Home Living In THe Heart Of Florida

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Dec/Jan 2010

Cleaning Up the Clutter Giving the Gift of Life

2010

Charity Directory

Horst & Luisa Ferrero 2009 2010 Medical Charity Issue


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Estate Planning & Business Planning Painting by c lient

Enjoy a complimentary and educational lunch or dinner at our office and find out what you can do to preserve your legacy with a customized estate plan. Register for our next seminar or plan your private event by visiting our website.

www.Flanagan-Law.com 1204 NW 69th Terrace, Suite D Gainesville, FL 32605 |

352-373-0002

, Allison LeBaron


minutes

MATTER Bob Howland is glad to be at home with his wife Rebecca and daughter Stevie. He came close to losing days like this. Last June, Bob experienced pains he’d never felt before that were signs of a heart attack. Doctors and nurses at North Florida Regional Medical Center worked together to save his life. On the day this photo was taken, Bob celebrated his 54th birthday. Grateful for his life, Bob’s celebration continues this holiday season, and he is on a mission to share his story because what you learn from him might save yours. Log on and learn.

When a heart attack happens, minutes really do matter. At North Florida Regional Medical Center, so do you.

MinutesMatterGainesville.com


Plastic& Cosmetic Surgery specializing in breast, body and face

Excellence inCosmetic Surgery 352-332-1150 1204 NW 69th Terrace Suite F www.DrTyrone.com

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When you visit Tioga Town Center, you’ll get your favorite table, extra anchovies,

…and Frank. Sure, the picturesque storefronts, coffee shop, boutiques, restaurants, postal center, wine bar, world-class fitness center and bakery, make Tioga Town Center a prime shopping destination. But it’s more than that here— It’s the people who make Tioga Town Center an experience like no other in Gainesville. People like Frank Ruffino and his staff at Blue Highway a Pizzeria, who take the time to save your favorite table and remember you actually love extra anchovies on your pizza, that will make Tioga Town Center your favorite place to visit. So come on out! Take a stroll around and talk to the people who will make Tioga Town Center your favorite destination in town.

SW 128th Street & W. Newberry Rd. Tioga, Florida 32669

352.331.4000 www.TiogaTownCenter.com


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When you visit Tioga Town Center, you’ll get the finest jewelry, the perfect anniversary gift,

…and Stacy. Sure, the picturesque storefronts, coffee shop, boutiques, restaurants, postal center, wine bar, world-class fitness center and bakery, make Tioga Town Center a prime shopping destination. But it’s more than that here— It’s the people who make Tioga Town Center an experience like no other in Gainesville. People like Matt and Stacy Lang and their staff at Lang Jewelers, who know the exact diamond bracelet your wife has been eyeing for months, that will make Tioga Town Center your favorite place to visit. So come on out! Take a stroll around and talk to the people who will make Tioga Town Center your favorite destination in town.

SW 128th Street & W. Newberry Rd. Tioga, Florida 32669

Clay Electric

Meadowbrook Golf

352.331.4000 www.TiogaTownCenter.com


       

T H E B A R T RA M

  2337 SW Archer Road Gainesville, Florida 32608

888-703-0863 WWW.THEBARTRAM.COM

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When you visit Tioga Town Center, you’ll get your favorite cup of coffee, the perfect hair style,

…and Mary Beth. Sure, the picturesque storefronts, coffee shop, boutiques, restaurants, postal center, wine bar, world-class fitness center and bakery, make Tioga Town Center a prime shopping destination. But it’s more than that here— It’s the people who make Tioga Town Center an experience like no other in Gainesville. People like Mary Beth Nordman, owner of Salon 119— who makes it a point to have coffee waiting for your early appointment every time, that will make Tioga Town Center your favorite place to visit. So come on out! Take a stroll around and talk to the people who will make Tioga Town Center your favorite destination in town.

SW 128th Street & W. Newberry Rd. Tioga, Florida 32669

352.331.4000 www.TiogaTownCenter.com


www.thornebrookvillage.com 2441 NW 43rd St, Gainesville (352) 376-6062

..

ing. c n u o n n a Proudly

(352) 372-7732

of

Sheila@ DownsizeInteriors.com

sion i v i d w e ...a n nc. I , a l i e h by S Interiors IncInteriors@Bellsouth.net

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com


LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

11


‘Tis the Reason to be Jolly! Enjoy a $100 Gift Card towards ZOOM! Whitening as our gift to you.

Stop by our office to receive your gift card and share the gift of a beautiful smile this holiday season. 352 333-1946

www.TiogaDental.com 13005 SW 1st Road, Ste 233 Jonesville, FL 32669

Dedicated To Bringing Smiles To Our Community %S )BVH #SVTI t %S 0SSJT TDA Code: 0025 *Gift Card is a $100 credit towards ZOOM®! Whitening only. Limit one card per patient. Nontransferable. Minimum fee: $500. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, discount, insurance or discount insurance plan. Other restrictions may apply. Not valid on any other service or prior purchase. No cash value or credit back. Exp. 03/31/10 THE PATIENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT HAS A RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PAY, CANCEL PAYMENT, OR BE REIMBURSED FOR PAYMENT FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, EXAMINATION, OR TREATMENT THAT IS PERFORMED AS A RESULT OF AND WITHIN 72 HOURS OF RESPONDING TO THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE FREE, DISCOUNTED FEE, OR REDUCED FEE SERVICE, EXAMINATION, OR TREATMENT. Lic#: DN15173


table

On the Cover

of contents

18

72 Horst and Luisa Ferrero Living with Inspiration

Community Impact Story

18

Giving the Gift of Life

50

72

Better Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Business

64

Caring Neighbors… Building Our Community Together

65 The TEAM Creates Jobs During Tough Times 66

COX Gainesville Brings Baseball History to Life and Wins National Recognition

68 Arthur Rutenberg Homes Building Innovation for 3½ Decades

Eye On Charities

22

2010 Charity Directory

31

Charity Event Directory

Around The Home

38

Greening a Home’s Exterior

42 Clean Out The Clutter 46

Landscape Calendar: Winter Wonderland - Six Secrets to Frost Proof Gardening

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

50

DEPARTMENTS

She speaks four languages fluently, enjoys design and is skilled in the art of cooking. He speaks three, is technologically savvy, has a passion for traveling and enjoys good cuisine. Together, Horst and Luisa Ferrero, part owners of Tioga Town Center LLC, are a North Central Florida power couple who have used their professional strengths and relationships, personal tragedy and unending passion to forever change the community of Gainesville.

A Taste of Home

42

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

13


table

of contents

DEPARTMENTS

80

14

HOME Living

94

100

Lifestyle

Health And Fitness

78

Fashion Corner: Formal never goes out of style

100 Don’t Suffer in Silence

80

Travel Corner: What's New At Florida's Theme Parks

Community

84

A Last Chance with AMIkids

86

A Match Made In Theater Heaven

87

Soup Warms and Comforts in the Winter

Sports & Recreation

102 What Fuels Gators Track And Field Head Coach Mike Holloway Around Town

104 Where We’ve Been Editorial Cartoon

Charities

109 Jake’s Corner

88 The Arc Paints a Bright Picture

Get To Know

90

Habitat for Humanity Fundraising Provides the Foundation for new homes

92

Setting the PACE for a Better Future

110 Madame Librarian: Lena Bush

94 Rest for the Weary 98

Running for a Reason at the Five Points of Life Marathon

In the Heart of Florida

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com


Laude Arnaldi Senior Vice President Gateway Bank

Nancy Eckert CEO of LifeSouth Gateway Bank Board Member

Danny Gilliland Market President Gateway Bank

www.gatewaybankcfl.com

We'll work hard to earn your business Alachua Towne Center Crossing 15652 NW US Hwy 441 Alachua, Fl. 32615 386-418-8307

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LIFE HAS ITS MOMENTS... A holiday to remember

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HOME Living In the Heart of Florida

From the Publisher

Publisher: Scott Costello Creative Director: Brad Palmer

I recently finished reading Awesomely Simple, a fantastic book by motivational speaker and business consultant John Spence. The first chapter in John’s book focuses on Vivid Vision. Do you have a compelling vision on what you are trying to achieve that is exceptionally well communicated to everyone involved? In looking at this magazine, I had to ask myself, what am I trying to accomplish? What is my vision and can I express it? It’s a good question. Why did I choose to start HOME Magazine? I think the answer to that is one of the key’s to our success. At its fundamental base, HOME is designed to promote the individuals, the companies and the organizations that make our home – our community, one of the best in America. In each issue, we aim to bring to you, our readers, a combination of articles and advertisements that do this. Whether it is an advertisement, a spotlight, a perspective, an advertorial or a pictorial, each page in each issue is designed to promote those that make me proud to call our area HOME. In past issues, you have seen us focus on different fields. We have focused on builders, on educators and on medical experts. This issue, our “theme” is charity. We want to promote organizations that are focused on improving our community and individuals that do the same. We have included a charity directory in this issue and a calendar section showcasing the events that help raise money for theses causes. We have chosen for our cover two people that help epitomize this – Horst and Luisa Ferrero. Horst and Luisa chose years ago to call Gainesville HOME. They could have lived anywhere in the world. In fact, Luisa is fluent in four languages and speaks six. They chose North Central Florida. In addition to their careers, they formed a charity in honor of Luisa’s father called the Canella Foundation. Unfortunately, on the day their corporation was formed, tragedy struck their family. Through this tragedy, and with the support of many in our community, they have chosen to use their ability, their situation and their grief to bring about a way to help children in our community. The Sebastian Ferrero Foundation is raising money to bring a full-service, state- of-the- art children’s hospital to Gainesville. Partnering with community leaders, parents and more than 150 local pediatricians and pediatric specialists, this vision will become a reality. I am proud that we can bring this story of courage, faith and community to you. As always, we are also bringing you stories about people and organizations which made a difference. Our Community Impact Story focuses on three organizations which give the gift of life. RTI-Biologics, LifeSouth Community Blood Centers and LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services demonstrate what is great about this community. During this holiday season, why don’t you consider giving the gift of life? There are many more examples in this issue of people and organizations that make this community great. I hope you enjoy it and, I especially hope you enjoy the holiday season.

Editor: David Greenberg Assistant Editors: Molly Bruce Victoria Phillips Advertising Sales Director: Sarah Sander Advertising : Olga Liberman Public Relations Director: Faith Reaves Public Relations/Event Planning: Emily Davis Emily Merwin Katy Davis Lauren Aitchison Lauren Gispanski Staff Writers: Ashley McCredie Jessica Lipscomb Katie Gillen Mary Manchess Sara Brubaker Sara Horn Stephanie Thomas Callie Polk

Scott

Contributing Writers: Jon George

Scott Costello scott@advantagepublishinginc.com

Contributing Photographers: Footstone Photography Mario’s Photography Photography 35 Editorial Cartoonist: Jake Fuller E-News Brief: Anja Majcen

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

Advantage Publishing, Inc. 4140 NW 37th PL Suite D Gainesville FL 32606 (352) 372-5854 in Gainesville (352) 368-1707 in Ocala LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

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

17


COMMUNITY IMPACT STORY

Giving the Gift of Life By David Greenberg

T

Kristi Unold (right) LifeSouth's medical-office coordinator working in the lab with Jessica Drouillard. Photo by Brad Palmer.

im Heffernan and his family saw something on TV that prompted them to discuss the idea of organ and tissue donation. A short time later, when Heffernan’s mother, Linda, suffered a pulmonary embolism after surgery in February 1999, the family would be acting on that conversation. “Having had the conversation, the decision was easy,” said Heffernan. “We knew what her wishes were, and we were all in agreement.” Several years later, Heffernan now finds himself working for the very company that prepared his mother’s tissues for transplantation – RTI Biologics Inc. (RTI). Tissues are donated by individuals at the time of their death and recovered by agencies throughout the country. Donated tissues are then sent to organizations like RTI to be prepared for transplantation through extensive testing and screening, precision shaping and proprietary, validated sterilization processes. Donated tissues processed at RTI can include bone, skin, tendons, ligaments and pericardium. These implants are used in spinal, sports medicine, orthopedic, dental and other specialty surgeries. Another local organization, LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, is the community’s blood supplier, focusing on whole blood, along with separate components, such as platelets, plasma, red cells, marrow and stem cells. A third group, LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services, is responsible for organ procurement in a 36-county region of North Florida Organ can include heart, liver, kidney, lung, pancreas or intestine. Together, the three organizations truly are responsible for giving the gift of life.

“I remember a phone call and my father talking to someone from a company, but I really did not remember who they were,” Heffernan said. After his mother’s death, Heffernan earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida. Two years later, he applied for a job at RTI Biologics, an Alachua-based company that is a world leader in preparing and providing human tissue for transplantation. “I vaguely recalled that this was the company,” he said. “It seems things have all looped around. It really hit me about two months after I started working here. This is where Mom’s tissue came. It makes you work even harder.” Heffernan will get to complete his loop when he represents RTI Biologics on the Donate Life float in the Rose Bowl Parade on Jan. 1. Kristy Unold has a similar story. When she was 3 years old, her brother, Rick, died after an accidental shooting in Ocala in February 1973. “He had an antique gun, and it accidentally fired when he unlocked the latch on a cattle gate,” she said. “The shot severed his aorta. In 1973, there was no 911 or cell phones. His friend had to drive to the sheriff’s office to call an ambulance. By the time they got him to the emergency room he had lost 11 pints of blood, and the body only has 12.” Despite massive donations and transfusions, he died a week later. “Under those circumstances, he was never going to make it,” said Unold. “Today he may have survived. He had applied to FSU to study aeronautical engineering. I guess I just take after him with science and math.” Unold had considered a career in medicine but ended up in medical technology. “I went through training and wound up in blood banking,” she said. “I have been doing this since 1998 and recently became a specialist in blood banking.” Unold is the medical-office coordinator at LifeSouth, the recognized community blood supplier for hospitals in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. It is hard to say which of the three – organ, tissue or blood – has the greatest need, but the one that may be most challenging is organ donation. “There are more than 103,000 people on a waiting list for organs,” said Kathleen Giery, the public relations director at LifeQuest. “Each one of those people needs an organ transplant for survival. The vast majority are waiting for kidneys. This is their last therapy.”

(left) Tim Heffernan reviews package

require consistent, strictly regulated

Director of Marketing Communications

gowning and handling procedures.

Nancy Walsh. Photo by Brad Palmer. 18

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

(right) RTI's operating processes

designs and artwork with RTI Biologics

Photo courtesy RTI Biologics. LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com


COMMUNITY IMPACT STORY

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

19


(above) An RTI Biologics technician shapes tissue for implantation. Photo courtesy RTI Biologics.

(right) Blood Centers. Devon Vickers, who received cord blood collected from a baby's umbilical cord, stands with her uncle, Roland Daniels, owner of the Gainesville Saturn dealership and a long-time supporter of LifeSouth. Photo courtesy LifeSouth Community.

20

HOME Living

“In the case of blood, one pint can save three lives,” said Kim Mitrook, LifeSouth’s marketing director. When it comes to tissue donation, one gift can really go a long way. “There are hundreds of thousands of people in need of tissue transplants,” said Erin Morton, RTI Biologics’ manager of corporate communications. “The great thing is one tissue donor can enhance the lives of more than 50 people.” When it comes to organ and, in many cases, blood donation, there is often a race against time. “There is no subjectivity when it comes to any kind of donation,” Giery said. “The criteria of the transplant centers is very strict. The medical condition of the recipient determines his or her spot on the list.” The one other factor that does come into play is geography. A heart recovered in Seattle will not be helpful for a recipient in Miami. “The distance between the donor hospital and the transplant center is a factor,” said Giery. “Each organ has a different window for how long it can be out of the body. The heart has the smallest window – only four hours.” The most cutting-edge technology is taking place with tissue where increased scientific knowledge has resulted in a wide variety of options. “We have tissue come to us from all over the country,” said Wendy CritesWacker, the director of corporate communications at RTI Biologics. “We estimate that we prepare about 20 percent of the tissue donated in the United States.” Preparing tissue for transplantation includes donor screening, laboratory testing for diseases, shaping tissue into a final transplant form and then sterilizing it through a validated process. “If you donated a femur, it can be used in a myriad of applications,” she said. “We can also sterilize tissue without weakening it. That technology allows us to adapt the donated tissue to a number of different needs. Unlike metal or plastic implants, your body can incorporate these biologic tissues and make it a part of your body.” All three organizations are joining with others around the country to emphasize the need for donations and the simple process for giving the gift of life. All it takes is going to a Web site. There you can register to make that gift.

In the Heart of Florida

In Florida that means going to the Joshua Abbott Organ and Tissue Donor Registry at www.DonateLifeFlorida.org. Abbott, who suffered from cystic fibrosis, died in 2006. He was the recipient of lung and organ transplants, but more than that, he was an outspoken advocate of giving the gift of life. One person who is grateful for the work done by people like Abbott and organizations like RTI Biologics, LifeSouth and LifeQuest is University of Florida student Devon Vickers. Diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 11, Vickers, from Miami, was initially treated by oral chemotherapy. Her leukemia went into remission, but returned during her sophomore year of high school. She and her mother came to Gainesville to stay with her uncle, Roland Daniels, the owner of the local Saturn dealership, to prepare for her surgery. Long before Vickers’ leukemia, Daniels had been active as a sponsor with LifeSouth and its 5 Points of Life program. Vickers underwent a transplant in February 2006. She received cord blood collected from a baby’s umbilical cord during birth, and she has been doing great ever since. “I was in the hospital for four months,” she said. “It was traumatic and painful. I never met my donor and probably never will. I wouldn’t know what to say. I can’t express the amount of gratitude I have. There’s really a simple message here. If you have the opportunity to donate, do it. People don’t understand the lifesaving power it has. It is the gift of life.” And right here in the Heart of Florida, RTI Biologics, LifeSouth Community Blood Centers and LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services stand ready to help people give that gift of life.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com


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2010 Charity Directory compiled by Emily Davis

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2010 Charity Directory ACORN Clinic 23320 N State Road 235 Brooker, FL 32622 (352) 485-1133

Altrusa House of Gainesville

American Legion

Another Way

P.O. Box 142811 Gainesville, FL 32614 (352) 377-7708

4701 NW 6th St Gainesville, FL 32609 (352) 372-8802

PO Box 1028 Lake City, FL 32056 (800) 500-1119

www.altrusahouse.org

www.legion.org

www.anotherwayinc.net

Easter Seals Florida at Altrusa House of Gainesville provides an adult day health-care facility for frail, elderly and disabled adults ages 18 and up. It helps its clients be able to continue living at home with chronic illness or disability.

The American Legion is a veterans association dedicated to mutual helpfulness. It is committed to mentoring and sponsoring youth programs and devotion to service members and veterans.

Another Way aids domestic violence victims and their minor children by providing counseling services and shelter.

Arbor House

www.acornclinic.org The Alachua County Organization for Rural Needs Inc. provides low-cost medical and dental care to qualifying low-income families in North Central Florida.

Alachua Conservation Trust 12 W University Ave Suite 201 Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 373-1078 www.alachuaconservationtrust.org The mission of Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) is to protect the natural, historic, scenic and recreational resources in and around Alachua County, Fla. ACT protects land through purchase, donation and conservation easements.

2010 Charity Directory

Alz Place

American Lung Association of Florida-North Area

3411 NW 83rd St Gainesville, FL 32606 (352) 375-3000

5526 Arlington Road Jacksonville, FL 32211 (800) 940-2933

www.alz.org/cnfl

www.lungusa.org

Alz Place provides services for people with Alzheimer’s disease or a severe memory impairment.

The American Lung Association of Florida-North Area chapter is a leading organization in improving lung health and preventing lung disease.

Alzheimers Association, North Central Florida 378 Center Pointe Circle, Suite 1280 Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 (407) 951-7992 www.alz.org/cnfl

American Red Cross North Central Florida Chapter 1724 NE 2St Gainesville, FL 32609 (352) 376-4669

PO Box 12363 Gainesville, FL 32604 (352) 371-2229 www.arborhouse.org Arbor House is dedicated to helping single and expectant mothers make successful choices for their lives.

Arc of Alachua County 3303 NW 83 St Gainesville, FL 32606 (352) 334-4060 www.arcalachua.org The Arc of Alachua County provides a wide aray of services to developmentally disabled children and adults.

The Alzheimers Association visualizes a world without Alzheimers disease. It is working toward that goal through research, and care and support for those with the disease in our local community.

www.redcrossncfc.org/ Led by volunteers, the American Red Cross is working to help prevent, prepare for and respond to emergenices in North Central Florida.

Arnette House, Inc

www.alachuahumane.org

American Cancer Society

AMIkids

www.arnettehouse.org

The Alachua County Humane Society works to end animal abuse, neglect and cruelty by educating, advocating and enforcing sensible public policies.

2119 SW 16th St Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 376-6866

100 SE 134 Ave Micanopy, FL 32667 (352) 466-0543

www.cancer.org

www.amikids.org

The mission of the Arnette House is to protect the public by preventing juvenile delinquency and child abuse by strengthening youth and families in the community.

The American Cancer Society is a national organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem.

AMIkids is a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing a promising future to troubled youth who have been adjudicated or have failed in conventional school settings. AMIkids focuses on family values, education, character building and experiential learning.

Alachua County Humane Society 2029 NW 6th St Gainesville, FL 32609 (352) 373-5855

Alachua County Public Schools Foundation 1725 SE 1st Ave, Gainesville, FL 32651 (352) 955-7003

American Heart Association

www.acpsf.org The Alachua County Public Schools Foundation’s primary mission is investing in the future of Alachua County’s students and is comprised of community leaders working in partnership with our school system since 1986.

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3801 NW 40th Terrace Suite B Gainesville, FL 32606 (352) 505-8150 www.americanheart.org The American Heart Association works to end cardiovasicular diseases and stroke as a problem in the nation.

In the Heart of Florida

2310 NE 24th St Ocala, FL 34470 (352) 622-6135

Big Brothers Big Sisters of MidFlorida 1155 NW 13th St Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 375-2525 www.bbbsmidflorida.org Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Florida establishes mentoring relationships with children in order to better their education and help them reach their fullest potential, in order to improve the community as a whole.

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2010 Charity Directory

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Boys and Girls Club-NW Unit

Catholic Charities Bureau

Child Abuse Prevention Project

Climb for Cancer

2700 NW 51St PO BOX 532 Gainesville, FL 32602 (352) 373-6639

1717 NE 9th St Bldg A Suite 126 Gainesville, FL 32609 (352) 372-0294

1701 SW 16th Ave Bldg A Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 334-1330

5745 SW 75 St #317 Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 333-9663

www.catholiccharitiesgainesville.org

capp.peds.ufl.edu/nuturing.html

www.cfc-foundation.org

The mission of the Catholic Charities Bureau is to provide a variety of services to anyone in need, to advocate justice, human dignity and quality of life; and to call all people of goodwill to join in these efforts; thereby reflecting the compassion and love of God in Christ.

The Child Abuse Prevention Project serves the families of North Central Florida with family support and parent education and strives to end child abuse and neglect.

Climb for Cancer Foundation’s mission is to fund leading research for cancer treatment, while supporting and encouraging those who need treatment now.

Child Advocacy Center

Compassionate Friends

PO BOX 1128 Gainesville, FL 32602 (352) 376-9161

4040 Newberry Road Suite 1350 Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 373-1129

www.childadvocacycentergainesville.org

www.compassionatefriends.org

The Child Advocacy Center is an organization committed to improving the lives of abused children in the community, focusing on a multifaceted approach to ending child abuse consisting of prevention, identification, investigation, prosecution and treatment.

Founded more than 40 years ago, Compassionate Friends assists families following the death of a child by helping them find a positive solution.

www.myboysandgirlsclub.com Boys and Girls Club strives to encourage and inspire young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to reach their fullest potential.

Bread of the Mighty Food Bank 325 NW 10th Ave PO BOX 5086 Gainesville, FL 32627 (352) 336-0839 www.breadofthemighty.org The Bread of the Mighty Food Bank coordinates the acquistion and distrubtion of food and other essential items to organizations that provide them to those in need.

Builders Association of North Central Florida 2217 NW 66 Ct Gainesville, FL 32653 (352) 372-5649

CDS Family & Behavioral Health Services, Inc 1300 NW 6th Street, Gainesville FL 32601 (352) 244-0628 www.cdsfl.org The CDS mission is “Strengthening Communities by Building Strong Families.” CDS runs the Interface Youth Program Shelters for homeless, runaway, truant and ungovernable youth; a variety of free counseling programs for both youth and parents; prevention, intervention and diversion programs for youth; and substance abuse classes that fulfill court requirements for adults.

www.bancf.com The Builders Association of North Central Florida represents the residential and commercial building industry, provides services for all members and supports the freedom to operate as entrepreneurs in an open and competitive environment. BANCF is committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality, integrity and professionalism within the building industry, while promoting the creation of desirable communities and the American Dream of home ownership.

Caribbean Conservation Corporation 4424 NW 13th St Suite B-11 Gainesville, FL 32609 (352) 373-6441 www.cccturtle.org The oldest and most accomplished sea turtle foundation in the world, the CCC works to ensure the survival of sea turtles through research, education, training, advocacy and protection.

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Dignity Project 1125 SE 4th St Gaiensville FL 32601 (352) 371-6792

Children’s Home Society 605 NE 1st St Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 334-0955

www.dignityproject.com

www.chsfl.org Central Florida Blood Bank 1051 SW 1st Ave Ocala, FL 34471 (352) 732-0175 www.floridasbloodcenters.com Serving 21 counties, Flood Blood Centers collect, process and distribute blood to those in need. The center also supports research into the prevention and treatment of disease.

One of the oldest private not-forprofit organizations providing services to children and families, Children’s Home Society is dedicated to strengthening families by protecting children from abuse or neglect and by providing kids with loving homes. The organization touches the lives of about 100,000 children and family members each year.

222 SW 36th Ter Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 378-7474 www.cilncf.org The Center for Independent Living works to empower those with disabilities to exert their individual right to live as independently as possible and make personal life choices.

Disabled American Veterans 2015 SW 75th St Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 331-0945 www.dav.org Enhancing the lives of America's disabled veterans and their families, the DAV provides advocacy, morale and rides to VA medical facilities as well representing veterans with claims for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense.

Christians Concerned for the Community Center for Independent Living

The Dignity Project provides job skill training, youth programs, refurbished cars and refurbished computers to those in need in our community.

1903 NW 35th Ave PO BOX 14582 Gainesville, FL 32604 (352) 371-1768 www.cccgainesville.org/ The mission of Christians Concerned for the Community is to express the love of God by equipping the Church to help people. It strives to do this through the guiding prinicples of faith, community, discipleship, outreach and neighbors.

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Early Learning Coalition of Alachua County 4424 NW 13th St A-5 Gainesville, FL 32609 (352) 375-4110

The Early Learning Coaltion of Alachua County serves as a resource for families and early childhood educators by giving learning opportunities for children birth to five to ensure they will begin school ready to learn.

Elder Options 5700 SW 34th St Suite 222 Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 378-6649 www.agingresources.org/ Elder Options empowers elders, their families and caregivers to make informed choices about aging in place with dignity, security and purpose.

ElderCare of Alachua County 4026 NW 22nd Dr Gainesville FL 32605 (352) 265-9040 www.shands.org/public/programs/ eldercare/ An advocate on behalf of the elderly, ElderCare of Alachua County provides services to build independent and fulfilled lives for seniors in North Central Florida.

Epilepsy Foundation of Florida-NCF Region 1000 NW 8th Ave Suite A Gainesville FL 32601 (352) 378-4324 www.epilepsyfla.org The Epilepsy Foundation ensures that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences, as well as prevent, control and cure epilepsy through comprehensive services, education, advocacy and research. The Epilepsy Foundation of Florida works to improve how people with epilepsy are percieved, accepted and valued in society.

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4039 Newberry Rd Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 224-1728 www.fivepointsoflife.org

www.elcalachua.org

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Five Points of Life

Five Points of Life raises awareness for the five ways to share life with others through the donation of blood, marrow, cord blood, organ and tissue. The program works with blood centers, organ procurement organizations, marrow registries and community organizations to educate citizens about donation. The goal of the program is to encourage every eligible donor to give blood, join the marrow registry, talk to their family about organ donation and learn more about cord blood donation. In addition, the program strives to educate youth on the importance of donation so when they are eligible, they will donate and become the “Donation Generation.”

2010 Charity Directory Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resource System 3881 NW 155th St Reddick FL 32686 (800) 533-0326 www.fdlrssprings.org The FDLRS provides services to educators, parents and other professionals who with students who have disabilities.

Fraternal Order of Eagles 7118 W University Ave Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 332-4454 www.foe.com The Fraternal Order of Eagles is an international, nonprofit organization seeking to promote peace, prosperity, gladness and hope. The Eagles help those affected by illness, injury or catasphrophy. The organization has done this through funding medical re

Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches PO BOX 2000 Live Oak, FL 32060 (386) 842-5501 www.youthranches.org

Friends of the Library 430-B North Main St Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 375-1676 folacld.org/index.html

Florida Center for the Blind

The Mission of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches is to prevent delinquency and develop strong, lawful, resilient and productive citizens who will make a positive contribution to our communities for years to come.

7634 SW 60th Ave Ocala, FL 34476 (352) 873-4700

Florida Works One Stop Center

Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce

www.flblind.org The Florida Center for the Blind endeavors to help each client be successful regardless of visual impairment. It provides classes, counseling to the blind and their families, as well as information to the public.

Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice 10665 SW 89th Ave Hampton, FL 32044 (352) 468-3295 www.fcpj.org The Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice is a diverse group of individual advocating for a peaceful means to social change.

Florida Diabetes Camp PO Box 14136 Gainesville FL 32604 (352) 334-1321 www.floridadiabetescamp.org

4800 SW 13th St Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 955-2245 www.floridaworksonline.com Florida Works seeks to improve businesses by growing a skilled workforce through teaching the core values of customer focus, effectiveness, professionalism, collaboration, inclusion, integrity, accountability, innovation and leadership.

Foster Grandparent Program 218 SE 24th St Gainesville, FL 32641 (352) 264-6731 http://www.alachuacounty.us/ government/depts/css/seniorserv/ fostergrand.aspx The Foster Gransparents Program assigns volunteers age 60 and older to special needs children. Volunteers donate 15-40 hours per week to the service of children with emotional, physical, social or medical challenges.

The Friends of the Library is a nonprofit organization which sells books to the community in support of county libraries, literacy programs and scholarships.

300 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 334-7100 www.gainesvillechamber.com The Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce serves as an advocate for its members and the area’s businsess and professional community, dealing with critical issues and initiatives that aid growth and prosperity.

Gainesville Area Innovation Network PO Box 141556 Gainesville, FL 32614 (352) 213-2386 www.gain-net.org GAIN’s mission is to encourage technology enterprises to start up and develop in the Gainesville area by providing them with support through networking and educational opportunities.

The Florida Diabetes Camp brings together children of various ages coping with diabetes through multiple summer and weekend camp programs.

In the Heart of Florida

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2010 Charity Directory

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Gainesville Area Women’s Network

Gainesville Opportunity Center

Girls to Young Ladies

Harvest of Hope Foundation

PO Box 90386 Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 215-1621

1717 NE 9th St # 140, Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 224-5523

1141 NE 21st Court Gainesville, FL 32641 (352) 745-6200

5809 NW 67th Ct Gainesville, FL 32653 (352) 372-1312

www.gawn.org

www.goclubhouse.org

www.girlstoyoungladies.org

www.harvestofhope.net

GAWN’s purpose is to promote a spirit of cooperation and support among women and those who support or target women in business.

Gainesville Opportunity Center helps to rebuild the lives of those who have been interrupted by mental illness. The center provides access to housing, work and educational opportunities, service and support.

Girls to Young Ladies provides educational, cultural, social and recreational opportunities to young women in order assist them overcoming the negative challenges posed in life.

Gainesville Pet Rescue

Goodwill Industries

Harvest of Hope provides emergency assistance aid and assistance to migrant farmworkers and their families as well as supporting their plight. The foundation coordinates with agencies to help provide workers and their children with education, immunizations, medical needs and social services.

5403 SW Archer Rd Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 692-4773

3520 SW 34th St Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 376-9041

Haven Hospice

www.gainesvillepetrescue.org

www.goodwill.org

Gainesville Pet Rescue is a notfor-profit organization that strives to match pets and people for a lifetime. All animals that are rescued and taken into the program are guaranteed a home regardless of the length of time they may have to stay in the foster-care program.

Goodwill enhances the dignity and quality of life of individuals, families and communities by eliminating barriers to opportunity and helping people in need reach their fullest potential through the power of work.

4200 NW 90th Blvd Gainesville, FL 32606 (800) 727-1889

Gainesville Community Foundation GCF 5214 SW 91st Dr, Suite A Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 367-0060 www.gnvcf.org The Gainesville Community Foundation serves Gainesville and the surrounding areas in North Central Florida by promoting and facilitating philanthropy. The organization is dedicated to strengthening relationships among charitable organizations, donors and concerned citizens who want to invest in our region's future.

Gainesville Community Ministry 238 SW 4th Ave Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 372-8162 www.betterday.org

Guardian Ad Litem Program Girl Scouts of Gateway Council 810 NW 8th St Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 376-3004 www.girlscouts-gateway.org

105 SE 1st St Suite 7 Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 374-3656

For more than 30 years, Haven Hospice has provided quality hospice and palliative care through a holistic approach to care that includes pain management as well as emotional and spiritual support. It serves people and their communities affected by lifelimiting illnesses and loss by providing comprehensive, compassionate care, while respecting each person’s needs, beliefs and wishes.

www.gal.fl.gov The Guardian Ad Litem program gives a voice to abused and neglected children in Florida through the work of community advocates and a staff of professionals on their side.

Gainesville Community Ministries seeks to provide emergency assistance to families and individuals in times of crisis and seeks to provide, through education and support, the kind of assistance that will encourage those who can be helped to end a cycle of poverty and despair.

Girl Scouts of Gateway Council Inc. provides an accepting and nurturing environment where girls develop assets that will serve them all their lives; leadership, decision-making skills, and social conscience. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.

Gainesville Harvest

Girls Place, Inc.

www.alachuahabitat.org

7257 NW 4th Blvd PMB 114 Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 378-3663

2101 NW 39th Ave Gainesville, FL 32605 (352) 373-4475

www.gainesvilleharvest.com

www.girlsplaceinc.com

Habitat for Humanity provides safe and affordable homes to families in need, enabling them to have a place to live and thrive.

Gainesville Harvest is dedicated to feeding the hungry of Alachua County area, reaching those in need. It provides the means necessary to deliver fresh and nutritious food to the hungry.

Girls Place is an organization dedicated to empowering girls of all backgrounds toward becoming becoming confident, strong and independent individuals.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

www.havenhospice.org

Healthy Families 5009 NW 34th St Gainesville, FL 32605 (352) 392-4491 x 246 www.healthyfamiliesfla.org

Habitat for Humanity 2317 SW 13th St Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 378-4663

Health Families provides homevisitation services to families in order to strengthen parent-child relationships and promote health and development of children.

HOPE-Horses helping People 9814 SW 153rd Ave Archer, FL 32618 (352) 214-8715 www.horseshelpingpeople.org HOPE offers a safe and enjoyable environment where individuals with special needs benefit from developmental, therapeutic and educational equine-oriented activities.

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House of Hope

Job Junction

29 SE 21st St Gainesville, FL 32641 (352) 376-3964

3520 SW 34th St Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 335-1311

www.hoinfo.com

www.goodwilljax.org

A faith-based organization supporting Christians recently released from incarceration, House of Hope currently provides housing and services for 27 men and eight women.

Goodwill of North Central Florida Job Junctions offers services and support to any person looking for a job by providing resources and skill training free of charge.

India Cultural & Education Center

Junior Achievement

1115 SW 13th St Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 379-2911

PO BOX 141284 Gainesville, FL 32614 (800) 619-2191

www.icec-florida.org

www.jaalachua.org

The India Cultural & Educational Center asissts students of Indian heritage with their cultural and educational goals by providing financial assistance, scholarships, academic guidance and support as well a support group of students.

A volunteer-based organization, which seeks to give children positive adult role models, Junior Achievement has more-than 2,000 business professionals, parents, retirees and college students who teach programs to build selfconfidence and develop skills t

Interface Youth Program

Junior League

2010 Charity Directory Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Northern Florida 7077 Bonneval Road Suite 160 Jacksonville, FL 32216 (800) 868-0072 www.lls.org/nfl

Lifesouth Community Blood Center

Meals on Wheels

4039 Newberry Rd Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 224-1600

4026 NW 22nd Dr Gainesville FL 32605 (352) 265-9040

www.lifesouth.org

http://www.shands.org/public/ programs/eldercare/services.asp

LifeSouth strives to meet the community’s needs by providing a safe blood supply for emerging blood and transfusion needs in our community hospitals.

Lions Clubs International

Through ElderCare of Alachua County, Meals on Wheels offers meal sites and home-delivered meals to senior citizens. Activities such as arts and crafts, sewing, recreation and education are also provided at the meal sites. There are seven meal sites in Alachua County providing hot lunch.

Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.

3315 North Main Terrace Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 331-3599

http://www.cdsfl.org/IYPProg.htm

(352) 376-3805

www.lionsclubs.org

A temporary shelter for youths ages 10-17 who are truant, ungovernable or runaway, Interface Youth Program provides crisis stablization, counseling and the development of a plan to meet short- and long- term goals.

www.gainesvillejrleague.org

Lions Club seeks to be the help where help is needed. Through regional clubs, it strives to encourage peace and understanding through the basic foundation of volunteerism and humanitarianism.

PO BOX 880 Gainesville, FL 32602 (352) 378-2030

Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Gainesville is a collaborative effort of volunteers from all faiths that provide shelter and food to homeless families. These families are housed in local houses of worship and provided,meals, transportation and companionship.

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Leadership Gainesville Alumni Association PO Box 1581 Gainesville, FL 32602 (352) 334-7100 www.lgalum.com The Leadership Gainesville Alumni Association aims to build a better community for everyone in Gainesville and Alachua County by imparting to its members what makes Gainesville unique and by inspiring them to take on and exercise real leadership committed to serving the common good.

In the Heart of Florida

4300 SW 13th St Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 374-5600 www.mbhci.org

Little Bits of Honey

Meridian visualizes a community where choice, hope and recovery are within everyone’s reach. It offers affordable solutions to those posed with mental illness, addicition and other healthcare-related services.

7257 NW 4th Blvd #317, Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 236-4381

North Central Florida Safety Council

www.littlebitsofhoney.com

www.ihngvl.org

www.marchofdimes.com/florida March of Dimes is committed to improving the lives of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. MOD continues to do this through research, advocacy, education and community services.

430-A North Main Street Gainesville, FL 32601

Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Gainesville

1831 NW 13th St Suite 3 Gainesville, FL 32609 (352) 378-9522

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society seeks to build on its mission of curing leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improving the quality of life of patients and their families.

1400 NW 29th Rd Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 244-0618

The Junior League focuses on women building better communities with active voluntarism, effective action and leadership. The JLG reaches out to all women of all races, religions and national origins, who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to voluntarism. Our Junior League Thrift Shop is the main source of funding our community projects. Community donations of gently used clothing and housewares are always welcomed.

March of Dimes

The Little Bits of Honey Memorial Fund was created to help parents, whose babies fall victim to SIDS, afford funeral, burial and grave site costs. No parent is prepared to bury their infant and in many cases such a large expense is very difficult or even impossible.

3710 NW 51st St Suite A Gainesville, FL 32606 (352) 377-2566 www.ncfsc.net North Central Florida Safety Council promotes safety and health through programs, resources and education to reduce the personal and economic losses associated with injuries and accidents. The NCFSC provides of a variety of opportunities such as traffic safety classes, school bus driver coaching and a proffesional safety certification program.

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Pace Center for Girls of Alachua

Pleasant Place

Rodeheaver Boys Ranch

Salvation Army

1010 SE 4th Ave Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 374-8799

408 W University Ave 6th Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 373-6993

380 Boys Ranch Rd Palatka, FL 32177 (386) 328-1281

639 E University Ave Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 376-1743

www.pacecenter.org

www.pleasantplace.net

www.rbr.org

www.salvationarmygainesville.com

PACE Alachua is a non-residential, gender-specific program for girls ages 12-18 who are experiencing difficulty or conflict in school and at home. PACE’s purpose is to intervene and prevent high school drop-outs, juvenile delinquency, teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol addiction and welfare dependency. PACE promotes and enables these young women to complete their education, build selfesteem, and develop personal, social and family relationship skills.

Pleasant Place is a special home for young women, pregnant and parenting teens who are victims of abuse, neglect or may be homeless. It provides a safe environment for these women as they finish their education.

Giving a second chance to young men with no home due to parental death, desertion, divorce, disability or disfunction, Rodeheaver Boys Ranch welcomes these young men to a safe enviornment with religious, educational and vocational training.

Based on the teachings of the Christian Church, the Salvation Army seeks to spread the ideals of Christ by meeting basic human needs without discrimination.

Partnership for Strong Families 515 N Main St Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 393-2740 www.pfsf.org PSF oversees the management and development of foster-care services in the North Central Florida area. As the lead agency for communitybased care, it works to enhance the community’s ability to protect and nuture children.

Peace Corps Recruiting Office 170 HUB, International Center PO BOX 113225 Gainesville, FL 32611 (352) 273-1530 www.peacecorps.gov Established by President John F. Kennedy, the Peace Corps encourages world peace and friendship.

Peaceful Paths PO BOX 5099 Gainesville, FL 32627 (352) 377-5690 www.peacefulpaths.org Peaceful Paths is dedicated to ending domestic violence in our community. It offers a wide range of services including emergency shelter, transitional housing, crisis hotline, victim advocacy, children's programming, education, counseling, intervention and support groups.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

Rebuilding Together 4550 SW 41st Blvd Suite 2 Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 692-4973 www.rebuildingtogetherncf.org Repairing Together is a home-repair organization which dedicates itself to addressing the substandard housing needs of North Central Florida. It works to increase safety, security and well-being for low-income residents by training volunteers to help meet housing requirements.

Salvation Army Family Store Ronald McDonald House of Gainesville

55 NW 23rd Ave Gainesville, FL 32609 (352) 373-7597

1600 SW 14th St Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 374-4404

www.salvationarmygainesville.com

www.rmhgainesville.org Ronald McDonald House was established to provide temporary housing and support to families with criticically ill children being treated at local medical facilities.

One of the several programs offered by the Salvation Army is the thrift store. Items are donated by people throughout the community and sold at affordable prices. Profits go to the support of various social programs.

Sebastian Ferrero Foundation

Reichert House 1704 SE 2nd Ave Gainesville, FL 32641 (352) 334-2320 www.reicherthouse.org Centered on the ideals of respect, restraint and responsibility, Reichert House is a program designed to assist young men in becoming a postive influence on society. It provides opportunites to learn and avoid a life of substance abuse, crime and incarceration.

Retirement Home for Horses P.O Box 2100 Alachua, FL 32616 (386) 462-1001 www.millcreekfarm.org Retirment Home for horses gives lifetime care to horses seized by law enforcement, rescued by the SPCA or Humane Societies, horses retired from government services, circus horses, those used in handicapped riding programs or in experiments.

Rotary Club of Downtown Gainesville Tapas 12 West 12 West University Ave PO Box 24051 Gainesville, FL 32602 www.downtowngainesvillerotary.org

105 SW 128th St Suite 200 Jonesville, FL 32669 (352) 333-2579 www.sebastianferrerofoundation.org

The Rotary Club of Downtown Gainesville meets in the heart of downtown Gainesville, and focuses on doing good in the community and the world, in a spirit of friendship and goodwill.

The mission of the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation is to advocate and fundraise for a full service, state-of-the-art children’s hospital in Gainesville, while promoting excellence in patient safety and insuring that all families are treated with compassion,

Safe Kids North Central Florida

Special Olympics

1329 SW 16th St Suite 1210 PO BOX 100386 Gainesville, FL 32610 (352) 265-0543

711 NW 23rd Ave, Gainesville, FL 32609 386-462-2441

www.shandssafekids.org Safe Kids aims to eliminate the accidental death and injury of children through education, advocating for effective laws and creating safe environments for kids.

www.specialolympicsflorida.org Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition to people with intellectual disabilities. The program allows participants to develop physical fitness, courage, skills and friendship.

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HOME:

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2010 Charity Directory

St Francis House

Three Rivers Legal Services

Veterans of Foreign Wars

We Care Network

413 S Main St PO BOX 12491 Gainesville, FL 32604 (352) 378-9079

901 NW 8th Ave Suite D-5 Gainesville, FL 32601

1150 NE Waldo Rd Gainesville, FL 32641 (352) 376-7660

224 SE 24th St Gainesville, FL 32641 (352) 334-7926

www.vfw.org

http://wecarenetwork.goiwx.net/ index.html

www.stfrancishousegnv.org St. Francis House provides emergency food and temporary shelter services in a safe environment to those in Alachua County.

(352) 372-0519 www.trls.org

Veterans of Foreign Wars works to honor the dead by helping the living through veterans’ and community service as well as work to improve veteran benefits.

STOP! Children’s Cancer

Three Rivers Legal Services provides free civil legal services to low-income eligible citizens in 17 surrounding counties. It specializes in assisting the poor, abused, disabled and elderly citizens to empower them to take legal action.

2622 NW 43rd St Suite B3 Gainesville, FL 32606 (352) 377-2622

Tyler’s Hope for a Dystonia Cure

PO BOX 452 Gainesville, FL 32602 (352) 244-5106

13351 Progress Blvd Alachua, FL 32615

www.vetspace.org

www.stopchildrenscancer.org STOP! Children's Cancer is a local organization committed to the prevention, control and cure of cancer in children through the funding of pediatric research. All funding goes to research at the Divisions of Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology and Pediatric NeuroOncology at the University of Florida College of Medicine.

Suwannee River Area Health Education Center 14646 NW 151st Blvd Alachua, FL 32615 (386) 462-1551

www.tylershope.org Tyler’s Hope for a Dystonia Cure is committed to funding neurology research to prevent and cure DYT1 Dystonia, while creating awareness of this disorder.

United Way 2-1-1 For North Central Florida 6031 NW 1st Pl Gainesville, FL 32607 2-1-1 or (352) 332-4636 www.unitedwayncfl.org

www.srahec.org Promoting health and wellness in 12 counties around North Central Florida, the Suwannee River AHEC provides education programs, works to enhance access to health care in rural areas and exposes students to health careers.

United Way of North Central Florida is a confidential community resource with information on human service agencies, community clubs, interest groups, support groups, government services, health resources and more reached just by calling 211.

United Way of North Central Florida Take Stock in Children 2303 SE 17th St Ocala, FL34471 (352) 369-2173

www.unitedwayncfl.org

www.takestockinchildren.com Addressing the issue of the increasing high school dropout and youth crime rates, Take Stock in Children helps low-income children succeed by providing college and vocational scholarships, mentors, student advocates, tutoring and long-term support.

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6031 NW 1st Pl Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 331-2800

The United Way strives to make an impact through a mission to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities.

In the Heart of Florida

The We Care Network works with parents, congregations and student ministries to build a spiritual foundation in youth and to rescue those young people who are hurt or confused in the community.

Vetspace

Vetspace provides shelter and resources to homeless veterans to facilitate indepent financial and residential stability.

WellFlorida Council 1785 NW 80th Blvd Gainesville, FL 32606 (352) 313-6500 www.wellflorida.org WellFlorida works with 16 counties to improve pressing health issues and build healthier communities. It is dedicated to strengthening and expanding access to healthcare.

Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center 218 SE 24th St Gainesville, FL 32641 (352) 264-6760 or (866) 252-5439 for toll free

WIC- Family Services Center 3600 NE 15th St Gainesville, FL 32609 (352) 392-6911 x 221

http://www.co.alachua.fl.us/ government/depts/css/vicserv/

www.wic.ufl.edu

Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center is a 24-hour phone-call service to survivors of interpersonal violence, sexual vioilence and personal injury crimes.

A special nutrition program for women, infants and children, WIC provides a variety of tools and information to help adults and their children eat better and save money on food.

Volunteers of America of Florida

Women of Influence

1301 NW 6th St PO BOX 5055 Gainesville, FL 32627 (352) 377-9440

9818 SW 24th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 332-2618

www.voa-fla.org

www.womenofinfluence.info

One of the oldest, largest and most comprehensive human service organizations in the nation, the mission of the Volunteers of America of Florida is to foster lifelong learning and inspire people to become contributing members of society.

WOI is committed to encouraging, empowering and equipping women to live a life of passion, purpose and excellence in their relationships, career, health and communities. Luncheons with guest speakers are held the second Monday of every month.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com


2010 Charity Directory Women’s Resource and Medical Clinic

HOME:

Living in the Heart of Florida

YMCA- North Central Florida 5201 NW 34th Street Gainesville, FL 32605 (352) 374-YMCA

912 NW 13th St Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 377-4947

www.ncfymca.org

www.yourwrc.org Women’s Resource and Medical Clinic assists women who may be facing pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases or other similar situations by providing support and information on their options.

YMCA promotes lasting development for children, adults and families in the community by working to build a healthy body, spirit and mind. The YMCA provides a broad range of activities including childcare, recreation, aquatics, camps, teen and senior programs.

Wycliffe Associates 4920 NE 9th St Ocala, FL 34470 (352) 236-4000 www.wycliffeassociates.org Wycliffe Associates is a nonprofit organization working to advance the translation of the Bible into every language.

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Expect more pride. At Regions, nothing gives us more satisfaction than helping our communities flourish. Being personally involved with the growth and success of our cities and towns means a lot. Because we’re more than bankers. We’re citizens just like you. And we want to provide more than just a strong, stable place to bank. We want to provide a place that you’re proud to call home.

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FL-SW91026 8.5x11_4C.indd 1

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2010 Charity Event Directory compiled by Emily Davis

This directory lists many of the events that benefit the community. For a continuing, comprehensive list, please check our online calendar regularly at livingintheheartofflorida.com.

Some dates are tentative and subject to change. Please contact the individual charity to verify date and time or to obtain more information.

January

Saturday, February 20 Gainesville Heart Ball Benefitting the American Heart Association 6:30 p.m. Hilton University of Florida Conference Center Gala event featuring fine dining, dancing, silent and live auctions. www.heart.org/gainesvilleflheartball

March March Annual Friend Raiser Child Advocacy Center 2010’s Friend Raiser is a particularly special event to thank the Child Advocacy Center’s Founding Friends. The Friends of the Child Advocacy Center is an auxiliary to the Board of Directors who focus on the various needs of the center to help sustain and grow the CAC’s efforts to serve abused children. This annual event invites the community to join the Friends of the Child Advocacy Center. www.childadvocacycentergainesville.org

February

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

Saturday, March 6 11th annual Spotlight on Youth Benefitting CDS Family & Behavioral Health Services, Inc. 7 pm at the Phillips Center for Performing Arts. A talent show of local high school students from North Central Florida. They sing, dance, play musical instruments, etc. There is also a display of visual arts by students, and some of their original poetry is contained within our program booklet. A silent auction will be held. www.cdsfl.org/SOY.htm

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Charity Event Directory

February Kuisine for Kids Benefitting the Child Advocacy Center An exclusive sit-down dinner featuring a wine auction and brief presentation about the center. www.childadvocacycentergainesville.org

Charity Event Directory

Saturday, January 30 Yesterdays Festival Gold Head Branch State Park The seventh-annual event will feature historic demonstrations, guided hikes, live music, dancing, antique cars, food, drinks and more.

Friday and Saturday, February 19-20 Urban Meyer: Scramble for Kids Benefitting the Boys and Girls Club of Alachua, Children’s Home Society of Florida, the Girls Club of Alachua. An annual golf tournament hosted by the national championship football coach, Urban Meyer. www.urbanmeyerscramble.com/

Charity Event Directory

Ongoing event Jay’s Hands Benefitting the Child Advocacy Center Every Tuesday and Thursday at Do Art Studios, Jay’s Hands ornaments created by the community to raise awareness and funds for the Child Advocacy Center. Once crafted, Jay’s Hands will be hung in various locations throughout Alachua County to help gain awareness for the Child Advocacy Center’s mission and availability as a resource for families in the community. www.jayshands.com

Saturday and Sunday, February 13-14 LifeSouth Five Points of Life Marathon Weekend Benefitting the Five Points of Life program A weekend of races with a 5K, marathon, kids marathon, half marathon and expo. www.lifesouth.org

Charity Event Directory

Event Directory

Charity Event Directory

Charity


Charity Event Directory Charity Event Directory

Friday, March 19 Alachua County Summer Games Special Olympics of Florida The event will include a variety of sports for the intellectually disabled including track and field, bocce and cycling as a part of the Special Olympics program. Games will be held at Challenge Park in Gainesville. www.specialolympicsflorida.org/ calendar-of-events/2027.html

Saturday, March 20 Tour of Kitchens- Inside & Out Junior League of Gainesville Take a look into Gainesville’s residential kitchens and outdoor living areas. The event includes cooking demonstrations, food and drink samples and chefs at various locations throughout the tour. www.gainesvillejrleague.org

Charity Event Directory

Saturday, March 27 Blondes vs. Brunettes Powder Puff Football Game Supports the Alzheimer’s Association, Central & North Florida Chapter Powder Puff Football Game for young professionals in the Gainesville area. All are invited to attend. www.bvbgainesville.org

Don’t blow a fuse...

Charity Event Directory

Charity Event Directory

Call Mike at ComputerCare for a free consultation

Saturday, March 27 March for Babies In support of the March of Dimes The annual 5K walk supporting research and programs to ensure moms have full-term pregnancies and babies lead healthy lives. www.marchforbabies.org/

Sunday, March 28 Puttin’ on the Ritz - A Spectacular Safari Benefitting the Children’s Home Society of Florida A formal event, at the Florida Museum of Natural History, featuring samples from the area’s best restaurants and bars, live entertainment and a silent auction. www.chsfl.org

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April April 1 and 15 To support Uncle Dick’s Home Hosted by Tim Tebow, the event includes a dinner and powder-puff football tournament for University of Florida student teams. More information on this year’s event will be announced closer to the date. LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com


Friday, April 23 Hats, Hearts and Handbags To benefit Girls Place, Inc. An annual luncheon in which members of the community gather to celebrate the success of the Girls Place www.girlsplaceinc.com/fundraising.html

HIPPODROME THEATRE

Charity Event Directory

Saturday, April 17 22nd Annual Fantasy Event Benefiting STOP! Children’s Cancer The annual theme-based event held at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on the University of Florida campus presents spectacular live music, dancing and food all reflecting the year’s theme. The event raises funds for pediatric cancer research. www.stopchildrenscancer.org/index.cfm/ Fantasy_Event

Charity Event Directory

Friday, April 16 7th annual Twilight Round Golf Tournament Benefitting the Alzheimer’s Association, Central & North Florida Chapter Scramble at Haile Plantation Golf & Country Club. Registration: 12 p.m., Shotgun Start: 1 p.m. Lunch and Dinner included. www.alz.org/cnfl

Friday, April 23 Mary Wise “Scramble for PACE” In support of the PACE Center for Girls of Alachua Come play in the morning or afternoon flight on the Mark Bostick Golf Course. on the University of Florida campus. www.marywisescramble.com

Charity Event Directory

Saturday, April 10 Viva! Goes Polynesian Benefits Haven Hospice Hosted at Rembert Farm in Alachua, Viva! Goes Polynesian is a fun filled evening of music, food and silent auction. 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit patients and families served in this community. www.vivameanslife.com

Charity Event Directory Charity Event Directory


Charity Event Directory May

"In 10 sessions, you will feel the difference, in 20 you will see the difference, and in 30 you'll have a whole new body." - Joseph H Pilates

Charity Event Directory Charity Event Directory

Friday and Saturday, May 14-15 Doug Johnson and Donnie Young Reeling for Kids Fishing Tournament Proceeds go to the Boys and Girls Club of Alachua County A fun-filled fishing tournament for kids of all ages hosted by two famous Florida Gators, Doug Johnson and Donnie Young. www.reelingforkids.com

May 5 Women Who Make a Difference Luncheon Girl Scouts of Gateway Council A luncheon hosted each year to honor women who have impacted the community through their careers and community service. Proceeds from the event go to area Girl Scout programs Visit www.girlscouts-gateway.org closer to the event for details

Charity Event Directory

Charity Event Directory

Saturday, April 24 Auction of the World Rotary Foundation Enjoy food, fun, and spirits, with proceeds benefitting the Rotary Foundation’s local and international projects. Event will start at 6 p.m. Location to be announced www.downtowngainesvillerotary.org

Friday and Saturday, May 7-8 Pro-Am Golf Tournament and Auction Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Gainesville Hosted by Amanda Butler, the event will take place at Haile Plantation Golf & Country Club with a reception and auction on Friday at University of Florida Touchdown Terrace. www.rmhgainesville.org

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In the Heart of Florida

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LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com


Charity Event Directory

June

November November 2010 Child Abuse Awareness Run in memory of Kaedyn Short Child Advocacy Center Held in memory of Kaedyn Short, a child abuse victim, this motorcycle Poker Run raises awareness for child abuse and funds for the Child Advocacy Center. For more information or to donate in Kaedyn’s memory visit www.chidadvocacycentergainesville.org

Charity Event Directory

June 10-13 Florida Volleyball Cruise With Mary Wise All proceeds go to PACE Center for Girls of Alachua Three-night cruise on the Carnival Sensation to the Bahamas including a “Welcome On-Board” reception with Mary, volleyball clinic and lots of sun and fun. www.pacecenter.org

Tuesday, October 21 Gainesville Gone Nashville Child Advocacy Center Dust off your boots and join us October 21, 2010 for the second-annual Gainesville Gone Nashville. This Western-themed fundraiser will feature a saloon, live and silent auction; dancing and good old fashioned BBQ. www.gainesvillegonenashville.com

Charity Event Directory

June 2010 Urban Meyer Football Camp For the Boys & Girls Club of Alachua County The annual event allows children to experience the sensation of playing football in The Swamp. Urban Meyer and the football coaching staff give these lucky kids receive a tour of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, run practice drills on the field and a talk from Meyer about the importance of school in their future. Visit www.myboysandgirlsclub.com closer to the event for more details.

August Saturday, August 21 Gala for Kids Benefitting the Boys and Girls Club of Alachua County The 18th annual event features an exotic dinner, live entertainment, dancing, zumba and salsa dance lessons and more. www.galaforkids.com

Charity Event Directory

September September 2010 Kids 4 Kids Triathalon Benefitting Child Advocacy Center, Cure Dale’s Duchenne and Shands Children’s Hospital Organized by O2B Kids, Haile Plantation Golf and Country Club and UF&Shands Sports Performance Center, the goal of the Kids 4 Kids is to arrange fun and healthy events for children who may be less fortunate. www.kids4kidsflorida.org

October

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

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Charity Event Directory

October 2010 Noche de Gala Supporting the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation A spectacular formal event featuring live entertainment fine dining and silent auction. All proceeds go to establishing a full-service, state-of-the-art children’s hospital in Gainesville. www.nochedegala.org


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AROUND THE HOME

Greening a Home’s Exterior

By David Greenberg

Photography by Brad Palmer

38

HOME Living

Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in a continuing series on green building. In the next issue, we will look at using green interior finishes.

A

ctions taken to make a home green are not often seen, yet they are realized in the end. But if those actions are taken on the outside they become quite visible. In the case of the home being built in Brytan by David Melville, the owner of David Melville Contracting Services Inc. (DMCS), the exterior choices were all driven by a desire to make the home as green as possible. And unlike some of the choices made for the 3,300-square-foot, twostory home he built in the mixed-use, traditional neighborhood being developed on Archer Road in southwest Alachua County by Brice Business Group, the decisions for the exterior were almost entirely driven by a personal belief in leaving a minimal carbon footprint. The home is expected to be Gainesville’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) platinum-certified home – that designation coming from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Platinum is the highest of four levels of green certification in USGBC’s program. The others are certified, silver and gold. When looking at the exterior, Melville first considered the roof. “Our first and only choice was a metal roof with a high solar reflective index,” he said. “That allows it to reflect the heat generated by the Florida sun, resulting in a better overall performance for the entire home-envelope itself. While we had already chosen one of the most effective HVAC systems available – one that would limit attic heat, a metal, reflective roof complements that decision.”

In the Heart of Florida

There was a second reason for choosing metal, said Melville. “Sustainability – a metal roof is two-to-three times as effective as shingles,” he said. “The roof we put on this home should last for 50 years. Architectural shingles offer a 30-year warranty at best and more likely will last closer to 15 years, given the Florida elements. In this state, the sun is a major factor on roof life. Once the color of the shingles change, they are deteriorating.” He also suggested most people make the aesthetic choice to use medium- or dark-tone roofs that soak in heat. Stay away from light-colored shingles that reflect the heat but don’t look as good. Next, Melville considered the exterior trim. All the fascia board and banding is made of a composite material sold by AZEK Building Products and distributed locally by Ro-Mac Lumber and Supply. “Composite material requires very low maintenance and, unlike wood, does not rot,” he said. “From the green building standpoint, we are definitely saving trees. Also, a typical home is repainted every three-to-five years. In the Florida climate traditional fascia board and wood trim work would have to be replaced. With a composite material we have zero rot potential and no need for replacement.” That same philosophy comes into play when considering the decking, columns, railing and the exterior soffit and ceiling. The composite decking is a product called Kodiak that is offered by a company called Deceuninck. “Anyone with a wood deck in Florida knows what the sun and rain does to it, said Melville. “It requires constant maintenance because of rotting and splintering. Our deck has an effective life of 50 years. It seems like wood, but it is a composite material. If it gets dirty, wash it down with soap and water.” The same is true of the columns and railing, which are Permacast® – a composite material from HB&G. The cement-board siding is from CertainTeed, a company with a national reputation for durability and green products.

LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com


AROUND THE HOME

“In addition to offering high-quality, durable and environmentally friendly materials, CertainTeed has a great recycling program,” said Melville. “There was also an aesthetic requirement for the community that was fulfilled by the products from CertainTeed. It will also get us several LEED points.” But there’s even more to making the exterior of the home green, and Melville has done that. He used pavers from the local company, Lawn Enforcement, instead of concrete. While he says it was an aesthetic choice, pavers are porous and reduce runoff into the groundwater. He also installed Florida-friendly, native plants and has minimal turf to maintain. The Centipede grass is drought resistant, low maintenance and requires minimal chemicals for upkeep. The drip irrigation system is all reclaimed water from GRU. Finally, the exterior lighting, from Graybar Electric in Gainesville, is all Energy Star, and there is no uplighting to avoid night sky pollution. Melville recognizes that there are additional costs associated with many of these products, but that was the choice he made. “When we get down to finishes, it becomes a point of personal preference,” he said. “Using all these composite materials may not be the best financial choice. You can accomplish the same look over a short term with conventional wood, but that look is really fleeting. Weather takes its toll on

those products, and we would find ourselves in a year or two looking at re-installation. That bothers me. I want to come back to this house five years from now, look at the trim, and if it has been maintained, it should look the same as it did when we installed it. That’s important to me. That’s non-negotiable for me. If you are concerned about the environment, you won’t have to cut down any more trees to maintain this home. Most of these products are made from some sort of recycled material, so we are not only saving future trees, we’ve reduced current environmental impacts.” With this green exterior, it is also important to note that no sacrifice is being made when it comes to the look of the home. Building a beautiful home and a green home are not mutually exclusive. To learn more about David Melville Contracting Service, Inc., go online to www. dmcs-inc.com or call (863) 521-1217. To learn more about the Brytan community, go online to www.brytan.com.

Gainesville’s Greenest Community Welcomes You Home

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brytan.com HOME Living

In the Heart of Florida

39


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AROUND THE HOME

Clean up the Clutter By Sara Brubaker

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lutter inundates our homes, silently piles up in our filing cabinets and closets and eventually takes over inch after inch of square footage until entire rooms are lost to mountains of mess. Letty Valentin, 58, a Gainesville resident since 1977, who moved into her current home in 1990, said she called in professional organizer Helen Kornblum about a year and half ago to help her reclaim parts of her home engulfed in clutter. “There were times I would look around at my house and say, ‘This is impossible,’” she said. Valentin said her clutter became out of control after the downstairs floor of her house flooded during a hurricane. Then, her mother and aunt moved in with her from Puerto Rico, bringing her home’s occupancy from one person to three. Kornblum taught Valentin that the way to tackle clutter is to take on one thing at a time and work on it until it’s complete. Valentin said writing notes in a notebook, rather than on small scraps of paper – an organizing tip from Kornblum – has helped greatly reduce the amount of clutter in her home. “People get used to a cluttered environment,” she said. “It becomes who we think we are.” Kurt Sieber, the owner of Top Shelf Storage Solutions in Gainesville, a company that specializes in creating custom designs for walk-in closets, pantries and garages, said he has seen an uptick in organizational remodeling in the last year. “With the changes in the housing market in the last few years, a lot of folks are finding it more valuable to stay in their homes,” he said. “Whatever storage problems people have, we try to step up and help them.” The custom installations run, on average, between a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, he said. Kornblum, who started her company, Natural Order Organizing, in 2005, said clutter isn’t necessarily about space – it’s about priorities and time management. “Knowing what you want to get done and knowing what’s important to you is the first step to becoming more organized,” she said. According to Kornblum, there are four reasons to get rid of clutter. Clutter wastes time, clutter wastes energy, clutter wastes money, and clutter is dangerous. As more families decide to renovate instead of upgrade to larger, custom houses in order to save money, reorganizing, getting rid of clutter and installing systems to capitalize on unused square footage can potentially increase their home’s appraised value and distinguish it from similar homes in the neighborhood. Custom systems by Top Shelf Storage Solutions can grow and change as your storage needs do, said Jim Wilkowski, a salesman for the company.

The kitchen pantry is often the biggest challenge when it comes to organization. Photo courtesy More Space Place.

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AROUND THE HOME

after before New wood or laminate custom installations have added stability, greater aesthetic appeal and increased functionality as compared with standard wire and outdated systems. Sieber said thinking about remodeling a closet or kitchen cabinets is often the trigger that gets people to deal with years of accumulated clutter. “In the process of updating their storage, they really get the chance to look at the stuff they’ve been hoarding. More often than not, they get rid of most of it because they realize they don’t need it, and they don’t want to clutter up their new systems.” Bill Kirk, the owner of More Space Place in Gainesville and Ocala, said wall-to-wall custom systems, not separate pieces or wire shelving, are essential to improving storage. More Space Place offers a variety of customizable products, from melamine to solid wood, to organize closets, pantries, laundry rooms, garages and entertainment centers.

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With some attractive shelving, even the biggest mess can be fixed. Photo courtesy Natural Order Organizing

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AROUND THE HOME

A Murphy bed is a great way to utilize space. It has the functionality of a standard bed, with the benefit of being hidden when it's not being used. Photos courtesy More Space Place.

organized more fun!

An family has less stress, more time, and “I want to tell you again what an impact your work with me has had on how I approach my life. The peace and clarity I feel comes from the logic inherent in how the space in my house is used. It is so much easier to clean up; find things; set priorities. Truly it has made a world of difference.” L.N., Gainesville

You can learn organizing strategies for your family, home and office.

Helen Kornblum, MA NaturalOrderOrganizing.com 352-871-4499 naturalorder@cox.net

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Kornblum, who is a member of both the National Association of Professional Organizers and the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization, said she encourages her clients to remember that being disorganized is not a “federal crime.” She helps her clients take a critical look at their clutter, and simplifies the daunting process of combing through years of stuff, by asking specific questions. Are you still the same person who collected all that stuff? Are you being held hostage by things you didn’t choose and don’t like? What is it really worth in your life now or in the future?” Kirk said investing in a new storage system instead of working within the bounds of ineffective, generic storage not only allows you to feel more organized, but also makes everyday life easier. “When you put our product in your space, you want to keep it neat,” he said. Kornblum said it’s important to remember that organization should not be the final destination – it’s a tool that gets you to something else, whether it be reducing stress, saving money or regaining control. Changing your mindset about clutter, she said, is the only way to tackle it. You have to challenge your thinking in order to make a permanent change. To contact Helen Kornblum, visit her Web site at www.naturalorder organizing.com/about.html. To contact Top Shelf Storage Solutions, visit www.topshelfss.com. To contact More Space Place, visit www.morespaceplace.com.


TE NE CH W NO LO GY !

The Altschuler Periodontic and Implant Center

Dental Laser Therapy

the latest in patient comfort! Laser periodontal therapy is a breakthrough in the treatment of gum disease. This new approach takes some of the most effective periodontal treatments that have been used for many years and enhances them with the conservative use of a laser. Laser Therapy can be performed in conjunction with periodontal maintainence, scaling and root planing, or as an adjunct to traditional surgery.

is Gainesville’s family-based, high-technology practice dedicated to providing the highest quality periodontal care. We maintain the most advanced procedures, technology and equipment available to ensure that every patient achieves a healthy and beautiful smile.

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what it means for you t Faster healing t Minimal pain means little to no anesthesia needed t Minimal post-op discomfort

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“Our goal is to promote independence allowing seniors to age in place as long as possible.”

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That’s The Caretenders Tradition • Skilled Nursing Care • Physical Therapy A dedicated team of compassionate, highly • Occupational Therapy skilled healthcare professionals who treat • Speech Therapy their patients like family. • Medical Social Work • Home Health Aides • Infusion and Chemo Therapy • Diabetic Management • Cardiac/Pulmonary Assessment • Medication Management Serving Alachua and all Surrounding Areas • Stroke Program • CHF Program • PT/INR In-home • Anodyne, Vital Stim, Ultrasound • Optimum Balance/Fall Prevention • Wound/Ostomy Care

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Gainesville, FL 32606

Lic# HHA299991306


AROUND THE HOME

Pick your own citrus this year with a Dwarf Meyer Lemon on the patio.

Landscape Calendar

Winter Wonderland Six Secrets to Frost Proof Gardening By Jon George, the owner of Cottage Gardens Inc., a Gainesville based landscape design and installation firm. He has been gardening in North Central Florida for more than 30 years. You may contact his staff at www.TheCottageGardener.com or at cottagegardensinc@yahoo.com.

As a landscape designer here in North Central Florida, I find that most of my clients think they need to wait until spring to start a landscape project. Many people are surprised to learn that wintertime can be the best time to plant trees and shrubs with little transplant shock. Perennials and annuals planted in cooler weather develop healthier root systems resulting in bigger plants with more blooms throughout the year.

If you think that pansies are your only option right now, discover these secrets that will make your yard the envy of the neighborhood. A well designed landscape with layers of height and texture will add value to your home. With the right selection and placement of plant material, you can have low maintenance color in your garden all year.

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lant drifts of cold tolerant annuals. In P this northwest Gainesville garden we used traditional English garden flowers of Sweet William, Delphiniums and Snapdragons for winter-long color.

2

. P oppies love cool weather. Sow seeds of California Poppies in a sunny spot now for an early spring show.

www.TheCottageGardener.com

(352)333-9661 serving Alachua Co. since 1995 46

Design Consultations • Planting • Continuing Garden Care


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on’t wait until spring to be D cheered up by Daisies. These dwarf Shasta Daisies bloom all winter despite the hardest frost.

AROUND THE HOME

5 6

3

emesia brings fragrance and color to N winter beds. Try this plant by the doorway for perfume that grows stronger in warm afternoon sun.

hink outside the Boxwood. Evergreen T Boxwood is shedding its image as a boring foundational shrub. This French inspired knot garden we created for an Alachua residence utilizes boxwoods in precise geometrical patterns for year ‘round interest. This plant also pairs wonderfully with Christmas colors and décor.

ocate microclimates around your home. L The canopy of a tree or the south side of the house may provide shelter for plants that would otherwise freeze.

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Better Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner by Lauren Gispanski

photography by Brad Palmer

TooJay’s Gourmet Deli - Gainesville

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veryone has seen the billboards around town as TooJay’s Gourmet Deli makes its arrival to Gainesville known. But what is behind the witty slogans, such as “Don’t drool and drive,” and what does this new establishment behind the CVS Pharmacy on the corner of Southwest Archer Road and Southwest 34th Street have to offer? TooJay’s has 18 “Salad Selections,” but its own TooJay’s Cobb Salad is a hands down favorite. Thick rows of diced chicken breast and Tavern ham, tomatoes, red onion, bacon bits, hard boiled eggs, and shredded cheddar cheese cover the fresh greens whose existence under this mound of topping can only be validated after you dig into this dish. TooJay’s rolled deli sandwiches will easily satisfy the hungriest of patrons. The Triple J, rolled corned beef, roast beef, turkey and Swiss cheese, features a pile of Cole slaw and drips of Russian dressing. Paired best with rye bread, you will barely be able to bite into this monster of a sandwich. The TooJay’s dinner menu offers “Homestyle Comfort Food” like the favorite Chicken Capri. Three tender chicken breasts served in a lemon butter white wine sauce, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and capers, this Chicken Capri finished with sides of rosemary potatoes and steamed vegetables melts in your mouth and will leave you begging for more. But what is a good meal without dessert? Well at TooJay’s Gourmet Deli, you will not have to worry. The Banana Dream cake is two rows of homemade banana cake, chocolate chips and walnuts separated by a layer of chocolate ganache icing that covers the cake itself. Since its start in 1981, TooJay’s Gourmet Deli has grown into a 26 restaurant chain and catering extraordinaire. Gainesville Catering Representative Hannah Fowler works with any organization, group or individual to prepare the ideal menu at the right price. The sky is the limit, and no request is impossible, as Fowler says. If you choose to dine in, the prices are more than reasonable – salads and sandwiches average $8, dinner entrées do not exceed $14, and desserts go for under $4. So when you’re ready to explore the newest deli in town, it’s time you gave TooJay’s Gourmet Deli a try.

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Ivey’s Grill - Gainesville

hen the weekend hits at Ivey’s Grill, locals pack the bar top, fill the booths and take up the tables. Located in the Publix shopping center on the corner of West University Avenue and Southwest 34th Street, this grill is certainly a diamond in the rough. No other French toast in Gainesville compares to the one at Ivey’s Grill. With your choice of whole wheat, cinnamon raisin or banana nut bread, the thick slices are dipped in a cinnamon egg batter before toasting and finished with powdered sugar. If you choose the banana nut bread, you are in for a true treat. Walnuts and banana bites are mixed into this bread’s dough, resulting in the ultimate base for French toast. Just lightly toasted as to not take away from the moist bread, each slice is packed with bananas, walnuts and a pinch of spice. The Veggie Benedict is another unbelievable menu item. Pouched eggs perched upon a whole wheat English muffin topped with slices of grilled eggplant, zucchini, onion and tomato, this benedict adds some of Ivey’s Grill’s own homemade spinach hollandaise sauce to finish off the dish. The grilling of the onions, eggplant and zucchini bring a natural sweetness to the benedict that contrasts yet complements the more bitterly herbal spinach hollandaise. And if you’re looking to incorporate some fruit to your meal, try the Fruit Bowl. This mountain of fresh fruits features slices of apples, strawberries, kiwi, oranges, grapefruit, banana, pineapple, cantaloupe and golden pears with some scattered grapes, or more than enough to satisfy any appetite or taste. Ivey’s Grill offers lunch as well, and the Spuds A La Grande or Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes make for the perfect plate. Herb potatoes topped with sautéed mushrooms, onions and tomatoes as well as two eggs prepared in any way you choose, the Spuds A La Grande is smothered in both Swiss and cheddar cheeses. The extra egg ingredient is something other restaurant’s similar dishes lack, making Ivey’s Spuds a town treasure. The Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes entrée has three seared cakes containing blue crab, onions, celery, parsley and a light seasoning. But don’t forget to dip the cake into Ivey Grill’s own caper red onion tartar sauce, adding the little something extra that pushes this dish over the top. Their prices range with sandwiches from $7 to $10, salads from $5 to $12, and entrées from $8 to $14. If you are celebrating a special occasion or looking to add a light buzz to your morning or meal, a pitcher of mimosas is available for $30. So when you’re interested in some authentic Gainesville grilling, look no further than Ivey’s.


The Jones Eastside by Lauren Gispanski

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here can you find freshly squeezed orange juice, pure maple syrup and a chef who will soon grow his own produce? The Jones Eastside, of course, whose delightful original recipes account for its returning patrons. Just east of 23rd Avenue and North Main Street, this restaurant is unlike any other in Gainesville as it uses both locally grown and organic ingredients in its breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes. Notorious for its breakfast, Jones Eastside serves its own Jones Biscuits and Gravy, homemade beercheddar biscuits topped with two eggs and soy merguez and smothered in homemade vegan gravy. The spicy sausage patty, known as soy merguez, pairs perfectly with the thick vegetarian gravy, which features an array of spices including cumin, chili powder, garlic and sea salt. This spin on a traditional southern breakfast item, however, doesn’t begin to compare to the Jones’ own French toast. Three organic brioche slices dipped in a light vanilla batter and grilled to a crisp golden brown, the Brioche French Toast tastes more like a pastry than the typical French toast. The enriched French bread used in this entrée contains a high egg and butter content that gives the flaky brioche an extra sweet flavor. The hint of cinnamon sugar and pure maple syrup complete this original French toast recipe that will melt in your mouth as you savor every bite. The most ordered menu item is the Jones Rancheros. Layers of toasted corn tortillas with

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photography by Brad Palmer

Gainesville

organic black beans, cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, and fresh tomato salsa is finished with an avocado topper and cilantro accent. As you delve into this dish, you will feel as if you are south of the border, enjoying authentic cuisine. For those searching for a breakfast staple of sorts on the restaurant’s creative menu, the Salmon Omelette may satisfy your appetite. Folded into a three-egg omelet, the smoked Atlantic salmon with dill cream cheese and red onion is served with home fries or grits and the toast of your choice. While a generous portion, this delicious delicacy will certainly be devoured in minutes. The VegOut is the ideal sandwich for any omnivore who enjoys substance between two slices of sun-dried tomato bread. While lettuce, spinach, tomato, red onion, grated carrots, avocado and sprouts sound like a list of ingredients in a typical salad, once you add the Jones Eastside’s own pesto veganaise and provolone cheese, the tables turn this dish into a one-of-a-kind sandwich that will both fill your stomach and fascinate your inner chef as you cannot believe the vegetable transformation. The Jones Eastside’s menu has something for everyone and for every budget with breakfast and lunch prices under $10 and dinner dishes under $20. Open every day, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., one stop at the The Jones Eastside, and you too will become a Jones regular.

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Sisters Haile Village by Lauren Gispanski

photography by Brad Palmer

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s you stroll along the picturesque streets in the Haile Village Center, this charming restaurant will certainly catch your eye and appetite. The savory aromas and artistically eclectic tabletops and décor will force your attention to gravitate toward Sisters. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, Sisters has some of the healthiest yet delicious dishes, as the restaurant prides itself on vegan-friendly items and the use of locally grown, organic and farm fresh produce. If you’re looking to start your day off right, try the Wild Coho Salmon Benedict.

When you stop in for dinner at Sisters, everything on the menu looks divine. For the small plates, which give you just enough to taste and not overindulge, the Calamari Puttanesca sticks out as one of a kind. The sautéed calamari with plum tomatoes, garlic, fennel seeds, crushed hot pepper, anchovy paste and accented with oli

A bed of arugula topped with grilled salmon paired with the roasted red pepper hollandaise and poached eggs was a perfect match – light so as to not weigh you down while you are starting your day but generous enough to stand as a morning meal. The Tempeh Rueben Sandwich is another item on the morning menu for those looking for something a little more substantial. Sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and pickled red onions with a serving of marinated tempeh and a spicy remoulade wedged between two slices of pumpernickel bread, this sandwich is not only a customer favorite but also available entirely vegan. Sisters’ menu contains many vegan-friendly items that show you can eat healthy and still enjoy creative, flavorful food. Another naturally delightful plate, the Coconut Encrusted Tempeh Salad, features locally grown watercress, mandarin oranges, cucumbers, almonds and sunflower seeds dressed with a white balsamic vinaigrette and coconut encrusted tempeh, which is fermented soy beans and actually healthier than tofu.

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is an explosion of flavor not only on the plate with its delicate aromas but also in your mouth as you dive fork first into this enticing dish. Another dinner plate that is available as vegan is the Handmade Butternut Squash Ravioli. Sautéed in brown butter and fresh sage, this ravioli will melt in your mouth instantly and provides that heavenly experience synonymous with a pasta dish without the sinful respects since it is rather healthy. Sisters even has dessert items that are vegan-friendly such as the Vegan Chocolate Pistachio Cake. A slice fitting for two, this sweet has two layers of moist chocolate cake, separated by pistachio mousse and covered in a Belgian chocolate ganache. If you prefer a lighter dessert, the Coconut Cream Cake would be the ultimate alternative as it is coated and infused with coconut flakes and flavored in a way that is enjoyable rather than overwhelming. Sisters morning menu ranges from $7 to $11 while the dinner menu averages $7 for small plates, $16 for dinner plates and $6 for dessert. In addition to the signature dishes, the attentive service and fun atmosphere make this restaurant a must try for all hungry Gainesville locals and visitors. So when you’re looking to dig in without regret, turn to Sisters for its nourishing and perfectly portioned plates.

cured olives is a refreshingly healthy twist to the typical fried dish many restaurants offer. But if calamari is not your kind of seafood, Sisters also has the Fresh Florida Snapper. Encrusted in fresh herbed Panko bread crumbs and finished with a orange chile marmalade, the snapper with a side of sweet gingered carrots and organic fingerling potatoes

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(352) 380-0901 • 3545 S.W. 34th St. Suite A - Gainesville, FL • EmbersOfFlorida.com


Bagel Bakery Gainesville

by Lauren Gispanski

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Thomas’ bagel cannot even begin to compare to the bagels found in New York. And now Gainesville, wait no longer. The New York bagel is within reach at The Bagel Bakery next to Publix in the Millhopper Shopping Center on Northwest 43rd Street and 16th Boulevard. Now what makes a New York bagel so memorable? It’s all in the prep. Like those you will find in New York, The Bagel Bakery’s bagels are first boiled before baking, giving the bagel its moist yet chewy characteristics. And this bakery has every flavor imaginable – from the traditional plain, sesame and everything to the unique jalapeño cheese, banana nut and spinach. The spreads are just as delightful and distinctive. Aside from the usual plain and light cream cheeses, The Bagel Bakery has salmon, spinach artichoke and strawberry cream cheeses. The sweet rye-based pumpernickel bagel with the new strawberry cream cheese is a divine combination some patrons request regularly. The Bagel Bakery is not just known for its bagels as this bakery also offers wonderful wraps and savory sandwiches. The Sausage and Spinach Focaccia and Santa Fe Focaccia sandwiches just may put the bagels to shame. Thick sausage scrambled with two eggs and topped with spinach and Muenster cheese is sandwiched between two

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photography by Brad Palmer

sun-dried tomato Focaccia bread slices. The mild flavor of the Muenster cheese and the herbal bitterness of the spinach combined with a slight spice in the sausage and herbal sweetness of the sundried tomato make this sandwich a true delicacy. If you’d like a little more kick to your sandwich, try the Santa Fe which features red and green peppers, scrambled egg, and melted American cheese. You can also order the Curry Chicken Salad wrap, a hit among the regulars. Tightly wrapped in a spinach tortilla with sprouts, lettuce, tomato and onions, the curry chicken salad is a standout. But no bakery would be complete without desirable baked goods, and The Bagel Bakery sure does know this. Its White Chocolate Cranberry Macadamia Nut cookies crumble between your finger tips and melt in your mouth. The Banana Nut Muffins and Chocolate Croissants pair nicely with the bakery’s own coffee, which is roasted on site and delivered from Guatemala through a partnership the owner, Ken Rembert, has with growers in that country, purchasing it directly to provide greater profit to the coffee farmers. A dozen bagels runs $9.99, sandwiches and wraps average $5.99, and the largest coffee costs just under $2. If interested

in catering parties or company meetings, The Bagel Bakery can provide breakfast and lunch platters that will satisfy everyone. So when you wake up and need a fresh start to the day or crave an authentic bagel, look no further than this bakery.


www.emilianoscafe.com

25 years in the heart of Gainesville

Crazy 8’s Lunch Express

“eight choices, eight minutes, eight dollars”

352-375-7381 downtown at 7 SE 1st Ave, Gainesville Live Jazz - Mon &Wed 6:30 -10: 00 p.m. Sunday Brunch - 10: 00 a.m. - 4: 00 p.m.

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Peach Valley Café by Lauren Gispanski

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ucked behind the Hooters location just south of Southwest Archer Road on 34th Street, Peach Valley Café offers a fresh family-friendly atmosphere while serving breakfast for more than 12 hours a day. Before you scan anything on the menu, you must order a Sack of Orchard Fresh Apple Fritters. Made on your request, diced Granny Smith apples are rolled into a homemade batter, cooked to a golden perfection and tossed in a cinnamon and sugar blend. Dip one of these into the side of strawberry yogurt, and before you know it, the people at your table will have eaten them all. If the strawberry yogurt sounds appealing, you can also try the Yogurt Crunch Parfait. Grapes, strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupe and Honeydew melon swirled with crunchy granola and a low fat strawberry yogurt center, this parfait is an explosion of sweet fruit flavor. If a breakfast sandwich sounds more like something you’d enjoy, the Café Croissant should not be overlooked. Two eggs are scrambled with shaved ham and creamy Brie cheese and placed between halves of a sliced griddled croissant. The

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photography by Brad Palmer

Vegetable & Egg Croissant Benedict is another café favorite. A flaky croissant topped with a grilled beefsteak tomato, grilled red onion, poached eggs and four fresh asparagus stalks artfully positioned in a crossing pattern to insure no bite will be without, this benedict is covered in the tasty hollandaise and becomes irresistible to any hungry eyes. Peach Valley Café also offers the traditional Belgian Waffle and French Toast. Crisp, golden brown, soft and sprinkled with powdered sugar, the Belgian Waffle will melt in your mouth. It can be topped with your choice of pecans, blueberries or bananas. And the French Toast dipped in the café’s own signature homemade batter and sprinkled with cinnamon and powdered sugar soaks up the warm maple syrup as you drizzle at your discretion. Finally, Peach Valley Café has six omelet options from which to choose. For those looking for a kick to their omelet, the Western Omelet would be just for you as it adds ham, cheddar cheese, red and green peppers, onion, and mushrooms to the

Gainesville

three-egg base. Simple yet utterly divine, the Greek Omelet is another alternative with baby spinach, feta cheese and roasted red peppers. Unlike most other breakfast-serving establishments in town, Peach Valley Café features an omelet of entirely egg whites. Accompanied with turkey, baby spinach and tomatoes, the A1A Omelet just may be the most heart-healthy item on the menu but still is full of flavor. The breakfast menu entrées average $7.50, and if interested in lunch or dinner, Peach Valley Café’s menu has lunch items averaging $8 and dinner dishes averaging $10. As a whole, it must be said the dining experience at Peach Valley Café is consistently cordial and brings the regulars in every morning. So keep this café in mind the next time you’re hungry for breakfast. After all, it is the most important meal of the day.


(352) 472-7260

Newberry's Backyard Bar-B-Q

25405 W. Newberry Rd. Newberry, FL www.backyardbarbq.com ,UNCH s $INNER s #ATERING

It’s ROCKY’S BIRTHDAY JAN 21st, and he wants to GIVE YOU A GIFT... ERte N WIN of Sta

FREE RIBS FOR A YEAR

ar y 200lor9ida Secret Street ar F ain e Ye

M s of th nes i s u B

No purchase necessary. Just drop your business card (or e-mail address) off at the restaurant in Newberry, and you will be entered in the drawing, which takes place on Jan 21, 2010. See store for details. One Rib Dinner per month for 12 months.


The Flying Biscuit Café by Lauren Gispanski

S

andwiched between The Fresh Market and Hollywood Video off Northwest 16th Boulevard and 43rd Street, The Flying Biscuit Café offers both staples and specialties with a smile and a side of southern charm. Delia Champion originally founded the restaurant in Atlanta, but it was Stan Given, local Moe’s franchisee, who brought this treasure to Gainesville. Serving breakfast all day, The Flying Biscuit Café has one morning menu item customers particularly enjoy. The Exx-Stravaganza has both a name and a spread that are more than a mouthful. Two farm fresh eggs cooked to your liking, a serving of the signature chicken breakfast sausage, your choice of crisp turkey bacon or applewood smoked bacon, a side of creamy dreamy grits, and finished with slices of the café’s own “Hot off the Griddle” French toast, this sampler has some spicy and some sweet sides, offering the best of both worlds. Two popular lunch appetizers are the Fried Green Tomatoes and Roasted Red Pepper Humus. The lightly battered and pan sautéed Fried Green Tomatoes are a twist to the traditional recipe as they are topped with goat cheese and a cashewjalapeño relish. The tangy smooth flavor of the goat cheese with the hint of jalapeño spice and acidity of the green tomato make this appetizer the delicacy that it has become. The Roasted Red

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photography by Brad Palmer

Gainesville

Pepper Hummus is much like the tomatoes in that the degree of spice is just right. And the thick grilled pita bread accompanying this dish allows for you to pile on as much hummus as you like without breaking in two. If you’re more into the salad scene, the Fried Egg Salad might be right up your alley. The “moon dusted” potatoes and crispy turkey bacon add a unique flair to the two large eggs cooked over medium and field greens with drizzles of balsamic vinaigrette and spicy chipotle aioli. Two items on The Flying Biscuit Café’s dinner menu captures the essence of this hospitable hot spot. First, the Shrimp and Grits features the creamy dreamy grits, which are grits with white cheddar and cream slowly cooked for an extended time to blend the mixture. Blackened shrimp top their famous grits along with a rustic homemade marinara made with roasted red pepper and tomato sauce, adding some spice to the grit’s sweet comfort. Finally, the Love Cakes are three black bean cakes sautéed and topped with a tomatillo salsa, sour cream, red onion spears and feta cheese. With entrées averaging $8 to $10, The Flying Biscuit Café can accommodate both couples and large families. Not to mention, the quaint atmosphere and welcoming wait staff make this restaurant one to remember. So next time you’d like to try a bit of southern comfort, stop by The Flying Biscuit.

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Holiday Catering, TooJay’s Style.

New Fall Menu

Sumptuous Party Platters Delicious Hot Entrees Lavish Desserts 102 D

Home or Office Delivery & Set Up

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WWW.TOOJAYS.COM

Butler Plaza II 3410 SW Archer Road (352) 244-0973

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T R A D I T I O N

O F

352-331-6620

2725 SW 91st St.- Suite 100 Gainesville, Florida, 32608

R E A L . G O O D . F O O D.

Holiday Cater4.4x5.00 Gainesville Home Magazine.indd 1

10/23/09 2:15:57 PM


Harvest Thyme by Lauren Gispanski

photography by Brad Palmer

T

he hustle and bustle of downtown Gainesville has not phased this momand-pop café. In the heart of downtown at University Avenue and Main Street, Harvest Thyme maintains its 10-year reign on the lunch crowd by offering some of the most delicious yet nutritious soups, salads and sandwiches. The most popular item on the menu is the Tuna Apple Melt Croissant. White albacore tuna paired with thin Granny Smith apple slices, melted jack and cheddar cheese, lettuce, and tomato sandwiched between flaky croissant halves, this favorite really is irresistible. The crisp, tart apple slices coupled with the sweet, flaky bread complements the white albacore tuna while putting a spin on a traditional tuna sandwich. If tuna isn’t your taste, the Strawberry Field Salad served with balsamic vinaigrette is another customer favorite for its fulfilling and fresh fixings. A bed of mixed greens with carrots, sprouts, onions, cucumbers and fresh strawberries topped with feta cheese crumbles and grilled chicken, this salad captures the sweetness of summertime all year round. The feta cheese goes perfectly with this salad as its tangy and salty flavors add a much needed contrast to the sweet strawberries and onions. Another popular menu option is the Mexi Pasta salad. Cooked pasta shells with fresh tomato,

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onion, corn, black beans, red and green peppers, scallions, cilantro, and Chipotle peppers, this pasta salad has more than just a hint of zest. The pasta’s pockets catch the diced ingredients, to fill them with flavor. The kick from the peppers, the freshness of the cilantro and the staples of black bean and corn definitely root this dish south of the border. Finally, one seemingly everyday item, the Fresh Fruit, is actually a Harvest Thyme original. No, it’s not for the name but for the unmatched quality of produce. Slices of strawberries, kiwi, cantaloupe, pineapple, bananas, Honeydew melon and Granny Smith apples complete this side item. Unlike other restaurant's or grocery store's pre-made fruit salads, each piece of Harvest Thyme’s fruit actually tastes as it should, rather than being masked by the overpowering melon flavor. The menu items would make any mouth water, but it’s the comfortable atmosphere that sends Harvest Thyme to the top of the list. As soon as you step into the restaurant from the busy streets of downtown, a homey and warm sensation overcomes you. Everyone knows your name, and if they don’t, they are eager to ask. And since no item exceeds $8, it’s no surprise customers frequent Harvest Thyme.


It will change the way you start your morning! You don’t have to travel to Cuba to enjoy authentic Cuban food and the best cup of coffee. Mi Apá Latin Café features a full breakfast menu and Cuban coffee that will change the way you want to start your morning.

Open daily from 7AM – 10PM Fridays & Saturdays until 12AM 114 SW 34th St Gainesville, FL s

(352) 376-7020

(352)373-1919

235 S. Main Street, Ste 107 Gainesville Fl 32601 www.AmeliasGainesville.com

www.ma

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Lunch in 15 minutes or it’s FREE

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(352) 375-4420 LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com

2441 NW 43rd Street Gainesville, FL At Thornebrook Village

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ST. FRANCIS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL - GAINESVILLE Open House on Saturday, January 9 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

100% Graduation 100% College Acceptance $2Million+ in College Scholarships Awarded

FAITH• KNOWLEDGE • VIRTUE Time Honored Catholic School Traditions

352-376-6545 ∫ www.SFCHS.org


Mr. Farrell Rides Again! As a local high school teacher for 35 years with a hobby/ business training Cutting Horses for local ranchers, Billy Farrell has to be in great physical condition. When he injured his back to the extent that he thought he may never ride again, he had to find someone who could help him fast. “I’m not really sure what I did to injure myself,â€? says Billy, “but the pain became worse with each passing day for about two weeks. By then I had pain shooting down my legs and muscle spasms in my lower back to the extent that I would just lie on my bed locked up, screaming in agony.â€? Billy first went to his regular doctor who sent him for MRI scans of his back. The scans indicated that he had degenerative disc disease and two herniated, budging discs. The doctor referred him to rehab therapy for several weeks to no avail. He was then referred to a neurosurgeon to consult about possible back surgery. Before Billy made his appointment with the surgeon, a ’m him not about really sure what IRuano did to and injure says Billy, friend told Dr. Robert Dr.myself,â€? Deborah Hudson “but the pain became worse with each passing day for of Innovative Back Solutions right here in Gainesville. The primary about two weeks. By then I had pain shooting down my focus of their practice is that of nonsurgical treatment alternatives legsbulging and muscle spasms indiscs my lower thelower extentback thatthrough I would for and herniated in theback necktoand just lie on my bed locked up, screaming in agony.â€? a new technology called Spinal Decompression. Billy quickly made Billy first went to his regular doctor who sent him for MRI an appointment. scans of his back. The scans indicated that he had the degenerative Spinal Decompression is designed to reverse pressures disc disease and two herniated, budging discs. The doctor referred of gravity exerted on our discs while we stand, sit and go about him to rehab therapy for several weeks to no avail. He was our daily activities; not to mention the forces we add to that then state referred neurosurgeon about back surgery. when weto lifta heavy items or to doconsult things like ridepossible a bucking horse! The Before Billy made his appointment thethis surgeon, a doctors of Innovative Back Solutions are able towith relieve pressure friend told him about Dr. Robert Ruano and Dr. Deborah Hudson and reverse its effects utilizing cutting edge technology; namely, of Back the Innovative DRX9000C™ Solutions right here Spinal Decompression in Gainesville. The System. It is the only primary focus of their one of its kind in the practice is that of nonGainesville area. surgicalRobert treatment alRuano, ternatives for bulging DC, explains, “Between and our herniated vertebras discs are in the neck lower discs. Theseand discs act back through aUnder new like sponges. technology pressure, called they Spiare nal Decompression. compressed and lose Billy quickly the ability to made ingestan or appointment. transfer the fluids and Spinalthey decomnutrients need to pression is designed to be cushions between reverse the pressures our vertebrae. When of exerted the on thisgravity happens, our discs while we stand, sit and go about our daily activities; not material in the center of the disc (the nucleolus pulposus) can be to mention theitforces we add that the state when lift heavy items squeezed until protrudes outtofrom disc andwe begins to press on or do things like ride a bucking horse! The doctors of Innovative surrounding nerves. This is where the real pain comes in and may Backsend Solutions are able to relieve and or reverse then neurological signals (pain)this out pressure into our arms legs. its effects utilizing cutting edge technology; namely, the DRX9000C™ Spinal Decompression System. It is the only one of its kind in the Gainesville area.

By Sara Horn photography by Brad Palmer

“If we can relieve the pressure, the disc can reabsorb these much By needed Jackiefluids Rowe and the herniated or protruding nucleus pulposus will shrink and retract. Hence, this material pushing on the nerve (which feels like pinching), is gone. The disc can then become the cushion we need again, and pain is relieved naturally. The DRX9000C™ can target and relieve the pressure on specific discs. Treatment sessions are comfortable and relaxing. Many patients actually fall asleep during treatment!â€? Billy didn’t fall asleep on the table during his treatments, but he did get relief from his horrendous pain after several weeks. “I’m glad to report that I’m feeling great and back in the saddle again,â€? says Billy. “I wouldn’t have believed it unless I saw it myself. I think the horses are happy to see me get back to work. I’m not to sure about my students though.â€? Relieve your back pain without surgery in a relaxing environment with the latest technology. The DRX9000C™ is Robert Ruano, DC, explains, “Between our vertebras are offered in this area only at Innovative Back Solutions. They offer discs. These discs act like sponges. Under pressure, they complimentary discovery consultations by appointment. are For compressed and lose the ability to ingest or transfer theafluids and more information, schedule a consultation, or receive free DVD nutrients they need to office be cushions between our vertebrae. When by mail, please call his at 352-505-8738. More information is this happens, the material in the center of the disc (the nucleolus BCPWF "GUFS TFWFSBM also available at their web site. pulposus) can be squeezed until it protrudes out from the disc and XFFLT PG TQJOBM begins to press on surrounding nerves. This is where the real pain EFDPNQSFTTJPO comes in and may then send neurological signals (pain) out into USFBUNFOUT .S #JMMZ our arms or legs. “If we can relieve the pressure, the disc can reabsorb these 'BSSFMM XFOU GSPN CFE much needed fluids and the herniated or protruding nucleus SJEEFO UP CBDL JO UIF pulposus will shrink and retract. Hence, this material pushing on TBEEMF BHBJO the nerve (which feels like pinching), is gone. The disc can then become the cushion we need again, and pain is relieved naturally. The DRX9000C™ can target and relieve the pressure on specific discs. Treatment sessions are comfortable and relaxing. Many MFGU %S 3PCFSU patients actually fall asleep during treatment!â€? 3VBOP BUUFOET UP B Billy didn’t fall asleep on the table during his treatments, but DMJFOU BCPVU UP SFDFJWF he did get relief from his horrendous pain after several weeks. “I’m glad to report that I’m feeling great and back in the saddle again,â€? TQJOBM EFDPNQSFTTJPO says Billy. “I wouldn’t have believed it unless I saw it myself. I think USFBUNFOU PO UIF the horses are happy to see me get back to work. I’m not to sure %39 $ about my students though.â€? Relieve your back pain without surgery in a relaxing environment with the latest technology. The 120 NW 76th Drive DRX9000C™ is offered in this area Gainesville, FL 32607 only at Innovative Back Solutions. Robert S. Ruano, DC. They offer complimentary Debbie Hudson, DC. discovery consultations by appointment. For more information, schedule a consultation, or receive a free DVD by mail, please call his office at 352-505-8738. More information is also available at their web site.

As a local high school teacher for 35 years with a hobby/business training Cutting Horses for local ranchers, Billy Farrell has to be in great physical condition. When he injured his back to the extent that he thought he may never ride again, he had to find someone who could help him fast.

“I

352-505-8738

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BUSINESS FOCUS

Caring Neighbors…

Building Our Community Together The Builders Association of North Central Florida

Ivan Oelrich, 2010 BANCF president, Deputy Executive Vice President Margie Krpan, Executive Vice President Gina Hill, Mike Cooper, Spain & Cooper Construction, Adam Bolton, 2009 BANCF president

(right) Adam Bolton, president of Robinshore addressing elementary school kids during Career Day. 64

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The Builders Association of North Central Florida (BANCF) members share a common goal of creating desirable communities and fulfilling the American Dream of home ownership. They understand creating safe and attractive neighborhoods and commercial buildings does not end with providing quality construction. They know that the best communities are filled with people who work together to improve the quality of life for all residents. That is why so many BANCF members are active in community work, from providing housing to lowincome residents, educational opportunities and scholarships to students, to working with government in an effort to keep housing affordable for all. Members are committed to our community. BANCF COMMUNITY PROJECTS: This year, BANCF members are working with the PACE Center for Girls to expand its existing facility in order to help more children in our community. PACE is a nonresidential program for young women ages 12 to 18 who are experiencing difficulty or conflict in school and at home. This very successful program has a proven track record, but the need is there to serve more girls in the community. BANCF members are donating services, materials and labor to see this much needed expansion become a reality. Long-time BANCF members Susan and Tom Spain are spearheading this effort. Ground was broken in November. Anyone interested in helping with the expansion should contact PACE at (352) 374-8799. Association members are confident they will succeed in the PACE project as they recently finished a huge effort to help build a new facility for the Reichert House program. Members worked hard to supply materials, labor and supervision towards the completion of the new 5,000-square-foot building. Reichert House provides an academic and social teaching environment for boys ages 12 to 18. This very successful program is also a youth intervention and prevention program. This new facility has made a significant contribution to East Gainesville. For many years, members of the association have volunteered doing what they do best – building and developing. Several years ago, BANCF partnered with Habitat for

In the Heart of Florida

Humanity in the development of the Celebration Oaks neighborhood. Members worked behind the scenes for many years, donating their time and professional expertise in planning, developing and engineering to bring a dream to the beautiful neighborhood it is today. For more information on Alachua Habitat for Humanity, please visit http://alachuahabitat.org/ or call (352) 378-4663. Every year BANCF members volunteer in the classrooms throughout Alachua County. The Homes of Our Own program is geared towards elementary school classes. Members also participate in career days and mentor students interested in a building career.

BANCF members Richard Wagner and David Miller stand with representatives from the Reichert House.

If you are an educator and would like a speaker or program for your classroom, contact the BANCF office. The association also provides scholarships at University of Florida and Santa Fe College for students in building construction. To contribute, contact BANCF. BANCF members work, live and volunteer their time in this community. Anyone interested in becoming part of the association family should contact BANCF. To learn more about BANCF go online to www.bancf.com or call (352) 372-5649.

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BUSINESS FOCUS

The TEAM

Creates Jobs During Tough Times By David Greenberg

The Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce and its partners recognized for their hard work

I

t is hard enough to create jobs and develop a strong workforce during strong economic times, and it is even a more difficult challenge during a recession. However, a partnership of local business-development groups has done just that so well that they were recently recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The partnership between the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, Council for Economic Outreach, North Florida Regional Chamber of Commerce and FloridaWorks, known as the TEAM (Targeted Economic Achievement Machine) received the 2009 Region of Excellence Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for a Competitive Workforce. The TEAM was recognized for having one of the lowest jobloss rates in the state of Florida and for generating more than 200 new jobs during the height of the recession. The award also made note of the area’s low unemployment rate and its emphasis on green technology, biotechnology and health-sciences training. The criteria for the award included that it be a program dedicated to improving the delivery of education and training at the Pre-K, K-12, postsecondary or adult workforce levels and that it be a partnership involving an education institution dedicated to improving the bridge from education to employment. It also needed to be both an advocacy campaign that positively influenced public policy and an awareness campaign that made a significant impact on the public perception of an industry. Lydia Logan, the vice president and executive director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for a Competitive Workforce, said the partnership was a key element in the award. “We were very impressed with the partnership they created,” she said. “It is clearly a productive relationship. We applaud them for including workforce development as an integral part

of economic development. We look at what they have done as a model for other communities.” Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce President Brent Christensen said the name of the partnership is appropriate because it took teamwork to accomplish its goals. “All of the players in economic and workforce development here work cooperatively to make this an attractive community for businesses,” he said. “We put a special emphasis on business recruitment and training needs in order to keep our economy thriving. That’s part of the reason we are so proud of this recognition.” FloridaWorks Executive Director Angela Pate said the work done by the partnership is critical to North Central Florida. “Our premise is that every person in our community deserves a chance,” she said. “We can’t afford a gap between those that go to college and those that don’t. Opportunities have to exist for everyone.” The partnership began in 2005 and quickly demonstrated its value to the community. As a result, the TEAM was able to obtain $580,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for a summer-youth program. Working with Santa Fe College, Alachua County Public Schools, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and the Community Weatherization Coalition, the TEAM targeted and trained young people and helped develop curriculum to prepare them for in-demand jobs. This program enabled at-risk youth to be trained in solar panel installation, digital media, green building practices and weatherization. This curriculum could not have been developed so quickly without all the partners working together.

The 2009 Region of Excellence Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for a Competitive Workforce.

Photo courtesy U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Left to right at the award ceremony are: FloridaWorks Executive Director Angela Pate, Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce Senior Director of Workforce Kim Tesch-Vaught, Chamber President & CEO Brent Christensen and Institute for a Competitive Workforce Chairman William A. Shore.

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BUSINESS FOCUS

Cox Gainesvil e Brings Baseball History to Life and Wins National Recognition

By David Greenberg

M

ike Giampietro thought the idea was extraordinary – bringing in eight former Negro Baseball League players to share their stories with members of the Gainesville community. For Giampietro, it was a no brainer because of his passion for baseball and social-justice issues. So Giampietro, the vice president of public affairs, operations and system manager for Cox Florida, gave his staff the green light, never dreaming about the ultimate outcome. As a result of the Negro Baseball League Project held in Gainesville in 2008, Cox Communications of Gainesville was selected by ESPN as the recipient of its Good Sports Award. Cox received the award at the 2009 Association of Cable Communicators (ACC) Forum in Denver. “ESPN has recognized individual cable systems in the past,” Giampietro said. “Usually they are much larger systems with big staff. We had to compete against every system in every town in the United States. Winning was a reflection on the teamwork from everyone in our operation. It was mind boggling to me to be sitting there with people from C-SPAN and Lifetime and have them call on Gainesville. It demonstrated that it was a case where the resources did not matter as much as the value of the idea.” Initially, the idea was to have the former

Negro league players talk tot Cox Gainesville employees, but it quickly grew. “We added trips to schools and the Boys & Girls club and community leaders,” said Giampietro. “For many of the kids it was the first time they heard about the idea of not being able to play baseball because of your color. The former players had a tremendous impact on them. They expressed no bitterness about what happened to them, instead talking about how much they loved the game, and how they overcame what was against them to have an opportunity to play ball. The two days were almost surreal for me.” In addition to the ESPN award, Cox was recognized by the ACC with three separate Beacon Awards in the categories of Community Relations, Multicultural Public Relations and Events & Observances. The Beacon Awards recognize cable-industry leaders who demonstrate excellence through initiatives that exemplify corporate social responsibility and improve their community. “For 20 years, the Beacon Awards have celebrated the excellent work cable communicators do to promote their companies’ products and contribute to the bottom line while also striving to improve the quality of life for their companies’ customers and the communities they serve,” said Janice Caluda, 2009 Beacon Awards chair and vice president, operations, Florida Cable Telecommunications Association, when presenting the awards. The Negro Baseball League Project was the most honored program run by a cable provider at the Beacon Awards this year. In the category of Multicultural Public Relations, Cox Gainesville upset finalists Turner Network and Discovery U.S. Hispanic Networks. Cox Communications contributed to this report.

The former Negro Baseball League players were a hit with the kids (left) and the adults (top right).Photos courtesy Cox Communications.

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PRESERVE YOUR CAPITAL: HEDGE AGAINST MARKET LOSSES Returns of AORDA Portfolios (based on the period Jan. 3, 2005 – Oct.31, 2009)

American Optimal Advisors is pleased to offer you a strategy that provides statistical protection (hedging) for your investments. The following conversation will give you an idea about our product.

Portfolio Portfolio Portfolio S&P 500 #1 #2 #3 Index

Salesman: I see you just bought a car. How much did you pay for it? Customer: $50,000 Salesman: Do you plan to buy insurance for your car? Customer: Of course. Why would I own a car and not have it insured? Salesman: I have an insurance idea for you. It will cost you virtually nothing, but will pay you when your car is damaged. Customer: Wow! How much will it pay me if the car is completely wrecked? Salesman: If history is any guide, it with pay you $100,000, two times what you paid for your car. Once again, it acts like free insurance. Can I interest you in the deal?

96.85

178.01

91.75

15.04

23.56

14.42

-13.74 -3.01

2009 (Jan-Oct)

-9.77

-14.07

4.64

15.74

2008

56.28

90.56

15.15

-38.49

2007

8.00

11.46

8.03

3.53

2006

19.36

34.15

32.00

13.62

2005

8.30

13.54

11.60

3.00

When Market is Down AORDA Portfolio 2 Makes Money

SPX

2006_2

2005_1

2008_2

2007_4

2008_3

2008_1

2009_1

Portfolio #2

2008_4

40.00% 35.00% 30.00% 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% -5.00% -10.00% -15.00% -20.00% -25.00%

You are about to learn that such “insurance” exists. Only the protection is not for the car but for when you lose money invested in the S&P500. The wealth of most people (and institutional investors) in the US is strongly correlated with the health of the American market. For most people, their wealth is in their investments, which is often in the S&P 500, the value of their house, their retirement accounts, salary, etc. When the market goes down, people may lose a significant fraction of their wealth.

All negative quarters of S&P500 vs. AOA Portfolios over almost 5 years (Jan. 2005Ͳ Sep. 2009): AORDA Portfolio 2 average = 15.43%, S&P500 average = Ͳ8.07%

Would it be important for you to have a protection against market downturns and drawdowns? Well, we can offer you such protection. It is called AORDA Portfolio 2. Historical trading records during the last 5 years prove the point. When “the car is wrecked”, meaning the market has a quarter with negative returns, AORDA Portfolio 2, on average, has grown about twice more than the market losses during that quarter (see the first histogram). When “the car is working”, i.e., the market is making money, AORDA Portfolio 2 has not lost money on average; its average return over positive S&P500 quarters is close to zero (see the second histogram).

When Market is Up, AORDA Portfolio 2 is Close to Zero on Average 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% 5.00%

However, you must understand that our product is a statistical protection concept rather than hard car insurance. Investing in AORDA Portfolio 2 means that if the past is any indication of the future, your total wealth will be kept safe in all market conditions. When the market goes up, your total wealth goes up (AORDA Portfolio 2 losses are less than your market gains on average); when the market goes down, your wealth goes up (because AORDA Portfolio 2 pays you more than your losses in the market on average). We cannot guarantee the future performance of our product, but you owe it to yourself and your family to give it careful consideration. The graph shows performance of three AORDA Portfolios. As you can see, AORDA Portfolio 2 mirrors performance of S&P 500. AORDA Portfolio 1 is a deleveraged AORDA Portfolio 2 (50% in Portfolio 2, 50% in cash). AORDA Portfolio 3 is a mix of approximately 50% of Portfolio 2 and 50% of S&P500. The graph shows that Portfolio 3 makes money in all market conditions. Accredited investors can invest in AORDA portfolios by opening an account at Interactive Brokers, TradePMR, or RYDEX family of funds.

Since Inception Inception/Annual

0.00%

SPX

-5.00%

Portfolio #2

-10.00%

2009_2

2009_3

2006_4

2007_2

2006_3

2006_1

2005_3

2005_4

2007_3

2005_2

-20.00%

2007_1

-15.00%

All negative quarters of S&P500 vs. AOA Portfolios over almost 5 years (Jan. 2005Ͳ Sep. 2009): AORDA Portfolio 2 average = Ͳ0.43%, S&P500 average = 5.31%

Performance of AORDA Portfolios vs. S&P 500

For more information, please contact Dr. Sergey Sarykalin at (352) 505Ͳ5632 or by email sarykalin@aorda.com. See the document with description of AORDA portfolios: http://www.aorda.com/aoa/static/documents/investments/AORDA_Portfolios.pdf This chart shows growth of $100 investment in three AORDA Portfolios vs. S&P 500 index since year 2005.

Start investing in your AORDA portfolio today. Visit http://www.Aorda.Com/aoa/home.Action

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Arthur Rutenberg Homes

Building Innovation for 3½ Decades By David Greenberg

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In the Heart of Florida

photos courtesy Arthur Rutenberg Homes

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BUSINESS FOCUS

B

arry Rutenberg has been a fixture in Alachua County since 1973, both as a builder and an active member of the community. Building primarily custom homes in the Heart of Florida for more than 37 years as Barry Rutenberg and Associates Inc., the company has earned a solid reputation for providing value and quality. “The goal is to always provide a satisfying and positive experience for our homebuyers,” said Rutenberg, “and in the end, to build their dream home.” In order to do that, the Rutenberg team works with the homebuyer every step of the way from designing their home with their full time architect to delivering the home with the Arthur Rutenberg Gold Standard. “All the processes, from start to finish were executed with complete professionalism and his staff was utterly customer focused,” said Mary Ann McIntyre, who lives in a Barry Rutenberg Home. “Building a house can be a stressful experience. There are so many details to remember, and decisions to be made. As a retired executive of a Fortune 500 company, I was impressed with the excellence of Barry’s company in executing all of those processes. Every aspect is top quality. Once a Rutenberg client always a Rutenberg client.” And always looking for ways to improve on that process, Rutenberg became a franchisee of the largest family of luxury homebuilders in the United States – Arthur Rutenberg Homes, Inc. The result was an amazing partnership of local expertise and experience with the purchasing and marketing power of a regional corporation. “It really gives us the best of both worlds,” said Rutenberg. “We are now able to build over 72 new floor plans and walk prospects through many of them via DVD’s or model homes centers throughout Florida. We also continue to run our operation, doing what we have been doing all these years – building Barry Rutenberg homes and additions. “It is my hope that homebuyers will come visit us in our model home center in Arbor Greens and see for themselves the differences,” he said. “We are working hard to make the homebuying experience simpler and more enjoyable.” What makes this change even more special is that it brings three generations together – father and son, Arthur and Barry Rutenberg, along with Barry’s daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Dale Kinsell. On a personal level, Rutenberg says there is something special for him about being an Arthur Rutenberg franchisee. “It is certainly nice to be able to work together with Art, Lisa, and Dale,” he said. In a recent meeting to plan the next model home, I was very proud to watch Dale and Lisa interact with the Arthur Rutenberg Home professionals. The results are very exciting and satisfying. Barry Rutenberg has often spoken about how he got his start in the homebuilding industry through his father, learning the business from the ground up. He said that his father in the beginning would often lend him out to subcontractors and their work crews as a laborer, knowing that his son would invariably end up with the dirtiest and most menial tasks. But in the end, Arthur Rutenberg knew his son would learn the business well. Another unique aspect of the father-son team is that it is the only one in the Florida Housing Hall of Fame. Arthur Rutenberg earned the honor in 1996, one of many honors during a long and distinguished career. Barry Rutenberg was inducted during a ceremony in October 2007, becoming only the 50th member of that elite group.

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As far as the third generation of the Rutenberg team, the Kinsell’s exemplify some of the other changes that have occurred in recent years. Taking leadership roles in the company, they have been become experts in creating dream homes. “Lisa has become a great general manager,” said Rutenberg. “She spent some years in sales – on the front lines. She has strengths that parallel mine. She’s great at seeing an issue and resolving it. She works well with people, and, having been raised in the industry, she really understands it.” For her part, Kinsell says there is always an excitement about being able to work with her father and grandfather. “There are great long-time employees here," she said. “But it is always nice to bring in some fresh ideas. For me, this is a great opportunity. I am able to learn an incredible amount of information from my father and grandfather. They have a huge wealth of knowledge on all aspects of the industry.” Dale Kinsell, who had already spent years in the construction business, joined Barry Rutenberg and Associates as a superintendent, then later became purchasing manager, and now serves as the building company president overseeing all construction operations. In addition to becoming an Arthur Rutenberg Homes franchisee, the company has made other changes in the last few years – all part of the effort to enhance the experience for the customer. Rutenberg has taken all his experience and put it into remodeling and building additions. “More and more people want to stay in their homes,” Rutenberg said. “We can help them do that. And it is often the case that people for whom we have built or people to whom we have been recommended come to us for that addition or remodeling work.” Whether the design selected is from the portfolio that Barry Rutenberg has developed in his 35 years or an Arthur Rutenberg design, it can be modified to meet specific needs. All these floor plans have been created, and then fine-tuned over the years, based on changes in the market and feedback from homeowners. The company will also build a completely custom home. Rutenberg will be glad to build on a number of locations he has in the Gainesville area or on the homebuyer’s property. And as far as how things went after the home was completed, Barry Rutenberg and Associates has a long-held and deserved reputation as a company that would stand behind its work. There’s one more thing a homebuyer gets when dealing with Rutenberg – a builder dedicated to learning, and always looking for ways to become a better builder. Barry recently became certified as a Green Building Professional. He is a former president of both the Builders Association of North Central Florida and the Florida Home Builders Association. He was Florida’s Builder of the Year in 1994. And he is the only builder to be awarded the Builder of the Year three times by the Builders Association of North Central Florida. He was recently elected to the NAHB leadership team, putting him in line to be chairman of the board of directors in 2012. That experience is making him a better builder. “We are building quality homes right here, right now in North Central Florida,” said Rutenberg. “And with the team and infrastructure we have in place that is something we will continue to do for years to come.” To learn more about Barry Rutenberg and Associates, Inc. and Arthur Rutenberg Homes,go online to www.arthurrutenberghomes. com or call (352) 373-3405.

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(opposite page top) This Rutenberg home demonstates the contrast in elevations and styles that can be created.

(opposite page bottom) A Barry Rutenberg homes epitomize value and quality.

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CAMPUS Makes USA CrediMiracles t Union Happen D

uring this holiday season, CAMPUS USA Credit Union would like to thank the generous and loyal members of the community for their continued support of the Children’s Miracle Network through the CAMPUS Children’s Miracle Network Visa Platinum card. We are happy to report that CAMPUS members have contributed nearly $700,000 to Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida! With many credit card companies switching their customers from fixed rates to high variable rates, the CAMPUS Children’s Miracle Network Visa Platinum card continues to offer the same low 9.8% fixed rate we’ve offered for years. With the CAMPUS Children’s Miracle Network Visa Platinum card, you get: • Low 9.8% Fixed APR* on purchases, balance transfers AND cash advances • No annual fee or balance transfer fee • Every time you make a purchase with the CAMPUS CMN Visa Platinum, a contribution is made to the Children’s Miracle Network at Shands UF – even if you pay your balance in full

There’s no better time to switch to the CAMPUS CMN Visa Platinum card! While you shop for loved ones this holiday season, you can help many children in need at Shands Children’s Hospital. The more purchases our members and future members make with this special card, the more we are able to contribute. If you would like to join CAMPUS USA Credit Union in this effort, please call us today at 3383366 or apply online at campuscu.com. Together, we can make miracles happen!

*Credit approval required. APR=Annual Percentage Rate.

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HOME Living in the Heart of Florida Due: Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Better than your Bank.


COVER STORY

Horst and Luisa Ferrero

Living with Inspiration By Faith Reaves

(opposite page) The Ferrero Family (clockwise) Horst, Luisa, Sergio and Santiago in their backyard.

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he speaks four languages fluently, enjoys design and is skilled in the art of cooking. He speaks three, is technologically savvy, has a passion for traveling and enjoys good cuisine. Together, Horst and Luisa Ferrero, part owners of Tioga Town Center LLC, are a North Central Florida power couple who have used their professional strengths and relationships, personal tragedy and unending passion to forever change the community of Gainesville. In 2003, the Ferreros were already well on their way to making a positive impact in our community with the development of the Tioga Town Center. Since then, they have risen to new heights with their newfound impact on the medical industry in North Central Florida. In October 2007, the couple’s life took an unimaginable turn when their three-year-old son, Sebastian, died due to a series of preventable medical errors. The happy and healthy boy was accidentally overdosed during a routine outpatient test at Shands Hospital. Instead of turning inward and isolating themselves, Horst and Luisa did quite the opposite. In the wake of their tragedy, the two turned their heartbreak into hope with the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation. The foundation, and the Ferreros’ lives, are now devoted to bringing a full-service, state-of-the-art children’s hospital to Gainesville while promoting excellence in patient safety. Driven by a tragedy few could imagine, let alone successfully overcome, the couple’s love for each other and devotion to their children has enabled them to transform their loss into profound change that will positively impact the lives of so many in the area. The couple has fervently established their roots in North Central Florida; however their journey began 1,600 miles away. The two were born and raised in Venezuela, yet have traveled extensively and grown up with a keen awareness of life outside of South America. Luisa’s Italian family immigrated to Venezuela after World War II to take advantage of the country’s opportunities. Her father,

In the Heart of Florida

Filippo Cannella, was an extremely successful entrepreneur and a philanthropist at heart. He was the sole distributor of Yamaha instruments to Venezuela and was committed to bringing music and arts to underprivileged children through a non-profit foundation he established with his wife, Lina. In addition to his professional relationship with Yamaha, Luisa’s father was also one of the original investors in the land where Tioga was developed (along with longtime friend Miguel Diaz). Because of this, Luisa, whose first trip to Gainesville was at a young age, often enjoyed Christmas in the Sunshine State. When her father passed away in 1994, Luisa had to take the reins of the family business. She was only 18 at the time. “I was very much attached to my father,” said Luisa, who added that the most challenging part of being responsible of the family affairs was no longer receiving her father’s invaluable advice. His death forced Luisa into the business world overnight. Despite the abrupt entrance, she rose to the challenge. As a third generation lawyer, Horst was also born into a family dedicated to their community and exercising leadership roles. His grandfathers were both lawyers and involved in government – one was the president of the Venezuelan Congress and governor of a Venezuelan state and the other was an appellate court judge. Horst spent most of his childhood in Caracas, Venezuela, although he also spent part of his time in the United Kingdom, staying in London with his mother while she served as a diplomat. He attended law school at the Andres Bello Catholic University of Caracas, received a master’s in International Business Law at American University in Washington D.C. and later earned his M.B.A. from the University of Florida. At a very young age he was general counsel of a 3000-employee joint venture formed in Venezuela between a U.S. Fortune 500 company and the Venezuelan oil industry. Horst and Luisa met in 1996 while at a mutual friend’s birthday in Venezuela. Horst said he was immediately attracted to Luisa’s eyes and beautiful smile. For Luisa, it was Horst’s kindness and charm that drew her in.

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Scott and Faye love to spend time together, as they are doing here outside their Gainesville home.

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In 2001, they were married. Two years later, they moved from Venezuela to the United States with their Chihuahua, Cantinflas. Horst’s professional commitments first moved them to Miami, although Luisa’s connection to Tioga eventually brought them to North Central Florida. “It was going to happen sooner or later,” Horst said. “We always saw Gainesville as a great place to raise a family.” Tioga went from becoming an everyday conversation and annual trip to a reality with the move in 2003. While overseeing Tioga Town Center, LLC, of which Luisa and Horst are 50-percent owners, they continue to push their corporate mission of incorporating leading-edge design into environmentally friendly projects that enhance the quality of life for the community. Gilbert Levy, president of the Tioga Town Center, worked with the couple every day throughout the construction. He said that, although Horst tends to be more vocal than Luisa, both are known for their straightforward, “no nonsense” business style. “They are very driven,” he said. “When they set their minds to something, they pursue it with a lot of passion.” Their personal lives in the United States transitioned as quickly as their professional. Along with the life-changing move to a new country, the two extended their family with the birth of Sebastian in 2004. The Ferreros describe him as a special, joyful and brilliant boy. He picked up languages, one of his mother’s passions, easily. By the time he was three he could speak English, Spanish and Italian fluently and always knew which language to use when he was talking to different people. As any parent could hardly imagine, their lives were shattered by his loss. After a tragedy like that, “you go through a lot of things,” Horst said. They felt a range of emotions, including despair, anger and frustration. However, despite the intense tragedy, they were determined not to let the sorrow overtake their lives. “If focused correctly, emotions can be channeled in a very powerful and a positive way, instead of consuming you,” he said. Although after the loss of a child it is common for a marriage to suffer, the two bonded together through their grieving and were committed to being strong for Sebastian’s baby brother, Sergio. “As parents, we had an obligation to take care of our younger son, Sergio, who was only 16 months old at the time,” said Luisa. “Having Sergio gave us the strength we needed to keep going.” Additionally, the Ferreros educated themselves about the grieving process to learn what to expect, she said. Because of that, they were prepared and understood that each would sometimes react differently. Luisa recounts that there were many times “when he was up and I was down and vice versa.” Through it all, the couple made a conscious decision to rely on each other for support. “Our marriage and relationship helped us to help each other,” Horst said. Besides looking beyond themselves and supporting each other, they considered what was best for the entire family and community. Horst and Luisa decided to have another child after Sebastian died. They felt that it was important that their son Sergio, now a three-and-a-half year old, would have a sibling to grow up with. Santiago, born in 2008, is now 15 months and the couple is expecting their fourth child, a boy, in January.

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The decision to launch the foundation naturally followed, the couple said, though it wasn’t immediate. “I don’t know how many people would be able to do what they’ve done considering the tragedy they went t h r o u g h ,” said Freddie Wehbe, owner of Gator Domino’s and Sebastian Ferrero Foundation board member. “I salute them.” The couple had already planned to start a philanthropic endeavor named after Luisa’s father, The Cannella Foundation, which was planned to be focused on education and arts for children. The foundation was coincidentally officially chartered on the day of Sebastian’s test. In the days and weeks following the tragedy, their transformed sense of philanthropic purpose refocused to what is now the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation. The purpose of the Cannella Foundation was not lost. Education and art for children will be a significant part of the dedicated children’s hospital for which they are advocating. The couple uses their love and passion for their son, Sebastian, and his brothers, Sergio and Santiago, to pursue this profound change. While their personal tragedy sparked the initial process and continues to push them along, the widespread community support is their secondary source of drive. “It gives us the energy to move forward,” Luisa said. As close family friends, Jackson Sasser, President of Santa Fe College and board member of the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation, and wife Layne, neighbors of the Ferreros’, watched first hand as Horst and Luisa turned their personal tragedy into a project that will benefit the entire area. “They have elected to channel that great loss into something so positive,” he said. “They have harnessed their integrity, their will and their resources in one of the most unselfish ways I have ever seen.” HOME Living

(top) Luisa with Sergio, 3, and Santiago, 1 (bottom) Healthy and happy threeyear-old Sebastian at a petting zoo in London

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(Top) Sebastian with younger brother, Sergio, and Luisa during a family vacation in Rome Bottom: Horst with sons, Sergio and Sebastian in July of 2007 at the Museum of Natural History in London

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The couple attributes their selfless spirit to the way they were raised. Luisa shares that some assumed they would want to leave Gainesville after their tragedy. “We didn’t even think of leaving,” Luisa said. “Gainesville is a lot more than just our home away from home” In fact, the Ferreros are committed to making sure no other family in the area experiences a tragedy like theirs through the launch of their local foundation. The Sebastian Ferrero Foundation has galvanized hundreds of parents and more than 150 local pediatricians, including Shands pediatric specialists, to join their effort to transform today’s excellent pediatric care into the safest and most outstanding care provided to all children and their families within a fully dedicated children’s hospital. “They acted very ethically after what happened,” Horst said of the hospital. Shands Hospital publicly recognized their mistakes and entered into a settlement with the couple. The Ferreros have used their entire settlement, along with their personal finances, to support the efforts of the foundation, including matching all community donations to date. “The foundation’s vision is to have all the critical components of children’s

In the Heart of Florida

services under one roof with everything geared towards the children and their families. We want nothing less than the highest quality medical care for children and we believe that occurs in an environment designed and operated specifically for children,” said Horst. Horst explained that a full-service children’s hospital in Gainesville would have strong ties to the University of Florida. With the addition of a new children’s hospital, UF could gain the national attention necessary to propel its pediatrics programs to among the nation’s elite organizations, allowing UF to retain the pediatric talent it currently has and to recruit new talent. Its unique setting amidst the academic medical center at UF&Shands would be consistent with many of the other top children’s hospitals in the nation, and would be the first of its kind in Florida. “North Central Florida is already a wonderful place to live, and the Ferreros dream of a children’s hospital will bring the quality of life to a new level,” said Sasser. “Good does come out of tragedy,” he said. Although the Ferreros have had to face many challenges in their planning, Levy, who is also a board member for the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation, said they have never faltered in their dream. What others view as a roadblock, they see as an obstacle to conquer, he said. “They look at it, analyze it, and then overcome it.” Horst and Luisa’s shared dream, and the community’s future, will not be stopped. They are motivated by a love and devotion for their forever-young Sebastian and his younger brothers. “Everything is special and different when you’re doing it for children,” Horst said.

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BEFORE LAWN ENFORCEMENT

AFTER LAWN ENFORCEMENT HOME Living

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LIFESTYLE

Formal never goes out of style Sheila's and Alexandra’s dresses were designed by Jacquelyn Brooks, of Jacquelyn Brooks Designs, fashion design and tailoring studio. She is a local haute couture fashion designer, who specializes in women’s apparel and bridal wear. Please visit her studio or website www.jacquelynbrooks.com.

This platinum full-length ball gown was custom designed for Sheila Spence to wear to the Noche De Gala charity event.

By Emily Davis photography by Brad Palmer

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Sheila looks amazing in this ivory-velour contemporary bridal design.

Alexandra Hamilton is modeling a Breakfast at Tiffany's inspired emerald cocktail dress.

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

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

What’s NEW at Florida’s

Theme Parks By Molly J. Bruce

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heme parks really are a small world, after all. In a wave of THE GRAND OPENING ownership transitions and grand openings, 2009 and 2010 T-Rex and the Cat in the Hat will soon have a new neighbor – are years of great change for Florida theme parks. Whether Harry Potter. it’s a new owner, a new ride or a whole new world, the state’s major Between the “islands” of Jurassic Park and Suessland, The theme parks are about to be a new vacation again. Wizarding World of Harry Potter is set to open in spring 2010 at Islands of Adventure. THE CHANGES Meara Lyons, a public relations representative, said, Anheuser-Busch InBev sold its theme parks, including Busch “Personally, I’ve read the books, and I think it’s going to have the Gardens and SeaWorld Orlando, to Blackstone Group, a private firm feeling of walking through Hogsmead.” based in New York, for about $2.3 billion in October. Blackstone Hogsmeade, a town from the books, was duplicated with the has said it will not drastically change the parks, but Anheuser- help of Warner Brothers and J.K. Rowling herself. Busch, the second-largest theme park chain after Walt Disney, will “We wanted her say and her consent,” Lyons said. be removing its Clydesdales from SeaWorld’s stables. However, Universal’s Islands of Adventure is bringing all seven of the one tradition will not change – Busch beers will still be sold at the Harry Potter books to life using “the best part of all the books,” parks. Lyons said. Walt Disney, the king of theme parks, also made a business Rides will range from Flight of the Hippogriff, a children’s ride, deal. It acquired Marvel Entertainment and its more than 5,000 to the Dragon Challenge, which is a renovated Dueling Dragons, an characters for $4 billion in 2009. Snow White, Cinderella and exciting and fast-paced duo-set of roller coasters that will emulate Sleeping Beauty now rub elbows with the likes of Spider-Man, the Tri-Wizard Tournament challenge from the fourth Harry Potter Iron Man and the Fantastic Four. Visible changes will take years, installment. especially in Florida, where Marvel has a set contract with Universal Zonko’s joke shop, Honeydukes sweets store and the Three Studios. Walt Disney Land in California will see the Hulk before he Broomsticks restaurant will be recreated in Hogsmeade as well. makes his way into Orlando’s Walt Disney World. The Hogs Head Pub will have alcohol for adults, and the Three New sights in Disney include its 2008 Toy Story Mania! Ride Broomsticks will feature butterbeer and pumpkin juice, common at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios). Disney nonalcoholic drinks from the books that a team of chefs created describes it as an interactive ride that lets guests compete against specifically for Universal, Lyons said. each other by shooting targets for points.

(left) The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is set to open in spring 2010 at Islands of Adventure. Photos courtesy of Universal Studios Islands of Adventure.

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The Comical Commerson’s Dolphins hang out near the viewing tunnel.

The main attraction will be Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. All ages will immerse themselves into the world of Harry Potter like never before, and it will be inside the recreated Hogwarts Castle. “We’re going to change how people see theme parks,” she said.

More Flights, More Jets

More Low Fares! ...Delta Air Lines initiates two more daily flights from Gainesville!

Worldwide Connections Delta Air Lines and US Airways Express Register for weekly GNV “Low Fare Alerts” visit:

www.flygainesville.com GNV Airport Feb. 2009.indd 1

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THE NEWEST WATER PARK Aquatica’s most original attractions stare at you upside-down as you slide through the plastic tube separating you from them. They race like black-and-white bullet-shaped blurs through the many gallons of cold, surrounding water. They are probably shorter than you are. SeaWorld’s newest sister park, Aquatica, features four of these strange, exotic creatures. They’re called Commerson’s dolphins. Aquatica opened in April of 2008 across the street from SeaWorld in Orlando. Like any water park, it has slides, lazy rivers and wave pools. But no other water park, in fact, no other marine habitat in the southeastern United States, has Commerson’s dolphins. The first ride you see when you enter Aquatica is Dolphin’s Plunge, a two-slide ride that puts you face-to-fin with these strange porpoises when you slide through a clear tube that cuts through their watery habitat for about 30 feet. If fast-paced slides aren’t your preference, you can still see the dolphins up-close from a viewing bridge above water and two large glass windows – one from a lazy river, Loggerhead Lane. The four Commerson’s Dolphins at Aquatica, Wei, Tere, Horo and Kaha, are all males either 10 or 12 years old born in SeaWorld San Diego. During training sessions, the dolphins leap, wave and flip for fish. Nicola Troops, 24, of Nottingham, England, recently visited Aquatica. She said she loves underwater creatures. “This is my main attraction,” she said, pointing at a smiling black snout through the glass. Since she enjoys the animals and her boyfriend enjoys the slides, Aquatica is their preferred water park in Orlando. African cichlids, a type of colorful fish, and macaws are also present in the park on a daily basis. The live versions of the park’s seven mascots, including an anteater, kookaburra bird and a roseate spoonbill, rotate live appearances. Aquatica helps raise conservation awareness with animal information throughout the park. Fred (park employees are not allowed to give their last names), has worked in the SeaWorld conservation department for about four years, and some days he comes to Aquatica instead. “It’s a fun place to work. You get to talk to interesting people,” he said. Fred, a retired engineer, speaks with park guests, especially children, about the importance of the animals to the environment. Guests range greatly in age and origin, he said. “There seems to be a little bit of everybody,” he said. Since Aquatica has something for all ages, it attracts all kinds of crowds. The beach area even has two wave pools, Cutback Cove and Big Surf Shores. The more intense Cutback Cove has surges that can reach 5-feet while Big Surf Shores creates smooth swells. Aquatica is open year-round and only closes for extreme weather conditions. The water is heated to a comfortable 84 degrees, so, even on a cool day, it feels just right. The summer months and holidays are the busiest seasons, so making a day trip in the winter months is a good way to avoid long lines and crowds. For more information, visit www.disneyworld. disney.go.com, www.aquaticabyseaworld.com and check www.universalorlandoresort.com/harrypotter for updates.

2/20/2009 2:25:38 PM

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COMMUNITY

A Last Chance with AMIkids By David Greenberg

W Graduation day at AMIkids

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illie knew it was his last chance to save his life. “I came from a crazy past,” he said. “I was doing stuff, and I didn’t even know what I was doing. I came here to AMI, and it changed my life – inside and out.” Willie was one of five high-school-age students who spoke during a recent graduation of AMIkids Gainesville, a nonprofit, alternative-education program for at-risk youngsters from ages 14 to 18. But AMIkids is a little more than that. It is the last opportunity for these youngsters to turn around their lives, because the next stop is undoubtedly the prison system. Willie was one of five students who graduated from AMIkids that day to return to their high school to try to make a fresh start. He has a good chance of making it. “Seven out of 10 of our kids go back to school and stay out of trouble,” said John Davidson, the director of AMIkids Gainesville. There’s a reason for that success, he said, and that reason starts when they get off the bus each morning at its facility in Micanopy. It’s based on a formula that people in AMIkids have been developing for 40 years. The program was started by juvenile judges in Fort Lauderdale who were tired of seeing kids get caught up in the legal system and stay there for the rest of their lives. Initially created as a marine institute because the judges had a friend with a boat, today it has grown to 57 schools in eight states, including 29 in Florida. The North Central Florida facility started as the Gainesville Wilderness Institute in 1991 and was the first of the locations to not have a marine setting. It was created in response to the Department of Juvenile Justice identifying a need and looking for resources to fix the need. “That’s how we started in Gainesville,” said Davidson. “Our success comes from how we interact with our students. It all comes down to the teacher – a human being in touch with another human being. When our kids get off the bus in the morning, each and every one of them is greeted by name. That’s where the relationship starts, and it is those relationships that change people. When they come here, they are somebody. We don’t throw any kids away.” That’s what attracted Julie Floyd to the program. With a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in counseling from Liberty University, Floyd started her career interest in forensics and later became a case worker at the Alachua County Jail. When she started working in substance abuse, with adults and youth, she realized her passion was working with people who need a helping hand. She was working with a company that had contact with AMIkids and submitted a resume to Davidson. “He asked me to come out for a day,” she said. “I knew when the kids got off the bus this was the place for me. There was such spirit. The kids came over to introduce themselves to me, and they showed me around the campus.” That was a year and a half ago. Today she is the director of treatment at AMIkids. She does individual, group and crisis counseling.

In the Heart of Florida

Photography By Brad Palmer

“On some days, I can be found sitting in the road out here with a kid who is running away from his or her feelings,” she said, “or playing Monopoly with one who does not like to talk. Sometimes I am just there to give them a hug – or shoes, toothpaste or deodorant when they can’t get those things at home.” At AMIkids Gainesville the students participate in all the traditional academic activities they would at their regular school. But they also get to experience some things that don’t happen back at their old school – things like the ropes course, whitewater rafting, scuba diving or anything else that can take them out of that traditional element and show them what the world can be like. Today, AMIkids Gainesville can handle 53 students at a time. When they have completed the course there, they go back to their regular school. That was a change for which AMIkids fought. “Initially, they were being sent to behavioral centers,” said Davidson. “We argued that we were making them change negative behavior, but that puts them back into a setting where that negative behavior was more likely to return. The payoff is when they go back to school, and if they are successful there, they get scholarship money for college.” The program appears to be working. AMIKids Gainesville has had at least one student in college – on scholarship – every year since November of 2006. One of its strongest supporters is a person totally familiar with the system they are trying to keep the kids away from – State Attorney Bill Cervone. “We have worked with AMIkids over the years in the juvenile justice system,” said Cervone. “There are a lot of kids reaching the end of the rope without even knowing what they are doing to themselves. AMIkids has demonstrated great success with difficult kids. We will always support a program like that. Plus it is community based. I always like having those kinds of resources available right here in our community.” But maintaining that success is a challenge in a variety of ways – not the least of which is in getting financial support. AMIkids Gainesville gets some money from the state that it shares with the other programs statewide, but that barely scratches the surface of the need. “The most difficult part of getting financial support should be the most obvious,” said Davidson. “The money people donate to us now goes a long way to keeping these kids out of the prison system, where it will cost a lot more later on. The scholarships and field trips all come from private sources.” Floyd describes it as their last chance. “We are the hope,” she said. “A lot of these kids don’t know what hope is when they get here. We have to care about them. They are our future.” To learn more about AMIkids Gainesville, go online to http:// amikids.org/Gainesville.aspx.

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When an AMIkids student graduates, he or she can go back to their high school.

(Inset) The entrepreneurial students at AMIkids have developed a recording studio where they record music and promotional material.

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A Match Made In Theater Heaven

photos courtesy UFPA

By Jessica Lipscomb

The conversations fade to whispers as the last few latecomers take their seats to fill the auditorium. The day’s distractions disappear as the lights dim and the curtains prepare to open. The show is about to begin. And for at least a few of the audience members at University of Florida’s Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, the tickets are on the house, thanks to a program that pairs disadvan-

Arts Partners Program brings theater and culture to those who may otherwise never get it.

taged groups in Gainesville with corporations or individuals willing to sponsor ticket purchases for them. This coalition is part of the Performing Arts Partner Program, which was established to help get children, senior citizens and other unlikely populations interested in the live performing arts. “You really get a taste of the entire world when you come in our doors,” said Robbie Stevens, box office manager at the Phillips Center. “This will expose more people to the arts and possibly change their lives.” Because the university views tickets as money, the partner program was established so the tickets could be distributed in a legitimate way – by directly matching donors with those eager to see a live performance. Stevens works with a committee at the Phillips Center to match program applicants to shows that will suit their needs. Working closely with committee chair Riley Blitch,

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and the rest of the team, the group reads the applications and diligently makes their pair-ups – a seniors’ group to a symphony, a pack of percussionists to “Yamato, The Drummers of Japan,” and a middle school class to “CATS.” This year’s budget, made entirely of donations by individuals and businesses, allowed all the applicants a chance to make it to the Phillips Center, but more donations would mean more chances for others to have exposure to the arts, Stevens said. “So many people don’t see live performances. They only see television. A live performance is so different,” Blitch said. “When I was a kid, my parents would take me to the theater, and it’s something you don’t forget. You never know when it might spur a young person’s interest or even start them on a career in performing arts.” Grade-schoolers from Marjorie K. Rawlings Elementary School, where about 95 percent of the students on free or reduced lunch, have been enriched by the partner program for several years. Ken Duffield, who has been working with Rawlings through his job at software company Barr Systems in a school partnership, sends in the application for the students to receive the sponsored tickets every year. “Money aside, if your mom’s working two jobs, the No. 1 thing on her priority list might not be, ‘Let’s go to the Phillips Center and see the Soweto gospel choir tonight,’” he said. Typically, the students who make the trip to the theater are part of a music or dance class, but sometimes they are just being rewarded for a good FCAT score or outstanding behavior. The show is a chance to relax, unwind and enjoy something new. “For all of us, we bring cultural experiences into our lives because it’s beautiful and it’s thought-provoking,” Duffield said. “It’s kind of surprising how the exposure these kids get from things may seem mundane to you and me. This would be kind of an unusual thing for them to attend.” In light of recent statewide and national cuts to the arts, the partner program is able to fill a void for local schools, Stevens said. With the help of current and future donors, the program’s organizers and partners aim to cast the net of support to a larger and wider crowd, impacting even more underprivileged groups. “What’s kind of interesting is that it’s not a huge effort,” Duffield said. “It’s about someone saying, ‘Hey, we have a need here,’ and then saying, ‘Hey, we can help.’”


COMMUNITY

Soup Warms and Comforts in the Winter By Molly J. Bruce

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et your “slurpability” on this January with Souper Fun Sunday, St. Francis Catholic High School’s fundraising event. “It’s a community-wide soup-tasting competition,” said Sherry Houston, development director for SFCHS. The event will be held Jan. 31 from 1 to 4 p.m. in St. Francis’s Gymnasium, coinciding with Catholic Schools Week. Guests and judges walk from skirted table to skirted table taste-testing soups from different restaurants and catering companies around town. Inspired by a similar competition in Nashville, the third annual Souper Fun Sunday added a children’s activity center with a healthy eating tutorial, a cooking demonstration and 10 more restaurants for 2010. Vegetarian options from restaurants like The Green Mango will also make an appearance this year. “We’ll get as big as we can get,” said Mary Ryngaert, chair of the event. Storm Roberts, Shelley Meyer, Paige Beck, Steve Oelrich and Scott Costello, make up the judging committee. Guests will vote for the People’s Choice winner while the judges will decide on the soups’ aromatics, creativity and, Roberts’ invented category, “slurpability.” The winners receive a plaque. “The competition is pretty serious,” Houston said. SFCHS’s own Culinary Institute-trained chef Marty Slevin won the “slurpability” category last year. Omi Risco, owner of Omi’s Kitchen and Elegant Catering, won both People’s Choice and the Judges’ Vote last year with her lobster bisque. Risco said it was “fun to compete and fun to win.”

(above) Mi Apa Latin Café displays its winning table display in 2008.

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photos courtesy of St. Francis Catholic High School

She said she’s not sure what she’ll be making this year, but she’s thinking about some kind of creamy soup. There’s also a winner for best table display. Mi Apa’s Latin Café won last year for their table design involving herbs, fabric and plenty of color. Chefs bring at least five gallons of soup and whatever side dishes they may want, Ryngaert said. BJ’s will be making their own soda this year, and parents bring homemade desserts. Ryngaert said competitors are allowed to bring more than one soup. The soups range from bisques and pasta fagiolis to gumbos and chowders. As Houston said, “It’s a great way to introduce the school to the community.” To learn more about Souper Fun Sunday, go online to www.sfchs.org/dev_ souperfunsunday.php.

(below) Some Swamp members flaunt their soup in 2008.

(below) Joe’s Place displays two soups for the competition.

(above) St. Francis Catholic High School’s 2008 Souper Fun Sunday. (left) Fresco representatives show off their soup and display.

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The Arc Paints a Bright Picture By Molly J. Bruce

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6½-foot by 8½-foot “Nice Painting,” done in oil, hangs at the entrance of The Arc of Alachua County facility. Completed by three consumers, the painting is bright, colorful and welcoming – much like the people The Arc serves. The Arc, which used to stand for the Association for Retarded Citizens, of Alachua County strives to improve the lives of people who suffer from mental disabilities like Down syndrome, mental retardation, autism, spina bifida, PraderWilli Syndrome and others. “It does tremendous work for a population of people that is sometimes forgotten,” said Sheila Spence, a friend and supporter of The Arc since 2004. Through everyday activities, housing facilities, job opportunities and a caring place to call home, The Arc improves the quality of life of its consumers. Its slogan is “Celebrating Ability, Creating Opportunity,” and The Arc does just that. THE USUAL The Arc began in Alachua County as an affiliated chapter of the state and national Arcs in 1966 when a group of parents joined forces. After consumers turn 18, the state did not provide programs for them, and their families had a hard time scheduling and working. “They couldn’t do what they do without The Arc,” said Bonnie Flynn, development director. To provide consumers a safe place to go to during the day, The Arc hosts daily activities and special events in its 40,000 squarefoot facility, which it has occupied since 1989. On any given day, consumers can choose from a multitude of crafts, garden projects, exercises and jobs. On special occasions, like Halloween and Friday nights, consumers dress up and dance as well. “They love dancing,” Flynn said. “They would never stop.” The ARC serves about 300 consumers. It serves the largest number of people, about 60, in the state who suffer from PraderWilli Syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes those it affects to feel hungry constantly. An intensive behavioral program provides exercise and behavior management, menu planning and calorie counting. Consumer James Sharp lost 150 pounds from The Arc’s program, and his is just one of many success stories. The staff raised $7,400 in 2009 to improve the facility, and they chose to update the exercise room, adding three HD-TVs, a sound system and a Wii Fit, Flynn said. The senior consumers of The Arc received a county grant in 2009 for a gerontologist to plan programs and a nurse to identify health problems for the consumers before they get worse. Home Depot Foundation awarded a $6,800 grant and volunteers donated more than 480 hours to update the organic garden and courtyard. A consumer named Paul keeps the garden watered, Flynn said. The Arc provides 21 residential facilities for consumers, some with 24/7 assistance and others with moderate supervision. “We do it all,” Flynn said. What it comes down to is what’s best for the people The Arc serves, who Flynn described as happy-go-lucky. As Dick Bradley, The Arc’s executive director, said, the consumers are “much more like us than different than us.”

THE ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAM Consumers want the same things in life that we do, Bradley said, including a home, friends and work. The Arc has always supplied the people it serves with the first two, and it has recently expanded its five work-force programs in the community. Local companies can hire The Arc to do jobs like shredding, assembly, janitorial work, lawn maintenance and recycling. Santa Fe College, Cox Communications, RTI Biologics and Shands Home Care are just some of the businesses taking advantage of this service. “The whole goal is to integrate people within the community,” Flynn said. All of The Arc’s janitorial work is done by consumers as well. They have to apply to participate in the entrepreneurial programs. “The good news is we put our people to work,” she said. Santa Fe College has employed members of The Arc to do its recycling for a little more than two years, Jackson Sasser, president of the college, said. “It’s one of the best partnerships we’ve had” he said. Sasser said students from the environmental club were in charge of recycling before, and, since students are transitory, there wasn’t enough continuity. Because the partnership is such a success, Sasser said, “We wondered why we hadn’t thought of it before.” BOB ROSE GOLF TOURNAMENT Every March, more than 100 golfers swing into action at Haile Plantation Golf Course to raise money for The Arc. Sheila Spence, who has been involved with the tournament for 11 years and is co-chair this year, described it as “our biggest way of trying to get the word out to the community.” Florida ranks 49th in funding for the developmentally disabled, so events like the Bob Rose Tournament, which pits teams of golfers against each other, help close the gap. In 2009, the tournament, along with a silent auction, raised about $20,000 for The Arc. “I like being involved with The Arc because the money or time we donate goes to help someone directly,” Spence said about her and her husband’s involvement. The couple also sponsors bikers who ride the 800 miles from Miami to Tallahassee for Push America every year to raise awareness for people with disabilities. The Spences donate food and have a party for The Arc, the consumers and the bicyclists. Like the large oil painting hanging in its entrance, The Arc and the people it helps make the community, Gainesville and Alachua County a better place. “It’s just a great organization,” Spence said. To learn more about the ARC of Alachua County, go online to www.arcalachua.org.

The Arc Executive Director Dick Bradley

(opposite page) Bob Rose shows off the tournament’s grand prize, a Harley Davidson.

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Habitat for Humanity

Fundraising provi d es the foundati o n for new homes By Callie Polk Photos by Maura Poglitsch

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Members of the lachua Habitat for Humanity has been making a difference in the lives of residents in the Heart of Florida Women Build branch since 1986 by building 102 homes in Alachua County. of Alachua Habitat for That trend will continue with plans to add three more Humanity help to build homes to that ledger in 2010. The local organization is part of Habitat for Humanity, an a local Habitat home.

The members of Women Build, a part of Alachua Habitat for Humanity, take their efforts seriously.

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international organization with a mission of eliminating poverty and homelessness. Alachua Habitat has four pieces of property waiting for construction to begin. Volunteers are available year-round to build, but until the organization can raise enough money, housing plans are on hold. The going cost to build one house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms is about $70,000 using volunteer labor. Right now, the local organization is in “fundraising mode,” according to Amanda Burks, chair of Women Build, a part of Alachua Habitat that helps women learn construction skills. “I would love to build every year, but it depends on the support,” Burks said. Women Build is expected to build on one of the properties and plans on breaking ground in early spring or fall. “They add kind of a feminine touch to the whole process,” said Peg Iwata, interim executive director for the Alachua Habitat. It has about 75 percent of the money needed to build their next house, Burks said. Women Build has a pancake breakfast fundraiser on Feb. 13 at Gator’s Dockside in Gainesville from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. “We raise all the money within our own group,” Burks said. They will also be hosting their third annual luncheon, one of its biggest fundraisers, on March 4. They will also be honoring former Alachua County Commissioner Leveda Brown as an outstanding contributor to

In the Heart of Florida

the organization and community. Tickets to the luncheon will be available in February. The organization hopes to build another house this year in Celebration Oaks, a neighborhood created by Alachua Habitat, putting the count there at 30 houses. The other three locations are in High Springs, where local churches and community members have promised to help build one of the new homes. In order to get a Habitat house, applicants must be an Alachua County resident for at least a year and meet the organization’s financial requirements. Then, there must be a need for a new home, which can include anything from bad plumbing to a bad neighborhood. Once applicants are accepted, they put in 400 hours of labor as part of a down payment. “The idea is that if someone builds a house they’ll know how to take care of it,” Iwata said. Despite the Alachua Habitat availability of volunteers, the organization is feeling an economic strain. With support from the community, it can continue to provide homes for those in need another year.

this article sponsored by Florida Citizens Bank


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Setting the PACE for a Better Future By Lauren Aitchison

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Groundbreaking for PACE's expansion

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t the Gainesville PACE Center for Girls, there’s no such thing as a typical day. The staff of the intervention program never knows what a girl will bring in with her each morning. For that reason, teachers and counselors cautiously and lovingly watch the girls’ faces as they enter the doors each day, looking for clues. PACE Alachua is a community-based program serving at-risk girls ages 12 to 17.

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The program fulfills the Department of Juvenile Justice’s statutory requirement to provide prevention and gender-specific programming for girls. The center’s mission is to provide girls with an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy. “They’re girls who have pretty much lost hope for their future,” said Kathie Southwick, Executive Director of Gainesville’s PACE. A graduate of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, Southwick later went through the Counselor Ed program to receive a master’s and a specialist in counseling. Looking back, Southwick never imagined she would end up where she is today. “I’m just drawn to teenage girls,” she said. “They’re courageous and resilient, but they’re also emotional and spontaneous. I love being around them.” Southwick opened the Gainesville center on Jan. 21, 1998 with help from the administrative offices in Jacksonville, where the first PACE opened in 1985. PACE is a voluntary program. Most referrals come from counselors in local public middle or high schools who see a girl falling through the cracks or getting in with the wrong crowd. Once a girl decides she wants to go to PACE, she must go through an interview. “By our juvenile justice contract, our girls have to have three out of four risk factors for going to jail to come here.” Southwick said. According to Southwick, a study on girls in the juvenile-justice system done in 2000 showed that more than 70 percent of the girls in juvenile justice have been victims of molestation, rape or some form of abuse or victimization. Issues like those, along with being held back in school, truancy, substance abuse, family members incarcerated are some of the factors that cause a girl to arrive at the doors of PACE. At PACE, the girls have six class periods that take them through the basic subjects. Focus is also put on all the domains of the girls’ lives – emotional, intellectual, physical, spiritual, relationships and sexual – to see where they need the most help. “I have been so inspired to see girls that have had so much tragedy in their lives begin to have hope for their future,” said Valerie Solomon, social services program aide for the Gainesville PACE. “They become more light-hearted and begin to take an interest in school.” PACE Alachua recently held a groundbreaking to prepare to expand with the building of seven new classrooms. Working cooperatively with the Builders Association of North Central Florida, the expansion will provide the girls with a more comfortable and productive learning environment. Southwick, her board and the staff do more than just educate and counsel. One girl in particular did not have a birth certificate. Born in Puerto Rico, she could not get her social security card. So, PACE figured out how to get it for her. “We do anything that will help them to move forward, make better choices and be more independent,” Southwick said. “Sometimes they’ve just been through so much, it’s hard at first for them to trust the staff. But they almost always see, in time, that we are there to help them. There is always someone willing to listen and advocate for them.” There’s always a place for these girls with PACE, even after they graduate. Southwick says the PACE motto is to “Treat each girl as if she were your daughter,” said Southwick. PACE has provided girls with service 10 years after they leave.. They have gotten help getting into Santa Fe College. They have gotten help testifying in court. After one girl bathed herself in her kitchen sink for months because of no access to a bathroom, Southwick and her board found a plumber, and they built her a bathroom. “Once a PACE girl, always a PACE girl,” Southwick said. “The best part is when the girls come back and tell you they’re doing well. It makes you feel like you make a difference in the world.”

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Rest for the Weary By Emily Merwin

A wide grin spread across his 4-year-old face as he saw the gleaming shiny bike sitting in front of him on Christmas morning. His sisters squealed with delight as they received brand new baby dolls for the occasion. Amidst the excitement of Christmas morning, these children did not realize that their holiday celebration was far from normal. The children celebrated Christmas at St. Francis House Inc., a homeless shelter and food kitchen located in downtown Gainesville. The family had been living in the temporary shelter while the parents looked for jobs and permanent housing. St. Francis House Executive Director Kent Vann met the family last year when they came to stay at the shelter during the holiday season. The children were able to receive Christmas gifts due to donations from people in the community. “It was encouraging to see the parents’ faces as they watched their son riding his new bike,” Vann said. “It really restored their faith and trust in people and gave them strength to change.” Vann received a letter from the family a few months later saying the parents now have jobs and a permanent place to live. “People don’t realize how the littlest things can make a difference,” Vann said. St. Francis House is a local charity that has been in operation since 1980, providing basic needs, services and hope to the homeless in Alachua County. St. Francis House operates from multiple locations, 24-hours a day, 365-days a year. The main location is an emergency shelter and administrative office building located on Main Street. St. Francis House also runs permanent transitional apartment-style housing, located on Southwest 13th Street and owns three houses where underprivileged families can live temporarily. People who come to St. Francis are met by caring staff members and volunteers. Case managers work with the homeless to formulate plans for them to develop a more stable lifestyle in the future. All homeless individuals are additionally provided with bus passes, clothing vouchers, laundry facilities, showers, restrooms and hygiene items. “When people come here, it is their last resort,” said Vann. The majority of the homeless in Gainesville indicated that they lived and worked in Alachua County before they became homeless, according to the Point-in-Time Census survey taken in January 2008. Only 8.6 percent said they chose to come to Alachua County because they thought there were good services offered to the homeless in the area. Out of the entire homeless population in the county, only 1.3 percent said the homelessness was their choice.

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Photography By Brad Palmer

The public often characterizes the homeless as lazy, unmotivated individuals who are unwilling to help themselves. Vann said this is usually not the case. “The majority of people are good people who have just come under hard times,” he said. Tony Williams, 33, is one such man. He lost his mobile home and found himself with nowhere to go but St. Francis House. He is currently looking for a job, but it is difficult, he said. The staff and the treatment he has received at St. Francis House have given him hope. “What this shows me is that the Lord is still moving and is working through people,” Williams said. The atmosphere between the staff and long-term volunteers at St. Francis House is one that is very close and tight-knit, Vann said. “We all have something in common,” he said. “We want to help folks.” Often, former residents will stop by to say thank you and let the staff know how they are doing. Vann said. “It is encouraging to hear updates and success stories from people who have turned their lives around. Unfortunately these success stories and services offered by St. Francis House do come with a price tag. Due to the economy, homelessness has increased, Vann said. Currently there are approximately 1,600 homeless people in Alachua County, with more than 500 of them being children. Family homelessness nearly doubled from 82 families to 161 families between 2007 and 2008 in Alachua County. It costs about $700,000 per year to run the facility. Only onethird of that is covered by federal money. The rest is covered by

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Volunteers prepare and serve meals at St. Francis House.

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donations from churches, businesses or individuals. “Financial needs are number one for us,” Vann said. The charity serves an average of 300 people at the various locations a day. St. Francis House is only permitted to serve 130 meals within a 24-hour period to those not residing in the facility. In the main temporary shelter only 35 individuals are able to stay there. Vann estimates there are an additional 100 people a day who are unable to receive meals due to the permit the facility operates under. Over half of the homeless population in Alachua County is without shelter each night. Volunteers are also in high demand, especially those individuals who are committed and available long-term. Although the residents of St. Francis House are required to contribute to the daily upkeep of the buildings, there is still much work to be accomplished. Volunteers are needed for client services, facility maintenance, food services, donations and the quarterly newsletter. The evening meal program is great for large groups interested in volunteering. The volunteers provide the food and prepare it for the residents of the emergency shelter. Grace Courter, a third-year student from the University of Florida, was part of a group from Campus Crusade for Christ at UF who cooked spaghetti dinner for the homeless.

“I would definitely recommend this to other groups wanting to give back to the community,” Courter said. “It was really great getting to talk with the residents and hearing the different stories, yet seeing how they all ended up in the same place.” Food, toiletries and clothing donations are also greatly appreciated at the St. Francis House. With the spirit of giving in the air, one can be sure a donation of money or time will make a difference. Give the gift of hope this holiday season. “The majority of the folks that live in this facility are motivated for transition,” Vann said. “They want to move out of homelessness.” For those interested in volunteering or donating supplies please contact the volunteer coordinator. Contact information is available at www.stfrancishousefl.org. For those interested in giving a monetary donation, please contact Kent Vann directly.

Donations:

Food:

Rice, Kool-Aid, Mayonnaise, Canned goods, Peanut butter, Jelly, Sugar, Coffee, Creamer, Disposable plastic cups, Disposable soup bowls, Disposable plates, Fresh fruit, Milk, Eggs, Powdered milk, Juice, Whole turkeys, Whole hams, Pork roast Toiletries: Hygiene products, Tampons and pads, Combs and hairbrushes, Razors, Spray deodorant, Foot powder Clothing: Underwear, T-shirts, Jeans, Shorts, Towels and washcloths (new or used) Cleaning Supplies:

Ginny and Bill Allen enjoy time spent together on a cruise. Cleaning for a Reason helped the Allens have one less thing to worry about.

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Laundry powder or soap, Bleach, Garbage bags, Dish soap, Floor cleaner, Windex, Toilet paper, Paper towels, Napkins, Plastic grocery bags, Anti-bacterial hand sanitizer Miscellaneous: Paper, Gas station gift cards, tape, paint, building materials (for repairs), volunteers with construction knowledge, florescent lighting/bulbs, etc.

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Running for a Reason By Emily Davis

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Runners heading uphill at the Five Points of Life Marathon. Photo courtesy LifeSouth Community Blood Centers.

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hat is your resolution this New Year’s? Perhaps you want to get back in shape. Or maybe you are looking to do more for your community. Whatever your resolution may be, the Five Points of Life marathon is here to help. Just lace up those running shoes, and head out to the races. The marathon weekend is here Feb. 13 and 14. The fifth annual event raises awareness for LifeSouth’s Five Points of Life program, established to educate the community on the five ways to share life through the donation of blood, apheresis, marrow, cord blood, organ and tissue. Through the race, LifeSouth is able to create a platform to educate healthy individuals on the mission of Five Points of Life. “When I was running the first year, reading all kinds of tips about being a donor, I thought, ‘Wow this is a really cool race,’” said David Ramsey, participant and race committee member. “As you’re running, you’re able to read about how you can help other people who may not be as healthy.” Not only does the event increase awareness for a good cause, it also is the only event of its kind in the Gainesville area. “To raise awareness on the five ways to share life is always the No. 1 reason we do this. It gets the word out that donations are needed and that people can save lives,” said Brite Whitaker, LifeSouth marketing and development manager. “But it also provides the community with a world-class running event as Gainesville’s only marathon.”

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at the Five Points of Life Marathon

For those who might not be interested in running the full marathon, Five Points of Life also offers a half marathon, 5K, fitness expo and relay challenge for teams of five, running five to 6.2 miles each. However, one of the most distinctive aspects of the Five Points of Life race weekend is the kids’ marathon. For kids, Five Points of Life breaks down the full marathon into several segments to be completed prior to the event, with the last 1.2 miles finished during race weekend. Contributions from this race go towards creating an educational kit for classrooms on the five ways to share life. “The kids understand they are running for a reason. We focus on getting kids prepared and familiar with the process, so they are willing to make donation a part of their lives,” Whitaker said. Regardless of age, Five Points of Life provides a great way for the community to work together. It gives area runners a marathon, while providing them with an outlet to help those who may be unable to participate. The Five Points of Life Marathon weekend brings everything full circle to the citizens of this community. For information on becoming part of the Five Point of Life visit http://www.lifesouth.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=se ction&id=16&Itemid=135

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HEALTH & FITNESS

From left: Drs. Sanda Tan, Baharak Moshiree and M. Louis Moy, part of the team the UF Pelvic Floor Program

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Don’t Suffer in Silence T

here are some medical ailments that people refuse to talk about with their friends, family or physicians. Instead, they choose to suffer in silence. The most common of these, according to doctors, are pelvic floor disorders – conditions that impact bowel and bladder function. Knowing that there is this large, silent group of people suffering with these issues, a group of doctors at Shands at UF have created the University of Florida Pelvic Floor Program, a multidisciplinary center to treat a host of common, but often embarrassing ailments such as constipation, fecal incontinence, urinary incontinence and pelvic-organ prolapse. Dr. Baharak Moshiree, an assistant professor in the UF Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, and one of the members of the pelvic floor program team, says it takes a lot for people to talk about these issues. “The reason we wanted to start this program is that we were all seeing a lot of patients with these issues,” she said, “and the patients were simply embarrassed. They don’t want to talk with anyone about it, including their physician. It takes a lot of physician-patient conversation to get to the point. The doctor has to precipitate it with certain questions. It is very difficult for patients to volunteer this information.” It is often the case that with sub-specialties, the patient can talk about one problem, but if it is not the specific one that doctor focuses on, the conversation may go nowhere. “That’s the reason for the multidisciplinary approach,” said Moshiree. “To solve an individual problem, you may need to see a gastroenterologist, urogynecologist, colorectal surgeon or physical therapist.” Patients who come to the pelvic floor program are often misdiagnosed because they are suffering from not one, but multiple problems. Doctors create a treatment plan that meets multiple needs for these patients. Moshiree or Dr. M. Louis Moy are often the first doctors the patient will see. “I sometimes think of myself as a gatekeeper,” Moshiree said. “As a gastroenterologist, I help with medical management of, for example, chronic constipation or incontinence which may just include a change in diet such as increased fiber intake. In some cases we may need to test the specific nerves and muscles involved with having a bowel movement. They may be weak or damaged. We can often fix that with physical therapy and exercises that can avoid the need for surgery.” Moy will do the same thing on the urological side. “I really parallel what Dr. Moshiree does,” he said. “I handle the urinary and bladder side of things, so while she evaluates the gastrointestinal tract, I look for symptoms related to the urinary tract or bladder.” They see a lot of overlapping problems that can be resolved, according to Moy. “When we screen people we take a holistic approach to the pelvic floor,” he said. “We always start with non-invasive treatments. If

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HEALTH & FITNESS

By David Greenberg photography by Brad Palmer

the response is not adequate, we can add additional therapy. When surgery is needed, we can treat multiple issues at the same time.” If surgery is the answer, patients may be treated by Moy, who deals primarily with urological issues, or Dr. Sanda Tan, a colon and rectal surgeon. “When all conservative, non-invasive methods won’t work on their own, and if someone is an appropriate candidate for surgery, we can often do that to correct the issue,” said Tan. No matter what the treatment, it all has to start with the patient being willing to talk about it with their doctor. If that occurs, the doctors at the UF Pelvic Floor Program all say that the payoff can be a normal life. “I had a patient who suffered from incontinence after childbirth trauma,” said Tan. “She could no longer go out and enjoy life. She was always worried about leaking and had to wear a diaper. That became socially unacceptable. To have to wear a diaper at such a young age was destroying her quality of life. We were able to change that for her.” Moshiree talked about a patient who was an athlete – spending hours a day at her favorite sport, until it became impossible. “She had to wear a diaper,” Moshiree said. “With all the sweating that goes with physical activity in Florida, that became impossible. But now, after treatment, she is back at it.” The doctors at the pelvic floor program say they see patients like this all the time. “When patients start having issues like this, it becomes impossible to go to the mall or a restaurant,” said Tan. “They are always looking for the nearest bathroom. In some cases they won’t even leave the house. Or if the problem is constipation, they can spend hours a day in the bathroom. Friends and family members start to not want to do things with them. With our program we can change their lifestyle and give them their lives back.” To learn more about the UF Pelvic Floor Program, go online to http://pelvicfloor.health.ufl.edu.

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Nurse Coordinator, Renee McDonald, RN, reviews a scan on a 3-D anorectal ultrasound machine. The results from this specialized diagnostic test help the team plan the best course of treatment for their patients.

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SPORTS & RECREATION

What Fuels Gators Track And Field Head Coach By Sara Horn Photo courtesy University of Florida Athletic Association

A

fter a season in which the University of Florida’s men’s and women’s track and field teams took top-10 national finishes at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June, head coach Mike Holloway has his sights set high. On Jan. 16, he will begin his eighth season as head coach of the of men’s track and field team and third as head coach of the women’s. His goal is to win the SEC Championship, but trophies, victories and record times are not all he’s striving for.

Mike Holloway

He prepares his athletes not only for success on the field but also for success long after they’ve cleaned the dust off their track spikes. It’s important to Holloway that his athletes follow a strict code of conduct. His No. 1 rule is that they do their

Coach Holloway and the women’s team celebrate after winning the 2009 SEC Outdoor Women’s Championships.

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SPORTS & RECREATION

best to do the right thing in every situation. They are ladies and gentlemen first, scholars second and athletes third, he said. Another motto he encourages his teams with is “practice makes permanent,” meaning that the way they practice will be the way they compete. Alishea Usery, a sophomore sprinter on the women’s team, said she was struggling with confidence in running the 400-meter sprint, but Holloway kept encouraging her do her best and to keep pushing. “He taught me if I try, I can actually do it” she said. She has also learned the importance of teamwork and communication, knowledge that will help her on the track now and in the future when she plans to compete in the 2012 Olympics, run professionally after college and someday become a sports agent. “I can’t just depend on myself alone,” she said. Even though individual progress and record times are important, Holloway teaches his athletes that to be successful, they have to be team players. Though Holloway stresses teamwork, a little healthy competition can go a long way. Last season, the men’s team produced a pair of national runnerup finishes in outdoor and indoor races, and the women finished ninth outdoors and tied for 12th indoors. The men’s team earned the title of NCAA East Regional Champions, and the women’s team won the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Championship. “I’m a pretty competitive person by nature,” Holloway said. He started running track in junior high school and said there’s nothing like running against another person. Even now, the adrenaline-filled feeling of competition still flows through his veins during races. Calvin Smith, who is a senior on the team and runs the 200- and 400-meter sprints, said he shares Holloway’s love of racing. “I love being faster than other people,” he said. He’s been around the track ever since he can remember because his father was a track athlete who won an Olympic gold medal in 1984 as part of the 4x100-meter relay team. Smith is a one-time SEC champion and a three-time All-American. He also placed fifth in the 2008 Beijing Olympic trials and said he hopes to earn a spot on the 2012 team. Because track is a sport that lasts most of the year, Smith doesn’t have much time to spend with friends, go out or even sleep in. But it’s worth it in the end, he said. He plans to run professionally after he graduates and later on, he hopes to open up his own restaurant. “I can basically cook anything I put my mind to,” he said. Compared with other coaches Smith has had, he said Holloway knows his stuff. He’s knowledgeable, energetic and understands how to run practices.

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“He’ll joke with you and play around with you,” Smith said, “but when it’s time to get focused, it’s all about the business.” No. SPORTS STATION IN NORTH CENTRAL FL Holloway also coaches his athletes on an individual basis so they will perform better. “We don’t coach events,” Holloway said. “We coach athletes.” Holloway began coaching in 1982 at Gainesville High School and went on to coach at Buchholz High School in 1985. After coaching for the University of Florida team since 1995, he was awarded the job of head coach of the men’s team in 2002 and head coach of Ocala 900am 100.1fm women’s in 2007. Gainesville 1230am Holloway said he wouldn’t be able to do any of this without the support from his family and his wife, Angela. “Family is very important to me,” he said. “The most important thing in my life.” When looking for a potential member of the team, Holloway looks for someone who can help the team right away, who is a good LISTEN LIVE ON THE INTERNET@ student and who is not afraid of hard work or www.floridasportstalk.com competition. No athlete is signed to the team BUS 352.732.2010 FAX 352.629.1614 without Holloway’s approval. One of the most challenging indoor ESPN RADIO-RESULTS WITH ADULTS meets for the teams this season is the Texas A&M Challenge, where top teams from Big 12, PAC-10 and SEC compete. The biggest outdoor meet is the Penn Relays. espnradio_0209_O.indd 1 1/26/09 1:41:09 PM “Everybody is working hard and trying to be a daughter and the baby he and his wife are expectpart of something special this year,” Holloway said. ing in March. Josh Walker, a graduate of the University of “I’m looking forward to life after track and field,” Florida and former hurdle runner for the track team, he said. And with Holloway’s coaching and guidance, said he will always keep the lessons he learned from he is that much more prepared for it, he said. Holloway with him. Walker is a two-time NCAA Walker occasionally drops in on the UF practicchampion and a two-time SEC champion. es and said he can go to Holloway for help or advice “We both learned a lot from each other,” with anything, and he will do his best to help. Walker said. So come January, when they lace up their Holloway taught him to give 100 percent in ev- sneakers with confidence or when they put all their erything he does and also helped him with setting effort into a race, the Gators track and field teams goals. In college, Holloway helped him form a spe- will not only have learned how to be great athletes cific training program, which they referred to as “the but also how to be successful through life. Josh Walker program,” so that he could target what he needed to work on specifically. Holloway re1730 NE 23rd Ave mains a great friend and Gainesville, FL 32609 mentor to him, he said. (352) 331-2005 “You’re actually talkwww.bertieair.com ing to one of your best friends,” Walker said. Specializing in Whole House Evaluations Since 2005, Walker has been running professionally for Reebok but just finished this year. Now, he said, he is looking forward to focusing on being a Partnering with GRU to Save Home Owners Energy dad to his 9-month-old

UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

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Goal Liners Fashion

photo's courtesy of Mario's Photography Boys and Girls Club Wine Gala

Arc of Alachua County

photo's courtesy of Photography 35 Evening with the Rat Pack

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AROUND TOWN

Junior Achievement Breakfast

photo's courtesy of Mario's Photography PACE - Throw a girl a lifeline

Where We've Been

photo's courtesy of Footstone Photography Gainesville Gone Nashville - Child Advocacy Center

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Sun Country/March of Dime Haunted Halloween Carnival

Where We've Been LGAA - Tiger Bay

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Lang Jewelry Ribbon Cutting Meals on Wheels Golf Tournament

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Peaceful Paths Trustee Dinner photo's courtesy of Footstone Photography

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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.”

Make a Statement Gainesville: phone 352-468-2733 fax 352-468-1453 Ocala phone 352-622-5737 fax 352-622-5720

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GET TO KNOW

Madame Librarian: Lena Bush

By Lauren Aitchison photo by Brad Palmer

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ne would never suspect a woman so petite and soft-spoken could make an impact so powerful. And many will never know, since Lena Bush’s humble character keeps her from mentioning the good she does for so many. Bush, 80 years old, dedicates her time and energy solely to helping others. At an age when most people choose to receive help and assistance, Bush still chooses to provide it. A Florida native, Bush was born in Manville, a small town named after her grandfather, that she says you will miss if you blink. She later moved to Gainesville, where she has lived most of her life. For the last nine years, Bush has been the library director for Pine Grove Baptist Church. Before Bush, the church had no library at all. “I’ve always loved to read, and when I came here they didn’t have a library,” she said. Bush receives some books for the church library through donations. Many of the books, however, are purchased by Bush herself. The library now holds about 16,000 books. “I’m very careful about what books I put in here,” she said. The books that Bush lends out are used by home-schooled children and their families, as well as members of the church. “Miss Lena runs one of the best libraries I have been able to use,” said Kolleen Heck, who has shelved books with Bush for several years. “She is always there to listen, offer advice when asked and cares deeply about the families and children.” The library at Pine Grove Baptist Church is not the only one Bush has started. Years ago, Bush was a member of another local church that also was without a library. She collected thousands of books there for 33 years until a fire swept through the church in the 1980s. Everything was lost, but instead of dwelling on that library, she simply got busy building it back up again. Bush also keeps busy with her summer Reading Circus program, which she started 30 years ago to keep kids excited about reading. They receive a ticket for each book they read, and at the event they exchange the tickets for prizes. The most recent Reading Circus was in July, and more than 100 people attended, Bush said. “About six years ago my daughter, 12 years old at the time, wasn’t reading well due to a reading disability,” said Juli Stewart, whose family uses the church library. “The summer reading program was

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a great motivation for her to pick up books. We are forever thankful.” When she’s not running the library or organizing circus events, Bush can be found throwing parties at nursing homes around Gainesville. Bush volunteers her time to make sure popcorn parties and birthday parties take place each month at places like Park Meadows, Gainesville Health & Rehab and Altrusa. After bringing a cake to one of her church members at Park Meadows, the activities director there suggested she throw parties regularly. That was 19 years ago, and she continues to do it. Families and children from the church join Bush at the nursing home parties. Bush also keeps busy doing smaller tasks at her church like visiting homebound people, sending

out birthday cards and preparing envelopes to mail out the weekly bulletins. “I think I’m at my limit,” she said. Bush deals with heart problems, and in May 2000 she suffered a heart attack. She is now on her fifth pace maker. “It’s what keeps me here,” she said. Her second husband, C.J. also suffered from heart problems, and passed away 20 years ago. They were married 22 years when he passed. Bush has displayed such generosity her entire life. All the work she has ever done, with the exception of one job at Louis Oil Co., has been unpaid. Volunteering is what she loves. “My favorite part is seeing people getting what they need and bein

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