve you u lilike k . Vi V si sitt ww www. w.is w. isssu suu. u.co u. com/ co m/ t we to erp rpub ubli ub lica li cati ca tion ti onss on

Q:

Did the innkeeper share any stories with you?

I understand there is a book at the Grady House, “Haunted Inns of the Southeast” that describes radios turning on by themselves, guests being tucked in, chess pieces moving.

Did you experience any such phenomenon?

Jessica: I saw no ghosts. I heard no mysterious footsteps. I smelled no overwhelming perfume. And no one smoothed my covers as I went to sleep. I guess ghosts are scared of the press. continued on next page

Autumn 2010 | 33

WES SKILES LEGACY In July of 2010, our fragile rivers and springs lost an untiring advocate when Wes Skiles passed away. In this edition we brought you a story about his life and times and the memorial service that was held at Ginnie Springs.

Wes Skiles dives in Ginnie Springs in this 2001 photo by John Moran.

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In the 2011 summer issue, one of our writers found herself on a dock at Lily Spring chatting with a naked man.

SWEET SUMMER CAMPS | SHELL ART | FT. WHITE CONSERVATION

Summer 2011

FREE TAKE ONE

The Naked Truth About myths surrounding the steward of Lily Springs

Cooking with Kids

1$.(

« THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN SUMMER 2011

Spend some family time in the kitchen

Peacock Springs Gets a new name

the Santa Fe River Tour the waterway’s past and look to its future

She then took photos of him walking the grounds and wading in the spring. Then she sat down with pen in hand to learn the naked truth about Naked Ed. 132 | Summer 2011

Ed Watts, longtime self-appointed steward of the spring, has become a local legend, perhaps most notably for his choice of (or lack of) attire. Sometimes in loincloth, often in the buff, Naked Ed has been welcoming canoers and kayakers to his spring-side shack on the Santa Fe River for decades. The story was well received and earned Second Place at the 2012 CPF Annual Awards for Excellence.

In that issue we also examined the history and beauty of Florida’s springs, and took a tour down the Santa Fe River.

Additionally, this was the year the Newberry Star Park opened in the Easton Newberry Sports complex, construction began on a new home for the Alachua Chamber of Commerce and Historical Society, and Peacock Springs got a new name: Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park.

96 | Winter 2013

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he cool clear water ďŹ&#x201A;ows easily in one direction, with the exception of the

mini whirlpools and bubbles that rise to ďŹ ght the pull of the current. The springs, all connected and accessible by kayak or canoe, create a peaceful waterway, and tourists come to High Springs from all over the state, the country and even beyond. But those who travel to take the detour off an s-curve of the Santa Fe River to Lily Springs come for more than a peaceful trip by paddle.

Turning into a little water alleyway off to the left of the Santa Fe River, the handmade signs become visible. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Man is the Most Dangerous Animal.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Naked Ed Ahead.â&#x20AC;?

Summer 2011 | 133

EXTRA EXPOSURE

COLD STOR RAGE

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a photo originally intended for this story that we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have room to print.

Read the original story online anytime. Since 2010, all of our magazines have been archived for you to look k bac a k at whe ene neve ve er yo y u like. Vi V si sitt ww ww. w.is isssu suu. u.co com/ m m/ t we to erp pub ubli lica li c ti ca tion onss on

The Great Outdoors Restaurant in High Springs features a photo of Naked Ed on the door to the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s room in addition to a beer named in his honor, coasters baring his likeness and a menu item entitled Naked Edâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Low Country Boil.

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Winter W ntter 2013 | 97 Wi

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2

If we had found the time to enter any contests in 2012, we feel certain that this feature would have been a winner.

CALENDAR | BABE RUTH WORLD SERIES | JOHN MORAN PHOTO ESSAY Y

Summer 2012

FREE FR F REE EE T TA TAKE AKE KE O ONE NE E

Cave Diving

« THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN SUMMER 2012

Our writer did her research, talked to the experts, and paddled down the Santa Fe River to deliver a story that should serve as a wake-up call for us all. We must protect our most valuable resource — our water.

Adventure Below with Jill Heinerth into the Deepest, Coldest Caves on Earth

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OLYMPIC DREAMS Junior Archery Olympic Development Club

OUR WATER

The choice to protect Florida’s water belongs to us

Taking Ownersh

The Choice to Waste or Protec Florida’s Water is Ours

BY AMANDA WILLIAMSON

“Who owns this water? How can I call it mine when its fate is to run through rivers and living bodies, so many already and so many more to come? It is an ancient, dazzling relic, temporarily quarantined here in my glass, waiting to return to its kind, waiting to move a mountain.”

— Barbara Kingsolver, “Water is Life.”

Department li

of days the re to irrigate the

Eden captures

locals with ar calling for a b

to grow aroun its water tour promote plan

F

springs restor rom Tallahassee’s deep Wakulla Springs to the

lazy, slow-moving Santa Fe River, the waterways of Florida are all connected. Water continuously cycles through the environment, percolating down to the source of drinking water for so many of the Sunshine State’s residents: the

Floridan aquifer.

But Florida’s water is threatened.

Here in this lush and once-considered water-rich state, drought and overconsumption imperil the drinking water.

Water advocates and government agencies around Florida fight for one of the world’s

40 | Summer 2012

Also in 2012, Project Legacy became a reality in Alachua. Instead of a subdivision, the 100+ acres adjacent the Hal Brady Recreation Complex will boast three new multi-purpose sports fields to host soccer, lacrosse and football competitions. It’s expected to be complete by January 2015.

Meanwhile in Newberry, Nations Park — home to baseball tournaments for teams of children under age 8 to 13 — officially opened to the public.

We also featured the Gainesville Juniors — a nonprofit volleyball club for girls that practice in Alachua. In 2011, the club’s 15 & Under team won the AAU national championship. Team Tumblemania of High Springs boasted three national champions on its competitive team.

Newberry High School’s Lady Panther softball program found new life with a new head coach.

98 | Winter 2013

most precious County Enviro

detail the detr

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demands a blu

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But still, the

Rivers become nected by islan

where there w

ship

rotect

most precious resources. Alachua ounty Environmental Protection

flow. Sinkholes, the grim proof of declining water levels, appear all

Tragedy of the Commons

Department limited the amount f days the residents are allowed

over Florida, especially in highly susceptible Alachua County. While

Water is finite, Pais said.

The water the world drinks

sinkholes will always exist, low water tables are making them more prominent, said Gus Olmos, water

today is the same water the dinosaurs splashed in when

o irrigate their yards. Florida’s

den captures the attention of

ocals with art and imagination,

alling for a blue-green economy

o grow around Florida’s treasure:

ts water tourism. Local scientists romote plans that lead to

prings restoration. Journalists etail the detrimental effects n newspapers, magazines and ooks; author Cynthia Barnett,

emands a blue revolution in her ook by the same name.

But still, the water disappears. ivers become shallow, disconected by islands of vegetation

where there was once a healthy

resource program manager at the Alachua County Department of Environmental Protection.

The biggest concern is that the people of Florida do not know it is their role to be the civic body that stands up and demands the well-being of Florida, said Annie Pais, president of Florida’s Eden.

“Our lakes are drying up,” she said. “Our springs are ceasing.

Our rivers are at all-time lows. We have to re-dig wells. We know that something is really wrong.”

they roamed the Earth. Weekend vacationers who visit North Central Florida’s local watering holes — the springs — are playing in formations that some of the first Floridians used to conduct daily life 10,000 to

Read the origi g nall story y onliline on ne any nytime me. Si Sinc n e 20 2010 10, alll of our mag al agaz azin ines es hav ave e been be en arc rchi hive ved d fo forr yo you u to look lo ok bac ack k at whe hen neve ver you lilike ke.. Vi Visiit ww www w.iissuu.co c m/ m towe to werp rpubli l cations

The flow at Poe Springs has decreased to a near trickle into the river. The water problem is not just associated with the drought, but overpumping as well. At a recent public information meeting at Poe Springs about the water quality, it was announced that tropical storm Beryl would have little impact on the Santa Fe River water levels.

12,000 years ago.

According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, springs form by a process called dissolution. Over millions of years, acidic rainwater seeped down through Florida’s soil, eroding the limestone foundation that covers the

www.VisitOurTowns.com

COLD STORAGE

PHOTO BY AMANDA WILLIAMSON

Summer 2012 | 41

GIVING ONE FOR THE TEAM 2012 also featured a story on Hillary Glanzer, a Newberry native that donated her kidney to a childhood friend’s cousin, Hannah Craig.

Hillary says farewell to her kidney “Irene” at a pre-surgery party dedicated to the organ. Hillary’s mother, Joy, named the kidney after the Nat King Cole song, “Goodnight Irene.” Both women were invited to share their story on NBC’s TODAY Show.

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Just this past spring, we published a story on the Mill Creek Retirement Home for Horses.

Horsing Around Retirement Home for Horses at Mill Creek Farm

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY KELSEY GRENTZER

F CHILI COOK-OFF

s

BIOTECHNOLOGY CELEBRATION

s

HOPE HORSES

Spring 2013

HIGH SPRINGS & ALACHUA

Rising Star

Jamie Davis Heart the Arts in Cedar Key

« THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN SPRING 2013

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Visitors Allowed to Choose Their Favorites with Heart Stickers at this Year’s Fine Art Festival

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In 1983, Peter and Mary Gregory purchased 140 acres in Alachua and created the nonprofit. Since then, through the help of donations, they have expanded the farm to 265 acres and have saved hundreds of horses from abuse, starvation and neglect. For the price of two carrots you can visit the horses.

A TOUCH OF GREEN RELAY FOR LIFE High Springs Plans to Convert Abandoned Rails

Relay Olé Takes Over High Springs for One-Night Event

or 84-year-old Peter Gregory, retirement means getting

from government service such as police patrol and military horses,

up at 6 a.m. and working a 12-hour day.

He rides a golf cart across his

those retired from riding programs, stage horses, horses that have been used for experimental purposes

farm’s 265 acres of green pastures, chatting with volunteers, checking

and those rescued by organizations such as the SPCA.

on horses and feeding the animals carrots along the way.

Gregory and his wife Mary run

Leaving a horse in a stall is like putting it in prison, Gregory said.

“These horses are lucky in that

the nonprofit Retirement Home For Horses at Mill Creek Farm, an

respect. They’ve got plenty of room to run around. They live like horses

equine sanctuary in Alachua where old, abandoned or neglected horses can live out the rest of their lives in

should, out in the wild with the trees and the grass and not being bothered by humans,” said Gregory, who

peace. The farm is home to about 130 horses, including those retired

does not believe in riding horses.

But running such a place comes

ing costs, and to raise money horses and the The farm will Spring Sale on The sale offers items such as tools, decorativ more, and typi

OPPOSITE: A collection of reins hangs alongside a building at the Retirement Home for Horses at Alachua. The farm is home to about 130 horses. Horses wait for carrots as visitors and families enj Saturday afternoon. The farm is open to the public every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

94 | Spring 2013

Also in 2013, our magazine kicked off the new year with a new look. Back in the summer of 2006, the High Springs & Alachua and Newberry & Jonesville magazines began the transition to Our Town when the new name was added to the bottom of the pages. In 2013, the transition was complete. The Our Town family of magazines has expanded to include the High Springs & Alachua and Newberry & Jonesville editions as well as the Gainesville edition. New title, same great content.

We’ve come a long way since that first publication hit the streets in 2003 and now we are all looking forward to bringing you more stories in the coming years about the interesting people and events that make living in these communities so wonderful.

100 | Winter 2013

with its costs. spend about $1 bills, $100,000 o on trimming th among other e Five years a named Georgi wanted to help

with its costs. In a year, the Gregorys pend about $12,000 on veterinary ills, $100,000 on feed and $10,000 n trimming the horses’ hooves, mong other expenses.

Five years ago, one volunteer

amed Georgia Crosby decided she wanted to help offset these operat-

ng costs, and she started a sale o raise money for the care of the orses and the upkeep of the farm.

he farm will hold its 5th Annual pring Sale on April 6 this year. he sale offers donated household tems such as books, pet items, ools, decorative items, jewelry and more, and typically earns about

for Horses at Mill Creek Farm in nd families enjoy the farm on a p.m.

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STICK AROUND

COLD STORAGE

Here’s a photo originally intended for this story that we didn’t have room to print.

Read Read d the oriigi g na nall stor ory online any yti t me m . Si S nce 2010, all of our magazines have been archi h ved for you to look back at whenever you like. Visit www.issuu.com/ towerpublications

The Retirement Home for Horses at Mill Creek Farm is open to the public every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The price for admission is two carrots, but you’ll want more; there are plenty of hungry animals.

w w..Vi ww www.VisitOurTowns.com Visi isi s tO OurrT To own w s. s co com m

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Taste of the Town

SPECIAL RESTAURANT ADVERTISING SECTION. CALL 352.372-5468 FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION.

Newberry’s Backyard BBQ 25405 W Newberry Rd, Newberry Monday-Wednesday 11am-9pm • Thursday 11am-9pm Friday and Saturday 11am-11pm • Sunday 10:30am-8pm

352.472.7260

newberrybbq.com

BBQ — The one and only Newberry’s Backyard BBQ is located in our historic building in beautiful downtown Newberry. Our pork, chicken, beef, and turkey is smoked to perfection daily. Our salads and sides are always fresh. If you are thirsty we have the best sweet tea in the South and a full bar as well. Make sure to bring your kids, we serve their meals on a frisbee that they take home. For your entertainment, we always have live music on Friday nights and Karaoke on Saturday evenings. Always remember big or small we cater all gatherings.

Saboré 13005 SW 1st Road, Tioga, FL 32669 (Tioga Town Center) Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday: 11am – 10pm Fri. & Sat.: 11am – 11pm • Open Mondays for special events only

352-332-2727

www.saborerestaurant.com

FUSION — Saboré [sa-bohr-ay] is a modern world-fusion restaurant featuring a variety of dishes inspired by dynamic cuisine from places like Europe, Asia, and South America. Their recipe is simple: authentic global flavors, quality ingredients, expert craftsmanship, and exceptional service. Saboré offers customers a unique dining experience, shareable plates, delicious dishes, signature cocktails and desserts that will keep you coming back for more. So let us surprise your palate with our global flair and exotic ingredients. Experiencing world cuisine this fresh usually requires a passport.

Mason’s Tavern 16135 NW U.S. Hwy. 441 • Alachua, FL Open every day 11:00am – 11:00pm Just North of the intersection of I-75 and HWY 441

386-418-8078

www.masons-tavern.com

SPORTS BAR & GRILL — Mason’s Tavern is a family operated sports bar with hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood, hand-made burgers, pastas, wraps, salads and homemade wing sauces. With twenty TV’s there is always a place to watch your favorite team. The NFL Sunday Ticket and all of the Gator games makes us your football headquarters.

Video games for the kids make Mason’s fun for the entire family.

Live entertainment (call for schedule). Reservations and large parties welcome.

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Copper Monkey West 14209 W Newberry Road, Jonesville, FL 32669 Across from the Steeplechase Publix Sunday-Thursday 11am - 11pm • Friday-Saturday 11am - 12am

352-363-6338

mycoppermonkey.com

Restaurant & Pub — Located in the heart of Jonesville, this All-American dining is convenient to all neighborhoods in Gainesville, Alachua, Newberry, High Springs and beyond. Our family-friendly dining features great food at a great price. Whether you come in for the “best burger in town” or try any one of our freshly made salads, pastas or sandwiches, you will not leave disappointed. Our USDA choice steaks, served with 2 sides, offer a great alternative for the perfect celebratory meal. We also feature a full-service bar with signature drinks and many options for your viewing pleasure. Great food, great price, we’ll see you soon. Pictured is: Chicken Pot Pie Pasta

Gator Tales Sports Bar 5112 NW 34th Blvd (across from the YMCA) Monday-Friday 12pm - 12am • Saturday-Sunday 9am - 12am

(352)-376-9500

www.gator-tales.com

BAR & GRILL — GATOR TALES Sports Bar features 3 large separate entertainment areas! You can relax at our Tiki bar in a large covered outdoor patio with tropical tunes enjoying 3 large screen TV’s and a full outdoor liquor bar. If you prefer to be inside, visit the sports bar, where you can find large TV’s, a performance stage with nightly entertainment including karaoke, live bands and acoustical sets. We have a separate pool hall and offer two happy hours every day. Gator Tales has a variety of domestic and import beers including a local favorite Swamphead Stompknocker and BigNose. Our menu has a lot to choose from, appetizers, black angus burgers, gator tail, and salads. Breakfast served all day everyday.

Dave’s New York Deli 12921 SW 1st Road • Tioga Town Center Open 7 Days

352-333-0291

www.DavesNYDeli.com

AUTHENTIC NY DELI — The Reviews are in and here’s what customers are saying about Dave’s NY Deli Tioga Town Center!

“Best Reuben, Best Pastrami, Best Philly, and Best Wings” Dave’s continues to be the place to go for authentic NY Deli food and Philly Cheesesteaks. Owner Dave Anders says “Nothing beats quality ingredients combined with a friendly staff. We bring in all of our Pastrami and Corned Beef and Cheesecake from New York’s Carnegie Deli. In addition we offer Nathan’s Hot Dogs, NY Kettle Boiled Bagels, Nova Salmon, Knish, Cannolies, Philly Cheesesteaks, Wings, Cubans, Subs, Kids Menu and more.”

Come out and enjoy Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at Dave’s NY Deli.

Now serving beer and wine.

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Taste of the Town

SPECIAL RESTAURANT ADVERTISING SECTION. CALL 352.372-5468 FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION.

Flying Biscuit Café 4150 NW 16th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32605 Located in the Fresh Market Center Mon - Fri: 7am - 3pm • Sat - Sun: 7am - 4pm

352-373-9500

www.flyingbiscuit.com

BREAKFAST — The Flying Biscuit is out to reinvent breakfast in Gainesville! Maybe you’ve tried their soon-to-be-famous creamy, dreamy grits or their “moon dusted” breakfast potatoes, but did you know you can have them at anytime? With a unique open menu, all the items that appear are available throughout the day. With a variety of healthy and hearty dishes, The Flying Biscuit caters to a variety of tastes. With options ranging from the Smoked Salmon Scramble, the Bacon Cheddar Chicken Sandwich or the Tofu and Tater Salad, there’s something for everyone. Call us up to an hour before your expected arrival time to add your name to our call ahead seating list.

Brown’s Country Buffet 14423 NW US Hwy 441, Alachua, FL 32616 Monday-Friday: 7am - 8pm Saturday: 7am - 2pm Sunday: 8am - 3pm

386-462-3000 Brown’s Country Buffet is country-style cooking at its finest, just like Grandma’s house! A buffet style restaurant, Brown’s Country Buffet is open seven days a week! Foods like fried chicken, grilled pork chops, real mashed potatoes, steamed cabbage, banana pudding and coconut pie, just to name a few, are served in a laid back, relaxing environment.

We offer AYCE fried shrimp on Friday nights from 4-8 along with whole catfish & ribs. In addition to their buffet, Brown’s also offers a full menu to choose from. You are sure to find something to satisfy any craving at Brown’s. Serving lunch and dinner daily and a breakfast buffet Friday-Sunday until 10:30am, you’re sure to leave satisfied, no matter when you go. So, when you’re in the mood for some good home cooking, Grandma’s style, visit Brown’s Country Buffet.

Northwest Grille 5115 Northwest 39th Ave., Gainesville 32606 Open 7 Days: 11am to 10pm (Friday open until 11pm) Saturday & Sunday: Serving brunch 10am to 3pm

352-376-0500

www.northwestgrillegainesville.com

SEAFOOD — Locally owned and operated, Northwest Grille has been providing the finest quality fish and seafood entrees in a friendly atmosphere since 1996. Whether it’s their fresh, local seafood and fish, or handcrafted sauces and specialty desserts, Northwest Grille has something to please your palate. Meat lovers will enjoy the hand-cut steaks and vegetarians will love the wide range of vegetarian options.

Serving lunch and dinner daily, Northwest Grille, offers an extensive brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-3pm. Northwest Grille also features a full liquor bar with nightly drink specials. Happy hour is served daily from 3pm-7pm and all day on Wednesday – offering a wide assortment of craft beer, wine and $5 martinis.

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cocktails | cigars | wines | spirits

Peach Retriever 1.5oz Birddog Peach 1oz Amaretto 1oz Orange liqueur .5oz Lemon juice Orange Wheel garnish

Tioga Town Center • 352-727-4755 • www.fluidlounges.com •

www.VisitOurTowns.com

/ fluidloungetioga

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CALENDAR If you would like to have an event considered for publication in this calendar, please submit information directly. post 4400 NW 36th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32606 | e-mail editor@towerpublications.com | fax 352-373-9178

HIGH SPRINGS MUSIC IN THE PARK Third Sunday of Every Month 2:00pm - 4:00pm HIGH SPRINGS - James Paul Park and Community Garden, 200 North Main St. Every third Sunday, come enjoy local music and fresh air out in the park. Bring lawn chairs, refreshments, and blankets. Admission is free. 352-275-4190.

ARTWALK GAINESVILLE Last Friday of Every Month 7:00pm - 10:00pm GAINESVILLE - Bo Diddley Plaza. Self-guided tour of downtown’s galleries, eateries and businesses. Pick up a map near Bo Diddley Plaza, visit more than a dozen spots, including local landmarks like the Hippodrome and The Sequential Artists Workshop. Watch live performances throughout the night, as well. www.

artwalkgainesville.com.

A 10,000-MILE JOURNEY Through April 13 Times Vary GAINESVILLE - The Florida Museum of Natural History, 3215 Hull Rd. Art joins science to reveal the wonders and perils of the Swallow-tailed Kite’s migration in a

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six-month installation at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville, Florida. The paintings, poetry, and photography of Margo McKnight, Chris Cock, and Jim Gray bring to life Avian Research and Conservation Institute’s exciting discoveries about the year-round ecology of this alluring raptor. 352-846-2000.

THE HOMECOMING Through Dec. 22 Times Vary HIGH SPRINGS - High Springs Community Theater, 130 NE 1st Ave. It is the heartwarming story of a family waiting for the magic of Christmas Eve to arrive, told from the perspective of the adult Clay-Boy. We join Clay-Boy as he searches for his father and encounters some colorful characters that expand his growing understanding of the world. 386454-3525. www.

highspringscommunitytheatre.com.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Saturday, Dec. 14 3:00pm - 8:00pm NEWBERRY - Downtown.

Arts and crafts. Santa and Mrs. Clause will be in the park downtown to visit with everyone.

Entertainment and food will be in abundant.

www.newberrymainstreet.com.

SEASON OF HOPE 5/15K

REINDEER RUN/ WALK 5K

Saturday, Dec. 14 9:00AM.

Saturday, Dec. 14 3:30pm

GAINESVILLE - GainesvilleHawthorne Trail. Come join Tyler’s Hope and The UF Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration for the 4th annual Season of Hope Run on the Gainesville Hawthorne Trail.

Certification of the 15K has been approved by the USATF (FL11088EBM).

Perfect for Qualifying for a race! Shirts are available for first 400, prizes for the top 3 M/F 5k and 15K runners, medals for the top runners in their age groups. Online registration at active. com or on site at the Hawthorne Trail inside Boulware Springs Park starting at 7:45am.

NEWBERRY - Tioga Town Center, 105 SW 128th St. A night of family fun is planned at Gainesville’s Fourth Annual Reindeer Run 5K. On-site registration and packet pick-up for the Reindeer Run/ Walk will begin at 3:30pm and the race starts at 5:00pm. From 3:30 until race start, enjoy holiday shopping, a bounce house, the Sun Country Gymbus, crafts and Santa!

352-331-4000.

HIGH SPRINGS CHRISTMAS PARADE Saturday, Dec. 14 6:00pm – 9:00pm HIGH SPRINGS Downtown. Traditional Christmas Parade with great sights and sounds of the season.

386-454-3120.

ALACHUA CHRISTMAS PARADE Saturday, Dec. 14 2:00pm ALACHUA - Downtown.

Traditional Christmas Parade with great sights and sounds of the season.

WINTER CONCERT Sunday, Dec. 15 7:30pm GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center, 315 Hull Rd. The Alachua County Youth Orchestra’s (ACYO) free performance showcases middle school and high school students under the direction of UF Professor Emeritus Gary Langford. This year’s Winter Concert features: Frescobaldi’s Toccata, Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet, Bizet’s Farandole, Polar Express, Jingle Bells Forever, A Hanukkah Festival and Sleigh Ride. www.acyo.org.

NUTCRACKER Dec. 20 - 22 Times Vary GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center, 315 Hull Rd. Dance Alive National Ballet will be putting

on the holiday classic, Nutcracker. Enjoy the childhood favorites, like the sugarplum fairy or the tiny toy soldiers. Ticket price ranges from $15 to $40.

352-371-2986.

ICHETUCKNEE TIME MACHINE Saturday, Dec. 21 9:00am - 12:00pm FORT WHITE Ichetucknee Springs State Park, 12087 S.W. U.S. 27. Take a fascinating journey by van into the Ichetucknee forest, to the site of the 17th Century Mission de San Martìn de Timucua. Learn all about the ancient Timucuan capital of Aquacalyquen. For more information and to reserve a spot, call 386-497-4690.

CHOCOLATE & CHAMPAGNE HOLIDAY GALA & DANCING WITH THE STARS

A Christmas Caroll Through Dec. 21 Times Vary GAINESVILLE - Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE 2nd Pl Pl. The entire family will enjoy the dazzling special effects and timeless message of redemption in this heartwarming tale now in its 36th consecutive year at the Hippodrome.

Multiple performances. 352-375-4477.

Saturday, Dec. 21 8:00pm GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center, 315 Hull Rd. A spectacular dining and dancing experience on the Phillips Center main stage. Special attraction — ‘DANCING WITH THE STARS!’ Vote for your favorite celebrity dancer and Dance Alive partner for an evening of fun, silent auction and the Gosia and Ali band. Price $100 352-371-2986.

DOWNTOWN COUNTDOWN Dec. 31 8:00pm - 12:30am GAINESVILLE - Bo Diddley Plaza. The City of Gainesville’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs will host Downtown Countdown,

A Tuna Christmas Through Dec. 22

Times Vary ry

GAINESVILLE - Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE 2nd Pl. Season’s greetings from Tuna, Texas where the Lions Club is too liberal and Patsy Cline never dies.

Multiple performances. 352-375-4477.

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a New Year’s Eve celebration concert at the Bo Diddley Community Plaza.

352-393-8746.

FIRST FRIDAY Friday, Jan. 3 5:00pm - 10:00pm GAINESVILLE - Downtown.

Beat those winter blues at Frost Off First Friday with buttercream icing and sprinkles. This event features activities such as a cupcake decorating contest sponsored by Sarkara Sweets; a craft show specializing in jewelry, home decor, and accessories; ice skating at Bo Diddley Community Plaza; live music, and more. www.

CAMELLIA SHOW

DUDLEY KIDS PROGRAM

GAINESVILLE ORCHESTRA

Jan. 4 - 5 Times Vary

Saturday, Jan. 11 10:00am - 2:00pm

Friday, Jan. 17 7:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th Dr. This two-day event features prize-winning camellias of all sizes, shapes, and colors. This show is geared toward educating the public about the care, culture, and appreciation of camellias, both in the greenhouse and in the landscape. Regular admission price for non-members and members are admitted free of charge. Info:

NEWBERRY - Dudley Farm Historic State Park. 18730 West Newberry Rd. As part of the “Kids Fun on the Farm” every second Saturday October through May at Dudley Farm Historic State Park, this month’s theme will be “Have an Orange.” 352-472-1142.

GAINESVILLE - Santa Fe College Fine Arts Hall, 3000 NW 83rd St. The concert’s theme “Of Rivers and Oceans” will include works

by Bedrich Smetana and Tan Dun’s Water Concerto. Dun is noted for his orchestral compositions but also his film scores.

www.americancamellias.org.

352-372-4981.

pledge5.org.

ROCK OF AGES

ICHE NIPPY DIPPER

Friday, Jan. 10 7:30pm

Saturday, Jan. 4 9:30am ICHETUCKNEE SPRINGS STATE PARK - 8294 Elim Church Road, Fort White. Start your New Year with a“dip” in the Headspring. Follow an old tradition or start a new one with our special guest Bellamy Beaver! Registration starts at 9:30 a.m.to take the “dip” at 10:00 a.m.

The Headspring is located at the North Entrance. Pre-register: 386-497-4690. Event free with regular park admission - $6 per vehicle.

GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center. Set in 1987 on the Sunset Strip, “Rock of Ages” tells the story of a smalltown girl who meets a big-city dreamer – and in L.A.’s most famous rock club, they fall in love to the greatest songs of the ‘80s. This feel-good love story is told through the vintage hits of icon rockers Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, Pat Benatar, Whitesnake and many more. www.performingarts.ufl.

edu. www.rockofagesontour.com.

Are you ready for your next fire inspection?

Restaurant Hood Exhaust Systems Cleaning

“BE FIRE SAFE” • Grease Filter sales • Fan Belt Service • Fan Motor Replacement Lic# 0488

“GREASE BUSTERS BUSTERS”” 352-378-7020

SINCE 1976

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Sunday, Jan. 12 2:30pm – 3:30 or later GAINESVILLE - Millhopper Branch Library, 3145 NW 43rd Ave. Melissa Lee — artist, author, chef, blogger, agent, and now publisher on her own, will speak at the meeting of the Writers Alliance of Gainesville. Resident of St. Simon Island, Georgia, her blog, “The Permanent Tourist,” is booming, and she’s actually making money off it with paid advertising.

WAG meetings are free and open to anyone interested in the written word. www.writersalliance.org.

HOGGETOWNE MEDIEVAL FAIRE Jan. 25 - 26; Jan. 31 Feb. 2 Times Vary GAINESVILLE - Alachua County Fairgrounds, 3100 NE 39th Ave. The previous Faire brought in 52,000 visitors, and this year they are hoping for more. More than 160 artisans and craft makers will join a troupe of actors, musicians and street performers for a journey back to the days of brave knights and fair maidens.

Admission price varies.

www.gvlculturalaffairs.org.

352-393-8536.

DUDLEY FARM PLOW DAY Jan. 31 - Feb. 1 10:00am - 2:00pm NEWBERRY - Dudley Farm Historic State Park, 18730 W. Newberry Rd. View

PNC JUMBO MORTGAGE:

Are You Up To Code?

“ Who you gonna call?

FOLLOWING YOUR CREATIVE HEART IN THE NEW YEAR

386-462-7050

Borrow more with expanded financing options for larger homes

« Availability « Flexibility « Expanded Selection

The PNC Financial Group Joe Hancock | 352-275-6482 joe.hancock@pncmortgage.com 4340 W. Newberry Rd Gainesville, FL 32607

SM

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farming as it was a century ago as draft horses plow the Dudley Farm fields. A fun and educational experience for the entire family with ‘old time’ music, demonstrations and more. Admission is $5.00 per vehicle up to 8 occupants. 352-4721142. friendsofdudleyfarm.org.

STARGAZING AT PAYNES PRAIRIE Saturday, February 1 Time TBA

Farm-to-Table Dinner Saturday, Jan. 11 4:30pm ALACHUA - Swallowtail Farm, 17603 NW 276 Ln. As part of the 2013-2014 Farm to Table Dinner Series, Amanda Bisson of The Jones Eastside will be preparing dinner. The series highlights delicious food from Swallowtail Farm and surrounding local farms that is artfully prepared by Gainesville area celebrity chefs, celebrating the wonderful local food culture. Tickets are $80 and will go toward sustaining Swallowtail Farm. 352-840-7170.

MICANOPY - Paynes Prairie State Park, 100 Savannah Blvd. Come learn more about the stars and planets thanks to the Alachua Astronomy Club.

Enjoy sitting around a campfire while sipping hot chocolate and making s’mores. Take a hayride around Hickory Ranch. 352-466-4966.

MARDI GRAS FIRST FRIDAY Friday, February 7 5:00pm - 10:00pm GAINESVILLE - Downtown.

Mardi Gras First Friday features live music, Mardi Gras-themed live street art, King Cake provided by Sarkara Sweets, a Mardi Gras mask decorating contest, multiple bead drops throughout the night with a prize for the person with the most beads, and balcony parties at Union Street Station.

www.pledge5.org.

Air Show Saturday, February 8 9:00am – 4:00pm GAINESVILLE - Santa Fe College, 3000 NW 83rd St. American Heroes Air Show. Free admission and parking. Explore helicopters from law enforcement, fire service, military, ENG/EMS with static displays from local, regional, state & Federal/DOD agencies. Introduce your family to the local heroes of community service & national defense. www.heroes-airshow.com.

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DUDLEY KIDS PROGRAM Saturday, February 8 10:00am - 2:00pm NEWBERRY - Dudley Farm Historic State Park. 18730 West Newberry Rd. As part of the “Kids Fun on the Farm” every second Saturday October through May at Dudley Farm

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Historic State Park, this month’s theme will be “All About Milk.”

352-472-1142.

10% OFF

Up to 4 people. Admission, Camping. One coupon per visit.

(1 day/night only)

OTHS mag. Exp 03-15-14

PARK

COUPON NOT VALID ON MAJOR HOLIDAY WEEKENDS

• Covered pavilions • Concession stand • Large tiled bath house • Canoe & tube rentals • Nature trail • Volleyball courts • Horseshoe pits

Located in beautiful High Springs

386-454-1369 www.bluespringspark.com

• Playground • Picnic tables & grills • Campsites w/ electric and water • Primitive wooded campsites

GAINESVILLE HEART BALL Saturday, February 8 6:30pm - 11:00pm GAINESVILLE - UF Hilton Conference Center, 1714 SW 34th St. An elegant celebration of life, with proceeds benefiting the American Heart Association. For info contact Robin Weller: 800-257-6941 x8024;

Alachua@heart.org.

AUDUBON BACKYARD BIRDING TOUR Saturday, February 8 9:00am – 3:00pm GAINESVILLE - Wild Birds Unlimited, 4212 NW 16th Ave. Six of Gainesville’s best backyard birding habitats will be featured. Local experts will be on hand at each site to discuss their personal successes and how to attract a wide variety of birds. Tickets $10 each, available at Wild Birds Unlimited.

Info: Ron Robinson at 352-332-4867.

JAZZ, WINE, AND CRAFT BEER TASTING Sunday, February 9 4:00pm - 8:00pm GAINESVILLE - Embers Grill, 3545 SW 34th St. Gainesville High School baseball parents are organizing a fundraiser for the team. There will be live jazz music with the “Marty Liquori Jazztet.”

Tasting will include 20+ wines and craft beers with delicious samplings of Embers’ signature appetizers.

352-219-5472.

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WRITERS ALLIANCE OF GAINESVILLE Sunday, February 9 2:30pm – 3:30 or later GAINESVILLE - Millhopper Branch Library, 3145 NW 43rd Ave. WAG presents “Making Realistic goals for Your Writing and Sticking to Them.” Mary Ann de Stafano, editor, writing coach and owner of her company, Mad about Words, will speak at the meeting of the WAG. She develops writing workshops and edits the Florida Writer’s Association magazine and newsletter. She has over 11 years experience in publishing with Harcourt Brace/ Academic Press and 20 years as an independent writing consultant.

WAG meetings are free and open to anyone interested in the written word. madaboutwords.com,

www.writersalliance.org.

BATTLE OF OLUSTEE REENACTMENT Feb. 14 - 16 8:00am - 5:00pm OLUSTEE - Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park, 5815 Battlefield Trail Rd. Take yourself back to the 19th century at the 38th Annual Reenactment of the Battle of Olustee. This year will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Thousands will come out for an accurate period reenactment of Florida’s most important Civil War battle. 386-397-4478.

FARM-TO-TABLE DINNER Saturday, February 15 4:30pm ALACHUA - Swallowtail Farm, 17603 NW 276 Ln. Featuring Chef Gail

Johnson of Delicious Delivered, food from Swallowtail Farm and surrounding local farms will be artfully prepared by Gainesville area celebrity chefs, highlighting the wonderful local food culture. Dress casually and wear comfortable shoes. Tour the farm.

At 6:30 guests will gather at the harvest table for cocktails, music, good company and appetizers. Cost: $80. 352-840-7170. www.

swallowtailcsa.com.

WOLF TO WOOF: THE STORY OF DOGS Feb. 15 - Sept. 1 Times Vary GAINESVILLE - Florida Museum of Natural History, 3215 Hull Rd. “Wolf to Woof” is an exhibit on the history, biology and evolution of dogs. This family friendly exhibit reveals the fascinating history of dogs, their connection with wolves and what makes them man’s best friend. 352-846-2000.

ARTWALK CRAFT AND COTTAGE FOOD FAIR Friday, February 28 7:00pm - 9:00pm GAINESVILLE - Citizen’s Co-op, 435 S. Main St. Art, food, music and

Gainesville Civic Chorus Feb. 15 and Feb. 16 Times TBA GAINESVILLE and OCALA - Lauredsen’s Lux Aeterna and Bach’s Easter Oratorio will be performed at Gainesville’s Holy Trinity Episcopal February 15 and Ocala’s First Methodist on February 16. www.gcchorus.org.

drinks In the Courtyard.

Peruse art, crafts and food offerings from local vendors.

352-505-6575.

RACE THE TORTOISE 5K Saturday, March 1 7:00 HIGH SPRINGS - O’Leno State Park, 410 S.E. O’Leno Park Road. This is an out-and-back race along the Park’s scenic, paved main road. Gates close at 7:30am. Race begins at 8:00am. For more information about

prices and registration, call 386-454-0723.

March 7 - 9 Times Vary NEWBERRY - Tioga Town Center, 105 SW 128th St. The Gainesville Fine Arts Association is presenting its Winter Art Fair. Over 100 artists will gather, along with continuous entertainment centrally located at The Square.

5,000 attendees expected. www.

GAINESVILLE - Downtown.

Grab your fixed gears, road bikes, and cruisers and get ready for an evening around downtown to remember. This event will feature a chance for pre-registered participants to partake in a mini-bicycle race; a Gator Cycle bike safety tent; and reusable water bottle decorating contest! www.pledge5.org.

Just 10 miles south of historic St. Augustine

• Weekly/Bimonthly Maintenance • Equipment Diagnostics/Repair • Pool Renovations

6970 A1A SOUTH ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH

Call for reservations

Ca l l t o R e q u e s t a F r e e I n s p e c t i o n !

352-262-1347 • ASPGainesville.com

Friday, March 7 5:00pm - 10:00pm

GFAA WINTER ART FAIR

gainesvillefinearts.com.

TOUR DE SWAMP FIRST FRIDAY

1-800-527-8849

www.VisitOurTowns.com

www.beacherslodge.com

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Parks for play and long walks in nature.

Exquisite art galleries.

Activities for learning, fitness and connection offered year-round.

So much to love.

All in your city.

Gainesville. www.cityofgainesvilleparks.org

City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department is accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA).

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WE INSTALL ALL TYPES OF ROOFS & SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sat, March 15

4:00pm

WILL BEAT ANY WRITTEN ESTIMATE

MAC JOHNSON ROOFING,INC

TOLL OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE & CUSTOMER SATISFACTION FREE

NEWBERRY - Tioga Town Center, 140 SW 128th St. The 5th Annual Run for Haven, put on by Haven Hospice, will feature a 5K & 10K run/walk with a St. Patrick’s Day theme. Other children’s activities, costume contests, food & music will be available. Call 352-331-8773 to pre-register.

352-472-4943 866-376-4943

CCC -1325497

Run for Haven

ABC, LLC

Easy Tax & Accounting ENROLLED TO REPRESENT TAXPAYERS BEFORE THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

Electronic Filing For Fast Refunds DUDLEY KIDS PROGRAM

FARM-TO-TABLE DINNER

• Corps / Partnership / LLC Federal & State Income Tax Preparation/ Setup with IRS and State

Saturday, March 8 10:00am - 2:00pm

Saturday, March 15 4:30pm

• Individual / Business Federal & State Income Tax Preparation

ALACHUA - Swallowtail Farm, 17603 NW 276 Ln. As part of the 2013-2014 Farm to Table Dinner Series, Chef Jose Gonzalez of the Jones B-Side will be preparing dinner.

The series highlights delicious food from Swallowtail Farm and surrounding local farms that is artfully prepared by Gainesville area celebrity chefs, celebrating the wonderful local food culture. Tickets are $80 and will go toward sustaining Swallowtail Farm. 352-840-7170.

• Business Billing Service

NEWBERRY - Dudley Farm Historic State Park. 18730 West Newberry Rd. This month’s theme will be “Eat Your Vegetables,” as part of the “Kids Fun on the Farm” every second Saturday October through May at Dudley Farm Historic State Park, 352-472-1142.

FAMILY DAY AT THE DAIRY FARM Saturday, March 15 9:00am – 2:00pm HAGUE - Now in its third year, Family Day at the Dairy Farm is free and open to the public. It takes place at the UF dairy farm in Hague, 20 minutes northwest of Gainesville. The event offers visitors an up-close look at the operation of a real working dairy farm, and information about the UF research and Extension projects that help Florida’s dairy farms improve their production and herd health. Directions are available at www.

familydayatthedairyfarm.info.

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• Bookkeeping, Notary and Workers Compensation Services • Obamacare Health, Dental, Vision Insurance Enrollment with Associated Credit

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386-454-3518 www.odfeed.com 425 S. Main St. • High Springs, FL 32643

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386-454-4464 210 NE 1ST AVE • HIGH SPRINGS, FL

LIBRARY SCHEDULE Alachua Branch Library .....................14913 NW 140th St. .............................. 386-462-2592 High Springs Branch Library ...........135 NW 1st Ave........................................ 386-454-2512 Newberry Branch Library .................110 South Seaboard Dr. ..........................352-472-1135 For further information on scheduled events visit www.acld.lib.fl.us All branches are closed: DEC 24, DEC 25, JAN 1, JAN 20. Early closings: DEC 31.

ALACHUA PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN Lego Club Tuesdays - 3pm Preteens meet to create challenging structures.

(Meets on Wednesdays during December).

Team Pitbull Preteen Club First and third Wednesday - 3pm After-school group for ages 8-12 to explore stories and make storyrelated arts and crafts.

First and third Tuesday in December. Second and fourth Wednesday in January.

Preschool Storytime Thursdays - 11:15am Join us for stories, songs and dance.

(Meets at 11am during December) Preschool Holiday Music Extravaganza December 19 - 11am Children under 5 can come celebrate the holidays with song and dance.

PROGRAMS FOR TEENS Yu-Gi-Oh Club Monday, December 16 - 4pm Friends meet to challenge each other over Yu-Gi-Oh. Level-up! Tabletop Gamer’s Club Mondays - 4pm If you’re looking for a place to play Dungeons

& Dragons, Yu-Gi-Oh, or Magic: The Gathering, join this weekly group of fellow gamers.

Beginning 2014.

Teen Advisory Group 2nd and 4th Wednesdays - Times Vary Teens 12 - 18 meet to discuss upcoming teen events and books.

In December, group meets on second and fourth Tuesdays. In January, third and fifth Wednesday.

LGBT Book Talk Thursday, December 19 - 4pm Teens will get together to discuss LGBT books and topics.

Bloody Valentine: Vampire’s Ball Friday, February 14 3:30pm All creatures of the night are invited for an afternoon of snacks, dancing, and vampire trivia. Don’t forget to wear your fangs.

to inspire and be inspired. Does not meet in December.

Alachua Crafternoons Thursdays - 2pm Crafts in the afternoon at the Alachua Library!

Bring your favorite needlecraft, hobby or other ideas. Share and learn with other crafters in the community. Beginning in January 2014.

Poet and Writers Among Us Last Wednesdays of the Month - 4pm Poets and writers meet

PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES African American Read-in Sunday, February 9 2pm Friends of the Alachua Branch Library will host a Read-in celebrating Black History Month.

Johnson Steppers Thursdays in December - 6pm Practice contemporary dance moves while toning muscles.

Everyone welcome. No experience required.

Pi Day Friday, March 14 - 3pm Celebrate the mathematical constant with a Pi recitation challenge, some math practice and actual pie!

VITA Tax Assistance Saturdays in February and March - 1pm - 5pm The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance will be at the library to help anyone with be providing help for qualifying taxpayers.

Will not be there on Feb. 22.

HIGH SPRINGS

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS Affordable Care Act Navigator Second and Fourth Monday - 4pm - 7pm If you need help signing up for health insurance, an ACA navigator will be at the library for assistance.

event. Due to popularity, appointments may not be available on the same day requested.

AARP TaxAide Feb. 22 and March 8 11am - 3pm AARP TaxAide volunteers will assist in tax preparation for taxpayers with lowand middle-income, with special attention to those aged 60 and older. Arrange an appointment by emailing taxaide4u@gmail.com or by walking in to any of our locations during a TaxAide Assistance

www.VisitOurTowns.com

PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN Mary’s Marvelous Storytime Tuesdays - 11am Books, songs, puppets and dancing.

Afternoon at the Movies First Thursday - 3pm Watch new releases and old favorites on the library’s big screen.

Snacks provided.

Wii Fun and Games Third Thursday- 3pm Come play Wii Sports, Resort or Mario Kart, and play board games while you wait for your turn.

Santa’s at the Library December 17, 6pm Come see Santa and

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get a treat bag. Make sure to bring a camera to get a picture with the big guy.

Chinese New Year’s Celebration Tuesday, Jan. 28 - 3pm The year of the Horse is upon us. Come celebrate Chinese New Year’s with crafts.

Valentine’s Day Crafts Tuesday, Feb. 11 - 3pm Come to the library to make something special for the one you love.

St. Patrick’s Day Crafts Tuesday, March 11 - 3pm Have fun this St. Patty’s day with green and festive crafts at the library.

PROGRAMS FOR TEENS Teen Wii Dec. 17, 4pm Play Wii Resort, Sports, or Mario Kart while munching on snacks provided by High Springs Friends of the Lioness.

Prepare Yourself for the Work Force Wednesday, Jan. 8 3:30pm Matt Benge, the 4-H Agent for the Alachua County Extension Office of UF’s IFAS, will speak to young adults about preparing themselves for the workforce. He will go over dressing for success and interviewing tips.

Computer and Wii Games Friday, Jan. 17 - 1pm Teens can come to hang out in the meeting room with their laptops to play games on their day off school.

Learn to Decorate Cupcakes Wednesday, Feb. 12 3:30pm Learn about cake and cupcake decorating just in time for Valentine’s Day. Rose Hampton will teach teens the basics and then they can taste their creations.

line at www.aclib.us or by calling 386-454-2515.

First Friday of December.

Getting Financially Organized Thursday, Jan. 9 6:30pm Dr. Brenda Williams, the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent with UF’s IFAS, will help you get on the right track with your finances.

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS

Friends of the Library Board Meeting Monday, Jan. 27 10:30am Sit in for the Friends of the Library quarterly board meeting.

Crafter’s Circle Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1pm If you embroider, quilt, knit or enjoy doing any other “non-messy” craft, this is the group for you.

Interpretation of the South Thursday, March 13 6pm History enthusiast Henry Sheldon will share his interpretation of the South as a lifelong resident of Florida.

The Rug Bunch Wednesday, Dec. 18 3pm Crochet a rag rug with a group of fellow enthusiasts.

Computer Basics Every third Friday 10am Learn how to use a computer in a relaxed setting at your own pace. Topics covered may include how to use a mouse, word processing, email, and the Internet. Registration required. Register on-

PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES Black History in Film Thursdays in February - 6:30pm Celebrate Black History Month through film.

Popcorn and lemonade will be provided.

Hannah O’Neal: Local Teen Author Wednesday, March 12 3:30pm O’Neal is the 13-yearold author of “Soar.”

She will be answering questions and talking

CHIMNEY SWEEPS OF AMERICA

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Prevent home fires.

We don’t monkey around!

122 | Winter 2013

Junior Panther Den Tuesdays, 3:15pm Preteens play, create and learn after school.

Some weeks not scheduled; check with library, 352-472-1135.

Preschool Storytime Wednesdays - 11am Stories, songs, and activities for the preschool set.

Midweek Movie Madness Wednesdays - 3pm Watch some of the latest movies as well as the best of the oldest.

No movie on Feb. 19.

Wild about Wildlife Wednesday, Feb. 19 3:30pm Come learn about Florida’s official state animals and more!

Storytime Goat Workshop Wednesday, Feb. 26 11am In place of this week’s storytime event, there will be goats for children to see and learn about. Children can milk a mother goat and hold a baby goat.

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PROGRAMS FOR TEENS

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS

Senior Panther Den Tuesdays, 4:15pm Play sports and dance with Wii games, tune your groove with karaoke, or create a wacky craft.

Newberry Needlecrafters Tuesdays - 1:05pm If you crochet, knit, embroider, needlepoint, quilt, or enjoy doing any other “non-messy” craft, this is the group for you.

Newberry Teen Book Club Third Thursdays - 4pm Read and discuss the latest and most popular teen books.

Newberry Teen Advisory Group Jan. 9, Feb. 6 - 4pm Join the fun and plan teen events at the library while earning volunteer hours.

Spray Paint Art Monday, Jan. 13 3:30pm Tal May, local spray paint artist, will demonstrate and teach basic spray paint technique.

Teen Craft Club Jan. 9, March 13 - 4pm Create your own masterpieces with these fun crafts just for teens!

Paper Crane Origami Monday, Feb. 10 - 3pm Celebrate Chinese New Year and make your own paper crane, the international symbol of peace.

Tempting Reads Book Club Fourth Wednesdays 6pm Read popular and recently published books including books recommended by participants. In December, pushed to third Wednesday for holidays.

Newberry Walking Club Thursdays - 11am Walk with friends to help boost brain power, control weight and increase cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength.

Computers for Beginners Jan. 16, March 13 11am Learn the basics in a relaxed setting. On December 3, advance to the “More than Basics” class at 4pm.

Call to sign up in advance.

You want what book?

How to use the library’s website and databases Feb. 27 - 11am Come learn about

TREE SERVICE Tree Cutting, Trimming, Removing and Stump Grinding 24hr Emergency Service

downloadable media, the Library databases, and how to reserve a book online. Basic computer skills required.

PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES Gingerbread House Contest December 18 - 3pm Celebrate the holidays by building your own gingerbread house for a prize, and even if you don’t win, take home your creation.

Googling Your Family Tree Sunday, Jan. 19 - 2pm Explore your ethnic past with the genealogy librarian on the most popular search engine.

African American Genealogy Sunday, Feb. 9 - 2pm In honor of Black History Month, come learn how to navigate records to trace your African American roots.

Heart Health Month Thursday, Feb. 13 6pm UF’s IFAS will have a presentation on how to stay heart healthy.

AARP TaxAide Satuday, March 1 10:30am AARP TaxAide volunteers will assist in tax preparation for taxpayers with lowand middle-income, with special attention to those aged 60 and older. Taxpayers will be served on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Santa Fe Teaching Zoo Thursday, Jan. 30 4pm The Santa Fe Teaching Zoo will visit the library with some of its critters.

Celebrate Black History: Buffalo Soldiers Historical Society Saturday, Feb. 8 - 11am Kick off Black History Month by coming to learn about the legacy of the Jacksonville Buffalo Soldier Historical Society.

Walking Safely Thursday, March 6 3:30pm There will be a presentation covering the rules and laws that govern being a safe pedestrian in Alachua County. A coordinator at the City of Gainesville will speak. s

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“Your trusted dealer since 1926” 386-454-1488 • US 441 • High Springs www.JimDouglasService.com 124 | Winter 2013

> TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER BOOK REVIE REVIEW EW >>

Carnivores written by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Dan Santat c.2013, Chronicle Books $16.99 / $19.99 Canada

Y

40 pages

ou’re a pretty big kid.

You’re bigger than a baby, of course. You’re taller than you were last year; much taller than two years ago. Next fall, it’ll be the same thing: you just keep growing.

But no matter how big you get, you’ll still feel sad when people look at you funny. In the new book “Carnivores” by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Dan Santat, you’ll see that even the biggest, most ferocious animals can “get their feelings hurt.”

Very few things in the world are scarier than lions, sharks and wolves. The lion is King of the Jungle, right?

Everybody’s terrified of seeing a shark underwater. And the howl of a wolf? Your spine tingles when you hear it.

So imagine how terrible those fierce beasts felt when the other animals gave them nasty looks, talked behind

their backs, made up mean rumors about them, or sneered at them. It didn’t feel good because they just couldn’t help having sharp claws, big fangs, or “scary eyes.” That’s just the way they were.

Because nobody else would make friends with the lion, the wolf, or the shark, the three carnivores befriended one another. Pretty soon, they started discussing their problem and the wolf suggested that they become vegetarians. Maybe, if they didn’t eat the other animals, the other animals might like them better.

But salad has a way of getting lodged in teeth.

Seaweed tastes really yucky. And it’s simply impossible to avoid bunnies when you’re hunting for berries.

Being vegetarians was absolutely not going to work.

Then the shark thought maybe camouflage was a great idea. But the lion got caught because he had “zebra breath,” and the wolf drooled.

That made it hard to hide in plain sight, so camo wouldn’t work, either.

Then the lion thought of an idea: the owl was a predator. Had been for years, and lots of animals liked him. Maybe they could ask the owl how he coped with rumors, nasty looks, and whispers. He’d know how to turn a bad reputation around. The wise old owl would surely have a few delicious ideas…

No doubt about it: kids love sharks, lions, wolves, gators — anything fierce and with teeth. That makes “Carnivores” perfect to bite into.

I absolutely loved the silliness inside this story.

Author Aaron Reynolds lets the predators be the victims here, which puts a sort of Woody-Allen spin on the poor, beleaguered meat-eaters. It’s hilarious to see each carnivore as he tries not to hurt the feelings of the animals he’s about to invite to dinner, so to speak.

This story itself is perfectly pulled together by the illustrations from Dan Santat. Your child will probably point them out to you, but be sure to pay close attention to the details in this book. They are ferociously cute.

Kids ages 5-to-8 are going to howl at this book and grown-ups who get to read aloud will enjoy it too. If your child loves things that fight and bite, “Carnivores” will be a big hit. s Terri Schlichenmeyer has been reading since she was 3 years old and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives with her two dogs and 11,000 books.

www.VisitOurTowns.com

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WORSHIP CENTERS If we have left out a church or have incomplete / incorrect information, please let us know! Send your corrections by faxing 352-373-9178 or emailing editor@towerpublications.com. We welcome your contributions and suggestions.

HIGH SPRINGS ALLEN CHAPEL A.M.E. CHURCH 386-454-3574 10 S.E. MLK Drive Pastor James McDaniel ANDERSON MEMORIAL CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST 386-454-3433 935 SE Lincoln Ave. BETHLEHEM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 386-454-1996 County Road 778 Pastor Clarence Desue CHRIST ANGLICAN FELLOWSHIP 386-454-1845 323 SW CR 778 Pastor Michael LaCagnina CHRISTIAN FAMILY WORSHIP CENTER 386-454-2367 220 NE 1ST Ave. Dr. Lloyd S. Williams CHURCH OF CHRIST 386-454-2930 520 NE Santa Fe Blvd.

CHURCH OF GOD

BY FAITH 386-454-1015 US Hwy 27 THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS 386-454-4282 24455 NW 174th Ave. Pres. Keith Brown HIGH SPRINGS CHURCH OF GOD 386-454-1757 210 NW 182 Ave. Pastor Terry W. Hull

126 | Winter 2013

FELLOWSHIP CHURCH 386-454-1700 16916 NW U.S. Hwy. 441 Pastor Jeff Powell FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 386-454-1505 20112 North US Hwy. 441 Pastor Derek Lambert FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 386-454-1037 205 North Main Street Pastor Glen A. Busby FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH of HIGH SPRINGS 386-454-1255 17405 NW US Hwy 441 Pastor Benton Mangueira

MT CARMEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 386-454-4568 1230 NW 1st Ave. Pastor Byran Williams MT. PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH 14105 NW 298th Street 386-454-2161 Pastor Dan Howard MOUNT OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH 386-454-3447 948 SE Railroad Ave. THE NORTH EAST CHURCH OF CHRIST 4330 NE County Road 340 nechurchofchrist.net

GRACE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 210 Santa Fe Blvd.

Pastor Preston Ponce

SAINT MADELEINE CATHOLIC CHURCH 386-454-2358 17155 NW Highway 441

HOLY TEMPLE CHURCH WITH GOD 386-454-0313 615 SE ML King Drive

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH 386-454-2360 230 NW 1st Avenue Pastor Mark Swaisgood

IMPACT FAMILY CHURCH 386-454-1563 16710 NW US 441 Pastors Edwin & Angela Anderson JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES 386-454-3509 330 SE 7th Ave. MIRACLE TEMPLE CHURCH 386-454-4298 605 SE 1st Place THE MISSION CHURCH OF HIGH SPRINGS Meeting at the Seventh Day Adventist Building 230 NW 1st Ave. 352-870-0247 Pastor Keith Helsel

SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH 386-454-4978 Shiloh Church Rd. Pastor Earl Tuten SHILOH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 386-454-3126 1505 NW Main St. SPRING RIDGE FIRST CHURCH OF GOD 386-454-3600 5529 NE 52nd Place Pastor Todd L Wymer SPRINGRIDGE FIRST CHURCH OF GOD 386-454-4400 420 Spring Ave.

THE SUMMIT 352-575-0786 610 NE Santa Fe Blvd Pastor Rick Lawrence thesummitchurch.info ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 386-454-9812 1st Ave. (next to city hall) Rev. David Kidd SPRING HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Located at High Springs exit 79 off I-75 North of Gainesville (on Old Bellamy Rd.) Pastor James Richardson VISION TABERNACLE 352-339-4942 220 N.E. 1st Avenue Pastor Lawrence R. Haley

ALACHUA ALACHUA CHURCH OF CHRIST 386-462-3326 14505 NW 145th Avenue Minister Doug Frazier ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH 386-497-3121 Jordan Road (Ft. White) BAHA’I FAITH 352-870-3097 Turkey Creek CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH 13920 NW Hwy 4141 386-462-2966 Pastor Marty D. Basinger calvarybaptistgainesville.org CHRIST CENTRAL ALACHUA 386-418-8185 14906 Main St. www.ccalachua.com CHURCH OF GOD BY FAITH 386-462-2549 13220 NW 150th Ave.

CRUSADERS FOR CHRIST, INC. 386-462-4811 NW 158th Ave. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF ALACHUA 386-462-1337 14005 NW 146th Avenue Pastor Doug Felton FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF ALACHUA 386-462-2443 14805 NW 140th St. Pastor Lamar Albritton FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ALACHUA 386-462-1549 14623 NW 140th St. Rev. Virginia McDaniel FOREST GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-3921 22575 NW 94 Avenue GREATER NEW HOPE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-4617 15205 NW 278th Ave. HAGUE BAPTIST CHURCH 6725 NW 126th Ave Gainesville, Fl 32653 Pastor Sam Brown HARE KRISHNA TEMPLE 386-462-2017 17306 NW 112th Blvd.

LEGACY BAPTIST CHURCH 352-462-2150 13719 NW 146th St. Pastor John Jernigan LIVING COVENANT CHURCH 386-462-7375 Pastor Troy Rumore NEW OAK GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-3390 County Road 1491 Pastor Terry Elixson, Jr. NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH OF GOD AND CHRIST 386-462-4891 1310 NW 155 Place Pastor R. L. Cooper

NORTH PLEASANT GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-3317 25330 NW CR 239 Pastor Steve Hutcheson NEW SAINT MARY BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-7129 13800 NW 158th Ave. PARADISE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF ALACHUA 386-462-0162 14889 MLK Blvd.

Pastor Rev. James D. Johnson, Sr. SANTA FE BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-7541 7505 NW CR 236 Pastor Scott Brown MT NEBO UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 386-418-1038 9975 NW 143rd St. Pastor Ricardo George Jr. NEW SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-2095 18610 NW CR 237 NEW ST MARY BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-7129 13800 NW 158th Ave. OLD SHILOH MISSIONARY BAPTIST 386-462-4894 16810 NW CR 239 RIVER OF LIFE ASSEMBLY OF GOD 352-870-7288 14200 NW 148th Place Pastor Greg Evans ST LUKE AME CHURCH 386-462-2732 US Highway 441 S. ST MATHEWS BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-2205 15712 NW 140 Street Pastor Isaac Miles TEMPLE OF THE UNIVERSE 386-462-7279 15808 NW 90 Street www.tou.org

WESTSIDE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST 386-418-0649 15535 NW 141st St.

NEWBERRY ABIDING SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH 352-331-4409 9700 West Newberry Rd. BETHEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 352-474-6215 23530 NW 3rd Ave. Pastor Theodora Black BRONSON ROAD CHURCH Located on 337 Between Newberry and Bronson On the County Line 352 486-2898 Pastor Andy Cook CHURCH OF GOD BY FAITH 352-472-2739 610 NW 2nd St. Pastor: Jesse Hampton THE CHURCH AT STEEPLECHASE 352-472-6232 Meeting at Sun Country Sports Center 333 SW 140th Terrace (Jonesville) Pastor Buddy Hurlston FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF NEWBERRY 352-472-2351 25520 W. Newberry Rd. Rev. Jack Andrews GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH 352-472-9200 22405 W. Newberry Rd. Pastor Ty Keys JONESVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH 352-472-3835 17722 SW 15th Ave. Pastor Corey Cheramie JOURNEY CHURCH 352-281-0701 22405 W. Newberry Rd. Milam Funeral Home Chapel Dr. Michael O’Carroll, Pastor

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CHRISTIAN LIFE FELLOWSHIP 352-472-5433 Pastor Gary Bracewell MT ZURA FULL GOSPEL BAPTIST CHURCH 352-472-4056 225 NW 2nd Ave. Pastor Natron Curtis NEW ST PAUL BAPTIST CHURCH 352-472-3836 215 NW 8TH Ave. Pastor Charles Welch NEWBERRY CHURCH OF CHRIST 352-472-4961 24045 W. Newberry Rd. Minister Batsell Spivy NEWBERRY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 352-472-4005 24845 W. Newberry Rd. Dr. Gary Brady, Pastor DESTINY COMMUNITY CHURCH 352-472-3284 420 SW 250th Street Pastor Rocky McKinley OAK DALE BAPTIST CHURCH 352-472-2992 Highway 26 and 241 S. PLEASANT PLAIN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 352-472-1863 1910 NW 166th St. Pastor Theo Jackson ST JOSEPH’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 352-472-2951 16921 W. Newberry Rd. Pastor Richard Pelkey TURNING POINT OF NEWBERRY, INC 5577 NW 290 Street 352-472-7770 Pastor Henry M. Rodgers UNION BAPTIST CHURCH 352-472-3845 6259 SE 75TH Ave Pastor Travis Moody

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ur goal is to keep Seniors as independent as possible and in their homes for as long as possible, along with keeping them out of the hospital,” said Pamela Morgan, Senior Director of Professional Services with Mederi Caretenders of Gainesville. “It’s cheaper for a patient to be seen by a home care nurse once a week for two years than it is for an emergency room visit. Hospitals are looking at how to decrease re-hospitalizations, and home care is going to be the big component to doing that.”

So what exactly does “home care” encompass? With National Home Care Month upon us, Morgan discussed the many facets of quality inhome care that Mederi Caretenders provides.

Nursing – Nurses care for wounds, give injections, reconcile and assess medication regime compliance and perform other medical care functions. They also assess the patient’s situation and educate relatives or caregivers. “When you have caregivers suddenly taking care of a family member, they don’t understand the disease process, they don’t understand all the medications,” said Morgan. “We can teach them how to take care of their family member and know what to expect.”

Physical and Occupational Therapy – Physical therapists help Seniors regain their strength and maximize their ability to move about, prevent falls and improve balance. Occupational 128 | Winter 2013

therapists help with everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing and preparing food. Many elderly patients are not easily able to travel to another therapy location, where their in-home environment is not always replicated. “We can modify things that they can’t when they’re going to an outpatient facility or hospital,” Morgan explained. “We look at their home and, for example, explain how to negotiate stairs.”

Speech Therapy – Speech therapists assess and assist patients in regaining or improving communication and swallowing. They can also administer VitalStim, a therapy that uses electronic stimulation along with swallowing exercises to help the patient relearn how to swallow. Speech therapists also provide therapy to teach the patient and caregiver about foods to eat or avoid.

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>> TRUE GRIT

The Battle of Olustee Dedicated Reenactors Keep History Alive — 150 Years Later

STORY BY COURTNEY LINDWALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY CARSON or the Battle of Olustee reenactors, it can be hard to tune out the 21st century for very long. As Civil War buffs, they have recreated the North Florida battle meticulously — but the “smudges on their living history picture” still come often. Cars drive up. Visitors in modern clothing walk by. Someone makes a call on a cell phone.

But every so often, 1864 comes alive.

It is the night before Saturday’s battle, and deep in the North Florida woods, the soldiers march on. Dozens of reenactors are participating in what is called an “immersion event” — an opportunity to embody completely the life of their Civil War character.

F

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They will march to the battle the night before — just the way Union soldiers did 150 years ago.

For as far as they can see, men outfitted in the deep blue of the North trudge along. Their wagon, packed full of supplies, lags behind.

The February cold bites the soldiers for the dozen or so miles to Olustee, where thousands of other reenactment troops will be waiting.

And for a moment — they can feel it.

The year is 1864 and they are Civil War soldiers.

“You get a little tingle up and down your spine,” said James Permane, who has played the Union’s General Seymour for a decade. “This is what it was like.”

The reenactment, now in its

38th year, draws thousands to Olustee Historic State Park. For two days, men and women recreate Florida’s most important (and bloodiest) Civil War battle The reenactment runs Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 15 and 16.

Thousands of reenactors participate.

As 2014 is the 150th anniversary, more than usual are expected.

“Settlers” will also provide period goods and music at the event.

The Battle of Olustee Historic Reenactment is at once entertainment and education. Many people do not realize that Florida has Civil War history at all. But in fact, the Battle of Olustee was one of the most costly battles of the entire war when measured as deaths per number fighting.

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About 3,000 total were either killed, wounded or reported missing — with the Union accounting for nearly twice as many casualties.

The battle raged for five hours on Feb. 20, 1864 — 14 months before the end of the war. General Finnegan eventually led the Confederate troops to victory, and

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General Seymour led the Yankees to a hasty (and costly) retreat.

Additionally, Florida was the site of political and military strategy. The Confederates fought for Florida’s vast beef resources to feed their troops. The Union fought to cut off their supply lines and important contributions

were made by U.S. Colored Troops, including the now-famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.

And towns such as Jacksonville exchanged hands many times.

The reenactment brings this often-overlooked part of Florida’s history to life.

“Seeing helps a lot more than

“You get a little tingle up and down your spine.

This is what it was like.”

reading about it,” Permane said. “If it’s just a bunch of words on a page, it’s hard to grasp. Seeing people doing it and acting it out makes it more of a real event and drives them to pursue more education.”

The accuracy of the battle is the result of intense study and research by Civil War historians

and enthusiasts across the country.

The Battle of Olustee in particular has been a team effort by groups of Florida Civil War buffs — building upon and editing one another’s discoveries constantly.

Thomas Fasulo has been dedicated to creating an honest and detailed picture of the time period

www.VisitOurTowns.com

and battle itself for decades.

He is the webmaster for the Battle of Olustee website, a board member for the Citizens Support Organization for the park, and an annual participator in the reenactment.

Fasulo is not a general or commander — he goes simply as Private Fasulo.

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“I get to dress up like a 19th-century soldier, do some role-playing and be a little bit of an actor,” Fasulo said.

His main passion is behind-thescenes — digging into the records and books left behind.

“We’re constantly reading and finding things we didn’t know before. A picture emerges and looks like the way something occurred,” Fasulo said. “But a story may change over the years.”

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Since he was young (as is the case for many Civil War hobbyists), Fasulo has found a passion for the details — the battles, the soldiers and the military strategy.

“The United States Civil War was the first large war in which we had a literate mass army,” Fasulo said.

“They kept diaries, wrote letters home constantly, wrote memoirs.”

Many of the soldiers’ records show more honest portrayals of the war — as the memoirs of generals

often exaggerated or lied to bolster reputations, he said.

“The Civil War was so important that men in Washington were tasked with developing the official records,” Fasulo said.

In fact, 178 volumes worth, he said.

The Battle of Olustee Reenactment has used this expansive reserve of information to create an increasingly accurate portrayal.

The soldiers, dressed in matching period uniforms, carry 19th-century

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weapons. The generals call out orders using 19th-century vernacular. The reenactors attack, retreat and move position accurately, mimicking the true order of events.

Two or three reenactors will run into the open battlefield at the same time the records show a man was returning with artillery supplies.

Even if some of these details are lost on the average spectator, Fasulo and others care deeply about the history they are preserving.

For all involved, it’s about having fun, as well.

“People don’t do Civil War reenactments because it’s work — this is your hobby. You’re having a good time. You’re out there with your friends doing history,” Fasulo said.

Even at intense moments of

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battle, it can be all laughs.

“This would work a lot better if we didn’t all shoot at the same person,” one Union soldier joked.

Fasulo recalled the time when a reenactor fired a single “shot” into the opposing Confederate troops and 10 men dropped dead.

Spectators roared.

And even Permane, playing the Union general who brings his troops to defeat, has a good time.

“It’s actually more exciting from my point of view,” Permane said. “We are the attacking force. We make the first aggressive move. When we kind of get whooped, we fall back. We have a lot more going on. They can show some panic and some excitement.”

The reenactment coincides with a related but separate event,

the Olustee Festival in downtown Lake City. Vendors, music, exhibits and food come together to commemorate the battle. Events such as the Olustee 5K and the Blue Grey Square Dance put spirit and life back into the town’s history.

This year will mark the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Olustee — a century and a half removed from the realities of Civil War America.

But every once in a while, it comes alive again — while watching cavalry charge on the open field, while smelling the gunpowder of a thousand fired shots.

Or while marching through the North Florida woods with fellow soldiers, on the way to battle.

“You get the magic moments,” Permane said. s

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COLUMN >> BY KENDRA SILER-MARSIGLIO

Healthy Edge Kids’ New Year’s Resolutions

H

as your annual pattern been to break your New Year’s resolutions? This year, turn over a new leaf.

Teach your kids (and re-teach yourself) how to make and keep them.

Every year, New Year’s resolutions seem important at the start of the year, and for many, we stop pursuing our resolution after a few months. Many times the reasons we fizzle is that our goals are too difficult, too abstract, or too unimportant for us to uphold.

If we know how to make a practical and “keep”-able New Year’s resolution, it has the potential to give us a significant Healthy Edge — no matter what our age is.

A great life tool you can give your kids is to teach them how to make a New Year’s resolution that they can keep.

The best New Year’s resolutions are: Tangible: A resolution to be happy is not tangible.

Instead consider practical steps you can take to be happy. Instead of “I resolve to be happy,” try “I’ll join and participate in one club or team that allows me to meet people who share my interests.”

Measurable: If you can’t measure your resolution, how can you tell if you are meeting your goal?

Simple: If the resolution is too complicated, it can become overwhelming to start or continue. Keep it simple!

Easy to re-start: Be sure your resolution makes it easy to jump back on the wagon if you fall off.

The following New Year tips are suggestions for kids’ resolutions from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Feel free to share this list with your kids to let them pick one or make up one of their own.

PRESCHOOLERS • I will clean up my toys and put them where they belong.

• I will brush my teeth twice a day and wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before eating.

• I won’t tease dogs or other pets — even friendly ones.

I will avoid being bitten by keeping my fingers and face away from their mouths.

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KIDS, 5- TO 12-YEARS-OLD • I will drink water every day, and drink soda and fruit drinks only on special occasions.

• I will apply sunscreen before I go outdoors on bright sunny days.

• I will try to find a sport (like basketball or soccer) or an activity (like playing tag, dancing or riding my bike) that I like and do it at least three times a week!

• I will always wear a helmet when bicycling.

• I will wear my seat belt every time I get in a car. I’ll sit in the back seat and use a booster seat until I am tall enough to use a seat belt.

• I’ll be friendly to kids who need friends — like someone who is shy or is new to my school.

• I’ll never give out personal information such as my name, home address, school name or telephone number on the Internet.

KIDS, 13-YEARS-OLD AND UP • I will try to eat two servings of fruit and two servings of vegetables every day, and I will drink sodas only on special occasions.

• I will choose non-violent television shows and video games, and I will spend no more than one to two hours each day on these activities.

• When I feel angry or stressed out, I will take a break and find constructive ways to deal with the stress, such as exercising, reading, writing in a journal or discussing my problem with a parent or friend.

• I will be careful about whom I choose to date, and always treat the other person with respect and without coercion or violence. I will expect the same good behavior in return.

• I will not use tobacco, drugs, or alcohol.

• I agree not to use a cellphone or text message while driving and to always use a seat belt. s Kendra Siler-Marsiglio, Ph.D. is the Director of the Rural Health Partnership at WellFlorida Council

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>> DOWN IN A HOLE

Gopher Crossing Sharing Our World with a Keystone Species

BY ERICKA WINTERROWD hat stands on three and a half legs, has one eye, and occasionally hisses? The three gopher tortoises that now reside at O’Leno State Park, of course.

Meet Stumpy, Pop-Eye and Hissy.

Their names provide a clue as to how one might distinguish between the three of them.

The tortoises came from Silver Springs, where officials noticed the special needs of Pop-Eye who is missing one eye, Stumpy who is missing one forearm, and Hissy who has been living in captivity her entire life and is completely reliant on people to forage for her.

Now, these tortoises live together

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in a new housing pen designed with specific rules and regulations by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Volunteers and state park officials have put in countless hours of work to make the pen just right for these three reptile ambassadors.

Cindy Preston has been a park service specialist at O’Leno State Park for 12 years. She runs the nature center.

“We are always looking for new ways to expand the nature center, and when Silver Springs was being rolled over to a state park and closing their zoo division we contacted them because we had heard they were looking for a home for these three gopher tortoises,” Preston said. “We gladly said we would take them in.”

Hissy is a female approximately 20 to 23 years old. She was named Hissy because of her sassiness and keen ability to hiss. But, Preston said, she has a sweet nature too.

“She’s almost like a puppy dog,” Preston said. “She’ll come right up to you looking for food all of the time.

She’s got quite the personality.”

Pop-Eye is a female that is approximately 11 years old. Records indicate her eye was lost because of an injury. Looking at her, one would think she was born that way since Pop-Eye’s eye socket has completely healed over.

Lastly, there is Stumpy, the baby of the group. At 2 years of age, Stumpy’s sex cannot yet be determined.

“Stumpy seems to be the bravest,” Preston said. “He is the first

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one out and the last one in. I guess, just like every kid, he is anxious and raring to get out there.”

All three have been deemed un-releasable by veterinarians and will live out the rest of their years in the rescue pen at O’Leno.

“They are such an attraction for folks here,” Preston said. “It’s really neat to see people stop in and want to get to know more about the species. They are such a wonderful educational tool for the park. We just love them.”

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In 2007, the FWC listed the gopher tortoise as a threatened species and created a plan to manage and protect these unique reptiles. The strategy consists of conservation goals and operational guidelines for landowners whose property contains gopher tortoises, as well as regulations for proper permits and habitat procurement plans.

Joan Berish has been a research wildlife biologist with the FWC for 33 years. At 63 years old she has been researching and working with

gopher tortoises for more than half of her life. She explained that one reason the gopher tortoise is so fascinating is because it is a keystone species.

“The term ‘keystone’ comes from a building,” Berish said. “If you look at an arch there is usually one piece at the top that holds everything together, without which the arch would collapse. Hence, the name keystone species, because the gopher serves as a landlord of sorts for hundreds of other species.”

GOPHER TORTOISE FACTS Gopher tortoise burrows average seven feet deep and 15-feet long — but may be more than 40-feet long!

PHOTO BY ERICKA WINTERROWD

Volunteer Bob Mardis, 79, holds Pop-Eye showing the side of her face where she is missing an eye. At feeding time, Pop-Eye, Stumpy and Hissy venture out of their burrows. At O’leno, visitors need to be on the lookout for its popular residents.

A tortoise may have multiple burrows within its home territory.

Burrow openings are half-moon shaped with the curve at the top, and its size is a fair representation of the size of the tortoise.

Burrows with round openings have generally been taken over by an enterprising armadillo.

Adult tortoises are generally 9-11 inches long and weigh 7-9 pounds.

Females begin to reproduce when they are 9-21 years old (age depending on local conditions); males begin slightly younger.

Berish and her team have documented more than 350 to 400 other species that seek refuge in the gopher tortoise burrows. Many are invertebrates such as spiders and beetles. Others include the gopher toad, burrowing owl and indigo snake to name a few.

“They are not all down there at the same time, of course,” Berish said.

Gopher’s burrows serve as a refuge from predators as well as in times of fire or climatic change, she said.

Additionally, gopher tortoises

live a very long time — between 40 to 60 years. They may not reproduce until they are 10 to 20 years of age.

When they do, they produce very few eggs — five to seven on average — and predators eat many of those.

Because of their slow reproduction rate and maturity growth, harvesting gopher tortoises for food was banned in 1988.

“It’s easy to forget that this species was heavily harvested for food in the past and that populations in the Florida Panhandle were severely

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They breed March through October but generally dig nests in May and June. One clutch is laid per year with an average of six eggs. Many eggs never hatch because they are eaten by mammals, birds and snakes.

The biggest threat to the gopher tortoises’ longterm survival is loss of habitat.

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PHOTO BY ERICKA WINTERROWD

Second graders from Joyce Bullock Elementary School in Williston take a field trip to O’Leno State Park where Cindy Preston teaches about the importance of this keystone species.

School groups get the chance to watch the gopher tortoises come in and out of their burrows inside the rescue pen.

depleted,” Berish said. “Hunters claimed that they had driven to the peninsula to get gophers because these ‘slow-walking chickens’ were about gone in a 50-mile-radius from their panhandle hometown.”

In the past, she said, gophers were pulled from their burrows via a

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long wire attached to a PVC pole with a blunted hook at the end.

“One rotund, so-called gopherpuller told me: “Ma’am, if you are what you eat, I reckon I’m a gopher,’” Berish said.

Today, she would characterize

illegal harvest as sporadic and localized.

The gopher tortoise can be found in six states in the southeastern coastal plain, including a tiny

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part of southeastern Louisiana and small part of southern South Carolina, as well as in southern Mississippi and southern Alabama.

Its stronghold, however, is the peninsula of Florida where it can be found in parts of all 67 counties and in the Georgia coastal plain. It is listed as a threatened species in southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi and southwestern Alabama (west of the Mobile River) but it is being evaluated for federal listing as a threatened species in the eastern part of its range.

“Frankly, the goal of those of us that are partnering throughout the southeast to conserve this species is to try to take the conservation measures now in order to prevent it from having to be listed,” Berish said. “This is why Florida has a very intensive and comprehensive management plan for this species.”

She stressed the importance of gophers ecologically, explaining that it is a generator of biodiversity, which is just a fancy way of saying

that areas that have gopher tortoises provide the homes for other species. Also, when the gophers dig they bring nutrients up and enrich the soil. When they walk around and defecate they also spread seed, so this species is extremely important to the habitat it lives in.

Gopher tortoises live in high dry areas as well as sand hills, such as Morningside Nature Center and O’Leno State Park. It also lives in shrub lands such as in the Ocala National Forest. Other zones include the dryer areas of the Pine Flatwoods, dry prairies or coastal beach dunes. Gopher tortoises can be found strolling in the dunes there between the ocean and the houses.

“What they are really looking for are three very important things,” Berish said. “The first is deep enough sandy soil to burrow, and that’s relative, as they can live in soils that are a little moister but they generally like pretty deep sandy soils. They need open sunlit sites for nesting and basking, and they obviously

need food like all of us.”

She said that they enjoy low growing, herbaceous foods, generally lush green plants that don’t grow too high.

Berish works closely on habitat management.

“I liken this to the TLC that an old house needs,” she said. “You don’t just walk away, you give this house a restoration. And in Florida you can’t just walk away from a sand hill habitat and expect it to stay a good gopher tortoise habitat.

It starts to close in as the canopy closes. For example, if you look at your yard when the sunlight can’t reach the ground anymore, your grass goes away. The same thing happens with habitats that are not maintained, either by fire or some mechanical means like mowing.

You have to keep it open with lots of sunlight coming in.”

Habitat management is a major thrust throughout the state, and the main tool is prescribed burning, Berish said. This benefits the

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How Can I Help?

Become tortoise-wise: Learn about gopher tortoises and their habitat needs online at MyFWC.com/GopherTortoise and share the information with family, friends, and neighbors.

Support “green spaces” in and around developments – there is still time to save the gopher tortoise habitat before it’s gone.

IF YOU SEE ONE CROSSING THE ROAD • Do not take the tortoise with you.

• If it is in the roadway you can move it across the road in the direction in which it was headed. Do not put your life in danger to move the tortoise.

• Do not put the tortoise in the water. Gopher tortoises are terrestrial turtles which means they live on land.

IF YOU ENCOUNTER ONE THAT IS SICK OR INJURED • Sometimes it’s better to just leave a sick or injured gopher tortoise alone and let it return to its burrow to heal.

• You may pick up an injured tortoise to transport it for treatment if necessary.

• Call the nearest FWC regional office to find a wildlife rehabilitator in the area or take it to a veterinarian.

• If you think the injury is the result of a violation and you can provide information, call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline.

WILDLIFE ALERT REWARD PROGRAM It is against the law to kill, harass or destroy gopher tortoises, their burrows or eggs. If you suspect illegal activity, you can report anonymously to FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922, 24 hours a day or online at MyFWC. com/law/Alert. You could be eligible for a reward if your information leads to an arrest.

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environment by not only opening up the habitat, but also the nitrogen from the fire brings back the nutrients, which increase the herbaceous ground cover. This is important for

“That doesn’t mean we need to push people out, or that we need to push gopher tortoises out,” she said. “We need to try to find some way to live together, and I think we

“We need to be aware that the wild critters most of us love and value need a place to live as well.” not only gopher tortoises but also for deer, quail and turkey; a wide range of wildlife benefits.

A good plan covers the entire spectrum of managing and conserving gopher tortoises so that future generations will be able to see this unique species.

Main threats for gopher tortoises are human related because, as Berish pointed out, “We all need a place to live.”

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are doing a fairly good job of this.”

Her mantra is “save space for wildlife.”

“This does not mean that people do not need a place to live,” she said. “It just means that we need to be aware that the wild critters most of us love and value need a place to live as well.”

The biggest threat to the gopher tortoises’ long-term survival is loss of habitat.

Education is key in this regard, which is why rescue sites such as O’Leno State Park are at the forefront of this conservation movement.

“Any school that is interested in coming out can call and we can set up a scheduled program for them,” Preston said. “We also go for walks and look at some of the burrows in the wild so the kids can compare those with the ones we’ve built for the rescue.”

Preston said that because gophers are so elusive, before all they had to show to a school group was a shell. Now they have three gopher ambassadors that will leave a lasting impression on generations to come.

“Above all, I hope these three gophers will encourage a love of nature,” Preston said. “It’s imperative that we share our world with them just like they share their burrows with so many others.” s

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>> AREN’T YOU GLAD YOU USE DIAL?

Stop, Look, Listen Dial and Discover Adventures in “Old Florida”

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DARLA KINNEY SCOLES aving spent most of my life in Central Florida, I recently relocated to North Central Florida, seeking a closer proximity to not only several family members, but also to what I knew to be Old Florida. So when an acquaintance handed me a brochure titled “Dial & Discover – A Free Audio Tour of Old Florida,” I was all over it.

Soon thereafter, a free Saturday offered my husband, Ron, and I the opportunity to do the entire tour in one outing, so off we went. The tour, divided into four segments along the Old Florida Heritage Highway, took us from Micanopy to Cross Creek, Evinston, and Paynes Prairie in a circle of history, fun, amazement, and pure tourist-y adventure.

H

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This tour will forever be on my ‘must-do’ list for out-of-state guests.

My thought is that every Florida visitor must visit Old Florida as well.

Old Florida has Charm aving visited Micanopy’s one-of-a-kind, enchanting downtown many times, I thought our first stop there would be a breeze-through. What I discovered, however, was that though I had been to the town, I had not experienced its history the way the Dial & Discover project brought it to us as we walked and listened to recorded vignettes on the buildings, businesses and bucolic life of the town’s centuries of residents.

Narrated by actual town pioneers,

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Dial & Discover recordings — accessed by either dialing or QR Code — brought personality and charm to the names, dates and places captured in the mind’s eye as we learned about this 1823 settlement.

Micanopy, which incidentally means “Head Chief,” is a fun place to ramble anyway. Walking its movie-famous streets was scavenger hunt-like as we heard about places like the Thrasher Warehouse, Herlong Mansion and Old Brick Schoolhouse from those who have watched the town change — but not change — over the years.

Indians, freed slaves, oranges, vegetables, lumber, turpentine, antiques, wars, railroads, and even Hollywood have uniquely created this special place along the Hwy. 441 and the Old Florida Heritage Highway.

While Hollywood loves to visit Micanopyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stepping-back-intime retail historic district, fame has not changed the ambiance of the quiet town, which, in spite of its diminutive size, offers a four-star bed and breakfast â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Herlong Mansion Historic Inn and Gardens.

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MY ADVICE: Take the Micanopy tour when the stores there are open, as shopping is a must! So is eating something at one of the friendly town cafés.

Old Florida has been published ross Creek was a place I knew fairly well also, but as is often the case with historical sites, it has more to offer each time one steps onto the ground there. The rural home of Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, this narrow piece of land between Orange and Lochloosa Lakes is certainly famous, but you’d never know it to look at it. I love that.

There is nothing pretentious here.

Rawlings’ homestead sits much as she left it in 1953. I suspect the drive out there hasn’t changed much, either.

Wandering the grounds was peaceful, and to listen to the recorded messages while standing at the boat ramp to Orange Lake, or nestled under the barn roof as a storm passed by, almost felt like we were huddled around to hear an old radio show (not that I remember doing that!). We left nostalgic for a life we never experienced. Author Rawlings had worked her magic once again, I guess.

We also chose to trek a bit further down the road to catch a glimpse of Island Grove Masonic Hall and Antioch Cemetery, where Rawlings is buried. The scenic drive alone is worth the time. Since we did all four tours in one day, we then looped around Orange Lake, through Citra. We will definitely head back to this spot when seasons change and the large fruit stand there is open.

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MY ADVICE: Schedule time to take the guide-led tour at Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park and then eat at the Yearling Restaurant, just down the road a piece. And, of course, read (or re-read) the books!

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Dial and Discover FREE CELL PHONE TOUR THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE OLD FLORIDA HERITAGE HIGHWAY. YOU CONTROL WHAT YOU HEAR, WHEN AND WHAT ORDER. The Old Florida Heritage Highway is located just south of Gainesville and spans 48 miles of roads through tree canopies draped with hanging Spanish moss, with a relaxed pace of life. The area offers access to a well-preserved section of Florida’s natural, scenic, recreational, historic and cultural heritage. Features along the highway include Paynes Prairie State Preserve; the Lake Wauburg, countryside spread with smaller lakes, prairies and rural homesteads; and the historic communities of Micanopy, Rochelle, Evinston and Cross Creek/MK Rawlings State Park. The county roads (CR325 and CR346) rural roadside environment offers refuge for the winter migration of sandhill cranes and viewing areas of bald eagles. The area along the highway offers many recreational opportunities, including bicycling, camping, bird watching, canoeing, hiking and equestrian activities.

The highway enjoys a rich historical legacy and has already been honored as the Bartram Trail and the Chiles Trail, for its role in two of the most famous walks in Florida’s history. Experience the history and beauty of country roads, historic towns, open spaces, stately mansions and colorful history of Florida when visiting the Old Florida Heritage Highway.

TOUR INSTRUCTIONS Print out a guide. Visit one of the tour stop numbers on the map.

Dial 352-327-9005 then dial the tour stop number followed by the # symbol.

Discover the fascinating facts and stories of the area.

Comment on your experience (dial zero #).

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Old Florida has cattle and agriculture ho knew that across the lake from Cross Creek, just a brief distance off Hwy. 441 between Micanopy and McIntosh, there was a place such as Evinston? Not me.

Though I had seen signs for this burg I had never actually driven its streets. Thank goodness the Dial & Discover brochure gave GPS coordinates for this stop, as it was a bit of a geocache-like experience.

How is it that this place has been preserved such as it is?

Chirping frogs and train whistles provided the soundtrack for the Evinston recordings. Though tiny, this part of the tour offered more than 15 listening opportunities, each with a bit of lore about a place that time seems to have forgotten — or at least left behind.

At one stop here, a chorus of voices serenaded us with “Swing

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Low, Sweet Chariot,” while a sweet southern-drawl transported us to long-ago congregational meetings at the Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church.

Another point of interest was the Wood & Swink Post Office and Old Country Store, which has stood as sentinel over the pioneer community since 1882. No GPS was required then, to find your way to Evinston.

MY ADVICE: Don’t leave without stepping inside the Post Office. And whatever you do, don’t fall in love with the place and make plans to move there. I already have my eye on the only lot for sale in town, anyway.

Old Florida has wildlife ild and unpredictable” was a phrase the Dial & Discover recordings at the many Paynes Prairie tour stops used to describe this place and its inhabitants. Isn’t that what makes Florida, Florida? Complete with repeated

“W

warnings about the resident alligators (you’ll see plenty at the La Chua Trail segment), the messages along this portion of highway provide the backdrop for one of the most spectacular natural wonders Florida has to offer.

Home to cracker horses, scrub cows, American bison, deer, bobcats, coyotes, raccoons, river otters, turtles, snakes, fish, gators, and (not to mention insects) 272 species of birds, Paynes Prairie offers quite a human-friendly environment too.

Three different sites with towers, trails and boardwalks make viewing the wildlife and the scenery here an outstanding experience. No wonder it was Florida’s first nature preserve, designated so back in 1970.

Not bad for a 16,000-acre sinkhole.

Just zipping over this acreage on I-75 is no way to see Paynes Prairie Preserve. The time we took to visit the main park, boardwalk on Hwy. 441 and La Chua Trail/Alachua Sink afforded us three distinctly different

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immersive experiences. We did spot the wild horses, eagles, and gators the park is famous for but never caught a glimpse of those elusive bison. I guess we’ll just have to keep going back until we do. That’s okay.

This place is like no place else here in the Sunshine State.

MY ADVICE: Take your binoculars and your camera. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to use both. A stop at the Visitor Center offers snippets of the preserve’s history not completely covered in the Dial & Drive text.

A lot of work and thought hass gone into these tours. The rich details of the experience make it worth the cell phone battery and time and it takes to complete a route. There are a few glitches along the way, butt the Dial & Discover people knew w that would happen and offer a way w to give feedback at each and every ery stop. And hey — it’s free. Do it. s

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COLUMN >> DONNA BONNELL

Embracing Life Growing Old Gracefully

elebrating the New Year usually includes the tradition of making resolutions. This year was different. I realized important goal setting takes place throughout the year. Success only happens with daily prayer and positive affirmations.

Pledges, such as, keeping my car waxed and vacuumed will not happen, because I promised to do so on January 1. Rather than participate in an annual ritual that would most likely fail, I decided to inaugurate 2014 by sharing a horrifying personal story that may prompt public attention.

The star of the story is my sweet eccentric dear old dad. Samantha, my stepmother, suddenly passed when Dad was 80.

He found himself living alone for the first time in his life. My siblings and I lived too far away for frequent visits. Grief-stricken and deeply depressed made him a vulnerable victim.

Lonely and needing assistance, Dad made a deal with the devil (or perhaps, Dorothy). She seemed like a decent individual who suffered from bad luck and

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just needed a break. Dorothy would live expense-free in exchange for helping with the basics — cleaning and cooking. Really, though, Dad demanded very little of anything. He just needed someone for emotional security. It seemed like the perfect solution.

It was not long before her sickening side surfaced. She began pocketing his personal possessions, including his cell phone and money. The house was horrifically filthy. When family phoned, Dorothy would answer. She let Dad talk, but only with her supervision.

Finally, a retired police officer suspected problems and reported the situation to the Department of Children and Families and Sheriff’s Department. The case was investigated and I was contacted. My brother and I made a surprise visit. We found our father in his own backyard scared, sick and sobbing.

Dorothy’s drug-addicted son threatened our dad. To describe him as merely afraid is an understatement.

Of course, we immediately took eviction measures.

With only one in five elder abuse crimes reported, the sad statistic is even more staggering. Abuse takes place in their homes and in elder care facilities. I learned this firsthand.

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220 NW 8TH AVE. 352-372-9541 1404 NW 53RD AVE. 352-375-3503 Visit us online for a complete list of rental items www.uragnv.com

www.VisitOurTowns.com

OFF ANY RENTAL

From tillers to tables; lanterns to lawnmowers – if you need it, we rent it. Why buy something you only need once... Rent it!

Just use this ad to receive 10% off any rental fee. Offer valid at participating locations only.

Limited time offer.

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S GAL A R S

STE B ULO W Y E OM S B

DO EC

ON CO

L

UP

ON

R

E T UR S

N D EO L L A R D

475 145 95

$

(D5110, D5120)

( With Coupon)

Routine Tooth Extraction ( D714 0 )

$

Affordable DenturesGainesville, P. C. Springhill Commons Shopping Center

NW 39th Avenue

Complex Tooth Extraction ( D7210 )

NW 91ST Street

$

Economy Full Set

NW 39th Avenue

barriers that often prevent communication between the young and their elders. The first is middle-aged forgetfulness of the fact that they themselves are no longer young. The second is youthful ignorance of the fact that the middle-aged are still alive.”

To some degree, the proverbial generation gap is human nature. However, it appears estrangement and lack of competent care for senior citizens is becoming a norm in our culture.

Over a year has passed since my family faced this challenge.

Dorothy’s son died from a drug overdose. Dorothy is living with an elderly couple. She has not yet reared her deceitful persona. However, friends and neighbors are watching closely.

Dad survived the harrowing ordeal and returned to his happy-go-lucky self. Relocating opened up a bright new personal and professional life for my brother — one he thought would never exist. (That is a story for another column.)

My goal for 2014 is to bring attention to the many needs of our senior citizens. Thieves, who target elderly victims, rob much more than family heirlooms or assets.

They steal their self-respect. If you suspect that an elderly person is suffering from physical neglect or being preyed upon financially, please contact the authorities.

Everyone deserves to grow old gracefully, with dignity and respect. s

tSame Day Service* tOn-Site Lab tFinancing Available tFL Medicaid Accepted For Dentures Only

Affordable Dentures –Gainesville, P. A. Stephan M. Showstark, DMD, General Dentist Springhill Commons Shopping Center 9200 NW 39th Ave, Ste 200, Gainesville FL No Appointment Necessary

GAS DOLLARS

15

$

OFF

Any Denture or Denture Package

(352) 376-8229

DENTURE DOLLARS 2 0 1 0 7 - 1 0 - V1. 2

Our dilemma then became what would we do next.

Finding help for senior citizens is extremely difficult.

So, we prayed.

The answer came. My brother had, what he thought at first, a startling dream. Today, we know it was an unexpected message from God that could not be dismissed or ignored. In less than 48 hours my brother unselfishly left behind his belongings and moved in with our father. Dad needed his son.

Unfortunately, our tale of terror is not unique.

According to the Department of Health & Human Services Administration on Aging, hundreds of thousands of older persons are victims of abuse and neglect. Elders throughout the United States lose an estimated $2.6 billion or more annually due to exploitation of funds (needed for housing, food and medical care). With only one in five elder abuse crimes reported, the sad statistic is even more staggering.

Abuse takes place in their homes and in elder care facilities. I learned this firsthand.

Those who live a long life progress through three stages — youth, middle-aged and elderly. Today, growing old gracefully is difficult. Americans embrace the youth and abandon the elderly. Living in a global society, with fast-paced technology, the generations are growing more and more emotionally and physically disconnected.

Author Jessamyn West claims, “There are two

50

$

OFF

Any Custom Denture or Higher

1-800-DENTURE www.AffordableDentures.com Offers good only at Affordable Dentures-Gainesville, P. A. $50 denture discount good on any one individual denture purchase at the Custom level or higher— Full Upper or Lower, Partial, or Full Set. $15 gas discount good on any one individual denture purchase, or package denture purchase at any level. The denture and gas coupons can be combined on any any one individual denture purchase at the Custom level or higher. Coupon must be presented at time of initial payment and cannot be combined with any other coupons, discounts, package price, insurance benefit or prior order. Offer expires 04/30/14 and may change without notice.

*Same Day Service on Economy Dentures, in most cases, if in by 7:45 a.m. Additional fees may be incurred depending on individual cases. We gladly accept Cash, Checks with ID, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover as payment for our services. Advertised fees effective through 11/21/14. These are minimum fees and charges may increase depending on the treatment required. THE PATIENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT HAS A RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PAY, CANCEL PAYMENT, OR BE REIMBURSED FOR PAYMENT FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, EXAMINATION, OR TREATMENT THAT IS PERFORMED AS A RESULT OF AND WITHIN 72 HOURS OF RESPONDING TO THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE FREE, DISCOUNTED FEE, OR REDUCED FEE SERVICE, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT.

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Drive Home

TODAY!

Always great vehicles Always great prices!

• No Credit Check!

• All Cars $0 down

• Cash Cars Starting $ at only 1,000 • Will Finance Anyone

Sun City Auto Sales

(352) 338-1999 www.VisitOurTowns.com

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ADVERTISER INDEX 4400 NW 36th Avenue • Gainesville, FL 32606 352-372-5468 352-373-9178 fax AUTOMOTIVE Auto ER ...............................................................4 City Boys Tire & Brake ...............................142 Gainesville Harley Davidson ..................... 70 Jim Doglas Sales & Service .....................124 L&S Auto Trim ................................................74 Newberry Auto Repair ..............................154 RPM Automotive .........................................155 Sun City Auto Sales....................................167 Tuffy Tire & Auto Service .............................2

REAL ESTATE Coldwell Banker - Marilyn Deas .............. 35 Forrester Realty ............................................60 PRO Realty ....................................................120 The Village Senior Living .........................143

FINANCIAL / LAW Allstate Insurance, Hugh Cain ................138 Avera & Smith ................................................. 13 A+ Tax & Bookkeeping Center ................ 48 Brightway insurance ................................... 29 Easy Tax & Accounting ABC LLC ........... 117 Edward Jones - Ed Potts..........................139 Ference Insurance Agency ....................... 63 Gateway Bank................................................ 43 H&R Block ......................................................149 PNC Mortgage ....................................... 41, 108 ProActive Tax & Accounting ...................170 Sunshine State Insurance ..........................141 SunState Federal Credit Union ...................................... 21, 23, 25 Three Rivers Insurance ............................... 94

FITNESS and BEAUTY Charisma for Hair .......................................... 16 Florine Bush .................................................... 31 Hair & Nail Depot.........................................149 Jodie’s Beauty & Barber ...........................120 Jonesville Traditional Barber ................... 63 Nails-N-Spa....................................................123 Salon Eye Candy .........................................138 Tan USA ....................................................61, 163

PETS and VETS Animal Health Center ................................. 59 Bed & Biscuit Inn ........................................... 61 Bits & Spurs Tack.......................................... 58 Dancin’ Dogs Boarding .............................155 Pamper Your Pet ......................................... 122 Pampered Paws ...........................................120 Robertson Animal Hospital .........................8 Susie’s Pet Sitting & Grooming ..............163

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EDUCATION & CHILD CARE Alachua Learning Center ......................... 172 First Christian Academy ...............................9 Gainesville Country Day School ............. 67 Millhopper Montessori School ................. 39 The Rock School........................................... 92

MEDICAL / HEALTH 1st Choice Urgent Care................................ 61 Affordable Dentures ..................................166 Alachua Dental ............................................... 51 Alliance Pediatrics ....................................... 49 Caretenders ...................................................128 City Drugs Pharmacy..................................119 Clear Sound Audiology.............................. 95 Douglas Adel, DDS ....................................... 15 Gainesville Dermatology ..................137, 153 Gainesville OB/GYN ..................................... 17 Dr. Greg Borganelli Pediatric Dent. ....... 39 Hunter Family Dentistry ............................ 63 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery ................ 33 Samant Dental Group ................................. 69 Town & Country Eye Care ........................155

RETAIL / RECREATION Adventure Outpost......................................118 Alachua Farm & Lumber ...........................50 Alachua Pawn & Jewelry ........................... 93 Bambi’s Organic Country Farm .............120 Battle of Olustee ..........................................116 Beacher’s Lodge...........................................115 Blue Springs ...................................................114 City of Gainesville ........................................116 Complete Sleep & Furnishings ................40 Cootie Coo Creations .................................50 Dance Alive! ...................................................113 Family Jewels & Purse Strings ................ 63 Festival of Lights ..........................................116 Fletcher’s Center .......................................... 63 Gary’s Tackle Box ..........................................74 Gator Fine Wine & Spirits .........................171 High Springs Farmers Market ..................118 Hippodrome State Theatre..................... 109 Hoggetowne Medival Faire.......................114 Honeysuckle Cottage .................................118 Jewelry Designs by Donna ......................120 Klaus Fine Jewelry ..........................................6 Lentz House of Time ................................... 117 Liquor & Wine Shoppe ...............................171 New Smyrna Beach ........................................7 Noche De Gala ..............................................110 Oaks Pawn ...................................................... 62 Old Fart Studios ..........................................155 Paddywhack................................................... 92 Pawn Pro ......................................................... 93 Tioga Town Center....................................... 52 Valerie’s Loft Consignment ......................141

MISCELLANEOUS Girl Scouts of Gateway Council ...............57 Holy Trinity Episcopal Church ................163

SERVICE A&K Outdoor Services ............................. 160 A-1 Pest Control ................................... 63, 163 Alpha Bytes Computers ...........................165 Bertie’s Heating & Air ................................ 137 Best Restoration ..........................................162 Chimney Sweeps of America.................. 122 Computer Repair ..........................................118 Creekside Outdoor Improvements ...71, 142 Gainesville Regional Airport ...................165 Gonzalez Site Prep ...................................... 117 Grease Busters ............................................ 108 Growers Fertilizer ........................................139 Jack’s Small Engine Repair........................74 Johnson & Son Tree Service ...................123 Lotus Studios Photography ...................... 18 Mac Johnson Roofing ................................. 117 Oliver & Dahlman .........................................118 Quality Cleaners ..........................................164 Southern Land & Lawn..............................153 Stitch In Time Embroidery .......................155 William Weseman Construction ............. 42

HOME IMPROVEMENT Al Mincey Site Prep ..................................... 58 AHA Water Specialists ..................................2 America’s Swimming Pool Co. ................115 Bloominghouse Nursery ............................ 94 Cook’s Portable Buildings ........................124 Floor Store .....................................................154 Griffis Lumber.................................................57 H2Oasis Custom Pool & Spa .................. 150 Overhead Door ..............................................75 Pools & More .....................................................3 Red Barn Home Center ..............................141 United Rent-All.............................................165 Whitfield Window & Door......................... 32

DINING & DRINKS Brown’s Country Buffet ........................... 104 Copper Monkey West ...........................5, 103 Dave’s NY Deli ..............................................103 The Diner .........................................................161 El Toro..............................................................138 Fluid Lounge ................................................ 105 Flying Biscuit Café ..................................... 104 Gator Tales Sports Bar ..............................103 Mason’s Tavern .............................................102 Newberry Backyard BBQ .........................102 Northwest Grille .......................................... 104 Saboré .............................................................102 The Talented Cookie Company........35, 119 TCBY ................................................................. 94 World of Beer .............................................. 105

PHOTO BY KRISTIN KOZELSKY

page

44 >> A HORSE, OF COURSE

Read about the North Central Florida Parelli Playgroup, which Mary Lou Ramey Hawkins and several friends founded in 2004.

Hawkins has a ranch in Fort White and is part of a group of people who love horses and studies Parelli natural horsemanship, a way of communicating with horses the way horses communicate with each other, through body language and body movement.

www.VisitOurTowns.com

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MAKE EVERY DAY A

H LIDAY!

We offer an extensive selection of champagne, wine, scotch, bourbons, beer & more.

the

Gator Spirits & Fine Wines

Liquor & Wine Shoppe at Jonesville Mon-Thurs 9:00am - 9:00pm Fri & Sat 9:00am - 10:00pm Sunday: Noon - 6:00pm

CVS

CR 241

Y BE.R R N E WR D

o Kangaro

14451 Newberry Rd. Jonesville Turn at CVS in Jonesville and come straight to us.

352-332-3308

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK FOR TASTINGS, EVENTS AND EXCLUSIVE PRICING SPECIALS!

5701 SW 75th St. Gainesville

I-7 5 ER WAD TORO

The or Liqu WineSh&oppe

Mon-Thurs 10:00am - 9:00pm Fri & Sat 10:00am - 10:00pm

ine Gator F Spirits Wine &

A RC H

AD

E R RO

Conveniently located in the Tower Square shopping area.

352-335-3994

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK FOR TASTINGS, EVENTS AND EXCLUSIVE PRICING SPECIALS!

www.VisitOurTowns.com

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You Have a Choice for your child’s education.

Alachua Learning Center Elementary and Middle School located just North of the town of Alachua on State Road 235, serves students from all parts of Alachua and neighboring counties.

Charter Schools are part of the Florida Alternative System of Public School Choice and charge no tuition.

While having the benefits of a “small-school” environment the Alachua Learning Center provides a challenging and fulfilling academic, cultural and physical educational program for students from kindergarten through eighth grade.

The Alachua Learning Center has consistently been rated an “A” school by the State of Florida.

Our varied physical education curriculum includes on-campus rock climbing and subscribes to the “President’s Fitness Program”.

The Alachua Learning Center offers inspiring classes on a variety of subjects: Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Math, P.E. Sports, Rock Climbing, Drama, Music, Clay Sculpting, Computer Graphics, individual Student Book Publishing (writing, design, illustrating), Drawing, Painting, Crafts, Community Service Display Projects, and exciting Field Trips.

Alachua Learning Center 386-418-2080

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alachualearningcenter.com