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ROWDY REPTILES • NEW OLYMPIC EVENTS • GAINESVILLE GREATS • A SPECIAL OLYMPIAN • LOCAL GYMS

JULY/AUGUST 2021 | VOL. 19 ISSUE 04 | HIGH SPRINGS & ALACHUA EDITION

Olympic Sports & Fitness

Pilates instructor Yvette Turner proves that living an active lifestyle creates vitality within

Results Inside: Recognizing Our Town’s Favorites For 2021 Follow us on Facebook

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CONTENTS

G R E AT E R A L A C H U A C O U N T Y

J U LY/ A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

| V O L . 1 9 | N O. 0 4

IN THIS ISSUE >> WE INVITE YOU TO STRENGTHEN YOUR CORE—NOT JUST PHYSICALLY SPEAKING, BUT MENTALLY TOO. AS WE EXPLORE BOTH LOCAL AND OLYMPIC SPORTS, LET US NOT FORGET THAT STRENGTH AND FITNESS ALSO LIE WITHIN OUR OWN SPIRIT.

C O V E R P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y M I C H A E L E A D DY. C O V E R M O D E L : Y V E T T E T U R N E R .

FEATURE STORIES 20 LOCAL TEAMS MAKING HISTORY

After an unprecedented season, teams from both Newberry High School and Santa Fe High School managed to break records. Take a look at the achievements of these student athletes!

26 OLYMPIC CRAFTS DIY

The Olympics 2021 are upon us! What better way to celebrate than by making your own medals and wind chimes? GO USA!

30 TOKYO

A modern city with an ancient history—delve into Tokyo’s rich past before watching the Olympics taking place in this host country.

124 PHOTO ESSAY: PICTURE THE PAST

Let’s Go Team! Enjoy a compilation of historic photos featuring high school sports teams of Alachua County’s past.

JULY/AUGUST 2021

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CONTENTS

J U LY/ A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

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ROWDY REPTILES UF’s official student group for the college’s athletic teams. They sure know how to get rowdy rooting for the Gators!

44

OLYMPIANS FROM THE SWAMP In the pool, the track and beyond—these athletes have solidified their reputations as Gainesville greats.

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A SPECIAL OLYMPIAN Local resident Chris Kowal is a decorated athlete, winning multiple medals at the Special Olympics. He shares his experience competing in the games.

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GATOR STATS How many Olympians have come from Gator Nation? More than you might think.

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LOCAL GYMS Alachua County has several gyms and personal training centers. Here’s a look at a few facilities’ fitness programs.

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GAME CHANGER From skatboarding to sports climbing, check out a few new and returning sports featured at this year’s Olympic Games.

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FAVES!!!

Check out the Winners and FInalists of the 2021 Our Town Favorites—a true community choice award!

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PILATES PASSION Meet Yvette Turner, a local Pilates instructor inspiring her students to move their bodies every day. This fitness teacher exemplifies positivity and a can-do attitude!

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HISTORY OF THE OLYMPICS It’s Greek to me! Understand the rich past of the Olympic Games, which originated in ancient Greece.

140

COLUMNS 60 E MBRACING LIFE

by Donna Bonnell

153 F UREVER FRIENDS Spotlight on Rescue Animals

66 N AKED SALSA

by Crystal Henry

36 F ARM TALES

by Mother Hen

REVIEWS 122 R EADING CORNER

by Terri Schlichenmeyer

INFORMATION 50 R estaurant Guide

GATOR BATES The Bates Family has many athletic ties to the swamp—including their daughter, Talia, who qualified for this year’s Olympic swim trials.

68 C ommunity Calendar

144

86 C harity Winners

RIGHT ON TARGET The Easton-Newberry Archery program focuses on training archers and coaches, developing curriculum, and providing a world class venue to host archery events of all sizes and styles.

65 B usiness Directory

The articles printed in Our Town 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. © 2020 Tower Publications, Inc.

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PUBLISHER Charlie Delatorre PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Brian Knepp

Complete Pregnancy Care from Conception through Delivery

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ericka Winterrowd editor@towerpublications.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dana Bryan, Donna Bonnell, Cameron Cobb, Joanna Grey Talbot, Crystal Henry, Summer Jarro, Michaela Mulligan, Alexa Sauvagere, Terri Schlichenmeyer, Hayli Zuccola CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Michael Eaddy

Anthony B. Agrios, MD Joseph S. Iobst, MD Jean C. Cook, MD

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EDITOR ’ S LET TER

J U LY/ A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

Unprecedented Olympic Times It’s that time of year again—when we get to cheer on the good ol’ USA while watching the Olympics with our family and friends. This is an especially monumental Olympics, as the 2020 games were delayed a whole year due to the pandemic. This extra year of training has either become a make it or break it moment for athletes, allowing extra time for those who might be recovering from injuries during this unprecedented time, and on the flip side—possibly allowing an untimely injury to delay a competitor’s participation this year.

As an athlete (softball) in my youth, I understand the importance of timing and training. Although I in no way came close to making it to the extraordinary level of the Olympics as a competitor, my memories of watching them as a child still remain with me to this day. Growing up, every four years the television remained on the channel of the games at all times. I imagined what it would feel like to be one of those incredible athletes on the quest for gold, and how a medal would feel draped around my neck as our national anthem played.

Children of all ages seem to be transfixed by the Olympics. There’s just something about it that strikes a chord with each one of us. For me it was watching the “Magnificent Seven” compete during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Even at my young age I knew that when injured Kerri Strug stuck her landing on the vault—it was a moment to remember. It was national pride. Watching these gymnasts receiving their hard-earned medals was enough to make me pen my very first fan letter to gymnast Dominique Moceanu.

I remember thinking that the medals were so shiny and I loved the way the gold, silver, and bronze seemed to gleam in their own unique way. I told my sisters that I wanted one in each color, even though the gold was technically the best.

In this issue we invite you to strengthen your core—not just physically speaking, but mentally too. As we explore both local and Olympic sports, let us not forget that strength and fitness also lie within each one of us. The human spirit has the power to break boundaries and achieve impossible feats. So shouldn’t we all go for the gold in life?

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ALACHUA ANIMAL HOSPITAL YOUR FUR BABY’S NEW FAMILY PHYSICIAN ALACHUA’S FAMILY-OWNED VETERINARY CLINIC

Thirteen-year-old Ruby sat shivering in her owner’s lap whimpering in discomfort. The little miniature pinscher had a tumor that was 20 percent of her body weight, and her owner had been told there was nothing to do but put the old girl to sleep. But Dr. Erin Nadler at Alachua Animal Hospital wasn’t ready to give up on Ruby just yet.

“Other vets had told her Ruby would likely die,” Dr. Nadler said. “And they had given her completely valid advice based on normal statistics.

But she wasn’t behaving like a normal statistic.”

Dr. Nadler got to work, and she removed the massive tumor from Ruby’s abdomen. She sent it off to the lab, and to everyone’s surprise and delight the tumor came back benign. Ruby’s trip over the rainbow bridge was indefinitely postponed.

“Her owner was just crying tears of happiness,” Dr. Nadler said.

A personal approach is the only way for a vet to really offer the best care to a patient who can’t speak for themselves. There’s a difference between offering treatment and offering care.

As a child, Dr. Nadler loved animals, and she always knew she wanted to work with them.

At her office on Main Street in Alachua, Dr. Nadler offers services ranging from puppy well-checks, preventative medicine and dentistry, to diagnostic ultrasounds, emergency surgeries and compassionate end-of-life care. She works with breeders whose dogs need caesarean sections, bringing new puppies into the world and being the first to pet their tiny noses. And she holds the paws of pets who have reached the end of their journey with compassionate in-home euthanasia.

As a Florida native, Dr. Nadler and her family set up shop in Alachua because they saw a need for a family-owned community vet. Corporate vet clinics are fine, but Dr. Nadler wanted to offer more personalized care for her four-legged patients and establish genuine relationships with their human owners.

Dr. Nadler understands that pets are a part of the family, and family

is at the very heart of her practice. She and her staff have worked together for more than seven years, and she and her husband Dan are happily raising their daughter Reagan in the Alachua/High Springs community.

Veterinary care is all Dr. Nadler has ever known. At 16, she filled out her first job application at PetSmart. She was hired as a kennel tech, where she did grunt work walking dogs and cleaning countless litter boxes. But rather than running for the door, Dr. Nadler dove right in, working her way up through every position of the veterinary medicine chain, including the receptionist. After earning her biology degree, Dr. Nadler completed vet school at the University of Florida, and she got to work helping animals in need.

After practicing rural veterinary care in Trenton for more than seven years, Dr. Nadler opened the doors of her own practice at Alachua Animal Hospital in February of this year. She said her goal is to provide community-centered veterinary care. She offers compassion and accessibility, promising not to leave the office each day until she’s followed up with all her patients. There’s no charge for new patient exams, and she never hides behind a clipboard. Instead she’s ready to get down on the floor with the fur babies to find out the best approach to their overall wellness.

As a family-owned business, Dr. Nadler and her team are excited to welcome the pets and people of North Central Florida into the family at Alachua Animal Hospital.

Alachua Animal Hospital 15100 Main Street Alachua, FL 32615 Phone: (386) 588-3219 Email: contact@alachuavet.com

AlachuaAnimalHospital.com JULY/AUGUST 2021

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CONTRIBUTOR S

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J U LY/ A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

CAMERON COBB is a UF graduate, receiving her master’s degree in Mass Communication. She’s also an Air Force veteran. Cameron loves traveling, writing and all animals (her favorite being her rescue dog, Maggie). cameronacobb5@gmail.com

DANA BRYAN is a journalism student at the University of Florida and a freelance writer. In her free time, she loves to read, write amateur code and watch television. itsdanabryan@gmail.com

ALEXA SAUVAGERE is a third-year English and journalism major at the University of Florida. She has always had a passion for writing, and she loves to share new stories with others. teresa0800@gmail.com

SUMMER JARRO is a University of Florida graduate. Along with writing, she loves Disney, watching old films, going to the beach and traveling to new places. summerjarro@gmail.com

MICHAELA MULLIGAN is a freelance writer and UF graduate who majored in journalism. In her spare time, she loves to soak up the sun at the beach or curl up indoors with a good cup of coffee and a book. michaelarmulligan@gmail.com

DONNA BONNELL Donna became the author of her column, Embracing Life, more than a decade ago.

She shares her personal challenges and victories with the goal of inspiring her readers to analyze why things happen in their own lives. bonneldj@gmail.com

HAYLI ZUCCOLA is a New England native who enjoys listening to music and traveling. After graduating high school with her AA degree, she received her Bachelor’s in Journalism from the University of Florida.

HayzDesigns@yahoo.com

JOANNA GREY TALBOT is the marketing director for the Matheson History Museum and the author of the blog “Florida Revealed: Dispatches from the Land of Publix, Citrus, and Alligators.” joannagtalbot@gmail.com

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old. She lives with her two dogs and 11,000 books. Her book reviews are published in more than 200 newspapers and 50 magazines throughout the U.S. and Canada. bookwormsez@yahoo.com

CRYSTAL HENRY is a freelance writer and columnist born and raised in West Texas. She received her B.S. in Journalism in 2006 from the University of Florida. She is in love with the Florida landscape. ces03k@gmail.com

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS >> HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENTS

HIGH SCHOOL HEROES

Local Sports History in the Making Athletic Achievements at Newberry High School and Santa Fe High School W RIT TE N BY MICH A EL A MU LLIG A N

F

or student athletes and coaches, this past year has not been easy. Uncertainty plagued the entire school year. If a student athlete were to contract the coronavirus, a team’s season could come

to a halt.

The virus could cause an entire season to be put on hold for a quarantine waiting period. It also meant less funding for high school teams looking to make a profit from their ticket sales. Social distancing meant they had to sell fewer tickets. But for student athletes in Alachua County, this didn’t seem to deter them. It only motivated them.

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Through all of this uncertainty, sports teams from both Newberry High School and Santa Fe High School broke records. These were much-needed achievements after the 2019-2020 season, where athletes could not play, and some students missed out on their senior year in their respective sport.

It taught the students that they couldn’t take their sport or team for granted. It lit a fire in them, which resulted in a record-breaking year. Here’s a look at these student athletes’ major achievements.

Newberry High School Panthers Baseball State Champions

The Newberry High School baseball team only PHOTO BY: MICHAELA MULLIGAN

JULY/AUGUST 2021

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS >> HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENTS

The Santa Fe Raiders Boys Basketball team were the district and regional champions, making it all the way to the Class 4A State championship game for the first time in the team’s history. (Photos courtesy of the Santa Fe Raiders Basketball Facebook page.)

lost one game during its 2020-2021 season. The Panthers would then go on a 19-game winning streak, including the Class 1A State Championship.

The championship is something the team has been working toward for the past four years, said Mike Spina, head coach of the Newberry Panthers. Going into this season, the goal was always to make it to the championship and win.

The 2020-2021 season is the fourth year Spina has been the head coach for the Panthers. He has seen the freshmen from his first year as a coach grow up into championship-winning seniors.

Nearly half of the NHS baseball team comprises of seniors.

COVID-19 shutdowns caused the Panthers’ 2019-2020 season to be cut short. Spina said his players were itching to get back on the field and play not only for themselves, but for the seniors the year before who didn’t get to close out their high school baseball careers.

“We had some guys that graduated from us last year that went on to play college baseball, and this year you could tell some of those guys were playing for [them],” Spina said.

One thing COVID-19 taught Spina and his players was to enjoy the moment when you’re on the field.

The Panthers went through their season—losing only one game to West Port in Ocala. However, Spina thought it was good for the team in the long run.

“I think it helped us and humbled us that we could be beaten,” Spina said. “And from there on the boys came to practice eager and ready to work harder.”

Unfortunately, the team did not come away from their 22 |

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winning steak unscathed. One of the Panther’s key players and the team’s best pitcher, Dylan Schaffer, tore his ACL. The injury would need surgery and would cause Schaffer to be on the bench recovering for the rest of the season.

With the loss of Schaffer, Spina and the team knew other players would have to step up.

And they did…in a big way.

The Panthers just kept winning. First, they were district champions. Then they became regional champions. And then, they were in the state championship.

The Panthers faced the Chipley Tigers (from Chipley, Florida) in the Class 1A Florida State Championship. With a record of 26-2, the Tigers had formidable stats, but Spina and his Panthers knew they could win. After all, getting to the state championship and winning was always the team’s goal for the season, but it would not be easy.

Spina told his team going into the state game, “no one remembers who came in second place—they only remember the champions.”

“I think it stuck through some of the guys’ heads, and they battled and never gave up,” Spina said.

The game was certainly a battle. On May 20, the day of the championship game, Spina made some surprising choices, like placing first baseman Logan Carlisle on the pitching mound.

Carlisle had not pitched the entire season, but he would serve as the Panthers’ secret weapon. However by the end of the fourth inning, the Panthers were down 5-1. Though, they came back by the end of the game to win the state championship 7-5.

“Each and every one of them competed hard, and I’m proud

“I want it to be successful in every athletic sport.”

Santa Fe High School Athletics Department Championship Wins Santa Fe High School had a busy year in their athletics department. Michele Faulk, dean of students and athletics director at Santa Fe High School, joked that the trophy cabinet was getting a little small. It seems she may be right.

During the 2020-2021 athletics season, the girls’ soccer team took home the district championship title, as did the boys’ soccer team. The girls’ volleyball team won their district, as did the boys’ baseball team. And the girls’ tennis team were district champions for the first time in the school’s history.

Faulk credits the girls’ tennis team’s success this year to the longtime friendship of the teammates. Some girls picked up the sport as an off-season way to stay active, and they found they really enjoyed their time on the tennis court.

“I think they enjoy one another, but they’re also very, very, very hard workers,” Faulk said. “And they get out there and they’re very competitive. When you combine those two, that can lead to some good things.”

First-time coach Libby Roberts (along with support from her husband) coached a fairly young Raiders team. Not a single girl on the tennis team was a senior, meaning next year’s team will look relatively similar. When asked if Roberts would continue as coach, Faulk said she wasn’t letting her get away.

However, they were not the only history-making Raiders team this year. The Santa Fe Raiders Boys Basketball team were the district and regional champions, making it all the way to the Class 4A State championship game for the first time in the team’s history.

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HIGHSCHOOL SPORTS >> HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENTS

of all of them,” Spina said.

The Panthers made history with their win. This win was the first time in the school’s history that the baseball team won a state championship. The team has not been to a state championship since 1979.

Just a week after their historic win, the Newberry Panthers celebrated with its community on the Newberry High School field. In attendance that night were some members of the 1979 NHS baseball team. Community and alumni support were instrumental in getting the Panthers to the playoffs, while donors from the local area made the trip and costs possible.

The NHS baseball team clearly felt the community support—whether that be from the cheers in the stands by friends and family to the NHS band playing their bright brassy music, or the cheerleaders on the field performing flying stunts.

Even the Newberry Fire Department played a part in the celebration. The NHS baseball team arrived to their celebration on the back of a NHS fire truck, looking every bit the champions they knew they were.

However, it’s not just champions that NHS focuses on creating, it’s also good people. Spina is confident that the seniors who are leaving his program have left knowing the meaning of hard work and dedication.

“We take pride in keeping up with our alumni and making sure that those guys are doing good,” Spina said. “Those guys are always welcome here. Their home is at Newberry High School.”

Spina himself is an alumnus of the baseball program at Newberry high school, where he graduated in 2005.

The NHS Panthers baseball team made history this year, and they hope to continue that legacy in the following years.

“I want nothing but the best for this high school,” Spina said.

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS >> HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENTS

The Raiders’ ultimate game was a fight, much like their entire season. Like so many other teams, COVID-19 became another hurdle the team had to contend with. While traveling, the team had to be very careful to stay separated from one another and wear masks. The basketball team was wary after the Santa Fe High School football team had their last two home games cancelled because of an outbreak of the coronavirus.

“The teams were sort of just on pins and needles all seasons,” Faulk said. “Just wondering when somebody was going to contract [the coronavirus] and your entire program would be shut down for two weeks.”

The team had to be quarantined following a five-game winning streak on January 12, and they remained quarantined until January 23.

Outside of unplanned quarantines, all games had a 25% capacity limit for attendance—which meant the team was only making 25% of its normal revenue. The Raiders had to depend on fundraiser money for travel and expenses during their postseason run.

“It was a little frustrating on that end, but I feel like my coaches and my athletes did a pretty good job of trying to manage it,” Faulk said. “But we survived it.”

The Santa Fe boys’ basketball team made it further than they had ever made it before to play in the state championship game. The game was hard fought, resulting in double

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overtime.

By the fourth quarter, the Raiders were down 16 points— but with a little over 7 minutes remaining, the team came back to tie it. In the first overtime period, the Raiders took an 8-point lead. The Raiders were a minute away from winning their first state championship, however, the opposing team—the Pine Crest Panthers—came back to match the Raiders with just 60 seconds remaining.

In a nail-biting end in double overtime, the Raiders missed six straight free throws. In the end, the Panthers took the title with a 7-point lead.

The Raiders fought until the very last second. They came away breaking the team’s own school record, and Santa Fe High School remains immensely proud. The boys’ basketball team even has a day commemorated to them now. The Alachua City Commission named April 12, 2021 as Santa Fe Raiders Boys Basketball Team Day in celebration of their historic achievements.

“It’s been an exciting year and a busy year on top of COVID, but we prevailed and kind of stepped our game up,” Faulk said. “I think everybody was just so excited to be able to play this year…it sort of just reminded people to not take your season for granted.”

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DIY CRAFTS >> OLYMPIC WIND CHIMES & MEDALS

NATIONAL ANTHEM

Olympic Crafts I Y Wind Chimes and Medals Made from Melted Beads

D

S TORY A N D PHOTOG R A PHY BY ERICK A WINTER ROW D

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t’s that time of year again—when we get to cheer on the good ol’ USA while watching the Olympics with our family and friends. I don’t know about you, but when I was a kid the television remained on the channel of the games at all times. Hearing the crowd cheer gave me such a rush, and still does to this day. I imagined what it would feel like to be one of those incredible athletes on the quest for gold. And how a medal would feel draped around my neck as our national anthem played.

Children of all ages seem to be transfixed by the Olympics. There’s just something about it that strikes a chord with each one of us. For me it was watching the “Magnificent Seven” compete during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Even at my young age I knew that when injured Kerri Strug stuck her landing on the vault—it was a moment to remember.

It was national pride. Watching these gymnasts receiving their hard-earned medals was enough to make me pen my very first fan letter to gymnast Dominique Moceanu.

I remember thinking that the medals were so shiny and I loved the way the gold, silver, and bronze seemed to gleam in their own unique way. I told my sisters that I wanted one in each color, even though the gold was technically the best. I guess I must have wanted a little variety.

In honor of the 2021 Summer Olympics, here is a DIY Olympic medal craft that is sure to bring your children the magic of the games as they watch them.

Who knows, they might even replace it with a real one someday. Also included are steps to make your very own Olympic rings wind chime, which uses the same technique as the medals. By the time you’re finished with these adorable crafts your household will be cheering, “Let the games begin!”

*WARNING: Adult supervision required for all projects. Wearing safety goggles while using a drill is advised.

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Hopefully, these crafts will bring a little Olympic joy into your living room. The memories made in the process are what a family can be proud of the most. Here’s to family bonding and cheering on our country!

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SUPPLIES:

Pony beads (Colors: translucent yellow, clear, and either an orange or brown.

Also include blue, black, red and green.)

Ribbon (with red, white and blue stripes.)

Muffin/ Whoopee-Pie tin Dremel drill INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Place a single layer of pony beads inside a muffin tin. Color of beads according to which medal you are making (for example: yellow beads for the gold medal.) I used a whoopie-pie tin for this project and it worked great!

2) Make sure to leave space in the middle of each muffin cup for beads that will create the “Olympic rings.” For this you must use the colors: blue, black, red, yellow and green.

3) Once you have arranged the beads for each medal, place the tin in the oven at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

(Oven temperatures may vary, so be sure to stay near your kitchen and periodically check on the status of the beads. You do not want them to burn.) You may notice a slight aroma as the beads begin to melt. Turn on your oven fan and open some windows to help flush out any unwanted smells.

4) Using oven mittens, take the muffin tin out of the oven and set aside to cool.

5) Once completely cooled, you will be able to scoop out the hardened plastic without any problem.

6) Now it’s time to make the hole in each of your medals.

Using a Dremel drill, place one hole above the Olympic rings pattern, near the top of your medal. Do not attempt to use a heavy-duty utility drill.

This type of a project requires a drill that can be delicately controlled.

7) Once the hole has been placed in each medal, attach your red, white, and blue ribbon. Add a knot at the end.

8) Now your medals are complete. Hooray! The only thing left to do is recreate the medal ceremony in your living room.

Make sure you have a copy of the Star-Spangled Banner to play in the background!

OLYMPIC RINGS WIND CHIME SUPPLIES:

Pony beads (colors: translucent yellow, clear, and either an orange or brown.

Also include blue, black, red and green.)

Ribbon (with red, white and blue stripes.)

A decorative straw (a stick or pencil will work well, too.)

Thread/ yarn 1) Place a single layer of pony beads inside a muffin tin.

Color of beads according to which Olympic ring you are making (for example: green beads for the green Olympic ring.)

2) Be sure to leave a center circle in the muffin cup to add clear or translucent beads.

This will act as a sun catcher for your wind chimes.

3) Once you have arranged the beads for each medal, place the tin in the oven at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

(Oven temperatures may vary, so be sure to stay near your kitchen and periodically check on the status of the beads. You do not want them to burn.) There is a slight aroma as the beads begin to melt. Turn on your oven fan and open some windows to help flush out any unwanted smell.

4) Using oven mittens take the muffin tin out of the oven and let it cool.

DIY CRAFTS >> OLYMPIC WIND CHIMES & MEDALS

MELTED BEAD OLYMPIC MEDALS

5) Once completely cooled you will be able to scoop out the hardened plastic without any problem.

6) Now it’s time to make the hole in each of your Olympic rings. Using a Dremel drill, place one hole near the top of your ring. Do not attempt to use a heavy-duty utility drill.

This type of a project requires a drill that can be delicately controlled.

7) Once the hole has been placed, attach thread or yarn to each ring and tie the chimes to a decorative straw or stick.

8) Tie a red, white and blue ribbon to the ends of the decorative straw, creating a loop that will aid in hanging your Olympic rings wind chime.

9) Now it’s time to find the perfect place to display this patriotic craft. Whether on your porch or in your house, everyone will know exactly who you’re rooting for.

GO USA!

SOURCE: FEELINCRAFTY.WORDPRESS.COM

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OLYMPICS 2021 >> HOST CITY HISTORY

2021 OLYMPIC HOST CITY

A MODERN CITY WITH AN ANCIENT HISTORY

Tokyo W R I T T E N B Y J O A N N A G R E Y TA L B O T

The name Tokyo generates many mental images—samurai, skyscrapers, tea ceremonies, a rampaging Gojira (Godzilla), sushi, crowds of pedestrians, kimonos, and cherry blossoms. The land that we now know as the country of Japan has been inhabited since the Stone Age so although modern vistas may come to mind when picturing Tokyo, it is a city that is not lacking for history.

Japan received its first visitors from the Western world in 1543 when Portuguese merchants on their way to China were blown off course and landed on Tanegashima, one of the Japanese islands south of the mainland. Six years later the Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier arrived and worked to convert the Japanese to Christianity. He and his fellow Jesuits were welcomed at first but by the 1590s the ruling military powers began to turn against them.

The era of the Tokugawa shogunate began in 1600 after 30 |

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Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun, or ruler, destroyed the forces of the other major military rulers in the Battle of Sekigahara.

Prior to Tokugawa, Japan was ruled by provincial military rulers called daimy , who were supported by their samurai warriors.

The imperial family lived in Kyoto but at this time was nothing more than figureheads. The real power belonged to the one who controlled the military and had the loyalty of the daimy . In 1603 Ieyasu had Emperor Go-Y zei grant him the title of shogun and he moved his headquarters to the coastal town of Edo, the future Tokyo.

In 1639 the shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, alarmed at the influence of the West and its ever-growing desire to expand, closed all of Japan’s ports to foreign trade. Foreigners could not come in and Japanese could not leave. The Tokugawa shogunate continued its policy of total isolation for another 228 years.

OLYMPICS 2021 >> HOST CITY HISTORY

Boating on the Chidorigafuchi moat is a favorite activity during March and April every year when the sakura (cherry blossom) trees are in full bloom.

The moat was originally dug centuries ago as an extra layer of defense for Edo Castle. The remnants are part of the current Imperial Palace exterior.

(Below) Ginza Street in 1904 - photographed by Underwood & Underwood. Today the Ginza District is an upscale shopping district well known for its department stores, restaurants, and coffee houses.

Everything began to change when U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry, by command of President Millard Fillmore, sailed for Japan and landed in Edo Bay on July 8, 1853. According to historian Dr. Kenneth Henshall, Commodore Perry was instructed to request three things: “more humane treatment for castaways, the opening of ports for provisions and fuel, and the opening of ports for trade.”

Commodore Perry stated in his letter to the shogunate that “the undersigned, as an evidence of friendly intentions, has brought but four of the smaller [ships of war], designing, should it become necessary, to return to Edo in the ensuing spring with a much larger force.”

The next year Commodore Perry returned for the shogun’s reply with nine ships. The shogunate agreed to let American ships stopover in the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate and they could station a consul in Shimoda. The Treaty of Kanagawa was extended to include France, Britain, the Netherlands, and Russia.

In 1858 shogunate negotiators, believing they had no other choice, signed a new agreement opening eight ports. The treaty put all the power in the hands of the foreign governments—the Japanese government could not change the tariffs set in the treaty and foreign nationals accused of crimes in Japan would be tried in consular courts presided over foreign judges under

foreign laws. These treaties were humiliating to the Japanese and helped to create modern Japanese nationalism. As a result of this new treaty, Japanese leaders began to view “Japan” as a single nation, not a collection of provincial military rulers.

This new view of Japan as a nation in turn led to the toppling of the Tokugawa regime and the restoration of the emperor. In 1868 Emperor Meiji moved the government from Kyoto to Edo and renamed the city Tokyo, which means “eastern capital.”

According to historian Andrew Gordon, by 1900 “Japan was the only constitutional nation-state outside Europe and the Americas. It was the only non-Western imperialist power.

It was the first, and at the time the only, non-Western site of an industrial revolution.” Japan, led from Tokyo, was making its mark on the world.

This growth did not come without its problems for Tokyo. From 1905 to 1918 the city experienced a series of riots with people protesting a variety of issues such as streetcar fares increase, naval corruption, universal suffrage, and the high price of rice. The first riot took place from September 5-7, 1905 and was in protest of the terms of the Russo-Japanese War peace treaty. Seventeen people were killed and 311 arrested. 70% of the city’s police substations were destroyed, and pro-government newspapers were attacked.

During World War I, Japan was involved diplomatically as JULY/AUGUST 2021

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OLYMPICS 2021 >> HOST CITY HISTORY

(Above) Tokyo Bay at sunset with the Rainbow Bridge at right. (Below) Portrait of Tokugawa Ieyasu as a Shintō Deity Tōshō-daigongen. Traditionally attributed to Kano Tan’yu. Edo period, 17th century. Courtesy of the Tokugawa Art Museum.

an ally of Great Britain but did not actually participate in the war. They were a major player at the Paris Peace Talks in 1919 and used this to their advantage as they worked to grow their territory.

In April 1920, the Japanese stock market plunged—banks failed, the value of production in key industries fell 40% in one year, and thousands of workers were laid off.

Then on September 1, 1923 the Great Kant Earthquake struck at noontime. Fire broke out all over the city as wooden buildings collapsed and toppled thousands of charcoal and gas stoves. The city’s neighborhoods were devastated with roughly three-quarters of all dwellings in the city destroyed. The 7.9 earthquake destroyed more than one-third of the city and 140,000 died in Tokyo and Yokohama. Economic activity in Tokyo grounded to a standstill.

World War II changed the city forever. Japan had signed the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy in 1940 and on December 7, 1941, declared war against Great Britain and the United States by attacking the U.S. Navy fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor and the British in Malaya.

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Although Tokyo had been bombed previously, the night of March 9-10, 1945 was one of the single most destructive bombing raids in human history. Allied B-29 Superfortress bombers dropped over 1,600 incendiary bombs on the city. The explosions and resulting conflagration destroyed more than half of the city and killed at least 100,000 people. “Operation Meetinghouse” destroyed much of Tokyo’s light industry, which was integral to the war effort.

Sixteen square miles in central Tokyo were destroyed.

After Emperor Hirohito formally surrendered on September 2, 1945, the occupation of Japan by the Allied Powers began. General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, had his headquarters in Tokyo. The occupation officially ended on April 28, 1952, when the Treaty of San Francisco went into effect.

Post-war Tokyo took years to rebuild so the urban sprawl and economic growth did not begin until the 1950s. People continued to move into Tokyo looking for new opportunities and Japan’s urban population made up 38% of the nation in 1950. By 1975 it made up 75% of the nation.

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One major draw was the opening of the Shinkansen, known colloquially in English as the bullet train, which began service in 1964. It cut travel time between Osaka and Tokyo from 8 hours to 3 hours. Today the Shinkansen is a network of high-speed railway lines throughout Japan.

Tokyo today is comprised of 23 wards, known as ku, and has an estimated population of almost 14,000,000 people. Greater Tokyo is a prefecture, similar to a state, with 26 cities, five towns, eight villages, and Pacific islands, with a population of more than 37 million people (as of 2020). Greater Tokyo is the most populous metropolitan area in the world. The economic heart of Japan is based in Tokyo with industries such as printing, telecommunications, banking, and insurance.

Yet, according to Frommer’s Japan, “Tokyo is nothing more than a series of small towns and neighborhoods clustered together, each with its own atmosphere […]. Look for the details, and you’ll notice carefully pruned bonsai adorning sidewalks; traditional wooden houses tucked between massive apartment complexes; everywhere, neatness and order.”

On one street, visitors can view a shrine from the 1600s and on the next they can ride an elevator to one of the observation areas in the Tokyo Skytree—the city’s tallest building at 2,080 feet. A blend of the modern and traditional, Tokyo will always be one of the great capital cities of the world.

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FARM TALES

From Mother Hen PLAY BALL

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I

really wasn’t exposed to sports as a young girl growing up in the country back in the 1950s. Back then girls weren’t encouraged to play organized sports at school or anywhere else actually. It’s kind of hard to play a game of any sort when you are an only child living a mile or more away from the nearest neighborhood children your age.

My exposure to sports was limited to my dad watching the Cubs baseball team play on the television during the summer, or worse yet—the basketball tournaments in the spring. I say “worse yet” because it preempted all my favorite television shows for most of the month of March.

My mother tried to come up with some sporty games for me such as badminton, wiffle ball, croquet, and one year for my birthday I was even given a “pitch-back” net I could practice pitching a softball at. The pitch-back must have sharpened the accuracy of my pitching, because after that I was usually chosen to be the pitcher for my school’s recess softball games. I was chosen, not because I was a talented pitcher with trick throws such as drop balls or change ups, but because I had the ability to consistently get the ball over the plate where the batter had a chance of hitting it. I was completely convinced that this was a good thing—to let the batter hit the ball. The concept of striking him out was lost on me, and I felt bad if that actually happened.

Time passed and when I started dating my husband-to-be, he introduced me to many different sports. I still didn’t become a sports fan, but I would watch games with him and learned the names of some of the more notable players. To this day I still dread March Madness, tolerate the baseball games during the World Series, and have no idea what’s going on during a football game—let alone who will be playing in the Super Bowl. I only watch to preview the new commercials and catch the halftime show.

Now that you know me and where I’m coming from, let me tell you about my “chicks.”

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My three girls, my chicks as I call them, must have inherited their sports’ talents from their father. When they were still in elementary school, my husband signed them up for rec ball at our local Rotary Park. I thought the whole idea was crazy, preferring to have them take piano lessons or dance. However, I was out-voted four to one. Our life became a crazy, hectic bedlam working in practices, games, and homework. Dinner was eaten on the run, often in the car on the way to Rotary Park.

Our oldest was not interested in the girls’ softball team, as she wanted to play hardball on the boys’ team. That opened up a whole new dynamic and learning opportunity.

Some of the boys’ parents weren’t too happy about having a girl on the team while others welcomed the chance for their sons to learn respect for a female who could do the job. She held her own and played with the boys’ teams for several years. At a certain point boys have a growth spurt, and it became obvious that my petite chick—talented as she was—needed to move on to the girls’ softball team. The experiences she had with baseball made her an excellent softball player, and she played all through high school making First Team All-State in her junior year with the highest batting average as well.

Meanwhile our middle chick was playing softball at Rotary Park too. She discovered she had a talent for pitching. My husband, who had been a pitcher with his high school team, worked with her and taught her the change ups and the drop ball. Her fast balls weren’t as fast as some of the other pitchers on her team, so she would usually be called in once the opposing team was getting used to our fast pitcher. The change up would mess with their rhythm and usually leave them swinging at the plate.

Strike three would happen before they knew what hit them. I have to admit, I did enjoy watching that happen.

Our youngest chick grew up at Rotary Park watching her sisters play and eating snacks from the concession stand. When she turned five, she was old enough to be on her first t-ball team.

She also played softball all through elementary, middle and high

school. We were just a softball family, and it wasn’t a matter of “if” the girls would play, but where and when.

All three of the girls played travel ball and our summers were spent driving all over our state. My husband would photo copy our Rand McNally atlas and yellow highlight the routes I would take to the ball field, as there were no GPS systems back then. I have to say it was stressful, exhausting, and hot. So hot that I often would just find a shade tree to sit under and read a book until the next game the girls were playing. The memories and the friends our family made were worth it, though. One of the highlights was when the travel team our middle chick was part of qualified to play at the Softball World Series in Columbus Ohio. That year our youngest was also the team’s batgirl, and she took the job very seriously. Our team came in second to only one other team, and the loss was so heartbreaking that the little bat girl had tears in her eyes. I have to admit that I did too.

So, what is the value of sports in a child’s life? I would have to say that the difference I see in my life compared to my chicks is that they have learned the ability to work with a team, compete to win, accept defeat if it happens and move on, and have confidence in their abilities while respecting the abilities of others. These are such very important lessons that can be learned with any team sport. I never had that opportunity, but learned it second-hand watching my girls play. For that, I am thankful.

Okay, now go “Play ball!”

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TEAM SPIRIT >> ROWDY REPTILES

LET’S GET ROWDY

TEAM SPIRIT OF THE GATORS

Rowdy Reptiles W R I T T E N B Y A L E X A S A U VA G E R E

Thunderous noise erupts from the front rows of the Exactech Arena.

Hundreds of voices yell at the top of their lungs—louder than kids on a playground. Feet thump heavily onto the bleachers like elephants stampeding over the terrain. Hands slam together into meaty claps that resonate off the walls.

This cacophony of sound sends a warning to the opposing basketball team, letting them know they’ve entered the Gator Nation. Arms stretch horizontally into the air, lifting a bold banner of blue and orange. On it reads two words: Rowdy Reptiles.

The Rowdy Reptiles is the University of Florida’s official 38 |

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student group for the college’s athletic teams. The University Athletic Association Inc, (UAA) announced the creation of the organization in 2011; however, students had gathered to support UF sports teams long before the Rowdy Reptiles was born. With more than 16,000 followers on Twitter and more than 10,000 followers on Instagram, they have grown a large fan base.

The club mainly champions on the UF men’s basketball team, but they also support other sports within the university.

Though free, only current UF students can join the Rowdies.

Joining works in tandem with purchasing a student ticket; once students go to a game, they become members. The more games members go to, the more points they rack up. Rowdy members can then redeem prizes for those points.

More than just a reward system, the Rowdy Reptiles remain a student organization. An executive board runs the group and

TEAM SPIRIT >> ROWDY REPTILES

The Rowdy Reptiles is the University of Florida’s official student group for the college’s athletic teams. The University Athletic Association Inc, (UAA) announced the creation of the organization in 2011; however, students had gathered to support UF sports teams long before the Rowdy Reptiles was born. With more than 16,000 followers on Twitter and more than 10,000 followers on Instagram, they have grown a large fan base.

leads the monthly meetings. The biggest meetings of the year host about 100 people. Attendance at the meetings isn’t required, but it’s a great way to get more involved. Each meeting comes with free food—usually in the form of pizza. Most importantly, each meeting introduces the “fresh dirt” on the players of the opposing team, which always turns into more of a stand-up comedy routine because that’s the Rowdy Reptiles’ main objective: making the other team crumble under pressure.

The director of research and management, currently filled

by UF senior Christian White, is responsible for gathering this information on the other team. He first starts by going through the opposing team’s roster, analyzing each person’s photo and statistics. What is his height? Does he score well? Then he goes through the players’ social media feeds and looks at any relevant

information about them. Whatever information compiled gets printed out onto sheets of paper, then passed around before the game. With the arsenal at their disposal, the Rowdies in the front student section unleash on the “enemy”—all to get into the players’ heads.

The Rowdies make sure not to cross the line or go overboard in their barrages. But that’s where all the sympathies end. One time, there was a player on the opposing team whose mother also played college basketball. Only problem: she played it better than her son, having scored 700 more points than him throughout her career. So each time the player missed a shot against the Gators, he was sure to hear the Rowdies shout: “Your mom would have made that shot!”

“It takes a second to be brave enough to scream and shout

“It takes a second to be brave enough to scream and shout that loud at somebody.”

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TEAM SPIRIT >> ROWDY REPTILES

that loud at somebody,” White said.

Some players take the taunts in stride and good humor.

They smile or laugh, shaking their heads at the Rowdies. Other players not so much. The Rowdies started keeping a tally on the number of players and coaches that yelled at them; the number grew with every passing game.

When players on the other team foul out of the game, the Rowdies chant “left, right, left, right” as the player slinks toward the bench.

One year, a player from Missouri had enough of the rowdy antics. Hearing the “left, right, left, right” chant was the last straw. In heightened anger, he glared at the UF student fan section and made an inappropriate hand gesture. Unfortunately for him, the SEC networks had framed him on camera at that very moment. When the coach caught wind of what happened, he suspended the player from the first half of the next game.

The Rowdy Reptiles stand the entire game and exude the 40 |

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utmost amount of fan energy—frenzied and fun. They wave blue and orange one-handed pom-poms in the air. They hold up large poster signs of the players’ heads. They sing along to the songs they recognize and recite their memorized chants.

When the team wins, they explode in an uproar and feel euphoria in the surreal moment. When the team loses, their spirit crumbles from the tornado that destroys their house of hopes. Even in losses though, they never blame the team. The club also tries to travel to about two away games a year. Most of the time it’s for nearby games like against FSU, but a couple years back they traveled to Tennessee for a Vanderbilt showdown. To top it off, the Reptiles will even camp out before weekend games.

“We just know how to show up,” said Samuel “Sam” Licht, the president of the Rowdy Reptiles. “We know how to show out. We know how to be loud.”

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Rosanne Vitassa and her daughter Kristin, New Port Richey

The heart. It’s a symbol of caring and strength. It represents compassion and understanding.

At UF Health, we put our hearts and expertise into everything we do. From developing new lifesaving procedures to providing routine health services, there is no heart condition too simple or complex for our dedicated doctors and staff. At UF Health, our team of caring professionals work together to provide personalized treatment plans in one world-class medical center.

We care for your heart with all of ours.

Visit Heart.UFHealth.org to watch Rosanne’s story and sign up for a free Heart-Healthy Kit. 42 |

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3580 N. Main Street, Gainesville JULY/AUGUST 2021

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GAINESVILLE GREATS >> LOCAL OLYMPIANS

GOLDEN GATORS

Gainesville Greats Olympic Athletes with Ties to the Swamp

T

he University of Florida has produced a number of successful athletes over the years, but some have even achieved global recognition during the Olympic Games. In the pool, the track and beyond, the following athletes have solidified their reputations as Gainesville greats.

Bridget Sloan (Gymnastics) Because she was an active child, Bridget Sloan’s parents signed her up for gymnastics at the age of four. A little over two decades later, Sloan is an accomplished former Olympian that helped guide the Gators Gymnastic team to three consecutive national titles.

Sloan was born on June 23, 1992, and grew up in 44 |

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Pittsboro, Indiana, according to bridgetsloan.com.

She trained at Sharp’s Gymnastics and went on to compete at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 at age 16, where she won the bronze medal in the all-around and a silver medal on floor. Sloan’s contributions helped the USA gymnastics team take home the silver medal behind China. Just one year later, Sloan won the U.S. nationals as well as the world all-around title.

In 2012, Sloan joined the Gators gymnastics team. According to FloridaGators.com, as a freshman, she helped the team secure its first NCAA championship win in history. The Gators went on to win two more consecutive national titles. Sloan also made UF history as the first Florida gymnast to earn a 10 on every event (vault, bars, beam and floor).

During her college career, she had 27 all-around

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GAINESVILLE GREATS >> LOCAL OLYMPIANS

Four-time Olympian Ryan Lochte has won 12 medals. He was also named both American and World Swimmer of the Year two times.

wins, six NCAA event titles, and eight 10.0 marks. She also appeared on the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

In 2013 and 2016, she was named the Honda Sports Award recipient for gymnastics, signifying her as the country’s top collegiate female gymnast. She graduated from the University of Florida in April 2016 with a degree in telecommunications.

Ryan Lochte (Swimming) Swimmer Ryan Lochte makes a splash as a four-time Olympian. The athlete won 12 medals (six gold, three silver and three bronze) and was named both American and World Swimmer of the Year two times.

Lochte was born in Rochester, New York on August 3, 1984.

His father, a swim coach, taught him how to swim when he was 5 years old. The family moved to Florida for his father’s job and Lochte grew up in Daytona Beach.

At a young age, Lochte competed in Junior Olympics tournaments. In high school he realized that he wanted to swim professionally. Lochte attended the University of Florida, where he won the title of NCAA Swimmer of the Year twice. He was also a seven-time SEC champion and a 24-time All-American.

At his first Summer Olympics, the 2004 games in Athens, Lochte swam with Michael Phelps, Peter Vanderkaay and Klete Keller to win the gold medal in the 4-by-200-meter freestyle relay. He also won other medals in Athens and during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, 2012 Olympics in London, and the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

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In addition to his athletic success, Lochte is a pop culture icon. The swimmer has made cameos on “30 Rock” and “90210,” was featured on People Magazine’s “Sexist Man Alive” list, and has over one million followers on Twitter. According to Lochte’s official website, he currently resides in Gainesville.

Gemma Spofforth (Swimming) Olympic champion Gemma Spofforth is known for her 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome, Italy, but she is also a world record holder, a three-time British record holder, five-time NCAA champion, 18-time All-American Selection, and 2009’s SEC Female Swimmer of the Year.

Born on November 17, 1987, in Shoreham by the Sea, England, Spofforth was coached by Graham Wardell until her 2006 graduation of Portsmouth High School. According to the University of Florida’s website, Spofforth chose Florida because of the “amazing facilities and great atmosphere.”

“From my perspective, UF changed my swimming career.

I almost quit swimming the year before I went to UF but the coaches there took a gamble on me. I was out of shape going into that first year. I was not showing much promise in training and it was not until the NCAAs that the coaches’ gamble paid off,” Spofforth wrote in an email interview. “I was so happy to be part of the team, part of the environment, and part of this world. American swimming is so much different from England’s in that there is more of a team, more facilities and more coaches willing to do what it takes for a team, not just an individual. It is incredible!”

GAINESVILLE GREATS >> LOCAL OLYMPIANS

In the 1972 Summer Olympics in Germany, Shorter won the gold medal in the marathon. He also won the silver medal in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada. He was inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Field Hall of Fame in 1989.

Her final time at the 2009 FINA World Championships in the 100-meter backstroke was 58.12. Spofforth was also the first Gator woman in 17 years to win a national title in the 200 backstroke. She finished fourth in the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 2:06.66.

“The win itself was amazing and I cannot begin to describe the emotions surrounding it,” Spofforth said. “My mom died in 2007 and I swam for her and for me.”

She went on to write “Dealing With It: Six Years of Mourning, Medals and Men,” a book that describes losing her mother on the way to her first Olympic games.

Spofforth graduated from UF with an M.Ed./Ed.S. in school counseling and guidance.

Frank Shorter (Track) Olympian Frank Shorter is attributed to launching the running boom in the United States in the 1970s. He is the only American in history to win two medals in the Olympic marathon event and is known as one of the most influential athlete speakers in the running world.

Shorter was born in Munich, Germany, where his father, a physician, was serving in the U.S. Army. He attended Yale University and enrolled in the University of Florida College of Law. He graduated from UF with a Juris Doctor degree in 1974.

In the 1972 Summer Olympics in Germany, Shorter won the gold medal in the marathon. He also won the silver medal in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada. He was

inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Field Hall of Fame in 1989.

Aside from his academic and Olympic pursuits, Shorter is also credited for starting the running movement, according to Frankshorter.net. After he won medals in the ‘70s, the craze of running for fitness spread across the country. Shorter still runs for pleasure and travels around the United States as a speaker at running events.

Tracy Caulkins (Swimming) At the age of 15, Tracy Caulkins won five gold medals in the 1978 World Championship. She was poised to win more medals in the 1980 Olympics, but Jimmy Carter boycotted the Moscow Games that year after the USSR invaded Afghanistan, according to swimswam.com.

Caulkins had to wait four years to compete as an Olympian and only had the chance to participate in one Olympic Games.

Still, she won three Olympic medals.

Caulkins studied broadcast journalism at the University of Florida and trained under Coach Randy Reese. She served as the captain of the U.S. women’s swim team at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and won three gold medals. She ended her competitive swim career with 48 national championship titles and she set five world records and 63 American records.

After the 1984 Olympics, she retired from competitive swimming. She gave up her senior year of NCAA eligibility in order to focus her attention on finishing her degree. As she graduated JULY/AUGUST 2021

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GAINESVILLE GREATS >> LOCAL OLYMPIANS

Above: Caulkins studied broadcast journalism at the University of Florida and trained under Coach Randy Reese. She served as the captain of the U.S. women’s swim team at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and won three gold medals.

DeLisha Milton-Jones is one of the most successful Gator basketball players to date, with several records at UF and Olympic gold medals.

from UF in 1985, she was inducted into the UF Athletic Hall of Fame as a “Gator Great.”

Caulkins married UF alumnus and fellow swimmer, Australian Mark Stockwell. As an American-Australian dual citizen, Caulkins lives in Queensland with her husband and five children. She was given a Medal of the Order of Australia for her work promoting sporting opportunities for women.

DeLisha Milton-Jones (Basketball)

Swimmer Caeleb Dressel made his Olympic debut at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.

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DeLisha Milton-Jones is one of the most successful Gator basketball players to date, with a long list of records and accomplishments at UF as well as several Olympic gold medals.

Milton-Jones was born in Riceboro, Georgia in 1974. She won an athletic scholarship and played for the UF women’s basketball team from 1993 to 1997. During that time, she scored over 1,000 points and had over 1,000 rebounds. She led the team to four NCAA tournaments in a row and was one of the most decorated players in the school’s history, according to WRUF.com. MiltonJones was the first athlete at UF to earn All-American honors in basketball.

Milton-Jones was the first Gator to be named SEC Player of the Year. She was also voted Most Outstanding Performer of

GAINESVILLE GREATS >> LOCAL OLYMPIANS

Above: Milton-Jones helped the United States team achieve gold at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, as well as the 1998 and 2002 FIBA World Championships, and at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

gold medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay. In the final, he swam the lead-off leg in 48.10 (the second-fastest opening leg in the field) and was followed by teammates Michael Phelps, Ryan Held, and Nathan Adrian. The American team recorded a time of 3:09.92.

Dressel is from Green Cove Springs, Florida, has three siblings, and comes from a family of swimmers. He has b e e n c o a c h e d by Gregory Troy, prior head swim coach at UF and multitime U.S. Olympic coach. Dressel graduated UF in Caeleb Dressel 2018. In a recent (Swimming) espn.com article, Record-breaking it was reported sprinter Caeleb that Dressel is set Dressel made his to dominate, as Olympic debut at the Tracy Caulkins is an American-Australian dual citizen. She was given a Medal of the Order of expected, at the 2016 Summer Games Australia for her work promoting sporting opportunities for women. in Rio de Janeiro. Gator Nation was beaming with pride as he 2021 Olympic trials. Dressel, a 24-time world medalist in brought home two gold medals. Dressel currently holds the sprints events, is widely considered the fastest swimmer in world records in the 100-meter butterfly and as part of the the world.

4x100-meter freestyle relay and 4x100-meter medley relay, Keep an eye out for our Gators going for gold during this according to usaswimming.org.

At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Dressel won his first summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. the 1997 NCAA Tournament Mideast Regional, according to FloridaGators.com.

Milton-Jones helped the United States team achieve gold at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, as well as the 1998 and 2002 FIBA World Championships, and at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

The oldest player in the WNBA, MiltonJones has played 16 seasons. In addition to her accomplishments, she is known for her uncommonly long 84-inch wingspan.

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Restaurant Guide

Brown’s Country Buffet Casual — 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. 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.

14423 NW US Hwy 441, Alachua, FL 32616 Monday-Friday 7:00am - 8:00pm Saturday 7:00am - 2:00pm Sunday 8:00am - 3:00pm

386-462-3000 brownscountrybuffet.net

Stone House Grill Great steaks, seafood and more — Visit us at Stone House Neighborhood Grill for the ultimate dining experience.

We are a full-service restaurant located in Newberry, Florida. The owners and operators have over 20+ years of experience in the food service industry, and a passion for providing exceptional food and service that will leave all customers coming back for more.

Enjoy our unique variety of menu options for lunch or dinner. Lunch specials Monday-Friday. Happy hour 3-6 Monday through friday.

1759 SW 248th Drive Newberry 32669 Monday - Thursday 11am-10pm Friday & Saturday 11am-11pm Sunday 11am-9pm

352-354-8023 www.stonehousenewberry.com

Copper Monkey West Restaurant & Pub — We are 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.

14209 W Newberry Road, Jonesville, FL 32669 Across from the Steeplechase Publix Sunday-Thursday 11:00am - 11:00pm Friday-Saturday 11:00am - 11:00pm

352-363-6338 mycoppermonkey.com SPECIAL RESTAURANT ADVERTISING SECTION. CALL 352-372-5468 FOR RATES AND INFORMATION. 50 |

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I Love NY Pizza Pizzeria — We are a family owned, family friendly restaurant that serves authentic New York style pizza and delicious Italian entrees. We offer dine, take out, delivery and catering. We make everything fresh and with high quality ingredients from our dough, to our sauce, to each of our dishes — including classics such as Baked Ziti, Chicken or Veal Parmigiana, Chicken Marsala or Alfredo, and many more. If you are in the mood for pizza, you can “take and bake” at home or let us prepare you one of our specialty Brick oven pizzas. So many choices of specialty pizzas, try them all! Pizza by the slice is available for lunch or dinner! Let’s not forget about the Stromboli, Calzones, Salads, Desserts and yes, we have a kids menu too! What ever you choose, we guarantee to bring you all the unique flavors of New York City. Visit our website for a full menu and coupons.

2645 SW 91st St, Haile Plantation (Market square) Gainesville Monday-Saturday 10:00am – 9:00pm Closed on Sundays

352-333-6185 www.ilnyp.com

El Toro Get Full At The Bull — Bienvenido! Welcome! We are a family owned and family friendly business. We have been serving our guests high quality fresh food for over 28 years. We welcome our guests with our Award Winning Salsa and warm homemade chips, add some fresh guacamole and our homemade white queso and you have a great start to a great meal! Try our Fish Tacos, Shrimp Tacos, Fajitas, Aaron’s Overstuffed Burrito, Nachos Supreme or one of our Daily Specials, we have something everyone will enjoy! We serve Lunch 7 days a week till 4 P.M. and our Kids Meals come with a drink and dessert. Check out our menu on our website. Our outdoor patio is perfect for “Para Cenar Afuera”. So, won’t you please come join us and Get Full At The Bull! See you there!

15202 NW 147 Drive, Suite 1100, Alachua (Rolling Oaks Plaza) Monday – Sat 11:00am – 9:00pm Sunday 12:00pm – 8:00pm

386-418-1039 www.eltorogainesville.com

Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza Italian Restaurant — Piesanos is a locally owed and operated restaurant that is proud to use only the finest ingredients available, including Grande brand premium mozzarella. We are a full service dine in restaurant with an attached take out center and also offer catering. Our dough is made fresh daily and all of our pizzas are baked directly on the stone in our unique Granite Stone Fired Pizza Oven. We offer a great variety of Specialty pizzas, such as our Pizza Antico-(ultra thin crust- Fresh Mozzarella, mini cup & char pepperoni & fresh basil) Specialty Pastas, Calzones, Fresh soups and salads, classic italian entrees, and a great selection of craft beer.

For full menu and list of locations visit: PIESANOSTOGO.COM Now Serving: Gainesville, Ocala, The Villages, Clermont & Windermere, Coming soon: Lake City & St. Augustine Mon-Sun: 11am-10pm Order online or Download our App: PIESANOSTOGO.COM JULY/AUGUST 2021

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Restaurant Guide

Cilantro Tacos Authentic Mexican — BA family-owned restaurant that was founded through a passion for great food and hosting dinner parties with friends. Originally from Southern California, their love for Mexican food moved to the wonderful community of Newberry in 2013. They take pride in the quality, freshness, and vibrant flavors of their food — with meats that are never frozen and everything prepared fresh and made-to-order. Enjoy the tastefully marinated meats and savor the mild, spicy, and mouthwatering salsas that are created from scratch. They feel their purpose is to spread happiness, make contributions to the community and create lasting memories of fun, laughter, and great times.

When you eat with us, you’re family. So come on in!

Tioga Town Center - 12921 SW 1 Rd Suite #103 Monday - Saturday from 11:00am to 9:00pm

352-472-1300 eatcilantrotacos.com

Crafty Bastards Restaurant - Pub — Crafty Bastards Restaurant has lunch specials M-F 11am4pm. Come see our NEW Menu items, including fresh salads and soups. Don’t worry, we still proudly serve what you have voted, the best Wings, Burgers, Fish n’ Chips, and REAL Shepherds Pie around! While also offering entertainment every day of the week, we have the largest selection of 60 Craft Beers on tap, and next door at the Bottle Shoppe, we offer over 750 varieties of Craft Beer with Free Beer Tastings every Thursday. 6p-8p. Visit our social media and web for ongoing events and new craft beer. Private party room for office or birthday parties available.

CRAFTY BASTARDS - WELCOME HOME!

4860 NW 39th Ave. ( Magnolia Parke, between Starbucks and TiresPlus) Open at 11am every day

352-872-5970 www.thecraftybastards.com

Mr. and Mrs. Crab Customized Seafood Experience — Mr. and Mrs. Crab’s hand-held seafood integrates American country taste with traditional Szechuan spices to create a unique taste. After you’ve decided what types of seafood you would like to indulge yourself in, our chefs will have your food cooked to perfection and placed in our specially designed seafood boil bags to be tossed in one of our mouthwatering seasonings. We have a vast selection of seafood to choose from, accompanied by our famous Mr. & Mrs. Crab house seasonings. We can’t wait for you to try our Asian-inspired, Louisiana style seafood boils. We’re confident after you’ve had a taste, you’ll be sharing your Mr. and Mrs. Crab story with all your friends!

(Butler Plaza Central) 3246 SW 35th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32608 Sun to Thur 12 pm - 10 pm Fri and Sat 12 pm - 11 pm

(352) 554-5968 mrandmrscrabseafood.com 52 |

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That Bar and Table Neighborhood Bar and Restaurant —Located in the Haile Market Square Publix center, we are locally owned and operated, family friendly (including dogs!), and offer indoor and outdoor dining! Lunch specials available Mon-Fri and brunch is served on weekends. Daily specials include Cluckin’ Monday, Taco Tuesday, Burger Wednesday, Wine-Night Thursday, and amazing weekend Chef’s specials beginning each Friday! Our scratch kitchen is prepping daily to deliver amazing wing dishes, glorious ½ pound burgers, and a wide selection of appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and dinner entrees. Our skilled bartenders will serve up your favorite cocktail or can recommend one of our house favorites! See you soon!

2725 SW 91st St, Gainesville 11-9 Sunday, Monday, Tuesday 11-10 Wed-Sat

352-331-6620 thatbarandtable.com

Leonardo’s Pizza Mouth Watering — Family friendly and locally-owned-and-operated pizza joint with a unique, nostalgic atmosphere that is as distinctive as our delicious food. Chicago-style pizzas, hand tied garlic knots, and Italian baked dinners and salad bar, we know you’ll be back for more. Come and see why Gainesville loves our signature deep dish pizza pie, the Big Leo. Since 1976 Gainesville has grown up on pizza from Leonardo’s Millhopper and we are still going strong! Our dedicated staff (many have been with us for 15-20 years) knows how important it is to treat you properly. We take great pride in our welcoming atmosphere. We can’t wait to make you part of our family.

4131 NW 16th Blvd (Millhopper) Sunday - Thursday: 11:00am - 9:30pm Friday - Saturday: 11:00am - 10:30pm

352-376-2001 leonardosmillhopper.com

Ballyhoo Grill Looking for the freshest seafood? — The Ballyhoo Grill is the place for you! With fresh seafood arriving daily, Try the amazing North Atlantic Cedar Plank Salmon, grilled on a cedar plank for a rich, smoky flavor. Other great eats include fresh sushi and hand-cut choice steaks. We’re serving up everything from salads and pastas to delicious burgers and sandwiches. make sure you try the incredible Bananas Fosters. Dine in or outdoors on their patio. Happy hour is 2-7pm daily with extended happy hour until 9pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

3700 Newberry Road, Gainesville Sunday-Thursday: 11am-9pm Friday & Saturday: 11am-10pm

352-373-0059 www.ballyhoogrill.com JULY/AUGUST 2021

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Restaurant Guide

Bangkok Square Authentic Thai Cuisine — Thai cuisine, blending the best elements of the freshest foods. Thai herbs; garlic, basil, ginger, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal root, chili and more, prepared with the finest blending of fish sauce, shrimp paste, and coconut milk. All of our meals are made to order and prepared on site.

We specialize in vegetarian, vegan and gluten free orders. All of our foods can be prepared to your satisfaction with mild, medium, hot, or Thai hot, balanced to the four tastes: sweet, sour, salty, and slightly bitter. Meals can be prepared for take out and we cater to any event. We also have gift cards available. Save 10% off your next dining experience when a gift card is purchased.

Two Gainesville Locations: 6500 SW Archer Road & 8181 NW 38th Lane Lunch: Monday-Friday 11:00am-3:00pm • Saturday-Sunday 12:00pm-3:00pm Dinner: Sunday-Thursday 5:00pm-9:30pm • Friday-Saturday 5:00pm-10:00pm

352-375-4488 Archer 352-672-6969 39th Ave. bangkoksquarefl.com

Dave’s New York Deli 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 and Best Philly. 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. Dave serves New York size Pastrami and Corned Beef sandwiches, Cheesecake from New York, Nathan’s Hot Dogs, NY Kettle Boiled Bagels, Nova Salmon, Knish, Cannolies, Philly Cheesesteaks, Cubans, Subs, Kids Menu and more.” Come out and enjoy Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at Dave’s NY Deli. Now serving beer and wine.

12921 SW 1st Road • Tioga Town Center Open 7 Days

352-333-0291 www.DavesNYDeli.com

Mi Apá Latin Café Cuban — When it comes to authentic Cuban cooking, you cannot go wrong with Mi Apá Latin Cafe,” said Trekbible in their article, top 8: Best Restaurants in gainesville, FL. Featuring authentic ingredients and classic recipes, such as Pollo Asado, Vaca Frita, Medianoche sandwiches, and their local favorite, Cafe con leche, we bring the tastes of Cuba to Gainesville and Alachua. Whether you’re dining in our sunny patio or picking up your online order, your food will always be hot, fresh, and full of Latin flavor! And our Gainesville location even has a drive-thru, as will our new Jonesville location, opening Summer of 2021!

Don’t forget kids eat free every Wednesday from 4:00-9:00pm!

Alachua – 15634 US Highway 441 (386-418-0838) Gainesville - 114 SW 34th ST (352-376-7020) Jonesville - 14209 W Newberry RD COMING SOON!

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SPECIAL OLYMPICS >> OLYMPIAN CHRIS KOWAL

HEART OF GOLD

CHRIS KOWAL

A Special Olympian STORY A N D PHOTOGR A PH Y BY MICH A EL A M U LLIGA N

To say Chis Kowal likes to stay busy is an understatement.

Chris has been racking up medals from the Special Olympics since 1991, including two gold medals from the World Special Olympics in gymnastics. He’s won so many medals that it’s become difficult to keep track of the count.

More recently, Chris has found a passion for equestrian riding after moving from Wisconsin to Ocala, Florida in 2006.

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The Kowals made the move to be closer to their eldest son, Bradley. But equestrian riding is just one of his passions from over the years, which include gymnastics, bowling, golfing, track, ice skating, snowshoeing and swimming (to name a few).

Chris, 51, is a man with Down syndrome. Besides a few grey hairs and a few wrinkles around his eyes, he looks young for his age. Helen Kowal, Chris’ mother, recounts just a year ago when her son tried to order a drink from a server, who carded him.

Now Chris sits at his dining room table in Gainesville, surrounded by years of medals and accomplishments. He is wearing a Hawaiian shirt and jean shorts, a more casual look to his usual

SPECIAL OLYMPICS >> OLYMPIAN CHRIS KOWAL

Posing for a family portrait, (left to right) Peter Kowal, Chris Kowal and Helen Kowal stand outside their Gainesville home. The family moved to Ocala, Florida in 2005 to be closer to their eldest son.

attire. Helen says Chris is generally dressed to the nines.

Chris’ days have slowed, much like many others, since the beginning of the pandemic. Chris and his family are working on getting him back to work at UF Health Shands Hospital, where he works in environmental services. As a person with Down syndrome, he benefits from a job coach to teach him routines.

“He’s better off where you show him a routine…and he’ll do it,” Helen said.

It’s Chris’ affinity for routines that won him 10 medals from both the 1991 and the 1995 Special Olympics World Games, including two gold medals.

Chris’ specialty was in gymnastics. He competed in categories like the floor exercise, vaulting and the high bar. However, swimming was his first passion.

Chris learned to swim at just 5 years old after being allowed to tag along with his older brother at camp.

“He was fortunate to have an instructor that said, ‘sure,’” Helen said. “We couldn’t believe it when he learned to swim.”

Helen described Chris’ breaststroke as beautiful. However, Chris has a tendency to emulate others. After watching others

swim at the local YMCA, Chris developed what his family nicknamed the “sloppy stroke.” Helen asked a local lifeguard to reteach Chris to swim, and he quickly settled back into his stroke. Chris’ swimming was so impressive he continued into high school, playing and competing for his high school team.

“I went to see a practice one day, and I sat up in the bleachers watching him and I counted up to 32 lanes that he had swam already,” Peter Kowal, Chris’ father said. “They actually took him out to the meets with him to compete. He really still to this day is a very good swimmer.”

In the late ‘80s, Chris was around 20 years old and weighed about 125 pounds. He had already been spending time with the Special Olympics in Wisconsin swimming and running track, but one of his instructors suggested gymnastics as well because of his smaller stature. Chris quickly discovered he loved it.

He spent the next four years learning and practicing routines.

For an athlete to be eligible to take part in the World Special Olympics, another person has to nominate the athlete, and then that person’s name is put into a lottery system. Chris was lucky enough to win that lottery not just once, but twice, after JULY/AUGUST 2021

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SPECIAL OLYMPICS >> OLYMPIAN CHRIS KOWAL

Chris Kowal picks up his family cat, carrying her like a baby. The two have a special bond, having been together for over 10 years. Kowal likes to spend time around animals. In the past few years, he’s taken up equestrian riding for the Special Olympics.

his nominations.

The first World Special Olympics he competed in was in 1991 at the Minneapolis and St. Paul area of Minnesota. It was the largest sporting event in the world that year, with 6,000 athletes competing from over 100 countries.

For the two weeks Chris was competing, he stayed in a separate place from his parents, in an Olympic village of sorts. Helen and Peter were allowed a few visits, but Chris was always busy.

In his category—gymnastics—the participants were competing and practicing until 11 p.m. and then up early the next morning.

In the 1991 World Special Olympics, the Kowals were able to take photos. Looking right at the camera, Chris’ attention is away from his competitors. Helen discovered that Chris had a tendency to mimic his competition (much like with the breaststroke) and forget his own routine, so she would often make sure his attention was on her instead of the fellow competitors.

Chris walked away from the 1991 World Special Olympics with four medals: one gold, one silver, and two bronze.

After that triumphant year, the Kowals looked for a personal coach to train Chris in gymnastics. Previously, his training came from the Special Olympics. Helen struggled to find someone who would train Chris because of his mental disability.

Chris has trouble communicating. He attended speech therapy for years, though he still struggles with a stutter that impairs his ability to speak efficiently. However, Chris remains outgoing and friendly, but there’s a shyness about him. He will often wait for another person to start a conversation.

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SPECIAL OLYMPICS >> OLYMPIAN CHRIS KOWAL

Helen found a coach, Mike Giles, from Northshore Gymnastic Academy in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Giles had never worked with an athlete with a mental disability, however, the two trained together for four years after 1991, preparing Chris for his 1995 World Special Olympics run. The two trained together for a minimum of three times per week.

In 1995, Chris competed in all six gymnastics events. He placed in every category, winning a gold, four silvers and one bronze. “I wish every parent could experience it,” Helen said. “It’s just such a wonderful, uplifting experience for [the athletes] and the parents.”

In the years since, Chris has continued to stay active in the Special Olympics. In Ocala, he discovered a love for horseback riding. His bedroom is filled with pony memorabilia and ribbons from his competitions.

Chris is still waiting for the Special Olympics competitions to open back up so he can get back in the saddle. For now, he spends time with his cat, Zoey, and in his movie room watching some of his favorites like “Star Wars” and “The Avengers.” Just like the main characters in those films—Chris is a hero too!

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COLUMN

DONNA BONNELL’S

Embracing Life BARISTAS—THE OLYMPIANS OF COFFEE

DONNA BONNELL BECAME THE AUTHOR OF HER COLUMN, EMBRACING LIFE, MORE THAN A DECADE AGO. SHE SHARES HER PERSONAL CHALLENGES AND VICTORIES WITH THE GOAL OF INSPIRING HER READERS TO ANALYZE WHY THINGS HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. bonneldj@gmail.com

P

hotos from a phenomenal adventure to Costa Rica recently surfaced as I was organizing mounds of mementos. That trip was designed for surfers. Accommodations were a primitive camp, located in the lush jungle and near the pristine coast. Lucky for me (since I do not surf ), another person was needed to fill the group’s travel quota, and thus I was invited.

Those pictures triggered a mental journey back in time.

I recalled the passion felt by locals for soccer (futbol, in Spanish). In addition, I could almost smell the rich aroma of pure Arabica Costa Rican coffee emitted from open-aired shops. It made me want to relive that experience.

When I learned that the 2020 Summer Olympics were rescheduled for 2021, I investigated if either team from Costa Rica advanced beyond the qualifying games. My plans were to root for the country that embraces soccer as their national pastime. Unfortunately, neither did.

Disappointed and about to refile those sweet memories, an invitation to a Barista Experience magically (maybe) manifested. At the time, I did not know there would be a connection. In fact, I agreed to attend without having any idea what I was about to experience. That is when I met Andre Medina, head barista and operations manager of Joel’s Coffeehouse in Newberry.

Joel’s was about to close for the day when I walked in and was cheerfully greeted by Medina. Little did I know that I was about to board a Costa Rican coffee-lovers tour. It was an educational and entertaining evening filled with history, fun facts, hands-on demonstrations, and coffee sampling.

The grand finale was standing behind the counter and being a barista (in training, of course).

I quickly discovered that becoming a good barista is very difficult. Just to pull one espresso shot, the barista must first grind the beans, then dose the coffee and settle the grounds. The next step is to clear the excess ground, followed by tamping the grounds (proper tamping is an undervalued ‘Olympian-level’ art form, only perfected by skilled baristas.)

Finally, it is time to lock the portafilter into the group head of the espresso machine, pull the shot, and observe the liquid extraction to ensure perfection. If not achieved, adjustments

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to the procedure must be made. Lastly, the portafilter is cleaned and placed back into the machine to prewarm for the next shot.

Almost anyone can brew a basic cup of java. Expertly operating commercial espresso machines, however, require extensive training. That night I dubbed Medina an Olympian of Coffee. The skills and knowledge he demonstrated were in perfect alignment with one definition in Merriam-Webster dictionary. It states: “A being of lofty detachment or superior attainments.”

To perform at the Olympian-level, the barista must strive for that superior espresso shot every time. Highly qualified baristas subtly tweak their sophisticated procedures daily, aware how weather conditions play a factor in creating the perfect beverage. Moreover, they are knowledgeable of the distinct differences in flavor (based on where the coffee beans were grown). Thus, possessing the ability to recommend which beans are best for patrons based on their individual tastes.

Patricia Bulko, owner of Joel’s Coffeehouse, visited Costa Rica on a mission trip (not long after my adventure). She, too, fell in love with the country and their coffee. When the time was right and the ideal location found, she pursued her dream.

Her goal was to offer quality Costa Rican coffee in a quaint setting, served by gifted baristas. She and Ray Cordello (her fiancé) secured a historic home and completely refurbished the structure. Every detail was considered, including pictures of coffee farms that Bulko toured during her stay.

Are you wondering how the coffeehouse was named? Joel is Bulko’s 11-year-old son. He is already a skilled Jr. Barista, able to create any variety of coffee offered at his shop.

An idea occurred to me—maybe the next time either Costa Rican soccer team makes it to the Olympics they would consider broadcasting the game. Their Costa Rican coffee-loving customers could cheer from Newberry. Hmmm…I might need to ask Joel. Stay tuned, as the Barista Experience is coming soon. Medina is currently perfecting his presentation, as would any winning Olympian.

Follow their progress at www.joelscoffeehouse.com.

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OVER 150 STUDENTS AND UF ALUMNI HAVE COMPETED OR COACHED IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES, according to GatorZone.com. Swimmer Catie Ball was the first University of Florida alumna to win an Olympic medal, but she did so while she was still a high school student and before she enrolled in the university, according to a 1984 article in the Gainesville Sun. Ball won her Olympic gold medal as a member of the U.S. 4x100-meter medley relay at the 1968 games in Mexico City. She later became the first head coach of the Florida Gators women’s swimming and diving team while she was still a university undergraduate.

Swimmer Tim McKee was the first University of Florida alumnus to win an Olympic medal while he was still an undergraduate and current member of a Florida Gators varsity sports team. He won silver medals in the 200-meter and 400-meter individual medley events, according to a 1984 article in the Gainesville Sun.

Also among the notable UF Olympians is distance runner Frank Shorter, a graduate of the UF College of Law and the only American athlete to win two medals in the Olympic marathon event, according to FrankShorter.net. Shorter won the gold medal at the 1972 games and the silver medal at the 1976 games.

Swimmers Ryan Lochte, a six-time gold medalist and winner of 12 medals; Tracy Culkins, a threetime gold medalist; and Caeleb Dressel, a two-time gold medalist join the ranks of UF’s elite athletes.

Another Impressive Gator Olympian is Dara Torres, a 12-time medalist and the first American swimmer to ever compete in five Olympics.

Olympic Controversy for Gator Tim McKee Tim McKee won a silver medal in the men’s 400-meter individual medley in the closest swimming decision in Olympic history, losing by a margin of two one-thousandths (0.002) of a second to Sweden’s Gunnar Larsson at the 1972 Olympic Games.

Initially, the scoreboard showed that Larsson and McKee had tied with an official time of 4:31:98, but in a controversial decision, the event judges named Larsson 62 |

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the eventual gold medal-winner 10 minutes after the race was over. Larsson’s electric clock time was 4:31.981, McKee’s 4:31.983.

The time difference was variously calculated as one-tenth of the time it takes to blink an eye, and the distance as thin as a coat of paint, a sheet of paper, or the minor imperfections in the individual lanes of the Olympic pool.

As a result of the controversy, the

international swimming federation, FINA, subsequently clarified the timing rules for competition swimming. International races are now required to be timed to the hundredth of a second, and timing to the thousandth of a second is prohibited for tiebreakers. It was the first and only Olympic swimming event ever decided on the basis of thousandths of a second, according to the book, “Duels in the Pool.”

SOURCE: GATORZONE.COM. THE GAINESVILLE SUN, SPORTS-REFERENCE.COM, SARASOTA JOURNAL, INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME

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COLUMN

CRYSTAL HENRY’S

Naked Salsa FITNESS MUFFIN IN MY MOUTH

CRYSTAL HENRY IS A FREELANCE WRITER AND COLUMNIST BORN AND RAISED IN WEST TEXAS. SHE RECEIVED HER B.S. IN JOURNALISM IN 2006 FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. SHE IS IN LOVE WITH THE FLORIDA LANDSCAPE. ces03k@gmail.com

AS FAR AS BODIES GO, SOME OF US ARE BUILT FOR COMFORT, AND SOME OF US ARE BUILT FOR SPEED. I AM THE FORMER. I’m totally happy with my plush physique, but I’ve found that my apathetic attitude toward fitness can make some folks quite uncomfortable. And I think it’s kind of delicious.

As a kid, my mom tried to put me in every sport imaginable, and I was pretty decent at gymnastics before puberty hit and wrecked my center of gravity. My one claim to the sports hall of fame is getting 1st place “All-Around” against a girl who went on to qualify for the Olympics. I know for sure my boobs were the only thing standing between me and a gold medal. For sure.

My mom also tried me out in softball, and I somehow got drafted to the best team in the league. We won championships out the wazoo, and I felt like I was a part of something great (but realistically, I think I was somewhat of a charity hire).

As a solid right-fielder and classic overthinker at bat, I was hardly an asset to my team. One time after a tough loss, Coach gave an inspiring speech saying: “Hey, listen up. If every girl on this team played with half the heart Crystal does, we’d be unstoppable.”

I started to swell with pride until he followed up with, “she doesn’t have the talent at all. But she shows up and plays with the heart and dedication of a winner.” Low blow, my guy. I lasted one season.

After dropping out during volleyball tryouts in middle school, I happily resigned myself to the band hall and wrote off any hopes of an athletic future. Marching band counted for a P.E. credit, and even then I stood with the marimba in the pit.

It’s not that I mind being active. I love going horseback riding, swimming, hiking and building things. I just don’t like putting in effort with nothing to show for it. I’m a visual learner.

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I need to see the fruits of my labor. Unfortunately, the only fruits certain gym rats care about are the juicy peaches they post on Instagram.

A few years ago, I was casually sitting in my favorite coffee shop when a fellow regular beckoned me from across the room.

She was a fitness instructor for a kind of predatory multi-level marketing workout scheme, and she was having a meeting with a few of her muscle-bound minions.

I put down my blueberry muffin to answer her summons, and before I was halfway across the room she was demanding that I tell her where I workout. I explained that my exercise regimen consisted of some power walks to get my kids out the door for school on time and a few burpees after a heavy meal. Her left eye twitched a little.

She insisted I sign up for her boot camp. It was just five weeks, and she guaranteed I’d love it. They met every Thursday in the blistering heat of the day in a parking lot where she pumped up the jams and yelled about reps for an hour. It sounded like wonderful fun, but I politely declined.

That should have been the end, but Bootcamp Barbie takes no prisoners.

I have to assume her next aggressive move was simply a show of power for her subordinates to see how you never take no for an answer. Everyone must workout.

Everyone must care about fitness. Otherwise, why even post on social media to tell your friends when you’re at the gym or how far you ran today?

I could see this was going to get personal. And I was energized from the muffin carbs. Game on, Barbie.

“You have kids, right?” Barbie asked.

Yeah.

“Well, do you want to be around to see them grow up?” she said smugly.

Was that a threat? I mean, yes I was planning to stick around. Did she know something I didn’t? I’d gotten a perfect bill of health from my latest checkup.

Had my doctor called her with differing results?

When the Mom card failed, she turned to religion. Did I believe in God? If so, was I aware that my body is a temple?

Well OK, but I’ve never seen a temple do a single jumping jack. Literally not one. Temples usually just sit there until they crumble into dust. So far that was checking out.

I told her I was super happy for her if boot camp brought her joy. I know exercise can do wonders for endorphins, and achieving personal goals is something to celebrate. That is absolutely valid. But so is my choice not to do those things.

I explained that I just preferred activity that gave me an end product. It wasn’t a personal assault on her lifestyle.

Then her extremely chiseled husband piped up and said, “Well the end product could be your body. Don’t you want to

look good for your husband?”

Friends, I am still laughing at that question. My chubby chaser husband would love my body if it was twice as lumpy and covered in bees. It’s the body that gave him his two children. It’s the body that dances like no one is watching — because Lord help anyone who does.

And it’s the body that houses the spunky spirit he fell in love with 17 years ago. He ain’t worried about a little extra squish on this bish. There’s a lot of attitude here to try and fit into a size 4 pair of jeans.

Those poor folks threw everything they had at me to get me to sign up for a $30 membership. And I wasn’t trying to insult their livelihood. But they seemed to think “fitness” was a whole personality.

Sadly they were no match for a former Olympic gymnast beater who prioritized personality gains over abs and quads. I eventually had to thank them for their concern, and laugh all the way back to my muffin top.

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COMMU NIT Y C A LENDA R

J U LY/ A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

FAMILY DISCOVERY CAMP: BIRDS

Saturday, July 17, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Florida Museum of Natural History, 3215 Hull Road GAINESVILLE – Tweets and squawks and chirps! Join us and ornithologists (bird experts) Gina and Adam Kent from the Avian Research and Conservation Institute to explore Florida’s fine, feathered friends in the wild. Have fun exploring, tracking and observing birdlife. Designed for children in grades K-6 and their family, pre-registration is required. floridamuseum.ufl.edu

FREE ADMISSION FOR VETERANS

OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT – ONWARD

Florida Museum of Natural History, 3215 Hull

Tioga Town Center, 133 SW 130th Way

Road

GAINESVILLE – the Museum is offering free admission to veterans for the Fourth of July. On July 4, veterans will receive a free value admission to the Butterfly Rainforest and Survival of the Slowest exhibits. floridamuseum.ufl.edu

NEWBERRY – Grab your lawn chairs and come enjoy “Onward.” Relax and enjoy the movie under the stars at the Tioga Town Center amphitheater at The Square! This is a free outdoor movie night, open to the public. tiogatowncenter.com

FAMILY DISCOVERY CAMP: WATER

Friday, July 9 at 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Saturday, July 10, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

CONCERT UNDER THE STARS – THE PROJECT

Friday, July 23 at 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Tioga Town Center, 133 SW 130th

Florida Museum of Natural History, 3215 Hull

Tioga Town Center, 133 SW 130th Way

Way

Road

NEWBERRY – Bring your lawn chairs and come enjoy the sounds of The Project. Relax and enjoy music under the stars at the Tioga Town Center Amphitheatre at The Square! This is a free outdoor concert, open to the public. tiogatowncenter.com

NEWBERRY – Bring your lawn chairs and come enjoy the sounds of The Shambles. Relax and enjoy music under the stars at the Tioga Town Center Amphitheatre at The Square! This is a free outdoor concert, open to the public. tiogatowncenter.com

Sunday, July 4, 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

GAINESVILLE – Learn more about water and what lives in it! Crystal Hartman, from UF’s Fishing for Success program, will lead our adventure as we come face to face with some amazing aquatic invertebrates and fishes. Designed for children in grades K-6 and their family, pre-registration is required. floridamuseum.ufl.edu 68 |

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Friday, July 16 at 8:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

CONCERT UNDER THE STARS – THE SHAMBLES

FAMILY DISCOVERY CAMP: INSECTS

Saturday, July 24, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

RECURRING EVENTS LITTLE WOMEN

Florida Museum of Natural History, 3215 Hull

Thursday, July 29 – Sunday, August 8, Various

Road

Times

GAINESVILLE – Explore with Lepidopterists (scientists who study butterflies and moths) Kristin Rossetti and Matt Standridge from the Florida Museum’s Daniels Lab to learn the many wonders of the insect world and how scientists collect and study insects in the field. Designed for children in grades K-6 and their family, pre-registration is required. floridamuseum.ufl.edu

High Springs Playhouse, 23416 N US Highway

FAMILY DISCOVERY CAMP: MUSHROOMS AND FUNGI

441 27

HIGH SPRINGS – Audiences of all generations will enjoy acquainting — or reacquainting — themselves with the sisters: Meg, the eldest; Jo, the high-spirited tomboy; Amy, the self-centered beauty; and gentle Beth, as well as their beloved Marmee and Father. Penned by Louisa May Alcott 140 years ago, this much-loved classic tale’s message is still relevant for audiences today. highspringsplayhouse.com

OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT – TOY STORY 4

Friday, August 20 at 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 31, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Tioga Town Center, 133 SW 130th

Florida Museum of Natural History, 3215 Hull

Way

Road

GAINESVILLE – Mushrooms and fungi are extremely cool. Join us for a walk on the wild side with fungal scientist and organizer of Florida Academic Lichen and Fungi Enthusiasts League, Sarah Prentice. Check out the local fungi and learn what may be in your backyard. Designed for children in grades K-6 and their family, pre-registration is required. floridamuseum. ufl.edu

REINVENTING IMMUNITY EXHIBIT

Through September, Friday – Sunday 12 p.m.

– 5 p.m.

Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention, 811 South Main St.

NEWBERRY – Grab your lawn chairs and come enjoy “Toy Story 4.” Relax and enjoy the movie under the stars at the Tioga Town Center amphitheater at The Square! This is a free outdoor movie night, open to the public. tiogatowncenter.com

CONCERT UNDER THE STARS – CROOKED COUNCIL

GAINESVILLE – Vaccines are one of humanity’s greatest inventions. Learn what makes your immune system tick and meet inventors like Edward Jenner and Jonas Salk who met big challenges with even bigger solutions. Explore the science, history, and humanity behind vaccines in this interactive exhibit. cademuseum.org

Tioga Town Center, 133 SW 130th Way

EUREKA!

July 27 – February 27, Tuesday – Saturday, 10

Through September 2021

a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Friday – Sunday 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Harn Museum of Art, 3259 Hull Road

Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention, 811

GAINESVILLE – Shadow to Substance creates a chronological arc from the past to the present into the future using historical photographs from Harn and Smathers Library collections and through the lens of Black photographers working today.

It pictures histories of enslavement, Jim Crow Florida, the Great Migration, the Civil Rights Movement and Black Lives Matter. harn.ufl.edu

Friday, August 13 at 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

NEWBERRY – Bring your lawn chairs and come enjoy the sounds of Crooked Council. Relax and enjoy music under the stars at the Tioga Town Center Amphitheatre at The Square! This is a free outdoor concert, open to the public. tiogatowncenter.com

SPIDER CUP SERIES AT EASTON NEWBERRY ARCHERY CENTER

Saturday, August 14 at 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Easton Newberry Archer Center, 24880 NW 16 Ave.

NEWBERRY – The Spider Cup Series was created to entice shooters to compete in the different disciplines of archery. There are six separate tournaments, held on a bimonthly basis that will decide the overall champions for the year. eastonnewberryarcherycenter. org

South Main St.

GAINESVILLE – Eureka! When an idea evolves into an invention, that idea can change the world.

But where do ideas come from? Draw, tinker, prototype, and play as you meet the inventors who transformed history, one idea at a time, and learn how big challenges inspire inventors to find even bigger solutions. cademuseum.org

technology that transform raw materials into finished products. This exhibit is inspired by the Mister Rogers’ Factory Tours. cademuseum.org

SHADOW TO SUBSTANCE

GUIDED WALK AT KANAPAHA

HOW PEOPLE MAKE THINGS EXHIBIT

First Saturdays 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Friday – Sunday 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th

Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention, 811

Drive

South Main St.

GAINESVILLE – Enjoy a guided tour through Kanapaha Botanical Gardens starting at 10 am the first Saturday of every month. Regular admission price applies for non-members. kanapaha.org

GAINESVILLE - How People Make Things tells the story of how everyday items are manufactured and brings to life the people, ideas and

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MARY’S HIGH TEA AT SWEETWATER BRANCH INN

PLAYLIST @ THE POINTE

Fourth Fridays at 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Third Tuesdays from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Celebration Pointe, Celebration Pointe Ave.

Sweetwater Branch Inn, 625 E University Ave.

GAINESVILLE – Kick the weekend off with Playlist at the Pointe – a music event offering an eclectic mix of music from a variety of genres like country, rock, soul and more. celebrationpointe.com

GAINESVILLE – Traditionally served on a threetiered stand, includes Sweetwater Branch’s savory and sweet treats paired with your choice of teas and coffees. $25 per person. Please call for reservations 352-373-6760. sweetwaterinn. com

CREATIVE COOKING / BALLROOM

Fourth Tuesdays at 11 a.m.

Gainesville Woman’s Clubouse, 2809 W University Ave

GAINESVILLE - Creative Cooking with the Gainesville Woman’s Club meets the fourth Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m. of each month, except December and May to share ideas, recipes, tasting parties, and demonstrations. gfwcfl-gainesvillewomansclub.org

COMMUNITY MARKET

Monday evening for a free yin & yang yoga class. In this class you will hold postures (yin) for the first half of class, followed by a specific easy flow (yang), both focusing on a specific area of the body or meridian line. wildflowersyoga.com

HIGH SPRINGS FARMERS MARKET

Fourth Saturdays 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Fridays from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Gainesville Shrine Club, 8100 SW Archer

23517 NW 185th Road

Road

HIGH SPRINGS – Florida grown fruit, vegetables, dairy and meats as well as honey, handmade treats and more. The Farmers Market is produced by The City of High Springs. highsprings. us/farmersmarket

GAINESVILLE – The Gainesville Shrine Club’s Community Market will feature food; arts and crafts; vendors and more. Contact David Jones at 336-430-910 to reserve your vendor spot. gainesvilleshrineclub.org

YIN & YANG

LIVE OUTDOOR MUSIC AT CYPRESS & GROVE

Mondays, 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Fridays – August 27, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Wildflowers Yoga, 205 NW 10th Ave.

Cypress & Grove Brewing Company, 1001 NW

GAINESVILLE – Join Wildflowers Yoga every

4th St.

GAINESVILLE – Cypress & Grove Brewing Co. hosts live musicians every Friday evening. The lawn is large, and open to social distancing.

In case of rain, the music is played indoors, and tables are separated for social distancing.

Cypressandgrove.com

ALACHUA COUNTY FARMERS’ MARKET

Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

5920 NW 13th St.

GAINESVILLE – Don’t forget to bring shopping bags, your grocery list, and plenty of small bills.

This market prides itself on being a grower’s only market – meaning the vendors selling produce, plants and other products must have grown the items themselves. 441market.com

HAILE FARMERS MARKET

Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Haile Plantation Village

GAINESVILLE CARS & COFFEE

Second Sundays 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Whole Foods Market parking lot, 3490 SW Archer Road GAINESVILLE – A gathering for automotive enthusiasts of all types from exotics and classics to imports and jalopies. The meet is free to attend; coffee will be provided to attendees, as well as breakfast items for sale. gainesvillecarsandcoffee.com 70 |

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GAINESVILLE – Take a stroll down the treelined streets of the Haile Village Center to browse for groceries, prepared food and handmade gifts then continue on for more shopping or brunching at the Village Center’s locally-owned shops and restaurants. Covid-19 recommendations: maintain physical distance, don’t touch products, one customer served per vendor at one time and protect yourself and others by wearing facial coverings. hailefarmersmarket.com

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LOCAL FITNESS >> GYM FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS

WORK IT OUT

Local Gyms Check Out Some Facilities For Health & Wellness W RIT TE N BY S UMMER JA R RO

W

hen Kyle Pratt first started working out and training, he was doing it for composition—now, he does it for his three kids. “My goals now are just being able to keep up with my kids,” said Pratt, who is the co-owner and head trainer at Muscle Farm, a gym in Newberry.

No matter the reason, he said staying active and being healthy is important. “[The reasons] change as you get older and all that, but no matter what phase of life you’re in, I think it’s important— no matter what,” Pratt said.

Physical activity is not only the best way to keep a person’s body healthy, but it can improve a person’s overall well-being and quality of life, according to the American Heart Association.

Regular physical activity helps with a person’s mood, lowers blood pressure, keeps a person’s weight under control, and improves blood flow, to name a few, according to the association.

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LOCAL FITNESS >> GYM FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS

“Movement is medicine. It is going to help you out in the long run.”

“I think everyone needs fitness to just get by in life,” said Kelsey Harris, the general manager and one of the personal trainers and coaches at Gainesville-based Go Primal Fitness and Training Institute. “Movement is medicine. It is going to help you out in the long run.”

The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity each week.

“I think people get so caught up in just the right now,” Pratt said. “They don’t think so much about long-term and the physical health, the emotional health, building the bone density, preventing diseases—just building healthy habits, getting better energy.”

As the head trainer at Muscle Farm,Pratt helps inspire others to get healthy and active with the programs offered at his gym.

The Gainesville and Alachua County area has several gyms and personal training centers, including Gainesville Health & Fitness, AXIS Training Studio, and Zen Fitness. Let’s take an inside look at what these gyms have to offer local residents looking to make a healthy change in their life.

MUSCLE FARM

Muscle Farm, which is located at 404 S.W. 140th Terrace Suite B in Newberry, started off on Pratt’s parents’ farm in their garage back in 2010. Pratt is someone who always loved sports and played football and ran track in high school in Gainesville and also competed in weightlifting.

“I think what I found the most fun was creating off-season programs to get me ready for my sports,” he said.

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Pratt wanted to offer similar programs he enjoyed for athletes and also people just looking to be active and fit. Muscle Farm offers F.I.R.E and I.C.E programs.

F.I.R.E, which stands for “focus intense resistance exercise,” is personal training in a small group setting. Trainers ask gym members what their restrictions and goals are in order to create a program to help them get where they want to go. “It’s just safer to start out with a slow to fast progression, stable to unstable and have someone watch all of your movements and create programs tailored specifically for you—so you have a good progression without getting hurt and the F.I.R.E does that,” Pratt said.

I.C.E, which stands for “intense cardio exercise,” is the most popular program at Muscle Farm. It is a boot camp that includes intense cardio exercises. “I think the difference in our cardio program versus most places is we structure it and we weigh out the risk reward, so we try not to over train people,” Pratt said.

“It is intense but it’s not super risky.”

Muscle Farm also offers a personal touch for members.

“I think the biggest thing that we do that a lot of gyms don’t or just something that would set us apart is we really do pay attention to the members, and it’s really a family feel when they come in,” Pratt said. “It’s not just another person coming in the door. We actually know everyone.”

Iliana Wiechmann is a regular client and joined the gym about seven years ago after a friend invited her. She didn’t think at her age that she would be able to see any changes to her body but has since joining the Muscle Farm.

“It became a very positive experience for me,” Wiechmann

GO PRIMAL FITNESS Go Primal Fitness and Training Institute is a class-based fitness facility located at 3606 S.W. 34th St. in Gainesville. The gym first opened in 2008 and is locally owned. The facility offers a range of hour-long classes, such as intensity training classes, resistance training classes, classes focused on strength, a class similar to CrossFit, and more. There is also an open time where members can come in and do their own workouts.

Go Primal also has a wide range of equipment, such as cardio machines (including bikes) along with dumbbells, pull-up bar stations, and ropes for rope climbing. The most popular class offered is the general fitness class, Harris said.

“We basically just created programming that is able to be done by anyone that’s just looking to get fit and kind of shut their brain off a little bit because there’s not too much thinking that goes on in these types of movements,” she said.

Anyone of any fitness level is able to workout at Go Primal Fitness.

“It really is for everyone,” Harris said. “Even for someone just kind of looking to start.”

The workouts and classes available were made to be modified for anyone—whether they have an injury or are just starting to learn certain movements, Harris said.

“So someone that is just beginning in fitness is able to come in and do the same exact thing, and programs that everyone else is doing just at a way that works for them at a good pace,” she said.

GAINESVILLE HEALTH & FITNESS

Gainesville Health & Fitness is a multi-purpose club that has been in the area for more than 40 years.

It includes three centers for local residents to utilize: the Main Center, which is located at 4820 W. Newberry Road in Gainesville; Gainesville Health & Fitness Women, which is located at 2441 N.W. 43rd St. in Gainesville; and the Tioga Center, which is located at 12830 S.W. First Lane Suite 100 in Newberry.

The Main Center offers the most classes, equipment, and programs. The women’s center (exclusively for women) and Tioga Center provide several exercise classes and equipment but the locations are smaller compared to the Main Center.

LOCAL FITNESS >> GYM FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS

said. “Kyle was very knowledgeable, and he had a very unique way of training that I think just really suited me at the time especially because I was aging. He was able to really help me change my body.”

Wiechmann does both the F.I.R.E and I.C.E programs throughout the week and has seen herself get leaner and more muscle improvement.

Go Primal has a wide range of equipment such as cardio machines (including bikes) along with dumbbells, pull-up bar stations, and ropes for rope climbing.

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At the Main Center, there is an indoor basketball court, pool, and an area of the gym with a variety of fitness equipment.

Members can pick and choose from the range of equipment to best customize their own workout routines.

There are multiple classes available for people to try out including Aqua Strength and Balance, Circuit Training, Pilates Recovery, and SkyCycle Indoor Cycling. Water aerobics and CrossFit classes are also available as well as personal training options.

“Every option that you can think of we have it here in our clubs,” said Adrian Antigua, general manager of the Gainesville Health & Fitness.

Many of the programs available are popular among members, according to Antigua.

“I can honestly say that we provide the most opportunities for our members to be able to achieve whatever goal it is that they are looking to achieve through all of the different offerings we have as well as the different convenience factors that we provide,” he said.

Antigua explained that Gainesville Health & Fitness is locally owned, which allows staff to be responsive to any necessary changes or improvements.

“We’re extremely responsive to what our members are looking for and make those adjustments along the way and we’re constantly improving,” he said.

An outdoor facility, which will be completed in the next few months, is currently under construction and will cater to people interested in adding an outdoor aspect to their exercise program.

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“We’ve been part of the community for some time now, so our mission is to constantly grow and improve the experience for our members as we’re here,” Antigua said. “We’re ultimately just committed to the people here in town and just want to stay that way as we grow.”

ZEN FITNESS

Zen Fitness is a gym focused exclusively on personal training. The fitness facility, which is located at 2440 SW 76th St. in Gainesville, offers one-on-one personal training, dual training and trio training. Locally-owned Zen Fitness opened in Gainesville about 14 years ago. This fall, the gym will be moving to a new location close to the current one. People interested in trying out this facility are required to get a fitness assessment.

This helps to pinpoint what they need to do in order to ensure they get the best workout possible for the results they are looking for.

“Each session is designed for them specifically to get them from where they are to where they want to be,” said Pamela Perry, manager of Zen Fitness. During the fitness assessments, staff have people do different exercises such as drills on the elliptical, planks, and weight lifts to assess them. “[It’s] just to see where you are, because you can’t tell by looking at someone what they can do and then you know exactly where to start them when you are beginning to train them,” Perry said. “You also learn about how far they want to be pushed. Some people want to be pushed just a little bit. Some people want to walk out feeling spent, and you know exactly where to go from that.”

LOCAL FITNESS >> GYM FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS

Locally-owned Zen Fitness opened in Gainesville about 14 years ago. Prior to training at Zen Fitness, a person first participates in a fitness assessment.

Exercises such as drills on the elliptical, planks, weights lifts, etc. help staff determine where someone is at physically before their program begins.

Zen Fitness offers a variety of equipment for any type of member and workout. “We try to cater to every individual interest and need,” Perry said. “Some people just want to lift heavy weights. Some people want to do more body weight exercises. Whatever it happens to be—yoga, stretching—we include it all, so we really just try to make it very individualized.”

The gym also incorporates nutrition into its training options.

“A lot of places you come in to get a workout,” Perry said.

“We incorporate nutrition into everything we do, so we find the results are so much quicker when you incorporate nutrition with exercise depending on what someone’s particular goals are.”

AXIS Training Studio

AXIS Training Studio is a corrective training studio. It is specialized in helping people with orthopedic issues, but anyone is able to sign up for the programs at the gym. AXIS Training Studio, which is located at 4620 NW 39th Ave. Suite B in Gainesville, offers two programs: one-on-one personal training and small group training.

In the personal training programs, the workouts are customizable to the individual. Gym members who sign up for the small group training program meet with a select few who have like-minded goals.

With small group training every session is led by a physiologist who knows all the clients and their levels of ability.

So the workout can be scaled up or down depending on the client’s capability, explained Jake Thompson, owner and

exercise physiologist at AXIS Training Studio.

The gym only offers the two programs which are appointment only. People can join after going through a complimentary consultation. “That’s to make sure we can actually help them and they are a good fit for the program,” Thompson said. “That allows us to tell them which way to go.”

Thompson started the gym in 2010. He wanted to create a gym specialized in helping people with orthopedic issues because he dealt with a lot of orthopedic issues himself from serving in the U.S. Air Force.

“I went and saw a therapist and it changed my life,” Thompson said. “I was able to work out and get the results, and so because of that, I wanted to do the same thing for other people because I saw there were so many dysfunctions of people wanting to get in shape and they had so many things holding them back. I wanted to eliminate all of those barriers.”

With the goal of helping people live their best life, Thompson studied and earned his master’s in exercise physiology at Arizona State University. Thompson believes AXIS Training Studio is the place for people to try out getting fit and healthy.

“If you have a big box gym those are great, but only if you really know exactly what you’re doing,” he said. “If they want a specific plan tailored to them to help them crush their goals and to be held accountable—that’s why they should choose AXIS.”

Here’s to health and wellness!

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(352) 244-0840 JULY/AUGUST 2021

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OLYMPICS 2021 >> NEW EVENTS

EXTR A , EXTR A!

Game Changer New Events at this year’s Olympics W RIT TE N BY C A MERON COBB

A

fter a year’s delay due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 Summer Olympics are finally here (well, maybe not exactly here, but happening in 2021).

Hosted by Tokyo for the second time ever since 1964, this awards the nation’s capital the honor of being the first city in Asia to hold the Olympics twice, according to time.com. The anticipation of this epic occasion initially took a hit when COVID-19 started to make headlines. On March 24 of last year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) made the inevitable decision to postpone the world-renowned event.

Though the show—or rather, games—must go on, and the year-long setback for the 2020 Summer Olympics meant another 12 months of excitedly preparing for what’s to come—whether that be the athletes, attendees, or those planning to watch from the comfort of their own home. On Friday, July 23, 80 |

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the Tokyo Olympics will officially begin with the opening ceremony (which will be broadcasted live) at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium, according to usatoday. com. With the closing ceremonies on Sunday, August 8, marking the end of the Summer Olympics, the over two-week span in between leaves plenty of room for fan-favorite events and even some new activities to celebrate.

Enacted several years ago by the IOC, “Agenda 2020” highlights a set of changes regarding the Olympics, according to nbcolympics.com. One of these modifications to the games grants host cities the capability to pitch ideas for new events to add to their program, meaning places presenting the Olympics now have the opportunity to showcase sports popular to their country (with nbcolympics. com noting a specific interest in “youth-oriented” activities).

Out of the 339 events encompassing 33 sports, let’s take a look at some of the new additions as well as the revival of iconic pastimes coming back!

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On top of karate making its debut in its home country, the Olympics’ karate competition will take place in Nippon Budokan (an indoor venue located in Tokyo’s Kitanomaru Park)—home to none other than the very first World Karate Championships in 1970, according to nbcolympics.com. After a 13-year hiatus, baseball and softball sports have been reintroduced for the Tokyo Olympic Games as well.

Skateboarding Considering the 85 million skateboarders worldwide—over 6 million in the U.S. alone—according to skateboardershq.com, it’s easy to see how the popular activity cruised its way into the Olympics.

There are two different competitions within the new skateboarding Olympic program, known as “park” and “street.” Those partaking in the park competition will be navigating through a course—held within a dome-shaped bowl—to showcase their tricks and ability to maintain “good flow,” according to nbcolympics.com. Those competing in the street discipline will be judged as they shred through a multifaceted course, complete with rails, stairs, and additional features designed to mimic typical “real-world obstacles.”

Though this year’s Summer Olympics might mark the first skateboarding competitions in the history of the games, it certainly isn’t the last with the event already having secured a spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Sport Climbing

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of Sport Climbing (IFSC) notes on its website that between 1,000 to 1,500 curious thrill-seekers try their hand (and foot) at climbing. Globally, the organization estimates that the sport climbing community boasts a whopping 25 million people who regularly engage in the activity.

Whether it be scaling the rocky side of a mountain or navigating specially structured indoor walls, sport climbing certainly tests one’s talents to the highest degree. Relying on their hands and feet to scale a wall or slab, according to today.com. This new addition to the Olympics differs from the traditional activity of climbing—with the latter much more equipment-oriented and systematic, while the former focuses on one’s climbing ability itself.

For the Tokyo Games, sport climbing will include men and women competing in a single event comprised of a combination of three different disciplines: speed, lead, and bouldering, according to nbcolymics.com. During the speed climbing portion, two climbers will race on a 15-meter (about 50 feet) wall to see who’s the fastest, according to bbc.co.uk. With a six-minute time limit, lead climbing will pit athletes against one another on a 15-meter wall as well, awarding the win to whoever comes

OLYMPICS 2021 >> NEW EVENTS

out on top. Finally, bouldering features a 4.5-meter (roughly 14 feet) wall riddled with predetermined “problem” routes that climbers are meant to “solve” in the least amount of attempts within a given amount of time.

Like skateboarding, sport climbing has also been confirmed for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Talk about taking the Olympics to a higher level!

Surfing

Surfing has come a long way to have the honor of making it to the Olympics. The first official surfing contest happened nearly a century ago in 1928 at Corona del Mar, California. The watersport has continued to skyrocket in popularity—even dogs have dabbled in surfing contests with Huntington Beach in California hosting an annual charity-driven canine competition known as the Annual Surf City Surf Dog contest, according to kaplaninternational.com.

This year’s surfing challenge is being held roughly 45 miles southeast of Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium at Tsurigasaki Beach in Ichinomiya to accommodate the talented pool of surfers across the men and women competitions. Both will start off with preliminary-round battles and then transition to a “head-to-head knockout” contest, according to nbcolympics.com.

Considering Tokyo will have just come out of Japan’s rainy season, which lasts from late May or early June to mid-July, the threat posed by potential cloud-covered days grants a flexible timeframe for the Olympics’ surfing event. If the weather isn’t optimal for waves, rest assured the competition can simply be rescheduled for a different day so riders can perform their best.

Along with skateboarding and sport climbing, surfing is another sport that is slated to be in the 2024 Paris Olympics, though that competition will take place fairly far from France— nearly 10,000 miles—in Tahiti, according to nbcolympics.com.

Surf’s up!

Karate

What better place for karate to make its first-ever Olympics appearance than where it was born?

In 1968, karate began in Okinawa, Japan, though it didn’t take more than a few decades until it started establishing a reputation that was eagerly embraced throughout the entire country, according to nbcolympics.com. Karate’s popularity then expanded to become an international sensation following World War II. This year’s games comprises two divisions of karate known as kata and kumite. The kata portion judges athletes based on JULY/AUGUST 2021

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OLYMPICS 2021 >> NEW EVENTS

their showcased karate skills (the “demonstration discipline”), while the kumite portion of the event is where both male and female competitors (three weight classes for each) put those skills into action as they challenge one another in faceoffs (the “fighting discipline”).

On top of this martial arts activity making its debut in its home country, the Olympics’ karate competition will take place in Nippon Budokan—home to none other than the very first World Karate Championships in 1970, according to nbcolympics.com.

Baseball & Softball

Though not technically new to the Olympics, baseball and softball fanatics will be overjoyed to find these sports have made a comeback for the 2021 Games following decades of absence, according to nbcolympics.com.

Originally, baseball made its entrance as an official medal event in the 1992 Olympics, and shortly after in 1996, softball was thrown into the picture as a medal event as well before both events were removed from the agenda in 2008. After a 13-year hiatus, these two sports have been reintroduced for the upcoming games.

For baseball, there will be teams—comprised of men only— from six countries competing in a tournament, which begins with opening-round “pool play” designed to divide competitors into smaller tournament brackets or flights, according to r2sports.com. Following this, the tournament will shift into the “knockout stage” to determine the official winning

team. As an incredibly popular sport throughout the hosting country (with Japan’s professional baseball league known for its impressive skill and is often dubbed second to none other than Major League Baseball itself ), the return of the activity to the Tokyo Games is sure to be a huge hit.

The reintroduction of softball this year will play out similarly to baseball, though the softball groups are solely made up of female players. In the opening round, teams from six countries will verse one another in a “roundrobin” format—a tournament where each group plays in turn against the others, according to nbcolympics.com.

Then, the top two teams’ skills will be put to the ultimate test during the final gold medal game, with the winner of this faceoff to be crowned champion.

Though skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing are set to return in the Paris Olympics in 2024, according to news.cgtn.com, baseball and softball will not make an appearance—meaning watching both ball games play out this year just became that much more special!

Whether it be marveling as some of the world’s best surfers conquer the waves, channeling nostalgia while watching a classic baseball game, or enduring the nail-biting performance of sport climbers—there is plenty to be excited about with this year’s Olympics.

Let the games begin!

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We feel the best way to find and recognize local charities in our communities is by asking you!

The Radiant Community Foundation, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves the communities in and around North Central Florida by promoting and facilitating philanthropy.

The Foundation was established to promote and provide charitable assistance that contributes towards the development, education and well-being of the communities, areas and residents of Alachua, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, and Levy Counties in Florida. The foundation’s initial goal is to administer and fully fund the award winning Facebook Charity-of-the-Month program. Radiant Credit Union started the program in 2013, but has turned over administration of the program to the foundation, with Radial Federal Credit Union acting only as a sponsor. This has been done in the belief that this path will ensure the program remains a strong and expanding community resource long into the future.

The Radiant Community Foundation, Inc., provides donors/members opportunities to participate in the furtherance of the foundation’s goals in multiple ways. First, and foremost, the donors/members are providing funds to support the foundation’s charitable initiatives. Donors/members can also nominate groups for the Charity of the Month program, and then vote for the group of their choice. Donors/members are encouraged to participate and vote in the Charity of the Month program.

Ultimately, the voters choose where foundation donations go as part of the infrastructure of the program.

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• Recognized on the Charity of the Month Facebook Contest page.

• Mentioned in the Charity of the Month page in Our Town Magazine

MOST RECENT WINNING ORGANIZATIONS TO NOMINATE A CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE OR TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE NOMINEES, VISIT:

https://www.facebook.com/RadiantCU and click on “Charity of the Month”

CONG R ATUL ATION S! APRIL 2021 WINNER

MAY 2021 WINNER

Beauty’s Haven Farm and Equine Rescue, Inc.

Cirtus County Foundation for Animal Protection

The winner of the April Charity of the Month contest is Beauty’s Haven Farm and Equine Rescue, Inc.—a grassroots 501(c)(3) non-profit equine rescue organization located in Florida, and proudly established 2006. At Beauty’s Haven, “we believe!” The organization will receive $1,000. Jeanne Bartsch will win $300 for nominating them. The random charity, Ambassadors of Nature Education Foundation, will win $500, and the random voter, Aimee Pritchard, will get $100.

The winner of the May Charity of the Month contest is Citrus County Foundation for Animal Protection (CCFAP). CCFAP was organized in response to the needs of Citrus County Animal Services Pets to ensure the mental, physical, and emotional well being of the animals. They will receive $1,000. Karen Hanna will win $300 for nominating them. The random charity Second Chance Rescue & Rehoming, Inc. will win $500, and the random voter, Amy Tate, will get $100.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS >> CHARITY OF THE MONTH

CH A RIT Y OF THE MONTH WINNER S

A project of the Radiant Community Foundation, Inc. Presented by Radiant Credit Union and Our Town Family of Magazines

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E OF GAIN

SVILLE

INC.

The original “Quality Plumbers” serving the community since 1984

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GAINESVILLE’S LEADING DESIGN-BUILD COMPANY

CUSTOM KITCHENS

CUSTOM BATHROOMS

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Lic# CBC1258891 88 |

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HOME ADDITIONS

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Shrubs, Gingers, & More Take a step "Off the Beatin' Path" for beautiful, locally grown plants!

For more info, contact Bill at:

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Contact us today for your free consultation 90 |

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Your Favorites In Over 250 Categories Revealed!!

Congratulations!

With over 28,000 votes and more than 3000 area businesses, places, people and events nominated, Our Town Magazine is proud to announce the finalists and winners of the 2021 FAVE Awards! Congratulations to everyone nominated and for the incredible support our community has shown these amazing businesses.

Presented by:

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OU R TOW N FAV E S

J U LY 2 0 2 1

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR READERS FOR VOTING FOR YOUR FAVORITES IN OVER 250 CATEGORIES. WITH OVER 18,000 VOTES AND HUNDREDS OF ENTRIES, WE’RE PROUD TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR TOWN’S FAVORITES. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE WINNERS AND FINALISTS!

CULTURE & RECREATION FAVORITE LOCAL ANNUAL EVENT​

SANTA FE SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL

NE 1st St, Gainesville, FL 32606 Sfcollege.edu/spring-arts Santa Fe College’s annual Spring Arts Festival is one of Gainesville’s most beloved family events.

Fine arts, crafts, food, music and more make Northeast Gainesville’s historic district come alive during each spring event.

FINALISTS: Tom Petty Birthday Bash Kanapaha Spring Garden Festival FAVORITE LOCAL ARTIST

SHARON KANTOR

23288 W US Highway 27, High Springs, FL 32643 Cootiecoocreations.com A former professional student, Sharon has several degrees including a Masters in Industrial Arts Education. She’s had a lifetime love affair with ink, paper, printing, stamping, lettering, coloring and rulers, so it’s fitting that after retiring from the school system she would open a shop centered about just those things.

FINALISTS: Samm Wehman Art Design By JessAnne

FAVORITE LOCAL BAND

DIM LIGHTS

FAVORITE LOCAL BOWLING ALLEY

SPLITZ BOWLING CENTER

Facebook.com/dimlightsband Dim Lights is a three-piece acoustic band that plays a variety of musical genres like Americana, country, bluegrass and instrumentals.

The band is comprised of musicians Ned Stewart, Karan Newman and Chuck Spitzner.

FINALISTS: Pre-Existing Conditions (Brent Pope) Whiskey Jones

1301 NW 76th Blvd, Gainesville,

FL 32606 Aside from earning acclaim as a 30-lane bowling alley with three styles of the sport, Splitz also features a 40-game Arcade Alley, which has the World’s Largest Connect Four, Lazer Runner laser tag and a sports bar and grill – ensuring they provide something for everyone.

FAVORITE LOCAL BIKE TRAIL

FAVORITE LOCAL CAMPING SPOT

GAINESVILLEHAWTHORNE STATE TRAIL

3400 SE 15th St, Gainesville, FL 32641 On this historic rail bed turned greenway, you’ll find native plants and wildlife; diverse scenery and backyard Florida culture. Overlooks and stops of interest tie together a rich story of small railroad towns, locomotives and human activity along this corridor.

FINALISTS: San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park Gainesville 6th Street Rail Trail

O’LENO STATE PARK

410 SE O’Leno Park Road, High Springs, FL 32643 One of Florida’s first state parks, O’Leno State Park was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The park is located along the banks of the scenic Santa Fe River, a tributary of the Suwannee River, and features sinkholes, hardwood hammocks, river swamps and sandhills.

FINALISTS: Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park and Campground Ginnie Springs Outdoors

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FAVORITE LOCAL CORPORATE EVENT/PARTY VENUE

CYPRESS & GROVE BREWING COMPANY

1001 NW 4th St, Gainesville, FL

32601 Founded in 2017 on the dream of good beer enjoyed in an inspiring and interesting environment, Cypress & Grove Brewing Company has grown into a local favorite as a 15-barrel microbrewery that produces beer in the old Gainesville Ice Factory and uses artesian water from their well.

FINALISTS: The Wooly Langan Acres LLC FAVORITE LOCAL FARMERS MARKET

SYCAMORE LANE VINTAGE MARKET

25310 W Newberry Road,

Newberry, FL 32669 Sycamore Lane Vintage Market is a community-focused vintage and gift store located in downtown Newberry with a seasonal outdoor market in rural Alachua County. The market features an amazing selection of curated vintage goods and a variety of local makers.

FINALISTS: Haile Plantation Grove Street Farmers Market FAVORITE LOCAL GOLF COURSE

IRONWOOD GOLF COURSE

2100 NE 39th Ave, Gainesville,

FL 32609 Named by Golf Digest as one of the best places to play, Ironwood Golf Course has an outstanding layout sculptured around century-old pines and shimmering lakes. The contoured fairways and strategically placed bunkers offer every level of golfer a tremendous opportunity to test your skills.

FINALISTS: Mark Bostick Golf Course Turkey Creek Golf Course

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FAVORITE LOCAL LIMO/BUS SERVICE

A CANDIE’S COACHWORKS, INC.

6916 W University Ave,

Gainesville, FL 32607 Candies is a family-owned service that has been in the transportation business for over 30 years and they pride themselves on using the fabulous Prevost H-Series Deluxe motor coaches as well as their excellent safety rating due to their staff and training programs.

FAVORITE LOCAL LIVE MUSIC VENUE

HEARTWOOD SOUNDSTAGE

619 S Main St, Gainesville, FL

32601 Gainesville’s own Heartwood Soundstage is a state-of-the-art recording studio, video production facility, and intimate performance venue built by musicians for music lovers and music makers.

FINALISTS: High Dive One Love Cafe FAVORITE LOCAL MUSEUM

FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

3215 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL

32611 From permanent displays like Florida Fossils: Evolution of Life and Land to rotating exhibits such as Amazing Pollinators, and Women of the Everglades – the Florida Museum of Natural History has been providing educational experiences to guests since 1939 when certain collections – in a previous locale – opened to the public.

FINALISTS: Harn Museum of Art Cade Museum for Creativity and Innovation FAVORITE LOCAL MUSICIAN

NED STEWART

Facebook.com/dimlightsband Ned Stewart is the singer and lead guitarist for the three-piece band Dim Lights – a Gainesville favorite that specializes in musical genres like Americana, Country and

Bluegrass.

FINALISTS: Gosia & Ali Chris McNeil FAVORITE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD

TOWN OF TIOGA

Townoftioga.com Town of Tioga is full of open spaces that allow for bicycle rides along the many paths; picking flowers from your Community Garden plot; strolling with loved ones to dinner in the Town Center or watching an outdoor movie under the stars with your family in the Town Square.

FINALISTS: Haile Plantation Longleaf FAVORITE LOCAL NON-PROFIT

SIRA

912 NW 13th St, Gainesville, FL 32601 Sira believes the greatest gift one person can give another is hope. They provide a safe place to ask questions and get honest answers; a place where one can pause and explore all options; and a place where one can find help for today and hope for tomorrow.

FINALISTS: St. Francis House Faithful Friends Pet Rescue and Rehoming FAVORITE LOCAL PAINT & SIP ART STUDIO

PAINTING WITH A TWIST

618 NW 60th St. Suite B,

Gainesville, FL 32607 Fun! Plain and simple. No creative or artistic skills are needed. Painting with a Twist is all about connecting with friends over a glass of wine, your favorite snacks and a night of laughs. Oh, and you’ll also learn how to paint!

FINALISTS: Corks & Colors Studio Do Art with Yopp

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO GO SWIMMING

BLUE SPRINGS PARK

7450 NE 60th St, High Springs, FL 32643-5821 Explore 250 acres of “Real Florida” and stroll along a boardwalk following the springs run to the Santa Fe River. Gaze into the crystal blue depths from the dock overlooking the spring’s boil. Whether it’s swimming, picnicking, tubing, canoeing, camping, hiking or relaxing, Blue Springs is your adventure destination.

FINALISTS: Ginnie Springs Outdoors Westside Park FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY PARTY

OKITO AMERICA

6900 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608 Birthdays at Okito America provide par-

ty-goers with a range of activities including a karate class, games, board breaking, and additional options with the main event centered around cutting the birthday cake with a sword.

FINALISTS: Relax Salt Rooms Crafty Bastards Restaurant & Craft Beer Bottle Shoppe

a natural way to enhance overall physical and mental well-being.

FINALISTS: The Florida Museum-Butterfly Rainforest Sweetwater Wetlands Park

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO PEOPLE WATCH

6900 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608 Okito America was created with the objective of unifying the family unit. At their martial arts school, you and your family can spend quality time together while exercising to be healthy and fit.

FINALISTS: Relax Salt Rooms Depot Park

DEPOT PARK

874 SE 4 St, Gainesville, FL 32601 Splashing in the Blue Grotto or strolling along the promenade; enjoying a picnic in the pavilion or visiting the Cade Museum; grabbing a snack at Pop-A-Top General Store or a beverage at Box Car Wine & Beer Garden – whatever it is, there’s always an adventure at Depot Park.

FINALISTS: Crafty Bastards Restaurant & Craft Beer Bottle Shoppe Celebration Pointe FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO TAKE VISITORS

RELAX SALT ROOMS

4936 NW 39th Ave Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32606 Historic records indicate that humans have long been using natural salt caves for the healing and rejuvenating qualities they possess. The healing atmosphere at Relax Salt Rooms accompanied by soothing music is

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO TAKE YOUR KIDS

OKITO AMERICA

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO TAKE YOUR PARENTS

RELAX SALT ROOMS

4936 NW 39th Ave Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32606 Located in Gainesville, FL Relax Salt Rooms’ goal is to help with breathing and skin issues using salt therapy. Salt rooms provide natural therapeutic pulverized salt where occupants are able to passively breathe it in.

FINALISTS: Celebration Pointe Thornebrook Village Shopping Center

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FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO WORSHIP

GREENHOUSE CHURCH

11200 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32606 Greenhouse Church is a diverse spiritual family – a multi-generational, multi-cultural, and multi-ethnic group united in their love for God and one another. They’re committed to building authentic community and getting together more than just on Sunday mornings as they make an impact in the Gainesville community.

FINALISTS: Anthem Community Church Queen of Peace Catholic Community FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS VENUE

BEN HILL GRIFFIN STADIUM

157 Gale Lemerand Dr.

Gainesville, FL 32611 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, or “The Swamp” as it’s affectionately known as, was originally built in 1930 and has since expanded its capacity to now seat up to 88,548 fans, which makes it the largest football stadium in the state of Florida.

FINALISTS: Alfred A. McKethan Stadium (UF Baseball Field) FAVORITE LOCAL WEDDING RECEPTION VENUE

KANAPAHA BOTANICAL GARDENS

4700 SW 58th Drive, Gainesville,

FL 32608 Kanapaha Botanical Gardens’ visitor’s center, Summer House and their 62-acre garden facility have both indoor and outdoor spaces, which make this picturesque setting the perfect location for weddings, parties or other social functions.

FINALISTS: Langan Acres LLC West Light Farm LLC

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EATS

FAVORITE LOCAL BAR FOOD

FAVORITE “BEST-KEPT SECRET” RESTAURANT

THAT BAR AND TABLE

2725 SW 91st St. Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608 Located in Haile Plantation, That Bar and Table’s menu includes classic American dishes, their famous burgers, brunch and changing specials.

Grab a bite in their casual, family-friendly dining area; a cold drink at the bar and pub area or bring the pup along for a meal on the dogfriendly patio.

FINALISTS: Mr. & Mrs. Crab Crafty Bastards Restaurant & Craft Beer Bottle Shoppe FAVORITE LOCAL AMERICAN FOOD

THAT BAR AND TABLE

2725 SW 91st St. Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608 Hand-cut fries, loaded build-your-own burgers, sauce-covered wings and apple pie a la mode – you can’t get any more American than that, which is why That Bar and Table’s menu was voted a favorite spot to grab mouthwatering American fare.

FINALISTS: Crafty Bastards Restaurant & Craft Beer Bottle Shoppe Mr. & Mrs. Crab FAVORITE LOCAL BAKERY

THE BAKERY MILL

1143 NW 76th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32606 The Bakery Mill offers Danishes, croissants, turnovers and fresh baked breads, but it’s the variety of giant muffins - from fruity flavors like orange juice, New England Blueberry and lemon to rich and indulgent bites like Dutch chocolate and fudge mocha – that likely earned them the title of favorite bakery.

FINALISTS: Uppercrust Productions Joyfully Baked

THAT BAR AND TABLE

2725 SW 91st St. Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608 Truffle cheese fries, Cajun boiled peanuts, knockout shrimp and Asian crispy fried ribs offer a unique twist to bar food. If you’re interested in more of the classics, That Bar and Table also serves up chili cheese fries, fried mozzarella, fried pickle chips and nachos.

FINALISTS: Crafty Bastards Restaurant & Craft Beer Bottle Shoppe Gator’s Dockside Gainesville FAVORITE LOCAL BBQ

ADAM’S RIB CO

1515 SW 13th St, Gainesville, FL 32608, 2109 NW 13th St, Gainesville,

FL 32609 With two locations on 13th Street, barbeque-lovers can’t get enough of Adam’s Rib Company.

Established in 2005, Adam’s menu consists of slow-smoked ribs, pork and chicken flavored from pecan, black jack, and hickory infused woods in addition to homemade sides like baked beans, collards, coleslaw, and mac ‘n’ cheese.

FINALISTS: Sonny’s BBQ David’s BBQ & Catering FAVORITE LOCAL BRUNCH/ BREAKFAST

THAT BAR AND TABLE

2725 SW 91st St. Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608 Powdered sugar-dusted beignets served with a side of raspberry coulis; loaded home fry bowls; jumbo buttermilk biscuits, and chorizo and egg two-bite tacos, you can’t go wrong with a brunch stop at That Bar and Table. Kick up your breakfast game with bottomless mimosas or an iced Irish coffee.

FINALISTS: Mi Apá Latin Café of Gainesville 43rd Street Deli & Breakfast House

FAVORITE LOCAL BURGER

HURRICANE BTW

181 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32606 It may stand for burgers, tacos and wings, but the BTW in Hurricane BTW should really stand for Burgers That Win. Craft burgers like their pineapple teriyaki, buffalo bleu and bacon guacamole earned Hurricane BTW the title of best local burger.

FINALISTS: That Bar and Table Crafty Bastards Restaurant & Craft Beer Bottle Shoppe FAVORITE LOCAL CATERER

DOS MAMAS CATERING

3315 N Main Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32609 Whether you aim to design your own menu or leave the course choices to owner Terra LaFleur, Dos Mamas Catering provides delectable options and presentation skills fit for any catered event.

FINALISTS: Mi Apá Latin Café of Gainesville Mr. & Mrs. Crab FAVORITE LOCAL CHEF

HECTOR CINTRÓN

2441 NW 43rd St, Gainesville, FL 32606 Hector Cintrón is the executive chef and co-owner of Cintrón - A Floribbean Restaurant.

After moving to Florida from Puerto Rico,

Cintrón went to culinary school in West Palm Beach before opening his dream restaurant in the heart of Gainesville in 2020.

FINALISTS: Chef Dave (That Bar and Table) Terra LaFleur FAVORITE LOCAL CHICKEN WINGS

HURRICANE BTW

181 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32606 Hurricane BTW is a gold mine for flavorful chicken wings. Their saucy flavors include the habanero and coconut–kissed coco loco; garlic parmesan and sweet red chili; the ever-popular range of buffalo and barbeque varieties and an assortment of dry rubs like Jamaican jerk, lemon pepper and mesquite.

FINALISTS: That Bar and Table Crafty Bastards Restaurant & Craft Beer Bottle Shoppe FAVORITE LOCAL CHINESE FOOD

EABYSS

20201 S US Hwy 441 Suite 90, High Springs, FL 32643 Eabyss is a cornerstone in the High Springs community and has been recognized for its outstanding Chinese cuisine, excellent service and friendly staff. Their restaurant is known for its modern interpretation of classic dishes and use of high-quality, fresh ingredients.

FINALISTS: Chopstix Cafe

Mr. Han’s Restaurant FAVORITE LOCAL CHOCOLATE/ CANDY STORE

THORNEBROOK CHOCOLATES

2441 NW 43rd St. Suite 21,

Gainesville, FL 32606 Nestled in the Thornebrook Village Shopping Center, locally owned and operated Thornebrook Chocolates has been providing unique gifts and assorted hand-dipped confections since 1985. With milk, dark and white-chocolate coatings accompanied by a variety of fillings, Thornebrook has something for every chocolate enthusiast.

FINALISTS: Conestogas Restaurant Kilwins Celebration Pointe FAVORITE LOCAL COFFEE/ COFFEEHOUSE

MI APÁ LATIN CAFÉ OF GAINESVILLE

114 SW 34th St, Gainesville, FL

32607 Cuban espresso, coladas, café con leche and café bombon can all be found at Gainesville’s favorite coffeehouse: Mi Apá Latin Café. Aside from coffee, they also feature other thirst-quenching beverages like natural fruit juices, shakes, smoothies, and malts.

FINALISTS: Coffee Culture Patticakes at Tioga

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904.738.9190 mariecetin.com JULY/AUGUST 2021

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FAVORITE LOCAL DELICATESSEN

DAVE’S NEW YORK DELI

12921 SW 1st Road, Suite 105, Newberry, FL 32669 Voted Best Deli by Home Magazine and Best Sandwich

by Ken Eats Gainesville from 2014-2018, Dave’s New York Deli’s Gainesville and Newberry locations provide customers with towering deli sandwiches, wraps, burgers and authentic bagels sourced from a bakery in the Bronx.

FINALISTS: Fehrenbacher’s Artisan Sausage Jersey Mike’s Subs FAVORITE LOCAL DOUGHNUT

HALO POTATO DONUTS

1323 S Main St, Gainesville, FL 32601 Halo Potato Donuts is an independently owned and operated donut company specializing in potato donuts, which are a cross between a yeast and cake donut – light like yeast, yet dense like cake. Cinnamon sugar, maple glaze, Florida buckeye, lemon blueberry and maple bacon – you can’t go wrong with any flavor.

FINALISTS: Krispy Kreme Daylight Donuts FAVORITE LOCAL FAMILY RESTAURANT

THAT BAR AND TABLE

2725 SW 91st St. Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608 From their extensive kid’s menu to their petfriendly patio, That Bar and Table offers something for everyone with their family-oriented atmosphere and dining options.

FINALISTS: Mr. & Mrs. Crab Mi Apá Latin Café of Gainesville FAVORITE LOCAL FINE DINING

EMBERS OF FLORIDA

3545 SW 34th St Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32608 To add a unique spin to their menu, Embers puts together an annual Wine and Food 98 |

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Festival Dinner Series every March with this year’s festivities using a three-course meal to represent a different country each weekend.

FINALISTS: Cintrón - A Floribbean Restaurant Paramount Grill FAVORITE LOCAL FIRST DATE SPOT

THAT BAR AND TABLE

2725 SW 91st St. Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608 Whether it’s enjoying bottomless mimosas during Sunday brunch or splitting a slice of six-layer carrot cake after dinner, That Bar and Table’s menu and ambiance make it the perfect locale for a first date.

FINALISTS: Alpine Bistro Cintrón - A Floribbean Restaurant FAVORITE LOCAL FOOD TRUCK

B’Z GELATI

Bzgelati.com B’z Gelati is an independently owned and operated gelati food truck and catering company in Gainesville. Gelati is the layering of Italian ice with ice cream, but rather than using traditional soft serve, B’z amplifies their gelati by using fresh homemade ice cream with unfiltered organic honey.

FINALISTS: Cilantro Tacos Cami the Chameleon FAVORITE LOCAL HANGOVER FOOD

43RD STREET DELI & BREAKFAST HOUSE

4401 NW 25th Place, Gainesville, FL 32606 43rd Street Deli & Breakfast House has served breakfast and lunch to the Gainesville community for the past 30 years. Locally owned, their deli is nationally known and serves homemade food – including the most diverse breakfast menu in northern Florida – that you, your friends and family will enjoy.

FINALISTS: Crafty Bastards Restaurant & Craft Beer Bottle Shoppe Loosey’s Downtown Gainesville

FAVORITE LOCAL HIBACHI/JAPANESE STEAK

YAMATO JAPANESE RESTAURANT

526 NW 60th St, Gainesville, FL

32607 Pork dumplings, agedashi tofu and sushi rolls – Yamato has it all. From assorted platters, traditional Japanese cuisine, teppan yaki and more, Yamato is Gainesville’s favorite Japanese steakhouse and hibachi restaurant.

FINALISTS: Samurai Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar FAVORITE LOCAL ITALIAN FOOD

TONY AND AL’S DELI

14960 Main St, Alachua, FL 32615 From classic New York cheese pizza and grandma’s square-style pizza topped with Italian plum tomatoes, chopped garlic, basil, grated parmesan and mozzarella to stuffed Stromboli and calzones, Tony and Al’s Deli has won the hearts and taste buds of Our Town readers for favorite Italian food.

FINALISTS: Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza Pomodoro Café FAVORITE LOCAL MEDITERRANEAN FOOD

GYRO PLUS

1011 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601 From beef, Greek or veggie gyro sandwiches to baba ghanouj, falafel and tabbouleh, all of which take a backseat to mouthwatering cashew, pistachio, walnut or almond baklava, Gyro Plus is a favorite hangout for unforgettable Mediterranean food.

FINALISTS: Sandy’s Place Zoës Kitchen FAVORITE LOCAL MEXICAN FOOD

LAS MARGARITA’S

4405 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32606 Don’t let the name fool you, Las Margaritas isn’t just a venue for sipping

tasty cocktails – they offer the best Mexican food in town. Whether you’re craving tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, fajitas or another flavorful favorite, you’ll find the best authentic Mexican food at Las Margaritas.

FINALISTS: Linda Vista Nopal by Cintrón FAVORITE LOCAL PIZZA

PIESANOS STONE FIRED PIZZA

5757 SW 75th St, #101,

Gainesville, FL 32608 The only thing better than pie is pizza pie, and Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza knows how to make the best with freshly made dough baked golden brown and loaded with delicious toppings – you can’t stop at just one slice and with three locations around Gainesville, you don’t have to.

FINALISTS: Leonardo’s Pizza of Millhopper Satchel’s Pizza FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE FOR $10 DINNER

MI APÁ LATIN CAFÉ OF GAINESVILLE

114 SW 34th St, Gainesville, FL

32607 Mi Apá Latin Café’s goal is to serve traditional Cuban food using the freshest, tastiest ingredients with authentic, old-world Cuban recipes

at an affordable price. With mouthwatering sandwiches, arepas and entrees, Mi Apá is the best place to find delicious Cuban food at a wallet-friendly price.

FINALISTS: Potato Hub Crafty Bastards Restaurant & Craft Beer Bottle Shoppe

bottle of wine Thursdays.

FINALISTS: Hurricane BTW Mi Apá Latin Café of Gainesville

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE FOR $5 LUNCH

2725 SW 91st St. Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608 That Bar and Table has plenty of outdoor seating available on their pet-friendly patio so their patrons can enjoy a memorable meal with the option of bringing their furry best friend along.

FINALISTS: Cintrón - A Floribbean Restaurant One Love Cafe

MCDONALD’S

Mcdonalds.com When ordering from McDonald’s $1/$2/$3 dollar menu, there are plenty of options for a quick meal under $5 from satisfying those breakfast cravings with hash browns and a sausage biscuit or getting your lunch fix with a McChicken and a side of fries.

FINALISTS: Crafty Bastards Restaurant & Craft Beer Bottle Shoppe Mi Apá Latin Café of Alachua FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT OVERALL

THAT BAR AND TABLE

2725 SW 91st St. Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608 That Bar and Table was built on redefining your burger addiction, offering up local craft beer and providing weekly specials like Cluckin’ Mondays featuring $7 build-yourown chicken sandwiches; $2-Off Tuesdays on margaritas, nachos and tacos, and 1/2-off

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT PATIO

THAT BAR AND TABLE

FAVORITE LOCAL RIBS

ADAM’S RIB CO

2109 NW 13th St, Gainesville, FL 32609 With “ribs” in the center of their name, Adam’s Rib Co. knows how to make the best. Slow smoked, slathered in sweet sauce and packed with flavor from pecan, black jack and hickory-infused woods, Adam’s Rib Co. has the best southern-style barbeque ribs in Gainesville.

FINALISTS: Gator’s Dockside Gainesville Sonny’s BBQ

Thank you for your vote!

Proudly serving Gainesville and the surrounding areas for over 40 years!

352.338.0552

5200-B West Newberry Road DarrSchackowInsurance.com

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FAVORITE LOCAL SEAFOOD

MR. & MRS. CRAB

3246 SW 35th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32608 Customize your seafood experience at Mr. & Mrs. Crab and enjoy seafood boils your way.

After cooking your food to perfection, the chefs place your food and choice of seasoning in a specially-designed seafood boil bag, which helps trap the heat and amazing flavor.

FINALISTS: Wahoo Seafood Grill Northwest Grille FAVORITE LOCAL STEAKHOUSE

EMBERS OF FLORIDA

3545 SW 34th St. Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32608 Named as one of the Top 10 Steakhouses in Florida by Bestthingsfl.com, Embers Wood Grill offers a fine-dining experience like no other.

Grilled over a hickory, pecan and cherry wood grill and hand cut and fully trimmed in house, Embers’ USDA prime beef is the star of the menu.

FINALISTS: LongHorn Steakhouse Texas Roadhouse FAVORITE LOCAL SUSHI

FUJI SUSHI

14218 W Newberry Road, Newberry, FL 32669 Sushi’s in their name so it’s no surprise that Fuji Sushi is an expert at making the best in town.

From classic offerings like tuna and California rolls to more specialized concoctions like the Mexican roll and bagel roll, Fuji Sushi can curb any sushi craving.

FINALISTS: Volcanic Sushi + Sake Hunter’s Crossing Ichiban Sushi FAVORITE LOCAL TACOS

HURRICANE BTW

8181 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32606 Whether you’re feeling like a classic south of the border beef taco topped with lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour 100 |

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cream or just in the mood to break from tradition with a buttermilk fried chicken or Korean BBQ beef taco, Hurricane BTW has you covered.

FINALISTS: Cilantro Tacos That Bar and Table FAVORITE LOCAL THAI FOOD

BANGKOK SQUARE

6500 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608 8181 NW 39th

Ave. Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32606 Bangkok Square is a family-owned restaurant specializing in flavorful and traditional Thai food including a rainbow of curries, noodles and fried rice as well as unique desserts like sticky rice with Thai custard, lychee and Thai donuts.

FINALISTS: Chopstix Café Taste FAVORITE LOCAL VEGETARIAN/ VEGAN FOOD

VEGAN GATOR FOOD TRUCK

Facebook.com/ VeganGatorFoodTruck Vegan Gator is a plant-based concept with a passion for delicious vegan food. They feature vegan artisanal burgers and tasty smothered fries made from locally sourced ingredients and house made sauces.

FINALISTS: Mi Apá Latin Café of Gainesville The Top FAVORITE LOCAL WINE SELECTION AT A RESTAURANT

EMBERS OF FLORIDA

3545 SW 34th St. Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32608 In addition to have two certified wine experts on staff, Embers has over 420 wine selections in stock, 30 different wines by the glass and an extensive bar list featuring ports and sherries. So whether you’re a wine newbie or an aficionado, Embers has the best selection to choose from.

FINALISTS:

Public & General Restaurant That Bar and Table FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN ALACHUA

EL TORO MEXICAN RESTAURANT

15202 NW 147th Drive, Suite 1100,

Alachua, FL 32615 El Toro is a family-style restaurant with the best tasting Mexican food in Alachua. Their food is prepared fresh to order and they pride themselves on their award-winning salsa, which has been a regional favorite of North Florida and University of Florida Gator fans for years.

FINALISTS: Tony and Al’s Deli Mi Apá Latin Café of Alachua FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN GAINESVILLE

CRAFTY BASTARDS RESTAURANT & CRAFT BEER BOTTLE SHOPPE

4860 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32606 Crafty Bastards provides the perfect location for those wanting something a little different from the norm. With a fresh, made-from-scratch menu and a selection of craft beer and wine, they aren’t looking to duplicate the place down the road, they’re simply doing what they love and know you’ll love too.

FINALISTS: That Bar and Table Cintrón - A Floribbean Restaurant FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN HIGH SPRINGS

GREAT OUTDOORS RESTAURANT

65 N Main St, High Springs, FL

32643 Winner of Trip Advisor’s Award of Excellence in 2018 and named favorite restaurant in High Springs by Our Town readers for the second year, The Great Outdoors Restaurant attracts customers with live music, an outdoor patio, dining in the upstairs opera house, and delicious food.

FINALISTS: Pink Flamingo Diner Headwaters

FAVORITE LOCAL ACUPUNCTURIST

FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN NEWBERRY

WOODYARD GRILL

102 NW 250th St, Newberry, FL 32669 Maintaining the belief that great food comes from using the best quality ingredients and tried-and-true cooking methods, Pat Post and Rocky Voglio’s developed Woodyard Grill’s menu with food prepared low and slow and coated with flavorful sauces, rubs and marinades.

FINALISTS: Villaggio’s Pizzeria Stone House Neighborhood Grill

HEALTH & BEAUTY FAVORITE LASER HAIR REMOVAL CENTER

ACCENT AESTHETICS

4340 W Newberry Road Suite 102, Gainesville, FL 32607 Accent Aesthetics specializes in minimally invasive and non-invasive medical aesthetic procedures like facial rejuvenation treatments and laser hair removal and offer medical grade skin-care products. Using state-of-the-art techniques, Accent Aesthetics tailors every client’s needs and lifestyle with a treatment plan unique to them.

FINALISTS: John W. Tyrone, MD, PLLC, Plastic Surgery To Your Health and Wellness, LLC

SPARK HEALTH ACUPUNCTURE & INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

4650 NW 39th Place Unit C, Gainesville, FL 32606 Spark Health Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine is led by Dr. Akemi Borjas, DOM, LAC, renowned for her unique perspective and expertise in solving chronic and seemingly hopeless cases. At Spark, they treat each patient on a case-by-case basis and tailor treatment plans to achieve maximum results specifically for you.

FINALISTS: Floating Lotus Therapeutic Spa and Health Center Bodies in Balance Acupuncture, Inc. FAVORITE LOCAL AESTHETIC CENTER

PURE AESTHETICS

217 NW 76th Drive, Gainesville, FL 32607 Pure Aesthetics provides expert aesthetic care and goal-oriented coaching in a calm and peaceful environment. This approach presents an optimal opportunity to make the change you’ve desired. Spark prides themselves on helping you look your best and helping you reconnect and rediscover your confidence.

FINALISTS: PRP Regeneration Specialists Accent Aesthetics FAVORITE LOCAL AESTHETICIAN

CARISSA BLASER

217 NW 76th Drive, Gainesville, FL 32607 The founder of Pure Aesthetics, Carissa Blaser has more than 18 years of combined experience in dermatology and aesthetics.

She was the first CoolSculpting technician in Gainesville and is a licensed aesthetician, electrologist, and laser hair removal technician who’s passionate about helping people feel and look their very best.

FINALISTS: John W. Tyrone, MD, PLLC, Plastic Surgery Judy Perkins FAVORITE LOCAL AUDIOLOGIST

DR. JAGADISH SWAMY

2240 NW 40th Terrace, Suite C, Gainesville, FL 32605 Dr. Jagadish Swamy is a Board Certified Audiologist with Clear Sound Audiology. He earned his Doctorate of Audiology from UF in 2002 and also studied audiology in India and earned a Masters’ degree in Speech and Hearing, and a Master’s degree in Linguistics.

FINALISTS: Emily R T McClain Dawn Marie Dion (UF Health)

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FAVORITE LOCAL BODY PIERCING SHOP

ANATOMIC BODY ARTS

12 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601 Opened in October 2016, Anatomic Body Piercing was the first, and still the only body piercing boutique in north central Florida and is the only studio in the region with an all-female staff, as well as the only to carry exclusively quality jewelry made by the finest manufacturers in the world.

FINALISTS: Bodytech Tattooing & Piercing Valkyrie’s Tattoo FAVORITE LOCAL CHIROPRACTOR

AWAKEN CHIROPRACTIC

5200 NW 43rd St. Suite 507,

Gainesville, FL 32606 Awaken Chiropractic is focused on improving the health and wellness of the entire community, which is why their mission is to provide their patients with chiropractic care and the tools needed to improve overall health and wellness for a lifetime.

FINALISTS: Dr. Stephen Boyles (Direct Care Chiropractic) Back in Balance Chiropractic FAVORITE LOCAL DENTIST OFFICE

TAYLOR DENTISTRY

500 NW 43rd St. Suite 4, Gainesville, FL 32607 Dr. Cathy Taylor was born and raised in sunny Sarasota just a couple hours south of Gainesville.

She graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Nutritional Science and continued her education at UF’s College of Dentistry before participating in an Advanced Education in General Dentistry program.

FINALISTS: Gentle Dental Care Delmond Dentistry

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FAVORITE LOCAL DERMATOLOGIST

CHRISTINA MITCHELL, MD

13575 NW 1st Lane, Suite 10,

Newberry, FL 32669 Christina Mitchell, MD, is an accomplished dermatologist with a passion for helping her patients feel great in their own skin. Through her work at Dermatology Specialists of Gainesville in Newberry, Dr. Mitchell is honored to play a role in creating positive change in the lives of those in her care.

FINALISTS: Dermatology Specialists of Gainesville Dermacare Laser and Skin Care Clinic FAVORITE LOCAL DOCTOR

DR. SHENARY COTTER, MD

212 NW 135th Way, Suite 20,

Newberry, FL 32669 Dr. Cotter, who co-founder Gainesville Direct Primary Care Physicians, completed medical school and residency at UF’s College of Medicine in 1997. After completing the National Health Service Corps Scholarship, she practiced in a variety of settings, including hospitalist medicine, emergency medicine, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and outpatient medicine.

FINALISTS: Dr. Althea Tyndall-Smith, MD Dr. Gregory Bailey, PE FAVORITE LOCAL EYE CLINIC

EYE ASSOCIATES OF GAINESVILLE

2521 NW 41st St. Gainesville, FL

32606 The Eye Associates of Gainesville staff includes William Newsom, M.D., Charles Sweeney, M.D., and Adam Anhalt, O.D. all of whom have decades of experience in ophthalmology and optometry.

You’ll get the individual attention you deserve and the top notch medical care you need.

FINALISTS: Quinn Eye Center Alachua Family Eye Care

FAVORITE LOCAL EYE LASHES SALON

BEAUTY LOUNGE & CO

1405 NW 6th St. Suite 110, Gainesville, FL 32601 Co-founded in 2016 by microblading artist Nikki Naylor, Beauty Lounge & Co prides itself in using the highest quality tools and products in the industry as well as employing highly-educated artists like Naylor and lash extension and waxing specialist Miranda Bohr.

FINALISTS: Salon Ziba (Ziba De Beaute) Skin Solutions Spa FAVORITE LOCAL EYEBROW SALON

SALON ZIBA (ZIBA DE BEAUTE)

2441 NW 43rd St, Gainesville, FL

32606 Ziba Ahmadi has been perfecting the art of eyebrow threading for over 20 years and has been hailed as the best in Gainesville by her clientele and Our Town readers. Her appointment-only services include threading for the face, arms and legs.

FINALISTS: Beauty Lounge & Co. The Brow Queen & Co. FAVORITE LOCAL GROUP FITNESS

AUXO FITNESS

4994 NW 39th Ave. Suite D, Gainesville, FL 32606 AUXO is a place to learn about yourself with the help of a caring community to accomplish a state of being you didn’t know was possible. It’s a place to grow, get strong and build relationships. All shapes, sizes and abilities are welcomed into the encouraging AUXO Fitness family.

FINALISTS: AXIS Training Studio MP Health FAVORITE LOCAL GYM

VULCAN TRAINING

5109 NW 39th Ave. Suite B, Gainesville, FL 32606 Personal training is great for everyone. Trainers at Vulcan are adept in rehab, calisthenics,

cardio training and body recomposition just to name a few. They offer personal training, group fitness, and one-on-one training while also offering flexible pricing and discounts for military and UF/Shands employees.

FINALISTS: Gainesville Health & Fitness AXIS Training Studio FAVORITE LOCAL HAIR SALON

EDEN MICHELE SALON

1215 NW 14th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601 Founded in 2016, Eden Michele Salon is an Avedaexclusive salon, meaning they only use Aveda’s environmentally responsible products containing natural and organic ingredients for all the services they offer like highlights and color; haircuts and styling; and keratin and conditioning treatments.

FINALISTS: Kutters at Millhopper 6th Street Station Salon FAVORITE LOCAL HEALTH FOOD STORE

HALO HEALTH SERVICES

8611 SW 92nd Lane, Gainesville,

FL 32608 A personal health, wellness and life coach with a clinical pharmacy background, Halo Health Services provides nutrition, physical fitness and mental wellness guidance to address health and wellness outcomes from all the aspects of influence.

FINALISTS: Sunflower Health Foods Earth Origins Market

FINALISTS: UF Health Comprehensive Women’s Health

FAVO R I T E LO C A L H E A LT H C A R E PROVIDER (BUSINESS)

FAVORITE LOCAL LASIK SURGERY CLINIC

GAINESVILLE DIRECT PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS, LLC

212 NW 135th Way, Suite 20, Newberry, FL 32669 Gainesville Direct Primary Care Physicians is the first physician owned and operated direct primary care practice in north central Florida.

It was founded by two family physicians – Dr. Cotter and Dr. Tyndall-Smith – with the core mission of returning the patient experience to one where the doctor-patient relationship is the focus.

FINALISTS: Celebrate Primary Care, Gainesville OneStop Medical FAVORITE LOCAL HOSPITAL

NORTH FLORIDA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

6500 W Newberry Road, Gainesville, FL 32605 North Florida Regional Medical Center is a full-service medical and surgical acute care center serving the North Central Florida area. In 2017, the Gainesvillebased community hospital and its services grew to include two new full-service 24/7 Freestanding Emergency Rooms, furthering their commitment to the care and improvement of human life.

DR. KYLE BALCH, MD

6717 NW 11th Place, Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32605 Dr. Kyle Balch, MD is an ophthalmology specialist in Gainesville with over 28 years of experience in the medical field.

He graduated from University of Florida College of Medicine in 1993 and is affiliated with North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care.

FINALISTS: Eye Associates of Gainesville FAVORITE LOCAL MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO

OKITO AMERICA

6900 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608 Okito America instructors have studied and trained for years to be part of the Okito team and share the primary goal of assisting Okito clients in being the best they can be by helping them acquire effective self-defense skills and providing them with a comprehensive personal development program.

FINALISTS: Star Martial Arts Pro Taekwondo School

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FAVORITE LOCAL MASSAGE THERAPIST

CODY YELTON

200 NE 1st St. Suite 103, Gainesville, FL 32601 Everyone’s needs are different, and Cody Yelton, a graduate of Boulder Col l e ge o f M assage T he r a p y , i s c o m mitted to providing a nurturing and safe environment where every client is able to experience the therapeutic benefits of m assage .

FINALISTS: Jude Parfait Tavia Steele FAVORITE LOCAL NAIL SALON

ENSO: A HEALTHIER NAIL BOUTIQUE

FAVORITE LOCAL ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON

DR. MARK A. PETTY, MD

4500 W Newberry Road, Gainesville, FL 32607 Dr. Petty is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in anterior total hip replacement, arthroscopic surgery, joint reconstructive surgery, orthopedic surgery, partial knee replacement and sports medicine. Petty became an orthopedic surgeon because he finds it rewarding to help people return to better functioning by repairing their bones and joints.

FINALISTS: Dr. Kevin W. Farmer, MD Dr. Arthur Sharkey, MD FAVORITE LOCAL PEDIATRICIAN

DR. KATHY SARANTOS

13005 SW 1 Road, Suite 133,

Newberry, FL, 32669 Enso’s mission involves setting a higher standard for the local beauty industry as they strive to create a worry-free ambiance by staffing knowledgeable trained professionals and providing healthier choices for beauty services by using mostly organic and vegan-friendly products.

FINALISTS: Grand Nails Tami Nails Salon

4627 NW 53rd Ave, Gainesville, FL 32653 Dr. Katheryn Sarantos has always had a strong passion for helping others. Coupled with her affinity for medicine, she’s been serving the Gainesville community for almost 20 years. She began her career as a medical student at the University of Florida, where she also completed her residency, focusing on Pediatrics.

FINALISTS: Little Pines Pediatrics LLC Healthy Steps Pediatrics

FAVORITE LOCAL ORTHODONTIST

FAVORITE LOCAL PERSONAL TRAINER

DR. REID W. MONTINI

7520 W University Ave. Suite C, Gainesville, FL 32607 Dr. Montini received a top-notch education and exceptional dental training with a specialty in orthodontics. He integrates his artistic background into his work, giving him a unique skill set as an orthodontist who bridges art with science. After all, who doesn’t want their smile to be a work of art?

FINALISTS: Pavlik Orthodontics Studio32 Orthodontics

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MISHA PATZ

Ptwithmisha.com Misha’s been involved in the fitness industry for six years and is a certified health professional specializing in behavior change, corrective exercise, nutrition, performance enhancement, weight-loss and pregnancy and postpartum-corrective exercise. Whatever your goal, Misha utilizes her expertise to maximize your results and create a program unique to you.

FINALISTS: Vulcan Training Akela Collins

FAVORITE LOCAL PHARMACY

WESTLAB PHARMACY

4410 Newberry Road, Suite A5, Gainesville, FL 32607 With over 100 years of collective experience, Westlab Pharmacy’s team of skilled pharmacists work with prescribing professionals and patients to design customized medications that meet the dosage requirements of the physician and are in a form comfortable and convenient for the patient to use.

FINALISTS: Publix Pharmacy at Steeplechase CVS FAVORITE LOCAL PHYSICAL THERAPIST

FYZICAL THERAPY & BALANCE CENTERS

5080 W Newberry Road,

Gainesville, FL 32607 At FYZICAL, not only will they fix what is broken, but through comprehensive programs you’ll discover how to achieve the pinnacle of healthy living, expand your boundaries and feel better.

FYZICAL provides hands-on therapy treatments provided by their friendly, caring health experts during focused and individualized sessions.

FINALISTS: Gainesville Physical Therapy and Wellness, LLC Dr. Lauren Lehman Atkins, DPT, OCS, MTC (Gainesville Wellness and Performance) FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE FOR SKIN CARE

DERMACARE LASER AND SKIN CARE CLINIC

101 NW 75th St. Suite 3,

Gainesville, FL 32607 As Gainesville’s most comprehensive laser skin care clinic for both men and women, Dermacare helps their clients achieve a more youthful look and reverse the hands of time with services like acne treatments, facials, waxing, chemical peels, laser hair removal and so much more.

FINALISTS: Floating Lotus Therapeutic Spa and Health Center John W. Tyrone, MD

FAVORITE LOCAL RUNNING EVENT

SUDA’S FITFOOT

Sudasfitfoot.com Suda’s FitFoot is a mobile and online shoe store helping customers live life to the fullest by freeing them from foot and leg pain. They take the hassle out of shoe shopping by offering social-distance appropriate fittings, deliveries, online sales, and pop-up shops where you live, work, and play.

FINALISTS: Run Amuck with the Duck Hoggetown 5K Beer Run FAVORITE LOCAL SPA

RELAX SALT ROOMS

4936 NW 39th Ave. Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32606 As more people suffer from respiratory and skin issues, salt therapy has become an all-natural alternative option. Sessions last 45 minutes, during which you can relax, sit back in a zero gravity chair and inhale the iodized salt circulating in the air.

FINALISTS: Floating Lotus Spa Spa Royale FAVORITE LOCAL TANNING SALON

LAE BEAUTY BAR

618 NW 60th St. Suite I, Gainesville, FL 32607 LAE Beauty’s standard is to provide a fresh, healthy and smart approach for customers to care

of their body and skin. Since 2008, LAE Beauty has provided services in eyelash extensions, microblading, brows, facials, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, spray tanning - a customer favorite - waxing, tanning, and red light therapy.

FINALISTS: The Golden Gator – Customizes Airbrush Tanning South Beach Tanning Company FAVORITE LOCAL TATTOO SHOP

ANTHEM TATTOO PARLOR

102 SW 6th St, Gainesville, FL 32601 Located in a beautiful historic house in the heart of downtown Gainesville, Anthem Tattoo strives to maintain respect for the history of tattooing while moving the craft forward with innovation and creativity for the art. Providing top quality tattooing in a comfortable and welcoming environment is their main priority.

FINALISTS: Bodytech Tattooing & Piercing Death or Glory Tattoo Parlor FAVORITE LOCAL WAXING SALON

BRAZILS WAXING CENTER

4817 SW 34th St, Gainesville, FL

32608 Brazils’ entire staff is certified by the State Board of Cosmetology and they have more than 30 years of combined waxing experience. What sets them apart from other facilities is that they custom-blend their wax each day from ingredi-

Residential & Commercial • Fully Licensed & Insured

ents assembled exclusively for them using an innovative procedure developed in Brazil.

FINALISTS: Salon Ziba (Ziba De Beaute) Frē Body & Facial Beautification Services FAVORITE LOCAL YOGA STUDIO/ INSTRUCTOR

ENERGY HEALING WITH CAITLYN

3311 NW 25th Ave, Gainesville, FL

32605 Caitlyn, who is a certified yoga instructor and Level 3 reiki teacher/practitioner, developed Energy Healing with Caitlyn in 2017 to help others find and implement alternative healing tools that work for them with reiki, meditation, yoga and chair yoga classes and sessions.

FINALISTS: Searchlight Yoga AUXO Fitness FAVORITE URGENT CARE

ONESTOP MEDICAL

15652 NW US Highway 441, Suite 2D, Alachua, FL 32615 OneStop Medical’s walk-in clinic and urgent care offers community members an array of medical services relating to injuries, occupational medicine, vaccines, worker’s comp, specific illnesses, CBD and medical marijuana, DOT, labs and x-rays.

FINALISTS: 1st Choice Urgent Care Center Emergency Physicians Medical Center

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NIGHTLIFE FAVORITE BURLESQUE PERFORMER

INDIA BROOKS

Indiabrooks.com India Brooks is a native Floridian with a profound love for nature and all living things. In conjunction, travel is her passion and she believes travel is the best education anyone can give themselves. Her art is most often inspired by her experiences in travel and interaction with nature.

FINALISTS: Jenny Castle Sally B. Dash FAVORITE DOWNTOWN BAR

MADRINA’S

9 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601 With thirst-quenching, hand-crafted cocktails like the flamingo pop with passionfruit, ginger and rosewater; the matcha colada with matcha, coconut cream and pineapple; guava the hut with guava, vanilla and lime; and unique daiquiris flavors like carrot, cucumber or banana, Madrina’s is Gainesville’s favorite downtown bar.

FINALISTS: Original American Kitchen Loosey’s Downtown Gainesville FAVORITE LOCAL BAR TO PLAY GAMES

ARCADE BAR

6 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601 The Arcade Bar is three stories of hand-selected arcade games and two full-service bars. The lower level offers pinballs, shooters and fighters with a tiki-style bar; classic arcade games and bubble hockey on the second and skee-ball, foosball, classic multicade games and a large full-service bar on the third.

FINALISTS: Dave & Buster’s World of Beer FAVORITE LOCAL BARTENDER

ROMAN BRUNSON (CRAFTY BASTARDS RESTAURANT) 106 |

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4860 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32606 Roman Brunson is the Picasso of bartending and it helps that he has over 750 varieties of craft beer and a growing wine section to work with at his place of employment: Crafty Bastards Restaurant Craft Beer Bottle Shoppe, where he’s become a favorite among locals.

FINALISTS: Sara Flanagan Cali (The Top) FAVORITE LOCAL BEER (KIND)

FIRST MAGNITUDE: VEGA

1220 SE Veitch St. Gainesville, FL

32601 First Magnitude Brewing Company’s Vega Blonde Ale is a bright, crisp, light bodied beer with a hint of citrus – perfect for stargazing and daydreaming. Aside from being a local favorite, Vega was the 2018 World Beer Cup Silver Medal Winner.

FINALISTS: Swamp Head: Big Nose Swamp Head: Wild Night FAVORITE LOCAL BLOODY MARY

NORTHWEST GRILLE

5115 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32606 Northwest Grille is on another level with their spin on the classic Bloody Mary cocktail, which is more of a meal than a drink topped with a crab leg; bacon; lemon and lime wedges; celery and pickled veggies.

FINALISTS: Boca Fiesta Original American Kitchen FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY

FIRST MAGNITUDE BREWING COMPANY

1220 SE Veitch St, Gainesville, FL

32601 First Magnitude Brewing Company is a craft brewery and tap room that prides itself on making excellent beer; building awareness and appreciation for Florida’s springs; providing a space for people to come and enjoy a pint; and being involved in the local community.

FINALISTS:

Swamp Head Brewery Cypress & Grove Brewing Company FAVORITE LOCAL DANCE CLUB

UNIVERSITY CLUB

18 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601 University Club is Gainesville’s historic LGBT hometown bar. Dance the night away during one of their holiday parties or Friday-night piano bars or stop by for a drink and a front-row seat to one of their unforgettable drag shows.

FINALISTS: Knockin’ Boots Saloon Gainesville FAVORITE LOCAL DIVE BAR

LOOSEY’S DOWNTOWN GAINESVILLE

120 SW 1st Ave, Gainesville, FL

32601 Loosey’s Downtown beer selection hails from breweries across America in the form of bottles, cans and 20 rotating drafts, but their drink menu goes far beyond craft beers. They also offer signature cocktails like a mermaid on the rocks and a blueberry smash, and wines like pinot noir and chardonnay.

FINALISTS: Balls Munegin’s On 13th FAVORITE LOCAL FANCY-PANTS BAR

FLUID LOUNGE

140 SW 128th St, Newberry, FL 32669 Fluid Lounge a craft cocktail lounge in the Tioga Town Center featuring cocktails, humidor, spirits, select beer, and wine. They offer over 150 different kinds of whiskey and over 100 other high-end spirits and to add to the fanciness, all juicing and syrups are made in house.

FINALISTS: Madrina’s Spark at Embers FAVORITE LOCAL HAPPY HOUR

GATORS DOCKSIDE GAINESVILLE

3842 W Newberry Road, Suite 1A, Gainesville, FL 32607

At Gator’s Dockside in Gainesville, every hour is happy hour with their all day, every day, twofor-one specials on select drafts, house wines and liquor because let’s face it, why have one margarita when you can have two?

FINALISTS: Ballyhoo Grill Madrina’s FAVORITE LOCAL HIPSTER SPOT

THE TOP

30 N Main St, Gainesville, FL 32601 Since 2000, The Top has catered to vegans, vegetarians and meat-loving carnivores alike while offering over 33 rotating draft lines, and craft cocktails to warm your cheeks. Their overall mission is to serve good food, good drinks and good times.

FINALISTS: Cry Baby’s Crafty Bastards Restaurant & Craft Beer Bottle Shoppe FAVORITE LOCAL IRISH BAR

MOTHER’S PUB & GRILL NORTH

5109 NW 39th Ave,

Gainesville, FL 32606 Mother’s Pub & Grill opened their doors in 2007 and expanded their presence in Gainesville with a second location on 39th Avenue. This location features arcade games, pool tables, live bands and open mic night as well as TVs and a projector screen to showcase all of the big games.

FINALISTS: The Queen’s Arms Pub

cold beverage in your hand. At The Keys Grill & Piano Bar it’s no different: Amazing food, friends ordering another round and an entire restaurant swaying and singing along to the familiar tunes from the piano stage.

FINALISTS: One Love Café Great Outdoors Restaurant

Limerock Road Neighborhood Grill FAVORITE LOCAL MARGARITA

BOCA FIESTA

232 SE 1st St, Gainesville, FL Boca Fiesta dispenses soda pop, iced tea, coffee and an extensive beer selection as well as fresh-squeezed lemonade, limeade and their local favorite: fresh-squeezed citrus, agave-sweetened margaritas including their house, Boca and Cadillac-style margaritas.

FINALISTS: Las Margarita’s Pepper’s

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO KARAOKE

CRAFTY BASTARDS RESTAURANT & CRAFT BEER BOTTLE SHOPPE

4860 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32606 You’re already a singing pro in the shower and the car, so bring your talents to karaoke night at Crafty Bastards Restaurant & Craft Beer Bottle Shoppe. Every Wednesday night you can sing your heart out starting at 7pm with Mr. October.

FINALISTS: Loosey’s Downtown Stage 7 Karaoke Bar & Party Venue

FAVORITE LOCAL MARTINI

THE TOP

30 N Main St, Gainesville, FL 32601 Traditional martinis are made with gin, vermouth and garnished with an olive or lemons twist, but let’s face it, tradition is boring. The Top ups their martini game by offering key lime pie inspired, basil-infused and espresso-themed martinis on their cocktail menu.

FINALISTS: Dragonfly Sushi Madrina’s

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO SEE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

CELEBRATION POINTE

4949 Celebration Pointe Ave, Gainesville, FL 32608 From relaxing outside in the beautiful Promenade to shopping for the perfect outfit, the number of amazing things to do at Celebration Pointe is nearly unlimited.

FINALISTS: The Top Bonefish Grill

FAVORITE LOCAL PATIO BAR

THE KEYS GRILL & PIANO BAR

4860 Celebration Pointe Ave, Gainesville, FL 32608 Life in the Keys is music filling your ears and a

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FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS BAR

GATORS DOCKSIDE GAINESVILLE

3842 W Newberry Road, Suite 1A,

Gainesville, FL 32607 Award-winning signature grilled wings; hearty sandwiches and burgers; big-screen TVs; weekly specials and a family-friendly atmosphere are all factors that led to Gator’s Dockside being named as Gainesville’s favorite sports bar.

FINALISTS: Crafty Bastards Restaurant & Craft Beer Bottle Shoppe World of Beer FAVORITE LOCAL TRIVIA NIGHT

CRAFTY BASTARDS RESTAURANT & CRAFT BEER BOTTLE SHOPPE

4860 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32606 Where’s the best place to test your knowledge and compete against other future game show contestants? The answer is Crafty Bastards Restaurant & Craft Beer Bottle Shoppe where every Tuesday from 7pm to 10pm is trivia night. Bring a team or go solo, there’s never a dull moment – or question.

FINALISTS: Big Top Brewing Company World of Beer

BEST OF THE REST FAVORITE ELECTED OFFICIAL

LAUREN POE

Cityofgainesville.org Mayor Poe has lived in Gainesville since 1982 and is a graduate of Gainesville High School. He earned his BA in History and M.Ed. in Secondary Social Sciences from UF and has taught in Alachua County since 1998. In his free time, he enjoys reading, cooking and watching sports.

FINALISTS: Mary Alford Gib Coerper

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FAVORITE FEMALE MEDIA PERSONALITY

BRIANA NESPRAL

FAVORITE LOCAL ATTORNEY (PERSON)

RYAN GILBERT

Mycbs4.com Born and raised in Miami, Briana Nespral graduated from the University of Miami where she studied broadcast journalism. During her time at UM, Briana worked as an anchor and reporter for the university’s TV station and interned for Univision and NBC6 before joining the team at CBS 4.

FINALISTS: Julia Laude TV20 Paige Beck

104 N Main St. Suite 500, Gainesville, FL 32601 Gilbert is a longtime resident of North Central Florida – earning his bachelor’s and law degree from the University of Florida where he competed nationally as a rower on the Varsity Crew. Today he uses his knowledge and experience to help those who’ve been injured through no fault of their own.

FINALISTS: Marie Banks John Roberts

FAVORITE LOCAL AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM

FAVORITE LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP

OKITO AMERICA

6900 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608 Not only does Okito America offer an after school program covering martial arts; tutoring; art and science; and sports, they also provide free transportation from 14 different schools in the area.

FINALISTS: Sun Country Sports North Central Florida YMCA FAVORITE LOCAL APARTMENT COMPLEX

HUNTINGTON LAKES APARTMENTS

5400 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville,

FL 32606 Townhomes and garden apartments on the water make Huntington Lakes a perfect choice for families, professionals and those looking for apartments that feel like home. They offer one, two and three-bedroom floor plans in northwest Gainesville, with townhouse or garage options and water views.

FINALISTS: The Flats at Tioga Town Center Apartments Reserve at Kanapaha

AUTO ER

2383 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608 Auto ER focuses on automotive repairs, collision repairs, and new tires. They have three locations in Gainesville, FL, each with its own specialties, and a fourth in Newberry, FL. All of which are dedicated to providing the best service possible.

FINALISTS: Archer Automotive & Diesel Repair City Auto Repair FAVORITE LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE SALESPERSON

RUSSELL PEREZ

1007 N Main St Gainesville, FL 32601 Russell Perez is a Gainesville native and finance specialist with Motory Group, Gainesville’s go-to dealership for used automobiles with finances available for people with all ranges of credit. Perez’s work in the automotive industry won him recognition among voters as their favorite automotive salesperson.

FINALISTS: Jerry Lipiec Bob Cousins FAVORITE LOCAL BANK

DRUMMOND COMMUNITY BANK

3436 W University Ave, Gainesville,

FL 32607 At Drummond, their mission is to provide their customers with the very best banking services

and sound business decisions all while giving back to the Florida communities they serve. To you they may just be a bank, but they’re a bank that wants to help you and your money grow.

FINALISTS: CenterState Bank Ameris FAVORITE LOCAL CARPET CLEANER

CLEAN ZONE

Cleanzoneclean.com Since 1997, Clean Zone has been providing customers with a fresh-rinse alternative by using Green Seal Certified, Procyon pre-conditioners on carpets along with a chemical-free, super-heated rinse to extract any soil or other contaminates, which is all part of their motto: More Green, More Clean.

FINALISTS: The Best Restoration SERVPRO of Gainesville West/Alachua County West FAVORITE LOCAL CLEANING COMPANY

NATURAL SHINE CLEANING

Naturalshineclean.com Natural Shine’s goal is to improve the lives of their clients by promoting ways of healthy living – starting with using all-natural cleaning products in homes and places of work. They hope you’ll feel safer with nontoxic products and that having a clean home will improve you and your family’s well-being.

FINALISTS: Cleaning Genie, LLC A Beautiful Touch Cleaning Services, LLC

FAVORITE LOCAL CREDIT UNION

FAVORITE LOCAL COLLEGE COACH

405 SE 2nd Place, Gainesville, FL

32601 Radiant has proudly served their community and their members for over 60 years. As a not-forprofit cooperative, members aren’t just customers, they’re owners, which means Radiant returns their profits to their member-owners in the form of better rates, lower fees, a higher return on deposits, and personalized service.

FINALISTS: CAMPUS USA Credit Union (West Campus Gainesville) VyStar Credit Union

DAN MULLEN

Floridagators.com Dan Mullen became the head coach for the Florida Gators in 2017, but it wasn’t his first time in the swamp. Before becoming a head coach, Mullen was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Florida from 2005 to 2008.

FINALISTS: Mike Holloway Becky Burleigh FAVORITE LOCAL CONTRACTOR

SHORE BUILDERS, INC.

2727 NW 43rd St Suite 7C, Gainesville, FL 32606 Shore Builders, Inc., was established in 2005 by Danny Shore, a licensed Building Contractor serving Gainesville, St. Augustine and the surrounding areas.

The company began with a focus on marinas and parks but has since transitioned into residential and commercial remodels.

FINALISTS: Elevated Design & Construction Gainesville Kitchen & Bath

RADIANT CREDIT UNION

FAVORITE LOCAL DANCE STUDIO

OKITO AMERICA

6900 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608 Okito’s pre-dance class introduces children to the wonderful world of dance and music in a fun and stimulating environment where development of gross and fine motor skills aimed at improving coordination, muscle tone, balance, rhythm, and a sense of movement in space are stressed.

FINALISTS: Doxa Dance Studio Inc. Cameron Dancenter

BEAUTY SERVICES AVAILABLE IN INDIVIDUAL SUITES • Full Service Hair: Shampoo/Blowout/Haircuts/ Style/Color/Highlights/Hair Extensions & more!

FRESH HEALTHY

SMART

352-331-9693

• Eyelash Extensions • Lash Lifts • Facials • Microdermabrasion • Waxing •UV Tanning & Spray Tanning: Mystic Spray/Custom Airbrush/ UV Beds FOLLOW US FOR BEAUTY TIPS AND BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT ONLINE

LAE Beauty Bar Gift Certificates Available now!

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FAVORITE LOCAL DAYCARE

EDUCATION STATION AND PRESCHOOL

CAMP RUN-A-MUTT

2411 NW 41st St, Gainesville, FL

32606 Education Station and Preschool’s mission is to give children a better early-learning experience by working with parents and caregivers to create a welcoming learning environment that builds lasting relationships so the children in their care will reach their full potential and become happy, healthy adults with a lifelong love of learning.

FINALISTS: B’nai Israel Community Day School O2B Kids

1107 S Main St. Gainesville, FL 32601 Camp Run-A-Mutt is the premier cage-free doggie daycare and boarding paradise. Their services include daycare, boarding, grooming and obedience classes. Their camp is beautiful, fun, safe and supervised 24/7 and features over 11,000 square-feet of indoor and outdoor play area for dogs to romp, play and socialize.

FINALISTS: Pet Paradise Gainesville Daytime Dogs and Friends

FAVORITE LOCAL DOG GROOMER

FAVORITE LOCAL ELECTRICIAN

CHARLIE’S PLACE

1281 NW 76th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32606 Keep your animals well-groomed and happy with pet services from Charlie’s Place in Gainesville.

They provide grooming services to all breeds of dogs and cats. You will always get the same experienced groomer that will ensure that special member of your family is given the very best of care.

FINALISTS: Pelusa’s Pet Grooming Ashley at Natures Pet Day Spa FAVORITE LOCAL DOG WALKER

DAYTIME DOGS AND FRIENDS

Daytimedogs.com Pet care specialists with Daytime Dogs and Friends will come to your home and take your dog on a leashed, energetic walk in your immediate neighborhood.

The result will be a happier and more balanced dog.

FINALISTS: Daytime Dogs and Friends Thalia Millan

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DEL SOL ELECTRIC

3515 NW 12th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32605 Del Sol Electric can handle all your electric needs with their areas of expertise including but not limited to installing or replacing electrical switches and outlets; upgrading wiring panels; providing electrical additions and remodels and offering electrical service upgrades.

FINALISTS: Aaron Vurgason Electric Vintage Electric FAVORITE LOCAL FINANCIAL PLANNER

AL COCKRELL (NORTH FLORIDA WEALTH ADVISORS)

Al Cockrell has dedicated himself to helping others plan for their future through intelligent investment advice, proper financial planning and insurance recommendations. He’s the past President of Sunrise Rotary Club, serves on the Board of Directors for St. Francis House Homeless Shelter and supporter of the Climb for Cancer Foundation.

FINALISTS: Jeffrey Hogue (UBS Financial Services) Deanna Edwards (Thrivent)

FAVORITE LOCAL FLOORING COMPANY

GAINESVILLE CARPETPLUS COLORTILE

6510 NW 13th St, Gainesville, FL 32653 Gainesville CarpetsPlus COLORTILE has a solid reputation for quality flooring, installation and design services. Their knowledgeable and professional staff will guide you in transforming your living space into a dream come true. You can feel confident that your project will be done right from their door to your floor!

FINALISTS: Planned Furnishings The Floor Store at Thornebrook FAVORITE LOCAL HOME BUILDER

WILLIAM WESEMAN CONSTRUCTION

1501 NW 98th St, Gainesville, FL

32606 A proud native of Alachua County, William Weseman grew up in a contracting family where he spent many years working alongside his father and grandfather gaining valuable, practical know-how. Today, William continues his family’s legacy of building homes with exceptional craftsmanship.

FINALISTS: Elevated Design & Construction Red Door Homes of Florida FAVORITE LOCAL HOME ORGANIZER

ANGELA BETANCOURT

Simplifyhomeorganizing.com After reading “The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide” by Francine Jay, Angela Betancourt began implementing the book’s recommendations and formed the skills she needed to turn her passion into Simplify Home Organizing.

FINALISTS: Aileen Crapps - Smart Stage Designs Amanda Carreon

FAVORITE LOCAL HOTEL

BEST WESTERN GATEWAY GRAND

4200 NW 97th Blvd, Gainesville,

FL 32606 When it comes to hotels in Gainesville, Best Western Gateway Grand offers affordable and comfortable amenities and accommodations.

Whether it’s a weekend getaways for two, family vacations in Gainesville, or business trips close to the University of Florida, Best Western Gateway Grand provides rest and relaxation to all guests.

FINALISTS: The Laurel Oak Inn Magnolia Plantation Bed and Breakfast Inn Quality Inn University North I-75 FAVORITE LOCAL HVAC COMPANY

DAYTON HEATING AND AIR, LLC

Daytonheatandair.com Dayton Heating and Air is a small local business that provides Gainesville, Newberry and the surrounding area with premium services like AC repair, replacement, and maintenance at an affordable price.

FINALISTS: Bounds Heating & Air Charles Berg Enterprises, Inc.

FAVORITE LOCAL INSURANCE AGENT

FAVORITE LOCAL IN-HOME HEALTHCARE

OVATION HOME CARE

4131 NW 28th Lane, Suite 2B, Gainesville, FL 32606 As a locally-owned-and-operated Gainesville home care agency, Ovation Home Care addresses the issues aging seniors face. Their approach to senior care is inspired by the perspective of an experienced occupational therapist and includes pastoral care in addition to the personal care traditionally offered by private duty home care companies.

FINALISTS: Home by Choice Touching Hearts at Home FAVORITE LOCAL INSURANCE AGENCY

SCHNEIDER & ASSOCIATES

CHERIE CARROLL (SCHNEIDER & ASSOCIATES)

285 NW 138th Terrace, Suite 100 Newberry, FL 32669 Property manager with over 10 years of experience in efficiently managing residential communities of up to 240 units. In-depth experience of all aspects of daily operations of property management including finance and budgeting, asset management and maintenance, marketing and leasing, developing strong tenant relationships, staff supervision and development.

FINALISTS: Dan Shaw (Florida Farm Bureau Insurance) Brent Carpenter (Schneider & Associates) FAVORITE LOCAL INTERIOR DESIGNER

285 NW 138th Terrace, Suite 100

Newberry, FL 32669 Living in Florida comes with its own unique risks. That’s why Schneider & Associates’ local agents who are familiar with those risks can help you find the right coverage to protect your family, your home, and your business from everything Florida throws at you.

FINALISTS: Dan Shaw (Florida Farm Bureau Insurance) Darr Schackow Insurance Agency

AILEEN CRAPPS SMART STAGE DESIGNS

Smartstage.biz Aileen Crapps is a home staging and interior designer serving Lake City, Jacksonville, Gainesville and the surrounding areas. With Smart Stage Designs, Aileen completes the most comprehensive and intensive home-staging services for vacant homes, investor projects and personal consultations.

FINALISTS: Quality DesignWorks

35% OFF ON ALL BLINDS AND SHADES

IN-HOME CONSULTATION

352-367-4447

BUDGETBLINDS.COM/GAINESVILLE JULY/AUGUST 2021

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FAVORITE LOCAL IT SUPPORT COMPANY

EPIC IT SOLUTIONS

5200 NW 43rd St, Gainesville, FL 32606 Epic IT Solutions was established to provide Information Technology Services to the business community of north central Florida. They work in partnership with current and future clients to provide cost effective solutions in Information Technology and Communication with plans to build on their expertise to expand into new areas.

FINALISTS: My IT Masters CRASH Technicians FAVORITE LOCAL LANDSCAPER

THE MASTER’S LAWN CARE

11417 NW 59th Terrace,

Gainesville, Florida 32653 Since its founding in 2004, The Master’s Lawn Care has proudly served the Gainesville community in areas like lawn service, landscaping, irrigation, pressure washing and lighting while aiming to constantly exceed their client’s expectations by providing quality work and professionalism.

FINALISTS: LawnMore A Beautiful Yard FAVORITE LOCAL LAW FIRM (COMPANY)

MELDON LAW

703 N Main St. Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32601 Meldon Law is comprised of trial lawyers, litigators and negotiators that concentrate in car accidents, personal injury, medical malpractice, DUI/ criminal defense cases and more. Though their main office is in Gainesville, they are a statewide law firm serving Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness and the entire North Florida region.

FINALISTS: Fernandes & Fernandes, P.A. Schackow & Mercadante, P.A.

FAVORITE LOCAL MARKETING AGENCY

LIQUID CREATIVE

1314 S Main St, Gainesville, FL 32601 Liquid Creative is a team of artists, big thinkers, marathoners, writers, world travelers, coffee enthusiasts, sports fans and dog fanatics.

On their own, we’re uniquely talented individuals.

Together, they’re Liquid Creative and they’re here to take your brand to the next level.

FINALISTS: SCAD Media LLC Make It Happen / Wehbe Marketing FAVORITE LOCAL MORTGAGE COMPANY

ANNIEMAC HOME MORTGAGE GAINESVILLE

1405 NW 13th St. Suite B, Gainesville, FL 32601 AnnieMac Home Mortgage of American Neighborhood Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC, is a nationwide mortgage loan provider dedicated to the principle of service for their clients, employees, and business partners.

FINALISTS: Hamilton Home Loans Chris Doering Mortgage FAVORITE LOCAL MOVING COMPANY

UF MOVER GUYS

2331 NW 13th St, Gainesville, FL 32609 UF Mover Guys is a local moving company with years of experience and a professional moving staff. Their central Florida moving company provides all-inclusive moving services that are unmatched by any other moving company.

FINALISTS: 2 College Brothers Moving and Storage Gainesville Movers Later Gator Moving LLC FAVORITE LOCAL NEWS COMMENTATOR OR COLUMNIST

JULIA LAUDE TV20

Wcjb.com Julia Laude joined TV20 in March of 2019. Originally from Binghamton, New 112 |

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York, she graduated from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY with a Bachelor’s in Communication/Journalism. She’s currently the Ocala / Marion County Bureau Reporter for WCJB TV20.

FINALISTS: Ken Peng Briana Nespral FAVORITE LOCAL PAINTING COMPANY

COLOR PROS PAINTING, LLC

4133 NW 9th St, Gainesville, FL

32609 At Color Pros, their attention to detail sets them apart from the rest. They use only the highest-quality products to ensure your investment is protected. They’re professional, licensed and insured.

FINALISTS: CorsPaint Painting Company of Gainesville Jay Whitney Painting FAVORITE LOCAL PEST CONTROL COMPANY

FLORIDA PEST CONTROL

116 NW 16th Ave, Gainesville, FL

32601 Florida Pest Control & Chemical Co. is Florida’s best source for pest management with 20 locations throughout the state – including one in Gainesville. Their commitment to research and their team of graduate entomologists provides the highest level of advanced pest management training available in the industry.

FINALISTS: Mosquito Joe of Gainesville-Ocala Ecopest Termite & Pest Control FAVORITE LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER

ADRIENNE FLETCHER PHOTOGRAPHY

Women.adriennefletcher.com Adrienne Fletcher Photography is a boutique portrait studio that looks to empower women of any age and body type through the medium of photography by creating experiences that leave women feeling confident, valued, beautiful and seen for who they are.

FINALISTS: Marie Cetin Photography Catching Memories Photography LLC

FAVORITE LOCAL POOL COMPANY

FAVORITE LOCAL PLUMBER

1328 NW 117th Terrace, Gainesville,

FL 32606 At H2Oasis, their mission is to go above and beyond in everything they do and construct the safest, most beautiful, carefree and enjoyable pool experience and environment for you and your family by using the best products and employing the best, most skilled and experienced craftsmen in the trade.

FINALISTS: Southern Escapes LLC Florida Leisure Pool & Spa

J.W. FREEMAN PLUMBING

4637 NW 6th St, Gainesville, FL 32609 J.W. Freeman Plumbing – a full-service Gainesville plumbing company specializing in remodels, re-pipes and plumbing repairs – started in 2008 with just one truck and has grown to encompass eight trucks on the road that provide services to over 5,000 customers in the area.

FINALISTS: Quality Plumbing Scarborough Plumbing FAVORITE LOCAL PODCAST

THE SHORT MARKETING SHOW

Shortmediagroup.com Welcome to the Short Marketing Show, where Justin Short and Blaine Trowell get insights from business owners and everyday marketers that have experienced success in building credibility, driving sales, and creating awareness so that you can do the same.

FINALISTS: PodUp with Mathews in the Morning Ward Scott Files

FAVORITE LOCAL PRIVATE SCHOOL

H2OASIS CUSTOM POOL AND SPA LLC

1700 SW 75th St, Gainesville, FL 32607 For forty-eight years, Oak Hall School has been committed to providing students with a welcoming, diverse and supportive learning community that empowers students to pursue their academic, artistic and athletic passions.

FINALISTS: SFCA Cornerstone Academy FAVORITE LOCAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY

KNR PROPERTIES – KRISTEN RABELL

FAVORITE LOCAL PRESCHOOL

STEPPING STONES PRESCHOOL

OAK HALL SCHOOL

4000 NW 53rd Ave, Gainesville,

FL 32653 At Stepping Stones, their mission is to care for God’s children each step as they grow; provide a safe and caring environment; to nurture the development of children in a loving Christian atmosphere and to foster a family community that is big-hearted, spirit-led, Christ-minded and bound by love.

FINALISTS: Education Station & Preschool Abiding Savior Lutheran Preschool

5213 SW 91st Terrace, Suite A-1,

Gainesville, FL 32608 Setting the Standard in Gainesville property management, KNR Properties p r ovid es t he hig hes t s t a ndard o f pro fessional management and tenant placement services for investors and homeowners in Gainesville and they work hard to ensure your properties have the best marketing strategy, tenant s c r een in g , ma in t en a n c e and return o n you r in ves t men t .

FINALISTS: Contemporary Management Concepts, LLLP Golden Rule Real Estate Inc.

Creating New Futures For Homeless Women & Families

Our work would not be possible without support from our community.

Thank you for your ongoing support and compassion for those most in need!

St. Francis House, Inc. 413 South Main Street • (352)-378-9079

To donate or learn more visit: stfrancishousegnv.com JULY/AUGUST 2021

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FAVORITE LOCAL REALTOR

JENNIFER MELARAGNO

As a Gainesville native and a mother of two little boys, Jennifer Melaragno of Team Dynamo recognizes and values the trust her clients’ place in her and she strives every day to exceed their expectations.

FINALISTS: The Curlings Group Kurt Cetin FAVORITE LOCAL RESTORATION COMPANY

THE BEST RESTORATION & FLOOR CARE

7230 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32607 Trust The Best Restoration for all your carpet-cleaning, water-damage and restoration needs. Their core cleaning services consist of water cleanup, water extraction, flood-damage cleanup, mold remediation, carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, area rug cleaning, air duct cleaning and tile and grout cleaning services.

FINALISTS: SERVPRO of Gainesville West/Alachua Dreyer’s DKI FAVORITE LOCAL ROOFING COMPANY

ENERGY ROOFING COMPANIES GAINESVILLE

507 NW 60th St. Suite C, Gainesville, FL 32607 The Energy Roofing Companies team is dedicated to providing you with roofing excellence.

They are committed to constant improvement of best practices to assure the communities we service with industry leading roofing solutions that meet your budget.

FINALISTS: Worthmann Roofing Dave & Christy Goga Godwin Green Roofing FAVORITE LOCAL SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

OAK HAMMOCK

5100 SW 25th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32608 Oak Hammock at the University of Florida is 114 |

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a vibrant and energetic retirement community full of options, including events, classes and opportunities to establish friendships that will create the retirement of a lifetime.

FINALISTS: The Village at Gainesville The Windsor of Gainesville FAVORITE LOCAL SOLAR ENERGY COMPANY

ENLIGHT ENERGY

Enlight.energy/Gainesville EnLight.Energy can work closely with you to adopt solutions that drastically reduce your electric, gas or oil bill; renovate your home to eliminate those energy bills altogether or, if you’re in the market, guide you in buying or building a Zero Energy Home.

FINALISTS: Solar Impact Pure Energy Solar FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS COMMENTATOR OR COLUMNIST

SARA CARDONA

Mycbs4.com Sara Cardona was born in Colombia, South America, but moved to Nashville, TN, in the first grade. While earning her degree in broadcast journalism from Middle Tennessee State University, she was the sports reporter for the university sports show and interned at ABC’s News 2 and Fox 17 in Nashville.

FINALISTS: Shane Mathews Pat Dooley FAVORITE LOCAL TALK RADIO SHOW

BOB ROSE

Thesky973.radio.com Bob Rose is the host of the Bob Rose Show on 97.3 The Sky and has been called the Czar of Talk Radio in North Central Florida. His show takes an uncompromising look at local news and world events and how they impact Ocala and Gainesville.

FINALISTS: The Tailgate Inside the Huddle

FAVORITE LOCAL TAX PREPARER

MICHAEL SOLOMON

Michael Solomon is the lead accountant and owner of Accounting Personalized Inc. In 2012, he graduated from Elon University’s five-year accounting program in three and a half years. Upon graduation, he was accepted by the North Carolina CPA board as well as the AICPA to be a CPA candidate.

FINALISTS: Fiore Tax Services Federal Accountants & Tax FAVORITE LOCAL TREE REMOVAL COMPANY

DAUGHTRY TREE SERVICE

26106 NW 3rd Ave, Newberry, FL

32669 Daughtry Tree Service has been serving both residential and commercial clients in Alachua County and the surrounding areas since 2001.

Their business philosophy includes being fair and honest with their customers and going above and beyond their expectations while providing quality work.

FINALISTS: Florida Living Tree Services, Inc. True Cut Tree Service, Inc. FAVORITE LOCAL TV ANCHOR

DAVID SNYDER

Wcjb.com In a wide-ranging broadcast career spanning 30 years, several states, and too much fast food, David Snyder has reported on issues and events across the United States and around the world. Today, the Detroit native works as an evening co-anchor for WCJB’s 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts.

FINALISTS: Thomas Forester Paige Beck FAVORITE LOCAL VET CLINIC

ARCHER ANIMAL HOSPITAL

FINALISTS: 16105 SW Archer Road, Archer, FL 32618 Archer Animal Hospital is a full-service animal

hospital and provides routine services, medical, surgical and dental care as well as emergency care. Their veterinarians are experienced in all types of conditions and treatments. Beyond firstrate pet care, they make their clinic comfortable so your pet can relax.

FINALISTS: Jonesville Animal Hospital Suburban Animal Hospital FAVORITE LOCAL VIDEOGRAPHER

SHORT MEDIA GROUP

Shortmediagroup.com Short Media Group is a content creation company in Gainesville that focuses on providing clients with the perfect creative experience. Every business or individual has a powerful story to tell and they strive to capture each story in a unique way for others to share.

FINALISTS: SCAD Media LLC Digital Peak Productions FAVORITE LOCAL WINDOW COVERING

BUDGET BLINDS

BudgetBlinds.com/Gainesville If you’ve been thinking about transforming your home’s interior into something truly special, Budget Blinds of Gainesville is here to help.

Our expert design team takes our stunning blinds, shades, shutters, draperies, and more to create the ideal interior design that complements any room in your home or office.

FINALISTS:

Wrap Spot The Home Place FAVORITE MALE MEDIA PERSONALITY

LEWIS STOKES

937kcountry.com Lewis Stokes has been a radio DJ at 93.7 K-Country for over 27 years. Stokes was raised in north central Florida and Gator games have been a way of life since 1979. You can catch Stokes on 93.7 K-Country Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

FINALISTS: Storm Roberts Shane Mathews FAVORITE METEOROLOGIST

MIKE POTTER

Wcjb.com Mike Potter, a Key West native and meteorologist with WCJB, has been reporting the weather for the Gainesville-based station since 1992 – appearing on TV20’s Morning Edition and TV20 News at Noon. However, it’s not the first time he worked at WCJB; he was a Weekend Weather Anchor in 1984.

FINALISTS: Bill Quinlan TV20 AJ Willie WCJB

FAVORITE PROMOTIONAL PRODUCT COMPANY

HELLO BRANDING

101 SW 140th Terrace, Suite C Newberry, FL 32669 Hello Branding has hundreds of thousands of items that can be imprinted with your logo or message so you can promote your brand, business, event or cause. Whether you know exactly what you want or need inspiration, they’ve made it easy for you to find the perfect product.

FINALISTS: Bee Print and Design Proforma Premier Branding FAVORITE RADIO PERSONALITY

LEWIS STOKES

937kcountry.com Lewis Stokes is a midday announcer and production director with 93.7 K-Country.

Though he’s a Tallahassee native, he bleeds orange and blue and when he’s not reading, listening to country music or watching a UF game, you can hear him on 93.7 K-Country from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

FINALISTS: Storm Roberts Bob Rose FAVORITE RADIO STATION

97.3 THE SKY

3600 NW 43rd St. Suite B, Gainesville, FL 32606 The news that matters to you from local experts

Get Your Smile On

Creating beautiful smiles with Braces and Invisalign ® facebook.com/studio32ortho @studio32ortho Nicole Mullally, DMD MS • Julie Olsen, DMD MS 2222 NW 40th Terrace, Ste B • (352) 336-2222• www.studio32ortho.com

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and trusted sources, 97.3 The Sky is a news talk radio station serving the heart of Florida: Gainesville, Ocala and The Villages.

FINALISTS: 93.7 K-Country 98.5 KTK FAVORITE SANTA FE PROFESSOR

JOSEPH MOUSEL

Sfcollege.edu Joseph Mousel, who receives his Master’s in Science degree from the University of Montana, is a mathematics teacher and a member of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum Subcommittee at Santa Fe College.

FINALISTS: Lauren Poe Shawna Mansfield FAVORITE TV STATION FOR NEWS

WCJB TV20 / GAINESVILLE CW10

Wcjb.com WCJB-TV began operation in 1971 and continues to be the only locally produced newscast in the market. The news team prides itself on supporting and sponsoring many local charities and events throughout the market while also bringing viewers the most current and breaking news.

FINALISTS: CBS4 News WGFL-TV FAVORITE TV STATION FOR SPORTS

CBS4 NEWS

Mycbs4.com WGFL CBS4 and WNBW NBC 9 are the local news leaders for the Gainesville, Florida area. Their reporters cover news, sports, weather and local events beyond Gainesville, including Starke, Waldo, Hampton, Hawthorne, Micanopy, Archer, Bronson, Newberry, High Springs, Tioga, Alachua, Williston, and Ocala.

FINALISTS: WCJB TV20 / Gainesville CW10 WGFL-TV

FAVORITE TV STATION FOR WEATHER

WCJB TV20 / GAINESVILLE CW10

Wcjb.com Chief meteorologist Bill Quinlan, meteorologist Mike Potter and weekend meteorologist AJ Willy, bring WCJB TV20 viewers the latest in weather updates. If it’s a cool sunny day or an impending hurricane, WCJB TV20 is Our Town readers’ favorite weather station.

FINALISTS: CBS4 News FAVORITE UF PROFESSOR

DR. BEN WISE

History.ufl.edu Associate Professor Ben Wise is a historian of modern America and specializes in southern history; gender and sexuality and cultural history. He joined the History Department at UF as an Assistant Professor after teaching at Harvard University and holding a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

FINALISTS: Christina Ramos Stephen Adams

SHOPPING FAVORITE “BEST-KEPT SECRET” LOCAL RETAILER

COOTIE COO CREATIONS

23288 W US Highway 27, High

Springs, FL 32643 Cootie Coo Creations in High Springs is an eclectic shop featuring mixed media, classes, stamping, scrapbooking, card making, holiday crafts, arts supplies, art journaling and so much more. Let your creativity shine with Cootie Coo Creations, High Spring’s best kept secret.

FINALISTS: Plantstay Gator Goddess

FAVORITE LOCAL ANTIQUE STORE

RUSTIFIED ANTIQUES & MORE

112 W Noble Ave, Williston, FL

32696 Rustified Antiques & More in Williston has over 75 booths filled with numerous vendors selling boutique-style clothing, custom furniture, home decor, antiques and so much more.

FINALISTS: Hayes Jewelry LTD The AUK Market FAVORITE LOCAL ART GALLERY

GAINESVILLE ARTISANS’ GUILD GALLERY

Union Street Station, 201 SE 2nd Place, Suite 113, Gainesville, FL 32601 Established in 1970 to create a network and market for local artists, the Artisans’ Guild Gallery is among the oldest artist cooperatives in the country. Located in downtown Gainesville and open year-round, the gallery features hundreds of quality, handcrafted works with local flavor.

FINALISTS: Thornebrook Gallery Lanza Gallery & Art Supplies FAVORITE LOCAL AUDIO/VISUAL STORE

ELECTRONICS WORLD

1261 NW 76th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32606 Electronics World is your hometown resource for expert design, sales, installation and repair of audio, video, networking and control products and complete turnkey system solutions. They have extensive experience designing and installing sophisticated solutions that are simple to operate and can customize the project to fit your lifestyle and budget.

FINALISTS: Sound Ideas Best Buy FAVORITE LOCAL BICYCLE SHOP

SUPER COOL BIKE SHOP

3460 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32607 116 |

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Super Cool Bike Shop is Gainesville’s only authorized specialized bikes dealer. In addition to selling a full range of mountain bikes, road bikes and hybrids, they also have a full range of parts and accessories and an online shop featuring officially-licensed Gator cycling apparel.

FINALISTS: Goodbike Santa Fe Bicycle Outfitters

is a favorite among locals looking for a new car.

FINALISTS: Davis Gainesville Chevrolet BMW of Gainesville

FAVORITE LOCAL CLOTHING BOUTIQUE

FAVORITE LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIP (USED CAR)

FAVORITE LOCAL BRIDAL SHOP

310 NE 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL

32609 Southeast Car Agency is a family-owned and operated business that’s been in operation since 1979. For over 40 years, they’ve provided a commission free, no hassle alternative for buyers in search of clean, well-maintained, late model vehicles with a diverse inventory of cars, trucks, and vans.

FINALISTS: Gatorland Toyota Tomlinson Motor Company

2851 SW 35th Drive Suite 40,

Gainesville, FL 32608 Founded in 2020, Narcissus Gainesville has quickly risen to prominence – gaining a reputation as the go-to stop for all the latest fashion and designer wear in Gainesville. If you are looking for Tory Burch, L*Space, or any other of the hottest brands, look no further than Narcissus, Gainesville’s premier boutique.

FINALISTS: Malgorzata’s Madson’s Boutique

THE WEDDING CYCLE

2441 NW 43rd St. Suite 2-D, Gainesville, FL 32606 The Wedding Cycle offers pre-loved fantasy gowns on a real-life budget. Alisha Alsbrook, owner of the Wedding Cycle, has a background in event planning and in the wedding industry, giving her the ability to provide customers with the knowledge and information to help create the best event possible.

FINALISTS: Allure Bridal Boutique Alachua Flowers and Tuxedo Rentals FAVORITE LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIP (NEW CAR)

GATORLAND TOYOTA

2985 N Main St, Gainesville, FL 32609 Gainesville’s Gatorland Toyota dealership opened in 1994, just four years after Gettel Toyota of Bradenton, making them the second Gettel dealership to open. They’ve since grown to have 17 sister stores throughout Florida, but Gainesville’s location

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FAVORITE LOCAL CHILDREN’S STORE

WEECYCLE OF GAINESVILLE

1405 NW 23rd Ave, Gainesville, FL 32605 At Weecycle, they believe they can make a difference in the world. By recycling and reusing current kids gear, they are creating a sustainable lifestyle that everyone can be proud to be a part of.

FINALISTS: Just Between Friends Gainesville Suda’s FitFoot

NARCISSUS GAINESVILLE

FAVORITE LOCAL COMPUTER REPAIR SHOP

CW IT SOLUTIONS LLC

285 NW 138th Terrace, Suite 100, Newberry, FL CW IT Solutions LLC offers a variety of services to meet all of their clients’ technological needs including network support and maintenance; cloud service and data backup; server installation and maintenance and IT support.

FINALISTS: Crash Technicians Impact Computers

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FAVORITE LOCAL FLOWER SHOP

ALACHUA FLOWERS AND TUXEDO RENTALS

14520 Main St, Alachua, FL 32615 Alachua Flowers and Tuxedo Rentals creates breathtaking floral arrangements made with quality flowers crafted by experienced designers. They also thrive during prom season with tuxedo rentals and custom-made corsages and boutonnières created to match even the most exotic dress colors.

FINALISTS: Crevasse’s Florist The Plant Shoppe Florist FAVORITE LOCAL FURNITURE STORE

FURNITURE COUNTRY

2330 NW 13th St, Gainesville, FL 32609 Since 1984, it’s been Furniture Country’s mission to deliver quality products, beautiful designs, and top-notch customer service to their community.

They’ve built relationships with all the top brands in the furniture and mattress industry so they can give you the best deals on everything you need for your home.

FINALISTS: Furniture Country Walker Furniture Planned Furnishings FAVORITE LOCAL GIFT SHOP

BOOK GALLERY WEST

4121 NW 16th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32605 Book Gallery West was established in 1983 with one mission: to bring an independent locally owned unique bookstore to the Gainesville area.

Their passion for new and used books continues to drive them each and every day and they pride themselves on offering an inviting, friendly shopping experience.

FINALISTS: Gator Goddess The AUK Market FAVORITE LOCAL GROCERY STORE

WARD’S SUPERMARKET

515 NW 23rd Ave, Gainesville, FL 32609

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Ward’s Supermarket is the only locally-owned and operated grocery store in Gainesville. Their family has been committed to providing the best selection, quality, and prices for more than 50 years and offer a bountiful array of fresh local produce, seafood, meat, baked goods, beer, wine and more.

FINALISTS: La Aurora Latin Market Publix Supermarket at Millhopper Shopping Center FAVORITE LOCAL HARDWARE STORE

MILLHOPPER ACE HARDWARE

5200 NW 43rd St. Suite 203,

Gainesville, FL 32606 Millhopper Ace Hardware opened in Hunters Crossing Shopping Center in 2011, offering customers personal service, quality products and a convenient experience. Store manager Adam Wilkinson has been with the location since the beginning and if you come often enough you’ll get to know Leo the resident feline.

FINALISTS: Jonesville Ace Hardware Lowes Home Improvement FAVORITE LOCAL HOME DECOR STORE

SISSET’S...A FUN TWIST ON HOME & PATIO

3429 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32607 Sisset’s specializes in designer garden, home and patio furniture and accessories like replacement cushions; fountains; birdbaths; indoor/outdoor rugs; mailbox covers and accessories; potted silk trees and flowers; statues and much more.

Their extensive collection is ever-changing, so stop in often because Sisset’s is never the same store twice.

FINALISTS: Haile Kitchen & Bath LLC Unique Notions..An Eclectic Market FAVORITE LOCAL HOME THEATRE DESIGNER

ELECTRONICS WORLD

1261 NW 76th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32606

Electronics World is your hometown resource for expert design, sales, installation and repair of audio, video, networking and control products and complete turnkey system solutions.

Their interactive showroom features the latest in audio/video and home automation electronics.

FAVORITE LOCAL JEWELRY STORE

HAYES JEWELRY LTD

5753 SW 75th St, Gainesville, FL 32608 Hayes Jewelry is a full-service jewelry store that’s been in business for 36 years. They can do any repair or sizing to your jewelry and can make custom jewelry designs. They also have a wide and unique selection of jewelry available in their store.

FINALISTS: Intuitive Design Clothing Lang Jewelry FAVORITE LOCAL LIQUOR STORE

CRAFTY BASTARDS RESTAURANT & CRAFT BEER BOTTLE SHOPPE

With up to 750 varieties of craft beer, a growing wine section, competitive prices and service like no other, you’ll enjoy tapping a single while you mingle.

FINALISTS: Dorn’s Liquors & Wine Warehouse Tipples Brews & Wine FAVORITE LOCAL MEN’S CLOTHING

JOHN ISAACS CLOTHING

Facebook.com/John-Isaacs-Clothing John Isaac’s Men’s Clothing is owned and operated by John Mitchell. The company specializes in dressing you for success.

Whether it’s for the golf course, casual, business casual, executive attire, formal wear or fully custom, they bring the store to you.

FINALISTS: The How Bazar Boot Barn Dillard’s

FAVORITE LOCAL MUSIC STORE (ALBUMS)

HOGGTOWNE MUSIC

5200 NW 43rd St. Suite 503, Gainesville, FL 32606 Hoggtowne Music, owned by Joe and Melonie Dorsey, is committed to offering their customers the best selection of instruments. With over 20 years of experience, they’re ready to service all your musical needs.

FINALISTS: Hear Again Records FAVORITE LOCAL MUSIC STORE (INSTRUMENTS)

MUSIC JUNCTION

14515 Main St, Alachua, FL 32615 Music Junction Founders Charissa and Bob are committed to spreading a love for music with everyone they meet. Charissa, whose mom was a music teacher while she was growing up, has been teaching music lessons for over a decade. Today, Music Junction has over 17 talented music teachers.

FINALISTS: Hoggtowne Music FAVORITE LOCAL NEW OR USED BOOK STORE

BOOK GALLERY WEST

4121 NW 16th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32605 Book Gallery West started in 1983 on main street as a textbook store, but over time the original

owner decided to open a second location that offered books other than textbooks. The second location, on the west side of town, became Book Gallery West and eventually replaced the parent store.

FINALISTS: Third House Books 2nd & Charles Gainesville FAVORITE LOCAL PAWN SHOP

HAILE JEWELRY AND LOANS

9116 SW 51st Road, A-102, Gainesville, FL 32608 Haile Jewelry and Loans, a beautiful pawn boutique in Gainesville, buys, sells and offers loans against luxury assets as collateral, jewelry and watch repair, custom engagement and more. Their inventory includes the best prices on diamonds, estate jewelry, fine watches and designer handbags.

FAVORITE LOCAL PHONE REPAIR SHOP

BATTERIES PLUS BULBS

3318 SW 35th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32608 Our phones keep us connected to friends, family, work, news, social networks, scheduling and more. Not only can they repair cracked screens and replace lagging batteries, but Batteries Plus Bulbs can also diagnose and fix broken buttons and cameras at a reasonable cost backed by a nationwide warranty.

FINALISTS: Orange Phone Care FAVORITE LOCAL RESALE/ CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE

SANDY’S SAVVY CHIC RESALE BOUTIQUE

4148 NW 13th St, Gainesville, FL

32609 The Sandy’s team is passionate about resale and providing an affordable shopping alternative to Gainesville residents and surrounding communities. They are proud to be part of Gainesville’s long history, supported by small businesses and giving material items a second life.

FINALISTS: Valerie’s Loft Consignment Boutique Just Between Friends Gainesville FAVORITE LOCAL STORE (OVERALL)

COOTIE COO CREATIONS

23288 W US Highway 27, High

Springs, FL 32643 Located in the beautiful downtown High Springs, Cootie Coo Creations – home of KantorKards Rubberstamps – features supplies for your next card making, stamping, mixed media and scrapbooking project and also hosts classes in stamping, mixed media and fine art.

FINALISTS: Plantstay Gator Goddess

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FAVORITE LOCAL THRIFT STORE

GRACEWORKS

25575 W US Highway 27, High Springs, FL 32643 Graceworks is a thrift shop and outreach ministry of the Seventh Day Adventist Church based in High Springs. Formed in 2003, they’ve become Our Town voters’ favorite thrift shop.

FINALISTS: Sandy’s Savvy Chic Resale Boutique Humane Society of North Central Florida FAVORITE LOCAL TUXEDO SHOP

ALACHUA FLOWERS AND TUXEDO RENTALS

14520 Main St, Alachua, FL 32615 Weddings, proms or homecomings, whatever formal occasion you need a tuxedo for, Alachua Flowers and Tuxedo Rentals has you covered and even offer name brands like Michael Kors available for all shapes and sizes.

FINALISTS: Allure Bridal Boutique Looking Good

FAVORITE LOCAL WOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE

DOWN TO EARTH

13005 SW 1st Road Suite 123, Newberry, FL 32669 Located in Tioga Town Center, Down to Earth Boutique offers everything from women’s apparel, jewelry and shoes to home furnishings, gifts and candles – a selection that’s given them the title of favorite women’s clothing store.

FINALISTS: Ilene’s Gator Store Narcissus Gainesville FAVORITE MOTORCYLE SHOP

GAINESVILLE HARLEY-DAVIDSON

FAVORITE SHOPPING DISTRICT

TIOGA TOWN CENTER

133 SW 130th Way, Newberry, FL 32669 Tioga Town Center is an invigorating mix of living, shopping, working and dining with numerous retail stores and restaurants. This modern, award-winning shopping area also plays host to many local events. Movies on the Square and the Summer Concert Series invites families and guests of all ages to enjoy local, outdoor entertainment at the beautiful covered amphitheater.

FINALISTS: Thornebrook Village Celebration Pointe

4125 NW 97th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32606 Gainesville Harley-Davidson is a family-owned and operated dealership formed in 1993 by Ray and Gail Lytle. After moving to its current location in 1995, with continued dedication to customer satisfaction the dealership grew in 2003 and again in 2015 with the addition of a pre-owned showroom and dyno tuning room.

THANK YOU FOR VOTING!

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BOOK REVIEW

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER’S

Reading Corner

COME FLY THE WORLD: THE JET-AGE STORY OF THE WOMEN OF PAN AM written by Julia Cooke C.2021, HMH BOOKS $28.00 / HIGHER IN CANADA 288 PAGES

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. HER BOOK REVIEWS ARE PUBLISHED IN MORE THAN 200 NEWSPAPERS AND 50 MAGAZINES THROUGHOUT THE U.S. AND CANADA. bookwormsez@yahoo.com

TABLE TRAYS IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. You aren’t getting off the tarmac until that happens. Also, pay attention: there are lights down the aisle along the floor, and exits above each wing. Masks will drop down, in case of loss of oxygen; put your mask on before assisting others. In “Come Fly the World” by Julia Cooke, you’re in for a trip back in time.

Lynne Totten had a biology degree, but she saw the future and it wasn’t good.

It was the mid-1960s and women with a degree like hers might work as an assistant or a teacher, but never as someone in charge of a laboratory.

As a voracious newspaper reader, though, Lynne eventually realized that there was “a whole world out there” that she could explore and get paid for it. She set aside biology and became a stewardess.

Karen Walker was an experienced traveler when she signed up to work at Pan Am at the advanced age of twenty-six, which was at the top of the age-limit for stewardesses; they also had height limits and regular weigh-ins, regulation hair styles, and mandatory attendance at make-up classes in stewardess school in Miami. Foremost, stewardesses at Pan Am and most other airlines then were required to be unmarried.

Hazel Bowie of Mankato, Minnesota, took advantage of new airline rules: as a Black woman, Pan Am’s reach for diversity fit her career goals. Clare Christiansen had volunteered for duty on a shuttle service to and from Vietnam that Pan Am 122 |

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offered through the U.S. Government; such assignments were another step on a carefully-planned career ladder. Torild “Tori” Werner, who grew up in Oslo, Norway, likewise set her sights on management but first, she also volunteered for similar shuttle duty for U.S. soldiers arriving and departing from Vietnam.

And in the spring of 1975, three of these women went to Vietnam for one final time.

If you separate “Come Fly the World” into two different camps—which may be difficult, since the book as a whole is pretty excellent— you’ll see that there really are two parts to it: the story of five women at Pan Am, and the story of women in the 1960s.

On one hand, author Julia Cooke tells the tales of Lynne, Karen, Clare, Tori, and Hazel, why they decided to become stewardesses (a word that fits the timeframe) and what their experiences were on the job. In addition to those anecdotes, most of Cooke’s subjects seized adventure and cheap off-duty travel, which also gives this book a hint of travelogue but with less romance and more practicality. Then there’s the trip back to the years 1965 to 1975, the crazy music; the wild clothes; and the lawsuits brought to give women the right to get a credit card, hold a job while married, and to work while pregnant.

Be aware that there’s no “Coffee, Tea, or Me?” in this book; instead, it’s Mad Men meets a glass ceiling, and destroys it. So grab “Come Fly the World” and buckle in.

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PHOTO ESSAY >> HS SPORTS OF THE PAST

PICTURE THE PAST

Let’s Go Team!

High School Sports Teams of Alachua County’s Past P H O T O G R A P H C O M P I L AT I O N B Y J O A N N A G R E Y TA L B O T

W

hether you were an athlete or a s p e c t a t o r, sports have always been a big part of everyone’s high school experience. A few of these schools exist only in the memories of the students, all the uniforms and equipment have been updated, and some of the rules of the game have changed, but sports such as football, tennis, and basketball are still just as important to the students of Alachua County today.

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L

incoln High School opened in 1923 and the very first football team, pictured here, won the state championship for Black schools. From 1933-1969, the team had a record of 297 wins, 24 losses, and 19 ties under head coaches T.B. McPherson and Jessie Heard.

Courtesy of the Alachua County Library District.

1920

T

he Gainesville High School football team of 1920 attended school at the combined elementary-secondary school called the Gainesville Graded & High School. That building now serves as the Alachua County Public Schools District Office. Back Row: Rex Farrior, Julian Ballentine, Donald Bishop, Andrew Ludwig, Gardner Welch, John A. H. Murphree, Ed Swearingen, Mondell Cellon, Carlos Zetrouer, Professor F. W. Buchholz. Front row: Joe Perry, Devoux Vrooman, Ralph Eads, Philip Vrooman, Erskin Parks, Rutledge Emmerson, Clifford Blitch, Barco Bishop, Hayward Davis. Talmadge Vansickel is sitting on the ground in the front. Courtesy of the Alachua County Library District.

T

he 1939 Gainesville High School football team, known as the “Hurricanes.” Photo by Elmer Harvey Bone. Courtesy of the Matheson History Museum.

1916

G

ainesville High School basketball players in 1916.

Courtesy of the Matheson History Museum.

1914

G

ainesville High School women’s basketball team in 1914.

Courtesy of the Matheson History Museum.

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PHOTO ESSAY >> HS SPORTS OF THE PAST

T

he Tebeau Boarding and Day School was founded in 1873 in Gainesville by Miss Margaret Tebeau.

She allowed only female boarders but both boys and girls were enrolled in the day school. Pictured here are Tebeau students playing tennis on the school courts. Although it was not considered feminine to be competitive, many young women were enjoying tennis by the end of the 19th century. The school was located where the Alachua County Criminal Justice Center is today. Courtesy of the State Library & Archives of Florida.

T

he 1927 Newberry High School women’s basketball team.

Courtesy of the State Library & Archives of Florida.

T

his undated photo shows the P. K. Yonge Laboratory School’s football team, known as the “Blue Wave.” P.K. Yonge opened on the campus of the University of Florida in 1934 as both a laboratory school and a department of the College of Education. The school was originally located in Norman Hall, but a new campus was built in 1958.

Courtesy of the Alachua County Library District.

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he High Springs High School football team, seen here in this undated photo, were known as the “Sandspurs.” High Springs High School was opened in 1902 and a second, larger building was constructed in 1917. The school consolidated with Alachua High School to become Santa Fe High School in 1956. Courtesy of the Alachua County Library District.

T

PHOTO ESSAY >> HS SPORTS OF THE PAST

T

he Lincoln High School marching band, cheerleaders, and majorettes were always a highlight of the University of Florida Homecoming parade, such as the 1947 parade pictured here. Courtesy of the A. Quinn Jones Collection, UF’s Smathers Libraries.

he 1903 East Florida Seminary women’s basketball team.

Courtesy of the Matheson History Museum.

T T

he 1939 Hawthorne High School basketball team known as the “Hornets.”

Courtesy of the State Library & Archives of Florida.

he East Florida Seminary was established by the state in 1853. It was located in Ocala from 1853-1861, closed during the Civil War, and then re-opened in Gainesville in 1866. It operated as the main public school for white students in the county until it was absorbed into the University of Florida in 1905.

Pictured here is the 1902 East Florida Seminary football team. Courtesy of the Matheson History Museum.

Sources: Alachua County Library Heritage Collection, pkyonge.ufl.edu, sbac.edu, Santa Fe High School (Florida), East Florida Seminary.

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PILATES INSTRUCTOR >> YVETTE TURNER

CORE STRENGTH

Pilates Passion Instructor Yvette Turner Practices What She Teaches W R I T T E N B Y A L E X A S A U VA G E R E P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y M I C H A E L E A D DY

O

n e a f t e r n o o n, Yv et t e Turner sported her racquet and picked up a game of tennis—a sport she’s been playing for years. The year was 2007, and Turner was no stranger to athletics. Her competitive spirit came alive during the match. While at the back of the court, the young girl she played against hit a little drop shot. Without any hesitation, Turner lunged...and then tripped.

She couldn’t move her foot. Still able to wiggle her toes, she assumed she simply sprained her ankle.

But the pain was delayed; minutes later, it hit her harder than a tsunami crashing onto shore. She had torn her Achilles tendon.

Turner had to undergo surgery, wear a boot for about six months and then endure physical rehabilitation. Again, her competitive nature came to life like a spark igniting against a rock. Not only did she want to restore her health, but she wanted to get into better shape than before. Frustration coursed its way through her as she struggled to go back to

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her accelerated lifestyle. She couldn’t run, walk or do any of the activities that she loved because of the amount of movement required in them. Instead, she had to learn to do the little things. Then one day, her mother suggested she try Pilates, and Turner never looked back.

“I love [Pilates]” Turner said. “I love the way it makes me feel. I love the way it helps my body.”

Born and raised in Robersonville, North Carolina, Turner grew up with an active lifestyle. She joked how back in the days when there would only be one television in a home, the kids watched whatever their father had on. So when her father would watch sports, she would sit right by his side and watch along with him. Fitness ran through the family. Her father had played basketball. Her sister had played basketball and softball. And Turner, herself, had played a myriad of sports throughout her youth, including basketball, tennis, swimming, track, and racquetball. In college, she would workout, run, and play intercollegiate sports.

The love for athleticism didn’t diminish after

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PILATES INSTRUCTOR >> YVETTE TURNER

Yvette Turner and her husband David Turner have two daughters, Alexyia (left), 24, and Bianca (right), 34. Both daughters played sports, and David coaches college football. “There was always something going on in the Turner household,” David said. (Photo courtesy of the Turner family.)

her time at North Carolina State University. Once she finished her undergraduate degree, she began to teach dance aerobics and continued to lead classes while she pursued her master’s in counseling education. She met her husband, David Turner, right before graduate school. He served as a graduate assistant for the football team at the time; he then became a college football coach, now serving as an assistant coach for the University of Florida football team.

The two later married and had two daughters, Bianca and Alexyia.

The busy Turner household always had some event happening in their fast-paced world. Every two to three years, the family would move to a different state for David’s football career. Bianca played basketball, volleyball and softball growing up, while Alexyia took a liking to soccer. Between traveling for the girls’ sporting meets or heading to the college football games, weekends were hardly ever free. There was never a dull moment, David said. While managing the bustling schedule and shuffling the girls around, Turner would try to squeeze in a walk, run or workout whenever she could.

“Who knows what life would be like without wellness and fitness?” she said. “I don’t think I want to know.”

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When Turner took on her mother’s recommendation and tried Pilates, she found her passion. Pilates is a full-body exercise that strengthens the smaller muscles on the body to better help facilitate the movement of larger muscles. When people go to the gym, they target main areas like the hamstring, glutes, chest, or biceps; when people partake in Pilates, they focus on joints and tendons that don’t get as much attention. Turner loves a famous quote by Joseph Pilates (the German physicist credited as the founder): “You are only as young as your spine is flexible.”

Each Pilates class will work the spine in all directions, reinforcing one’s vitality.

Turner received her Pilates certification from Pilates Academy International in 2014.

Two years later, she coupled it with a yoga certification from Om Grown Yoga in College Station, Texas. Turner first joined Club Pilates while she lived in Texas but then had to relocate to Florida for her husband’s job. Fortunately for her, a location was opening in Gainesville. She met with the owner long before moving, so when she finally settled into town in May of 2019, she already had plans of joining as an instructor.

“I loved it, but it was a lot at first,” Turner said.

PILATES INSTRUCTOR >> YVETTE TURNER

Turner bustles with pride when she sees her clients grow. “I thank them a lot for letting me be a part of their journey because I know what it’s like to have people in your community to cheer you on and to encourage you,” Turner said.

At the inception of Club Pilates in Haile Plantation, there were only three instructors to split the 60-plus class load. Turner and the other two instructors worked over 20 hours a week in classes. Luckily now, there are more instructors, which allows Turner to teach between 12 to 16 classes a week. Despite the heavy workload at the beginning, her passion for the exercise permeated through her work. Turner enjoys the Club Pilates’ flow of classes, and she appreciates how the company makes Pilates more accessible. She also admires how the company continually trains instructors and how it is client driven.

Pilates’ foundation sits on six core principles: concentration, control, centering, flow, precision and breathing. The physical fitness system incorporates a plethora of apparatuses—which Turner likes to call “her toys”—to build on all principles, including the reformer, Pilates chair, Bosu ball, Pilates ring, resistance bands and foam roller. During her classes, Turner demonstrates each exercise, then walks around the room to observe everyone’s efforts and progress.

“I love to see their reaction, and I love to see their growth,” Turner said. “I get so excited. I love helping others improve their healthier lifestyle. That has always been my goal.”

Each class starts with footwork, as Joseph Pilates believed in reflexology and blood flowing from the feet to the rest of the body—however, none of Turner’s classes are ever the same.

She aims to work the muscles in different ways by utilizing the many apparatuses at her disposal. Though all classes target the same critical areas, she switches up the exercises.

Even better, she offers modifications to the exercises and allows time to get the movements right.

Turner likes to remind her students that Pilates is for everyone and for every body. In tandem with that, she emphasizes how everyone has a different body; her clients should

not focus on the person exercising next to them, but rather on their own capabilities. She has had struggles with weight, injuries, and not being able to do some of the things she once could. Turner empathizes with her clients’ frustrations and experiences. Because of that, she has a favorite saying she repeats to them: “It isn’t about perfection, it’s about progression.” When her clients achieve a goal or finally master an exercise, she beams with pride for them like a mother who just saw her child walk for the first time. Constantly challenging them and offering help, she rejoices in these special moments with them.

“You see Pilates teachers who go through the motions, but she actually lives the life,” said Sylvia Fletcher, a fellow Pilates instructor who became fast friends with Turner.

“That’s what I love about her.”

The two make it a routine to go on walks at the same time and talk on the phone together. Fletcher feels Turner keeps her on her toes and admires Turner’s different teaching style and Pilates outlook. She’s always reaching for the next step, Fletcher said. They built their relationship on their passion for health and wellness, but Turner invites that sphere into every avenue of her life.

She goes on walks and bike rides with her husband. She does private classes on nutrition and better eating habits, with the goal of becoming a certified health coach. And she even created a healthy lifestyle program for her and her friends, losing over 60 pounds herself. Now don’t get her wrong, as she still gets a hankering for jellybeans and loves to eat, but she also understands the importance of moderation, accountability and true wellness. In her sixties, Turner said she feels better than she ever did in her thirties, forties, or fifties. Now that’s vitality!

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SPORTS ORIGINS >> HISTORY OF THE OLYMPICS

ANCIENT ROOTS

It’s Greek to Me The History of the Olympics W RIT TE N BY ERICK A WINTER ROW D

V

iewers from around the world are captivated by the intensity of the Olympics. After various countries make bids to host the iconic games a city is chosen. Opening ceremonies always display the massive arenas and installations that have been built specifically for the monumental event. It seems that everything about the games is so big and modern, when in actuality its entire history is not—well, perhaps for its time it was.

The games are full of rich history, stemming from ancient Olympia in Greece. And there are layers upon layers of historical research that continue to bring us closer to understanding the beginnings of this supreme competition.

Dr. Gonda Van Steen was a Classics professor in Greek studies at the University of Florida, currently she is the Koraes 132 |

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The Discobolus of Myron is a Greek sculpture depicting a youthful male athlete throwing discus. The sculpture was completed at the start of the Classical period at around 460 - 450 BC.

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Chair of Modern Greek and Byzantine History, Language and Literature at King’s College London. Van Steen has dedicated her life to understanding the history of both ancient and modern day Greece.

“I just love to see the connections,” Van Steen said.

She explained that the very beginnings of the Olympics are somewhat clouded in mystery, but the games seem to have brought all of the Greeks together who otherwise would have been divided in their city-states.

“For an effort like this, they all came together,” Van Steen said.

The starting date of the Olympics is typically said to be 776 B.C., and it took place in the Valley of Olympia. Van Steen said there is no historical reference for the precise reason for choosing Olympia as the hosting site for the games, but researchers have a theory for this choice.

“The facilities were there,” Van Steen said. “And there was the temple dedicated to the gods.”

The reasoning behind the Greeks wanting to compete, however, was not just to honor Zeus.

“Competition is a very natural drive,” Van Steen said. “You want to show that you excel at something by measuring yourself with other people.”

She explained that victors were awarded laurel crowns or vases instead of medals like the Olympics today. However, the true reward was one that wasn’t tangible.

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Van Steen said. “The honor that you took away, for your family and for your city.”

Hymns were even composed for the champions, and as much as it was important to be known as the winner, in the same measure it was damaging to get caught cheating or to be known as a cheater.

“Cheating existed too,” Van Steen said. “[The games] were all about honor or dishonor.”

In ancient times the participants of the Olympics would have been adult male Greek citizens. Women and slaves were not allowed to compete. As time passed and the games grew, Roman Emperor Nero became interested in being a part of the competition. And, as Van Steen explained, “you can’t say no to Emperor Nero, so what do you do?”

As the story goes, not only did they have to let him participate, but they also had to let him win—making it look as if he had really earned the victory.

“And it kind of indicates that there’s no such thing as the pure ancient model in modern day corruption,” Van Steen said.

“Sell-outs existed back then, as well…it’s all very recognizable today.”

Women were not even allowed to watch the games, mainly because for most events the athletes competed in the nude.

“They would be naked in [any event] that would require you to basically move fast and not give your opponent a grip,” Van Steen said, such as wrestling. “[The wrestlers] would also cover themselves with olive oil so that you would be slippery and your

SPORTS ORIGINS >> HISTORY OF THE OLYMPICS

was reserved for a grand communal banquet. The altar for Zeus opponent would not so easily get a grip on you.”

She said that nowadays practicing a sport without wearing was a cone-shaped mound built up from the ash of the sacrifices. clothing would be a big deal, but to the ancient Greeks this was The ash was mixed with water from the nearby river Alpheios, and then pasted onto the previous ash. Eventually the altar the normal way they had been practicing all along.

“In fact, in the word ‘gymnasium’ or when we say, ‘I’m going reached some 22 feet in height.

The decline of the ancient games began after to the gym,’ the gym part of gymnasium actually Rome conquered Greece. During the 4th century means naked,” Van Steen said. “A gymnasium is A.D., when Christianity was part of the structure of the place where you practice in the nude to get the Empire, the Emperor Theodosius thought the better at your sport.”

Olympics were too much of a Pagan festival and The four-year period associated with the that it was too representative of the non-ChrisOlympic games of ancient Greece is known as tian religions. The Olympic institution was done an Olympiad. Van Steen said that it would also away with until 1896, when the games were reinbecome a measure of establishing chronology, stated and became known as the first modern day blocks of four years at a time.

Olympics. That year they were brought back to “It would have been a huge effort for people to Greece and held in Athens, and ever since then organize, to travel and practice,” she said. “So my GONDA VAN STEEN they have been on a four-year schedule (before sense is that every four years is probably as much COVID-19, of course). as was feasible.”

Van Steen said there were other games and competitions The 2004 games, which were held in Athens, honored their Greek roots by awarding the winners with both the ancient ritual that would happen in-between each Olympics as well, so any of laurel wreaths and the modern day ritual of medals. shorter time period would not have been viable.

Huge sacrifices honoring the gods would also take place According to olympic.org, at the first Olympic games of the at the games. According to bbc.com, there were hundreds of modern era, the winner was crowned with an olive wreath and received a silver medal. James B. Connolly of Massachusetts altars at Olympia, with the most remarkable being the Great Altar of Zeus. One hundred oxen were sacrificed to the god at was the first modern Olympic champion to be awarded this. The each Olympic festival. During the sacrifice, only the thighs of 1904 games in St. Louis were the first in which gold, silver and the oxen were burned in the name of Zeus, the rest of the meat bronze medals were awarded for first, second and third place.

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A portion of the painting titled: “Crowning the Victors at Olympia,” by James Barry (1792). In the chariot to the left rides Hiero of Syracuse, the winner of the chariot race, with Pindar walking beside him playing his lyre. The victor of the horse race appears next on his rearing steed.

With the exception of the medals for the 1956 equestrian events, the medals for the games became standardized starting in 1928.

The website states that on one side of the medal there was the traditional design of the goddess of victory holding a palm in her left hand, and a winner’s crown in her right hand. The image of an Olympic champion being carried triumphantly by the crowd, with a stadium in the background, was on the other side.

Van Steen said that the difference between medals does have monetary value, but it’s also symbolic.

“Gold has always been perceived to have more value than silver,” Van Steen said. “And the monetary value may or may not be a whole lot more, but symbolically gold ranks above silver in a way that you could be a gold member with an airline and outrank the silver member.”

Van Steen said one of her favorite events to watch during the Olympics is the marathon, but it was not part of the ancient Olympics. Instituted as a new element in the modern Olympics it was actually named after the city of Marathon in Greece.

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B.C., one of the battles took place at Marathon and the Greeks won.

“The messenger ran all the way to Athens,” she said. “He was running the marathon without it being called the marathon yet. And then he announced, ‘we have won,’ and then he collapsed.”

As the story goes, the messenger died, and a running event known as the marathon was named in his honor.

In ancient times, Van Steen said, other events would have included horseback riding and discus throwing. Chariot racing was popular in later years, and was part of the reason Emperor Nero was attracted to the games.

“In comparison to today’s Olympic competitions there wouldn’t have been anything like it,” she said.

O n e o f Va n S t e e n ’s favorite things about teaching the Classics to her students is being able to compare the old with the new, and finding the commonality between times.

“There’s just so much that we think of as entirely new that is just so rich with history from ancient times,” she said. “And I love explaining that.”

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GATOR ATHLETES >> THE BATES FAMILY

GREAT BATES

GATOR BATES

A Family of Athletes W R I T T E N B Y H AY L I Z U CCO L A

As the son of an NFL coach and a P.E. teacher, James Bates was destined to be an athlete, but his decision to play football for the Florida Gators proved to be life changing.

On January 2, 1997, Bates—who was a senior at the University of Florida and served as team captain and middle linebacker for the Florida Gators—ended his college football career on a high note by helping lead the team to victory against their in-state rivals, the Seminoles, to become the 1996 National Champions.

His days in the Swamp culminated in him being a part of four SEC championship teams, attaining All-SEC status and getting inducted into the Florida/Georgia Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

Like other players on the gridiron, Bates experienced the pursuit of other sports, but football was his passion. Much to the opposition of his father, who suggested he be a quarterback, Bates knew early on that he wanted to be a linebacker.

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“I wanted to be the guy that hits people rather than the guy that’s getting hit,” he said.

“When I was in junior high, I was in Texas, and right up the road at the University of Oklahoma, there was a linebacker named Brian Bosworth and he was just the coolest thing in the world to me,” Bates recalled.

After high school graduation, Bates, who was living in Tennessee at the time, chose to bleed orange and blue—heading to UF despite having no prior connection to the Sunshine State.

Instead of attending the alma mater of his longtime football hero “The Boz,” or other university prospects he had prior ties to, Bates set out to join Gator Nation, and his legacy continues.

“I made a lot of dumb decisions when I was younger,” he said, “but at least I can say that like the most important decision of my life was the right decision.”

GATOR ATHLETES >> THE BATES FAMILY

From June 13 to June 20, Talia Bates competed in six events during Wave II of the 2021 Olympic swim trials in Omaha (bottom right).

Though she went to trials excelling at the 200-meter freestyle, her best event of the week was the 100meter backstroke. After coming in at number 16 with a time of 1:01.02, Bates made it to semifinals where she swam the race in 1:00.57, which put her in the number 12 slot.

Further, it was a choice that drove him to meet his future wife, Tina, who was an All-American swimmer during her time at UF and was named the 2016 National High School Coaches Association’s National High School Girls’ Swimming Coach of the Year while overseeing the F. W. Buchholz High School swim team.

The couple’s shared affection for sports turned out to be hereditary, as all three of their children were pulled in a similar direction.

Their oldest, Jake, was a swimmer and baseball player in high school and is currently a senior at UNF, a fishing charter captain in northeast Florida and was recently featured in a short film by Under Armour Fish. Their youngest, Georgia, was previously named a TV20 Meldon Law Scholar Athlete and has since committed to swim with UF in the fall. Their middle child, Talia, is entering her junior year on the UF swim team as an All-American swimmer and a qualifier for six events in this year’s Olympic trials.

“I feel so lucky to have kids that are just passionate about something. They didn’t have to play football, it didn’t have to necessarily be a sport, we just wanted them to be a part of a team and to feel failure and to feel success and to see what hard work does,” Bates said. “There’s just something to be said about that—it’s how we grow, and Tina and I certainly learned that growing up. It was very important to us that our kids took part in some sort of activity and decided what they wanted to do and went after it full throttle...they approach everything with so much vigor and passion and just so much heart.”

Over the years, Bates has gotten to witness those passions

flourish—especially in regard to swimming: the sport that captured the attention of his wife and their kids, including the Olympic-trial-bound Talia.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the hardest-working athletes on any college campus are swimmers—period—and it’s not even close,” he said. “I played with guys that were the elite athletes. The guys that played in the NFL for many years and guys that won many awards and played with a Heisman Trophy winner, but Talia is the hardest worker I think that I’ve ever been around and I’m not just saying that because she’s my kid, she just enjoys the grind of it all.”

While growing up, Talia Bates tried her hand in a variety of sports including baseball, tee-ball, tennis, track, soccer, softball, and basketball, but for her, swimming came naturally, and rightly so, as she’s already caught up to her mom’s record as a three-time All-American.

“She’s like my role model, and it just kind of makes me really happy to try to accomplish what she accomplished too,” Talia Bates said.

While it may have been a natural fit, swimming competitively is by no means an easy task.

“Swimming is a pretty grueling sport training-wise,” she said. “A lot of people don’t realize it but we have like 20 or more hours of just swimming a week, and then we also have three weight sessions a week, which are an hour and a half each, and then we have two dry-land sessions, which is on-land strength and conditioning.”

In reality, swimming is more than a sport; it’s a lifestyle, and every four years—apart from last year’s cancellation—dedicated JULY/AUGUST 2021

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athletes (like Talia) get the chance to go for the gold.

“Growing up, watching the Olympics, that has always been a dream of mine and seeing all these kids that grew up training in Gainesville, seeing these older kids going to trials and all their pictures and videos, watching them on TV and everything, it’s been great to have them to look up to,” she said.

After a successful spring season that included finishing second in the 200-freestyle event at the NCAA Championships, which placed her at number 2 on UF’s all-time best list, Talia qualified to swim alongside the best of the best in six different events at this year’s Olympic trials: the 50-, 100-, and 200-meter freestyle; the 100- and 200-meter backstroke and the 100-meter butterfly.

“I’m very thankful to be a part of the University of Florida, and I really don’t think that there’s a better place than Florida and just to be a Gator,” she said. “I’m so proud of that and it’s one of the coolest things in the world to me.”

“Going to trials, representing the University of Florida under Coach Anthony Nesty—our new head coach—I think that that’s just, it’s as good as it gets for me.”

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SPORTS COMPLEX >> EASTON-NEWBERRY ARCHERY

BULL’S EYE

EASTON-NEWBERRY ARCHERY PROGRAM

Hitting the Target W R I T T E N B Y A L E X A S A U VA G E R E

Picture yourself as the Greek god Apollo, riding on your sun chariot with a golden bow and arrow wielded high. Or imagine yourself as Katniss Everdeen, dashing through the woods and quickly pulling arrows from your quiver. For Marvel fans, maybe you embody Hawkeye and his swift precision; for DC fans, perhaps you personify Green Arrow and his array of trick shots. The choice is yours, but one thing will remain the same: you’ll be ready to take on the next challenge—just as long as you have your bow in tow. “[Archery] is an amazing combination of something that’s just fascinating to watch, see and do,” said Robert Regojo, the center manager for Easton-Newberry Archery Center.

Opened in 2009, the Easton-Newberry Archery Center is Florida’s only archery facility of its distinction. On a national 144 |

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level, the center is one of the handful in the country and one of the only three owned by Easton Foundations. Easton Foundations is a non-profit formed by the Easton family. The organization’s mission is to grow the sport of archery and make it as popular as mainstream sports like soccer or basketball. The archery center shares its space with the Easton-Newberry Sports Complex, which was a joint effort between Easton Foundations and the Newberry Recreation Department.

Spanning over 100 acres, the complex includes four baseball fields, a soccer field, a football field, and a basketball/volleyball court. A hub for fringe sports, the multi-recreational facility also comprises a field for M2 Battle Sports (outdoor laser tag) and a remote-control car track—think NASCAR but smaller. On top of it all, the center has several walking trails as well.

above are called coaches, and archers ranked one and two are called instructors. The Easton-Newberry Archery Center has six staff members: two NTS level-4 coaches, two NTS level-3 coaches, and two instructors. To assist with operations, the facility also gets help from volunteer coaches, and it is looking to expand its team.

“I’m not sure how we manage,” Regojo said, with a laugh. “We just do.”

Despite a limited staff, the center boasts many different programs and opportunities for people of all levels. The complex holds classes all year long and at various skill levels.

As of right now, there are 101 students within their various courses. The center boasts a mirage of programs for youth development, adult development, competitive development, and more. In addition, people can register for private coaching lessons. Though the classes can cater to any age, most programs start with ages seven and up. Higher level students range from as young as early teens to as old as late seventies.

Along with classes, the facility also offers open shooting.

Anyone can participate in open shooting just as long as the person has taken the free orientation course. This 30-minute course

SPORTS COMPLEX >> EASTON-NEWBERRY ARCHERY

The Easton-Newberry Archery Center consists of a 40-target indoor archery range, a 14-target field range in the woods and an outdoor space that can hold over 60 target mats. In addition, the center has 60 acres of woods available for 3D archery and field archery. The indoor range is predominantly used for classes and indoor events. The distance between an archer and the target can span up to 60 feet in the indoor range. On the outdoor field, the distance can lengthen to about 270 feet between the archer and the target. For large tournaments, the facility expands into a football and soccer field to create a space with over 100 targets.

“Over the next few years after I started, I definitely got obsessed with this sport,” said Regojo, who ranked seventh, nationally, in the Men’s Collegiate Recurve in 2014.

“It was definitely a love-at-first-sight kind of thing.”

There are three different types of bows within archery: the compound, which has a pulley system and is on wheels; the Olympic recurve, which is used in the quadrennial games; and the barebow, which is a simple bow and arrow. Archery uses the National Training System (NTS) to rank archers. The highest level a person can reach in archery is a level 5; the only person higher is the national head coach. Archers ranked three and

The facility hosts a dedicated outdoor archery range with a 160-foot covered shooting line. The practice field is used for daily lessons and tournament warm-up, and has shooting distances out to 90 meters, according to eastonnewberryarcherycenter.org.

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covers range safety, basic training, and center policies. Groups of more than four people can schedule private orientations.

For $15 a person can have 90 minutes of shooting time. The 90-minute time frames are simply for reserving times, though. If people want to keep going, they can without any extra charge. In addition, the center also provides archery c a m p s, c o a c h i n g certification classes, virtual programs, offsite lessons, and “funtastic Fridays.”

“Honestly, hanging out here with my students is one of the biggest joys I have in my life right now,” Regojo said.

On a more fun s i d e o f a r c h e r y, the center also has archery tag, skeet shooting and 3D shooting competitions. Archery tag incorporates the thrill of paintball but without the pain. Archers can dash around, aim at their targets and try to land clean attacks. Instead of sharp,

pointed arrows, the ends have marshmallow-like tips that are soft to the touch. Skeet shooting differs in no way from the normal sport except with bows and arrows rather than guns. Threedimensional archery happens to be one of the most popular forms of archery in the country. The center’s 3D competitions are big with hunters since it emulates a hunting simulation.

The courses consist of anywhere from 20 to 40 different foam animals, each with labeled hit spots that denote critical areas like the heart or lungs.

Some of the animals might even be covered in fake brush to camouflage with the surroundings.

No strang er to competition, the Easton-Newberry Archery Center hosts a plethora of archery tournaments throughout the year. Out of the 52 weekends in the year, about 30 incorporate a competition of some sort—whether local, state-wide,

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including the Sunshine State Games and Scholastic 3D Archery.

The facility also hosts the southeast region for USA Archery competitions and National Field Archery Association competitions. Though for the states in the southern area, people from any state can still compete within this region if this location proves more convenient for them.

Since the Easton-Newberry Archery Center hosts many note-worthy competitions, it comes as no shock that it has become a star-studded location for archers all over the country and world. The center has welcomed many accomplished athletes and national teams. Team Canada would regularly train at the facility about twice a year prior to COVID-19. Many other international teams have frequented the center, including the Turkish national team and the Venezuelan national team.

Award-winning athletes that have visited the center include: local Olympian Jake Kaminsky; multi-World Cup winner Reo Wilde; and former world number-one-ranked recurve archer Brady Ellison.

With a passionate staff, the Easton-Newberry Archery Center aims to further the Easton Foundation’s mission by continually leading the way for archery. The center truly speaks to its mantra that archery does not see age; the youngest archer taught was two years old, and the oldest archer taught was 86 years old.

“We definitely want to share our passion and love for the sport with as many people as possible,” Regojo said.

SPORTS COMPLEX >> EASTON-NEWBERRY ARCHERY

regional, or national. Because archery is an individual sport, it places a lot of pressure on a person rather than sharing the load with the team. Even team-labeled categories revolve around singular performance. At times it may not appear as fascinating to an onlooker, but archery requires a level of strength and consistency that is rather challenging, Regojo said. For example, in the Olympic Recurve, an archer must hit a target the size of a CD from approximately 230 feet away. The best athletes will land the hit nine out of 10 times.

“Being able to hold still, especially under windy or rainy conditions, is a testament to stability and strength and athleticism all together,” Regojo said.

The annual Easton Foundations Gator Cup brings in about 500 to 600 archers all over the country. Even more impressive, it is one of the four competitions in the country that gets used to choose the United States archery team. The tournament won the bid to host the final leg of the Olympic trials in 2012 and 2016. The top eight men and women from all over the country compete in this final stage of competition. In the end, only four can remain victorious; the Olympic team has three spots for team members and one spot for an alternate. The Easton-Newberry Archery Center would have also held the trials for the 2021 Olympics, as well, but lost the opportunity due to rescheduling because of the pandemic.

The Easton-Newberry Archery Center supports local and state archery programs and schools by hosting their events,

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RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL

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Build Savings As You Spend

Over the past year, many Americans saw firsthand how important it is to have a financial safety net. But with each passing payday, saving an emergency cash stash can seem like an insurmountable task. According to a 2020 study, only 31 percent of American adults had more than $1,000 in a savings account.

That’s why the team at Radiant Credit Union came up with a way to turn your spare change jar into a dynamic savings account that works to give you a leg up on financial stability.

The Even-Up Savings program at Radiant is a simple savings program that automatically rounds up debit card purchases to the nearest dollar and drops the extra change into a savings account. So for instance, if your coffee costs $4.20, Radiant will automatically round up your purchase to $5 and transfer the $.80 into your savings. It’s like paying with a $5 bill and having an assistant who automatically puts the change in your jar.

But the real Radiant difference is that your jar is earning 4.00% APY*. The Even-Up program comes with a savings account interest rate that you won’t find outside of the stock market.

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With Radiant Credit Union contributing extra money to your change jar, it’s easier to build that emergency nest egg. Once you enroll, Radiant handles the Even-Up on every debit card purchase, so saving is almost as easy as spending. You can start building that savings account less than a dollar at a time.

The program only works with debit card purchases. But while you can’t contribute directly to the program, people have gotten smart and creative about using Even-Up to their advantage.

Rather than aiming for that nice round $20 at the gas pump, Radiant members will pump to $20.01 to make sure they’re getting that full $.99 in the bank. And some use restaurant tipping to get their total just over the line to maximize those savings and earnings.

It all starts with a Radiant checking account and a debit card.

Then once a day, the accumulated totals from your Even-Up purchases are taken from your checking account and put into your savings. Radiant makes sure you have a minimum of $25 in your checking account to supplement those withdrawals.

Saving is actually as easy as it seems, with nearly 6,000 Radiant members already joining the program. With the 4.00% APY from Radiant, there’s plenty of earning incentive you just don’t see anywhere else.

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Join Radiant Credit Union to take advantage of our low rates and convenient services, as well as many member benefits and resources.

Apply online today at RadiantCU.org.

And Even-Up isn’t the only way Radiant helps people save. As people receive stimulus checks and tax returns, Radiant helps members find the best way to make their money work for them.

They also offer direct deposit savings, where even $5 to $10 per month directly deposited from your paycheck can add up to a nice nest egg that’s out of sight and out of mind until you need it.

Debit card holders also get 5 cents back on every signature purchase with the Radiant Credit Union Nickel Back Rewards Program. And Radiant Visa® Credit Card holders get 10 cents back on qualifying purchases.

There are so many ways Radiant Credit Union is helping members save for the future. To learn more, visit RadiantCU.org or stop by one of their 10 local North Central Florida branches or one of the more than 5,000 shared branches nationwide. *¹The even-up amount will be withdrawn from your checking account and deposited into your Even-Up Savings. Dividend rate is 4.00%. 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is earned on balances of $0.01 to $4,000.00. The APY for any amount over $4,000 is .05 APY. Rates current as of January 20, 2021. Rates subject to change. Please see the current rate schedule for current rates. Even-ups from debit card transactions are accumulated and transferred daily as a single transaction. There must be $25 in the checking account after all transactions post during nightly processing for the even-up posting to occur.

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SPOTLIGHT

RESCUE ANIMAL ADOPTIONS

Furever Friends JAMES AND HANK

FUREVER FRIENDS IS A RECURRING PROFILE THAT FEATURES A LOCAL RESCUE ANIMAL AND THEIR OWNER, WRITTEN FROM THE ADOPTED PET’S “POINT OF VIEW.” NOMINATE YOURSELF OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW FOR OUR NEXT RESCUED PET PROFILE! CONTACT: EDITOR@TOWERPUBLICATIONS.COM.

Hey there! The name’s Hank–yep, like the famous Cowdog.

You know, being part Catahoula my ancestors were bred for cow herding, which makes me an even better Hank than Hank, but this isn’t a story about who’s a better herder – spoiler alert, it’s me. Nope, I’ve got a story even better than the Tale of Two Hanks.

If you were to tell me four years ago that I’d find my furever home, I’d say “Hey, how’d you get here and can you come back with some snacks?” before pointing out that dogs like me don’t get a happily ever after. You see, I was in a shelter in Levy County on the verge of being sent to the green mile, you know, like that movie with Tom Hanks (the other famous Hank) when I was taken in by Haile’s Angels Pet Rescue, my new home—or so I thought.

I was on a walk one day with a volunteer from the rescue when all of a sudden a man came running up to me. He said his name was James and after seeing me on his jog, he had to say “hello.” When he left, I assumed I’d never see him again, but you know what they say when you assume—seriously, do you know? No one ever tells me they just say “you know what they say” without actually giving me the answer. Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah. Much to my surprise, he came back to see me again—this time with his daughter Georgia who convinced him and the rest of the Bates family to foster me. That first day home, James gave me a bath and while it may seem like a routine

sudsy experience for some pups, for me, it was the first time I really experienced what it was like to be loved.

I’ve lived with the Bates family for almost four years now and it’s been the best foster fail I could’ve ever imagined. James is my best friend and the best dad in the world. He was a former Gator football player so he’s always up for roughhousing with me. He also loves to paint and uses me as a model to display his work, which I often try to autograph with my paw of approval—he doesn’t always like when I stomp across them, but hey, I’m just trying to give the people what they want. Even though I’m obviously the favorite, James has three other kids: Georgia, who’s still a big animal-lover and headed off to college soon; Talia, who’s an amazing swimmer at UF; and Jake, who’s a fishing-enthusiast senior at UNF.

My mom, Tina, is always saying how my dad and I are like twins: we’re both quirky and goofy, but have the biggest hearts and love to make people smile. Besides painting with my dad or cooling off in the pool, one of my favorite things to do is sing, especially howling along to the chorus of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

I’m beyond grateful that I found my furever home with a family that loves me and a dad who’s become my very best friend. I just hope one day the other rescue pals I made find their furever home too.

If you’re interested in adopting a pet, visit the Haile’s Angels website at Hailesangels.org.

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HEALTHCARE WITH HEART

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