home living in the heart of florida

Apr/May Dec/Jan 2010

2010

BANCF Spring Parade of Homes

TM

Women of Distinction education

Thomas McIntosh President of Prudential Trend Realty

5 Trend Realty

community impact story

extreme date ideas

ROCKS

Paid Advertisement

table

On the Cover

of contents

26

Health & Fitness

88 Trend Realty – Rock Solid in Real Estate

62

Community

Trend Realty, a leader in the Gainesville real estate industry for 35 years, is now a part of the Prudential Real Estate Network.

Community Impact Story

Scouts Honor

24

Lives of Service

Around the Home

26

Inspired by Monet: Renew Your landscape with Color

30

2010 Parade of Homes

40

Keeping It Green

A Taste of Home

42

This is Good Eatin’

Sports & Recreation

60

Archery in North Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

66

Easy Exercising for the MultiTasking Mom

66

Dating to the Extreme

72

Remembering the Meaning of Mother’s Day

74

High-Tech Crime Fighting

76

Negro Baseball League Players Bring Living History

78

Leading Innovation, Changing Lives

80

Acting Out Instead of Acting Up

82

Local Organization rebuilds homes one weekend at a time

84

Graduation’s Gift to Gainesville

86

STOP! Children’s Cancer Night in Paradise

DEPARTMENTS

22

42

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

13

table of contents

88 Lifestyle

94

96

Travel Corner: Slow Down the Pace in Cedar Key and Steinhatchee Fashion Corner: Spring is Back with a Bang

90

102

Around Town

110 Where We’ve Been Editorial Cartoon

DEPARTMENTS

115 Jake’s Corner

14

HOME Living

Charities

102 Caution: Adults at Play – O2b A Kid Again! Fundraiser

Get To Know

116 Jessica Southard: The National Watermelon Queen

Education

104 Florida Races to the Top with 15 Other Finalists Calendar

106 Community Calendar 107 Newberry Watermelon Festival 108 Reeling for Kids 109 Lights, Camera, Fashion

In the Heart of Florida

110 LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

Oral Health Care Tips E

very day when kids come home from school, or come in from playing outside, they open the refrigerator and reach for the juice, soda or sports drinks they crave.

Unfortunately, for many children, these drinks – which are high in sugar, acids and calories – are the only drinks they consume, which among other health risks can contribute to poor dental care.

Dr. Cynthia Brush states, “Monitoring what children drink is an important step for parents in order to prevent cavities and tooth decay.”

The dental professionals at Tioga Dental Associates seek to arm parents with the knowledge of the dangers of soft drinks and tips to promote oral hygiene in the home. There are healthy drink options for children without sacrificing taste.

The doctors and staff at Tioga Dental Associates know because they are parents, too.

“Giving children fluids that will promote sound oral care starts at the infant level,” Dr. Michelle Orris said. Parents should be wary of baby bottle decay. Many parents put their children to sleep with a bottle. If children fall asleep with the bottle in their mouths, the liquids inside the bottle, like milk or juice, contain sugars that nourish bacteria into tooth-decaying acid. When repeated on a nightly basis, this process can be a recipe for cavities.

"A simple solution is to substitute water for the bedtime bottle," Dr. Orris added. Another suggestion is lightly wiping your child’s gums and teeth with a wet cloth after nighttime feeding to remove any excess bacteria. Milk and juice can provide essential nutrients for infants and toddlers, but it’s also important to know these liquids can have an adverse affect on growing teeth.

Older children can be tougher nuts to crack when it comes to introducing new nutritional drinks into their diets.

Pre-teens have developed tastes and preferences and tend to stick to what they like. But as we approach hotter temperatures, it’s important to keep an eye on what drinks your child is choosing to quench their thirst.

“Middle school-aged kids drink lots of sodas and sports drinks with lots of sugars that can lead to cavities when consumed in large quantities,” Dr. Brush said. “The electrolytes

from your friends at Tioga Dental

are important for them but it has to be complimented with healthy amounts of water and oral hygiene at home.”

“The leading sports drinks can contain up to 14 grams of sugar per serving. Since they are typically sold in 20- and 32-ounce bottles, only one a day is recommended,” Dr. Orris said. The best alternative to the high-calorie, high-sugar sports drink is sports water. Sports waters are often low in calories and low in sugar, but still provide essential nutrients and great flavor.

But it’s not just the sugar that can be harmful; it’s the acidity. Soft drinks contain carbonic acid, citric acid and phosphoric acid. Over time, these acids, in addition to sugar related damage, can erode the enamel coating of your teeth and lead to tooth decay (PH level in carbonated soft drinks can reach as low as 2.5, and the closer you get to zero, the closer you get to battery acid).

The ADA recommends rinsing out the mouth by drinking water after consuming any high-sugar, high acid beverages. The ADA also suggests encouraging your child to drink such beverages with a straw to avoid contact with teeth, or drink them with meals so the added saliva neutralizes acid production.

"Low-calorie, low-sugar drinks are going to be best for kids," Orris commented.

Another option is to dilute your child’s juice or sports drink with water. This reduces the sugar and empty calories they’ll take in each day.

Hopefully these tips will help your family make healthier choices the next time they reach for a beverage, and your next visit to Tioga Dental Associates a happy one.

"

Giving children fluids that will promote sound oral care starts at the infant level.

"

Dedicated To Bringing Smiles To Our Community

352-333-1946 www.TiogaDental.com 13005 SW 1st Road, Ste 233 Jonesville, FL 32669

paid advertisement

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

15

16

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

17

We All Agree...

Dominos IS Better check out our best deals, menu and 8 locations

www.GatorDominos.com

Janene Manning Alachua Branch Manager Gateway Bank

Darryl Tompkins Real Estate Attorney Gateway Bank Board Member

Laude Arnaldi Senior Vice-President Gateway Bank

Danny Gilliland Market President Gateway Bank

www.gatewaybankcfl.com

We'll Work Hard To Earn Your Business Gainesville Metro Corp Center 4100 NW 37th Place Gainesville, Fl. 32606 352-416-0330

Alachua Towne Center Crossing 15652 NW US Hwy 441 Alachua, Fl. 32615 386-418-8307

Ocala 1632 E. Silver Springs Blvd Ocala, Fl. 34470 352-368-3756

HOME Living In the Heart of Florida

From the Publisher

Publisher: Scott Costello Creative Director: Brad Palmer

Spring is here and activity is ramping up. April and May is that time of year when the Heart of Florida typically gets a little quiet, almost the calm before the storm. This issue of HOME: Living in the Heart of Florida is just the opposite however. Frankly, I am overwhelmed by the amount of activity of Spring and early Summer.

As usual, I start with our cover story. Trend Realty has been serving this community for 35 years, and it has been doing a tremendous job. Led by Tommy McIntosh, it is taking itself to a new level. In our cover story we share the story about how Trend is becoming an even greater asset to this community by becoming Rock Solid with its affiliation with Prudential Real Estate.

Another sure sign of Spring is the BANCF Parade of Homes™. Over the years, the Builders Association of North Central Florida has featured more than 1,500 homes. This Spring, it adds 31 new entries in 12 subdivisions. We have some of the most progressive builders in the country, so I am eager to see what new trends they will bring to us.

I am especially excited about our Community section in this issue because there is so much in it. That says to me that we are blessed to be living in a diverse, exciting community. In this issue, we include features on the Hippodrome State Theatre, Mother’s Day, Extreme Dating and a whole lot more.

For me, one of the highlights of this section is the kickoff of a series on education. This first entry deals with Race to the Top. A grant program from the U.S. Department of Education, Race to the Top offers states an opportunity to receive part of a $4.35 billion grant that will have a tremendous positive benefit on education in the state. Florida was named one of 16 finalists in March, and we should be hearing about the first phase of awards soon.

Speaking of education, our Charity story this time is about O2b a Kid Again!, a fundraiser at O2B Kids benefitting the Alachua County Schools Foundation where adults get to let loose and act like kids again. Get ready for activities like Alachua Idol karaoke, golf, basketball and giant board-game versions of Connect Four and Legos.

In Sports and Recreation, we spotlight the state-of-the-art archery facility in Newberry that attracts world-class archers for training and competition. But at the same time, it offers the opportunity for anyone to learn this sport.

Finally this month, I want to take a moment to talk about our own charity event – Taste of Home. We have been building momentum for this event with our Taste of HOME features in the magazine. Many of those same restaurants and others will be on hand Sunday, June 13, as well as some great entertainment. The beneficiaries of the funds raised at the event are the Child Advocacy Center, Children’s Home Society of Florida and three charities designated by the Leadership Gainesville 35– March of Dimes, Girls to Young Ladies and Take Stock in Children. We have solidified some great sponsors and are signing up the restaurants and auction items as we speak. For now, save the date and check out the Web site – www.TASTEofHOMEGainesville.com.

As always, I can’t tell you how much we appreciate your response to HOME. It makes it all worthwhile.

Editor: David Greenberg Assistant Editors: Sara Horn Jessica Lipscomb Advertising Sales Director: Sarah Sander Advertising: Kelsey Mulligan Daniel Pimentel Kristen Strobel Hallie Wunsch Public Relations Director: Faith Reaves Public Relations/ Event Planning: Lauren Aitchison Emily Davis Katy Davis Melissa Eidam Emily Merwin Staff Writers: Lauren Alexis Kate Ashby Brittany Brave Sara Brubaker Jessica Miller Callie Polk Maria Piquet Mara Rudolph Stephanie Thomas Morgan Watkins

Scott

Contributing Writers: Jon George Contributing Photographers: Coffey Shots Photography Mario’s Photography Photography 35

Scott Costello scott@advantagepublishinginc.com

Editorial Cartoonist: Jake Fuller E-News Brief: Diandra Lamas Advantage Publishing, Inc. 4140 NW 37th PL Suite D Gainesville FL 32606 (352) 372-5854 in Gainesville (352) 368-1707 in Ocala LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME™: Living in the Heart of Florida reserves the right to refuse advertisements for any reason. Acceptance of advertising does not mean or imply the services or product is endorsed or recommended by HOME™: Living in the Heart of Florida. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Advantage Publishing, Inc. Although every precaution is taken to ensure accuracy of published materials, Advantage Publishing cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors.

Manuscripts, artwork, photography, inquiries and submitted materials are welcome.

Visit us online: www.LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

21

COMMUNITY IMPACT STORY

“Scouts Honor” Photos by Mario's Photography

By Jessica Lipscomb and Lauren Alexis

Editor’s Note: As everyone celebrates Mother’s Day in May, we decided to feature some of the women that make the Heart of Florida what it is. Recently, the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council recognized the Women Who Make a Difference, and Santa Fe College honored the Women of Distinction. We are proud to bring you their stories.

A Girl Scout Council staff members Laura Myrick and Josh Zmroczek attend the reception for the honorees and alumni.

22

HOME Living

dorned with badges and troop numbers, each Girl Scout makes a pledge to serve her country and all people before every meeting. While not all of the women honored this year by the local Girl Scout council were scouts as children, all five lead lifestyles that exemplify these characteristics of service and integrity.

The women, Carrie Parker-Warren, Deloris Rentz, Carrie Lee, Sharon Connel and Carole Zegel were given the 2010 Women Who Make a Difference award by the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, which encompasses Gainesville, Jacksonville and Clay County.

The council puts on an annual luncheon to honor women leaders in the community.

Carrie Parker-Warren remembers becoming a Brownie at age six. For her, it meant learning to swim and make crafts while getting to hang out with older girls she could look up to.

“Some of the friendships developed at that early age remain today,” she said.

“I can never forget the years, experiences, friendships and knowledge I received as a Girl Scout.”

A retired administrator at P.K. Yonge, Parker-Warren now serves as the vice president of membership for the local chapter of The Links, a service organization of women dedicated to helping fellow African-Americans, and as president of Excelsior Matrons, another community service organization. Parker-Warren is also on several boards around the community, including Lincoln Middle School, the city’s code enforcement board, the Retired Teacher Association and Shands Cancer Hospital.

Deloris Rentz grew up in rural Louisiana, where Girl Scout troops weren’t available. Still, she possesses many of the qualities Girl Scouts pledge to – service to country and a dedication to help people whenever possible.

Rentz, who has lived in Alachua County for 32 years, has made her mark in the field of education teaching social studies at

In the Heart of Florida

Buchholz High School, where she was honored in 2005 with the Social Action Excellence in Teaching African and African American History Award before her retirement. She now exudes her passion for the arts by serving as financial secretary and member of the board of directors for the Cotton Club, a community center where B.B. King and James Brown once performed. Like Rentz, she is also an active member of The Links.

Carrie Lee’s family moved to Manhattan from Cuba in the mid-1950s, and then moved to Miami later in the 1960s. Because her mother and father worked hard to put her through Catholic school, there was little time or money for her to become a Girl Scout, yet she still developed into a strong community leader and advocate for women.

The first in her family to go to college, Lee received a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in education from UF, as well as obtaining a Realtor’s and a broker’s license so she could help with the family real-estate business. In 2001, she was appointed by then Governor Bush to the Florida Commission on the Status of Women, where she chaired several committees and eventually became secretary and chair of the commission.

Now working on her second master’s in pastoral studies at Loyola University, Lee is also part of a committee writing a book on how women have shaped and molded Florida history.

“The privilege of being an American and the real possibility of loss of freedom is a strong fabric of my personality,” she said.

“Each door opened for me has revealed an exciting and unique opportunity to learn, grow and contribute on multiple levels.”

Sharon Connell joined the Girl Scouts in order to be with her friends and learned the importance of helping the community.

“They encouraged other people that needed help. It was pretty simple little things that they suggested. I think it was just a good feeling, doing things to help other people. And I guess that’s where I started volunteering in a way, as a Girl Scout,” Connell said.

Connell has gone on to volunteer and sit on the board of many organizations, including the Thomas Center Associates Board and the Gainesville Woman Forum Board. Now she is the Office Administrator for Florida Blue Key Leadership Honorary.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

COMMUNITY IMPACT STORY

(right top) The 2010 women Who Make a Difference: (standing from left) Carrie Lee, Sharon Connel, (sitting from left) Delores Rentz, Carole Zegel and Carrie ParkerWarren (lower right) Two of the previous Women Who Make a Difference (left) Portia Taylor and Liz Jones were present at the reception.

Connell helps to oversee events such as Gator Growl, speech and debate tournaments, and many more.

For Carole Zegel, when she first joined the Girl Scouts, it meant being able to make friends. Being educated at a consolidated school, she only saw her friends at school or Girl Scout events. But the experience taught her much more.

“I learned how to do things I didn’t think I could do. And scouting helped me to do that, empowering me and enabling me to take on challenges,” Zegel said.

It is with that spirit that Zegel went on to head a number of organizations. One of her major moments was pioneering Guardian Ad Litem, which provides children in child abuse cases with their own spokesperson. Zegel also served as the executive director of the Office of the State Attorney. Zegel attributes the many jobs she filled to the confidence she gained from her family and the Girl Scouts.

“I never thought I would do anything like that. My primary goal was being a mother or being a teacher. And it’s because of my parents, who believed in me. I had people who believed in girls,” Zegel said.

Currently, Zegel is chairing the Board of Trustees of PACE Alachua Center for Girls. This program provides girls ages 12-17 with tutoring, counseling, mentoring and friendshipbuilding events. According to Zegel, the program gives girls selfconfidence.

“I could just see what we were doing for girls. They’re just philosophically and in there mission ready to offer girls the best opportunities for their future. It just seems like what I experienced, and now I can offer that to girls in a small way, with my small part in PACE,” Zegel said.

The Girl Scouts of Gateway Council will host a luncheon to celebrate these women at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center on May 5, at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $60 for a single and $550 for a table of 10. For reservations, call the council at (352) 376-3004.

The event will also highlight the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council. Several Girl Scouts will be in attendance, assisting in the plaque ceremony. All of the “Women Who Make a Difference” will also be speaking at the luncheon, said Fund Development Manager Sandra Snyder.

“This event highlights women in the community who may or may not be visible in the community, but should be because of all they’ve done for the community,” Snyder said. “Girl Scouts can see that they can be anyone they want to be and that they have the skills within.”

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

23

COMMUNITY IMPACT STORY

Lives of Service

Women of Distinction, honored by Santa Fe College

A

melia Earhart, Sally Ride and Frida Kahlo are all women throughout history who were tremendous influences on their societies.

While the nation celebrated these women and others like them in March, Santa Fe College took the time to honor six modern-day heroines for their devotion to improving the lives of those in their communities.

At the Alachua-Bradford County Women of Distinction luncheon, held on March 2 at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, Santa Fe recognized Evelyn Foxx, Cynthia Mingo, Nancy Perry, Lila Sellars and Deidra “Dee Dee” Cain Smith as esteemed women who have devoted years of service to their communities. The college also recognized University of Florida student Stephanie Covey as a young Woman of Promise for her compassion for the needy.

The Women of Distinction program began in 1987 after the U.S. Congress named March Women’s History Month. To find and choose the honorees, the college asks members of the community to send in nominations for women they believe have made exceptional achievements and portray strong character qualities and leadership skills. A

Lila Sellars

24

HOME Living

By Sara Horn and Jessica Miller

panel of judges from both counties then chooses the women most deserving of the award.

Nominated by her co-worker, Evelyn Foxx said being chosen for the award was an honor but also a surprise. She lives her life by doing for others as she would have done to her, she said.

And when she sees a need, she addresses it no matter how small.

“It’s just an everyday thing for me,” she said. As an insurance agent for 34 years, she remembers a time where she helped an elderly woman who was hard of hearing sort out her phone bill after she was being charged for services she didn’t need. It took four months, but Foxx helped her reduce her bill from more than $300 to $20.

“To me,” she said, “it’s the little things that are big to those in need.”

As part of a lengthy list of involvement, Foxx is an active member at Shady Grove Primitive Baptist Church, serves on the boards of many local and state-wide organizations, is active in local Democratic politics and serves as the vice president of the local NAACP. As a civil rights activist, she said she hopes to see a time where everyone can truly stand together as equals.

Evelyn Foxx

In the Heart of Florida

Editor’s Note: As everyone celebrates Mother’s Day in May, we decided to feature some of the women that make the Heart of Florida what it is. Recently, the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council recognized the Women Who Make a Difference, and Santa Fe College honored the Women of Distinction. We are proud to bring you their stories.

“I look forward to the day we can stand up and sing we have overcome, she said.

Having been a teacher of all ages for more than 38 years, people have told Cynthia Mingo to slow down. But this is the type of advice she said only encourages her to keep going.

“It’s like a well,” she said. “When it runs out, you just dig a little deeper.”

Mingo doesn’t limit her leadership abilities to the classroom but also serves her church family, Mount Olive African Methodist Episcopal. She devotes much of her time to the Ronald McDonald House where she volunteers every week at the front desk and organizes volunteer opportunities.

The most rewarding part of serving others, Mingo said, is the fruit that grows from it. She has received e-mails from former students telling her how she affected their lives, and this is what means the most to her.

“You never know who you’re touching,” she said.

Mingo grew up in a strong community and church family that supported her and pushed her to go further.

This encouragement is what has made her the person she is today, she said, and she hopes to be able to instill those values into the children she teaches.

DeeDee Cain Smith

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

Cynthia Mingo “Our future is in their hands,” she said.

Nancy Perry’s leadership and compassion has benefited the Gainesville community since she moved here from Michigan 30 years ago.

Happy to promote economic community development, Perry is proud of her personal relationship with the Gainesville Area of Chamber of Commerce where she started the Gainesville chapter of Junior Achievement.

“This created an opportunity for me to teach students about our great economic system,” she said.

Perry is a caring supporter and an advocate for the building trades. She is known everywhere for her positive, warm and loving encouragement of young people, especially those whose career goals are in construction. Since her husband, Charles R. “Chuck” Perry, the late owner of Perry Construction and PPI Construction Management, passed away in 2005, caring for these young people has been a way to carry on his legacy every day.

Perry is also active with an impressive number of organizations and charities throughout Gainesville, which include the Builders Association of North Central Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, PACE Center for Girls, Haven Hospice, Gainesville Community Foundation and Women’s Giving Circle.

She encourages others “to embrace the opportunity to become more philanthropic at any level. Buy a ticket, walk in a walk-a-thon; give back to your community in some way.”

Lila Sellars happiest moment was her election as 2008 Bradford County commissioner in District 3 as the first women to serve on the board in more than 30 years, but her accomplishments don’t stop there.

Proud to call Starke her home since 1988, Sellars is a member of the Kiwanis Club and served as president in 2005-06. She is a board member of the Bradford Arc, and has been a member of Bradford County Education Foundation since 2000 and continues to serve as secretary.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

Stephanie Covey She donates her time to many fundraisers has chaired Bradford County’s March of Dimes campaign in 2006 and co-chaired the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in 2009 and 2010.

When asked what she seeks in return for her endless commitment to the community, Sellars replied “the satisfaction of knowing I am helping others.”

Harry Hatcher, who nominated Sellars for the Santa Fe 2010 Women of Distinction award, wrote, “If you want a task done and done the right way, with the right attitude, then call 1-800-ASK-Lila.”

When Sellars isn’t with her family; husband, Tony Sellars; children, Allison and Phillip and grandchildren, Astrid and Dempsey, she dedicates some of her time to giving comfort and support to grieving parents, since she lost her daughter Marissa in a car accident in 2003.

Humbled and honored to receive the Women of Distinction award this year, she has no plans of stopping from her dedication to aid the people of her community.

“I will continue to serve and help the citizens of Bradford County in whatever endeavors I may be able to assist,” she said.

An Alachua native, DeeDee Cain Smith graduated from the University of Florida law school at age 39, has worked for Big Brothers and Big Sister, served as president of the Alachua Chamber of Commerce and Girls Place. And the list goes on.

“My passion has always been helping children and women in need,” she said.

With this passion as a driving force, Smith coordinated the family law section for the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) program, which lead to her private practice where she concentrated on family law and then to the development of the Child Advocacy Center, which she established and served as executive director.

“We just celebrated our 10-year anniversary,” Smith said. “It’s still a driving, important part of our community.”

Nancy Perry The Child Advocacy Center creates a lasting, positive impact for abused children in Gainesville, but Smith’s passions reach even beyond that. Her proudest accomplishments are her daughter, Alison, and two sons, Jesse and Dylan.

Stephanie Covey, the Woman of Promise, started giving to her community at and early age. When she was in preschool, she donated her toys and books to children who were victims of Hurricane Andrew.

Now, as a 20-year-old public relations student at the University of Florida, she is still devoting her time to helping needy children. Her proudest achievement is establishing a Backpack Club in her hometown and also in Gainesville. Once a month, Covey and a team of volunteers pack groceries, books and hygiene products into backpacks for needy children to take home from school.

For some of these children, the only meals they receive are the ones they’re fed in school, Covey said. Last year, she was able to distribute backpacks to 80 children in Bradenton, her hometown. This year, she has expanded her reach to Gainesville, allowing a total of 120 children to be fed through the program.

“It’s just amazing,” she said, “and I know how much these kids need it.”

Her goal is to see Backpack Clubs in other schools in Gainesville, but the clubs need more money to keep growing, she said. Her main focus is to provide children with what they need to learn and function efficiently.

Covey attributes her heart of service to growing up in a community-service-oriented home.

“It’s a passion of mine,” she said. “I don’t know how not to do it.”

Each woman honored received a vase and a certificate, said Cheryl Farrell, the coordinator of the luncheon. The Girl Scouts sang, and a video was played of each woman showing the audience firsthand how they serve their communites.

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

25

AROUND THE HOME

Landscape Calendar

Inspired by Monet Renew your landscape with Color

By Jon George, owner of Cottage Gardens Inc., a Gainesville based landscape design and installation firm. Jon has been gardening in North Central Florida for more than thirty years. You may contact his staff at www.TheCottageGardener.com or at cottagegardensinc@yahoo.com.

1 T

his is one of my favorite times of the year here in North Central Florida. The bees are buzzing and the hummingbirds are swooping into the garden to see if any new buds on the agapanthus have opened yet. All of this floral splendor reminds me of the time I spent in France living on the Seine river near artist Claude Monet’s gardens.

Monet loved gardening and was especially intrigued by the play of light and color on the landscape. My visits to his gardens made me eager to re-create some aspects of his plan for clients here in Florida where the temperatures are quite a bit warmer. This is a great time of the year to re-evaluate parts of your yard that need a lift. Try some of these tips that have worked for us. A little creativity and imagination are all you need to succeed.

3

HOME Living

Liven up a dull patio with container gardens.

Re-blooming hydrangeas and seasonal annuals fill this glazed stoneware basket created for a client that prefers pinks and purples.

Line the walkway to your house with a palette that softens hard edges. Shrub roses and creeping violets combine with dwarf spirea for a layered look.

4

6

Find a focal point and build a color story around it.

Blue garden pottery became a center piece for a vignette of yellow black-eyed susans, pink antique roses and blue agapanthus. This scene was planted right in view of the homeowner’s Repeat your favorite flower in successive drifts. bedroom window.

One of my wife’s favorite flower is agapanthus, so we set out to collect as many varieties as we A well designed landscape with layers could find. We were surprised to find so many of height and texture will add value to shades of blue, lavender and white. your home. With the right selection and placement of plant material, you can have an oasis of color in your garden all year.

Plant flowering vines. Hyacinth bean vines bloom most of the summer and attract hummingbirds. Whether draped over a picket fence or climbing over a walk-through arbor, vines provide a great way to bring color and scent close to the house.

5

5

2

26

1 2 3 4

Cool down partly shaded corners with true blue delphiniums. Blues and purples glow in early morning light. These tall blue spires are peaking right now in our gardens around town.

In the Heart of Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

AROUND THE HOME

www.TheCottageGardener.com

(352)333-9661 serving Alachua Co. since 1995

Design Consultations Planting

6

Continuing Garden Care

GRU Partner

2010 BANCF Parade of Homes

™

M

ore than 1,500 homes have been featured in the Builders Association of North Central Florida (BANCF) Parade of Homes™ since its inception in 1955. This spring, 31 new entries are being added to that list, as 15 builders have entries in the parade.

As always, the parade will showcase the latest in home design, along with the hottest new trends in home accessories and amenities.

So for nine days this month, from April 17 to 25, come out and see the creative things being done by our local builders and developers. The parade hours are 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays.

New Generation Home Builders

Dibros Corporation

By Lauren Alexis

By Lauren Alexis

Combining more than 80 years of experience, New Generation Home Builders has been putting the customer first as it builds quality homes in North Central Florida.

The company’s original founder, Larry Ross, began as a framer in Columbus, Ohio. After working with his brothers, Larry decided to take his own family including wife and co-founder, Bonnie, to Florida in order to build his own company. Larry continued his framing business and became a licensed contractor. His company, Larry Ross Builders, made its mark on Gainesville with several communities, including Rockwood Villas, Woodside Villas, and Blues Creek.

Larry and Bonnie’s children, Scot Ross and Trina Seay, worked for Larry Ross Builders. Each learned the different departments in their parent’s company literally from the ground up. Larry and Bonnie realized they wanted to retire and pass on their legacy to their children. They began New Generation in 1996 with the idea of having it managed by Scot and Trina.

Currently, Scot is the president and general contractor at New Generation Home Builders while Trina is the full-time office manager and director of marketing and public relations. They have built the majority of the homes in Wellington Place, South Pointe and many in Blues Creek.

“New Generation is a solid, family-owned business that cares about their customers. We work hard to exceed your expectations; providing quality homes in some of Gainesville’s best locations,” Seay said.

Luis Diaz was never one to settle for anything less than the best. That philosophy led to his dream of building houses, and that eventually led him to building a whole community – the Town of Tioga.

It was his dream, and now it’s his duty.

“We started working on the idea of Tioga about 18 years ago, and we still have plenty to do. It’s my other child. But it’s never boring,” Diaz said.

Dibros began in 1980 by Luis’ father, Miguel, wanted a family business. While getting his degree in building construction at the University of Florida, Luis joined Dibros. Luis set to work on his dream in 1991, and after a lot of persistence, created it. The Town of Tioga is now Luis’ dream incarnate.

Nothing is too small for Dibros’ consideration.

Dibros designs and builds everything from spacious dwellings to outdoor community open space plazas. Even the street lights have been chosen specifically to keep glare out of the eyes of residents and visitors as they stroll. It’s this marriage of practicality and design that make Tioga a place that feels healthier and better to live in, Diaz said.

New Urbanism influences a lot of the design behind Dibros and consequently the Town of Tioga. This theory promotes a walkable, sustainable community. Dibros’ entry in this year’s parade exemplifies this. Dibros is entering Tioga Town Center’s Town Square, making it the first community space in the parade.

New Generation Home Builders (352) 377-1294 http://www.nghomes.com

30

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

Dibros Corporation (352) 331-7451 w w w. t ow n o f t i o g a . c o m / builders-Dibros.html

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

2010 BANCF Parade of Homes

™

Pridgen Homes

By Maria Piquet For the Pridgens, their reputation is worth more than silver and gold. It’s everything. Without their reputation as honest, trustworthy, hard working builders, Pridgen Homes Inc. would not be where it is today, as one of the top building companies in the area.

Pridgen Homes was started by Ron Pridgen and his brother-in-law in 1974. Since then, the company has hundreds of homes, remodels and additions in North Central Florida. Today, it is operated by Ron and his two sons, Jamie and Jody.

With every house it builds, the father-son team stays true to its hard-earned name.

Pridgen Homes’ attention to detail sets it apart from other building companies. The Pridgens pride themselves on inspecting every little part of a home and making sure it’s as close to perfect as a house can get.

From having the door-hinge finish coordinate with the rest of the metals in the home to making sure the dining room light is perfectly centered over the table, nothing is overlooked. Pridgen even uses use high-quality piping, electrical and duct work to prevent future problems.

Most contractors hire an architect to design a customer’s house. Pridgen Homes provides that service

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

as part of its effort to add value. Jamie Pridgen, who is trained and experienced in design and drafting, does the work himself. He listens to a customer’s demands and sketches out their future home, changing and customizing everything to perfectly suit individual tastes and needs.

Jamie has successfully designed and built more than 78 homes in the past nine years. Jamie also takes care of the company’s customer relations. He is the first and only point of contact during the entire process.

The Pridgens don’t just build houses. They build homes. To help people personalize their homes, the company offers an interior decorator for customers who need help deciding on the small but important details of their new house, like cabinet color, wall paper texture, door knob style and shingle color.

Pridgen Homes houses are energy efficient and maintenance free, making owning a house easier and less expensive.

These houses and their pleased residents serve as testimonials to the hard work and dedication the Pridgens put into all of their projects.

Pridgen Homes Inc. (352) 475-5500 www.PridgenHomesInc.com

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

31

2010 BANCF Parade of Homes

™

Sapphire Builders

Robinshore Inc.

G.W. Robinson Homes

By Mara Rudolph

Sapphire Builders has constructed thousands of homes for area residents for the past 25 years. President and founder Merrill Pugh and his team build affordable single-family homes that are stylish and energy efficient while maintaining the integrity of construction in these modern times.

Sapphire Builders installs modern, energyefficient appliances, and each home features a tankless water heater. Granite countertops and birch wood cabinets are standard in their residential designs. Prices start at $155,000.

This builder is currently building homes at Willow Oak Plantation and offers six different floor plans between 1,400 and 2,000 square feet with prices ranging from $155,000 to $230,000.

With a building portfolio that also includes homes in Haile Plantation, Hickory Forest, Kimberly Woods and the Kensington North and Kensington South Condominiums, Sapphire Builders is one of the area’s leading residential builders. Pugh and his team also offer commercial designs.

By Morgan Watkins

By Callie Polk

A leader in Alachua County construction for more than 30 years, Robinshore Inc. strives to provide quality homebuilding for customers by providing personalized assistance every step of the way.

Robinshore was founded in 1980 by Tom Robinson. He instilled in the company a dedication to creating homes in which homeowners can safely live. That simple concept has led to the trend of homeowners returning to the builder on future projects. For these returning homeowners, Robinshore is entrusted with helping them build homes that fit the new developments in their lives.

Today, that philosophy remains with Robinson serving as company chairman, Adam Bolton as president and Lori Willis as senior sales representative.

The company uses a stress-free building process that creates positive business experiences for both Robinshore and its customers. Experienced sales representatives provide individualized help to homeowners before they sign a contract, and customers can choose from a wide range of floor plans. Buyers can take their time when choosing colors and materials for their homes by using the on-site design center provided by Robinshore, which is staffed with an interior designer to provide assistance and expertise.

Robinshore takes a holistic approach to home construction, seeking to provide buyers with a positive experience when purchasing and building their new home.

For more than 40 years, G.W. Robinson has provided homebuyers with quality homes that reflect each customer’s unique taste and needs.

The design and selection process is formatted to be stress free and even enjoyable. Various floor plans to choose from provide the most functionality for every home. G.W. Robinson’s two model centers, located in Turnberry Lake and Garison Way, and design center located at their main office also give homebuyers a chance to see a furnished home and choose from cabinetry, counter tops, flooring, lighting and any other desired details.

Not only do the homes look good, but utility bills will take a drastic plunge with G.W. Robinson’s first net-zero energy home. This is the best energy performance a home can achieve at this time, having the lowest score on the E-scale based off of the Home Energy Rating System Index. Adding a Solar PV to a G.W. Robinson GreenSmart home will make your meter go backward thus saving some green while being more Earth-friendly.

GreenSmart is the name for the high performance features engineered into all of G.W. Robinson homes. Every GreenSmart home measures 60 or below on the E-scale, about 25 percent more energy efficient when measured against new homes built to code. Each home also provides better water conservation, cleaner indoor air, decreased environmental impact and durability that have a lower ongoing cost of ownership.

Elegance, superior customer service and outstanding curb appeal are all available when creating a G.W. Robinson home thanks to talented craftspeople and experienced employees. For a home that will last for years to come with a value that cannot be matched, turn to G.W. Robinson Homes.

Sapphire Builders (352) 331-3343

Robinshore Inc. (352) 371-1992 http://www.robinshore.com

G.W. Robinson Homes (352) 373-1724 www.gwrobinson.com

32

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

CURVE APPEAL E AL VALU N O ATTRACTIV I T A S N E E NEW HOMES AT A S

Come see us at the intersection of Tower and Archer Roads.

• Superior Features • Affordable Prices • Energy Efficient • Dazzling Designs • Personal Service • Quality Construction

(352) 318-9864 kara@suttonfamilyhomes.com

www.suttonfamilyhomes.com CRC 1328840

Timeless Style and

Attention to Detail



In-house Drafting



Building in Gainesville for 37 years



National Winner of Chrysalis Award for Remodeling Excellence



Furnished Model Home Available for Viewing



Building in 4 Northwest Communities

CBC #012631

Please visit us at spaincooper.com or call (352)376-6372 for details.

2010 BANCF Parade of Homes

™

Advantage Home Builders

Tommy Williams Homes

By Sara Horn

By Kate Ashby

What began as a close friendship for Doug Griesemer and Tommy Cochrane became a respected business relationship with the start of Advantage Home Builders. Griesemer and Cochrane started the business about two years ago in the Jacksonville area and sold 38 homes in their first year.

Both realized they had similar interests when they met in 1996 while working for the same company in Jacksonville. When the time came, the two decided to take matters into their own hands and create a company based on honesty and integrity. At the heart of Advantage Home Builders is customer satisfaction, said Griesemer, who has 25 years of experience in the industry.

Each customer is valued equally, no matter the size of the home.

“We always want someone to be treated how we want to be treated,” he said.

Both Griesemer and Cochrane treat every home as if they were building their own.

With the buyer’s needs in mind, they are flexible with floor plans and home locations and are Energy Star certified. Buyers are free to customize a floor plan to their liking, choose a home location in one of the company’s featured communities or choose to build on their own lot.

Advantage Home Builders’ strong relationships with its subcontractors are key to the company’s success. “We have a great group of people around us that has helped us get this new company started,” Cochrane said. “And with their continued help, we feel we will continue to grow in this market.”

Tommy Williams’ dedication to customer service and the environment stemmed from his childhood on his family’s farm in Archer.

“He was born and raised caring for the land,” said Todd Louis, the builder’s vice president and director of marketing.

That attitude drove Williams to develop a company that builds homes with minimal impact on the environment. Tommy Williams Homes has been building green homes for the past eight years, recently introducing Florida’s first zero-energy production home.

Every home features energy-efficient materials, such as Low-E, Double Pane insulated vinyl windows that block 100 percent of UV rays, heat-blocking roof barriers, as well as 16-SEER air conditioning systems that exceed federal and state energy requirements.

The homes are designed to meet and exceed standards set by Building America, a U.S. Department of Energy Program, Energy Star and the Florida Green Building Coalition.

To prove to customers that its homes are truly more energy efficient, Tommy Williams Homes pays each customer’s first-year of electric bills. The company builds developments throughout Alachua County. The homes are traditional-contemporary with a craftsman style featuring full-front porches, columns and railings. Longleaf also features the company’s first zero-energy home, which utilizes solar panels and special interior duct work to eliminate energy bills.

Advantage Home Builders (904) 342-0771 www.advantagehomebuilders.net

Tommy Williams Homes 352-331-8180 www.tommywilliamshomes.com

Barry Rutenberg and Associates Inc./ Arthur Rutenberg Homes

By David Greenberg With three generations in the building industry, the Rutenberg’s have learned many things. Chief among those is how to build the best home for the value.

Barry Rutenberg and Associates Inc., a franchisee of Arthur Rutenberg Homes, has been building high-quality, custom homes in North Central Florida since 1973.

That value is increased by the expertise of the three generations.

Barry Rutenberg is in his third decade of homebuilding in Gainesville. Not only is he an expert in building custom homes, he is highly knowledgeable about all facets of the industry.

His father, Arthur, started Arthur Rutenberg Homes in 1953, and in 1978 he began developing a franchise operation partnering with independent builders. That highly successful model has spread across Florida and beyond in the last quarter century, and it came to Gainesville in 2008.

Daughter, Lisa Kinsell and her husband, Dale, are the third generation. With the growing experience, they are preparing to lead this company well into the future.

The goal has always been to offer a satisfying and positive experience for homebuyers and build them their dream home. To achieve its goal, the Rutenberg team works with the homebuyers from start to finish – starting with selecting a floor plan or working with their full-time architect to design their home and going all the way to delivering the home with their Gold Standard Closing.

All of that is good news for Gainesville residents who have come to expect and receive the high quality and value in a Rutenberg home.

Barry Rutenberg and Associates Inc./Arthur Rutenberg Homes (352) 373-8466 arthurrutenberghomes.com

34

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

35

2010 BANCF Parade of Homes

™

Hartley Brothers Construction

Magnolia Homes

Joyner Construction

By Stephanie Thomas

By Sara Horn

By Mara Rudolph

With 30 years of experience building homes for families in North Central Florida, Hartley Brothers Construction continues its tradition of offering quality, style and value to the new homebuyer.

Brothers, Robert and Phil, started the company in 1980. Brother, Steve, joined the team in 1989 to direct the sales and marketing department. The company’s primary focus is to build homes that are affordable for families. Whether building on your land or in one of the neighborhoods offered by the group, each home's design is developed using universal design concepts, the systems approach to energy efficiency and then modified by each family's preferences and personality.

With more than 1,000 homes built over the years, Hartley Brothers ensures client satisfaction.

The team is flexible with accommodating each family’s needs and desires with in-house design and decorator services.

This year's parade home is in Weschester.

Other Hartley Brothers homes may be seen in Willow Oak Plantation off Archer Road, Fletcher Park off Southwest 122nd Street and in Savannah Station in Alachua.

With more than 75 years of combined experience in concrete-block home building, Bill Keyes and Ben Basile of Magnolia Homes pride themselves on providing quality homes for residents in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Yulee, Fernandina Beach and Gainesville.

When it comes to creating a new home, Magnolia Homes believes nothing is better than block. As one of the most durable materials for home construction, concrete block doesn’t rot, rust or warp.

In a state where heat, humidity and moisture are the norm, concrete block can reduce maintenance costs. Concrete blocks are more solid and air-tight than other materials, which saves the homeowner energy costs throughout the year. The blocks let in 66 percent less outside noise, keep in warm air longer in the winter and cool air longer in the summer.

Not only is concrete block durable and energy efficient, said Magnolia Homes, but it is also safe. With eight inches of concrete between the homeowner and the outside elements, a concrete block home provides security and a sense of peace.

The blocks don’t burn, which lowers fire insurance rates and are also termite resistant.

With thousands of Magnolia Homes homeowners spread across North Florida, the company is committed to consistently adding to and improving its list of house plans. Magnolia Homes also offers potential owners the opportunity to customize an existing plan to ensure all their requirements are met. A new home can be a person’s pride and joy, but also one of life’s biggest investments, and Magnolia Homes is proud to offer elegant and durable homes for an affordable price.

Joyner Construction, Inc. (JCI) has successfully been doing commercial and residential projects in the Alachua County area for over 35 years.

The founding CEO, Millard Joyner, and his partner and president of the company, Richard Wagner, met at the University Of Florida School of Building Construction and after graduation in 1972 decided to make Gainesville their hometown.

The company’s original philosophy and mission statement was “to produce the best product for the best price and regard customer satisfaction as the number one priority,” and it still holds true today. Through its core mission of maintaining honesty and integrity in every project JCI produces, the company has managed to develop numerous commercial projects of all sizes and well over 1,200 custom residential homes.

Some of JCI’s marquee commercial projects are the Gainesville Health & Fitness Center on Newberry Road and Tioga Town Center, Jackson Square Condominiums, the Mercantile Bank on Tower Road and the recently completed X-hale building. Its signature residential projects can be seen throughout all phases of Haile Plantation, Tower 24, Madera, Villas of West End and other major subdivisions.

The teamwork at JCI is reflected in their excellent reputation of bringing customer satisfied projects in on time and within budget.

Hartley Brothers Construction, Inc. (352) 332-2112 www.hartleybrothers.com

Magnolia Homes (352) 376-3109 www.magnoliahomesflorida.com

36

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

Joyner Construction Inc. (352) 332-8171 www.joyner-construction.net

2010 BANCF Parade of Homes

™

Shannon Homes of Gainesville

Tommy Waters Custom Homes

Warring Homes

By Brittany Brave

By David Greenberg

By Jessica Lipscomb

Shannon Homes of Gainesville is a luxury homebuilder that provides its clients with a unique custom-design experience.

For more than 20 years, hundreds of custommade and Florida-friendly homes have been fashioned under the care of its two leaders – Mike and Cathy Shannon, who have customer attention, up-to-date home trends and a passion for their profession down to a science.

Insisting their work is more of a hobby rather than a job, both Mike and Cathy have had a longterm interest in homes. They began dating during their time at the University of Florida and together decided this business was best for them.

“He’s the technical, ‘nuts and bolts’ part of it.

I’m more of the creative process” said Cathy.

What started as a curiosity in building a home for themselves, later evolved into an extensive background in home construction, as well as commercial work. Coupled with Cathy’s artistic forte, the husband-wife duo soon perfected dynamic home design and structure. Committing to provide unusual finishes and integration of exterior and interior space, they ensure that “every square foot is working for you.”

Keeping up with the Florida market, they make certain of both indoor and outdoor enjoyment with their creations, a quality they feel is of utmost importance, and do their best to “bring out the personal aspects of the client, using the things they love, the colors they love and creating that home feel,” she said.

A smaller, family-owned company, building and designing a limited number of homes per year, Shannon Homes of Gainesville brings new meaning to the phrase, less is more.

Pride, integrity and tradition, these are the most significant ingredients merged into a Tommy Waters home.

Tommy Waters is a second-generation family builder with knowledge acquired through hard work, as well as dedication to building every home as if it were his own.

Waters insists on holding himself to high standards. Such standards were first set by his father Robert Waters, who started Waters Builders in 1954. In 1985, the firm became Tommy Waters Custom Homes, Inc. At the age of 17, Waters completed his first Gainesville Home Builders parade home making him the youngest builder to ever participate in the local Parade of Homes. He has experienced great success over the past 35 years by providing Gainesville with unique, creative and welldesigned custom homes, making Tommy Waters' name synonymous with quality, excellence and client commitment. Derek Waters, Tommy’s son, has joined the company as a third-generation builder with hopes of maintaining the standard set by his father and grandfather.

Waters believes that the home you build is such an essential part of your life. It should be an inspiration for living. At Tommy Waters Custom Homes, they believe in building a home that reflects strong character – some of it theirs, some of it yours.

When it comes to home building, it’s all in the details for the Warring brothers.

It’s obvious when you step into the office of Mark and Greg Warring of Warring Homes that the options are unlimited. Stained wood floors, floorto-ceiling windows, wood ceilings and trusses and exposed brick walls set the stage for the endless possibilities available when building a new home.

Attention to detail is evident as the homeowner selects from all the choices.

Mark Warring started the company in 1995 and soon found a niche being a low-volume, detailoriented, flexible builder with a knack for smart design, good value and a building team that is second-to-none.

Mark is adept at building locally partly because he’s lived his whole life in Gainesville. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Florida, and his grade school through graduate school are all within a five-mile radius of his office and the neighborhoods in which he builds.

Warring Homes specializes in transforming dreams into reality. Mark and Greg select only six or seven custom homes a year to build. They personally oversee each project and are committed to providing energy and experience to help homeowners progress from home conceptualization to move-in.

To start off, the brothers create the perfect floor plan and exterior design to complement the homeowner’s lifestyle. From there, the interior designer assists with color coordination and choice of innovative materials. A consultation helps the homeowner and builder collaborate on specific details that will achieve a balance of warmth, style and value.

After that, it’s home sweet home.

Shannon Homes of Gainesville (352) 331-8801

38

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

Tommy Waters Custom Homes, Inc. (352) 336-7600 www.tommywaters.com

Warring Homes, Inc. (352) 333-8400 www.warringhomes.com

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

AROUND THE HOME

The sinks in the kitchen and the bathrooms, as well as any other water fixtures, all meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for efficiency and have achieved the WaterSense designation. Additionally, the toilets are dual flush, and there is a second, smaller, tankless water heater in the master bathroom to create hot water more quickly.

40

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

Keeping It Green

By David Greenberg

AROUND THE HOME

photography by Brad Palmer

D

avid Melville was still waiting to hear late last month from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). He remains hopeful that everything he has done in his 3,300-square-foot, two-story home in southwest Gainesville will earn him the community’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) platinum-certified home – the highest designation offered.

Melville, the owner of David Melville Contracting Services Inc. (DMCS), took seven months to build the home in Brytan, the mixed-use, traditional neighborhood being developed on Archer Road in southwest Alachua County by Brice Business Group.

During every step of the way, Melville carefully balanced green-building methods and materials with the cost. Here are some of the highlights of those decisions.

All the fascia board, cement-board siding, decking, columns, railing, the exterior soffit, ceiling, columns and railing are made of composite materials. Pavers, which are porous and reduce runoff into the groundwater, were used instead of concrete. The metal roof offers a high solar reflective index – reflecting heat and sun and creating a better overall performance for the entire home envelope itself. All of the landscaping is Florida friendly, native plants and has minimal turf to maintain.

The Centipede grass is drought

All the flooring products in the home have a measurable amount

of

recycled

material.

The

windows use plantation shutters made of composite material,

resistance, and

low

requires

maintenance minimal

chemicals for upkeep. The drip irrigation system is

creating a level of privacy

all reclaimed water. The

and shading, but allowing

exterior lighting is all

in natural light.

Energy Star, and there is no uplighting to avoid night sky pollution.

The home includes a two-ton HVAC system with a true variable-speed compressor and has an effective SEER rating of 26, although it is rated at 24. The unit can cycle at 164 different speeds, compared to the four to eight speeds of a typical unit. The system pre-cools the fresh air it is bringing in before introducing it into the HVAC system itself. It also dehumidifies that air. The home also has an on-demand, gas, tankless waterheater system.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

41

Joe’s Place - Gainesville photography by Brad Palmer

42

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

This Is

Good Eatin'

by Brad Palmer

J

oe’s Place, tucked away in Timberwood Village just off of Northwest 39th Avenue is a restaurant that has something to satisfy anyone’s tastes. This family-friendly restaurant combines great service with satisfing dishes which feature with an array of locally produced tempeh, meats and vegetables.

If you like to share, then the chicken nachos are the choice for you. Piled high, it comes with shredded chicken, onions, tomatoes, cheddar and Monterey jack cheese, lettuce, jalapenos, sour cream corn, black beans, and salsa (try to say that in one breath). Order one, and you may be able to feed a small army with the leftovers.

The must have is the tomato basil soup, which you find on their award-winning soup and salad bar. This is more than just a traditional tomato soup. Take tomato soup broth and add onions, carrots, cheese and just the right amount of basil, garlic and olive oil. The list could go further, but the end product is a sweet herbaceous flavor soup that is complemented with hearty chunks of fresh ripe tomato.

The mushroom bacon burger is a smorgasbord of flavor and texture – sautéed mushrooms, topped with cheddar cheese over grilled onions all atop several pieces of bacon and laid to rest on a perfectly prepared hamburger patty. If you want all the flavor of a burger that you pulled off the grill in your own backyard, but without the effort, then this is it.

For those with an Asian flare, try the Asian chicken salad which combines a garlic glazed chicken with a sesame ginger vinaigrette dressing and fresh cilantro. If that doesn’t work for you that try something a bit more tradition like the pork chop which combines the mildly sweet flavor of a balsamic glaze, with basil and feta.

Their Reuben sandwiches can be ordered with the traditional corned beef, or for those seeking the super healthy alternative, substitute the beef with tempeh and wala – you’ve turn your Reuben into a tempeh “Rachel.” Either way what you get is a great flavor that sits between two slices of perfectly toasted, locally baked, Rye bread.

Finish the meal off with one of Joe’s splendid cheesecakes. A fan favorite is the Oreo cheesecake. Homemade daily, this treat is considered heaven on a plate – Oreo crust with an Oreo-cheesecake base and topped with chocolate ganache and crumbled Oreos.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

43

Northwest Grille - Gainesville

S

o you think you know Northwest Grille, but it has been upgraded, so you need to revisit this time-tested restaurant. Whether your dining in for lunch and dinner or catering an event, the masterpieces created by Chef Chris Fennel and his Sous Chef Ellie Hawthorne are sure to exceed expectations with every bite.

The owners have made a conscious effort to buy products from local farms. They say it makes all the difference in the quality of their food and they even recently added tempeh to the menu to satisfy the wants of many of their customers. They have also broken from tradition in that the vegetable of the day now changes weekly, adding a wider variety of

44

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

choices for the customer and giving more business to local farmers.

The stuffed grouper is stellar. Start with a filet of locally caught grouper; add to it a divine Florentine cream sauce which is a combination of spinach mushrooms, cream, parmesan and garlic shallots.

Then stuff the filet with crab mirepoix, a stuffing created from mixing onions, celery, carrots, red and green peppers, whole eggs, parsley and scallions.

If you want a more traditional seafood then try the salmon Florentine made from a large helping of salmon on a bed of garlic mushrooms and spinach.

The NY strip is a 12-ounce, hand-cut filet of beef that is covered in a gorgonzola and drizzled with a port wine demi-glaze. The dish is oozing with an abundance of flavor; the port wine has a light sweetness in your mouth which contrasts nicely with the savory flavor of the gorgonzola and steak.

The Thai shrimp is not only a great entree but a very popular catering item. It starts with a healthy serving of skewered shrimp a

by Brad Palmer

top a portion of rice. All of which is enhanced by Northwest secret Thai sauce that is made from peanuts, sweet Thai chili, a dash of lime and sriracha – which is a sunripened, red pepper originally from Vietnam. It has got a little kick but the flavor and heat aren’t overbearing – really the taste is borderline addictive.

Sesame Crusted Tuna combines tuna that is marinate in rice wine vinegar, dipped in an egg batter and breaded in sesame seeds. The tuna is then sautéed in garlic, ginger, scallions and peppers before being deglazed with a sherry, soy sauce, sesame oil and fish stock combination. Top it off with a spoonful of wasabi and you have an item that tastes great and has a jolt of Asian flavor in every bite.

Banana chocolate chip cheesecake is pure bliss.

It’s a special item you can only get on certain days of the week. Chef Fennel cooks up a different specialty cheesecake every day, enticing patrons to return every day to taste the latest surprise. The specialty cheesecakes include Oreo, white chocolate, peanut butter, orange creamsicle or a heavenly red velvet – any one of which makes a perfect finish to a perfect meal.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

Gator’s Dockside Gainesville

By Callie Polk

photography by Brad Palmer

G

ator’s Dockside may not have originated in Gainesville, but it sure found its niche on Newberry Road. Food, sports and Gators are just part of life in The Swamp.

More than 20 televisions and eight projectors surround high-tops and booths for the best viewing experience for sporting events or game days. Pool tables, arcade games and a bar help make the atmosphere fun, but food is still the reason everyone gathers at Gator’s.

Starting off with the Gator Tail is only natural.

Thick, crunchy batter surrounds succulent alligator tail with a home-style flavor. Served in bite-sized pieces with a spicy dipping sauce, this appetizer is a popular choice. Another fried appetizer just added to the menu is the Fried Green Tomatoes. A Southern favorite, these tart tomatoes are served with a Cajun dipping sauce that balance everything out perfectly.

For hungry Gators, the massive Famous Gator Platter is one plate with a half rack of baby back ribs, six wings, six fried shrimp, fries, coleslaw and garlic toast. As soon as this dish hits the tabletop, the sweet and spicy aroma floods the air. Gator’s wings often draw out a crowd especially since there are 15 sauces to choose from ranging from burning hot to sweet or teriyaki. “Gator’s Own” hot sauce will leave your lips burning, and the Scooter sauce is a great mix of sweet with a little kick.

For more health conscious eaters, the steak and pepper salad is a great source of protein and veggies.

Crisp romaine lettuce, red peppers and jalapeños, tomato and bleu cheese crumbles are served with balsamic vinaigrette or whatever dressing is preferred.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

The Turkey Muffalatta is another favorite. Gator’s homemade spinach and artichoke dip is spread on a round pita-style sandwich topped with Swiss and parmesan cheese, tomato and grilled turkey.

This creamy sandwich is cut into fourths to savor each bite or share with others.

If you’re in the mood to share, the towering Chocolate Cake Envy has layers of moist chocolate cake separated by chocolate fudge, a layer of white chocolate mousse, and white and dark chocolate chips. Finally, the entire creation is covered with a rich chocolate ganache.

Gator’s Dockside definitely covers all the bases whether you’re out with the family or just watching

the game. From the first inning to the ninth, appetizers to dessert, customers are sure to find something right up their alley.

Green Plantains Gainesville

By Callie Polk

T

he fusion of Chinese and Latin cuisine is only available in Gainesville at Green Plantains, on 34th Street near Williston Road. The experience is known as Nuevo Chino Latino, and as catchy as the phrase is, you may find yourself caught up in the food.

The bourbon boneless ribs are a sweet appetizer that will taste like you’re eating dessert first. The smoky marinated ribs are grilled and brushed with a sweet bourbon glaze that is familiar to Chinese food enthusiasts. The thick honey-like glaze is well worth some sticky fingers.

Taking a spin off of a traditional ropa vieja, the chef marinates the shredded steak in au jus instead of a tomato sauce. The meat is slow-cooked and healthier than the traditional dish. Crispy yuca frita, fried yuca, are cooked the traditional Latin-way with a crispy outside and tender center, a great substitute for French fries. A simple house salad comes on the side with lettuce, tomato and shredded carrots.

Green Plantains has a theory to let the natural ingredients speak for themselves, so dressings and sauces are not offered for all foods, and the restaurant encourages diners to enjoy the food without masking the flavor with a sauce.

The grilled sampler platter features three meats on one plate, each with a separate marinade for a tender, flavorful piece every time. Grilled chicken, pork chop, shrimp and chorizo, or pork sausage, are all options. Then add a side of pinto beans better than any others and a house salad for a balanced

46

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

photography by Brad Palmer

meal. The pinto beans are slow-cooked and combined with several key spices. Cumin, onions, garlic, basil and finally pumpkin all act as secret weapons fighting for supreme flavor.

Chofan Nuevo Latino combines Chinese fried rice with bits of crispy bacon, chicken, shrimp and pork rind. Cooked in vegetable oil, this dish is exploding with different flavors and textures. Crunchy, chewy, sweet and salty can all be found in this one dish for meat-lovers.

For a seafood dish, the Shrimp Mofongo or Flamingo Fish both offer a chance to try something exciting and new. Mashing fried green plantains, garlic and other ingredients until a small moldable mountain is formed, creates mofongo, a dish generally served in Puerto Rico. A tomato sauce with green pepper, onions and meat surrounds the little mountain.

The light, white fish in the Flamingo Fish is baked on a bed of onions and smothered in fresh mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Mushrooms, chorizo and green onions make this dish pop. Each bite has melted cheese, onions and a bite of mushroom or chorizo varying each bite.

Customers are welcome to sit and relax in the spacious restaurant with Latin tunes livening up the atmosphere. However, the luscious flan is something customers don’t want to miss before they leave. This simple recipe for a traditional flan made of milk, egg and vanilla and drizzled in homemade caramel takes three hours of tender-loving care for perfection.

Contrast the abundance of high quality food you get in each dish with the fabulously low prices, and one time at Green Plantains and you may become a regular.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2:30 pm Sun Lunch 12:00 - 5:00 pm Dinner 7 Days 5:00-10:00 pm

Call For Reservations

101 SE Second Place #118

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

352-371-2323

Gainesville - Downtoan Sun Center

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

47

David's Real Pit BBQ - Gainesville

By Sara Horn

photography by Brad Palmer

W

henever you get the craving for a delectable home-cooked meal, David’s Real Pit Bar-B-Que has got you covered. With a menu bursting with hearty portions of Southern goodness, David’s satisfies appetites with great breakfasts in the morning, and addictive bar-b-que noon and night.

The heart of David’s menu is the meat.

Whether it be chicken, pork or ribs, it’s all slow-cooked in a 100 percent authentic Oak Wood fire in what the restaurant proudly calls “The Pit.” The result? A rugged, smoky flavor, which the meat absorbs like a sponge.

David’s famous specialty, the pork, is cooked for more than 24 hours until it is soft and tender. After it’s slid off the bone and chopped into fine pieces, it’s heaped onto a plate or piled into a sandwich to enjoy with a helping of cold, crisp Cole Slaw or your choice from a wide variety of side dishes.

And worthy of mention are the onion rings.

Fried until golden with a crispy crust and a crunchy inside, these are a definite must.

Over 1,000 slabs of ribs a month are treated with some quality time in “The Pit.” Every slab is dry rubbed in “secret spices” eight to 10 hours before and spends another four to five hours inside. This combi-

48

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

nation creates a slab of ribs that fall off the bone unlike any other. No yanking or tugging necessary, just sit back and sink your teeth in.

If you’re not a red meat fan, the chicken is packed with just as much flavor and given just as much attention. With a crispy, seasoned skin and a moist inside, you can't go wrong.

Every meat is scrumptious enough on its own, but feel free to experiment with David's eight choices of homemade barbeque sauce, each giving a unique twist to your meal.

If you’re looking for a lot of sweetness with a little tang, go with the Sweet sauce, which is thick like molasses with a dark, rich color. To spice things up, try the Hot sauce, which will leave your taste buds tingling but isn’t too overwhelming. The Vinegar sauce is like the vinaigrette of barbeque sauces with a light consistency and a tartness that complements the smoky flavor of the meat. Thick and dark yellow, the Mustard sauce has a strong flavor with a hint of sweetness to offset the spice. Last but not least, the sauce you can never go wrong with is the Original. A well-balanced blend of herbs, spices and sugar give the Original its classic barbeque flavor.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

The Swamp Restaurant Gainesville

photography by Brad Palmer

By Callie Polk

R

ight across from the Swamp where the Gators play, you can dine at The Swamp Restaurant.

For students at the University of Florida, the restaurant is conveniently located right on West University Avenue. However, for those not so close by, braving the infamous Gainesville parking is well worth this must-try eatery.

Often noted for beer, wings and a casual atmosphere, The Swamp has a lot more on the menu to offer customers.

The California Garden Wrap is noted as a “Swamp Favorite” and falls under the vegetarian category (unless you want to add turkey or ham). Whether or not you’re a vegetarian, this wrap is light, cool and crisp, perfect for those hot Florida afternoons. The sun-dried tomato tortilla is packed with fresh avocado, tomato, lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, sliced carrots, avocado-ranch and Swiss cheese and pairs well with the cold pasta salad.

For another flavor-packed veggie dish, the Reggae Salad has a tower of grilled vegetables on a heaping pile of arugula. Portabella mushrooms, yellow squash, zucchini, asparagus and green and red peppers are marinated in balsamic vinegar before being grilled and topped with bleu cheese crumbles.

A new addition to The Swamp’s menu, the Tempeh Gyro, is seasoned to perfection, wrapped tightly in a warm pita and mixed with tzatziki sauce. Tempeh is made from soybeans and is a great alternative to meat. Packed with grilled onions, arugula and Roma tomatoes the wrap packs a hearty flavor and comes with any of the delicious sides.

For those of a more carnivorous nature, the new Pretzel Burger will hit the spot. Eight ounces of certified angus beef is placed on a Bavarian pretzel roll and topped with Texas slaw, smoked bacon and grilled tomato and onion. Hickory

50

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

barbecue sauce gives it a sweet and smoky kick that will leave you craving more. Be prepared to leave with a new favorite.

The country meets the city in another new item at The Swamp, the Chicken Cordon Bleu. Sautéed spinach, ham and bleu cheese are stuffed in a succulent chicken breast and placed on rows of grilled asparagus. Creamy, cheesy, country grits take up the other half of the plate and balance the sharpness of the spinach.

To keep things fresh, The Swamp has weekly specials anywhere from $10 to $13 such as the Plantain Encrusted Rainbow Trout, delivered fresh from Tampa. This fish is swimming with flavor, topped with a mild salsa verdé and placed on a bed of sweet corn relish. Served with a wild-rice pilaf mixed with dried cranberries and walnuts, your taste buds will think you went on vacation.

To put the finishing touches on a satisfying meal, The Swamp has a variety of drink specials that start early and last for all those night owls. Whether you are more of a beer drinker or prefer a martini, there are many options from which to choose. The Florida Peach Martini is great for sweet and sour lovers. Bacardi Red, grapefruit juice and Chambord are served with a green olive, a cherry and tangerine slice that rest on an orange sugary rim.

Come to The Swamp to socialize, kick back and enjoy some good food and drinks. The fun atmosphere will make you want to become a regular.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

Bonefish Grill - Gainesville

By Callie Polk

photography by Brad Palmer

F

or a bona fide great dining experience, Bonefish Grill on Archer Road offers a mouthwatering array of appetizers, entrees and desserts.

Start things off with a bang and try the famous Bang Bang Shrimp. The heaping pile of crispy shrimp is tossed in a creamy Aoli sauce that keeps you coming back for more. Served with chopsticks, each shrimp is perfect for popping in your mouth and is Bonefish’s most popular appetizer.

The Ahi Tuna Sashimi and Baja Fish Tacos are two other delicious appetizers that could double as a small entree. The sashimi is thin slices of tuna encrusted with sesame seeds. If you want to add some extra flavor to the tuna, which is drizzled with a spicy sashimi sauce with wasabi, soy sauce and ginger sit on the side. For a milder dish, tilapia fish tacos are served lightly blackened and topped with lime sour cream and mango salsa which give it a one-two punch of sweet and spicy.

With a menu that caters to fresh seafood lovers, diners can choose from a variety of fresh seafood options and pair it with one of four signature sauces.

Each option has its own special flavor and leaves ample opportunities to find your favorite.

Each fish is cooked over a wood-burning grill and served with fresh seasonal vegetables. The Chilean sea bass paired with the mango salsa is full of sweet and smoky flavor. This thick flaky piece of fish will hit the spot. For a rich and creamy dish, the longfin tilapia paired with their signature lemon butter sauce is an excellent choice. By ordering the Imperial Long-

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

fin, all your favorites are on one dish. A pan-seared piece of tilapia is stuffed with shrimp, scallops and crabmeat before it bakes in the oven and is topped with lemon caper butter.

For special occasions, Bonefish offers a separate menu that features some house favorites like the Steak and Lobster Duet. A plump lobster tail with lemon butter sauce served with a juicy filet mignon and fourcheese au gratin potatoes. After polishing off that plate, another scrumptious special is the chocolate crème brulée. You have to break through the caramelized sugary top with each spoonful to get into the decadent chocolate mixed with Grand Marnier. Each crispy-filled bite is sweet and savory until the bowl is empty.

To cap off the meal, ordering a drink from Bonefish’s full bar is a perfect way to end the night- or get it started. The Pomegranate Martini infuses fresh mango and pomegranate into Fris Vodka for five days before being served. This martini goes down smooth and packs a sweet punch. On the sour side, the Lemon Drop Martini made with Absolut Citron Vodka flavored with sugar and fresh lemon juice will make your lips pucker.

Whether on a date night or out with friends, Bonefish Grill has options for everyone. Impecable service, fresh fish and a big city bar vibe with a great happy hour including $5 drinks all night long, make Bonefish Grill a perfect destination any day of the week. Don't forget to say hi to Andy Viola, the proprietor.

He'll take great care of you.

Omi's Kitchen Gainesville

By Callie Polk photography by Brad Palmer

I

f picking a restaurant for lunch or dinner incites an argument every time, or if you’re craving a little bit of everything, one restaurant has it all. All on one menu, you can choose from Italian, Mexican or Latin cuisine, all homemade in Omi’s Kitchen.

Omi’s Kitchen, on SW 75 Street off of Archer Road, is a modest establishment with a mere three tables and 12 chairs. However, don’t let that stop you from dropping by for some sweet desserts and dishes.

Start off with the soup of the day, maybe the award-winning lobster bisque. This decadent soup is creamy, smooth and sweet with a touch of spicy at the end. Tiny bits of lobster

52

HOME Living

collect at the bottom just waiting to be scooped up in each bite.

Switch things up and order the highly requested chicken Mexican bowl next. Pulled cilantro chicken is on a pile of white rice with pinto beans, salsa, pico de gallo, peppers and guacamole. Cheddar cheese covers the top and seals all the flavors in one heap. Choose the flavors you want on your fork or mix it all together for some of everything.

The ropa vieja, a Latin dish composed of shredded flank steak in a tomato-based sauce, comes in large portions. A pile of yellow rice brightens up the plate and sits next to black beans and sweet plantains. The ropa vieja has a nice mild spice after cooking with green peppers and onions.

Another Latin option, the Churrasco steak, is also served

In the Heart of Florida

on a bed of rice with black beans. The best part is the homemade chimichurri sauce, made of finely minced garlic, parsley and other flavorings, for a cool kick to top the thick slice of warm steak.

Omi’s Kitchen would not be around if it weren’t for the white chicken lasagna. After friends tasted her recipe, they urged her to feed the public, and she has ever since then.

Omi has been creating her velvety white chicken and mushroom lasagna with white wine and Parmesan cheese since 1989. This dish is simple and satisfying.

If there’s room when the entrées are finished, Omi has a selection of at least 100 desserts. Every day a small refrigerator and window display show off chocolaty cakes, miniature pies and slices of cake. Also, eight different types of homemade cakes are avail-

able to order for special occasions or single serving desserts are pre-made for spur-of-the-moment splurges.

Omi’s signature dessert is flan, but the mini key lime pie cups or Frenchsilk chocolate cream shooters hit the spot. Brownie bites for $1 each are chocolate covered and topped with a mocha, chocolate or white cream for a super-sweet bite-sized treat.

The decisions don’t get any easier once you’re at Omi’s, but there’s plenty to choose from and Omi herself might offer her recommendations.

Slow down and enjoy the company and cuisine at Omi’s.

Cabana Cove Gainesville

by Brad Palmer

T

ucked away in a little nook off of Northwest 43rd Street, just north of 24th Avenue, is a quaint little restaurant that is reminiscent of something you would find on a remote little island in the Caribbean.

Cabana Cove has all the ambience of a Caribbean restaurant and food that is every bit as enjoyable as a Caribbean vacation. The restaurant gets its inspiration from a South American/Caribbean influence, but the menu definitely has something for everyone ranging from seafood and pastas to burgers and pizzas.

Don't leave without trying the coconut shrimp. All you need to do is eat one, and you'll be hooked. These large breaded shrimp are amazing. It is like eating breaded candy because the coconut is so sweet. The dish is enhanced by the key lime remoulade sauce which is made from key lime juice, capers, coconut juice, paprika and Florida bay seasoning. These shrimp are served with a tropical salsa which is made from mango, pineapple, onions, pepper and treacle – a syrup made during the refining of sugar cane. The mango salsa is every bit as good as the shrimp, combine the two and you have a stunning masterpiece.

54

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

Curry chicken salad is comprised of a chopped chicken that is baked in a yellow curry sauce then mixed with a hint of mayonnaise and set on a bed romaine and spring mix salad, with capers, kiwi, strawberry and sundried tomatoes. The dish comes served with a red wine vinaigrette or your choice of any of the other seven dressings.

If you want a fish that is a break from the ordinary then try the Mediterranean grouper, dripping with an abundance of flavor.

Tomato pesto, artichoke and feta

over the top of a perfect portion of grouper make your mouth beg for more with every bite. It is served with a side of roasted black bean corn salsa which adds a hearty texture to the dish.

The blackened shrimp pasta is made from a tricolored rotini. The pasta is covered in a cream sauce that is made from a soforito reduction, blacked seasoning and asiago cheese. For those of you having a hard time deciding between dishes, this one surely satisfies the craving for both pasta and seafood.

A perfect ending to this dining experience is no less than the Cabana Cove Key Lime Pie. Rivaling any pie you may find south of Miami, this one combines the sweet flavor of a light and fluffy meringue over the creamy tartness of the Key Lime filing. Make sure you order one for everyone at your table because sharing may not be an option.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

Shining Strong for 75 Years

C

AMPUS USA Credit Union opened its doors in 1935 as Gainesville Florida Campus Federal Credit Union. During this time, credit unions were helping Americans through the Great Depression. Our small credit union had 25 members with $206 on deposit. Today, CAMPUS has over 60,000 members with over $1 billion in assets. 75 Years ago a CAMPUS share was the same as it is today, only $5.

We’ve grown so much in the past 75 years; we’ve changed our name a few times and moved into six different counties with thirteen service centers throughout Gainesville, Lake City, Ocala and Summerfield. So much has changed, but many things at CAMPUS have remained the same. Whether it’s providing a loan to cover unexpected expenses, helping a member to finance a new office space, or simply offering the best deal on your auto or home loan, CAMPUS still goes that extra mile to provide the best financial products and services available.

CAMPUS is prepared for another 75 years of successful growth. In July of this year, we will be moving our administration offices to the new Headquarters Building in Jonesville. This building has been 10 years in the making and is representative of our continued growth and success. We look forward to serving our members and their families for years to come.

Shining Strong for 75 Years!

TIMELINE Gainesville Florida Campus Federal Credit Union, today named CAMPUS USA Credit Union, was the 171st credit union to be federally chartered after Congress passed the Federal Credit Union Act on the final day of the 1934 session, and the first to be chartered on a university campus.

Nine men signed the charter in 1935: J. Wayne Reitz, Frank S. Wright, Manning Dauer, Henry J. Hamilton, Joseph Kusner, Zach Savage, Alvin H. Spurlock, Clarence V. Noble and Herbert G. Shaw.

1935

Gainesville Florida Campus Federal Credit Union - 25 members and $206.25 on deposit

1967 First CAMPUS permanent headquarters building, East CAMPUS, designed by UF students of architecture - 6,000 members - $3.5 million in assets 1976

Gainesville Florida Campus Federal Credit Union is the first credit union to begin offering checking accounts

1986

Milestone $50 million in assets

1999

Converted to state charter and renamed CAMPUS USA Credit Union

2005

CAMPUS celebrates 70 years with $640 million in assets and over 200 employees

2009

Milestone $1 billion in assets – opened third branch in Ocala – over 60,000 members

2010

CAMPUS moves into new Headquarters Building in Jonesville – new logo revealed

58

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

paid Advertisement

SPORTS & RECREATION

Archery in North Florida

By Maria Piquet

J

im Easton has a dream – a pretty big dream. His dream is to someday see archery among America’s top sports, right next to baseball, football and basketball.

To fulfill his dream, Easton, head of Easton Sports Inc. and an Archery Hall of Fame inductee, has developed foundations, donated millions of dollars and devoted his life and career to the advancement of the sport.

Easton brought his dream to Newberry, where one of three nationwide Easton Archery Centers of Excellence was opened October 2009 – the state-of-the-art Easton-Newberry Sports Complex.

Not only is the complex helping to introduce archery to North Central Florida, it has hosted Olympic hopefuls and international programs and competitions. It has turned the area into one of the top archery destinations in the country.

With indoor, outdoor and 3D shooting ranges, the Easton-Newberry Sports Complex caters to every kind of archer. The facility comes fully equipped with bows, arrows, sights, rests, pressure buttons, stabilizers and any other apparatus related to archery. The complex is opened to the public and for $7 an hour or $30 a day, anyone can shoot at the facility and rent equipment. An archer doesn’t have to be ranked nationally to go there and train – a limitation present in most Olympic training facilities.

The Easton Foundation has recruited one of the top national coaches to become head coach of the Newberry Complex. Robert Romero has been teaching archery since 1992 and has coached archers for eight world championships. Now, he is part of a team passionate about promoting and moving archery forward.

“The philosophy here is to introduce the world of archery to everybody who wants to experience it,” Romero said. “You can be an older person or young person. It doesn’t matter. We can put a bow in almost anybody’s hand and teach them to shoot.”

According to Romero, an archer can be tall or short, strong or weak, chubby or thin, old or young. They can be in a wheelchair, be blind or be missing limbs. Whatever the case, there’s a

60

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

SPORTS & RECREATION

piece of equipment that can be adapted to suit the individual and make it possible to shoot.

Romero once witnessed a 102-year-old man drive his cart out to an outdoor range with his two granddaughters by his side, get up with their help, shoot his six arrows and then return to his cart.

He’s also seen young children be phenomenal at the sport and clearly remembers when a 13-year-old won the Women’s World Championships in 1995.

“It’s just from one end of the spectrum to the other,” Romero said. “And these stories just go on and on. Archery has given us many opportunities to see incredible things.”

At the Newberry Complex, Romero coaches children, teens and adults from every level of experience. The University of Florida’s Orange and Blue Archery collegiate team, the Junior Olympic Archery Club and the Adult League all practice there.

“Here at the center, anything that is archery we can do,” Romero said. “We have the ability to put on any kind of event that we want to.”

There are dozens of variations on the sport, including 3D, field, indoor, flight, moving target and mounted archery. Hunting makes up 95 percent of all archery in America.

“There’s a game for everyone,” Romero said.

“And people love it. If you pay attention, when you drive around rural America, you’re liable to see a 3D animal in someone’s backyard or a bale of hay with a target on it.”

Romero asserts archery is growing, not just in the U.S. but worldwide, and part of the reason for this resurgence of archery is because of the Easton foundation.

“They’re so generous,” Romero said. “They’re just giving back to the community and developing archery worldwide.”

Archery is a game of perfection, much like bowling.

“You may achieve perfection score-wise every now and then, but you will never maintain it,” Romero said. “It just keeps you coming back.”

Orange and Blue Archery holds practices at the Newberry-Easton Complex and receive coaching from Romero.

“It takes some work, but it’s getting there,” said Rhys Harrison, president and founder of the club.

“It’s really helped a lot. It’s great.”

Harrison started Orange and Blue Archery in October. An international student from Wales, he was shocked to arrive in Florida and find out there was no archery club at UF, especially since the U.S. has one of the largest populations of shooters in the world.

Orange and Blue Archery became the first collegiate club in the state. Harrison says his efforts wouldn’t have been successful without the help of the Easton Foundation and the Newberry-Easton

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

Sports Complex. They provided the club with equipment, time, use of the facility and coaching – things essential to starting and maintaining an archery club. Since the club is new and has no funding, the Complex has provided this for free.

“I can’t explain my gratitude enough,” Harrison said. “They’ve just been amazing.”

Six months since its initiation, the club has archers shooting in national competitions.

“Not a lot of people can say they can do that,” Harrison said.

Open only six months, the complex has already hosted eight major archery competitions, including numerous national tournaments with thousands of competitors from all over the world.

It has created a health wellness program for seniors and a program for underprivileged children and is partnering up with Alachua County schools to bring archery to students.

“Jim Easton’s dream has come to reality at this center,” Romero said.

The interior of the Easton-Newberry Sports Complex

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

61

HEALTH & FITNESS

E A S Y

FOR THE

Exercise Multi-tasking Mom

By Mara Rudolph

photography by Brad Palmer

#1

With work to do 24/7, motherhood is a full-time job. Exercise time may be hard to come by, but Gainesville Health and Fitness trainer Michelle Adams demonstrates four quick moves that women can add to their daily routine for a more active

1. Pelvic Tilt/Glute Bridge: Begin flat on your back with your palms flat on the floor and kneecaps pointed at the ceiling. Pushing your feet against the floor, lift your lower torso and squeeze your glutes while pulling your bellybutton toward your spine. Hold for a few seconds then return to the original position. Do 15-20 reps.

lifestyle. At least one set of the moves will help tone the abdominals and glutes, but Adams recommends at least two or three sets to get the best tone. Warm up for the exercises by doing at least 10 minutes of dynamic stretching.

#2

2. Plank: Facing downward toward the mat, push yourself off the floor into the “hover� position, raising up onto your toes and resting on your forearms. Your back should be straight and streamlined from your head to your heels. Raise one leg, squeezing your glutes without letting your hips tilt.

Bring the leg down slightly, raise it up again and squeeze, then bring the leg back to the ground. Do the same with the other leg, doing 10 reps for each leg.

62

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

Tip: You should not feel your hamstrings cramping. Shifting your weight to your heels should ease any tension in the hamstrings.

#3

HEALTH & FITNESS

4. Squat with Overhead Raise: Begin with knees bent and arms outstretched and holding the water jug. Stand up and “push the floor away through your heels,” simultaneously lifting the jug upward. Accelerate the jug above your head, stopping when it is directly overhead. Bring the jug back down, controlling the resistance with your abs and resume the original squat position. Do 15-20 reps.

Tip: If you can’t lift the jug above your head, try holding it out in front of you. It will still work your obliques.

3. Reverse Lunge with Medicine Ball Chop: Start off in a lunge position, with knees bent and one leg forward and your back knee almost touching the ground. Hold a medicine ball or jug filled with water across your body. Pull your back leg forward in a motion to stand up straight but continue the motion to raise your leg as high as you can.

While raising your leg, accelerate from your core and raise the ball, as if you were drawing half an X. When you bring your leg down, bring the ball down, slowing your movement and controlling the resistance from the stomach.

Repeat 15-20 times.

Tip: You can begin with a little bit of water, adding more each week as you build strength in your ams. If you don’t have a water jug, you can use many things found around the house, like a heavy book or purse.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

63

64

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

let salon 119 pamper those you love from head to toe. give them a salon 119 gift certif icate - the gift that keeps on giving beyond the holidays.

$50

.00

spa deep hair conditioning treatment

FREE

Receive an "Angel" or "Dancoly" spa deep hair conditioning treatment, straight from paris, when you purchase a gift certificate valued at $60.00 or more expires May 31, 2010

(352) 505-3819 • 12921 SW 1st Road Ste 115 Tioga Town Center Newberry, FL www.Salon119Gainesville.com

1

5

x

COMMUNITY

date #

Dating to the Extreme

66

HOME Living

L

eave the cliché flowers behind and come up with a date that’s a little edgy for your sweetheart.

Soar effortlessly through the air in a basket or descend to the murky depths of an underwater cave. Feel the wind rush against your face as you jump from a plane or test the limits of speed.

Legally, of course. Whatever tickles your adrenaline fancy, here are some ideas that will take your date to the extreme.

Speed dating takes a new meaning at Gainesvil e Raceway Surprise your date with a little friendly competition with legal drag racing.

Just imagine, you glance over at your significant other and rev up the engine. Your hands tightly grasp the steering wheel, and you turn back to a set of lights that tell you when it’s time to hit the gas. You hold your foot on the pedal, waiting impatiently for the light to turn green when you’ll unleash your car down a

In the Heart of Florida

By Callie Polk

straight path. All you care about is being the first wheels at the finish line.

If you take your date to Gainesville Raceway’s test and tune, you can bring everyday cars out on a track and see who has the fastest moves.

“If you have any competitive juices in your body at all you’re gonna have a blast,” said Donald Robertson, executive general manager of Gainesville Raceway.

The test and tune, what the raceway has dubbed days where it has public drag racing, is available on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and you can race against a date, friend or complete stranger as long as you have a set of wheels.

At Gainesville Raceway, there is always a winner because the track has all electronic timing devices. After each race, you receive a time slip that tells how fast you left the starting line, who was in the lead along the track and essentially who wins the race.

“It’s cheap fun,” said Robertson, “Twenty-five bucks and you can run all evening.”

You have to be 18 years old to race at Gainesville Raceway or if you’re 16, you can have a parental waiver signed.

If you’re worried about your car being too slow to race, you can race to beat your own times and see how much you can improve. Or if you’re really competitive, you can race with handicaps that let a slower car start earlier for a fair race.

Once your car is lined up on the track and you’re between the safety walls, it really hits you, according to Robertson. You find yourself trying to push your foot through the floorboard, you want to go faster and you start yelling at the guy across from you.

“It’s a place where you can have a lot of fun seeing how fast you can go without worrying about the law,” he said.

More information about test and tune is available at www.gainesvilleraceway.com.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

5

COMMUNITY

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

67

date #

3 2

date #

COMMUNITY

It Takes Two - Rock Climbing

By Maria Piquet

Most great things take two people. Rock climbing is no different.

In most forms of rock climbing, there is a belayer and a climber. As the climber ascends up a cliff, the belayer is the climber’s safety net. If the climber were to slip and fall, the belayer would hold him up using the rope that keeps them attached. Similar to how a relationship works, don’t you think?

Try strapping on a harness, tying on that rope and going for a climb. It’s the perfect day to experience with your loved one the thrill of scrambling up a 40-foot wall.

Rock climbing may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of dates, but thanks to indoor climbing facilities, this sport can be enjoyed anywhere – even in Gainesville.

The Gainesville Rock Gym on Main Street boasts more than 8,500 square feet of vertical territory, including 3,500 square feet of bouldering.

The staff welcomes people of all levels and provides instruction, equipment and more than 10 years of expertise.

Robert Easton, president of the Gainesville Rock Gym, says a lot of couples visit the gym.

“You can go to the movies on a date or go see a show, but you can’t really have a conversation there,” Easton said. “Rock climbing is different.”

While rock climbing, couples have the chance to get to know each other during the date and to do something special and fun together.

“It’s a fun environment, and you just enjoy each other’s company,” Easton said.

If you’ve never done rock climbing before, the gym will cater to your needs. A safety lesson is taught on demand that goes over everything you need to know to get started, from how to tie a figure eight knot to how to belay. All equipment can be rented out for just $5.50.

“Anybody can do rock climbing, especially at the gym,” Easton said.

“It’s really easy and really rewarding.”

The Gainesville gym has acquired a reputation for making sparks fly. Several couples have met at the gym and gone on to long-term relationships. One couple even had their wedding photo shoot at the gym to commemorate the place they met.

“It’s a great way to get to know somebody,” Easton said. “People in town will say, ‘Oh yeah, we went on a date, and it was the best date I’ve ever been on. We went rock climbing together.’”

So don’t be afraid to do something different. Romance isn’t just an expensive dinner with bubbling champagne. Exercise, sweat and burning muscles can prove to be just as romantic. So lose the fancy dress and painful stilettos, put on your favorite pair of sweatpants and go to the Gainesville Rock Gym for a date that’s sure to rise above the rest.

68

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

Make the Jump Together

By Lauren Alexis

Skydiving seems like a total departure from reason and normalcy. Jumping from a plane? Counting on cloth to keep you up?

But after that initial jump, many people get hooked.

Art Shaffer, the owner of Skydive Palatka, has been skydiving for almost 25 years. He has jumped over 12,000 times and now averages about 850 jumps a year. Almost half are tandems, or jumps that he takes uncertified skydivers on.

Tandem skydivers are harnessed to their instructor from the moment they sit on the plane. The certified skydiver is then responsible for performing a safe and fun skydiving experience.

“We have regular staff meetings and we go over safety and everyone knows when there is an issue. We keep up to date,” Shaffer said.

All jumpers are briefed with instructions before their jump. These instructions cover everything from what to expect to safety.

“I mean, it’s dangerous like anything else, I mean, there are things that you have to do, procedures that you have to do and if you don’t follow them, like anything else, there’s consequences,” Shaffer said.

But with the proper equipment and safety knowledge, flying 13,500 feet up in the air in 12 minutes and then diving back to earth can be more of a thrill than a fright.

“No, I was not scared. No concerns whatsoever. With the experience these guys have, there was no reason. You just put your faith in their experience, and that’s how I approached it, so there was no fear,” first-time skydiver and birthday boy Peter Kichia said.

At Skydive Palatka, each jump costs $180 and an extra $80 for pictures and a video of your jump.

This is a little pricy for a date, but the experience more than makes up for the cost. Skydiving is a unique, adrenaline-pumping adventure that your date will always remember.

So get out there, and as the skydivers say, Blue Skies.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

COMMUNITY

4

Up, up and away

date #

By Sara Horn

70

HOME Living

It has been compared to sailing, only instead of moving through water, you’re gliding through air.

The roar as flames shoot up from the burner into the vibrantly colored balloon and the smooth lift-off into a seemingly weightless flight make a ride in a hot air balloon a date balanced with adventure and tranquility.

David Justice, a pilot and part owner of Celebration Aviation in Tampa, said it is still hard for him to describe the feeling of being in a hot air balloon. He woke up one morning many years ago and saw four balloons flying near his house. He excitedly chased them to where they landed and has been fascinated with them ever since. In 1978, he bought his first balloon, and in 1984, he took a year off from his job in the construction business to fly balloons full time. His year off is still going, he jokes.

A typical day for a flight starts around 6 a.m. for riders, but the pilot and crew are up a couple hours earlier to continually check the weather, which plays a crucial role in flying because the balloon is totally dependent on the quality of the wind.

“We travel with the wind moving exactly the same direction and speed as the wind,” Justice said. Light winds make for perfect flying weather.

Once it’s been decided that the weather is suitable, the balloon is unloaded, stretched out on the ground and attached to the basket, called a gondola. The crew uses fans to blow air into the fabric and once it’s filled with air, the pilot lights the burner and a strong burst of fire rushes into the balloon to heat the inside. The heat makes the balloon rise, and soon the balloon and its basket are standing straight and ready to hold passengers. As more heat is

In the Heart of Florida

added, the balloon lifts off the ground, and the journey begins.

“If we put a blindfold on you, you wouldn’t even know that you’re taking off the ground,” Justice said. “It’s the only form of aviation like that. It’s almost like you hang there and the world just slowly eases by underneath you.”

Matt and Lorraine Morel took a ride in late November. Matt said he would see the hot air balloons in the sky on his drive to work in the mornings and thought it would be fun to try it. So when Lorraine’s birthday came a few days after Thanksgiving, he thought it’d be the perfect opportunity.

“I’m scared of heights,” he said, “and it didn’t bother me at all.”

After 33 years and flights that have taken him over Niagara Falls, Mount Rushmore, Canada, the Sydney Opera House in Australia, Oxford University in England and Red Square in Moscow, Justice said he still loves flying and loves having a job where he can bring fun and happiness to other people. It’s great if couples have a whole day planned for their date, and going flying makes the perfect morning. It isn’t the cheapest thing to do, he said, but it works for special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries. A flight in a hot air balloon also makes for a good surprise.

After the ride, which lasts about an hour, passengers have the opportunity to have a glass of champagne and brunch at a local restaurant with the pilot and the crew.

Celebration Aviation offers a Sweet Heart Flight where couples can reserve to be the only ones in the balloon with the pilot. This flight costs $475, and for a regular flight, it’s $185 per adult. To reserve a flight, call 813-884-5610 or visit www.celebrationaviation.com.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

5

date #

COMMUNITY

Diving Into the Perfect Date

By Maria Piquet

Try something adventurous. Take your date somewhere few people have ever gone – underwater caves.

Imagine diving hundreds of feet beneath the surface, venturing inside caves many don’t dare enter, exploring lost grottos and discovering the secrets of these dark wonders. If that’s not a memorable date, then what is?

Cave diving has fascinated people for more than 100 years. Driven by the thrill of going where few have gone, cave divers swim into the depths of isolated caverns and squeeze through small crevices, the flashlight in their hands and the bulb resting on their heads their only source of illumination.

Cave diving is not for the faint of heart. Devon Grimmé, a scuba diving instructor at Water World scuba center in Gainesville, said cave diving poses certain challenges that not everyone is comfortable with, like the fact that there is no direct access to the surface.

“It’s definitely a unique environment, but certainly not for everyone,” Grimmé said. “It poses a lot of challenges and a lot of rewards.”

But if you and your loved one are the adventurous kind, then this may be your perfect date and an unforgettable one too.

So if you’re in search of an adrenaline rush, you’re in luck.

North Florida is renowned for its system of underwater caves.

“This is one of the cave diving capitals of the world,” Grimmé said. “Within two hours of Gainesville, there’s about 50 or so sites people can cave dive.”

Several popular sites are located in the Suwannee River Valley.

Ginnie Springs also boasts some of the most well-mapped set of caves in the world, and it’s famous for its high underwater visibility and long passages.

Many people enjoy cave diving because they get to explore the worlds that thrive in this darkness. Caves are home to some unique creatures and fantastic scenery, and some of the life forms found in caves can’t be found anywhere else. A common Florida cave-dweller, the blind albino cave crayfish can only live below the surface and is a regular sight for divers.

Other people get into this sport because of the challenge.

Cave diving is more difficult than open-water diving, and some people are attracted to that. Before going into a cave, a diver must

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

be completely comfortable with all the skills used for open water diving – how to breathe properly, how to maneuver underwater and how to manipulate equipment, all have to be second nature.

“There are so many other things you need to be thinking about when cave diving that the basic stuff has to be automatic,” Grimmé said.

To begin cave diving training, a diver must already have his open water certification and completed a minimum amount of dives, usually between 100 or 200.

“Cave diving is a whole different skill set than open water diving, whole different equipment and training” Grimmé said.

Gainesville’s Water World is one of several places in the area that offer training and certification for cave diving.

Experience and training are crucial to this sport. Without the proper skills, cave diving can be dangerous. Fatalities can occur when people encounter difficult situations that exceed their training experience.

“Like anything, it has certain risks but can be fairly safe if you’re well-trained and well-qualified,” Grimmé said.

He suggests that no on enter caves without proper training and experience.

So if you and your special someone are up for the challenge, cave diving is the remedy to any bland date. One thing you can be sure of – it’ll be a day to remember.

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

71

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY

Remembering the Meaning of Mother’s Day H

onoring mothers is a tradition that can be traced back as far as the ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks, but the holiday we celebrate today in America has its roots in the West Virginian town of Grafton.

By Sara Horn

Editor’s Note: Some of the information for this story came from two Web sites: http://www.mothersdaycentral.com and http://www.wvculture.org.

After her mother died, Anna M. Jarvis desired to create a day that was set aside to honor her memory. Her efforts were rewarded when Andrews Methodist Church, where her mother had taught Sunday school for 20 years, decided to hold one of the first official Mother’s Day ceremonies on May 10, 1908. Six years later, President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day a national holiday to be celebrated on the second Sunday in May. But the more the holiday grew in popularity, the more Jarvis regretted ever creating it. She was heartbroken and disappointed at its commercialization and felt its true meaning- to honor mothers for their service and devotionwas being lost.

So to preserve the heart of the holiday, go a little further than just buying mom a gift this Mother’s Day. Give her a little something extra that she will cherish for years to come – your time.

Here are some ideas that combine great gift giving as well as quality bonding time:

72

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

Cloud 9 Spa and Salon 352-335-9920 www.cloud9spasalon.com Instead of sending mom on her way to enjoy a relaxing massage on her own, go with her. The best things in life are better when shared, and a day at the spa is no different. Cloud 9 has two shared-service suites where you and mom can unwind while sharing some time together. Whether it’s a massage, facial or body treatment, you both can create a shared experience at no extra charge. But the shared-service suites are popular, so make your appointment quickly.

Island get away:

All abloom!

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival www.disneyworld.disney.go.com

Brilliantly colored flowers, Disney-themed topiaries and fluttering butterflies are taking over Disney’s Epcot with the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival from March 2 to May 16. Experience this fun and educational trip with mom where she can admire Mother Nature, learn some helpful gardening techniques from top horticulturists and purchase tools to start her own garden at home. This is an event any mom can enjoy, whether she has a green thumb or not.

Get art sy:

Amelia Island

Do Art

www.ameliaisland.com

352-337-0039

Just off the northeast coast of Florida, Amelia Island combines leisure and adventure, whether it’s for two or the whole family. Whether mom is a savvy shopper or an outdoor adventurer, she will love a trip to this island known for its historical beauty and natural splendor.

Kelly’s Seahorse Ranch offers one of the only opportunities in the nation to experience a ride along the beach on horseback, an experience you shouldn’t let mom miss. Celebrate Mother’s Day a few days early to experience the Annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival on April 30 to May 2, where shrimp and seafood dishes galore will be ripe for the tasting and the Fine Arts and Craft show will present work form 300 award-winning artists and craftspeople.

photo by Diana Zalucky

A day at t he spa:

COMMUNITY

www.doart.com Help mom express her creativity by spending a few hours at Do Art, a paint-ityourself pottery and mosaic studio in the Westgate Plaza on West University Avenue. From vases to mugs to mosaic picture frames or mirrors, Do Art has all the advice and materials you’ll need for you and your mom to create quality memories as well as beautiful artwork. No experience is needed in this fun, laid-back atmosphere. This Mother’s Day, Do Art will open early at 11 a.m., provide free refreshments and mimosas and also lift the studio fee for moms in honor of the holiday.

A night on t he t own:

Fun Facts on Mother’s Days celebrated around the world:

The Hippodrome State Theatre

• In Mexico, moms are often treated to a song sung by their family or are serenaded by a hired band.

www.thehipp.org The famous Shakespearian words “All the world’s a stage” are taken quite literally in the Hippodrome’s upcoming performance of “Around the World in 80 Days.” Adapted from the novel by Jules Verne, the story of Phileas Fogg and his trusty servant as they race across the world in a hot air balloon is packed with romance, adventure and comedy. With five actors playing the roles of 39 characters traipsing through seven continents, you, mom and the rest of the family will be perched on the edge of your seats until the end.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

• Canada quickly followed the U.S. by making Mother’s Day a national holiday in 1909, but it puts more of a focus on doing chores or cooking dinner for mom.

• Ethiopians devote three days of feasting, singing and dancing to celebrating mothers.

• Mother’s Day in Thailand coincides with the birthday of the queen, Sirikit Kitiyakara, who has reigned since 1950. Her birthday is on Aug. 12.

• In Sweden, the Swedish Red Cross sells plastic flowers leading up to Mother’s Day and then gives the money to poor mothers and their children.

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

73

COMMUNITY

High-Tech Crime Fighting photography by Brad Palmer

Law-enforcement activities are coordinated during the high-tech briefing.

T

aking a bite out of the Big Apple, the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) have developed some of the same cutting-edge technology used in New York to fight crime and protect the residents of North Central Florida.

Borrowing an idea from New York City called CompStat, both agencies have effectively and creatively developed systems that allow them to quickly analyze trends in crime and put the right resources in place to counter those trends. Crime data is fed into the system and on a daily or weekly basis, law enforcement officials can analyze the results and determine how much and what type of resources to apply to deter that crime.

GPD’s version of CompStat, DataTrac system was the brainchild of former Chief Norman Botsford and was developed

by a team whose leader was then-GPD Captain Sadie Darnell, who is now the Alachua County Sheriff.

“Chief Botsford knew about the system in New York,” Darnell said. “It was his area of interest and mine. He created the management analysis bureau which had several components, the primary one being the DataTrac concept. He sent me to the New York City Police Department, where they were looking at the stats on a daily basis. We also looked at some other agencies.”

GPD then gutted its old communications center and turned it into DataTrac, which was funded with contraband forfeiture money. No tax dollars were used in funding the project. The room, which doubles as the city’s emergency operations center (EOC), includes four plasma-screen TVs and several large screens “Initially, the concept was to meet once a month to share the data on a formal basis,” said Darnell. “We involved patrol and

74

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

in Alachua County

By David Greenberg

detectives to create a relentless attack and follow through on the problem areas. Not only did it improve our ability to fight crime, it brought the agency together. I know it has gotten better with time as it has been tweaked over the years. It has really served the agency and the people of Gainesville well.”

Today, the system has expanded and become an even more efficient tool, said Lt. Steve Weaver, of the GPD Community Resources and Crime Prevention Bureau.

“We now hold tactical weekly briefings every Tuesday afternoon,” Weaver said. “Those briefings can include representatives from every section of the department, representatives from UPD (University Police Department), the sheriff’s office, probation and parole, code enforcement and the state attorney. We discuss all the criminal activity – inside the city and outside. We look at trends and patterns, and with GIS mapping, we can determine how best to deploy our resources in order to deter crime.”

The sheriff’s office has its own operation that is very similar, Darnell said.

“When I got here, ASO was also doing the same kind of thing, although they had not spent as much money on equipment,” she said.

“It is not quite as high tech, and that is something we cannot change now because of the economy, but there is intensive data gathering.

We meet every Wednesday afternoon and share our information.”

Darnell and GPD Chief Tony Jones have discussed co-location of their facilities.

“The crime analysis people at our agency, GPD and UPD share information on a daily basis,” she said. “The need to be in the same location has become less and less necessary. We can share information from the computers. Not only do we do that with each other, but with state and federal agencies.”

State Attorney Bill Cervone says the work done at the two centers is invaluable in terms of public safety.

“It really gives me long-term advantages,” he said. “Crime prevention is increasingly data driven. We are trying to target where our efforts will best pay off. They can show me trends, and we can allocate resources to fight particular types of crime and in specific neighborhoods. It certainly serves as a deterrent.”

Because of the high-tech equipment the GPD center can offer much more than crime analysis.

“With all the media equipment, we can provide a live remote feed in the EOC,” said Weaver. “The commanders in the EOC can see exactly what is going on in the field. In any kind of prolonged situation, from a national championship celebration, to some sort of civil unrest, to a natural disaster, they can see the whole picture and help the field commander with his or her decision making.

We can see pictures from our helicopter and from cameras at 34 intersections in the city.”

The center also serves as a tool for crime analysis. A program called Chronic Offender Recognition and Enforcement Program

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

COMMUNITY

Captaion Bart Knowles (left) and Chief Tony Jones (right) listen during one of the briefings.

(CORE) provides officers access to information on habitual criminals.

Information can be displayed on the screens in the center and relayed to officers in the field.

“We can easily share information such as names, descriptions and M.O. (modus operandi),” said Weaver. “That not only helps with enforcement, it is a tool for the state attorney’s office in prosecution.”

The facility is not only used for criminal activity but in quality-of-life issues as well, he said.

“Code enforcement has used it to see patterns and problems,” Weaver said. “Loud car stereos, late-night parties, any kind of public-nuisance issues can be dealt with here.”

Given the financial limitations currently facing law enforcement at every level, anything that can be done to protect the residents of the community

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

and save resources at the same time has tremendous value. Additionally, law-enforcement agencies from across the country are now looking at what is happening here.

Weaver cites multiple examples of the program’s success.

“We had a period of time when we had experienced an increase in robberies of people who had been walking home from the bars located near the UF campus,” he said. “We deployed more visible officers and tactical support, flooding the neighborhood. We did make one arrest, and the problem went away. Crime does not stay in one place, but with this system, as it moves, we can move with it. We have access to real-time data. We are preventing crime and effectively protecting our residents. That’s our job.”

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

75

COMMUNITY

Negro Baseball League Players Bring Living History

By David Greenberg

(above) The former Negro League players gather with representatives from Cox and ESPN.

(top right) Harold Hair is introduced.

76

HOME Living

G

ainesville witnessed living history recently as seven of the players from the Negro Baseball League who visited in 2008, returned to the community to share more stories and witness Cox Communications of Gainesville receive the 2009 Good Sports Award from ESPN. Nine Negro League players were brought here in 2008 as part of Cox’s diversity effort. Initially, the players were supposed to talk to Cox employees, but the earlier visit was expanded to include meeting with students at area schools, the Boys & Girls Club and community leaders.

Mike Giampietro, vice president of public affairs, operations and system manager for Cox Florida, said that visit left a lasting impression on the people who interacted with the former players. Hearing firsthand about the segregation and bigotry they experienced while trying to play baseball was a reminder to all about the importance of diversity, he said.

An avid baseball fan himself, Giampietro said that professional baseball was not as good as it could have been because these players were not able to play in the major leagues.

In the Heart of Florida

“When one group doesn’t get the benefit of the full participation of all of its possible members, not only do the excluded members suffer, but the whole group does,” he said when introducing the players on their return visit.

As for the former players themselves, they might argue they got as much out of their trips to Gainesville as the people they visited.

“We don’t get to do this very often,” said Harold O. “Buster” Hair, a Jacksonville native, who played for the Birmingham Black Barons and Kansas City Monarchs from 1953 to 1958. “It is great to do this because it brings recognition to what we did back then.”

Hair, who has a master’s degree in Education from the University of Florida, came back to Jacksonville when he retired from the Negro Leagues and coached basketball, baseball and football for the Duval County School System.

When asked about his biggest Negro League memory, he said it was flying out. The pitcher was Satchel Paige. The catcher in that game was Arthur Hamilton, who played for the Indianapolis Clowns and Detroit Stars from 1953 to 1959.

“I never saw the first pitch,” said Hair. “I heard it hit the glove.

I told Arthur to have him pitch outside because the first pitch was so fast, if he hit me, he would kill me. My knees were knocking, and I was praying to the Lord for him to throw me one I could see.

He threw his hesitation pitch. I couldn’t hit that. God shined on me because Satch threw a curve ball after that. I hit it to the fence, but the right fielder caught it.”

Hamilton, who started playing in the Negro Leagues at 16, talks with pride about a record he holds from 1959.

“I was the last guy to hit a home run in the Negro Leagues,” he said with pride. “It was in an all-star game. No one will ever be able to beat that.”

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

COMMUNITY

About those days, Hamilton said, “It was the only way we could play. We weren’t playing in the best conditions, but we loved to play baseball.”

Clifford “Quack” Brown was an infielder for the Philadelphia Stars from 1949 to 1951.

“We would all do it again if we were younger,” he said. “We traveled on a bus. Often, we could not eat in the restaurants or sleep in the hotels, but that didn’t matter.”

While all of the players were ready to talk about the hardships if asked, mostly they wanted to talk about playing. That was the case with A.J. Jackson, who pitched for the Negro Leagues’ Kansas City Monarchs from 1956 to 1958, before going to the Cleveland Indians in the major leagues.

“We toured against Willie Mays and Hank Aaron,” said Jackson, who lives in Gainesville. “I don’t like to travel, but getting to be with these guys brings back great memories.”

Another pitcher, Raydell “Bo” Maddix, played for the Indianapolis Clowns from 1947 to 1953. A power pitcher, Maddix led the league in strikeouts in the 1948-49 season.

“I owned Willie Mays and Ernie Banks,” he said.

“They could not hit off me.”

He talks fondly of a loss – in 1946 to the Asheville Blues at Yankee Stadium. He had 14 strikeouts, but lost the game 2-1. He also remembers the day he pitched back-toback no-hitters in Macon, Ga. The players talked about getting $250 a month and $2.50 a day for food.

“The first thing we learned was how to sleep through breakfast,” said Hair.

But with all the hardships, the players all say they are grateful that they got to do what they loved – play baseball.

And today they remain grateful for the opportunities offered by organizations like Cox Communications of Gainesville to share that living history.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME Living

(above) The players enjoy the luncheon held in their honor.

(middle) With help from Walter Gibbons, Mike Giampietro accepts the 2009 Good Sports Award from ESPN.

(bottom) The attendees at the luncheon were enthralled with the stories shared by the players.

In the Heart of Florida

77

Leading Innovation, Changing Lives

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a continuing series about North Central Florida’s technology industry. In this story, we feature two area tech companies – Pasteuria Bioscience and WiPower .

By Morgan Watkins

W WiPower's wireless charging technology could have huge applications for homes and offices.

78

HOME Living

ith the help of local incubators, the employees of Alachua County-based companies Pasteuria Bioscience and WiPower will ensure that no home, office or golf course is ever the same.

From Pasteuria’s groundbreaking development of a bacteria that can combat dangerous worms eating through turf grass on golf courses to WiPower’s newest addition to the world of technological gadgetry, both companies are finally putting their products on the market with the help of the University of Florida’s Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator and the Gainesville Technology Enterprise Center (GTEC), respectively.

Pasteuria’s work has great ecological implications as well as a promising financial future, said Patti Breedlove, associate director of the Sid Martin Incubator.

“We’re thrilled because they’re a wonderful company to work with, and they’ve made enough progress to have a product that is a huge milestone,” she said.

Pasteuria Bioscience, founded in 2003, has developed a method that allows for the growth and mass production of a special kind of bacteria that successfully fights a microscopic worm called a nematode, said Kelly Smith, chief technical officer and former CEO of the company. Various species of nematodes exist, and they have been a harsh threat to agriculture for decades because of their resistance to traditional chemical treatments. Pasteuria, however, discovered how to grow the bacteria on a larger scale for mass production. The bacteria are from the genus Pasteuria, from which the company derives its name.

“These bacteria were seen as potentially good ways to fight nematodes, but no one knew how to grow them in the lab, so for a long time people threw up their hands,” Smith said. “But we figured out how to grow it small-scale on a lab bench and on a large scale in fermenters.”

In the Heart of Florida

While there are several forms of these bacteria that can be used to fight different kinds of nematodes, Pasteuria placed its first product on the market in January. This particular product helps protect the turf grass used on golf courses throughout the southeast from the sting nematode, which feeds on grass roots by stinging them and halting their growth, she said. The bacterial product can be used on golf courses year-round and is a safe alternative to many other pesticide options.

While Pasteuria has developed a product that has great potential, it was the Sid Martin Incubator that helped clear the path for the company’s success. The program focuses solely on biotechnology, offering tools and support a small company like Pasteuria needs when starting out.

“We’ve done a lot of work for them,” Breedlove said. “We even jointly built a second climate-controlled greenhouse with them that they will have use of until they leave the program.”

Such equipment is invaluable to the company’s work, as are the business insights and networking opportunities Sid Martin provides.

“I’m a scientist, so I don’t know a lot about being in business,” Smith said. “There were a lot of seminars to learn from (through the incubator).”

The Sid Martin program also offers many networking opportunities for upstart companies like Pasteuria, ensuring that the innovative work done in the company labs have a thriving market for their products.

While Pasteuria’s work eradicates nematodes from Florida’s golf courses, WiPower is developing a technology that may soon make traditional phone chargers a thing of the past.

Using an induction-based technology, the company is creating a wireless charging system for products like cell phones and desk lamps. As WiPower expands its technology, people may eventually be able to have a home office that is charged wirelessly, from the lamp to the computer to the phone, said John Padro, head of business development for the company.

“Our company is based on taking this technology and applying it to your everyday life,” he said.

While WiPower is preparing to put its first product on the market at the end of April, its greatest asset is the induction technology. Using a transmitter that is plugged into the wall,

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

the company’s technology creates a magnetic field that can be captured by a receiver, which in turn charges an electronic device such as a phone, Padro said. Transmitters, which look like a flat mouse pad, are able to broadcast signals to about an inch to an inch-and-a-half away, allowing receivers to pick up the signals and channel them into various devices.

This technology, which was first developed by founder Ryan Tseng with a team based at the University of Florida beginning in 2005, has the potential for use in a wide range of applications, he said. WiPower’s first product, a line of cell phone skins that can charge phones wirelessly, will be released at the end of April. They will be available online, and the company is talking to several large retailers about the product as well. For Padro, these skins are just the “tip of the iceberg” in terms of what the company’s technology can do.

While they will produce some products like the phone skins, WiPower will work largely with other manufacturers to incorporate its technology into their products. People will be able to buy items from one company that already includes WiPower’s wireless charging technology, he said. The company is also working with a partner on developing an embedded system that

would allow WiPower’s transmitters to be embedded directly into the equipment, such as a desk.

As WiPower expanded beyond the University of Florida, it began working with local incubator GTEC to develop its technology further and create more products with the help of other major technology companies.

“They’re a company on the launch pad,” said Booker Schmidt, executive director of GTEC. Since taking WiPower on in 2008, the incubator has provided resources and support for the company in developing successful business strategies, he said. As WiPower continues to develop its technology for use with different devices, he expects to see important growth in the company.

“Hopefully in the next couple of years they’re going to outgrow us,” he said. “They’re ready to do big things, and they’ll eventually get too big and need a new space.”

This is what incubators are for – providing the support companies like Pasteuria and WiPower need to develop their products into major business ventures, eventually moving on as they expand and become increasingly successful.

A staff member works in the greenhouse for Pasteuria Bioscience. Photo courtesy D. Neill-Mareci.

(left) Kelly Smith, chief technical officer and former CEO of Pasteuria Bioscience works in the greenhouse (left) and lab (right). Photo courtesy D. NeillMareci.

(above) The Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator. Photo courtesy D. Neill-Mareci.

COMMUNITY

Acting out instead of acting up

By Jessica Lipscomb

Photos courtesy of the Hippodrome

Summer Spectacular campers put a unique twist on The Odyssey.

Campers at Summer Spectacular play their parts in The Snow Angel.

(above) Children at Summer Spectacular perform a scene from 40 Thieves.

80

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

For the budding actor or actress in every child, the Hippodrome offers two four-week sessions of its acting camp, Summer Spectacular.

The camps run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, with classes in the mornings and rehearsals in the afternoons.

Each 5- to 18-year-old plays a part as an actor, director, costume designer or another role that suits him or her. This way, everyone gets to be in a position that teaches and excites them.

“Teamwork is a big aspect of it. Appreciating each other is a major part of it,” said Gabrielle Byam, camp director.

This summer, campers will be working on and performing three plays: The Tempest, a Shakespeare play; Pirates of Penzance, a musical and Lessons Learned from Lora-X, an original play written by Byam.

Participants in the camp are instructed by recent college graduates of theater programs, who teach everything from scene study to dance to acting. Each instructor this coming summer is a returning teacher to the Hippodrome.

During the final three days of the summer camp, the campers put on performances of the three chosen plays. It is a culmination of the hard work and learning experiences of the previous four weeks.

All aspects of the camp occur at the Hippodrome, so the children have a chance to explore the building and all the different types of preparation that putting on a performance involves.

Byam said the purpose of the camp is to instill a love of theater and an appreciation of art in children.

“We really respect the idea of youth and theater,” she said. “They’re the future of the audience and the stage.”

Aaron Ganas, an instructor at the camp, graduated with his bachelor’s degree in theater in (above) After days and weeks of 2009. His involvement in an improvisational group in high training, Hippodrome campers school sparked his interest perform in The Snow Angel. in the arts, and that love has helped him guide the children at Summer Spectacular. His comedy background has helped him adapt to teaching kids with a wide age range.

“I’ve got 7-year-olds and 17-year-olds. Every summer you have to adjust to it,” he said. “That’s probably where the improv comes in handy.”

Ganas has taught playwriting and improv, and this summer will be directing “The Tempest.”

What he most appreciates about the summer program is the ability for the campers to come together and enjoy performing.

“We have a lot of kids who return every summer, and it’s great to see how inclusive they are and how they jump back in,” he said. “That’s really what theater’s about – collaboration.”

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

COMMUNITY

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

81

Local Organionezatiweekend on rebuildsathomes a time

By Mara Rudolph

(Above and bottom right) Professionals and volunteers work on the roof. Photos courtesy RTNCF.

82

HOME Living

F

or three years, the roof of the house leaked. It leaked through the ceiling, down the wall and into the kitchen, rendering it unusable. The family of seven cooked their meals on a hot plate. Those three years passed before the owners, a couple taking care of their five grandsons, had saved enough money to fix the roof. But by then mold had inhabited the drywall, the cabinets were falling off and the fridge had stopped running.

That’s when Melisa Miller and a team of volunteers stepped in.

They stripped the kitchen down to almost nothing and redid it.

After the renovation, one of the owners called Miller and thanked her for the work. She said she had been able to bake a casserole for the family of someone who had passed away and that it was nice to finally be able to give back to her community.

This success story is just one of many that Miller has been able to experience as executive director of Rebuilding Together North Central Florida, a non-profit organization that focuses on providing emergency home repair for low-income, elderly or disabled citizens.

From strengthening foundations and chimney tops to installing water heaters and repairing bathroom siding, volunteers at Rebuilding Together have helped create safe homes for residents throughout the state.

“Our goal is to preserve affordable home ownership,” Miller said. “We try to keep people in their homes by providing critical repairs instead of adding new homes to the housing stock.”

The group focuses on emergency repairs and home safety as opposed to the extensive projects featured in popular television

In the Heart of Florida

programs. Most repairs are started and completed within two to three weekends.

“It’s pretty well coordinated to get so much done in a day,” Miller said.

When she started getting together with a group of college and high school friends on the weekends to make small repairs at local houses in 1998, she had no idea of the positive impact they would make on the community.

By 2005, the volunteers had realized the need for quality housing in Alachua County. The once-irregular weekend repairs had become a constant project, and by May of that year Rebuild Gainesville Inc. was officially created.

In February of 2008, Rebuild Gainesville Inc. expanded and became Rebuilding Together North Central Florida, an official affiliate of Rebuilding Together, a nationwide organization with more than 200 similar programs throughout the country.

Now, Rebuilding Together North Central Florida coordinates about 600 volunteers a year to improve living conditions for residents throughout Alachua County. The volunteers range in age from the minimum age of 14 to retirees, with a majority being college-age and adult volunteers. With the exception of the site leaders, the volunteers often have little to no construction experience, but Miller said this does not hinder the impact they make on the community.

“The work we do changes lives – not only for homeowners but for the volunteers as well,” she said. “You just feel an increase in pride and a greater sense of community after connecting with people.”

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

But Miller was not as hopeful that this sense of community would attract new volunteers after the economy started struggling.

“As a non-profit, I thought for sure we would have a hard time since the economy had taken a turn for the worse,” she said.

“But instead I’ve seen a rise in the power of the human spirit and the willingness to give.”

Miller said she has seen an increase in volunteers every year and expects even more with the pattern of growth the organization has taken.

This year, Rebuilding Together will be hosting a summer volunteer program, during which about 150 young volunteers from around Florida will come together for a week-long camp.

They bunk in school gyms or churches at night while volunteering on worksites during the day.

“In the evening, programming is provided for the campers that educates them about housing issues and encourages them to become ‘agents of change’ in their own communities,” Miller said.

One of the greatest opportunities to volunteer is during the last week of April for National Rebuilding Day. All Rebuilding Together affiliates across the country will spend April 24 repairing more than 7,000 homes. Rebuilding Together North Central Florida is still looking for house sponsors as well as volunteers.

“One of the things I love about what we do is that it’s very gratifying,” she said. “You can walk into a substandard home and leave after eight hours from a house that’s safe, healthy and comfortable.”

To learn more about Rebuilding Together North Central Florida, call the office at (352) 692-4973 or log onto the Web site, www.RebuildingTogetherNCF.org and click the “Get Involved” tab.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

(two small photos below) RTNCF has been able to attract about 600 volunteers to fix local homes. At left, one of those volunteers trims wood, and (right) another works on a window frame. Photos courtesy RTNCF.

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

83

Graduation’s Gift to Gainesville

By Brittany Brave

84

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

As the old saying goes, “When you graduate the world gains an expert, but your family loses a deduction.”

While proud parents stock up on film and distant relatives purchase their plane tickets, Gainesville will prepare for another monumental event.

Tassels will be turned and tears will be shed as the University of Florida approaches the graduation of another class of Gators this spring. The well-known gameday environment will be recreated for many Gainesville residents, as thousands of tourists, families and fans flock to celebrate the commemoration of a swamp full of future Gator Nation alumni.

Gainesville will welcome nearly 16,000 tourists and visitors this April and May. Local hotels, restaurants and service facilities will feel the effects, as traffic multiplies and the University of Florida campus becomes the place to be.

This year’s commencements are scheduled to begin on April 30 and will run through May 2, as every member of the class of 2010 will graduate on their designated day. The graduates will congregate in either the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, the University of Florida Performing Arts Center or the University Auditorium, according to their particular college. Parents and families will be provided with an opportunity to purchase professional photos of the graduates and view live webcasts for several of the ceremonies.

The Office of the Registrar states that the number of graduates generally reaches as high as 8,000, with roughly

50 to 60 percent donning a cap and gown and choosing to walk. Both summer and fall graduations reach up to 3,500 graduates but nonetheless, the impact is just as big and memorable.

Roland Loog, the director of Tourist Development for Alachua County, is a University of Florida alumnus and the community’s expert on the economic booms and busts of the county’s approximately 5,000 hotel and motel rooms.

“We have a very difficult time placing and booking people,” Loog said. “It is much more difficult than Gatornationals or big football weekends. Every nook and cranny of the county will be occupied.”

Loog has seen 17 years of graduations as director and assures that the key factor lies with the families of the graduates.

“More than that, the spending habits of families attending graduation are significantly greater,” he said.“They go into restaurants and know that this is last opportunity to celebrate in Gainesville. Their spending habits are better, they’re doing more than what they normally would do and they’re definitely buying higher quality.”

With hotel rates per room averaging between $100 and $250, the community reels in roughly $6 million to $8 million during graduation season. Last spring, the class of 2009 was one of the most successful although Loog assures that every graduation fulfills its promise in terms of skyrocketing sales, reservations and spending.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

All hotels, full and limited service alike, have their rooms booked and snatched as early as the beginning of the spring semester in January. Brandloyal customers and families often find themselves disappointed over occupancy or on a long, tedious waiting list for the room of their choice.

Most hotels and inns stipulate a two-night minimum policy and newer properties sell out and fill up within the blink of an eye. Other full-service locations, such as the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, feel the nearly overwhelming traffic instantly.

Nanci Haley, the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center general manager, believes the business provides a great economic boost during a traditionally quiet time.

“This business helps Gainesville tremendously,” she said.

“Something that brings pride, money, revenue and memories is always good. The traffic might be an inconvenience, but in the end, this weekend helps to support the city.”

With every room booked, the hotel pays an occupancy tax to the county, reeling in high numbers of revenue and profit for Alachua County as a whole and helping to fund future endeavors.

As Gator graduates and relatives seek to celebrate and look for a bite to eat, eateries in downtown Gainesville fill up fast. Many families find themselves spending roughly $80 or more a plate at popular downtown Gainesville eateries such as Paramount Grill, Emiliano’s and Liquid Ginger. Local

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

restaurants tend to be a highlight as families catch their last taste, quite literally, of Gator Nation before they leave.

But once graduation is over, the summer doldrums begin.

“Business drops off right after graduation. This serves as a warning to restaurateurs and hoteliers that business will be declining,” said Loog.

During the slower summer season, Loog and his department work to stay the course.

“Some locals love that it is less crowded. We work to try and keep the business level up,” he said.

“It’s noisy and driving can be bad, but at the same time, they become one of us. Graduation reinforces how important college is and brings the family together. We’re really happy for them,” Loog said.

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

85

STOP! Children’T s Cancer Night in Paradise

By Mara Rudolph

he “adult prom” is back.

That is the nickname many have bestowed to the Fantasy Event, hosted annually by STOP! Children’s Cancer, Inc. to benefit pediatric cancer research.

In a night filled with delicious food and great entertainment centered on an exciting theme, it’s no surprise the Fantasy Event is celebrating its 22nd year.

“It’s really about celebrating life and having a great time while celebrating a great cause,” said Carolyne Freeman, chairwoman of the event.

But Freeman is more than just chairwoman. Her sister, Bonnie, died at 12 years old after a 2½-year fight against leukemia. It was Bonnie’s wish for all the children in the world to “not go through all the same things which we had to,” said Freeman.

It was because of this wish that her parents, Howard and Laurel Freeman, founded STOP! Children’s Cancer.

“This began on the dreams of a little girl,” she said. “I think her strength and determination shines through with all of us who work with STOP! Children’s Cancer.”

Since its inception in 1981, STOP! Children’s Cancer has donated millions of dollars to the Gainesville community to raise research funds for the Divisions of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Pediatric Neuro-Oncology in the University of Florida’s College of Medicine. The Fantasy Event is just one of the organization’s major fundraising events, along with a golf tournament and holiday concert.

The theme of this year’s Fantasy Event is Polynesian Paradise. Everything from the centerpieces to the decorative plants to the menu is specially tailored to create a miniature paradise in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on April 17.

Previous events have included classic themes such as a silver-anniversary theme and Hollywood Golden

Years to more exotic themes like the Copa Caribbean, Evening at the Swamp, Under the Tuscan Sun and last year’s theme, A Sweet Magnolia Night.

“Everything is reflective of the theme,” Freeman said. “What’s amazing is how it all comes together.

It’s phenomenal.”

In addition to the open bar and all-you-can-eat buffet provided by Chef Brothers Custom Catering, the black-tie optional event also features Vegas-style gaming and a coffee bar hosted by TutoringZone.

Another highlight of the night is the silent auction for items donated by local businesses. The items range from artwork to sporting equipment to gift baskets.

One lucky attendee will also win a $2,500 gift certificate to Klaus Fine Jewelry.

Guests of the event can enjoy entertainment provided by Eve Vance Fleishman, a songstress from Tennessee who was a friend of Bonnie’s, and the Gainesville Ballet, among other surprise performances.

Albert and Alberta, the Gator mascots, are always present for the event. Other guests have included Urban and Shelley Meyer, former Gators’ defensive coordinator Charlie Strong and actress Kelly LeBrock.

Freeman said her favorite part of the night is taking a second to look around at the people enjoying the event and knowing that her sister and the mission of STOP! Children’s Cancer lives on through their celebration.

“It’s so heartwarming to see all these people come together for STOP! Children’s Cancer. It’s pretty amazing,” she said.

Individual tickets to the event can be purchased for $150 each online at www.stopchildrenscancer.org or from the STOP! Children’s Cancer Office located at 2622 NW 43rd St.

COVER STORY

Trend Realty

Rock Solid in Real Estate

By David Greenberg

T

rend Realty, a leader in the Gainesville real estate industry for 35 years, is now a part of the Prudential Real Estate Network.

This change will make the company even stronger than it already is by tying it to an organization with more than 1,940 franchise offices and approximately 62,000 sales professionals in the United States and Canada. The agency will now be known as Prudential Trend Realty.

“Prudential Trend Realty makes a wonderful addition to our network,” said Earl Lee, president of Prudential Real Estate

Prudential Real Estate brokers had the highest average sales price of any national real estate firm.

88

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

photography by Brad Palmer

and Relocation Services. “The company is a dominant force in greater Gainesville, with a sales team known for exemplary service, consultation and innovation. Just as important, Prudential Trend Realty is a strong corporate citizen and supports a variety of community and charity initiatives. In sum, the new affiliation represents two fine companies coming together, and customers will surely benefit.”

Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Inc. is Prudential’s integrated real-estate brokerage franchise and relocation services business. The company, headquartered in Irvine, Calif., offered its first franchise in 1988. Each brokerage is independently owned and operated. The companies are selected based upon outstanding performance records, high levels of customer service, and business values shared with those of Prudential.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our company and the customers we serve,” said Thomas McIntosh, president of

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

COVER STORY

Thomas McIntosh meets with associates in the High Springs office.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

89

COVER STORY

Brenda WatsonBanks, one of the Realtors at Trend, works in the Arthur Rutenberg model in Arbor Greens.

90

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

Prudential Trend Realty. “This is a big step for us. We are placing the Trend name next to one of the best-known brand names in the financial services sector, and I feel really good about that. In addition to the increased recognition, we are acquiring access to a network of the finest real estate brokers in the country, and our associates will have access to the best real estate marketing tools in the industry.”

To confirm this, McIntosh cited a recent survey conducted by Real Trends which demonstrated Prudential Real Estate brokers had the highest average sales price of any national real estate firm.

“That is a reflection of the quality of our Prudential colleagues around the country,” he said.

Trend client and builder Barry Rutenberg, the local Arthur Rutenberg Homes franchisee, said he believed his company’s productive 15-year relationship with Trend Realty will get even better.

“They’ve done a great job marketing our homes,” Rutenberg said. “We look forward to the new resources that will be offered to us in the relationship with Prudential.”

Trend associate Charlene Dinkla grew up in Jacksonville and knows the Prudential name.

“I’ve been familiar with the Prudential name for a long time because of their large corporate presence and signature building in Jacksonville,” she said. “The Rock represents stability, security and strength. I’m looking forward to having the Rock on my business card.”

Eddie Foster, a Realtor and senior vice president at Prudential Trend Realty, has known McIntosh since 1995 when Foster was president of the Board of Realtors and McIntosh was president-elect.

“This change has been one of the smoothest and most accepted we’ve ever had. The biggest question is why we didn’t do it sooner. I admire the decision. It’s going to be great, and Tommy is the right person to lead us through it,” Foster said.

“The decision to make this move was well thought out. Tommy sought the input of several associates, and we offered unanimous support. He is a very positive and thoughtful leader,” Foster added.

Realtor Philips has known McIntosh for 22 years. She was a school teacher, and they attended the same church many years ago.

“I was ready for a change after 20 years as a teacher,” she said. “I talked to him about a career in real estate, and he encouraged me to pursue it. I never considered working any place else. I have been with Trend now for almost four years. I have such respect for the company and for Tommy. He brings such terrific, positive energy. He always has us headed in the right direction.”

“This company has done well,” Phillips continued. “We have seen success in a very challenging market. Throughout the company there is no doubt that this is a positive move. We know we will be able to improve our already excellent service. While our yard signs will be changing, our commitment to excellence will not.”

The company’s high quality, and McIntosh’s leadership, is recognized not only in the office and at Prudential, it is also seen around Gainesville because of his community involvement. He is currently on the boards of directors of Gainesville MLS, FloridaWorks and M&S Bank. Additionally, he is on the executive committee and board of the Builders Association of North Central Florida (BANCF) and the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, where he is scheduled to be chair in 2011. He is also a past- president of the Gainesville Alachua County Association of Realtors (GACAR).

“All of these different roles have one thing in common,” McIntosh said.

“They are all with organizations which work hard to create a better business climate in Alachua County. This community needs more, and better, jobs across the board. Unemployment and under-employment are a problem in this area. I have a strong desire to see the citizens of our community employed to their potential.”

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

Q&A

COVER STORY

Questions and Answers about Prudential Trend Realty HOME: Wasn’t there another Prudential firm in Gainesville?

McIntosh: Yes. It is my understanding that company’s franchise agreement has expired. We are the only Prudential affiliate in the Alachua county market.

HOME: Last month your company was called ERA Trend Realty and now you are called Prudential Trend Realty. What has happened?

HOME: What is so special about the Prudential franchise?

McIntosh: It sounds confusing but it really is not. Trend Realty is a Gainesville company which has chosen to affiliate with a franchise.

We terminated our franchise agreement with ERA and executed a new franchise agreement with Prudential. We have a 10-year contract with Prudential so this is a long-term decision.

HOME: What initiated the change?

McIntosh: Great question. 1) The Prudential brand is “Rock Solid.” That name recognition adds instant credibility for customers who may not know us. Typically, 40 percent of homebuyers are coming from somewhere else. It is likely those out of town buyers know and have a favorable opinion of Prudential. 2) Prudential has an extensive relocation and referral network. When one of our clients relocates out of the area, we have confidence that we can help

McIntosh: As I mentioned, our firm had been an ERA franchise. Late last year I became concerned about that arrangement and notified ERA that I was exercising my right to terminate the franchise agreement.

This was a big decision for us because we had been affiliated with ERA for more than 35 years. We were consistently a Top 25 company in the ERA system, and I was an ERA insider due to serving on their National Advisory Council. I felt we had achieved all we could with that brand so we were making plans to be an independent real-estate company.

Coincidentally, a representative from Prudential contacted me. After extensive discussions we mutually agreed that both companies could better serve the market by teaming together. It became obvious that Prudential offered the best way for our company to support our associates and get to the next level.

them find a quality agent in their new location. Conversely, many people relocating to the Gainesville area will utilize the Prudential Relocation network. 3) The additional tools and support that are available to our associates will enhance their professionalism.

Prudential has an incredible resource called PREA Center which places marketing materials, training materials and other industry related tools at our associate’s finger tips. PREA Center is a very comprehensive resource.

HOME: Sounds risky. Any concerns?

McIntosh: It is going to take a lot of time and effort to ensure that we successfully execute this transition. I am completely focused on that objective right now. Once that happens then our company will pause, have a brief celebration – and then set the next goal.

McIntosh: When you assess risk it is important to realize there is risk in doing nothing. I was more concerned about that. We’ve now affiliated with a company that is rock solid – both figuratively and literally. They have a solid reputation and a solid financial position. We have a very strong partner in Prudential. I argue this is the least risky decision.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

In summary, we’ve increased our name recognition, increased our ability to serve our customers and increased the support we can offer our associates.

HOME: What’s next?

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

91

COVER STORY

The team at Trend Realty meets to plan for the change to Prudential.

92

HOME Living

Because of that dedication and philosophy, chamber CEO and Executive Director Brent Christensen describes McIntosh as the perfect community leader.

“His business leadership is so wide-ranged,” Christensen said. “Tommy is a great visionary thinker. Beyond that, he can do something that is often difficult in a business setting where people come in with their individual interests. He is tremendous at helping to build consensus in the business community. What I may like best about him, though, is that he is not afraid to take on controversial issues.”

Foster says that while McIntosh’s involvement helps the community, it also makes him a better Realtor.

“I am involved mainly in commercial sales,” Foster said. “I really appreciate his involvement with the chamber and with all the other organizations. A lot of his competition doesn’t do that. It means a lot to the “movers and shakers” in this town. When they see how hard he works for this community, it makes it easier for them to decide to bring their business to me.”

Trend Realty was first organized in 1973. From the beginning the company has adopted as a core value ensuring that highly trained sales associates will consistently deliver excellent customer experiences. Even though the sales associates’ compensation is derived from commissions, the company has always believed that no commission is worth the associate’s or the company’s reputation.

The company’s success stems from that credo and its commitment to the community.

“We believe it is important to give back to the community,” McIntosh said. “Our associates get to live a nice life because of what this community has to offer. We feel a responsibility to build upon what has been given to us. Since we have a large civic-minded sales

In the Heart of Florida

force, our associates are leaders in virtually every group out there working to improve conditions in our community. Our associates volunteer their time, resources and talent to serve in organizations across a wide spectrum – faith-based, community-building, political groups, charities and the school system. Any time civicminded people gather, odds are there will be a Trend Realty associate among them. Rest assured that civic involvement will continue and will likely grow in our affiliation with Prudential.”

Prudential Real Estate supports Sunshine Kids, which is an organization that supports kids receiving cancer treatment at children’s hospitals across the country.

“I’ve confirmed that Sunshine Kids currently works with cancer patients at Shands Hospital. I’m sure it is just a matter of time before our associates become involved with Sunshine Kids,” said McIntosh.

Trend associate John Caldwell said he likes the sound of the change.

“Since the 1890’s the name Prudential has been associated with the iconic Rock of Gibraltar, representing a strength and stability which obviously has stood the test of time, and since 1973 the name Trend Realty has been associated with integrity and stability in offering real estate services,” Caldwell said. “Prudential Trend Realty – Like a Rock. I like that. It has a solid ring to it.”

McIntosh said his team is ready for the change.

“This is a crazy, hectic, exhilarating and fun time,” he said. “I liken this to getting ready for a big trip. We’re packed and prepared.

Now we’re sitting in a plane out on the runway, and the captain has just issued instructions to make sure our seat belts are fastened and that the trays are locked in the upright position. This company is the plane, and Prudential is providing the jet engines. We are ready to take off.”

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

93

T C r o a r v n e e l r

Cedar Key Steinhatchee Slow Down the Pace in

By Morgan Watkins Steinhatchee photos courtesy Steinhatchee Landing

and

F

or the people of Cedar Key and Steinhatchee, the towns seem to exist in a past era. Trading chain stores for nature trails, they enjoy the quality fishing and natural charms of their towns rather than the frantic hustle of larger cities.

As the weather heats up and scalloping season rolls in, it is the perfect time to spend a relaxing Mother’s Day or refreshing summer vacation lying by the docks to fish and enjoying the scenery of these small cities by the water.

“My personal favorite thing about living here is being so close to water and nature,” said Judy Johnson, executive director of the Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce. “I’m a big bird freak, and I love to explore the islands.”

Kayaking along the shoreline of Cedar Key, as well as its outlying islands, is a fun way to spend the day because there is so much to see, she said. The island is also

94

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

LIFESTYLE

known for its fishing, since it is part of Florida’s Big Bend, which is an area famous for its sports fishing.

With a variety of nature parks nearby, many visitors like to visit Manatee Springs State Park during winter to see the manatees that spend Christmas in its warm waters, said park ranger William Irby. As the Florida heat picks up in April, they will begin leaving the park for other waters until the following winter.

A visit to Shell Mound Park is perfect for those looking forward to spending their weekend surrounded by Florida wildlife. Visitors can even spend the night there in their RV or at one of the park’s campgrounds, most of which are equipped with electric and water hookups, said Pam Owens, administrative assistant for the Levy County Parks and Recreation Office. There are also several pavilions families can use during the day for a picnic or quick rest in the shade as they enjoy the park’s wildlife.

“We have some hogs that like to come through and say hi to the guests, and occasionally you’ll have a raccoon or something like that,” she said.

After enjoying the islands, vacationers can stop by one of Cedar Key’s popular seafood restaurants. Coconuts of Cedar Key offers a variety of seafood, from oysters to crab meat nachos, said waitress and assistant manager Ashley Kasco. She also loves the restaurant’s beautiful waterfront view.

“It doesn’t hurt watching the dolphins every day from work,” she said.

While Cedar Key is always a nice weekend destination during the spring and summer months, in April its annual art festival draws thousands of visitors to the town. This year will be the 46th annual Old Florida Celebration of the Arts festival, which will be held April 24 and 25. Local artists will show off their work and compete for prizes while visitors peruse the displays. Last year, more than 20,000 people came into town for the festival.

The town’s seventh-annual Clamerica Celebration will be held on the Fourth of July. A fun-filled day of clam-related activities from clam bag races to clam cook-offs, it is also a celebration of the country’s biggest national holiday.

For those in search of scallops, Steinhatchee is an ideal summer vacation spot for the whole family.

The town, much like Cedar Key, is known for its fishing and seafood.

Several marinas dot its shoreline, providing boating opportunities for visitors interested in grabbing a fishing pole themselves to see what they can catch.

“One of the first and foremost things you think about when you come to Steinhatchee is that you’re kind of taking a step back in time,” said Linda Wicker, who owns Roy’s Restaurant in Steinhatchee.

“It’s just not so busy. It’s just not the constant rush, rush, rush, hurry, hurry, hurry.”

Roy’s boasts some of the best seafood in town, and on a sunny afternoon people from Gainesville, Tallahassee, and even Valdosta, Ga., will drive over to enjoy a good meal and beautiful view of the sunset over the water, she said.

For Wicker, the town offers some of the most breathtaking sights and best fishing in the area.

“It’s just beautiful. There are a lot of places you can just drive or walk along the gulf, and the views are pretty incredible,” she said. “If you’re a nature person or sportsman there’s all kinds of hiking and birding, and the fishing is not much better on the coast.”

Steinhatchee’s biggest attraction in the summer is its scallops, with scalloping season running from the beginning of July through September, Wicker said.

Visitors bringing a boat with them for their visit are welcome to

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

stay at the Gulfstream Motel and Marina in Steinhatchee, which is the only place along the river in town that has hotel rooms, dock space for boats, a bar and a restaurant on-site, according to Karin Williams, ship store and motel manager for Gulfstream. The Gulfstream also has RV sites available.

“We’re casual and fun, and very neat, clean and friendly,” she said of the motel and marina.

Steinhatchee Landing also provides quality accommodations for vacationers, offering spacious cabins for rental that are close to the Steinhatchee River. Some of the cabins are even located on the river, with personal docks for some cabins and community docks for those staying in homes a little farther from the river, said Eileen Johnson, events coordinator for Steinhatchee Landing.

“Steinhatchee is for people that want to get away from a rat race. It’s a small town for fishing, and people bring their families just to get away,” she said.

There are cabins with anywhere from one to four bedrooms. Rates for cabins are higher during scalloping season.

For Johnson, Steinhatchee’s natural beauty is what makes the town such a great place to live.

“It’s old Florida. Yesterday my husband and I took the canoe out and started at Steinhatchee Falls and went on, and it’s gorgeous,” she said. “I don’t have an ocean view, but I’ve got the river and that smell of the salt air.”

While thousands flock to Florida’s theme parks and coastline beaches, those in search of a quieter vacation can take their shoes off and splash around in the waters of Cedar Key and Steinhatchee, where all that matters is having a plate of good seafood in your stomach and a beautiful waterfront sunset in front of you.

HOME Living

caption here

In the Heart of Florida

95

Slipping Into Spring Fashions

LIFESTYLE

Fashion

Shouts of joy exclaim across Florida as the familiarly high temperatures seep back into the weather.

It is finally time to ditch the sweaters and trade the boots in for a pair of flip-flops.

Spring is here, and for many, it marks the return of shorts and T-shirts galore. This season, the designers and boutiques from Gainesville Fashion Week are showcasing their hottest looks yet. They range from the classics, such as dresses from Dahlia and designer Kenneth McCraney, to the trendier, designs from Bobby K or Wolfgang.

Whatever your pleasure, there is something to smile about this spring.

Corner caption

by Emily Davis photography by Brad Palmer Anita Webster has fun with color in this dress from Calzatura 96

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

LIFESTYLE

s Ashley Owen look ue radiant in this bl and white tank . dress from Dahlia

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME HOME Living Living In In the the Heart Heart of of Florida Florida

97 97

LIFESTYLE

Always the trendsetter, Debbie Lee shows off this dress by designer Bobby K.

98

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

LIFESTYLE

Ashley

Jorja Williams wears a piece by designer Kenneth McCraney, who takes a modern twist on the classic white shift dress by adding a splash of color.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME HOME Living Living In In the the Heart Heart of of Florida Florida

99 99

LIFESTYLE

Wolfgang highlights just one of its great pieces this season in a dress worn by Lisa Curran.

100

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

John Mitchell - Owner (352) 225-3577 phone (352) 262-7920 cell JohnIsaacsClothing.com

We bring

Clothing From Casual to Fully Custom Tailored

the showroom

to you.

CHARITIES

Caution: Adults at Play O2b A Kid Again! FUN’draiser

(below) Two attendees use glue and markers to make their own craft creations.

(right top) Adults get the rare opportunity to have fun together doing crafts and games normally geared toward kids at the fundraiser. (middle) With games like Alachua Idol karaoke, adults can kick back and have fun while raising money for a cause.

102

HOME Living

By Kate Ashby

A

t O2b Kids, toys, tunnels, tubes and slides create a great place for children to learn and play, but on Sunday, May 2, it’s the adult’s day to play.

O2b Kids will host the O2b a Kid Again! FUN’draiser, an event to raise money and awareness for the Alachua County Public Schools Foundation. The event will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the main location of O2b Kids, 6680 Newberry Road. This casual event allows adults to kick off their shoes, hang up their suits, and just be a kid.

“This is the one day a year we turn the place over solely to adults,” said Andy Sherrard, O2b Kids co-founder. “We invite them to participate in a lot of the games, so it’s just a lot of fun.”

The games and contests include Alachua Idol karaoke, golf, basketball, bowling, pingpong, tricycle races, Guitar Hero, the rock wall, the indoor playground and giant versions of board games, such as Jenga, checkers, Connect Four and Legos, said Kelley Kostamo, chief “fun” officer of the event and partnership specialist with the Alachua County School Board. Live entertainment will also be on hand.

Additionally, local principals compete in the highly anticipated principals’ challenge, which is usually an obstacle course of some sort, Kostamo explained.

For example, she described a hat theme implemented one year in which principals wore baseball hats to throw the first pitch and hair nets to serve food.

“It really draws a big crowd to watch the principals participate,” Sherrard said.

With all the activities, guests usually work up an appetite. And being that this is a kid-centered event, Kostamo said the menu is comprised of kid-friendly favorites, everything from hamburgers and hot dogs to macaroni and cheese. However, attendees won’t be denied their adult beverages.

When the adults tire, Kostamo said they can bid in the event’s silent auction, which usually features 200 to 300 items. Typical items include spa treatments, salon certificates, haircuts and restaurant certificates, she said. And back by popular demand is the peanut butter bar presented by the Foundation Fryers, where you can come up with an imaginative peanut butter sandwich.

O2b A Kid Again started as a project by Leadership Gainesville 28 that included Sherrard. Leadership Gainesville is a yearlong community leadership program, and one of the tasks of the group was to put on a fundraiser. The event is now in its seventh

In the Heart of Florida

year benefiting the Alachua County Public Schools Foundation, which has received more than $185,000 from the event.

“It’s something I always wanted to do, and I was very fortunate that that particular Leadership Gainesville class was enthusiastic about making it a reality,” Sherrard said.

The Leadership Gainesville Alumni Association plans to be a part of this year’s event by awarding tickets to all the Teacher of the Year winners.

“It falls in line with our mission and we will always work to support programs developed out of Leadership Gainesville classes,” said Kim Mitrook, president of LGAA. “It’s great to be back involved.

The Teacher of the Year program benefits from the proceeds of O2b A Kid Again, said Taal Hasak-Lowy, executive director of the Alachua County Public Schools Foundation. Another program that receives funds directly from the event includes the Foundation for Success Classroom and School Grants.

“It’s a program where we give grants to teachers for the fantastic and innovative programs they do within their classrooms to help improve student success,” she said.

For example, a teacher at Hidden Oak Elementary School implemented the “Fancy Pencil” program, which taught students about business and philanthropy. Hasak-Lowy said students designed and sold pencils and then donated the money to charity. Foundation for Success started out of the need to provide teachers more money for classroom supplies because the average teacher spends $500 out of pocket. With school budget cuts and the economy, the need has become greater, she said.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

Therefore, the Alachua County Public Schools Foundation hopes to raise awareness through O2b A Kid Again. Last year the event raised about $40,000, but the goal this year is $50,000. The fundraiser usually draws 500 to 600 attendees, most within the education system, but Hasak-Lowy said she hopes to bring in more people from other areas of the community.

“So everyone comes, has fun, eats, drinks and is a little bit silly, and hopefully leaves with a little bit of knowledge about what we do at the foundation,” she said.

Meanwhile, fun counselors hype the fundraiser at schools by awarding a golden tricycle to the school with the most participation and ticket sales, Sherrard said. He explained the event is not only a fundraiser, but an end-ofthe-year celebration for educators and education supporters.

“A lot of different people who don’t see each other during the school year come out, and we all get to play games,” Kostamo added.

Although Alachua County School Board employees receive discounted tickets, tickets are available to the public for $30. Kostamo described O2b A Kid Again as one of the more reasonably priced fundraisers in town.

“It’s probably the most casual of fundraisers in town, and I think that’s a good fit for a lot of us,” she added. “You don’t have to go out and buy a new ball gown or anything. You just come in your play clothes and have a good time.”

For more information about tickets or the event, contact Nikki Wagner at 352-955-7003 or visit http://acpsf.org.

EDUCATION

Race to the Top A

Teachers and students will benefit if Florida receives Race to the Top funds.

104

HOME Living

with education reform

new grant program is signaling a shift in federal education policy by offering billions in funding to the states that have made the biggest strides forward in education in recent years.

Race to the Top is the first competitive grant program of its kind, challenging states to highlight their greatest successes in education reform in the hopes of receiving a piece of the estimated $4.35 billion the grant will award. There are multiple phases to the program. Florida was a finalist for phase one, but only two states were chosen for the initial grants – Delaware and Tennessee.

The program is based on four initiatives: preparing students for college or the workplace, building systems that measure success, finding and keeping effective teachers and principals and fixing low-achievement schools.

As the states compete over who will ultimately receive funding, Florida remains a strong contender.

“Florida had a very high chance of winning the Race to the Top funds, largely due to the decade of educational reforms issued through Jeb Bush’s administration and the extraordinary student achievements that have been made as a result of those reforms,” said John Winn, chief program officer of the National Math and Science Initiative and former Florida commissioner of education. “So much credit goes to the teachers out there in the schools because they’re the ones that made it happen. There’s plenty of credit to share in terms of Florida’s education system.”

Winn, who served as commissioner from 2004-2007 and was the governor’s education adviser before that, praised Florida’s success in closing the achievement gap among economically and ethnically diverse students as well as the state department’s commitment to facing challenges such as language barriers among students head on. Because of that he believes that Florida and Louisiana continue to have excellent chances of winning funding.

In the Heart of Florida

By Morgan Watkins

“This, as the name indicates, is really reserved for states that have made some outstanding progress in terms of student achievement, teacher quality, turning around low-performing schools, and those kinds of things,” he said. “The purpose of the funding then is to make the successes that you’ve already done on your own fully statewide so that you can demonstrate that an entire state can actually provide those kinds of successes to all of their students in all of their schools.”

With approximately $4.5 billion to draw from, it is clear that receiving funding from Race to the Top is a great achievement both financially and academically. Awards will range from $20 million to $700 million per state, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s Web site. States were broken down into five categories of potential funding brackets, based on each state’s portion of the U.S. population of children ranging from five to 17 years old. Florida is listed along with California, Texas and New York in the highest funding bracket and will most likely receive funding between $350 million and $700 million if it wins.

The funds each state receives will be apportioned about equally between the state department and its school districts, according to Everett Caudle, director of project development for the Alachua County School Board.

The school board has already submitted a signed letter of intent and memorandum of understanding, which are required for school districts interested in being part of the Race to the Top program if the state wins, Caudle said.

They will also have to submit an application to the state to receive funding if Florida wins in a later phase of the program. He is optimistic about Alachua County’s prospects for receiving funding from the state if Florida is one of the winners.

“We’re expecting to apply and we’ll do our best to write an application that appeals to the type of initiatives the state wants us to address,” he said. “We think we’re in very good shape because we’ve been using data for a number of years here and have an infrastructure that we think sets us apart as being very strong.”

Superintendent Dan Boyd sees great possibilities for the program.

“I’m looking forward to working with our school board and the Alachua County Education Association on this,” Boyd said.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

EDUCATION

Race to the Top Reform Areas • A dopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace and to compete in the global economy; • B uilding data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction; • R ecruiting, developing, rewarding and retaining effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed most; and • Turning around our lowest-achieving schools.

“It’s going to be a challenge, but I see a lot of opportunity to help students, particularly those who struggle academically.”

While Alachua County schools are ahead of the game in terms of infrastructure and technology and data use, Caudle knows there will still be challenges ahead, especially in dealing with teacher contract issues as programs are altered and new ones are created.

These issues will need to be addressed by most Florida school districts as well, not just those in Alachua County, he said.

Santa Fe College President Jackson Sasser sees Race to the Top as a great way to improve educational opportunities.

"Race to the Top would be something that would help students get better service,” he said. “To do this it takes financial support, and the more attention students get leads to better results. My experience in Texas, including my wife being a teacher, was a positive one. The reason was Texas was obsessively committed to measuring student success and good teaching was recognized, and all of a sudden more teachers were remaining after school to help students."

Tom Butler, press secretary for the Florida Department of Education, said in an e-mail that Florida’s application makes it a strong competitor.

“It really is the application as a whole and the boldness that is contained within it that sets us apart,” he said. “However, I do think it’s important to point out that all our proposed initiatives support quality teaching, which is an extremely important part of our efforts to increase student achievement.”

For example, one of the department’s proposals is that 50 percent of principal and teacher evaluations should be based on student growth, while others include goals to double the number of people earning college credit by 2020 and close the student achievement gap, he said.

Developing Florida’s application was collaboration among the State Department of Education, Governor Charlie Crist, members of the Florida Legislature and education stakeholders.

The education department even received over 75 letters of support from stakeholders, showing the commitment among these groups to help Florida win this grant, he said. The department also met with school boards, state union leaders and school superintendents during the application process to gather their input.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

“I think it is a fantastic program, and I can absolutely tell you that if Florida wins you are going to see some really great things happening in classrooms around the state,” Butler said.

But Florida’s education system has already been making extensive progress of its own within the classroom. The state was granted federal permission to use its Differentiated Accountability program, which gives low-performing schools assistance at both district and state levels to become successful. If the state wins Race to the Top, this program would be expanded upon by the education department, he said. The grant’s generous funds would also help expand the capabilities of the state’s longitudinal data system, which could give parents and teachers more information to improve student achievement.

As Florida educators, parents and students wait excitedly to hear the results of the Race to the Top second round of funding, it is with a bright outlook on the future of the state’s education system. If Race to the Top and similar programs continue to garner attention and funding from the federal government, a change in education policy could be under way: a shift from aiming aid mainly to struggling school districts toward funneling it into states that are already striving on their own to make their schools exceptional centers of learning for children and young adults.

“We’ve seen some tremendous academic progress here in Florida over the last decade,” Butler said, “but we still have a lot of work to do, and a victory in Race to the Top is going to help us get that critical work done.”

HOME Living

If Florida wins in a later round of Race to the Top funding, the Alachua County School District will apply to receive a piece of the money for local schools.

In the Heart of Florida

105

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Calendar of Events For a complete listing of alll of the events in our area please go online to our website www.LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

April-May 2010

Community April 8 Peaceful Paths Guest Chef Cocktail Party 6 p.m. at Sweetwater Branch Inn www.peacefulpaths.org April 10 Viva! Goes Polynesian 5:30 p.m. at Rembert Farm www.vivameanslife.com/ April 10 Fresh Feast on the Farm 5 p.m. at HOPE Farm www.feastonthefarm.eventbrite. com/?ref=esfb April 10-11 Santa Fe Spring Arts Festival http://www.sfcollege.edu/springarts/ April 17 Annual Fantasy Event for Stop!

Children’s Cancer O’Connell Center www.stopchildrenscancer.org/index. cfm/Fantasy_Event April 18 Alachua Spring Festival 11AM - 5 PM at Main Street in Downtown City of Alachua www.alachuabusiness.com/ April 20 Annual Friend Raiser for the Child Advocacy Center 5:30pm at Villa East (formerly Savannah Grand) www.childadvocacycentergainesville. org/events.html April 22-24 Suwannee River Jam Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park and Campground 850-694-8687 www.floridaetours.com April 23 Mary Wise Scramble for Kids Mark Bostick Golf Course at UF www.marywisescramble.com/

106

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

April 24 Zumba Challenge for Kids for the Boys & Girls Club 11 a.m. at Gainesville Health & Fitness Main Center www.myboysandgirlsclub.com/news/24/ Zumba_Challenge_for_Kids/ April 30 Art Walk 7 p.m. at the Hippodrome www.thehipp.org/news/events.php May 2 O2B a Kid Again, a Benefit for the Alachua County Public School Foundation 5 p.m. at O2B Kids www.acpsf.org May 5 Girl Scouts Women Who Make a Difference Luncheon Noon at the UF Hilton www.girlscouts-gateway.org/index.php May 14-15 Reeling for Kids, a Benefit for Boys and Girls Club Gulfstream Motel & Marina, Steinhatchee www.reelingforkids.com/ May 14-15 65th Annual Watermelon Festival Canterbury Equestrian Showplace www.newberrywatermelonfestival.com/ May 23 Child Abuse Awareness Run in Memory of Kaedyn Short 9 a.m. www.childadvocacycentergainesville. org/events.html May 28 Passport for Success: Take Stock in Children’s Annual Dinner 6 p.m. at Kanapaha Middle School www.acpsf.org/takestock.html (calendar continues on page 102)

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Newberry Watermelon Festival

By Maria Piquet

A tradition started 65 years ago in Newberry continues today rain or shine.

The first Newberry Watermelon Festival was a celebration to welcome home the veterans of WWII. They returned around the time of the watermelon harvest, so it only made sense to incorporate the fruit into the festivities. It’s been the same ever since.

“We are one of the oldest watermelon festivals in the country,” said committee member Katherine Thomas. “We have learned how to do it right. Some of our committee members are the children and grandchildren of the people who started this festival. We have a tradition of family and agriculture, and we want to keep that in this community. This festival is one of the ways we do that.”

This year’s Newberry Watermelon Festival, to be held on May 14 and 15 at the Canterbury Equestrian Showplace, promises to stay true to its roots. It starts with the Hospice Rodeo the first day and continues on day two with the beloved events that have been part of its history since 1946, including contests for watermelon eating and seed spitting, hog calling, pie baking, the Big Melon and the always popular beauty pageant.

The pageants are held at the Newberry Oak View Middle School Auditorium. They start Friday for girls ages 5-16 years old and Saturday for the boys and girls ages from birth to 4 years old. The queen’s pageant for young ladies ages 17-22 years old are held on Friday. These may be the biggest highlight of the festival.

Jessica Southard, a University of Florida agriculture student was the festival queen in 2008. She went on to be the Florida Watermelon Queen in 2009 and is now the U.S. Watermelon Queen. She represents the agriculture industry throughout the United States and Europe.

The kid-favorite parade will take place Saturday and the pageant queen will be crowned that evening.

About 80 craft vendors from all over Florida and various food vendors will be attending and guests will have the opportunity to bid at an auction for watermelon-themed items collected throughout the year.

All profit earned at the festival goes back into the community. Some money goes into creating scholarships for high school students, some is distributed among area elementary schools and some is used for community projects, such as the restoration of historical buildings. The festival committee always tries to make each festival bigger and better and hopes that the turnout will be too.

This old-fashioned event is for the entire family and promises to provide a day full of fun and enough watermelon to give anyone a full stomach.

To learn more about the Newberry Watermelon Festival, go online to www.newberrywatermelonfestival.com.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Reeling for Kids

By Lauren Alexis

The Doug Johnson & Donnie Young Reeling for Kids Fishing Tournament is being held this year at the Gulfstream Motel and Marina on May 14-15.

All proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Alachua County.

both a back-up plan against rain and an extra chance for contestants to win prizes.

In 2004. Doug Johnson came to the Boys & Girls Club with a desire to give back to the facility that had given him a place to go in his younger years. But Johnson wanted a different kind of charity event.

“In the years that we’ve been doing it, we’ve only had one really bad storm come by, but it lasted only an good,” Javidi said.

“He said to us, ‘I want to do an event that is different from others and something I enjoy doing. I believe we could create a quality fishing tournament that will benefit the Boys & Girls Club overall,” Laura Javidi, Special Events Coordinator for the Boys & Girls Club, said.

Johnson later got Javidi and Young involved in working on the tournament in 2006 to help take the tournament to the next level. Johnson and Young found interested sponsors, while Javidi took on the logistics.

The event has grown into a two-day tournament as

money is used for the prize money. Entry fees increase by $25 after May 7 to encourage early registrations.

graphy rio’s Photo urtesy Ma Photos co

hour. Besides that, it’s been

Contestants may begin fishing daybreak on May 14 and stay overnight on their boats, or dock and continue fishing the next morning. The prizes are split into 11 different categories, ranging from merchandise to $3,000. The tournament is a boat tournament, not an angler tournament, so prizes go to boats with the largest combination of fish.

To enter the tournament, boats pay $175 for the inshore division or $225 for the offshore division. The entry

“The fishermen want to know what the weather is going to be. They’re going to have to take the gamble that the weather is going to be good to get the lower entry fee,” Javidi said.

For other entertainment, after-hour parties are held. Also, a live and silent auction takes place on May 15 after prizes are given out. The auction items range from hunting and fishing items, health and beauty items and jewelry.

The title sponsor of Reeling for Kids is W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractors. The company has been involved in Reeling for Kids since its start. A number of other sponsors are also involved. Sponsors donate money, food and auction items for the event.

“We at W.W. Gay believe the foundation of our community is within our youth,” said Tom Easom, vice president of the Gainesville branch of W.W. Gay. “The Boys and Girls Club of Alachua County reaches out to approximately 4,000 kids in our community each year with exceptional programs and a professional staff. The Reeling for Kids fishing tournament is a very well run and organized event that brings a lot of our community businesses and people together to support our kids. We hope that this event continues to grow and the that the Boys and Girls Club continues their success in developing and reaching out to the kids of our community,” These extras that come from sponsors like W.W. Gay include advertising, lunch and dinner both days of the event, an invitation to the sponsor Thank You party and captain’s bags.

Proceeds from the event will go to the Boys & Girls Club to ensure the continuing services and programs offered to the community throughout the year. The Boys and Girls Club only charges $60 for one child to attend the club each year.

Services offered include: after-school program, sports facilities, recreational activities, mentors, tutoring and more. The Alachua County Boys & Girls Club alone cares for about 4,000 children annually. With federal and state grants decreasing, fundraisers have become a big part in keeping the Boys & Girls Club of Alachua County in operation.

“There’s a lot of charities, and they’re all good, but the Boys & Girls Club gets forgotten. Let’s not forget about these kids. They’re on a road that they can go one way or the other,” Johnson said.

For more information on Reeling for Kids, please visit www.reelingforkids.com.

108

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Lights, Camera, Fashion

By Emily Davis

Move out of the way New York City, Gainesville has its very own fashion week and it is here to stay.

Crowds gathered as models, designers and boutiques alike light up the stage from April 7 to 11 to show off everything from bathing suits to ball gowns.

The show kept to its roots featuring local businesses such as Wolfgang, Calzatura, Dahlia, Mesh Boutique and Avant Garde Salon. It also served as a platform for up-and-coming local and national designers like Kenneth McCraney, Sironna Swimwear, BobbyK and Mikho.

“I love the event because it brings so many different aspects of the community together,” said designer Bobby Kelley, the brains behind BobbyK design. “The event has grown my business a lot. More people are familiar with who I am and what I design.”

Starting in 2009, with events in the spring and fall, Gainesville Fashion Week has developed significantly in its short time on the scene. This April marked the first annual event with a larger venue and crowds up to 500 each night.

If fashion isn’t your thing, that’s okay too. Gainesville Fashion Week featured art as well.

“We decided to bring back the large art show on red carpet night,” said Tiffany Williams of Neutral7 Design Group, who does the marketing for Gainesville Fashion Week. “It went over really well last spring, plus it was a fun way to bring a lot of different people out.”

For more information on Gainesville Fashion Week visit www.gainesvillefashionweek.com

April 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, May 1, 6, 8, 13, 15 Theatre for Young Audiences production of The Commedia Voyages of Sinbad The Thomas Center http://www.gvlculturalaffairs.org

May 28 - 30 Florida Folk Festival 8 a.m. at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park 1-877-635-3655 www.floridastateparks. org/StephenFoster/events. cfm?viewevent=4627#4627

April 17 Francesca Gagnon - The Voice of Alegria™ sings the music of Cirque du Soleil with the UF Symphony Orchestra 7:30 p.m. at the Phillips Center www.performingarts.ufl.edu/ events/2009/voice-of-alegria-2/

June 4 Alachua County Public Schools Foundation Annual Meeting Noon at Carraba’s Italian Grill www.acpsf.org/takestock.html June 13 Taste of HOME 5 p.m. at the UF Hilton www.tasteofhomeevent.com/

April 17 University of Florida Symphony Orchestra 7:30 pm. At the Phillips Center www.performingarts.ufl.edu/ events/2009/university-of-floridasymphony-orchestra/

Theater April 7-8 Menopause the Musical 7:30 pm at the Phillips Center www.performingarts.ufl.edu/ events/2009/menopause-the-musical/

April 18 Interpreti Veneziani 2:00 p.m. at University Auditorium www.performingarts.ufl.edu/ events/2009/interpreti-veneziani-2/

April 11 Pat Metheny - The Orchestrion Tour 7:30 p.m. at the Phillips Center www.performingarts.ufl.edu/ events/2009/ pat-metheny-2/

April 20 UF School of Music Concert Band 7:30 p.m. at University Auditorium www.performingarts.ufl.edu/ events/2010/uf-school-of-musicconcert-band/

April 13 School of Music Presents UF Choir 7:30 p.m. at University Auditorium www.performingarts.ufl.edu/ events/2010/school-of-music-presentsuf-choir/

April 23 – 24 Newberry Relay for Life www.newberryjonesvillechamber.com/ calendar.php

April 14 UF School of Music Symphonic Band 7:30 p.m. at University Auditorium www.performingarts.ufl.edu/ events/2010/uf-school-of-musicsymphonic-band-2/ April 14- May 10 Around the World in 80 Days a the Hippodrome State Theatre www.thehipp.org/mainstage/season.php

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

April 25 Bella Hristova, Violin 2:00 p.m. at Squitieri Studio Theatre www.performingarts.ufl.edu/2010/04/ page/2/ May 7 Gainesville Chamber Orchestra – Celestial Celebrations 7:30 p.m. at Phillips Center www.performingarts.ufl. edu/2010/05/07/ May 10 Youth Talent Showcase 7 p.m. at the Hippodrome www.thehipp.org/news/events.php

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

109

been

AROUND TOWN

urban meyer scramble photography 35

we’ve

American Heart Association CEO Breakfast

where

tipple's brew grand opening

110

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

AROUND TOWN

been

o2b kids fun run

where

we’ve

little caesars ribbon cutting

112

millhopper library reopening mario's photography

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

AROUND TOWN

where illusions extravaganza

we’ve

junior league's 75th anniversary photography 35

been

defiance opening night at the hippodrome mario's photography

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

113

been

AROUND TOWN

acel kickball tournament photography 35

hoggetowne midieval fair

we’ve

coffey shots photography

Girl Scouts Reunion Reception

where

mario's photography

114

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

JAKE'S CORNER

Jake’s Corner Jake Fuller appears regularly in Advantage Publishing’s magazines as our featured political cartoonist.

Originally from Lakeland, Fuller has been living in Gainesville since 1970. He is married to Laura Fuller, probably well-known to many local business leaders. They have two sons, both attending Santa Fe Community College.

His work is internationally syndicated by Artizans.com, and also appears on the websites of Jewish World Review, Irreverent View and AAEC, and in the annual publication “The Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year.”

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

115

GET TO KNOW

Jessica Southard

By David Greenberg

S

The National Watermelon Queen

he’s been at it since she was 12 years old, and it will all come to an end next February. Jessica Southard, a 20-year-old Bronson resident and University of Florida sophomore, has been running for or serving as a watermelon queen for the last eight years.

Southard started as the Junior Teen Queen at the Newberry Watermelon Festival. That was followed by a stint as the Teen Queen. At 17, she was the Big Queen, as it is called, at the Newberry Watermelon Festival. She was the Florida Watermelon Queen last year. And finally, she was crowned in February as the National Watermelon Queen. One of the requirements of winning in Newberry is running for state, and winning at state means running for national.

Normally that occurs over successive years, but

116

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

Southard got a bit of a break between Newberry and state when she ran for a Florida FFA position.

“I never imagined when I competed to be Junior Teen Queen that all this would happen,” she said. “In fact, when I was standing on the stage at the Florida convention, I still couldn’t believe it was happening.”

While Southard is attractive enough to be a beauty contest winner, serving as Newberry, Florida or U.S. Watermelon Queen is not that. It is work, she said.

“Starting with Big Queen, this was a job,” Southard said. “I would go into elementary schools to talk to students about the basics of agriculture and the nutritional value of watermelon.”

Those responsibilities grow at each level.

“I served as a spokesperson for the state watermelon association,” she said. “At the national level, I have the responsibility of representing and promoting the industry. I have to lobby elected officials, attend agriculture conferences and learn about other commodities. It is a difficult, strenuous job, but it is also very rewarding.”

If that’s not enough, Southard somehow finds time to attend UF, where she is studying agricultural communication.

“I love the agriculture industry, and I love marketing it,” she said. “I want to be able to have a career representing the agriculture community.”

As a student, there is a benefit to be in her field of study – but it also has its drawbacks.

“Because of what I do, my professors expect a lot more of me,” she said. “We can communicate on a more sophisticated level. They encourage me to talk to other students about what I do. While I don’t have much free time, I wouldn’t trade these experiences for anything.”

Her parents, Gary and Kathi, have been her biggest supporters. In fact, it was her father who helped get her involved. He and a friend, Buddy Hughes, had a mutual interest in stock car racing. Hughes’ wife, Lisa, coordinates the Newberry pageants.

“I first talked her into it,” Hughes said. “I knew from the beginning that if anyone could win state and national, it would be Jessica. It’s great for Newberry – a small festival and small community – to have a national queen. She’s smart and beautiful – one of a kind.”

While she still has many months to go, Southard is already getting nostalgic about the last eight years.

“I’ve never worked so hard in my life,” she said. “But it will be devastating when it’s over.”

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com