Family Magazine Summer 2023

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YOUR

Every year, a dry heat settles to bake the top layer of soil, the dust of turning crop fields is kicked up, and just when you think we may be in for a hot, bone-dry season, thunder begins to roll from coast to coast, and the hot, humid summer begins! The days are pleasantly almost too long, but long enough to enjoy outdoor hobbies or exercise, even in the middle of the week! This is the season to work hard, but play harder, spending at least some time away from the constant responsibilities, whether you are exploring new springs, conquering new competitive heights, or leisurely visiting your favorite vacation spot.

In this Summer 2023 issue of Family Magazine , you’ll find a little bit of it all regarding recipes, good practices for a great summer, springs, and, most interesting of all, stories of the people in our North Florida family. With our features, you’ll race and rope, fly high, achieve, believe, and much more with these fantastic people. In our cover story, we are happy to celebrate someone local who followed her lifetime passion, achieved incredible feats in pursuing this passion, and now has begun her new family with business ties that will keep her forever tied to her love of horses and competitive riding.

One theme I hope you pick up from this issue is the “butterfly effect”...The Butterfly Effect says small initial changes can lead to drastically different outcomes over time and space. Often illustrated as a butterfly’s wing flaps in one location, causing a tornado in another by compounding reactions. In many of these stories, someone has been inspired, helped, guided, or moved by someone else’s kind gesture. Whether you can inspire someone in their passion, help someone achieve their next level, or give someone a slight boost... is there a set of butterfly wings you can flap today?

As always, we appreciate you, the reader... our Family-Family! We hope that you will consider not only providing us with any feedback and opportunities to cover your interests, but also supporting our sponsoring businesses!

Noah Walker

DIRECTOR

Sarah Nichols

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Justin Young

Kenny Burt

CONTRIBUTORS

Josh Blackmon

Johnny Bullard

Joy Coleman

Jeweliana Curtis

Holly Frazier

Belle Johnson

Zoey Nettles

Hayli Zuccola

Noah Walker, Publisher Noah@allthingsvisual.com

Journey through the rich tapestry of time and read about the captivating allure of historic White Springs.

Delve into the fascinating world of honey, exploring its golden wonders and the sweet journey from hive to table.

Philip J. Moses, Jr. Tammy D. Hall Clarence E. Brown IIICharlie D. Cowen, Jr. Angie OglesbyKatie Sessions Lauren BeadlesChristy Milligan

As the summer sun brightens North Central Florida, children of all ages eagerly anticipate aquatic activities. This part of the Sunshine State, famous for its inviting river beaches, freshwater springs, serene lakes, and sparkling backyard pools, calls to kids and families for some cooling fun. However, along with the thrill of diving into these refreshing bodies of water, we must not forget to prioritize water safety, ensuring a delightful yet secure summer for all.

The Necessity of Water Safety

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children aged 1-14 years. This alarming statistic can be signi cantly reduced by equipping our children with water safety knowledge and foundational swimming skills, setting the stage for a safer, happier summer.

SUPERVISION

North Central Florida o ers a multitude of inviting water spots, such as the popular Ichetucknee Springs or a nearby friend's pool. No matter the location, constant adult oversight is paramount. A responsible adult should be within arm's reach, observing the young ones at all times, irrespective of their swimming competency.

SKILLS

While close supervision is essential, it's just as important to educate children in vital swimming skills. Research local organizations which provide age-speci c swimming lessons. A great resource for this can be your nearby city pool or a local instructor like Nana's Dolphins

By Belle Johnson

Swim who o ers IRS swim lessons. Nana's operates out of Welborn and can be reached at bpierce.infantswim.com/ instructor. The focus of these classes extends beyond just stroke techniques; they also encompass crucial survival skills such as treading water, oating, and safely exiting the water.

SAFETY RULES

Creating and enforcing a set of safety rules is a critical step in water safety education. Simple but e ective rules could include no running near the water, abstaining from diving in shallow areas, always swimming with a companion, and never swimming during inclement weather.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Despite excellent swimming abilities, unforeseen circumstances can occur. Therefore, having the right safety equipment on hand is non-negotiable. Make sure your child always wears an approved life jacket while engaging in water activities, especially in large bodies of water like the Suwannee River.

Navigating North Central Florida's Unique Water Safety Aspects

HEAT AND SUN SAFETY

The summer heat in North Central Florida can be intense. Ensure kids take frequent breaks from the water to rest, cool down, and hydrate. Applying broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher is crucial, and consider wide-brimmed hats and UV-protective sunglasses for

The Four Pillars of WATER SAFETY:

further protection against Florida's intense sunshine.

LOCAL AQUATIC WILDLIFE AWARENESS

North Central Florida's freshwater springs and lakes are home to diverse aquatic life. Teach children to respect these creatures' habitats and inform them about dangerous species like alligators and moccasins.

UNDERSTANDING FRESHWATER CURRENTS

Local rivers and springs can sometimes exhibit strong, unexpected currents. Children should be taught the dangers associated with such currents and how to react and adapt if caught in one.

BE CAUTIOUS OF SUBMERGED HAZARDS

Many of the springs and lakes in North Central Florida have submerged hazards, such as fallen trees, rocks, or uneven surfaces. Before entering the water, take a moment to survey the area and be aware of any potential obstacles. If you're unsure about the conditions, it's best to ask local authorities or park rangers for guidance.

SWIM IN DESIGNATED AREAS

Many of the water bodies in North Central Florida have designated swimming areas, which are often monitored and maintained for safety.

Swim only in these designated areas to ensure your safety and to avoid any potential hazards outside of these zones.

AVOID SWIMMING AFTER HEAVY RAINFALL

Heavy rainfall can lead to increased water ow, stronger currents, and changes in water quality. Avoid swimming in freshwater bodies shortly after heavy rain, as the conditions may be unpredictable and potentially hazardous.

STAY INFORMED ABOUT BACTERIA LEVELS

Like any natural water body, freshwater sources in North Central Florida can be subject to uctuating bacteria levels. It's important to stay informed about water quality reports, especially if you have any open wounds or weakened immune system. Check with local health departments or park authorities for the latest information regarding water quality and potential health risks.

All in all, a summer in North Central Florida promises delightful water adventures. But the enjoyment must always be underpinned by safety. By instilling an understanding of water safety in our family members and children, we can make sure their summer experiences are both joylled and safe.

With its stunning coastline, picturesque rivers, and abundant waterways, North Florida o ers fantastic opportunities for boaters to enjoy the great outdoors. Follow these tips for boating safely this summer.

WEAR A LIFE JACKET: Always wear a properly tting life jacket when boating. Florida law requires that there must be a life jacket on board for each person, and children under the age of six must wear one at all times.

CHECK THE WEATHER: Before heading out, check the weather forecast and be aware of any potential storms or adverse conditions.

FILE A FLOAT PLAN: Inform someone onshore about your boating plans, including your intended route and estimated return time.

KNOW THE WATERWAYS: Familiarize yourself with the waterways in the area you plan to boat in and follow any marked channels or buoys.

MAINTAIN PROPER SPEED: Observe and adhere to the speed limits and no-wake zones in place.

AVOID ALCOHOL AND DRUGS: Operating a boat under the in uence of alcohol or drugs is illegal and highly dangerous.

EQUIP SAFETY ESSENTIALS: Ensure your boat is equipped with essential safety gear, including a re extinguisher, distress signals (such as ares or an emergency whistle), a throwable otation device, a rst aid kit, and a working radio or communication device.

PRACTICE PROPER NAVIGATION LIGHTING: Ensure your boat's navigation lights are in working order and use them properly, especially when operating at night.

BE CAUTIOUS OF WILDLIFE: Florida's waterways are home to various wildlife, including manatees and sea turtles. Be mindful of their presence and adhere to speed restrictions in areas known to have protected species to prevent collisions or harm to the animals.

These tips are just a starting point for boating safety. Always exercise caution and follow any additional regulations speci c to your area. Being prepared and knowledgeable about boating safety practices is essential for both seasoned boaters and newcomers alike.

By Josh Blackmon

WORLD HONEY MARKET

There is no doubt that at some point, you’ve probably heard the saying “busy as a bee.” The team at World Honey Market takes that to

World Honey Market is one of the largest commercial beekeeping operations in the region, at peak season, managing upwards of 4,000 hives as they travel across the country with pollination. However, like the bees they work with, they are always buzzing. On the surface, it would be easy to assume they keep bees. They make honey. Pretty simple, right?

As the name hints, World Honey Market has global aspirations and international reach despite being located in the deep heart of North Florida.

While they do have several overseas retail outlets, their real contribution internationally is their Global Beekeeping Educational Program, where they house and train college students from all over the world and teach them American beekeeping practices to help them start their own apiary business when they return to their home countries. Right now, they are hosting three students from di erent regions of Africa, with more cycling into the program later in the summer from Central and South America.

In addition to their global outreach, they are committed to helping build up and strengthen local and rural communities here in North Florida and across the US. In the fall of 2022, they introduced their Got Honey Fundraising program to help fund agricultural education and youth programs.

If you’re wondering why rural communities and youth education are so important to a beekeeping company, let’s introduce you to the beekeeper himself.

John David Peterson. There is a great anecdote that John David shared about convincing his dad to let him skip school in the eighth grade to buy his rst bee hive. He clari ed with a laugh that he accidentally killed those bees, showing that even the best in the business has to start somewhere. The kid who sold candy on the long bus ride from the woods in Sanderson has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and a deep respect

for the world around him and those who blazed the path ahead of him.

“I have always loved insects,” John David said, “I wanted to pursue entomology before I even knew there was a word for it. The study of bugs has always been a point of interest for me.” Growing up on educational afternoon children’s television programs like Bill Nye The Science Guy and The Magic School Bus left a lasting impression.

His hometown laid the groundwork for the rest. “I live in a rural area; bees do well in rural areas,” he laughed, “I thought, I’ll keep bees.” And so he did.

The late Mike Thomas of Thomas Honey, who is no stranger to Family Magazine, was a mentor for John David and helped him get to start his beekeeping career full-time more than a decade ago. As a mentor, Mike taught him about the ins and outs of not only keeping bees, and keeping them alive, but the business side of beekeeping. There is a joke amongst long-time beekeepers that there is no money in honey, but the truth is far more complex.

And it begins with thinking of bees as a crop or cattle, rather than honey-making bugs.

heart.

While John David learned about beekeeping from a local legend, Future Farmers of America in high school helped him rethink and truly bring his vision to life. “After a year with my very own bees, I successfully managed to kill all the hives,” John David reminded. At rst, FFA was really more about carrying on a tradition, his father having been in the program and not really connecting how his bees t into the world of agriculture. While John David might have been passionate about bees, he found a matching poundfor-pound with an agricultural advisor who was passionate about the FFA, Greg Johnson. “He strongly encouraged me to enter into the state SAE program with my honey bees. I honestly don’t know how much di erent my life would look today if not for his encouragement.” The SAE Program or Supervised Agricultural Experience is a student-led, instructorsupervised, work-based learning experience that results in measurable outcomes within a prede ned, agreedupon set of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) Technical Standards and Career Ready Practices aligned to one’s Career Plan of study. Much to his humble surprise, John David won the FFA State Pro ciency Award for Agro Entrepreneurship in 2010, competing against other students who specialized in cows, chickens, and hogs. “Being number one in the state is pretty big,” he said in an interview with the local newspaper at the time. He won more than $500 with the FFA award, which he was determined to apply to his business, and did.

That student-led project with his bees became the foundation of the World Honey Market and pushed it from passion to pursuit. The agricultural impact of bees cannot be understated. Nationally, every third bite of food you take has been impacted by bees and pollination services. In fact, crops like berries, chocolate, apples, pears, pumpkin, avocado, cucumber, and cabbage all rely heavily on pollination from insects like bees.

It became important to treat the bees and the environment they inhabit with care. It wasn’t just about keeping the bees alive; it became about keeping us alive and healthy.

HONEY·GLAZED BABY BACK RIBS WITH WHISKEY MARINADE

INGREDIENTS:

MARINATED RIBS:

• 3 racks baby back ribs (about 5 pounds)

• ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons whiskey

• ¼ cup WHM honey

• 2 tablespoons nely grated fresh ginger

• 1 ½ teaspoons freshly ground white pepper

• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

HONEY GLAZE AND DIPPING SAUCE:

• ¼ cup WHM honey

• 2 tablespoons hot water

• ½ cup fresh lime juice

• ¼ cup sh sauce

• ¼ cup soy sauce

• ¼ cup red-pepper akes

• ¼ cup chopped cilantro

• 2 tablespoons sugar

DIRECTIONS:

• Arrange the rib racks in a large glass or ceramic baking dish, overlapping them slightly. In a medium bowl, whisk the soy sauce with the whiskey, honey, ginger, white pepper, sesame oil, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour the marinade over the ribs and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours.

• In a small bowl, combine the honey with the hot water. In a medium bowl, combine the lime juice with the sh sauce, soy sauce, pepper akes, cilantro and sugar; stir until the sugar is dissolved.

• Preheat the oven to 300°. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. Arrange the ribs on the baking sheet, meaty side up. Roast for about 2 hours, until tender. Baste the ribs with the honey mixture and roast for another 15 minutes, until browned and glossy. Remove the ribs from the oven and baste again with the honey mixture.

• Preheat a grill. Grill the ribs over moderately high heat, turning once, until lightly charred, about 4 minutes. Transfer the racks to a cutting board and cut into individual ribs. Arrange the ribs on a platter and serve the dipping sauce alongside.

Offering:

• Private school grades preschool through 12th

• Accredited by the Florida Christian Coalition of Private Schools

• College prep curriculum with a personalized approach

• Certified teachers on staff

• Dual enrollment classes taken in house

• Small clusters for an enhanced learning environment

• Recognized by the NCAA and National Honor Society

Step Up & McKay Scholarships accepted.

What We Are Looking For:

Volunteers must commit to 1 hour a week for 25 - 35 weeks. You will tutor individual Pre-K or Kindergarten students in a local school setting to improve a child’s literacy skills.

Quali cations:

• Complete Reading Pals Registration Form.

• Pass Level 1 Background Check (Performed by District).

• Have Transportation.

Now, with more than fteen years under his belt, World Honey Market has become one of the largest commercial beekeeping companies in the State of Florida. O ering pollination services across the country with almonds and avocado in California, clover in the Dakotas, cranberries in Wisconsin, and orange blossom in Florida, among others, these bees travel.

John David and WHM quickly gained recognition for their dedication to sustainable practices. He understood the importance of protecting the bees and their delicate ecosystem, which led him to implement ethical and environmentally friendly techniques. Instead of resorting to harmful pesticides, he embraced working with

farmers who utilize safer alternatives, ensuring the well-being of his buzzing partners.

This commitment to sustainability extends beyond beekeeping practices. He and his team actively educate his community about the crucial role bees play in pollination and the preservation of biodiversity. Through school programs and speaking engagements, he aims to inspire the next generation to appreciate and protect these invaluable creatures. And with all that attention to detail

comes sweet success. Through hard work and devotion to his craft, John David’s beekeeping business blossomed into a sweet success story. World Honey Market is now a thriving enterprise in the retail market known for its gourmet, 100 percent pure raw honey, beeswax products, and pollination services. The quality and purity of their honey are derived from the diverse ora from sources around Florida and across the United States. Products like their Datil Sting Hot Honey have won the hearts and taste buds of honey connoisseurs both locally and regionally.

As a young entrepreneur, John David serves as a shining example of the power of determination and passion. Looking forward, he, his wife Emilee, and their two young children see nothing but a bright future as the company gears up to share its success with school programs and agricultural education all over the country.

With every bottle of honey sold, he hopes to inspire others to embrace their passions, protect our environment, and create a sustainable future for generations to come. ■

Against All Odds

By Joy Coleman Holly Frazier Photography

THE INSPIRING JOURNEY OF SCHYLER JEROME REGAINING HER COLLEGE DREAMS WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT AMIDST HER FATHER'S

COVID BATTLE.

In July 2021, Schyler Jerome was happily completing the prerequisite nursing courses at Florida Gateway College and preparing to enter the Santa Fe College RN program. She’d been a good student who understood the value of applying herself to complete school— she never took success for granted. Schyler had graduated Columbia High School a few months earlier and got to work right away.

Within seven days, she, her mother and brother went from emotionally and financially stable to learning their father might not live.

Out of the blue, a vibrant, healthy Je Jerome was hard hit by COVID. All told, he spent four and a half months in the hospital and ICU, including three weeks in an induced coma, until he could reach the physical stability necessary to start a long road to recovery. All told, Je ’s life-threatening illness required 16 months’ time to return to work. Much later, Schyler shared, “We are extremely blessed.”

The same disaster could easily happen to any of us.

With her father ill, Schyler and her mother, Melinda Watson Jerome, a second-grade teacher at Westside Elementary School, traded evenings staying at his hospital bedside to care for him. Finances got tough. It became clear they might lose Je ’s pride and joy, the nationally recognized Columbia County Cycles, where Je and son Nick create, adapt, and repair motorcycles.

To support her education, Schyler was already working two to three days a week and every other weekend in a pediatric physician’s o ce. As the cloud of nancial loss oated closer, she had no choice but to increase her work hours to help support the family.

She had completed the rst couple of nursing school years with the muchappreciated support of Florida’s Pell Grant. “Then, in January 2023, we were told that my Pell Grant was denied. Simply put, I made too much money to receive nancial support. I had to give up my grant to help support my family through this time in our lives.” Schyler said.

For many years, businessman Joe Persons has valued his relationship with Jeff Jerome. Joe considers him the son he didn’t have.

They met in 1971 when Joe opened a business buying, selling, and rebuilding Yamaha motorcycles in the old Corbin TV building at 1206 South Marion Street. As with many similar shops, the service area was found in the back of the building. One day, an elevenish Je Jerome came in the front door. His uncle had given him a 125 Yamaha motorcycle and $100 to get it repaired. Je was so young standing in front of the wood parts counter that the middle of his chest just hit the top of it.

“The kid asked for a speci c part.” Joe found it in the back and brought it to him. “The kid needed another part. And another part. It went on. He had a full page of parts that he wanted.” Realizing the situation, Joe snatched up the page and ultimately provided all but one item on the list.

“You know how I got to know Je ? Later he came to work for me and picked up a lot of mechanical

knowledge. I was proud of him.”

Continuing, Joe commented, “Many years later, Je got hit hard with COVID and was out of work for a long time. I didn’t help the family just because I love them. I helped because giving when you can is always the right thing to do. Others have been there to help me. I do the same.”

“Schyler worked hard for her degree—it's a ne goal. She wants to help others. That Pell Grant was essential for her to nish school, but the rules are that a student can only make so much money a year. If you make more? You lose the grant. With her dad sick and out of work, Schyler stepped up and worked more so she could help support her family. She did what all of us would do to help our family through a tough time. It was the right thing to do. But rules are rules and unfortunately, she had to sacri ce the grant.”

Joe’s point: “We help when we can. It is what we do. What goes around, comes around. Being part of a community, we do what we can, where we can. Always.”

—Joe Persons

“WE HELP WHEN WE CAN. IT IS WHAT WE DO. WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND. BEING PART OF A COMMUNITY, WE DO WHAT WE CAN, WHERE WE CAN. ALWAYS.”

“Mom and I freaked out learning the grant had been denied. I was so upset. I only have a few months of school left until December ’23 to graduate. But we didn’t have enough in savings to cover two more semesters. There’s a little there, but we agreed it was important to keep that back in case we had another emergency. Having the grant cancelled was a curve ball we didn’t see coming. It threw us for a loop. But I was determined to graduate.”

Her father had heard Rotary Downtown o ered scholarships to local students. The application instruction was straightforward: submit a letter requesting assistance. The board would take it into consideration. Two weeks later, with a profound smile of relief, Schyler was told she had been awarded a scholarship large enough to get her to graduation.

Rotary Downtown announced their scholarships on April 16, 2023:

Persons, for his generous contribution to our scholarship program, doubling our capability to help others in 2023. Service above self!”

About Rotary Club of Lake City

Downtown: Rotary seeks to unite business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace worldwide. Through its dedicated e orts, the club aims to create a world where compassion, understanding, and cooperation are the driving forces of lasting positive change.

“We award Rotary scholarships to good students whose life has been dealt a tough blow. But those students are hard-working individuals who know how to knuckle under to solve their problems. We’re proud our scholarships are focused on the character of the person, not necessarily or only on their grade point average."

— Robert Getzan, Immediate Past President Rotary Downtown

Robert Getzan, Immediate Past President Rotary Downtown expanded, “That young lady did what she had to do to support her family during a trying time when her father was struck hard by COVID. But we all understand, rules are rules. The Pell Grant she’d been awarded was pulled because she made more money than was allowed by the terms of her grant. I am so sorry that happened. But we hold great admiration that Schyler did what needed to be done.”

Interested in joining a Rotary? Rotary needs people of action just like YOU to continue achieving its mission—and it all can start by requesting an invite to a Rotary meeting near your home or workplace. We continue building the next generation of Rotarian leaders to keep our wheel turning and fueling progress for our communities and the world.

LAKE CITY

Meets at: First Baptist Church

182 NE Justice St. Lake City, FL 32055

Thursdays: 12:00 PM

LAKE CITY DOWNTOWN

Meets at: Gulf Coast Financial Services

“Yesterday we were able to give our rst Rotary scholarship of the year to a special senior from Belmont Academy! The scholarships are made possible thanks to our club and participants in our annual February Super Bowling Tournament. A special thanks to our fellow Rotarian, Joe

Getzan continued, “We award Rotary scholarships to good students whose life has been dealt a tough blow. But those students are hard-working individuals who know how to knuckle under to solve their problems. We’re proud our scholarships are focused on the character of the person, not necessarily or only on their grade point

248 N Marion Ave. Lake City, FL 32055

Wednesdays: 7:00 AM

LIVE OAK

Meets at: Live Oak Farm Bureau

407 Dowling Ave., SE Live Oak, FL 32060

Mondays: 12:00 PM

The Krab Shack—named after owner Tom Willits’s mom, Kathi—opened in the coastal town of Steinhatchee in 2016 as an extension to the Kathi’s Krabs wholesale company, but the family’s history in seafood dates well before that—1973 to be exact. The namesake of the restaurant and wholesaler, Kathi was not only in uential in her business but in the state’s commercial shing industry as a whole.

“She is the founder of everything we are. She’s the founder of our legacy. We are her legacy,” said Tom’s daughter and restaurant General Manager Crissy Willits-Harper.

While Kathi initially started the Kathi’s Krabs company, her son Tom—better known as Captain Tom—embraced the salt life growing up and kept the name a oat after moving to Steinhatchee in 2012 with his wife, Melissa. He continued the wholesale side of the company, which became the largest blue crab distributor in the state of Florida and in 2016, elevated their presence by opening the Krab Shack restaurant.

Starting with a mere 12 tables, today, the seafood shack can accommodate up to 300 guests with the Willits family preparing to expand their patio to provide a more leisurely, tiki bar-style atmosphere.

Though the ambiance is an important factor, it’s the food that’s made “The Shack” as the locals call it—the perfect destination spot. For rst-time visitors, Tom’s daughter and general manager Crissy willits-Harper recommends starting with an appetizer of grilled crab cakes before diving into their famous low-country boils, which feature a mouthwatering blend of craw sh, snow crab, shrimp, corn on the cob, smoked sausage and potatoes all tossed in a secret house seasoning.

Located on 15th Street East, just northwest of the Steinhatchee River, travelers can’t miss the bright aqua and salmon-colored building adorned with wall hangings of sea critters and nautical elements inviting guests to experience an unforgettable seafood meal that can only be found at Kathi’s Krab Shack.

By Hayli Zuccola

For those wanting a taste of turf over the surf, Crissy suggests ordering one of their tomahawk steaks, which come directly from the Florida Cattle Company, and don’t forget to sip on a tropicalinspired rum-soaked Steinhatchee Sunset or get a taste of the Keys with a slice of Key-lime pie to round out the meal. While beach vibes abound on the main menu, the weekly specials pay homage to classic Southern dishes.

“We do a daily special, and it’s usually something that is kind of o the wall for a seafood restaurant. They’re usually not seafood based. Our daily specials, they’re usually going to be items like lasagna, fried chicken and mashed potatoes and green beans. It’s going to be more of your traditional, home-style grandma’s cooking type of meal for our daily specials; just something to mix it up and give the locals something di erent to eat,” Crissy said.

On any given night, it’s not surprising to nd kids enjoying house-made slushies courtesy of Captain Tom as Tom and his wife, Melissa, love to dote on kids and have four grandkids of their own: Caleigh, DJ, Ella and Lainey, and if you look around the establishment,

chances are you’ll nd a few details of them implemented throughout from tiny handprints on the sidewalk to pictures adorning the walls. You may even catch the grandkids bussing tables, washing dishes, hauling trash or even aboard one of the vessels learning the family trade.

Since the beginning, Kathi’s Krabs— the restaurant and wholesale company— has been a family business through and through from the late Kathi Willits who started it all to her son Tom who continued her vision in Steinhatchee as well as with his children—Kathi’s grandkids—Tommy, who became a sherman like his father, and Crissy and down the Willits family tree. Of course, you don’t have to have the Willits’ last name to be treated like family, as every patron at Kathi’s Krab Shack is welcomed with a warm, friendly hospitality.

“Family is the core of everything we do, and I think that’s really what sets us aside from other places is we don’t have that corporate feel at all. We’re very old Florida and that makes a big di erence,” Crissy said. “We care about every single person that walks in. Whether you’ve been there 100 times or whether it’s your rst time.” ■

WE HAVE DAILY SPECIALS

Our daily specials usually include items like lasagna or fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. The daily special allows us to serve a more traditional, home-style grandma’s cooking type of meal.

SOMETHING TO MIX IT UP PLUS GIVE THE LOCALS SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO EAT.

Kathi’s Krab Shack owners: Tom and Melissa Willits.

Captain Tom and his grandson DJ out on the boat ready to catch fresh sh from the gulf.

By Zoey Nettles

Over the years, people have made the South home to a variety of odd food combinations. From peanuts in cola to hot sauce on eggs, the South is no stranger to the test of one’s taste buds! Perhaps the most controversial of these Southern food combinations is adding salt to watermelon. For years, people have taken one of two sides: to salt, or not to salt. Today we are going to break down this controversial question and hopefully settle the debate on whether watermelon is “to salt or not to salt”.

TO SALT:

In order to properly begin this breakdown, we must rst answer the question of “Why?” What is so appealing about combining these two avors? One Lake City local claimed that he loves salted watermelon because, “...it brings the juices to the surface and makes it sweeter.”

Another local

stated, “...the salt balances the sweetness nicely and creates a sort of taste bud brawl within my mouth.” When we examine the properties of salt, we can remember that it not only triggers our salivary glands, but it can also bring liquid to the surface of a fruit or vegetable. Watermelon is known for its refreshing taste and juiciness. And when we take a bite out of it on its own and add salt to the next bite, the taste of the melon becomes noticeably sweeter in comparison to our previous bite. Adding salt to the delectable melon is only meant to enhance the sweet avors and bring more juice to the surface. Another property of salt that explains this food combination phenomenon, is that salt is used to dampen bitter avors. This is precisely why co ee-connoisseurs add a pinch when brewing a cup of morning joe. Another example is adding salt to brussel sprouts when cooking them in order to manage their bitterness. When salt is added to watermelon, it counteracts the slight bitter elements in order to bring out every bit of mouthwatering sweetness.

Knowing all of salt’s

enhancing properties, we can now begin to understand exactly why Southerners add it to watermelon; every bite is guaranteed to be juicy and sweet!

Now that we understand why people add salt to their watermelon, perhaps we can begin to explore how people do it. Cutting watermelon into spears or cubes and sprinkling salt across the bowl is one way of enjoying the food. It is recommended to start small if you are looking for the added bene ts of salt without overpowering watermelon’s natural sweetness. Those who enjoy the feeling of burning taste buds, however, prefer to eat the watermelon in slices whilst dumping salt in between each bite. Others prefer to add salt to the watermelon and wait a couple minutes before eating, to allow the salt to do its job! Aside from salt, there are many other odd ways people enjoy their watermelon. Adding cubes of watermelon to a salad sprinkled with feta is one popular combination that may be more appetizing to those against pure salt.

Though it is not common for people to add sugar to their watermelon, lime is a popular way to get an extra sour kick. Similar to mangos with chili powder, some people prefer to substitute salt for Tajin. In case you are unfamiliar, Tajin is a chili-lime salt seasoning that makes watermelon taste delicious. Regardless of how you choose to season your watermelon, the possibilities are endless!

As we continue this watermelon journey, there is another question worth answering: Did the tradition of salting watermelon really come from the South?

One anonymous source stated, “Salt? NO. That’s for people who don’t like sweets. I like mine with a squeeze of lime and Splenda!”

One article published in 1910 by the South Carolina Newspaper, The State, details a quote on how a Carolina local suggests serving the summertime treat: “Cut the ripe, pink esh from a good-sized watermelon, put it into a freezing can and pack with salt and ice; turn the crank slowly until the watermelon is half-frozen. Serve in punch bowl glasses at the end of dinner…” This archive suggests an idea of just how long Southerners from all over have been enjoying salted watermelon! However, a 1934 edition of The State newspaper explains how one Carolina local observed watermelon during their travels to the city of Hiroshima in Japan. At a Japanese restaurant in the area, the traveler observed “small dishes of salted watermelon and pumpkin seeds on the table and in the middle … were dishes of mustard, salt, and soy bean sauce.” Japan still enjoys the tradition of salted watermelon today by serving it chilled and salted. Other countries, particularly in the hot climates of Latin America, have been known to serve watermelon with salt and lime.

Even though Southerners get the most credit for coining this food combination, it is enjoyed by cultures all around the world.

Not to Salt:

Though salty combinations with watermelon are appetizing to some, there are others who consider these combinations to be an absolute abomination. Watermelon, by itself, hosts a multitude of avors: sweet, sour, and bitter. The sweetness of the darker areas beautifully counteracts the bitterness of the lighter areas. And for those that venture to the rind of the watermelon, its sour taste works in contrast with the rest of the melon’s natural avors. Even though salt may complete the triad of avors, watermelon is delectably delicious on its own. After surveying some Southern locals who were against salted watermelon, we came to this conclusion: watermelon is best served plain and cold! One local stated, “…I prefer to taste the watermelon rather than the salt or Tajin…They mess up the watermelon avor.” Another local made it clear that if she was going to add

anything to her bowl of watermelon, it was going to be a sprinkling of blueberries.

Whether you prefer to enjoy watermelon with salt or without, the common ground is that watermelon is a refreshing summertime delicacy that is enjoyed by a multitude of people. The cold kick of watermelon juice on a hot day can give the electrolyte boost we need with or without salt added. Next time you slice into the juicy flesh of a ripe watermelon, consider trying it in a different way than what you are used to. Then, and only then, will you be able to answer the daunting question for yourself: To salt or not to salt. ■

The perfect summer snack! It’s savory and sweet with crumbled cotija cheese and lots of lime.

Lime-Chili SALTED WATERMELON

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tbsp akes of sea salt

• 2 limes, one zested and juiced (1 for garnish)

• 1 tsp ground chiles de arbol (or chili powder)

• 3 tablespoons crumbled cotija cheese

• 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

• 4 cups cubed watermelon

INSTRUCTIONS:

Place the cubed watermelon in a large bowl. Sprinkle with the pinch of salt and the chili powder (using more if you wish!). Toss well. Squeeze on the lime juice and top with the lime zest. Add the crumbled cotija cheese and cilantro. Serve immediately and enjoy.

For more pool-side or rivershore convenience, cut watermelon into wedges and add popscicle sticks, then evenly sprinkle with mixture on both sides.

This makes it easy to enjoy this delicious summer snack anytime, anywhere!

YIELD: 2-3 SERVINGS

JOURNEY INTO THE DEPTHS OF MAMMOTH CAVE

By Belle Johnson

Imagine stepping into a realm hidden beneath the Earth’s surface, where nature’s architectural prowess takes center stage, and a sense of awe and wonder lls the air. Welcome to Mammoth Cave National Park, a mesmerizing wonderland that beckons families from far and wide to embark on an unforgettable adventure.

Mammoth Cave National Park, nestled in the beautiful green landscape of Kentucky, is a testament to the extraordinary forces that shaped our planet. Spanning over 400 miles, this vast underground labyrinth is the longest known cave system in the world, an astonishing subterranean universe waiting to be explored.

For families seeking an extraordinary vacation, Mammoth Cave o ers a unique blend of natural beauty, rich history, and thrilling escapades. Strap on your adventure gear, grab your loved ones, and get ready to delve into the depths of this mesmerizing wonder.

The journey begins at the Visitor Center, a gateway to the mysteries that lie beneath. Here, families can gain a deeper understanding of the cave’s geological signi cance through interactive exhibits and educational presentations. Park rangers, brimming with knowledge and enthusiasm, are always on hand to guide visitors and share captivating stories of the cave’s formation.

As you descend into the underground realm, a world of breathtaking beauty unfolds before your eyes. The cave’s intricate limestone formations, known as speleothems, have been sculpted over millions of years, creating an otherworldly landscape of stalactites, stalagmites, and delicate owstone cascades. Witnessing these geological masterpieces up close is a humbling experience that will leave you in awe of nature’s artistry.

One of the highlights of a Mammoth Cave adventure is embarking on a guided tour. From leisurely strolls to thrilling expeditions, there’s an excursion to suit every family’s sense of adventure. The Frozen Niagara Tour takes you on a gentle, family-friendly walk through a portion of the cave adorned with stunning formations resembling frozen waterfalls. The Domes and Dripstones Tour presents a more challenging but equally rewarding journey, where you’ll encounter massive domes and dramatic underground landscapes.

For the adventurous souls, the Wild Cave Tour is an adrenaline-fueled expedition that takes you o the beaten path. Equipped with helmets and headlamps, you’ll crawl through narrow passages,

climb over boulders, and navigate the labyrinthine tunnels, gaining a true taste of the cave explorer’s spirit. It’s a bonding experience that will forge lasting memories and a sense of accomplishment.

Beyond the captivating caves, Mammoth Cave National Park o ers an array of outdoor activities that embrace the surrounding natural beauty. Explore the sprawling hiking trails that wind through lush forests, keeping an eye out for wildlife such as deer, wild turkeys, and elusive foxes. The Green River, which meanders through the park, invites families to enjoy canoeing, kayaking, or shing, creating moments of tranquility and connection with nature.

To truly immerse yourself in the park’s heritage, don’t miss the chance to visit the historic Mammoth Cave Hotel. This iconic lodge, perched on a hillside overlooking the enchanting landscape, o ers comfortable accommodations and a glimpse into the past. Take a leisurely stroll along the Heritage Trail, breathing in the scent of towering hemlocks and exploring the remnants of a bygone era.

Mammoth Cave is more than just a geological wonder. It’s an opportunity for families to reconnect, rediscover the beauty of nature, and create lasting memories together. The adventures within its depths are not limited to the underground; they extend to the joy of exploration, the wonder of discovery, and the bonds formed along the way.

Are you planning a trip to Mammoth Cave National Park and wondering how to complete your itinerary? Here are Family Magazine’s top 10 things to do near Mammoth Cave:

• TAKE THE BIKE AND HIKE TRAIL: Did you know there was once a railroad service to Mammoth Cave? Its last run was in 1931, but part of the route now serves as a hiking and biking trail. You can access it within the park or at its southern end at Park City. This gravel trail is about nine miles long and has scenic overlooks and historical sites to stop and enjoy. If you’re biking, know there are a few challenging, steep areas. There are other trails around the visitor center and dozens of backcountry trails for the more adventurous.

• EXPLORE THE CITY OF HORSE CAVE: Of all the small towns near the national park, Horse Cave is the most charming. Located about 15 minutes east of the park, this town has its own spelunking history, with Hidden River Cave in the heart of its downtown. The main street

So, pack your bags, leave the surface world behind, and venture into the heart of this subterranean marvel. Mammoth Cave National Park awaits with open arms, ready to unveil its secrets and ignite the spirit of adventure within each member of your family.

Get more information and start planning your own adventure by visiting mammothcave.com.

Mammoth Cave National Park is located at One Mammoth Cave Parkway, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259 and their phone number is 270-758-2180.

in the city is also home to a caving museum, a historic antebellum house, and a few local cafés and shops. It all makes for a pleasant little stroll.

• TAKE A HISTORICAL AUDIO TOUR: The city of Horse Cave has launched an innovative self-guided tour that can be enjoyed with your cell phone. At each stop along the tour, you will encounter both an intriguing “belowground” and “above-ground” story. Simply dial the provided number at each stop and proceed to scan the QR code for additional information.

• GO KAYAKING: Inside the park, Green River and Nolin River can be navigated by canoe or kayak. For rentals and route ideas (including overnight ones), try Green River Canoeing or Caveland Kayak & Canoe. They provide a shuttle service at speci ed drop-o and pick-up points.

• TAKE A NATIONAL PARK CAVE TOUR: This one may be a bit of a no-brainer, but if you’ve never been to Mammoth Cave before, a tour should de nitely be on your list. Tours range from one to four hours, with varying levels of di culty. Summer tours tend to book up well in advance, so be sure to make your reservation online. You might have a little more leeway after Labor Day, but the number and type of tours o ered will taper o towards the year’s close. You can take a self-guided tour, but you must purchase a ticket to the visitor center. You can explore about three-quarters of a mile past the Historic Entrance.

• TOUR A NON-PARK CAVE: The thing about Kentucky is that there are caves all over. So even outside of the park, there are more caves to explore. The abovementioned Hidden River Cave in the city of Horse Cave is an excellent place to start. It boasts “the world’s longest underground swinging bridge,” which leads to the 150-foot wide Sunset Dome. You can get a guided tour starting from the cave museum on Main Street. Crystal Onyx Cave in Cave City is another popular tour outside the park. Tours here don’t run during the winter except by appointment. For these tours, you probably don’t need to make advance reservations (but you can if you want to).

• VISIT LOCAL SHOPS & RESTAURANTS: The area around

Mammoth Cave is not exactly brimming over with many foodie destinations. (That being said, it’s also true that you’re not that far from Kentucky’s world-famous Bourbon Trail, and it’s worth a day trip! So, yes, it’s pretty rural around Mammoth Cave. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t nd some yummy eats and drinks if you search around a bit.

• ZIP LINING: Adventures of Mammoth Cave o ers a zipline canopy tour and an aerial challenge course, among other seasonal activities. With two separate courses, sky bridges, and—for a bit of adrenaline—a drop tower with a fabulous view, it’s an entirely unique way to see the terrain.

• STAY LATE FOR STARGAZING: After several years of redesigning its outdoor lighting situation, Mammoth Cave was recognized as an International Dark Sky Park in 2021. This is an attraction not to be missed. If you’re camping or lodging inside the park, check out the night sky after the sun goes down! You can also check the park’s schedule for ranger-led programs with telescopes.

• VISIT KENTUCKY DOWN UNDER: Kentucky Down Under, an “adventure zoo,” o ers views of outback animals like kangaroos and dingoes, a bird garden, a petting zoo, and tours of its own on-site cave. Located just o Interstate 65, it’s the gateway to Mammoth Cave country if you travel from the north, and it’s a popular stop for families.

The Eikenberrys

By Jewlianna Curtis

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to start over? Maybe you crave a fresh, new start, or perhaps career opportunities or proximity to family have brought you to a new season of life in a new city. No matter your situation, it can be tough to assimilate into a new town, new community and new way of life. If you are currently embarking on a new adventure like this, take a page from the Eikenberrys book as they share their top tips for acclimating to a new community.

Marcus and Lisa Eikenberry relocated to Lake City in February of 2022 and have spent the last year assimilating into the community. Previously residing in the Tampa area, the Eikenberrys began searching for a place to settle down, originally setting their sights to Central Florida. After a brief stint in Kissimmee, the couple knew they wanted to nd a better t and expanded their search to all of Florida. This eventually brought them to Lake City, where they toured a historic home in the downtown area. They loved the space—it t their checklist as far as square footage and living space was concerned—as they were moving with their four children and Marcus’ father as well. After a bit of negotiating, the Eikenberrys closed on their new home and began to explore their new community.

“I didn’t know whether or not I’d like living in a small town, but just like any place that we went to, we would have lunch and try to get a feel for the area. This area was pretty welcoming and it felt good,” Marcus shared. “That was a huge selling point of this area, just the community here.”

Lisa also felt a pull to the community here, saying, “We were amazed at how friendly everyone was, even just when we went to the grocery store. We went to Publix to get sandwiches and we were amazed at how friendly the cashiers were. They just wanted to know about us once they found out we were new here.”

Once the couple closed on the home, the renovations and work began. When purchasing a historic home, often it is evident that the home will need some work. For the Eikenberrys, this meant a brand new roof and some plumbing work, but once those big renovations were complete, they were ready to move in and enjoy their new space.

The Eikenberrys were welcomed into the community by friendly neighbors bringing housewarming gifts and local businesses nearby, and the couple

immediately began to search for ways to make their new community feel like home.

Marcus works from home in the video game industry and Lisa is an artist, so the idea of having built-in community from co-workers was not their reality. Instead, they found creative ways to connect and assimilate into their community, like joining local clubs and organizations and attending community events.

With Lisa’s background in art, she was immediately drawn to the Gateway Art Gallery downtown. She specializes in copper wire art and plays with mixed media to create her masterpieces, and she is always looking for new ways to create art. When she discovered the gallery downtown, she inquired about membership and joined.

“I’ve always been an artist. I was a professional photographer for ten years, but I stopped doing that about ten years ago. I like to dabble in lots of di erent art mediums, and in the last few years I’ve really enjoyed copper wire. I started making sun catchers as well,” Lisa explained. “I’m a member of the Gateway Art Gallery, where I’m a hanging artist. I also participate in the Growers and Makers Market downtown as often as I can. That’s a great way to get involved in the community, plus it’s free to be a vendor there.”

With their home’s proximity to the downtown area, the Eikenberrys enjoy walking to the shops and strolling downtown for dinner. Their location is also along the parade route, so they enjoy watching the festivities of the parades from their porch with their friends. It’s a special perk of their prime location! Along with the Growers and Makers Market, Marcus and Lisa encourage others who are looking to connect to attend community events as often as they can. Not only does it o er a fun activity, but it is a great way to meet others in your area and form connections.

“We love those events because it brings so many people to the downtown area,” Lisa shared. “It o ered a way for us to go

RESOURCES

The Citizens Police Academy

This yearly course is open to anyone 18-plus years old. Interested participants must ll out an application. A background check required. Looking for more information on this program? Visit the Lake City Police Department’s Facebook page to learn more.

Gateway Art Gallery

into the community and start getting involved when we rst moved here. Since it’s a small town, anytime I go to a community event, I typically see some of the same people and I’m able to connect with them further.”

Marcus has also assimilated into the community through his interests, one of which led him to join the Citizens of Police Academy Alumni Association. His introduction to this organization began with a class by the Lake City Police Department that covers many di erent aspects of the police’s job in our community.

“I received training in many di erent aspects of what they do, from how they do ngerprints to the steps they take to retrieve evidence. It’s hands-on and quite a lot of fun,” Marcus explained. “We also were able to go on ride-alongs. Once you complete the class, you have an ID for the Citizens Police Academy. It opens a lot of doors for volunteering.”

Additionally, the Eikenberrys were able to meet people in the community through volunteer opportunities and community projects. One of the local volunteer opportunities they noted is the Farm Share program, but there are many others to consider as you venture into the community. Some of these programs and opportunities came through their involvement in the Gateway Art Gallery and the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association.

The Gateway Art Gallery is an art league that o ers opportunities for artists and the community. Located in downtown Lake City, this organization provides many opportunities to make and enjoy art. For more information about the Gateway Art Gallery, check out their Facebook page or visit the gallery downtown at 168 N Marion Ave, Lake City.

Lake City–Columbia County Chamber of Commerce

Serving businesses in Columbia County, the Lake City–Columbia County Chamber of Commerce o ers resources and networking opportunities for business professionals. For more information about the organization, visit their Facebook page or stop by their o ce at 875 SW SR 47, Lake City.

“I met a lot of people while doing the class. The Citizens Police Academy meets once a month, and we do community projects. Right now we’re working on fundraising for booties for the dogs. It may sound silly, but if these dogs are working out on asphalt on a hot summer day, they need something to protect their feet,” Marcus shared. “We work on fundraising items that the police department does not provide or are not in their budget because they are spending public funds. For example, the group provided the rst body camera. That was before I got here. Then, the police department realized how valuable and how necessary they are, so they put it into their budget. The group is able to make change happen.”

Another resource that Marcus and Lisa encourage newcomers to utilize is the Lake City–Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, or the chamber of commerce closest to you. Whether you are new in town and starting a business, or whether your employer encourages you to get involved in this way, attending chamber events can be a great way to get to know those around you. The best form of assimilating quickly into a new area is to step out of your comfort zone and attend events!

“Go to some things not knowing whether or not you’re going to t. If you’re outgoing like me, it may be easy to go up and talk to anyone,” Marcus shared.

“And If you’re not, like me, everyone is actually really friendly and it’s easier for an introvert in a town like this,” Lisa added.

“You just have to get past that rst step. My suggestion for someone who’s an introvert is that if someone comes up and talks to you, take the opportunity to get to know them. Tell them you’re new and share that you’re shy, and let them know that you would really appreciate it if they would introduce you to other people. And they will,” Marcus expressed. “If you are here in Lake City, seek us out. We’ll introduce you to people and help you get connected.”

Aside from joining clubs or organizations and seeking out community events, the Eikenberrys also encouraged newcomers to be friendly and ask the locals for recommendations. Whether it’s a recommendation for a great restaurant or a fun activity in the area, locals are likely to provide great options, and maybe even hidden gems, for you. Once the conversation begins to ow, it may even turn into a friendship.

As Marcus and Lisa enter into their second year of living in Lake City, it’s clear to see that they have found a way to t into the community and really make this feel like home. Their commitment to serving and bettering the community is just one piece of the puzzle, and they are working towards restoring their piece of historic Lake City to its modern glory. Lake City is more than just a place to live, it’s home.

“We’ve been transitional ever since we met. I lived in Oregon all of my life until I was 40 years old, and then I moved to Mississippi for a year and met Lisa, and then we ended up moving to Florida. The thing I like about Lake City is the permanency I feel. We like the community, we own a home… The community here is good. If we had something that went wrong, we actually have people locally that we could call and they would respond. And we would do the same for them,” Marcus expressed. “There’s something about the community here, and maybe it has to do with it being a small town, it just gels really well and it’s easy to t in.” ■

Lisa Eikenberry has been an artist for all of her life, creating special pieces from a variety of mixed mediums. She currently specializes in copper wire designs, crafting beautiful art that inspires her and others! You can view her pieces at the Gateway Art Gallery, or nd her at the Growers and Makers Market in downtown Lake City. To connect with Lisa, nd her on Facebook at “Lisa Eikenberry Artist.”

The Farm to Table movement celebrates providing the freshest seasonal food from area farms. The inaugural 2022 event provided meals prepared by local chefs, ingredients from area providers, and trained wait sta by Columbia County FFA and 4-H students from Columbia High School, Fort White High School, and Richardson Middle School. The secret ingredient in every item was the ‘freshness’ our area agriculture contributes to the quality of the meals.

Haley Boyette, Manager, Fifth Generation Farms, shared, “being part of the 2022 Farm to Table Event was an incredible experience. Individuals from our community collectively presented their talents, showcasing the absolute

The October 2022 Lake City/Columbia County Farm to Table Fundraiser was a sold-out success. An elegant, grass-roots event, it featured an eight-course meal honoring local food producers and working to strengthen connections between our North Central Panhandle communities.

The Bounty Continues

importance of agriculture in our area as well as in our country. Columbia County is blessed to have such capable youth and advisors dedicated to our 4H and FFA programs: it’s evident they are learning important life skills and will be in uential in our future.”

In north central Florida, we have a true love for agriculture. That love inspires us to support and advocate for the tremendous impact our farmers have here and in the world. Through Farm to Table, we share our appreciation for locally grown products and strongly promote awareness of the importance of investing in agriculture education. Scholarship investment promises our next generation agriculture leaders are aware, capable, and able to support climate-smart agriculture e orts producing a sustainable and nutritious food supply.

Columbia County business entrepreneurs fully embraced the vision of what Farm to Table represents by donating a wealth of silent auction items. The 2022 event featured 20 local entrepreneurs providing crafts under the Big Tent. The 2023 Farmto-Table event expects as many or more crafters

By Joy Coleman

In its early stage, Farm to Table began with chefs who wanted to use the best and freshest local ingredients to o er a more avorful dining experience. This developed into encouraging restaurants to provide regional seasonal food and ingredients only from local producers. Now, across America, the expansion of Farm to Table shows us that communities just like ours have chosen to move from eating mass produced foods toward building sustainable local products with fresh and healthy ingredients.

The health bene ts of Farm to Table are clearly visible, but the signi cant economic impact is that Farm to Table leads to rural economic sustainability. Promoting healthy year-round products while supporting our local economy packs a powerful one-two punch. We enjoy homegrown food and support our community. More importantly, the local support we o er also requires each of us to become more thoughtful in our food choices.

MEASURING OUR IMPACT

Farm to Table is especially proud to o er scholarships to FFA seniors to continue $15,000 in scholarships awarded to ten graduating 2023 seniors to continue their education, speci cally:

• $1,500 awarded to six CHS students and four Fort White students

• $9,029.88 awarded to Columbia County 4-H and FFA Chapters

Those attending 2023 Farm to Table brought a canned item and a jar of peanut butter. From those donations alone, 252 pounds of canned goods were donated to the Florida Gateway Food Bank supporting area families in need Columbia County 4-H Club competed in a statewide competition by collecting 641 pounds of peanut butter, also donated to the Florida Gateway Food Bank. ■

Mayor Stephen Witt and friends enjoying 2022 Farm-To-Table

LCPD Assistant Chief Andy Miles, LC Assistant Fire Chief Dwight Boozer, LC Fire Chief Joshua Wehinger, LCPD Chief of Police and Mrs. Gerald Butler, and LCPD Administrative Lieutenant Robert Milligan

MASTERING THE ART OF A

Create a Realistic Budget:

The rst step towards successful nancial management is creating a comprehensive budget. Involve all family members in the process to ensure everyone’s needs and goals are considered. Track income sources, list all expenses, and allocate funds accordingly. Set realistic spending limits for di erent categories, such as groceries, utilities, entertainment, and savings. Regularly review and adjust the budget as needed.

By Belle Johnson

In today’s fast-paced world, managing a family budget has become an essential skill for achieving financial stability and securing a prosperous future. However, with the multitude of expenses and financial responsibilities that come with family life, organizing your budget can sometimes seem like an overwhelming task. Fear not! We have a few of the best strategies and practices to help you streamline your family’s finances and pave the way for a brighter financial future.

Track Your Income/Expenses: To gain control over your family’s nances, start by tracking your income and expenses. Monitor your income sources, including salaries, bonuses, and other revenue streams. Simultaneously, meticulously record your expenditures, dividing them into categories such as housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, education, and entertainment. This tracking process will help you identify areas where you can cut back or make adjustments.

Prioritize Saving: Saving should be a top priority for every family. Encourage children to save a portion of their pocket money or allowances and reward them for reaching milestones. Consider opening a separate savings account or investment account for each family member. Automate savings by setting up automatic transfers to a dedicated savings account. Emergency funds are also crucial to cover unexpected expenses and should be part of every family’s nancial plan.

Teach Financial Literacy: Education plays a vital role in shaping a family’s nancial future. Teach children about money management, saving, budgeting, and the importance of wise spending. Engage in age-appropriate discussions about income, expenses, debt, and nancial responsibility. Encourage kids to take part in household nancial decisions to develop a sense of ownership and understanding.

Minimize

Set Clear Financial Goals: De ne short-term and longterm nancial goals as a family. This could include saving for education, a new home, retirement, or a dream vacation. Make these goals speci c, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timebound (SMART goals). Sharing goals with family members will help everyone stay motivated and make better nancial decisions.

Debt: Debt can impede a family’s nancial progress, so it’s important to minimize and manage it wisely. Avoid unnecessary credit card debt by paying bills in full each month. If you have outstanding loans or credit card balances, develop a repayment plan to gradually eliminate them. Prioritize high-interest debts rst and consider debt consolidation options to streamline payments and reduce interest costs.

Reduce Household Expenses: Cutting down on unnecessary expenses can signi cantly impact a family’s nancial well-being. Encourage energy-e cient habits, such as turning o lights and appliances when not in use. Compare prices, shop in bulk, and use coupons to save money on groceries. Limit eating out and entertainment expenses, and nd creative, low-cost activities for family bonding.

Embrace Smart Spending Habits:

To optimize your family budget, it’s crucial to develop smart spending habits. Research and compare prices before making major purchases, look for sales and discounts, and consider buying in bulk to save money. Encourage your family members to be mindful of their spending habits and focus on needs rather than wants. Small changes in daily spending can yield signi cant long-term savings.

Invest for the Future: Building wealth and securing your family’s nancial future involves smart investing. Consult with a nancial advisor to understand your investment options,

such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. Diversify your investment portfolio to spread risk and maximize returns. Regularly monitor and adjust your investments based on changing market conditions and nancial goals.

Regularly Review and Adjust:

A family budget is not a static document but an evolving process. Regularly review your budget to ensure it aligns with your changing circumstances and nancial goals. Track your progress, make adjustments where necessary, and celebrate milestones achieved. Regularly discussing nances as a family will foster nancial literacy and a stronger sense of unity.

Managing family nances requires discipline, open communication, and a shared commitment towards nancial well-being. By implementing the tips mentioned above, families can work together to create a solid nancial foundation, reduce stress, and achieve their goals. Remember, nancial management is an ongoing process that requires regular review and adjustment. By making smart nancial decisions today, families can enjoy a more secure and prosperous future. ■

40% of Americans are not saving for retirement.

of Americans say keeping nancially t saving regularly and paying down debt—is as tough as or tougher than keeping physically t: exercising regularly and eating healthy. That’s nearly

of Americans spend MORE than they earn— out of which

Regularly have monthly expenses in excess of their income.

One in four Americans has MORE debt than savings.

62% 40% 25%

The average American spends$1.33 for every dollar earned. The average Americans spending increased by in the last 25 years.

62% of Americans do not have an emergency fund to fall back on.

25% of Americans have no savings at all.

80% of Americans agree they can bene t from advice on everyday nancial questions.

of Americans are currently living paycheck to paycheck.

Source: Federal Reserve, US Census Bureau & Internal Revenue Service.

Burn Turn &

Michele Allison Lyon: From Barrel Racing to Horse Raisin’

By Hayli Zuccola Holly Frazier Photography

ichele Allison Lyon didn’t have a family history tied to riding horses or being in the rodeo; in fact, her family owned and still runs a local pharmacy. However a VHS tape her dad brought home from a business trip on how to groom horses changed the life of a then 6-year-old Michele.

Michele Allison Lyon competing in Farmington, New Mexico for the National High School Rodeo nals where she won 2nd place in Round 1 with the horse On A Hyper Lady "Kippy."

Tylo & Michele Lyon

At 8 years old, Michele advanced from riding ponies at the town fair to taking weekly riding lessons at Eagles Nest Ranch (now Lake City Christian Academy). It was here that she was introduced to the art of barrel racing—a rodeo event where a horse and its rider run a cloverleaf pattern around arranged barrels as fast as possible.

While learning the basics of horseback riding, Michele watched as another young rider ran barrels atop a beautiful Appaloosa horse named Baby and, from that moment on, she knew that with the proper time, training and encouragement from her parents, she would one day do the same.

“My dad was always extremely supportive—both of my parents—and they would haul me or take me wherever we needed to go,” she recalled.

Michele continued training and took riding more seriously when she got to high school by joining the Suwannee River Riding Club, practicing running barrels and going to rodeos around Branford and Lake Butler, all while forming lasting friendships. That personable aspect of rodeo helped carry Michele’s enthusiasm for the sport as she was able to make friends and meet people across the state and even the country.

“Most of my friends that I was really good friends with in high school were in other states, and so the only time I got to see them was to go to the rodeo,” Michele recalled. “When they live four or ve hours from you, that’s a good excuse to go see them if you had a rodeo.”

Of course, while the camaraderie kept her rodeo spirit alive, Michele’s competitive nature also played a factor in her unwavering interest in the equestrian pastime.

“When I started winning, that was what kept me hooked,” she said.

In 2007, Michele’s rst big win was being named the Open 2D Reserve Champion at the National Barrel Horse Association

State Finals. The following year, she quali ed for the Georgia Florida Youth Rodeo team and did so again in 2009 where she took home secondplace. That same year, Michele quali ed for the National High School Rodeo Finals in New Mexico and won second place in the rst round.

After graduating high school, her success in rodeo earned her a scholarship to attend Tarleton State University out in Texas where she participated in and won several rodeo competitions throughout the southwest region including qualifying for The American Semi nals in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2014. While she’s not one to shy away from a good race if the time allows, her focus has since shifted toward breeding horses.

Splitting time between Texas and back home in Florida, Michele and her husband, Tylo, whom she met through the rodeo circuit, put their e orts into breeding and raising foals from their broodmares and stud horses until they’re old enough for Tylo to train.

“That’s been fun to raise them, and then I send them off to trainers that train them on the barrels,” Michele added. “[I] really enjoy being an owner and watching the horses that are out of the mare that I ran in high school and did so well on, go on and do really well.”

“He breaks them to ride as 2-year-olds and spends about a year riding them daily to doctor and gather cattle. They aren’t ‘wild’ but they usually haven’t been handled much before he starts them. He does all the hard work then I get to enjoy them, showing them the barrel pattern, and he will start roping them,” Michele says. “I by no means think I am a trainer. My husband is and I am just fortunate to be able to ride nice, easy horses behind him. I enjoy the breeding and raising babies aspect of it and watching them go

on and be trainable for others.”

Once Tylo establishes the horses are ready, they continue their training in Oklahoma with a friend of Michele’s who gets them competition ready.

“That’s been fun to raise them, and then I send them o to trainers that train them on the barrels,” Michele added. “[I] really enjoy being an owner and watching the horses that are out of the mare that I ran in high school and did so well on, go on and do really well.”

Through riding clubs, rodeo competitions and now breeding horses, Michele has managed to meet and befriend people from across the country who share her passions for horses, rodeo and a good competition.

“I’m just very, very grateful for the great people that I’ve been able to get in contact with because of rodeo and to continue on doing this in a di erent scale and a di erent level, but still be involved in the whole world just the same,” she said. ■

Friday, September 29, and Saturday, September 30, will mark the 67th Suwannee River Riding Club Rodeo in Branford. Hosted by the Suwannee River Riding Club, the annual rodeo features bull riding, team roping, bronc riding, calf roping, barrel racing, steer wrestling and breakaway. While the event is an open competition, a lot of the competitors are also members of the long-standing club.

Apart from being a space for established riders to participate, the Suwannee River Riding Club is also a hub for aspiring riders as they o er a Youth Rodeo Series to teach young cowboys and cowgirls steer riding, cap riding, team roping, barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying and breakaway. That training culminates with the Youth Rodeo competition held in the spring and fall.

“We have had a bunch of kids come through this rodeo, come from around north Florida and central Florida come to the rodeo, they ride the arena and they’ve gone on and gone places. We’ve had a couple of kids that have been through here, that have been to the NFR (Wrangler National Finals Rodeo),” sayid Liz Brown, whose husband Eddie is the riding club President.

Through the youth series and the standard annual rodeo held in the fall, the club has been bene cial to the riding community and the town of Branford as a whole where locals and businesses generously continue to sponsor the rodeo year after year.

With upgrades like LED lighting and new bleachers in the works at the event space, concession stands and plenty of entertainment, this year’s rodeo is sure to be bigger and better than ever before. Tickets, which cost $15 for adults and are free for children eight or under, will be available at the gate on both nights of the rodeo located at 254th Terrace in Branford. To learn more about the rodeo or the Suwannee River Riding Club, visit their Facebook page or their website at srrcbranford.com.

The horse Hyper By Design takes home 2nd place in Round 2 of the Ruby Buckle Futurity in April 2023

Winni Socks is the rst foal the Michele and Tylo raised and trained that would go on to compete at the Ruby Buckle Futurity at Lazy-E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

"Hyper by Design" with rider Emily Efurd (left) and Michele Allison (right) at the Ruby Buckle Futurity in Guthrie, Oklahoma, winning 2nd in Round 2.

Suwannee River Riding Club

Michele Allison Lyon rides the horse Nonstop Fame during The American Semi Finals in Fort Worth, Texas.

Tylo Lyon riding out among a pasture of cows.

Michele Allison Lyon riding Blazin Win Olena in Branford, FL.

ADVERTORIAL

TELFORD SPRING A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE IN PROTECTING FLORIDA’S RESOURCES

The Alligator Snapping Turtle

The alligator snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in North America and one of the largest turtles in the world. Native populations are found exclusively in the United States. Some researchers, who have examined the turtle’s DNA, suggest that the alligator snapping turtle is actually three separate species—Macrochelys temminckii in the west, M. apalachicolae in the central region, and M. suwanniensis in the Suwannee River drainage system in Florida—but this remains a matter of debate.

Natural History

Alligator snapping turtles are renowned for their stocky armored carapace, which gives them a “prehistoric” appearance that invites comparisons with dinosaurs. They have large pointed heads with hooked beaks, and, unlike other species of snapping turtles, their eyes are located on the sides of the head rather than at the front. Hatchlings resemble adults, but they are smaller in size. Alligator snapping turtles can grow to some 31.5 to 39.3 inches and weigh about 154.3 to 198.4 pounds. Their life span in the wild ranges up to about 45 years, although they can live much longer in captivity. The oldest alligator snapping turtle ever recorded was a captive that reached 70 years old.

Alligator snapping turtles are hunters and scavengers that feed on sh, mollusks, other turtles, frogs, snakes, snails, small mammals, insects, and aquatic plants. They are most active at night; however, during the day, they often lay motionless in murky waters with their mouths open, using a red wormlike projection on their tongues as a lure to attract unsuspecting sh or frogs. Alligator snapping turtles can also use a chemical sense to locate prey, such as mud turtles and musk turtles. Alligator snapping turtles have powerful jaws and a dangerous bite. Capable of exerting a force of several hundred newtons, their jaws can easily break through bone and have been known to sever human ngers. Adult turtles have no predators of their own aside from human beings. However, eggs and hatchlings may be preyed upon by sh, birds, and raccoons.

TOM KAY Director of Alachua Conservation Trust

“With Florida being one of the fastest growing states, land conservation remains important so people can appreciate, protect and enjoy the resources in their own backyard,” said Tom Kay, executive director of Alachua Conservation Trust. “Natural spaces bring people outdoors, and our work to preserve resources moves forward as our state continues to grow.”

The preservation of Telford Spring is an example of this conservation in action. The property, which feeds into the Suwannee River, was acquired by Alachua Conservation Trust in partnership with the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). At approximately 94 acres in the 100-year oodplain, the land is also adjacent to other SRWMD land. This second-magnitude spring was and is an important water source for the Suwannee River, nestled along the river and accessible by boat, and frequented by cave divers.

In late 2020, the Alachua Conservation Trust learned that the property, Telford Spring and the acreage surrounding it,

was going on market. It had been owned by the Henderson Family since 1958, and they had been good stewards of the land, keeping it in pristeen ecological condition. Protecting the land through a public purchase was made possible in coordination between SRWMD, FDEP, Alachua Conservation Trust, and the private landowner.

“By preserving these public lands, we are showcasing ‘Old Florida’ with its centuryold oaks, pine and hardwoods,” said Kris Eskelin, senior project manager with SRWMD. “The natural systems and the oodplain community will be protected from development, and future impacts to the spring will be minimized.”

A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE

The land purchase safeguards aquifer recharge, conserves drinking water supply, protects native species, and provides recreational access.

“If you think of the conservation area as a jigsaw puzzle, it was like one of the missing pieces,” said Kay. “What set this particular piece of property apart was that it sits on more than one mile of Suwannee River frontage. It includes large trees and serves as a natural bu er for water entering the river. It also borders Peacock Springs Conservation Area, which was already owned by SRWMD, and is near Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park, which is popular with cave divers.”

Protecting the land also helps keep septic tanks away from a second magnitude spring, which has a water ow of up to 100 cubic feet per second. It is more preventative than anything, says Kay, preserving the integrity of the entire system. It also bene ts wildlife, like turtles and otters, giving them direct access to crawl up on the shore.

“One of species you see near Telford is the Suwannee alligator snapping turtle, which is in a crisis state for its numbers,” says Kay. “I remember when I was younger we saw them all over the place—the numbers have dropped dramatically.”

PRESERVATION THROUGH PARTNERSHIP

After approval of the Governing Board and the Lands Committee, the acquisition project began with SRWMD submitting a request to purchase the property to the FDEP Springs grant funding program. Alachua Conservation Trust acquired the land in December 2021 from the private landowner while the grant was being processed in order to preserve the property, with the intent to transfer ownership to the SRWMD. In 2022, the land was transferred to the District, which now owns the property.

“Telford Spring has long been a local hidden treasure,” said Hugh Thomas, executive director of the Suwannee River Water Management District. “Now, through valuable partnerships, the public can appreciate its natural wonder into the future. Thanks to the e orts of the landowner, Alachua Conservation

Trust, and the State of Florida, we will be able to protect this natural system from future development and limit future impacts to this beautiful spring.”

Telford Spring, and the land around it, serves as prime examples of what Alachua Conservation Trust is working diligently to conserve for current and future generations.

“We felt it was important to help the SRWMD purchase this area for public use,” added Kay. “If we had not moved on this, it could have been acquired by someone else and we would not have had the chance to preserve it. We will continue to work in this role where people can reach out to us and let us know about these opportunities so we can serve when time is of the essence.”

Maintenance of the land will be handled by Alachua Conservation Trust and will include controlling invasive species. The tract is currently closed but will open for recreation to the public once SRWMD has nalized and has its conservation plan for the property in place.

For more information on this and other Suwannee River Water Management projects, visit mysuwanneeriver.com. ■

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OUR SPRINGS. OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

Water is a key part of our culture, ecosystem and economy. We all depend on clean, sustainable water. To ensure the springs’ natural resources are there for the next generations to enjoy, we encourage you to be a leader in protecting these waters today. As a member of the community, you can take simple steps to make them healthy, sustainable and accessible for all those who seek to use them. Our springs face many challenges. Together with residents, government and industry, we are making progress. The water quality of our springs is a shared responsibility. Treat them with respect, and this natural resource will prosper.

The Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) manages water and related natural resources throughout a 15-county region. The #SpringsDiveIn campaign highlights how you can help us preserve and protect water quality in our springs. We invite you to learn more about water quality and pledge to make easy changes in your life and community. We continue to discuss the issues, challenges and solutions facing our springs while educating on their importance as an environmental and economic driver for our area.

Together with YOU, we will minimize and mitigate pollution of our 450+ beautiful springs.

Suwannee River Water Management Sta with executive director of Alachua Conservation Trust, Tom Kay.

Welcome to Buildings And More, the premier provider of portable buildings in North Florida. We now o er Red-Iron Steel Buildings and Pole Barns, expanding our range beyond sheds. With top-notch customer service (BBB A+ rating), we’ve built a strong reputation, which we’re now extending to Red-Iron Steel and Pole Barns, showcasing our commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction.

RED-IRON STEEL BUILDINGS: Sustainable and Strong

Introducing Red-Iron Steel buildings, re ecting our dedication to environmental responsibility. Made with sustainable red-iron steel known for its strength, durability, and corrosion resistance, these structures contribute to a greener future. Buildings And More ensures safe and sturdy buildings while promoting sustainable practices.

A ordable Quality

Red-Iron Steel buildings o er a ordability without compromising quality. Compared to wood or concrete, they are cost-e ective due to e cient manufacturing and durable materials, resulting in lower construction and maintenance costs. Ideal for budgetconscious customers seeking value.

Unleash Your Creativity

Customize Red-Iron Steel buildings to meet your unique needs. Whether it’s a warehouse, workshop, or commercial building, these structures can be tailored to your speci cations. The open-span design allows for exible layouts and maximum usable space. Unleash your imagination with customizable Red-Iron Steel buildings.

POLE BARNS

Timeless Appeal and Practical Functionality

Experience the timeless charm of Pole Barns at Buildings And More. These classic structures combine nostalgia with practicality. Whether you’re a farmer, equestrian enthusiast, or in need of storage space, Pole Barns o er a versatile and enduring solution.

Tailored to Your Needs:

We take pride in providing tailor-made Pole Barns that perfectly suit your requirements. Each Pole Barn can be designed to your speci cations, including size, layout, and materials. Whether for livestock, equipment storage, or workshops, Buildings And More is ready to bring your vision to life.

Built to Last

Pole Barns are renowned for their durability and longevity. With their sturdy post-frame construction method, using poles as the main support structure, they withstand heavy loads and adverse weather conditions, o ering a reliable and longlasting solution.

Unmatched Strength and Durability

Red-Iron Steel buildings are known for exceptional strength and durability. They resist re, termites, rot, and other common issues. With proper maintenance, these structures withstand harsh weather conditions, ensuring longlasting peace of mind.

Buildings And More o ers more than just sheds! From Red-Iron Steel buildings to customizable Pole Barns, we provide versatile solutions tailored to your needs. Contact us at 386-755-6449 or visit our agship store at 792 SW Bascom Norris Dr., Lake City, FL, for a consultation with our experienced designers and builders. Your dream building awaits!

KIDS FEEDING KIDS

By Hayli Zuccola

Feeding America, a renowned charity working to end hunger in the United States, found that in 2021, more than nine million children faced hunger, and Columbia County is by no means exempt from being part of that statistic. Childhood hunger has always been a steady concern in the community and one John Cole, Jr. witnessed rsthand during his time at Richardson Middle School.

Back in 2014, while teaching his class how to grow potatoes, a student noted how the crop could help feed their family—a notion that inspired John to start an agriculture program using hydroponic tower gardening and other types of gardening techniques to help educate students on how to grow their own food. Later on, Mr. Cole, as his students fondly referred to him, transferred to Columbia High School where he became an agriculture teacher there and brought with him his mission of teaching students how to grow their own food.

John Cole, Jr.

The Kids Feeding Kids initiative John started eventually moved out of the school system and became an independent nonpro t—one John Cole, Jr. asked his son John Littleton “Lit” Cole, III, to continue after being diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2019. After his father’s passing in 2020, Lit honored his wishes and has since continued improving upon the Kids Feeding Kids name by holding fundraisers and even developing a thrift store in an e ort to complete his father’s dream of creating a large agriculture center where kids of any age could come and learn how to grow, tend to and harvest their own crops.

“As you can see, in our society today, it’s getting worse,” Lit said. “Grocery prices are going up and it’s going to get worse, and we want to be that hope where we can teach kids how to self-sustain and we’ll be able to feed our community here in Lake City and Columbia County.”

Accomplishing this goal is no easy feat and an expensive one at that, which is why to help fund building the large agriculture center, Lit’s then girlfriend now ancé came up with the idea of opening a thrift store. Located at 4201 US-441, the store receives around 20 to 30 truckloads of donations a week from church yard sales, family garage sales and from other generous community members. The pro ts made from the thrift store go directly to Kids Feeding Kids to fund building the center or toward hosting classes. Once a month, kids as young as four years old are invited to come to the thrift store and learn how to plant di erent crops either starting from seeds to learning how to transplant into larger pots. While it’s no longer integrated into the school system, Lit also does presentations outside the store at schools, daycares and other organizations interested in his e orts.

Apart from teaching children how to grow their own food, Kids Feeding Kids stays active in the community in other ways, whether it’s collecting dresses and tuxedos for prom, packing up and

donating clothes for those a ected by Hurricane Ian .or giving away Thanksgiving turkey and Christmas toys during the holiday season.

While Kids Feeding Kids helps those in need and makes an impact on children’s lives beyond food-related needs, the overarching goal of the organization— besides its core mission of helping to end childhood hunger in the community—is to develop a large agriculture center.

With land already donated, Lit and several volunteers have already begun working on the ambitious concept that aims to have around 1,000 hydroponic towers to hold 20,000 plants, a u-pick farm, raised beds, a 100-foot greenhouse, an apiary for learning bee farming and honey harvesting, an education center with classrooms and a banquet hall for the FFA (Future Farmers of America) and similar clubs, as well as a space to hold summer camps and after-school programs. Lit also aims to provide a venue for master gardeners to come and teach their tricks of the trade and o er adult gardening classes at the center.

Of course, such a monumental project comes with considerable expenses, which is why Kids Feeding Kids counts on generous sponsorships and donations made by individuals and businesses, fundraisers and purchases from the thrift store. While a completion date for the agriculture center is hard to determine as funds slowly trickle in, once it’s complete, it will make a considerable impact on the community as a whole and on the children eager to learn where their food comes from and how they can help let it grow.

“The main thing is to feed the hungry, and that’s what dad’s whole purpose was: to teach kids so the future—farming is one of the most important parts of our country—and so if we can teach kids how to do that, they can take care of themselves for many years to come,” Lit says. ■

CHILDHOOD MALNOURISHMENT

Food insecurity is a signi cant issue in America. According to Save the Children, one in six children in America struggle with hunger. Seventeen percent of children live in food-insecure households that cannot provide nutrition at some point during the year.

According to researchers, households with lower incomes are more likely to be food insecure. Experts anticipate that food insecurity and child malnourishment will worsen as incomes fail to keep up with in ation.

Health experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine say that more children su er from malnutrition due to dietary imbalances rather than nutritional de ciencies in the United States. Children not getting adequate food may be short for their ages, thin or bloated, experience a lack of energy, and have weakened immune systems. Malnourishment can produce changes in mood and other psychiatric symptoms as well.

The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement in 2018 highlighting the importance and irreversibility of the 1,000-day window. This refers to the nutrition kids receive from birth until their second birthday and how it profoundly impacts how they develop. There’s no catching up if kids are malnourished during this period, and malnourishment can produce a lower IQ and chronic medical problems as children grow older, advises the AAP.

Malnutrition and food insecurity are issues in our community that can be addressed with wider recognition. Volunteer, donate and learn more today.

To volunteer, donate, learn more about the Kids Feeding Kids initiative or to follow the progress of the agriculture center, follow the nonprofit’s Facebook page at Kids Feeding Kids in Columbia County.

Sitting down to enjoy three meals daily is a luxury easily taken for granted.

CLASSIC TOPPINGS

Optional but approved: a piece of lettuce, a slice of tomato, and a bit of onion. We recommend leaving the fried egg or avocado dollop for breakfast.

STACK The Ultimate Burger

A HEFTY BUN

For a firm foundation, choose a potato bun—it’s essential for supporting juicy beef and its accouterments. (Or opt for a buttery brioche bun)

AMERICAN CHEESE

It’s engineered to melt perfectly and quickly. If you use a fancy cheese, you run the risk of overcooking the burger while waiting for the slice to melt.

MUSTARD, NOT KETCHUP

Mustard works with the flavor profile, not against it. (Ketchup is too sweet to complement beef.) Smear it on both top and bottom buns.

80 PERCENT LEAN BEEF

You need that 20 percent fat to ensure the juiciest, most flavorful burger. Make patties of about a quarter pound, store in the fridge, and take out just before cooking. Salt them then—no sooner.

By Hayli

here’s something cozy and satisfying about a seemingly simple, yet classic, cinnamon roll. Pillowy dough and warming spices smothered in a generous coating of icing come together in a delicious way to evoke feelings of comfort and home—and no one knows how to make these sweet swirled desserts better than Lindsey Burk, founder of Lulabell’s Cinnamon Rolls.

Lindsey with her husband Corey and their two children.

Zuccola Holly Frazier Photography

“Ever since I was little, I can remember making cinnamon rolls with my mom and with my grandma,” Lindsey Burk recalled. “We’ve always kind of been big bakers, and it’s always been something I’ve really enjoyed. My mom and my grandma always let me in the kitchen with them when I was little, let me help and so, you know, they kind of helped fuel that passion.”

From pound cakes and cookies to pies and breads, Lindsey grew up learning confectionary skills from her family and continued to explore that niche as she got older with cinnamon rolls becoming a staple recipe in her kitchen.

Though she always had a lingering desire to open a bakery honoring her familial love for baking, as a mother of two and part-time dental hygienist, Lindsey didn’t have the time or the means to realistically pursue the idea—that is until the pandemic hit. As a non-essential worker, Lindsey—along with other dental professionals—was sent home inde nitely. After two weeks, the timeline

for going back to work became more blurred and uncertain, which, for Lindsey at least, was a blessing in disguise. With encouragement from her husband, Corey, this unfortunate circumstance became the perfect opportunity to test the waters for local interest in her baked goods. A Facebook post announcing mini cinnamon rolls for sale garnered a huge following and positive feedback, and with that single post, Lulabell’s Cinnamon Rolls was born.

The name Lulabell—a nickname given to Lindsey by her grandmother Linda Herndon—was Lindsey’s way of paying homage to her grandmother and culinary matriarch, who she refers to as Big Momma and whose cinnamon roll recipe would be the crux of this new venture. After deciding to roll into a new business, Lindsey was already ahead with a perfected and time-tested recipe—all she needed now was to learn how to whip up the sugary snacks on a larger, more uniform scale, but every batch would begin the same: with a starter.

For those unequipped with baking know-how, a starter is a leavening agent, which makes dough rise, and is a blend of our, water and time to create a culture made of naturally occurring yeasts and bacteria. This living mixture is then routinely fed with fresh our and water that allows it to grow and thrive similar to a plant. Typically seen in sourdoughs and other fermented bread, it’s also the secret behind every batch of Lindsey’s cinnamon rolls.

Lindsey and her grandmother Linda, who gave her the nickname “Lulabell” as a young girl, reunite in the kitchen to make their famous cinnamon rolls.

“Ever since I was little, I can remember making cinnamon rolls with my mom and with my grandma.”

—Lindsey Burk

“So this starter that I use, it’s my grandma’s, my Big Momma’s starter. She’s had it for like 30 years. It’s what goes into all my cinnamon rolls. It’s in everything I make so that is like the rst ingredient, a cup of this yeast starter that I got from her, and it’s expanded, I mean, it grows. So I have like 10 starters at this point now, which is why I can make so many of these cinnamon rolls,” she said. “I’ve made cinnamon rolls with the other starters before with like the packages of starter and it’s de nitely di erent. The packages of yeast are denser. It doesn’t rise as well. It’s not as u y. It’s not as airy.”

With the perfect starter blend on tap, Lindsey then makes the dough and rolls it out to the same dimensions every time before covering it in cinnamon goodness and rolling it up to create the perfect swirl. She then uses a special cutter—one for her mini rolls and one for her larger rolls—to ensure a more consistent size and shape.

Though she had her grandmother’s recipe and starter on hand, it still took Lindsey some time to perfect the classic, original cinnamon roll, but once she did, it was time to experiment with additional avors. Red velvet, pumpkin spice, s’mores, lemon blueberry and maple pecan have all made an appearance on the Lulabell’s rotating, seasonal menu, and while each is undoubtedly delicious, Lindsey enjoys the summer lineup most of all.

“The maple pecan and the lemon blueberry are my favorites. The lemon blueberry I think is my number one, and it’s not really a cinnamon roll at all. It is just like a lemon blueberry roll because I mean I make a blueberry butter that goes in the middle of it and there’s a little bit of cinnamon in that, but otherwise, there’s really not any cinnamon in it,” she said.

Whatever the avor may be, the recipe and dough changes to compliment it whether it’s adding cocoa, milk and butter for the red velvet rolls or incorporating pumpkin

pie lling for the autumnal pumpkin spice option.

“I have to change the dough depending on the avor, so the s’mores roll has the same dough as the cinnamon. The maple pecan has maple syrup in the actual dough. The pumpkin has, it actually has pumpkin in the dough and di erent spices, and then the lemon blueberry has lemon zest in the dough,” she said.

While she has a core list of avors, Lindsey is always looking for ways to expand her menu and has even begun working on a gluten-free and dairy-free option so even those with dietary restrictions can enjoy her famous cinnamon rolls.

“I have had several people ask me about gluten-free, dairy-free, but that is something I’m taking really seriously…same with the maple pecan. Like, I’m very careful when I make my maple pecan and not mixing it with any of the other avors cause a lot of people have nut allergies. So it’s one of those things I want to make sure I do it right,” she said.

While Lindsey has successfully run Lulabell’s out of her home kitchen with the continued help and support of her husband, Corey, who acts as her marketer, salesman and delivery boy whenever needed, the future is bright for expansion with the next step being obtaining her wholesale license to allow for local businesses to carry her product.

As far as a brick-and-mortar, well, that’s the dream and a door Lindsey is ready to open if and when the opportunity arises. For now, she’s rather content running her business by taking orders through her Facebook page and appearing alongside other local makers and newfound friends during event popups and downtown markets.

Nevertheless, whatever the future has in store for Lulabell’s, it’s sure to be sweet. ■

For Lindsey’s most up-to-date schedule and pop-up locations, be sure to follow Lulabell’s Cinnamon Rolls on Facebook.

Ice Cream Bars

Level: Easy • Time: 6 hr 35 min (includes freezing time)

Whether you’re looking for a delightful dessert to impress your summer pool party guests or just a sweet escape for your family, this recipe is an easy-to-prepare, icy masterpiece that will leave everyone craving for more.

• Active: 35 min • Yield: 16 servings

DIRECTIONS:

•Take both ice cream avors out of the freezer to soften.

•Line a 9-by-9-inch metal baking pan with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides.

•Put 2 ounces of the shortbread cookies (about 8) in a resealable bag and crush them into coarse crumbs with a rolling pin. Transfer to a medium bowl. Repeat with 1/2 cup of the freeze-dried strawberries. Add to the bowl with the crushed cookies. Mix to combine and set aside.

•Add the remaining 8 ounces of the shortbread cookies (about 32), the light-brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a food processor. Process until nely ground. Add the melted butter and process until the crumbs are coated. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.

•Pour the jam over the crust and spread it into an even layer. Cover and freeze.

INGREDIENTS:

•One package Golden Oreo Cookies—or similar vanilla sandwich cookies. OR: for less sweet crust you can use shortbread cookies or Sandies.

•6 tablespoons melted butter.

•Vanilla ice cream—your favorite storebought brand.

•One 18-ounce jar strawberry jam - You can also use nely chopped fresh berries.

•2 tablespoons light-brown sugar

•Strawberry ice cream—your favorite store-bought brand.

•One package of freeze-dried strawberries.

•Kosher salt

•Fresh strawberries, thinly sliced. (Optional for garnish/topping.)

•Once the jam in the pan is set, scoop about two cups of vanilla ice cream onto the crust, and use the back of a spoon to spread it evenly over the whole pan. Cover and freeze.

•Once the vanilla ice cream is set, scoop about two cups of strawberry ice cream into the pan. Again, use the back of a spoon to spread it evenly over the whole pan. You can repeat the layers as desired.

•Top the nal layer with the crushed cookie, and the freeze-dried strawberry mixture, then cover and freeze up to overnight.

•Cut into about 16 bars; use the foil overhang to lift the bars from the pan, and enjoy a burst of fruity freshness and creamy decadence in every bite!

It was a crisp, beautiful May day when Darrell Nickelson and his family arrived at Skydive Palatka. The sun was shining, the sky was a gorgeous blue hue, and there was only one item on the to-do list: Jump out of the plane. At 92 years old, Darrell was embarking on an adventure and checking o a lon ti e ucket list item today with the help of his family. He was going to tandem skydive!

NOTHING BUT

By Jeweliana Curtis

The idea for this day was created a few months prior, as Darrell was watching television and came across the story of a 100-year-old woman who was skydiving. Though skydiving had always been on his mind, Darrell’s desire to skydive was brought to the forefront in that moment.

“I was watching television and I saw a 100-year-old woman skydiving, and I thought to myself, ‘Well, I can do that!’ That’s what started it. I’ve taken plenty of risks in my life… I’ve always had the urge to skydive but never had the guts, I guess. I talked to my daughter about it, and she told my granddaughter, Caitlin,” Darrell recalled. “Then Caitlin came to me about my bucket list, asking if I was going to jump, and I responded ‘I’d like to,’ and she said, ‘Well, if you’re going, then I’m going.’ From then on, she lined it all up.”

“I didn’t want him going alone, and I thought it sounded like fun. Truthfully, I never had any desire to jump out of a

perfectly good airplane,” Caitlin Young laughed. “But now that I have, I want to do it all the time.”

With their experience booked and planned, all that was left was to follow through and jump. Joining Darrell and Caitlin on their jump was Caitlin’s husband, Justin; and more of Darrell’s family, including his great-grandson, Ethan Steele; his granddaughter, Jordan Steele; and his grandson-in-law, Brad Bowers. Once the crew arrived at Skydive Palatka, they expressed feeling completely at ease with the team of professionals that were tandem skydiving with them. Any nerves that may have been present vanished the day of, being replaced with only feelings of excitement.

Darrell Nickelson

Ninety-two-year-old veteran Darrell Nickelson living life to the fullest.

“I wasn’t a bit nervous. I wasn’t thinking about it, I just knew I was going to do it,” Darrell shared. “In my life, I’ve been in a few other situations, in the service and otherwise, and this was kind of tame compared to those. When the time came, I wasn’t a bit hesitant about the jump.”

After the safety demonstrations and trainings were complete, the four members of the group who were set to skydive were split into two groups, with each pair entering the airplane with the crew of professionals and photographers/ videographers. Halfway along the ascent, the crew hooked them in tight. Once the plane reached 13,500 feet, it was go time!

“They opened the door, instructed you to stick your feet out, and then it’s time. I thought maybe we would hesitate, because other people have told me that when you get there and get to the door, that’s when you feel the most fear,” Caitlin expressed. “That wasn’t my experience: I didn’t feel any fear at that point. I was just excited!”

As the door opened, a gush of wind hit Darrell’s face, and he explained being overwhelmed by the beauty he saw below. As he took the leap out of the plane, it was clear that they picked a perfect day for this skydiving adventure. The clear blue sky made way for the sun to shine, and Darrell took in the beautiful views of the St. Johns River, the city of Palatka and, of course, the acres of farmland.

“It was a beautiful view,” Darrell reminisced. “When they opened the chute and I saw the beautiful view… It was just a serene type feeling. That’s what I loved the most about the day.”

Caitlin had a very similar experience, sharing, “Most people compare the feeling of skydiving to a rollercoaster, but I don’t think it’s like that at all. Your stomach doesn’t drop, you just feel very free and euphoric. It’s a very intense amount of fun. I’m not a ‘do scary things’ type of person, but when he wanted to go, I knew that was something that I didn’t want him to experience by himself. So I was excited about it, and my husband Justin wanted to join, and then it became a whole family thing,

which was cool. It was a great experience. I would encourage everyone to not overthink it and just go for it.”

After taking in the scenic views, the skydivers made their descent back onto solid ground. While Darrell admitted to being a bit nervous about the landing, he explained that the Skydive Palatka crew made him feel calm and comfortable.

“Landing, for me, was like sitting down in the easy chair,” Darrell explained. “Landing was super simple: the team handled it well. The hardest part for me was getting up because I’m not that agile. That would have been the worst—the thought that I’d have issues standing back up after I landed.”

The response from family was understandably a bit reluctant when Darrell shared his skydiving plans for the rst time, but his family’s support shone on the day of the adventure. Darrell and Caitlin joked that their family thought they were crazy at rst, but after seeing how much fun they had skydiving, they agreed to go along and jump as well next time.

While this was his rst experience with skydiving, Darrell is no stranger to risktaking and adventure. At just 18 years old, Darrell enrolled in the military and embarked on a new venture that shaped who he is today.

The year was 1949, and Darrell was a senior in high school when he was recruited by a sergeant to join the United States Marine Corps. He was unaware at the time, but there were only 75,000 active marines during this period, so a recruiting sergeant was in town scouting for marines.

“I had a friend call me the next morning and say, ‘I just saw you jumped out of a plane! You’re my hero,’” Darrell laughed.

“Of course the recruiting sergeant made us feel pretty popular and treated us like grown ups. At the time, ve of us decided to go. I graduated from high school and the next day went home and told my parents I was going to the Marine Corps. I was just o the farm, so I had never experienced anything like it,” Darrell shared. “I was from Aladdin, Wyoming, where the population was only 15 people... It was a big trip, and they put us on the train to Omaha. I had never been much of anywhere, and then we spent ve days on the train going to San Diego. We started with 50 in the platoon, and half of us made it. It was intense, especially for some farm boys.”

The military training that Darrell received was invaluable to him. He credits much of his growth and development to the incredible Marine Corps training, explaining that he learned how to be a team player and focus on the mission at hand. Though he never was stationed overseas, Darrell stated that his time in the Marine Corps taught him discipline and understanding. “I spent about eight years total in the military. The Marine Corps is pretty tough training. When it comes to jumping o things, my time in the Marines was scarier than jumping out of an airplane to skydive,” Darrell explained. “We would practice abandoning ship with all of our gear and swimming through the ocean, so the skydiving experience was pretty tame comparatively.”

“John Wayne and I had a really good conversation. After we talked, he said ‘Once you finish up, why don’t you come up to the house for lunch?’ I visited with him for a couple of hours there, and I didn’t realize the extent of his livestock. He was just someone that would visit with you,” Darrell said. “He was very friendly, and I was really impressed with him. That was sometime in the 1960s. That was a highlight for sure, and a really great experience looking back.”

“I could have stayed in the military, but I was interested in the livestock business, so I decided to go that route. Before that, I actually had an appointment at West Point. I made a decision to not go down there, because of a girl,” Darrell laughed. “That was a good decision. I got into the livestock business and got married.”

With over 38 years of experience in the livestock business, Darrell has many stories of good days, bad days, and all of the days in between. One of his most notable experiences was the day he met John Wayne after purchasing his cattle.

After being in the military for eight years, Darrell made the decision to step away and pursue what he was most interested in: livestock. It was in this industry that he made a career for himself, spending 38 years in the livestock industry.

“While I was in the Marine Corps, John Wayne was lming a movie. Our platoon was supposed to be in that lm, and John Wayne came to the base, and I met him there. Years later, I was in the livestock business and buying cattle out of Mexico. It turns out that the guy I was trading with on the border said that they were

The only store in Aladdin, Wyoming, a cherished place where Darrell, in his youth, would set o on horseback from his childhood ranch, located nearly a mile away.”

John Wayne’s cattle. I thought he was just telling me that,” Darrell explained. “On the day we took delivery, I heard the guy on the phone call up and say, ‘Duke, why don’t you get on your jet and come down here? We’re delivering cattle today.’ Next thing I knew, we were sorting cattle into pens, and I looked up the hill and coming down was John Wayne.

“We had a really good conversation. After we talked, he said ‘Once you nish up, why don’t you come up to the house for lunch?’ I visited with him for a couple of hours there, and I didn’t realize the extent of his livestock. He was just someone that would visit with you,” Darrell said. “He was very friendly, and I was really impressed with him. That was sometime in the 1960s. That was a highlight for sure, and a really great experience looking back.”

Over the years, Darrell traveled everywhere from Canada to Mexico purchasing cattle. It was a tough business, between the sti competition and the weather complications, not to mention the di culties and challenges that came with a perishable product. Not all of the work days were quite so exciting in the livestock industry, and Darrell also shared about one of the worst days he experienced. The year was 1985, and it was Christmas Day. The weather in Wyoming was the toughest he had ever experienced in years, thermometers reading 25 degrees below zero. Since it was Christmas Day, his maintenance guy

decided he was not going to work, but Darrell still had 25,000 cattle to feed. As he and his crew loaded cattle to be sent o that day, the drivers lost control of the truck as they were going up a hill, spun out and got stuck. Darrell had to think on his feet and work quickly, operating a machine he was unfamiliar with to solve the problem. His work day began at 4 A.M. that day in the freezing weather, and didn’t end until after midnight.

Once he retired from the livestock business, Darrell made the decision to move to Florida to be closer to his family. Darrell and his rst wife had two children together, who were the catalyst for his move to Florida in 1990. When Darrell remarried in 1993 in Florida, he gained three stepchildren as well. Though some are located across the United States, many of Darrell’s 19 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren live in Florida. Darrell enjoys family time with them often.

“He shows up to every birthday party with the great-grandkids. He’s always there and shows up for all the band concerts, and really anything they do. He’s really involved with us and the greatgrandkids,” Caitlin shared. “Family is very important to him.”

Since moving to Florida, Darrell has returned to his roots of what he studied in college, accounting, and works for his nephew at D.R. Nickelson and Company. His day-to-day routine includes arriving at work at 6 A.M., working alongside his daughter, his son and his nephew, then returning home to work in his garden and spend time with his cat. His life is lled with lots of family time, and he enjoys watching the cows and tending to the pasture near his home. At 92, Darrell is still working full-time, and he doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon. He has called Florida home for over 30 years, and looks forward to all of the special memories to come.

“I always feel like this is where the Lord wants me. I’ve been in Florida 33 years now. I like it here because of family, but I miss Wyoming,” Darrell said. “I don’t visit too often because the last trip was the closing of that chapter. I really love it here, too, though.”

Relocating to Florida brought about many changes to Darrell’s life, but it also made way for sweet relationships to develop, like the special bond he shares with his granddaughter, Caitlin.

“He has truly been a hero to me since I was a small child. I spent a lot of time with him and my grandma growing up, and he taught me so much. Between the two of them, I feel like I’ve learned a lifetime of valuable things,” Caitlin expressed. “He’s always been constant, never wavering in support. I’ve never seen him angry or sharp with me. If there was any discipline or structure to be taught, it was always in a loving, supportive way. He’s been my best buddy. He’s very, very special to me. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him. It’s a very special bond that we have, and I’m just very thankful for the special memories we share. I have a photo of him with all of my kids when they are rst born, and he’s just been there for every moment. I love him very much, and he’s de nitely my hero for sure.”

Now that he’s checked skydiving o of his bucket list, you may be wondering what is next for Darrell Nickelson. Though there are many experiences still to come, Darrell is grateful for this season of his life.

“I still want to skydive some more. We want to go again. Maybe we could bring more people with us next time,” Darrell shared. “There’s other things, but I think I have what I need right here.”

When it comes to taking risks, embracing challenges and embarking on new adventures, Darrell Nickelson is proof that the best experiences come on the other side of your comfort zone. If you have a dream, goal or mission in mind, Darrell encourages you to take the leap.

■

“Just go for it! Live life. Do what’s right of course, but live life,” Darrell advised. “I think that’s what God wants us to do. Just go for it and do what’s good. Don’t be afraid of stepping out and taking a chance once in a while.”

By Hayli Zuccola

Inspired by the River

Having written for her high school newspaper, when it was time to go to college, Tommie Mooney wanted to study journalism, but heeding her father’s warning that majoring in such a field wouldn’t yield a lucrative career, she opted for one in education. Nevertheless, writing, whether for school papers or assisting her colleagues, was still a big part of her life; one she rather enjoyed and a hobby she fostered again later in life when she decided to write a book.

“I’ve just always been interested in what you can do with words,” Tommie Mooney said.

Drawing inspiration from her home’s scenic overlook of the Ichetucknee River, Tommie, who’s now 83, chose to write a mystery novel, one that took place in her own backyard.

“The idea of writing the book just came from really from my love of the river, and the river is one of the main characters in the book,” she said. “I would go down and sit on my dock and watch the people. I mean, I’ve spent hours sitting on my dock just watching the people oating by.”

Figuring out the underlying plot and the direction her story would take required rumination and adjustments over the duration of the process, but the setting of her debut novel was clear from the start.

“The river is like a dose of tranquility, and you just, when you’re there and you’re soaking it up, you know it just, it helps you get your priorities in order too because you look at, you look at the river, you think God was having a great day today. He did the architecture on the river, you know that. I just love the peace that it gives you and everybody that comes,” she noted.

“The people that like the book are the people who live on the river and they can seriously relate to this.”

River Ransom, which Tommie published in January 2022, follows the ctional story of two neighboring grandmothers with contrasting personalities— one a reserved Yankee, the other, a nosy Southern belle. Despite their di erences, they soon nd they have to work together after one receives a ransom notice that her grandchildren have been kidnapped on the river.

With the setting and the main con ict of the story settled, the next and most challenging part for Tommie came in stringing the story together and determining how her characters would behave in each scene and circumstance.

“That fascinated me. Just the idea of creating a situation, and then I could choose as the author how the people would react to the situation. And it changed a lot. The book itself and the plot changed a lot from the beginning to the end,” she said.

“I just, I enjoyed it. I enjoy writing and I enjoy putting something on paper and then going back and looking at it and saying, ‘Could this really happen? Is this clear?’ You know, and I know I’ve studied a lot about language, and I learned a lot about language. You know, like what words not to use.”

“While I was working on it, it really helped my brain too. The, you know, challenge and making sure that words went together and this was the appropriate word and, I don’t know, I guess I love the English language and I love words and the challenge of putting it together so that when you read it, you can see it,” she added.

Sitting on her dock or accompanying her children on a trip to the grocery store, when motivation struck, Tommie would write—and she did it all with a pen and paper.

“I don’t type; I don’t own a computer. I wrote the whole thing by longhand and my daughter transferred it to the computer and typed it and got it ready to send o ,” she says.

“I couldn’t possibly have completed the book without my daughter’s help, and she just hung in there.”

Of course, helping transcribe her words from paper to computer wasn’t the only way Tommie’s family was involved in the process. Her daughter, Dawn; her sons Roger and Jack; along with her grandkids and several close friends all became a sounding board for her story and a reference of advice on her story and its characters.

“I followed my family and friends around for a couple of years and talked to them

[about the characters] to the point that they felt like they were family members,” she said.

“I could not have written a book without the support of the people around me.” After over a year developing the story and completing plenty of drafts and rewrites, Tommie nally published her rst book, which was a momentous event lled with relief and, albeit, a little anxiety.

“I was very relieved. It was over and the pressure of trying to get people to type it for me, the mechanics of it I would need for that, and I was anxious because my audience was going to be people that I knew very well,” she said.

“I was cautious and anxious about how the book was going to be perceived. Not by people I don’t know, but by the people that I loved, that helped me with it.”

While she was hesitant and nervous about the nal outcome, her book was well received by both the people she knew and the ones she didn’t.

“I think that if you ever decide to write a book, there’s a point where you come to the conclusion just like life, you can’t please everybody,” she noted.

With the acceptance of that realization, Tommie managed to set aside her worries and completed the goal she set for herself: to write a book. Though the act of writing interested her throughout her life, it wasn’t until recently that she nally pursued her long-held dream, proving that it’s never too late to do so. ■

Mollie Ferdon’s Handmade “Good Attitude” Bees

By Hayli Zuccola

The daughter of a farmer and sister to 11 siblings, at 12 years old, Mollie Ferdon thought her path in life would revolve around missionary work. However, due to the nancial requirements to accomplish such a calling, she never ended up following that initial track. Nevertheless, rather than making an impact abroad, she accomplished such a goal right at home, and at 93, Mollie has instilled positivity in her community all with the help of a few thousand bee pins.

IN POSITIVITY

When she was 19, Mollie began working with Sunday school children, and in preparation for one week’s lesson on the beatitudes, which are eight statements of virtues and values that were part of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, she decided to make handcrafted bees out of clothespins, pom-poms, chenille stems and other embellishments to give her class.

“I had another young man tell me, ‘I remember you. You taught me in Sunday school and it made a di erence.’ A girl, young girl, she had a little one of her own big enough to walk. She told me ‘I remember you. You were my favorite crossing guard."

After that, she started adorning the visor she wore to protect her eyes from the sun with handmade bees. Fun and colorful, they instantly grabbed the attention of other schoolchildren who she encountered while working as a crossing guard. Asking if they could have one of her bees, Mollie happily obliged, and in nding joy in their excitement, began making more. Soon, she gave these bees, which she referred to as her “Good Attitude” bees, to the kids she read to and helped cross the street, as well as through the homebound ministry she ran for many years.

As their popularity grew, Mollie quickly had to swap her visor for a wide-brimmed hat that she lled with her bees. The accessory became her signature and a talking point for anyone she came across, whether it was through running the church library; volunteering at nursing homes—which she did for 40 years; serving as a school crossing guard—a position she held for 27 years until she retired at 85 years old; or in her day-to-day trips to town as a busy mother of six.

Organically, the popularity and interest in her bees grew beyond school children and became a community interest. Anyone who commented on Mollie’s hat was gifted a bee of their own and, throughout the years, these little bees became more important than Mollie could have ever imagined.

Void, who lives in Michigan now still has a bee given to him by Mollie when he was a young boy. Void named his bee Benard.

“There was a young man, when he was in 3rd grade, he was at the school where I was a crossing guard, and when he was a senior in high school, he came by one afternoon [and said] ‘I remember you. You read to me when I was in 3rd grade and it made a di erence,”’ Mollie recalled. “I had another young man tell me, ‘I remember you. You taught me in Sunday school and it made a di erence.’ A girl, young girl, she had a little one of her own big enough to walk. She told me ‘I remember you. You were my favorite crossing guard.’”

Her recognition in the community has continued beyond school settings as Mollie seems to be approached and remembered wherever she goes.

“I go sometimes to take her to Jacksonville, to take her to a doctor appointment and sometimes we go to Publix, or I take wherever she wanted to go, and I know I walked in Publix with her one day, and one of the workers threw their hand up and goes, ‘It’s a Good Attitude day, Miss Molly.’ And as we went through the store, di erent ones would throw their hands up and tell her it was a Good Attitude day,” said Jessie “Beth” Long, Mollie’s daughter.

“All these di erent places we go, they would remember her from giving, being given the bees and telling them to have a good attitude.”

Clothes Pin BUMBLE BEE MAGNET CRAFT

Sweet and simple, these cute little clothes pin bumble bees make for a great summer craft! And it can help develop ne motor skills and creativity.

MATERIALS:

• Clothespins

• Pipe Cleaners

• Google Eyes

• Pom Poms

• Magnets

• Hot Glue

Since her rst batch of bees, which she estimates was back in the ’90s, Mollie has made thousands more and is still making them today—often with the assistance of her great-granddaughter Katherine, who she encourages to take over the Good Attitude project after she’s gone.

As of now, Mollie has about 280 bees stockpiled and ready to hand out—some of which are color-coordinated to college football teams, others more sporadic in nature, but each made with love and recycled materials as the nose for every bee comes from saving her blood sugar needle caps, which would otherwise be discarded.

Whether it’s handing out a bee to someone new or hearing stories from those who’ve held onto theirs for years as a reminder to have a good attitude, Mollie may not have become a missionary like she originally intended, but her bees have made a di erence in her own community and beyond—even ying internationally through Operation Christmas Child.

What began as a Sunday school craft project turned into so much more, and while she’s contributed to her community in multiple facets, whether through education, volunteering at nursing homes and within her church, everything always comes back to her handmade bees, which inspired generations then and will continue to do so for generations to come. ■

• Scissors

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Begin by choosing a colorful selection of 1-inch and 1.5-inch pom poms and pipe cleaners.

• Lay your clothespin at with the clip facing up.

• Starting from the bottom of your clothespin, glue four 1 inch pom poms in a row and then glue one 1.5 -inch pom pom for your bee’s head.

• You will need two pipe cleaners for this step: Bend your pipe cleaners in half and then cut your pipe cleaners at the bend.

• Use two pipe cleaner halves to create the bee’s top wings.

• Loop the wings and hot glue them into their shape. Cut the other pipe cleaner halves into four even sections.

• Use two of the pipe cleaner sections to create the bottom wings.

• Glue your top and bottom bee wings onto the back of the clothespin.

• Use the metal portion of the clothespin as a guideline.

• Glue the top wings right above it and the bottom wings right below it.

• Glue a strong magnet on the back of your clothespin at the top.

• Turn your clothespin bee over and glue on google eyes.

• Take the last two sections of your pipe cleaners and make a loop at the top of them to create antenna shapes.

• Glue them on top of the bee’s pom pom head.

• Your bee is ready to take a ight to a fridge near you!

By Johnny Bullard

White Springs

The Timeless Charm of a Historic Landmark

Bathers enjoy the mineral-rich waters of White Sulphur Springs in this photo dated June 1920 in White Springs.

Growing up in White Springs, during the 1960s and early 70s was not idyllic, but it was pretty close.

We spent our summers in the cool, refreshing waters of the spring that owed 32,500 gallons of water a minute into the Suwannee River. My rst cousin and I had a season pass, a Christmas gift from our maternal grandmother, so we were at the springhouse each day during the summer months from opening time to closing time, with the exception of the hour and a half we had to come out and walk home for lunch, then rest and return.

We grew up in a family of storytellers. My Grandma Bullard told many stories, including this one. “Long before the White man came to this part of Florida, there were trails leading down to the spring. Local Native Americans knew of the curative properties of the waters, so the area, a ve-mile radius around the spring, was considered sacred by the Native Americans. Various tribes brought their sick and wounded to the spring,

and no ghting was allowed. The spring was a place of rest, replenishment, and recreation. Legend has it that the famous Seminole Chieftain, Osceola, played with his young child on the sandy banks of the spring. A White trapper supposedly shot and killed the child as he played on his father’s chest. Osceola swore vengeance on the White race and thus began Florida’s Seminole Wars.”

True or not, there is a small water branch that runs into the Suwannee, the Sal- Marie Branch, which is north of White Springs and was named for Chief Osceola’s mother.

Before Florida became a state, the United States government deeded all of what is now White Springs, Florida, to Bryant She eld, a prominent businessman from Americus, Georgia. This was around 1835. Travelers coming to this area around the White Sulphur Springs began to talk about the medicinal properties of the spring. In fact, one of Columbia County’s pioneer families, the Moore family of Falling Creek, came to North Central Florida after hearing of its curative

properties. They camped near the spring before purchasing their farm near Falling Creek. They were instrumental in the establishment of Falling Creek Church.

Bryant She eld built a big log hotel near the present Nature and Heritage Tourism Center site, and people began to arrive to “take the waters” at White Sulphur Springs. The spring changed ownership several times after the She eld family sold them.

Around the end of the nineteenth century, the spring was purchased by Miss Minnie Mosher Jackson, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and her physician brother. The Jacksons contracted the building of the high concrete wall around the spring and the Victorian springhouse. Business boomed! The railroad brought hundreds of visitors daily to White Springs.

During this Victorian period, it was the fashion of titled Europeans, including the Prince of Wales, to travel to fashionable “watering holes” in Europe to take the waters for health purposes.

If it was good enough for royalty, it was good enough for well-heeled Americans who discovered White Sulphur Springs, Florida…and this discovery, with the temperate climate of north central Florida, the overwhelming popularity of “Old Folks at Home,” (better known as “Way down upon the ‘Swanee’ River,”) nice hotels, dancing, hunting, shing, playing cards, all had droves of fashionable folks coming to one of the South’s most pouring resorts for leisure and fun.

Some may say, White Springs birthed the state of Florida’s tourist industry on the banks of the Suwannee River.

Folks were coming to have facials, massages, steam baths, colonic irrigation, and to bathe in and drink mineral-rich water long before it became popular to cover yourself with oil and iodine and bake on the beach in the sun.

White Sulphur Springs did indeed have its “day in the sun” for about 30 to 35 years, from 1880 to 1915. Toward the end of it’s age a terrible re destroyed most of the town at the end of February 1911.

By this time, there were several major hotels and dozens of boarding houses to accommodate scores of seasonal tourists. Formal balls were held in the grand ballrooms of the Hamilton Hotel with its 10,000 square feet of open piazzas,

marble foyer, and second- oor ballroom. The hotels engaged orchestras from New York City to play for the formal balls. Visitors danced nightly in formal evening clothes with ladies coi ed and dressed in the latest courterier Paris originals. Midnight refreshments of champagne, punch, co ee, and the nest delicacies prepared by French chefs tickled the re ned palates of those luxuriating in the opulence that was White Springs.

Another luxury hotel catered to the carriage trade, The Edgewood, with its thick custom-made Persian rugs. Many dances and fancy parties at the Edgewood were built by Mr. and Mrs. J B. Roberts,

The Colonial Hotel, located at the south gatehouse entrance of the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, lives on in some folks’ memories today. Its dining room was renowned for tantalizing Southern cuisine. It was a popular spot for Sunday lunch, hosting dinners, luncheons, and other parties.

What brought these halcyon days to a close? One was the invention of the automobile and the American dream for everyone to have a car. Eventually the excursion trains stopped their daily, and later weekly trips.

Henry Morrison Flagler opened Florida’s East Coast with a railroad and luxury hotels, more apropos for the leading lights of America’s Gilded Age, shifting the focus of visitors and development.

White Springs never completely recovered after the re of 1911. Even with the construction of the Stephen Foster Memorial with its musical and cultural programs, including the annual Florida Folk Festival, the town economically didn’t rebound. Also the opening of the interstate highway system helped nish o many small towns.

Sr.

During my childhood, there was some luster of the old days, but it was rather like walking into a once ne home; the furnishings of good quality were now worn, as were the ne oriental rugs. The drapes were carefully mended. The silver and china had seen better days. There was still an air that something there once was very ne, but it was like faded gentry. Lots of memories and a lack of funds to upgrade.

Even the discovery of massive deposits of phosphate near White Springs and the beginning of mining in 1965 did not bring White Springs back to life, as most of the executives for the company moved to Lake City.

The last private owner of the spring, the late Claude Tompkins, sold the spring and the Colonial Hotel property in 1970 to the State of Florida. The spring which had once owed so forcefully dried to a trickle and, for many years, remained with minimal discharge.

In the 1980s, the State of Florida built a replica of the top oor on top of the concrete wall. A plaque with a brief history of the spring is on-site for tourists, but there isn’t much to see. Indentations on the concrete wall show signs of where all three oors were built and the cableoperated lift that lowered and raised people into the 72-degree mineral-rich water.

I am certain the water made those who swam in it and drank it feel better, as it contained a good bit of lithium, still used as an anti-psychotic to treat depression.

Johnny Bullard is a seventh-generation Floridian, a seasoned author and educator who has dedicated his life to the pursuit of knowledge and literature. Bullard holds four degrees, including a BA in English, a BS in Secondary Education, an MEd in Educational Leadership, and an Ed.S. in the same eld, all obtained from Valdosta State University. His insatiable passion for learning led him to pursue postgraduate studies at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Bullard’s literary prowess is showcased in his remarkable book, Black Runs The River, which can be found on Amazon.com or Kindle, as well as at Janet

Folks get excited when they catch the whi of a bit of sulfur or see some water from the spring owing into the river. But the millions of gallons drained from this rst-magnitude spring aquifer will probably never be replenished.

If you want to read a ctional account of the e ects of the phosphate industry on Hamilton County, read my book Black Runs the River

All that remains today of the original resort town of White Springs, is the replica of the springhouse; the historic Telford Hotel on River Street, now closed and a little dilapidated; and the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park.

The Florida Folk Festival holds a prestigious title as the oldest statesponsored folk festival in America. With a history of over seven decades, the festival has been a pillar of timeless traditions and celebration to the community and visitors alike. The festival is a vibrant celebration of music, heritage, and community that continues to enchant and inspire all who attend.

I shall always treasure the memories of growing up in White Springs. My best friend, the late Mac Pound, and I swam in the cold spring, enjoying the social life surrounding it. I have fond memories of lunching in the dining room of the Colonial Hotel and visiting with governors, congressmen, and ambassadors. I remember dressing up for lunch in blazer and tie, seated at a linencovered table in a more leisurely era.  The Colonial with its heavy sterling silver,

china, snowy white linen tablecloths, napkins, and delicious food could make one believe, if just for a bit, that: “God was truly in His heaven and all was right with the world.”

I will always cherish the years I attended and, later, worked at South Hamilton Elementary, which closed in 2017 due to declining enrollment. The school’s closure indeed took much of the heart of the community. In fact, this past year, Hamilton County’s population regressed while most of Florida’s counties increased in population. White Springs is still an area with beautiful natural surroundings, but in comparison, there isn’t much there to attract young families or hold them here.

As long as the river ows, singers ll the air with their melodies, and a gentle stream of spring water joins the Suwannee, hope remains alive for White Springs. Perhaps, one day, this charming town will experience a renaissance—a place where my heart forever yearns to be.

Still, in it’s way…White Springs is beautiful and will always be my “Home, Sweet Home.” Perhaps the healing properties of the waters that brought people to White Springs will one day bring restoration and replenishment. ■

Moses’ Blue Goose Studio.

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