otgv_2021-01-jan-feb by Our Town Magazine

RESILIENCE • INSPIRATION • PERSONAL GROWTH

JAN/FEBRUARY 2021 | VOL. 12 ISSUE 01 | GAINESVILLE EDITION

Don’t through it…

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CONTENTS

JA N/ FEB 2021

ON THE COVER >> IN THIS ISSUE WE INVITE YOU TO GROW THROUGH IT. AS WE

MARCH FORWARD IN A NEW YEAR, MAY WE NOT FORGET THE EXPERIENCES AND LESSONS OF 2020 THAT WILL ULTIMATELY MAKE US STRONGER AND MORE RESILIENT FOR YEARS TO COME.

FEATURE STORIES 26 ST. FRANCIS HOUSE

70 SHOPPING & SHOWING SUPPORT

42 PANDEMIC PREGNANCY

96 PERFECTLY IMPERFECT

Admire the rebranding process and the priceless contributions this homeless shelter makes to the community.

Hear from resilient mothers (and mothers-to-be) on what it’s like to welcome new life during COVID-19.

Learn how Black-owned businesses, both locally and nationally, are flourishing from new customers seeking to show support and solidarity.

Humans aren’t the only ones who must embrace resilience. Enjoy the journey of differently abled pets and find out how you can adopt one.

JAN/FEB 2021

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CONTENTS

LITTLE SWEETIES Enjoy making three Valentine’s Day crafts with your littlest loves!

PLANET POSITIVES Look on the bright side and learn about the positive, environmental impacts the effects of COVID-19 have left around the world.

HELEN CUBBERLY ELLERBE Learn the rich history of an Alachua County librarian both at home and in war.

MENDING THE MIND In these trying times, remember the importance of mental health. Read a therapist’s thoughts on what to do to take better care of your mental health.

TIOGA PATTICAKES Delight in the strength and kindness of a community that helped keep a cupcake shop’s plans of expansion moving forward.

PATIENCE IS A PAVILION Discover the benefits of the new location for the High Springs Farmers Market.

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VIRTUAL BOOK WORMS Take advantage of the necessary changes made to the annual Sunshine State Book Festival for 2021 due to COVID-19.

PROUD BEE Explore the sweet, honey-filled world of honey bees led by a nationally-recognized UF professor who was just honored with a prestigious award.

102

PLANTSTAY Rooted in interest and perseverance, be inspired by the personal growth of plant shop owner Bren Strickland.

110

HOSPITALS DURING COVID Soak in the bravery and inspiration of the daily lives of hospital workers during this unprecedented time.

116

DEFYING THE ODDS It’s been a tough time for business owners during the pandemic. Read the success stories of three businesses that started during quarantine and continue to thrive.

COLUMNS 94 E MBRACING LIFE by Donna Bonnell

128 F UREVER FRIENDS Spotlight on Rescue Animals

32 N AKED SALSA by Crystal Henry

40 F ARM TALES by Mother Hen

REVIEWS 122 R EADING CORNER by Terri Schlichenmeyer

INFORMATION 60 T aste of the Town 69 B usiness Directory 92 C harity Winners 106 C ommunity Calendar The articles printed in Our Town do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Tower Publications, Inc. or their editorial staff. Our Town Magazine endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however, we can not be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Our Town Magazine reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement. All rights reserved. © 2020 Tower Publications, Inc.

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PUBLISHER Charlie Delatorre PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Brian Knepp

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ericka Winterrowd editor@towerpublications.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dana Bryan, Samantha Chery, Cameron Cobb, Hope Dean, Joanna Grey Talbot, Crystal Henry, Summer Jarro, Addison Pezoldt, Alexa Sauvagere, Hayli Zuccola CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Nicole Guillen

Anthony B. Agrios, MD Joseph S. Iobst, MD Jean C. Cook, MD

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ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Jenni Bennett jenni@towerpublications.com Nancy Short nancy@towerpublications.com INTERN Dana Bryan

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS If you would like us to publicize an event in the greater Gainesville area, send information by the 1st day of the month prior to the next issue. For example, submissions for the March/April issue are due by February 1. All submissions will be reviewed and every effort will be made to run qualified submissions if page space is available. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR We want to hear from you. Send your letters to the attention of the editor at 4400 NW 36th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32606 or editor@ towerpublications.com. Letters must be signed and include a phone number in the event we need to contact you. (Your phone number will not be published.)

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OUR TOWN MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY BY TOWER PUBLICATIONS, INC. REPRODUCTION BY ANY MEANS OF THE WHOLE OR PART OF OUR TOWN WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHER IS PROHIBITED. VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE EDITORIAL PAGES DO NOT IMPLY OUR ENDORSEMENT. WE WELCOME YOUR PRODUCT NEWS. INCLUDE PRICES, PHOTOS AND DIGITAL FILES WITH YOUR PRESS RELEASE. PLEASE FORWARD PRODUCT SAMPLES AND MEDIA KITS TO REVIEWS EDITOR, OUR TOWN MAGAZINE, 4400 NW 36TH AVENUE, GAINESVILLE, FL 32606. WE CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR UNSOLICITED PRODUCT SAMPLES.

A Publication of Tower Publications, Inc. 4400 NW 36th Ave., Gainesville, Florida 32606 phone: 352-372-5468 fax: 352-373-9178

EDITOR ’ S LET TER

JA N/ FEB 2021

An Unexpected Visitor I came across this poem after a big, bad moment in my life. The ones you never see coming—a phone call that a parent has passed. The news that it’s cancer. Or an email sent from the person you thought you’d spend the rest of your life with, telling you it’s over. While I haven’t lived through all of these, and God willing won’t have to, I have been through one of them. And it quite literally took my breath away. The one thing I can viscerally remember after this big, bad moment occurred was the immediacy at which I repeated these words aloud to myself: “I’m going to be fine. I’m going to be fine. I’m going to be fine.” It was as if something deep within me knew that even though the journey to healing from this was going to hurt like hell—in the end, “I’m going to be fine. I’m going to be fine. I’m going to be fine.” I started to look at life like the author of this poem did, as a guest house. We each encounter visitors along the way and not all of them are welcomed ones. Each one, however, is a teacher. Resilience, to me at least, is the wisdom of knowing the power in being the student. You have the chance to absorb the lesson, and what you do with this new awareness is up to you. Now when I look back at this time in my life, this “unexpected visitor,” I see it for what it really was—an opportunity to become more resilient. Last year was an unexpected visitor for all of us globally. COVID-19 arrived as one of those guests, like in the poem, who may have violently swept your house and/or business empty of its furniture. Many of us, if not all, are not yet on the other side of it either. So what do we do until we are? We grow through it as best as we can. I’m just now becoming grateful for my big, bad moment of the past because I know it was sent to me as a guide from beyond. If I can become a more empathetic and compassionate human from whatever meets me at my door, then I vow to welcome it, laughing, every time. I’ll still be holding onto the hope that it may be clearing me out for some new delight, too.

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CONTRIBUTOR S

JA N/ FEB 2021

SUMMER JARRO is a journalism student at the University of Florida. Along with writing, she loves Disney, watching old films, going to the beach and traveling to new places. summerjarro@gmail.com

SAMANTHA CHERY Samantha Chery is a junior journalism major at the University of Florida. She loves drinking herbal tea, hip hop dancing and giving warm hugs. samanthachery@ufl.edu

DANA BRYAN is a journalism student at the University of Florida and a freelance writer. In her free time, she loves to read, write amateur code and watch television. itsdanabryan@gmail.com

HOPE DEAN Hope Dean is a senior journalism major at the University of Florida. She spends her free time listening to music, devouring books and trying to find the best local coffee shops. hopedeanmedia@gmail.com

ADDISON PEZOLDT is a journalism major at the University of Florida. In her free time, she enjoys reading, practicing yoga and exploring new eateries in Gainesville. akpezoldt@gmail.com

CAMERON COBB is a UF grad with a master’s degree in Mass Communication. She’s also an Air Force veteran. Cameron loves traveling, writing and all animals (her favorite being her rescue dog, Maggie). cameronacobb5@gmail.com

HAYLI ZUCCOLA is a New England native who enjoys listening to music and traveling. After graduating high school with her AA degree, she received her Bachelor’s in Journalism from the University of Florida. HayzDesigns@yahoo.com

JOANNA GREY TALBOT is the marketing director for the Matheson History Museum and the author of the blog “Florida Revealed: Dispatches from the Land of Publix, Citrus, and Alligators.” joannagtalbot@gmail.com

CRYSTAL HENRY is a freelance writer and columnist born and raised in West Texas. She received her B.S. in Journalism in 2006 from the University of Florida. She is in love with the Florida landscape. ces03k@gmail.com

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ALEXA SAUVAGERE Alexa Sauvagere is a third-year English and journalism major at the University of Florida. She has always had a passion for writing, and she loves to share new stories with others. teresa0800@gmail.com

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DIY CRAFTS >> VALENTINE’S GIFTS

LOVE BUGS

Little Sweeties Valentine’s Day Crafts for Kids S TORY A N D PHOTOG R A PHY BY ERICK A WINTER ROW D

“My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep; the more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite.” — JULIET (ROMEO AND JULIET, ACT II; SCENE II)

any may know this famous line, delivered by Juliet as she declares her deep unyielding and eternal love for her dear Romeo in one of their famous balcony scenes. Shakespeare has the words down, but there are other ways to express love during the month of February, such as adorable crafts to make with your most special love bugs — the kiddos! Enjoy three no-fail creative crafts that will have your little sweeties feeling so loved. *Adult supervision required for all projects. WARNING: Adults may find these crafts highly entertaining as well.

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BAKING CUP FLOWER VALENTINES Baking cup lollipop flowers make wonderful Valentines. Who would have thought that simple muffin cups could be turned into beautiful flowers? It’s such a perfect way to treat your little ones and a great activity to do as a family. Growing flowers from the heart! SUPPLIES:

Green pipe cleaners Regular hole punch Paper baking cups (six for each flower) Tootsie Pops or Dum Dum Suckers Scissors

JAN/FEB 2021

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DIY CRAFTS >> VALENTINE’S GIFTS

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Fold four paper baking cups into half and lay two out flat. 2) Punch a hole 1/4 inch from the edge on the four folded papers. 3) Then fold the other two papers in half and punch off the edge to make a hole in the center of the baking cup. Then open back up.

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4) Next, place four folded papers onto the sucker stick, overlapping 1/4 of the baking cup each time a paper is added. Then place two open papers.

7) Fold the four center papers in 1/4 to make a pie shape for a different look. Then arrange papers on sucker stick for another beautiful flower.

5) Now it’s time to make your flower’s leaves. Take the green pipe cleaner and cut it in half.

Mini muffin cup papers can also be used for mini flowers. You can fold the paper either way for those as well. Arrange all of your lollipop flowers together for a whole bouquet of valentines. This is one flower that will never wilt!

6) Twist the leaves securely underneath the paper baking cups.

SOURCE: SKIPTOMYLOU.ORG, CHEFMESSY.COM, MAKEANDTAKES.COM

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DIY CRAFTS >> VALENTINE’S GIFTS

C R AY O N VA L E N T I N E HEARTS Happy Valentine’s Day, For Crayon Out Loud! This is a very creative way to repurpose broken or leftover crayons into new ones that are shaped as adorable hearts — the perfect coloring tool for the month of February. SUPPLIES:

Crayons Silicon heart mold Knife (optional) Oven & oven mitts

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INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Find some old crayons and chop them into small pieces after removing any remaining wrappers. If you do not have access to a knife, breaking them the old fashioned way (bare-handed) would work as well. Get ready for your bowl of crayons to be a blinding conglomeration of bright colors, depending on how many neon crayons you threw in the mix. The kids will be entranced with this rainbow-filled bowl. 2) Now it’s time to put them in a little heart-shaped mold. I used a flexible chocolate mold that is made out of silicone. I definitely recommend using this type of pan; the reusable easy-release silicone is perfect for this type of project and the crayons pop out nice and easy in the

end. The molds can be found in your local craft shop or other big box stores. 3) It’s baking time! After you put your crayon pieces in the heart mold, put it into the oven and bake at 250 degrees for about 15 minutes. Give them plenty of time to cool so you don’t hurt your hands while popping them out of the silicone. 4) And now for the best part of all … start coloring! From hearts to Cupid and everything in between, have a blast with your children as you doodle and color your way through Valentine’s Day! Your little love bugs will surely catch the creativity bug after experiencing this fun craft. SOURCE: CHEFMESSY.COM

DIY CRAFTS >> VALENTINE’S GIFTS

PIPE CLEANER PENCIL TOPPERS This next craft is simply adorable. Why? Because it’s both simple and adorable! It’s also a great way for your children to remain festive while at school (or homeschool). So grab some pipe cleaners and jazz up those No. 2 pencils. It’s time to throw a little party for the top of your eraser! SUPPLIES:

Pipe cleaners (reds, pinks, and whites) Pencils Scissors INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Select a pipe cleaner and grab a pencil. Twist your pipe cleaner into a heart shape. Other cool geometric shapes include diamonds and lightning bolts. Use only the first four or five inches of the pipe cleaner to form the shape because you’ll need the rest for the next step. 2) Wrap the remaining portion of the pipe cleaner around the eraser side of your pencil in a spiral fashion. Secure by pressing your fingers firmly around the pipe cleaner so it hugs the pencil snuggly. Repeat these two steps as many times as you wish, creating endless designs for your pencils. These whimsical toppers are a great incentive for any young academic. The classroom never looked better. Here’s to your children and their LOVE of learning! SOURCE: MAKEANDTAKES.COM

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COMMUNITY >> REBRANDING OUTREACH

REACHING OUT

St. Francis House Rebranding Project Offers More Services to the Community W R I T T E N B Y D A N A B R YA N

communal bathroom, a cafeteria and eight bedrooms. Each bedroom provides a family with a roof when there is nowhere else to stay. The cafeteria gives food when no one else will. The bathroom offers a space to wash the day away and start fresh the next. St. Francis House, located at 413 S. Main St. in downtown Gainesville, is an emergency family shelter that offers housing, daily meals and other services for homeless individuals and families in the Gainesville area. The shelter helps connect sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals with work, education, job skills or any other necessities a person finds essential for success. “It’s never about us telling them what they should or shouldn’t do,” Lauri Sciffbauer, the executive director at St. Francis House, said. “It’s helping them identify for themselves what it is they want, where they want to go and where they want to be.” St. Francis House recently began a rebranding process. The shelter began as a place that served food to those in need, similar to a soup kitchen. As the needs of the community changed, so did St. Francis. It began to provide more services for the community and expanded to offer additional housing as well as the basics for helping to get someone off their feet. The shelter focused on creating futures for families. “I don’t think most folks know that we have Arbor House or Sunrise,” Sciffbauer said. Arbor House is a program that provides transitional communal living for single women or single women with children. Each family works with a case manager to design a plan to move to self-sufficiency. Sunrise Residence Inn is a permanent housing program that assists homeless working individuals whose goal is to become self-sufficient. Since affordable housing is difficult to find in Gainesville, the program also invites people who receive disability income to participate. Residents work with a case manager based on their case plans. 26 |

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COMMUNITY >> REBRANDING OUTREACH

These self-portraits were taken as part of the St. Francis rebranding process to showcase how the homeless are just like everyone else. Lauri Sciffbauer, the executive director at St. Francis House, said, “They laugh. They smile. They’re people.”

Sciffbauer reached out to experts in the community who knew more about rebranding than she did to change the image and spread the word of St. Francis House. Small changes, like redesigning the website to incorporate colors associated with homelessness (purple) and taking portraits of the sheltered families, made a big difference. About 40% of children at St. Francis House are 12 years old or younger. The age of families typically ranges from 18 to 30s, and about 97% of families are experiencing homelessness for the first time. Sciffbauer said she wants the community to understand how homeless families are just like everybody else. “They laugh. They smile. They’re people.” The rebranding is an ongoing process, but the changes have already received positive responses. The shelter’s Facebook page has gained more likes and shares than ever before. The website has gotten more visitors, which means more people are learning about the shelter. “It’s been a great experience to see how many people want St. Francis to succeed,” Sciffbauer said. “If St. Francis succeeds, folks get housed, and that’s the bottom line.” Sciffbauer made it clear that she could not do this alone. St. Francis works collaboratively with multiple partner agencies who also aid in serving the homeless and 28 |

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hungry, including Grace Marketplace, Family Promise, Peaceful Paths and Catholic Charities. The St. Francis House team is committed to giving 150% of themselves to help somebody else be in a better space, according to Sciffbauer. They believe everybody deserves the opportunity to be successful in whatever way that looks like to them. When Sciffbauer was 12 years old her mom asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, Sciffbauer replied “I don’t know. I just want to make the world better.” She has stuck to her word and has been doing non-profit work since 1985, attempting to make the world a better place. She sees that same compassion and passion about helping others in her team. The community, on the other hand, is simply so grateful for what they have achieved that they want to make sure they are sharing their wealth with others, whether that be through time, food or financial means. One family entered the shelter, like every other family, with nothing but a slew of issues and a determination to keep going. The husband lost his job due to COVID-19 layoffs. The wife, who was the breadwinner of the family, was considered a high-risk pregnancy and had to stay at home. Soon, they were evicted. They ended up homeless with expensive medical bills. On average, people living in the shelter are living on their own (in their own apartments) within 30 days, but due to the global pandemic the average amount of time has extended to about 40 to 45 days. It’s been particularly challenging for those who have been evicted to find new landlords. Being evicted results in a bad credit score and getting a landlord to take on tenants with a bad credit score is like a child eating his or her broccoli. There are benefits, but one questions if it’s worth it after the third tantrum or ‘bump in the road.’ Then, the family’s baby was born prematurely. Every day for the next three weeks, they spent their time going back and forth between the shelter and the NICU to spend time with their child. The baby recovered and the team at St. Francis House were able to find them housing and find the new father a job. Now, they are fully employed with

COMMUNITY >> REBRANDING OUTREACH

The program has three sites catering to the specific needs of the homeless individual or family, St. Francis House, Arbor House and Sunrise Residence Inn. Each family or individual works with a case manager to help them eventually become self-sufficient.

a healthy and happy baby living outside the Gainesville area. Governor Ron DeSantis originally issued the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures on April 2, 2020, but he made modifications to it when he announced an extension at the end of July. At the end of September, he allowed Florida’s state eviction and foreclosure moratorium to expire. The federal eviction moratorium from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was the only policy protection preventing Florida renters from losing their homes. On Dec. 31, 2020, the moratorium, along with a handful of other coronavirus relief measures is set to expire. Despite not being able to be evicted, landlords were still charging tenants rent, and therefore, the rent that goes

“It’s been a great experience to see how many people want St. Francis to succeed.” unpaid will still be owed once the policy expires. The National Low-Income Housing Coalition estimates as many as 19 million people in 6.7 million households are at risk of being evicted when the calendar flips the page to 2021. “I have a fear that people haven’t been able to keep up with their rent,” Sciffbauer said. “They’re going to wake up one morning and owe $3,000.” COVID-19 impacted everyone in different ways. The biggest change for St. Francis was having to move its unsheltered meal program outside. Previously, between 9 a.m. and noon, unsheltered families and individuals would pack into the cafeteria to be served a meal. With COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines, this was made impossible. However, when the community is

in need, people will do what they can to help. Best Restoration helped the shelter set up a temporary park area, so the organization could continue serving the community. Sciffbauer does have some concerns for the colder months yet to come. St. Francis is also a cold night shelter. A cold night shelter provides unsheltered homeless people with a place to stay and (typically) a meal in the morning when the temperature drops to 45 degrees or below. Due to the consequences of COVID-19, the shelter will be limited to 50% capacity on those nights. Similar to every other agency, the effects of COVID-19 came with additional, unexpected costs. St. Francis had to increase spending on cleaning and garbage disposal. Pre-pandemic, the shelter served meals on trays, but due to the risk of cross contamination, the shelter switched to serving meals in Styrofoam clamshells. This costs about $500 a month for the shelter. As a result of using clam shells instead of trays, the shelter has more garbage that needs to be picked up more frequently. “It sounds silly,” Sciffbauer said. “But it’s really the little things that you don’t think about.” Then, there are of course the typical new costs like masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and disinfectant. The first step in receiving help or offering help to St. Francis is to reach out. The organization’s phone number is 352-378-9079, and its website is stfrancishousegnv.com. If you are thinking about volunteering, the team at St. Francis includes a wide variety of helpers, from sponsors to virtual tutors. With one phone call or a visit, they are willing to work with you to find out where, when and to what extent one can help. If you are considering receiving the services St. Francis provides, Sciffbauer suggests coming to the shelter. She said, “It’s the first step, but it can be a hard one.” However, it will be worth it. Volunteers, recipients and the surrounding community are determined to keep moving forward during these times no matter what life throws at them: COVID-19, hunger or homelessness.

We must all remember one simple tip: Be resilient. JAN/FEB 2021

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COLUMN

CRYSTAL HENRY’S

Naked Salsa ETCH A SKETCH

CRYSTAL HENRY IS A FREELANCE WRITER AND COLUMNIST BORN AND RAISED IN WEST TEXAS. SHE RECEIVED HER B.S. IN JOURNALISM IN 2006 FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. SHE IS IN LOVE WITH THE FLORIDA LANDSCAPE. ces03k@gmail.com

IT’S FUNNY TO ME THAT WE’RE TAUGHT TO VIEW JANUARY 1 LIKE AN ETCH A SKETCH. MAGICALLY AT MIDNIGHT, THE FORTUNE FAIRY GIVES US ALL A GOOD SHAKE, AND ALL THE WORRIES OF THE PAST YEAR ARE ERASED AND REPLACED WITH A BLANK SLATE.

’m not sure who was in charge of the knobs last year, but 2020 started off with some fairly stable stair steps and quickly devolved into the haphazard swirly tangles I used to create when my fine motor skills and patience wore out. Often we look at time as if we were in the stair step frame. Left footstep to January, right foot to February. Left foot to 2021, right foot to the next decade. And on and on until our steps run out and we fall into the abyss. No one knows for sure what happens off screen, but in the linear view of time we keep looking forward to the next step. Last year the steps were uneven. January and February had a normal pace, then March lasted three years. Throughout the year, some weeks were months long, while some months seemed to last a few hours. It was the Alice in Wonderland of years, but rather than trying to make sense of the upside-down staircase, I quickly gave up and decided to ride the twists and turns of the rabbit hole. And while we’ve come out the other side of 2020, we’re still in Wonderland. There’s no question it’s been a wild time, but in life-changing moments like these I tend to take mental snapshots and mail them to my future self. My brain focuses on the physical things I can see, hear, feel and touch while I’m working through the emotions of what’s happening. By remaining present in the moment and taking time to mentally note everything I can, it creates a much more vivid picture for future me to reference. Because one day the only way I’ll be able to see 2020 is in my rearview mirror.

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In March, I was eating chicken lo mein at EPCOT when I got an alert that Disney World was closing down because of COVID-19. That C word had been lightly circulating as a possible “thing” for a few weeks, but when the mouse house shut down I knew things were real. We flew home with the kids for what we assumed might be an extended spring break, but when spring break stretched into the end of April and then into May I had a feeling we were in the middle of something important. I use the word important because it will be. How each of us handled our COVID lives is an important building block for our story. It will shape our future selves and personalities. Some experiences we’ve had will crop up years from now when we stop getting whiplash from hearing someone cough in a grocery store. Our personal experiences will matter once we’re on the other side. There is always an “other side.” I think most of us can pinpoint moments in our lives that felt important. We likely all have some kind of childhood trauma, and while for me it was the loss of a parent, for others it was the loss of a pet, or a fight with the playground bully, or a bloody skinned knee with gravel sticking to the wound. On the other side of any trauma, there is joy. When I got to the other side of my loss, there was a strong bond with my mother and little brother. Our trauma brought us closer, and we continue to find joy in remembering my dad together. On the other side of a bully are all the days you never think of him again, followed by the days you can laugh about his stupid face and yours. On the other side of that skinned knee is a rad scar and major bragging rights. In high school, I had to do a report on The Great Depression, and for bonus points, we were supposed to find someone who lived through it. I was lucky enough to find a woman who lived through it as a child. Years before I would ever think about being a writer or a reporter, I got out my tape recorder and my little notebook, and I sat down with this woman to hear her story. I thought she’d tell me about barren fields and bread rations.

NEWBERRY FL’S HOMETOWN PAWNSHOP Or maybe she would tell me about starving baby brothers who had to be sent to live with other relatives. But her story didn’t match the image in the history book rearview mirror. What she remembered was being OK. Her family pulled together, and while they didn’t have much, she couldn’t remember what they went without. All she remembered was that they made it through, and she had 92 more years of joy on this earth before she followed her own set of stairs out of this world. That is my hope for us. There likely won’t be an Etch A Sketch moment to start fresh from this pandemic, but things will gradually straighten back out from the loops we’ve been thrown. At some point this will be in our rearview, and when it is, I hope that we come out with a clear picture of our strength through it all. I hope in the chaos we took a few moments to really pause and find the character-building moments where we just put one foot in front of the other because those are the steps that will lead us through to the joy on the other side.

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ENVIRONMENT >> COVID-19 IMPACTS

GREENER PASTURES

Planet Positives The Silver Lining of COVID-19 on the Environment S TORY BY C A MERON COBB

ith over 67 million (and counting) cases of COVID-19 having plagued the world, last year certainly made it more than difficult to find the silver lining on the enormously gray cloud that hung stagnant over 2020. Amidst the doom and gloom, as the normal lives we once lived made a complete 180-degree pivot, the abrupt differences of the world’s day-to-day routines actually did make the world a bit better in some ways. From the clear canals of Venice to the bright blue skies of New Delhi, one thing the novel coronavirus crisis proved to be good for was giving Mother Nature a much-needed breath of fresh air (quite literally). Though such effects caused by our responses to the crisis offered a glimmer of hope, research suggests that we are far from out of the woods in regards to long-term improvement for climate change unless we pave the way for an environmentally conscience path. Let’s explore some of the positive changes that COVID-19 indirectly caused in the environment and how we can work towards a world that reaps the benefits of living greener, even when the pandemic is (eventually) long behind us. Clearly Clean Canals During the lockdown in Italy last March when the novel coronavirus was in the initial stages of unleashing its wrath on the world, photos of a seemingly never-seen side of Venice began circulating across social media, according to travelandleisure.com 34 |

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ENVIRONMENT >> COVID-19 IMPACTS

Considering the drastic and abrupt changes we saw in our day-to-day lifestyles last year, it’s easy to see how such impacts gave our planet a muchneeded break. To ensure we stay on the right track, experts warn against getting too complacent and falling into old, harmful habits again.

These pictures weren’t your typical touristy snaps of gondolas gliding down the famous canals, but rather locals sharing a picturesque collection of good news; the canals gleamed brilliantly clear. With the streets uncharacteristically empty due to the shutdown, the clean water offered a stark contrast from a usual day in Venice, even just months prior. In the absence of what would otherwise be constant activity stirring around the city, Venice’s canals sat astonishingly calm and clear. The pristine canals weren’t related to any change in pollution but rather a decrease in water travel that resulted in keeping the sediment nestled at the bottom (though Venice did also experience an improvement in the air quality thanks to the decrease in traffic from boats and water taxis). New Blue Delhi In March as well, India’s government issued a 21-day lockdown order for 1.3 billion people, according to npr.org. Not only had the shutdown cleared the streets, but the skies as well. With carless roads and no smoke erupting from industrial buildings, India not only benefitted from a minimized mass spread of COVID-19 during this time, but also a reduction in air pollution. Particularly when it came to New Delhi — the capital of India, which is well known for having some of the dirtiest air in the world and subsequently a typically blanketed view of nothing 36 |

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but gray skies. As the country was entering the lockdown at the end of the month, the city saw a significant decrease on the Air Quality Index (AQI) scale when compared to the same time in 2019 — with 2020 reaching a rating as low as 45 (classified as “Good” on the AQI) — nearly four times less than the previous year’s 160 (classified as “Unhealthy”). New Delhi wasn’t the only area across the country to see major improvements so early on. Within just the first week of India’s shutdown, 85 cities noted an improvement in the quality of air, according to the country’s central pollution control board. Cutting Out CO2 According to a study conducted last summer that evaluated levels of carbon dioxide in the U.S. between the tail end of March to the beginning of June, this period showed a 15% overall decrease of daily carbon dioxide emissions. Researchers from the MIT Sloan School of Management in Boston amounted to this conclusion based upon a multitude of factors, which included a decrease in electricity usage of less than 10%, around 20% for natural gas, 30% for gasoline and jet fuel dramatically dropped to 50%. Thanks to such reductions due to pandemic-related actions, the author of this study estimated that the lockdowns “saved about 200 lives per month, primarily driven by the lower emissions from transportation.”

ENVIRONMENT >> COVID-19 IMPACTS

With global warming looming prior to the chaos of the coronavirus crisis, 2020 reminded us of the importance of planning for a post-pandemic, planet-friendly future. While it may seem like life as we once knew it has come to a temporary halt, it’s crucial we implement greener practices going forward.

The Risk of Reversal Though many positive ecological effects directly related to the pandemic were as clear as the skies in India and the canals of Venice, the longevity of such environmental enhancements for the future are not so certain — especially considering just how quickly such beneficial impacts can be reversed. For instance, according to a study conducted by a team of climate scientists, the beginning of April showed a 17% decrease in global carbon emissions compared to the previous year. But by mid-June, when lockdown restrictions weren’t as stringent as in the first few months of the coronavirus crisis, that number shrunk to a mere 5% difference from that of 2019. While the pandemic proved to offer several positive effects, the drastic drop between just April and June acts as a reminder of just how quickly environmental progress can be reversed. Post-Pandemic Planning While the short-term effects from the pandemic certainly suggested environmental improvements, experts stress the importance of avoiding getting complacent and instead seeing how the world can continue to be repaired with a more long-term

approach, according to science.org.au. COVID-19 may have kickstarted a much-needed recharge for the environment, but as the data shows, the results are far from permanent — especially as we slowly prepare to venture out into “normal” life again and risk turning back towards old habits. Though, there are definitely ways to make differences that will have lasting impacts beyond the pandemic. For instance, on an individual level, people can strive to travel less, or at least do so in more ecofriendly ways (like avoiding air travel when possible or relying on more sustainable methods of transportation, such as bikes and carpooling). On a larger scale, moving away from fossil fuels and towards greener energy options is a crucial part in safeguarding the future of our climate. Pandemic or not, the world is still our home, and therefore, the steps we take today to care for it create a cleaner, greener, and brighter future we can all appreciate.

Here’s to a greener and cleaner (post COVID-19) life...

Sources: travelandleisure.com, npr.org, webmd.com, wsj.com, science.org.au JAN/FEB 2021

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Every journey to prosperity starts with who and what we surround ourselves most, and our internal dialogue. Alignment for the goals desired and uncompromising discipline to get there are required. Ms. Hedrick’s objective is to support professionals, families and businesses with creating a secure financial plan, and to shield and build their wealth. “Upon the death of my dearest loved ones, I came to understand emotional trauma when family passes away combined with financial stress that can arise in managing estates. Since that experience, I’ve become impassioned about helping others safeguard their future.” As a finance professional, Ms. Hedrick associates only with industry leaders and top-rated companies, including the S&P Global #1, Guardian Life, specializing in Workplace Benefits, Life and Disability Insurance, Long-Term Care Solutions, and Annuities.

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COLUMN

FARM TALES

From Mother Hen RESILIENCE

MOTHER HEN IS PROUD TO BE A “BABY BOOMER” RAISED ON A FARM POPULATED BY DOGS, CATS, CHICKENS, DUCKS, GEESE, HORSES AND COWS. THE WISDOM SHE GAINED WHILE GROWING UP IN THE COUNTRY CAN’T BE FOUND IN BOOKS. YOU CAN CONTACT MOTHER HEN AT motherhenfarmtales@gmail.com.

NO ONE WHO HAS MADE IT INTO THEIR 70S HAS GOTTEN HERE WITHOUT QUITE A LOT OF RESILIENCE. I WOULD SAY LIFE ITSELF REQUIRES IT, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. YOUNG PEOPLE OUT THERE JUST BETTER GET USED TO IT BECAUSE NOTHING IS EASY.

f you’ve been on this earth for any amount of time, you all will have stories about life and the obstacles you’ve overcome. Since this is my tale, I’ll tell you about mine starting from the beginning. My journey began in 1950. I was my parent’s only child and my mother wanted to protect me from all of life’s knocks and pains. She was such a good mother that she made my welfare her number one priority. Anything perceived as risky was immediately removed from my childhood activities. To her credit, however, I had a tendency for bronchitis and upper respiratory illnesses. The cold weather of the Midwest winter and spring would always find me as an easy target. An example of this was one spring when I begged my mother to buy me a frilly Easter bonnet to wear at the family’s egg hunt at my grandmother’s house. All my girl cousins got to wear them, but I always had to wear a wool hat and scarf and felt like a weirdo. I finally wore her down, and we went to town where I selected a suitable Easter bonnet with ruffles, flowers and lace—and absolutely no coverage of my ears. I loved it so much that I begged to wear it to the car, which was parked less than a block away from the store. My mother said yes, since it wasn’t a frigid day. However, it was one of those damp, windy days that is common in the

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Midwest in the spring. Well, you guessed it. I got sick. Not only sick, but I ended up with a mastoid ear infection and had to have surgery to lance the infection. I was in the hospital for a week and that ended any repeats of future Easter bonnets for me. Similarly, I never learned to ice skate. Even though a perfect pond that would always hard freeze was just across the field from our home. I also never learned to roller skate, even though our town had a big roller rink, because I might fall down and break my leg. I never learned to swim, even though the river was every country kid’s favorite summer hangout. My father had an outboard motor boat and was known for his water-skiing talents. He taught all my cousins to swim and ski, but of course I might get another ear infection, or worse yet I could drown. My cousins had horses that I would have loved to ride, but then again… I could get bucked off and land on my head. So, here’s the ironic part—my mother did manage to get me grown up without breaking any bones, and I didn’t die from bronchitis. But like I said, life is tough and you have to roll with the punches. Long story short: As an adult, I was hit by a car while walking through a school parking lot, severely injuring my knee’s ACL, meniscus and fracturing the tibia. A few years later, I got double pneumonia following the flu and nearly died. Later, I discovered I had breast cancer requiring surgery and radiation. Now, I am in early stages of Parkinson’s and dealing with diabetes. Then, there was the time I was held at gunpoint and an attempt was made to abduct me into a waiting car. I kicked and screamed and shoved the guy away, then ran to neighboring houses for help. I frantically pounded on the front door of two houses, but no one was home. Finally, at house number three, I found someone available to help and call the police. The next day our

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Just as palm trees are made to be resilient by bending during a storm, so are we. We just need to hold onto our roots and believe that all storms eventually pass. The sun will shine again another day.

city’s newspaper reported a man with the same description had raped a young woman a few years younger than me. It took me quite a lot of resilience to get over the trauma of that experience. I was afraid to go out the front door of my house to get the evening newspaper, let alone drive to the grocery store to shop. It took months, but I worked at overcoming my fears and regaining my confidence. I wasn’t going to let that one person impact my life forever. I wanted my independence back, and thanks be to God, I got through it. Finally, here is a silly note about the little things that want to bring us down in everyday life as well. How many of you have had computer glitches that make you want to pull your hair out and scream at the computer screen? We all have, right? Well as I began writing this very column, opening up my word program, I was met with a screen that said it couldn’t be opened because the file was corrupted. To quote Charlie Brown when Lucy pulls the football out from under his kick, “AUGGGGHHHHH! Not again!”

After about six hours with tech support, I was back in business. But not without a few choice words and quite a lot of resilience. Ok, enough about my tales of woe, the point is that whatever you are going through right now (and I know you are, we all are going through something) remember this word: RESILIENCE. No matter how much effort our mothers went through to protect us, life is going to throw us some curve balls. Or if not life, then at least our computers. You just better be ready to react. Here’s how I recommend reacting. I compare it to a tropical palm tree when it’s hit by hurricane force winds. Palm trees were designed by God to bend in the storm, while holding tight with their roots until the storm passes. We were created that way too. If you doubt it, just watch when a baby is learning to take those first steps. How many times will that baby fall but still get up to try again? Every storm will pass, they always do. As long as you hold on and remember to bounce back after the storm. Resilience will get you through it.

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PREGNANCY >> COVID-19

RESILIENT MOTHERS

Pandemic Pregnancy Unprecedented Times During the Most Precious Time W R I T T E N B Y A L E X A S A U VA G E R E

ne day, in early March, Angela Daniel received a call from one of her clients. The woman on the other end spoke frantically through a downpour of tears. She had gone to see her midwife that morning, and the staff had informed her that her doula could no longer accompany her during her birth. Shortly later, Daniel received another call — and then another. Two of her other clients that had chosen the same midwifery practice also found themselves amid new pandemic policies. All the plans began to change. “As a doula, it was heartbreaking because we become so invested in everybody we work with,” Daniel said. “That’s why we do what we do.” Angela Daniel works as a DONA (Doulas of North America) Certified Doula in Gainesville. After over 10 years of practice, she became faced with a situation unlike no other. At the beginning of the pandemic, hospitals and birthing centers agreed to allow doulas during labor, but

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PREGNANCY >> COVID-19

Before the pandemic hit, Christy Tuckey, 28, undergoes delivery at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. In this photograph, Tuckey worked through a contraction while readying to give birth to her daughter. Unlike the current birthing circumstances due to the pandemic, Tuckey’s husband and her doula, Angela Daniel, provided her support.

then everything changed. University of Florida Health Shands, “Sometimes you hit this wall, and it was hard to watch my North Florida Regional Medical Center and the Comprehensive clients hit this wall in their labor and not be able to physically be with them to say, ‘I got you,’” Daniel said. Women’s Health birthing center adopted strict policies during the According to Dr. Adrienne Strong, a medical pandemic. Expecting mothers could only have anthropologist and an assistant professor at one person with them; some hospitals allowed Dr. Adrienne Strong the University of Florida, the level of support only their partner, while other hospitals gave for women in labor because of pandemic-rethe choice of their partner or their doula. lated concerns has become an apparent issue. “[Expecting mothers] built up this team Though her fieldwork comes primarily from that was supposed to be there with them and Tanzania, a lot of Strong’s teaching involves to support them during their birthing time and women’s reproductive health in various locathat was taken away from them,” Daniel said. tions, including the United States. Adjusting to these unprecedented times, “Having someone like a doula who can help Daniel began meeting with clients virtually advocate for you in that hospital setting is really or socially-distancing outdoors. She provided important,” Strong said. support to the husbands and helped coach them The amount of pushback to restricting doulas through the breathing exercises and positions. helped encourage some hospitals to rescind the Toward the tip of labor, she would stay with policy. Each hospital has taken an individual clients at their home until they had to leave for effort to try to come up with the best policies the hospital. After the drive to their birthing space, watching the doors close on Daniel made her heart sink. in the safest way rather than come up with a unified policy. In All she could do was go home and pull out a device to video call addition, women who would have turned to birthing classes or “mommy-and-me” classes no longer have that option. A lot of her clients.

“It’s a very alienating feeling to be in a room full of people just all covered, especially in such an intimate and memorable experience like having a child.” 44 |

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PREGNANCY >> COVID-19

those opportunities for the social interaction around pregnancy and birth are no longer what they were. “That further isolates women,” Strong said. “There’s a lot of good evidence about the importance of social support, particularly in the immediate postpartum period, for preventing or protecting against postpartum depression.” For Renata Redford, 35, this could not have proved truer. Redford and her husband had moved from California to Gainesville to live closer to family. About a week or two before she went into labor, the country went into lockdown, and the hospitals changed their policies. “It was exhausting because every single day you would contemplate all the different things that were going to change,” Redford said. “You consider not just how birth is going to change. Everything went opposite of how I wanted to do my birth for a variety of pandemic-related reasons.” Luckily for Redford, her mother was able to self-isolate at the start of quarantine and was able to meet her son, Theo, when they came home from the hospital. Other than her mother, however, barely anybody else in her family met baby Theo. Raising a child takes a village, she said. “I wasn’t expecting it to be easy, but I wasn’t expecting this level of isolation when you first have your child and so forth,” Redford said. Despite some hospitals lifting restrictions to allow doulas during labor, expecting mothers still bear that crushing sense of feeling alone. Victoria Burns, 29, expects to give birth to her child at North Florida during the third week of March. Out of precautions against the pandemic, she does not allow anyone to come visit her, except for her mother and mother-in-law. She stays home other than to go to work and to run essential errands. At the beginning, the aspect of her pregnancy that had upset her the most had been her doctor’s visits. The standard procedure during the height of the pandemic was for pregnant women to attend doctor’s visits alone; Burns could not bring anyone with her. Only recently has she been allowed to bring her husband for the first time. Prior to that visit, he missed all her anatomy scans and ultrasounds. The doctor’s office sent him all the pictures and videos via text. “I was fine until I realized that it’s my first baby and in a time that’s so important, I can’t be around my family or my friends,” Burns said. “I probably cry multiple times a week about it.” To push through, she thinks about her baby. She goes into her nursery, sits on her rocking chair and rubs her belly. Similarly to how Burns uses her baby as encouragement to push through, Amber Kovacs, 34, found that, along with her faith, her three-year-old son helped her stay positive. By trying to give him a sense of normalcy, he kept her busy. Kovacs feels blessed to have experienced her first pregnancy before the pandemic. She had joined birthing and Bradley method classes, where she met couples whom she and her husband are still friends with. She also had the opportunity to enjoy a baby shower and gender reveal with friends and family. JAN/FEB 2021

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PREGNANCY >> COVID-19

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In contrast, she could not partake in any of those experiences during this pregnancy. Fortunately, she was able to land one doctor’s appointment before the pandemic brought on visit restrictions. She is grateful to have met her doctor without having to wear a mask and to have formed a connection. “It’s a very alienating feeling to be in a room full of people just all covered,” Kovacs said. “Especially in such an intimate and memorable experience like having a child.” The postpartum period also plays a significant role in a woman’s pregnancy journey. Analesa Clarke, 38, gave birth to her baby boy, Zaire, right when all birthing centers had locked down. Thankfully, she experienced the norms of pregnancy before her birth since in February the virus did not get as much national attention. Everything else changed, though. “There were all these things that were now uncertain when they had been super clear and decided, with us happy and comfortable with them,” Clarke said. “It was this rollercoaster of experiences.” The stress of the pandemic started to hit Clarke around six weeks after she gave birth to her son. Just as she started feeling open to having guests and seeing people, she realized that visits were no longer an option. So far, only her mom has met baby Zaire in person. For her, it brings her a sense of loss to think of not joining a mother support group or simply not going to the playground with other mothers and children. As a psychologist, though, she champions letting feelings run their course and going through the emotions. She finds sources of positivity from meditating, exercising and virtually connecting with colleagues. At the end of the day, she just tries to focus on keeping her son happy and embracing this new life with him. “[Mothers are] the grounding piece; there is no baby without the mama.” 46 |

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LIBRARIAN LEGACY >> HELEN ELLERBE

GATEKEEPER OF KNOWLEDGE

Helen Cubberly Ellerbe Librarian at Home and War W R I T T E N B Y J O A N N A G R E Y TA L B O T

ibrarians have had to deal with a variety of stereotypes over the years but to generations of people they have been the gatekeepers of knowledge and the written word. The University of Florida’s library opened in 1906, and Gainesville’s first public library opened in 1918. These two institutions have trained and employed generations of librarians, including one whose legacy is still visible today. Born on July 29, 1906, in Cedar Key, Helen Cubberly’s family moved to Gainesville when she was 4 years old. Helen would live in the house that her parents bought on the corner of SE 2nd Avenue and 4th Street for a total of 42 years before it was sold and then demolished in 1972. She moved away

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multiple times, but Gainesville always called her home. Her father, Frederich Cubberly, was a lawyer and the US Attorney for the northern district of Florida. Her mother, Mary Etta Hancock, was one of the first, if not the first, female principals in the Alachua County public school system. Helen and her sister, Hazel, could not help but be molded by their parents’ devotion to helping others and serving a cause greater than oneself. Helen graduated from Gainesville High School in 1924 and the Florida State College for Women in 1928 with a degree in English. In that same year, she married Edward Beverly Mann, a freelance writer of western fiction and articles. They were married in Gainesville but eventually moved to New York City for him to pursue his writing career.

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LIBRARIAN LEGACY >> HELEN ELLERBE 52 |

After much debate, Congress passed a law in 1943 mak They divorced in 1939, and Helen moved back home to ing the WAAC a part of the Army instead of an auxiliary unit. Gainesville to live with her widowed mother, Mary Etta. In 1941, In September of that year, it became the Women’s she received her library science degree from Emory Army Corps. This meant the WACs could now University in Atlanta, Georgia, and began workreceive the same pay, rank and benefits as ing for the University of Florida library male soldiers. The National Museum of system. the United States Army states that On December 7, 1941, the United “more than 75% of the WAAC States was thrust to the forefront chose to enlist.” of World War II. Everyone’s lives These brave, brilliant dramatically changed and in w o m e n d i d e ve r y t h i n g 1942, Helen was the first from clerical work to rigwoman faculty member at ging parachutes to ferthe University of Florida to rying military airplanes be granted military leave. across the country to Helen joined the serving as radio operaWomen’s Army Auxiliary tors. According to the C o r p s, s p e c i f i c a l l y National World War II its Special Services Museum, “Some women Division, which oversaw served near the front libraries, recreation cenlines in the Army Nurse ters, gyms, schools and Corps, where 16 were more. She was assigned killed as a result of direct the task of designing enemy fire. Sixty-eight and running a library at American service women Camp Murphy, a top-sewere captured as POWs in cret radar training school the Philippines. More than located in Martin County in 1,600 nurses were decorated southeast Florida. Today, the for bravery under fire and meriland is Jonathan Dickinson State torious service, and 565 WACs in the Park, but during World War II, it Pacific Theater won combat decorations. housed over 6,000 military personnel. Nurses were in Normandy on D-plus-four.” According to the Florida State Parks webGeneral Eisenhower believed site, the camp included more that the Allies could not have than 1,000 buildings, including Helen Frazier Cubberly graduated from the Florida State College for won the war without them. a theater, multiple power plants Women in 1928 with a degree in English. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, Freshman Cabinet, the Senate, and the chairman of the During the war, Helen and a church. Press Board. In 1941 she received her library science degree from Emory met and married Thomas Ellerbe Archivist Cara Setsu Bertram University in Atlanta, Georgia. Courtesy of the 1928 Florida State of Hillsborough County, Florida. said that for the soldiers, the College for Women yearbook. He was an officer in the Army camp and the hospital “librarand would continue to serve in both World War II and the Korean ies were a place to relax, read, boost their morale and educate War, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. themselves. Many soldiers were thinking about which jobs they After the war ended, they lived in Germany and then wanted when they returned home at the end of the war, so they Washington, D.C. Once Thomas left for the Korean War, Helen read about skills for various lines of work. For a few, this was returned to Gainesville and resumed her position as catalog their first exposure to books of any kind, and many illiterate librarian at the University of Florida. men gained the opportunity to learn to read.” UF staff directories from 1941-1943 and 1950-1961 listed her Helen was one of over 350,000 women who stepped forward varied job titles as assistant cataloger, readers’ assistant, to serve in uniform during World War II. At that time women interim cataloger, assistant in library and assistant in library could not be active-duty members of the military, so they had technical processes. to join an auxiliary or reserve unit, such as the Women’s Army Catalog librarians have the tough job of making mateAuxiliary Corps (WAAC) or the Women’s Army Corps as it was rials accessible to library patrons by assigning them sublater renamed, the Navy Women’s Reserve (WAVES), the Marine ject headings, giving patrons an understanding of what the Corps Women’s Reserve, the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve materials are about. It may sound simple, but it is not easy (SPARS), the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPS), the Army to summarize a book or article in only a few words and do Nurses Corps and the Navy Nurse Corps. OUR TOWN MAGAZINE

JAN/FEB 2021

LIBRARIAN LEGACY >> HELEN ELLERBE

(Left) Sgt. Seymore Grobzob, Virginia Hallowell (from Elizabeth City, North Carolina), and Sgt. Caffey. US Army Forces, Western Pacific (AFWESPAC). Manilla, Philippines. August 19, 1946. Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration. (Right) 1966 Alachua County Historical Commission – A.Z. Adkins, Jr., James Richardson, Helen Ellerbe, and Jess G. Davis. Helen served as commission chairperson from 1979 to 1989. Courtesy of Alachua County Library District.

construction of the downtown Clock Tower were only a it in a way that the reader or researcher can easily locate it. Prior to the digitization of information, catalog librarians few of the many projects she helped to see to completion. In 1986, as chairwoman of the Alachua County Historical compiled the document’s information and subject headings onto a paper card, and it was placed in the multi-drawered Commission, she oversaw the writing and publication of a card catalog. Library patrons would then search through the series of tour guides for towns throughout the county. The Matheson History Museum’s research library is named drawers using the Dewey Decimal Classification System to after Helen because her generous donation in 1994 made find what they needed. Helen continued to pursue higher education and in 1960 the furnishing of the library possible. She was a member of many organizations, including the graduated from the University of Florida with a master’s Daughters of the American degree in education. She Revolution and the Friends then left the university of the Library. From 1971and became a librarian 1981, she was a tour guide for the Alachua County at the Marjorie Kinnan school system from Rawlings State Historic 1961-1971. In 1969, as the Park in Cross Creek. For librarian for the Alachua her many years of tireCounty public school’s less work on behalf of cultural enrichment cenAlachua County citizens, ter, she wrote “History she was awarded the 1987 Walk Around Downtown Gainesville Area Woman Gainesville,” a booklet The World War II Special Services Librarian patch. The nine different colored of Distinction Award by containing a map and books represent the nine branches of the Army. The unit patch would have been worn on the left shoulder of their uniform. the Santa Fe Community descriptions of 23 historic College’s women’s history commission. places. Retiring in 1971, Helen was not one to sit idly and let life Helen died in 1995 and is buried alongside her parents pass her by. Raised by parents who were lifelong learners in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Archer (her husband, Thomas, is buried in Arlington National Cemetery). Her legacy is one and knew the importance of community involvement, Helen that we should all aspire to have – serving our community continued the tradition. She helped form the Alachua County and our country with whatever gifts and talents we have been Historical Society (the precursor to the Matheson History given. Helen Cubberly Ellerbe lived every day believing that Museum) and was the chairwoman of the Alachua County “what I’ve learned from living a long life is useful to other Historical Commission from 1979-1987. people, and I want to share it.” The restoration of the Thomas Center and the JAN/FEB 2021

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A New Year Signals a Fresh Start

After a tumultuous year of changes and on-the-fly adaptations, SunState Federal Credit Union was able to grow, thrive and prosper as a community leader and go-to banking resource for thousands and thousands of North Central Florida residents. The dark clouds that descended on the past year came with a host of silver linings. New service delivery technologies and platforms brought with them a more robust experience for members and a vibrant energy pushing SSFCU forward toward a brighter future. Nothing offers more promise than the credit union’s new name and state charter! The new state charter not only brings with it a better regulatory environment, it means members will have access to additional banking products and services. The state charter has gone into effect, and SSFCU is now officially Radiant Credit Union.

The Switch

The credit union’s trusted Board of Directors and management saw the advantages of converting from a federal charter to one from the state. After careful consideration, and a vote of confidence from the membership, the move was made. The laws and regulations under the state charter are specifically geared to address the needs of Florida residents and institutions, bringing focus to the local level from the national level. The new charter enables greater flexibility to expand service beyond the current market and positions the credit union for more efficient growth. This growth is what will drive competitive rates on savings and loan products for members, as well as give access to the best technology and services. Radiant Credit Union is stepping out from under the federal umbrella limiting 54 |

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membership expansion, and stepping into the Florida sunshine, allowing the not-for-proﬁt ﬁnancial cooperative to reach its community-driven goals.

The Name

The Radiant name is meant to expand on the reliable SunState brand its members have come to trust, while showing the community the credit union is ready to reach out and cover more ground. All are welcome at Radiant Credit Union, and the company pledged to continue its 63-year legacy of serving North Central Florida. Radiant energy is felt, not seen. And the biggest impact members will feel from this charter conversion and name change is an increase in cutting-edge technology and the expansion of services.

Radiant Reach

Membership through Radiant Credit Union will expand to the following Florida counties: Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee and Union. As the reach of Radiant Credit Union begins to grow, so will the opportunities for banking. The ﬁrst expansion is already in the works with a new Live Oak branch scheduled to open in early 2021.

What's Staying?

SSFCU has changed its name and charter, but the company is not changing course. Members are experiencing a seamless transition to the new charter with the continued service they have come to expect, including the Nickel and Dime Back programs and community outreach like the Charity of Choice donations. Accounts will still be federally insured for up to $250,000, and deposit and loan rates, as well as the current fee structure, will remain favorable for members. Radiant Credit Union will continue to be 100 percent owned by its members, and member voting rights remain. Even members who move outside of the membership ﬁeld will be able to retain membership. As RCU staﬀ says, “Once a member, always a member.”

What's Changing?

With the latest shift into an even more digitized world, Radiant Credit Union is preparing to ramp up its online presence while ensuring the online RCU experience is a functional extension of the physical branches. The credit union is already beginning to refresh its physical branches, while upgrading its website and introducing new technology and services to existing members. As of January 4, 2021, members are already accessing the same services they have always enjoyed at the new website, RadiantCU.org. Don’t worry, if you’ve got the old SSFCU site bookmarked, they’ll beam you right over to the new one! The SSFCU mobile banking app will get a refresh as well, but there’s no need to download another app on your phone; just accept the update request when prompted. The existing app will simply put on a fresh Radiant face, and your existing login credentials will get you right in the door. Members will get a new Radiant debit and/or credit card, and they can use the card as soon as they receive it. Existing debit and credit cards will still work until new ones are provided free of charge by the credit union. When it’s time to reorder checks, the new books will reflect the Radiant Credit Union name and logo, but routing and account numbers will remain the same. The Radiant Credit Union staff is so excited for the bright future that lies ahead. RCU members will have the opportunity to take advantage of competitive rates and top-tier services, while remaining in control of their own banking institution. It’s the dawn of a new era, and everyone at Radiant is excited to offer you a new, brighter way to bank.

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352-381-5200 www.RadiantCU.org JAN/FEB 2021

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MENTAL HEALTH >> BE KIND TO YOURSELF

REACHING OUT

Mending the Mind Words of Wisdom for Staying Mentally Well, Resilient & Hopeful W RIT TE N BY C A MERON COBB

fter a year that seemed to have lasted an eternity (and certainly brought in enough catastrophes for one), 2021 is finally here with a chance to embrace a fresh start. While we begin to settle into both a new year and a “new normal,” 2020 gave us more than enough to reflect on. While it may be difficult to feel anything other than cautious optimism, the new year welcomes an opportunity to remain hopeful in anticipation of what’s to come. It’s easy to see how 2020’s series of events left Americans feeling the unhappiest they’ve been in almost 50 years based on the COVID Response Tracking Study, according to usatoday.com. Administered by NORC at the University of Chicago this past May, the study concluded that adults were experiencing a significant increase in feelings of loneliness and isolation versus in 2018—and last year’s numbers certainly show the effects of 2020’s 56 |

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wrath on mental health. According to another study, conducted during the end of June and cited on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, 40% of U.S. adults claimed to be struggling with substance use or mental health. More than a quarter of these participants were said to be experiencing pandemic-induced symptoms of what’s known as TSRD (or trauma-and stressor-related disorder), and roughly one-third reported suffering from signs of anxiety and depression. With the prevalence of anxiety having tripled and depressive disorder determined to have been a staggering four times more likely when compared to that of the second quarter in 2019, such studies and an abundance of other research paints a rather grim portrait of how mental health across the country has been drastically affected by the perils of 2020. However, even when the world temporarily may seem to be in a state of constant chaos, it’s important to remember that things are just that: temporary. With last year’s novel of issues and stressors a prime

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MENTAL HEALTH >> BE KIND TO YOURSELF

Social distancing doesn’t have to mean social isolation. It’s imperative to still keep up with friends and family, such as by scheduling weekly video chats.

example, this was an important reminder of just how wildly unpredictable life can be. And while you may be sick of hearing the age-old saying “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” there’s actually some truth to it. UW Health (the integrated health system of the University of Wisconsin-Madison) notes that “up to 70% of people experience positive psychological growth from difficult times” (uwhealth. org). In this article, health psychologist Dr. Shilagh Mirgain discusses what’s known as “post-traumatic growth.” This process suggests that working through crises can lead to benefits, such as becoming more empathetic as well as more grateful for life and the people (and animals) you care about. Another potentially positive outcome of this process, Dr. Mirgain notes, is to have discovered a “deeper sense of self and purpose.” She mentions that in order to grow from the hardships presented throughout life, it’s important to acknowledge the feelings that accompany such moments rather than avoid them, which can hinder the ability to learn from the situation and move forward. Considering both the past and prolonged hurdles of 2020, the road towards personal growth will mean embracing whatever emotions arise along the journey. To get some insight on mindfulness, the benefits of adopting good mental health techniques, and why practicing selfcare is crucial (especially during times of heightened stress and uncertainty), Our Town conducted a Q&A with Teresa Hughes, MBACP—a counseling and bereavement therapist based out of Wales in the United Kingdom. Throughout the pandemic, Hughes has been conducting virtual therapy appointments for patients all around the world, including with UF alumni. With a worldwide increase in signs of depression and anxiety for both those who have been previously diagnosed and others who are experiencing such symptoms for the first time, Hughes stressed the importance of taking time to care for your own mental health and how you can benefit even beyond the pandemic from getting into the habit of doing so. By holding 58 |

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onto hope and resiliency during a time that makes “normal life” sound like such a distant memory, Hughes shared some words of wisdom when it comes to bettering your mental health and inevitably yourself as a whole.

Q: Why is caring for your mental health so important, especially during times where it seems as if a new disaster arises every day? A: The uncertainty of the pandemic has caused stress and anxiety on so many levels—now more than ever it is extremely important to look after ourselves, both mentally and physically. When faced with difficulties, try to make it a point to answer the following three questions in an effort to lead you to be more solution focused: 1. What is causing your emotional disturbance? 2. What are your choices in respect of the presenting problem? 3. Can you define a solution, and if so, how do you achieve this? Q: This year, people all across the globe have been spending much more time indoors, which beyond just the annoyances of cabin fever, also has in many ways limited how people get their daily dose of socializing (such as going out with friends). This state of isolation can leave one to feel increasingly lonely and at times, “trapped” in their worries. When some days it seems like all there is to do is obsess over the “what ifs?”—what suggestions and/or personal tips can you offer for at-home self-care?

A: My personal mantra is ‘Worry will not influence outcome.’ Coming to terms with and reminding yourself of this can prove to be really positive, as it helps us stay in the moment rather than looking ahead and creating suffering by imagining events which simply just may NOT occur. Reality checking fears can also be extremely empowering (such as by writing your fears down or calling someone to talk it over). This habit will eventually bring about a change in our internal dialogue. Even with social

Q: What is the benefit of taking care of your mental health that many people may not realize?

A: The mind and body are so intrinsically linked, so looking after either benefits both. We all have the ability to create negative or positive thoughts at any given moment—try to concentrate on the positive thoughts while letting the negative thoughts pass by just as quickly as they came. When you reshape your way of thinking, you will start to notice more and more how much more natural positive thoughts come to you and the negative thoughts begin to slow.

Q: During a time where our lives now feel so bizarrely out of control to the point that even just trying to manage day-to-day activities can feel extremely overwhelming, what words of advice do you have for people when it comes to still holding onto hope and remembering that “this too shall pass”?

A: The current situation is temporary and will pass, especially considering the recent positive news regarding a variety of vaccine possibilities. Keeping a journal of how you are feeling can be helpful as well as making a point to jot

down the things you are grateful for. Ensure you make time to do more of the things you enjoy, which is essential to taking care of yourself mentally.

Q: How can someone go about taking the first step to find mental health services, and why is it important to reach out for help when needed (especially taking into consideration the outdated idea that going to therapy is something only “crazy” people do and is something to be embarrassed about)?

A: Seeing a doctor or allied health care professional for guidance is the first step. Admitting when we are struggling is a sign of strength, not weakness. There are times in our lives when we will be less resilient (know that this is normal and depends on a variety of factors). Be kind to yourself and seek help when you need to—talking about how you feel can be immensely liberating. Even when the world feels like an apocalyptic, sci-fi movie (and one where the directors got a little too carried away with the disaster scenes), looking after yourself and your mental health is crucial for moving forward amidst the chaos. With some practice, you’ll likely see improvements in your mental health long after the storm subsides. Sources: usatoday.com, cdc.gov, uwhealth.org

Local Mental Health Resources

MENTAL HEALTH >> BE KIND TO YOURSELF

distancing, technology has been our greatest resource for staying connected with friends and family, so it may be helpful to set up call and/or video chats once a day or as often as you’d like to ensure you aren’t missing out on that necessary aspect of socialization.

Alachua County Community Support Services -Crisis center: www.alachuacounty. us/Depts/CSS/CrisisCenter/Pages/ CrisisCenter.aspx FreeClinics.com -Listings of free and income-based clinics in Gainesville: www.freeclinics.com/cit/fl-gainesville -Listings of free and income-based clinics in Alachua: www.freeclinics. com/cit/fl-alachua -Listings of free and income-based clinics in High Springs: www.freeclinics.com/cit/fl-high_springs National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) -Listings of free medical, dental, and psychiatric care in Alachua County: www.namigainesville.org/ free-medical National Suicide Hopeline: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) Santa Fe College Community Resources -Mental health and medical services referral list: www.sfcollege.edu/ counseling/community-resources

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TASTE OF THE TOWN

SPECIAL RESTAURANT ADVERTISING SECTION. CALL

352-372-5468

FOR RATES AND INFORMATION.

Leonardo’s Pizza 4131 NW 16th Blvd (Millhopper) Sunday - Thursday: 11:00am - 9:30pm Friday - Saturday: 11:00am - 10:30pm

352-376-2001 leonardosmillhopper.com Mouth Watering — Family friendly and locally-owned-and-operated pizza joint with a unique, nostalgic atmosphere that is as distinctive as our delicious food. Chicago-style pizzas, hand tied garlic knots, and Italian baked dinners and salad bar, we know you’ll be back for more. Come and see why Gainesville loves our signature deep dish pizza pie, the Big Leo. Since 1976 Gainesville has grown up on pizza from Leonardo’s Millhopper and we are still going strong! Our dedicated staff (many have been with us for 15-20 years) knows how important it is to treat you properly. We take great pride in our welcoming atmosphere. We can’t wait to make you part of our family.

Copper Monkey West

14209 W Newberry Road, Jonesville, FL 32669 Across from the Steeplechase Publix Sunday-Thursday 11:00am - 11:00pm Friday-Saturday 11:00am - 11:00pm

352-363-6338 mycoppermonkey.com Restaurant & Pub — We are located in the heart of Jonesville, this All-American dining is convenient to all neighborhoods in Gainesville, Alachua, Newberry, High Springs and beyond. Our family-friendly dining features great food at a great price. Whether you come in for the “best burger in town” or try any one of our freshly made salads, pastas or sandwiches, you will not leave disappointed. Our USDA choice steaks, served with 2 sides, offer a great alternative for the perfect celebratory meal. We also feature a full-service bar with signature drinks.

Crafty Bastards

4860 NW 39th Ave. ( Magnolia Parke, between Starbucks and TiresPlus) Open at 11am every day

352-872-5970 www.thecraftybastards.com Restaurant - Pub — Crafty Bastards Restaurant has lunch specials M-F 11am-4pm. Come see our NEW Menu items, including fresh salads and soups. Don’t worry, we still proudly serve what you have voted, the best Wings, Burgers, Fish n’ Chips, and REAL Shepherds Pie around! While also offering entertainment every day of the week, we have the largest selection of 60 Craft Beers on tap, and next door at the Bottle Shoppe, we offer over750 varieties of Craft Beer with Free Beer Tastings every Thursday. 6p-8p. Visit our social media and web for ongoing events and new craft beer. Private party room for office or birthday parties available. CRAFTY BASTARDS - WELCOME HOME!

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Dave’s New York Deli 12921 SW 1st Road • Tioga Town Center Open 7 Days

352-333-0291 www.DavesNYDeli.com Authentic NY deli — The Reviews are in and here’s what customers are saying about Dave’s NY Deli Tioga Town Center! “Best Reuben, Best Pastrami and Best Philly. Dave’s continues to be the place to go for authentic NY Deli food and Philly Cheesesteaks. Owner Dave Anders says “Nothing beats quality ingredients combined with a friendly staff. Dave serves New York size Pastrami and Corned Beef sandwiches, Cheesecake from New York, Nathan’s Hot Dogs, NY Kettle Boiled Bagels, Nova Salmon, Knish, Cannolies, Philly Cheesesteaks, Cubans, Subs, Kids Menu and more.” Come out and enjoy Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at Dave’s NY Deli. Now serving beer and wine.

Bangkok Square

Two Gainesville Locations: 6500 SW Archer Road & 8181 NW 38th Lane Lunch: Monday-Friday 11:00am-3:00pm • Saturday-Sunday 12:00pm-3:00pm Dinner: Sunday-Thursday 5:00pm-9:30pm • Friday-Saturday 5:00pm-10:00pm

352-375-4488 Archer 352-672-6969 39th Ave. bangkoksquarefl.com Authentic Thai Cuisine — Thai cuisine, blending the best elements of the freshest foods. Thai herbs; garlic, basil, ginger, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal root, chili and more, prepared with the finest blending of fish sauce, shrimp paste, and coconut milk. All of our meals are made to order and prepared on site. We specialize in vegetarian, vegan and gluten free orders. All of our foods can be prepared to your satisfaction with mild, medium, hot, or Thai hot, balanced to the four tastes: sweet, sour, salty, and slightly bitter. Meals can be prepared for take out and we cater to any event. We also have gift cards available. Save 10% off your next dining experience when a gift card is purchased.

The Social at Midtown 1728 W. University Avenue, Gainesville, FL Monday-Sunday 11:00am – 2:00am

352-373-7383 www.thesocialgnv.com Upscale restaurant and rooftop bar — Hidden among the college bars of the midtown area, The Social at Midtown provides an unique, upscale, and affordable dining and late-night experience for the diverse and ever evolving population of Gainesville. Whether you are in search of high end spirits and craft cocktails or one of the 37 beers on tap the Social at Midtown will undoubtedly bring you back for the next big game with its fantastic menu and over 60 Large LED TVs. Check out our web page to see our weekly specials and plan your next Happy Hour with $4 Local Craft Pints!

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TASTE OF THE TOWN

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FOR RATES AND INFORMATION.

Brown’s Country Buffet 14423 NW US Hwy 441, Alachua, FL 32616 Monday-Friday 7:00am - 8:00pm Saturday 7:00am - 2:00pm Sunday 8:00am - 3:00pm

386-462-3000 brownscountrybuffet.net Casual — Country-style cooking at its finest, just like Grandma’s house! A buffet style restaurant, Brown’s Country Buffet is open seven days a week! Foods like fried chicken, grilled pork chops, real mashed potatoes, steamed cabbage, banana pudding and coconut pie, just to name a few, are served in a laid-back, relaxing environment. We offer AYCE fried shrimp on Friday nights from 4-8 along with whole catfish & ribs. In addition to their buffet, Brown’s also offers a full menu to choose from. Serving lunch and dinner daily and a breakfast buffet Friday-Sunday until 10:30am, you’re sure to leave satisfied, no matter when you go. So, when you’re in the mood for some good home cooking, Grandma’s style, visit Brown’s Country Buffet.

Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza

(Archer Road) 5757 SW 75th St. — 352-371-8646 • (Millhopper Road) 5200 NW 43rd St. — 352-371-7437 (University) 1250 W University Ave. — 352-375-2337 • (Grand Oaks Plaza) 2575 SW 42nd St. Ocala — 352-351-6000

Mon-Thurs: 11am-10pm Fri-Sat: 11am-11pm Sun: 11am-10pm

www.piesanostogo.com Pizza, Pints & Pies — Piesanos is a locally owed and operated restaurant that is proud to use only the finest ingredients available, including Grande brand premium mozzarella. We are a full service dine in restaurant with an attached take out center and also offer catering. Our dough is made fresh daily and all of our pizzas are baked directly on the stone in our unique Granite Stone Fired Pizza Oven. We offer a great variety of Specialty pizzas, such as our Pizza Antico-(ultra thin crust- Fresh Mozzarella, mini cup & char pepperoni & fresh basil) Specialty Pastas, Calzones, Fresh soups and salads, classic italian entrees, and a great selection of craft beer. We also offer a gluten free menu. For full menu please visit PIESANOSTOGO.COM. Order online or download our APP PIESANOSTOGO.COM.

Cilantro Tacos

Tioga Town Center - 12921 SW 1 Rd Suite #103 Monday - Saturday from 11:00am to 9:00pm

352-472-1300 Authentic Mexican — A family-owned restaurant that was founded through a passion for great food and hosting dinner parties with friends. Originally from Southern California, their love for Mexican food moved to the wonderful community of Newberry in 2013. They take pride in the quality, freshness, and vibrant flavors of their food — with meats that are never frozen and everything prepared fresh and made-to-order. Enjoy the tastefully marinated meats and savor the mild, spicy, and mouthwatering salsas that are created from scratch. They feel their purpose is to spread happiness, make contributions to the community and create lasting memories of fun, laughter, and great times. When you eat with us, you’re family. So come on in! 62 |

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I Love NY Pizza

2645 SW 91st St, Haile Plantation (Market square) Gainesville Monday-Saturday 10:00am – 9:00pm Closed on Sundays

352-333-6185 www.ilnyp.com Pizzeria — We are a family owned, family friendly restaurant that serves authentic New York style pizza and delicious Italian entrees. We offer dine, take out, delivery and catering. We make everything fresh and with high quality ingredients from our dough, to our sauce, to each of our dishes — including classics such as Baked Ziti, Chicken or Veal Parmigiana, Chicken Marsala or Alfredo, and many more. If you are in the mood for pizza, you can “take and bake” at home or let us prepare you one of our specialty Brick oven pizzas. So many choices of specialty pizzas, try them all! Pizza by the slice is available for lunch or dinner! Let’s not forget about the Stromboli, Calzones, Salads, Desserts and yes, we have a kids menu too! What ever you choose, we guarantee to bring you all the unique flavors of New York City. Visit our website for a full menu and coupons.

Mi Apá Latin Café

Gainesville – 114 SW 34th Street (352-376-7020) 7:00am - 10:00pm daily, open until 11 on Friday and Saturday Alachua – 15634 US Highway 441 (386-418-0838) 7:00am - 9:00pm daily, open until 10 on Friday and Saturday

Jonesville location coming soon!

MiApaLatinCafe.com Cuban — Mi Apa Latin Cafe has served Gainesville for almost 20 years and has nearly a decade in Alachua. We are routinely rated as the top coffee, takeout, meal under $10, and Latin food in Alachua County and have been identified by TripAdvisor as a top 10% restaurant worldwide. If you’re looking for the best Cuban food north of Miami, whether it be our delicious sandwiches, our hot empanadas, or our sweet pastries and strong Cuban coffee, you can find it on our sunny patio or pick it up in your online order. Our Gainesville location even has a drive-thru! Don’t forget kids eat free every Wednesday from 4:00-9:00pm! For our menu and more, visit miapalatincafe.com.

El Toro

15202 NW 147 Drive, Suite 1100, Alachua (Rolling Oaks Plaza) Monday – Thursday 11:00am – 9:00pm Friday & Sat 11:00am – 10:00pm Sunday Noon – 8:00pm

386-418-1039 www.eltorogainesville.com Get Full At The Bull — Bienvenido! Welcome! We are a family owned and family friendly business. We have been serving our guests high quality fresh food for over 28 years. We welcome our guests with our Award Winning Salsa and warm homemade chips, add some fresh guacamole and our homemade white queso and you have a great start to a great meal! Try our Fish Tacos, Shrimp Tacos, Fajitas, Aaron’s Overstuffed Burrito, Nachos Supreme or one of our Daily Specials, we have something everyone will enjoy! We serve Lunch 7 days a week till 4 P.M. and our Kids Meals come with a drink and dessert. Check out our menu on our website. Our outdoor patio is perfect for “Para Cenar Afuera”. So, won’t you please come join us and Get Full At The Bull! See you there!

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PATTICAKES >> NEW TIOGA LOCATION

CUP OF JOE

PATTICAKES BREWS UP SECOND LOCATION

Cupcakes, Coffee & Community S T O R Y B Y H AY L I Z U CCO L A PHOTOGR A PH Y BY NICOLE GUILLEN

Decadent dark chocolate cupcakes garnished with white chocolate, cream cheese frosting; seasonally available scones in flavors ranging from subtle honey lavender to tart lemon berry and holiday-inspired lattes like snickerdoodle, gingerbread and maple may be the eye candy of Patticakes, but underneath those mouthwatering baked goods and liquid morning pick-me-ups is a community of friends and neighbors whose continuous support has helped the Gainesville-based coffee shop and cupcakery not only survive the pandemic but open a long-awaited second location. Recognizing the gourmet cupcake craze and the unwavering admiration java junkies have for a delicious cup of joe, in 2011, Jan and David Patterson established Patticakes with a Haile Village storefront; a menu to curb a sweet tooth’s appetite or jitter-induced mocha craving; and the overall desire to forge a sense of community within their neighborhood. After almost a decade of serving up sweet creations and aromatic espressos, the Pattersons decided it was time to open 66 |

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a second location. In January, before hand sanitizer became the most sought-after product of the year and masks were the new norm, the Pattersons learned the Starbucks located in Tioga Town Center would soon be closing their doors – leaving the retail district with a corner store vacancy that would be the perfect fit for Patticakes’ enticing menu and people-centered principles. However, opening a second location was an idea placed on the backburner after the coronavirus rapidly became a global pandemic, which not only impacted essential workers and pushed hospitals to peak capacity, but put the fate of small businesses into question. “You know, when it first hit really bad back in March, into March, early April or whenever it was, we closed. We shut off our inside seating, and we just were having one customer in at a time and we quickly implemented an app so we could do curbside service and just tons of sanitizing and wearing masks,” Patterson said. “Business was slow. Business slowed down a lot, obviously, but eventually people started realizing we were here

PATTICAKES >> NEW TIOGA LOCATION

David and Jan Patterson opened Patticakes in the Haile Village Center in 2011 and have expanded their cupcakery and coffee shop to the Tioga Town Center.

and a lot of other coffee shops weren’t able, they just weren’t able to stay open.” Though the virus created a sea of obstacles for small business owners like the Pattersons, it also allowed them to realize their importance in the community and that the connections they’ve made over the years could help them overcome almost anything.

“When the pandemic hit, it’s when I knew that we really had built a community,” she said. “The way the customers came in and checked on us and were emailing us and asking ‘Are you okay?’ They would leave astronomical tips to make sure that the team continued to get paid and just the way that they so cared for us and they would come in and say ‘charge me for more’ or let’s say it was time for them to get a reward from the loyalty program, they would say, ‘I’ll get that when the pandemic’s over.’ We really are a community coffee shop.” After finding their footing and learning to persevere through the corona crisis, the Pattersons decided to continue with their plans to open a second Patticakes location – a difficult undertaking of itself and its success during a pandemic showed just how resilient and beloved their small business had become. “Things just kept going well here in Haile, and we decided to take the leap of faith and go forward,” Patterson said. With the new venue set, the Pattersons began the build in early August, which allowed for a soft opening on Halloween and an official launch on November 2. “Now, it is a struggle, it definitely was a financial struggle, but we feel very fortunate and blessed that our customers really rallied around us JAN/FEB 2021

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PATTICAKES >> NEW TIOGA LOCATION

In addition to serving up delicious cupcakes, fresh muffins and flavorful beverages, Patticakes has done their best to help keep their customers and employees safe during the coronavirus pandemic. From following safety guidelines like wearing masks and providing continuous sanitization to implementing an app that offers mobile ordering and curbside service, Patticakes in Haile Village and the new shop in Tioga Town Center have operated with the safety of their staff and patrons as their top priority.

“I feel incredibly blessed. I’m so proud of my team that right now in 2020 we opened a second location, and it’s already thriving. It’s just amazing.” and were very loyal, very kind and concerned. We have a very wonderful customer base that feels like family, so because of them we were able to keep going,” she said. Like their Haile location, Patticakes’ Tioga menu offers a variety of baked goods including three standard cupcakes: black tie, red velvet and vanilla; weekly premium cupcake flavors like S’mores, blueberry on lemon and raspberry almond; bagels from The Bagel Bakery; dietary-friendly muffins like the gluten-free pumpkin buckwheat or vegan banana chocolate; 12 rotating flavors of Hershey ice cream; seasonal scones like white chocolate raspberry and orange cranberry and an assortment of beverages including milkshakes, smoothies, chai tea and of course, coffee. “We truly are building a community around expertly prepared coffee and delicious cupcakes,” Patterson said. 68 |

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Of course, it’s easy to treat their customers like friends and family. After all, Patticakes was built on that very concept. What started as a business venture with her husband – her partner in life, coffee and cupcakes – has grown to encompass her son, who manages the new 2,019 square-foot Tioga location; her daughter-in-law, who develops recipes as one of the bakers; and her daughter, whose life in New York helped inspire the idea of opening a cupcake-centered bakery in Gainesville. “I feel incredibly blessed. I’m so proud of my team that right now in 2020 we opened a second location, and it’s already thriving. It’s just amazing. It’s not lost on me,” Patterson said. “It’s incredibly special to have my whole family involved and also to be doing it in 2020. It’s redeeming 2020 for me.”

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SPOTLIGHT >> BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES

SHOP TALK

Shopping and Showing Support Black-owned Businesses Flourish from New Customers BY SA M A NTH A CH ERY

any in Gainesville and around the United States have been combating acts of racism over the past year by financially investing in the work of Black entrepreneurs. These consumers hope to help fill the economic and societal divide that they believe systemic racism places on communities by making a conscious effort to uplift Black businesses. To offset instances of racial inequities, social justice activists have created social media resources that succinctly educate people on the Black Lives Matter Movement and encourage people and businesses to use their money to send a message. Musical artist and Texas-based activist Calvin Martyr organized Blackout Day on July 7, a day where Black people either only shopped at Black-owned businesses or didn’t buy anything at all to emphasize the power of the Black dollar in the U.S. economy. A Nielsen Company report revealed that Black Americans spent about $1.2 trillion in 2017, about $3.3 billion each day. Social media graphics have also given lists of Black-owned businesses for people to support in their local areas. The increase in exposure and surge in customers has helped these establishments benefit more people who are interested in their products and services.

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PHOTO BY: GUILHERME STECANELLA

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SPOTLIGHT >> BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES

Lion’s Den Creative sells hand-painted custom jeans, tote bags, and prints that center around Black empowerment.

“Small businesses help fuel local economic growth,” said Keena Woods, owner of the Gainesville baking business Sugar Baby’s Cookies. “Often many Black-owned businesses may be limited in resources and exposure, so having the support from others is key in business development and growth.” Woods said she took a break from selling her cookies, cookie cakes and cookie sandwiches in the initial weeks of the coronavirus pandemic when people were urged to stay home. Despite the decrease in business that many local eateries faced during the pandemic, Sugar Baby’s reopening was met with a flurry of likes and an increase in followers on social media thanks to the

While Sugar Baby’s is growing, Woods said she’s committed to staying true to the company’s most important component: family. Her love for making cookies began with her fond memories of baking with her family, especially around Christmastime, as a young girl. The company’s name was inspired by her nickname, “Suga’ Baby,” which her late grandmother called her. “We had a really close relationship, and I spent some of my best days with her snapping peas on the front porch, shucking corn, picking vegetables at the local farm and enjoying her amazing southern food at our many family gatherings,” Woods said.

“Often many Black-owned businesses may be limited in resources and exposure, so having the support from others is key in business development and growth.” community’s increased awareness of Gainesville’s Black-owned businesses. Woods was even commissioned to make wedding cookie cakes for the first time. “It was a truly rewarding experience and everything worked out perfectly,” she said. “I felt honored to be a part of such a special moment.” 72 |

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She ultimately decided to start selling her sweet creations because of the encouragement of her husband, David, and the positive reactions she received from her friends and local sports teams when she gave out her cookies. Woods strives for success with Sugar Baby’s because she wants to someday pass it on to her kids. “It is really important to us to build a legacy for our

SPOTLIGHT >> BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES

children and staying focused on that gave us the fuel to push through the adversity around us,” she said. Business ownership is one way for families to grow generational wealth, which is an element that Black families can use to close the racial wealth gap, according to the Institute for Policy Studies. An increase in generational wealth can lead to greater financial security and better opportunities for jobs, education and health, according to Fast Company. Woods said that her next step to expanding the business is to buy a food truck to reach more of the Gainesville community. She also envisions selling her sweets in sports arenas, stadiums and airports. To place an order for Sugar Baby’s Cookies, customers can text the business at (330) 313-5698 or send a message through the company’s Facebook or Instagram page, @SugarBabysCookies. In addition to investing in local Black-owned businesses, customers are also buying more products and services from national Black-owned businesses like Ethel’s Club, a social and wellness club for people of color based in Williamsburg and Brooklyn, New York. Ethel’s Club, whether in-person or online, has always been devoted to being a community space for people with shared experiences to socialize and feel like they belong. The events range from yoga or guided meditation to creative workshops to thoughtful discussions on culture. “We’ve had a lot of folks who come into our physical clubhouse who have cried from being here because it’s so powerful to them,” said Ethel’s Club Founder and CEO Naj Austin. Although she said COVID-19 caused an indefinite closure for the club’s physical location, the shift to online-focused events opened up the perfect opportunity for the business to strengthen its digital presence. “Our focus has always been on

Keena Woods fondly remembers baking cookies with her family as a young girl. Woods’ business, Sugar Baby’s Cookies, was named after her nickname, “Suga’ Baby,” which her late grandmother called her.

by its namesake, Austin’s late grandmother Ethel Lucas, whose home was constantly a place full of activity where friends and family popped in daily. “The kind of energy that she manifested made it a space where people felt comfortable and happy,” Austin said. “There was always music playing. I think when people

“It’s definitely been really cool to see a bunch of new supporters and a lot of people expressing so much interest and appreciation for my art,” she said. “It’s incredible that Black people, Black power and Black artists are finally getting the recognition they deserve, because there’s so much talent that isn’t recognized enough within the Black community.” what our community needs right now and how can we deliver that to them,” she said. As a result, Ethel’s Club has experienced a spike in membership as people of color outside of New York look for a community they can connect to and heal with in times of emotional unrest. The Zoom meetups at 9 a.m., 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. each weekday give plenty of class options to choose from throughout the week, and the predictable times provide a sense of normalcy when life gets chaotic, Austin said. The zen safe space that Ethel’s Club embodies is inspired

spent time there, they were able to let their guard down a little bit and connect with other people who would have to drop it as well.” Now that going digital has given Ethel’s Club the opportunity to spread wellness to audiences nationwide, Austin hopes that the business will continue to accommodate its larger body of members and help more people of color find a community to be themselves. “It’s important to be in spaces that empower you, that are a reflection of who you are, where you feel seen and heard,” she said. JAN/FEB 2021

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SPOTLIGHT >> BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES 74 |

Ethel’s Club offers decor, clothing, accessories, beauty products, and other items from more than 30 artisans of color through its online store.

While Austin noted that products from Black creators aren’t necessarily better or worse than others, she explained how customers could benefit from being thoughtful about the companies they purchase from. She said the heightened awareness of Ethel’s Club and similar businesses has encouraged non-Black customers to be more open to new products they would not have tried otherwise that could be worthwhile. Ethel’s Club offers a one-week free trial and digital memberships are $16.99 per month at ethelsclub.com. There is also an online store with more than 30 products from artisans of color. The surge of support worked in the favor of young Black business owners as well. Recent University of Florida graduate Vanessa Villarreal initially planned on doing pop-up stores to increase the visibility of her business, Lion’s Den Creative. But because of COVID-19, her main products, thrifted jeans with her handpainted custom designs, were confined to online sales. The influx of shoppers on her Instagram page, @lionsdencreative, still allowed her virtual pop-up to flourish. The concept for Lion’s Den Creative came from Villarreal’s desire for fashion on a college student budget. She loved thrift store shopping because she could buy inexpensive clothing in an ethical and sustainable way as opposed to buying from fast fashion companies, which tend to exploit their garment workers. Villarreal learned how to paint on denim from a YouTube video, and when her designs caught people’s attention on social media, OUR TOWN MAGAZINE

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her friends urged her to sell her surplus of jeans. From the beginning of Lion’s Den Creative, her pieces have centered around Black empowerment, and she has donated her profits to organizations she is passionate about, such as the NAACP and the Loveland Foundation, which provides healing resources for communities of color, especially Black girls and women. Villarreal has found the new wave of solidarity to be promising in the fight for social reform. “It’s definitely been really cool to see a bunch of new supporters and a lot of people expressing so much interest and appreciation for my art,” she said. “It’s incredible that Black people, Black power and Black artists are finally getting the recognition they deserve, because there’s so much talent that isn’t recognized enough within the Black community.” For Villarreal, Lion’s Den is a hobby and her artistic outlet as she gets ready to continue her education in public health. But, she said she wants the company to grow with her and be a reflection of who she is. “I just want to continue to stay authentic to who I am as a person and as a creative,” she said. Looking at the bigger picture of Black businesses in the U.S., she hopes that amplifying and financially uplifting Black-owned businesses will contribute to racial equality. “In order to mitigate the effects that systemic oppression have on the Black community, it’s important to put your money where your mouth is and really just try to bring these people up,” she said.

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FARMERS MARKET >> HIGH SPRINGS PAVILION

COMMUNITY

THE HIGH SPRINGS FARMERS MARKET OPENS

Patience is a Pavilion STORY A N D PHOTOGR A PH Y BY A DDISON PEZOLDT

On a hot October day in Florida, a crowd begins to assemble. City officials wander around, checking on last-minute details. Eager vendors finish setting up their displays and prepare to greet friendly customers. A new pavilion welcomes them home. This is the High Springs Farmer’s Market. The High Springs Farmers Market has been an important staple in the community for years. With the new pavilion provided by the city, the market has a permanent home. On Oct. 27, 2020, the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new pavilion was held to celebrate having a new location for the market. Despite battling the blazing sun and high temperatures, city officials and residents gathered to celebrate this achievement.

The event began with an introduction of the guest speakers and some key members involved in getting the new pavilion implemented. Carol Rowan, the market manager for the High Springs Farmers Market, said it felt like a long journey to get to this point. The project for the pavilion was mainly funded through the United States Department of Agriculture with additional help from the city. The funding began in 2014 and development on the project has been a continuous process. In 2014, the USDA awarded a check of $199,441 for the pavilion. The estimated total cost at the time for the project was $245,241. Since then, the city has spent at least $109,132 in additional costs. During this time, farmers market vendors have maintained a presence in the community.

“During these challenging times, the markets also provide agricultural producers across the state a platform to sell fruits, vegetables and produce, helping sustain thousands of jobs and fueling our local economies.” 78 |

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FARMERS MARKET >> HIGH SPRINGS PAVILION

“We’ve stayed in unconditional weather, I mean it’s been horrible in a lot of the spots we’ve been located,” Rowan said. “We’ve moved so many times, the time of day, location. Everyone has stuck by us, and the vendors, they stick behind us. It’s just a wonderful thing to be a big family.” Deborah Tannebaum, Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture for the state of Florida, spoke on the importance of farmers and farmers markets for Florida’s economy. “Florida has a $137 billion agriculture industry,” Tannebaum said. “It’s the number two economic driver in our state next to tourism, and during these unprecedented times it is actually the largest economic driver.” Tannebaum noted how people often do not connect the food they get with the farms they come from. Farmers markets like the High Springs Farmers Market can help bridge the gap between vendors and consumers. The impact of COVID-19 on Florida’s tourism industry makes the focus on the agriculture industry and local farmers markets more important. “During these challenging times, the markets also provide agricultural producers across the state a platform to sell fruits, vegetables and produce, helping sustain thousands of jobs and fueling our local economies,” the deputy commissioner said. Looking out on the crowd, Tannebaum reflected on the efforts she had seen put into the pavilion and the dedicated market members who prepared for its opening. “If the community and its farmers are any indicators of a farmers market’s success, we can rest easy knowing that the High Springs Farmers Market is in excellent, excellent hands,” she said. As Tannebaum finished her closing remarks the crowd applauded for the next introduced guest. Identified as “the man of the hour,” High Springs Mayor Byran Williams made his way to the lectern and looked proudly on the gathered group. “My wife always says, ‘Byran, you got the patience of Job,’” Williams said. “I want to say, they say High Springs has the patience of Job. We’ve been patiently waiting for this farmers market, patiently waiting, but it’s a farmers market.” At this, the crowd erupted in applause again. “I got to the point where I was saying, ‘I’ll believe it when I see it,’” the mayor said. “So now, I believe it because I can see it.” Williams said it took a great team of people to get the pavilion completed. The farmers market is a testament to good things resulting from people working together. Williams’ speech was followed by the ribbon cutting ceremony. Rowan, Tannebaum and Williams were joined by a few honored guests to share the honor. Inside the pavilion, vendors were set up and ready to open the market immediately following the ceremony. A quick pose for a photo, a snip of the ribbon, and the High Springs Farmers Market officially opened. Cheers erupted, and people mingled about. Food and refreshments were provided to community members as vendors began welcoming customers. Vendors lined up along both sides of the pavilion as people browsed around. From local produce to crocheted stuffed animals JAN/FEB 2021

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FARMERS MARKET >> HIGH SPRINGS PAVILION

The new pavilion gives residents and vendors a permanent place to connect every week at the High Springs Farmers Market. Located at 23517 NW 185th Road in downtown High Springs, the market is open year-round on Friday afternoons from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

to jewelry, handmade soap and artwork, people could find a wide range of things to buy. Kimberly Bossons, a vendor at the market, said she is glad to have a permanent place to stay. Bossons has been a vendor with the market since July. She sells her own paintings on the side. She is a full-time dental assistant. “I really started painting continuously for the first time in December [2019],” Bossons said. “I had just a tremendous amount of acrylic paintings collecting, and people kept telling me, ‘You should sell them, you should sell them,’ and so here I am.” Bossons said her favorite thing about the market is getting to interact with people and get their feedback on her paintings. The market is a collaborative effort between vendors as well. “We help each other out when we are setting up and whatnot,” she said. Meridith Hindle, 66, of Newberry, has been coming to the High Springs Farmers Market for at least two years. “I love the vendors,” Hindle said. “They are all so friendly, their prices are good and they have nice produce.” Hindle said coming to the market is an important part of her life because she is disabled and is unable to do many things. It was especially hard when the market was closed for a couple 80 |

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months due to the pandemic. “I prefer buying my produce from local farmers,” she said. “I think it’s good for the community; it gets people out.” Shannon Benzie, 28, said this was her second visit to the High Springs Farmers Market. She said she likes getting her meat locally and enjoys the vendors. “They double my food stamps, and it’s really good quality food,” Benzie said. “I get to spend my government money to support local farmers.” Tybee Wilcox, a vendor with Bambi’s Cafe in High Springs, said she loves having a designated place for the market with the pavilion now. The pavilion provides a stable place for people to shop locally. “This is really wonderful to have everybody be able to come here and have it be accessible,” Wilcox said. “I see wheelchairs, which I definitely never did before.” Wilcox said Bambi’s Cafe sells baked goods and food from the restaurant at the market and produce from its local farm. She buys her weekly groceries from the market when she can. “To have something like this facilitates the local economy,” she said. “It facilitates healthy eating for people in the community who are most affected by food access.” As people browse among vendors and greet familiar faces, the High Springs Farmers Market settles into its new normal. The market is open every Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

| 81 18587 High Springs Main Street, High Springs FL | (386) 454 -1288 | greatoutdoorsdining.com JAN/FEB 2021

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DIGITAL EVENT >> SUNSHINE STATE BOOK FEST

ANNUAL BOOK FEST

THE SUNSHINE STATE BOOK FESTIVAL GOES DIGITAL

Virtual Book Worms W R I T T E N B Y D A N A B R YA N

Hundreds of books line the shelves. Titles from every genre read from left to right. They are perfectly sorted into different categories, like mystery, adventure and romance. One book mysteriously fades away while another appears in its place. For some, the background is silent, but for others, the background overflows with familiar noises. All are exposed to new worlds with each passing moment, and the perfect book is found as one strolls or should I say scrolls through. The second annual Sunshine State Book Festival will be held virtually in January 2021. The digital event will open on January 30 and it will remain accessible to visitors through June 30. Visitors will scroll through authors’ booths and virtually meet the author through a pre-recorded video, lasting between 3 to 15 minutes. There will be about 100 authors. Readers can browse 82 |

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books in a booth by clicking on the cover image. The reader will have the option to use Amazon’s “Look Inside” feature to gain access to a preview of the book. Then, visitors can click “Buy Now” to order the book. Guest speakers, including Pulitzer Prize winner Jack Davis and NAACP Image Award Nominees Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal, will give featured talks. The event is free and open to the public. The event is hosted by the Writers Alliance of Gainesville (WAG). The committee met in the early months of 2020 to plan the upcoming festival. However, when the global pandemic hit, the group realized some things were going to have to change. The committee discussed multiple ideas and concepts, but they wanted to maintain the same key attractions from the previous year’s festival at Santa Fe College. “There’s a certain thing with

A book festival is a celebration of learning and literacy that is fun and educational, bringing together people of all ages who share a love of reading and who will leave the event inspired by their experiences. The Sunshine State Book Festival features 100 authors writing in 18 genres, and over a third of them have won literary awards. There will never be a better opportunity to become inspired by the wealth of knowledge and love for literature from the comfort of your living room.

book lovers,” Richard Gartee, a member of WAG, said. “They like to be able to browse. They like to be able to pick up a book and look at it.” Last January, the 2020 Sunshine State Book Festival brought 75 authors and 3,000 readers together. There were about five to six major speakers who spoke on topics relating to literature. The decision to keep the attraction of guest speakers was an obvious choice, but the question remained of how this event would operate. Members of WAG were hesitant to use Zoom (seemingly the most common video chat platform in these times of quarantine) after observing the challenges and complications faced by other large organizations who hosted events. Challenges included bandwidth issues, connectivity problems, too much traffic and the inability for elderly participants to adapt to technology. WAG concluded that the solution was to have the authors and guest speakers prerecord videos and post them on their website, sunshinestatebookfestival.com. Festival visitors will not have to register in advance or worry about any of the other issues. One can anticipate some difficulties in transition from a classic, in-person event to a modern, virtual affair. Yet, it is the level of joy in the reader’s experience that truly matters. If WAG can make the digital event equally as entertaining, informational and successful as the prior year’s, traditionally formatted event, then all is not lost. There is a chance the second annual book festival may even be better than the first. With the switch to an online format, comes opportunities for guests that were otherwise not feasible. The Sunshine State Book Festival can now attract visitors who physically could not attend the festival. People from different cities and even states can now attend the event without being forced to drive a long distance. Although, as Gartee pointed out, users will not be able to ask the speaker or author questions online, at the physical book event, it was not much different. Due to the typical, overwhelming number of attendants, it was not likely that everyone’s questions would’ve gotten answered. Bonnie Ogle is a secretary on the Sunshine State Book Festival committee and a children’s author. As an author of three children’s books, the advantages of an online format for families hit home. The digital version of the book festival gives parents more flexibility to scroll through the site during their down time. Parents are not confined to only one day at a specific time like they are with a physical event. The website can be viewed at their leisure. For children who want to view the site on their own, the site will have a separate children’s division with safeguards to prevent kids from accessing age inappropriate books. Some authors created activities for children that the parent can print out, like coloring sheets, puzzles and games relating to the book. “I think the visitors are going to be very pleased,” she said. She explained that she also believes this change could be good for authors too. Due to the prolonged number of days the content is available, authors will receive more exposure than at a typical book event. “WAG was established so that we had a cultural center for writers in North Central Florida,” Jess Elliott, current vice president of WAG and registrar for the Sunshine State Book Festival, said. “We didn’t have anything here in the Gainesville area.” The Writers JAN/FEB 2021

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Jack E. Davis is a UF professor of history, specializing in environmental history and sustainability studies. He is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea.” Davis is one of the speakers at this year’s virtual book festival.

Alliance of Gainesville promotes, supports and encourages writers by gathering writers at all levels together to provide advice, peer critiques/ reviews and other resources for its members. Gartee, Ogle and Elliott said they agree that WAG has shown resilience in a time when it was much needed. The organization adapted to the circumstances at hand and (while following safety guidelines) continued to support the community in the best way it knew how. WAG includes people in their 30s, 40s and even 80s. The group hopes to attract a younger crowd. Elliott said she admires the group’s willingness to share information, dedication and friendliness. This year may require you to open a laptop before you can open a book, but the knowledge received will be priceless. A preview of the Sunshine State Book Festival is currently available online at sunshinestatebookfestival. com, where on January 30 you can also log on for the event.

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NATIONAL AWARD >> DR. JAMIE ELLIS

THE LATEST BUZZ

UF’S DR. JAMIE ELLIS WINS NATIONAL EXCELLENCE IN EXTENSION AWARD

Proud Honey Bee W R ITTEN BY SU MMER JA R RO

Dr. Jamie Ellis’ passion for honey bees started with a flyer, a bee colony and a dream. When Ellis was in kindergarten someone came into his class to talk about honeybees and passed out a flyer about bees. He kept it and put it in his toy box and would stumble upon it time and time again. Near his elementary school, there was also a bee colony in someone’s backyard that sparked his interest. Then, when he was 7 or 8 years old, he had a dream about bees. By then, he knew he wanted to work with bees and have his own colonies. Ellis went to his parents and asked them if he could have his own bee colony. It took four years of convincing, and when he was 12 he got what he wanted. During those four years, other people helped make his dream come true. His sixth grade science teacher was one day teaching about bees, and he expressed his interest to her. She had an uncle in North Carolina who had bees and offered to bring him an empty beehive if he promised to fill it with bees. 86 |

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“And the rest is history,” Ellis said. “We put bees into it, and I haven’t looked back since.” Through a friend of a friend of his father’s, Ellis also came in contact with a beekeeper who became his mentor. When his mentor passed away he was given all of his equipment. Ellis had about 15 colonies at his grandfather’s dairy farm and also sold honey. In high school he started doing research and science fair projects on bees. He then received a degree in biology at the University of Georgia and his Ph.D in entomology at Rhodes University in South Africa. What he likes about bees and beekeeping is the different aspects of them and the never-ending source of information they provide. For example, when keeping bees you have to build hives, so you’re like a carpenter. With bees you have to know what plants they are visiting to make honey, so you’re a botanist and more, he said.

NATIONAL AWARD >> DR. JAMIE ELLIS

A demonstration at the 2015 Annual Bee College, held at the UF Whitney Marine Lab in St. Augustine, shows live honey bee colonies in open hives. Dr. Jamie Ellis led the event, which brought in more than 350 people in attendance.

“Keeping bees is artistic. It’s scientific. There’s really something for every part of your brain in the world of beekeeping, and I just found that intellectually satisfying,” he said. Today, Ellis is the director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory and a professor and extension specialist of the UF/IFAS department of entomology and nematology. Recently, he was awarded the 2020 Excellence in Extension Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Cooperative Extension and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). The award is given to those who have strived during their careers through their local, state, regional or national responsibilities to provide excellence in Extension educational programming, according to a press release. The Excellence in Extension Award is given annually to a professional in extension who excels at programming, shows leadership and makes a positive impact on those served. Since 2006, Ellis has been working at the University of Florida and having responsibilities in research, teaching and extension. He has been addressing problems in the bee industry such as dealing with beekeeper issues. He also teaches his team subjects or courses on beekeeping as well as grad students and students

overseas. With extension, Ellis has used science-based information to work with a clientele group to try to change behavior toward a desired outcome. One instance is working with beekeepers to try to teach them ways to manage having better survivorship of colonies and stronger colonies, he said. “Dr. Ellis is a model for faculty not just at our university but within the landgrant system and across the world,” said Nick Place, dean of UF/IFAS Extension. “He is the go-to person for all things honey bees. Dr. Ellis has gained national and international recognition for his innovative Extension programming, which has allowed beekeepers and other stakeholders to adopt science-based practices that improve the health and productivity of honey bee colonies. Dr. Ellis’ program has also increased the public’s awareness about the importance of honey bees within the food system and how all of us can support pollinators.” Ellis first competed against other extension specialists across the Southern region of the country and won. Then, he went on to win the national award, which he is humbled by. “To be able to have your program recognized among all different types of extensions across the entire United States is very humbling, and I think it is also a testament to all of my JAN/FEB 2021

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NATIONAL AWARD >> DR. JAMIE ELLIS

colleagues who have helped me too,” Ellis said. Although Ellis was the recipient of the award, which was given out virtually this year, he recognizes his team as one of the reasons he was considered and ultimately received the award. He feels he was selected for the award because of the team of individuals he has been fortunate enough to work with, he said. “They are just excellent, and we recognize the things that we needed to address,” Ellis said. “We partnered with beekeepers to address those, and we’ve had lots of success stories.” One of those successes includes the amount of bee colonies that have grown since Ellis started working at UF. When he was hired there were about 100,000 to 150,000 colonies of bees. Now there are about 650,000 in Florida. There were also about 1,000 beekeepers, and now there are about 5,000 in Florida. “Now, my programming, my working with my colleagues, we aren’t responsible for all of that, but we are responsible for some of that,” Ellis said. Amy Vu, extension coordinator for the Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab, believes Ellis winning the award is deserved. “He has great extension programs,” Vu said. “He has done a lot to build relationships with beekeepers, with non-beekeepers, with anyone involved with honey bees or with food production. He’s a huge advocate for agriculture and is well represented not just throughout the state but throughout the world.” Mary Bammer, who is the lab instructional designer for

the Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab, is very excited about Ellis winning the award. “As a lab member, it’s definitely something that all of us feel really proud of,” Bammer said. “It’s just really cool to get that national recognition.” Ellis also believes he received the award because of the subject matter he works with, which is honeybees and pollination, and the reach he and his team have had through the different programs offered. “Thousands upon thousands of beekeepers reached as well as millions upon millions of citizens who now know the importance of bees because of what my colleagues and I have been fortunate to be able to do,” Ellis said. Bees have been a large part of Ellis’ life and have done a lot for him. “That’s why it’s such an honor to be recognized with this national award,” he said. “Yes, I’m the face of the program. I’m the originator of the program, but it’s really nice to be able to accept the award on behalf of all of the people with whom I have interacted and worked with over the years, who ultimately contributed to making what we have been able to build at UF a reality.” Working with bees has been a tremendous, satisfying, humbling and fulfilling journey for Ellis. “With that said, I feel like I‘ve got a lot more to do and a lot more to offer,” Ellis said. “I feel with the team that I have and the collaborators we have moving forward, we’re still going to try to change the world. So hopefully we’re not done yet.”

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We feel the best way to find and recognize local charities in our communities is by asking you! The Radiant Community Foundation, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves the communities in and around North Central Florida by promoting and facilitating philanthropy. The Foundation was established to promote and provide charitable assistance that contributes towards the development, education and well-being of the communities, areas and residents of Alachua, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, and Levy Counties in Florida. The foundation’s initial goal is to administer and fully fund the award winning Facebook Charity-of-the-Month program. Radiant Credit Union started the program in 2013, but has turned over administration of the program to the foundation, with Radial Federal Credit Union acting only as a sponsor. This has been done in the belief that this path will ensure the program remains a strong and expanding community resource long into the future. The Radiant Community Foundation, Inc., provides donors/members opportunities to participate in the furtherance of the foundation’s goals in multiple ways. First, and foremost, the donors/members are providing funds to support the foundation’s charitable initiatives. Donors/members can also nominate groups for the Charity of the Month program, and then vote for the group of their choice. Donors/members are encouraged to participate and vote in the Charity of the Month program. Ultimately, the voters choose where foundation donations go as part of the infrastructure of the program.

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• Recognized on the Charity of the Month Facebook Contest page.

• Mentioned in the Charity of the Month page in Our Town Magazine

MOST RECENT WINNING ORGANIZATIONS TO NOMINATE A CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE OR TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE NOMINEES, VISIT:

https://www.facebook.com/RadiantCU and click on “Charity of the Month”

CONG R ATUL ATION S! OCTOBER 2020 WINNER

NOVEMBER 2020 WINNER

Bronson Eagles Softball

UF Equal Access Clinic Network

The winner of the October Charity of the Month is Bronson Eagles Softball Team. They will receive $1,000. Virginia Phillips will win $300 for nominating them. The random charity winner, Lubee Bat Conservancy, will take home $500. The random voter, Alison McMurray, will win $100.

The winner of the November Charity of the Month is UF Equal Access Clinic Network. They will receive $1,000. Juliana Pena Lopez will win $300 for nominating them. The random charity winner, High Springs Community School PTSA, will take home $500. The random voter, Mimi Macklin, will win $100.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS >> CHARITY OF THE MONTH

CH A RIT Y OF THE MONTH WINNER S

A project of the Radiant Community Foundation, Inc. Presented by Radiant Credit Union and Our Town Family of Magazines

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COLUMN

DONNA BONNELL’S

Embracing Life JOURNALING BUILDS RESILIENCE

DONNA BONNELL BECAME THE AUTHOR OF HER COLUMN, EMBRACING LIFE, MORE THAN A DECADE AGO. SHE SHARES HER PERSONAL CHALLENGES AND VICTORIES WITH THE GOAL OF INSPIRING HER READERS TO ANALYZE WHY THINGS HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. bonneldj@gmail.com

mbracing Life debuted in September of 2004, a column created from journaling. It has provided me with a healthy means for stimulating personal survival skills of insight, inspiration and resilience. In short, journaling helped prepare me for the pandemic and the tumultuous days of 2020. My beloved column’s roots were planted following a terrifying event in the summer before its birth. On a somewhat somber flight home from vacation, both motors on the quiet aircraft suddenly failed. The plane began to rapidly descend. Let’s just say we were falling fast. Frightened crew members quickly activated the emergency landing procedures, while passengers prayed. Oh, and yes, we screamed! Petrified and panicked, we believed our time to perish had arrived. The skilled pilot miraculously managed to partially engage an engine. Albeit a bit bumpy, we landed safely. Our grateful group deplaned and spent the next 24 hours (or so) in the airport. Strangers instantaneously bonded and provided support for each other. As we nervously stepped into the next trek of our individual travels, sincere goodbyes were expressed with genuine love and warm hugs. Our lives had changed. Prior to that incident, I was a hopeless insomniac and dreaded nightfall. After working a stressful full-time job and managing a busy family, I was physically and mentally exhausted. My brain, however, simply refused to turn off. While most people were blissfully sleeping and dreaming, I was miserable. My brain was determined to resolve every nonsensical dilemma. To make matters worse, I would rarely formulate solutions. Mornings began with anger (at myself ). The vicious cycle perpetuated for years. Something had to change. Prayers for guidance had been a nightly ritual for almost as long as I can remember. Finally, my answer was delivered in the most unexpected way. Who would have ever guessed that a near plane crash would be the first phase of my answer? Little did I know that chapters two and three were lurking around the corner. When I returned home, insomnia once again reared its ugly head. That is when phase two went into action. My

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inner voice (which can sometimes be annoying) seemed to be screaming. It was directing me to document my life-changing airline experience. Since the nagging whispers could not be ignored, I turned on my computer and began typing. It was almost as if the words magically manifested on the monitor. Complete sentences, correct spelling and proper punctuation were unimportant. Maybe it was sleep deprivation, but it felt as though I allowed my unconscious mind to take over. By sunrise, my monkey-mind had cleared. Strangely, by focusing on only one specific event, my psyche relaxed. One by one, every fear and emotion unraveled and hurled from my intellect onto the computer screen. Imagine my sheer delight when I found more positives than negatives listed. This was a huge breakthrough for me! Little did I know, it was only the beginning. Instinctively, however, I knew my tale was worth telling. How to do so, was a mystery. Paradoxically (perhaps) phase three emerged. A local newspaper advertised for guest writers. Based on my journaling of that fateful day, I wrote my article. My piece was accepted for publication. Before the end of that month Embracing Life was born. Much has happened in the nearly two decades since my column’s inception. Embracing Life has helped me evolve and live a more positive lifestyle. Publicly sharing and analyzing personal dilemmas placed a greater emphasis on researching and authenticating my thoughts. Writing about my concerns, rather than worrying about them all night, has allowed my mind to rest. Feedback from readers facing similar issues, has validated my purpose for continuing this column. This leg of my life’s journey began by journaling. It does not cost anything and can be a safe avenue to privately ponder your innermost emotions. There are many resources available to help jumpstart and embrace this endeavor. I wholeheartedly concur with Caroline Johnstone, author of Dare to be Happier. She wrote, “My main focus is on the gentle and therapeutic power of journaling to access and deal with emotions, to move from a place of limitation and fear to a positive outlook in life by harnessing your own wisdom, and for you to authentically and powerfully take control of your life.”

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ANIMALS >> HANDI-CAPABLE PETS

PRECIOUS PET

Perfectly Imperfect The Resilience of Handi-Capable Pets S T O R Y B Y H AY L I Z U C C O L A P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y TA N YA C O N S A U L A N D D O N N A B U R C H

pet’s love is unconditional. They disregard our flaws and forgive our mistakes. They overlook physical appearances, are indifferent to beliefs and apathetic to achievements or lack thereof because to them inner beauty and kindness are behind every wet-nose kiss. For dogs and cats with special needs, finding someone to reciprocate a similar sense of acceptance and open-mindedness can be challenging, but not impossible. In 2018, Haile’s Angels Pet Rescue established So Fetch – an annual runway show fundraiser featuring handi-capable pets and their success stories – to bring attention to adoptable and previously adopted pets with varying medical needs. 96 |

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ANIMALS >> HANDI-CAPABLE PETS

Bailey (left), a former Haile’s Angel, was born without her left front paw. Allie (top right) was born with Cerebellar Hypoplasia, a neurologic condition. Kane (bottom right) came to Haile’s Angels when he was five weeks old. Though he is paralyzed from the waist down, he’s as playful as his feline friends.

“Because they’re differently abled, they’re not everyone’s cup of tea, you know, it’s not a puppy or a kitten that is running around and that you have for their whole lives. Some of these guys do require some extra veterinary care, so they tend to be overlooked in rescues,” said Dr. Sam Rivera, a veterinarian with the Haile Plantation Animal Clinic and chairwoman for Haile’s Angels Pet Rescue’s board of directors. “We wanted to show to the community that these animals are fantastic, they’re just as loving, if not more loving,” she said. “We wanted to highlight them and their different abilities – or their handi-capabilities as we call them – just to bring awareness to them in general.” Regardless of their neurological disorders or physical ailments, every pet that has attended So Fetch has confronted their condition with courage, determination and resilience, proving that with a little love and patience, our furry friends can conquer anything. Speedy is an affectionate and curious 15-year-old white poodle that adores warm belly rubs and accompanying his owner, Dr. Becky Gill, on car rides and shopping trips. His friendly, relaxed personality overshadows the reality that Speedy is blind in both eyes and is missing his teeth. After losing her dachshund, Lady Bug, Gill, who lived alone and was retired, wanted to adopt a 98 |

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dog that needed her as much as she needed them. During a visit to Haile’s Angels, Gill met and adopted Speedy who instantly showed affection and interest in being in her arms. Since his adoption, Speedy has learned to navigate his new home – minimizing accidental bumps into corners – and spends his days being the co-pilot on drives to the post office or acting as a box-office assistant at Chiefland’s Suwannee Valley Players where Gill volunteers. “I just think for an older, abused, blind, toothless dog, that he is doing wonderfully,” Gill said. “I’m so happy I’ve been given an opportunity to adopt him because he has been a joy in my life.” After losing her 15-year-old Jack Russell, Liffey, Coleen Tomlinson, who had other paw-padded companions in the home, and her male Jack Russell, Chester, were heartbroken. Knowing she’d eventually want to adopt another dog like Liffey to help mend her heart and comfort Chester’s loneliness, Tomlinson reached out to friends in local rescues and within five days learned 9-year-old Bebe was at a local adoption event. Still mourning her loss and assuming Bebe’s smile would get her adopted quickly, she declined the adoption offer. Unbeknownst to her, Bebe had a large tumor removed that left her with a permanently bent back leg and the hesitance of potential adopters.

ANIMALS >> HANDI-CAPABLE PETS

“These guys are super resilient and they just move forward, they don’t look back.” Unable to stop thinking about her and unfazed by her handi-capability, Tomlinson decided to foster and later adopt Bebe. “I feel like she was sent to me,” she said. “The fact Bebe’s owner had passed away and my dog had passed away and it was just five days later, it was like it was just meant to be.” In a house inhabited by five other dogs, Bebe holds her own, being the smallest, fiercest of the bunch and the fastest to catch a thrown ball – even if that means jumping in the pool with her “Bebe shark” lifejacket to fetch one. Amazed by her fearless, unstoppable personality, Tomlinson entered Bebe into So Fetch in 2019. “That was one of the best events ever. There were so many other dogs there, but when they were putting out a request for handi-capable [pets], I sent pictures and videos of her in, she was like the little star of the show,” she said. “The whole thing was such a great idea for a fundraiser because so many dogs and cats have issues. It’s like they’re perfectly imperfect.” Kristen Seare-Jones was instantly struck by the beautiful

blue eyes of Allie, a Catahoula leopard dog born with Cerebellar Hypoplasia, a neurologic condition causing her to have severe issues with balance. “It’s more pronounced when she’s excited, which is a lot of the time – people or food or things like that – and she kind of paces a lot if she’s like that, she tip-taps – I say she dances – and then a lot of times if she shakes her head that’s when she’ll fall over,” Seare-Jones said. Seare-Jones had never had a handi-capable pet before, so witnessing Allie repeatedly tumble and fall around the Haile’s Angels’ office left her in doubt – a feeling that subsided after researching the condition, talking to Allie’s previous foster family, gathering information from the vet techs and getting to know her personality. Allie was a mere six months old when Seare-Jones took her home almost three years ago. As a family, they’ve figured out ways to manage Allie’s condition whether that means having more carpeting, removing the feet of the couch or keeping her JAN/FEB 2021

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Regardless of their neurological disorders or physical ailments, every pet that has attended So Fetch has confronted their condition with courage, determination and resilience. Proving that with a little love and patience, our furry friends can conquer anything.

on a harness during walks. “It’s been a learning experience, we have kind of grown together,” Seare-Jones said. “I would say 90 percent of things she can pretty much do on her own.” Her independent attitude and perseverance made Allie the ideal furry model to strut the So Fetch runway. “I love it because it gets her story out and people see, what she’s dealing with, but I also love to see all of the different things that other pet parents and other pets are dealing with and just like Allie, how resilient they are in how they’re making the absolute best of life and don’t think anything of whatever condition they have,” she said. Even though Speedy, Bebe and Allie were adopted before their So Fetch appearance, the event also recognizes pets up for adoption like Kane, a domestic shorthair cat brought to the shelter at 5 weeks old and paralyzed from the waist down. After caring for him at the rescue and watching his runway debut, Dr. Sam Rivera, who helped establish the So Fetch fundraiser, decided to adopt Kane herself, who she refers to as her Swiffer cat. “He doesn’t know the difference between himself and my 100 |

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other cat. He’s super strong and he’s the sweetest boy,” she said. Being surrounded by shelter pets with varying degrees of abilities and with the adoption of Kane, who loves hiding in outdoor ferns and climbing his cat tree, Rivera has seen first-hand the mental and physical strength within every handi-capable animal. “These guys are super resilient and they just move forward, they don’t look back,” Rivera said. “Even though they look different, even though it may seem like they have more medical needs – and some of them do – I just wish the community would understand that they give just as much love if not more love than our normally abled pets. ” Similar to how they see the inner beauty in their human companions, pets are oblivious to the disadvantages and differences in themselves – their only concern being living life to the fullest. “That’s the great thing about these guys is that they don’t seem to understand their circumstance. We as humans think a lot about what we can’t do, but they really just move forward,” she said. “Despite what looks to be a tough circumstance, they just find a way to creatively build strength and keep going.

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PLANTSTAY >> LOCAL PLANT SHOP THRIVES

GROW THROUGH IT

PlantStay The Resilience of Bren Strickland and Her Plants S T O R Y B Y H AY L I Z U C C O L A PHOTOG R A PHY BY ERICK A WINTER ROW D

or the most part, people’s personalities mimic that of plants. It may seem like an unusual comparison, but after delving into the different varieties, the similarities become undeniable. Succulents represent the introverted and low maintenance; sunflowers: happiness and positivity; lavender for the relaxed and stress-free and birds of paradise that demand attention and excitement with their bright and colorful appearance. Though people can overlap into multiple groups, there’s one plant tier that represents a character that’s more determined and resilient than any other: weeds. Though the term may evoke a negative perception among meticulous gardeners, weeds at their core are survivors. Growing through whatever cracks arise in the pavement; withstanding extreme sun or lack thereof and enduring a flood or drought, weeds take life’s obstacles in stride and never give up no matter what their circumstances may be.

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Bren Strickland is a recovered plant murderer. Though her mother was blessed with a green thumb, it’s a skill that unfortunately isn’t hereditary. After multiple episodes of bringing plants near the brink of death then switching them out again at her mom’s house, Strickland took a job in the marketing and business development department of a landscaping company where she became familiar with lawn and ornamental health. Learning by trial and error, she found her niche in houseplants, which offered indoor beauty and greenery for a range of expertise from rewarding starter plants like snake plants and devil’s ivy to more finicky options like the Boston fern and fiddle leaf fig. As she became more successful, Strickland contemplated turning her flora hobby into a business that could offer a catalog of plants, workshops and experienced recommendations. “There are a lot of plant parents who are kind of habitual plant murderers. They love plants, but they don’t know what they’re doing, so I really wanted

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to create a space where you can find, one: a consistently great variety, and two: really the tools and knowledge,” Strickland said. In November 2019, Strickland began testing the waters to see if such a concept would interest the Gainesville community and if it was even a viable business option. With pop-up plant shops and plant sales drawing interest, PlantStay became a reality, but the plan for an official kickoff was short-lived once the pandemic hit. Unable to have a major event and living with a garage full of vegetation, Strickland had her first plant sale in June and participated in various local events while putting the finishing touches on her brick and mortar. As if launching a business during a pandemic wasn’t challenging enough, the popularity of houseplants during the quarantine resulted in a plant shortage. To ensure she’d always have an assortment of plants in stock, she built her inventory from multiple sources — traveling as far as south Florida and internationally importing rare collections. Nevertheless, the vast majority are locally grown in central and south Florida or in Strickland’s greenhouse. “We have a base of like five different plant families and even within those families there’s tons of variety,” she said. Despite the initial struggles of navigating the virus and overcoming a plant shortage, on September 3, PlantStay opened a physical location to the public. One that featured a wide selection of plants and knowledge-based workshops on repotting plants, blending soils and plant propagation with plans of adding creative make-and-take events like designing succulent picture frames and DIY terrariums. “A big part of why I wanted to do this is to build a community. There’s a very active houseplant community in Gainesville without a lot of forums and places to get together. The ones that we started with were new plant parents/ recovering plant 104 |

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murderer workshops, and we do that with a plant we re-pot together and kind of the tools to know ‘how do I pick the best plants for me, what do these different types of lighting mean, how do I really water this and know that I’m doing it right.’ All those basics,” she said. In addition to workshops, Strickland has implemented the Plant Friends Club, which is a monthly subscription service that gives members a handpicked, four-inch plant every month, a 10% discount when picking up their plants and early access to workshops and special events. Besides offering an ombré of greenery, Strickland uses her PlantStay platform to collaborate with other local, women-owned businesses and has filled her shop with an eclectic mix of plant-themed merchandise including PlantStay-exclusive soaps made by Bookish Apothecary in the flavors “Frond of You” and “Monstera Love;” custom-blended soy candles by Earth Tonix in the scents Monstera, String of Pearls, Calathea and Succulent; macramé knotted hangers; copper trellises and plant-focused art. Expanding on their community involvement, every Monday, a portion of the day’s proceeds go to PlantStay’s charity of the month. Like an unstoppable dandelion or everlasting white clover, Strickland’s resilience in life helped her overcome her history as an admitted “plant murderer” to become a plant mom to over 150 leafy housemates and fulfill her dream of creating a one-of-a-kind plant shop — even during a global pandemic. Those are some strong roots! PlantStay, which is located at 3739 W University Ave, is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To find out about upcoming workshops; information on consultation, design, installation and sourcing services; and new merchandise, follow PlantStay on social media or visit their website at plantstay.com.

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COMMU NIT Y C A LENDA R

JA N/ FEB 2021

SURVIVAL OF THE SLOWEST EXHIBIT OPENING DAY Saturday, January 23 at 10am – 4:30pm

Florida Museum of Natural History- Visitors will get up close and personal to the world’s slowest animals!

WILLY PORTER

Friday, January 8 at 7pm – 10pm Heartwood Soundstage, 619 South Main St.

GAINESVILLE - Willy Porter has been turning first time listeners into die-hard fans for more than two decades. Willy blurs the line between indie folk and rock with his searing signature finger-picking guitar sound, absorbing lyrics, and playful, high-energy live performance style. He has shared world stages with music icons Jeff Beck, Tori Amos, and Paul Simon. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm. heartwoodsoundstage.com

HOGTOWN SLAYERS ROCK ONE LOVE CAFÉ

Gainesville Garden Club, 1350 NW 75 St.

GAINESVILLE – Join the Gainesville Garden Club for their Aged to Perfection event featuring a wine social, open house and auction. ggcfl.org

FUN WITH FLOWERS

Tuesday, January 19 at 10am

Gainesville Garden Club, 1350 NW 75 St.

GAINESVILLE – Hands-on floral design program includes lecture, demonstration and materials. Coffee social at 9:30am, RSVP requested: rsvp. ggcfl@gmail.com or ggcfl.org

1ST ANNUAL NCFAA INVITATIONAL Friday, January 22 at 9am – 5pm

Saturday, January 9 at 6pm – 9pm

Ironwood Golf Course, 2100 NE 39th Ave.

One Love Café, 4989 NW 40th Place

GAINESVILLE - Join the NCFAA for their first Golf Invitational event. Enjoy lunch, drinks, prizes, networking opportunities on the links and much more. Cost is $65 per player and includes 18 holes of golf with cart, range balls, lunch and awards. Contests will be held for putting, longest drive and closest to the pin. ncfaa.net/ events/register

GAINESVILLE – Start out your Saturday Evening at One Love Cafe. Great food, nice outdoor atmosphere and Great Music with Cap Smith & the Hogtown Slayers. onelove.cafe

AGED TO PERFECTION

Thursday, January 14 at 4pm – 7pm 106 |

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SURVIVAL OF THE SLOWEST EXHIBIT OPENING DAY

Saturday, January 23 at 10am – 4:30pm

Florida Museum of Natural History, 3215 Hull Road

GAINESVILLE - How can slow and steady win the race? Does bigger always mean better? “Survival of the Slowest” takes a look at animals that are slow, small or weak and how they use these traits to survive and thrive! Exhibit will be on display from January 23 – September 12, 2021. floridamuseum.ufl.edu/event/ survival-of-the-slowest

HOGGETOWNE AT HOME: A VIRTUAL MEDIEVAL EXPERIENCE

Saturday, January 23 and Sunday January 24 at 11 am – 6pm Saturday, January 30 and Sunday, January 31 at 11am – 6pm Saturday, February 6 and Sunday, February 7 at 11am – 6pm

VIRTUAL EVENT - Shop the merchant marketplace, explore a medieval village, and

watch demonstrations all from the comfort of home! Delight in sword fights, olde world music, and twirling dancers. facebook.com/ HoggetowneMedievalFaire or hoggetownefaire.weebly.com

UPSTAGE AT THE PHILLIPS CENTER: DAVINA AND THE VAGABONDS

Saturday, January 30 at – 10pm

University of Florida Performing Arts, 3201 Hull Road

GAINESVILLE – Davina and the Vagabonds has been creating a stir with their shows filled with New Orleans charm, Memphis soul swagger, and a front-woman whose voice and stage presence are simply electric. Purchase tickets for in-person attendance or live stream select performances with UFPA Live. performingarts. ufl.edu/events/davina-and-the-vagabonds

UPSTAGE AT THE PHILLIPS CENTER: LYSANDER PIANO TRIO

Sunday, January 31 at – 4pm; – 9:30pm

HEARTWOOD MUSIC FEST V Saturday, February 27 at 1pm – 11:45pm Heartwood Soundstage, 619 South Main Street GAINESVILLE – Hear from over 24 of the best regional and national acts while enjoying food trucks, craft beer and vendors. heartwoodsoundstage.com

University of Florida Performing Arts, 3201 Hull Road

GAINESVILLE - Known for innovative approaches to master works from the canon, Lysander Piano Trio has turned heads with their ecstatic embrace of newer works and hidden gems. The New York Times has praised the ensemble for its “polished and spirited interpretations.” Purchase tickets for in-person attendance or live stream select performances with UFPA Live. performingarts. ufl.edu/events/lysander-piano-trio

GAINESVILLE ORCHESTRA PRESENTS: MYSTERY

presents Ani Collier’s PORTRAITS. An original work starting from a blank slate, filled with each dancer’s unique sparkle, and painted with choreographer Ani Collier’s artistic brush. Tickets are available at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. $20-$40 Due to limited seating, please contact the Phillips Center at 359-ARTS, purchase on-line or visit the box office between 12 and 6 PM weekdays. performingarts.ufl.edu

FLORA AND FAUNA FEST 2021 Saturday, February 27 at 10am – 2:30pm Steinmetz Hall, 1881 Natural Area Dr.

GAINESVILLE – An annual fundraiser for the Agrios Scholarship Fund for Doctor of Plant Medicine students, the February Flora and Fauna Fest will feature local vendors and UF clubs relating to flora and fauna; insect-related crafts; educational workshops and tours through the University of Florida’s Natural Area Teaching Laboratory. facebook.com/UFDPM

Friday, February 19 at 7:30pm – 9pm

Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 3201 Hull Road

GAINESVILLE - Explore the secrets of the universe with the most popular works in the symphonic repertoire. Gustav Holst’s “The Planet’s” a sonic explosion of the cosmos. John Adam’s pulsating and electric “Harmonielehre” are not to be missed. Tickets are $40. performingarts.ufl.edu

PORTRAITS

Thursday, February 25 at 7:30pm – 9pm Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 3201 Hull Road

UPSTAGE AT THE PHILLIPS CENTER: NELLA Friday, February 26 at – 7pm & 9pm University of Florida Performing Arts, 3201 Hull Road GAINESVILLE - A fresh and exciting voice from Venezuela’s Margarita Island, Nella’s music has been described as “pop with something to say.” In 2019, Nella, a Berklee College of Music graduate, won the Best New Artist category at the Latin Grammys. Purchase tickets for in-person attendance or live stream select performances with UFPA Live. performingarts.ufl.edu/events/nella

GAINESVILLE - Dance Alive National Ballet JAN/FEB 2021

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RECURRING EVENTS ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE

Mondays from 6:45pm – 9:30pm

United Church of Gainesville, 1624 NW 5th Ave.

GAINESVILLE – Enjoy live music with Hoggtowne Fancy and dancing every Monday starting September 7. Lesson starts at 6:45pm, dancing at 7pm. Dance is $5 plus a tip for the band. godsdance.org

GUIDED WALK AT KANAPAHA

YIN & YANG

Mondays, 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm Wildflowers Yoga, 205 NW 10th Ave.

GAINESVILLE – Join Wildflowers Yoga every Monday evening for a free yin & yang yoga class. In this class you will hold postures (yin) for the first half of class, followed by a specific easy flow (yang), both focusing on a specific area of the body or meridian line. wildflowersyoga.com/schedule

HIGH SPRINGS FARMERS MARKET

Fridays from 3 pm – 7 pm

First Saturdays 9am – 12pm

23517 NW 185th Road

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th Dr.

HIGH SPRINGS – Florida grown fruit, vegetables, dairy and meats as well as honey, handmade treats and more. The Farmers Market is produced by The City of High Springs. highsprings. us/farmersmarket

GAINESVILLE – Enjoy a guided tour through Kanapaha Botanical Gardens starting at 10 am the first Saturday of every month. Regular admission price applies for non-members. kanapaha.org

ALACHUA COUNTY FARMERS’ MARKET

GAINESVILLE CARS & COFFEE

Saturdays from 8:30am – 12pm

Second Sundays 9am – 11am

5920 NW 13th St.

Whole Foods Market, 3490 SW Archer Rd.

GAINESVILLE – Don’t forget to bring shopping

GAINESVILLE – A gathering for automotive enthusiasts of all types from exotics and classics to imports and jalopies. The meet is free to attend; coffee will be provided to attendees, as well as breakfast items for sale. gainesvillecarsandcoffee.com

MARY’S HIGH TEA AT SWEETWATER BRANCH INN

Third Tuesdays from 3pm – 5pm

Sweetwater Branch Inn, 625 E University Ave.

GAINESVILLE – Traditionally served on a threetiered stand, includes Sweetwater Branch’s savory and sweet treats paired with your choice of teas and coffees. $25 per person. Please call for reservations 352-373-6760. sweetwaterinn. com

COMMUNITY MARKET

Fourth Saturdays 8 am – 2 pm

Gainesville Shrine Club, 8100 SW Archer Road

GAINESVILLE – The Gainesville Shrine Club’s Community Market will feature food; arts and crafts; vendors and more. Contact David Jones at 336-430-910 to reserve your vendor spot. gainesvilleshrineclub.org

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bags, your grocery list, and plenty of small bills. This market prides itself on being a grower’s only market – meaning the vendors selling produce, plants and other products must have grown the items themselves. 441market.com

HAILE FARMERS MARKET

Saturdays from 8:30am – 12pm Haile Plantation Village

GAINESVILLE – Take a stroll down the tree-lined streets of the Haile Village Center to browse for groceries, prepared food and handmade gifts then continue on for more shopping or brunching at the Village Center’s locally-owned shows and restaurants. Covid-19 recommendations: maintain physical distance, don’t touch products, one customer served per vendor at one time and protect yourself and others by wearing facial coverings. hailefarmersmarket.com

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LOCAL HOSPITALS >> HEALTH CARE HEROES

HOSPITAL HEROES

Braving the Storm The Resiliency of Hospitals and Health Care Workers W R I T T E N B Y A L E X A S A U VA G E R E

magine getting so busy with work that for over four months, you only go home a handful of times. You miss the quality time spent playing games with your kids on the weekends. You miss the proud feeling of supporting your family at significant events. You miss the warm embrace of your partner as the two of you talk before falling asleep. When you finally get the chance to come home, not only are you out of the loop on every story, but you’re too tired to catch up on all you have missed. This is the life of a hospital worker. “Lots of people made sacrifices in their life because of the pandemic,” said Edward Jimenez, the Chief Executive Officer of University of Florida

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Health Shands. As COVID-19 reshapes how we live our lives, we slowly grow numb to the rising numbers and mounting deaths. Eventually, it becomes easier to try to avoid thoughts about the virus. Hospitals’ staff and administrators, however, do not have that luxury. Walking a vulnerable line, they give it their all every time. Then, they go home to tackle the responsibilities there. University of Florida Health Shands serves as a local beacon of resilience and inspiration during these unprecedented times. “At a place like UF Health, where we have some of the most talented people on the planet, [staff members] are driven enough, capable enough, committed enough and smart enough to adapt to

PHOTOGRAPHY: MINDY C. MILLER/ UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

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Thoracic Surgeon Dr. Tiago N. Machuca leads his team in a lung transplant procedure at UF Health Shands. Photo by Mindy C. Miller / UF.

changing environments,” Jimenez said. At the start of March, when the pandemic started catching wind in the United States, the hospital saw about 30 patients infected with the virus. At the time, it felt enormous. Then the numbers rose to 60 and then 90. Each increase brought on stress and anxiety, but never were the rises seen as unmanageable by the staff. “They’re called to work here because they are ready for whatever happens,” Jimenez said. “They are going to take whatever comes their way.” As one of the 200 academic medical centers in the country, the hospital’s ability to call upon the university’s scientists and

his staff possesses when sailing into the dangers of this “typhoon.” Near the height of the pandemic, he walked the 30-bed ICU unit to talk to hospital staff members. Going from person to person, he made a point to thank everyone that he saw. After about the seventh person, he went up to one nurse and gave his thanks. She simply looked at him. “Ed, I got this,” she said. “Stop thanking me.” Hospital workers boast a “can-do attitude” that leaves administrators, patients and onlookers standing in awe of their sheer vigor and might. Even as a level of trepidation clouds the air, they do not show fear amid uncertainty. It hurts administrators and loved ones to know that the intensity will probably burn some

“They’re called to work here because they are ready for whatever happens. They are going to take whatever comes their way.” experts helped them navigate this novel circumstance. In the beginning, dealing with the wildfire spread of misinformation amid the pandemic proved to be one of the biggest challenges faced. Because of the availability of the internet and the speed of word of mouth, the number of false claims grew to an alarming amount. As a result, the hospital began producing videos about every three or four days to share the facts. Jimenez continuously gets inspired by the level of confidence 112 |

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people out because of how challenging and complicated it is to handle the virus. “It doesn’t take a lot for people to inspire me because when I walk around, I have an absolute front row seat to greatness,” Jimenez said. “That alone is inspirational.” One such feat of greatness comes from the hospital’s life-changing work combating lung failure. UF Health Shands has one of the highest one-year survival rates among all lung

LOCAL HOSPITALS >> HEALTH CARE HEROES

transplantation programs in the United States. In addition, it also boasts one of the lowest wait-list mortality rates. The hospital performs about two to three times more lung transplants than any other hospital or center in Florida. Consequently, over the course of the last six years, UF Health Shands has become a destination center for lung transplants, receiving patients from all over Florida and the southeast region of the country, as well as from places farther away. During the pandemic, especially, people view the hospital as a go-to place for complex lung transplants. “If you combine volume and qualDr. Tiago N. Machuca ity, we are really a national leader in lung transplantation,” said Dr. Tiago N. Machuca, a thoracic surgeon with a heavy concentration in lung preservation. To battle the pandemic, doctors had to translate information from similar diseases or similar situations to help combat their lack of knowledge on the novel coronavirus. One of the severe side-effects of COVID-19 results in acquiring an acute lung disease. Only two ways can help save the lives of people with the complication: having an artificial lung bring health to their native lungs or performing a lung transplant on them. The patients seen in the lung transplantation program teetered at the very end of the spectrum — the sickest of the sick. Some patients managed to recover with aid from an artificial lung, but the virus left others with irreversible lung failure. Every form of conventional medical therapy failed to work on them. In the end, they were 100% dependent on machines and devices. “Everything that we had in terms of information from them and in terms of imaging and physiology was just showing that they were completely end-stage,” Machuca said. “Those lungs PHOTO BY: LOUIS BREMS/ UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

were never coming back.” Normally, surgeons rarely perform lung transplants on people who have developed an acute viral disease, such as COVID-19. For Machuca and his team, it proved difficult trying to gauge whether cases were totally irreversible or whether cases had a fighting chance. A lot of lengthy discussions took place with the team, family and patients to make sure that the team made the best decisions and took the best course of actions to improve the quality of life. “There are very rare instances that a physician can truly change the course from when a patient is about to die, and there is zero hope, to when a patient is going to walk out of the hospital — getting back his life in a short period of time,” Machuca said. So far, the hospital has performed a total of six lung transplants on patients with pandemic-acquired acute lung diseases. These patients had been in the ICU for several months. Their bodies were deconditioned, and they had additional conditions such as hypertension. Their hearts were weak. Machuca became inspired by the perseverance and grit of the families that worked to find his team and gave hope to this last resort. The lung transplant program at UF Health Shands could have claimed the procedures were too much of a risk and not have done it, but they did. The power of collaboration and everyone working to the same aim proved to be a complete game-changer. “We’re going to take on this challenge,” Machuza said, “and we’ll keep working hard to help the highest number of patients that we can.” Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear scrubs! JAN/FEB 2021

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NEW BUSINESSES >> SETTING UP SHOP

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Defying the Odds Three Local Businesses Open During COVID-19 S TORY A N D PHOTOG R A PHY BY HOPE DE A N

tarting a business is hard, but starting a business during a pandemic is even harder. All across the country, about 100,000 businesses have had to close down permanently since the pandemic started. In Alachua County alone, thousands have been left unemployed as over 11,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Florida on Dec. 21, according to nytimes.com. It’s been enough for the county to give out $15 million in grants to help keep small and medium businesses afloat. Despite the struggle, however, some businesses have actually opened their doors during the pandemic. Here are three independent businesses in Alachua County that have found success in trying times.

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The How Bazar

stock of vintage clothing originating anywhere from Atlanta to Jose Peruyero did everything young entrepreneurs are told California. Some were out of work and had to pay their bills, so not to do, he said. Don’t start a business with friends. Don’t set they opened the shop out of necessity despite the bad timing, the business up without investors or a traditional company Peruyero said. hierarchy. And certainly don’t open during a pandemic. Peruyero “It was really stressful for most of us to be in a situation where it was like, ‘What are we going to do?’” Peruyero said. did all three — but so far, everything has turned out fine, he said. “We literally were like, ‘Nah, we’re not playing by the rules,’” “And we were just like, ‘Let’s throw all the cards on the table and see what happens.’ Desperation is the mother of invention, Peruyero said. “And that in itself was really exciting.” In early September, Peruyero opened the doors of The How right?” Bazar, a vintage clothing store on 408 W University Ave. He So far, that invention has paid off, Peruyero said. Despite the extra cost of installing a hospital-grade air filter for and four other co-owners fashioned the place into not only a C O V I D - 1 9 s a f e t y, shop but an interactive art they haven’t had any project too. Mannequins problems paying rent. outfitted with leather The How Bazar has plague doctor masks also adapted by holdsquat on top of racks of ing monthly outdoor clothing. Blue and yellow markets, collabolights cast color across the rating with dozens dimly-lit space, reflecting of other local indeoff the customers’ faces. pendent sellers who A mannequin wearing s e l l a ny t h i n g f r o m an animal skull mask is reworked clothes to tucked into a corner, and carved crystals. Each stacked televisions playing creator runs their grainy, ‘80s-like footage booth, which all line greet patrons at the door. the side of the historic “You can tell, ‘Okay, Seagle Building where this place is a weird underThe How Bazar rents ground,’” Peruyero said. “I space. These events wanted somebody to know Jose Peruyero and four other co-owners fashioned the How Bazar into not only a shop feed into the How right off the bat, before but an interactive art project too. Bazar’s main goal, Peruyero said — artists supporting they walked in here, what to expect.” artists. Both the design and the owners come from Gainesville’s art community, Peruyero said. He met them years ago through “If artists can make a living wage, they can spend more underground art exhibits and his old band, Some Heavier Things. time making art,” he said. “What we want is for people to be able to spend more time doing the things that they are The idea to start the shop had been around for at least a year, biologically, I believe, designed to do.” but the pandemic hit just as the owners had gathered up a 118 |

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NEW BUSINESSES >> SETTING UP SHOP

Luke’s New York Bagel Shop

“It was either: we just sit around, or we actually go and see what happens,” he said. “So we decided to open because sitting Luke Vescovi didn’t want to be an entrepreneur at first. That’s what he told his parents back home in New Jersey, when the would do nothing.” idea of starting a family bagel shop had been passed around for While Vescovi’s mother is a baker by trade and helped form their homemade bagel recipes, that’s not the only thing three years. He was set on attending medical school sometime that gives the bagels their kick, Vescovi said. It’s also the New after graduating from UF with his degree in biotechnology, he York WaterMaker, a filtration system that hangs proudly said. But that was before his retired parents moved to Florida, before they started selling bagels on the side — before Vescovi above one of their industrial sinks. The filtration system is custom-made to convert Gainesville’s water to the quality of changed his mind. That’s how the official storefront of Luke’s New York Bagel New York’s water, which is widely rumored to be better for baking. Water is the No. 1 Shop, located at 620 S Main ingredient in bagels, and St, opened on March 25. using the filtration unit Vescovi runs it with a new beats spending money fleet of employees and his on cases and cases of botfamily, all while pursuing tled spring water, which his graduate degree in busiis what they were doing ness management. Despite before. the pandemic, the store has “I swore by it as soon been packed almost every as I saw how much our day since opening. dough changed,” Vescovi “I knew that there said. “We had to go back to were enough tri-state area square one again and redo people here and enough our entire recipe, which South Florida people here was a good thing, because who were asking for a bagel now they’re coming out shop,” he said, “but I didn’t the way that they are.” realize we’d have an hour Armed with new recipes long wait outside.” It started when Vescovi Vescovi wants Luke’s New York Bagel Shop to expand. The store has already started and a loyal flow of customers, Vescovi wants Luke’s and his parents began sell- selling new breakfast sandwiches from a new food truck stationed outside the shop. New York Bagel Shop to ing their bagels at Halo Potato Donuts, another take-out pastry shop in Gainesville, expand. The store has already started to sell new breakfast in December 2019. Back then, they were making the bagels in sandwiches in November from a new food truck stationed outside the shop. Eventually, Vescovi wants to buy the building their garage-turned-kitchen, hand-rolling each one. After a few months, Vescovi’s family understood that this was what they they are currently in and use it as a bakery while securing wanted to do. They were saving up money to open a storefront another storefront with space for customers to sit. “All we really know is operating during COVID. We don’t when the pandemic hit. JAN/FEB 2021

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even know what it’s like to operate under normal conditions,” Vescovi said. “I guess we’ll just see what happens in the future.”

Wacahoota Knots

It wasn’t supposed to be a business, Molly Cellon said. Macramé, the art of knotting rope to create textile products, was just a hobby — something to pass the time while cooped up in quarantine. But her friends wanted to buy it, so she began to sell. Five months later, Wacahoota Knots is now a fully-fledged online shop run through Instagram, complete with partnerships from other independent creators. Cellon sells several kinds of macramé plant hangers in an array of colors and fills custom orders on top of her day job as an instructor at Gainesville Yoga Pod and Searchlight Yoga. “I literally just started making these for fun, and now it’s actually turning into something, which is really great,” Cellon said. “It’s nice to be able to do something from home.” Since quarantine started, she had dabbled with cross-stitching and painting but neither stuck. It was only with macramé that she felt a “flow state,” or a kind of soothing meditation, as she knotted the cords together. Learning from books and YouTube videos, at first it took Cellon an hour to make a single plant hanger. After practice, she can now whip one up in 25 minutes. Multi-pot plant hangers and other products take

longer, but she is whittling down the time spent making those as well. Excited by the progress, Cellon started to share her creations on her Instagram stories. After two weeks, so many people were asking to buy that she gave in and created an Instagram page to sell her products. “All my friends were like, ‘Oh, I want one. I want one!’ Then their friends were like, ‘Oh, me too!’” Cellon said. “I was like, ‘Okay, well, I guess I’m gonna start something.’” But Cellon knew she didn’t want to do it alone. From the very beginning, she began to reach out to local woman-owned plant stores like Tropical Roots Plant Co. and Planted GNV to sell her wares at their pop-up shops, or even offer exclusive plant hanger collections. Despite the quick growth, Cellon said she doesn’t want to rush herself. However, she does want to branch into more collaborations with local plant owners and start to sell macramé wall hangings, which can take days to create. “I never thought in a million years that during a pandemic year, I would be doing something like this,” Cellon said. “I don’t know what’s gonna happen with it, but so far, so good.” Here’s to staying positive — in business and in life — during unprecedented times!

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BOOK REVIEW

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER’S

Reading Corner BONES: INSIDE AND OUT

written by Roy A. Meals, MD C.2020, W.W. NORTON $27.95 / $36.95 CANADA 294 PAGES TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER HAS BEEN READING SINCE SHE WAS 3 YEARS OLD AND SHE NEVER GOES ANYWHERE WITHOUT A BOOK. SHE LIVES WITH HER TWO DOGS AND 11,000 BOOKS. HER BOOK REVIEWS ARE PUBLISHED IN MORE THAN 200 NEWSPAPERS AND 50 MAGAZINES THROUGHOUT THE U.S. AND CANADA. bookwormsez@yahoo.com

SNAP!

uch, that hip bone’s no longer connected to the thigh bone, or the ankle bone’s separated from the shin bone. Even so, you’ll heal because that’s what your body does. A good building has a strong foundation and so do you, and in the new book “Bones: Inside and Out” by Roy A. Meals, MD, you can give yourself a hand. Or carpals, to be specific, because that’s what doctors call the bones in your hand. MDs have to be exact when referring to dem bones. Although, as long as yours stay inside and don’t ache, you probably don’t think much about them. But you should: that which holds you up is pretty miraculous. Bones are “manufactured on-site... lightweight, durable, and responsive to changing conditions.” They heal without scars; can be altered with relative ease; and centuries from now, they’ll tell a tale. Bone, says Meals, just “does not get the respect it deserves.” And that’s too bad. Consider, for instance, how your bones st r e n g t h e n t h e m s e l v e s i n response to your activities. Though Meals had hoped not to use medical jargon, there’s no way to “get around introducing the term piezoelectric,” a word to describe part of the process in which the body makes “new bone to resist... unaccustomed forces.” Using tennis as an example, Meals shows why doctors say physical activity is good for your bones. When bones break, something related happens: osteoclasts

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and osteoblasts “stabilize the fracture” and then fix the bone as good as new. But if that’s not enough and there’s another problem with a fracture, bones readily accept medical intervention well, through pins, casts, rods, scaffolding, grafts, reconstructive surgery, and entire replacements. And if all else fails, although skeletal issues will not generally kill you, bones still have an important job to do. They can teach generations to come about our burial customs. In the past, bones were used for musical instruments, games, and explosives. And in what might be a comforting thought or a choice for tomorrow, bones can be fertilizer for a flowering plant or a tree. Who knew that something we can’t usually see might be such a ‘humerus’ subject? Author Roy A. Meals did, and in “Bones: Inside and Out,” he tells the tale of our scaffolding and that of animals and ancestors in a manner that’ll make you regretful that you can’t actually view your skeletal system. Still, you’ll appreciate what protects your innards as you learn how that old sports injury knit itself back together and why your joints go bad as you age, and the chapter Meals offers on the “giants” of osteo-healing is impressive. Then, predict the future by learning how fossils are formed. Dry, this book is not. Like a Happy Hour guest who knows exactly when to deliver a fabulously crowd-pleasing one-liner, Meals rescues this subject and makes it fun. But just so you know, you will learn something inside this book and you’re going to enjoy every word. So get “Bones: Inside and Out,” and break a leg.

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“Now when I go to bed at night I don’t have those shooting pains. I don’t have that burning sensation. I don’t have pain coming up my legs,” Dawn enthusiastically describes life after receiving Dr. Akemi's treatments. “I can wear socks and shoes!”

Unfortunately Dawn’s story is all too familiar for the over 3 million people in the U.S. suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy.

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SPOTLIGHT

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Oh, hello there. Sorry, I must have dozed off for a minute. That happens sometimes – you know, naps are the most important part of the day! Anywho, my name is Dutch, and I’m a 7, no, that’s not right. I’m an 8...wait, how old am I again? Let’s just go in the middle. I’m a 7 ½-year-old, Oreo-colored pup, and I’m here to share my story of finding my furever home. Back in March, I found myself at Alachua County Animal Services with a serious neck injury that my previous family couldn’t fix. Luckily my new caretakers at the shelter helped me get back to my usual self after just a few months. After what felt like forever, September arrived and I still hadn’t found a family to jump in piles of leaves or carve pumpkins with. What made it feel even longer was living next door to some noisy neighbors. I was about to lose hope when in the midst of trying to ignore all the barking and jumping around me, I met Will Dodd. Will and his girlfriend, Emily, were looking to adopt a dog – Will had dogs in the past but I couldn’t believe Emily never had a pup to call her own so I had to make sure she picked me! I turned on the puppy dog eyes and smiled, and they both knew I was the one. I don’t remember much about the first couple of days in my new home because I mostly slept. I was so exhausted and was finally able to get some warm, cozy rest. Though relaxing on the couch and catching some zzz’s is a favorite of mine, I also love to play. When I feel a burst of energy coming on, I grab one of my toys so Will and Emily will play with me. I also like going for walks or even runs with Will. I wouldn’t call 128 |

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myself clingy, but I do like to be by Will’s side whether he’s cooking in the kitchen — hopefully about to drop some peanut butter — or watching a movie on the couch. Will’s currently going to medical school so he’s usually gone during the day. Emily’s also going to graduate school, but lucky for me her classes this year are online so we can stay home together. I haven’t been part of the family for too long but I’ve already gotten into a routine – going for a brisk walk in the morning before breakfast; having an outdoor adventure in the afternoon,

and after Will gets home, enjoying some dinner and another walk before bed. It may not seem like much, but for me it’s everything. It’s home. I know Will and Emily feel the same. There was this one time — it was so funny — Will and Emily were on their phones, and I wanted them to pay attention to me, so while sitting on the couch I started to stretch and did a slow, dramatic tumble off the sofa. They thought it was hilarious, and it reminded them of how happy they were to have me in their lives. I was lucky to find my furever home and all my friends back at the shelter deserve to find one too! If you’re interested in adopting a pet, visit: alachuacounty.us/Depts/animalServices.

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