Our Town 2017 MAR-APR (Newberry & Jonesville)

FLORIDA DAYCATION DIY MAP MAGNETS CAVE DIVING CLIMB KILIMANJARO

MARCH/APRIL 2017 | VOL. 15 ISSUE 02

NEWBERRY & J JONESVILLE ONESVILLE EDITION

& l e v a Tr dventure A n

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CONTENTS

M A RC H/A P R I L 2017

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

| V O L . 1 5 | N O. 0 2

IN THIS ISSUE >> WE INVITE YOU TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE PAGES OF EACH EDITION IN HOPES OF INSPIRING YOUR VERY OWN ADVENTURE! ARTIST FRANK CURTIS, “THE SUITCASE GUY,” PROVIDED THE SUITCASES USED ON OUR COVERS.

FEATURE STORIES 20

DIVE INTO FLORIDA Cave and scuba diving in Florida’s fresh & saltwater is like floating in another world.

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ANCIENT TREASURES Learn how to search and care for these natural wonders in this guide for finding local fossils.

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DISNEY TRAVEL AGENT A behind-the-scenes look into what exactly the magic-making process entails. It takes a bit more than pixie dust and pumpkin carriages to put these adventures all together!

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SCOUT’S HONOR Boy and Girl Scouts have made an indelible impact on communities near and far. See how local scouts strive for not just a better Gainesville, but also a better world.

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A PATH OF ADVENTURE This group of bicyclists was formed to encourage residents and visitors alike to explore and enjoy our beautiful rural and natural environments.

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PILGRIMAGE Hiking the Camino trail means 12-to-15-mile days, and perhaps even some spiritual awakening by the end.

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CONTENTS

M A RC H/A P R I L 2017

36 CRUISIN’ TOGETHER The perfect all-inclusive getaway that offers something for everyone to enjoy. Just show up ready to set sail, relax, and enjoy a level of bliss only the open ocean provides.

COLUMNS 42

EDUCATION MATTERS

by Christina Miller

54 NAKED SALSA 44

by Crystal Henry

FLORIDA DAYCATION Many of Florida’s best destinations are just a short drive away from us.

128 DIFFERENT NOTE

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138 EMBRACING LIFE

HIDDEN GEMS These lesser-known local parks offer many reasons to lace up those hiking boots and explore.

64 PASSPORT 101 All you need to know for completing the most important task on your vacation-planning checklist.

by Albert Isaac

by Donna Bonnell

REVIEWS 84 READING CORNER

by Terri Schlichenmeyer

120 GATE CRASHING

by Brian “Krash” Kruger

86 MAKING TRAVEL A LIFESTYLE Cultural curiosity inspired a high school student’s thirst for travel.

122 DIY MAP MAGNETS Take a trip — to the fridge! Create your own map magnets to remind you of your past travels and inspire you for future destinations!

INFORMATION 100 Charity Winners 102 Taste of the Town 110 Community Calendar

126 NATURE’S TIME CAPSULE The Newberry Bat Cave allows students and researchers to step back in time.

130 A SUMMIT FOR A CAUSE This married couple climbs together in an effort to raise awareness for children suffering from cancer.

The articles printed in Our Town do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Tower Publications, Inc. or their editorial staff. Our Town Magazine endeavors

140 LUGGAGE-LESS IN EUROPE Hayli Zuccola tells her tale of woe and shares some advice for travelers.

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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. © 2017 Tower Publications, Inc.

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PUBLISHER Charlie Delatorre ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Hank McAfee

Anthony B. Agrios, MD Joseph S. Iobst, MD Jean C. Cook, MD Nicole Scogin, MD Shelley Russell, ARNP, CNM Julie Rischar, ARNP, CNM Kristen Cook, ARNP, CNM

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Albert Isaac editor@towerpublications.com MANAGING EDITOR Ericka Winterrowd ericka@towerpublications.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bianca Favata, Cameron Cobb, Crystal Henry, Gabrielle Calise, Hayli Zuccola, Kaitlin Applegate, Rick Sapp, Savanna Kearney, Stephanie Richards CREATIVE DIRECTION + DESIGN Hank McAfee, Neil McKinney ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Jenni Bennett jenni@towerpublications.com Helen Mincey helen@towerpublications.com Nancy Short nancy@towerpublications.com INTERNS Cameron Cobb, Savanna Kearney

Take care

of you.

AllAboutWomenMD.com • 352.331.3332 Helping You Live A Healthy Lifestyle!

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CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS If you would like us to publicize an event in the greater Gainesville area, send information by the 1st day of the month prior to the next issue. For example, submissions for the March/April issue are due by February 1. All submissions will be reviewed and every effort will be made to run qualified submissions if page space is available.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR We want to hear from you. Send your letters to the attention of the editor at 4400 NW 36th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32606 or editor@towerpublications.com.

Letters must be signed and include a phone number in the event we need to contact you. (Your phone number will not be published.)

OUR TOWN MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY BY TOWER PUBLICATIONS, INC. REPRODUCTION BY ANY MEANS OF THE WHOLE OR PART OF OUR TOWN WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHER IS PROHIBITED. VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE EDITORIAL PAGES DO NOT IMPLY OUR ENDORSEMENT. WE WELCOME YOUR PRODUCT NEWS. INCLUDE PRICES, PHOTOS AND DIGITAL FILES WITH YOUR PRESS RELEASE. PLEASE FORWARD PRODUCT SAMPLES AND MEDIA KITS TO REVIEWS EDITOR, OUR TOWN MAGAZINE, 4400 NW 36TH AVENUE, GAINESVILLE, FL 32606. WE CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR UNSOLICITED PRODUCT SAMPLES.

A Publication of Tower Publications, Inc. 4400 NW 36th Ave., Gainesville, Florida 32606 phone: 352-372-5468 fax: 352-373-9178

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EDITOR ’ S LET TER M A RC H/A P R I L 2017

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Travel and Adventure To be frank, I’m not the most adventurous soul. I don’t get a thrill from jumping out of a perfectly good airplane, nor do I dive in caves (but I do enjoy riding my motorcycles).

But when I was younger (and before I’d spent 20 years working in the morgue) I did enjoy some adventures. As a teenager I went rock climbing with a high school buddy and his brother-in-law who was a naturalist, so he knew what he was doing.

We scaled the Devil’s Courthouse near Brevard, N.C., a thrilling climb up a sheer rock face. Back then I was fairly strong and only weighed about 120 lbs., so the climb was easy. We had ropes around us so we wouldn’t plunge to our deaths should we lose our grip. Our guide would climb ahead and secure the lines and then we would follow. There was one section where we had to traverse a wall of rock sideways. I was still tethered, but had I slipped I would have swung like a pendulum across the mountain face. I was sure not to slip.

The view was breathtaking.

Now, as a bonafide senior citizen, the most I’ve attempted is some High Gravity Adventures in Blowing Rock, N. Carolina, with my wife and youngest boy (again with a harness).

Both out-climbed me. (I’m thinking a gym membership is in order.)

Anyway, it involved all kinds of rope climbing and was thrilling, but was also difficult, since I now weigh more than 200 lbs. I remember at one point hanging onto the webbing until I could catch my breath while my boy (and wife) laughed at me.

Ah, to be 12 again. Or even 30 for that matter. Forty would be cool.

At any rate, for this issue, we asked our writers to share some of their tales of travel and adventure. I hope you enjoy their stories.

Albert Isaac, Editor-In-Chief

35 NW 1st Ave, High Springs www.BuffaloGirlSoaps.com luzette@buffalogirlsoaps.com

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Wood Buildings

W RITE A SONG A BOUT IT

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M A RC H/A P R I L 2017

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Our Santa Fe River Fest In 2010, the Our Santa Fe River organization had its first Singing and Songwriting Contest. Held at the Great Outdoors Restaurant in High Springs, the event was dedicated entirely to the Santa Fe River. After a resounding success, the organization has continued to hold songwriting contests every year since, with artists performing 44 songs about the Santa Fe River.

Our Santa Fe River, Inc. is a non-profit organization that gets its funding from private donations and memberships. Its mission is to protect the aquifer, springs and rivers within the watershed of the Santa Fe River.

The songwriting contest idea was formed when Our Santa Fe River member Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson realized that not enough attention is given to the treasured Santa Fe River.

She knew that the local artists needed to start singing praises and glory about the river.

“We thought if we got musicians and writers, poets and artists to do more with their creative vision that it would also inspire people to want to protect the river,” she said in a 2011 interview. “Just like the song about the Suwannee River, it keeps it in people’s minds.”

Now known as the Our Santa Fe RiverFest Songwriting Contest & Music Fundraiser, the event is held at Rum 138. This year, with Storm Roberts as the Master of Ceremonies, the fun begins on Sunday, April 9. The 2nd Annual RiverFest will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Then the 7th Annual Song Writing Contest will run from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. when the finalists will take the stage and have an opportunity to win the $300 first place prize. Additionally, finalists will receive a professional video of their performance, which will also be placed on YouTube.

The band Crooked Counsel will perform after the Song Contest. There will also be a Silent Auction, and visitors can purchase grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, veggie food, desserts, sodas and beer.

“Once you start lending arts to anything, it starts to stick in your mind,” Malwitz-Jipson said. “If it means having a contest to have an artist write a song to market a river and keep it protected, then I’m all for that. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the musicians and for people to listen to it.”

Our Santa Fe River Fest

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Sunday, April 9 from 1:00pm – 7:00pm Tickets: $7 at door, children under 12 are free OurSantaFeRiver.org

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CONTRIBUTOR S

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M A RC H/A P R I L 2017

RICK SAPP is a freelance writer who now lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His goal is to sail around the world with his wife, Delaine, and to end his days eating truffles and chocolate, drinking too much red wine and singing in a shower in the north of Spain. rsa5@cox.net

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

KAITLIN APPLEGATE is a high school senior at The Rock. In her spare time she enjoys creative writing and finding inspiration in unexpected places (in truth, mostly from Netflix). kaitlin.applegate@trsonline.org

CAMERON COBB is a senior journalism major at the University of Florida as well as an Air Force veteran. She loves traveling, writing, ballet and all animals (her favorite being her rescue dog, Maggie). cameronacobb5@gmail.com

BIANCA FAVATA is a third year advertising major at the University of Florida who was born and raised a Gator. She loves traveling, photography, painting, playing with her bunny and eating hot fudge sundaes. bfavata@ufl.edu

BRIAN “KRASH” KRUGER is a writer, musician and a graduate of the UF College of Law. He has played in some 17 or so local bands, playing most every Gainesville venue friendly to original music (and some not so friendly). bkrashpad@yahoo.com

GABRIELLE CALISE is a junior journalism major at the University of Florida and freelance writer.

In her spare time she enjoys collecting vinyl records, taking photographs and watching movies. gcalise@ufl.edu

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

HayzDesigns@yahoo.com

SAVANNA KEARNEY is a junior journalism major at the University of Florida and freelance writer. Her hobbies include reading, writing, taking photographs and petting dogs. savannak@ufl.edu

STEPHANIE RICHARDS is a freelance writer and a native of suburban Chicago. She was the Story Editor for The Sturbridge Times Magazine before recently moving to Newberry from New England. She loves to exercise, volunteer and spend time with her family. sarichards7@gmail.com

MARCH/APRIL 2017

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FLORIDA ADVENTURE >> SCUBA DIVING

UNDER THE SEA

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Dive OUR TOWN MAGAZINE

MARCH/APRIL 2017

into Florida's

Waters Cave and Scuba Diving in Florida’s Fresh & Saltwater is like Floating in Another World

W R I T T E N B Y B I A N C A F AVATA

H

oward Ehrsam, on one of h i s v e ry f i r s t d i v e s , thought it’d be fun to put a bagel in his pocket so he could give crumbs to the fish. Once he dropped in, however, he forgot about the bagel. He began to notice more and more fish surrounding him. Soon an entire school of fish was swarming him. Confused, Ehrsam realized his mistake just as the little fish began hammering away at his bathing suit. He tried punching the fish off of him, with no luck. His bathing suit busted open

and the fish gobbled up their discovery. Luckily, he wasn’t hurt, but his bathing suit and bagel didn’t quite make it out alive.

Ehrsam, 47, was certified to scuba dive at age 12. He spent most of his childhood in the Miami area and attended the University of Florida from 1988 to 1995. Ehrsam has enjoyed scuba diving in the Florida Keys, Bahamas, Cancun, Cozumel and Williston. For him, the best open water dives are in the Keys.

“It’s a whole other world,” he said in a recent phone interview. “There’s not a lot like it.”

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FLORIDA ADVENTURE >> SCUBA DIVING

At Devil’s Den, the Ehrsam family of five could scuba dive and snorkel together.

Ehrsam poses next to the famous Chankanaab statue (above right). This reef is loaded with wildlife and beautiful coral formations.

Most of his dives have been in Key Largo, more specifically at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, French Reef and Elbow Reef. While in high school he would go diving in these spots with his father and brother. There’s much to see: schools of tropical fish, stingrays, sea urchins, sharks, starfish, turtles and eels.

as barracudas, sharks and stingrays makes diving exciting. It’s only “a bit freaky” when he’s swimming and a large creature suddenly appears. Usually it’s only a harmless grouper or nurse shark, but it can be alarming, until he identifies the species. He said it’s always important to be aware of what is around you.

Ehrsam also enjoys diving at Devil’s Den in

Ehrsam said seeing powerful creatures such as barracudas, sharks and stingrays makes diving exciting.

In one of his first dives, he remembers being followed the entire time by a barracuda. Its mouth — full of sharp teeth — gaped open as it breathed.

Even though Ehrsam had made sure he had no shiny objects, the big-mouthed fish saw something that had attracted its attention.

Ehrsam said seeing powerful creatures such 22 |

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Williston. Although there is less wildlife, the mushroom-shaped architecture of the cave is amazing. He said it is important to know all of the rules of cave diving because of the close quarters and the depth of the cave.

“It’s a claustrophobic’s worst nightmare,” he said with a laugh. “When you’re down there, you focus

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FLORIDA ADVENTURE >> SCUBA DIVING

on safety and getting back up safe,” he said.

Once, while diving with his wife, Lisa, the gauge on her air tank broke. She had to use his spare regulator for the rest of the time. Everything turned out just fine, but could have been tragic, underscoring the importance of knowing what to do in every scenario.

His favorite diving experience occurred at the Chankanaab Park in Cozumel, Mexico.

Chankanaab had everything he could want.

The reef was right off the beach, so there was no lengthy boat ride. There were wonderful, intricate coral formations, an abundance of fish and wildlife, and the shallowness of the water allowed for high visibility and vibrant colors. He saw a shark, stingray and eel all in one dive, which is remarkable, he said.

Usually he’s lucky to see just one.

Near the bottom of the Chankanaab reef was a rock formation, covered with coral.

It had a passageway on the bottom, like a tunnel, that he explored.

“You’ve got land, outer space, and underwater. We’re not quite in outer space, unless you’ve got a lot of money,” he said. “You can go underwater, so why not do it? It’s a whole different world.”

J

ill Heinerth is a cave diver, underwater explorer, writer, photographer and filmmaker. She wanted to scuba dive ever since watching Jacques Cousteau programs as a child, enthralled with the “ocean of exploring,” she said.

“I thought, ‘I want to learn how to dive,’ and my parents were like, ‘people don’t really dive in Canada, it’s too cold,’” she said in a telephone interview. “So I earned my own money and made it happen myself.”

She became certified while attending York University in Toronto, Canada. Now 52, she has been diving for over 25 years.

“The actual process to dive wasn’t that difficult,” she said, “it was just new.”

Her first open water dive was at Fathom Five National Marine Sanctuary in Tobermory, Ontario.

“It’s a place with a whole lot of shipwrecks that are in beautiful condition in the Great Lakes,” she said.

They dropped down on the dive site with the remains of four wrecked boats, but the visibility was quickly eliminated because

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PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF JILL HEINERTH

Solid Waste and Resource Recovery

Don’t bag the

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FLORIDA ADVENTURE >> SCUBA DIVING

“I remember the color of the water was like nothing I’d ever seen before.” they stirred up the silt on the bottom. Even though it was dark and cold, it was still a place of wonder.

Her first experience with cave diving also occurred in Canada.

“When you swim underwater in this place, where you inhale and rise up in the water column, and move around — it was fascinating to me,” she said.

Her first diving experience in Florida was at Ginnie Springs, at the mainspring, called the Ballroom.

“I remember the color of the water was like nothing I’d ever seen before,” Heinerth said. “When you’re in the doorway looking out, it’s just stunning the way the sunbeams fill the space. It’s incredible.”

There are 200 springs in the vicinity of High Springs, where Heinerth lives, near Ginnie Springs.

“This is the greatest concentration of cave diving opportunities in the world,” she said. “And that’s why I live here now.”

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before you can begin training for cave diving. Once the extensive training is completed, a cave diving certification gives divers access to the caves that snorkelers and scuba divers cannot go.

Even with a certification, places like Hart Springs in Bell, Fla. require at least 100 cave dives to enter. Cave diving involves a lengthy educational process, and for good reason. Since divers cannot swim to the surface when there’s a problem, all issues must be resolved underwater.

“You’re not just down deep but you’re inside an environment,” Heinerth said. “So you could be 10 minutes or an hour or two hours from reaching a doorway that leads to the surface. You have to have a lot of extra equipment and extra gas to help you survive that period of time you’re inside.”

Divers train for many scenarios, such as making a blind exit, for getting stuck, for laying and using guideline in a cave (guideline is a piece of string used in case visibility is lost), and for what to do if they lose their dive buddy. They also train for air supply catastrophes, such as a broken scuba regulator or

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With this technology, people will be able to “experience the environment without ever having to go there,” she said.

Since moving to Florida, Heinerth, along with her husband, Robert McClellan have started a project called “We Are Water.”

They travel around the globe, organizing events in schools to talk about conserving water.

Water is the “most important asset of our life,” Heinerth said. “Everything we do on the surface of the land will eventually return to us to drink … people don’t necessarily know how their lives are intertwined with water.”

For people interested in scuba diving but are undecided, Heinerth said the best way to learn more is to simply test-drive it. Sign up for Discover Scuba at a local dive shop.

This is a single-day experience where people can scuba dive to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue.

If not, there’s still plenty to enjoy.

“Get in the car and spend a day swimming in these beautiful springs with your kids,” Heinerth said. “The water’s warm all year round, and it’s an incredible experience, whether you dive, snorkel or swim, paddle or tube.

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running out of gas (breathing mixture).

Although cave diving is often described as one of the most dangerous sports, the leading causes of death are medical emergencies or when divers break one of the cardinal rules of cave diving.

“For someone who’s been cave diving for a long time, I’ve had lots of incidents over the years,” Heinerth said. “And frankly, because of the training I’ve had over the years, and the right equipment, I was able to overcome those difficulties.”

Heinerth has a “hybrid career of things that keep [her] underwater,” she said. She teaches cave diving, she guides divers, she writes books, and she gives motivational talks. She is also an underwater photographer and videographer for National Geographic, and to top it all off, she’s the Explorer in Residence for the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. But her business card simply says “explorer.”

As a photo/videographer, she sometimes has to carry 500 pounds of equipment in her cave dives. Because she is digitally conserving artifacts, ranging from pottery to skulls of extinct animals, these photographs have to have a high enough resolution for National Geographic to create 3-D versions or augmented reality displays.

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TRAVEL >> DISNEY TRAVEL AGENT STORIES

HOUSE OF MOUSE

Tales from a Travel Agent...

Disney World Putting Out Fires at the Happiest Place on Earth W R I T T EN B Y C RY S TA L H EN RY

F

loridians are no strangers to the Mouse House in the center of the state. Love it or hate it, Walt Disney World is a big money maker for the state of Florida and, in 2015, Magic Kingdom alone brought in more than 20 million people looking for the vacation of a lifetime. Planning for a vacation with that level of expectations can be daunting, but there are people, like travel agent Jana Stagner, behind the scenes making the magic happen.

Stagner works for an authorized Disney travel agency. Her job is to plan people’s once-in-a-lifetime experiences from start to finish, and while Disney is known as the “most magical place on earth,” Stagner said first-timers can often feel like planning for the trip is the most stressful thing on earth.

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Stagner works around the clock to find the best deals for her clients and to ensure they get the experiences they want. She’s up at midnight to book fast passes and she’s up at 5 a.m. to book dining reservations. Her service is free, but this doesn’t prevent people from calling her after midnight to tell her, “This is what I’m paying you for.”

Stagner has her fair share of such stories. For instance, once when she was at her son’s basketball game, she got a call from a client.

“She said, ‘I’m in Magic Kingdom, and I’m staring at Cinderella’s castle. So now what?’”

Stagner had created an itinerary for the client who had the My Disney Experience app on her phone with a map. Stagner looked up the itinerary and told the woman she needed to be in Tomorrow Land.

The woman said “OK, great, I’ll stay on the phone

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TRAVEL >> DISNEY TRAVEL AGENT STORIES

with you while I go.” She wanted Stagner, in Texas, to walk her through the park. So Stagner stayed on the phone and walked her step by step past Buzz Lightyear, the Carousel of Progress and over to Space Mountain.

She also gets clients who call to cancel dining reservations for the next day even though they can cancel themselves with the app. Still, she does it with a smile because she loves her job, and Disney is very strict on their customer service requirements.

It’s a two-strikes-and-you’re-out kind of ball game.

Once she booked for a client in Idaho who insisted on communicating only online. Everything seemed fine until Stagner received an email with the subject, “Disney is the WORST. Never coming back!”

Stagner’s heart was racing; she could lose her job if she gets more than one complaint. The message said that this first-time Disney traveler was infuriated to find that Disney World was “so touristy.” She had no idea there would be crowds on her June trip to the mouse house, and she was appalled to find so much Disney merchandise everywhere.

The woman said she didn’t blame Stagner, but she did tell her she should better prepare people in the future. By the second day, the client started to feel the magic, and she messaged Stagner to say that maybe it wasn’t “so bad.”

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Stagner is a Disney fanatic, and she truly believes it can be the vacation of a lifetime. In fact, she took the job because it is the only way she and her husband can take their five children on vacation to Disney. She doesn’t make a ton of money in commission, but she does get some discounts on Disney travel.

She gets alerts for last-minute, agent-only deals on cruises and it’s the only way she and her family could afford to go.

The cruises she books for her clients are typically easier just because cruises by nature don’t require as much planning.

She did, however, once have a client who was all set to leave on a Disney cruise, but two days before her departure date she got drunk in Vegas and remarried her ex-husband.

The Vegas wedding seemed like a good idea until she realized she’d changed her name on her driver’s license, but not on her passport. Stagner called Disney, and the agent on the phone thought maybe she was being pranked. Stagner asked the client if she had her marriage license, because that could help expedite things. The woman replied she did not because she was drunk when she got married and is pretty sure it’s now being used as a coaster in a Vegas lounge.

Stagner switched gears and told the client to go to the courthouse and get a copy of her birth certificate, but the woman asked if she really had to do that herself. Isn’t that her agent’s

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job? Stagner explained that they probably wouldn’t give her someone else’s certificate, not to mention she lives in another state. The woman was upset, and told Stagner that had she’d known there was so much paperwork involved she wouldn’t have gotten married that night.

“Crazy clients” is just the name of the game in her line of work. She said about 20 percent of her time is spent booking trips, and the other 80 percent is spent quoting, planning and putting out fires.

Sometimes there is just no making people happy. She once booked a rental car for a client. The client called Stagner, furious that the rental car didn’t have leather seats. She had never specified she wanted leather, but she assumed all the rentals would have it.

She refused to talk to the person at the rental car counter and instead let Stagner handle the call. The only leather car available was a convertible, but it wouldn’t fit her family.

“I basically ruined her trip because she didn’t have leather seats,” Stagner said. “And

I only made like $15 off of that reservation.”

Stagner’s phone rings round the clock with requests from clients. And some of the things that have people stressed are hilarious.

“To say the least I definitely learn a lot about people,” Stagner said.

She said people often book cruises and can’t pay for them. Their cards get declined so they ask her to just run another card until they find one they can use. One woman needed three extensions to pay for a cruise she’d put a non-refundable $1,000 deposit on. Even after Stagner got the extensions the woman essentially asked her for a personal loan for the rest.

People always ask if she gets her vacations for free, and Stagner just laughs. She doesn’t get anything for free, but the discounts alone are worth her time. As stressful as it is, she’s able to work from home and take her family on the vacations of a lifetime. She’s able to return to her favorite vacation destination again and again, and at the end of the day she has some pretty entertaining stories to tell as well.

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CARIBBEAN TRAVEL >> RELAXING FAMILY CRUISE

SEA LIFE

Cruisin’ Together Unwinding on the Beaches of the Western Caribbean W R I T T E N B Y C R Y S TA L H E N R Y

W

hen I got married, my husband and I agreed not to buy each other gifts for special occasions. I’m missing the part of my genetic makeup that sees the difference between a $10 purse and a Coach bag. He’s a practical thinker who only gets anxiety over the responsibility of an expensive new truck. We like to collect experiences instead of things, and each holiday we gift each other a vacation.

We’ve done small camping trips to the Florida Keys, and train trips around Italy. But one of our favorite things to do is cruise. Cruising may seem corny to some, but it’s our go-to no-brainer vacay.

Our hotel is also our transportation and our meals are already paid for. It’s the most extravagant weeklong 36 |

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trip we can take for our family of four that costs under $2,000. Cruises are also the only time my husband can unplug because cell service is expensive.

This Christmas we booked a cruise with my in-laws who bought a family suite and invited us to room with them. Since I have two messy kids, and cruise cabins aren’t known for their spaciousness — and I wasn’t interested in losing my place with Jesus — we politely declined and booked our own room.

Since we’d be slummin’ it in steerage, this made room in the suite for my husband’s brothers to join.

I was excited because we rarely have everyone together for the holidays, let alone a family vacation. And the beauty of a cruise ship is that there are enough activities for everyone to do their own thing, and just meet up as we please.

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CARIBBEAN TRAVEL >> RELAXING FAMILY CRUISE

DAY 1 – DEPARTURE New Orleans is the departure port of our favorite cruise itinerary. The Bahamas are OK, but the Western Caribbean cruises just do it for us because the destinations hold more adventure options, better beaches, and better food.

And this cruise was to be our most beach-tastic one yet. We’ve done the non-stop adventure excursions, but we wanted to slow down and get a little lazy.

The in-laws got perks with the family suite, such as priority boarding and champagne in their room. But priority boarding meant they had to wait for their escort to bring them aboard, whereas we walked on seamlessly. We had hit the buffet twice before they even set foot on board. Day one on the ship is basically boarding, eating, getting to your room, eating, sail-away party, snack before bed, and lights out.

DAY 2 - AT SEA The second day aboard the ship is the first day of really cruising. You set sail on the first day around 5 p.m., but after dinner and the sail-away party you’re still in domestic waters. Day two is actually out at sea. The first time I cruised I remember feeling like a spec in the universe when I looked out and saw nothing but water for miles.

On a seven-day cruise, day two is just meant to unwind and ease you into the idea of unplugging and not checking Facebook every five seconds.

You can sleep late and leisurely eat breakfast, knowing that you don’t have to go anywhere unless you want to. Priority one for us was getting the kids to the complimentary onboard childcare disguised as a fabulously fun kid’s summer camp.

The camp counselors have names like Nemo and Cello, and the kids have events like glow parties, circus shows and pirate parades.

Camp opens at 9 in the morning as does the casino. So after breakfast we dropped the kids at camp and doubled our money at the blackjack table well before we had to pick them up at noon.

We ate lunch together and hit the pool for a bit.

There are ice cream machines, which are open ‘round the clock, and it’s actually fun to let the kids get sugared up and send them off to camp.

We picked them back up for dinner at 5, since the wait times are longer around 7. After dinner we dropped them back at camp so we could watch the live stage show. Having free babysitters that the kids adore is a huge reason we love cruising.

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DAY 3 - COSTA MAYA We woke up on day three in another country, which is the beauty of a cruise ship hotel. The best-rated thing to do in Costa Maya, Mexico, is tour the ruins, but we’ve done that a few times. We opted for a beach day instead, and since the kids were begging to go back to camp, my mother-in-law offered to stay on board with them while we went ashore. We caught a cab from the port, right outside the main gate, since the cabs are a bit cheaper directly outside the cruise terminal rather than the shuttle service inside the gate.

We spent the entire day with my brother-in-law and his wife lounging in hammocks, drinking margaritas and cheap beer and eating authentic Mexican cuisine. Our entire day cost $35 — for the four of us.

We got back to the ship just as it started to rain, so we grabbed some amazing Indian food at the buffet and played cards until it was time to get the kids again.

Since my in-laws’ suite included a premium dining plan, we split up for dinner. The in-laws hit the steakhouse, and we did the main dining room. I asked my sister-in-law if she thought the food was worth it, and she said the main dining was every bit as good, if not better. The premium dining just offered more options.

PHOTOGRAPHY: CRYSTAL HENRY

We spent the entire day with my brotherin-law and his wife lounging in hammocks, drinking margaritas and cheap beer and eating authentic Mexican cuisine.

Our entire day cost $35 — for the four of us.

DAY 4 – BELIZE The next stop was Norwegian’s private island of Harvest Caye, Belize. The island is newly developed, and we were only the third or fourth ship to dock there. There were shops, pools and restaurants, as well as plenty of beach chairs for everyone.

It was another beach day, but it was quite different than Costa Maya. This private beach was more pristine, but commercialized.

I’m not sure one is better than the other. This one just felt more like a resort, while Costa Maya felt more local and authentic.

We took the kids this time and they had an absolute blast.

They don’t offer a free-food option on the island like some cruise lines, so we went back to the ship for lunch. By the time we finished eating it was raining again, so we decided not to return to the island but we were fine with checking out some of the onboard activities like Disney movie trivia and band-aoke.

Band-aoke is karaoke with a live band. Three glasses of wine in, I volunteered to blindly sing any song they requested. They chose Dancing Queen, and I rocked ABBA so hard that the next

day a passenger stopped me at the buffet and said, “Oh my gosh I know you! You won band-aoke last night.” That third glass of wine must have really upped my game because normally I can’t carry a tune in a bucket. I’m pretty sure it was just my stage presence.

Again we parted ways for dinner, but we met up afterward for the comedy show featuring The Second City. The Second City is an improv comedy troupe whose alumni include Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Steve Carell. Their stage show was pretty good, and I was in the middle of reading the memoirs of one of their other alumni, Jane Lynch. I totally fangirled all over the place and made it my mission to meet the cast before my vacation was over.

DAY 5 - ROATAN, HONDURAS When we docked in Roatan, my family of four had a nice, slow breakfast, while my in-laws hurried off the ship for their catamaran snorkeling excursion. Roatan probably has the best adventurous MARCH/APRIL 2017

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CARIBBEAN TRAVEL >> RELAXING FAMILY CRUISE

excursions, but we knew our kids wouldn’t keep the snorkel masks on, so we grabbed a private island tour at the dock. Tour companies will fight for your business, so we got a personalized tour of the island with chocolate sampling, shopping, a beach break and a monkey park where the kids got to play with capuchin monkeys, kinkajous, coatimundis, capybaras and parrots — all for around $100.

We got back on board well before the 4:30 all aboard call, but not everyone took that call as seriously as we did. Around 5 we saw a man reluctantly getting off the ship with all his bags.

Part of his family had missed the all-aboard, and rather than leave them behind, he got their belongings and disembarked. We grabbed some bushwhackers from the bar and called the rest of our party on the walkie-talkie as our ship sailed away. Our headcount was successful, and we were all on our way to our last port.

DAY 6 – COZUMEL Our last stop was Cozumel, Mexico for an all-inclusive day of food, drinks and swimming at Nachi Cocom. For $55 per adult, we lounged at the swim-up pool bar overlooking the ocean. The drinks flowed freely and the food was amazing.

After our relaxing day in the sun we had the cab drop us at the shops right outside the cruise terminal since Cozumel has the best deals on souvenirs, vanilla and tequila.

That night, after dropping the kids off at camp, I saw The Second City cast sitting in the back of the buffet dining room. I was going to have them sign my Jane Lynch book, but it was a loaner from the library. So I took a selfie with them instead, and I checked that off my bucket list.

DAY 7 - AT SEA Our final day on the ship is always a little sad as we head back home, but we savored it.

The kids went to camp, and we met up with my brother and sister-in-law for some hilarious Cards Against Humanity. We enjoyed a nice day of lounging about, and my husband and I played a little shuffleboard as we watched the sun set.

The excitement for the day was the life flight helicopter that picked up a passenger who had a wicked tummy ache.

We got back home the day before Christmas Eve, so the rest of the week was a fast and furious whirlwind of holiday festivities. But as usual we haven’t even unpacked from this cruise, and we’re already looking to see where the next one will take us.

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PHOTOGRAPHY: CRYSTAL HENRY

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COLUMN

CHRISTINA MILLER’S

Education Matters MAKING MEMORIES

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FAMILY VACATIONS CAN CREATE SOME OF THE MOST CHERISHED AND VIVID MEMORIES.

V

acation time spent together can be some of the best “quality time” family members can have with each other. Often when we look back as adults the years may seem to be a run-on sentence except for the punctuation of the family vacations. Sometimes even the troubling moments that often occur can ironically bring families closer. Those instances can be what is remembered most and laughed about for many years after.

Often family vacations take the form of visiting another extended part of the family such as grandparents or cousins.

Also common is a vacation centered around the children, such as a Disney vacation. Finding a vacation that is suitable for all

want to choose one or more of the sites to visit. Getting the teenagers to help plan will ensure that they are willing participants. A good plan is vital but it is also important to not be over-scheduled. It is never enjoyable to have the schedule dictate the entire trip. This is an advantage of a cruise because so many things are available simultaneously as well as at different times of the day.

Some families have found banning or limiting media helpful to become fully engaged in the vacation. It is common these days for teens as well as adults to be so busy taking pictures, and posting to Facebook with explanations, that they miss what came next, such as the whale that jumped out of the water while they were editing their last photo. Creating your vacation on an online timeline can make you miss the real vacation you could have been having. Also, the constant alerts of text messages or other incoming information creates a distraction that can ruin any attempt at quality time. Another distraction and saboteur of family bonding is when a friend is brought along. It is preferable to bring a cousin, etc. rather than a friend of one of the children.

I would always encourage packing as light as possible especially if air travel is involved. Air travel can be a challenge when delays and unforeseen setbacks occur. If possible, have back-up plans if the vacation allows. The winter holidays afford families the time to take a winter trip. If flying across the country from Florida, a southern route, such as through Texas rather than Chicago, can help with flight cancellations because of inclement weather in the north. Much can be chalked-up to common sense but often we see more clearly after the trip when hindsight is 20-20.

And finally, the teacher in me always emphasizes the importance and opportunity that a family vacation provides for learning. Not only are there opportunities to explore new places, but there are also rewards to be found planning the trip and experiencing problem-solving situations together along with brainstorming and learning about each other. And the best opportunity of all is learning patience.

For more tips, I recommend 45 Secrets for Fabulous Family Vacations at www.parents.com.

Not only are there opportunities to explore new places, but there are also rewards to be found planning the trip and experiencing problem-solving situations together along with brainstorming and learning about each other. ages, especially teenagers mixed with younger children, can be challenging, requiring a bit of creative pre-planning.

For those who like cruising, the larger cruise ships have something for everyone. However, the quality time will be compromised if everyone is off in different directions. A camping trip would allow for more quality time but the teenagers will be crawling out of their skin especially without Wi-Fi, which can be disappointing in the woods. I highly recommend you consider the ages of the children and their interests as well as the duration of vacation time.

Planning the trip together as a family is advantageous. Each member of the family can be assigned to consider various aspects once the when and where have been decided. A teenager may 42 |

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FLORIDA TRAVEL >> DAY TRIPS & GETAWAYS

FLORIDA DAYCATION

Sunshine Getaways Some of Florida’s Best Destinations are Just a Drive Away W R I T T E N B Y H AY L I Z U C C O L A

O

ur Towns have plenty to offer its residents — charming shops, restaurants that appeal to every taste, botanical gardens, state parks, as well as museums and many outdoor activities, but sometimes one can use a change of scenery. Luckily for residents, Gainesville is a central location to some of Florida’s must-visit attractions.

Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens DISTANCE FROM GAINESVILLE – APPROX. 25 MILES Within Williston, an almost hidden escape is waiting to be explored. One would never guess that beyond miles of country roads and farm land, an enchanting place filled with cascading waterfalls, blooming gardens and vibrant koi fish is actually in the center of it all.

Located at 4990 NE 180th Ave, the Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens infuses a Japanese flare to acres of botanical gardens and stone-surrounded lakes, all of which were created by hand. Dr. Raymond Webber discovered the 100-year-old lime rock abyss with hopes of molding it into a large fishing pond. After 23 44 |

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years of creating unique pathways, large rock walls and placing hundreds of species of plants throughout the garden, Webber decided to open the property to the public in 2014. However, Webber, along with two swans, several koi fish and a 100-pound catfish named Big Ben still live on the garden property — talk about a backyard view.

The park is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday through Sunday. Entrance into the gardens is $12 for adults and $7 for children age 6 to 13.

To find out more about the gardens and learn about upcoming events, visit the garden’s website at www.cedarlakeswoodsandgarden.com.

PHOTOGRAPHY: HAYLI ZUCCOLA

The Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens, which infuses Japanese inspiration throughout its design, is home to a 100-pound blue catfish named Big Ben; two swans Lancelot and Guenivere; as well as dozens of koi fish.

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FLORIDA TRAVEL >> DAY TRIPS & GETAWAYS

DISTANCE FROM GAINESVILLE – APPROX. 25 MILES Just a short walk from Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens is another Florida gem. Located at 5390 NE 180th Ave, Devil’s Den Springs provides a rather exclusive underground spring for those who want to experience scuba diving and snorkeling in a prehistoric cave.

The spring is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To find out more about visiting this hidden springs, visit the Devil’s Den website at www.devilsden. com/home.html.

PHOTO BY BIANCA FAVATA

Devil’s Den

Cedar Key DISTANCE FROM GAINESVILLE – APPROX. 57 MILES Not only is Cedar Key a perfect retreat for fishing aficionados, but it is also an artist village and home to the annual Old Florida Celebration of the Arts festival held every April. Art Fair Calendar voted this festival as one of the “Top Ten Best Art Fairs in America,” according to cedarkeyartsfestival.com. While taking in some of the local art, enjoy a sunset off the coast or some of the local seafood this historic town has to offer.

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Crystal River FLORIDA TRAVEL >> DAY TRIPS & GETAWAYS

DISTANCE FROM GAINESVILLE – APPROX. 65 MILES Crystal River is nicknamed the manatee haven for a reason. Visitors can swim with the local manatees, visit them along with other creatures at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park or just celebrate these sea cows’ calm, vegetative lifestyle at the annual Florida Manatee Festival. (But you’ll have to wait until January 2018.) Besides manatees, Crystal River is a town dedicated to the outdoor adventurer with wildlife refuges, golf courses, several parks and even a sugar mill ruin.

PHOTO BY HAYLI ZUCCOLA

St. Augustine DISTANCE FROM GAINESVILLE – APPROX. 73 MILES Take in Florida’s oldest city with a drink from the Fountain of Youth or a visit to two national parks including the Castillo de San Marcos, which is the oldest masonry fort in the United States.

If St. Augustine’s greater than four-century history doesn’t pique your interest it also offers an array of specialty shops and restaurants along the historic St. George Street.

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park DISTANCE FROM GAINESVILLE – APPROX. 110 MILES The Seminole Indians named this spring “Weeki Wachee,” which means “little spring” or “winding river.” But it’s not that little. In fact, according to the Weeki Wachee website, the spring is so deep that the bottom has never been found. Since opening in 1947, Weeki Wachee is not only known for its beautiful springs that pour in 117 million gallons of fresh water from its subterranean caverns every day, it is actually a must-visit roadside attraction because it features live mermaids — aquatic performers who strap on their tails and swim along turtles, fish and otters for applauding crowds.

Admission into the park is $13 for adults and $8 for children ages 6 to 12 and includes access to the mermaid shows as well as Buccaneer Bay, which is Florida’s only spring-fed waterpark.

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FLORIDA TRAVEL >> DAY TRIPS & GETAWAYS

Bok Tower Gardens DISTANCE FROM GAINESVILLE – APPROX. 142 MILES Located in the city of Lake Wales at 1151 Tower Blvd. is the historic landmark of the Bok Tower Gardens.

Established in 1929 by Edward W. Bok and designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr, the Bok Tower Gardens combines features of 126 different species of birds, 50 acres of gardens consisting of perennial, annual and endangered plants, and a reflection pool, all surrounding the stunning 205-foot Singing Tower.

The tower is home to the carillon, which according to the Bok Tower Gardens website “is a musical instrument consisting of at least 23 cast bronze bells that are precisely tuned and arranged in chromatic progression so that music in any key can be played.”

This particular carillon, which houses 60 different bells that range from 16 pounds to almost 12 tons, helps spread music throughout the gardens every day at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

The gardens are open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and admission is $14 for adults and $5 for children ages 5 to 12.

Solomon’s Castle DISTANCE FROM GAINESVILLE – APPROX. 207 MILES Featured on PBS and BBC, as well as in articles from Better Homes & Gardens, The Wall Street Journal and The Boston Globe among other magazines, newspapers and television programs is Solomon’s Castle. Located at 4533 Solomon Road in Ona, this unusual castle was created by artist Howard Solomon.

Covered in shiny printing plates, over 80 stained-glass windows and surrounded by metal sculptures, this castle acts as a tourist destination as well as Solomon’s art studio and home.

This unusual destination and the BoatIn-The-Moat restaurant are open to the public from October 1 through August 1 every Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tours of the castle are $12.50 for adults and $5 for children under 12.

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Florida Caverns State Park DISTANCE FROM GAINESVILLE – APPROX. 216 MILES Located at 3345 Caverns Road in Marianna, the Florida Caverns State Park is the only state park in Florida that offers cave tours to the public. Explore the 38-million-year-old geological history that lies beneath Florida’s surface and take in the beauty of the cave’s speleothems, or rock icicles that took thousands of years to form.

The park is open every day from 8 a.m. until sundown and cave tours are available Thursday through Monday. Admission into the park is $5 per vehicle and an additional $8 per person to participate in a tour of the cave.

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FLORIDA TRAVEL >> DAY TRIPS & GETAWAYS

Key West DISTANCE FROM GAINESVILLE – APPROX. 497 MILES Not really a “day trip,” but the United States’ southernmost point is a must-see for any Florida resident. The top attractions in Key West include a visit to Mile Marker 0, taking a photo at the Southernmost Point buoy and ending the day with a view of the most vibrant, breathtaking sunset on the East Coast.

For those interested in Key West’s haunted history, take a spine-chilling ghost tour to learn about some of the city’s most terrifying stories like the unforgettable tale of Robert the Doll who was the inspiration for the horror film “Chucky.”

If sitting down for a spooky story isn’t too appealing, enjoy some of the colorful shops and delectable cuisine Key West has to offer. A perfect place for the taste buds is the Blue Heaven restaurant located at 729 Thomas St. Enjoy an outdoor breakfast 52 |

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with the company of some local chickens and baby chicks and devour a Key West spin on a breakfast classic — eggs benedict with a key lime infused hollandaise sauce — or enjoy a dessert specialty that looks and tastes like a cloud puff from heaven — an enormous slice of key lime pie.

For literary enthusiasts and cat lovers alike, stop by the Ernest Hemingway house, home of the renowned novelist and around 40 to 50 polydactyl or six-toed cats.

Though it only spans a little over five miles, Key West offers something for everyone.

All in all, the Sunshine State has far more to offer its guests than amusement parks, beaches and the fresh taste of orange juice. As you can see, some of its best attractions are just a day drive away.

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

MY WANDERLUST DREAMS CAME TRUE WHEN MY HUSBAND FINALLY GOT THE JOB OFFER THAT WOULD TAKE US BACK DOWN SOUTH AND AWAY FROM THE WINTERY WEATHER OF SOUTHERN INDIANA.

but the seed of doubt was planted.

I’m not sure if it was all the anger that was stirred up with the Trump inauguration, but I started to grow fearful. The whole world seems to hate each other right now, and I can’t tell if it’s the media covering the attacks more, or I’m more sensitive to that news, or maybe there are more attacks happening.

Whatever the case, I started having second thoughts about his new gig wouldn’t advance him as quickly going abroad. What if I died? It’s not just that, but what if we as his corporate job, and he’d be taking a pretty both died? My kids would be orphans. My husband has to go hefty pay cut. But he’d also be traveling a lot more, which for work, and of course I wouldn’t wish him any ill will. But to some might seem like a detriment, but to us it was one free I’m going by choice. What if I died and my kids knew it was my ticket for adventure. choice to leave them? Would they ever forgive me?

He’s in research and development, so his job requires him I went to Berlin once for a photojournalism course in college, to jet set around the globe talking to clients about his research. and it was life-changing. I was amazed by the historical Since he started, he’s touched down all over the place, architecture, entertained by the culture and humfrom Japan and Korea to London and Amsterdam. bled by the Holocaust memorial. I truly think The girls and I have gone with him domestically the biggest reason people stay closed-minded Our American to places like Northern California, but last is because they never leave their circle of fall we decided that the kids were finally old must have been comfort — not even for a second. My ancesenough to stay with their grandparents, and showing pretty bad, tors were nomads, and that exploration I accompanied him on a romantic buckand he asked in broken gene is expressed boldly in me. et-list trip to Italy.

The knowledge I gained on that trip was I can’t even explain what a trip to the English if we needed invaluable, but probably the biggest lesson Isle of Capri, Rome, Florence and Milan did help.

I got was when a fellow student and I got lost for our marriage. Just the two of us exploring on the transit system at 2 a.m. She was following the historical ruins of Pompeii and the priceless a lead on an Indian family’s empire, and I was trying artwork of the Vatican was an absolute dream. I saw to dig into the world of legal prostitution. We headed back things and visited places I might never have seen because his to the hostel just after midnight, but we misjudged the tram job needed him to give some presentations in the coolest place schedule, and we couldn’t find a route that was running that on earth. It almost didn’t seem real. would get us back. We also had no idea that when a tramcar We’ve been conservative about how many trips I take with got to the end of the line you couldn’t just ride it back in the him because we don’t want to wear out my in-laws. But when opposite direction. he found out last spring that he’d be going to Germany I immeWe were kicked off of a tram in the middle of an empty field diately booked a flight. in East Berlin in the middle of the night with only one other My in-laws offered to take the girls to Disney World since passenger getting off when we did — a loner with a backpack they’d be on Spring Break from school, and it seemed like the who looked to be in his mid-20s. Our American must have perfect set-up. That was up until a few days before Christmas. been showing pretty bad, and he asked in broken English if we On December 19, a man with ties to ISIS plowed a truck into needed help. We did, but trusting a strange young man in the a crowded Christmas market in Berlin killing a dozen people. dark halfway across the world from where we live was terrifying.

We were on our cruise when the news broke and my in-laws However, we really had no choice, and we followed this strange hinted that I might want to rethink my trip. I blew them off,

T

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boy across the tracks, through dark alleys and into the parts of East Berlin we didn’t see on our tour. He was very friendly, and he respectfully walked a good distance ahead of us while he talked to us about his life and how some of his family still wished for the days when Communism ruled the country.

He got us to a tram line that would start running again in 10 minutes and would get us back to a familiar area of the city. We made it back safely to our hostel around 6 a.m., but I hope in my heart of hearts that my own daughters never do anything as stupid as that for as long as they live.

That guy was beyond a hero. But we were beyond lucky that he’s the one we met, and not someone else.

I learned, and now when I travel abroad I know how to check transit schedules. I also have a smart phone with reliable maps, which wasn’t the case back in college. Still I worried that I was playing with fire going somewhere with known terrorist activity.

My husband asked what my alternative was to going to Germany. Would I just stay home? I told him I planned to go to Disney with the kids and my in-laws. It just felt safer. But was it?

Just six months before the attacks in Berlin, people in a nightclub in Orlando were trapped and gunned down in cold blood.

Terrorists aren’t just people who live in a desert thousands of miles across an ocean.

There are horribly selfish people in our own backyard.

I don’t know why I felt safer in one of the most crowded places on the planet, rather than the quiet towns in Bavaria we’d planned to go. And if I cancelled my trip to Germany this time, would I ever feel safe going? Would I always be too afraid? But that’s exactly what gives terrorism its power. Fear. And I’m taking that power back.

It is scary to travel abroad, but there are risks when I step outside my door every morning. And I’m taking a risk by sending my babies with their grandparents to the Mouse House. But there isn’t a bubble small enough for any of us to be 100 percent safe for our entire lives. Eventually something will take us out. But if I let my fear of death kill my sense of adventure, then that’s not really living anyway. Auf wiedersehen angst.

Hallo Deutschland.

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LOCAL ADVENTURE >> PARKS AND NATURE PRESERVES

PARKS AND RECREATION

Hidden Gems LESSER-KNOWN PARKS OFFER BEAUTY AND ADVENTURE S TORY A N D PHOTOG R A PHY BY G A BRIE LLE C A LI S E

L

ush forests and bubbling springs. Creeks lined with ancient shark teeth.

Winding bike trails that twist and turn for miles. All of this can be found right here in our neck of the woods.

Whether it’s decompressing after a long day at the office or getting back in touch with the beauty that nature has to offer, there are many reasons to strap on those hiking shoes and visit a local park. Luckily for Alachua County residents, there are dozens of places to go.

Most locals have already gazed at wild horses and alligators at Paynes Prairie. Others have walked the 200-plus wooden steps leading down into the gaping, green sinkhole at Devil’s Millhopper. But there’s even more to explore. Grab the bug spray and get started now — the following hidden gems are waiting.

Loblolly Woods Nature Park Location: 3315 NW 5th Avenue, Gainesville Access from 34th Street Hours: Dawn to dusk daily Cost: Free

The 159 acres of Loblolly Woods Nature Park feature miles of boardwalks shaded by a canopy 56 |

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of trees. One of the 10 Hogtown Creek Greenway Parks in Gainesville, the park is named after its loblolly pines. Popular activities here include running, biking, or taking a casual stroll by the clear water of the Hogtown Creek. And according to cityofgainesville.org, this is also one of the best bird watching destinations in Alachua County.

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Sweetwater Wetlands Park Location: 325 SW Williston Road, Gainesville Hours: 7:00 a.m. to dusk daily Cost: $5 per car or $2 per person for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Annual passes are available for $75/year.

Sweetwater Wetlands Park’s 3.5 miles of sprawling boardwalks and crushed gravel trails offer more than just a pretty view. There are educational signs around the park explaining how the man-made wetland habitat saved delicate local ecosystems. Plus as a fun bonus, the park is shaped like the head of an alligator.

Paynes Prairie was in rough shape before Sweetwater was built. According to sweetwaterwetlands.org, ranchers drained part of the prairie in the 1930s to gain more grazing area. This launched the dehydration of over 1,300 acres of wetlands. As 58 |

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time passed, the prairie’s condition worsened. Wastewater and urban runoff filled the Alachua Sink with an excess of nitrogen.

Then in 2009, the City of Gainesville and Gainesville Regional Utilities teamed up to launch the Paynes Prairie Sheetflow Restoration Project. The goal was to improve water quality in the Alachua Sink and create a beautiful environmentally positive park. Thus, Sweetwater Wetlands Park opened in 2015, restoring natural water flow to Paynes Prairie.

Sweetwater boasts a number of activities. Weekly bird walks led by the Alachua Audubon Society are held every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. between September and May. Ranger-led tours also take place on the weekends. Ready for adventure? Sweetwater visitors have been known to encounter wild animals including bison, horses and alligators. Photography is allowed, but leave pets at home lest they become a snack.

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LOCAL ADVENTURE >> PARKS AND NATURE PRESERVES

San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park 12720 NW 109 Lane, Alachua Hours: 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year Cost: $4 per vehicle (up to 8 passengers), $2 per pedestrian, cyclist or extra passenger

According to floridastateparks.org, this 7,360-acre preserve is home to one of the few remaining mature forests in the state. A diverse range of wildlife lives in the 18 natural communities in the park, from songbirds and white-tailed deer to bobcats, grey foxes and turkeys.

San Felasco is split up into different portions. The northern third of the park contains trails for horseback riding, off-road cycling and hiking. The southern two-thirds is designated for hiking only, so visitors can experience “solitude and quiet for a true wilderness experience.” Bike trails can be accessed off U.S. 441 just south of Alachua, and hiking trails can be accessed just four miles north of Gainesville on Millhopper Road.

San Felasco was home to Native Americans for thousands of years. The source of its name has been traced to the consistent mispronunciation of “San Francisco” by the Indians and early settlers. Today, visitors can see hundreds of sinkholes, lush wildflowers and hardwood trees that grow from the park’s limestone outcrops.

Mill Creek Preserve Location: CR 241 and CR 236, Alachua Hours: Sunrise to sunset, 365 days a year Cost: Free

Located five miles north of the city of Alachua, Mill Creek Preserve is a 1,230-acre network of winding trails.

Alachua County purchased the preserve in 2002 thanks to funding from Alachua County Forever/Alachua Conservation Trust program.

Mill Creek is home to a variety of trails that vary in length and features. There’s a route for every kind of hiker, from beginners who want a quick, 30-minute stroll to more intense trails that take about two hours to traverse. Trails include everything from slope forests, scenic overlooks and a footbridge made of recycled metal by local artist John Patterson. Other parts of the park are sustainable too. According to Alachua County Today, the park features logs from non-native invasive trees, as well as local stone and recycled materials.

There are also chances to see wildlife, such as hawks and deer. Botany lovers can take note of the different types of trees, such as basswood, maple, oak and beech. Visitors should be aware that some of the trails may be under water during or after wet weather. Finally, don’t forget Fido. Hikers are allowed to bring dogs, as long as they are leashed.

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Poe Springs LOCAL ADVENTURE >> PARKS AND NATURE PRESERVES

Location: 28800 NW 182nd Avenue, High Springs Hours: Thursday - Sunday, 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Open Mondays for Memorial Day and Labor Day, but closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. Cost: Free

Poe Springs offers free swimming in the 45 million gallons of spring water that flows daily. The water has a yearlong temperature ranging from 68 to 72 degrees. The public park is located on the bank of the Santa Fe River, about 27 miles northwest of Gainesville or 3 miles west of High Springs. At 202 acres, this attraction is the largest in the region. It’s also one of the least crowded in the area, according to visitgainesville.com. And since much of the basin is quite shallow, Poe Springs is a great place to bring children or people who aren’t very comfortable with swimming.

According to springseternalproject.org, Poe Springs started as a commercial recreation site in the mid-1940s. Guests enjoyed refreshment stands and bathhouses. The springs were privately owned until purchased by a federal grant in 1985. In 1991, the public park opened.

Today, visitors enjoy kayaking, canoeing and swimming. Brave souls can explore a 13-foot-long underwater cave. The attraction isn’t just for aquatic-based activities: visitors enjoy hiking trails, volleyball courts, soccer and softball fields, and covered pavilions.

Cellon Oak Park Location: 4100 NW 169th Place, La Crosse Hours: Sunrise to sunset Cost: Free

The centerpiece of Cellon Oak Park is the largest Live Oak tree in Florida, according to floridahikes.com, towering at 85 feet tall. This massive tree is 30 feet in circumference and has branches and leaves that spread out to 160 feet. It’s worth a visit to the park just to see this tree. People love walking around the thick trunk and taking photos beneath the long branches.

While the oak tree is enormous, the park itself is small. However, the shaded grass field underneath the tree makes Cellon Oak Park a beloved destination for weddings and picnics.

While this list doesn’t include every one of the area’s beautiful parks and nature preserves, it’s a great start to learning more about all Alachua County has to offer. From trails to springs, North Central Florida truly has a great range of options for any nature lover.

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TRAVEL BASICS >> PASSPORT 101

IDENTIFICATION PLEASE

THE WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE AND WHY ABOUT U.S. PASSPORTS

Passport 101 W R I T T E N B Y C R Y S TA L H E N R Y | P H O T OG R A P H Y B Y E R I C K A W I N T E R R O W D

This issue of Our Town is all about adventure and travel, and should your adventures lead you outside the country, you’ll need to add one very important little item to your travel bag — a passport.

WHO NEEDS ONE? Most Americans traveling internationally need a passport.

Exceptions include citizens traveling to U.S. territories, within the border zone of Mexico or on a closed-loop cruise. In the past, people only needed a birth certificate and a driver’s license when flying to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. However, the events of September 11 changed all of that. To get back in the U.S. from Canada and Mexico by land or sea, you’ll need a passport or one of the other specialized documents listed in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. Even children and 64 |

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infants need their own valid passports to travel abroad. There are still a few exceptions for special groups including minors under 16 who are traveling to Canada by land or sea. But to be on the safe side, it’s best to get a passport any time you travel beyond U.S. borders.

WHEN TO GET ONE? Depending on your destination, you may need three to six months validity on your passport after your intended return date, especially if the country requires an entry visa.

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TRAVEL BASICS >> PASSPORT 101

PASSPORT PHOTO REQUIREMENTS The U.S. passport office has very strict standards for passport photos: • Photos must be printed on matte or glossy photo quality paper.

• Recent, taken in the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance.

• No glasses.

• Background must be plain white or off-white.

• Head must be directly facing the camera with your full face in view.

• Taken with a neutral facial expression or a natural smile, with both eyes open.

• In color.

• Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis.

• No hats or head coverings, unless you wear it daily for religious purposes.

Your full face must be visible and your head covering cannot cast shadows on your face.

• No headphones or wireless hands-free devices.

Size of photo: • 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) in size.

• Size of head must be between 1 -1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.

Check early to make sure your passport meets the requirements, so that you can renew your passport if needed before you go. It’s best to apply for your passport several months before your departure.

Processing times for routine service currently take about four to six weeks, and although expedited service is available, it will cost an extra $60.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? The government passport website, travel.state.gov, has a passport fee calculator. Fees vary depending on how fast you need the passport, whether you need a book or a card, whether it’s your first passport, or a renewal, and if the passport is for a minor or an adult. At the time of publication, the fees for a first-time adult passport book totaled $135 and a child under 16 was $105.

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WHAT DO I NEED? First decide whether you will be completing your application online or in person at a Post Office. The government passport website has a PO locator to find a Post Office that processes passports. To apply for a passport you’ll need: • Evidence of U.S. citizenship (such as an expired passport, a valid U.S. birth certificate, or a certificate of naturalization or citizenship).

• A photocopy of your U.S. citizenship evidence (the copy must be legible, on 8.5” x 11” standard paper, black and white and single sided).

• A photo ID (such as a valid driver’s license, a valid, undamaged passport or U.S. military ID).

• A photocopy of your ID (plain 8.5” x 11” white paper, one-sided, original image size).

• Valid passport photo.

WHERE TO GET PASSPORT PHOTOS There is a photo editing tool on the government travel website, but if you’re not comfortable taking your own photo, there are retail locations that are experienced and can take your photo for a fee. Some FedEx and UPS offices offer passport photos, and as of our publication date the 1-hour photo lab at Costco is the cheapest location at just over $5. CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Walmart also offer passport photos without a membership fee. Some passport application offices offer photo services as well, but it’s best to call ahead to be sure.

Safe Travels!

For more information on passport requirements and to find a passport acceptance facility visit travel.state.gov or www.us-passport-service-guide.com.

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DISCOVERY >> FINDING FOSSILS

BONES

Ancient

Treasures A Guide for Finding Local Fossils W RIT TE N BY G A BRIE LLE C A LI S E

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ossil hunting is an adventure that just about anyone can enjoy, no matter the age or experience level. This hobby allows people to enjoy nature with friends and family while also learning about the past. And with a little luck, hunters can even take home prehistoric souvenirs.

Many people born in Gainesville grew up searching for fossils and now return to the creeks with children or grandchildren of their own, said Dr. Richard Hulbert, vertebrate paleontology collections manager at the Florida Museum of Natural History and author of “The Fossil Vertebrates of Florida.”

While some of the more common finds are smaller fossils, such as shark teeth, whale bones or stingray spines, there have been some big discoveries to come out of the area. Before people inhabited the Sunshine State, large predators such as saber

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tooth cats, jaguars and lions roamed the land.

“When the first humans entered Florida, that was the landscape they were entering at the time, roughly 12,000-14,000 years ago,” Hulbert said in a recent interview in his office. Hulbert works at the Florida Museum of Natural History’s vertebrate paleontology collection at Dickinson Hall, surrounded by a library of drawers filled with fossils. “They were competing with those big meat eaters.”

While it’s more common for people to find smaller fossils or bone fragments, there have been some large discoveries around Gainesville.

“The only skeleton of a saber tooth cat ever found in Florida was found [in Arredondo area of Gainesville] back in the ‘50s,” Hulbert said.

“There’s a skull, a beautiful skull of what’s called the American lion. It was found in Ichnetucknee in the ‘60s before it was a state park, and was donated to us.”

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DISCOVERY >> FINDING FOSSILS

How to find and care for fossils:

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Hulbert offered several tips for hobbyists who want to go fossil hunting on their own. To begin, hunters should be prepared to sift for tiny objects. It can sometimes be hard to spot small shark teeth and other fossils amidst flowing water and everything else on the bottom of a creek. Hulbert recommends scooping the sandy creek bed into a box with a mesh bottom, then sifting until a fossil emerges.

Fossil boxes can be made by attaching a window screen or sheet of mesh from a hardware store to the bottom of a rectangular wooden frame. Since wet sand and rocks can be heavy, Hulbert also recommends adding a second layer of stronger mesh screen beneath the first layer for reinforcement.

While digging for fossils is tempting, be careful not to do anything that will damage the land.

“There have been instances where people bring big shovels and dig huge holes,” Hulbert said. “You don’t want to create environmental havoc.”

Once people find fossils, the first step is to care for them properly. Fossils should be stored in a place that isn’t too hot or wet, Hulbert said.

“As long as you keep it indoors in an air-conditioned, heated environment, and so its got a relatively constant temperature and humidity, it won’t decay or break down,” he said. “I know there’s some people who store their fossils in the garage … but in the long term, they’re going to have trouble with that because eventually the bones are going to break down.”

Some fossils may not be well mineralized, Hulbert said.

Paleontologists use chemical solutions known as consolidants to preserve soft or crumbly fossils. Hobbyists can make a homemade solution by mixing one part white glue and 10 parts water. After the glue is dissolved, simply soak the bones in the solution to harden.

Once the fossils are preserved and stored in a safe location, it’s important to create some sort of catalogue system to organize the fossils.

“It’s sometimes heartbreaking,” Hulbert said. “There have been people who have amassed these wonderful collections over their lifetime, but they don’t keep any records. They sort of just know, ‘Oh, I have this here.’ And then they pass away and their kids or grandkids have no idea what to do with it, and sometimes they want to donate it to the museum, but because the specimens have lost [the location of ] where they were found, they’ve really lost scientific value.”

The museum’s collection, which has about three quarters of a million species, is catalogued extensively in a database available to the public online. Hobbyists don’t need to be as detailed as the museum, but they should write down what was found, where it was found, and who found it.

“Just a very simple catalogue like that will allow you to pass the specimens on, either to an heir, or a museum, or a school or something, and it’ll be much more valuable than just an odd box of miscellaneous fossils that could have come from anywhere,” Hulbert said.

Hulbert often identifies photographs of fossils that members of the public email him. He also meets with people who bring bags of fossils to his office at Dickinson Hall on UF’s campus.

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Dr. Richard Hulbert examines a drawer of fossils that were found around Alachua County at the Florida Museum of Natural History’s vertebrate paleontology collection located in UF’s Dickinson Hall.

PHOTOGRAPHY: GABRIELLE CALISE

Where to go: A little planning and the right knowledge of where to look can make finding fossils a lot easier. According to Hulbert, creeks in the northwest side of town are the best places to find fossils. The fossils found here are anywhere from 8 to 10 million years old.

Fossils can often be found in creeks north of 8th Avenue and south of 53rd Avenue and in-between 13th Street and 43rd Street. In this part of Gainesville, there are many beds of clay sitting on top of the limestone, Hulbert said. When rain falls, the water can’t get through the clay fast enough, so it flows on the surface of these creek banks.

“Particularly when it rains hard, there’s erosion of the clay

banks and fossils erode out along with clay and sand, and then as the water settles down, the fossils settle down in the bed of the creeks,” Hulbert said.

Since heavy rainfall reveals new fossils in creeks, the best time to hunt is after a flood or storm. But take caution: hunters can’t go wherever they want and take whatever they find.

“In terms of legality, fossils belong to whoever owns the land,” Hulbert said.

Don’t trespass in the hopes of finding a good fossil. Hulbert advises people to find a way to access creeks that doesn’t involve going onto private property. One tip: access creeks by starting near bridges and walking down the creek.

Private property isn’t the only thing that hunters must avoid.

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DISCOVERY >> FINDING FOSSILS

Over 850,000 specimens can be found in the Florida Museum of Natural History’s collection, from horse teeth and stingray spines to skulls and bones.

It’s also illegal to collect on state lands, including all riverbeds and anywhere inside state parks.

“You’re not allowed to go into the creeks within the park boundaries,” Hulbert said. “There’s actually a law. It’s not posted or anything, but they don’t want you to walk in the creek and collect fossils.”

Gainesville’s city parks also don’t allow visitors to trek into creeks. So even though places like Loblolly Woods Nature Park have plenty of shark teeth and other treasures within their creeks, it’s against the rules to go looking for them and take them home.

For the most part, people aren’t allowed to go into rivers to hunt either. There are two exceptions to this rule. Fossil hunters are allowed to take shark teeth from rivers (note that this doesn’t apply to shark teeth in creeks — people can’t take anything from creeks in state or city parks). Fossil hunters can get other fossils from rivers as long as they get a permit from the Florida Museum of Natural History.

To get a permit, visit the Florida museum’s website (bit.ly/ fossilpermit) and print out the application. The price — $5 a year — was written into the law mandating the permits when it was drafted in the 1980s. People can mail money and a photocopy of their photo ID. In about two weeks, they’ll receive the permit in the mail.

Children 16 years or younger don’t need a permit as long as they are traversing the river with a permit-holding adult.

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“But if your kid wants to be a state-licensed paleontologist, they can get one,” Hulbert said.

Another way to learn about fossils is to join a fossil club.

There aren’t any in Gainesville, but there are some groups in the Orlando and Tampa areas that host monthly meetings and field trips. In mid-march, Tampa hosts an annual fossil festival, and Orlando holds a festival in the fall. These kinds of events often have dealers selling fossils and fossil-hunting equipment, while children can dig around in sandpits.

Another way to learn more is to volunteer with the Florida Museum of Natural History. A team of volunteers is currently digging at a site around Williston from Tuesdays through Sundays.

The group fluctuates in size from five to 15 volunteers, ages 15 and older. To sign up, call the museum or visit the museum website.

Volunteers can also learn more about fossils by helping with processing. Volunteer tasks range from washing fossils to identifying and sorting. Others treat the fossils like a 3-dimensional jigsaw puzzle, putting broken fossil fragments back together.

“That’s a way of getting some training with professionals,” Hulbert said.

No matter where fossil hunters decide to go or who they travel with, one thing is certain: persistence is key.

“There obviously is a big luck factor,” Hulbert said. “You can’t be discouraged if you can’t find something.”

PHOTOGRAPHY: GABRIELLE CALISE

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YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS >> SCOUTS

BE PREPARED

Scout’s Honor Empowering Boys and Girls to Do and Be More

Girl Scout Troop 733 taught about 20 girls from Kenya how to sew feminine hygiene kits.

W R I T T E N B Y S AVA N N A K E A R N E Y

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hey’re known for their uniforms, badges and cookies, but they’ve accomplished far more. Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts organizations have been inspiring young children since the early 20th century, and they continue the tradition today. Girl Scouts currently number 2.7 million; 1.9 million young girls and 800,000 adults, according to the Girl Scouts website. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) encompass 855,000 boys and 485,000 adult volunteers, according to the BSA website.

Boy Scouts were started, not in the United States, but in England by British army officer Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell. When he discovered that his men did not know basic first aid and survival skills, he wrote a small handbook called “Aids to Scouting.” After taking a group of 20 boys on a successful camping trip in 1907, Baden-Powell published “Scouting for Boys” a year later, and the Boy Scouts grew from there.

Scouting made its way to America thanks to Chicago publisher and businessman William D. Boyce. While in England, Boyce got lost in some fog and a young boy helped him find his way. When Boyce offered to tip him for his help, the boy

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A group of Scouts from First United Methodist Church of Gainesville worked in partnership with the City of Gainesville, and specifically Gainesville Regional Utilities to install a bridge on the nature trails at Kanapaha Veterans Park as part of an Eagle Project.

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humbly refused payment and explained that it was his duty as a scout. Boyce was inspired by this act of kindness and, on Feb. 8, 1910, he incorporated the Boy Scouts of America.

The first group of Girl Scouts gathered in Savannah, Georgia in 1912, led by Juliette Gordon Low, affectionately known as Daisy by her loved ones. The Girl Scouts were formed — before women even had the right to vote — with emphasis on inclusiveness, the outdoors, self-reliance and service. The organization continued to expand around the world and during the Great Depression the scouts participated in relief efforts to help those affected. Girl Scouts did their civic duty in World War II by flying in the Wing Scout program, operating bicycle courier services, growing Victory Gardens, sponsoring Defense Institutes to teach women survival skills and more.

Imprisoned Japanese-American girls even formed troops in internment camps.

During the racial tension of the 1960s, scouts held “Speak Out” conferences and launched the “ACTION 70” project to overcome prejudice and fight for racial equality. Recently, badges have been added to incorporate

YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS >> SCOUTS

Troop 432 Boy Scouts Christian Cook and Tyler Wycoff collect trash at St. George Island State Park in April 2016.

their communities and for people across the globe. One troop modern Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

This year marks the 100th Anniversary of the famous cookies, is helping young girls all the way in Kenya to further their eduas Girl Scouts sold their first cookies in Muskogee, Oklahoma, cation — and they’re doing it from right here in Alachua County.

Troop leader Radha Selvester, who in 1917. Girl Scout Cookies help is now also leader of the Alachua the girls earn money for fun, eduCounty chapter of Days for Girls cational activities and community International, helped Troop 733 projects, but also help them learn make and send hundreds of sanessential life skills that will stay itary pads to girls in Kenya. It all with them forever. started in 2013 when the troop It wasn’t until 1933 that the learned that young girls living in boxes were finally branded “Girl South Sudan tend to drop out of Scout Cookies” in Philadelphia, school in 5th or 6th grade because Pennsylvania. Besides waiting for they don’t have the proper menan eager little girl to knock on a struation sanitary supplies. When door with a wagon-full of cookies on their periods, many girls have to by her side, there are plenty of miss school for days at a time and other ways to purchase cookies. they get behind in their studies In 2014, Girl Scouts launched until they finally drop out. their Digital Cookie Platform to Troop 733 decided to help buy cookies online, and there’s by sewing washable, reusable even an official Girl Scout Cookie Two Boy Scouts work on their Robotics Merit Badge at the UF STEM Merit Badge Day. menstruation pads, or “shields.”

Finder mobile app. They’re even They held their first “Sewathon” celebrating 100 years of cookies by combining two classic traditions — s’mores and cookies — into in December of 2013 with the goal to make 200 sanitary kits.

“So, we finish our first Sewathon, and basically have nothing. the Girl Scout S’mores cookie.

But Girl Scouts is about much more than selling cookies Not one thing ever got finished or done right,” Selvester said. and collecting badges. They’re doing big things for people in “But we didn’t give up.”

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Since then, Troop 733 has held 15 Sewathons, far surpassing their goal of 200 sanitary kits. But the troop had one more obstacle to overcome: civil war broke out in South Sudan, making it impossible for children there to go to school, and Americans couldn’t get into the country anyway. Luckily, the troop made a connection with the governor of Tharaka-Nithi, a county in Kenya.

Not only did he take all 200 sanitary kits to Kenya, but he also invited the troop to come to Africa to teach girls how to make them.

“So,” Selvester recalled, “I looked at the girls, I said, ‘You want to go to Kenya?’”

In December of 2015, after raising almost $6,000 for supplies, Selvester, along with three other adults, three Girl Scouts and two UF students, packed up and went to Kenya to teach girls how to make sanitary kits. Since then, the troop has made kits for girls in Haiti, Venezuela, Greece, Guatemala and Nepal.

“We like going to countries and teaching how to do it as opposed to just giving them out,” Selvester said.

Cadette Troop 107 is another group of local Girl Scouts servicing their community.

Troop Co-leader Jennifer Hudson said three of the girls in the troop made cat beds for the Alachua County Humane Society.

“These raised cat beds give the cats another level to be on in their cage so that they’re not always in their litter or in their food. They have a place that they can lay,” Hudson said. “It just promotes good health for the cats.”

The girls, who are animal lovers, Hudson said, learned to safely use the tools to construct the cat beds all on their own. They delivered 30 raised cat beds to the Humane Society on Nov. 21, 2016. The other girls of Troop 107 are currently working on projects that include remodeling the classroom of a church, building “little libraries” for local neighborhoods and constructing and stocking a resource cabinet for the police department that the officers would normally stock with their own pocket money.

The Boy Scouts of America are also involved in local events in North Florida, while learning important life skills.

“It’s a life-changing program for our elementary and high school kids,” said Tade Sullivan, the western area field director of

YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS >> SCOUTS

The girls, who are animal lovers, learned to safely use the tools to construct the cat beds all on their own. They delivered 30 raised cat beds to the Humane Society on Nov. 21, 2016.

Boy Scouts of America.

Every year, troops in Alachua County participate in a STEM Merit Badge Day at the University of Florida. The event helps young boys connect with professionals in all areas of science, technology, engineering and math to explore career possibilities.

Local Boy Scouts also put in thousands of hours of community service with projects “that are contributing tangibly back to the community,” Sullivan said. Service projects range from simple trail cleanups to building boxes for children in foster care, writing letters and making Christmas cards for veterans in the hospital and even building a bridge for the city of Gainesville.

“It’s all about the fun that the kids have, but as part of that fun, they learn lessons of character, leadership, self-development, self-reliance and all those things that, as parents, we want our kids to learn,” Sullivan said.

The activities of Boy Scout Troop 432 are an example of young men doing their civic duty. The troop, based out of Grace United Methodist Church in Gainesville, combines a love of the

great outdoors with community service. Troop 432 Committee Chair Rob Horter said the scouts do a lot of work with local state parks. One of their service projects at Ichetucknee Springs State Park involved ridding the river of the invasive water lettuce that is harmful to aquatic life. The troop also took part in Sandhill pine restorations, in which they “girdled” intrusive oak trees by chopping off bark from waist-height down, to make room for indigenous Sandhill pine trees.

“We get to expose [the scouts] to the parks … that maybe they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to visit,” Horter said.

“And they get to do something that benefits everybody.”

So whether it involves helping people across the world or cleaning up the local environment, Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts are always active. Since their first service projects in the early 1900s, these two organizations have been teaching children to be compassionate, generous and caring. Not only do scouts go above and beyond in service, but they also learn to believe in themselves.

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COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION >> YELLOW BELLIED SLIDERS

SPIN IT TO WIN IT

Path of Adventure Yellow Bellied Sliders Bicycling Society Explores Rural And Natural Beauty W RIT TE N BY S TE PH A NIE RICH A R DS

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he Pailthorpe family was looking for a way to meet other people that enjoyed biking near their hometown of High Springs.

They only had to ride a short distance to discover the Yellow Bellied Sliders Bicycling Society.

Although their main draw to join the group was recreational bicycling, an equal benefit has been the social interaction between members.

“We enjoy the camaraderie of the group,” said Cynthia Pailthorpe who belongs to the group with her husband Doug, and children, Maggie and Eric. “Yellow Bellied Sliders has a lot of really great people and we really look forward to riding with them each month. We have been part of the group for eight years now.”

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Founded in 2009, the group was formed to “encourage residents and visitors alike to explore and enjoy the beautiful rural and natural environments of the High Springs area by bicycle,” according to the website.

At the time of the Yellow Bellied Sliders Bicycling Society’s creation there were no bike lanes on the road, according to Tom Hewlett, one of the co-founders and current president.

“Former resident and co-founder Lys Burden was very active in biking and hiking. She was looking for a fat-tired (mountain) bike ride group and had a desire to make downtown High Springs a walkable and bikeable area,” Hewlett said.

“We continue to promote bicycling in town.

For example, we have installed six bike racks throughout the area. You can find them in the shape of our yellow turtle logo, a frog or a Heron.”

PHOTOGRAPHY: STEPHANIE RICHARDS

Tom Hewlett, president of Yellow Bellied Sliders Bicycling Society, a recreational riding club that often goes on off-road, scenic trails.

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The Yellow Bellied Sliders installed six bike racks in High Springs, including this iconic one of the turtle in their logo.

Picking the name came easily because High Springs is home to one of the largest breeding population in the world of Yellow Bellied Sliders, Hewlett said. The turtles live on the Santa Fe River, which forms the northwest boundary of High Springs and Alachua County.

“The name was a natural. We came up with it and knew it would be educational too. People ask about the name. Many people don’t know about the turtle population here,” said Hewlett, a retired nematologist (study of roundworms). “We have had Santa Fe Professor Jerry Johnston come out a few times and educate us about Yellow Bellied Sliders and he has brought different turtles with him. There are 11 different species in the Santa Fe, but most rivers only have two or three.”

The group does one ride a month, and Hewlett has different

variations or paths to choose from that keeps each route fresh.

They meet at 3 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of every month at James Paul Park adjacent to High Springs City Hall.

“We have between 25 to 35 members and the society is open to anyone interested,” Hewlett said. “We really are a biking group for those looking for recreational riding. Our routes are usually 10 to 20 miles and we stop along the way. We are a social group too and welcome families with kids … most can do a 10-mile ride.

If anyone can’t make it, we have a truck available to pick them up. We sign all rides so cyclers can easily know where to go by following the yellow signs with arrows.”

The group predominately rides trails, exploring areas off the beaten path. This also allows members to ride next to each other and talk.

“We have gone by cotton, peanut and watermelon fields.

We make sure to talk about what we will see and what to look for — it makes the time and distance go by quickly and it’s always educational,” said Hewlett, who moved to High Springs in 2006. “We recommend a hybrid or mountain bike as a lot of the good routes are unpaved. A mountain bike allows you to go everywhere — only occasionally do we go anywhere that a street bike might be better.”

The group has explored unique things to the area including the natural springs as well as unusual sites, such as Santa Fe College’s Harvey Sharron Bat Cave Field Laboratory in Newberry.

The cave, which has karst (porous limestone) topography

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common to Florida, is only open to visitors by arrangement, according to the college’s website. As with all excursions, Hewlett works out the details for the group.

“We have also done rides on Old Bellamy Road (River Rise Preserve State Park), which was one of the first roads in Florida and has a natural bridge over the Santa Fe River. Someone raises kangaroos and camels on part of the trail and it is fun to see them,” Hewlett said. “The Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge in Old Town is another place we have been to.”

Other area bike trails the group has explored include: * Ichetucknee to O’Leno Trail – A 12-mile paved path that goes through Ichetucknee Springs and O’Leno State Parks. * Archer Trail – A 16-mile paved trail that goes from Archer to Gainesville. * Nature Coast State Trail - A paved trail that connects the rural towns of Cross City, Old Town, Fanning Springs, Trenton and Chiefland in a T-shaped trail, 32-mile corridor. Bicyclists can choose from several different trail lengths. * Gainesville-Hawthorne State Park Trail – A 16.5-mile trail that connects Gainesville with rural Hawthorne and includes wildlife and a few hills. It has a view of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park.

In April, the group will do a Tour de Sinkhole ride exploring the 17 sinkholes in High Springs.

“It is about 10 miles and done leisurely as the group stops at each one,” Hewlett said.

“It is always fun to climb them.”

Special activities are also scheduled throughout the year including an annual meeting and dinner in February. At Christmas, members of the Yellow Bellied Sliders decorate their bikes and tour the best lights in High Springs, making it one of the few times they do a street ride.

Membership dues for the Yellow Bellied Sliders Bicycle Society are $20 a year for individuals or $30 for family (that go toward admission to state parks for rides). The organization also sells bright yellow shirts with their logo for $15 (proceeds go toward refreshments for rides).

For more information, visit www.yellowbelliedsliders.org or on Facebook search “Yellow Bellied Sliders.”

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BOOK REVIEW

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER’S

Reading Corner POPO’S LUCKY CHINESE NEW YEAR written by Virginia Loh-Hagan, illustrated by Renné Benoit C.2017, SLEEPING BEAR PRESS, $16.99, 32 PAGES

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER HAS BEEN READING SINCE SHE WAS 3 YEARS OLD AND SHE NEVER GOES ANYWHERE WITHOUT A BOOK. SHE LIVES WITH HER TWO DOGS AND 11,000 BOOKS. HER BOOK REVIEWS ARE PUBLISHED IN MORE THAN 200 NEWSPAPERS AND 50 MAGAZINES THROUGHOUT THE U.S. AND CANADA. bookwormsez@yahoo.com

WHAT A LUCKY KID YOU ARE!

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ou have lots of things that some kids only dream of having: toys to play with, things to eat, and someone special who reads books to you. And when you’ve got “PoPo’s Lucky Chinese New Year” by Virginia Loh-Hagan, illustrated by Renné Benoit, you can bring even more luck into your life.

It’s always great when Grandma comes to visit, but this year is extra special because PoPo is coming all the way from China!

It’s Chinese New Year, and PoPo says it’s a “time for new beginnings.” Out with the old, and in with the new, which means new luck for the whole family. Making luck is “serious business,” everybody knows that, and it starts with sweeping the dirt up and out the back door.

It means washing windows to let fortune in, and washing yourself and your hair, but be sure to do all those things the day before.

Washing anything on Chinese New Year is bad luck!

PoPo starts the preparations early, by making traditional foods: a fish with its head and tail still attached, and a whole chicken both go into the oven so that “wishes come true.” PoPo makes noodles, but don’t break them!

Eat them long, for a long life.

It’s important to stay awake on Chinese New Year’s Eve because someone will need to open doors and windows at midnight, to let the old year out. Drink lots of green tea and play games — that should help. Staying awake is also good luck for 84 |

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your parents — but don’t be up too long. Chinese New Year’s Day is when the real fun starts.

Say “Gung Hay Fat Choy!” to everyone you see; it means “Happy Chinese New Year!” Be sure to start your day right; PoPo says it could be “important to your fortune.” Don’t say or think anything bad and don’t use knives or scissors. Wear lots of red clothing, count things in fours, enjoy the fireworks, save your lai see, and remember that “A lucky new year is hard work.”

Living in a global society like ours, it’s always nice to be familiar with other cultures in our neighborhoods. “PoPo’s Lucky Chinese New Year” is a great way to introduce your child to one colorful celebration.

Kids who are curious about the dragon dance, the parades and the other traditions of Chinese New Year will get a better understanding of them, which is what author Virginia LohHagan says was her intention. In addition to the main story, told from the point-of-view of an excited little girl, Loh-Hagan also includes extra information that flows like banners on the edges of her books’ pages. Older children will love those facts and can use them in their own celebrations, while younger children will relish the bright colors in the illustrations from Renné Benoit.

For 6- to 10-year-olds with questions, there’s an end-of-book craft project and some great information disguised inside a story they’ll love. “PoPo’s Lucky Chinese New Year” is filled with fu, and isn’t that fortunate?

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ATTITUDES >> TRAVEL LIFESTYLE

TR AVELOSOPHY

A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE VALUE OF TOURISM

Making Travel a Lifestyle W R I T T E N B Y K A I T L I N A P P L E G AT E | P H O T OG R A P H Y B Y C L A R E M C G R A N E

According to World Atlas, the earth’s circumference clocks in just shy of 25,000 miles, and 193 countries inhabit its vast surface, each one unique.

Clare McGrane learned to appreciate this unique cultural diversity firsthand when she and her family moved from America to Uruguay when she was only 15 years old.

This drastic change in lifestyle was especially jarring to her since prior to the move she had not “even switched houses,” she said in a recent phone interview.

Since Spanish is the native language in Uruguay, Clare found 86 |

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it difficult adjusting to a culture that didn’t speak English, making the transition extremely challenging.

However, Clare, now 18 and a senior in high school, reflects on her time living in Uruguay as a positive experience. As a result of the move, she said, “there’s not really a place that I can call my home.” Instead of one stationary location, Clare has found her sense of home in travel.

“Traveling is very calming and homey,” she said, describing her passion for adventure.

While Clare’s initial thirst for travel is difficult to pinpoint, she said, “I feel like I’ve always loved it.” Her first travel adventure happened when she was very young. In fact, it took place before Clare ever moved away from the U.S.A., when she traveled to Taiwan in 2006. On that trip, she celebrated her 8th birthday.

It is likely that Clare’s experience in Taiwan is the reason she is most interested in Asian culture. To this day, she finds herself fascinated with the difference between American and Asian cultures.

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Clare and Carly enjoying Europe’s scenery and attractions.

For instance, Clare finds it intriguing that in Asian culture tactile greetings like hugging or kissing a friend on the cheek is considered strange, while these customs are commonplace in America. The variety in interpersonal communication, food and tradition in Asian communities has given Clare an appreciation for national individuality.

Clare’s cultural curiosity grew. In addition to Taiwan, she has now traveled to China, Barcelona, Brazil, Italy, England, and more. At only 18 years of age, Clare is more traveled than the average adult, let alone teenager. She considers herself very “blessed” to have had the opportunity to travel so frequently at a young age.

Additionally, Clare said, “traveling makes you appreciate more.” This happens in two ways. First, traveling makes a person appreciate one’s hometown more. For instance, when Clare moved back to America after living in Uruguay, she had a greater gratitude for America’s economy, since there are so many more people living in poverty in Uruguay, she said.

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Traveling can also help a person appreciate the world’s global beauty.

“There’re views there that you don’t normally see every day,” she said of her trip to Italy.

So, by venturing to Italy for herself, Clare was able to experience beauty in person instead of merely seeing a small glimpse in photos. Overall, Clare believes that being able to travel well (meeting new friends) and travel often has helped her mature into the young adult she is today.

More recently, Clare’s travel adventures landed her in Barcelona, Amsterdam, England and Ireland, all in less than three weeks. She left for the Orlando Airport on September 17th, 2016, and flew home from Ireland on January 2nd, 2017, which means Clare celebrated two major holidays away from home.

During her trip, her 21-year-old sister, Carly, accompanied her.

Carly said her experience in Europe “has really helped me grow as a person,” a sentiment that echo’s her sister’s love for travel.

Together, the two ‘couch surfed’ their way across four different

countries. Clare said couch surfing is free.

Essentially, couch surfing is like a makeshift hotel. People who have free space create an online profile using couchsurfing.com, so prospective travelers will have an idea of who they will be staying with before they confirm arrangements. Clare said the process is “relatively safe” as past travelers can also review potential hosts.

However, for added safety Clare recommends traveling with someone as opposed to independent exploration. For those who want to travel but don’t have much disposable income, Clare recommends visiting Europe, as flights are available for low rates.

The reasonable travel cost of her trip allowed her to experience a vast array of landscapes in a short amount of time. If she had to summarize her excursion in one word, she would say beautiful. During her travels she visited a quiet, but “really pretty” town in England, the historic Stonehenge, and the breathtaking Irish Cliffs of Moher.

Clare said that the green enveloped ledges in Ireland “are very awe inspiring.”

In addition to the scenery in these countries, Clare also values the relationships she forged during her trip as well. Clare and her sister spent early New Year’s Day in a bar listening to live music, and while there, she met a young lady who attends Ohio State University, where Clare hopes to attend after graduation. Her encounter with the Ohio alumnus was one of several connections Clare made as she recounted various interactions with others, including everything from lodging with a man originally from Syria, to enjoying conversations about the differences in American and English cultures with a group of guys from a local pub in England. When describing her friends at the pub, Clare said, “They’re kind of posh, but they don’t want to admit that they’re posh.” Nonetheless, Clare still remains in contact with several of the friends she made on her most recent trip, including her posh English mates.

For the McGrane sisters, travel is a way of life. Clare McGrane in particular has benefitted greatly from experiencing cultures different from her own. With such a passion for world travel, Clare’s amazing story dictates it’s only a matter of time before she finds herself asking, “Where to next?”

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TRAVEL >> PILGRIMAGE ROUTES

JOURNEYMAN

Is It Simply Adventure Travel, A Spiritual Quest …

Or Both?

S TORY A ND PHOTOG R A PHY

BY RICK SA PP

P

ilgrimage. Such a Medieval concept. Imagine trucking along day after day with Geoffrey Chaucer’s characters from “The Canterbury Tales.”

They are walking to Canterbury, England, to pray at the tomb of Thomas Becket, St. Thomas, the Archbishop murdered in 1170 on instructions from Henry II. The brash, but hilarious miller. The sensuous wife of Bath who wears scarlet stockings.

The discreet pardoner and the infected summoner. The coy prioress. The aloof knight.

Chaucer assembled his pilgrim tales 600 years ago, but one can still make this journey, this pilgrimage. In fact, the world abounds in such adventures and one of these, variously called The Way of St. James or Camino Santiago, now hosts a quarter-million people every year.

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The iconic image of medieval pilgrims cut in iron at Alto De Perdon west of and overlooking Pamplona, Spain. The inscription reads, “Where the way of the wind meets that of the stars.”

The Way The Way of St. James is a long hike, a trek, a pilgrimage. A thousand years ago, it began wherever a restless Catholic penitent lived, and ended on the stone steps of the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela in the proto-Celtic province of Galicia in northwest Spain. The cathedral is a massive church whose groundbreaking in 1060 pre-dated the Norman invasion of England by six years.

According to myth and custom, if not fact, the bones of Saint James, one of Jesus’ Apostles, repose in the cathedral’s crypt.

While those holy relics were important to the medieval world, such inducements may be irrelevant to modern pilgrims.

Today, the Way or the Camino, is a vast trail system that may begin in Ireland or Poland or southern Spain. For a century, however, the usual Camino (in Spanish a path or journey) has begun in a picturesque town in southern France, St. Jean Pied de Port. Here begins the Camino Francès, the “French Way,” MARCH/APRIL 2017

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Orisson is a typical albergue about seven miles into the hills south of France. It offers a dormitory and a meal to jet-lagged pilgrims surprised by the steep climb, pilgrims who will soon become acclimated to walking 10 to 15 miles each day with their pack.

The Camino Francès, the “French Way,” from St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago is variously marked with the yellow-on-blue scallop shell pilgrim symbol of St. James and characteristic yellow arrows (above) indicating the proper direction as trails and roads divide.

While the Camino Francès (solid pink line) is by far the most popular pilgrimage route through Western Europe, it is only a segment of many intricate pilgrimage routes.

Napoleon’s route over the Pyrenees, now a UNESCO World Heritage Trail. Begin a trek at the pilgrimage office in St. Jean and in only 770 kilometers (478 miles), one arrives in Santiago.

On foot and carrying a pack, which is the customary method of pilgrimage, travelers need a month and a week.

For most, it is difficult to take 30 to 40 days away from home, from work, from family. Thus, many pilgrims accomplish their walk from St. Jean or Lisbon (the Caminho Portugués), from Seville (the Via de la Plata) or Paris (Le Chemin de St. Jacques) or even Budapest in stages. A week or two a year, perhaps from St. Jean through Pamplona (avoiding early July when a million visitors arrive for the running of the bulls) to the university city 92 |

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of Logroño, or from old Granada, capital of Moorish Andalusia, northward to Córdoba.

Calling the Camino a “pilgrimage” implies a continuing religious or spiritual aspect to these ancient trails. Even today pilgrims on the journey earnestly discuss the meaning of the Camino experience. Life-changing experiences, new friends, partnerships are forged on the trail. Yet a spiritual goal is no longer necessary to experience the Camino. Each pilgrim seems to have a personal reason for testing body and mind on a 500-mile walk … and only a minority express an overt spiritual search.

Indeed, many hikers along the Way simply suggest they are open to any teaching or experience the journey affords. One hears “the MAP: COURTESY MANFRED ZENTGRAF, GERMANY.

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Camino will provide.” It is a unique expression of faith and optimism; that completing the pilgrimage will somehow, in its own time and space, provide life-affirming answers.

At its heart the Camino is a fabulous hike, a physical and mental challenge.

From St. Jean one walks up and over the Pyrenees, a strenuous climb though less like the Rockies than the Appalachians.

On the central section, called the meseta (plateau), the Way winds through endless farmland — flat and rich with sunflowers, corn, flies and the smell of manure. Then come the vineyards — Spain’s luscious Rioja wines west of Pamplona and the suspicious reds of Galicia. Check into a hotel or casa rural (a licensed private residence; a bed and breakfast inn) at the end of a long day — one typically walks 10 to 15 miles a day — and the innkeeper may hand over the key and a bottle of vino de mesa or table wine.

There is no “best” season for walking the Camino. In summer, expect heat and crowds, especially on the popular Camino Francès; rain is a fact of life and northern Spain receives its share of snow and ice. In cruel winter months, trails over the Pyrenees are closed as a number of deaths have occurred there when pilgrims, unfamiliar with the landscape and caught in fog or snow, have lost their way.

Today’s Camino wanders over multiple mountain ranges, bridges built by the Romans, beneath the ruins of Gothic castles, alongside modern roadways, and through cities ancient and modern. Giant stone cathedrals compete with fast food restaurants, glitzy hotels, and taverns selling an array of delicious and — outside the tourist zones — inexpensive tapas (appetizers).

Because pilgrimage, whatever the town or country of origin, has been a human passion for a thousand years — or perhaps more — Camino trails have variously been re-routed to fit the era and the technology.

Consequently, although much is gravel or mud now and then, some sections are paved.

Stairs are frequent, as are cyclists, for there are as many ways to accomplish the Camino as there are dreams of insight and prevailing in a great personal challenge. At times one encounters horsemen and indeed, can rent a horse for a section such as the long uphill climb from Las Herrerías to O’Cebreiro on the Camino Francès (about 30€).

TRAVEL >> PILGRIMAGE ROUTES

The brass boot sculpture affixed to the rock beside the Finisterre lighthouse symbolizes the millions of pilgrims who have made the journey.

Delightful by day, the Pyrenees (above) walk was spectacular on a clear night with a full moon. Wild horses roam the landscape and in the first light of day, clouds nestle in the valleys like soft blankets over sleeping children.

The trail is often rough and mountainous, sometimes paved with almost unimaginably difficult stairs. Not for the weak of heart … or soul. Pilgrims walking or biking to Santiago de Compostela will also pass over roads and bridges standing since the time of the Roman conquest 2,000 years ago.

My Camino I have not said everything about the Camino. Pilgrimage defies brief testimony. I hiked over the Pyrenees on a night so clear and cold that the full moon froze in my heart. I slept on bunk beds in pilgrim dormitories (hostels or albergues) with dozens of snoring, belching men and women from 27 nations. Privacy is a commodity on the Camino. In an albergue one showers in a stall adjacent to the opposite sex. The pilgrim standard is “eye privacy.”

On the Camino, those 12-to-15-mile days — through urban

industrial zones, over green hills and deep in eucalyptus forests — feel endless, but you are never entirely alone. Walking alone was my way, but the way is long and the day is short, beginning before 8:00 am and ending when you drop your pack by 3:00 or 4:00 pm. Then you are joined by those who began when you set out, whom you met at a café for coffee, and so you enjoy a moving brotherhood or sisterhood of familiar faces and stories.

It’s communion, a purposeful if makeshift community, and this relieves the occasional boredom and blisters.

Just as there is no ideal time or season for a Camino, there is no ideal age for this pilgrimage. I met a young fisherman from MARCH/APRIL 2017

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A typical pilgrim meal at an albergue features chicken and potatoes with a thin soup … and a pitcher of red wine. Pilgrims introduce themselves in their own language or in halting Spanish. This Danish mother chose to sing, and thrilled the dozen of nationalities represented.

A lone American pilgrim (the author’s wife, Delaine, pictured below) walks toward Cee and the ocean. The Camino is challenging: at times tedious; at times arduous. This hiker said she often did not believe she could take another step, but she found the strength and the determination.

“The Camino provides,” she said.

Standing before the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, the author (right) savors the completion of the 500-mile journey from St. Jean Pied de Port in France.

California and his wife; an obese accountant from Missouri; a diminutive priest from Chicago, and dozens more. Students from Sweden and Korea; a long-distance hiker from Denmark traveling with her son; a German “between jobs;” a singing Italian who chose to not carry his pack, instead pulling it in a small two-wheel wagon.

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carefully chosen backpack and sturdy, comfortable shoes. I limited my pack to essentials, about 13 pounds, including a bottle of water, but met hikers who carried much more. (Rosa from Arizona carried her husbands’ ashes.) Pare down. No jeans; no sleeping bags. If you don’t need something, don’t take it; two pair of light, quick dry clothes; a nightlight and toothbrush; a towel and sleep sack sprayed with Permethrine (there’s much

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COUNTRY RIVERS REALTY, LLC 7699 SW US 27, FORT WHITE, FL 32038 • CRR@COUNTRYRIVERS.COM

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talk but little actual incidence of bed bugs).

Many online Camino forums fuss endlessly about equipment, the right clothes, the best boots, poles or no poles. But people hike in sandals — others in mountain boots. Rinse shirts or underwear in the sink every night.

Take little — enjoy much.

You may spend nights in a municipal hostel — an albergue — which features a community meal where pilgrims from around the world sing or tell stories. Most languages will be indecipherable (I speak no Korean or Dutch), but Spanish is common and English the unofficial second language, and everyone eventually makes themselves understood, usually with a smile. When you tire of snoring and water on the bathroom floor, a private room in a casa rural or even a luxury hotel is frequently available.

Conscious of the economic and public relations impact of the various Caminos, and a quarter-million visitors a year, Spain makes the experience safe and affordable.

My 40-day trek — with my wife, I walked an extra 60 km from Santiago to Finisterre on the Atlantic Coast — cost less than $50 a day, not counting airline tickets. (I occasionally slept in an albergue but most often in a private or semi-private room.)

My pilgrimage months were mid-September to early November. The weather was agreeable. The grape harvest in full swing. The number of fellow travelers was manageable for someone who prefers to walk alone. Although the Way meanders through cities and farms, over mountains and through forests, the route is indicated (not perfectly, but well-enough) with many styles of marker including omni-present yellow arrows pointing to journey’s end.

Today, I recall the people more than the scenery or the inexpensive tapas and wine.

The ancient woman who kissed me on the cheek in a tiny village in Palencia. The expatriate German who shouted from his window and ran outside to tell me I was going the wrong way. The chef at Hotel David in Cee who cheerfully prepared a typical Galician meal for his only customers, my wife and me. The farmer who explained the many uses for collard greens. The Korean hiker from Anyang with whom I shared coffee and a laugh.

Chaucer would be proud.

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

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

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

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

SunState Community Foundation, Inc.

SPONSORSHIP L EVEL S AVAIL ABL E $

1,000 CHARITY OF THE MONTH SPONSOR

$

•

Recognized on all 4 Entercom Communication stations, 30 times (120 total); KTK, SKY, WRUF and ESPN.

•

Recognized on the Charity of the Month Facebook Contest page, KTK’s Facebook page and Our Town’s Facebook page.

•

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

•

•

•

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500 RANDOM CHARITY SPONSOR Recognized on 2 of Entercom Communications stations, 30 times (60 total); WRUF and ESPN Recognized on the Charity of the Month Facebook Contest page, KTK’s Facebook page and Our Town’s Facebook page.

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

$

300 NOMINATOR SPONSOR

•

Recognized on the Charity of the Month Facebook Contest page, KTK’s Facebook page and Our Town’s Facebook page.

•

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

$

100 RANDOM VOTER SPONSOR

•

Recognized on the Charity of the Month Facebook Contest page.

•

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

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

www.facebook.com/SunStateFCU and click on “Charity of the Month”

DECEMBER WINNER - 3,919 VOTES

JANUARY WINNER - 3,166 VOTES

Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses

Beauty’s Haven Farm and Equine Rescue

Magic the miniature horse has done it again.

Magic is part of a larger organization, Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses, which has won $1,000 in the SunState Federal Credit Union’s Charity of the Month contest. Gentle Carousel consists of a team of 27 miniature horses — all therapy animals that visit hospitals, hospices, assisted living programs and disaster relief areas. Whether visiting young children touched with illness or communities faced with disaster, Gentle Carousel’s miniature horses bring larger-than-life joy to everyone they meet.

The registered nonprofit was founded by Debbie Garcia-Bengochea and her husband Jorge. Debbie Garcia will win $300 for nominating them. The random charity is ‘Canes On Da Mic Poetry Club, which will receive $500.

The random voter and $100 winner is Elena Tepperman.

Theresa Batchelor had a dream that has, over the years, become a reality — to help horses in need. The majority of horses that enter through the gates of Beauty’s Haven are considered to be too ‘far gone,’ requiring costly and time-consuming rehabilitation. The philosophy of Beauty’s Haven centers upon the belief that each and every horse deserves a second chance at life.

Their mission is to save, protect, rehabilitate and train equines in need, regardless of breed. They rescue abused, neglected and abandoned horses and provide them with care, rehabilitation and training with the goal of placing each in compatible, loving homes. Education is the long-term solution in improving the lives of horses.

Beauty’s Haven has quickly become a highly renowned and respected equine rescue facility with supporters from around the world.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS >> CHARITY OF THE MONTH

CH A RIT Y OF THE MONTH WINNER S

A project of the SunState Community Foundation, Inc. Presented by SunState Federal Credit Union, Our Town Family of Magazines and Entercom Communications

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Bangkok Square 6500 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville Lunch: Monday-Friday 11:00am-3:00pm • Saturday-Sunday 12:00pm-3:00pm Dinner: Sunday-Thursday 5:00pm-9:30pm • Friday-Saturday 5:00pm-10:00pm

352-375-4488 www.bangkoksquarefl.com Authentic Thai Cuisine — Thai cuisine, blending the best elements of the freshest foods. Thai herbs; garlic, basil, ginger, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal root, chili and more, prepared with the finest blending of fish sauce, shrimp paste, and coconut milk. All of our meals are made to order and prepared on site. We specialize in vegetarian, vegan and gluten free orders. All of our foods can be prepared to your satisfaction with mild, medium, hot, or Thai hot, balanced to the four tastes: sweet, sour, salty, and slightly bitter. Meals can be prepared for take out and we cater to any event. We also have gift cards available. Save 10% off your next dining experience when a gift card is purchased.

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

386-462-3000 brownscountrybuffet.net Casual — Country-style cooking at its finest, just like Grandma’s house! A buffet style restaurant, Brown’s Country Buffet is open seven days a week! Foods like fried chicken, grilled pork chops, real mashed potatoes, steamed cabbage, banana pudding and coconut pie, just to name a few, are served in a laid-back, relaxing environment. We offer AYCE fried shrimp on Friday nights from 4-8 along with whole catfish & ribs. In addition to their buffet, Brown’s also offers a full menu to choose from. Serving lunch and dinner daily and a breakfast buffet Friday-Sunday until 10:30am, you’re sure to leave satisfied, no matter when you go. So, when you’re in the mood for some good home cooking, Grandma’s style, visit Brown’s Country Buffet.

Adam’s Rib Co. 2109 NW 13th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32609 1515 SW 13th Street Gainesville, Florida 32608 Monday-Saturday 7:00am – 9:00pm Closed Sunday

352-373-8882 NW 352-727-4005 SW AdamsRibCo.com BBQ — Celebrating our 10 year Anniversary. Looking for the best BBQ in Gainesville?

Then look no further than Adam’s Rib Co. Adam’s is North Florida’s Premier Barbecue restaurant, serving North Florida’s finest bbq spare ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, slow smoked chicken and turkey. Choose from over 20 sauces – from honey sweet to habanero hot – and everything in between. Don’t forget dessert, like our scrumptious banana pudding and famous peach cobbler. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Adam’s can cater any event locally. Give Adam a call for your next tailgate party 352-514-8692!

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Copper Monkey West 14209 W Newberry Road, Jonesville, FL 32669 Across from the Steeplechase Publix Sunday-Thursday 11:00am - 11:00pm Friday-Saturday 11:00am - 12:00am

352-363-6338 mycoppermonkey.com Restaurant & Pub — Now serving Breakfast on Saturdays & Sundays 8:30am - 10:45am. We are located in the heart of Jonesville, this All-American dining is convenient to all neighborhoods in Gainesville, Alachua, Newberry, High Springs and beyond. Our family-friendly dining features great food at a great price. Whether you come in for the “best burger in town” or try any one of our freshly made salads, pastas or sandwiches, you will not leave disappointed. Our USDA choice steaks, served with 2 sides, offer a great alternative for the perfect celebratory meal. We also feature a full-service bar with signature drinks and many options for your viewing pleasure.

Great food, great price, we’ll see you soon.

Backstreet Blues Chop House & Oyster Bar 6500 SW Archer Rd , Gainesville fl 32608 Monday Closed • Tuesday - Saturday 4:00pm – 10:00pm Dinner Sunday - 10:00am – 8:00pm

352-363-6792 backstreetblueschophouse.com Wood & Charcoal Grilled — At Backstreet Blues Chophouse we offer the finest dry aged Linz beef, fresh Gulf Seafood and Oysters delivered everyday. Come try our signature steak the “Tomahawk Ribeye” or our Oysters Rockefeller. We have a large selection of unique appetizers and wines from all over the world. Full bar with Specialty whiskeys and bourbons. We also offer a private dining room that seats up to 30 for private dinners or tastings. We have a large covered patio area as well. Its an experience you can have everyday! Half price oysters on Tuesdays at the bar. Tuesday and Wednesday we have live music.

Bev’s Burger Café 315 NE Santa Fe Blvd. • High Springs Monday - Saturday 7am-9pm

386-454-9434 Casual — If you’re looking for fresh, homemade food in High Springs, look no further than Bev’s Burger Cafe. Known for the best burgers in town and fast, friendly service you’re sure to leave satisfied. You may also want to try one of their BBQ dinner favorites such as sliced pork, smoked turkey, BBQ chicken, baby back ribs, and more. Stop on by with the kids on Monday nights for some magic & balloon animals with Magic Mike.

Every Tuesday pork sandwiches are $3.00 all day. Also, on Wednesday nights starting at 5pm sodas and their famous tea are only $1.00, and bottled beer only $1.50. Don’t forget Bev’s is open for breakfast, also, served from 7am to 10:45am. Come check out our newly renovated kitchen & dining room, and our new menu items including fried chicken!

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Fiore’s Sweet Cup 2835 SW 91st st. ( Haile Market Square ) Monday - Wednesday 7:00am – 7:00pm • Thursday - Saturday 7:00am – 9:00pm Sunday 9:00am – 7:00pm

352-505-1979 Coffee, tea, frozen yogurt and more — Fiore’s Sweet Cup is a welcoming spot to relax in a comfortable atmosphere. Enjoy free wifi while you enjoy your favorite beverage or yogurt. Fiore’s uses certified organic coffee from Sweetwater coffee in their espresso, brewed coffee, and sell by the bag. They also offer a delicious assortment of fresh bakery items. Be sure to check out the tea tasting station from Tea Forte. If you are looking for frozen yogurt, gelato or sorbet, Fiore’s has 18 flavors with all your favorite toppings! You can always count on Paul and his staff to deliver your cup of java and froyo with pride.

Pepperoni’s 19975 NW 244 Street, High Springs Mon -Thurs 11:00am — 9:00pm • Fri & Sat 11:00am — 10:00pm Sunday 12:00pm — 9:00pm

386-454-3858 Pizzeria — Since its establishment in 2000, Pepperoni’s Pizzeria has been serving up some of the best pizzas, calzones, entrees, wings, boneless wings and salads town using Grande brand premium mozzarella and other top ingredients. We also have great lunch specials starting at only $4.99. All of our specialty pizzas are loaded with toppings.

Pepperonis is locally owned and operated and is proud to serve the High Springs Community and surrounding areas. We are located on U.S. Highway 441.

El Patio 60 N Main Street, High Springs • 16135 NW US 441 Unit 10, Alachua Mon-Thurs & Sun 11am-10pm Fri & Sat 11am-10:30pm

386-454-1330 Mexican — El Patio’s second location is now open in Alachua. Family owned and operated serving authentic Mexican cuisine including: fajitas, burritos, quesadillas and enchiladas, and much much more. Kids menu also available. We have large screen TVs perfect for game day, a private party room for your special celebrations, and outdoor seating available on our nice patio. Live Mariachi band every Wednesday from 5pm8:30pm at the High Springs location. Also, don’t forget, we offer a full bar with happy hour everyday from 2pm-6pm including $1.99 domestic beers and $3.99 16oz lime margaritas.

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Mark’s Prime Steakhouse & Seafood 201 SE 2nd Avenue, Gainesville, FL (Historic Downtown) Monday: 5:00pm - 9:00pm • Tues-Sat: 5:00pm to 10:00pm Happy Hour: 5:00pm - 7:00pm

352-336-0077 marksprimesteakhouse.com Steak & Seafood — Mark’s Prime Steakhouse and Seafood has a goal to create a unique dining experience that will please the palate and soothe the soul. We serve the finest beef, the freshest seafood, and naturally fresh vegetables. Recipient of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence 2004-2011. Join us for Primetime Happy Hour featuring drink and appetizer specials Monday thru Saturday 5-7 pm. We are pleased to feature our full service, private dining facilities. It would be our pleasure to help plan your next reception, banquet, business meeting, or social gathering. Complimentary valet service.

Gators Den Sports Grill 4200 NW 97th Blvd Gainesville, FL 32606 Sunday -Thursday 5:00pm — 10:00pm Friday & Saturday 5:00pm — 12 :00am

352-331-4875 Gatorsdensportsgrill.com Bar & Grill— Offering a full bar, fantastic food and flat screen televisions to watch the big game. The Gators Den Sports Grill is the best spot to unwind, meet up and grab a bite to eat. Gators Den Sports Grill has your front row seat to every game. Besides showing all of the televised University of Florida football games, we also feature NFL Ticket, NBA League Pass and MLB Extra Innings, so you can root on your favorite team. You may come for the game, but you’ll stay for the food! Featuring a large selection of American favorites. Why not try a Southern staple, like our award-winning Mac and Cheese, Fried Pickles, Down Home Meatloaf. Enjoy game-day classics like Buffalo Wings, All-American Burgers or one of our Knockout Premium Steaks, cooked to perfection.

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

352-333-0291 www.DavesNYDeli.com Authentic NY deli — The Reviews are in and here’s what customers are saying about Dave’s NY Deli Tioga Town Center! “Best Reuben, Best Pastrami, Best Philly, and Best Wings” Dave’s continues to be the place to go for authentic NY Deli food and Philly Cheesesteaks. Owner Dave Anders says “Nothing beats quality ingredients combined with a friendly staff. Dave serves New York size Pastrami and Corned Beef sandwiches, Cheesecake from New York, Nathan’s Hot Dogs, NY Kettle Boiled Bagels, Nova Salmon, Knish, Cannolies, Philly Cheesesteaks, Wings, Cubans, Subs, Kids Menu and more.” Come out and enjoy Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at Dave’s NY Deli.

Now serving beer and wine.

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Pomodoro Café 9200 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32606 Monday - Saturday 11am - 10pm Sunday 11am - 9pm

352-380-9886 pomodorocafe.com Italian — Step away from the hustle and bustle of Gainesville and enjoy a quiet, relaxing evening in the Italian countryside at Pomodoro Café. Just off I-75 via exit 390, Pomodoro’s is the perfect spot for a romantic evening or a simple night out with family.

We’ll pour you a glass of wine and prepare for you a delicious, authentic Italian meal, such as Chicken Parmigiana, Shrimp Fra Diavolo, and Gnocchi Madiera. Our pasta is imported from Italy and has been voted some of the best in Gainesville. As the sounds, aromas, and tastes of wholesome, authentic Italian swirl around you, you’ll believe you’re actually in Italy!

Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza (Archer Road) 5757 SW 75th St. — 352-371-8646 • (Millhopper Road) 5200 NW 43rd St. — 352-371-7437 (University) 1250 W University Ave. — 352-375-2337 • (Grand Oaks Plaza) 2575 SW 42nd St. Ocala — 352-351-6000

Mon-Thurs: 11am-10pm Fri-Sat: 11am-11pm Sun: 11am-10pm

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

Flying Biscuit Café 4150 NW 16th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32605 Located in the Fresh Market Center Monday-Friday 7:00am – 3:00pm • Saturday-Sunday 7:00am – 4:00pm

352-373-9500 www.flyingbiscuit.com Breakfast — The Flying Biscuit is out to reinvent breakfast in Gainesville! Maybe you’ve tried their soon-to-be-famous creamy, dreamy grits or their “moon dusted” breakfast potatoes, but did you know you can have them at anytime? With a unique open menu, all the items that appear are available throughout the day. With a variety of healthy and hearty dishes, The Flying Biscuit caters to a variety of tastes. With options ranging from the Smoked Salmon Scramble, the Bacon Cheddar Chicken Sandwich or the Tofu and Tater Salad, there’s something for everyone. Call us up to an hour before your expected arrival time to add your name to our call ahead seating list.

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Newberry’s Backyard BBQ 25405 West Newberry Road, Newberry Monday-Wednesday 11:00am – 9:00pm Thursday 11:00am – 9:00pm Friday and Saturday 11:00am – 11:00pm Sunday 10:30am – 3:00pm

352-472-7260 newberrybbq.com BBQ — The one and only Newberry’s Backyard BBQ is located in our historic building in beautiful downtown Newberry. Our pork, chicken, beef, and turkey is smoked to perfection daily. Our salads and sides are always fresh. If you are thirsty we have the best sweet tea in the South and a full bar as well. Make sure to bring your kids, we serve their meals on a frisbee that they take home. For your entertainment, we always have live music on Friday nights and Karaoke on Saturday evenings.

We now have an ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET Sunday - Friday 11am - 3pm

Mi Apá Latin Café Gainesville – 114 SW 34th Street (352-376-7020) Alachua – 15634 US Highway 441 (386-418-0838) Both locations open every day 7:00am - 10:00pm

MiApaLatinCafe.com Cuban — Everyone knows Mi Apá has an amazing lunch and dinner menu, but we also have Gainesville’s best cup of coffee and a delicious, authentic selection of Cuban breakfast items. Enjoy a Cuban egg sandwich, Arroz a la Cubana, a stuffed arepa, and much more at either of our two locations in Gainesville and Alachua. Mi Apá Latin Café serves traditional Cuban breakfast prepared using only the freshest, most authentic ingredients. Have a seat in our casual dining area and enjoy the morning newspaper or order carryout on your way to work. Our Gainesville location even has a convenient drive-thru window. The best Cuban food north of Miami is always just minutes away!

Napolatanos 606 NW 75th Street Gainesville, FL Tuesday - Thursday & Sunday 4:00pm-10:00pm Friday 4:00pm-1:00am • Saturday 4:00pm-11:00pm

352-332-6671 www.napolatanos.com ITALIAN — Napolatanos is the longest original owner operated restaurant in Gainesville. Nappys, the name the locals have given Napolatanos has the most extensive menu.

Whether you choose pizza, calzones, salad, burgers, sandwiches, pasta, seafood, steak dinners or the best chicken wings in town, Nappy’s uses only the freshest ingredients.

Visit on Tuesday for half price appetizers. Burgers & Brew Night on Wednesday and live music inside. Thursday is Pub night with Better than England’s Fish & Chips $7. Outside dining with live music, on the patio, on Sunday evenings. GRAB & GO family dinners feeds 4-6 adults, starting at $25.95. Choose from Ziti, Lasagna, Chicken Alfredo, Chicken Marsala and more!

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World of Beer 140 SW 128th Street • Tioga Town Center, Jonesville 32669 3265 SW 34th Street • Gainesville, Florida 32608 Open at 11am Everyday

352-727-4714 (Tioga) 352-559-8775 (Gville) worldofbeer.com TAVERN FARE — At World of Beer, we have 40 craft beers on tap, over 500 in the cooler and now we have added a tasty tavern fare that’s crafted to go perfectly with any beer. Our menu offers a wide variety of choices including a giant pretzel with beer cheese dip, artisan sausage boards, flat breads, innovative sandwiches and burgers, soups, salads and so much more! Visit our web site for a full menu and event schedule.

Whether you’re a beer master or just beer curious, our insanely knowledgeable staff is here to guide you through every last pint, pour, and pairing. So c’mon. Let’s go. Because there’s no better place to go around the world, one sip at a time.

The Flour Pot Cafe & Bakery 13005 SW 1st Rd, Suite 137 • Newberry, FL 32669 (Tioga Town Center) Monday - Saturday 7:00am – 4:00pm Closed Sunday

352-331-1771 www.TheFlourPotBakery.com Breakfast & Lunch — Artisan Breads & Savory Pastries – We offer European style breads freshly baked with no preservatives, unbleached flour & natural ingredients.

Breads with a great spring, texture and flavor. You can also select vegan and gluten free muffins, cookies and breads. If you have a sweet tooth you will find home made cookies including our sought after energy cookie. Our thoughtfully crafted celebration cakes and pies will be remembered by your guests. We have a variety of such breakfast and lunch choices as quiches, omelets, hot and cold sandwiches. There is something for everyone to love. We cater as well. The Flour Pot is under new ownership. Come and check our new look and style!

Tony & Al’s Restaurant & Bar 14960 Main Street, Alachua, Florida 32616 OPEN 7 DAYS Monday-Thursday 11:00am – 9:00pm Friday-Saturday 11:00am – 10:00pm Sunday 11:00am – 8:00pm

386-518-5552 Italian — Locally owned and operated, Tony & Al’s Deli provides the finest quality Italian entrees in a family friendly atmosphere. Whether it’s their delicious appetizers, pasta classics, specialty pizzas, salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers or prime rib, Tony & Al use only their freshest ingredients. Their sauces, dressings and specialty desserts including cannolis and tiramisu are all handcrafted. They serve daily lunch and dinner specials. Tony and Al offer a full bar with happy hour from 5pm-7pm including $1.00 off all drafts, wine and well drinks.

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Sweet Pea’s Diner 825 South Main Street, High Springs, Florida 32655 Monday - Saturday 7:00am - 3:00pm • Sunday 8:00am - 3:00pm Friday nights 4:00pm - 8:00pm

386-288-0859 • 386-292-3248 Diner — Sweet Pea’s Diner is now under new management! We are open for breakfast and lunch offering a menu with great selections and good prices. We are here for your dining pleasure, serving home cooked southern style meals and All-American favorites.

A few of our lunchtime favorites are the Louisiana fried, turkey BLT, wraps and burgers.

Not to mention our fresh salad bar. We also offer a daily special each day including chicken and dumplins, turkey and dressing and meatloaf. We serve breakfast all day!

Some of our popular breakfast items include omelets, biscuits and gravy, Nettles sausage and home fries. The children will love our kids menu. Indoor/outdoor seating and takeout available. Stop on by and let us do the cooking!

Smoke Fried 23352 W US Hwy 27, Suite 50, High Springs, FL 32643 Monday -Thursday 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM • Friday - 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Saturday 7:30 AM – 9:00 PM

386-454-7031 www.smokefried.com Casual — Offering traditional smokehouse flavors through a variety of BBQ favorites and dishes with a new spin, served in a casual setting with a large portion of friendly service. Getting home late, running from appointments to practice, just too exhausted to cook? We have the whole family covered with home style favorites or BBQ packs for dine in or carry out. In a hurry? Order online and zip by on your way from here to there. Half priced kid’s meals on Monday nights with the purchase of an adult meal.

Grab some friends and family and come try “The Lid,” our BBQ feast served on a garbage can lid for sharing. Now serving breakfast on Saturday morning.

Vegan 2Go 7625 W Newberry Rd Gainesville, FL. Mon thru Thursday 11am – 8 pm Fri and Sat. 11am-9pm • Sunday 12 pm – 7 pm

352-505-8894 Vegan2GoGainesville.com COOKING WITH LOVE — This vegetarian & vegan restaurant is based on the concept that people and animals can live in harmony through sustainable plant based solutions.

You can be sure that their ingredients are carefully selected from non-GMO, non-MSG, sea salt and organic products. The final result: something that’s delicious, tasty, healthy, and vegan! Their healthy barbeque skewers made from soy or the infamous vegan ginger onion chick’n, are sure to have you craving for more. If you want some bang for your buck, try one of the combos: your choice of noodles or rice with spring rolls, summer rolls, and either BBQ or vegan chicken. If you’re feeling a bit adventurous with your appetite, try making your own combo! Don’t forget the delicious, fragrant Thai Iced Tea!

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COMMU NIT Y C A LENDA R

M A RC H/A P R I L 2017

Spring Arts Festival

April 1 - 2 Save the weekend to explore one of Gainesville’s largest annual downtown events.

BECKY’S NEW CAR

BIRD WALK

ARTWALK GAINESVILLE

Through March 19

Wednesdays 8:30am

Last Friday 7:00pm - 10:00pm

GAINESVILLE - Sweetwater Wetlands Park, 325 SW Williston Rd. Birding field trips will be led by volunteers from Alachua Audubon Society.

Walks are free, but park admission is $5 per car. www.alachuaaudubon.org.

GAINESVILLE - Downtown. Artwalk is a free monthly self-guided tour that combines exciting visual art, live performance and events with many local galleries, eateries and businesses participating. www.artwalkgainesville.com.

GAINESVILLE - Hippodrome State Theatre, 25 SE 2nd Pl. Fasten your seatbelts for this laughout-loud comedy about escaping the middle age doldrums. 352-375-4477.

BULLA CUBANA Through March 31

GAINESVILLE - Santa Fe College Fine Arts Hall, 3000 NW 83rd St. Bulla Cubana, the first-ever Cuban arts and culture festival of its kind, will feature a dynamic and diverse line-up of more than 20 events, hosted by more than a dozen iconic Gainesville cultural institutions. Visit www. bullacubana.org or contact Randy Batista: 352375-1911; bullacubana@gmail.com.

RIVER OF DREAMS Through June 24

GAINESVILLE - The Matheson History Museum, 513 East University Ave. “River of Dreams: The St. Johns and Its Springs Exhibition” examines Floridians’ past, present and future relationship with the St. Johns River and its springs.

352-378-2280.

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GAINESVILLE HARMONY SHOW CHORUS Thursdays 7:00pm – 9:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Grace Presbyterian Church, 3146 NW 13th St. For all who are interested in learning and singing women’s Acapella barbershop harmony music. 352-318-1281.

TAP DANCE WITH CHAYA Tuesdays

GAINESVILLE - North Central Florida YMCA, Studio 2, 5201 NW 34th Blvd. Designed to demonstrate that creativity can be fun for everyone and make our community stronger and healthier! Open to the public, all are welcome.

6:00pm beginner and 7:00pm intermediate.

Class cards are 6/$74 or 10/$108. 352-358-5005.

LADY GAMERS Fridays 1:00pm

HIGH SPRINGS - New Century Woman’s Club, 40 NW 1st Ave. The Lady Gamers meet for fun, friendship and food. Everyone is invited. Meet old friends and make some new ones.

WINTER MARKET First Saturday 9:00am to 12:30pm

NEWBERRY - Munger Barn on Dudley Farm, 18730 West Newberry Rd. Baked goods, eggs, handmade crafts, jams and jellies, naturally-raised meats, pickles, winter vegetables and more. Subject to cancellation due to bad weather. 352-472-1142.

PHOTOGRAPHY: CHAD CORBETT

MUSIC IN THE PARK Third Sunday 2:00pm – 4:00pm

HIGH SPRINGS - 120 NW 2nd Ave. A free concert featuring artists from all over North Florida.

Performances take place at locations in and around the James Paul Park area.

VOICES RISING COMMUNITY CHORUS Sundays 6:00pm - 8:00pm

GAINESVILLE - Trinity United Methodist Church, 4000 NW 53rd Ave. An intergenerational chorus open to adults and youth age 10 and up. 352328-9922, www.vrccgainesville.org.

PLOWING UP THE PAST March 3 – 4

NEWBERRY - Dudley Farm Historic State Park, 18730 W. Newberry Rd. Come see how fields were plowed for the spring plantings using antique tractors and equipment in the 1930s and 1940s. Observe participants working the land.

Volunteers in period clothing will be demonstrating period crafts and interpreting the farm’s history. www.floridastateparks.org/park/Dudley-Farm.

FINE ARTS FAIR March 3 – 5

JONESVILLE - Tioga Town Center, 105 SW 128th St. The Gainesville Fine Arts Association is hosting its 10th annual Fine Arts Fair. Experience large public art sculptures, many talented artists and local favorites, live entertainment, local student art show in the “Kids Zone” and the Tioga Town Center merchants. www.gfaaartsfairtioga.org.

RUN AMUCK WITH THE DUCK Saturday, March 4 8:00am

GAINESVILLE - North Florida Regional Medical Center. Activities for everyone — food, music, entertainment, awards and more. Whether you want to walk, jog or run, whether you choose to participate as an individual or as part of a team, Your Next Step is the Cure for lung cancer! www. runamuck2017.yournextstepisthecure.org/Account/ Register.

THE WHO’S TOMMY Thru March 5

GAINESVILLE - Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, 619 S Main St. Based on the iconic 1969 rock concept album, The Who’s Tommy is an exhilarating story of hope, healing, and the human spirit. 352-234-6278.

Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast Saturday, March 18 7:30am - 11:00am GAINESVILLE - Gainesville High School, 1900 Northwest 13th St. Support your local Kiwanis club and enjoy a pancake breakfast at the high school cafeteria. Kiwanis members from the Gainesville club, UF Circle K and high school Key clubs will serve you pancakes, sausage, orange juice and coffee. Take-outs are available and the servings are generous and all proceeds benefit the local children’s needs. Kids under 6 with a parent eat free.

NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY Tuesday, March 7 7:00am – 10:00pm

GAINESVILLE - IHOP Restaurant, 3613 SW 13th St. This fundraiser will allow guests to enjoy a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes. In return, they will be encouraged to make a voluntary contribution to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, which helps improve the lives of children at the 170 network hospitals in the United States and Canada. All of the funds raised locally will benefit UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. 352-265-7276.

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Wednesday, March 8 11:00am - 1:00pm

GAINESVILLE - Wesley United Methodist Church, 826 NW 23rd Ave. The Gainesville Chapter of the DAR meets on the second Wednesday of the month through May. gainesvilleDAR@gmail.com.

CELTIC WOMAN: VOICES OF ANGELS Thursday, March 9 7:00pm

GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Rd. This year, Celtic Woman is celebrating 12 years of success, with over 10 million albums and 3 million tickets sold worldwide.

352-392-2787.

CCOA MEETING Friday, March 10 9:00am – 11:00am

GAINESVILLE - Senior Recreation Center, 5701 NW 34th St. This month’s speaker, Vicki Piazza, Director of Operations at Health Street, will discuss Health Street, what it is, and what it offers the community. The Community Coalition for Older Adults (CCOA) is committed to providing Gainesville and Alachua County elders respect and dignity. Meets second Friday each month.

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Kanapaha Spring Garden Festival March 18 - 19 9:00am – 5:00pm GAINESVILLE - Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th Dr. The event features about 175 booths offering plants, landscape displays, garden accessories, arts and crafts, educational exhibits, live music, a children’s area and, of course, food. Parking is free; shuttle buses service two off-site parking areas. 352-372-4981.

RUN FOR HAVEN Saturday, March 11 4:30pm

JONESVILLE - The Tioga Town Center, 105 SW 128th St. Run consists of a 5K and 10K. Following the run will be fun, food and entertainment!

Proceeds from this event ensure that individuals and families in Alachua County and the surrounding communities continue to have quality, compassionate hospice care. Email Kristen Campomizzi at HavenEvents@HavenHospice.org or call 352-271-4665.

AUTHOR SERIES: ANN HOOD Sunday, March 12 2:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Headquarters Library, 401 E. University Ave. The 2017 Author Series at Headquarters Library features authors who will speak, answer questions, and sign their books.

Ann Hood is the author 19 books including novels, nonfiction, young adult and a short story collection. Her latest novel is “The Book That Matters Most.” 352-334-3939.

GATOR GOBBLERS HUNTING HERITAGE BANQUET Wednesday, March 15 5:30pm

ALACHUA - Rembert’s Rock Hollow Farm, 13014 NW 174th Ave. Hosted by the Gator Gobblers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey

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Federation, the Banquet raises funds for wild turkey conservation while combining a great meal with a chance to swap stories with other sportsmen and women. Place the highest bid or win raffle games and go home with sporting art, unique hunting firearms, knives, wildlife calls, and more. Dinner at 7:00pm followed by a live auction. $65 Adults, $35 (17 and under), $300 sponsor, $800 sponsor table (8 seats).

Bottomless cup included with all adult tickets.

352-316-0073 or GatorGobblers.NWTF@gmail. com. NWTFgatorgobbler.com.

PAUL RAMIREZ JONAS Thursday, March 16 6:00pm - 8:00pm

GAINESVILLE - UF Fine Arts Building B ROOM #103. The School of Art and Art History at the University of Florida and the UF Sculpture Club present visiting artist Paul Ramirez Jonas.

The lecture series is free and open to the public. The lectures offer the community at large an important opportunity for dialogue about contemporary art and culture in relation to national and international trends. Free.

352-392-0207.

FIREBIRD Friday, March 17 7:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Rd. Dance Alive National Ballet brings the season to a close. The sounds of Russian folk melodies stream through the exotic tale of Gerard

Ebitz’ “The Firebird,” which George Balanchine’s masterpiece “Apollo” brings the art of dance to the highest level of beauty. Completing the evening, guest choreographer Brazilian Cristina Helena provokes and enchants as the DANB dancers display their grace and athletic prowess.

352-392-2787.

HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS March 17 – April 9 Times Vary

GAINESVILLE - The Vam York Theater, 4039 NW 16th Blvd. J. Pierpont Finch is a lowly window cleaner with dreams of making it big in the business world. After finding a copy of the book “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” Finch decides to apply the tactics in the book to his own life. 352-376-4949.

TENNESSEE WILLIAMS March 17 - 26 Times Vary

GAINESVILLE - McGuire Pavilion Black Box Theatre, 1800 McCarty Dr. “Pity for the Wild: Three Grotesques by Tennessee Williams” features three lesser-known works by a playwright often considered one of America’s finest. “A Chalky White Substance,” “Something Unspoken” and “The Gnädiges Fräulein” reintroduce audiences to Williams as a playwright of the grotesque, where unforgettable characters struggle for equilibrium in worlds interdependent of horror and laughter. 352-392-3261.

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ROYAL SCOTTISH NATIONAL ORCHESTRA

March 29 - April 2

Sunday, March 19

Times Vary

7:30pm

GAINESVILLE - G-6 McGuire Pavilion, 1800 McCarty Dr. More experimental than its fall counterpart, the Spring BFA Dance Showcase highlights culminating compositions by UF senior dancers. Always bold, always fresh, this showcase offers the finest from the next generation of dance artists. www.arts.ufl.edu.

GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Rd. This is an opportunity to hear Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony performed live by an orchestra with a history that spans more than a century. 352-392-2787.

BOOK LAUNCH

DANCE SHOWCASE

Sunday, March 19 2:00pm

GAINESVILLE - Matheson Museum, 513 East University Ave. Dr. Jack E. Davis’s new book “The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea” with a book signing following his presentation. www.MathesonMuseum.org; 352-378-2280.

CROSS CREEK COOKERY AND STORIES Saturday, March 25 11:00am – Noon

GAINESVILLE - Millhopper Branch, 3145 NW 43rd St. Valerie Rivers, Park Manager at the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, will share stories, recipes and marmalade samples from Cross Creek’s famous author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. Learn about the foods that were part of Florida cuisine and her citrus grove, farmyard and garden. 352-334-1272.

MARJORIE KINNAN RAWLINGS’ LIFE AND WRITINGS Wednesday, March 29 5:30pm - 7:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Headquarters, 401 E. University Ave. Valerie Rivers, Park Manager at the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, will lead a discussion about Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ writings. 352-334-3900.

MOMIX: OPUS CACTUS Wednesday, March 29 7:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Rd. Opus Cactus is a dramatic and eye-catching ode to the American Southwest. It is also a showcase of the daring and cutting-edge work for which Momix has become known. You’ll like this show if you like groundbreaking performance experiences. Athleticism. Daring, magnificent evenings. This show is not for you if you prefer traditional dance performances. 352-392-2787.

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CHAYAVEDA TRANSFORMATIVE WELLNESS PROGRAM AT UF HEALTH Thursdays, March 30-May 4 or June 8-July 13

All proceeds go to local charities. Friday, March 31, 6pm - 8pm; Saturday, April 1, 8am – Noon.

Friday’s gala is $50 and includes wine and hors d’oeuvres. Saturday’s event is free. Tickets: 352376-0492. Gainesville.altrusa.org.

LEND ME A TENOR March 31 – April 23 Times Vary

HIGH SPRINGS - High Springs Playhouse, 130 NE 1st Ave. A farce by Ken Ludwig. The show must go on, even after the star is mistakenly believed to be dead. A brave assistant is persuaded to step into the role. It’s a fun romp with mistaken identities, crisis management, and non-stop laughs.

386-454-3525.

5:30pm-7:30pm.

GAINESVILLE - Facilities Administration Building, 1281 Newell Dr. Program includes Ayurvedic health care and holistic living for health, rejuvenation and longevity, learning practical tools for self-care, health, peace and vitality, in a supportive group setting that encourages transformative learning. Re-engineer habits, understand body type, circadian rhythms, eating for your type, stress reduction with breathing, mindfulness, self-massage, guided imagery and more. Free parking in front. $165. www.ChayaVeda.com or 352-358-5005.

MARCH FOR BABIES Saturday, April 1 8:00am

GAINESVILLE - Westwood Middle School, 3215 NW 15th Ave. Registration begins at Westwood Middle School Athletic Field with kick-off at 8:50am for runners, and 9:00am for all other participants. Info: Luana Huffman: 352-378-9522 or lhuffman@marchofdimes.org.

WALK MS: GAINESVILLE Saturday, April 1

OPERA GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday, March 31 7:30pm

GAINESVILLE - University Auditorium, 333 Newell Dr. Join the UF Opera Theatre and Ocala Symphony Orchestra for this multimedia event featuring film clips and fully costumed/ staged scenes from “The Marriage of Figaro” (“The Shawshank Redemption”), “The Tales of Hoffmann” (“Life is Beautiful”), “La Bohème” (“Moonstruck”), and more. Talented vocal performers from the UF School of Music and musical theatre programs make up the cast, under the direction of Dr. Anthony Offerle. Maestro Mathew Wardell conducts the Ocala Symphony Orchestra in this joint production. 352-392-2787.

TRADING CLOSETS

9:00am

WALDO - Start/Finish Location: Veterans Memorial Park, Cole St. Check-in opens at 8:00am with the walk beginning at 9:00am.

Walk MS helps you team up with friends, loved ones and co-workers to change the world for everyone affected by MS. 855-372-1331.

SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL April 1 - 2 Times Vary

GAINESVILLE - Downtown historic district, NE 1st St. The festival is one of the three largest annual events in Gainesville and is known for its high quality, unique artwork. Each year, more than 100,000 attendees partake in the festival.

Free. www.sfcollege.edu/spring-arts.

March 31 – April 1

UF WIND SYMPHONY CONCERT

Times Vary

Thursday, April 6

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville Women’s Club, 2800 W. University Ave. Altrusa International of Gainesville’s annual sale of bargain-priced, high-quality women’s clothes and accessories.

7:30pm - 9:30pm

GAINESVILLE - University Auditorium, 333 Newell Dr. UF Wind Symphony concert. Free.

352-392-2346.

FIRE

MARCH 17 2017 -7:30 PM Fantasy, mag magic c and the gods take the stage with an exotic and brilliant display of dance.

A magnificent conclusion to DANB’s 51st season.

Curtis M. Phillips for the Performing Arts Tickets 392-2787

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JAZZ UP SPRING Friday, April 7 7:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Santa Fe College Fine Arts Hall, 3000 NW 83rd St. Cool spring concert of hot jazz featuring the Santa Fe Jazz Band under the direction of Dr. Steve Bingham. 352-395-4181.

KING LEAR April 7 - 15 Times Vary

GAINESVILLE - Constans Theatre, 1800 McCarty Dr. This Dali-inspired production reimagines Shakespeare’s heart-wrenching tale of family and the struggle for power where chaos and tragedy abound. 352-392-1653.

SPRING YOUTH CONCERT Saturday, April 8 2:00pm

GAINESVILLE - P.K. Yonge Auditorium, 1080 SW 11th St. Sun Country Dance Theatre’s 9th Annual Spring Youth Concert will feature an original story ballet, “Hansel & Gretel,” as well as guest artists from the Orlando Ballet, and distinct works by both resident and guest choreographers. $10.00 general admission; tickets available at Sun Country Sports Center West and at the door (cash only). Contact Judy Benton, 352331-8773 or dance@suncountrysports.com.

Step Afrika!

Friday, April 7

7:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Rd. Stepping is a percussive dance style historically practiced by African-American fraternities and sororities. Step Afrika is the first professional dance company in the world dedicated solely to the art of stepping. You’ll like this show if you like stepping, percussive dance styles, elements of hip-hop or experiences like STOMP. Not for those who dislike loud sounds. 352-392-2787.

GAINESVILLE VEGFEST Saturday, April 8 11:00am - 5:00pm

GAINESVILLE - A.R. Massey Westside Park, 1001 NW 34th St. Gainesville VegFest will feature informative exhibitors, vegan food vendors, animal rescue organizations and sanctuaries, speakers, a kid zone, music, and more. Free and open to the public. For more info or to exhibit/ sponsor visit: gainesvillevegfest.com.

Arts (OFCA) are selected by an experienced jury. Artwork includes traditional 2D paintings, prints, and photography in addition to 3D ceramic, glass, wood, metal and mixed media sculpture. 352-543-5400.

SPRING FESTIVAL Saturday, April 8 8:00am – 3:00pm

SPRING CONCERT Sunday, April 9 3:00pm

LAKE CITY - Alligator Lake Park. Free community festival celebrating nature. Bird walks led by experts start at 8:00am on the Florida Birding Trail. Walking workshops highlight butterflies, native plants and flowers. Have a photo taken with a live eagle. Vendors and exhibitors offer nature and garden-related items, and native plants. Many free activities for children. Music, food and drinks will be available. fourriversaudubon.org.

GAINESVILLE - Santa Fe College Fine Arts Hall, 3000 NW 83rd St. Under the directorship of Gary Langford, the Gainesville Community Band, with a current roster of about 80 members, is made up of teachers, professors, scientists, business professionals, students, physicians, contractors, realtors, trades-persons, and retirees. $6 donation requested. www.gnvband.org.

PLANT EXPO

OLD FLORIDA CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS

Sunday, April 9 1:00pm – 7:00pm

Saturday, April 8 8:00am – 2:00pm

April 8 – 9 10:00am - 5:00pm

NEWBERRY - The Persimmon Farm, 17010 W. Newberry Rd. Newberry Garden Club’s annual fundraiser to support community projects and

CEDAR KEY - Downtown. Presented by the Cedar Key Arts Center. The 120 artists invited to show their work at the Old Florida Celebration of the

HIGH SPRINGS - Rum 138, 2070 SW CR 138.

Songwriting contest and fundraiser. Music, food and silent auction. Master of Ceremonies: Storm Roberts. Tickets: $5 per person online, $7 at door, children under 12 are free. OurSantaFeRiver.org.

INDIA FEST AND HEALTH FAIR Saturday, April 8 9:00am – 6:00pm

GAINESVILLE - Santa Fe College Gym, Bldg. V, 3000 NW 83rd St. Come out for the Health Fair in the morning and then experience music, dance and cuisine of India. Admission cost is $5 and includes both events. 352-871-7112.

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scholarships. Reasonable prices for flowers of all kinds, bulbs, shrubs, trees, fruit trees and vegetable plants. Hotdogs, drinks and yard-associated craft vendors. 352-472-3928.

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RIVER FEST

ALACHUA BUSINESS LEAGUE

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION. CALL

352-372-5468

FOR RATES AND INFORMATION.

FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Caring About Our Communities

Alachua Main Street Festival PROCEEDS GO TOWARDS SANTA FE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

Enjoy Great Music, Food, Rides and Fun!!

SUNDAY, April 9th 2017 11am - 5pm On Main Street in Historic Downtown City of Alachua • Minutes from Gainesville • Exit 399 on I-75

Proud Supporter of the Alachua Business L th Main M i Street St t Festivals F ti l League andd the

Enjoy a wonderful Sunday afternoon with the family while strolling along Historic Downtown Main Street in Alachua, lined with lovely Victorian Homes.

Savor delicious food while listening to local musicians & chatting with friends, neighbors, gracious shopkeepers and unique vendors!

We look forward to seeing you there!!

Local band Tigerlily will be headlining on North Stage.

Alachua Business League would like to thank our sponsors:

The City of Alachua, Gator Dominos, CBS4/NBC9, Boone Improvements, Alachua Printing and Waste Pro

386-462-2500 www.wasteprousa.com

YOUR HOMETOWN PIZZA ZZA PLACE! PLAC

For more information, email alachua.business@gmail.com Or visit our website at www.AlachuaBusiness.com

Conestogas Re staurant

Grow Good Health

Made in the USA

ALZONES • WINGS • SUB S PIZZA • C LI • SALADS • DESSERT O B S STROM

Walk next door to our retail shop: FEATURING • Simply Southern T-shirts • Girlie Girl & Lily Grace Tee’s • Woodwick and Tyler Candles • Ginger Snaps Jewelry • Gator & Seminole Shirts/Jewelry

Breakfast Served Tues-Fri Starting @ 8:30 Family Owned & Operated since 2007

386-462-0661 14933 Main Street Alachua

• Healthier nutritious fruits vegetables and herbs at home.

“FAMILY DINING WITH A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE”

On Main Street in Downtown Beautiful Alachua 386-462-1294 www.ConestogasRestaurant.com

• Easier - Vertical gardening for your backyard, patio, balcony or rooftop.

• Smarter - Uses 10% of water and land as conventional or organic farming JAYNE ORR

352-538-3235 www.Jayne.TowerGarden.com

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MAIN STREET FESTIVAL Sunday, April 9 11:00am – 5:00pm

ALACHUA - Downtown. Hosted by the Alachua Business League. Spend your time listening to music and eating delicious food. Kids can also participate in numerous free activities to keep them occupied. www.alachuabusiness.com.

EASTER EGG HUNT Sunday, April 9 11:00am

GAINESVILLE - Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th Dr. There will be 4,000 candyand toy-filled eggs spread over the expansive lawns for the youngsters to hunt. Bring a picnic basket for collecting the eggs. Show up 30 minutes early as the line can get long (event starts on time). Children ages 0-2 are free; 3-10 are $10. Adults regular admission. 352-372-4981.

HAMLET April 14 - May 7 Times Vary

GAINESVILLE - Hippodrome State Theatre, 25 SE 2nd Pl. This new take on the Shakespearian thriller comes as a culmination of a 2-year collaboration with the international theatre company, The Workcenter of Jerzy Growtowski, on “The Hidden Sayings,” the National Endowment of the Arts grant-award-winning exploration of movement and storytelling. 352-375-4477.

EASTER EGG HUNT

Hogtown Craft Beer Festival Saturday, April 22 1:00pm - 5:00pm JONESVILLE - Tioga Town Center, 105 SW 128th St. Craft beer from Florida breweries as well as many other regional and national breweries, food & craft beer pairings from local restaurants and caterers, beer education, a home-brewing tent, and more.

Hosted by the Hogtown Brewers. www.hogtownbeerfest.com.

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Saturday, April 15 10:00am - 2:00pm

JONESVILLE - Tioga Town Center, 105 SW 128th St. Easter Egg Hunt separated by age groups, games, face painting, and the Easter Bunny will make an appearance. Free. 352-224-2600.

newcomers butt heads over issues of race and privilege, longstanding family tensions bubble under the surface and reach a boiling point when secrets are revealed. 352-376-8561.

COLUMBINUS April 7 – 23 Times Vary

GAINESVILLE - Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, 619 S Main St. Sparked by the April 1999 massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., columbinus is a meeting of fact and fiction that explores the events surrounding the shootings. The play weaves together excerpts from discussions with parents, survivors and community leaders in Littleton as well as police evidence to bring to light the dark recesses of American adolescence. 352-234-6278.

PLEIN AIR PAINTOUT April 21 – 26 Times Vary

HIGH SPRINGS - Various Locations. Artists will be painting the North Florida springs and High Springs “en plein air.” April 24: Blue Springs Park, 7450 NE 60th Ave. April 25: Ginnie Springs, 7300 Ginnie Springs Rd. A map of artist locations and schedule can be obtained from the Lanza Gallery & Art Supplies during the event: 23645 W US Hwy 27. Paintings will be for sale during and after the paint out at Lanza Gallery. 352-474-9922.

PIONEER DAYS FESTIVAL April 22 – 23 Times Vary

HIGH SPRINGS - Historic Downtown James Paul Park. There will be fine art, crafts, commercial/ retail, homegrown products, and antique/collectibles exhibitors, and seven food booths.

Enjoy three stages of regional and local talent performing country, old-time, folk and variety music. www.highsprings.com.

SING INTO SPRING Thursday, April 20 7:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Santa Fe College Fine Arts Hall, 3000 NW 83rd St. A light and entertaining concert, directed by Professor Lynn Sandefur, for choral music lovers. 352-395-4181.

STICK FLY April 7 - 23 Times Vary

GAINESVILLE - Actors’ Warehouse, 608 N Main St. The affluent, African-American LeVay family is gathering at their Martha’s Vineyard home for the weekend, and brothers Kent and Flip have each brought their respective ladies home to meet the parents for the first time. As the two

AUDUBON TOUR Sunday, April 23 8:00am

GAINESVILLE - Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th Dr. Learn about the birds of Kanapaha. Bring binoculars and arrive promptly at 8am. $4 per person. Members are admitted free of charge. 352-372-4981.

AUTHOR SERIES: TED GELTNER Sunday, April 23 2:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Headquarters Library, 401 E. University Ave. Ted Geltner will speak, answer questions and sign books. Geltner is an

Pops Season Finale Friday, May 5 7:30pm GAINESVILLE - Santa Fe College Fine Arts Hall Theatre, 3000 NW 83rd St. Annual celebration of pure musical joy with special guests, favorite music, and amazing surprises. Celebrating Mister Broadway, this is one of only four orchestras chosen per year to present the celebration of a man who has defined Broadway for 60 years. 352-395-5296.

award-winning writer, editor and a journalism educator who specializes in biography, sports writing and the history of sports journalism. His latest book “Blood, Bone & Marrow: A Biography of Harry Crews,” is the first full-length biography of Gainesville’s legendary novelist and journalist.

352-334-3939.

6TH ANNUAL EMPTY BOWLS Thursday, April 27 5:00pm – 7:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Trinity United Methodist Church, 4000 NW 53rd Ave. Admission includes a simple, but delicious bowl of soup provided by Chick-Fil-A Oaks Mall, bread, fruit, a beverage and a handcrafted ceramic bowl. A Silent Auction and Tricky Tray basket auction will also be offered. $25 advance sales; $30 at the door, $240 for reserved table of 8.

Proceeds benefit Bread of the Mighty Food Bank. Purchase tickets at breadofthemighty.org or call 352-336-0839.

CHAYAVEDA MINDFUL MOTION 300 Beginning May 5 Times Vary

GAINESVILLE - The Gainesville Retreat Center, 1551 SE 51 St. Unlock your potential with this 13-part, monthly immersion into yogic wellness.

Deepen your experience and practice of yoga with a focus on mindfulness and Ayurveda for a transformative yoga and wellness experience that will enhance your health and your life. Open to all and advanced certification and CEU’s are available for yoga teachers, massage therapists and Ayurvedic Practitioners. One weekend per month, beginning in May 5. www.ChayaVeda.com; 352-358-5005.

MOONLIGHT WALK Saturday, May 6 7:00pm – 11:00pm

GAINESVILLE - Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th Dr. There will be twinkle lights, lanterns, and approximately 1500 luminaries along a 1.25

mile walkway. Live entertainment, food, and refreshments. The Alachua Astronomy Club will be out with telescopes to view the cosmos. No pets allowed during this event. Please bring a flashlight.

Cash only. Gardens close from 5:00pm-7:00pm the day of the Moonlight Walk. 352-372-4981.

AUTHOR SERIES: ACE ATKINS Saturday, May 6 2:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Headquarters Library, 401 E. University Ave. Ace Atkins is a journalist and an author who earned a Pulitzer Prize nomination for an investigative series on a forgotten murder in the 1950s, which later was an inspiration for his novel “White Shadow.” Atkins graduated from Auburn University in 1994 where many Gator fans may remember him as he played on the football team. 352-334-3939.

SEND CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS TO: 4 4 00 N W 3 6 T H A V E ., G A I N E S V I L L E , F L 32 606 or E V E N T S @ T O W E R P U B L I C A T I O N S . C O M

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BAND B BA ND REVIEW

BRIAN “KRASH” KRUGER’S

Gate Crashing ON DECK FOR REVIEW: MAMA TRISH, GREY GOOSE

BRIAN KRUGER IS A WRITER, MUSICIAN AND A GRADUATE OF THE UF COLLEGE OF LAW. HE HAS PLAYED IN SOME 17 OR SO LOCAL BANDS, PLAYING MOST EVERY GAINESVILLE VENUE FRIENDLY TO ORIGINAL MUSIC (AND SOME NOT SO FRIENDLY). bkrashpad@yahoo.com

DATE: SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2017 VENUE: BOXCAR WINE AND BEER GARDEN AT DEPOT PARK

At the east end of the depot building is the Pop-A-Top General Store that, according to coverage in the Gainesville Sun, features not only food and drink but also items such as sunscreen, towels and hats.

At any rate, on the other end of the building, the Boxcar reetings, live music aficionados! This installconsists of a large barroom with some tables and chairs, conment finds us at the Boxcar Wine and Beer nected to a covered patio on the end of the station, with a batch Garden at Depot Park (as it is named on its Facebook of picnic tables for seating. When we arrived, Mama Trish was page), and/or the Boxcar Beergarden and Patio (as it is named already on. I first ran into Trish Ingle (before her last name on Instagram). Either way, I reckon that simply calling it “the was Ingle) as a performer way back in 2002, up at the Spirit of Boxcar” is probably a safe bet.

Suwanee Music Park, where she was performing as a solo act As the (longer of the two) name(s) implies, the Boxcar and I was playing guitar with a side band, in the Florida Music is indeed located at Depot Park on Depot Avenue. Opened and Film Harvest. last summer, according to the Gainesville Community In 2011, Trish began a local annual concert on Redevelopment Agency, the vision of Depot Park the Bo Diddley Plaza called Labor Daze, on the is to “create a contemporary public greenspace Sunday immediately prior to Labor Day. (Full that will serve as Gainesville’s ‘Central Park.’”

The Boxcar disclosure: my main band played this event By this time next year, a 21,000-squareconsists of a large barroom its first two years.) Labor Daze celebrates foot “creativity and invention” museum, with some tables and chairs, working families, just like the official holnamed for Gatorade inventor Dr. Robert iday, but with music and food in addition Cade, should complete the complex. At its connected to a covered patio to the usual speakers. So, in addition to August opening, UF student newspaper on the end of the station, being something of a scene fixture, Mama The Alligator reported that visitors were with a batch of picnic Trish is also a community activist. “flooding” the $5.9 million Depot Park, tables for seating.

Although she sometimes appears with a “already drawing in more visitors than rhythm section as a trio called “Mama Trish expected.”

Vs. Godzilla” (such as for Labor Daze), at the On this slightly chilly winter evening, howBoxcar she performed solo. The first song we heard ever, on our arrival at dusk there were just a few people was the standard “La Vie En Rose,” with Trish on ukulele. She around the outdoor areas of the park. On our way back to the switched to electric piano for “Natural Woman,” “Pennies From car, however, when it was fully dark and even sparser, we came Heaven,” the Eagles’ “Desperado,” and then back to standards upon a guy wearing some sort of official park shirt, who said, for Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies.”

“Welcome to Depot Park!” My guess, from that brief exchange, Switching again, to acoustic guitar, Mama Trish played local is that he was some sort of combination of (unarmed) security punks Against Me’s “Cavalier Eternal,” then went back to the guard and Walmart greeter. classic rock era for the Guess Who’s “No Sugar Tonight / New For any of you who may be train fanatics, at the outset it Mother Nature” and “Undun” (and yes, that’s how they spelled should probably be noted that the Boxcar is somewhat misit). After being requested to play the James Bond theme and named. The venue is not, in fact, in a boxcar, as one might morphing it into the similar “Spider Man Theme,” Trish finished expect. Instead, it is simply the west end of the depot building, her set with the Who’s “Squeeze Box” and Kris Kristofferson’s from back in the day when the venue was the Gainesville train “Me & Bobby McGee” (made famous by Janis Joplin). station. In the middle of the depot building are a couple large How’s that for eclectic? interconnected rooms that are available as an “event space.”

G

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get somewhat cold out) highlighted his raspy baritone (this is not a bad thing), mahogany top acoustic guitar, and original folk-punk songs (these are really just mid-tempo punk songs done without a full band). With the exception of the Social Distortion classic “Ball and Chain.” Good times!

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CRAFT PROJECT >> DIY MAP MAGNETS

MAGNETIC MOMENTS

A Traveler’s Guide to

The Fridge These DIY Map Magnets are a Trip!

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

T

raveling. We all seem to get the bug from time to time.

That itch that makes us yearn to see different places and different people. I’ve always loved maps.

Just looking at one immediately reminds me how big the world is, and how small my sliver of life is in comparison. It’s a humbling feeling.

As a freshman in college I would go to bookstores and drink in all the travel guides that were available.

I even purchased a couple English-translated dictionaries for different languages. I didn’t plan on going to France, but if I had the opportunity I’d be ready. (I guess that’s where my mindset was.) As luck would have it, during the course of my studies I would find myself having the opportunity to travel a great deal.

And although it sounds very cliché, I really do feel like I left bits of my heart in the various countries and cities I spent time in.

One of the best pieces of travel advice I’ve

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received is to take lots of photos. It’s arguably the best way to document this special time when you get to branch out and see the different sights either in your own country or abroad. I have quite a few photographs stored away with iconic images of the Parthenon, Big Ben, and even the Eiffel Tower in the background (Yes, I did in fact make it to Paris!).

It’s always fun to showcase these memories where you can see them every day. Of course, there’s decorative picture frames as well as scrapbooking that can be used as a way to commemorate these moments, but personally I’ve always liked the simple way best — on the fridge.

These two DIY projects are a great way to help add a little flourish to your favorite fridge photos or postcards. Magnets made out of maps are so much fun to make, and you can personalize this craft by using a map catered to your own adventures. It’s a wonderful way to revive your most precious travel memories!

CLEAR PEBBLE MAP MAGNETS MATERIALS:

Map Clear glass stones/pebbles Scissors Pencil Mod Podge Paintbrush Small magnets Glue gun or Gorilla Glue STEP ONE: First, pinpoint some spots on the map that you want to highlight. Place

one of the glass stones on the spot you choose and trace around it with a pencil.

STEP TWO: Carefully cut out the area on the map that you have traced.

STEP THREE: Apply some Mod Podge to the back of the stone, and then press the map cutout gently into place. Be sure to place it down the same way that you traced it so the edges line up and you see the

part of the map that you were hoping to pinpoint.

STEP FOUR: Once you have added all of your map pieces, allow time to dry. After they have completely dried, apply two coats of Mod Podge to the back to completely seal this part.

STEP FIVE: Once they are dry, it is now time to adhere the magnets on the back of the pebbles with either a glue

gun or Gorilla Glue. I had the best luck with Gorilla Glue for this project; it seems to have the strongest hold.

STEP SIX: After allowing time for the final product to dry, these magnets are ready to find their place on your fridge.

Yippee!

A trip to the refrigerator never seemed so adventurous.

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CRAFT PROJECT >> DIY MAP MAGNETS

BOTTLE CAP MAP MAGNETS MATERIALS:

Maps Bottle caps Mod Podge Paintbrush Mod Podge Dimensional Magic Gorilla Glue Small magnets STEP ONE: Make sure to wash out all of your bottle caps. Now place your bottle cap over an area on the map that you would like to showcase in your magnet. Trace over this area with a pencil. A circle cut out with a 1-inch diameter should do the trick.

STEP TWO: Use a paintbrush to apply some Mod Podge on the inside of the bottle cap. Place the circle cutout on top of the glue and press down.

STEP THREE: Let the glue dry for at least 30 minutes. You want to make sure the paper won’t be able to float up in step five.

STEP FOUR: During this time you can adhere the magnets on the back (flat side) of the bottle caps. Using Gorilla Glue, attach the magnet to the back of the bottle cap. Be sure to only use a small amount of Gorilla Glue, as a little goes a long way. Fortunately the bottle cap is magnetic, so the two will naturally be held together.

STEP FIVE: Now it’s time to flip the bottle cap over and fill the inside of the cap with Dimensional Magic to cover your map cut out.

Do not shake the bottle before using. You want to avoid having bubbles, and if any form you will want to pop them before it dries.

Be sure to let the Dimensional Magic dry for about 24 hours before adding them to your fridge.

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Now the magnets are ready to be displayed along with the ones you created out of the clear pebbles. This craft makes a great gift, especially for someone who has recently moved away and wants to keep a little piece of his or her home. Find a map of their hometown and make them a magnet for their new kitchen. So simple and so fun. Let’s get to crafting (when we’re not traveling, of course!).

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UNDERGROUND >> NEWBERRY BAT CAVE

SPELEOLOGY

THE NEWBERRY BAT CAVE PROVIDES A GLIMPSE INTO FLORIDA’S PAST

Nature’s Time Capsule S T O R Y A N D P H O T OG R A P H Y B Y H AY L I Z U CCO L A

Hidden within acres of trees in a rather isolated part of Newberry is a portal to another world.

Standing on the presumed solid ground, one would never guess that laying below the thick green grass, beyond several feet of soil and rock, in a place that only tree roots can attempt to reach, is an ancient cavern. The remnants of washed-off graffiti and carvings by trespassers blemish the cave walls that form a home for creatures that live here; crayfish, cave crickets, and even the cave’s namesake: bats, whose small furry bodies nestle into limestone nooks to sleep.

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animals. This cave is one of Mother Nature’s time capsules.

Before it fell under the ownership of Santa Fe College, the Harvey Sharron Bat Cave Field Laboratory — more affectionately known as the Newberry Bat Cave — was below a pine forest owned by a paper company. Years of trespassing on the property resulted in garbage and graffiti, caused by partiers who damaged parts of the cave. Despite the owners doing everything they could to block entrances into the cave — going so far as to wedge a small bus into one of the openings — people still got in. After an intoxicated man drowned in one of the cave pools and a woman was seriously injured, the owners decided it was time to bulldoze the cave and destroy it for good. At that point, Santa Fe College stepped in and bought the property to preserve the cave and use it as a teaching tool for its environmental study classes. After removing heaping piles of trash, buffing out as much graffiti as the limestone rocks would allow, and installing rebar grates around the cave entrances, the bat cave was mostly restored.

UNDERGROUND >> NEWBERRY BAT CAVE

Santa Fe College Professor Gregory Mead sits beside one of two gargoyles that were placed in the Newberry Bat Cave as a joke. One is near the spiral staircase entrance [right] and one is by the “wild entrance,” which has no stairway.

from fossilized crabs, sea urchins, sand dollars, coral and other Greg Mead is a professor at Santa Fe College who teaches underwater life. These fossils link geologists, biologists and cave courses involving geology, earth science, meteorology and enthusiasts to a rare part of history, providing them with a peek oceanography. Although his research isn’t only about caves, he is into the past. fascinated with any geological process, including the formation Besides being a classroom for geology students, the cave’s of caves. constant 72-degree temperature and its low light provide a These intricate and sometimes immense hollows beneath micro environment for ferns and moss found nowhere else in the surface of the earth are formed by tiny rain droplets from Florida, except in similar environments. It is also home to bats. above. Much of the Florida landscape is composed of limestone “There used to be supposedly 60,000 bats at the turn and, Mead said, as rain falls and makes its way through of the century,” Mead said. leaf litter and soaks through the soil, the water Because of human activity, there are very picks up carbon dioxide, both from the atmofew bats to be seen. Sightings range from sphere as well as through the decomzero to 12, Mead said. posing organic material in the soil.

While caves are certainly fun to This produces a carbonic acid that explore, Mead encourages anydissolves limestone. As rainwater one who discovers a cave to be flows into preexisting cracks in the Harvey Sharron Bat Cave Field Laboratory is respectful and to remember that limestone, the fissures get larger used for teaching purposes and can only be they are not to be used as a landfill and wider and over the course for garbage. of thousands of years eventually accessed by contacting Greg Mead to “Caves are often very close to form caves. arrange an educational tour for students the ground water, and if you start A similar process creates or research. To learn more, visit the dumping garbage in it, which does sinkholes, such as the Devil’s Santa Fe College website at happen, then that gives that garbage Millhopper Geological State Park direct access to our ground water, which in Gainesville. A sinkhole starts out as a www.sfcollege.edu. is the major source of drinking water that cave and as the roof is dissolved over time we have here in Florida,” he said. it eventually collapses to form a sinkhole.

To quote the National Park Service motto, The Newberry Bat Cave erodes out of limestone “Take only memories, leave only footprints.” that is 35 to 50 billion years old. During a time before glaciers, For some people, a career in geology may seem like a lifelong the water levels — especially in Florida — were much higher. science class, but for Mead it is much more.

Nearly all of Florida was covered by seawater. As glaciers began “I can’t imagine doing anything more fun than being a geolto form in the arctic, the sea level lowered revealing the Florida ogist,” he said. peninsula, Mead said. The limestone in Florida caves is made MARCH/APRIL 2017

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COLUMN

ALBERT ISAAC’S

Different Note TRAVEL TALES

ALBERT ISAAC IS AN AWARD-WINNING WRITER AND EDITOR AND THE AUTHOR OF SCIENCE FICTION NOVELS AND PERSONAL COLUMNS. HE LIVES IN HIGH SPRINGS WITH HIS FAMILY AND A BUNCH OF CRITTERS. editor@towerpublications.com

AH, FAMILY VACATIONS. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO OUR YEARLY TRIP TO THE MOUNTAINS.

M

y wife and I have continued this tradition.

I remember the good times, but I also remember the not-so-good times, some of which I will now relate to you, from about (gasp!) 20 years ago. Goes like this: Our vacation begins easy enough and we make good time, but late in the evening, a mere 10 minutes away from our exit, we notice a vehicle up ahead — in flames. Traffic stops. We sit forever behind a semi, its red flashers frying my brain. The kids want to get out and see. We don’t let them. I’m curious, but no way am I getting out; fire trucks and ambulances speed by in the emergency lane.

But many people do get out of their cars. These zombies amble past, odd-looking, dazed, confused, seemingly unaware of the ambulances until they are practically run down by them.

With mood befouled, I sit in silence behind those big flashing red lights. Seems like forever before we are back on the road again.

We arrive in Florence, S.C. The first motel has no vacancies.

Some kind of deer convention. A guy behind me, upon hearing this news, heads to his vehicle and drives off to the next motel.

We follow. Watching from our car we wait to see if he can get a room. Then, my wife, the Voice of Reason, speaks the unspeakable: “Watch him get the last room.”

You know what happens next.

Next town, again no vacancies. Must be a really big deer convention. We move on. We finally find a Motel 8. Lobby is closed but there is a check-in window. Six people stand in line.

A slow-moving woman, barefoot and sloth-like, signs in our fellow travelers.

Eventually, I escort my family to our room, insert the key, turn the lock. It turns freely, round and round, but the door doesn’t open. I march back down and get a new room with a door that actually opens.

The next day, our motel in Virginia has a faulty central air conditioner. First night is warm, but bearable, becoming freezing in the wee hours. The second night it’s a blistering 85+ degrees — at

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midnight — so I go and complain. Other patrons are complaining as well. Some motel dude begrudgingly gets up from his TV show and shuts off the main unit and turns it back on. It does the trick.

By the wee morning hours we are freezing again.

Our TV has a broken remote. When I push the volume button the channels change. Not having a remote is not such a big deal, as the front desk dude points out to me (“How did we ever get by without them?” he quips), but the commercials are WAY louder than the movie we’re watching and I don’t want to get up and change the volume every 10 minutes. It stays loud.

Then we notice an odd sound coming from the AC. “Sound’s like a fire alarm,” says our 14-year-old daughter.

“Stupid AC,” I mutter to myself. It continues. Finally, I get up to check and notice out the window a crowd of pajama-clad people, milling about in the parking lot. Oh, and a fire truck.

And firemen. It is indeed a fire alarm, chiming above us from the second floor, which I might be able to hear if the TV wasn’t so loud.

On our way home, because there are no road signs, we end up going the opposite direction.

For miles. It is our daughter who notices the first sign and pipes up, “Why are we going north?”

False alarm, thankfully.

On our way home, because there are no road signs, we end up going the opposite direction. For miles. It is our daughter who notices the first sign and pipes up, “Why are we going north?” This adds hours to the trip, but we get to see the bustling metropolis of Galax, VA. Twice. My wife is impressed. She always finds a silver lining, even if it’s just the glittering lights of Galax.

But now we have to drive at night, on a dark, winding mountain road, where we see a deer that had not heard about the convention. Now, seeing a deer is not noteworthy.

But this guy is in the middle of the road, silhouetted by the headlights of an oncoming truck. He leaps out of the way and as we zoom past we see the beast on the side of the road staring out from the darkness. He lives to continue his reign of terror.

Then we hit a rainstorm rivaling the Great Flood, and fog you could cut with a butter knife. In the dark. On wet pavement.

On narrow mountain roads with steep cliffs.

At least I presume they are steep; I can’t actually see them. With knuckles white I creep along while our daughter hyperventilates and our 6-year-old son repeatedly intones, “I’m thoaasty... thooaaaaasty.�

Eventually, we ďŹ nd a convenience store and get sodas and wine coolers. We then continue through the rain until we reach our motel. I get room keys, come back to our van, and hand one to our son (he really enjoys opening motel room doors) and we race through the downpour to our room.

Although it’s midnight, we hear our phone ringing. I frantically attempt to open the door, “attempt� being the operative word because the cursed key will not turn. “Son, give me your key,� I ask. A look of panic appears on his innocent face. “I left it in the van.�

I’m not pleased. Stressing from the horriďŹ c drive, and thirsting for those wine coolers, I run through the cold rain to retrieve the other key. Miraculously, it works. The door opens and WE ARE IN! But the AC doesn’t work.

And we keep getting phone calls from strangers.

Our room number is 265, which is also the preďŹ x for local phone calls. So every bozo that doesn’t dial a 9 ďŹ rst, calls our room. And I have to answer because I’m expecting to hear from some buddies (this was, after all, before cell phones).

Our vacation was still great fun, but from now on we’re trying something different: Timeshare.

I’ve got more travel tales to share but I’ve run out of space. Fortunately, I can honestly say the good always far outweighs the bad.

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TRAVEL >> SUMMIT KILIMANJARO

HIGH ALTITUDE

Terri and Rory Causseaux with their dog, Salsie. Rory is holding a book about their climbing adventure that he put together titled, “Memories: A Celebration of 50 Years.”

W RIT TE N BY S TE PH A NIE RICH A R DS

R

ory Causseaux knows you can judge a book by its cover…well at least “Climbing Kilimanjaro at 70” by Richard A. Wolfe, Ph.D. It captured an untapped passion in him and his wife, Terri, that would elevate their sense of adventure to a new peak — a

Climb for Cancer.

The Gainesville residents have always led active lifestyles.

Terri ran track and enjoyed rougher, more vigorous play with boys. Rory got into weightlifting in high school and continued into college. When they married 32 years ago, Terri introduced her husband to racquetball and they added playing on a co-ed softball team to their activities.

“Part of our relationship has always been competing against each other,” Terri said in an interview in their home.

As they considered a special trip to celebrate their 50th birthdays, they entertained Hawaii but it didn’t exactly fit their sense of adventure. In 2010, they were in North Carolina for a wedding and exploring the area on bikes on a cloudy day. Rory

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Summit for a cause Causseaux Adventures Reach Peak In Climb for Cancer

Rory and Terri Causseaux pose in front of the picturesque Cherie Catedral Mountains in Torres del Paine National Park on their trip in Patagonia, Chile.

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Climbing the UF Football Stadium stairs was part of the couple’s fitness regime to prepare to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. From left to right, Ron Farb, Climb for Cancer Founder, Rory and Terri Causseaux, Christy Montgomery, Gay Robinson Schmidt and Katelyn Parham.

Terri Causseaux’s first look at Mt. Kilimanjaro (top right) through the trees.

Scaling the terrain (Barranco Wall) of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

said while they are not wine connoisseurs, they stopped to view the grounds at a local winery.

“The owner was having a signing for his book, “Climbing Kilimanjaro at 70.” I was just looking at it and he said he would sign it. So, I figured I had to buy it and then read it,” Rory said.

“I had known Ron Farb of Climb for Cancer for several years as we were in the Rotary together. I heard stories about his mountain-climbing adventures. I spoke with him about climbing for a cause and it sounded interesting. It seemed to be a way to have an adventure that didn’t seem to be so selfish — like this was all about us.”

Initially, Rory had asked his two daughters if they wanted to go. Terri was seeing a cardiologist at the time to check out a racing heartbeat with sustained exercise. After both daughters declined, Terri’s doctor couldn’t find any issues and released her to go. That same night Rory registered them for the trip with Climb for Cancer.

The Climb for Cancer Foundation “supports and advises people who want to climb mountain peaks in an effort to raise awareness for children suffering from cancer,” according to climbforcancer.org. The Foundation offers several climbs and treks all over the world and has been supported by 13 corporate sponsors, including Virgin Megastore, PepsiCo, Walid Bin Talal Foundation and Harley Davidson. Other groups support the organization through events, such as the Alachua County Sherriff’s Cops Against Cancer Trail Ride.

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Farb said the name of the non-profit organization is a metaphor; cancer needs to be conquered much like climbing a mountain does to reach a peak.

“It started around my hobby, which is climbing. People lived vicariously through my adventures and then said they wanted to do one. The Foundation did its first Mt. Kilimanjaro climb in 2006,” said Farb, who founded Climb for Cancer in 2002. “To date, approximately $1.5 million has been raised. The bottom line is that cancer families benefit from it.”

Overseen by a board of directors, the Foundation has funded or created several psychosocial programs that provide support to the patient and family, funded research grants, and given children an opportunity to attend cancer camps. In addition to work in the U.S., it has also collaborated with cancer centers in Jordan, Lebanon and the United Kingdom.

Trips are organized through Alpine Ascents, which has guided international expeditions for 30 years. The organization works with not-for-profits as they raise funds and awareness through climb adventures. Farb said each trip has a minimum fundraising goal.

“We also organize student trips that are part adventure, part service,” Farb said. “For example, we have pre-health honors students from University of Florida going to Costa Rica in May who will experience climbing and visit a pediatric oncology clinic. As with other trips, students commit to raising a certain dollar amount.”

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TRAINING FOR THE CLIMB

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The Causseauxs had taken normal family trips, like going to the mountains, taking a cruise or skiing out west, but had never traveled outside of the country.

“We committed to go in the late fall of 2010, then began the physical preparedness, and started to do fundraising,” said Rory, who is founding principal and chief executive officer of Causseaux, Hewett & Walpole, Inc. Farb said he emphasized the importance of training and offered suggestions.

“I do the stadiums on a regular basis and am happy to have anyone join me,” said the 71-year-old. “I tell them the better shape you are in, the more fun you will have on the adventure. These are arduous trips and you need to be prepared by training for them.”

The Gainesville residents heeded that advice and began climbing the bleachers at the UF Football Stadium on Monday nights with their daughter and another couple.

Soon, their group grew to 12 people, and six years later, a third of the group continues the weekly workout, Rory said.

“In anything, you can’t start where you end, you have to start where you are at. You need to be incremental about [training],” said Rory, who is now 55 years old. “The vertical aspects of the stadium helped mirror the climb. We would add repetitions, a backpack and then add weight since we would have to carry our necessities on the trip.”

On Saturday mornings, they ran the steps to the bottom of the sinkhole at Devil’s Millhopper. To enhance cardio training, they did cycling and ended up doing century rides (a bicycle ride of 100 miles). In between, they continued workouts at the gym.

The physical training was only one aspect of preparing for the trip; getting the proper clothing and equipment was imperative.

Farb recommended a Tampa outfitter to get the gear they would need.

“We have a stash of things now. Shoes are really important; Gore-Tex boots are a must. When we were training, we switched from our tennis shoes to boots to break them in,” Terri said. “You also need a good fitting backpack that will carry the weight on your waist. You have about 20 to 25 pounds you carry.”

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Hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro, Rory and Terri Causseaux went from the Rainforest to near-zero temperatures as they approached the Summit.

A PEAK ACHIEVEMENT The two-week trip included seven days spent climbing the Machame Trail at Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in the East African country of Tanzania, according to tanzaniaparks.com/kili. The itinerary states that the main summit is Uhuru Peak at 19,340 feet. At this point, climbers can view the Bismark Towers, rock pinnacles along the rim, and the hanging Rebman Glaciers.

Their group had a total of 11 climbers, an Alpine Ascent guide and four Tanzanian guides. When they arrived at the camp, they met porters from the Chagga Tribe, indigenous to the slopes of Kilimanjaro. There was a candid reality about what they were about to embark on as they had their equipment checked.

“We met our guides and had to lay out our gear,” Rory said. “He had a checklist and if you were missing anything and couldn’t purchase it in town, you couldn’t climb.”

They were also forewarned about the altitude impact and the need for proper nutrition and drink as well as a check of oxygen levels.

“We had to take in so many calories and so much volume of water,” Terri said.

“We didn’t really need to bring any food. There was a tent set up each part of the way that had a type of porridge for breakfast, with pancakes, eggs, a type of meat,

TRAVEL >> SUMMIT KILIMANJARO

The CFC team, including Terri and Rory Causseaux (far right, kneeling), with their Alpine Ascent and Tanzanian guide teammates.

You become really aware of your surroundings and it really gets to your senses — the different smells and what you are seeing. bread with condiments and fruit.”

Lunch was either a chicken noodle or tomato soup with grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Dinner included an appetizer, main course, some type of meat with rice and vegetables, she said.

“We also got a snack bag with fruit, nuts and candy bars. We usually gave them to the porters. The higher the elevation, the less appetite I had,” Terri said. “At 12,000 feet they check your heart rate and oxygen. If there is any issue, they take you down.”

Although she was physically in shape for the climb, Terri said she was a bit naïve when it came to the travel destination and survival.

“I went in blind. I didn’t know where Mt. Kilimanjaro was and we had only camped one night and decided it wasn’t for us.

The terrain was amazing. You start in the rainforest and can see the mountain — though a long way away — through the trees.

You go through a scrub brush area that is higher than the trees and can see your footprints downhill from before,” she said.

Rory and Terri Causseaux on day 4 after reaching the top of the Barranco Wall.

“On Summit night, you are supposed to rest in your tent as you start the climb at around 10 p.m. in order to reach the peak for sunrise. I couldn’t rest as the anticipation and excitement had my mind wondering if it was going to be easy or hard.”

The climb to reach the Summit is slow, about five days, but coming back down it takes one and a half days, Rory said. The Gate to Summit is 25 miles on the Machame Trail. In the middle of the night on the way up, the temperature is so cold your hands become like claws, Terri said.

“Our porter guides would open up nutrition and put it in our mouths. Rory had sleep deprivation and at one point his head was laying in the middle of my backpack,” she said. “One of the Tanzanian guides started singing ‘Amazing Grace’ in Swahili.

It was God’s message to us that we were going to Summit.”

The climatic moment of reaching the peak and what can be seen was hard to describe, the couple said.

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A climatic moment for Rory and Terri Causseaux was reaching Uhuru Peak, “The top of Africa.”

seeing. To be at a higher elevation above the trees — the vastness and magnitude of what you are seeing — was hard to comprehend,” Rory said. “It was cold, about 15 to 20 degrees and we sipped hot cocoa. The weather was phenomenal and it couldn’t have been clearer or brighter as the sun started to rise. We were just amazed at where we were.”

The time at Summit included another very personal experience for the group. They held a memorial service for Farb’s sister, Harriet, who lost her battle with cancer in 2010. Just two years earlier, she became the first person that the group knows of who was on chemotherapy and climbed Kilimanjaro, Farb said.

“Ron had his sister’s ashes, our Alpine Ascent guide had an employee’s ashes, and a couple of guys had their dads’ ashes,” Rory said. “We were at the Summit for about two hours — it was very emotional.”

Coming down the mountain also provided another new adventure.

“You scree down the mountain, it is like skiing on feet. We made it from Summit to low camp in just 45 minutes. Being outdoors in a tent for a week was very different than life as we know it. After, you shower about three or four times,” Rory joked. “They had a ‘Congratulations’ cake for us but it had to wait until morning for most of us.”

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A SUMMIT FOR NEW ADVENTURES The climbing expedition provided a separation from the craziness of daily life and taught the couple a few things about themselves, their relationship and faith.

“Our kids always said that we were a team — that we do things together,” Terri said. “That really is true to heart. This trip allowed us to be disconnected. I love the businessman Rory is, but on this trip he became unplugged and I saw the boy I met. I love both sides.”

Rory agreed.

“We really do enjoy each other’s company and it was great to do this together. The time in Kilimanjaro was a separation from life and allowed us to live in the moment. As a business owner, my job never stops as long as I have a hotel with internet and a cell phone. Our thoughts on the trip were only about our next step,” he said. “For me, it was about my faith and acceptance of man’s place in the world. It was also a reminder that someone is struggling.”

After climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, the couple decided to do the Inca Trail (Peru) in 2013 and then venture to Patagonia (Argentina) for a series of day hikes on the Andes Mountains. This August, they are scheduled to go to Iceland, which will be their fourth trip to benefit Climb for Cancer.

“Our adventures started the year we both turned 50. He wanted something to remember the year by and it was a year of several firsts for us,” Terri said.

The couple has also ventured to other outdoor excursions on their own, including hiking the Grand Canyon, and places in France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

The biggest difference in the trips was that Mt. Kilimanjaro and the

Inca Trail were destination to destination, while Patagonia was more day hikes and sightseeing.

“In Patagonia we had creature comforts of life, so that was a dramatically different experience than the others,” Rory said.

“Patagonia had mountains, icebergs and glaciers — it has a third of the world’s fresh waters. The sights and beauty of God’s creation were phenomenal there too.”

Rory said it was natural getting hooked on adventures with Climb for Cancer because of the non-profit’s mission and Farb’s passion to help others. The 2011 Mt. Kilimanjaro group they were involved with raised about $180,000 for the organization.

“When it comes to cancer, none of us are immune and we want to do anything we can to fight the disease,” he said. “But it is also Ron’s personality and dedication to help others that wants you to be involved.

He is crazy passionate. We will continue to be repeaters for this cause.”

Visit climbforcancer.org for more information.

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COLUMN

DONNA BONNELL’S

Embracing Life IN SEARCH OF – THE UNUSUAL AND UNEXPECTED

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

AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO (PHILOSOPHER, THEOLOGIAN AND WRITER) WAS BORN IN ALGERIA IN 0343.

K

nown also as St. Augustine, his quote is universal and timeless. He said, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

Relating to Augustine is easy. Everything is a story — a chapter in a book — or in my case, an Embracing Life column.

I am not a travel writer, but a writer who loves to travel. There is a difference. Visiting historically significant landmarks or luscious landscapes are awe-inspiring. However, I most enjoy the opportunity to unearth the unusual. Fascinating tales are triggered when making a wrong turn, tasting unique foods, reading the signs, studying the fine print or simply people watching.

Traveling with a person like me is probably not easy. Since I am not a photographer, my goal is to absorb the details visually and mentally. While most people take fast photos, and move on, I use my five senses to completely soak in the surroundings.

Itineraries are a must to make the best use of precious limited travel time. Yet, I am OK to switch something in the schedule when an unexpected adventure presents itself. In fact, I prefer to plan for downtime. If every second is scheduled, there is no time to recognize unknown surprises.

Sometimes my escapades are grandiose, which I have shared in prior columns. One of the most notable took place on a spurof-the-moment trip to Costa Rica. There was a vacancy in the required number of surfers needed for a group discount. Even though I am not a surfer, the coordinator extended me an invitation. I happily accepted.

Our remote camp was in the rain jungle. Electricity and running water were the only amenities. Cell phone service, internet or television did not exist. The beach was beautiful, but I yearned for more. A trail leading away from camp seemed to call my name. One afternoon, I took a few steps down the path and quickly became mesmerized. Animals and birds exuded happiness, flourishing in land of rich foliage. My senses hit the jackpot! However, my mind lost track of time and direction.

As you may have guessed, I got lost. Fortunately, I ran into a

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kind soul who spoke some English. I knew a little Spanish. We communicated enough for him to give me directions. My group was, well, a little uneasy about my long disappearance.

Adventures on that scale are scarce. On a recent trip to New York City, I found a sweet nugget that seemed larger in importance than the massive skyscrapers.

At one entrance to Central Park stands a 17-foot-tall granite sculpture. If a similar monument showed up in Alachua County, it most certainly would be noticed. Despite its size and uniqueness, the artwork is inconspicuous and overlooked.

Anxious to find the infamous carousel, I only took a quick glance at the structure when entering the park. Almost forgetting, the odd creation drew me back, as we were leaving. This time I stopped and stared. Carrots, cereal and crackers were part of a list of other ordinary items etched in stone. When I noticed diapers and tampons were included, I knew the sighting was worthy of delaying the next slated stop. What was its purpose?

I had to know.

Neither the locals or tourists I asked knew the answer. A New York Police Officer (and her nearby partner), were stumped as well. All of us laughed and decided that I should search Google, which I did.

Created by British artist, David Shrigley, the artwork was only scheduled to be there temporarily for less than six months.

Shrigley’s idea is that shopping lists and memorials are visual reminders. One is to remember someone who has passed. The other is an aid to recall necessities needed in our everyday lives. It symbolizes how our epitaphs soon become ordinary and forgotten. As a writer, the irony also lies in how this unique monstrous monument goes unnoticed before it has time to become ordinary.

My jaunt was with a friend whose bucket list included a Christmastime visit to the Big Apple. Her favorites include Rockefeller Center, a Broadway show, and the beautiful holiday lights. My highlight was discovering the thought-provoking statue. Thankfully, she understood my need to find the atypical attraction.

God gave me the desire to explore and embrace beyond the surface value. I am grateful for that gift. Every day, every encounter, every trip has jewels to be discovered.

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INTERNATIONAL LAMPOON

Luggage-less

in Europe You Can Call Me Miss Adventure W R I T T E N B Y H AY L I Z U C C O L A

I

f there is a string of bad luck in my life, my superstitious family likes to blame our lack of good fortune on the belief that we’re cursed — if you believe in such a thing. I prefer to think that my life is more of a sitcom instead of just plagued with bad luck, and that if my life were to flash before me right now the majority of it would be a gag reel of clumsiness and mishaps.

Given my history of sweet opportunities turning sour, it shouldn’t have been a shock that a trip to Great Britain wouldn’t go as planned.

Sure, there were plenty of memorable incidents from that trip across the pond, such as when I almost broke a life-sized Waterford Crystal harp, or when I ran into a pole in the London Underground while a group of spectators laughed. Of course, both events

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were of my own doing, such as attempting to play the harp that cost more than my life, or strutting down the what-I-thought-was-empty subway and running into a pole. While I admit those two instances were my fault, the biggest disaster of that trip was when the airline lost all of our baggage.

After over a year of planning, my mom, my aunt, my cousin and I were set to visit Paris and the United Kingdom the summer before I started college. After meeting in Boston, the four of us collected our suitcases — one of which took a plunge down an escalator — and we headed to the other side of the airport. It’s important to note that after checking in our luggage, we only had the essentials on us, such as passport, money and a phone. As our boarding time approached, a woman’s voice came over the intercom calling our names to the gate. We were

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Despite being luggage-less, my cousin Beth and I immersed ourselves in the French culture by wearing berets, devouring petite pastries and visiting the Arc de Triomphe.

told that because of an ongoing protest in Paris, we would have to switch our tickets to a flight with Air France.

Eight hours, four binge-watched movies and a total of five minutes of sleep later, our flight landed and we headed to baggage claim. My cousin and I waited at the terminal while my mom and my aunt went to call a cab. After the other passengers col-

and all we were given in return were white t-shirts, a few toiletries that were somehow to last the entirety of the trip, and the advice to keep checking with the airport.

We had a tour at the Louvre booked immediately so we had little time to process what actually happened. Now I was pretty sleep deprived, so all I really remember from Paris are glimpses of metal

We were told that because of an ongoing protest in Paris, we would have to switch our tickets to a flight with Air France. lected their things, my cousin and I looked at each other as if to telepathically ask where our stuff was.

The baggage carousel went around and around but there was no sign of our things.

As it turned out, the airport staff didn’t know where our luggage was either. Four large suitcases with nearly two-weeks worth of stuff went missing 142 |

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beams from the Eiffel Tower, eating a crepe that had the texture of skin, Mona Lisa smiling at my family’s misfortune, and some momentary crying on a riverboat.

So instead of seeing the Eiffel Tower light up the Paris sky or devouring a flaky butter croissant, we spent the rest of that night going to dozens of stores

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to find new clothes and toiletries, which as you may have guessed is not an easy task in a foreign country.

Sizes were numbered differently, and because they didn’t carry well-known brands of products, we weren’t sure if we were buying a packet of shampoo or some sort of creamy deodorant.

The next morning, feeling completely exhausted, we headed to the train to take us to London. Despite our string of bad luck we tried to stay positive and enjoy our surroundings. I figured before I left Paris I had to get an authentic French baguette — yes, trying each country’s food specialty is part of my bucket list. While we waited for our train, I noticed a local bakery selling fresh, handmade baguettes. The one I chose was perfect, that is until the baker snapped my baguette in half and forcefully shoved it into a bag.

Mouth open in disbelief and broken baguette in hand, I headed to London. Meanwhile, we did our best to ignore the frustration of having to make numerous calls to the airport to learn our luggage was in Iceland — and was now in France.

Instead, we followed the British motto: keep calm and carry on. We snapped our photo in front of Harry Potter’s Platform 9 ¾, took a ride on the London Eye, said hello to Big Ben, and devoured a basket of fish ‘n’ chips.

On the fourth day most of our luggage was waiting for us in the hotel lobby. Unfortunately, my cousin’s baggage was still missing and wouldn’t be returned until two weeks after our trip ended.

While the majority of this trip was more stressful than relaxing, it taught me a few valuable tips. The first rule of thumb is to always have your necessities in your carry-on and not packed away in your checked luggage. Always be sure to have your passport, phone, charger, wallet, and any medicines you need, because these can’t easily be replaced.

Now our tour didn’t allow a carry-on, but we have learned to ignore that rule and always bring an extra change of clothes with us. Finally, if an airline loses your luggage, save your receipts from everything you had to buy to replace the lost items.

When you return home you can submit a claim to the airline.

The biggest advice I can give to my fellow travelers is that if something goes wrong on your trip, do your very best to ignore it. Sometimes these adventures, or rather misadventures, are still oncein-a-lifetime opportunities and even if they don’t go as planned you have to do your best to turn that sour situation into a glass of sweet lemonade; plus it will make for a great travel story and something you can look back on and laugh about many – and I do mean many – years later.

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT >> RAIL TRAILS

CONNECTING THE DOTS

NEWBERRY TO HIGH SPRINGS RAIL TRAIL DEVELOPMENT A POSSIBILITY

Wheels are Turning W R ITTEN BY STEPH A NIE R ICH A R DS

The wheels are turning favorably for a future trail for biking, walking and jogging that would connect Newberry to High Springs.

The Florida Trust for Public Lands (TPL) is currently working with the city of High Springs and Alachua County to acquire an approximate 13-mile stretch of the old CSX rail corridor, said Doug Hattaway, TPL Senior Project Manager in an email interview.

“The corridor stretches from the northern reaches of the City of Newberry through High Springs and to the Santa Fe River,” Hattaway said. “We are still finalizing the purchase 144 |

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price at this time. As a non-profit organization, TPL cannot pay more than what the property is worth as determined by a fair market value appraisal.”

The Florida TPL was formed in 1972 with a mission to “create parks and protect land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come.”

Funds are available to move forward with the purchase and trail development after voters approved the renewal of a onehalf cent tax for Wild Spaces/Public Spaces (WSPS) funding last November. Monies received can be used for recreation, parks and land conservation. Hattaway said High Springs has committed to funding for the project.

“Alachua County is interested in the project and offering a matching grant through its WSPS monies,” said Newberry Mayor Bill Conrad in a recent phone interview. “In addition, the Office of Greenways and Trails (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) has some funding.”

“Alachua County is interested in circling the city of Gainesville with a connected trail — a beltway all around the city. This is a segment of their long-term goal that is very developable.”

The rail property ends at 46th Avenue, which is about two miles short of Newberry’s town center. Officials would have to find a way to extend it to town if that was desired and WSPS funds could be used, Mayor Conrad said.

“There is interest to make this a part of a larger, interconnected system of rail trails that run throughout the state by the Office of Greenways and Trails (Florida Department of Environmental Protection), Division of Recreation and Parks,” he said. “I can’t speak for the [Newberry] commissioners, but this is a project I really like. It would offer recreation to area residents and tourists and it is a great economic development initiative.”

Hattaway said the property is anticipated to be acquired by the end of this year, with

the TPL serving as an interim buyer. Once secured, discussions could begin about a potential public recreational trail with possible connections to other regional ones.

“Ultimately, the county will own, improve and maintain the trail,” he said.

To get initial feedback on the project, Mayor Conrad recently posted a brief description on the Citizens of Newberry Forum Facebook page and said there were 100 likes in the first few hours.

“High Springs and Newberry have been interested in this segment for many years,” he said. “Alachua County is interested in circling the city of Gainesville with a connected trail — a beltway all around the city. This is a segment of their long-term goal that is very developable.”

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