/OTNB-Spring2011

SPRING FES FESTIVALS STI TIVA VALS LS | S SOLAR OLAR OL AR E ENE ENERGY NERG RGY Y | N NATURE A URE CRAFTS FOR KIDS AT

Spring 2011

FREE FR EE TA TAKE KE O ONE NE

Finding First Light

Florida’s Eden

Newberry Star Park

35th Annual Pioneer Days

Conservation effort to protect our springs

Art and culture in harmony with the past

Scout’s Honor Shaping the lives of our nation’s young men

HAWKS Mentoring Program brings generations together

Newberry’s 66th Annual

Watermelon Festival p. 38

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Dr. Reddy has been in this area since 2002, practicing in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, with a doctorate from Osmania University/ Gandhi Medical College; Residency & Fellowship at Chicago Medical School; an additional Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio; and is Board Certified by the American Board of Gastroenterology, specializing in Hepatology.

The majority of Dr. Reddy’s patients have the convenience of traveling to only one location for consultation as well as any procedure that may be needed. Dr. Reddy’s experience makes him one of the leading physician experts in Gastroenterology and Hepatology and is frequently consulted on difficult cases.

Dr. Reddy consults with patients needing care in Gastroenterology and/or Hepatology, treats Hepatitis patients, performs colonoscopies and endoscopies at Central Florida Endoscopy & Surgical Institute of Ocala, LLC as well as area hospitals, with privileges at Munroe Regional Medical Center, Ocala Regional Medical Center and West Marion Community Hospital.

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6 | Spring 2011

Hospital Affiliations: Munroe Regional Medical Center, Ocala Regional Medical Center and West Marion Community Hospital

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Spring 2011 | 7

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Cable modem required for Cox High Speed Internet services. For best performance, use of Cox approved cable modem is recommended. Uninterrupted or error-free Internet service, or the speed of your service, is not guaranteed. Actual speeds vary. Telephone modem equipment may be required for Cox Digital Telephone service and will be provided by Cox at no additional cost. Telephone modem uses household electrical power to operate and has backup battery power provided by Cox if electricity is interrupted. Telephone service, including access to e911 service, will not be available during an extended power outage or if the modem is moved or inoperable. Inside wiring fees, additional jacks, taxes and surcharges are additional. Other restrictions may apply. Telephone service provided by Cox Florida Telcom, L.P. and Cox Georgia Telcom, L.L.C. Š2011 Cox Florida/Georgia. All rights reserved.

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But it’s more than that here— It’s the people who make Tioga Town Center an experience like no other in Gainesville. People like Chef Willy Hernandez and his staff at Saboré, who will exhilarate your taste buds with flavors and cooking techniques from around the world, will make Tioga Town Center your favorite place to visit.

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Spring 2011 | 11

page

30

CONTENTS SPRING 2011 • VOL. 09 ISSUE 01

>> FEATURES 22

Pioneer Days

52

Art and Culture in Harmony with the Past

BY VICTORIA LASAVATH

26

Wanda Kemp

BY VICTORIA LASAVATH

60

Alachua’s Spring Festival

30

BY KEVIN ALLEN

64

Watermelons Galore!

BY ALBERT ISAAC

BY AMANDA WILLIAMSON

HAWKS Mentoring Program at High Springs Community School Brings Generations Together

BY JANICE C. KAPLAN

12 | Spring 2011

Lake-Side Conservation Alligator Lake Festival Promotes Learning About the Issues Currently Destroying Florida’s Natural Resources

Newberry’s 66th Annual Watermelon Festival

46

Be Prepared Scouting in High Springs and Alachua

A Sunday of Music and Fun for the Family

BY ALBERT ISAAC

Helping Others

74

Playing with Poetry Teaching Children a Love of Words

BY DIANE SHEPARD

ON THE COVER

PHOTO BY TJ MORRISSEY / LOTUS STUDIOS

Newberry’s current Watermelon Queen Katelyn Kelley took time out from her busy schedule as reigning queen and University of Florida student to pose for our cover shot.

>> HANDMADE

38

Nature Crafts

By Diane E. Shepard

Fun, Simple Projects for Kids to Make

Nature Crafts See how to make a variety of fun crafts, ranging from bookmarks to small cabins, courtesy of Mother Nature (mostly). These craft ideas can provide hours of entertainment for parents and children, in addition to some nice keepsakes.

BY DIANE E. SHEPARD

S

ticks and Stones can break some bones, sure, but how about making some great gifts with them instead? Here are some great nature-inspired gifts.

Help children celebrate the arrival of spring and Earth Day with these fun and simple crafts they will enjoy making and giving. Made with some of nature’s best gifts, these useful and playful crafts will be perfect gifts for any spring occasion (like Mother’s Day) and beyond.

A Word of Caution: Many of these crafts require the use of a hot glue gun and/or rocks and stones, as well as sticks which must be cut to size, using scissors or clippers.

Adult supervision and assistance is necessary for these crafts.

Sticks, Twigs, Branches BRANCH JEWELRY HOLDER SUPPLIES NEEDED

A strong branch with many smaller, shorter cross branches,

a thin vase (like a rose vase).

Optional: Spray paint.

Spray paint the chosen branch (or leave it natural). Place branch in vase. Hang light jewelry like earrings, rings, and bracelets on its branches.

FAIRY HOUSE SUPPLIES NEEDED

Paper milk carton (1/2 gallon, cut into two parts), or small cardboard box for the base of the house, twigs and sticks cut to fit and cover the base for the house as desired, hot glue gun, sharp shears/scissors, clippers, any items to decorate the house as desired, i.e., feathers, acorns, pebbles, stones, small pinecones, etc.

Use a milk carton or a small cardboard box for base. Cut a door out in the front. If using a cardboard box, an X-acto knife may be needed.

First glue the sticks on the front wall of the house. Use hot glue gun

to fasten all items in place. Small flat stones can be used for steppingstones, if desired. Feathers, acorns, beads, shells, small stones and flowers complete the decoration on the house, as desired.

Tips: Choose sticks and twigs that are as straight as possible. Also, try the stick in place to see how it looks and fits before gluing it down.

This will help ensure that it will be a good fit. Sharp shears/scissors can

PHOTOS BY DIANE E. SHEPARD

Just wood, sticks, and a glue gun is all that is needed to make a charming rustic sign like this. An adult can apply the hot glue to fasten the wood. Old cookie sheets are great to use as portable work stations for small crafts.

www.VisitOurTowns.com

38 | Spring 2011

>> [SUBJECT TAG]

>> CONSERVATION

By Amanda Williamson “Water is life. It’s the briny broth of our origins, the pounding circulatory system of the world, a precarious molecular edge on which we survive. It makes up two-thirds of our bodies, just like the map of the world; our vital fluids are saline, like the ocean.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

Defined by Water

Florida’s Eden

Florida’s Eden Takes on the Plight of the Springs

About a decade ago, a group of concerned citizens realized that Florida’s springs were in grave danger.

They formed Florida’s Eden, a nonprofit organization designed to use the power of arts and culture to unite people in a common goal to protect Florida’s most valuable resource.

— Barbara Kingsolver, “Water is Life” National Geographic.

BY AMANDA WILLIAMSON White Springs has disappeared.

Fanning Springs is following in its footsteps.

The Ichetucknee River is being contaminated by pollutants and nitrates.

“Florida’s Eden uses the power of arts and culture, and the dual assets of our natural environment and creative population, to unite the people of North Florida so that together we can address our most profound educational, economic and environmental

N

orth Florida, an area blessed with an abundance of fresh water, may soon face a future without the lazy Ichetucknee River or without the crystalline Fanning Springs. But the worst part is

challenges,” states the Florida’s Eden website.

In Florida, Pais said, the people have to do something to save their natural resource. Florida’s Eden works to educate people, showing them how they can help and get involved. Pais was adamant about the community standing up to local authorities, and voicing a concern for what is best for the environment

that the springs portray the “canary in the coal mine” for the Floridan aquifer, and what happens to the springs could soon happen to Florida’s drinking water, said Annie Pais, executive director of Florida’s Eden.

Florida’s Eden, a non-profit organization, was created ten years ago when a group of people — naturalists, scientists, artists — realized that the springs, North Florida’s defining characteristic, were in jeopardy.

and for everyone in the world.

“It’s all about water here,” Pais said.

In Florida, there is no protection program for the springs. But Pais said when Florida’s Eden surveyed people in the 30 counties that comprise the organization, residents were under the impression that the springs are protected.

“Water is a finite resource,” Pais said. In fact, the

Florida’s springs are dying.

PHOTO BY JOHN MORAN

124

Spring 2011 | 39

www.VisitOurTowns.com

124 | Spring 2011

Spring 2011 | 125

>> RESOURCES

134

Solar Power

By Janice C. Kaplan

From Ancient Civilizations to Modern Day Alachua County

Solar Power Solar energy has been used since the 7th Century B.C. when a magnifying glass was used to concentrate the sun’s rays to make fire. In fact, the photovoltaic effect was discovered in 1839. These days, solar panels are cropping up in a variety of places, from businesses to private residences.

Only primitives and barbarians lack knowledge of houses turned to face the winter sun.

— Aeschylus, ancient Greek philosopher and playwright.

BY JANICE C. KAPLAN

S

ince the beginning of time, the sun has served not only as an object of worship and wonder, but as a source of energy for mankind. Families used the warmth reflected on rocks to cook bread and other foods. Ancient civilizations built entire cities based on the sun’s position throughout the day to take advantage of the angles that would best provide light and heat, a technique that would ultimately be known as “passive solar energy.” And as early as 700 B.C., Greeks and Romans used magnifying glasses and mirrors to direct the sun’s rays toward wood or other fuel to light a fire.

But in the 1800s speculation and

research began to uncover methods of harnessing energy from the sun to create electricity for use in homes and businesses. This led to the creation of the first working solar cells by American inventor Charles Fritts in 1883, followed by countless discoveries and patents in the field during the subsequent 125 years.

Today, solar power is more feasible than ever thanks to more research and lower equipment costs. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), in 2008 there was an 84 percent increase in solar installations that are tied to energy grids in the United States.

Locally, the idea of solar power has rapidly gained ground.

134 | Spring 2011

In February of 2009, the city of Gainesville voted to allow Gainesville Regional Utilities to give a per-kilowatt-hour rebate to customers who install photovoltaic (PV) systems in their homes and businesses. A PV system uses a number of solar electric modules and can be mounted on land or on roofs. PV systems have no moving parts and operate silently, producing electricity whenever they are exposed to sunlight, and

PHOTO BY ALBERT ISAAC

High Springs resident Larry Behnke’s solar panels have generated electricity for his home since 1984. When the hurricanes knocked him off the grid, he was still able to draw water from his well with his solar pump and operate fans and lights.

carry performance warranties of up to 25 years. GRU’s tariff, the first of its kind in the U.S., has resulted in GRU increasing its solar kilowatt production by 566 percent over the last two years, according to the company.

Now more county residents

are taking advantage of the sunny Florida weather and wide open spaces that rural living allows. John Lanman, a retired manufacturing engineer who still works on a consulting basis, installed a PV system on his High Springs property in late 2010. Consisting of

www.VisitOurTowns.com

48 235-watt panels (each five feet long by 39 inches tall), the system generates enough electricity to cover about 65 percent of Lanman’s Clay Electric bill without major adjustments to his energy usage.

“We are relatively conservative from the standpoint that I’ve

Spring 2011 | 135

The articles printed in Our Town Magazine™ do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Tower Publications, Inc. or their editorial staff. Our Town Magazine endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however, we can not be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Our Town Magazine reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement. All rights reserved. © 2010 Tower Publications, Inc.

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2011 | 13

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

PUBLISHER Charlie Delatorre charlie@towerpublications.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Albert Isaac editor@towerpublications.com fax: 1-800-967-7382

page

64 PHOTO BY GEORGIA SHEMITZ

>> FEATURES 82

Monkey Tales Kari Bagnall’s Crusade to End Keeping Primates as Pets

BY TARA MASSAGEE STANLEY

90

Welcome Center Construction Begins on a New Home for the Chamber of Commerce and the Alachua Historical Society

BY MATTHEW BEATON

98

Finding First Light Newberry Star Park Opens

BY MOLLY LARMIE

104 Old Farmer’s Almanac Advice for the Coming Spring

BY MARY KYPREOS

144 Cleaning for a Reason Non-profit Offers Help for Women Battling Cancer

BY MOLLIE LARMIE

OFFICE MANAGER Bonita Delatorre bonita@towerpublications.com ART DIRECTOR Hank McAfee hank@towerpublications.com SENIOR DESIGNER Tom Reno tom@towerpublications.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kevin Allen Matthew Beaton Janice Kaplan Alyson Landry Mollie Larmie Victoria Lasavath Tara Massagee Stanley Diane E. Shepard Carolyn Tillo Amanda Williamson INTERN Victoria Lasavath ADVERTISING SALES Jenni Bennett 352-416-0210 jenni@towerpublications.com Amanda Skadhauge 352-416-0196 amanda@towerpublications.com

COLUMNISTS

Pam Slaven 352-416-0213 pam@towerpublications.com

36 58 72 96 154

Helen Stalnaker 352-416-0209 helen@towerpublications.com

Crystal Henry ......................................................... NAKED SALSA Kendra Siler-Marsiglio .................................. HEALTHY EDGE Albert Isaac.............................................................. DIFFERENT NOTE Donna Bonnell ...................................................... EMBRACING LIFE Diane E. Shepard ............................................... MAMA MUSINGS

INFORMATION 112 Community Calendar 148 Worship Centers

158 Library Happenings 164 Advertiser Index

Larkin Kieffer 352-416-0212 larkin@towerpublications.com Annie Waite 352-416-0204 annie@towerpublications.com

ADVERTISING OFFICE 4400 NW 36th Avenue Gainesville, FL 32606 352-372-5468 352-373-9178 fax

P e o c

V th y th to d s n

14 | Spring 2011

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SamantDentalGroup.com People who are looking for ways to enhance their smile have a variety of options to choose from, including veneers, ceramic crowns, bonding, and whitening.

Crowns cover an entire tooth to affect the overall appearance without the black-line effect and will appeal to people who want a more signifcant change.

Veneers are a cosmetic dentistry option that have increased in popularity over the years, involving thin pieces of porcelain that are applied to the surface of the tooth. Veneers are often used to mask discolorations, gaps or to change tooth shape. They are long lasting and offer a natural appearance.

Bonding uses tooth-colored ďŹ lling material to close gaps, improve color or correct other minor imperfections.

Whitening can give you more conďŹ dence in your smile. Just imagine the difference a whiter smile could make for you!

Call for a complimentary consult. www.VisitOurTowns.com

Dr. Paivi Samant, M.A., D.D.S. Prosthodontist

Spring 2011 | 15

*Use Promotional Codes to save 50% off the original price on Teeth Whitening Kits (was $391.00; code D9972) and Limited Exams (was $62.00; code D0140). This limited time offer ends 3/31/11.

MESSAGE >> FROM THE EDITOR

PHOTO BY TREVOR ISAAC

An explosion of color, courtesy of the azaleas, dogwood and redbud, greeted me as I rode my bike around town this weekend.

With spring upon us, I couldn’t resist working in the yard. This seems to be one of the best times of the year to get outside and accomplish some much-needed yard maintenance. I enlisted the help of our 9-year-old son — and paid him handsomely for his services. He earned those 25 cents (just kidding — it was more like 10 bucks).

And while I was tempted to turn on our central air conditioner, it wasn’t necessary. I hit the switch for the attic fan and a cool breeze was drawn in through the open windows, providing a low-cost alternative to running the AC. That should help with the electric bill.

16 | Spring 2011

And speaking of electricity, in this edition of Our Town we bring you a story about solar energy and two High Springs’ residents who are taking advantage of the sunshine. Our very own Larry Behnke installed a solar system by himself many years ago and it continues to provide power to his home and his well pump. Recently, another resident made the solar plunge, installing an impressive array of panels that supply power not only for his home but also back to the electric company. Our Town writer Janice Kaplan tells us about the science and history of solar energy and these two local residents who are putting this technology to everyday use.

With the changing season comes milder temperatures — and spring festivals — so in this edition we bring you some information about three big events in our area: the Newberry Watermelon Festival,

Alachua’s Spring Festival and High Springs Pioneer Days. These events promise a lot of family-friendly fun, and I hope you are able to get out and enjoy all that these community events have to offer.

I plan to get out to each and every one of these festivals with my family and hope to see you there.

These and many more stories can be found in this edition, so please kick back, relax and read. We think you will enjoy it. s

COMMUNITY >> SPOTLIGHT

Breaking Ground

BY ALYSON LANDRY

PHOTO BY ALYSON LANDRY

ewberry’s Nations Park Baseball Complex is officially in full swing after various state and local officials broke ground at the ceremony hosted on Feb. 25, 2011. The 16-field baseball complex is expected to open this fall, which will be built on 80 acres of land donated

by Stefan Davis. Mayor Harry Nichols, City Manager Keith Ashby and several other officials, including local commissioners and a representative from Cliff Stearns’ office, spoke on a platform decorated with American flags and flowers while a crowd of about 250 gathered at the corner S.W. 30th Avenue and U.S. 41 on a windy, but warm, Friday. About 15 yellow hardhats on top of shovels lined both sides from first and third base, if the main stage was home plate. Ground was broken as the ceremony came to an end. s

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Phillips said that Pampered Paws Fishing Team will be entering multiple charitable fishing tournaments including “Reeling for Kids,” “Fishing with Mel” and Shands’ “Fishing for Kids.” The money raised each year will go to Alachua County Animal Rescue Groups. s

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STAFF >> CONTRIBUTORS Alyson Landry

Matthew Beaton

is a 2011 future graduate of the photojournalism program at the University of Florida. She believes everyone has a story to tell and traveling possibilities are endless. She enjoys baking and running to counteract her inner chocoholic.

is a freelance journalist who recently earned his master’s in mass communications from UF. He enjoys romping with his mutt friend, Jack. They both find bananas and the Jersey Shore unpalatable.

Jack, however, is a much more avid reader.

alyson.landry@gmail.com

Victoria Lasavath

Janice Kaplan

is a proud Florida Gator studying journalism at the University of Florida. In her free time she loves to read, write, re-write, cook, shop and spend time with her family and friends.

has been a freelance writer for five years. In her spare time Janice loves cooking, Gator sports, Jimmy Buffett anything and spending time with her husband and kids. kaplan_ janice@yahoo.com

victorialasavath@yahoo.com

Diane Shepard is a writer and Mama to two young children. Her next work in progress is a memoir “Keeping Time with Turtles.” diane@towerpublications.com

Molly Larmie was born and raised just north of Daytona Beach. She misses the sand and the sound of the waves but has fallen in love with the Gainesville community. There are always at least three books resting on her nightstand. molarmie@gmail.com

Crystal Henry

Carolyn Tillo

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.

wanted to go to law school until she realized she hated arguing. She plans to attend graduate school for public relations and pursue a career as a communications coordinator for a nonprofit or philanthropic organization.

ces03k@gmail.com

carolyntillo@gmail.com

Kevin Allen

Amanda Williamson

is a veteran radio reporter/ editor who taught broadcast journalism at the University of Florida for more than 15 years.

Originally from Texas, he’s been right at home with the climate and culture in Florida.

is a student in UF’s College of Journalism and Communications. She has been writing for as long as she can remember. She enjoys spending time with her friends, family and animals.

kmareporter@aol.com

awilliamson@ufl.edu

Tara Massagee Stanley

Donna Bonnell

is a freelance writer and journalism senior with aspirations of becoming a lawyer. She enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends.

is a freelance writer who moved to Newberry in 1983.

She enjoys living and working in the town she now calls home.

t.massagee.stanley@gmail.com

18 | Spring 2011

donna@towerpublications.com

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2011 | 19

20 | Spring 2011

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2011 | 21

>> HIGH SPRINGS

Pioneer Days Art and Culture in Harmony with the Past April 2 - 3 at James Paul Park The western shootouts are scheduled both days at Noon and 2:00pm.

Event is free and open to the public.

386-454-3120 or chamber@highsprings.com.

BY VICTORIA LASAVATH hat was originally an event intended to celebrate the harvests of the past season has evolved into a festival full of arts, crafts and western reenactments.

High Springs is hosting its annual Pioneer Days this April.

Even though the name and the focus of the event may have changed, Pioneer Days still brings the community together as it has for the past 35 years.

“Pioneer Days continues to

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celebrate the heritage of High Springs and highlight turn-ofthe-century demonstrations,” said Heather Clarich, High Springs Chamber of Commerce advisory board member. The event is meant to honor the times and the families of the area during its origins in 1892 when the town became incorporated.

The original name for Pioneer Days was the Tobacco Festival, said Sandra Webb, the chamber’s event manager.

Webb said guests can anticipate vendors stationed at booths

with an array of handmade arts and crafts, western shootouts, a Heritage Village where people dress in traditional pioneer clothing and perform period demonstrations, marble games, jump ropes, and a spinning wheel. Vendors include locals and visitors from as far as Tennessee.

The majority of the food vendors will be locals, Webb said, and will include gyro wraps, barbeque, ice cream, hamburgers and hotdogs.

The kettle corn popcorn will be prepared in a cast-iron bowl, reminiscent of the pioneer times.

PHOTOS BY ALBERT ISAAC

The High Springs Pioneer Days provide fun for the entire family, from scripted gunfights to children’s rides.

Cohen Bennett (below) waves to the crowd at last year’s event.

22 | Spring 2011

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Spring 2011 | 23

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The event will also provide live music, Webb said. Guests can anticipate the musical artists, who are mostly local, to play country and blue grass.

“I want [visitors] to walk away happy and have a good feeling about what the old days were about and to be thankful for what we have now,” Webb said. “We have electricity and we should appreciate that.”

Webb volunteered at the event last year and this is her first year as events manager.

“The purpose of an event that honors the past is so we don’t forget about the past and to invite others to our town and show them why we love living in the area,” Webb said.

High Springs put itself on the map by the early 1900s as an integral railroad center, according to the town’s Chamber of Commerce website. During this time, the town played a major role in repairing the engines of the steam locomotives.

The town continues to make a name for itself long after the days of its origins, landing the title of “Antique Capital” of North Central Florida, according to the site.

A local family honors Pioneer Days every day, not just at the festival.

Webb said that the Langford family is this year’s designated Pioneer Family.

The farming family has survived through the years by practicing techniques from the pioneer era, like producing their own cane syrup for the past 40 years, Webb said.

She said the Langford family will be showing visitors their homemade

syrup and explaining how they make it. The family also grows watermelon, peanuts and the sugarcane they use to make the syrup, Webb said. They will be honored at the event and receive a plaque from the chamber.

This year the chamber has made efforts to include more artists that authentically make their own crafts to sell at the event, Webb said.

Webb wants guests to feel that their purchases are one of a kind.

Pioneer Days brings a lot of visitors to the area. Over the course of the two-day weekend, the event draws about 5,000 people, Heather Clarich said. Sometimes, with good weather and on a long weekend, this number can approach 10,000, she said.

Wanda Kemp, office coordinator of the chamber, processes all the vendor applications for the event.

“Pioneer Days brings a lot of people in town,” Kemp said.

There is much preparation for an event like this. Applications are sent to vendors six months in advance, Kemp said.

Webb said getting ready for Pioneer Days involves reaching out to the local police and fire departments for help, specifically with closing off the area in front of the police department and behind City Hall the day of the event.

Kemp said what she enjoys most about Pioneer Days is walking around and looking at all the merchandise.

“We have some good vendors that

PHOTO BY ALBERT ISAAC

Ladies in period attire, shaded by their parasols, watch the show from the sidelines during the 2010 Pioneer Days.

come,” she said.

“It is important to honor Pioneer Days because in the excitement of things, like new businesses and houses, we should celebrate the past because it is where we came from,” Clarich said. “The identity of our town can be lost if it is not celebrated and highlighted,” she said.

Clarich, who grew up in the area, has attended Pioneer Days for many years. Clarich is coordinating the children’s corral this year. She said activities will include cowboy attractions, air brushing, pony rides, a bungee jump and a mechanical bull.

“The work I put forth for the event is worth it because it is rewarding to have done something nice for the community,” Clarich said. s

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Spring 2011 | 25

>> ALACHUA

Spring Festival A Sunday of Music and Fun for the Family

April 10th in Downtown Alachua 11:00am - 5:00pm. One day only. Volunteers are appreciated.

Event is free and open to the public 386-462-9552 or visit www.alachuabusiness.com

BY ALBERT ISAAC usic, food — and children playing in giant plastic balls are just part of the fun to be found at the upcoming Spring Festival.

The city of Alachua has played host to this annual Spring Festival since 2003, attracting 3,000 to 5,000 visitors.

Sponsored by the Alachua Business League, the inaugural event featured less than 30 vendors; this number has since grown

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to 150 - 170, offering arts and crafts, plants, children’s activities, and a variety of food and musical acts.

“I think it’s a great thing for Alachua,” said Mayor Gib Coerper.

“The spring and the fall festivals have been absolutely fantastic for us. They bring thousands of people into our community to have a good time and go back home and talk about us. Can’t ask for anything more than that.”

At press time, festival organizers are still seeking vendors for “arts, crafts, jewelry, home and garden,

writers, artists, musicians, clowns, children’s activities, inspirational, self-improvement, music, fishing tackle and boaters “toys,” home improvement, tools, quality yard sale items, and anything that makes people happy!” states a press release.

Organizer Rosanne Morse said the ABL strives to continually enhance this yearly event by adding more local musicians and by offering a local produce corner.

“We are working very hard to develop a little farmers market corner, and last time we were only

OPPOSITE PAGE - TOP: Visitors to Alachua’s annual Spring Festival in April can expect to find a variety of food and other items from the many vendors. BOTTOM: Among the activities for children to enjoy is the hamster water ball, which has been a big hit at previous events.

26 | Spring 2011

PHOTO BY ALBERT ISAAC

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Spring | 27 PHOTO COURTESY OF2011 GIB COERPER

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able to get four people,” Morse said in a recent interview. “Those four people did really well and sold a ton of produce.”

To entice farmers to set up a table, they have reduced the vendor fees. Morse was also quick to point out that the ABL will also offer to waive the vendor fee for nonprofit organizations.

“Probably about 30 of our vendors are for nonprofits,” Morse said. “We ask them to do a child-friendly free activity.”

Such nonprofits include the Lions Club the LifeSouth Community Blood Center, the public library and services such as a diabetes screening clinic.

ABL member Kelly Harris pointed out that all of the proceeds for the Alachua Spring Festival go toward the scholarship fund.

“People don’t really realize this,” Harris said, adding that the scholarship pays for books and tuition for a business major at Santa Fe College for at least one full year. In the past, the Alachua County Public Schools Foundation would match the funds and the student would get a two-year scholarship. However, last year the foundation had to tighten its belt. “ We will have a trackless train this year,” Harris said, describing a vendor new to the event that will offer a ride in a train with cars made from barrels. “And I believe that the hamster water ball is coming back,” Harris said, referring to a ride in which children can run and play within a giant plastic ball that floats in a shallow pool.

“They loved it,” she said. “They absolutely loved it.”

There are also plans to have an inflatable wrecking ball activity, bungee swing, giant pinball, water balls (zorbs) and inflatables for the children. As in previous events, bands will provide live music at various locations.

“We do have the Santa Fe High School Jazz band coming, and closing the show — most likely,” Harris said. “Leon Barrows [of the High Springs Music Junction] is actually working on bands and entertainment.”

Local musician Mike Gianikas has also lined up some musical acts.

The city will close off Main Street for the big event, giving ample opportunity for people to visit the local shops and restaurants, mingle with other visitors and enjoy food and musical acts.

“We want to promote how wonderful Main Street is,” Harris said. “We want folks to come out and see all the cool shops, to spend the day out here. It’s definitely a place to go to, with wonderful support from the city of Alachua and many wonderful sponsors.”

Harris said the festival sponsors include The City of Alachua, SunState FCU and Domino’s Pizza (Gator Domino’s).

“I can’t say enough about the hard work the ABL does to put this on,” Gib Coerper said. “They’re steadily increasing the vendors, a full compliment of vendors going from one end of Main Street to the other. Vendors and people look forward to coming back. My hat’s off to them.” s

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>> NEWBERRY

Watermelons

Galore!

Newberry’s 66th Annual Watermelon Festival

May 21st two miles east of downtown Newberry Directions available at www.newberrywatermelonfestival.com Event is free and open to the public newberrywatermelonfestival@yahoo.com

BY ALBERT ISAAC ides. Watermelons.

Contests. Watermelons.

Music. And did we say watermelons?

Yes, the time is nearly here for Newberry’s Watermelon Festival, and the event promises food, carnival rides and, of course, free watermelon for everyone.

Way back in 1946, the Watermelon Festival began in a skating rink in the middle of Newberry. The American Legion put the festival together to

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support the Newberry community.

Now, 66 years later, the tradition is going strong, drawing people from throughout the region. Visitors can enjoy food, carnival rides, a mechanical bull and a variety of contests — not to mention the crowning of the Watermelon Queen.

The festival hosts beauty pageants for contestants ranging in age from less than a year to 22 years of age. But the winner of the beauty pageant is more than just a pretty face.

“It’s not just a beauty pageant,”

said Kathi Thomas, secretary and liaison for the festival’s committee.

“They have to be very smart, very well-spoken. They are judged for three days straight just on how they interact with a crowd during an auction and during the parade.”

Thomas has been the secretary for the festival’s committee since 1993, and her family has been part of the event for much longer.

“Somebody in my family has been involved in this since 1948,” Thomas said in a 2009 interview.

Thomas’ responsibilities include

PHOTO BY ALBERT ISAAC

Free watermelon for all! Throughout the event, watermelons are chopped up and handed out to everyone. Roller-coasters, funhouses, giant slides, arcades and other fun attractions provide hours of entertainment for the young — and young at heart.

30 | Spring 2011

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2011 | 31

PHOTO BY ALBERT ISAAC

A Tilt-a-Whirl wows the crowd at last year’s Watermelon Festival.

coordinating the parade and decorating for the Watermelon Queen Pageant.

“I do anything I have to do,” Thomas said.

This year, reigning queen Katelyn Kelley will be passing her crown to the next winner.

But before this, she will be off to compete in the Watermelon Queen State Competition.

Kelley hails from Branford and is a junior studying telecommunications at the University of Florida.

She said being queen has helped in her chosen field of study.

“They really emphasize speaking and interviewing,” she said.

Kelley said that on the family farm her father was “big into agriculture” and grew peanuts, corn and cantaloupe — but not watermelon.

She attended her first Newberry Watermelon Festival when she was about 10 years old, she said. Last year, friends convinced her to enter the pageant.

“My friend told me, ‘you need to do it,’” Kelley said. “So I decided to do it.”

In addition to being articulate and poised, there were a few other challenges to face before being crowned Watermelon Queen — including spitting watermelon seeds and belting out hog calls. Later that evening, after a long day of strolling the grounds and mingling with

32 | Spring 2011

visitors, Kelley was crowned.

“It was really exciting for my family,” she said with a smile.

The queen has various duties during the course of her reign, including being a spokesperson for the watermelon industry as well as attending other events and watermelon festivals. Kelley said she returned to her hometown of Branford for the 4th of July celebration last year.

“It’s a big one,” she said. “I got to ride in the parade. It’s a huge 4th of July celebration.”

Recently, Newberry had the honor of seeing its queen, Jessica Southard, go on to win State and now the National title. Southard has been all over the country promoting agriculture and the watermelon industry.

The Newberry Watermelon Festival is not connected to or directed by the City of Newberry, but is run by unpaid volunteers.

Funding from the event not only goes to operations but to other important causes.

“The NWF, Inc. was instrumental in contributing to the Little Red School House Restoration, several contributions were given to the Newberry Sports Complex and a contribution was given to the local Red Cross when our area and Florida were hit severely by hurricanes,” states its website.

“However, if there is a need for a

community contribution we are very willing to contribute.”

The organization also awards a scholarship each year to a student at Newberry High School.

Originally, the festival took place downtown and has bounced around between various locales for many years. From 1988 to 1994 the festival was held at the Little Red Schoolhouse and the adjoining Newberry Junior/Senior High School Auditorium. In the years that followed it moved back to the American Legion site, then to the Canterbury Equestrian Showplace and then back to Little Red School House and adjoining Newberry High School Auditorium.

In 2005, the festival was moved to Canterbury for a variety of reasons, including safety issues and parking accommodations for the ever-growing event, easier access and visibility to visitors from out of town, and a covered area for concerts. The date was also moved to May to avoid the heat and hurricane season, and the fact that finding melons in the area in June had become more difficult because local growers plant earlier and more efficiently.

This year the festival will be held at a new venue: the future home of the Destiny Church, about two miles outside of town.

Visitors can expect a morning parade through downtown Newberry, followed by the festival in which the pageant contestants are introduced. The festival has rides, games, vendors selling clothes, art, and food, and lots of free locally grown watermelon.

As in previous years, children will enjoy competing in events including the watermelon roll, seedspitting contests and hog calling.

Touted as the oldest continual festival in the U.S., the Newberry Watermelon Festival promises fun for the whole family. s

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COLUMN >> CRYSTAL HENRY

Naked Salsa There is one precious night a month when I get to escape the drudgery of diapers, dishes and deadlines and just cut loose with the girls. can eat an entire meal that I did not cook, at a reasonable pace with absolutely no tantrums. I can sit through an entire live action movie without purple dinosaurs, singing princesses or fuzzy red monsters. I can even sip a mojito without some underage mooch begging for a sip of Mommy’s “juice.” The possibilities are endless, and the pressure is on.

Although it’s my night to relax and unwind a bit, there is so much riding on my plans to ensure I have a great time. Sometimes we pick fancy-pants restaurants and sit in the bar sipping too-strong martinis as if we actually like them. Sometimes it’s a trip to the movie theater complete with popcorn and smuggled-in Twizzlers. For Christmas we really went all out and got tickets to an off-Broadway production of Wicked.

We really try to spice it up with lots of planning and preparation.

But my favorite girls’ night so far has got to be last Wednesday. After three solid days of being held hostage by winter weather, my friend Amber decided it was time we broke free. She asked if I would be up for a lastminute trip to the nail salon to get a quick pedicure and

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catch up. I quickly arranged for my husband and child to spend some quality time together, and I met Amber at the Dollar Tree as requested.

Now only a mother could understand why a kid-free trip to the store sounds like Heaven. And it was. As we casually strolled down the aisles we chatted about life, kids and husbands. We snagged some totally healthy snacks like chocolate covered chocolate and my new love, chili and lime Sabritones. They’re like tangy pork rinds dusted in yum and fried in fabulous.

We spent a good 15 minutes just chatting in an aisle we bought nothing from. I might as well have had a scalp massage from a fluffy bunny humming lullabies.

We cracked open our Dr. Peppers in the parking lot and headed to the mall for our tootsie pampering.

The pedicures were nothing special. It was the same setup as any other nail salon; just some Asian ladies grinding their nimble fingers into our weary piggies. But it was the way we could just talk about nothing and everything in bumpy voices as the massage chairs kneaded and chopped our tired backs that made this night different than the perfectly

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planned evenings of the past.

Our tummies rumbled as our toenails dried, and we talked about grabbing dinner. The usuals got tossed out there. Should we go fancy pants, less fancy pants? We only get one night after all. We have to make it count.

We opted for a place that for all I know doesn’t require pants at all, fancy or otherwise. Shirt and shoes, yes. But britches may be optional at the Long John Silver’s.

I opted for a completely sensible meal of one chicken plank, some fries and six hush puppies. Amber believes in go big or go home, so she went with some fish and more. I think the “and more” is code for “and more fried bits of things than you can shake a stick at.”

Our toes were freezing in the nail salon flip flops, so we took our meals via drive-thru. We picked a nice romantic spot out behind the restaurant next to the feed supply store, and we cranked a little Alanis Morissette to really set the mood. We rocked some Jagged Little Pill and filled ourselves with grease and good times.

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>> HANDMADE

Nature Crafts Fun, Simple Projects for Kids to Make

BY DIANE E. SHEPARD ticks and Stones can break some bones, sure, but how about making some great gifts with them instead? Here are some great nature-inspired gifts.

Help children celebrate the arrival of spring and Earth Day with these fun and simple crafts they will enjoy making and giving. Made with some of nature’s best gifts, these useful and playful crafts will be perfect gifts for any spring occasion (like Mother’s Day) and beyond.

A Word of Caution: Many of these crafts require the use of a hot glue gun and/or rocks and stones, as well as sticks which must be cut to size, using scissors or clippers.

Adult supervision and assistance is necessary for these crafts.

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38 | Spring 2011

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FAIRY HOUSE SUPPLIES NEEDED

Paper milk carton (1/2 gallon, cut into two parts), or small cardboard box for the base of the house, twigs and sticks cut to fit and cover the base for the house as desired, hot glue gun, sharp shears/scissors, clippers, any items to decorate the house as desired, i.e., feathers, acorns, pebbles, stones, small pinecones, etc.

Use a milk carton or a small cardboard box for base. Cut a door out in the front. If using a cardboard box, an X-acto knife may be needed.

First glue the sticks on the front wall of the house. Use hot glue gun

to fasten all items in place. Small flat stones can be used for steppingstones, if desired. Feathers, acorns, beads, shells, small stones and flowers complete the decoration on the house, as desired.

Tips: Choose sticks and twigs that are as straight as possible. Also, try the stick in place to see how it looks and fits before gluing it down.

This will help ensure that it will be a good fit. Sharp shears/scissors can

PHOTOS BY DIANE E. SHEPARD

Just wood, sticks, and a glue gun is all that is needed to make a charming rustic sign like this. An adult can apply the hot glue to fasten the wood. Old cookie sheets are great to use as portable work stations for small crafts.

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2011 | 39

PHOTOS BY DIANE E. SHEPARD

Use a small paintbrush lightly dipped in white glue to apply delicate items like fl owers and leaves to paper items like the bookmark and photo mat. These thoughtful and attractive fl ower-inspired gifts are easy to make and sure to please Mom for Mother’s Day, or anytime.

be used to trim down thin sticks, but thicker sticks will have to be cut with pruning clippers.

small pom-poms, googly eyes, and small shells. Optional: Acrylic paint or permanent markers.

RUSTIC PICTURE FRAMES

Paint the sticks and twigs or leave natural. If desired, paint sticks with acrylics or color with permanent markers. Allow to dry completely.

Then apply other items to complete the critter. See photo.

Tip: Put a dot of hot glue wherever eyes will be placed. Then use the toothpick dipped in a dot of white glue to pick up the googly eyes, and place in the hot glue, to prevent burning fingers.

SUPPLIES NEEDED

Flat wooden picture frame, sticks and twigs, hot glue gun.

Glue selected sticks and twigs onto frame in desired pattern.

RUSTIC PLAQUES AND SIGNS SUPPLIES NEEDED

Flat board of desired length and size, sticks, branches, and cinnamon sticks to spell out the words.

Use acorns or small wooden stars from a craft store to further decorate, if desired. Use hot glue gun to affix items to board.

Tip: Make sure items are affixed firmly to the board before hanging.

Stones & Rocks PET ROCKS

SUPPLIES NEEDED

40 | Spring 2011

SUPPLIES NEEDED

Favorite rocks or stones; paint or permanent markers.

Use favorite rocks or stones as tangible “words” of encouragement, or thoughtful reminders: “Imagine,” “Dream,” “Believe,” “Create,” and “Hope,” to name a few.

ABCs & 123s SUPPLIES NEEDED

Rocks or stones; paint or permanent markers.

Make a fun, novel way to help a child learn his alphabet or numbers.

Use a permanent marker to write a letter or number on each rock.

SUPPLIES NEEDED

Rocks, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, acorn tops, permanent markers, hot glue gun, other items like feathers and beads, etc., as desired.

STICK BUGS / STICK CREATURES Various small sticks and twigs, toothpick, hot glue gun, a variety of different-colored pipe cleaners,

SAYING STONES

Create a little rock pal with a few simple items and lots of imagination. Little kids will need help with this craft, but they will love it!

Flowers MAT FOR PICTURE FRAMES SUPPLIES NEEDED

Photo mat, pressed flowers and leaves, white glue, small paint brush.

Arrange pressed flowers and leaves in desired pattern on mat prior

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to gluing in place. Use a small paintbrush to apply a light coat of white glue to the back of each flower or leaf. Carefully affix to mat.

After drying, frame mat behind glass to protect the flowers.

DECORATED MIRROR SUPPLIES NEEDED

Mirror, pressed flowers and/or leaves, white glue, small paint brush.

Use dried, pressed flowers and/or leaves to jazz up the back of a plain mirror.

PRESSED FLOWER COASTERS SUPPLIES NEEDED

Heavy cardboard, pressed flowers and leaves, white glue, small paintbrush, contact paper.

Cut coaster-size circles from heavy cardboard. Arrange the flowers and leaves in desired pattern on coaster before gluing in place. Use a paintbrush to apply a light coat of white glue to the back of the

flowers and leaves. Affix to coaster.

Allow glue to dry and cover in clear contact paper.

Decorate a favorite rock with pressed flowers. Use decoupage solution to affix flowers to the rock.

PRESSED FLOWER BOOKMARK

Quick Tips for Drying and Pressing Flowers: Preferred Methods: Pressing flowers and leaves in old phonebooks or drying flowers upside down. Make sure flowers and leaves are dry before pressing them on pages in phonebooks.

SUPPLIES NEEDED

Heavy paper or card stock, pressed flowers and/or leaves, white glue, small paint brush, contact paper.

Decorate a homemade bookmark (made from card stock or heavy paper) with pressed flowers.

Arrange the flowers and leaves in desired pattern on bookmark before gluing in place. Use a paintbrush to apply a light coat of white glue to the back of the flowers and leaves.

Affix to bookmark. Allow glue to dry completely. Cover both sides in clear contact paper. Use scissors/ shears to trim it.

PRESSED FLOWER PAPERWEIGHT SUPPLIES NEEDED

Rock, pressed flowers, decoupage solution (can be purchased from a craft store).

Also, take apart flowers like pansies before trying to press them in phonebooks. Drying flowers upside down, hanging by clothespins from a hanger is also recommended.

Or use a flower press. They can be purchased in craft stores or purchased on-line.

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ADVERTISEMENT

Honoring Our Wartime Heroes The Veterans Administration’s Aid & Attendance Benefit helps veterans and spouses enjoy their golden years at The Atrium

Written by Janice C. Kaplan for The Atrium

T

here are more than 11 million veterans or surviving spouses over the age of 65 living in the United States today.

After serving their country with valor and sacrifice, these heroes deserve to live their golden years with a distinct sense of comfort and freedom. At The Atrium in Gainesville, they can find exactly that when they take advantage of the Veterans Administration’s Aid & Attendance Benefit.

“Wartime-serving veterans gave to their country,” said Prem Paul Murrhee, Director of Sales and Marketing for The Atrium.

“Now it’s time for their country to give back to them.”

The Aid & Attendance Benefit is a generous federal program that provides financial aid to veterans or surviving spouses who require services for any number of daily activities. These benefits are $1,632 per month for a veteran, $1,055 per month for a deceased veteran’s surviving spouse, or $1,945 per month for a veteran and spouse together.

These amounts could cover as much as 75% of the all-inclusive 44 | Spring 2011

monthly rent at The Atrium.

“It’s a great program from the federal government,” said Murrhee. “This benefit is for wartimeserving veterans and it’s very inclusive. I’ve been moving people in on this program for three years and have helped more than 100 people apply for Aid and Attendance benefits. (The government) really wants to help people get the benefits that they deserve.”

Eligibility for the benefit is based on three criteria. You must be a veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran with 90 consecutive days of active duty and one day of service during a declared war. A doctor must indicate your need for aid and attendance (because The Atrium provides meal service, transportation and 24-hour attendance, the benefit can be used for rent).

There are also financial qualifications to be met, with each application considered on a caseby-case basis. Local veterans advocates can help you evaluate your financial situation to see if you qualify, and The Atrium hosts a veterans benefit talk at noon on

the last Thursday of every month.

The approval process takes anywhere from four to nine months, but that does not have to delay your move. The Atrium will defer the portion of your rent that would be covered by the benefit until the Aid & Attendance funds are granted.

“In the past people have had to dip into their savings to pay their rent, and then they would be paid back,” said Murrhee. “We will defer the rent by the benefit amount, so they’re effectively receiving benefits immediately.

When they get that retroactive payment, they just pay it back.

We don’t charge interest, and there are no extra fees for the service.”

Nestled in a quiet yet central location in Gainesville, The Atrium is an all-inclusive retirement community of 225 residents enjoying their golden years in style. Its namesake five-story atrium has a glass ceiling, baby grand pianos and plenty of trees and foliage.

Apartment residences range in size from 400-1600 square feet and all include a full kitchen.

Paul Murrhee, Director of Sales and Marketing, just before the Atrium’s Veteran Benefit Talk.

Monthly rent includes all utilities except personal phone service, three meals a day, weekly housecleaning, activities and entertainment, transportation, 24/7 live-in management and more. A post office, a branch of Wise’s Pharmacy and a hair salon are just a few of the other conveniences provided all under one roof.

Freedom of choice is a central theme at The Atrium. Leases are month to month so residents aren’t bound to long-term contracts and there are no entrance fees. And because the facility is

not owned by a medical company (as many such facilities are), residents can choose the amount of medical care they want and the company that provides it. If you move into an apartment and later your abilities change (for example, you need more regular in-home care), you don’t have to move apartments; that’s your home, and you can stay as long as you want.”

As a property of the Holiday Retirement Corporation, The Atrium shares visiting privileges with over 300 Holiday locations

across the US and Canada. All Holiday properties include a fully furnished guest suite that is just like a hotel suite. Normally rented at a nominal fee for guests visiting property residents, these suites are also perfect for traveling Atrium residents to stay in at no charge.

Modern retired veterans are more active than ever, and The Atrium strives to match it with unprecedented freedom and flexibility. Said Murrhee, “You’re in complete control every step of the way.”

The Atrium at Gainesville features beautiful and spacious studio, one and two bedroom apartments.

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>> GIVING BACK

HAWKS Mentoring Program at High Springs Community School Brings Generations Together

BY JANICE C. KAPLAN itting together at lunchtime. Getting help with math homework. Tossing a ball in the yard. These are experiences that many children share, but for some students they are not all that common. High Springs Community School is hoping to change that with the HAWKS Mentoring Program, a collaboration between administrators and volunteer residents to make a difference in students’ lives.

The HAWKS Mentoring Program is the brainchild of Danette Drageset. A volunteer mentor herself in a neighboring county, she went to school administrators at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year to suggest a similar program.

“I got a very warm response,” Drageset said. “They were very much onboard to try it, so [assistant principal] Emory Bishop and I sat down together and mapped out how to get it started.”

The duo put together a pilot program, and Drageset went to work creating flyers and speaking to garden clubs,

S

46 | Spring 2011

rotary clubs and other civic organizations. She devised a training program for the mentors who volunteered and matched them with students, and in December 2009 HAWKS started off with a handful of participants.

The program quickly got the attention of teachers and other students, however, and by the end of the school year — just six months after it started — 25 mentors had signed on to help 60 students in academic and social capacities.

Today HAWKS has 29 mentors working with 70 students. Under the philosophy of the “HAWK ‘I’s” — Individual, Intentional and Intervention — volunteers work with students in one of two ways. The mentors of VAST (Volunteer Academic Support Team) volunteer as reading and/or math coaches to work academically with students one-on-one during the school day.

“We put together folders containing the work that each volunteer is going to use with the students that week,” Drageset said. “So the mentor doesn’t prepare anything, and the teacher doesn’t have to do anything either. I create and maintain the folders, which are kept in a secure

PHOTO BY ALBERT ISAAC

Ryah Schultz with mentor Lucille Gabriel on the High Springs Community School campus. Ryah has been with the program from the beginning, said Danette Drageset.

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2011 | 47

PHOTO BY ALBERT ISAAC

Volunteer Janet Rou (left) mentors Adam O’Brien (4th grade) at the High Springs Community School. Danette Drageset started the program at the beginning of 2009.

location in the mentoring office.”

The program also features social mentors — volunteers who meet with students during their lunchtimes to build relationships that will give them support and accountability. Drageset explained that the goal is to provide companionship and to ultimately encourage students to make positive choices in their lives and schoolwork.

“For some kids that means the world, and we see academic improvement for them that way,” she said. “It’s one of those intangibles, having someone interested in you and wanting to know how you’re doing.”

The students are not the only ones benefiting from

such intangibles. As with many types of volunteer efforts, the mentors take great pleasure in making a difference in the children’s lives.

Jim Buffington first heard of the program at a rotary club meeting, and is now in his second school year of academic and social mentoring.

A retired manufacturing sales representative, he spends an hour and a half each week working with two second-graders and a third-grader.

“I’ve had more fun than anybody with it,” Buffington said. “They’re like sponges. They are so willing to receive, and they look forward to it.”

When volunteers apply to become mentors, Drageset first sits down with them to ask about their interest — what age student would they like to mentor, would they prefer academic or social mentoring, etc. Applicants are given an orientation and background check before they set foot on the school’s campus. Volunteers commit to visiting campus at least once a week, and most schedules can be accommodated easily so a wide variety of area residents can help.

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“Some are retirees, some are businesspeople who come on their breaks or off-days,” Drageset said. “Some are stay-at-home moms. Our population is very diverse; we have a great group of mentors and they make the program because they are so dedicated.”

Drageset’s roots in the area run deep. She grew up in North Central Florida and received a public relations degree from the University of Florida. Her husband coaches the basketball team at High Springs Community School and both of their children are students there. She is also the lead singer of Crosswinds, a local band that plays at the Great Outdoors every other month.

Drageset’s efforts have resulted in more than just a thriving program; after being named the district’s adult School Volunteer of the Year, she was recognized as one of five State of Florida Volunteers of the Year. The award is something she embraces as a chance to share more information about the program.

“I truly credit it to the fact that it’s a unique and special program. That’s what catches people’s attention,” Drageset said. “It’s something you don’t see at every school.”

The astounding growth of the program also led administrators this past summer to assign her a

part-time position to coordinate the HAWKS program, which will provide her with more time and resources in the coming years.

Awards and new jobs aside, however, the main goal is to make a difference in the lives of the students and mentors alike.

“Being a mentor myself before I got this program

The students are not the only ones benefiting — as with many types of volunteer efforts, the mentors take great pleasure in making a difference in the children’s lives. started at High Springs, I know that you get so much from mentoring,” she said. “I hear that from the other mentors now. The smiles on their faces show that they really do enjoy what they’re doing. You’re really able to make an impact on their lives; it’s really fulfilling.”

Buffington heartily agreed. “It’s extremely helpful to the kids, and as a mentor you take away more than you put in,” he said. “I really have a good time. It’s like having extra grandchildren.” s

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A DVE RTI S E M E N T

Vision of Success Caretenders’ Low Vision Program fosters independence for Seniors

Of all the senses, it is perhaps our sense of vision that we fear losing the most. “Vision is such a critical element of our everyday lives, and it is always taken for granted until we begin to lose it,” said Sunshine Plants, an occupational therapist who is the Clinical Champion and Educator for the Caretenders of Gainesville Low Vision program.

O

ne in six adults over the age of 45 is affected by low vision; by age 75, this number increases to one in four. The most common causes of vision loss in Seniors include macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy (a complication of diabetes) and glaucoma.

Since two in three adults with low vision live at home, and half of those live alone, even the most mundane tasks are affected.

50 | Spring 2011

Matching clothing and grooming become more difficult, as do managing finances, preparing meals and using appliances and electronics. Personal safety also becomes an issue since patients can’t easily see water spills and objects in their path, and they can’t accurately judge the height or depth of stairs or curbs.

Because of these setbacks, low vision

often leads to greater health problems and loss of quality of life. “Low vision positively correlates with depression,” said Plants. “The patients are often at risk for malnutrition, injury and social isolation.” The caring staff at Caretenders of Gainesville works with home patients to help them move past their low vision and live fuller and more independent lives.

Caretenders’ provides a variety of therapeutic interventions to help patients use what vision abilities they still have.

“What is so amazing is that even with a visual acuity score of 20/200 (legal blindness), there is still a great amount of remaining usable vision,” Plants explained.

“But one must be taught how to use it.

That is the role of the low vision therapist at Caretenders.”

Patients with decreased visual acuity are shown how to use optical devices like magnifying glasses, auditory alarms and devices, writing guides and other equipment. For decreased contrast sensitivity, patients are taught the use of increased contrast by placing red duct tape on the edges of stairs, or by using dark plates and cups for light-colored foods and beverages (and vice versa). If a patient has decreased depth perception, Caretenders helps to modify the home environment and teaches techniques and strategies to more safely navigate around the home.

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>> VOLUNTEERING

Helping Others Wanda Kemp

BY VICTORIA LASAVATH creaking sound emerges and a bright “Good Morning” follows as a couple peers from behind an opened door.

“Do you know of any golf courses around here?” the man asks.

A woman sitting at the large desk in the center of the small room gets up and comes to the front of the building closer to where the couple is standing. She greets them with a warm, inviting smile that could make any stranger feel welcome. There are no golf courses in the area, she says, and mentions there are some in Gainesville. She then proceeds to give them a map of High Springs before the visitors are on their way.

This would be a typical Tuesday for Wanda Kemp.

She has been volunteering at the High Springs Chamber of Commerce since July 1993, helping inquiring guests at the town’s visitor center. She is the office

A

52 | Spring 2011

coordinator and is at the center every Tuesday from 10 am to 2 pm.

Since the Welcome Center opened in 1993, there have been rotating members on the advisory board while Wanda’s role has been consistent throughout.

“Since I’ve been here so long I know what has to be done,” Wanda said.

She knows where the closest golf courses are, the best directions to the springs, and how to run the Welcome Center. Through her countless volunteer hours she has contributed more than time to the city.

Her experience allows her to better serve her town by managing its chamber.

Helping others is something Wanda enjoys and the chamber is not the only place Wanda has put in volunteer hours. She has volunteered for the AARP for the past 22 years through her positions as an officer and board member.

With her finance background, she has also

PHOTO BY VICTORIA LASAVATH

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2011 | 53

volunteered with income tax preparation for seven years. Her other volunteer efforts include working with the local cancer society with the mammogram programs for eight years, where she distributed information about the exam.

She did not start volunteering until after she retired from a financial company she worked for 28 years in Ft. Lauderdale.

Originally, Wanda wanted to follow suit with the rest of the women in her family and become a beautician, but when the opportunity to work in a finance company arose in October 1957 doing credit checks, things worked out differently.

Wanda worked her way up to the position as office manager before retiring in 1986 and moving to High Springs to be closer to her mother who was ill at the time.

Wanda’s nature to help others came in to play during times when two of her aunts became ill and she became a legal guardian to one. Her desire to become a beautician came useful because she would style her aunts’ hair-dos.

“I was always close to my aunts and I enjoyed doing things for them,” she said.

Another interest of Wanda’s that she uses to help others is her passion for dancing. She teaches a line dancing class every Thursday night. She has offered this class for the past 10 years, the first eight at the Civic Center and now the High Springs Community

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PHOTO BY VICTORIA LASAVATH

Wanda Kemp in the office at the High Springs Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center. Wanda has volunteered her time and energy to the chamber since 1993.

School cafeteria.

“Get me a good piece of music and I can’t be still,” she said.

Last October at a reunion with people she grew up with in the Oakland Park suburb of Ft. Lauderdale, she was approached when she began dancing to tunes from the era.

“I know if anyone was watching you, they were wishing they could do the same thing you’re doing,” the man commented on her dancing ability, she said.

Wanda’s eyes light up when speaking about dancing and sharing with others what she loves to do. Her passion is felt by her dance students.

“She’s very dedicated and really goes out of her way to teach us,” said dance student Rose Carris.

Carris has been a student of Wanda’s since 2002 when she first started her class. The two are close and Carris said her friend is always volunteering.

“She is never too busy to help and gives as much as she can.”

Teaching a dance class was something the dancer in her genuinely likes to do.

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“I just enjoy sharing what I know with other people that want to learn,” Wanda said.

Wanda’s desire to help is evident through different aspects of her life and those who work with her acknowledge how important her role is.

Without Wanda, the chamber would quickly realize what they did not know, said Heather Clarich, chamber advisory board member.

“Wanda is incredibly passionate about High Springs and the success of the chamber,” Clarich said.

“Everyone in town should be grateful for that.”

Clarich said 90 percent of the town’s visitors go through Wanda, whether a direct visit to the visitor’s center, an e-mail, letter or phone call.

“You never know what kind of phone call you’re gonna get, either,” she said.

Someone recently called when Wanda was at the desk and they had asked what county the city was in, Clarich said. When Wanda replied “Alachua,” the person said they just wanted to hear how to correctly pronounce it.

Whether it is helping someone learn how to pronounce “Alachua,” teaching others how to line dance or giving directions to those visiting from out of town, Wanda said she enjoys all of it.

“To me, it’s important to give back,” she said.

“I’ve been fortunate. You know, I mean I have a good lifestyle. So I’m just giving back.” s

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COLUMN >> BY KENDRA SILER-MARSIGLIO

Healthy Edge When it comes to health, I’ve gotten used to being surprised, daily. ome of the bigger surprises: researchers found that chocolate’s actually good for you and religiously avoiding the sun is bad. Here are five other surprising “kid” health facts to keep your little ones in top shape:

S

1. CARTOON CHARACTERS ON FOOD PACKAGING LEADS KIDS TO EAT MORE JUNK. When kids are cruising the grocery isles, they’re typically most interested in foods with their favorite characters on the box. But did you know the cartoon packaging makes the food taste better too?

A June 2010 study in Pediatrics showed that kids claim that gummy snacks and graham crackers from boxes labeled with cartoon characters are tastier than the same items in plain packages. Sadly, carrots in cartoon bags have less of an effect — yet, I’m going to try it on my 3 1/2 year old anyway.

more than 60 percent of 186 popular baby and toddler foods contain unacceptably high levels of sodium (more than 260 mg) or sugar (more than 20 percent of total calories from sugar).

What’s the worst food offender? Gerber’s Fruit Medley Dessert; 75 percent of its calories are from added sugar — not the natural sugar from fruit.

Even Baby/toddler foods weren’t healthier for your little ones than adult versions of the same foods. For instance, toddler yogurts had 63 mg of sodium, while the adult version had 50 mg.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) suggests that everyone should limit calories from added sugar to less than 25 percent of their total intake. IOM also set the standards for sodium at 370 mg per day for babies and 1000 mg per day for toddlers.

3. SPORTS DRINKS AND SODAS ARE BOTH UNHEALTHY. 2. BABY AND TODDLER FOODS COMMONLY CONTAIN UNHEALTHY SODIUM AND SUGAR LEVELS. A June 2010 Journal of Public Health study finds that

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With the way sports drinks are advertised you’d think that they were a staple for healthy, active lifestyles. However, public health proponents say that sports drinks really just boil down to sugar water

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On the bright side, a University of Texas study shows that kids who opt for sports drinks are more active than their soda-drinking counterparts. According to U.S. News, teens that drink sports drinks tend to eat more vegetables and fruit and drink more milk than soda drinkers.

Even though sports drinks have less sugar than sodas, you may want to encourage your kids to drink water. Teens get 10-15 perecent of their daily calories from sports drinks, and 28 percent of teens drink three or more sports drinks daily.

Just one soda or sport drink daily can cause a 15-pound gain in a year.

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The chocolate milk debate has been a controversial one, but the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians issued a statement that suggests kids are better off drinking sweetened low-fat milk than foregoing even part of the daily recommended amount of milk (3 cups per day, or the equivalent).

Registered Dietitian Tamara Duker Freuman doesn’t think you should introduce sweetened milks to preschool-aged kids yourself. However, she wants parents to know that it’s likely their kids will be introduced to sweetened milk at school, and most kids will naturally like the taste of the sweetened milk more than unsweetened milk. If and when that happens, parents can have a little less angst about letting their kids drink sweetened milk. It’s still good for you... kinda.

5. FAST FOOD NUTRITIONAL LABELS LEADS TO HEALTHIER FAST FOOD CHOICES. Sure, knowing what’s in (or not in) your fast food won’t make it healthier for you. Yet, taking the nutritional guesswork out of eating out gives you better control over your choices.

A Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics study published last year showed that parents armed with nutritional labels gave their kids fast food meals that were about 102 fewer calories than the meals chosen by parents without the nutritional information.

To put this in perspective, 3500 calories is about what it takes to add a pound of weight.

Want more tips to help you and your kids eat (and drink) more healthily? Check out FYI Living at fyiliving. com/diet for more surprising facts. Or, for nutrition guidelines by age and gender, go to the Mayo Clinic link to Nutrition for Kids at mayoclinic.com/health/ nutrition-for-kids/NU00606. s Kendra Siler-Marsiglio, Ph.D. is the Director of Rural Health Partnership at WellFlorida Council.

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Spring 2011 | 59

>> ON MY HONOR

Be Prepared Scouting in High Springs & Alachua

BY KEVIN ALLEN PHOTOS BY TJ MORRISSEY and SARA HSU

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Alachua Troop 88’s Scoutmaster Fred Hilton (left) with Assistant Scoutmaster Mike Rhodes pose beside the totem pole that was made by scouts and has been an icon for the troop for more than 25 years. The two leaders are proud to report that 11 members from Troop 88 became Eagle Scouts this past year, earning a centennial Eagle Patch on Scouting’s 100th anniversary.

At a recent Camp Shands outing, Boy Scouts instruct younger scouts the art of building a fi re.

Recently, Cub Scouts of Pack 88 attended their Annual Blue and Gold Banquet held at the Alachua Woman’s Club.

60 | Spring 2011

f you want to know how Scouting has endured for more than a century, all you needed to do was look at the faces of Scouts at Camp Shands one recent Saturday morning.

It was a rainy, overcast, seemingly dreary day at the camp, which is roughly 40 miles from Alachua in Putnam County. But you could not tell that from the faces of the boys from the High Springs and Alachua scout groups. Cub Scouts from Packs 69 (High Springs) and 88 (Alachua), among others, listened in rapt attention as their older compatriots from the area Boy Scout troops gave instruction in crafts, fire making, and shooting BB guns and bows and arrows.

“The kids don’t care that it’s wet and cold,” said Aileen Ruess, who has one son in High Springs Scout Troop 69 and one in the Cub Scout pack. They just like the idea of being outdoors and camping, she said.

Scouting, which nationally

I

celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, has been a fixture in the High Springs and Alachua area for years. Alachua’s Troop 88 can trace its origins back to the 1930s. High Springs’ Troop 69’s Scout Hut alone (which is undergoing renovation) dates back to the 1940s. And as it enters its second century, Scouting is showing it still has much to offer.

That is true even though it faces a lot of competition, said Bob Heeke, the scoutmaster of Troop 69.

Churches, municipalities and other groups all have youth programs of their own. What draws boys like the 12-15 Scouts in his troop, said Heeke, is that they “like to be outside.” That seems to be the key to how Scouting remains relevant in an era of smart phones and video games.

The Scouting program does try to keep in touch with modern trends, said Mike Rhodes, an assistant scoutmaster for Troop 88 who serves as unit commissioner at the district level. There are now merit

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Spring 2011 | 61

PHOTO BY SARAH HSU

Older Boy Scouts show Cub Scouts the proper way to build a fi re at Camp Shands.

There was a conspicuous absence of modern distractions such as iPods and Game Boys at the compsites — though footballs and soccer balls were present in abundance. badges for computers, environmental science and business in addition to the more traditional badges like camping and first aid. But he noted the basic appeal of scouting remains as it always has — letting the boys have fun, particularly outdoors.

“Camping today is the same as it was 30-40 years ago,” Rhodes said.

Indeed, there was a conspicuous absence of modern distractions such as iPods and Game Boys at the campsites this particular weekend, though footballs and soccer balls were present in abundance.

That suits the Scouts just fine.

“There’s no end to what you can do on a campout,” said Dean Dickhaut, 15, one of 11 members of Troop 88 who have achieved Scouting’s highest rank, Eagle Scout. While his group has been on rafting and skiing trips, as well as excursions to historic sites such as

62 | Spring 2011

the USS Alabama, it is the camping that has the most appeal. He likes “doing hands-on activities, actually doing something.”

Even if those hands are on a corn snake — at least in the case of the Cub Scouts of Pack 69. When an adult brought in a snake found near the campsite, a half-dozen or so Cubs eagerly gathered and passed the snake around, asking questions about it.

“It felt cool, kind of weird,” said Jacob Weitz, 10. Like the others, he was originally drawn by the appeal of camping, but stays because the program lets them “run around being boys.”

“There’s not a boy in America who doesn’t like that stuff,” proclaimed Fred Hilton, who oversees the 35 scouts of Troop 88 as scoutmaster. “If you’re not having fun, the kids aren’t going to do it.”

There is more than camping, of course.

“There’s no other youth organization that teaches anything about civic responsibility,” Heeke said, “which is so important in these times.”

He points to programs like Scouting for Food, where Troop 69 gathered food for the Catholic Charities chapter in High Springs. His own two sons have put in more than 100 hours of service time between them.

And the program teaches a variety of subjects, from the astronomy class the night before at Camp Shands, where the boys made star charts, to “Take it Apart Day,” where older Cub Scouts of Pack 69 took apart a compressor.

“They got to use wrenches and screwdrivers,” said David Hilman, the cubmaster for the pack. “They really enjoyed that.”

The fun is central to Scouting’s larger purpose, which also remains the same: helping young men grow up, by letting them learn leadership.

“Fun, if you do it properly, is a byproduct of learning,” Hilton said.

That approach was evident at Camp Shands, as the teenaged Boy Scouts did most of the teaching to the younger boys, while the adults looked on.

“It teaches me how to be an adult,” said Tyler Baker, 12, as he took a break from teaching fire making and fire safety to Cub Scouts from Archer and Chiefland.

“You learn to do things for yourself, and help other people too.”

That part of Scouting has perhaps the most appeal for the parents, especially those who help out.

“It makes them grow up to be a good person,” said Jackie Pfalzgraf, who has two sons in Troop 88. Both have become more responsible and organized, she observed.

For instance, her older son Austin has learned to cook, and does a better job of keeping his things in order.

Her husband Hans, an assistant scoutmaster, agreed.

“I find my kids getting leadership out of it,” he said.

Scoutmaster Hilton’s pride was evident as he described how the boys in his troop grow and learn to lead. He pointed to a tent his scouts had erected earlier in the day as an example.

“They worked as a team,” he said, even if they did not realize it at the time.

That is the kind of lesson that may explain why Scouting stays a big part of many scouts’ lives, even after they become adults.

“They’re basically in a fraternity,” said Tyler Baker’s dad, Todd, an assistant scoutmaster in Troop 88 and a former Scout himself.

Todd Baker said the contributions Scouting makes to a person’s development do not go unnoticed.

“When you fill out a college application, job application, and you put down you were a Eagle Scout — it makes a difference,” he said.

One of those Eagle Scouts, Dickhaut, summed it up more directly: “You learn life lessons. It’s a part of my life, and will be forever.” s

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>> AWARENESS

Lake-Side Conservation Alligator Lake Festival Promotes Learning About the Issues Currently Destroying Florida’s Natural Resources

BY AMANDA WILLIAMSON he Alligator Lake Spring Festival may not be bringing out the alligators, but it will definitely include some fun visits from the furry friends that live in the environments around the local Lake City area.

Set for Saturday, April 9, the event is sponsored and run by two environmental organizations in the area, Four Rivers Audubon and Gateway Wildlife Habitat Organization. Last year, the festival drew approximately 400 people, even with competing festivals in other parts of the city.

Four Rivers Audubon, which focuses on conservation of birds and their habitat, will start the morning off at 8 a.m. with a bird walk. Guests wishing to participate in the bird walk must preregister. Four Rivers Audubon will provide loaner binoculars for beginners. The walk is lead by retired Fish and Wildlife bird experts.

Alligator Lake is one of the primary places for bird watching in the area. It is listed by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as a stopping point on Florida’s Great Birding Trail.

“They find a connection with nature, especially birds,” said Lauri Shubert, founder of Gateway Wildlife Habitat Organization. “Who doesn’t like birds? And if

T

64 | Spring 2011

PHOTO BY GEORGIA SHEMITZ

Leslie Straub, of the Florida Wildlife Care Center, is pictured here with one of the injured birds she rehabilitated.

you do what’s right for the birds, you will do what’s right for all wildlife.”

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website, Alligator Lake provides wetlands, grasslands, hard forest and dry swamps. Jacqui Sulek, co-president of Four Rivers

PHOTOS BY GEORGIA SHEMITZ

ABOVE: Save our Suwannee member Malachai Speer holds an indigo snake during last year’s festival.

BELOW: A youth group with loaner binoculars take an early bird tour with Valerie Thomas to identify birds.

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Spring 2011 | 65

PHOTO BY GEORGIA SHEMITZ

Artist John Larner with the Artists League of North Florida painting with oils at the Alligator Lake Festival.

Audubon, said that the varying levels of water also allow for a wider range of birds to inhabit the area.

“It provides a huge range of habitats,” Sulek said.

The Festival’s bird walk ends at 10 a.m. and the festival begins. The festival brings together varying organizations that will discuss conservation issues, including the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Panther Society.

“One of the most serious conservation issues is that the Ichetucknee is being compromised,” Sulek said. In North Florida, the springs are very important to life — and the economy. Sulek estimated that tourists visiting the Ichetucknee River bring $22 million a year to the local economies.

How does this connect to the Alligator Lake Spring Festival? The whole Ichetucknee River system has its headwaters in Alligator Lake, which is located in Lake City, the biggest city in Colombia County. All those people unknowingly contaminate the water systems.

The way people treat Alligator Lake will impact the springs. In the past, Alligator Lake was used as a

66 | Spring 2011

dumping ground, Sulek said.

“It’s really a celebration of nature, but our focus is that the land is the headwaters of the Ichetucknee and a great birding trail,” Sulek said.

The Spring Festival is a way to get people outdoors for a day to learn about the importance of the lake and its habitats.

The problem today is that residences have been built in the area around the lake. When people fertilize their lawns, it runs downhill into Alligator Lake. Nutrients in the lake have increased, allowing for the growth of algae, a slimy plant that will quickly suffocate other native plants.

“I firmly believe that people, once they understand how things work, are willing to do the right thing,” Sulek said.

So, the festival caters to that idea. It will have everything from vendors serving food to educational booths. All of the educational booths match the theme the festival is aiming for — conservation. There will be vendors selling native plants and natural fertilizers.

Last year, the North Florida Artists League set up around the lake and had a paint-out. At the end of the day, guests at the festival were able to purchase the paintings.

Four Rivers Audubon has a booth where people can take the Healthy Yard Pledge. This pledge calls for residents to protect their own backyard by reducing pesticide use, conserving water, planting native plants, and supporting the birds and wildlife that live on their property. At the last festival, a local science teacher gave extra credit to his high school class if the students signed the pledge at the festival.

The Florida Department of Transportation may seem like a strange visitor to the environmental festival, but it is providing several important conservation programs. They have the Scenic Highway Program that designates roads beautiful and worth preserving as

“One of the most serious conservation issues is that the Ichetucknee is being compromised.” they are. A1A is a Florida Department of Transportation Scenic Highway, which means that there are things that cannot be done to the roadside. This program ensures that the roadside will always stay as beautiful as it is today, Shubert said.

The FDT also has a program to distribute wildflower seeds around the highways. This program helps the highways look beautiful, as well as providing vegetation.

Shubert and the Gateway Wildlife Habitat Organization will have an exhibit at the festival that demonstrates how people can make their yards enticing to wildlife. There are four qualities that attract animals to a backyard: food, water, shelter and a place to raise young. The land around a home probably already provides natural elements that would provide these qualities, such as giant oaks and berries, Shubert said. But these elements can also be provided by people by making bird feeders, birdhouses and bird baths.

Shubert approached the county in hopes of making the area a National Wildlife Federation Habitat. And surprisingly, it is not that hard to become certified. The National Wildlife Federation will provide a certificate to those who use sustainable gardening practices that help the wildlife. Again, the yard has to provide all the necessary ingredients: puddling area for the butterflies, a thicket for the rabbits to dash under, or bushes for moths and butterflies to lay eggs — to name a few.

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There will also be three guest speakers for entertainment. Ondine Wells, head of the Ichetucknee Working Group, will be talking about the connection between the lake and the springs.

Carol Buie-Jackson, of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, is going to talk about how to build a wildlife habitat in a backyard.

And birding expert Adam Kent has been invited to speak about the importance of Alligator Lake for birds and birding.

The festival provides a community-friendly event, a way to get the children out of the house for a day. Sulek feels that last year’s festival was really successful.

Before the day was even over, she had people asking if the two groups would be putting the festival on again this year.

“I think it was just a really nice balance between fun and education about this very special resource in Colombia County,” she said. She noticed people last year would meander through the booths for a while, and then take a break at the playground to let the children play for a while before joining the festivities once again.

Sulek said that the festival allows Colombia County residents and people from other areas a chance to visit a natural resource so they can see it as their own and learn how to manage it.

“We are all connected in this,” Sulek said.

68 | Spring 2011

The effort to maintain and support Florida’s natural resources is going to take everyone’s involvement, not just a select few organizations. People need to be using sustainable practices at home.

“I think what has happened in our era is that we have gotten disconnected, and people have gotten reconnected through our electronic media. So your community is not always physical,” Sulek said. “This is a way to go back to how it used to be.”

Being outdoors is good for people and some may have forgotten that, she said.

For example, last year a woman brought her children — ages 3, 5 and 7 — to the bird walk. After a morning of fighting her son to get out of bed, her five year old loved it. The woman told Sulek that he now wanted her to buy him a pair of binoculars. Sulek feels the experience may have changed his life view of the outdoors.

The festival will be bringing back most of the same organizations from last year, such as Florida Wildlife Care Center from Gainesville. Sulek and Shubert both said the group was a big hit last year, especially with the children. The care center brought with it birds of prey, a gopher tortoise and a opossum.

However, there will also be various new sights to see.

“So, even if you came last year, you need to come again,” Sulek said.

The animals and waters of Alligator Lake are waiting — for a visit and for a rescuer. s

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Spring 2011 | 69

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COLUMN >> ALBERT ISAAC

Different Note I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with those venomous flying daggers known as wasps and hornets. nd I’m very grateful that I am not allergic to the devilish vermin or I might not be here to write about them now.

I have been stung enough to develop a deep respect for the little scumbags. I do feel, for the most part, that if left alone they won’t bother you. I’ve been around their nests innumerable times without suffering any ill effects.

I’ve breezed by them without being attacked. I’ve even knocked down their hives without being swarmed upon.

All of my children have a deep respect for them.

My youngest son has an understandable fear of the buggers after being stung while poking his little fingers into the hole in a picnic table where they had clandestinely created their nest. Being a mere child (he was four at the time) he didn’t understand what was happening, so he just stood there screaming bloody murder. My wife and I ran to him and snatched him

A

72 | Spring 2011

away. I wasn’t sure what had gotten him since it was getting dark - or maybe I had my sunglasses on - so I became a human guinea pig, and stuck my hand in the very same area. I was immediately hit by several painful hypodermic injections of what can only be described as molten lava.

My curiosity satisfied, I ran to the house screaming like a banshee. (Not really; I had to be strong for the little one.)

I was actually relieved that they were only hornets, and not something more dangerous like a coral snake or Eastern Diamondback rattler or African Barking Spider.

I was also relieved to learn that my boy is not allergic to the beasties.

Alas, I have come to find that these carnivorous creatures often attack when you are not watching them. Like the rooster on my father’s farm that would immediately charge the moment you turned your back, these sly devils wait until you are not paying attention.

Years ago, one of the little monsters actually had the audacity to fly into my shirt whilst I was not looking. In fact, I was riding my motorcycle - to the dentist no less - in heavy traffic. I couldn’t stop. The sucker stung me repeatedly as I flailed about trying to get it out of my shirt while riding with one hand. Motorists must have thought I was nuts.

I did not dare smash the bug against my flesh,

although in retrospect that makes more sense than trying to get him out of my shirt as I drove. Probably has something to do with my amygdala, that primitive part of the brain that shouts: “Don’t touch that thing it will sting you!” even while that thing is stinging the living crap out of you.

Alas, it managed to deliver a multitude of painful injections as I screeched (my tires, not me) to a halt (OK, it was me) on the sidewalk, narrowly missing the curb, a tree, and a group of onlookers who probably thought I was having some kind of a fit. I pulled my collar away and the unfettered bug simply flew up, up and away, without even giving me the satisfaction of squashing the life out of it.

And, to make matters worse, once at the dentist office I discovered that Novocain in my mouth did nothing to relieve the pains in my chest.

Did you know that bees and hornets are able to detect infrared and other radiation that we cannot see?

I am not sure of the science behind it all (and too lazy to look it up), but I do know I once tried to photograph a bumblebee in flight. That insect kept hovering like a helicopter, staring at me, so I trained my camera at him. However, every time I squeezed the shutter and the camera attempted to auto-focus, the bee would move out of the way. And I do mean every time. So I put it on manual focus and got the shot.

I had forgotten this little-known truism while photographing a nest-full of wasps. At first they seemed OK with it. I clicked away. Even used the flash. But as soon as my back was turned they attacked, mad as hornets, delivering a multitude of painful stings right through the fabric of my shirt. It felt like I was being stuck with an ice pick. Made of molten lava.

Fortunately this time I was not on a motorcycle on my way to the dentist but instead visiting a friend who offered me medicine (an adult beverage) and then proceeded to slap some baking soda paste on my wounds.

So my advice: Don’t turn your back on flying barbed insects and mad roosters. They are conniving creatures that do not wish to be photographed and will attack when you least expect it. s

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>> LITERACY

Playing with Poetry Teaching Children a Love of Words “Poetry and hums aren’t things which you get, they’re things which get you. And all you can do is go where they can find you.” — Winnie-the-Pooh

BY DIANE E. SHEPARD

A

pril is National Poetry Month. Whether one reads it, hears it, or writes it, everyone could use a little more poetry in their life.

THE BENEFITS OF POETRY Poetry encourages children to read. Since practicing reading is such a vital component of learning to read, it just makes sense that children should read something that excites them, so they will read more. Poetry makes them enthusiastic about words, and gives them a reason to read.

One reason for this is that poetry feeds their love of music. There is a musical quality to poems that children cannot resist. Their natural love of music can be easily translated into a fondness for poetry. Children fall in love with the music of poetry: The rhythm, the rhyme, the cadence. Reading poems makes reading fun.

Poetry can even help struggling readers, because it engages them and keeps them wanting to practice their reading.

74 | Spring 2011

POETRY: WHERE RHYTHM & RHYME REIGN Poetry comes alive for children through the music of rhythm, rhyme and repetition, all effective devices for drawing children inside the poem. Toddlers and preschoolers especially love rhyme-intensive poems.

POETRY IS FUN AND FREEING “Poetry is language at play,” said Mary Baron, Ph.D., professor of Writing and Literature (including children’s literature) at the University of North Florida. Baron is also a poet and author of several poetry books. “You are allowed to break all the rules.”

There is a freedom and a power to poetry that cannot easily be found in most other subjects in school.

Children will likely embrace it.

Where else but in poetry can you break all the rules and get away with it?

“You may lie so it all sounds true,” Baron said. “Like Humpty Dumpty, you are in charge: ‘When I use a word, it means exactly what I say, neither more nor less.’”

PHOTO BY DIANE E. SHEPARD

What could be better for a child on a nice spring afternoon than taking a break from running and playing outside, to read outside on a cozy quilt? Poetry like Shel Silverstein’s can actually help a child learn to read because it hooks them with humor and keeps them reading with rhythm, rhyme and repetition–the musical language of poetry. Practice makes perfect!

MAKE ‘EM LAUGH Around age five, many children begin trying to tell jokes, often silly ones they make up. Use this love of silliness to introduce children to funny poems.

Begin with funny poems that rhyme. The humor will grab them; the rhythm of the rhyme will hold them.

Poems can be funny and downright silly. Younger kids seem to like it the sillier the better. The humor in silly poetry will appeal to elementary-age children.

Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky and Ogden Nash are the masters here. Or for a wider collection, try “Kids Pick the Funniest Poems: Poems That Make Kids Laugh,” selected by Bruce Lansky.

A former Marion County elementary school teacher,

Fran Dickson, said her second grade classes begged repeatedly to hear and to read Shel Silverstein’s poetry.

ONOMATOPOEIA …And Other Silly Sounding Things Poetry also provides a perfect opportunity to introduce young children to basic literary devices like personification, metaphor and similes, synonyms, homophones, alliteration and onomatopoeia. The latter is sure to be a favorite with kids, as it is words which make the sound of the action they describe, i.e., bang, pow, pop. (Think old Batman series).

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Spring 2011 | 75

WRITE ON! Poetry intimidates many people — especially writing it. Children, however, are likely to embrace it. Give them a simple prompt like “If you were an animal, what would you be, and why?” and they will be off and running. Other ideas to try: Have them construct a poem that includes three words they make up themselves. Ask kids to think of five things that are purple and have them compose a poem using these things.

Another fun way for children to flex those writing muscles is to read together several poems by a poet with a distinct style, like Dr. Seuss, E. E. Cummings, or Ogden Nash. Suggest children try emulating his style.

For other ideas “field-tested by real poet and real teachers,” Baron recommends the Poet and Writers website: www.twc.org.

She also recommends two Kenneth Koch books: “Rose, Where Did You get that Red?” “Teaching Great Poetry to Children” and “Wishes, Lies and Dreams: Teaching Children to Write Poetry.”

PHOTO BY DIANE E. SHEPARD

Think outside the realm of book, paper, and computer to create and appreciate poetry. Think Poetry Rocks! Use rocks

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76 | Spring 2011

the first letter of each line, when read downward, forms a word. That word is typically the subject and/or title of the poem. For example:

Children who want to think outside the box may want to try one of these poetry forms.

Concrete Poems: The words of these poems are Jubilation!

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arranged in the shape of a specific object or form, such as a swirl, a balloon or a building. They take the shape of the specific object the poem itself is describing.

Poetry Rocks!

Outstanding in its lines Enjoy the Magic

Diamante Poems: Poems written in the shape of a diamond.

MORE SILLY STUFF

Poems of Address: Poems that are written specifically to someone or to something.

Older children who want a more specific form to follow may want to try haiku.

Haiku: These poems celebrate the natural world, evoking strong images and often drawing parallels between nature and the human condition. The traditional haiku is a non-rhyming three-line poem with 17 syllables, in a 5-7-5 syllable form. For example:

Tongue Twisters: Give them some silly examples like: Silly Sarah sewed some seven hundred and seventy-seven sample silk shirts.

Kids will love to use alliteration in all its tonguetying glory to create their own tongue twisters — the sillier the better! Put several together to create some zany poems.

Rewrite a Nursery Rhyme: Put a new twist on an old classic. Perhaps Little Boy Blue meets the Wonder Pets, or Little Miss Muffet had some sushi instead.

SHARING POEMS WITH OTHERS Winter’s white flag raised.

Robin heralds spring with song To return again.

Write a poem on a bookmark and give it away. Print the children’s poems on a card, laminate it, and share with friends and family.

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Spring 2011 | 77

PHOTO BY DIANE E. SHEPARD

A treasure-trove of wonderful poetry books awaits the curious reader. Never been interested before in Poetry? April is National Poetry Month. There is no greater time than now to give Poetry a try. See www.poets.org for more information, or just pick up a poetry book that appeals, and start reading!

BOOK IT!

EMBRACE THE JOY!

Once children have several poems completed, some may want to compile them and create their own book of poetry. Illustrate the front cover for a more finished look.

Popular poetry myths abound: It must rhyme. It is stuffy, boring, and impossible to understand. Poems created by children help to dispel these myths, and remind adults that a poem can simply be putting words together in an enjoyable and appealing way — poetry can simply be for the joy of it! After all, it is a celebration of words. So, why poetry? Why, simply for the joy of it, of course! s

PERFORMANCE POETRY Everybody wants to be a star Take it a step further and encourage children to give their creations action, motion and voice by performing their poems. Children can designate a specific sign or gesture for each word, phrase or line in their poem.

Further emphasize the musicality in poetry by adding real music by setting a drumbeat to each word, phrase or line.

For more info on poem types, nursery rhymes, tongue twisters and writing prompts, visit www.enchantedlearning.com/essay/writing.shtml and Rebus Rhymes at www.enchantedlearning.com/rhymes.html.

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>> SANCTUARY

Monkey Tales Kari Bagnall’s Crusade to End Keeping Primates as Pets 82 | Spring 2011

PHOTO BY TARA MASSAGEE-STANLEY

Kari Bagnall poses with just two white-throated capuchin mokeys. There are more than 100 monkeys at the sanctuary.

BY TARA MASSAGEE-STANLEY n the outskirts of Gainesville is a place where the wounded and regretted come to call home.

Many of them were stolen from their mothers and sold to owners who would keep them as pets until they did not want them anymore, while others were used as science experiments and would otherwise be dead without the care and compassion of one local woman.

Jungle Friends is a non-profit organization that was started by Kari Bagnall to provide a home for unwanted and over-worked monkeys who had no other place to go.

O

Originally from Las Vegas, Bagnall said her first experience with monkeys happened through an ex-boyfriend. She said he bought a female capuchin named Samantha, and then realized he could not handle her and wanted to get rid of her. Bagnall said she could not let that happen so she “got rid of the boyfriend and kept the monkey.”

To provide what she thought would be the best home for Samantha, Bagnall said she submersed herself in “monkey culture.” But no matter how hard she tried, she said she knew Samantha needed something more, a companion possibly.

“In my ignorance, I bought another monkey, Charlotte [Samantha’s sister], and thought all was right for the world,” she said.

But everything was not all right. She quickly learned that monkeys are very destructive and do not make good pets.

“They just shouldn’t be pets,” she said. “I don’t care if you grow a tail and swing from trees, you are not a good companion for a monkey.”

At the time, Bagnall was living in Las Vegas with her two monkeys. She heard that the breeder of her monkeys was having an auction to sell the rest, in particular the parents of Sam and Charlotte.

Bagnall said she attended the auction and was horrified when she saw the breeder steal a baby monkey from its mother so the baby could be sold.

“It was horrible,” she said. “The baby screaming and the mother screaming, it was shocking to say the least.”

After witnessing a baby being stolen from its mother, Bagnall said she decided to buy all of the breeder’s monkeys, about six, and start advocating for them.

“I was a sanctuary before I knew I even was,” Bagnall said.

Because the climate in Las Vegas was not good for monkeys, Bagnall started looking for other places to go.

Her top choice was South or Central America because of their tropical climates, but then she thought about Florida.

While hurricanes were of concern, she figured if she could find a town in the middle of the state then hurricanes would probably not be a likely occurrence.

Gainesville caught her eye, and it has been the home of Jungle Friends for about 12 years.

Situated on 12 acres, Jungle Friends is home to more than 100 monkeys — from marmosets to spider monkeys, from diabetic to cancerous monkeys, to Charlotte and Samantha.

All of the monkeys are kept in large enclosures with trees and other vegetation to simulate their natural habitat. All of the male monkeys have had vasectomies so no breeding occurs at the facility.

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Spring 2011 | 83

84 | Spring 2011

PHOTO BY TARA MASSAGEE-STANLEY

A brown capuchin is but one of 120 monkeys at the sactuary.

Many of the monkeys Bagnall cares for were used either in experiments or given to her by their previous owners. Many were going to be euthanized.

“I get calls almost daily from people or labs,” she said.

She said a lot of people give up their monkeys because they start biting.

One monkey that Bagnall had recently acquired is Chucky. She said his owners had had him for years and realized he needed more than just human interaction.

They also realized Chucky would outlive them, so they decided to give him to Jungle Friends.

Many of the monkeys were used in experiments or abandoned by their previous owners.

When people drop off their monkeys to Jungle Friends, Bagnall said she asks them to stay for a few days and visit while the monkey becomes acclimated to its new environment. This way the “monkey knows this place is safe,” she said. “[For] a lot of people, it’s like out of sight out of mind,” she said. “Most people want them gone.”

Volunteer and monkey donor Wilma Clevenger decided to not only visit her monkey but to permanently uproot herself from her home in Tennessee and move to Gainesville to be closer to him.

Clevenger donated her monkey, Jak, to the sanctuary after watching a documentary that included Jungle Friends. She thought he would be happier around his own species.

It “didn’t matter how much I loved him, I knew he would never really be happy with me,” she said. “He would prefer to be with other monkeys.”

Now, as a volunteer, Clevenger is able to see Jak on a daily basis.

“I think Jungle Friends is one of the awesomest places on earth,” she said.

One reason Jungle Friends has been able to keep its operation going is through volunteers such as Clevenger.

Bagnall said there are volunteers from the University of Florida at the sanctuary about every weekend.

There are also interns who travel for hundreds of miles to be at the sanctuary. Bagnall said there are interns from Germany, Scotland and England.

The average cost to keep the Jungle Friends’ doors open is $25,000 per month, Bagnall said. The electric bill alone runs $5,000 to $7,000 a month and is sometimes more in the winter because of the extra

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cost of running heat lamps to keep the monkeys warm. buy food for the animals.

“That’s more than the food,” she said.

Another competition that Bagnall said she is hoping If it were not for private donations, the sanctuary to win is the Pepsi Refresh grant. The competition would not be able to continue. Bagnall said there are took place in October, and will gift $250,000 to a needy very few private foundations that grant money to fund organization. The official word has not yet been given monkey sanctuaries and she therefore relies heavily on as to what organization won the competition. outside sponsors and donors.

In order to put an end to the buying and selling of Luckily, about three or four years ago, Bagnall monkeys as pets, Bagnall gives numerous presentations received a $100,000 grant, enough to pay off the on why monkeys are wild animals and the reasons they mortgage on the do not make good pets. property and leave one She said she does less expense that she not bring monkeys would have to worry to her presentations about each month. anymore because She said the she realized she was donation came setting a bad example. through a friend of “Because all they her boyfriend’s family. say is, ‘I want a The friend sits on the monkey,’” she said. board of directors for a Jungle Friends is foundation that usually not open to the public only gifts money to and they do not have the arts, and dog tours. But, if a person and cat rescues. But or group sponsors Bagnall said the friend a monkey at the “fell in love with a sanctuary, they are spider monkey” at the then allowed to plan sanctuary and that was a day to meet their enough to award the sponsored monkey. sanctuary the grant.

Because monkeys Now that the are still being bought mortgage is paid, and sold as pets, Bagnall said she is Bagnall said she is looking to expand the always looking for sanctuary to take in someone able to take even more monkeys. her place in the future But, the problem with when she is no longer expansion is that capable. But, she it costs money. She admitted, “It’s not for already has $20,000 to everyone.” put toward the down She said she feels payment on a piece of this is her service land adjacent to the and does not believe sanctuary, a grant the a person can be truly sanctuary won from happy unless they are the Chase Community serving others.

Giving Award. There “I didn’t choose it,” were 500,000 charities she said. “It chose me.” in the running for She said she also the award and Jungle hopes legislation is PHOTOS BY TARA MASSAGEE-STANLEY Friends placed in the passed that will put an top 200, she said. end to the buying and It is going to take more than one grant or donation selling of monkeys. to buy the property because “the bare bones minimum” “I hope to be out of the monkey business” in the the sanctuary would need is $250,000, she said. That next 10 years, she said. s would not only buy the property but also leave a little For more information, visit www.junglefriends.org. bit of money to build enclosures, install fencing and

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Welcome Center Construction Begins on a New Home for the Chamber of Commerce and the Alachua Historical Society

BY MATTHEW BEATON n empty shell of a building stands at 14801 Main St., just four primary walls and a floor lined with 2x4s that etch out where rooms once stood.

But not for long; several new floor plans have already been generated for the future occupants of Alachua’s old police station — the Chamber of Commerce and Alachua Historical Society. They have been working aggressively since the New Year, removing interior walls, ductwork and ceiling tiles to transform what was once a post office in the 1960s and ‘70s into their permanent headquarters.

“This is kind of a marriage made in heaven that, you know, they’re both looking for a spot and it’s a perfect situation,” said Gib Coerper, Alachua’s mayor who also serves on the Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors. “You have a place where all of the businesses can put all of their information to find out anything about the city of Alachua.”

The police vacated the building in 2007, leaving it dormant until the local nonprofit groups swooped in to make prime use of the Main Street real estate.

“That freed that building up, which allowed us to come to an agreement with the chamber and the historical society,” Coerper said.

Though work has commenced, a finishing date for the project is still a ways off.

A

90 | Spring 2011

“Well, hopefully, it would have been about six months ago, but that didn’t happen,” Coerper said. “I say this in all honesty: I can’t give you a date. It’s going to be as soon as possible.”

He and fellow Chamber of Commerce member Jim Brandenburg hope they can open by the year’s end.

“When you’re broke, things take a little longer,” Brandenburg said.

However, they have started the ball rolling.

“The first phase is just doing the very basic things that allow us to move in and have everything up to code without being too fancy,” Brandenburg said.

Structurally, the building appears sound, said local architect Paul Stressing, who is currently doing pro bono work for the chamber to get it up to code. Brandenburg, principal of Alachua Elementary School, said that Stressing had been instrumental in getting the project off the ground and advising on the technical issues involved in gutting and redesigning the structure’s interior.

“We hope within the next month or so to have a preliminary plan for what the interior is going to look like,” said Brandenburg, who is heading the chamber’s building committee.

Stressing has already devised three separate floor plans and said that plenty more may be drawn up in the future, as they look to optimize the space available. He sees the building as a great opportunity for downtown to cherish and utilize its unique architectural design.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW BEATON

>> COMMON GROUND

PHOTO BY MATTHEW BEATON

ABOVE: Alachua Chamber of Commerce member Jim Brandenburg, left, and Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper stand outside the future home of the Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center and the Alachua Historical Society.

RIGHT: Rebuilding Together, a nonprofit working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize communities, gave a helping hand during the demolition inside the old police station.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GIB COERPER

“The beauty of that building is that it does have a distinct style — and it’s art deco,” Stressing said. “It’s real easy to cover that up ... I tried to point out to Gib and Jim that that the style is unique to downtown, and there are other art deco buildings.”

Efforts like Stressing’s are what make the project special. His architectural expertise has proven integral to the renovation process, and his generosity has allowed a cash-strapped organization to move relative quickly.

“We can’t afford him, but he’s a great guy, and he’s got an office on Main Street and wants to help out, so he’s been donating his services,” Brandenburg said.

Underneath the current agreement, the city will retain ownership of the property and rent it out to the chamber and historical society.

“We are in the process of entering into a long-term lease between the city and chamber for a dollar a year, or something — I forget the details,” Brandenburg said.

“They will provide the property, and we will do the renovation work. It’s kind of a joint project.”

He could not pinpoint an exact lease length, but said it would likely run about 10 years.

But that is not the only financial boon the project has received. A few months ago, on Saturday, Jan. 8, the community turned out en masse to help gut the building. Members of the chamber of commerce, the Alachua Historical Society, Rebuilding Together — a nonprofit organization — Wal-Mart employees and a

host of local supporters lent a hand in hollowing out the 1,800-square-foot interior.

“They stepped up and just said, ‘We can help,’” Brandenburg said. “I guess that’s the great thing about working in the Alachua community is, you know, when something needs to be done, people just kind of bring to the table whatever they have.”

Rebuilding Together — which performed structural repair work and, according to their website, is “dedicated to addressing the substandard housing needs in North Central Florida,” — was particularly instrumental in ensuring all renovations were done properly and all hazardous materials were removed.

“They stepped up and said, ‘We’ve got lead paint and asbestos certified people; we can do that,’” Brandenburg said.

The organization utilizes and directs volunteer groups to, as their website states, “help meet significant housing requirements throughout Alachua County,” as well as performing local community revitalization projects.

“One of their top crews has been the Wal-Mart distribution center,” Brandenburg said.

Wal-Mart sent a dozen of their best people, Bradenburg estimated, for what he called a “demolition day — we don’t have to build anything, we just need to tear it out.”

That day, Jan. 8, they arrived at 6 a.m. and “by two in the afternoon, the building was empty and it was all

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in two big dumpsters that were donated by Waste Pro,” Brandenburg said.

The Saturday before, Rebuilding Together had removed some asbestos and lead paint. But “demolition day” itself was a big event. Local businesses Conestoga’s, Main Street Pie, and Hitchcock’s donated food while scrap metal dealers and salvage companies contributed by carting away the building’s refuse. Brandenburg estimated that half of the materials removed “did not go back into the landfill; [they] will be recycled or reused.”

Estimates on the total cost to refurbish the unit have run from $70,000-100,000. However, because of the overwhelming support of the community, Brandenburg is hoping to cut those costs in half.

“We’ve already had some commitments, some pledges, from some of the chamber members and other folks who’ve said, ‘I’ll do this for the cost of the materials,’” he said.

For example, bids to clear out all of the offices and interior structure ran $5,000-8,000, but Bradenburg said they spent under $300. Aside from a few paltry expenses, like trash bags, duct tape, dust masks and safety goggles, the chamber spent barely any money on “demolition day.”

Excitement, though, is building as the project gets under way. Emelie Matthews, the Alachua Historical Society’s president, is thrilled with the opportunities that the new building will bring. Because they have had no official home since their inception in 2000, fundraising has been difficult and public support tough to drum up. Lacking a structure is a large impediment in procuring donations, she said.

“So now, we will have something to show,” Matthews said.

And, once opened, they will finally have chance to display their historical pieces.

“We have, between several of us, different items

PHOTO COURTESY OF GIB COERPER

that can be displayed for the next, probably, 20 years,” Matthews said, laughing.

The society has everything from an old Lions Club desk — procured prior to its renovations — to tickets, pictures, documents and books. Among their treasures are a mill for grinding sugar cane and an old feed table.

Matthews estimated that the society has 50 members, with about 15 that are active. Currently, they hold their meetings at the Lions Club.

They may, presently, be without a building to call home, but their boxes do abound. Unfortunately, a paucity of space and no central structure to house their artifacts has meant that she and the other members have not been able to sort their wares. She believes even more artifacts will surface once they are headquartered on Main Street.

“There’re some things they don’t give because there’s no place to display them,” Matthews said. “So they’ve been holding onto them until we do have somewhere... this building will give us an opportunity.”

Like many associated with this project, the outpouring of community support for their venture has floored

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her and given her a spirit of gratitude.

“I appreciate [the volunteers] immensely because, you know, they have their own lives and other things that they need to be doing or want to do,” Matthews said. “And to give their Saturdays and work as hard as they did, it’s a real blessing.”

But there is still much to do. The building’s asbestos tile must be removed, though Stressing said there is no real concern so long as the tile remains intact.

However, once it breaks, or is drilled into, those harmful particles will be released into the air. Pieces of wire still hang from the ceiling, the walls wear pink, blue and white paint, the carpets need to be uprooted, and in the back corner, next to the heating and cooling unit, stands an old blue post box labeled “Evidence/ Property” — marking the building’s evolution from post office to police station. Perhaps the historical society will find a use for it. But, despite the numerous tasks ahead, Brandenburg and members of the community are focused on the big picture.

“We just want it to be the crown jewel of Alachua,” he said. s

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COLUMN >> DONNA BONNELL

Embracing Life Ego versus Self-Esteem

erry Lewis said, “People hate me because I am a multifaceted, talented, wealthy, internationally famous genius.”

Lewis’s purpose on the planet is providing humor, sometimes interjecting fun into serious situations.

He uses his gift to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association. As an admirer of this remarkable comedian, he appears to have the perfect combination of self-esteem and healthy ego.

Like everyone, I am sure Lewis must work daily to keep that balance in check. It is not an easy task.

Personally, it has been an overwhelming undertaking to understand the difference between the two powerful personality components. Being egotistical and having high self-esteem seemed synonymous.

As a child, I had a very low opinion of myself.

Struggling most of my life to gain self-confidence and worthiness, I have finally grown to accept my strengths and weaknesses. Like Lewis, I can now laugh at myself when I do something stupid by most standards.

Understanding ego was a very difficult different topic. Until recently, I was oblivious to how badly my ego needed an overhaul. Obviously, individuals with egotistical issues are arrogant, feel superior to others and quickly tell everyone else of their supreme qualities. Since I rarely talk about myself (except in my columns) and have always battled a negative self-image, an inflated ego was never one of my many problems. At least that is what I thought!

A reality check took place when I found myself fearing rejection, in spite of my continued emotional and spiritual growth. My feelings shattered when I was

J

96 | Spring 2011

not on a guest list or left out of a simple discussion.

It seemed easier to be an introvert and hope to remain anonymous. What a dichotomy! Finally, I felt merit as a human being, yet wallowed in worthless worry over what others thought. What was I missing?

My studies began.

The works of many masterminds, including Maya Angelou, Buddha, Jesus, Carl Jung, Robert Reasoner and Eckhart Tolle helped me to sort out my dilemma.

However, when I listened to tapes and read the words of Wayne W. Dyer, Ph.D. (an expert in the field of self-development), I finally connected my mysterious mental dots.

Dyer’s advice is to “Stay on purpose...and take responsibility for what does reside in you: your character.

Leave your reputation for others to debate” While digging deep in library archives, I found Dyer’s buried treasure. In one of his many dissertations, “Seven Steps for Overcoming Ego’s Hold on You”, Dyer listed the following suggestions: Let go of your needs: to win, to be right, to be superior, to have more, and to identify yourself based on your achievements. Stop being offended. Let go of your reputation.

All the needs listed are most definitely not concerns of mine. Therefore, could the key for healing my ego be as simple as refusing to agonize over other individuals’ opinions and stop being easily insulted?

Dyer says, “That which offends you only weakens you. If you are looking for occasions to be offended, you will find them at every turn. This is your ego at work convincing you that the world should not be the way it is. Being offended creates the same destructive energy that offended you in the first place and leads to attack, counterattack and war.”

Furthermore, he believes our reputation resides in the minds of others; therefore, we have no control over it. Egotistical ways take over when you spend energy attempting to win a giant reputation. Dyer’s advice is to “Stay on purpose...and take responsibility for what does reside in you: your character. Leave your reputation for others to debate; it has nothing to do with you.”

I have an Internet security system to impede viruses or hackers from invading my software, which has worked well. It would be convenient to install a mental monitoring program to prevent pessimistic thoughts from penetrating my mind. Of course, making those changes is not possible with assistance from an electronic outside source, nor is it easy.

These may be difficult goals to embrace.

Nonetheless, my intentions are: (1) to live my life in service for the greater good of all humankind, with the strengths God granted me, (2) fret less about what others (with different ambitions) think of my purpose and (3) devote time to developing self-assurance and happiness. Decades of self-evaluation have provided me with the tools to tackle these next challenges.

I am so grateful to the universe for the many angels who assisted me thus far and ask for continued support in my future pursuits. s Donna Bonnell is a freelance writer who moved to Newberry in 1983. She enjoys living and working in the town she now calls home. donna@towerpublications.com

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>> STARGAZING

Finding First Light The moving moon went up to the sky, And nowhere did abide; Softly she was going up, And a star or two beside.

— Samuel Taylor Coleridge , The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

BY MOLLY LARMIE n screen it looks as it always does: dimpled, silver and distantly familiar — a telescopic close-up of our constant companion, the moon.

At least 50 people pack into a meeting room at the Easton Newberry Sports Complex on Jan. 11 to watch this representation of first light. First light occurs when a new observatory opens for the first time and gathers light on its detectors.

An astronomer made the video by attaching a webcam to a telescope

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98 | Spring 2011

that was aimed at the moon.

The people have come to witness the grand opening — and first light — of the Newberry Star Park, a public observatory created for amateur astronomers.

About half the people are members of the Alachua Astronomy Club, a group of amateur astronomers who designed the observatory.

The astronomy club has also produced the “Solar Walk,” a depiction of the solar system along Northwest Eighth Avenue in Gainesville.

The club itself is divided into several cliques, including

the lunar observing group, the amateur telescope builders and the astrophotographers. The members host various “Star Parties” at places such as Dudley Farm Historic State Park, where amateur astronomers meet to observe the cosmos together.

Bill Lightner, president of the club, is retired, but presiding over a cohort of stargazers is like a full-time job, he said. In the 1950s, Lightner attended a boarding school in England. One day, a famous astronomer named Patrick Moore brought a portable telescope

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PHOTOS BY ALBERT ISAAC

ABOVE: Members of the Alachua Astronomy Club pose on a frigid January evening in front of the Newberry Star Park on opening night.

LEFT: One of several telescopes that were available for gazing to the heavens at the Newberry Star Park.

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to the school. Moore asked, “Would you like to see Saturn?”

Tonight, Lightner hopes to see anything. A cold, damp fog has obscured the sky for most of the day, but patches over the city had cleared late in the afternoon. As he talks about the groundbreaking for the observatory back in July, Lightner silently wonders if another patch will open up tonight. Will they get lucky?

Several Santa Fe College students begin ushering people the 100 yards out to the observatory.

Raquel Martins, a 19-year-old student in her second semester at Santa Fe, leads the pack.

For Martins, astronomy started as a childhood interest. In her hometown of Orlando, where countless city lights create “light pollution,” the nemesis of astronomers, Martins had to drive to the middle of nowhere to look at star patters and the moon.

Martins is still learning about telescopes, especially the lenses. She

hopes to join the Air Force and work on communications with satellites.

After a short walk, the Santa Fe guides leave the group at the edge of the observation complex where red solar lights line the pathway to eight observation pads. Club members have set up telescopes upon each of the pads, which are lined with rubber to absorb vibrations and keep the view steady.

As the group clusters together, many people look skyward with a little prayer. But the weather has failed them. Clouds cover the sky like a snug blanket.

Bill Lightner shrugs. He always plans for the worst with outdoor activities, he said, like the time he organized a barbecue and the storm of the century rolled through.

If some supernatural power could swipe away the clouds and enable the viewers to witness first light on this night, they would see a first-quarter moon. They would see Jupiter and Uranus; the Pleiades, a star cluster; several constellations;

and the Andromeda Galaxy, the closest galaxy to the Milky Way. Instead, the group takes a tour of the storage facility next to the observation pads.

The inside of the small building holds a clock, a desk with a computer, and a bookshelf, complete with the Stargazers’ Almanac 2011.

The storage space and observation pads were paid for by the city of Newberry, by donors who contributed $14,000, and by the Alachua Astronomy Club, which raised $4,000.

The project also gained support from local schools, because the Alachua Astronomy Club plans to collaborate with middle school and high school teachers to help students create science fair projects and prepare for state standard tests in physics and astronomy.

On this night, however, the children in attendance will have to settle for sipping hot drinks and mingling with club members like Paul Griffin. Griffin, a Gainesville

native, is just getting into amateur astronomy. He likes to set up next to a more experienced member of the club.

“I’m still amazed at whatever I see,” he said.

Griffin has watched his share of Star Trek and has always been fascinated looking up at the sky. He has two telescopes at home; one of them can track planets.

But there will not be any tracking tonight, so the club members wrap up the tour. They crowd under the words “Newberry Star Park” painted on the storage building and pose for a picture.

If they are disappointed to be looking at a camera and not toward the heavens, they do a good job pretending otherwise.

Yes, the night was a wash, but they know that when the weather is clear, when the baseball lights click off after 9 p.m., the celestial banquet will be waiting. You cannot predict the weather, but you can always count on the stars. s

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>> [SUBJECT TAG]

Almanac

Advice for the Coming Spring

BY MARY KYPREOS ead by nine million people annually, the “Old Farmer’s Almanac” “uses a combination of modern technology, solar science and a secret formula,” to make its weather predictions up to 18 months in advance, according to an “Old Farmer’s Almanac” press release.

In the coming spring, the almanac predicts a rainier than normal April and May for the Sunshine State, and average temperatures.

The almanac also offers far more than weather reports, and with spring and the gardening season just around the corner, it is the perfect time to dust off the “Old Farmer’s Almanac” — or even purchase a

R

104 | Spring 2011

copy — for indispensable advice on spring weather, new trends, planting advice or just entertaining articles for a good laugh.

MARCH — “Beware the Ides of March” Spring officially arrives at 7:21 p.m. on the 20th, so have the cleaning supplies ready and winter clothes stored in time for the vernal equinox.

Look to the sky on March 19 to view the full moon at its closest point to the Earth. Mark your calendars; it will not be so close again until 2016.

Put on a wee bit of green on the 17th to avoid being pinched — better yet, watch out for a lack of Irish spirit

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and give a pinch for St. Patrick’s Day. Do not forget to circle and highlight Daylight Savings on March 13th at 2 a.m. Clocks will spring forward an hour, so do not be left behind.

Politically important events abound in March, beginning with the Florida’s admittance into the Union as the 27th State on March 3, 1845. Shortly thereafter, Abraham Lincoln entered the political scene as the 16th President on March 4, 1861. Finally, the old saying “Beware the Ides of March” remembers another influential man: Julius Caesar, who was assassinated in 44 B.C.

APRIL — The Rabbit Incident Pull out all the stops this April and ring in the month with a good laugh at another’s expense on the first of the month, aka All Fools’ Day. For those who observe religious holidays, Palm Sunday occurs on the 17th, followed by the first day of Passover on the 19th and Easter on the 24th.

April is a good month to consider personal environmental impact. With Earth Day on the 22 and National Arbor Day on the 29, take the opportunity to read new literature, turn off a light or plant a garden.

Ever hear of Pascua Florida Day? If not, this is the perfect chance to celebrate! Occurring on April 2, Pascua Florida Day celebrates Juan Ponce de León’s first sighting of Florida.

One notable occurrence from April 20, 1979 involved

President Carter and an angry swamp rabbit that approached the president’s fishing boat while he was in Georgia. Also, President Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743, and Max Theiler announced a vaccine for yellow fever in 1932.

MAY — Mission to Mars May brings a diverse history into the mix with the birth of Sigmund Freud, father of psychoanalysis, on May 6, 1856. Unfortunately, May 19, 1536, saw the beheading of Anne Boleyn, the second of six wives of King Henry VIII. Transportation in sky, sea and space all play a part in May’s history. The infamous Hindenburg completed its first flight to the U.S. in 1936; it would catch fire and be destroyed only a year later on May 6, 1937.

May of 1967 brought the christening of the USS John F. Kennedy by Caroline Kennedy. Finally, the Mars 3 orbiter and lander was launched on May 28, 1971, and orbited Mars 20 times until NASA declared its mission complete by Aug. 22, 1972.

Most importantly, May is a month for honoring and reflecting on the sacrifices and lives of family, friends and strangers. Bring home flowers on the 8th in honor of Mother’s Day. On the 30th, observe a moment of silence for lost soldiers on Memorial Day. Also take a moment for Armed Forces Day on May 21 and National Maritime Day on May 22.

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BEST DAYS Celeste Longacre, a contributor to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, specifies days of the months for special projects: -For those who wish to successfully kick a smoking habit, try quitting on March 22 or 31; April 1, 22 or 23; or May 2, 24 or 29.

-March 2 or 3; and April/May 1 or 2 are the perfect days to end unfinished projects, so complete planting the garden, assembling the presentation or knitting that purse.

-Unsure what to do with overflowing vegetable beds? Canning or pickling are best-done on March 22 or 23; April 1, 27 or 28; or May 25 or 26.

-Gather friends or family and spend quality time enjoying spring outdoors. For the best camping days, head out on March 24-25, April 20-21 or May 17-19.

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GARDENING/FARMING With spring just around the corner, it is time to start planning flower, herb, fruit and/or vegetable gardens. Taking into account the last spring freeze, which the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts to be March 22, the following list advises when to plant certain crops: In the cooler weather of late winter/early spring consider planting the following: broccoli, planted 4 weeks before the last frost; peas, 4-6 weeks before; spinach, 4-6 weeks before; onions, 4 weeks before; lettuce, planted 2-3 weeks after; corn, 2 weeks after; melons, 2 weeks after; summer squash, 1 week after; beans, anytime after.

No kitchen is complete without herbs to augment any dish. Follow these guidelines for a successful outdoor herb garden: dill, 4-5 weeks before the last spring frost; parsley, 3-4 weeks before; chives, 3-4 weeks before; thyme, 2-3 weeks before; oregano, anytime after; basil, anytime after.

AGE-OLD ADVICE ON HEADACHES Martha Deeringer, a contributor to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, shares remedies used in the 18th and 19th centuries to cure headaches. One can only hope that if used, these remedies would indeed work:

Apply a brown paper bag soaked in vinegar to the head Take the skin of a rattlesnake and wrap it around the head

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Lion Oaks Farm • 20114 NW 78th Ave • Alachua Schedule a free consultation:

386.462.9641

Spring 2011 | 109

Visit thes e fantastic restauran ts!

R E S T A U R A N T

A D V E R T I S I N G

Going Out to Eat

CALL 352-372-5468 TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HIGHLIGHTING YOUR RESTAURANT IN OUR TOWN MAGAZINE

Dave’s New York Deli 14145 W Newberry Road, Jonesville FL 32669 OPEN 7 days • Mon thru Fri 8am-8pm • Sat 8am-7:30pm • Sun 10am-3pm

Located just 4.5 miles west of the Oaks Mall on Newberry Road in Jonesville, Dave’s New York Deli is quickly becoming known as the best place in town for the “Philly Connection”. Owner Dave Anders says he’s serious about Philly Cheesesteaks so he gets his Steak Meat and Amoroso Rolls direct from Philadelphia. Dave’s offers NY Carnegie Deli Pastrami, Corned Beef and Cheesecake, Nathan’s Hot Dogs, real NY kettle boiled bagels, Nova, Knishes, Cannolies, Cubans, Angus Burgers, Buffalo Wings Subs, NY Pretzels, Kids Menu and more. Open Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 7 Days a week

352-333-0291 www.DavesNYDeli.com

Gator Q 222 NE First Avenue, High Springs, FL 32643 Monday — Saturday: 11:30am - 8:00pm

BARBECUE – Gator Q is a neighborhood BBQ joint using local black jack oak soaked in apple cider for smoking pork, turkey, St. Louis ribs, split chickens, and chicken wings, with the occasional beef brisket thrown in for good measure.

Brette and Bob ‘Yogi’ Liebler serve made from scratch collards with attitude, bold BBQ beans, gourmet Mac-n-cheese, and a dill and ranch potato salad that will get in your craw and leave you craving more. They’re open Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Check them out online at www.gatorq.com or follow them on Facebook. Ask your friends — the food really is that good!

386-454-9823 www.gatorq.com 110 | Spring 2011

Find out more on Facebook!

Great Outdoors 65 North Main Street, High Springs, FL 32643 Open at 11:00am Monday through Sunday

CUISINE DESCRIPTION -A 2010 Golden Spoon recipient, the Great Outdoors uses only the freshest ingredients and offers a menu that you won’t soon forget. Enjoy award-winning Boston clam chowder served in a crusty bread bowl or try the famous Fried Green Tomatoes. Entrées range from hand-cut prime aged steaks, fresh seafood prepared with your favorite spices, to fabulous burgers. Sit by the fireplace while enjoying live music as you dine under the stars on the outdoor patio. Happy hour is famous throughout the area with delicious appetizer specials and drink specials every Monday - Friday from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

386-454-1288 Find out more on Facebook!

www.greatoutdoorsdining.com

Pepperoni’s 19975 NW 244 Street, High Springs (Video City Plaza) Mon-Thurs: 11am-9pm • Fri & Sat: 11am-10pm • Sun: 12pm-9pm

Since its establishment in 2000, Pepperonis Pizzeria has been serving up some of the best pizzas, calzones, wings and salads in town using grande mozzarella and other top quality ingredients.

We have recently added new entrees, such as, lasagna, chicken parmesan and spaghetti and meatballs to our menu. We also have great lunch specials starting at just $4.99. Pepperoni’s is locally owned and operated and is proud to serve the High Springs Community and surrounding areas. We are located in the Video City Plaza off U.S. Highway 441. When you buy a specialty pizza at Pepperonis it’s always fresh and loaded with great toppings.

386-454-3858 Springs Diner 615 NW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs, FL 32643 Monday thru Saturday: 7am to 10pm • Sunday 8am to 8pm

CLASSIC AMERICAN DINER – A classic retro diner with stainless steel, neon, free jukebox, an all American menu, outdoor patio dining, and so much more! Enjoy breakfast served all day, 100% Angus beef burgers, great sandwiches, entrée salads, traditional Blue Plate Specials, dinner entrees and seafood dinners, beer and wine selections and fabulous ice cream fountain creations. Springs Diner is pleased to offer for dine in or take out, the best Braosted Fried Chicken you have ever tasted!

Bring your K-9 friends as the Springs Diner patio is licensed for doggie-friendly dining with a special Doggie Dining Menu.

www.VisitOurTowns.com

386-454-5775 Spring 2011 | 111

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

HAILE VILLAGE ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL

MUSICAL CHAIRS PROJECT FUNDRAISER

Sat. 3/19 + Sun. 3/20 10:00am - 6:00pm

Sat. 3/19 6:00pm - 9:00pm

THE VILLAGE AT HAILE Listen to live music, see the work of the best local artists, and play games with the kids!

It’s a great opportunity to visit the boutiques filled with beautiful & unique items for your home and gifts for your loved ones. Restaurants will be open all weekend and are just a step away from anywhere in the Village.

TIOGA FINE ARTS CENTER The Friends of Alachua County Public Schools Elementary Arts Programs presents 20 unique and artfullydesigned hand-painted chairs created by local artists to be auctioned off. There will also be refreshments and live music. Proceeds from this event will be used to support and enhance the elementary art and music programs not covered by tax dollars, by providing enrichment opportunities both in and beyond the art and music classrooms. 352-316-0886

www.haileevents.com

THE SECRET GARDEN TEA PARTY WITH MINIATURE THERAPY HORSES Sat. 3/19 2:00pm THE NEW CENTURY WOMAN’S CLUB - 40 NW First Ave in High Springs. Every little girl wishes she could be a princess with a beautiful horse. For one special afternoon that wish will come true. Join the tea party she will remember for a lifetime with magical horses, tea and treats, special activities and Secret Garden surprises. $25 for one adult and one child $10 additional child /$15 additional adult. Limited tickets now on sale. Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity.

386-454-2889

112 | Spring 2011

OLD TIME DANCE Sun. 3/20 2:00pm - 5:00pm O’LENO STATE PARK Family fun for all ages!

Dance contra, circles and squares to live music hosted by the Flying Turtles String Band. These are the dances that were the rage in the mid 1800s when the town of Leno thrived! First-time dancers are welcome; a caller will walk you through each of the dances. The dance will be held in the 1930s Recreation Hall located on the banks of the Santa Fe River in O’ Leno State Park 6 miles north of High Springs on Hwy. 441.

386-454-1853

poect925@aol.com

TANYA TUCKER

GORDON LIGHTFOOT

Sat. 3/19 3:00pm

Mon. 3/21 7:30pm

SILVER SPRINGS - Only 13 when her provocative “Delta Dawn” caused a nationwide stir and became a Top 10 country hit, Tucker has built one of the most successful and compelling careers in music.

352-236-2121

CURTIS M. PHILLIPS CENTER - Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot achieved international success in folk, folkrock and country music with hits including Sundown, Carefree Highway, Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald as well as If You Could Read My Mind.

352-371-0761

PASSPORT TO COWBOY FLORIDA Sat. 3/19 7:00pm FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY - Don’t miss Florida Museum’s “Passport to Cowboy Florida” fundraiser.

352-846-2000

www.flmnh.ufl.edu

BEFORE YOU TIE THE KNOT Mon. 3/21 & 28 5:30pm - 7:30pm ALACHUA COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE 2800 NE 39th Ave. Before You Tie the Knot is an educational

program offering constructive guidance to couples as they begin life as a married couple.

THE WINE EXPERIENCE Thurs. 3/24 7:00pm BLACK BOX THEATRE 315 Hull Rd. Dance Alive National Ballet brings you Wine Tasting.

PLAYFUL ESCAPES AT THE FLORIDA MUSEUM Fri. 3/25 8:30am - 4:30pm FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Antarctic Expedition.

Leave sunny Florida behind and take a trip to the South Pole. Discover why Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, and driest place on Earth!

Pre-registration is required. Drop-off for the morning and fullday sessions is from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Pick-up is from 4:30 to 5 pm.

BIKE FLORIDA 2011 “FLORIDA’S EDEN” Sat. 3/26 9:00am GAINESVILLE - 1028 NE 14th St. Bike Florida 2011 is a weeklong, fully supported bicycle camping tour that will take you through “Florida’s Eden,” Alachua, High Springs, Newberry, Micanopy and back to Gainesville.

ALACHUA COUNTY MARCH FOR BABIES 2011

The Sedoctaves

Sat. 3/26 7:00am

3/24 + 3/27

WESTWOOD MIDDLE - Join Honorary Chairs Danny and Nancy Ponce at Alachua County’s 41st Annual March for Babies, the walk that aims to give every baby a healthy start! This 8.5 mile street party is a celebration of the lives we are changing through outstanding fundraising efforts in Alachua County. Join us for plenty of food, fun and festivities as we continued the march to help save babies.

Times Vary SQUITIERI STUDIO THEATRE - UF’s only all-female a cappella group, not to mention its sassiest.

Brought together by a passion for a cappella and a flair for the performing arts, these young vocalists sing their own renditions of everything from ‘80s pop to alternative rock, and are not afraid to push the envelope. 352-392-1900

Dance Alive Ballet: ZOOM 3/25/11

SPRING GARDEN FESTIVAL

7:30pm

Sat. 3/26 10:00am

PHILLIPS CENTER Leaping, spinning and soaring to new heights, ZOOM shatters the mold of classical ballet.

Featuring guest artists Olympian Cameron Myler and musicians Oscar Feliu, Gilberto de Paz and Tropix, Welson Tremura and Jacare Guitar. 352-392-2787

KANAPAHA BOTANICAL GARDENS - 4700 SW 58th Drive. This is an outdoor festival celebrating the advent of spring by offering plants, landscape displays, arts and crafts relating to the garden, environment theme, seminars, and children’s activities. 352-372-4981

photo by: Johnston Photography

www.kanapaha.org

O’ LENO OLE CHILI COOK OFF AND SPRINGS CELEBRATION

Conductor André Watts 3/26/11 7:30pm

Sat. 3/26 9:00am - 3:00pm

PHILLIPS CENTER - André Watts has had a long and frequent association with television, having appeared on numerous programs produced by PBS, the BBC and A&E, performing with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra and the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra among others.

352-371-0761

O’LENO STATE PARK - Bring your favorite chili recipe and compete with the best during this CASI (Chili Appreciation Society International) sanctioned chili cook off. Prizes for 1st - 10th place in the cookoff, and 1st - 3rd place for showmanship competition. CASI rules can be found at www.chili.org.

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2011 | 113

OIL CHANGE SPECIAL L

$

18.95

+ TAX

INCLUDES UP TO 5 QUARTS RTS R. OF OIL & NEW OIL FILTER. We check all fluid levels. a.

Synthetic oils & diesels extra.

Some exclusion may apply. Not valid with op any other offer or coupon. Plus tax and shop supplies. Must present coupon when orderr is written. Exp. 07/15/11

WE HAVE TIRES FOR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING! And we will not be undersold!

Restrictions Apply

“YOUR TRUSTED DEALER SINCE 1926” 26” 386-454-1488 • US 441 • High Springs w w w. J i m D o u g l a s S e rv i c e . c o m Available at

US 441, High Springs

Free Delivery & Set Up No Credit Check Lifetime Warranty Rent-to-own w/small downs & easy payment plans

386-454-1488

visit us online at www.JimDouglasSales.com 114 | Spring 2011

THREE DOG NIGHT Sat. 3/26 3:00pm

Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast 3/19/11

SILVER SPRINGS Legendary music icons, Three Dog Night, celebrate their 4th decade bringing with them some of the most astonishing statistics in popular music. In the years 1969 through 1974, no other group achieved more top 10 hits, moved more records or sold more concert tickets than Three Dog Night.

352-236-2121

SILVER RIVER KNAP-IN & STONE AGE ARTS FESTIVAL Sat. 3/26 - Sun. 3/27 9:00am - 4:00pm SILVER RIVER MUSEUM 1445 NE 58th Ave. This weekend event features flint knappers from across the Southeast making stone tools they way Native Americans did thousands of years ago.

Visitors can watch as stone tools are created from various flints by expert flint “knappers.”

Other artists and crafters will demonstrate how bows and arrows are made, hide tanning, pottery manufacture and firing, how to make shell tools, fire making and other native skills.

Vendors will sell replica stone tools and other creations. Archery and atlatl dart (spear) throwing demonstrations will take place both days. Tram tours through the Silver River State Park will also be offered. Admission is $5.00 per person with children under six and U.S. military personnel free (with ID).

State park admission, museum entry and parking are free on this weekend. 352-236-5401

7am - 11am GAINESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA Tickets are available from members of both Gainesville Kiwanis Clubs and at any SunState Federal Credit Union office or at the door for just a $5 donation.

Kids under 6 are free.

All proceeds go toward the Kiwanis mission of serving the children of our community and our world.

CONTRA DANCING CLUB

HIGH SPRINGS PIONEER DAYS

Sun. 3/27 3:30pm - 7:00pm

Sat.4/2 - Sun. 4/3 9:00am - 5:00pm

NADINE MCGUIRE PAVILION, RION BALLROOM - The Contra Dancing Club is working with the Gainesville Oldtime Dance Society to host a contra dance on campus. Contra dancing is a fun, social dance that is easy to learn. There will be an introductory workshop before the dance. Live music.

JAMES PAUL PARK - This community festival features music, food, dance, gunfights, children’s games and more.

386-454-3120

HIPPODROME THEATRE SPRING PLAY OBSERVERSHIP Fri. 4/1 3:00pm - 5:00pm HIPPODROME THEATRE - Go behind-the-scenes and witness the creative process of THE 39 STEPS by Alfred Hitchcock, the fastpaced whodunit which was a hit in London and on Broadway.

Participants will witness rehearsals with cast, designer presentations, observation of rehearsals and other elements of the artistic process.

www.thehipp.org

CEDAR KEY SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL Sat. 4/2 and Sun. 4/3 10:00am - 5:00pm CEDAR KEY - If plain old curiosity hasn’t yet inspired you to visit the town selected by the USDA as Florida’s Rural Community of the Year, then mark April 2nd and 3rd on your calendar for an excursion to the western terminus of State Route 24. That’s when you’ll have the added incentive of enjoying Cedar Key’s annual Old Florida Celebration of the Arts.

for cochlear implant patients at Shands Hospital.

VIVA! 2011 Sat. 4/2 5:00pm REMBERT FARM IN ALACHUA - Haven Hospice’s annual fundraising event, ViVA! 2011 - Polynesian Bash, benefits Haven while bringing excitement and celebrity flair to the Gainesville area. Live music, Polynesian cuisine, gaming, exciting live and silent auctions highlight the festivities.

More than 800 guests and volunteers attend ViVA! each year. One hundred percent of the proceeds remains in the communities the organization serves to provide care for patients and their families and to support the many unfunded programs and services offered by Haven Hospice.

STRIDE AGAINST SILENCE 5K WALK/RUN

THIRD ANNUAL SPRING SALE

Sat.4/2 7:00am - 10:00am

Sat. 4/9 10:00am 3:00pm

NADINE MCGUIRE PAVILION - Stride Against Silence is a 5K Walk/ Run that raises money

MILL CREEK FARM - 20307 CR 235, Alachua.

Spring Sale to benefit the horses at the

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2011 | 115

Retirement Home for horses. Items for sale are donated by our supporters. 100 percent of the money goes to the farm to fed and care for the horses.

386-462-1001

Sat. 4/9, 5/7 and 6/4 9:00am - 5:00pm

offering of native plants in North Florida. The sale is hosted cooperatively by the City of Gainesville’s Nature Operations Division of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs and the Payne’s Prairie chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS), Friends of Nature Parks (FNP).

DOWNTOWN HIGH SPRINGS There will be Flea Market vendors, Farmer’s Market vendors, Food vendors and live music. Make plans now to join the fun!

WALK THE TALK FOR EPILEPSY AND SEIZURE DISORDERS

HIGH SPRINGS DOWNTOWN DAZE

SPRING NATIVE PLANT SALE Sat. 4/9 8:30am - 12:30pm MORNINGSIDE NATURE CENTER - 3540 E. University Ave., Gainesville. Take advantage of the largest

Sat. 4/9 8:00am WEST SIDE PARK - 1001 N W 34th St. Gainesville.

Last year more than 100 people came out and walked to raise money and awareness for Epilepsy and raised $10,000.

RIVER RISE RALLY TRAIL PACE Sat. 4/9 8:00am O’LENO STATE PARK This is a fun event for all levels of horse riders. There will be three paces with three distances in the competition for a predetermined (unknown to the riders) time.

This is not a speed event but an elapsed time event where the rider tries to match time set by the Rally management rider.

Prizes will be awarded to the three riders in each of the three rides who finish the closest to the predetermined time. This event will take place at River Rise Preserve State Park.

352-463-0668

UF ORANGE AND BLUE GAME Sat. 4/9 Noon GAINESVILLE - Gator Football at the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field.

SANTA FE COLLEGE SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL Sat. 4/9 - Sun. 4/10 9:00am - 5:30pm & 12:00pm - 5:30pm DOWNTOWN GAINESVILLE - Celebrating 42 years of fine arts celebration with a twist of jazz. The festival draws hundreds of top-quality artists from more than 25 states in a juried show that includes sculpture, printmaking, painting, 2-D and 3-D mixed media, jewelry, photography, drawing, watercolor, wood, fiber and glass. 352-395-5355

www.sfcollege.edu/springarts

HEAD ST A R T PROGRAM Services also provided for children with disabilities & for homeless families.

!

NOWACC ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

for children who will be 3 or 4 years old by September 1, 2011

Alachua County Schools

Applications are taken every Wednesday from 8am to 3pm.

Fearnside Family Services Center 3600 NE 15 Street, Gainesville, FL • for more info, call 352-955-6875 116 | Spring 2011

PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ

Daniel Tosh

Sun. 4/10 7:00pm - 10:30pm

4/6/11

FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY - Save the date for Children’s Home Society of Florida’s 24th annual Puttin’ on the Ritz! We invite you to join our night out as you dress your best in black and white. 352-846-2000

7:00pm - 10:00pm O’CONNELL CENTER - Daniel is currently one of the most requested headliners in the country. He has also quickly evolved into one of the most popular and successful college acts, performing at more than seven hundred campuses. Daniel’s casual style and sharp material have proven to be greatly appreciated by his audiences, young and old (but mostly young). 352-392-5500.

9TH ANNUAL ALACHUA SPRING FESTIVAL DOWNTOWN ALACHUA - Join the 1,000s of visitors as they stroll along historic Main Street in Downtown Alachua during this spring.

Vendors sell home and garden accessories and local artists display crafts, jewelry and more. Bring your appetite and sample local food, homemade baked goods. The family will enjoy the bungee swing, inflatables, and crafts. Live entertainment includes easy listening, Country, Gospel, Church Choir, and Jazz bands as well as a local dance team.

386-462-9552

Photo by Anne Fishbein

Sun. 4/10 11:00am - 5:00pm

David Sedaris 4/17/11

7:30pm

PHILLIPS CENTER - NPR Humorist and Bestselling Author of Naked, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, and Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk.

With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, David Sedaris has become one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers. The great skill with which he slices through cultural euphemisms and political correctness proves that Sedaris is a master of satire and one of the most observant writers addressing the human condition today.

www.alachuabusiness.com

CITRUS CUP MORGAN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HORSE SHOW April 13 - 16 Event Times Vary CANTERBURY EQUESTRIAN - Horses from across the Southeast are competing for regional championships and the opportunity to qualify for the World Championship horse show. Events include carriage, dressage, jumping, and undersandle and in-hand classes.

352-472-6727

Jars of Clay 4/30/11

Event time TBA SILVER SPRINGS - They have sold more than six million albums, won three GRAMMYS, headlined thousands of sold-out shows and festivals, and successfully launched the Blood:Water Mission, a non-profit organization promoting clean blood and water in Africa. Since the band’s debut single, “Flood,” astonishingly topped both the mainstream and CCM charts, Jars of Clay has built an extraordinary career based on the uncompromising integrity of its music, worldview, and humanitarianism. 352-236-2121 www.silversprings.com

www.fmha.net www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2011 | 117

PESTICIDE LICENSE WORKSHOP Thurs. 4/21 9:00am - 1:00pm ALACHUA COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE - This workshop is designed to provide training in practices related to Private Applicator Agricultural Pest Control License for anyone working in the agriculture industry.

352-955-2402

SMALL TOWN SATURDAY NIGHT HOME RUN! GAINESVILLE! Sat. 4/23 6:00pm - 10:00pm UNIVERSITY AIR CENTER 4701 NE 40th Terr. The Matheson Museum holds its 3rd annual Small Town Saturday Night benefit with a

nostalgic look at the magic of our hometown baseball teams.

352-335-4681

FARM AND FOREST FESTIVAL Sat. 4/30 10:00am - 4:00pm MORNINGSIDE NATURE CENTER - View historicbreed farm animals, hear period music, and observe traditional crafts and trades like sheep shearing, blacksmithing, spinning, weaving, and woodstove cooking.

352-334-2171

www.natureoperations.org

MENOPAUSE, THE MUSICAL Tues. 5/3, Weds. 5/4 7:30pm PHILLIPS CENTER - This uplifting 90-minute production includes

Shop or Consign

parodies from the ’60s and ’70s and ’80s. It culminates with a salute to women who are experiencing The Change. Since the 2001 opening in Orlando, Florida, millions of women of all ages and stages find their spirits lifted by the show’s light-hearted look at menopause.

321-274-1970.

RELAY FOR LIFE Fri. 5/6 3:00pm NEWBERRY HIGH SCHOOL The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and

fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events from 18 - 24 hours in length.

GAINESVILLE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA: AMERICAN VISTAS Fri. 5/6 7:30pm PHILLIPS CENTER - The GCO invites you to be a part of their spectacular featured concert of the season! The highlight will be a new audio-visual experience integrated into the GCO’s performance of

Marshall & Company

SALON Come in and enjoy our reliable, friendly service with individual attention and special care for every client.

Walk-ins Welcome!

Furniture • Glassware Linens • Home Decor Stop by Today!

14822 Main St., Suite A Alachua, FL 32615

386.418.0215 118 | Spring 2011

Tues. - Thurs. 10am to 6pm Friday 10am to 5pm Saturday 10am to 2pm

EVENING APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

386-454-3048 60 NE RAILROAD AVENUE • HIGH SPRINGS LOCATED BEHIND THE GREAT OUTDOORS RESTAURANT

www.marshallandcompanysalon.net

Grofe’s Grand Canyon Suite along with other treasured American pieces and the everpopular annual “Walk Through the Orchestra.”

The concert will be part of a multidimensional event presented in collaboration with the GCO, the UF Geology Department, the Harn Museum of Art and Florida Museum of Natural History. The festival extending throughout the UF Cultural Plaza will include exhibits by local artists, fascinating historical and geologic exhibits displaying the beauty of America’s landscape.

352-392-2787.

UPTOWN ART HOP Fri. 5/6 6:00pm to 9:00pm GAINESVILLE - NW 16th Blvd and NW 43rd St. Explore the arts and

artistic artifacts, from contemporary to antique, at 12 locally owned boutiques all within easy “hopping” distance. You, your family and friends will enjoy live music, refreshments, demonstrations, and more.

Start anywhere — just look for the big frog balloons — and ride a rickshaw from place to place. It’s a tastefully creative evening of arts and entertainment!

BITS & SPURS 4-H CLUB OF ALACHUA COUNTY Tues. 5/10 6:00pm ALACHUA - Hipp Construction Office.

Join the equine 4-H club! Lots of fun!

Horse-related speakers, games and activities each month. We meet the second Tuesday

of each month at Hipp Construction in Alachua. 352-955-2402

mbenge@alachuacounty.com

PAINTED TABLE OUTDOOR MARKET Sat. 5/14 10:00am to 4:00pm THE PAINTED TABLE 2441 NW 43rd St., Thornebrook Village, Gainesville. Outdoor market featuring “slow” food, antiques, jewelry and plants. Accepting new vendors. Held monthly every second Saturday in the courtyard. 352-371-1555

AUDITIONS FOR ANYTHING GOES Sun. 5/15 7:00pm GAINESVILLE - Vam York Theater. Auditions for the musical comedy about the madcap antics aboard an ocean

liner bound from New York to London.

Including such classics as “Anything Goes,” “You’re the Top,” & “I Get a Kick Out of You,” this is one for the whole family.

352-376-4949

MASTERS OF DISASTERS Fri. 5/20 11:30am - to 5:00pm GAINESVILLE - Join the American Red Cross of North Central Florida for the Inaugural Masters of Disasters Golf Invitational at Haile Plantation Golf & Country Club. A variety of sponsorships are available to support the local Red Cross vital programs and services.

Your support will allow the Red Cross to provide help and hope throughout our community when and where it is needed most.

PRICES STARTING AT JUST

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www.FreedomZmower.com 48” Deck pictured. Other models, sizes and configurations available.

STORE HOURS:

MON-SAT. 8-6 CLOSED SUNDAY

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386.454.1717 www.VisitOurTowns.com

& Outdoor Power Equipment Spring 2011 | 119

Kanapaha Rose Show 4/16/11 1pm - 5pm KANAPAHA BOTANICAL GARDENS 4700 S.W. 58th Drive. This show celebrates the splendor and distinctive fragrance of roses.

There will be judged exhibits of award winning roses. 352-372-4981

Work of Heart Awards 4/26/11 6pm - 9pm PARAMOUNT PLAZA HOTEL 2900 SW 13th St. The 39th annual Work of Hearts Awards banquet, which recognizes volunteers from throughout the community, is meant to celebrate and honor their selfless work.

Moonlight Walk 5/14/11 7pm - 11pm KANAPAHA BOTANICAL GARDENS Large sections of Kanapaha’s extensive walkway system will be lighted by 1500 luminaries. Live entertainment will be provided.

352-372-4981 www.kanapaha.org

120 | Spring 2011

66TH ANNUAL NEWBERRY WATERMELON FESTIVAL Sat. 5/21 Event Time TBA CANTERBURY SHOWPLACE Each year the Newberry Watermelon Festival committee works hard to improve the festival and its activities. The watermelons are always provided from a local grower and given to the festivalgoers for free.

Some of the favorite festival activities started many years ago and still continue today, including contests for watermelon eating, seed spitting, hog calling, pie/cake baking, and of course the “Big Melon.”

MUSEUM CHOICE Sat. 5/28 10:00am to Noon FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Looking for something the whole family can do this summer? Grab your imagination, don’t forget your sense of adventure, and come explore at the Museum!

Swim through the shallows of a coral reef, puzzle together a prairie and create creatures from Florida’s diverse ecosystems in selfguided discovery stations. Visit the handson Discovery Room filled with activities.

Free. 352-846-2000

GAINESVILLE RACEWAY NIGHT-TIME TEST AND TUNE Wed. 6/1 6:30pm - 11:30pm GAINESVILLE RACEWAY Open to anyone with a racecar, street car, motorcycle, a valid license to race in a safer, controlled environment on the track!

352-377-0046

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2011 | 121

SUMMER CAMPS AT THE FLORIDA MUSEUM Mon. 6/13 - 6/17 8:30am - Noon

16th Ave. Free Line Dance lessons.

352-472-2388

www.eastonnewberrysportscomplex.com

FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY - From the Central Asian steppe to the Great Wall of China, experience a week-long adventure through Asia.

Scale the Himalayas and demystify dragons as we explore the world’s largest continent. 352-273-2061

HIGH SPRINGS FARMERS MARKET

RECURRING EVENTS

ZOOMBA

LINE DANCING LESSONS

NEWBERRY - EastonNewberry Sports Complex, 24880 NW 16th Ave. Zumba® is a fusion of Latin and International music that creates a dynamic, exciting, and effective fitness system. Dance,

Thursdays 2:00pm - 6:00pm JAMES PAUL PARK - Variety of vendors - fresh & organic produce, shrimp, flowers, fresh baked goods, candles, oils, crafts and more.

352-672-5308

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| 123

>> [SUBJECT TAG]

Defined by Water

PHOTO BY JOHN MORAN

Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eden Takes on the Plight of the Springs

124 | Spring 2011

>> CONSERVATION

“Water is life. It’s the briny broth of our origins, the pounding circulatory system of the world, a precarious molecular edge on which we survive. It makes up two-thirds of our bodies, just like the map of the world; our vital fluids are saline, like the ocean.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

— Barbara Kingsolver, “Water is Life” National Geographic.

BY AMANDA WILLIAMSON White Springs has disappeared.

Fanning Springs is following in its footsteps.

The Ichetucknee River is being contaminated by pollutants and nitrates.

Florida’s springs are dying. orth Florida, an area blessed with an abundance of fresh water, may soon face a future without the lazy Ichetucknee River or without the crystalline Fanning Springs. But the worst part is that the springs portray the “canary in the coal mine” for the Floridan aquifer, and what happens to the springs could soon happen to Florida’s drinking water, said Annie Pais, executive director of Florida’s Eden.

Florida’s Eden, a non-profit organization, was created ten years ago when a group of people — naturalists, scientists, artists — realized that the springs, North Florida’s defining characteristic, were in jeopardy.

PHOTO BY JOHN MORAN

N

“Florida’s Eden uses the power of arts and culture, and the dual assets of our natural environment and creative population, to unite the people of North Florida so that together we can address our most profound educational, economic and environmental challenges,” states the Florida’s Eden website.

In Florida, Pais said, the people have to do something to save their natural resource. Florida’s Eden works to educate people, showing them how they can help and get involved. Pais was adamant about the community standing up to local authorities, and voicing a concern for what is best for the environment and for everyone in the world.

“It’s all about water here,” Pais said.

In Florida, there is no protection program for the springs. But Pais said when Florida’s Eden surveyed people in the 30 counties that comprise the organization, residents were under the impression that the springs are protected.

“Water is a finite resource,” Pais said. In fact, the

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2011 | 125

Lawns account for a majority of home water use in Florida. Too much water wastes a precious resource, but also causes run-off of nutrients that is destroying the water quality of our springs, rivers and estuaries.

Dramatically reduce water usage by following the recommended watering schedules for your type of lawn, changing over to Florida Friendly plants and installing rain barrels to capture rainwater from your roof. Eliminate fertilizer use by using different plant varieties and recycling kitchen scraps. Fertilizers leach into the ground water and run into springs and streams. Fertilizers are the single largest source of pollution dramatically reducing water quality in Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s springs and destroying the life cycle of Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s waterways.

water that the world drinks today is the same water the dinosaurs splashed in when they roamed the Earth. The water that is wasted, such as when it is diverted into the sea, is simply wasted. And many people may not know that only one percent of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water is fresh water.

Pais said that water is a resource that should be valued more than gold or oil. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many people predict that water will be the resource that people have wars over,â&#x20AC;? she said. Once it is gone, the world cannot make more fresh water â&#x20AC;&#x201D; at least not without consequence.

Conservation, Pais said, should come before the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hasty effort to build factories to convert salt water into fresh water.

Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tourism industry, that which does not involve the Disney theme parks, involves a water culture. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our tourism industry depends upon people coming here and experiencing nature â&#x20AC;&#x201D; weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all about water here, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pais said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Healthy springs. Healthy beaches.â&#x20AC;?

But on a positive note, Pais believes Florida can have it all. She thinks through citizen choices and government action

Florida can become the model for an environmentally friendly state. She said that a healthy environment brings a healthy economy, which means more people and more business. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enough water to go around if weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just smart about how we use it,â&#x20AC;?

Pais said.

The Blue Path, a plan connected with Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eden, only bigger, has developed a mission to engage all Floridians, and educate them on the value of water and how to live with it. From August 2010 to February 2011, the Florida Museum of Natural History set up an exhibit titled, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Blue Path: Protecting Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s springs.â&#x20AC;? The exhibit, according to the museum and to Pais, was one of the museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most popular exhibits.

Pais said that the museum moved their entire schedule around to present this exhibit because it realized that Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fresh water was in crisis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a time-sensitive issue,â&#x20AC;? Pais said. In fact, she believes that if the region does not make a profound change in the way people live in the next three years, the springs and Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aquifers

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Upcoming Events to Benefit the Springs 5th Annual Melrose Spring Arts Festival March 25, 26, 27 Sixty award-winning artists working lakeside & in Historic Melrose 10am-5pm daily. Free and open to the public.

Proceeds benefit The Blue Path: Save Florida Springs.

BikeFlorida “Florida’s Eden” Spring Tour 2011 “Ride to Save the Florida Springs” March 26 Everyone is welcome. Ride one mile a day or 15. Ride for 1 day, 3 days or 6 days. Register online at - floridaseden.org/ springtour

PHOTO BY JOHN MORAN

“I have stood on the banks of the Ichetucknee and I have grieved for my loss — our loss — as I consider with each passing year that my collection of springs photographs seems less a refl ection of the real Florida, than a catalog of what once was,” said John Moran.

These words were displayed next to side-by-side images of the Itchtucknee River. The fi rst one (left), taken in 1995, is a healthy spring, full of life. The second photo, taken in 2006 (previous page) refl ects the degradation to the water clarity and health of the native aquatic plants.

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Spring 2011 | 127

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128 | Spring 2011

will be too far gone for it to matter.

Florida’s Eden printed 30,000 copies of a program on the region, which it distributed at the museum during the exhibit. The guide listed all of the springs in the area, as well as springs work and restoration groups.

Pais called it a “one-stop shop” where someone looking to volunteer or donate could find more than 100 places to contribute.

The Blue Path has a bigger plan than museum exhibits. Florida’s Eden and The Blue Path want to create a traveling show by renting or buying a tractortrailer and converting it into an exhibit — a springs experience. The trailer exhibit will instruct visitors through hands-on activities. Then, they will take it to where the people are — festivals, downtown areas — and engage the community, the mainstream Floridians.

“We need to go to Jacksonville first,” Pais said.

“Jacksonville is taking so much water out of the aquifer that it is now taking water out of the Ichetucknee River.”

The Ichetucknee River has decreased 20 to 25 percent.

“Some people say ‘let’s tap the rivers,’” Pais said. “But the water is all connected underground.”

The ground beneath all of Florida forms a Swisscheese type topography, which allows the water to percolate easily through the layers.

Florida is over-tapping the aquifer and not recharging it. White Springs has disappeared. Fanning springs has fallen from a first-magnitude spring to a secondmagnitude spring. (A first-magnitude spring discharges at least 100 cubic feet of water per second or about 64.6 million gallons per day.)

“They say it will never be a first-magnitude spring again,” Pais said.

Pais believes that the people in Jacksonville, and the public in general, have no idea what is going on with the springs. She said that the government is not taking the initiative to instruct them or to change state policy.

“We have reached the tipping point, beyond which our rivers and springs can no longer absorb the impact of our pollutants and remain healthy,” said John Moran, a landscape and wildlife photographer who focuses on Florida’s waters, such as the springs.

“I am stunned by the indifference of so many of our political leaders to the reality of this loss. When it comes to springs protection, denial runs like a river through our Florida legislature.”

Florida is an agriculture state. Pais said the government could be providing subsidies to the farmers to ensure environmentally friendly practices are being used in Florida farms. More than half of the crop production is sod, she said.

Sod is not a plant native to Florida, so growing it is very wasteful and harmful to the environment. It requires too much water, too much fertilizer and too much pesticide.

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“We’re fertilizing our sod yards. We’re over-watering them with water we can’t afford to take out of the aquifer,” Pais said.

Between lowering the water levels of the springs and polluting them with fertilizer-tainted runoff, the springs are becoming unbalanced. Because of the high nitrate levels, native eelgrass is being suffocated.

“Here we have our personal drinking water and we are fouling it. To do what?” Pais said. “To grow sod.”

But Florida’s Eden and The Blue Path think there is a way to turn it all around. Pais said the community can make a difference by making simple, profound choices.

That is all it takes.

Pais said there are a lot of ways to help. Anyone can join Florida’s Eden for $20 a year. It currently has about 700 members.

“But we should really have a million members. What would that be like?” Pais said. “It would be fabulous.”

Everything starts with education. Pais believes our education system needs to be reformed so that children grow up as advocates who can command the well-being of our state economy and argue for doing things in a green way.

The Blue Path, and its future traveling exhibit, is working to teach the community what it can do. Homes should collect water in large cisterns to use during the drier seasons, which seems to be almost non-existent in Florida. In other parts of the world, like Australia,

every house is built with a water-catching system.

Communities should reuse water. Yards can be watered using gray water. Right now, many people water their lawns with water treated for drinking purposes. Pais believes that this water should only be used for drinking or bathing, where the water comes into direct bodily contact.

Cities need to work to recharge the aquifer. In some areas, water is being wasted. For example, Jacksonville dumps some used water into the St. Johns River and it runs out to sea. That water is gone, when it should have been put back in the aquifer.

Sand ridge areas are the aquifers natural recharge basins.

“Every sand ridge that we displace with concrete — that’s a whole recharge area that we take away from the aquifer,” Pais said.

And the word needs to be spread. Pais wants to put up billboards: “Are we going to have sod or are we going to have springs? Because that’s what it is coming down to.” However, right now Florida’s Eden does not have the money to designate for billboards. The organization is trying to raise funds for its traveling exhibit.

In the Blue Path exhibit at the Florida Museum of Natural History, Moran had two pictures side by side.

They depict the same spot in the springs taken several years apart. In the first photo, the spring is a vibrant blue, with healthy eelgrass spiraling in the current; a photo NO W OP EN !

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full of life. In the second photo, the life is gone. The water has lost its blueness and the eelgrass has died.

Pais said people would see this photo and they would cry. They would be horrified when they made the connection and realized that everyone is playing a part in killing the springs.

“We’re fertilizing our sod yards.

We’re over-watering them with water we can’t afford to take out of the aquifer.”

“You do not need to be a scientist to see that we are polluting our springs,” Moran said.

Pais said that Robert Knight, a scientist who works with Florida’s Eden, described the community as having a pioneer mentality about water. The pioneers never imagined running out of any of their resources.

Floridians still have this mentality about water.

“We are very spoiled here,” Pais said. “We have huge amounts of water to waste. Jumping in a spring, fishing, and all kinds of aqua-culture, we are defined by water

here. And we have totally taken it for granted.”

But just like the problem, everyone is connected in the solution, Pais said. Like the underground waterways, everyone is connected.

Towns in the Florida’s Eden boundaries are already working toward conservation and protection. Cedar Key took all of the residents off of septic tanks. Everyone is on city sewage.

Sarasota County has lowered usage per person over the years. According to the Sarasota County Government website, the county has lowered its water usage to 88 gallons per person a day. This is the lowest water consumption rate in the region, according to the website.

Rink Hall on the University of Florida campus serves 1,000 people per day, yet it uses less potable water than an average home, states the Florida’s Eden scenic guide.

The first thing The Blue Path noticed when examining this region is that in the latitude on the world map, North Florida is very unusual. Nearly every other location is a desert region.

“We’re this water-rich little place,” Pais said. “And we should build the economy around that.” s For more information or to donate to the cause, visit: floridaseden.org.

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>> RESOURCES

Solar Power

From Ancient Civilizations to Modern Day Alachua County

Only primitives and barbarians lack knowledge of houses turned to face the winter sun.

— Aeschylus, ancient Greek philosopher and playwright.

BY JANICE C. KAPLAN ince the beginning of time, the sun has served not only as an object of worship and wonder, but as a source of energy for mankind. Families used the warmth reflected on rocks to cook bread and other foods. Ancient civilizations built entire cities based on the sun’s position throughout the day to take advantage of the angles that would best provide light and heat, a technique that would ultimately be known as “passive solar energy.” And as early as 700 B.C., Greeks and Romans used magnifying glasses and mirrors to direct the sun’s rays toward wood or other fuel to light a fire.

But in the 1800s speculation and

S

134 | Spring 2011

research began to uncover methods of harnessing energy from the sun to create electricity for use in homes and businesses. This led to the creation of the first working solar cells by American inventor Charles Fritts in 1883, followed by countless discoveries and patents in the field during the subsequent 125 years.

Today, solar power is more feasible than ever thanks to more research and lower equipment costs. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), in 2008 there was an 84 percent increase in solar installations that are tied to energy grids in the United States.

Locally, the idea of solar power has rapidly gained ground.

In February of 2009, the city of Gainesville voted to allow Gainesville Regional Utilities to give a per-kilowatt-hour rebate to customers who install photovoltaic (PV) systems in their homes and businesses. A PV system uses a number of solar electric modules and can be mounted on land or on roofs. PV systems have no moving parts and operate silently, producing electricity whenever they are exposed to sunlight, and

PHOTO BY ALBERT ISAAC

High Springs resident Larry Behnke’s solar panels have generated electricity for his home since 1984. When the hurricanes knocked him off the grid, he was still able to draw water from his well with his solar pump and operate fans and lights.

carry performance warranties of up to 25 years. GRU’s tariff, the first of its kind in the U.S., has resulted in GRU increasing its solar kilowatt production by 566 percent over the last two years, according to the company.

Now more county residents

are taking advantage of the sunny Florida weather and wide open spaces that rural living allows. John Lanman, a retired manufacturing engineer who still works on a consulting basis, installed a PV system on his High Springs property in late 2010. Consisting of

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48 235-watt panels (each five feet long by 39 inches tall), the system generates enough electricity to cover about 65 percent of Lanman’s Clay Electric bill without major adjustments to his energy usage.

“We are relatively conservative from the standpoint that I’ve

Spring 2011 | 135

PHOTOS BY ALBERT ISAAC

John Lanman stands beside the inverters that convert the power of the sun from direct to alternating current, which will provide about 65 percent of his household electricity needs. He has also cleared a section of his lot (right) to install his solar panels. Recently, he planted bushes that he hopes will grow to just the proper height to allow enough sunlight to strike his panels.

replaced all the light bulbs with low-wattage fluorescents. If we buy appliances we lean toward energy star rating, and the house is well insulated,” Lanman said. “But these are things we would have done regardless of solar. We use about 2,000 kilowatts a month in our 2,300-square-foot house. That’s why our system is big.”

Part of Lanman’s reasoning to commission the PV system for his home was to take advantage of the

136 | Spring 2011

30 percent tax credit offered last year by the federal government.

But he also wanted to address both short-term and long-term energy goals. In addition to lowering his current monthly energy bills, he hopes to combat rising gas prices by someday using an electric car as a “battery bank,” which would in effect give him green transportation. Lanman’s system is also set up with the groundwork to add another 24 panels in the years

to come, which he estimates will cover almost his entire electric bill.

While Lanman’s PV system is new, some residents have been using solar power for decades.

Writer and artist Larry Behnke, also a High Springs resident, started his system in 1984 with three panels, two batteries and a charge controller.

“That powered mostly fans, lights, radio, television, a blender and a hairdryer,” Behnke said.

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Over the years Behnke added — and in some cases removed — components from the PV system as his energy usage changed. Today, he has a 12-volt system made up of five panels and two six-volt batteries that powers many of the same things, including a water pump for his well. He said that he pays an average of $22 a month on his electric bill, mostly for the energy used by his refrigerator.

Behnke’s lifestyle lends itself naturally to energy conservation.

His house is a geodesic dome, a spherical or partially-spherical building with a network of triangles lying on the surface. For cooling, the house relies on the natural air circulation provided by the dome shape; Behnke has just one window air conditioning unit that he estimates he used, “ten to twelve hours last summer.”

A woodburning stove in the home provides heat for the winter.

Behnke recommends that residents considering solar have

at least four or five hours a day of unshaded sunlight, and that they start with smaller systems and build up over time. Some might insist that the equipment and technology required to harness solar energy is not cost effective, but Behnke disagrees.

“My entire system of PV panels, batteries, wiring, charge controller and fuses cost $3,000,” he said.

“Today you would pay $5,000 for an even better system. That sounds like a lot up front, but over the years the cost of my system has worked out to $10 a month. What does your new, $20,000, constantly depreciating car cost a month?”

Behnke goes on to explain that even though technology changes at a rapid pace, older equipment is still quite usable and easy to maintain.

“Scientists predict that the systems will last about 100 years, and mine’s still working fine after about a quarter century. The panels GE built in 1950 still produce

power,” Behnke said. “As for upkeep, I have washed my panels four times in 26 years; the rain cleans them. I add water to the batteries four times a year. That is my total maintenance.”

Clay Electric, the supplier of power to the High Springs area, supports customers who wish to explore the option of solar energy.

Sherman Phillips, the company’s Energy Services Manager, said Clay Electric counsels customers by comparing their current energy usage with the cost of the system they wish to purchase. The goal is to give them a realistic picture of their energy savings as well as advice on how to temper their energy consumption. “[Solar energy] is the right thing to do, I firmly believe that,” Phillips said. “But cost effectiveness is relative to the individual. You should look not only at alternative energy sources, but your house.

Your house needs to be as energy efficient as possible. That way

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FOR 3 MONTHS

you’re reducing your carbon input, which could bring you closer to getting net-zero [in energy usage vs. amount you pay] depending upon the size of the system you

PV systems of 100 kilowatts or less.

For more information, customers can visit the Clay Electric website at www.clayelectric.com and click the “solar power” link.

“Scientists predict that the solar collection systems will last about 100 years, and mine’s still working fine after about a quarter century.” install. That’s your best bang for your buck, getting your house in order first.”

Phillips explained that while Clay Electric is not large enough to offer a feed-in tariff similar to that of GRU, the company still offers a financial incentive to customers looking to go solar. Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc. will purchase electricity generated and delivered to Clay Electric from any of its members’ qualifying small

Whether a PV system costs $3,000 or $50,000, it is not only a clean energy source but a way to save money as well.

“Money you don’t have to spend is money you don’t have to earn,” Behnke said. “I’d rather spend my time doing things like writing, photography and artwork instead of going to a job I hate.”

Lanman poses another thought on how a PV system is cost effective.

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“It adds value to the property that needs to be taken into account,” he said, adding that he considers the investment in his system to be a smart one. “Right now you look at safe investments, like CDs or bonds, and they’re running one or two percent interest. Even with a five percent inflation rate on electricity costs, I’m going to get a two to three percent return on something anchored in the ground.”

Over centuries, solar energy has developed from a makeshift method of heat, light and cooking to a way to power entire buildings.

Still, the debate continues as to its feasibility and realistic expectations. Behnke believes that a shift in the public’s way of thinking will ultimately make the difference.

“The biggest obstacle to moving toward solar electricity is changing our thinking,” he said, “changing the way we’ve always done things and trying something new that works better.” s

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Spring 2011 | 139

A History of Solar Energy

140 | Spring 2011

7TH CENTURY B.C

1954

Magnifying glass used to concentrate sun’s rays to make fire.

Photovoltaic technology is born in the United States when Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller, and Gerald Pearson develop the silicon photovoltaic cell at Bell Labs-the first solar cell capable of converting enough of the sun’s energy into power to run everyday electrical equipment.

20 A.D. Chinese document use of burning mirrors to light torches for religious purposes.

1ST TO 4TH CENTURY A.D

MID-1950S

The famous Roman bathhouses had large southfacing windows to let in the sun’s warmth.

Architect Frank Bridgers designed the world’s first commercial office building using solar water heating and passive design. This solar system has been continuously operating since that time and the Bridgers-Paxton Building, is now in the National Historic Register as the world’s first solar heated office building.

1767 Swiss scientist Horace de Saussure is credited with building the world’s first solar collector, later used

by Sir John Herschel to cook food during his South Africa expedition in the 1830s.

1973 1839 French scientist Edmond Becquerel discovers the photovoltaic effect while experimenting with an electrolytic cell made up of two metal electrodes placed in an electricity-conducting solution-electricity-generation increased when exposed to light.

1876 William Grylls Adams and Richard Evans Day discover that selenium produces electricity when exposed to light. Although selenium solar cells failed to convert enough sunlight to power electrical equipment, they proved that a solid material could change light into electricity without heat or moving parts.

The University of Delaware builds “Solar One,” one of the world’s first photovoltaic powered residences.

1977 The U.S. Department of Energy launches the Solar Energy Research Institute “National Renewable Energy Laboratory,” a federal facility dedicated to harnessing power from the sun.

1982 The Florida Solar Energy Center’s “Southeast Residential Experiment Station” begins supporting the U.S. Department of Energy’s photovoltaic program in the application of systems engineering.

1883

1993

Charlies Fritts described the first solar cells made from selenium wafers.

1891

Pacific Gas & Electric completes installation of the first grid-supported photovoltaic system in Kerman, California. The 500-kilowatt system was the first “distributed power” effort.

Baltimore inventor Clarence Kemp patented the first commercial solar water heater.

2001

1905 Albert Einstein published his paper on the photoelectric effect (along with a paper on his theory of relativity).

Home Depot begins selling residential solar power systems in three of its stores in San Diego, California.

A year later it expands sales to include 61 stores nationwide.

2009 1908

1921

Joined by a delegation from the European Photovoltaic Industry Association, the city of Gainesville votes to allow GRU to give customers per kilowatt-hour rebate to customers who install photovoltaic systems in their homes and businesses.

The tariff is the first of its kind in the United States.

Albert Einstein wins the Nobel Prize for his theories (1904 research and technical paper) explaining the photoelectric effect.

source: U.S. Department of Energy

William J. Bailey of the Carnegie Steel Company invents a solar collector with copper coils and an insulated box-roughly, its present design.

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Spring 2011 | 141

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Cleaning for a Reason Help for Women Battling Cancer

BY MOLLIE LARMIE efore last June, Laura Heffter was a normal woman with a busy life.

She sold advertisements for a publishing company, dog-eared recipe books and cooked complicated meals, filled her fridge with magnets from places she had traveled â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Italy, Maui, Bourbon Street. She took her son Alec, a sophomore at Buchholz High School, to concerts. She kept her town home in Haile Plantation tidy, but dreaded dusting and vacuuming up hair from her cat and dog.

Then she got breast cancer, and

B

144 | Spring 2011

that life was put on hold.

The diagnosis did not come as a surprise. Heffterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grandmother beat breast cancer. Familiarity with the disease did not stop her from feeling scared and overwhelmed. Her mother, Joy, died from an aggressive form of breast cancer that spread to her lungs and liver.

As Heffter turned 50, she confronted her own mortality.

From August to November 2010, she underwent chemotherapy at the Community Cancer Center of North Florida. She lost her red hair and donned a wig.

Her face turned pale and puffy.

After her first chemotherapy treatment, Heffter contracted an infection that hospitalized her for six

days. After a second treatment, her kidneys shut down. She required two transfusions, because her red blood cell count plummeted.

Heffter had expected to work in-between treatments, but the complications from chemotherapy caused her to miss five months at her job. She barely left the couch in her living room.

Simple tasks exhausted her, and Heffter could not keep up with household chores. Her son helped out, but 16-year-olds have more experience making messes than cleaning them up. “[Alec] is at the age where I’m even afraid to look in his room,” Heffter said.

She needed professional help.

In 2006, Gainesville couple Rudy and Erica Castano opened A Personal Elf Home Maid

During the past four years, A Personal Elf has provided free cleanings to more than 30 women battling cancer. & Concierge Service. The company serves Gainesville, Newberry, Archer, Jonesville, Town of Tioga and Haile Plantation.

Soon after opening, the Castanos registered A Personal Elf as the first local chapter of the Cleaning For A Reason Foundation, a national non-profit that partners with professional maid services to provide free house cleanings to women undergoing cancer treatment.

During the past four years, A Personal Elf has provided free cleanings to more than 30 women battling cancer. When Erica Castano heard about Heffter’s diagnosis, she urged her to sign up on the Cleaning For A Reason register.

Her message: “We want to help you.”

Heffter now leaves a list for the maids from A Personal Elf. She asks them to please dust the dark wood furniture and vacuum the creamcolored rug. Please scrub out the sinks and dry them down. Please put clean linens on the beds.

And, most importantly, because both she and her son have allergies, please sweep up the black and white hair shed from Betsey the cat and Tillie the English springer spaniel.

Back when Heffter could afford a maid service, she used to pay about $120 for a monthly cleaning. She can only offer gratitude to those who do it for free.

The Castanos and their staff demonstrate what Heffter calls a “generosity of spirit.” After one cleaning, a maid left Heffter a note. “Hope

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Spring 2011 | 145

CLEANING FOR A REASON FOUNDATION ebbie Sardone, a 29-year veteran of the residential cleaning industry, created the non-profit in 2006 after she received a call from a cancer patient who desperately needed maid service but could not afford it.

As the president of Buckets and Bows Maid Service Inc. in Lewisville, Texas, Sardone started offering free house cleanings to women diagnosed with any type of cancer who were undergoing treatment.

She recruited other maid services, which embraced the foundation’s motto: “We focus on your home, so you can focus on your health.”

Today, the foundation partners with professional residential maid services, who agree to take two patients at a time and offer four free general cleanings.

Patients seeking free maid services are required to fill out an online application.

In addition, the patient’s doctor must provide the necessary paperwork affirming the woman is undergoing treatment for cancer.

To date, Cleaning For A Reason has recruited 865 partners in all 50 states and Canada. The foundation has provided house cleanings to 2,000 women, which comes to more than $350,000 in free maid service.

Four maid services in the greater Alachua County area partner with Cleaning For A Reason: Molly Maids, Mini Maid, Student Maid Inc. and A Personal Elf Home Maid & Concierge Service.

D

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAURA HEFFTER

Laura Heffter (left) poses with a high school friend at a reunion, one and a half years ago.

everything looks good,” it read. “God bless you.”

Heffter went back to work in the beginning of January. It was almost like starting over, she said. Fatigue still creeps in. If she can make it through a full workday, walk the dog and cook dinner, Heffter cannot find

run out soon. But Erica Castano has arranged for the cleanings to continue indefinitely. A Personal Elf’s motto reads, “We do the grime, you get the time.” Instead of cleaning the house, Heffter can get back to living.

She wants to watch Gator baseball games and help her son with school projects. She wants to listen to live music at Sisters restaurant in the Haile Village Center.

Heffter’s prognosis is good. Doctors detected the cancer early, she said, and treated it aggressively.

“Hopefully, things will get back to the way they were before,” she said.

“They will. I know they will.”

The last time a maid came to Heffter’s house, she dusted a picture frame that hangs on the living room wall. In the frame, underneath the word “Love,” Heffter and her son stand side by side, smiling through the clear glass. s

The Cleaning For A Reason Foundation calls for partnering organizations to provide four free cleanings, one each month while a woman is undergoing treatment. energy for much else.

She wants her hair back but knows recovery takes a step at a time. She will undergo treatment once every three weeks until August 2011.

The Cleaning For A Reason Foundation calls for partnering organizations to provide four free cleanings, one each month while a woman is undergoing treatment.

Heffter’s scheduled cleanings will

146 | Spring 2011

For more information, visit www.cleaningforareason.org

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WORSHIP CENTERS If we have left out a church or have incomplete / incorrect information, please let us know! Send your corrections by faxing 352-373-9178 or emailing editor@towerpublications.com. We welcome your contributions and suggestions.

HIGH SPRINGS ALLEN CHAPEL A.M.E. CHURCH 386-454-3574 10 S.E. MLK Drive Rev. Ocelia Wallace, Pastor ANDERSON MEMORIAL CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST 386-454-3433 935 SE Lincoln Ave. BETHLEHEM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 386-454-1996 County Road 778 Pastor Clarence Desue CHRIST ANGLICAN FELLOWSHIP 386-454-1845 323 SW CR 778 Pastor Michael LaCagnina CHRISTIAN FAMILY WORSHIP CENTER 386-454-2367 220 NE 1ST Ave. Dr. Lloyd S. Williams CHURCH OF CHRIST 386-454-2930 520 NE Santa Fe Blvd.

CHURCH OF GOD

BY FAITH 386-454-1015 US Hwy 27 THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS 386-454-4282 24455 NW 174th Ave. Pres. Keith Brown HIGH SPRINGS CHURCH OF GOD 386-454-1757 210 NW 182 Ave. Pastor Terry W. Hull

148 | Spring 2011

FELLOWSHIP CHURCH 386-454-1700 16916 NW U.S. Hwy. 441 Pastor Jeff Powell FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 386-454-1505 20112 North US Hwy. 441 Pastor J. Eddie Grandy FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 386-454-1037 205 North Main Street Pastor Glen A. Busby FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH of HIGH SPRINGS 386-454-1255 17405 NW US Hwy 441 Pastor Benton Mangueira GRACE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 210 Santa Fe Blvd.

Pastor Preston Ponce HOLY TEMPLE CHURCH WITH GOD 386-454-0313 615 SE ML King Drive IMPACT FAMILY CHURCH 386-454-1563 16710 NW US 441 Pastors Edwin & Angela Anderson JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES 386-454-3509 330 SE 7th Ave. MIRACLE TEMPLE CHURCH 386-454-4298 605 SE 1st Place THE MISSION CHURCH OF HIGH SPRINGS Meeting at the Seventh Day Adventist Building 230 NW 1st Ave. 352-870-0247 Pastor Keith Helsel

MT CARMEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 386-454-4568 1230 NW 1st Ave. Pastor Byran Williams

ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 386-454-9812 1st Ave. (next to city hall) Rev. David Kidd

MT. PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH 14105 NW 298th Street 386-454-2161 Pastor Danny Crosby

SPRING HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Located at High Springs exit 79 off I-75 North of Gainesville (on Old Bellamy Rd.) Pastor James Richardson

MOUNT OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH 386-454-3447 948 SE Railroad Ave. THE NORTH EAST CHURCH OF CHRIST 4330 NE County Road 340 nechurchofchrist.net SAINT MADELEINE CATHOLIC CHURCH 386-454-2358 17155 NW Highway 441 SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH 352-497-2221 230 NW 1st Ave. Pastor Anthony Crawford SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH 386-454-4978 Shiloh Church Rd. Pastor Earl Tuten SHILOH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 386-454-3126 1505 NW Main St. SPRING RIDGE FIRST CHURCH OF GOD 386-454-3600 5529 NE 52nd Place Pastor Todd L Wymer SPRINGRIDGE FIRST CHURCH OF GOD 386-454-4400 420 Spring Ave.

ALACHUA ALACHUA CHURCH OF CHRIST 386-462-3326 14505 NW 145th Avenue Minister Doug Frazier ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH 386-497-3121 Jordan Road (Ft. White) BAHA’I FAITH 352-870-3097 Turkey Creek CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH 13920 NW Hwy 4141 386-462-2966 Pastor Marty D. Basinger calvarybaptistgainesville.org CHRIST CENTRAL ALACHUA 386-418-8185 14906 Main St. www.ccalachua.com CHURCH OF GOD BY FAITH 386-462-2549 13220 NW 150th Ave. CRUSADERS FOR CHRIST, INC. 386-462-4811 NW 158th Ave.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF ALACHUA 386-462-1337 14005 NW 146th Avenue Pastor Doug Felton

NORTH PLEASANT GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-3317 25330 NW CR 239 Pastor Edwin A. Gardner

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF ALACHUA 386-462-2443 14805 NW 140th St. Pastor Dr. Adam Zele

NEW SAINT MARY BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-7129 13800 NW 158th Ave.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ALACHUA 386-462-1549 14623 NW 140th St. Rev. Virginia McDaniel FOREST GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-3921 22575 NW 94 Avenue GREATER NEW HOPE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-4617 15205 NW 278th Ave. HARE KRISHNA TEMPLE 386-462-2017 17306 NW 112th Blvd.

HOPE COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH 386-454-2981 13719 NW 146th Avenue Pastor Arnold Osteen LEGACY BAPTIST CHURCH 352-538-5595 255 S. Main St. Pastor John Jernigan LIVING COVENANT CHURCH 386-462-7375 Pastor Brian J. Coleman NEW OAK GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-3390 County Road 1491 Pastor Terry Elixson, Jr. NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH OF GOD AND CHRIST 386-462-4891 1310 NW 155 Place Pastor R. L. Cooper

PARADISE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF ALACHUA 386-462-0162 14889 MLK Blvd.

Pastor Rev. James D. Johnson, Sr. SANTA FE BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-7541 7505 NW CR 236 Pastor William Pruitt MT NEBO UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 386-418-1038 9975 NW 143rd St. Pastor Ricardo George Jr. NEW SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-2095 18610 NW CR 237 NEW ST MARY BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-7129 13800 NW 158th Ave. OLD SHILOH MISSIONARY BAPTIST 386-462-4894 16810 NW CR 239 RIVER OF LIFE ASSEMBLY OF GOD 352-870-7288 14200 NW 148th Place Pastor Greg Evans ST LUKE AME CHURCH 386-462-2732 US Highway 441 S. ST MATHEWS BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-2205 15712 NW 140 Street Pastor Isaac Miles TEMPLE OF THE UNIVERSE 386-462-7279 15808 NW 90 Street www.tou.org

WESTSIDE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST 386-418-0649 15535 NW 141st St.

MT ZURA FULL GOSPEL BAPTIST CHURCH 352-472-4056 225 NW 2nd Ave. Pastor Natron Curtis

NEWBERRY ABIDING SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH 352-331-4409 9700 West Newberry Rd. BETHEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 352-474-6215 23530 NW 3rd Ave. Pastor Theodora Black CHRISTIAN LIFE FELLOWSHIP 352-472-5433 Pastor Terry Fulton CHURCH OF GOD BY FAITH 352-472-2739 610 NW 2nd St. Pastor: Jesse Hampton

NEW ST PAUL BAPTIST CHURCH 352-472-3836 215 NW 8TH Ave. Pastor Edward Welch NEWBERRY CHURCH OF CHRIST 352-472-4961 24045 W. Newberry Rd. Minister Batsell Spivy NEWBERRY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 352-472-4005 24845 W. Newberry Rd. Rev. Robert B. Roseberry, Pastor DESTINY COMMUNITY CHURCH 352-472-3284

THE CHURCH AT STEEPLECHASE 352-472-6232 Meeting at Sun Country Sports Center 333 SW 140th Terrace (Jonesville) Pastor Buddy Hurlston

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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF NEWBERRY 352-472-2351 25520 W. Newberry Rd. Rev. Jack Andrews

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GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH 352-472-9200 22405 W. Newberry Rd. Pastor Ty Keys JONESVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH 352-472-3835 17722 SW 15th Ave. Pastor Corey Cheramie JOURNEY CHURCH 352-281-0701 22405 W. Newberry Rd. Milam Funeral Home Chapel Dr. Michael O’Carroll, Pastor

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Pastor Rocky McKinley OAK DALE BAPTIST CHURCH 352-472-2992 Highway 26 and 241 S. PLEASANT PLAIN CHURCH 352-472-1863 1910 NW 166th St. Pastor Theo Jackson ST JOSEPH’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 352-472-2951 16921 W. Newberry Rd. Pastor John DiLeo TURNING POINT OF NEWBERRY, INC 5577 NW 290 Street 352-472-7770 Pastor Henry M. Rodgers UNION BAPTIST CHURCH 352-472-3845 6259 SE 75TH Ave Pastor Travis Moody

Spring 2011 | 149

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418-3857 Spring 2011 | 153

COLUMN >> DIANE E. SHEPARD

Mama Musings Coloring inside the lines is over-rated. he Vacation Bible School class facilitator praised my daughter Elizabeth’s classmate for coloring inside the lines on her coloring page. Elizabeth received no such compliment. Hers was a wonderful study in unbridled creative joy, bursting with color, but no, she didn’t stay within the lines.

I was irritated that Elizabeth’s work had not been acknowledged.

I just hoped she had not noticed.

But she had.

“Mommy, why didn’t the teacher like my picture?” she asked me later.

“Oh, honey, it’s not that she didn’t like your picture. Some — MARTHA people just prefer it when people color inside the lines. She doesn’t understand your creativity.

But I LOVE your picture just the way it is. It’s SO colorful and happy; just like you!”

This answer satisfied her — for a time.

But that was summer. Before school.

At school, they teach her that all pumpkins must be orange, there can be no pink cats, and to color within the lines.

Her coloring pages arrive home with big red stars plastered at the top. But what I see is her coloring becoming more rigid, tentative, forced. Conform or be marked down. Gone is the reckless abandon that allowed her to be so creative. She is holding back.

But at home, it’s perfectly acceptable (and even encouraged) for the cats to be neon pink if she desires.

And she does! Here, her pictures are delightful because she is permitted to follow her own creative impulses and explore her imagination.

T

I still remember the purple-edged “ditto” years ago — a bear holding a balloon.

From over my shoulder, I hear the stern voice of my first grade teacher.

“Color inside the lines, Diane, just like everyone else.”

“Like everyone else?” I remember thinking. How boring. It was the first time I truly understood that from now on I was expected to color inside the lines. I also remember my disappointment.

I did learn to march to the beat of my own drum, but it took a while.

I want Elizabeth to embrace her individuality NOW, not later.

I want to pave the way for her to be as creative and imaginative as she possibly can. Especially since she wants to be an artist.

GRAHAM Most artists and art educators would agree that a child’s imagination can rarely be fostered with coloring books and can even be shut down by negative comments because they used the “wrong” color, or they couldn’t stay within the lines. It’s been my experience that children produce more appealing work if they are given the freedom to abandon any preconceived notions about what society deems “correct” or beautiful.

Elizabeth appreciates great art. Degas’ dancers and Van Gogh’s landscapes are among her favorites.

She was wielding a paintbrush before a pencil, and is already adept at exploring color through mixing paint.

She revels in experimenting with a myriad of unique “canvases” including cardboard, bottles, wood, cloth, and natural objects. I’ve always encouraged this. When she colored on her sheets, I didn’t flinch.

But then came the question that had me torn.

“Mommy, can I color on my wall?”

“There is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique.

And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost.”

154 | Spring 2011

My first instinct is to scream “YES! YES!” from the top of my lungs. “Let me bring you the crayons, the paints! How cool! Can I help? Oh, I can’t wait to see what you come up with!”

But then I feel the pull of those invisible parental reins and I’m jolted back to reality: My husband — who craves neatness, order and everything as it “should” be — would keel over.

He’s had to adjust to many things in this “creativechaos-above-order” house, but a graffiti-laden wall? No matter how beautifully executed, I don’t think that’s gonna fly.

But is not allowing her to color on her walls squashing her creativity?

That’s when I remember a gift from my Mom: Tomie dePaola’s classic, “The Art Lesson.”

As a child, dePaola, was not permitted to paint on the walls, or even his sheets (however, he was given ample paper and crayons). Today he is a renowned children’s author and illustrator.

“Honey, we better check with Papa on this one. But let’s read this book together!”

She plunks down on the couch next to me.

“That’s OK, Mommy,” she assures me. “Even if Papa says no, I’m still gonna be an artist when I grow up.”

“Baby, you already are.” s

T VETS • GR GR E A

EAT STAFF • GREAT FAC

I LI T Y

Check out our spring low cost spay and neuter prices Dr. Laurie Jones, DVM Dr. Esther Devlin, DVM Dr. Clint Greene, DVM, DABVP

16402 HWY 441 N. - Alachua

Ph. 386-462-3822 Fx: 386-462-5741

Diane Shepard is a writer and Mama to two young children. Her next work in progress is a memoir “Keeping Time with Turtles.”

www.hilltop-animal.com

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S P E C I AL I Z I N G I N C O L O R A N D HIGHLIGHTING TECHNIQUES • • • • •

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Dana • Vicki • Stacey Lee • Stacy • Trudy 156 | Spring 2011

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Spring 2011 | 157

LIBRARY SCHEDULE Alachua Branch Library .....................14913 NW 140th St. .............................. 386-462-2592 High Springs Branch Library ...........135 NW 1st Ave........................................ 386-454-2512 Newberry Branch Library .................110 South Seaboard Dr. ..........................352-472-1135 For further information on scheduled events visit www.acld.lib.fl.us

ALACHUA PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES American Sign Language Basics Monday, 3/21 - 11 AM This class is for beginners. Participants will learn the manual alphabet, basic word signs, ASL grammar, and a brief history of Deaf culture. All materials will be provided by the instructor.

Crafting Circle Second and 4th Wednesday - 3 PM People of all ages gather to craft. Some will be crocheting squares to create a blanket for our area’s ‘Warm-Up America’ project. Others will be doing other crafts.

Rock Band Tournament Sunday, 4/10 - 2 PM Gather round for a fun afternoon of PS3 Rockband. This event is sponsored by the Alachua Branch Teens Alliance.

Book Club for Tweens Thursday, 3/24 - 3 PM Select, read and discuss books that explore the theme ‘One World, Many Stories.

Voluntary Pre-K Enrollment Thursday, 4/14 - 4 PM Parents and caregivers will have the opportunity to register their children for Voluntary PreKindergarten.

PROGRAMS FOR TEENS Poetry Slam: March Madness Wed., 3/16 - 3 PM Teens gather together to celebrate March Madness in new and creative ways. Refreshment provided.

Group meets to discuss upcoming teen events and to recommend books.

Teen Book Club Wednesday, 4/20, 5/18, 6/15 - 4:00 PM Meet once a month to discuss current teen books, post reviews, and prepare for this summers’ Battle of the Books.

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS Hatha Yoga Tuesdays - 5:30 PM Become aware of your body from the inside out! Come join us for one hour of Hatha Yoga taught with an emphasis on mindfulness, individuality, and proper alignment all in a non-competitive atmosphere.

PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN

Gaming @ Your Library Times and dates vary Enjoy video games on both the PS3 and Wii in the SPOT. Vote for the upcoming week’s games at: Click here to take survey.

Computer Class Wednesdays - 11 AM Learn basic computer skills from using a mouse and keyboard to email and word processing. Classes are first come first served and seating is limited.

Preschool Storytime Thursdays - 11 AM Come join us for stories, song and dance.

Teen Thursday Meet-Up First Thursday - 4 PM The Teens Advisory

Pilates Classes Wednesdays - 6 PM Pilates focuses on building strength

158 | Spring 2011

without bulk, improving flexibility and agility, and helping to prevent injuries. It involves a series of controlled movements that engage both your body and mind.

Zumba Classes Thursdays - 6 PM Zumba mixes bodysculpting movement with dance steps mainly derived from Latin music.

Looking for a Job? Help is here Thurs., 3/24 - 10 AM Are you unemployed or on unemployment compensation?

FloridaWorks One Stop Career Center can help. This workshop will tell you what services are available and help you connect with potential employers.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program Saturday, 3/26 12:00 PM; 4/4 - 4:00 PM The VITA Program offers free tax help to low- to moderateincome who cannot prepare their own tax returns.

Certified volunteers

sponsored by various organizations receive training to help prepare basic taxes.

AARP Tax Help Sat., 4/9 - 11:30 AM IRS certified volunteers from AARP will provide tax counseling and tax return preparation services free of charge. By Appointment only.

Call 352-339-2063 Edible Landscaping Saturday, 5/7 - 2 PM Fruit & vegetable gardening challenges include insects, diseases, poor soil conditions and weather conditions.

This class will help you plan your home garden and orchard.

Musical Showcase Sunday, 5/22 - 2 PM Musicians playing brass, woodwind, percussion, and string instruments are invited to showcase a piece or two. Wrap it up with a jazz ensemble and the event will be complete.

P MAIL PICK-U

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Licensed + Insured

The Musical: Rama the Valiant King Thursday, 6/9 - 2 PM Come see a classic epic from India depicted through classical Indian dance by children between the ages of 6-12 years.

The song was written in English to an old folk tune.

HIGH SPRINGS PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES Crafter’s Circle Wednesdays - 1 PM The Rug Bunch First and 3rd Wednesday - 3:00 PM Crochet a rag rug with a group of fellow enthusiasts.

Beginners welcome.

Ruby The Rescue Dog Tues., 4/12 - 2:30 PM Have fun with Ann Lane and Ruby the rescue, therapy and agility dog. Learn about these amazing dogs, and why Ruby loves to help kids read.

The Bear Necessities Tues., 5/10 - 2:30 PM Join the folks from

& Grooming

Caring for your pets and their special needs in their own surrounding

Morningside Nature Center with activities and hands on materials that make learning about bears fun.

PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN Preschool Storytime Tuesdays - 11:00 AM Stories, songs, and activities for the preschool set.

Magic Mike Tuesday, 6/14 2:30 PM Kids of all ages will be astonished by the fantastical tricks of this magician extraordinaire.

PROGRAMS FOR TEENS Afternoon at the Movies Thursdays - 3:00 PM

Hand Dipped Candle Making Sunday, 3/20 - 2 PM Warm up your winter with homemade candles. Learn how to make hand dipped candles. Register online or by calling 386-454-2515.

Science Mike Tues., 6/21 - 2:30 PM Seeing is believing in this magical science show that explores toys, puzzles, and optical illusions.

PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS Lady Gamers First Friday - 2 PM Join other senior women for a fun afternoon of gaming.

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS Mystery Reading Group Third Thursday 6:30 PM Join fellow readers for discussions of mystery novels. Bring any mysteries you’ve read this month to discuss. Newcomers welcome.

NEWBERRY PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES The Modern Homestead Saturday, 3/26 - 2 PM Join our discussion group led by successful local homesteaders.

VETERINARY SERVICES Bring the Vet HOUSE to Your Pet! CALL VET Marlene C. Pinera, DVM

352-231-2389 352-316-5658 DrMarlene@HouseCallVetllc.com

20 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN SURGERY

352-316-5658 www.VisitOurTowns.com

www.HOUSECALLVET.com

Spring 2011 | 159

Goat Workshop

PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN

Calling All Comedians Wednesday, 5/25 3:30 PM If you think you’re funny, come entertain us with your stand-up comedy routine! We will entertain you with our local comedian, Sally Lance, and we’ll all enjoy PIZZA!

Pre-School Story Time

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS

Wed., 3/30 - 3 PM For children of all ages! Presented by a

DISTRIBUTION CENTER

local Newberry Goat

General Warehouse Openings

all about goats; hold

ABILITY TO LIFT UP TO 75 POUNDS

FULL / PART TIME AVAILABLE We are looking for Individuals with integrity, a positive sense of humor, who want to work in a team respected environment.

Must be 18 Years of age *Drug Free Workplace* Criminal Background Check *EOE Responsible for the expedient & accurate handling of merchandise into and/or out of the warehouse facility. General warehouse duties support all areas of the warehouse as needed. Continuous lifting up to 65 pounds on regular basis, & occasional team lifting, continuous walking, standing, bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, reaching, and pushing and pulling. Communication skills, understand & provide directions, knowledge of basic math concepts & reading comprehension.

Breeder. You’ll learn a baby goat and milk a momma goat.

Wednesday, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30 - 11:00 AM Stories, songs and activities for the preschool set.

PROGRAMS FOR TEENS Panther Den Every Wednesday 3:30 PM Go wild after school.

Adventures and gaming awaits. Play sports and dance with Wii games, tune your groove with karaoke, create a wacky craft. Turn your meow into a roaring good time.

Wild Buffalos,

Dollar General offers:

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Wild Wheels?

Wednesday, 4/13 3:30 PM What do Buffalo Solhave in common? of the Jacksonville Buffalo Soldiers

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about the Legacy of

(*Evening Interviews Available)

the Buffalo Soldiers

Motorcycle Club talk

Motorcycle Club.

160 | Spring 2011

Looking for a Job? Help is Here 2nd and 4th Tuesday - 10:00 AM Are you unemployed or on unemployment compensation?

FloridaWorks One Stop Career Center can help. This workshop will tell you what services are available and help you connect with potential employers.

diers and motorcycles Come hear a member

APPLY IN PERSON

Tempting Reads Book Club Every fourth Wed. 6:00 PM Book club discussions (with refreshments) featuring popular and recently published books including books recommended by participants.

Resume Writing Monday, 4/11 - 10 AM Looking for a job?

Need a resume?

FloridaWorks staff will show you the different types of resumes and help you create one for success.

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Donate Your Car and HELP children like these.

At the Outreach Center for Children... ...we are reaching out to you, the donor as a voice for underprivileged children. The Outreach Center supports many services that help these children to es develop into healthy adults. Some of these services include providing hot meal programs, funding educational scholarships, replenishing school bookk inventories, and sending kids to summer camp.

Call Toll Free Today.

1-800-597-9411 www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2011 | 161

ADVERTISEMENT

LOOKING FOR A WAY TO MAKE A LITTLE EXTRA CASH?

L

et the professionals at High Springs Pawn & Jewelry show you how. With over 40 years of combined experience Clint and his staff (Michael and Regina) are here to help you turn those unwanted items into immediate cash. With 3 locations throughout the area, Clint and his staff take pride in offering top dollar for your unwanted items, especially Gold.

“Having three stores really lets us offer the best price possible price for many of the items customers bring to us,” says Clint Asbell, owner of High Springs Pawn and Jewelry. “We hear it from our customers day in and day out. They tend to want to shop around and make sure we’re giving them the best price, and always come back satisfied that we have.”

With gold selling at all time highs, High Springs Pawn and Jewelry offers the areas best price for unwanted gold. Broken jewelry, unwanted items, or just about anything that has gold could be quickly turned into immediate cash. Unlike some of the regional or national gold brokers that require you to mail in your merchandise only to wait endlessly for your check to come in the mail, High Spring Pawn and Jewelry does it all locally. Stop by any of their 3 locations and receive an instant evaluation on what your items are worth. No waiting and hoping that what

162 | Spring 2011

you sent off might pay dividends down the road. Clint and his staff offer access to instant cash for your gold merchandise.

If you’re in need of a little more money, High Springs Pawn and Jewelry also offers collateral loans on just about anything of value. These short-term loans are a perfect way to get through a tight month. With the economy continuing to be a challenge, these loans can be a bridge of sorts from one month to the next.

Collateral loans can be made on just about anything of value including watches, designer handbags, fine jewelry, tools, musical instruments, cars, boats and even motorcycles. Of course, if you’re looking to find a way to buy many of the items mentioned above without having to pay retail prices, High Springs Pawn and Jewelry has a huge selection of items to choose from. “Never pay retail prices again,” says Clint.

“The items we sell are in excellent

condition and can be purchased at a fraction of the cost of traditional retail.” Brands such as Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co, Rolex, Cartier, BB Simon, Mac, Sony, DeWalt, and Honda can often be found throughout Clint’s stores. Unbelievable prices on flat screen TV’s, musical instruments, computers and game systems are among the many items available.

The friendly staff at High Springs Pawn and Jewelry are there to help you through the buying process, offering information on the many items available or assistance in any way possible.

Stop by and see what High Springs Pawn and Jewelry can do for you.

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MONDAY THRU FRIDAY 10am to 6pm • SATURDAY 10am to 4pm • SUNDAY Closed

“Change your smile...

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Alachua Dental 386.418.3636

Marc V. Cauchon, DMD, LVIF

www.AlachuaDentalCenter.com www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2011 | 163

ADVERTISER INDEX 4400 NW 36th Avenue • Gainesville, FL 32606 352-372-5468 352-373-9178 fax REAL ESTATE Atrium at Gainesville .............................................44 Coldwell Banker MM Parrish ............... 168 (HS) Forrester Realty .............................................. 106 Innovative Home Builders..............167, 168 (NB) Lamplighter.................................................................79 Prestige Home Center N. Ocala .................. 70 PRO Realty .............................................. 97, (HS) Savannah Station .....................................................28 Showcase Homes Direct................................ 88 Springhill Village Apartments ..........................107

AUTOMOTIVE Bush Auto Repair .....................................................92 City Boy’s ........................................................... 157 Clyde’s Tire & Brake .............................................. 155 Jim Douglas Sales & Service ........................114 Newberry Auto Repair Inc .......................... 102 RPM Automotive ....................................................103 Sun City Auto ...................................................137

FINANCIAL / INSURANCE Alarion Bank .............................................................108 Campus USA Credit Union ........................... 24 Easy Tax & Accounting........................................147 Sunshine State Insurance .............................. 87 SunState Federal Credit Union .............. 9, 34 Three Rivers Insurance ................................... 67

Dr. Storoe, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.... 19 Tioga Dental Associates ........................4 (NB) Dr. Vishnu Reddy........................................................ 6

FITNESS and BEAUTY All Creations Salon .................................................80 Cuts & More ........................................................161 High Springs Hair Designs .................................156 Jodies Beauty & Barber Shop ..........................80 Marshall & Co. Salon .............................................. 118 Mode Salon ................................................................... 2 Nails N Spa ......................................................... 97 Sarah Vierra Salon ........................................... 57 Underground Fitness Revolution ................... 153

PETS and VETS A Paradise for Pets................................................102 Bed ‘n Biscuit Inn ............................................132 Flying Fish Pets and Aquatics ............................81 Hilltop Animal Hospital ....................................... 155 House Call Vet ..................................................159 Pampered Paws .........................................................81 Pamper Your Pet ......................................................93 Spring Hill Equine Vet Clinic .......................132 Susie’s Pet Sitting ...........................................159 Vacation Station Pet Resort ......................155 West End Animal Hospital ...........................142

CHILD CARE / LEARNING MEDICAL / HEALTH Affordable Dentures .............................................. 131 Alachua Dental .................................................163 Alachua Family Medical Center .................. 73 Altschuler Periodontic .........................................126 Caretenders ........................................................50 Community Cancer Center ...........................48 Douglas M Adel DDS....................................... 29 Haven Hospice.........................................................108 Home By Choice...................................................... 42 North Florida Orthotics ........................................78 North Florida Women Care .................................. 3 Samant Dental Group .............................................15 164 | Spring 2011

Alachua County Schools ..................................... 116 Alachua Learning Center .............................123 American Academy ....................................... 105 Gainesville Country Day School .......................76 Spencer House Montessori ........................... 43 The Studio of Alachua ........................................ 100

RETAIL / RECREATION Alachua Farm & Lumber ....................................147 Alachua Pawn & Jewelry ..............................143 Almost New Consignment ................................. 118 Bennett’s True Value ................................ 37, 119 Blue Springs ..................................................... 130

Busy Bee Consignment ......................................130 Camp Kulaqua ........................................................ 100 Coin & Jewelry Gallery ..........................................59 Colleen’s Kloset..........................................................41 Cootie Coo Creations ..................................... 67 Dirty Bar .......................................................................37 First Street Music & Sound Company..........150 Gatorland Kubota .......................................... 106 General Ship It & More Store ........................ 81 High Springs Pawn & Jewelry ..........4 (HS), 162 High Springs Farmer’s Market ..........................80 Hippodrome .............................................................. 69 Jewelry Designs by Donna.................................80 Jonesville Persimmon & Fruit Tree Nursery ...93 Juice Plus ...................................................................108 Kelly’s Kreations Gift Baskets...........................108 Klaus Fine Jewelry ............................................10 Lentz House of Time ....................................... 73 Lifestyle Cruise & Travel ................................ 36 The Lighting Gallery........................................ 97 Liquor and Wine Shop, The..............167 (NB) Mary Kay (Deborah Bambarola) ....................105 New Smyrna Beach ............................................... 121 Old Irishman’s Pawn Shop ............................ 79 Oliver & Dahlman Feed and Ag Supply ........29 Pace Custom Jewelers & Time Works .. 85, 87 Paddywhack....................................................... 54 Pink Porch Bookstore ..........................................108 Radio Shack ......................................................142 Rum Island Retreat ........................................ 105 Sapp’s Pawn , Gun and Archery .................94 Silverwind Jewelry & Gifts .................................103 Simply Gorgeous......................................................25 Skate Station Funworks................................ 72, 73 Stitch In Time Embroidery .......................... 102 The Studio of Alachua ...........................................87 Tan USA ......................................................................130 TB Goods ........................................................... 68, 139 Tioga Town Center............................................. 11 Turkey Creek Golf & Country Club ................ 152 Valerie’s Loft .............................................56, 109 West End Golf Course ................................... 101

SERVICE A Classic Moment Limousine .....................147 ACT Computer Solutions ..............................80 Alachua Printing ............................................... 58 AllState Mechanical, Inc............................... 103 Amira Builders ............................................................41 Big Blue Recycling ..........................................145 Blooming House Nursery .............................133 COX................................................................................... 8

Creekside Outdoor .......................................... 99 DirecTV .......................................................................138 Donna’s Cleaning .....................................................58 Gainesville Airport .................................................128 Grower’s Fertilizer Corporation ..................94 Imagination Entertainment DJ Services .......63 Lotus Studios Photography ............................... 20 Mini Maid ........................................................................ 7 Outreach Center for Children ........................... 161 Quality Cleaners ..............................................153 R & M Construction .................................................55 Ronald Clark Construction ................................ 122 3-Way Electrical Service Inc. ..................... 108

HOME IMPROVEMENT Al Mincey Site Prep ......................................... 79 Bath Fitter....................................................................33 Clint S. Davis LLC ........................................... 105 Cook Portable Buildings ................................114 Floor Store ..................................................33, 157 Gonzales Site Prep .......................................... 73 Innovative Home Builders .........................(NB) Kurt Johnsen Energy Systems ......................... 49 Overhead Door Company ............................. 95 Red Barn Home Center ................ 63, 100, 132 Sherer Studio Glass & Stone .......................147 Thurston Garden Design ....................................109 Whitfield Window and Door ............. 109, 129

RESTAURANT Conestogas Restaurant................................ 108 Dave’s NY Deli ..........................................................110 Gator Q BBQ, Wings and Things ............ 79, 110 Gator Domino’s .....................................5, 17, 108 Great Outdoors ......................................................... 111 El Toro Mexican Food & Salsa ....................153 Mad Hatter’s Café ............................................80 Main Street Pizzaria....................................... 108 NY Pizza Plus ....................................................153 Pepperoni’s ................................................................. 111 Springs Diner.............................................................. 111 Villaggio’s Pizzeria ......................................... 102

EMPLOYMENT American Diversified Publications .......................

MISCELLANEOUS Alachua County EPD .....................................128 Christ Central Alachua..........................................101

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2011 | 165

PHOTO BY DIANE E. SHEPARD

page

38 >> STICKS AND STONES

What little girl (or little girl at heart) could resist this enchanting fairy house? Made from a cardboard box, sticks, stones and twigs, this miniature natural abode looks like itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ready for some wee-folk and fairies to move right in!

166 | Spring 2011

the Liquor & Wine Shoppe at Jonesville Huge Selection of Wines, Beers, Champagnes and more!

14451 Newberry road CVS

CR 241

ER N EW B

The or Liqu Wine & ppe Sho

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352-332-3308 theliquorshoppe@bellsouth.net 9-9 Mon-Thurs, 9-10 Fri-Sat www.VisitOurTowns.com Spring 2011 | 167

Ashton Ridge S U B D I V I S I O N

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Albany Two............... $129,910 Henderson.................$130,106 Charleston ................ $135,534 Savannah ....................$138,670 Charlotte ....................... $141,510 Douglasville........... $152,488

Drive a little save a lot!

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The Camerons… Make it happen!

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Ralph Cameron.........................352-359-1060 MOBILE Bonnie Cameron..................... 352-359-1070 MOBILE