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Ending LiatfeHaven with Comfort and Di g ni t y Hospice Italian menus and venues
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When you visit Tioga Town Center, you’ll get the perfect running shoes, the right fit,
…and Mike. 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 Mike Carillo— owner of Gainesville Running & Walking— who takes the time to find the perfect running shoes for you with just the right fit, 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
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When you visit Tioga Town Center, you’ll get the finest jewelry, the perfect anniversary gift,
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When you visit Tioga Town Center, you’ll get your favorite table, extra anchovies,
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SW 128th Street & W. Newberry Rd. Tioga, Florida 32669
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table
On the Cover
of contents
20
72 Scherer Construction & Engineering and CAMPUS USA Credit Union are Partners for the Community
Community Impact Story
20
Ending Life with Comfort and Dignity at Haven Hospice
Around the Home
24
Garden Retreats: How to Vacation in Your Own Backyard
28
A Home’s Interior Can Be Green, Practical and Beautiful
A Taste of Home
32
Bienvenuto! 10 Menus and Venues That Embrace Your Inner Italian
LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com
48
72
Cottage Gardens Creates Beauty
50 Patients Come First at Caretenders 54
A Personal Elf is About More Than Cleaning
Sports & Recreation
56 Santa Fe Baseball and Softball Hit It Big Community
58
Nurturing Innovation in the Heart of Florida
64
The Real World as a Classroom
68
Local Arts Venues Make Gainesville a Great Place to Live
Lifestyle
78
Fashion Corner: A Woman's Best Accessory
82
Travel Corner: Travel Back in Time in Savannah
DEPARTMENTS
Whether it is business or personal, there’s probably no better way to excel than by building relationships. There may be no business in the Heart of Florida which knows that better than Scherer Construction & Engineering of North Florida and CAMPUS USA Credit Union.
Business
56
HOME Living
In the Heart of Florida
15
table
of contents
86
101
Health & Fitness
Calendar
86
104 Community Calendar
Sticking with Your New Year’s Exercise Resolutions
DEPARTMENTS
Charities
16
HOME Living
110
88
Marching for Hope and Babies
90
VIVA! Goes Polynesian for Haven Hospice
92
Building Community All Over the World
94
Putt-ing Children First with the Urban Meyer Scramble for Kids
95
Emerging Leaders Kick in for Charity
96
Tour Gainesville’s Trendy Kitchens at Junior League Fundraiser
105 Gatornationals is Sensory Overload 105 Dr. Pete to be Honored as Gainesville’s Heart of a Champion 106 Mary Wise Scramble for PACE 106 Run and Fun for Haven Hospice 106 Dance Marathon Dances Its Way to New Heights 107 North Central Florida’s Home Show Around Town
108 Where We’ve Been
97
Puttin’ on the Ritz, A Spectacular Safari
Editorial Cartoon
98
Teen Mothers Find a Home at Pleasant Place
113 Jake’s Corner
100 Giving Back Earns Family A New Home from Extreme Makeover
In the Heart of Florida
Get To Know
114 Linda Bennett
LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com
Shannon Miller Miller and Brasington Gateway Bank Board Member
Danny Gilliland Market President Gateway Bank
Gary Willard Assistant Vice- President Gateway Bank
www.gatewaybankcfl.com
Gateway is a proud supporter of the arts in our community. Gainesville Metro Corp Center 4100 NW 37th Place Gainesville, Fl. 32606 352-416-0330
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HOME Living In the Heart of Florida
From the Publisher
Publisher: Scott Costello Creative Director: Brad Palmer
February is known as the month of relationships. Chocolates, flowers, jewelry and valentines are just four of the commercial ways of expressing this passion and love. Next to my faith and my family, this community is what I am most passionate about. It is this magazine that has given me the vehicle to develop those long-standing relationships and share my passion for this community. This issue features a few companies and individuals who share that passion. Our cover features Doug Wilcox and Larry Scott, presidents of two businesses that have long histories in the community – Scherer 25 years and CAMPUS 75 years. But more important than time is what they have done with that time. Both companies embrace the community with their activities, and they both are very active in an area that is near and dear to me – children’s issues. As businesses, they conduct their affairs with high ethical standards. Both specialize in building business relationships – always trying to develop a connection that will stand the test of time. I admire both organizations and their leaders – Doug Wilcox at Scherer and Larry Scott at CAMPUS. I am proud to be able to bring you their story. Our Community Impact Story is also about building relationships – and doing it during the most difficult and challenging time one can experience. We are blessed to have Haven Hospice in our community. As loved ones pass away, it is comforting to know that the staff and volunteers ant Haven Hospice, led by its president, Tim Bowen, will be with us one every step of that journey. Not only do they help bring death with dignity, they also ease the pain for the family faced with that loss. Our Community section is filled with stories about relationships – none more compelling than the journal by Gregg Pachkowski on the trip he and his wife, Angel, took to Thailand to build with Habitat for Humanity. As always, our Charity and Calendar sections include articles on some of the other great events, organizations and individuals who give of themselves to make this a better community. I want to finish this time by saying thanks. 2010 has started off with recognition for giving back to this community. I was given two awards recently, the 2009 Volunteer of the Year Award by the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce and the 2009 James M. Parrish Community Leadership Award from the Gainesville Alachua County Board of Realtors. I am humbled. While it is my name on these awards, the recognition should really go to the people who make this magazine what it is and to all of you for embracing it. Without my amazing team, I am just a guy with a dream. They are the ones that allow me the freedom to be as active as I am. Later this month, I will be joining a team of 34 people from around the country to participate as a member of the Business LEADS Network in Washington D.C. This is part of the Institute for a Competitive Workforce at the US Chamber of Commerce. The focus of this program is to become a part of a national team that delivers a common message on education reform. I am honored to represent our community and look forward to sharing the message with you upon my return. Finally, I am excited to share that TASTE of HOME is coming together. We have the date for this fundraiser – June 13. It will be held at the UF Hilton and will bring 35-40 of North Central Florida’s finest restaurants together and provide the opportunity to raise money for the Child Advocacy Center, the Children’s Home Society and a select group of charities chosen by the Leadership Gainesville 35 Class. To find out more, please contact us today or visit the new website for the event at www.TasteofHomeEvent.com
Editor: David Greenberg Assistant Editors: Sara Horn Jessica Lipscomb Advertising Sales Director: Sarah Sander Advertising: Olga Liberman Kelsey Mulligan Daniel Pimentel Kristen Strobel Public Relations Director: Faith Reaves Public Relations/ Event Planning: Lauren Aitchison Emily Davis Katy Davis Melissa Eidam Emily Merwin Staff Writers: Kate Ashby Brittany Brave Sara Brubaker Lauren Delgado Nicole Greiner Jamie Harrison Jessica Miller Callie Polk Maria Piquet Mara Rudolph Stephanie Thomas Morgan Watkins Contributing Writers: Jessica Chapman Jon George Lauren Gispanski Mary Manchess Melissa Palmer
Scott
Contributing Photographers: Footstone Photography Mario’s Photography Photography 35
Scott Costello scott@advantagepublishinginc.com
Editorial Cartoonist: Jake Fuller E-News Brief: Diandra Lamas
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
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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
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HOME Living
In the Heart of Florida
19
COMMUNITY IMPACT STORY
Ending LiatfeHaven with Comfort and Di g ni t y Hospice By David Greenberg
End-of-life care is unique and takes special people like (left) Regina Moorehead, a certified nursing assistant and, Pam Giebeig, R.N., case manager, at Haven Hospice.
20
HOME Living
“I
t’s not about me. It’s about the organization.” While those are the words of Tim Bowen, the president of Haven Hospice, they could have come from anyone who works or volunteers for the organization. Haven Hospice has been providing comfort and care for terminally ill patients and their families in North Central Florida since 1979. Haven Hospice cares for more than 700 individuals each day, including their families. If that was done in just one facility like a hospital, it would make Haven Hospice the largest medical facility in North Central Florida. While the numbers have grown tremendously from 10 years ago when it was caring for 235 patients on any given day, patient and family care at Haven Hospice is not about numbers. It is about quality care. Simply put, the mission of Haven Hospice is care, compassion and commitment – when needed most. The goal is to focus on the comfort and quality of life for the individual and their family. Whether it is Bowen or any of the other 550 staff members and 1,000 volunteers, the most significant message you hear is how honored and privileged they are to be able to do this for people as they deal with one of the most challenging times of their lives. Those who have been touched by the professionalism and care at Haven Hospice are quick to praise it. One of those people is former State Senator and State Attorney Rod Smith, who experienced the compassion and care provided by Haven Hospice when first his dad and later his cousin passed away. “What Haven Hospice does is so important to families,” said Smith. “They give you a sense of what’s coming and how to prepare as a family. For the patient, they focus
In the Heart of Florida
on comfort and quality of life in those final days. In a hospital setting the focus is on cure and care of an illness. But it comes to a point when comfort is more important. For the families, Haven Hospice helps them through the most challenging times imaginable.” Smith has an easy way to measure the success of Haven Hospice at achieving its mission. “I’ve been involved with a lot of organizations and causes,” he said. “With almost any cause people will have good and bad things to say. I can tell you that absolutely 100 percent, when I have talked to people who have experienced the care provided by Haven Hospice, I have never had anyone speak negatively. They all agree how valuable it is and what an important role it plays in the community.” That care and dedication on the part of staff and volunteers is personal, said Bowen. Virtually every employee has been either touched by a personal hospice care experience or comes from a situation where hospice care was not available and they wished it were. That is the case with Bowen. His father was an only child who had two aunts who were widowed during World War II. So Bowen likes to say his dad had three mothers, and he had three grandmothers. “He used to say it was bad for him, but I thought it was great for me,” he said. All three died of cancer when Bowen was in his teens – long before people knew or thought about hospice care. “They were sorely in need of hospice care,” Bowen said. “But 35 years ago there was no such thing. They were over treated with radiation and chemotherapy in a very unsupportive hospital environment. They suffered painful, profoundly uncomfortable deaths. Even one hour of hospice care would have been beneficial to them and our family.” Some years later Bowen was in graduate school at the University of California at Berkeley, earning a master’s degree in social welfare. His work included an internship with Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Oakland, which called for a rotation into its hospice program. “I did not know anything about hospice care 25 years ago when I was in graduate school,” he said. “When I learned of it, it felt like this was what I was meant to do. I didn’t want anyone
“It’s not about me. It’s about the organization.”
LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com
COMMUNITY COMMUNITY IMPACT IMPACT STORY STORY
Tim Bowen, president of Haven Hospice
LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com
HOME Living
In the Heart of Florida
21
COMMUNITY IMPACT STORY
Haven Hospice Chaplain Freeman Gallmon provides comfort and compassion for families at a difficult time.
22
HOME Living
In the Heart of Florida
else to have to go through the experiences my family did. That is where my passion comes from. There is no need for that experience in today’s world. But, unfortunately, it still happens – every day. That is why Haven Hospice is here, and why we still have work to do.” That decision turned out to be great news for hospice care in North Central Florida because while Bowen suggests the success of Haven Hospice is due to the people who came before him and the current staff and volunteers, people who know the operation say it would not be what it is without him. Hospice care in Gainesville was started in a small office 31 years ago at Alachua General Hospital by Dr. Raymond Fitzpatrick, Ed Peddie and Alice Sharpe. Donna Hall, a registered nurse, became the first director of Hospice of North Central Florida (HNCF) and Fay Knight was the first volunteer. Together, they provided hospice care for patients and families in Alachua and Bradford counties. Growth came quickly and in 1983 Patrice “Patti” Moore was named administrator and chief operating officer, serving in that role until Bowen arrived as executive director in 2000. In 1996, HNCF opened the E.T. York Hospice Care Center in northwest Gainesville. It includes 18 patient rooms, support facilities and administrative offices. In 2005, HNCF’s board of directors changed its name to Haven Hospice. Today, Haven Hospice has seven offices, four with freestanding hospice care centers and a fifth in the planning stages. In addition, there are two thrift stores that help raise the revenue needed to provide for the numerous unfunded and unreimbursed programs Haven provides over an 18-county area. That growth was necessary in part because of the nature of hospice care in Florida. While at one point Haven Hospice was
the only option for hospice care in this area, two things have changed. State legislation changed allowing for profit hospices to own and operate hospice organizations in the state, and there has been a regulatory effort to create competition amongst hospice providers. “Although challenging, we are a better organization because of all the environmental factors in the field we have had to deal with, adapt to and successfully overcome,” said Bowen. After earning his master’s degree, Bowen worked in the hospice field both as a social worker and administrator, gaining the experience he would later need for the challenge here in Gainesville. He worked at the hospice program at Kaiser Permanente before coming to Florida in 1991, where he was the director of patient services at Hope Hospice in Fort Myers. There he met his future wife, Linda, who he later married in 2002. Bowen continued to gain experience in the hospice field and was the director of MidPeninsula/Pathways Hospice in Northern California, when he learned the position here in Gainesville was open in 1999. “I got a call from a colleague in Central Florida looking for a reference on a perspective employee who once worked for me. She shared with me that the position in Gainesville was open,” said Bowen. “That afternoon I got a call from the executive recruiter conducting the search for the position. I met with the people at Santa-Fe Health-Care (Haven Hospice’s parent company) and with the then-board chair Mark Walker at length. The opportunity was everything I anticipated. In my conversations, I realized there was incredible untapped potential as well as some significant challenges. HNCF was truly a diamond in the rough.” People familiar with Haven Hospice say that the growth during the last 10 years would have been a much greater challenge without Bowen’s presence. Mike Gallagher is president and CEO and member of the board of SantaFe HealthCare. Haven Hospice is one of SantaFe’s affiliates, along with AvMed Health Plans, SantaFe Senior Living, which includes The Village retirement community in Gainesville, and a yet-to-be developed, all-inclusive community, SantaFe Village. Gallagher is the CEO and serves on the board of Haven Hospice and each of those affiliated companies as well. He agrees that what makes Haven Hospice so successful is the team it has in place and its dedication to the patients and families. "As a community-based, not-for-profit, Haven Hospice is a mission-driven organization highly committed to serving patients and families with dignity and respect,” said Gallagher. “That is how it differentiates itself. Tim Bowen exhibits exemplary leadership, strategic and operational
LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com
"We are a health-care provider, and like other health-care providers we are being asked to do more with less. That’s a challenge, but it does not alter our mission of patient and family care. We wil never lose that focus.”
skills, which were critical to Haven Hospice’s successful growth and expansion.” While there have been dramatic changes over the years in the hospice industry and at Haven Hospice, even Bowen was not able to imagine what has occurred in his decade here. “There has been incredible evolution and change over the last ten years for Haven,” he said. “Some was planned and designed, and some was in response to the environmental and regulatory factors that we, Haven, have faced over the years. The challenges continue now with healthcare reform. We are a health-care provider, and like other health-care providers we are being asked to do more with less. That’s a challenge, but it does not alter our mission of patient and family care. We will never lose that focus.” As the organization grew, it needed to create the infrastructure to operate. It had to go from a department at Alachua General Hospital to being its own organization. “It was similar to building a plane while you were flying it,” he said. Bowen believes that despite the growth in 10 years from 235 to 700 patients a day, they are not done. “Our hope remains to be able to reach everyone who needs the kind of care we provide,” he said. “We’ve come a long way in doing that. When I got here, we were caring for less than 30 percent of all the people who died in our community. Today, we care for more than 60 percent. That is an incredible testament to the staff and volunteers. They are the finest group of professionals and volunteers I have had the privilege to work with in my 25-year career. “What the staff and volunteers have accomplished is truly a cultural revolution,” he said. “The success we have had is the direct result of the efforts of a lot of people over a long period of time. Haven Hospice has set the gold standard for hospice care in our community over the last 30 years, and we will continue to do so into the future.” Haven Hospice received national recognition for its excellence and innovation in end-of-life care with its Circle of Life Award last year. It was the only hospice organization in the country to receive that recognition in 2009.
Fortunately for the community, Bowen and the rest of the staff and volunteers at Haven Hospice are dedicated to what they do – providing care and services for patients and families facing the end of life. “I think about this all the time. It is part of who I am,” he said. “Haven Hospice is always in the forefront of my mind, how can we get better, how can we improve the care and services we provide, how can we get to everyone in our community in need of our services.” So it is good news that his wife, Linda, is just as dedicated. She had worked for Hope Hospice as its director of community services for 12 years before coming to Gainesville. “I’m glad she decided not to work for another non-profit, because she is such a great fundraiser, and she would be competing with me, and that wouldn’t be good for Haven,” he said. Instead, six years ago, along with Barbara Hudson, she created ViVA!, Haven Hospice’s signature fundraising event. “I am passionate about hospice care, and I would never do anything to take away from what is happening at Haven,” Linda said. “So, Barbara and I worked hard with a lot of other volunteers in the community to put together this event. We helped make it a reality that continues today so successfully, through the support of the community.” Davis Rembert hosts ViVA! on his farm north of Alachua. He has high praise for both Bowens and Haven Hospice. “It’s hard to go a day without hearing from someone who has had an experience with Haven Hospice,” said Rembert. “Whether it is days or weeks, your quality of life is going to be so enhanced. It is so unique. During the last four ViVA! events at Rembert Farms, I have come to know Tim as a great leader and a genuinely moving speaker with his message about Haven Hospice. But you can’t comment on Tim without bragging on Linda. They are quite a hospice couple. He’s out front and visible. She’s behind the scenes doing things just as important as he is.” Smith believes that while Haven Hospice has had a tremendously positive impact on the Heart of Florida, its true test is still ahead of it. And he is convinced that the staff and volunteers, led by Bowen, are ready for that challenge. “We have so many baby boomers with parents in their 80s and older,” he said. “There’s going to be a tremendous need to meet in our community. Tim and his people are ready for that. They are dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients and families, and we are blessed that they are here.”
HOME Living
Registered Nurse Susan Sparks, patient care manager for the E.T. York Care Center, speaks with Tim Bowen.
In the Heart of Florida
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AROUND THE HOME
Landscape Calendar
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 an oasis of color in your garden all year.
Garden Retreats How to Vacation in your own Backyard 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.
Gardens have the ability to take us somewhere out of the ordinary, whether it be a morning cup of coffee sipped slowly on the veranda or a brief glance at a hummingbird out of the window.
Mystic Illusion garden Dahlia
My wife and I like to bring home souvenirs from our travels. A trip to Seattle’s Pike Place Market left us longing for the big bouquets of cut flower dahlias we bought for our room but could not check onto the airplane. I was told that dahlias don’t grow well in North Florida, but I soon proved that wrong as we found out that they prefer afternoon shade here and a good handful of bone meal to stimulate bloom over leaves. The tuberous roots like to stay cool, so interplanting with impatiens turned out to be the perfect solution to shade the soil and hide
their leggy stalks. I was so excited to go out to the garden every morning and see what colors were coming into bud and so proud to cut the first dahlias and bring them in to display them on the dining room table. A sanctuary of soothing textures and colors were just what the doctor ordered for this walled garden in the Duck Pond neighborhood in Gainesville. We worked with the homeowners and designed the formal brick terrace with a New Orleans feel complete with pockets of shrub-lined beds and rambling roses. A soft zoysia grass path
transitions through lush foliage and flowers out onto the front lawn. For bold tropical textures, we planted mature Mexican fan palms and giant Asian elephant ears that also provide shade from strong afternoon sun. A centrally located crape myrtle tree spreads its canopy over beds of caladiums, cannas and other hummingbird-attracting plants. The only thing left to do is to lounge on a patio recliner with a glass of lemonade and watch time go by.
Spring is the best time to fertilize perennials. Apply a time release fertilizer at the first sign of new growth. Dinnerplate Dahlia
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AROUND THE HOME
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AROUND THE HOME
A Home’s Interior Can Be
The kitchen countertops are made of recycled concrete material. The sink features WaterSense.
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AROUND THE HOME
Green, Practical and Beautiful By David Greenberg
S
ome people believe that green and aesthetically pleasing are mutually exclusive when it comes to building a home, but nothing can be further from the truth. And while it is important to have the exterior of a home be attractive, it is the interior that is most important, because for the homeowner, that is the part of the home they see most often. When considering the home he has built in the Brytan community, David Melville, the owner of David Melville Contracting Services Inc. (DMCS), made interior choices that demonstrate the balance between green and aesthetics. The interior choices for the 3,300square-foot, two-story home he built in the mixed-use, traditional neighborhood being developed on Archer Road in southwest Alachua County by Brice Business
photography by Brad Palmer
Group, were some of the most significant factors in the home’s ultimate LEED ranking. Melville believes the home could 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. Starting with the kitchen one can see the effort that went into creating that balance. “The brick splash around the oven is there for aesthetic purposes,” said Melville. “But the oven itself is gas, and along with all the other kitchen appliances, which are extremely efficient Energy Star appliances, help bring energy costs down.”
Natural light comes from the glass door.
Gainesville’s Greenest Community Welcomes You Home
No cookie-cutter homes here! One of a kind Craftsman homes with custom finish details, future-proof fiber optic connectivity, and did we mention they happen to be the first and only LEED-H Certified Green Homes in all of Alachua County? Conveniently located at the intersection of SW Archer Rd & Tower Rd...close to UF, Shands and VA Hospitals. Choose from one of our available homes or pick a lot and build the house of your dreams.
(352) 379-5777 LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com
brytan.com HOME Living
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AROUND THE HOME
environmentally friendly companies in this field. All the flooring products have a measurable amount of recycled material. “That was one of the reasons I chose them,” he said. “But they also gave us the best look.” The only carpeted floors are in the master bedroom and two other bedrooms. Carpets tend to hold allergens, so Melville wanted to limit them. “I like the feel of it in certain areas of the home,” he said. “Everything else is wood or tile.” For the windows he used plantation shutters made of composite material. Plantation shutters create a level of privacy and shading, but allow some natural light to come in. The shutters contribute to the overall performance of the home when it comes to energy efficiency.
All of the home’s electrical accessories, like TVs and ceiling fans, come with the Energy Star label. The home’s automation system allows programming for security, comfort and maintaining minimal electrical usage. The interior paint is all low VOCs, and interior doors are Masonite Safe ‘N Sound® solid-core products – a middle tier, green product, said Melville. With these products and accessories, Melville has successfully combined the two interior needs for this home. It looks good, and it is green. 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.
The bathroom sink and all others in the This floor and all the others in the home are
home feature WaterSense for meeting
from Shaw Floors, which is considered a
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
environmentally friendly company.
guidelines for efficiency.
All the kitchen appliances are part of the GE Monogram Collection, and the lights are all GE compact fluorescent products. The dishwasher, often one of the most inefficient appliances in a home, can measure the water quality to determine if the dishes are clean. If they are, it will automatically cut the cycle short. Another unique feature of the dishwasher is that you only have to add soap to it four times a year. “It manages the dispensing,” Melville said. “People tend to use too much soap. This is an effective way of minimizing that.” The countertops in the kitchen and all the other rooms in the home are concrete. “They are all made with recycled material,” he said. “The result is you don’t have to be cutting granite, which is not a readily renewable material, out of the ground.” The sinks in the kitchen and the bathrooms, as well as any other water fixtures, all feature WaterSense. A program started in 2006, WaterSense labels on a product means that they meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for efficiency. Additionally in the bathrooms, the toilets are dual flush. One flush for liquid waste uses 0.8 gallons of water. Two flushes, used for solid waste requires 1.3 gallons of water. “This is an area in the home that uses a lot of water,” said Melville. “It simply gets back to consumer education, as far as which button to push. But dual-flush toilets have become very popular.” All the flooring products in the home are from Shaw Floors, which is considered one of the most
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Piesanos Gainesville
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Bienvenuto!
menus and venues that embrace your inner Italian article and photography by Brad Palmer
P
iesanos, located in the Publix shopping plaza at the corner of Northwest 43rd Street and Millhopper, had its grand opening late in the summer of 2009, and it has been satisfying cravings for great Italian food ever since. Opening a new establishment in the wake of a recession that is seemingly putting restaurants out of business all across town may seem a bit risky. With a combined total of more than 100 years of experience amongst the restaurant's partners, there is a great chance for success. Having what some would deem the best pizza dough in town makes it even easier to succeed at capturing and maintaining customers. One customer commented that the food is great when you are willing to drive around the parking lot four or five times just to wait for a parking spot to open up. The first thing you will notice is that Piesanos has a classy environment. It is great for a business lunch because you can get your food in less than 10 minutes. The romantic Italian motif and full bar make it great for a date. Piesanos is also so familyfriendly you wouldn’t hesitate to take the rest of the family when the occasion permits, which you can do for less than $20, and that includes drinks. The best part of the restaurant is definitely the food. Dive into a huge calzone stuffed with grande ricotta and mozzarella or bite into any one of the pizzas that range in size from 8-24 inches and can be topped with your choice of the freshest ingredients. The thing you are sure to do after every bite is smile, because the dough is that good – perfectly crisp outside yet soft and moist inside and full of flavor. A fan favorite is the Italian veggie which is loaded with marinated artichokes, calamata olives, red bell pepper, spinach and fresh garlic. In addition to this fabulous vegetarian pizza, there are several vegetarian dishes to meet the needs of those with a more herbaceous appetite.
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One of the best entrees they offer is the five-layer lasagna. Everyone has their favorite home recipe for lasagna, after eating Piesanos' version you may reconsider needing to make lasagna at home. It is five layers thick and stuffed with a blend of meat and cheese including ricotta, provolone, and mozzarella that make you want to keep eating and eating. If you love meat, then the Italian meatballs are sure to be a hit. The dish is comprised of two large meatballs, perfectly seasoned then drenched in melted mozzarella, served with fresh basil, ricotta and marinara. Sure to satisfy are the meatball-ricotta and margarita pizzas. The ricotta’s creamy texture is complimented well by the layers of meatball and marinara. Each bite of this pizza leaves you wanting more. The fresh basil and tomato on the margarita pizza entice you with their naturally satisfying sweetness. Whether you are dining in, ordering online, or grabbing something to go in adjacent take out section of the restaurant, one thing is for sure, Piesanos use of both quality ingredients and expertise will bring you back for more.
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In the Heart of Florida
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deneno - Alachua
R
ich, the new owner of Ristorante Deneno in Alachua, will make sure your evening is worth the short trip up Highway 441 to visit this remarkable restaurant with a smart Italian menu and extensive wine list. Or if you prefer to take a scenic route, you can avoid downtown traffic and enjoy the beautiful drive up the peacefully canopied streets of Highway 241. The upscale feel is perfect for your special night out, while the price points are surprisingly affordable for the everyday local. Start your meal off with the fried calamari that begs to swim in the fabulously spicy pomodoro sauce and end it with the almond-encrusted Italian rum cake, filled with chocolate and drizzled in caramel. Let’s not forget the unforgettable main course options like the flavorfilled salmon with a honey bourbon glaze nestled with a saffron and sweet pea risotto. Or how about the bold flavor of the New Zealand lamb chops coupled with a mint pesto, anchored with a lightly spiced roasted veggie medley that even a 5-year-old would eat! Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of the squid
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by Melissa Palmer photography by Brad Palmer
ink-stripped lobster ravioli accented with a creamy and dreamy lobster sauce. On the lighter side, the spunky Fruitta salad is filled with seasonal favorites topped with candied pecans, Gorgonzola, Port Wine poached pears and apples completed with a raspberry and poppy seed vinaigrette. If it’s pizza you’re after, you will be thrilled with the crispy yet soft crust that will house your gourmet ingredients. The irresist-
ible fresh-baked focaccia bread, Tuscan meats, high quality cheeses and a family friendly atmosphere are just a handful of more reasons that you need to try the sleek new Deneno. Ristorante Deneno will definitely satisfy you on weekdays for lunch and seven days a week for dinner. Half-off bottles of wine every Tuesday night, Deneno is a class act. Enjoy the cuisine as take out or book your next private party here to impress your friends and coworkers. Find weekly deals and specials on their web site at deneno.com.
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Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2:30 pm Sun Lunch 12:00 - 5:00 pm Dinner 7 Days 5:00-10:00 pm
Call For Reservations
101 SE Second Place #118
LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com
352-371-2323
Gainesville - Downtoan Sun Center
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35
Francesca’s Gainesville
by Callie Polk photography by Brad Palmer
F
or those craving a more formal Italian restaurant without losing all the charm, Francesca’s, on Northwest 25th Place, is just the spot. Owners, Chef Michael and Frances Khey, opened their restaurant hoping to have a contemporary and relaxing atmosphere where family is welcome, and guests can simply enjoy, and they nailed it. Immerse yourself in the extensive menu and start by choosing from one of their many appetizers. The Shrimp Scampi Bruschetta is a perfect way to kick off the meal. Toasted ciabatta bread is topped with a silky garlic butter tossed with a handful of shrimp. The crunchy bread points loaded with
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shrimp are tasty enough to substitute for the entire meal. If you prefer clams, a huge bowl of Francesca’s Zuppa Di Clams is crammed with the inviting shells swimming in a spicy red sauce that will rouse your taste buds. The Caprese Salad mixes fresh greens, plum tomatoes, onion and peperoncini with a drizzle of olive oil. Complementing this mix is a tower of sliced tomatoes and thick buffalo mozzarella that can be added into the mix. Big appetites are welcome at Francesca’s, especially when a huge plate is overflowing with half a lobster, shrimp, mussels and clams on a bed of linguine that is not even visible under all the seafood. The spicy tomato sauce is creamy with a hidden kick that sneaks up after a few bites. Another seafood dish, Grouper a la Napoli, has just as much seafood starting with a pan- sautéed grouper fillet surrounded by shrimp, clams and mussels stirred in a white wine tomato cream sauce that could make you consider drinking up whatever’s left. The chicken and veal options on the menu feature a Veal Scaloppini ala Francesca where the meat is bathed with a savory brandy sauce along with pro-
sciutto and fresh mushrooms. The creamy sauce has a depth of flavors accentuated by the mushrooms. For an adventurous appetite, the Bucatini all’ Amatriciana has a noodle you’ve most likely never seen before. A thick, hollow noodle with an interest-
ing texture is the main star in the bucatini. The handmade pasta is paired with onion, sausage, tomato, basil, tangy Serrano pepper and a balance of secret spices. Homemade sausage is just the ticket to take this dish to the next level. To finish the night, a chic tiramisu served in a tall martini glass adds some spunk. Chambord, a black raspberry liqeuer, cinnamon ladyfingers and berry sauce come together for this modern version of an Italian classic. A light sprinkle of espresso adds some color and flavor to even out the tart berry sauce under the heaping layers of dessert. The sweetest part of Francesca’s is Chef Michael and Frances’s need to please customers. They make everyone feel like part of the family and are well respected by their servers.
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Luca’s Pasta article and photography by Brad Palmer
G
reat tasting, healthy food with endless choices, all that can be served in about five minutes. That is the philosophy behind Luca's Pasta, which can be found in between Sixth Street and Seventh Street on the south side of West University Avenue. Dine in and enjoy the artistic urban setting or call ahead so you can grab and go. Either way, you need to try this inventive take on the traditional pasta. Cannelle and Ludivine, who are both European, get their flair for Italian cooking having lived on the French-Italian border. Pasta is a worldwide cuisine they say, so they make pasta to fit any ones tastes, and time frame. Here's how you take advantage of this ingenious restaurant. Start by choosing either a small or large cup (seen above). The cups works great to eat from if you are dining in and they are also perfect for bringing food home. Since there is no metal handle, you can pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds to warm it up. Then either throw it on a dinner plate to serve to family or guests, or take it straight to the couch and eat while you relax. Whether you are a timecrunched student or a busy parent, the whole point of the containers is convenience, which makes Luca's Pasta appropriate for nearly any occasion. Next, choose from any one of their eight pastas – some of which come in whole wheat and gluten free. Then choose from one of their 10 sauces, which range from something as simple as olive oil and herbs to the ever-flavorful Mediterranean sauce that is made up of Calamata olives, pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes and parsley. It is centered on a nice light olive oil and garlic sauce which allows the flavor of the sun-dried tomatoes, the calamata olives and pine nuts to take center stage in your mouth.
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Gainesville
Finish off your order by picking a topping, or for that matter add a few toppings if you would like – the sky is the limit. Shrimp, chicken, nuts, raisins, spinach, mushrooms, Italian sausage, feta cheese, broccoli, or zucchini what ever you choose, it’s sure to please. If you want to add a little more flavor to your sauce, then try the creamy curry with shrimp. It’s full on the curry flavor but very mild on the heat. The roasted red peppers are a nice compliment to the flavor of the yellow curry, which is enhanced perfectly by al dente pasta. Soups, salads, grilled sandwiches and desserts which are all equally as enticing round off the menu. Don’t leave without trying the gourmet chocolate or chocolate mousse, which are both equally rich and luscious. If you want a sensational surprise then go for the pasta o’lait, which is essentially the pasta
version of rice pudding, but better. It is made from vanilla, sweetened condensed milk, a hint of cinnamon and orzo pasta, which give it a nice smooth texture. All three desserts are a fine finish to a fabulous meal.
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In the Heart of Florida
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Blue Highway - Tioga
W
hen you engage in any conversation about food, the thing you realize is that everyone has their opinion about where to find the best food in town. So when you hear several individuals on multiple occasions say that Blue Highway in the Tioga Town Center has some of the best pizza in town, you eventually have to try it for yourself. In doing so what you will discover is that pizza is not the only thing the restaurant does well. A great start to any meal is an appetizer. One recommendation is Blue Highway’s fabulous flat-bread pizza, which is topped with a reduced balsamic glaze, caramelized red onions, spinach and brie. The caramelized onions and balsamic glaze give this dish a sweet flavor which contrasts perfectly with the salty bacon to make this appetizer/entree a heavenly way to start any meal – or it can be a meal all on its own. Frank, the owner of Blue Highway, loves for people to order the antipasto, which is a great assortment of meats, cheeses, roasted vegetables and Tuscan hummus. One veggie in particular looks like a lopsided cherry tomato. Don’t pop it in your mouth expecting a tomato taste. What you’ll taste is an unusual vegetable called peppadew™. Peppadew™ is actually a specialty pepper imported fro South Africa. When you bite into a peppadew™, the insides burst out much like a cherry tomato, but with an even sweeter taste. Then a second or two later, just as you are thinking to yourself, that was really nice, a short but intense shot of spicy flavor kicks you straight in the back of your throat. Whether you like
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spicy ood or not, you have to try one. Don't worry the heat fades away quickly. The Sicilian carne combo pizza is divinity on a thick pizza crust. The sausage is shipped in from Franks hometown of Chicago and accompanies pepperoni, salami and the highest-quality cheeses. In fact, the restaurant's philosophy is to use the highest quality products available, and you’ll taste it in every bite. The thick crust is like eating pizza on a thick slice of homemade bread straight from the oven, moist in the middle with a perfect toasted crunch on the bottom. To finish off your dining experience, you have to go sweet, and what better to choose than the Blue Highway key lime pie. It boasts a thick crust made from crushed graham cracker crust nestled against a smoothly sweet key lime filling that’s not overly tart, and topped with plenty of fresh whipped cream. It’s as good as anything you can find up and down the Florida Keys.
article and photography by Brad Palmer
black and white cookies
What’s the best size for a CLASSIC deli menu? XXL.
One of the first things you’ll notice about our menu is its size, loaded with traditional deli favorites like blintzes, and potato knishes to classic deli delights like mile-high pastrami on rye and signature salads teaming with chopped salad fresh vegetables, tuna, chicken or fresh deli meats and cheeses.
cheese blintzes
New Fall Menu
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With a menu as large as your appetite, there’s something for everyone at TooJay’s Gourmet Deli.
GAINESVILLE Butler Plaza ll 3410 SW Archer Road • (352) 244-0973
352-331-6620
2725 SW 91st St.- Suite 100 Gainesville, Florida, 32608
A mouth-watering experience for lunch. You don’t have to travel to Miami to enjoy authentic Cuban food. Mi Apá Latin Café uses only the best ingredients and the lunch menu is prepared fresh every day. Good Food. Fast.
Open daily from 7AM – 10PM Fridays & Saturdays until 12AM 114 SW 34th St s Gainesville, FL
(352) 376-7020
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Leonardo's 706 - Gainesville Located at 706 West University is the fabulous Leonardo’s 706. Aptly named for its address, this charming, yet hip, restaurant boasts great live Jazz music every Monday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. or every Thursday from 7:30-10:30 p.m., and even better food. Leonardo’s has a dedicated baker on staff who comes in to create the barrage of tantalizing treats. Man can not live on sweats alone, but I could be extremely fat and happy feasting on any one of these delectable desserts – are all made fresh on a daily basis. The double dark chocolate cream pie and coffee toffee are two of the most popular dessert items. Both pies have a crushed cookie crust that surrounds a creamy mouse filling. The seven-layer black mountain cake was my favorite dessert. It is comprised of several layers of moist chocolate cake surrounded by more layers of chocolate, then topped with additional chocolate, all in a serving that is so big it could last one person for days. Other items include the New York cheesecake, blueberry-raspberry pie and raspberry velvet tart. Leonardo's also makes three homemade ice creams that can be served à la carte or accompany by Brad Palmer
Alessandro Ristorante - Gainesville
If you have never that occasion to eat a Alessandro Ristorante, located in the Fresh Market plaza just off of Northwest 16th Boulevard and 43rd Street, then you are missing out on enjoying one of Gainesville true culinary delights. Alessandro’s food is made great through both talent and passion. Have you every met someone who’s passion for life inspired you to become better? Peter
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by Brad Palmer any dessert. You can choose from the Madagascar vanilla bean, cinnamon or dark chocolate. The eclectic mix of food is all very well prepared. Leonardo's serves a variety of pizzas, pastas, salads, appetizers and entrées. There are a few you definitely need to try next time you are in. The pesto and shrimp pizza is incredible. This thin-crust delight is topped with home made pesto, flanked by large pieces of shrimp and topped with mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes. The sweat flavor of the sun-dried tomato goes well with the shrimp and is all tied together nicely by the pesto. The Tuna Ponzu is a healthy portion of sushi grade tuna, which is seared and then rolled in white and black sesame seeds, served atop a bed of coconut jasmine rice and organic seasoned grilled asparagus. The secret to this dish is the ponzu sauce, which is made from soy sauce, mirin and a hint of citrus juice and is a perfect partner for both the rice and tuna. Whether you are a first timer or a seasoned patron of Leonardo’s 706, if you order an entree or dessert you are sure to leave gratified.
g riosbistro.or
2441 NW 43rd Street Gainesville, FL At Thornebrook Village
In the Heart of Florida
Corsa’s talent with food is exceptional, but some believe it’s his passion for great food that pushes it into the realm of greatness. Each and every item on the menu is individually prepared with that same passion which translates into gourmet food that is pleasurable to the palette. The Gnocchi Rosamaria is a unique potato dumpling pasta, that is hand made on site, then served in a sauce of tomato-basil-parley marinara and topped off with mozzarella. The chicken posa posa is a masterful orchestration of flavor for your taste buds. It is comprised of several breasts of chicken that are thinly sliced and covered in a portobello “salsa fine” which means “fine sauce.” The sauce is made of sherry portobello, cream and heavy cream. The mixture of these ingredients combines to give it a mildly sweet flavor. This sauce fulfills every definition of the word fine. For those with a passion for greens, the restaurant offers an array of healthy salads and vegetable dishes which include asparagus, spinach, rapini and piselli. The chicken francese is lightly egg battered and served in a lemon and white wine sauce which offsets the slight bitterness of the asparagus and leeks. Of course, the desserts are every bit as exquisite as the entrees. The lemon marscapone could become your new favorite addiction. It is made from two layers of cake which surround a silky lemon marscapone center and dusted with powdered sugar. Most dishes averaging $12-15, which is a bargain when you consider the quality of the food you will be served and the talent behind the artist who skillfully creates every dish.
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Taste of HOME Charity Fundraiser To benefit the Child Advocacy Center, Children’s Home Society of Florida and select charities chosen by Leadership Gainesville 35.
Sunday, June 13 from 5-9 p.m. at the UF Hilton - 1714 SW 34th St. in Gainesville
www.TasteOfHomeEvent.com
For sponsorship or restaurant participation please contact us at 352.372.5854 Sample cuisine from some of North Central Florida’s finest restaurants. Enjoy an evening of entertainment, a thrilling auction and much more, “Taste of Home” promises to be the best event of the summer.
Pomodoro Café Gainesville
by Callie Polk photography by Brad Palmer
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ocated on Northwest 39th Avenue near I-75 next to Publix, Pomodoro Café offers a wide array of appetizing options that will surely satisfy all members of the family without breaking the bank. Either in the cushy plum-leather booths or at a table, this restaurant provides a great view of the chef preparing meals or of murals of the streets of Portofino, Italy. While deciding what to order, a basket of hot focaccia garlic bread with a hint of sun-dried tomatoes is perfect with the restaurants tangy balsamic vinegar dipping sauce.
Bursting with rich flavors, the chicken marsala is a classic option complemented by a creamy Marsala wine sauce. Wild mushrooms are sautéed with medallions of chicken that, when paired with the sauce, dance on your tongue. The dish is served with a hearty helping of homemade garlic mashed potatoes that could give your mother’s recipe some competition. For special occasions, the restaurant prepares an osso buco, a slow-cooked veal shank atop a bed
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of cheesy risotto. The tender veal tastes delicious but the risotto is the star of this plate. The Arborio rice, an Italian short grain, takes talent to perfect and is laborious to create but when the process is complete, a masterpiece is awaiting. Don’t forget about the southern side of Italy. Pomodoro Café offers several seafood dishes. Their Frutti Di’ Mare Seafood Combo is a culmination of shrimp, scallops, calamari, clams and mussels in a spicy marina sauce over linguine. The natural flavor of the scallops with butter is just right with the marina sauce and perfect for a satisfying lunch, served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., or dinner. For a lighter meal, the Thai Shrimp salad is a great option. It includes two skewers with grilled shrimp over fresh spinach, roasted peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes. Toasted almonds and oriental noodles give each bite a crunch. To top it off, any of the homemade salad dressings would be a good choice, including the mango vinaigrette, a sweet concoction that graces each emerald green leaf without overpowering the dish. To finish out the meal, dessert is only appropriate. You’ll have to peer into the display to decide which one is best, but none will disappoint. The traditional Italian wedding cake has four layers of vanilla cake separated by raspberry spread, chocolate mousse or vanilla mousse. Topped with poofs of their whipped cream, the cake even comes with a cherry on top. The cannoli dessert has layers of yellow cake filled with cannoli cream and topped with an espresso coffer liqueur flavor. A chocolate drizzle connects the chocolate chips dotting this cake just like the chocolate colossal cake – five layers of dark chocolate cake separated by rich chocolate icing that tower above a tart cherry sauce that pops in each bite. The entrees at Pomodoro Café average about $13.50, but only one meal costs more than $14.95. Each heaping plate not only looks like a piece of art, it is flavored to perfection and will satisfy even the hungriest of customers. Go as a couple or a family, and the café is sure to please any palate.
LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com
(352) 380-0901 • 3545 S.W. 34th St. Suite A - Gainesville, FL • EmbersOfFlorida.com
Main Street Pie Co. - Alachua by Callie Polk
photography by Brad Palmer
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ou are part of the family when you dine at Main Street Pie Co. The quaint pizzeria, in downtown Alachua, is filled with hefty oak tables and chairs like you may have eaten at as a child. The experience isn’t fancy, and that’s the beautiful part about it. The food is simple and delicious. Not to mention there are some all-stars on the menu that you may have never tried before. After choosing one of the 10 tables the restaurant has to offer, you can sit back, relax and chat amongst each other knowing that soon you’ll be served a cold beverage and a hot meal. The mother and daughters who run Main Street Pie Co. are quick to take orders and make sure everything is served just how you want it. The deep silver bowl that holds the Antipasto Salad comes out family style so everyone at the table can choose just what they like. The salad is filled with romaine lettuce, ham, pepperoni, whole milk mozzarella, and fresh veggies. The salad can be topped with red-wine vinaigrette blended with herbs and spices, a sweet and smooth homemade French, or any of their other dressings. Any of their classic appetizers are sure to hit the spot. If you can’t decide between the mozzarella sticks, baked chicken wings or garlic cheese bread, you can try them all. The lightly breaded, ooey-gooey melted mozzarella sticks have a little dish of marinara sauce for dunking. The Italian baked chicken wings are plump and juicy with seasonings that are a great variation to a generic chicken wing. At Main Street Pie Co. not only do you get great food, but you get more bite for your buck. The lunch special, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., includes a small gar-
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den or Caesar salad, a personal pizza, stromboli and a smaller calzone for $7.25 Tuesday through Friday. However, if you decide to order just a calzone instead, you’ll receive a massive surprise. The whopping creation is stuffed with ricotta cheese, Parmesan, mozzarella and whatever toppings you would like from the menu. Also on the menu, just under the long list of toppings, are the specialty pizzas cook in a stone oven, which are not to be overlooked. Cheeseburger pizza, Loaded Tater pizza and Buffalo Chicken pizza, who would’ve thought they’d get to try something so familiar yet so exotic? If you like some heat, the Buffalo Chicken pizza is an excellent choice. A crispy pizza crust is topped with your choice of bleu cheese or ranch dressing, then gets a thick layer of mozzarella and cheddar cheese, and finally grilled garlic chicken tossed
in buffalo sauce is the final component. The tender chicken and spicy buffalo sauce is sure to please. For the potato enthusiasts, baked potato and ranch dressing on a pizza crust with mozzarella and cheddar cheese melted with broccoli is a must. Finally, for the most adventurous appetites, the cheeseburger pizza has a thick, soft crust that is topped with ketchup and mustard in place of a sauce. Then, a layer of cheddar cheese is melted on with beef and bacon, and topped with a lettuce, pickle, tomato and whatever else you like on a burger. If you haven’t tried it yet, you’re missing out. Every Friday night, Main Street Pie Co. serves up a new pasta dish, so it is a great place to branch out and order something new. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday and you’ll be coming back for seconds before you know it.
,UNCH s $INNER s 3UNDAY "RUNCH 'AINESVILLE S -OST %XQUISITE 0AN ,ATIN #UISINE WWW %MILIANOS#AFE COM
,IVE *AZZ -USIC EVERY -ONDAY AND 7EDNESDAY EVENING 2ESERVATIONS ARE WELCOMED
352.375.7381 ,OCATED IN DOWNTOWN 'AINESVILLE AT 3% ST !VE
Amelia’s F Gainesville
by Lauren Gispanski
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photography by Brad Palmer
In the Heart of Florida
eaturing traditional northern Italian cuisine alongside its chef’s own culinary creations, Amelia’s offers a wide variety, transforming the traditional Italian restaurant stereotype. Located in the downtown Sun Center behind the Hippodrome Theatre, this restaurant can bring a little taste of Italy to everyone. A classic Italian appetizer is Bruschetta, and Amelia’s recipe focuses on its fresh, juicy tomatoes. With every bite, the diced tomatoes that you can’t stuff into your mouth will fall from the thick slice of baguette onto the appetizer plate below. And after the baguette is gone, you will eat the leftover tomatoes with either a fork or your fingers because the olive oil, basil, and light layer of Parmesan with which the Bruschetta is made make this recipe simply irresistible. If chilled tomatoes aren’t up your alley, try the Crostini NY, a spinach, artichoke and Parmesan cream dip served with garlic crostinis, thin toasted slices of Italian bread drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with garlic. Of course there is
also the Cioppino, an Italian seafood stew of mussels, calamari rings and tentacles, salmon, and tomatoes cooked in a seafood broth. For a truly Italian seafood experience, look no further than the Florida Grouper Posilipo, a seared egg-battered grouper with Cedar Key clams, spinach, garlic and a light marinara sauce. The breading created by the egg batter is not heavy but instead mirrors that of a chicken Parmesan, capturing the heart of Italian cuisine. Amelia’s knows how to end any great meal, and that is with a divine dessert. Although offering everything from cheesecake and chocolate tortes to tiramisu and cannolis, the Creme Caramel Flan tops the list and is far too tasty to share regardless of its generous size. The prices at Amelia’s are comparable to the prices at any other chain Italian restaurant, but unlike those more familiar names, Amelia’s provides a more personal and flavorful experience. So remember to keep Amelia’s in mind the next time you’re craving Italian.
(352) 472-7260
Newberry's Backyard Bar-B-Q
25405 W. Newberry Rd. Newberry, FL www.backyardbarbq.com Lunch • Dinner • Catering
ERte N N I ry of Sta W a 9 200lorida Secret Street ar F Ye in Ma s of the nes i s u B
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BUSINESS FOCUS
Jon George and daughter, Eloia, make a garden beautiful.
Cottage Gardens By Ashley McCredie
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Creates Beauty LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com
BUSINESS FOCUS
“Gardening has always been a passion of mine, and I’ve been able to study gardens all over the world.”
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ou might customize your home’s interior by installing granite countertops, replacing your floors with hardwood or selecting special décor for a room. But did you ever think about customizing your landscape? That’s where Cottage Gardens comes into the picture. Cottage Gardens is a family business that creates a masterpiece with plants for each of their customers by introducing colors, layers, textures and heights into landscape. “The landscape can be a real retreat for people – a ‘staycation’,” said Jon George, owner of Cottage Gardens. Cottage Gardens isn’t the kind of landscaping design company that plants “the same-old three shrubs and a tree” for each client. Instead, the experts at Cottage Gardens take time to listen and find out what the customer wants and what will grow well in their location using plants that are easy to maintain. They can also build any type of garden imaginable, like a lush tropical oasis, an artistic Mediterranean look complete with water-savvy plants or a colorful mixture of blooming plants inspired by Monet. The Cottage Gardens experience starts with a walk-through consultation at the customer’s home or office. The customer shares their desires and the Cottage Gardens employees use their plant knowledge and creativeness to draft the perfect design. “It was a very educational experience,” said Vicki Santello, a Cottage Gardens’ customer since 2005. No matter what design style the customer wants, Cottage Gardens will find the plants and design that works for that space. “I like the southwestern and tropical look, and they wound up giving me both,” said Jo Ann Mallory-Cross, another customer who selected a cobalt blue vase for the centerpiece of her garden. Then the client will walk through a realistic, 3-D digital layout of what the finished garden will look like using photographs taken during the consultation. From there, changes can be made on the screen if needed. “We make sure everything is set up for success,” said George. After a plan is decided on, work begins quickly with extensive soil preparation and plant placement. But Cottage Gardens’ care doesn’t stop just because the garden is finished. Every customer is given follow up complete with care instructions for their garden and a guarantee on each plant. Its customized, one-on-one approach is not the only thing unique about Cottage Gardens. The company’s origins are also a bit unusual. George went to high school in Gainesville and during college had the opportunity to study in France, Hong Kong and Japan. “Gardening has always been a passion of mine, and I’ve been able to study gardens all over the world,” he said.
In France, George spent many days at Monet’s garden observing combinations of light and color. In Japan, he was inspired by the simplicity and use of negative space. He also ran a gardening program for rehabilitating addicts in Hong Kong that introduced him to some of the therapeutic uses of gardening. George returned to the United States 15 years ago and started Cottage Gardens. Today, it does more than 100 projects a year – including subdivision entrances, the Progress Center in Alachua and Perkins restaurant on Newberry Road to name a few. Cottage Gardens also continues to make many residential clients happy by giving them their own refuge to escape to. “My vision for Gainesville is to bring in color and design concepts from all over the world,” said George. While Cottage Gardens has many enthusiastic clients, Vicki Santello was a particular case of how much Cottage Gardens can change someone’s life. About three years ago Santello was involved in a nearfatal bicycle accident. Being confined to her home for approximately eight months, she needed a place to get away and not feel restricted – a garden. Cottage Gardens came in and built her an extraordinary garden. “The garden really was a great source of relief for me from a mental point,” said Santello. “It was one piece of my life that was beautiful, peaceful and soothing.” Santello used Cottage Gardens’ services to maintain the garden and still does to this day. “I feel like they are a part of my home,” Santello said about Cottage Gardens and its staff. Thus far, Cottage Gardens has been serving Alachua County residents and businesses since 1995. And with its dedicated owner, creative designs and supreme customer service it’s safe to say that Cottage Gardens will continue to bring great landscaping to the area for years to come. To learn more about the range of services offered by Cottage Gardens, go online to www.TheCottageGardener.com or call (352) 333-9661.
Cottage Gardens can brighten any landscape.
or g f in ion r s b i v “My lle is to esign i d v s d e n ll n i a a Ga olor om ” r c f in cepts d. l r o con r the w ove
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PatientsA Come First at Caretenders By Sara Brubaker
photography by Brad Palmer
The care is specialized for each patient at Caretenders.
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t Caretenders of Gainesville, a specialized home health care company, the philosophy is simple – put the patient first. That reputation speaks for itself. Caretenders is the only agency in the area to be listed on Home Care Elite, a compilation of the most successful Medicare-certified home health care providers in the United States. Home Care Elite identifies the top 25 percent of agencies nationwide by analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance. “I’ve worked for a lot of companies, and this company is truly about providing quality care to our patients,” said Sunshine Plants, an occupational therapist with 20 years of experience. “I really get the opportunity to make a difference and provide my patients with the amount and kind of care they need.” Currently serving more than 400 seniors,
In the Heart of Florida
the staff at Caretenders works to provide advanced practice geriatric home health care that is not only patient- and family-centered, but also individualized to meet the unique physical, emotional and mental needs of each patient in the comfort of their own homes. Linda Murphy, the executive director since 2006, said her overall goals for the agency are to increase patient satisfaction, reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and decrease patient expenses. Caretenders is committed to providing services designed to allow seniors the choice to remain independent at home as long as safely possible. Caretenders approaches each new case with an interdisciplinary team of home care professionals, comprised of nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, social workers and home health aides. It provides comprehensive health care services and develops a care plan that is based on the patient’s personal goals. Donald Bernard, a 74-year-old Gainesville resident who was diagnosed with and underwent treatments for tongue cancer in April, has been receiving specialized services from Caretenders since May to ease and expedite his recovery. Although his last CAT-scan showed no signs of cancer after a seven-week course of radiation and chemotherapy, his battle was far from over.
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The treatments left him unable to swallow, destroyed his taste buds and salivary glands and caused open sores to form in his mouth and throat. The chemotherapy, radiation and their side effects also left Bernard weakened and fatigued. “We were hit with a lot of things we weren’t expecting,” said his wife, Jean Bernard. Sunshine Plants, the occupational therapist from Caretenders, goes to the Bernards’ home between two and three times a week to administer various treatments to mitigate the multitude of symptoms he experienced during recovery. “I get a combination of therapies,” Bernard said. “We do a lot of muscle training to teach me how to use my tongue again. I do cheek exercises, swallowing exercises and exercises to help regain my strength. She (Plants) made a chart for me to track my physical activity every day when she’s not here.” “Caretenders is a wonderful group, and they couldn’t have been more accommodating,” Jean Bernard said. “They’ve really helped my husband during his recovery. Murphy said most patients suffer from one or more chronic diseases in combination with a host of other medical problems. The complexity of the care and co-morbidities seen in the home setting require a special expertise. Part of being a home-health-care nurse, she said, is like being a private detective. “You have to peel back the layers to discover the root of the problem,” she said. In order to do this, the Caretenders team develops a personalized relationship with every patient. The nurses and therapists spend time figuring out the patient’s goals in life and work to make them a reality. Murphy said this individualized approach is where Caretenders differs from practice as usual.
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Besides becoming advocates for each and every patient, the knowledgeable staff at Caretenders is skilled in a number of specialized programs and therapies. Caretenders offers an optimal balance program for fall prevention, lymphedema therapy, a stroke recovery program, speech therapy, medication management and low vision therapy, among many others. Bernard said he was impressed with Plants’ knowledge of the therapies he receives. “She knows what she’s doing, why she’s doing it and what it’s going to do for me,” he said. “I’m really appreciative that she took the time to explain why she was doing what she was doing. I was very, very impressed by the high level of knowledge she had,” he said. Although a variety of technologically innovative therapies are offered, Plants and Murphy said oftentimes the simplest care and taking the time to educate patients are all it takes to drastically improve patients’ lives and help them regain their independence. “Their primary goal is to stay at home and be healthy – no emergency room, no hospital visits and no nursing homes. We can help them do this easily by adapting their environment and working on their skill deficits.” Many times all this means is setting up a pillbox to organize medications, installing handrails in the tub and shower and simplifying everyday tasks. Murphy said home care is a challenging, dynamic field within the health care industry. She credits the excellent teamwork and dedication of her staff in achieving the great quality care for which she has been nationally recognized. “Our passion for patient care is what greatly impacts our patients’ quality of life,” Murphy said. To learn more about the services provided by Caretenders of Gainesville, call (352) 379-6217. HOME Living
(above) The Caretenders team
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CAMPUS USA Credit UniinonJonesville C
onstruction of our new CAMPUS Service Center in Jonesville was completed in November of last year and our new headquarters building is underway, just east of Hwy 241 on Newberry Road. The new free standing service center, complete with drive-up tellers and ATM, is open and already becoming a mainstay in the Jonesville area. Our headquarters building is expected to reach completion by mid-summer. CAMPUS will put over 250 people to work during the construction of the headquarters building. This project has not only become an asset to our employees and our members, but also an asset to the community. With our steady growth over the last several years, and the anticipation of continued success, the new headquarters building will provide the space needed for us to grow and sustain our place as the leading, locally-owned financial institution in the area. This building has been over 10 years in the making and we are excited to have construction well underway. We want to thank our loyal members, because without you making deposits, taking loans and doing day-to-day business with us, we would not continue to grow. We know this new facility will be an asset to our community and more importantly‌to our members. We would love for all the residents of Jonesville and the surrounding area to become members of CAMPUS USA Credit Union. If you would like to become a member, please visit one of our service centers or call 335-9090 and press 5 today. Count on CAMPUS!
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A Personal Elf is AboutCleaning More Than (Inset) Erica & Rudy Castano
It is all about personal service at a Personal Elf.
By Sara Horn and Stephanie Thomas photography by Brad Palmer
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hey clean houses, wash clothes, serve food and drinks at parties, watch pets, organize clutter and have been known to return a due rental of Sex and the City. But to Rudy and Erica Castano, their business is committed to more than checking chores off a to-do list. They are helping people improve their quality of life. “We provide more than a service,” said Erica, who started A Personal Elf in 2006 and now runs it with her husband, Rudy. The business offers to complete a wide range of home and concierge services for clients including full home and office cleanings. For about a year, it has also been offering mobile auto detailing, Rudy said. From a deluxe wash and vacuum to a supreme wax polish, the business services not only cars but also boats, planes and RVs.
In the Heart of Florida
And A Personal Elf has gone green by offering the option of cleaning homes, offices and bathrooms with environmentfriendly products. The secret to a well-run life is peace in your own home, said the Castanos, who believe the home environment dictates a person’s mood. When people don’t have to worry about chores or the nagging feeling of something left undone, they can focus on enjoying time spent at home playing with their kids or relaxing. It also creates a better stability for relationships. “When you get home from a hard day’s work, and you walk in the door to a clean house,” Rudy said, “that stress level just drops.” Each team member is thoroughly evaluated before becoming part of A Personal Elf, undergoing a complete
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BUSINESS FOCUS background check prior to extensive training. While every cleaning team goes through the same training, the Castanos try to keep teams with the same clients from week to week so they can develop a more personal relationship with them. Starr Lancaster, an employee who has been working at A Personal Elf for six months, said her job isn’t just cleaning a house. It’s also customer service. Her favorite part of the day is when she gets to interact with clients. “You can make their day just by being who you are,” she said. She tries to brighten their mood by singing while she works, making conversation and keeping an upbeat attitude. She said she has found that most people just want someone to care about them, and during the time she is cleaning their house, she shows them that someone does. “That’s how you change their lives,” she said. “You make them feel important.” The positive attitude that exudes from Lancaster comes from the Castanos, she said. Every week they have a meeting with their employees to encourage them to stay inspired to do their job well. “Here it’s like a family,” Erica said. She and Rudy treat their employees with respect and concern. There is always an open-door policy, where employees are free to talk to them about anything. “They’re incredible people. That’s why I’m there,” Lancaster said, “because of them.” Teams sometimes clean houses that are in terrible shape, Rudy said, but usually they are like that because the people who live there are going through a rough time. It’s knowing that they’ve helped alleviate their situation that is truly gratifying, he said, and it keeps them doing what they’re doing. Making a profit is a goal, Rudy said, but they are also using the money and privileges that come from owning a business to help others in a more tangible way. A Personal Elf is Gainesville’s first local chapter of Cleaning for a Reason, a foundation that offers four cleanings at no cost to women undergoing cancer treatments. A Personal Elf is proud to be part of the foundation, and Erica said she hopes to be able to offer these women more in the future. “It gives us the opportunity to help in a specific area,” Rudy said. Over the years, business relationships with clients have transformed into friendships. Yesi Sevilla met the Castanos three years ago when she was searching for a house-cleaning service. From the first consultation, she said she felt very comfortable with Erica and every other week since then, she has used A Personal Elf to clean her house. “I totally entrusted my home to her,” she said. Now, the two families go out together, and their children have play dates. In October, they went trick-or-treating together. “To have that rapport with each other is just a phenomenal thing,” Erica said. The Castanos agree that they have gotten more out of starting this business than they ever thought because of the relationships they’ve formed and the lives they have been able to affect through giving back. Rudy will sit on the board for the Newberry-Jonesville Chamber of Commerce, and Erica is involved in Leadership Gainesville, a program that educates and refines leaders so they are more knowledgeable about the community and are better prepared to serve it. They are also involved members of River Cross Church, which is continuously involved in community projects including helping a local school raise funds and collect gifts around Christmas to ensure that underprivileged children have the opportunity to give a present to their parent or caregiver. “I really feel like, now, we’re part of a community,” Erica said. To learn more about A Personal Elf, go online to www.apersonalelf.com or call (352)271-1111.
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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
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The SFC baseball team (top) and softball team (bottom) celebrate 2009 championships. Photos courtesy SFC.
Santa Fe baseball and softball hit it big By Kate Ashby
C
oming off state championship wins and second-place finishes in the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colo., the Santa Fe College baseball and softball
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teams, and coaches remain level-headed and look ahead to an exciting 2010 season. “I certainly expect them to be competitive, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they run all the way
to the state tournament, and they make a good run at another national championship,” said athletic director Jim Keites. “My only hesitation is that, oh my goodness, how long can they keep this going?”
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SPORTS & RECREATION
With a 62-5-1 record season, the softball team took it to the top during its 2008 season, while the baseball team followed in the spring 2009 season. “We had a great year,” said softball head coach Chris Ahern. “I couldn’t believe we played that many games, let alone won that many.” Baseball head coach Johnny Wiggs said it was an honor to be among the top nine teams in the country. Sophomore baseball catcher Brett Bozeman said it was an experience he’ll never forget. Both teams hope to repeat their successes during the spring 2010 season. Ahern said the goal is to take it one game at a time, one inning at a time, one pitch at a time, and hopefully win the sixth consecutive conference championship. “We want to make it further than any other team because two years ago one of our teams made it to nationals, all the way to the national title game, and lost a heartbreaking game,” said softball sophomore left fielder Lawna Hunter. “So we want to make it a little bit further and win it all.” Wiggs said the only goal he talks about is winning the conference championship because of the competitiveness of the Mid-Florida Conference (MFC), which includes seven teams. He said 23 teams around the state vie for a spot at the state championship, and only eight teams make it, where in the last 10 years, nine different teams have won. “You’ve had a good year when you get to the state tournament,” he said. Wiggs admits the championships help when it comes to recruiting. Both coaches agree that recruiting is a never-ending process, but the best time to recruit is fall. Wiggs said the challenge with recruiting is getting players interested in junior college because most set their sights on major universities like the University of Florida. When players don’t receive scholarships to these schools, they usually change their thinking, he said. “We’re trying to get kids to that level,” he explained. “We’re the stepping stone to that level.” Ahern uses technology to her advantage when recruiting and keeps up with recruits through e-mail and texting. She said she spends her weekends at tournaments and strives to watch every player who expresses interest in Santa Fe. Another challenge with junior-college athletics is building unity because players can only play for two years. Ahern said they’re always “reloading” because of losing about half the team each year. Her hope is that the teams can pick up where they left off. “The amount of time we spend together and the team events the coaches put on really help build our team chemistry,” Hunter said. Team chemistry contributed to the success of the championship seasons, Ahern and Wiggs said. “This year everybody’s really driven and is really getting along,” Hunter said. “This
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team really has such good chemistry that I think it’s going to take us a lot further, and we’re all united and wanting one goal.” That goal is to win a national title, but winning championships aren’t the only goals on the coaches’ minds. “Our No. 1 goal is to graduate our players and move them on to the next level,” Wiggs said. “If we do that, we’ll always be successful.” Wiggs works with players to teach them the realities of a good education. He knows that most of his players won’t play professionally and stresses the importance of getting a degree. Five players were signed to four-year schools during early signing, including Bozeman, who signed with Mississippi State University. “I definitely couldn’t have done it without him and the coaching staff,” Bozeman said. Ahern also takes a similar role and pushes the women to do well in the classroom. Hunter said Ahern uses her teaching background to help her players and will often find tutors for extra help. She also requires study hall for freshman and doesn’t hesitate to check grades with professors, Hunter said. Her ultimate goal, like Wiggs, is to move the women on, but makes sure they look into schools that offer programs they want to study. “They need to start thinking when they first come in where they might like to ultimately go to school,” she said. To help mentor players through the transition, Wiggs draws from his own experiences. Although a Winter Haven native, he played for Santa Fe and the University of Florida before playing five years of professional baseball. He then coached for Jacksonville University and Polk County Community College. “But my goal always was to come back to Santa Fe,” he said. “This always felt like home.” Wiggs, who enters his fourth year, describes his coaching style as super competitive and high energy. He said he wears his emotions on his sleeve and gets excited when his team scores. But he can also be tough, especially in practice. “So my guys usually know where I stand,” he said. Bozeman admitted
Wiggs’ coaching style took some getting used to, but he has learned to respect it. Wiggs’ coaching style developed from his professional baseball career. He remembered how pro ball coaches never said anything when he did well and jumped on him when he didn’t. He felt this system was unfair. “I really think with any athletics program, the successful program can be traced back to the coaches and coaching staff,” Keites said. Wiggs and Ahern share similar coaching styles as Ahern describes she takes the glass-half-full approach to coaching. “I always try to encourage them to look for the positive way to say or express what they’re trying to do, think or feel,” she said. For instance, when a player says she can’t do 15 pushups, Ahern encourages her to focus on how many she can do and work up from there. When a player makes a mistake, she knows it, so there’s no need to remind her repeatedly, she said. Her coaching has led to five straight MFC Coach of the Year awards and the 2008 Florida and NJCAA Atlantic District Coach of the Year. Entering her eighth year as head coach, Ahern grew up playing fastpitch softball in New York. She now lives in Ocala, where she worked with high school teams, travel-ball teams and Central Florida Community College before coming to Santa Fe. “I use to come watch the Saints play all the time, and so I sort of got to know the coach before me, who started the fastpitch program,” she said. After being an assistant coach for a year, Ahern took over the position of head coach after the previous head coach took another job. She said she’d like to see the athletic program become a four-year program in the future. However, her and Wiggs’ focus is on the upcoming season with the goal of winning the conference championship, hopefully moving on to the state championship and finally the JUCO World Series. Other goals always include recruiting new talent, while moving current students to the next level. “For the team I always want the same thing. I want them to be successful in the classroom. I want them to have a good experience in college. I want them to enjoy and get better at what they love, their passion,” she said. “And I want them to get a real life lesson. You’re going to get out what you put in. And even if one kid gets that, it’s all worth it.” Santa Fe College President Jackson Sasser says both teams are excellent representatives of the school. “I’m very proud, first of the evident academic performance of our athletes, but I’m especially pleased with their performance on the field,” Sasser said. “It’s good to see both programs not only bring pride to themselves and their families, but also to Santa Fe College.”
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Nurturing Innovation By David Greenberg
in the Heart of Florida Editor’s Note: This is the first story in a continuing series about North Central Florida’s technology industry. In this story, we introduce the business incubators and other infrastructure in place to help nurture these companies.
The Gainesville Technology Enterprise Center
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pplied Food Technologies needed to grow. The fledgling, Gainesvillebased, molecular-diagnostics company is involved in research, development and commercialization of products and services for the food
industry. As a start-up company, it had been receiving help from Santa Fe College’s Center for Innovation and Economic Development (CIED). But a few months ago, it became apparent that the growing company needed different kind of help –
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(right) Dr. Deepika Singh working in a lab at GTEC.
specifically lab space. So Applied Food Technologies graduated from CIED and moved on to the University of Florida’s Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubation Program, located at the Progress Corporate Park in Alachua. “The company was ready for lab space – something we don’t have,” said Dug Jones, SF’s assistant vice president for economic development. “This is the perfect success story. We do what we can for them, and then they move on to where they can get the lab space they need. It illustrates the non-competitive nature of all of us working to help local companies grow.” CIED and the Sid Martin center are two of the area’s four business incubators. The others are the Gainesville Technology Enterprise Center (GTEC) and Synogen. Each brings something different to the table, creating a diversity of resources for this critical need. And by the end of 2011 it is expected that the Florida Innovation Hub will be added to that group. In many communities of this size, one incubator would normally be enough. But thanks in part to all the technology being developed at UF, there’s plenty of need to go around. Plus, the benefit to the community of having these companies goes beyond the help it brings to them. It brings jobs. In fact, many economists are suggesting that today’s start-up technology companies will
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play a major role in improving the current economic situation. With most of the local companies coming from UF, the university’s Office of Technology Licensing plays a major role. In 2008, the last year for which data has been collected, there were 592 startups formed by 189 institutions across the country, said Jane Muir, associate director of UF’s Office of Technology Licensing. “Tech-based companies are critical to our economy,” said Muir. The Office of Technology Licensing, established in 1985, is the focal point for all new discoveries that happen on campus, she said. Its role is to help inventors convert their technology to commercial use. Most of the time this involves licensing to an established company, but sometimes the only way to get the technology commercialized is by creating a company to do it. UF helps to create an average of 10 startups per year. That often leads the inventors to one of the local incubators. The Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator is considered one of the pioneers in biotechnology incubation. The 40,000-squarefoot facility includes 22 wet labs, animal facilities, pilot-scale fermentation facilities, two climate-controlled greenhouses and $1 million of shared equipment. “The concept for business incubation is to help fledgling companies with targeted resources and services,” said Patti Breedlove, the incubator’s associate director. “You must adapt to the kind of companies you serve. In this area most technology startups are bioscience companies, so our business support and facilities are customized for them. There’s no other program in Florida like this. Ours is probably the most customized bioincubation program in the United States.” Since its establishment in 1990, the companies at the Sid Martin center have attracted more than $300 million in equity investment, $150 million in contracts and grants and created more than 550 direct, high-wage jobs. That’s success on a large scale. Nanotherapeutics was an early company in the Sid Martin center. It graduated from the center after a few years, moving into private space in Progress Corporate Park. It now has 28 employees, and in 2009 it received a $30 million contract from the National Institutes of Health. GTEC is a community program run by the city of Gainesville and the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce. The GTEC mission
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(top) The common labs at the center enable these fledgling companies to grow.
(left) A scientist works in a clean room at the Sid Martin center. Both pictures courtesy Debra NeillMareci.
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The equipment in the labs at the Sid Martin center enable the scientist there to be on the cutting edge
(above) The University of Florida’s Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubation Both pictures courtesy Debra Neill-Mareci.
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– a “Grow Your Own” economic development strategy – is to grow technology-based companies in Gainesville and Alachua County to create highskill/high-wage jobs and strengthen the local economy. It provides some of these early-stage technology companies with tools, training and infrastructure. At GTEC, companies get critical help in areas such as writing business plans and making presentations that will attract potential investors. GTEC also helps startup companies with raising funding, establishing management teams and offering introductions to professionals, such as attorneys, accountants, consultants and other professionals. The incubator offers education programs custom tailored to the needs of tech entrepreneurs in conjunction with UF’s Office of Technology Licensing and the Gainesville Area Innovation Network (GAIN), said Donna Foster, GTEC’s communications manager. It also offers some of those traditional incubator services – interaction with other companies at the center, along with furnished office space, dry lab and assembly areas and shared services and equipment. Since inception in 2001, GTEC companies have had a direct and indirect impact of $308 million on the local Gainesville/Alachua County economy. The program has successfully graduated eight technology-based companies, six of which have remained in the Gainesville/Alachua County area. In the last five years, the GTEC companies, including recent graduates, have received more than $53 million in revenues and funding. “The biggest difference for us is the chamber and the city,” said Foster. “The chamber manages the program. The tenants pay about 90 percent of the costs, and the city funds the remaining portion. The principal service we offer tech startups is ongoing strategic advice. Booker Schmidt, our executive director, spends many hours with our companies, going through business plans and strategies, making suggestions and bringing in other experienced advisers and experts to work with the companies.” AxoGen was an early company in the GTEC program. It graduated from the program center after a few years, moving into private space in Progress Corporate Park. It now has more than 40 employees, and it is recognized as a leader in the advancement of peripheral nerve repair. SF’s CIED has been open a little more than a year, and the most significant services it supplies are office support, meeting space and professional development.
“We’re thrilled to be part of the continuum of incubators in our community,” said Jones. “Our motivation with these companies is to generate business opportunities and jobs. Those jobs will be filled by Santa Fe graduates. As a community college, we try to assess the community’s needs and fill the gaps. So working with these companies is at the core of what we do. It’s more of a relationship than a service.” Operating from its downtown facility, Synogen is strikingly different from the others in its structure. Not affiliated with government or academics, Synogen is a private, medical-technology development company. Established in 2003, in most cases Synogen either has purchased ownership in its tenant companies or co-founded the companies at their inception. As a result, it provides equity, consulting and infrastructure. When there is space available, Synogen does include tenants in which they do not have equity. “Most of our companies start with research from UF,” said Richard Allen, a founder and managing director at Synogen. “We are attractive to companies who may want to spin off from UF.” Since its inception, Synogen’s incubator and portfolio companies have created 128 jobs, 79 of which remain in North Central Florida, and its portfolio companies have raised more than $86 million in funding. The Florida Innovation Hub is scheduled to join this group of incubators in December 2011. Using an $8.2 million grant from the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) and $5 million of UF funding, the Florida Innovation Hub will be located at the now-closed Shands at AGH parking lot on Southwest Second Avenue. The 45,000-squarefoot facility will house wet- and dry-lab space and offices, as well as the Office of Technology Licensing and the UF Tech Connect®, an EDA-sponsored program that aids in company creation. “Our program is unique in that it will be integrated with everything else being done in the community,” said Muir. “We will match the entrepreneurs with the startup companies. We truly believe it will be the hub of a lot of activity.” Muir believes that the Florida Innovation Hub will enhance what is already here. “With it, we can be more successful at creating even more startup companies,” she said. “The goal is to fill all the incubators and have to build another one.”
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The Real World By Mary Manchess
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(top left) Ice carving at the Institute ofCulinary Arts at Eastside High School. (bottom right) Students taking a lesson from Chef DeNunzio.
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as a Classroom
unning a retail store, fixing a car or working at a bank may not be exactly what you recall of your high school days. But in the past couple of decades, these places have become classrooms for high school students. Since November 1990 the School Board of Alachua County has been implementing career academy magnet programs. The first was a health professional program at Gainesville High School. Dan Boyd, current superintendent of schools, was the principal at the time and said they created the program because the community had a strong presence of health providers. Since then, 12 other career and technical programs have been created. “We start with the recognition that everyone is different and that it is going to take a lot of different approaches to meet the future needs and aspirations of our students,” Boyd said. “With these programs they become aware of future issues, and when they graduate from our high schools, we hope they are ready to go to work or continue to pursue education.” At the forefront of bringing these programs to the area was David Edwards, the director of career and technical education at the School Board of Alachua County. What both Edwards and Boyd like about these programs is that they engage all levels of students, whether they excel academically or not. And the real-world experience they provide is what Edwards attributes to their greatest success. “I think for higher-level kids it is something they really miss out on; the opportunity to really relate what they are doing in school to what needs to be done in the real world,” he said. He believes that this hands-on approach will also help solve one of education’s biggest struggles – dropout rates. “I think our hands-on approach to education, where we learn by doing real-
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world activities, goes a long way to helping kids stay in school,” Edwards said. “Take for instance the Pythagorean Theorem. Machinists, carpenters and masons couldn’t do their job unless they understand cosine, sine and understand the relationship among those angles. You can talk to a kid until you’re blue in the face in a classroom, but when you are out laying out frames you can see real fast why you want to figure that out, and kids catch on to that really fast.” Aside from just engaging academic interests, Edwards identified two other big advantages to participating in these programs. The first is for students who want to go to a post-secondary institution. They can receive advanced college credit through dual enrollment. The second advantage is for those who want to immediately enter the work force. Participating in these programs will provide them with marketable skills to take with them. Also, with skyrocketing tuition rates, these sellable skills could help a student who would normally not be able to afford college. Edwards is a perfect example of that. In high school, he was involved in a program that would help him become a certified journeyman machinist by the time he was 21. “It is my belief that while you are in high school, if you can learn a set of skills that can help you earn some money to pay for college expenses it sounds to me like a logical thing to do,” he said. “When I went to college and had to pay for tuition, I paid for it on journeyman wages. So for me, I went through college and could pay for it because I was making a lot of money.” He added that through the career academies, many of the students receive scholarships or money through competitions. The Buchholz High School’s Academy of Entrepreneurship has been significantly recognized for its participation in state competitions. According to its director, Donna Martin, 76 students went to the state competition last year, and at least 40 of
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Donna Martin works with a student at Buchholz High School’s Academy of Entrepreneurship.
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Students add the final touches.
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them placed. They also had the highest rate of first-place winners then any other high school in the state. Martin has been at Buchholz since the entrepreneurship program started. “What I like about it is that we have the same students for four years. Over that time you get to know them really well and understand what are their strengths and what they need more help with,” she said. “We tailor our curriculum so that they can learn in a way that best fits their learning style, and we place a special emphasis on developing leadership and communication skills.” Buchholz has been recognized for this type of curriculum several times. The most recent was by a group based in Switzerland called The World Economic Forum. In April, the group published a report, “Educating the Next Wave of Entrepreneurs,” that specifically highlighted Buchholz High School’s Academy of Entrepreneurship as being particularly noteworthy for its methods of connecting entrepreneurship education to the core curriculum. Another program that has received national recognition is the Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School. Billie DeNunzio, known as Chef De to her students, has been producing students who go on to culinary and hospitality colleges across the country for 24 years – many of them on scholarship. The students gain real-world experience by helping to cater events such as Noche de Gala – the massive fundraiser for the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation. But there’s much more than cooking going on there. “We incorporate the academics in our curriculum,” DeNunzio said. “You can’t really learn to do what we do without an understanding of math, science and reading.” With students having so many options in life, the magnets become a perfect way to inspire them. Not everyone wants to be the valedictorian, but that doesn’t mean they can’t find what they want in high school, thanks in part to the career-academy programs.
Things are jumping at Buchholz's Spirit Spot.
Academy Academy of Agriculture and Environmental Resources
Contact
This program prepares students to produce, process and market all types of ornamental and edible plants utilizing project-based learning. Topics include ecology, organic farming, ornamental propagation, nutrient arrangement, pest management, community service, global issues and more.
Eric Stubbs, Director (352) 955-6839 stubbsea@gm.sbac.edu
Designed for students who wish to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, veterinary assisting horticulture and more. Students learn skills that will provide services in breeding, care, feeding, training, health care, grooming and showing of animals or growing and maintenance of plants.
Jo Ann Brady, Director (386) 462-1125 bradyja@gm.sbac.edu
Students use computer-learning modules, tools currently used in the industry and hands-on practices to master the skills. A workshop that is ASE certified is adjacent to the classroom. Students learn to diagnose problems and practice repair procedures on donated and county employee vehicles.
Ray Fayo, Director (352) 955-6839 fayorj@gm.sbac.edu
Designed for students who have interest in the construction field. Students learn skills in the construction industry through classroom, laboratory and work-related experiences. This program is available for students in 11th and 12th grade. Students take academic classes at their home school and spend the afternoon at the School of Construction.
Tony Pavai, Construction Program Recruitment Specialist (352) 395-5048 tony.pavai@sfcc.edu
Prepares students for a wide variety of careers in the criminal justice field. Participation in the Alachua County Sheriff’s Explorer program is available for academy students.
Patrick Treese, Director (352) 472-1101 treesepj@ gm.sbac.edu
Institute of Culinary Arts Eastside High School
Prepares students for careers in the food service industry. While students operate the Hungry Ram Café and Restaurant, they learn skills in areas such as safety, equipment, baking, ice carving, grillwork, kitchen management and sanitation.
Billie DeNunzio, Director (352) 955-6704 denunzwp@gm.sbac.edu
Academy of Entrepreneurship Buchholz High School
Prepares students for success in the business world by learning the principles of starting and operating a business. Students explore career interests through classroom instruction and worksite experiences, including the daily operation of the Spirit Spot (school store) on campus.
Donna Martin, Director (352) 955-6702 martindw@gm.sbac.edu
Academy of Early Childhood Education Professional Academies Magnet at Lofton High School
Students completing the program will graduate with Child Development Associate Equivalency certification, which is now required for working with 4-year-olds under Florida’s Universal PreKindergarten Program.
Kim McConnel, Director (352) 955-6839 mcconnka@gm.sbac.edu
Academy of Finance Buchholz High School
Provides opportunities for students interested in the financial field to learn valuable skills in financial computing, investments, financial planning, securities and accounting. Students also have an opportunity to train at a branch office of Florida Credit Union located on campus.
Michele Brothers, Director (352) 955-6702 brothemm@gm.sbac.edu
The Fire and Emergency Services program prepares students for Fire Fighter I and First Responder. Students have the opportunity to dual enroll in the SFC Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program.
Beth Hardee, Director (352) 955-6839 hardceebj@gm.sbac.edu
Academy of Health Professions Gainesville High School
Provides classroom, laboratory and clinical learning experiences for students interested in a career in a health-related field. Students prepare for certification as either a Certified Nursing Assistant, Dental Aide, Certified Pharmacy Tech, Respiratory Care Aide, Physical Therapy Aide, First Responder/Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Medical Lab Assistant.
Janine Plavac, Director (352) 955-6707 plavacjd@ gm.sbac.edu
Academy of Information Technology Professional Academies Magnet at Loften High School
Students are introduced to the concepts of information technology- the study, design, development, implementation, support and management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware
Tina Gennaro, Director (352) 955-6839 gennarotl@gm.sbac.edy
Professional Academies Magnet at Loften High School Academy of Agriscience Santa Fe High School
Academy of Automotive Technology Professional Academies Magnet at Loften High School
School of Construction Santa Fe College
Academy of Criminal Justice Newberry High School
Academy of Fire and Emergency Medical Services Professional Academies Magnet at Loften High School
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Local Arts Venues By Sara Brubaker and Jessica Lipscomb
Make Gainesville a Great Place to Live
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or decades, Gainesville has supported a flourishing arts culture. Even during difficult economic times, residents in the Heart of Florida remain faithful patrons of Gainesville’s nationally known venues and local staples in the performing and visual arts. The Hippodrome Theatre was founded in Gainesville in 1972. Since then, it has garnered national recognition for its artistically challenging productions, for introducing audiences to some of the world’s most prominent playwrights and for its extensive education and outreach programs. “Our productions are some of the best in the country,” said Mary Hausch, the Hipp’s producing director and cofounder. “As the only professional theatre in the region, we provide the highest quality artistic experiences for our audiences. Our world-class artistic team casts, directs, designs and builds the costumes, props and sets and creates all the magic that you see on stage right here in our building.” In addition to the productions, the Hipp has an impressive education and outreach program. Student matinees, tours, workshops and theatre camps connect young adults with the arts. The Hippodrome Improvisational Teen Theatre, an arts-base prevention program, encourages students to tell the stories that shaped their lives and to find ways to build positive communities. And the Senior Playwright Festival inspires seniors to write plays and gives them the opportunity to see their work produced on the Hipp’s stage. The Hipp casts professional performers, has an Emmy awardwinning resident costume designer and set designer. Because of the quality of their professional standards and the exceptional quality of their work, the Hipp was designated as a State Theatre of Florida in 1981, shortly after it moved into its permanent home in the historic downtown Old Post Office and Federal Building.
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From its humble beginnings in a converted convenience store, the Hipp has grown – through a commitment to the arts and with incredible support of the community – to a nationally renowned theatre hosting such esteemed playwrights as Tennessee Williams, Paula Vogel and Eric Bentley. Likewise, the Gainesville Chamber Orchestra, established in 1983, is made up of local professional musicians who strive to perform music for a diverse audience, said Lynda Bucciarelli, the president of the orchestra’s board of directors. “We try to reach out to members of the community who normally may not get to see classical music performed,” she said. The orchestra’s children’s concert, put on every year in May, gives schoolchildren in Alachua and surrounding counties an opportunity to be stimulated by classical music. “We hope to influence their lives,” Bucciarelli said, “and we’ve gotten some really wonderful responses since we started it 13 years ago.” The orchestra performs traditional and contemporary classical music at a number of concerts every year, including its Masterworks Series at the University Auditorium, its Pops on the Plaza concert downtown and a few small performances at the Thomas Center, among others. The orchestra is supported by grants from the city of Gainesville, Alachua County and several other major community charitable foundations, according to Bucciarelli. She hopes to continue to reach out to a broad, diverse audience. The orchestra offers free tickets to recreation centers and maintains its mission to provide people with a relatively inexpensive opportunity to see classical music performed live. “Along with companies like Dance Alive and the Hippodrome, we’re part of what you do in Gainesville. We try to inspire in young and old a lifelong love for and enjoyment of the arts,” Bucciarelli said. Gainesville residents can even become part of the city’s rich performance culture at the Gainesville Community Playhouse. The playhouse is one of the oldest community theaters in Florida – its first show was produced in 1927. Today, the Gainesville Community Playhouse is housed in the state-of-the-art Vam York Theater, a $2 million building that can seat up to 212 people. The theater is equipped with a hightech lighting system, and a five-piece orchestra performs from the orchestra pit during shows. Bob Garrigues, the president of the playhouse since 1987 and a retired University of Florida professor, said the theater’s all-volunteer staff produces high-quality, familiar performances for the Gainesville community. “Half of what we do is for the people sitting in the audience,” he said. “But the other half is for the people on stage and
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COMMUNITY
Opposite page photos: (Top left) Christopher Wert and Marybeth Gorman dance in Eurydice at the Hippodrome Theatre. (Top right) Performing in Shout the Mod Musical are (from left) Lauren Hathaway, Mackenzie Curran, Rachel Anton, Jennifer Anderson and Kelly Atkins. (bottom left) Kelly Atkins in Alice in Wonderland. Photos courtesy Michael A. Eaddy.
Tim Altmeyer is center stage in The Woman in Black at the Hipp. Photo courtesy Michael A. Eaddy.
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An exterior shot of the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Photo courtesy UFPA.
COMMUNITY
From The Opera Show at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts - photos courtesy UFPA.
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backstage. We give people from all walks of life an outlet to perform and express ourselves.” Garrigues said the playhouse prides itself in producing family-oriented live theater. “There are no tricks, no special effects. This is legitimate theater, and people like to see that,” he said. The playhouse performs seven plays and musicals a year, ranging from serious dramas such as “To Kill a Mockingbird” to musical comedies like “Singin’ in the Rain.” Anyone can audition for any of the performances, Garrigues said, but you don’t have to volunteer your time only on stage. Playhouse volunteers design and construct original sets and costumes for each show. More than 3,500 volunteers who devoted their time and talents as actors, stage crew, technicians, musicians, artists and customers have helped the playhouse develop into the thriving community theater it is today. Gainesville’s higher-learning institutions are finding ways to reach out to the community, too. At Santa Fe College, the Fine Arts department is looking forward to the completion of the Fine Arts Hall, expected to open in spring 2011. The building will facilitate dance, theater, music and visual arts groups, said Alora Haynes, fine arts chair at Santa Fe. “Our campus has the most rich student life that many people don’t know about,” she said. “Everyone who’s involved in the arts knows that it creates a discipline of excellence that can transfer to any career.” Santa Fe’s blossoming fine arts program also boasts 24 full-tuition scholarships for dance, music, theater and visual arts – “unheard of” at most two-year programs, Haynes said. The expansion of the department into the new building will allow for the continued growth of the program and the enrichment of the student population as well as the rest of Gainesville. The University of Florida’s art facilities are also continuing to develop community outreach programs. The Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville’s only art museum, just launched a partnership with the PACE Center for Girls, an organization that helps
girls age 12 to 18 who are at risk for ending up in the juvenile justice system. Harn Museum educators visit the girls and bring in outside artists to give presentations. The girls then visit the museum and create artwork based on what they see. The works they create will be displayed at the PACE Center. The goal is to inspire learning, creativity and confidence. “Art is spirit-lifting,” said Tami Wroath, director of marketing. “Creativity inspires hope which is very beneficial for those who may have grown up in a negative environment or are going through a difficult time.” In addition, the museum hosts Art for Life, a program that brings art education to senior citizens at assisted living centers. Since seniors often can’t make it to the museum, the staff helps bring the arts to them. University of Florida Performing Arts also has many programs in place to give back to Gainesville. One of them, AIM Together, sends performing artists to Shands to perform to smaller groups who are in the hospital for one reason or another. The program aims to bring them a little bit of relief and relaxation. “These are people that because of illness or socio-economic status wouldn’t be able to enjoy the arts. We bring the arts to them,” said Amy Douglas, director of marketing. The center also has a ticket partner program, where local businesses and individuals can purchase tickets to be donated back to the center. A board of members then reassigns the tickets to groups in the community that might not otherwise be able to see or afford a show, like elementary school classes, senior citizen groups or high school dance troupes. While they and others attend performances, the staff at the performing arts center hopes they will come to an even greater appreciation of the arts. “I think some people have an idea that the arts are for a certain type of person, but there’s something here for everyone,” Douglas said. “Art crosses cultures. If you go to the root of artistic expression, it tells us what it means to be human.”
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HAVEN
Goes Polynesian
HOSPIC
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Benefiting the patients and families served by Haven Hospice. Leave your tuxedo at home; the attire is tropical casual.
An An nua Event l Fundraisin Benefi g tting 4200 NW 90th Bl
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All proceeds stay in the community and help support the many programs and services offered by Haven Hospice. Serving North Florida since 1979. Licensed as a not-for-profit hospice since 1980.
606,
352.27
1.4662
COVER STORY
Scherer Construction & Engineering and CAMPUS USA Credit Union By David Greenberg
CAMPUS USA CEO Larry Scott
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photography by Brad Palmer
are Partners for the Community
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hether it is business or personal, there’s probably no better way to excel than by building relationships. There may be no business in the Heart of Florida which knows that better than Scherer Construction & Engineering of North Florida and CAMPUS USA Credit Union.
In the Heart of Florida
Led by President Doug Wilcox, a commercial general contractor, Scherer has spent 25 years building relationships as it built many of the commercial structures in Gainesville, Alachua County and surrounding areas. That sense of relationship is best exemplified by the partnership Scherer has maintained for the last 14 years with CAMPUS USA Credit Union. Whether it is work or community involvement, both these companies are dedicated to building relationships and community. In its 25 years in Florida, Scherer Construction & Engineering has been a leader in giving back to the community. Scherer Construction believes its community is also its customer and wants to help build the communities it calls home. The company’s vision statement, “One team focused on integrity and accountability driven to be the contractor of choice by exceeding customer expectations,” extends to the community. Employees are proud to be a part of the Scherer team and are committed to support projects that benefit the communities in which they live and work. Wilcox encourages and supports employee involvement. The company has a designated committee led by employees to develop programs and volunteer events to support the community. Scherer provides financial support to many local organizations and charities such as the University of Florida, Ronald McDonald House, American Cancer Society, Alachua County Humane Society, North Central Florida YMCA, Boy Scouts of America, local schools, Rotary Club and Salvation Army. In addition to the financial support to local charities, Scherer has held food drives, gathered care packages, held construction presentations at schools and supported co-workers and their families on mission trips. Scherer also has volunteered time and expertise and donated materials and equipment to help complete concrete and site work on many Boy Scout projects, women’s shelters, community centers and Rotary Club projects. Wilcox feels these programs have built closer relationships with the community and have been rewarding experiences for the Scherer team.
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COVER STORY
Scherer Construction & Engineering of North Florida President Doug Wilcox
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Construction workers finish a window on a church north of UF.
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COVER STORY
“We have been very successful in our 25 years,” Wilcox said. “We participate in the community as a way to say thanks, but we also do it because it is the right thing to do.” Wilcox has a strong, personal commitment to the community. He serves on the board of the North Central Florida YMCA, organizes fundraising events for the North Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America and works with the Salvation Army on the local and regional level. He also has worked with children’s sports teams over the years. He learned to swim and played youth sports at a YMCA and continued his involvement with the YMCA when his children were young. “I especially liked that the Y had programs for girls that allowed dads to spend time and share activities such as camping with their daughters as well as with their sons,” he said. “I saw first-hand the good work the Y does, especially for young children and their families.” Partially as a result of that connection, Scherer provides a yearly scholarship fund for swimming lessons to approximately 75 children who would not be able to afford it. Being an Eagle Scout, Wilcox is an avid supporter of the Boy Scouts of America. “Scouting taught me values like how to help others, cooperation, teamwork and the importance of helping the community,” he said. “I’ve seen my twin sons achieve the rank of Eagle Scout and have worked with their troops throughout the years.” Throughout Wilcox’s career, he has made an effort to understand his customers’ business or organization. His initial exposure to the Salvation Army was in construction. “The more I learned about the Salvation Army and the services they provided the more I liked the organization,” he said. “We have staff members on advisory boards in Tampa and Orlando and financially support the Salvation Army’s programs at a local and regional level. CAMPUS USA is just as active in the community. It was one of the first credit unions formed after Congress enacted the Federal Credit Union Act in 1934. Chartered in 1935 as the credit union for the University of Florida, its membership eligibility has evolved over the years. After converting to a community charter in 1999, CAMPUS USA membership is now open to all residents of North Central Florida. CAMPUS USA, with assets of $1 billion, has over 60,000 member-owners and a strong belief in community involvement. “We believe we are a leader in being involved in the community,” said Larry Scott, CAMPUS CEO since 1990. “Our focus is primarily to support programs that have a positive impact on children – especially the health of children.” An example of their commitment to children’s health care is the CAMPUS USA Children’s Miracle Network Visa Credit Card, launched in 2001. A portion of each purchase made with the card results in a direct donation by CAMPUS to Shands Children’s Hospital in Gainesville. To date, this affinity card program has generated over $750,000 in contributions. With no deductions for administrative expenses, 100 percent of these contributions go directly to upgrading facilities, equipment and medical care for children at Shands. This is a program supported by Wilcox and Scherer. “We have seen Shands Children’s Hospital make a huge impact on a child’s quality of life, and we feel honored and blessed to play a small part in helping them serve children from all over the state and country,” said Scott.
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CAMPUS USA and its 228 employees also participate with and support Stop! Children’s Cancer, Take Stock in Children, March for Babies, United Way and many local schools and charities. “I am proud of the care and compassion shown by our employees when it comes to serving others. Our goal is that the concept of partnership with the community carries over to the way we do business – with our members, each other and everyone else with whom we interact,” said Scott. During their 14-year professional relationship, Scherer and CAMPUS USA have partnered on 17 projects – from relatively small remodeling jobs to stand-alone financial institutions. But all those projects are dwarfed by the headquarters Scherer is building for CAMPUS USA in Jonesville. The 95,000-square-foot, three-story headquarters will allow CAMPUS USA to put more than 250 employees in one location and enable the financial institution to improve on the service it has been providing for the community for the last 75 years. The thing about relationships though is that for them to be effective, both sides must be coming from a position of strength, and that is exactly the case here. Scherer Construction & Engineering of North Florida is a commercial general contractor that can do anything from a small remodeling job to a $35 million project. “We offer a broad range of commercialconstruction services, including institutional, educational, aviation, industrial, retail and health and medicine,” said Wilcox. “If you have the need to build, we can do it for you, and this is a great time to make it happen. We have plenty of capacity and are ready to go to work.” Wilcox has been with Scherer Construction since 1986, first working as a draftsman, superintendent and project manager in the St. Petersburg office, before coming to Gainesville in 1988 to open the office here. In its 75 years in the community, CAMPUS USA has grown tremendously as a financial institution – started by seven University of Florida professors as a credit union dedicated to serving the university and Shands employees. That’s what it was when Wilcox discovered it. “When I came here in 1988, my wife was a nurse at Shands, so we became a member of Campus Credit Union,” Wilcox said. “My first bank account was in a credit union, so it was natural that we started the relationship with CAMPUS.” HOME Living
Wilcox examines plans with Pat Wynkoop.
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Wilcox and Scott examine the inside of the new CAMPUS USA headquarters.
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CAMPUS USA celebrates its 75th year in the community in March. Today, it manages assets of more than $1 billion and has more than $750 million in loans while serving members along the Interstate 75 corridor from The Villages to Lake City. “We are financially fit and are proud to serve a wide variety of consumer needs from basic checking accounts to consumer loans to sophisticated commercial loans,” said Scott. “We certainly have ample funds and remain ready to work with qualified borrowers.” Much of the credit of the success at CAMPUS USA goes to Scott, his staff and its wise fiscal policy, but some of it comes from the relationship with Scherer Construction. “Because we have done so many projects together, Doug and his people know what we need,” Scott said. “We know how to build financial solutions. Doug knows how to build buildings. The more time we have to spend on construction management, the less time we can spend on what we need to do. If we weren’t working with Doug, I probably would have to have someone on staff familiar with building construction.. “After 17 projects you might think there would have been a conflict, but I can’t think of a harsh word we have ever said to each other,” Scott said. “I have to believe that this has been mutually beneficial to both companies.” Wilcox agrees that it is a partnership that works well for both. “Until we started working on the headquarters building, CAMPUS accounted for about 5 to 7 percent of our annual business,” he said. “With the headquarters building, they became a much bigger part of our business in the last year. For the first project, there was a learning curve. The second time that learning curve was smaller. The third time we were almost on autopilot. We always use the same leadership team on our end. That saves us time, and as a result, it saves CAMPUS money.” Scott says he did not have to look too far when it came time to find a builder for the credit union’s headquarters. “This building was a culmination of a lot of effort,” he said. “We were in the planning stages for about 10 years. We are consolidating all aspects of our services into one building. We think of this as an iconic building for us. We have watched Doug’s company grow and become more diversified. He has literally grown with us. As we looked at qualified contractors for a 95,000-sqaure-foot building, we thought Scherer, with Doug’s leadership, was ready for that challenge. Doug and his people are accountable. He deals with you with integrity, and he recruits and retains qualified staff and subcontractors.” The relationship with CAMPUS USA has helped Wilcox develop a business model. “Our business is very fluid,” he said. “We’re always looking toward the next job, and if you think about it, we are constantly
In the Heart of Florida
working ourselves out of a job. It is important to me to keep that customer happy, so he wants to use us for that next job. I have had clients who were friends of mine, and I was often warned that if I wanted to keep them as friends, I should not do that. But they all remain friends. I have never had an issue with a client that could not be resolved with a phone call or face-to-face meeting.” Wilcox believes that a job is not done right if the client does not want to do the next job with you. “We certainly don’t want to leave them thinking that they want to do the next job with someone else,” he said. “I operate under the golden rule. That’s the way I was taught by my father. Because of that we were still picking up work – even in this economy. It is all about relationship building.” Additionally, Scherer and CAMPUS USA have partnered in other ways, with the financial institution providing resources for some of the construction company’s projects. Wilcox recalls a mini-storage complex where he was the general contractor. At the last minute, the developer decided against moving forward. Scherer became the developer, CAMPUS USA the current lender, and Wilcox and Scherer still owns the property today. On another occasion, Wilcox says he was building a manufacturing facility in the airport industrial park. Shortly after the building was complete, the manufacturer went bankrupt. “We bought the building with a group of partners,” said Wilcox. “CAMPUS financed that, and it all got done in two weeks. Campus has certainly helped us through the years. We borrowed to expand the business – to build up our fleet of vehicles and for our office building. I echo Larry’s words, that this has definitely been a mutually beneficial relationship.” Another benefit for Scherer of the partnership with CAMPUS USA is that it has allowed Wilcox to build additional relationships with other business owners who stand ready to work with him again when the opportunity presents itself. One of those relationships is with Ken Creel, who owns AERSI, an automotive repair business in the Northwest Industrial Park, specializing in Lexus, Toyota and Scion. The relationship goes back to 1995, when Scherer built the structure currently used by AERSI. “I knew nothing about building or financing,” Creel said. “Doug walked me through the entire process, including permitting, which took six months. The building went up on time and on budget. It was always clean during construction. Every time I had a question during construction, someone here could answer it. We’ve been in the building 15 years and have had some upgrades. I just pick up the phone and tell Doug what I want.” Things went so well that Creel later worked with Scherer on two spec buildings on his property. “Doug even helped me develop a relationship with CAMPUS, making the construction that much easier,” said Creel. “The spec buildings were sold, so it was a successful venture for everybody. I believe that when you do business with people everyone should win. This has been good for the credit union, for the community, for the industrial park, for my customers, for Scherer and for me. That’s a win for everybody.” It is obvious that these are two partners who have helped to make each other successful, and with both of them running their businesses and community involvement through relationship building, it has been a win-win for them and the community.
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WHAT’S YOUR STYLE? One of the workers does some welding on the stairway inside the entry of the CAMPUS USA headquarters in Jonesville
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LIFESTYLE
Fashion
From dinner to dancing, Greg Bradley is sure to shine in this suit provided by John Isaac’s Clothing.
Corner by Emily Davis photography by Brad Palmer
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Dressed by John Isaac’s Clothing, Brian Scarborough is wearing a more casual option, perfect for any date night.
photo location for both photos courtesy Gateway Bank
Clothing From Casual to Fully Custom Tailored John Mitchell - Owner (352) 225-3577 phone (352) 262-7920 cell JohnIsaacsClothing.com
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A woman’s best accessory… We’re all familiar with the saying “a woman’s best accessory is a well-dressed man.” But ladies, can’t we have our cake and eat it too?
With these looks from John Isaac’s Clothing and Allure Boutique you can get the beau and the bling. Now that’s fabulous. If you’re looking for a new conversation piece, try this necklace and earring combo from Allure Boutique.
No outfit is complete without a fabulous pair of shoes. Ditch those old pumps and try one of these from Allure Boutique
Every girl needs her classic chandelier earrings, these from Allure Boutique will compliment any outfit.
These stunning yelow earrings from Allure Boutique are sure to add an element of fun to any little black dress
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photo location courtesy Piesanos
LIFESTYLE
Adam Bolton is dressed to perfection for any black tie affair. Vest and tie by John Isaac’s Clothing.
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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
Travel Back in Time in
Savannah By Morgan Watkins
Photos courtesy Savannah Area VCB/ www.SavannahVisit.com
During the holidays, the historic district comes alive with seasonal decorations.
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hen it comes to low-country delights and traditional Southern hospitality, no city does it quite like Savannah. The Georgia town, credited as being the nation’s first planned city, boasts some of the best eats, coolest sights and nicest residents around – making it the perfect weekend getaway for a couple looking to rekindle their romance or a family looking for a break from the usual cycle of school and work. As one of the country’s oldest cities, Savannah has something to offer everyone. For romance, look no farther than the city’s quaint bed and breakfasts, a nice dinner at the Old Pink House Restaurant and a beautiful evening walk down River Street. For a family vacation, let the kids explore the delights of Savannah’s Candy Kitchen and enjoy the beaches of Tybee Island, only about 15 miles from Savannah’s Historic District. “Savannah offers an authentic American experience,” said Erica Backus, director of public and media relations for the Savannah Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “You can feel the energy of its residents, who are always happy to say hello and help out.” A town filled with history, Savannah offers a slice of the past to every visitor. Dine at the Pirate’s House, a famous restaurant that was once a popular tavern for pirates sailing the Caribbean Sea in the late 1700s. Some of the events at this old tavern even inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write “Treasure Island.” Another famous novel based on occurrences in Savannah is “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” Avid readers wanting to bring the story to life can visit the Mercer-Williams House, where Jim Williams once lived and Danny Hansford was killed, thus laying the foundation for the famous novel. It is now a museum open to the public. Visitors can even catch the Lady Chablis, a transvestite made famous in the novel, at her own one-woman show. Families with a young Girl Scout or two can take her to see the birthplace of the woman who started it all, Juliette Gordon Low. “It’s an old city with a rich history,” Backus said. “You can really appreciate its beauty.” Savannah offers city tours on everything from history to architecture to ghosts, so visitors can often find tours that meet the interests of all their traveling companions. Considered by some to be “America’s Most Haunted City,” the town offers hearse tours where people are told some of the city’s scariest ghost stories while sitting in an actual hearse. Couples can even take a pub crawl, taking you through the town’s haunted neighborhood while making stops at some of the local bars to tell a ghost story or two over a few pints. While steeped in history and tradition, the residents of Savannah also know how to have a good time. River Street, bustling with couples and families strolling amongst the street musicians and artists who work along the road, is filled with interesting shops and restaurants for vacationers to explore, Backus said. Shopaholics can appreciate the town’s wide array of stores, from the trendsetting styles of Broughton Street and City Market to the vintage and antique shops in the Historic District. The Savannah College of Art and Design brings a lot of artistic
influence to the city, which can be seen in some of its fine art products and galleries throughout the town. When it’s time to stop in for a bite to eat and a rest for one’s feet, visitors can enjoy the coastal cuisine and southern dishes for which Savannah is famous. For a high-end dining experience, try Elizabeth’s on 37th. Meanwhile, Paula Deen fans can check out her restaurant, the Lady & Sons. For dessert, head over to Leopold’s Ice Cream, one of Savannah’s favorite shops. The store opened in 1919 and has remained a family affair ever since, said Mary Leopold, co-owner of the establishment. She runs the store with her husband, movie producer Stratton Leopold, who was a producer on the 2010 horror remake The Wolfman and many other films, including Mission: Impossible 3. “I think what makes this shop special is that it has something for everyone in the family. It’s rare today to have a place where
The Savannah Belle Ferry travels the waters of the Savannah River bringing passengers from one side of river to the other.
there’s something for everyone,” Leopold said. “The 2-year-old is as happy as the 91-year-old here.” Her husband grew up with the store and loves working there when he is not working on films. The shop includes movie paraphernalia as well as some of the original structures from the store’s early days, including a stainless steel soda fountain from 1950 and cabinets from 1920. “We’re just a little ice cream shop in Savannah, Georgia following a family tradition,” she said. “It’s an unusual spot but it fits into Savannah, which has a lot of quirky places.”
." y r o t is h h ic r a h it w y it c ld o n a "It’s LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com
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(above) St. Patrick’s Not to be outdone by the tasty cuisine, the city’s nightlife is as lively as its residents. Enjoy live music ranging from jazz to bluegrass playing Day is celebrated in a throughout the night, or visit a local piano bar or pub to get a taste of big way in Savannah. the city after the stores have closed and work is done for the day.
here,” said Jeff McLaughlin, area general manager for the Kessler Collection, which includes the Mansion as well as the Bohemian, its sister hotel in Savannah. The Mansion on Forsyth Park, located about a mile away from the Savannah River, includes an art gallery and is furnished with various pieces from the collection of Richard Kessler, who owns the hotel and other properties of the Kessler Collection that McLaughlin oversees. Couples looking for a nice bed and breakfast to spend their weekend should check out local B&Bs like the Olde Harbour Inn, once a bluff-side warehouse that is now an inn offering suites overlooking the Savannah River. No matter what lodging you choose, be sure to enjoy the sights, sounds and Southern hospitality Savannah is known for during your stay in one of the nation’s most beautiful and historic cities.
“Savannah is a unique destination because it’s such a walkable city,” Backus said. “You can explore some of its nighttime hot spots really easily.” Those looking to kick up their heels and have some fun on St. Patrick’s Day should consider taking a trip up to Savannah. The city’s celebration is amongst the best in the country. The parade is the second-largest of its kind in the country, starting at 10 a.m. and lasting more than three and a half hours. On River Street, the party runs all day as the road is filled with people, food, beer and live music. The city gets so many visitors looking to share in the revelry that the town practically doubles in size, Backus said. The city even dyes its fountains green for the occasion. Other must-see events include the second-annual Savannah book festival, which brings together authors from all over the country in early February, and the Black Heritage Festival that runs f r o m Feb. 6 to 21. Music lovers may enjoy making their way up to the old city for a few days to enjoy the live music played almost non-stop during the Savannah Music Festival, which runs from March 18 to April 3. With great low fares, nonstop service to our Charlotte If your desire is to spend a few days hub from Gainesville Airport and easy connections, some of the in the historic city, whatever the occasion, world’s most exciting destinations are now closer to home. make a few arrangements for their stay. For high-end luxury, try the Mansion on Book your next flight at usairways.com. Forsyth Park, a restored Victorian mansion located in the Historic District. “Some people want to be on the river with all the restaurants and people, but some want to be where we (the Mansion on Forsyth Park) are. It’s a little quieter out
We’ve brought the world even closer to Gainesville.
(above) Savannah’s City Market provides delicious outdoor dining.
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North Central Florida’s
HOME Show
March 13and March 14, 2010 at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center
“March is usually the time of year when people are thinking about fixing up their yard, doing a remodeling project or thinking of buying a new home. The Home Show is unique in that it provides an opportunity for people to get ideas, have questions answered and to see the latest home products all in one place and all at one time,” said Ivan Oelrich, 2010 BANCF President. This year an “Ask the Professional” series has been added to the Home Show. It will consist of popular home owner topics that will be presented both Saturday and Sunday. For more information, contact Margie Krpan at the Builders Association of North Central Florida (352) 372-5649. 10am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday Admission is $4.00 per person Children 16 & under free
HEALTH & FITNESS
Sticking with By Mara Rudolph
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Personal trainer Robin Zukowski works with a group of her friends.
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Your New Year’s Exercise Resolutions
photography by Brad Palmer
e all do it – make that commitment on the first of January and forget about it by the first of February. And more often than not, the resolution dealt with exercise. Robin Zukowski, a personal trainer at Gainesville Health and Fitness, suggests the reason for that inability to stick to resolutions is that people tend to make unrealistic goals. “Nobody feels motivated by something they’re horrible at. You need to make it easy to be successful,” she said. “You can start out by saying, ‘I’m healthy if I drink water today,’ or ‘I’m healthy if I go to the gym today.’ Make a simple goal with the end in mind.” She also said that it’s important to evaluate how you’re doing in sticking to your resolution every so often. “It’s okay to reevaluate what you’re doing and ask, ‘What is realistic for me?’” she said. “Find what it is that’s keeping you from your goals.” All fitness trainers will agree that the key to staying healthy is providing variety in your workout. Zukowski said it is important to make being healthy fun, whether it is through mixing your cardio up with an interval workout, kayaking at a nearby park on the weekends or joining a casual sports team. “Find something you enjoy doing, and do it a lot,” she said. Another way to add variety is to exercise in a group. Zukowski said she has seen many people who have had much more success in getting and staying healthy through working in a group atmosphere. “With groups, you become connected outside of that one hour of class. You start to connect with people that are healthy and create a network of people,” she said. “If you exercise with people you like, it is much more motivating.” Even without a gym membership, there are plenty of ways
In the Heart of Florida
to exercise in a group around Gainesville. “Just look into the community and see what’s available,” Zukowski said. “The sooner you can network into a group, the more fun it is to exercise.” It’s no surprise that stick to those workout resolutions is easier at a place like Gainesville Health and Fitness. That’s probably because the philosophy comes straight from the top. Sticking to your resolutions is something the fitness center’s founder, Joe Cirulli, knows a lot about. With just 12 cents to his name at the age of 21, Cirulli set aside 10 goals for himself. A few were “easy” goals, like obtain a black belt in karate. Most were not. Own a community-respected health club in Gainesville, own homes near the mountains and the ocean, save $1 million. By the age of 33, Cirulli had achieved all of them. Even with his goals achieved, Cirulli was not content to stop there. “Success is a course, not a destination,” he said. “If I don’t keep working hard, I’ll just make it back to the bottom.” He made a new goal – to help create an experience at his business that helps people get the most out of life. Now, he spends most of his days encouraging other people to reach their goals, no matter how small or simple they might seem. “There’s a quote I always connected with,” he said. “You can have everything you want in life if you help enough people get what they want.” Cirulli and all of his staff realize the importance they play in helping their clients meet their goals. “It’s about looking at the future and determining what it takes to get there,” Cirulli said. Both Cirulli and Zukowski agree that the number one way to stick to a resolution is to just get up and do it without making excuses. “You’re bigger than the excuses you’ve made for not doing it,” Cirulli said. “Don’t ever move away from what you’re thinking. If you can put your goals into your brain as dominant thoughts, you will subconsciously move towards those goals. You have to put the big why in front of you and ultimately decide who you are and what you want to be.”
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CHARITIES
Marching for Hope and Babies
By Stephanie Thomas
(above) The march begins. Photo courtesy march of Dimes.
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It’s an 8.6-mile party, and it’s helping to save the lives of babies all over the country. There’s no better way to describe what happens each spring as thousands of people take to the streets to raise money for programs that help ensure moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies. Benjamin Lok and his wife, Laura, didn’t know about the work of the March of Dimes and March for Babies until they experienced the struggles of a family raising two premature babies. Twins, Brandon and Sophia, were born 13 weeks early on July 25, and they weighed less than two pounds each. “We were thrust into a situation where we had two kids struggling to survive. It was then that I learned firsthand of the important work the March of Dimes conducts and how we as a family have benefited from all the people who have volunteered their time and energy and walked in previous years,” Lok said.
Both babies have grown and developed despite terrifying bouts of sickness, including pneumonia and hemorrhaging. Each spring, approximately 900 communities across the nation participate in a charity event, March for Babies, to raise funds for March of Dimes. The walk takes place in Gainesville on March 27, and in Ocala on April 24, which is national walk day said Betsy Trent, executive director of the March of Dimes of North Central Florida. As a result of the tireless volunteer and fundraising efforts of the community, March for Babies events in the North Central Florida region are continually recognized as the top fundraisers in the country “We live in a very giving and caring community where the staff works closely with each organization to help them understand our mission. They know we are a credible organization with a history for success. Working together, we can accomplish our goal,” Trent said.
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The money raised is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. In 2008 alone, March of Dimes invested $26.8 million in research towards these causes, according to their Web site. The Lok twins are featured on this year’s March for Babies poster. In addition, Lok and his wife will serve as spokespeople and motivators to get others involved in the walk. “We have and will continue to give speeches to motivate others on why premature babies are more than ‘just another cause,’” Lok said. Participants have been walking since 1970 and collectively March of Dimes has raised more than $1.8 billion to benefit babies. The North Central Florida division of March of Dimes has been working to raise awareness for premature babies since 1971. About 6,000 participate in the walk locally each year. The funds raised contribute toward research and programs on a national and local level. This includes the local NICU Family Support Program® and the prematurity campaign. “The prematurity campaign emphasizes that one-eighth of all babies are born prematurely. For over half of these births, medical experts don’t know the reason why,” Trent said. “We continue to educate people about what we know can cause premature birth in order to prevent it, but we also know that many women can do everything right and still have a premature baby,” she said. The NICU Family Support Program® provides a necessary system of support to help families cope with the anxiety and trials a family suffers when their baby or babies are in the neonatal intensive care unit. “Surgeries, emergencies and critical health decisions are all likely a part of families with babies in the NICU. They are often silent out there, trudging through a family episode that is rife with uncertainty and fear,” Lok said. Local fundraising has encouraged recent advancements in research that improved the quality of life for families such as the Loks. “An experimental use of a drug initially slated for colon cancer has enabled Brandon to have his full eyesight potential instead of the possibility of losing all or some of his vision. This treatment was not even in Shands 10 months ago,” Lok said. The walk starts and ends at Westwood Middle School Athletic Field on NW 31st Drive. Spirit Stations along the walk about a half mile apart encourage walkers and keep them fueled with snacks and drinks along the way.
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Each station has its own sponsor and theme for the event, Trent said, giving examples of a Wizard of Oz theme or “bananas for babies,” where volunteers pass out bananas as walker snacks. “Spirit stations are an opportunity for companies to market themselves and notify the community of their efforts. They are a critical component to keep the 8.6 mile street party going,” Trent said. Each team member walks to celebrate and honor a baby or in remembrance of one who didn’t survive. Family or company teams are created with the mission for all babies to be born healthy. “As we celebrate babies born healthy and safe, we also recognize there are still too many babies that do not survive their first year of birth and there is still a lot to be done,” she said. Ambassador Avenue is meant to serve as a reminder of why people are raising funds and walking. Approximately 40 families with babies who were born healthy, or babies who were born with problems, serve as team ambassadors. They are stationed along Glen Springs Road to thank the walkers for what they are doing to help ensure the health of all babies. To continue remembering the babies, Memory Mile is a mile of posters made for babies lost due to preterm birth or other birth defects. Statistics of infant health are also displayed along the walk. “There are multiple reminders throughout the walk about what this event is for. Our overall mission is that all babies are born healthy,” Trent said. “It’s all about the celebration of babies and having a great time.” To learn more, visit www.marchofdimes.com.
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(above) Walkers eat and celebrate after successfully finishing the march. Photo courtesy March of Dimes.
(below) Food, drink and gifts at the spirit station
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CHARITIES
VIVA! Goes Polynesian for Haven Hospice
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aven Hospice’s is mixing up its annual signature fundraising event VIVA! with an island twist. This year, the fundraiser, to be held April 10 at the Judi and Davis Rembert Farm, is swapping its former Cajun cuisine and jazz music for Polynesian dancers and tropical-casual attire. The evening’s festivities will also include gaming, psychics, a live and silent auction, cigar rollers and more. “The key for this event is to maintain the fun, casual and elegant atmosphere because people really enjoy that part of it,” said Michael Morse, vice president for organizational advancement. VIVA! Goes Polynesian will raise money to help cover the costs of patient care, as well as the many unique donorsupported programs and services offered by Haven Hospice. “Our commitment is to provide care to anyone who needs our care regardless of their ability to pay,” Morse said.
By Jessica Lipscomb and Katie Gillen
Haven Hospice is known for providing quality end-of-life care, but end-of-life care is only a part of the grief counseling for families, including specific programs for children and teens and those coping with loss in the workplace. Haven Hospice also has its own resale store called The Attic, where the revenue goes to support unfunded patient care and the programs and services Haven provides. Caring for family, friends, neighbors and coworkers is something Haven Hospice has been doing for more than 30 years. Haven serves North Florida and has cared for nearly 50,000 patients and families since it opened in 1979. To help continue to provide these critical services, events like VIVA! Goes Polynesian are a critical part of Haven Hospice’s fundraising efforts. Over the past five years, ViVA! has generated almost $900,000 in cash support and $300,000 in in-kind support, while helping to raise awareness. “It’s as much about people coming and learning about what we do as it is about fundraising,” Morse said. “Our goal is to keep it fresh and fun so that people will always want to come back.” To learn more about Viva! Goes Polynesian, go online to www.vivameanslife.org or call Stephanie Brod at (352) 271-4665.
(above) Rod Smith auctions off a Gator football.
(above) Everyone has fun at VIVA! (left) Tom Mallini, of M&S Bank, sits with Davis Rembert behind him.
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Peaceful Paths Domestic Abuse Network
Hope Builds Hope The campaign to rebuild
A Guest Chef Cocktail Party benefitting Peaceful Paths Randy Batista, Media Image Photogrpahy
When: Where:
Thursday, April 8, 6-8 pm The Sweetwater Branch Inn 625 East University Avenue
The event will include fine food and wines, a silent auction, and live jazz. Tickets are $50 per person and may be purchased in advance or at the door. For more information on tickets, being a chef, or to donate an auction item, or to make a general donation call 352-377-5690 or visit our website at:
www.PeacefulPaths.org This event sponsored by
Dr. Paul J. Schilling — Community Cancer Center of North Florida
On February 25, 2009 Peaceful Paths’ Outreach Office was completely destroyed in a tragic fire. Prior to the fire, the agency’s $1 million facility allowed Peaceful Paths to provide comprehensive outreach services to an average of 125 women and children in groups, individual sessions, and walk-in crisis counseling per week. Please help us rebuild. Contributors to the Capital Rebuilding Fund at the $100 level and above will receive an engraved brick in the Peaceful Path. Donate by check or on the website through PayPal.
P.O. Box 5099 Gainesville, FL 32627-5099 352.377.5690 352.378.9033 FAX www.PeacefulPaths.org
CHARITIES
Building Community By Gregg Pachkowski
All Over the World
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t was a blistering 93 degrees with 91 percent humidity. I had sweat so much by 10 a.m. that my soaked shirt could hold no more. But I continued to photograph as I told myself, I’m from Florida and should be used to this. And after all, if 85-yearold former President Carter and his wife can handle it, so can I. And so began day one of Habitat for Humanity’s 2009 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project at the main site in the Nong Kon Kru village outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand. Two thousand volunteers from 32 countries gathered to build 166 new houses (at sites in Thailand, China, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos) in one week. Sure this was ambitious, but then again Habitat has done Volunteers finish laying this many times. In fact, for the 26th year, Habitat’s best known bricks in preparation for volunteers Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter offered their time, talent installing the roof. and name to the five-day blitz build to get the job done. On Monday, Nov.16, the work site was merely a large field of cement foundations and raw materials. It was hard to conceive that in one week this would soon be turned into a Myth or Fact brand-new community for Myth: Habitat For Humanity Was Founded By Former U.S. President 82 fortunate families at the Jimmy Carter. main location in Chiang Fact: Habitat was started in 1976 in Americus, Ga., by Millard and Mai, Thailand. Linda Fuller. President Carter and his wife Rosalynn (whose home Undaunted by the task is eight miles from Americus, in Plains, Ga.), have been longtime ahead of them, the sea of Habitat supporters and volunteers who help bring attention to the volunteers gathered at their organization. Each year, they lead the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work assigned houses, had a Project to help build houses and raise awareness of the need for short meeting and began to affordable housing. lay the first of nearly 3,000 Myth: Habitat For Humanity Gives Houses Away To Poor People. bricks per house. Fact: H ouses are not given to anyone. Habitat for Humanity builds houses Following Habitat’s with people in need and then sells the houses to homeowner partners mission of creating simple, through no-profit loans. Because houses are built principally by decent, affordable shelter, volunteers, mortgage payments are reasonable for families unable the plans for this year’s to obtain conventional financing. Habitat homeowners typically project in Thailand called have incomes that are 30 to 50 percent of the median income in the for cement brick houses area. They are required to invest hundreds of hours in sweat equity 36 square meters (a little – that is time spent building their own home or other Habitat houses. less than 400 square feet) in size. While no larger than a For more myths and truths go to: www.habitat.org
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photography by Photography 35
typical two-car garage in the United States, these well-designed and sturdy structures will become their new inhabitants’ castles. The story is similar among all of these home-partner families. They currently live in deplorable substandard housing. Most of them can only afford to rent, and what they rent is nearly uninhabitable. For instance, the Matip family has been living in a shanty made of plywood walls and a zinc roof in a slum along a canal. In rainy season the canal (filled with human and other waste) overflows, and they have to wade through the chest-deep water to get to their flooded hut. Beyond the dilapidated condition of the house, the family contends with the foul smell of sewage and the presence of rats. Likewise, Chunkum Duangtip, his wife, Kamnoi, and three children live in a small apartment on a swine farm near a water treatment facility. The family not only has to cope with the unpleasant smells of swine farming, but also with ever-present insects and other health risks. This year Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter worked on house No. 40 – the Duangtip house. The former peanut farmer turned president and first lady worked side by side with the pig farmer and his wife. And as the temperature rose, so did the walls. By day’s end, the site was starting to take shape. At the end of day three, with the walls nearly complete, volunteers were treated to a traditional Thai dinner and show with music and dancers. As the program completed, all were invited to an open lot to help launch traditional khom loi (or floating lanterns). The 82 paper sky-lanterns, one for each house being built, formed a new constellation as they floated off into the night sky. As believed, with them soared the hopes and dreams for good luck and prosperity as they flew heavenward. Over the course of the next two days, metal trusses were manually hoisted into place, green fiber-cement roof sheets were installed and doors were hung. What was once a barren field was now truly a community. The last order of business was to dedicate the buildings. The homeowners, their families and the volunteers all gathered at their respective houses. During a brief ceremony, speeches were made, prayers were said, and most importantly, the keys were presented to the new homeowners. Following a personal tradition, long-time volunteer and house leader Lloyd Troyer invited everyone that worked on his house to say a few words, starting with the homeowner. Chunkum Duangtip had tears running down his face as he thanked the Carters and all those who helped make his house a reality. By the time it was her turn, fellow long-time Habitat volunteer Valerie Bean was a ball of tears herself as she told the Duangtip family that it was she that was honored to work on their house.
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CHARITIES
(opposite page) Homeowner Guan Matip (wearing blue) wipes excess mortar at her new house as volunteer Chanadda Areewongs watches. (below) Former President and First Lady Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter work on one of the homes is Chiang Mai.
I have been fortunate to have experienced this joy time and time again. In fact, my wife, Angel and I have been photographing for Habitat for Humanity International for 10 years. Habitat has taken us to many places as near as the two LAs – Los Angeles and Lower Alabama – and as far as India and South Africa. Over the years our photographs have appeared in Habitat World Magazine, on the Habitat Web site and brochures and some are featured in new book – If I Had a Hammer by David Rubel. The book introduces the world of Habitat for Humanity to young readers who will hopefully be future Habitat volunteers. While volunteer opportunities are certainly available internationally, they are also available in our own backyard. Habitat for Humanity is active right here in Alachua County. No experience necessary. If you are interested in making a donation or volunteering your time, you can contact Habitat for Humanity International (www.hfhi.org) or Alachua Building materials are Habitat for Humanity (www.alachuahabitat.org). stored at the Buddhist Angel and Gregg Pachkowski own Gainesville’s Photography 35. To learn more about them and their involvement in Habitat for Humanity, go to www.photography35.com. temple next to the work site.
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CHARITIES
Putt-ing children first By Jessica Lipscomb
(above) Golfers have a ball at the Urban Meyer Scramble. Photo courtesy Photography 35.
(right) Urban Meyer shows his form. Photo courtesy Photography 35.
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For the Boys & Girls Club, the money raised will help to provide services to about 3,500 children per year, said Laura Javidi, special events coordinator. “At Children’s Home Society of Florida, the funds are used in Alachua County for adoption services, in-home family support services and the family visitation center,” said Children’s Home Society of Florida Executive Director Jennifer Anchors. “The success of this event has become more critical than ever given these challenging economic times. Our sponsors have really come through in helping these three organizations stay on their feet through this crisis,” said Girls Place Executive Director Renae Clements “This golf tournament will assist all three of our organizations in this critical time for additional funding,” Javidi said. The tournament takes place Feb. 17-20 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course at University of Florida. For more information and a schedule of events, please visit www.urbanmeyerscramble.com.
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oach Urban Meyer might be on a break, but the Urban Meyer Scramble for Kids isn’t. In fact, the charity golf tournament, previously hosted by former head coaches Steve Spurrier and Ron Zook, is entering its 19th year. Despite Meyer’s leave of absence from the UF football program, event coordinators say he will still have a large role in hosting the tournament. The Scramble for Kids involves a banquet dinner, a proam round and two golf scrambles, with proceeds going to local children’s charities Boys & Girls Club, Children’s Home Society of Florida and Girls Place Inc. At the banquet dinner, sponsors and golfers are able to brush arms with the esteemed coach in Touchdown Terrace while gearing up for a weekend on the green. Last year, the event raised about $100,000 for the three charities. Event chair Darrell Card hopes this year the event can “stay the course.” “Over the course of the years, about $1.5 million to $2 million has been donated to the charities,” he said. “They depend on it. They really need it. Times are tough for them.”
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CHARITIES
Emerging Leaders By Morgan Watkins
L
Kick In for Charity
ocal businesses searching for a fun way to support their favorite charities need look no farther than the fourth annual Champions for Charity kickball tournament this February. The event, hosted by Alachua County Emerging Leaders and presented by the Florida Farm Bureau, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. at Diamond Sports Park. It gives both corporate and nonprofit participants the chance to compete for big donations to the local nonprofit charities they support. “The cool thing about it is that not just one charity benefits,” said Bryan Williams, of McGriff-Williams Insurance and co-chair of the ACEL committee that organizes the tournament each year.
While only 16 teams played last year, the ACEL committee is capping the number of teams for this year’s tournament at 24. Twenty teams are registered to play already, with a few remaining spots available to interested teams. Each team pays an entry fee that is contributed as part of the events’ total charity donations. Fees for new teams increase as the tournament nears, but the usual fee is $500, said Jodi Bennett, of Sun Country Sports Center and Williams’ co-chair on the ACEL kickball committee. The tournament is played through doubleround eliminations, and top-placing teams receive donations for the charity of their choice. Local sponsors also contribute to the event. Some provide financial donations while vendors like PizzaVito, Gator Domino’s and Adam’s rib Co. donate food for the event, Williams said. While the Champions for Charity tournament began as a small event a few years ago, it has gotten bigger each year, Bennett said. Bennett, Williams and the ACEL committee that run the event work on planning the tournament year round as it expands with each coming year. “It’s a really fun event,” Williams said. “It just continues to grow from year to year as we continue to get more people and teams involved.” To learn more about the tournament, go online to www.acelfl.com/kickball.
Several locally organizations kicked in for charity.
The committee tries to raise at least $5,000 annually to support local charities through the tournament, with the top donations going to the top team’s charities. About $25,000 has been raised over the last three years by the event, going to various local charities such as the Tyler’s Hope Foundation, a local nonprofit organization working toward finding a cure for dystonia, a neurological movement disorder. This charity received $2,000 last year when the Gainesville Junior Chamber of Commerce’s team, the “Jaycees,” won first place in the kickball tournament. This year the event will be held at the Diamond Sports Park instead of the Alachua County Fairgrounds, where it’s been held in the past, because the park’s baseball and softball fields will allow them to expand the tournament and let more teams play, said Williams.
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CHARITIES Junior League of Gainesville, Inc.
Tour Gainesvil e’s trendy kitchens
Women Building Better Communities
By Callie Polk
E
(right) One of the chefs prepares some tasty treats during the Tour of Kitchens.
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at Junior League fundraiser
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ver drive by a home in Gainesville and wish you could see what’s inside? This is your once-a-year opportunity. The Junior League of Gainesville is once again opening the doors of local homes to the community with its sixth-annual Tour of Kitchens: Inside and Out on March 20. The event raises money for Junior League programs and services while providing an opportunity to see the most unique kitchen designs and outdoor living spaces. “It’s the intrigue of when you pass a home and want to see the kitchen or the backyard patio. Now you can have that opportunity,” said Sherilyn Farris, Junior League of Gainesville president. The Junior League of Gainesville is a women’s organization with about 500 members committed to promoting voluntarism, developing women’s potential and improving communities. The organization’s signature project, Miracle on Main Street, provides new toys to families in need during the holidays. Toys were given to almost 400 families in the past year thanks to donations from the community and league members. A large portion of money raised by the Junior League comes from its thrift shop, located at 430 N. Main Street. Quality clothing and household items are donated and sold at reasonable prices
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and some families can receive clothing and home items through a voucher program. All money is raised through donations or thrift shop sales to support Junior League charities. Other charities include the Family Visitation Center, where children can safely visit family members who they have been restricted from visitation by court action. The Junior League pays to assist with the center’s library, provides craft materials and cooking utensils and provides monthly groceries. On another front, the Junior League’s Kids in the Kitchen initiative helps educate the public about childhood obesity prevention and healthy living. Members provide lessons and demonstrations about how to prepare healthy meals and snacks that are easy, tasty and affordable. The Tour of Kitchens provides yet another outlet for the Junior League to continue its support of local charities. “The economy is on everybody’s mind lately,” said Farris. “The majority of homes on the tour this year are remodels, which is good because people are looking to remodel rather than buy a new home.” Each house features food and wine tastings, cooking demonstrations or celebrity chefs. In addition, this year local businesses have been invited to sell their products at various homes, including Gator dresses, hand bags and monogrammed gifts. According to Farris, about 1,000 residents have attended during past and more are expected this year. “A dream home, a dream kitchen, a dream outdoor space – Tour of Kitchens is a great place to get new ideas and see the latest trends,” Farris said. “In addition, when you support the Tour of Kitchens, you are providing more opportunities for our community.” Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the event. They can be purchased at the Junior League office located beside its thrift shop, Crevasse’s Regency Florist (Northwest 34th Street and University Avenue) and Gainesville Health and Fitness Center (main location). They can also be purchased through the Junior League Web site. For more information, visit the Junior League Web site at www.gainesvillejrleague.org. LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com
CHARITIES
Puttin’ on the Ritz,
By Morgan Watkins
A Spectacular Safari
O
ne of Gainesville’s swankiest annual black-tie events is also one of its most charitable, as this year’s Puttin’ on the Ritz fundraiser kicks off on Sunday, March 28 at 7:00 p.m. The event, presented by the Children’s Home Society of Florida’s Gainesville Auxiliary, offers catering by top restaurants in the local community, open bars, live entertainment, dancing and a silent auction. All proceeds from the fundraiser benefit the Children’s Home Society of Florida’s prevention and intervention services and adoption services, said Jennifer Anchors, executive director of Children’s Home Society of Florida. “It’s a great time to go out and enjoy your friends while raising money for a great cause,” she said of the event. “We’re very thankful to the community for coming out each year to support us at Puttin’ on the Ritz.” At Puttin’ on the Ritz, Spectacular Safari you will be transported by the sounds of tribal rhythms as you take part in the exotic African safari designed by Keith Watson Productions. The fundraiser will be held at the Florida Museum of Natural History
for the second year. While it was previously held at the Oaks Mall, Anchors said the change in venue is a nice switch that allows people to enjoy the museum as well as the main event. Puttin’ on the Ritz has been a mainstay of the community for more than 20 years, boasting about 1,000 attendees every year. The majority of the proceeds come from the silent auction and ticket sales, and last year the event raised more than $85,000. Anchors hopes for a similar turnout this March. The silent auction offers a variety of items, including spa packages, restaurant specials and even limousine rides provided by local businesses. “We’re very fortunate as an organization that our community works so hard to provide services and donations to Children’s Home Society,” Anchors said.
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Children’s Home Society of Florida is a statewide organization that has provided services to local communities for over 100 years, including in-home parenting programs, family visitation centers and adoption services, Anchors said. “Our goal is to break the cycle of abuse and neglect for our children,” she said. “This event is a great way for us to let the community know who we are and show them the needs out there for the most vulnerable part of our society—our children.” To learn more about Puttin’ on the Ritz, go online to www.chsRitz.com.
(Top) John Mitchell, Vince Gardiulo, Joyce Dorval, Chris Johnson and Kari Brill enjoy themselves. (above bottom) The entertainment is interesting. (left) The food is great at Puttin' on the Ritz
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CHARITIES
Teen Mothers By Morgan Watkins photography by Brad Palmer
T
he historic Dunbar Hotel in Gainesville formerly served African Americans prior to desegregation. Today, it serves another purpose – providing a supportive home for pregnant and parenting teenage girls. The former hotel was renovated and became the group home of Pleasant Place, a nonprofit organization that helps teenage mothers in the foster care system build successful lives both as
(above) One of the eight rooms available at pleasant place
Joleen Williams (sitting) talks to one of the many girls who has benefited from Pleasant Place.
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Find a Home at Pleasant Place
In the Heart of Florida
parents and individuals. The building can house up to eight young women and their children, with 24-hour supervision from staff members who help them with daily living. The girls attend local school or GED programs while living at Pleasant Place, and the program offers workshops that teach them everything from how to handle their finances to how to cook a great meal for themselves and their children. “We know we’re an institutional operation, but we’re dealing in a human commodity so we have to feel like home,” said Mortlake Nembhard, executive director for Pleasant Place. “That’s what we’ve tried hard to do here and we believe we’ve succeeded.” Nembhard works for BCN Associates, Inc., a company that oversees the implementation of policies at Pleasant Place and handles personnel recruitment, training and record maintenance. Pleasant Place aims to provide a secure, nurturing environment for the young women and children who live there. It gives them the stability they need to develop into successful young mothers with high self-esteem, Nembhard said. “You’ve got kids who should be in the fold (of society) but are allowed to wander away. I feel very much like the scriptural good shepherd,” he said. “I’ve found my sheep, and I can make her feel loved and bring her back into the fold.” Many of the girls who are sent to Pleasant Place have been neglected or abused and may
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CHARITIES
not trust the staff to be different than people they have dealt with in the past. According to Joleen Williams, Pleasant Place program coordinator, many of the girls come to the home guarded and angry. Many have been living on their own out on the streets for a long time and are distrustful of rules and authority. “They come here with zero expectation,” Williams said. “It takes a while for them to open up because they don’t believe they’ll be here long enough to care.” Williams considers Pleasant Place a home where these young women can “get their feet planted.” She sees growth and progress in each of the girls every month. “We can’t fix 16 years of craziness in seven or eight months, but we can help them,” she said. “This is sometimes the only family they know.” One girl, whose name cannot be published because she is a minor in the foster-care system, currently resides at Pleasant Place and said the organization has helped her become more independent. She has a one-year-old daughter and has lived at Pleasant Place since July 2008. While she first expected everyone at the home to hate her, she now loves it there because the program allows her to be more active and teaches her important life skills.
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“It’s different being a resident here than in a regular foster home,” she said. “It’s really good for teenage mothers in foster care, because it helps us be more independent and lets us go out and have a life.” While residents have to leave the program after they turn 18, the organization also owns a smaller house next to Pleasant Place that is leased to former program participants who have aged out of the system and need help as they build lives in the Gainesville community. It can house two women and their children at a time. The organization also employs a former resident as a senior fellow who helps the regular staff with their duties and assists girls who are still in the program. Serene Scott, 18, who came to Pleasant Place in April 2008 and went through the program as a minor, still lives there as a senior fellow. She has a three-year-old daughter who enjoys living at Pleasant Place and going to daycare programs with the children of other residents, she said. Scott credits the Pleasant Place program with allowing her to finish her education, as well as teaching her job skills that will help her become successful as she ventures into the working world. She enjoys working with the girls now in the hopes that some of them might be able to take on her current position in the future.
Chris Johnson, a member of the board of directors for Pleasant Place and the Gainesville Area Chamber of commerce membership director, first heard about the program when his fraternity at the University of Florida, Phi Beta Sigma, donated money to the group from one of their charity fundraisers. He wanted to work with the program because he felt it was important to give these young women a safe place to live and care for their children while learning some life skills along the way. Johnson and the other board members oversee the facility, handle finances and promote Pleasant Place in the community. According to Nembhard, Pleasant Place is currently in need of cash donations as well as supplies like diapers and wipes, which are in high demand by the program’s residents. The organization is also searching for volunteers to help the board of directors, especially those with backgrounds in the legal and medical professions. “Teenage pregnancy is something that has touched everybody,” Johnson said. “We have all heard about someone who has had a child prior to when they wanted to. Pleasant Place gives them a shot at being able to go to school, potentially go on to college, and create a foundation for themselves.”
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The existing house is brought down by a team of builders and volunteers. The new home was built in less than one week.
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Giving Back Earns Family
A New Home from Extreme Makeover By Jessica Lipscomb
Photos courtesy of Lifeprints Photography
Alan Kloes and the Strickland family, of Ark Remodeling and Construction, lead a crowd of volunteers in an effort to “Move that bus!” and reveal the new home.
“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” host Ty Pennington gets ready to welcome the Wagstaff family to its new home.
W
hen the Wagstaff family came back from vacation, their house was gone. By the grace of the community and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” a new one stood in its place for the family of six. The “Extreme Makeover” team chose the Wagstaff family out of five others in Gainesville for their dedication to the arts and giving back to the community. College sweethearts Jill and Tobin Wagstaff started their own non-profit music school, Studio Percussion, in 2002 to help children learn community involvement and leadership skills while learning to play instruments. “We don’t take this for granted,” said Tobin Wagstaff, 29. “We’ve been doing this for eight years without seeking reward or praise, and we’re going to keep doing it.” Because the organization is still growing, it can only afford to pay Tobin’s salary, so Jill, 32, works as a preschool teacher. With four children, ages 4 to 7, there’s little time or money to devote to home improvements. “Their ceiling was coming down; the kitchen was a mess. Their furniture was in really bad shape,” said Alicia Griffin, a volunteer.
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Unlike most construction projects in Gainesville, the Wagstaffs’ new house was demolished and completely rebuilt in less than a week. The builders at Ark Remodeling and Construction had never tackled such a demanding project. “In four and a half days, we’ve not only built a house, but we’ve also made close to 2,000 friends,” said Ricky Strickland, Ark president. Hundreds of Gainesville residents picked up their hammers and nails to help Ark and the subcontractors build a new home and a new life for the family. Shifts were long and shifts were early, some through the middle of the night, but all were happy to help. Griffin, who works in student legal services at UF, volunteered three shifts for a total of 36 hours.
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A view of the home's exterior as it nears the end of the framing process.
A team of builders from Ark Remodeling and Construction pouring concrete as they lay the foundation of the home.
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“I was so sore on Saturday from working so hard on Friday, but after you realize what you’re doing and why, it’s worth it,” Griffin said. “It was worth every painful muscle in my body.” On site, Griffin was a jack of all trades as a street sweeper, concessions worker and her favorite job, safety patrol. On the final day of the build, she used her newly bestowed power as safety patrol to help out inside the house – a duty and an honor given to only a small percentage of the volunteers. She was honored when Eduardo Xol, a designer on the show and audience favorite, asked for her advice in choosing between two sets of artwork that needed to be hanged. “He was really gracious,” she said. “I watch the show, but I was able to see a lot more of the behind-the-scenes. It is wild how that all came together like that.” Though most of the build days went smoothly, the Florida rain presented some problems when it came to painting and pouring the sidewalk in front of the house, but the construction team and the volunteers pushed through, fast and furious. “We were there for seven hours and in that time, siding had gone up and electric had been done. We came back 24 hours later,
In the Heart of Florida
and the whole outside of the house was almost done,” said Shana Roen, a project volunteer and member of Sigma Kappa at UF. Jill Wagstaff is an alumna of the chapter and has served as an adviser in past years. “I love the show, and I really wanted to get involved and help, and it was really cool when I found out I knew the family,” said Roen, who used Wagstaff as an adviser. “The Wagstaffs are really involved with the community, and they’re always giving back. They really love Gainesville.” While the volunteers toiled for a quick turnaround, ABC sent the Wagstaff family for a week-long vacation to Cleveland, Ohio’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and to see the band KISS in concert. “Those guys were the most approachable guys that I think I’ve ever met,” Tobin Wagstaff said of the band, which let the family play drums with them during sound check. The Wagstaffs and KISS also went to a local middle school to donate $100,000 worth of instruments to the music program there. Back at the build on the day of the reveal, hundreds of spectators and volunteers gathered to see the finished house and the family’s reaction. Chants of “Move that bus!” started as early as 1 p.m., though the final reveal didn’t happen until around 5 p.m. Volunteers tossed bottles of water out to the thirsty crowd as the sun beat down and temperatures neared 80 degrees. “It’s a unique thing in that it’s a TV set, but they let people come like it’s a sporting event,” observed T-shirt vendor and ABC subcontractor James Winzig. While the family was able to see their house on Dec. 15, the day of the reveal, they are unable to show the house to others until the show airs in late February or early March. While the interior of
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Crowds gather to watch the house go up and take photos of the progress. Construction went through the night to enable a quicker turnaround. the house is a mystery for now, the front lawn is landscaped with palm trees and funky wooden planters. Now that it has nearly doubled in size, the family’s once cramped home transformed into something spacious and modern, with a cheery orange door. The new house was not all the family received. The day after the reveal, members of the community and the media gathered in front of the house to present the family with gifts, including lifetime orthodontic treatment for the four children from Progressive Orthodontics, a lifetime of lawn maintenance and Domino’s pizza for a year. As the family settled into its first few weeks in the new place, it was still in awe of the whirlwind of events and the way its life had changed in so little time. “This is really a testament to what can happen when people come together,” Tobin Wagstaff said. “We just hope it will be an encouragement to anyone who had a dream and had a vision.”
Work continues on the interior of the house by a dedicated group of volunteers and subcontractors
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Community Feb 11 Newberry Jonesville Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon 12 p.m. Gainesville Health and Fitness - Tioga Town Center Speaker www.newberryjonesvillechamber.com/ calendar.php Feb 13 & 14 Olustee Festival & Craft Show Downtown Lake City (Marion Street). www.olusteefestival.com/ Feb 13 America 3 p.m. at Silver Springs www.silversprings.com/concerts.html Feb 13-14 Lifesouth 5 Points of Life 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. Orthopaedic Institute www.lifesouth.org Feb 13 Swing into Spring Gala www.arts.ufl.edu/music/fom/ swingintospring.asp 352-846-1211 Feb. 14 Project share www.gru.com
Feb 19-20 Urban Meyer Scramble for Kids Mark Bostick Golf Course at UF www.urbanmeyerscramble.com/
March 6 Spotlight on Youth 5:00 pm at University Auditorium www.performingarts.ufl.edu/2010/03/
Feb 20 Neal McCoy 3 p.m. at Silver Springs www.silversprings.com/concerts.html
March 7 Kuisine for Kids Embers Wood Grill www.childadvocacycentergainesville. org/events.html
Feb 20 Gainesville Heart Ball 6:30 p.m. at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center www.ahastpetersburg.ejoinme.org Feb. 20 Champions for Charity Kickball Tournament 10 a.m. at Diamond Sports Park www.acelfl.com/kickball/ Feb 27 Starship 3 p.m. at Silver Springs www.silversprings.com/concerts.html March 6 AMIkids Golf Tournament 8:30 a.m. at Ironwood Golf Course www.amikids.org/Gainesville.aspx March 6 Aaron Tippin 3 p.m. at Silver Springs www.silversprings.com/concerts.html
March 11 Newberry Jonesville Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon 12 p.m. Municipal Building Lunch www.newberryjonesvillechamber.com/ calendar.php March 11-14 Gatornationals Gainesville Raceway www.GainesvilleRaceway.com March 13-14 North Central Florida Home Show Stephen C. O’Connell Center www.bancf.com March 13 Randy Travis 3 p.m. at Silver Springs www.silversprings.com/concerts.html March 20 Junior League’s Tour of Kitchens www.gainesvillejrleague.org March 20 Child Abuse Awareness Run in Memory of Kaedyn Short 9:00 a.m. www.childadvocacycentergainesville. org/events.html March 20 Tioga Town Center Run for Haven 4:30 p.m. at Tioga Town Center www.active.com/running/tioga-fl/tiogatown-center-run-for-haven-5k-and-10k2010
March 20 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum -- a benefit performance for Child Advocacy Center 6:30 p.m. at the Gainesville Community Playhouse www.childadvocacycentergainesville. org/events.html March 20 Lover Boy 3 p.m. at Silver Springs www.silversprings.com/concerts.html March 27 Larry Gatlin and the The Gatlin Brothers 3 p.m. at Silver Springs www.silversprings.com/concerts.html March 27 March for Babies Westside Park www.marchofdimes.com/ March 28 Puttin’ on the Ritz 7:30 p.m. at the Florida Museum of Natural History www.chsfl.org/eventdesc. php?eventID=2009071316455383
Theater Jan 29–Feb 4 A Serious Man Hippodrome State Theatre www.thehipp.org/ Feb 4 L.A. Theatre Works - Susan Albert Loewenberg, Producing Director presents RFK: The Journey to Justice 7:30 p.m. at University of Florida Performing Arts www.performingarts.ufl.edu Feb 5 – 11 The Maid Hippodrome State Theatre www.thehipp.org/
For a complete listing of alll of the events in our area please go online to our website www.LivingInTheHeartOfFlorida.com
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Gatornationals is Sensory Overload Gatornationals, which will be held this year March 11-14, is one of Gainesville’s biggest economicbenefiting events.
It’s like o
verdosing o
n your sen
ses.
The thousands of fans who migrate to the Gainesville Raceway in mid March can feel the vibrations from 300-mile per hour cars racing down the track. They can smell the cars and fuel as they walk through the pit, while listening to the roar of the cars as they move to the sidelines, watching worldrenowned racers drive down the track. Along with spring flowers and March winds comes Gatornationals, held every March at the Gainesville Raceway, located off of County Road 225 in Gainesville.
As one of Gainesville’s largest tourist attractions, Gatornationals has a $20 million impact on the community, while taking up the majority of the hotel rooms in the Gainesville area, said Roland Loog, director of tourist development for Alachua County. “People make it more celebratory than a Gator home game,” Loog said. “If you go to seven home games, you’ll start watching your spending. Gatornationals is treated like a vacation.” Gainesville Raceway held the first Gatornationals event in 1970 and quickly became one of the fastest tracks on the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) circuit. The raceway is the legendary launch point that drivers clocked the first 260-,
By Jessica Chapman
270- and 300-mph Top Fuel runs, Executive General Manager Don Robertson said.
March weekend to join the festivities also make March the No. 1 bed-tax collection month, Loog said.
“It’s like the greatest, fastest car show on earth,” Robertson said. “Racers say their resume is not complete unless they’ve won Gatornationals.”
Loog’s tourist tracking goes far beyond a job however, recalling when the raceway was a new venue.
However, the Gatornationals event offers more than just races.
“I remember racers said it was their favorite stop,” Loog said. “They loved Gainesville.”
Robertson said one of the highlights of the event is the large manufacturers’ midway, where sponsors and manufacturers set up outside of the track, giving fans the chance to meet the world-famous drivers and get a behind-the-scenes look at putting a dragster and racecar together.
Robertson advised local residents to buy tickets early and be patient when arriving at the raceway.
“The best racers come here,” Robertson said. “Fans like it because they can see all the teams.”
“Everybody who’s anybody will be here,” he said. “What’s not to love?” Fans can buy tickets for Gatornationals through www.GainesvilleRaceway.com or call 1-800-884-6472.
The accumulation of racers, workers and thousands of tourists coming in for one
Dr. Pete to be Honored as Gainesvil e’s Heart of a Champion The man known by many people in the community as Dr. Pete will be honored at this year’s American Heart Association Heart Ball, which has been appropriately named Heart of a Champion. The Heart Ball, being chaired this year by David and Kay Ayers, will take place at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center on Feb. 20. The event brings together community leaders, physicians and survivors. All those invited are individuals who have committed their efforts to increasing awareness and prevention for a variety of cardiovascular diseases. This year they will honor Dr. Peter Indelicato, division chief of sports medicine at UF & Shands Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Institute and head team physician for the University of Florida. “I am very shocked and surprised that they considered me for it”, says Indelicato, whose experience and impact inspired the Heart of a Champion theme.
regularly and smartly, to eat well, to get your regular check-ups with your family physician and to try not to let stress become an overwhelming factor in your life,” he said. The co-chairs, David and Kay Ayers, actively serve many roles in the community, aside from their involvement with the Heart Ball. The Ayers Medical Plaza, located in Gainesville, is in honor of David’s late father, Clarence, who was also distinguished for his service and particularly, his work with board of trustees for Alachua General Hospital. Kay’s volunteer roles include Secretary of the Girls Place Foundation, co-chair for the 2010 Hats, Hearts and Handbags Luncheon and along with her position as senior VP of member services and HR for both AvMed and Santa Fe Healthcare. In addition, David works actively with Crime Stoppers and both work with their church, Holy Faith Parish, where David is the chair of the Finance Council and Kay is a reader.
By Brittany Brave They both believe Indelicato is the perfect person to be honored. “He has had personal experience with a lifethreatening cardiovascular event and, as a physician, can reinforce the message of the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle, as well as, reinforce the mission of the American Heart Association,” she said. And it doesn’t hurt that he is so well known for his connection to the Gators, which he describes as “the best job in the world.” For the last 24 years, the Gainesville chapter of the American Heart Association has used the Heart Ball is a key fundraiser in its effort to provide hope and assistance to those afflicted with cardiac conditions. Cardiovascular disease and strokes are the most commonly fatal ailments, according to the American Heart Association.
The ball will begin with a cocktail hour and silent auction, where guests will make bids on spa and beauty packages, sports memorabilia, restaurant gift cards, artwork and many more items, in what has become the most lucrative portion of the ball for fundraising. A special appeal is conducted during the event to collect donations for research endeavors, providing the guests with another opportunity to contribute to the organization’s mission. All the proceeds will be directly donated towards research, educational programs and overall funding to help the organization achieve its outlined goals. As for general expectations, Kay Ayers hopes for “a special and fun evening for all guests, a record in terms of funds raised for the American Heart Association, and overall increased awareness of cardiovascular diseases and what can be done to prevent them.” For more information, www.americanheart.org
go
to
Indelicato is a heart-attack survivor and someone whose motivation for spreading awareness began, “the day he got out of the hospital” four and a half years ago. “I try with every opportunity to inform people about how important it is to exercise
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Mary Wise Scramble for PACE Success has resulted in growth for the Mary Wise Scramble Golf Tournament. The 11th annual tournament, created as a fundraiser for PACE Alachua, will take place on Friday, April 23 at the University of Florida’s Mark Bostick Golf Course. Because of tremendous interest last year, the tournament now has two flights for golfers. One hundred golfers can play in each flight. “We are having two flights because we had to turn some golfers away at last year’s event,� said Kathie Southwick, the executive director of PACE Alachua, a community-based program serving at-risk girls ages 12 to 17. She hopes to fill up both flights, allowing everyone to play who wants to. “It’s a big leap for us, but we’re going for it,� said Lisa Chacon, PACE board member.
Run and Fun for Haven Hospice
By Lauren Aitchison The first flight will begin at 8 a.m. with registration at 7 a.m. The second flight will begin at 1 p.m. with registration at 11:30 a.m., and lunch will be served at noon. The cost to participate is $100 for each player and includes a game of golf, lunch and a T-shirt. In the past, this event has brought in about $20,000 to $30,000, Chacon said. This year, PACE is expecting even more proceeds with help from the second flight.
If you’re looking for a little exercise and to support a good cause, Haven Hospice may have an event for you.
fundraising. Events are an opportunity for people to learn more about what we do and how they can participate with us.�
Haven Hospice’s inaugural Tioga Town Center – Run for Haven is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on March 20, with race-day registration and check-in beginning at 2:00 p.m.
In addition to patient care, money raised at the race will also go to some of the free community support programs Haven Hospice offers such as children’s camps and SASHA’s Friends, a program that helps children deal with the impending loss of a loved one.
The 5K and 10K runs are being held to build awareness and support for the award-winning patient care, programs and services provided by Haven Hospice. Additionally, the event will provide a sneak preview of the organization’s signature fundraising event – VIVA! Goes Polynesian on April 10.
Prizes, such as gift cards donated by local restaurants like Stonewood, will be given to the winners of the tournament.
“The goal with the run is to provide a unique and different experience from all of the other races in the area, which is what we try to do with each of our events. This is one reason VIVA! has been so successful and why we look for the Tioga Town Center – Run for Haven to really grow as a fun and popular event,� said Michael Morse, Haven Hospice’s vice president for organizational advancement. “For us, special events aren’t just about
About 30 women who make up the PACE board of members are working to put this event together. “We also have other people chip in, like our husbands, friends and children,� Chacon said. For those interested in volunteering at the tournament, contact Judy Gordon at 352-214-2287.or more information about the Mary Wise Scramble for PACE, or to register, go to www.marywisescramble.com.
By Nicole Lynn Greiner
Both runs begin at the Tioga Town Center and work their way through the Town of Tioga. After the race, runners and nonrunners alike will enjoy live music, food, drink and fun. Most races end at the finish line. That is something Haven Hospice wants to change with this event, said Morse. The Run for Haven will include a first-of-itskind party after the race for runners and other members of the community. The goal of the event is to gain support for the organization and create a party-like atmosphere that is different from other events. According to Morse, “The best part of this event is that you can enjoy the party, even if you aren’t a runner.� Haven Hospice expects to attract 500 to 1,000 runners to the race. Anyone is eligible to race and can enter at www.active.com up until March 19. All entrance fees include party passes for runners, with additional party passes available for purchase by nonrunners for $15. Corporate sponsorships and team registrations are also available. To learn more about the Tioga Town Center – Run for Haven, go to www. RunForHaven.org or call Stephanie Brod at (352) 271-4665.
Standing up for the kids Dance Marathon dances its way to new heights At 11:48 a.m. Saturday, April 10 they will stand up. At 9 p.m. they will need moral support from friends and family. At 5 a.m. sitting will seem like a distant memory. By Sunday at 2 p.m. they will have helped countless children and families around North Central Florida, all by remaining on their feet.
“What does standing have to do with raising money?�
event really help everyone get motivated and remind us why we are there.�
Well, the event mocks a 26.2-mile marathon, with the significance being to better understand some of the pain and obstacles children endure when facing cancer and other serious illnesses.
This year the event will celebrate its 16th birthday. In that time, students and beneficiaries have donated more than $3.2 million, making it the largest and most successful student-run philanthropy in the southeastern United States.
Despite its name, no dancing skill is required. Actually, Dance Marathon at the University of Florida is a 26.2-hour standing event benefitting Children’s Miracle Network at Shands Children’s Hospital.
“Of course you get down at times, but someone is always there to help you out,� said Melissa Rosen, senior and four-year dancer. “The Children’s Miracle Network families that visit throughout the
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
North Central Florida’s Home Show answers your home improvement questions ideas and gather information, all in one day,” said Margie Krpan of BANCF.
Changes in the housing market and the economy have made home improvement bigger than ever. And there is no better place to find ideas for the home than the annual North Central Florida Home Show. Presented by the Builders Association of North Central Florida (BANCF) and the Gainesville Sun, the Home Show is the perfect place to find all your answers for that special project.
In addition to the local and nationwide vendors, there will be informational seminars, how-to clinics, a farmers market and a garden exhibit. Krpan believes home improvement has become more of a priority in recent years as homeowners work to maintain the value of their homes. It is also a great way to learn about home expansion.
By Kate Ashby
As a result, the event, which is in its 11th year, added a new feature called “Ask the Professional.” Over the course of the two days, special session will be presented on a variety of popular homeowner topics. The show also offers a look at the latest trends in home improvement. The Home Show will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days, and admission is only $4 with children under 16 free. For more information, visit bancf.com or call 352-372-5649.
“We’re really seeing that market grow a little bit,” she explained.
Businesses in home improvement, landscaping, remodeling, decorating, home sales, energy efficiency and green building techniques will fill both floors of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center at the University of Florida on Saturday and Sunday, March 13 and 14 to offer the latest information and advice on improving your home. And, as always, builders and developers will be on hand to talk about new homes. “It’s kind of a community service in the fact that you can go to this one place and get all your questions answered, get
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ACPSF Zumba for Kids
Cats at UF Performing Arts Center Chamber Annual Dinner - photos courtesy Footstone Photography
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CHS Tot Shop Ribbon Cutting
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March for Babies Kickoff
LGAA Rawlings Elementary Block Party
GACAR Annual Banquet
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Wachovia Gifts to Charity
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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.”
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Linda Bennett: By David Greenberg
Passionate About Her Company, Her Community and Her Family
photo by Brad Palmer
L
inda Bennett loves kids, and that’s probably a good thing since she is the owner of the highly successful Sun Country Sports Center. But if not for her husband, Phil, and General Electric that love would likely be exhibiting itself in some other community. “We came back to Gainesville in 1986 after spending 12 years in the Midwest,” said Bennett. The couple had previously lived here in the early 1970s while in college. “We were in Cleveland, and we came back to Gainesville when Phil got an offer to work at the General Electric battery plant (in Hague),” she said. Bennett’s original plan was to be a stay-at-home mom for daughter, Jodi, who was six at the time and son, Jesse, who was nine. “But I was offered a great business opportunity that I could not pass up,” she said. “At the time, there was only one gym and not a lot of things to do for kids. Phil kept encouraging me. He saw it as a great opportunity.” So Bennett opened the first Sun Country, 10,000 square feet of retail space next to North Florida Regional Medical Center in 1987 with two partners. “I had never done anything like this before in my life except teach preschool gymnastics,” she said. “I had a vision of it being much more than that.” That vision has been realized. Today, 22 years later, there are two locations – Millhopper and Jonesville, and the scope of activities has multiplied dramatically. Among the offerings at Sun Country are gymnastics, martial arts, cheerleading, fencing, after-school activities, home-school fitness programs, dance, a summer camp, KidQuest (an indoor soft playground), a fitness center, rock climbing, the gym bus and more. “As the business started to grow, I went to a conference in 1989, and I met a woman who had an idea about a gymnastics bus,” said Bennett. “That was the first thing I did out of the box. From that moment on I realized I can offer something different. I wanted to create something that I didn’t get to do. The final piece was the swimming pool (in Jonesville), and that was finished last June.” The vision would never have been completed without her family, she said. “While Phil never formally worked here, the children have worked for me since they were 13 or 14,” she said. “This is a family business.”
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Jesse has since moved on to Spokane, Wash., but Jodi has moved up from a position as an assistant teacher and is now the director of operations in Jonesville. In addition to her family, Bennett credits her success to the community. “I realized I needed to give back and support the community the same way we are supported,” she said. “Without the community, I would not have been successful.” The first community activity was a “cartwheel marathon” for March of Dimes, where children did cartwheels to raise money. That was 20 years ago, and the relationship is still going strong. “The March of Dimes has been incredibly lucky to have a supporter as wonderful as Linda Bennett for the past 20-plus years,” said Lindsay Krieg, community director of the March of Dimes North Central Florida Division. “Linda’s drive, passion and kind-hearted nature have been an inspiration to many, and each year she comes with a renewed energy, striving to do more and reach farther in support of the mission to give every baby a healthy birth.” Whether it is March of Dimes or any other group, Bennett has trouble saying no. “Almost any school group can call us for involvement,” Bennett said. That sense of community led Bennett to follow in her daughter’s footsteps with Leadership Gainesville. Jodi was in last year’s Leadership Gainesville 35, and Bennett is part of this year’s Leadership Gainesville 36 group, the year-long leadership training group sponsored by the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce. “When I read the material about Leadership Gainesville, I realized it was important for Jodi to get involved,” she said. “I didn’t fully understand it until her graduation night. I felt so inspired that I decided to do it.” But whether it is community involvement or her business, Bennett says she is not done. “When the pool was done, I realized I had fulfilled my dream,” she said. “All the activities were completed. We have space to do more, and I have some ideas. I’m not done. I’m not ready to retire. The staff is my family. We all work together and create ideas. One day I want to do an adult summer camp.” That’s good news for Bennett’s community.
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