December 2015

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2015 VOLUME 10 ISSUE 1 • PRICELESS

Holiday Events, Decor & Trends

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 1

Helping nature provide.

Helping nature provide.

Our backyard is your backyard.

2 | Currents | November/December, 2015

P

H n p

When you’re at your worst, our E.R. is at its best.

Emergency medicine is about three things: compassion, skilled care and speed. You’ll find these at Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center.

We’re here for you 24/7. Our E.R. services are led by emergency medicine physicians who are supported by a caring medical and professional staff. They are backed by the full resources of an integrated health system that offers advanced medical technology and diagnostic capabilities for adults and children. And our E.R. is designed for your comfort and ease of accessibility.

We’re so proud that Lake City Reporter readers have voted our E.R. Best of the Best! For more information, visit ShandsLakeShore.com.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 3

CELEBRATE WITH US, COVER STORY PG. 14

CONTRIBUTORS PUBLISHER: Todd Wilson EDITOR: Robert Bridges ADVERTISING SALES: Dawn Layton Jose Rodriguez ADVERTISING: Dave Kimler WRITERS / PHOTOGRAPHY: Larry Griffin Sam Burroughs Nick Rollison Megan Reeves ART DIRECTOR: Emily Lawson

Weston Crews

Ryalee Wilkey

Audrey Hancock

Evan Umstead

ON THE COVER

Here’s to 10 years, an exciting future

W

e could not celebrate anything without the support of our business partners and our readers who can’t wait for Currents to hit the streets during the year. This issue marks our 10th anniversary in publishing this Photo by magaCAPTURED MEMORIES BY ESTA zine.

We celLake City 10-year-olds ebrate Audrey Hancock (top), Evan and Umstead (2nd row, left), urge Weston Crews, Samantha you to Shaw (bottom row, from be excitleft) Branson Mann, and Todd Wilson ed with Ryalee Wilkey help celebrate PUBLISHER us. a decade of Currents.

We want each of you who CURRENTS magazine have experienced the beauty is a publication of the of our area on these magazine Lake City Reporter, pages during the past decade 180 E Duval St., to take a moment and enjoy Lake City, FL 32055. the fact that you have helped To inquire about advertising, us showcase “Life in Natural call (386) 752-1293 or e-mail Florida.”

Currents@lakecityreporter.com.

This is Lake City and © Copyright 2015 Columbia County’s first lifestyle magazine that covered all aspects of our country way 4 | Currents | November/December, 2015

of life. We still find the people and places of our area fascinating. Add the prospect of interesting day trips to nearby locales and the magazine has created its own niche in the Lake City Reporter family of publications.

Our staff has a blast creating Currents magazine for the pleasure of our readers.

Through the years, the compliments and comments have continued to inspire us and we appreciate your loyalty.

This is your magazine.

Sure, we sell it, write it, design it and publish it, but every move has our readers in mind. We appreciate your investment of time in our publication and we appreciate your interest through the past decade.

One story in this issue will chronicle a few of our favorite features through the years. In all things, we feel inspired and thank you for your support.

Here’s to another decade of chronicling our wondrous “Life in Natural Florida.”

Samantha Shaw

Branson Mann

[c o n t e n t s] 8

Christmastime is here

Local festivals from Snow Day to Suwannee Lights ease the holiday strain.

20 Crafting a story to share Scott Stewart spends his spare time creating handmade furniture from local lumber.

41 New home for the holidays Girl Scout Troops 1199 and 1227 craft insulated bedding for homeless animals at the local shelter.

58 She’s painting the town Local artist Kelli Ronsonet has murals all over town — from people’s homes to businesses.

QUICK READS • Event Previews 6 • Recipes 30 • Gardening 34 • Decorating 36 • Giving Guide 38 • DIY Gifts 52

Your family’s health means everything to us.

New extended late hours. Tuesday and Thursday open until 6:30 p.m.

For comprehensive family care, you can feel confident turning to Lake Shore Primary Care West. And now, we are proud to welcome Michael C. Ukaegbu, M.D., to the group. Dr. Ukaegbu provides services ranging from routine exams to the careful management of chronic conditions. He is dedicated to helping families like yours achieve and maintain good health – for life. Same-day appointments are often available. And for your convenience, you can call or schedule your appointment online.

Michael C. Ukaegbu, M.D. Internal Medicine

Jennifer Scott, ARNP

Board Certified in DOT Physicals Family Nurse Practitioner

Member of the Medical Staff of Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center and Member of the Allied Health Staff of Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center.

221 SW Stonegate Terrace, Suite 101

386-292-7744 ShandsLakeShorePhysicians.com Currents | November/December, 2015 | 5

!

O H HO! HO!

What could be better than a hearty “Ho! Ho! Ho!” coupled with a delicious breakfast to start your family’s countdown to Christmas?

For the fifth year Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites will host its annual Breakfast with Santa. This year’s event will be held Saturday, December 12, from 8 to 11 a.m. Families are invited to enjoy a breakfast buffet complete with scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, juice, coffee, and hot chocolate. While enjoying breakfast guests will enjoy holiday music, fun and fellowship – as well as a visit from Santa, the most important part for the children!

The cost of the event is $5.95 plus tax for children, age three to 12, and $10.95 plus tax for adults. Proceeds will benefit our local United

6 | Currents | November/December, 2015

By RITA DOPP

IF YOU GO What: Breakfast with Santa Where: Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites When: Saturday, December 12 from 8-11 a.m.

Cost: $5.95 (plus tax) for children 3-12; $10.95 (plus tax) for adults Way of Suwannee Valley. Guests are invited to Esha Patel, 13, an d Ria Patel, 11, ha ve been helping the annual Breakfa bring an unwrapped toy. with st with Santa even t for the past 5 ye This year they have ars. become event spon A collection box will sors. be available for the toys which will be distributed to families identified by are no strangers to assisting community agencies. with Holiday Inn & Suites’ Holiday Inn & Suites’ community efforts. Both help generous contribution to the at the facility’s Ice Cream for community of the proceeds Breakfast event, which is confrom the event is supported by ducted in July. This event, sponsorships now in its fourth year locally c o n t r i b u t e d benefits Give Kids the World

by Esha Patel, Village, Kissimmee, Fla. 13; and Ria Sponsoring an event is a Patel, 11, the very big contribution for two daughters of young girls.

Holiday Inn & “I wanted to help sponsor Suites’ owner the event to support United Ketna Patel Way, because I feel every and grand- child should have the right daughters of to food, water and shelter. I owner Ma- want to give back to the comhendra Patel. munity for what it has done,” Esha and Ria said Esha. “We often forget how fortunate we are in our lives, so when given the opportunity it is always nice to take time to help bring joy to others’ lives.

We are

very pleased to work with United Way to better serve our community.”

“I believe that it is our mission to give back to the community that we reside in and help children in need by supporting United Way,” added Ria. The girls will help with marketing the event by distributing posters for businesses to display. Esha and Ria have been working at Holiday Inn & Suites’ Breakfast with Santa event for five years. This year they will again work at the event and get to know the community that contributes to the local United Way effort.

“We look forward to Santa visiting with as many children as possible during the Breakfast with Santa event,” said Rod Butler, Holiday Inn & Suites general manager.

“We encourage families to contact Holiday Inn & Suites to reserve a seating. We hope they will make this a part of their participation in the annual Snow Day festivities this year and make it an annual family tradition.”

For more information – or to make your reservations, contact Holiday Inn & Suites, 213 SW Commerce Drive, Lake City, by calling 386754-1411 extension 106.

Two skilled surgeons are just a short ride away.

If you ever need surgery, it’s good to know that you have two skilled general surgeons right here to care for you. Jerzy Polmerski, M.D., and Edwin Gonzalez, M.D., FACS, provide a wide range of surgical options, including minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures. For many people, these procedures can mean less pain and a quicker recovery when compared to traditional surgeries.* For more information, call 386-755-7788 or visit ShandsLakeShorePhysicians.com.

Edwin Gonzalez, M.D., FACS

Jerzy Polmerski, M.D.

These surgeons provide the following types of procedures: Breast Surgery • Biopsies • Colon and Rectal Surgery Cystoscopic • Endoscopic • Gallbladder • General Surgery Hernia Repair • Laparoscopic • Thyroid and Parathyroid Ultrasounds • Pediatric Surgery (ages 2 and up)

755 SW State Rd. 47

*Patient results may vary. Consult your physician about the benefits and risks of any surgical procedure or treatment. • Members of the Medical Staff at Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 7

Let it Snow Snow Day / Christmas Parade

30 tons of snow will be dropped on Lake City on Dec. 12 this year. It won’t be random — it is for the annual Snow Day event.

Bright and early Saturday morning at 8 a.m., runners will arrive for the Dashing to the Snow 5K, which will take place all around downtown, according to Lake City Chamber Executive Director Dennille Decker.

They will finish at What: Dashing to the Snow 5K around 9 a.m., and Where: Downtown Lake City that’s when things When: Saturday, December 12, will get chilly. starting at 8 a.m.

In addition to the snow, there will be two snow slides, bounce houses, other What: Snow Day kids’ activities, live Where: Downtown Lake City entertainment and food vendors.

When: Saturday, December 12, Title sponsor Busy starting at 9 a.m.

Bee B&B will also raffle away a number of prizes. Last year’s prizes were as farranging as XBoxes, TVs, scooters, tablets and more. So, Decker said, the event was not just for kids - adults who wanted to win the prizes would have incentive to stay, too.

Decker said the event was good because it gave Florida-born children a chance to experience northern-style cold without ever leaving the Sunshine State.

“It gives kids who live in Florida, who would never see snow, an opportunity to experience it,” she said.

The event will end at 3 p.m., at which time Lake City will return to normal Floridian levels of sun, heat and humidity

Run First

Then Play

8 | Currents | November/December, 2015

common in December.

At this year’s Lake City Christmas Parade, also scheduled for Dec. 12, the theme is ‘12 Days of Christmas.’ The Lake City Rotary Club is in charge of the parade.

According to Lake City Rotary Club president Chase Moses, the theme can be interpreted many ways and those wanting to enter a float have endless possibilities with which to be creative.

This year’s parade marshal is James Montgomery, often affectionately known as Mr. Mont at Columbia High School where he is known for teaching.

“We chose him to honor his years of unselfish service and giving back to the community,” Moses said.

The deadline to enter a float is Dec. 2. Those who want to enter can apply online at the United Way website at www. unitedwaysuwanneevalley.org or pick them up at the United Way office at 325 NE Hernando Avenue, Moses said.

TOP: Laura Stalnaker, 7, sleds down an ice slide at the 2014 Snow Day event.

CENTER: Mackenzie Garrett, 8, makes a snow angel in shaved ice. ‘It was so cold,’ she said. ‘I regret doing it, but it was fun.’

BOTTOM: Maureyon Holland, 10, of Fort White, levels out as he hits a bump in the snow slide last year.

Lake City Rotary Club Christmas Parade The deadline to enter a float for the Dec. 12 Christmas Parade is Wednesday, Dec. 2.

A birthing experience as unique as your baby.

Having a baby is one of life’s most amazing experiences. And at The Birth Center at Shands Lake Shore, we’re here for you, as the only hospital in the area standing by with the staff and facilities for your delivery. We offer options to accommodate your personalized birth plan, with the safety of you and your baby as our primary concern. And in most cases, labor, delivery and recovery can all take place in your private birthing suite. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 386-292-7800 or visit ShandsBaby.com.

368 Northeast Franklin Street Lake City, FL 32055 Currents | November/December, 2015 | 9

ARE YOU

DREAMING I OF A BRIGHT

CHRISTMAS?

Suwannee Lights at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park The Spirit of Suwannee is getting festive this year with their usual display of colorful lights and ornaments. Accompanied by live entertainment, puppets for the children and an appearance by Santa Claus himself, it’s sure to be a merry time.

The event will be open nightly from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., from Dec. 6 to Dec. 24.

There will be over six million lights on display for over a mile, complete with carefully hand-made characters, scenes and displays pertaining to the holiday.

There will be cabin rentals available and those interested can join singalongs and eat roasted marshmallows by a campfire as well. Live music will play. The Puppetone Rockers, a childrens’ dancing puppets show, will also make an appearance.

Teena Peavey, Marketing Director for the Spirit of Suwannee, called the festival “a magical Christmas” and said it would be a great event for families.

Tuesday nights, as always, will be S&S Nights, which means you can get free tickets at S&S Food Stores. Those tickets will only be valid on Tuesday nights. For tickets and pricing on other nights, visit www.musicliveshere.com or call the park at 386-364-1683.

10 | Currents | November/December, 2015

Festival of Lights at Stephen Foster Cultural Center At the Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center in December, over five and a half million Christmas lights will illuminate the park at night.

According to park Public Information Officer Andrea Thomas, the event will last from Dec. 4 to Dec. 31, open every night from dusk until 9 p.m., closed only on Christmas itself.

The event will offer a walk through and a drive through option, and guests will be dazzled by the lights as well as one of the largest model trains in the state.

After walking or driving through the colorful gala of lights on display, guests can also visit the gift shop. Thomas said the gift shop is far from a touristy gift shop - instead, it is full of one-of-a-kind local art and handmade bowls, jewelry and pottery.

Guests can also enjoy complimentary popcorn, hot chocolate and marshmallows while they admire the lights or spend time with loved ones at a bonfire.

“There’s a whole lot to do,” Thomas said.

Because the park is within three miles of I-75, the entrance will be moved to another entrance in the park this year, Thomas said. In previous years, the line of vehicles waiting to enter the park would stretch all the way back to the highway exit, she said.

The new entrance will be on North Drive, Thomas said.

The event costs $3 for admission.

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 11

DECEMBER 3

5:15 p.m. Registration 6:15 p.m. Jingle Bell Fun Run 7:15 p.m. Tree Lighting 8:00 p.m. Live entertainment

DECEMBER 4

8:00 p.m. Live music 11:00 p.m. Fireworks show

DECEMBER 5

All Day: Vendors Downtown 6:00 p.m. Christmas Parade

Christmas ON THE

Christmas on the Square

Live Oak is getting festive this December as the annual Christmas on the Square event returns for its 31st year of life.

From Dec. 3 to Dec. 5, 250 vendors, a live band and fireworks will fill the square as Live Oak celebrates the holidays’ advent.

On Thursday, the event will begin with a running start as the Jingle Bell Fun Run and 12 | Currents | November/December, 2015 Walk kicks

off at 6:15 p.m. Registration will take place at 5:15 p.m. After that, the tree lighting ceremony will take place at 7:15 p.m. Children at the event will have cookies and drinks available. Live entertainment will light up the park even further.

On Friday, the Austin Park Band from Jacksonville will take the stage and play from 8 p.m. to around 11, and fireworks will follow afterward.

According to Suwannee County

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Austin Richmond, the fireworks are “pretty amazing” and “like a grand finale for 20 minutes straight.”

Saturday morning will fill the downtown area with arts and crafts vendors selling hand-made Christmas decor. There will be a car, truck and tractor show, multiple food vendors and, to top it all off, a Christmas parade at 6 p.m.

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 13

A half-dozen Lake City 10-year-olds joined us for the celebration of a decade of Currents magazine. They are (from left) Audrey Hancock, daughter of Taylor and Kristy Hancock; Samantha Shaw, daughter of Keith and Jennifer Shaw; Ryalee Wilkey, daughter of Chris and Teresa Wilkey; Evan Umstead, son of Caleb and Rachel Umstead; Branson Mann, son of Robert and Michelle Mann; Weston Crews, son of Brian and Karena Crews.

Looking back on 10 years of Currents Magazine

C

urrents, the magazine of “Life in Natural Florida” celebrates its 10th anniversary with this issue. Currents is a publication of the Lake City Reporter and launched on Nov. 20, 2005.

During the past decade, Currents has showcased features on the interesting personalities of North Florida,

14 | Currents | November/December, 2015

beautiful homes and landscapes, focused on trends in decorating and fashion, holiday traditions in our region and introduced the newest gadgets available.

Currents has featured rock music icons, up and coming country superstars and dozens of beautiful faces and locations throughout the area.

We’ve been to interesting places, tried interesting

Photo by CAPTURED MEMORIES BY ESTA

hobbies, talked with the weird and the grounded.

We’ve experienced Natural Florida and offered our best attempt to showcase what we found on the pages of our wonderful magazine.

Currents is a child we have raised from conception through birth and now to double digits. Our staff loves this product and nurtures the content to offer the best product we can for our readers and advertisers.

“Currents magazine came on the scene in 2005 and was immediately welcomed. It is a beautiful product

that is a showcase piece for our community,” said Lake City Reporter and Currents Publisher Todd Wilson. “Having been with this product through the idea and planning stage from Day 1 and now to see it thriving 10 years later is ver y rewarding. Our community of readers love it and they let us know. It continues to be a ver y humbling experience and it drives us to want to improve ever y issue we produce.”

Michael Leonard was the first publisher of the magazine. Jim Kennedy was the advertising director and

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 15

Jennifer Chasteen was the magazine’s first art director. Wilson was the editor at the time and created the magazine’s content platform for the target audience. Staff writers in the first issue included Lindsay Downey, Troy Roberts, Tony Britt and Katie Evans.

Wilson, graphic artist Dave Kimler and staff writer Tony Britt are the mainstays who have worked on Currents magazine from the beginning.

“It’s been interesting to see the subtle changes in content through the years and the flair that different staff members have provided in their own way,” Wilson said.

“We have a lot of fun with Currents and I hope this shows through to

our readers. From Naked Ed (a Santa Fe river icon) to Tom Petty, we’ve interviewed a lot of people.

But, the best stories always are about people who live just down the road who do amazing things you never realized. We’ve tried to share as many of these as we can through the years. We’re excited about the future and can’t wait to bring even more exciting stories to our readers in the years to come.”

Six 10-year-olds from Lake City were selected to help commemorate the milestone 10th anniversar y cover of Currents

Audrey Hancock (from left), Ryalee Wilkey, and Samantha Shaw, all 10-year-olds from Lake CIty, are ready for Christmas.

16 | Currents | November/December, 2015

and they posed for portrait specialist Esta Eberhardt of Captured Memories by Esta. They are: Audrey Hancock, Branson Mann, Samantha Shaw, Ryalee Wilkey, Evan Umstead, and Weston Crews.

Currents staff members discussed the past 60 issues and provided a small collection of some of their favorite covers from past editions.

10

Years Later Lauren Wilson, 14, poses with her Dad’s “Memories of a FlipFlop Christmas” column that featured her photo as she hung Christmas ornaments on a kumquat tree. The photo debuted in the premiere issue of Currents on Nov. 20, 2005. Lauren now is an honor student eighth grader. Then, she was a 4-year-old preschooler at Green Acres Learning Center in Lake City. Lauren is the daughter of Michelle and Currents Publisher Todd Wilson.

Covers Through the Years A Warm Debut The first issue which debuted on Nov. 20, 2005, covered a “Home for the Holidays” theme that centered around decorating and entertaining. The home of Willene and Bill Giles of Lake City was photographed by Jennifer Chasteen. The issue also featured an interview with Tom Petty. Katie Evans interviewed the rock icon upon his return to his hometown of Gainesville.

Cedar Key The July/August 2007 cover featured one of the most popular landscape depictions in a serene scene from Cedar Key. Art Director Jennifer Chasteen found the location, added the bicycle and captured this beautiful moment in time.

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 17

Wakeboard Wildness Photographer Jason Matthew Walker wedged himself on the back of a highperformance ski boat on the Suwannee River to capture some cool tricks from Branford wakeboarder Dusty Snyder on the July/August 2011 cover.

Volume 7 Issue 3 ComplImentary

Lake City ’s

ADAM SANDERS

Music City Man

How to Make it In Nashville!

Lake City native Adam Sanders is known as one of Nashville’s top young songwriters. In 2015, he co-wrote two No. 1 country songs in Cole Swindell’s “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey,” and Dustin Lynch’s “Hell of a Night.” Sanders’ first appearance on a magazine cover was the March/April 2013 Currents music issue before his homecoming performance at the Suwannee River Jam. Sanders also is a performer and now is touring North America opening for Cole Swindell.

Entertainment Lineu p

ENTARY VOLUME 8 ISSUE 1 COMPLIM 2013 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER

Christmas Cutie The

Holiday Issue

The holiday issue of November/December 2013 featured the photography of Lake City’s Brent Kuykendall. The clever cuteness featured Brent’s grandson, Ty Kuykendall, in an iconic pose.

magazine

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 4 COMPLIM ENTARY

| MAY-JUNE, 2014

Brains and Beauty

Weston Crews 18 | Currents | November/December, 2015

Ryalee Wilkey

Grace Elizabeth Harry of Lake City is the 2015 summer Summer cruisin’ Fu n and fall fresh face of GUESS and is one of the planet’s top models. Before she adorned GUESS worldwide advertising campaigns that range from fashion catalogs and magazine layouts around the world, billboards on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood and wrap art on city buses in London, she honored us first by posing for our “Summer Cruisin’ Fun” issue on our May/June 2014 cover. She did a Jeep shoot with Currents longtime friend and photographer the late Bill Potts. Grace used Potts’ photos in her portfolio to land an agent and help launch her modeling career.

Join Lake City Medical Center as we move forward into the future of healthcare for Lake City and our surrounding communities. In Spring 2016, we will: Finalize third-floor addition Join Lake City Medical Center as•we move our forward into the future to of increase healthcare the number of In patient from 67 healthcare to 99 Lake CityMedical and ourCenter surrounding communities.

Spring 2016, we will: Joinfor Lake City as we move forward into rooms the future of for Lake City and our surrounding•communities.

2016, Care we will: Double the sizeInofSpring our Intensive Unit (ICU) • Finalize our third-floor addition to increase

• Celebrate 60ofyears of rooms service to the community the number patient from 67 to 99 • Finalize our third-floor addition to increase • Double the size of our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) the number of patient rooms from 67 to 99

• Celebrate 60 years of service to the community

• Double the size of our Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Text “ER” to 23000 for average ER wait* times

• Celebrate 60 years of service to the community

www.LakeCityMedical.com www.LakeCityMedical.com

Message and data rates may apply. For more information, visit: TextERHelp.com Text “ER” to 23000 for average ER wait* times *Wait defined as arrival time until seen by qualified medical professional.

Message and data rates may apply. For more information, visit: TextERHelp.com *Wait defined as arrival time until seen by qualified medical professional.

Text “ER” to 23000 for average ER wait* times Currents | November/December, 2015 | 19

www.LakeCityMedical.com

Message and data rates may apply. For more information, visit: TextERHelp.com *Wait defined as arrival time until seen by qualified medical professional.

20 | Currents | November/December, 2015

Developer Scott Stewart takes woodworking hobby to a new level.

By MEGAN REEVES

Scott Stewart said it isn’t any one thing alone that led to his love of woodworking.

Maybe it stems from childhood memories of days spent in his grandfather’s cabinet shop.

Maybe it reminds him of his very first paycheck from his very first job — his first taste of adulthood — as a carpenter, age 19, working to support his family right out of high school.

Whatever it was, it hooked him.

Now, at age 58, Stewart is a commercial and residential real estate agent as well as the developer of The Preserve at Laurel Lake, a new residential community in Lake City.

While his job keeps him close to the building process, his woodworking hobby gets him even closer.

After years of working with wood, Stewart said he’s found his favorite thing to make is tables. Coffee, dinner, side — doesn’t matter.

What does matter, he said, is that every piece he makes be unique.

“Each piece is completely different.

Scott Stewart rubs natural oil onto a wood slab in his workshop.

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 21

Different cracks, different thickness, different warp,” Stewart said. “It’s as if each piece of wood dictates exactly what it should be used for.”

Hundreds of pieces of wood, whether from his property, a friend’s backyard or even an old building in another city, lie stacked in his pole barn awaiting their destiny in the table-making process.

Each piece, whether oak, pine, cedar, or something else, is all-natural, real wood.

It doesn’t come home in Stewart’s truck bed from a store, and it isn’t perfectly cut or sized. It comes from everywhere.

“One of the tables I’m working on right now is made out wood from an old 1900s tobacco barn, railings from an 1800s house in Lulu and a church pew from an old St. Augustine church,” Stewart said. “So we’ve got

... at least two different centuries and three different stories in one table.

AT RIGHT: Stewart is seen using different power tools to cut and prepare pieces of wood for his tables.

22 | Currents | November/December, 2015

at least two different centuries and three different stories in one table.”

While he said his process isn’t hard, it is time consuming. Even after the lumber is found and cut, it has to be dried to be used. Wood can be dried quickly in a kiln or naturally, the slower process Stewart uses, which can take years.

“About five or six years ago I went and cut down a bunch of trees, took them to the sawmill and got them cut up,” Stewart said. “I’ve been storing the lumber for all of that time waiting on it to dry out so I can use it.”

A lot of the stored lumber has turned into useful objects for Stewart and his family, including a chicken coop, railings in a two-story barn, an oldfashioned ladder and multiple indoor tables. Each item better because of the materials used.

Stewart said although his work has received positive feedback locally, he has no interest in selling it. He said that’s not what his work is about, and he prefers to give the tables away for free.

“It’s not about money to me,” he said. “It’s about doing something to help people out and make them smile. That’s why I do this — to make people happy.”

Stewart said he plans to make tables for families who move into The Preserve and whose decor fits the natural look of his work as a sign of his thanks and well wishes.

TOP LEFT: A handmade ladle from Stewart’s shop is seen.

ABOVE: Stewart’s own dining room table is similar to those he gives to the new homeowners who buy a home from him.

LEFT: One of Stewart’s handcrafted end tables is displayed in his home.

It’s about doing something to help people out and make them smile.

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 23

One of the tables Stewart said he is most excited to give away is the two-century, three-story table made from a mashup of three different materials.

“The surface of the table was an old church pew, and now a family is going to sit around it and have a meal,” he said. “Now that’s a neat story. Maybe that’s why I do it.”

TOP LEFT: Scott Stewart’s grandsons Michael Curry, 12, left, and Tyler Johnson, 9, polish some of his handmade tables in his workshop. “They’re my little helpers,” Stewart said.

CENTER AND BOTTOM: Stewart used wood from the trees on the back of his property to build this barn and an old-fashioned ladder.

BACKGROUND: The wood from the St. Augustine church pew is seen close-up.

24 | Currents | November/December, 2015

NO ONE’S

Pouting THIS YEAR.

CALL ROBERT OR DEREK 754-9373

ORDER HOLIDAY CATERING AND EVERY GUEST GETS Offer good for catering delivered or picked up December 16-24, 2015. 20 person minimum. Moe Bucks can be used for in-restaurant purchases at participating locations only. Offer based on availability. Moe Bucks expire 1/15/2016.

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 25

HELPING PEOPLE FIND

Local church’s mission extends further than just Sunday service

26 | Currents | November/December, 2015

Church On The Way has yet to find a limit to its community outreach.

The efforts are multifaceted: They provide volunteers for events such as the Trunk or Treat, help aid in revitalizing downtown through promotion of the arts, provide sexual abuse counseling and are opening a dental clinic for the working poor.

The church, located on 537 N. Marion Avenue, has been operational for 10 years, according to lead pastor Dale Tompkins.

In order to better serve the community, a separate non-profit called Shift Forward was started.

“As a church, we are looking for ways to help the community, but for liability reasons it is important that [some things] stay separate from the church,” said

SUN: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

we are raising money for building the actual space,” Tompkins said.

The project still needs about $15,000 to fund work on the building, according to Tompkins.

“There is a lot of dental grants we can apply for but none of them are available until you are providing services,” Tompkins said. “We have kind’ve gone the non-traditional route in asking the community to help us get over that initial fundraising amounts.”

Charles Oden, member of the church and vice president of the non-profit, said that people can expect minimal costs at the clinic, which will serve as a stopgap for people of low-income and as an emergency dental care center.

“Most of this is going to be for the people

As a church, we are looking for ways to help the community ...

Story by SAM BURROUGHS | Photo by JAKE EASTERLING

537 N MARION AVE., LAKE CITY,FLORIDA 32025 Tompkins, president of the nonprofit.

Some of the projects Shift Forward took on include the sexual abuse counseling, dental clinic and a business incubator.

The dental clinic is one of the projects that is currently in the works. Tompkins hopes it will be opening its doors early next year.

“We pretty much have all of the equipment and staffing and

business and technology incubator will help people who are running a small business or who plan to start one.

“The idea of an incubator is you get people who are currently running or desiring to run a business and you put them together and as one solves a problem they share it with someone else,” Oden said.

The office will provide small businesses that are working out of their homes a place to work, meet clients and take phone calls.

“People that have new businesses that will create new jobs for the community and new ideas will create just a better place for us to live, those are the people we are geared toward helping,” Tompkins said.

The Platform will also provide small business owners with help understanding legal

— Dale Tompkins, lead pastor that are having toothaches,” Oden said. “If it’s something that’s going to require dental surgery we will have to refer them.”

In addition to the dental clinic, the non-profit is also working on a business and technology incubator called the Platform.

Located in the same building as the dental clinic, the

and financial paperwork.

The big picture for the church is to provide a variety of needed resources for local people through their service efforts and the efforts of the non-profit.

“We think there are people in the community that know better than us and we want to help them, we want to be a part of that,” Tompkins said.

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 27

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Great Books

to give as gifts to your favorite readers

H

oliday gift trends come and go, but books are a perennial classic. And the volumes that make the best gifts feature stunning visuals and welldesigned content that educates while it entertains.

Here are six titles for everyone on your list:

Nature Lovers

For a journey through scenic and rich animal habitats, give “Wildlife of the World.” Portraitstyle photography brings you “face-to-face” with individual animals, from the shaggy musk ox foraging in the Canadian high arctic, to the rockclimbing gelada monkey of Ethiopia. Engrossing profiles narrate how they interact with their environments, mate, survive, and even play. Produced in association with the Smithsonian Institution, the book also features an 80-page illustrated reference section on the animal kingdom.

Theater-Goers

Gift the complete history of the musical with “Musicals: The Definitive Illustrated Story.” This behind-the-scenes tour of the best-loved musicals uses rich photography, memorabilia, and behind-the-scenes gossip to tell the story of more than 140 notable stage and film productions and their creators.

Star Wars Enthusiasts

Wacky trivia await readers of “Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know,” from who cleans the floors of the Death Stars and what takes 1,000 years to digest its victims. From movie-making trivia to quirky facts you never knew, this guide will excite new and old fans

alike of Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the Star Wars movies I-VI.

Super Hero Fans

For the most comprehensive single volume published on the subject, “Marvel’s The Avengers Encyclopedia,” details the genesis of the team and explores the powers of more than 250 characters and 40 teams and lineups, including fan-favorites such as Captain America and Black Widow. Packed with fantastic comic book art, this title is a must-have guide to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

Budding Creators

Unlock the secrets of LEGO building in this all-new book based off the popular LEGO Ideas series. “LEGO Awesome Ideas” shows fans how to create their own world with LEGO bricks by providing step-by-step visual breakdowns of new models and offering alternative ways to build them, brick by brick.

With unqiue model ideas and expert tips and techniques, “LEGO Awesome Ideas” will inspire anyone, from beginners to accomplished builders.

Award-winning artist David Macaulay introduces readers to Sloth and his sidekick Sengi as they try to find their way out of the zoo with the help of machines. Their efforts are brought to life in “How Machines Work: Zoo Break!”

Through models and illustrations, as well as novelty elements including pop-ups, pull-outs, and lift-the-flaps, readers can explore how and why machines work.

For a classic gift that will never go out of fashion, consider giving a book this holiday season. New beautifullydesigned titles are available for everyone on your list.

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 29

treat ENTERTAINING

Desserts all your guests will love Want to really flex your hosting

muscles this holiday season? The best way to show you are the host with the most is by ensuring that dessert time is sweet for every guest.

That means making sure all party goers have a delicious note to end their meal on. Here are a few easy tips for hosts to make sure everyone at the table, regardless of his or her dietary restrictions, enjoys dessert together.

Gluten-Free Guests

One in 133 Americans suffers from Celiac disease and another 18 million have gluten sensitivity. For these celebrants, occasions where lavish sweets are served can be frustrating. But you can make your guests’ day happy if you shop smart.

For instance, you can check out the gluten-free cakes of Inspired by Happiness. Certified gluten-free by the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, they are made using only natural flavors, with no artificial colors or transfat. Flavors include “Dreamin’ of Chocolate Dark & White Chocolate Layer

Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies Ingredients • 2 cups almond flour • ¼ teaspoon celtic sea salt • ¼ teaspoon baking soda • 3 tablespoons coconut oil • 2 tablespoons honey • ¼ cup jam

30 | Currents | November/December, 2015

Instructions 1. Combine almond flour, salt and baking soda in a food processor.

2. Pulse in coconut oil & honey until dough forms.

3. Scoop batter 1 tablespoon at a time onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

4. Press your thumb into the center of each cookie to make an indentation.

5. Place ½ teaspoon of jam in the center of each cookie.

6. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes until golden brown.

t yourself Cake,” “Dreamin’ of Strawberries White Chocolate Shortcake” and the new “Cravin’ for Cookies & Cream Layered Cake,” and can be found in the in-store bakery of retail grocery chains and supermarkets including Kroger and Target. More information can be found at inspired-by-happiness. com.

For an easy to make, easy to eat gluten-free recipe all your guests will love, check out the Raspberry Thumprint Cookies on the facing page.

Give your gluten-free guests the decadence they deserve with irresistible flavors and a homemade taste. If you shop right, these may become the most popular desserts you serve this season.

Vegan Visitors

For those who don’t eat eggs, milk and butter, dessert can seem tricky at first, but there are plenty

of ways to create desserts that avoid these ingredients. Serve vegan guests a homemade sorbet topped with a mint garnish. Or, stick to your regular recipes and make some substitutions. Tofu, cornstarch and apple sauce can replace egg in pies and pudding.

And a range of milk substitutes are available, including rice milk, soy milk and almond milk

Fruit-Only Fans

Whether you have guests who avoid dessert because of a specific health concern or simply are fans of fruit only, a fruit side will be a welcome addition to your dessert spread, especially after an indulgent meal.

Provide guests with a fresh fruit salad side. This option will be enjoyed right alongside any and all of the other options in your spread.

For a more laborious option — better called a labor of love — try the Mini Dried Fruit Cakes from the recipe below.

The holiday feast should be a joyous, festive occasion for all your guests throughout every course. Ensure you have dessert options that everyone can enjoy.

Mini Dried Fruit Cakes

Ingredients • 1 cup currants, 1 cup raisins • ½ cup dried cranberries • ½ cup brandy, ¼ cup molasses • 1 orange, lemon • 1 cup butter, softened • 1 cup packed brown sugar • 4 eggs, lightly beaten • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour • 3 tablespoons brandy • 4 containers vanilla frosting

Instructions 1. Zest and juice orange/lemon, combine with currants, raisins in bowl. Mix in brandy. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand overnight. Drain extra liquid off fruit.

2. Heat oven to 325°F. Grease muffin tin. Beat butter, molasses and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed.

3. Gradually add eggs and flour, alternating until both are incorporated. Stir in soaked fruit. Spread into pan.

5. Bake 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool in pan, about 2 hours.

6. Microwave frosting in 30 second intervals, stirring until smooth and pourable. Quickly spoon onto cakes.

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 31

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TIPS

COOL W

GARDE

The Holidays are fast approaching, with the hustle and bustle of the season already apparent in the stores. Where did 2015 go? I remember my grandmother saying the older you get, the faster time goes by. So true.

No matter what life brings my way, I can always count on gardening to be there as a good friend would, waiting patiently for me.

Something to look forward to, with no anxieties attached, just waiting when I have time and energy to get something done. A simple chore like watering my hanging baskets is a pleasure.

I’ve always felt that gardening, in any form, is therapy for me as my worries and cares melt away. I lose track of time as I try to get just one more thing done. Weeds to pull, plants to plant or transplant or compost to be added to struggling soil areas. There are always happy surprises — a beautiful bloom, new growth on a cherished cutting — as well as disappointments. The only real problems consist of maybe losing a big shade

34 | Currents | November/December, 2015

tree, but if it misses our home, it is a blessing and an opportunity to plant sun loving plants.

Cool weather gardening is a wonderful time for the Florida gardener, we can accomplish so much more and work longer without tiring from the heat. I try to be a good gardener, by good I mean not leaving a negative impact on the environment because of my choices, such as using synthetic fertilizers or wasting water. Native plants are good choices because they are used to our heat and humidity as well as too much rain at times and droughts at others. Insects and diseases don’t usually bother them, so spraying with chemicals isn’t necessary. I also have exotic plants, (from other countries) just not the demanding or temperamental ones. If I find an invasive plant I pull it out, invasive plants are ones that grow so well they push out the native plants as they eventually escape into the wild. Our wildlife needs native plants for habitat as well as for food sources.

Plants will be going dormant for the winter and

FOR

WEATHER

ENING

January and February is the best time for transplanting. It is recommended by UF to prune large shade trees, such as oaks, maples, and hickories, during their dormant season. Trees sprout excessively when pruned during active growth. I was taught when transplanting a tree or shrub we should cut plants back by a third. Newer research has shown this is no longer recommended. The plant needs all the leaves possible to photosynthesize. Only prune dead or crossing, damaged and diseased limbs when transplanting.

Avoid leaving a stub when pruning any plant.

Cut back to a bud, a lateral branch, or the main trunk. A higher concentration of hormones is released in these areas and causes the wound to heal faster. A stub doesn’t usually heal, leaving a place for disease and insects to enter.

It’s time to plant lettuce, (leaf, butter and romaine )an easy vegetable to grow and will keep you in salads all winter, the only one we can’t grow here in North Florida is iceberg let-

Martha Ann Ronsonet | GARDENING tuce. Harvest the outer leaves and let the parent plant continue to produce. Keep lettuce evenly moist and mulched with pine straw or leaves. If lettuce gets too dry it may show tip burn. Other cool weather vegetables include kale, cabbage, broccoli, beets, carrots, and spinach. Strawberries too.

Cool weather annuals include pansy, petunia, viola, calendula, snapdragons, alyssum, calibrachoa, dianthus, delphinium, dusty miller, nasturtiums and hollyhock. In general, plant or divide spring blooming perennials in fall, and fall bloomers in the spring. Spring bloomers include amaryllis, crinum, daylily and agapanthus. Lycoris can be planted now also. Herbs to plant are cilantro, parsley, sage, fennel, dill, and thyme.

Happy planting. n Martha Ann Ronsonet is the author of Gardening in the Deep South and Other Hot Pursuits

Petunias and alyssums are two plants that will do well being planted in the cool weather of a North Florida winter. This season also makes it easy to remember to eat your vegetables as lettuce (leaf, butter and romaine) as well as carrots, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, kale and even beets thrive in cool weather gardening.

Reminder:

If a freeze is predicted, cover tender plants with frost cloth, available at most garden centers, which elevates the temperature about 10 degrees. It usually rains just before a hard freeze, which is a good thing because wet soil holds the heat of the day better than dry soil.

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 35

inspiring decor 3 decorating trends to try

s the holidays draw near, homeowners and renters are gearing up to deck the halls in celebration of the season. Just as the year-round decor in your space reflects your personality and unique style, your approach to holiday decorating shouldn’t be any different. Whether your design style is cheery and colorful, natural and rustic or glitzy and glamorous, there are many ways to replace traditional holiday decor and make the space feel more like you.

“Bringing your personal style to life doesn’t require an interior designer, and is something you can easily tackle on your own,” said Carrie and Morgan of Ampersand Design Studio, based out of Kansas City, Mo. “With a little inspiration you can take your holiday decorating to the next level with ease.”

A

1

Gilded Modern: This bold and graphic style combines black, gold and brass tones for a sleek, polished look. Upgrade your mantel by hanging a chic and modern wreath as the focal point and surround it with gallery-style framed quotes and simple paintings over gold garland. The highcontrast patterns and simple color palette transcend holiday and can even be left up through New| November/December, Year’s Eve. 36 | Currents 2015

2

Camp Christmas: Embrace the outdoors and the cozy feelings that come with the holiday season by fusing traditional colors with warm patterns. Dress outdoor wreaths and furniture with flannel or buffalo-check patterned fabric reminiscent of winter. Guests from near and far will feel welcome and at home for the holidays.

3

Go for Girly: Go for girly by mixing vibrant pinks and teals with metallic colors and glitter that instantly make any decoration stand out. String together bulb ornaments to dress up a bar cart and set the scene with a complementary backdrop on the wall. The playful and casual set-up conveys a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 37

2015

Holiday

2016

Do you want to experience

the joy of giving

this holiday season? Below is a list of local charities and non-profits always in need of donations and volunteers.

Catholic Charities Lake City Regional, call 386-754-9180 or visit at 258 NW Burk Ave. or catholiccharitieslakecity.org • United Way of Suwannee Valley, call 386-752-5604, or visit at 325 NE Hernando Drive or unitedwaysuwanneevalley.org • Goodwill, call 386-754-2745, or visit at 879 SW Main Blvd #115 • Another Way, call 386-719-2702, or visit at PO Box 1028 or on the web at anotherwayinc.net • Lake City Humane Society, call 386-752-3191, or visit 1392 SW Shelter Glen or lakecityhumane.org

38 | Currents | November/December, 2015

A.C.T.I.O.N. in Columbia County, call 386-292-0095, or visit columbiaaction.org • Chances for Children, call 386-752-4453, or visit 405 E Duval St. • Altrusa International, call the Altrusa main office at 312-427-4410 or vist lakecity. altrusa.org • Covenant Pet Trust, call 386-288-1339, or visit covenantpettrust.org • Habitat for Humanity, call 386-755-0014 or visit hfhlakecity.org

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 39

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Girl Scout Troop collects blankets, makes bedding for shelter animals

W

Warm at heart - and home By MEGAN REEVES

hether by collecting blankets for their kennels or finding them a new home, a group of local Girl Scouts are doing their part to make sure the dogs and cats at Lake City Animal Shelter stay warm this winter.

It all started about a month ago when Girl Scout leader Trish Bailey asked her three troops what they wanted to do for their “Take Action” project, a Girl Scout requirement they will work on for the next two years.

“It could be any local community project, but this year the girls said they wanted to work with the animals,” Bailey said. “A lot of them have pets and saw that there was a need at the shelter.”

After shelter Executive Director Laura Page came to visit the troops and describe the shelter’s needs, the girls learned the shelter is without a working heating system.

Shelter Directors of Operations Dale Griffin, who gave the girls a tour of the facility, explained the heater currently installed is broken, but because the shelter operates completely off donations from the community, there is no money to fix it.

“It probably won’t be cold all winter long but it’ll get cold enough,” Griffin said. “Nothing is

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 41

like a commercial heater, but we do what we can to make the animals as comfortable as possible.�

Taking Action

After learning about the condition of the shelter, each of the three troops decided on the exact responsibilities they would have in the project.

Daisy Troop 1199 committed to making and updating a photo board of adoptable pets to hang inside PetSmart.

Brownie Troop 1227 started a blanket and towel drive to collect items from the community to help keep animals warm inside their kennels and cages during the colder months coming up.

The Girl Scouts passed out large plastic trash bags for people to fill with old blan-

TOP: Gabrielle Ontiveros, of Junior Scout Troop 610, spray paints a styrofoam cooler for a cat bed.

CENTER: Co-leader Tangula Brooks watches her daughter Markenzie Lewis work on a cooler.

BOTTOM: Tara Bailey and Adrianna Gomez feed snacks to the shelter dogs at the Petsmart National Adoption Event earlier this year.

RIGHT: Colleen Antiquera, of Daisy Scout 1199 stands with the toys collected at PetSmart.

FAR RIGHT: Some of the garbage bag donations of blankets and towels and toys are seen.

42 | Currents | November/December, 2015

kets and towels that they will pick up later and deliver to the shelter.

Junior Troop 610 focused on the animals living outside the shelter by building homes out of styrofoam coolers for feral cats.

“We painted the coolers green, silver and brown so they will blend into the cat’s surroundings. Then we cut holes in them so water can drain out when it rains,” said Junior Girl Scout Tara Bailey, 9.

She said the box will also give the cats each a place to sleep and hide from foxes and other predators until they are

ready for adoption.

“We want the cats to stay warm and healthy,” she said. “We hope the cat houses can help with that.”

All the girls have worked together to collect donations for toys and supplies by setting up a table at the local PetSmart store.

How to Help

Bailey explained that donations don’t have to be money, but anything that can make life at the shelter run a little smoother for both the animals and the volunteers.

“They need everything from bleach to dish detergent to food and litter, paper towels — really anything

you can think of,” she said. “Money donations have to be reported and can penalize them for grant money, but tangible items won’t.”

Griffin said the shelter could not be more thankful for what the girl scouts are doing.

“The girls, though they are young, are helping out so much,” he said. “It just shows that everybody can do something to help us, big or small.”

Bailey said, for her and the scouts, it’s just what they do.

“That’s what girl scouts is all about—helping and giving back to your community,” she said.

“We feel very privileged to be the ones doing all of this.”

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 43

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46 | Currents | November/December, 2015

TAKING THEIR

Tim in f othy are ront o Dotso all f a n, C me rob orr mb ot a ie Y ers t C ork of t olum e an he rob bia H d Dus otic igh tin s te Sch Carw am ool ile at C . Th pos HS. e se e nio rs

About CHS Robotics The Columbia High School robotics team, TEAM 3556 “GET SMART,” is a team of 30 students divided into numerous subsystems; 15 mentors with combined decades of engineering experience; and returning alumni, who guide students and work with mentors to guide the team to victory, all of whom are dedicated to working towards a common goal: to build a fully functioning robot in six weeks that can perform a given task to the best of its ability.

The students are training in Computer Aided Design (CAD), LabVIEW Programming, construction, public relations, and graphic design, while learning new skills every day. On GET SMART, it’s not about the robot, it’s about the teamwork that leads to the robot. Now in its fourth year, the team of students at CHS is considered a veteran FIRST Robotics Competition team. * Information from www.team3556.com

4

KNOWLEDGE TO THE NEXT

DEGREE

By SAM BURROUGHS

Four Columbia High School seniors are college-bound and steeped in possibilities. While students in some small towns may yearn to get out for good, these four plan on coming back one day.

Driven by Engineering

Dustin Carwile, the team captain and safety captain for the robotics team at Columbia High School, has lived in Lake City for eight years.

His goal after high school is getting into the United States Naval Academy where he wants to focus on engineering.

In between classes and captaining the robotics team, he’s working on getting appointments from Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen. Bill Nelson and congressman Ted Yoho for the academy.

“I know I want to go into engineering of some sort,” Carwile said. “I thought of biomedical or mechanical. If I go to the naval

academy, it will be more specialized.”

Other options for Car wile include: University of Central Florida, Stetson University and Georgia Southern University.

Lake City has provided Carwile with opportunities that he feels he may not have gotten somewhere else.

“It has been my favorite place I’ve ever lived,” Carwile said. “I’ve moved about four times, I think, and this is my favorite place.”

It is Carwile’s favorite place that has offered him options for pursuing his dreams.

Through the engineering tech program at the high school, Carwile has become certified in AutoCAD, a software program used for creating blueprints, and is working on his SolidWorks certification, a Currents | November/December, 2015 | 47

The [high school’s engineering] program has done so much for not only me, but any student that comes through it.”

— Dustin Carwile, CHS senior computer-aided design and computer-aided engineering software program.

“The [school’s engineering] program has done so much for not only me, but any student that comes through it,” Carwile said.

For Carwile, the robotics team has been the best thing he’s done in high school and he is looking forward to advancing his career options.

“I think working with others and just building my skills and my tools that I have will help me to move forward into whatever career I choose,” he said.

Career-Certified

Timothy Dotson, a football player and robotics team member, agrees with the sentiment.

“I have lived in Lake City for about 10 years now,” Dotson said, who is originally from California. He is looking at Purdue University, the University of Florida, Embr y-Riddle Aeronautical University, and the University of Central Florida. “[I want to major in] mechanical engineering. I’m not sure [what specific career yet] but definitely something in the engineering field,” Dotson said.

Dotson is AutoCAD- and SolidWorkscertified and has also been solderingcertified by a local company.

“Some students have gotten jobs with their certifications,” Dotson said. “My brother is in college and they use SolidWorks every single day so … it has really prepared me for

48 | Currents | November/December, 2015

college.”

These industry certifications have helped Dotson figure out where he wants to go next in life. According to Dotson, his experiences in Lake City and at CHS have put him on the path to his future.

‘A Different World View’

Corrie Yorke, the public relations captain on the robotics team and a senior at CHS, agreed that the program and resources in Lake City have played a big role in preparing her for her next steps.

Yorke has lived in Lake City her whole life and is applying to the University of Florida and the New College of Florida.

She’s also keeping her eyes on the University of Central Florida and Florida State University. “[I want to major in] biology but I’m not sure what kind of biology yet,” Yorke said. “There are so many options.”

Yorke is in charge of the graphic design and relations with sponsors on the robotics team. She applied for the team after a recommendation from a friend and feels like the program has pushed her and others to pursue their dreams by going college.

“It doesn’t matter what you’re interested in because what the team teaches you doesn’t necessarily pertain always to engineering. There’s teamwork and it gives you kind of a different world view,” Yorke said.

Corrie Yorke (back left), Dustin Carwile (center) and Timothy Dotson (front center) work on a robot at Columbia High School. The seniors all have big plans for college after graduation. Yorke wants to major in biology and Carwile and Dotson want to pursue engineering.

For Yorke, the resources at the school and in Lake City have helped her succeed while being able to be in a small town.

Big Dreams for Small-town Senior

Outside of the sciences, fellow senior Tim Pierce, student body president, also has his sights set on big dreams that will hopefully bring him back to the place he calls home.

“I’m looking to go into a more business/finance field, but at the same time I’m definitely keeping my options open, kind of exploring what becomes available,” Pierce said.

Finance and banking is his primary goal, but other career paths for Pierce include lobbying or campaign managing.

“I would prefer not to be an actual elected official but I would really enjoy being a

I love this school & all the

it’s given me ...

— Tim Piercee, CHS senior Currents | November/December, 2015 | 49

campaign manager because campaigning is really what I enjoy doing,” Pierce said.

Pierce, who has lived in Lake City since third grade, has been accepted to the University of Alabama where he has received a full scholarship. He is also in the process of applying to the University of Florida, Vanderbilt University and Washington and Lee University.

“Washington and Lee is actually my number one school,” Pierce said. “They have a student body of about 1,800 in a small rural town in Virginia so it’s like a collegiate Columbia High School.”

Pierce is ready for change, but would like to end up back in Lake City.

“I’d like to get to Wall Street or to a larger city where the banking scene is a little greater and spend some time up there and then hopefully by 30, 32 kind of settle down and come back to Lake City,” Pierce said.

He can envision himself getting involved in local politics, becoming a school board member or even teaching at the high school in social studies or calculus.

“I love this school and all the opportunities that it’s given me but I’m also excited to move on and see what other opportunities come my way,” Pierce said.

In tandem with their diverse goals, Pierce, Dotson, Yorke and Carwile all agree on one thing.

“If there was an opportunity in Lake City I would definitely come back,” Dotson said “I would love to be back in Lake City.”

50 | Currents | November/December, 2015

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Your Child, Healthy and Happy How do we ensure your child's health & happiness?

genuine care • advanced technology comprehensive services • Parent-friendly Visits free 1st visit for children up to 2 years old At Martin Kids, we focus on preventive care to help each child maintain a healthy smile that will last a lifetime.

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386-752-8200 | SR 47 S. • Lake City, FL

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A DIY CHRISTMAS:

Create Unique, Memorable Gifts

Making your list and checking it twice? Coming up with unique items for all your family and friends in a short period of time is not always a simple feat.

Luckily, there are many easy ways to make everyone on your list feel special.

Customized Books

While literature always makes a great gift, a personalized book will make reading time extra appealing, and a cherished present that will never be forgotten.

Personalized book companies let you make your gift recipient the hero of a unique story, complete with the person’s name and photo.

Personalized Candles

Turn the gift of a treasured candle into something even more personalized by incorporating photos and messages on the candle label. Make a statement by picking a fragrance with your recipient in mind, tied to special memories you share.

To create made-to-order combinations for your friends and family, consider Yankee Candle, which offers several customization options that allow you to personalize everything from the label design to embellishments in the wrapping. Their lineup of fragrances includes Buttercream, Lilac Blossoms, and Sparkling Cinnamon, conjuring fond memories of everything from a walk 52 | Currents | November/December, 2015

through flowery fields to a favorite holiday dessert.

Personalized candles, which are easy to design, also make thoughtful hostess gifts for all your holiday festivities this season.

Gift Basket

A standard-issue gift basket will be appreciated, but to show you truly care, consider customizing each gift for every recipient. You can make unique creations by taking favorites into consideration. Is your gift recipient a dog lover? Does she have a sweet tooth?

After stocking baskets with goodies customized to their tastes, adorn each one with unique garlands, ribbons and bows.

This holiday season is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of all the easy, customizable options available to make each gift thoughtful and unforgettable.

Holiday Thank Yous

Little gifts for the kids’ teachers, the neighborhood mail carrier, your favorite hairdresser and office coworkers can add up to some big expenses.

Gift cards are a special way to show your yearround appreciation and you don’t have to spend much to make an impact. Consider giving gift cards for a popular restaurant, retail store or coffee spot. Adorn the gift card with a unique ornament or decoration to add some extra holiday flair.

Gifts from the Heart

one you make. Fill a fun candy jar with holiday sweets like individually-wrapped mints and chocolates, and then finish it with a coordinating ribbon and gift tag. You can also give someone a stress-free supper with a homemade soup in a jar mix. Purchase canning jars and fill with soup ingredients like beans, pasta, spices and other delicious ingredients to make a tasty DIY gift.

Decorate the jar with ribbon and use the gift tag to include cooking instructions on the back.

Stocking Stuffers

After the large items are purchased, don’t forget the stocking stuffers. With nearly limitless possibilities, consider fun items like lip gloss, hand cream and travel-sized toiletries for those on the go. For kids, think about small toys, mini coloring sets and yummy holiday treats including candy canes and chocolates. Add in little everyday items like gloves or a pair of patterned fuzzy socks.

Make this holiday memorable — and meaningful — by giving handmade gifts that won’t stress your budget, or you.

Sometimes the most meaningful gifts are the Currents | November/December, 2015 | 53

CELEBRATE SURVIV O RSHIP

FAMILY AND FRIENDS with

Cancer Survivor Day

Hosted by Cancer Care of North Florida Honoring All Survivors and Lost Loved Ones, Their Family and Friends Join Us at 289 SW Stonegate Terrace, Suite 103 Lake City, FL 32024 Thursday, November 19 | 4:30 - 6:30 pm Free to the Local Community | Food and Drinks Provided Live Music by Jared Wade, the Georgia Music Awards Country Male 2013 Vocalist of the Year

Dr. Waseem Khan

Medical Oncology & Hematology Director 54 | Currents | November/December, 2015

Dr. Mark E. Thompson

Radiation Oncology Director

386.755.1655 | ccofnf.com

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 55

Healthy Holidays hen making holiday plans, consider your pets’ health needs.

Here, five veterinary experts weigh in on steps to keep pets happy and healthy amid the hubbub.

W

Resist Those Pleading Eyes

According to veterinary nutritionist Dr. Dottie LaFlamme, high-calorie tidbits contribute to caloric overload and bad habits, while lacking necessary nutrient balance.

“Just one teaspoon of beef fat can contain almost twice the calories a small dog should consume in daily treats,” LaFlamme notes, adding that feeding from the table also promotes begging behavior. “If you must give pets a treat, feed it in their b o w l after the

for your pet

meal to help with portion control.”

Avoid Holiday Hazards

The holidays can be toxic to pets.

Chocolate poisoning is one of the most common accidents during the holidays, according to veterinary critical care specialist and toxicologist Dr. Justine Lee. Other food foes include grapes, raisins, bones, unbaked yeast bread dough, alcohol and xylitol, a common sugar substitute.

Likewise, “Potpourri liquid contains detergents that can cause severe ulcers and burns in a cat’s mouth, while tinsel can act as a severe linear foreign body when stuck in a cat’s stomach and intestines,” she explains.

If you’re hosting, ensure houseguests pet-proof pill bottles.

Take Preventive Measures

Owners often experience a false sense of security about parasite prevention when the weather turns cooler. However, the holidays are no time to take a break from heartworm prevention, even though heartworms are spread by infected mosquitoes, says veterinary parasitologist Dr. Patricia Payne. Why? Because preventives work retroactively on heartworm larvae acquired earlier in the season.

“There’s no way to accurately predict past or future transmission, so the American Heartworm Society recommends yearround heartworm prevention for dogs and

cats,” she explains. “Make sure to put a reminder on your holiday calendar to give routine monthly preventives to pets.”

Give the Gift of Activity

“When we removed hunting from pets’ daily lives, we reduced their physical and mental activity,” explains veterinary behaviorist Dr. Jacqueline Neilson.

“When pets lack mental stimulation, they can become bored and depressed, and often create their own stimulating activities, such as chewing items or barking at passersby.”

Beat this concern with food puzzles and toys that require pets to work, play or “hunt.”

“Consider your pet’s personality when choosing holiday gifts,” says Neilson. “If your dog likes to chew things, a food toy that needs to be squeezed between the jaws may be ideal. Herding breeds may prefer a toy they can nudge.”

Travel Prep

An estimated 30 million people travel with their pets annually, and holidays are primetime for hitting the road. Flying?

Check your airline’s pet requirements.

For car travel, invest in a carrier.

“Your pet will appreciate a safe haven while traveling,” says Dr. Robert Stannard, who recommends adding a favorite blanket to provide a sense of familiarity.

Travel bowls, favorite toys and medications are necessities, not luxuries. Just be careful not to overfeed.

“Like us, pets can get motion sickness,” says Stannard. “Don’t feed your pet right before leaving, and limit food during travel to help prevent digestive upset.”

With a few precautionary measures, your four-legged family members can have a happy, healthy holiday season.

Be sure to avoid this potentially deathly duo: Turkey Bones — Don’t let those puppy eyes fool you! Avoid feeding your dog turkey bones as they can splinter and harm their digestive tracts. It’s best to keep your pet on their normal diet but if you are looking to share some seasonal love with your dog, white turkey meat with the skin and fat removed is OK. Chocolate — Chocolate accounts for the vast majority of holiday calls to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (much more than even Halloween or Valentine’s Day). Why? Often it’s because of wrapped 56 | Currents | November/December, 2015 chocolate gifts left under the tree. Be sure to keep any gifts containing cocoa out of your dog’s reach this holiday season.

AD VERTISEMEN T

Helping You Make the Transition CARETENDERS LAKE CITY HAS A VARIETY OFof SERVICES cAretenderS ofOF gAineSville hAS A vAriety ServiceS THAT AID SENIORS IN MAKING A LIFESTYLE CHANGE. thAt Aid SeniorS in mAking A lifeStyle chAnge

T

he life changes that come with age can be at once mystifying and frightening. Whether it’s something as minor as new glasses or as major as a move to assisted living, Seniors are often concerned that lifestyle adjustments can lead to lack of independence. Thankfully, Mederi Caretenders of Gainesville has a variety of programs aimed at answering questions and easing the transitions that Seniors face.

“As with anyone, when a senior is faced with one or more major life changes - such as a move to an assisted living community where they’re changing their lifestyle to accommodate some limitation, or they lose a loved one - this can be very scary and overwhelming and can possibly lead to decline in physical and/or mental health,” said Susan Swirbul, a patient care liason at Caretenders.

Caretenders has a variety of services specifically designed for clients undergoing a stressful period of change.

These Seniors might be experiencing new limitations on mobility, cognitive deficits, effects of medication or other challenges that necessitate a change in lifestyle. When combined with declining overall health and other factors, clients can easily become depressed and feel as if they are losing control of their lives.

One such service, the Transitional Care Program, assists in a Senior’s transition to an assisted living facility.

A physician’s order is placed for a comprehensive geriatric needs assessment, which is conducted by a nurse who

is thoroughly trained to identify the imminent needs of the patient.

Once the client is settled in, the program professionals help manage medical needs and communicate with families, assisted living staff and other people involved with the client’s care. The program includes a team of psychiatric and medical nurses, therapists and social workers, all of whom have extensive experience and training in working with Seniors in transition.

For patients dealing with loss of mobility or cognitive abilities, Caretenders provides occupational therapists to help them re-learn and perform everyday tasks. They can also ensure that Seniors are using medical equipment correctly – for example, they can demonstrate proper positioning in a wheelchair.

All of these changes can take their toll on a Senior’s morale. Psychiatric nurses provide emotional support and teach clients how to deal with their feelings of frustration and helplessness. They also partner with other Caretenders professionals to provide education and moral support to caregivers, as they play a crucial role in a Senior’s outlook on life.

“Having an expert team of Caretenders clinicians that specialize in working with senior adults needing transitional support can help seniors sustain good health by incorporating proven techniques, like thorough mental/physical assessments, support counseling and engagement in meaningful activity,” said Swirbul.

“I wondered if my family could manage all the care I needed after leaving the hospital.”

A Special Kind of Caring...

That’s The Caretenders Tradition A dedicated team of compassionate, highly skilled healthcare professionals who treat their patients like family is our hallmark.

• SkIlled NurSINg • PHySICAl THerAPy • OCCuPATIONAl THerAPy • CerTIFIed HOMe HeAlTH AId • CArdIAC CAre • dIAbeTIC CAre • OrTHOPedIC reHAb • urOlOgy CAre • SPeeCH THerAPy • OuTPATIeNT reCOvery

Committed To The Highest Quality Home Care Services.

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4923 NW 43rd Street, Suite A Gainesville, Florida 32606

352-379-6217 Call For More Information About How Caretenders Can Help You. Lic# HHA299991306

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 57

E H T G N I K R O W E N E C S T AR

sone n o R i l l t Ke or famil s i t r a l Loca g murals f paintin

By SAM BURROUGHS

Square footage, chalk outlines, clean walls and clear goals are what help Kelli Ronsonet visualize the final product.

For 22 years, Ronsonet has been painting murals across North Florida. Her business, Artworks For Everyone, which operates out of her home, offers services that include mural painting and painting party classes.

Ronsonet, who has lived most of her life in Lake City, estimates she’s done well over 100 murals for commercial and private clients and has done around 50 “Paint Outside The Wines” painting classes, where she brings supplies and her expertise to groups requesting her services.

Her murals can be found in places from homes to hospitals. North Florida Pediatrics, PotashCorp of White Springs and the University of Florida’s Children’s Service Center are just some of spots where she’s left her mark.

Pastor Mike Tatem of Parkview Baptist Church, whose walls are decorated with her work, said that Ronsonet’s

LEFT: Ronsonet painted this mural of children playing in a field for Magnolia Pediatrics in Lake City. Ronsonet has been painting for 22 years. She estimates she’s painted over 100 murals for both private and commercial clients. Her business, Artworks For Everyone, offers mural painting and painting party classes. Jungles, biblical scenes, oceans and children are just some of the subjects she painted.

58 | Currents | November/December, 2015

ce n e i r e p s ex r a e re. y o 0 2 m n d a n h es a re t h o c r m u s h a c et h sses, e n i s u lies, b

FAR ABOVE: Kelli Ronsonet, local artist, works on one of her murals at Pinemount Elementary School. ABOVE: An alligator lurks on the walls of University of Florida Children Service Center. TOP LEFT: A little girl blows bubbles on the walls of Chances For Children in Lake City. BOTTOM LEFT: A face of a tiger is found at Summers Elementary School.

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 59

murals are beautiful.

The murals are in the pre-school division of the church, and include animals, children, fields, flowers, trees and a depiction of Jesus with children.

“It was very well done.” Tatem said.

“Every time a family member would bring in a child into our division, [the children] would stop and find the new animals there. So it was not just the finished product that was wonderful, but we were also thrilled with the process.”

Ronsonet said her process for painting varies from client to client. Scenic views, biblical depictions and jungle themes are just a few of the

... it was not just the finished product that was wonderful, but we were also thrilled with the process.

60 | Currents | November/December, 2015

— Mike Tatem, pastor of Parkview Baptist Church

Currents | November/December, 2015 | 61

things she’s done.

Working mostly indoors and with acrylic paint, Ronsonet dedicates around four or five hours a day to her projects to avoid making mistakes due to fatigue.

The subjects for the murals depend on the client. She can paint exact requests or work from simple ideas. Ronsonet’s biggest priority is making sure the client is satisfied.

The time, detail and work Ronsonet puts into her art is part of her passion for painting that can be traced back to high school.

As a 1984 graduate of Columbia High School, Ronsonet said that art was her favorite subject.

62 | Currents | November/December, 2015

“I had an ability to do well in those classes,” Ronsonet said.

Before being able to paint full time, Ronsonet worked in retail and as a paraprofessional. Her career in painting started almost serendipitously.

“I painted [my daughter’s] nursery and then someone saw that and wanted me to paint something in their house and it went from there by word of mouth,” she said. “I didn’t start the business all at once.”

After 22 years, Ronsonet said the most rewarding part of her job is doing murals that children will enjoy.

“I do a lot of nurseries and I’ve done some nurseries that the people tell me that the kids, the older they get, the more they pay attention to the mural and they enjoy it,” She said. “Those are the best. Anything that has to do with children and children enjoying art, that’s the most memorable.”

TOP LEFT: Ronsonet has held more than 50 “Painting Outside the Wines” classes for eager participants. CENTER LEFT: Participants from a Halloween-theme class display their artwork. BOTTOM LEFT: Ronsonet (standing) is seen instructing painters in the class.

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